Living with kids in the Arts District A list of fun ways to keep your kids happy, entertained and involved in the community while living in Downtown Richmond. Richmond Public Library: Provide your child with endless fun and knowledge by taking them to get their very own library card at the Richmond Public Library. The Main Library is located on East Franklin street in downtown Richmond and is the largest of the Richmond Public Library locations. All of the locations offer fun and enriching children’s programming on a regular basis. They offer book lists that helps recommend books for differen ..read more

Richmond is the ultimate summer or weekend destination. The best way to do as much traveling as possible is to master the day-trip. Being able to fully enjoy a destination in one day will guarantee you plenty of memories and action while not taking a huge chunk of time out of your life. There is plenty to fill your day with in one day, you just have to come in with a game plan because there is also enough activities to last you for a whole year. As Richmond locals here at Bar Solita we have compiled a list of pros and cons of visiting Richmond for the day.  Pros ..read more

By: Emma North As the name suggests, First Fridays is held on the first Friday of each month. Whether it’s gallery, shop, or bar hopping you can do it all during First Fridays. There is so much to do you might not even have to walk inside of most places to have a good time.  “Don’t just stick to the art museums on broad, first fridays also includes live performances in the side streets and outside areas,” said Richmond resident and First Fridays frequenter, Katie Boller.  We are here to give you our insiders guide to attending First Fridays. Whether you come early, stay late or both we know yo ..read more

By: Emma North It’s a new age for happy hours! If you are a big fan of discounted food and drinks then you have probably attended a happy hour. Before July 1, 2019 it was illegal for bars and restaurants to advertise their happy hour specials. Now prices, drink types, and hours as well fun happy hour slogans can be made readily available to prospective customers and can also be promoted. Happy hour advertisements can be posted through  flyers, posters, social media and their website. With the changes in laws some restaurants like Bar Solita and Chez Foushee are even revamping their happy hours ..read more

By: Emma North If you have a dog, you are familiar with the devastated look they give you every time you leave the house without them. Unfortunately you can’t always take your dog everywhere with you but when you can you want to make sure they are happy and comfortable. Try bringing your dog to the Arts District for a day full of fun for both of you. The Arts District has everything your dog could want; places to walk, savory snacks, places to go to the bathroom, and a comfy bed to curl up in. There are also plenty of things on this list you could do without a dog or maybe now is the time to g ..read more

A snippet of West Broad Street. Broad Street runs through the center of the Richmond Arts District. By: Emma North Here at Bar Solita we decided to start a neighborhood blog highlighting all of the awesome things happening here in the Arts District. There are so many things to eat, see and do here we don’t want anyone to miss anything. Our restaurant is located right in the heart of the Arts District making it so easy to make a day out of your brunch, lunch, or dinner trip. You can stop by here at Bar Solita and grab a map of the distric ..read more

Retail Spotlight By: Emma North “I love to look at the inside of clothes and see everything so beautifully finished,” said Deborah Boschen, owner of the clothing store Verdalina. “This is just the stuff that excites me… I love something like this that’s crisp, and classic.”  Verdalina owner, Deborah Boschen shows off a dress from a Japanese designer. As Deborah Boschen holds up and explains her current favorite piece of clothing from her store you can tell that not on ..read more

Retail Spotlight By: Emma North Audie McDougall’s store Someday is a sustainable shop with a home-grown aesthetic. She tries to fill her store with goods that tell a story. These goods tell her story in particular, using inspiration from her parents and following her own style and sustainability goals McDougall has created a unique shopping experience in the Richmond Arts District. Vintage goods, high quality sustainable items, and vivacious plants all meet inside Someday.  Macrame wall hangings hang behind a tree in the fr ..read more

 It seems like there is a “national day” for everything from National Talk like a Pirate Day to National Penpal Day there is almost nothing that goes unrecognized. Various foods seem to have especially popular national days. For instance, National Mac and Cheese Day on July 14th or National Peanut Butter Jelly day on April 2nd. These little recognitions make everyday a holiday and can help give you a reason to celebrate the little things. The huge variety of restaurants in the Richmond Arts District make it easy to celebrate these national food days! Here is a list of all of the days you can c ..read more

  – by Emma North You never seem to forget Mother’s Day but most years Father’s Day can just sneak up on you! All dads are different and luckily the Richmond Arts District has something for your dad no matter what his age, taste or style is. For the stylish dad,A dress shirt from Ledbury is the perfect gift for any stylish father. If your dad is the kind of man that dresses even nicer than you do or at the very least always matches his outfits for work then a masterfully crafted Ledbury shirt may be the perfect gift for hi ..read more