Now Through March 31
<cal2>Woodlawn Needlework Exhibition. America’s oldest and largest display of historic and contemporary needlework will be showcased at the 48th Annual Woodlawn Needlework Exhibition. Hundreds of needle workers from around the world, both professional and amateur, enter their creations each year. Demonstrations throughout the month will highlight a variety of techniques for the visitor. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday - Monday during March. Admission prices are $10 for adults and $5 for students through 12th grade. At Woodlawn Plantation, 9000 Richmond Highway, three miles west of Mount Vernon. Call 703-780-4000 or visit www.woodlawn1805.org.
<cal1>March 4-12
<cal2>"Bye Bye Birdie." March 4, 11 and 12 at 7:30 p.m.; Matinee on March 5 at 2 p.m. At St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes Upper School,, Chapel/Performing Arts Center, 1000 St. Stephen’s Road, Alexandria. Visit www.sssas.org/arts
<cal1>Friday/March 4
<cal2>Louisiana Dance Party. 8 p.m. Popular dance instructors Ben Pagac and Debbie Shaw will be on hand to provide free lessons in the art of swing, cajun and zydeco stepping. There will be King Cake and Mardi Gras beads for all, and drinks will be plentiful at the cash bar, along with light snacks. Tickets are $15/advance; $20/door. With the bands Junkyard Saints and Squeeze Bayou. Tickets at www.hungryformusic.org. At the Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 N. Union St. on the Potomac River in Old Town Alexandria.
<cal1>Saturday/March 5
<cal2>St. Patrick’s Day Celebration and Parade. Free. Old Town is Irish for a day with the Fun Dog Show at 10:30 a.m. in Market Square, classic car competition at 10:30 a.m. along King Street and the parade at 12:30 p.m. The parade will start at the corner of King Street and Alfred Street, and proceed East down King Street to the corner of King Street and Lee Street. Co-Grand Marshals are Tom and Nancy VanCoverden. Throughout Old Town, Alexandria. Call 703-237-2199 or visit www.Ballyshaners.org.
Fun Dog Show. 11 a.m. to noon. Sponsored by Barkley Square and the Ballyshaners, held in conjunction with the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. At Market Square (on the corner of N. Fairfax and King Street).
Apothecary Open Free. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in Old Town Alexandria and tour the Apothecary Museum for free. At Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, 105-107 South Fairfax Street, Alexandria. Call 703-746-3852. www.apothecarymuseum.org.
Ninja Warrior Night. 7 p.m. 100 contestants must run through four increasingly difficult obstacle courses that test endurance, strength, and agility. Cost is $20. At Urban Evolution, 5402 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria. For more information or to participate, visit www.urbanevo.com, or call 571-215-8218.
Digging for Buried Treasure. 1 to 3 p.m. How a Treasure Trove of Civil War and Alexandria History was Uncovered and Became The Book, "Letters to Virginia" .... At the Alexandria Library, 717 Queen street, Alexandria. Call 703-746-1706.
Greg Greenway and Reggie Harris. 7 p.m. Tickets are $18/general; $15/advance at FocusMusic.org. At St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 8531 Riverside Road, Alexandria.
Mardi Gras Celebration. 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Cost is $40/person. Hosted by the Mount Vernon District Democratic Committee. Del. Scott Surovell is a confirmed speaker. Congressmen Gerry Connolly (D-11) and Jim Moran (D-8), Supervisor Gerry Hyland, and other local Democratic leaders from Mount Vernon District are invited to speak. At Don Beyer Volvo, 7416 Richmond Highway, Alexandria. Visit www.mvdemocrats.com.
La Bella Sinfonia — An Evening in Italy. 6 p.m. to midnight. Tickets are $200; $150 first timers. Part is tax deductible. The Symphony Orchestra League of Alexandria (SOLA) is honoring Italy and Alberto Manai, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute at its 24th annual fundraising ball "An Evening in Italy." Proceeds go to the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra. At the Westin Hotel, 400 Courthouse Square, Alexandria. Call 703-960-7994; mtpwoods@aol.com.
"Unmasked Auction." 7 p.m. Food, fun and bidding; many unique items to bid on during a silent and live auction. Proceeds benefit Blessed Sacrament Grade School and Early Childhood Center. Tickets are $45/advance; $50/door. At Blessed Sacrament School, 1417 W. Braddock Road, Alexandria. Contact Rosy Lowenkron, 703-407-7207 or rosynjeff@verizon.net.
<cal1>March 5 and 6
<cal2>Jazz and Tap Festival. Saturday at 8 p.m.; Sunday at 4 p.m. Presented by the Dancin’ Unlimited Jazz Dance Company. Tickets are $18/advance; $20/door. At Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale Campus Theatre. The NVCC Annandale Campus is at 8333 Little River Turnpike, Annandale. For tickets and information, visit www.dance-festival.org.
<cal1>Sunday/March 6
<cal2>National Concert Band of America. 3 p.m. Led by Music Director Melvin Kessler, Lt. Commander, USN (Ret.). Special rates for students $2, Mil/Vets $7, Srs. $10 and Adults $15. At the Kaufman Auditorium at the Lee Center, Alexandria.
Eclipse Chamber Orchestra. 3 p.m. Conducted by music director Sylvia Alimena, the concert will feature Bruch’s Violin Concerto No.1 in G Minor, to be performed by violinist Elisabeth Adkins. Tickets are $25/$20. Call 703-635-2770. Performs at George Washington Masonic National Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive, Alexandria. Visit www.eclipseco.org.
International Women’s Day. Ten Thousand Villages will donate 15 percent of its sales on March 6 to the Alexandria Domestic Violence Program. At 915 King Street, Old Town Alexandria.
<cal1>Wednesday/March 9
<cal2>Swing Dancing. 9 to 11 p.m. Admission is $6. DJ Dance Party with DJ Dabe Murphy. At Nick’s Nightclub, 642 South Pickett St., Alexandria.
<cal1>Thursday/March 10
<cal2>"Race to Nowhere" Screening. 7 to 9 p.m. Documentary film examines the culture of education and achievement in America. Tickets are $15/door; $10 online at http://www.racetonowhere.com/epostcard/4135. At Mt. Vernon High School Little Theatre, 8515 Old Mount Vernon Road, Alexandria.
Pat Wictor. 7 p.m. Part of the Second Thursday Music at The Athenaeum, 201 Prince Street, Alexandria. Tickets are $10. Call 703-548-0035 or nvfaa.org.
<cal1>March 10-13
<cal2>"Cultivating Nonviolent Speech." His holiness Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda (known as Swamiji), a spiritual leader and Mahamandaleshwar, humanitarian, environmental advocate, author, and founder of Yoga in Daily Life, brings his teachings to a three-day program held at Yoga in Daily Life, 2402 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria.
The schedule and fees for the March 10-13 conclave are:
Thursday, March 10, 7 p.m., Welcome Satsang. $15 suggested donation.
Friday, March 11, 7 p.m., Public Lecture – Cultivating Nonviolent Speech; $15.
Saturday, March 12, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Yoga Workshop including asanas, talk by Swamiji, yoga nidra (deep relaxation), pranayama (breathing techniques), and meditation. Lunch included; $45.
Saturday, March 12, 7 p.m., Stewards of the Earth – an evening of music and inspiration featuring Eco Voce and the Earth Sangha; $20.
Sunday, March 13, 7 p.m., Farewell Satsang. Suggested donation, $15.
A discounted rate of $100 is available for all events, though participants may sign up for individual events/programs. All programs are open to the public and reservations are requested. All programs are held at Yoga in Daily Life, 2402 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria.
On-line reservations may be made and further information may be found at: www.yogaindailylifeus.org or by calling 703-299-8946.
<cal1>Friday/March 11
<cal2>"Celtic Aire." 8 p.m. Free. An evening of Celtic music performed by the U.S. Air Force Band Chamber Players. At George Washington Masonic National Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive, Alexandria. Call 202-767-5658 or visit www.usafband.af.mil.
<cal1>March 11, 12, 18, 19
<cal2>A Night of Broadway. 8 p.m. Featuring Lisa Anne Bailey and Andy Izquierdo, accompanied by Charlie Manship. Presented by Zemfira Stage. Tickets are $15/general; $10/students/seniors. At The Lyceum, 201 South Washington Street, Alexandria. Call 703-615-6626.
<cal1>Saturday/March 12
<cal2>Tauxemont Silent Auction. 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 at the door. Come celebrate Tauxemont Treasures and help raise money for Tauxemont Cooperative Preschool. At Mount Vernon Country Club, 5111 Old Mill Road, Alexandria.
"Tracing Your Civil War Ancestors." 1 p.m. Cost is $10. Presented by experts from the National Archives and Records Administration. Archives specialists Constance Potter and Katherine Vollen will review some of the many Union and Confederate records and resources for researching Civil War ancestors. At Fort Ward Museum, 4301 West Braddock Road, Alexandria. Reservations suggested at 703-746-4848 or visit www.fortward.org.
Movies with a Mission. 4:30 p.m. Free. "Good Fortune." This film explores how massive international efforts to alleviate poverty in Africa may be undermining the very communities they aim to benefit. Screening will be followed by a discussion and gallery walk. Reservations are requested, as seating is limited. At the Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street, Alexandria. Contact 703-746-4356.
Scout Day. 1 to 3 p.m. Fee is $10/Scout. Scouts will learn how to explore their own family histories through oral history, story-telling, and games. At Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden. Call 703-548-1789 or visit www.leefendallhouse.org.
Swordsmen’s Rendezvous. 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Swordsmen tours last one hour and include re-enactment of 18th-century swordplay and a display and discussion of 18th-century weapons. Admission is $5, ages 5 and up. At Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 North Royal Street, Old Town Alexandria. Call 703-746-4242.
<cal1>MARCH 12-13
<cal2>Verdi’s Requiem. Saturday at 8 p.m.; Sunday at 3 p.m. Presented by the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Kim Allen Kluge. In addition to welcoming soloists Jan Cornelius, Stacey Rishoi, Scott Six, and Gustav Andreassen, the ASO is collaborating with several local choruses: The Alexandria Choral Society, the Metropolitan Chorus, the Heritage Signature Chorale, and the NOVA Community Chorus. At the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center. Call 703-548-0885 for tickets or visit www.alexsym.org.
<cal1>Sunday/March 13
<cal2>Bach Vespers at Westminster
Sundays, March 13, 20, 27; April 3 and 10, all at 6 p.m.
Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2701 Cameron Mills Road, Alexandria. Visit www.wpc-alex.org
<cal1>Tuesday/March 15
<cal2>Mount Vernon Genealogical Society. 1 p.m. Free. Meeting features a presentation entitled "Genealogical Gems in the U.S. Serial Set," by Claire Bettag. Meets at Hollin Hall senior Center, Room 112, 1500 Shenandoah Road, Alexandria. Visit http://www.MVGenealogy.org or contact Harold McClendon at 703-360-0920 or haroldm@erols.com.
<cal1>Wednesday/March 16
<cal2>Swing Dancing. 9 to 11 p.m. Admission is $10. With the Hot Buttered Nuggets. At Nick’s Nightclub, 642 South Pickett St., Alexandria.
"Race to Nowhere" Screening. 7 to 9 p.m. Documentary film examines the culture of education and achievement in America. Tickets are $15/door; $10 online at www.burgundyfarm.org. At Burgundy Farm Country Day School, 3700 Burgundy Road, Alexandria.
Cookbook Talk. 9:30 to 11 a.m. Free. Jane Mengenhauser, the food editor for The Journal for 10 years with her column, "Kitchen Sampler," will speak on "Cookbooks - Old and New". Public is invited and you may bring one or two cookbooks with your prized recipes for Show and Tell. At Hollin Hall Senior Center, 1500 Shenandoah Road, Alexandria.
<cal1>Thursday/March 17
<cal2>"Meet the Legends" Reception. 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Silent auction and live auction, special guests the Hon. William D. Euille, mayor of Alexandria and Gen. George Washington, portrayed by Don DeHaven. Tickets are $35/advance; $45/door. At the Patent & Trademark Office, 600 Dulaney Street, Alexandria. Send payments to Living Legends P.O. Box 10485, Alexandria VA 22310. Visit AlexandriaLegends@ninatisara.com.
St. Patrick’s Day Cruise. Boarding at 5:30 p.m.; cruise from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Enjoy a Spirit of Washington cruise along the Potomac while enjoying Irish-themed music and traditional Irish dishes like mashed potato/sausage combination Bangers & Mash, Drunken Swine (tender pork loin marinated in Guinness) and Corned Beef & Cabbage. Cost is $45.90, includes one beer ticket. For reservations, call 866-302-2469.
<cal1>March 18 through April 3
<cal2>"Design for Murder." A whodun’ it murder mystery by George Batson, produced by Bailey R. Center and directed by Liz Owens. Presented by Aldersgate Church Community Theater. Tickets are $15/adults; $12/youth/seniors. March 18-April 3 Fridays and Saturdays, 8 p.m.; March 20, 27, April 3 Sunday Matinees, 2 p.m.; and March 31 Special Thursday, Dinner Show, 7 p.m. Dinner show tickets are available only online and must be purchased by Monday, March 28 before 5 p.m. Dinner show ticket prices are $30 for adults and $25 for youth. Discount tickets at www.acctonline.org. At Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1301 Collingwood Rd. Alexandria. Call 703-660-2611.
<cal1>Saturday/March 19
<cal2>"Her Story." 1:30 to 2:40 p.m.; and 3 to 4:10 p.m. A panel of former Girl Scouts will share their memories of Girl Scouting and how scouting empowered them. This program fulfills the requirements for the Her Story "Try-It" for Girl Scout Brownies. Advance registration is required and can be done at www.alexandriahistory.org or by calling 703-746-4994. Fees are $6 per person. At the Lyceum, 201 South Washington Street, Old Town Alexandria.
Reading: A Family Affair. 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Free books, storytelling, puppet shows and more for the entire family. Presented by the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia, at the James Lee Community Center, 2855 Annandale Road, Falls Church. Contact Suzie Eaton at the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia, 703-237-0866 or seaton@lcnv.org.
<cal1>Sunday/March 20
<cal2>Angels and Demons. 2 p.m. Presented by the U.S. Marine Band. At the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center, Northern Virginia Community College, 3001 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria. Call 703-845-6156 or www.schlesingercenter.com.
Roy Zimmerman with Jean Bayou. 7 p.m. Tickets are $18/general; $15/advance at FocusMusic.org. At Church of the Resurrection, 2280 N. Beauregard St., Alexandria.
<cal1>Tuesday/March 22
<cal2>Detour Berlin: Meet the Author. 7 p.m. Ruth Baja Williams, author of Detour Berlin, shares her story of life, love and friendship against the backdrop of Cold War Berlin. At Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Call 703-339-4610.
<cal1>Friday/March 25
<cal2>Mount Vernon Choral Pyramid Concert. 7 p.m. Free. All the schools that feed into MVHS are having a USO-themed concert. At Mount Vernon’s Field House. Includes music from Ella Fitzgerald, the Andrews Sisters, as well as patriotic songs.
St. Petersburg Trio. 7:30 p.m. Presented by the Washington Balalaika Society. The Trio, all members of the Washington Balalaika Society orchestra, met while studying at the prestigious Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory in St Petersburg, Russia. A Meet the Artists reception will follow the performance. Tickets are $25/door; $20/advance. At the Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street, Alexandria. See www.balalaika.org or call 703-549-0760.
<cal1>Saturday/March 26
<cal2>Annual Concert for Epilepsy. 7 p.m. With artists Little Big Town, Josh Turner, and The Wil Gravatt Band. Tickets are $60 and can be purchased at http://www.concertforepilepsy.com. Proceeds go to the Epilepsy Foundation of America. At the Gaylord National Convention Center, National Harbor, Md. Visit www.concertforepilepsy.com or contact: chad@concertforepilepsy.com or call 202-309-2440.
Rae Pica In Person. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Will be speaking on "The Whole Child: Thinking, Feeling, Moving." Sponsored by Children Together at the First Baptist Church in Alexandria. Visit www.children-together.com or www.movingandlearning.com.
Black Opal: Celebrating a New Generation of Leaders. 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tickets are $65. A fundraising event to support scholarship and other community empowerment programs. Sponsored by Northern Virginia Urban League Young Professionals Network. At George Washington Masonic Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive, Alexandria. Tickets available for purchase at www.nvulypn.org.
<cal1>Sunday/March 27
<cal2>Celebrating a Century. 2 p.m. Presented by the U.S. Marine Band. At the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center, Northern Virginia Community College, 3001 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria. Call 703-845-6156 or www.schlesingercenter.com.
Concert with a Cause. 4 p.m. Betsy and Annie Trimber, mother and daughter flute duo with flute choir and organ. Accompanied by Sherry Graveson, organist of the First Baptist Church on King Street and Flute choir. At the Old Presbyterian Meeting House, 321 S. Fairfax St., Alexandria.
Community Lodgings Spring Event. 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Community Lodgings’ 6th Annual Spring Event, "Spring Forward to Union Street," to raise awareness and funding for Alexandria’s homeless. To purchase tickets, call 703-549-4407. At Union Street Public House, 121 South Union Street, Old Town, Alexandria. Visit www.communitylodgings.org.
Scrapbooking Workshop. 1 to 3 p.m. Join scrapbooking expert Claudia Lopez-Viñas for this hands-on scrapbooking workshop. Materials will be provided. Cost is $7/person. RSVP to 703-548-1789. At Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden. Visit www.leefendallhouse.org.
<cal1>April 2 Through Oct. 30
<cal2>Civil War Walking Tour. Saturdays and Sundays 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Covers the changing role of African Americans on the estate, views on George Washington from the perspective of Union and Confederate supporters, and the Washington-Robert E. Lee connection. At Historic Mount Vernon. These tours are limited in capacity and cost $5 in addition to Estate admission: $15 adults; $7 children (6-11); free for children 5 & under. Visit www.MountVernon.org or call 703-780-2000.
<cal1>Saturday/April 2
<cal2>Kids’ Rummage Sale. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sponsored by the Good Shepherd Mom’s Group. A $1 donation will be collected at the door for charity. At Good Shepherd Church, 8710 Mount Vernon Highway, Alexandria.
Civil War Guided Tour. 10 to 11 a.m. The Ivy Hill Cemetery Historical Preservation Society will conduct an inaugural Civil War Guided Tour of Ivy Hill for the Friends of Alexandria Archaeology. Enter from King Street, through the Ivy Hill Gate, turn left, and park along the side of the driveway. Contact Ruth Reeder at ruth.reeder@alexandriava.gov or 703-746-4719 for reservations.
Talk on Preservation. 1 p.m. Free. Hear Dr. Dennis Pogue, vice president of preservation at Mount Vernon, discuss the history of Mount Vernon’s preservation, recent challenges and current methods to preserve. At Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal St., Alexandria. Call 703-431-2869.
<cal1>Sunday/April 3
<cal2>Drawing the Clothed Figure. 1 to 4 p.m. In this workshop students will practice drawing the clothed model in a simplified manner intended to express the underlying human form. Cost is $15/DRA members; $18/nonmembers. Contact Katherine Rand at 703-836-1468 or DRA.LifeDrawing@gmail.com.
<cal1>Wednesday/April 6
<cal2>"Alexandria, Virginia: Southern Town, Yankee Citadel" Lecture. 7:30 p.m. Cost is $10. James Barber, historian at the National Portrait Gallery, describes Alexandria during the Civil War. At The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St., Alexandria. Call 703-746-4994 or www.AlexandriaHistory.org
<cal1>Saturday/April 9
<cal2>Spring Mulch Sale. Mount Vernon High School Class of 2011 is conducting its spring mulch sale. Pick up in MVHS parking lot. Orders must be made by Tuesday, March 29, 2011. Limited delivery area for orders of 10 or more bags. The cost is $5 per bag and the proceeds benefit the Class of 2011. Call Robin Gordon at 703-799-1330, or email: MVhSmulchsale@gmail.com.
Movies with a Mission. 4:30 p.m. Free. "Promised Land." Though apartheid ended in South Africa in 1994, economic injustices between blacks and whites remain unresolved. As revealed in this award-winning film, the most potentially explosive issue is land. Screening will be followed by a discussion and gallery walk. Reservations are requested, as seating is limited. At the Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street, Alexandria. Contact 703-746-4356.
<cal1>Saturday/April 16
<cal2>78th Annual Historic Garden Tour of Alexandria. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This Alexandria tradition offers the opportunity to be invited into some of Old Town's finest private homes and gardens. Many of the area's historic sites offer special activities, including Carlyle House, which hosts its Herb Sale, with historical plants plus crafts. Call 703-746-3301 or www.VaGardenWeek.org.
<cal1>May 14 to 15
<cal2>Creating Outdoor Mosaic Garden Ornaments. Saturday from 11:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. At the home of the instructor in Alexandria. Workshop fee is $60/both days; $30/one day. On-line registration at http://calendar.thedelrayartisans.org/view_entry.php?id=911&date=20110514. Visit www.TheDelRayArtisans.org or contact the instructor Sally Coler at 202-270-9524 or sallycoler@hotmail.com.