To have community events listed free in The Potomac Almanac, send e-mail to almanac@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is Thursday at noon for the following week’s paper. Photos and artwork encouraged. Unless otherwise noted, all events are in Potomac. For more information, call 703-917-6407.
Wednesday/Dec. 17
Afternoon Tea. Harpist Jo Morrison is performing at 1 p.m. at the Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda. Prepaid reservations required; $21 plus tax. Call 301-581-5108.
Art After Hours. Zemer Chai, the 30-member Jewish Community Choir of Washington, D.C. performs at 7:30 p.m. in the Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda. Tickets: $15; call 301-581-5100.
Book Discussion. 1 p.m. at Potomac Library, 10101 Glenolden Drive. Discuss “An Equal Music” by Vikram Seth. Free. 240-777-0690.
Book Signing. 7:30 p.m. at Audubon Naturalist Society, 8490 Jones Mill Road, Chevy Chase. Get copies of “City of Trees.” Free. 301-652-3606.
Book Party. 7:30 p.m. in the Woodend Mansion Great Hall. Melanie Choukas-Bradley will talk about her new book “City of Trees: The Complete Field Guide to the Trees of Washington, D.C. Free.
Thursday/ Dec. 18
Winter Snacks for Animals. 10 a.m. at Locust Grove Nature Center, 7777 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda. Children 3 years and up can feed the animals. $3/person. 301-299-1990.
Monthly Talk. 7:30 p.m. at Adidam Revelation Bookstore. Hear a talk by Avatar Adi Da Samraj and his students. $9 donation. 301-762-1057.
Friday/Dec. 19
Six String Sing-a-Long. A musical performance and sing-a-long of children's favorites with Ellis Woodward at the Cabin John Mall Atrium, 11325 Seven Locks Road, Potomac, 9:30 a.m.
Contra Dance. The Friday Night Dancers presents traditional American dancing including contra dances, square dances, and waltzes at the Spanish Ballroom in Glen Echo Park. Contra dance lesson from 7:30-8:15 p.m., dance from 8:30-11:30 p.m. to live music. $9/person. E-mail fndcontra@yahoo.com.
Swing Dance. Enjoy a swing dance at the Spanish Ballroom in Glen Echo Park. Beginner Swing lesson from 8-9 p.m. and dance from 9 p.m.- 12 a.m. to live music. $15/person.
Theater Performance. The American Dance Institute’s Youth Ensemble will perform a condensed version of “The Nutcracker” at 7:30 p.m. at the institute, 1570 East Jefferson St., Rockville. $20/adult; $10/child, senior. Visit www.americandance.org or 301-984-3003 for tickets.
Saturday/Dec. 20
Family Solstice Hike. 11 a.m. at Locust Grove Nature Center, 7777 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda. Families can enjoy hikes and more. $2/person. 301-299-1990.
Music Performance. 8 p.m. at the Music Center at Strathmore. Hear the National Philharmonic Chorale perform “Messiah.” Tickets start at $29. Children free. Visit www.nationalphilharmonic.org or 301-581-5100.
Theater Performance. The American Dance Institute’s Youth Ensemble will perform a condensed version of “The Nutcracker” at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the institute, 1570 East Jefferson St., Rockville. $20/adult; $10/child, senior. Visit www.americandance.org or 301-984-3003 for tickets.
Sunday/Dec. 21
Christmas Music. The Washington Chorus performs at 5 p.m. in the Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. Tickets start at $15; call 202-342-6221.
Waltz Dance. Enjoy a waltz dance at the Spanish Ballroom in Glen Echo Park. Beginner Waltz lesson from 3-3:30 p.m. and dance from 3:30-6 p.m. to live music. $8/person. Call Joan Koury at 202-238-0230 or visit www.WaltzTimeDances.org.
Contra and Square Dance. The Folklore Society of Greater Washington presents traditional American dancing including contra dances, square dances, and waltzes at the Spanish Ballroom in Glen Echo Park. Dance lesson from 7-7:30 p.m., dance from 7:30-10:30 p.m. to live music. $12/non-members, $9/FSGW members.
Chanukah Menorah Lighting Celebration. 4:45 p.m. at Cabin John Shopping Center parking lot, corner of Tuckerman and Seven Locks Roads. Enjoy clowns, magic tricks, free food, music and more. Free. Visit www.LightTheMenorah.com.
Theater Performance. The American Dance Institute’s Youth Ensemble will perform a condensed version of “The Nutcracker” at 3 p.m. at the institute, 1570 East Jefferson St., Rockville. $20/adult; $10/child, senior. Visit www.americandance.org or 301-984-3003 for tickets.
Sugar Plum Extravaganza. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at The American Dance Institute, 1570 East Jefferson St., Rockville. Children ages 3-8 can enjoy activities, story dance, pictures with the Sugar Plum Fairy and more. $25 includes one adult and one child; $25 for extra children and adult. Visit www.americandance.org or 301-984-3003 for tickets.
Monday/Dec. 22
Holiday Celebration. The Washington Symphonic Brass performs Christmas classics at 7:30 p.m. in the Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. Tickets: $29; children 7-17 free. Call 301-581-5100.
Tuesday/Dec. 23
Dipless Candles. 6 p.m. at Locust Grove Nature Center, 7777 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda. Families with children 5 and up can craft simple candles with no smoke or wax. $6/person. 301-299-1990.
Friday/Dec. 26
Contra Dance. The Friday Night Dancers presents traditional American dancing including contra dances, square dances, and waltzes at the Spanish Ballroom in Glen Echo Park. Contra dance lesson from 7:30-8:15 p.m., dance from 8:30-11:30 p.m. to live music. $9/person. E-mail fndcontra@yahoo.com.
Saturday/Dec. 27
Chanukah Feast. A Strathmore-produced stage version of the popular CD will run at 8 p.m. in the Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. Tickets: $21; call 301-581-5100.
Swing Dance. Enjoy a swing dance at the Spanish Ballroom in Glen Echo Park. Beginner Swing lesson from 8-9 p.m. and dance from 9 p.m.- 12 a.m. to live music. $15/person. Visit www.tomcunningham.com.
Music. 7:30 p.m. at Kreeger Auditorium, JCC of Greater Washington, Rockville. Hear music by Lenny Solomon. $18/adult; $15/child. Visit www.jewishroc.org or 301-468-3881.
Sunday/Dec. 28
Cajun/Zydeco Dance. Dancing by the Bayou presents Cajun and Zydeco dancing with Dennis Stroughmatt & Creole Stomp at the Bumper Car Pavilion in Glen Echo Park. Cajun dancing lesson at 3 p.m. followed by a dance from 3:30-6 p.m. $15/person. E-mail Dancingbythebayou@verizon.net.
Contra and Square Dance. The Folklore Society of Greater Washington presents traditional American dancing including contra dances, square dances, and waltzes at the Spanish Ballroom in Glen Echo Park. Dance lesson from 7-7:30 p.m., dance from 7:30-10:30 p.m. to live music. $12/non-members, $9/FSGW members.
Wednesday/Dec. 31
Nature Craft Potpourri. 1 p.m. at Locust Grove Nature Center, 7777 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda. Make a magnet with supplies. $4/person. 301-299-1990.
Tuesday/Jan. 6
Chinese Book Club. Join in a Chinese book discussion in the Chinese language from 7-9 p.m. at the Potomac Library, 10101 Glenolden Drive. Registration not required.
Afternoon Tea. Pianist John Dassoulas is performing at 1 p.m. at the Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda. Prepaid reservations required; $21 plus tax. Call 301-581-5108.
Wednesday/Jan. 7
Afternoon Tea. Harpist Carol Rose Duane is performing at 1 p.m. at the Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda. Prepaid reservations required; $21 plus tax. Call 301-581-5108.
Thursday/Jan. 8
MLK Celebration. The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra performs in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at 8 p.m. in the Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. Visit www.BSOmusic.org for tickets.
Friday/Jan. 9
Home Tours. Guided tours showing the history and personal stories of the Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Call 301-581-5100.
Opening Reception. 6-9 p.m., see “Figurative Work” by Drew Parris from Jan. 6 through Feb. 7 at Waverly Street Gallery, 4600 East-West Highway, Bethesda. See drawings and more. Free. 301-951-9441.
Saturday/Jan. 10
Children’s Tour. Children ages 5 and older, accompanied by an adult, go on a guided tour and do an art activity from 10:15 a.m.- 12:15 p.m. in the Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda. Reservations required; call 301-581-5100.
Live Music. Pianist Pallavi Mahidhara performs at 7:30 p.m. in the Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda. Tickets $25; call 202-342-6221.
Maestro’s Birthday. The Symphonic Blockbusters performs at 8 p.m. in the Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda in honor of Maestro Piotr Gajewski’s 50th birthday. Tickets from $29, children 7-17 free; call 301-581-5100.
Sunday/Jan. 11
Maestro’s Birthday. The Symphonic Blockbusters performs at 3 p.m. in the Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda in honor of Maestro Piotr Gajewski’s 50th birthday. Tickets from $29, children 7-17 free; call 301-581-5100.
Cold Weather Activities for Dog. 2-4 p.m. at Potomac Community Center, 11315 Falls Road. Free, but register at www.yourdogsfriend.info or 301-983-5913.
Tuesday/Jan. 13
Afternoon Tea. Pianist Becky Dukes is performing at 1 p.m. at the Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda. Prepaid reservations required; $21 plus tax. Call 301-581-5108.