E-mail announcements to the Gazette, gazette@connectionnewspapers.com. Photos and artwork are encouraged. Deadline is Thursday at noon for the following week's paper. Call Steve Hibbard at 703-778-9412 with questions.
<cal1>Now Through Dec. 18
<cal2>Toys for Tots. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Drop off toys to these locations:
* The Campagna Center, 418 S. Washington Street, Alexandria.
* Weichert, Realtors, 121 North Pitt Street, Alexandria.
If you're unable to make it to either of these drop off locations, an agent from Weichert, Realtors will pick up the gift from your home. To arrange a pickup, contact Kim Sarina at (703) 549-8700 or Christine Garner at (703) 587-4855.
<cal1>Friday Afternoons
<cal2>Tea Dances. 1-3:15 p.m. Group class from 1-1:30 p.m. Ballroom, Latin and Swing music. $11/person. At the Dance Studio Lioudmila, 18 Roth Street, 2nd Floor (off Duke Street), Alexandria. Call 703-751-8868.
<cal1>Dec. 10-19
<cal2>A Tuna Christmas. By Jaston Williams, Joe Sears and Ed Howard featuring Katherine Bisulca and Erin Gallalee. Presented by Zemfira Stage. Dec. 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 17, 18, 19 at 8 p.m.; Dec. 13 at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Cost is $15/adults; $10 seniors, students. At The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street, Alexandria. Call 703-615-6626.
<cal1>Thursday/Dec. 10
<cal2>David LaFleur in Concert. 7 p.m. David LaFleur performs a unique mixture of folk, Appalachian, blues and bluegrass. At The Athenaeum, 201 Prince Street, Alexandria. Call 703-548-0035 or www.nvfaa.org.
Chocolate and Shopping. 6-9 p.m. Browse the open studios for holiday gifts. Target Gallery reception 6-8 p.m. Art League Gallery Reception 6:30-8 p.m. Free admission. At the Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 N. Union Street, Alexandria. Visit www.torpedofactory.org or call 703-838-4565
Chanukah on Ice. 6-8:30 p.m. ice skating. In celebration of Chanukah, there will be a lighting of the 6-foot ice Menorah at 7 p.m. At the Pentagon Row Ice Skating Rink, 1201 S. Joyce Street, Arlington. Tickets are $12/door, $10/advance (includes skate rental). Visit www.ChabadAA.org or call 703-370-2774.
<cal1>Friday/Dec. 11
<cal2>Holiday Buffet Ball for Couples. 8:30-11:30 p.m. Join the Friday Nighters at their holiday ball and enjoy waltz, fox trot, cha cha, swing and more to live music on large wooden dance floor. This month’s dance is a buffet where guests and members bring "fork-friendly food." Cost is $15/person. Private club in Mount Vernon area; reservations required. www.fridaynightersdancingclub.com.
Holiday Concert. 7 p.m. Thomas Jefferson High School Chorus. At Market Square, 301 King Street, Alexandria. Afterwards, the chorus will move to the Torpedo Factory Arcade, King and Union Streets, for caroling at 8 p.m. Call 703-883-4686.
<cal1>Dec. 11-12
<cal2>Gunston Hall Plantation Christmas and Yuletide Dinner. Ride in a horse-drawn carriage, sip warm cider by the fire and sample period foods prepared in the colonial hearth kitchen. Costumed characters will greet you in the house and throughout the grounds. Friday, Dec. 11, 6:30 and 8 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 12, 4:30, 6 and 8 p.m. Admission: Adults $15; Children 6-18 years, $8; Children 2-5 years, $2. Yuletide dinner: adults, 11 and older $49.95; Children 6-10 years, $24.95; 2-5 years $9.95. Reservations required. At 10709 Gunston Rd, Mason Neck. Call 703-550-9220, www.GunstonHall.org.
<cal1>Dec. 11, 12, 13
<cal2>Mount Vernon by Candlelight. 5-8 p.m. Mrs. Washington hosts 18th-century Christmas with candlelit walks, fireside caroling, and early American décor. Cost is $18/adults, $12/children under 11. At Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., Mount Vernon. Call 703-780-2000 or www.MountVernon.org.
<cal1>Saturday/Dec. 12
<cal2>Christmas Concert. 7:30 p.m. With the Blessed Sacrament Adult Choir, the Folk Group, and The Bells of Blessed Sacrament. At Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 1427 West Braddock Road, Alexandria. Call John McCrary at 703-998-6100, or online at www.blessedsacramentcc.org
Choralis: A Classic Brass Christmas. 7 p.m. The full Choralis chorus; The Classical Brass Quintet; The Choralis Cantus Youth Choirs, Gretchen Kuhrmann, conductor. Tickets are $40/premium; $25/general; $5/students; children free. At Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2701 Cameron Mills Road, Alexandria. Go to www.choralis.org or call 703-237-2499.
Wreaths Across America. 11:30 a.m. Members of the Alexandria Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 609, with the assistance of the Alexandria Boy and Girl Scouts, American Legion Posts 24 and 1775, Vietnam Veterans of America, Patriot Guard Riders, and Alexandria’s patriotic citizens will place wreaths at each grave marker in the Alexandria National Cemetery, 1450 Wilkes Street.
Craft Sale. 9 a.m. to noon. At Heritage Presbyterian Church, 8503 Fort Hunt Road. Proceeds go to support the women's outreach programs for children and women. Call 703-360-9546.
"Lion, Witch and Wardrobe." 10 a.m. Kaleidoscope Theatre presents "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," in Old Town Alexandria. At the George Washington Masonic Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive, Alexandria. Free parking is available. Tickets are $5. Call 703-912-4005 or email info@ktheatre.org to reserve seats. Visit www.ktheatre.org.
Hollywood Auction. 10 a.m. High-quality furniture and decorative objectives from Antique & Contemporary Leasing & Sales, a Washington staging company that provides furnishings for movie sets, diplomatic events, will be sold at auction at The Potomack Company. At 526 North Fayette Street, Alexandria. Visit www.potomackcompany.com or call 703-684-4550.
Barnes & Noble Book Fair Fund-Raiser. Hosted by Maury Elementary School PTA. Storytimes at 10 a.m. 11 a.m. and noon. Volunteers will be providing free gift wrapping and a portion of all purchases made that day will go to the PTA when the customer says "I support Maury" at the checkout. At the Potomac Yard Barnes & Noble Store. Contact Kelly Smith at 703-739-0983 or kellyandwill@aol.com
Christmas Radio Program. 7 p.m. Free. Bishop O’Connell High School presents their annual "WDJO 1939 Christmas Radio Program," an evening of one-act plays and music in a radio station format of the '30s. All proceeds benefit a holiday charity chosen by the cast. At Bishop O’Connell High School, 6600 Little Falls Road, Arlington. Visit www.bishopoconnell.org/theatre, or call 703-237-1448.
Holiday Concert. 1 p.m. Bell's Angels and the St. John's Lutheran Church Handbell Choir perform. At 2 p.m., the Alexandria Harmonizers perform. At Market Square, 301 King Street, Old Town Alexandria. Call 703-883-4686.
Opera Production. 7:30 p.m. $20 admission/$15 students. The Repertory Opera Theater of Washington presents Guiseppe Verdi's "Un Ballo in Maschera;" a story about love, betrayal, and the fate that binds us all. At Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill, 3606 Seminary Road, Alexandria. For advanced tickets, call 571-403-0814 or email ROTW@live.com.
Christmas in Camp. Noon to 4 p.m. Learn how Christmas was observed during the Civil war by attending Fort Ward Museum's Christmas in Camp Open House. Features a patriotic Santa Claus, living history presentations, period music, Victorian decorations, tours and crafts. At Fort Ward Museum, 4301 West Braddock Road in Alexandria.
Used Book Sale. At Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Call 703-339-4610.
"Tis the Season". 8 p.m. Alexandria Choral Society concert with the ACS Children's Chorus. Program includes a wide range of holiday and winter-themed music, including Morten Lauridsen's Mid-Winter Songs, with opportunities for the audience to join in singing familiar carols. $20/adults; $10/seniors. At Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Alexandria. Visit www.AlexChoralSociety.org.
The Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe St., will host two free Kwanzaa programs. At 11 a.m., Brian Sales explores the history of Kwanzaa, performing the Libation Ceremony and leading a presentation of the holiday principles through illustrations and food samplings. At 4:30 p.m., filmmaker, M.K. Asante, Jr., presents his film, "The Black Candle: A Kwanzaa Celebration." Call 703-838-4356 or visit www.alexandriaarchaeology.org.
Caroling for Cats. The Vola Lawson Animal Shelter stays open from noon till midnight to offer people more time to find and adopt cats. Festivities will include caroling for the cats, refreshments, crafts activities and holiday movies. At 4101 Eisenhower Ave., Alexandria. Contact Carrie Drummond at 703-838-4774, ext. 245, or at cdrummond@alexandriaanimals.org.
<cal1>Dec. 12-13
<cal2>Historic Candlelight Tours. Saturday from 6-9 p.m. and Sunday from 3-6 p.m. Tour Gadsby's Tavern Museum, Carlyle House, Lee-Fendall House and the Apothecary Museum by candlelight and enjoy seasonal decorations, entertainment and refreshments. Cost is $20/adults, $15/seniors, $5/children. Call 703-838-4242 or go online at www.historicalexandria.org.
Christmas Tree Sale. Sponsored by North Ridge Civic Association. Beautiful, Fresh (cut since Thanksgiving), Affordable Christmas trees --Douglas Fir, Frazer Fir, Blue Spruce, a few Norway Spruce $20-$80 (over 10 foot). White pine garland $16 per 25-ft coil or $2/yard. wreaths $15. Superior Tree stands $20. Hours are Saturday 7a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. At Beverley Hills United Methodist Church, 3512 Old Dominion Blvd., off West Glebe Road, Alexandria. Call 703-548-9604.
<cal1>Sunday/Dec. 13
<cal2>Advent Lessons and Carols. 11 a.m. With the St. Paul's Choir, St. Cecilia Choir and Good Shepherd Ringers; Douglas Beck, conductor. At St. Paul's Church, 228 South Pitt Street, Alexandria. Call 703-549-3312 or email: douglas@stpaulsalexandria.com
Service of Lessons and Carols. 4:30 p.m. Sanctuary Choir and Festival Ringers with strings, organ, and harp; Melvin Goodwyn, Director of Music and Organist; Nick Hanson, Director of Bells. At Bush Hill Presbyterian Church, 4916 Franconia Road, Alexandria. Call 703-971-1171.
Lighting of Menorah. 6 p.m. Mayor Bill Euille and Del. David Englin will light the city's 6-foot Menorah in this Family Chanukah Celebration. At the Crown Plaza Hotel, 901 N. Fairfax Street, in Old Town Alexandria. Contact Rabbi Newman at 703-370-2774 or visit www.chabadAA.org.
Alexandria Symphony Performs The Nutcracker. 3:30 p.m. Cost is $25/person. Tchaikovsky’s original and Duke Ellington’s jazz arrangement. At the Alfred Street Baptist Church, 301 S. Alfred Street, Alexandria. Free post-concert reception for all immediately following. Visit www.alexsym.org or 703-548-0885.
Vesper Organ Concert. 6 p.m. Free. With Ann Carney, organist, playing on the new DiGennaro-Hart pipe organ. At Grace Episcopal Church, 3601 Russell Road, Alexandria. Call 703-549-1980.
Holiday Concert. St. Matthews United Methodist Church Youth Handbell Choir performs at 2 p.m., followed by the Alexandria Singers at 3 p.m. At Market Square, 301 King Street, Alexandria. Call 703-883-4686.
Holiday Children's Concert. 3:30-4:30 p.m. The Alexandria Symphony brings "The Nutcracker Suite" to Alexandria in two versions — Tchaikovsky’s original and Duke Ellington’s hip jazz-band arrangement. $25 admission. With the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra and Maestro Kim Allen Kluge. At Alfred Street Baptist Church, 301 Alfred Street, Alexandria. Call 703-548-0885 or go to www.alexsym.org/buyTix.shtml.
Christmas Candlelight Service. 6 p.m. (doors open at 5:35 p.m., brass prelude at 5:45 p.m.) Entitled "How Brightly Beams the Morning Star," this Christmas celebration will feature readers, the APC Adult and Children’s choirs, instrumentalists, and congregational carol singing by candlelight. A reception will follow. At Alexandria Presbyterian Church, 2405 Russell Road, in Del Ray, Alexandria. Call 703-683-3348 or go to www.alexandriapres.org.
<cal1>Dec. 14-15
<cal2>Journey to Bethlehem. 6-8 p.m. A Living Nativity and Living Bethlehem with live animals, live music and free guided tours. On the lawn of Aldersgate Church, 1301 Collingwood Road, Alexandria. Call 703-765-6555 or visit www.aldersgate.net.
<cal1>Tuesday/Dec. 15
<cal2>Willow Oak Tree Celebration. 10 a.m. Mount Vernon District Supervisor Gerry Hyland will host a ceremony to celebrate the life and history of the Sherwood Hall Willow Oak beneath the tree. Call 703-780-7518 or by email at mtvernon@fairfaxcounty.gov.
<cal1>Wednesday/Dec. 16
<cal2>Front Pond Families Celebration. 5:30 p.m. A celebration of the Winter Solstice with music and food, lights and decorations made by the children. At Frog Pond Learning Center, Huntley Meadows Nature Park, 7204 Harrison Lane, Alexandria. Call 703-765-7663.
<cal1>Thursday, Dec. 17
<cal2>Winter Concert. 7:30 p.m. Seasonal favorites will be performed by the Colonial Singers, Bella Voce, the Symphonic Mixed Chorus and the Symphonic Women's Chorus. At West Potomac High Schools Springbank Auditorium, 6500 Quander Road, Alexandria. Visit www.westpotomacchoirs.org, or call the choral office at 703-718-2687.
Port Tobacco Pickers. 7-9 p.m. Free. This seven-piece bluegrass band from southern Maryland will perform a musical medley of traditional bluegrass, Southern rock, train songs, and even an Irish whiskey tune. Part of the Thursday Nite Local Spotlight series. At the Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 N. Union Street, Alexandria. Call 703-838-4565, www.torpedofactory.org.
<cal1>Friday/Dec. 18
<cal2>Music for String Quartet. 8 p.m. Free. Presented by the U.S. Air Force Band Chamber Players. At the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive, Alexandria. Call 202-767-5658 or visit www.usafband.af.mil
F.A.N.tastic Fridays. 7-8:30 p.m. A free drop-in recreation program for individuals ages 2-22 on the autism spectrum and their entire family. At Nannie Lee Rec Center, 1108 Jefferson Street, Alexandria. Call Jennae Duarte at 703-324-5557, TTY 711.
<cal1>Saturday/Dec. 19
<cal2>Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction. Sponsored by the Mount Vernon High School Girls Basketball team. Tickets are $5. Contact Terry Henderson at 703-619-3146 or Terry.Henderson@fcps.edu.
Holiday Ice Show. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. At the Mt. Vernon RECenter. Features the RECenter's most experienced skaters, as well as beginners of all ages showing off their skills. At 2017 Belle View Boulevard, Alexandria. Contact Ice Manager Carl Kirtley, at 703-768-3224 or via e-mail at carl.kirtley@fairfaxcounty.gov. Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks.
Caroling for Cats. The Vola Lawson Animal Shelter stays open from noon till midnight to offer people more time to find and adopt cats. Festivities will include caroling for the cats, refreshments, crafts activities and holiday movies. At 4101 Eisenhower Ave., Alexandria. Contact Carrie Drummond at 703-838-4774, ext. 245, or at cdrummond@alexandriaanimals.org.
"Lion, Witch and Wardrobe." 9 a.m. Kaleidoscope Theatre presents "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," in Old Town Alexandria. At Medieval Madness at Renaissance Hall, 1121 King Street. Alexandria. Tickets are $5. Call 703-912-4005 or email info@ktheatre.org to reserve seats. Free parking is available in the garage at 1101 King Street. Entry to the garage is on Cameron Street. Visit www.ktheatre.org.
Breakfast With Santa. 9 a.m. to noon. Kids can enjoy a pancake breakfast, make their own holiday craft and sit on Santa’s lap to share their Christmas wishes and have their picture taken. Proceeds will benefit the MVHS Class of 2013. At Mount Vernon High School, Room G100. Cost is $5.
<cal1>Sunday/Dec. 20
<cal2>Winter Solstice Event. 2 p.m. Games, stories, crafts and entertainment. The event will feature a performance by "The Jazzy Juggler" and a baritone horn solo by park naturalist and musician extraordinaire, Rich Bailey. Park naturalists will also present "5 Simple Ways To Identify Animals and Plants in Northern Virginia." At Potomac Overlook Regional Park in Arlington. Call 703-528-5406
Colonial Handbell Ringers. 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Join the Colonial Handbell Ringers as they play more than 60 bronze bells. Musical selections include Christmas classics like "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "Feliz Navidad," and "Frosty the Snowman." Sing along with your favorite Christmas carols. At the Lyceum, 201 South Washington Street, Alexandria. Call 703-838-4994, www.AlexandriaHistory.org.
<cal1>Monday/Dec. 21
<cal2>Light the Night. 5-6 p.m. Free. Welcome the return of Light with a Solstice Celebration at Art at the Center. Bundle up and bring your flashlights, light-up clothing, anything that glows in the dark. Meets in the parking lot at 5 p.m. for a community art event, drawing with light. At Art at the Center, 2804 Sherwood Hall Lane. Visit www.artatthecenter.org.
Irish Soprano Emma-Kate Tobia. 8 p.m. $25 tickets. Sings "A Classic Irish Christmas." Also stars Irish-American singer Andy Cooney. At Pat Troy's Ireland's own Restaurant, 111 N. Pitt St., Alexandria. Call 703-549-4535 or go to http://www.patttoyirishpub.com.
<cal1>Thursday/Dec. 31
<cal2>First Night Alexandria. New Year's Eve celebration with music, dance, performing arts for all ages with more than 100 performances in 25 indoor venues throughout Old Town. All ages are welcome and all venues are alcohol free. 6 p.m. to midnight. Fireworks at midnight. Entrance fee. Call 703-746-3301, www.VisitAlexandriaVA.com or www.FirstNightAlexandria.org.
<cal1>Jan. 1-4
<cal2>MAGFest 8 — Music and Gaming Festival. Offers 24-hour console, arcade and PC game rooms, 10 live video game cover bands, a vendors area and guest speakers from the video game industry and fan scene. Live video game music cover bands and 24-hour gaming. In Alexandria. Go to http://magfest.org.
<cal1>Saturday/Jan. 9, 2010
<cal2>Rockin' in a Winter Wonderland. 10-11 a.m. Featuring Rocknoceros and benefitting the St. Clement Episcopal Day School in Alexandria. Cost is $10/advance; $12/door. At Grace Episcopal Day School Auditorium, 3601 Russell Road, Alexandria. For tickets, go to http://preschool.fufa.net.
<cal1>Sunday/Jan. 10, 2010
<cal2>Hungry for Music Concert. 7 p.m. Four folk/Americana duos perform. Starring Siobhan Quinn and Michael Bowers; BumpKin Pie with Michael Dunkley and Suzanne Ives; Lisa Taylor and Dana Connor; and The Sweater Set. At Church of the Resurrection, 2280 N. Beauregard St., Alexandria. Tickets are $18/door; $15/advance at FocusMusic.org. Contact Kay Coyte at kay@focusmusic.org or 703-501-6061
<cal1>Tuesday/Jan. 19, 2010
<cal2>Winter Concert. Works by Philip Glass with Dana Tae Soon Burgess Dance Co. Schönberg "Verklärte Nacht". At Episcopal High School, in Pendleton Hall in the Ainslie Arts Center, 1200 North Quaker Lane, Alexandria. Call 703-933-4135.
<cal1>Saturday/Jan. 23
<cal2>Civil War Ball. 8-11 p.m. In Gadsby's Tavern ballroom. $45/advance; $50/door. Period attire, either civilian or military, is encouraged. In preparation for the Ball, dance classes will be offered at Gadsby's Tavern Museum from 7:30-9:30 p.m. on Thursdays, Jan. 7, 14, 21. Learn the waltz, polka, Virginia Reel and more. Cost is $12/each of $30 for the series. Call 703-838-4242. Visit www.gadsbystavern.org.
Mint Condition performances. 8 p.m. Jane Franklin Dancers ages 20s to 60s. At The Athenaeum, 201 Prince Street, Alexandria. Tickets $28 - $14 at 703-933-1111 or http://www.janefranklin.com.
<cal1>Jan. 24, 2010
<cal2>Mint Condition performances. 2 p.m. Jane Franklin Dancers ages 20s to 60s. At The Athenaeum, 201 Prince Street, Alexandria. Tickets $28 - $14 at 703-933-1111 or http://www.janefranklin.com.
<cal1>Saturday/Feb. 13
<cal2>Tamburitzans Perform. 7 p.m. Duquesne University Tamburitzans perform. Tickets are $22, $25 and $30. At Bishop Ireton High School, 201 Cambridge Road, Alexandria. Call 1-877-826-6437.
<cal1>Saturday/March 6
<cal2>Le Moulin Rouge Ball. The 23rd annual Symphony Orchestra League of Alexandria (SOLA) Ball. At the Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City. Contact Jane Ring at 703-548-7454 or jring10@comcast.net. To purchase ASO concert tickets, contact their box office at 503-548-0885 or go to www.alexsym.org.
<cal1>Tuesday/May 4, 2010
<cal2>Benefit Concert for Autism Speaks. Schubert Cello Quintet in C. At Episcopal High School, in Pendleton Hall in the Ainslie Arts Center, 1200 North Quaker Lane, Alexandria. Call 703-933-4135.