5 things

We’ve got a weekend of a few scattered thunderstorms lined up, but don’t let that keep you locked up in your house, eating ice cream, and watching Gilmore Girls. That’s weeknight behavior. You need to get out! Socialize! Let the humidity suffocate you a bit! It’s summer, for Pete’s sake. Take a gander at some of your choices this weekend…

July 30, 2009; 6:00 AM • by Valerie Catrow

We’ve got a weekend of a few scattered thunderstorms lined up, but don’t let that keep you locked up in your house, eating ice cream, and watching Gilmore Girls. That’s weeknight behavior. You need to get out! Socialize! Let the humidity suffocate you a bit! It’s summer, for Pete’s sake. Take a gander at some of your choices this weekend…

1. My Bloody Valentine at The National

People are losing their damn minds over these guys coming to town. For those of you not familiar with them, how’s about a montage?

I’m DEFINITELY not musically-educated enough to explain *why* My Bloody Valentine is so loved, but you should just trust that they are. Thursday, July 30th, 8pm, 708 East Broad Street, $25 for general admission. Buy tickets here.

2. Midsummer Night’s Scream at The Byrd

Help celebrate the Master of Macabre’s bicentennial with an evening spent witnessing some of his most heeby-jeeby-inspiring tales brought to life in one of Richmond’s most beloved and historic spots. Featured stories include The Cask Of Amontillado, The Pit And The Pendulum, and The Tell-Tale Heart (which, honestly, still makes me shout “GAH!” and shudder when I think about it). Friday, July 31st, 8pm, 2908 West Cary Street, $7 in advance, $9 at the door. A good portion of the proceeds will benefit the The Byrd Theatre Foundation and the Poe Museum. Get your advance tickets here.

3. Mounbounce Mania at The Children’s Museum

Guys, can you guess which one of our RVANews contributors LOVES Moonbounces? Guess. Go ahead. It’s Chris Bopst. Seriously. The guy talks about them all the time. So maybe if you go to this, you’ll see him there. And honestly, if we end up getting rain this weekend, come Saturday afternoon you’ll be ready to toss your kid in there and head over into the corner for a brief crying spell. Or whatever. Saturday, August 1st, 10am to 4pm, 2626 West Broad Street, $8 admission. (After you’ve pulled yourself together and your kid’s legs feel like jelly after all that jumping, head over to Little Farm if you haven’t already.)

4. Second Annual Shockoe Chef Showdown at the 17th Street Farmer’s Market

Despite my better efforts, this is STILL not called “Shockoe Chef Smackdown.” And that, my friends, I do not understand. Anyway, if you’re looking for some good eats this weekend, spend some time downtown sampling entries from chefs all over town as they take part in the Signature Dish Competition. But that’s not all! THEN you get to watch them “Iron Chef It Up” in the Market Basket Competition where they have to create a dish using a revealed-on-the-spot-OMG-the-suspense SECRET INGREDIENT! Saturday, August 1st, 11am to 4pm, Corner of 17th & Main Streets, free to get in but sample entrees cost $2.

5. The Great Wing-Eating Contest of 2009 at The Triple

If your time at the Shockoe Chef Smackdown Showdown doesn’t make you feel sufficiently gluttonous, can I interest you in some competitive eating perhaps? The evening will start with cookout food, music, a piñata, limbo, and a guess-that-beer contest, followed by the main event: people battling to see who can cram more wings in their faces. If that doesn’t sound like a good time, well I just don’t what does. Saturday, August 1st, 7pm, 3306 West Broad Street, contest entry fees are $10.

None of these up your alley? See what else is going on around town this weekend.

Did we miss anything? Leave it in the comments.

(If you have an event coming up that you want help promoting, let us know. We’ll add it to the calendar AND it just might end up making this list!)

July 30, 2009 6:00 AM 7