Thursday, Dec. 4
Brian’s Books After Dark at Brian’s Books
Nobody knows exactly when the first picture was taken. But it was sometime between 1826 and 1827, when French inventor Joseph Nicéphore Niépce snapped “View from the Window at Le Gras,” a heliographic image of his yard, using a camera obscura. If proceeding centuries of art history are any indication, it stands to reason that one of the next images shot could have been called “View from the Window at Le ASS.” In the centuries since, erotic images have developed on pace with technological breakthroughs, from the steam-powered rotary press or dawn of the VHS and ‘the net,’ to more recent advents like smartphones and artificial intelligence. By any measure, the second half of the 20th century revolutionized the adult industry and reached peak mainstream prominence with its own ‘golden age’ from 1969 to 1984. Now Brian’s Books has unearthed a veritable cornucopia of vintage erotica from 1950 to 1990 that will be on sale for one night only. Browse over 3,000 salacious magazines, books, VHS tapes and ephemera of all stripes — gay, straight and more. Entry is free. Adults only, though: 18+ with valid I.D. Runs from 7 p.m. until midnight at 2514 P St.—Tim Abbondelo
Palmyra with Dogwood Tales and Tommie’s House at Broadberry
Having played Iron Blossom Fest not too long ago, Oh Boy Records’ recording arist Palmyra will perform a hometown show on the heels of its new album, “Restless.” Look for our preview from this week by Mike Hilleary. Doors at 7 p.m.
The Bizarre Bazaar at Richmond Raceway (through Sunday, Oct. 7)
Yes, the 50th annual Christmas collection should have nearly 500 vendors with decorative accessories including clothes, toys, furniture, artwork and decorations for this traditional holiday event with one of the better names. Runs Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. $11. 600 E. Laburnum Ave. Find more info here.
Friday, Dec. 5
RVA Illuminates at Kanawha Plaza
Starting at 4 p.m., bring a chair or blanket and enjoy live performances from Jerel Crockett, Huguenot High School Choir and TB Smith Radiant Royalty Dancers, plus there will be food trucks with all the fixins. Then, starting at 5:59 p.m., you’ll countdown with ABC8 for the annual tree lighting and illumination of the downtown skyline. Free event. 701 E. Canal St. Find more information here.
RVA Krampusnacht 13th Annual Yuletide Monsters Group Art Show at Gallery5
This event themed “Winter Spirits” will have vendors, performances, music, visual art with related themes such as Krampus (the mythical beast from Central European folklore, Santa’s dark counterpart) as well as winter folklore and creepy Christmas stuff. Donations encouraged. Free event. 5 to 11 p.m. 200 W. Marshall St. Find more information here.
Saturday, Dec. 6
(Lot going on today, so we arranged in chronological order)
The 42nd annual Dominion Energy Christmas Parade
An annual tradition, this parade starts at the Science Museum of Virginia and travels east along Broad Street, ending at 10th Street. Expect colorful floats, helium balloons, high school marching bands and special guests. If you can’t make it, you can watch on TV at WTVR CBS6. Starts at 10:15 a.m. Free event. Find more information here.
Visit with Soul Santa at The Black History Museum
Crank up that James Brown “Funky Christmas” vinyl: The Black History Museum invites children and their families to come meet Soul Santa, enjoy Christmas stories, participate in arts and crafts and receive a special treat. Families will also have the chance to take a photo with Soul Santa. Registration is required. This event takes place on Saturdays (Nov. 29, Dec. 6, Dec. 13) from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 122 W. Leigh Street. Find more information here
Holidaze Market at Gallery5
Join RVA Krampus for some festive shopping with unique handcrafted creations from talented local crafters and artisans. Bring new unwrapped toys to donate to the Toys for Tots Toy Drive. Pay as you go. 200 W. Marshall Street. Runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Find more info here.
7th Annual Holiday Cheers with RVA Makers Market at Basic City Beer (Manchester)
This Richmond holiday market features more than 35 local makers with products ranging from candles, clothing, jewelry and works of art. Dog friendly. Pay as you go. Noon to 6 p.m. 212 W. 6th St. Find more info here.
13th Annual RVA Krampusnacht Parade through Carytown
Time to dust off the horns, again. Meet up at Aquarian Bookshop parking lot to organize and have a costume contest, with snacks and hot drinks available from Maria’s Apple Cider Donuts Truck (oh snap). Last minute costumes vended by The Crafty Hobbit, tarot readings by Lanie and her mystical caravan. Bring new and unwrapped toys to donate for Toys for Tots charity drive, there will be a drop-off box at the bookshop. Walk begins at 6 p.m. down Cary Street around Byrd Theater.
Shelf Life Books presents Brew Ho Ho at Afterglow Coffee Cooperative
Books are still one of the very best ways to expand your mind, so get out and support your local authors and book sellers – the mind is a terrible thing to waste. This traditional evening of books and brews will feature 16 of RVA’s top authors on hand, including the one-and-only D. Randall Blythe, also known as the lead singer for Lamb of God, who will be knocking back coffee and signing copies of his excellent books, “Dark Days” and his latest opus, “Just Beyond the Light” (which is still on our frighteningly tall reading list to get through). Other writers on hand include Clay McLeod Chapman, who Style has covered many times over the years, as well as crime writer S.A. Cosby. There will also be a raffle tonight to support the very worthy local nonprofit, RVA Community Fridges. Get your Ho Ho going from 7 to 9 p.m. Afterglow is located at 1719 Summit Ave. in Scott’s Addition.
Roger Carroll’s Get Behind the Mule plays the music of Tom Waits on his 76th birthday at Gallery5
If you’ve never seen local musician Roger Carroll sing the songs of Tom Waits, you’re missing out. He nails them, plus he has the musical acumen to play his wild, broken-down beat blues, as well as surround himself with amazing local musicians. Wait and his wife Kathleen would be impressed. 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. This one will likely sell out. Tickets are available here. $15 in advance, $20 at the door.
Kadencia Orchestra’s “Tropical Christmas 2” at Richmond Music Hall
You’ll experience the spirit of the parranda, those joyous all-night parties that ring out the l-o-n-g Christmas season in Puerto Rico, at Kadencia’s followup to their successful 2023 concert. The large bomba and plena band, based in Chesterfield but with its roots in the Caribbean commonwealth, will showcase traditional aguinaldos, which are songs traditionally performed at seasonal parranda gatherings — infectious rhythmic chants built on improvisation. This always engaging ensemble may also play selections from its forthcoming new album, like “Como Llama,” the just-released first single that features the lead vocal debut of pandero and bongo player “Tito” Sanabria. 8 p.m. Tickets start at $21. —Don Harrison
Richmond Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” (Through Dec. 23) at Dominion Energy Center for the Performing Arts
Talk about your local holiday traditions, this one is like a rite of passage for many local kids –meaning if they’re not in it, they’re probably going to it one day. Richmond Ballet’s “Nutcracker” has gotten kudos from The New York Times for being one of the country’s top regional productions, so there’s a high standard. The ballet will be accompanied by the Richmond Symphony performing Tchaikovsky’s timeless score. Tickets start at $32. Find all the pertinent information here.
Sunday, Dec. 7
Holiday Ball featuring Star Sign, The Periphs, Benny Trokan, Designer, Loud Night and The Arkaics at Cobra Cabana
Had to add this show in, slipped our radar, but we’re told it’s one of the best shows of the month; features RVA power pop upstarts Star Sigh, The Periphs, which is Nick Wood’s full band experience with Piranha Rama’s Chrissie Lozano; Benny Trokan (Daptone) on tour from New York featuring members of Jay Vons, Reigning Sound and Spoon; and Designer, what we’re told is an explosive new band on tour from Asheville, NC that reminds writer Tim Abbondelo of an excellent cross between The Runaways and BOC (that’s Blue Oyster Cult). But wait, that’s not all: Top things off with Mr. Abbondelo’s own band, The Arkaics, garage rock nuts with members of Pygmy Lush and City of Caterpillar and Loud Night, members of the new wave of Richmond heavy metal with members of Mel Machete and Mammoth Grinder. DJs include He’s Alright, Coco Buttons and Fat Keith Richards, “playing all manner of garage, psych, power pop and proto metal from the 60s and 70s.” Yes it’s that much coolness under one roof, or no roof, we’re not sure. But it’s at Cobra, with 5 p.m. doors, costs $10 before 7 p.m. and $15 after.
Check out the other bands here:
–STAR SIGN: http://starsignva.bandcamp.com
–THE PERIPHS: https://nick-woods.bandcamp.com/track/black-cat
–BENNY TROKAN: https://daptonerecords.bandcamp.com/album/do-you-still-think-of-me
–DESIGNER: https://designertheband.bandcamp.com/album/weekend-at-brians
–THE ARKAICS: https://thearkaics.bandcamp.com
–LOUD NIGHT: https://loudnight.bandcamp.com/music
“Black Christmas” at the Byrd Theatre
The annual screening of this innovative 1974 horror film is becoming a yuletide staple at the Byrd. The tense nail-biter is cited as one of the first slasher movies, an inspiration to “Halloween” director John Carpenter, but it’s got its own distinctive (Canadian) vibe with subtle feminist underpinnings and a great cast (Margot Kidder, Olivia Hussey, SCTV’s Andrea Martin). Disregarded at the time, it has earned cult status in the years since — not to mention a contemporary remake that is best to avoid – and a truly shocking ending is one of the reasons why. Director Bob Clark would later showcase a totally different side to the season in “A Christmas Story.” Don’t answer the phone! 7 p.m.—D.H.
Monday, Dec.8
Out of Your Heads Records third annual Holiday Grab Bag at Artspace
The third time an annual event takes place is when it starts to be a tradition. For the past two years, the final Second Monday event of the year has featured adventurous if unconventional pairings of improvising musicians. The Out of Your Heads Records series regularly draws interesting artists – either local or traveling – for performances that explore the sonic possibilities of the farther reaches of popular music. Most are encounters: for example, two drummers alternating sets then coming together for a group improvisation, or last month’s violin and percussion set featuring Nicole Mitchell and JoVia Armstrong marking the 60th anniversary of Chicago’s avant garde Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM). The somewhat more freeform recombinant approach of the grab bag show harkens back to the original Out of Your Heads Collective events in Baltimore and later Brooklyn. RVA-based OOYH principals, bassist Adam Hopkins and drummer Scott Clark will curate. The charm is that the sets are likely to be at once virtuosic and unpredictable. Come expecting to be surprised. 8 p.m. $10. –Peter McElhinney
Tuesday, Dec. 9
Milk Carton Kids with Humbird at The Tin pan (SOLD OUT)
Gorgeous sounding indie folk duo from Los Angeles that has been likened to early Simon and Garfunkel and gets raves from people like comedian Edi Patterson (one of our faves) as well as used in a film by Gus Van Sant. If you snoozed, you likely loozed on this one.
Wednesday, Dec. 10
An Evening with Chevy Chase following a screening of “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” at Altria Theater
Sure, Chevy Chase apparently has a reputation as a royal a-hole among those he’s worked with, but that doesn’t mean that his “Christmas Vacation” movie isn’t one of the most cherished and oft-watched holiday films in America. It’s probably on now. We spoke to him by phone recently, and he wasn’t bad, really. Watch out for our interview. 7 p.m. More info here.
