<cal1>WEDNESDAY/APRIL 24
<cal2>Gemstone Club A program designed for grade two and up. The diamond will be examined, April's birthstone. Cost is $3. Reservations required. Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3608 N. Military Road. Call 703-228-3403.
Wheat-Free Shopping Fresh Fields, 2700 Wilson Blvd., will present a free class at 6:30 p.m. Reservations required. Call 703-527-6596.
'Carnival' Yorktown High School, 5201 N. 28th St., presents this musical production, Wednesday-Saturday, April 24-27 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $8 at the door. Drama is suitable for middle-schoolers and older. Call 703-228-5414.
<cal1>THURSDAY/APRIL 25
<cal2>Butterfly Program Members of the Washington Area Butterfly Club present a program for adults about the Baltimore Checkerspot, from 7:30-9 p.m. at Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Springs Road. Free. No reservations required. Call 703-228-6535.
Book Club Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St., will host a discussion of Eudora Welty's "The Collected Stories of Eudora Welty," at 10:30 a.m., in the second-floor meeting room. Call 703-228-5994.
'Karoke Stories' A theatrical piece by Euijoon Kim that parodies romantic comedies, directors Quentin Tarantino and John Woo, samurai and the screenwriting process can be seen through May 18 at the Rosslyn Spectrum, 1611 N. Kent St. Show times are Thursday-Saturday at 8 p.m. with Sunday matinees. Tickets are $12-$15. Call 703-979-0875.
The Crafts Group at Lee Senior Action Center, 5722 Lee Highway, will be decorating canvas bags at 1 p.m. Cost is $2. Class size is limited, so registration is necessary. Call 703-228-0555.
<cal1>FRIDAY/APRIL 26
<cal2>Science Discussion "Nine Crazy Ideas in Science" is the topic of a presentation to be given by Bob Ehrlich, professor of physics, George Mason University, at 10:30 a.m. at Aurora Hills Senior Action Center, 735 S. 18th St. No fee. Newcomers welcome. Call 703-228-5722 to reserve a seat.
Music Discussion The music appreciation group at Culpepper Garden Senior Action Center, 4435 N. Pershing Drive, will discuss choral music at 1:30 p.m. No fee. Call 703-228-4403 to reserve seat.
Spring Dance Concert The Center Dance Company will present "Pictures at an Exhibition," "Don Quixote" and "Elegance on Tap" on Friday and Saturday, April 26 and 27, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, April 28, at 3 p.m. Performances take place at Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre, 125 S. Old Glebe Road. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors. Call 703-522-2414.
Great Wine for the Grill Fresh Fields, 2700 Wilson Blvd., presents a wine-tasting event from 7-9 p.m. Cost is $20 per person. Register at 703-527-6596.
Say the Word features an evening of fiction writing with Maxine Clair, author of "October Suite" and Leslie Pietrzyk, author of "Pears on a Willow Tree," at 8 p.m. at the Ellipse Arts Center, 4350 N. Fairfax Drive. Free. Call 703-228-7710.
Student Fashion Show A show and luncheon will be held at noon in the Rose Bente Lee Center on the main campus of Marymount University, 2807 N. Glebe Road. Carmen Marc Valvo will be honored as "Designer of the Year." Tickets are $65. Evening shows will be held on Friday and Saturday, April 26-27, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $12 at the door or $10 in advance. Call 703-284-1540.
Live Music At Kansas House, 900 N. Kansas St., with Dropscience and special guests, at 8 p.m. Cost is $5. Call 703-526-9517. At Royal Lee, 2211 N. Pershing Ave., The Gc5, The Dropdeads, Daycare Swindlers, Spitfires United, Cheerleaders of the Apocalypse and Those Less Fortunate, at 8 p.m. Cost is $5. Call 703-524-5493.
<cal1>SATURDAY/APRIL 27
<cal2>Evening Campfires Long Branch Nature Center presents stories, games, songs, animal guests and s'mores, from 7:15-8 p.m. Reservations required. Call 703-228-6535.
Saturday Stock Talks at Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St., will feature Joe Wagner of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, at 11 a.m., in the auditorium. Call 703-228-6328.
Birds in Migration is a free program at Potomac Overlook Regional Park, 2845 N. Marcey Road, at 8 a.m. Why and how do they travel? Who soars and who stays? Reservations are required. Call 703-528-5406.
Vegetarian Cooking Fresh Fields, 2700 Wilson Blvd., will present a class with Chef Cal from 1-3 p.m. Cost is $10 per person and reservations are required. Call 703-527-6596.
Second-Hand Sale Westover Baptist Preschool, 1125 Patrick Henry Drive, will hold a sale of children's and adult clothing, toys, baby equipment, books and more and a bake sale, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Call 703-841-5491.
Creating Your Own Happiness Arlington Metaphysical Chapel, 5618 Wilson Blvd., will present a workshop from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Call 703-276-8738.
Plant Sale McKinley Elementary School, 1030 N. McKinley Road, will hold a sale to benefit the school, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Hanging baskets, herbs, tomatoes and bedding plants. Coffee and donuts. Call 703-533-9640.
'Where Peace Begins' Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St., will present a play sponsored by Arlington County's Community Resilience Project, from 2-4 p.m. Call 703-228-5990.
<cal1>SUNDAY/APRIL 28
<cal2>Everything about Mosquitoes Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Springs Road, will present a slide lecture on mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases, from 1-2 p.m. Adults and families. Free. No reservations needed. Call 703-228-6535.
Birding Trip Explore Banshee Reeks Park in Loudoun County, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Van leaves Lubber Run Recreation Center, 300 N. Park Drive. Cost is $15. Reservations required. Call 703-228-3403.
Opera Guild of Northern Virginia will hold its program at Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St., at 3 p.m. in the auditorium. Dr. Dona De Sanctis will lecture on "Fatal Attraction: Love and Death in Lucia di Lammermoor." Call 703-356-5408.
Wildlife Habitat Potomac Overlook Regional Park, 2845 N. Marcey Road, will teach the simple steps to make wild creatures welcome. Free. Registration required. Call 703-528-5406.
Choral Concert The combined choirs of St. Mary's Episcopal Church and Westmoreland Congregational UCC will present a free concert at 5 p.m. at St. Mary's, 2609 N. Glebe Road. Proceeds from a free-will offering benefit Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry. Call 301-299-7768.
Young Artists Fine Arts Apprentice Recital-Exhibit at
Gunston Arts Center, 2700 S. Lang St. at 2 p.m. The free event features high-school musicians, dancers, actors and visual artists who are members of Arlington Public Schools' 2001-02 Fine Arts Apprentice Program. Call Sandra Phaup at 703-228-6168.
Parade and Festival The 10th annual Columbia Heights West Pride Day Festival and Mini-Parade will be held from noon-5 p.m. at the Tyrol Hills Playground, 4900 S. Seventh Road. Arts and crafts, entertainment, information booths, games, food and prizes. Parade begins at Greenbriar Baptist Church, 5401 Seventh Road S. In the event of rain, festival will move to Arlington Mill Community Center, 4975 Columbia Pike. Call 703-228-6431.
<cal1>MONDAY/APRIL 29
<cal2>Free Health Seminar A discussion on long-term care and Medicare will be held at Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St., from 7-8 p.m., in the second-floor meeting room. Call to register at 703-228-6402.
<cal1>WEDNESDAY/MAY 1
<cal2>Bedtime Drop-In Story Time at Cherrydale Library, 2190 N. Military Road, at 7 p.m. For ages 3-7. Call 703-228-6330.
Breakfast in Bed with Chef Cal at Fresh Fields, 2700 Wilson Blvd., from 7-9 p.m. Cost is $10 per person. Reservations required. Call 703-527-6596.
Bird Walk Adults are invited to join members of the Northern Virginia Bird Club for an informal walk through Long Branch and Clencarlyn parks in search of resident and migrating birds, from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Free, but reservations are required. Call 703-228-6535.
River Hike Children in grades three to five will enjoy a free hike to the Potomac to experience spring with its wildflowers and tree blossoms, from 3-4:15 p.m. Canceled if raining. Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3608 N. Military Road. Reservations are required. Call 703-228-3403.
<cal1>THURSDAY/MAY 2
<cal2>Spring Comedy Wakefield High School, 4901 S. Chesterfield Road, will present the musical comedy "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" at 7 p.m. on May 2, 3 and 4. Tickets are $5 at the door. Call 703-228-8806.
Stop in for Stories at Aurora Hills Library, 735 S. 18th St., at 10 and 11 a.m. For ages 2-4 with an adult. Call 703-228-5715.
<cal1>FRIDAY/MAY 3
<cal2>Dance Concert Crossroads Dance will "lift the veil of India" in its presentation at Gunston Arts Center's Theatre One, 2700 S. Lang St., May 3-4 at 8 p.m. The dancers will explore faith rituals in the United States, moving from Hinduism into works based on Old Testament biblical tales. Tickets are $12-$15. Call 301-263-2861.
'Jekyll & Hyde' Dr. Henry Jekyll’s research into sanity and the human mind takes a tragic and horrible turn when he becomes the test subject. Presented by The Arlington Players at Thomas Jefferson Theatre, 125 S. Old Glebe Road, Friday and Saturday, May 3-4 at 8 p.m.; Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $12-$15. Call 703-549-1063. Visit www.arlingtonplayers.org
<cal1>SATURDAY/MAY 4
<cal2>Cello Prodigy Tao Ni will perform Elgar's Concerto for Violoncello with the Arlington Symphony at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall on the campus of Northern Virginia Community College, 3001 N. Beauregard St., at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25-$50; students are $10. Call 703-528-1817, or visit www.arlingtonsymphony.org.
'Sets in Stone,' a spring sale featuring the work of pottery and print artists, at the Lee Arts Center Gallery, 5722 Lee Highway. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 703-228-5256.
Homeownership Class A free class sponsored by the Virginia Housing Development Authority and AHOME is being offered at Arlington Mill Community Center, 49975 Columbia Pike, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Call 703-527-3854.
Adult Nature Trek See one of the largest and most impressive great white trillium displays in the East, along with other spring wildflowers, trees and wildlife. Van will leave from Lubber Run Recreation Center parking lot, 300 N. Park Drive. Bring a bag lunch. Cost is $15. Reservations required. Call 703-228-6535.
Mineral Club Children in grades one and above will learn about rocks and minerals from 10:30 a.m.-noon at Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Springs Road. Free, but reservations are required. Call 703-228-6535.
Nature Program Families may explore the trees at Fort C. F. Smith, 2411 N. 24th St., a Civil War fort and old family farm, from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Free, but reservations are required. Call 703-228-3403.
<cal1>SUNDAY/MAY 5
<cal2>Environmental Open House Potomac Overlook Regional Park, 2845 Marcey Road, will hold a tree planting ceremony with Arlington County Board chairman Chris Zimmerman and other activities from 1-4 p.m. Music, maypole dancers, clown, door prizes, exhibits and food. Admission is free. Call 703-528-5406.
Columbia Pike Blues Festival will take place from noon-6 p.m., rain or shine, at a new location, on Walter Reed Drive on the north side of Columbia Pike. Join musicians Darrell Nulisch, Chris Smither, Dr. S. O. Feelgood, Janine Wilson, The Impossibles and The Curbfeelers for a free community celebration. Food and drink available, crafts, civic information, moon bounce, petting farm and Model A display. Call 703-892-2776.
<cal1>Ongoing
<cal2>Farmers Market An open air market featuring a wide selection of produce, flowers, herbal soaps, eggs, cheeses, meats, breads and other baked goods. Market runs through Dec. 21, from 8 a.m.-noon, at Courthouse Plaza, North 14th Street and North Courthouse Road. Free parking in the lot behind the Arlington Executive Building at 2009 N. 14th St. Call 703-228-6400.