Going to Richmond, VA - What to do there?

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i'll be there for about a week late october/maybe early november. i'm mostly interested in shows or art galleries. but i'm open to other stuff! what's the best source (website, newspaper, etc.) for looking up stuff to do there?

― Lynn, Wednesday, 22 October 2003 15:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Huh? What? Someone cares about Richmond?
OK. Since Punchline went bankrupt, there isn't really a good free arts weekly. There's Style Weekly, but that's more for the rich people in the West End. There might be some art stuff on their webpage, just search Style Weekly and Richmond.
There's usually something interesting at Chop Suey books, besides, it's a good used book store too.
Go to Plan 9 in Carytown. Look at cds and records for hours and hours. The rest of Carytown is kind of fun too, in a very gentrified yuppyish kind of way.
The rock clubs here are shit. Basically, there's Nanci Raygun (www.nanciraygun.com), which is huge and always empty and the sound sucks, and lots of crappy punk bands play there but occasionally someone good will play (Lightning Bolt this Monday! Whoo hoo!). Then there's Alley Katz, which is for the slightly bigger bands (Dismemberment Plan, that level of stardom). I'm sure they have a website too. My band is playing somewhere on Nov. 1 but I'm not sure where or if it's even in Richmond.
The newspaper here is the Richmond Times Dispatch (www.timesdispatch.com). You might find something on there. It's possible, I guess.
Other fun places in Richmond: Village Cafe, Karen's Diner, the Fan (if you like 1920's architecture, it's fun just to wander around), Ipanema, Candyland used guitar store, etc.
When I think of other stuff, I'll post it.

― NA (Nick A.), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 15:38 (twenty-two years ago)

If you are here the first Friday of the month you can go the first Friday art walk on Broad Street. Lots of people out, & this is the best time to check out the art galleries (wine & food, for starters.) NA covered the basics well -- one of Richmond's biggest problems is the lack of culture-oriented media. There are some things happening but no one is writing about them.

― Mark (MarkR), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 15:52 (twenty-two years ago)

NA thanks so much!

lightning bolt on monday!? wow, great luck.
thanks for letting me know about that!

i'm also interested in stuff outside of clubs if you know of anything going on - smaller shows that may be more interesting (funny that lightning bolt are now playing "huge" spaces).

what's your band like? if i'm there the 1st i'd definitely try to make it.

― Lynn, Wednesday, 22 October 2003 15:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Mark - you're right - i couldn't find any listings for anything going on at all!

The art walk sounds great (so there's a cluster of galleries on Broad St?) - if i'm there on that friday i'll definitely check it out. (wish i knew the exact dates i'll be there, but i won't know for another day or so)

any info online about what's showing at the galleries?

― Lynn, Wednesday, 22 October 2003 15:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually if you are here 10/31 or 11/1 and don't make it to NA's show, there's a large even called Urban Lightworks happening at the Canal walk downtown. My wife has a performance so I'm plugging it -- check out their website for more info.

You might also browse the archives of the 804noise list for information on underground shows in a more experiemental vein (electronic music, noise, etc.) You'll see posts about gallery shows, house shows, etc.

― Mark (MarkR), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 16:00 (twenty-two years ago)

The Richmond first friday thingy

― Mark (MarkR), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 16:04 (twenty-two years ago)

oh wow, you're awesome, that's exactly the kind of stuff i was hoping for.

thanks again!

― Lynn, Wednesday, 22 October 2003 16:08 (twenty-two years ago)

seven months pass...

anyone who might know, give me your impression of Richmond as a place to live. My wife's got a job opportunity there which would pay very, very well, but we are completely clueless about the city, which is odd, since I've lived in DC for most of my life. I guess I've always thought of it as a Confederate capital, but am probably selling it short.

thanks

― tobo (tobo), Thursday, 17 June 2004 11:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Alley Katz

A club named themselves after a Hall & Oates song? (granted, it's one of their better songs.. but.... wow)

― donut bitch (donut), Thursday, 17 June 2004 13:16 (twenty-one years ago)

The real estate prices will bring you tears of joy. I live in Bethesda; every time I'm in Richmond I look at housing prices there and suffer major pain and envy.

― quincie, Thursday, 17 June 2004 19:11 (twenty-one years ago)

It's a beautiful town; I lived there for seven years. Try to live in the Fan, though -- by far the best neighborhood. If you're there, you'll also be a lot less exposed to the conservative elements of the town.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Friday, 18 June 2004 03:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, we lived in Richmond for 2 1/2 years, and it's a very beautiful city and very cheap to live in. It is socially and politically conservative, and there are various monuments to Confederate soldiers and Stonewall Jackson littering the place, but other than that, it's pretty swell. It's a midsized to small city, there isn't always a lot going on in terms of cool bands coming to play, but the arts scene is pretty decent with VCU there, and there's Plan 9 Records in Carytown, one of the best record stores in Virginia (with a huge $1 vinyl section). There are plenty of good places to eat. Rickey OTM re: the Fan (avoid River City Real Estate though, they screwed us over). Feel free to email me if you have more questions.

― Comment dits-on...eh... le NA? (Nick A.), Friday, 18 June 2004 11:56 (twenty-one years ago)

I miss Kuba Kuba - YUM!

On Cary Street, I love love loved going to Betsy's to get coffee and sweet rolls (not too sweet) and people (and dog) watch.

Oh, god. Richmond is so beautiful. One day I might just move back there, buy a house in the Fan, and have the most beautiful garden ever. But for now I need to live in a city where there are a zillion rock shows every week I want to go to (even if I don't always get myself out the door).

But there have been great bands in Richmond. It helps to get involved, get an in at a club, and then invite your friends bands and others to come to town (ie: set up your own shows and they will come).

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Friday, 18 June 2004 12:50 (twenty-one years ago)

nine months pass...

What are the good thrift stores in Richmond?

― Mary (Mary), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 01:56 (twenty years ago)

Um, that one on Cary St. near Chop Suey, uh, Diversity Thrift! Yeah, that's it.

― n/a (Nick A.), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 12:48 (twenty years ago)

We went to Luxor and Bygones--those were nice. We tried to go to one called Pleidades, but I think it was replaced by a witch store. We went to Diversity Thrift--that was a good one.

We ate at 3rd St. Diner--is that supposed to be a good place? We passed a place called Croakey's or something, seemed there were a lot of people eating there. Is that a good place to eat? What are the other good restaurants/coffee shops?

― Mary (Mary), Monday, 4 April 2005 04:10 (twenty years ago)

go ride roller coasters at KINGS DOMINON!!

― phil-two (phil-two), Monday, 4 April 2005 04:15 (twenty years ago)

Mary, I think someone upthread might have mentioned the Village Cafe and some other worthwhile ones. (The Village is more for ambience and drinking than for great food, I'd say.) A really great neighborhood restaurant is Joe's -- brilliant, huge plates of spaghetti. I knew a lot of people who dug Strawberry Street Cafe, though I can't vouch for it personally (or even say if it's still there). What'd you think of 3rd Street Diner? It was always pretty popular when I lived there.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Monday, 4 April 2005 05:18 (twenty years ago)

YOU VILL GO TO PLAN NEIN!

― donut debonair (donut), Monday, 4 April 2005 05:39 (twenty years ago)

We went to Plan Nein. I'm not as enamored of it as some--it brings up bad memories of my C'ville days. I liked the interior of the diner a lot, but I thought it was more punk rock the last time I ate there, or is there another more punk rock diner in R'mond?

― Mary (Mary), Monday, 4 April 2005 05:46 (twenty years ago)

There's 3rd St. Diner and 4th St. Diner, I think we always went to 4th St. for the insane cheesy onion hash browns.

I will again recommend Karen's Diner on Broad St. across from the science/kids museums. Though it was best when they first opened, then they started getting really busy and I'm not sure they could handle it.

I like the coffee shop on Cary St. down a couple of blocks from Plan 9, Betsy's.

Ipanema on Grace St. down near VCU is good for a nicer dinner. Not really expensive or anything, but just nicer.

― n/a (Nick A.), Monday, 4 April 2005 11:38 (twenty years ago)

They have sweet potato fries - mmm!

I miss the vegetarian buffet at China Panda (or was it Panda Garden??).

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Monday, 4 April 2005 12:08 (twenty years ago)

panda garden

do yourself a favor, turn around and never go back...its a horrible city full of lame hardcore kids.

i went to school about two hours from the place and had a lot of friends from around the city, which is suburban hell.

― brock (brock), Monday, 4 April 2005 14:10 (twenty years ago)

Richmond is beautiful. How much would a cute house there cost?

― Mary (Mary), Monday, 4 April 2005 14:12 (twenty years ago)

I really enjoyed living in Richmond as a student. It was the waning days of sleaze on Grace Street--it seems they've cleaned it up a bit in recent years, which is kind of good and kind of a shame.

Last month I made my habitual pilgrimage to the Village for its fried provolone sandwich and Yeungling Porter on draft.

Not sure I could live there now. I suspect it'd be great for a few months and then it'd start to feel excessively sleepy. But still, you're only a two-hour drive from lots of good things (mountains, sea, cities).

Plus there's still Cary St., the Italian and Japanese gardens at Maymont, Texas Beach, Hollywood Cemetery, the alley between Floyd and Park Avenues at midnight....

― The Mad Puffin (The Mad Puffin), Monday, 4 April 2005 14:20 (twenty years ago)

Not everyone in Richmond is into hardcore punk. That said, I was in a punk band there, b-but we were more rock than screamy hardcore. We did, however, play with lots of hardcore bands.

I loved Richmond, but also it was the biggest city I had lived in at that piont. There's nothing quite like walking around the fan. I was interested in a cute house there for $150k (2 stories! multiple bedrooms! nice block!), but instead decided to try Chicago (where I can't afford to own). So yeah, it's very affordable there and pretty and ... Yeah, there are suburbs and ugly streets surrounding, but the fan is still where it's at.

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Monday, 4 April 2005 14:25 (twenty years ago)

Oh shit! Go to Coppola's on Cary St. and get one of those fried cheese and hot peppers sandwiches...soooo goood.

― n/a (Nick A.), Monday, 4 April 2005 23:05 (twenty years ago)

Oh, man. I used to love the pepperoni roll and cheese sandwich.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 00:19 (twenty years ago)

Heart explodes with happiness and goodness . . . and pepperoni roll and cheese.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 00:19 (twenty years ago)

I think Richmond is a great place if you can reconcile yourself with the fact that rocknroll culture, arts, etc. are not what they would be in a bigger city. But for its size it's got a lot of good restaurants, charming neighborhoods with great old houses, and interesting things to do.

My favorites: Hollywood Cemetery, Pony Pasture which is the rocky area in the river right across from it (for sunbathing, splashing around), vintage stores, the art nouveau collection at the Virginia Museum of Art.

Citysearch helps, and Style Weekly is not so upscale as the post above made it sound.

― Baby Bat (Komorinoko), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 00:57 (twenty years ago)

It's strange. When I lived there in the '80s and early '90s, there was tons of music. Rockitz (later Metro) and lots of other rock clubs -- everybody came through, routing between Cat's Cradle and the 9:30. And I saw lots of rap, R&B and country package shows at the Coliseum.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 03:47 (twenty years ago)

come on..........
ok don't get me wrong, i've met a ton of great peopel fromt hat city, but dude, the majority are a bunch of shit head thug types that have a big city attitude with nothin to back it!
its like minneapolis minus the great tunes.

― brock (brock), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 04:32 (twenty years ago)

There *are* more people there than just punks, Brock.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 05:38 (twenty years ago)

What do you need to back a big city attitude? Richmond has a high murder rate. Does that count?

Anyway, there's loads of artsy types in Richmond, both young (VCU students for example) and old (mostly old hippies).

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 12:17 (twenty years ago)

> Rockitz (later Metro)

Memoreeeeez. The acoustically perfect Metro. A pitcher of beer was once thrown onto my drum kit at the Metro.

The Mosque used to advertise itself as "The acoustically perfect Mosque." It was even spray-painted on one of the back loading dock doors. "NOW ENTERING THE ACOUSTICALLY PERFECT MOSQUE." It was uberclever at one time to say "acoustically perfect" with tongue in cheek before whatever venue you were about to play at, hence "the acoustically perfect Metro."

There was also Twisters (later ?), Flood Zone, the Library, the Ultra-divey Nile, Mad Hatter, Kokopelli, assorted other divey places no longer in existence. Shafer Court was even briefly happening. It may still be so, for all I know. I think I saw Throwing Muses at Shafer Court (or was it the Church? I don't remember. I was drunk then).

― The Mad Puffin (The Mad Puffin), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 12:28 (twenty years ago)

Also: Cellar Door, the Pyramid, Going Bananas.

Shafer Court was wonderful. I saw Joe "King" Carrasco, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Love Tractor there at different times.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 22:26 (twenty years ago)

two years pass...

Is there any good place to stop for lunch that is near I-95? I'm going to be passing though, but I easily get lost.

― Virginia Plain, Thursday, 19 July 2007 18:43 (eighteen years ago)

croakers spot!

― Filey Camp, Thursday, 19 July 2007 19:54 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.croakersspot.com/

― Filey Camp, Thursday, 19 July 2007 19:54 (eighteen years ago)

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