Entertainment around RVA
The Richmond Symphony’s popular Rush Hour concerts return to Hardywood Park Craft Brewery Richmond-Scott’s Addition. These one-hour informal concerts feature fantastic orchestral and chamber music in the Hardywood tasting room. Grab a beer, hit the food trucks and enjoy a great concert at 6:30 on a Thursday night.
The post Rush Hour 4 appeared first on Richmond Symphony.
Cheer on Music Director Candidate Farkhad Khudyev as he leads the Richmond Symphony in an invigorating program based on poems and stories, including Rachmaninov’s The Bells, a choral symphony inspired by Edgar Alan Poe’s poem of the same name and featuring the Richmond Symphony Chorus. Also on the program is Grieg’s Lyric Suite, Opus 54, with the famous movement “March of the Dwarfs,” and Janáček’s Taras Bulba, a rhapsody for orchestra based on a novel by Nikolai Gogol about Cossack leader Taras Bulba and his sons during an uprising against the Poles in 1692.
Learn more about Farkhad Khudyev, Conductor.
The post Altria Masterworks 7: Farkhad Khudyev appeared first on Richmond Symphony.
War. Egypt versus Ethiopia in the days of the pharaohs. She is a princess and he a soldier; if only they were on the same side…
Verdi’s epic masterpiece is the spectacle of opera on the grandest scale, yet focuses on the most basic human emotion-love.
Sung in Italian with English Supertitles.
Join Dr. Glenn Winters for his “Opera Up Close” pre-curtain talk forty-five minutes before each performance for his informative and entertaining insights on each production.
The post Aida appeared first on Richmond Symphony.
Cheer on Music Director Candidate Farkhad Khudyev as he leads the Richmond Symphony in an invigorating program based on poems and stories, including Rachmaninov’s The Bells, a choral symphony inspired by Edgar Alan Poe’s poem of the same name and featuring the Richmond Symphony Chorus. Also on the program is Grieg’s Lyric Suite, Opus 54, with the famous movement “March of the Dwarfs,” and Janáček’s Taras Bulba, a rhapsody for orchestra based on a novel by Nikolai Gogol about Cossack leader Taras Bulba and his sons during an uprising against the Poles in 1692.
Learn more about Farkhad Khudyev, Conductor.
The post Altria Masterworks 7: Farkhad Khudyev appeared first on Richmond Symphony.
War. Egypt versus Ethiopia in the days of the pharaohs. She is a princess and he a soldier; if only they were on the same side…
Verdi’s epic masterpiece is the spectacle of opera on the grandest scale, yet focuses on the most basic human emotion-love.
Sung in Italian with English Supertitles.
Join Dr. Glenn Winters for his “Opera Up Close” pre-curtain talk forty-five minutes before each performance for his informative and entertaining insights on each production.
The post Aida appeared first on Richmond Symphony.
A pleasure for both eyes and ears, this Lollipops program features dancers from the School of Richmond Ballet ensembles, performing a newly choreographed work set to music from Aaron Copland’s timeless Appalachian Spring—a ballet containing the beloved Shaker melody, “Simple Gifts.” A pre-concert festival in Rhythm Hall will take place at 10 a.m., featuring our instrument petting zoo, Cook County Bluegrass, free face painting, and a craft from Children’s Museum of Richmond. All Lollipops concerts run an hour-long and are sensory-friendly
For more information about the School of Richmond Ballet, please visit: https://www.richmondballet.com/school/ensembles/
Join us at 10am for a free pre-concert festival, featuring our Instrument Petting Zoo and enjoy interactive activities for the whole family that will enhance your concert experience.
This hour-long show starts at 11 AM. An ASL interpreter is available at each performance, and these shows are now sensory-friendly!
Learn more about Valentina Peleggi, Conductor.
The post LolliPops 4: Appalachian Spring appeared first on Richmond Symphony.
Photo Credit: Jay Sansone
From rainy-day activities to spring break vacations, there are tons of family-friendly activities to discover throughout Virginia. However, sometimes it can be a balancing act of sticking to a tight budget while keeping the kids entertained. To help you keep costs low and spirits high, we’ve put together a list of ideas that are both budget-friendly and family-friendly. Make plans to do a few of these kid-centric activities, all $25 per person or less!
Get an up-close look at wildlife, farm animals, and aquatic creatures when you visit a zoo, working farm, or aquarium!
Take the bikes out on a trail day with your family. You can ride many trails for free if you bring your own bikes, but some parks may require a small entry or shuttle fee.
Photo Credit: Terry Hutchins
You don’t need to swing like the pros to enjoy a game of putt-putt with your family!
There are dozens of kid-friendly museums around the Commonwealth, many with hands-on activities that allow kids to learn and play at the same time.
In addition to gorgeous natural scenery, many state and national parks contain beginner-level hiking trails suitable for the whole family.
Photo Credit: Jumping Rocks Photography
Bring the kids to a you-pick farm or orchard, where they can learn about farming practices while gathering fresh fruits and veggies. Bonus points if you bring it home and teach them how to turn delicious Virginia produce into a home-cooked meal or dessert!
There are eight different caverns in Virginia, all found within the Southwest and Shenandoah Valley regions of the Commonwealth.
Conquer great heights and speeds on the ziplines at a Virginia Outdoor Adventure Park.
Roanoke Disc Golf
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Disc golf combines the precision of golf with the easygoing sport of Frisbee, resulting in an affordable and fun sport that players of any age can enjoy.
Photo Credit: Jumping Rocks Photography
Spend an afternoon with the family leisurely floating down a Virginia waterway. Pro Tip: In addition to being relaxing and affordable, this option also forces the kids to leave the phones behind!
douthat state park camping
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Create beautiful memories with an overnight family camping trip. Don’t forget the s’mores!
Photo Credit: Steven McBride
Put the history books away and instead visit some of Virginia’s most incredible historic sites, where the kids can learn through interactive exhibits and activities.
Need more suggestions for affordable family activities? We’ve got ideas for the $10 & under budget, $15 & under budget, or $20 & under budget, too!
The post Virginia Travel on a Budget: 12 Affordable Family-Friendly Activities appeared first on Virginia’s Travel Blog.
Photo Credit: Matt Long, Landlopers
When you think of Virginia Beach, you probably think of summer vacations with the family. But did you know about the coastal city’s history as a retreat for Hollywood celebrities, presidents, and the rich and famous?
It all started in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as Virginia Beach’s local leaders began dreaming up plans for an extravagant waterfront hotel property. Back then, Virginia Beach was considered a popular vacation destination, but most of the guests came from nearby towns, and out-of-state visitors were less common, as interstate travel was expensive and time-consuming. The city’s existing upscale resort, the Princess Anne Hotel, was ravaged by fire in 1907, and the city leaders wanted to replace it with something bigger and better; however, it would take them almost twenty years to make these plans a reality.
After two decades of rumors swirling concerning the construction of a world-class beach resort, the Historic Cavalier Hotel was officially completed in 1927, reflecting the prosperity and extravagance of the Roaring Twenties. The hotel utilized design elements from notable Virginia sites; the ornate plaster columns that flanked the entryway were inspired by Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, while the expansive grass hills were a nod to The Lawn at the University of Virginia.
The original grounds covered 350 acres along the Virginia Beach waterfront, and included a 290-acre golf course with holes modeled after the historic Scottish golf courses of St. Andrews and North Berwick. The grounds were also used by guests hunting for native fowl, and after returning from the hunt, guests could have their game prepared by the on-site chef, who would cook the meal according to the guest’s specific tastes, then serve it up in front of a roaring fire in the Hunt Room.
When it came to interior choices, the hotel was even more impressive. Every hotel room had its own private bathroom, a big deal at the time, and these bathrooms had their own impressive features. Bathtubs had an extra faucet handle that brought in water from the Atlantic Ocean for a saltwater bath, a spa practice that was popular with the upper class at the time, while the sinks had an ice water faucet that drew from a large wooden ice-filled tub located on the hotel roof, providing guests with chilled water even on the hottest days of summer (unfortunately, you’ll have to stick with plain old hot and cold taps nowadays).
The hotel amenities were also extravagant; the indoor swimming pool was filled with filtered ocean water and outfitted with a diving board, and there were on-site offices for a variety of staff positions, including a doctor, photographer, radio broadcast center, and even a stockbroker, with a live ticker tape bringing updates straight from the New York Stock Exchange. Boutique stores allowed guests to shop without ever leaving the hotel, and a hair salon in the lower lobby was an added luxury. A private train depot, with a nonstop route from Chicago, among other central locations, allowed guests to travel directly to the hotel, while guests arriving by steamer ship or at other rail stations were met with a limousine from the hotel’s personal fleet, ensuring a luxury experience from departure to arrival.
Although the hotel was already considered one of the finest in the world, they topped the opulence off with the grand opening of the Cavalier Beach Club on Memorial Day weekend in 1929 (shortly before the infamous stock market crash). The lively club drew big performers like Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald, and between 1930 and 1950, the Cavalier would become the largest contractor of big bands in the world. The beach club was an icon of its time, and none that followed could ever take its place.
As one of the premiere luxury resorts on the East Coast, the Cavalier welcomed countless movie stars, business tycoons, and celebrities over the next few decades. American writer F. Scott Fitzgerald and wife Zelda often took extended vacations at the Cavalier, and Fitzgerald was even said to have been inspired to pen “The Great Gatsby” during one of his stays. Icons like Bob Hope, Elizabeth Taylor, Judy Garland, Muhammad Ali, Will Rogers, Jean Harlow, and Bette Davis came to stay at the Cavalier, as well as ten U.S. Presidents: Harry Truman, Jimmy Carter, Herbert Hoover, Gerald Ford, Calvin Coolidge, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Richard Nixon. The exclusive hotel would remain synonymous with wealth and privilege until the early 1940s.
Today, the newly-renovated Cavalier Hotel is back to drawing the biggest names from around the country. Although it has only been open since 2018, the hotel has already had stars such as Pharrell, Jimmy Buffett, Pusha T, P Diddy, Gwen Stefani, Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, and Trey Songz come for an overnight stay. With celebrities returning to the historic luxury hotel, it’s safe to say that the upcoming era may be yet another opulent “Roaring Twenties” decade for the Cavalier Hotel.
As the United States entered World War II at the end of 1941, the Cavalier Hotel was commandeered by the United States Navy, turning the exclusive resort into a radar training center. The pool was drained and used for conducting classes, and when the hotel ran out of room for soldiers, they used the on-site stables as extra accommodations. While the lodging may have been a bit cramped, the soldiers considered themselves some of the luckiest enlisted men in the American military; the hotel chef stayed on after the Navy moved in, and many of the soldiers would write home with tales of the exemplary meals served during their stay.
The Cavalier was returned to its former owners in 1945, but the years of military occupation were not kind to the hotel, and much of the regular clientele did not return to the summer vacation destination after the war. It was converted into a private club for much of the 1950s and 1960s, then reopened to the public for a few years. In 1973, the Cavalier opened a sister hotel, the Cavalier Oceanfront, just across the street, and the original was renamed the Cavalier on the Hill. With brand new rooms outfitted with the latest in comfort and amenities in the Cavalier Oceanfront, the historic Cavalier Hotel was shuttered, but the modern luxury hotel could not replace the splendor of the original; it was once again reopened to guests in 1976. For the next 25 years, the two Cavalier Hotels would be mainstays for the Virginia Beach community and vacationing guests.
In 2002, both the Cavalier on the Hill and the Cavalier Oceanfront underwent massive multi-million dollar renovations, but the upgrades were short-lived; in 2014, both hotels were closed, and the Cavalier Oceanfront and Beach Club were completely demolished. The Cavalier on the Hill was placed on the National Register of Historic Places during this time to protect the priceless property from a similar fate, and after an $85 million restoration, it was reopened in 2018 with the original name: The Cavalier Hotel. Due to the historic status, the renovations were painstaking and meticulous. Windows on the first floor were removed from their frames and repaired by hand. The decor was designed to reflect the Gilded era in which the resort was opened, with elegantly modern twists throughout.
The hotel retains 21 of the original 350 acres, with the land surrounding the original structure used for an exclusive townhouse community. They are currently building a second hotel across Atlantic Avenue to replace the Cavalier Oceanfront, and are planning to eventually add a third hotel to the complex.
the cavalier virginia beach oceanfront beach club
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The Beach Club has also been rebuilt, with semi-private beach access, an infinity pool that looks out onto the Atlantic Ocean, and a poolside bar and grill, all only available to guests of the Cavalier Hotel or residents in their private community. The hotel’s indoor pool is another iconic feature that underwent renovations; it now features poolside service, private cabana rentals, and stylish lounge areas.
Today, the Hunt Room retains its historic floor plan, and guests can enjoy a specially-curated menu paired with libations containing spirits distilled just steps away: Tarnished Truth Distilling Company is the first craft distillery to be located inside a hotel in the entire U.S.
Becca, the Cavalier’s on-site fine dining option, is a nod to the Cavalier’s original signature restaurant, The Pocahontas, named for the famous Native American woman that resided near the Jamestown Colonial settlement and would later Anglicize her name to Rebecca. The restaurant’s menu features seasonal farm to fork dishes that reflect many Virginia products.
The Cavalier Hotel has an uncommonly distinct history, but it is far from the only historic site in Virginia Beach. As the landing site for the first colonial settlers arriving in Virginia, Virginia Beach is a trove of history. Visit First Landing State Park to walk where the original English settlers made landfall in 1607, and stop by the Cape Henry Lighthouse, which was the first federally funded public works project initiated by the United States Government under George Washington.
Walk along the Boardwalk and stop at the Norwegian Lady Statue, a tribute to the 1891 shipwreck of the Norwegian ship Dictator along the coast of Virginia and the community members that worked tirelessly after the wreck to save many of the passengers.
An identical sculpture stands Virginia Beach’s sister city of Moss, Norway.
Looking for even more Virginia Beach history? Experience it all at the local museums and historic sites, such as the Military Aviation Museum, the Adam Thoroughgood House, and the Virginia Beach Surf and Rescue Museum.
As a go-to vacation destination among the most famous artists, musicians, and other innovative thinkers in the 20th century, the Cavalier Hotel helped put Virginia Beach on the map as a mecca for creativity. That influence is evident today in the city’s impressive arts and music scene. The ViBe Creative District, just off the oceanfront strip, is a hub for both local and nationally-renowned artists. Murals adorn the walls of over a dozen businesses in the area, adding colorful and artistic touches, and sculptures, creative crosswalk art, and special installations are constantly being added to the vibrant community. Another artistic center within the oceanfront destination is the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, known for their vast array of contemporary art from leading international, national, and regional artists. Each year, the museum hosts the Annual Boardwalk Art Show, which has been running since 1952.
When it comes to music, Virginia Beach is a prime spot for live shows. The American Music Festival, one of the nation’s largest and longest-running waterfront music events, brings together an impressive lineup of musicians each year to perform right on the beach. Past performers include Sheryl Crow, Heart, The Beach Boys, Willie Nelson, Boyz II Men, and ZZ Top. While much newer, Something in the Water is another can’t-miss music festival for the Virginia Beach area. The brainchild of famous Virginia artist Pharrell, this music festival/cultural experience draws thousands of people to the shore to see some of the biggest names in rap, hip hop, rock, and more.
If you need more inspiration for a Virginia Beach vacation that involves more than just surf and sand, use our three day vacation itinerary and dining guide to start planning an incredible coastal Virginia getaway.
Stay tuned for more But Did You Know… history articles to learn about some of Virginia’s most amazing untold stories!
The post But Did You Know…The Cavalier, Virginia Beach’s Opulent Seaside Escape appeared first on Virginia’s Travel Blog.
For forty years, the Apollo Theater in Harlem showcased some of the finest black artists in American swing, jazz, R&B and pop. The lively and entertaining cover band Jeans n’ Classics will bring back these iconic sounds, performing songs of Earth, Wind & Fire, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner and many more.
For more on Jeans n’ Classics, please visit: www.jeansnclassics.com
Tickets range from $10-$82 and can be purchased by calling 804.788.1212 or online at www.richmondsymphony.com.
The post Pops 4: The Apollo Hall of Fame appeared first on Richmond Symphony.
Discover Music Director Candidate Valentina Peleggi as she leads the Richmond Symphony in an program giving a nod to her Italian heritage, including Rossini’s overture to the opera La gazza ladra (The Thieving Magpie); Respighi’s beloved Pines of Rome, inspired by the Roman landscape; and Tchaikovsky’s Francesca da Rimini, Opus 32, a tone poem based on Dante’s Inferno. The program also celebrates women in music, with Clara Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A Minor, Opus 7, performed by pianist Angela Cheng, and Joan Tower’s Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman, No. 2, dedicated to Aaron Copland and “to women who take risks and are adventurous.”
Join us for a free pre-concert talk for all at 7pm.
Learn more about Valentina Peleggi, Conductor.
The post Altria Masterworks 6: Valentina Peleggi appeared first on Richmond Symphony.
You have questions. We have answers. We’re breaking down the answers to some of your pressing questions. This installment is all about our programming. Let’s get to it!
Q: Are you becoming an art house theatre or a first run theatre?
A: We’ve always tried to include a mix of films that you might not necessarily get to see in the more commercial movie theaters and we plan to continue to do that because we hear from our community that those opportunities are important. We program a mix of sub-run films and repertory films. The repertory films include our Big Screen Classics series, Marathon Mondays, Family Classics and other special events.
Q: Seems like the films you showed in January and beginning of February feel different than your normal programming, are you sure you aren’t changing your programming?
A: January and February are tough times in the sub-run movie business. Sub-run is the majority of our screenings. Here’s a bit on how it works. The big distribution companies hold films in first run as long as they can if they have an Oscar nominee, which limits the number of available sub-run films. In addition, January tends to be a slower month in terms of releases in general. All this makes it incredibly difficult to get the big films or the Oscar nominees in this time period. Our strategy has always been look for other opportunities in this timeframe. We showed a documentary because it was getting some great reviews and had good attendance numbers and was an Oscar nominee. We chose the others based on what was available and what we thought would appeal to our community. This happens at this time every year as we struggle for good sub-run films.
Q: I heard you hired a booker from Massachusetts to book the films. How is this person going to know this community?
A: We did hire an experienced film booker who is based in Massachusetts. She works with many independent theaters all around the country. While she has excellent relationships with the studios and can help us score great films she’s not booking anything without working closely with us. All of our films are being thoughtfully chosen and curated for our audience by the programming committee.
Q: What is this programming committee?
A: The programming committee has been curating our repertory film programs for about 5 years. It is made up of board members, community representatives and theater staff. It originated the family classics, big screen classics and the other repertory film series we do. More recently, the committee has been overseeing the selection of all of our films. The programming committee helps plan special events as well.
Q: What’s up with the big Capital One banner?
A: Capital One has been a generous sponsor of our Family Classics Series for a couple of years now. We are so grateful to them and their support of our programming that we wanted to recognize them for their generosity as part of their sponsorship package.
Have other questions? Email us at info@byrdtheatre.org
The post Q&A with the Byrd Theatre appeared first on The Byrd Theatre & Foundation.
Being a princess can be exhausting! At least becoming one can… You get a mean stepfather (yep), meaner stepsisters (check), and a whole lot of chores to do! Of course, you also get a grand ball, instant and undying love, and a really great bracelet too (glass slippers are so yesterday and way too breakable). Break out your tiara and set a date with this ultimate Virginia Opera rags-to-riches tale, and get ready for a larger-than-life operatic fairytale that’ll have you floating on air and home by midnight.
Approximate Runtime: 2 hours, 48 minutes
Sung in Italian with English Supertitles
The orchestra for this production is provided by the Richmond Symphony.
Join Dr. Glenn Winters for his “Opera Up Close” pre-curtain talk forty-five minutes before each performance for his informative and entertaining insights on each production.
The post Cinderella appeared first on Richmond Symphony.
<img data-attachment-id="57518" data-permalink="https://blog.virginia.org/2019/11/big-concerts-december-2019/the-nationalrva-2/" data-orig-file="https://d2y0su6ixv655t.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/08152653/The-NationalRVA.jpg" data-orig-size="800,533" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="The National music venue richmond" data-image-description="
The National music venue richmond
” data-medium-file=”https://d2y0su6ixv655t.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/08152653/The-NationalRVA-300×200.jpg” data-large-file=”https://d2y0su6ixv655t.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/08152653/The-NationalRVA.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-57518″ src=”https://d2y0su6ixv655t.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/08152653/The-NationalRVA.jpg” alt=”The National music venue richmond” width=”700″ />Virginia’s capital has long been known for its underground punk scene, but recently, the city has become a fit for all types of musical genres.
Richmond is home to a diverse local music scene and is filled with musical talent – from both local bands and nationally recognized artists – on any given night.
For the music traveler, Richmond is the place to visit to catch your favorites artists and discover a new favorite at any of its numerous live music venues.
The National historic theater was built in 1923 and was part of a city block once known as Theatre Row. In 1968, it was converted into a cinema, which closed in 1983. Restored and reopened in 2008, The National is now used as a performing arts and music venue and hosts numerous national acts throughout the year.
The Broadberry is Richmond’s mid-sized venue that brings in everything from local Richmond musicians to touring regional acts. The Broadberry’s location has historically been a place for music. In the 1980s, the space was home to Much More and The Cellar Door, which hosted acts such as The Ramones, John Prine and Pat Benatar.
Historic theaters in Richmond, like the Altria Theater and the Carpenter Theatre at the Dominion Energy Center, once hosted famous musicians such as Elvis Presley, Iggy Pop and Diana Ross, and now bring in big name acts throughout the year as well as being the homes for the Richmond Symphony and the Broadway in Richmond theater season.
Other Richmond music venues include:
For larger outdoor shows, music lovers in Richmond can head to Virginia Credit Union LIVE! at Richmond Raceway for major arena-level artists. In the summer, Brown’s Island hosts the popular Friday night summer music series Friday Cheers.
<img data-attachment-id="17971" data-permalink="https://blog.virginia.org/2015/07/virginia-music-festivals-attend-august/richmond-jazz-festival-at-maymont/" data-orig-file="https://d2y0su6ixv655t.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/16115713/CN14082109V_045.jpg" data-orig-size="700,350" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"Sarah Hauser, Virginia Tourism C","camera":"","caption":"The Richmond Jazz Festival is an annual event that allows its attendees to experience America's original art form in such a way that transforms the city of Richmond into a jazz mecca for nearly a week.rrVirginia Tourism Corporation, www.Virginia.org","created_timestamp":"1407542400","copyright":"u00a9Virginia Tourism Corporation","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"Richmond Jazz Festival at Maymont","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Richmond Jazz Festival at Maymont" data-image-description="
The Richmond Jazz Festival is an annual event that allows its attendees to experience America’s original art form in such a way that transforms the city of Richmond into a jazz mecca for nearly a week.
Virginia Tourism Corporation, www.Virginia.org
” data-medium-file=”https://d2y0su6ixv655t.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/16115713/CN14082109V_045.jpg” data-large-file=”https://d2y0su6ixv655t.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/16115713/CN14082109V_045.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-17971″ src=”https://d2y0su6ixv655t.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/16115713/CN14082109V_045.jpg” alt=”Richmond Jazz Festival at Maymont” width=”700″ height=”350″ />Richmond also has music festivals throughout the year including the Richmond Jazz Festival in August that hosts well known jazz, soul, and R&B artists, and the Richmond Folk Festival in October that brings more than 220,000 people to downtown Richmond’s riverfront with a variety of folk and world music, dance, traditional crafts, and food.
Richmond band GWAR, known for its bloody stage show, irreverent humor and metal/punk music opened GWAR Bar for the music lover looking for a late night watering hole to grab a bite to eat or drink after a show. The restaurant features plenty of band memorabilia on display and a GWAR-focused menu that features vegan and vegetarian options, along with craft cocktails.
And no music trip would be complete with a visit to one of Richmond’s many independent record shops, including Plan 9, Deep Groove, Steady Sounds, Records & Relics and Vinyl Conflict.
The post Where to Catch the Best Live Music in Richmond appeared first on Virginia’s Travel Blog.
Being a princess can be exhausting! At least becoming one can… You get a mean stepfather (yep), meaner stepsisters (check), and a whole lot of chores to do! Of course, you also get a grand ball, instant and undying love, and a really great bracelet too (glass slippers are so yesterday and way too breakable). Break out your tiara and set a date with this ultimate Virginia Opera rags-to-riches tale, and get ready for a larger-than-life operatic fairytale that’ll have you floating on air and home by midnight.
Approximate Runtime: 2 hours, 48 minutes
Sung in Italian with English Supertitles
The orchestra for this production is provided by the Richmond Symphony.
Join Dr. Glenn Winters for his “Opera Up Close” pre-curtain talk forty-five minutes before each performance for his informative and entertaining insights on each production.
The post Cinderella appeared first on Richmond Symphony.
There’s never been a better time to explore the small towns of Virginia’s Blue Ridge than 2020, the year that brings great destinations into clear view. A focused travel plan can be essential for some while others look for simple inspiration.
We’re happy to provide a mix of the two and are hopeful that however you choose to experience our small towns, this will be the year you’re able to travel well and often in Virginia’s Blue Ridge.
The beginning of The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail, Rocky Mount is home to one of Virginia’s best music venues, great food and art, and a moonshine destination. Perhaps you’ve heard that Franklin County is the Wettest County in the World? Here’s where to go…
The hippiest of Virginia’s communities, Floyd is all music and art all the time. It’s also one of Virginia’s friendliest communities. Everyone has an open invitation to bring an instrument and join in a jam session at the Floyd Country Store, and their Friday Night Jamboree is legendary. The party overflows into the street with music inside and out, and plenty of dancing everywhere you look.
Upcoming Events at The Floyd Country Store >
Buchanan is a river town and launch point for outdoor excursions. It’s also a nostalgic stop along Route 11 with iconic architecture like the swinging bridge and the neon marquee of the Buchanan Theatre. Visit both of those sites and plan to do a bit more, too.
Learn the history of the Town of Buchanan >
Historic Fincastle is walkable town and has a self-guided walking tour map, how about that? Dating to 1770 (incorporated in 1772), there are several historic buildings to admire. Find help with additional interpretation of the sites and learn about the town’s Lewis & Clark connection you visit the Botetourt County Historical Museum.
Town of Fincastle Tour Guide Brochure >
Vinton is a small town with pretty sweet amenities. Finding what’s fresh and local is a snap at the Vinton Farmers’ Market, open every day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Continue the trend of good, fresh eats with a meal at FarmBurguesa. Their claim to fame is hamburgers, but they’re not so plain or simple. A diverse menu offers a bit of something for most everyone. Consider their one-of-a-kind Toston, a farm-fresh burger on twice-fried plantain patties rather than bread. It’s a nod to their Colombian heritage. See the FarmBurguesa Menu >
Wash down your excellent meal with a craft beer from Twin Creeks Brewing Company. Maybe their new Wooden Tipsy Canoe? It’s a Barrel Aged Scotch Ale coming in at 7.9% ABV. Beer on Tap at Twin Creeks >
Head to the Vinton War Memorial where you’ll find the LOVE Letters and High Ground Veterans Monument. Set the timer on your camera and pose with a letter, then check out the monument honoring veterans and current members of the armed forces from Botetourt and Roanoke Counties.
Download the Vinton Visitor’s Guide >
Home of Roanoke College, Salem is as busy as any college town (it’s technically a city, but you’ll love the small town feel!), and offers dining and shopping for those coming, going, and living. Visitors will want to take their time to appreciate a few of the finer points, however, and we’d like to point them out:
With its close proximity to Smith Mountain Lake and the Blue Ridge Mountains, Bedford is a small town full of history and character that’s framed by beautiful scenery. Consider a visit to Bedford during your road trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway and include the following stops:
Cheers to your year of fresh, new adventure! Share your travels through Virginia’s Blue Ridge socially with the hashtag #Trailsetter to showcase your favorite eats, drinks, stays, and ways to play.
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The Richmond Symphony will present a full screening of “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
” live in concert. Fans can now experience the thrilling third installment of J.K. Rowling’s classic saga, accompanied by the music of a live symphony orchestra as Harry soars across the big screen.
Tickets are $52.50-$82.50 and can be purchased by visiting www.altriatheater.com or by calling 804.592.3368.
HARRY POTTER characters, names and related indicia are © & Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. WIZARDING WORLD trademark and logo © & Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © JKR. (s19)
The post Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban™ in Concert appeared first on Richmond Symphony.
Regarded by many as the pinnacle of classical ballet, Swan Lake opens on Valentine’s Day for four performances only. Xu Yan and Li Wentao, guest artists from the National Ballet of China, will share the stage with our incredible dancers, furthering the connections forged on our 2015 tour to China.
Featuring a spirited prince, beautiful swan queen, and evil sorcerer, this timeless tale of the struggle between good and evil has captivated ballet audiences for over 125 years. Tchaikovsky’s lush score and moonlit images of impossible grace weave together to create an unforgettable story of passion, illusion, and mystery.
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VCUarts Department of Dance and Choreography will present IYKYK (if you know you know), the 2019 Fall Senior Project Concert, on Saturday, November 16th at 7:30PM at The Anderson (907 ½ W Franklin St.) and Saturday, November 22nd and 23rd at the Grace Street Theater (934 West Grace Street) Richmond, VA. Tickets are $15/$10 students with valid I.D. and free to VCU students with valid I.D.
Tickets are available now at Showclix.com or by calling 804-828-2020.
The performance on November 16 will feature a site-based work by senior Jenna Beardsley at The Anderson (no admission required), located at 907 ½ W Franklin St. The work will be performed three times between 7:30-8:30 pm, with 10 minute intermissions between the showings, followed by a one-hour dance party. The stage works, performed at the Grace Street Theater, will begin at 7:30 pm on November 22nd and 23rd.
IYKYK is a professionally-produced capstone experience that serves as the culmination of senior dance majors’ time creating and researching in the VCUarts Dance + Choreography Department. This show acts as a celebration of the individual artists’ voices, and serves as the official commencement of their future careers and influences as members of the global dance community.
Hello, and welcome to our IYKYK (If you know you know)page! This page will give you information and teasers for our upcoming show on November 16th (one week intermission), November 22nd and 23rd. We are also raising money to make everything happen, so please support us! Link is in the description. Here is our promo video, which includes the choreographers for each piece. Follow our page for more details!!!!!Our choreographers included are :Chaunci HannibalJenna BeardsleyOlivia AlsamadiElizabeth DrakeKasey GrigsbyTaylor BonadiesJulia Turgeon
Posted by VCU Dance Presents: IYKYK on Saturday, October 12, 2019
Through the lens of a Palestinian directly affected by the Israeli occupation, Olivia Alsamadi highlights the experience of being displaced in and from one’s homeland. A movement language derived from traditional Arab dance forms illuminates the resilience and community of Palestinian women facing the hardships of existing in a land that has been stolen and destroyed. In this work, Alsamadi uses the various textures of human connection to map new and old pathways within an occupied space.
You are invited! Come out and experience a queer utopian future that will be created and destroyed around you in The Anderson, transformed into an underground dance world. Serving you an immersive dance theatrical event, Jenna Beardsley has worked in collaboration with the performers to reveal their ephemera through playful movement vignettes where they will engage, dance, feel, build, and get lost, reorienting themselves as well as their audience. Come out and together we will contradict ourselves, conceive new worlds, and live fantasies.
In a process-oriented excavation of performance, Taylor Bonadies facilitates an opportunity and landscape for self-discovery through performative agency. Time slows and expands as the audience is drawn to participate in the energetic evolution of the performers; they each construct and articulate their distinct embodiment of performance. Their innermost intricacies are woven into the work through structure, texture, and embodiment as dancers draw the audience into their channel to taste the electricity themselves.
In what do we trust? Does faith mean we blind ourselves to conflicting truths? Do we linger in the dimness of ignorance, simply because it is the only light that others have shown us? These are the questions Elizabeth Drake is posing in Nodus Tollens. Set in Plato’s allegorical Cave, a community of nine dancers experiences a disruption in their group dynamic as one of them goes on a journey of spiritual self-discovery that leads to a clash between individual and groupthink.
We make connections every day but how many of them sit with us? How many moments do we let ourselves pause and authentically connect with the people around us? Kasey Grigsby, in Unraveling Connections, investigates authentic connections through willingness and vulnerability. By sifting through the layers of life, she asks performers to cultivate a space and energy in which strength in softness draws out these moments.
Through empirical analysis, potentiality is not attained, but through investigation it will be explored. Within this 10 minute segment, certain humans will encounter a level, where their abilities will be pushed. Chaunci Hannibal’s work takes the form of the Human Experiment of Potentiality:
Scenario 1) Potential — Advantage + Privilege+ Fear=?
Scenario 2) Potential + Advantage+ Privilege — Fear =?
Scenario 3) Potential — Advantage — Privilege — Fear=?
(Advantage=Money)
Questions:
In Julia Turgeon’s A Tender Reflection, a multigenerational cast of dancers investigates the energetic connection between women and their maternal ancestors, pulling on the tether that connects them to their pasts and their futures. The dancers discover the circular nature of history as they fall through a time and space of simultaneity, their movement supported by the echoes of the women who have come before them.
Look for event updates on Facebook & Instagram
IYKYK is the fifth event in the VCUarts Dance + Choreography 2019-2020 performance season. Recognized by professional dancers and choreographers as “a place where things are happening,” Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Dance and Choreography offers a vibrant and stimulating atmosphere where students prepare for careers in dance.
The post Tickets Available: IYKYK (if you know you know) 2019 Fall Senior Project Concert appeared first on Grace Street Theater.
VCUarts Dance is pleased to present ROUGH CUT 2020, the first annual student film screening, Friday, January 24, 2020, 7:30 pm at the Grace Street Theater, 934 West Grace Street, Richmond, VA. Admission is FREE and open to the public. Call 804-828-2020 or visit the event page for more information.
Rough Cut includes a fantastically diverse range of films created by VCUarts majors from both the Kinetic Imaging and Dance + Choreography departments. Dr. Kate Sicchio, Assistant Professor of Dance and Media Technologies, facilitated curation of the screening with a panel of students and faculty.
Love On Tap, by Phil Archer, is a multimedia animation featuring a tap dance routine to Beyonce’s “Love on Top.” This piece showcases a wide variety of animation techniques and materials, including felt puppets, yarn, collage, and many others. The bright colors and feel-good vibes paired with the upbeat music result in a positive, uplifting viewing experience.
Taylor Colimore’s Arrival & Departure is a performance piece about being away from all the people you love and the moments when they arrive to visit and moments when the depart after visiting.
In Break, Michelle Dominado has created a 2D frame-by-frame rotoscoped animation of a b-boy.
In the Dark of Night, by Angie Gan is an expression of who we are when are truly alone. It is a dance that represents the freedom to live our deepest fantasies.
Anna George’s Interstellar Love is a sweet, fun love story of two stars dancing through space
What would you do if a million dollars appeared in your bank account? Kyana Harris’s film Money Goodt explores a baddie adventure that she and her girls take on when some extra zeros in their account cause them to go from drab to fab!
Directed by Alexiana James and choreographed by Kasey Grigsby, Unraveling Connections investigates authentic connections through willingness and vulnerability.
tercet, created by Michael Shea and Chaunci Hannibal, explores the differences in tonality and movement quality that arise when three directors work with the same subject matter, environment, and material constraints. Each chapter of the film arose from a differing emotion; when viewed subsequently they form an abstracted glimpse into human consciousness and the cathartic power of dance.
Megan Siepka’s I Was Walking / Heap of Testimony depicts rage, discomfort, and reclusive behavior in the face of violation.
“Alone in the woods and a desire to capture the moments they decide to document their world.” Tay Williams’s film offers a dance rendition of Billie Eilish’s song everything i wanted.
Rough Cut is the sixth event in the VCUarts Dance + Choreography 2019-2020 performance season. Recognized by professional dancers and choreographers as “a place where things are happening,” Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Dance and Choreography offers a vibrant and stimulating atmosphere where students prepare for careers in dance.
The post VCUarts Dance Presents 1st Annual Student Film Screening appeared first on Grace Street Theater.
VCUarts Dance is pleased to present VCUarts Dance NOW, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday February 6th-8th at 7:30pm nightly plus a 2pm Saturday matinee at the Grace Street Theater, 934 West Grace Street, Richmond, VA. Tickets are now available online from our ticketing page or by calling our box office at 804-828-2020.
Tickets:
$15 General Admission
$10 Students (with valid I.D.)/Seniors
FREE for VCU students with valid I.D.
*VCU students: Email gracestreet@vcu.edu NO LATER THAN 12PM ON WEDNESDAY, FEB. 5 to request your free ticket. Be sure to use your VCU email address and include your V number in your email. Bring your mobile/printed ticket and valid VCU ID to be checked at the door. 1 free ticket per VCU student, only to be used by student.
For 2020, this concert in two programs features new works by VCUarts Dance faculty, students, and guest artist Christopher K. Morgan.
Program A: Thursday 7:30pm + Saturday 7:30pm
Julian Kevon Glover, iCubed Visiting Scholar
Cristopher K. Morgan, Guest Artist
Scott Putman, Faculty
Eric Rivera, Faculty
Dr. Kate Sichhio, Faculty
Megan Siepka, Student
Sydney Wiggins, Student
Program B: Friday 7:30pm + Saturday 2pm
Joi Brown, Student
Sinclair Emoghene, Faculty
Michelle Knight, Student
Christopher K. Morgan, Guest Artist
Trebien Pollard, Faculty
Judy Steel, Faculty
Noah Zaner, Student
Recognized by professional dancers and choreographers as “a place where things are happening,” Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Dance and Choreography offers a vibrant and stimulating atmosphere where students prepare for careers in dance.
For more information about the Department of Dance and Choreography, please visit: www.arts.vcu.edu/dance.
For ticketing assistance please call The Grace Street Theater Box Office at 804-828-2020.
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