Alright, folks, who’s ready to start February already? Personally, I am. And not just because it’s my birthday month! It’s one step closer to spring, and we’re (hopefully) getting out of those gray January days. So I’m looking forward to this weekend and am building an arts-forward itinerary with the help of ColumbusMakesArt.com. Here’s what caught my eye:

• This Thursday and Friday, Feb. 1-2, we may go see magician Nick Locapo perform at the P3 Magic Theater in Old North.
• This Friday, come join us at the Greater Columbus Arts Council for the opening of our newest exhibition, Art of Bangladesh. Nine women artists, all immigrants from Bangladesh, showcase their work. As always, shows in our Loann Crane Gallery are free. Art of Bangladesh will be up through Apr. 30.
• This Friday is also the kickoff for the Wexner Center’s spring shows. One of the featured shows is Sarah Maldoror: Tricontinental Cinema, featuring the work of the French filmmaker hailed as the “mother of African cinema.” The show is free and will be up through Apr. 28.
• A couple weekends ago we caught a comedy show at Natalie’s in Grandview, and it was a good reminder of how much I love that space. Great food and drink, two stages of shows. This Friday we may catch Chaz and Nicki’s album release show, but there are concerts all week long.
• The Fuse Factory returns with its monthly Frequency Fridays at the Cultural Arts Center. It’s an exciting night of experimental music.
• That same night, Curtain Players Theatre opens a production of the touching play Marvin’s Room at their theater in Galena. See it through Feb. 18.
• On Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 3-4, the Columbus Symphony plays Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite at the Ohio Theatre.
• With the new month comes a slate of new exhibitions like Text as Texture at Studios on High, opening on Saturday, Feb. 3.
• Also on Saturday, hear poet John Barnes at the Columbus Library Whetstone Branch.
• And finish out the weekend on Sunday, Feb. 4 with music or theater in German Village. Mezzo-soprano Anabella Petrosi performs with a string quartet at St. Mary Catholic Church. Or you can catch a two-person show called What I Didn’t Say: A Journey Through Parkinson’s at the German Village Meeting Haus. There are two performances that day, and tickets are free for Parkinson’s patients and their care-givers.

P.S. If you're reading this on Wednesday, Jan. 31, be sure to tune in to CD92.9’s last day on the air!

Columbus Symphony and Wexner Center for the Arts receive Operating Support grants from GCAC, while The Fuse Factory receives General Support. A Tribe for Jazz and Music at St. Mary’s Concert Series receive Project Support.

(Image credit: Sarah Maldoror at the Wexner Center)

Nick is marketing, communications, & events administrator for GCAC. He’s also a food/travel writer penning works for Columbus Monthly, Ohio Magazine and his own site BreakfastWithNick.com. He still loves cold weather.