Top 10 Places to Take a Richmond Newbie

My friends and I occasionally play "Live, Visit, Raze," (a variation of Marry, Boff, Kill from "30 Rock") in which we pick three cities at a time and everyone has to choose one to live in, one to visit, and one to raze to the ground.

Once, Richmond came up and I was struck that living in Richmond is by far the best way to experience the city. Richmond doesn't exactly have bells and whistles to impress visitors; it's more the ebb and flow of living and breathing in this city that has made me fall in love with it.

However, it got me thinking, "How could I prove to visitors that Richmond is a worthwhile city to visit more often? To what places would I take them to show off everything that's so cool about Richmond?" I got the idea to start asking random people a simple question: A friend is coming to visit you and has never been to Richmond. What are the top three places you would go or things you would do to show them a great time?

Most people immediately sighed and said the question was too hard. Many people asked me what hypothetical season it was or what their friend likes to do. My whole point was to get a picture of what Richmonders actually wanted to show off, so I offered little to no guidance. The responses I got were simultaneously varied and predictable.

Most people snuck two answers into one by saying something like, "Carytown, with a stop at Secco." This made me glad because it means that there's too much awesomeness to share. Yes, one person said Paper Moon. Another few mentioned the Watermelon Festival, Folk Festival and the Monument Avenue Easter Parade.

All in all, most people started out veering toward historic places and then ended with three "fun" places. Perhaps my sampling wasn't varied enough, or perhaps Richmonders are shifting their allegiance from the city's rich past to its bustling present.

Without further ado, here are the top 10 most popular responses:

10. Shockoe Slip. Bar hopping, cobblestone streets and within walking distance of the cool Main Street bars as well.

9. Buz and Ned's Real Barbecue. Richmonders can argue for hours about who has the best barbecue in the city, but nothing impresses a newcomer like an incredibly long line and Flay-Slayer t-shirts.

8. Maymont. One person I asked didn't really know what Maymont is, but still chose it because he had heard so much about it. If that doesn't mean a Richmond institution, I don't know what does. The gardens, animals, history and architecture all make for a fun afternoon in warm weather.

7. The Fan/Monument Avenue. We must like our cobblestones because several people said just driving down Monument Avenue was an experience in itself. Others chose The Fan for pub crawling or tiny eateries like Garnett's and Fresca on Addison. Whether you're walking, driving, or crawling, The Fan is a popular stop.

6. Legend Brewery. The brewpub is great for some local beer and a French dip sandwich, especially since it has one of the best views of the city. Legend also gives free tours of their brewery every Saturday at 1 p.m.

5. Belle Isle/James River/Canal Walk. The river, wherever you choose to access it, will lend the perfect breather to a busy weekend of visiting. You can exercise, get wet, or take a nap on the rocks at Belle Isle. These quasi-nature spots also give pet owners a chance to let the dogs out for some fun. Usually, my dog is cooped-up most of the weekend because I'm out eating, drinking and otherwise entertaining my visitors.

4. Edo's Squid. The bustling charm of this Italian favorite came up a lot. The food is wonderful but not too intimidating, the atmosphere is dark and noisy and did I mention how good the food is?

3. Mekong. The mix of fantastic Vietnamese food and incredible beer guarantees a unique and fun experience. The amazingly friendly and energetic An Bui, Mekong's Chief Beer Officer, will surely enhance your mood and the meal won't cost you much over a weekend of constantly eating out.

2. VMFA. Certainly a local treasure after its renovation. A favorite game to play with newcomers is to pick your favorite piece in every new room, quickly and without much explanation. This game definitely lightens the mood of a big art museum. Recharge your batteries with a coffee on the back patio and enjoy the lovely new scenery.

1. Carytown. Does this surprise anybody? There are a gazillion great restaurants, a bazillion cute shops, and at least one awesome bookstore. My visiting friends have enjoyed brunch at Can Can (make a reservation) and the outrageously huge margaritas at Nacho Mama's. Newcomers also get a kick out of shops like Mongrel, For the Love of Chocolate, World of Mirth, and Chop Suey. You could easily spend an entire afternoon in Carytown and, probably, an entire day from breakfast to last call if you could find a place to nap somewhere. The vast variety available in Carytown makes it a must see.

There are so many neat things in Richmond that you could cater a weekend around: history, nature, architecture, shopping, food, culture, music, beer and more. These were your favorites based on my totally unscientific poll. To me, the inspiring thing about hosting our city well is making people feel like they have connected to this place in just a few days. Our everyday intimacy becomes their fond memory. I feel that it's a wonderful privilege to have that task in a city that is subtle, overlooked and consistently surprising. So tell me, what are your favorite places that didn't make the list?

Corbin Craft is a freelance writer and open admirer of this city. He recently had a friend visit over Presidents Day weekend and the hijinks that ensued included Buz and Ned's, rock hopping at Belle Isle, dinner at Legend, Sunday in Carytown and a goodbye lunch at Garnett's. Not a bad weekend at all.