5 Things

OMG it’s Valentine’s Day this Saturday. OMG some of you don’t care, so here are some Other Things to Do.

February 12, 2015; 6:00 AM • by Susan Howson

1. The Lion in Winter

Stay tuned for the exhaustive review, but in a nutshell, Henley Street Theatre’s production of The Lion in Winter is notable for two big reasons: 1. The acting by leads David Bridgewater (King Henry II) and Melissa Johnston (Eleanor of Aquitaine) is dead impressive. 2. The VMFA’s Leslie Cheek Theatre (formerly the stomping grounds of the now-defunct Theatre Virginia) has lain dormant to theatrical productions for more than a decade. Biting banter! English history! More biting banter! Local theater history! (If you’d like something more Valentine’s Day-ish, they’re also doing a special production of Romeo & Juliet at SPARC.)

Through February 25th • see site for schedule
Leslie Cheek Theater at the VMFA, 200 N. Boulevard
$35 with discounts available

2. La Tanya Hall

Here is a dream I have: the return of the for-real night club. The kind of club with tables where you sit and look elegant and drink martinis or something and listen to people like La Tanya Hall. Listening to this and thinking about the state of our evening entertainment options makes me pretty bummed. You can feel all wistful such as I do–I recommend it!–by getting tix to see/hear Hall perform Sarah Vaughan favorites at CenterStage. You can’t drink a martini while you watch her, but you can pretend you can.

Friday, February 13th and Saturday, February 14th • 7:00 PM both nights, 2:00 PM on Saturday
Rhythm Hall at CenterStage, 600 E. Grace Street
$25 – $50

3. RVA Pancake Love

An event so nice, we can’t stop talking about it! If you love pancakes…you would get along great with my three-year-old. If you REALLY love pancakes, you would get along great with my three-year-old, and you should also hit up the RVA Pancake Love brunch. It benefits FeedMore, and gets pretty creative with how it represents pancakes. Myself, I’m hoping for a pancake in the shape of a waffle, because I like to present ironic challenges and then smile smugly to myself as everyone rolls their eyes. It’s kind of my thing.

Saturday, February 14th • buy a ticket to a timeslot between 9:30 AM and 12:30 PM
The Broadberry, 2729 W. Broad Street
$15 for adults, $5 for kids (all you can eat, though!)

4. Matinees with Maggie: The Girl from Chicago

I love a good free film series, you know I do, Richmond. It is just silly not to take advantage of them. And I bet Maggie Walker did not truck with silliness in any shape or form. The second in the series, this film from 1932 shall and will be discussed afterwards. Jim Crow Richmond and the movie’s RVA ties are on the agenda.

Saturday, February 14th • 1:00 – 3:00 PM
Maggie Walker National Historic Site, 600 N. 2nd Street
Free!

5. Mardi Gras RVA

One day, someone will look around and say “Where did Susan go?” And then they will realize I have packed up and moved to New Orleans, the craziest city on earth. Until that day (which will never come, due to the Craziest City on Earth’s extremely punishing climate), I will celebrate Mardi Gras here in Richmond, the somethingest city on earth. Most ball-park-obsessed? Beeriest? Beardiest.

Saturday, February 14th and Tuesday, February 17th • see site for schedule
Dogtown Dance Theatre, 109 W. 15th Street
Parade is free, performances are $15 for adults, $5 for children

Bonus Thing

“But wait!” you say. “What if I LIKE Valentine’s Day?”

I’m sure someone out there does! Who can explain the mysterious workings of the brain! We’re a varied and wonderful species!

Check out our entire Valentine’s Day Guide, and you will find relationship advice, things to do, things to give, a meal to make, and a survey to take. That should get you through to the 15th.

Photo by: Bob.Fornal