Send notes to the Connection at south@connectionnewspapers.com or call 703-917-6459. Deadline is Friday. Dated announcements should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event.
<b>Thursday/Nov. 13
</b>George Mason University Speaker Series: Virginia Ashby Sharpe, Ph.D., Georgetown University Medical Ethicist, National Center for Ethics in Healthcare, U.S. Veterans Health Administration. Free. 6 p.m. at George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Mason Hall, Room D3AB, Fairfax. 703-993-1850 or chpre.gmu.edu.
Lighters and Matches are Tools for Grownups Only. 1:30 p.m. Age 4-5 with adult. Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. 703-339-7385.
What’s New in Picture Books.7 p.m. Learn about new books for preschoolers. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. 703-971-0010.
Fall Fun. 1 p.m. Stories and activities. Age 3-5 with adult. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. 703-339-4610.
Women in the Military Memorial, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Springfield Golf & Country Club, 8301 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield. Brig. Gen. Wilma Vaught, U.S.A.F. (Ret.) President of the Board of Directors of the Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation, will speak about the memorial and recount stories of women who have served the nation. $17. 703-768-4543.
Workshop Jazz Band, 8 p.m. in the Harris Theater, George Mason University Center for the Arts, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax. Free. 703-993-8794.
Dave Berry, 8 p.m. at Kate’s Irish Pub and Restaurant, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or www.katesirishpub.com.
<b>Friday/Nov. 14
</b>Y&T with Switched at Birth, Gate 1, Sinners Trail and NeoComplex. Age 21 and over. 7:30 p.m. $25 in advance, $28 at the door. Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. 703-569-5940 or www.jaxxroxx.com.
Dave Berry. 8-12 p.m. at Kate’s Irish Pub and Restaurant, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860.
The Kirov Orchestra under Valery Gergiev, at the George Mason University Center for the Arts, on the Fairfax campus at the intersection of Braddock Road and Route 123. 8 p.m. Tickets are $30-$60. Charge by phone at 888-945-2468 or visit www.tickets.com. Visit www.gmu.edu.cfa.
Christopher Paul Curtis, author of “The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963” and “Bud, Not Buddy,” 7:30 p.m. at the Fairfax County Government Center, Board Auditorium, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. Books available for sale and signing. 703-324-8428.
Lunch Bunch. 12 p.m. Bring lunch, listen to stories. Birth-5 with adult. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. 703-971-0010.
“Footloose,” 7:30 p.m. at the W.T. Woodson Performing Arts Department, 9525 Main St., Fairfax. 703-503-4600 or wtwdrama.org.
"Fiddler On The Roof," 7 p.m. at Thomas Edison High School, 5801 Franconia Road, Alexandria. Tickets $8. 703-924-8014 or edisondrama.com.
“Pippin,” 7:30 p.m. at Robert E. Lee High School, 6450 Franconia Road, Springfield. Adults $10, students $8. 703-729-8438 or lancertheatre.net.
Faculty Artist Series: Improvised Music by Glenn Smith and Steven Nachmonvich, 8 p.m. in the Harris Theater, George Mason University Center for the Arts, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax. Free. 703-993-8794.
Home for the Holidays, a fund-raising event for United Community Ministries, at Collingwood Library & Museum on Americanism, 8301 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria. Preview Cocktail Party, 6-9 p.m. $75 per person. For reservations and group sales, call 703-785-3272. Visit www.ucmagency.org.
<b>Saturday/Nov. 15
</b>Dave Berry. 8:30-12:30 p.m. at Kate’s Irish Pub and Restaurant, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860.
Doc Severinsen and El Ritmo de la Vida, 8 p.m. at the George Mason University Center for the Arts, on the Fairfax campus of George Mason University at the intersection of Braddock Road and Route 123. Tickets are $27-$54. Children 12 and under half price. Charge by phone at 888-945-2468 or at www.tickets.com. www.gmu.edu/cfa.
Jumpin’ and Jammin’ with Mr. Shine. 10:30 a.m. Music, magic and puppets. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. 703-971-0010.
Stormin’ Bob the Singing Weatherman. Stories and songs about the weather. 11 a.m. at the Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. 703-339-4610.
“Footloose,” 7:30 p.m. at the W.T. Woodson High School, 9525 Main St., Fairfax. 703-503-4600 or wtwdrama.org.
"Fiddler On The Roof," 7 p.m. at Thomas Edison High School, 5801 Franconia Road, Alexandria. Tickets $8. 703-924-8014 or edisondrama.com.
“Pippin,” 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at Robert E. Lee High School, 6450 Franconia Road, Springfield. Adults $10, students $8. 703-729-8438 or lancertheatre.net.
Home for the Holidays, a fund-raising event for United Community Ministries, at Collingwood Library & Museum on Americanism, 8301 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $15 per person. For reservations and group sales, call 703-785-3272. Visit www.ucmagency.org.
Fine Handcrafts Show, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at 6004 Greeley Blvd., Springfield. Handcrafted mosaics, jewelry, blankets, greeting cards, handbags, artwork, ornaments and more. 703-866-2478.
<b>Sunday/Nov. 16
</b>Dave Berry. 8:30-12:30 p.m. at Kate’s Irish Pub and Restaurant, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860.
University Vocal Jazz Concert, 3 p.m. in the Harris Theater, George Mason University Center for the Arts, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax. Free. 703-993-8794.
Home for the Holidays, a fund-raising event for United Community Ministries, at Collingwood Library & Museum on Americanism, 8301 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria. 11 a.m.-3 p.m., $15 per person. For reservations and group sales, call 703-785-3272. Visit www.ucmagency.org.
Vegan Cooking Class: "Meatless Holidays." 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at 9302 Hallston Court, Fairfax Station. $50 per person. Class includes food samples, recipes, and coupons. Pre-registration required. 703-643-2713 or www.localdc.com/cooking.
The Democratic Women of Clifton will pack donated items for soldiers stationed in Iraq over the holiday season, 3-5 p.m. at the Clifton Community Hall, 12641 Chapel Road, Clifton. Visit www.DemocraticWomenOfClifton.org for a list of requested donations.
cliftonwomendems@aol.com.
<b>Monday/Nov. 17
</b>Lighters and Matches are Tools for Grownups Only. 10:30 a.m. Puppet show by Fairfax County Fire and Rescue. Age 3-5 with Adult. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. 703-339-4610.
Pointed Pursuits. 7:30 p.m. Join other needleworkers. Adults. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. 703-339-4610.
College Night in Virginia, from 6-9 p.m., at NOVA’s Alexandria, Loudoun and Woodbridge campuses. Attendees can register to win one of four $500 scholarships awarded by random drawing at each location. Free admission, free pizza and soda. Choosing the right college or program, understanding the financial aid process, finding scholarships, and completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). 703-257-6658 or www.collegenightinva.org.
Open Mic Night, 8 p.m. at Kate’s Irish Pub and Restaurant, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or www.katesirishpub.com.
George Mason National Geography Awareness Week and Men’s Basketball vs. Brown, 7 p.m. at the George Mason Patriot Center, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax. $7. Children can enter a random drawing for the World Ball basketball. Call 703-993-3270 or www.gmu.edu.
<b>Tuesday/Nov. 18
</b>Colors. 10:30 a.m. Age 2-3 with adult. Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. 703-339-7385.
Mother-Daughter Book discussion. 7 p.m. Call for title. Age 10-12 with adult. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. 703-971-0010.
Fall into Fall. 10:30 a.m. Autumn stories. Age 13-23 months with adult. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. 703-339-4610.
M3E: Mason Modern Music Ensemble, 8 p.m. in the Harris Theater, George Mason University Center for the Arts, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax. Free. 703-993-8794.
<b>Wednesday/Nov. 19
</b>Small Wonders. 10:15 a.m. Stories and fingerplays. Age 13-23 months with adult John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. 703-971-0010.
Practice Your English Conversation Group. 10:15 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. 703-339-4610.
Book discussion. 7:15 p.m. Call for title. Adults. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. 703-971-0010.
National Geographic Information Systems Day, 12-4 p.m. in the lower level of the Johnson Center, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax. Exhibits, demonstrations and presentations by government and industry plus presentations by Mason faculty and students. GIS software demonstrations from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Fenwick Library. Free admission. 703-993-1218 or infoguides.gmu.edu/content.
<b>Thursday/Nov. 20
</b>Karate for Families. 7:30 p.m. Learn self-defense, gain confidence, leadership, independence and build self-confidence. Each student must register individually. County residents $40, non-residents $50. Lee District RECenter, 6601 Telegraph Road, Franconia. 703-922-9841.
Stories and Science. 4 p.m. Stories and activities. Age 4-6 with adult. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. 703-971-0010.
“Alice in Wonderland,” 7:30 p.m. at West Springfield High School, 6100 Rolling Road, Springfield. $10 adults, $5 students and seniors. 703-913-3800 or www.fcps.edu/westspringfieldhs.
Brook Yoder, 8 p.m. at Kate’s Irish Pub and Restaurant, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or www.katesirishpub.com.
<b>Friday/Nov. 21
</b>Johnny Artis with The Roadducks and more. Age 21 and over. 8 p.m. $5. Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. 703-569-5940 or www.jaxxroxx.com.
World Famous Lipizzaner Stallions. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $25.50-$41. George Mason University Patriot Center, 4500 Patriot Circle. Call 703-993-3000 or visit www.patriotcenter.com.
Brook Yoder, 8-12 p.m. at Kate’s Irish Pub and Restaurant, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860.
Lunch Bunch. 12 p.m. Bring lunch, listen to stories. Birth-5 with adult. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. 703-971-0010.
Lorton Senior Center Advisory Council Fine Art and Craft Bazaar, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Lorton Senior Center, 7722 Gunston Plaza, Lorton. Local artists and crafters wth handmade work, homemade baked goods and silent auction. 703-550-7195.
"Fiddler On The Roof," 7 p.m. at Thomas Edison High School, 5801 Franconia Road, Alexandria. Tickets $8. 703-924-8014 or edisondrama.com.
“Alice in Wonderland,” 7:30 p.m. at West Springfield High School, 6100 Rolling Road, Springfield. $10 adults, $5 students and seniors. 703-913-3800 or www.fcps.edu/westspringfieldhs.
Jazz for Justice Concert, 8 p.m. in the Concert Hall, George Mason University Center for the Arts, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax. $20 adults, $15 students and seniors. 703-993-8794.
Brook Yoder, 8:30-12:30 p.m. at Kate’s Irish Pub and Restaurant, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or www.katesirishpub.com.
<b>Saturday/Nov. 22
</b>World Famous Lipizzaner Stallions. 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets $25.50-$41. George Mason University Patriot Center, 4500 Patriot Circle. 703-993-3000 or www.patriotcenter.com.
Brook Yoder, 8:30-12:30 p.m. at Kate’s Irish Pub and Restaurant, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860.
Fairfax County African-American Stories and the Jamestown 400 Legacy Book Fairfax County Stories 1607-2007, with Houston Summers, Keith Mann (for Dr. Dorothy Holland Mann) and other authors; Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay will moderate. Phyllis Walker Ford will speak on the Laurel Grove School. 3 p.m. at the Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Free. Registration required; call 703-339-4610.
Burke Civic Ballet's “The Nutcracker,” 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Richard J. Ernst Community Cultural Center on the Northern Virginia Community College Annandale campus, 8333 Little River Turnpike. 703-425-5599.
"Fiddler On The Roof," 7 p.m. at Thomas Edison High School, 5801 Franconia Road, Alexandria. Tickets $8. 703-924-8014 or edisondrama.com.
“Alice in Wonderland,” 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at West Springfield High School, 6100 Rolling Road, Springfield. $10 adults, $5 students and seniors. 703-913-3800 or www.fcps.edu/westspringfieldhs.
The Northern Virginia Mineral Club 17th Annual Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Student Union II Building, George Mason University, Fairfax. Admission is $4 for adults, $3 for age 65 and up and ages13-18. Children under 12, Scouts in uniform, and GMU students with ID are free. Gem, Mineral and Fossil dealers in all price ranges. Demonstrations, exhibits and door prizes. Kid's area with Mini-mines and a Miocene Fossil dig. E-mail rockcllctr@aol.com or www.mineralclub.org.
Brook Yoder, 8:30-12:30 p.m. at Kate’s Irish Pub and Restaurant, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or www.katesirishpub.com.
<b>Sunday/Nov. 23
</b>Symphony X with Apothys, Olympus Shall Burn and more. All ages. 6:30 p.m. $27.50 in advance, $30 at the door. Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. 703-569-5940 or www.jaxxroxx.com.
Brook Yoder, 8:30-12:30 p.m. at Kate’s Irish Pub and Restaurant, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860.
Burke Civic Ballet's “The Nutcracker,” 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Richard J. Ernst Community Cultural Center on the Northern Virginia Community College Annandale campus, 8333 Little River Turnpike. 703-425-5599.
GMU Various Chamber Ensembles, 3 p.m. in the Harris Theater, George Mason University Center for the Arts, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax. Free. 703-993-8794.
GMU Saxophone Ensemble Recital, 7 p.m. in the Harris Theater, George Mason University Center for the Arts, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax. Free. 703-993-8794.
Pianists Emanuel Ax and Yefim Bronfman together in performance, 4 p.m. at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts. Tickets are $30-$60. Charge by phone at 888-945-2468 or visit www.tickets.com. The Center for the Arts is on the Fairfax campus of George Mason University, at the intersection of Braddock Road and Route 123. Visit www.gmu.edu/cfa.
The Northern Virginia Mineral Club 17th Annual Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Student Union II Building, George Mason University, Fairfax. Admission is $4 for adults, $3 for age 65 and up and ages13-18. Children under 12, Scouts in uniform, and GMU students with ID are free. E-mail rockcllctr@aol.com or www.mineralclub.org.
<b>Monday/Nov. 24
</b>Turisas with Powerglove and more. All ages. 7 p.m. $13 in advance, $15 at the door. Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. 703-569-5940 or www.jaxxroxx.com.
Writers’ Group. 7 p.m. Adults. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. 703-339-4610.
Open Mic Night, 8 p.m. at Kate’s Irish Pub and Restaurant, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or www.katesirishpub.com.
<b>Tuesday/Nov. 25
</b>Evening Book Discussion Group: “The Lady and the Panda: The True Adventures of the First American Explorer to Bring Back China’s Most Exotic Animal” by Vicki Croke. 7:30 p.m. Adults. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. 703-339-4610.
<b>Wednesday/Nov. 26
</b>Kingstowne Library Writers’ Peer Review Group. 7 p.m. Adults. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. 703-339-4610.
<b>Thursday/Nov. 27
</b>Jack Hidle, 8-12 p.m. at Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860.
<b>Friday/Nov. 28
</b>Amanda Murphy & the Lost Indians, 8:30-12:30 p.m. at Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860.
<b>Saturday/Nov. 29
</b>Holiday Celebration at the Workhouse Arts Center, from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Free workshops throughout the day, including activities in the Kid Zone, glass and ceramic art workshops, youth acting workshops, a holiday concert on the Quad at 4:30 and a tree lighting ceremony at 5 p.m. Workhouse Arts Center, 9601 Ox Road, Lorton. 703-854-2900 or www.WorkhouseArts.org.
Amanda Murphy & the Lost Indians, 8:30-12:30 p.m. at Kate’s Irish Pub and Restaurant, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860.
A Chanticleer Christmas, 8 p.m. at George Mason Center for the Arts, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax. A pre-performance discussion, free to ticket holders, begins 45 minutes prior to the performance on the Center’s Grand Tier III. Tickets for are $24-$48. Charge by phone at 888-945-2468 or www.tickets.com. Visit www.gmu.edu/cfa.
<b>Sunday/Nov. 30
</b>A Chanticleer Christmas, 2 p.m. at George Mason Center for the Arts, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax. A pre-performance discussion, free to ticket holders, begins 45 minutes prior to the performance on the Center’s Grand Tier III. Tickets are $24-$48. Charge by phone at 888-945-2468 or www.tickets.com. Visit www.gmu.edu/cfa.