5 Options for a Local Coffee Fix

Energized piece I wrote for Rvablog in May 2015 about 5 great local options in the Richmond Region to get your coffee fix!

View Article Here.

by VISITRICHMONDVA

It gets us started and keeps us going; it’s a creature comfort and often times the best part of our mornings; sometimes a hot cup of coffee is the perfect remedy for a weary worker or traveler.  When searching for the perfect black bean fix, the omnipresent green Starbucks logo seems to be the only option a lot of the time; however, fear not; support these local shops in the Richmond Region and stop paying the Man!

SEFTON COFFEE CO

Located in the heart of downtown Richmond on 8^th Street in the Financial District, this little-shop-that-could is nestled between the skyscrapers offers a quaint, bright, friendly experience for breakfast, lunch, dessert, snacks or simply a good cup of java!  Break out of the hustle and bustle of the downtown Richmond Region and get a quick treat from friendly staff members who take pride in their craft.

CROSS ROADS COFFEE AND ICE CREAM

This popular shop in the Forest Hill neighborhood, south of the James River, has developed a loyal following since their opening in 2007.  Stocked with reliable cups of joe, an outdoor beer garden with eight different taps, as well as sweet treats; Cross Roads offers patrons a relaxing environment with free wireless internet and sometimes musical guests!

ALCHEMY COFFEE

The new kid on the block, Alchemy recently opened in the heart of VCU’s campus downtown.  Truly breaking coffee down to a craft and a process, the folks at Alchemy offer tasting guides to patrons, as well as the opportunity to get the pre-brewed batch of their coffee or wait a few minutes for an eye-opening experience of a fresh pour-over.  Also a fan of latte art, Alchemy offers a hip setting in the city.

PLANT ZERO CAFÉ

Tucked away in the Manchester Arts District in the Southside Richmond Region, Plant Zero Café has been a mainstay in the arts community Plant Zero for over a decade.  Situated right in the midst of a massive apartment boom in the Manchester neighborhood, this cool, artsy, welcoming café (with a great patio!) offers a variety of coffee’s along with a full menu for breakfast and lunch.

ASHLAND COFFEE AND TEA

Want some tunes with your latte? Ashland Coffee and Tea is the place for you. Local and regional acts take to the stage almost nightly at this shop offering music that ranges from reinterpreted folk, alt country, bluegrass and everything in between.

Michael J. Hippchen is a freelance writer based out of Richmond, VA.  Michael has a passion for good bourbon, a firm cigar, live music, and copious amounts of black coffee.

Top 5 Destinations for Someone with a Sweet Tooth

Sweet piece I wrote for RVAblog in April 2015 about top 5 places for tourists to visit in the Richmond Region to get a sugar rush!

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by VISITRICHMONDVA

In addition to the numerous savory restaurants and trendy watering holes scattered around the Richmond Region, the area is stocked plentifully with shops for the traveler wanting a sugar rush.  Treat yourself to a confection of happiness good for all ages at any of these top 5 destinations for someone with a sweet tooth!

 SUGAR SHACK

Three Words:  Maple.  Bacon.  Glaze.  This doughnut shop has developed a ravenous fan base because of unique flavor combinations, fresh ingredients, and well, just some of the best doughnuts in town.  With multiple locations in the Richmond Region (the Fan, West End), this rapidly expanding shop is growing to Midlothian as well!

 PEARL’S CUPCAKE SHOPPE

Friendly, classy and yes, they deliver, Pearl’s is quickly becoming a go-to option for miniature cake lovers in the Richmond Region. Co-founded by two baker friends, this quaint shop off Patterson Avenue boasts over 120 flavors of freshly baked cupcakes, including having gluten free, vegan, and sugar free options!

SHYNDIGZ

Recently relocated from the West End of Richmond to the heart of the Fan district near Virginia Commonwealth University, Shyndigz is a full service, from-scratch bakery with a constantly rotating menu. The physical location allows you to dine in or order freshly baked cakes, pies and other delicious treats that you can wash down with a glass of wine or a pint of beer. This wildly popular dessert-only stop is quickly becoming a Fan favorite!

ROCKET FIZZ

Want to travel back in time?  Just visit this old-school-cool candy shop in Carytown. The colorful store impresses with thousands of candy options, hundreds of rare sodas from around the world, and an eclectic vibe that one can only really get from a vintage shop like Rocket Fizz.

FOR THE LOVE OF CHOCOLATE

Also located in Carytown, this sweet shop has something for everyone and a lot of one thing: Chocolate!  International chocolate treats, wedding gifts, baby sweets, seasonal items, unusual candies, kosher and vegan options, as well as local Virginia made confectioneries; this nougat nirvana can satisfy any chocoholic traveling in the Richmond Region.

Michael J. Hippchen is a freelance writer based out of Richmond, VA.  Michael has a passion for good bourbon, a firm cigar, live music, and copious amounts of black coffee.

5 Great Restaurant Patios to Ring in Spring in the Richmond Region

Piece I did for RVAblog.org that ran in April 2015 on favorite local spots to dine outside in the Spring time!

View article here.

by VISITRICHMONDVA

Blooming dogwoods, joggers pounding the sidewalks along Monument Ave, and dining outside are all sure signs of spring’s arrival in the Richmond Region!  With tons of dining options abound, we highlight five fantastic restaurant patio options to enjoy a warm spring night with family and friends. Here are 5 Great Restaurant Patios to Ring in Spring in the Richmond Region.

UNION MARKET

This hidden gem nestled in Church Hill provides a quaint neighborhood grocery and dining option in this historic region.  Enjoy a glass of Pinot or a local craft beer at a Tap Takeover event and munch on a delicious sandwich or salad while sitting out on the surprisingly roomy patio in this up and coming neighborhood.

LEGEND BREWING COMPANY

The famous Southside region brewery and restaurant with an enormous, wooden deck has been a staple of the Richmond Region for over two decades. The 200-seat patio gives patrons amazing views of the James River and the Downtown Richmond skyline that can only be improved with a legend-(wait for it?)-ary Brown Ale.

WATER COASTAL KITCHEN

This popular Carytown eatery can easily be spotted by the bright red umbrellas that adorn their spacious patio. Enjoy some fresh regional seafood and a cold refreshment after a day of shopping in the famed Richmond Region shopping and dining district.

ARDENT CRAFT ALES

Okay, okay, it’s not a traditional dining option; however, they do often have food trucks at this Scotts Addition brewery and beer garden. The huge, multi-level patio space has tons of seating and standing space, including picnic tables that allow patrons to socialize with their fellow hops-loving peers. As a cherry on top, Ardent’s patio is also dog friendly, so bring a leashed furry friend and enjoy a flight of craft beer on a beautiful spring afternoon.

BEST CAFÉ AT THE VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS

This delightful cafe, located inside the ground level of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, offers an enormous spacious patio that offers lunch Saturday through Wednesday and Lunch and Dinner Thursday and Friday, as well as a very popular happy hour. Enjoy a savory sandwich or a sweet dessert and coffee while overlooking the calming reflection pool chock full of bright red glass reeds, courtesy of legendary glass maker David Chihuly. Get some culture along with your lunch at this unique experience.

Michael J. Hippchen is a freelance writer based out of Richmond, VA.  Michael has a passion for good bourbon, a firm cigar, live music, and copious amounts of black coffee.

Top 5 Reasons You Should Take the River City Food Tour

Fun piece I wrote for VisitRichmondVA.com and RVAblog.org in March 2015 about a delicious Saturday afternoon in RVA taking a food tour of Carytown!

View article here.

Original Text:

The Richmond Region is quickly becoming a foodie destination for taste buds up and down the East Coast; chock full of diverse, unique options for palates waiting to be pleased. River City Food Toursoffers a culinary tour of Carytown, the Richmond Region’s famous shopping and dining district, is a great way to sample our budding food scene. Here are the top 5 reasons you should take the River City Food Tour!

A GUIDING LIGHT

A competent guide can make or break a tour, and Brian, the soft-spoken, friendly, knowledgeable leader who runs the River City Food Tour is a perfect host for this delightful afternoon stroll through Carytown. An affable guide means relaxed listeners!

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

Appealing to a savory vs. sweet crowd, the River City Food tour is an ultimate tapas experience for all takers.t A diverse selection of styles from spicy to sugary are offered at each of the respective six stops, even with vegetarian options. Tour takers enjoyed a wide array of delicacies, ranging from naughty Irish Car-Bomb Cupcakes to a quaint pouch of risotto stuffed into peppers. Remember: come hungry!

GLOBE HOPPING

A visit to Carytown offers a United Nations of restaurants, and the River City Food Tour truly covers all corners of the map. From Carnitas tacos with fresh diced onions to fried oysters with a drizzle of buffalo sauce to a crispy Ethiopian Samboosa stuffed with diced meat, be prepared to globe hop!

A HISTORY LESSON

Come hungry for delicious eats as well as a little bit of Richmond Region history. See what Carytown looked like 100 years ago and learn about the history of Cary Street and how it got its name! Learn about Virginia’s peanut farming history and try the famous North American Super Extra Large Peanut (yes that’s it’s name).

WINDOW SHOPPING

Carytown is an experience – dining, shopping, sightseeing, and people-watching; the River City Food Tour lets you take it all in, albeit with a guided path. The River City Food Tour allows you to get a unique view of a historic, eclectic section of the Richmond Region. Tourists should take advantage of the scenic walk-around this dining and retail district and window shop before, during and after the tour!

Jim Gottier’s ‘fraternity of misfits’ at Greenleaf’s Pool Room

Begin creating freelance content for RVA Magazine in March 2015 and this was my first piece with them: An intimate portrait of Greenleaf’s Pool Room in Downtown Richmond and their eclectic owner, Jim Gottier!

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Romantic. Friendly. Classic.

This is how Jim Gottier, the silver-tongued proprietor of Greenleaf’s Pool Room(North 6th & Franklin) envisioned his space that opened in 2014 on the ground floor of the Residences at the John Marshall downtown. Gottier has been a purveyor of pool since he was thirteen years old, when he first went to a pool room and saw a space “…filled with guys with tattoos and sexy girlfriends; guys who stayed up all night and gambled their money…I loved the fraternity of misfits in the pool room.”

Gottier fell in love with Richmond when scouting the country for locations to build Greenleaf’s, which was named after pool player Ralph Greenleaf, who Gottier affectionately describes as “…the first truly great modern player; a charismatic champion from the 1920’s and 1930’s [who] seems to have been a bit of a tortured soul and had a vicious drinking problem.”

“Historically profound, physical beautiful, friendly people, great restaurants… this town just rocks,” Gottier said of Richmond. “We found a culture of style, of people who go out and experience the joys of life. We found beautiful architecture, a great cross section of society, and a jewel of a downtown.”

The aesthetic, atmosphere, and character of Greenleaf’s are what set it apart from anything else in the Downtown Richmond scene today.

Atmosphere and tone were two major requirements for his imagination of his RVA pool room, one that had to be as unique as its owner and clientele alike.

Much like classic television shows where the location was a character itself, (like New York City in Seinfeld, or Central Perk in Friends) destinations like Greenleaf’s allow its pool patrons to step into a place fully immersed world of both recreational activity and culture.

“I have always loved the lonesome camaraderie between players; to sit in a red leather booth in some roadhouse and listen to “Poker Paul” or “Frisco Jack” tell their stories; to catch the glint of their pinky rings as they toss back high balls, wondering if I will be picking up the check; it’s kind of a bliss,” said Gottier.

An upscale pool room, which one may say Gottier was trying to achieve (and has) with Greenleaf’s, may have seemed to be a difficult goal to achieve due to cultural perceptions about the game and its players. However, Greenleaf’s has been able to find a balance between an afternoon boilermaker binge and a date night in the big city with a bottle of wine and friendly competition.

This was important to Gottier – keeping the image of pool that he had fallen in love with alive.

“Years ago pool rooms were perceived as dens of iniquity, filled with all manner of nefariousness,” said Gottier. “To its detriment, in the past half century, pool has self-consciously fled from that image.”

Gottier himself remembers that image, daying he loved “those old dens of iniquity.”

“I love those forlorn arenas of parallel American history,” he said. “Pool should know itself, accept itself, and rejoice.”

Greenleaf’s may have found its perfect niche in Richmond, a city filled with eclectic thinkers, movers, shakers, and creators. Ultimately, though, this is still a business venture, that one has to ask and analyze, ‘how can we make you want to play pool?’

“Pools popularity has always had crests and troughs, often linked to events in mass culture,” Gottier said. “The movie The Hustler spawned my generation of pool player. Greenleaf’s manager, Jesse Rice, is of The Color of Money generation. It is hard to say where pool will go.”

But he’s cautiously optimistic, thinking the sport, or the intrigue around the game, will continue to fascinate and confound a public “tired of screens and hungry for genuine human interaction.”

Fortunately for Gottier and his wife Andrea, the response to Greenleaf’s bringing back classic touches of pool’s culture has been fantastic.

Ultimately, he can look at his room, shoot a game of straight pool by himself on Table 1, and appreciate something that Richmond didn’t have before Greenleaf’s settled downtown.

“I kind of think of our room as akin to an all day, European café,” Gottier said. “A set where high and low drama can be acted out, where a moment can be caught and everyone who comes in the door has a secret. Richmond has been an amazing place for three hundred years. It will be an amazing place long after we’re gone. I am just happy to add our name to the timeline.”

Words by Michael Hippchen – photos by BK

Top 5 Reasons Spring Means Biking In the Richmond Region

March 2015 post for RVAblog.org about exciting events in the Richmond Region or biking enthusiasts!

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by VISITRICHMONDVA

From the opening of the new Virginia Capital Trail, to Dominion River Rock and finally the 2015 UCI Road World Championships in September, the Richmond Region is quickly becoming an international hub of cycling. Here are the top 5 reasons you should be excited about biking in the Richmond Region as the temps climb!

VIRGINIA CAPITAL TRAIL

Slated to open in late summer/early fall 2015, this approximately 52 mile stretch of bicycle and pedestrian trail will run along the beautiful Route 5 corridor in Virginia, connecting Richmond to Williamsburg and Jamestown. The Virginia Capital Trail Foundation will also be sponsoring the 10^thannual Cap2Cap 2015 bicycle race, which runs between RVA and Williamsburg on Saturday, May 9; the race is a great opportunity for amateurs and seasoned cycling pros to spin their gears with four different races offered, varying in distance, and also have family and friend enjoy food, beer, vendor expos and live entertainment. Get out and exercise while seeing the charm of the Commonwealth!

CONQUER THE COBBLES RACE (SEPTEMBER 25)

Conquer the Cobbles race will allow its participants to have access to the exact same road circuit course that world-class professional cyclists will compete on at the 2015 UCI Road World Championships!  Sponsored by Sports Backers, this 10.3 mile course will allow riders to conquer the cobbles for a two hour time period and get as close to the real feeling of a race as possible.

2015 UCI ROAD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (SEPTEMBER 19 – 27)

Years in the making, thousands of the world’s top cyclists from 75 different countries will be arriving in the River City to compete in 12 different races over the span of nine days this fall at Richmond 2015!  Spectators will be able to not only enjoy the sights and sounds of these two-wheeled artists whizzing by but also attend concerts, festivals, expos, and live entertainment before the race.  Audiences can view this incredible international spectacle from great vantage points like Libby Hill Park, Church Hill near 23^rd street, and Monument Avenue to name a few.

GET OFF ROAD

Pocahontas State Park offers up to 12 miles of continuous riding on trails with stunning lake views. The largest all-volunteer maintained trail system in the region, these trails take riders across a creek crossing, lots of small logs, some exposed rocky shelves, some basic rock gardens and a lot of climbing and descending. Fire roads are available for riders who aren’t ready for single track just yet.

DOMINION RIVER ROCK (MAY 15 – 17)

All hail River Rock!  Nationally touted as the “largest annual outdoor sports and music festival”, this yearly event drops into Richmond like a BMXer in a half-pipe and leaves with bruised knees and dusty helmets.  There are three Dominion River Rock biking events: the Thule Urban Assault Mountain Biking race, a huge, urban-style single track throughout the James River Park System; the Garmin Freestyle Bikes competition, which showcases pro freestyle BMX riders in events like Best Trick and Slopestyle; and finally the Redbull Berm Burners, a riveting, rollicking head-to-head pursuit dirt track race with bracket style eliminations.  May the best rider win!

Check out our biking video if you need anymore convincing that the Richmond Region is for bikes:

Michael J. Hippchen is a freelance writer based out of Richmond, VA.  Michael has a passion for good bourbon, a firm cigar, live music, and copious amounts of black coffee.

Top 5 Tips for Bringing Furry Friend to Richmond

*Piece I wrote for VisitRichmondVA.com in March 2015 about activities to do with your pet when visiting the RVA region!

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Original Text:

Top 5 Tips for Bringing Furry Friends to the Richmond Region

by VISITRICHMONDVA

Visiting the Richmond Region with your four legged friends? Fear not, the region is dog friendly! Here are the Top 5 Tips for Bringing Furry Friends to the Richmond Region (dogs people, we’re talking about dogs.)

1. EXPLORE DOWNTOWN

We all don’t have time to go to the dog park every day, but we can change up the scenery for our furry friend once in a while!  On a nice day, trek down to Brown’s Island off 7^th street and let your dog enjoy the sights and sounds of the flowing James River while gallivanting across the grass and pebbles of the Island. Take a walk down Monument Avenue in the huge grassy medians for an urban oasis of chlorophyll. If your Financial District pup is getting a little stir crazy from the same old spot, walk the extra blocks from your high rise to the State Capitol lawns off 9^th street. If the city isn’t your thing Pocahontas State Park has miles of bucolic fire roads and trails.

2. CATCH SOME AIR AT DOMINION RIVERROCK

Is your dog a competitor? Good, you can enter them in the Ultimate Air Dogs competition at Dominion Riverrock May 15-17. Dogs can also come and watch their favorite flying fidos.

3. VISIT THE SHOPS, TAKE IN A PATIO

Believe it or not, there are pet friendly shops and dining/drinking patios in the Richmond area! Grab a sandwich at Franklin Street Market with your pooch, or enjoy a beer on a nice spring day on Triple Crossing Brewing downtown on Foushee Street, or take a stroll around Stony Point Fashion Park south of the river (and even peak into a few select shops as well).

4. GET YOUR PAL GROOMED

Did the long car ride or even a plane ride in a tiny carrier leave your pup looking a hot mess? Local groomers like The Barking Lot in the Fan and Dogma at the top of Carytown (among many others), can get your prince or princess shiny, fresh, and like new again before you show him or her off to friends and family.

5. GO FOR A DIP

Take full advantage of the River City’s name sake and enjoy the James from various access points, including Pony Pasture, Belle Isle, 42^nd Street, and Texas Beach, all a part of the James River Park System and romp and splash with your pet on a hot day.

Michael J. Hippchen is a freelance writer based out of Richmond, VA.  Michael has a passion for good bourbon, a firm cigar, live music, and copious amounts of black coffee.

Shockoe vs. the Fan

Old piece I wrote in August 2010 about the eternal weekend debate of where to go out on a Friday night.

Original Story here.

“It’s a Friday.

More importantly, it’s a Friday night. Hours removed from the busy duties of minesweeping and Facebook chatting in a cubicle. It’s time to go out.

Ladies are rocking their skinny jeans and candy-colored tops, as well as struggling down the topsy-turvy sidewalks of Richmond in stilettos. The guys, on the other hand, comfortably strut around in a T-shirt and slacks, ready for anything.

The beers are cold, the balcony of the apartment is littered with the smokers and music is blaring. The pre-gaming is dying down.

Now time for the great debate: Where to go tonight. Shockoe Bottom or the Fan? It’s a personal choice, and usually cause for a good tipsy argument.

Shockoe vs. the Fan

The Fan oozes character. That’s what attracts people to reside in the classic Richmond neighborhood, and for a younger demographic the price of the top floor of a duplex on Roseneath is more attractive to shallow pockets than what the shiny new apartments all along the canal have to offer.

A larger number of bars and dives scatter around the Fan than in Shockoe, ranging from loyal Pabst Blue Ribbon followers, like Helen’s on West Main Street to swanky lounges like DeLux.

Proper attire in the Fan will vary, depending on where you want to go. PBR loyalists will usually populate themselves with a more casual crowd, packing in the tightly cramped bars with headband sporting chicks and Chuck Taylor wearers. Other bars, like the previously mentioned lounges, offer a more “cosmopolitan chic” environment of high heels and Sperry Top Siders.

If you want some breathing room, Fan bars are likened to sardine cans. Expect shoulder to shoulder interaction with strangers on busy nights at bars like Star-liteand 3 Monkeys on West Main Street, as well as ample amounts of practice yelling “excuse me, pardon me.”

The recent smoking ban has helped diminish the claustrophobia of Fan bars quite a bit, actually allowing the ceiling to be seen instead of a murky cloud. Unfortunately, a lot of Fan bar regulars smoke, which creates a problem when a line is forming outside the door near the bouncer with the clicking counter. Some patrons don’t know who is waiting to get in, or simply stepping out to burn one.

Fan bars are more intimate, either by choice or circumstance, and show off the neighborhood’s personality very well. It’s hectic but beautiful, and on a nice night that’s not too hot or muggy, sitting outside at a table at Baja Beanery on West Main Street under the ceiling fans and lights with five friends and a few cold ones is almost unbeatable.

Shockoe is different. Some Richmond residents may think that it’s a little too pretentious and smarmy for some of the stubborn art scene crowds, but hey, that’s what the Fan is for. Although the drinks might be a little bit pricier than the Fan, a higher sense of style struts its stuff in Shockoe, which is a major plus for people who like to get dolled up on a Friday night.

Unfortunately, patrons will probably have to take cabs to Shockoe, where parking is limited or pay-only. Fortunately, there is an abundance of cab services, with cheap options like Bio Taxi or the ever popular free transportation like To The Bottom and Back, and bus service that allows transportation around the Fan and Shockoe late night for no charge.

For those patrons looking for a night of dancing, Shockoe offers the best number of opportunities to show off your inner Fred Astaire, at bars like Blackfinn, Sine,Tobacco Company and Cha-Cha’s Cantina. The dance floors get crowded, so get there early to get a good spot in the middle of the ruckus. Make sure you can have an easy escape route to the nearest bartender when you’re nearing an empty.

A good way to differentiate the two is that Shockoe has more of a club atmosphere, while Fan bars are for when it’s been a long day at work and a booth and a beer are calling your name. The hardest part is deciding.”

River City Apartment Hunting

Old piece I wrote for Richmond.com in August 2010 about shopping for an apartment in Richmond, Virginia.

Original Story here.

“Walk down “Hell Block,” the 900-1200 block of West Grace Street close toVirginia Commonwealth University’scampus, and you can probably find a party or two. Or 10. It’s called “Hell Block” for a reason.

Factors such as these, like deciding to shop at IKEA or Party City for your apartment furnishings, should be very important when considering an apartment in the city of Richmond.

Don’t get me wrong; some people like to party. However, some people like to sleep. And not walk over cigarette butts and Pabst Blue Ribbon cans where a sidewalk should be. For those of us (read: non-students) wanting a quieter pace but the same access to all of the fun that Richmond has to offer, apartment hunting can get intense enough to require a game warden.

First off, do not give any street a free pass. Yeah, Monument Avenue is gorgeous and grand in all of its cobblestoned glory, but some apartments on the legendary street could have more mice than a Dell manufacturing plant.

Another thing to consider: most of the time in Richmond, you pay for what you get. What a lot of people have to realize, and don’t, is that these buildings are old. Like a century old. Like someone-churned-butter-by-candlelight-in-the-apartment-once old. Granted, many of the apartments have been renovated by their respective companies or private owners, but expect to pay a higher electric or heat bill during certain months due to the fact that air is escaping from windows built with wood from the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria.

Sure, you can move down to Shockoe Bottom, into the fancy new lofts with all-inclusive utility packages, rooftop swimming pools and gyms, but you lose the character of the old-school Victorian charm of the Fan. But, keep in mind, some apartments in the Fan aren’t just old school, they’re just old.

Parking is another issue to consider when searching for an apartment. TheBoulevard and Cary Street are cool places to live, but raise your hand if you like to walk three blocks back to your apartment at 11 o’clock at night. Unless you have a Smart Car or complete disregard for your car and others’ (That’s what bumpers are for, right?) then some spots in the more clogged areas of the city are not for you. When looking for an apartment, see if there is off-street parking that’s optional, even if it’s $30-$50 more a month.

The next factor to consider is noise. Remember, this is a city. Yeah, Richmond is equivalent to a flake of dandruff in the hair of New York City or Los Angeles, but it can still make some noise. Live off main streets, like, ironically, West Main Street, Cary Street or Robinson Street if you want to stay away from night owls and grandpa’s old cough medicine. Also, keep in mind, if you want to cancel as much noise as possible in your multi-story apartment building, consider the top or bottom floors. Not having neighbors above or below you is a major plus and will save the world from the floor stomping and poking ceilings with broomsticks to get those annoying punks to shut the hell up.

The real key to apartment hunting: be smart. Know what you want. Know what you do not want. Know the area. Do your research. Look for move-in deals like lower security deposits or 13-month leases with the last month free. More important, have fun. This will be your place of residence for the next year (or more, if you can wrestle a six-month lease out of a property manager’s mitts), so plan accordingly.”

Ditch the Gym

Old piece I wrote for Richmond.com in September 2010 about ditching the gym (and the gym fees) for alternative options.

Original Story here.

“So. Damn. Hot.

That was problem in Virginia’s capital city this summer. The sweltering record-setting heat and beating sun tortured Richmond natives for months. Runners had to fill their Camelbacks up with just ice and no water.

To find refuge from the harsh weather, many Richmonders flocked to local gyms, such as Gold’s Gym off Cary Street and in the Willow Lawn Shopping Center, the Downtown YMCA on Franklin Street, American Family Fitness centers in Short Pump and Midlothian, and even Virginia Commonwealth University’s new pristine Cary Street Gym for people lucky enough to have access to VCU’s Department of Recreation Plus 1 program (current faculty, staff or students who are members of the gym can add a non-paying member to their account for a monthly fee).

Fortunately, these gyms are usually organized, fairly clean, and provide a safe, air-conditioned haven for unbearable summer months. Unfortunately, gym memberships are not so friendly on its member’s pockets (maybe with they exception of the Downtown YMCA’s income based membership adjustments).

For those workout warriors who need the gym as a part of their daily routine, whether it be because the treadmill is easier than concrete sidewalks or some muscle bound guys are getting their swell on for “Jersey Shore” auditions, gyms will, and always will be, the only option. However, there are more options for casual exercise-hungry individuals who don’t want to be tied down to membership fees and hours of operation.

The good news: Fall is here. It’s getting cooler outside, humidity is dropping a bit, and running outside is physically possible again. The heat was so bad sometimes this summer that Richmond meteorologists warned patrons to stay inside due to dangerous ozone levels (whatever that “red” color means; just tell us it’s hot). Now, for a running crazed city of thousands like Richmond, Mother Nature is cooperating with our desire to find our inner Steve Prefontaine.

Young or old, decked out in Under Armour, Pilates pants and bobbing ponytails (for the ladies), and slick New Balance cross trainers, spotting a runner on the sidewalks in the Fan or around VCU’s campus is like finding a fish in water. The natural beauty of the Fan, as well as the shrouded sidewalks blanketed by a dense shade of the overcastting ancient trees, allow for Richmond’s most famous neighborhood to become a runners heaven.

Byrd Park, located at the southern end of the Boulevard, also provides running paths, as well as some exercise equipment located sparingly throughout the park and even in Dogwood Dell. For beginners, buying equipment from sporting goods stores like free weights or an exercise ball allow budding fitness freaks to work out from the comfort of one’s own home or apartment.

Another positive of not being a member of a big-box gym is the privacy factor. For beginners, going to a gym and exercising around experienced athletes is intimidating, if not embarrassing for people trying to get in shape. Although sometimes a mirror can be a worse critic, being able to control your environment and not feel like everyone else is bigger, stronger and faster than you is a major plus to developing a customized exercise program.

The “buddy” policy is another major advantage of not being a member of a specific gym. Being able to go for a jog down Monument Avenue with a friend or as a spot on the bench when lifting weights is a nice plus for friends who don’t like to exercise alone but may not be a member of the same gym.

As the seasons change, so do exercise trends. Take advantage of your town, and enjoy what it has to offer. The city just so happens to be the best local gym.”