Becky’s – A Richmond Institution

About a hundred years ago (OK, more like 10 years ago) I worked at the corner of 1st and Cary Streets.  Across the street (on the north side of the street) was a breakfast and lunch place called Becky’s.  I had a fabulous metabolism back then, so I ate breakfast there almost every day.

Becky’s has been around forever – long before I worked across the street from it.  It has seen many different owners, operations, and managers, but the name has been the same, and the fare is consistently delicious diner food.

I wish I could tell you who the original Becky was, and what year the place opened the first time, but there is surprising little information out there on the internet.  I suppose I could go talk to Julia, who has worked at the tiny diner for 42 years.  She’s still there, and she remembered me when I walked through the door this past Friday for a nostalgic Becky’s breakfast.

The interior has changed quite a bit since the last time I was there, and they now serve cocktails, if you want to get a nice bloody mary or mimosa with your brunch.  I heard that they tried opening in the evenings for a while, but during these winter months not enough people make it to that part of town.

I ordered a cheese omelet with hasbrowns, a side of bacon, and toast.  My dad got a western omelet, hashbrowns, and rye toast.  Everything was tasty.  So tasty, in fact, that I neglected to take a picture of our food right away, and by the time I thought of it there was nothing left to photograph.  I detected bits of bacon in the homefries (a nice touch) and my omelet was cooked perfectly and was delightfully cheesy.  Dad’s omelet was likewise cooked perfectly, and his rye toast was buttered and golden crispy.  We both had tea, and Alfred kept the refills coming.

Becky’s is once again under new management, and Laura (a recent transplant from Connecticut who thinks our winters are downright balmy, thank you) is working hard to figure out the best business model and plan for Becky’s.  There might be some evening hours in the future, and look out for a website in the near future.  For myself, I believe I will have to go back to try the salmon cakes, because I bet they are awesome.

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Richmond’s Unhealed History – A Spiritual and Educational Lecture Series

First off, let me apologize for getting this notice to you late.  The first in this lecture series occurred last night.  I feel bad about the delay – so must for planning ahead, right?  Luckily, you’ve still got plenty of time to check out this fascinating lecture series that Richmond Hill is putting on for you.

Your first question might be, “What is Richmond Hill?”  I’ll tell you.  Remember that big monastery/convent at the tippy top of Church Hill?  Well, the Sisters of Monte Maria, a cloistered order who lived there for a VERY long time, decided to move out to the country in the eighties.  Ten years later, the Board of Richmond Hill, an organization formed by Rev. Ben Campbell of St. Paul’s, purchased the property.  These tenacious and dedicated people believed that the property should remain a religious place, so they finally got the property and set out to renovate it.

Renovations were completed in 2004, and Richmond Hill is now a community-oriented religious community dedicated to providing a place of respite in a hectic world, and offering spiritual guidance and education.  They are a non-judgmental organization with a focus on healing – for the individual, the community, and socially.

This lecture series, delivered by Ben Campbell (who is now the Director of Richmond Hill), is called “Richmond’s Unhealed History” and here is the lineup:

September 29:  The Reasons for Jamestown, 1300-1607
October 6:  The Conquest of Tsenacomoco, 1607-1644
October 13:  The Mystery of Pocahontas, 1597-1617
October 20:  An economy of Servants and Slaves. 1613-1780
October 27:  Slavery in Richmond, 1780-1860
November 3:  The Invention of Racial Segregation. 1865-1954
November 10:  Massive Resistance and Strategies for Re-segregation.1955-1972
November 17:  Disintegration and Disinvestment, 1970-2009

Each lecture begins at 7:30 PM, but if you want to get there early there is a prayer session at 6 PM and dinner at 6:30 PM.  Cost for the entire lecture series is a requested $90 donation (even missing out of the first one you’re looking at a little over $10 per session – not too bad for a bunch of knowledge you didn’t have before), and if you want to chow down beforehand, a measly $45 will get you a seat at dinner.  Pretty good deal.

Register with Karen Moore, Guest master at Richmond Hill,
Retreats@richmondhillva.org, or call 783-7903.

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