Send announcements to The Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail to
herndon@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, call Jennifer Lesinski at 703-917-6454.
This free listing is reserved for activities and events that are open to the public at no or minimal cost. For additional ongoing events listings, visit our Web site at www.connectionnewspapers.com.
The Reston Conservatory Ballet's Silver Anniversary "Nutcracker" will be performed at the Reston Community Center, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Dec. 8-12. Evening performances on all dates are at 7:30 p.m.; matinees on Saturday, Dec. 11, at 2 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 12, at 3:30 p.m. In addition, there will be one-hour presentations for younger audiences Saturday, 11 a.m., and Sunday, at noon. Tickets: Dec. 8 only, $13; $15 all other days; $12 for the one-hour performances. In addition, two performances have been scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 18, 1 p.m. and 6 p.m., at the Madeira School's Chapel Theater in Great Falls. For more information, call the conservatory 703-715-8366. For advanced tickets, call the Reston Community Center box office, 703-476-1111.
The Greater Reston Art Center (GRACE) will celebrate the holiday season with the Art in Hand exhibition, running through Dec. 18. All are invited to the GRACE gallery, at the Reston Town Center, for a holiday happy hour opening reception on Thursday, Dec. 2, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
The exhibition will feature contemporary shopping bags, which have been selected to show how designers manipulate color, shape, line, mass, space, light and shade, pattern and texture to produce widely differing effects.
GRACE, a nonprofit visual arts organization, is located in the Reston Town Center at 11911 Freedom Drive, Suite 110. GRACE is the producer of the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival held at the Reston Town Center and manages the Art in Schools program. For information call 703-471-9242.
The Fairfax Audubon Society encourages birders and nature enthusiasts to join volunteers for the Audubon Christmas Bird Count, which pairs novice and expert bird watchers of all ages to tally birds within a designated count area. To get involved, contact the Fairfax Audubon Society at 70-256-6895 or fas@fairfaxaudubon.org. The Fairfax Audubon Society Manassas-Bull Run Christmas Bird Count is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 26. Other Virginia counts are scheduled from mid December to early January.
Weichert, Realtors-Reston will have its annual coat drive through Dec. 10. Donate extra coats at 1760 Reston Parkway, Suite 111 or call to have them picked up, 703-264-0000.
Long & Foster Real Estate Inc. announces the launch of its 15th annual toy drive throughout its seven-state, Mid-Atlantic region and the District of Columbia in support of the U.S. Marines Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program, which runs through Dec. 20, each of the company's 212 sales offices will collect toys for distribution to financially and/or physically disadvantaged children within the local community.
Drop as many new, unwrapped toys as you can at your neighborhood Long & Foster Office prior to Dec. 20, to help bring joy to needy children this holiday season. Once the toys are collected and presented to area Marines, they are distributed to local churches, social welfare agencies and to needy children throughout your region.
Paintings by Reston artist Sue Hamilton will be featured by the Vienna Art Society at the Village Green Gallery through Dec. 11. Hamilton's works incorporate modern design which emphasize bright colorful shapes and lines; and have been in numerous Virginia and Florida juried shows. In addition, her paintings have been on exhibit at the Newman Gallery in Washington, D.C. The gallery is located in the Chamber of Commerce Building, 513 Maple Ave. W., Vienna. Hours of operation are 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesdays-Friday, and 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturdays.
Reston Community Center's Senior Academy now offers Senior Art Lab, a solution for seniors who want to pursue their artistic dreams but lack workspace. The Senior Art Lab meets every Friday through Dec. 17, from 10 a.m.-12 noon in the art room of the community center, Hunters Woods. The lab is an open, unstructured session and there is no instructor. Tables and chairs will be set up, but participants must bring their own supplies. This is a drop-in course for persons age 55 or older. The fee is $5
for people who live or work in Reston and $10 for all others. For further information, directions, or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact the Reston Community Center at 703-476-4500 (V/TTY) or visit the Web site at http://www.restoncommunitycenter.com. The Reston
Community Center, Hunters Woods, is located in the Hunters Woods Shopping Center, 2310 Colts Neck Road.
Barnes & NobleÕs annual Holiday Book Drive kicks off Saturday, Nov. 20, for the holidays. This yearÕs recipient is
The Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children. The Holiday Book Drive will runs through Dec. 31. Barnes & Noble has teamed up with Verizon this year and has pledged to raise one million books for one million children. Selected books will be on hand at Barnes & Noble, The Spectrum Center, 1851 Fountain Drive, Reston, for donations.
Individual Internet training throughout December at Reston Regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive. One-hour sessions with a technology volunteer. Call 703-689-2700 for an appointment. For adults.
Practice Your English throughout December at the Reston Regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive. Every Wednesday, 1 p.m.; and every Monday, 7 p.m. intermediate-level conversation group for people learning English. For adults. Call 703-689-2700 for more information.
Spanish Chats at Reston Regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive, every Wednesday throughout December, 7 p.m. Informal refresher for people who want to practice Spanish. For adults. Call 703-689-2700 for more information.
Reston Art Gallery & Studios (RAGS) presents "Ideas for the Holidays, " through Jan. 5, 11400 Washington Plaza, Lake Anne. Gallery open Saturday and Sunday, 12-5 p.m. or by appointment or chance as artists work in gallery during the week. RAGS artists are also displaying artwork at the Jasmine CafŽ, Lake Anne.
The Greater Reston Arts Center features Beverly Ryan on display at the Market Street-Hyatt Reston until Jan. 10.
The Jo Ann Rose Gallery's Fifth Annual Gifts From the HeArt exhibition, with a portion of the sales going to Reston Interfaith. The show will run from through Jan. 3, with an opening reception Dec. 12, from 2-4 p.m. This reception is free and open to the public. The Reston Community Center at Lake Anne is located at 1609 Washington Plaza, near the intersection of Village Road and North Shore Drive.
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Catherine M. Hudgins and Reston Interfaith have partnered for the third consecutive year to sponsor the 2004 Hunter Mill District Winter Coat Closet for adults and children in need. The Winter Coat Closet, remains open through Feb. 12.
The Coat Closet is open Mondays, 10 a.m.-noon; Thursdays, 5-8 p.m.; and Saturdays, 9-11 a.m. for donations and for those looking for a coat. Donations of new and Ògently usedÓ (i.e. in good condition and dry cleaned) winter coats will be accepted at the North County Governmental Center at 12000 Bowman Towne Drive in Reston during Coat Closet hours. Both child and adult sizes are needed, extra large is especially appreciated. All donations are tax deductible.
The closet is also in need of volunteers on Mondays, 10 a.m.-noon; Thursdays, 5-8 p.m.; and Saturdays, 9-11 a.m. to assist clients in selecting coats, greeting donors, and sorting coat donations. Contact Faye Yu at 703-481-8276 or Faye.Yu@restoninterfaith.org if you are interested in being part of this volunteer effort.
For more information, contact Martin Taylor in the office of Supervisor Hudgins at 703-478-0283, TTY 703-736-4460 or martin.taylor@fairfaxcounty.gov; or Meredith Young, Reston Interfaith, at 571-323-9566 or meredith.young@restoninterfaith.org.Ê
Reston Town CenterÕs Ice Skating Pavilion is open for the skating season through March, weather permitting. The Ice Skating Pavilion hosts birthday parties as well as private and corporate parties. Beginner and intermediate ice skating lessons are also available. For hours of operation and admission rates please call the skating hot line at 703-709-6300 or visit www.restontowncenter.com.
The Council for the Arts of Herndon announces rehearsals for the Herndon Symphony Orchestra will take place every Tuesday, from 7-9 p.m., at the Herndon Middle School's band room, 901 Locust St. Musicians of all ages and talent levels are welcome to attend. The Symphony Orchestra is under the direction of Tim Adams. For further information e-mail timadams@herndonarts.org or call the Council for the Arts of Herndon 703-689-9535.
Open Poetry Readings. Lake Anne Coffee House, Lake Anne Village Center Shopping Center, Reston, every Tuesday, from 7-9 p.m. Contact Megan McDonald at 202-879-0517 days.
Parent and Child Workshop, drop in from 10 a.m.-noon, every Saturday at the Reston Museum at Lake Anne. Led by local artist Pat Macintyre. No charge, no pre-sign up. Call the museum at 703-709-7700, or call Pat at 703-471-1445 work, or 703-860-5554 home.
The American Red Cross of the National Capital Area's Fairfax/Falls Church Office, in conjunction with the Fairfax County Citizen Corps Council, will sponsor an Emergency Preparedness Clinic once a month for the next year. The clinics will be held in a different location in the County, the schedule will posted in libraries, on the Web Site, and other public locations. To host a clinic or attend one, please contact Rebecca Kurylo, community outreach coordinator at the American Red Cross of the National Capital Area Chapter, at 703-805-2332 or kurylor@usa.redcross.org.
Fairfax County seniors 55 years of age or older are invited to participate in a variety of activities, such as strength training, Tai Chi, low impact aerobics and line dancing, at the Reston-Herndon Senior Center, 1850 Cameron Glen Drive, Suite 200, in Reston. Most activities are free of charge. Transportation may be available. Lunch time meals are available with one-day advance notice on a sliding-fee scale. The center welcomes new participants. Contact director Tara Fitzpatrick at 703-481-4200, TTY 703-222-9693 or via e-mail at tara.fitzpatrick@fairfaxcounty.gov. Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/rec and go to senior services.
Reston Community Center's open wood shop meets Tuesdays, 6-10 p.m. and Saturdays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The wood shop offers workspace and has equipment such as table saws, sanders, drills, worktables and a lathe. The wood shop is located at the Reston Community Center, Hunters Woods. The wood shop fee is $5 for people who live or work in Reston and $7 for others. The Reston Community Center is located at 2310 Colts Neck Road in Reston. Call 703-476-4500 (TTY).
Live band swing dancing at the Dulles Hilton, located at the corner of McLearan Road and Route 28 in Herndon, every Friday night with Sue and Gary Caley. Cost is $12 and includes a half-hour beginner class at 8:30 p.m. followed by dancing from 9 p.m.-midnight. For a complete line up of the bands, visit www.gottaswing.com.
The Closet in downtown Herndon carries many specialty items ranging from glassware, to compact discs, to books, to clothes for the whole family, including evening wear and wedding dresses.Ó The Closet, located at 845 Station St., is open for business Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Farm animals at Kidwell Farm, open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., daily. Sheep, pigs, goats and cows. Pet the animals, take a hay ride or watch farm hands at work. Daily hay rides, held Monday-Saturday, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., weather permitting, cost $2. Frying Pan Park is located at 2709 West Ox Road, Herndon. Call 703-437-9101.
Gymside & Trailside Walkers, join other seniors at the Herndon Community Center, 814 Ferndale Ave., for exercise, indoor or outdoor, Monday-Friday, 7:30-9 a.m. No fee, but first-time walkers need to register. Call 703-435-6868.
Bookcrossing Meetup, meet other local Northern Virginia BookCrossers monthly to discuss good books and the best places to leave and find books "in the wild." Visit http://bookcrossing.meetup.com/72/ for information and the next meetup date.