The Scouted Calendar / February 2020

Despite being a short month (even with the addition of one extra day this year), February always has much to offer, beckoning us out of winter hibernation mode for a variety of exciting and enriching events and activities. Here, we’ve rounded up a selection of happenings in our Scouted cities that we’re looking forward to next month, from a thought-provoking art exhibition in Bentonville, Arkansas, to an exceptional antiques and garden show in Nashville, Tennessee.

Nashville, Tennessee

Now in its 30th year, the Antiques & Garden Show of Nashville will take place from January 31-February 2, bringing premier antiques dealers, stunning garden installations, and the top names in design to the Music City Center for lectures (including the Keynote Lecture on Ballyfin, co-sponsored by The Scout Guide), special events, and more. Benefitting Cheekwood Estate & Gardens, this is a can’t-miss event for the design-minded set. {Find local recommendations for what to do and see in Nashville here.}

Bentonville, Arkansas

On February 8, the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art debuts Hank Willis Thomas: All Things Being Equal…, in which the acclaimed artist combines familiar images from sports and advertising with histories of art and politics, examining popular culture and how art can raise awareness in the ongoing struggle for social justice and civil rights. The exhibition features more than 90 of Thomas’s works, including photographs, sculptures, mixed media, and his well-known Branded series. {Find local recommendations for what to do and see in Northwest Arkansas here.}

Sarasota, Florida

The Marie Selby Botanical Garden is hosts its annual fundraiser, Expect the Unexpected: The Orchid Ball 2020, on February 8, from 5 to 11 p.m. This black-tie evening includes a 6 p.m. cocktail reception and dinner at 7:30 p.m. A living museum, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is a tropical, urban oasis that features unparalleled horticulture displays and a world-class center for education, research, and conservation. The evening benefits their community education programs, international research, and other offerings. {Find local recommendations for what to do and see in Sarasota here.}

Columbus, Ohio

The National Veterans Memorial and Museum presents So Ready for Laughter: The Legacy of Bob Hope in its first appearance outside The National WWII Museum in New Orleans, where the exhibition originated, running through April 17. Through rare and unpublished photographs of Bob Hope, wartime correspondence between the entertainer and servicemembers, WWII-ear relics engraved to Hope, videos of his travels, a documentary, and more, the exhibit highlights how Hope helped lift spirits during one of the darkest times in American history. {Find local recommendations for what to do and see in Columbus here.}

Huntsville, Alabama

On Saturday, February 22, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Burritt on the Mountain presents Forward from Slavery: Stories of the Underground Railroad, Buffalo Soldiers, and Rosenwald Schools. The day begins with an interactive Underground Railroad field trip presentation, then offers attendees the opportunity to learn about the Buffalo Soldiers who came to Huntsville in October of 1898, and culminates with time spent in Burritt on the Mountain’s Rosenwald School, where visitors can take part in typical school-day activities. {Find local recommendations for what to do and see in Huntsville here.}

Fort Worth, Texas

Opening on February 8, the Amon Carter Museum of American Art’s The Perilous Texas Adventures of Mark Dion retraces the footsteps of several 19th-century explorers in Texas. Through large-scale installations, Dion, one of the most highly regarded living artists, evokes the past while addressing today’s culture, enhancing our understanding of the Texas explorers while bringing their experiences to live in the present. {Find local recommendations for what to do and see in Fort Worth here.}

Charlotte, North Carolina

Featuring more than 100 ceramic objects, Classic Black: The Basalt Sculpture of Wedgwood and His Contemporaries opens at the Mint Museum Randolph on February 8, and is the first exhibition to focus exclusively on the black basalt sculpture made by Josiah Wedgwood and other Staffordshire potters in late eighteenth century England. Visitors will get to take in life-size portrait busts, vases, medallions, statues, and more. {Find local recommendations for what to do and see in Charlotte here.}

Oxford, Mississippi

Women looking to build their own careers will find the information and inspiration they need to take the next step at Ment, a women’s conference that will take place on February 28 and 29. Featuring two days of panels, speakers—including hilarious emcee Heather McMahan—and workshops—plus opportunities to enjoy local food, cocktails, and pop-up shops—this is a not-to-be missed event. {Find local recommendations for what to do and see in Oxford here.}