This past weekend my parents decided to take a weekend trip to Irvington, Va with some good friends, so instead of bumming around at home all weekend, I decided to have a getaway of my own.
My destination was Richmond, Virginia to visit one of my best friends, Natalie. Ironically, the trip was planned days before I found out the good news about the internship.
I got to Richmond on Friday evening around 6:30 pm, and met Natalie at her friend’s house in the Museum District before walking across the street to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts for their Friday night Happy Hour. Natalie & I split a bottle of wine, and we lounged in the Museum’s garden as the sun set. We eventually walked a few blocks further to McCormack’s Whiskey Grill for dinner, and each enjoyed a different whiskey drink (naturally I went for a Jameson & Ginger). Since by then we were already in the Fan District, we went around to some other bars in the area that night, including a craft bar called Social 52, where we met up with a few of Natalie’s friends from PT school.
We slept in on Saturday & ate at home before deciding to drive down Monument Ave to see the monuments. Natalie then concluded that we needed to see Hollywood Cemetery, an absolutely massive cemetery in the middle of Richmond. We shortly drove through before stopping & wandering on foot. There are actually two presidents buried there (I think James Monroe & John Taylor), and their graves are at the top of the hill. The view at the top of the hill by the river is incredible!
After our cemetery walk, Natalie drove me around Richmond to see the main streets & a little more of the city– we even drove past my future office! We headed back to Natalie’s apartment, but not before going to Whisk, a cafe about a block from Natalie’s, for coffee & a snack. Later in the afternoon we drove to Scott’s Addition to Ardent Brewery, where we took in the last of the evening outside on their patio in the sun with a beer in hand. By 8 pm that evening, we were heading to a rooftop birthday party with a beautiful view of the city skyline before going to bars in Shockoe Bottom.
Sunday morning I went to church & had lunch with two dear family friends who live in Richmond. I ended up staying for longer than lunch though– and stayed another night with them. My evening consisted of lots of music, a tour of Bernard’s extensive garden, wonderful conversation, evening prayer back at the church, and a late night dinner with more music. The next morning I woke up early & went to morning prayer with Bernard & David before heading home– just in time to meet my mom for lunch in town… & of course I had to pick up a copy of Virginia Living on my way!
Can’t believe in a few short days I get to call Richmond home for a few months!
sincerely, christina louise 