Jon Stewart at a Dead Kennedys show in Richmond?

The interwebs are all abuzz the last 24 hours with this supposed pic of Jon Stewart from The Daily Show in the pit at a Dead Kennedys show in Richmond on July 23rd, 1982 (center, behind the 3 guys with their arms interlocked):

The full lineup that night: Dead Kennedys, Void (Washington DC), White Cross (Richmond) and Front Line (Norfolk). The show was at Casablanca (later Rockitz, now Empire). Quite a show but just slightly before my time. Old timers in Richmond are skeptical this is really Jon Stewart, I'll post an update if a definitive answer emerges.

VCU demolition update - Before and After

Wow, I've had a real lack of posts here this month, huh? I've been busy, but I'll try and pick up the pace around here...

Time for some updates on the "progress" of VCU's old buildings. First up, the old Common Groundz coffee shop building at 734-736 West Broad Sreet. This 1889 building is now officially gone. I first wrote about this building here, and followed up with another post here.

Before:

Today:

Next up are the row houses at 102 (built in 1900), 104 (built in 1900) and 106 (built in 1910) North Linden Street. Gone as well. I wrote about them here last summer.

Before:

Today:

Last is the Baptist Student Union at 1000-1002 Floyd Ave, built in 1905. You guessed it, gone. Written about here last Summer as well.

Before:

Today:

I didn't take a picture of the former VCU Education Annex building (1954) at 109 North Harrison Street, but you can see in the background of the photo above where it used to stand (on the left).

For now, the VCU Meeting Center at 101 North Harrison Street is being saved. It was built in 1906, and has a fairly storied past. But will it really be saved? The VCU six year capital plan calls for another classroom building on Floyd, right next to the one being built this year. See the map on page 25 of the linked PDF that shows another new VCU classroom building on the exact spot where this over 100 year old former church sits today:

Vintage Triangle Adult Book Store

The former Triangle Book Store at 1001 West Boulevard is getting a makeover. In case you haven't driven by since they started renovations, there's some fantastic signage on the old gas station underneath the awful vinyl siding. I don't know what I love more, the great "Movies" banner on the front, or the unnecessary apostrophe in "Book's" on the side. Anyone know how long Triangle was there for?

The building will soon become a taquería called En Su Boca, which means "in your mouth." They're months from opening, and judging by the new owners' sense of humor I like the place already. :-)

Click the photos below for the high resolution images.

Here's what it's looked like for at least the last 20 years:

Main Street Station - 1905

This one's for an old friend who's visiting today...I know it's one of his favorite Richmond landmarks. Here's another great shot of Main Street Station in downtown Richmond from around the time it was built in the first few years of the 20th Century. Probably around 1905. I love the angle of this picture, looking down the tracks.

Photo courtesy of The Library of Congress

Elvis (and friend) at the Jefferson Hotel Coffee Shop - 1956

"With his date for the day, whom he met at the Jefferson Hotel, Elvis has a bowl of soup at the hotel coffee shop while showing her the script for The Steve Allen Show."

Make sure to check out "Elvis at 21: Photographs by Alfred Wertheimer" at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, running through March 18th. And this Sunday the 8th from 1-3pm, Barbara Gray, the "Mystery Woman" from the photo below, and others will help celebrate Elvis' birthday, sign autographs and pose for photos.

Photo courtesy of Alfred Wertheimer/the VMFA

Carol & Bobbie Ann make a snow man - 1958

The first real cold of the winter arrives today, in January! It's shaping up to be a warm one here in RVA, so we may never get to see a sight like the one below from February of 1958. Anyone know where this house is? I'm guessing the Museum District, but a quick check on Google Maps didn't turn up anything.

Photo courtesy of The Library of Virginia's Adolph B. Rice Studio collection