Thursday, Jan. 1
The 18th annual Cone Parade in Carytown
Join up for a whimsical and symbolic celebration as the Coneheads take over Carytown. How to participate: Visit coneparade.com to get inspired, design and construct your costume, no registration is needed. Meet at the parking lot in front of the Aquarian Bookshop at 12 S. Thompson St. at noon with your cone ready to rock. Then everybody will march along the parade route down Cary Street to the Boulevard and back. To learn more, read our preview by Hilary Langford or visit the website. Noon to 2 p.m. Free.
“When Harry Met Sally” at the Byrd Theatre
The classic comedy by the late great Rob Reiner starring Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan and “I’ll Have What She’s Having.” 7 p.m. $9.
Friday, Jan. 2
First Fridays opening reception – CATtidude: Observations of the Feline Form and Cat Nature at Gallery5
Gallery5 proudly presents a playful exhibition celebrating our feline friends. Inspired by the beloved “Find Francine” campaign, this show “highlights the cats who accompany us through the coldest months—keeping us warm, lifting our spirits, and serving as unexpected muses in our everyday lives.” It will feature works from local artists who draw inspiration from “the quirks, comforts, and companionship of their furry counterparts.” The opening reception will include live music from cat-inspired local bands beginning at 6:30 p.m. — at press time, we did not have the lineup yet. 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Sam Reed Sings Nina Simone at Révéler Experiences
Samantha “Sam” Reed does several fine tributes to legendary singers including Sharon Jones, Betty Davis and Janis Joplin. The one to Nina Simone may be her best. First performed in the Rabbit Hole basement of Vagabond on Broad Street with Calvin Brown on piano, it is a near perfect mix of artist and interpreters. Simone was both an extraordinary singer and a concert-level pianist, albeit in a racist time when Black women were excluded from performing the then all-European classical repertoire. Reed, best known for holding her own against the mighty horns of No BS! Brass Band, has the power and charisma to deliver the lyrics; Brown the skill and elegance to evoke Simone’s command of the keys. The songs come from a period of history perhaps mistakenly thought to be past, notably the “Mississippi Goddam” decrying racist violence. “Please Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” and “Sinner Man” have become classics. Simone put and indelible soulful stamp on the Broadway showstopper “Feeling Good” from Anthony Newley’s self-referentially showbiz hit “The Roar of the Greasepaint, the Smell of the Crowd.” The program is full of songs either familiar or instantly memorable, performed by a Reed’s longtime first-rate band: drummer Josh Hawkins, guitarist Steven Boone, bassist Carl Ellis. Shows at 7 and 9:30. $20.—Peter McElhinney
Saturday, Jan. 3
Totally Rad Vintage Fest at Richmond Convention Center
Is it totally rad? We can’t really say, never been. But it claims to offer a curated lineup of vintage vendors offering “the best in 80s, 90s and Y2K fashion, accessories, memorabilia, media and more.” 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ticket information here.
Synthmas 5: Silent Night Holy Fuck Fest at Gallery5
Ready to go ahead and blow those brains early on this year? How about nine hours, yes, nine hours of synthmas cheer with 15 synth-based performers from all over the state including: Trapcry, Cold Toast, Butterfly closure, Jaguardini, Thieves of Shiloh, Brown Piss, Reptile Tile, Ships in the night, Stone Garden jam Temple, Stephanie, Chest Hair, Thumpr, The Treasury, Permanent and Body Con. Runs from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. 200 W. Marshall St. Cost is $12 in advance or $15 at the door.
Reckoning at Révéler (Jan. 3-6)
This is the second time around for this all-star celebration of the Grateful Dead’s 1981 double album, “Reckoning.” Or the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh, counting individual shows. The original album, a set of succinct acoustic pieces assembled from multiple Dead shows, was both a return to the band’s roots and a departure from the sprawling psychedelic electric jams that defined the group’s later identity. (The companion electric album from the same shows, “Dead Set,” has nearly as many songs, but they were heavily edited to fit.) The Richmond musicians are all veterans of the local scene and beyond. Drummer Brian Jones and bassist Stewart Myers were both in ‘90s breakout band Agents of Good Roots. Pianist Daniel Clarke played with everyone from Mandy Moore to KD Lang. Dusty Ray Simmons currently tours with the Cris Jacobs Band. Guitarist Willie Williams plays in the late Dickie Betts’ slot in Great Southern. Guitarist/vocalist Louis Smith is a standout in Kendall Street Company. The group has the chops, humor and the gravitas to bring a 45-year-old roots rock masterpiece alive. While Saturday night has already sold out; there are always a few lounge tickets at the door. The music, in the tradition of the Grateful Dead’s classic “Workingman’s Dead” and “American Beauty” albums, has an appeal that reaches far beyond the hardcore Deadhead audience. I suspect a lot of people are going for the second time, for good reason. Shows at 7:30. $30.—P.M.
Sunday, Jan. 4
Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights (final night) at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
It’s the last day to check out this year’s GardenFest of Lights. 4 to 10 p.m. Ticket prices vary.
Tuesday, Jan. 6
“Tomorrow, the War” with Max Watman at Fountain Bookstore
VCU teacher Max Watman, who was raised in the Shenandoah Valley, has published several books; his latest is a “sweeping historical epic that follows the intertwined lives of Jed Stokes, a restless wanderer shaped by violence, and Raleigh, a once-enslaved man seeking justice.” He’ll be speaking with Ed Trask, local musician, painter and muralist extraordinaire. 6-7 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 7
Sangat feat. Qais Essar and Sonny Singh at Révéler Experiences
Afghan American rabab virtuoso Qais Essar has joined forces with Sikh American trumpet player and singer Sonny Singh in a new project that “obliterates musical, political and religious boundaries,” according to organizers. “Sangat is a term Sikhs use to refer to beloved community,” explains Singh. “We often use the term to refer to the congregation in a gurdwara [Sikh house of worship], but to me, sangat is something much broader. My beloved community transcends ethnic, religious and national boundaries.” Admission is $27.50. Doors at 7 and music at 8 p.m.
“Battle Royale” (2000) at The Byrd Theatre
The hilarious and brutal Japanese film by Kinji Fukasaku (subtitled “have you ever killed your best friend?”) that was later watered down into the “Hunger Games” movies and probably a thousand other things in America. 7 p.m. $9.
