The DC Lineup for this weekend: local Black history, anti-racist peace building and a Super Bowl food drive

This edition of The DC Lineup kicks off Black History Month with opportunities to learn about African American history through books, discussions and film.

The weather this weekend, Feb. 5–7, is forecast to be a mix of clouds and sun for most of Friday and mostly cloudy on Saturday. Some light rain and snow will begin on Saturday evening and continue into Sunday morning, followed by a partly cloudy afternoon and a mostly clear sky at night. Temperatures range from 55 to 21.

1. History: Learn about the Barry Farm community’s history, architecture and culture during an online webinar featuring local experts. The community originated as an African American settlement in Southeast, where approximately 40,000 Black refugees moved during the Civil War. Alcione Amos, a curator at the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum, will discuss her new book Barry Farm-Hillsdale in Anacostia: A Historic African American Community. Other featured speakers include Jacqueline Carmichael, an assistant professor and interior design program coordinator at Howard University who has researched the African American cultural aesthetics of Barry Farm; and Sarah Shoenfeld, co-founder of the history documentation organization Prologue DC and the author of reports on Barry Farm. Tino Fletcher, the community historian at the DC Historic Preservation Office who created a story map on the history of Barry Farm, will moderate the talk. The free Zoom call — open to the public and hosted by Howard University’s interior design program — takes place on Saturday from noon–2 p.m. 

2. Film: In honor of Black History Month, the Anti-Racism Coalition of Washington, DC is showing a film every Saturday in February as part of its online Black Film for the Culture series. This weekend’s movie is One Night in Miami, directed by Regina King. Other films include Steve McQueen’s Mangrove on Feb. 13, Liz Garbus’ What Happened, Miss Simone? on Feb. 20, and McQueen’s Lovers Rock on Feb. 27. The free screenings start at 7 p.m. and are organized by the coalition, a grassroots initiative that connects residents from different neighborhoods and racial and cultural backgrounds around the mission of “building peace through empathy, one neighborhood at a time,” according to its website. 

3. History: The National Museum of African American History and Culture is offering a free class, “Courthouse Research: Using Probate Records to Research Enslaved Ancestors.” LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson, a DC-based certified genealogist, will give advice on using probate and other estate records to find potential slaveholders. The workshop is on Saturday from noon–1:30 p.m. Registration is open online.

4. Community: These are the last few days to donate to a virtual SOUPer Bowl Food Drive to benefit the Capital Area Food Bank. The ongoing event runs through Sunday — also known as Super Bowl game day. Donors are invited to contribute funds online to provide food to those in need. The site notes that $1 pays for two meals. The drive is organized by Capital Eagle, the District’s distributor of Anheuser-Busch InBev products.

5. Arts: The Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum is putting its own spin on the Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibition Men of Change: Power. Triumph. Truth, which showcases achievements of notable Black men over many decades. Artwork like the 1980 photograph “Chess Players” by Milton Williams is displayed alongside a photo of the 2010 mural of Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Barack Obama to highlight connections between the past and present. The local museum’s spin on the installation — Men of Change: Taking It to the Streets — brings this collection outdoors on six streets in Ward 7’s Deanwood neighborhood (as well as on the campus of Ron Brown High School, 4800 Meade St. NE, and the Deanwood Community Center, 1350 49th St. NE), so viewers can safely explore it during the pandemic. The installation includes “Community” and “Deanwood: Men of Change” sections, and upcoming museum programs will further engage with the school and Deanwood community. The installation went up Monday and will remain until May 31; viewers are asked to maintain social distance. A free virtual panel discussion from 1–2 p.m. on Saturday kicks off the local installation. It features Lonnie Bunch, secretary of the Smithsonian, with New York-based panelists Dr. Rob Gore, founder of Kings Against Violence; Jonathan Jackson, the designer of Men of Change; and Tariku Shiferaw, an artist and creator of an ongoing artwork “One of These Black Boys.” CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez will moderate the talk. Registration is required.

6. Arts: The DC-based organization Chronic Market showcases the work of chronically ill artists. This Sunday from noon–1 p.m., the group is hosting a webinar on best practices in online marketing for small businesses. The featured speaker is Dylan Moore, a designer who boasts an impressive Etsy portfolio with almost 3,000 sales, a five-star rating and gross earnings of $23,000 in 2020. He also deals with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). April Thompson, the founder and marketing director of Chronic Market, will lead a Q&A. Register on Eventbrite to gain access to the event this weekend and a recording for those who would like to watch it later.

7. Comedy: Washington Improv Theater’s weekly “People of the District” series features an interview with a local resident on stage, followed by an improv performance based on the conversation. This Friday’s event spotlights Akil Wilson, a husband, father and native Washingtonian who, prior to the pandemic, owned and managed a barbershop in Southwest. Wilson, now a student, is embarking on a tech career. The show will stream live on Facebook from 7:30–8 p.m. Donations are encouraged.

8. Local Business: The Dupont Circle Pop-Up Shopping Day will feature more than 40 artists, craftspeople and other vendors on the sidewalks in front of shops. It’s taking place this Saturday from noon–5 p.m. — just in time for those who are preparing to celebrate Valentine’s Day next Sunday, Feb. 14. Merchandise includes pottery, scarves, paintings, jewelry, plants and chocolates. Free and open to the public, the event is organized by Historic Dupont Circle Main Streets with support from the DC Department of Local and Small Business Development.

9. Arts: The Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital is offering a free online workshop, “Dancing with the Local Motion Project’s Sara Lavan.” The family-friendly program is part of its Eastern Market Art Series and Teachings, an artists’ workshop that is geared toward 6- to 10-year-olds. Different artistic mediums are highlighted each month. This weekend, Lavan — the founder of the Alexandria, Virginia-based dance education organization the Local Motion Project and a past performer at Arena Stage and the Kennedy Center — will teach attendees kinesthetic awareness through dance exploration. The class is on Sunday from 2–3:30 p.m. Registration is required.

10. Recreation: Presented by Bishop’s Events, the 2021 Battle of the Pigskin is a race with options for a 5K, a half-marathon, and a full marathon that qualifies high-achieving runners to enter the Boston Marathon. All participants are encouraged to wear a jersey from their favorite football team in the spirit of the upcoming Super Bowl. The courses start and finish at the Potomac Boat Club in Georgetown, 3530 Water St. NW, and proceed along the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal. Race organizers say they will abide by current COVID-19 health guidelines. A virtual option is also available for those who prefer to join remotely. The marathon starts at 8 a.m., followed by the half-marathon at 8:30 a.m. and the 5K at 9 a.m. Registration for each costs $85, $65 and $30, respectively. The proceeds benefit Operation Enduring Warrior, a nonprofit founded by veterans that serves wounded U.S. military service members.