<i>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.<i>
<b>Thursday/Jan. 8
</b>Puppy Tales, 10:30 a.m. Stories, songs and activities about puppies. Age 13-23 months with parent. Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. 703-249-1520.
Daytime Book Discussion Group, 12:15 p.m. “Babbitt” by Sinclair Lewis. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. 703-339-4610.Adults.
Don Cobert. 8 p.m. Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or katesirishpub.com.
<b>Friday/Jan. 9
</b>Lunch Bunch, 12 p.m. Bring lunch and join us for stories. Birth-5 with adult. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. 703-971-0010.
Localpalooza, Violet Says 5, Noo Shots for Ben, Pain! and more. 6:15 p.m. Tickets $10 in advance, $12 day of show Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. 703-569-5940 or jaxxroxx.com.
Don Cobert. 8:30 p.m. Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or katesirishpub.com.
<b>Saturday/Jan. 10
</b>Friends Book Sale, 10 a.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. 703-339-4610.
Flu Vaccinations, 12 p.m. Shots $25 or Medicare Part B; must be 18 or older. Call Inova for details at 703-698-2424. Adults. Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. 703-339-7385.
Tales To Take Hold Of, 2 p.m. Juggling and folk tales from around the world with juggling storyteller Renee Brachfeld. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. 703-971-0010.
Don Cobert. 8:30 p.m. Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or katesirishpub.com.
Birding for Beginners, 8-10:30 a.m. at Huntley Meadows Park & Visitor Center, 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria. Reservations required. $6 per person. 703-768-2525.
Landscape Design for Homeowners, 9:30-11 a.m. at Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria. $160 workshop fee includes three lectures and workshops. 703-642-5173.
Damage Report, Rich, Dre, Spit, Dy For Ent and more. 6 p.m. $10 in advance, $12 day of show. Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. 703-569-5940 or jaxxroxx.com.
<b>Sunday/Jan. 11
</b>Karaoke. 8 p.m. Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or katesirishpub.com.
Vegan Cooking Class: Soups and Stews. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at 9302 Hallston Court, Fairfax Station. $50 per person. Includes food samples and recipes. Pre-registration required. 703-643-2713 or www.localdc.com/cooking.
Livable Landscapes, 1:30-3 p.m. at Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria. $20. Strategies for creating private gardens and shared landscapes. Book signing with Rick Darke, author of “The Encyclopedia of Grasses for Livable Landscapes,” follows the lecture. 703-642-5173.
<b>Monday/Jan. 12
</b>Happy Birthday Princess Priscilla, 10:30 a.m. Celebrate the branch teddy bear's birthday with stories and songs. Age 24-35 months with adult. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. 703-339-4610.
Winter Crafts, 3:30 p.m. It's time to make a winter craft. Age 6-12. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. 703-971-0010.
Open Mic Night. 8 p.m. Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or katesirishpub.com.
Pohick Rangers, 3-5 p.m. at Hidden Pond Nature Center, 8510 Greeley Blvd., Springfield. Seven sessions for age 9-12 on animal evidence, freshwater ecosystems, nocturnal wildlife, geology and more. Reservations required. $90 per child. 703-451-9588.
<b>Tuesday/Jan. 13
</b>Computer Tutoring, 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. 703-249-1520.
Teen Game Night, 7 p.m. Play games and have fun at the library. Age 12-18. Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. 703-249-1520.
Penguin Parade, 11:15 a.m. Stories, activities and a craft about penguins. Age 2-3 with adult. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. 703-971-0010.
Mother-Daughter Book Group, 7 p.m. Call for title and to sign up. Age 9-11 with adult. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. 703-971-0010.
<b>Wednesday/Jan. 14
</b>Science and Stories, 4:30 p.m. Stories and simple science experiments. Age 4-6. Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. 703-249-1520.
Practice Your English Conversation Group, 10:15 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Adults. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. 703-339-4610.
<b>Thursday/Jan. 15
</b>Once Upon a Fairytale, 1:30 p.m. Stories, activities and a craft. Age 4-5 with adult. Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. 703-339-7385.
Dave Berry. 8 p.m. Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or katesirishpub.com.
Flying Dragons, 7-8:30 p.m. at Huntley Meadows Park & Visitor Center, 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria. Learn about dragonflies. Reservations required. $6 per person. 703-768-2525.
Burke Preschool Fair, with over 25 preschools from Burke and the surrounding area. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Burke Fire Department Community Hall, 9501 Old Burke Lake Road, Burke. 866-841-9139 or www.geocities.com/momsclubburke.
<b>Friday/Jan. 16
</b>AVP Hot Winter Nights Pro Beach Volleyball Tour, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets $15-$65, available through www.ticketmaster.com or 202-397-SEAT. George Mason Patriot Center, 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax. www.patriotcenter.com.
Lunch Bunch, 12 p.m. Bring lunch and join us for stories. Birth-5 with adult. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. 703-971-0010.
Cancer Benefit for Ana Lucero, with Backfire, The Black Shade, Baba G'Nush, Funkmnkyz, Poor Man’s Lobster, 20/20 Vizions and The Iternals. 7 p.m. Tickets $10 in advance $12 day of show. Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. 703-569-5940 or jaxxroxx.com.
Dave Berry. 8:30 p.m. Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or katesirishpub.com.
<b>Saturday/Jan. 17
</b>New Year, New Library. Join local scout groups for a library open house and learn about the library's green features. Tours at 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. Snacks will be provided all day. All ages. Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. 703-249-1520.
VITA Tax Assistance, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. IRS-certified volunteers help taxpayers who earned up to $42K. Adults. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. 703-339-4610.
Dave Berry. 8:30 p.m. Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or katesirishpub.com.
Frankie and the Actions. 9 p.m. Tickets $5. Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. 703-569-5940 or jaxxroxx.com.
Fairfax Symphony Orchestra's 52nd Season, The Search for a New Music Director - Part 4. 8 p.m. at George Mason University's Center for the Arts, 4373 Mason Pond Drive, Fairfax. Free ConcerTalk with Daniel Meyer at 7 p.m. 703-563-1990.
<b>Sunday/Jan. 18
</b>G-Scale Trains Running at Fairfax Station Railroad Museum, 1-4 p.m. at 11200 Fairfax Station Road, Fairfax Station. The Washington, Virginia and Maryland Garden Railway Society will be running large scale model trains in the community room. $2 Adults, $1 children. 703-425-9225 or www.fairfax-station.org.
Karaoke. 8 p.m. Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or katesirishpub.com.
<b>Monday/Jan. 19
</b>Open Mic Night. 8 p.m. Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or katesirishpub.com.
Preschool Open House at Spring-Mar Cooperative Preschool, 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. at Accotink Unitarian Universalist Church, 10125 Lakehaven Court, Burke. 703-239-1213 or www.spring-mar.org.
<b>Wednesday/Jan. 21
</b>Needlework Group, 10:30 a.m. Bring a project to work on in the company of fellow needlecrafters. Adults. Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. 703-249-1520.
Small Wonders, 10:15 a.m. Stories, fingerplays and activities. Age 13-23 months with adult. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. 703-971-0010.
Practice Your English Conversation Group, 10:15 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Adults. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. 703-339-4610.
Lorton Book Club 7:30 p.m. “The Invisible Wall: A Love Story That Broke Barriers” by Harry Bernstein. Adults. Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. 703-339-7385.
Book Discussion Group, 7:15 p.m. Call for title. Adults. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. 703-971-0010.
<b>Thursday/Jan. 22
</b>Vrrroom! 10:30 a.m. Stories, songs and activities about cars. Age 2-5 with adult. Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. 703-249-1520.
Preschool Storytime, 1 p.m. Stories, songs and activities. Age 3-5 with adult. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. 703-339-4610.
<b>Friday/Jan. 23
</b>Lunch Bunch, 12 p.m. Bring lunch and join us for stories. Birth-5 with adult. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. 703-971-0010.
Hit By Pitch. 8:30 p.m. Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or katesirishpub.com.
Winter Night Hikes, 7:30-9 p.m. at Lake Accotink Park, 7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield. Search for owls and other night creatures. Suitable for age seven and up. $5 adults, $3 children under 16. Prepaid reservations required. 703-569-0285.
George Mason University’s Potomac Arts Academy, 2009 High School Honor Band Festival, 8 p.m. at the George Mason Center for the Arts Concert Hall, 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax. High school band students will perform with the United States Navy Band. Free admission. jkilken1@gmu.edu or 703-993-1607.
<b>Saturday/Jan. 24
</b>VITA Tax Assistance, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. IRS-certified volunteers help taxpayers who earned up to $42K. Adults. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. 703-339-4610.
Professional Bull Riders Fairfax Invitational, 7:30 p.m. at the George Mason Patriot Center, 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax. All-Time Bull Fighting Champion Rob Smets will be master of ceremonies. Adult tickets $20-$65, children 2-12 years $10, available at 703-573-SEAT or www.ticketmaster.com.
Hit By Pitch. 8:30 p.m. Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or katesirishpub.com.
Winter Chills and Thrills, 1-3 p.m. at Huntley Meadows Park & Visitor Center, 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria. Discover how wildlife copes with winter. For children age 5-10 with adult. Cost is $4 per child. 703-768-2525.
Winter Night Hikes, 7:30-9 p.m. at Lake Accotink Park, 7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield. Search for owls and other night creatures. Suitable for age seven and up. $5 adults, $3 children under 16. Prepaid reservations required. 703-569-0285.
George Mason University’s Potomac Arts Academy, 2009 High School Honor Band Festival, 8 p.m. at the George Mason Center for the Arts Concert Hall, 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax. High school band students will perform with the United States Navy Band. Free. jkilken1@gmu.edu or 703-993-1607.
EMO Soldiers Festival, with Blessed By a Brokenheart, Love Hate Her, Karate High School, Agraceful, Kiros and Boys Will Be Boys. 1 p.m. Tickets $13 in advance, $15 day of show. Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. 703-569-5940 or jaxxroxx.com.
LeadFoot and more. 10 p.m. Tickets $5. Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. 703-569-5940 or jaxxroxx.com.
<b>Sunday/Jan. 25
</b>Professional Bull Riders Fairfax Invitational, 2:30 p.m. at the George Mason Patriot Center, 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax. All-Time Bull Fighting Champion Rob Smets will be master of ceremonies. Adult tickets $20-$65, children 2-12 years $10, available at 703-573-SEAT or www.ticketmaster.com.
Pianist Jeffrey Siegel, 7 p.m. at George Mason University Center for the Arts. Mendelssohn’s Songs Without Words, Grieg’s Lyric Pieces, including Wedding Day at Troldhaugen, Stravinsky’s Circus Polka, Brahms’ Rhapsody in E-Flat, Sibelius’ Evergreen, Granados’ Spanish Dance and Ginastera's Sonata. Tickets are $19-$38. Age 12 and under half price. Charge by phone at 888-945-2468 or visit www.tickets.com. The Center for the Arts is on the Fairfax campus of George Mason University at the intersection of Braddock Road and Route 123. www.gmu.edu/cfa.
Karaoke. 8 p.m. Kate’s Irish Pub, 6131 Backlick Road Springfield. 703-866-0860 or katesirishpub.com.