To have community events listed free in The Potomac Almanac, send e-mail to almanac@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is Thursday at noon for the following week’s paper. Photos and artwork encouraged. Call 703-778-9412.
<cal1>Every Saturday Night
<cal2>Live Standup Comedy. 8 to 10 p.m. Five local comics. At the Laugh Riot at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda Hotel, 7400 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda. Call 301-657-1234 or visit www.Bethesda.Hyatt.com.
Senior Tech. Computer and exercise classes for basic to advanced computer skills. At the Jewish Council for the Aging, Bethesda Vital Living Center, 4805 Edgmoor Lane, 2nd floor. For ages 65-plus. Cost is $10 to $65. Call 240-395-0915.
Montgomery County is recruiting talented adults 55-plus for its Montgomery’s Got Talent! competition. Singers, comedians, dancers, musicians, actors, and storytellers welcome. Preliminary competitions will take place at community and senior centers throughout the County in April and May. Winners will advance to the Montgomery's Got Talent! finals at an area performing arts venue on May 22. Proceeds from the contest and finals will benefit Haitian seniors. For a registration form, call 240-777-4925. Registration deadline is March 31.
<cal1>Now Through May 11
<cal2>Free Chinese Language Classes. Eight-week series of free Chinese (Mandarin) language classes will be offered in collaboration with the Confucius Institute at the University of Maryland (CIM), at the Potomac Library each Tuesday from 10 a.m. to Noon. The series is limited to 15 participants, first-come first-served. The library is located at 10101 Glenolden Dr. Contact Ritchie Kwan or Rebecca McGinnis at CIM, 301-405-0213, or email r.k.kwan@gmail.com, or rmcginni@umd.edu.
<cal1>Now Through May 24
<cal2>Encore Chorale. 1-2:30 p.m. Encore Creativity for Older Adults and Washington Conservatory of Music are joining to bring the 10th area Encore Chorale to Glen Echo Park. Seven-week session for adults age 55 or older, Mondays, April 12 to May 24. No audition required. Tuition is $80/singer. At The Washington Conservatory at Glen Echo Park, South Arcade Building, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Contact Jeanne Kelly at 301-261-5747; or email Jeanne.kelly@encorecreativity.org (www. encorecreativity.org).
<cal1>Thursday/April 22
<cal2>Slow Blues and Swing Dance. Admission is $8. Slow Blues lesson from 8:15 to 9 p.m. Dancing from 9-11:30 p.m. DJ Mike Marcotte and Guests will play a variety of styles including traditional and contemporary blues music, and classic cover tunes going back through the history of blues music. At the Back Room of Glen Echo Park. Call Donna Barker at 301-634-2231 or go to info@CapitalBlues.org or www.CapitalBlues.org. At 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo.
Earth Day Event. 5 to 7:30 p.m. Free. Simple and inexpensive steps such as energy audits, air sealing, insulation, and more efficient lighting and water fixtures can pay for themselves many times over. The benefits are clear: lower utility bills, higher property values, and greater comfort. Living smart by living green.
To RSVP visit: http://www.ecobeco.com/abaris. At the Potomac Community Center, 11315 Falls Road, Potomac. Call 240-777-6960.
Kids' Earth Day Fun. At Rockwood Manor in Potomac. Bring the kids ages 3 to 8 for a fun-filled and educational two hours of hands-on crafts made from recycled materials and activities to celebrate Earth Day and learn how to take care of our planet. Cost is $5 per child. Register at http://www.parkpass.org/Activities/ActivitiesDetails.asp?ProcessWait=N&aid=43796. Rockwood Manor is located at 11001 MacArthur Blvd., Potomac, close to the Park entrance. Call 301-299-5026
<cal1>Friday/April 23
<cal2>Zydeco Dance Party. 9 p.m. to midnight. Introductory lesson from 8-9 p.m. Admission is $15. With the band Little Red & the Renegades. At the Bumper Car Pavilion at Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Call Michael Hart at 301.762.6730 or Glen Echo Park at 301-634-2222.
Black & White Gala. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Montgomery County Public Schools Educational Foundation Inc. The event will feature special presentations, hors d’oeuvres, cash bar, a silent auction, and live entertainment by Sax Appeal/Saxophone Quartet. At the Doubletree Hotel, 8120 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda. Order tickets at www.mcpsfoundation.org. Contact Aruna Miller at 301-963-9474.
PHOTO: POT-0414-101 38x24 PICAS
<pc> Photo by Scott Selman
<cal1>April 23, 24
<cal2>Blast Rock 'n Roll Broadway. With 200 student singers, dancers, musicians and tech crew. At Winston Churchill High School. Show times are Friday, April 16 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, April 17 at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.; Friday, April 23 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, April 24 at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for the balcony, $14/open seating. To purchase tickets, go to www.wchsmusic.com. Winston Churchill High School, 11300 Gainsborough Road, Potomac. Call Sandy Bonner, 301-299-6486.
<cal1>April 23-25
<cal2>Spring Dance Concert. 8 p.m. on April 23-24; 2 p.m. on April 25. At the Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center, Montgomery College, 51 Mannakee Street, Rockville. Tickets are $10 Regular, $8 Seniors and Students. Call 240-567-5301
<cal1>Saturday/April 24
<cal2>Green Thumb Festival. 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tree climbing demonstrations; demonstrations from master gardeners on container gardening and growing native plants; plant crafts; sustainable gardening solutions; bucket rides in a cherry picker; tree planting and mulching; fun for kids. Held in conjunction with the Arbor Day Celebration. Green Thumb & Arbor Day Festival participants may pay $3 per person if they pre-register at www.ParkPASS.org (Course No. 104453) and $5 per person at the door. At Locust Grove Nature Center, 7777 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda.
The Crimestoppers. 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. At the Pony Express Bar & Grill, 9600 Newbridge Drive, Potomac.
Operatic Arias and Choruses. 8 p.m. By Verdi, Mascagni, Copland, Gershwin and others. With the National Philharmonic Singers, under the direction of conductors Stan Engebretson and Victoria Gau. Special guests include the Men's Choir of Landon School, directed by Tad Cavuoti; soprano Jennifer Jellings; tenor Jason Saffell; baritone Bryan Jackson and accompanist Theodore M. Guerrant. At Christ Episcopal Church, 107 South Washington Street, Rockville. Visit nationalphilharmonic.org for call 301-493-9283, ext. 116.
Spring Festival. 1-4 p.m. Free. Croydon Creek Nature Center, 852 Avery Rd. (off Baltimore Rd.), Rockville. There will be a native plant sale, a show by Raptors Up Close, woodland hikes, a prize wheel and giveaways, and exhibits and activities that celebrate Earth Day. Call 240-314-8770.
Gan Shabbatt. 11 a.m. An interactive Saturday morning service for young children and their families. Members and non-members welcome. At Congregation Har Shalom, 11510 Falls Road, Potomac.
Spring Festival and Native Plant Sale. 1-4 p.m. This family event will include woodland hikes, a spring plant sale, nature games and crafts, exhibits to celebrate Earth Day and a live raptor show presented by Raptors Up Close, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public about raptors. At Croydon Creek Nature Center, 852 Avery Road, Rockville. Go to www.rockvillemd.gov/croydoncreek or call 240-314-8770.
Global Youth Service Day. Noon to 3:30 p.m. Activities will include making journals and cards, cleaning the neighborhood and performing other projects to benefit the community. At the Bauer Drive Community Center, 14625 Bauer Drive, Rockville. Call 240-777-6900
<cal1>Sunday/April 25
<cal2>Open Door Reading Series. 2 p.m. Free. Local novelist Sarah Blake reads from The Postmistress. She is joined by Dominique Paul, who reads from her novel The Possibility of Fireflies. At The Writer’s Center, 4508 Walsh Street, Bethesda. visit www.writer.org or call 301-654-8664.
Slow Blues and Swing Dance. 8:30-11 p.m. Admission is $12/dance only, $17/workshop and dance. Workshop begins at 7 p.m. No partner required. With the band Big Boy Little Band. At the Bumper Car Pavilion at Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Call Donna Barker at 301-634-2231 or Glen Echo Park at 301-634-2222.
Kensington Day of the Book Festival. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Outdoor street festival has 100 local authors, poets, book artists, small publishers and literary groups set up along Howard Avenue (3786 Howard Ave. to 3716 Howard Ave.) in the historic Old Town Kensington. Visit www.dayofthebook.com or call 301-949-9416
Police Explorers Silent Auction. 4-7 p.m. Police Explorer Post 1986 is hosting a silent auction in an effort to raise $25,000 to travel to Atlanta this July to participate in the National Law Enforcement Exploring Conference and Competition. At Dave & Buster's, White Flint Mall, 11301 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda. Contact Officer Charles Carpenter at 301-840-2697.
Rockville Science Day. Noon to 5 p.m. More than 50 exhibitors will be on hand. Rockville Science Day will offer families the opportunity to build and launch a rocket, conduct chemistry experiments and learn about Civic War medicine as part of the 21st annual event. At Montgomery College, 51 Mannakee St., Rockville. Visit www.rockvillescience.org or e-mail scienceday@rocknet.org.
<cal1>Monday/April 26
<cal2>KEEN Golf & Tennis Classic. At Woodmont Country Club in Rockville. Enjoy a day of golf and tennis at a premiere venue while raising funds for KEEN’s exercise and recreation programs for children and young adults with significant physical and developmental disabilities. Advance registration required. Visit KEEN Greater D.C.’s website at www.keengreaterdc.org or call 301-775-7572.
<cal1>Tuesday/April 27
<cal2>Farewell Tea for Ruby Wingate. 4 p.m. Past honoree as Potomac Citizen of the Year, leader in the Potomac Community Theater, entrepreneur, Flower Show Judge. She will be moving back to Canada to be near her daughter. At the Potomac Community Library after the Potomac Village Flower Show. Contact Julie Perlman at 301-299-5618.
<cal1>Thursday/April 29
<cal2>Slow Blues and Swing Dance. Admission is $8. Slow Blues lesson from 8:15 to 9 p.m. Dancing from 9-11:30 p.m. DJ Mike Marcotte and Guests will play a variety of styles including traditional and contemporary blues music, and classic cover tunes going back through the history of blues music. At the Back Room of Glen Echo Park. Call Donna Barker at 301-634-2231 or go to info@CapitalBlues.org or www.CapitalBlues.org. At 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo.
<cal1>Friday, April 30
<cal2>Coffee House Shabbat. 7:30-10 p.m. A Night of Alternative pop with live music in an informal coffee house atmosphere featuring singer Zachary J. Check out his Web site at www.zacharyjband.com. Sponsored by Temple Beth Ami. At 14330 Travilah Road, Rockville. Visit www.bethami.org. Call 301-340-6818.
"Staged Reading: What Comes Next." 7:30 p.m. A new play by Laurence Klavan presented by American Ensemble Theater. At The Writer’s Center, 4508 Walsh Street, Bethesda. Visit www.writer.org. or call 301-654-8664.
<cal1>April 30 to May 2
<cal2>Greek Festival. Free admission. Friday, April 30, Saturday, May 1, and Sunday, May 2. Authentic Greek cuisine and vendors in the festival marketplace will make the experience complete for all who attend. Rain or Shine. For information visit the Web site at www.stgeorge.org or contact the St. George office at 301-469-7990.
Azalea Garden Festival. Festival hours run from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily; general admission and parking are free. Garden tour, plant sale, shops, food and Funland. Parade Saturday morning at 11 a.m. Mark’s Run (5K) on Sunday, May 2. Guests can tour the Perkins Garden, packed with azaleas, then shop the plant sale featuring azaleas, annuals, flowering shrubs and roses, herbs and vegetables, wildflowers and perennials. Specialty Boutiques will be located indoors, at the Barton Athletic Center. Shops will feature home and garden items, gifts, jewelry, furniture and one-of-a-kind finds. At Landon School campus, 6101 Wilson Lane, Bethesda. Visit www. Landon.net.
<cal1>Saturday/May 1
<cal2>Flea Market and Community Yard Sale. 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. At the Potomac Community Center, 11315 Falls Road. Tables cost $30 (proceeds to benefit community center). Call Linda Barlock at 240-777-6960.
An Evening with Strauss Waltz. Dancing from 9 p.m. to midnight. Admission is $20. Viennese Waltz lesson from 8-9 p.m. No partner required. At the Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park. With the band, Olde Vienna. Call Joan Koury at 202-238-0230 or Glen Echo Park at 301-634-2222. At 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo Park.
Klezmer Dance Kraze. 7:30-10 p.m. Klezmer dance master Steve Weintraub will lead a Yiddish dance workshop followed by a dance party, 7:30-10 p.m. Drummer Elaine Hoffman Watts and her daughter, trumpet player Susan Watts, will perform accompanied by local Klezmer band Mrs. Toretsky’s Nightmare. Party at Adat Shalom, 7727 Persimmon Tree Lane, Bethesda. $18 a the door. Visit www.adatshalom.net or 301-767-3333 x106.
Flea Market. 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. At the Potomac Community Center, 11315 Falls Road, Potomac. Call 240-777-6960.
Jigsaw Jones — The Case of the Class Clown. 11 a.m. At the Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center, Montgomery College, 51 Mannakee Street, Rockville. Tickets are $7 Regular, $6 Seniors and Students. Call 240-567-5301
Vivaldi's Gloria. 8 p.m. National Philharmonic Music Director and Conductor Piotr Gajewski and Chorale Artistic Director Stan Engbretson will lead the Philharmonic in works by Vivaldi, Barber and Andreas Makris. At the Music Center at Strathmore. A free pre-concert lecture will be offered at 7 p.m. in the Education Center at the Music Center. To purchase tickets to National Philharmonic’s concert on May 1, 2010 at 8 p.m., visit www.nationalphilharmonic.org or call the box office at 301-581-5100. Tickets are $29-$79; kids 7-17 are free.
Vintage Fashion Show. 2-4 p.m. Presented by the Art Deco Society of Washington. Cost is $30/members and students; $45/nonmembers. At Positano Ristorante Italiano, 4940 Fairmont Ave., Bethesda. Reservations are required at www.adsw.org.
Kentlands Day. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Parade starts at 10 a.m.) A free festival and car show led by The Kentlands Market Square merchants to benefit the Kentlands Community Foundation, Rachel Carson Elementary PTA, and the Greater Kentlands community. More than 100 businesses exhibiting. At the Potomac Pizza/My Gym parking lots. Parade will run from the Main Street Farmers Market, through Market Square, and across Centerpoint Way to Heathwalk Street.
<cal1>Sunday/May 2
<cal2>Open Door Reading Series. 2 p.m. Free. Geraldine Connolly reads from Hand of the Wind, her new collection of poems. She is joined by Grace Cavalieri, who reads from Sounds Like Something I Would Say. At The Writer’s Center, 4508 Walsh Street, Bethesda. Visit www.writer.org. or call 301-654-8664.
Bnai Israel Sisterhood and Z'havah Boutique. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free admission. Shopping with many talented and unique vendors. Lunch for purchase. At Bnai Israel Congregation, 6301 Montrose Road, Rockville. Contact Christina Hersh at 301-838-5983.
<cal1>Monday/May 3
<cal2>Patuxent Partners CD Release. 7:30 p.m. At IMT at Saint Mark Presbyterian Church, 10701 Old Georgetown Road, Rockville. Tickets are $15/advance, $20/door. Call 301-754-3611 and visit www.imtfolk.org.
<cal1>Tuesday/May 4
<cal2>Spring Boutique. 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Offers collections of unique gifts, jewelry, and accessories including home products, candles and luxurious linens. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Lisa Sandler Spaeth Memorial Fund for Pulmonary Fibrosis at Johns Hopkins. Lisa died in May 2007 from Pulmonary Fibrosis. She was a Potomac wife and mother who grew up in Potomac (Churchill class of '83) and raised her family here. She was the operator of Bows, Etc., with her mother. When she ran the Boutique, she chose different charities to donate to each season. Contact Michelle Benaim at michbenaim@aol.com. At Potomac Community Center, 11315 Falls Road, Potomac.
<cal1>Wednesday/May 5
<cal2>Holocaust Lecture. 6-7:30 p.m. Holocaust Survivor Fischel (Philip) Goldstein will speak at Washington Episcopal School. The topic is "The Holocaust in Our Lifetime." Washington Episcopal School is at 5600 Little Falls Parkway, Bethesda.
<cal1>Friday/May 7
<cal2>Leadercast Symposium. Live via satellite. Leaders from many areas will come together to share their personal leadership experiences. At Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 7730 Bradley Blvd. Tickets are regularly $99, with breakfast and lunch. A $20 early bird savings is available for those who purchase tickets by April 25. Contact Katherine Burrell at 301-365-5733.
<cal1>Saturday/May 8
<cal2>Beading Seminar. If One is Good, Twenty is Better. 10 a.m. to noon. Free. Bead-worker and quilter Larkin Van Horn will present her insight and theories on the blending of embellishments, color and texture in wearable art. Sponsored by the Potomac Fiber Arts Guild. At St. James Episcopal Church, 11815 Seven Locks Road, Potomac. Go to www.potomacfiberartsguild.org
Fashion & Fitness Seminar for Full-Figured Women. Noon to 5 p.m. Tickets are $75. For women sizes 14 and above. Cutting-edge fashion and fitness experts have teamed up to create a specialized half-day seminar to help full-figured women improve their ability to select the best fashion styles and how they look and feel. At Bethesda North Marriott Conference Center, 5701 Marinelli Road, Bethesda. Call 301-822-9200. Visit www.fashionfitformula.com
<cal1>May 8-9
<cal2>Bethesda Fine Arts Festival. Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Features fine art and craft for sale from 150 national artists plus live entertainment on Norfolk and Auburn Avenues in Bethesda's Woodmont Triangle. Sponsored by the Bethesda Urban Partnership Inc. and Bethesda Arts and Entertainment District.
<cal1>Sunday/May 9
<cal2>Zydeco Dance. 3:30-6 p.m. Admission is $18. Introductory Zydeco lesson from 3-3:30 p.m. With the band, T-Broussard & the Zydeco Steppers. At the Bumper Car Pavilion at Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Call Michael Hart at 301-762-6730 or Glen Echo Park at 301-634-2222.
Slow Blues and Swing Dance. 8:30-11 p.m. Admission is $12/dance only or $17/workshop and dance. Lesson from 7-8:30 p.m. With the band BG & Mojo Hands. At the Spanish Ballroom, Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Call Donna Barker at 301-634-2231
<cal1>Monday/May 10
<cal2>Wayne Henderson and Peter Lang. 7:30 p.m. at IMT at Saint Mark Presbyterian Church, 10701 Old Georgetown Road, Rockville. Tickets are $15/advance, $20/door. Call 301-754-3611 and visit www.imtfolk.org.
Washington Open Golf Tournament. Shotgun Start at 11 a.m. 15th Annual Rebuilding Together Washington Open. To help rebuild the Gulf Coast. Sponsorship opportunities are available for $3,000 (two players) and $6,000 (four players). For more information, contact Jennifer Shreve at (202) 518-3121 or jshreve@rebuildingtogether.org, or visit www.rebuildingtogether.org. At TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm.
<cal1>Friday/May 14
<cal2>Swing Dancing. 9 p.m. to midnight. Admission is $14. Slow blues and West Coast swing dancing. Two dance workshops from 8–9 p.m. With the Jamie Lynch Band. At the Bumper Car Pavilion at Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Email Donna Barker at dbarker@glenechopark.org.
<cal1>Sunday/May 16
<cal2>Screening & Discussion of "Doubt." 6-9 p.m. Free. Afterwards, a discussion of the movie with light refreshments. No reservations required. At Faith United Methodist Church, 6810 Montrose Road, Rockville. Call 301-881-1881, ext. 2250.
Waltz Dance. 3-3:30 p.m. Admission is $8. Introductory waltz workshop. 3:30-6 p.m. dance. With the band, Magic Foot. This band will provide a lively mix of folk waltzes with a few other couple dances, including Hambo, Schottische, Swing, Tango and Polka. At the Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Call Joan Koury at 202-238-0230.
<cal1>Monday/May 17
<cal2>Karen Casey Band with Matt & Shannon Heaton. 7:30 p.m. At IMT at Saint Mark Presbyterian Church, 10701 Old Georgetown Road, Rockville. Tickets are $20/advance, $25/door. Call 301-754-3611 and visit www.imtfolk.org
<cal1>Saturday/May 22
<cal2>Gan Shabbatt. 11 a.m. An interactive Saturday morning service for young children and their families. Members and non-members welcome. At Congregation Har Shalom, 11510 Falls Road, Potomac.
Washington Conservatory of Music Concert. 7 p.m. Free. Joshua Bayer Jazz Ensemble. At Glen Echo Park, South Arcade Building, 7300 MacArthur Blvd. In Glen Echo. Call 301-320-2770 or visit www.washingtonconservatory.org.
<cal1>Monday/May 24
<cal2>Bruce Molsky & Ale Moller. 7:30 p.m. At IMT at Saint Mark Presbyterian Church, 10701 Old Georgetown Road, Rockville. Tickets are $15/advance, $20/door. Call 301-754-3611 and visit www.imtfolk.org.
<cal1>Sunday/May 30
<cal2>Waltz Dance. 3:30-6 p.m. Admission is $8. Introductory waltz workshop 3-3:30 p.m. With the band, Honeysuckle Rose. This versatile band will provide a lively mix of folk waltzes with a few other couple dances, including Hambo, Schottische, Swing, Tango, and Polka. At the Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Call Joan Koury at 202-238-0230 or Glen Echo Park at 301-634-2222.
<cal1>Saturday/June 5
<cal2>Grateful Shred II. 9 a.m. to noon. Cost is $5/box of paper. Sponsored by the Friends of the Clara Barton Community Center. At Clara Barton Community Center, 7425 MacArthur Blvd., Cabin John. Call 301-229-0010.
Imagination Bethesda. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Features hands-on craft activities, international dance troupes, theatre performances, costume characters, face painters and balloon artists for children 12 and under to enjoy. At Woodmont Avenue and Elm Street in downtown Bethesda.
<cal1>June 23-Aug. 15, 2010
<cal2>"How I Became a Pirate." At Imagination Stage. Performances on Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. 4 p.m. Some Saturday 11 a.m. performances as well. Tickets from $10-$21. Visit http://www.imaginationstage.org.
<cal1>Saturday/Oct. 2
<cal2>Taste of Bethesda. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Food and music festival featuring 50 restaurants and four stages of entertainment, as well as a children's area. Sponsored by the Bethesda Urban Partnership Inc. and Bethesda Arts and Entertainment District.