5 Things

Your calendars better be cleared for this weekend, because you’re about to have the time of your life. And believe me, you’ve never felt this way before. That’s the truth.

April 4, 2013; 6:53 AM • by Susan Howson

Your calendars better be cleared for this weekend, because you’re about to have the time of your life. And believe me, you’ve never felt this way before. That’s the truth.

1. First Fridays

The RVA First Fridays website is so full of awesome that it takes forever to load. If you don’t feel like hanging in there, just wing it with a stroll down Broad Street on Friday night, checkin’ out art, sippin’ on wine, high fivin’ Shepard Fairey (that’s right, he’ll be at 1708 Gallery), and generally being cooler than your friends in different cities. Maybe try texting them some cool paintings or a snapshot of you and Shepard or just the menu at Comfort. Then text them the name of a good moving company, because baby, they’ll be on their way.

• Fri. Apr. 5 • 5:00 – 9:00 PM
• Broad St., east of Belvidere
• Free!

2. Paint the Richmond Liberty Trail

As Patrick Henry said, “Give me a liberty trail, and spray-paint it on a fine spring morning!” And that’s what you’re going to be doing this Saturday as you turn our extensive Liberty Trail into an alluring journey for potential Richmond transplants. You’ve already texted your friends about First Fridays, so why not do them the favor and roll out the red carpet for their inevitable move here. In teams, you’ll be spray-painting the RLT logo on sidewalks throughout Richmond. It’s legal graffiti, folks. Get into it.

• Sat. Apr. 6 • 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• TBD (see site)
• Free!

3. Civil War & Emancipation Day

Continuing the day’s tradition of looking our past behavior squarely in the face, Emancipation Day can be both draining and liberating…at the same time. Get on board with the 150th anniversary of emancipation, and celebrate this heroic event with events all over the place. Anyway, you’ll be learning about history from people who are dressed in era-specific clothing, that is, the best possible kind of learning.

• Sat. Apr. 5 • see site for an intense schedule
• See the site again, please, for location information
  *Various costs.

4. Bill Conference 2: Bill S. Conference, Esq.

Still fired up from TEDx? Disappointed from TEDx? Confused as to what the hell I’m talking about? Take your ideas, projects, and failures over to the second iteration of Bill Conference, where you can share what you’ve learned on turning an idea into an actual Thing That Makes Money. It’s an “unconference,” which means that you, the founders, or the other participants don’t even know what’s about to happen. Could be anything! You’ve all had an idea or two that either made it or didn’t, and the rest of us want to hear your process.

• Sat. Mar. 30 • 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM
• 804RVA, 1657 W. Broad St.
• $12.50

5. They Might Be Giants at The National

If you get TMBG you get it. If you don’t, you don’t (and that’s sad, because it means your life is a little less sunshiny!). Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch! Who watches over you while you buy a ticket to this show. TMBG never disappoints, and they’re certainly not getting any younger, so go see them while you can. Kiss John Linnell for me.

• Sun. Apr. 7 • 8:00 PM
• The National, 708 E. Broad St.
• $44-$73

April 4, 2013 6:53 AM 2