Anyone ever been to Richmond, Virginia? 🤔👇

@musicbyLUKAS

9 ай бұрын

Longtime local over here...😉

@LaurenZRay

9 ай бұрын

@@musicbyLUKAS 😝😝

@sunshineatheart2065

9 ай бұрын

No sorry, but I peeked my interest!

@LaurenZRay

9 ай бұрын

@@sunshineatheart2065 peeked is always good 😝😍

@erinrachelcat

9 ай бұрын

Yep it’s a great day trip from Durham! I love the vegan food and I enjoy the downtown areas a lot.

Great video on Richmond. It really opened up my eyes to this mid-size city to visit!

@LaurenZRay

3 ай бұрын

It’s so fun to visit!! Do it 😍

Welcome!! what a beautiful, well-produced documentation of what makes our city so beautiful 🥹 Thank you!

@LaurenZRay

4 ай бұрын

Aww thank you so much!! 💚💚💚

The production on this video is on point!

@LaurenZRay

3 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! Can’t wait to keep making more 😍💚

Love this channel 😊

@LaurenZRay

9 ай бұрын

This comment made my day!! Thank you 🥹💚💚

This is literally the best! Richmond is my hometown, but I don’t live there right now. Glad you’ve discovered it’s beauty in all the ways it is beautiful! Congratulations!

@LaurenZRay

9 ай бұрын

I am obsessed! What an amazing hometown. I’m sure it’s fun to come back and visit too. Glad you enjoyed! Thanks for watching 💚💚

I just moved from Richmond last year but spent 8 years there (I originally moved there for college) and I miss it. The seasons are beautiful and it’s the perfect combo of natural and serene with urban and cultural bustle. Lively but pretty. I moved because I wanted to experience more of the world (having grown up in VA) but I can see myself returning one day. The underground art/music scene was my main reason for moving there and it didn’t disappoint.

@LaurenZRay

8 ай бұрын

I agree with everything you said! Also great insight coming from you, since you lived there for so long. It’s always great to travel for sure tho! I totally get it. I need to get into the art & music scene more!! 😍😍

@diodelvino3048

8 ай бұрын

im trying to move there, it just looks like the perfect city for me, hits all my checkboxes. how cold can it usually get??

@LaurenZRay

8 ай бұрын

@@diodelvino3048 high 50s normally in the Winter. They have a few days that can be colder. But a mild winter, which is also what sold us!

@brendanginsburg2210

7 ай бұрын

@flowercalls Come back John!!

Born in Richmond and now live in M-ville just east of the city. Sometimes us natives need to see the city from the eyes of people who are not natives. We tend to forget about a lot of the things that make the city special or have a messed up view because we tend to mix past turmoils into our picture. My brother, for instance, despises the place because of his personal history during the age of mandatory school busing. I just wish the trend of what I call shipping crate style apartment buildings that the average citizen of Richmond cannot afford would cease. I do, however, love the developers that have taken existing structures and turned those into apartments.

Welcome to Richmond! Glad you chose us, you fit right in ☺ I'm originally from Arizona, and I also fell in love with the greenery and architecture and WALKABILITY of Richmond. Just wait until spring--the whole city is covered in flowers! It'll blow you away!

@LaurenZRay

9 ай бұрын

Omg I can’t wait for spring now either! Ugh I love it so much haha 😍💚💚. Thank you! ☺️☺️

So happy that you love our city. You’ve already embraced the Richmonder stereotype of loving to talk about Richmond. I work at a place with a ton of travelers and this is pointed out to me often.

@LaurenZRay

8 ай бұрын

Yay! To be a Richmonder stereotype is a dream of mine. I just love it here!! 😍 thanks David!

Great filmmaking. Really great to learn about this city that I’ve heard of a lot (had friends here at one point) but never visited. Looking forward to seeing more of what you do here now that I am subbed! 👍

@LaurenZRay

15 күн бұрын

Thank you so much! And welcome to the channel! I love filming my journey through RVA. it’s such a great city! 😍

You are officially my Richmond guide, we come all the time but keep doing the same stuff but you are showing me all kinds of stuff. Very likely may be moving there soon, Super Hype!

@LaurenZRay

Ай бұрын

Yay! Welcome, so glad you’re here. 💚💚 SO Hype!

Thank you for making this video! I moved here from Seattle in 2019 and all my friends are still confused. I'm going to send this video to them. I've really become interested in the plethora of historical sites here. For people who love history this would be amazing place to live.

@LaurenZRay

4 ай бұрын

History here is the best! Have you joined Quoit club here? It’s ran by historic Richmond & they have social events inside historical buildings. All us history lovers in one place! The season is April - October. 😍

I've recently visited Norfolk and VA Beach but will be going back to visit Richmond. VA was real chill to me with the exception of the traffic in the Norfolk and VA Beach area. Had no issues with customer service in the places I went. Pretty good hospitality.

@LaurenZRay

9 ай бұрын

I agree the traffic is a bit finicky in that area! I’m excited for you to visit Richmond 😍.

@JustRoShow

9 ай бұрын

@LaurenZRay thank you! I've been looking into VA and some other places but VA has me like what on car registration 😅 and some of the cost of living. I'm planning to look at Charlotte,NC as well.

@LaurenZRay

9 ай бұрын

@@JustRoShow I know a lot of people that love NC as well! Def worth checking out ☺️

A fantastic theatre scene there too. My favorite is the Firehouse Theatre. They do a lot of new plays. Even did one of mine waybackwhen. Hope you have many more cool experiences there!

@LaurenZRay

5 ай бұрын

This is so cool & such a great idea!! I’m obsessed with theater. I just went to Annie at Altria but would love to do the local shows too. That’s so awesome that you write plays! 😍

I’m moving there at the end of this month and excited to start a new chapter but also nervous, so this video amplified the excited feelings and calmed the nerves which I’m so thankful for. Glad you guys are enjoying it so far!

@LaurenZRay

7 ай бұрын

Welcome to Richmond!! It is nervous but you’re going to love it. The holidays will be the perfect time to come too. 😍💚

@dannitycane25

7 ай бұрын

Me tooo

@KB-tf8vp

4 ай бұрын

How’s it been going? I might be moving there in a few months from Denver.

Hey Lauren! We moved here from Catskills NY 18 mos ago and everyone asks us the same thing! We love it, and can't wait to experience more ... I have to say I am also a huge fan of the architecture! Being from Boston, I also love the history 😊

@LaurenZRay

5 ай бұрын

Ohh also loved our trip to Catskills!! But Richmond is just incredible. I love how only we know the truth about its awesomeness haha. Totally underrated!

Maymont is beautiful. I try to check out as many things as I can when I visit my niece and even she hadn't been to Maymont.

@LaurenZRay

8 ай бұрын

We haven’t seen too much of Maymont but did get to tour the mansion & it was amazing 😍

@ryannewington6121

12 күн бұрын

Going to an Old Crow Medicine Show concert there in August, it'll be hot, but it'll be amazing

I'm so glad I left Richmond after 54 years. Even so, everything you said is true! The place gets better as it goes along.

@LaurenZRay

8 күн бұрын

💚💚

Welcome to Richmond!

I grew up in Charlottesville and after 20 long, cold years of being on the West Coast I’m moving back. Watching your video was the perfect way to build my excitement, thank you for sharing your experience!

@LaurenZRay

9 ай бұрын

Yes!! Charlottesville is amazing too. I’m obsessed with its Main Street. I need to visit there again too. Where were you on the west coast?

@tatiananikitina6056

2 ай бұрын

Can you recommend some places in Charlottesville? I am visiting both Richmond and Charlottesville next month!

I have lived in Henrico County for all of my twenty-six years. I love Richmond and I visit the city often. Hope to catch you in a coffee shop one day! Cheers!

@johbethemann

5 ай бұрын

Also check out historic Glen Allen and Mountain Road, the RVA music scene, and King’s Dominion!

@LaurenZRay

5 ай бұрын

@@johbethemann Thank you for these tips!! Coffee shops here are so cute, for sure!

I live about an hour and a half from there. I love it there. Love the Carytown Area of Richmond. The coffee shop Roastology is so good and right across the street from a cute thrift store

@LaurenZRay

6 ай бұрын

I love carytown too!! We walk there all the time. I need to go to that thrift store you mentioned. I’ve never been.

So glad you guys moved to Richmond!! And can’t wait for more vlogs. I grew up in DC and went to college in northern VA, we used to go to Richmond all the time. It’s the east coast’s best kept secret! It’s been so so long since I’ve been, so looking forward to seeing what you guys get up to. Your filming style is so damn good.

@LaurenZRay

9 ай бұрын

Thank you so much Jennifer! 🙏 It really is the best kept secret. Hehe. I need to go to DC asap too 😍💚💚

@MeadeSkeltonMusic

9 ай бұрын

it's not nice anymore.

As a Richmond native people like you and the people in the comments are pricing us out of our own city 😢 people come from CA, DC, NYC and up north down here with their WFH jobs because it's "cheap" & run the price of rent and houses sky high, meanwhile our wages stay the same. It's truly sad. The homeless population has gone up 120% in just one year and was up similarly from the year before that. It's truly a crisis and a crying shame.

@LaurenZRay

6 ай бұрын

That would be really tough, and I’m not sure how to navigate it. I’m sorry for that. I will tell you that I didn’t move to Richmond because it was cheap, I moved to it because it’s the city that felt like it was literally calling me home. It has everything I’ve always dreamed my home would have.

Looks underrated for sure! I'm from Australia but in my travels i really liked Savvanah and some of the neighbourhoods in Portland for similar reasons, nature >> coffee >> Architecture - in LA i thought the Los Feliz Neighbourhood was enjoyable but the city itself was not nice.

@LaurenZRay

9 ай бұрын

I agree with Los Feliz being a little oasis in LA! You’re so right. Also we were considering Portland as well! Savannah is gorgeous omg. We want to take a trip there soon, since it’s not too bad of a drive. 😍

Wife and I are thinking about relocating here from South Texas. We’re nearly sold from what we’ve seen so far. Any additional info on the Church Hill Neighborhood? Walkability, things to do, etc?

@LaurenZRay

7 ай бұрын

Church Hill is so walkable. People are out walking it all the time. There’s bakeries, pizza spots, Al fresco dining and several parks! That’s also where the historic St John church is where Patrick Henry gave his speech.

@stuartcrookes7512

5 ай бұрын

Church Hill is one of the best neighborhoods in the city, arguably the best. I live in shockoe bottom and am very happy

@LaurenZRay

5 ай бұрын

@@stuartcrookes7512 agreed!

Lifelong Richmond guy here. Still live here. Lived in the Fan off and on for 20 years. Know the city like the back of my hand. Richmond is about the vibe. It has a distinct vibe. More awake than woke. You feel it when you get here.

As a New Zealander living in Richmond I’m so glad you visited proper pies! Meat pies are a staple food in NZ! Btw kumara is not the same as sweet potato!!

@LaurenZRay

Ай бұрын

Oh that’s funny! I follow a New Zealand blogger and she said they were the same haha. Maybe she was trying to make it simple for us Americans 😜

This is the most convincing video for Richmond that I watched and I have watched a dozen. Good job! As a former Californian and Coloradoan myself, you made Richmond look very cool. Cheers! Ps what about the cannabis scene?

@LaurenZRay

2 ай бұрын

I haven’t partaken in the cannabis scene but have many friends who do. There are dispensaries in every neighborhood and look nice from the outside. 😜

"You're very Richmond if, you haven't made new friends since kindergarten." The City Paper 1996

Richmond is great for all the reasons you mentioned. Please don't tell anyone. More people will move here and bigger isn't always better.

"and we visited Virginia Beach" one of my favorite Richmond past times.

@LaurenZRay

Ай бұрын

Haha😂😂 I meant it’s close enough to Richmond which is cool haha

I have a question which one is better and why? richmond or cincinnati?

@LaurenZRay

6 ай бұрын

I like Richmond as it has access to the beach and the mountains - unlike Cincinnati. But they both have great Architecture and people. I also think Richmond has more vegan options.

@sanamRezazadeh

6 ай бұрын

Thanks a lot for your answer ​@@LaurenZRay

Congrats on your new home! It looks amazing! I live in SoCal and am always impressed by that sense of history you get in east coast cities. Would love to see more interesting historic places around town! Thanks for sharing your journey with us.

@LaurenZRay

9 ай бұрын

I agree! I am totally obsessed with the history over here. Not much in Indiana where I grew up either. It’s so cool! I’ll def be showing more of the old Virginia spots, there are so many. 😍 Thanks David! 💚

I did not know Richmond,Virginia had that many parks.

Richmond,Virginia has the most AWESOME Black Men.Strong black men.❤❤❤❤❤❤

Hey Lauren! I just wondered where all your Europe and UK vlogs went? I love them dearly and miss watching them? Are they still buried somewhere? ❤

@LaurenZRay

4 күн бұрын

@@ladymc-ly8zm hey! 💚 I can send you an unlisted link to them. Any in particular you’d like to watch? I’ve archived them to focus on Richmond & VA content.

Perfectly produced and put together video 🥰

@LaurenZRay

9 ай бұрын

Thank you so much!! It was so fun making it too 😍😍

I’m from Virginia and been living In the old Dominion since 1995. There are so many independent cities in the state and as much I like Hampton roads, Nova, Charlottesville, Roanoke, but there’s one city in Virginia that holds a special place in my heart: Richmond. Richmond is the definition of a unique city with rich history, architecture, location on the fall line at the James River, Carytown, great colleges (VCU alumni) and the food! Richmond is considered to be the most foodie city in the US. Richmond is also great city to film movies and TV such as Homeland, Toy Soldiers, Lincoln and Major Payne!

@LaurenZRay

8 ай бұрын

I love these facts! Most I never knew. I also love Charlottesville but must visit the others you’ve mentioned 😍

@sarahmotley5761

7 ай бұрын

BOUGHT MY FIRST HOUSE IN RICHMOND..... #17,OO0. NORTH OF BROAD CHURCH HILL. LATER WORKED AND LIVED IN CHARLOTTESVILLE. HAMIL😮TON WAS MY NEXT SPOT BEFORE LANDING IN SALEM. RICHMOND STILL HAS MY HEART!

@sarahmotley5761

7 ай бұрын

Pm

@sarahmotley5761

7 ай бұрын

HAMPTON VS HAMILTON

Black Hand Coffee goes hard

@LaurenZRay

3 ай бұрын

What’s your fav drink from there? 😍☕️

@brendandevlin6022

3 ай бұрын

@@LaurenZRay im not as coffee-savvy as y'all so I go with a classic large iced black- which is fire & cheap! Recommend stopping by there. Love the content btw!

@LaurenZRay

3 ай бұрын

@@brendandevlin6022 thanks Brendan! ☺️ I always think it’s a good test if a coffee shop has good black coffee, so def will give it a taste!

You are a really good KZreadr!! Thanks for the videos. Great camera work.

@LaurenZRay

5 ай бұрын

Thanks Jack! That is so kind of you to say. Glad you enjoy ☺️💚

Just came across your channel! Love it! As a native Richmonder, you're definitely seeing lots of the great things we have to offer! Don't overlook the awesomeness of the James River and all the amazing things she has to offer when the weather warms up! We are lucky to have so many great things to do in RVA! Welcome!

@LaurenZRay

6 ай бұрын

I can’t wait to explore the James River! Do you have any advice on what to do? Also thank you so much!! 💚💚

@rondon2579

5 ай бұрын

Be sure to do a float trip from Reedy Creek to 17th Street...but make sure it's right after a heavy rain so you get the cleanest water possible. Also it needs to be at least 9.5 feet on the river gauge or you'll get stuck on rocks

RVA has become a very good city in comparison with the conservative, racist and crime-ridden town it once was. I would have moved there for reasons other than the ones you mention (e.g. VFMA, UofR, Maudlin Center), but the real estate prices in desirable city neighborhoods have gotten out of reach. The best thing about Richmond? It’s only an hour away from Charlottesville.

Great video. Im British, been living in Baltimore for 10 years, but been looking at Richmond since visiting a few years ago. Thanks for the video

@LaurenZRay

8 ай бұрын

Thank you Martin! Whereabouts in the UK are you from? I just got back from there on a trip! ☺️

@martinpotter1517

8 ай бұрын

@@LaurenZRay milton keynes. Which part of the UK did you travel to?

@LaurenZRay

8 ай бұрын

@@martinpotter1517 this time just London! But the closest I’ve been to Milton Keynes is Oxford.

Love everything about this video.

@LaurenZRay

5 ай бұрын

Thank you so much Brandon!! 💚💚

I'm almost sold, but I am a dog lover - tell me there are many dogs and many many dog parks and I will flip for Richmond.

@LaurenZRay

Ай бұрын

I don’t know about dog parks since I don’t have one but all my friends and many people have dogs here.

Lived here my whole life… asking the same thing😂

Looks like a fun place!

@LaurenZRay

9 ай бұрын

It’s been so fun!!

Thanks for highlighting the fun things to do around Richmond! It is a wonderful place to live!

@LaurenZRay

5 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for the kind words! I’m absolutely obsessed. 😍💚💚

Born & raised in Richmond, VA❤ but currently live in chesterfield area. I love Richmond so many greats things to do! Such a foodie city! Welcome 😎

@LaurenZRay

6 ай бұрын

Thank you so much!! It’s so lovely, I’m so glad it exists!

tuh this city wicked asf , u making it seem like ts fun to live. i’ve lived in richmond my whole life nd ts is depressing

Flying out this week because my wife has an interview there. She’s been before but this will be my first time in VA.

@LaurenZRay

7 ай бұрын

That’s exciting!! Have dinner at Blue Atlas if you have time. It’s a great date night spot with tons of delicious options. ☺️

@DspecDJ

7 ай бұрын

@@LaurenZRay I appreciate the recommendation, looking at the menu now and she’s vegetarian and they have tons of options!

@LaurenZRay

7 ай бұрын

@@DspecDJ I’m vegan and their vegan options there are very good! 😍🌱

@DspecDJ

6 ай бұрын

@@LaurenZRayBlue Atlas was fantastic, that harissa cauliflower was life changing 😂

@LaurenZRay

6 ай бұрын

@@DspecDJ omg yes! That’s my favorite dish too 🤯😍

Thanks a lot, I plan to move there

My question is how welcoming is Richmond. I'm a Yankee considering moving south.

@LaurenZRay

5 ай бұрын

Well I would walk into shops constantly and say I just moved here and everyone was so nice! They’d say welcome & give me all the tips! Also on my Instagram people message me every day saying “welcome to Richmond!” I find it very welcoming!

@rachelforeman1549

5 ай бұрын

@@LaurenZRay thank you! my boyfriend is from Richmond. He wants to return there. I've lived in NW Pennsylvania all my life. It is a little intimidating but I'm excited to move now.

@LaurenZRay

5 ай бұрын

@@rachelforeman1549 I LOVE it here! No regrets. Tons to do. Great food & the most lovely people.

How is the nightlife in Richmond? Ahah

@LaurenZRay

8 ай бұрын

Actually pretty good! A lot of places & restaurants turn into venues at night with live music 😍

@antoniomari2730

8 ай бұрын

@@LaurenZRay wonderful 👍thank you

My opinion might be biased...But I'm here for more Richmond content...And hand pies.🥧

@LaurenZRay

9 ай бұрын

As you should be 🔥🔥😝

It fucking blows! Been back to visit after living on the West Coast- a pathetic “outdoors” suburban cultureless nightmare. Its like 20 years behind the West Coast culturally and in food. Just say you couldn’t afford LA- Pasadena, The Hills, Griffith Park, Topanga…

@LaurenZRay

6 ай бұрын

I actually left Los Angeles because I was no longer in the acting industry (that's why I moved to LA from Indiana in the first place). I really like it on the east coast, but everyone is free to have their own opinion of course.

Love this video- I miss Richmond so much. Hit me up when you want a Charlottesville tour :) oh, and try the latte with macadamia milk on your next trip to Ironclad

@LaurenZRay

6 ай бұрын

Wow that sounds amazing at Ironclad. I hear Charlottesville is really cool!

Moving to Virginia soon. I hear the food is amazing and I want a hand pie lol

@LaurenZRay

7 ай бұрын

Get the hand pie!! You will not regret haha

Me!

@LaurenZRay

7 ай бұрын

😜😜

Richmond is the best! My boyfriend and I are both coaster nerds and it is the best place to live because you are so close to Kings Dominion and Busch Gardens Williamsburg.

@LaurenZRay

5 ай бұрын

Oh I bet! How are those theme parks? I’m not into rollercoasters but Lukas is!

@WillAndersonwja731

5 ай бұрын

They are awesome! Kings Dominion has more thrilling rides. You can't go wrong with Busch Gardens. It is beautiful and some rides have theming that reminds me of Disney parks. BG has great food and shows so it can please people that don't ride coasters.@@LaurenZRay

I just decided I want to move my family there.

@LaurenZRay

9 ай бұрын

Great decision I say! 😉

If you have allergies, this is 💯 NOT THE PLACE FOR YOU. The WORST pollen seasons you can imagine.

@LaurenZRay

11 күн бұрын

It’s even listed on google as one of the worst!

Moving in to Richmond VA is like “If there was a single day I could live here and a single breath I could take, I'd trade all the others away” I love this state ❤

@LaurenZRay

5 ай бұрын

SAME! It’s my favorite place on earth 😍😍

I'm gonna have an foreigner course in fort Lee beside Richmond, I'm from Romania europe, have a nice day, who knows maybe we will meet.

@LaurenZRay

8 ай бұрын

I’ve always wanted to visit Romania. Had a trip planned in 2020, but couldn’t go of course.

@iana5155

8 ай бұрын

@@LaurenZRay you should, it's a cheap country to visit and people are kind, the mountain areas are delightful,

@LaurenZRay

8 ай бұрын

@@iana5155 and I also am obsessed with castles, so it’s def on my bucket list 🤩

Hello..RVA born and raised and love the vid! Welcome to the River City! 🎉 There is lots of great food and things to do. I hope you also come to feel that you are a part of the community. Local non-profits and community organizations do really great work. Also POE House, Kuba Kuba, VMFA and Elwood Thompson are some of my fav spots.

@LaurenZRay

9 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! Everyone here has been so nice & welcoming. It really feels like home. 😍 I’ve been by the VMFA & am obsessed!! Need to stop by the others mentioned for sure! Thanks for the kind words and tips. 💚💚

I might consider watching a baseball game in Richmond.

@LaurenZRay

6 ай бұрын

It was so much fun! And very affordable ☺️

We rep the 804 🔥🔥

I've been out 3 times visiting and this gem of a place is so high on my relocation list. 2024 or early 2025🤞

"Vibe-y?" 🙄👎

I have traveled the world for most of my life. Funny, I ended up in LA and uh....Really ready to get out. Nothing that pretty about LA. I was born back East, NY.

@LaurenZRay

5 ай бұрын

NY is gorgeous! You sort of have to travel to a national park to see crazy beauty in California. LA is def interesting but not a lot of natural beauty.

So happy you appreciate how amazing our city is 🥲 we’re glad to have you 🖤

@LaurenZRay

8 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! It’s honestly a dream come true. I’m seriously obsessed 🥹

Welcome to Richmond!

@LaurenZRay

8 ай бұрын

Thanks Jon!! I love it so much 😍💚