Friday, Jan. 4, 2019 at 4 p.m.

Underground hip-hop showcase Lyricist Lounge performs at the ICA. Performances will also be staged at 7 p.m. Jan. 4 and 3 p.m. Jan. 5 as part of Rashid Johnson's "Monument" exhibition at the Institute for Contemporary Art at the Markel Center, 601 W. Broad St.

For more information, contact Institute for Contemporary Art at ica@vcu.edu or visit https://icavcu.org/performances/provocations-0104/.

Friday, Jan. 4, 2019 at 6 p.m.

The Institute for Contemporary Art offers extended gallery hours on the first Friday of each month. The ICA at the Markel Center, 601 W. Broad St., also has food and beverages at Ellwood’s Café at ICA, free tours, performances and other special events. The galleries, shop and café are open until 9 p.m.

For more information, contact Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU at ica@vcu.edu or visit https://icavcu.org/events/firstfriday-0104/.

Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The ICA and VCU’s Division of Community Engagement are partnering to create birthday cards for the students of Richmond's Carver Elementary School. This service opportunity is open to the public. Drop in between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the Institute for Contemporary Art at the Markel Center, 601 W. Broad St. All supplies will be provided, plus snacks, music and ICA swag.

For more information, contact Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU at ica@vcu.edu or visit https://icavcu.org/events/cards-for-carver/.

Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

VCU Recreational Sports Outdoor Adventure Program will host the Cary Street Crux, a climbing event featuring climbers from schools in the southeast. Categories will include beginner, intermediate and advanced divisions, top rope and bouldering. The event will be held at the Cary Street Gym, 101 S. Linden St.

For more information, contact Sam Albert at scalbert@vcu.edu or (804) 828-8473 or visit https://recsports.vcu.edu/programs/outdoor-adventure-program/climbing-and-bouldering/.

Beginning Jan. 2, VCU's Campus Connector shifted to an express route. It serves only James Branch Cabell Library, One Capitol Square, Eighth and Main streets, Sanger Hall and J. Sargeant Reynolds RamRide stops. RamRide shuttles to the remote parking facilities (A, I, M, R lots) on the MCV Campus will continue to serve these locations.

For more information, contact VCU Parking and Transportation at ramride@vcu.edu or (804) 828-7275 or visit http://go.vcu.edu/ramride.

The 2019 VCU payday and holiday calendar is available at the following URL. The 2019-20 winter break runs from Dec. 23 through Jan. 3.

For more information, contact Jessica Lyon at lyonjl@vcu.edu or (804) 827-1797 or visit https://hr.vcu.edu/paydays-and-holidays/.

Are you currently experiencing low back pain, between the ages of 18-60 years old and interested in the possibility of nine weeks of nonsurgical experimental treatment? If you answered yes to all three you may qualify for our research. What? New, innovative, and fun virtual reality games designed to help people with chronic back pain move and feel better. Where? All appointments, testing and treatments are conducted at VCU. When? Participation in the study involves 24 one-hour appointments scheduled over a 57-week period. Who? The VIGOR Study team consists of professionals in the field who have been selectively chosen and extensively trained. Interested? Contact us at the following URL. You may be compensated for your time.

For more information, contact Tiffany Amos at mcl@vcu.edu or (804) 628-2902 or visit https://redcap.vcu.edu/surveys/?s=KLJ48RJMPR.

During VCU's winter break, loans of laptops have been suspended by the IT Support Center on the lower level of James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave. The service resumes Jan. 7.

For more information, contact Sue Robinson at srobinson26@vcu.edu.

Are you a professor who can't make it to a class and are considering cancelling it? Rather than sending your students home, bring in the Wellness Resource Center and other campus partners to do programming and take advantage of your class time. Requests may be submitted to the following URL.

For more information, contact Lisa Joyner at lijoyner@vcu.edu or (804) 828-2086 or visit https://goo.gl/forms/GrSnQ8gZts2jJXfD2.