This spring and summer has been super busy for everyone here at Already Richmond. So we decided to book a much-needed break and spent some time in Philadelphia and New York City. Each of our favorite places to unwind. There’s something so special about waking up in Philadelphia. It’s like the city has its own rhythm; it’s own heartbeat that exists outside of the rest of the US. We had some killer Chinese food, found a new Indian food spot, and revisited some of our favorite museums. In New York, we revisited a few familiar spots, finally saw Hamilton live, and got some of our favorite (way-overpriced) smoothies. It was a quick trip, but exactly the reset we needed.
But of course, whenever we’re in different cities we’re constantly comparing everything to Richmond. We’re always wondering how Richmond could grow to be more like something or in some cases less. This trip really had me thinking about the 5 Burroughs of NYC and also the larger unique neighborhoods in Philly. For example, Queens and Brooklyn are relatively similar if you’re visiting for the first time, but so very different from most of Manhattan. Then, South Philly has an entirely different vibe than both North Philly, West Philly, and even Center City.
This got us thinking about each of Richmond’s historic districts and what makes them different? What makes them work together? And where are the actual barriers between areas? What makes people so proud of where they live in NYC or Philly, and how can we start to highlight some of that neighborhood pride back home in RVA?
Introducing the 2025 Distrix Collection.
The Distrix Collection celebrates the many special places in Richmond that we get to call home. But it's more than just the district, it's the people who call it home that makes our city remarkable. It’s the food that we eat, the styles that we wear, and the stories that we tell that keeps our community thriving. The Distrix Collection aims to bring people together to connect, chat, and discuss all the things that make our city amazing. We want to get everyone excited about sharing not just our city pride, but our love for each of our unique districts.
We’re showcasing seven of the city's most heavy hitting districts. From the museums, parks, and stoops that are speckled with memories, to the splashpads, stadiums, and corner coffee shops to come; all these things are what make Richmond special. It's time we acknowledge it. The first seven Already Richmond featured Distrix are Church Hill, The Fan, Jackson Ward, Museum District, Northside, Shockoe, and Southside.
Church Hill
Home to the view that named the city, Church Hill is known for its historic feel and beautiful vistas. One of our Church Hill favs is Riverbend Roastery.
The Fan
Obviously one of the most iconic areas in all of Richmond, The Fan is known for its historic row homes and lively dive bar scenes. We’re big fans of Sidewalk Cafe and Scuffletown Park.
Jackson Ward
One of the most historically relevant districts in Richmond, Jackson Ward is known for its Southern cuisine, artistic culture, and the historic Black-owned businesses. Without a doubt, our favorite place in Jackson Ward is Mama J’s.
Museum District
Some of the largest cultural institutions in the state give the Museum District its name, but its the unique curb appeal of the larger, set-back, row homes and the artistic coffee shops and restaurants that give the district its character. Easily the favorite in the Museum District is the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA).
Northside
Known for its cozy neighborhood feel, Northside is an older, more established district, where the homes have larger yards and tree-lined streets. Our favorite place in the Northside is a tie between the Battery Park basketball courts and Fuzzy Cactus.
Shockoe
It might be the most urban-feeling part of Richmond; with a lively late-night scene and easy access to the canal, Shockoe offers that city feel and souring skyline that drew so many people to this city. Some of our Shockoe favorites include Main Street Station, Bottoms Up Pizza, and Oak and Apple. Also, Hot Chick deserves an honorable mention because if they bring that back to the city they’d jump right to the front of the list!
Southside
Beginning just across the James River from Downtown, The Southside is known for its calm streets tucked into the natural hills and valleys. Our favorite place in the Southside is probably Zombie Pizza.
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Now obviously this isn’t all of Richmond’s distinct neighborhoods and isn’t as nuanced as we all know our city is, we’re hoping to grow the collection in the years to come to feature more specifics and more designs based on community interaction and engagement! So please don’t hesitate to comment with where in Richmond you call home! Let us know what you think the differences between neighborhoods are and where do those boundaries actually lie? We’re hoping that this turns into a community dialog. Hopefully it's a fun place to compare ideas, histories, memories, and more.
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