today’s city guide holds a very special place in my heart. i was born in richmond, virginia and spent my first few years there, and went back over and over every year to visit my family that still lives there. for me, richmond was always the “cool” part of virginia growing up- with lots of “city” stores (compared to the shops we had at the beach) and cool restaurants. and now richmond has really grown into a fantastic city with lots of great art, design, cultural and music opportunities. i for one am happy to find a new store (the only one i remember was pink cadillac on cary street) to check out the next time i’m home visiting my family. thanks to richmond locals kelly brown of kelly brown interiors and leslie kingery of glappy world for their hard work on this guide! [all photos by jay paul]
CLICK HERE for the full richmond guide after the jump!
This guide was written by D*S readers Kelly Brown and Leslie Kingery. Last year, Kelly relocated to Richmond from Los Angeles, and with her company Kelly Brown Interiors have provided a much needed interior design niche for those looking to “green” their spaces. More recently, Leslie moved from Portland, OR back to her home state of Virginia. She is currently working on Glappy World, a soon-to-be launched educational site focusing on celebrations around the world.
As fate would have it, the two met last year and have since collaborated on several projects. In addition, they both share a mutual love of the West Coast and design in all forms and facets. We hope you enjoy this guide as much as we enjoyed compiling it for you!
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA City Guide
Richmond stands in the center of the state of Virginia with close proximity to the mountains, the sea, and Washington DC. The city has a rich history dating from the colonial times when the capital was moved from Williamsburg to Richmond, then served as the capital of the Confederate States of America and now the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Our lovely city sits high on a hill giving it a magnificent view of the James River surrounded by a plethora of architecturally significant areas, each with its own unique personality The city is also doted with major universities – University of Richmond, Virginia Union University, Virginia Commonwealth University and the Medical College of Virginia.
Richmond is a wonderful walking, biking, cultural city with incredible museums, festivals, cafes and shopping. The city has been often cast as a very southern and traditional, but the arts scene is vibrant and gently prodding it design-wise into a much more modern city. Proof recently is the newly formed
Shop, Eat & Do: (furniture, food & fun)
They are so many wonderful shops throughout the Richmond area and yummy places to dine; we picked a few of our favorites.
Church Hill
Church Hill sits high on a hill overlooking both over the James River and downtown. Both the famous St John’s Church and a Philip Johnson designed building
are located in Richmond’s oldest intact neighborhood. Great area for strolling and admiring the largest collection of antebellum structures in the city. Several wonderful parks dot the hills where you have fabulous river and city views; wonderful spots to lounge in the grass or play frisbee with your pups.
S B Cox Demolition Tucked away at the bottom of Church Hill, these rough and tough guys don’t limit themselves to razing old buildings, they also salvage what they can before swinging the wrecking ball. As you might imagine, the place is dirty, dusty and unorganized but if you’re looking for a clawfoot tub, a mint green toilet, a bargain or all of the above (and A LOT of time on your hands) then Cox is your place.
Renmark Consignments Newly opened Renmark Consignment shop is filled with traditional and quirky accessories for the home under the watchful eyes of Eapoe (named for Edgar Allen Poe) and Scamper. Designer Tayne Renmark has a discerning eye for wonderful picks. Recently spotted an elephant trunk lamp. And in the spirit of giving back, a percentage of sales will benefits local non-profit
Alamo BBQ (no website) – Located across from Jefferson Park, this cute outdoor carry out serves a mean beef brisket and a meaner jalapeno mac & cheese.
Captain Buzzy’s Beanery (no website) – Beans are roasted on the premises in this quaint neighborhood coffee shop right on Broad Street making it a wonderful place to hang out with friends or use their free WiFi. They serve both breakfast and lunch items as well as a local favorite summer drink, tart limeade.
The Hill Cafe Favorites are the BBQ Baby Back Ribs in a chipotle honey rib glaze and the grilled meatloaf blue-plate special, It’s both a friendly neighborhood bar and cafe serving great food.
Millie’s Legions of brunch fans show up at the doors Sundays hankering for the famous Devil’s Mess and a rock solid Bloody Mary. The chalkboard dinner menu changes every 3 weeks, but their signature Thai Spicy Shrimp over linguine is always on the menu. Millie’s is highly regarded for their food but they have both an amazing collection of vintage jukeboxes and real 45s.
Patrick Henry gave his famous “Give me liberty or give me death” speech here in 1775. Re-enactments occur each Sunday in the summer beginning Memorial Day weekend and running through Labor Day weekend. The Anniversary Reenactment is held on the Sunday in March closest to 23 March, the actual date of Henry’s speech.
During the Civil War, chief surgeon, Dr James McCaw, ran the largest and very progressive hospital. On limited resources, he managed to rent farm land near the hospital to pasture cattle and grow a garden to provide his patients with milk, cheese and fresh vegetables. The hospital had a patient mortality rate of 20 percent; dismal by today’s standards, but quite good in terms of nineteenth century medicine.
St. John’s Church William Byrd II gave Richmond its’ name because the bend in the river is so reminiscent of the view of the Thames Upon Richmond where he spent much of his youth in England.
Called “America’s Shakespeare”, Poe penned such classics as :The Raven, The Tell-Tale Heart and The Fall of the House of Usher. The museum is housed in the wonderful Old Stone House and features many of Poe’s belongings.
Downtown (including
Richmond’s vibrant downtown has several distinct shopping and eating areas. Jackson Ward is one of the nation’s most important centers of African-American culture. The area also contains a wide variety of architectural styles that include Greek Revival, Italianate, Romanesque and Second Empire and its’ collection of ornate cast-iron porches are second only to those of New Orleans.
Shockoe Slip and Shockoe Bottom district have a wide variety of businesses as well as teaming with incredible architecture and history. Start at the top of Shockoe Slip at the
and walk to Shockoe bottom around Bottom’s Up Pizza
and then walk left to Main Street to the
Gaze up and right to Main Street Station. The station is also viewed from Interstate 95 North. The building is a beautiful example of the Beaux Arts of architecture and was built when passenger trains were king around 1900.
La Difference Affectionately referred to by locals as “La DIFF”, this little-engine-that-could blazed a trail into Richmond in 1992. Defying all Commonwealth odds, their selection of modern, contemporary furniture became a haven for those craving furniture with clean, unfussy lines. Occupying the entire real estate of the old Watkins Cottrell Building, La Diff is a true testament to the saying “if you build it, they will come”.
These Four WallsJust a few doors down from La Diff, this showroom houses a collection of furniture and accessories that are in sharp contrast to those of it’s neighbor. While La DIFF commonly takes it’s cues from across the Atlantic, T4W suggests south of the border influences. Unique, hand-carved chairs, tables and benches dominate the floor, punctuated by brightly painted case goods and an eclectic selection of accessories including an 8 foot tall T-Rex made entirely of hand-forged iron. Who says accessories have to be small?
If your hardwood floors could talk, would they have anything to say? If you purchased them from ReStore, they’d probably have plenty to say. Focusing on reclaimed hardwood from old buildings slated for demolition, ReStore breathes new life into old materials. Their current stock comes from the Martha’s Mill building in Thomaston, GA where every piece was carefully extracted from the building. The store, designed more like a gallery space, displays archive photographs and old documents of the Mill – elegantly framed and perfectly lit. The photos bring the floors to life and tell a unique story of what’s lying underfoot.
This tiny store on Broad Street offers an incredible selection of Traditional and Contemporary product lines for your kitchen and bath. Pop in when they’re open for the First Friday Artwalks. Always something new, useful and beautiful to see.
Quirk Gallery Quirk gallery wears it’s name well – quirky, fun and always exciting. The gift shop at the front houses unique goods from local jewelry makers, potters and artist alike. Heading further back, the gallery opens up to an ever-changing exhibition of expertly curated shows by emerging and established artists alike. Currently on display is
After Life: A Skull Exhibition
, Noah Scalin’s year-long project of creating skulls from every imaginable material. Of the 365 created, almost half will be on display at Quirk (July 3-Aug 22).
Packed on Broad Street’s First Friday Artwalk, this cafe has a fun bar that stocks $1 PBRs and great comfort food. The entrees are generous & tasty. Try the Fried Green Tomato appetizer or a plate of their vegetable sides.
Everything is wonderful and generous here, but their selection of vegetarian tapas rocks. So tasty and flavorful are the Spanish cheese plate and sauteed mushrooms! Sunday nights go downstairs to the lounge and have half priced tapas and listen to some live music. Europa is located in the lower end of Shockoe Slip.
Located in Shockoe Bottom across from the historic 17th Street farmer’s market, Lulu’s serves some southern foods with a twist like Pan Fried Catfish w/ fried green tomatoes, sweet corn relish, and habanero aioli and the High-Falootin’ Mac and Cheese with three-cheese pasta and grilled shrimp. The space itself is incredible with minimalist bamboo booths designed and built by local musician and furniture maker, Tom Brickman.
Like most old buildings, The National theatre, which opened in 1923, had seen better days prior to last year’s painstaking restoration which transformed it from a dilapidated vaudeville movie theatre into a breathtakingly beautiful concert hall. A state of the art sound system sits right at home next to ornate plasterwork and weathered stone stairs. Now, instead of bypassing the capital city, artists and bands have no excuse but to put Richmond on the music map.
The Capitol is the first full-scale building in the form of a classical temple since antiquity. While in France, Jefferson was inspired by the first-century Roman temple “La Maison Carree” in Nimes. Jefferson, an amateur architect, enlisted the help of Clerisseau, an expert on ancient buildings. Clerisseau directed the creation of a plaster model for the new building and Jefferson drew plans.
Yes, it is really a library but the building is magnificent. Worth the walk over from Capital Square!
Not only do they have wonderful exhibitions and a complete history of Richmond, but they offer the best and most fun tours. The newest is touring Shockoe Bottom on a Segway!
First Fridays Richmond Almost every city has an artwalk these days, but this one has being going strong for eight seasons. Not just great art, but also fantastic people watching. One of the galleries -1708 Gallery hosts InLight, an exhibition of contemporary public art inspired by light. More than 5,000 people attended the event last year.
Richmond Folk Fest Held on the riverfront, this is one of Virginia’s largest FREE events and celebrates American culture through music, dance, traditional craft and food. Last year’s festival featured more than 30 performing groups on seven stages in the exact likeness of National Folk Festival held in Richmond for the three previous years. This is a hugely popular and fun family event.
The Fan
is the largest intact Victorian community in the United States covering over o100 blocks. The area’s name comes from a fan shape street pattern created by the pentagonal shape of Monroe Park at the base of the district. Houses in the area date before 1880 and through the 1920s. The historic Monument Avenue
borders the are with its’ majestic statues and grand homes. One of the best places to walk for miles and see fabulous homes and gardens, breeze into a unique shop or stop by a patio cafe for a beer and some food.
The place for all things green. Here you’ll find lots of green goodies for your nest including Mythic Paint, ModGreenPod fabrics and of course, if the budget allows – custom kitchens, flooring and various other home items. Not to miss, The Busy Beavers are hard at work building a local niche in the current up-cycling trend in home furnishings and accessories. The showroom proudly displays a bold and bright selection of once neglected cast-offs and curbside rejects. If you can’t make it to EcoLogic, visit their Etsy Store
and snatch up your very own one-of-a-kind before someone else does.
Expats from California, the owners of this oh-so-fabulous Mid-Century Modern home furnishings store are hard at work scouring the planet to bring a little dash (or a lot, depending on who you ask) of Palm Springs heaven (a la Kelly Wearstler and Richard Neutra to name a few) to the Old Dominion’s traditional chintz and chippendale. If you just can’t resist and end up purchasing a little piece of recycled vintage, don’t forget to have your grill and goods photographed. They’ll add it to their ownership section on the website – with your permission, of course.
a href=”http://www.strawberryfields.us/”>Strawberry Fields
Located on Strawberry Street, this small boutique offers up fresh flowers, fun gifts and friendly staff.
I dare you to find another fabric store in Richmond selling anything at $2.99/yd. Although lacking in square footage, it definitely makes up for in prices and customer service.
Art Galleries – Richmond has many incredible art galleries located throughout the city. Worth mentioning, these two wonderfully designed spaces are amazing as well as their collections. They are on located on Main Street just steps away from the other. Page Bond Gallery
This pint-sized cafe just off Broad Street has quickly become a locals’ favorite. They serve up possibly the biggest sub this side of the Mississippi, known as the battleship. Get a side of Devil eggs and an Orange Nehi. Dare you to save room for the banana pudding.
Mediterranean Morrocan style food and decor plus they have fun Bollywood dance nights!
On balmy summer days make sure you ask for the back patio. Oversized seating, wonderful drinks and shade – the perfect after work pause for Richmond’s happy hour crowd.
8 1/2 on Strawberry Street (no website) Half-Italian convenience store half-Italian takeaway, order a white pizza or eggplant parmesan and then stop in next door at Strawberry Street Vineyard to grab a bottle of wine. It’s the perfect complement!
Cuban food at its’ finest in a cozy cafe cum store stocking wonderful cuban products. Save room for the famous tres leches cake made by the owner’s mom and a cup of cafe con leche.
In the heart of the fan, this tiny cafe is a great place to meet friends and order from their large variety of yummy tapas and try a sampling of spanish wines. Sit outside on the patio if it’s nice out or hang out with your friends upstairs on the sofas in the cozy bar. Has an excellent late night menu, too.
Ipanema has an offbeat, hipster vibe, located just a couple steps below Grace Sreet (yes, it’s below ground!) in the VCU college district. It’s all about veggies here and prepared in the most innovative ways.
Technically located in Oregon Hill, which is adjacent to the fan, this unorthodox restaurant serves up scrumptious Italian food. With a huge local following, many fans are willing to wait hours for a table just to savor the dishes infused with garlic, fresh basil and mozzarella. Order the white bean, garlic and arugula – it’s an explosion of flavor for your taste buds.
Virginia Center For Architecture
Once a private residence, this 27,000 square foot Tudor-Revival mansion designed by Architect John Russell Pope was purchase by VCA in 2003. This incredible foundation’s sole mission statement “invites the public to explore the power and importance of architecture through exhibitions, educational programs, publications and its stewardship of a historic landmark.” You will not be disappointed.
Virginia presidents, Monroe and Tyler, General J.E.B. Stuart and Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States and remains of over 18,000 Confederate dead are buried in this park-like, pastoral setting high above the James River. Incredible monuments, tombs and statuary grace the landscape. Do look for the incredible granite stone pyramid and the fabulous cast iron dog.
Carytown and The Museum District
is a unique shopping and dining district that stretches 10 blocks longs and has an incredible variety of mostly locally owned shops. There is something for everyone in home and fashion and for your dog too. And increasingly, very diverse choices in dining- Italian, Sushi, Thai, Indian and Mexican scattered along the street.
Stepping just a few blocks away is the Museum District. The well regarded
houses a huge collection of more than twenty thousand works of art from almost every major world culture. Noteworthy are the museum’s collections of Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and Modern and Contemporary American art donated by Sydney and Frances Lewis.
Walk down to the
and then over to Broad Street to visit the
This museum is housed in the former Broad Street
designed by John Russell Pope in the neoclassical style.
This is not your grandmother’s store. Well, maybe not your grandmother. Named after the shop owners’ grandmothers; Ruth was traditional – Ollie was funky. After a quick stroll through the showroom, one might imagine Ruth as being quiet and reserved, her traditional tendencies just a soft-spoken side-kick to Ollie, whose loud offbeat personality dominates center stage. Don’t miss the repurposed rugs-as-pillows and the amazing selection of lighting.
Think the only VA souvenir out there is a “Virginia is for Lovers” T-shirt? Don’t fret my pet – er, mongrel. This pooch has you covered. Although not a souvenir shop in the traditional sense, this boutique has everything you need for a unique hostess gift, birthday gift, wedding gift or anything in-between – just don’t forget something for little fido. Worth mentioning is their incredible selection of indie card makers, whose stationary and letterpress are to die for. You will not leave here empty-handed.
A must mention for the fashion savvy, they have not only the best selection of designer jeans, but a super knowledgeable staff that knows how to put you in the perfect pair by lifting your behind and elongate your legs fits. The window displays are a must see. Always by an artist, always innovative.
A great place to lose yourself amid a fabulous collection of used books or upstairs in the art gallery.
Friends, sunshine, fun people watching, a glass of wine and something yum on a small plate sum up a wonderful after work experience at Bin 22. Or even better, a morning bike ride to grab an
and a hot cup of joe in this fabulous corner cafe.
Croissant and coffee, champagne and oysters, a burger and pommes frites. Can Can is a beautiful place to dine whether it’s breakfast, lunch, dinner or late day cocktails at the bar. If you have time to linger over coffee, sit is by the window up front and people watch. In addition, they bake fabulous breads daily. Like a true parisian, dash in after work and grab a baguette. It’s definitely worth the stop.
The mantra of the partners of Mezzanine is “Bring fresh, local ingredients to the table daily. Support your local farmers, fisherman and businesses.” Serves incredibly scrumptious food.
What started out as a natural, organic foods grocery store addition, Ellwood Thompson’s (http://www.ellwoodthompsons.com/) quickly spun itself off into the world of specialty coffee and fine wines. Capitalizing on the ever-growing trend of coffee/wine bars Ellwood’s Coffee hit the mark, creating an inviting interior using natural, local and recycled materials and eco-friendly fixtures. It’s the perfect place to conduct business over coffee or chat with friends over wine.
This grand movie palace has been largely unaltered in appearance or function and has been operating almost continuously as a theatre since 1928. Today it offers second-run movies for $1.99. And just as in the early days of the Byrd Theatre, you can catch a Saturday night performance of the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ prior to the movie. The Premiere Screenings of the 48 Hour Film Project http://www.48hourfilm.com/richmond/ returns July 25th to the Byrd Theatre.
A true gem in the middle of the city- spacious grounds, a grand Victorian estate, Japanese and Italian gardens, a children’s petting zoo as well as several animal exhibits. Entry is free, but donations are suggested to maintain this gorgeous oasis.
West End
The west end is both an urban and suburban part of Richmond. The University of Richmond’s gorgeous rolling campus is located in this area and is quite a magnet for families. It has some wonderful shopping areas along Patterson Avenue as well as Libbie & Grove Avenues
This itty-bitty boutique store in the heart of the libbie/grove shopping district carries a carefully edited collection of furniture, art, lighting, bedding and accessories. Think slipcovers, rattan baskets and cashmere throws – perfect pieces to finish off your weekend beach house.
This is not your average paint store. Pay a visit and you’re likely to run into Sunny herself. With a personality as bright as her line of decorative paints, glazes, color washes, stencils and how-to books – you’re sure to find everything you need to get started on your own paint project. Don’t know where to start? Armed with an incredibly skilled staff of decorative painters, artists and color consultants you’ll not only start your project, you’ll finish it with grace and finesse.
Don’t let the website fool you. This mod boutique located in The Shops at 5807 mixes 60’s south beach kitch with 70’s shagedelic lucite and chrome. Think Jonathan Adler meets Austin Powers – now that’s groovy, baby!
Another favorite boutique located in The Shops at 5807
Did you ever think stone could be as sexy or en vogue as New York Fashion Week’s latest trends? No? Guess again. The flagship showroom, designed by Peter Fraser Fraser Design Associates
, is an inspiring muse for anyone looking to build something – anything out of stone. Whether it’s a fireplace mantelpiece or a custom mosaic from an Italian artisan – you’ll rock (er, walk) out wearing more than just the clothes on your back.
A leisurely drive just outside the heart of the city, this tiny cottage serves up delicious, savory dishes in the back sunroom and (weather permitting) quaint patio flower garden. Made with local, organic ingredients, this humble bungalow even goes so far as to list the farms under each entrée that have contributed to that particular dish. Locavore-ism at its’ best.
These historical homes are in Windsor Farms, just off Cary Street.
is actually a Tudor house built in England, saved by Richmonder Thomas C. Williams, Jr. and brought to Virginia and painstaking reassembled. Agecroft also hosts The Richmond Shakespeare Festival
- a treat under the stars!
was the home of Alexander and Virginia Weddell completed just before the stock market crash of 1929. The home is overlooks the James River and was constructed from the materials of a sixteenth century English manor house.
Northside
Many neighborhoods make up the
one of the first suburban areas in Richmond which was developed in the 1890s. There are a wide variety of architecture styles, which include Arts and Crafts Bungalows, Victorian, Romanesque Revival and Queen Anne. Great neighborhoods to bike and to peruse the homes and gardens. There are two main shopping areas, one in Bellevue & MacArthur and the other in Lakeside. In both areas, you’ll find a wonderful variety of cafes, coffee, ice cream and wine shops. There are also a few home decor shops on Lakeside heading to the
The Manchester district was originally a separate town. Together, it’s going through huge revitalization with its wonderful access to the river and downtown. Forest Hill area has a wonderful large park in the center of many bungalows. There’s a festival on 42nd Street in the fall and farmer’s market during the summer months.
A gem located just south of the river in the once gritty part of Manchester, this architectural salvage yard has meticulously organized everything into all manners of categories, shapes and sizes – all delightfully arranged and at your finger tips. Whether you’re an interior designer or a DIYer, this repository of history is a worthy stop for anyone looking to restore their turn-of-the-century home back to its’ original glory.
Most notable for its’selection of fine fabrics and wallpaper, this 25,000 square foot showroom boasts an astonishing collection of over 1,000 furniture, fabric and accessory vendors. Whether you buy something or not, it’s worth a stop – Jamie, W&S’s creative director, has an incredibly discerning eye; creating living and dining vignettes you’ll pine over long after you’ve left the showroom floor. Start your christmas list now.
Located in a rural stretch of forests and farmland, this 19th century general store turned home accessories and gift store is a welcome respite from the ubiquitous shopping malls, strip malls and big-box retailers located just a few miles down the road. It’s a wonderful nod to days gone by; lazy summer afternoons sipping sweet tea and enjoying the company of others – it’s gathering in the purest form – the perfect backdrop for the shop’s casual french-country inspired goods.
Visit at sunset, have a Brown Ale and burger on the patio. Legends has the most incredible view of downtown Richmond!
Could anything be more decadent than a grilled brie and peach sandwich for lunch? . Savor not only offers unique scrumptious food, but is also housed in the wonderfully “recycled” refurbished
Incredible events space, galleries and artists’ spaces just over the bridge from the Shockoe Slip area.
Special Mention- South of Richmond in Petersburg:
The tiles are beautiful, but so is the building they occupy in old town Petersburg, Virginia. Formerly a Model-A Ford factory of 45,000 sq. ft. in the Beaux Arts style, this historic location provides an excellent space to inspire timeless creations. A staff of 45 plus artisans make marvelous mosaics and more.
Extras
Copeland Casati’s brainchild to bring great affordable modern to all of us. Her website and blog provide you not just with her own very cool Modern House Kits, but also modern home solutions, energy efficient cabin plans, green housing design and energy-efficient solutions.
Providing local awareness of sources and ideas for your own modern home plus awesome informative modern home tours. Tour
tonight at 5:30 pm on 1708-1720 West Cary Street
A local favorite arts magazine! In their words, they are “lending a voice to a subdued creative class of Richmond. RVA searches out the best artists, ideas, events, bands, photographers and culture-jammers Richmond has to offer and gives them a platform for exhibition that “gets” them.”
Spearheaded by Director Lisa Taranto, Tricycle Gardens not only offers community gardening, but workshops, panel discussions and movies and a new favorite- THAT POTLUCK! THAT POTLUCK is held Sunday evenings around town and it’s for when “your gardens are heaving with veggies that you need to share.”
