The passing month has brought
about spring rain, cherry blossoms,
senioritis and the third installment of
the Richmond Bucket List-things to
do and see before your time in our River
City is just a distant memory.
# 7: Lace up your running (or
walking) shoes for a good cause.
The VCU Massey Cancer Center,
with Ukrop’s grocery stores and various
other corporate, private and public
donors, is involved in organizing the
Ukrop’s Monument Ave. 10k, a fundraising
road race unique to Richmond.
The event, which began in 1999,
holds claim to being the fourth-largest
– concerning participancy – 10k race
in the country.
This year’s event, to be held Saturday,
reached its 30,000-participant limit in
the pre-registration phase. Those who
still would like to take part in the
experience in another capacity may
donate funds to the Massey Cancer
Center, may become volunteers for the
race (which also hosts a one-mile fun
run for children ages 5 to 12), or may
simply join the enclave that descends
upon Monument Avenue in the wee
hours of the morning to provide moral
support.
For those who prefer the sidelines
to the road, simply observing is an
experience in itself. Costumed runners abound, and
with live music, supportive chants and drum ensembles
active from beginning to end, there is an unmistakable
air of collective-group positivity. If one feels inspired
afterward, but the prospect of running a 10k (approximately
6 miles) next year proves daunting, the YMCA
sponsors a training team that begins in late January
and continues until race day.
More information about the Monument 10k can be
found at: http://www.sportsbackers.org/10kmainpage.
htm
If you’ve missed the registration deadlines or if the
Monument 10k is too much of an undertaking, the national Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure might be
more your speed. The race, which began in 1983 in
Dallas Texas with 800 runners participating, has blossomed
into an international event in which millions of
runners participate annually. Race for the Cure, which
is held throughout the year, will come to Brown’s
Island May 10. All proceeds go to the research for the
treatment of and the eventual cure for breast cancer.
More information can be found at www.sportsbackers.
org/10kmainpage.htm
# 8: Meet some famous people
VCU’s various reputable departments and educational
programs (check out the latest “U.S. News and World
Report”) have attracted to the university a number of
notable artists, speakers, musicians, researchers and
experts in their individual fields. From author Shozo
Sato to world-renowned artists Christo and Jean Claude,
the list of celebrated guest artists and lecturers to grace
VCU’s stages and podiums is long and varied. It is rare
that one has the opportunity to see such masters in their
fields in person – let alone for free – so it would behoove
the student population and residents of Richmond to
take advantage of these occasions at any and every
instance they occur. For example, best-selling author
and VCU alumnus David Baldacci will be speaking
about his publications and career this Friday from 4
p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Richmond Salons located in
the University Student Commons. Baldacci also will be
available for book signing. For more information about
this event and other guest artists and lecturers, please
refer to the VCU Calendar of Events at http://events.
vcu.edu/.
# 9: Go festive
Richmond is host to a number of festivals that
encompass a variety of genres. The Richmond Folk
Festival, which usually takes place within the first few
weeks of October, is free and features live music, artisans
and food. The 2nd Street festival focuses on Richmond’s
historic African-American community with a plethora
of food, music and art. The River City Beer and Seafood
Festival is held on Brown’s Island in June. The festival
features exactly what its title indicates, along with live
bands, and is free to the public. The James River Film
Festival, currently underway until April 6, features
showings of award-winning films and the opportunity
to have an open forum with the filmmakers themselves.
Director Richard Kelly will introduce his movie “Donnie
Darko” at the Byrd Theatre at 11:30 p.m. this Saturday.
Other Richmond festivals include the Strawberry Street
Festival, the Dogwood Dell Festival of the Arts and
the Virginia Food Festival, as well as Filipino, Greek
and Lebanese festivals that take place in the city and
surrounding areas.