A Creative Weekend in the DMV
The theme for events around the DMV this weekend seems to be creativity. From a chocolate-themed festival meant to foster community involvement, to a yoga class done in the dark — this weekend’s selection is imaginative to say the least. There are also a number of cultural events, showing off the creative talents of a rap group from China’s Guizhou Province, a collection of local choreographers and one Athenian director. Once you figure out how to navigate this weekend’s maze of Metro track work, pick an event and celebrate the hard work behind these creative geniuses.
Single tracking seems to be the theme for this weekend’s Metro work. Red Line riders will be looking at single tracking between Van Ness and Friendship Heights and between Silver Spring and Glenmont. Trains will run every 18 minutes between Shady Grove and Silver Spring, every 9-10 minutes between Farragut North and Silver Spring from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. and shuttle trains will operate between Silver Spring and Glenmont every 20 minutes. The Yellow and Green lines will be single tracking between U Street and Fort Totten. Green Line train will run 24 minutes and Yellow Line trains will operate on a regular schedule, but only between Huntington and Mount Vernon Square. On the Blue Line expect to take a shuttle between Stadium-Armory and Benning Road with trains running every 15 minutes between Franconia-Springfield and Stadium-Armory and between Benning Road and Largo Town Center. Both Minnesota Avenue and Deanwood stations will be closed on the Orange Line, with buses replacing trains between Stadium-Armory and Cheverly. Orange Line trains will run every 15 minutes between Vienna and Stadium-Armory and every 16 mintues between Cheverly and New Carrollton. Similar to last weekend, Silver Line trains will run every 10 mintues ONLY between Wiehle-Reston East and Ballston. Expect to transfer to Orange and Blue Lines to complete your trip beyond these stations.
Chocolate Lovers Festival
Chocolate lovers unite! An annual tradition for the City of Fairfax, the Chocolate Lovers Festival is a two-day event celebrating the Fairfax community and all things chocolate. This year’s festival kicks off Friday with a screening of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and continues with a long list of events into the weekend. Highlights include the chocolate chip pancake breakfast, tours and chocolate treats at the Ratcliffe-Allison House and construct-a-cupcake at Ace Hardware. Indulge and explore at this sweet event!
Feb. 5-7 at various locations in Fairfax. For a full list of events, check online. Some events require a fee and others are FREE!
Crystal Couture Show & Sale
It’s time to shop ’til you drop at the Crystal Couture Show & Sale! Bringing together more than 50 of the DMV’s trendiest fashion boutiques, the Crystal Couture Show offers a weekend of discounted shopping, free makeovers and the chance to see the latest fashions on and off the runway. Purchase a V.I.P. ticket and receive an exclusive V.I.P. gift bag and $20 Couture Cash to use towards your purchases at the event.
Feb. 5 from 6-10 p.m. and Feb. 6 from 2-10 p.m. at The Crystal City Shops, 1750 Crystal Dr., Arlington. General admission is FREE! VIP Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online.
Shenzhen Pop Music Show
Celebrate the Chinese New Year at the Shenzhen Pop Music Show. With artists from around the region including Inner Mongolia, Yunnan Province and Shaanxi, this unique performance is a modern look at the talent and music inspired by the ancient culture.
Feb. 5 at 6 p.m. at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, 2700 F St. NW. Admission is FREE!
The Dream and The Dream of Luis Moya
Spend the night with two Spanish language films The Dream (El somni) and The Dream of Luis Moya. The first, The Dream, captures an uncommon creative endeavor, “an opera in 12 plates.” The film follows an extravagant dinner, hosted by the Roca Brothers, wherein participants pass the night through a sensuous experience of food, music and performances. The Dream of Luis Moya explores the creation of Spain’s Universidad Laboral, Spain’s largest building, and its architect Luis Moya Blanco.
Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. in the McKinley Building at American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Admission is FREE!
Crafty Bastards Cabin Fever
Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair, round two, with Crafty Bastards Cabin Fever! Put on by the Washington City Paper, Crafty Bastards Cabin Fever is an arts and crafts expo featuring handmade goods from a large selection of independent artists. Cabin Fever is the follow up to the fair’s annual fall festival. Go browse and find goods to decorate your new apartment or maybe get ahead of those upcoming spring birthdays by purchasing a few original gifts for friends. The artists at this event have been handpicked by a jury, so these selections won’t disappoint!
Feb. 6 from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. at The Hecht Warehouse, 1401 New York Ave. NE. Tickets are $5-$25 and can be purchased online.
Black History Month Family Day
The National Museum of African American History and Culture presents Black History Month Family Day with a collection of guided family activities to help young children understand the themes of the Civil Rights movement. During story time from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., author Shane W. Evans gives a musical performance and discusses his book, We March, which encourages young children’s understanding of social justice. The event is targeted at family with young learners from -3- to 8-years-old.
Feb. 6 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the National Museum of American History’s Warner Bros. Theater, 14th Street and Independence Ave. NW. Admission is FREE!
Lunar New Year Celebration
Ring in the Year of the Monkey at the Sackler Gallery’s second annual Lunar New Year Celebration featuring dance performances by Madison Chinese Dance Academy, ribbon-dancing tutorials, calligraphy, mask making and coloring, Lunar New Year resolutions, family-friendly tours of Monkeys Grasp for the Moon and photo booth fun.
Feb. 6 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. in the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery’s ImaginAsia classroom, 1050 Independence Ave. SW. Admission is FREE!
Grip The Mat DC Launch: Soul & Spirits
Make some time for yogi breaths and deep stretches at Grip The Mat DC Launch: Soul & Spirits. Grip The Mat is celebrating the opening of their new cities with a black-light yoga session led by Grip The Mat instructors. After you’re done with your downward dog, grab a cocktail (or two) or a fresh pressed juice. New to yoga? No problem! This session will be mixed-level, accommodating all experience levels.
Feb. 6, from 3-5 p.m. at Capitale, 1301 K St. NW. Tickets are $30 and include two cocktails. Mat rentals are an additional $2. Be sure to arrive 30 minutes before class is set to start.
33rd Annual Choreographers’ Showcase
Learn some new moves at the 33rd annual Choreographers’ Showcase! The annual Choreographers’ Showcase is a peek at the creative side of the DMV, and this year’s production features performances from seven local choreographers. There are two showings so, pick one and go get your groove on!
Feb. 6 at 3 and 8 p.m. at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, 4321 Hartwick Rd., College Park. Tickets are $10-$25 and can be purchased online.
National Museum of Women in the Arts Community Day
Have you been waiting to check out the exhibits at the National Museum of Women in the Arts? Now is your chance at Free Community Day. On the first Sunday of every month, NMWA opens its doors and drops the $10 ticket charge for those who want to explore its collection from over 1,000 female artists. Spend a few cultured hours in this beautiful museum, which houses both classical and contemporary art.
Feb. 7 from noon-5 p.m. at the National Women’s Art Museum, 1250 New York Ave. NW. Admission is FREE!
Rockville Concert Band’s Annual Jazz Concert
Get lost in the tunes of eras long gone at the Rockville Concert Band’s Annual Jazz Concert. Joined by the Rockville Swing Band and another guest ensemble, the Rockville Concert Band is set to deliver a medley of jazz hits ranging from traditional swing to contemporary jazz.
Feb. 7 at 3 p.m. at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, 603 Edmonston Dr., Rockville. Admission is FREE! A $5 donation is suggested.
New Greek Cinema: Xenia
Two brothers are in search of their father in Xenia, the latest film in the National Gallery of Art’s New Greek Cinema series. After their Albanian mother dies, Danny and Odysseus set out on a journey to Thessaloniki, where they believe their biological father resides. The film is a dark comedy, countered by a color palette of neon colors and a statement on Greece’s current transitional state. Xenia debuted in 2014 and was Greece’s entry into the Oscar race for that year.
Feb. 7 at 4 p.m. at the National Gallery of Art, 401 Constitution Ave. NW. Admission is FREE! but seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis.
Born in D.C., raised in Maryland and currently residing in Northern Virginia — Janessa is a DMV girl through and through. As a film enthusiast and Netflix’s number one fan, she willingly spends the majority of her time in front theater and computer screens. When she isn’t watching her latest binge, Janessa can be seen around town searching for the perfect cup of coffee or instagramming strangers on the metro for her hashtag #metrogramdc.