Richmond area arts and entertainment event calendar for Feb. 19

ON TAP THIS WEEK

African-American Trailblazers: Eight honorees are recognized for their impact on the history of Virginia at a program and reception, 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Library of Virginia, 800 E. Broad St. Free; ticket required. 692-3592.

50th Antiques & Fine Arts Show: Richmond Academy of Medicine Alliance Foundation benefit opens with Golden Anniversary Preview Gala, 7-10 p.m. Thursday at Science Museum of Virginia, 2500 W. Broad St. Show continues 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Feb. 26. Gala tickets, $100 to $500, reservation required; show tickets, $10. For info about events during show, see www.ramaf.org or call (804) 551-3723.

WEEKEND WATCH

Virginia Wine Expo: Opening day events include Walk Around Grand Tasting, 5:30-10 p.m. Friday at Greater Richmond Convention Center, 403 N. Third St. Expo continues noon-8 p.m. Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Feb. 26. Daily walk-around tasting tickets, $30-$35 in advance; nondrinking, $10; multiday tickets available. For advance tickets and full schedule (including events at local restaurants), visit www.virginiawineexpo.com or call 349-6909.

Concert Ballet of Virginia's Winter Repertory Gala: Dance and live music by the Concert Ballet Orchestra, 8 p.m. Friday and 2:30 p.m. Feb. 26 at The Woman's Club, 211 E. Franklin St. $12-$15 in advance, $15-$18 at door. 798-0945.

Third annual Bluegrass Marathon Jam: Copper Ridge, Slack Family, Cary Street Ramblers, East of Afton, Highway 249, Some Assembly Required, River City Band and Willis River Band in concert and all-day jam sessions, noon-midnight Saturday at Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen, 2880 Mountain Road. Free; donations benefit Fisher House at McGuire Veterans Medical Center. 261-2787.

Twilight Carniball: Destination: France is the theme for this year's grown-up gala benefitting Children's Museum of Richmond with French cuisine, music, live and silent auctions and more, 7 p.m. Saturday at the museum, 2626 W. Broad St. $75. 474-7003.

Richmond Symphony Masterworks: Music by John Adams and Beethoven, with Richmond Symphony Chorus and vocal soloists in Mendelssohn's "Die erste Walpurgisnacht," 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Feb. 26 at Carpenter Theatre, Richmond CenterStage, 600 E. Grace St. $9-$36.50. 788-1212.

ART OPENINGS

Flippo Gallery, Randolph-Macon College, 211 N. Center St., Ashland, 752-3018. Reception 3-5 p.m. today for exhibit of photography by Michael Leese. Through March 30.

Art Works, 320 Hull St., 291-1400. Reception 7-10 p.m. Friday for "Christiane Middendorf Recent Works," "The Jewels of Richmond" by Emma Lou Martin, "About Face: At Ease with Pixels and Painting" by Anne B. Burnley, "Diaries of a Vacation" by Gigi Brothers, "Here I Am" by Cheryl Clayton and the February "All Media Art Show." Through March 18.

CONCERTS

Atlantic Chamber Ensemble with Amaranth Arts Dance and guest violinist Jeanine Wynton in "Move(d)," music by Brahms and Prokofiev, 4 p.m. today at First Unitarian Universalist Church, 1000 Blanton Ave. $15. www.acensemble.org.

VCU Singleton Center, (Vlahcevic Hall unless noted), 922 Park Ave. 828-6776. Today: Faculty Jazz Recital: Trombonist Antonia Garcia with VCU Jazz Orchestra I and VCU Greater Richmond High School Jazz Band and others, 4 p.m., $5. Tuesday: VCU Small Woodwind Ensembles in concert at 8 p.m., free.

Skip Gailes in jazz at 5:45 p.m. today at Centenary United Methodist Church, 411 E. Grace St. $5 concert. 646-8319.

SONiA & disappear fear in indie rock with an international flavor, 8 tonight at Gay Community Center of Richmond, 1407 Sherwood Ave., $12 in advance, $18 at door. 622-4646.

Oberon Quartet with oboist Shawn Welk in music by Beethoven, Gerald Finzi and Joan Tower, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Bannard Chapel, St. Catherine's School, 6001 Grove Ave. Free. 288-2804.

The All New Original Tribute to the Blues Brothers: "Jake and Elwood Blues" and the sassy Bluettes in concert presented by UR Modlin Center, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Carpenter Theatre, Richmond CenterStage, 600 E. Grace St. $15-$52. 592-3400 or (800) 514-3849.

Jazz Café: LKB Jazz Trio, 6-9 p.m. Thursday at Best Café, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 200 N. Boulevard. Free. 340-1400.

American Youth Harp Ensemble previews its Carnegie Hall tour with a concert at 7 p.m. Friday at Reveille United Methodist Church, 4200 W. Cary St. Donation welcomed. 837-9355.

The Moon Rats in stew of blues, country, rock and bluegrass, 7 p.m. Friday at Henrico Theatre, 305 E. Nine Mile Road. Free; reservation required. 328-4491.

The Southern Colonels, Virginia Tech's Corps of Cadets' 17-piece jazz band, in popular and patriotic selections at 2 p.m. Saturday at Virginia War Memorial's Galanti Education Center, 621 S. Belvidere St. Free. 786-2060.

Freeman Concert Series: Washington & Lee University Chamber Singers in music from around the globe and various time periods, 7:30 p.m. Saturday at River Road Church, Baptist, 8000 River Road. Free. 288-1131.

DANCE

"Jazzed," University Dancers' spring concert of works by guest artists and choreographers, 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Jan. 26 in Jepson Theatre, Modlin Center, University of Richmond. $15. 289-8980.

THEATER OPENINGS

"Next Fall," Richmond Triangle Players production for the Acts of Faith Festival of Geoffrey Nauffs' drama about a gay couple, their relationship and their thorny discussions about religion, previews at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Richmond Triangle Players Theater, 1300 Altamount Ave. $15 preview; $25 opening night; $20-$25 thereafter. 346-8113. Opens Thursday; through March 17.

"Mark Twain's Civil War," Ray Carver's one-man show based on Twain's writings and speeches to Civil War veterans, in single Acts of Faith Festival Fringe performance at 7 p.m. Saturday at The Gayton Kirk, 11421 Gayton Road. Admission by donation. 741-5254.

OPERA

"Orphée," Virginia Opera's Virginia premiere of Philip Glass' contemporary opera rooted in ancient Greek myth, 2:30 p.m. today at Carpenter Theatre, Richmond CenterStage, 600 E. Grace St. $29-$111. 592-3400 or (800) 514-3849.

DIVERSIONS

Virginia Women's Expo: Showcase of products, services, seminars and attractions, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. today at Greater Richmond Convention Center, 403 N. Third St. $10. www.macevents.com.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus: "Dragons" is the 2012 version of the "Greatest Show on Earth" with its final Richmond performances today, 3 and 7 p.m. at Richmond Coliseum, Sixth and East Leigh streets. $15-$85. 780-4970 (coliseum) or (800) 745-3000 (Ticketmaster).

Happy Birthday, George Washington!: Meet George Washington as he speaks about his life as a young man, as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army and as the first president at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday, with birthday cake served at 11:45 a.m. at St. John's Church, 2401 E. Broad St. $5. 648-5015.

VCUarts Spring Cinematheque: "The Princess of Montpensier," French film screened at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Grace Street Theater, 934 W. Grace St. Free. 828-2020.

"Ancient Egyptian Percussion," talk by musicians Yousif Sheronick and Layne Redmond illustrated by images on Egyptian temple walls and tomb paintings at 6:30 p.m. Thursday followed by a demonstration of ancient percussion, at Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 200 N. Boulevard. $18-$20. 340-1405.

"End of an Era: The Photography of Jack Jeffers," exhibition of large-format black-and-white prints of people and landscapes from the Appalachian region of Virginia, opens 10 a.m. Monday at Virginia Historical Society, 428 N. Boulevard. Free. 358-4901. During gallery hours through Aug. 26.

VCU Southern Film Festival: Screening Southern Rebellion is the theme for the festival, opening Friday with reception at 5 p.m., speaker Molly Haskell at 6 and documentary "Margaret Mitchell: American Rebel" at 7 followed by discussion, at Leslie Cheek Theatre, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 200 N. Boulevard. $5-$8. Festival continues Saturday with screenings of "The Thrillbillys" at 10 a.m. at Cous Cous Restaurant, 900 W. Franklin St. ($5, includes breakfast buffet); "Shenandoah," 1 p.m. at VMFA; "The Black Six," 4 p.m. at VMFA ($4-$8 for both screenings). http://wp.vcu.edu/sff/ or 827-3552.

READ Art Show & Sale: Exhibit and sale of works by more than 100 artists opens with reception featuring Susan Greenbaum 6-9 p.m. Friday at the New Community School, 4211 Hermitage Road. $35 in advance, $40 at door; benefits students with language-learning difficulties. 266-2494, ext. 29. Show and sale continues 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday (free).

Monster Jam Thunder Nationals monster truck extravaganza, 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Richmond Coliseum, Sixth and East Leigh streets. $5-$20; $5-$10 additional for Friday's Party in the Pits from 5-6:30 p.m. 780-4970.

"Person of the Year – 1862": A panel of Civil War scholars nominate candidates followed by audience voting, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at Library of Virginia, 800 E. Broad St. $35-$50 (includes box lunch), registration and prepayment required. www.moc.org or 649-1861, ext. 31.

Pat Row