Bluemerle

note: Richmonders are anguished and in shock over the brutal, unsolved New Year's Day murders of Bryan and Kathryn Harvey, and their two young daughters, Stella and Ruby (ages 9 and 4). See articles "Slayings of well-known couple and their 2 young daughters stirs disbelief",
"Family's slayings shock Woodland Heights
Harveys were 'as decent and stable a family as you can imagine,' neighbor says"


Richmond.com regularly interviews Richmond notable, and I was gratified to find their 2003 "20 questions" interview of Kathryn Harvey, reprinted below.

20 Questions
Kathryn Harvey
Richmond.comMonday, April 14, 2003


John Denniston/Richmond.com



What was the name of your first pet?
Muffin, a French poodle.

Have any pets now?
We have a cat named Tiger Lily.

What's your favorite thing to do when you're not working
Be with my children. There's really nothing I'd rather do.

How would your mom describe you?
Probably as "driven and very determined"

Have any favorite clothing?
Good, comfortable shoes.

Where's your favorite place to eat?
Mama Zu's, without a doubt. I've never been disappointed there.
What's a magazine you read religiously?
I love those British and French home magazines. I get a lot of inspiration from them.

Best book you've read lately?
"Cold Mountain." It took me a while to get into it, but it was phenomenal.

What's a promise you've made to yourself?
Oh, there are lots of promises, I guess (laughs). One would be not to take myself so seriously. Another would be to try to cook dinner more often.

What's your favorite vacation spot?
The best place I've ever been is Italy. But my expectations have been slightly lowered as I get older -- a week at the beach would be good.

What are three of your favorite movies?
"To Kill a Mockingbird," "It's a Wonderful Life," and "Waiting for Guffman."

What's your worst vice or guilty pleasure?:
Red wine.

What is your motto?
Recently it's been to be thankful for what I have. To remember to smell the roses.

What is your favorite gift to give?
That one's hard for me. There are so many things. There's something called "Scary Stories" that are made by a New York artist. They're like stuffed animals gone wrong. They're really great, really creative.

Where's your favorite place to shop?
Little out-of-the-way flea markets are my absolute favorites, and there's a great store in Doswell called Squashapenny. She has all antiques, but they're usually store fixtures and folk art pieces.

What do you wish you could change about your appearance?
Well, I hoped that having some babies would give me some hips . . . (laughs).

How would you describe your dance moves?
Awkward, but my husband has said otherwise.

What are three things you couldn't do without?
My husband, my quiet screened-in back porch, and Lane, my manager at World of Mirth.

Favorite Shoes?
(Laughs) Well, my favorite pair of shoes would be really silly for most people, but they were a pair of orthopedic boots I bought from Shields Shoes a long time ago. I wore those things for like 15 years, and finally I thought I had to get a grip on my clothing so I gave them up. And I'd give anything to have a pair of them again. I loved those shoes.

What's your favorite spot in Richmond?
I'd have to say some place down by the river. I've been knocked out by how every time we walk down there, it changes. The river is different every time. And it's beautiful.


Kathryn grew up in Virginia Beach and came to Richmond to attend VCU, receiving a bachelor of fine arts degree in painting and printmaking. She opened the first World of Mirth, "a toy store for everyone, with toys for all ages," more than 10 years ago above Exile on Grace Street. The store moved to 3005 W. Cary St. 3½ years ago. Her husband, Bryan, one of the founders of the band House of Freaks, is a computer technician for Henrico County Public Schools but continues his guitar playing in NrG Krysys. They have two daughters, 6 years and 21 months, and live in Woodland Heights, where "the air is always fresh because of the river."