You could be forgiven for overlooking Castanea. A Shockoe Bottom location that’s more of a commuter thoroughfare than a pedestrian oasis, a rather sparsely decorated interior and an obscure name — the genus of chestnut trees — mask what turns out to be a hidden gem.

Chef Philip Denny, an alumnus of many of Richmond’s celebrated restaurants including Six Burner and Aziza’s on Main, is the creative mind behind Castanea. Drawing largely from Mediterranean influences, the menu circles the coast from Spanish-style tapas, to Italian-inflected sandwiches and house-made gelato, east to showcase Greek influence and back around to North Africa as the occasional hint of harissa shows up on the plate.

Denny has said, though, that he isn’t interested in a concept menu, but rather a place where he can flex his creative muscles and cook his favorites, wherever the dishes might originate. So don’t be surprised to find geographical intrusions such as a Maine lobster roll with saffron aioli ($14), or a roast pork sub topped with provolone and broccoli rabe ($9) straight out of Philadelphia’s Italian neighborhoods. The bar features Spanish and Portuguese fortified wines, as well as a beer list with a range of styles and flavors.

If you’ve traveled through the many countries ringing the Mediterranean, you know a few consistent threads tying the region’s food together are an abundance of seafood and a relentless commitment to fresh and seasonal ingredients. Both are evident at Castanea. It’s not a seafood restaurant, but there are plenty of fish and shellfish dishes on the menu, including a tapas plate of skate wing ($9) dusted with a North African spice mix, ras el hanout, redolent with clove and cinnamon. The earthy spices play off of a brown butter sauce to create a deep and subtle complexity that complements the firm yet delicate fish.

Or for lunch, try a clam and pesto pizza ($9), served with clams in the shell perched on top of a whole-wheat crust. It’s made from dough that’s fermented, lending an interesting sour note to the hearty flavor of wheat flour. It’s a different pizza than any other in town, but unfortunately, to some extent the crust overwhelms the toppings’ flavors. Naples or New York-style pizza purists need not bother to try it, though others may appreciate the different flavor.

On the subject of travel, like many tourists in Italy I once spent a week there chasing the best food I could find and afford. From farmers markets to Pope John Paul II’s favorite gelato — coincidentally, candied chestnut — my treks around the city were mainly culinary, and less about history and architecture. The beautiful buildings were a backdrop to whatever food I was sampling.

Which brings me back to Castanea. The gelato that chef Denny is making would be right at home in a family-run shop on a winding cobblestone alley in Rome. If Castanea were only a gelato shop, it would be worth driving from anywhere in the region to visit — and that you can get a great meal there before your gelato is a huge bonus. The pistachio, as classic a flavor as they come, is silky smooth and bursting with a nutty flavor that isn’t overwhelmed by milk or sugar. From classics to more inventive flavors such as Mexican hot chocolate or rosemary and honey, they’re all worth trying. One small caveat — fresher is better so ask the staff what’s new.

Lunch features primarily sandwiches, ranging from olive-oil marinated Spanish tuna ($9) to the cured meat extravaganza on the Italian sub ($12) featuring soppressata, coppa and mortadella topped with three Italian cheeses and the pickled vegetable mix giardiniera. Along with your sandwich, try the panisse fries, crispy-fried sticks of chickpea batter popular in Provence.

Dinner shifts to tapas and a few house-made pastas, while pizza is available all day. Tapas choices are mostly standards like tortilla de patatas ($7), bacon-wrapped dates ($8), or arancini, the classic fried risotto stuffed with mozzarella ($8). While none dazzles me, they are for the most part solid takes on classic dishes.

Pizza, pasta, tapas, sandwiches — these may not be the ingredients for the most exciting destination restaurant. So why bother looking for that parking space in the Bottom? Castanea has a restlessly creative chef continually updating his menu, consistency from the kitchen, friendly staff set on learning your name and the best gelato in Richmond. Finish all of that off with a glass of sherry, and you’ve had a pretty good evening. S

Castanea
1814 E. Main St.
643-2312
Tuesdays-Thursdays 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m.
facebook.com/CastaneaRVA

Come Jan. 1, the things that we plan to change with our lives generally are the areas in which we’ve consistently failed. It’s almost always weight, health, spending and quality of life types of issues. And let’s face it, they all intertwine.

All people, even the seemingly successful ones, have areas they desperately want to change, but can’t. You aren’t alone.

So now the new year has arrived and you’re determined to make a go of it. This is the beginning of your new life. It’s now or never. We have a finite amount of time on this Earth and you’re determined to right this ship before it’s too late. The only way out of the storm is through it. This is where the rubber meets the road.

You see, along with most people, I can throw a million worthless platitudes out there and really make myself believe that change is a-coming. But it’s probably not. I’m too weak. Plus, I’m easily distracted. Oh look, “Chopped” is on!

But maybe you aren’t? Maybe you don’t automatically reach for the Tostitos. Maybe you don’t absolutely need to purchase a turntable (you’re considering becoming an EDM DJ). Maybe you’re doing just fine. Maybe?

With that I give you my annual New Year’s Resolution Quiz.

1. When setting goals, you:

a. Write them down in a place you’ll see every morning — like a white board you’ve set up just for this purpose in your kitchen.

b. Post them on Facebook in an attempt at social accountability (but mostly it’s a show of vanity).

c. Lose the cocktail napkin that they were scribbled on.

2. Your ability to abstain from unhealthy food and drink can best be described as:

a. Rock solid. You eat clean and train dirty. Your body is a like a fine Italian sports car.

b. So-so. You generally eat well but like everyone, you slip up from time to time. Your body is like a 2012 Nissan Altima. Runs well, efficient. No one’s complaining when they get inside of you.

c. Nonexistent. You have very little willpower. Your jaw line is Jabba the Hut-like. You’re like a Nissan Cube, in that you’re shaped like a big cube.

3. Which of the following best describes your spending habits?

a. Austere. Minimal. You’re a monk. The future and important purchases are what you’re eying.

b. Unexceptional. Controlled. You make a concerted effort to save money. You will splurge on luxuries, but not all of the time.

c. Spendthrift. Reckless abandon. To you, money is more an abstract concept. Every Monday, the pending charges on your debit card are enough to pay your rent. You just spent $14 on different Bic lighters at the 7-Eleven register and you don’t even smoke. Your overdraft fees alone pay for Wells Fargo’s annual employee retreat to Hilton Head.

4. How bad do you want to change?

a. Very badly. I can taste it. I will reach my goals.

b. Meh. I want the results very badly. I just don’t really want the hard work that comes with them.

c. Umm, the only thing I can taste is sour gummy worms. They taste good?

If you answered mostly A’s: Resolutions, Schmevolutions. You’re a rock. Your future is so bright, you wear sunglasses all the time. The only thing you need to resolve is whom of the many attractive members of the opposite sex you’ll be sleeping with tonight.

If you answered mostly B’s: It won’t be easy, but you can make the necessary changes. You can achieve your goals by taking baby steps and altering your daily habits. It’s a marathon and I have faith that you will finish this race a better person.

If you answered mostly C’s: Meeting your new year’s resolutions isn’t impossible. It really isn’t. But you probably won’t. I mean, seriously, you just ate some of the foil with your Chipotle burrito. The worst part is, you know you ate some of that foil, yet you kept on chewing. I mean, c’mon. Just spit it out. Actually, you know what, eat the foil. At this point, does it even matter? At the end of the day, the only person stopping you, is you — which is a problem, cause look at yourself.

Now go use this quiz as your motivation to kick 2016’s ass, or in all likelihood, vice versa. I’ll just be over here enjoying a trash bag full of sour gummy worms, watching “Chopped.”

Jack Lauterback also is co-host of “Mornings with Melissa and Jack” on 103.7 Play weekdays from 6-9. Connect with him at letters@styleweekly.com, or on Twitter at jackgoesforth.

Soon it's going to be harder to know the origin of your morning side of bacon. The Associated Press reports that Congress recently passed a law that allows labels listing the country of origin of beef and pork to be dropped from packages of meat.

The change goes against the growing movement of consumers who are more informed and in touch with their food, says Mark Lilly of the local Farm to Family organization. Lilly works to bring produce and meat from Virginia farms to communities through a web of community-supported agriculture programs and a school bus he renovated into a mobile market.

“I think people should be aware of this if they are concerned about their health and the health of their environment,” Lilly says. “There’s full transparency in what I do. I go to the farm, pick all the meat up and bring it to my customers. I can tell them where the farm is. That is the best way to buy your meat.”

But he notes that the change won’t affect small farmers because it’s for the benefit of large-scale exporters.

Advocates of the labels agree that this allows consumers to make more informed buying decisions and encourages the purchase of American meat. Lawmakers in states bordering Canada had pushed for the labeling to protect American ranchers from competition. But it was fear of mad cow disease from imported cattle that made Congress first require the labels in 2002. Most packages weren’t labeled until 2009 because of opposition from the meat industry.

But lawmakers against labeling said that the change was necessary to protect American exporters. After Canada and Mexico challenged the labeling, the World Trade Organization allowed both countries to hit the United States with more than $1 billion in tariffs.

Lilly says that consumers also are blindsided by a push to remove labels that identify food as genetically modified. Vermont is set to require labeling on genetically modified food this summer.

+6 Across the city, revelers count down the seconds to the new year. Following Richmond tradition, we started at 20 instead of 10, because getting things done takes twice as long around here.

+1 Richmond’s Grammy-nominated rapper and songwriter, Skillz, releases his annual Rap Up performance of the headlines and trends of 2015. But he’s still working on a rhyme to exploding hover board.

+3 A former Richmonder, rocker David Lowery, files a class-action lawsuit seeking at least $150 million from Spotify, allegedly for failing to secure proper music licenses. We couldn’t reach Spotify for comment because it never takes off those damn earbuds.

-6 The decades-old Pleasants Hardware tells employees of its closure, with Whole Foods grocery scheduled to take its place. Nothing takes the sting out of a layoff like a citrus-roasted paiche in a collard wrap.

+2 A year after a successful Kickstarter campaign to keep its doors open, the now-nonprofit Video Fan launches a nearly $10,000 online fundraiser to underwrite its next stage of growth. Online technology: That which kills you can make you stronger.

Comedian, director and film star David Cross will be presenting his "Making America Great Again!" stand-up tour at the Carpenter Theatre on Sunday, Feb. 21.

Cross is known for his roles on "Arrested Development" and the HBO cult classic "Mr. Show with Bob and David" -- which recently returned to Netflix as "W/ Bob and David." Check out this clip.

Tickets are $35 plus fees and go on sale Friday at the Carpenter Theatre and Altria Theater box offices, online at www.ETIX.com and by phone at (800) 514-3849 (ETIX). You can find more information at RichmondCenterStage.com.

Other upcoming shows at CenterStage include an evening with Jackson Browne on Jan. 23 and a show by American music institution Bonnie Raitt on March 10.

With the closing of the Westhampton Theater just around the corner, it's going to be harder than ever to see films in Richmond that aren't crassly commercial, focus-grouped, total Hollywood bullshit. With that in mind, here's the spring schedule announced for the 27th annual International Film Series at UR.

The series, which is free to the public, "features celebrated and acclaimed films from around the world in what is often their only public screening in the Richmond area," according to a press release.

Spring semester films include:

“Two Days, One Night,” Jan. 22 and 24 (Belgium/France/Italy, 2014, directed by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, 95 min., rated PG-13)

“This Is Not a Film,” Jan. 29 and 31 (Iran, 2011, directed by Jafar Panahi and Mojtaba Mirtahmasb, 75 min., not rated)

“Ida,” Feb. 5 and 7 (Poland, 2013, directed by Paweł Pawlikowski, 82 min., rated PG-13)

Multiple films during ChinaFest Film Weekend, Feb. 12-14

More information is available online.

“Planet of Snail,” February 19 and 21 (South Korea, 2012, directed by Seung-jun Yi, 87 min., not rated)

“About Elly,” Feb. 26 and 28 (Iran, 2009, directed by Asghar Farhadi, 119 min., not rated)

“Cemetery of Splendor,” March 18 and 20 (Thailand, 2015, directed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul, 122 min., not rated)

“Almanya: Welcome to Germany,” April 1 and 3 (Germany, 2011, directed by Yasemin Şamdereli, 101 min., not rated)

“Snowpiercer,” April 8 and 10 (South Korea, 2013, directed by Bong Joon Ho, 126 min., rated R)

Also from the release: "These dates will include a pre-film discussion led by a University of Richmond faculty member at the 3 p.m. screening.

Most film screenings take place in the Robins School of Business, Queally Hall, Ukrop Auditorium, unless otherwise noted. Each film is played in its original language with English subtitles. Friday screenings are at 3 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday screenings are at 7:30 p.m."

The sixth annual Israeli Film Festival, held Jan. 7-10 at the Weinstein JCC, announced a special guest today. Producer Nancy Spielberg, sister of Hollywood living legend Steven Spielberg, will give a talk-back after the film "Above and Beyond" on opening night, Thursday, Jan. 7.

The documentary features the story of the American, foreign and Israeli pilots who flew warplanes to help defend the new state of Israel during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.

Read our calendar pick for the festival here.

The festival features four films that "explore the tensions of heritage versus contemporary trends, family, faith and more," according to a release. "A highlight of the Weinstein JCC’s Patron of the Arts series, the Festival is open to the public. Program admission is $12 per film or $42 for all four films with discounts for JCC members. Tickets may be purchased at weinsteinjcc.org or by calling (804) 285-6500."

Richmond-based Evatran Group, Inc., which makes devices that recharge electric cars wirelessly, has moved into its second phase of an expansion with a prominent Chinese automotive parts maker.

The deal involves Zhejiang VIE Science and Technology Company (VIE), which will work with Evatran to make recharging devices for the fast-growing Chinese electric car market and overseas.

VIE is leading Evatran’s $10 million Series B raise so that it can expand its operations in China.

The Chinese firm went public on the Shenzhen Security Exchange in 2011. In 2014, it had sales of $1.2 billion.

China has serious problems with air pollution, making electric cars attractive in its vast potential market.

Heading into 2016, Americans were less than thrilled about the shape of the economy, according to a Gallup poll released Tuesday.

The survey shows that the overall outlook dipped in December from earlier in the year, but not to the same dismal low as the start of the recession.

To determine their score, pollsters took an average of responses on two items: How Americans rate current economic conditions and whether they believe the economy is improving. Then a numerical score is assigned based on the average. If all Americans rated the economy positively, the score would be +100. (As you probably guessed, we didn’t employ such complex methodology to our tongue-in-cheek Score issue ranking Richmond's zeitgeist in 2015.)

In December, 25 percent of Americans rated current economic conditions as “excellent” or “good,” while 29 percent rated them as poor. This yielded a score of -11. In 2008, economic confidence scored a dismal -32.

Gallup’s index rose sharply in late 2014 and early 2015, as gas prices dipped to record lows. For the first time since the recession, the score was at a +3. But the outlook trended down a few points every month throughout the year and remained below a -10, after dipping to the year’s low of -14 in September.

Virginia Beach could soon be up in the air.

The city is considering buying drones to help find missing children, respond to disasters and locate distressed boaters.

The Police Department as well as others in the city would be able to use the devices, Deputy Chief Tony Zucaro said Tuesday during a presentation to council members .

Drones might be new technology for the area, Zucaro said, but many cities already use them.

By the end of 2013, the Federal Aviation Administration had approved 550 applications to fly drones, according to the agency’s website.

Suffolk already owns one, which is used only for emergency situations such as search-and-rescue efforts, spokeswoman Diana Klink said. Norfolk, Chesapeake and Portsmouth do not own such technology.

Virginia Beach police and fire departments would like to use drones also to collect evidence and intelligence, control crowds and traffic, and help in accident reconstruction, search-and-rescue efforts, water operations and Amber Alerts.

Between Memorial Day and Labor Day in 2015, police and fire officials responded to 47 boaters in distress, 16 drownings and more than 450 lost children, said Zucaro, who added that the Police Department has been exploring the issue since summer 2014. A drone could have helped in those situations, he added.

Virginia law allows officers to use unmanned aircraft with video for major disasters, Amber Alerts and search-and-rescue operations that are “necessary to protect life, health or property.” State law also allows police to use drones during the execution of search warrants and to assess traffic damage, flooding and wildlife. The city has no guidelines on the use of drones.

Police now use a helicopter when they need an aerial view. Drones would not replace helicopters but would be used as an additional resource, Zucaro said.

The high-end drone for public safety use would initially cost $158,000, and the city estimates it could spend an additional $148,000 over the next three to five years on insurance and repairs.

A drone for other city departments would cost $2,370 and could require an additional $3,500 over the following three to five years. Zucaro said other departments that would be interested in the aircraft are: Public Utilities, Public Works, Resort Management, Economic Development and Parks and Recreation.

There was no timeline discussed at the meeting for acquiring the devices, and there would have to be a public hearing and vote beforehand.

The FAA requires government entities to apply to operate drones. Cities with approval must notify the FAA before flying them to ensure they do not interfere with aircraft. The FAA requires operators to be licensed pilots and requires them to keep the drones in line of sight.

Zucaro said Virginia Beach police would require the drone to stay within 3 to 6 miles of the operator.

“We look forward to embracing the technology,” Zucaro said.

Mayor Will Sessoms said he supported the endeavor and encouraged the Police Department to continue with the process to get the drones.

“This is a low-cost investment that could do a whole heck of a lot,” Sessoms said.

City Councilman John Moss asked Zucaro to share more information about how he plans to ensure people’s rights to privacy aren’t violated. He asked Zucaro what would happen to police officers who misused the drone. Moss said the public needs to be reassured that the Police Department would hold officers accountable .

Zucaro said his department plans to enforce robust internal policies.

“This will be closely guarded and regulated,” Zucaro said. “I understand your concerns.”

This story originally appeared on PilotOnline.com

So if you haven't watched the 10-episode courtroom drama "Making a Murderer" on Netflix, you've at least heard people freaking out about how great it is by now.

Yes, it's as addictive and infuriating as everyone says. It's also a huge letdown once you go fishing online and read all the stuff the filmmakers left out that seems to indicate the surefire guilt of lead figure Steven Avery.

But there's always a conspiracist's hope. And let's not forget: You can still believe the police planted evidence and that Avery is guilty.

And if you've been following the coverage, you probably know Anonymous was supposed to release some files on Tuesday that would further show Avery was framed by police -- that seems to have been a troll. Also, the embedded filmmakers have spoken out about a juror who felt intimidated by police and had believed all along that Avery was indeed framed. Will there be a new trial?

Here's a trailer for the series, in case you've been living in a tree for the past month.

At any rate, you just know there's a Hollywood movie brewing considering the way this fascinating story has captured the attention of the public. And so far, one of the best things I've seen is a Fusion list of which actors should play which Manitowoc County maniacs in the film. If filmmakers could get half this cast, they'd have a surefire hit. Check out the whole list here.

Particularly inspired choices include Jack Black as the wormy prosecutor Ken Krantz, Stephen Colbert as heartwarming defense attorney Dean Strang, Tommy Lee Jones as Avery's father and Kathy Bates as his mother, and of course, Paul Dano as the totally railroaded nephew Brendan Dassey.

The only question now is who's going to helm this sucker? Please not J.J. Abrams. Nobody wake him. He should just retire on his "Star Wars" money and play with his fan toys. Let's have someone with some original, creative vision. How about Werner Herzog? He's great at movies that are slippery with the truth, and he's got a new doc on the Internet. By the way, watch the trailer below. I also wouldn't kick "Zodiac" director David Fincher to the curb if he was in the mix.

They've also got to find a better title than "Making a Murderer." This whole thing revolves around a salvage yard and is about salvaging lives -- how about just "Salvage"?" Or something. Anything, people.

Children will scream — actually, most people of any age in the city will probably make a little noise when they hear that Gelati Celesti is coming to 1400 N. Boulevard. Owner Steve Rosser cited the location’s proximity to the Fan District, North Side and Sauer’s Gardens as a deciding factor when choosing the spot for the new store.

"Scott’s Addition is a burgeoning neighborhood and we are thrilled to announce that we have signed a lease,” he said in news release.

This will make the fourth store for what was originally a father-and-son collaboration founded by John and Peter Edmonds in 1984. Rosser and his wife, Kim, took over from his friends in 2009. They’re working with UrbanCore Development, which purchased the building in September, to restore the structure.

The Rossers plan to open the new shop this summer.

Richmond’s director of public works has spent city time overseeing construction at a church where Mayor Dwight C. Jones is senior pastor.

Emmanuel O. Adediran spent hours on conference calls providing “guidance” on the project at First Baptist Church on Iron Bridge Road in Chesterfield County, according to a finding by City Auditor Umesh Dalal first reported in the Times-Dispatch.

In response, the city has told Adediran to relinquish 38 hours of his accrued vacation leave.

Dalal sent this letter to Richmond Chief Administrative Officer Selena Cuffee-Glenn, saying that allegations he investigated related to Adediran are substantiated and that she should “take appropriate action, as deemed necessary.”

Adediran “spent at least 38 hours” over 18 months on church-related conference calls, according to Dalal. The public works director told Dalal in interviews that he serves as an assistant pastor at the church.

Cuffee-Glenn said in a statement: “This worker has assured the City that he only used personal time for matters unrelated to city business. However, out of an abundance of caution, the Mayor has instructed me to take appropriate action in an effort to remove any concern. The employee has been directed to relinquish 38 hours of accrued vacation leave. All parties are in agreement with this action.”

The city auditor has been highly critical of how the Jones administration has handled city finances.

From the public art commission:

Location change for Jan. 12 meeting on Plaza design for Maggie L. Walker public art! ... Due to the great amount of interest in this project we have moved the location to the Richmond Public Library Main Branch auditorium in order to accommodate a larger group.

Join the City of Richmond, Public Art Commission and artist Toby Mendez along with the design team to explore ideas for the urban plaza at Adams and Broad. This will be an excellent opportunity to have community members to give input for their vision of the plaza that will be the home of public art to honor Maggie L. Walker.

So in summary that's the Community Meeting on Urban Plaza and Public Art honoring Maggie L. Walker which will now be held on Tuesday Jan. 12 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Richmond Public Library Main Branch Auditorium, 101 E Franklin Street.

Organizers ask that you please RSVP here so they have enough materials on hand. For more information, go here.

Smoking in a restaurant — it seems so old-fashioned, so cancer-causing. When the smoking ban went into effect in 2009, bar and restaurant owners predicted a steep decline in sales. The regulations were — and are — tough. Smoking areas must be closed off, have an independent ventilation system and be structurally separate from the rest of the restaurant. Many owners simply banned smoking entirely in order to comply with the new law.

The disastrous economic impact predicted never quite arrived. Surprisingly (not surprisingly), people still wanted to eat out and were even willing to listen to a band play without a cigarette in hand.

There were a few holdouts. The number has dwindled over the last seven years — the Tobacco Co. banned smoking about two years ago and Bandito’s Burrito Lounge just stopped — but there are still some left.

You’ll need to like the smell of cigar smoke, however. Mona Lounge and Cigar Bar, the Pig & Pearl’s cigar section and Havana 59’s rooftop bar — mostly rented out for private events — are some of the only places left to light up around Richmond.

Ok, I'm not a theater critic. Full disclosure.

So maybe consider this like a Yelp review for a touring Broadway musical.

But I did go see "Motown: The Musical" last night, whose limited run we've already previewed here. Since we don't have an official review planned, I'm providing some observations from last night's packed performance. Feel free to add your own take in the comments section.

In a nutshell, hearing the golden oldies of Motown live just drives home what we all already know: These are damn good songs. The kind of songs that are there for everyone like old friends. The kind of songs that keep you warm when it's cold outside and the month of May is just too far away.

The Brits had the Beatles, Kinks and Stones, but as far as American pop goes, future generations may look especially kind on Motown, a small label from Detroit cranking out timeless gems for several decades before it imploded.

This production has all the big names looking tight in their heyday, though one should be forewarned that many of these original stars' voices prove too special to replicate. Give the performers credit for degree of difficulty.

The performances range from mediocre to damn good: Particularly memorable were the young Michael Jackson played with cool, hat-tipped verve by Leon Outlaw Jr., the smooth Smokey Robinson (one of the most likable characters) played by Nicholas Ryan, and Allison Semmes as the sly, strong-willed Diana Ross. (Oh, I should mention that the woman behind me was loving some Stevie Wonder every time he appeared, swaying his locks. "Look at Stevie!" she kept saying.)

The crowd seemed to enjoy reliving their own personal memories of the performers and their songs, which are inseparable in most cases here.

But the show crams so many snippets from so many songs, I found myself wishing I could experience just a few numbers in their entirety. (Imagine having a DJ play you 15 seconds from each of your favorite 100 songs for nearly three hours with some intermittent jokes, Civil Rights unrest, and a half-cooked romance squeezed between them). That "Motown: The Musical" is still by-and-large enjoyable is a credit to the soulful source material as well as the live band in the orchestra pit led by conductor and keyboardist, Darryl Archibald, who definitely earns his paycheck on this gig.

Lighting was colorful throughout and sets were decent; the action zipping through historical moments without pausing to catch a breath. But the musical felt best in its populist moments when involving the audience. This includes a bit where Ross ventures into the crowd as part of a Vegas routine. Last night, she found a woman from Richmond to sing and a guy from DC who really knocked it out of the mosque, drawing wild applause for his confident take.

Then we all held hands and finished singing the song, "Reach Out and Touch," which provided a cool, racially harmonious moment for the mixed house that illustrated how the best popular music unites us all.

There were some humorous dialogue moments which helped the frenetic pace of the show. Like when Ross learns that her lover Gordy has arranged for her to star in her first Hollywood feature "Lady Sings The Blues."

"But I've never acted before!" she says in her high, bird-like voice.

"Bullshit!" Gordy replies with a certainty that lets us know he deeply understands that all women are actresses to some degree.

Overall, this was a fun show that could use better pacing and perhaps a stronger-willed editor picking key moments, so that a few songs could be fully delivered to bring the house down. And if you're looking for the deeper, more objective story of founder Berry Gordy and the label, you're not going to find it here in this glossed-over, tourist shop version content to paint Gordy as a saint whose darkest dilemma is whether to appear at Motown's 25th reunion and forgive his former stars who left him for mo' money.

But hey, when you have this many beautiful songs, producers must've thought storylines just got in the way. They just decided to let this jukebox ride -- and that's not a bad thing at all when we're talking Hitsville, USA.

"Motown: The Musical" at Altria Theater runs through Sunday with tickets ranging from $38 to $88.

VMFA’s Thursday night jazz performance program has a new name and sponsor: it shall hence forth be known as the Dominion Jazz Café.

That's right because, you guessed it, Dominion Resources is your new sponsor for live jazz every Thursday night.

From the press release:

Working with the Richmond Jazz Society, VMFA began Jazz Café in 2010. Dominion’s support ensures that Jazz Café will continue to be free while maintaining the quality level of performances that visitors have come to enjoy.

“Dominion’s support allows the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to continue our jazz programming for the next three years,” Director Alex Nyerges said. “Museums have evolved to serve the community with not only world-class art, but with diverse social spaces as well. This support ensures that Richmonders will continue to have free, live music performances every week.”

Dominion’s partnership with VMFA spans more than 20 years. The Dominion Resources Galleries house one of the strongest public collections of African art in the United States. Dominion has a rich legacy of sponsoring VMFA’s free cultural programs and recent landmark exhibitions including Posing Beauty in African American Art and Signs of Protest (2014), Dynasty and Divinity: Ife Art in Ancient Nigeria and Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris (2011).

Dominion’s support for the jazz series is being made through the Dominion Foundation, the company’s charitable arm. “The sponsorship—and our long patronage of the museum—reflects our commitment to investing in community vitality and cultural diversity,” said Dominion Chairman, President, and CEO Tom Farrell, who is also a VMFA trustee. Farrell also said that while he does not participate in funding decisions made by the Dominion Foundation, he believes that Jazz Café exemplifies VMFA’s dedication to providing exceptional experiences of art and culture that engage, captivate, and delight a diverse and growing audience of museum visitors.

Here's what your upcoming schedule looks like:

Dominion Jazz Café |Thursday, 6–9 pm.

January Jazz Schedule

Jan. 7: Larri Branch Agenda

Pianist Larri Branch plays serious jazz with a light touch, from Bud Powell to George Gershwin and more with Brian Cruse on Bass, Chris Ryan on Guitar, and C.J. Wolf on Drums.

Jan. 14: Mary Hermann Garcia

Vocalist Mary Hermann García performs with trombonist/percussionist Antonio García, guitarist John Conley, and bassist Brian Sulser in sets of music from the Brazilian and Great American Songbooks.

Jan. 21: Doctors of Jazz

Swing and traditional Dixieland Jazz with Dick Dunsing, banjo; Martin Ryle, trombone; Rob James, cornet; Gene Anderson, clarinet; Paul Welaskay, piano; Akira Suzuki, drums; Ben Anderson, bass/washboard; Joe Troncale, vocals; Stan Goldberg, cornet.

Jan. 28: Triple Crossing Jazz Project

Classic tunes from the Great American Songbook with Jay Brown, tenor sax/percussion; Kirkland Jackson, bass; Mary Lynn Eastman, piano.