Things to Do

Richmond is known for its proximity to outdoor adventures, its concert venues, and its love for outdoor fairs. Richmond also loves its art scene and finds frequent excuses to celebrate its eclectic collection along Broad street, the James River, and the Fan.

James River Park System 
Belle Isle 
Canal Walk 
Maymont Park 
Chimbarazo dog park 
Byrd Park 
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
​Capital Bike Trail to Williamsburg

Art/Theater

The National 
First Fridays Art Walk 
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (happy hour every friday evening) 
VCU Anderson Gallery 
VCU Singleton Center for the Performing Arts 
Landmark Theater 
Richmond Centerstage 
The Visual Arts Center of Richmond
Children's Museum

Festivals

Summer 
Lebanese Food Festival 
Shockoe Tomato Festival 
Carytown Watermelon Festival

Fall 
Richmond Folk Festival 
Richmond Italian Festival 
Busch Gardens Howl-o-scream 
Brunswick Stew Festival 
Richmond Marathon & Half-Marathon

Winter 
Grand Illumination 
Carytown Ball Drop 
Art After Hours

Spring 
Church Hill Irish Festival 
French Film Festival 
Monument 10K 
Strawberry Hill Horse Race 
Greek Food Festival

Also, check out this link for more great festivals!

Sports

Richmond Flying Squirrels Baseball 
Richmond Kickers Soccer 
NASCAR

Movies

Byrd Theater 
Bowtie Movieland 17 
Regal Cinemas 
Cinebistro at Stony Point

History

Maymont
Holocaust Museum
Edgar Allen Poe Museum ("un"happy hour every 4th Thursday of the month from April-October
The Virginia Historical Society Museum 
Virginia Science Museum ​
​St. John’s Church 
American Civil War Museum

Featured:
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA)
with happy hour every Friday evening

Richmond Neighborhoods

The city of Richmond is divided into districts/neighborhoods with different subcultures and vibes. Choosing where to live in the city can be as much about finding the right district as about finding the right building. Most M1s live close to the MCV Campus, but some may choose to live in the West End for a more suburban lifestyle. During their time at MCV, many students eventually move as they become more familiar with Richmond.

Shockoe Bottom & Slip​

Description
  • Renovated warehouses turned loft apartments 
  • Apartments above restaurants, bars, businesses 
  • Close to nightlife 
  • Walking distance to MCV Campus 
  • Revitalized area with many new businesses
Outdoors: 
  • Canal Walk and Capital Trail
  • Brown Isle and Belle Isle
History: 
  • Holocaust Museum​

Church Hill

Description
  • Historic single family homes with easy street parking 
  • Best views of Richmond 
  • A little outside the city and has lots of charm
Outdoors: 
  • Libby Park 
  • Chimborazo Park 
  • Frisbee Golf Park
History: 
  • St. John’s Church 
  • Chimborazo Civil War Hospital​

West End/Short Pump​​​​​

Description
  • Apartment complexes and family homes 
  • Suburban lifestyle 
  • Close to the malls and superstores 
  •  20-25 minutes commute to campus
Outdoors: 
  • University of Richmond 
  • Bear Creek Lake State Park 
  • Deep Run State Park
Mall, Movies and Music: 
  • Short Pump Town Center 
  • Innsbrook

City Center/Capital

Description
  • Renovated downtown buildings repurposed as apartments
  • Closest neighborhood to campus (5-10min walk)
  • Many restaurants
  • "The National" music venue, Carpenter Theater and Dominion Arts Center
Outdoors/History:
  • State Capital
  • Brown Isle and Belle Isle

The Fan & Museum District

Description
  • Historic houses turned into condos and apartments 
  • 15-20 minute commute to campus, can take shuttle from undergrad campus 
  • Close to the Fan Bars and Restaurants 
  • Close to Carytown, the area of Cary Street west of Boulevard. The “mile of style” is full of boutiques and restaurants.
  • Same neighborhood as the undergrad campus, Cary Street Gym and Cary Street Field
Nightlife: 
  • Most of the restaurants are bars at night
Outdoors: 
  • Maymont Park 
  • Byrd Park 
  • Cary St. Fields
Museums: 
  • The Virginia Historical Society Museum 
  • The Museum of Fine Arts 
  • Virginia Science Museum 
  • Children's Museum

Other Areas of Town​

  • Oregon Hill- Near undergrad campus, historic neighborhood, and cheaper rent. 
  • Monroe Park Campus- Lots of apartments around this area. 
  • Jackson/Monroe Wards- Renovated warehouses and apartment buildings in area being developed. 
  • Southside- High rise apartments and neighborhoods across the river. 
  • East End- Neighborhoods East of the Bottom and Church Hill.

Be sure to check out all of the many murals painted throughout the city!

http://richmondmuralproject.squarespace.com/murals-1

Essential Stores for Daily Living

Groceries

Kroger 
Trader Joe's 
Whole Foods 
Farm Fresh 
​Publix
Costco 
Belmont Butcher 
Elwood Thompson 
Fresh Market
Aldi
New Grand Mart
​Wegmans

Big-Box Stores

Walmart 
Target

Farmer's Markets

17th Street 
South of James

Pharmacies

Rite Aid
​CVS

Barbers & Salons

For Women
Flirt
Blackbird Salon
Circle Square Salon
1213 Hair Studio
Seven Hills Studio
Birch Salon

For Men
Refuge For Men
Creative Expression 
Adams Barber Shop 
Sport Clips 
Hair Cuttery 
Great Clips

Banks

Wells Fargo 
Bank of America 
Central VA Bank 
First Union 
First Virginia 
Suntrust

Shopping Malls

Stony Point 
Short Pump 
Regency Square
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