Last month, the New York Times wrote that Richmond is “emerging as a new player on the Southern art and culinary scene.” Indeed, but why take a Noo Yawker’s word for it when you can slide on down I-95 and check it out yourself?

Next weekend, the Visual Art Center’s 45th Craft + Design Show kicks off under the rotunda at the Science Museum of Virginia. The building, once the Broad Street Station, is a work of art itself. Designed by John Russell Pope, the architect behind the National Archives building, the Jefferson Memorial, and the National Gallery of Art’s west building, it’s on the National Register of Historic Places and alone worth the drive.

If you’ve ever been to the annual Smithsonian Craft Show, you’ll find that this one has a lot in common, except that Richmond’s show is 18 seasons wiser. There’ll be 75 superstar artists representing 17 states displaying works in fiber, glass, jewelry, mixed media, and wood. Says Karen Cauthen Miller, VAC’s special-events coordinator: “This show provides a unique opportunity to meet the artists, learn their stories, and collect their objects.” That intimacy is a major draw because half of the artists have never shown in Richmond. And lest you think it’s a fusty museum exhibit, a special partnership with Quirk Gallery (where Noah Scalin of Skull-A-Day fame displayed selections this summer) promises fun, youthful art at hang-it-in-the-kids’-rooms prices.

A first timer to the show, I got a sense of the scene by catching up with two Maryland artists who made the cut: Joseph Craig English, a printmaker/painter/sculptor from Washington Grove, and Eric Burris, a metalsmith/jeweler out of Silver Spring.

We love Craigslist. In fact, we’re sort of addicted to searching the free classifieds site for really random things. Like houseboats.

When we recently searched for the term “Valentine’s Day,” we were surprised to see two pages of results. What could people possibly sell on Craigslist for Valentine’s Day? Turns out, quite a lot.

We decided to pick the best and worst Valentine’s gifts Washingtonians are hawking for quick cash and run photos of them here. Please note our (totally arbitrary) Gift-O-Meter rating system, with 1 being you’ll-be-sleeping-on-the-couch terrible and 5 being make-arrangements-for-a-dogsitter-because-you-won’t-be-coming-home awesome.

You’re welcome.

>> See our full Valentine's Day Guide

This chocolate-fondue pot from Williams-Sonoma, usually $29.99, is a steal at $9.99. A romantic way to share a rich indulgence, the porcelain pot and tea-light candle come with six stainless-steel fondue forks that can be used to dip strawberries, marshmallows, brownies, and more.

This time of year usually means planning holiday parties, attending soirées, buying gifts, decorating . . . the list is exhausting. With all the stress of the holiday season approaching, why not take time for a new hobby? Sure, you’re about to be loaded down with all those extra tasks, but some of these holiday hobbies come with perks: They’re relaxing, and the result can often be given as a gift. If you’ve always been interested in knitting, try a beginners’ course that will teach you to make a scarf. Knitting can be done during the Metro commute or when unwinding with a glass of wine on the couch. On  weekends, take the kids to a baking or pottery class, or try a workshop to find new ways to spice up your holiday dinner party.

Saturday, December 6, through Saturday, December 13: Ornament-Decorating Workshop
The Alexandria Archeology Museum invites families to the Torpedo Factory Art Center to decorate holiday ornaments. Create clay ornaments using different shapes, colors, and patterns, and take them home for yourself or to give as a gift. Saturday, December 6, 1 to 4; Sunday and Monday, 11 to 7; Tuesday through Saturday, December 13, 11 to 9. Free; call 703-838-4399 for more information.

You might also like . . . Recession Deals at Restaurants | Happy Hours on Saturday and Sundays

Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday

Thursday, November 20: The third Thursday of November marks the release of the 2008 Beaujolais Nouveau harvest—and French law says the bottle can’t be corked before then. The anticipation is killing us, so we’ve rounded up a few local spots that will toast the special occasion.

You’ll get a French happy hour mixed with music and art tonight at the Phillips Collection’s Soiree Carte Blanche event. Bring your iPod to join in a music-mixing contest with a great prize: a free series of classes at the Alliance Française and a Phillips Collection membership. The fun, food, and Frenchiness gets started at 6 PM; admission is $12 at the door.

Friday, November 21: The National Museum of American History is finally reopening after months of delays. Celebrate its newly renovated digs at a ribbon-cutting ceremony this morning from 8:30 to 10. A grand-opening festival commences at 10 and continues throughout the day and weekend. Jazz, blues, classical, and Latin music will be played, and actors will recreate important scenes from American history, including the creation of “The Star Spangled Banner” and sit-ins during the Civil Rights movement. Visit americanhistory.si.edu for details.

You may also be interested in . . . Weekend Happy Hours | Thanksgiving Roundup: Races, Parades, Charities, and More | November in Music | November’s Museums

And don't miss our Inauguration 2009 coverage, including this always-updated list of all the parties and galas.

Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday

Thursday, November 13: Even if you voted for the other guy, surely you can get behind an open bar. That’s what’s taking place tonight at MCCXXIII when the Women’s Information Network hosts a postelection happy hour. $10 for WIN members, $20 for nonmembers, and free if you join WIN at the event.

Are you a local blog lover? We sure are (as if you didn’t know that already from our Blogger Beat series). Well, one of our favorite local blogs, the Prince of Petworth, is celebrating his two-year blogaversary (it’s a word, trust us) tonight at Wonderland. There will be live music, drinks, and the Prince himself. 8 PM; free.

It’s a Chicago-based magazine, but that didn’t stop Stop Smiling from putting out an all-things-DC issue, which it’s celebrating tonight at Civilian Arts Projects. The issue contains articles on local crime novelist George Pelecanos and actor Anwan Glover (who will both be in attendance). The release party will feature the music of Ian Svenonius and other DJs. 7 PM; a $5 suggested donation will get you a copy of the mag.