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 Miguel Koropecky at 703-917-6407.
<hdr15>Art
<lst>Recovered Views: African American Portraits, 1912-1925, an exhibition, will be at the Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street. Sept. 1-Nov. 30. Call 703-838-4356 or visit www.alexblackhistory.org.
"The Best of Both," August brings both the Ceramic Guild and the Kiln Club to Scope Gallery. It is a joint show that will provide ceramic pieces to enhance any occasion. Functional pottery as well as art for the table, wall or mantel. Open daily from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Torpedo Factory, 105 N. Union St. Call 703 548-6288.
Jen Chappell, Karen Schmitz and Susan Slattery will exhibit SPLASH at the Del Ray Artisans Gallery, 2704 Mt. Vernon Ave. through Aug. 28. Opens Friday, Aug. 5 with a reception from 7-10 p.m. at the gallery. Preview Aug. 4, 6-9 p.m. at that time, the Choreographers Collaborative Project will debut two SPLASH-themed choreographed dance pieces at 7 p.m. Visit delrayartisans.org or call 703-838-4827.
“Open for Business: Commerce and Industry in Old Alexandria” at the Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St., is on display through Sept. 26, uses a variety of photographic and archival resources compiled by James M. Goode and examines the businesses that were the lifeblood of Alexandria before World War II. The Lyceum is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and Sundays 1-5 p.m. Call 703-838-4994.
"Up Close and Floral," Photographer Bradley Furman's work will be on display at Historic Green Spring, 4603 Green Spring Road, through Aug. 29. Call 703-941-7987.
"Paper Moon," at the Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 North Union St., Studio 18, at the Potomac Craftsmen Fiber Gallery through Aug. 7 Various papers with or without fibers used in unconventional ways. Call 703-838-4565 or visit www.torpedofactory.org.
"Containers/Contained," at the Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 North Union St., Studio 2, at the Target Gallery from through Aug. 28. This all-media national exhibition explores the notion of containment as a tool of cultural, social, and political critique. Juried by Twylene Moyer, Managing Editor, Sculpture Magazine. Call 703-838-4565 or visit www.torpedofactory.org.
Exhibition: "Making Good Impressions." Printmakers Inc., studio 325 (third floor of the Torpedo Factory), 105 N. Union St., presents a special 30-year anniversary artists book. Member artists have created an artist book with a representative print from each artist. The variety of printmaking techniques includes woodcut, etching, screen printing and monotone. Exhibit runs through Aug. 31. Open free to the public 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily. Call 703-683-1342.
"Destinations: Imagined and Real" will feature paintings by Ann McDowell at the Athenaeum, 201 Prince St., through Aug. 7. Call 703-626-8634 or visit www.nvfaa.org.
The Von Brahler Gallery, located at 1437 Powhatan St., will be hosting open studio shows during 2005 on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Shows will be Aug. 20 and 21; Sept. 17 and 18; Oct. 15 and 16; Nov. 19 and 20; and Dec. 17 and 18.
Role Play: The Definition of Self in Society, at the Target Gallery, 105 N. Union St., from Sept. 8-Oct. 16. A reception will be held Thursday, Sept. 8 from 6-8 p.m. The exhibition and reception are free to the public. Call 703-838-4565 or email targetgallery@torpedofactory.org
<hdr15>Music
<lst>The Alexandria Singers are looking for sopranos, tenors, and basses to perform Broadway to Beatles; Jazz to Gershwin; and Top 40 to Torch Songs. Open auditions will be held on Tuesday evenings. Visit www.AlexandriaSingers.com or call 703-941-7464.
The Lunch Bunch Concerts will be held Monday-Friday, through Aug. 12 on the Market Square, 301 King St. 12:15 p.m. Musical performances by Alexandria and visiting school groups. Call the Special Events Office at 703-838-4844 or the Events Hotline at 703-883-4686.
Music at Twilight Concerts will be held Thursdays through Aug. 11 at the Fort Ward Park Amphitheater, 4301 W. Braddock Road. 7 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. Free. Musical performances by area artists. Call the Special Events Office at 703-838-4844 or the Events Hotline at 703-883-4686.
<hdr15>Museum Exhibits
<lst>Evening lantern tours at Gadsby's Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal Street, every Friday through September. Tours begin at 7 p.m. and the last tour is at 9:15 p.m. $5/person. Free for children age 4 and under. No reservations necessary. Call 703-838-4242.
The Hands-on-History exhibit at George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate and Garden turns children of all ages into cultural detectives who learn about early American life. Carding and spinning wool, cross-mending artifacts, using 18th-century tools, constructing wooden buckets, dressing up in colonial clothing, and playing colonial games. Through Sept. 5; hours 8 a.m.—5 p.m. Call 703-780-2000; 703-799-8697 (TDD); or visit www.mountvernon.org
“Measure Up to George Washington,” at George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate and Garden, a life-size image of George Washington allows children to measure up to the master of Mount Vernon. Through Sept. 5; Hours 8 a.m.—5 p.m. Call 703-780-2000; 703-799-8697 (TDD); or visit www.mountvernon.org
“Working at Mount Vernon 200 Years Ago,” at George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate and Garden, an exhibit where children learn the daily tasks of estate upkeep. Call 703-780-2000; 703-799-8697 (TDD); or visit www.mountvernon.org
“How Do We Learn About George Washington at Mount Vernon?,” at George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate and Garden, an archeology site where children can become archeologists themselves and play archeology bingo. The exhibit is open daily, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Call 703-780-2000; 703-799-8697 (TDD); or visit www.mountvernon.org
Slave Life at Mount Vernon explores the lives and contributions of the slaves. At George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate and Garden, Tours are offered daily at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. Call 703-780-2000; 703-799-8697 (TDD); or visit www.mountvernon.org
The Gardens and Landscape Tour at George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate and Garden, highlights Washington’s creative design for his gardens at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. Tour available daily. Call 703-780-2000; 703-799-8697 (TDD); or visit www.mountvernon.org
George Washington’s Gristmill allows visitors to see an 18th-century water-powered mill in operation, discover how it works and learn how this particular mill played an important role in George Washington’s vision for America’s future. Colonial millers reveal Washington’s innovative approach to farming as they grind wheat into flour just as it was done more than 200 years ago. Cornmeal, ground and bagged at the Gristmill, is available for sale at the Gristmill Shop. The Gristmill, located three miles from the Mount Vernon Estate on Route 235, is open daily through October, 10 a.m. —5 p.m. Additional charge to Estate admission. Call 703-780-2000; 703-799-8697 (TDD); or visit www.mountvernon.org
Potomac River sightseeing cruises at George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate and Garden, offer a refreshing opportunity to explore Mount Vernon from a different view with a 30-minute narrated excursion aboard the Potomac Spirit or Miss Christin Tuesday through Sunday at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Additional charge to Estate admission. Call 703-780-2000; 703-799-8697 (TDD); or visit www.mountvernon.org
<hdr15> Stage
<lst>Natural Theatricals presents “Herakles,” written by Pulitzer Prize winner Archibald MacLeish, Aug. 5 - 28. Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. Washington Masonic National Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive. $20. Call 703-739-5895.
Natural Theatricals presents “Alexa’s Necklace,” written by local playwright Paula Alprin, Sept. 9 - Oct. 2. Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. Washington Masonic National Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive. $20. Call 703-739-5895.
<hdr15>Miscellaneous
<lst>Square Dance Program for seniors 55 and over at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center, 2701 Commonwealth Ave. For both beginners and experienced dancers. Wednesdays 1:30-3:30 p.m. from September-June. Free. Call 703-838-4825.
Saturday Language and Culture Programs: Parlez Vous’ new Saturday Language and Culture Programs. Group I: Chinese, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.; German, 12:30-1:30; Spanish, 2-3 p.m.; Italian, 3:30-4:30 Group II: Chinese, 12:30-1:30 p.m.; German, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.; Spanish, 3:30-4:30; Italian, 2-3 p.m. (Group I- ages 3 months to 5 yrs; Group II – ages 6-10). $20/session when registering Wednesday or earlier; $25 when registering Thursday - Saturday. 1610 King Street, Old Town. Call 703-838-9683 or visit www.parlezvous.org.
Exhibition: “Stony the Road: The Desegregation of America’s Schools” at the Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe St., through Aug. 6. Opening hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Free. Call 703-838-4356 or visit www.alexblackhistory.org.
The Mount Vernon Toastmasters Club meets at the Sherwood Regional Library, 2501 Sherwood Hall Lane, at the first and third Mondays of each month, at 7:30 p.m. Guests are welcome to participate. For more information, call 202-861-5370 or e-mail mtvernontm@yahoo.com.
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.
Free Legal Services are being offered by the Sacramento Neighborhood Center (SNC), the Fairfax Bar Pro Bono Program and the lawyers of Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge & Rice. The companies have teamed to offer free legal advice and referral information to low-income residents of southeastern Fairfax county. Attorneys are available at SNC, 8972 E. Sacramento Drive, on the third Saturday of each month, from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Appointments required. Service is free and confidential. Call 703-619-2964.
Parlez Vous Cafe. Parents and children are invited on the first Sunday of each month for croissants, beverages and story time in French and Spanish. 11:30 a.m. snacks, 12 p.m. story time in French, 1 p.m. story time in Spanish. Suggested donation: $10/family. Parlez Vous is located at 1610 King St.
Classes for Scottish Country Dancers are held at 8 p.m., every Wednesday, at the Durant Center, 1605 Cameron
St. The first two classes are free for beginners. Call 703-528-8466 or 703-379-5779. Classes are sponsored by the Northern Virginia Branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, a non-profit association dedicated to the promotion of Scottish Country Dancing.
Weekly Sails on Potomac Open to All. The Sailing Club of Washington hosts weekly social sails at Washington Sailing Marina from mid April-mid October, each Thursday evening, 6:30 p.m.-dusk, open to the public. Free sail boat rides and often a light dinner. Visit www.scow.org or call Commodore Steve at 703-684-5266.
Senior Strength and Conditioning Program at the William Ramsay Recreation Center, 5650 Sanger Ave. Ten-week step-by-step program offering guidance and motivation in developing a personal fitness plan and complete cardiovascular workout. The group will meet weekly on Mondays and Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. or Fridays 9:30-11 a.m. Registration required. Call 703-838-4831.
Senior Film Series at the St. Martin de Porres Senior Center, 4650 Taney Ave. the third Thursday of each month. Film titles to be announced. Call 703-838-4831.
Weight Room Assistance Program for seniors 55 and over at the Cora Kelly Recreation Center, 25 W. Reed Ave. Monday 12-2 p.m. from September-June Free. Call 703-838-6464.
Yoga Classes for seniors 55 and over at the Cora Kelly Recreation Center, 25 W. Reed Ave. Monday 12-1 p.m. Call 703-838-6464.
Tai-Chi-Chuan Classes for seniors 55 and over at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center, 2701 Commonwealth Ave. Thursdays 2:30-3:30 p.m. Free. Call 703-838-4825.
Square Dance Program for seniors 55 and over at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center, 2701 Commonwealth Ave. For both beginners and experienced dancers. Wednesdays 1:30-3:30 p.m. from September-June. Free. Call 703-838-4825.
Art Classes for seniors 55 and over at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center, 2701 Commonwealth Ave. Mondays 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Free. Call 703-838-4825.
Jewelry Creation for seniors 55 and over at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center, 2701 Commonwealth Ave. Mondays 1-3 p.m. Free. Call 703-838-4825.
Basic Computer Instruction for seniors 55 and over at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center, 2701 Commonwealth Ave. A 10-week ongoing introduction. Tuesdays 1-2:30 p.m. Free. Call 703-838-4825.
Bridge & Pinochle Club for seniors 55 and over at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center, 2701 Commonwealth Ave. Learn the games and play socially on a regularly basis. Mondays and Fridays, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Free. Call 703-838-4825.
Senior Exercise Classes at the Nannie J. Lee Recreation Center, 1108 Jefferson St. Low impact body parts aerobic exercise program. No experience needed. Mondays 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. and Fridays 12:30-1:30 p.m. Free. Call 703-838-4845.
Senior Nutrition Class at the Nannie J. Lee Recreation Center, 1108 Jefferson St. With a certified nutritionist. Mondays 12-1 p.m. Free. Call 704-838-4845.
Tai-Chi-Chuan for seniors 55 and over at the Nannie J. Lee Recreation Center, 1108 Jefferson St. Thursdays 9:30-10:30 a.m. Free. Call 703-838-4845.
Dun Lo Class for seniors 55 and over at the Nannie J. Lee Recreation Center, 1108 Jefferson St. Tuesdays 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Call Rhoda Seligmann at 703-751-7924.
Intermediate American Sign Language for seniors 55 and over at the Nannie J. Lee Recreation Center, 1108 Jefferson St. Thursdays 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. Call 703-838-4845.
Bridge Club for seniors 55 and over at the Nannie J. Lee Recreation Center, 1108 Jefferson St. For both beginners and experienced players. Wednesdays 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. Free. Call 703-838-4845.
Lantern Light Tours of the Gadsby’s Tavern Museum will be available Fridays, May-August, at 7-10 p.m. Tours last approximately 30 minutes, with the last tour starting at 9:15 p.m. Cost: $5. Some Friday nights are unavailable for tours due to special events or holidays. Call ahead to confirm tour date. Gadsby’s Tavern Museum is located at 134 N. Royal St. Call 703-838-4242 or visit www.gadsbystavern.org.