The fifth edition of the Salon du Chocolat is back in Brussels to celebrate chocolate in all its forms at Tour & Taxis from 2-4 March. The chocolate-filled weekend has everything from chocolate pairings with beer, to different workshops to learn more about the sweet treat. Event spokeswoman Patricia Raes explains more.

On Friday lunchtime (16 February), Manneken Pis will be dressed in Lithuanian costume as Belgium's 3,000 Lithuanians celebrate 100 years of their country's independence. Then in the evening, there's a laser show in Cinquantenaire park. We hear from the organisers.

The Belgian Air Force partnered with schools across Belgium for a special day of first world war commemorations on 1 February. A helicopter visited 11 schools - one in each Belgian province and the Brussels region - and two students from each school were on board for one flight segment. Additionally two students from each school spent the day at the military air traffic control centre in Ghent to follow the helicopter flight from behind the scenes. Among the schools taking part in the Poppy Flight was the International School of Brussels where Middle School Social Studies Department Head Heather Casey spoke to us about the students' personal connections to the First World War.

When Julian Hills was 20 years old, he began experimenting with photography. The self-taught photographer began capturing emotional moments at concerts, and soon began working with different charity organisations. His new book, “Ordinary People” highlights people with disabilities, or just ordinary people that deserve recognition in a world where only the perfect get on the front of magazines.

The Honda Competition for Classical Music - now in its second year - is an unusual musical competition. Most such competitions are between players of one instrument, a piano competition or a violin competition for instance. In this case all instruments are competing with each other. This year there are three finalists, two sopranos and an oboe. Emma Posman, one of the soprano finalists talks with us about being a musician. Included are excerpts of a performance by Emma accompanied by Getacine Pegorim on piano of Ah! Non credea mirarti from Bellini's La Sonnambula. You can attend the final this coming Wednesday (7 February) at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels starting at 20.00. Free.

2018 will be a banner year for fans, both locals and tourists, of the work of master architect Victor Horta. Twenty Brussels cultural institutions have joined to present a complete program of one of the greatest architects of his generation.  Visitors will be able to see several exhibitions as well as participate in several guided tours including going inside Horta’s houses and lots of other activities. Geert Cochez of Visit Brussels and Yaron Pesztat of the CIVA Foundation tell us what to expect. www.horta-inside-out.brussels 

Photographer Ximena Echague has been documenting the day-to-day lives of refugees in Brussels since 2005 for her project called ‘Odyssey.’ Most of the exhibition focuses on one subject, Sharali, who escaped from Somalia after constant civil war. The photographs tell the story of how he lives everyday life as a refugee without documentation.

Lights for Rights is back, with a one-year anniversary of a protest on Place de la Bourse in Brussels. “Trump’s presidency has brought with it a stunning abuse of power, myriad conflicts of interest and a dangerous level of cultural upheaval,” says Pauline Manos, the chair of Democrats Abroad. “The last year was a test of who we are as a country. Our institutions and resolve have proven their strength, but the fight continues. We’ll be doing all we can in 2018 to mobilise Americans living in Belgium on behalf of the Democratic party.”

ADAM, the Brussels Design Museum has opened a new permanent space called the Plasticotek. Now entering its third year the museum has realized that it needs a hands-on space where plastics can be explained to the visitor. What are plastics? How are they made? What is their history? What do they feel like? Museum Director Arnaud Bozzini and Richard Thommeret Professor in Plastic Technology, Industrial Design & Interior Architecture at La Cambre (University of Brussels) give us whys and hows.

http://www.adamuseum.be/home-museum-en.html

The first production of the Brussels Shakespeare Society for 2018 is one of the bard’s most popular and, probably, most comedic plays, A Midsummer’s Night Dream. Emily Bowles, in her debut as director for Brussels Shakespeare Society, explains what's in store. 

A Midsummer Night's Dream, 22-27 January 2018, Theatre Mercelis, Ixelles