Brookland Park Boulevard Gets a Clear View
/Words and Images by: Jo Ann “LadyJRVA” Breaux
Having a neighborhood haunt is high on my list of wants in where I live. It was Potter’s Pub when I lived in the West End, Acapella/Patrick Henry Pub when I lived in Church Hill, Bamboo and Avalon when I lived in the Fan, and Dot’s Back Inn when I lived in Bellevue. Yes, I move a lot! Point being, I like being able to walk out my front door and grab a beer and some sustenance without breaking my small bank account. I relish in walking into a place and having my drink remembered or my name for that matter, Norm suits me well. There’s something about being comfortable, an extended living room if you will, when it comes to where I want to hang in my neighborhood. I like talking to people and getting to know my neighbors. I mean my whole real estate philosophy is based on this. Why would you invest in a home that doesn’t come with the community that surrounds it?
When I moved to Brookland Park a year ago, I fell in love with my street. My neighbors are warm and friendly people and the home itself was a major upgrade from my last one. My only complaint has been, there’s not enough walkable options for me. Nomad’s Deli is choice for sandwiches and breakfast items. Boogaloos is great for jazz and poetry readings, Michaela’s Bakery satisfies my sweet tooth, and if I had a dog I’d prob enjoy taking it to Diamonds and Dutch for cleaning, but none of these places satisfies my combination of music, affordable eats, good service and someone who knows how to make a drink well and do it with some personality. Look, I’m older these days, I can’t keep up with late night bar kids trying to compete with who has the coolest fanny pack, all I’m trying to do is satiate my want to still feel young and enjoy the people around me. I’ve done the whole “foodie” scene with it’s fancy cocktails and minimal plates and no disrespect to the amazing chefs and restaurants we have in this city, but sometimes I want to dine for less than $50.
When stirrings of Fuzzy Cactus hit my ears, they perked up immediately. There was excitement every time I passed the construction on my daily walks. Descriptors like “Tex-Mex”, “Rock n ’Roll”, and “Shows” kept coming around into my audiosphere and i had this picture of Austin, Texas. “We will see,” I thought. My only concern was how it was going to play in the area’s identity and if I was going to feel comfortable there.
Owner Mike Cipollone makes no qualms about what Fuzzy Cactus encapsulates and it may not be for everyone in the vicinity, but they make it incredibly welcoming for anyone who walks into their door. This pocket of town is one of the most historical areas in the city and it is on the verge of progress. To be perfectly candid, I don’t want to live in another Church Hill. Church Hill has its own thing and now Northside is creating a different scene. We have a lot of characters who stroll the sidewalks and it’s a nostalgic memory of what the Fan once was, when VCU was an Art school they sent all the freaks to. I like that I can walk out the door and talk to my neighbor who has been here for 35 years and says she’s seen the changes and she likes them. “I don’t care who moves into this neighborhood, as long as they keep it nice and clean and are good people.” It’s a good “story-telling” neighborhood.
Fuzzy Cactus opened its doors on August 16th to the public. I had gone to the second soft opening and I’m happy to say, I will be warming those bar stools for quite some time. My initial reaction was that I had moved back to Brooklyn. It has that low energy vibe to it. I’ve gone to many a place where I’ve paid $13 for a Manhattan, but had to wait 15 minutes to receive it from a person who has the personality of a wet noodle. When you’ve been in the service industry a long time you expect a lot more than the average customer and to be perfectly honest, Richmond has a lot of great restaurants filled with not so great staff. So, let me break down my six visits to FC for you because by now you’ve read the Style, Richmond Times, and other local rags about the logistics.
Paul Kirk and the Bartenders
Before coming here, I knew nothing of bar manager, Paul Kirk. He’s a standout figure, and also the former “rockstar” cocktail specialist at Rappahannock. Paul is…unassuming. You notice him right away, you also take note of the record he’s going to play for you on the bar turntable. He has a very distinct fashion sense. I cannot go in there without checking out his socks. The other noticeable thing about Paul is that he’s a nice guy, cool with a nice smile. He’s not the overexcited fast talking bartender or the guy who’s pretentiously selling you their homemade firewater, he’s the dude you want to talk about guitars and movies with. This whole bar is full of smiles. They did an incredibly impressive job at hiring the staff here because the 2nd time I walked in the door, Paul picks up a highball glass and does a little shake at me, knowing exactly what I drank the first time I visited. That’s my kind of bar, that’s a place I’m going to invest my time and money in. I can go on and on about how wisely they chose the staff here, but honestly, has been the best overall bar staff I’ve ever encountered — attentive, friendly, and talkative.
Music
In case you haven’t heard, Fuzzy is run by musicians. Mike (Cruzer), along with co-owner Drew Schlegel (Tinnarose) , Bartendress Mel Medina and Paul (Sickbags), head chef Sam Lappin Sr (Chickenhawks) and I’m sure there are others, all play in bands and have been involved in the music scene for some time. Fuzzy Cactus will not be short on musical acts to tantalize your ears. They also will have DJ nights boasting garage, soul, punk, and dance nights. I can envision karaoke making its way on their palette.
Food
There’s not a whole lot of options yet, but the options that are available are savory goodness. Halloumi fries, nachos, and red beans and rice are just a few tasty eats, but then, I had the “The Bud” the other night. I’m a super picky eater. I’m also a food snob when it comes to Southern and Cajun food, if it’s not Texas BBQ, it’s not BBQ and don’t mess with simplicity. That being said, “The Bud” was the best chicken biscuit I’ve had in Virginia. The biscuit itself, Patty Conway’s (Mike’s wife) recipe, was NOT dry like most biscuits I have had, it truly melted in my mouth and the chicken was prepared perfectly with just enough tang and spice that left me wanting another one. There are rumors that brunch will be served as well and that makes me most excited.
Nothing on their menu is over $12. Fuzzy Cactus satiates all the senses from auditory to olfactory, It is establishing a new energy to Brookland Park Boulevard. There’s a unity in it which reminds me of my younger years at VCU. These are people that are condoning an inclusiveness and a free spirit. Even before they opened, Mike and Drew attended Brookland Park Area Business Association where they met with local business owners and were received with support and welcome. There’s room for everyone here and sure, there’s a few curious souls who will look inside and then shut the door, but for those brave enough to step inside and check it out, you’ll find an inviting and affordable place to hang out in. Now that I’ve written this, I’m parched, wanna meet up and play some pool?
