Southern Accents 2005 Old Dominion Showhouse to open for tours at Spring Hill Farm in McLean. Tours are available to the public from Oct. 20 -Dec. 4. The Showhouse is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Visitors can purchase $20 tickets at the door, and children under age 12 are admitted free of charge. A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Washington, D.C. The Southern Accents Old Dominion Showhouse will be featured in the November-December issue of Southern Accents magazine, available on newsstands Nov. 1. Call 1-888-212-7050 for more information.
MOTHERS & MORE of No. VA General Meeting:
Mothers & More is a support organization for women 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 7:30pm. Visitors are welcome. Free. Please call (toll free) 866-716-7766 or visit our website www.novamoms.org for more info.
The Women’s Center of Vienna is forming a support group to aid victims, as well as family and friends of victims who have been directly affected by the hurricanes Katrina and Rita. This support group will be free. Friends and relatives who are housing or helping victims are also encouraged to be a part of this support group. For more information about the support group, contact Jane Depopolo, support group coordinator, at 703-281-2657, extension 307. The Women’s Center is located at 133 Park Street N.E., Vienna.
Evening Walking Group. An evening walking group for adults meets each Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in front of the Vienna Community Center, located at 120 Cherry St., S.E. The walk is 3 miles long, along local trails and scenic paths. The program is free, and registration is not required. Call 703-255-6360.
Historic Exhibit. Historic Vienna Inc. presents an exhibit of memorabilia on loan from the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department until the end of 2005, Wednesdays through Saturdays, noon-4 p.m., Sundays, 1-4 p.m. The exhibit is at the Freeman House, 131 Church St., NE, Vienna. Visit www.historicviennainc.org, or call 703-938-5187.
Morning Walking Group. A morning walking group meets on Mondays, through Oct. 24, from 10-11 a.m. A fee of $5 is charged for Town of Vienna residents and $8 for out-of-town participants that includes a guide, trail maps and written materials. Call 703-255-6360.
A free Tai Chi beginners practice is held every Saturday morning, 8-9 a.m., now through Saturday, Oct. 29 at McLean Central Park, behind the Dolley Madison Library on Ingleside Drive in McLean. Open to all, including brand new beginners. Wear comfortable, casual clothing and footwear. Visit www.TaiChiCenter.com or call Warren at 703-79-9141.
Square dancing lessons. Offered Oct. 24 and 31 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St., S.E. The fee is $20/residents and $25/non-residents. Call 703-255-6360 for more information.
Personal safety class for women will be held in four parts on Oct. 24, 27 and Nov. 7 and 9 from 7-10 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St., S.E. The class includes basic education in crime prevention and practice in physical self-defense techniques. The instructor will be Officer Virginia Palmore of the Vienna Police Department. The cost is $5 for residents of Vienna and $7.50 for non-residents, plus $15 materials fee. For more information call 703-255-6360 or visit www.ci.vienna.va.us
Farmer's Market. The Vienna Farmers' Market is open from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at Nottoway Park, 9601 Courthouse Road, Vienna. The market is open on Wednesdays through Oct. 26.
The McLean Farmers Market is held in Lewinsville Park on Friday mornings, from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., now through November 18. All vendors come from a 125-mile radius of Fairfax County.
Falls Church City Farmers Market. The market is open Saturdays, through-Dec. 17, 8 a.m.-noon in the City Hall parking lot, 300 Park Ave., Falls Church. The Fairfax County Master Gardeners also staff a booth at the market to answer gardening questions. Contact Recreation & Parks at 703-248-5077 or recreation@ci.falls-church.va.us.
Create your own cookbook with the help of Diane King, former editor-in-chief for Pillsbury Cookbooks, and your family recipes, traditions, photos and memories each Friday, Oct. 28- Nov. 18 from 9-10:30 a.m. at Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St., S.E. $30/residents and $37.50/non-residents will allow you to learn how to research, design and publish your cookbook and includes a take-home cookbook of recipe favorites. For more information call 703-255-6360.
Day trip to see "Wicked" at the Kennedy center. The trip is being offered through the McLean Community Center on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2006. The day trip will depart from the center at 10:45 a.m. and return approximately at 5 p.m. The cost of the trip, which includes orchestra seats, transportation, lunch at Tivoli’s restaurant in Rosslyn and driver’s tip, is $172/non-resident and $162/McLean resident. "Wicked" tells the story of the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch before Dorothy entered Oz. For information on how to register call 703-790-0123; TTY 703-827-8255 or visit www.mcleancenter.org. Registration must be completed by Friday, Dec. 9.
Aspiring songwriters. Learn how to submit and market songs, how publishing and licensing work for films and how songs are chosen through Tom Kimmel, who has 25 years of experience in the business. He has songs featured in Runaway Bride, Serendipity, Miami Vice and Touched By an Angel. The workshop will be held on Saturday, November 5 from 2:30-5:15 p.m. at Jammin’ Java, 227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna. Cost for the workshop is $30/Songwriter’s Association of Washington members and $40/non-members. After the post-mark date of Oc. 21, the cost increases by $10. For more information visit www.saw.org or call 301-654-8434.
Salsa Dancing. Free Salsa dance lessons are offered every Tuesday at 8 p.m. at eCitie Restaurant and Bar, on the 8300 block of Tyco Road, Tysons Corner.
Library Disability Access Services. Library group 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. Call 703-938-0405.
Swing Dancing takes 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.
The Lunch and Leads Tip Groups with the Vienna-Tysons Chamber of Commerce is held at Shula's Steak House on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:15-1:30 p.m. Contact Harvey Silverman at 703-319-8806 to reserve a space.
"Art in Miniature Exhibit" at the Vienna Arts Center, 115 Pleasant St., through Oct.26, for artists in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Call 703-319-3971.
Voce Chamber Singers, a 20-member mixed choral ensemble, is taking auditions for its 2005-2006 concert series. There are openings in all voice parts, and all soloists are selected from within the ensemble. Voce rehearses on Monday evenings, September through May, in Vienna and performs in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. Auditions are scheduled by appointment. To schedule an audition, leave a message at 703-277-7772 or send an e-mail to voceva@hotmail.com. More information is available at www.voce.org.
The McLean Youth Orchestra has openings for all positions. Musicians ages 12-18 can schedule auditions by calling Pauline Anderson, director, at 703-451-2399.
The Potomac River has a scenic beauty that can be experienced in a whole new way in a kayak at Riverbend Park in Great Falls. Now through October, experience the end of the day with a relaxing, on-the-water tour of the upper Potomac River. 13 years and older. No previous experience required. Not a whitewater tour. Kayaks provided, and are one-person crafts. Reservations and pre-payment required, $40 per person. Cancelled in case of inclement weather. Riverbend Park, 8700 Potomac hills St., Great Falls. Call 703-759-9018.
The Potomac River Gorge Trail: A Globally Rare Environment. Enjoy a self-guided, two-mile hike along the Potomac River. Fourteen trail stops reveal secrets of the Potomac River Gorge. Begins in the Riverbend picnic area, near 8814 Jeffery Road, Great Falls, and ends at Great Falls Park. Daily and free of charge. Offered from 7 a.m.-dusk. Ages 8 and up. Call 703-759-9018.
Nature Escapes. Take part in self-guided activities including crafts, exhibits and animal watching. Each month is a different theme: primitive plants in October, and falling leaves and seeds in November. Free for all ages. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays, noon-5 p.m. weekends and holidays. Riverbend Visitor Center, 8814 Jeffery Road, Great Falls. Call 703-759-9018.
Mothers First is dedicated to supporting women who have chosen to alter their careers to raise children at home. Activities include parent/child morning meetings and field trips, moms' night out and lectures. For Call 703-827-5922 or visit www.mothersfirst.org.
GriefShare seminar/support groups are held Mondays, 7-8:30 p.m., through Dec. 5 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 1205 Dolley Madison Blvd., McLean. The nondenominational curriculum includes a Bible-based video series followed by support group discussion. $12 covers the cost of a workbook. Scholarships and childcare available. Call 703-356-3312.
Foster Family Training. Northern Virginia Family Service offers summertime training for prospective foster families. NVFS foster and respite families receive: intensive training, certification, continuing education, careful child/parent matching, ongoing assistance and 24-hour support from professional social workers, financial reimbursement, help locating support services for your special foster/respite child, foster/respite parent support groups and family activities. Call Ginny Snaider at 703-219-2184, e-mail gsnaider@nvfs.org or go to www.nvfs.org for more information or to join the next training class.
The Master Singers of Virginia is taking auditions for its 11th season. Singers in all voice parts are encouraged to audition. The Master Singers is the premiere a capella choral ensemble in Northern Virginia concentrating in 20th and 21st century choral music. This 28-voice ensemble perform three major concert programs each season, each of which is performed 3-4 times, as well as other engagements throughout Northern Virginia and the greater Washington, D.C., area. Visit www.msva.org. To schedule an audition call Diana Manfredi, president, at 571-213-6306.
Arc of Northern Virginia now offers respite care at their Kidz Clubhouse in Great Falls. They offer after-school, evening or weekend care. Respite care is available for children of all ages with disabilities and their siblings. Rates are $15 per hour from 8 a.m.-11 p.m., $7 per hour from 11 p.m.-8 a.m. and $5 per hour for siblings, with no charge for overnight care. Call 703-438-8370, fax-703-438-8371 or visit www.kidzclubhouse.org.
St. John Catholic Church, 6420 Linway Terrace, McLean, operates a thrift shop for all residents of Northern Virginia. The shop is located on the lower level of Carlin Hall under the parish office and features clothing, a children's room, a kitchen and household room and a limited amount of artwork and "bric-a-brac." Hours are Tuesday-Friday 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Donations are accepted during hours of operation and Mondays from 9:30 a.m.-noon. Call 703-356-7420.