Around Richmond

Most Richmond suburbs can trace their origins back to a farm, a crossroads, maybe a railway stop. Midlothian can trace its origins back to the first commercially mined coal in the entire Colony of Virginia. That's not a small thing. And it sets the tone for a place that has always been more interesting than it gets credit for. Where the Name Came From The prevailing story is that two brothers from East Lothian and West Lothian in Scotland founded the original village where Midlothian now sits. When it came to naming it, the brothers wanted to honor their respective homelands and struck a compromise: Midlothian.  (Is this a true story? I have no earthly idea. It's the one I've always heard, though.) Commercial coal mining was well underway in Chesterfield County by 1730. This was not only the first such operations in North America but also the county's first true industrial development. Coal was first discovered near Manakin Town, a French Huguenot settlement, and Thomas Jefferson himself noted that the quality of Chesterfield's coal was excellent. In fact, coal from Harry Heth's Black Heath mines in the Midlothian area heated the White House during Jefferson's presidency. The Midlothian Turnpike, built in 1807 to carry carts of coal, became the first paved road in Virginia. And in 1831, the Midlothian to Manchester Railroad was built to haul coal to Virginia's ports, making it the first railroad in the state. (If you knew any of this, consider me super impressed!) That's an extraordinary amount of history concentrated in one place. First commercially mined coal in North America. First paved road in Virginia. First railroad in Virginia. All within a few miles of what is now a Target and a Chick-fil-A. Progress. The coal industry slowed through the early 20th century, and Midlothian spent a few quieter decades as a mostly rural community. Then came the Swift Creek Reservoir in 1965, the Powhite Parkway, and a wave of planned residential development that permanently changed the character of Chesterfield County's west end. The suburbs that grew up around the reservoir are now some of the most established and sought-after addresses in the greater Richmond market. The Schools You may know that as Realtors, we cannot really say "good school/bad school" because those metrics are totally subjective. However, the tests and ratings are quite clear, that Chesterfield County Public Schools are consistently among the stronger divisions in Virginia, and the Midlothian area contains the district's highest-performing schools. Midlothian High School is ranked 34th in Virginia by U.S. News and World Report and offers an International Baccalaureate program. Cosby High School is ranked 46th in Virginia and holds a 98% graduation rate, which is well above the state average. Both schools have received the President's Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award. For families looking to make a move to the south side of the James River, the school picture here is a strong argument for Midlothian specifically, not just Chesterfield County generally. The difference between the western Chesterfield schools and other parts of the county is significant, and buyers who know the market factor it in. Brandermill: The One Built Around a Lake If you ask someone in the Richmond area what they picture when they think of Midlothian, there's a reasonable chance they picture Brandermill. It has been here long enough to feel like it's always been there. Brandermill is a sprawling, award-winning master-planned community that has been around for over 40 years and boasts more than 13,000 residents across 80 smaller sub-neighborhoods within the community. The developer's vision was explicit: build a neighborhood centered on natural beauty and active outdoor life, with the Swift Creek Reservoir as its central feature. It worked. Brandermill borders a 1,700-acre stretch of the Swift Creek Reservoir, with many homes positioned directly on the water. Residents enjoy an 18-hole golf course, three pools, tennis courts, over 15 miles of trails, playgrounds, and pavilions. The range of homes within the community is wide: more modest single-family homes from the community's earlier decades sit alongside larger, updated properties with reservoir views. It is genuinely diverse in its price points, which is part of what makes it accessible and part of what gives it staying power. Brandermill sits at the intersection of Route 288 and Hull Street Road, making it well-positioned for commuters and within easy reach of all the shopping, restaurants, and entertainment along the Hull Street corridor. Woodlake: The Resort That Became a Neighborhood Woodlake was developed by the same group that built Brandermill, with planning beginning in 1981 and construction underway by 1984. In 1990, the community was voted Best Community in America by the Urban Land Institute. That award is now decades old, but the infrastructure it recognized is still very much in place. Woodlake sits on the western shore of the Swift Creek Reservoir and is home to over 7,000 residents across 54 unique sub-neighborhoods, many of them bordering the water directly. Homes range from one-story properties with ample patios to two-story Colonials with multi-pane windows and traditional detailing. The community association runs a robust calendar of events that keeps the place feeling more like a small town than a subdivision. People who move to Woodlake tend to stay, which definitely tells you something. The Other Neighborhoods Worth Knowing Midlothian's residential landscape extends well beyond Brandermill and Woodlake. Here's an overview. Hallsley is a newer luxury community with custom-built homes, resort-style amenities, and architectural variety that appeals to buyers who want new construction with genuine character. Well-regarded within the market and consistently in demand. Salisbury is one of the area's most established addresses, built around the Salisbury Country Club with large wooded lots, mature trees, and traditional home styles. The kind of neighborhood that attracts buyers who want established elegance rather than new construction. Magnolia Green is a vibrant master-planned community with modern homes, an 18-hole golf course, parks, and trails. Newer construction, active community programming, and a location on the Hull Street corridor that puts everything within easy reach. Charter Colony and Rountrey round out the picture for buyers looking at a mix of established and newer options, with good school access and the amenity infrastructure that Chesterfield's western communities consistently deliver. Dining Worth Driving For Midlothian can surprise people on the restaurant front. Midlothian Chef's Kitchen, led by Chef David Dunlap, a former executive sous chef at The Inn at Little Washington, has been voted Best Restaurant in Chesterfield County by Richmond Magazine. Seasonal, local, and genuinely excellent. Make a reservation. The 1870 Restaurant and Bar is a French-inspired steakhouse inside a historic Virginia building on Midlothian Turnpike, with a speakeasy bar downstairs. It feels like a discovery even if you've lived here for years. Charred Swift Creek is a wood-fired kitchen on Hull Street with a loyal following and one of the better cocktail programs in the county. For seafood, the Hard Shell at Bellgrade has been repeatedly voted Best Seafood in Richmond, which is not a small designation in a city that takes that kind of thing seriously. The dining corridor along Midlothian Turnpike and Hull Street has genuinely grown up over the past decade. It is not downtown Richmond, and it is not trying to be. The good news? When I was growing up, you were lucky to find anything that was not a chain, and now there are some truly great local spots to check out without needing to cross a bridge or pay a toll. What the Real Estate Market Is Actually Doing Midlothian and western Chesterfield County have commanded consistent demand for a long time, and the reasons are fairly clear: strong schools, well-maintained communities, abundant outdoor amenities, and easy access to Richmond via the Powhite Parkway and Route 288. Homes in Brandermill and Woodlake with reservoir access or views sell at a premium and move quickly. Newer communities like Hallsley and Magnolia Green attract buyers seeking modern finishes and master-planned amenity packages. Established neighborhoods like Salisbury appeal to buyers who want large lots and mature landscaping that new construction simply cannot replicate. The range is wide and varied. Entry-level buyers can find options within established communities. Move-up buyers have plenty to consider. And at the higher end, Midlothian delivers the kind of custom, wooded, water-adjacent living that draws buyers from across the region. If you are relocating to the Richmond area and considering the south side of the James River, Midlothian makes a great case for itself. The history alone is worth knowing. The community you'd be joining is worth a whole lot more. Thinking about a move to Midlothian or western Chesterfield? I've been covering both sides of the James for more than 23 years. What questions can I answer for you?

Summer has officially arrived in Richmond, and the city is turning up the heat with a packed calendar of events. Whether you're into live music, outdoor markets, food and drinks, or community gatherings, something is happening in every corner of RVA this June. Below you'll find our roundup of this month's can't-miss happenings — plus a running list of the recurring events that make Richmond such a vibrant place to live year-round. 📅 Friday, June 5th Summer Kickoff Festival | 5 pm to 10 pm |📍 Maymont Carriage House Lawn 📅 Saturday, June 6th Maymont: Cheers to 100 Years! | 12 pm to 4 pm | 📍 Maymont RVA Eid Fest 2026 | 12 pm to 7 pm | 📍 Richmond Raceway | FREE Tickets | an afternoon of food, shopping, entertainment, and community celebration The Ashland Strawberry Faire | 10 am to 5 pm | 📍 Randolph-Macon College | Grab a free trolley and visit 300+ vendors Viva Ashland Festival | 4 pm to 7 pm | 📍 Center of the Universe Brewing Co | A celebration of Latin food & flavor 📅 Sunday, June 7th 8th Annual Rocking for RACC | 12:30 pm to 7 pm | 📍 Main Line Brewery | Musical guests, food trucks and of course, dog friendly!! RVA RIMBY Festival | 12 pm to 3 pm | 📍 Hardywood Brewery | A free outdoor festival highlighting all of the incredible and unique outdoor activities right in the backyard of Richmond. 📅 June 12th - 14th Richmond SailFest | Times Vary Daily | 📍Dock Street Park & Intermediate Terminal | FREE Event | family-friendly, weekend-long festival will feature ship tours, live music and performances, historical re-enactors, exhibitions of history and art, and much more Dream Asia Festival | Times Vary Daily | 📍Meadow Event Park | Tickets Required | The Largest Asian Food and Culture Festival in the U.S VMFA Shop Tent Sale | 9 am to 3 pm | 📍VMFA | Deals on books, exhibition-themed items, jewelry, home décor, and seasonal finds—all at deeply discounted prices. 📅 Tuesday, June 16th MooseTracks 10k Scoop Challenge | 11 am to 3 pm |📍 Monroe Park | Every FREE scoop of ice cream you eat generates a $1 donation to charity! 📅 Thursday, June 18th Cozy Ol' Bluegrass Festival | 6 pm to 9 pm | 📍Riverside Outfitters | Sold Out - Join Wait List 📅 June 19th - 20th Revenge Roughstock Rodeo | Gates open at 6 pm | 📍Meadow Event Park | bull riders, barrel racers, and more 📅 Saturday, June 20th Henrico Juneteenth Celebration| 4 pm to 10 pm |📍Dorey Park | an immersive experience of music, art, and community Cookout Comedy Bash | Doors open at 7:30 pm |📍Benchtop Brewing | Tickets Required | A night packed with laughs, cold brews, and cookout vibes. 📅 Sunday, June 21st Summer Artisan Market | 1 pm to 5 pm |📍Main Line Brewery | local artisans, live music, food, drinks, and games 📅 Saturday, June 27th Henrico Multicultural Festival | 1 pm to 8 pm |📍Richmond Raceway | featuring live music, international food vendors and culinary experiences, cultural displays and vendors, children's activities, and more 📅 Ongoing Events Silent Reading Party | Day and location vary month to month Flying Squirrels Baseball Games | Days and times vary Shows at the Allianz Amphitheater  Wine and Watercolors with Shop Made in Virginia Shows at The Altria Theater Sunday Artisan Market at Brambly Park | Sundays from 1pm to 5pm Trivia Night RVA at Benchtop Brewing Co. | Wednesdays from 7pm t0 9pm BINGO Night at Benchtop Brewing Co. | Thursdays from 7pm to 8pm Comedy Shows at the Funny Bone Music and Events at Hardywood Brewery | 📍Richmond | 📍West Creek South of the James Farmers Market | Sundays from 10am to 1pm | 📍4021 Forest Hill Ave RVA Big Market | May-Oct: Saturdays from 8am to 12pm | 📍Bryan Park

Carytown:The "Mile of Style", Then and Now There's a game that people who've spent time in Carytown used to play. The premise was simple: you could get absolutely anything in Carytown except for cars and guns. Someone would name three random items and the other person had to say where on the strip you'd find them. Darts for a dartboard, a pork pie hat, a king cake. Stumping someone was genuinely difficult. That was the old Carytown. One concentrated, gloriously weird mile of mostly local, mostly independent businesses that collectively made the case that a shopping street could also be a community. 2026 Carytown is still working out who it is. And that conversation is what makes it interesting right now. A Little History, Because Carytown Has More of It Than Most People Know In 1927, what was then called the Westham Plank Road was renamed Cary Street, after Colonel Archibald Cary, a key figure in Virginia's Revolutionary War movement. A year later, on Christmas Eve, the Byrd Theatre opened its doors for the first time. Then, in the late 1930s, the Cary Street Park and Shop Center opened as Richmond's first strip shopping center, popular precisely because of its "park and shop" nature. (And yes, this is exactly where Gourmet Delights used to be, back in the day.) For a few decades, Carytown thrived. Then when Willow Lawn Shopping Center was built in the 1950s, business along Cary Street began to slow. Richmonders found more parking and larger department stores out west, and Cary Street went through a slump that lasted into the 1970s. What happened next says a lot about this neighborhood's character. Residents and shop owners pooled funds to hire an off-duty police officer to patrol the area, which immediately cut down petty crime. Store owners then petitioned the city for two parking decks. The efforts worked. In 1974, there was a vote to rebrand the neighborhood, and "Carytown" received the most votes. The new name fostered a sense of community among residents and shopkeepers that still resonates today. That scrappiness, that impulse to fix things from the inside, is still present on Cary Street if you know where to look. The Byrd Theatre: Richmond's Best Reason to Go to the Movies The Byrd Theatre opened on Christmas Eve 1928 and has operated almost continuously ever since, making it one of the nation's finest surviving cinema treasures. Calling it a movie theater undersells it significantly. It is a French Empire-style movie palace with imported Italian and Turkish marble, hand-sewn velvet drapes, oil on canvas murals of Greek mythology, and an 18-foot, two-and-a-half ton chandelier hung with over 5,000 Czechoslovakian crystals illuminated by 500 colored lights. And then there is the Mighty Wurlitzer. One of only about forty surviving instruments remaining in their original installation out of more than two thousand made between 1914 and 1942, it was designed as a one-person orchestra to accompany silent films. It still gets played every Saturday night before the feature. The Byrd Theatre Foundation, which has stewardship of the building, is currently in the middle of an ongoing seat restoration project and organ conservation work. This place is being cared for. It shows. Second-run movies. Eight dollars. Go on a Saturday and stay for the organ. That's a good night in Richmond. Can Can Brasserie: Paris, Dropped Into Carytown Can Can is a French brasserie and bakery built to look and feel as though it has been lifted from the Left Bank of Paris and set down in the middle of Carytown's retail strip, with dedicated bakery and pastry kitchens, a zinc bar imported from France, and a program of coffee, wine, and cocktails designed for everyday celebration. In practice this means: go for a coffee and a pastry in the morning and you feel like you are somewhere significantly more glamorous than you actually are, which is the whole point. Brunch on the weekends is an event. The people watching from a sidewalk table is genuinely excellent. Bev's Homemade Ice Cream: A Carytown Institution Bev's has been scooping New England-style ice cream in Carytown since 1998, right across from the Byrd Theatre. When the founder retired in 2021, one of her longtime employees took over, vowing to keep the recipes, the culture, and the homemade character intact. She did. The ice cream is still made in-house, the flavors are still creative without being gimmicky, and the line on a warm evening still snakes out the door. Some Richmond institutions survive because they're famous. Bev's survives because it's good. Plan 9 Records: Because Every Great Neighborhood Needs a Record Store Plan 9 has been on Cary Street long enough to feel like furniture. The kind of furniture you'd be devastated to lose. Independent record stores are one of those things people say they want to support until there's a cheaper option available on their phone, and Plan 9 has survived that moment repeatedly by being genuinely, stubbornly good at what it does: curated vinyl, knowledgeable staff, local music given shelf space alongside the classics. If you haven't been in a while, go. Spend more than you planned to. Consider it a civic contribution. The Conversation Carytown Is Having With Itself This is where it gets a little complicated, and I think it's worth saying honestly because it's the real story of Carytown right now. There was a time when you could come to Carytown and it was dead after six o'clock. Now, with the arrival of some national chains, smaller places are staying open until eight or nine at night. The trade-off is real. Chains bring foot traffic and extended hours. They also bring a homogenization that longtime residents feel and don't love. The concern among local merchants is that if chains exceed 25 to 30 percent of the total business mix, the character of the corridor tips in a direction that's hard to come back from. In October 2024, a new Art Deco-style illuminated welcome sign was installed at Carytown's entrance. Which is, depending on your perspective, either a sign of investment and civic pride or a sign that a neighborhood is being packaged for visitors rather than maintained for the people who live there. It's really both. What I'd say is this: the bones of Carytown are extraordinary and they are not going anywhere. The Byrd, Bev's, Plan 9, Can Can, the Watermelon Festival every August, the walkability, the proximity to Byrd Park and the VMFA. The character is still there. The question is whether the businesses filling the empty storefronts over the next few years will reflect the neighborhood's identity or gradually dilute it. That's a question worth paying attention to. What the Real Estate Market Is Doing Living near Carytown means buying into one of Richmond's most walkable and most perpetually in-demand corridors. The housing stock is primarily pre-1960s construction: duplexes, small apartment buildings, townhouses, and single detached homes with the kind of architectural detail and neighborhood texture that simply does not exist in new construction. Properties here move. Condition and location on the grid both matter, but the desirability is consistent and has been for decades. If you are relocating to Richmond and want to be within walking distance of a great movie theater, a French brasserie, a record store, and an ice cream shop that has been in the same spot for nearly thirty years, this is your neighborhood. It was the first shopping district in Richmond. It is still one of the best, and where I always send out of towners. That is not a coincidence. Have you been to Carytown lately? What do you think of how it's changing? And if you are thinking about a move to Richmond and want to talk through neighborhoods, I am genuinely your person for that conversation.

May in Richmond is basically the city showing off. After months of cold and grey, the river comes alive, the parks fill up, and suddenly there's something worth getting off the couch for every single weekend. Whether you're into hot air balloons drifting over the Museum District, local artists lining the streets of the Fan, or just wandering through Byrd Park with a funnel cake in hand, this month has you covered. From the return of Riverrock on the James to the grand reopening of Maymont's Wildlife Trail, May 2026 is stacked — and that's before you factor in Greek food, comic cons, ballet, beer festivals, and a musical that asks what would've happened if Juliet just... didn't. Here's everything worth circling on your calendar this month. 📅 May 2nd - 3rd 55th Annual Arts in the Park | 11am to 6pm/5pm |📍 The Carillon in Byrd Park 📅 Saturday, May 2nd Virginia Wildlife Trail Grand Reopening | 10am to 4pm | 📍 Maymont "After a two-year enhancement project, explore the new and remodeled habitats, with more accessible pathways, new interpretive signs, and more ways to view our wildlife residents." - maymont.org Chesterfield Bee Festival | 10am to 3pm | 📍 Chesterfield County Fairgrounds | Enjoy food vendors, a goat petting zoo, live music, and hands-on activities for children. 📅 Sunday, May 3rd Mother's Day Artisan Market | 1pm to 5pm | 📍 Main Line Brewery | Craft Beer, local artisans, outdoor games, dog-friendly vibes, family-friendly fun 📅 May 8th - 9th Richmond Hot Air Balloon Festival | Gates open at 5pm |📍 Museum District | Tickets required | Hot Air Balloon rides, balloon glow + laser show, etc. 📅 Saturday, May 9th VA ComiCon | 11am to 4pm |📍 Richmond Raceway | Tickets required 📅 Sunday, May 10th Mother's Day House and Garden Tour | 1pm to 6pm |📍 Museum District | Tickets required | Stroll through the neighborhood and tour 8 Museum District homes History Hounds Explore Ginter Park | 10am to 11:30am |📍 St. Paul's Catholic Church | $20 for adults / $10 for members | a special dog-friendly tour of Ginter Park 📅 May 12th - 17th & Juliet | Showtimes vary |📍Altria Theater Created by the Emmy®-winning writer from “Schitt’s Creek,” this hilarious new musical flips the script on the greatest love story ever told. & Juliet asks: what would happen next if Juliet didn’t end it all over Romeo? Get whisked away on a fabulous journey as she ditches her famous ending for a fresh beginning and a second chance at life and love—her way. 📅 May 14th - 24th Richmond Ballet Presents 'Moving Art Four: Legends' | Days and times vary |📍VMFA 📅 May 14th - 15th Fan Arts Stroll | 4pm to 8pm |📍2000-2500 Hanover Ave & 2200-2500 Grove Ave | Stroll through the historic Fan district and enjoy local art, live music, and tasty treats. 📅 May 15th - 17th Dominion Energy Riverrock | Event times vary |📍James River | The nation’s largest outdoor sports and music festival on Richmond's riverfront, featuring trail running, kayaking, biking, and yoga. 📅 Saturday, May 16th 21st Annual ASK 5k & Fun Run | 8am to 12pm | 📍Carmax Park | presented by the Childhood Cancer Foundation Goochland Day Parade and Festival | 10am to 3pm | 📍Goochland Sports Complex 📅 Sunday, May 17th Spring Artisan Market | 1pm to 5pm | 📍Zorch Pizza Parlor | enjoy food, drinks, and local vendors/artisans 📅 Thursday, May 21st Murals of Jackson Ward Walking Tour | 6pm to 7:30pm | 📍325 N 2nd St | $20 for adults / $10 for members 📅 Saturday, May 23rd Indian and Sri Lankan Food Festival | 11am to 3pm | 📍10509 Greenwood Rd 📅 May 23rd - 24th Shop Small Weekend | 12pm to 5pm | 📍Strangeways Brewing - Scotts Addition 📅 May 28th - 31st Richmond Greek Festival | Times Vary | 📍30 Malvern Ave 📅 May 30th Spring Plant Sale + Pollinator Festival | 9am to 1pm | 📍1440 N. Laburnum Ave Appomattox River Wine Festival | 12pm to 5pm | 📍Appomattox Boat Harbor Wings and Wheels Fly In and Car Show | 10am to 5pm | 📍Dinwiddie County Airport | Enjoy displays of vintage and modern aircraft, classic cars, and custom motorcycles, plus food and other vendors ¿Qué Pasa? Festival | 12pm to 8pm | 📍Carmax Park 📅 Ongoing Events Silent Reading Party | Day and location vary month to month Flying Squirrels Baseball Games | Days and times vary Shows at the Allianz Amphitheater  Wine and Watercolors with Shop Made in Virginia Shows at The Altria Theater Sunday Artisan Market at Brambly Park | Sundays from 1pm to 5pm Trivia Night RVA at Benchtop Brewing Co. | Wednesdays from 7pm t0 9pm BINGO Night at Benchtop Brewing Co. | Thursdays from 7pm to 8pm Comedy Shows at the Funny Bone Music and Events at Hardywood Brewery | 📍Richmond | 📍West Creek South of the James Farmers Market | Sundays from 10am to 1pm | 📍4021 Forest Hill Ave RVA Big Market | May-Oct: Saturdays from 8am to 12pm | 📍Bryan Park  

Most neighborhoods in Richmond earn their character slowly. Decades of accumulated life, layers of history baked into the architecture, a coffee shop that's been on that corner since before you moved here. Libbie Mill does not have that. It's new. Intentionally, thoughtfully, impressively new. And honestly? It works. Libbie Mill Midtown sits in Henrico County, just off I-64 near Staples Mill Road, close enough to Scott's Addition and the Libbie and Grove corridor to feel connected to the city's energy. It's a 90-acre mixed-use development that set out to do something genuinely difficult: build a walkable, livable, community-centered neighborhood from scratch. The result is something Richmond didn't really have before, and a lot of people are paying attention. What Makes It Different The design philosophy here was rooted in studying what actually makes older Richmond neighborhoods work. The Fan, Church Hill, Shockoe Slip. The things that make people want to linger, not just park and leave. Libbie Mill has pocket parks, shared gardens, clubhouses, and pools, all connected to sidewalks so you can walk anywhere in the community. There's Libbie Lake, with a trail around it that residents use the way people use a front porch. There's a dog park, a playground, and a branch of the Henrico County library right in the middle of it. There are food trucks, outdoor concerts, community events happening on a regular basis. It sounds like a lot to promise. And then you walk it, and the promises largely hold. The Restaurants: Where It Gets Serious This is Richmond. We judge neighborhoods by where we can eat. Libbie Mill passes. Shagbark is the anchor, and it has been since chef Walter Bundy opened it in 2016. Bundy spent nearly two decades as executive chef of Lemaire at The Jefferson Hotel, including a stretch where Lemaire was named one of the 101 best restaurants in the country. Shagbark was named one of USA Today's "20 new restaurants to try" and later earned a AAA Four Diamond rating. Bundy describes the restaurant as a "seasonally driven concept celebrating Virginia's best producers, farmers, and fishermen," and the menu reflects exactly that. The space itself is extraordinary. The communal table milled from an actual shagbark hickory tree, the chandeliers made from whitetail antlers, handmade plates from a local potter. It feels like Richmond in the best possible way: grounded and beautiful. Make a reservation. Dress up a little, if you want to. It's that kind of place. (But it's Richmond, so you don't have to.) Then there's Acacia Midtown, which carries with it the kind of history that makes food people in Richmond go quiet for a moment. Chef Dale Reitzer is a four-time nominee for the James Beard Foundation's Best Chef Mid-Atlantic Award, was twice named Richmond's chef of the year, and was recognized by Food and Wine Magazine as one of America's best new chefs in 1999. He and his wife Aline, who founded Richmond Restaurant Week, closed their beloved Cary Street location in early 2020 and eventually chose Libbie Mill for their return. Acacia Midtown delivers modern coastal cuisine: honest cooking, respectful sourcing, and a welcoming space where timeless hospitality meets a fresh approach to seasonal fare, with a focus on fresh-catch seafood and specialty meats. The space is open, airy, and coastal in feeling, with a small market attached for provisions. If you have been eating Acacia's food for twenty years and missed it like I did? It's back, and it's good. The Real Estate: A Different Kind of Value Proposition Libbie Mill offers something the rest of Richmond's market largely does not: new construction with genuine walkability. Townhomes, condominiums, and apartment homes in a community that was built to function as a neighborhood rather than just a collection of units near a highway. For buyers relocating to Richmond who want modern finishes, low maintenance, and actual walkable daily life without sacrificing access to the rest of the city, Libbie Mill is a serious option. It sits just minutes from Willow Lawn, Short Pump, downtown Richmond, the Libbie and Grove area, the Fan, Scott's Addition, and the James River. You are not choosing between urban convenience and a peaceful place to live. That is the whole point of what was built here. It is worth a visit, even if you think you already know what it is. Walk the lake. Go to the library (one of my favorites). Have dinner at Shagbark. See if it doesn't change your mind a little about what a new neighborhood can be. Have you spent time at Libbie Mill? And if you are relocating to Richmond and trying to figure out which neighborhood actually fits your life, let's talk. I have opinions, I know the market, and I am very good at asking the right questions.

If my best friend called me tomorrow and said she was thinking about moving to the Richmond area, I know exactly what I’d tell her. Not as a real estate agent. Not as someone trying to sell her anything. Just the honest, real-life perspective from someone who has lived here for a long time—and genuinely loves it more every year. If you’re considering relocating to Richmond, here’s what you should know. 🎥 Watch the Full Video What Richmond Is Really Like A lot of people who’ve never been to Richmond picture it as a mid-sized, maybe slightly forgettable city. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Richmond is full of character, history, and distinct neighborhoods—each with its own personality. It has the energy of a college town thanks to VCU, but with the depth and amenities of a much larger city. From world-class museums to a constantly evolving food scene, there’s always something happening here. And then there’s the James River—arguably the crown jewel of the city. Choosing the Right Neighborhood One of the best things about Richmond is the variety. Where you should live really depends on your lifestyle. If You Want Walkability & City Energy Neighborhoods like: The Fan Museum District Carytown Forest Hill / Westover Hills These areas offer sidewalks, local restaurants, coffee shops, parks, and a true neighborhood feel where you can actually walk to places—not just walk for the sake of it. If You Want More Space & Community Amenities Looking in the surrounding counties might be a better fit. You’ll typically find: Larger lots Planned communities Amenities like pools, playgrounds, and tennis courts This can be especially appealing if you’re looking to plug into a community quickly. If You’re Looking for More Affordable, Up-and-Coming Areas A few areas to keep an eye on: Church Hill Brookland Park These neighborhoods offer a mix of character, walkability, and value—and they continue to grow in popularity. Let’s Talk About the Food Scene 🍽️ Richmond has been quietly punching above its weight for years when it comes to food. Whether you’re into: Food trucks Casual neighborhood spots Trendy new restaurants Or high-end dining You’ll find something here—and probably more than you expected. The James River Lifestyle 🌊 This is one of the most unique things about Richmond. The James River runs right through the city—and it’s not just for looking at. You can: Kayak or paddleboard (yes, even downtown) Walk or bike along scenic trails Explore parks and river access points Catch concerts at the riverfront amphitheater Plus, the Virginia Capital Trail offers over 50 miles of paved trail stretching from Richmond to Williamsburg. Arts, Culture & Things to Do 🎨 Richmond has a strong creative energy. From: First Fridays art walks Galleries and museums Festivals and local events There’s always something to explore—and it’s a big part of what gives the city its personality. The Honest Downsides No place is perfect, and Richmond is no exception. A couple things to keep in mind: Highway traffic (especially on I-64 during beach season) Summer humidity (it can get intense) That said, we do get four true seasons—and the winters are relatively mild. Final Thoughts: Should You Move to Richmond? If you’re thinking about relocating, the best thing you can do is come experience it for yourself. Drive through neighborhoods. Try the restaurants. Walk along the river. Check out a local event. Richmond has a vibe that’s hard to fully explain—but easy to feel once you’re here. And chances are, there’s a version of Richmond that fits exactly what you’re looking for. Thinking About Making a Move? If you have questions about neighborhoods, timing, or what to expect when moving to Richmond, I’m always happy to help. Reach out anytime—whether you’re just starting to explore or ready to make a move.

I've been taking a course called "I Know Richmond" through The Valentine, and if you follow me on social media, you already know this. I haven't stopped talking about it. Every session has been great, and I’ve learned so much about this city I love. But the one that seriously stopped me in my tracks was a visit to the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia with Faithe Norrell, followed by a walking tour of Jackson Ward led by historian Gary Flowers. I thought I knew this neighborhood. I did not know this neighborhood half as well as I thought I did.. That's the thing about Richmond. You can live here for decades and still find yourself standing on a sidewalk, listening to someone tell a story you've never heard, thinking: how did I not know this? Jackson Ward gave me several of those moments in one afternoon. A Neighborhood With One of the Most Important Stories in America Jackson Ward is often called the "Harlem of the South," and that comparison is earned. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it was one of the most prosperous African American communities in the country. A thriving center of Black-owned businesses, banks, theaters, and civic life, operating in full and remarkable force inside the suffocating constraints of Jim Crow Richmond. Maggie L. Walker, born and raised here, became the first woman in American history to charter and serve as president of a bank. Her home on East Leigh Street is a National Historic Site. The neighborhood produced entrepreneurs, artists, and civic leaders who served a community the rest of the city systematically refused to. You simply can’t really understand Richmond without understanding Jackson Ward. The Story Behind the Bojangles Statue  There is a 9½-foot aluminum statue of Bill "Bojangles" Robinson at the intersection of Leigh Street and Chamberlayne Parkway. Most people know Bojangles as one of the greatest tap dancers who ever lived, and as a Richmond native son. That part is true and worth celebrating on its own (and the reason I always thought that statue was there.) But here's what it’s is really about. In 1933, Robinson saw what was happening at the intersection outside Armstrong High School, which was the segregated Black high school in Jackson Ward. Black children crossing Leigh Street to get to school had been struck by passing cars on more than one occasion. The city of Richmond knew. The city did nothing. So Robinson went to city council himself and paid out of his own pocket to have a stoplight installed at Adams and Leigh streets, so the children would be safe getting to school. The statue, dedicated in 1973, was the first erected in Richmond to honor a Black person. It stands at that same intersection. And now, every time I drive through Jackson Ward, I see it differently. That is what a good tour, and someone who knows their stuff, does. Gary Flowers did not just give us dates and names. He gave us the why behind everything. The personal stories, the neighborhood tales. And in Jackson Ward, those things absolutely tell a more layered story than the “official” one.  The Black History Museum Before the walking tour, we spent a couple of hours at the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, and I will be honest: it was a really powerful day. Faithe Norrell (a retired 42 year teacher and librarian whose grandparents were born enslaved), led us on the tour, and gave us context far beyond the placards on the exhibits.. The collections are significant, the exhibitions are thoughtful, and the building itself, the Leigh Street Armory, is a piece of history in its own right. (In fact, a lot of the brickwork on the Armory was done by Armstead Walker, Maggie’s husband. He specialized in the rounded forms like turrets, etc, done in brick.) If you have lived in Richmond for years and have not been, make the trip. I promise, you will leave knowing more about this city than when you walked in. You might cry, which I did, and you’ll definitely leave with a different view of much of Richmond. Where to Eat in Jackson Ward The neighborhood's restaurant scene reflects the same mix of history and momentum you feel everywhere you look here. Start at Mama J's Kitchen if you want to understand what soul food actually means in Richmond. Fried chicken, candied yams, cornbread. The kind of cooking that has its own gravitational pull, made by people who have been doing this for a long time and mean every bite of it. There may be lines, and if so, they are worth it.  Then there's Lillie Pearl, which is a whole different kind of special. Chef Michael Lindsey and his wife Kimberly Love-Lindsey built this restaurant as a celebration of his grandmothers' legacies, taking West African heirloom ingredients and his North Carolina roots of Southern African American cuisine through a journey of global influences. The result is New American cooking that feels deeply personal without being precious about it. Brunch is where Lindsey is having the most fun, with dishes like a short rib breakfast burrito smothered in green chile queso and a peach cobbler French toast. Make a reservation and go check it out.  For something quieter and completely distinct, wander into Buna Kurs. Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee, and those origins come to life inside this Jackson Ward cafe, where they brew their signature single-origin medium roast of Yirgacheffe beans every day. It is bright and fruity and not like anything else in RVA. The food is worth exploring too. This is the kind of place that makes a neighborhood feel genuinely interesting, and brings the feeling of a tapestry of culture.  The Architecture Speaking of interesting: the streetscape in Jackson Ward is extraordinary and worth slowing down for. Ornate Italianate rowhouses with cast-iron details on the facades, Victorian-era buildings with bones that simply do not exist in new construction. This is a walkable, urban neighborhood where the built environment tells you something true about the people who built it and the community that sustained it.  What the Real Estate Market Is Doing For buyers researching Richmond, Jackson Ward offers something rare: historically significant architecture in a central, walkable location with real cultural depth. Well-restored properties here move with urgency. Buyers who understand what they are looking at tend not to hesitate. What you are buying is not just square footage. It is a neighborhood with a story worth knowing, and a daily life that has actual texture. That combination is harder to find than most people realize, and buyers who find it here tend to stay. If you are relocating to Richmond and want to talk through what is available and what the neighborhood actually feels like on a Tuesday morning, I am happy to be your very opinionated local guide. But first: take the walking tour, or at a minimum, do a little research. Everything else makes more sense after that.  Have you spent time in Jackson Ward? And if you are researching Richmond neighborhoods from out of town, what questions can I answer? This is exactly what I am here for, so bring on the questions!

April is when Richmond really starts to come alive again. Patios fill up, festivals return, and there’s something happening just about every day—whether you’re looking for live music, family-friendly events, or a reason to get outside. If you’re planning your month (or just your weekends), here’s a look at what’s happening around Richmond this April. 📅 Saturday, April 4th Dominion Energy Family Easter | 9am to 12pm |📍 Maymont Edgar's Enchanted Garden | 10am to 12pm |📍 The Poe Museum | Poetry, Crafts, Games, and Storytime The Hunt | 2:30pm to 12pm |📍 The Space at Norches | Indoor Egg Hunt and Activities Hardywood Bunny Hop | 12 pm to 4 pm |📍Hardywood - West Creek 📅 Tuesday, April 7th Opening Night at Carmax Park | First Pitch at 7:05 pm | 📍 Carmax Park 📅 Wednesday, April 8th An Evening with John Legend | 7:30 pm | 📍 Altria Theater 📅 April 10th & 11th Hermitage Richmond Pop-Up Artisan Market | 10am to 4pm |📍 1600 Westwood Ave, Richmond, VA 23227 Richmond African American Book Festival | 11am to 4pm |📍 Diversity Richmond 📅 April 10th - 12th The Bizarre Bazaar 34th Spring Collection |📍Richmond Raceway Complex Friday, April 10th - 10am to 7pm Saturday, April 11th - 10am to 6pm Sunday, April 12th - 10am to 5pm 📅 Saturday, April 11th A Swingin' Centennial Celebration | 6 pm to 9 pm | 📍Agecroft Hall & Gardens Scotchtown's 5th Annual Fiber Festival | 10 am to 4 pm | 📍Patrick Henry's Scotchtown 📅 Sunday, April 12th Fetch Fest | 1 pm to 4 pm | 📍Hardywood Park - West Creek See Yourself Here: VMFA Community Celebration | 1 pm to 4 pm | 📍Virginia Museum of Fine Arts 📅 Thursday, April 16th Alabama Shakes | 8:30 pm | 📍The Allianz Amphitheater 📅 Friday, April 17th Disco, Always: A Harry Styles Dance Night | 8:30 pm | 📍The Canal Club 📅 April 18th & 19th 2026 Richmond Ren Faire | 10 am to 6 pm | 📍Dorey Park 📅 Saturday, April 18th Spring Artisan Market | 12 pm to 5 pm | 📍Bingo Beer Co Ukrop's Monument 10k | 8 am to 1 pm | 📍Broad St + Harrison St Richmond Book Festival | 11 am to 3 pm | 📍Rueger Park/Lois Harrison-Jones Elementary 📅 Sunday, April 19th Best Buddies Richmond Friendship Walk | 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm | 📍Richmond Kickers 2026 Spring Artisan Market | 12 pm to 5 pm | 📍Hardywood - Richmond 📅 April 21st - 26th The Wiz | Showtimes Vary |📍Altria Theater 📅 Thursday, April 23rd 2026 Dominion Energy Richmond History Makers | 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm |📍The Valentine Museum 📅 Saturday, April 25th Ashland Train Day | 10 am - 4 pm |📍Ashland Farmer's Market Herbs Galore | 8 am - 3 pm |📍Maymont

If you're researching Richmond neighborhoods from afar, here's what the algorithm won't tell you: the best ones don't announce themselves. No marquee, no "Welcome to the District" signage chosen by a branding committee. They just exist — solidly, beautifully — and the people who live there know exactly how lucky they are. Westhampton is one of those neighborhoods. Located in Richmond's near West End — roughly bounded by Grove Avenue, the Boulevard, and Libbie Avenue — Westhampton sits close enough to Carytown to feel connected to the city's energy, but far enough to have its own quiet, gracious personality. If you're considering a move to Richmond and want a neighborhood with genuine architectural character, real walkability, and daily life that feels like a reward rather than a compromise, put Westhampton on your list. (But don't think you're getting a deal there.) One of the first things out-of-town buyers ask me is: can you actually walk places? In Westhampton, yes. Really yes. The streets here are wide, tree-lined, and continuous, and there are lots of sidewalks. Westhampton was built when neighborhoods were designed for people, not just cars. Walk around on a weekday morning and you'll find dog walkers, neighbors who know each other's names, someone pushing a stroller with the unhurried confidence of a person who lives here and loves it. It's a small thing that can be everything when you're deciding where to put down roots. A Quick History, Because Richmond Neighborhoods Have Stories Westhampton developed primarily in the 1920s through 1940s as Richmond expanded westward along the streetcar lines. The result is a neighborhood of remarkable architectural coherence (really, just a way of saying the houses are genuinely beautiful, and they look like they belong together.) Tudor Revivals with steeply pitched rooflines and half-timbered details. Classic Colonial Revivals with columns and symmetry and curb appeal that never goes out of style. Brick two-stories with deep front porches. The occasional craftsman bungalow tucked in like a storybook punctuation mark. For me, one of the best things about Richmond and Richmond neighborhoods is the architecture, and the variety of that in Westhampton is exceptional. Where to Spend a Day in Westhampton One of the things I tell buyers researching Richmond from out of town: spend a Saturday in a neighborhood before you decide. Walk it. Eat in it. See how it feels at noon. So, if you're game, here's your Westhampton itinerary. Start at Westhampton Pastry Shop. It's a Richmond institution, and the Chop Suey danish and Rum Raisin danish are non-negotiable, because you won't find them anywhere else. Flaky, layered, and the perfect amount of sweet — the kind of pastry that makes you understand why regulars have been coming here for decades. Go early. (The doughnuts are renowned, but I never get them, due to the aforementioned favorites.) Lunch at The Continental. The salads are genuinely excellent — composed, fresh, and HUGE. And then get the Dirty Chips, because balance is a real thing and they are exactly what you want alongside a great salad (cheese, bacon, and of course, ranch)  The space has that comfortable, lived-in quality the best neighborhood restaurants earn over time. Dessert, charcuterie, or cocktails at Cameo. Cameo handles all three with equal ease, plus excellent coffee. The patio is the destination on a warmer Richmond evening (and Richmond has a lot of good evenings.) Wander through Apothec. A tea bar, an apothecary, a gift shop... and somehow it manages to be all three without feeling scattered. The smells alone will slow you down. Herbs, botanicals, something warm and lovely. The tea selection is serious, with some on draft, and the staff actually knows their stuff. The gifts range from practical to beautiful (most are both.) End at The Shops at 5807. A curated collection of local makers and unique vendors under one roof. Walk in with one person in mind, walk out having solved four gift problems you didn't know you had. Very dangerous. Highly recommended (and a great place to find a little something for yourself What the Westhampton Real Estate Market Is Actually Doing Westhampton has been one of Richmond's most consistently desirable neighborhoods for good reason, and the market reflects that. The housing stock — those Tudors, Colonials, and brick two-stories — commands prices that reflect both condition and character. Well-preserved homes with original architectural details and thoughtful renovations move quickly, most often with multiple offers. What you're buying in Westhampton isn't just square footage. It's the sidewalks, the streetcar-era bones, and the walkability to the kind of daily life — a great pastry, a good lunch, a patio cocktail at the end of the day — that people move to Richmond to find. That package is the value, and buyers who understand it don't tend to hesitate long. If you're relocating to Richmond and want to talk through the West End — what's available, what's realistic for your budget, and which blocks I'd personally put at the top of the list — I'd love that conversation. And whenever you make it to town for a visit: start at Westhampton Pastry Shop. The Chop Suey danish will tell you everything you need to know about why people move here and never leave. Thinking about a move to Richmond? What neighborhoods are you researching? I'm always happy to be your very opinionated local guide.  

Most of us who've lived somewhere for a long time develop a quiet, unexamined assumption that we know the place. We know the traffic patterns. We know which restaurants are actually good and which ones are just Instagram-famous. We know our neighborhoods (or at least, we know our version of them.) What we often don't know — and I say this as someone who has lived and worked in Richmond for most of my life, is the history. The actual, layered, complicated, sometimes devastating history of the city right underneath our feet. I got lucky. The Valentine's I Know Richmond course filled up before I registered, but I was first on the waitlist and a spot opened up the day before it began. Six Sunday afternoons, four hours each, exploring Richmond's past and present in depth, with expert guides and behind-the-scenes access you simply can't get on your own. I'm two weeks in, and I've already learned so much (and learned how much I still don't know.)   Week one was at the Valentine itself, and if you think you know what's in that building, I'd gently suggest you might be underestimating it. We went a bit deeper than the main exhibits — into the backstories behind the collections, the photographs, the objects that look unremarkable until someone tells you what they actually meant to the people and communities who made them, owned them, or were shaped by them. Context changes everything. A label gives you a fact. A good guide gives you a world. Week two moved us to the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia, in Jackson Ward — and this is where I want to stay for a while, because I have a confession. I had never been. I know. I know. It's been on "my list." I've recommended it to people who ask about Richmond. I've nodded along when friends mentioned it. But life "lifes," and I had never actually gone inside. Faithe Norrell led our tour, and she didn't just walk us through the exhibits — she wove in her own personal stories, her own connections to this history, in a way that made the whole thing feel alive rather than dry and archived. That's the difference between a tour and an experience. Richmond's Black history is not a collection of objects in glass cases. It is a living, continuous story, and it is a story that Richmond has spent a very long time trying to tell around, rather than through. I left genuinely moved. Changed. And more than a little embarrassed that it took me this long. Here's the thing I keep coming back to: Richmond was the capital of the Confederacy. That's not a footnote. That's a defining fact about this city, and it has shaped (and distorted and suppressed) an enormous amount of what came after it. The Lost Cause mythology that took root here wasn't just about the statues on Monument Avenue. It was about whose stories got told, whose history got funded and preserved and taught, and whose got left out of the books entirely. The Black History Museum exists, in part, because of that gap. Because someone (many someones, starting with founder Carroll Anderson Sr.) decided that the full story of Black life in Virginia deserved to be collected, preserved, and told with the same care and permanence as everything else. The building itself carries history: the Leigh Street Armory, built by Black craftsmen (most notably, perhaps, Maggie Walker's husband Armstead) in 1894 for Virginia's Black soldiers, then converted almost immediately into a school for Black children when the city decided Black soldiers didn't need an armory after all. That's Richmond, sort of sum in one building. Pride and erasure, four years apart. Faithe walked us through all of it. Not as a litany of grievances, but as the actual, complicated, deeply human story that it is. That's harder to do than it sounds. After the museum, we got a walking tour of Jackson Ward with Gary Flowers — a fifth-generation Jackson Ward resident who I'm fairly convinced knows everything worth knowing about that neighborhood. Not the cleaned-up version. The real one, with all the texture and the loss and the resilience and the extraordinary pride that Jackson Ward holds. This was the Harlem of the South. A self-sufficient Black economic and cultural hub that survived Reconstruction, survived Jim Crow, and then got cut nearly in half by I-95 in the 1950s. The highway routed, as highways so often were, directly through a thriving Black neighborhood rather than around it. Hearing that history from someone whose family has been there for generations is a completely different thing than reading about it. I think a lot of us who love Richmond carry a version of this city in our heads that is genuinely real. The food, the arts, the river, the neighborhoods, the particular stubbornness and creativity of the people here... but that is also, if we're honest, somewhat edited. In many ways, we've made peace with the complicated parts by not looking at them too hard. I'm not trying to be preachy about this. I am, after all, the person who had never been to the Black History Museum despite recommending it to others for years. I don't have a lot of ground to stand on. But I think there's something to the idea that loving a place fully means knowing it fully — the beautiful parts and the brutal parts, the pride and the shame, the stories that made it into the textbooks and the ones that didn't. Richmond has all of that in extraordinary measure. And we are so lucky, genuinely lucky, to have institutions like the Valentine and the Black History Museum that are doing the hard work of holding all of it. I Know Richmond runs each fall and spring through the Valentine — six Sundays, deeply worth it if you can commit. But the Black History Museum is available to you right now, Wednesday through Saturday, 10 to 5, at 122 West Leigh Street in Jackson Ward. No waitlist. No six-week commitment. Just go. RVA has given a lot of us a lot. Knowing its full story feels like the least we can do in return.