MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8
FIRESIDE FUN: If you’re without a fire pit for your outdoor hang, rent a campfire ring from Brookside Nature Center. You’ll have three hours to roast hot dogs and marshmallows, and sing camp songs ‘round the fire. Firewood and firestarter material are included, so just bring your graham crackers and you’ll be set. (Brookside Nature Center, ongoing, $100)
LISTEN UP: Living through 2020 in the District has surely been a memorable experience — or perhaps something you’d much rather forget. Studio Theatre’s latest auditory offering, I Hate It Here, has creator Ike Holter taking a look at how people deal with living in a world on the brink of explosion. Stream it for free and get commiserating. (Through March 7, FREE)
MUSIC CITY: D.C.’s musical heritage goes beyond our beloved go-go and and punk roots. Join historian and musician Ken Avis as he explores the lesser known musical treasures from our fair city during this three-session offering from Smithsonian Associates. The first online meeting will explore D.C.’s jazz roots with recordings and more. (6:45 p.m., $25 members, $30 nonmembers)
MORE: Ready2Play Virtual Meeting Ward 5 (D.C. Parks & Rec, 6:30 p.m., FREE), The Reason I Jump (Avalon Theater, ongoing, $12)
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9
EXPLORE HISTORY: Get outdoors and explore history along the way with a visit to the Underground Railroad Experience Trail in Montgomery Country. The four-mile trail through the woods allows for reflection on the isolation and danger felt by those who traversed the path in the 19th century. (Trail starts at Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park, open dawn to dusk, FREE)
IN THE STARS: You may enjoy your weekly horoscope, but there’s so much more introspection that astrology has to offer. Check out this virtual event from Sixth & I, where bestselling author and counseling astrologer Chani Nicholas will share what your birth chart can tell you about yourself — and your place in the universe. (7 p.m., $8, $25 includes book purchase)
BOOK TALK: Spend the evening virtually with Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Lilly Singh as they discuss Priyanka’s new memoir, Unfinished, during this Politics & Prose Live event. Hear about Mrs. Jonas’ time on the Indian pageant stage and how she launched her acting career. Submit a question when you purchase a signed book, if you’d like. (8 p.m., prices start at $28.99 for book in-store pick up)
MORE: Art Exhibition: Bark! (Amy Kaslow Gallery, 12 p.m., FREE), BMA x NMWA Monthly Talk Show: Youth (National Museum of Women in the Arts, 12 p.m., FREE)
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10
HABITAT HELP: Grab your gardening gloves and get to pruning during this socially distant habitat restoration event from the National Park Service and Rock Creek Conservancy. Head to Melvin Hazen West and help with bamboo containment for a two-hour stint. (Melvin Hazen West, 10 a.m., FREE)
LUNAR LUCK: Get ready to celebrate Lunar New Year with this online event from the National Museum of Asian Art on holiday food traditions. Join restaurant owner and culinary entrepreneur Lydia Chang and Jan Stuart, curator of Chinese art at the Freer / Sackler, as they discuss celebratory dishes — and the memories those foods evoke. (6 p.m., FREE)
MORE: Mighty Justice: A Family Event About Civil Rights Lawyer Dovey Johnson Roundtree (D.C. Public Library, 4 p.m., FREE), Zachary Faden Presents Absinthe: Debunking Myths & Unshrouding Mysteries (Museum of Distilled Spirits, 6:30 p.m., $35)
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11
CANNOT TELL A LIE: Get an early start to celebrating Valentine’s Day with this virtual Spymaster’s Happy Hour that focuses on … lie detection? No matter your relationship status, spotting the truth can only be a useful skill. Hear the history of the polygraph and get up to date on the latest spy lie detection strategies. (5:30 p.m., FREE)
LIKE A LOVE SONG: In search of the perfect Valentine’s gift? This virtual event, Planet Word Playlist, may just be for you. UCLA English professor Adam Bradley will help you craft a ballad worthy of devotion as he takes a closer look at how songwriters make love songs sing. (12 p.m., FREE)
WILL’S VILLAINS: Up your streaming game with this performance from the Shakespeare Theatre starring Broadway actor Patrick Page in All the Devils Are Here: How Shakespeare Invented the Villain. The one-man performance explores the Bard’s most famous bad guys, from Macbeth to Claudius. (Ongoing, $25 for a three-day streaming pass)
MORE: Veterans Hiring Event (MilitaryX, 11 a.m., FREE), Virtual Event: O.B. Hardison Poetry Series: Tracy K. Smith & Maurice Manning (East City Book Shop, 7:30 p.m., $5 and up)
