Theatre and Art Museums

Always an ArtHouse favorite, the next Katzen Museum opening looks like a good one. We always meet around 6 pm in the lobby to socialize where they serve some food and open a cash bar, and then go into the 3-floor museum around 7 pm. Underground parking is convenient but does cost now. Buses also service the venue. Here's the lineup: Ilana Manolson: The Air We Share *A Project Space exhibition* **Ilana Manolson, Artist** **Sarah Tanguy, Curator** *The Air We Share* invites viewers to look closely at the plants that thrive at the edges of human attention. Painter, printmaker, and naturalist Ilana Manolson celebrates and elevates species often dismissed as weeds, revealing their vitality, beauty, and essential roles within the ecosystems we share. This exhibition challenges the hierarchies humans impose on nature. Weeds, often maligned as invaders, stabilize soil, retain water, and offer shelter, medicine, and renewal. By placing them at the center of her compositions, Manolson reclaims their dignity and reveals their quiet power. As climate urgency intensifies, *The Air We Share* calls for renewed awareness of our interdependence with the natural world. Manolson’s paintings remind us that life not only persists but flourishes in the margins, and that every living thing contributes to the shared breath that sustains us all. ## Vital and Veiled: Valerie Brathwaite and José Gabriel Fernández **Valerie Brathwaite, Artist** **José Gabriel Fernández, Artist** **Jesús Fuenmayor, Curator** Two pioneering sculptors, Valerie Brathwaite and José Gabriel Fernández, reveal how abstraction can speak to identity, sensuality, and the complicated histories that shape the Americas. Trinidad-born Brathwaite channels the landscapes of her childhood and the ecological tensions of urban life into luminous organic forms. Her stones, flowers, and “soft bodies” pulse with what she describes as the vitality of nature, shaped from clay, plaster, cement, fabric, and color that suggest both the Caribbean’s exuberance and its fragility. Her lifelong engagement with materials creates an aesthetic language rooted in memory, movement, and an enduring concern for the natural world. ## The Magical World of Joan Danziger **Joan Danziger, Artist** **Jack Rasmussen, Curator** Enter a world of transformation—where imagination takes physical form; where wire, glass, and celu-clay become creatures of wonder; and where an abstract painter evolves into a surreal sculptor guided by her fascination with fantasy and dream imagery. ## Humanist Touch: Works from the Weber Collection Presented by the Alper Initiative for Washington Art **Joan and Bruce Weber, Collectors** **Laura Roulet, Curator** Assembled over four decades, these works from the Weber collection reflect Joan and Bruce Weber’s long engagement with contemporary DMV artists and galleries. When they describe their collection, a strong sense of community emerges, one enriched by personal ties to the artists and by the many conversations, visits, and encounters that shaped their choices.

It's going to be stupid cold & windy on Saturday afternoon & evening. So warm up by dancing and singing along with the **Blue Book Value Band** (https://bluebookvalueband.com/) at world famous **JV's Restaurant** in Falls Church (www.jvsrestaurant.com). JV's usually has a $5 to $10 cover charge for bands. I'm not sure what it will be this Saturday. I'll update if I get more info. Blue Book Value have been playing in the Washington, DC metro area since 1996. In addition to rhythm &blues and swing, they play a bit of rock n' roll, as well as popular songs making them a hugely versatile band. Their set list ranges from Ray Charles, Etta James, Otis Redding & Aretha Franklin to Pink, Alanis Morrisette, The B52s & Lynyrd Skynyrd. JV's Restaurant has been serving up drinks, food, and live music since 1947. It has been voted Washington DC area's best dive bar and for darn good reason. There food is good, drinks are cold, the stage hosts live bands seven days a week, and the dance floor is always full.

Join DC Metro Crafts for a field trip. We'll be at Quill and Crumbs, the cafe at the Shakespeare Folger Library. The Shakespeare Folger Library is about 3 blocks from the Capitol South metro. Head up First as you get out of the station, pass the Library of Congress and the Capitol, turn right on East Capitol, and the Folger is on the right. The entrance is around the side, not through the front of the building. Head upstairs to the cafe and we'll be at the tables at the back. Bring your own cross stitch, knitting, crochet, or other portable craft.

This class will provide instruction into various concepts of **Jiu-Jitsu** as a form of **martial art**. Participants will have the opportunity to **study**, **practice**, and **experiment** with **submission holds** and **strategic fighting controls** that are the hallmark of the now famous methodology of Professional MMA athletes and professional combatives users. This **gi class** is held every **Tuesday** and **Thursday** and includes **one hour of instruction** and **30 minutes** (sometimes longer, TBD) of **open training**. Gis are available if you need one. Drop-in fee for non-members is **$20** which which can be paid on-site. Note that we are in **Suite #130**.

Come Craft with us at either the MLK Library or the Kogod atrium of the Portrait Gallery. There are generally knitters/crocheters/needle workers in both places. Our success has made us a fairly large group so we are meeting in both places on Saturdays. Don't let the lack of RSVPs stop you, they aren't required, nor is membership to our group. Bring your project and join a boisterous group of crafters in first floor of either building.

DC Anime Club will be hosting **Patcon screening room** YOU MUST BE AN ATTENDEE of **Patcon** to participate. We will have a table at **Patcon as well.** During the screenings we ask that attendees please keep talking to a minimum and that all cell phones be put on vibrate and take phone conversations outside the screening room. Please keep the meeting room clean. please read the poster in front of the screening room if you want to know what is playing. This event is free and open to the public. We hope to see you there. For more information Contact the following [president@dcanimeclub.org](mailto:president@dcanimeclub.org) 202 262 2083

Join us for *Chez Joey* at Arena Stage on Sunday, February 8 at 2PM. Our 4-ticket block in Left Orchestra Row I is full. I have Center Orchestra I-110 available and Left Orchestra H-13 available, and I can also get a ticket block in the Mezzanine (sorry, but the Orchestra just has solo seats at this point). The year is 1940-something, and Chicago’s night scene is sizzling. Enter Joey Evans. A slick-talking, velvet-voiced songster with dreams bigger than the bandstand. But in a city where the right connections mean everything, he is caught between a bright-eyed chorus girl and a wealthy widow who can bankroll his big break—for a price. As the lights dim and the music swells, Joey’s got a choice to make: play it straight or risk it all for the spotlight. This classic Rodgers and Hart score, including “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered,” “What Is a Man?,” and “I Could Write a Book,” now includes “This Can’t Be Love” and “The Lady Is a Tramp,” among others. Co-directed by Tony Award-winning choreographer Savion Glover and actor, director, and producer Tony Goldwyn, the stakes are high, the music is hot, and the game of romance and ambition never sounded so good.

Experience GALA's contemporary staging of the modern classic ***La casa de Bernarda Alba (The House of Bernarda Alba)*** by Spanish playwright Federico García Lorca. Directed by José Zayas and with original music by Koki Lortkipanidze, the play explores themes of female oppression, sexual repression, and the conflict between tradition and modernity, all universal topics that resonate with audiences today. García Lorca’s ***The House of Bernarda Alba*** brims with tension, desire, and rebellion as five sisters are forced into strict mourning for their father under the iron rule of their mother, Bernarda. In this electrifying new production, passions simmer behind closed doors, secrets spark dangerous rivalries, and the pressure of a house built on control threatens to explode. This contemporary staging infuses Lorca’s classic with a sensuous, modern pulse and a dark Gothic mystery, illuminating why Bernarda Alba remains as urgent and thrilling today as ever. CAST: Luz Nicolás as Bernarda, Evelyn Rosario Vega as Poncia, María Coral as Adela, María del Mar Rodríguez as Angustias, Giselle González as Martirio, Anna Malavé as Magdalena, Alicia Kaplan an as María Josefa, and Ixchel as Amelia. PERFORMANCES: February 5 through March 1, 2026. The production is presented in Spanish with English surtitles, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm. Community Night is Thursday, Feberuary 5 at 8 pm. Press Night and Noche de GALA, which includes a post-performance reception with the creative team and cast, is Saturday, February 7 at 8 pm. TICKETS: $50 Premium Center, $45 Orchestra Standard, $35 Orchestra Value, and $25 Balcony Value; $35 Seniors (65+), Military, Teachers, and Groups (10+); $25 25 and Under; Community Night $20; and Noche de GALA: Chosen ticket price + $5 (per person). **[GET TICKETS](https://ci.ovationtix.com/35923/production/1245608)** This production is made possible with the generous support from the Embassy of Spain in Washington, DC, Spain Arts & Culture, and of our Honorary Producers Circle for The House of Bernarda Alba that includes Janet Farrell, Patricia Sosa, and Wanda Báez.

Come the whole time or if you just spend 30 minutes. All are welcome. You are welcome and encouraged to bring your own coloring supplies but, if you don't have any, I will have plenty and am happy to share! (coloring books, colored pencils, and markers). Part of the mission of this group is to provide us an opportunity to check out AND SUPPORT local businesses. So, please don't bring any outside food/drinks and, while purchasing something isn't at all a REQUIREMENT to participate in the event, I do strongly encourage you to try something from the vendor :) I look forward to seeing and meeting you there! ***\*\*DISCLAIMER*\*\*** Photos may be taken during the event to be shared here on Meetup so feel free to let me know if you'd like to be excluded from them.

**ANY QUESTIONS OR ISSUES PLEASE CONTACT THE VENUE BELOW - DO NOT MESSAGE THE MEETUP GROUP** **Sofar Sounds: Comunidad y Canciones at Pikio Taco** Tickets: https://sofarsounds.com/cities/washington/lists/comunidad-y-canciones Discover the magic of Latin music in an intimate setting you won't forget. Sofar Sounds brings their famous "secret concert" experience to Pikio Taco. "Comunidad y Canciones" (Community and Songs) celebrates the music of Latin America — from salsa to cumbia, reggaeton to bolero — featuring talented local and regional Latino artists. **The Sofar Experience** * Intimate audience, close to the performers * Surprise lineup — artists revealed when they take the stage * 2-3 acts per show * Quiet, attentive listening (this isn't a loud bar show) * Artists often stick around to chat after **What to Expect** * Doors \~7:30pm, show \~8:00pm * \~2 hours of live music * Mix of Latin genres and styles * Stunning venue with Mexican murals and moody vibes Full food and drink menu available! \-\-\- **About the Venue** Pikio Taco is a vibrant social taqueria inside Generator Washington DC, featuring stunning Mexican murals, hanging greenery, and moody purple lighting. Fresh tortillas made from 12 varieties of corn ground daily, plus craft margaritas and authentic Mexican cuisine. **Location** 1900 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009 (Inside Generator hostel, Dupont Circle) **Getting There** \- Metro: Dupont Circle \(Red Line\) — just three blocks away \- Parking: Available at Generator hostel \- Rideshare: Drop off at 1900 Connecticut Ave NW **Food & Drinks** Tacos, burritos, margaritas, Mexican beers — grab dinner before or during the show! **Links** * Tickets: https://sofarsounds.com/cities/washington/lists/comunidad-y-canciones * Venue: https://pikiotaco.com/washington * Phone: 202-448-1575 4pm-9pm * Sofar DC: https://instagram.com/sofardc Come discover something new. See you there!

### **What’s Unhappy Hour Breathwork, you ask? It’s our conscious breathing session to embrace our discomfort, sip some soothing tea, and dive deep into the beautiful chaos that is our childhood trauma, daddy issues, mommy issues, work stress, and those oh-so-fun failed relationships. Think of it as a cozy gathering where we can unpack our baggage together, all while sharing a laugh or two (or maybe a few tears).** Let’s be real life isn’t always sunshine and rainbows, and that’s perfectly okay.**We will give ourselves permission to be gloriously miserable for a full 90 minutes to** release the weight of our struggles. By using our own conscious breathing we’ll transform our experiences into something powerful and healing. Session will end with a soothing sound bath. Tea will be provided! Mark your calendars for this weekly dose of camaraderie and self-discovery. **What is Breathwork?** Breathwork falls under an umbrella term with many different marketing names and techniques. For this session we will be focusing in one technique while laying down on our back. This is NOT your typical relaxing breathing and it DOES NOT INVOLVE ANY YOGA movement. Breathwork takes us deep into the subconscious mind to make necessary changes and improve our lives by releasing emotional baggage and healing emotional wounds. When we tap into deep states of consciousness emotional release may take the shape of crying, laughing, even screaming. Many people like to call it years of therapy in one single session. It is very common to experience moments of clarity, bliss and many Aha moments during this session. Each person will experience something different with every session. All you need is an open mind and your own breathing to achieve results with no prior experience. Please note breathwork cautions before booking. **What you may experience during this session:** -Deep healing of emotional wounds, grief and traumas -Ability to connect to your higher self, Ancestors and the divine -Release anxiety -Improve emotional balance -Increased feelings of joy, happiness, and inner peace -Ability to create self-love and improve relationships **What to bring:** -Your own water bottle -A pen and notebook -A Yoga mat (or use one at the studio) -A blanket ( or use one at the studio) -Eye mask (if you have one) -Comfortable clothes to breathe and lay down **About Jenny Perez Curandera:** Jenny is a Curandera Shamanic Healer born into the Curanderismo Tradition. Her core values are to LIVE IN HARMONY with great spirit, the elements, nature, animals and people. DO NO HARM TO OTHER PEOPLE, PLANTS OR ANIMALS. In the traditional Curanderismo that Jenny practices the foundation is LOVE AND RESPECT to the spirit world, towards animals,plants, people,free will and the elders who guard the curanderismo tradition (Los Abulitos de la tradicion). Private bookings are available for ancestral healings,energy clearing , energy balancing and tarot readings. If you would like to book a private energy session or tarot reading before/after breathwork send an email to [healing@curanderasheart.com](mailto:healing@curanderasheart.com) or text (703)531-7046 ( Visit our site for more information on our upcoming ancestral healing ceremonies, trauma release ceremonies, cacao ceremonies, full moon ceremonies, women circles, breathwork sessions and energy clearing ceremonies to bring balance to mind, body and spirit) Stay connected via IG @curanderasheart **Address: Address: 5852 Washington Blvd unit#5 Arlington VA 22205 (We are located on the second floor above trade roots coffee shop. Must enter on the side of the building and go upstairs) Our studio is located in the westover village in Arlignton VA a walkable neighborhood with plenty of street parking.(Please arrive early to set up your spot we will start on time, space is limited allowing all of our events to have an intimate vibe)** **Energy Exchange: $60** **Time: Tuesday 6pm-7:30pm** **(Space is limited make sure to register early and read breathwork cautions. Please arrive early to set up your spot we will start on time)** **Info: [Healing@curanderasheart.com](mailto:Healing@curanderasheart.com) call or text (703)531-7046** ### **CAUTION: BREATHWORK IS NOT ADVISED FOR persons with severe mental illness or seizure disorders or for persons using major medications. Pregnant women are advised against practicing Breathwork without first consulting and getting approval from their primary care physician. Breathwork can result in intense physical and emotional release. Therefore it is not advised for persons with a history of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, or significant recent physical injuries or surgery.** ### **Cancellation Policy: There are no refunds for missed or canceled reservations\*\*\*\***

**The Arts of Life with Nancy Burbridge - Discover Yourself through art!** **You're Invited to 'Arts of Life'** A meditative journey through art with local artist Nancy Burbridge Join us every third Friday of the month at the Brahma Kumaris Meditation Museum, Virginia from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM for creativity, relaxation, and self-discovery. In this interactive session, you will learn how to draw, paint, and explore the beauty within, cultivating the best version of yourself in a serene and supportive environment. Come experience the magic of art and meditation as tools for self-expression and inner growth. All materials are provided, and no prior experience is necessary. Just bring your curiosity and a willingness to explore! We can't wait to see you there! Fri., Feb. 20th, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm. Held at Brahma Kumaris Meditation Museum- Virginia, 14020 Thunderbolt Pl., Suite 200, Chantilly, VA, 20151. Free Event – Register at: [https://shorturl.at/m6Ncn](https://shorturl.at/m6Ncn)

**UPDATE: DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER THIS EVENT IS BEING MOVED TO FEBUARY.** We're going to be visiting the **Udvar-Hazy** **Air & Space Museum** for an immersive look at humanity’s journey through flight and space exploration! **\#\#\# Details** **Location:** 14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway, Chantilly, VA 20151 **Time:** 2:00pm - 4:00pm (Subject to change) **Price:** $15 per Car (pay on entry) **Fursuiting allowed!**

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Love and Monsters,”** on the inescapable bond between romance and horror, with Joshua Barton, scholar of horror and lecturer in English at Virginia Commonwealth University. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/nv-love-monsters](https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/nv-love-monsters) .] Romance and horror might seem like opposite genres, but they share a deep emotional core, and the combination of them has captivated audiences across time and culture. Put even your worst Valentine’s Day in perspective by hearing this strange relationship discussed by Joshua Barton, who has earned a big following among Profs and Pints fans with his past talks on cryptids, American horror, and Christmas ghosts. He’ll explore the undeniable and unsettling intersection of romance and horror and examine how and why love and fear intensify each other and combined to create tension, drive narratives, and explore human vulnerability. We’ll look at works that have blended passion and terror, including Gothic literature like the vampire novella *Carmilla* and modern films like *Spring* and *Crimson Peak*. We’ll study the fine line between obsession and adoration running through Stephen King’s “I Know What You Need,” Adrian Lyne’s *Fatal Attraction*, and the timeless *The Phantom of the Opera.* We’ll discuss the seeds of monstrous love that were planted with *Beauty and the Beast* and *Creature from the Black Lagoon* and bloom ferociously in works like *Twilight* and *The Shape of Water*. Through it all, we’ll find the threads of otherness and the taboo that intertwine horror, love, and reflections on identity. Join us for a journey through storytelling that combines the grotesque and the scintillating as we uncover why romance and horror are a match made in the dark. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: From the original 1954 advertising poster for *Creature from the Black Lagoon* (Artist: Reynold Brown / Public Domain).

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“The Hidden Cleopatra,”** an excavation through myth and slander to uncover the real Egyptian queen, with Jacquelyn Williamson, an Egyptologist and associate professor of archaeology and ancient art at George Mason University. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/hidden-cleopatra](https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/hidden-cleopatra) .] Depictions of Cleopatra are abundant in popular culture. A long list of painters have depicted her, Marilyn Monroe and Kim Kardashian have posed as her, and Vivien Leigh and Elizabeth Taylor famously portrayed her in Hollywood films. At the end of the day, however, what most of us think we know about Cleopatra is wrong, the product of the ancient Rome’s “fake news” and anti-Egypt propaganda. Learn about the real Cleopatra—and how our understanding of her came to be so distorted—with Professor Jacquelyn Williamson, scholar of women and power in ancient Egypt, teacher of courses on ancient Egyptian art and archaeology, and author of *Nefertiti’s Sun Temple: A New Cult Complex at Tell el-Amarna.* Dr. Williamson will walk us through how the first Roman emperor, Octavian, created the distorted image of Cleopatra as seductress that we know today as part of his political scheming to defeat his rival Antony and end the Roman Republic once and for all. Cleopatra has been the subject of debate and controversy ever since. William Shakespeare later relied on ancient Roman sources such as Horace and Plutarch in writing *Antony and Cleopatra*, and his play helped give rise to countless other works offering a distorted picture of her. Professor Williamson argues that “Cleopatra was a human being, like you and I,” and “deserves the dignity of being represented as accurately as possible.” Her efforts to set the record straight have met frustration, however—after being extensively interviewed for the recent Netflix historical docuseries Queen Cleopatra, she concluded that it, too, had missed the mark. You’ll gain a much deeper appreciation of the challenges of researching and accurately depicting the ancient past from Dr. Williamson, who also has taught at Harvard, Brandeis, and the University of California at Berkeley and is involved with an ongoing archaeological investigation of Queen Nefertiti’s sun temple. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: Layla Taj portrays Cleopatra VII as part of an Egyptian Cultural Performing Arts Society production. (Photo by Amos Gvili / Wikimedia Commons.)

We've been waiting for this one with great anticipation. Aaron Posner has been one of the best theater makers in DC for a long time. Master illusionist Dendy and acclaimed playwright/director Posner reunite after their smash-hit collaboration on *The Tempest* for a spellbinding new one-man show. **To buy tickets, go to [this link](https://www.roundhousetheatre.org/on-stage/explore/nothing-up-my-sleeve/). Click on "Buy Tickets" in the upper right. Click on arrow for Feb. 11 to join us. (Feb. 14 matinee is also PWYC.) Then choose a Zone - they're all good - and the Pay What You Can dollar choice will come up. Follow through to the end. I think these tickets will go quickly.** Part dazzling magic act, part deeply personal journey, *Nothing Up My Sleeve...Simple Deceptions for Curious Humans* pulls back the curtain on the history of magic while exploring Dendy’s own path to becoming a magician. Prepare to be amazed, inspired, and transported into a world where the impossible becomes reality. Featuring captivating storytelling, audience interaction, jaw-dropping tricks, and mind-bending surprises, this exhilarating experience will leave you believing in magic again.

# Happy Birthday, You’re Dead Written and Directed by Terry Smith Produced by Jerri Wiseman ***You are invited to a surprise birthday party for Candy Crush, a D-list actor. She’s the hottest ticket in town. But her birthday party isn’t the only surprise she will get tonight! Someone’s about to be murdered. Only you can prevent this from happening before it’s game over. To miss this would be a crime.*** February 14 at Casanel Winery in Leesburg (with dinner) Casanel Winery, 17956 Canby Road, Leesburg, VA 20175 6:30pm Doors open and dinner buffet starts. 7:15pm Show starts. There will be a 15-20-minute intermission. Tickets: $77 plus ticketing fee and sales tax / $72 for Wine Club members plus ticketing fee and sales tax (see Casanel Winery for promo code) includes the show, catered dinner and dessert by Pure Perfection Catering. Menu: Baby Greens Salad with Truffle Croutons, Dried Tart Cherries, and Confit Tomatoes with Pesto Vinaigrette Dressing. Baked Salmon with Saffron Sauce. Herb Seared Chicken with Mushroom Sauce. Roasted Mixed Vegetables. Scalloped Potatoes. Rolls with Butter. Chocolate Cheesecake. Unsweetened Iced Tea. Coffee. Special meals can be accommodated with 48 hours’ notice. Wine will be available for separate purchase. ### [Buy tickets for Casanel Winery. ](https://www.stagecoachtc.com/happy-birthday-youre-dead/) You must buy a ticket to attend. An RSVP here will not save you a seat.