Richmond, Virginia: Damp Socks and Unexpected Charm
okay, so. Richmond. I didn’t really plan to end up here. My van, Beatrice (she’s a temperamental beauty, let me tell you), decided she needed a serious attitude adjustment somewhere in central Virginia. Nearest decent mechanic? Richmond. And honestly? I’m kinda glad she broke down.
I just checked and it’s drizzling sideways, a proper Virginia weep. The kind that soaks you through before you even realize it’s happening. Feels like about one degree Celsius, which is… delightful. I’m currently huddled in a coffee shop - Black Hand Coffee Co. - fueled by something vaguely resembling espresso and a desperate hope that Beatrice will be road-worthy by tomorrow.
This place is… interesting. Like, a beautiful, slightly crumbling kind of interesting. The architecture is gorgeous - all brick and wrought iron - but there’s this undercurrent of… something. History, maybe? Or just a general sense of things having seen better days. I wandered around *Shockoe Bottom earlier, and it’s got this really heavy vibe. You can feel the past clinging to the buildings. I checked out the Canal Walk - pretty, but a little eerie in this weather.
Someone told me that the Edgar Allan Poe Museum is worth a visit. Apparently, he lived here for a while. Makes sense, right? Fits the whole vibe. I might check it out if Beatrice doesn’t get fixed soon.
I’ve been trying to find some decent street art. Richmond’s apparently got a thriving scene, but it’s hard to spot when you’re dodging puddles. I did see a few tags near Manchester, though. Definitely worth a wander if you’re into that sort of thing. Check out this local board for some leads: https://www.rvasstreetart.com/.
Food-wise, I’m still exploring. Yelp says Lemaire is fancy, but I’m not feeling fancy right now. I did grab a surprisingly good sandwich from a little place called Proper Pie Co. - highly recommend. Apparently, they do amazing pies too, but I was too full to try one. Next time, maybe. I’m also eyeing up ZZQ* for some BBQ. Drunk advice from the barista said it’s “life-changing.” We’ll see about that. https://www.yelp.com/biz/zzq-richmond
I overheard some locals chatting about a festival happening next weekend. Something about craft beer and live music. Might be worth sticking around for, if Beatrice cooperates.
If you get bored, Petersburg and Fredericksburg are just a short drive away. Both have their own… charm. Petersburg’s got a lot of history, Fredericksburg’s got some cute shops.
Honestly, Richmond is kind of growing on me. It’s not flashy or glamorous, but it’s got this quiet, resilient energy. And the people are… surprisingly friendly, even when I’m dripping wet and complaining about my van. I’m checking TripAdvisor for more recommendations: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g60897-Richmond_Virginia-Vacations.html. I’m also looking at some local events listings: https://www.richmondmag.com/things-to-do/.
Someone else warned me about the traffic on I-95. Apparently, it’s a nightmare. Good to know for the eventual escape. For now, I’m embracing the damp socks and the unexpected Richmond adventure.