Riverpoint - Norfolk, VA

The city of Norfolk was established in 1636 and formally incorporated in 1736. In the 1800s, the city became a major port and grew into the region’s largest commercial hub. Norfolk grew rapidly in the first half of the 20th century. Redevelopment of the downtown and waterfront areas took place in the 1990s and helped to revitalize the downtown area and surrounding neighborhoods.

The small neighborhood of Riverpoint as it exists today dates back to the 1940s. The neighborhood lacks museums or an arts scene, and no annual events occur here, but residents can take in all the culture they desire in the nearby area. Museums include the Chrysler Museum of Art, the Hampton Roads Naval Museum and the kid-friendly Nauticus Museum on the waterfront. Live-theater enthusiasts frequent Chrysler Hall, and the Norfolk Harborfest continues to be a popular downtown annual festival.

The neighborhood contains no restaurants within its borders, but the central suburban location offers plenty of nearby choices for both national and locally-owned eateries.

An area favorite, LeGrand Kitchen lies just 2.5 miles away in the Highland Park neighborhood of Norfolk. The small self-proclaimed "finer diner" serves ever-changing American fare inspired by the availability of regional meats and produce, and the intimate setting encourages interaction with the chef and his team. Savvy customers check LeGrand's Facebook page daily to keep up with the latest additions to the menu.

For a quick lunch or dinner, head to The Dirty Buffalo on Colley Avenue. Bringing a little bit of Buffalo, New York, to the Tidewater area, this restaurant doesn't disappoint. Favorites here include wings with sauces ranging from mild to amazingly spicy, and the home fries with toppings of your choice create a mega meal all by themselves.

Sophisticated Riverpoint residents looking for a funky tapas and martini bar have it made. Just a short drive over the Granby Street Bridge sits Crackers, a tiny trendy place serving a unique tapas menu that changes with the seasons. Drinks include a good selection of martinis, cocktails and wine as well as craft beers. Weekly specials keep the regulars guessing, and the extensive menu of hot and cold tapas keeps them coming back for more.

While the Riverpoint neighborhood hosts no bars or clubs, locals have no shortage of nearby nightlife options. Residents can find sports bars, dance clubs, pubs and dive bars all within a short drive.

For a true dive bar experience, locals drive northwest for about 3.5 miles to the Dockside Restaurant & Pub. Another popular choice sits just over 4 miles away. Winners Sports Bar on Johnstons Road serves up cheap pitchers, pool, darts and karaoke. For a wider selection of upscale nightspots that feature dancing and live music, night owls head to the downtown area or the Ghent historic district. The downtown Granby Theater has become the area's hottest dance club. Local and international DJs keep the crowd dancing to the great mix of popular, euro and electronic music.

The quiet Riverpoint streets make for easy walking and cycling within the neighborhood, but residents generally don’t walk or bike outside of the safety of the enclave. Few designated bike lanes currently exist in the area, but the region has big plans for future expansion.

Most locals drive to get around the area. Adjacent Granby Street connects to I-564 and I-64 about 1.5 miles to the north of the neighborhood. Drivers enjoy free parking in the immediate area but usually pay for parking downtown. Meter rates vary according to the zone and range from $1 to $1.80 per hour.

The Hampton Roads Transit system runs two bus routes past Riverpoint. Route #1 delivers riders downtown or to the Virginia Beach area, and Route #961 goes to the Newport News area or downtown. For taxi service, residents call ahead to schedule pickup or can request a ride with Uber or Lyft.

Residents enjoy free admission to all area city parks. Within the boundaries of the Riverpoint neighborhood lies Riverpoint Playground, a small shady kid-friendly patch that features playground equipment and a basketball hoop. Some larger Norfolk parks feature basic exercise equipment, but for a regular workout program, locals venture to the Park Place Community Center on West 29th Street, less than three miles away.

The nearest off-leash dog park sits a few miles south of Riverpoint off Lafayette Boulevard. Lafayette Dog Park includes obstacle courses, fetch toys and water for the canines. Humans enjoy the park for its comfy benches and clean, friendly atmosphere. No annual park festivals occur in the neighborhood, but an area tradition continues to be the Fourth of July Great American Picnic celebration at Town Point Park on the waterfront. Music lovers look forward to the Norfolk Waterfront Jazz Festival held yearly at Town Point Park.

The cost of living in Riverpoint is about 10 percent less than the Norfolk average. Residents can expect to pay $699 for a one-bedroom apartment and around $3 for a beer at nearby bars. A bus ride to downtown costs $1.75. Locals enjoy area gas prices that are about 8 percent lower than the national average.

No shopping options exist within the neighborhood, but thanks to its central location, residents have an abundance of nearby choices up and down Granby Street. The nearest shopping mall, MacArthur Center, sits 4 miles to the south, in the downtown area. For locally owned shops in a pedestrian-friendly historic setting, locals head three miles south to the Ghent District in Norfolk.

For custom jewelry and gifts, residents visit Texture on Baldwin Avenue. The shop sits in a renovated Victorian home in the Ghent District and carries the custom work of over 200 artists from around the world. Those into vintage jewelry have a great time hunting for the perfect gift or accessory. The store also features cards, baby items, paintings and other cool gift ideas and even features a cozy upstairs coffee shop for a relaxing respite from a day of shopping.

Those with a sweet tooth consider themselves lucky to have the Bonbonnier nearby. The local candy shop sits in the Ghent District on West 21st Street and tempts patrons with caramel- and chocolate-covered apples, fine chocolates, fudge, truffles, toffee, brittles, and many more candies and treats made by hand. The shop also serves specialty sodas, floats, and coffees in the old-time candy store setting.

Neighborhood residents have many nearby alternatives when stocking up on groceries. For everyday necessities, most head north on Granby Street about three miles to the I-64 corridor where they can choose between Fry’s, Food Lion, or a Walmart Supercenter. Plenty of specialty grocery stores can be found to the south, in the Ghent District. Local favorites include Farm Fresh Supermarket, and Welton’s Seafood Market. Locals looking for a farmers market need only go a short distance for their fresh fruits and veggies. The Five Points Community Farm Market on Church Street in Norfolk sits less than three miles away and remains open year-round on Thursday through Sunday.