From a book festival to Letterkenny, here are five things to do in Iowa City this weekend.
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As February nears its end and the weather warms up, it's time to enjoy all Iowa City offers, from family-friendly events to a one-of-a-kind night out.
Here are the top five things to do in Iowa City this weekend:
Christina Cooke, in conversation with Sarah Thankam Mathews
Iowa Writers' Workshop graduate Christina Cooke will read from her debut novel, "Broughtupsy," which follows 20-year-old Akúa's journey from Canada back to Jamaica to reconnect with her sister Tamika after the death of their brother. She is hoping to reconnect with her family and roots. Over two weeks, Akúa and Tamika revisit their favorite childhood spots, but Akúa realizes how different they've become and questions her identity, family, and home.
Cooke will read from her novel and will be joined by fellow University of Iowa alum Sarah Thankam Mathews at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23 at Prairie Lights.
Ben Bailey at The Englert
Ben Bailey may be best known for hosting the game show "Cash Cab," but he was a standup comedian before that. Bailey is bringing his standup tour to Iowa City on Friday, Feb. 23 at the Englert Theatre. Guests can anticipate a night of witty observations about culture and everything in between. Tickets are on sale on the Englert website.
One Book Two Book Festival
The One Book Two Festival is like the Iowa City Book Festival but for kids. One Book Two Book Festival allows attendees — in this case, children and their families — to hear from published authors. Happening downtown from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24, visitors can mingle through a book fair at Film Scene's Chauncey location or play with Lego trains at Merge. One Book Two Book also offers opportunities for upcoming writers. Seventh and eighth graders can register for a writer's workshop hosted by the Iowa Youth Writing Project from 1-3 p.m. at the Tuesday Agency. The festivities will finish with an award ceremony for young writers at Macbride Auditorium.
The full lineup of events is available on downtowniowacity.com
Letterkenny Presents: A Night Of Standup Comedy
"Letterkenny" started as a Canadian television series with a relatively modest audience that gained significant popularity. Cast favorites will transport Iowa City residents to Letterkenny, Ontario, with the "A Night Of Standup Comedy Tour" at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 at the Englert Theatre. The live show will feature cast members and writers from the cult favorite show. Headlining is Mark Forward (Coach), and the night will also include standup sets by Jeff McEnery ("Alexander") and Letterkenny writer Allie Pearse. Tickets are on sale on the Englert Theatre's website.
Musical Theatre Rave
The Musical Theatre Rave at James Theater provides the perfect night out for those more privy to show tunes than club hits. Live out your Broadway dreams by dancing to all the best musical songs at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24. Tickets cost $10 for general admission and $5 for students.
Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and business reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at JRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rishjessica_
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Five things to do in Iowa City, from comedy and live music to literature