Where in the Bellevue?!

Black Mirror Medicine for the Soul

By Fayeruz Regan 02.2021

“Let’s meet on the Bellevue dance floor,” they suggested. It was a euphemism of course.  At the new brick patio on the corner of Fauquier and Bellevue, I was to meet the people behind Where in the Bellevue?! (@where_in_the_bellevue), the Instagram account that’s been on my neighbors’ lips for almost a year.

For those not familiar with the account, it celebrates our neighborhood by posting images of it. But these aren’t real estate-style photos glorifying manicured lawns. They seek out hidden quirks we often overlook. Where in the Bellevue?! has soul, and urges its followers to have some too.

People who visit Bellevue regard it as a well-appointed historical neighborhood, but only residents understand the grit behind the grace. The silent bartering system in the alley, where faded furniture is left out for neighbors to repurpose. The splitting and trading of bulbs in the springtime. Neighbors hauling old roof slate in Radio Flyers, where they’ll enjoy a second life as a fire pit or garden border. Folk art made from found objects. This is the world that Where in the Bellevue?! captures.

Their self-described “Corona Joy Project” was borne out of the pandemic. The first post appeared on March 30, 2020, just two weeks after schools closed and toilet paper had all but disappeared from store shelves. Before people understood the virus, before businesses knew how to reopen, we sat prostrate in our homes awaiting announcements from Governor Northam. We took to walking more, just to get out of the house. Restless children tore down the streets in a scavenger hunt for rainbows that neighbors graciously taped to their doors. Where in the Bellevue?! couldn’t have come at a better time.

People began sharing photos to their Instagram stories. It became a challenge to find the butt-shaped planter (true story) or tree gnome they captured. In the comments section, people would reply, “Found!” as the profile challenges us to get out there, but not cheat by revealing locations. You’d feel pride if your own home were featured. Residents began snapping their own photos and forwarding them to the mystery neighbors, to help with content. The profile quickly took on a community feel. 

Twice I’d been asked by friends if I was secretly running the account. This further proved that like me, people were wondering who was behind it. But it’s also true that we delighted in their anonymity. As far as I know, no one has confronted Where in the Bellevue?! about their identity.

I can confirm that it’s a team of two people. They’re neighbors, good friends, and like many people in Bellevue, from up north. One hails from Long Island, New York, the other from Northern Virginia. Like me, they attended VCU, fell in love with Richmond, and put down roots. Why did they choose Bellevue? “People here come together. Eddie over at Nutall’s, even though he’s been giving me the wrong lottery ticket for years, he’s seen my children grow up and always asks about them.” The other mentioned, “It’s the friendliness. We’re not overrun with stores and restaurants. We have pockets.”

I asked if there were any changes they’d like to see in the neighborhood. “As liberal as this place is, it’s pretty white. I’d like to see a little more diversity,” one answered, with the other nodding in agreement.

 They insist that they harbor no favorites, but have observed that the south side of the neighborhood (from Bellevue to Laburnum) tends to decorate more for seasons and holidays. Fauquier has the best traditional white lights, and Greycourt features the most colorful displays.

They had asked if I thought their Instagram account had brought a little happiness into people’s lives. In a year like 2020, when one had to hold their breath before opening Twitter, I assured them that their account was a welcome respite. Between the global pandemic, children in cages and white supremacists marching in town squares; the churn of the news cycle was a source of anxiety that I still deemed too important to ignore. It was a relief to know that Where in the Bellevue?! was but a few taps away.

 Unlike celebrity gossip or sitcoms with laugh tracks, their account doesn’t exist as a distraction from the world’s atrocities. It’s another mirror of our society, celebrating our resilience against hate and creativity through struggle. A reminder that people are good, and that stopping to smell the roses isn’t only a way to pass the time: It’s the thing that just might save us.