People who live in Richmond VA, please help.?

Question

I'm going down in a few days and I want to know what some things to do are. Preferably near the VCU Monroe Park Campus. I'm 18, so young things please. Fun, more are the cheaper side, things...

Answer 1

Head south into Oregon Hill. There you will find Hollywood Cemetery. This is a beautiful, well managed, and safe cemetery that serves as the resting place of two US presidents, one CS president, and thousands of citizens and soldiers. This is a great place to walk and take in scenery or the history. I walked down to Hollywood Cemetary a lot when I was an undergrad at VCU. But, I was a history geek so you might not find it as fun as I did.

Head west on Main Street until it crosses Boulevard. Main Street turns in to Ellwood. Go south one block to Cary Street and you are in the Carytown area. There are a lot of quirky shops and restauraunts and other neat things to do in this area. The Byrd Theater is in this area with second run $1.99 movies. On Fridays and Saturdays, they will have someone play the Wurlitzer before showings. There are also the Midnight Madness movies, which will be a cult favorite and all the college students will be treating it like a Rocky Horror Picture Show performance.

The Museum District is located on Boulevard between Broad Street and I-195. The museums do not cost that much. However, parking on the parking deck may cost more than your attendance at the museums.

Headed south on Boulevard, pass the Christopher Columbus statue on the right and head down to Maymont Park and the Dooley Mansion. Beautiful art, Japanese Garden, petting zoo. 'Nuff said!

Drive past Maymont Park and cross the Nickel Bridge. (Which now costs a quarter to cross.) Hang a right on to Forest Hill Ave. Eat at O'Tooles pub. Call them and find out when they have music playing. If you like comics or collectables or used books, drop in and brows at Stories.

Just south of VCU on Belvidere is the Virginia War Memorial. Go, pay your respects to those that went before us.

The Fan area is where the streets "fan out" west of Monroe Park. There are many small restauraunts and clubs hidden throughout the area. Poke around and find one that you like. They can be anywhere, including the alleys. I can't give you many suggestions because they open and close all the time. Sometimes, the ones open the shortest are the most fun. "The flame which burns twice as bright may only last half as long." Of course, it's probably because they blow a lot of money all at the beginning before they can get profits rolling in.

Driving east on Cary St. brings you to Shockoe Slip. Tobacco Company, Sine', bunch of other stuff. Not cheap, but neat to hang around. Further down is the Shockoe Bottom area. Streches from the canal/James River to Broad Street. Bunch of clubs, restaurants, some stores.

Good luck! I hope that you enjoy your trip to Richmond!