<lst>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.
<cal1>Thursday/June 18
<cal2>Springfield Writers' Group. 7 p.m. at the Richard Byrd Library, 6315 Backlick Road, Springfield, on the second floor of the Bank of America building. Give and receive feedback in a supportive setting. Adults. 703-451-8055.
Summer Reading Open House. 1:30 p.m. at the Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Sign up for the Summer Reading Program and check out some books. 703-339-4610.
St. Mary of Sorrows White Elephant Sale - Preview Sale. 5-8 p.m., at St. Mary of Sorrows Parish Hall, 5222 Sideburn Road, Fairfax. $5 admission. All proceeds go to the parish. 703-323-0345.
Comedy Night at Jaxx with Justin Kincaid and Friends. 8 p.m. at Jaxx Nightclub, 6355 Rolling Road, West Springfield. $5. 703-569-5940 or jaxxroxx.com.
<cal1>Friday/June 19
<cal2>Third Annual SkateFest at Wakefield Skate Park. Preliminaries for this two-day competition will be 4-7 p.m. The $15 registration fee includes a SkateFest T-shirt. Proceeds from this fundraiser will benefit the Children's Hospital Foundation of Washington, D.C. All ages are invited. On Saturday participants will skateboard through a checkpoint route around the skate park during Sk8 For the Cause, a sponsored ride to raise money for the Children’s Hospital Foundation. Check-in begins at 1 p.m. The $15 registration fee includes a Sk8 For the Cause T-shirt. Prizes will be awarded to the top three earners. Complete details about SkateFest 2009 and an online registration form are at www.skatefestfairfax.com. Wakefield Skate Park is located at 8100 Braddock Road in Annandale. 703-321-7081.
St. Mary of Sorrows White Elephant Sale. 12-8 p.m., at St. Mary of Sorrows Parish Hall, 5222 Sideburn Road, Fairfax. All proceeds go to the parish. 703-323-0345.
United States Army Band “Blues Jazz Ensemble.†All shows are free and start at 7:30 p.m., at Lake Accotink Park, 7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield. 703-324-SHOW.
Jaxx Midnight Madness Show. 11 p.m. at Jaxx Nightclub, 6355 Rolling Road, West Springfield. $10 in advance, $12 day of show. 703-569-5940 or jaxxroxx.com.
<cal1>Saturday/June 20
<cal2>Stuart-Mosby Historical Society 29th Annual Spring Bus Tour, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m., starting at the Truro Rectory, 10520 Main St., Fairfax, where Mosby captured Brig. Gen. Edwin Stoughton, then to Culpeper, Orange Court House, Gordonsville and more. Stuart-Mosby Historical Society members $65, non-members $75. Tom Evans will be signing books before the tour at the Truro Rectory. Contact Don Hakenson at 703-971-4984 or dhakenson@cox.net.
Raptor Conservancy of Virginia. 10:30 a.m. at the John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. See birds of prey and find out about their place in the wild. Age 6-12. 703-971-0010.
Kayak Tour. Solstice Spectacular on Pohick Creek. 5-8 p.m. Launches from Pohick Bay Regional Park. Led by Whitney Bailey. Reservation required. $45. kayak@nvct.org or 703-354-5093.
St. Mary of Sorrows White Elephant Sale. 8 a.m.-8 p.m., at St. Mary of Sorrows Parish Hall, 5222 Sideburn Road, Fairfax. All proceeds go to the parish. 703-323-0345.
"Broadway Who?," 12 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. at the Richard J. Ernst Community Cultural Center at NOVA Annandale Campus, 8333 Little River Turnpike, Annandale. Tickets are $15 for students and seniors, $18 for adults. 703-867-8503 or www.encore-tap.org/tickets.htm.
<cal1>Sunday/June 21
<cal2>Pro-Pain, Sworn Enemy, Mantic Ritual, Blue Colar War, The Rejected and Brutallion. 5 p.m. at Jaxx Nightclub, 6355 Rolling Road, West Springfield. $17 in advance, $20 day of show. 703-569-5940 or jaxxroxx.com.
"Broadway Who?," 2 p.m. at the Richard J. Ernst Community Cultural Center at NOVA Annandale Campus, 8333 Little River Turnpike, Annandale. Tickets are $15 for students and seniors, $18 for adults. 703-867-8503 or www.encore-tap.org/tickets.htm.
Springfield District Summer Kickoff Concert. Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield) hosts a this event that kicks off a series of free concerts at Burke Lake Park. The performers are Rocknoceros (Children's Music) at 7 p.m. and Jeff Watson and The Downtown Band (‘60s and ‘70s Rock Covers) at 8 p.m. Burke Lake Park is located at 7315 Ox Road, Fairfax Station.
<cal1>Monday/June 22
<cal2>Absu, Glorior Belli, The Orange and Black Attack !!! and Sothis. 6 p.m. at Jaxx Nightclub, 6355 Rolling Road, West Springfield. $17 in advance, $20 day of show. 703-569-5940 or jaxxroxx.com.
The Song Imagineer. 10:30 a.m. at the Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Song writer Ray Owen leads an adventure through a world of music and stories. Age 6-12. 703-339-4610.
Kingstowne in Stitches. 7 p.m. at the Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Spend an evening in the company of other needleworkers. Adults. 703-339-4610.
Writer's Group. 7 p.m. at the Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Read your material aloud for feedback. Adults. 703-339-4610.
<cal1>Tuesday/June 23
<cal2>Computer Tutoring. 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. One-on-one help with computers, common software applications and navigating the Internet. Adults. 703-249-1520.
Book Discussion Group. 7:30 p.m. at the Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. Call for title. Adults. 703-249-1520.
The Wright Stuff. 2:30 p.m. at the John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Discover the mystery of flight with the Maryland Science Center. Age 6-12. 703-971-0010.
Journey to the Jungle With Animal Ambassadors. 2:30 p.m. at the Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. See macaws, a giant toad and creepy crawlies as we visit the tropical rain forests of the world. Age 6-12. 703-339-7385.
<cal1>Wednesday/June 24
<cal2>Mother-Daughter Book Club. 7 p.m. at the Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. Book club for girls age 9-11 and their mothers. 703-249-1520.
Travel Club. 1 p.m. at the Richard Byrd Library, 6315 Backlick Road, Springfield, on the second floor of the Bank of America building. Bring lunch and enjoy discussion. Adults. 703-451-8055.
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.
Kingstowne Library Writers Peer Review Group. 7 p.m. at the Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Review peers' works and receive in-depth feedback on your own work. Adults. 703-339-4610.
The United States Navy Band “Country Current.†7:30 p.m., at Lee District Park, 6601 Telegraph Road, Franconia. 703-324-SHOW.
<cal1>Thursday/June 25
<cal2>Washington National Opera. 4 p.m. at the Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. Hands-on workshop for children and their families. Learn about opera with the story of Madama Butterfly. Age 6-12 with adult. 703-339-7385.
MSG — Schenker Barden Reunion In the Midst of Beauty US Tour 2009, Doug Doppler. 6:30 p.m. at Jaxx Nightclub, 6355 Rolling Road, West Springfield. $25 in advance, $30 day of show. 703-569-5940 or jaxxroxx.com.
<cal1>Friday/June 26
<cal2>Spectacular Science. 10:30 a.m. at the Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. Indoor fireworks, bubbling potions and more. Age 6-12. 703-249-1520.
All-Star Local Show. 6 p.m. at Jaxx Nightclub, 6355 Rolling Road, West Springfield. $10 in advance, $12 day of show. 703-569-5940 or jaxxroxx.com.
<cal1>Saturday/June 27
<cal2>Monkeys in the House. 10:30 a.m. at the Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. Flap your arms, tap your feet and release your inner monkey with John Hadfield. All ages. 703-339-7385.
Kayak Tour of the Natural & Human History of Kane’s Creek. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Launches from Mason Neck State Park Mason Neck State Park, 7301 High Point Road, Lorton. Reservation required. $45. kayak@nvct.org or 703-354-5093.