The Wrap: Folk Festival artists, Monty Python, interim RPS superintendent, and improv comedy

Photo: Dave Parrish

The week in brief

Happy Friday, loyal Wrap readers. We’ve come to the end of another work week. What’re you getting into this weekend? If you love improv comedy, Jackson Ward is the place to be tonight and tomorrow night. The third annual 2nd Best Comedy Fest continues at Gallery5, the Coalition Theater, and The Basement. 30 acts from all over the country are taking the stage, and it’s going to be a blast. As the official media sponsor, we’ve got your hookup to where to go and who to see, and when in our official guide. Plus, the first person to send me an email to trevor@rvahub.com with the subject line “2nd Best” will win a pair of wristbands that will get you and a friend into any show taking place this weekend! Ready? Go!

Speaking of comedy, living legend John Cleese of the Monty Python fame is coming to Richmond in November, and tickets went on sale this morning for a live Q&A at the Altria. Learn more here.

The fourth annual RVA Street Art Fest is going to bring a splash of color to The Diamond this fall. The festival, which brings artists and muralists from all over to a different neighborhood each year (last year it was Manchester, before that it was the GRTC Bus Depot and the Canal Walk), will hit the stadium in September. I guess we’re going to liven the place up a few years before the structure is torn down, if all goes as planned. Get all the details here.

I love that we live in a vibrant arts city where we have cool events like the Street Art Festival and even breakfast cabarets! Richard Hayes checked out the monthly event at Crossroads this morning. Looks like a fun way to spend a Friday morning.

The Richmond Folk Festival returns this October, and this week the first ten artists to grace the stages of the downtown riverfront were announced. Check out these incredibly talented folk performers from all over the globe and take a listen to some of their material right here.

The Congress and The Record Company will take the stage at the very same location as the Folk Fest, at Brown’s Island, this evening at 6:30. Here’s Scott Castro’s show preview.

Turning to more serious news, School Board members voted unanimously–at 3:00 AM in a closed session, no less–to make RPS Chief Operating Officer Tommy Kranz interim school superintendent. He will take the place of Dr. Dana T. Bedden, who will step down June 30th after those same board members terminated his contract early without much explanation. Anyone else think all of this is a little less than transparent and runs counter to Mayor Stoney’s stated goal of making local government processes more open? Read more about the appointment here. The search for a permanent replacement will continue in July.

In other city government news, momentum is growing to halt development of the Westwood Tract in Northside. Union Presbyterian Seminary in Ginter Park has proposed redevelopment of a large area of land, and many residents are not happy. Now they have the general backing of City Council members Kim Gray and Chris Hillbert, who say the project may cost taxpayers millions. They released a joint statement on the project this week.

High school graduations continue this weekend and next week at the Siegel Center. Avoid the area if at all possible, but if you must travel through the area, here’s a handy guide to when all Richmond area ceremonies will be held. If you have a Henrico County grad, you can even stream your loved one’s ceremony online and avoid the traffic altogether! Here’s how. Pass it along to out of town relatives who can’t be there in person!

Struggling retailer Sears announced plans to close more stores this week, including their Regency Square location. While that might sound like bad news on the surface, recall that local development company The Rebkee Co. is investing $30 million to rehab the aging mall and bring new life and tenants to the structure. Having a 12 acre parcel and building become available only gives them more flexibility, and according to a piece by the Richmond Times-Dispatch this week, the company is basically saying good riddance. Here’s why.

The identity of a man killed while running in The Fan this morning has not yet been released. Early Friday morning, a pedestrian was struck by a pickup truck in the 1700 block of W. Main Street in front of Home Team Grill. The road remained closed much of the morning while police investigated the incident. People, PLEASE be careful when running, biking, or otherwise recreating on our sometimes narrow and busy streets. And drivers, PLEASE be mindful of the above persons! This is all totally preventable stuff. Our hearts go out to the victim’s family and friends.

Police announced the arrest this morning of a suspect accused in a double shooting in the Westhampton neighborhood last weekend. Police also announced several juveniles have been arrested after breaking into Norrell Elementary and shooting a staff member last month.

Looking for info on all of this weekend’s beer releases and brewery-related events? Richard’s your man! He’s got you covered with his RVA Beer Explorer Weekly Picks.