GWAR, Bruce Springsteen, Aimee Mann, and Tom Robbins spent formative years exploring the residential streets, cobblestoned alleys, hidden parks, and river views that make up the swath of land west of the Capital City's downtown presence. As Virginia Commonwealth University has grown, it's become more and more a part of the surrounding Fan District. The two have housed cultural, gastronomical, and creative forces for years, and their mix of genteel style and gritty energy set the resulting neighborhood apart. Nearby, Hollywood Cemetery brings historic star-power to the area by serving as the resting place of US Presidents James Monroe and John Tyler, in addition to offering killer views of Downtown and the James River.
Beautiful co-working done in a beautiful space.
Every pizza place has its fans, but perhaps no place in Richmond has a more devoted following than 8 1/2 on the picturesque Strawberry Street. A takeout-only brainchild of the creator of RVA Italian mainstays Mamma Zu and Edo’s Squid, 8 1/2 delivers a simple menu of complex flavors, handwritten every day. Load up on eggplant parmesan, sausage ricotta broccoletti penne, or Italian sausage with polenta and white beans, or take a slightly lighter route with Italian, roast beef, or arugula and fresh mozzarella heroes. And of course, that pizza. Try an espresso soda—it may be just the thing to boost you out of your food coma.
