Richmond, Virginia Part I

You can easily spend an entire day or a whole weekend and then some, in the beautiful, bustling city of Richmond, Virginia!!! I was lucky enough to have an afternoon and it wasn't nearly enough!!! A perfect itinerary: A trip through the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, shopping on Cary Street in Carytown, lunch at CanCan and a tour and high tea at Agecroft Hall! Sound like a lot, it is!!!!! You can break this up and tack on an extra day to give yourself more time to explore and there is a lot more you can see and do, like visiting some gardens, other neighborhoods around the city and of course, Downtown:)

Founded in 1737, the city of Richmond has always been a hub of politics, commerce and people! English settlers settled here from Jamestown in 1610, during the Revolutionary War, this is where Patrick Henry's "Give me Liberty or Give me Death" speech occured in 1775 at St. John's Church, "The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom" written by Thomas Jefferson happened here and into the 20th century, Richmond established one of the first electrical streetcar systems!!! This city has seen birth, war, destruction and re-birth, many times over and here it still stands, stronger and more graceful than ever!!!

My first stop: The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Highlights here, for one, it's free, except for special exhibitions, which charge extra. I visited the Made in Hollywood exhibition which featured photographs of Stars and Starlets from 1920-1940's during film making. Needless to say, it was a delight!!! I also gazed into the brilliance of works by Monet, Sisley, Degas, Renoir, Van Gogh and Warhol! Between the globs of swirling oil paint on canvas, bronze and marble smoothed into human form and catching the perfect shot in a photograph, I was hooked:)

Next, head just a few blocks away to Cary Street, and get ready for fun in the sun!!! This trendy neighborhood of Richmond has it all, Cafes, Shops and amazing restaurants!!! Some of my very favorite spots include: Bygones, Clementine and Sheppard Street Antiques:)

Sheppard Street Antiques has all things beautiful!!! You can find lustrous upholstery, glistening chandeliers, sterling silverware, Hand painted Italian Furniture, old apothecary and tonic jars, mirrors, artwork, rugs and other curiosities!!! Absolutely fabulous:)

Bygones will surprise and delight you at every turn!!! This shop has it all, vintage threads mixed with exquisite reproductions, so good in fact, you'll think you stepped back in time to the finest shops in Virginia and are walking out with your new, delightful spring essentials!!! Men's and women's fashions adorn these walls and you'll find everything from sparkling jewelry, dapper hats and vests, vintage and reproduction clothing, parasols and accents including men's and women's bridal and formal wear. Absolutely lovely!!!

Can Can is a treat for the senses!!! Reminiscent of a bistro in the heart of Paris, Can Can has floor to ceiling windows all along Cary Street that open up to the street. Teeny bistro table sets fill the space near the windows and you can people watch as you indulge in classic french faire, like starting with a warm baguette, moving onto roast chicken salad, duck confit, dessert and wine, wine, wine!!! The perfect place to grab a bite on your own or dine out with friends or loved ones:) And that's just what my gal pal Marissa and I did!

Agecroft Hall is an actual private, lived in, 15th century Tudor Estate that was facing disrepair in Lancashire, England at the end of the 19th century when it was sold at auction. Richmonder Thomas C. Williams Jr. purchased the structure, had it dismantled and re-assembled here in Richmond, VA. at Windsor Farms. Not only is the estate and its gardens open to the public for scheduled tours, but on special occasions like the first day of spring, they'll host a tour and tea:) What a nice way to end the day!