Check out these 16 events to do in the Northwest Austin area in February and March

The Austin Film Society hosts CatVideoFest 2020 on Feb. 29. (Iain Oldman/Community Impact Newspaper)

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By Iain Oldman | 6:15 AM Jan 29, 2020 CST

Image description — Concordia University Texas is showing the musical "Little Shop of Horrors" from March 5-8. Ticket sales start in February. (Courtesy Maggie Thompson)

Feb. 1-March 28

Art exhibit celebrating Asian pop culture on display

The Asian American Resource Center in North Austin is exhibiting works from Central Texas-area middle and high school students celebrating anime, manga and video games from Asian culture. Works in the exhibit include illustrations, photography and cosplay. Times vary. Free. Asian American Resource Center, 8401 Cameron Road, Austin. 512-974-1700. www.austintexas.gov/aarc

Feb. 1

Match local craft brews and Girl Scout cookies

Circle Brewing Co. and Girl Scouts of Central Texas partner to bring a craft beer and cookie pairing event. Tickets to the fundraising event will get each participant a commemorative glass and a punch card for eight cookie and beer pairings. Proceeds go to support Girl Scouts of Central Texas. 2-5 p.m. $25. Circle Brewing, 2340 W. Braker Lane, Ste. B, Austin. www.circlebrewing.com

Feb. 4

Enjoy a nighttime stroll through a sculpture garden

The Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum invites the public to come enjoy the works of art in its grounds after the sun goes down. Visitors can enjoy live music from Will Taylor and Strings Attached while playing lawn games and drinking craft beer and cocktails. 6-8 p.m. Free (members), $7 (nonmembers). The Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum, 605 Azie Morton Road, Austin. 512-445-5582. www.umlaufsculpture.org

Feb. 9 and 12

Never let go at IPIC Austin

IPIC Austin in The Domain holds two screenings of 1997’s international hit “Titanic.” The three-hour, James Cameron-directed romance stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet and is set during the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912. 11 a.m. (Feb. 9), 6:30 p.m. (Feb. 12). $12. IPIC Austin, 3225 Amy Donovan Plaza, Austin. 512-568-3400. www.ipic.com/austin

Feb. 13

Do some Children’s Valentine’s Day crafting

The Arboretum invites children ages 3-10 for a morning of Valentine’s Day-themed crafting. Children can make a card or bracelets to give to a friend or loved one while supplies last. The event will be held in the space next to Amy’s Ice Creams. 10 a.m.-noon. Free. Amy’s Ice Creams, 10000 Research Blvd., Ste. 140, Austin. 512-338-4755. www.thearboretum.com

Feb. 14-16

Celebrate diversity in the wide world of geek culture

The inaugural Geeks of Color Expo 2020 celebrates creative contributions from people of color in the world of geek culture, including video gaming, anime, art and more. This three-day convention will feature a gaming room, Nerf battles, panels, workshops and appearances by celebrity guests. Attendees can also attend a late night dance party, a Valentine’s Day dinner and a comedy show. Times vary. $55-$145.Crowne Plaza Austin, 6121 N. I-35, Austin. 512-937-2561. www.gcxaustin.com

Feb. 15

Party hard with your pets

P & F Pet Provisions, a North Austin pet supply retailer, is celebrating its fourth anniversary with a pet-friendly celebration. The store will host local pet supply vendors, and the celebration will include refreshments and barbecue.

9 a.m.-7 p.m. Free. P & F Pet Provisions, 7816 Burnet Road, Austin. 512-956-9000. www.pandfpet.shop

Feb. 17-18

Gear up for the future of robotics in Cedar Park

The Robotters International Festival is a two-day robotics convention that brings in engineers from across the world. The festival features a speaker seminar, a consumer robot showcase and a STEM tournament for students in grade school. 2:30 p.m. both days. Free. H-E-B Center at Cedar Park, 2100 Avenue of the Stars, Cedar Park. 512-600-5000. www.robotters.com/festival

Feb. 20-23

Take a Look at the world's best modern quilt designs

The Modern Quilt Guild invites the public to attend QuiltCon 2020, which showcases hundreds of quilts made by quilting artists from around the world. QuiltCon features workshops and lectures given by leading designers, as well as dozens of vendors and exhibitors over the full four days of the convention. Showtimes vary. $12 for a day pass. Austin Convention Center, 500 E. Cesar Chavez St., Austin. www.quiltcon.com

Feb. 22

Take a modern home tour

The Austin Modern Home Tour, founded by GoodLife Luxury and produced by the Modern Architecture and Design Studio, returns for its 12th installation. The self-guided tour includes 12 homes across the Austin area that explore various features of midcentury modern architecture. The tour concludes with a block party at the Starlight Village in Leander. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. $15-$100. Various locations. Starlight Village, 1001 Horizon Park Blvd., Leander. 512-636-5978. www.mads.media/2020-atx-modern-home-tour

Feb. 23

Eat your fill of vegan food

Veganchill Fest comes to Austin for an adults-only day of binging on vegan food and drinks. The festival features more than 40 vegan vendors, complimentary food and drinks, drag queen performances, live DJs and more. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. $10-$40. Springdale Station, 979 Springdale Road, Ste. 160, Austin. www.veganchill.com

Feb. 23

Don a mask and sing along to a classic musical

Alamo Drafthouse Lakeline invites guests to come celebrate February with an interactive showing of the 2005 film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic musical “The Phantom of the Opera.” Moviegoers are invited to sing along with the movie with complimentary phantom masks. 7 p.m. $12.99. Alamo Drafthouse Lakeline, 14028 N. US 183, Bldg. F, Austin. 512-861-7070. www.drafthouse.com

Feb. 28-March 2

Cut a rug with some of Austin’s best blues ensembles

The Austin Blues Party returns with five days full of dancing and blues music. Attendees can learn to dance with classes taught by talents from across the country or watch dancing competitions at several Austin venues, including Go Dance North on West Anderson Lane. Times vary. $130-$250. Venues vary. www.austinbluesparty.com

Feb. 29

Enter into a leap day pinball tournament

Pinballz Arcade is hosting Leap Frenzy, its inaugural quadrennial Leap Day pinball tournament, at the arcade’s original location in North Austin. The top three placing players in the tournament take home a cash prize, a Pinballz game card and a trophy. Players of all skill levels are invited. 3-6 p.m. $10 entry. The Original Pinballz Arcade, 8940 Research Blvd., Austin. 512-420-8458. www.pinballzarcade.com

Feb. 29

Watch viral cat clips

The Austin Film Society hosts CatVideoFest 2020, a compilation of cat videos including submitted clips, animated videos, music videos and classic viral internet videos. A portion of proceeds will benefit Austin Pets Alive!. 2 p.m. $11.25. AFS Cinema, 6406 N. I-35, Ste. 3100, Austin. 512-322-0145. www.austinfilm.org

March 5-8

Go to the theater

Concordia University Texas’ School of Fine Arts presents four nights of the classic cult musical “Little Shop of Horrors,” about a floral shop assistant and his singing, flesh-eating plant. Showtimes vary. Tickets go on sale in February. Concordia Black Box Theatre, 11400 Concordia University Drive, Austin. 512-313-5410. www.concordia.edu

Northwest Austin To-Do List Northwest Austin events

By Iain Oldman

Iain Oldman joined Community Impact Newspaper in 2017 after spending two years in Pittsburgh, Pa., where he covered Pittsburgh City Council. His byline has appeared in PublicSource, WESA-FM and Scranton-Times Tribune. Iain worked as the reporter for Community Impact Newspaper's flagship Round Rock/Pflugerville/Hutto edition and is now working as the editor for the Northwest Austin edition.

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