This is the Best Thing About Richmond
BY ALIE MCARDLE
While Richmond is considered a small town to some, within the confines of our region there are a myriad of subcultures, which offer the ease of finding a new community and making new friends and acquaintances. As a society, we’re experiencing a loneliness epidemic, with an uptick in social media addiction, making exploring the different groups around RVA especially enticing.
Want to reinvent yourself? Looking to meet new people? Just moved to the city? Getting bored of the same old same old? Choose whatever hobby you’re interested in next and get out there.
Here are just some of the many subcultures to dip your toes into and get you out of bed each morning.
For outdoorsy folks
Run clubs
Runners high is no joke — it’s a real phenomenon. A runner's high is a brief, intense feeling of euphoria that some people experience after a long, intense workout. And there are whole groups of people meeting and running together.
Here are two established groups in RVA:
And here’s a whole list of running groups to check out if the above don’t fit your schedule.
Water sport groups
I’m sure you’ve heard this stat time and time again, but I’m here to say it once more: Richmond is the only city in the United States with Class IV whitewater rapids within its city limits. And those who enjoy being on the water are a group of fun, welcoming, adventurous folks.
There are a few different ways to get involved and meet people that fit into this subculture. You can take whitewater guide training, learn the skills you need for swift water rescue, or join general kayaking classes to meet people in the same boat as you (pun intended).
There are these other ways to jump in and meet people as well if you’re a more established boater:
Check out James River Women on instagram to get involved with empowering women enjoying all the river offers.
Check out the James River Outdoor Coalition to get involved with various activities and events.
Rock climbing opps
Rock climbing has a reputation for only being for the thrill-seekers, but this simply isn’t true. While bouldering requires focus and a certain level of skill, top-roping is easier to mentally prepare for if you’re trying this sport for the first time.
Triangle Rock Club and Peak Experiences are both climbing gyms with an exceptionally welcoming community. I’ve made friends simply by going to the gym and chatting people up. There are also bulletin boards with posted comment cards for people seeking belay partners and climbing friends.
TRC even hosts events to meet people, like Women on the Wall and other community events.
For artsy folks
Writers groups
If you’re a writer or aspiring writer, what better way to hone your skills and surround yourself with other creative thinkers than joining a writing group?
Here are a just few ways to do that around RVA:
Music scenes & open mics
Music lovers often find each other. There’s something special about seeing the same people at concerts and open mics — it’s a great place to find like-minded friends. Strangeways has open blues nights on Thursdays, Reveler Experiences has open jazz and karaoke nights, Kava Club has various music-centric events, and Three Notch’d hosts open mic nights, too.
See more spots here.
Art clubs
Heal your inner child and let your creativity flow with other artists in RVA. There are so many classes and clubs to join, including here:
For social folks
Vegan Club
Lauren Z Ray started Vegan Club recently and so far, it’s brought people with the same beliefs together for shared meals. If you’re vegan or just interested in veganism, attending one of her events is a great start to making new friends.
Book clubs
Did you read voraciously as a child only to fall off as you grew up? Or maybe you want to branch out of the genres you typically reach for? Check out one of these many book clubs around RVA:
Game nights
Bring out the snacks and brews for game nights in RVA. Groups around Richmond are welcoming and if you need some external stimuli in a semi-competitive space, you might get a lot out of attending a game night.
Here are just some spots that offer game nights around RVA:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alie is a content writer/copywriter/adrenaline junkie on the hunt for the best spicy margarita in town (any recs?). She runs run a boutique writing agency specializing in search engine optimized blogs and copywriting for businesses and believes in the four-day workweek, experiencing all that life has to offer, and pushing her limits. When Alie’s not wordsmithing, She’s probably daydreaming or involved in some activity.
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