13ainbridgecollective-blog

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The gas mask event was spectacular.  Thanks folks!

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13AINBRIDGE SUMMER MADNESS

There is so much going on at the 13ainbridge Collective that it's hard to find time to post about it.  Which is great, as long as one of us gets around to it every now and then.  So here's that.  We'll start with the fun stuff and get seriouser.

GAS MASK, TURKEY- SOLIDARITY & RAP PARTY

 Why yes, we are having a FUCKING GAS MASK PARTY, thanks for asking.

Seriously though, we have military-grade gas masks.  Like, tons of them.  And they will be sold for $20.  We're not saying you should be prepared for anything, but if you want to be prepared for anything, this is the place to be.

The masks themselves have a fascinating back story, which you can see covered in an almost unbelievable photo essay here: http://9-10-2001gasmask.blogspot.com/

Visitor 10, current owner of the masks, is also a rap artist. 

And he has agreed to perform while slingin' his wares.  Beloved Richmond rapper P.T.Burnem, who is coincidentally beginning some sort of gas mask tour (?!) is going to be in the house as well.

Then, throw on the gas mask you just purchased (or borrow one you couldn't afford for a second, whatever) and get in the 13ainbridge Collective solidarity photo, which will be HAND DELIVERED to Istanbul radicals. 

Not so bad for a Tuesday night, right?  Confirm on the Facebook here, if you do that sort of thing: https://www.facebook.com/events/464791270275552/ Afterward, lots of folks plan to drop in to the Punk Rock Karaoke night at Balliceaux, which will be a fundraiser for the Richmond IWW.  (They started that whole "Workers of the world, unite!" thing.)  To fill the aching fundraising void that the RRFP Bowl-A-Thon has left in us all, come throw a couple bucks around to have some fun for a good cause.

Opposing TRAP

Two members of 13ainbridge are now doing work with Oppose TRAP, an organization dedicated to continuing the fight against the regulations that will soon begin closing an estimated 80% of abortion clinics in the state.  They worked together to produce this comic, which is being disseminated - both through regional organizations and grassroots social media - as widely as possible.  Because it's NUTS, y'all.

If you want to share it on Facebook, you can go here: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=529400343775612&set=a.529400323775614.1073741826.360979230617725&type=1&theater

School Closings

After a long meeting that included 3 hours of public comment, the city voted to close three schools tonight.  One 13ainbridge member in attendance reports an emotional experience, with almost every speaker being directly affected by the decision. 

Clark Springs Elementary School, the Adult Career Development Center and the Norrell pre-school center will cease operation next week.

13ainbridge Collective is looking at this issue over the coming months and hoping to develop an analysis of the causes and outcomes of this decision.

No Stadium in Schockoe Bottom

For the third time, Richmond is fighting to keep a new baseball stadium out of Shockoe Bottom downtown.  There are many, many reasons for this.  You can read about some of them in the Virginia Defender's latest cover story, available in pdf format here: http://www.defendersfje.org/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/V-Def_9-1.pdf 13ainbridge members were present at a strategy meeting to prevent the stadium from being built, and we will be continue to volunteer time, effort and resources to preserve the cultural, historic and economic value of Shockoe Bottom.

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Old school / Acoustic / Acapella.

Another awesome show @ 13ainbridge. 

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We swear... those two pumpkins that have been on the front steps since October are now gone.  13ootsy the kitty did not like the smell of them one bit. A fascinating experiment, but I think we can all agree that we're happy to be pumpkinless.

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Two Amazing Shows @ 13ainbridge This Week!

2013 is starting to go full swing at 13ainbridge, and we have some truly great artists coming through the collective this week! On Wednesday, March 6th, we got some next-gen rap when Height With Friends stops through to drop some totally new stuff.

From the artist: The set will be a period piece, modeled after a Cold Crush Brothers or Fantastic Five show. 1978 raps will be said over new breaks and old breaks. The echo box will boom. We premiered this set in Baltimore last week. To me, it feels like we’re turning to a totally new page. I’m so excited to take this on the road! Baltimore/Richmond favorite P.T. Burnem is going to throw down as well. Y'all know what that's like.  "For those that don't know, Height With Friends and P.T. Burnem have been collaborating on shows and recordings for the last 10 years, and while either artist alone is worth the price of admission (free) the acts go together like Gin and Juice."

FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - On Saturday March 9th, we are ridiculously pleased to see the return of two of Richmond's most important (and critically acclaimed) artists: Nelly Kate and Dave Watkins with special guests Kurva Choir. This show will be one of Richmond's 2013 gems. If you genuinely appreciate intimate, beautiful music - from experimental orchestral to carefully constructed melody - you will not want to spend your night on Facebook. (But since you probably have a browser window open there now, you can go click "Join" on the FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE.)

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13ack in Swing.

No, 13ainbridge has not been inactive during this long absence of posts!  Quite the opposite.  We've been so busy that it's hard to keep up!  We've had amazing house shows, speakers, meetings, parties and all manner of getting together.

We're gonna be better about posting photos, videos and info about upcoming events NOW.

And boy have we got tons of stuff coming up!  Check out the short list:

- Cooch Watch Video Shoot! 

 Monroe Park, 620 W Main St

Thursday, August 30th, 4-6 pm

You may have already seen (and heard!) Jordan in Cooch Watch's "Hands Off Crazy", which went viral after Rachel Maddow tweeted it, landing it on sites like Raw Story, Frisky, Breitbart, Daily Kos, Upworthy, Gender Focus and Democratic Underground.

The response was so positive that another parody video shoot will be taking place this week!  Wanna be in it with a bunch of other people?  Come hang with two or three members of 13ainbridge while dancing and lip syncing your way to social justice!  If you'd like to come, confirm at the Facebook event page. 

- Potluck + Screening + Dave Watkins!

Friday, August 31st @ 6:15

The night starts with food!  Bring some, share it and eat a bunch that other people brought!

Then, as part of a national day of solidarity with the Cleveland Four, we will be screening the award-winning documentary film Better This World, which chronicles the entrapment of two anarchists at the 2008 Republican National Convention.  NPR did a great review of it here!

Then we ease out of the heavy politics and into the sounds of Richmond's Dave Watkins.  The man is a loop-machine genius and a true musician. 

A potluck, film screening and show IN ONE NIGHT.  What the hell else are you gonna do?

- Box Wine River Float!  (And lunch!)

$15, Saturday, September 1st, Noon

Support a great cause with food, box wine and a day in the river!  13ainbridge is proud to support the Wayside Center for Popular Education, and several members are working on this year's fundraising competition on Team Hyfy.

For our first event, Team Hyfy will provide you with a healthy lunch and a tube to take a relaxing float down the James before the summer heat is truly gone.  You'll also have access to the WINE FLOAT, a tube full of box wine that will take our leisurely trip with us.  Come eat, drink and be lazy together!

- Soil and the Sun

Thursday, September 6th

Enough said.

- Grassroots Fundraiser Training

Wednesday, September 12th, 7-9 pm

Oh, you're fundraising for social justice causes too?  Find out how to do it better!  Come share your own experience while learning what works and what doesn't.  Make a plan, follow the plan, win!  Facebook event here. 

- 13ainbridge and Cooch Watch @ the Board of Health!

9960 Mayland Dr Richmond, Virginia

Friday, September 14th, 7:30 am

Three members of 13ainbridge were involved in making this video, which ends with an invitation to the next (and final??) battle over the regulation of abortion clinics in Virginia:

The fate of women all over the state hangs in the balance, folks.  Don't get tired!  Come on out and let your voice be heard!  Facebook event page here.

We've got even more awesome stuff coming up in October, but we won't overload you just yet!

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In case you forgot how awesome the 13ainbridge Collective is, I submit to you this kitten brawl I woke to this morning.

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The 13ainbridge Collective recently hosted a Direct Action Training that saw more than 40 attendees!  It was a beautiful day and we stayed outside into the evening learning about the principles and practice of direct action.  The training included everything from moderated discussion to role playing cops and demonstrators.  Thanks so much to everyone who was able to come out!

We have some video, but in the interest of protecting identities of the attendees, we're not going to post it here. 

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Tonight we hosted the first of many Euro Game Nights, which we hope will introduce Richmonders to European-style strategy board games and each other.

(We might throw in some light material like an American zombie game or Apples to Apples every now and then just to shake things up.)

Tonight's event was focused on the most well-known Euro game in the world, Settlers of Catan, which was the first to break into international markets and change the world of board gaming for good.

Thanks to everyone for coming out and playing Settlers!  Congrats to winners Daniel and Niels!

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After the Manchester vs. Oregon Hill dodgeball game, lots of folks headed over to the community garden, where all kinds of wonderful things are happening.

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In case you're wondering about the wall lighting during our house shows, there's a big 13-point star to represent the collectives on and around 13th street and a smaller 5-pointed star for the 5 people that hold down 13ainbridge.

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They were polite, but still... does this really look dangerous?

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We had a Manchester community cleanup day today, with folks from outside the 13ainbridge Collective helping as well.  We weaved through the neighborhood picking up lots of trash and ended up with these bags, plus a couple that we threw in cans along the way. 

We also got a chance to clean up Blackwell Elementary!

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A recent hip-hop show at the 13ainbridge Collective featured Goad Gatsby, Isaac Ramsey (Swordplay) and P.T. Burnem.  Here's Burnem performing a totally revamped version of "Cops and Robbers" from the Paper Cranes album.  He's dropped the guitar and laid back style for an in-your-face drum machine joint, and it kills.

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This weekend: trash clean-up, potluck, music, and dodgeball!

The 13ainbridge residents have a packed weekend for your enjoyment.

On Saturday morning, join us for a Community Clean-Up followed by a potluck at 1506 Porter. We will be meeting in front of the 13ainbridge Collective at 1pm. Trash bags and gloves will be provided.

Saturday night, the 13ainbridge Collective will host a free acoustic show, featuring Roanoke-grown artists Marshall Hicks, Kristi Emmons, and Allie Smith. Donations will be accepted to pay for the artists' transportation and baked good will be sold to raise money for Kelsea's Feminist Boot Camp fund.

On Sunday, there will be a Manchester vs Oregon Hill dodgeball match. If you're from Manchester or OHill, check out the Facebook event page for more information on playing.

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The 13ainbridge Collective is proud to launch its official online presence! 

Since the Manchester collective house was occupied, we have hosted a variety of events and shows, including the Richmond Eats Richmond potluck, organizing meetings for the Speak Loudly with Silence action group, the first legal support meeting for those arrested at the M3 protest, organizing sessions for the Richmond F29 awareness campaign against ALEC, Manchester cleanup days, Occupy RVA committee meetings, an intimate house show with Allie Smith and Cole Sullivan and more! 

Our office is being put in working order, and will soon be available for whoever needs to use it.

If you’re a member of a political or socially conscious organization that needs space, organizing assistance or anything else we might be able to provide, get in touch!