E-mail announcements to the Gazette, gazette@connectionnewspapers.com. Photos and artwork are encouraged. Deadline is Thursday at noon for the following week's paper. Call Steve Hibbard at 703-778-9412 with questions.
Month of April
Harvest Assembly Baptist Church 25th Anniversary. At 8012 Fordson Road, Alexandria. Services are held at 8:30 a.m.; 10:30 a.m.; and 5 p.m. Special dates:
- April 29: Dr. David Cunningham, Dr. Regretta B. Johnson Ruffin and Bishop William Walker, Latta SC.
Featuring: HABC Dance Ministries and the HABC Unity Choir Adults: $40 13 & up; Children: $20 12 & under
Featuring: The Singing Angels, HABC Pastor’s Praise Team
Call: 703-799-7868.
Now Through April 29
Childhood Memories. Works by artists inspired by their childhoods. Memories are endless: an experience, a trip, a gathering, an animal, a poem, a person or a place that brings one back to a childhood memory. Show exhibits April 6-29; Open Thursday-Sunday. Del Ray Artisans, 2704 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria. 703-838-4827. www.TheDelRayArtisans.org
April 25 to April 29
"Seussical the Musical." Performed by West Potomac High School theater department. Tickets are $12/door. Performances are April 25 at 5 p.m.; April 26, 27, 28 at 7:30 p.m.; April 29 at 2:30 p.m. At West Potomac High School, 6500 Quander Road, Alexandria.
Thursday/April 26
African American Heroines of the Civil War. 7 p.m. Admission is $10. Join C.R. Gibbs, Historian of the African Diaspora, in a look at the inspiring achievements of little-known black women. Sponsored by the Alexandria Black History Museum. Admission: $10/person. At the Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe Street, Alexandria.
ArtNight SpringHill Suites. 5 to 8 p.m. A one-night showcase featuring artwork from the Torpedo Factory’s Art League and Alexandria’s Del Ray Artisans. At SpringHill Suites by Marriott Alexandria Tech Center, 2950 Eisenhower Ave., Alexandria. Visit www.facebook.com/springhillsuites.
Does Mom Need to Move? 7 to 8:30 p.m. Seminar is part of its free Spring 2012 Seminars for Family Caregivers series. At Martha Washington Library, 6614 Fort Hunt Road, Alexandria. Register online (go to www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/olderadultservices and link to caregiver series), email caregiver@fairfaxcounty.gov, or call 703-324-5205, TTY 711.
Republican Forum for 8th District Candidates. 6:30 to 9 p.m. Colonial Republican women and the Lee District Republican committee will host a forum for 8th District Republican Convention candidates. At the Virginia Hills Administration Center, Old Virginia Hills School, 6520 Diana Lane, Alexandria. Contact Debbie at 703-768-1934 or colonialrepublicanwomen@gmail.com
April 27 to 29
Edison Pyramid Show. 6 to 7 p.m. Featuring students' work from the following schools: Edison, Twain, Bush Hill, Cameron, Clermont, Franconia, Mt. Eagle, Rose Hill. In collaboration with the Edison High Theater Department's production of "Oklahoma." At Edison High School, Entrance 17 by the Theater, Alexandria.
Friday/April 27
Spelling Bee. 6 to 8 p.m. Trophies awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. At William Ramsay Elementary School.
Music of "Harry Potter" Films. 7:30 p.m. The Symphony Orchestra of Arlington will perform the music of Harry Potter from eight films. Pre-concert activities at 6 p.m. At the George Washington Masonic Memorial Theater, 101 Callahan Drive, Alexandria. Visit www.symphonyorchestraofarlington.com
Brahms for Violin and Piano. 8 p.m. Free. At The Lyceum, 201 South Washington St., Alexandria. Call The United States Air Force Band's Concert Line at 202-767-5658 or visit our homepage: www.usafband.af.mil.
Magician Captain Token. 7:30 p.m. $25/advance; $40/door. Fundraiser for the Optimist Club of Alexandria. At Patrick Henry Elementary School, 4643 Taney Avenue, Alexandria.
Saturday/April 28
Annual Yard Sale. 8 a.m. to noon. Tons of furniture, household items, clothing, etc. All funds raised will support the Youth Service Project. At Nativity Lutheran Church, 1300 Collingwood Road, Alexandria. Contact 703-678-9324.
The Urban Attic Launch Party. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Christmas Attic store unveils the ‘other side’ of The Attic. The 40-year-old holiday store is redesigning its store to create ‘two stores in one.’ At 125 S. Union St., Old Town Alexandria. Call 703-548-2829 or visit www.christmasattic.com.
Native Plant Sale. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Largest native plant sale in D.C. metro area hosts 14 vendors from five states selling native perennials, shrubs, and trees for sun or shade in historic Parkfairfax. At 3601 Valley Drive, Alexandria. Call 571-232-0375 or www.ParkfairfaxNativePlantSale.org.
Civil War Balloon Corps. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Learn about Alexandria's history and the Civil War Balloon Corps in a living history program held at Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site. In 1861, a civilian Balloon Corps attached to the U.S. Army was organized to gather information on Confederate positions and movements from the sky. Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site is located at 4301 West Braddock Road. Visit www.fortward.org, or call 703-746-4848.
5K Croc Trot Run. 7:30 to 9 a.m. At Island Creek Elementary School, 7855 Morning View Lane, Alexandria.
Make a House Storybook. 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Local artist and writer Sushmita Mazumdar will show how she makes books that are houses for all kinds of creatures and all kinds of stories. Then kids will learn how to make their own “House Storybook” of a special place. For children ages 6 to 12. Cost is $15/family and includes materials. Register at 703-746-4356. At the Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe St., Alexandria.
Duke Street Speedy Lube & Auto Maintenance Car Care Clinic. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Car Care Month is a nationwide effort to focus motorists’ attention on the importance of vehicle care and maintenance. During the Spring Car Care Clinic, we will be performing free vehicle check-ups. The inspections include checking fluid levels, tires, lights and other system components. After the inspection is completed, volunteers review any discrepancies with the motorist and provide information about proper vehicle maintenance and repair.
YMCA Open House. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Join YMCA Alexandria at 420 East Monroe Avenue, Alexandria. Activities include pony rides, train rides, mini-manicures, make a kite station, family zumba, Face Painting, Balloon Sculptures, SeaPerch underwater robotics demo, Healthy Snack Attack Shack, Pirates of Alexandria Scavenger Hunt, and more! . It’s free and open to the public.
Rebuilding Together Rebuilding Day. 8 a.m. Help repair 50 vulnerable Alexandria residents' homes during National Rebuilding Day. Some 1,000 volunteers are needed. Event kicks off at First Baptist Church, 2932 King St., Alexandria. Contact Shawn Flaherty at 703-554-3609.
"Oklahoma." 2 p.m. Benefit for Koinonia. Tickets are $20/person. At Edison High School, Franconia Road, Alexandria. To purchase tickets, visit http://edisondrama.com/Koinonia.html.
April 28 and 29
"Swan Lake." Sponsored by the Virginia Ballet Company. Performances are Saturday, April 28 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Sunday, April 29 at 2 p.m. The production includes all four acts, fully staged and costumed, and the score by Tchaikovsky. Dancers Christine Gilmore and Eleni Thomas will alternate in the role of Odette/Odile. Performances will take place in the Ernst Cultural Center Theater at NVCC Annandale Campus. Tickets are available on-line at www.virginiaballetcompany.org or at the box office.
Carpenter's Shelter Cook-Off and Run. 8 a.m. on Saturday is the Run for Shelter 10K and One-Mile Fun Run. Registration for Run for Shelter 10K is $40; Fun Run is $20. To register, visit www.runforshelter10k.com. All proceeds benefit Carpenter’s Shelter and its work on behalf of homeless individuals, children, and families. The 10th Anniversary Cook-Off Celebration is Sunday, April 29, from noon to 3 p.m., at The Birchmere, 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria. Featuring 30 of the area’s best restaurants offering samples of their food, plus a live auction offering attendees the chance to bid on trips, tickets, meals and more. Tickets are $40 for adults and $10 for children under 12. Visit www.carpenterscookoff.com.
Sunday/April 29
Rocknoceros. 4 p.m. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $10/advance; $12/door. Join the three guys — Coach Cotton, Williebob and Boogie Woogie Bennie —†who make award-winning music for the whole family. Purchase tickets through the synagogue office, check or exact change only. At Agudas Achim Preschool, 2908 Valley Drive, Alexandria; call 703-998-6072.
Duncan Sheik with Suzanne Vega. Performing songs from his latest album covers 80s, theater works and early catalogue. At The Birchmere, 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria. Call 703-549-7500 or visit www.birchmere.com; for tickets, call Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or order online at www.Ticketmaster.com.
Monday/April 30
Seniors, How "CarFit" Are You? 10:30 a.m. With Fairfax County Police officer Allison Eggers. CarFit offers older adults the opportunity to check how well their personal vehicles “fit” them. Individual assessments will be conducted following this presentation at 15-minute intervals. Appointments are required for individual CarFit assessments. At Hollin Hall Senior Center, 1500 Shenandoah Road, Alexandria. Call 703-765-4573 to sign up.
Tuesday/May 1
Swing Dancing — Cancelled. 9 to 11 p.m. Admission is $10. With the Tom Cunningham Orchestra. At The Carlyle Club, 411 John Carlyle Street, Alexandria.
Nanci Griffith with Guest Eric Taylor. 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $39.50. At The Birchmere, 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria. Visit www.birchmere.com or call 703-549-7500.
Morrison House Presents. 6 to 8 p.m. Free admission. Author F. Lennox Campello discusses his controversial book, 100 Artists of Washington, D.C., and provides insights into the selection process, the publication of the book and the subsequent eruption of controversy in the Greater DC area art scene. At Morrison House, 116 South Alfred St., Alexandria. Visit www.morrisonhouse.com or call 703-838-8000.
Wednesday/May 2
Musician Laura Warshauer. At The Birchmere, 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria. Call 703-549-7500 or visit www.birchmere.com; for tickets, call Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or order online at www.Ticketmaster.com.
U.S. Air Force Band Concert. 7:30 p.m. Free. Featuring the Singing Sergeants. At Bishop Ireton High School, 201 Cambridge Road, Alexandria. Call 202-767-5658 or visit www.usafband.af.mil.
May 2 to 5
Spring Book and Media Sale. Sponsored by the Friends of Duncan Library. Book prices $1 to $5; media $0.50 to $3. Dates are May 2 from 7-9 p.m. (Friends Preview Night, membership available at the door); May 3 from 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; May 4 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; and May 5 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. At 2501 Commonwealth Avenue Alexandria. Call 703-746-1705 or duncanlibraryfriends@gmail.com.
Friday/May 4
Volunteer for Community Service Day. Event Combines Community Service, Fundraising-and Fun. Volunteers are needed to help in community service projects throughout Alexandria from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Event information: http://springforalexandria2012.kintera.org
May 4, 5, 11, 12
"Crazy for You." Tickets are $5/students, seniors; $10/adults. Presented by T.C. Williams Drama Department. Show dates are May 4, 5, 11, 12 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets available at the door. The whole family will enjoy this upbeat show, which features a humorous plot, impressive dance numbers, and unforgettable songs, including “I Got Rhythm” and “Someone to Watch Over Me.”
Saturday/May 5
Alexandria Art Market. Third season begins May 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. At Colasanto Park. Local artists, musical performances. Other dates: Saturdays 6/2/12, 7/7/12, 8/4/12, 9/1/12, 11/3/12. Application available for non-DRA members. Contact Kimberley Bush ArtMarket@TheDelRayArtisans.org or visit www.TheDelRayArtisans.org/ArtMarket.
Simpson Demonstration Garden Open House. 9 to 11 a.m. At 420 E. Monroe Avenue, Alexandria. Tour five gardens, each of which demonstrates a separate theme — waterwise, flagstone, tufa, butterfly and scented gardening. The gardens are located between the YMCA and Eugene Simpson baseball stadium. Park in the YMCA lot. Visit www.mgnv.org.
St. Luke's Barbecue. 11 a.m. Besides slow-cooked North Carolina-style chopped pork BBQ, the church will be offering grilled chicken, hot dogs, beans, cole slaw and soft drinks. Proceeds support church activities and community outreach. St. Luke's is located at 8009 Fort Hunt Road, Alexandria.
Bowties & Belles, a Kentucky Derby Party. 4 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $100/patrons; $80/individuals. Features an afternoon of watching the Derby, a raffle, silent auction, cocktail reception. Sponsored by the Junior Friends of The Campagna Center. Proceeds help support programs of The Campagna Center. At Collingwood on the Potomac, 8301 East Boulevard Dr., Alexandria. Visit www.CampagnaCenter.org.
Sunday/May 6
Art at Home. Noon to 1:30 p.m. and 2 to 3:30 p.m. (Two seatings). Tickets are $15. New Interior Design Interactive Lecture Series introduced at the Torpedo Factory Art Center. Interior designer Mary Mitchell will show how to layer design elements with furnishings and the visual arts to create an environment unique to every home owner. At Studio 325, Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 North Union St., Alexandria. Visit www.torpedofactory.org; or call 703-838-4565.
Titan Expo. 1 to 5 p.m. A community fair, will be held on the front lawn of T.C. Williams High School. Featuring games, moon bounce, bingo, food, book sale, and the ever popular car bash. All proceeds support the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria. T.C. Williams is located at 3330 King Street, Alexandria. Call 703-824-6868.
Monday/May 7
Children and Trauma. 6:30 to 9 p.m. Free. Featuring guest speaker Margaret Dowell who will discuss the connection between trauma and behavior. At The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St., Alexandria. Call 703-746-3579 or email latanya.wooten@alexandriava.gov.
Tuesday/May 8
Swing Dancing. 9 to 11 p.m. Admission is $10. With the Bay Jazz Project. At the Carlyle Club, 411 John Carlyle St., Alexandria.
Musician Mike Doughty. 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25. Featuring "The Book of Drugs": Concert, Reading, Q&A. At The Birchmere, 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria. Call 703-549-7500 or visit www.birchmere.com.
Wednesday/May 9
Ottmar Liebert in Concert. 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35. At The Birchmere, 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria. Visit www.Ticketmaster.com.
DJ Dance Party. 9 to 11 p.m. Admission is $6. With DJ Dabe Murphy. At Nick's Nightclub, 642 South Pickett St., Alexandria.
Friday/May 11
Bid and Win Dinner/Auction. 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. The Cocktail Social and Silent Auction will run from 6:30 to 9 p.m. A Buffet featuring London Broil and Chicken will be offered from 7 to 9 p.m. and the night will cap off with a Live Auction. Tickets are $40 each. Sponsored by the Fort Belvoir Officers' Spouses' Club. At 5500 Schulz Circle, Fort Belvoir. To reserve your tickets or offer an item for donation contact Boscfundraiser@gmail.com or 540-847-1467.
Music for Oboe. 8 p.m. Free concert. At The Lyceum, 201 South Washington St., Alexandria. Call The United States Air Force Band's Concert Line at 202-767-5658 or visit www.usafband.af.mil.
Benefit Concert for Haiti. 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $50. NSO Concert Master Nurit Bar-Josef and acclaimed pianist Rohan De Silva are guest artists for this National Chamber Players concert featuring Fritz Kreisler's Schˆn Rosmarin, Liebesleid, Sicilienne and Rigaudon, "It Ain't Necessarily So," by George Gerschwin and arranged by Jascha Heifetz, and AntonÌn Dvoř·k's Piano Quintet in A Major, Op. 81. At Pendleton Hall, Episcopal High School, 3900 W. Braddock Road, Alexandria. Visit www.episcopalhighschool.org.
Saturday/May 12
Jazzercise Fundraiser. 10 to 11 a.m. Fundraiser where 100 percent of donations go to the American Cancer Society. At Waynewood Elementary Gymnasium, 1205 Waynewood Blvd., Alexandria. Contact Peg Frydenlund 703- 765-5659 or peg2011@verizon.net.
"This Old House." 10 a.m. Watch episode 2 of "This Old House" that was filmed in Alexandria. General contractor Tom Silva heads to Alexandria to restore the windows in a home built by George Washington. Afterward, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey installs a water filter at a kitchen sink. Airing on WETA-TV 26 and WETA HD.
Garden of Light Reception. 3 to 5 p.m. Help put an end to domestic violence by attending the Bethany House reception. Tickets are $55/person. At the Holiday Inn and Suites, 625 First Street, Alexandria. Visit www.bhnv.org or call 703-658-9500.
American Balalaika Symphony Spring Concert. 8 p.m. Tickets are $20/advance; $25/door. Peter Trofimenko and The American Balalaika Symphony welcome Spring with How a Peasant Went to a Fair — An ordinary tale told through extraordinary music. Travel back in time to a place where the pace was slow, the pleasures simple, and spring, a time of wonder and delight. With works by Andreyev, Tsygankov, Shalov, Gorodovskaya, Kachalin and more. Featuring ABS balalaika soloist Ekaterina Borodulina. At the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center,
3001 Beauregard St (NVCC Campus), Alexandria. Visit www.nvcc.edu/schlesingercenter.
BBQ Fundraising Dinner. 4:30 to 6 p.m. Admission is $10. The Women's Auxiliary of the Salvation Army Alexandria is hosting its BBQ Fundraising Dinner. Dinner is sponsored by RockLands Real Barbeque. Show Military ID at the door and receive a 10% discount. Tickets are available through Auxiliary Members or calling TSA at 703-836-2427. Event is held at The Salvation Army Citadel Corps, 1804 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria.
Symposium on Historic Clothing. 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Historic Pohick Church Docents Guild is sponsoring a "Symposium on Historic Clothing at Historic Pohick Church" covering the 18th and early 19th centuries. Speakers for this event are costume historians Mary Doering, Colleen Callahan, and Newbie Richardson. Tickets are $75 ($65 for students), which includes lunch and a tour of the church. Deadline for registration is April 27, and space is limited. For ticket information contact Charlotte Knipling at 703-339-8196 or c.knipling@gmail.com.
Folk Trio We're About 9. Meets at 7 p.m. Trio of Katie Graybeal, Brian Gundersdorf and Pat Klink. Tickets are $18/general; $15/advance. At St. Aidan's Episcopal Church, 8531 Riverside Rd., Alexandria. Visit www.FocusMusic.org.
Explore Alexandria's Firefighting History. 1 p.m. Tickets are $6/adults; $4/youth. The walking tour, "Blazing a Trail: Alexandria's Firefighting Past." As they walk through Old Town, participants will learn about volunteer firefighting in early Alexandria and stop at historic buildings that once served as fire stations. At Friendship Firehouse, 107 South Alfred St., Old Town Alexandria. Visit www.friendshipfirehouse.net or by calling 703-746-4994.
Fairfax Symphony Orchestra. 8 p.m. George Mason University Center for the Arts, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax. With pianist Adam Golka. Britten's Sinfonia da Requiem, Debussy's La Mer, Ravel's Concerto for the Left Hand, and Elgar's Enigma Variations. Free pre-concert discussion for ticket holders at 7 p.m. Tickets $25-$55. info@fairfaxsymphony.org.
Civil War Crimean Oven Lecture. 1 p.m. Admission is $10. Fort Ward Museum will sponsor a lecture on “The Story of Alexandria’s Civil War Crimean Ovens and Camp California.” The lecture will be presented by Wally Owen, Assistant Director at Fort Ward Museum, 4301 West Braddock Road, Alexandria. Visit www.fortward.org, or call 703-746-4848.
Sunday/May 13
Torpedo Factory Celebrates Mother's Day Open House. 1 to 5 p.m. Free. Take in the artwork while strolling through studios and galleries as you enjoy a lively Mother’s Day afternoon filled with treats and sweets, artist demonstrations, and special spring activities. At the Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria. Call 703-838-4565, www.torpedofactory.org.
Mother’s Day Tea at Carlyle House. 2 p.m. Tickets are $27/person. Guests will enjoy finger sandwiches, scones with orange marmalade, banana or lemon tea bread, a Mother's Day desserts of Petite Fours, Cheesecake with Strawberries and Powdered Shortbread Tea Cookies all while sipping special blend spring teas from Tea & Spice Exchange of Alexandria. At Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N. Fairfax St., Old Town Alexandria. Contact Carlyle House at 703-549-2997 or e-mail: carlyle@nvrpa.org
Sunday in the Woods Concert. 4 p.m. Premieres, two Debussy works as arranged for orchestra: Diane Overture (world premiere) and Operatic Love Duet from Diane au bois (U.S. premiere). Tickets are $25/adults; $20/seniors. At the Ernst Community Cultural Center, Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale Campus, 8333 Little River Turnpike, Annandale. Visit www.virginiachamberorchestra.org.
Tuesday/May 15
Swing Dancing. 9 to 11 p.m. Admission is $10. With The Thrillbillies. At the Carlyle Club, 411 John Carlyle St., Alexandria.
Mount Vernon Genealogical Society. 1 p.m. Free. John Philip Colletta will present, "Turning Biographical Facts into Real Life Events." This lecture demonstrates how to turn biographical facts into the real-life experiences they were; how to gather together and evaluate evidence about a particular event, including its historical context, to “individualize” every ancestor in your family tree. At Hollin Hall Senior Center, Room 112, 1500 Shenandoah Road, in Alexandria. Contact Phyllis Kelley at 703-660-6969 or publicity@mvgenealogy.org.
Wednesday/May 16
Swing Dancing. 9 to 11 p.m. Admission is $10. With the band, The Cutaways. At Nick's Nightclub, 642 South Pickett St., Alexandria.
Thursday/May 17
Spring Flower Show. 12 to 3 p.m. Free. At Plymouth Haven Baptist Church, 8532 Fort Hunt Road, Alexandria. Presented by the Garden Club of Waynewood, which is celebrating 50 years of gardening, education, service and friendship.
Consciously Exploring Your Legacy. 10:30 a.m. Free. Bev Hitchins of Alexandria is a professional organizer who will show seniors how to shed light on clutter so they can let go and move on. At The Fountains at Washington House, 5100 Fillmore Ave., Alexandria. Space is limited and reservations are required. Call 703-845-5000.
Friday/May 18
Music for Woodwind Quintet. 8 p.m. Free. At The Lyceum, 201 South Washington St., Alexandria. Call The United States Air Force Band's Concert Line at 202-767-5658 or visit homepage: www.usafband.af.mil
Saturday/May 19
The Planets. 8 p.m. Tickets are $35/adult; $30/senior; $10/stuent. Featuring Kim Allen Kluge, conductor; Carlos Rodriguez, piano; Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2, Holst: The Planets. At the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall & Arts Center, 3001 N. Beauregard St., Alexandria. Visit alexsym.org or 703-548-0885.
Sidewalk Sale for ALIVE. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. On South Payne street between Commerce and Prince Streets, Old Town Alexandria. Rain date Sunday, May 20. Donations are welcomed. Bring to the Ice House, 200 Commerce St., Saturdays May 5 and 12 from 9-5 p.m., Sundays May 6 and 13 from 1-5 p.m. Call 703-684-1430 or email alivehouse@alive-inc.org or more information and for pick up of large items. A fundraiser to benefit ALIVE! House Women's Shelter.
Continuing Education for Seniors. 9:30 a.m. At Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2701 Cameron Mills Road, Alexandria. Visit www.seniorservicesalex.org or call 703-836-4414, ext. 13.
St. Rita Parish Festival. Free. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., games, raffles, food, white elephant, clowns, moonbounce and dunk-the-priest. At the parish parking lot at 3815 Russel Road, Alexandria.
Talk on School Desegregation. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Join AARP, NAACP, DOVE, and Urban League of Hampton Roads at a “School Desegregation: Learn, Preserve, and Empower” event. At Charles Houston Recreation Center, 905 Wythe Street, Alexandria. Registration is required. Call 1-877-926-8300.
Fort Tours. 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Soldier-led tours of historic Fort Ward will be held in honor of Armed Forces Day. The tours will feature museum staff member Kevin Moriarty in Union uniform, providing an orientation to the defenses of Washington and a guided tour of historic Fort Ward, one of the largest of the forts that guarded the Federal capital during the Civil War. At Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site, 4301 West Braddock Road, Alexandria. Visit www.fortward.org, or call 703-746-4848.
Saturday/May 19
Historic Huntley Re-opens. A rare architectural gem, Huntley House, located at 6918 Harrison Lane in Alexandria, will open to the public on Saturday, May 19. This is a significant accomplishment after the property, which was acquired by the Fairfax County Park Authority in 1989, sat vacant for many years waiting for funding to enable historic restoration. The house is a federal period villa built in 1825 for Thomson Francis Mason, a grandson of George Mason. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Virginia Landmarks Register, and the Fairfax County Inventory of Historic Sites. Historic Huntley was used as a summer retreat, troops of the 3rd Michigan infantry camped at Huntley during the Civil War and later the property was farmed. It changed ownership several times, and in later years, after being abandoned, it suffered considerable vandalism.
Sunday/May 20
The Songs of Bob Dylan. 7 p.m. A Hungry for Music benefit featuring Chatham Street, Tim Bracken, Willie Barry and Rod Deacey. Tickets are $18/general; $15/advance. At Church of the Resurrection, 2280 N. Beauregard St., Alexandria. Visit www.focusmusic.org or call 703-501-6061.
Cosmic Quest. 2 to 4 p.m. The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra will present its annual Children’s Arts Festival, “Cosmic Quest,” at T.C. Williams High School, 3330 King St. in Alexandria. In addition to activities that range from face painting, yoga, and an instrument petting zoo, the symphony will present two concerts featuring selections from Holst’s The Planets. Tickets $5, free parking.
Tuesday/May 21
Mount Vernon Genealogical Society. 1 p.m. Free. John Philip Colletta will present "Turning Biographical Facts into Real Life Events. At Hollin Hall Senior Center, Room 112, 1500 Shenandoah Road, Alexandria. Information about the meeting, the Research Center and MVGS can be found at http://www.MVGenealogy.org. Call Phyllis Kelley at 703-660-6969 or publicity@mvgenealogy.org.
Wednesday/May 22
Boating Safety Courses. An eight-week comprehensive safety course which includes basic piloting and navigation. Three classes will be held at various locations in Northern Virginia beginning on May 22, July 24 and Sept. 25. Fee is $40 for members and $50 for non-members. Contact Sean Gallagher at education@NVSPS.org or 703-625-1500.
Saturday/May 26
Yard Sale. 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free. At Del Ray Artisans’ gallery, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, rain or shine. Profits support Del Ray Artisans. Visit www.TheDelRayArtisans.org/YardSale or Fundraising@TheDelRayArtisans.org
Virginia Grand Military Band. 8 p.m. A Salute to Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore and John Philip Sousa. Admission is $20. At the Rebecca S. Wilburn auditorium at Hayfield Secondary School, 7630 Telegraph Road, Alexandria. Call 703-426-4777 or visit www.vgmb.com.
College of Running and Pre-Race Expo. 12 noon to 6 p.m., at Westin Hotel, 400 Courthouse Square, Alexandria. Free to the public. Visit exhibits by Alexandria organizations and others. Listen to guest speakers. Sign up for Alexandria Running Festival the next day. See www.mc-coop.org/arf or call 703-927-4833.
Sunday/May 27
Alexandria Running Festival. Half marathon at 7:30 a.m. 5K at 8 a.m., and children's race. Register on-line at www.mc-coop.org/arf or call 703-927-4833. Race-day registration opens at 6 a.m. near Eisenhower Avenue Metro, 2460 Eisenhower Avenue.
cal>Wednesday/May 30
Author Talk. 7 p.m. Come and hear local author Chet Nagle speak about his book, The Woolstorters’ Plague & The Iran Covenant. At Beatley Central Library, 5005 Duke St., Alexandria. Call 703-746-1702 or visit www.alexandria.lib.va.us
June 1
Contribute to Time Capsule. Youth up to age 18 are invited to submit an essay or art work representing the present day library. Submit on 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper. Entries should be submitted at Martha Washington Library, 6614 Fort Hunt Road, Alexandria. Entries will be placed in the time capsule to be opened in 50 years. Deadline to enter is June 1. Call 703-768-9840.
June 2
Volunteer Training. Curious about early American medicine and health? Then consider volunteering as a tour guide at the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary in historic Old Town Alexandria. The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, at 105-107 South Fairfax Street, is hosting a new volunteer training June 2 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. This three-hour class includes a tour and the basics of giving museum tours. Pre-registration is required. Volunteers can complete an application online through www.apothecarymuseum.org or email Michele.longo@alexandriava.gov. Visit www.apothecarymuseum.org or call 703-746-3852.
June 3
I've Got Rhythm…I've Got Music. 4 p.m. The Virginia Bronze Handbell Ensemble performs at the Memorial Theater, George Washington Masonic Memorial, 101 Callahan Dr., Alexandria. Visit www.vabronze.org or call 1-888-824-2541.
Saturday/June 16
Author William Connery. 10 a.m. Friends of Alexandria Archaeology hosts William Connery, who will speak about his recent book, “Civil War Northern Virginia 1861.” At the Alexandria Archaeology Museum, 105 North Union Street, #327, Alexandria. Free but reservations required. Visit archaeology@alexandriava.gov
June 22 to 23
SkateFest / Sk8 For a Cause. A fundraiser for the Children's Hospital National Medical Center. After completing the Sk8 For a Cause 4-checkpoint course through Wakefield Skate Park, skateboarders, their families and friends enjoy a day of skateboard competitions, vendors, food, demos, auctions, music and more. Visit www.skatefestfairfax.com
June 23
Del Ray Music Festival. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. A wide variety of music, including: jazz, blues, folk, country, Latin, reggae, and rock. Also food and games. To be held on the Mt. Vernon Recreation Center Fields, 2701 Commonwealth Ave., in Del Ray. Del Ray Music Week will be taking place from June 18-22, will host over 30 local musicians and bands as they perform along “The Avenue” at local Del Ray businesses from 5 to 10 p.m. Visit www.delraymusicfestival.com.
Tuesday/June 26
Hands on History Tent. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Come build your own model sailboat and race it against others. Other activities include designing a flag, writing with a quill pen and trying on colonial clothes. The event is free, sailboat craft $5, and designed for children ages 3-12. At Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N. Fairfax St., Old Town Alexandria. Call 703-549-2997 or e-mail: carlyle@nvrpa.org.