<cal1>WEDNESDAY/AUG. 21
<cal2>Gemstone Club will meet from 3-4 p.m. Learn about the mythology and the mineralogy of the August birthstone, the peridot. A $3 fee must be paid in advance. Call 703-228-3403.
Living in the 20th Century, Discussion The Aurora Hills Men's Club will hold the last in a series of discussions on Living in the 20th Century, at 1:30 p.m. No fee. Newcomers welcome. Call 703-228-5722 to sign up.
Sustainable Path Film Series explores ways natural systems can teach people to develop sustainable human systems and activities. The event takes place at Potomac Overlook Regional Park, 2845 N. Marcey Road, at 7 p.m. Call 703-528-5406 for reservations.
<cal1>THURSDAY/AUG. 22
<cal2>Woodcarvers Club at the Lee Senior Center will meet at 1 p.m. for a class that includes chips, relief and round carving. No fee. Newcomers welcome. Call 703-228-0555 to sign up.
Communications Session Kirsten Taranto, senior adult wellness programmer, will conduct a session on communications at the Lee Senior Center at 1:30 p.m. The session is a part of a series on "Growing Wiser As We Age." No fee. Newcomers welcome. Call 703-228-0555 to sign up.
<cal1>FRIDAY/AUG. 23
<cal2>Duplicate Bridge Groups meet at the Madison Senior Center every Friday. Drop-in bridge begins at 10 a.m. No fee. Newcomers welcome. Call 703-228-5285.
Watercolor Painting classes are held every Friday for seniors at the Culpepper Garden Senior Center. No fee. Newcomers welcome. Call 703-228-4403 to register.
100th Anniversary of the Teddy Bear Learn about the art form of teddy bear artistry at Ballston Common Mall on Level 2 in front of Agape Bears at 6 p.m. World-renowned miniature teddy bear artist Deb Canham will attend, along with other local and national award-winning teddy bear artists. Call 703-841-2444, or visit www.agapebears.com.
<cal1>SATURDAY/AUG. 24
<cal2>Butterflies Safari Children 6 and up look for insects from 1:30-2:30 p.m. at Long Branch Nature Center, 625 Carlin Springs Road. Free. Call for reservations, 703-228-6535.
Snakes Alive! Families get up close and personal with some scaly creatures from 4-5:15 p.m. at Long Branch Nature Center, 625 Carlin Springs Road. Free. Call for reservations, 703-228-6535.
Nightlife at Fort C. F. Smith Families with children 6 and up look at creepy crawlies and nocturnal creatures. Free. Call Long Branch Nature Center for reservations at 703-228-6535.
Survival English classes are held every Saturday at the Culpepper Senior Center at 11 a.m. No fee. Newcomers welcome. Call 703-228-4403 to register.
Founders Day will be observed at Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial, at 7 a.m., sponsored by the National Park Service. Volunteers will remove invasive exotic vegetation, plant native trees, and help unveil a new informational exhibit on the woodlands. Union Army re-enactors will also be on hand to talk to visitors about the Civil War's effect on the environment. Call 703-235-1537 or 703-235-1530, or visit www.nps.gov/arho.
<cal1>SUNDAY/AUG. 25
<cal2>Ecuadorian Festival from noon-6 p.m. at the Lubber Run Amphitheatre, North Second and North Columbus streets. Free. 703-823-8695.
Service and Learning Project Park beautification with Arlington County park rangers at Arlington Mill Community Center, 4975 Columbia Pike, from 2-4 p.m. Free. Call 703-228-6535.
<cal1>MONDAY/AUG. 26
<cal2>The Northern Virginia Mineral Club Inc. will meet at the Long Branch Nature Center, 625 Carlin Springs Road, at 7:30 p.m. Contact Don Garrett at 703-430-1242.
AARP's 55 Alive Defensive Driving Class for seniors will be held today and Tuesday, Aug. 27, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Lee Senior Center. The cost is $10. Participants must attend both classes to receive the certificate. Call 703-228-0555 to register.
Central Library Book Discussion Monday Evenings with the Friends will meet at 7:30 p.m. in the meeting room of Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St. The group will discuss Richard Wright's "Native Son." Books and biographical information are provided free. New members welcome. Call 703-228-5994.
Aurora Hills Book Discussion will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the Aurora Hills Library, 735 S. 18th St. The group will discuss Robb Forman Dew's "Dale Loves Sophie to Death." Call 703-228-5715.
<cal1>TUESDAY/AUG. 27
<cal2>The Book Club at Culpepper Garden Senior Center will meet at 1:30 p.m. to discuss "Outside Package" by Julia Scully. No fee. Newcomers welcome. Call 703-228-4403 to sign up.
Vietnamese Cooking demonstration will be held at 10 a.m. at the Gunston/Drew Senior Center located at Carver Community Center. No fee. Newcomers welcome. Call 703-228-6970 to sign up.
Rockin' Bones take pride in staying close and true to the original classic rockabilly styles of such artists as Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran, from 9-11 p.m. at the Clarendon Ballroom, 3185 Wilson Blvd. The cost is $10. Call the dance hot line at 703-359-9882.
<cal1>WEDNESDAY/AUG. 28
<cal2>The Micromineralogist of the National Capital Area Inc. will meet at the Long Branch Nature Center, 625 Carlin Springs Road, at 7:30 p.m. Contact Fred Schaefermyer at 703-971-3080.
<cal1>THURSDAY/AUG. 29
<cal2>Woodworking Seniors who enjoy woodworking are invited to join a group at Lee Senior Center at 1 p.m. No fee. Newcomers welcome. Call 703-228-0555.
Grey House Potters show will feature containers. Pitchers, wine decanters, coffee and teapots, sake sets, mugs, tea bowls and more. Materials include porcelain, stoneware and earthenware in a wide variety of glaze colors and decorations, through Sept. 21, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday. Call 703-522-7738.
Central Library Book Discussion Thursday Morning with the Friends will meet at 10:30 a.m. in the meeting room of Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St. The group will discuss Isabel Allende's "The House of the Spirits." Books and biographical information are provided free. New members welcome. Call 703-228-5994.
<cal1>FRIDAY/AUG. 30
<cal2>Nighttime in the Summer Forest Families take a nighttime hike through the forest looking for nocturnal creatures, 8:30-9:30 p.m. Call for reservations at Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3608 N. Military Road, at 703-228-6535.
Salad Potluck An end-of-summer salad potluck lunch will be held at noon at the Aurora Hills Senior Center. Attendees should bring a salad to serve six; tuna salad will be provided. Newcomers welcome. Call 703-228-5722 to pre-register.
Senior Olympics The deadline for seniors (50-plus) to enter the 2002 Northern Virginia Senior Olympics to be held Sept. 14-26. Over 25 indoor and outdoor events are scheduled. Cost is $4 for registration and $1 per event. Participants must be 50 by Dec. 31. Call 703-228-4403 for a registration form or contact any senior center.
<cal1>SATURDAY/AUG. 31
<cal2>Ray Kaminsky plays at 7 p.m. at Potomac Overlook Regional Park, 2845 N. Marcey Road. Blues and folk songs will be performed and light refreshments will be served. The requested donation is $5-$7. Call 703-528-5406.
Gospel Jubilee and Dinner will be held at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 400 Lorcom Lane. The dinner will be held from 4:30-8:30 p.m. by the Phoenix Program Alumni, who have pledged to raise $5,000 for the Kline Building Campaign, and the proceeds from this event will be applied toward that goal. All members of the recovery community are invited to share a celebration of personal accomplishment. Call Doris Tilman at 703-248-8369 for reservations.
<cal1>SUNDAY/SEPT. 1
<cal2>Antiques Roadshow is offered by Arlington County from 1-5 p.m. at the Ball-Sellers House, 5620 S. Third St. Expert appraiser Jerome C. Ford will value family treasures and antiques, including small pieces of furniture, old china, glass, books and other collectibles. Admission is free, but as a benefit to the Ball-Sellers House, a donation of $5 is requested for each item appraised. Limit of three items per person. Call 703-379-2123 to reserve a time of appraisal.
<cal1>MONDAY/SEPT. 2
<cal2>Solo Art Exhibit Gwendolyn C. Bragg will be the featured artist in a one-woman exhibition called "Traveling with a Brush: Watercolors by Gwen Bragg," which features paintings of scenes from Italy, Greece and Peru. The paintings will be on display through Oct. 2 at the Cosi Courthouse, 2050 Wilson Blvd, from 7 a.m.-midnight, Monday-Thursday; 7 a.m.-1 a.m. on Saturdays; and 7:30 a.m.-midnight on Sundays. Call 703-525-3697.
<cal1>TUESDAY/SEPT. 3
<cal2>Historic Arlington Roundtable An informal gathering featuring a brown-bag luncheon for anyone interested in Arlington's history, in Room 715 at the County Building, 2100 Clarendon Blvd., from 12:15-1:15 p.m. The topic today is "Neighborhood Histories in Arlington." Call Michael Leventhal at 703-228-3813 or e-mail to cwramirex@starpower.net.
Island of Madagascar The armchair travelers at Madison Senior Center will visit the enchanted island of Madagascar at 12:30 p.m. No fee. Newcomers are welcome. Call 703-228-5285 to sign up, or drop in.
<cal1>WEDNESDAY/SEPT. 4
<cal2>Bike Trips for Seniors Four bike trips (Sept. 4, 10, 17 and 24) are planned for beginning and intermediate senior cyclists. The first trip on Sept. 4 has a fee of $50. The last three trips have a fee of $60 each. Pre-registration is necessary by contacting Esther Clark, fitness coordinator of the Office of Senior Adult Programs (OSAP) at 703-228-3600, Ext. 9996, or e-mail Esther Clark at eclark@co.arlington.va.us. Registration forms are also available at OSAP, 300 N. Park Drive at Lubber Run. Seniors must join OSAP and pay an annual registration fee of $5 to be eligible for the cycling program. Call OSAP at 703-228-4744.
The Genealogy Club at Lee Senior Center will meet at 1 p.m. Free. Newcomers welcome. Call 703-228-0555 to sign up.
<cal1>THURSDAY/SEPT. 5
<cal2>Interactive Fire Station Chat designed to give people practical tools to deal with the 9-11 terrorist attacks, from 6:30-8 p.m. at Arlington County Fire Station 9, 1900 S. Walter Reed Drive. The presentation is free and open to the public and will be hosted and facilitated by Ray Madaghiele — a Gilbert, Ariz., civil engineer turned human potential engineer — whose 3,000-mile, 70-day bicycling journey from Phoenix to Ground Zero, New York City, will bring him to Arlington. Call Bill Cox at 703-351-9747.
<cal1>FRIDAY/SEPT. 6
<cal2>Nutrition Specialist Ana Moran from the Cooperative Extension Service will conduct a nutrition class for seniors at 10:45 a.m. at Dawson Terrace Senior Center. No fee. Newcomers welcome. Call 703-228-6300 to sign up.
The Animal League of Arlington will visit Dawson Terrace Senior Center with dogs and cats at 10 a.m. Seniors will have an opportunity to interact with the animals and ask questions about pet care. No fee. Newcomers welcome. Call 703-228-6300 for details.
<cal1>SATURDAY/SEPT. 7
<cal2>Rosslyn Jazz Festival presented by Rosslyn Renaissance in conjunction with WPFW 89.3 FM, at Gateway Park, North Lynn at Lee Highway, from 1-6 p.m. The U.S. Army Blues Jazz Ensemble, Juanita Williams, Harry Wilson, Jerry Gordon and pianist Marc Cary's Indigenous People. Free. Visit www.rossren.com, or call 703-522-6628.
5K Race for 9/11 Arlington Police and Fire departments will host a 5K race to commemorate 9/11 at 6:30 p.m. The race will begin and end in Crystal City and will take runners by the rebuilt west wall of the Pentagon. The race will also serve as a fund-raiser for four Sept. 11-related charities. Fee is $20 if participants register before Sept. 1 and $25 thereafter. Visit www.racepacket.com to register online, or call Matt Smith at 703-228-4071 or Dan Borrelli at 703-228-4052.
9/11 Youth Forum Teens will gather to talk about how the events of and since Sept. 11 have affected their lives, from 2:30-4:30 p.m. in the auditorium of Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St. The event is free. It will be videotaped by Channel 33 (Arlington Community Television) for inclusion in Arlington County's Oral History Archives, and will be televised at a later date. Call Mary Azoy at 703-516-6771 or Jane Heavey at 703-522-7710 to register.