<cal1>JAN. 21 to FEB. 23
<cal2>"Travel Memories," an art exhibit featuring watercolors by Lydia Schneider of Clifton, will be on display Jan. 21 to Feb. 23 in Colgan Hall at the Manassas campus of Northern Virginia Community College (6901 Sudley Road). Exhibit hours are 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays. A reception to meet the artist is scheduled for Feb. 4, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Colgan Hall exhibit space.
<cal1>ONGOING
<cal2>A Mindfulness Meditation class will take place Sundays from 7-8 p.m. No fee — donation based. Sun and Moon Yoga Studio, 9998 Main Street. Contact Erika Neil at ErikaKL@aol.com or 703-864-2807.
The Centreville Regional Art Guild holds a model-drawing session every Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. There is no instruction. The only fee is the cost of the model. Call Amy Mann at 703-631-1856.
All Home Depot stores sponsor a Kids Workshop on the first Saturday of every month. Adults can sign up children from 9-11:30 a.m. (The last few can work until noon.) This is a free event where every child gets an orange apron, a wooden kit to build (and keep!) with their adult partner’s help (backup is available for adults). The Fairfax Home Depot is located at 12275 Price Club Plaza, at the intersection of the Fairfax County Parkway, West Ox Road and Route 29, across from CostCo. Call 703-222-9600.
Volunteer opportunities exist for Information Desk Volunteers and Mobile Guides at Washington Dulles International Airport. A Travelers Aid Volunteer must have a friendly, helpful manner and enjoy interacting with people from all over the world. Volunteers are asked to make a commitment to work one 3-4 hour shift per week. Early morning, mid-morning, afternoon, and evening shifts are available 7 days a week, with a great need for volunteers who can work early morning, evening or weekend shifts. Experience in airline/airport operations, customer service work or knowledge of a foreign language are a plus but certainly not necessary. Travelers Aid provides training, themed attire, and courtesy parking. Training is ongoing. Call 703-572-7350 or email Volunteer@mwaa.com.
<cal1>THURSDAY/JAN. 15
<cal2>Amnesty International, Fairfax branch, will meet on Thursday, Jan. 15, at 7 p.m., at Brookfield Elementary School in Chantilly, three miles west of Fairfax County Parkway on Route 50, and south of Route 50 on Lees Corner Road. This will be the organizational meeting for the year, and there will be planning for the months ahead. The group is planning a special event for International Women’s Rights Day in March. Visitors are welcome to join in discussion of current human rights issues around the world. The group’s special focus for the past few months has been Father Ly, a prisoner of conscience in Vietnam. Call 703-830-4194, or write amnestyusafairfax@lycos.com.
<cal1>JAN. 17 AND JAN. 18
<cal2>Traditional Lion Dancing will be performed on Saturday, Jan. 17 and Sunday, Jan. 18 at The Golden China Restaurant in Chantilly. The lion dancing will be performed by the Jowga Shaolin Institute. Seatings for shows will begin at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Cost is $14.95 for adults, $8.95 for children, which includes the show and an all-you-can-eat buffet of special Chinese New Year dishes and Mongolian Barbecue. Seating is limited; call for reservations: 703-631-8889, or visit www.egoldenchina.com. Golden China is located at 13934 Metrotech Drive in the Sully Place Shopping Center in Chantilly.
<cal1>SATURDAY/JAN. 17
<cal2>The Center for the Arts' Pied Piper Theatre opens the New Year with "The Hobbit." This musical version of J.R.R. Tolkien's popular book follows the adventures of Bilbo Baggins as he travels with the 13 mighty dwarves to slay the evil dragon Smaug. They encounter elves and dangerous trolls, and then escape into goblin country where Bilbo finds the famous ring of invisibility.
Dates are Saturdays, Jan. 17 and 24 at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays, Jan. 18 and 25 at 3:30 p.m. at Woodbridge High School, 3001 Old Bridge Road, Woodbridge. Tickets are $7 in advance or $8 at the door. Group tickets are also available. Call the Center for the Arts at 703-330-ARTS.
Dance to the latest music performed by live bands at "The Deep" in the Shark Club.
* Saturday, Jan. 17 — "Jay Works"
* Saturday, Jan. 24 — "Stormin Norman"
* Saturday, Jan. 31 — "Soul Purpose"
<cal1>SUNDAY/JAN. 18
<cal2>A talk on Race Unity will be held as part of a Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration on Sunday, Jan. 18 at 3 p.m. at the Chantilly Regional Library, 4000 Stringfellow Road, Chantilly.
<cal1>TUESDAY/JAN. 20
<cal2>New Mothers Luncheons are held every Tuesday for mothers and newborn babies to 8 months old. The group meets for lunch, speakers, discussions and fun — a different program every week. Bring a friend or come alone — it's a great way to meet other new moms and babies in the area. Meets Tuesdays from 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Il Lupo Italian Restaurant, 4069 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax. Lunch is $20; four-lunch series is $75. Reservations required. Call Rochelle Goldberg at 703-961-9179 or email: eventbuilders@hotmail.com.
* Tuesday, Jan. 20 — "Kindermusik with Pam Phillips," Kindermusik of Fairfax;
* Tuesday, Jan. 27 — "Sign Language for Infants," with Stephanie Steffer of Time to Sign;
* Tuesday, Feb. 3 — "Nanny Agencies and What They Can Provide (more than what you think)," Jerry and Susan Milwit, Metropolitan Nannies;
* Tuesday, Feb. 10 — "Developmental Milestones From Birth to Age One," Patti Turner, MS, OTR/L;
* Tuesday, Feb. 17 — "Getting Fit After Pregnancy," Nancy Karabaic, High Energy Fitness;
* Tuesday, Feb. 24 — "Great Books for Infants and Parents," Sheilah Egan, A Likely Story Bookstore, Alexandria;
* Tuesday, March 2 — "What New Moms Want to Know About Infant Sleep," Mary Peck, RN, Greater Washington Sleep Disorders Center;
* Tuesday, March 9 — "Mudpies," a great Mother's Day gift for grandmas;
* Tuesday, March 16 — "Dollars and Sense: Planning for Your Child's Financial Future," Deana Withrow, Morgan Stanley;
*Tuesday, March 23 "Babyproofing Your House," Mary Baker, BabyGuard;
* Tuesday, March 30 — "Safety In and Around Your House," Officer Liz Barrington, Fair Oaks Police, Office of Public Safety.
<cal1>THURSDAY, JAN. 22
<cal2>Mother’s First – Chantilly/Centreville. This support group for women making the transition from careers to at-home motherhood will meet on Thursday, Jan. 22. Activities include lectures, field trips, moms night out, etc. Meetings are held at 10:15 a.m. at the Centreville Regional Library, 14200 Saint Germain Dr., Centreville. Call 703-827-5922.
<cal1>JAN. 24-25
<cal2>Fair Oaks Shopping Center will be celebrating the Chinese New Year on Saturday, Jan. 24 and Sunday, Jan. 25, from 1-4 p.m., with a complete array of activities and demonstrations focused around "The Year of the Monkey." The 4701 Chinese New Year will be ushered in with dragons, lions, music, dancing, lantern displays, U.S. Olympic Kung Fu Team, kids’ writing contests, and more. The event is co-sponsored by the Washington Hai Hua Community Center.
<cal1>MONDAY/JAN. 26
<cal2>Centreville Toastmasters is the place to improve your communication and leadership skills. The club meets from 7-8:15 p.m. on Mondays at the Centreville Regional Library. Guests are welcome. Prepared speeches, oral evaluations and impromptu speeches (table topics) will be on the agenda. Upcoming meetings: Monday, Jan. 26. Call Lynn Griesmer 703-263-2468.
<cal1>JAN. 30-FEB. 1
<cal2>The Sugarloaf Crafts Festival will be held Jan. 30-Feb. 1 at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly. More than 300 fine artists and craft designers will be on hand. There will be entertainment, craft demonstrations and specialty foods. Hours are Friday, 10-6, Saturday, 9-6 and Sunday, 10-5. Cost is $7/adults, children under 12 free. Visit www.sugarloafcrafts.com or call 1-800-210-9900.
<cal1>THURSDAY/FEB. 5
<cal2>Fairfax Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is offering an optional, informational orientation session for those interested in learning how to help abused and neglected children in the Fairfax County court system. On the evening of Thursday, Feb. 5, from 7-8:30 p.m., prospective volunteers are invited to meet current CASA volunteers and staff to learn about the Fairfax CASA program. Fairfax CASA is now accepting applications and interviewing potential volunteers for the Spring training session, which begins March 2. Orientation will take place at the Fairfax CASA office located at 4103 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 200, Fairfax, VA 22030. Call 703-273-3526 or e-mail staff@casafairfax.org or visit the Web site at www.casafairfax.org.
<cal1>FRIDAY/FEB. 6
<cal2>Mothers First — Centreville/Chantilly is a support group for women making the transition from careers to at-home motherhood. Activities include lectures, field trips, moms night out, etc. February meetings are Feb. 6 and Feb. 19 at 10:15 a.m. at the Centreville Regional Library. Call 703-827-5922 or visit www.mothersfirst.org.
<cal1>FRIDAY/FEB. 20
<cal2>Do you know someone who tutors a child or feeds the homeless? Would you like to recognize someone for making a significant contribution to our community? The public is invited to nominate outstanding community service volunteers for the 12th annual Fairfax County Volunteer Service Awards hosted by Volunteer Fairfax. Businesses, individuals, nonprofit organizations, public agencies, schools, and civic groups have the opportunity to make a nomination by Feb. 20. To receive a nomination form, contact Renee Hoyt Atkinson at rhatkinson@volunteerfairfax.org or 703-246-3460. Nominees and award winners will be honored at a breakfast ceremony on Thursday, April 22, at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner. Belle Wheelan, Virginia Secretary of Education, will be the keynote speaker. The cost of the breakfast is $30 per person, with invitations to be mailed in early March. This year's theme is "Volunteers are Shining Stars!"
<cal1>FEB. 21 AND FEB. 28
<cal2>Opportunities, Alternatives & Resources (OAR) of Fairfax County is a non-profit agency that provides positive influences on the lives of offenders in the Fairfax County jail, as well as assistance to their families. OAR is currently seeking volunteers to conduct one-to-one mentoring sessions with inmates and teach classes in the jail. Volunteers can also work with families of offenders during visiting hours in the Adult Detention Center. Emphasis is on helping an offender make a successful transition into our communities. Special skills are not required. The next training will be on Feb. 21 and Feb. 28. Call 703-246-3033.
<cal1>SATURDAY/FEB. 21
<cal2>With the increasing threat of international terrorism and the subsequent tightening of security throughout the United States, many Americans are examining the effect of these regulations on our civil liberties. To address this issue, the League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area (LWVFA) will present a public forum on "Civil Liberties: the Patriot Act" on Saturday, Feb. 21 from 10:30 a.m. to noon. The location will be the Westpark Hotel located at 8401 Westpark Drive in Tysons Corner. The forum will be open to the public and free of charge.
Moderating the panel discussion will be William Sessions, former head of the FBI and former federal judge. Panelists will be Dan Bryant of the U.S. Department of Justice, Alice Fisher of the law firm of Lathem and Watkins, Lara Flint of the Center for Democracy and Technology and Patrice Webb of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). After the moderator’s introduction, short presentations by each panelist and questions and discussion among the panelists, the forum will be open to questions from the audience.
Following the forum, attendees are invited to attend a luncheon with League members for a charge of $20. For further details concerning the event or to make reservations for the luncheon, call 703-658-9150.
<cal1>FEB. 26-FEB. 29
<cal2>Carson Kressley, the fashion savant from the hit TV show, "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," will appear at the Capital Home & Garden Show on Saturday, Feb. 28. He will discuss fashion tips and behind-the-scenes tidbits from his breakout TV show followed by an autograph session.
The Capital Home & Garden Show features 14 Dream Gardens created by top landscape companies, more than 600 remodeling, gardening and decorating exhibits in two big exhibit halls providing inspiration and a million ideas, a Gardening Stage featuring local and HGTV experts, a Cooking Stage featuring cooking tips and outdoor entertaining ideas, a Feature Stage with celebrity appearances, and the latest Hot Picks for the Spring season with HGTV's Karl Lohnes.
Show times are 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 27 and Saturday, Feb. 28; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 29. The Dulles Expo Center (www.DullesExpo.com) is located at 4368 Chantilly Place, in Chantilly.
Show admission is $9 for adults, $3 for children ages 6 to 12, and free for kids 5 & under. Tickets can be purchased at the Dulles Expo Center box office during show hours.
Visit www.capitalhomeshow.com or call 1-(800) 274-6948 (producer - ext. 211, exhibitor sales - ext. 204) or (703) 533-4848 (show hotline)