Events
THURSDAY/APRIL 22
19th Annual Spring Fling. A benefit fashion show will be held at 10 a.m., at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1301 Collingwood Road. The proceeds will be donated to United Community Ministries (UCM). No admission fee; however, a donation for UCM will be requested. Baby-sitting will be provided, and reservations are required. Call 703-360-2813.
APRIL 23 & 24
Annual Plant Sale. American Horticultural Society will hold their Annual Plant Sale at River Farm, 7931 W. Boulevard Dr., on Friday and Saturday. More than 20 specialty plants vendors from throughout the mid-Atlantic region will be offering a wide variety of plants ranging from woodland natives to sun-loving annuals and perennials. Look also for information on classes and workshops (in Schools & Classes sections) throughout the month of April. Call 703-768-5700.
FRIDAY/APRIL 23
Tea Dance. 2 p.m. Traditional English Afternoon Tea, as well as a dance lesson and general dancing until 4:15 p.m. Singles and couples welcome. $8 per person Dance Studio Lioudmila, 18 Roth Street (off Duke Street), Alexandria. 703-751-8868. www.dancelioudmila.com.
Blessed Sacrament's Spring Auction. A 70's and 80's Retro Celebration, 7 p.m., 1417 West Braddock Road, Alexandria. Food and drinks from Mango Mike's. 703-998-4170.
APRIL 24-26
Elizabeth Hartwell Environmental Education Fund. This special weekend event with be held at Mason Neck State Park. activities begin at 8 a.m., with a 5K run/walk on Saturday and conclude with a Golf Tournament on Monday at 8 a.m. Other events will be held throughout the weekend. Call 703-765-2562.
SATURDAY/APRIL 24
Benefit Concert. Cleve Francis and Herb Tyson will headline the annual Bryant Early Learning Center (BEL) Concert, which will be held at Mount Vernon Unitarian Church, 1909 Windmill Lane, at 7:30 p.m. General seating is $15; Premiere seating is $35. Call 703-317-3358.
Gum Springs Community Health Fair. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. There will be free health screenings, seminars and physicians available to answer questions. Gum Springs Community Center, 8100 Fordson Road. Call 703-360-6088.
Tribute to Mahalia Jackson In Song. A performance of reverence and respect as tribute is made to one of the greatest messengers of gospel music. Roberts Memorial United Methodist Church, 606 South Washington St. 3 p.m. Cost: $20. Call 703-549-5337 or 703-836-3817.
Celebrate Diversity Day. Martha Washington Library, noon- 4 p.m. Entertainment and food available. 6614 Fort Hunt Road. 703-768-6700.
SUNDAY/APRIL 25
New Dominion Chorale Performance. Metropolitan Opera star John Cheek will sing the title role in New Dominion Chorale’s performance of Mendelssohn’s Elijah at 4 p.m. at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center. Prior purchase tickets to the April 25 performance of Elijah are $22; $18 for seniors; and $15 for students. Tickets are $2 higher at the door. Parking is free. For tickets, call 703-442-9404 or Foxes Music. For more information, including directions to the Schlesinger Center, visit www.newdominion.org.
Titan Expo Spring Fair. T.C. Williams High School, noon to 5 p.m., Chinquapin Circle, rain or shine. This year's theme is "Students Helping Students." Games, book sale, flea market and TC Hoops.
Al Fresco Cooking Class and Wines. Around the world tasting and dinner at Café Marianna, 4 p.m., 1201 North Royal Street, Alexandria. $65 per guest, inclusive, cooking lesson, too. 703-519-3776 for reservations.
MONDAY/APRIL 26
Agenda: Alexandria. "Community Design as it Affects Alexandria's Social Environment," Temple Beth El, 3830 Seminary Road. Reservations required. 6:30 p.m., reception; 7:10 p.m., dinner; 7:35 p.m., program. Call 703-549-4696 or agendaalexandria@aol.com.
Restaurant Benefit Night. United Community Ministries will host a restaurant night at Hunan Royale, 8746 Cooper Road, from 5 to 10 p.m. Portions of all bills will go directly to help provide food and other needs in the community through UCM. Call 703-360-2888.
TUESDAY/APRIL 27
Community Forum. Mount Vernon Branch of the American Association of University women will sponsor its annual community forum, 7 p.m. at the Mount Vernon Governmental Center, 2511 Parkers Lane. Supervisors Gerald Hyland and Dana Kauffman and State Del. Kris Amundson (D-44) and state Sen. Toddy Puller (D-36) will participate. 703-922-4127.
WEDNESDAY/APRIL 28
5th Annual Toast to Fashion. At The Campagna Center, 7 p.m., Spring fashions for women and children. The styles shown will include lines for petites, average and plus-size models, as well as some children's wear. Tickets are $25. Call 703- 549-0111 ext. 107, or send email to egarstecki@campagnacenter.org.
Alexandria Historical Society Dinner. The History Award Winners will be honored at a dinner held at Gadsby's Tavern Museum, 124 N. Royal St., at 6:30.
CUA Symphony Orchestra. 8 p.m., Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center. Free admission. Call 202-319-5416.
APRIL 28 & 29
Alexandria Country Day School Performance. "Guys and Dolls" will be performed Wednesday and Thursday at 7 p.m., at ACDS, 2400 Russell Road. 703-548-4804.
FRIDAY/APRIL 30
Old Town Theater Performance. "Three time ASCAP Award winner Rich Wyman, pianist and singer/song writer will perform at the Old Town Theater at 8 p.m. Advance tickets for the show ($10 for General Admission) are available online at: www.oldtowntheater.com, by phone at 703-683-8888 or directly at the Box Office at 815 1/2 King Street Alexandria, Va. 22314.
SATURDAY/MAY 1
Annual Charles Barrett Elementary School Bazaar. 3-6 p.m., 1115 Martha Custis Drive, Alexandria. Games and activities for children of all ages. Arts and crafts, dunk tank, moon bounce, face painting, cake walk, chess tournament, food, live music and silent auction with items from area shops. No entrance fee. Contact Stephanie Larsen on 703-683-0078.
Saint Luke's Episcopal Church BBQ. Serving starts at 11 a.m. and continues until sold out. Menu items include slow cooked North Carolina style chopped pork BBQ and grilled chicken. Proceeds support church activities and community outreach. 8009 Fort Hunt Road, in the Hollin Hall/Wellington area of Mount Vernon. Church phone number is 703-765-4342 or www.saintlukeschurch.net.
Civil War Artillarymen Program. First Connecticut Heavy Artillary reenactors will be at Fort Ward for firing demonstrations, noon to 4 p.m. Free. No reservations necessary. Call 703-838-4848.
SUNDAY/MAY 2
In-Depth Tours. Take a rare and detailed behind-the-scenes look at the only Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house museum in the Washington, D.C. area. TOur will be be held from 8:30-11 a.m. Admission is $25 for general public and $20 for members of the National Trust. Continental breakfast is included. Call 703-780-4000, ext. 27.
Potomac River Run Marathon. 200 runners expected to run in the Potomac River Run Marathon and Half-Marathon, starting at dawn from Belle Have Park and down and back on the Mount Vernon Trail. Packet pick-up is May 1, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., at El Mexicano Restaurant, 3300 Wilson blvd., Arlington. Race benefits Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, special Olympics Virginia and numerous other organizations. 703-218-2726 or www.pvtc.org/marathon.html.
SATURDAY/MAY 8
Annual Sacramento Community Day. "Healthy Lifestyles Rock, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 8792E Sacramento Drive, Alexandria. Sponsored by the Fairfax County Department of Community and Recreation Services, UCM Community Solutions and the Sacramento Neighborhood Center. Space is still available for vending tables. SNC is also seeking volunteers to help with this event. For additional information on the event, contact L.T. Carson or Crystal Lang at 703-619-2964.
Exhibits & Shows
Prince Royal Gallery. Celebrating women artists with works by 14 painters and sculptors of the metro area, through April 30. 204 South Royal Street, Alexandria. 703-548-5151.
Landscape Artist Show. The Washington Landscape Artist Group will hold an exhibit at River Farm now through May 1. Call 703-768-5700.
East Coast Meets West. Multiple Exposures Gallery, 105 N. Union St., #312. Color and shape are what define the abstract images of southern California and the northeast coast present in Link Nicoll’s photography show. Runs through May 2. Call 703-683-2205.
Annual Show. The Kiln Club's at Scope Gallery, Torpedo Factory, Studio 19, 105 N. Union St., is holding their annual show. This show brings out the best works of its juried members who compete for prizes. Mel Jacobson, studio potter and ceramic educator is the juror. Exhibit will run through May 2. Hours are 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., Mon.-Fri.; 11 a.m.- 5 p.m., Sat. and Sun.
Art League Exhibits. The Art League's All-Media Membership Show will be held through May 3. Opening reception of the Marshall Award fro Membership Show will be on Sunday, April 18, from 2-4 p.m. They will also present "Wanderland," an exhibit of black & white photographs by Mark Charette, through May 3. Both exhibits will be held at the Torpedo Factory, 105 N. Union St. Call 703-683-1780.
Member Exhibition. Gallery West, 205 S. Union St., announces its first member exhibition featuring works 24x28 inches or larger. The exhibition will be on view through May 3. Call 703-644-0786.
Art & Architecture. Potomac Craftsmen Fiber Gallery presents "Arches and Arabesques," an examination of the line in art and architecture, through May 9. Gallery is located in Studio 18 of the Torpedo Factory, 105 N. Union St. Call 703-548-0935
Student Art Show. Del Ray Artisans presents The Student Art Show, Friday May 7 through May 23, Saturdays 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Sundays 12-4 p.m., at the Nicholas A. Colasanto Center, 2704 Mount Vernon Ave. Call 703-838-4827.
The Art League and the Torpedo Factory Artists Association are sponsoring a show to honor Marian Van Landingham, through May 30. Opening reception: April 25, 2-5 p.m., Athenaeum, 201 Prince Street, Alexandria.
Spring Exhibit. "Flowers Everywhere, Furniture, Art and Decorative Accessories" celebrating the use of flowers in two centuries (1800-2000) of design, now in Mount Vernon through May 31 at Adams-Byrd Fine Arts & Antiques. 8747 Cooper Road. Call 703-799-8700.
Performances
Alexandria's Port City Playhouse presents Tartuffe, the classic comedy by French playwright, Molière. April 23, 24, 30; May 1,4,7,8. All shows start at 8 p.m. Tickets: $12; Seniors/Students $10; Groups of 25 or more $9. All performances at Nannie J. Lee Center, 1108 Jefferson Street, Alexandria. Free parking at the theater. 703-838-2880, www.portcityplayhouse.com.
Free Reading. MetroStage presents a free staged reading by Leslie Ayvazian, "Lovely Day," Saturday, May 1 at 2p.m. MeteroStage is located at 1201 N. Royal St. Alexandria. Call 703-548-9044 for more information. www.metrostage.org.
Sleuth. A play directed by Albert Coia and is being produced by Sharon R. Dove and Margaret Evans-Joyce. It runs from through May 8. Performances are Wednesday-Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 3 p.m., and will be held at The Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe St. Ticket prices are $13-16, all seating is reserved. Call 703-683-0496 or visit wwwthelittletheatre.com.
MetroStage presents “Rosemary and I,” written by Leslie Ayvazian, directed by Olympia Dukakis and Nancy Robillard. Runs through May 9. Thurs.-Sat at 8 p.m. and Sun at 2 & 7 p.m. Tickets $32-38, Call 800-494-8497; 703-548-9044. 1201 North Royal St.
George Gershwin's "Crazy For You." West End Dinner Theatre, 4615 Duke St., through June 27. Group rates. Box office: 703-370-2500.