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By Katie Bianco, Jess Feldman, Holly Gambrell and Jennifer Zeleski
Tell me more, tell me more
As someone who works in the media industry, I constantly find myself searching the internet for more information. Whether I want to learn about the making of the Little Women adaptation (which is a must-see, by the way) or see the behind-the-scenes bloopers of BuzzFeed’s Tasty videos, I tend to go down deep, deep rabbit holes of the web. This also translates to my career, a place where I am always curious to do more. And while social media, photography and writing are all in my skill set, videography is a talent I could sharpen. That’s why this week, I’m going to receive insider tips from Emmy-award winning producer, speaker and media expert Brandon T. Adams at his Power of Video presentation. I’ll learn about building a brand, production hacks and other storytelling techniques, all of which I’m sure will leave me wanting more. -Jess Feldman, Editorial Assistant // KWCP Fairfax: 4031 University Drive, Unit 500, Fairfax; Thursday, Jan. 23, 10 a.m.; $49
Welcome to Jurassic Park
Any parent of little ones will tell you: There’s a lot of time spent taking part in “fun” events that wouldn’t be on your radar before kids. (For example, look for my blurb about Paw Patrol Live in this newsletter when it makes a tour stop in Fairfax later this month.) But this weekend, we’re attending a family-friendly event that actually looks just as cool for parents (and any adult really). Jurassic Quest will be at the Dulles Expo Center from Jan. 24 to 26, where attendees can look at towering dino replicas, dig for fossils and even ride an animatronic dinosaur. You can find me there teaching my kids about the Jurassic period, while I pretend to be Laura Dern (the star of Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park, a movie that came out well before my kids were even a twinkle in my eye). -Katie Bianco, Editor // Dulles Expo Center: 4320 Chantilly Shopping Center, Chantilly; Jan. 24-26, times vary; $22-$36
A good laugh a day keeps the doctor away
Sure, relationships aren’t easy and life isn’t always fine and dandy, but most of the time, you can find my partner and I laughing. For example, The Office is an integral part of our relationship. We often watch stand-up comedy shows on Netflix for comic relief during the workweek, and we share memes and quote internet jokes. So, this week we’re laughing all the way to Arlington Drafthouse & Cinema to see Moses Storm. The comedian’s from one of my partner’s favorite shows, Arrested Development, and mine, This is Us. After seeing Storm’s recent stand-up on Conan, I can’t wait to share more laughs (and more quotable jokes) with my favorite everyday comedian by my side. -Jennifer Zeleski, Editorial Assistant // Arlington Drafthouse & Cinema: 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington, Jan. 24-25, 7 p.m.; $25
A welcoming wreath
Usually, I only put wreaths on my front door for major holidays: I have a jack-o’-lantern one for Halloween, one that says “Grateful” for Thanksgiving and a white, evergreen wreath for Christmas. I’ll admit, I get a little sad when the holiday season ends and the wreaths get stowed away until October. That’s why I’m excited for this Sunday, when I’ll head to Botanologica to learn how to hand-tie a wintery wreath on a brass hoop, made with bleached foliage, fresh eucalyptus and dried florals, plus a hand-dyed silk ribbon. Those visiting me this month will hopefully pause to glance at its beauty—before banging on the door for me to let them in from the cold. -Holly Gambrell, Digital Editor // Botanologica: 817 W. Broad St., Falls Church; Sunday, Jan. 26, 10 a.m.-noon; $70
For more fun things to do, check out our January NoVA in 19, listing out the 19 best events happening across the region this month.