Weekend Top 10

SEPT 7

The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen will present the 2nd Stage season premiere featuring The Commonwealth Bluegrass Band at 7 p.m. Band members Randy Cook, Malcolm Pulley, Mike Bailiff, Joe Currence and Wally Hughes joined forces in 2012 and the band, known for its close harmonies and high lonesome sound, quickly built a fan base in Central Virginia and beyond. CACGA’s 2nd Stage series highlights a different musical genre monthly on Fridays. Tickets are $17 to $21. A full bar and dinner from Apple Spice Junction are available for purchase. For details, call 261-ARTS or visit www.artsglenallen.com.

CAT Theatre, 319 N. Wilkinson Rd., will present “Boeing Boeing” Sept. 7-22. This 1960 French farce adapted for the English-speaking stage features self-styled Parisian lothario Bernard, who has Italian, German, and American fiancées, each a beautiful airline hostess with frequent “layovers.” He keeps “one up, one down, and one pending” until unexpected schedule changes bring all three to Paris, and Bernard’s apartment, at the same time. Tickets are $33 for opening night and $13 to $23 for the remaining performances. Order tickets online at www.cattheatre.com or call 262-9760 for details.

Los Pleneros de la 21 will perform at 7:30 p.m. at the University of Richmond’s Modlin Center for the Arts. Founded in 1983 by National Heritage Fellow Juan Gutiérrez, LP21’s 12-piece ensemble resurrects the African-rooted “plena” and “bomba” musical styles of Puerto Rico. A pre-performance talk with members of the band will be held at 6:30 p.m. and a salsa demonstration led by Salsa Guy Richmond will start at 7 p.m. Following the performance, there will be dancing, refreshments and a cash bar in the theater lobby. Tickets are $10 to $20. For details, call 289-8980 or visit www.modlin.richmond.edu.

SEPT 8

Henrico Live will open its fifth season with local singer-songwriter Susan Greenbaum at 7 p.m. at the Henrico Theatre, 305 E. Nine Mile Rd. in Highland Springs. Greenbaum performs solo and with her band and in addition to touring with Jewel, she also has opened for Kenny Loggins, Patty Griffin, Dar Williams, Janis Ian, Jim Messina, Todd Snider and others. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at www.henricolive.com. Season tickets also are available.

Lavender Fields Herb Farm, 11300 Winfrey Rd. in Glen Allen, will host its annual Fall Herb Faire from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Shop from a wide selection of cool weather, certified organic herb and vegetable plants while enjoying free classes and garden tours. Bob the Beekeeper will help children pot a plant to take home. Admission is free. Rain or shine. For details, call 262-7167 or visit www.lavenderfieldsfarm.com.

The McShin Foundation’s 14th annual Recovery Fest and 9th annual Kansas City Barbecue Society-sanctioned State Championship BBQ Cook Off will take place from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 2300 Dumbarton Rd. There will be state agencies, nonprofits, recovery resources and vendors, as well as corn hole, food, music and family fun. Speakers include Ryan Hampton and Brandon Novak. For details, visit www.bbq.mcshin.org.

The second annual West End Art Festival, featuring 100 jury-selected national artists, will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 8-9 at 3950 Wild Goose Lane in West Broad Village. The outdoor show will feature fine jewelry, works of art and hand-crafted apparel and décor. Patrons will have the opportunity to see demonstrations of work-in-progress by the attending artists, and are invited to meet the artists themselves, commission a custom piece and discover the inspirations and processes behind each item. Admission is free and open to the public. Leashed pets are welcome. For details, visit www.artfestival.com.

Gospelfest & Youth Expo 2018, Rejoice Christian Center’s annual community outreach event, will take place from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 1841 Darbytown Rd. in Varina. The event features wholesome ministry entertainment including vocalists, musicians, rappers, poets, dancers, comedy and more. There also will be free food and non-alcoholic drinks, a bounce house, face painting, games, free school supplies for elementary-aged students and more. For details, call 222-4555 or email mail@rejoicecenter.org.

Richmond Raceway will kick off its first September NASCAR playoff race month with the expanded second annual Checkered Flag race at 8 a.m. Runners have the option to run in the 10K or 5K, and children ages 14 and under can participate in the one-mile Kids Run. This year’s race will take runners around the expansive Richmond Raceway Complex for a unique view of the facility. For details, visit https://tinyurl.com/CheckeredFlag10K.

Richmonders for Peace in Israel and Palestine and the Arab American Association of Central Virginia will present a free exhibit and film Sept. 8-9 at First Mennonite Church, 601 E. Parham Rd. The event will feature an exhibit from the Promised Land Museum that provides historical context of Palestine from the period before, during, and after the pivotal year of 1948. On Saturday at 6:30 p.m., the exhibit will be supplemented with a showing of the film “Disturbing the Peace,” which follows former enemy combatants – Israeli soldiers who served in the IDF and Palestinian freedom fighters – many of whom served years in prison. The exhibit will be open from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 8, and from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 9. The program is free and open to the public. For details, call the First Mennonite Church at 264-3200 or visit www.firstmennonitechurch.org.

SEPT 9

Henrico Master Gardeners will be available for questions and tours of the Pollinator Garden at Short Pump Park on the second Sunday of each month, June through September. The sessions will be held from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Short Pump Park is located at 3329 Pump Rd.