Here Resa Gibbs of The M.S.G. Acoustic Blues Trio signs the very first chair:

Now, from the first floor, you can see up to the original tin ceiling upstairs. Also, walls shielding some of the original shelving and the rear portion of the shop have been removed. The building’s owner – daughter of the man who built the store 105 years ago – is looking into rebuilding a set of stairs similar to the original stairs.

The new shop houses Almost Square, a framing shop dedicated to the notion of quality framing at affordable prices, and a gift shop under the flag of “Bena Country Store.” Front and center is an old-fashioned candy counter. We offer some familiar products, such as Rowena’s jams, sauces and curds; some local favorites, such as honey and beeswax candles from Guinea Jubilee favorites Bena Bees and Whitley’s and Olde Virginia nuts; Virginia-themed books; our own “Bena Country Store” coffee blends and vintage tin toys.

Stayed tuned to us here (or on Facebook) to learn about upcoming sales, events, tastings and more.

AN AFFORDABLE, SMALL-TOWN FRAMING ALTERNATIVE

If we tell you that you can custom frame a movie poster for $75, would you believe us? Here, you can.

A recent example; A customer drove from Smithfield for a quote. Her other three quotes: $450, $450 and $350 (with a Groupon coupon). We charged $220.

How do we save you money? Most frame shops nowadays “outsource” at least part of your order. The frame is cut and joined elsewhere at many shops; sometimes even the mats are cut elsewhere. The downside: The middle man must be paid. We handle the entire process inside our shop, from cutting and joining the frames to cutting the mats (on our precision computerized mat cutter) to cutting and fitting the glass. No middle man=no extra payout for the customer.

For more information about our frames, availability and prices, email john@almostsquare.net.

 

Our Saturday, May 26 show features the fast-emerging Americana group The Steel Wheels. The quartet from Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley features lead singer-songwriter Trent Wagler, multi-instrumentalist Jay Lap, upright bassist Brian Dickel and fiddler Eric Brubaker.

From the band’s Web site:

The Steel Wheels are truly an Americana band, rooted in musical styles that explore the territories between blues and bluegrass, old-time sing-alongs and foot-stompin’ fiddle tunes. They are subtle innovators who respect the past but whistle their own tunes, layering in rich textures and decidedly modern energy to forge a new sound.

“Imagine a blend of the passion of the Avett Brothers, the instrumentals of Old Crow Medicine Show, and then sprinkle in the backwoods feel of The Legendary Shack Shakers. In truth, attempting to compare [The Steel Wheels] to anyone is an injustice, since after one listen you can hear that they stand very well on their own perch.”  -  John Walker, Americana Roots

E-mail tickets@almostsquare.net to save your seat.

UPCOMING SHOWS

• Sat., May 26, 2012: The Steel Wheels
• July 7, 2012: harp guitar virtuoso Stephen Bennett
• Sat., Sept. 8, 2012: Will Kimbrough
• Sat., Sept. 22, 2012: Angela Easterling
• Sat., Nov. 3, 2012: The Stray Birds
• Sat., Nov. 17, 2012: Shane Cooley
• Sat., Dec. 1, 2012: The Honey Dewdrops

All shows are on Saturdays. Unless otherwise noted, all shows start at 8 p.m. – two 45-minute sets with an intermission.

TICKETS

Tickets to all shows are $15. College students w/ IDs, $7.50. Children under 12 are free; 13 to 18 are half price. Seating is limited at the Bena Country Store & Almost Square Picture Framing. We will set seats aside for groups of six or more, upon request. Otherwise, it’s first-come, first-serve. So call (757-404-3416, leave a message) or e-mail (tickets@almostsquare.net) ahead to be lock in your seat.

VIDEO

“Cape Henry,” Will Kimbrough at the Bena Store, 10.29.11
(recorded by Steve O’Neil)

The Steel Wheels
(performing at Bena Store May 26, 2012)

The Honey Dewdrops on “Virginia Currents”
(performing at Bena Store Nov. 19, 2011)

Homestead products we offer include skim, 2% and whole milk; buttermilk; whipping cream; half-and-half; and flavored milks including chocolate milk, strawberry milk and – a new favorite you’ve gotta try – orange-creamsicle milk.

Deliveries come every Friday. But you need never fear spoiled milk – we GUARANTEE the milk fresh for TWO WEEKS after the sell-by date.

Check out the video, below, for more info on Homestead Creamery:

Hormone-free, antibiotic Virginia milk, in glass bottles.

• icanhascheezburger.com
• muttscomics.com
• ASPCA’s Find a Shelter page

SHOP KITTY’S FAVORITE KITTY VIDEO

• Framed prints of past Guinea Jubilee poster winners, plus framed watercolor prints by Williamsburg artist Bill Allen – ranked among the top 100 watercolor artists in the nation!
• Framed clipper art by famed Chesapeake Bay artist Louis Feuchter. Among the images framed: The Skipjack Jessie Price; Lizzie Cox and Watermelon Bay.
• A brand-new-just for-us Bena print by Poquoson watercolor artist Lee Abston – who won the Guinea Jubilee Poster Contest in 2011.
• Bena-Guinea blue heron and blue crab tapestries by textile historian Lauren Fureymoore
• “Moda Lame,” or “ruffle spiral” scarves by Marge Shelton
• Heidi’s affordable gift baskets, featuring the local products you love!