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Weekend Buzz, Jan. 15, 2025

Weekend Buzz, Jan. 15, 2025
Have you tried a swing dance class at Glen Echo's Spanish Ballroom? Courtesy Gottaswing.

Get ready for an action-packed three-day weekend. In an odd congruence, Monday Jan. 20 is both Inauguration Day for the 47th President and the Martin Luther King National Holiday. And there are plenty of enriching, fun, and entertaining activities in Falls Church and around town to plan your weekend.

Celebrate MLK Day in Falls Church, This Weekend

As we wrote yesterday, here’s how Falls Church Civil Rights pioneer Edwin Henderson II – Founder of the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation – said it should be done this Saturday, Jan. 18 in Falls Church: 

Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation’s Henderson Invites Falls Church to Properly ‘Celebrate MLK Day’
Edwin Henderson II, founder of the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation, describes his civil rights background and how MLK Day should be celebrated…

Make Your Reservations for Falls Church Restaurant Week, Jan. 31 - Feb. 9

Mark your calendars! We spoke with Mayor Hardi about the City of Falls Church’s Second Annual Restaurant Week, Jan. 31 - Feb. 9.

Here’s an overview of culinary offerings in the Little City and our discussion with the Mayor: 

Mayor Hardi Looking Forward to Falls Church Restaurant Week, Jan. 31 - Feb. 9
Are you ready for “Ten Days of Deliciousness”?Then prepare your palettes, people. The City of Falls Church – now a hotspot for regional foodies – will be offering its second-annual Restaurant Week (FCRW), from Jan. 31 to Feb. 9.

Visual Arts

Feeling ‘Quilty’? Enjoy These McLean Project for the Arts’ Exhibitions

The artists featured in Pieced Together We Are Whole work non-traditionally within the quilting medium. Using a variety of approaches, the ideas explored are personal, political, and universal. Built into the making process, which entails the joining together of many parts to create a whole, is also the expression of ideas about communion, cohesion, gathering, blending, and building. 

In Playing with Shadows, Liz Lescault’s biomorphic sculptures are constructed primarily with extruded filaments, some sculptures incorporating found objects. The fine filaments create shadows that become part of the piece, sometimes indistinguishable from it. Remnants and relics such as shadows, fossils and residues are a part of an object’s story and can be used in discovery. Scientists use remnants to uncover the nature of objects that may no longer exist in their original form. Remnants can also explain more about the existing nature of an object, as is the case in Playing with Shadows.

Liz Lescault, "Trundle." Courtesy MPA.

McLean Community Center. McLean Project for the Arts, Emerson Gallery and Atrium Gallery. Open for visitors Mondays through Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Opening Exhibition Reception: Thursday, Jan. 16, 7:00 p.m. Artist Talk: Saturday, Jan. 25, 11:00 a.m. Tea & Talk: Tuesday, Feb. 11, 11:00 a.m. For more info go here. 


Dance

Celebrate MLK’s Legacy with an Uplifting Ballet Performance

Check out the Collage Dance Collective’s presentation of “Rise” this Saturday, Jan. 18, at 7:00 p.m., an “all-ages Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration.” The show is choreographed by company Co-Founder and Artistic Director Kevin Thomas, and inspired by the words of civil rights leader and pioneer, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s final speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop,” delivered at the Mason Temple in Memphis, Tenn. on April 3, 1968.” Collage Dance Collective says of the show: “As we commemorate more than 56 years since Dr. King’s passing, this thought-provoking ballet is both a reflection of what we have overcome and envisions where we go from here.” McLean Center for the Arts. For more info go here

From "Rise," an homage to Dr King's legacy. Courtesy Collage Dance Collective.

Tryin’ to Get Back in the Swing in the New Year?

Maybe it’s time to try one of Glen Echo’s famous swing dance classes? This Saturday, Jan. 18, from 8 - 11:30 p.m., join Gottaswing “for a fun and friendly swing dance with the DAVID CHAPPELL BAND.” All ages welcome, and you never need a partner. Beginner swing dance lesson with Tom & Debra included with admission. Spanish Ballroom, Glen Echo. Lesson: 8:00 p.m. Social Dance: 9:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. $30 at the door; save $10 with advance purchase. For more info go here.


Culture & Education

Something Gorey’s Happening at the Library of Congress

Courtesy Edward Gorey House.

Celebrate “100 Years of Edward Gorey” at the Library of Congress, Jan. 16, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. American writer, poet, illustrator, and set designer Edward Gorey is best known for his macabre illustrations. This small, curated display celebrates the one-hundredth anniversary of his birth with selections from the Library’s two major Edward Gorey collections: the Glen Emil Gorey Collection and the Edward Bradford Gorey Collection. Great Hall, South Gallery. For more info go here


Time to Learn ASL?

Take an American Sign Language Class, Sun. Jan. 19, from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. All ages. Registration open. Upper Level Conference Room. Course taught by members of the Meridian H.S. ASL Honor Society (ASLHS). The four-session series of classes is intended for beginners. Mary Riley Styles Public Library. 120 N. Virginia Ave. Phone: 703-248-5030. See here for more information.

Do you know ASL? Photo by RDNE Stock. 

Don’t Miss This Journeying Lewis & Clark Exhibit in Fairfax

Courtesy Reimagining America, Fairfax County Gov.

This traveling exhibition – Reimagining America: The Maps of Lewis and Clark – uses large-scale reproductions of historic maps, photos, and explanatory text to show how America looked before the journey of Lewis and Clark, and what it looked like after. Using cutting-edge scientific techniques and methods as old as humanity, Lewis & Clark created a new portrait of America so persuasive we still recognize it today. This exhibit shows how they did it. Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center, Gano Gallery. Through Jan. 22. For more info go here


Performing Arts: Downtown

How About The Kennedy Center This Weekend?

A little chamber music? This Thursday, Jan. 16 at 6:00 p.m., see NSO Youth Fellows on the Millennium Stage (in-person and livestreamed) for free. Students from the National Symphony Orchestra Youth Fellowship Program will perform chamber music on the Millennium Stage. 

An NSO Youth Fellow. Courtesy NSO.

Or, try the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. This Thursday, Jan. 16 at 7:00 p.m., Friday, Jan. 17 at 11:30 a.m., and Saturday, Jan. 18 at 8:00 p.m., swoon to the National Symphony Orchestra itself as they feature Carlos Miguel Prieto conducting Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances and Jorge Federico Osorio playing Beethoven. The Kennedy Center bills the show: “Jorge Federico Osorio, hailed as 'an imaginative interpreter with a powerful technique' (New York Times), takes on Beethoven’s intensely energetic Piano Concerto No. 3. Rachmaninoff’s lush and lively Symphonic Dances comes alive under the baton of Carlos Miguel Prieto — who returns following his 'high-octane' 2018 NSO debut (Washington Classical Review).”

Carlos Miguel Prieto (left) and Jorge Federico Osario (right). Courtesy National Symphony Orchestra.

Also, on the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater, you can enjoy the Kennedy Center Chamber Players: Winter Concert, “comprising titled musicians of the NSO.” This Sunday, Jan. 19, at 2:00 p.m

Kennedy Center Chamber Players. Courtesy Kennedy Center.

And, to celebrate MLK Day you can attend the “Let Freedom Ring Celebration” at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall on Sunday, Jan. 19, at 7:30 p .m. Hosted by the “ultimate leading man of both stage and screen,” Taye Diggs and featuring Tony-nominated Christopher Jackson and Grammy Award-winning musician esperanza spalding, the evening is designed to “celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a free, ticketed musical tribute.” 

Courtesy Kennedy Center.

For more Kennedy Center performance and ticket info go here. 


Katzen Arts: Here's an Exhuberant Electro-Pop Performance Animated with Native Languages and Fashion

Courtesy MoCA Arlington.

This Friday, Jan. 17, at 7 - 8:00 p.m., take in Elisa Harkins: Wampum / ᎠᏕᎳ ᏗᎦᎫᏗ. Join MoCA Arlington and American University’s Studio Art MFA Program for Wampum / ᎠᏕᎳ ᏗᎦᎫᏗ, a special performance by artist, singer, and electronic music composer Elisa Harkins. Wampum / ᎠᏕᎳ ᏗᎦᎫᏗ is an exuberant, electropop performance animated with Native languages and fashion. It features the artist performing original music she has composed and written, with lyrics in English, Cherokee, and Muscogee (Creek). Deeply informed by Harkins’ knowledge of Indigenous music, the performance also reflects the influences of electropop, techno, disco, and other contemporary, popular musical genres. Merging these influences into an energy-filled, pop concert, Harkins asserts the continued vibrancy of Native culture and traditions. American University’s Katzen Arts Center. The event is the artist’s debut performance in the Washington, DC metro area. For more info go here

How ‘Bout the 9:30 Club? 

Tycho. Courtesy 9:30 Club.

Know about Tycho? “As Tycho, Scott Hansen blends swirling melodies into vaguely triumphant arcs that crisscross between stuttering beats and vocal samples, creating rolling sonic landscapes that extend into the horizon,” 9:30 Club says of the Grammy-nominated dance/electronic artist. “In addition to his original works, Tycho has remixed Odesza & Leon Bridges, Maggie Rogers, Spoon, The Knocks & Muna, Little Dragon, Thievery Corporation and Death Cab For Cutie.” In the last decade and a-half, Hansen has “developed from a delicate solo performer into the iconic front man of a powerful live band featuring Brown, O’Connor and multi-instrumentalist Billy Kim. Tycho has evolved from a singular to a plural, and from an electronic, ambient experiment to a multi-dimensional audio visual live experience that brings the compositions to life.”


Winter Sports

Ready to Hit the Ice?

It’s a Capitals Winter at The Wharf! Through February, visit the Caps Cantina Bar on Transit Pier and the Washington Capitals décor and ice resurfacer at The Wharf Ice Rink.

Ready to take to the ice? Courtesy The Wharf.

On Rock the Rink days, join fellow hockey fans at The Wharf to show your Caps pride. From 6- 10:00 p.m., skate at The Wharf Ice Rink with a DJ, Caps gear giveaways, and more. At 7:00 p.m., we’ll also broadcast the Capitals’ away game against the Ottawa Senators on the 85" TV screen. Throughout the day, fans wearing Capitals gear receive $5 off admission to The Wharf Ice Rink. Jan. 16: Rock the Rink Ice Skating 6 -10:00 p.m.” Capitals vs. Ottawa Senators at 7:00 p.m. For more info go here

Live Local Music

Passport Music Festival at Creative Cauldron

Courtesy Creative Cauldron.

"Featuring some of the most talented and diverse musicians in the Metro area and beyond, this annual series, now in its 14th year, is one of the most popular events of the Creative Cauldron season," Creative Cauldron says of this exciting show in the City of Falls Church at 410 S. Maple Ave., running through Feb 1. "The concert series offers musical styles for every taste: latin, jazz, blues, folk and world music. Presented in a cozy club format that has been described by one of our frequent performers musicians as 'one of the best listening venues in the DMV.'" For more info go here.

Live Music at the State Theatre

In the dark days of winter, are you longing for lazy days on the summer beach? This Friday, Jan. 17, see: Captain Mike & The Shipwrecked: A Premier Jimmy Buffett Tribute. Playing hits and deep cuts form the Coral Reefer catalog, old parrotheads will love this 9-piece band consisting of a blend of pirates and musicians alike. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. Showtime: 8:30 p.m. For ticket info go here

Or, maybe $5 Comedy Night on Sat. Jan. 18, “featuring DMV’s best comedians,” will brighten your spirits. Must be 18-or-over, unless accompanied by a parent. Valid ID required. For ticket info go here


Speaking of Sunny Weather, Clare & Don’s Beach Shack's Got the Vibe

This Friday, Jan. 17, at 5:30 p.m., check out Dan & Chuck.

Dan & Chuck. Courtesy Clare & Don's.

And on Sat. Jan. 18 at 5:30 p.m., WAMMIE-nominated Michelle & Jason Hannan EPK, “one of Maryland’s top up-and-coming independent country acts” will be performing. A review from CDX Nashville describes Michelle Hannan’s song “Another Round” as a “heartbreak song in the classic country tradition. Drenched in pedal steel and vocal harmony, it’s a reminder of what country music can and should be.”

Michelle & Jason Hannan EPK. Courtesy Michelle & Jason Hannan EPK.

JV’s Music Room

Looking for some live music in Falls Church? Try JV’s Music Room at 6666 Arlington Blvd. This weekend, see: 

The Dave Chappell Band (Every third Thursday each month). Chappell is a “multi-award winning guitarist.” Thursday, Jan. 16, 8:00 p.m. 

The Dave Chappell Band. Courtesy JV's.

“Playing hit varieties,” such as Classic Rock standards from The Doors and Van Morrison, The Shartel and Hume Band, appear this Friday, Jan. 17, 4:00 p.m. Early show.

Courtesy JV's.

The Honky Tonk Cassanovas, playing “Classic Country, Surf and Southern Soul,” Friday, Jan. 17, 8:30 p.m

And, Big Giant Trio, playing “Big Classic Rock and More,” Saturday, Jan. 18, 4:00 p.m. Early Show

Big Giant Trio. Courtesy JV's.

Or, try Smylin’ Jack, a power trio that’s “not your mother’s party rock/dance band!” Saturday, Jan 18, 8:30 p.m. Then there are the “purveyors of twangabilly,” and a “flash from the past," Jumpin’ Jupiter. Sunday, Jan. 19, 4:00 p.m., Early show.  

Finally, the Bobby Thompson Band, playing a “high octane blues tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan,” and Lou Ann Barton at 8:30 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 19. 

The Bobby Thompson Band pays tribute to Texas guitar legend Stevie Ray Vaughn.

For more info go here

Searching for More Solace? How About…

The Non Essentialz at 8:00 p.m., Friday, Jan. 17. And The Walkaways at 8:00 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 18. Solace Outpost. 444 W. Broad St. For more info go here

The Nighthawks are Coming to Earp’s Ordinary, Fairfax

On Friday, Jan. 17, Mobius Records presents “An Evening with the Loving Paupers.” Doors open at 4:00 p.m. Show starts at 8:00 p.m. On Saturday, Jan. 18, northern Virginia favorites, The Nighthawks, with opener the Rich Russman Band! Doors open at 4:00 p.m. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. And, the Soul Crackers, “the best in Motown and Soul Music,” play on Sunday, Jan. 19, at 6:00 p.m. Doors open at 4:00 p.m.

The Nighthawks, with opener the Rich Russman Band! Courtesy Earp's.

For more info go here

Or, Settle Down Easy at Settle Down Easy Brewing

On Thursday, Jan. 16, see Brandon Lane, live at 6:00 p.m. at Settle Down Easy Brewing, 2822 Fallfax Dr., in Falls Church. Free show. For more info go here


By Christopher Jones