5 ways to fall in love with Richmond again
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios
If you ask Elaine Digges, becoming a Richmonder and falling (or staying) in love with this city go hand in hand.
Why it matters: Both require intention and trying harder than you might somewhere else, she says.
The big picture: Digges, the mind behind one of Richmond's most well-known Instagram accounts, miss_elaine_neous, tells Axios that the city's guardedness makes it tricky to click here.
- Native Richmonders have their set friend groups, making it challenging for newcomers to join them and feel welcome.
- And some Richmonders fall out of love with the city they've been in for so long because they feel stuck in the same bubble.
- That's actually happening in a lot of places right now: People are spending less time exploring their own cities than they used to pre-pandemic, instead sticking to their own neighborhoods and familiar spots, MIT Media Lab reports.
Zoom in: The University of Richmond grad fell into that cycle shortly before 2020, before launching her Instagram account documenting local events.
- But eventually, she fell back in love with this city.
Her top tips —
1: Step outside your 15-minute bubble
A Richmonder knows the difference between Lakeside and Northside, Digges says. They know the best tacos are deep in South Richmond. And that's because they don't stick to one zone.
- Pick an interest, like bookstores or coffee shops, and explore a different one every week until you've been to every neighborhood in the city.
- It'll make exploring less overwhelming.
2: Get comfortable showing up alone
Go to the happy hour, the sports league, etc. by yourself. Digges says she's noticed Richmonders open up more when you're solo.
- Sometimes taking a book or journal to a restaurant or bar can help.
3: Find an issue you care about and get involved
Head to the public district meetings, the forums and other opportunities to voice your opinions.
- "When you care more, you realize you can do more," Digges says. "And that, I think, weaves you into the city so easily."
4: Become a regular
Establish "your" neighborhood bar and talk to the bartenders. Get to know the person behind the counter at your corner store.
5. Write down what you dislike about Richmond, then bust the myths
Digges says Richmonders would be surprised at how often the gripes are fixable.
The bottom line: "I think if you're willing to tackle that, then the city does open up," Digges says. "But again, Richmond's going to push back. You can't just have access to us. You have to work for it."