To have an item listed in the calendar, mail to Calendar Editor, 1610 King St., Alexandria, VA 22314; fax to 703-917-0991; or e-mail to gazette@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is Tuesday at noon for the following week’s paper. Photos are welcome.
THURSDAY/JAN. 2
World Short Story Discussion Group. Alexandria Library, Burke Branch, 4701 Seminary Road. 7-8:30 p.m. Discussion of Samuel Beckett’s “First Love” (Ireland), Raymond Carver’s “Fat” (US), and Luisa Valenzuela’s “I’m Your Horse in the Night” (Argentina). Call Mark at 703-519-3498.
TUESDAY/JAN. 7
Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce First Tuesday Business Lunch. The Mount Vernon Inn. "Everything You Wanted to Know About the Law for You and Your Business (and Were Afraid to Ask)." Chamber members in the legal professional will be on hand to answer your questions about the law. $15 for Chamber members with a reservation, $25 for others. R.S.V.P. at 703-360-6925 or Info@mtvernon-leechamber.org.
Brief Encounters USA Six Minute Dating Event. Kingfish, 1120 King St. Check-in at 7:15 p.m.; encounters start promptly at 7:30 p.m.. Pre-registration required at www.briefencountersusa.com. Ages 30-40. $35. E-mail us@briefencountersusa.com or call 703-524-8570
WEDNESDAY/JAN. 8
Square Dance Lesson. Lincolnia Center, 4710 N. Chambliss St. 7:30-9:30 p.m. No experience necessary. Singles, couples and families welcome. Call Helen Berry at 703-533-8786.
THURSDAY/JAN. 9
"Diverse Natural Communities of Greater Washington, D.C." Talk by field ecologist Rod Simmons at the meeting of the Potowmack Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society. Green Springs Garden Park, 4603 Green Spring Road. 7:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. Call Shirley Gay at 703-920-1913.
<cal1>FRIDAY/JAN. 10
<cal2>Friday Nighters Dancing Club. Social/Ballroom dancing to live music of The Family at Fairhaven Community Center, 9 p.m.-midnight. Reservations recommended. Call 703-799-3068.
SUNDAY/JAN. 12
Brief Encounters USA Special Wine Tasting/Mini-Dating Event. Ecco Cafe, 220 North Lee Street. Check-in at 6:45 p.m., social hour til 7:30 p.m. (when encounters will begin). Ages 30-46 (younger ages welcome). Pre-registration required at www.briefencountersusa.com. $40 before Jan. 5th, $45 after Jan. 5th. Call 703-524-8570.
THURSDAY/JAN. 16
Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce Business Networking Reception, 5-7 p.m. Starbucks Coffee House, 6754 Richmond Highway. Meet other Chamber members.
"Beat the Winter Blues" Bingo. Mt. Vernon High School cafeteria, 8515 Old Mt. Vernon Rd. Benefits the Mt. Vernon High School Band Boosters. 6:30 p.m. Admission will be charged at the door and food will also be available for purchase. Call Wayne E. Spangler at 703-360-4234.
FRIDAY/JAN. 17
Spotlight Singles Night. Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe St. See "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" Mixer from 6:45-7:45. Show starts at 8 p.m. $20 for reception and show. Call 703-683-0496 to register.
Dancing with the Mount Vernon Swing Band. Hollin Hall Senior Center, 1500 Shenandoah Road. 7:30-9:30 p.m. $4 per person. Call 703-765-4573.
SATURDAY/JAN. 18
Community Family Day. Hollin Hall Senior Center, 1500 Shenandoah Road. 1 p.m.-6 p.m. Call 703-765-4573.
MONDAY/JAN. 20
Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce Election Night Dinner Meeting. 6:30 p.m. Primo's Restaurant, 1636 Belle View Blvd. Cast your vote for the new board members and hear the election results. $25 for Chamber members with a reservation, and $35 for others. R.S.V.P. 703-360-6925 or Info@mtvernon-leechamber.org.
EXHIBITS & SHOWS
New Members Show. Gallery West, 205 S. Union St. Jan 4-26. Receptions Jan. 9 and Jan. 10 from 6-9 p.m. Hours are Thursday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Open every day from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. through Dec. 24. Visit www.gallery-west.com. Call 703-549-7359.
Tidal Shards. Watercolor paintings by Rachel Collins. Jan. 9-Feb. 2. The Art League, 105 N. Union St. Hours Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Call 703-683-1780.
"Tis the Season." Potomac Craftsmen Fiber Gallery. Studio 18, Torpedo Factory Art Center. Gallery members present unique, one-of-a-kind holiday gifts. Through Jan. 5. Hours Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 703-548-0935.
All-media membership show. The Art Leauge, 105 N. Union St. Jan. 8-Feb. 2. Hours are Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday from noon-5 p.m. Call 703-683-1780.
Winter Art Exhibition and Sale. Adams-Byrd Fine Arts and Antiques, 8747 Cooper Road. Exhibition and sale of over 300 original oil paintings, watercolors, drawings, engravings, etchings and serigraphs. Through February. Call 703-799-8700.
"The Artistry of African Currency." The Alexandria Black History Center, 638 N. Alfred St. Through Jan. 26. Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Opening reception Dec. 12, 6-8 p.m. R.S.V.P. by calling 703-838-4356.
The Crummles' Christmas Carol. Metro Stage, 1201 N. Royal St. in Alexandria. Through Jan. 5. Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 7 p.m. $30. Call 703-548-9044 or visit www.metrostage.org.
"Generations: Costume in Alexandria." The Lyceum, Alexandria's history museum, 201 S. Washington St. Through Feb. 23. The exhibition will feature a collection of clothing dating back more than a century. The museum is open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 1 - 5 p.m., Sundays. Call 703-838-4994.
"Art-4-Kids." The Art League, the Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 N. Union St. through Jan. 6. Opening reception Dec. 8 from 2-4 p.m. Call 703-683-1780.
"The Pirates of Penzance." West End Dinner Theatre, 4615 Duke St. Feb. 20-June 29. $33-39. Tuesday-Sunday evenings: dinner 6 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m. Sunday and Wednesday matinees: dinner at noon, show starts 2 p.m. Call 703-370-2500.
"Connections." Seven printmakers create a 448-inch long piece. Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 N. Union St. Open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Jan. 1-Feb. 28. Call 703-683-1342.
"Pooh and Tigger Too." West End Dinner Theatre, 4615 Duke St. Jan. 25, Feb. 1, 8, 15, 22, March 1, 8. 2 p.m. No dinner served. $9 per person or $8 per person with a group of 10 or more. Call 703-370-2500.
"Civil War Minutes" video series. Fort Ward Museum library. 2 p.m. Jan. 11, 18, 25 and Feb. 1. Free. Reservations recommended. Call 703-838-4848.
CLASSES & MEETINGS
Yoga classes. St. Mark's Episcopal Church, S. Kings Highway. Mondays, 10-11 a.m. Call Sandy at 703-971-2214 or e-mail JoyfulHeartYoga@aol.com.
Bowling at AMF Penn Daw Lanes. Every Friday with Charles Houston Senior Center. Call Vanessa Greene at 703-838-4832.
Toastmasters Club: The Promise Speakers. Toastmasters Club meets on the second and fourth Saturday of each month. Denny's Restaurant, 7214 Richmond Highway. 7:30 a.m. Speeches by members and other speaking activities. Call Liz at 703-360-0790.
The Alexandria Farmers Market. 5-10 a.m. Saturdays year-round. Parking is free in the garage underneath Market Square, 301 King St., during the hours of the market. Call 703-370-8723.
Principles and Practices of Real Estate class. The CBRB School of Real Estate. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Alexandria sales office. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6-10 p.m., through Jan. 30. To register, call 1-800-992-4794.
Class Action Suite. ReCreations Decorative Consignments, 8804 Pear Tree Village Court, holds classes on various topics. Call 703-360-5100.
Emotions Anonymous. A 12-step fellowship for people whose emotions are causing difficulties in their lives. Every Wednesday. 7:30 p.m. Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church, 2001 Sherwood Hall Lane. Call 703-660-8798, or e-mail hemsidan@aaahawk.com.
Florence Melton Mini-School. Agudas Achim Congregation. Once-a-week classes on the foundations of Jewish living and the history of Jewish people. Call Carol or Sam Backman at 703-569-6507.
Greenlight Toastmasters of Old Town, Alexandria seeks new members. Meets at the Lee Center in Old Town the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. 7 p.m. Prospective members are always welcome. Call 703-998-9515.
Metaphysics Classes. The Northern Virginia Branch School of the Institute of Divine Metaphysical Research, 8794 Sacramento Drive. Free public lectures titled “Elohim: The Archetype Pattern of the Universe.” Every Sunday, noon-2 p.m. Every Tuesday and Thursday, 8-10 p.m. Call 703-799-9494.
Yoga Classes. Introductory yoga classes will be held at the Moksa Yoga & Holistic Health Center, 5960 Richmond Highway (Huntington Gateway). Free; donations appreciated. Call 703-317-0060.
* Sunday Mornings, 9-10:15 a.m., Community Yoga Class
* Monday Evenings, 6:15-7:15 p.m., Breathing/Meditation Class
MOMS Club of Alexandria. Meets the last Tuesday of every month. 10 a.m. Fairlington Presbyterian Church, 3846 King St. Club is open to moms living in Alexandria. Call 703-234-3953, Ext. 5318.
MOMS Club of South Alexandria. Meets the second Tuesday of every month. 10:30 a.m. Sunset Hills Baptist Church, 3500 Franconia Road. Club is open to moms and children living in South Alexandria. Call 703-960-3366.
Post Cana of Northern Virginia. Social organization for widows and widowers. Meets the second Monday and fourth Friday of each month. 8 p.m. Second Presbyterian Church, 1400 Janney’s Lane. Call 703-836-1436.
Bird-Watching Club. Hollin Hall Senior Center, 1500 Shenandoah Road. Meets once a month. Call 703-765-4573.