WEDNESDAY/MAY 22
Gemstone Club for grade two and up meets from 3-4 p.m. at Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3608 N. Military Road. The emerald, May’s birthstone, will be examined. There’s a $3 fee. Reservations required. Call 703-228-3403.
Nighttime in the Spring Forest is for families from 8:15-9:15 p.m. Join a naturalist from Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3608 N. Military Road, for a hike through the woods looking and listening for nocturnal animals. Free. Reservations required. Call 703-228-3403.
Public Forum on the county’s desire to erect a memorial to commemorate the events of Sept. 11 at Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St., at 7:30 p.m. Visit www.co.arlington.va.us/forums/september11. Leave a voice-mail comment at 703-228-3969, or fax comments to
703-228-3295.
Book Signing Local poet Frank MacEowen will discuss his new book, “The Mist-Filled Path: Celtic Wisdom for Exiles, Wanderers and Seekers,” at Olsson’s, 2111 Wilson Blvd., at 7 p.m. Call 703-525-4227.
Friday Morning Music Club Lunch Time Chamber Concert at Ellipse Arts Center, 4350 N. Fairfax Drive, from noon–1 p.m. Free.
Call 703-228-7710.
Rooms with a View continues at the Rosslyn Spectrum, 1611 N. Kent St., from 6-8 p.m. Selections from Horizons Theatre, LeNeon Theatre, Wendy Lane Bailey and Hesperus. Evening includes a preview of “Slapstic-on,” a film festival devoted to classic comedy. Refreshments from Spice of Life Café. Tickets are $12.50 in advance, $15 at the door.
Call 703-522-6628.
Food Preparation Class “Fruit and Vegetable Carving” will be presented at Columbia Pike Library, 816 S. Walter Reed Drive, at 7 p.m. Learn the fine art of carving garnishes in celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Call 703-228-5710.
Walking Club of Arlington Seniors will walk from Shirlington to the Washington Marina, at 9:30 a.m. Cost is $2.50 to cover transportation to and from walking site. The group will meet at Culpepper Garden Senior Action Center. Newcomers welcome. Call to reserve a seat, 703-228-4403.
Town Meeting Discussion of 2002 General Assembly Session with Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple and Del. Robert Brink at 7 p.m. at Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St.
Call 703-243-5778.
Family Stories at Glencarlyn Library, 300 S. Kensington St., begins at 7:30 p.m. Call 703-228-6548. Stories, songs, poetry and a craft for 3- to 7-year-olds at Shirlington Library, 2700 S. Arlington Mill Drive, at 7 p.m.
Call 703-228-6545.
FRIDAY/MAY 24
“Far Away Places” features a cabaret performance by Tom Andersen, May 24-25 at 8 and 10 p.m. Presented by Signature Theatre at 3806 S. Four Mile Run. Tickets are $20; 8 p.m. shows are sold out. Call 703-218-6500.
Book Signing Dominick Pisano and Robert van der Linden will discuss their new book, “Charles Lindbergh and the Spirit of St. Louis,” at Olsson’s, 2111 Wilson Blvd., at 11 a.m.
Call 703-525-4227.
“Laughter on the 23rd Floor” by Neil Simon is a celebration of the golden age of television when teams of comedy writers created material for weekly variety shows. Presented by Dominion Stage at Theatre One at Gunston, 2700 S. Lang St., through June 8. Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., June 1 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $9-$11. Call 703-683-0502. Visit www.dominionstage.org.
Music Appreciation Class at Culpepper Garden Senior Action Center will discuss 20th-Century Polish Composers, at 1:30 p.m. No fee.
Call 703-228-4403 to reserve a seat.
Newcomers welcome.
SATURDAY/MAY 25
Memorial Day Service in recognition of submarine veterans will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at 1 p.m. Service will be held near the headstone for the USS F-4 crew members in Section 2, near the intersection of Roosevelt and McClellan Drive.
Summer Concert Series at Potomac Overlook Regional Park, 2845 Marcey Road, kicks off with Blues Works, at 7 p.m. Light refreshments. Requested donation is $5-$7.
Call 703-528-5406.
Pool Opening Upton Hill Regional Park, 6060 Wilson Blvd., will open for the season at 10 a.m. Call 703-534-3437.
Book Group “Beowulf” will be discussed at Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St., at 10:30 a.m. in the second-floor meeting room.
Call 703-228-5990.
“Creating My Own Happiness” will be presented at Arlington Metaphysical Chapel, 5618 Wilson Blvd., from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The workshop will teach participants how to control their thoughts and transform their life. Cost is $35. Call 703-276-8738.
African Violet Show The African Violet Society of America will hold this event at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Hundreds of plants will be on display, as well as supplies and other plant-related items. Admission is free. Visit www.avsa.org.
Evening Campfire Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Springs, presents stories, games, songs, animal guests and s’mores, from 7:30-8:45 p.m. Reservations required. Call 703-228-6535.
SUNDAY/MAY 26
National Karate Tournament, featuring the best regional champions in amateur competition from across the country, will be held at Marymount University, 2807 N. Glebe Road, in the Verizon Gymnasium. Tickets are $10 at the door. To reserve tickets, call 301-254-8884. Visit www.jskaintl.org.
Choral Music Marathon with The Metropolitan Chorus at 3 p.m. at Westover Baptist Church, 1125 N. Patrick Henry Drive. Hear choral favorites that have been part of the Chorus’ regular programming since 1966, plus a special 35th anniversary season celebration. Tickets are $10-$15. Call 703-836-4822. Visit www.metchorus.org.
TUESDAY/MAY 28
Birding Trip Adults will leave from Lubber Run Recreation Center, 300 N. Park Drive, for Ivy Creek Natural Area in Albemarle County at 7:30 a.m. Involves four to five miles of hiking. Cost is $15. Call for reservations at 703-228-3403.
Brazilian Jazz free lunch time concert at Crystal City Waterpark, South 18th Street and Crystal Drive, from 11:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m., featuring Origem.
Swing Dance Martini Red will appear for listening and dancing at Clarendon Ballroom, 3185 Wilson Blvd., from 9-11 p.m. Cost is $10. Call 202-244-9166.
Memorial Day Tribute will be held at Aurora Hills Senior Action Center at noon. Local historian Les Albers will conduct patriotic programs, and a military band will entertain. Lunch available. Cost is $5. Register by calling 703-228-5722.
Book Discussion “A Cab Called Reliable” by Patti Kim will be discussed by book club members at Culpepper Garden Senior Action Center at 1:30 p.m. Newcomers always welcome. No fee. Call 703-228-4403.
WEDNESDAY/MAY 29
The Legend of the Lorax is a program for grade one and up at Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Springs Road, from 2:30-4 p.m., about trees. Free. Call for reservations at
703-228-6535.
Read between the Wines The final event in the Say the Word Literary Series, with winners of the National Competition for poems about joy will read from their works. Arlington author M.A. Schaffner, author of “The Good Opinion of Squirrels,” will also read from his works. In between readings, Jon Palmer Claridge will conduct a wine tasting of Chardonnay and Cabernet at different price points, titled “What Price Joy?” Ellipse Arts Center. 703-228-7710.
“The Little Mermaid” by Hans Christian Anderson will be presented by The Children’s Theatre at Thomas Jefferson Theatre, 125 S. Old Glebe Road, through June 9. Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets are $7-$10. Call 703-548-1154 or visit www.arlingtonarts.org/tct.
“Hot and Bothered” A musical revue of sexy songs of the past sung by some present-day divas will be presented by Horizons Theatre at Rosslyn Spectrum, 1611 N. Kent St., at 8 p.m. through June 9. Tickets are $16-$22. Free parking. Call 703-243-8550.
Cooking Class “Cook Smart” with USA Weekend food columnist Pam Anderson at Sur La Table, 1101 S. Joyce St., Suite B-20, at 6:30 p.m. Learn the best and smartest way to cook summer favorites. Cost is $50. Call 703-414-3580.
Rockabilly free concert at Courthouse Plaza, 2100 Clarendon Blvd., from 6:30-8 p.m., featuring 52 Pickup.
Accepting Life’s Transitions is a program about coping with aging with Kirsten Taranto at Culpepper Garden Senior Action Center at 1 p.m. No fee. Newcomers welcome.
Call 703-228-4403.
THURSDAY/MAY 30
Stop in for Stories at Aurora Hills Library, 735 S. 18th St., at 10 and 11 a.m. For ages 2-4 with an adult. Call 703-228-5715.
Free Lunch Time Concert at Spice of Life Plaza, 1401 Wilson Blvd., from 11:45 a.m.-1:45 p.m., featuring Lisa Moscatiello and Dave Chappell performing Celto-American music.
Adopt-a-Family Celebration The Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless will honor clients completing its Adopt-a-Family program at their annual graduation celebration at 6 p.m. Visit www.aachhomeless.org.
FRIDAY/MAY 31
“The U-2 Incident: 40 Years Later,” with George Mason University professor Gary Powers at 1 p.m. at Aurora Hills Senior Action Center. No charge. Call to reserve a space at
703-228-5722.
FocusFest 2002 at Kenmore Middle School, 200 S. Carlin Springs Road, features students performing music, dancing, telling stories, a coffeehouse and bookfair, demonstrating the potter’s wheel and more, from 6-9:30 p.m. Hands-on arts and technology activities including crafts from recycled materials and digital photos. For families with children 5-14. Call 703-228-6800.
Music Appreciation at Culpepper Garden Senior Action Center at 1:30 p.m. “Salon or Saloon” music. Newcomers welcome. No fee.
Call 703-228-4403.
SATURDAY/JUNE 1
Strawberry Festival at Bethel United Church of Christ, 4347 Arlington Blvd., from 3:30-7:30 p.m., rain or shine. Music by Norman Crarey, strawberry shortcake, ice cream, hot dogs and beverages. Modest prices. Benefits Bethel Senior Choir. Call Toosie Margolies at 703-528-0937.
National Trails Day features interactive activities, give-a-ways, refreshments and exhibits throughout the county off various bike trails, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Register a bicycle, enter to win a new bike or helmet, see a demonstration by the Arlington Fire Department and EMS units, and learn how pets can enjoy the parks, too. Site 1: Gateway Park (Lee Highway and W&OD Trail); Site 2: Custis Trail (Nature Wetland adjacent to I-66); Site 3: Bluemont Junction Caboose (at W&OD Trail and 601 N. Manchester St.); Site 4: Columbia Pike (Off W&OD Trail); Site 5: Barcroft Shelter No. 1 (4100 S. Four Mile Run); and Site 6: Four Mile Run Trail (at S. Glebe Road near S. Lang St.). Activities vary at each location. Free. Call Ranger Mike Hancock 703-525-0168 (voice) or 703-228-4611 (TTY).
Bicycle Collection at Mount Olivet United Methodist Church, North Glebe Road and 16th Street, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Pedals for Progress will send the bicycles overseas. A donation of $10 is requested to help pay shipping.
Opening Night for “Antigone” at Classika Theatre, 4041 S. 28th St., at 7:30 p.m. This retelling of Sophocle’s tragic tale written 2,500 years ago will play through July 13, Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. Tickets are $17 in advance and $20 at the door. Call 703-824-0660 or visit www.classika.org.
SUNDAY/JUNE 2
Clarendon Cup An international field of men and women will compete for a total prize list of over $15,000. One-kilometer race begins at 8 a.m. at Clarendon Metro. Visit www.arlingtonsports.com.
Mitzvah 5K Run begins at 10 a.m. at Arlington-Fairfax Jewish Congregation, 2920 Arlington Blvd. Event also includes a 2.5K Walk and Wheelchair Roll. Entry fee is $15 before May 24; $20 after May 24 or day of race. Register online at www.racepacket.com.
Call 703-218-2726.
Choral Music Marathon The Metropolitan Chorus will perform at Westover Baptist Church, 1125 N. Patrick Henry Drive, at 3 p.m. Handicapped-accessible. Free parking. Cost is $15; $10 for military, student or senior. Group rates available. Call 703-933-2500 or visit www.metchorus.org.
Spring Concert Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, 4444 Arlington Blvd., will present “Bach and the African Beat” at 7 p.m. Free. Call 703-892-2565.