5 things

Don’t let the predicted return of the rain dampen (ha!) your spirits! There’s tons of hip, happening stuff going on around RVA this weekend. We’ve even got free tickets for one of them. Have a look-see…

March 11, 2010; 6:00 AM • by Valerie Catrow

Don’t let the predicted return of rain dampen (ha!) your spirits! There’s tons of hip, happening stuff going on around RVA this weekend. We’ve even got free tickets for one of them. Have a look-see…

1. They Might Be Giants

I returned a bag of groceries accidentally taken off the shelf before the expiration date. If you don’t understand what I just said, then perhaps you need to go to this show.

• Thursday, March 11, 8pm
• The National (708 E. Broad Street)
• $20

2. Movies & Mimosas: Cool Hand Luke

I am still actively mourning the death of Paul Newman. The eyes! The smile! GAH! Plus, this is just an excellent, excellent movie. So head on over, toast Mr. Newman (or “Mr. Handsome,” as I call him), and catch one of the 1960s most beloved films (and perhaps the sweatiest one of all time).

• Saturday, March 13 and Sunday, March 14, 11am (doors open at 10:30am)
• Movieland (1301 N. Boulevard)
• $5.50 ($4.50 with your Criterion Club Card)

3. Shamrock the Block 2010

Known as the first outdoor festival of the season, Shamrock the Block is sure to cure that raging case of cabin fever we’re all suffering. They’ve got bands, beers, food, and TONS of fun stuff for the kiddies lined up, so be sure to head on over and get your Irish on for at least a little while this weekend.

• Saturday, March 13, 12pm to 6pm
• 17th Street Farmers Market
• Free!

4. Live at Ipanema: SEAS

You know the drill by this point: Ipanema Cafe hosts an awesome musician, records and photographs the performance, and hands everything over to us to publish for your auditory and visual enjoyment. Sure, you could just wait until everything gets posted, or you could also head over to this charming establishment and soak up some quality music in person and use the subsequent coverage as your guide down memory lane. This month’s musician: SEAS.

• Sunday, March 14, 10pm
• Ipanema Cafe (917 W. Grace Street)
• Free!

5. Eileen Ivers, Irish fiddle “Beyond the Bog Road”

What better way to get into the St. Patrick’s Day spirit than an evening spent with traditional musicians, dancers, and singers, all working together to tell the tale of the Irish experience? Well, none, actually. You have no choice, you must go.

• Monday, March 15, 7:30pm
• Carpenter Theatre, Richmond CenterStage (600 E. Grace Street)
• $19-$38 with discounts for seniors & children

GIVEAWAY ALERT: We’ve got two pairs of tickets for this performance ready to hand over to two lucky winners. Enter to win tickets to Eileen Ivers, Irish fiddle “Beyond the Bog Road” here. Contest ends at noon Thursday.

If none of these look particularly compelling (although I can’t imagine why), perhaps I can interest you in our Events Calendar for more ideas?

And as usual, if you’d like to give special shout-outs to happenings this weekend, leave them in the comments!

(Don’t forget: If you’ve got an event in the works that you’d like to see featured, send it our way.)

PS – Bonus points if you understand the image reference.

As the editor of RVANews, Valerie Catrow spends most of her time wrangling people over email and muttering to herself about the content calendar. She also contributes to our parenting column while maintaining her own blog, Made in Richmond. It should be noted that she loves tots, both the potato and child varieties.

March 11, 2010 6:00 AM 2