We’re in a party mood, what can we say? But you don’t need a 25th anniversary as an excuse to celebrate. And if you’re looking for a place, Richmond has plenty of options. Here are some that Richmonders have enjoyed through the years.
1. Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.
Pros: About 40 acres of floral spectacle and a classically styled conservatory.
Cons: Gnats (hey, it’s natural).
Good for: Wedding receptions, engagement
parties.
2. The Richmond Coliseum.
Pros: Its history: From Julius Erving’s one-handed dunks in the ’70s to “Disney’s High School Musical on Ice.”
Cons: “Disney’s High School Musical on Ice.”
Good for: Unique events that won’t fit anywhere else.
3. Main Street Station
Pros: More ornate and romantic than the bus terminal.
Cons: The rumble from the 9:30 might drown out your best man’s toast.
Good for: Nighttime gatherings of the formally attired.
4. The Diamond
Pros: Home of the Governor’s Cup champion Richmond Braves.
Cons: Flooding.
Good for: Peanuts and Cracker Jack; family outings.
5. Brown’s Island
Pros: Historical and well-kept.
cons: Narrow bridge and a long walk to the front of the stage.
Good for: Oversized music festivals and weekly concerts.
6. Stuart Siegel Center
Pros: Still has that new-building smell.
Cons: Rumored to be the secret headquarters of Eugene Trani’s mind-control machine, used to manipulate city planners.
Good for: Sporting events and concerts by artists who think they’re too good for the Coliseum.
7. Greater Richmond Convention Center
Pros: Big.
Cons: Echoes. No shuttle service from one end of the center to the other.
Good for: Simultaneous gargantuan events.
8. Kanawha Plaza
Pros: An urban oasis that’s easy to find.
Cons: Clunky unattractive park furniture and an ugly fountain.
Good for: Concerts and food festivals.
9. Science Museum of Virginia
Pros: Holds more than 700, and if you’re not careful, you might learn something.
Cons: No longer an Amtrak stop.
Good for: Charity balls, concerts, IMAX movies and parties.
10. St. Paul’s Baptist Church
Pros: Two locations for worship and celebration.
Cons: Parking can be hell.
Good for: Plays, concerts, large funerals and worship services, too.
11. Plant Zero Art Center
Pros: Hip. An expansive space adorned with paintings and sculptures.
Cons: Not all art is good.
Good for: Film festivals, benefit galas, important meetings on city affairs and craft swaps.
12. Toad’s Place Richmond
Pros: A much-needed, beautiful space that was worth the wait; a liquor license.
Cons: Canceled gigs (hey, it happens).
Good for: Burgeoning artists and seasoned performers who know how to work a midsize venue.
13. Poe Museum
Pros: Haunted.
Cons: Haunted.
Good for: Weddings, memorial services and “unhappy hours.”
14. Valentine Richmond History Center
Pros: Quaint and romantic with a charming
moniker. Richmond history.
Cons: Parking space is limited.
Good for: Life-changing events such as weddings and staff retreats.
15. The Marquee
Pros: Smoking room, valet parking.
Cons: Only books one event per day.
Good for: Partying like it’s 1939.
16. Chuck E. Cheese’s
Pros: Animatronics, video games and pizza.
Cons: Noise, germs and stickiness.
Good for: A birthday party for a child at Chuck E. Cheese’s is like skipping a mortgage payment for adults.
17. Maymont Park
Pros: Beauty and attention to detail.
Cons: Getting a reservation.
Good for: Weddings, receptions and photo shoots for cheesy photographers.
18. City Hall Observation Deck
Pros: The view from the top.
Cons: Dark and bare.
Good for: Parties, receptions and exorcisms.
19. Nina Abady Festival Park
Pros: Scenic space waiting to be repurposed.
Cons: Next to the remains of 6th Street Marketplace.
Good for: Intimate concerts.
20. University of Richmond’s Jepson Alumni Center
Pros: Hotel-room accommodations upstairs available for the weary.
Cons: Hidden in the woods.
Good for: Corporate meetings, weddings and receptions.
21. Federal Courthouse Atrium
Pros: When finished, its reservable six-story glass atrium.
Cons: Not finished.
Good for: Celebrations for the not guilty.