ART
Déjà vu
Feb. 1-4
Artists utilize repurposed and upcycled materials to create new works. The showcase will be held in Studio 29, the Potomac Fiber Arts Gallery. // Torpedo Factory: 105 N. Union St., Alexandria
PERFORMING ARTS
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
Feb. 2, 8 p.m.
A worldwide phenomenon, Les Ballets is an all-male comic ballet company. With its dancers clad in tutus, the company runs through a variety of traditional and modern ballets and dances. The highly-trained dancers portray both male and female roles, injecting intentional humor and missteps into their performances. // George Mason University Center for the Arts: 4400 University Drive, Fairfax
FOOD + DRINK
Food, Wine & Yoga Retreat
Feb. 2-4
This weekend-long retreat, hosted at Lansdowne Resort and Spa, slips yoga and meditation into a trip to wine country with a dinner in downtown Leesburg, a tour of vineyards with plenty of wine sampling and a guacamole challenge. // Lansdowne Resort and Spa: 44050 Woodridge Parkway, Leesburg
FESTIVAL + SPECIAL EVENT
Chocolate Lovers Festival
Feb. 2-4, times vary
This annual festival is a favorite for any sweets lover. Not only will there be chocolates galore, events also include a cake walk, chocolate challenge, scavenger hunt, a chocolate chip pancake breakfast and open houses at the City of Fairfax’s historic buildings. The event kicks off Friday night with the liquid chocolate tent (chocolate soda, chocolate wine, chocolate beer, hot coco, dessert wine pairings and more). // City of Fairfax
FESTIVAL + SPECIAL EVENT
Crystal Couture
Feb. 2-3, times vary
Metro-D.C. designers and boutiques converge on Crystal City to host a pop-up fashion show and retail shop. Make a night of it by taking in the show, shopping the dozens of brands and shops, and while you sip on drinks from the bar get in on the mini makeup and hair makeover sessions. // Various locations throughout Arlington
TOTS
Peter and the Starcatcher
Feb. 2-3, times vary
Based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, the Reston Players put on a show about the grown-up version of Peter Pan, where a starcatcher’s apprentice and young orphan battle pirates to protect magical starstuff. There is live music, witty banter and humor throughout the Tony Award-winning performance. // Reston CenterStage: 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston
PERFORMING ARTS
The Hollywood Special FX Show
Feb. 3, 2 & 5 p.m.
Get the inside scoop on the science and secrets that go into creating some of the most explosive and action-packed movies, such as The Dark Knight Rises, Phantom of the Opera and Guardians of the Galaxy—directly from the professionals who were responsible. Audience members will be exposed to sci-fi monsters, apocalypse-like weather, an on-stage inferno and more. // Hylton Performing Arts Center: 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas
FESTIVAL + SPECIAL EVENT
13th Annual Alexandria Warehouse Sale
Feb. 3, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
One of the biggest shopping days of the year for Northern Virginia is back, this time at the Westin Alexandria, where boutiques throughout the Metro-D.C. region bring their wares and offer them at deep discounts—it’s known as the Super Bowl of Shopping. // The Westin Alexandria: 400 Courthouse Square, Alexandria
FESTIVAL + SPECIAL EVENT
Freezin’ for a Reason
Feb. 3, 2-4 p.m.
There is something special about donning a bathing suit and jumping into below-freezing-degree waters. There are supposed medicinal benefits, but this event is focused on benefitting Camp Sunshine, a retreat in Maine where families who have children with life-threatening illnesses can go to recharge, free of charge. This year’s goal is to raise $100,000 so 40 families can attend camp Sunshine. // Lake Anne Village Center: 1609 Washington Plaza W., Reston
MUSIC
Air Force Band College Symposium
Feb. 3, 8-9:30 p.m.
Talented college students from all around the U.S. join the Air Force’s Concert Band for a collaborative performance. The collective band and the wind section will treat the audience to both classic and modern works during this one-of-a-kind event. // Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center: 4915 E. Campus Drive, Alexandria
MUSIC
Lera Lynn Trio
Feb. 3, 8 p.m.
Lera Lynn is most well-known for her work on the HBO series True Detective. Not only did Lynn write and produce music for the drama’s second season, she was also cast as a dive bar singer to perform the songs during episodes. With her most recent effort being 2016’s Resistor, Lynn took on roles as singer-songwriter, co-producer and multi-instrumentalist. With all of these accomplishments under her belt, Lynn brings her other-worldly dark rock to Northern Virginia. // Jammin Java: 227 Maple Ave. E., Vienna
TOTS
Digging Up Dessa
Feb. 3-18, times vary
In this kid-friendly production, 21st-century girl Dessa is joined by 19th-century paleontologist Mary Anning. After learning on a field trip that Anning’s legacy as a female paleontologist has been buried due to her gender and lack of education, Dessa decides she’s going to take it upon herself to ensure her new friend gets the credit she worked so hard for. // Kennedy Center: 2700 F St. NW, Washington, D.C.
TOTS
The Great Zucchini
Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.
The Great Zucchini is a preschool and kindergarten entertainer who performs magic. These hands-on shows are fun and exciting for kids of all ages. // Jammin Java: 227 Maple Ave. E., Vienna
MUSIC
A Very Intimate Acoustic Evening with Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo
Feb. 5, 7:30 p.m.
Almost 50 years after she quit her Richmond-based job to pursue her successful singing career, Pat Benatar returns to the state she once called home. Joined by husband and guitarist Neil Giraldo, the “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” singer and “Jessie’s Girl” songwriter bring their 30-year collaborative catalog and passion for music to a more intimate setting. // The Birchmere: 3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria
FOOD + DRINK
Soft Launch of Koi Tea
Feb. 6, noon-3 p.m.
Only 100 people can sneak into the soft opening of Koi Tea for discounted drinks, such as boba tea. The store officially opens Feb. 19. // Koi Tea: 418 Garrisonville Road, Stafford
MUSEUM EVENTS
Race to the Moon
Saturdays, 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Travel back to 1969 and get involved in the battle between the United States and the Soviet Union to get to the moon. During the Udvar-Hazy’s Smithsonian Techquest program, participants will work on problem-solving skills through the alternate reality game. // Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center: 14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway, Chantilly
TOTS
Anne of Green Gables
Through Feb. 3, times vary
The Little Theatre of Alexandria brings the classic tale of the adventurous Anne to life through a musical performance. It is a play for the whole family. // Little Theatre of Alexandria: 600 Wolfe St., Alexandria
FOOD + DRINK
POUND & Pints: Bangin’ Brunch Edition
Feb. 4, 11 a.m.
Instructor Tiffany Kelly leads an intense cardio workout through the act of drumming, and everyone’s reward after is a beer at host Adventure Brewing Company. If you can’t make this class, Kelly hosts these brewery pop-up workouts most weekends. // Adventure Brewing Company: 3300 Dill Smith Road, Fredericksburg
TOTS
Funday Monday
Mondays, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Start your week with music, movement, storytelling, performances, crafts and more at Old Town Hall in Fairfax City. Events are free and open to children of all ages. // Old Town Hall Fairfax: 399 University Drive, Fairfax
ART
Preserving Tropical Treasures
Through Feb. 5
Artist Ruth Ensley has had works exhibited in the United States, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Costa Rica and more. Inspired by birds of all kinds, Ensley’s paintings focus on the vibrant colors, textures and transparencies that are disappearing due to the shrinking number of worldwide forests and their populations. // Patrick Henry Library: 101 Maple Ave. E., Vienna
ART
Neutrals
Through Feb. 5
This exhibit puts the softer, calmer hues of winter that come into play after the bright colors of the holiday season disappear. On display will be compositions drawing inspiration from black, white, grays and tans. // Potomac Fiber Arts Gallery: 105 N. Union St., Studio 29, Alexandria
PERFORMING ARTS
Light Years
Feb. 6-March 4, times vary
For two years Eric Schaeffer, Signature Theatre’s art director, has been working with Eddie from Ohio’s Robbie Schaefer on the upcoming world premier of the musical Light Years about the relationship between a father and son. Starring Schaefer, the folk-rock artist crafts his own life tale into a funny yet real performance that touches on immigration, perseverance and bonds that can never break. // Signature Theatre: 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington
ART
Spheres
Through Feb. 9
Artist Artemis Herber seeks to address trade and migration through this latest exhibit. Exploring how human beings live in spheres both contained and imagined, cardboard is used, often covered in rust and decaying, in all pieces. // Northern Virginia Community College’s Waddell Building: 21200 Campus Drive, Sterling
MUSIC
Chris Young: Losing Sleep 2018 World Tour
Feb. 9, 7:30 p.m.
Country artist Chris Young, who was recently inducted as a new member of the Grand Ole Opry, released his seventh album, Losing Sleep, spurred by the lead single of the same name, in October. The Grammy-nominated artist’s latest tour kicks off in Fairfax, with support from Kane Brown and LANCO. // EagleBank Arena: 4500 Patriot Cirlce, Fairfax
MUSIC
Bruce In The USA: The World’s #1 Tribute to Bruce Springsteen
Feb. 9-10, 9 p.m.
Described as a high-energy musical experience, this tribute band musically and visually recreates a Springsteen concert to make attendees feel as though they’re at one of The Boss’ performances. Matt Ryan and the band American Dream have been discussed by both Springsteen fans and Springsteen’s own Emmy award-winning lighting director as jaw-dropping and hauntingly accurate. // The State Theatre: 220 N. Washington St., Falls Church
MUSIC
TAO Presents: Drum Heart
Feb. 10, 8 p.m.
The latest showing of taiko drumming is heart-pounding, with thunderous sounds and costumed, athletic performers. TAO has been praised for its precise, energetic choreography and gender-inclusive company. // George Mason University’s Center for the Arts: 4400 University Drive, Fairfax
MUSIC
Amadeus Orchestra and the Silver-Garburg Piano Duo
Feb. 11, 4-6 p.m.
Conducted by A. Scott Wood, the Amadeus Orchestra is joined by the critically acclaimed Silver-Garburg Piano Duo, which has performed at such venues as Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center and the Sydney Opera House. This collaborative company will perform a handful of classical works including Brahms’ “Concerto for Piano Four-Hands,” more commonly known as “Piano Concerto No. 1.” // Saint Luke Catholic Church: 7001 Georgetown Pike, McLean
PERFORMING ARTS
Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery
Feb. 11, 7 p.m.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic mystery The Hounds of Baskerville is transformed into this Ken Ludwig comedy. Detective Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson must solve the mystery as to why the heirs of Baskerville are being killed one by one. Enjoy this new hilarious take with five actors playing over 40 characters. // Merchant Hall, Hylton Performing Arts Center: 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas
MUSIC
Will Downing
Feb. 11, 7:30 p.m.
The Grammy-nominated Downing brings his soothing R&B vocals to Alexandria this winter. With 20 albums and an International Association of African-American Music Diamond Award, Downing has collaborated with Jennifer Holiday, Kool & The Gang and Billy Ocean. // The Birchmere: 3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria
MUSIC
Carla Bruni
Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m.
The former first lady of France, Bruni released her fifth album French Touch in October 2017. On a worldwide tour in support of the effort, Bruni will bring such hits as “Enjoy the Silence,” “Miss You” and poems from Dorothy Parker and Emily Dickinson set to music. // The Birchmere: 3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria
MUSIC
Declan McKenna
Feb. 14, 7:30 p.m.
At only 18 years old, Declan McKenna is a force to be reckoned with, a firebrand angered by politics, authority and corruption. In 2014, McKenna self-released his single “Brazil” a direct protest of former FIFA President Sepp Blatter and the organization’s World Cup held that summer. His first album, What Do You Think About the Car?, was released in July 2017, led by the singles “Paracetamol” and “The Kids Don’t Wanna Come Home.” // Jammin Java: 227 Maple Ave. E., Vienna
MUSIC
Driftwood
Feb. 15, 8 p.m.
Since forming in 2005, Driftwood has carved out a very specific niche in music. The band’s tunes are described as an attention-grabbing Americana-meets-punk-meets-folk kind of vibe. All four band members play older instruments (think banjo, upright bass and violin) and never really stepped into a studio in the traditional recording way until their latest album, City Lights, was released in late 2016. // Jammin Java: 227 Maple Ave. E., Vienna
FOOD + DRINK
Taste of Greece
Feb. 16-18
Celebrate Greek culture with food, desserts and dancing sponsored by The Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church. // Ashburn Firehouse: 20688 Ashburn Road, Ashburn
PERFORMING ARTS
Aida
Feb. 17, 2 & 7:30 p.m.
Performed by the renowned Virginia National Ballet, Aida is a heart-wrenching love story between residents of two warring countries. The ballet is set to the music of Giuseppe Verdi. // Hylton Performing Arts Center: 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas
MUSIC
Sarah Borges & The Broken Singles
Feb. 17, 7:30 p.m.
With an eclectic sound best described as punk-country, Sarah Borges has been making a name for herself for a decade in the music industry. Borges regularly had songs featured in the TV series Sons of Anarchy. Her last effort was Good and Dirty in 2016. // Jammin Java: 227 Maple Ave. E., Vienna
PERFORMING ARTS
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Feb. 17, 8 p.m.; Feb. 18, 2 p.m.
This performance by the Virginia Opera is a mashup between Shakespeare’s original play and Benjamin Britten’s music. An opera about love, forgiveness and the power of dreams, a domestic argument between the king and queen of the fairies leads to chaos in the relationships of three separate human couples. // George Mason University Center for the Arts: 4400 University Drive, Fairfax
MUSIC
Southern Accents: A Tribute to Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Feb. 17, 9 p.m.
Featuring some of Nashville’s greatest musicians, Southern Accents will pay tribute to the late Tom Petty four months after his death. Southern Accents will play some of Petty’s greatest hits and playing styles from his career with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. // The State Theatre: 220 N. Washington St., Falls Church
MUSEUM EVENTS
Washington’s Birthday Celebration
Feb. 17-19, times vary
The best way to celebrate our founding father is at his former home. Mount Vernon hosts a weekend of events, with Feb. 19 admission free, where you can eat fresh baked hoecakes, take in drills of the Continental soldiers and the tunes of the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, make a birthday card for the first prez and throughout the estate learn from members of the Washington family who tell their tales of livelihood. // George Washington’s Mount Vernon: 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon
PERFORMING ARTS
Sovereignty
Through Feb. 18, times vary
A new work that is part of the Women’s Voices Theater Festival, Sovereignty tells the story of Sarah Ridge Polson, a Cherokee-born leader fighting for the Cherokee Nation’s right to its jurisdiction. Haunted by the ghosts of her grandfathers, Polson’s story shows how the actions during President Andrew Jackson’s administration committed against the 1830s Cherokee Nation has modern-day ramifications. // Kreeger Theater at Arena Stage: 1101 6th St. SW, Washington, D.C.
MUSEUM EVENTS
A New Look at Old and Not So Old Drugs
Feb. 21, 1-2:30 p.m.
The experts on drugs and enforcement hold a lecture focused on cocaine, hosting experts in the field to bring the history of the drug to the forefront of how it is being used today. // DEA Museum: 700 Army Navy Drive, Arlington
PERFORMING ARTS
The Audience
Feb. 24 & 28, 8 p.m.; Feb. 25, 3 p.m.
Playwright Peter Morgan, the writer of the popular Netflix drama The Crown inspects the weekly meetings between Queen Elizabeth and every prime minister over the past 60 years. The meetings, held in Buckingham Palace, are strictly kept secret. Morgan imagines the possible tones and moments of these meetings, ranging from Winston Churchill to Margaret Thatcher. // The Little Theatre of Alexandria: 600 Wolfe St., Alexandria
ART
Van Nguyen: A Celebration of Realism
Through Feb. 25
Retired Navy Officer and artist Van Nguyen brings her avid passion for art to life in this survey of work. The exhibit explores how light creates a subject’s identity, texture and shape. Nguyen’s medium of choice for her work is oil, and with this medium she creates still life and portraits. She is a Workhouse Arts Center studio artist and lives in Lorton. // Warrior Way Gallery at the Workhouse Arts Center: 9518 Workhouse Way, Lorton
ART
Suh Yongsun in the New Project Studio
Through Feb. 28
Painter and sculptor Suh Yongsun is transforming the New Project Studio into a workshop and community. While Yongsun leads discussions about public, political and social issues in Korea, he will also develop a visual representation of his time in Alexandria. // Torpedo Factory: 105 N. Union St., Alexandria
ART
Ayeye: A Retrospective of Black History Month
Through March 2
Explore works of art from local African and African-American artists in an exhibit focused on acknowledgement and appreciation of black history and culture. An artist reception is scheduled for Feb. 3 from 6-8 p.m. // The Candy Factory: 9419 Battle St., Manassas
ART
Passages
Through March 4
How does migration affect one’s cultural identity? A group of artists answer this question by displaying their own experiences of first and second generation immigrants for an intimate look at how they dealt with their passage and how it has shaped who they are today. // Torpedo Factory: 105 N. Union St., Alexandria
ART
The Director’s Collection
Through March 4
This exhibit features artists who have an outstanding understanding of craft, technique, creativity and merit. Nominees include Workhouse Arts Center studio artists, resident artists and associate artists. // Vulcan Muse at the Workhouse Arts Center: 9518 Workhouse Way, Lorton
ART
The Horse and the Camera
Through March 18
These photos are taken from the photography collection of Judith and Jo Tartt Jr. and showcase the photos taken by pioneering photographer Eadweard Muybridge of a horse in motion and at rest. The rest of the exhibition displays a timeline of antique equine photos in black-and-white. // National Sporting Library & Museum: 102 The Plains Road, Middleburg
TOTS
Ice Skating at Reston Town Center Pavilion
Through Mar. 11, 11 a.m.
Take advantage of the annual freezing of the Pavilion floor. The skate rink will be open from now until March. // Reston Town Center Pavilion: 11900 Market St., Reston
MUSEUM EVENTS
Honor, Courage, Commitment: Marine Corps Art, 1975-2015
Through April 2018
This exhibit features 100 works by 22 artists that honor the Marines during the past 40 years and is divided into three themes: honor, courage and commitment. // National Museum of the Marine Corps: 18900 Jefferson Davis Highway, Triangle
MUSEUM EVENTS
Lives Bound Together: Slavery at George Washington’s Mount Vernon
Through Sept. 30
The Donald W. Reynolds Museum, on the grounds of Mount Vernon, depicts the life of slaves on the estate through interactive touchscreens, life-size silhouettes, interactive displays, archaeological discoveries and documents. // George Washington’s Mount Vernon: 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon