CoMo Weekender - St. Patrick's Day Edition ft. Roller Derby, Trains and More
The spring equinox is next week, but celebrate warm weather early. Start spending part of St. Patrick’s Day outside The District. Don’t worry, McNally’s will have those half-yard green beers upon your return. Then, round out the weekend back in town with something hot (Tango Workshop) and something heavy (BENT).
CoMo Derby Dames vs Springfield Roller Girls (Sat, 5 p.m.)
This is not the standard corned beef and cabbage St. Patty’s Day celebration. Head out to watch the CoMo Derby Dames, the local all-women’s flat track roller derby league, in their second game of the season in Jeff City.
“You watch football, basketball and hockey,” says Andrea Waner aka Maple Stirrup (her Derby name). “Why not come support your local roller girl while you're at it?” Just don’t look for a ball at this game; these girls don’t need balls to score points.
Expect to see “the complete and total embodiment of female power” during Saturday’s game, says Waner. “It's fast paced, hard hitting and entertaining.”
St. Patty’s Day Dinner Train (Sat, 6 p.m.)
More than one St. Patrick's Day is needed to enjoy the all-you-can-eat corned beef and cabbage and the all-you-can-drink green beer on this train. So, celebrate Irish heritage (whether you have it or not) aboard the 1938 vintage passenger train, Columbia Star Dinner Train.
35th Annual Train Show (Sat, 10 a.m.)
The must-see train model stretches about 10 feet across an entire dining room. “That’s the No. 1 train people stare at,” says Sarah Bowman, Recreation Specialist at Columbia Parks and Recreation. I recommend train-show goers head to the Dinner Train (see above) afterward, and make a day of trains.
6th Annual Silent Film / Silent Art Auction (Sat, 3 p.m.)
Before blowing money on pint after pint of green beer, head to Windsor Auditorium at Stephens College for Lee Expressive Arts School’s largest fundraiser. Lee students and local artists are displaying their art. Also, the event is screening silent films with a live orchestra.
CoMo Tango’a Spring Sprout Tango Workshop (Sat, 2, 3:30, and 5 p.m.)
Turn up the heat with a tango workshop with an instructor from Buenos Aires. “It will be a perfect chance not only for the beginners to explore a real Argentine social tango,” says Loelle Lim of BENT - Columbia Entertainment Company (Fri-Sat, 7:30 p.m.; Sun, 2 p.m.)
BENT, a Martin Sherman play, follows Max, a homosexual prisoner during the Holocaust, who develops a relationship with a fellow prisoner amid the violent Nazi work camps. Catch BENT in its final weekend with Columbia Entertainment Company.
CoMo Weekender is curated by Trupti Rami in hopes of enlivening those 55 hours away from the workweek. Email questions, comments or suggestions to events@kbia.org.