More What’s Booming RVA: April 27 to May 3
Plus announcements and a link to future fun
More of What’s Booming in Richmond, Virginia, beginning April 27: Herbs Galore and BioBlitz, Neil deGrasse Tyson and other ticket pre-sales, authors, art, music, and more.
A week of RVA events, or go to our updated events page for Down the Road events and ongoing exhibitions and performances.
April 27 to May 3
Thursday, April 27
“Faith, Race, and the Lost Cause: Confessions of a Southern Church.” Christopher Graham, author, historian, museum curator, and member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Richmond, discusses his book. April 27, noon, online, or in person at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, Richmond.
Bread or Blood: Richmond Bread Riot of 1863. April 27, 7 p.m., at Belmont Recreation Center, Henrico.
Closing Reception Honoring Artists Isabelle Abbot & Frank Phillips. April 27, 5 to 7 p.m., at 3North, 1st Floor Gallery, Richmond.
“Building a New Foundation: Dismantling Housing Segregation Brick by Brick.” Public forum co-sponsored by The League of Women Voters of Virginia, Housing Forward Virginia, the Richmond Association of Realtors, and the Virginia Housing Alliance. FREE, registration required. April 27, 5:30 to 7 p.m., at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, Richmond.
UnHappy Hour. The festive event returns for the 2023 season, featuring an Alice in Wonderland Costume Party, music by Charles Owens Trio, local beer, TBT El Gallo. April 27, 6 to 9 p.m., at the Poe Museum, Richmond.
Poetry Reading: The Southern Poetry Anthology, Volume IX: Virginia. Virtual event with readings and Q&A. Hosted by the Library of Virginia. April 27, 6 to 7:30 p.m., online.
The Dred Scott Decision. Dr. Martha Jones of Johns Hopkins University discusses this controversial Supreme Court case. April 27, 6:30 to 8 p.m., at the American Civil War Museum, Richmond.
An Evening With Adriana Trigiani. The Virginia native and NYT-bestselling author returns to Richmond to celebrate the publication of “The Good Left Undone” in paperback. April 27, 7 p.m., at The Tuckahoe Woman’s Club, Richmond.
“Malone Ridge” Book Signing. Richmond author James Dill signs his fiction book, featuring a female protagonist who finds her way out of a difficult life in West Virginia to a new life in Alexandria, Virginia, with its own set of challenges. April 27, 7 p.m., at Book People’s new location at 10464 Ridgefield Parkway, Henrico.
Richmond Restaurant Week. Experience a three-course meal at some of the city’s best locally owned restaurants for $35.22 per meal, with $5.22 of your meal donated to hunger-relief programs. Through April 30, various locations throughout Richmond.
Friday, April 28
DOWN THE ROAD: Poplar Forest 40th Anniversary Celebration. Honoring the anniversary of efforts to restore the U.S. president’s “vacation home” with a Thomas Jefferson historic interpreter, phaeton rides, book talk, history activities, tours, and more. April 28, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Poplar Forest, Lynchburg.
RECONNECT: Nature-based Art. An exhibition from Open Space Education, which combines art education and nature-based learning for young people in Richmond. Opening reception on April 28, 6 to 9 p.m.; the exhibition runs till May 20, at Artspace’s Elisabeth Flynn-Chapman Gallery, Richmond.
Richmond Symphony: Mozart & More. Pre-concert talk at 6:30. April 28, 7:30 p.m. at the Perkinson Center, Chester.
Here and Now – Extracting Inspiration from Experience and Memories. Solo exhibitions by four artists make personal comments about current times: Jaraz Jenkins, Rebbeca Shkeyrov, Joy Black and Jenny Reed. Opening reception on April 28, 6 to 9 p.m.; artist talk on April 29, 2 p.m. Exhibition runs till May 20, at Artspace Gallery, Richmond.
Saturday, April 29
Celebrate Independent Bookstore Day! See Boomer’s Top 5 Picks.
Herbs Galore! Spice up your garden with herbs, annuals, perennials, vegetables, garden accessories, and more. BYO wagon! Plus food trucks and live music. April 29, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Maymont, Richmond.
Free Historic Walking Tour Highlighting Ashland Trolley Line. See Boomer’s Top 5 Picks.
International Tai Chi and Qi Gong Day Celebration. Breathe, move, and channel your energy with ancient Chinese martial and healing arts. In every time zone, people practice Tai Chi from 10 to 11 a.m., creating a worldwide “wave.” FREE. April 29, 10 to 11 a.m., at Robious Landing Park, 4800 James River Rd., Midlothian. (No website. Contact 941-726-3067 for more information.)
Ashland Train Day. See Boomer’s Top 5 Picks.
BioBlitz. Be a community scientist, identifying as many species as possible – plants, insects, birds, and more, at a local conservation area. RSVP requested. April 29, 10 a.m. to noon, at CRLC Varina LandLab, Richmond.
The Lost Prince: Henry of Wales. The 17th-century British prince and the naming of Henrico. April 29, 1 and 3 p.m., at the Recreation and Parks office, 6800 Staples Mill Rd., Henrico.
Incanto: An Oasis of Lyrical Sculpture. See Boomer’s Top 5 Picks.
Bobby BlackHat. Virginia’s “Blues Ambassador” blends the influences of Chicago, Memphis, Piedmont, and Delta blues, plus Gospel and more. April 29, 8 p.m., at The Tin Pan, Richmond.
Monday, May 1
Poetry Workshop with Sage Cohen. The poet, writing guide, and marketer offers prompts and examples to help beginners and experienced poets generate two poem starts. May 1, 7 to 8 p.m., at Book People’s new location at 10464 Ridgefield Parkway, Henrico.
Tuesday, May 2
Richmond Flying Squirrels vs. Altoona Curve. Watch baseball, have FUNN, and go NUTZ! May 2 to 7 at The Diamond, Richmond.
Wednesday, May 3
Volunteer Event: Comfort Cases Packing for Virginia Children Entering Foster Care. In honor of National Foster Care Awareness Month, help in packing comfort and personal care items. May 3, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Anthem Davis Center, 2015 Staples Mill Rd., Richmond. (No event website)
Capitol Secrets: A Conversation with Bill Leighty. The author and former chief of staff to Governors Mark Warner and Tim Kaine gives an insider’s view of a career in public service and the workings of government. A book signing follows. FREE, registration required. May 3, 6 to 7:30 p.m., at the Library of Virginia, Richmond.
Brenda Novak “The Seaside Library” Tour with Traveling Airstream Coffee Shop. Meet the author, get an autographed book, or purchase swag. May 3, 6 to 7 p.m., at Fountain Bookstore, Richmond.
Mendelssohn, Hailstork, Schubert. Soak in Mendelssohn’s appreciation of Scotland’s Hebrides Islands with “Fingal’s Cave,” Hailstork’s fascination with cathedrals in Sonata da Chiesa, and Schubert’s unfinished Seventh Symphony. FREE. May 3, 7:30 p.m., at St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church, North Chesterfield.
Event announcements
Three big events with discounts or presales!
N’Kenge: Legends – Joins Richmond Symphony – get 10% off. The Broadway phenom with an astonishing five-octave voice salutes divas of jazz, opera, pop, and soul: Billie Holiday, Leontyne Price, Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald, Diana Ross, Whitney Houston, Beyoncé, and others. Use code LEGENDS to access 10% off adult tickets (offer ends May 1). May 13, 8 p.m., at Dominion Energy Center, Richmond.
Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson: Cosmic Collisions pre-sale tickets. Ticket presale extends through April 27 at 10 p.m. with code COSMIC. Public sales begin April 28, 10 a.m. Presentation on Nov. 15 at Altria Theater, Richmond.
Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox “Life in the Past Lane” pre-sale tickets.Presale extends through April 27 at 10 p.m., using code VINYL; public sales begin April 28, 10 a.m. Performance on Nov. 30 at Dominion Energy Center, Richmond.
Author Series at the Library of Virginia
2023 Carole Weinstein Author Series. ALL FREE.
- Kathryn Miles, “Trailed: One Woman’s Quest to Solve the Shenandoah Murders.” Thursday, May 11, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
- Sadeqa Johnson, “The House of Eve.” June 8, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
- Erica Abrams Locklear, “Appalachia on the Table: Representing Mountain Food and People.” July 27, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
- Kidada Williams, “I Saw Death Coming: A History of Terror and Survival in the War Against Reconstruction.” Aug. 2, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
- Russ Ford with Todd C. Peppers, “Crossing the River Styx: The Memoir of a Death Row Chaplain.” Sept. 14, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
- Suzanne Stryk, “The Middle of Somewhere: An Artist Explores the Nature of Virginia.” Nov. 2, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
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