Around Richmond

As much as I love clean lines, open space, and living with less, I’ll admit it: I have moments where I yearn for maximalism. The rich colors, layered textures, and curated chaos of art-filled walls always call to me. And while I try not to buy things I don’t need (TikTok shop… you’ve tested me more than once), there’s one exception I never feel guilty about: art. Recently, while on my way to one of my Carytown staples, Tokyo Market, I stumbled upon a spot that felt like it was made for this very minimalist-with-maximalist-dreams heart of mine: Boon. Why Boon is Worth a Stop in Carytown Boon isn’t brand new, but it was new to me—and what a find. This curated gallery and shop features: Original local art – supporting Richmond area artists in the most meaningful way. Collector pieces – unique works with stories behind them. Vintage finds – art that carries history and character. Walking in felt like stepping into a visual treasure chest. Every wall, corner, and vignette offered something to spark curiosity and joy. I could have spent the whole afternoon browsing, but real life called and I had to go. My Personal Art Rule A few years back, I made a decision: if I bring new art into my home, it has to be original or it has to spark serious joy. No filler prints, no “just because” purchases. And honestly? That rule has been the best way to curate a home that feels meaningful and intentional. Boon fits that philosophy perfectly. I’m still thinking about a few pieces I saw there (specifically an amazing, huge painting of birds on a metallic background by Edward Allen Gross) —and I know I’ll be back soon. Why It Matters Shopping local isn’t just about keeping dollars in Richmond (though that’s huge). It’s also about creating a home filled with things that matter—pieces that tell stories, honor creativity, and reflect this vibrant city we call home. So if you’re looking to add a little soul to your space, put Boon in Carytown on your list. Even if you’re not in the market to buy, it’s worth a visit for the inspiration alone.

  Summer may be coming to an end, but it is not over yet — and there is still time to make the most of it here in Richmond! I have put together a fun End-of-Summer Bingo Card packed with my personal must-do activities before the season winds down. From picnicking at Maymont to spending an afternoon on the river, there is something for everyone. Print out the card, challenge your friends or family, and see how many squares you can cross off before fall rolls in. Whether you hit bingo or go for a full blackout, it’s the perfect way to wrap up summer in RVA. Click HERE to download your own copy!

What's Happening in RVA | August 2025 Book Fair with Fountain Books Virginia Capital Trail Pop-Up Rest Stop Chesterfield County Fair Ashland Half Marathon Richmond Comedy and Music Festival End of Summer Artisan Market ImmerseCon 2025

Welcome! If this is your first time here, I'm starting a new series for my newsletter and blog talking about some of the things you may not know about the Richmond area. Born and raised here myself, I have plenty of stories, but my dad had even more, and I always loved to hear them, and have him point things out while we were driving around town. Obviously, Richmond is filled with history- much of it complicated to say the least, but good or bad, it's always interesting, to me at least. Hopefully you'll find some of these things interesting too! Please let me know if you do (or if you don't) and if you have any questions or stories to share, please message me! So without further ado, here's the first installment!   The Richmond Union Passenger Railway, and Where It Went You may or may not know that Richmond, Virginia had the first (in the world) electric trolley system. While many places had tried to create a working system, no one was able to actually make it work. That is, until the powers that be in Richmond heard about Edison's colleague Frank Sprague and his experiments with electric transit in New York and invited him to Richmond to build one here. He and his team actually did the thing, and making it up as they went along, came up with a system of four wheeled cars attached to an overhead electric line and 12 miles of track, and the Richmond Union Passenger Railway was officially put into operation on February 2, 1888. Eventually, the system grew to 82 miles of track, and enabled much of the expansion of the city and its population. People were able to move further out, and they were still be able to come into the city without having to spend the day walking. This led to the development of Richmond's first suburbs, or "street car neighborhoods." These were Ginter Park, Bellevue, Barton Heights, Highland Park, Laburnum Park, Sherwood Park, the West End, and Forest Hill. The birth of our electric rail system also led to the development of 110 others across the country and the world. Pretty cool, huh? By 1949, though, cars were becoming more prevalent, and General Motors introduced buses to be used for public transit, and the cars fell by the wayside to make way for more gas powered vehicles. (Lots of thoughts, and even a court case, were based on the idea that GM and other auto makers conspired to get rid of the streetcars and make way for more of their own vehicles.) The writing was on the wall, and in December 15, 1949, trolley No 408 made its last run, followed by nine others, and hundreds of onlookers. Somewhat perplexingly, No. 408, along with 50 other cars, were not just decommissioned, but burned to nothing in the "Great Car Burning of 1949." Very few cars, or even parts of cars, exist. Our street car system may be long gone, but we have it to thank for some of our most beautiful streets, particularly in the North Side of Richmond. They were specifically designed to allow for carriages, pedestrians, and those trolleys, with wide roads, sidewalks and lined with beautiful trees.

Things to Do in August If you are looking for things to do with friends, family, or even solo as the summer wanes, check out some of the events happening around Richmond this month below. August 17th: Richmond Water Lantern Festival Head over to Dorey Park with the family and participate in the Water Lantern Festival. Each adult ticket comes with a lantern kit, candle, and more. Click the link above to get your tickets today. August 17th: Richmond R&B Festival From 3-10 pm, head over to the Kanawha Plaza on East Canal Street to enjoy the Richmond R&B Festival. There will be delicious food, drinks, and live performances all day. Click the link above for more information and tickets. August 24th: Ashland Half Marathon & 5k Good news for those marathoners, runners, or people who just want to get moving. Ashland is having a half marathon and 5k on August 24th. The half marathon starts at 6:30 am with the 5k following at 7:05 am. Click the link above to register or get more information. August 24th: 5th Annual Crabs, Beer, & Spirits by the James Head on down to Kanawha Plaza between 12 and 8 pm for all-you-can-eat crabs, live music, specialty vendors, and so much more! Tickets are on sale now, so don't wait too long or you might miss out. Click the link above for more information.

Do you want to watch the game (or maybe just the commercials and snippets of Taylor) and love the energy of a crowd but don't want to be managing the food and friends at your place? I've got you. Here is a short list of some places you can watch the game, AND get great food, great drinks, all without having to cook or clean up! Where are YOU watching?     Island Shrimp Co. Super Bowl Luau  Head to Island Shrimp Co at Rocketts Landing for a full spread of island-inspired eats through halftime including Island BBQ Wings, Kalua Pork Sliders, ISCO's signature shrimp, veggie fried rice, and more! Each ticket comes with 2 Painkillers to get the party started with a taste of the islands. They're even hosting some giveaways at halftime! $45 (tickets required) Cabo Fish Taco Cabo Fish Taco is hosting a great watch party, with 7 screens,  an All You Can Eat Taco Bar and drink specials all evening for $20. (tickets required) Always good for a game, snacks, and drinks...(just arrive early!) Address: 3022 W Broad St, Richmond, VA 23230 Wood & Iron Game Day Short Pump: 12288 W Broad St, Henrico, VA 23233 Midlothian: 11400 W. Huguenot Road, #109B, Midlothian, VA 23113 Scott's Addition: 1405 Roseneath Rd, Richmond, VA 23230 Pizza and Beer Richmond The Fan: 2553 W Cary St, Richmond, VA 23220 Hanover: 9325 Chamberlayne Rd, Mechanicsville, VA 23116 Gus' Bar and Grill Address: 2701 W. Broad St., RVA 23220 HomeTeam Grill Address: 1630 W. Main Street, Richmond, VA 23220

I've worked with a lot of folks that are moving here from other parts of the country and often I have to condense into an hour or so all of the things that I love about Richmond. So just in case you're thinking about making a move, I thought I would condense them even further into my top five things that I love about Richmond and the Richmond area and why you might want to move here.  The food. Yes, the food, the food, the food. We have got so many literally world-class, world-renowned restaurants here and there is always something new. Almost any type of food that you like, anything that you have heard about or is interesting, you can find here somewhere. Except Moroccan food. I don't know why there's none. If you know of any let me know. But lots and lots of fantastic food and always something new to try. Getting outside. We have some fantastic green spaces, outdoor parks, playgrounds, dog parks, anything down by the river, and so many things to do if you love the outdoors. Whether it's biking, hiking, ziplining, all sorts of things. We've got a place for it. So if you love to get outside and you have a family who loves to be outdoors, this is a fantastic place to live. Festivals and events. We love a festival here. If you can give us an opportunity to have maybe a crowd, music, food trucks, probably some beer. We're in, all in and we're all going to be there. So if you want to find an area to live where there's always something to do always a great way to meet new people, try new things, hear new music, drink new beer, eat new food, we've got you covered all year long. Bored of the Richmond area, if you could ever, but if you do want a little day trip or a weekend trip or just a little change of pace, within two hours, you can be in Washington DC, at the beach, in the mountains, at the river. The world is your oyster really. Virginia has tons and tons of options and lots of places just outside of Virginia too. In six hours hop on the train, and you can be having breakfast at your home in Richmond and at a Broadway show that evening 20 minutes. That is about how long it would take you to get just about anywhere in the whole Richmond area. You're in Chesterfield, how long does it take to get downtown for most places? About 20 minutes. How long does it take to get to the airport from just about anywhere? About 20 minutes. If you're coming here and you tell me that you want your commute to be no more than 45 minutes to an hour, I'm going to tell you that you can do much better than that. And if you have a 45-minute commute, it's usually because you have a horse farm or some other very exceptional life reason that you want to live that far out. So if you're contemplating a move, and you're thinking about moving to the Richmond area, I'd love to talk to you and tell you all of the other things on my list that I love about the Richmond area and help you find that perfect place to call home here. Just give me a call, send me an email, or message me here.

I LOVE Richmond, and I love summer, but I'm not gonna lie- by August, the heat and humidity start to get a little old. Whether you have younger kids, for whom the break from school is starting to get a little boring, or you feel like you've done all the summer things and you're just ready for a change... Here are a few things you may not have done, that just might make the last few weeks of hot RVA summer a little more bearable. Did you know Richmond is the ONLY city home to Class II-IV Rapids? Get wet with RVA Paddlesports or Riverside Outfitters on a raft, a kayak, or a paddle board! If the kids are bored, everyone's SO HOT, and there's just nothing to do, get yourself to the drive-in! The Goochland Drive-In always has great movies, you can fill a carload for $25, there's great food that's not going to set you back tons of money, and a playground if you have littles (or bigs) that have a hard time sitting still, they can get a little energy out. It's HOT, but it wouldn't be summer in Richmond without a day at the Carytown Watermelon Festival. Head to Carytown on August 13, from 10-6 for music, vendors, fun, and of course, all the watermelon you can eat. Speaking of fruit, picking berries won't help you beat the heat, but you will get berries, and that's better, right? Picking dates are up for August at Agriberry Farm, but book soon, because space is limited. Go get you some raspberries!! Want to wander in the cool, solo, with a special someone, or with the whole family? There are so many museums here, it's almost impossible to list them all, but here are a couple that may be a little lesser known. Keystone Tractor Museum in Colonial Heights: My dad would take my son here when he was a kid, and it was a hit with both of them. Anyone who loves trucks, tractors, fire trucks, or the like, will enjoy a visit here! Virginia House was formerly an English manor house that was relocated to Richmond in 1925. (Amazing, right?) Now owned and managed by the Virginia Museum of History and Culture (another great museum), this period home is a fantastic step back in time. If you're anything like me, you might not like to do something that's creative, and if so, head to Scrap RVA on Brookland Park Blvd, to browse the amazing, ever-changing supply of art and craft materials, take a class, or bring the kids to a "Crafternoon" where for $5 or so, they can drop into a class and come home with something they've made. Bonus- Ruby Scoops is right across the street, so you've got to get a little ice cream afterward! Finally, if the temps aren't too bad, go for a walk at the Canal Walk, take in the murals, and at the Turning Basin, buy a ticket to a Riverfront Canal Cruise. These narrated tours of the canal feature some history that may be new to you, as well as giving you a tour of areas your feet cannot take you. (I recently did this for the first time, and it was so much fun!) Enjoy the rest of the summer, and stay cool and hydrated out there!

If you know me, you probably know I'm a HUGE ice cream fan. Homemade, handmade, store bought, traditional flavors, soft serve, milkshakes... I love it all. BUT, there are a few places around town (or close) that in my opinion are just "must visits," and here they are: Ice Cream (Buckle up, this is not a short list!) DeLuca Gelato. At Gayton Crossing, in the West End (Is it a blessing or a curse that they are so close to my house?) This is our family champion for always amazing gelato. (And it's pretty much real deal gelato, so dense, creamy, and soft, but lower fat that American ice cream.) Our faves? Dark Chocolate Sorbet (packs a huge chocolate punch and no dairy), Banana Nutella (obviously), but really, they're all amazing. This is a small, family owned shop, and the people are amazing, too.  Gelati Celesti Multiple locations. This is one of RVA's longest running ice cream makers and shops. You'll also find their ice cream at many local restaurants. They use traditional Italian equipment and processes, and in my opinion, it's sort of a cross between true gelato and American ice cream. Loads of flavors, including seasonal flavors that rotate, but my favorite is 100% always "Just Ask." White Chocolate ice cream with Oreos and ribbons of peanut butter. Rich, luscious, and unlike anything else.  Scoop Strawberry Street in The Fan. Handmade ice cream, but make it gourmet. Scoop does a great job with traditional flavors, but their special flavors are what sets them apart. My favorite flavors here are definitely Croissants and Jam (sounds weird, maybe, but trust me), Creme Brûlée, and Roasted Strawberry. You can also get sundaes served on a warm blondie or brownie, custom ice cream sandwiches, and last but not least, and ice cream flight with 3 flavors of your choice with 3 cookie wedges. Perfect for sharing. (Or not.) Bev's Homemade Ice Cream & Cafe. Carytown. Bev's is a Carytown staple, and always hopping, especially if the weather is warm. Traditional flavors always, and rotating special flavors, plus sundaes and banana splits.  This summer (2023) they've even started renting carts for special events. My favorite here is the Raspberry Chip. (Reminds me of my half price lunch sundae when I worked at Friendly's in high school!) One Way Cream & Goodies  Jackson Ward. One Way Market is known for their international and unusual snacks, but the ice cream version might be even cooler. They can create your custom ice cream- cup, cone, or shake, infused with the ingredients you choose. Think Ukrop's Rainbow Cookies and Fruity Pebbles, Captain Crunch and Cheesecake...you get the idea. Or do you? It's definitely worth checking out when you want something different! Ruby Scoops. Brookland Park Boulevard. It wasn't by accident that Rabia Kamara won the Food Network Ben & Jerry's Clash of the Cones in 2021. With delicious signature flavors of sorbets and ice cream, rotating flavors, and a consistent menu of great dairy free flavors, there is really something for everyone. My favorites here are definitely the Black Sesame ice cream and the Guava Daiquiri sorbet.      Blue Cow Ice Cream Co. Village Shopping Center and Short Pump. Originally from Roanoke, Blue Cow made its way to RVA a couple of years ago, and has gained a foothold in the ice cream community. They've got some great classics, like their Double Fold Vanilla, but my favorites are definitely the Banana Puddin', the Birthday Cake, and their "Blue Cow Patty," with Butterfingers, Oreos, and dark chocolate chips in their Dark Chocolate Ice Cream. Don't forget to try some of their more unusual flavors, too, like Strawberry Balsamic and Goat Cheese with Blueberry Swirl. You won't regret it! Milkshakes Mabel's in Powhatan. The ORIGINAL Crazy Shakes. If you want to be wowed/bowled over/overwhelmed (or just the favorite parent/aunt/grandparent or whatever) head to Mabel's. My advice? Skip the regular food, and go straight to the shake. Can't make up your mind? They've got you covered, because you can even get a milkshake flight. Mabel's is also one of the few places you can get an actual sundae (and they have all kinds!) What a time to be alive! Coco & Hazel. With two locations, in Henrico and Bon Air, you're never too far from one of C & H's wild, wonderful, specialty shakes. Whether it's a birthday, a great day, or you're in your feelings over a bad day, they've definitely got something that will fit the bill.  This list wouldn't be complete without the honorable mention of Cook Out, the OG stop for the late night shake, the 40 flavors, the seasonal flavors, and just the overall ease of the drive through. Also, it's literally not summer in my book until I get a Watermelon Shake from Cook Out (only available in July and August- that's NOW, y'all!).      Not in Richmond, but definitely worth mentioning: If you ever find yourself driving up or down I95 near Fredericksburg, do yourself a favor and stop at Carl's Frozen Custard. My brother, who attended Mary Washington University (when it was The College of Mary Washington), turned me on to Carl's decades ago, and it's really hard to got past Fredericksburg without stopping. (In fact, we've all been known to take a cooler and bring a spare or two back to RVA.) All original equipment, the original signs, and just the delicious simplicity, take you back to way before my time! Frozen custard, made fresh every day. ALL CASH (but not a sock full of coins- Andy learned this the hard way!) Stand in the ever present line. It's worth it. My go to order? A Chocolate AND Strawberry Malt. Magical.   Happy National Ice Cream Month RVA!!  

Summer is here, and with it, so many great things to do around town (and just a bit outside of town)! Every season, I like to make a list of things that I want to do. Not because I have to, but because they are some of the things I particularly love. They're often simple, sometimes free, and they're just the things that make a season wonderful to ME. Do you do this? If not, I'd highly recommend it. It makes you a little more conscious of those simple things, and how they brighten your season. So without further ado, here's my list for Summer 2023, filled with some very RVA things to do... Support local at one of our amazing farmer's markets Take a stroll through Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens Enjoy some quintessentially Richmond Pizza on the patio at Bottom's Up Rent a kayak or stand-up paddleboard at James River Outfitters and hit the river Take in a concert at Brown's Island Grab a coffee and pastry from Sub Rosa and head to Libby Hill Park to marvel over the view Play a round of mini golf at Patterson Golf Park Enjoy a late lunch and wine tasting at Upper Shirley (just a 30-minute drive) Carytown Watermelon Festival for food, music, fun, and watermelon Grab a Hanover tomato (or 2), some Duke's, and good bread, and have a tomato sandwich on the porch! What would you add?? Download a printable version HERE.