Creating his own fun: Carter Powers, 4, puts his creative powers to use last Saturday during the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts’ ChinaFest: Year of the Earth Pig celebration for the lunar new year. (Ava Reaves)

Year of the Earth Pig: It was a celebration of the lunar new year last Saturday at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts’ ChinaFest: Year of the Earth Pig. Scores of families participated in the festivities that featured an exploration of Chinese art and culture through dance, calligraphy, tea tasting and art activities. Children and young adult dancers from Yu Dance Arts perform traditional Chinese dances with modern Western aesthetics. Performers from RYSE Lion Dance at VCU show off the Fut San style of lion dance that originated in ancient southern China. Youngsters could craft an Earth Pig with air-dry clay, decorate a Chinese folding fan, write their New Year’s wishes on a paper lantern, learn Chinese words and enjoy tai chi demonstrations and storytelling during the event. (Ava Reaves)

Year of the Earth Pig: It was a celebration of the lunar new year last Saturday at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts’ ChinaFest: Year of the Earth Pig. Scores of families participated in the festivities that featured an exploration of Chinese art and culture through dance, calligraphy, tea tasting and art activities. Children and young adult dancers from Yu Dance Arts, perform traditional Chinese dances with modern Western aesthetics. Performers from RYSE Lion Dance at VCU show off the Fut San style of lion dance that originated in ancient southern China. Youngsters could craft an Earth Pig with air-dry clay, decorate a Chinese folding fan, write their New Year’s wishes on a paper lantern, learn Chinese words and enjoy tai chi demonstrations and storytelling during the event. (Ava Reaves)

Year of the Earth Pig: It was a celebration of the lunar new year last Saturday at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts’ ChinaFest: Year of the Earth Pig. Scores of families participated in the festivities that featured an exploration of Chinese art and culture through dance, calligraphy, tea tasting and art activities. Children and young adult dancers from Yu Dance Arts perform traditional Chinese dances with modern Western aesthetics. Performers from RYSE Lion Dance at VCU show off the Fut San style of lion dance that originated in ancient southern China. Youngsters could craft an Earth Pig with air-dry clay, decorate a Chinese folding fan, write their New Year’s wishes on a paper lantern, learn Chinese words and enjoy tai chi demonstrations and storytelling during the event. (Ava Reaves)

Year of the Earth Pig: It was a celebration of the lunar new year last Saturday at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts’ ChinaFest: Year of the Earth Pig. Scores of families participated in the festivities that featured an exploration of Chinese art and culture through dance, calligraphy, tea tasting and art activities. Children and young adult dancers from Yu Dance Arts perform traditional Chinese dances with modern Western aesthetics. Performers from RYSE Lion Dance at VCU show off the Fut San style of lion dance that originated in ancient southern China. Youngsters could craft an Earth Pig with air-dry clay, decorate a Chinese folding fan, write their New Year’s wishes on a paper lantern, learn Chinese words and enjoy tai chi demonstrations and storytelling during the event. (Ava Reaves)

Pine cones in Byrd Park (Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press)

Work is underway at 9th and Broad streets on a new 15-story office building for members of the General Assembly. The previous General Assembly Building, as it was called, was torn down last year, with only the historic 1912 façade saved for incorporation into the new building. The façade is being held in place with metal scaffolding. The new building is expected to be completed in 2021. About $300 million is being invested in the new construction and in the renovation of Old City Hall, seen in the background. For now, General Assembly members have offices in temporary quarters in the Pocahontas Building on Main Street. (Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press)