5 Things

In the ancient and profound words of Socrates: holy s**t it was hot this week! Mercifully, weekend temperatures are looking cooler compared to those earlier in the week, which is good, because there is A LOT happening in the next several days. There are festivals aplenty, reggae a’ rockin’, wrestlers a wraslin’, derbyers a derbying, and a pet parade benefiting sick pooches.

June 2, 2011; 6:00 AM • by Nathan Cushing

In the ancient and profound words of Socrates: holy s**t it was hot this week! Mercifully, weekend temperatures are looking cooler compared to those earlier in the week, which is good, because there is A LOT happening in the next several days. There are festivals aplenty, reggae a’ rockin’, wrestlers a wraslin’, derbyers a derbying, and a pet parade benefiting sick pooches.

1. A Festival of Festivals!

Do you know the etymology of the word festive? Hey, me neither! But, who cares!?! We have four, count ‘em FOUR, festivals happening this weekend. So dust off that devotional to Bacchus that you keep in the attic and bring that bottle of Tums you keep by the nightstand because this weekend you’re going to blow your stomach’s mind!

35th Annual Greek Festival

• Thur., June 2 thru Sun., June 5 • all day
• Seventh Street Christian Church, 4101 Grove Avenue
• FREE

Broad Appetit!

• Sun., June 5th • 11am – 5pm
• 100 – 300 West Broad Street
• FREE (53 participating restaurants all with $3 tasting plates)

Stone Soul Music and Food Festival

• Sat., June 4th • 12:00pm – 8:00pm
• Brown’s Island
• $32

Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ

• Sat., June 4 &bull VIP Session: noon – 6pm; Regular Session: 2pm – 6pm
• Richmond Raceway Complex, Exhibition Hall
• $45 for VIP tickets (advance only), $40 regular tickets (on-site, $30 advance), $25 designated driving festival, children 12 and under are FREE

2. Groovin’ in the Garden: Toots and the Maytals

Who wouldn’t kill to have the name Toots? I mean, really? This legendary Jamaican ska and reggae band first formed in 1963 and are still performing for audiences across the globe. They’ve previously toured with such acts as The Rolling Stones, Dave Matthews, and Sheryl Crow, among others. They’ll be here in Richmond to take part in Maymont’s ongoing “Groovin’ in the Garden” concert series. Don’t miss this.

• Thurs., June 2 • 6pm
• Maymont, 2201 Shields Lake Drive in Byrd Park
• $20 advance ($25 at the gate)

3. WWE Monday Night Raw

What do you normally do on Monday nights? Splash in a small pool of your depressed tears because yet another work week is staring back at you? Get over yourself! Put down those French Cries and your Wah-burger and go watch men with muscles of comic book proportion and women with boobs the size of Oprah’s bank account wrasle with one another in a sweat and blood-ridden Richmond Coliseum. And if you’re not a wrestling fan, worry not, just pretend you’re a cultural anthropologist doing field research and you’ll still have a good time.

• Mon., June 6 • 8:15pm
• Richmond Coliseum
• Ticket prices vary between $16 – $61

4. Mother State Roller Derby

With the NFL lockout still locked out in all its locky goodness that’s so big it could fill an entire Scottish loch (BAM! That just happened!), we need a sport in our repertoire full of tough players doing it for the love and not for the love of money. Do such players exist? Heck yeah, and they’re hot girls! In case you’ve been living under a rock, Roller Derby is fantastic in its fun and festive in its family-friendliness. Watch the Mother State Roller Derby team take on the Rocktown Rollers in a home bout. Roller Derby is super fun and super cheap. It’s one of the best events to watch in Richmond, hands down.

• Sun., June 5 • 6pm
• 5512 Hull Street Road
• $5 (kids 10 and under are FREE!)

5. 2011 Pets on Parade Benefit & Auction

Losing a beloved dog is one of the most difficult emotions to bear. My family and I lost our 16 year-old Bichon Frise a few months ago. It’s a sadness I don’t wish upon anyone. Here’s where you can help our canine compatriots. The Pets on Parade Benefit supports the Companions in Crisis’s FETCH a Cure program, which provides financial assistance to families that cannot afford the life saving treatments and medication for their pets that have been diagnosed with cancer. There will be music, tasty food from local restaurants, beverages and (should you so desire) the chance to bid on the 2011 steel pup sculptures and other silent auction packages! Dogs are encouraged to RSVP “Attending.” Woof!

• Fri., June 3 • 7pm – 10pm
• Science Museum of Virginia, 2500 W. Broad Street
• $75 per person, $25 per dog

June 2, 2011 6:00 AM 4