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. Call 703-778-9412.
<cal1>Wednesday/Feb. 23
<cal2>Alicia Ward on Cello. 7:30 p.m. Alicia Ward, Strathmore’s Artist in Residence for February, performs on cello. Tickets are $12. At the Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda. Visit www.strathmore.org or call 301-581-5100.
<cal1>Thursday/Feb. 24
<cal2>Slow Blues and Swing Dance. 9 to 11:30 p.m. Admission is $8. With DJ Mike Marcotte and Guests. Slow Blues Lesson from 8:15 to 9 p.m.; dancing from 9 to 11:30 p.m. At the Back Room, Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Call Donna Barker at 301-634-2231 or go to info@CapitalBlues.org or www.CapitalBlues.org.
Adult Naturalist Training at Locust Grove: Physiology of Hibernation: Age 18 and up, Thursday, Feb. 24, 7- 9 p.m. Registration is required and classes are free for current volunteers, $10 for others. Locust Grove Nature Center, Cabin John Regional Park, 7777 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda, 301-765-8660 www.locustgrovenature.org
<cal1>Feb. 24, 25, 26
<cal2>"The Diary of Anne Frank." 7:30 p.m. At Walt Whitman High School. Unreserved seats are $8/students and $12/adults. These tickets can be purchased the night of the show. Reserved seats are $20 and must be purchased in advance. The Whitman Box Office is open from 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. from Feb. 16 through 23. On show nights, the Box Office is open from 6pm-7:30 p.m. All performances will be held at the Daryl Shaw Auditorium, 7100 Whittier Blvd., Bethesda, MD.
<cal1>Feb. 25 to March 6
<cal2>Operetta: "La Belle Helene." Presented by the Victorian Lyric Opera Company. Friday and Saturday performances at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. A preview performance Thursday, February 24 at 8 p.m. will cost $10 per ticket. Box office 240-314-8690. Contact www.vloc.org. At the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, 603 Edmonston Drive, Rockville. Tickets are $20/adults; $18/seniors; $16/students.
<cal1>Friday/Feb. 25
<cal2>Friday Night Eclectic Series. 9 p.m. Funk Ark draws on influences from African and Latin funk/dance music scenes of the 1960s and 70s. Tickets are $10/advance; $12/door. At the Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda. Call 301-581-5100 or visit www.strathmore.org.
AE ("ash") Performs. 8 p.m. Duet of Aurelia Lucy Shrenker and Eva Salina Primack will perform songs from Appalachia, the Balkans, Caucasus Georgia, and Corsica. Co-sponsored by Folklore Society of Greater Washington and Slaveya Vocal Ensemble. Tickets are $15. At The Town Hall, 6106 Harvard Ave., Glen Echo. Visit http://www.fsgw.org.
Family Bingo Night. 7 to 9 p.m. One Bingo card costs $5. Sponsored by the Friends of the Clara Barton Community Center. At the Clara Barton Community Center, 7425 MacArthur Blvd., Cabin John. Call Dominique Maggio, 301-263-2783, or the Center at 301-229-0010.
Blues and Soul Fusion Dance Party. 9 p.m. to midnight. Admission is $10/$8. West Coast Swing Lesson from 8 to 8:30 p.m. DJ Ken Roesel plays Blues, Soul and R&B music for slow and fast Swig and Slow Blues, Bop and 2-Step. At the Back Room at Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Contact Ken Roesel at 703-282-4187 or at DanceBuddies@Starpower.net.
Contra Dance. 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Admission is $9. Beginner contra lesson from 7:30 to 8:15 p.m.; followed by called dance to live music from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. At the Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Email: fndcontra@yahoo.com
<cal1>Saturday/Feb. 26
<cal2>Random Acts of Gardening. 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Master Gardeners’ one-day conference to teach practical and green gardening techniques. Topics include growing fruits, vegetables, and herbs; new trends in horticulture; pruning demonstrations; attracting bees and butterflies; and garden documentation. At the Montgomery County Office of the University of Maryland’s Extension, 18410 Muncaster Rd, Derwood. Visit www.mastergardener.umd.edu/local/Montgomery or email mastergardenconf@gmail.com
Violinist James Stern. 7:30 p.m. Free. Presents Sei Solo: The Complete Solo Sonatas and Partitas of JS Bach. Performed at Westmoreland Congregational UCC Church, One Westmoreland Circle, at Massachusetts and Western Avenues, the boundary of D.C. and Bethesda.
Video Games Live. 2 and 8 p.m. Featuring the National Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorale. The show mixes the power and emotion of a symphony orchestra with the excitement and energy of a rock concert and the technology, fun and interactivity of a video game, all synchronized to cutting edge video screen visuals, state-of-the art lighting, special FX and on-stage interactive segments with the audience. Tickets are $35 to $69. At the Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. Visit www.strathmore.org or call 301-581-5100.
The Sense of Scents. 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Learn how to use your dog's scenting abilities in play and games; and how your dog's sensitivity to odor can both cause and help solve behavior issues. Free, but register at www.yourdogsfriend.info. Please leave your dog at home. At Potomoc Community Center, Potomac Community Center, 11315 Fall Rd., Potomac.
Bingo at Holy Child. 3 to 5 p.m. This fun-filled event will include a bake sale, raffle and many prizes. Admission is free. The cost to play Bingo is $5 per person or $20 per family. Located at 9029 Bradley Blvd, Potomac. 301-365-0955. www.holychild.org.
Swing Dance. 8 p.m. to midnight. Admission is $15. Beginner swing lesson at 8 p.m.; followed by live music with the Tom Cunningham Orchestra from 9 p.m. to midnight. At the Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Email: Debra@gottaswing.com.
Walt Whitman Jazz Combo. Desert Reception at 6:15 p.m.; Concert at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25/adult; family is $50. Proceeds from the concert go to the Congregation's College Access Fund, which awards scholarships to deserving minority students in the D.C. area. At River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 6301 River Road, Bethesda. Call 301-229-0400 or visit RRUUC.org.
Backgammon Tourney. 1 to 8 p.m. Backgammon Beating Cancer Tourney to benefit The Wellness Community. Playing lessons will be available for beginners. At the Bethesda Fire & Rescue Banquet Hall, 5020 Battery Lane, Bethesda. Contact Tournament Director David Ogden at 301-717-7166 or email him at do22_98@yahoo.com
Maple Sugaring Time: learn about maple sugar and the ups and downs of sap. Learn how to tap the correct trees, sample syrup, and watch as sap turns to syrup before your eyes. Age 1 and up, $5, 1 - 3 p.m. Locust Grove Nature Center, Cabin John Regional Park, 7777 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda, 301-765-8660 www.locustgrovenature.org
<cal1>Sunday/Feb. 27
<cal2>Interreligious Discussion. 10:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Free. "The Meaning and Purpose of Our Lives — What Do the Scriptures of the Three Abrahamic Faith Traditions Teach Us?" The panelists include Medhi Arminrazavi, Professor of Philosophy and Religion and Director of the Middle Eastern Studies Program at the University of Mary Washington; Rosann Catalano, Associate Director of the Institute for Christian and Jewish Studies (Baltimore) as well as its Roman Catholic Scholar; and Robert Eisen, Professor of Religion and Judaic Studies at the George Washington University. At Congregation Beth El, 8215 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda. Contact Rabbi William Rudolph, Congregation Beth El, wrudolph@bethelmc.org. RSVP to Ricardo Munster at rmunster@bethelmc.org
Ballroom Tea Dance. 3 to 6 p.m. Admission is $12. Lesson at 3 p.m. With the Hot Society Orchestra of Washington. At the Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Email: dave@hotsociety.net.
Contra and Swing Dance. 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Admission is $12. Lesson at 7 p.m.; followed by dances with live music from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. At the Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park, 3700 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Email: fndcontra@yahoo.com.
Geology of Theodore Roosevelt Island. Hike several miles around the island, interpreting the story told by the rocks and soil. Led by Audubon Naturalist Society’s Joe Marx, an instructor in the Natural History Field Studies Program. For adults. 1-4 p.m. 301-652-9188. www.AudubonNaturalist.org
Open Door Reading. 2 p.m. Writer’s Center presents poets Shirley Brewer (A Little Breast Music), Kathleen Hellan (The Girl Who Loved Mothra) and Laura Shovan (Mountain, Lob, Salt and Stone). At the Writer’s Center, 4508 Walsh St., Bethesda, 20815. See writer.org
<cal1>Tuesday, March 1
<cal2>Montgomery Bird Club. Riley’s Lock and Hughes Hollow, informal late afternoon walks until dusk. Meet at 5 p.m. at the end of Seneca Road at Riley’s Lock "on the bridge." Highlights here will include waterfowl flying into roost. Sightings of displaying woodcocks possible. Bring scope, flashlight, and wear "muddy conditions" footwear. Reservations not required. For more info, call the leader Jim Green 301-742-0036. Also March 3; March 8; and March 15. www.AudubonNaturalist.org
<cal1>Wednesday/March 2
<cal2>Winter Walks Along the Canal. Join Audubon’s Senior Naturalist, Stephanie Mason, and look for wintering birds and other wildlife, practice winter botany skills and enjoy views of the Potomac River. For adults. 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. $17 members, $24 nonmembers. Carpooling from Audubon Naturalist Society, Woodend Sanctuary, 8940 Jones Mill Road, Chevy Chase, 20815 to Carderock. www.AudubonNaturalist.org
Nathan and Noble Jolley, Jazz. 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12. At the Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 301-581-5100 or visit www.strathmore.org.
<cal1>March 2-5
<cal2>Living Out. March 2-5 at 8 p.m.; Sunday, March 6 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10/regular; $8/seniors and students. Call 240-567-5301 or visit www.montgomerycollege.edu/PAC. At The Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center, 51 Mannakee Street, Rockville.
<cal1>Thursday/March 3
<cal2>An Evening of Jazz & Jobim with Ron Kearns, saxophone and Paul Wingo, guitar. 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $28. At the Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 301-581-5100 or visit www.strathmore.org.
<cal1>Friday/March 4
<cal2>Friday Night Eclectic Series. 9 p.m. The Junior League Band is an old-time inspired rock band fronted by the Georgia grown banjo, vocalist, Lissy Rosemont. Tickets are $10/advance; $12/door. At the Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda. Call 301-581-5100 or visit www.strathmore.org.
Story/Stereo. 8 p.m. Free. A Night of Literature and Music. Emerging Writer Fellowship recipients Matthew Pitt (Attention Please Now) and James Hannaham (God Says No) will read. Musical guest: The Caribbean. The Writer's Center, 4508 Walsh Street, Bethesda. Visit Writer.org or call 301-654-8664.
<cal1>March 4 and 5
<cal2>"Once On This Island." Friday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, March 5 at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. At Connelly School of the Holy Child, 9049 Bradley Blvd., Potomac. Call 301-365-0955 x 2104.
<cal1>Saturday, March 5
<cal2>Beginner Bird Walk. Audubon Naturalist Society. 8 a.m. Approximately one hour. Bring binoculars or borrow a pair that morning from Audubon. Beginner walks at Audubon’s Woodend Sanctuary, 8940 Jones Mill Road, Chevy Chase. 301-652-9188. Weekly on Saturday mornings, starting March 5.www.AudubonNaturalist.org
<cal1>Sunday/March 6
<cal2>Open Door Reading. 2 p.m. Free. Kim Kupperman reads from her recent collection of essays, I Just Lately Started Buying Wings. She is joined by poet J.H. Beall, who reads from Republic. The Writer's Center, 4508 Walsh Street, Bethesda. Visit Writer.org or call 301-654-8664.
<cal1>Monday/March 7
<cal2>Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen. 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $18/advance; $22/door. At IMT at Saint Mark Presbyterian Church, 10701 Old Georgetown Road, Rockville. Call 301-754-3611 and visit www.imtfolk.org
<cal1>Tuesday/March 8
<cal2>Rebecca Loebe in Concert. 8 p.m. Tickets are $18/door; $15/advance at FocusMusic.org. At the Unitarian Universalist Church of Rockville, 100 Welsh Park Drive, Rockville. Contact David Spitzer at focusrockville@earthlink.net or 301-275-7459.
Cirque Mechanics: Boom Town. 8 p.m. Tickets are $25–$45 (Stars price $22.50–$40.50). Join the acrobats of Cirque Mechanics as they time-travel to the 1865 mining town of rosebud, where an unlikely discovery sets off a hilarious series of events full of the lore and adventure of the old West. Treat the whole family to an evening The New York Times calls "exceptional, evocative, eye-catching, ear-catching, and engrossingly entertaining." At the Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. Visit www.strathmore.org or call 301-581-5100.
<cal1>Wednesday/March 9
<cal2>Stars of the Bolshoi. 8 p.m. Featuring Bolshoi Principal Dancers Maria Mashina and Andrei Bolotin performing some of the greatest beloved ballet moments of ballet classics, including Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake and Don Quixote. Tickets are $40/regular; $38/seniors and students. Call 240-567-5301 or visit www.montgomerycollege.edu/PAC. At The Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center, 51 Mannakee Street, Rockville.
<cal1>Thursday/March 10
<cal2>Critters (and Couture!) For The Cure Fashion Show Gala. Ten women cancer survivors and their pups will work the "catwalk" in spring fashions by Bloomingdale’s and Doggie Couture. At Bloomingdale’s Chevy Chase to raise awareness and funds for women’s cancer. Visit http://www.crittersforthecure.org/.
<cal1>March 11-27
<cal2>"The Mousetrap." Potomac Theater Company’s production of Agatha Christie’s stage thriller, "The Mousetrap," is scheduled for three weekends in March. March 11, 12, 13; March 18, 19, 20; March 25, 26, 27. Fridays and Saturdays 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. Performances at The Blair Family Center for the Arts at the Bullis School, 10601 Falls Road, Potomac. 301-299-8571. www.potomactheatreco.org
<cal1>Saturday/March 12
<cal2>Casino Night. 8 p.m. Classic casino games, including poker, roulette, and blackjack. Tickets are $20/advance; $25/door. Casino Night is hosted by Yachad Hadassah, a chapter of the women’s organization Hadassah. All proceeds will benefit Youth Aliyah, a program that provides education and support for at-risk children in Israel. To register, go to http://tinyurl.com/5src6ec. At the Barking Dog, 4723 Elm St., Bethesda, near the Bethesda Metro station. Email yachaddc@gmail.com.
Spaghetti Dinner. 5 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $10/person. Boy Scout Troop 733 is holding its 52nd Annual Spaghetti Dinner. At Potomac United Methodist Church Meeting Hall, corner of Glen and Fall Roads, Potomac.
National Philharmonic. 8 p.m. Pianist Brian Ganz will play Edvard Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor with the National Philharmonic, led by Music Director and Conductor Piotr Gajewski. At the Music Center at Strathmore. Also on the program are Grieg’s Wedding Day at Troldhaugen and Jean Sibelius’s Symphony No. 2 in D Major. Tickets are $32-$79. For tickets, visit nationalphilharmonic.org or call the Strathmore ticket office at 301-581-5100.
<cal1>Saturday/March 12
<cal2>Maggie’s Music Celtic Concert. 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20. With Maggie Sansone and friends. At Saint Mark Presbyterian Church, 10701 Old Georgetown Road, Rockville. Visit http://www.saintmarkpresby.org or call 301-530-2613.
<cal1>Sunday/March 13
<cal2>Brides on the Bus. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost is $25/person. Bus tour of event venues of Montgomery County Parks! Visit Rockwood Manor, the Lodge at Little Seneca Creek, Woodlawn Manor, Brookside Gardens and the Agricultural History Farm Park. Meet vendors at each of the venues. Learn about wedding day makeup and hair. And in between stops, have fun on the bus with games and prizes. Register online at www.ParkPASS.org. Call 301-299-5026.
Canal Stewards Cleanup, 10 am to noon. Sponsored by the Potomac Conservancy, this monthly clean-up day engages volunteers in as caretakers of a site within the C&O Canal National Historical Park. Potomac Conservancy also operates environmental awareness programs out of the River Center, Lock 8, 7906 Riverside Dr., Cabin John. Off Clara Barton Parkway between Cabin John and Carderock exits. Contact Deanna Tricarico at tricarico@potomac.org or 301-608-1188 x.204. Visit www.potomac.org/site/river-center-events/index.php
<cal1>Sunday/March 20
<cal2>Bach Marathon. 2 to 7 p.m. Free admission. Ten organists will feature the music of J.S. Bach in half-hour programs each. Following the concert, a German dinner will be available for $10. At the Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church, One Chevy Chase Circle, NW, Washington, D.C. Call 202-363-2202.
<cal1>Tuesday/March 22
<cal2>Jon Shain and Friends. 8 p.m. Tickets are $18/door; $15/advance at FocusMusic.org. At Unitarian Universalist Church of Rockville, 100 Welsh Park Drive, Rockville. Contact 301-275-7459.
<cal1>Wednesday/March 23
<cal2>Juan de Marcos and the Afro-Cuban All-Stars. 8 p.m. Tickets are $25-$52. At the Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 301-581-5100 or visit www.strathmore.org.
Nathan and Noble Jolley, Jazz. 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12. At the Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 301-581-5100 or visit www.strathmore.org.
<cal1>Sunday/March 27
<cal2>Shrimp and Oyster Feast Fundraiser. 1 to 5 p.m. Sponsored by the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad Alumni Association. In the Anastasia Room in the Rescue Squad, 5020 Battery Lane (at Old Georgetown Road), Bethesda. Tickets are $40 and must be purchased in advance. Call 301-977-6634. Visit www.bccrs.org or email info@bccrs.org.
<cal1>April 8-10
<cal2>Sugarloaf Crafts Festival. More than 250 artisans will display and sell their unique creations in ceramics, sculpture, glass, jewelry, fashion, furniture and home décor, fine art and photography with the theme, Artful Outdoors. Hours are Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $7/online; $9/door. At the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, 16 Chestnut Street, Gaithersburg. Visit www.sugarloafcrafts.com or call 800-210-9900.
<cal1>April 9 to May 29
<cal2> George & Martha: Tons of Fun! Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30 and 4 p.m. Some Saturday 11 a.m. performances. Single ticket prices range from $10-$22, with group rates available. The two endearing hippos from the James Marshall picture books stomp onto stage in this warm and funny musical adaptation. George and Martha are best friends. They play music together and share meals, presents, picnics, and exciting adventures like flying a balloon. Sometimes they have differences as all friends do. But it cannot last. Like all good friends, George and Martha just can’t stay angry for long! This simple story says much about our relationships at any age. Geared for our youngest theatre-goers but enjoyable for all, this new musical by Joan Cushing sparkles with clever lyrics and laughter. At Imagination Stage 4908 Auburn Avenue, Bethesda, MD. Imagination Stage offers discount ticket packages with benefits that emphasize the flexibility that parents and grandparents value, as well as significant savings. Details are on the website, www.imaginationstage.org.
<cal1>April 16 to May 21
<cal2> The Day John Henry Came to School. Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30 and 4 p.m. Some Saturday 11 a.m. performances. Single ticket prices range from $10-$22, with group rates available. Johnny is a typical 5th grader, way into video games and not especially motivated at school. Imagine his surprise one night when there’s a loud knock at the door and his ancestor John Henry bursts into his bedroom, wielding a 12 lb. hammer and insisting that he will visit Johnny’s class the next day for "Show & Tell." At first unimpressed by John Henry’s tragic tale about his race with the steam engine, the children in Johnny’s class come to appreciate the importance of his ultimate sacrifice. The award-winning playwright of Lost & Foundling has created another witty and insightful contemporary comedy. At Imagination Stage in the Annette M. and Theodore N. Lerner Family Theatre. At Imagination Stage 4908 Auburn Avenue, Bethesda, MD. Imagination Stage offers discount ticket packages with benefits that emphasize the flexibility that parents and grandparents value, as well as significant savings. Details are on the website, www.imaginationstage.org.
<cal1> Thursday/ May 12, 2011
<cal2> Piano Recital. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $28 (Stars Price $25.20). This artist channels the 19th century composer and pianist Clara Wieck Schumann (wife of Robert Schumann), recreating an 1871 concert by Clara. Performing on Strathmore’s 1850s Broadwood piano, Sharon Joshua deftly intersperses works by Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Robert Schumann, Bach and Chopin with engaging readings from Clara’s diaries and letters. A Gerald M. Woofter Memorial Concert Program. At the Mansion at Strathmore. Call 301-581-5109 or visit www.strathmore.org.
<cal1>July 22 to Aug. 14, 2011
<cal2> The Wind in the Willows. Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30 and 4 p.m. Some Saturday 11 a.m. performances. Single ticket prices range from $10-$22, with group rates available. This musical retelling of the classic is faithful to the novel and features the beloved characters Mr. Toad, Mole, Ratty and Mr. Badger. It is early in the twentieth century and Mr. Toad falls hard for the charms of the motor car. His reckless driving results in his being thrown into prison, but, dressed as a laundry lady, he manages to escape. But will Mr. Toad be able to expel the Wild Wood squatters from Toad Hall and reclaim his home? Prepare to be enchanted by this irresistible mix of adventure and camaraderie. At Imagination Stage 4908 Auburn Avenue, Bethesda, MD. Imagination Stage offers discount ticket packages with benefits that emphasize the flexibility that parents and grandparents value, as well as significant savings. Details are on the website, www.imaginationstage.org.