CINCO THINGS

I hope you’ve got plenty of coffee to brew at home and lots of sick days saved up at work, because you, dudes and dudettes, have plans this weekend. A lot of them. So many that a few of these 5 Things are actually like 20 Things in disguise. Crafty!

May 5, 2011; 6:00 AM • by Susan Howson

I hope you’ve got plenty of coffee to brew at home and lots of sick days saved up at work, because you, dudes and dudettes, have plans this weekend. A lot of them. So many that a few of these 5 Things are actually like 20 Things in disguise. Crafty!

1. The Cinco de Mayo Party of Your Choice

It’s that wonderful time of year when we get to celebrate how awesome Mexico is by getting obliterated on margaritas, followed by that other wonderful time of year, Mother’s Day, when we celebrate our moms by not mentioning how we puked neon green on an innocent sidewalk. Depending on what type of experience you’re looking for, you can head over to Tobacco Company (free tacos), Popkins (where you’ll get a free drink and chips/salsa for $5), Nacho Mama’s (where there’s something called “Cuervo Girls,” woo?), Lucky Buddha, or similar bars for a guaranteed drinkfest. Or, for a less raucous time, hit up someplace like Alamo BBQ for delicious fish tacos, Bellytimber for the best nachos in town, or wherever you prefer to get your burrito on. I seem to always find my CdM sweet spot at a backyard party (it’s not too late to throw your own — just call up some friends and ask them to BYOB & Guacamole).

• Thursday, May 5
• Bar, restaurant, backyard, or gathering place
• As much as you’re prepared to spend

2. Jonathan Coulton at The Hat Factory

I arrived too late and missed this dude when he opened up for They Might Be Giants last year, and the lingering guffaws of the audience convinced me that I am an unpunctual fool. Apparently, he is the musical answer to our unfulfilled longing for geek-themed comedy. And he’s not messing around. Even the Wikipedia entry for his hit “Still Alive” is chock full of references that I do not now and will never understand. But I trust my sources that Coulton is a must-see.

• Thursday, May 5 • 7.30pm
• The Hat Factory (140 Virginia St.)
• $18 – $20

3. First Friday

It’s Friday and you’re already overwhelmed. That’s OK, dude! Thursday was overstepping its bounds a little bit! Show that Friday wannabe what’s up and make a solemn vow this month to see EVERY SINGLE THING possible at First Friday. Hit up Gallery 5‘s provocative “Disrobed” event, then stop by Ed Trask’s “Rails, Trails, and Rivers” opening at Glave Kocen Gallery on your way to the VMFA for the really cool sounds of Balkanize. All of these things, I solemnly swear, are free.

• Friday, May 6 • check individual websites for times
• All around town
• Free!

4. First Annual Page Wilson Memorial Concert at the Canal Club

Page Wilson, the late, great host of WCVE’s “Out of the Blue Radio Revue,” had an enormous following of loving fans and friends. Join Reckless Abandon, Susan Greenbaum, The Taters, and scores of others to pay a musical tribute at an event he would have loved to pieces. A $15 donation will go towards Wilson’s daughter’s college fund as well as Positive Vibe Café. Plus you’re bound to see lots of Richmond Greats of Yore milling about, looking all wise and bluegrassy.

• Sunday, May 8 • Doors open at 1.00pm
• The Canal Club (1545 E. Cary St.)
• $15 donation

5. Mother’s Day!!!!!

I give Mother’s Day five exclamation points because a friend of mine who’s about to become a mother herself just showed me several intense live birth videos. People, CALL YOUR MOTHER. TELL HER YOU ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR WHAT SHE HAS DONE FOR YOU. AUUGH! Then, ask, nay, DEMAND the pleasure of her sweet company at events like the Museum District House and Garden Tour (actually on Mother’s Day), the Richmond Ballet’s Studio Four (catch the last performance on Sunday), a kickass brunch, or the Secret Garden Party (grab tickets for May 12 and look forward to getting mom tipsy on cocktails). Anything’s better than a purse-shaped cake from Kroger left at her doorstep while you speed away, honking your horn.

• Sunday, May 8 • all freaking day
• Your pick!
• Can you put a price on making a mother smile? (Because seriously, nobody was smiling in those birth videos…)

Photo by: permanently scatterbrained

May 5, 2011 6:00 AM 1