I'm a city snob. Richmond, like any other city here in the US, is usually defined by its suburbs. More of the things you need are usually outside the city limits than inside. "The greater Richmond area", while I know is a valid term, is a term nonetheless that irritates me. It gives an false since of what or where Richmond begins or ends. Without fail, when I tell people I live in "south side", they want to know where in Chesterfield I live. I don't. I live in the City of Richmond proper and I love it. I try my best not to trek out to the burbs unless it is absolutely necessary. I take the bus. I walk to the grocery store. I know who my city council reps are and what and where the districts are that they represent.
I say all this to show that I like my hometown and I'm all about promoting what there is to do within the city limits. A few weeks ago I came across a neat feature on Google's website - creating your own Google map. I decided to take a stab at it and create a map reflecting Richmond's crafty side. (Click on View Larger Map below to see it in all its glory)
View Larger Map
The map will be posted in the sidebar of this blog as well as on the RCM website. It is a work in progress, so if you feel something else should be on the map, email me and I will add it.
One place where I let the snobbery slide is my work with the Richmond Craft Mafia. A good portion of our members are suburbanites and I try not to hold that against them! Part of RCM's mission is to support crafts in general in Richmond and to help create a sustainable marketplace for independent artists/crafters. To help with this, I am updating the links page on the RCM site to help promote area crafters. At RCM, we get plenty requests from people looking for unique items here in Richmond and wanting to buy local! If you sell art or craft here in the area (yea, including you suburbanites), and you want a link on the RCM website, please provide your info here in the comments (name, business name, web address) or email me. I'll get them up as soon as I can. I do ask that you link back to the RCM website and/or blog in return.
