Residents along the Southbank—including Forest Hill/Semmes corridor, Westover Hills, Woodland Heights, Forest View Heights, and Stratford Hills—know how to play. Grid asked blogger Richard Hayes, of Hills & Heights, to give us some insight into a side of town known for its access to the river, mountain bike trails, and popular watering holes. Hayes shares his top spots by first asking if you’re a cyclist, river rat, or have family in tow.
CYCLISTS: CROSSROADS COFFEE & ICE CREAM
Only a couple pedal strokes to Forest Hill Park with its winding trail, just a bit further to Buttermilk Trail—this is a logical choice for mountain bikers, but a harder sell for those who ride skinny wheels. The addition of sharrows (shared lane marking) on Forest Hill Ave. and an active advocate for bikers in Bike Forest Hill on Facebook put this into the win category. Bonus points for Coqui Cyclery, which is a short bike carry away when things go wrong. Crossroads has sandwiches, hummus, pastries, if you need sustenance; however, there is one area it shines above all: the delicious nectar known as beer. Wine is available but you need to focus on the beer with 16 taps and a diverse selection of bottles and cans. Seating at times is limited but don’t hesitate to ask to share a table. Folks are more than welcoming but don’t be surprised if co-owner Will Herring sits next to you and offers a sample of his latest find. Oh yeah, they have coffee too. Also good for Family Families: Three words—Bev’s Ice Cream.
RIVER RATS: LEGEND
Only in one spot on Southbank can you see the James River while legally enjoying an adult beverage. For the timid, Reedy Creek offers an easy egress after tubing down from Pony Pasture. The more experienced paddler will continue down through Hollywood Rapids and Pipeline Rapids to exit at the Whitewater Takeout on 14th St., or Ancarrow’s Landing. No matter where you fit in the scale of river bravery, Legend is the logical choice. You’re most likely going to sit on the deck so if you’re still a little drippy, no big deal. That’s right, Virginia’s oldest craft brewery boasts a football field-sized deck with a city and river view. In the past you had Lager, Pilsner, Brown Ale, Porter, Golden IPA, Pale Ale plus a seasonal. Now they’ve added Hopfest to the “always on tap” lineup, a firkin on Friday, multiple seasonals at a time, and the Urban Legend Series. No cans, so no river brews for you. Also good for Families: Size of deck, kid’s menu, and bluegrass music on Sunday (little kids love to dance to bluegrass).
FAMILIES: GALLEY
Being close to Pony Pasture, it’s only natural that this would win the family nod. Located in Stratford Hills Shopping Center, it’s the perfect place to fill up in preparation for a day chasing little ones around Half-Moon Beach or to recharge after a day of trail walking and rock hopping. Galley is the Frankenstein (in a good way) love child of Manny Mendez of Kuba Kuba and Chris DiLauro of Bacchus. Once inside there are spacious booths that easily fit all but the largest brood. As expected it’s the food that takes center stage. The Cuban sandwich is a great choice but don’t overlook the chicken wings. While food is front and center, the beer selection isn’t too far in the background. You’ll find local craft brews, next to their out-of-state craft cousins. Also good for River Rats: Riverside Outfitters across the street and access to the Pony Pasture put-in.