Hitting the Bull's Eye x 2

One of my favorite pastimes is the "what if?" question.

Like what if Richmond Triangle Players wasn't the only reason for me to go to Scott's Addition?

So far, it has been but after today's visit to Lunch, I have another just as valid.

Their slogan, "It doesn't matter when you get there, it's always the best meal of the day" certainly sets a high standard.

The tiny little place that used to be Sue's Kitchen is looking a whole lot hipper now.

Maneuvering through a cluster of mostly-filled tables to the counter, I took a seat at the end where takeout orders were coming out rapidly.

A couple of carafes of syrup set nearby, testament to their breakfast service which lasts until 3:00.

A vase of backyard flowers, a bit past their prime, graced the end of the counter near me.

Although sorely tempted by a chalkboard special patty melt, I figure the first thing I needed to know was how well they did a basic lunchtime sandwich.

That led me to the Ike, their house-made albacore tuna salad on thick-sliced multi-grain bread.

It arrived on black and white checked paper and was easily the biggest tuna sandwich I'd ever been served.

With a sweet gherkin and a mound of chips, it proved that Lunch knows lunch.

As I ate, customers came in to place orders or pick them up, so I had a changing array of conversational partners.

My longest chat was with the production director for Richmond Triangle Players, who ordered the Summit as we discussed which plays I'd seen that he'd made sets for.

By the time his to-go box came out, we'd established that since I'll be there next week, we'll be seeing each other again in no time.

Walking out, I felt certain I'll be back for lunch and, given the siren song of Scrapple on the menu, probably next it'll be for breakfast at Lunch.

From there I wound my way down to the site of this weekend's RVA Street Art Festival at the power plant building.

What if RVA found an outlet for the talents of street artists, both local and national?

With the big festival days tomorrow and Sunday, I was curious to see what was happening so far.

Holy creative transformation, Batman!

The site was abuzz with artists, a completed piece, pieces in progress, volunteer artists, media, tourists and more photographers than you could shake a stick at.

One piece, completed last night at 3:30 a.m. by an artist who needed to get back to Washington, showed an enormous dart board with the bottom half of people coming out of it.

That's right, legs and shoes only. It was whimsical and beautifully executed.

Other pieces were works in progress, like the bottom half of what looked like Wonder Woman, a bucolic country scene and a Gibson Girl-like portrait.

Organizer Ed Trask, in his trademark hat, was everywhere, answering questions on camera, talking to the media and looking like he could bust his buttons about this large-scale street art project finally happening in Richmond.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow when almost all of the artists will be on site and available to talk to visitors like me.

What if we found a creative use for abandoned buildings and tapped the talents of people who can make them a destination, not to mention a work of art?

What if Richmond just keeps getting to be a better scene all the way around?

Don't look now, kids, but it's already happening.