<i>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.</i>
<b>Thursday/Jan. 29
</b>Stories and Science, 4 p.m. Stories, activities and an age-appropriate science experiment. Age 4-6 with adult. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. 703-971-0010.
Ponderings: Hibernators, 4:30-6 p.m. at Hidden Pond Nature Center, 8510 Greeley Blvd., Springfield. Search for den sites of hibernating animals. Ages 6-10, reservations required. $5 per child. 703-451-9588.
Milkweeds, Grasshoppers and Box Turtles, 7-8:30 p.m. at Huntley Meadows Park & Visitor Center, 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria. Learn why native grasses and wildflowers are important. 703-768-2525.
Robert E. Lee High School Orientation for rising ninth graders and their parents/guardians, 6:45 pm in the school auditorium, 6450 Franconia Road in Springfield, followed by Curriculum Night for all students and parents at 7 p.m. Adam.Greenberg@fcps.edu.
<b>Friday/Jan. 30
</b>Lunch Bunch, 12 p.m. Bring lunch and join us for stories. Birth-5 with adult. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. 703-971-0010.
Chop Tank Murphy. 8:30 p.m. Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or katesirishpub.com.
<b>Saturday/Jan. 31
</b>Philadelphia Dance Company, 8 p.m. at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts, on the Fairfax campus of George Mason University at the intersection of Braddock Road and Route 123. Free pre-performance discussion begins at 7:15 p.m. on the Center’s Grand Tier III. Tickets $21-$42, age 12 and under half price. Charge by phone at 888-945-2468 or at www.tickets.com. www.gmu.edu/cfa.
VITA Tax Assistance, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. IRS-certified volunteers help taxpayers who earned up to $42K. Adults. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. 703-339-4610.
Chop Tank Murphy. 8:30 p.m. Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or katesirishpub.com.
Winter Hike: Hawks and Marsh ducks, 1-3:30 p.m. at Huntley Meadows Park & Visitor Center, 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria. Look for winter hawks and other birds. For hikers age nine and up. $6 per person. 703-768-2525.
ZO2 and more. 9 p.m. Tickets $5. Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. 703-569-5940 or jaxxroxx.com.
Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” 3 p.m. at the Workhouse Arts Center, 9517 Workhouse Way, Lorton. Performed by members of the Shenandoah University Conservancy. Includes opportunities for audience interaction with Director Mark Kittlaus. clorange@su.edu or acambel@su.edu.
<b>Sunday/Feb 1
</b>Karaoke. 8 p.m. Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or katesirishpub.com.
Nature Quest: Signs of Spring. 10 a.m. at Hidden Pond Nature Center, 8511 Greeley Blvd., Springfield. Ages 3-6. Reservations required, $4 per child. 703-451-9588.
<b>Monday/Feb 2
</b>Open Mic Night. 8 p.m. Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or katesirishpub.com.
Nature Quest: Signs of Spring. 10 a.m. at Hidden Pond Nature Center, 8511 Greeley Blvd., Springfield. An outdoor program designed for children age three to six years old. Learn about plants and animals indoors before the hike, then discuss them over free hot cocoa afterward. If the weather turns severe, the program will be canceled. Reservations required. $4 per child. 703-451-9588.
<b>Wednesday/Feb. 4
</b>Practice Your English, 10:15 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Conversation group for adults. 703-339-4610.
Girls Night Out, 7 p.m. at John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Call for title. Age 12-15 with adult. 703-971-0010.
Lunch Bunnies, 12 p.m. at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Bring lunch. Age 1-5 with adult. 703-339-4610.
<b>Thursday/Feb. 5
</b>Deicide, Vital Remains, Order of Ennead, Adrift and more. 6 p.m. Tickets $20 in advance, $22 day of show. Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. 703-569-5940 or jaxxroxx.com.
<b>Friday/Feb. 6
</b>Cardinal Forest Elementary Fun Fair and Silent Auction, 5:30-8:30 p.m. at 8600 Forrester Blvd. in Springfield. Games, food, moon bounce, giant slide, cakewalk, raffles, and a silent auction of themed baskets created by each class. Game and food tickets will be sold at the door. Contact Jill Chastain at cjchastain@aol.com or 703 569-7518.
WEDNESDAY 13 with Cab Ride Home, The Buried, Crimson Hills and more. 7 p.m. $13 in advance, $15 at the door. Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. 703-569-5940 or jaxxroxx.com.
Lunch Bunch, 12 p.m. at John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Bring lunch for stories. Birth-5 with adult. 703-971-0010.
<b>Saturday/Feb. 7
</b>Re-Aligned Godsmack Tribute, Method of Friction, Along Those Lines, Bitter and Bentt. 8 p.m. Tickets $10 in advance, $12 day of show. Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. 703-569-5940 or jaxxroxx.com.
Cirque Éloize with Nebbia: a Magical Fog, 8 p.m. at George Mason Center for the Arts, on the Fairfax campus at the intersection of Braddock Road and Route 123. A pre-performance discussion, free to ticket holders, begins 45 minutes prior to the performance on the Center’s Grand Tier III. Tickets are $23-$46, and age 12 and under are half price. Charge by phone at 888-945-2468 or visit www.tickets.com. www.gmu.edu/cfa.
Music Safari, 1 p.m. at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Nai Kante Davis in an interactive music show with authentic African instruments and clothing. All ages. 703-339-4610.
Chocolate Lovers Festival, Old Town Fairfax, 3999 University Drive, Fairfax. Some events require a fee, and other events are free. Contact 703-385-1661 or www.chocolatefestival.net for details.
Kung Food and Alex Rhoads, 7 p.m. at Coffihouse, 8433 Lee Highway, Merrifield. info@COFFiHOUSE.com.
Drummers and Drillers, 9:30-11:30 a.m. at Huntley Meadows Park, 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria. Watch woodpeckers and learn how to attract them to a yard. Reservations required for this adult program. $6 per adult. 703-768-2525.
<b>Sunday/Feb. 8
</b>Powerman 5000, Burn the Fields, Switch56, Not Liable, Through Exile, Kamura and Psychotic Revelation. 5:15 p.m. Tickets $18 in advance, $20 day of show. Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. 703-569-5940 or jaxxroxx.com.
Jewish Community Center Book Festival, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at the JCC of Northern Virginia, 8900 Little River Turnpike. The nine-day event celebrates Jewish literacy and will include author lectures and programs, as well as books for purchase. Contact Laurie Albert at LaurieA@jccnv.org, 703-537-3064 or www.jccnv.org for the event schedule and costs.
Cirque Éloize with Nebbia: a Magical Fog, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. at George Mason Center for the Arts, on the Fairfax campus at the intersection of Braddock Road and Route 123. A pre-performance discussion, free to ticket holders, begins 45 minutes prior to the performances on the Center’s Grand Tier III. Tickets are $23-$46, and age 12 and under are half price. Charge by phone at 888-945-2468 or visit www.tickets.com. www.gmu.edu/cfa.
Chocolate Lovers Festival, Old Town Fairfax, 3999 University Drive, Fairfax. Some events require a fee, and other events are free. Contact 703-385-1661 or www.chocolatefestival.net for details.
<b>Monday/Feb. 9
</b>Little Hugs, 10:30 a.m. at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Valentine fun. Age 24-35 months with adult. 703-339-4610.
Early Reader Book Discussion, 3:30 p.m. at John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Call for titles. Age 6-8 with adult. 703-971-0010.
<b>Tuesday/Feb. 10
</b>Soilwork Tour with Withersoul and Olympus Shall Burn. 6:30 p.m. Tickets $22 in advance, $25 day of show. Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. 703-569-5940 or jaxxroxx.com.
Jewish Community Center Book Festival, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at the JCC of Northern Virginia, 8900 Little River Turnpike. The nine-day event celebrates Jewish literacy and will include author lectures and programs, as well as books for purchase. Contact Laurie Albert at LaurieA@jccnv.org, 703-537-3064 or www.jccnv.org for the festival schedule.
VITA Tax Assistance, 6-8 p.m. at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. 703-339-4610.
Hearty Fun, 10:15 a.m. at John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Stories, activities and craft about Valentine's Day. Age 2-3 with adult. 703-971-0010.
Virginia Housing Development Authority Homeownership Education Seminar, 6 p.m. at Northern Virginia Community College, 8333 Little River Turnpike. The lecture will cover financial responsibility, ways to use credit wisely, strategies to build financial security through homeownership, and a variety of mortgage loans available with affordable financing terms. Attendees without NOVA parking permits should use the visitor parking garage for $1 per hour. Free food and giveaways will be provided. Contact Jessie Zahorian at jzahorian@nvcc.edu or 703-323-3484.
<b>Wednesday/Feb. 11
</b>Fairfax Station Railroad Museum Quarterly Forum, 7:30-9 p.m. at 11200 Fairfax Station Road in Fairfax Station. Jon Vrana will present Voices from City Point, describing first hand perspectives of civilian and military personnel as they are thrust together at a small Virginia town that became Gen. Grant's critical supply depot in the last year of the war, encompassing repair shops, hospitals, numerous bakeries and 22 miles of track connecting the wharves to the Union lines. Admission free, donations accepted. 703-425-9225.
Springfield Art Guild February Meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Grace Presbyterian Church, 7434 Bath St. Springfield. Contact Donnalynne Lefever at 703-644-6677 or magickaldl@earthlink.net.
Practice Your English, 10:15 and 7:30 p.m. at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Conversation group for adults. 703-339-4610.
Older Adults Book Group, 2 p.m. at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Dreaming of the Bones by Deborah Crombie. 703-339-4610.
<b>Thursday/Feb. 12
</b>Micro Wrestling Federation. 9 p.m. $15 in advance, $20 day of show. Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. 703-569-5940 or jaxxroxx.com.
Early Literacy Storytime for Parent and Preschooler, 11 a.m. at Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. 703-339-7385.
Bees and Bee Boxes at Home, 7-8:30 p.m. at Huntley Meadows Park, 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria. How to build and care for bee boxes. For ages 11 and up. Reservations required. $6 per person. 703-768-2525.
“Hay Fever,” 8 p.m. at George Mason University Center for the Arts, Black Box Theater, 4373 Mason Pond Drive, Fairfax. $6, $3 students and seniors. 703-993-2787 or www.tickets.com.
<b>Friday/Feb. 13
</b>Too Pure to Die, Thick as Blood and Estates. 5 p.m. $10 in advance, $12 day of show. Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. 703-569-5940 or jaxxroxx.com.
Lunch Bunch, 12 p.m. at John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Bring lunch for stories. Birth-5 with adult. 703-971-0010.
Ponderings: Animals and Superstitions, 4:30-6 p.m. at Hidden Pond Nature Center, 8511 Greeley Blvd., Springfield. Debunking superstitions and other animal lore. Reservations required. For ages 6-10. $5 per child. 703-451-9588.
“Hay Fever,” 8 p.m. at George Mason University Center for the Arts, Black Box Theater, 4373 Mason Pond Drive, Fairfax. $6, $3 students and seniors. 703-993-2787 or www.tickets.com.
<b>Saturday/Feb. 14
</b>Friends Book Sale, 10 a.m. at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. 703-339-4610.
Used Book Sale, 10 a.m. at Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. Friends Book Sale. All ages. 703-339-7385.
VITA Tax Assistance, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. 703-339-4610.
Animal Sweethearts Dance, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 2-4 p.m. at Hidden Pond Nature Center, 8511 Greeley Blvd., Springfield. Music, dancing, crafts and more. Reservations required. For ages 3-8. $6 per child. 703-451-9588.
Winter Tree Trek, 1-3:30 p.m. at Huntley Meadows Park, 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria. Explore the woods and develop tree identification skills. Adults. Reservations required. $6 per person. 703-768-2525.
Sherlock Bones, 1-3 p.m. at Huntley Meadows Park, 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria. Skulls, skeletons and self-guided activities. Free. 703-768-2525.
“Hay Fever,” 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. at George Mason University Center for the Arts, Black Box Theater, 4373 Mason Pond Drive, Fairfax. $6, $3 students and seniors. 703-993-2787 or www.tickets.com.
<b>Sunday/Feb. 15
</b>N-Scale Model Trains Running at Fairfax Station Railroad Museum community room and caboose, 1-4 p.m. at 11200 Fairfax Station Road, Fairfax Station. Admission is $2 per adult and $1 per child. 703-425-9225 or www.fairfax-station.org.
The Virginia Opera and “Tosca,” 2 p.m. George Mason University Concert Hall on the Fairfax campus of George Mason University, at the intersection of Braddock Road and Route 123. A pre-performance discussion, free to ticket holders, begins at 1:15 p.m. on the Center’s Grand Tier III. Tickets are $44-$98. Charge by phone at 888-945-2468 or at www.tickets.com. www.gmu.edu/cfa.
Nature Quest: Signs of Spring. 10 a.m. at Hidden Pond Nature Center, 8511 Greeley Blvd., Springfield. Ages 3-6. Reservations required, $4 per child. 703-451-9588.
Sherlock Bones, 1-3 p.m. at Huntley Meadows Park, 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria. Skulls, skeletons and self-guided activities. Free. 703-768-2525.
“Hay Fever,” 2 p.m. at George Mason University Center for the Arts, Black Box Theater, 4373 Mason Pond Drive, Fairfax. $6, $3 students and seniors. 703-993-2787 or www.tickets.com.