Things to Do

Things to Do in DC This Weekend February 11-14: Valentine’s Day Shows, Dances, and Dinners

Take your loved one to this Sixth and I classical performance, featuring the pairing of Grammy-winning vocalists Roomful of Teeth with the American Contemporary Music Ensemble. Photograph by Ryuhei Shindo.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11

SHORTS: You’ll have plenty of options to check out the Best Picture nominees before Oscar night, but, E Street Cinema-goers have the opportunity to see all five Academy Award nominees in the category of Best Animated Short. Until February 18, attendees can watch Pixar’s “Sanjay’s Super Team” as well as shorts from around the world, like Chile’s “Historia de un Oso (Bear Story)” and Russia’s “We Can’t Live Without Cosmos” 2:30 PM, 7:30 PM, $12.

CONVERSATION: New York Times film reviewer A.O. Scott will read from his new book Better Living Through Criticism: How to Think About Art, Pleasure, Beauty, and Truth at Politics and Prose on Thursday night. Scott has had a long career in criticism—he used to host At The Movies and was once the book reviewer for Newsday. Free, 7 PM.

ZINE MAKING: Mt. Pleasant Library’s monthly workshop Zine Lab is the chance for DIY pros to learn about the artform of zine making. Attendees can participate in a host of activities related to zines, including reading them, making them, workshopping them to fellow participants, or learning about their history and the technical process. Plus, the library will let “zinesters” try out their craft on a vintage typewriter. Free, 6:30 PM.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12

COMEDY: Ricky Velez brings the laughs to the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage. You may recognize the New York-based comic for his current role as a correspondent for The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore, where he tackles everything from legalizing marijuana and normalizing relations with Cuba to “DeflateGate.” Free, 6 PM.

EAT AND DRINK: Indulge in your passion for eating local this Valentine’s Day weekend. Head over to the Harper Macaw Chocolate Factory in Northeast DC and enjoy the cheekily-named Bite Me, a four-course pairing menu brought to you by food and drink makers from the area. A few of the names you’ll see are Gordy’s Pickles, On Rye, Atlas Brew Works, Capital Kombucha, Compass Coffee and Red Apron. $100, 7 PM.

WRITE: If you’re still struggling to write a special and romantic Valentine’s Day card for your significant other, then attend this event at Folger Shakespeare Library. Curator and Archivist Heather Wolfe will help attendees craft their own Renaissance-style love letters, while giving insight into the extensive history of love letter writing. Free, 6PM.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13

MUSIC: Grammy-winning vocalists Roomful of Teeth will pair up with the American Contemporary Music Ensemble (ACME) for a night of collaboration at Sixth and I, courtesy of Washington Performing Arts. The groups will be led by composers from different genres—Henry Purcell, Gavin Bryars, and Pulitzer Prize-winner Caroline Shaw—who will be playing everything from Baroque-meets-American hymnody to classic and contemporary. $35, 8 PM.

SILENT DISCO: Whether you’ve found the right person, are still on the hunt for love, or happily content just doing you, everyone will have a blast hitting the dance floor at the Silent Dance Society’s Valentine’s Silent Disco Party. Come down to the The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown, pop in some earbuds, and jam out to three different DJs playing different types of dance music while video art and hula hoop performers add to the spectacle. $15, 8 PM.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14

MUSIC OR DANCE: The Black Cat has great options for those who want to either avoid Valentine’s Day festivities or check out a DC V-Day tradition for singles and couples alike. For the former, DC punk darlings Priests play with the highly buzzy Protomartyr on the main stage. For the latter, boogie on over to the Red Room for DJ Chad America’s 17th Annual Valentine’s Day Rock and Roll Dance Party. Combining the two wouldn’t be so bad either. $15, 7:30 / Free, 7PM.

DRINK: 14th Street wine bar Cork’s annual champagne tasting dinner will be as delicious as it is educational. Six different types of champagne will be paired with Chef Kristin Hutter’s tasting menu, and as you sip you’ll be able to learn about the champagne producers from Edward Addiss and Barbara Selig of Wine Traditions. Reserve your spot by Friday via Events@CorkDC.com. $100.