<i>Send announcements to the Reston Connection, by mail to 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, by e-mail to reston@connectionnewspapers.com or by fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is Thursday 5 p.m. for the following week's paper. Photos/artwork encouraged. Call Meghan Williams at 703-917-6407 with questions. This free listing is reserved for activities and events that are open to the public at no or minimal cost. For additional calendar listings, visit our Web site at www.connectionnewspapers.com.</i>
<b>Friday/Nov. 4
</b>Concert. Shiloh Ridge perform at the Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1090 Sterling Road, Herndon, for the Weekend Bluegrass Concert Series. Cost for the concert is $12, and it starts at 8 p.m. with doors opening at 7. Call Ellie at 703-437-1883 or Bob at 703-435-8377.
Autumn Ball. At the Reston Community Center, 2310 Colts Neck Road. 8-11 p.m. Complimentary social dance lesson on the basic steps of classical ballroom and swing dance steps at 8:30 p.m. General dancing will follow with music selected for waltz, cha cha, rumba, foxtrot, tango and swing dancing on RCC’s wood dance floor. A buffet meal and non-alcoholic beverages will be served. Semi-formal attire is encouraged. $5 per person. Call 703-476-4500.
Swing Dance. Tom Koerner and Debra Sternberg lead swing lessons and dance to the music of the Joker’s Wild. Beginning swing lessons runs 8:30-9 p.m., with the dance following, 9 p.m.-midnight. The event is held at the Hilton Washington Dulles Airport Hotel, 13869 Park Center Road, Herndon. Cost is $13. Call 703-359-9882 or visit www.gottaswing.com.
<b>Saturday/Nov. 5
</b>Anne Garrels lectures at Reston CenterStage, 8 p.m. Garrels is a roving foreign correspondent for National Public Radio. She will share excerpts from her
book, Naked in Baghdad, and discuss the current state of the Middle East. This event is suitable for ages 14 and older. Tickets are $20 all seats, reserved seating. To purchase tickets, call 703-476-4500 or visit the box office Tuesday-Thursday 4 p.m.-9 p.m. or Saturday 1-5 p.m.
Charles Town Trip. Reston Community Center sponsors a trip to West Virginia's Charles Town Races and Slots, 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Horse races and casino gambling. Trip targeted to adults 18 and older. $27 for people who live or work in Reston and $34 for others, includes roundtrip transportation and tour guides. Contact RCC at 703-476-4500 or http://www.restoncommunitycenter.com.
Epilepsy Awareness Stroll. Raise epilepsy awareness with a 1-mile stroll or a 2-mile walk. Event is free, although those who donate $25 or more will receive an event T-shirt. Rolling registration begins at 9 a.m., stroll should end by noon. Location is Lake Fairfax Park, 1400 Lake Fairfax Drive, Reston. Contact John Lannen at 703-328-5007 or visit http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/virginia/.
<b>Sunday, Nov. 6
</b>W & OD Trail Walk. 1:30-3:30 p.m. Enjoy the last of the fall colors along the W&OD hiking/biking trail between Reston and Vienna. With Squire Muse in the lead, look for areas of tree removal and replanting along the trail. Call 703-709-7700 or visit www.restonmuseum.org.
<b>Monday/Nov. 7
</b>Joe Pipik and the Dino Show. 10:30 a.m. at the Phoenix Worldgate Movie Theater. The audience will travel back in time to the Mesozoic era to encounter some hungry dinosaurs. This show is part of the Children’s Series and is appropriate for pre-schoolers. Tickets are $4 in advance or $5 at the door. To order tickets call 703-787-7300.
Religion Lecture. Julie Galambush discusses the relationship between the authors of the New Testament and their Jewish roots. 7 p.m., Jo Ann Rose Gallery at the Reston Community Center, Lake Anne, 1609 Washington Plaza. Call 703-476-4500.
The Dino Show. With Joe Pipik, part of the children’s series. 10:30 a.m., the Phoenix Worldgate Movie Theatre on Monday, Nov. 7, 10:30 a.m. Call 703-787-7300 or visit http://herndon-va.gov.
<b>Tuesday/Nov. 8
</b>Discussion Meeting. Dulles AARP Chapter #4681 will present Denise Brown at 7 p.m. at the Reston Community Center Lake Anne. Denise Brown, a pharmacist from the Reston Hospital Center, will speak on "Over the Counter Meds, Pros and Cons." Light refreshments will be served. Guests and prospective members welcome. Call 703-758-1517.
<b>Wednesday/Nov. 9
</b>Reston-Herndon Toastmasters Meeting. 7:30-9:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, 681 Elden St., Herndon. Call 703-336-4007 or visit www.toastmasters.org.
Community Blood Drive, 3:30-7:30 p.m. at the United Christian Parish Church on Colts Neck Road. Donating is scheduled at 15-minute intervals and requires one hour. Make an appointment with David Roe at 703-860-9430. Donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health for three days prior to donating. A photo-identification card such as a driver's license is required. Call Inova Blood Donor Services at 703-208-7000.
<b>Thursday/Nov. 10
</b>A capella performance by The Bobs at Reston CenterStage, 8 p.m. This show is suitable for ages 14 and older. Tickets are $20 all seats, reserved seating. To purchase tickets, call 703-476-4500 or visit the box office Tuesday-Thursday 4 p.m.-9 p.m. or Saturday 1-5 p.m.
<b>Saturday/Nov. 12
</b>Handbell Celebration Concert. The 10th Herndon Handbell Celebration Concert will be held at 6 p.m. at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 651 Dranesville Road. Over 75 ringers from Dranesville United Methodist Church, Fairfax United Methodist Church, Floris United Methodist Church, St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, Trinity Presbyterian Church and United Christian Parish will participate. William A. Payne will be the guest conductor. The concert is free. A goodwill offering will be taken.
YMCA Gala, "Celebrate the Stars – Mardi Gras Style," 7 p.m.-midnight at the YMCA Reston. Benefits the annual "Building Bridges" campaign which enables the YMCA to provide financial assistance to individuals, families and children that cannot afford to pay for YMCA membership or programs. This year, a portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to YMCAs affected by Hurricane Katrina so they can help serve their communities. Event will feature live music, dinner and cocktails, along with a live and silent auction. For information on gala tickets, raffle tickets or volunteer opportunities for the event, contact Christine A. Mohr, at 703-318-5296 or cmohr@ymcawashdc.org.
Fall Festival. Harvest Bazaar and Fall Festival hosted by the Vienna Woman's Club, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St., Vienna. Will include a bake sale, food and activities for kids. Crafters and vendors welcome; call 703-938-7716, 703-620-2593 or 703-352-3057 for an application.
Community Gala. The YMCA Fairfax County Reston Gala will "Celebrate the Stars! Mardi Gras Style" at the YMCA. The evening will feature: dinner and cocktails, live music, a live auction, and a silent auction with many great items donated by community partners. 7 p.m.-midnight at the YMCA Fairfax County Reston, 12196 Sunset Hills Road. Individual tickets: $100; Table of 10: $1,000.
Winery. Fall Barrel Tasting at Tarara, 7-10 p.m. Taste our barrel-aged wines and vertical flights in the candlelit wine-making cave. Hors d’oeuvres will complement the evening. Rain or shine at Tarara Winery, located at 13648 Tarara Lane, Leesburg. $45 per person; tickets available online. Call 703-771-7100 or visit www.tarara.com.
<b>Sunday/Nov. 13
</b>Beachfront Property sings Jukebox Gold at Reston CenterStage at 3 p.m. This show is suitable for all ages. Tickets are $15 all seats, reserved seating. To purchase tickets, call 703-476-4500 or visit the box office Tuesday-Thursday 4 p.m.-9 p.m. or Saturday 1-5 p.m. Visit www.beachfrontmusic.com.
<b>Wednesday, Nov. 16
</b>Generating Jewels of Light. 7 p.m. Brenda Belfield will present a program on the creation of stained glass windows for the National Cathedral.
Brenda designed 60 of those windows at her Reston home. Call 703-709-7700 or visit www.restonmuseum.org.
<b>Thursday/Nov. 17
</b>Book Group Meeting. The Reston Community Center's senior book group, Bookends, will meet, 12:30-2 p.m., at the Reston Community Center Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, to discuss "A Fine Balance" by Rohinton Mistry. Participants should bring a bag lunch. Books are on reserve at the Reston Regional Library. This free activity is intended for adults age 55 or older. Call 703-476-4500.
<b>Saturday/Nov. 19
</b>Turkey Trot 5k. All ages and levels welcome. Race starts at 4 p.m. at the Herndon Centennial Golf Course. Pre-register for $10 at www.active.com or at the Herndon Community Center. Race-day registration is $12, 2-3:30 p.m at the Herndon Community Center Gym. All participants are asked to bring canned goods for donation to LINK. Prizes for winning runners include components of a Thanksgiving dinner, as well as complete dinners. Call 703-435-6800, Ext. 2106.
<b>Monday/Nov. 21
</b>Roman Holiday Showing. The Senior Academy of Reston Community Center will show this 1953 film starring Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn. Light refreshments, coffee and juice are served beginning at 9:15 a.m. and the film runs 10 a.m.-noon. It will be shown in RCC Hunters Woods' Center Stage, 2310 Colts Neck Road Both refreshments and movie admissions are free. This program is intended for people age 55 and older. Call 703-476-4500.
<b>Friday/Nov. 25
</b>Holidays Happen at Reston Town Center. A full day of events starts at 7:30 a.m. with the "Race for the Kids" with Olympian Alan Webb, the Holiday Parade at 11, photos with Santa in the afternoon, the annual Tree Lighting and Sing Along at 6 p.m., and carriage rides through the evening. Visit www.restontowncenter.com.
<b>Thursday/Dec. 22
</b>Book Group Meeting. The Reston Community Center's senior book group, Bookends, will meet 12:30-2 p.m., at the Reston Community Center Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, to discuss "The Outside World" by Tova Mirvis. Participants should bring a bag lunch. Books are on reserve at the Reston Regional Library. This free activity is intended for adults age 55 or older. Call 703-476-4500.