<b>Thursday/March 17
</b>Kataklysm, All Shall Perish, Decrepit Birth, Conducting From The Grave, Abysmal Dawn and more. 5:15 p.m. Jaxx Nightclub, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. $15 advance, $17 at the door. www.Jaxxroxx.com.
Further. 8 p.m. George Mason University Patriot Center, 4500 Patriot Drive, Fairfax. Former Grateful Dead members Phil Lesh and Bob Weir. Tickets $49.50. Charge at 800-551-SEAT or www.livenation.com. www.furthur.net.
Paws for Reading. 4 p.m. Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. Practice reading with a trained therapy dog. Sign up for a 15-minute session. Age 6-12. 703-249-1520.
Springfield Writers' Group. 7 p.m. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Share your work, give and receive feedback in a supportive setting. Adults. 703-451-8055.
Lorton Library Book Club. 7 p.m. Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri. Adults. 703-339-7385.
Practice Your English. 7 p.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Conversation group for adults learning English. 703-339-4610.
Book Discussion Group. 7 p.m. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Adults. 703-971-0010.
<b>Friday/March 18
</b>"Design for Murder." 8 p.m. Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1301 Collingwood Road, Alexandria. A murder mystery by George Batson. Tickets at the door $15 adults, $12 youth and seniors. 703-660-2611 or www.acctonline.org.
"I’m Getting Murdered in the Morning." 8 p.m. Clifton Dinner Theater, Clifton Town Hall, Clifton. A murder-mystery comedy. $30. Cliftontheatertickets@gmail.com.
<b>Saturday/March 19
</b>Arts and Craft Show. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Garfield Elementary, 7101 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield. More than 65 vendors selling handcrafted items, children's craft activities and raffle. Free admission. 703-866-5523.
Artists’ Reception for "Lighthouses in Two Dimensions." 3-6 p.m. Artists' Undertaking Gallery, 309 Mill St., Occoquan. Watercolors by Alex Wisniewski of Oakton, and woodturning and woodburning by Bob Horowitz of Falls Church. The exhibit will be open March 7-April 4, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. 703-494-0584 or www.theartistsundertaking.com.
"Design for Murder." 8 p.m. Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1301 Collingwood Road, Alexandria. A murder mystery by George Batson. Tickets at the door $15 adults, $12 youth and seniors. 703-660-2611 or www.acctonline.org.
"I’m Getting Murdered in the Morning." 8 p.m. Clifton Dinner Theater, Clifton Town Hall, Clifton. A murder-mystery comedy. $30. Cliftontheatertickets@gmail.com.
VITA Tax Assistance. 10 a.m. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. IRS-certified volunteers help taxpayers who earned up to $49,000. 703-451-8055.
VITA Tax Assistance. 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. IRS-certified volunteers help taxpayers who earned up to $49,000. 703-339-4610.
Workhouse Film Institute. 7:30 p.m. Gallery W-16, Second Floor, Workhouse Art Center, 9601 Ox Road, Lorton. "The Adventures of Prince Achmed," with live accompaniment by percussionist Tom Teasley. The film premiered in Germany in 1926 and features the hand-cut silhouettes of Lotte Reiniger. Tickets $10-$15. www.WorkhouseArts.org.
<b>Sunday/March 20
</b>Northern Virginia NTrak N-Gauge Train Display. 1-4 p.m. Fairfax Station Railroad Museum, 11200 Fairfax Station Road, Fairfax. $3 adults, $1 children. 703-250-7109 or www.fairfax-station.org.
"Design for Murder." 2 p.m. Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1301 Collingwood Road, Alexandria. A murder mystery by George Batson. Tickets at the door $15 adults, $12 youth and seniors. 703-660-2611 or www.acctonline.org.
<b>Monday/March 21
</b>Toot Toot, Beep Beep. 10:30 a.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. A things-that-go storytime. Age 13-23 months with adult. 703-339-4610.
Read to the Dog. 4:30 p.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Read to a reading therapy dog. Call to register for one 15-minute slot. Age 6-12 with adult. 703-339-4610.
<b>Tuesday/March 22
</b>Nighty, Night! 7 p.m. Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. Stories and songs about nocturnal animals. Tickets distributed 30 minutes before program begins. Age 3-5 with adult. 703-249-1520.
Connecting Your Home: How to Choose Phone, Cable TV & Internet Services. 7 p.m. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Choosing cable services, how today’s communications services work and more. 703-451-8055.
English Conversation Group. 7 p.m. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Adults practice and improve their English. 703-451-8055.
Detour Berlin: Meet the Author. 7 p.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Ruth Baja Williams, author of Detour Berlin, shares her story of life in Cold War Berlin. Books available for sale and signing. Adults. 703-339-4610.
Writers Peer Review Group. 7 p.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Review peers' works and receive in-depth feedback on your work. Submit up to 25 double-spaced pages to kingstownelibrarywriters@yahoo.com by March 15. Adults. 703-339-4610.
<b>Wednesday/March 23
</b>Travel Club. 1 p.m. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Bring lunch and enjoy the discussion. Adults. 703-451-8055.
Practice Your English. 10:15 a.m. Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Conversation group for adults learning English. 703-339-4610.
Fun for Twos and Threes. 10:30 a.m. John Marshall Library, 6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria. Stories and activities. Age 2-3 with adult. 703-971-0010.
<b>Thursday/March 24
</b>The Drew Kennerley Magic Show. 4 p.m. Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, Burke. Kennerley is an experienced 15-year-old magician who performs comedic magic shows for children. Tickets distributed 30 minutes before program begins. Age 6-10. 703-249-1520.
<b>Friday/March 25
</b>Mason Dance Company 2011 Gala Concert. 8 p.m. George Mason University Center for the Arts, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax. Featuring work by Ohad Naharin, Lar Lubovitch, Robert Battle and Susan Shields. Tickets $20 adults, $12 students and seniors, available at the Center for the Arts Box Office, open Tuesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., or at 888-945-2468 or cfa.gmu.edu.
"Design for Murder." 8 p.m. Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1301 Collingwood Road, Alexandria. A murder mystery by George Batson. Tickets at the door $15 adults, $12 youth and seniors. 703-660-2611 or www.acctonline.org.
<b>Saturday/March 26
</b>Mason Dance Company 2011 Gala Concert. 8 p.m. George Mason University Center for the Arts, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax. Featuring work by Ohad Naharin, Lar Lubovitch, Robert Battle and Susan Shields. Tickets $20 adults, $12 students and seniors, available at the Center for the Arts Box Office, open Tuesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., or at 888-945-2468 or cfa.gmu.edu.
"Design for Murder." 8 p.m. Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1301 Collingwood Road, Alexandria. A murder mystery by George Batson. Tickets at the door $15 adults, $12 youth and seniors. 703-660-2611 or www.acctonline.org.
VITA Tax Assistance. 10 a.m. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. IRS-certified volunteers help taxpayers who earned up to $49,000. 703-451-8055.
<b>Sunday/March 27
</b>"Design for Murder." 2 p.m. Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1301 Collingwood Road, Alexandria. A murder mystery by George Batson. Tickets at the door $15 adults, $12 youth and seniors. 703-660-2611 or www.acctonline.org.
<b>Monday/March 28
</b>Annual Meeting of the Fairfax Station Railroad Museum. 7:30 p.m. 11200 Fairfax Station Road, Fairfax Station. Historical interpreter Jon Vrana provides a view into the life of Silas Burke in Antebellum Fairfax County, and discusses Silas’ assorted occupations, including farmer/planter, grist and lumber mill owner/operator, and owner of a house of public entertainment. Free and open to the public. www.fairfax-station.org or 703-425-9225.
<b>Tuesday/March 29
</b>English Conversation Group. 7 p.m. Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Adults practice and improve their English. 703-451-8055.
<b>Wednesday/March 30
</b>Learn About Turtles. 4:30 p.m. Hidden Pond Nature Center, 8511 Greeley Blvd., Springfield. Turtles are some of the most popular wildlife species found around the nature center. Meet some up close and see others out in the wild. For ages 3-6. $4 per child. Register at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes or 703-222-4664.
<b>Thursday/March 31
</b>"Design for Murder." 7 p.m. Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1301 Collingwood Road, Alexandria. A murder mystery by George Batson. This performance is a dinner show. Tickets are available online, $30 adults, $25 youth, and must be purchased online before March 25. 703-660-2611 or www.acctonline.org.
<b>Friday/April 1
</b>The Virginia Opera: Puccini’s "Madama Butterfly." 8 p.m. at George Mason University Center For The Arts Concert Hall, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax. $48-$98. 888-945-2468 or www.tickets.com.
"Design for Murder." 8 p.m. Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1301 Collingwood Road, Alexandria. A murder mystery by George Batson. Tickets at the door $15 adults, $12 youth and seniors. 703-660-2611 or www.acctonline.org.
Cinematic Tourist Series: Japanese Film & Animation. 7:30 p.m. Gallery W-16, Second Floor, Workhouse Art Center, 9601 Ox Road, Lorton. A screening of the film classic "Rashomon," in Japanese with subtitles. $5-$7. www.WorkhouseArts.org.
<b>Saturday/April 2
</b>"Design for Murder." 8 p.m. Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1301 Collingwood Road, Alexandria. A murder mystery by George Batson. Tickets at the door $15 adults, $12 youth and seniors. 703-660-2611 or www.acctonline.org.
Cinematic Tourist Series: Japanese Film & Animation. 7:30 p.m. Gallery W-16, Second Floor, Workhouse Art Center, 9601 Ox Road, Lorton. Artist workshops and demonstrations, featuring traditional arts and food from Japan and Japanese influence. www.WorkhouseArts.org.
*3 p.m. Kimekomi Doll Demonstration.
*4 p.m. Ikebana Demonstration.
*5 p.m. Oshie Demonstration with Storytelling.
*6 p.m. Vegetarian Sushi Culinary Demonstration.
*7:30 p.m. Film screening, title to be announced. Film tickets $5-$7.
<b>Sunday/April 3
</b>The Virginia Opera: Puccini’s "Madama Butterfly." 2:30 p.m. at George Mason University Center For The Arts Concert Hall, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax. $48-$98. 888-945-2468 or www.tickets.com.
"Design for Murder." 2 p.m. Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1301 Collingwood Road, Alexandria. A murder mystery by George Batson. Tickets at the door $15 adults, $12 youth and seniors. 703-660-2611 or www.acctonline.org.
<b>Wednesday/April 6
</b>American Red Cross Blood Drive. 1-7 p.m. Silverbrook Elementry School Gym, 9350 CrossPoint Drive, Fairfax Station. Register at FNA5810@cox.net or 703-690-5810.