Shockoe Bottom/Slip neighborhoods are nice for strolling around. There is a river walk in that area too, very pleasant, esp if the weather is nice.

This thread's subject line doesn't have quite the same ring to it as One Night in Bangkok.

Poe museum is interesting and different.

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, great restaurant Amuse there. Thursday night they have Jazz in the cafe. Virginia Historical Society is right next door. I think on select Thursday nights they have a Food Drink dinner.

Carytown or Maymont would both fit the bill and are about 15 minutes from Short Pump. Maymont has lots of beautiful gardens.

Carytown would be nice, shops mostly close by 6pm. You could check out byrdtheatre.com to see if a movie is playing at the old theatre. Schedule is only put up the Tuesday before. Are you in the city of Richmond or more the westend, where Short Pump is located?

Strolling in Carytown is always nice,
and there are some cute shops in the Libbie Grove area.

I have to go to Richmond for a professional event but need to be down there early -- meaning I have almost an entire day there. I'm staying in a fairly nice hotel and part of me would be fine lounging in the hotel, going to Short Pump mall/Starbucks etc. and just taking a "mental health" break from work. Is there anything you would recommend doing that would still be fairly relaxing, without involving a long drive or parking issues? I'll have Thursday evening and Friday morning to myself -- I'm up for any place I can walk around and look around a bit. Thoughts?