<cal1>WEDNESDAY/SEPT. 25
<cal2> Gemstone Club at Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3608 N. Military Road, from 3-4 p.m., for grades 2 and up. Today's program is $3, which must be paid in advance, by Sept. 20 to hold a reservation. Subsequent meetings held on Oct. 23 and Nov. 20 at the same time. Registration required. Call 703-228-3403.
Aurora Hills Men's Group will discuss passenger railroad travel with a speaker from the National Association of Railroad Passengers at 1:30 p.m. at Aurora Hills Senior Center. No fee. Newcomers welcome.Call 703-228-5722.
Grilling Day and Cooking Class at Whole Foods, 2700 Wilson Blvd., from 6-9 p.m. Fresh Fields will donate hamburgers, hot dogs, sausage, veggie burgers and more. 100 percent of proceeds benefits the Arlington Street People's Assistance Network. Also, "Dinners in a Flash: Creating Meals After a Long Day" cooking class with cookbook author Robyn Webb, from 7-9 p.m. Cost is $15 per person. Reservations required. Call 703-527-6596.
<cal1>THURSDAY/SEPT. 26
<cal2>"Exercises in Style" Le Neon's production will stage Raymond Quenuau's story in different theatrical styles, ranging from French farce to classic tragedy at the Rosslyn Spectrum, 1611 Kent St., through Oct. 20. Show times are Thursday-Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $15 for students. Call 703-243-6366.
Celebration of Recovery for all graduates of Vanguard Services Unlimited Programs at Knights of Columbus, 5115 Little Falls Road, from 6:30-9 p.m. Call Fran Troy to RSVP at 703-920-0156. Visit www.vanguardservices.org.
"Americans Indians of the Potomac," at Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3608 N. Military Road, from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Educational nature program for children grades 1-2. Discover the fascinating culture of Native Americans through artifacts, discussion, a movie and hands-on activities. Free. Reservations required. Call 703-228-3403.
Published Author's Reading from Blackwords Press. Tony Lindsay, author of "Prayer of Prey," Kwame Alexander, author of "Do the Write Thing: 7 steps to Publishing Success," Tonya Matthews, author of "Still Swingin': New and Selected Poems from these Hips," Gayle Newton, author of "Past Presence," and Mike Williams, author of "Full Body Massage." Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St., at 7:30 p.m. Free. Call 703-228-1850 or visit www. arlingtonarts.org.
Beginner Yoga Classes at Culpepper Garden Senior Center start today at 11 a.m. and on Thursday, Sept. 26 at 1 p.m. Fee is $13 for six classes. Call 703-228-4403 to register.
Navy Band The Commodores jazz ensemble will give a free performance at Yorktown High School, 5201 N. 28th St., at 7 p.m. Call 202-433-2525.
Walking Sticks, a slower-paced senior walking group, will travel to Bon Air Park at 10 a.m. No fee. Transportation to site provided. Call Culpepper Garden Senior Center to sign up at 703-228-4403.
<cal1>FRIDAY/SEPT. 27
<cal2>Barbecue Dinner Arlington Host Lions will hold a Barbecue Dinner, from 5-8 p.m., at the Memorial Baptist Church, 3455 N. Glebe Road. All proceeds benefit local charities. Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children. Call 703-671-8830.
Los Quetzales Mexican Dance Ensemble: Paisajes, at Theatre One at Gunston, 2700 S. Lang St., Sept. 27-28. Show times are Friday, at 8 p.m. and Saturday, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $12-$15. Call 703-204-3466.
Senior Basketball League (55+) will hold games on Thursday evenings from 6-8 p.m. beginning in January. To sign up, call 703-228-1801 by Friday, Sept. 27.
Senior Singers Chorale will meet Tuesdays at 2 p.m. at Lee Senior Center. No experience necessary. Chorale director is Jeanne Kelly, director of the Levine School of Music. Registration deadline is Friday, Sept. 27. Call 703-228-0555.
<cal1>SATURDAY/SEPT. 28
<cal2>Santiago Rodriguez will perform with the Arlington Symphony Concert Orchestra at 8 p.m. at the Schlesinger Center, Alexandria Campus of Northern Virginia Community College. Tickets are $26-$50. Call 703-528-1817 or visit www.arlingtonsyphony.org.
"The Vindication of Senyora Clito Mestras" at Classika Theatre, 4041 S. 28th St., from Sept. 28-Oct. 19, at 7:30 p.m. Show times are Thursdays-Saturdays, and at 4 p.m. on Sundays. Ticket prices for Thursdays and Sundays are $15 in advance and $17 at the door. Ticket prices for Fridays and Saturdays are $17 in advance and $20 at the door. Call 703-824-6200, visit www.classika.org, or e-mail info@classika.org.
"Kayak Swap" hosted by Ski Chalet, 2704 Columbia Pike, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Kayakers can buy and sell used sporting goods. Proceeds from the Kayak Swap benefit The Potomac Conservancy, a local non-profit environmental organization dedicated to protecting the Potomac River. Free and open to all kayakers. Call 703-521-1700 or visit www.skichalet.com.
"Amazing Animal Pets and Their Care," a nature program for adults and children grades 4 and up. Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Spring Road, from 1-3 p.m. Meet some unusual animals, including reptiles and amphibians, up-close, while learning what animals make good pets. Free. Reservations required. Call 703-525-0168.
September Campfire at Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Spring Road, from 6-7:15 p.m. Stories, special animal guests, games, songs and treats like s'mores. Fee is $2. Registration required. Call 703-228-6535.
"Starting and Financing Businesses" a workshop presented by ECDC Enterprise Development Group. Learn the qualities of an entrepreneur. Topics include business ideas, credit management, marketing issues and business finance. Auditorium of Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St., at 7 p.m. Call 703-685-0510, Ext. 242.
Saturday-Morning Stock Talk at 11 a.m in the auditorium at Central Library on 1015 N. Quincy St. Ban Tran of Merrill Lynch. Call 703-228-1850.
YMCA Arlington Open House, 3422 N. 13th St., from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Children's crafts and sports activities, adult kickboxing class, bodyfat and blood pressure screening, and free joiner fee on memberships. Call 703-525-5420.
<cal1>SUNDAY/SEPT. 29
<cal2>“Paws for a Cause” will be held from 1-5 p.m. in the plaza at Pentagon Row, located at the corner of Army Navy Drive and South Joyce Street. Festivities include a gala parade of pets, pet beauty contest, pet talent contest and more. Registration begins at 1 p.m. and judging will take place at 2 p.m. Benefits the Animal Welfare League of Arlington. Call 703-931-9241. Visit http://www.AWLA.org.
Word of Mouth features poet Suheir Hamad reading her work along side local poets from Spoken Resistance and Word of Mouth at Gua Rapo, 2039 Wilson Blvd., at 6 p.m. The event is hosted by Adamp Shapiro and Huwaida Arraf, peace activists and coordinators of the International Solidarity Movement. Later, from 6:30-9 p.m., "The Truth in Advertising Event: Laughter at our own expense," a humorous look at advertising. Live music and dancing. Ad club members pay $25; nonmembers pay $35. Call 703-683-5954 or visit www.dcadclub.com.
Free Open House Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe, 2150 N. Culpeper St., will hold a free open house from 8 a.m.-noon. Visitors may take tours of the production area, view the donut and pasta machines at work, chat with the bakers and watch them make bread, pretzels, cookies and cupcakes. Free samples and balloons. Call 703-527-8394.
<cal1>Monday/Sept. 30
<cal2>Arlington Seniors will travel to the Library of Congress. Cost is $6. Call the county’s Senior Adult Travel office at 703-228-4749.
<cal1>TUESDAY/OCT. 1
<cal2>Historic Arlington Roundtable There will be a brown-bag luncheon for anyone interested in Arlington's history, in Room 715 at the County Building, located at 2100 Clarendon Blvd., from 12:15-1:15 p.m. This is an informal gathering to learn about each other’s interests, share information, and hear short talks by experts. The topic for October is "Rehabilitation Standards." Call Michael Leventhal at 703-228-3813 or e-mail to cwramirex@starpower.net.
Swing Dance with Ray Gelato and City Rhythm Orchestra at Clarendon Ballroom, 3185 Wilson Blvd., from 9-11 p.m. Gelato has been described as a cross between Louis Prima, Dean Martin, Sam Butera and Robert De Niro. Cost is $10. Call 703-359-9882, or visit www.gottaswing.com.
Band Performance The U.S. Army Band will present Latin jazz at Brucker Hall at Fort Myer, at 7:30 p.m. Call 703-696-3399. Visit www.army.mil/armyband.
Senior Aerobics with fitness instructor Kai Jones at 9:30 a.m. No fee. Newcomers welcome. Call 703-228-5722.
<cal1>WEDNESDAY/OCT. 2
<cal2>Bird Walk Adults may join members of the Northern Virginia Bird Club for an informal walk through Long Branch and Glencarlyn parks in search of resident and migrating birds, from 9 a.m.-noon. Meet at the Long Branch parking lot, 625 S. Carlin Springs Road. Free. Reservations required. Call 703-228-6535.
Leadership Arlington Speaker Series "Affordable Housing: Whose Responsibility Is It?" will be presented by the Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington, from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., at WETA-TV, 2775 S. Quincy St. Cost is $30 for members; $40 for nonmembers. Call Betsy Frantz at 703-528-2522.
ESL Classes English as a Second Language at Dawson Terrace Senior Center, at 11 a.m. No fee. Call 703-228-6300.
<cal1>THURSDAY/OCT. 3
<cal2>"Losing Lawrence," a dark comedy by Donna Gerdin based on the real lives of D.H. Lawrence's widow and two of her friends and rivals for her husband's affections, will presented by Horizons Theatre through Oct. 26. Theatre On the Run, 3700 S. Four Mile Run Drive. Show times are Thursday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; matinees on Oct. 13, 19, 20 and 26 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $18-$22. Group discounts. Call 703-243-8550.
Band Performance The U.S. Army Band will present “New Shades of Blue,” the Army Blues jazz band at Brucker Hall, Fort Myer, at 7:30 p.m. Call 703-696-3399. Visit www.army.mil/armyband.
<cal1> FRIDAY/OCT. 4
<cal2>Early October Campfire The whole family is invited to the Long Branch amphitheater for old-fashioned fun. Stories, special animal guests, games, songs and s'mores. Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Spring Road, from 6-7:15 p.m. $2 fee. Registration required. Call 703-228-6535.
Arlington Players presents Gilbert and Sullivan's "HMS Pinafore," through Oct. 19, at the Thomas Jefferson Theatre, 125 S. Old Glebe Road. Show times are Friday and Saturday, at 8 p.m.; Sunday matinees on Oct. 6 and 13 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $13 for seniors and individuals under 18. Call 703-549-1063 or visit www.thearlingtonplayers.org.
Music Appreciation Class at Culpepper Garden Senior Center, at 1:30 p.m. Mendelssohn will be the topic. No fee. Newcomers welcome. Call 703-228-4403.
<cal1>SATURDAY/OCT. 5
<cal2>"Mamma Meow!" The Animal Welfare League of Arlington's 7th annual casino night and auction will take place at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) building, 4301 Wilson Blvd., from 7:30-11 p.m. Cost is $40 per person and $75 per couple in advance. Call 703-931-9241 to reserve your tickets or for sponsorship information.
Fossil Field Trip to Purce State Park for families with children ages 7 and up. Join Park Naturalist, Barry Remer, and help fine Miocene shark teeth, ray plates and other fossils. Meet at Lubber Run Recreation Center parking lot, 300 N. Park Drive in Arlington, and then carpool and caravan for an hour to the location. Runs from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.. $5 fee. Reservations required. Call 703-228-3403.
Fall Book Sale at Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St., from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5; 1-6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 6. Sunday is half-price day until 3:45 p.m. when the pack-your-own bags sale begins ($3 a bag and $5 for a box). Free. Call 703-228-5990.
Nature Hike at Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3708 N. Military Road, from 9-11:30 a.m. Join a naturalist for a hike along Gulf Branch down to the Potomac River and back. Call 703-354-5093 or visit www.NVCT.org.
Hula Dance exercise classes at Culpepper Garden Senior Center, at 10 a.m. Six-week series. Fee is $13. Call 703-228-4403.
Peter Max Pop Art at the Fashion Center at Pentagon City, 1100 Hayes St., from 6-9 p.m. The artist's "Pop to Patriotism" collection features over 100 pieces of his art, including original paintings, drawings and limited-edition prints. Max created a special poster series celebrating America and the American spirit. The proceeds from the sales of these posters are donated to the Twin Towers Fund, The September 11th Fund and the Survivor's Fund, each benefiting families of the attack victims. Visit www.petermax.com. Call 703-415-2400.