T.S. Eliot may have thought April was the cruelest month, but around here we know it’s really February that stings. The skies are gray, the days are short, midterms are looming, and to top it off, there’s that dreaded holiday: Valentine’s Day. So we’ve come up with some interesting and free-to-pretty-cheap activities to try and beat the February doldrums.
MicroCinema Club Screening at Crosstown Arts – February 8
Each month Indie Memphis and Crosstown Arts screens a short film, and this month’s is Sequence, a four part film that features Yazoo Women, Dreamscaping, The Temperature of Father James Martin, and It’s Never Cold in Vegas. The event also features a Q&A with the director and producer. Admission is pay-what-you-can, and the doors open at 6:30. You can read about what each film is about here.
Oscar Shorts at the Brooks Museum – February 12 & 22
If Renoir and Godard are bringing you down, head to the Brooks Museum to catch up on all of the short films nominated for an Oscar this year. The museum will be screening all three categories of short films over two dates, February 12 and the 22. Tickets are $5 for Brooks members, and $9 for nonmembers & students with their ID. Details here.
Here’s all the dates and times:
February 12
12 – 1:30 p.m. – Live action shorts
3 – 4:30 p.m. – Animated shorts
February 22
7 – 8:30 p.m. – Documentary shorts
Mardi Gras at High Cotton Brewing Company – February 17
Party for a good cause! If you can’t make it to New Orleans this year, the High Cotton Brewing Company will be celebrating Mardi Gras with plenty of food and fun. The event is free, but a $10 donation will get you a pint glass, beer (if you’re 21+), King Cake, and more. The event will go from 6 – 9 p.m. Check out their Facebook page for more details.
12th Annual Wolf River Conservancy Tree Planting at Shelby Farms Park – February 25
The groundhog may have said we’re going to have six more weeks of winter, but we all know Memphis can throw in some nice, sunny days regardless of the season. Get some fresh air and join the Wolf River Conservancy as they plant dogwood trees for their annual fundraiser. The event is free, but for a $15 donation you can sponsor a dogwood. All proceeds support the WRC and their projects. The event runs from 9 a.m. to noon. Read up on the details and register here.
Five-in-One Workshop – Various dates throughout February
The Five-in-One Social Club hosts bi-weekly creative workshops for various crafts, and we’ve picked three that are bound to take your mind off that paper. You’ll have to reserve your spot ahead of time, but it’ll be worth it when you can bring home unique chocolates, or a Mardi Gras mask. Each event has it own price tag, and it’s certainly not the cheapest thing you can do, but it’s worth it! Check out the full list of events and prices here.
Here are the dates for the days we think look fun:
February 11 – Chocolate Casting
February 14 – Wine Bottle Glasses
February 25 – Mardi Gras Masks
By Swaneet Mand ‘18