<cal1>WEDNESDAY/MAY 29
<cal2>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 In the final event in the Say the Word Literary Series, 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. Free parking in the building garage.
“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.
<cal1>THURSDAY/MAY 30
<cal2>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.
<cal1>FRIDAY/MAY 31
<cal2>"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.
<cal1>SATURDAY/JUNE 1
<cal2>Jane Franklin Dance Studio Open House Meet Jane Franklin and see repertoire excerpts, learn of programs and enjoy dessert, from 7-9 p.m. A $10 donation is suggested. Event will be held at 3700 S. Four Mile Run Drive. Call 703-212-7680 or visit www.janefranklin.com.
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.
Mineral Club Testing Rock Hardness is a program for ages 6 and older at Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Springs Road, from 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free. Door prizes and refreshments provided. Reservations required. Call 703-228-6535.
<cal1>SUNDAY/JUNE 2
<cal2>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 $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.
<cal1>MONDAY/JUNE 3
<cal2>Art Awareness Classes at Aurora Hills Senior Action Center and Fairlington Community Center will discuss romantic paintings from Spain, France and Germany. No fee. Newcomers welcome. Call 703-228-5722 for more details.
"Stars Tonight for June" will be presented at the Arlington Planetarium, 1426 N. Quincy St., at 7:30 p.m. A one-hour tour of the late spring night sky for ages 7 and older. Admission is $2.50 for adults and $1.50 for seniors and children 12 and under. Call 703-228-6070.
<cal1>TUESDAY/JUNE 4
<cal2>Storytelling Patricia Morningstar of Community Resilience Project will be the facilitator at 1 p.m. at Culpepper Garden Senior Action Center. No cost. Call 703-228-4403 to reserve a place.
Lunch-Time Concert at Crystal City Waterpark, South 18th Street and Crystal Drive, from 11:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m., features Nicki Barr performing acoustic rock. Free.
"The Amazing Memory" is the third in a series of workshops regarding aging offered by senior wellness programmer Kirsten Taranto at 10:30 a.m. at Gunston/Drew Senior Action Centers now located at Carver Community Center, 1415 S. Queen St. No fee. Call 703-228-5700.
"The Diaries," by John Strand. A novelist, pacifist, butterfly collector and German officer in occupied Paris records all he sees around him, providing a fascinating portrait of a city under siege. A world premiere starring Edward Gero and Broadway veteran Sybil Lines at Signature Theatre, 3806 S. Four Mile Run Drive, through July 14, Tuesday-Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 and 7 p.m. Call 703-218-6500. Visit www.sig-online.org.
Arlington Redevelopment and the New Urbanism is a program at Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St., at 7 p.m. in the auditorium with Terry Holzheimer, director of Business Investment Group, Arlington Economic Development. Call 703-228-5984.
"Spotlight on Education," a showcase of Classika Theatre's outreach programs, will be held from 6-8 p.m. at Hoffman-Boston Elementary, 415 S. Queen St. Call 703-824-0660.
<cal1>WEDNESDAY/JUNE 5
<cal2>Free Concert at Courthouse Plaza, 2100 Clarendon Blvd., from 6:30-8 p.m., features the new Tango music of the Manny Bobenreith Ensemble. Free.
Bird Walk Join members of the Northern Virginia Bird Club for a free informal walk through Long Branch and Glencarlyn parks in search of resident birds. Bring binoculars and field guides. Adults. Reservations required. Call 703-228-6535.
Reptile and Amphibian Care is a program at Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3608 N. Military Road, for ages 8 and older, from 3-4 p.m. Learn about these creatures before taking one as a pet. Free. Reservations required. Call 703-228-3403.
<cal1>THURSDAY/JUNE 6
<cal2>Financial Workshop The Lee Senior Action Center will hold a workshop covering the fundamentals of financial management from basic terms to sophisticated investment strategies at 11 a.m. No fee. Call 703-228-0555 to register.
Walking Sticks will walk in Barcroft Park at 10 a.m. No fee. Newcomers welcome. Call Culpepper Garden Senior Action Center to register at 703-228-4403.
The Phoenix Project is the subject of the next meeting of Rooms with a View at The Boeing Co., 1200 Wilson Blvd., from 6-8 p.m. Learn about construction efforts since the nearly nine months since the Sept. 11 attack on the Pentagon. Cost is $15 at the door. Call 703-522-6628 or visit www.rossren.com.
Free Lunch-Time Concert at Spice of Life Plaza, 1401 Wilson Blvd., from 11:45 a.m.-1:45 p.m., features Steve Wolf and Mac Walter performing jazz.
Financing a Personal Business "Making your Dream a Reality: Starting and Financing your own Business" will be held at 7 p.m. at Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St. Learn the qualities of an entrepreneur. Call 703-685-0510, Ext. 242, for details.
Master Gardeners' Plant Clinic at Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St., at 7 p.m. Each Thursday, gardening and plant-care advice and identification is dispersed. Call 703-228-6400.
<cal1>SATURDAY/JUNE 8
<cal2>Cooking Class at Fresh Fields, 2700 Wilson Blvd., from 1-3 p.m. Chef Curtis Ross is exploring the cuisines of the Caribbean, Latin America and Africa. Cost is $10. Call to register at 703-527-6596.
Outdoor Safety is a Junior Ranger Program for ages 7-10 from 1:30-2:30 p.m., which will meet at Hayes Park, 1516 N. Lincoln St. Learn a variety of skills that make the outdoor experience special including preparation for inclement weather and which items to bring on any journey. Cost is $5. Reservations are required. Call 703-228-6535.
"Thumbelina" opens at Classika Theatre, 4041 S. 28th St., in the Green Puppet Theatre. Show runs through June 30 on Saturdays and Sundays at 1 p.m. and Tuesdays at 1 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance; $12 at the door. Discounts available. Call 703-824-6200.
Hometown History Fair at Ball-Sellers House, 5620 S. Third St., from 1-4 p.m. Historical organizations in Arlington will show their work on the grounds of the house, offering exhibits and interactive demonstrations. Admission is free.