Above: This February, The Arts Council presents the show Catapault in Gainesville. SPECIAL.
The Arts
Around the World in a Season
Sunday, Feb. 9, 5-8 p.m. Celebrate with Fusion Chamber Ensemble as they travel “Around the World in a Season: A Journey through Africa, the Mediterranean and Europe.” Tickets are $25 for seniors and students, $30 for general admission. First Congregational Church of Atlanta, 105 Courtland Street, Atlanta 30303. For tickets and details, visit fusionconcertatl.com or go to eventbrite.com and search for “Around the World in a Season.”
Atlanta Jewish Film Festival
Feb. 10-27. The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival celebrates 20 years of storytelling in 2020. Movie lovers enjoy offers a broad selection of genres and themes over this multi-week event. This year’s films include: “The Glass Room,” “#Anne Frank. Parallel Stories,” “The Humorist” and “Shared Legacies: The African-American Jewish Civil Rights Alliance.” Festival venues include Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Regal Perimeter Pointe, City Springs and Woodruff Arts Center. Visit AJFF.org for tickets, expanded information about the films and details.
The Women of Roswell: A Staged Reading
Saturday, Feb. 15, 7 p.m. Based on actual events, Robin Seidman Pullen’s play examines the story of millworkers in 1864 Roswell who were tried for treason for making Confederate soldier uniforms. This intimate staged reading will be followed by a talk with the playwright and moderated by Roswell Historical Society. Free, but a ticket is required. Space is limited. Second floor gallery of the Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell 30022. For info and tickets, visit RoswellCAC.com.
Catapault
Sunday, Feb. 16, 3 p.m. Seen as a finalist on “America’s Got Talent,” Catapault features dancers who work behind a screen to create shadow silhouettes of shapes from the world around us. Watch their bodies transform into a mountain, an elephant, a dragon, even a helicopter! Packed with hundreds of shape transformations, the show is full of humor, emotion and engaging stories. Brenau University’s Pearce Auditorium, 331 Spring Street, Gainesville 30501. More info and tickets at TheArtsCouncil.net.
Middletown
Runs Feb. 18-23. From the producers of “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Menopause the Musical” comes “Middletown,” a story of love and friendship 33 years in the making. Join Peg and Tom, Dotty and Don for the highs, lows and everything in between. The show features Didi Conn, Dandy Duncan, Donny Most and Adrian Zmed. Tickets start at $39. Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre, 117 North Park Square, Marietta 30060. Call the box office at 770-293-0080 or visit earlsmithstrand.org for tickets and additional info.
Meet Author Peter Lee
Sunday, Feb. 23, 3 p.m. Lee’s book, “Spectacular Bid: The Last Superhorse of the Twentieth Century,” chronicles the career of the horse who was sold as a yearling for $37,000 to a family, trained by a rookie trainer and ridden by a teen who, two years earlier, had never ridden a horse. Autographed books for sale. Gwinnett County Public Library Suwanee Branch, 361 Main Street, Suwanee 30024. Go to gwinnettpl.org or call 770-978-5154 for details.
Learn Something
Native Plants
Tuesday, Feb. 11, 6:30 p.m. Join UGA Extension Gwinnett Agricultural Agent Timothy Daly to learn about the many plants that are native to our area and how to grow them for your home’s landscape. Presented by the Gwinnett County Public Library in partnership with UGA Gwinnett Extension. Gwinnett County Public Library Snellville Branch, 2740 Lenora Church Road, Snellville 30078. Registration required at gwinnettpl.org/calendar. For more information, visit gwinnettpl.org or call 770-978-5154.
Watershed Walk & Talk
Tuesday, Feb. 18, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Everyone age 10 and up is invited to meet up for a free walk to learn about the ways that preserving area forests and trees will benefit the health of the local watershed. This walk and talk series discusses the features of the Marsh Creek-Chattahoochee River Watershed and how water quality programs can engage citizens in improving the health of the Chattahoochee River. During the last 30 minutes of the program, there’ll be a tree planting in celebration of Georgia Arbor Day. Seedlings will be provided for each household to take home. The topics of each program will differ and will involve walking the trails of the preserve as well as entering the creek at times. Lost Corner Preserve’s outdoor pavilion, 7300 Brandon Mill Road, Sandy Springs 30328. While walk-ins are welcome, please register at registration.sandyspringsga.gov. For more info, call 770-790-5600.
Erica Glasener: Hydrangeas for Every Garden
Monday, Feb. 24, 7-9 p.m. The Atlanta History Center, in partnership with the American Hydrangea Society, presents Erica Glasener, well known for hosting “A Gardener’s Diary” on HGTV. In recent years she has worked at Historic Oakland Cemetery, ParkPride and as the Senior Producer for “Growing A Greener World.” Currently, she works at the Piedmont Park Conservancy as the Community Involvement and Events Manager. This is a free event; reservations are recommended. Atlanta History Center, 130 West Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta 30305. Go to atlantahistorycenter.com to find out more.
An Evening with Adrian Miller
Wednesday, Feb. 26, 7 p.m. Meet culinary historian and author Adrian Miller. His books include “Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time” and “The President’s Kitchen Cabinet: The Story of the African Americans Who Have Fed Our First Families, From the Washingtons to the Obamas”. In 2018, Miller was awarded the Ruth Fertel “Keeper of the Flame Award” by the Southern Foodways Alliance in recognition of his work on African American foodways. He is currently working on a history of African American barbecue, tentatively titled “Black Smoke.” Tickets are $10 for non-members, $5 for members. Atlanta History Center, 130 West Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta 30305. Get details and tickets at atlantahistorycenter.com.
Health
Love Your Health: Health Fair at Iora Primary Care—Tucker
Wednesday, Feb. 12, 1-4 p.m. Get tips, access resources, hear speakers and receive goodies at the health fair. Mammograms available onsite with Women’s Imaging Specialists, but women must RSVP to complete them. Iora Primary Care—Tucker, 4424 Hugh Howell Road, Tucker 30084. Call 404-692-4466 to RSVP.
Virtual Dementia Tour
Thursday, Feb. 20, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Experience what dementia is like by walking in the shoes of someone who is living with dementia. This life-changing simulation teaches how to provide better care by better understanding their world. Peachtree Christian Health, Life Enrichment Center, 3430 Duluth Park Lane, Duluth 30096. Sign-up by sending an email to events@gwinnettpl.org.
Community
Jewish Black History at the MJCCA
The Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA) invites the community to two fascinating speakers in celebration of Black History Month.
Growing Up Black and Jewish
Monday, Feb. 10, 10-11 a.m. Speaker Dr. John Eaves’ grandfather immigrated to the U.S. from Jamaica with big dreams, but life was not easy for a Jewish black man. He faced racism, religious discrimination, and financial trouble, but despite these obstacles he raised a large family, instilling the values of hard work, faith and serving the community.
A Select History of Black and Jewish Relations in Savannah, Ga.
Thursday, Feb. 27, 12-1 p.m. Speaker Dr. Jeffrey Jenkins was taught to read at 4 years old by his Jewish neighbors, the Rubins, in Savannah, Ga. They were the first Jewish family he knew, and they became his great friends and influenced his life significantly. He believes Jewish people set an example for the world, valuing a good education, love and family as most important.
Both programs are free and open to the community. For more information, visit atlantajcc.org/blackhistory or call 678-812-4070.
Gwinnett Senior Golden Games
March 25-May 6. Presented in partnership with Gwinnett Parks & Recreation, Gwinnett Senior Golden Games provides adults 50 years of age and older with an opportunity to participate and compete in a variety of sports. There are events in archery, billiards, bowling, darts, pickleball, pinochle, table tennis, tennis and much more. Registration is open online; mailed registration forms must be postmarked by March 1. Bethesda Senior Center, 225 Bethesda Church Road, Lawrenceville 30044. Find out more at gwinnettseniorgoldengames.org or email gsgginfo@googlegroups.com.