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.
Thursday/May 14
Redemption Thursdays. 8 p.m., Jaxx Nightclub, 6355 Rolling Road, West Springfield. Live reggae music all night. Ages 18 and up. Tickets: $5/advance, $7/at door. Call 703-569-5940 or visit www.jaxxroxx.com.
The Blackjack. 10 p.m., Fat Tuesdays, University Mall, 10673 Braddock Road, Fairfax. Locals Only Radio and Main St. Promotions presents The Blackjack and Panderosa. $5/person. Call 703-385-5717.
Friday/May 15
Lorton Community Action Center Fund-Raiser Tournament. 3 p.m., at Pohick Bay Golf Course, 6501 Pohick Bay Drive, Lorton. Course closed for tournament, which is sponsored by and benefits the LCAC. For more information on tournament sign ups and the LCAC, visit www.lortonaction.org. 703-339-8585.
Bella Morte. 9 p.m., Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. Ego Likeness, Middle Child Syndrome and Blind Til Now will perform. Tickets: $15/advance, $18/day of show. Call 703-569-5940 or 202-432-SEAT for tickets.
Tribute to Maestro Luis Haza presented by the Virginia Chamber Orchestra. 8:15 p.m., at the Ernst Community Cultural Center, Northern Virginia Community College, 8333 Little River Turnpike, Annandale,. The concert will feature Mozart’s "Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat major" with Natasha Bogacheck, violin, and Zino Bogachek, viola; tribute by Robert Aubrey Davis. Seniors and groups, $12; adults, $18; advance purchase, seniors and groups, $10; adults, $15. All students admitted free. 703-758-0179. Complementary reception will follow. Additional information is available at www.virginiachamberorchestra.org.
Saturday/May 16
Train Show. HO and N-scale model trains will be running 12-5 p.m., in the community room and the caboose at the Fairfax Station Railroad Museum, 11200 Fairfax Station Road, Fairfax Station. $2/adults and $1/child. 703-425-9225. www.fairfax-station.org.
Recession-proof Advocacy: Leveraging Your Pro-Arts Message, a seminar for the arts community featuring Jay H. Dick, Americans for the Arts’ director of State and Local Government Affairs, 10:30-12 p.m., at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton.
Clifton Community Yard Sale. 8 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Weaver House. For more information, contact Trisha Robertson at 703-815-0992 or rtrishr@gmail.com.
Invasive Plant Removal. Join Invasive Management Area (IMA) volunteer site leader in preserving a natural meadow area 10 a.m.-12 p.m., at Pohick Stream Valley. Participants younger than 15 must be accompanied by an adult. For information, call 703-324-8681.
Wonderful Web of Life. Enjoy relaxation exercises, walk to the observation tower and practice basic yoga positions while hearing, seeing and feeling the world around you 8-10 a.m., at Huntley Meadows Park, 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria. Reservations are required. The cost is $6 per adult. To reserve, call 703-768-2525.
Exercise Paddle Adventure. 4:30 p.m. to sunset, Pohick Bay Regional Park, 6501 Pohick Bay Drive, Lorton. $30 per person or group rate. Reservations are required. Paddle trip with interval training and endurance. General good health required. Must be 18 or older. Kayak experience necessary. Call 703-339-6104 for reservations.
Murder in Movieland. 7 p.m. Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. Meet colorful Hollywood characters, gather evidence and figure out whodunit. Adults. 703-249-1520.
Multicultural Celebration of Dance and Canned Food Drive. 12-3 p.m., at Edison High School, 5801 Franconia Road, Alexandria. Presented by the School-Age Child Care Program. Free.
Up In Smoke Fest. 1:15 p.m., Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. Emmure, A Life Once Lost and Thy Will Be Done headline a festival featuring 11 bands. Tickets: $13/advance, $15/day of show. Call 703-569-5940 or 202-432-SEAT for tickets.
Herb Festival. Learn to grow and use fresh herbs. 10 a.m.-3 p.m., at Heather Hill Gardens, 8111 Ox Road, Fairfax Station. Meet magazine editor Barbara Jacksier who will lead planting and cooking demonstrations at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Free. Rain date May 17. 703-690-6060, www.heatherhillgardens.com.
Sunday/May 17
Train Show. HO and N-scale model trains will be running 1-4 p.m., in the community room and the caboose at the Fairfax Station Railroad Museum, 11200 Fairfax Station Road, Fairfax Station. $2/adults and $1/child. 703-425-9225. www.fairfax-station.org.
Architecture in the Afternoon Tours. Discover the stunning architecture of George Mason’s home. 2 p.m., at Gunston Hall, 10709 Gunston Road, Mason Neck. This 90-minute tour explores the mansion’s exterior and interior. For the first time this tour features the cellar. Find out why Gunston Hall’s carpenter-joiner William Buckland and master carver William Bernard Sears continue to be highly regarded. Regular admission. Friends free. Adults and children over 12. 703-550-9220.
1759 Conversations: Establishing Gunston Hall. 3:30- 4:30 p.m., at Gunston Hall, 10709 Gunston Road, Mason Neck. Encounter a member of the household, portrayed by a re-enactor, and learn about the origins of the Gunston Hall community. Regular admission. Friends free. 703-550-9220.
Paddle Adventure-Evening Tour. 4-7 p.m., at Pohick Bay Regional Park, 6501 Pohick Bay Drive, Lorton. $30 per person or group rate. Reservations required. View the beauty of the Pohick Marsh as the day comes to an end. No experience is necessary. Call 703-339-6104 for reservations.
Kreator. 5:45 p.m., Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. Kreator headlines a show featuring Exodus, Belphegor, Warbringer and Epicurean. Tickets: $25/advance, $28/day of show. Call 703-569-5940 or 202-432-SEAT for tickets.
Monday/May 18
Young Explorers: Snakes. Through a story and walk, children 6-9 learn about snakes 3:15-4:30 p.m., at Huntley Meadows Visitor Center, 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria. Reservations are required. The cost is $4 per child. To reserve, call 703-768-2525.
Tuesday/May 19
Evening Book Discussion Group. 7:30 p.m. at the Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. "Franklin and Lucy: President Roosevelt, Mrs. Rutherford, and the other remarkable women in his life" by Joseph E. Persico. Adults. 703-339-4610.
Mother-Daughter Book Group. 7 p.m. at the John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Call for title. Age 9-11 with adult. 703-971-0010.
Wednesday/May 20
Needlework Group. 10:30 a.m. Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. Bring a project to work on in the company of fellow needlecrafters. Adults. 703-249-1520.
Book Discussion Group. 7:15 p.m. at the John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Call for title. Adults. 703-971-0010.
Practice Your English. 10:15 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Conversation group for adults learning English. 703-339-4610.
English Conversation Group. 6 p.m. at the Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. Practice English with other adults. 703-339-7385.
Lorton Book Club. 7:30 p.m. at the Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. "Nineteen Minutes" by Jodi Picoult. Adults. 703-339-7385.
Thursday/May 21
Emergency Preparedness for Seniors. 11 a.m. at the Richard Byrd Library, 6315 Backlick Road, Springfield, on the second floor of the Bank of America building. This program will focus on preparation kit items, planning, staying informed and staying in touch. Adults. 703-451-8055.
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. Share your work, give and receive feedback. Adults. 703-451-8055.
Comedy Thursday. 9 p.m., Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. Justin Kincaid and Friends will perform. Ages 21 and up. $5/person. Call 703-569-5940 or 202-432-SEAT for tickets.
Saturday/May 23
Park Manager Walk and Talk. Share questions and concerns with Park Manager Kevin Munroe from 5-7 p.m., Huntley Meadows Park, 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria. Reservations are required. To attend this free walk, call 703-768-2525.
Habitat Restoration. Join and Invasive Management Area volunteer site leader in a non-native invasive plant removal workday 9:30-11:30 a.m., at Woodglen Lake Park, 10617 Zion Drive, Fairfax. Participants must be 15 and older, unless accompanied by an adult. This workday is free to attend. 703-324-8681.
Sunset Cruise. 7:30-8:30 p.m. An interpretive history of Lake Accotink Park and the area is included in the tour. Beverages are served on board. The cost is $5 per person. Prepaid reservations are required. To reserve, call 703-569-0285. Lake Accotink Park is located at 7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield.
Paddle Adventure-Morning Tour. 8 a.m.- 12 p.m., at Pohick Bay Regional Park, 6501 Pohick Bay Drive, Lorton. $30 per person. Reservations required. A Potomac Overlook Park Naturalist will lead the trip. No experience necessary. Call 703-339-6104 for reservations.
Friday/May 22
Ponderings: Naturalist Treasure Hunt. Follow clues to find landmarks and use wildlife evidence to search for the "natural treasure" 4:30-6 p.m., at Hidden Pond Nature Center 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria. This program is suited for children 6-10 and includes getting dirty and collecting specimens such as leaves and rocks. Reservations required. $5 per child. To reserve, call 703-451-9588.
Spellbound’s Sanctuary. 8 p.m., Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. A Gothic and Industrial esvent featuring DJ Transept and guests. $10/person. Call 703-569-5940 or 202-432-SEAT for tickets.
Saturday/May 23
Memorial Day Weekend Madness. 2:15 p.m., Jaxx Night Club, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. Grand Buffet, Johnny 3 Legs, Bo Jakins, 94!Mentality, Sensimilla, Nova Infinite, Rico, Evereaux and other will perform. Tickets: $10/advance, $12/day of show. Call 703-569-5940 or 202-432-SEAT for tickets.
Monday/May 25
‘Hold Ourselves in Readiness’: A Memorial Day Commemoration. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., at Gunston Hall, 10709 Gunston Road, Mason Neck. Mansion tours highlight George Mason’s leadership role with the militia and his part in preparing Virginia for independence. Regular admission. Free admission granted to active military personnel and veterans. 703-550-9220.