McGuire - Richmond, VA

On the south bank of the James River, across from the early settlement of Richmond, the city of Manchester arose. Neighborhoods spread west and upriver from Manchester, eventually reaching the area now known as McGuire. Two main roads took travelers from Manchester through this neighborhood, Route 10 and Belt Boulevard.

The eponymous McGuire Veterans Administration Hospital lies on the site of an early racetrack. The hospital was named after a prominent South Richmond physician, Dr. Hunter McGuire, the personal physician to a Confederate leader during the Civil War, Major General Stonewall Jackson.

This area was annexed by the City of Richmond in 1970.

The area’s museums and arts scene lie east in Manchester and across the river in downtown Richmond, such as the Richmond Railroad Museum and Art Works galleries. Popular annual festivals include Friday Cheers on Brown’s Island, Richmond Folk Festival and Fridays at Sunset.

The McGuire neighborhood hosts casual dining, some with a touch of Southern soul as well as international flavor, with a few fast-food restaurants in the mix.

For authentic, New York style pizza, look no further than Dante’s Pizza. The cheese is rich and thick, the toppings are generous and bursting with flavor and the sauce is a delicate blend of tomato and herbs, while the crust is the perfect base to hold it all together. Subs come highly recommended by the locals, too, specifically the Philly cheesesteak, the pepperoni cheesesteak and the turkey-club sub with bacon and Provolone.

Queen’s International focuses on Jamaican cuisine. Local favorites spicy curry chicken and jerk chicken come with cabbage, which can serve to cool off the heat of the spices. Other Jamaican dishes include calaloo and saltfish, oxtail and fried plantains. A few Southern dishes make it on the menu: potato salad, bread pudding and boiled dumplings.

Taqueria el Tacorrey gets rave reviews from all over Richmond, so don’t let the unassuming food truck ambiance scare you away. The authentic Mexican food made with fresh ingredients makes you feel like you’ve just crossed the border. Choose from chicken, steak, pork or chorizo for your meats. The al pastor spit-grilled pulled pork marinates in pineapple and a special blend of spices before reaching your take-away platter. The tacos are generously filled and topped with cilantro, onion, salt and lime. Burritos are huge and tostadas are crisp. Go for the red sauce if you dare to put the chile de árbol peppers to the heat test. El Tacorrey is cash only, so be prepared.

Fast-food options here include Wendy’s, McDonald’s and KFC.

For evening entertainment, head over to La Pirraya, Salvadoran food and nightlife, with cocktails, beer and live music. Happy hour from 6 to 10 pm features a bucket of six imported beers for $20.

Other music options include O’Toole’s, with local acoustic bands Friday and Saturday nights, and The Forest Restaurant, featuring a jukebox, cheap drinks and food sufficient to absorb the alcohol in a dive-bar atmosphere.

Automobiles are the most common mode of transportation in the neighborhood, with plenty of residents supplementing by foot and bus travel. The proximity to basic retail and services, sidewalks along the main roads and traffic lights at major intersections make McGuire walkable. There are no biking lanes along the roads, so bikers ride at their own risk.

The GRTC Transit System provides bus stops along the McGuire’s main routes, Belt Boulevard, Broad Rock Boulevard and Hull Street, making downtown and other areas of the city accessible. Taxicabs can be hailed by phone. Uber services the Richmond area as well.

McGuire has no shortage of parking, all free. The nearest expressway lies about 3 miles away, on either side of McGuire.

Located in a bucolic urban setting just two miles from McGuire, Forest Hill Park provides passive recreation as well as regular entertainment. The historic park was once a quarry, an estate and, in the first few decades of the 20th century, an amusement park. Remnants of the park’s history still greet visitors.

At the park, you can stroll around the quiet little lake, play tennis, picnic or watch your kids romp on the playground. Paved pathways and wooded trails host hikers, trail runners and bikers. And when it snows (not a common Richmond occurrence), the hills are popular for sledding. As at all city parks, parking and admission are free. Leashed dogs are welcome.

During the summer, Forest Hill Park hosts Sunday in the Park, with live music and vendors. The South of the James market is held here year-round.

Just past Forest Hill Park, between Riverside Drive and the river, lies the James River Park System, hosting miles of nature, paths and trails, shoreline and water. The single-track trails are popular with serious mountain bikers and trail runners. On the river, you can go rafting, paddling, fishing, tubing, swimming or rock-hopping.

Other activities await at Byrd Park, just across the James River via the Boulevard Bridge, including an annual Fourth of July concert and fireworks, Festival of the Arts events throughout the summer and Arts in the Park. Byrd Park also hosts the popular Vitacourse exercise trail. Parking and admission are free. Leashed dogs are welcome, or take your four-pawed friend to Barker Field dog playground and let it run free.

The McGuire community cost of living is lower than the Richmond city average cost. A domestic lager costs about $2 at happy hour prices. Gas prices hover around 8 percent below the national average cost.

GRTC buses cost $1.50 to get to city center. The route goes directly downtown, with no transfers needed.

Convenient shopping centers lie directly across Hull Street Road from the residential area of McGuire, including Southside Plaza and Circle Plaza Shopping Center. Value stores predominate here: Family Dollar, Good Samaritan Thrift Store, Shoe City, and more.

For artsy, boutique shopping, head east on Hull Street to Art Works. In the five spacious galleries, you can watch artists at work and browse their creations, picking out personal treasures or gifts for loved ones: sculptures, paintings, jewelry, pottery, and other handmade goods. Fourth Fridays present new exhibits as well as an artist reception, free and open to the public. Kids can take Saturday art classes to explore their creative sides.

Easy biking distance from here, about two miles away, is a targeted Richmond specialty shop, Coqui Cyclery. The passionate staff of Coqui is anxious to help riders find their perfect bike, for tackling the trails or riding on the roads. The store stocks more than 80 bicycles, from a kid’s first bike to a state-of-the-art competitor's bike. Coqui even offers test rides, with Richmond’s mountain biking trails just across the street.

Budget and specialty supermarkets are the rule in McGuire, with a Save-a-Lot and Community Super Market just over Hull Street. A couple of miles west lies a Food Lion grocery store, for greater product selection.

The neighborhood lies conveniently close to one of the city’s best farmers’ markets, too. South of the James Market, there are farmers and artisans, every Saturday morning throughout the year, selling fresh produce, meats, jams and jellies, baked goods and even arts and crafts. It’s a great way to eat healthy and support the community.