The Mrs. on H Street: One Night in Richmond

Quirk's Maple and Pine restaurant looking through to the lobby.

With less than a month before we become three, the Hubs and I decided to take a quick trip to Richmond, Virginia last weekend.

+ SATURDAY

After a two hour drive, we arrived in the heart of downtown Richmond at our hotel the Quirk. You guys! Quirk is bold and bright while also being sophisticated and inviting. I mean, check out their lobby (pictured above)! Since its opening in 2015, I'd been hearing tidbits here and there about this hotel and it did not disappoint. Working with local artists like Sarah Hand, the hotel feels like a fresh adventure with the potential of discovering something new in each corner whether you are taking in the Quirk Gallery, sneaking a moment at the boutique shop or simply waiting for the elevator.

One of the many portraits hung throughout the hotel by Sarah Hand.

We settled into our hotel room and returned to the lobby to hatch a plan for the rest of the afternoon and evening. From the Quirk we strolled down Broad Street and popped into a collection of recommended shops including Rider Boot Shop, which offers affordable handmade boots for both men and women, and Verdalina, a women's clothing shop that I must return to once I'm not pregnant! We then Uber'd to Need Supply Co. for some quick perusing before we walked to Stella's for an early dinner.

If you only have one night in Richmond, Stella's is the place to dine for dinner. This rustic yet modern greek restaurant sent us back to our honeymoon in Greece like no other meal has. To start, the grilled octopus was tender and not over dressed - just like we like it! And there was no judgement when I ordered my one and only glass of dry white wine while also double fisting water (because I still have pregnancy guilt despite being well into my third trimester- ha!) For dinner, the Hubs had the rockfish special and I simply couldn't resist the Shrimp Santorini. Another bonus of Stella's? Old movies play projected on the wall. Squee! Is there anything more romantic?

Veil Brewing's dry-hopped Czech style pilsner "Coalesce"

Post Stella's, full and happy, we quested out to Veil Brewing Co. for one last nightcap for the Hubs. We arrived just in time to miss the long line but still enjoyed the funky collection of taxidermy and our chic industrial surroundings. And always planning ahead, we snagged a four pack to bring back to the hotel. :)

+ SUNDAY

Paper, fresh-squeezed OJ and an almond milk latte at Maple and Pine- makings of a great day!

Waking up early, we breakfasted at the hotel's Maple and Pine. Nothing to write home about here. We'd hoped to brunch as the menu looked much more interesting but brunch is not served until 10:30 AM which was too late for this pregnant lady! Thankfully my almond milk latte was damn delicious and spending more time in the open lobby was of course a plus.

Terracotta Armored General

Packed up, we checked out of the hotel with minimal tears and drove to the Virginia Museum of Fine Art (VMFA) to see the Terracotta Army. This visiting exhibit spurred the trip planning and oh boy was it worth it! Although there are less than a dozen figures that have made the trek from China, each is unique and awe inspiring. I'm still baffled by the beauty of each piece and the fact that these soldiers and an accompanying horse are over 2,000 years old. The exhibit closes this weekend (March 11th), so if you're even thinking about it... get on it!

Jaume Plensa's "Chloe" at VMFA.

Before heading back to the car, we took a moment to walk through VMFA's outdoor sculpture garden where we came across "Chloe." This 24 foot tall sculptural head created by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa is a stunner and magically changes as you stroll past. Dreaming of our baby to be, we'll be back to VMFA during my maternity leave to enjoy this outdoor space and drink in more of the museum's offerings.

You'd think VMFA is where our weekend ended but no! Remember my growing tummy and need to constantly eat? We popped into Urban Farmhouse for a sandwich, stopped at Sugar Shack Donuts for a few sweet treats for the road and made it over to Belle Isle to take in the natural beauty of the James River Park System.

The verdict on Richmond? I believe I've already shown my hand... but yes we'll be back with baby in tow!