5 Things

It’s beginning to look a lot like Mother’s Day! And by that, I mean that I guess Mother’s Day looks grey and rainy. This weather has got to go. Luckily the sun’ll come out tomorrow, along with a lot of new things to do.

May 9, 2013; 6:58 AM • by Susan Howson

For those of you who want to dig a little deeper into the world of family-oriented Things, head over to our new 5 Things for Families. But then head back. I’ll get lonely.

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1. RED

A little #realtalk for you: once I was at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and I turned a corner and an enormous Mark Rothko painting stared me in the face. I was totally transfixed and actually sat down on a bench and gazed at it, a pasttime I thought was reserved for people who Really Get Art, of which I have never been one. Turns out, if art speaks to you, you get it. AND you don’t have to understand WHY it speaks to you! Anyway, Rothko’s big colorblock paintings mean different things to different people, and I highly recommend you learning more about what they meant to Rothko and the people close to him by viewing RED.

• Through Sunday, June 16th • see site for times
• Theatre Gym at the Virginia Rep Center, 114 W. Broad Street
• $34 (see site for various discounts)

2. Richmond Ballet: Ma Cong’s Ershter Vals and a World Premiere!

On the subject of the cathartic arts, those RB dancers are back again to complete the 2012-2013 studio series with a work from one of their favorite choreographers, Ma Cong. Cong’s a master at pulling emotions out of his dancers and flinging them at the audience, and this one’s going to be about WWII ghettos, people, so bring your handkerchiefs. Then, enjoy an always exciting world premiere by Soleau, complete with a live celloist and moving walls.¹

• Thursday, May 9th – Sunday, May 19th • see site for times
• Richmond Ballet’s Studio Theatre, 407 E. Canal Street
• $20-$40

3. Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure

For years, running and boobs just didn’t mix. At all. Then came the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, in which running actually HELPS boobs. Every boob! Boobs across the world! This mega-popular race is famous for a) covering everything in pink and b) raising tons of money for breast cancer research. And if you want to help but don’t want to race, you have your own superfun option: Sleep In for the Cure. It’s like they know me!

• Saturday, May 11th • 7:00 AM
• Brown’s Island, 500 Tredegar Street
• $25-$35 (Registration can be done in-person at packet pick up on May 9-10)

4. Richmond Symphony: Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony and Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring

HUGE DEAL, everyone. These two powerhouses of passion will explode your brains. There’s a lot more to the Fifth than just the “dun dundun DUNNNN,” and Rite of Spring is blissfully weird (fun fact: it was originally a ballet, but the dancing was so stompy and awkward that it was universally panned). Take your mom or take yourself to the symphony and let these musical explosions rock your world.

• Saturday, May 11th and Sunday, May 12th • see site for times
• Carpenter Theatre at CenterStage, 600 E. Grace Street
• Adult tickets are 50% off! With ticket starting around $27, this is no small discount.

5. Central Virginia Wine Festival

Gather around for a drunken festival! Not only do you get entertainment, music, food, drinks, and fun, you get a nice warm feeling in your stomach for helping out 16 local wineries. Or maybe that warm feeling in your stomach that comes from being involved with your community. Then get that warm feeling that comes from drinking. Also, be respectful and call a cab if you need one. I’m not trying to share the road with a bunch of boozed up wine fans this Saturday.

• Saturday, May 11 • 12:00 – 6:00 PM
• SnagAJob Pavilion at Innsbrook, 4901 Lake Brook Dr.
• $20 online, $25 at the gate

Future Things

• Dominion Riverrock – May 17th – 19th
• Arts and Culture Xpo – June 29th
• David Sedaris tickets now on sale – October 19th

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May 9, 2013 6:58 AM 1