RichmondMom.Com – Kate Hall’s Labor of Love

When you talk to Kate Hall, it is hard to decide if you’re talking to a small-business owner, a devoted Mom – o – three, a social media guru, a Mommy Blogger, a philanthropist, or a children’s book author.  Actually, it’s not really that hard, because within a couple of minutes you realize that she really is all of the above.

I was lucky enough to know Kate when we both worked at the now-deceased local title insurance titan, LandAmerica.  Kate showed up at the company with loads of corporate experience and even more charisma.  Unfortunately (at the time) for both of us, the titan fell and we were both looking for work.

Kate started RichmondMom while she was still in the corporate world.  It was a sort of for fun, sort of experimental thing.  She was learning about web marketing and social media and saw a real need for some solidarity among parents in the Richmond community.  Kate, being Kate, decided to do something about it and started the website.

As she went through grueling interview processes at some of the biggest companies in Richmond (including The Fed), more and more of Kate’s Richmondmom.com customers, readers, and fans were urging her to take it to the next level.  With a deep breath and a giant leap of faith, she did so, and the site has been rockin’ ever since.

In addition to running a business that has more than doubled its client base within a short year, Kate has also jumped in to the social media scene here in Richmond, and through it has participated in many, many (did I say many?) charitable events and causes.  If that wasn’t enough, she actually wrote and self-published an educational kid’s book about Richmond history.

I asked her what gave her the idea for Richmond Rocks, and she told me that she was on Brown’s Island with her family and. her eldest son (age eight) started asking her questions about the area, and she realized that there was LOTS he didn’t know about Richmond history.  So she decided to do something about that, too.

Self-publishing is no easy task, but Kate pulled it off with a team of folks (illustrator, editor, etc) that she simply raves about.  With her customary good cheer and wicked (but great) sense of humor, Kate told me about the whole thing – from finding and hiring Knox Hubard for the illustrations, to working with Hayes and Fisk for photographs of Richmond, to the printing and distribution of the books, to how scary it is to foot the bill for a project like this and hope that it makes enough to even pay for itself.

Through hard work, tenacity, and the fact that the book is fantastic, the book is a success.  Richmond schools teach Virginia history in the 5th grade, so teachers are going to use it as a teaching aid.  Kate’s done signings all over Richmond, and you can check the site for upcoming signings.

Kate keeps up with her many online and networking responsibilities via Facebook, Twitter, and even 4Square (according to which she is the Mayor of Chick Fil A) and she attends the SMCRVA events.  She’s a ball of fire, a whirlwind of wit and energy, and one of the People To Know in our fair city.  And to top it off, she’s super-nice.

Get hooked in with her network on www.richmondmom.com and introduce yourself next time you see her out and about in Richmond.  You’ll be glad you did.

Related articles by Zemanta

• 5 Simple Ways SMB’s Can Adopt Social Media (socialmediatoday.com)
• Tips for Engaging Your Social Network Followers (socialmediatoday.com)

Get your Richmond business or service reviewed on RichmondVAPresents.com. Email us at marketing (at) richmondvapresents dot com
–
Contact Big Oak SEO, a Richmond SEO company, to help your website get found in Google’s search results.

Short Pump’s The Wine Loft – A Review By The Good Wine Guru

Local Tweep, Snark, and candidate for Mr. Awesomeness 2010, George R. Perry, everyone!  Remember, behind every man is an awesome woman, and Mr. Perry’s awesome woman April is pictured with him below.

In addition to being one of Richmond’s cutest couples, most dynamic twitterers, and social media sweethearts, the Perrys also enjoy a nice glass of wine every now and then.  George is actually the Good Wine Guru, so who better to review The Wine Loft than him?  Here begin the words of George…

Just inside the border of Short Pump, across from the Kohls and Best Buy on West Broad Street is a new shopping center – the West Broad Village Community in Short Pump.  Featuring numerous new restaurants, grocers, shopping, and living space, West Broad Village has quickly become home to some of the most popular new spots in Richmond.  One of these is the Wine Loft.

A cross between a casual lounge and an upscale wine bar, the Wine Loft offers atmosphere mixed with great food and drink.  The food offerings aren’t your typical faire, being tailored more towards groups of diners with their tapas style of delivery.  However, any conversation about the Wine Loft must begin, obviously, with their wine selection.

As a regular wine drinker, I am always looking for places that offer a wide selection of wine at a wide range of prices.  Sure, there are nights that I’m willing to spend $50 or more on a bottle of wine, but there are just as many nights that I want to drink a couple of $7 glasses.  The Wine Loft caters to both of my moods.

With wine available both by the glass and bottle, there is something for every palate and pocketbook – red or white, sweet or dry, Old World or New World – and the staff is knowledgeable and willing to help you find something to fit your tastes if you’re not familiar with their offerings.

As for their food selection, they’ve done an excellent job of putting together a menu that allows you to pick what will best compliment your wine, or pick your wine to compliment what you’re eating.  While I’ve yet to have anything that I didn’t enjoy, the Baked Brie en Croute for two (and really more than that) is a must-have any time you go there.

Vanilla infused and topped with spiced pecans and a balsamic reduction and served with sliced baguette – which you’ll need more of and they’re happy to provide – the baked brie is a can’t miss no matter what you’re drinking.  For those looking for something more robust, the oven roasted lamb lollipops, shrimp and blue cheese in puff pastry, and shrimp and lump crab four cheese empanadas are all nothing short of amazing.

The food and drink aside, the Wine Loft itself has set itself up as a great place to spend an evening either for an intimate dinner date or for a casual gathering of friends or co-workers.  Low couches, chairs, and tables abound on both levels (that’s right, it has an upstairs), and a center communal table – raised and lighted – is a great gathering place for groups or couples.

No matter the occasion or the size of the dining party, the Wine Loft is the perfect place to spend an evening and one you’ll want to return to time and again.

The Wine Loft
4035 Whittail Way
Glen Allen, VA  23060
804-368-1768

(located between Kona Grill and Mimi’s Café)

Post sponsored by MaverickLabel.com – providing custom wine labels.

Get your Richmond business or service reviewed on RichmondVAPresents.com. Email us at marketing (at) richmondvapresents dot com
–
Contact Big Oak SEO, a Richmond SEO company, to help your website get found in Google’s search results.