Send notes to the Connection at south@connectionnewspapers.com or call 703-917-6459. Deadline is Friday. Dated announcements should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event.
<b>Thursday/Feb. 19
</b>South Fairfax Chamber of Commerce (SFCC) Kick-Off Meeting, 6-9 p.m. at Pane è Vino Restaurant, 9020 Lorton Station Blvd., Suite E, Lorton. SFCC brings together diverse business and civic leaders in Lorton, Laurel Hill, Newington, Fort Belvoir, South Springfield, Burke, Fairfax Station, Clifton, Occoquan and Woodbridge. Monthly meetings are at 7:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month, at South County Secondary School, 8501 Silverbrook Road, Lorton, in the Media Center. All interested parties are invited to consider membership. www.SouthFairfaxChamber.org.
Make New Friends, 10:30 a.m. at Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. Stories, songs and activities about friendship. Age 2-5 with adult. 703-249-1520.
<b>Friday/Feb. 20
</b>L.A. Theatre Works and "The Great Tennessee Monkey Trial," 8 p.m. at George Mason University's Center for the Arts on the Fairfax campus of George Mason University, at the intersection of Braddock Road and Route 123. Tickets are $19-$38. Charge by phone at 888-945-2468 or at www.tickets.com. www.gmu.edu/cfa.
Lunch Bunch, 12 p.m. at John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Bring lunch, listen to stories. Birth-5 with adult. 703-971-0010.
Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce 11th Annual Mardi Gras Casino Night, 7-11 p.m. at the Hilton Springfield, 6550 Loisdale Road in Springfield. Prizes, food and fun. Area restaurants and caterers will be featured. Tickets in advance $55, at the door $65. 703-866-3500.
Winter Night Hikes, 7:30-9 p.m. at Lake Accotink Park, 7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield. Reservations required. Adults $5, under age 16 $3. 703-569-0285.
“Making Connections Arts Marathon,” a 24-hour festival of theater, art, music, film and dance activities starting 8 a.m. at George Mason University’s Fine Arts Building, Performing Arts Building and the Johnson Center, on the Fairfax campus at the intersection of Braddock Road and Route 123. Free. 703-993-8898. Visit www.gmu.edu/cfa for a schedule of specific events.
<b>Saturday/Feb. 21
</b>VITA Tax Assistance, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. 703-339-4610.
Weekend Pohick Rangers, 10 a.m. at Hidden Pond Nature Center, 8511 Greeley Blvd., Springfield. First of a five-part program on decomposers, mammal tracking, freshwater ecosystems, nocturnal wildlife, reptiles and more. Reservations required. For ages 9-12. $75. 703-451-9588.
Sherlock Bones, 1-3 p.m. at Huntley Meadows Park, 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria. Skulls, skeletons and self-guided activities. Free. 703-768-2525.
Wonderful Wetland Waterfowl, 2-4 p.m. at Huntley Meadows Park, 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria. Look for green-winged teals, pintails, swamp sparrows and more. For age 9 and older; children must be accompanied by an adult. $6 per person. 703-768-2525.
Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, 8 p.m. at the George Mason Center for the Arts, on the Fairfax campus of George Mason University at the intersection of Braddock Road and Route 123. A pre-performance discussion, free to ticket holders, begins at 7:15 p.m. on the Center’s Grand Tier III. Tickets are $19-$38. Age 12 and under, half price. Charge by phone at 888-945-2468 or visit www.tickets.com. www.gmu.edu/cfa.
Second Annual Monopoly Tournament, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at Glory Days Grill, 9459 Lorton Market St., Lorton. All proceeds to benefit Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia. Entry fee $25, including breakfast and lunch. First prize $500. Contact Ron Kowalski at 1-888-495-6207 ext. 7 or www.lortonmonopoly.com.
Men's Praise Movement Meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Harvester Presbyterian Church, 7800 Rolling Rd, Springfield. Free, for men age 16 and up. menspraiz.blogspot.com or e-mail ronkronz@gmail.com
<b>Sunday/Feb. 22
</b>Open House, 2-4 p.m. at Lake Accotink Park, 7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield. Park programs, natural resources, park and community history and more. Free. 703-569-0285.
Sherlock Bones, 1-3 p.m. at Huntley Meadows Park, 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria. Skulls, skeletons and self-guided activities. Free. 703-768-2525.
Drumline Live, 7 p.m. at the George Mason University Center for the Arts, on the Fairfax campus at the intersection of Braddock Road and Route 123. A free pre-performance discussion begins at 6:15 p.m. on the Center’s Grand Tier III. Tickets are $22-$44. Age 12 and under half price. Charge by phone at 888-945-2468 or visit www.tickets.com. www.gmu.edu/cfa.
<b>Monday/Feb. 23
</b>Rolling Valley Elementary Kindergarten Information Sessions, 10:30 a.m. at Rolling Valley Elementary School, 6703 Barnack Drive, Springfield. For parents of students who will be 5 by Sept. 9. 703-923-2700 or CerryChechile@fcps.edu.
Writer's Group, 7 p.m. at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Read material aloud for feedback. Adults. 703-339-4610.
<b>Tuesday/Feb. 24
</b>VITA Tax Assistance, 6-8 p.m. at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. 703-339-4610.
It's Mardi Gras Time! 4:30 p.m. at Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. Celebrate Mardi Gras, its foods and traditions. Age 13-18. 703-339-7385.
Book Discussion Group, 7:30 p.m. at Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. Call for title. Adults. 703-249-1520.
St. Andrew’s Church Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at 6509 Sydenstricker Road in Burke. Funds are raised to help youth mission trip to repair homes in Elmira, N.Y. for people with limited finances. The church youth cook and serve the meal, usually wearing Mardi Gras costumes. Contact Lisa Wakeley at lisaw@standrews.net.
<b>Wednesday/Feb. 25
</b>Practice Your English, 10:15 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Conversation group for adults. 703-339-4610.
Kingstowne Library Writers Peer Review Group, 7 p.m. at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Review peers' works and receive feedback. Adults. 703-339-4610.
Mother-Daughter Book Club, 7 p.m. at Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. Book club for girls age 9-11 and their mothers. Call for title. 703-249-1520.
<b>Thursday/Feb. 26
</b>Preschool Storytime, 1 p.m. at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Stories, songs and activities. Age 3-5 with adult. 703-339-4610.
Stories and Science, 4 p.m. at John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Stories, activities and an age-appropriate science experiment. Age 4-6 with adult. 703-971-0010.
<b>Friday/Feb. 27
</b>Lunch Bunch, 12 p.m. at John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Bring lunch for stories. Birth-5 with adult. 703-971-0010.
SAW Songwriters Showcase, hosted by Margot MacDonald. 7 p.m. at Coffihouse, 8433 Lee Highway, Merrifield. info@COFFiHOUSE.com.
Hike: Early Signs of Spring, 4:30-6 p.m. at Hidden Pond Nature Center, 8511 Greeley Blvd., Springfield. Discover wood frogs, skunk cabbage and more. For ages 6-10. $5 per child. 703-451-9588.
Springfield Community Theatre presents “The Fantastics,” 8 p.m. at The New School of Northern Virginia, 9431 Silver King Court, Fairfax. Tickets $15 adults, $13 students and seniors. For reservations, call 703-866-6238. info@sctonline.org.
<b>Saturday/Feb. 28
</b> The Viandante Quartet, 3 p.m. at the Workhouse Arts Center, 9517 Workhouse Way, Lorton. Performed by members of the Shenandoah University Conservancy. Includes opportunities for audience interaction with music professors Clyde Shaw and Doris Lederer. clorange@su.edu or acambel@su.edu.
Frogs, Turtles and Snakes, Oh My. 10:30 a.m. at John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Meet local critters, presented by Hidden Pond Nature Center. All ages. 703-971-0010.
VITA Tax Assistance, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. 703-339-4610.
Memory Cookbook Writing, 2 p.m. at John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Author Kay Karim on crafting and publishing a family cookbook. Adults. 703-971-0010.
Go Fish, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at Lake Accotink Park, 7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield. Free one-day trout fishing pass. Learn catch-and-release fishing techniques. Program suitable for ages 7 and up. $15 per child, accompanying adult free. 703-569-0285.
Dave Parsons Dance, 8 p.m. at the George Mason University Center for the Arts, on the Fairfax campus at the intersection of Braddock Road and Route 123. The company includes Billy Smith, a 2007 George Mason University dance alumnus. A free pre-performance discussion begins at 7:15 p.m. on the Center’s Grand Tier III. Tickets are $22-$44. Charge by phone at 888-945-2468 or visit www.tickets.com. www.gmu.edu/cfa.
Springfield Community Theatre presents “The Fantastics,” 8 p.m. at The New School of Northern Virginia, 9431 Silver King Court, Fairfax. Tickets $15 adults, $13 students and seniors. For reservations, call 703-866-6238. info@sctonline.org.
<b>Sunday/March 1
</b>Liberty Lecture Series: The Battle Over the Constitution: Reading the 18th-Century Constitution in the 21st Century, 3 p.m. at Gunston Hall Plantation, 10709 Gunston Road, Mason Neck. Has the Constitution been implemented as the Founders intended, and did they foresee the Constitution responding to evolving social circumstances? 703-550-9220 or www.gunstonhall.org to register.
Springfield Community Theatre presents “The Fantastics,” 8 p.m. at The New School of Northern Virginia, 9431 Silver King Court, Fairfax. Tickets $15 adults, $13 students and seniors. For reservations, call 703-866-6238. info@sctonline.org.
Studio 4 Galleries Artist’s Reception, 2-4 p.m., featuring the works of the thirteen Studio 4 resident artists at the Workhouse Arts Center, 9524 Workhouse Way, Lorton. The exhibition runs from March 4-April 26. Hours are Wednesday-Saturdays from 11 a.m.-7 p.m., and Sundays 12-5 p.m. Visit www.workhousearts.org for a list of Workhouse artists, art classes and special events. 703-584-2974.
Purim Pulse: A Community High School Purim Party, 5:30-8 p.m. at Congregation Adat Reyim, 6500 Westbury Oaks Court, Springfield. Purim party for eighth-12th graders, with interactive DJs and dancers, concert lighting, costume contest, American Idol-style contest, photo novelties and snacks. $10. www.adatreyim.org.
<b>Tuesday/March 3
</b>Computer Tutoring, 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. at Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. Get one-on-one help with computers, common software applications and navigating the Internet. Call for details and to sign up. Adults. 703-249-1520.
VITA Tax Help, 6-8 p.m. at the Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Tax help. Adults. 703-339-4610.
Teen Book Club, 7 p.m. at Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. Fun, food and great book discussions. How Not to Be Popular by Jennifer Ziegler. Age 12-18. 703-249-1520.
<b>Wednesday/March 4
</b>Practice Your English, 10:15 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Conversation group for people learning English. Adults. 703-339-4610.
Girls Night Out, 7 p.m. at the John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Join us for a book discussion. Call for title. Age 12-15 with adult. 703-971-0010.
Lunch Bunnies, 12 p.m. at the Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Bring a lunch and have fun. Age 1-5 with adult. 703-339-4610.
<b>Thursday/March 5
</b>Brook Yoder, 7:30 p.m. at Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road, Springfield. 703-866-0860 or www.katesirishpub.com.
Froggie Tales, 10:30 a.m. at Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. Stories, songs and activities about frogs. For ages 13-23 months with adult. 703-249-1520.
Book Discussion Group, 12 p.m. at the Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Jim the Boy by Tony Earley. Adults. 703-339-4610.
<b>Friday/March 6
</b>Mariza sings Portuguese Fado, 8 p.m. at George Mason University Center for the Arts, on the Fairfax campus of George Mason University at the intersection of Braddock Road and Route 123. A pre-performance discussion, free to ticket holders, begins 7:15 p.m. on the Center’s Grand Tier III. Tickets are $23-$46. Charge by phone at 888-945-2468 or visit www.tickets.com. www.gmu.edu/cfa
Brook Yoder, 7:30 p.m. at Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road, Springfield. 703-866-0860 or www.katesirishpub.com.
Springfield Community Theatre presents “The Fantastics,” 8 p.m. at The New School of Northern Virginia, 9431 Silver King Court, Fairfax. Tickets $15 adults, $13 students and seniors. For reservations, call 703-866-6238. info@sctonline.org.
Lunch Bunch, 12 p.m. at the John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Bring a lunch and have fun. Birth-5 with adult. 703-971-0010.
<b>Saturday/March 7
</b>Nelly Custis Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution Genealogy Workshop, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Church of the Spirit, 5775 Barclay Drive in Kingstowne. Five sessions, ranging from a quick overview of standards of research to specific resources held by federal, state, and county repositories. Register by sending name, email address and telephone number to NellyCustisDAR@gmail.com. www.nellycustisdar.memberlodge.org.
Brook Yoder, 7:30 p.m. at Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road, Springfield. 703-866-0860 or www.katesirishpub.com.
Springfield Community Theatre presents “The Fantastics,” 8 p.m. at The New School of Northern Virginia, 9431 Silver King Court, Fairfax. Tickets $15 adults, $13 students and seniors. For reservations, call 703-866-6238. info@sctonline.org.
VITA Tax Help, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Adults. 703-339-4610.
<b>Sunday/March 8
</b>The Loft Gallery 23rd Anniversary Signature Show, with Artists Reception 1-4 p.m. at 313 Mill St., Occoquan. Meet and talk to the artists, visit artists at work in their studios and watch gallery artists giving demonstrations. 703-490-1117 or www.loftgallery.org.
Liberty Lecture Series: The Battle Over the Constitution: Reading the 18th-Century Constitution in the 21st Century, 3 p.m. at Gunston Hall Plantation, 10709 Gunston Road, Mason Neck. Has the Constitution been implemented as the Founders intended, and did they foresee the Constitution responding to evolving social circumstances? 703-550-9220 or www.gunstonhall.org to register.
Karaoke, 7:30 p.m. at Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road, Springfield. 703-866-0860 or www.katesirishpub.com.
Springfield Community Theatre presents “The Fantastics,” 8 p.m. at The New School of Northern Virginia, 9431 Silver King Court, Fairfax. Tickets $15 adults, $13 students and seniors. For reservations, call 703-866-6238. info@sctonline.org.