Another conference day with loads of useful advice to travel content creators, probably deadly for everyone else. So, I’ll spare you the conference details and launch into the fun stuff.
Last night one of the optional events was an open house at Crossroads Art Center, complete with food and wine. I didn’t know what to expect but was pleasantly surprised. Located in a residential neighborhood a few miles from downtown, the massive, 25,000-square-foot gallery showcases the work of more than three hundred carefully selected artists. The quality was consistently high, with a broad range of media, techniques, and subject matter represented. Many of the artists were there demonstrating their techniques or chatting with visitors. We spent nearly two hours wandering through the galleries and could easily have stayed longer. If you want to see more of the work there, go to their website — https://www.crossroadsartcenter.com
This afternoon I decided to play hooky from the last part of the conference. I wanted a good view of the James River, so naturally I asked ChatGPT where to go.
Usually, it gives me terrific suggestions. Today…not so much.
Its first recommendation was Brown’s Island. When I plugged it into my navigation app, I discovered the island was closed for repairs. Chat cheerfully apologized: “Sorry about that—and thanks for catching it.”
Undeterred, it sent me to its second choice, Oregon Hill Overlook. That turned out to be less of an overlook and more of a peek-through-the-trees. I could see a tiny sliver of the river and not much else.
Third time’s the charm.
Chat suggested Libby Hill Park, which proved to be spectacular—but only because I ignored my navigation system. GPS wanted me to park at the bottom of the hill and climb a staircase that appeared to have been designed for mountain goats. With my sore hamstring, that wasn’t happening. Instead, I simply kept driving uphill until I found parking at the top. A short, level walk later, I was rewarded with a gorgeous panorama of the James River.
An unexpected bonus was discovering Church Hill, Richmond’s oldest neighborhood. The beautifully preserved homes, dating from several centuries, were reason enough to linger.
I’m skipping the conference’s closing party tonight. My hamstring is staging a protest, my knees have joined the rebellion, and I have a long drive tomorrow. But Richmond has been an eye-opener. I came expecting history and found plenty of it, but I also discovered an energetic arts scene, wonderful neighborhoods, great food, and a city that’s clearly embracing its future while respecting its past. I have a feeling I’ll be back.