Local spots make the cut in “Reasons to visit Richmond”

The article in question is on Pop Candy a blog produced by USA Today which is tasked with “unwrapping pop culture’s hip and hidden treasures.” As an aside doesn’t the phrase “pop culture” meaning “popular culture” aka “cultural activities or commercial products reflecting, suited to, oraimed at the tastes of the general masses of people”.  If we accept that definition it would impossible for pop culture to have a hidden treasure. Any RVAer would be hard pressed to call any of the items below hidden treasures but you can’t argue with the choices being iconic of Richmond. (In fairness to USA Today the article is a column called The Pop Traveler where readers name their cities’ best pop-culture hot spots/events. I’m just a little grumpy today.)

1. The James River – The James River is the anchor of the city. On a summer day, locals can be found fishing, swimming or taking in the scenery. Rafting enthusiasts would be surprised to know that a two-mile stretch of the river is the only place in the country where Class III whitewater conditions exist within city limits.  (There is more but I’m cutting and pasting only the Shockoe relevant parts.)

3. Main Street Train Station — Built in 1901, this U.S. National Historic Landmark was damaged by hurricane-induced flooding and two fires, which led to it being shuttered in 1975. The structure became another part of Richmond’s downtown renovation and reopened in 2003. The facelift has made the station a popular wedding and reception destination (including mine), as well as ideal filming location. In 2004 the station was used in an episode Alias.

7. The neighborhoods — Richmond’s neighborhoods offer architecture that includes everything from turn of the century to modern green home building. Since its founding in the 1600s, Shockoe Bottomand Shockoe Slip have been Richmond’s center of commerce and feature art galleries, shops, dance clubs and restaurants. (Again cut and pasting like crazy.)