ONGOING
<cal2>Toastmasters International, McLean Chapter, meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the Meeting Room of the Dolley Madison Library. Join them to work on improving your communication skills, to become more effective in meetings and to convey your message more concisely. Contact Connie Rader, vice president of membership, at 703-356-5374 or e-mail her at cbrader@aol.com.
The Vienna Toastmasters meet twice a month at 7:30 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St., Vienna. The meetings for this month are scheduled for Nov. 13 and 20. Participants will have the opportunity to improve their communication skills. For more information, call Valerie Hall at 703-426-8073.
Toastmasters Saturday morning. Too busy during the week for Toastmasters? Join this club, which meets Saturday at 10 a.m. twice a month in Vienna Presbyterian Church, Room 376. Improve your communication and presentation skills in a supportive environment. Contact Viki Kinsman, 703-476-1736, or jvkinsman@aol.com.
The Club Phoenix Teen Center will hold contests and tournaments for middle-school students on Fridays at 4 p.m. On Nov. 29 there will be a doubles pool tournament, and on Dec. 6 a limbo contest. The Club is located in the Vienna Community Center. Call 703-255-6360.
The Crescent Model Railroaders will be hosting a series of model railroading workshops. Techniques for basic scenery, detailing and wiring will be demonstrated. The workshops are free and open to the public. The workshops are being held at 2 p.m. the first Sunday of every month through March 2003 at Granddad's Hobby Shop, located at 5260A Port Royal Road in Springfield. Visit the club's Web site, www.hirail.org, or call 703-426-0700.
The Great Falls Women's Club offers bridge lessons, a knitters and crocheters group, a tennis group, and a book discussion group. Anyone interested in joining the club is welcome to attend any of these activities. Membership is open to all residents of Fairfax County. Call Karen Magley at 703-430-8488.
The Newcomers Club of Vienna has three non-smoking bridge events each month: a party bridge held on the first Tuesday of the month and duplicate bridge on the third and fourth Wednesday of every month. All bridge events are at the Marco Polo Restaurant in Vienna. For reservations, call 703-281-4811 or 703-938-3505.
Jazzercize classes are now being held at St Francis Episcopal Church, located at 9220 Georgetown Pike in Great Falls. The 65-70 minutes class includes a warm-up, aerobic segment, muscle toning and flexibility exercises, and a cool-down. Call instructor Liz Needham at 703-450-0553.
The Fairfax Jubil-Aires, members of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America, meet every Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Old Town Hall in Fairfax. Visitors are always welcome. For information on membership, call 703-968-4292. For information on performance, call Mike Huddleston at 703-228-3250 or at 703-968-0263 or visit www.fairfaxjubilaires.org.
Club Phoenix Teen Center at the Vienna Community Center features a big screen TV, jukebox and CD player, Dreamcast, pool and ping pong tables and much more for Vienna-area middle-school students to enjoy. Hours of operation are Wednesday and Thursday from 3-6 p.m., Friday from 3-10 p.m. and Sunday from 12-4 p.m. For more information, call 703-255-6360.
Access Services, the Library Branch that serves individuals with disabilities, is sponsoring a new support group for seniors and people with low vision, at the Patrick Henry Library in Vienna. The VIP (Visually Impaired Person) Vienna Group meets at 10:30 a.m. on the third Thursday of each month. Patrick Henry Library is located at 101 Maple Ave. E. in Vienna. For more information, call 703-938-0405.
Colvin Run General Store in Great Falls invites you daily, except Tuesdays, to shop where your grandparents might have. Visit this restored building with fixtures from 100 years ago and browse through the old-fashioned merchandise. Hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 703-759-3403.
Nature Escapes take place every day, except Tuesdays, from 12-5 p.m., at Riverbend Visitor Center, Great Falls. Activities include crafts, exhibits and animal watching. Each month features a different theme. Call 703-759-9018.
The History of Great Falls is presented every day all through the day at the auditorium at the Great Falls Visitor Center. The program features a 10-minute slide show introducing 11,000 years of history of Great Falls.
Ranger talks take place daily and on the weekends from 12:30-3:30 p.m. at Overlook 2, Great Falls Park. Join a ranger to learn more about Great Falls Park and the Potomac River.
The Children's Area is open daily for children to check out seasonal exhibits and activities at Great Falls Park. Children 7-12 are welcome to participate in the Junior Ranger Program and explore the park on their own.
The Women's Center hosts the Job Hunters Forum the second Wednesday of each month from 7:30-9 p.m. The forum offers support for women and men who are actively searching for jobs. Cost is $10 members, $25 nonmembers each session.
<cal1>FRIDAY/NOV. 29
<cal2>The Northern Virginia Handcrafters Guild will hold its 20th annual Art & Craft Showcase on Thanksgiving weekend at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St. S.E in Vienna. Show hours are Friday and Saturday, Nov. 29 and 30, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and on Sunday, Dec. 1, from noon-5 p.m. Food is available Admission is $1.
Fighting Gravity will perform a special unplugged set at The Barns of Wolf Trap on Nov. 29 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 and are available by calling 703-218-6500.
The McLean Project for the Arts (MPA) will host a group of area museum shops at the McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave., for the 10th annual MPA Museum Shops Holiday Celebration, Friday, Nov. 29; Saturday, Nov. 30; and Sunday, Dec. 1. More than 25 museum shops will participate including several shops that are new to the event. Several authors will also attend the event selling signed copies of their books for holiday gift-giving. These include Mary Seeley, author of “Season's Greetings from the White House”; Julie Shields, author of “How to Avoid the Mommy Trap”; Nelda LaTeef, author of “The Hunter and the Ebony Tree” and “Working Women for the 21st Century”; Nancy Bradley, author of “Connemara Connection”; and Carole Herrick, author of “History of McLean.” The shops are open Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Parking is free. For more information, call 703-790-1953.
<cal1>SATURDAY/NOV. 30
<cal2>Personalized Internet tutoring will take place on Saturday, Nov. 30, at Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls. Participants can learn how to use the Web or increase their skills. Call 703-757-8560 for an appointment.
Singer/Pianist John Eaton will perform a concert composed of songs originally sung by Fred Astaire. This event will take place at The Barns of Wolf Trap on Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 and are available by calling 703-218-6500.
<cal1>MONDAY/DEC. 2
<cal2>Vienna-area girls in grades nine-12 are invited to the "Girls Group" on Monday, Dec. 2, from 3:30-5 p.m., at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St. S.E. The group provides a setting where girls can make new friends, participate in arts and crafts and community service projects.
To receive a message from Santa, children should mail their wishes by Dec. 2 in care of the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St. S.E., Vienna, VA 22180. Santa Grams will arrive in response at the Community Center beginning at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17. For more information, call the Vienna Parks and Recreation Department at 703-255-6360.
Historic Vienna Inc. and the town of Vienna will sponsor a holiday stroll on historic Church Street, Monday, Dec. 2, from 6-9 p.m. Mayor Jane Seeman will lead a tree-lighting ceremony at 7 p.m. Santa Claus will be at the Freeman Store located at the corner of Church and Mill streets to greet children. Church Street will be closed to vehicular traffic between Lawyers Road and Mill Street. Call 703-938-5187.
The Mamie Eisenhower Republican Women's Club will meet on Monday, Dec. 2, at 11:30 a.m., at the home of a member in Vienna. The officers for the year will be installed. For information call 703-620-3652.
<cal1>TUESDAY/DEC/3
Volunteers for Change offers a volunteer opportunity for adults featuring a flexible calendar of weekend and weekday evening projects to fit your schedule. The next orientation session will be Tuesday, Dec. 3 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the offices of Volunteer Fairfax in Central Fairfax. Call 703-246-3460 to register for the next orientation or get more information.
The Alden Theatre will hold auditions for its upcoming children's production of “The Jungle Book” on Tuesday, Dec. 3, and Wednesday, Dec. 4, from 4-6 p.m. McLean residents 10-14 are invited to audition for this adaptation of Kipling's classic. Children may come either day, and no appointment is needed. For information, call 703-790-0123
<cal1>WEDNESDAY/DEC. 4
<cal2>La Leche League of Vienna will hold its next meeting on Dec. 4 at 10 a.m. The topic is "Why Breast is Best." Pregnant and nursing women as well as their children are welcome to attend. Meeting location is St. Mark's Catholic Church, 9970 Vale Road, Vienna. There is no charge. For more information or questions, call a La Leche League Leader at 703-281-5801 or 703-716-4872.
<cal1>Wednesday/Dec. 4
<cal2>"Dangerous Liaisons" tickets go on sale for the performances that will take place on Jan. 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 31 and Feb. 1. Tickets are $8 for general admission and $7 for students and senior citizens. Call 703-255-6360.
The Alden Theatre presents a travel and adventure film titled “The Misty Issues of Scotland,” at 8 p.m. Tickets are $9 ($7 for district residents). The Alden Theatre is located in the McLean Community Center at 1234 Ingleside Ave. For tickets, call 202-432-SEAT.
<cal2>Matthew Kahler will be opening for Todd Schaeffer at Jammin' Java, 123 Maple Ave., Vienna. Tickets are $10 at the door, and the show begins at 8 p.m.
<cal2>Fitness Information Night will be held from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St. S.E. The program is free and will feature personal trainers John Mays and Nathan Geiner answering questions related to diet, exercise and lifestyle changes. Call 703-255-6360.
<cal1>THURSDAY/DEC. 5
<cal2>The Women’s Club of McLean will host its annual Holiday Homes Tour and Boutique on Dec. 5. The boutique will be held at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. There will be 25 craft booths, an antique booth and a silent auction. The tour features four of McLean's most prestigious homes decorated for the holidays. The homes are open between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at Mesmeralda's of McLean, Worthington's of Vienna, the Treasure House of Great Falls, or by calling 703-893-3798.
<cal1>Thursday/ Dec. 5
<cal2>College Planning Strategies will be presented from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St. S.E. Sean Sinclair of Edward Jones Investments will discuss college 529 savings plans, personal investment accounts, custodial accounts, prepaid tuition plans and other options. For more information or to register, call 703-255-6360.
<cal2>Music Together, a children's music program, will provide a free demonstration class at 10 a.m. at the Ashburn Volunteer Fire Department, 20688 Ashburn Road. Music together is a class for parents and their children up to age four. Classes consist of singing, dancing and movement, and are designed to develops children's musical skills. To register call 703-356-2638.
<cal2>Schooner Fare, a folk trio, will perform at The Barns of Wolf Trap at 8 p.m. Tickets are $18, and are available by calling 703-218-6500.
<cal1>Friday-Sunday/Dec. 6-8
<cal2>McLean Community Center's 20th Annual Holiday Crafts Show will take place from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, and noon-4 p.m. on Sunday at 1234 Ingleside Road. Admission is $1. The show will feature more than 70 crafters selling one-of-a-kind products. Call 703-790-0123.
<cal1>FRIDAY/DEC. 6
<cal2>A Holiday Open House will be held at the Great Falls Village Center from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Dec. 6. For more information, contact the Village Centre Condominium Association at 703-759-2485 or at www.greatfallsva.com
Richie Havens, a folk singer, will perform at The Barns of Wolf Trap on Dec. 6 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20, and are available by calling 703-218-6500.
The inimitable “Reindog Parade,” sponsored annually by the Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce, will begin with registration at 8 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 7, at Langley Shopping Center on Chain Bridge Road.
For a fee of two cans of dog food, which will be donated to the Fairfax County Animal Shelter, dogs in holiday attire compete for contest prizes in several different categories.
Judges will be Dranesville Supervisor Stuart Mendelsohn, Ellen Field, a former Chamber of Commerce executive director who introduced the “reindog” tradition in McLean seven years ago, and Beth Barkley of Northern Virginia Search and Rescue Dogs.
Peggy Fox of Channel 9/WUSA-TV will emcee the event. Santa Claus will appear to be photographed with dogs.
Fairfax County dog licenses will be available for purchase with proof of a rabies vaccination. Call 703-356-5424.
The 2002 Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Great Falls Village Center, Georgetown Pike, Great Falls from 6:30-8 p.m. The event includes a live Nativity Scene, Petting Zoo, The Herndon High School Choir, and Santa and Mrs. Claus arriving by fire truck.
<cal1>SATURDAY/DEC. 7
<cal2>A Holiday Open House will be held at the Great Falls Village Center from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Dec. 7. For more information, contact the Village Centre Condominium Association at 703-759-2485 or at www.greatfallsva.com
Holiday Concert performed by the McLean Orchestra in Langley High School's Auditorium, located at 6520 Georgetown Pike in McLean. General admission is $20; admission for students and seniors is $17 and children 12 and under, $5. Call 703-451-2399.
The Langley High School Choral Department is holding "Ye Old Madrigal Feaste" on Dec. 6 and 7 at the Providence Baptist Church in McLean.
The event features the Langley Madrigals and includes dinner, holiday song and merriment in the style of 16th-century England. Guests will enjoy a lavish Feast in the Great Hall while the Madrigal choir sings fa-la-las and rings in the season with a rousing holiday program.
Reservations are $25 for adults and $15 for children under 12. The deadline for reservations is Nov. 22. Call 703-287-2822 for information.
Santa Claus visits the Freeman Store, 131 Church St. N.E., Vienna, from 1-3 p.m. Call 703-938-5187.
The Annual Model Train Display will take place at Colvin Run Mill, 10017 Colvin Run Road, Great Falls, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is free.
The New Dominion Chorale will present Handel's “Messiah” at 8 p.m. at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall, 3001 N. Beauregard St., Alexandria. Featured soloists will be Sharon Christman, Kathryn Honan-Carter, Daniel Snyder and Janathan Deutsch. Tickets are $22 for adults, $18 for seniors and $15 for students. For information and tickets, call 703-442-9404.
The 6th Annual Reindog Parade will take place at the Langley Shopping Center in McLean. Dogs will parade in holiday attire for contest prizes . Registration begins at 8 a.m., and the fee is two cans of dog food. Peggy Fox of Channel 9 WUSA will emcee and Santa will be available for pictures with the dogs.
A Holiday Movie Fest for High School Students will be held from 7-10:30 p.m. at the Club Phoenix Teen Center, 120 Cherry St. S.E. The movie marathon will include three comedies with a holiday theme. Admission is free. Call 703-255-6360.
The Fifth Annual Benefit Concert for the Van Ness Study Center will take place at 8 p.m. at the Oakcrest School, 850 Balls Hill Road, McLean. Tickets are $35 for adults and $20 for students. They are available at the door or by calling 202-362-0763.
Ballroom Dancing featuring the Colvin Run Dance Band will take place from 9 p.m.- midnight at the Colvin Run School House, 10201 Colvin Run Road, Great Falls. The cost is $12 per person. Call 703-430-3342.
The Annual Christmas Bazaar will take place from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Epiphany Methodist Church, 1014 Country Club Drive, Vienna. There will be a silent auction, crafts, greenery, a fun room for the children and more. Call 703-938-3494.
<cal1>Saturday- Monday/Dec. 7-9
<cal2>Colvin Run General Store hosts its annual Children's Holiday Shopping from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, noon-4 p.m. on Sunday, and 1-4 p.m. on Monday. The store will be stocked with unusual and reasonably priced items. Volunteers will help children find the perfect gift for everyone on their list. Call 703-759-2771.
<cal1>SUNDAY/DEC. 8
<cal2>McLean Symphony's Annual Winter Family Concert will take place at 8 p.m. at the Alden Theatre, 1234 Ingleside Ave. Tickets are $12 for adults, $ for seniors and students, and $35 for families. Call 703-848-0165.
<cal2>Wolf Trap Holiday Sing-A-Long at Wolf Trap Farm Park, in Vienna, on Sunday, Dec. 8. Gates open at 3 p.m., performance 4- 5:30 p.m. Free, no tickets required, donations of canned goods for the Capital Area Community Food Bank appreciated. Features a musical celebration with Christmas carols and Chanukah songs performed by the U.S. Marine Band and other vocal groups, followed by a "Silent Night" candlelight procession. Call 703-255-1900.
Tiny Heirlooms will hold a class, "How To Electrify Your Dollhouse," on Sunday, Dec. 8, from 6-7 p.m. This is a class for beginners. Video and hands-on practice. Materials are $15. Receive 10 percent off other electrical purchases that night. Refreshments will be served. R.S.V.P. by Dec. 6.
<cal1>MONDAY/ DEC. 9
<cal2>"Monday Night with the Redskins" will be held Monday, Dec. 9, at Morton’s, Tysons Corner, 8075 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, from 7-8 p.m. Free.
Mingle with and get autographs of your favorite
Washington Redskins and enjoy free Morton's famous
filet sandwiches. Complimentary copies of the Redskins
Yearbook available. Information, 202-296-7200; directions,
703-883-0800.
<cal1>Tuesday/Dec. 10
<cal2>Newcomers of Great Falls will hold a December Holiday Luncheon/Social at 11:30 a.m. at the Belmont Country Club, 19661 Belmont Manor Lane, Ashburn. The cost is $40 per person. Members and prospective members are invited. To reserve a space, call 703-757-1817.
<cal1>FRIDAY/Dec. 13
<cal2>Charity Citrus Fruit Sale at American Legion Post 270, 1355 Balls Hill Road, McLean. Friday, Dec. 13, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 14, 8 a.m.-noon. Proceeds to support local community youth, patriotic and veteran needs. Ruby red grapefruit, navel oranges, and Christmas tangerines are featured. Visit Web site www.mcleanpost270.org or call 703-356-8259 for additional details.
<cal1>MONDAY/DEC. 16
<cal2>Chapter 754 of AARP will hold its annual Christmas party and dinner on Monday, Dec. 16, at the Moose Lodge on Court House Road. The event will include live musical entertainment, and reservations are required. Contact Virginia Casey at 703-938-7693 no later than Nov. 30.