What's Happening: Your 10-day forecast for Jan. 21-30, 2022
JAN. 24
“C.S. LEWIS ON STAGE: THE MOST RELUCTANT CONVERT”: C.S. Lewis — author of “The Screwtape Letters” and “The Chronicles of Narnia” — comes to life on stage! Using Lewis’ own words, award-winning actor Max McLean leads the audience on the brilliant Oxford don’s extraordinary trek from hard-boiled atheist to “the most reluctant convert in all England.” Engaging, entertaining and inspiring, experience the beginning of the journey that would lead Lewis to become the most renowned Christian author of the 20th century. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 24 at the Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets run $51 to $101. For more information about this performance or other upcoming events, or to purchase tickets online, visit performingarts.ufl.edu.
JAN. 24
FROG WATCHING: Become a citizen scientist! FrogWatch USA is a citizen science program of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums that offers individuals an opportunity to learn about the wetlands in their community, to identify local frog calls and to report data. This program is prepared for those who have a passion for learning about their local frog populations and have the ability to regularly visit a local wetland within Alachua and Bradford counties for data collection February through August. No previous frog or science background is needed — only a desire to learn about the world around you. An online presentation about the program will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 24. Pre-registration is required using the Eventbrite registration form at bit.ly/frogs22.
JAN. 27
BOOK LAUNCH: The UF Samuel Proctor Oral History Program is hosting a book launch for “African American Studies: 50 Years at the University of Florida,” the first book to explore the creation and development of an African American Studies program at a major university. Co-editors Jake Gordon and Paul Ortiz will discuss the making of the book, and several chapter authors will be in attendance as well from 3 to 4 p.m. Jan. 27. To register for the event, visit bit.ly/africanstudies22.
JAN. 27
TANGO FIRE: Close your eyes, and you’ll swear you’ve traveled to a late-night dance floor in the heart of Buenos Aires. The international dance sensation Tango Fire is back — bigger, bolder and more intoxicating than ever! A huge hit from the Phillips Center’s 2017-18 season, the group returns with a brand new show. According to event organizers, Tango Fire is a true global phenomenon and the world’s leading tango company. Serving up dance that sizzles with sensuality, this group effortlessly blends the rawness, sophistication and seduction of Argentine tango. Take it all in at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 27 at the Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road. Tickets are $20 to $40 or $10 for UF students. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit performingarts.ufl.edu.
JAN. 28 THROUGH JAN. 30
“ANNE AND EMMETT”: Listen in on an imaginary conversation between Anne Frank and Emmett Till, both victims of racial intolerance and hatred. Frank is the 15-year-old Jewish girl whose diary provided a gripping perspective of the Holocaust. Till is the 14-year old Black boy whose brutal murder in Mississippi sparked the American Civil Rights Movement. Showings will be held at 8 p.m. Jan. 28-29, 4 p.m. Jan. 29-30 and 7 p.m. Jan. 30 at the Star Center Theatre, 11 NE 23rd Ave. Tickets are $25 for general admission, $20 for seniors and $15 for students. To purchase tickets online, visit bit.ly/anneemmett22.
ONGOING THROUGH JAN. 31
READING CHALLENGE: The Winter Reading Challenge has returned with a new goal for the community — to read 600,000 minutes through Jan. 31. Registration is still open for the 2022 Winter Reading Challenge: Read for a Better World for chances to win prizes and help the library district compete against libraries across the country. Participants can sign up for the challenge at aclib.beanstack.org or using the Beanstack app. Log your time spent reading and activities completed in Beanstack to earn badges. Each badge earned is another entry in the prize drawing, and each minute logged helps the library district advance in the competition. All participants will have unlimited access to Lerner’s “Read for a Better World” themed eBooks for the duration of the challenge through the “Read for a Better World” activity badge. During the challenge, hundreds of libraries across the nation encourage their communities to read a target number of minutes or books and encourage readers of all ages to explore diversity, empathy and action through literature. Top-performing libraries will earn prizes from Lerner Publishing Group, including book collections, signed books and virtual author visits. In February, the library district was one of six public libraries nationwide to win the Winter Reading Challenge and received a virtual author visit and collection of books. For more information, visit aclib.us/winter.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Gainesville, Alachua County event calendar for January 21-30, 2022
