5 Things

A wise man once said, “When a film festival and a craft fair turn 20 on the same year that a huge behemoth of a race turns 13, we shall all have the best weekend ever.”

March 29, 2012; 6:00 AM • by Susan Howson

A wise man once said, “When a film festival and a craft fair turn 20 on the same year that a huge behemoth of a race turns 13, we shall all have the best weekend ever.”

1. French Film Festival

I know what you’re thinking. “She’s going to start this with ‘Ooh la la! It’s time for the French Film Festival again!’” Well, you’re wrong. I started it with “I know what you’re thinking.” Ooh la la! It’s time for the French Film Festival again! And this time, it’s the TWENTY YEAR ANNIVERSARY. This collaboration between VCU and UR gives us the opportunity to watch a bunch of French films we would otherwise NEVER get to see in a theater. And as always, there are illuminating chats with actors and directors as well as other events to turn you into a sophisticated Francophile.

• Thurs. Mar. 29 – Sun. April 1 • see site for times
• Byrd Theatre, 2908 W. Cary St.
• $15 for individual tickets, VIP passes start at $65

2. The Bizarre Bazaar

At my old job, people fought over taking a vacation day to go to the Bizarre Bazaar, so in my mind it’s the most amazing thing ever. And with 250 exhibitors peddling gifts for all your spring occasions (psst, Easter is earlier than you think it is this year), it’s kinda like being able to take a stroll around Etsy.com. This is not just another craft fair, it’s the Bizarre Bazaar. Interesting note: it is also their 20th anniversary, so you could make a weekend of it and plan to attend every event that is turning 20. Recapture the spirit of 1992!

• Fri., Mar. 30 • 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
• Richmond Raceway Complex, 600 E. Laburnum Ave.
• $7 for adults, $1.50 for kids

3. Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k

This year, SportsBackers expects to herd 42.5 thousand through our fair city. If you’re participating in the 10k, you probably already know that by now. This message is for people who are not participating in the 10k: DO NOT DRIVE ANYWHERE ON SATURDAY MORNING. And don’t even THINK of trying to find parking. But! If you know someone who lives on the route, go over there really, really early and watch the spectacle. The nation’s 8th largest fully timed race spectacle, to be exact.

• Sat. Mar. 31 • see site for wave details
• …Monument Avenue?
• $40 to race, free to watch

4. Slave Trail Tour

Let’s say you have some energy left after you run the 10K, and let’s say you feel like winding down with a leisurely yet educational stroll into our past. Warning: our past isn’t all that great, and we kind of messed up some basic human rights issues big time, but the more we learn about these things, the less likely we are to repeat them. Every American should hit the slave trail at least once in his or her life, and this weekend is your chance.

• Sat. Mar. 31 • 2-4:30 PM
• Ancarrow’s Landing
• $5

5. Feast RVA

Creativity! It’s what’s for dinner! Mannnnn, I’m so pissed I didn’t think of that headline for our coverage of Feast RVA’s inaugural event. With two dinners under its belt and three projects partially or fully funded already, Feast RVA CANNOT and WILL NOT stop…until the food runs out. The April Feast will be provided by Nile Ethiopian Restaurant, and the funding for a creative project will be provided by you. Food, art, voting, being awesome…this sounds like it was made with you in mind.

• Sun. Apr. 1 • 6:30 PM
• Studio Two Three, 1617 W. Main St.
• $25

March 29, 2012 6:00 AM 0