The little things that have a big impact? (Richmond, Forest: theater, live)

[WanderVA]

In a response to another poster, I was listing some of the little things that I find enjoyable in Richmond. I find that they are more meaningful and have a stronger influence on one's impression of a place than the larger, splashier events or other things that outsiders use to define a place.

For example, I lived in San Francisco for a bit. I had never been there before I moved and nearly everyone who offered advice said that I had to go to Alcatraz, Fisherman's Wharf, Coit Tower, ride the trolleys, and see the Golden Gate Bridge up close. Now I realize that these are all tourist-type places and things to do, many of which I ended up doing.

But it is the little things that I did regularly that I remember most: meals at Andale and The Caravan, nights out in North Beach, frisbee in the Marina District, Saturdays at Baker Beach, etc.

So what are the little things that you find most enjoyable in Richmond?

I'll start my list (many are food and drink related :-)
- beers on the deck at Legends
- Filet mignon at Bamboo Cafe
- Coffee in Carytown
- Bike rides across Belle Isle and through the James River Park system
- Tuna salad sub from Mary Angelas
- Tubing trips down the James
- First Fridays Art Walk
- Checking out one of the many small theater groups
- New Years Eve in Carytown

-

[richmondpics]

-Dinner at Tarrant's
-Checking out local restaurants
-Friday Cheers on a cool, clear summer night
-Trying a different beer every time at Capital Ale House
-Monument Avenue 10k (even though it's a big splashy event, it's been one of the more rewarding things I've done lately)
-a movie at the Byrd
-pickup games of soccer
-a night out in the slip/bottom, running into long lost friends
-overnight canoe trips on the James from Maidens to Watkins Landing
-People watching in Carytown
-First Fridays Art Walk
-concerts at Toad's Place (Buddy Guy was fantastic)
-picnic at Maymont
-Grand Illumination downtown and all the lighted reindeer and other sights at the James Center
-Sweet Tea!
-etc etc etc

[vasinger]

The really beautiful waitresses at places like "Easy Street" and "The Hill Cafe"

Strawberry St Cafe- the bath tub salad bar !

Walks down Monument Ave

Sunday Morning Richmond walking to church (I go to Tabernacle Baptist Church)
The beauty of the spring flowers, the fall colors

drives around Rt 5

Sally Belle's Kitchen- Having a box lunch out in Meadow Park in the Fan or one of the nearby plantations such as Westover

Having a wrap at downtown Shockoe Expresso Cafe and sitting outside looking at the fountain

[shellytc]

The Easter Parade on Monument Ave.

The patio at Buddy's or Monday Night Football at Buddy's.

The Reenactment at St. Johns Church on Sunday's (Patrick Henrys Speech).

The fall colors on Monument Ave. Just go and walk it.

Ok, there is a place where the old TV station used to be up on Church Hill, if you go there, you can park and look out at the lights of the City. I always took friends from out of town there.

Snow sliding at Forest Hill Park!! Bring your own cardboard, LOL!!

Arts in the Park at Dogwood Dell.

Getting a hotdog at the stand at Maymont and walking down to see the bears.

[jeff8]

Okay, some of these have already been mentioned but here are some favorites:

-Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens is one of our favorites. With the kids in the summer is even better with the new water garden.
-Maymont for the animals and Japanese and Italian gardens
-Boat rides on the canal
-Short Pump Friday evenings in the summer when they have bands
-Bottoms Up pizza in Shockoe Bottom
-First Fridays, which gets better every year

[Pogo1288]

The many different festivals
Eating lunch and people watching on the Capitol grounds
Friendly community rivalry and pride
Good neighbors
Overwintering geese