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HDB Band plays at White Hawk Music Café. Photo by Ash Daniel
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At Olive oil taproom, you can sit and sample many different kinds of olive oil before you bottle it and take it home. Photo by Breonca Trofort
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Goochland Drive-In Photo by Breonca Trofort
Food & Drink For the best bluegrass music and turkey pesto paninis, head to … Goochland? The out-of-the-way White Hawk Music Café presents a popular bluegrass jam every Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m., and features the best local pickers, like Randy Cook and the Commonwealth Band, on weekends. The menu jams out, too. 1940 Sandy Hook Road, Goochland, 556-3398. Oenophiles can pass judgment on the current state of Virginia wine and also enjoy a bucolic picnic, at the Summer Solstice Wine Festival at Grayhaven Winery , co-sponsored by Glen Allen's James River Cellars. On hand will be crushed grapes from six area wineries plus live music and food. Your sipping verdicts are eagerly awaited. June 22, Noon to 5 p.m., 4675 E. Grey Fox Circle, Gum Spring, 550-7516 . My Manakin Market celebrates National Fruit and Vegetable Month with its Annual Health Fair on June 8. Get free screenings and risk evaluations from area health care professionals, learn about beneficial foods — there may even be a few there at the farmers market — and win prizes. 68 Broad Street Road, Manakin-Sabot, 314-9141. Have you sampled zalabia? Beef shawarma? Loubiyeh and rice? If not, treat your taste buds and head out to RVA's most under-the-radar ethnic food gathering — the Lebanese Food Festival . The 29th installment is held at St. Anthony's Maronite Catholic Church May 17-18. Beware: Baba ghanoush can be highly addictive. 4611 Sadler Road, Glen Allen, 270-7234 . Don and Shauna Wells talk about olive oil and vinegar the way some people speak of Sémillon and pinot noir. At their gourmet food store, Olive Oil Taproom , they invite you to taste and pair many different exotic balsamics and extra virgins, and to learn about the health benefits of these precious oils and acids. 200 Towne Center West Blvd., Suite 607, 360-7929. Outdoors The Goochland Farmers Market at Grace Episcopal Church is a prime hotspot for obtaining fresh fruits and vegetables way out west. And the sponsoring Center for Rural Culture offers a homestead workshop in August that can help you extend the life of your own outdoor garden. There's a small fee, but your tomatoes will thank you when the chill comes. 2955 River Road West, Goochland, 955-7986 . It's worth the jaunt west to Hadensville to visit the Goochland Drive-In , Central Virginia's only outdoor cinema. Kids will enjoy the large playground area, parents will appreciate the affordable concessions and the whole gang will love watching a movie under the stars on a 40-by 80-foot screen. 4344 Old Fredericksburg Road, Hadensville. 457-3456 . . Celebrate National Skate Day at the Goochland X-Fest . The May 4 event includes skateboard demos, competitions and prizes along with free-skate time, music and pizza. Sports vendors and other activities will be on site. Best part? It's all free. In the words of Bart Simpson, "Ay caramba!" 1800 Sandy Hook Road, 556-5854 . A&E The popular area humorists, impersonators and wiseacres who make up the West End Comedy Players come home to HATTheatre on May 17 for an all-ages show. After that, they get out all the dirty jokes on May 18 for more mature audiences. Is the Far West End zoned for these folks? 1124 Westbriar Drive, 343-6364. Wednesday nights just got a lot more interesting with Innsbrook After Hours summer concert series . Beginning May 1, the Snagajob pavilion will host touring national acts all season long. Don't miss Aaron Lewis on May 1, Pat McGee Band on May 8 and Summerland on June 5. 4901 Lake Brook Drive, Glen Allen, 423-1775. The Shady Grove Coffeehouse, housed in the Unitarian Universalist Community Church, can be an island of calm for those who want to experience music but not engage in bar blab. The legendary singer-songwriter Bill Staines , heard on A Prairie Home Companion and once called "Boston's best performer" takes the Shady Grove stage on Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. 11105 Cauthorne Road, 323-4288. Family Fun Climb a magic beanstalk, consult Mother Goose, or ride the wild safari train. Kids learn as they play at the Short Pump location of the Children's Museum of Richmond — but they don't have to know that. There's an art studio for budding Rembrandts and a performance stage for junior hams, er, thespians. 2200 Old Brick Road, 474-7000. The children are taking over Deep Run Park! And why not? The annual KidFest promises carnival games, inflatable slides, dancing, craft-making and available-to-pet animals on standby. An assault on the bookmobile will be mandatory. The invasion starts May 4 at 1 p.m. 9900 Ridgefield Pkwy, 501-5808. Treat the wee ones to a free workout at Short Pump Town Center's Tumbles of Fun on May 14, part of the Short Pump Pals clubhouse series. Taekwondo of Richmond will lead children 6 and younger through a fun obstacle course and teach basic Korean martial arts exercises. Mom and Dad, you just sit there and rest. 11 a.m. 11800 W. Broad St., 360-1700. Wander down the rabbit hole to Short Pump Town Center for the Mad Hatter's Tea Party on May 18. All are welcome to join Alice and her friends in an "unbirthday" celebration complete with face painting, balloon animals and more. Showtimes are at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., with character meet and greets following each performance. Free. 11800 W. Broad St., 360-1700. You've been to tractor pulls, but how about a lawnmower pull? The three-day Field Day of the Past gathering in Goochland County features loads of lawn and farm equipment showing off, plus small- engine demos, racing pigs, peanut-picking, a popular children's area and family-friendly, country-fair fare. Sept. 20 to 22. Intersection of state Route 623 and Route 622, 741-8468.
