Inquiring Minds: Newcomer information

BY JODY RATHGEB - Special Correspondent
Published: October 5, 2008

Newcomers to the Richmond area are not a uniform group. Some have been brought in by corporate moves, while others have targeted the area for specific jobs or schools. Some have merely moved across the state; others come from completely different countries and cultures. A newcomer can be 18 or 80, suburban- or city-bred, wealthy or wondering how to make ends meet.

What the newcomers have in common is questions, and plenty of them ... questions about getting settled, getting around, getting necessities and just “getting” local customs and in-jokes. Discover Richmond is one big answer book, but it’s not exhaustive. Some questions fall through the cracks as being too specific, too quirky, too complicated to answer or too ... baffling, sometimes. We stare at the Northerner who asks why bread and milk are such important commodities in advance of a snowstorm and say ... uh, what do we say?

But the falling-through-the-cracks questions are still important, or they wouldn’t be asked. Here, then, are some attempts to answer them.

What’s with the iced tea?
Virginia is the transition state between unsweetened iced tea, common in the North, and sweet tea, a staple of the South. In either direction, no questions are asked: in Maryland and Pennsylvania, order iced tea and you will have to add your own sweetener; in North Carolina, tea sweetened with sugar before it is iced is served without question. Here, you’ll probably be asked, “Sweetened or un?”

There’s a floodwall. Does that mean there are floods?
Short answer: Yes. There’s this river, you see, and during stormy times, especially hurricane season, it rises drastically. Flooding along the James River doesn’t happen regularly, but often enough (1936, 1969, 1972, 1985, etc.) that the city began building the current floodwall in 1988 and dedicated it in 1994. The wall helps to protect the city only against flooding from the James, though; in 2004, the rains brought on by Tropical Storm Gaston created floods from above, not from a rising river.

Is it safe to eat fish that’s caught in the James River?
That depends. While the James is cleaner than it used to be, there are still some contamination problems due to fecal bacteria and toxic chemicals. A moderate consumption of fish won’t hurt most people, but the Virginia Department of Health generally recommends no more than two meals a month of most species. VDH issues fish consumption advisories when levels of contaminants become harmful. These advisories are posted at http://www.vdh.virginia (search “fish”).

Where can I get callaloo, christophenes and other foods I am used to?
Since this question could be asked within the context of many different cultures, the answer could go in many directions. Fortunately, there are lots of opportunities to find foodstuffs from other parts of the world. Those looking for Latin American and Caribbean foods will especially find plenty, starting with the two locations of Mi Rincon Latino at 3332-3338 Broad Rock Blvd. and 5158 Nine Mile Road. Latino markets are in nearly every neighborhood, but there is a particular concentration of them along Jefferson Davis Highway, from Bellemeade south into Chesterfield County.

Asian markets also are plentiful, with Tan-A Grocery Store, 6221 W. Broad St., among the largest. For Greek and other Mediterranean foods, start with Nick’s Produce and International Food Market, 400 W. Broad St., and Mediterranean Bakery & Deli, 9004 Quioccasin Road. Indian or Pakistani? Start with India Foods & Flavor, 2745 Hungary Spring Road, and Varuna South Asian Market, 10440 Ridgefield Parkway. And for those remembering Grandma’s soul food, the Franklin Super Market, 1711 E. Franklin St., has fresh chitterlings and pig feet.

There are plenty more; check the Yellow Pages under “grocers” for suggestions.

Why did everyone laugh when I told them we were barbecuing over the weekend?
Around here, “barbecue” is a noun only, not a verb. It doesn’t mean anything cooked on a grill; it is specifically pork slow-cooked over a real wood fire. Sometimes, not always, sauces are added – and they are always secret recipes. There are rules about barbecue. Don’t say the word until you know them.

Ukrop’s is a made-up name, right? And by the way, why aren’t they open on Sundays?
It’s not made-up; the markets were begun by Joe Ukrop in 1937 and remain a family business. They are not open on Sundays because the founders wanted to give their employees time to be with their families and worship if they chose to. The family continues that tradition.

What is the best time of year here to plant vegetables? How long is the growing season?
According to the Virginia Cooperative Extension, planting should be determined by last frost dates. In the Piedmont area, which covers most of the 20 localities of this publication, frosts are over between April 20 and 30. Last frost dates are earlier – April 10 to 21 – in the Tidewater area, which for purposes of planting has been drawn to include Chesterfield, Charles City and New Kent counties and portions of Henrico, Hanover, King William and King and Queen.
For more specific information, contact your local office of the Virginia Cooperative Extension, or visit http://www.ext.vt.edu and search for the publication 426-331, which is a vegetable planting guide. It includes first frost dates in the fall, which end the growing season.

“The War of Northern Aggression”?!
Oh, so you’ve noticed that there’s a certain lingering interest in the U.S. Civil War around here? Yesiree. There are plenty of places to mull over the question of why the years 1861-65 are still fascinating to many, from battlefields and museums to archaeological sites to period homes that are open to the public. One good place to start is Richmond National Battlefield Park’s Tredegar Iron Works Civil War Visitor Center, 490 Tredegar St. Call 266-1981.

I hear that babies have to be in car seats, but I’ve priced them and can’t afford it. What do I do?
Buckle Up Virginia has a low-income safety seat distribution and education program. Eligibility is based on income. Learn more and apply at http://www.vahealth.org (find Buckle Up Virginia under Family Health Services in the site’s “programs” section) or call (800) 732-8333.

How handicap-friendly is the city?
The City of Richmond and its local businesses have been working to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act ever since it was mandated in the early 1990s, but there’s still work to do. Michael Chenail, founder and senior coordinator of the Compliance Alliance, which offers help in achieving compliance, says things are getting better but progress is spotty.

Chenail, a wheelchair user, also notes that surrounding areas often do better with accessibility than downtown, primarily because they tend to present fewer hills. On ADA compliance, he gives the city a grade of C, while Richmond’s suburbs would get a low B. Sources on accessibility and other handicap issues include http://www.adahospitality.com and the Virginia Board for People With Disabilities, http://www.vbpd.virginia.gov

What is that cow doing in an upper window of the Ironfronts Building?
The cow, named Jackie, is in the offices of Boisseau Partners, a Richmond advertising firm. Pete Boisseau, who calls Jackie the director of public relations, says that more than 15 years ago when the firm was located in Shockoe Bottom, Jackie was found on the sidewalk in front of the office, apparently left after an event at the Farmers’ Market. Boisseau Partners adopted her and she has been with them ever since.

What kind of dangerous creatures are around? Any poisonous snakes or spiders?
Auto traffic is probably more dangerous than any of our area creatures, but there are still quite a few things that can give you a nasty sting, bite or illness. Among snakes, the most plentiful venomous one is the copperhead. Others that make “cameo” appearances are the canebrake rattlesnake (mostly in southeastern Virginia, but noted on one Department of Game and Inland Fisheries map in Henrico County) and the cottonmouth, or water moccasin. (Judy Brown, a naturalist with Chesterfield County, said its range is south of the Appomattox River.)

Dangerous spiders include the black widow and, to a lesser extent (and range), the brown recluse.

A number of insects also can sting or bite enough to cause painful swellings; among them are all sorts of wasps and bees, and centipedes. In the plant kingdom, there are poisonous mushrooms and such nuisance plants as poison ivy and sumac. And don’t forget that in wild mammals rabies is an issue, particularly among raccoons and skunks.

Don’t go into hiding, though. In general, unless you are very young or frail, none of these things is deadly. If bitten or stung, however, you will probably make a trip to the emergency room.

What are all these number stickers I see on cars?
Welcome to NASCAR country! That stands for National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, and it’s a hugely popular spectator sport here. The number stickers show support for specific race drivers. If you want to learn more about the sport, find a fan and ask him or her to take you to a race ... but make sure you take ear plugs!

Why are so many place names around here so difficult to pronounce or spell?
Local place names are a mixture of names borrowed from England by the early colonists (the very name Richmond, for example), European versions of Indian words (Quioccasin, Matoaca, Appomattox) and family names of all sorts (Leigh, Byrd, Jahnke). Even our Indian-based names are a mixture, as the area saw the convergence of three linguistic groups: Algonquian, Siouan and Iroquoian. No wonder we can barely pronounce anything, and continue to argue about whether it’s Pow-hite or Po-white!

Who is this Dirtwoman I hear about?
Dirtwoman is an alternate name for Donnie Corker, a local performer who has been described in various blogs as a “cross-dressing entertainer,” “bear of a drag queen” and “Richmond’s most famous transvestite.” Every year he holds forth at Ham-A-Ganza, a benefit for the food bank, dressed in drag. He claims he got his nickname in 1976 when he was arrested for prostitution and soiled the police car. Those who call Richmond sleepy and stodgy apparently have never had a Dirtwoman sighting.

What the heck does it mean when someone says, “Bless your heart”?
This Southern phrase can be a sincere expression of empathy, as in, “You walked all the way here in this heat? Bless your heart!” More often, however, it is a “genteel” way of delivering an insult: “She thinks that wearing red stockings with everything is a fashion statement, bless her heart,” or “You’re still able to wear that leisure suit ... bless your heart.” It’s up to you to figure out which way the comment is meant.

Is there public transportation to and from the airport?
Within the GRTC Transit System on weekdays, the 56 South Laburnum bus makes six trips between downtown and the airport; those coming from areas other than downtown or the East End would need to make a transfer from another bus. People not served by GRTC would need to contact Groome Transportation or another limousine or taxi company.

Do baby strollers really have the right-of-way in malls?
No, it only seems that way when you’re trying to share space with rude parents who firmly believe that Junior or Princess is the center of the universe. Are Americans in general kid-centric? You bet!

What is black ice?
Black ice is not really black, but it’s quite dangerous. The thin coating of ice on roads is transparent, allowing the roadway beneath (usually black) to show through. Because it looks just like a wet roadway, black ice can be surprising and hazardous to drivers and pedestrians. The phenomenon is not confined to our region; black ice can form anywhere that temperatures reach below the freezing point.