And just like that, we find ourselves in mid-winter. The light is lasting longer and longer and the promise of spring is just around the corner. There are things to be grateful for– chiefly among them, that we are no longer plunged in depressive levels of darkness.
(Need help? Not sure where to turn? Here are a few DC resources for you. Please know that you are loved and you matter.)
Want to share some love with your community and with the ACLU? I’ll be at Eastern Market’s North Hall on Saturday, February 15. Donate $5 (or more, if you’re so inclined or able) and we will donate the proceeds to the ACLU. Write a Valentine to someone or send a message of love to our community, which has seen us through some dark times and continues to be there for us. Can’t make it to the North Hall this weekend? Send me a note here and Venmo your donation here.
More info also on our Instagram.
If you’re looking for a pre-Valentine’s event, TAP99, 1250 Half Street SE, is hosting “Pour Some Love” from 5-8 p.m on Thursday, February 13. The event features tastings from six different craft breweries, as well as swag. If you’re a beer nerd or you love one, this is a must-attend event! Pour yourself and you beloved a cold one and enjoy! (Your beloved can be you.) You can RSVP right here.
The United States Botanic Garden has a gorgeous new show called Orchids: Masters of Deception. This is the 29th edition of this collaboration between the USBG and the Smithsonian Gardens. It will be officially on view starting tomorrow, February 14 and will be up through April 27. Spend some time inhaling the warm and humid air of the Grand Hall and take in the beauty of orchids– both hiding in plain sight and covering structures– and learn about how they are not the only living beings capable of masterful manipulation. More info here.
Get your cutest knickers on and run for a good cause– just hope that the weather cooperates! On Saturday, February 15, support research for Neurofibromatosis by participating in the Cupid’s Undie Run at the Wharf! Sign up for the race here.
The Capitol Hill Art League has a new member showcase and the opening reception is February 15, 1-3 p.m. at Frame of Mine. After the 15, you can also see the new art at the CHAL link here.
The Intersections Festival is coming to the Atlas starting February 15! Percussion, storytelling, burlesque, music, intersectionality! Get your tickets here.
Looking for a self-care Valentine? Go to the Hillcrest DC Public Library and pick a mystery book so you can have a date wit a book! Check out this post on Ex-Twitter for more information!
Yep, Valentine’s Day is around the corner and nothing says romance like The Love Birds at the Folger. Love? Check. Poetry? Check. Music? Check. Buy your tickets here.
On February 19, enjoy a pop-up dinner benefiting HEAL Palestine at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, 212 East Capitol Street (basement). From 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., care for others as a team of cooks from some of the best restaurants in the area dazzle your tastebuds with comfort food. For more information and tickets, click here. ($50 minimum donation)
Next week, ditch your car and walk, bike, take the bus or Metro and play and explore and meet other people like yourself, who want to be more car-independent and want to support the incredible transit infrastructure of our region. TRANSPOBINGO IS ALMOST HERE! Learn more about this fun game and tradition here and get ready to play! We are especially excited to be part of raising awareness in this effort and hope you make it to one of the events. SPEAKING OF!
Ride your bike and beautify the neighborhood! On Saturday, February 22 at 10:30 a.m. join Hill Family Biking at Stanton Park for either a 2- or 4-mile ride. Stop by Sherwood and Rosedale recreation centers and spruce them up for spring! This is an official TranspoBingo event too!
OFF-HILL
I’m a big fan of skin care and #selfcare, so when the folks at Glowbar invited me to try one of their 30 minute facials in their new store over at Logan Circle (1450 P Street NW), I jumped at the chance. The esthetician who helped me, Brittany, was not just thorough but also incredibly knowledgeable about skin care at a molecular level. Book a treatment here.
The National Building Museum’s “Visible Vault: Open Collections Storage” is their latest permanent exhibit. Both a shameless grab for storage space in the main floors of the Building Museum and an incredible invitation to explore, giggle, wonder and ponder on how we build the world around us, the exhibit will be a fixture at the second floor of the museum. Check out my Instagram post here. Every time you visit, you may see a slightly different exhibit– cool right? Get tickets here.
Never been to UDC for a noontime jazz concert? Change that this month: Celebrate Black History Month with the Allyn Johnson Trio this Tuesday, February 11 this show has been rescheduled to March 6, so make sure you go! More information here– make sure you scroll to February.
(Arrive prepared: Read more about Allyn Johnson over at Capital Bop.)
Don’t forget! The Anacostia Community Museum is open daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and they always have something fun going on! Learn more here.
A play inside a record store? Intriguing! Get tickets to Love and Vinyl, which opens February 13 at Byrdland Records, and see how it all works itself out. More info and tickets here.
Peacock Alley at the Waldorf Astoria downtown is doing a special series of Wednesday events called Wednesdays at the Waldorf Astoria. These curated events pair foods with special drinks for a one-of-a-kind experience. Book yours here while it’s still the W-A because apparently it may be back to being a Trump hotel sooner than we think.
PLAN AHEAD
Have you ever wanted to race your bike through parking lots? Why not? National Landing is hosting the Garage Racing National Championships on February 22. Learn more about the event here and sign up to race here!
MPD’s Community Engagement Academy is an eight-week program designed to give community members the opportunity to learn firsthand about MPD’s day to day operations. The next cohort starts in March. Wanna learn more? Click here.
And get excited: Mardi Gras is coming to the Wharf on Saturday, March 1! Parade! Live music! Food! Drink! Merriment! More info here.
Fan of fitness and flowers? Then the Friends of the National Arboretum Flowering 5K on March 23! More information and signups here.