FRIDAY, FEB. 3
A FIRST LOOK: A hip-hop retelling of abolitionist Henry Box Brown’s escape to freedom, a meditation on the life and impact of Maynard Jackson, and an exploration of two pioneer Black biologists will all be featured in A First Look, a three-day public festival showcasing the works-in-progress of the BIPOC playwrights in the Ford’s Theatre Legacy Commission’s new initiative. (Ford’s Theatre; Thursday-Saturday; FREE)
BLACK CHEF’S TABLE: What better place to kick off Black History Month than at the National Museum of African American History and Culture? Well, the NMAAHC’s food court, of course. Chef Kyre Rochon invites you to the Sweet Home Café for a delectable Black History Month Chef’s Table featuring grilled pork chops, fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, macaroni and cheese, watermelon salad and more. (National Museum of African American History and Culture; 12 p.m.-3 p.m.; Prices vary)
RACHMANINOFF’S BIRTHDAY: “Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music.” Russian-American Romantic composer Sergei Rachmaninoff said that during his lifetime, which began in 1873, exactly 150 years ago. To celebrate Rachmaninoff’s 150th birthday, the National Philharmonic invites you to this performance of Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini and Symphony No. 2 in E Minor. (Strathmore Music Center; 7:30 p.m.; $39+)
MORE: Creating a New Whole (Morton Fine Art; through Saturday, by appointment only; FREE), Twelfth Anniversary Celebration (Port City Brewing; Friday and Saturday; 12 p.m.-10 p.m.; FREE), United Ukrainian Ballet: Giselle (Kennedy Center; Friday and Saturday 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday 1:30 p.m.; $29+), February 2023 Exhibitions Opening Reception (Arts Club of Washington; 5 p.m.-7 p.m.; FREE), Wine & Watercolors (Shop Made in VA; 5 p.m.-7 p.m.; $25), Under the Whispering Door (East City Bookshop; 7 p.m.; FREE), ADRIFT: A Medieval Wayward Folly (Joe’s Movement Emporium; Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 3 p.m.; $25), Comedy Rap Show (Aurora Market; 7:30 p.m.-9 p.m.; $17), Sister Nancy (Union Stage; 8 p.m.; $28), Be Our Guest: The Disney DJ Night (Howard Theatre; 9 p.m.; $20)
SATURDAY, FEB. 4
ALEXANDRIA WAREHOUSE SALE: You might think it’s Black Friday weekend all over again when you walk around Alexandria this Saturday and Sunday. It’s not — it’s just the annual Alexandria Warehouse Sale, with approximately 50 participating stores in the area offering some of the best deals you’ll find all year. (Alexandria; Saturday and Sunday; FREE)
DIVINE LIGHT: What color is divine light? That’s the question Anne Lindberg explores in her latest installation, a site-specific work consisting of lavender walls and her signature fine chromatic threads in complementary yellow and blue colors. Seen together, the strings mimic a new color entirely. As Lindberg puts it, “the divine, like these colors, is unnamable, untouchable, intangible.” (The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum; through July 1; FREE)
THAT’S SO VINTAGE: This weekend, Union Market is turning into a vintage bazaar. That’s So Vintage, taking over Saturday, brings all of your favorite local vintage purveyors together. Come out and enjoy coffee, wine, rice balls, choripanes and music as you shop. Maybe you’ll leave with your new favorite coat. (Union Market; 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; FREE)
TRANSIT EQUITY DAY: The Citizens’ Climate Lobby invites you to a birthday celebration — Rosa Parks’ birthday celebration. Across the country, activists commemorate Parks’ lifetime of activism with Transit Equity Day, a day that advocates for high-quality public transportation powered by clean energy for everyone. Learn more as the group visits the Anacostia Community Museum’s Utopia Project this Saturday. (Anacostia Community Museum; 1 p.m.; FREE)
NEW.NOW: Every year, Hamiltonian Artists inducts a small class of fellows to develop their artistic practice for two years. And every year, the gallery invites the public to meet the fellows at their halfway point in new.now, a showcase of the fellows’ work so far. Welcome the class of 2022 this weekend at the new.now. opening reception. (Hamiltonian Artists; 5 p.m.-7 p.m.; FREE)
ROSALÍA DANCE PARTY: Calling all motomamis: Union Stage invites you to Mal Amante: A Rosalía Dance Party. Though Rosalía herself won’t be in attendance, DJ Yani will bring you all of the flamenco trained, genre-bending artist’s hits. She’ll also sprinkle in some Tokischa, J Balvin, Romeo and more. (Union Stage; 9 p.m.; $15)
MORE: Breaking the Rules in Modern Art (National Gallery of Art; 2 p.m.; FREE), Teaching Heritage, Reaching Community (Arlington Career Center; 2:30 p.m.-5 p.m.; FREE), SPROUTS! (Rhizome DC; 3 p.m.-5 p.m.; $10+), 21st Century Consort: Sound Shards (Hirshhorn Museum; 4 p.m.; FREE), Valentine’s Day Floral Wreath Workshop (PlantHouse Alexandria; 4:30 p.m.; $40), The Ordering of Moses (Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church; Saturday 6:30 p.m. and Sunday 4:30 p.m.; $35+), Seven Methods of Killing Kylie Jenner (Woolly Mammoth Theatre; through March 3; $5+), Après Ski: Drunk in Love Beyoncé Dance Party (Wunder Garten; 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.; FREE)
SUNDAY, FEB. 5
THE TEMPEST: Sure, you could sit on the couch and throw on a movie this weekend. Or you could throw on some local theater. Round House Theatre is offering a virtual version of The Tempest, a take on Shakespeare’s famous romance featuring music from the catalog of Tom Waits. The show, according to the New York Times, “awakens in the audience a sense of pleasurable, almost childlike wonder.” (Virtual; through Feb. 12; $35+)
ANNA MIEKE: According to the Irish Times, Ireland’s best solo music act of 2022 was Anna Mieke, the gentle, nostalgic singer-songwriter. She’s crossed the pond for a U.S. tour, which brings her to Jammin Java this Sunday. She’ll be in the company of Peter Mulvey, a folk songwriter hailing from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.(Jammin Java; 7 p.m.; $25)
DEAR MR. DUNCAN: Dear Mr. Duncan will be staged at Keegan Theatre this weekend. The Mr. Duncan in question is Todd Duncan, the D.C.-based vocalist who was the first Porgy in Porgy and Bess and the first Black vocalist to sing with a major opera company. Drawing on letters from Duncan’s archive, this music and poetry program celebrates Duncan’s immense contributions. (Keegan Theatre; Saturday 3 p.m.; Sunday 8 p.m.; $15)
GRAMMY PARTY: It’s a Sunday watch party, but not a football will be in sight. Join Songbyrd Music House for the music industry’s Super Bowl: the Grammy Awards. Party during the pre-show with a DJ set and music videos from this year’s nominees, enjoy drink specials all night, and watch the awards unfold in the company of local music fanatics. (Songbyrd Music House; 6:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m.; FREE)
MORE: “The Barklorette” Dog Adoption Event (The Bark Park by District Dogs; 1 p.m.-3 p.m.; FREE), Alash, Masters of Traditional Tuvan Instruments (Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital; 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.; $22), Profs & Pints DC: The Rise of Distant Doctors (metrobar; 6 p.m.; $14.31), Living the Dream…Singing the Dream (Kennedy Center; 7 p.m.; $25+)
