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Weekend Buzz, Jan. 29, 2025

Weekend Buzz, Jan. 29, 2025
Celebrate Lunar New Year with National Ballet of China: Chinese New Year (A Ballet in Two Acts) at the Kennedy Center. Courtesy Kennedy Center.

A rush of local weekend activities to mark your calendars!

Dining

Be sure that #1 on your agenda is Falls Church Restaurant Week, Jan. 31 - Feb. 9. Here's our preview:

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.

Culture and Education

Library of Congress

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. 29, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 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


Mary Riley Styles Public Library

Board Game Sunday for Adults

Mary Riley Styles Public Library, 1-4:00 p.m., Sunday Feb. 2, Lower Level Conf. Room.

Come check out the wonderful and varied world of modern board games. Play various  tabletop games that are simple to learn and fun to master. This is a great way to meet new people. Experienced players will be on hand to offer instruction.

We normally meet in person every 1st Sunday of the month. Newcomers are always welcome! For adults 18+. No registration required. Attendance is first-come, first-served until seating capacity is reached.  In partnership with the Northern Virginia Board Game Group.


Comedy

Clare & Don’s Beach Shack

Sunday Feb. 2, 6 - 8:00 p.m.

A&A Comedy Showcase at Clare and Don's. Stand Up Comedy at its finest. Don't miss headliner Patrice DeVeaux and Falls Church City comedian Ace Jackson!


Theater

JOB

Signature Theatre, Arlington, Opening Jan. 28 - March 16.

A psychological thriller with a shocking and disturbing twist that will leave you breathless.

A young woman whose screaming breakdown at work has gone viral must receive an evaluation from a crisis therapist before she can return to her job at a well-known tech firm. During the appointment, however, secrets emerge, and filters strip away as doctor and patient edge toward an epic showdown.

An Off-Broadway sensation and New York Times Critic’s Pick, this intense play skewers the insidiousness of the internet, the meaning of work and the menace behind the social media smile.

“Engrossing, disturbing and frequently funny. It might even scare you off social media for a day or two.” – The New Yorker

For more info go here.


The Lake Effect

Jan. 30 - Feb. 16

Tyson's Corner, 1st Stage, 1524 Spring Hill Rd. (703) 854-1856.

Directed by Alex Levy. Written by Rajiv Joseph.

A drama of family secrets by Pulitzer Prize finalist Rajiv Joseph. During a fierce Cleveland mid-winter storm, estranged siblings are reunited by their father's sudden death. In the midst of closing his failing Indian restaurant, they must confront the painful memories and secrets that drove them apart. With witty dialogue, richly drawn characters, and a deep understanding of the complexities of human relationships, The Lake Effect is a must-see.

“Simply brilliant.”  –Showbiz Chicago

For more info go here.


Kennedy Center

Broadway Center Stage: Schmigadoon!

Eisenhower Theater, Jan. 31 - Feb. 9.

Courtesy Kennedy Center.

Based on the hit Apple TV series! Introducing Schmigadoon!, the world-premiere musical of the Emmy Award–winning hit show. New York doctors Josh and Melissa go backpacking in a last-ditch attempt to save their failing relationship, but instead get lost in the woods and end up trapped in Schmigadoon, a magical town that’s a classic Golden Age musical come to life!

For ticket info go here


Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company

GUAC

Jan. 24 - Feb. 16

GUAC. Courtesy Whoolly Mammoth.

Directed by Michael Cotey; Written & Performed by Manuel Oliver; Co-written by James Clements.

If grief is just another form of love, what you do with it next is what counts. This winter, meet the Olivers in GUAC

Fearless, funny, and pulling zero punches, GUAC is a tour-de-force theatrical experience about a father turned activist, Manuel Oliver. Seven years after losing his son Joaquin “Guac” Oliver in the Parkland shooting, Oliver harnesses the unbreakable power of a father’s love into an equally passionate force for change. A story about the many firsts and lasts that define us, GUAC is a joyful celebration of a life cut short and an activist rallying call for a better future.

Evening performances. Discounts for a charitable contribution. Go here for more information.  


Folger Shakespeare Library

Valor, Agravio y Mujer (The Courage to Right a Woman's Wrongs)

By Ana Caro Mallén de Soto. Directed by Tatyana-Marie Carlo. Adapted by Julissa Contreras. Presented in association with Expand the Canon.

Friday, Jan. 31, 8:00 p.m. 

Part of The Reading Room Festival 2025

This play is a celebration of women’s agency, written by Shakespeare’s Spanish contemporary Ana Caro Mallén de Soto (1590-1646).

Following a scorned heroine determined to carry out a revenge tragedy-turned-comedy, the play includes hallmarks familiar to Shakespeare’s writing, including cross-dressing, love triangles, swordplay, and soaring verse. Doña Leonora dresses like a man and crosses Europe to get revenge on her ungrateful ex who left her unmarriageable. Along the way, she manipulates others in her sphere causing confusion and antics – and ends up with a triumph that she deems better than any murder.

Post-show conversation

Join us for a post-show conversation moderated by Robert Ramirez. The panel features Tatyana-Marie Carlo, Emily Lyon, and Julissa Contreras.

For ticket info go here. 


Folger Shakespeare Library

Hamlet

Sun. Feb. 2, 5:00 p.m.

Hamlet is a Black, Latinx prince in this bilingual reimagining of Shakespeare’s tragedy, with text infused by the Spanish spoken in present-day New York City.

Courtesy FSL.

Post-show conversation

After the staged reading, join us for a conversation with the Hamlet creative team—director Laurie Woolery, adaptors Emily Lyon and Reynaldo Piniella, and translator Christin Eve Cato and actor Robert Ramirez, moderated by Executive Editor of DC Theater Arts Julian Oquendo.

For ticket info go here


Keegan Theatre

Hand to God

Tony-Nominated Comedy, Feb. 1 - March 2

Playwright: Robert Askins. Director: Josh Sticklin.

After the death of his father, meek Jason finds an outlet for his anxiety at the Christian Puppet Ministry, in the devoutly religious, relatively quiet small town of Cypress, Texas. Jason’s complicated relationships with the town pastor, the school bully, the girl next door, and — most especially — his mother are thrown into upheaval when Jason’s puppet, Tyrone, takes on a shocking personality all its own. HAND TO GOD is an irreverent comedy that explores the startlingly fragile nature of faith, morality, and the ties that bind us.

For ticket info go here.


Dance

National Ballet of China: Chinese New Year (A Ballet in Two Acts)

Courtesy Kennedy Center.

Kennedy Center Opera House, Wed. Jan. 29, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 31, 1:30 p.m.; Sat. Feb 1, 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

With its dazzling hybrid of western ballet and Chinese culture, National Ballet of China returns to thrill audiences with its luminous fusion of traditions, telling the story of a family’s Chinese New Year celebration—set to Tchaikovsky’s treasured Nutcracker score.

Live music by the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra and National Children’s Chorus, United States of America. 

For ticket information go here.


Magic

Mike Super - Magic & Illusion

George Mason University Center for the Arts, Sunday, Feb. 02 at 4 p.m.

Mike Super. Courtesy GMUCA.

See America’s Got Talent finalist and “America’s Favorite Mystifier” Mike Super live on stage! Mike Super brings his immersive show of mind-blowing illusions to the Center for the Arts to entertain and enthrall the whole family. He rose to fame as the winner of NBC’s hit television series Phenomenon, becoming the only magician in history to win a LIVE magic competition on a primetime U.S. network television. He is also a top finalist on America's Got Talent, appeared on Penn and Teller: Fool Us, and many international television series. Whether he is performing on stage, screen, or up close and in person, Mike Super transcends the “trick” and connects personally with his audiences, making this a Center for the Arts Family Series event sure to leave you spellbound. Join the journey of emotions from laughter, intrigue, danger, fear, wonder, anticipation, tears, and sentimentality that only Mike Super delivers! Recommended for ages 3 and up.

For more info go here.


Visual Arts

Falls Church Arts

Full Circle

Falls Church Arts Gallery, Jan. 11 - Feb. 23.

Here's our preview of this all-media Falls Church City visual arts show "exploring the circle or the concept of coming full circle."

Falls Church Arts: ‘Full Circle’ Launches Jan. 11, Runs Through Feb. 23
Forty-two artists will explore “the circle” or the “concept of ‘coming full circle’” when Falls Church Arts hosts Full Circle, on view from Jan. 11 to Feb. 23.

Juror: Sharon Malley

Juror’s Choice Award: Let It Go by Miisha Nash

For more info go here.


Spirit & Strength: Modern Art from Haiti

East Building, Mezzanine — Gallery 214, Now through March 9.

Learn about some of the most celebrated Haitian artists of the 20th century.

Art flourished in Haiti—the world’s first Black republic—in the mid-1900s. Painters like Hector Hyppolite, Rigaud Benoît, and Philomé Obin were known around the world for their images of Haitian daily life, religious traditions, and history. Their works influenced generations of African American artists. Several, including Lois Mailou Jones and Eldzier Cortor, traveled to and worked in Haiti.

Courtesy NGA.

Spirit & Strength is the first chance to see 21 works by Haitian artists recently given to the National Gallery. Get an introduction to Haitian modern art and experience the remarkable creations of some of the most prominent artists in Haiti’s history alongside works by artists building upon their legacy today. Through its art, understand Haiti’s significant yet underrecognized importance in the culture of the African Diaspora.

For more info go here.


Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

Basquiat × Banksy

Now through October 26.

Jean-Michel Basquiat; b. Brooklyn, New York, 1960–1988; Boy and Dog in a Johnnypump; 1982; Acrylic, crayon, and spray paint on canvas; Private collection; © Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Licensed by Artestar, New York.

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Independence Ave. at 7th St., SW.

Basquiat × Banksy is an exhibition of two major paintings, one by Jean-Michel Basquiat (b. Brooklyn, New York, 1960–1988), the other by Banksy (anonymous; b. near Bristol, England). Placed in dialogue, Basquiat’s Boy and Dog in a Johnnypump (1982) and Banksy’s response, Banksquiat. Boy and Dog in Stop and Search (2018) reveal throughlines between street art, contemporary art, and the popular imagination.

Basquiat × Banksy marks the first time that artwork by either artist is presented at the nation’s museum of modern and contemporary art. The exhibition also includes 20 small works on paper and wood from the collection of Larry Warsh which were made by Basquiat between 1979 and 1985 and demonstrate the artist’s deep familiarity with art history, his use of language and his signature motifs, such as skulls and crowns. The film Downtown 81 (shot in 1980–1981, released in 2000), a send-up of the denizens of Manhattan’s ’80s avant-garde starring Basquiat as a struggling artist named “Jean,” will also be on view.

For more info go here


Glen Echo

Pieces of a Dream

Park View Gallery, Jan. 29, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Marilyn Gates-Davis, the winner of the 2024 Park View Artist Award at the 53rd Annual Labor Day Art Show, presents Pieces Of A Dream, a solo exhibition of dreamscape paintings in the Park View Gallery. Free to the public. For more info go here.

Dreamscape painting by Marilyn Gates-Davis. Courtesy Glen Echo.

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.


State Theatre

Badfish - A Tribute to Sublime, Gimme The Gold Tour, 2025, with Kash'd Out and The Quasi Kings

Jan. 30, Doors open at 7:00 p.m. 

Badfish is a vibe, a sonic house party complete with plenty of gyrating fans sipping libations and enjoying various extracurricular activities. Badfish is feel-good music. For almost 25 years, the Rhode Island-based band – Joel Hanks on bass, Scott Begin on drums, Pat Downes on vocals and guitar, Danny Torgersen on horns, keyboards, and guitars – have successfully paid tribute to Sublime, the influential California group that brought ska-punk and reggae-rock to the mainstream.

For ticket info go here.  


Kennedy Center Concert Hall

NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Opera in Concert: Noseda Conducts Barber’s Vanessa

Thurs. Jan. 30, 7:00 p.m.; Sat. Feb. 1, 8:00 p.m.

Courtesy Kennedy Center.

Passion, secrets, and unforgettable music. Don’t miss this grand American opera! NSO Music Director and renowned opera conductor Gianandrea Noseda—along with five acclaimed soloists in major roles—bring Samuel Barber’s timeless tale of love and longing to life.

For more info go here.


Kennedy Center Terrace Theatre

Fantasia Española (Spanish Fantasy)

Sat. Feb. 1, 7:30 p.m.

Courtesy Kennedy Center.

Pan American Symphony Orchestra’s lavish, energetic performance of music inspired by Spanish traditions will leave you warmly inspired.

Warm up this winter with an evening in sunny Spain! The Latin Grammy nominated Pan American Symphony Orchestra (PASO) brings you a lush symphonic extravaganza — works by three of Spain’s most celebrated composers Pablo de Sarasate, Joaquin Turina, Isaac Albéniz, and Manuel de Falla. Sarasate’s Carmen Fantasy for orchestra and violin, featuring Holly Nelson on violin, is based on the themes from Bizet’s famous opera, Carmen, and is a virtuoso showcase for the violin. Turina’s The Bullfighter’s Prayer (Oración del Torero), originally written for a guitar quartet, and his Serenade (Serenata) have been masterfully arranged by Maestro Buslje for orchestra. Talented Argentine pianist, Agustin Muriago, solos on piano in Turina’s Rapsodia Sinfónica. This concert also features excerpts from Manuel de Falla’s El Amor Brujo and Isaac Albéniz’ Tango en D, originally written as part of his España suite. PASO’s lavish energetic performance of music inspired by Spanish traditions will leave you warmly inspired.

For ticket info go here


GMU Center for the Arts

Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra with Branford Marsalis

Sat., Feb. 1, 8:00 p.m.

GRAMMY Award-winning saxophonist Branford Marsalis joins the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra in this special concert. An exceptionally versatile musician, Marsalis is a band leader, featured classical soloist, and composer, winning three GRAMMY Awards, Tony, and Drama Desk Award nominations for his work as a composer on Broadway, a citation by the National Endowment for the Arts as a Jazz Master, and a Primetime Emmy nomination for best original score. Marsalis formed his own quartet in 1986, and after more than three decades of existence with minimal personnel changes the Branford Marsalis Quartet is revered for its kaleidoscopic range of both original compositions and jazz and popular classics. A frequently featured classical soloist, Marsalis has performed with acclaimed orchestras around the world and his legendary performances with the Grateful Dead and collaborations with Sting have made him a fan favorite in the pop arena. As a composer, Marsalis has scored films including Spike Lee’s Mo’ Better Blues, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, starring Oprah Winfrey, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom starring Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman, and the recent Netflix film Rustin starring Colman Domingo. The Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra is made up of the D.C.-area’s finest musicians and is led by Founder, Artistic Director, and virtuoso alto saxophonist Jim Carroll. This performance will also feature vocalist Darden Purcell, George Mason University’s jazz program director. 

This performance is appropriate for all ages. Tickets: $60, $51, $36; half-price for youth through Grade 12.

For more information go here. 


Winter Sports

Curling & Cocktails

Jan. 29, 7-10:00 p.m.

The Wharf Ice Rink

Curling anyone? Courtesy The Wharf DC.

Looking for a fun way to spend some time outside this winter? Join us for a free, friendly game of curling! The Canadian game marries hockey and shuffleboard for a low-pressure evening on the ice—no skates needed!Want to play? Preregister for your desired gametime on Eventbrite. Games begin at 7pm, 8pm, and 9pm every Wednesday evening through February 19. Each registration is for you and up to three teammates (four of you total). If space and time allow, we will accommodate walk ups.

Beginners are welcome and encouraged. You will be outside for the duration of the event, so please dress appropriately and wear flat soled shoes—sneakers are best.

Spectators are welcome, too! Cheer on the players and learn the game from the sidelines. Warm up with a cocktail from Cantina Bambina's concession stand while you watch. 

Preregister on eventbrite. Registration on Eventbrite opens the Thursday before each curling session. 


Chocolate

31st Annual Chocolate Lovers Festival

Jan. 31-Feb. 2, Downtown Fairfax, 10415 North St., Fairfax, Virginia

The Chocolate Lovers Festival, Fairfax City’s sweetest event of the year, will be held Jan. 31-Feb. 2. All your favorite chocolate-themed events and vendors will be back, including Construct a Cupcake, Musical Cakes, Taste of Chocolate, and Liquid Chocolate.

Other highlights of the festival include the Washington Nationals presidents, the LOVE sign in Old Town Square, and some new events, including Make Your Own Chocolate Bar.

Events will be held in the City of Fairfax Regional Library, Old Town Hall, Old Town Square, and the Historic Fairfax Courthouse. All venues are free to enter; however, fees to taste/sample items may apply at certain events. Info: fairfaxva.gov/chocolatefestival.


By Christopher Jones