5 Things

It’s the calm before the explosive Independence Day storm! Conserve some of your energy for the best holiday ever, but don’t become a shut-in. There are still plenty of things to do, and almost none of them involve standing around in crowds under a scorching sun. It’s a late-June miracle!

June 27, 2013; 6:39 AM • by Susan Howson

For those of you who want to dig a little deeper into the world of family-oriented Things, head over to our new 5 Things for Families. But then head back. I’ll get lonely.

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1. Dance. Outreach. Equality. Benefit

I’ll spare you the four billion words I could write about this state’s hypocritical agenda to restrict rights of the very people who pay its taxes. It wouldn’t help anything anyway. But you know what will? Raising funds for equality groups, who will spread the word better than I can. Dollars for Daughters is a fundraising organization that supports a different LBGTQ-related cause every other month. This month: Equality Virginia. Basically, you go to a bar, pay a very small donation, get drink specials and dance the night away. Let’s do our best to hit capacity at this event. Because the LBGTQ community, turns out, IS NOT A SEPARATE COMMUNITY.

  • Thursday, June 27th • 7:00 – 11:00 PM
  • Portrait House, 2907 W. Cary Street
  • $5 – $10 or whatever your generous heart desires

2. The Music Man

Guys, there’s trouble. Right here in River City. With a capital “T” and that rhymes with “P” and that stands for “people who don’t go to the theatre.” (Man, why do we not use this “River City from The Music Man joke more often in this town? I HAVE STUMBLED UPON SOMETHING BRILLIANT. Oh crap, Kelly already did it yesterday. Foiled again!) Go see The Music Man at the Virginia Rep, and enjoy the only musical ever to have songs about Wells Fargo and Gary, Indiana.

  • June 28th through August 4th • see site for times
  • November Theatre, 114 W. Broad Street
  • Around $60, but various discounts apply

3. Arts and Culture Xpo

The Xpo formerly known as the Cultsha Xpo still brings the same amount of performing, visual, and other fun artsy things to Richmonders, even if they’re now encouraging us to pronounce the word “culture” correctly (borrrinnggggg). The list of exhibitors is both overwhelming and elating, featuring local and regional favorites like the Richmond Symphony, Virginia Opera, Art 180, and GWAR (that is not a joke, they are on the list, people). All of this for free! Can you even believe it?

  • Saturday, June 29th • 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Greater Richmond Convention Center, 403 N. Third Street
  • Free!

4. RVA Grooves Presents: Maestro J

Now THIS guy is doing cool things. Maestro J is both a maestro and a J—educating kids on violin radness while also having a name that begins with a J (I assume). Part of RVA Grooves’s “All Things Arts and Culture” reality TV series (catch it on NBC12 Sunday nights after Inside Edition) brings the maestro, complete with J, to the Hipp. Because guitars are not the only shreddable strings in these parts.

  • Saturday, June 29th • 7:00 PM
  • The Hippodrome Theater, 528 N. 2nd Street
  • About $30, after fees

5. Go to the Cinema

…if only because it’s so refreshingly cold in there. But another almost-as-good reason is the plethora of seeable films available to people with $10 to burn. You might have noticed that —there are just too many interesting/controversial/sensational/fun movies out right now to justify only doing one a week. May we recommend Much Ado About Nothing, This Is The End, or Frances Ha? Keep an eye on our ever-evolving Best Films of 2013 list as it graduates from Slimpickensville to Oscartowne. Why the film obsession? Because Richmonders flock to movie theaters every night, and we’re here to help those Richmonders turn those two hours into the hottest (and coldest) hours of their week.

  • All day, all night (well, pretty late anyway). See Fandango for times, but don’t forget that Bow Tie’s new Criterion cinema doesn’t yet provide their listings there.
  • Our favorite theater is upstairs at Regal Westhampton. It’s quiet, it’s cozy, and the snacks are great. What’s yours?
  • Around $10, plus usually about one arm and two legs for snacks

Future Things

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Susan Howson

Susan Howson is managing editor for this very website. She writes THE BEST bios.

June 27, 2013 6:39 AM 1

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