Carytown (Richmond)

[http://www.carytown.org/index.htm Carytown] is an urban retail district lining Cary Street at the southern end of the Museum District in Richmond, Virginia. The district includes over 300 shops, restaurants, and offices. Located near The Fan District, the district is known for having a bohemian flair. The area has thrived as a center for high-end, independent retail shops and boutiques, and is also home to one of the city's most beloved institutions, the Byrd Theatre, a restored movie palace that has operated continuously since 1928 and shows second-run films for a famous $2 ticket price. The district is also known to have a significant gay and lesbian population, is host to the annual Carytown Watermelon Festival, and is also host to the annual new years eve ball raising above the byrd theatre.

Some Carytown shops are open seven days a week, but most are opened from 10:00 am to 6:00pm Monday through Saturday. As seasons change or holidays are approaching, shop hours increase.

History

The Cary Court shopping center was built in the 1930s and opened for business in 1938. It was Richmond's first shopping center and took hold of the people of Richmond very quickly. This group of stores was especially popular due to the "park and shop" nature it had. As more shops developed on the surrounding property, the entire area became bustling with customers and even tourists.

Many of the shops in Carytown are located in historical buildings. This gives Carytown an older feel to it, and it also shows preservation of history. The buildings had to be repaired and restored after decades in which they were damaged.

The Virginia Department of Historic Resources gives recognition to the Carytown shopping district for its major influence in Virginia's commercial development in the twentieth century.

hops & Merchants

Antiques:Ruth Joffre (3135 W. Cary St., 804.254.3511):Sheppard Street Antiques (103 S. Sheppard St., 804.355.7454):Thomas-Hines Antiques (3027 W. Cary St., 804.355.2782)Apparel, Shoes, Accessories:Bang-On (3035 W. Cary St., 804.359.2264): [http://www.sweetclementine.com Clementine] (3118 W. Cary St., 804.358.2357): [http://www.dominionskateboards.com Dominion Skateboard] (3008 W. Cary St., 804.359.7384): [http://ellmansdancewear.com Ellman's Dancewear] (3339 W. Cary St., 804.358.0655) : [http://www.shopeurotrash.com Eurotrash] (3009 W. Cary St., 804.622.EURO): [http://www.itshiptoberound.com It's Hip to be Round] (3463 W. Cary St., 804.340.1700): [http://www.lexsofcarytown.com Lex's of Carytown] (3020 W. Cary St., 804.355.5425): [http://needsupplyco.com Need Supply Co.] (3010 W. Cary St., 804.355.5880):Raylene's Pennyrich (3016 W. Cary St., 804.358.7313):Philosophie (3132 W. Cary St., 804.355.3102):The Phoenix (3039 W. Cary St., 804.354.0711): [http://www.pinkstore.com Pink] (3158 W. Cary St., 804.358.0884): [http://www.premierecostumes.com Premiere Inc.] (3339 W. Cary St., 804.355.3887): [http://www.quebella.net Que Bella] (3105 W. Cary St., 804.249.6110): [http://www.goodwillcva.org Second Debut] (3114 W. Cary St., 804.254.7623):Shirtfresh Inc. (3037 W. Cary St., 804.833-.6887)Beauty and Personal Care: [http://www.atlantictanning.net Atlantic Tanning] (3208-A W. Cary St., 804.353.5300) : [http://www.levisagestudio.com Le Visage Makeup Boutique] (3007 W. Cary St., 804.360.7186):Look Boutique Salon (3202 W. Cary St., 804.355,5725):Salon Vivace (3426 W. Cary St., 804.353.1697) Fitness: [http://www.carytownbicyclecompany.com Carytown Bicycle Company] (3224 W. Cary St., 804.440.2453): [http://www.roadrunnerstore.com Road Runner Running Store] (3222 W. Cary St., 804.353.8365)Entertainment and Recreation: [http://www.getallfiredup.com All Fired Up] (3311 W. Cary St., 804.355.3412): [http://www.blueoasisaudio.biz Blue Oasis Audio] (3137 W. Cary St., 804.278.6790): [http://www.byrdtheatre.com The Byrd Theatre] (2908 W. Cary St., 804.353.9911): [http://www.carytowndollsandbears.com Carytown Dolls & Bears] (3457 W. Cary St., 804.204.1545): [http://www.cncbooks.com Creatures 'n Crooks Bookshoppe] (3156 W. Cary St., 804.340.0277): [http://www.worldofmirth.com World of Mirth] (3005 W. Cary St., 804.353.8991): [http://www.theyarnlounge.com The Yarn Lounge] (3003 W. Cary St., 804.340.2880)Food, Dining, Wine:Babe's Restaurant (3166 W. Cary St., 804.355.9330): [http://www.benjerry.com/carytown Ben & Jerry's] (2901 W Cary St., 804.359.1101):Bin 22 @ Betsy's (3200 W. Cary St., 804.358.4501): [http://www.cancanbrasserie.com Can Can Brasserie] (3120 W. Cary St., 804.358.7274): [http://www.completecateringonline.com Complete Catering] (25-27 N. Belmont Ave., 804.355.7610): [http://www.cookiesbydesign.com Cookies by Design] (3324 W. Cary St., 804.340.5585):Galaxy Diner (3109 W. Cary St., 804.213.0510):Ginger (3145 W. Cary St., 804.254.7373): [http://www.jeanjacquesbakery.com Jean Jacques Bakery] (3138 W. Cary St., 804-355-0666):Mezzanine (3433 W. Cary St.):Moshi Moshi (3321 W. Cary St., 804.359.1151): [http://www.mrsmarshalls.com Mrs. Marshall's Carytown Cafe] (3125 W. Cary St., 804.355.1305): [http://www.1northbelmont.com One North Belmont] (1 N. Belmont Ave., 804.358.0050): [http://www.rivercitycellars.com River City Cellars] (2931 W. Cary St., 804.355.1375):Thai Diner Too (3028 W. Cary St., 804.353.9514): [http://www.weezieskitchen.com Weezie's Kitchen] (3123 W. Cary St., 804.726.1270):Williams Bakery (3544 W. Cary St., 804.746.8370, (fax)804.746.8311)Pet Care:Cary Street Veterinary Hospital (3210 W. Cary St., 804.355.9144): [http://www.animal-emergency.com Veterinary Emergency Center] (3312 W. Cary St., 804.353.9000)Financial Services:Dooley & Vicars CPAs (21 S. Sheppard St., 804.355.2808): [http://www.firstmarketbank.com First Market Bank] (3556 W. Cary St., 804.204.2370)Jewelry: [http://www.kayadams.com Anthill Antiques, Etc.] (3439 W. Cary St., 804.254.2000): [http://www.banglesandbeads.net Bangles & Beads] (3322 W. Cary St., 804.355.6118): [http://www.j-s-i.com Jewelers Services] (3011 W. Cary St., 804.353.9612):Schwarzschild Jewelers (3124 W. Cary St., 804.355.2136)Health Services: [http://www.patientfirst.com Patient First] (12 N.Thompson St., 804.359.1337):Raylene's Pennyrich (3016 W. Cary St., 804.358.7313) Professional Services:Carytown Law Office, Godwin-Jones & Price (20 S. Auburn Ave., 804.353.5163):Robert L. Flax, Esq. (8 S. Sheppard St., 804.355.8425): [http://www.napierera.com Napier Realtors ERA] (3313 W. Cary St., 804.622.7778): [http://www.richmondcamera.com Richmond Camera] (3128 W. Cary St., 804.355.5793):Spotts & Carneal (11 S. Belmont Ave.): [http://www.tuckaway.cc Tuckaway Ellwood House Child Development Center] (3319 Ellwood Ave., 804.355.5093): [http://www.theupsstore.com The UPS Store] (3126 W. Cary St., 804.254.2902)Home and Garden: [http://www.careyburke.com Carey Burke Carpets] (3115 W. Cary St., 804.355.3512): [http://www.thecompleatgourmet.com The Compleat Gourmet] (3030 W. Cary St., 804.353.9606): [http://www.eq3.com EQ3] (3142 W. Cary St., 804.358.4142):Glass Boat (3220 W. Cary St., 804.358.5596): [http://www.janetbrowndesign.com Janet Brown Interiors] (3140-B W. Cary St., 804.358.9548): [http://www.leoburke.com Leo Burke Furniture] (3108 W. Cary St., 804.358.5773):Martin Interior Design (3325 W. Cary St., 804.353.1400):Murphies (3141 W. Cary St., 804.359.4898): [http://www.oldworldaccents.net Old World Accents] (3419 W. Cary St., 804.355.0373):Pirouzan Oriental Rugs (3017 W. Cary St., 804.353.6808): [http://www.richmondwindow.com Richmond Window Corp.] (2810 W. Cary St., 804.353.6621): [http://www.tenthousandvillages.com Ten Thousand Villages] (3201 W. Cary St., 804.358.5170)

Events

Month long sale events take place in different stores in Carytown throughout the year. Certain seasons bring annual sales or festivals. Other events are weekly such as the "Knit Night at the Yarn Lounge!" from 6:00 to 8:30 on the last Tuesday of every month. As for seasonal sales, Fashion First goes on from February until June on every first Thursday of the month. Alongside Fashion Fist there is a Reggae and Ska event on those same Thursdays at night. Other events are listed below.

February: [http://www.shopeurotrash.com EUROtrash] “Fluent in European Fashion” : [http://www.theBIGGESTpicture.org The BIGGEST Picture] ::"an environmental film festival"March:Virginia Commonwealth University French film festivalApril: [http://www.benjerry.com/carytown Ben & Jerry's] Annual Free Cone DayMay:Carytown 10k Run/WalkAugust:Watermelon Festival::"This is the event Carytown is most known for. It is a big deal for not only those in Richmond but also for those in the surrounding counties or areas of Virginia. In 2008 Carytown will have its 25th Watermelon Festival."October:Wine FestivalDecember:New Year's Eve Event::"On New Year's Eve Carytown is Richmond's Times Square. There is a ball which droppes when the clock strikes midnight and there are fireworks and parties all around."

Maps

* [http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=37553934&x=-77482538&z=15&l=0&m=a&v=2 Wikimapia]

External links

* [http://www.carytown.org/index.htm Welcome to Carytown]
* [http://members.tripod.com/~g_cowardin/byrd/ The Byrd Theatre]
* [http://www.wotbn.net West of The Boulevard News]
* [http://www.myspace.com/carytown_richmond Carytown on Myspace.com]
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/carytown-neighbors/ Carytown neighbors on Yahoo!Groups]
* [http://www.seetheglobe.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=1048 Article With Carytown Section]
* [http://www.ci.richmond.va.us/departments/econdev/develop2.aspx Page on Some of Virginia's Historical Locations]