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Carytown Today
By Lisa Puster
 Today, Carytown is a fun, unique, eclectic place to see and be seen. Officially referred to as “A Mile of Style” and often unofficially referred to as The Georgetown of Richmond”, you can start at the upper end of Carytown and spend a whole day shopping, eating, drinking and people-watching in the midst of eight blocks and over 300 shops, restaurants, boutiques and specialty stores.
Says Anne Kennon, co-owner with husband, Darren, of Hip to be Round, a designer maternity boutique located at 3463 West Cart Street, “Carytown is a great place to shop, especially during Fashion First, when many of the stores stay open until 8pm.” During Fashion First, Carytown retailers keep their doors open late to host an evening of fashion, style, and inspiration for visitors of the distinctive boutiques of Carytown.
Probably the most popular event in Carytown is the annual Watermelon Festival, which is celebrating its 25th year on Sunday, August 10th from 10am to 6pm. Each year, more than 100,000 people attend this one day event that focuses on family, fun, fashion, being seen, and, of course, a mile of watermelon!
On Sunday, October 5th, come out for the 4th annual Carytown Wine Festival from 10am-6pm where you will enjoy Virginia wines, food vendors, live music, arts and crafts and free parking.
Can’t make it to Times Square for New Years this year? No problem. On December 31, 2008, Carytown will be hosting its 3rd annual New Year’s Eve celebration - Richmond’s version of Times Square - where you can watch the ball drop in true Carytown fashion (no pun intended). Originally begun in 2006, the idea of having a Times Square-style celebration in the Carytown business district was spearheaded by Demetrios Tsiptsis, the owner of the New York Deli in Carytown. The idea quickly caught on and on December 31st, 2006, organizers were surprised when about 8,500 people showed up for the festivities. On New Year’s Eve 2007 the crowd more than doubled that number. If you weren’t a part of the celebration the past two years, we invite you to come out for New Year’s Eve 2008 and join in the fun!
Carytown Future
By Lisa Puster
Most of us know that Carytown has quite the intriguing history. And we also know that Carytown, today, is a unique and interesting shopping and dining destination for Richmonders. So, what does the future hold for Carytown? We posed that question to several restaurant and shop owners in Carytown. Here were some of the responses:
“Everything is good…but…” That’s the answer Sonny Kiatsuranon gives me when asked what changes he’d like to see in Carytown. Sonny, and Joe are the son’s of Sukanya, the “mom” of Mom Siam Thai Restaurant, a popular Carytown restaurant. The “but” in Sonny’s opinion is that he’d like to see more stores open at night in the area. That’s also the opinion of several other Carytown merchants with whom I spoke. “I’d also like to see a place for live music,” Sonny adds. Sonny’s brother, Joe, has a more ambitious goal for changes in Carytown. “I’d like to see Cary Street turned into a pedestrian mall, like in Charlottesville,” he says.
Lina Sogomonyan, owner of Le Visage Makeup Boutique, says she’d like to see more trees along Cary Street. Lina is one of the merchants who’d also like more nighttime activity in the area.
Other suggestions for Carytown include expanding the shopping area a block to the north and a block to the south, so that there would be more shops and restaurants along Ellwood and Parkwood. Some merchants felt that greater attention should be given to enhanced beautification, including more attention to the cleanliness, as well as a renovation of the storefronts.
But, the general consensus, even for those who suggested changes, is that Carytown is a wonderful place to work, shop, and play.
A Palace On Cary Street
By Lisa Puster
 It was a chilly, December afternoon, in the year 1928. And a crowd was gathering on Westhampton Avenue (today known as Cary Street). Hundreds of Richmonders had traveled to the far west end of the city for something very special. These folks were willing to wait in the cold, in a line that stretched around the block, for an opportunity to see just what was going on inside a brand new building.
But, this wasn’t just any building. From the outside, some had commented as it was being built, that it looked very much like a palace, and, indeed, that’s what it was. Certainly at a cost to build of nearly a million dollars (and we’re talking 1928 money), it should be palatial.
As the crowd began to move into this magnificent structure, on that Christmas Eve afternoon, 80 years ago, they passed under a sign over the entrance way, proclaiming, “Waterfront.” That was the name of the film that was shown that day, in Richmond’s true movie palace, the Byrd Theater.
While the movie has long been forgotten by most, the Byrd continues to dazzle Richmond audiences. To many of today’s younger movie-goers, the idea of a theater featuring imported Italian and Greek marble, elegant murals, and a dazzling chandelier, is virtually unfathomable.
A primary reason that the Byrd remains a functioning motion picture theater, unlike similar structures in other cities, which have long either fallen into disrepair, or have been converted for other uses, is the Byrd Foundation. This not-for-profit organization has been established to ensure that, with the loyal support of Richmond area residents, the Byrd continues to be what it was designed to be over eight decades ago, a true movie palace.
For more information on the Byrd Theater and the Byrd Foundation, visit www.byrdtheatrefoundation.com.
The Annual Watermelon Festival
The Carytown Merchants Association sponsors a number of entertaining events through the year. Here’s a look at a few of the upcoming activities…
Quick, how many years has the Watermelon Festival been drawing the crowds to Carytown? Would you believe a quarter of a century? That’s right. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the annual celebration of the big fruit…a celebration that draws over 100,000 into the six-block area. While there’s always plenty to do and see and eat and buy in Carytown, the Watermelon Festival is a non-stop (10 am to 6 pm) street party, and this year the party takes place on August 10th. You’ll find special sales from the local merchants (after all this event started out as a simple sidewalk sale), entertainment for the entire family, food, crafts, and, of course watermelons.
Besides the ever-popular Watermelon Festival, the Carytown Merchants Association also sponsors the annual Carytown Wine Festival, which, this year, will be held on Sunday, October 5th. And, of course, there is the Carytown New Year’s Eve celebration, but you probably don’t need us to tell you when that is scheduled.
And, every month, on the first Thursday, late evening shopping is offered. The event is called Fashion First Carytown, and in addition to extended shopping hours (til 8:00 pm), there is also a fashion event. Individual merchants also offer special sales and other activities on that night.
For more information on Carytown events and festivities, visit www.carytown.org.
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