Thursday/Jan. 5
A support group, sponsored by Pain Connection, for anyone with chronic pain and their family and friends meets 1:30 - 3 p.m. at Davis Library, 6400 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda. Participants are welcome to bring pillows, mats, ice or hot packs to be comfortable. Call 301-309-2444 or see www.pain-connection.org.
Friday/Jan. 6
Contra Dance. The Friday Night Dancers presents traditional American dancing including contra dances, square dances and several waltzes. Contra dance lesson from 7:30 to 8:15 p.m. Dance from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. to June Apple. $8, in the Spanish Ballroom, 7300 MacArthur Blvd. in Glen Echo. Contact info@fridaynightdance.org or visit www.fridaynightdance.org.
An opera in one act by Gian-Carlo Menotti to an original English libretto by the composer at 7:30 p.m. at the Christ Lutheran Church, 8011 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda. The opera is a popular Christmas classic. Call 301-718-7360 or visit http://www.centerforfamilyprocess.com/cfpmap.pdf.
Imagination Stage invites middle and high school students to a free Open House on Friday, Jan. 6 from 6 -9 p.m. at 4908 Auburn Avenue, Bethesda. This is an opportunity for older children and teens to sample acting, musical theatre and dance classes, meet faculty members and enjoy free snacks and socializing in Imagination Stage's café. There will be a sing-along of songs from upcoming student productions at Imagination Stage, including "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," "Annie, Jr." and "The Robber Bridegroom." From 8 -9 p.m., the program hosts "Focus on Filmmaking: a Night of Suspense," featuring writer/director Eduardo Sanchez ("The Blair Witch Project"). Parents may drop Open House attendees off at Imagination Stage beginning at 6 p.m. and pick them up by 9 p.m. Visit www.ImaginationStage.org, or by calling 301-961-6060.
Saturday/Jan. 7
An opera in one act by Gian-Carlo Menotti to an original English libretto by the composer at 3 p.m. at the Christ Lutheran Church, 8011 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda. The opera is a popular Christmas classic. Call 301-718-7360 or visit http://www.centerforfamilyprocess.com/cfpmap.pdf.
Swing Dance. The Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture Inc. presents a special night of Swing and Blues dancing to one of the country's finest vocalist, Barbara Morrison and her band from Los Angeles. Don't miss this opportunity to listen and dance to Barbara Morrison.
Beginning swing Lesson from 8 to 9 p.m. is followed by dancing from 9 p.m. to midnight. Cost is $20, in the Spanish Ballroom, 7300 MacArthur Blvd. in Glen Echo. All net proceeds benefit the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture, Inc. Call Donna Barker at 301-634-2231 or visit www.glenechopark.org or www.barbaramorrison.com.
Climb Wall Weekend. Step into your harness, stretch out your limbs and get ready to climb at Discovery Creek Children’s Museum. Put your skills to the test while scaling the Museum’s Climb Wall. Climb Wall activities are included with the price of admission to Discovery Creek. Open Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (ages 4–9). Members and children under 2: free, nonmembers: $5. In the event of inclement weather, the Climb Wall will be closed. At the Stable at Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd. in Glen Echo. Call 202-320-5331 or visit www.discoverycreek.org.
Imagination Stage's annual Winter Arts Open House from 10-2 p.m. Children ages 1 through fifth grade can sample drama, music and dance classes, enjoy storytelling and other performances and participate in hands-on activities, face-painting and other fun. They will be able to meet Imagination Stage's lovable mascot, Nick Bottom.
More information is available at www.ImaginationStage.org, or by calling 301-961-6060. Imagination Stage is located at 4908 Auburn Avenue, Bethesda. There is ample parking in the garage next door and it is free on Saturday and Sunday.
Violinist Sandra Meei Cameron leads the pictorial enchantment of Vivaldi's Four Seasons with the National Philharmonic under Piotr Gajewski at 8 p.m. at The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. The program also includes Peck's Signs of Life II and Mozart's Divertimento, K 136. Tickets are $80, $60, $45, $35, & $25. Kids 7-17 are free. Call 301-581-5100.
Color Me Dark: A Story of the Great Migration North, Saturday, Jan. 7 at 11 a.m. at the Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center, 51 Mannakee Street, Rockville. This story explores the lives of two sisters during the time of great social uprising. Tickets are $7 for adults, $6 for seniors, students and children. Call 301-279-5301.
Sunday/Jan. 8
Climb Wall Weekend. Step into your harness, stretch out your limbs and get ready to climb at Discovery Creek Children’s Museum. Put your skills to the test while scaling the Museum’s Climb Wall. Climb Wall activities are included with the price of admission to Discovery Creek. Open Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (ages 4–9). Members and children under 2: free, nonmembers: $5. In the event of inclement weather, the Climb Wall will be closed. At the Stable at Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd. in Glen Echo. Call 202-320-5331 or visit www.discoverycreek.org.
Waltz Dance. Waltz Time presents a beginning Waltz lesson from 3 to 3:30 p.m., followed by an afternoon of waltzes from 3:30 to 6 p.m. in the Spanish Ballroom, 7300 MacArthur Blvd. in Glen Echo. The band will be playing lively waltzes so you can warm up from the January cold outside. Cost for the whole afternoon is $8, and no partner required. Visit www.dancedc.com/waltz.html.
Contra and Square Dance. The Folklore Society of Greater Washington presents traditional American dancing with a focus on New England-style contra dances, and including square dances, country mixers, waltzes and other couple dances. All dances are taught, and no partner is necessary. The newcomers' welcome lesson is at 7 p.m., followed by called dances from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. $10/$8 FSGW members, in the Spanish Ballroom, 7300 MacArthur Blvd. in Glen Echo. Call 202-518-1299 or visit www.fsgw.org.
Li-Ming Toastmasters Club welcomes guests in developing communications and leadership skills Sunday, Jan. 8 from 10 -11:30 a.m. at the staff lounge of Julius West Middle School, 651 Great Falls Road, Rockville. Call 301-279-8720 or visit www.liming.org/toastmaster.
FAES Chamber Music Series presents Randall Scarlata, baritone and Jeremy Den, piano, performing Schubert's Sonata in A minor Op. 143 and Shubert's Die schone Mullerin on Sunday, Jan. 8 at 4 p.m. at the Landon School Mondzac Performing Arts Center, 6101 Wilson Lane, Bethesda. Tickets are $22 for adults and $10 for students. Tickets will be available at the door. Call 301-496-7976.
David Snyder of the World Future Society will be the speaker at the monthly breakfast at Concord-St. Andrew's United Methodist Church, 5910 Goldsboro Road, Bethesda on Sunday, Jan. 8 at 8:30 a.m. Adults $5, young children free.
Contact Paul Sisco at 301-320-3850.
Monday/Jan. 9
Mineral Club Meeting: The Gem, Lapidary and Mineral Society of Montgomery County will meet on Monday, Jan. 9. at 7:30 p.m. at the Rockville Senior Center, 1150 Carnation Drive, Rockville. The program will be a presentation by Doctor Jeffrey Post, Curator of Minerals at the National Museum of Natural History. His presentation is entitled "New Research on the Hope Diamond." Visitors are always welcome and there is no charge. Call 301-299-8213.
Thursday/Jan. 12
The Division of Family and Community Partnerships will have the 2006 Summer Search Family Night on Thursday, Jan. 12, from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. in the cafeteria at Richard Montgomery High School. The snow date for the event is Wednesday, Jan. 18. Summer Search Family Night offers parents and students an opportunity to meet program directors, obtain applications, learn about scholarships, and receive a copy of the new catalog of summer opportunities. For more information, call the Division of Family and Community Partnerships at 301-279-3100.
Friday/Jan. 13
Contra Dance. The Friday Night Dancers presents traditional American dancing including contra dances, square dances and several waltzes. Contra dance lesson from 7:30 to 8:15 p.m. Dance from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. to the fabulous Glen Echo Open Band. $8, in the Spanish Ballroom, 7300 MacArthur Blvd. in Glen Echo. Contact info@fridaynightdance.org or visit www.fridaynightdance.org.
Saturday/Jan. 14
Swing Dance. Tom and Debra, Washington, D.C.’s most popular swing dance instructors and promoters, present another special night of dancing to the Toni Lynn Washington Band. Beginner lesson with Tom and Debra 8 to 9 p.m. is followed by dancing until midnight. $13, in the Spanish Ballroom, 7300 MacArthur Blvd. in Glen Echo. Visit http://www.gottaswing.com, or call our Dance Hotline at 703-359-9882.
The National Philharmonic Piano Trio, presents Rachmaninoffís "Trio …lÈgiaque," Op. 9, Mozart's Trio in G Major, K 564, Schumann's Trio No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 63 at 8 p.m. at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre,
603 Edmonston Drive, Rockville. Tickets are $25, 18, and 11. Kids 7-17 are free. Call 240-314-8690.
The ASCE Toastmaster Club will meet at the Potomac Community Center, 1315 Falls Road at 9:20 am. Become a better public speaker. Newcomers always welcome. Call 301-299-2826.
Potomac Library Used Book Sale on Saturday Jan. 14 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Most hardbacks are $1.00 and Most paperbacks are $.50. The library is located at 10101 Glenolden Drive, Potomac. Call 240-777-0690
Sunday/Jan. 15
Ballroom Tea Dance. The La Salle Dance Orchestra returns for another full year of monthly dances featuring popular dance music of the 1920s and '30s. Whether its a fabulous fox-trot, a lovely waltz, a tantalizing tango, a romantic rumba or a sophisticated swing, you're guaranteed a wonderful afternoon of dancing. Marc and Ellen will teach an introductory class from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. The orchestra plays from 3:30 to 6 p.m. $8, in the Spanish Ballroom, 7300 MacArthur Blvd. in Glen Echo. Call 703-425-7926 or visit www.lasalledanceorchestra.com.
Contra & Square Dance. The Folklore Society of Greater Washington presents traditional American dancing with a focus on New England-style contra dances, and including square dances, country mixers, waltzes and other couple dances. All dances are taught, and no partner is necessary. The newcomers' welcome lesson is at 7 p.m., followed by called dances from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. $10/$8 FSGW/members, in the Spanish Ballroom. Call 202-518-1299 or visit www.fsgw.org.
Slow Blues dancing with popular teaching duo of Donna Barker and Mike Marcotte. The lesson from 7 - 8:30 p.m. is followed by blues dancing until 10:30 p.m. at the Town Hall in Glen Echo, at 6106 Harvard Avenue. The class will refine techniques of leading and following, present ideas for moving from closed to open position, suggest alternate footwork, offer ways to use dips, and follow through with moving musically. Prior experience is not necessary. Admission for the lesson and dance is $14; and $6 for the dance only. No partner necessary. Register at the door. For more information, call Donna Barker at 703-978-0375 or Glen Echo Park at 301-634-2222, or go to www.DanceDC.com.
Thursday/Jan. 19
Jaleo, located at 7271 Woodmont Avenue in Bethesda, announces a special dinner with wine expert, Francisco Astudillo of Elite Wines, speaking on behalf of Jean León on Thursday, Jan. 19. The dinner begins at 7 p.m. and is priced at $65 per person (tax and gratuity not included) featuring a six-course meal created by Jaleo's culinary team lead by James Beard Award-winning Chef José Andrés. To book a reservation for the wine dinner call 301-913-0003 or visit www.jaleo.com.
Friday/Jan. 20
Contra Dance. The Friday Night Dancers presents traditional American dancing including contra dances, square dances and several waltzes. Contra dance lesson from 7:30 to 8:15 p.m. Dance from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. to eclectic Southern Maryland quartet Some Assembly. $8, in the Spanish Ballroom, 7300 MacArthur Blvd. in Glen Echo. Contact info@fridaynightdance.org or visit www.fridaynightdance.org.
The Pipes, Drums and Highland Dancers of First Battalion The Black Watch and the Band of the Welsh Guards, Friday Jan. 20 at 8 p.m. at the Robert Parilla Performing Arts Center, 51 Mannakee Street, Rockville. Watch the blend of sounds of Scotland with traditional dance and detailed costumes. Tickets are $40 and $38 for seniors and students. Seating is reserved. Call 301-279-5301.
Saturday/Jan. 21
Swing Dance. The Washington Swing Dance Committee presents the extraordinary boogie-woogie sounds of the Daryl Davis Band. Pinetop Perkins chose the 27 years young Daryl to succeed him in the Muddy Waters Legendary Blues Band. Daryl works with such greats as Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley’s Jordanaires and The Coasters. He was the featured pianist on Cephas & Wiggins’ Grammy Award winning album, Flip Flop & Fly. Beginner swing dance lesson 8 to 9 p.m., dance 9 p.m. to midnight, in the Spanish Ballroom, 7300 MacArthur Blvd. in Glen Echo. $12 or volunteer for one hour and get in free. E-mail Derek at wsdcvolunteer@hotmail.com. For more information, call 301-340-9732 or visit www.wsdc.org.
Sunday/Jan. 22
Critiques and Coffee. A photo jam session at Photoworks. View and discuss traditional and digital images over coffee and bagels. Led by Photoworks staff, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Arcade Building. Call 301-229-7930 or visit www.glenechophotoworks.org.
Waltz Dance. Waltz Time's Sunday afternoon dance starts with a Waltz lesson from 3 to 3:30 p.m. This lesson is aimed at beginner dancers with little or no waltz experience, and no partner is required. More-experienced dancers are always welcome to join in as a warm-up. The lesson is followed by an afternoon of waltzing from 3:30 to 6 p.m. in the Spanish Ballroom, 7300 MacArthur Blvd. in Glen Echo. Cost for the whole afternoon is only $8, and no partner required. Visit www.dancedc.com/waltz.html.
Contra and Square Dance. The Folklore Society of Greater Washington presents traditional American dancing with a focus on New England style contra dances, and including square dances, country mixers, waltzes and other couple dances. All dances are taught, and no partner is necessary. The newcomers welcome lesson is at 7 p.m., followed by called dances to 10:30 p.m. $10/$8 FSGW members, in the Spanish Ballroom, 7300 MacArthur Blvd. in Glen Echo. Call 202-518-1299 or visit www.fsgw.org.
Monday/Jan. 23
Montgomery College will hold a second audition for the Montgomery College Symphony Orchestra on Monday, Jan. 23, starting at 6 p.m. All spaces for the first audition in December were filled. Community members and students, including high school students looking for college-level playing experience, are invited to audition for the orchestra. Auditions will take place in the Music Recital Hall, located in the Music Building at the Rockville Campus, 51 Mannakee Street, Rockville. All musicians, both new and returning, must audition each semester. To schedule a required audition time, call 301-279-5209.
Sunday/Jan. 29
Cinema Art Bethesda will show “Together,” in which music is both a burden and a salvation to a 13-year-old violin prodigy. The doors to the Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema, 7235 Woodmont Ave., will open at 9:30 a.m. and the film will begin at 10 a.m. A provocative discussion led by a local film expert will follow each film. Tickets at the door are $14. For further information, visit the Web site at http://CinemaArtBethesda.org or call 301-365-3679.
Slow Blues dancing with popular teaching duo of Donna Barker and Mike Marcotte. The lesson from 7 - 8:30 p.m. is followed by blues dancing until 10:30 p.m. at the Town Hall in Glen Echo, at 6106 Harvard Avenue. The class will refine techniques of leading and following, present ideas for moving from closed to open position, suggest alternate footwork, offer ways to use dips, and follow through with moving musically. Prior experience is not necessary. Admission for the lesson and dance is $14; and $6 for the dance only. You do not need a partner. Register at the door. For more information, call Donna Barker at 703-978-0375 or Glen Echo Park at 301-634-2222, or go to www.DanceDC.com.
Friday/Feb. 3
The Friday Night Dancers presents traditional American dancing including contra dances, square dances, and several waltzes in the Spanish Ballroom, Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Contra dance lesson from 7:30 to 8:15 p.m. Dance from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. to Glen Echo favorite Mando Mafia. Tickets are $8. Contact info@fridaynightdance.org or visit www.fridaynightdance.org.
Sunday/Feb. 5
Li-Ming Toastmasters Club welcomes guests in developing communications and leadership skills from 10-11:30 a.m. at the staff lounge of Julius West Middle School, 651 Great Falls Road, Rockville. Call 301-279-8720 or visit www.li-ming.org/toastmaster.