For the love of Yelp, how do you evaluate a CITY?…read more Since yelp seems targeted at exposing folks to new things, I guess I will evaluate Richmond with a focus on what a visitor would want to know. But what do you include in Richmond? Just the city, or the metro? Again, I am going broadly as tourists do not limit themselves to boundary lines. So Richmond. Richmond is a small city with a struggling downtown. Major industries have left, including a thriving banking hub and industry. In that way it is like many towns in the south that failed to adapt to new realities. There is limited evening activity downtown, although every good restaurant is a nice island of activity. Broad Street is mostly derelict downtown, with some shops and a few brave restaurants open. There is a convention center that was erected with a "If you build it they will come" attitude. If it is well traveled there is little to no publicity. There are several nice hotels downtown and several national tour type theaters. Ballet, opera, etc. Again, islands. In the center of downtown there is an abandoned coliseum, vintage late 1960s I think, that has barbed wire around it. The state government is centered in downtown Richmond, but even this is being pushed gradually into the burbs. And in any case the government does not drive life after dark here. The drivers of economic activity includes the VCU campuses, both academic and teaching hospital complexes. Schools are bad in the city, both in quality and in the condition of the buildings. With the exception of the neighborhoods and similar that I mention below, poverty is common. But the city is to some extent re-gentrifying. So there is hope. But the things that are necessary to make a city liveable -- grocery stores, dry cleaners, day care, retail shops, drug stores, even parking -- are very few and far between. As you move outside of the central downtown area but stay within city limits there are some beautiful and thriving areas. The Fan district, Scott's Edition, Carytown, and the Avenues area in the far reaches of the city are all beautiful and different and the hope of the city. Beautiful but not thriving is Church Hill, which abuts several high crime neighborhoods. Throughout the city there are nice parks, some semi neglected (Bryan, Forest Hill) and some self sustaining (the areas around the James river.) City government cannot decide what they want to do with these I think. The riverfront is a constant focus for potential economic development but there is no real plan despite dreams of being the next San Antonio. Across the area there are several great museums and numerous local theaters. There are outdoor music venues that get national acts. And a minor league baseball team that is terrible but entertaining (and at 34 and 55 as of today, they need to be.) In Virginia, cities cannot annex neighboring counties. So there is a different local government for Henrico County to the north and Chesterfield County to the south. Like any locality there are good areas and bad areas. Schools are generally better in the burbs. But in the sprawling burbs you will find decent home prices and easy commutes. (Sorry Richmonders I have lived in northern VA and what we deal with is nothing.) The food and drink scene in Richmond is spread out everywhere, not in one or more concentrated districts (there are exceptions.) This means everywhere you go you might be passing an excellent "find." I recommend you keep an eye on Yelp and on Style Magazine for hidden gems and the latest pop up. The nightlife and beverage programs in the metro have been noted by publications in NY and Washington. Several restaurants in the metro have been named "Best in the South" over the years by Southern Living. We love the metro. For all its problems at the center, there is room for growth and exploration.

This city is packed with history, some of which it is not very proud of. But you cannot change the…read morepast and history, is history. It was incorporated in 1742. I though that being the Commonwealth's 4th most populous city (100th in the US), that it would have a lot more going on. Don't get me wrong, it does have activities and events, it is just a slower pace. Richmond is the Capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is home to southern charm and really nice people. There are tons of parks here and you can find some good eateries. Richmond does not have any professional sports teams and its airport is about 20 minutes from downtown. The city has a moderate climate with all four seasons. It is somewhat of a college town, serving as home to many higher learning universities including Virginia Commonwealth University, and the University of Richmond. I do not consider it a very safe place. I may be biased by the double homicide that I witnessed after a graduation that made national news. The Altria Group, the parent company of Philip Morris USA, is based out of Richmond and is one of the city's biggest employers. The downtown area is serviced by the ride share scooters. I used them to trek about the city. Some of the city's attractions include: The Richmond Slave Trail, the Civil War Museum, the Canal Walk, the James River, and The State Capitol building. I was surprised to see, but Richmond was packed with public art. There are some amazing sculptures there and there are tons of murals to see. This city is above average for me, and I have been to many cities. I enjoyed my stay, exploring its history and tasting its great eats. I recommend visiting this city, especially if you are a history buff.

Overpriced real estate and personal property taxes. Buyer beware! Also an antiquated payment system…read morethat will only accept checks.If you pay in person or online with a debit or credit card you accessed a 2% fee.

My love for small towns only grows when I visit places like Goochland! Although the county of…read moreGoochland encompasses a large area and is bordered by Henrico, Powhatan, Louisa, Hanover, Cumberland and Fluvana counties and includes several small towns (like Oilville, Maidens, Manakin-Sabot, Crozier, etc.), I'm just focusing on the town of Goochland! Goochland is in a rural area and the countryside is lovely. As you head out Rt. 6, River Road West, you'll find idyllic pastoral scenes of rolling hills, farmland, cows and horses and other animals. The two-laned country road creates a tunnel of gorgeous greenery as the trees bend in an arch above. Once in the tiny community, you'll find some interesting landmarks and businesses including: the library, the courthouse, a main shopping center off Rt. 522, the post office, schools, a few antique shops, a car dealership, a hardware store, a florist, a hair salon, a pharmacy, a farmer's market, over a dozen restaurants, and the imposing water tower. In the Courthouse Square stands the historic jailhouse and some other historic buildings. There's also Hidden Rock Park, past the JSR community college Goochland campus. The main thoroughfare is just a few blocks long, but there's much to see and do. I spent a couple days exploring the area, soaking up the history, shopping and dining at several restaurants. The locals have hit the jackpot as they have a tight knit community in the country, yet are minutes away from the city! I'm a fan of this adorable small town and it's a perfect place to visit for a day trip! This will be a frequent stop among my excursions!

This was a pretty cool event for an inaugural. Artists and fans of art of all ages gathered in…read moretheir cocktail (or hipster) finery to enjoy music, dance, fine art, singing and fashion. I would've liked to have seen more of everything, though. Or maybe the same amount and variety at a higher quality. Fun, beautiful crowd, though. I'd go again to another RAW event, for sure. It'd be cool to see how the event grows and evolves. It'd be fun to be a curator of this event, because RVA has so much to offer. Let me know if you need any help, RAW organizers ;-)

Owned by J. G. Pemberton, Saguaro Hill is a little piece of Arizona right here in Richmond!~…read more Anyone who has driven by this place has probably wondered what it is... apparently the back story is that after retiring a local Richmond citizen has actually set out to recreate a desert locale with his property. Having only seen it from the street I can't comment on the inside, but it's worth driving visitors by to gawk... there are a million kinds of cactii visible from the street and it looks like a theme park of sorts... I read up on it at the link below... This is definitely one of the quirkier aspects of Richmond, worth a drive by and maybe a tour if you can get one... http://books.google.com/books?id=-Uc5yO1eLe0C&pg=PA123&lpg=PA123&dq=saguaro+hill+pemberton&source=bl&ots=lOZk9N_9iB&sig=03moZ025xBeKjIUUX_IP7hzsfz4&hl=en&ei=TgoVTNauK8P7lwezxumPDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBIQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=saguaro%20hill%20pemberton&f=false

This is a neat distraction that catches your eye while driving down the road. It looks like a…read moreranch that is in a desert...cacti and everything! Fun to see.

Another Richmond landmark church. This one is famous for its Tiffany windows, so if you are a…read morestained glass or Tiffany fan, this is the place to see. As Paul M noted in his review, this church is also famous as being the place where Jefferson Davis learned the he had lost the Civil War from Robert E. Lee. The church is also famous for being built by legendary Greek Revival Architect Thomas S Stewart and was completed in 1845. . A massive entrance portico of eight columns with ornate Corinthian capitals dominates the exterior of the building. An octagonal dome replaced the original 225 foot-high spire, long since removed due to fear of its instability. This church is an excellent example of Greek Revival church architecture.

I go down to Richmond about once or twice a month for work, and when I have some time I come in…read morehere for some reflection. I admire the history, the windows, the tombs and the monuments inside the Church. I like the flags, the silence, the solitude. I love the smell. But most of all I come here to marvel at the fact that this Church is where President of the Confederacy Jefferson Davis got the message from Robert E. Lee that the South had lost the Civil War. On Sunday April 2nd 1865, whilst attending this Church, Jefferson Davis got a message from Lee stating that he was withdrawing from Petersburg - that the 10 month siege was over - and thus he could no longer defend Richmond. General Grant and the Union army were on their way. Davis evacuated the Confederate Government from the city and then Lee surrendered at Appomattox exactly one week later. Can you imagine this? You can sit in the same pew that Davis sat in when he was given that message. 10 months earlier Lee had been thwarting Grant, Sherman was getting stuck in Tennessee and Lincoln's re-election looked impossible. For a few horrible months it actually looked as if the South would win. But then Atlanta falls, Lincoln is re-elected, Lee gives in at Petersburg and the nation's long nightmare has ended. And in this Church, in a pew near the front, is where they finally realized that it was over.

Wow!!! Rich is home to some awesome sculptures. You will find this gem of a sculpture downtown,…read moreprominently displayed in front of the James Center. It is the work of Lloyd Lillie and was dedicated in 1986. It is in great shape, especially considering its age. It consists of three 8-foot bronze muscular figures pulling the lines of a mast to raise a sail. The mast stands about 50 feet and is also made of bronze. The deck is made of sone and brick and was constructed by Alexandra Kasuba. The figures are abstract, but still very detailed. You can feel their struggle to get the sail up. When checking out this sculpture, please be sure to look at the deck, which commonly gets overshadowed by the sculpture itself and also the figures footing and how they were built into the stairs of the building's entrance. You will find metered street parking out front and within a reasonable walking distance from the statue. Anyway, as with most sculptures that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip.

This Confederate soldier overlooks the city of Richmond from the top of Libby's Hill. Of course,…read moreRichmond was the capitol of the Confederacy during the US Civil War (1861-1865) and was the bloodiest war in American history. Thousands of soldiers and sailors died defending the South and while the North did win the war, their bravery and sacrifice is remembered with this monument. The inscription reads: "Erected by the Confederate Soldiers & Sailors Monument Association Anno Domini 1887-1894." Erected in 1894, it is modeled after Pompey's Pillar in Egypt. A 17-foot bronze soldier stands atop a 73-foot Corinthian column. The column is composted of 13 stone cylinders representing the 13 Confederate states. The statue has been vandalized at least once. [Review 11775 overall, 1557 of 2019.]

This pretty red sculpture dominates the plaza in front of the Bank of America tower in downtown…read moreRichmond. Made with aluminum and painted a bright red, it's hard to miss at 18 feet high, 22 feet deep and 23 feet wide. It was installed in 1973. The artist is James Rosati and he's known for similar designs in North America. http://jamesrosati.org/artwork/monumental/monumental.htm If you're in downtown Richmond, stop by and take a look. There's an unrelated fountain in the neighboring plaza. [Review 11957 overall, 1739 of 2019.]