To have an item listed in the calendar, mail to Calendar Editor, 1604 King St., Alexandria, VA 22314; fax to 703-917-0991 or e-mail to gazette@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is Friday at noon for the following week’s paper. Photos and artwork encouraged. if you have any questions, call Elizabeth Orr at 703-917-6449.
Kurosawa Film Festival. The first annual Old Town Kurosawa Film Festival will feature three of Akira Kurosawa's greatest works, including "Yojimbo" (1961), "Rashomon" (1950) and "The Seven Samurai" (1954 ) with daily screenings between Nov. 5 and Nov. 11. Shows cost $8, the three show festival pass costs $20. For showtime information, call 703-683-8888 or visit www.oldtowntheater.com. Old Town Theater is located at 815 King St.
"Festive Gatherings" is the theme of a sale at Scope Gallery in the Torpedo Factory Art Center, Gallery 19, 105 N. Union St. from Nov. 2-28 (closed Thanksgiving Day), choose among items (priced from $15 to $250) hand-crafted by artists from the Kiln Club of Washington D.C., including serving bowls and platters, casseroles, mugs, raku and crystalline vases, candleholders, sushi sets and other decorative and functional pieces for holiday entertaining and gift-giving. Tree ornaments ($10 and up) available for sale on and after Nov. 20. Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 703-548-6288.
The Packing Shed Gallery in Washington, Va., is pleased to announce its third exhibition of etchings and drawings by master printmaker Viviane de Kosinsky, of Alexandria. The new exhibition, which extends from Nov. 4 through Nov. 30, is titled “Vines and Views.” All are invited to the opening reception on Saturday, Nov. 6, from 3-6 p.m.
The Packing Shed Gallery is located in Little Washington on the corner of Gay and Porter Streets. Gallery hours are from 12:30 to 7 p.m., Thursday through Monday. For additional information, please call (540) 675-3410 or the Gallery Director, June Jordan, at 987-8098.
Botanical Photography Exhibit. Episcopal High School has announced the opening of the Amy Lamb photography exhibit at the Angie Newman Johnson Gallery in the Ainslie Arts Center located on campus. Ms. Lamb's botanical photographs have been featured in many renowned publications, such as Southern Living, Garden Design, Smithsonian Magazine, and Photographer's Forum. The show will remain open until Nov. 11. Call 703-933-4058 or email ebr@episcopalhighschool.org.
Del Ray Dozen Invitational Photography Show. Featuring the work of fifteen photographers, including a wide variety of works with subjects ranging from landscapes, abstracts and international locations to flowers, and Jen Chappell’s Icelandic graffiti series. Opening reception will be Friday, Nov. 5, 7-10 p.m. at the DRA gallery space located in the Nicholas A. Colasanto Center at 2704 Mount Vernon Ave.; exhibit will run through Nov. 28. Both the opening reception and the exhibit are free and open to the public. Gallery Hours are Saturdays, 10: a.m.-4 p.m.. and Sundays, 12-4 p.m. Call 703-83-4827 or visit www.radiodelray.com/artisans
Real Ponies Don't Go Oink, a show inspired by double takes and innuendoes, will run at the Potomac Craftsmen Fiber Gallery Oct. 18-Nov. 21. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and weekends from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is free. The gallery is located in Studio 18 of the Torpedo Factory Art Center at 105 N. Union St., Alexandria.
Krispy Kreme of Alexandria, 6332 Richmond Highway, is collecting school supplies and children's books for children in need through the end of October. Drop off one new school supply — notebook, glue, crayons, ruler, pencils, pens, etc. — or one new or nearly new children’s book and receive a small coffee or Original Glazed Doughnut free. Drop off enough supplies to outfit a classroom and receive one dozen Original Glazed Doughnuts free. Krispy Kreme will donate the supplies collected to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington.
Alexandria's Original Ghost & Graveyard Tour. Follow 18th century costumed guide through the haunted streets hearing spine-tingling tales of revenge, murder and more. Tours depart the Ramsay House Visitor Center, 221 King St. Adults are $7. Children ages 7-12 are $5. Children 6 years old and under are free. Military discount. Tours given Wednesdays-Sundays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 & 9 p.m., and every night Oct. 18-Halloween. Weekend tours run until Nov. 15. Call 703 519-1749 or visit www.alexcolonialtours.com.
"The Importance of Being Earnest." Presented by The Aldersgate Church Community Theater Oct. 15-30 at the Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1301 Collingwood Road. Tickets cost $12 for adults, $10 for students and seniors. Performances Oct. 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, and 30 at 8 p.m.; matinees Oct. 17, 24, and 31 at 3 p.m. For information on the production and to make telephone reservations please call 703-799-7061. Online ticket reservations may also be made at http://www.presaleticketing.com/.
-"One Good Marriage." U.S. premiere of an "existential drama" about a couple's first wedding anniversary, by Canadian playwright Sean Reycraft, directed by John Vreeke. Oct. 21-Nov. 21 at Metro Stage, 1201 N. Royal St., Alexandria. Performances Thursday-Saturday at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. For more information, visit www.metrostage.org or call 703-548-9044.
Phyllis Furdell: MetroScapes. A collection of pastel paintings looking at the diversity of life on the Metrorail system, by a Northern Virginia artist, at the Target Gallery, Oct. 20-Nov. 28. The gallery, located at the Torpedo Factory Art Center, is open Wednesday-Sunday, 12-5 p.m. For more information, call 703-838-4565, ext. 4, or e-mail targetgallery@torpedofactory.org.
"Irish Stone II" and "Pierre et Mer." Two single-artist shows, featuring watercolors by Margaret Alderson and stone carvings by Brigitte P. Davis. Both artists are based in Northern Virginia. Oct. 6-Nov. 1 at the Art League Gallery at the Torpedo Factory Art Center. Open to the public free of charge Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 12-5 p.m. For more information, call 703-683-1780.
Babies and Movies Mondays. Weekly film showings catering exclusively to parents and their babies. Every Monday, at 1:30 p.m., at Old Town Theater, 815 1/2 King St., Alexandria. For more information, call 703-587-7507.
Metalsmith Terri Logan. See her latest designs at Arts Afire Glass Gallery, 102 N. Fayette St., through Oct. 31. Meet the artist receptions 5-8 p.m., Oct. 22; 4-8 p.m. Oct. 23; 1-5 p.m., Oct. 24. For more information, call 703-838-9785.
Parlez Vous Cafe. Parents and children are invited on the first and third Sundays of each month for croissants, beverages and story time in French. 11:30 a.m. snacks, 12 p.m. story time. Suggested donation: $10/family. Parlez Vous is located at 1610 King St.
Weekly dances. At Dance Studio Lioudmila, 18 Roth St. Every Friday, tea dance from 1-3:15 p.m. Singles and couples welcome, dance class and refreshments included. $8 per person, Every Saturday, dance class from 7:30-8:30 p.m., followd by a dance party from 8:30-11 p.m. Ballroom, swing and Latin dancing. $10 per person including class. For more information, call 703-751-8868 or visit www.dancelioudmila.com
"Myth and Mirage." The art of Avel De Knight is on exhibit at the Alexandria Black History Museum from Sept. 1 through Jan. 15, 2005. The works on paper include watercolors, studies of the figure and of landscapes, and art featuring the influence of De Knight's travels in France, Italy, Russia and North Africa. The museum is located at 902 Wythe St., Alexandria. For more information, call 703-838-4356 or visit www.alexblackhistory.org.
The Art in Nature Group. Works by seven artists will be exhibited at the headquarters of the American Horticultural Society at George Washington's River farm, 7931 E. Boulevard Drive, until Nov. 8. The Art in Nature Group is composed of artists who create artistic and scientific representations of plants. The gallery is open to the public Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, visit www.ahs.org or call 703-768-5700.
"Soft Views." Works by landscape watercolor artist Deborah Hoeper will be on display Oct. 7-Nov. 1 at Gallery West, 205 S. Union St. Gallery hours are Thursday-Monday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. A local artist, Hoeper has a studio at Passageways in Riverdale, Md. For more information, visit www.gallery-west.com.
Special Tours at Woodlawn and Pope-Leighey House. These historic homes, located at 9000 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, both have special programs scheduled through the end of the year. Woodlawn’s fall and winter events will include Haunted History (Oct. 28-30) and the holiday Candlelight Tours (Dec. 12, 19, 26). Pope-Leighey offers special in-depth tour the first Sunday of every month and Tea and Tours (Nov. 14 and 21, and Dec. 5 and 12). To make your required reservations for any of these programs, please call 703-780-4000 ext. 27.
George Washington's Gristmill. At Mount Vernon. Open to the public daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 1 through Oct. 31 every year. Visitors see one of the most authentic recreations of an 18th-century water-powered mill in the country in operation by colonial-attired millers. They discover how it works, and learn how this particular mill played an important role in George Washington's vision for America's future as granary to the world. Adult admission is $4, $2 when combined with admission to George Washington Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens.