<cal1>Ongoing
<cal2>The Clifton Farmers Market is open each Sunday, from 8 a.m.-noon, on Chapel Road in the post office parking lot. Purchase farm-fresh produce, such as strawberries, lettuce, asparagus and tomatoes, as well as a variety of craft items, chocolate, soap and candles.
National Amusements' new family friendly program, sponsored by Kidtoon Films, features new, G-rated, animated movies for children. Kidtoon Films runs every Saturday and Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. A different feature is shown each month; playing this July is Arthur in: "Arthur’s Missing Pal." Tickets are $3.50, and patrons also receive a coupon for a special value kid’s concession combo — small popcorn and small soft drink for $3.50. Films are shown at Fairfax Corner 14: Cinema De Lux, located at 11900 Palace Way, Fairfax.
Volunteer advocates are needed to make weekly visits to local nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Using the skills of listening, observing and mediating, the ombudsman works with the residents, their families and the staff of the facility, to promote the residents’ rights and quality of life and care. Volunteer Ombudsmen dedicate four hours per week to this work, for one year. Interviews of applicants will be held during the summer in preparation for the next annual training session, scheduled for Sept. 26, 27 and Oct. 6 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day. Following assignment, ongoing training and support are provided. Call 703-324-5435, TTY:703-449-1186 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/LTCOmbudsman.
The massive celebrations that followed Charles Lindbergh’s solo transatlantic flight of 1927 come to life in an extensive new display of “Lucky Lindy” memorabilia at the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly.
Composed of more than 400 artifacts, the presentation illustrates the popular culture phenomenon that turned the reserved young pilot from Minnesota into the first media superstar of the 20th century. The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is located in Chantilly, off of Route 28. It is open daily at 10 a.m. Admission is free, but there is a $12 fee for parking.
<cal1>Now through Aug. 16
<cal2>National Amusements launches the eighth annual "Bookworm Wednesday," a summer reading program developed to encourage children to read during summer vacation. "Bookworm Wednesday" runs for eight weeks and entitles kids to free admission to a select children's film every Wednesday at 10 a.m. when they present a book report at a participating theater box office. Official book report forms will be available at participating theaters and online a nationalamusments.com. Local theaters are the Centreville Mulitplex Cinemas at 6201 Multiplex Drive and Fairfax Corner 14: Cinema de Lux, 1190 Palace Way.
<cal1>Now through Aug. 27
<cal2>ArtBeat Gallery presents "All Creatures Great and Small" — 20 local artists will be displaying paintings, photography and sculpture. Featured artist, Linda Carlson. Hours: Wednesday and Thursday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday 12-6 p.m. Located at 9407 Main Street, Old Town Manassas. Visit www.artbeatgallery.org or call 703-365-8558.
<cal1>Now through Aug. 30
<cal2>Chick-fil-A at Fair Oaks Mall will be hosting "Family Night" every Wednesday from 5-7 p.m. Family Night will run all summer long. All are invited to share an evening of fun, crafts, face painting, musical entertainment and more. Check out the entire list of entertainment when visiting the store located inside the mall entrance between Sears and Macy's.
<cal1>Now through Sept. 2
<cal2>The Fairfax County Public Library invites children in Fairfax County to participate in the 2006 Summer Reading Program. The program encourages children to read for pleasure during the summer. More than 25 businesses and organizations have donated more than $1 million worth of prizes to kids who finish the program; other sponsors will donate prizes for special drawings at the end of the summer. An array of performers from jugglers and puppeteers to magicians and musicians will entertain and educate children at library branches all summer long. Call to sign up beginning two weeks before an event. Ask for signed interpretation or assistive listening devices when you call 703-324-8365.
<cal1>Now through Dec. 31
<cal2>At a time when Virginia is commemorating the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, Sully Historic Site features a new exhibit evoking the adventurous spirit of travel and trade. Across the High Seas — the India Venture, explores global trade in the Federal period. Daily, except Tuesdays, from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., recapture the spirit during your tour of the 1794 home of Richard Bland Lee. Sully Historic Site is located at 3601 Sully Road in Chantilly. Call 703-437-1794 or visit online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/sully.
<cal1>July 13-14
<cal2>Sully Historic Site hosts its annual History Hopper Summer Camp. There is still time to register for this program which runs Wednesday through Friday from 9:30-11:30 a.m. and offers a terrific time for children ages 5 and 6 years old, who have completed kindergarten. These kids will have a chance to hop into history while playing 18th century games, making take-home crafts and touring the main house, outbuildings, representative slave quarter and garden. Prepaid reservations are required for the camp. The cost is $70 per camper and snacks are included. Call Sully at 703-437-1794.
<cal1>Thursday/July 13
<cal2>Osteoporosis Prevention – More Than Just Calcium! is a course offered by the Fairfax County Public Schools, Office of Adult and Community Education. The course is taught by a registered dietician and also focuses on nutrients such as phosphorus, omega 3 fats, vitamin D, and saturated fat. The class will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Centreville Adult Center, 5775 Spindle Ct., Centreville. Call 703-227-2250.
<cal1>Friday/July 14
<cal2>Fairfax Women's Connection invites the public to a "Packing Made Easy" luncheon from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. American Tourister of Leesburg will show the steps to perfect packing. Velma Geis, National PTA speaker and personal shopper, will tell how she cleaned out her "Life Closet." At the Hidden Creek Country Club, 1711 Clubhouse Road, Reston. Required reservations are $17 inclusive and should be made by July 11. Call Fran at 703-815-4204 or email Farifaxwmconnect@aol.com.
Helen Lester Story Hour at 10:30 a.m. A morning of stories by acclaimed author Helen Lester, whose sweet and silly stories like 'Hooway for Wodney Wat' show how cool being different can be at Barnes & Noble, 12193 Fair Lake Promenade Drive, Fairfax.
Chick-fil-A Cattle Call. As part of the Atlanta-base restaurant chains' annual Cow Appreciation Day celebration, Chick-fil-A at Fair Oaks mall is offering a free combo meal (breakfast, lunch or dinner) to any customer who visits dressed as a cow.
<cal1>July 14-15
<cal2>Parents in search of tools to further their children's education, regardless of whether they are homeschooled, can visit the 2006 Northern Virginia Home Education Conference at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly. Meet math, science, and writing specialists, as well as representatives from NASA, CompUSA, and the SportsPlex. Registration can be done in advance at www.novaconference.net or at the door for $5 more. Children and grandparents are admitted free when accompanied by registered parents. Call 888-560-8080.
<cal1>July 14-30
<cal2>Vpstart Crow Productions Inc. will continue its 2006 season with "Anne of the Thousand Days," Maxwell Anderson's classic play about Anne Boleyn's turbulent and fatal marriage to Henry VIII at The Cramer Center, located at 9008 Center St. in Old Town Manassas. The production will run Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students, seniors, and City of Manassas or Prince William County employees. For tickets, contact Tickets.com or call them at 800-955-5566. For group sales or more information contact Vpstart Crow at vpstartcrow@comcast.net or 703-365-0240 or visit www.vpstartcrow.com.
<cal1>Saturday/July 15
<cal2>Fair Oaks Shopping Center is cooling down this summer by serving up some hot jazz with a free, two-hour concert featuring nationally known artist, “TYRIS" from 12-2 p.m. Tyris, a native of Chicago, has been on the jazz scene for several years and is dedicated to perfection in his playing and as a musician, producer and composer. Free.
<cal1>Monday/July 17
<cal2>Monkeys on Monday Story Hour at 10:30 a.m. A morning of monkey trouble while reading about Eileen Christelow's Five Little Monkeys and making monkey puppets at Barnes & Noble, 12193 Fair Lake Promenade Drive, Fairfax.
<cal1>Wednesday/July 19
<cal2>Curator's Choice at the National Air and Space Museum from noon until 12:15 p.m. Join Bob van der Linden of the Aeronautics Division for “America by Air: A First Look into the New Exhibit.” At the National Mall building.
<cal1>Thursday/July 20
<cal2>Neighborhood Watch training will be provided by the Sully District Crime Prevention Office on Thursday, July 20 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Sully District Police Station, located at 4900 Stonecroft Boulevard. The event is open to already established Neighborhood Watches with new members to train. If you are interested in starting new, or reactivating old, Neighborhood Watches, contact the Sully District Crime Prevention Office at 703-814-7018.
<cal2>Mothers First – Chantilly/Centreville is dedicated to supporting women who have chosen to alter their careers to raise their children at home. Activities include parent/child morning meetings and field trips, moms' nights out, and lectures. July's meetings are from 10:15-11:30 a.m. at the Centreville Regional Library, 14200 Saint Germain Drive. Call 703-827-5922 or visit www.mothersfirst.org.
Curator's Choice at the National Air and Space Museum from 12:30 p.m. until 12:45 p.m. Join David DeVorkin of the Space History Division for “America’s First Steps into Space: The Explorer and Vanguard Collections.” At the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly.
<cal1>Friday/July 21
<cal2>More Monkey Tales Story Hour at 10:30 a.m. Whether they're jumping on the bed or baking a birthday cake, Eileen Christelow's Five Little Monkeys are always a barrel of fun at Barnes & Noble, 12193 Fair Lake Promenade Drive, Fairfax.
<cal1>July 21-25
<cal2>"Mamas, Don’t Let Your Cowboys Grow Up to Be Actors." A one cowboy show with 20 characters written and performed by James Beard, a Centreville resident, directed by Colin Hovde well be performed Friday, July 21 from 9-10:25 p.m., Saturday, July 22 from 12–1:25 p.m., Sunday, July 23 from 3–4:25 p.m., Tuesday, July 25 from 10–11:25 p.m., National Building Museum Auditorium, 401 F Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. Tickets: $15. On sale starting July 10th. Call 866-811-4111 or www.capfringe.org. Presented as part of the inaugural Capital Fringe Festival. July 20 – 30.
<cal1>Saturday/July 22
<cal2>The National Air and Space Museum's Saturday Star Party takes place from 8:30 p.m. until 11 p.m. and features guidance by Sean O'Brien, staff astronomer of the Albert Einstein Planetarium, in viewing the star-filled skies. Telescopic observing of various astronomical objects will also be featured. Cover flashlights with a red filter or brown paper bag. An amateur astronomer will lead a short alternate program in case of clouds or rain. The event will be at Sky Meadows State Park, which is west of Washington, D.C. on U.S. Route 17 North and 1 mile south of U.S. Route 50. Call 540-592-3556. There is a $4 parking fee per vehicle.
<cal1>July 22-23
<cal2>DC Big Flea Market — Virginia's largest antique and collectible show — at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly. From 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $8 for both days. The Dulles Expo Center is located at 4368 Chantilly Shopping Center, Chantilly.
<cal1>Sunday/July 23
<cal2>Pajamarama Story Hour with The Very Hungry Caterpillar at 4 p.m. Grab jammies and a pillow, because Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar is coming to visit Barnes & Noble in Fairfax for a pajama party. An evening of bedtime butterfly books and cuddly caterpillar stories. At Barnes & Noble, 12193 Fair Lakes Promenade Drive, Fairfax.
<cal1>Monday/July 24
<cal2>The New Moms Lunch Group will present a lunch with Leslie Morgan Steiner of The Washington Post and author of The Mommy Wars. She will be joining the group to discuss her new book in which she writes about the choices of stay-at-home moms and working moms. RSVP as space will be limited. The cost for the lunch is $20. In addition, it is possible to pre-order a copy of her book for $15.72. Contact Rochelle Goldberg at eventbuilders@hotmail.com.
Curious George Story Hour guarantees a morning of monkey mischief beginning at 10:30 a.m. At Barnes & Noble, 12193 Fair Lake Promenade Drive, Fairfax.
<cal1>Wednesday/July 26
<cal2>Curator's Choice at the National Air and Space Museum from noon until 12:15 p.m. Join Amanda Young of the Space History Division for “35th Anniversary of Apollo 15: Commander David Scott’s Spacesuit.” At the National Mall building.
<cal1>Thursday/July 27
<cal2>Cranium Family Fun Game Night begins at 7 p.m. and provides an evening of fun for the whole family. The game is suggested for ages 8-adult and features hilarious activities that will have everyone high-fiving, and working and playing together. At Barnes & Noble, 12193 Fair Lake Promenade Drive, Fairfax.
<cal1>Friday/July 28
<cal2>Summer Vacation with Curious George Story Hour promises a morning of travel and trouble with the playful monkey as stories of his most exciting trips are read. The event begins at 10:30 a.m. at Barnes & Noble, 12193 Fair Lake Promenade Drive, Fairfax.
<cal1>Saturday/July 29
<cal2>A community Flea Market will be held from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon. The vendor fee is $30 for a 12x24-foot space and proceeds benefit the Park Authority’s Volunteer Program and the Friends of Frying Pan Farm Park. Vendors keep all of the proceeds from their sales. Call 703-324-8750 or email erin.chernisky@fairfaxcounty.gov for a registration form. Spaces sold out in previous years for this popular event, so early registration is recommended. The event is free for shoppers.
<cal1>Monday/July 31
<cal2>Story Hour Adventures with Dora the Explorer starts at 10:30 a.m. Children will enjoy listening to adventurous stories about Dora, Boots, and company. At Barnes & Noble, 12193 Fair Lake Promenade Drive, Fairfax.
<cal1>Tuesday/Aug. 1
<cal2>National Night Out will be held in many local neighborhoods. It is intended to heighten crime and drug prevention and strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships in the community.
<cal1>Friday/Aug. 11
<cal2>Fairfax Women's Connection invites the public to a "Falling into Fashion" luncheon from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Eddie Bauer of Fair Oaks Mall will show the latest fall fashions. Betty Kan, a native Hawaiian, will speak on "Searching for Truth." The event will be at the Hidden Creek Country Club, 1711 Clubhouse Road, Reston. Require reservations are $17 inclusive and should be made by Aug. 8. Call Fran at 703-815-4204 or email Fairfaxwmconnect@aol.com.
<cal1>Monday/Aug. 14
<cal2> Luncheons for mothers and babies (newborn to 8 months old) are held every Monday from 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Il Lupo Italian Restaurant. Sponsored by EventBuilders, LLC, these lunches are a great way to meet other new moms and babies in the area and feature speakers and a different program every week, such as “Now that I am a mom, who am I?” Individual luncheons $20; four-lunch series $75. Reservations are required. Call Rochelle Goldberg at 703-273-5593 or email: eventbuilders@hotmail.com. Check www.event-builders.com for more information. The restaurant is located at 4069 Chain Bridge Road.
Noodles & Noggins presents Mighty Mondays with Mr. Knick Knack each Monday from 10-11 a.m. at the Clifton Town Meeting Hall, 12641 Chapel Road, Clifton. Sing, dance, and have loads fun. For all ages. Suggested contribution per child. Call the store at 703-815-8600.
Noodles & Noggins presents Fun Club each Wednesday from 10-11 a.m. at the Clifton Town Meeting Hall, 12641 Chapel Road, Clifton. Enjoy some books, do a craft, sing songs and dance. A new theme each week. For ages 1-6 years. Suggested contribution per child. Call the store to register at 703-815-8600.
While the INOVA Fair Oaks Hospital Auxiliary is in need of volunteers to assist with various functions in the hospital, the current need is especially acute in the Thrift Shop at Fairfax Circle. The Thrift Shop needs volunteers who can sort and price merchandise, stock shelves, process sales, and assist customers in various ways. Call 703-391-3659 for information regarding the next orientation for volunteers.
The Fairfax Meals on Wheels (MOW) group needs a volunteer to serve as Treasurer. This leadership position is responsible for the finances of the MOW group, including a monthly report to the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging. Volunteers are needed to deliver meals (Monday through Friday) to senior adults in the following areas: Annandale, Baileys Crossroads, Falls Church, Manchester Lakes, Centreville/Chantilly, Fairfax, Tysons, Herndon/Reston and Little River Glen. The job involves picking up meals at specified sites between 10:30 a.m. and noon, and delivering them to seniors by 1 p.m. Volunteer drivers can choose to deliver meals on a daily, weekly, biweekly, monthly or substitute basis. Call the Fairfax AAA Volunteer Intake Line at 703-324-5406 or E-mail melanie.mitchell@fairfaxcounty.gov
Volunteers are needed for day and evening hours to work one-to-one with adult learners in public libraries or adult learning centers. Additional opportunities are available working with adolescents in alternative school settings. The Volunteer Learning Program (VLP) trains tutors, assesses learners, and provides materials with follow-up support. VLP is a joint community project of the Fairfax County Public Schools (Adult & Community Education), Fairfax County's Juvenile Court, and the Fairfax County Public Library. Call 703-246-2139 or e-mail VLP@fcps.edu.
Mocha Moms Inc. is a support network for stay-at-home mothers of color. Meetings are every first, third and fifth Wednesday between 10 a.m. and noon at the Reston Regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive, Reston. www.restonmochamoms.org. All are welcome.
The Northern Virginia Artists League (NOVALArt.com) is a local group of artists and photographers who meet every month for an "Art Outing" and general meeting. The group meets monthly to encourage each other, critique each other's work, and share ideas for marketing the art. There are monthly art outings for plain air painting or photography. All medias, watercolor, acrylic, oil, colored pencil, photography, etc., are welcome.
The Centreville chapter of Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) Club meets Thursday evenings at the Centreville Presbyterian Church 15040 Lee Highway, Centreville. TOPS is a non-profit, non-commercial weight loss support group open to anyone 7 years of age and older. At $24 per year, this is an affordable, supportive program for weight loss and weight maintenance. Weigh-in is from 6:15-7 p.m. with the meeting starting at 7:10 p.m. Call Susan at 703-392-7937 or visit www.tops.org.
Fancy Cats Rescue Team adoption event on the first and third Saturdays and every Sunday of the month from 12-4 p.m. at the PetsMart, Fair Lakes. Cats and kittens need a loving home. Choose from a wide variety of loving cats. Visit the Web site a www.fancycats.org. E-mail to info@fancycats.org.
Starlight Starbright has teamed up with Starbucks across the country to collect books and toys to give to children in need. Centreville Starbucks, 5623 Stone Road, is kicking off the 2005 toy drive with a bang and goal of being the Starbucks with the most toys. They are challenging the community to donate a bicycle per week and the local Starbucks will match it. Call 703-502-4845.
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 third Wednesday of each month in Braddock Hall at the Kings Park Library, Burke at 7:30 p.m. The group offers children's and family activities, guest speakers, book club, mom's night out, movie night, chat group and much more. Call (toll free) 866-716-7766 or visit the Web site www.novamoms.org.
Mighty Mondays with Mr. Knick Knack. Come sing, dance, and have loads fun each Monday with Mr. Knick Knack from 10-11 a.m. The event will be indoors all this month at the Clifton Town Meeting Hall, 12641 Chapel Road. Open to all ages.
Wednesdays with Noodles & Noggins Fun Club from 10 to 11 a.m. at Clifton Town Meeting Hall, 12641 Chapel Road. A new theme each week. Listen to a story, make a craft, sing songs, dance, and have fun. Suggest contribution per child. Reservations requested. Call 703-815-8600.
Thumpin' Thursdays with Mister Don from 4 to 5 p.m. Sing, play, and get the wiggles out before dinnertime. For all ages. Suggested contribution per child. Clifton Town Meeting Hall, 12641 Chapel Road.
A Mindfulness Meditation Class will be held every Sunday from 7-8 p.m. at the Fairfax Sun and Moon Yoga Studio, 9998 Main St., Fairfax. Free. Contact ErikaKL@aol.com or call 703-864-2807.
Northern Virginia Bookcrossing Meetup. These book lovers like to keep their books busy by reading, releasing and tracking their books' adventures with others locally, nationally and internationally. Fun book challenges, hunt for books "in the wild" and more. Share books and be part of a unique group with a different angle on book loving. Visit bookcrossing.meetup.com/72/.
Fairfax Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is recruiting community-minded citizens from diverse backgrounds to volunteer as advocates for children whose families have been cited for abuse and neglect by the Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. The role of a CASA is to investigate a child's situation and to advocate for what is in the best interest of the child in court. All CASA volunteers undergo training to prepare them for this role, and no prior experience in child welfare is required. To learn more about this volunteer opportunity and upcoming orientation and training dates, visit www.casafairfax.org or contact CASA's development and recruitment associate at 703-273-3526 or staff@casafairfax.org.
Red Hat Society. A chapter of the Red Hat Society is now in Centreville. Women age 50 and up wear red hats and purple outfits and kick up their heels. Meetings are the last Wednesday of every month at 11 a.m. in the Sully Senior Center, 5690 Sully Road (inside Centreville Presbyterian Church, off Route 28 south, near the I-66 west exit). All area seniors are welcome to join or visit. Call Mary Doerman at 703-968-7889, Scotti Brennan at 703-378-5206, or Sully Senior Center Director Carma Ryan at 703-322-4475.
Ongoing events at the National Air and Space Museum include daily tours of the building on the National Mall and the Udvar-Hazy Center, IMAX movies, and planetarium shows. There are also movies at the Udvar-Hazy Center, and segments at the Museum on the Mall such as "How Do Things Fly?" and Discovery Stations on a daily basis. For more information on the movies or to purchase tickets, call 202-633-IMAX (4629) or visit www.smithsonian.org/IMAX.