Richmond, VA, USA < change city >

Band:

Choice Entertainment

"our DJ, Bill Gilliam, was awesome to work with. he did a great job moving things along throughout the evening and making music choices. too bad our crowd was more interested in the bar than the dance floor for the most part!"

Cakes/Candies Vendor:

Jean-Jacques Bakery

"the cake was beautiful (and delicious) but it wasn't exactly what i had envisioned and what we had discussed."

Caterer:

Havana '59

"our friends at Havana took great care of us and put together an awesome cocktail hour and sit down dinner for our rehearsal dinner. the rooftop was the perfect location for our group of about 30."

Decorations Vendor:

For Your Party

"our personalized cocktail napkins were the absolute hit of the reception. these guys were great to work with, actually calling to work out issues, rather than just emailing proofs."

Florist:

Tommy's Garden

"all the flowers were absolutely gorgeous and they were super accommodating, providing extra vases at the last minute. they don't have a web site, but contact info is: 714 N Cleveland St Richmond, VA 23221-1604 Phone: (804) 355-5552"

Photographer:

Choice Photography

"Rodney was great to work with, and we're really happy with our pix for the most part, but still don't have our album 6 months later."

Hotels:

Commonwealth Park Suites Hotel

Hotels:

Crowne Plaza Hotel

Hotels:

Linden Row Inn

"too bad this Richmond landmark was doing construction was doing construction our wedding weekend. two guests couldn't handle the noise and relocated to The Jefferson. and we had billing issues for rooms we had reserved for a few people that weren't resolved until months after the wedding."

Hotels:

Sheraton West Hotel

Ceremony:

Yeocomico Episcopal Church

Reception:

Commonwealth Club

"everything was perfect! the staff was fantastic and we had several compliments on the food."

Eats:

3 Monkeys Bar & Grill

"This popular Fan bar/restaurant with patio breaks away from ordinary burgers and fries. The eclectic menu features Greek favorites such as Saganaki and Spanakopita along with sandwiches, appetizers, pizzas, etc."

Eats:

Can Can Brasserie

"This French brasserie rivals the best in Paris itself. With its stellar food and service, plus beautiful decor and a to-be-seen-at bar, Can Can has become a destination within Richmond's Carytown, itself a destination neighborhood. The proprietor, Chris Ripp, hails from a family that not only knows the restaurant business, but knows how to do it right. Great for a Saturday lunch before the reception, or a Sunday brunch the next day."

Eats:

Comfort

"Southern classics with a swanky twist. Choose your meat, then pick from a selection of yummy sides like squash casserole and mac and cheese . . . Vegetarians will love a whole plate of sides."

Eats:

Julep's New Southern Cuisine

"Located in Richmond's oldest standing commercial structure (c. 1817), Julep's is hands down the best in "new Southern cuisine," the sophisticated culinary flair ranging from New Orleans to Charleston to Richmond. The restaurant is also a short walk to Havana '59, where Friday night diners can join us afterward for Last Chance cocktails. To boot, the owner, Amy, is a gem. (dinner only, closed Sunday)"

Eats:

Karen's

"No frills, mom-and-pop, very non-chain, Karen's offers up hearty Southern breakfast fare and classic diner lunches (no dinner) on the cheapity-cheap. Across the street from the Science Museum and Children's Museum."

Eats:

Kuba Kuba

"Stop in for large portions of authentic Cuban cuisine in a bodega-like atmosphere. The popular neighborhood mainstay is open for brunch, lunch and dinner."

Eats:

Millie's

"Probably the most popular brunch in town, Millie's is also an excellent choice for a light lunch or a laid-back dinner. This unassuming diner-esque gem with an open kitchen serves up some of the yummiest, most eclectic dishes around. Be prepared to wait in line for brunch, but you can do so with a bloody on the patio."

Eats:

Perly's Restaurant

"Located one block from Linden Row Inn, this art deco deli is a mainstay in Richmond's downtown lunch scene. The great selection of sandwiches, soups, burgers and vegetarian dishes make it a great, cheap place to grab lunch or breakfast."

Eats:

Sidewalk Cafe

"Don't expect great service. Do expect great food in a neighborhood atmosphere at this Fan staple. Great for lunch or brunch. Kristin may have whiled away her 30th birthday here drinking schnapp-mosa-tinis with the Game Girls. But what happens at Sidewalk, stays at Sidewalk."

Eats:

Sine Irish Pub and Restaurant

"Sine (pronounced Shin-ay), Gaelic for "This is it," is a popular Irish pub in Shockoe Slip. Just as good for lunch as it is for late-night pints, although the respective patronage may be different. Located across the street from the site (now just a parking lot) where the Virginia legislature passed the Statute for Religious Freedom in 1786, which went on to become the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution."

Eats:

Sticky Rice

"This sushi bar has a distinctively Fan feel. With rolls like g.i.jane, shiitake happens and godzilla, how could you go wrong? Noodle bowls are also a winner."

Eats:

Sumo San

"Well before John started his now regular Asian travels, he would drag his Western (and West End) ass into this great sushi restaurant/bar, right around the corner from where he lived. The ever energetic owner "Victor" (-san) took great pleasure in dissing waspy John for his forkaphile ways. Not a late night place, but certainly a stop for excellent sushi in a cool bar neighborhood. If you see Victor, tell him "White Boy" sent you. And then ask him to give you a "Sake Bomb" But buy him one too - he must join you. You'll see."

Eats:

Tarrant's

"A classic early 1900s apothecary reincarnated as an urban cafe/bar/restaurant. This stuff cannot be replicated in any suburb - or in most cities, for that matter. Brunch Sunday as well as dinner/libations Friday/Saturday nights. Easy stroll from Linden Row Inn."

Eats:

The Hard Shell

"A popular seafood restaurant in Shockoe Slip. There are also several other restaurants and bars in this immediate area to cater to different tastes."

Eats:

The Hill Cafe

"The communal sink in this cozy Church Hill favorite is where Kristin and John first met and flirted back in December 1999. It's also a great place to grab lunch, a quick bloody before the ceremony or Sunday brunch. It serves delicious neighborhood "comfort" foods in a relaxed setting."

Attractions:

Agecroft Hall

"This dramatic Tudor manor house is older even than its neighbor, the Virginia House. Originally built in the late 15th century in England, it was purchased by T.C. Williams in 1925, and like its neighbor, carefully dismantled, and shipped in crates across the Atlantic to Richmond. It was reconstructed on this bluff overlooking the James River. It also has beautiful Elizabethan gardens."

Attractions:

American Civil War Center & Park

"The American Civil War Center is located at the remnants of the famous Tredegar Iron Works, which was the industrial apex of the Confederacy. A fascinating visit by itself, but also the immediate surroundings are great to check out: an outdoor museum overlooking the nation's only urban Class III-IV whitewater, and a scenic pedestrian bridge to Belle Isle."

Attractions:

Arts in the Park

"A popular annual arts show/sale that happens to take place during our wedding weekend. Some 500 vendors from around the country set up at beautiful Byrd Park, in the shadow of the 240-foot Carillon, Virginia's memorial to her World War I dead (constructed when they actually believed that war would end all wars). Interested out-of-town guests are advised simply to take a cab from hotel; parking is tough."

Attractions:

Belle Isle

"Any given warm sunny day will have sunbathers spread out on the rocks of Hollywood Rapids - the only urban Class III-IV whitewater in the country - at Belle Isle. Kayakers and rafters, plus local wildlife (besides the sunbathers), add to the scene. The island itself makes for an easy hike. During the Civil War, it was a POW camp for 30,000 Union soldiers; more recently and pleasantly, it serves as the main site of the annual Xterra championship. Accessible only by foot across the pedestrian bridge that hangs below the Lee Bridge."

Attractions:

Belle Mount Vineyards

"Honestly, we don't know much about this vineyard. We checked out their website (linked above), and we're now sorry we've passed by it as many times as we've tooled along to the river. It's right on the way there from Richmond, so if folks coming from Richmond have the time Saturday, check it out, and let us know how it is."

Attractions:

Canal Walk & Cruise

"Richmond was the site of the first commercial canal system in the U.S., originally surveyed by a then-unknown George Washington. The mammoth "Great Turning Basin," where ocean-faring ships and river boats exchanged goods, was located where the high-rise James Center office complex now sits. The Canal Walk is a scaled-down replica of this engineering marvel, lying in part along the original route. The walk itself is dotted with various historical markers and exhibits, and there is also a 30-minute cruise visitors can take along the length of the recreated canal. Railroad buffs: check out the world's only triple crossing, above the canal at 15th Street."

Attractions:

Carytown

"Carytown is a brilliant retail development that was never planned. In the 70s, John used to ride his bike along the skinny sidewalks of what was then simply "that part of Cary Street" (his friends in Windsor Farms usually rode west), and would poke his head into the occasional quiet merchant. Today it's Carytown, a vibrant line of (still) mostly independent retailers and cafes that stretches unchecked along that same portion of West Cary Sreet. Carytown has survived, indeed thrived, contrary to flight to homogeneous suburban malls, and local politicians who just didn't get it. We suggest our guests can visit this neighborhood (see link above), both for shopping and nourishment, perhaps Saturday afternoon before the reception, or brunch Sunday. Pleasantly walkable."

Attractions:

Essex County Courthouse

"Only adding to its pedigree as a historic building, these halls are where Kristin and John made the momentous step of getting their marriage license on a sunny day in mid-March. The courthouse was built in 1848 to replace the old courthouse, now Beale Memorial Baptist Church. A 1926 renovation added a bell and clock tower. The Essex Court House contains the oldest records in Virginia and has long contained the largest portrait collection in the county."

Attractions:

First Fridays Artwalk

"If you're in town on Friday night, you might want to check out the First Fridays Artwalk. Folks stroll along a 6-block portion of Broad Street (close to Linden Row Inn) and pop in and out of various art galleries in the area. All open their doors gratis for the monthly event, which runs from about 6:00 to 9:00. Several restaurants/bars along the way provide dining and cocktail options (and the galleries themselves usually have wine-and-cheese, gallery-type offerings)."

Attractions:

George Washington's Birthplace

"Nope, this is not Mount Vernon. It is the far more modest birthplace of the Father of our Country, born here in 1732. Many artifacts of that era on the grounds. Nearby Colonial Beach used to be a gambling town of sorts (slot machines on the end of piers, in Maryland waters, where such was legal at the time)."

Attractions:

Hollywood Cemetery

"The name comes from its holly trees; the celebrities interred here never showed up in OK magazine or TMZ (how gauche). Celebrities in Virginia history, though, they categorically are. In addition to Confederate heroes and industrial magnates, this cemetery is the only one besides Arlington Cemetery that has two U.S. presidents (Monroe and Tyler), and the only one period that has a C.S. president (Davis). It also marks the remains of more than 18,000 Confederate soldiers, laid around a 90-foot granite pyramid. Also, check out the killer view (sorry) of the river from the mausoleum."

Attractions:

Ingleside Vineyards

"One of the oldest and largest wineries in Virginia, this 3,000-acre estate is open to the public for tastings. Perhaps a tasting or two before the ceremony? Check link above for specific directions and more info."

Attractions:

John Marshall House

"Home of John Marshall, the nation's preeminent Chief Justice, who effectively established the judiciary as the third branch of U.S. government (who could have anticipated this noble legacy would give us G.W. Bush as president in 2000?). He built this house in 1789, and lived in it until his death in 1835. (History trivia: the crack in the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia occurred when it was tolling for Marshall's death.)"

Attractions:

Libby Hill Park

"Mostly a sentimental reference. When John lived on 29th in Church Hill, he walked dog no. 1, Maury, here daily. And then he found dog no. 2, Clara (rather, she found him), who'd been abandoned here, in 2001. Even a non-sentimental visitor, though, will appreciate the view of the James from the Soldiers and Sailors Monument that was the inspiration for Richmond's name (see <a href="http://www.kristin-john.com/index.cfm?fa=general2" target="new">While You're Here</a>)."

Attractions:

Library of Virginia

"Comprising a whole city block, this modern building holds more than 700,000 volumes of archives of Virginia's (and the nation's) records. Rotating exhibits and a museum store, but mainly a research place. Next door to City Hall, where John worked for seven years."

Attractions:

Maymont

"Probably the most visited site in Richmond, certainly by generations of locals, Maymont comprises 100+ acres surrounding a Gilded Age mansion bequeathed to the City of Richmond by its owners. The grounds have luscious international gardens and wildlife exhibits, including the ever-popular Nature Center. Although walking is the best way to go, there is a tram for the walking-averse."

Attractions:

Monument Avenue

"Richmond's most famous boulevard, Monument Avenue is the only street in the country to be designated a National Historic Landmark. Adorned by five statues of Confederate heroes, plus a much later addition of Richmond native Arthur Ashe, the avenue also has a wide range of residential architectural styles. (John's first dog Maury was named after the "Pathfinder of the Seas" on Monument, pictured here.) The most famous statue is that of Robert E. Lee, labeled only with one word: "Lee," because everyone knows, of course, the gentleman-soldier needs no further description."

Attractions:

National Park Service headquarters

"The headquarters of the National Park Service system in Greater Richmond is located next door to the Civil War Center. A must-stop if you're considering seeing any of the NPS sites (and thanks to your federal tax dollars - it's free admission)."

Attractions:

Poe Museum

"This is a must-see for the fans, or even the curious, of the father of the mystery genre. In his short, tumultuous life, mostly in Richmond and Virginia, Edgar Allan Poe created or mastered the short story, detective fiction, lyric poetry, and the horror story. And for those wondering if there's anything in Richmond that doesn't have to do with war, this is it: Poe was born after the Revolutionary and died before the Civil."

Attractions:

Red-roofed Schoolhouse

"We put this in because it's an easy turn to miss. This quaint country vestige will be on your right, but don't look long - turn left here! Just a few more miles to the church."

Attractions:

Richmond International Raceway (RIR)

"We know a lot of you are torn about whether to attend our wedding reception or the Crown Royal 400 under the lights at RIR. Or, for that matter, perhaps the Kentucky Derby, in, well, Kentucky. It's your decision, and of course, we respect it. But we must point out that the Derby comes around once every year, a Sprint Cup in Richmond, twice every year. Our wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event."

Attractions:

Science Museum of Virginia

"SMV is an outstanding science museum, located in what was a major train station. An especially nifty feature is its very edifice: the glorious old Union Station designed by John Russell Pope. This was almost lost: after a contested rehabilitation fight, workers found marks for "place explosives here" in the Jeffersonian rotunda, which had been slated for destruction. (A sidebar to our more militaristic guests: the satellite campus of SMV near Richmond Airport has one of the only SR-71 Blackbirds on display on the East Coast.)"

Attractions:

Shockoe Slip

"Within walking distance of Commonwealth Park Suites on Cary Street, Shockoe Slip is the city's oldest mercantile district. Now considered part of Richmond's River District, this area has been a bustling hub since the 17th century. It was particularly busy during Richmond's Canal era, when this slip was adjacent to the Great Turning Basin. Though the earliest buildings here were destroyed during the Civil War, the present cobblestones and structures date from 1868-1888, make for a pleasant stroll. There are several restaurants/bars and shops to check out, as well as The Martin Agency, where Kristin used to work."

Attractions:

St. John's Church

"Not in Boston, Philadelphia, even Williamsburg, St. John's Church in Richmond was the site of Patrick Henry's famous "Give me liberty or give me death" speech in 1775. The church, built in 1741, was the only site suitable at the time for the notable delegates assembled. It's also the namesake of the delightful neighborhood where John and Kristin lived for a while. George Wythe, Poe's mum, and other notables, including vets of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, are buried in the church cemetery."

Attractions:

Stratford Hall

"This beautiful colonial mansion, built in a unique H shape, on the bank of the Potomac River, is the birthplace of Robert E. Lee, and ancestral home of the Lee dynasty, leaders of Colonial Virginia, signers of the Declaration of Independence and heroes of the American Revolution. If you really do happen to be curious about these historic sites in Westmoreland, and only have time for GW's birthplace or here, we suggest here, as it's quite stunning, and in aggregate, more worth the visit."

Attractions:

The Fan

"The Fan District, or simply, The Fan, is about a 100-block area said to be the largest intact Victorian neighborhood in the country. Most of the row houses were built around the turn of the 20th century. It has a great many neighborhood restaurants and bars dotted throughout (not a chain amongst them). We have named a couple on this map as examples, but any one you happen upon is a good bet. With all those bars, and gullible guys invariably inside 'em, The Fan was Kristin's old stomping ground, when she was running with the "Game Girls.""

Attractions:

University of Richmond

"We're including this mainly because some out-of-town guests have asked us, "where's the University of Richmond?". So it's here, on the western edge of the city limits. A great school and beautiful college campus, to be sure, but not necessarily an "attraction," unless one has a compelling interest (old sorority flame, maybe?). To personalize this, John's late grandmother was an alumna of Westhampton College."

Attractions:

Valentine Richmond History Center

"This museum, located in and adjacent to the classic 1812 Wickham House, focuses on the cultural history of Richmond. An easy stroll between the Museum of the Confederacy and the John Marshall House."

Attractions:

Virginia Biotechnology Research Park

"As the name implies, a major biotechnology research & development center spanning several city blocks. Includes headquarters for United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), the ultra-modern R&D center for Philip Morris (where hundreds of scientists are trying to find some new-fangled application for that 'evil weed,' besides its current use), and one of the premier forensic science facilities in the country (base of the fictional crime novel heroine Kay Scarpetta)."

Attractions:

Virginia Capitol

"Virginia's Capitol is different from any other in the U.S. Inside the elegant design by Thomas Jefferson after the classic Roman Maison Carree in Nimes, France (the tour guides pronounce it Neeyams), it houses the only statue of George Washington for which he actually posed. The Governor's Mansion, the oldest in the country, is adjacent. A note for our Vermont guests: it was a Vermont regiment of the U.S. Army that stood on the steps of the Capitol with buckets of water to save it from burning as the rest of downtown Richmond did from evacuating Confederates in 1865."

Attractions:

Virginia Center for Architecture

"For architecture aficionados, this makes for an interesting visit. The center is located in the stunning Branch House, a 27,000 s.f, Tudor-Revival residence built in 1918 by John Russell Pope for a prominent Richmonder."

Attractions:

Virginia Historical Society and Museum

"If you're really curious about Virginia history (which stretches to present-day Minnesota, by the by), here's your place. Next door to Virginia Museum of Fine Arts."

Attractions:

Virginia Holocaust Museum

"For those with a particular interest in the Holocaust, this museum, much of which was compiled and donated by a Richmond family that survived it, makes for a reflective, contemplative visit. Perhaps not what a visitor might expect to find in Richmond, although, coincidentally, the city was the first in the world to write religious freedom and tolerance into its governance. In an area of old cigarette factories (which one would expect to find in Richmond) called Tobacco Row, now fancy apartments and some restaurants."

Attractions:

Virginia House

"As if Richmond couldn't reach back further into history, it does so, fashionably, with Virginia House. A 16th century English manor house brought over and reconstructed, brick by brick, by Ambassador Alexander Weddell. Growing up, John regularly rose his bike by here, trying to figure out how he could be an ambassador too. (He hasn't figured that part out yet.)"

Attractions:

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

"With the term "world class" bantered about indiscriminately (and optimistically) these days by politicians (and economic developers), the listener becomes understandably jaded. VMFA, though, truly fits the bill. A shockingly comprehensive art museum, VMFA is the largest such in the South. Even John's best cocktail dilettantism can't pretend to speak knowledgeably about the content, but word is, it's macdaddy (not a museum term). Russian (czarist) aficionados will enjoy the Faberge eggs. Note: the museum in undergoing a $100+ million expansion, so there'll be macdaddy construction."

Attractions:

Westmoreland County

"Birthplace of George Washington, James Monroe, Robert E. Lee, and other famous Lees."

Attractions:

White House and Museum of the Confederacy

"The White House of the Confederacy is where President Jefferson Davis lived with his family during the war. At the war's end, just days after Richmond fell, President Lincoln sailed up the James, and walked from the landing up the hill to the White House, and made a point to sit in Davis' chair. Also has the world's largest Confederate museum adjacent. Just a three-block walk from the State Capitol, which also served as the Capitol of the Confederacy. Today a bit hidden amongst massive VCU Medical Center buildings, but worth the search."

Cocktails:

Bank

"Hot bar/restaurant located in gorgeous old bank lobby, well worth at least a drink just to see the interior. Especially convenient for guests staying at Commonwealth Park Suites, as it's just around the corner, in what was the heart of Richmond's financial district."

Cocktails:

BlackFinn Restaurant and Saloon

"Upscale Irish pub concept that warrants mention here because it's located on an island between the canal and the dramatic whitewater of the James River. This makes for a most pleasant walk getting there, although once inside, you could just as well be in a mall in suburban Dallas. Noteworthy also because this is a textbook example of why folks become wary of big economic development deals, with charlatan developers (in this case, Cordish Company, and by association, Daniel Corporation) promising the world, and gullible local politicians and self-described business "leaders," generous with city taxpayers' dollars, drinking the kool-aid. If Richmond still had even a faint vestige of some of the great journalists it once spawned, someone would FOIA the city government today for the development agreement for this project, and see that the terms have not been met. But Kristin gets worked up about these things, and John needs to rein her in sometimes. So guests can just check it out, and enjoy a full-priced, city-subsidized beer."

Cocktails:

Capital Ale House

"For beer aficionados, this where to go. With some 50 taps, plus a couple hundred bottled labels, you can't miss. Only 25 feet wide, but very long, the 100+ year old building also has downstairs billiards, darts and usual bar accoutrements. Capital Ale House also has an adjacent small Music Hall, separate from the bar/restaurant."

Cocktails:

Cha Cha's Cantina

"Popular downtown bar/restaurant. Yes, it's a Mexican theme, but the owner is about as Mexican as John and Kristin."

Cocktails:

Europa

"A bit more grown-up entry to this series of bars/restaurants along this strip. Well done, but not over the top. The downstairs is a little more funky."

Cocktails:

Halligan Bar & Grill

"If you liked the movie "Backdraft" or anything related to firefighters, this is the bar for you. Patronized by firefighters, and guys who want to be like them and girls who, well, like them."

Cocktails:

Highwater / Toad's Place

"Highwater is located on Richmond's Canal Walk, and that fact (but some have said only that fact) distinguishes it. It is the bar/restaurant component of Toad's Place, a popular music venue in a historic building on the canal."

Cocktails:

Infuzion Lounge

"Located in an old industrial district called Scott's Addition, this new entry to Richmond's nightlife bills itself as the nation's first Ice Lounge (in Richmond, go figure). With coats provided by management, patrons can belly up to an ice bar, surrounded by ice walls and ice tables, to enjoy various vodkas, on ice, of course. In addition to the Ice Lounge, there's a more traditional, non-icey bar, plus a lively, probably toasty, dance floor. 10-minute drive from downtown."

Cocktails:

Penny Lane Pub

"Don't let the external New Orleans facade fool you - this is the most Liverpool you can find outside of, well, Liverpool. A Richmond institution for more than 30 years, the bar's owner Terry O'Neill still sounds like he just stepped off the ship. Darts and billiards upstairs, traditional British pub down. John and Kristin, both of whom worked for a while in the bland building across 5th Street, met here often after work with various work colleagues."

Cocktails:

Poe's Pub

"We would be remiss if we didn't include this institution, at the bottom of Church Hill. A mainstay of locals, which Kristin and Woody very much were, it never failed to offer camaraderie."

Cocktails:

Popkin Tavern

"Cool bar/lounge (not really a tavern) in what used to be a furniture store in what used to be Richmond's furniture store district. Now, a great stop during First Fridays Artwalk, and convenient for guests at Linden Row Inn. John helped hook up his usher Chris with his future fiancee Tish in this bar ("I thought YOU had the key")."

Cocktails:

Rosie Connolly's Pub & Restaurant

""A little beer never hurt anybody. But a big one's better." Stop into this family-run Irish pub, next door to our Last Chance Cocktails at Havana '59, for some good old-fashioned wisdom, a pint and a chat with the locals. If you're lucky, Tommy Goulding, the owner, will be behind the bar. Traditional pub fare like fish & chips or bangers & mash always hit the spot. Other fun bars/restaurants also in this area, known as Shockoe Bottom."

Cocktails:

Stool Pigeons

"Small Southeastern chain of relatively upscale sports bar/restaurants. Interestingly, the one in midtown Atlanta didn't make it, closing in Spring '08. But this one in Richmond near the canal is doing well."