Community CalendarCommunity Calendar week of October 3, 2010

FRIDAY OCTOBER 8^TH FROM 11AM TO 12 PM, ATTEND A FREE HEALING MEDITATION CLASS AT THE NATURAL THERAPY CENTER, LOCATED AT 2520-D PROFESSIONAL RD. RICHMOND, 23235. PLEASE BRING A PILLOW AND MAT TO THE CLASS. FOR MORE INFO VISIT THENATURALTHERAPYCENTER.COM.

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ART EVENTS GOING ON IN SHOCKOE? COME TO SHOCKOE WIDE OPEN, THIS FRIDAY OCTOBER 8^TH STARTING AT 7PM.  WALK FROM EAST CARY AT 12^TH STREET TO EAST MAIN AT 21^ST STREET AND EXPERIENCE ART, MUSIC AND LOCAL FOOD AND WINE! EVERYONE IS ENCOURAGED TO USE THE “TO THE BOTTOM AND BACK” BUS TO GET TO VARIOUS POINTS ON THE WALK OR TO GO ON A LOOP AROUND RICHMOND! FIND SHOCKOE WIDE OPEN ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE INFO.

ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 16, BRING YOUR FAMILY TO THE SHOCKTOBERFEST FALL CELEBRATION AT THE 17^TH STREET FARMERS MARKET. STARTING AT 11 AM, COME ENJOY REGGAE AND BLUEGRASS MUSIC, AS WELL AS TON OF FUN! FOR MORE INFO, GO TO 17THSTREETFARMERSMARKET.COM.

AT THE VCU BARNES AND NOBLE, ON THURSDAY OCTOBER 7^TH AT 7:00 PM, AUTHOR JEFFERY TURNER WILL BE SIGNING AND DISCUSSING HIS NEW BOOK, “SITTING IN AND SPEAKING OUT: STUDENT MOVEMENTS IN THE AMERICAN SOUTH 1960-1970.” IN HIS BOOK, HE EXAMINES THE ACTIVISM OF BLACK AND WHITE STUDENTS, AND SHOWS THAT THE SOUTH’S RESPONSE TO NATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS HAD ITS OWN TRAJECTORY- ONE THAT WAS ROOTED IN RACE.

THIS FRIDAY, SATURDAY, OR SUNDAY, JOIN THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO COME DOWN TO DOWNTOWN RICHMOND’S RIVERFRONT TO CELEBRATE THE ROOTS, RICHNESS, AND VARIETY OF AMERICAN CULTURE THROUGH MUSIC, DANCE, TRADITIONAL CRAFTS, STORYTELLING, AND FOOD. FOR MORE INFO, VISIT WWW.RICHMONDFOLKFESTIVAL.ORG.

ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13^TH, AT GALLERY 5 AT 5:00 PM, CULTUREWORKS AND GALLERY 5 PARTNER FOR A NEW LECTURE SERIES. IT WILL BE A HAPPY HOUR DIP INTO ACADEMIA WITH AN ARRAY OF UNUSUAL TOPICS. THE LECTURE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY MUSICAL PERFORMANCES AND HAPPY HOUR DRINK SPECIALS.

Kick off Halloween weekend with The Renew Crew.  Join them Saturday, October 30^th, from 10a.m. to 2p.m. at the Carillon in Richmond for a day of fun at their fall festival.   Come out for live music, pumpkin painting and trick-or-treating. Join Nutzy to support The Renew Crew. See their building talents firsthand and find out how their wheelchair ramps and home repairs are making a difference in our local neighborhoods.  Bring your children in their most unique Halloween costumes to compete for prizes.  And, don’t forget to dress up your furry friend!  Come rock with the Renew Crew!

INTERESTED IN ART? On Friday, October 15th Chop Suey Books will host an opening reception for Thirty-Oh, an exhibition of new paintings and drawings by Richmond artist Kate Duffy. The show will run through November 7th. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE TIME OR LOCATION VISIT CHOPSUEYBOOKS.COM.

Join Run to the river on Saturday, October 16, 9:30am for some exercise fun! Dash along the river, down cobblestone streets and through historic neighborhoods in one of Richmond’s best 10K races, or take the easy 5K neighborhood walk. Join us after the race for the Finish Line party with live music, free T-shirts and delicious food. All proceeds benefit the Neighborhood Resource Center. Register at www.runtotheriver.org.