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Tarrant's isn't a Quack!

Once again it’s that time of night; everyone wants to eat out but no one wants to choose!

Do everyone a favor and pick Tarrant’s Café. Located just across Belvidere Street, on Broad, this Drug Store turned café is the perfect place to take a group of friends.

Although the restaurant was once the place to go to find phony cures for all sorts of ailments, today it is quickly becoming the go-to spot for high quality American cuisine.

Despite what I just said, a major part of the restaurant’s charm really does come from the fact that Tarrant’s used to be a drug store. It’s easy to look around and imagine what the place may have looked like before it was turned into a restaurant. And knowing that you are eating in the same room that people have been using since the mid-1800s definitely gives you something to ponder while you wait for your food.

Before I get too sidetracked, I should talk about the food.  The menu is an eclectic collection of what they call “American” food, which includes random pasta dishes, sandwiches, and even pizza. There were also much classier entrées that I couldn’t afford, but looked delicious!

Given my college budget and my sweet tooth though, I ordered the Monte Cristo sandwich. It was everything that I had hoped for and more. As the menu described, the “roasted turkey, ham & Swiss on French toast with strawberry orange raisin sauce” was exquisite.

Although I wasn’t able to try any other menu options, I did peruse Yelp! for the ever helpful opinions of other Richmond foodies who share my enthusiasm for this fine establishment.

“We had Sunday brunch here and it was just delightful. The breakfast potatoes were the best I have tasted anywhere,” wrote Paula E.

“Taste 5 of 5, Service 4 of 5, Ambiance 4 of 5, Menu 4 of 5 [and] Price 5 of 5,” listed Eli G.

Given my opinion, as well as those of two other critics, I hope that you now believe me when I say that you need to check this place out. Do it for the history or the food or both. But please do it soon!

Check Tarrant’s out Mon.- Thurs. from 11am-11pm, or Friday and Saturday till 12am. They also have an awesome Sunday brunch, which begins at 10am.

For directions, click here.  If you need any other information, check out their Facebook or their website!

Photos: Owned by Tarrant's!

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RVA's Not Just Dirty, It's Decayed

You say potato, I say po-tah-to. You say tomato, I say to-mah-to. You say abandoned building, Decayed Richmond says amazing photo opportunity. And, trust me, you don’t want them to call the whole thing off; their photos are way too good.

Decayed Richmond seeks to (literally) shine light on the phenomenon of urban exploration and the counter-culture associated with it. As Richmond has grown, more and more buildings have fallen to the wayside, and most people consider them unsightly and useless. Yet there’s something starkly compelling about these once-proud structures, now deteriorating under the forces of nature and vandals. Decayed Richmond explores these buildings and displays their beauty for the rest of us to see.

Starting with a few students sneaking into abandoned structures and creating a photoblog with their pictures, Decayed Richmond has now expanded into a documentary. Recently, Decayed Richmond completed a Kickstarter campaign to obtain funding to finish the film; hopefully, they’ll be holding showings for it soon. Until the documentary comes out, though, check out the pictures on their website. And next time you see a run-down, abandoned building, don’t just write it off; you might be looking at Decayed Richmond’s next exploration project.

Photos from decayedrichmond.com

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Color Me Rad

For all the running junkies, this paint party 5k is not to miss. 

Throughout this colorful 5k, you’ll be coated with blue, green, pink, purple, and yellow paint to find another paint party at the end.  Each section of the run will  contain a new color to be splattered on your body canvas.  Kids under 8 will run for free with a paying adult (but won’t get a t-shirt, race bib or sunglasses).  Registration is only $30, and be sure to use the coupon code COLORME for a 20% discount!

Color Me Rad will be in select U.S. states, but twice in Virginia.  The Virginia Beach race is May 6 and Richmond will be July 21.  The refreshing non-toxic Kroger brand paint will feel so refreshing, be sure to cool off with Color Me Rad!

Sign up at http://www.colormerad.com/

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Are You Feeling Fearless?

So I’m definitely not tired of being ordinary. After all, how could I be? LiveRVA is anything but.  However, nothing that we have written about thus far really gets the adrenaline pumping. Today that will change.

Last Friday I was sitting around with a few friends trying to decide what we should do. We threw out some of our usual ideas, but in the end we just weren’t feeling any of them for some reason. After a bit of meditation on the subject, it occurred to me that we needed to get out and do something crazy.

Enter Fearless Fridays, an ultra-exciting, radically intense high-rope course at the University of Richmond. The course itself is called the Odyssey and it is run by a group called Challenge Discovery.

Some of my friends were skeptical about the $15 fee, and rightly so. However, when you put it in perspective it is really the same price as a movie and some popcorn. Despite putting it into context, it took me showing them a few YouTube videos, like this one, to get everyone to come with me.

We began our journey to the Odyssey course at UR after we found the directions and the proper forms to fill out. When we arrived we waited for a full group to form; ours was around 16 people and included one guide. Once we had enough people to start, the guide showed us how to use our harnesses and clips and we were off.

I know what you have been thinking while reading this post. You thought, “Ropes courses are all about building ‘unity’ and ‘bonding’ etcetera, etcetera. I want to skip all of the positive thought stuff and get to the action.” Please believe me when I say this: other than the short intro at the beginning of the course and a short chat at the end, it’s all about having fun on the course.

My whole group had a blast, but a few people complained about the bugs, so make sure that you bring some bug spray if you plan on checking it out one day over the summer.

Other than the bugs though, which shouldn’t be a problem this early in the season, there is nothing else to complain about.

With that being said, I leave you with one suggestion: grab some dinner beforehand because you will definitely burn a lot of energy on this three-hour course!

Photo Cred:New University(Not at U of R, but very similar)

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Gotta Cache 'Em All!

Think Easter is the only time to hunt for hidden stuff? Not when you can geocache with the touch of your smartphone! The sky's the limit with this global treasure hunt.

Basically, a geocache can be any of a variety of objects; the important thing is that it is registered with the official Geocaching website and linked to a GPS location. If you buy the app (it's $9.99 from Groundspeak, but it's worth it) for your smartphone, you can find any caches in your area and track down where they're at. Once you've reached the approximate location of the geocache, use your common sense, smarts, and a little bit of luck to figure out exactly where it is.

Almost all geocaches hold a bit of paper for proud finders to write their names on; some larger caches carry a variety of assorted objects. The general rule with those caches is to take anything with you if you like it, as long as you leave something behind in the cache. Some lucky cachers may find Travel Bugs; these can be matchbox cars (like the one we found) or any other object. The Travel Bugs have a starting point and destination on them, and helpful geocachers carry them from cache to cache to help them get to their goals. Looking at the local caching scene, there's a great multi-step geocache in Richmond that teaches you about Edgar Allen Poe's life as it takes you all over the city.

A game of global proportions, geocaching claims over 1.7 million active caches and more than five million geocachers around the world. If you've got a smartphone, buy the app and get to exploring our awesome city as you chase caches!

Photo credit: http://www.outerbeaches.com/images/Right_Geocaching.jpg

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Find a bit of paradise... in an alley?

          Paradise Park, located in the alley of the 1700 block of Floyd Avenue, is unlike most pocket parks in Richmond. It’s unique design and layout makes it stand out among the others. Carlton Abbot designed it in 1968, but the park was not established until 1975. Abbot won an Urban Design Award for the parks unique design. The park was named after the giant Paradise Tree that was located in the center of the park. Unfortunately during a hurricane this past year the tree had fallen and since been removed.  Most may know Paradise Park by Geometry Park due to the geometrical shapes inside the park.

            Over the years the park had fallen victim to graffiti. In the summer of 2009, the Friends of Paradise Park organization knew that it was time for a clean up. The clean up did not only just include picking up trash and up keep of the grounds, but a mural project. S. Preston Duncan did most of the artwork that you see at Paradise Park.

          Paradise Park is perfect if you are looking for a quiet place to read or have lunch with a change of scenery. Although the Paradise Tree no longer stands, you can still find paradise in Paradise Park with its perfect combination of shade and sunlight on a good day!

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Like a G6? Try G40!

Thanks to Art Whino, Richmond just got an art makeover! You've probably seen some of the amazing murals popping up on sides of buildings around the Fan, Business District, and Shockoe Bottom. There's actually 23 of them in all, from astronauts kissing to turtles stacking on each other. Can't think of anything more Richmondy than that, to be honest.

Based in DC, Art Whino's vision is to bring together the top innovators and pioneers from around the world. In their third edition of G40 Art Summit, their month-long art show, 13 artists from across the globe traveled to Richmond and painted huge murals on buildings around the city. Last week's First Friday Art Walk also featured several Art Whino exhibits, including a display called "Weapons of Mass Change" at Gallery 5.

These murals are one step in the formation of Richmond's forthcoming Art District. With a start like this, we can't wait to see the rest of the work going into it! Richmond is a city full of creativity and style; it's exciting to see us getting recognized for it. Check out pictures of all the G40 murals in RVA Mag's article (where we got our photo) here!

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Grab an All-Natural Burger From Burger Bach!

In the mood for a hamburger, but tired of Five Guy’s and the other usual suspects? Look no further than Burger Bach, a New Zealand inspired gastronomical public house, or "gastro pub”.

Located at the far end of Carytown, across the parking lot from Ellwood Thompson’s market, Burger Bach has given the Richmond area burger scene a much needed refresher.

I almost don’t know where to begin, which is a major feat for any burger joint; most of the time the only distinguishing feature is the burger. Burger Bach did make their burgers unique, however only talking about the burgers wouldn’t do this new Richmond restaurant justice.

With that being said, I’ll start from the beginning. When I walked in, the atmosphere initially felt like that of a restaurant you may find at the beach. After reading the menu I realized that it was supposed to feel like New Zealand (hey, I have never been there!). You will have to be the judge of the looks, but I can tell you that I found the atmosphere to be a perfect match for what they are going for.

  Next came the contents of the menu, which are raved about on the likes of Urban Spoon and Yelp!. They have everything a person could expect to find at a pub: burgers, fries, salad, sides, beers and wines (even glass Coke bottles!).

  Having just finished my first ever lunch at the place, I can only vouch for the burgers and fries, but if they are any indication of a pattern then everyone needs to check out Burger Bach.

My order consisted of a jalapeño burger (I forgot the name, sorry!) and some fries, which were cooked in peanut oil. The burger and fries were not too greasy and they were both very fresh.

Three things that surprised me about Burger Bach were:

1.      The salad that every burger comes with.

2.      The complimentary homemade dipping sauces that all fry orders come with. Even the ketchup is homemade.

3.      All of the meat is raised naturally without the use of hormones or antibiotics.

First of all, who expects a burger to come with a salad? Not only was it tasty, but it made me feel a bit less guilty about ordering the fries. Next, speaking of fries, who would have thought that jalapeño hollandaise sauce would be a good topping? It was delicious. As of now, I believe there are around four special sauces to choose from and they are constantly adding more (just check out the vote on their Facebook page).

Finally, speaking to the third quality that surprised me, when I say that it is all raised sustainably and healthily that’s exactly what I mean, the beef, lamb, fish and chicken is all hormone free and free range.

If you haven’t deduced by now that my trip to Burger Bach will be one of many, then I will come out and say it now: It is now my personal, favorite burger joint in the Richmond area and I will recommend it to all of my friends.

If you are interested in Burger Bach, you can find them on Twitter and Facebook. If you need some help getting there, check out this map!

(Photo cred: Burger Bach, and @AustinSargent)

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Remembering Our Two-Wheeled Friends

Old horses don't die, they just go to the glue factory, or so the saying goes. Jalopies usually end up in junkyards. But abandoned bikes stay locked to signposts or bike racks, losing various components to thieves in the night. Snatch a wheel here, the handlebars there, and pretty soon what's left looks nothing like a bicycle. It's a pretty inglorious way to die, come to think of it.

Dead Bicycles is bringing attention to this neglect by shrouding abandoned bikes in black fabric emblazoned with the words “Here lies a dead bicycle.” According to its website, the purpose of this bike burial is to build a renewed appreciation for bicycle cultur

e and bring awareness to a community willing to leave their friends behind. We have tombs and gravestones for our deceased loved ones, and Dead Bicycles wants to extend that same care to our two-wheeled friends. Just because they can't be ridden anymore doesn't mean they're worthless.

We've written before about the bicycle culture here in RVA, from tall bikes to street racers. We put so much care into the bikes we ride; let's keep that attention going even to those less fortunate two-wheelers!

Know any dead bikes near you? Send a picture of it and its location to remember@deadbicycles.com so it can get a proper burial! Or check out Dead Bicycles on Facebook here.

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My Friend “James”

Adventurous

adjective-

1.) Inclined or willing to engage in adventures; enjoying adventures.

2.) Full of risk; requiring courage; hazardous: an adventurous undertaking.

3.) People of RVA; The James River provides adventures that are unsurpassed.

Now that we have that settled, I would like to introduce you to my friend James. He is 348 miles long extending through Virginia but makes Richmond a prime location to become acquainted. The James River as we all know provides so much of the outdoor fun that Richmond has to offer. There are bike trails, wildlife, rock climbing, sun bathing, canoeing, rope swings, cook-out spots and more recently found the opportunity to hit some crazy rapids. Now being that Richmond is full of things that can be done independently, especially when it comes to the great outdoors, I still think that we should give the professionals a chance to show us a great experience as well. I'm talking about Riverside Outfitters of course! This place is located over in the River section of Forrest Hill just off Forrest Hill Avenue. Riverside Outfitters is your go to place to become adventurous and really get to know "James". They offer different packages based off the experience you are looking for. The have canoeing and kayaking tours that are sure to open your eyes to a new kind of adventure. All you need is some time, a smile and some readiness and they will provide the rest from there. They have all the equipment you need for a safe and fun trip. They teach you all the fundamentals and saftey you need to conquer the exciting voyages of the James River. Richmond is loaded with class IV rapids that will push your adrenaline into overdrive. So what are you waiting for, call your friends and get moving, and when you get there tell "James" I said what's up.

http://www.riversideoutfitters.net/

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What Do You Stand For?

What Do You Stand For? is a traveling art exhibit that is currently located on the median on Monument Avenue between Allen and Mulberry. The exbitit made it's debut during First Friday in October 2011 and has made apperances at the Richmond Folk Festival, The Jefferson Hotel, CenterStage, Rockets Landing and more. This exhibit includes 31 8 foot tall self portraits, 25 of which were created by middle schoolers last summer through the ART 180 Program that collabortated with Higher Achievement. The pieces are to encourage others to hear the thoughts and feelings of the "smallest voices" of Richmond. ART 180 is using this exhibit to challege others in considering what they stand for.

ART 180 is encouraging others to engage in conversation with them and one another in what they stand for on their Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/ART180. What Do You Stand For? will remain on Monument Avenue until Monday April 9 when they will be moved to a new location that has yet to be annoucned.

Make sure you check out this exhibit and think about what you stand for.

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Battleships for Lunch? I'm in!

The negative connotations associated with being a black sheep may lead you to think that a restaurant called “The Black Sheep” sounds weird and unappetizing, but I can assure you that if that restaurant is in Richmond it’s quite the opposite.

Richmond’s The Black Sheep, located at 901 W. Marshall St, is as much of a black sheep as a restaurant could be within the context of most Richmond area restaurants and that’s a good thing.

I must admit, the restaurant’s black sheep-ness didn’t hit me until I sat down and looked at the menu; I was immediately confronted with a list of “battleships” (sure there were other things, but I was there for the restaurant’s famous subs that had been featured on the Travel Channel).

The “battleship” subs are the items that make this restaurant a literal black sheep for two reasons:

The size: I ordered the full size version and it was around a foot and a half (or more) long!

The toppings: Can you imagine eating ketchup and peach chutney with Chicken, or pickled radish and carrot with ham? What I’m saying is that the combinations of toppings on the subs are very unique and truly original.

Don’t be scared away by my above points though. All of the sandwiches come in half sizes and, moreover, there are enough combinations to satisfy any pallet, even vegans!

The “battleships” are what people usually come for, but more than a few people have ordered other options and left very satisfied. One self-proclaimed foodie on Yelp recently said, “I love breakfast here, my favorite is the No Mas Nueavos Huevos.  SOOOOooooooo yummy,” in one of the many non-sandwich related reviews.

If this is a bit too much for you to digest, I guess what you should take from my review is that The Black Sheep restaurant is one of the most unique places to dine in Richmond. It has something for everyone as well as some of the most delicious and original sandwiches money can buy. My first experience was great and I can’t wait to get back and try all of the destroyers!

It looks like being the black sheep actually worked out for this Richmond oddball. Check out a menu at the restaurant's Facebook page linked to above!

(All Photo Cred: Black Sheep Restaurant)

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Olio - More Than Just a Cart

In the past year or two, there has been an influx of vending carts around campus. The “hippie shack” on Main Street next to the Commons Plaza has been around for a while, but now you can get tacos, felafel, and even vegan hot dogs from various vendors. But for gourmet sandwiches, nothing beats the Olio cart that sets up between the Triangle and the Compass. Because it's in such a public spot, many students have seen it, but not as many people know that Olio has two restaurant locations as well.

Whether you have class down at MCV or live in the Fan, you can still enjoy Olio close to you. One Olio, which serves breakfast and lunch, is located on Main and 6th, while the Fan location is on Main and Meadow. Serving both lunch and dinner, the Fan Olio provides gourmet food in a quaint, relaxed environment. My favorite choice here is the prosciutto di parma sandwich, which layers prosciutto, red pepper, greens, and fresh mozzarella on a ciabatta roll. Stop by sometime and try a freshly made sandwich or one or Olio's many side dishes or desserts! From spanakopita to pita pizza to antipasto to baklava, the food here can't be beat. Olio also offers a variety of vegetarian options; it even can cater your next event.

Olio's quiet atmosphere make it a perfect place to settle down and enjoy some great food and drink while not leaving with an aching wallet. And if you're not looking to eat right away, the Fan location of Olio also offers old-world groceries for sale, as well as sizable beer and wine selections. Check out the website and give Olio a try sometime!

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Wanna Get High?

If you believe you can do just about anything within the boundaries of RVA, you're right. Richmond is full of surprises. On a recent trip with 2 of my friends we stumbled upon a little jewel behind CSX train docks, piles of dirt and broken concrete. It was a wall that looked to be about 80 feet tall, with some of the most breathtaking views of Richmond yet! Surrounding this beast of a wall were avid climbers and outdoor adventures looking for a challenge. This wall is part of the old Manchester Bridge that was replaced by a newer one in the 80's during Richmond's early reconstruction period. The wall is accompanied by a steep stair cause that goes to a lookout providing views of downtown and the James.

The monster has been outfitted with all the links and hook-ups for climbers to enjoy the sport safely. There are several route options and from what it appears there are endless possibilities. If you aren't feeling up to the big wall and want to try something a little easier there is a 40 foot wall just adjacent to its big brother, equally challenging in grips and holds. No matter what you’re looking to accomplish I highly recommend checking this out.

The people are so relaxed and you even get a small cheering crowd from time to time. I met a professor down there who said he climbs 3-4 times a week because it keeps him in touch with the outdoors! You can access this location by going into Manchester and taking the side street next to Legends Brewing Company. Take the route down to the water and turn left, follow the dirt road and park under the bridge. Come to think of it that sounds like a good idea, afternoon climbing and a cold one, with all the views. Check it out! 

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Used Professional Attire at a Steal

You just got the call from a top company for an interview; It’s tomorrow afternoon and you need to make an impression.  Other than brushing your teeth and putting on deodorant, you’re going to need some nice clothes.

The problem for most college students is that, unless they have had previous work experience and/ or money, their wardrobe may be lacking a bit.

This lack of clothing is where Carytown’s The Hall Tree comes in (Google Maps).  The Hall Tree is one of Richmond’s best thrift stores for three reasons: The employees, the clothes and the atmosphere.

For starters, the cutest bunch of old ladies run the store. Whenever I stop by to do some shopping, they are always smiling and friendly. Once I even got one to help me pick out clothes!  Don’t worry though, they aren’t pushy, but I guarantee that if you ask for help they will give you a spot on, no B.S. recommendation about the way you look (this has saved me from making more than a couple bad purchases).

So what kind of clothes are there to be found in the aisles of The Hall Tree? Well, the men’s section is full of the kind of clothes that internship and job seeking college students need to have but could never afford new. I am talking about Polo and Brooks Brothers as well as other notable brands. And while I can’t vouch for the women’s section, I can say that it is much more extensive than the men’s and, therefore, must be of some help.

Lastly, there is the atmosphere. When you walk into the store, you are immediately confronted by the nice employees and the racks of clothing, but there is something else too. It is like taking a break from the real world when you walk through their doors. There aren’t security cameras, there are no barcodes and there are no credit card machines (they still take credit but they use some old contraption that actually makes a copy of your card on paper!); it is seriously a throwback to some different times

Anyway, I think I have rambled enough for one day. If you are ever in need of some new, at least for you, professional attire, don’t be afraid to check out The Hall Tree.

Here is another link to some directions.

(Photo Cred: www.fromtherunwaytorva.com)

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RVA - Tall Bike Town

Richmond is a city of bikes. On a sunny day, bikes of all different sizes and colors flit around campus, from ponderous mountain bikes to hummingbird-like street bikes. And if you’re lucky, you may catch a glimpse of the bald eagle of bikes, talked about but rarely seen – the tall bike.

If you’ve never seen a tall bike, it’s basically two bike frames welded or bolted together to form a Transformer-type product that rides maybe seven or eight feet off the ground. Instead of the chain running horizontally from the back wheel, it runs upward to the top frame’s pedals. In essence, you’re basically just riding a bike, it’s just much higher than any normal bike.

How do you even get on a tall bike? Well, if there’s a friendly lamppost nearby, you can prop the bike up against it, climb the frame, and push off into the road. However, the classier tall bike riders tend to start the bike rolling, then clamber up the frame and pedal happily away. Once you’re on, you just pray for green lights, or go on a route with lots of right turns.

A tall bike may not have as much practical use as a regular bike, but there are few things more Richmond-y than seeing someone pedaling head and shoulders above the rest of traffic. And if you make it out to Slaughterama (if you don’t know what Slaughterama is, ask the nearest hipster), you’ll see tall bikes a-plenty, primarily used as vehicles for jousting. If you ever get a chance a ride one, jump on the opportunity; life just looks better from the seat of a tall bike.

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Federal Park

Richmond is full of parks which range in size and what they have to offer. Federal Park is located in an alley, like most Richmond parks, between the 2100 block of Main Street and Floyd Avenue. Although this park is very small compared to others, it has a few things to offer. It's main attraction being the play set complete with mini rock climbing wall and spiral slide. This may sound childish, but who doesn't love a trip down a slide?! Federal Park also has benches for those who want a place to relax and take in the sun. It's location provides the perfect about of sun and shade.

Next time you want to try out a new park or simply go for a walk somewhere, check out Federal Park. Make sure you take a trip down the slide, you won't regret it!