Weekend Planner: Restaurant Week, Choral Society, Mardi Gras

While people in New England hunker down for a major blizzard, the weather here in Virginia will be partly sunny with daytime temperatures in low 40s.

Washington Metropolitan Restaurant Week continues through this weekend with lunch and dinner specials at more than a dozen Alexandria restaurants. Read more about WMRW here.

Friday Knit at the Movies

• When: 6 - 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8.
• Where: Fibre Space, 102 N. Fayette St.
• Why go: Bring a project you're working on or join the red hat party while watching "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou."
• Price: Admission is free.

Alexandria Choral Society Sings Bach's "Komm, Jesu, komm" and Kluge's "Alexandria Voices"

• When: 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9 and 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10
• Where: Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center, 3001 N. Beauregard St.
• Why go: Hear the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra and Alexandria Choral Society perform these impressive works.
• Price: $5 - $80 for tickets.

Civil War Songs and Letters

• When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9 
• Where: Athenaeum, 201 Prince St.
• Why go: Award-winning band Dead Men’s Hollow will perform songs from the Civil War era as well as original songs about the Civil War. Local actors will read letters and diary entries from that time period. 
• Price: $10

Feel the Heritage Festival

• When: Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday 
• Where: At the Langston-Brown Community Center on 2121 N. Culpeper St., Arlington.
• Why Go: There will be live music from jazz harmonicist Avon Dews and African drumming and dancing from Soul in Motion Players. Barbecue and soul food will be served, and there's even a chance to win two free tickets to Africa courtesy of Ethiopian Airlines. 
• Price: Free

Georgetown ARTS 2013 Exhibit

• When: Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
• Where: The House of Sweden, 2900 K St. NW, Washington, D.C.
• Why Go: Discover the talent of Georgetown residents and artists who work in Georgetown at the fourth annual Citizens Association of Georgetown art exhibit. Explore works in media ranging from oil and watercolor paintings, to prints, sculpture and photography. The setting on the Georgetown waterfront is not to be overlooked and children are welcome.
• Price: Entrance is free and open to all ages. Works are avialable for purchase.

Mardi Gras

The Mardi Gras parade and festival in Arlington is one of the biggest Mardi Gras celebrations in our region. For more information, see the Arlington Mardi Gras Parade guide on Clarendon-Courthouse Patch.