To have community events listed free in The McLean Connection, mail to 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail Mary Anne Weber at mclean@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is Friday before publication. Photos/artwork encouraged.
<lst>To have community events listed free in the Great Falls Connection, mail to 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail Mary Anne Weber at GreatFalls@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is Friday before publication. Photos/artwork encouraged.
<lst>To have community events listed free in the Vienna Connection, mail to 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail Mary Anne Weber at vienna@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is Friday before publication. Photos/artwork encouraged.
<cal1>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 Melissa Adkins, vice president of membership, at work at 703-262-5373 or at home at 703-815-4304, or e-mail her at madkins@cnri.reston.va.us.
The Vienna Toastmasters meet twice a month at 7:30 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St., Vienna. Participants will have the opportunity to improve communication skills. For more information, call Jim Tompkins 703-201-6555. Upcoming meetings include Jan. 14, 28; Feb. 11, 25; March 10, 24; April 14, 28; May 12, 26; June 9, 23.
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 communication and presentation skills in a supportive environment. Contact Ian Wright at 703-812-2740 or e-mail enrite@rocketmail.com
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. Membership is open to all Fairfax County residents. Call Patty Staas, 703-356-5845.
The Newcomers Club of Vienna and Friends is a women's social club open to everyone in Northern Virginia. The club has three non-smoking bridge events each month: a social bridge club held on the first Tuesday of the month and a duplicate bridge club on the third and fourth Wednesday of every month. All the events are at the Marco Polo Restaurant in Vienna and include a buffet lunch. The club also has a monthly book exchange lunch bunch and various trips and tours on a monthly basis. For reservations and information, call 703-560-4437 or 703-938-3505.
The Fairfax Jubil-Aires, members of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America, meet Tuesdays 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.thefairfaxjubilaires.org.
Club Phoenix Teen Center at the Vienna Community Center features a big screen TV, jukebox and CD player, Dreamcast, pool and pingpong tables and more for Vienna-area middle-school students. 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, sponsors a 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. 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., every day except Tuesday. Call 703-759-3403.
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.
Open Mike Showcase at The Old Brogue, the first and third Thursday of every month, 9 p.m.; sign-up, 8:30 p.m. 760 Walker Road. 12 artists per evening.
New Beginnings, a nonprofit support group for separated and divorced individuals, has six meetings a month in the area on different nights in various locations in members' homes. Call 301-924-4101 or visit www.newbeginningsusa.org.
Mothers & More of Northern Virginia is a support organization for mothers who have altered their career path to care for their young children at home. General meetings are held the first Thursday of each month at the Fairfax County Government Center at 7:30 p.m. Call toll-free at 866-716-7766 for more information.
JAM! Jazz McLean, a teen jazz band directed by Rob Holmes, meets every Monday, 6-8 p.m., at the Old Firehouse Teen Center in McLean. Bring an instrument. For more information, call 703-893-0910 or visit www.geocities.com/jam4teensva.
Swing Dancing will take place every Wednesday night at the Potomac Swing Dancing Club Room, 146 Maple Ave. E., Vienna, across from Whole Foods. Beginning jitterbug/Lindy Hop lessons are at 7:30 p.m., and dancing continues 8:30-11 p.m. Club members pay $10 for the lesson and dance, $6 for dance alone. Nonmembers pay $12 for lesson and dance, $8 for dance alone. For more information, call Donna Barker at 703-978-0375 or visit www.erols.com/swing4me.
McLean Newcomers Club, a social organization made up of newcomers and some not-so-newcomers from McLean and its environs. Create new friendships and socialize with the community. Meets the first Wednesday of every month at 10:30 a.m. at a private home. Potluck luncheons, a book group, bridge groups, play groups, local tours and more. Call 703 237-3138 or 703 734-1840 or visit www.geocities.com/mcleannewcomers.
Ranger Talks. 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. during the weekends; see the daily program schedule for weekday times. Join a ranger at Overlook 2 to learn more about Great Falls Park and the Potomac River at Great Falls Park. Check daily program schedule for times during the weekdays. Call 703-285-2965 for more information. Free.
Bird Watching. Rain or shine on Sundays from 8-10 a.m. Join an informal group of bird watchers to catch a glimpse of resident and migratory birds in Great Falls Park. Meet in the Visitor Center courtyard dressed for the weather. Call 703-285-2965 for more information.
Friends of the Great Falls Library. A group of book-lovers and library users who support special programs for children and adults at the Great Falls Community Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike. The board meets monthly, September through June. For information on becoming a library "friend," call 703-757-8560.
PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) meets every second Tuesday at 8 p.m. at Beverly Hills Methodist Church, 3512 Old Dominion Blvd. For more information, call 301-439-FLAG or visit pflagdc.org.
The McLean Photo Club meets every second Tuesday of the month, September through June, at the McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave. Meet-and-greet at 7 p.m. is followed by the program at 7:30 p.m. Contact Bill Prosser, president, at ProsserWM@aol.com or 703-821-2670.
Personalized Internet Tutoring. Learn how to use the Web or improve skills. Call for an appointment. Adults. At Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, 703-757-8560.
Open Mike with host Steve Key will take place every Monday at 7:30 p.m. at Jammin’ Java, 227 Maple Ave. E., Vienna, 703-255-1566, Ext. 8, www.jamminjava.com.
“Banjo Man.” The Banjo Man, Frank Cassel, performs a musical children's show every Friday at 10:30 a.m. for 45 minutes at Jammin' Java, 227 Maple Ave., Vienna. A donation of $5 per child is recommended. 703-255-1566 or www.jamminjava.com.
Tai Chi practice. Saturdays, 8-9 a.m., through March, at St. Luke's Catholic School Gymnasium, 7005 Georgetown Pike, McLean. Sponsored by the Tai Chi Study Center of Great Falls. Open to all ages and skill levels. Free. For more information and directions, visit www.taichicenter.com or call 703-759-9141.
Vienna Theatre Company production of "The Nerd" has tickets on sale. Performances are Jan. 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 and 31, 8 p.m., and Jan. 18, 2 p.m. (signed performance), at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St. S.E., Vienna. Tickets are $8 general admission and $7 for students and senior citizens 65 and older. For more information, call 703-255-6360.
Birthdays on the Wild Side. Come celebrate a birthday by discovering nature. Explore the world of reptiles and amphibians, uncover clues about forest animals, learn about bird life or become an archaeologist for a day. Each party is active and will keep the group on the move. For children 3-12, at Riverbend Nature Center. For reservations, available dates and cost, call the park, 703-759-9018.
Nature Escapes — Geology. 12-5 p.m., at Riverbend Nature Center, 703-759-9018. Take part in self-guided activities including crafts, exhibits and animal watching. Free.
Adult English as a Second Language (ESL) classes offered by Hogar Hispano of Catholic Charities at 24 locations in Northern Virginia begins registration in January. The cost is $40 per semester, textbook included. Call 703-534-9805, Ext. 222, or visit www.ccda.net for schedule.
Personalized Internet Training. Learn how to use the Web, work with e-mail, or use the library databases. At Great Falls Public Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls. Call for an appointment, 703-757-8560. Adults.
Personalized Internet Training. Learn to use the Web or increase skills. At Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library, 7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church. Call for an appointment, 703-790-8088. Adults.
Springfield Music Club is a local organization that meets September through May on the second Tuesday of the month. Meetings and programs usually take place at Jordan Kitt's Showroom on Gallows Road in Vienna at 10 a.m. The 30-minute business meeting is open to members, and programs that follow the meetings are open to all interested. Programs range from opera to baroque trios to member recitals. The club also offers workshops for music teachers. The club is made up of over 150 members who are professional music teachers, performers and music lovers. To learn more about the club or its programs, contact Marcia Chaplin, president, at 703-281-5342.
"Personal Safety," the crime prevention class for women, takes place in four parts with sessions on Jan. 21, 26, 28 and Feb. 4, 7-10 p.m., at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St. S.E. The class includes basic education in crime prevention and risk reduction measures, and practice in physical self-defense techniques. The instructor is Officer Virginia Palmore of the Vienna Police Department. Cost for all sessions is $5 for Town of Vienna residents and $7.50 for out-of-town participants, plus a $15 materials fee. For more information, call the Vienna Parks and Recreation Department at 703-255-6360.
Roller skating for children 3-10 takes place each Monday, Jan. 26 through March 8, from 3-4 p.m., at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St. S.E., Vienna. Admission is 50 cents per child. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and participants must furnish their own skates and safety equipment. For information, call 703-255-6360.
<cal1>WEDNESDAY/JAN. 14
<cal2>Windham Hill Winter Solstice Tour, featuring new age and pop instrumentalists Philip Aaberg, Barbara Higbie and Tracey Silverman, will perform at 8 p.m. at The Barns of Wolf Trap. Tickets are $22. For more information, call 703-218-6500, or visit www.wolftrap.org.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear. Bring a favorite teddy bear for stories and activities. Ages 2-3 with adult. 10:30 a.m., at Dolley Madison Library, 1244 Oak Ridge Ave., McLean. Call to register, 703-356-0770.
Penguins and Polar Bears. Stories and activities. Ages 11-25 months with adult. 10:30 a.m., at Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library, 7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church. To register, call 703-790-8088.
The Vienna Town/Business Liaison Committee hosts a coffee to introduce its new retail shopping guide on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 7:30-9:30 a.m., at Vienna Town Hall, 127 Center St. S. All retail business owners and managers within the Town of Vienna are invited to attend the coffee and list their businesses in the guide. The coffee gives business owners and managers the opportunity to meet with the mayor and Town Council members. For more information, e-mail tblc@ci.va.us or call 703-255-6342.
Teen Center Open House for Parents. An open house for parents takes place, 6-7 p.m., at Club Phoenix Teen Center, located in the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St. S.E., Vienna. View the facility, share information, meet the staff, complete a registration form and discuss issues of concern. Sign up to be a volunteer or serve on the Club Phoenix Parent Advisory Committee. For more information, call Brandy Mullen at 703-255-5721.
The McLean Photo Club has its next regular meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 14, at the McLean Community Center. Meet and greet, 7-7:30 p.m. Meeting starts at 7:30 p.m.
Colvin Run Dance Band. Dance to the Colvin Run Dance Band's Big Band sound, 9 p.m.-12 a.m., at the Colvin Run School House, 10201 Colvin Run Road, Great Falls. $12 per person. Salsa dance lesson, 8 p.m., $5 per person. For information, call 703-430-3342.
<cal1>Thursday/Jan. 15
<cal2>Stories for All. Tales and activities. Age 2 only with adult. 10:30 a.m., at Great Falls Public Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls. Call to register, 703-757-8560.
Tobacco Road to South Vietnam. Chapter 227, Vietnam Veterans of America Inc., invites all veterans, friends and the general public to attend a chapter meeting at 7:30 p.m., at Neighbors Restaurant, 262D Cedar Lane, Cedar Lane Shopping Center, Vienna. The guest speaker, LTC. Drew Troxler, USAR (ret.), speaks on his Vietnam War experience of mobilizing an Army Reserve transportation company for service in South Vietnam in September 1968. Admission is free. For information, call 703-255-0353 or visit www.geocities.com/vva227.
The New Rhythm and Blues Quartet (NRBQ) performs rock music, seasoned with a touch of blues, jazz,and pop with polka and funk thrown in for additional flavor, at 8 p.m., at The Barns of Wolf Trap. Tickets may be purchased at the Barns Box Office located at 1635 Trap Road, Vienna; by calling Tickets.com at 703-218-6500; or online at www.wolftrap.org. For more information, call Wolf Trap at 703-938-2404. This show is general admission. Tickets are $22.
<cal1>Friday/Jan. 16
<cal2>Vienna Theatre Company production of "The Nerd." 8 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St. S.E., Vienna. Tickets are $8 general admission and $7 for students and senior citizens 65 and older. For more information, call 703-255-6360.
Visit the “Diane Rehm Show.” The Vienna Parks and Recreation Department is sponsoring a trip to the “Diane Rehm Show,” which will be broadcast live from the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C. A charter bus leaves at 9:15 a.m., from the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St. S.E., Vienna, and returns at 3 p.m. Following the show, there will be time for lunch and viewing Geographic Society exhibits. The cost of transportation is $18 for Town of Vienna residents and $22 for out-of-town participants. For more information, call 703-255-6360.
Pool Tournament. Vienna-area sixth-graders can participate in an eight-ball pool tournament from 3:30-6 p.m., at Club Phoenix Teen Center, located in the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St. S.E. Admission is free, and prizes are given to the winners. For more information, call 703-255-6360.
Ellis Paul and Vance Gilbert, singer/songwriters fresh off their collaboration on the album "Side of the Road," perform at 8 p.m., at The Barns of Wolf Trap. Tickets can be purchased at the Barns Box Office located at 1635 Trap Road, Vienna, by calling Tickets.com at 703-218-6500, or online at www.wolftrap.org. For more information, call Wolf Trap at 703-938-2404. Tickets are $18.
<cal1>Saturday/Jan. 17
<cal2>Vienna Theatre Company production of "The Nerd." 8 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St. S.E., Vienna. Tickets are $8 general admission and $7 for students and senior citizens 65 and older. For more information, call 703-255-6360.
Singer/Songwriter Lisa Moscatiello showcases her voice and contemporary arrangements at a concert on Saturday, Jan. 17, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $16/$13 for McLean residents. The Alden Theatre is housed in the McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave. Tickets are on sale now. To purchase tickets, stop by the Alden Theatre Box Office, or to charge tickets by telephone, call Ticketmaster at 202-432-SEAT (7328). For more information, call 703-790-9223/TTY: 703-827-8255, or visit: www.mcleancenter.org
Town Meeting. To ask any questions or give comments about any issues before the 2004 session of the General Assembly, attend one of the following town meetings: 10 a.m., at the McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean, with Del. James M. Scott, Del. Vince Callahan and state Sen. Janet Howell; or 1 p.m., at the Falls Church Community Center, 223 Little Falls St., Falls Church, with Del. Scott and state Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple. For additional information, call 703-560-8338.
Falls Walk. Visit Great Falls Park and take a 30-minute walk with a ranger to Overlook 2. Along the way, explore the natural and cultural aspects of the park. Wear comfortable shoes and meet at 1 p.m. at the Visitor Center.
Woodpeckers. Talk and hike, 2-3 p.m. Explore the exciting world of woodpeckers and learn about the many species that live in Great Falls Park. A park ranger leads a one-hour hike through the park's woodland trails in search of these birds and the marks they make. Meet at the Visitor Center desk. The program is free; reservations required. Call 703-285-2965.
The Northern Virginia Model Railroaders Inc. hosts an open house from 1-5 p.m. Come and see the largest fixed operating “HO” scale model railroad, featuring digital control, sound and smoke. The club is located in the historic Washington & Old Dominion Railroad station, 231 Dominion Road, in downtown Vienna. Free; however, donations (at the door) are gratefully accepted. Additional information and directions can be obtained by going to www.nvmr.org, by e-mail at nvmrinc@hotmail.com, or by calling 703-938-5157 on the day of the open house.
Map and Compass Skills. 9:30-11:30 a.m., at Riverbend Nature Center, 703-759-9018. Learn to use a map and compass to hike with confidence, then try out a short orienteering course. Scouts welcome. Wear boots. Reservations and advanced payment required. 703-759-9018. $3. Age 10 and up.
<cal1>Sunday/Jan. 18
<cal2>Vienna Theatre Company production of "The Nerd." 2 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St. S.E., Vienna. Signed performance. Tickets are $8 general admission and $7 for students and senior citizens 65 and older. For more information, call 703-255-6360.
Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. 3-5 p.m., at the McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean. This year's theme is "African Americans of McLean: Embracing the Dream." This program is presented jointly by the McLean Community, First Baptist Church Chesterbrook and Shiloh Baptist Church. The program features guest speaker Rose A. McElrath-Slade, president and CEO of Strategic Resources Inc. (SRI) of Falls Church. McElrath-Slade is also the founder of a new, nonprofit, multi-cultural, non-denominational Christian organization, Sisters Untied in Christ. Music selections are performed by a choir comprised of members of First Baptist Church Chesterbrook and Shiloh Baptist Church. The program includes liturgical praise dance delivered by More & More Praise of Mt. Olive Baptist Church of Centreville. Reception follows program. Tickets are available at the Alden Theatre Box Office, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean. For more information, call 703-790-0123/TTY: Tap Talk, or visit www.mcleancenter.org.
Falls Walk. Visit Great Falls Park and take a 30-minute walk with a ranger to Overlook 2. Along the way, explore the natural and cultural aspects of the park. Wear comfortable shoes and meet at 1 p.m., at the Visitor Center.
Winter Discovery Hike. 2-3 p.m. There couldn't be a better time of the year to view the Potomac River than when the leaves are off the trees. Dress for the weather and meet the ranger at the Visitor Center desk for this 1-mile hike. The program is free; reservations required. Call 703-285-2965.
Rory Block, rhythm and blues artist and winner of the W.C. Handy Award, performs at 7:30 p.m., at the Barns of Wolf Trap. Tickets can be purchased at the Barns Box Office located at 1635 Trap Road, Vienna, by calling Tickets.com at 703-218-6500, or online at www.wolftrap.org. For more information, call Wolf Trap at 703-938-2404. Tickets are $18.
"You've Come a Long Way" Tea program, 1-3 p.m. Technology is supposed to make life easier. Of all the rooms in the house, technological advances have affected the kitchen the most. Explore these advances and discuss whether time in the kitchen has increased or decreased. An English tea follows the program. Reservations required. Greenspring Gardens Park is located at 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria. Reservations are required; call 703-941-7987. Children under 5 are not invited. $22. Visa or Mastercard accepted.
<cal1>Tuesday/Jan. 20
<cal2> Quilters Unlimited, Vienna Chapter, will meet at 7:15 p.m. at Kilmer Middle School in the group instruction room. Program: Make-a-Quilt Night. For more information, contact Tammi Yiakoumatos at 703-624-9277 or tyiakoum@yahoo.com. Visit www.quitersunlimited.org/vienna.htm.
Nothin' Fancy Bluegrass Band will perform at 8 p.m., at Jammin' Java, 227 Maple Ave. E., Vienna. Call 703-255-1566, Ext. 8, for tickets/information. Tickets are $15 general admission, all ages. For more information, call www.nothinfancybluegrass.com.
<cal1>Wednesday/Jan. 21
<cal2>Pizza Party. Yummy-in-your-tummy stories. Ages 3-5 with adult. 10:30 a.m., at Dolley Madison Library, 1244 Oak Ridge Ave., McLean. Call to register, 703-356-0770.
Tales for 2’s. Stories and activities. Age 2 only with adult. 10:30 a.m., at Great Falls Public Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls. Call to register, 703-757-8560.
Lunchtime Tots. Stories and activities for toddlers. Ages 1-2 with adult. 12 p.m., at Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library, 7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church. To register, call 703-790-8088.
The McLean Newcomers Club hosts its January luncheon meeting at J. Gilbert's Restaurant, 6930 Old Dominion Drive, McLean. Socializing and cash bar is at 11:30 a.m., followed by lunch at 12 p.m. The speaker is Robert Ackerman, an embedded reporter during the Iraq war. R.S.V.P. to Mary at 703-821-7567 before Jan. 20. For information about the myriad activities offered to newcomers and not-so-newcomers, call June at 703 237-3138.
Basic Skywatching for Scouts — Saturn Spectacular. 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Riverbend Visitor Center, 703-759-9018. The view of Saturn and its rings will be at its best for the next 28 years. Come investigate the night sky and see Saturn through a telescope. Reservations and advanced payment required. Canceled if cloudy. $3 per Scout.