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-lite and 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.
Michael Hippchen graduated from Virginia Tech in 2009, where he studied Print and Electronic Journalism. He currently lives in the Fan and works downtown in the Manchester District.
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