The Happenings is a compilation of things to do in the cultural hub of RVA. Some events will be traditional urban offerings, and some more eclectic. All of them give us the opportunity to broaden the horizons of entertainment with art, music, and history.
Olivia Carey is a rising senior at Mills E. Godwin High School.
Wednesday, August 3
Just the Beginning at Strange Matter
Just the Beginning is a hip hop and r&b concert to be hosted and performed by The Pack 5. The self-described “upcoming hip hop group” tends to bring slower rhythms that give their lyrics room to shine. The concert also showcases local music and artists like Nisha, Rex Ruger, and Conductor Mane & Big Dev, among others. Visit Strange Matter for a sampling of RVA’s vibrant hip hop scene.
This event is 18+.
When: 8:00 p.m.
Where: 929 W Grace St., Richmond, VA
Cost: $7
804.447.4763
strangematterrva.com
instagram.com/pack5industries/
Thursday, August 4
Flowers After 5 at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens
The Lewis Ginter Conservatory is one of the many things to see while strolling around the gardens. Photo: Bob Townsend
On Thursdays, Lewis Ginter leaves its doors open a few hours longer so that guests can enjoy the gardens into the summer evening. Bring chairs and blankets to relax and listen to live music at Bloemendaal House from Bruce Ewan, Steve Jacobs, Steve Shaw, and Bob Berberich. Kids can spend time playing in the Children’s Garden. Drinks and food are available for purchase. On the menu for Thursday: Guenoc Petite Syrah & Guenco Pinot Grigio, and ribs, baked beans and cornbread.
The last Flowers After 5 of the summer will take place on September 8.
When: 5:00 p.m.
Where: 1800 Lakeside Ave., Richmond, VA 23228
Cost: Adults $13; Seniors (55+) $11; Children (3-12) $8; Children (under 3) – free
804.262.9887
lewisginter.org
M*A*S*H reading by the Richmond Triangle Players
M*A*S*H stands for “Mobile Army Surgical Hospital”, and the 1970s show told the story of the doctors who worked in such a hospital and their antics during the Korean War. Head back to the day it first aired, September 17, 1972, as the Richmond Triangle Players perform the series’ pilot and two first-season episodes in a staged reading.
The final performance will take place on August 13.
When: Thursday-Saturday – 8:00 p.m.; Sunday – 4:00 p.m.
Where: 1300 Altamont Ave., Richmond, VA 23230
Cost: $15, tickets can be purchased online
804.346.8113
rtriangle.org
Friday, August 5
“Spamalot” at Dogwood Dell’s 60th Festival of Arts
“Spamalot” was first shown on Broadway. The musical has found a place in Richmond at the Festival of the Arts.
“Monty Python and the Holy Grail”: a 1975 spoof on Arthurian legend. 2005 Broadway musical “Spamalot” can be described as a triple Tony Award-winning spoof of a spoof. Dogwood Dell is taking the Festival of Arts as an opportunity to bring the nostalgia of Monty Python and the absolute hilarity of “Spamalot” to Richmond.
Catch “Spamalot” on both August 5 and 6.
When: 8:30 p.m.
Where: 600 S Boulevard, Richmond, VA 23220
Cost: Free
804.646.1437
Faces of RVA at ART 180
ART 180 serves kids from ages eight to 18 in the Richmond area by offering art programs that strengthen sense of self while offering a platform for youth to talk about what means the most to them. “Faces of RVA” is a series of mixed media portraits based off of historical images of African-American RVA residents. Things like buttons, feathers, and sequins, among other things, were used to create their likenesses.
The exhibit will stay open until August 25.
When: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Where: 114 W Marshall St., Richmond, VA 23220
Cost: free
804.233.4180
art180.org
The Shack Up at The Broadberry and The Camel
The Shack Up is a two-day concert between The Broadberry and The Camel featuring The Shack Band, The London Souls, The Southern Belles, Murphy’s Kids, James Justin and Co., Atlas Road Crew, Stop Light Observations, Dale and the ZDubs, Life on Mars: A Tribute to David Bowie, Horsehead, Red Light Rodeo, Lord Nelson, Jouwala Collective, Kendall Street Company, Nesta, and Slack Family Band.
The Shack Band is heading up the two-day concert. Originally from Blacksburg, they relocated to RVA and brought harmonic rock ‘n’ roll with them. Photo: The Shack Band
August 5
The Broadberry: The Shack Band, Atlas Road Crew, and Horsehead will be playing.
The Camel: The Southern Belles, Jouwala Collective, and Slack Family Band will show.
August 6
The Broadberry: The Shack Band, The London Souls, James Justin and Co., Stop Light Observations, Life on Mars: A Tribute to David Bowie, Red Light Rodeo, Lord Nelson, and Kendall Street Company will all be playing.
The Camel: Murphy’s Kids, Dale and the ZDubs, and Nesta will show.
When: 8/5 at The Broadberry & The Camel – 8:00 p.m.
8/6 The Broadberry – 2:00 p.m.; The Camel – 8:00 p.m.
Where: The Broadberry – 2729 W Broad St., Richmond, VA 23220
The Camel – 1621 W Broad St., Richmond, VA 23220
Cost: $10-35, depending on the ticket (prices can be checked online)
The Broadberry – 804.353.1888
thebroadberry.com
The Camel – 804.353.4901
thecamel.org
Saturday, August 6
She is no stranger to screen printing. “PRODUCT OF U.S.A. NET WT 16 oz (1 LB)” is a 2015 print of strawberries. Photo courtesy of the artist.
5×5: Summer Sessions at the 1708 Gallery
Brooke Ann Inman collaborated with Molly Fair and Jesse Goldstein on a screen printing exhibit. She has worked on pieces like “HAPPY BIRTHDAY! THANK YOU! GET WELL SOON! CONGRATULATIONS!” – a collection of littered balloons and their strings – that address the mark left by humanity on the Earth. Photo courtesy of the artist.
Local artists were invited to imagine how they would use gallery space if given it. It was an opportunity to try something new, to experiment. Five of the most innovative projects were chosen to come to the gallery and show for two weeks at a time.
“Pattern Language for a Social Fabric” was created by Brooke Inman, Molly Fair, and Jesse Goldstein and features images burned into screens. While the artists began the project, images are continually layered into the screens through open-printing to create a true “social fabric”. Throughout each session, the audience and the artists have the opportunity to create together.
While “Pattern Language for a Social Fabric” leaves after August 6, summer sessions will continue through August 20.
When: Tuesday-Friday – 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; Saturday – 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Where: 319 W Broad St., Richmond, VA 23220
Cost: free
804.643.1708
1708gallery.org
Sunday, August 7
“We Are Stars” at the Science Museum of Virginia
“We Are Stars” travels through the history of the universe. Plucky Victorian guide “the Time Master” leads the audience all the way from what scientists have dubbed the “Big Bang” to the creation of atoms and the formation of the planets. Watch the universe unfold on a screen that redefines the term “high definition”.
When: Show – 1:00 p.m.
Monday-Saturday – 9:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; Sunday – 11:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Where: 2500 W Broad St., Richmond, VA 23220
Cost: Adult (13-59) – $18 (exhibits & dome show); Senior (60+) – $17 (exhibits & dome show); Youth (4-12) – $17 (exhibits & dome show)
804.846.1400
smv.org