5 Things

Do you know what time it is? It’s time to get freaky for the weekend! Take a historical walk, get your Dionysus on with beer and wine, gaze at the sky before the Apocalypse happens, take in the hidden beauty of bedpans, and get a rare behind-the-scenes look at one of Richmond’s most beloved venues.

May 19, 2011; 6:00 AM • by Nathan Cushing

1. Anthem Stride Through Time

It seems that all we do is rush, rush, rush. It’s time to chill out and go for a walk! Not only will you get some meditative relaxing time, but you can also take in Richmond’s unique history as you stroll. The Anthem Stride Through Time is a 10K (6.2 miles) walk through the Fan District. Gaze upon historic sites, architecture, monuments, and museums as you exercise. Many sites will be open for free, and live music will keep you company along the way. Stop by and see the swanky RVANews office on the route; we’re in the old Stonewall Jackson School, and we’ll have people here to say hello!

Sat. May 21, 7am – Packet Pick-Up Opens, 8:30 to 9:15 am – Walk begins (waves starts every 5 minutes)
The Virginia Historical Society, 428 N. Boulevard
Free

2. Flavor Beer, Wine, & Food Fest

Enjoy drinking beer? Check. Tasting wine? Check. Sampling food from Richmond’s most deliciousy delicious restaurants? Well, duh, of course check! Loosen your belts or wear your fanciest “stretchy pants,” and make your way to the Innsbrook SnagAJob Pavilion. This weekend there will be more than 50 beers from around the world, along with the best fermented grapes from Virginia wineries, along with great foodie fare from Richmond’s best restaurants. It’s, like, totally bacchanalian, dudes! The shindig is FREE; just pay as you sample (and as your stretchy pants grow in elasticity).

Sat. May 21 through Sun. May 22, 11am – 6pm
Innsbrook SnagAJob Pavilion 4901 Lakebrook Dr. Glen Allen, Virginia 23060
Free (pay as you sample, prices will vary)

3. Sky Watch

With the end of the world fast approaching (May 21, mark your calendars!) were not going to be around much longer to admire Nature’s beauty. So we better do it while we can! Luckily the Science Museum thought ahead. Join members of the Richmond Astronomical Society this Friday (as well as the third Friday of every month) on the front lawn of the Science Museum. They’ll share their Star Trek-esque telescopes to gaze up at the stars before they fall and kill us all.

Fri. May 20 , 8:30pm (weather permitting)
Science Museum of Virginia
Free

4. Bedpan Elegance

Bedpans! I know. We associate these things with incontinence, severe physical debilitation, and all sorts of unpleasant business when it comes to…making number one and number two. But that’s so unfair! Bedpans perform the lowest of dredge work, yet we ridicule them? Uncouth! It’s time that we show bedpans some love. There are 65 bedpans in William W. DuBois’ collection, and each one has been photographed and are on display at VCU Tompkins-McCaw Library. The Bedpan Elegance exhibit runs until June 30, and summer time is the right time to go now that those pesky college students are out of our hair (kidding, we love them).

Runs until June 30. Mon. – Thurs. (7:30am – 9pm); Fri. (7:30 am – 6pm); Sat. (9am – 6pm); Sun. (12pm – 9pm).
VCU Tompkins-McCaw Library, Main Lobby, 509 N 12th Street
Free

5. Behind the Scenes at Maymont

We all love Maymont. Its bucolic beauty. Its tantalizing animals (except when unattended children fall into the Bear Pit without Ron Burgandy’s dog, Baxter, to rescue them). And now that summer is around the corner, this Richmond treasure becomes even more alluring. But do you think that its 13 aquariums and over 200 animals take care of themselves? Heck no! This Saturday and Sunday, get a peek at what lay beyond the illusive “Employees Only” doors.