Richmond, VA - what is it like?

[NewJeffCT]

For some strange reason lately, I have been getting contacted about good jobs for me outside my home state of Connecticut. The most recent one is in Richmond, VA.

The thing I like best about CT is that you don't have to go very far to find a town with good public schools, and with a daughter that is almost 2 years old, that is a concern for the future.

What can Virginians (or ex-Virginians) tell me about the Richmond area? Where would I live if I wanted a town with good public schools? Is the Richmond area Freeperville? I don't want to be the sole liberal in a town with a bunch of good ole boys riding around in pickups with confederate flags & shotguns.

Anything else?

Thanks

[Phillycat]

1. Underpants lives in Richmond.

You should ask him.

[smiley_glad_hands]

2. I live in Chesterfield Co.

A suburb of Richmond. The city of Richmond is democratic and liberal, however, the suburbs and exurbs are very fundie and republican. If you are used to lots of traffic live in the west end of Henrico Co., they have pretty good schools from what I understand. My wife and I have lived here for about a year and a half now. Its ok, spose, very republican though.

On edit, yes there are a bunch of pick up trucks with confederate flags and gun racks. They are still fighting the civil war here, there is a big to do about having a statue of Lincoln at some historical site.

[underpants]

3. I'll add

Richmond....whew boy and I was going to get some work done this morning.

Okay (I have lived here 10 years)
The city is very liberal-70% black-the schools supposedly are very bad, all the whites send their kids to private schools which is also a status symbol thing (LOTS of status symbol things here)- very expensive homes (across the street from our apartment is a $500K home) and really high property assessments (since 2000)

The counties

Henrico-well there are two Henricos
West-$$$$, snooty, image driven, Stepford
East-Black but upwardly mobile (in some areas) black.

No trash service
Good schools supposedly-every kid has a laptop

Chesterfield-bring a banjo
Seriously it is the Southside so that is just the local joke.
Ever expanding
Bitchy neighbors (two really strange stories from two friends)
They just finished 288 which connects the southside to I95 without having to go through that nasty old city (blacks) of course in the Richmond tradition they didn't actually make a belt way-they half assed it.

Now if you can afford Ashland (the self proclaimed "Center of the Universe") it is as close to a old time small town as you will find. BTW- EVERYONE at Randolph-MAcon college smokes pot EVERYONE

Ukrops- now why would you comment on a grocery store? Well if you ask that you really don't know much about Richmond. Good prepared foods but my wife was shocked to shop there and was pretty much unable to find what you would need to prepare your OWN meal. Status symbol shopping, Monday night at the Carytown Ukrop's used to basically be singles night. Ukrop's does employ a lot of mentally retarded people and does give a lot to the community, Ukrop's got Howard Stern kicked off Richmond's airwaves (that should give you an idea of their reach), family owned (self made by the old man-the Ukrop's boys are our version of the Kennedy's), no alcohol sold, closed on Sundays.

Thriving arts community but NO bands play here-they literally pass through going from the Beach to DC.

1 1/2 from the mountains (some skiing too)- 1 1/2 from the Beach (everyone here goes to the Outer Banks/NAgs Head- OBX stickers abound)-2 hours from DC-2 hours from Raleigh (no one flies out of Richmond $$$)

Over all I like it. I'm staying and we could REALLY use your vote.

[underpants]

6. PS- see this site

http://richmond.com/

[smiley_glad_hands]

11. I refuse to shop at Ukrops.

Its too pretentious.

[WMliberal]

41. ukrops opened in Williamsburg while I was at W&M

went there a couple of times. CREEPY!
No alcohol sold. Closed sundays. Closes at 10pm every other day of the week.
Christian subliminal messages EVERYWHERE. Good example: In the checkout line, the only mylar balloons for sale have Xtian messages on them. Obviously they're not intending to sell many of them, but more to keep them floating at the checkout line so you can read the Bible while you wait.
The owners are VERY Republican. One (Barbara Ukrop) sits on the Board of Visitors at W&M; appointed by Gilmore. Any family that's friends of Gilmore...

[underpants]

42. Yeah they are going to Roanoke too

I have never seen THAT much Christian stuff at a Ukrops :scared:

[WMliberal]

44. at least I'm in Chesapeake. Ukrops is terrified of expanding here

and in NoVA. Too much competition from better grocery stores. I like my Harris Teeter and the Fresh Market.

[arcane1]

46. FUCK Ukrops

'nuff said

[NewJeffCT]

13. thanks

I'll give the person a call back...

BTW - I plugged Ashland into realtor.com and it came back with homes in Hanover?

I'll check out Henrico as well.

[underpants]

16. Hanover is pretty nice actually

and you HAVE to have one of their Tomatoes! :eyes:

BONUS- if you are a white preacher from a good church you can leave your three year old in an SUV for 8 hours and only get slapped with a misdemeanor (jusry decided yesterday).

[Midlodemocrat]

25. Underpants, that is just plain mean

didn't you feel a little bit sorry for the guy? I mean, I think the guilt would be punishment enough.

[underpants]

26. Yes I did

Sorry I REALLY need to stop listening to that local idiot on WRVA on the way home (I have gotten on the show twice though).

I felt sorry for him but it was his fault.

[Midlodemocrat]

28. Agreed.

I honestly don't know how you could forget your own child in the backseat, especially a Durango because the seats sit higher.

[commander bunnypants]

27. i know

he is in his own hell. but he deserved a harsher verdict

CB

[smiley_glad_hands]

17. Ashland is in Hanover County.

Another suburb of Richmond.

[commander bunnypants]

49. I live in Henrico

it is more purple than anything. Nice areas and very nice areas. I got a four bedroom for 159k

CB

[Midlodemocrat]

19. Me, too. I love living here.

[NewJeffCT]

39. Thanks

I looked up Chesterfield, VA and realtor.com and it did not seem that cheap compared to where I live in Connecticut. Cheaper yes, but not that much cheaper. It seems like the school system in the "Midlothian" area is pretty good, as is "Clover Hill"...

And, again, this is just before I tell the recruiter that I am interested... it has not even gotten to the full interview stage yet. I just wanted to know if the Richmond area is worth pursuing.

[Zomby Woof]

4. It sucks

Virginia sucks. Stay away. And yes, there will be those flags, shotguns, AND "Dale Earnhardt" worship stickers. :puke:

[Squatch]

7. I've lived here for 2.5 years and I love it.

It's a great state. My only complaint is that people can't drive for shit down here.

[underpants]

8. Oh yeah WAY to slow

I am personally shocked that there aren't more road rage shootings in Carytown-especially at lunch time.

[Squatch]

12. The only worse drivers I've seen are Italians or South Koreans

But, like those 2 countries, you take your life into your hands when you drive down here.

[Midlodemocrat]

20. Here, here.

[Zomby Woof]

9. It sucks ass

I lived in VA for over 12 years. Not only are the drivers suck-ass, but the majority of idiots are freeper turds. Ignorance reigns supreme. I have lived in 5 states and 2 countries, and VA remains the festering armpit of them all.

[underpants]

10. Yeah but you lived in Tidewater right?

The thing about Tidewater is....NONE OF THEM ARE FROM VA. all military or govt. teet suckers

[smiley_glad_hands]

23. I'm originally from the Tidewater area.

Hampton Roads/Norfolk/Va Bch, I have a large family there and we only have 2 voting republicans. The rest are voting dems I'd rather live there than Richmond. Like you said all the bands just pass right on through Richmond and go to Va Beach. Don't let Pat Robertson fool you. Va Beach is a partying town, and so is Norfolk.

[Zomby Woof]

30. LOL - I lived there for a LONG time

My experience is my experience and I stand by it. Yours is yours.

No denying the Pat Robertson influence. Never in my life have I gone to school or worked with so many fundie creeps as I did there, and the military influence was null and void as far as that goes. Those creeps were everywhere.

I also hate that Va Beach has so many churches you couldn't shit without touching one. I have been there as a visitor in the past few years, so my opinion remains unvarnished.

It was nice living in WA - the 49th ranked state in churches per capita.

[smiley_glad_hands]

36. Its all good.

There's no place like home spose.

[Squatch]

14. Nah, I don't think so

Besides shitty drivers, you CANNOT find decent produce anywhere down here.

Other than those 2 things, the beach is beautiful, the mountains are beautiful, the arts are up and coming, Dems are more and more prevalent (the Virginian Pilot endorsed Kerry....in Norfolk, of all places!). Sure, we have our share of inbreds, but who doesn't?

[Zomby Woof]

18. I know the place well

Lived in VA Beach for over 12 years, and hated the Va Pravda paper.

The beach is UGLY and AWFUL. No offense dude, but have you been to other beaches?? :wtf:

We made fun of the locals and rooted for the jellyfish and sharks.

Erosion, pollution, excessive seaweed, tackiness, dank, brown... awful.

Locals preferred heading to the Outer Banks of Carolina. Slightly better, with better surfing too.

[Squatch]

22. Let me be clear...

I do not enjoy the ocean-front beach...I avoid that at all costs, but not because of those things you mentioned. I am just not into the whole "Venice-beach-esque" people down there. I prefer to head off to Croatan, Dam Neck, Sandbridge, or the Back Bay NWR.

I've had some beautiful days on those beaches.

I do enjoy it here, but truth be told, I am still trying to convince my wife to let us move back to Washington state.

[Goathead]

51. False Cape State Park is awesome

Opps... I don't want to say that to loud and spoil it. That place is a true gem. The profusion of wildlife down there is amazing. Wild horses, sea turtles, whales, bald eagles... it is amazing that there is a wilderness like area within the confines of one of the fastest growing cities on the East Coast.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

29. I visited my friend in VA Beach a few summers back

her family has a house there. Compared to Cape Cod and most NEw England beaches, VA BEach was pretty gross. I'll take the Outer Banks or any Mass beach over VA Beach.

[Goathead]

50. You didn't go to the right beach

The tourist beaches suck from 5th St. to about 40th St. there is a palisade of hotels that block the sunlight at around three oclock in the afternoon. I always suspected that "they" planned it that way so people would get off the beach and go to the tacky tourist shops when the sun stopped shining, like when Mr Burns "stole" the sunlight in "The Simpsons". The beaches up at around 70th St. to 80th St. are really good wide beaches with sand dunes and beach cottage style homes.

[underpants]

52. Yep the higher street numbers are the place to go

Lots of fun and no hassle from cops.

[Goathead]

53. Zomby, where in Va Beach did you live?

[Goathead]

47. I was born and raised in Va Beach

I like VA a lot. There is so much history there. Va Beach kinda did suck, during the seventies it was pretty cool, it wasn't as crowded as it is now. Now it is jammed packed. The Appalachian Trail goes through Va. and the mountains of Virginia are awesome.

[demnan]

5. My God!

Don't do it! There's something in the water that corrodes your ability to think there! Many of my cousins are victims. As a result they listen to Rush Limbaugh and join the Sons of the Confederacy.

I think Underpants and Commander Bunnypants must drink exclusively bottled water to remain sane there!

[Zomby Woof]

15. I knew lots of locals too

Of course, it was heavily military, but there were plenty of lifers there. My liberal friends were all military brats (either enlisted brats like me or the black sheep of officers' kids), and my more right-leaning acquaintanceds were natives. One was born in Culpeper, another in Fredericksburg. They loved Reagan and guns.

I had a good friend in college from Richmond. She voted Republican once she got a job with Philip Morris. I have tried to enlighten her over the years, but she thinks with her wallet and is generally self-centered.

Sorry dude, but just know I don't lump you with the others. I have Virginian heritage on my TN side of the family, in addition to living there for 12.5 out of 15 years time throughout the 70's and 80's.

[commander bunnypants]

24. nope vodka and bourbon

it is not a bad place.. lots of history. smack dab between the ocean and mountains. lots of assholes and lots of nice people..

PM me

cb

[Midlodemocrat]

21. I came here from CT

Monroe, actually when my husband transferred. The cost of living is amazing. You can get a four bedroom house for $150,000 or less. If you are a homeowner in CT, you should be able to sell your house and get a McMansion down here. Additionally, the schools in my part of Chesterfield are excellent. Be prepared however, they are demanding. My three kids all went to the same elementary school and did very well, I still have an eight year old there. We can walk to the school, so that is nice. If you would like, you could PM me and I would be happy to show you and your spouse around if you are seriously considering it. I also know a couple of really good realtors.

[VaYallaDawg]

31. Lived here all my life (64 yrs).

Traveled all over the world, and love many, many cities but I still wouldn't want to live anywhere else - not just because of family connections either, most of them are dead now. It's not perfect, but if I knew a place that was perfect I'd be there in a flash.

You'll probably be taken by surprise, though, the first time your kids come home and start saying "sir" and "ma'am". It just somehow comes with the territory.

Personally I don't know anyone who has a Confed. flag in their pickup truck, I don't know anyone who worships snakes, and I don't know anyone (at least I hope not) who believes human rights should be restricted to one race or another. There are probably just as many good people and bad people here as anywhere else. Midlo is right about the cost of real estate here, you'll be flabbergasted when you see what you can get for the dollars compared to CT.

Come on down - the other responder was right - we need the votes!!! And welcome!!!

[smiley_glad_hands]

33. Follow up to Midlo

If you wanna build a house and need onsite wastewater treatment, let me know---I'll help you out too.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

32. Don't Do It

CT has one of the best public school systems in the country. Yeah, the cost of living is high but you're half way between NYC and Boston. You are near some of the most beautiful beaches in the country, near some good skiing and don't forget about the gorgeous falls up here! And you can actually get decent coffee and a green salad (mesclun-not iceberg) in CT! I have friends who moved down South for cheaper cost of living, more house for your money, etc., and all they do is complain about the shitty schools.

One of my friend's sons starts at Hotchkiss next fall, because the high schools in GA are full of faux-Christian values. IF you're Catholic or Jewish, you may encounter discrimination.

[VaYallaDawg]

34. Kathy, if you're Catholic or Jewish

or Black, or Gay, or a person with a disability, or whatever, you can face discrimination just as easily in CT as you can anywhere else. And besides, GA is definitely NOT VA.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

40. I think the population up here isn't as homogeneous

so people are more used of immigrants, different religions, etc. The Northeast is the most densely populated area of the country, so people have had to learn to basically get a long on some level.

You're right though-GA isn't VA. But there is still a certain attitude toward Yankees, even in VA (except NoVA, which is full of people from up here).

[NewJeffCT]

35. I'm not Catholic or Jewish - but -

Though I'm of Catholic descent, my wife & I are both atheists, and she is not white... I think atheism may be lower on the totem pole down South than being black, but I'm not sure. The only time we've been in to church this century was when we went to the local Chinese church in West Hartford, CT to see if we could find any Chinese friends for my visiting mother-in-law, who spoke very little English.

We have a lot to keep us in Connecticut - all of my family is here (my wife's family is all in China...) and our public school systems are pretty good. We just had some cousins move back to Connecticut from 10 years in the Charlottesville area.

[Midlodemocrat]

43. I'm Catholic

and have never encountered discrimination here. We have a very large church and most of the people in my neighborhood are Catholic. This section of Chesterfield has so many transplants, it is like living up North. I don't know one person who is from Virginia.

[Midlodemocrat]

48. Actually, the schools my children attend

are way ahead of the schools that my cousin's kids go to. Same ages/sexes and they appear to be about a year behind.

[SarahB]

37. I spent some time in Chesapeake about a year and a half ago.

They have big bugs there. :P

Actually, I'd agree with KathyinCambridge about Connecticut and the schools (even in terms of the quantities of universities within a 100 mile radius). There's a lot to offer here and where you are (and I am) isn't even, in cost of living terms, that bad compared to areas like Fairfield County for example. No, it's not like some parts of the south (less than 10 years ago, I had an uncle in Georgia who had a 6 bedroom, four thousand square foot home for just over $200,000, but they moved because the schools sucked). You might get more for your buck in some ways, but also perhaps less bucks as well.

[WoodrowFan]

38. Avoid Virginia (except for the very Northern tip)

I'd avoid Virginia, except for the very northern tip next to DC. We have great schools and lots of Dems (the two seem to go together). Not that they are not nice parts in the state but, damn, it'll be culture shock moving from New England.

Charlottesville is nice too....

[arcane1]

45. I had NO IDEA

that there were so many DUers from VA :hi:

I was born & raised in Richmond, and after 30+ years of living there, I moved to San Francisco without having even so much as read a brochure on the place.

That pretty much says it all

Richmond has some good things about it, lots of history, Colonial Williamsburg, my entire family (except me) is still there (since the 1600's), and lots of companies relocate there too. However, it is, most definitely, the Confederacy

Think twice before you decide

then think a 3rd time

on edit- there is also that little annoyance of having to buy all of your liquor from the government there... and the ABC stores close at 9.

Liquor must be bought from the government, but fortunately you CAN own your own gun store :eyes: