To have community events listed free in The Potomac Almanac, send mail to 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, Va. 22102, e-mail to almanac@connectionnewspapers.com, or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is Thursday at noon for the following week’s paper. Photos and artwork encouraged. Unless otherwise noted, all events are in Potomac. If you have any questions, call Matthew Razak at 703-917-6457.
<cal1>Wednesday/April 2
<cal2>Flute Concert. Angela Taylore, singer/songwriter/flutist will perform at the mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10. Visit www.strathmore.org.
Preschool Storytime. Stories, songs, rhymes, and literary activities for children 36 months and up at Bethesda Library, 7400 Arlington Road, Bethesda, 10:30 a.m. Call 240-777-0970.
English Conversation Club. The English Conversation Club is for people who want to practice speaking English in a friendly setting at Bethesda Library, 7400 Arlington Blvd., Bethesda, 2 p.m. Call 240-777-0970.
Afternoon Tea. Enjoy music by a local artist along with some of Strathmore’s special blend tea at the Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, 1 p.m. Cost is $20. Call 301-581-5100 or visit www.strathmore.org.
<cal1>Thursday/April 3
<cal2>Spring Concert. 1 p.m. at Ring House, 1801 East Jefferson St., Rockville, sponsored by the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington. Betsy Riddle Ruderfer (vocal) and Robert Redd (piano) will perform a jazz performance titled, "Red and Ruderfer – Songs of Spring." Call 301-348-3876. Free.
BSO Explorer Series: The British Isles. From English drinking songs to Irish jigs, composer/conductor James MacMillan’s works combine symphonic music with the traditions of the British Isles. At the Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, 8 p.m. Tickets are $21-$84. Visit www.strathmore.org.
Opera Night Live. Entertainment and a four course Italian meal at Trattoria Sorrento, 4930 Cordell Ave, Bethesda, 7-9 p.m. Cost is $50. Call 301-718-0344.
First Thursday. Enjoy biscotti and Italian espresso; discover recipes at Bella Italia, 4844 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Free. Call 301-654-2667.
Time for Twos. Stories, songs, rhymes, and literary activities for children 24 to 36 months attending with an adult at Bethesda Library, 7400 Arlington Road, Bethesda, 10:25 a.m. Call 240-777-0970.
<cal1>Friday/April 4
<cal2>Broadway Singer. Brian Stokes Mitchell, Tony award winner for his role as Fred Graham in "Kiss me Kate,’ will perform at the Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, Bethesda, 8 p.m. Visit www.strathmore.org or call 301-581-5100.
Swing Dance. Part of the 2008 DC Lindy Exchange weekend, the will present The New Orleans Jazz Vipers playing their debut performance in the DC metro area. Swing dance lesson from 8-9 p.m. is followed by dancing from 9 p.m. to midnight in the Bumper Car Pavillion at Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. No partner necessary. Admission: $15. Contact Email: info@dclx.org.
Contra Dance. The Friday Night Dancers presents Contra dancing as well as some square dances and waltzes. There is a Contra dance lesson from 7:30-8:15 p.m. followed by the called dance from 8:30-11:30 p.m. This week the band is the Glen Echo Open Band. Beginners are always welcome. In the Bumper Car Pavilion at Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Admission is $9. Contact Email: info@fridaynightdance.org.
<cal1>Saturday/April 5
<cal2>Orchestra Concert. The JCC Symphony Orchestra will perform at 8:30 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington, 6125 Montrose Road, Rockville, with director Joel Lazar. To purchase tickets, call 301-348-3872. Tickets are $10-$45.
Classical Music. The National Philharmonic will perform pieces by Haydn, Schubert and Carter Brey at the Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, 8 p.m. Call 301-581-5100 or visit www.strathmore.org.
Tea and Show. Bring a daughter or granddaughter and for a luncheon and tea followed by Potomac Theatre Company's "Alice in Wonderland" at 11:45 a.m., at St Francis Episcopal Church, 10033 River Road, Potomac. Cost is $5 child/$10 adult. "Alice in Wonderland" will be at the Blair Performing Arts Center at the Bullis School. Tickets are $8 advance/$10 door. Call 301-365-2055.
Jazz Concert. A concert honoring radio personality Bill Mayhugh will be held at Westmoreland Congregational Church, 1 Westmoreland Circle, Bethesda at 7 p.m. Free/donations accepted for the Marie Reed Learning Center. Call 301-229-7766.
Concert. Finals of the competition for young string players will be at the Mondzac Performing Arts Center, Landon Campus, 6101 Wilson Lane, Bethesda, 5 p.m. Free. Call 301-320-1090.
Family Storytime. Stories, songs and activities for children of all ages at the Potomac Library, 10101 Glenolden Drive, Potomac, 10;30 a.m. Call 240-777-0690.
Storytime. Kat Tales featuring Kat Aerobics at Barnes and Noble Booksellers, 4801 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda. Call 301-986-1761.
Open House. Meet Writer’s Center workshop leaders and staff at the Writer’s Center, 4508 Walsh St., Bethesda, open house, 12-3 p.m. They will have light refreshments, good conversation, a raffle and an opportunity to learn more about upcoming workshops. Call 301-654-8664.
Climb Wall Weekend. Step into a harness, stretch out those limbs and get ready to climb at Discovery Creek Children’s Museum in Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Put your skills to the test as you scale the Museum’s Climb Wall, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Climb Wall activities are included with the price of admission to Discovery Creek. Members and children under 2 are free, $5 for nonmembers. Call 202-488-0627 or visit www.discoverycreek.org.
Laugh Riot. Enjoy five local comics and have a chance to tell jokes yourself at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda, 7400 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, 8-10 p.m. Cost $10. Call 301-657-1234.
Carousel Tours. Carousel tours start at 12 p.m. at Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, and give visitors a closer look at the 1921 Dentzel carousel. Find out how it was made, how it works, and about the rest of the amusement park attractions that were built around it. Visit www.nps.gov/glec.
Park Tour. Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd, Glen Echo, tours begin at 2 p.m. and lead visitors through a walking tour of the Park to learn about its history and the current programs in arts, dance and children’s activities. Admission is free. Tours begin at the visitor's desk in the Arcade Building..Visit www.nps.gov/glec.
Nature Program. Come visit Discovery Creek Children's Museum Forest Tales exhibition at Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Spend time with the entire family while participating in engaging science and nature activities. In the former Glen Echo Park stable building, near the park entrance. Open 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Admission is free for members and children under 2, $5 for nonmembers. Call 202-337-5111 to make arrangements or visit www.discoverycreek.org.
<cal1>Sunday/April 6
<cal2>Chalk Out the Smoke. Billiards, music, food, singing competitions, dancing and door prizes will highlight the annual "Chalk Out the Smoke" party for high school students to be held from 6:30-10 p.m. at Orange Ball Billiards, 430 Hungerford Drive, Rockville. The event celebrates a year-long effort to educate students about the dangers of smoking. Students must attend a Montgomery County high school, and a high school ID card is required. Admission is $3 or $2 with a canned food donation. Call 240-777-6985.
Lego Blitz Build. Teams of youths, 7-18 years old, from across Montgomery County are invited to participate, each building a Lego home with 400 bricks, during one hour to benefit Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County from 1-3 p.m. at the Old Navy Wing Westfield Montgomery Mall, 1701 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda. Registration forms are available online at www.habitat-mc.org.
Concert. The FAES Chamber Music Series presents Wolfgan Holzmair and Russell Ryan at Congregation Beth-El, 8215 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, 7 p,m. Adults, $30; students, $22; package for six concerts, $140; package for students, $50. Call 301-496-7976.
Climb Wall Weekend. Step into a harness, stretch out those limbs and get ready to climb at Discovery Creek Children’s Museum in Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Put your skills to the test as you scale the Museum’s Climb Wall, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Climb Wall activities are included with the price of admission to Discovery Creek. Members and children under 2 are free, $5 for nonmembers. Call 202-488-0627 or visit www.discoverycreek.org.
Waltz Dance. Waltz Time presents a beginning waltz lesson from 3-3:30 p.m., followed by an afternoon of waltzes and other couples dances in the Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Dancing from 3:30-6 p.m. to the music of Contratopia. As always, no partner is required. Admission: $8. Contact Email: info@waltztimedancers.org.
Cajun/Zydeco Dance. Dancing by the Bayou presents Cajun and Zydeco dancing with Andre Thierry and Zydeco Magic in the Bumper Car Pavillion at Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Admission includes an introductory dance lesson from 7:30-8 p.m. followed by dancing until 11:30 p.m. Admission: $18. Contact Email: Dancingbythebayou@verizon.net.
Tribute Concert. Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church, 6601 Bradley Blvd., Bethesda, invites the public to a special tribute concert at 2:30 p.m. to honor the career and talents of Director Emeritus of Music Ministries Donald Sutherland and his wife, the world renowned soprano, Phyllis Bryn-Julson. Call the church offices at 301-365-2850.
French Music. Nancy Almquist, soprano; Grace Gori, mezzo-soprano; Jeffery Watson, piano will perform French songs at Westmoreland Congregational UCC Church, 1 Westmoreland Circle, Bethesda, 3 p.m. Free, donation accepted. Call 301-320-2770 -www.washingtonconservatory.org.
Carousel Tours. Carousel tours start at 12 p.m. at Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, and give visitors a closer look at the 1921 Dentzel carousel. Find out how it was made, how it works, and about the rest of the amusement park attractions that were built around it. Visit www.nps.gov/glec.
Park Tour. Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd, Glen Echo, tours begin at 2 p.m. and lead visitors through a walking tour of the Park to learn about its history and the current programs in arts, dance and children’s activities. Admission is free. Tours begin at the visitor's desk in the Arcade Building..Visit www.nps.gov/glec.
Nature Program. Come visit Discovery Creek Children's Museum Forest Tales exhibition at Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Spend time with the entire family while participating in engaging science and nature activities. In the former Glen Echo Park stable building, near the park entrance. Open 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Admission is free for members and children under 2, $5 for nonmembers. Call 202-337-5111 to make arrangements or visit www.discoverycreek.org.
Contra and Square Dance. The Folklore Society of Greater Washington presents traditional American dancing with a focus on New England style contra dances, 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 7:30-10:30 p.m. in the Bumper Car Pavillion at Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Admission: $12 nonmembers/$9 FSGW members. Contact Phone: 202-518-1299.
<cal1>Monday/April 7
<cal2>Poetry Reading. Beth Sholom Book Club will be holding a poetry evening with poetess Sarah Antine who will read and discuss Israeli and Jewish Poetry in honor of Poetry month at Beth Sholom Congregation and Talmud Torah, 11825 Seven Locks Road, Potomac at 8 p.m. All are welcome. Free. Call 301-279-7010.
Monday Storytime. A Monday morning storytime for toddlers ages 3 and under at Barnes and Noble Booksellers, 4801 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, 10:30 a.m. Call 301-986-1761.
<cal1>Tuesday/April 8
<cal2>Japanese Tea. Celebrate Spring with a special Japanese Tea at the Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, 1 p.m. The Washington Toho Koto Society will play traditional and contemporary Japanese music. A bento lunch featuring chicken, rice and seasonal salads will be offered and will be accompanied by Japanese green tea. Call 301-581-5100 or visit www.strathmore.org.
Online Catalog Class. Drop into the Bethesda Library, 7400 Arlington Blvd., Bethesda, any Tuesday morning between 10 and 11 a.m. for individualized help with the library catalog, library databases, your library account, or for an introduction to the internet. Call 240-777-0970.
Born to Read. Introduce a baby to books, language, and narrative with rhymes, songs, bounces, and short stories at the Bethesda Library, 7400 Arlington Road, Bethesda, 10:25 a.m. Babies ages newborn to 24 months attend with an adult. Call 240-777-0970.
<cal1>Wednesday/April 9
<cal2>Jazz Concert. 8 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington, 6125 Montrose Road, Rockville, with John Eaton. To purchase tickets, call 301-348-3872. Tickets are $10-45.
Focus Music. Amy Speace and the Tearjerks will perform at O’Brien’s BBQ, 387 East Gude Drive, Rockville. Tickets: $15 general, $12 members. Visit www.focusmusic.org.
Book Group. Join the fiction and literature book group at Barnes and Noble Booksellers, 4801 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, 7:30 p.m. Call 301-986-1761.
Preschool Storytime. Stories, songs, rhymes, and literary activities for children 36 months and up at Bethesda Library, 7400 Arlington Road, Bethesda, 10:30 a.m. Call 240-777-0970.
English Conversation Club. The English Conversation Club is for people who want to practice speaking English in a friendly setting at Bethesda Library, 7400 Arlington Blvd., Bethesda, 2 p.m. Call 240-777-0970.
Babies and Toddlers Together. Stories, songs and fingerplays for little ones ages 0-24 months at the Potomac Library, 10101 Glenolden Drive, Potomac, 10:30 a.m. Call 240-777-0690.
<cal1>Thursday/April 10
<cal2>Time for Twos. Stories, songs, rhymes, and literary activities for children 24 to 36 months attending with an adult at Bethesda Library, 7400 Arlington Road, Bethesda, 10:25 a.m. Call 240-777-0970.