Art and Music
Visit Space
1234 Ingleside Avenue.
See 'space' as a subject matter for art at the Emerson and Atrium Gallery
Become enraptured by the McLean Orchestra/McLean Youth Orchestra
Call 703-893-8646 <bt>The McLean Orchestra began with 15 musicians in 1971 and now there are over 80 members from the Greater Washington D.C. area. The performers present live orchestral performances throughout the year at several set locations, along with community outreach programs and services. The McLean Youth Orchestra offers serious music students, ages 12-18 years old, the opportunity to engage in cultural exchanges with other young musicians while developing their musical skills. Visit www.mclean-orchestra.org.
Get Enamored With the McLean Symphony
5903 Fraizer Lane McLean, 703-552-7187
Music Director Dingwall Fleary has directed elite musical performances since 1972. The symphony has over 65 members. All members are professional- level musicians. The symphony performs everywhere from the Alden Theatre to outdoor concerts for the community. This year's grand season finale celebrated the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in tribute to the musician's 250th birthday. For those interesting in joining the symphony, call 703-421-8593 or visit www.mclean-symphony.org.
Get Artistic at Artisans
1368 Chain Bridge Road, McLean.
703-506-0158
Founded in 1990, Artisans is a quaint arts and crafts store with a mission to present a fun and unusual mix of contemporary crafts, jewelry, clothing, and gifts with the guiding principles of good design and lasting value. Visit www.artisansofmclean.com.
Hear Children Lift Their Voices
6723 Whittier Ave., Suite 404 McLean. 703-734-0621
The World Children's Choir was founded in 1990. The choir features children, ages 4-18 years old. Exclusive performances have been before Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, the United States Supreme Court, and on several international and national television broadcasts. Visit www.worldchildrenschoir.org.
Hear Little Mozart's at Amadeus Concerts
703-759-5334
Amadeus Concerts, now in its 26th year of service, is a group of musicians that provides classical entertainment to the communities of McLean and Great Falls. The concerts help young musicians take their interest further by sponsoring events for children in schools. The concerts also provide group programs for children interested in the arts. Visit the Amadeus Concerts office in the Village Centre, or amadeusconcerts@aol.com.
Get Your Art On
RE/MAX Gateway Office, 10135 Colvin Run Road.
Open Monday through Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. This real estate office is also a permanent gallery space for Great Falls Studios, and features over 70 pieces of original art made by Great Falls artists.
Summer Sundays in the Park
1468 Dolley Madison Blvd., McLean.
This summer, McLean Central Park will be offering a Summer Sunday Concert Series, hosted by the McLean Community Center. The concerts will be free of charge on the center gazebo. This year's acts include Zydeco Crayz, Iona, Jennifer Cutting's Ocean Orchestra and the Grandsons.
Watch Artists in Action
Great Falls Village Center (above the Silk Purse)
The Great Falls Studios Artists' Atelier is a working studio and fine art gallery for seven painters. It is open to the public on Sundays, all summer long from 4-8 p.m. This coincides with the Great Falls Village Centre Summer Concert On The Green series, and refreshments are served. Visitors are welcome to come and talk with the artists, or just watch them paint.
Rockin' on the Green
703-759-2485
Sunday evenings at the Great Falls Village Centre through July 30. 6-8 p.m. This year's acts have included the Ballistiks, Darryl Davis, Neil Foley and Paul Gannon. Rain dates are Aug. 6 and 13.
Find Your Inner Picasso
The Great Falls Art Center
9818 Georgetown Pike Great Falls
703-759-3867
The Grest Falls Art Center holds weekly classes for all ages above 6 years old in drawing, painting, pottery, sculpture and art history. These classes are available for children, teens, adults and senior citizens. Classes are held on Monday afternoon from 4 to 6 p.m., Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., and Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m.
'Oh the Drama!' Catch a Play at the Alden Theatre <lst>1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean, 703-790-9223
<bt>The Robert Ames Alden Theatre, located in the McLean Community Center, organizes first-rate performances, including plays, lectures and educational programs. The performances are suitable for any age group.
Classes
Plan a Summer Sushi Party.
McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean.
Learn how it's more than raw fish while making California rolls, miso soup, nigiri and dashi.
En Garde!
McLean Community Center,
1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean.
703-790-9223.
Adult Fencing for teens and adults, no previous training needed. Learn the fundamentals of the Olympic sport, including footwork, handwork and strategy formulation. Get a physical and mental workout in this class, in addition to working with a nifty foil. <ro>Make Fencing a Family Affair
McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean. 703-790-9223.
Take the kids, ages 9-13, to youth fencing classes.
Find Your Inner Spielberg
McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave. 703-790-9223.
Get those ideas on paper. Learn screenwriting for film, TV and movies while also learning the basics of selling a screenplay. Who knows, it might win an Oscar.
Nothing to Cry About
McLean Community Center 1234 Ingleside Ave. 703-790-9223.
When learning about onion facts and how to prepare various onion dishes; onion rings, chives, shallots, leeks, scallions, Mediterranean onion, parsley and chive salad with shallot vinaigrette and onion and orange marmalade. Mints optional.
Fun at the Library
Check Out Dolley Madison Library
1244 Oak Ridge Ave. McLean,
703-356-0770
The Dolley Madison Library is located right between the McLean Community Center and McLean Central Park. Children can read a book while relaxing in the park's gazebo. The library has been serving the McLean community for more then 33 years. Dolley Madison Library provides a variety of materials for everyone. The library is equipped with a diverse children's section and for older kids, there is an emphasis on popular titles in both fiction and non-fiction. It covers 11,000 square feet and houses about 80,000 books. There are about 30 staff members and about 10 volunteers. The library provides activities year round such as preschool story time.
Join a Book Discussion.
9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls
The Great Falls Library hosts book discussion groups throughout the month. Call 703-757-8560 for titles and times.
For Gifts That Look Like They Belong in a Museum
McLean Community Center 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean
Shop at Museum Shops Holiday Collection. This event allows people to shop for items from the shops of several area museums, such as Monticello, the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the Freer Gallery and the and the Delaware Art Museum. This event is held in November at the McLean Community Center and is sponsored by the McLean Project for the Arts. Call 703- 790-1234.
Dinner and Music at Da Domenico
1992 Chain Bridge Road, McLean, 703-790-9000.
Da Domenico is one of those wholesome restaurants that's been dishing out Italian cuisine to the McLean community for years. This Italian restaurant features an extremely friendly staff and live entertainment. As an added bonus, the owner sings opera music nightly.
Feed a Sweet Tooth.
The McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave. 703-790-9223
Forget cavities! Learn to make sweet treats at home. Turkish Delight, Candied Citrus Peel; Caramel Corn; Cream Cheese Mints, Peanut Butter Balls; Quick Candy Apple Slices, Rum Balls, and the World’s Greatest Fudge.
Do a Jig at the Old Brogue
760-C Walker Road Great Falls, 703-759-3309 www.oldbrogue.com
Opened in 1981 on St. Patrick's Day, The Old Brogue Irish Pub ("old shoe" in Gaelic), offers a variety of music. Open mic night is on the first and third Thursdays of every month, in addition to a concert series. In addition to traditional American fare, the pub doesn't shy away from its heritage as the menu has an entire section dedicated to "Irish Specialties." Some items included are the Dublin strip, a black angus steak with Irish whiskey sauce, Guinness beef pie and Irish bangers.
Have a Sing-Along at The Serbian Crown
1141 Walker Road Great Falls, 703-759-4150
The Serbian Crown serves Russian and French cuisine with a side of piano bar sing-alongs on Fridays, ballroom dancing on Saturdays and the musical stylings of Balalaika on Sundays. The diverse menu consists of antelope, lion and boar alongside the traditional beef and chicken. A cafe-style menu is available Tuesday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to closing. Although it has an extensive menu (with specialties such as Kulebiaka-Russian style salmon served with lobster sauce), the Serbian Crown prides itself in its vodka collection. Serbian Crown is renowned for its wide variety of over 22 vodkas from all over the world. Visit www.serbiancrown.com.
Enjoy the Atmosphere at Great Falls Tavern
9835 Georgetown Pike Great Falls, 703-757-4770.
Located at the Great Falls Center, the 190-seat tavern serves classical American cuisine and features Great Falls artifacts such as vintage saddles and a carousel horse for decoration. The American tavern food featured on the menu ranges from meatloaf with garlic mashed potatoes to horseradish-roasted salmon. In addition, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 8 p.m.-midnight, acoustic music performances take place featuring different bands from all over.
Cool Down With Ice Cream at Thelma's
10200 Colvin Run Road Great Falls, 703-757-2800.
Thelma's Ice Cream and Deli has been in business since the 1930's and is a long-standing institution in Great Falls. A visit to the old country store is akin to a trip back in time, and classic flavors such as black raspberry and butterscotch make tasty treats.
Scarf Down Funnel Cake at McLean Day
1659 Chain Bridge Road McLean.
703-790-0123.
Every year at Lewinsville Park, McLean celebrates "McLean Day," a spring day to commemorate the community. This event is sponsored by the McLean Community Center. The festival features carnival rides, live entertainment, food, arts and crafts, face painting and tattoos, various demonstrations, and a moon bounce. This year's festival included new, bigger faster rides such as the "Tornado." McLean Day offers a variety of food. Past festivals have included crab cakes, chicken pitas, grilled shrimp, pizza, apple dumplings, kettle popcorn, cotton candy, ice cream, chili dogs, hamburgers, hot dogs, snow cones, and the powdered sugary goodness of funnel cake. Free transportation shuttles are available from Redeemer Lutheran Church, the McLean Community Center, McLean Bible Church and Claude Moore Colonial Farm.
Take a Bite Out of Great Falls
Restaurants and residents in the Great Falls area eagerly await the Taste of Great Falls event where each restaurant is given the opportunity to expose its best dishes to the public during the spring weekend. A "fair" is set up and restaurant owners plate their best food and citizens can explore dishes from their favorite restaurants. This event is a balance between publicity for restaurants and filled bellies for the citizens of Great Falls.
A Great Day for Great Falls Day
9818 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls.
The Great Falls Historical Society hosts the annual springtime Great Falls Day at the Great Falls Grange Park. This event brings together the Great Falls community with great food, performances, and time outside.
Taste of Bit of McLean
McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave. McLean.
At the annual Taste of McLean local restaurants sell tastes of their entrees at the community center. Call 703-790-0123.
Getting Out
Down on the Farm.
Claude Moore Colonial Farm, 6310 Georgetown Pike, McLean
Take a trip back in time at the Claude Moore Colonial Farm and see how it was done in 1771. Some events include wheat harvesting, summer and fall farm skills programs and book sales. Visit www.1771.org or call 703-442-7557.
Run at the Marie Butler Leven Preserve
Kirby Road McLean
This 19-acre area left to the county by Maurice Leven houses an extensive garden with exotic and native plants. This site also acts as a dog park. Near the back of the park, Virginia's historic stream, Pimmet Run, winds and twists throughout. Running trails of diverse landscape and difficulty are also available.
Suit Up With McLean Youth Athletics (MYA)
Started in 1954, McLean Youth Athletics has promoted youth activity for years. Now, MYA provides 11 sports throughout the school year for over 4,400 participants, from kindergartners to high school seniors. The program hopes to provide organized sports programs for all children in the community, promote sportsmanship, competition, skill building, fitness, and provide a safe and proper environment for young athletes. Visit www.myathletics.org.
Playtime at Linway Terrace Park
Linway Terrace, Kirby Road, McLean.
A host of possibilities for fun await you at Linway Terrace Park. Whether you'd like to play sports on one of the basketball/tennis courts and baseball/soccer fields, stroll on one of the trails, or show your kids a good time on the playground, Linway Terrace will fill your outdoor fun needs.
A Place to Get Wet
1515 Bryan Branch Road, McLean
Highland Swim Club/Bryan Branch Stream Not only does the club offer a swimming pool and tennis courts, it stands next to the Bryan Branch stream. Part of Pimmit Run, which runs from Falls Church to the Potomac River, Bryan Branch runs through a lively woods with hiking trails and some interesting wildlife. Call 703 821-9894.