5 Things

This weekend, we say adios to the dog day doldrums. Heed our call to do the following, and you shall not be unrewarded.

July 12, 2012; 6:32 AM • by Susan Howson

Summer is for being all over the place–you’re traveling, you’re disorganized, and you oscillate dangerously between wanting to kick back at the pool and do very little all day or help your friend plant her garden. This weekend, we say adios to the dog day doldrums. Heed our call to do the following, and you shall not be unrewarded.

1. TCM Presents Singin’ in the Rain 60th Anniversary Event

Once upon a time, films were not only beautiful to behold, they were delightful to listen to and, well, they starred Gene Kelly. What was it like to be in Gene Kelly’s midst? Debbie Reynolds remembers in an exclusive TCM feature that commemorates the 1952 classic Singin’ in the Rain. For those of you that are unaware of anything prior to Caddyshack, you may know Debbie Reynolds as “mother of Leia” and Gene Kelly as “the guy that would have been in Magic Mike were he still alive and dancing around athletically today.” I strongly recommend skipping work for the 2:00 PM show and experiencing Magic Gene, as the 7:00 PM show is sold out.

• Thurs. Jul. 12 • 2:00 PM
• CinéBistro, Stony Point Fashion Park
• $12.50

2. Richmond Food Truck Court

I can’t help it. Every time someone raves (and they always rave) about the Food Truck Court, I always think of some sort of royal court. Like they’re all parked in a semicircle as if on thrones, deciding the fate of portable restaurants as we all dance like jesters in their midst.¹ I need to try to replace that vision with what it really is–a place where a lot of food trucks sell food! Food court style! Either that or it’s like a court of law, with a Pixar-type anthropomorphic Rooster cart banging a gavel while the Crossroads truck tells everyone to rise. It’s good inside my head, y’all.

• Fri. Jul. 13 • 6:00 – 9:00 PM
• Virginia Historical Society, 428 N. Boulevard
• Free to attend!

3. James River Splash and Dash

Of all the races that I will never run, the James River Splash and Dash is the one I regret not running the most. First: you run. Then: you tube down the river. Then: you run your tube on land. It sounds as ridiculously fun to watch as it must be to participate. What could add more hilarity to this event? Oh, just a party afterwards with food and beer and music and stuff, NO BIG DEAL.

• Sat. Jul. 14 • 4:00 PM
• Belle Isle
• $34 to race and participate in the no-big-deal party

4. Project Athena Richmond Relay Marathon

“Ho ho ho, a race involving TUBING,” says you, the famous tubing killjoy. “‘Tis not for I,” you said, (still talking, I see). “Instead, I plan to stay unsoiled and bone dry while simultaneously helping an excellent cause. Please drop me off at the Project Athena Richmond Relay Marathon, where a team of friends and I will run parts of marathons together, benefitting Project Athena and all the dream-fulfillment it does for people who’ve been through physical hell. It’s like physical hell in order to help those in physical hell. Appropriate!”

• Sat. Jul. 14 • 7:00 AM
• Brown’s Island
• $6 per race enthusiast

5. The 48 Hour Film Project

Fast filmmakers, heed the call of the 48 Hour Film Project, aka “49 Hours? No Dice.” You’ll lose a lot of sleep and have a crap-ton of fun, I bet, as the festival peeps give you a character and some background information (kickoff is this Friday at The Camel). Then you’re off, writing, filming, and editing a movie to be turned in at this very event. Watch the fresh-faced hopefuls greet each other amiably on Friday or giggle sympathetically as they stagger in, cowed by the very briskness of this idea on Sunday. Screenings begin in a few weeks.

• Sun. Jul 15 • 5:00 PM
• The Camel, 1621 W. Broad St.
• Free!

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July 12, 2012 6:32 AM 1