Malvern Gardens - Richmond, VA

The city of Richmond owes its start to its location on the James River, where the falls stopped upstream traffic as early English settlers expanded from coastal Virginia. Tobacco became the region’s primary industry, making fortunes for many.

Richmond was important during the American Revolution and Civil War. A vibrant African-American culture established itself here after Emancipation.

Richmond neighborhoods gradually moved westward from downtown, and architecture reflects the dates of expansion. The neighborhood of Malvern Gardens was built mostly during the mid-1900s.

Several area museums give insight into the area’s history, including the Virginia Center for Architecture, the Valentine Museum, the White House of the Confederacy and the Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site. Arts and theater thrive downtown, with nearby University of Richmond providing cultural entertainment for the West End, including Arts Around the Lake and the Annual International Film Festival.

Stella’s, situated conveniently right in the Malvern Gardens neighborhood, has been a Richmond favorite for decades, serving generous portions of authentic Greek food. For a taste of the Mediterranean, go for the traditional moussaka, tender layers of sautéed eggplant and spiced ground beef baked with béchamel and topped with grated cheese. Better yet, order the pikilia sampler platter, with pork souvlaki, spanakopita, dolmades and more. Local favorites include the number five pasta, baked tube pasta with feta cheese and meat or marinara sauce; juicy braised lamb shank; avgolemono, traditional Greek egg lemon soup with chicken and rice; and the saganaki, flaming kefalograviera cheese. During limited weekday hours, Stella’s features mezze, Greek-style tapas, so you and your party can sample several items. Because of Stella’s local popularity, be sure to make reservations, come early or be prepared for a wait.

Other local restaurants cluster around Carytown, Willow Lawn and the Patterson and Libbie avenues shopping area.

A blend of wine shop and dinnertime café, Barrel Thief on Patterson Avenue features fresh, creative dishes, casual yet flavorful, to pair with the finest of wines. Charcuterie includes pâté, smoked duck breast and cheese from around the world. For sandwiches, you could order a locally made Sausage Craft sausage or a grilled cauliflower and mushroom sandwich with red lentil hummus. Snacks include the warm crab dip and pimento cheese.

Palani Drive on Libbie focuses on serving healthy, fresh, made-from-scratch food, created from original recipes and made-to-order. For a delicious, virtuous meal, go for the jalapeños stuffed with smoked sausage and cheddar, vegetarian white bean chili, black bean burger, luau tropical salad, bison burger or the generous Palani burrito.

For after-dinner entertainment, choose from popular nearby bars and breweries, live music and performing arts. Raise a toast at Toast, located on Three Chopt Road, for new American dining and a solid selection of craft beers and cocktails; The Blue Goat on Grove Avenue, with fine wines, rotating beer taps, and beer dinners; and Babe’s in Carytown for a gay-friendly vibe plus drinks, live music, and dancing. Local breweries, such as Strangeways Brewing, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Ardent Craft Ales, and Isley Brewing, are open in the early hours of the evening. They serve their beer and often feature live music.

Several venues west of downtown provide a diversity of nationally known and local music acts, including the University of Richmond’s Modlin Center for the Arts, The National, Capital Ale House and Cary Street Café. The University of Richmond also presents dance and theatrical performances throughout the season. Westhampton Theater plays recently released movies, with a focus on art films.

Residents of the Malvern Gardens neighborhood most commonly use automobiles for transportation. Public parking is free and available along all of the roads. The Richmond highway system can be accessed from Interstate 195, which lies conveniently at the edge of the neighborhood.

The main roads, including Patterson Avenue and Monument Avenue, have sidewalks and are wide enough to accommodate bikes, but they do not have bike lanes. Side streets are wide enough for cars, pedestrians and bikers. However, since few businesses lie in close proximity to the residences, Malvern Gardens isn’t a walkable neighborhood.

The GRTC Transit System provides public transportation for the city. Cabs can be hailed by phone. Uber is also an option.

Malvern Gardens is nearly equidistant between two popular city parks, Bryan Park and Byrd Park.

Historic Bryan Park in Richmond’s Northside hosts a serene lake, a large azalea garden bursting with blooms each spring, picnic shelters, disc golf course, sand volleyball court, and trails for running and biking. Dogs are not allowed, and there are no entrance fees.

Bryan Park is the site of a monthly morning bird walk, hosted by the Audubon Society, on the first Sunday of each month. The park also hosts the annual Richmond Vegetarian Festival, an energetic blend of natural food, vendors, nonprofits, entertainment, speakers and music.

Byrd Park, just south of Carytown, features lakes for fishing and pedal boat rides, self-lighted tennis courts, a year-round Vita course exercise trail, picnic shelters, a children’s playground, Barker Field dog playground and more. The park’s 240-foot-high carillon bell tower was erected in the 1920s as a memorial to Virginia’s World War I service members. You can take in carillon concerts on veteran-related holidays. The park welcomes leashed pets and charges no fees for park activities or parking.

Other regular events at Byrd Park include the popular Fourth of July concert and fireworks; Festival of the Arts, featuring music, theater, dance and kid-centered performances throughout the summer at Dogwood Dell Amphitheater and Ha’Penny Stage; and Arts in the Park, a nationally rated, juried exhibit of art and crafts available for enjoyment and purchase.

The cost of living in Malvern Gardens is on par with the Richmond city average. Median rent for a one-bedroom residence hovers around $839. The Monument Avenue/Patterson Avenue route on the GRTC Transit System bus goes directly downtown, so a one-way ride costs $1.50. Gas prices run about eight percent less than the national average.

The price for a beer at a local pub begins at $2.25 for domestics and $3.50 for craft beer on tap during happy hour. Apart from happy hour, beer prices typically range up to $4.50 to $7 for specialty craft beers.

Except for a few small stores on Lafayette Street, there are no shops in Malvern Gardens. However, Carytown and Willow Lawn both lie about a mile away.

Carytown, the self-proclaimed “mile of style,” offers a broad range of shops, restaurants and services. Value-focused Carytown shops include the Goodwill Second Debut upscale thrift store and a home fashions consignment store. Specialty shops service photographers, bicyclists and runners. AlterNatives provides a way to shop for creative, handmade goods while supporting indigenous international artisans. Products include textiles and clothing, jewelry, pottery and handbags.

Willow Lawn features many national names, such as Old Navy, Staples, Radioshack, Ross, Claire’s, and Rack Room Shoes. It also hosts some locally-owned stores. After shopping, pick up some made-to-order donuts at Duck Donuts or pick up a smoothie at the Tropical Smoothie Café.

Nearby supermarkets include Martin’s and Kroger in Carytown and Kroger at Willow Lawn. Two markets in Carytown, locally owned Ellwood Thompson’s Natural Market and Fresh Market, feature natural and organic foods, from carefully chosen meats and fresh produce to organic packaged foods and kitchen-prepared meals.

South of the James is a year-round, open-air farmers’ market. Richmond hosts many farmers’ markets during the warm weather only as well. Local farmers and artisans set up their booths at Forest Hill Park every Saturday, from 9 a.m. to noon during the cold months and 8 a.m. to noon during the warm months, from May through November.