5 things

I’m just going to put it out there: if this coming weekend in Richmond had a face, I would kiss it. Music! Festivals to the max! Sports that even I could get into! Well done, RVA, well done. So here you go: 5 things to help you rock it out this weekend.

September 16, 2010; 6:00 AM • by Valerie Catrow

1. 52nd Annual Armenian Food Festival

Can I interest you in some cheese boreg? Perhaps a hye burger? A helping of bourma? If you don’t know what these things are, then you bet get your little tookuses over to the Armenian Food Festival this weekend and try them out. While you’re there, be sure to sample the Armenian beers and pomegranate wine — yums. You’ll also get a chance to take in some traditional Armenian song and dance.

Thursday, September 16 through Saturday, September 18 (11am to 9pm) and Sunday, September 19 (12pm to 7pm)
St. James Armenian Church (834 Pepper Avenue)
Free admission

2. Brian Jones’s Musicircus

I can’t explain this better than our jazz editor Dean Christesen did, so I won’t. Here’s how he describes this much-anticipated event in the RIchmond music scene:

If you’re new to Musicircus, it goes like this: tons of musicians of Jones’s choosing (soloists, ensembles, acoustic, electronic) set up in a building and play for one hour, unaffected by their musicing neighbors. Have you ever been to a circus? It’s like that to your ears. A composition — or “happening” — by 20th century experimental composer John Cage, the Musicircus experience is meant to unique to each audience member (roamer), determined by their entrance, their path around the space, and their exit.

Featured performers this year are Happy Lucky Combo; Susanna Klein; John Winn and JC Kuhl; Brian Jones and Marty McCavitt; Scott Burton and Scott Clark; Snow Panda; UTV chamber; The Hot Seats; Gamelan Raga Kasuma; Josh Small and Lance Koehler; Amy Cimini; and James Elliot Shelton. All ages are welcome.

Thursday, September 16 (9pm to 10pm)
Visual Arts Center of Richmond (1812 W. Main Street)
Free

3. St. Benedict Oktoberfest 2010

Once you’ve completely stuffed yourselves at the aforementioned Armenian Food Festival, it will then be time to top yourself off with some quality German cuisine and lots and lots of beers. Then you will nap your face off.

Friday, September 17 (5pm to 10pm); Saturday, September 18 (11am to 10pm); Sunday, September 19 (12pm to 6pm)
300 N. Sheppard Street
Free admission; food (and beers) cost extra

4. 3rd Annual Shockoe-on-the-Half Shell Oyster Celebration

Personally, oysters kind of give me the willies, but I know some people go gaga over them. This weekend you’ll have the chance to nosh on those beloved little mollusks however you like: freshly shucked on the half shell, frittered, stewed, and fried, you name it. Features music from Trongone Family Players and Road Kill Roy.

Saturday, September 18 (10am to 5pm)
17th Street Farmers Market
Free admission; food costs extra

5. Roller Derby: River City Rollergirls and Mother State

You’ve got two separate occasions this weekend to watch some of Richmond’s toughest women kick ass. First up, watch the River City Rollergirls Poe’s Punishers take on the Rocktown Rollers of Harrisonburg on Saturday. Finish off the weekend with Mother State’s bout against DC’s Cherry Blossom Bombshells.

River City Rollergirls:

Saturday, September 18 (5:30pm)
Greater Richmond Convention Center (403 N. 3rd Street)
$10; $6 for children ages 7 to 12; children 6 and under are free

Mother State:

Sunday, September 19 (6pm)
Skateland of Richmond (5512 Hull Street)
$5; kids under 11 are free

As the editor of RVANews, Valerie Catrow spends most of her time wrangling people over email and muttering to herself about the content calendar. She also contributes to our parenting column while maintaining her own blog, Made in Richmond. It should be noted that she loves tots, both the potato and child varieties.