Thursday-Saturday/March 19-21
Bassist Cheikh Ndoye. 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. at Blues Alley Jazz Club, 1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. Alexandria resident and bassist Cheikh Ndoye will perform alongside Senegalese singer and musician Baaba Maal and Friends for a “Cultural Affairs Show.” $45. Visit www.bluesalley.com.
Friday/March 20
Opening Reception. 6:30-9 p.m. at Principle Gallery, 208 King St. Join tonalist painter Kevin Fitzgerald for the opening reception of his annual solo exhibit. Free. Visit www.principlegallery.com.
Washington’s Irish. 7-9 p.m. at in the Robert H. and Clarice Smith Auditorium, Mount Vernon Estate, 3200 Mount Vernon Highway, Mount Vernon. In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, George Washington’s Mount Vernon invites guests to explore the history related to the Irish during the Revolutionary War with a performance by Derek Warfield and The Young Wolfe Tones. A reception featuring Irish food will take place in the Vaughn Lobby following this performance and cultural music discussion. $75 per person. Visit mountvernon.org/irish for tickets.
March150 Art Party. 7-11 p.m. in the Target Gallery at Torpedo Factory, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria. Target Gallery is raising money for special exhibitions and outreach programming with the 5th Annual Exhibition Fundraiser, March150. $15 advance, $20 at the door. The exhibition will feature 200+ works of original art by local arts, all created on 10" square panels and sold for $150 each, until the night of the Art Party on March 20, when all the work is discounted to $100. Visit torpedofactory.org for more.
The Oak Ridge Boys. 7:30 p.m. at The Birchmere, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave. Tickets $59.50. Visit www.birchmere.com or call 703-549-7500.
Swing Dancing. 7:30-9:30 p.m. at Hollin Hall Senior Center, 1500 Shenandoah Rd. Local band leader Owen Hammett will direct the Mount Vernon Swing Band. Tickets are $4 at the door. Call 703-765-4573 TTY:711.
Friday-Sunday/March 20-22
“Bye Bye Birdie.” Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 3 p.m. at Heritage Presbyterian Church, 2709 Popkins Lane, Alexandria. Rock and roll heart throb Conrad Birdie comes to Sweet Apple, Ohio, to bestow his #1 fan with a goodbye kiss before entering the Army. $12. Purchase tickets at www.mvcct.org.
Saturday/March 21
Firehouse Museum Tour. 11 a.m.-noon at Friendship Firehouse Museum, 107 S Alfred St. Families are invited for an in depth tour of the Friendship firehouse. Attendees will also learn about firehouse procedures and equipment. $5 for adults, $4 ages 10-17. See www.friendshipfirehouse.net.
Gourmet Cheese Tasting. 2-5 p.m. at Balducci’s Alexandria, 600 Franklin St. Partake in gourmet cheese tastings, and learn more about the craft of cheesemaking from experts. Free. Visit www.balduccis.com.
Studio Recital. 3-4 p.m. at the Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St., Alexandria. Andrew Wilson Trumpet Studio Recital: Andrew Wilson and students (trumpet) and Karin Firsow (piano), perform works by Scarlatti, Sousa, Sachse, Mouret, and Barker. Free. Call 202-258-0822.
Country-Western Dance. 6:30 p.m. at Lincolnia Senior Center, 4710 North Chambliss St., Alexandria. Lesson, 6:30 p.m.; dancing, 7-9:30 p.m. A DJ provides music. Couples and singles welcome. Admission for NVCWDA members $10; non-members $12; children under 18 accompanied by a paying adult $5. Smoke-free, alcohol-free. BYO refreshments. Visit www.nvcwda.org or call 703-860-4941.
Tom Rush. 7:30 p.m. at The Birchmere, 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave. Folk singer Tom Rush will perform. Tickets are $39.50. Visit www.birchmere.com or call 703-549-7500.
Sunday/March 22
Wonders of Science. 1-4 p.m. at The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, 105-107 South Fairfax St., Old Town, Alexandria. The Apothecary Museum hosts a day of 18th-century natural and medical science exploration and demonstrations. Discover curious objects, from poison bottles to dragon’s blood, and find out how they were used – and if they worked. This hour-long program includes a tour of the museum, with new groups beginning every 30 minutes. Recommended for 3rd grade and older. $6, children and adults. Reservations recommended, space is limited. Visit www.apothecarymuseum.org or call 703-746-3852.
Book Talk. 2 p.m. at The Athenaeum, 201 Prince St. Join Garrett Peck and Portner's Brewhouse for a beer-and-book double header to elebrate Garrett's sixth book, “Walt Whitman in Washington, D.C.: The Civil War and America's Great Poet.” After the book talk, Peck will lead a short walking tour of the historic Andrew Wales Brewery sites in Old Town. Free. Visit www.nvfaa.org.
Future Visions: Dystopia vs. Utopia. 2-4 p.m. at the Beatley Central Library, 5005 Duke St., Alexandria. Will the future will look more like The Hunger Games or Star Trek? Join in to celebrate all of the books and movies that show the range of possible futures. Trivia, crafts, music, prizes, and more. Costumes encouraged. Ages 9 and up. Call 703-746-1751 for more.
NAACP Women's History Month Event. 2-5 p.m. at Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe St. The Alexandria Virginia chapter of the NAACP will celebrate Women's History Month with Alexandria native, author and community activist Nisa Harper who will discuss her second book, "The Legacy of Fathers…..The Pain, The Power, and the Promise.” Free. Call 703-684-6190.
Winter Warmer Tea with Rebecca Ramsay Reese. 3-4:30 p.m. at Gadsby’s Tavern Restaurant, 138 North Royal St., Alexandria. Sip a special blend of tea from Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, “take” a cup of American Heritage Chocolate, and eat period-inspired delicacies, both sweet and savory, with your 21st-century friends. A historic guest who will be visit during each tea. $35 per person all inclusive. Reservations are required. To make reservations and purchase tickets, call 703-746-4242 or visit shop.alexandriava.gov. Ticket also includes a tour at 2:15 or 2:45 prior to the tea.