SOUTHSIDE RVA

Southside gets a bad rap!  

 

Just think of the way the Southside section of many large cities are depicted in pop culture: 

• The movies Boys In The Hood and Training Day, both set in South Central Los Angeles; both feature this area of town as crime ridden and poverty stricken.

• A line in Jim Croce’s song, Bad, Bad Leroy Brown, tell us that “…the Southside of Chicago is the baddest part of town…”.

• And let’s not forget that Bigger Thomas, the main character in Richard Wright’s novel, Native Son, who  fights a losing battle against poverty and crime in Southside Chicago.

Well, I grew up in some of the roughest neighbors in Southside Richmond, Virginia and experienced some of the scenes these books, songs and films portray. Yet, I  decided against participating in the Great Suburban Migration to  Chesterfield and Henrico County. As a result, I’ve been blessed to have to have discovered the following beautiful urban gems my Southside has to offer:

 

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SCENIC PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS

Skateboard park at Carter Jones Park/Fonticello Playground on W. 28^th Street

Forest Hill Park -- home of  Boscobel or Old Stone House & beautiful nature walk ways

 

 

Riverside Drive -- views of our James River and more beautiful nature walkways

 

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 HIP EATS

Croker’s Spot is a  very popular Southern food restaurant on Hull Street

 

Crossroads Coffee and Ice Cream –neighborhood café & home to some of my favorite treats -- 
 black and white scones and bacon and cheese croissants!

 

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URBAN GARDENS

Tricycle Garden on Bainbridge Street

Cage Garden on Bland Street

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BEAUTIFUL HOMES IN THE HOOD

  

Signs of urban development on Perry Street near  one of my childhood neighborhoods

 

Grand old home on Forest Hill Avenue

 

Give your Southside a chance by discovering some of the diamonds in the rough!

You will be pleasantly surprised.