National Banana Split Day

Kevin's creation

 

Joint Birthday Party at Southern Crescent

Holly really wanted to throw a 50th birthday party, but she insisted that it be a joint party for herself along with me, Kevin, and our friend Cordell , all of whom turned 50 this summer. She landed on having it at the Southern Crescent because her husband Adrian plays their frequently (he is a professional musician). A few pictures from the night:

Showing off the presents we received from Matt and Molly (hat and candle)

Adult beverages with our girl

With Holly

Family pic (Benji did not come because it was an adult party)

Cville Brewery Puzzle Hunt

This was a bucket list item to try out this hunt that we'd seen advertised in the local paper. It is essentially a series of puzzles you do on your phone while visiting four nearby breweries on Preston Avenue. It was fun, but we all found it pretty easy:

The last piece of the puzzle was at Super Fly brewery, where we had never been before. It was a pretty space and we all agreed we would come back

Birthday Celebration in Richmond (part 2)

After mini golf, we started walking towards the state capitol building, which we have never been to before. On the way, we stopped at a fun vintage store and took in the grounds around the capitol, which also have the executive mansion, federal court and state supreme court.

The capitol was designed by Thomas Jefferson. It was the third capital of Virginia, after Jamestown and Williamsburg

Old Legislative chamber. This is the great chair where many famous lawmakers presided over the Virginia delegates

The capitol has a hidden rotunda not visible from the outside

This room had a bust of every Virginia president, with a statue of Washington in the middle

Looking out at the federal court

Monument to the women who helped build the great state of Virginia

After the capital, we got back in the car and drove out to an escape room recommended by our friends Ben and Erin. It was designed to look like a grandmother's cottage with a fallout shelter hidden inside:

We made it out with 15 minutes left

We ended the night at our favorite Ethiopian restaurant, Addis, before heading back to Cville

Birthday Celebration in Richmond (part 1)

Rather than a party, we celebrated with a day out in Richmond. We started with tea at a new place we found online called The Queen's Library:

After tea, we walked over to the Hotel Green to play mini golf. We had been to this course last year and really enjoyed it, and this time it was pretty empty so we got on right away and did not have to wait at any holes!

The whole course is set up to look like an old timey hotel

I told Benji he had to get in the tub, as we have a series of photos of him in mini golf course tubs

More photos tomorrow of the rest of the day!

Ruth's 50th Birthday

Everyone had work and school, but we had a fun charcuterie board and cupcakes together at dinner:

August Bingo at Random Row

Now that swim season is over, we have our Wednesdays back for once-a-month bingo at Random Row. This week we were joined but the Persons, who have newly moved back to town from Alabama now that Jonathan has retired from the army: