E-mail announcements to the Gazette, gazette@connectionnewspapers.com. Photos and artwork are encouraged. Deadline is Thursday at noon for the following week's paper. Call Steve Hibbard at 703-778-9412 with questions.
Month of March
Radiance Yoga Classes. $5 for all weekday morning classes during month of March. For classes starting from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Arrive 10-15 minutes early for class. At Radiance Yoga, 110 King street, Alexandria. Visit www.Radiance-yoga.net or call 703-535-8282.
Now Through April 1
20 Years on The Avenue. The 20th Anniversary Committee invites you to celebrate DRA’s 20 years on “The Avenue” with past and present masterpieces. This member-only show runs from March 2-April 1, 2012 and will be juried from outside our DRA family of members. Opening Reception for the “XX” show on Friday, March 2, 7-10 p.m. and will feature local jazz band “Veroneau”. (www.VeroneauMusic.com). Running March 3- April 1 special exhibits of Del Ray Artisans’ history will be featured. Visit www.TheDelRayArtisans.org.
Friday/March 30
String Quartet Concert. 8 p.m. Free. Members of the Air Force Strings will present an evening of string quartet. At The Lyceum, 201 South Washington St., Alexandria. Call 202-767-5658 or visit www.usafband.af.mil
Saturday/March 31
How to Get To Wonderful. 5:15-6:45 p.m. Ronna Webb, Reiki Master, leads this 90-minute class on creating the life you want. Learn to use your intuition and attract health, success and peace of mind. $47 Alexandria Massage Therapy, 1217 Prince St., Alexandria. Call 703-548-0310.
Palm Sunday Drama. 6 p.m. The Alfred Street Baptist Church will observe Palm Sunday with "Jesus: The Cornerstone of our Faith." At Alfred Street Baptist Church, 301 South Alfred St., Alexandria. Call 703-683-2222 or www.alfredstreet.org.
Virginia Grand Military Band. 8 p.m. A Salute to Henry Fillmore and Edwin Franko Goldman with principal guest conductor Colonel Arnald D. Gabriel Admission is $20. At the Rebecca S. Wilburn auditorium at Hayfield Secondary School, 7630 Telegraph Road, Alexandria. Call 703-426-4777 or visit www.vgmb.com.
Archaeology of the Civil War Set. 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Free program. This will be a full day of informative presentations by experts in the field of archaeology and history. Seating is limited to 200 at the James Lee Center in the Monroe Gymnasium, 2855 Annandale Road, Falls Church. Call C.K. Gailey at 703 534-3881, extension 404.
March 31 and April 1
Violinist Midori. Featuring the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra/Symphonic with Kim Allen Kluge, conductor. World premiere of Maestro Kim Allen Kluge’s MEIBUKI — Regeneration featuring student musicians from Alexandria and Arlington Schools and the Arlington Children’s Chorus. Tickets are $40/adults; $10/students; $5/children. Saturday, March 31 at 8 p.m.; Sunday, April 1 at 3 p.m. At the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall & Arts Center, 3001 N. Beauregard St., Alexandria. Visit alexsym.org or call 703-548-0885.
Sunday/April 1
Palm Sunday Services. 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Join in the triumphal procession with palm branches as we remember Jesus' entry into Jerusalem and hear the dramatic reading of the Passion story as Holy Week begins. At St. Aidan's Episcopal Church, 8531 Riverside Road, Alexandria; call 703-360-4221, www.staidansepiscopal.com.
Palm and Passion Sunday. 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Emmanuel Episcopal extends a welcome to all to join in its palm processions. All ages will enjoy this launch into Holy Week and the rich anticipation of a meaningful Easter. At Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 1608 Russell Road, Alexandria. Call 703-683-0798 or administrator@emmanuelonhigh.org
In Concert: "Songs of Sunset." 3 p.m. Tickets are $10/advance; $20/door. At Bishop Ireton High School, 201 Cambridge Road, Alexandria. Performed by the NOVA Community Chorus (Dr. Mark Whitmire, Director) with the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic, featuring Grace Gori, Mezzo-Soprano, and Aurelius Gori, Baritone. Call 703 845-6097 or email mwhitmire@nvcc.edu
A Celebration of Bulgarian Culture. Hopa Tropa Kukerica at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Playing with Kukerica, workshops at 12:30 and 3 p.m. Includes puppetry, folk objects, song, dance, and food. Featuring: Amie Cazel, Daria Kondova, Konstantin Hadjipanzov, Daniel Rovin and Gwendolyn Torrence. At the Masonic Theater at the George Washington Masonic Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive Alexandria.
Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic. 3 p.m. Tickets are $20. Featuring Claude Debussy’s Nocturnes, Gustav Holst’s Concerto for Two Violins with violinists Marc
Ramirez and Olivia Hajioff, Composition Competition Finalist Charles Bestor’s Variations for Orchestra conducted by U.S. James; and Frederick Delius‘ Songs of Sunset conducted by Dr. Mark Whitmire with the NOVA Community Chorus,
mezzo-soprano Grace Gori and baritone Rex Gori. At Bishop Ireton High School, 201 Cambridge Rd., Alexandria. Call 703-799-8229 www.wmpamusic.org.
Monday/April 2
Help Plant Seedlings. 10 a.m. to Noon. Volunteers are needed to help plant 40 to 50 seedlings at Grist Mill Park, 4710 Mt. Vernon Memorial Highway, Alexandria. This is part of a Mt. Vernon Evening Lions Club project, in conjunction with the Fairfax Co. Park Authority and Fairfax Releaf. Call Andrea Corsillo at 703-960-4973.
R.E. Lee Camp Dinner Meeting. 6:15 p.m. Cost is $25/person. Author Eric Buckland will be speaking on Mosby and his men. At American Legion Post 24 Hall, 400 Cameron Street at N. Royal St., behind Gadsby's Tavern in Alexandria. RSVP to Lawrence Graham at 703-217-7871. Checks should be made out to R.E. Lee Camp #726 and mailed to P.O. Box 4024, Oakton. VA 22124. Payments will be accepted at the door. Visit www.leecamp.org.
Tuesday/April 3
Professional Networking Breakfast. 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. The breakfast focuses on roundtable power networking and gives attendees the chance to exchange business cards, develop new prospects and share a 60 second commercial with each table. Members $35; Non-members $50. At the Virginia Theological Seminary, Refectory Building, 3737 Seminary Road, Alexandria.
Ice Sculptures. 6 to 8 p.m. The Crystalline World of Ice and Snow in Harbin, China. Morrison House Presents: Tatyana Schremko Schriempf, Torpedo Factory Sculptor. At Morrison House, 116 South Alfred St., Alexandria. Visit Morrison House: www.morrisonhouse.com or 703-838-8000.
Swing Dancing. 9 to 11 p.m. Admission is $10. With the band, Scott Ramminger and the Crawstickers. At the Carlyle Club, 411 John Carlyle St., Alexandria.
Wednesday/April 4
Children's Holy Week Service. 5:30 p.m. Children and their parents are invited for this interactive and experiential walk through some of Jesus’ last week, including the Last Supper and washing the feet of his disciples. We will share a simple meal, hear stories, and sing songs as we prepare for Easter in a fun and engaging service designed especially for young children. At St. Aidan's Episcopal Church, 8531 Riverside Road, Alexandria; call 703-360-4221, www.staidansepiscopal.com.
Thursday, April 5, 7:30 p.m. - Maundy Thursday Service with Footwashing
Friday, April 6, 7:30 p.m. - Good Friday service
Saturday, April 7, 8 p.m. - Great Vigil of Easter - We’ll start outside the church just after sunset to light the new paschal fire, then continue into the church for the Great Vigil – an ancient and holy service which marks the end of Lent and ushers in Easter. The service is followed by a festal celebration with champagne and deserts.
Sunday, April 8, 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. - Join us for a festival Easter celebration full of gorgeous flowers and joyous music. In between the services (at 9:30 a.m.) we’ll host a fun Easter egg hunt for the kids on the lawn. Bring your Easter baskets!
DJ Dance Party. 9 to 11 p.m. Admission is $6. With DJ Dabe Murphy. At Nick's Nightclub, 642 South Pickett St., Alexandria.
Concert. 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15/adults; $5/children. Featuring Elisabeth de Merode (flute) and Laurent Tardat (violin). At Lyceum Hall, 201 South Washington St., Alexandria.
Joan Osborne. At the Birchmere Music Hall, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria. Call 703-549-7500.
April 6 to 29
Childhood Memories. Works by artists inspired by their childhoods. Memories are endless: an experience, a trip, a gathering, an animal, a poem, a person or a place that brings one back to a childhood memory. Show exhibits April 6-29; opening reception April 6, 7-10 p.m. Open Thursday-Sunday. Del Ray Artisans, 2704 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria. 703-838-4827. www.TheDelRayArtisans.org
Saturday/April 7
Great Vigil of Easter. 7:30 p.m. Fire, drama, mystery, baptism, music and more: this service, on the holiest night of the church year, has it all. Music is provided by both our Children’s Choir and our Adult Choir, as well as congregational hymns. Bring bells to ring at the triumphal moment when we celebrate Christ’s resurrection, and uncover the alleluias that the children hid away for Lent. At Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 1608 Russell Road, Alexandria. Call 703-683-0798 or administrator@emmanuelonhigh.org
Firearms Discussion. 1 to 2:30 p.m. Free admission. Doug Wicklund, senior curator for the National Firearms Museum, will display John Alden’s actual rifle and talk about it and other arms carried by the Pilgrims on the Mayflower. At the Collingwood Library and Museum, 8301 East Blvd. Drive, Alexandria. RSVP by April 5 to KRGroff@CollingwoodLibrary.Org. Be sure to provide your full name and the name(s) of any guests. Presented in partnership with National Firearms Museum in cooperation with The Mayflower Society.
Cleve Francis and Friends. 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $32.50. At the Birchmere Music Hall, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria. Call 703-549-7500. Visit www.clevefrancis.com.
Sunday, April 8
Easter Flowering of the Cross and Egg Hunt. 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.; egg hunt at 11:50 a.m. Celebrate Christ’s resurrection at Emmanuel Episcopal – enjoy special music at both services from the Adult and Children’s choirs (children sing at 10.30 a.m. only). Children of all ages are invited to help flower the cross as a sign of Christ’s resurrection. Stay on for an Easter Egg Hunt in the church grounds. At Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 1608 Russell Road, Alexandria. Call 703-683-0798 or administrator@emmanuelonhigh.org
Tuesday/April 10
Swing Dancing. 9 to 11 p.m. Admission is $10. With the Soul Tones of Swing. At the Carlyle Club, 411 John Carlyle St., Alexandria.
Wednesday/April 11
DJ Dance Party. 9 to 11 p.m. Admission is $6. With DJ Dabe Murphy. At Nick's Nightclub, 642 South Pickett St., Alexandria.
Thursday/April 12
Explore Activities for Seniors. 10:30 a.m. At Chinquapin Park Recreation Center, 3210 King St., Alexandria. Visit www.seniorservicesalex.org or call 703-836-4414, ext. 13.
Friday/April 13
Mt. Vernon’s Helping Hands. 4:30 to 10 p.m. Third-annual tennis charity event for youth and adults will be held at the Mount Vernon Athletic Club. It will benefit Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children Pediatric Oncology Programs with emphasis on children’s access to education, promoting physical exercise and activities, and maintaining connections with family and friends while the children are hospitalized. Youth activities $10, from 4:30-6:30 p.m.; Adult activities $25 ($30 at door), from 6:30-10 p.m. Walk-ins without tennis $10. Silent Auction, Raffle, Food & Beverages and more. At 7950 Audubon Ave., Alexandria. Call 703 360-7300. Visit www.mtvac.net.
April 13 and 14
Spring Garden Market. Vendors from throughout the mid-Atlantic region will be selling a wide variety of plants as well as garden supplies and garden art. Friday, April 13 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, April 14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. AHS members-only preview night is Thursday, April 12 from 4 to 8 p.m. Hosted by the American Horticultural Society. At River Farm headquarters. Call 703-768-5700.
Saturday/April 14
Magi-Whirl 2012. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with strolling magicians; showtime at 7:30 p.m. Las Vegas Style Family GALA Magic Show staged by Ring 50 of the International Brotherhood of Magicians and Bishop Ireton High School. Five world-famous magicians — one from Argentina. Tickets are $12/adults, $10/seniors and students; $15/door — family packs available. At Bishop Ireton High School. Visit www.magi-whirl.org/gala/
The Grandest Congress: The French and Indian War in Alexandria. Noon to 4 p.m. Donation of $5. Spring, 1755: Major General Edward Braddock, Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty’s Forces in North America convened a meeting of five colonial governors at John Carlyle’s Alexandria home. Among Braddock’s objectives was to secure funding for his upcoming campaign against the French. Carlyle called this gathering “the Grandest Congress … ever known on the Continent.” Peek in on the meeting inside and enjoy the sights and smells of 18th-century style food being prepared for a grand dinner for Braddock and the Governors. Costumed interpreters will be on site to answer your questions.
Growing Flowers and Vegetables in Containers. 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Learn how to grow flowers and vegetables in pots, planters or other containers for maximum beauty and bountiful crops on your deck, balcony, porch or patio. Sponsored by Virginia Cooperative Extension, with the support of Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. At the Duncan Library, 2501 Commonwealth Ave., Alexandria. To register, call 703-228-6414 or email mgarlalex@gmail.com or visit www.mgnv.org
Explore Alexandria's Firefighting History. 1 p.m. Tickets are $6/adults; $4/youth. The walking tour, "Blazing a Trail: Alexandria's Firefighting Past." As they walk through Old Town, participants will learn about volunteer firefighting in early Alexandria and stop at historic buildings that once served as fire stations. At Friendship Firehouse, 107 South Alfred St., Old Town Alexandria. Visit www.friendshipfirehouse.net or by calling 703-746-4994.
George Washington's Whiskey for Sale. 10 a.m. George Washington’s home, Mount Vernon, will have the limited edition George Washington Rye Whiskey available for sale on April 14 at 10 a.m. This is a limited edition rye whiskey made at George Washington’s reconstructed distillery – 600 bottles are available for sale. Each 375 ml bottle retails for $95; purchases are restricted to two bottles per person. The whiskey will be available for sale in person only at the Distillery & Gristmill site gift shop and The Shops at Mount Vernon. The whiskey sale hours are: Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
April 14 to 22
"Tom Sawyer." Tickets are $10/advance; $12/door. Show times are April 14, 20, 21 at 7:30 p.m.; April 15 and 22 at 3 p.m. Featuring a cast of 54 actors ages 8-18. At Carl Sandburg Middle School, 8428 Fort Hunt Road, Alexandria.
Sunday/April 15
Family and Friends Day. 11 a.m. With Guest Speaker: Reverend Sonja Flye-Oliver. At Roberts Memorial United Methodist Church, 606-A South Washington St., Alexandria. Call 703-836-7332.
Claudia Schmidt and Dulcie Taylor. 7 p.m. Tickets are $18/general; $15/advance. At Church of the Resurrection, 2280 N. Beauregard St., Alexandria. Visit www.focusmusic.org. call 703-501-6061.
Monday/April 16
Masters of Tradition. Celebrating the art of Irish music with seven of Ireland's most compelling musicians, including Fiddler Martin Hayes and singer Iarla O Lionaird. Will appear at The Birchmere Music Hall, The Birchmere, 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria.
Tuesday/April 17
Swing Dancing. 9 to 11 p.m. Admission is $10. Featuring the band, All Wheel Jive. At The Carlyle Club, 411 John Carlyle St., Alexandria.
Mount Vernon Genealogical Society. 1 p.m. Free. Speaker Robert D. McLaren presents a lecture on DNA Testing for Genealogy: The Basics. Meets at the Hollin Hall Senior Center, Room 112, 1500 Shenandoah Road, Alexandria. Contact Phyllis Kelley at 703-660-6969 or publicity@mvgenealogy.org.
Wednesday/April 18
Swing Dancing. 9 to 11 p.m. Admission is $10. With the band, King Teddy. At Nick's Nightclub, 642 South Pickett St., Alexandria.
Thursday/April 19
Pollen as a Window Into the Past. 7:30 p.m. How Ecologists Use Pollen to Reconstruct Past Vegetation. Dr. Emily Southgate will illustrate how paleoecologists use the unique characteristics of pollen preserved in
sediments as a window on the past. At Green Springs Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria. Visit www.vnps.org.
April 19, 20, 21, 22
Spring Book Sale. The Friends of the Beatley Central Library in Alexandria host "It's Raining Books, Hallelujah." Preview is Thursday, April 19 from 4 to 8:30 p.m. Continues Friday, April 20 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, April 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday, April 22 from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Prices: paperbacks $1; hardbacks $3. At the Charles E. Beatley Library, 5005 Duke St., Alexandria. Call 703-746-1702 or visit www.alexandria.lib.va.us.
April 20 to May 5
"Someone Who'll Watch Over Me." Tickets are $18/adults; $16/military, seniors and students; $14/groups of 10. Show times are Fridays and Saturdays, April 20 to May 5, plus Tuesday, May 1. In addition, there will be matinees on Saturday, April 24 and May 5, starting at 2 p.m. At the LAT at Convergence, 1819 N. Quaker Lane, Alexandria.
April 20 and 21
Colin Hay in Concert. 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $30. At The Birchmere, 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria. Call the Birchmere at 703-549-7500 or visit www.birchmere.com; for tickets, please call Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or order online at www.Ticketmaster.com.
Saturday/April 21
Chalk Walk. 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. in the Mount Vernon High School Football Stadium. Run or walk around the track and school for exercise and honor your favorite teacher at the same time. The $5 registration fee includes a Chalk Walk T-Shirt. Contact Ms. Card (703-619-3120 or bmcard@fcps.edu).
Author Event. 2 to 4 p.m. Local author Tansil Johnson will sign and discuss her new books, Who Is Mooma? And Mooma and the Mouse. At Charles Beatley Central Library, 5005 Duke St., Alexandria.
MVHS Class of 2012 Spring Mulch Sale. $5/bag - 3 cubic feet, double shredded hardwood bark mulch. Orders of 10 bags or more will be delivered to select ZIP codes. For more information or to order, send a note to mvhsmulchsale2012@gmail.com or call 571-214-4348. Proceeds will support the senior class All Night Grad Party.
Garden Day Herb & Craft Sale. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sponsored by Friends of Carlyle House. An exciting mix of herbs and vegetable plants from Mount Vernon and Layng & Company will be available for purchase. Bring your family and participate in child-friendly activities, listen to performances by area musicians and living historians throughout the day, as well as shop for items made by local artisans and crafters. This event is free, however admission for the House tour is $5 for adults; $3 for children 5-12 years old; free for children 4 & under or free with your Alexandria Garden Day ticket. This event will take place rain or shine. Carlyle House Historic Park is at 121 N. Fairfax Street, Alexandria.
April 23
Bela Fleck & The Flecktones. The band is: Bela Fleck (banjo), Howard Levy (piano/harmonica), Victor Wooten (bass), and Roy Futureman Wooten (percussion/Drumitar). At the Birchmere Music Hall, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria. Call 703-549-7500.
Wednesday/April 25
Author Andrew Wingfield. 7 p.m. Come and hear local author Andrew Wingfield speak about his book Right of Way: Stories, winner of the Washington Writers Publishing House 2010 fiction prize. At the Beatley Central Library, 5005 Duke St., Alexandria. Call 703-746-1702 or www.alexandria.lib.va.us
Saturday/April 28
YMCA Open House. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Join YMCA Alexandria at 420 East Monroe Avenue, Alexandria. Activities include pony rides, train rides, mini-manicures, make a kite station, family zumba, Face Painting, Balloon Sculptures, SeaPerch underwater robotics demo, Healthy Snack Attack Shack, Pirates of Alexandria Scavenger Hunt, and more! . It’s free and open to the public.
Rebuilding Together Rebuilding Day. 8 a.m. Help repair 50 vulnerable Alexandria residents' homes during National Rebuilding Day. Some 1,000 volunteers are needed. Event kicks off at First Baptist Church, 2932 King St., Alexandria. Contact Shawn Flaherty at 703-554-3609.
April 28 and 29
Swan Lake Ballet. Performances are 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on April 28, and 2 p.m. on April 29. Tickets are $30/adults; $20/children. Presented by the Virginia Ballet Company and School. At the Northern Virginia Community College Annandale Campus in the Ernst Community Cultural Center Theater. For tickets, visit www.virginiaballetcompany.org or call 703-249-8227.
Carpenter's Shelter Cook-Off and Race. Saturday, April 28 at 8 a.m. is the Run for Shelter 10K and One-Mile Fun Run. The 10th Anniversary Cook-Off Celebration is Sunday, April 29 from noon to 3 p.m. at The Birchmere, 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria. Tickets for the Cook-Off are $40/adults; $10/children under 12. Registration is $40 for 10K and $20 for Fun Run. To register, visit www.runforshelter10k.com. All proceeds benefit Carpenter's Shelter and its work on behalf of homeless individuals, children and families. For the Cook-Off, visit www.carpenterscookoff.com. For general inquiries, contact Alex Stevens at alexstevens@carpentersshelter.org, 703-548-7500, ext. 204, or on Twitter @cookoff2012.
April 29
Duncan Sheik with Suzanne Vega. Performing songs from his latest album covers 80s, theater works and early catalogue. At The Birchmere, 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria. Call 703-549-7500 or visit www.birchmere.com; for tickets, please call Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or order online at www.Ticketmaster.com.
Saturday/May 12
Garden of Light Reception. 3 to 5 p.m. Help put an end to domestic violence by attending the Bethany House reception. Tickets are $55/person. At the Holiday Inn and Suites, 625 First Street, Alexandria. Visit www.bhnv.org or call 703-658-9500.
Explore Alexandria's Firefighting History. 1 p.m. Tickets are $6/adults; $4/youth. The walking tour, "Blazing a Trail: Alexandria's Firefighting Past." As they walk through Old Town, participants will learn about volunteer firefighting in early Alexandria and stop at historic buildings that once served as fire stations. At Friendship Firehouse, 107 South Alfred St., Old Town Alexandria. Visit www.friendshipfirehouse.net or by calling 703-746-4994.
Fairfax Symphony Orchestra. 8 p.m. George Mason University Center for the Arts, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax. With pianist Adam Golka. Britten's Sinfonia da Requiem, Debussy's La Mer, Ravel's Concerto for the Left Hand, and Elgar's Enigma Variations. Free pre-concert discussion for ticket holders at 7 p.m. Tickets $25-$55. info@fairfaxsymphony.org.
Sunday/May 13
Mother’s Day Tea at Carlyle House. 2 p.m. Tickets are $27/person. Guests will enjoy finger sandwiches, scones with orange marmalade, banana or lemon tea bread, a Mother's Day desserts of Petite Fours, Cheesecake with Strawberries and Powdered Shortbread Tea Cookies all while sipping special blend spring teas from Tea & Spice Exchange of Alexandria. At Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N. Fairfax St., Old Town Alexandria. Contact Carlyle House at 703-549-2997 or e-mail: carlyle@nvrpa.org
Thursday/May 17
Clifton Charity Homes Tour. 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Featuring homes in and surrounding Clifton. Tickets are $25/advance; $30/day of tour; single home admission is $10. Presented by the Clifton Community Woman's Club. A "Wine Down" will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. at Paradise Spring Winery. Lunch will be available at Clifton eateries; the Paradise Springs Winery will also be offering box lunches with a prior RSVP. Visit the CCWC website: www.cliftoncwc.org
Saturday/May 19
Continuing Education for Seniors. 9:30 a.m. At Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2701 Cameron Mills Road, Alexandria. Visit www.seniorservicesalex.org or call 703-836-4414, ext. 13.
St. Rita Parish Festival. Free. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., games, raffles, food, white elephant, clowns, moonbounce and dunk-the-priest. At the parish parking lot at 3815 Russel Road, Alexandria.
May 22
Boating Safety Courses. An eight-week comprehensive safety course which includes basic piloting and navigation. Three classes will be held at various locations in Northern Virginia beginning on May 22, July 24 and Sept. 25. Fee is $40 for members and $50 for non-members. Contact Sean Gallagher at education@NVSPS.org or 703-625-1500.
Saturday/May 26
Virginia Grand Military Band. 8 p.m. A Salute to Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore and John Philip Sousa. Admission is $20. At the Rebecca S. Wilburn auditorium at Hayfield Secondary School, 7630 Telegraph Road, Alexandria. Call 703-426-4777 or visit www.vgmb.com.
College of Running and Pre-Race Expo. 12 noon to 6 p.m., at Westin Hotel, 400 Courthouse Square, Alexandria. Free to the public. Visit exhibits by Alexandria organizations and others. Listen to guest speakers. Sign up for Alexandria Running Festival the next day. See www.mc-coop.org/arf or call 703-927-4833.
Sunday/May 27
Alexandria Running Festival. Half marathon at 7:30 a.m. 5K at 8 a.m., and children's race. Register on-line at www.mc-coop.org/arf or call 703-927-4833. Race-day registration opens at 6 a.m. near Eisenhower Avenue Metro, 2460 Eisenhower Avenue.
June 3
I've Got Rhythm…I've Got Music. 4 p.m. The Virginia Bronze Handbell Ensemble performs at the Memorial Theater, George Washington Masonic Memorial, 101 Callahan Dr., Alexandria. Visit www.vabronze.org or call 1-888-824-2541.
Saturday/June 16
Author William Connery. 10 a.m. Friends of Alexandria Archaeology hosts William Connery, who will speak about his recent book, “Civil War Northern Virginia 1861.” At the Alexandria Archaeology Museum, 105 North Union Street, #327, Alexandria. Free but reservations required. Visit archaeology@alexandriava.gov