MANCHESTER STUDIOS RVA
Copyright © Manchester Studios RVA, LLC. All rights reserved.
GENERAL INFORMATION
STUDIO LOCATION
1300 West Main Street
Richmond, Va., 23220
PARKING NEAR THE STUDIO
Parking in the Fan can be tricky. Many Airbnb’s will come with a guest parking pass for the Richmond Parking Zone your rental is in. It’s a bit confusing.
However! We are in luck! The street immediately adjacent to our building has free all-day parking. And both Brunswick Street and Morris Street have free all-day parking south of Main Street. I suggest you study Mapquest or Google Maps to get a feel for those streets. Although they are free and very close to the studio, they will fill up early.
There is also a public parking lot one block from the studio, 1121 West Main Street Parking.
COMING AND GOING
Students will enter through the door at the back of the building. We will keep the front door of the building locked during workshop weeks to prevent people from wandering in from Main Street while we’re working.
NEIGHBORHOOD
The studio is located in the Fan District, the historic area of Richmond with charming row houses on tree-lined streets, cafes and eateries. It’s close to VCU which gives it a student tone.
https://rerva.com/the-fan-district/
https://www.visitrichmondva.com/about/neighborhoods/the-fan-richmond-va/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fan_District
https://www.virginia.org/listing/fan-district/4710/
WHERE TO STAY
There are a number of Airbnbs walking distance to the studio.
There are two b&bs –
https://boulevardinn.com
https://www.museumdistrictbb.com
Linden Row Inn is about 20 minute walk and super nice http://www.lindenrowinn.com
Hotels in the Area.
The Graduate Hotel https://graduatehotels.com/richmond
The Jefferson https://www.jeffersonhotel.com/
Quirk https://www.quirkhotels.com/hotels/richmond
The Berkeley https://www.berkeleyhotel.com/
Marriott Scott’s Addition https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/riccn-courtyard-richmond-scotts-addition/
There are many others you can find at: https://travel.usnews.com/hotels/richmond_va/
FLYING INTO RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
RIC is an easy-to-fly-in-to, smallish airport. You can catch an Uber or Taxi out front and be in Richmond in 15-20 minutes.
If you fly in, and rent an Airbnb in walking distance from the studio you may not need to rent a car.
WORKSHOP HOURS
Generally, our workshops run from 9 am-4 pm with an hour break for lunch.
The study will be open from 8 am to set up and until 5 pm for clean up.
Although most of our workshops will be Monday through Friday, there are times when we will have workshops that spend the weekend.
SCULPTURE WORKSHOPS GENERAL INFORMATION
We generally work in water-based clay.
We will have a sculpture stand for you.
We custom-make our own half-life-size figure armatures which you will be able to take home with you.
We custom-make wooden boxes to aid in safe shipping/travel of sculptures.
We arrange for sculptures to be picked up at the studio by FEDX or UPS
Students pay for their own shipping costs of their sculptures.
PAINTING WORKSHOPS GENERAL INFORMATION
We do not allow solvents in the studio for health reasons.
We will have an easel for you
We will create a crate for your work to safely get home and have FEDX or UPS pick it up. Students pay their own shipping costs.
COFFEE AND LUNCH
We usually have a pot of coffee going in the studio. There is a great specialty coffee shop across the street and a number of places to get lunch.
We have a fridge in the studio for those who want to bring lunch.
ART SUPPLIES
There is a Plaza Arts Store in walking distance from the studio. Since they serve VCU, which has a huge art department, they are pretty well stocked.
https://www.plazaart.com/stores/richmond
THE WONDERS OF RICHMOND
The Fan is so much fun! Historic charm meets hip vibe.
https://www.visitrichmondva.com/about/neighborhoods/the-fan-richmond-va/
Cafes & Restaurants
The Pit and the Peel. https://thepitandthepeel.com/w-main-st-the-fan/
Jardin https://www.jardin-rva.com/
Beauvine https://www.beauvineburger.com/
Goatacado https://www.goatocado.com
District 5 https://sites.google.com/view/district5rva/home
Bacchus https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063539021807
Blanchard’s Coffee https://blanchardscoffee.com/
Greenbriar Café https://www.facebook.com/GreenbriarCafeandCoffeehouse
Heritage http://www.heritagerva.com
Kuba Kuba https://www.kubakuba.info/
Joe’s Inn https://www.joesinn.com/
Garnett’s https://garnettscafe.com
The Daily https://thedailykitchenandbar.com
Tulsi https://www.tulsiinrichmond.com
Galaxy Diner https://www.galaxydinerrva.com
CanCan https://www.cancanrva.com
Lolita’s https://lolitasrichmond.com
Mom’s Siam http://www.momsiam.com
Amuse https://vmfa.museum/visit/dining/amuse-restaurant/
East Coast Provisions https://eastcoastrva.com/
The Stables https://www.thestablesrva.com/
Belmont Food Shop https://www.facebook.com/belmontfoodshop
Tarrant’s https://www.tarrantsdowntown.com/
Early Bird Biscuit https://www.earlybirdbiscuit.com/
Mike’s Jazz Café https://www.mikesjazzcafe.com
Gersi https://www.gersirestaurant.com/gersi-richmond-va
Pupatella https://pupatellarva.com
https://richmondmagazine.com/restaurants-in-richmond/best-restaurants/25-best-restaurants-in-richmond/
VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
The VMFA has a world-class collection of everything! www.vmfa.museum
It’s open every Wed, Thurs and Friday evening until 9pm for free jazz dancing, wine tastings outdoor concerts. There is a lovely cafe inside with seating outside by a gorgeous reflecting pool and sculpture garden
VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND CULTURE
The Byrd Theater still has most of the breathtaking original decor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOz4jf_3Bes
The Virginia Museum of History and Culture is right next door to VFMA and has recently been totally renovated and our former next door neighbor is the director!
https://virginiahistory.org
PARKS!
James River Park System
James River Rafting
Maymont Park
Shirley Plantation
Monticello https://www.monticello.org
Charlottesville https://www.southernliving.com/travel/virginia/things-to-do-in-charlottesville-va
Williamsburg https://www.visitwilliamsburg.com/
Jamestown https://historicjamestowne.org/
Washington DC https://www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/washington-dc
RICHMOND BREWERIES
https://www.visitrichmondva.com/drink/richmond-beer-trail/
VINEYARDS
Charlottesville
https://gardenandgun.com/articles/six-standout-wineries-in-central-virginia/
New Kent https://boozingabroad.com/drink-local-guide-to-wineries-in-new-kent-virginia/
RICHMOND SHOPPING IN CARYTOWN
Quirky, hip and cool, tons of places to eat, great shops and lots of fun to stroll around.
https://www.carytownrva.com
This really just scratches the surface!