The Connection

Alexandria — Thursday/Nov. 30

Local Author Thursdays​. 5-7 p.m. at the Old Town Shop, 105 S. Union St. Featuring Barbara Cousens, who came to this country in 2001 from her native South Africa and will be talking about her book "My Alexandria Tales." Visit theoldtownshop.com/ for more.

A Cappella Holiday Concert. 7 p.m. at The Athenaeum, 201 Prince St. Featuring the Capital Hearings, a D.C.-based 13-member vocal ensemble, that play a selection of pop, classical, and jazz music for the season. $30 includes wine and dessert. Call 703-548-0035 or visit nvfaa.org for more.

Kirkin of Tartans. 7-8:30 p.m. at St. Andrew & St. Margaret of Scotland Anglican Church, 402 E. Monroe Ave. Features a blessing of Scottish tartans,bagpiper, Scottish fiddling followed by reception. Free. Visit www.standrewandstmargaret.org for more.

Nov. 30-Dec. 2

West Potomac Academy’s Nutcracker. Various times at West Potomac High School, 6500 Quander Road. Guest choreographers include professional dancers Paul McGill and Brittany Hall (a West Potomac Academy Dance alumna), and Christie Elise (a Washington Wizards dancer). $12/$15. Visit www.fcps.edu/WestPotomacHS/ for more.

Mt. Vernon Oral History. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Mount Vernon Government Center, 2511 Parkers Lane. Recording residents experiences living in the community. Free. Call 703-799-7601 for more.

Dec. 1-2

Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend. Various times at the The Campagna Center, 418 S. Washington St. The 47th Annual Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend has activities throughout the weekend. Visit campagnacenter.org or call 703-224-2395.

Friday-Sunday/Dec. 1-3

T.C. Williams Book Fair. Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at Hooray for Books!, 1555 King St. Proceeds go to the T.C. Williams English Department. Call 703-548-4092 for more.

Dec 1-17

Del Ray Artisans’ Holiday Market. Weekend hours only, Fridays: 6-9 p.m., Saturdays & Sundays: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Del Ray Artisans, 2704 Mount Vernon Ave. Free to browse. Call 703-838-4827 or visit www.delrayartisans.org for more.

Dec. 1-16

Snow Day on Stage. Various times at The Lab at Convergence, 1819 N. Quaker Lane. This nonverbal production features live music and lots of wintertime fun, just in time for the holiday season. $9. Visit www.artsonthehorizon.org for more.

“A Christmas Carol.” Various times at The Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe St. $17. Call 703-683-0496 or visit www.thelittletheatre.com for more.

Dec. 1-23

4th Annual Holiday Market Festival. Various times in the Carlyle District, 300 John Carlyle St. Art and craft items, enjoy sweets, mulled wine and live entertainment from local musicians. Visit www.alexandriaholidaymarket.com for more.

Saturday/Dec. 2

Alexandria Archaeology Ornament Decorating Workshop. 1-4 p.m. at the Alexandria Archaeology Museum, Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 N. Union St. Call 703-746-4399 or visit www.alexandriaarchaeology.org for more.

Boat Parade of Lights. 5:30 p.m. waterfront at the foot of Cameron Street near the Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 N. Union St. 18th Annual Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights. Festivities at the marina 2-9 p.m. Visit www.visitalexandriava.com/boatparade for more.

Saturday-Sunday/Dec. 2-3

Christmas Cheer Weekend. Saturday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at The Church of Saint Clement, 1701 North Quaker Lane. Trees for sale with a bake sale, extended hours for its thrift and gift shop, caroling, a photo backdrop, and free hot cocoa. Visit saintclement.org for more.

Original Artwork Sale. 4-7 p.m. Saturday, noon-4 pm. Sunday at Hollin Hall Senior Center, 1500 Shenandoah Road. Eighty local artists, most members of the Torpedo Factory Art League, will display and sell their original artwork. Visit www.hollinhallseniorcenter.org/ for more.

Alexandria Harmonizers Holiday Show. Saturday 8-10 p.m.;Sunday 2-4 p.m. at T.C. Williams High School Auditorium, 3330 King St. Tickets start at $15. Visit harmonizers.org for more.

Sunday/Dec. 3

Royal Scottish Country Dance Society. 2 p.m. at The Athenaeum, 201 Prince St. The dancers will show the audience how it’s done and then invite spectators to give it a try. Music will be provided by local and well-known Scottish Country Dance fiddler, Becky Ross. Visit www.nvfaa.org or call 703-548-0035.

Meet the Artists. 4-7 p.m. at the Gallery 311 at the Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 N. Union St. Participating mixed media artists include Ahmed Ansari, Jennifer Brewer Stone, Lesley Clarke, Dennis Crayon, Tsolmon Damba, Jamie Fine, Greenway, Whitney Staiger, and Meg Talley. Visit www.torpedofactoryartists.com for more.

Monday/Dec. 4

Ballroom Dance Classes. 7 p.m. at The Athenaeum, 201 Prince St. Led by Gary Stephans on Fox Trot, Waltz, Tango, Swing, Salsa, Merengue, Rumba, Cha-Cha and Samba. Visit www.nvfaa.org or call 703-505-5998.

Wednesday/Dec. 6

Japanese Art Auction. 10 a.m. at the Potomack Company, 1120 N. Fairfax St. Featuring the Hauge Collection. call 703-684-4550 or visit www.potomackcompany.com.

“A Christmas Carol” at the Tavern​. Reception at 7 p.m., Performance from 8-9:15. At The Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe St. Gadsby’s Tavern Museum Society is hosting a special performance of “A Christmas Carol” at The Little Theater of Alexandria. $25. Visit www.gadsbystavernmuseum.us/ for more.

Holiday Magician. 7-8:15 p.m. at the Holiday Inn-Carlyle, 2460 Eisenhower Ave. Featuring three family magicians in the region: Noland the Magician, Captain Token the Magician and Louis the Magician. Donations of nonperishable food items or new toy are encouraged: Donations go to the Salvation Army. Contact Danny at DanielSelnick@Yahoo.com or call 703-347-5540.

Thursday/Dec. 7

Worldly Collection for Auction. 10 a.m. at the Potomack Company, 1120 N. Fairfax St. Featuring the Ron Krannich Collection from Burma, Thailand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Democratic Republic of Congo. Call 703-684-4550 or visit www.potomackcompany.com.

Shops of Del Ray’s Ladies’ Night Out. 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Mount Vernon Ave., Del Ray. Shop local and enjoy special promotions while sipping Virginia wine. Call 703-683-2570 or visit www.visitdelray.com for more.

Holiday Open House. 6-8 p.m. at the Mount Vernon District Office, 2511 Parkers Lane. An evening of refreshments, get to know the staff and tour the office. Artwork from Bryant High School students will be on display. Call 703-780-7518 or email us at mtvernon@fairfaxcounty.gov for more.

Neighborhood Health 20th Anniversary Gala. 6-9:30 p.m. at the Hilton Mark Center, 5000 Seminary Road. Join the gala “Celebrating Our Partnerships” to support Neighborhood Health’s mission of serving thousands of uninsured patients in the community. Email anniversary@neighborhoodhealthva.org or phone 571-438-7715.

An Introduction to French Comics. 7-9 p.m. at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St. Arlington resident RM Rhodes leads this lecture about comics. Visit www.alexandriava.gov/Lyceum or call 703-838-4994.

Meet the Author. 7 p.m. at The Athenaeum, 201 Prince St. “A Civil Life in an Uncivil Time: Julia Wilbur's Struggle for Purpose” by Paula Tarnapol Whitacre. $15. Visit www.nvfaa.org or call 703-548-0035.

Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. 7:30 p.m. at the Minnie Howard School, 3801 W. Braddock Road. Alexandria GOP Committee volunteer appreciation dinner and December meeting. $5. Call 571-281-7042 for more.

Friday-Saturday/Dec. 8-9

Holiday Pops Concert. 7:30-9:30 p.m. at Convergence, 1801 N. Quaker Lane. "Reflections!" show weaves pop arrangements of holiday classics with new tunes. Collecting donations and wrapped gifts for the Alexandria Community Shelter adult residents at all performances. $20/under 5 years old free. Email marketing@alexandriasingers.com for more.

Dec. 8-10

Artfête Weekend. Various times at The Art League’s Madison Annex, 305 Madison St. Open house and holiday party, holiday ceramics sale, and more. Visit www.theartleague.org for more.

Saturday/Dec. 9

Holiday Market. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Mount Vernon High School, 8515 Old Mount Vernon Road. Shop indoors from over 50 vendors. Email ptsaholidayfest@gmail.com for more.

Civil War Christmas in Camp. noon-4 p.m. at Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site, 4301 W. Braddock Road. $2 suggested donation per person; $5 per family. Call 703-746-4356 or visit alexandriava.gov/blackhistory for more.

Historic Alexandria Candlelight Tours. 4-9 p.m. at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal St. Tour stops at several locations around Old Town. $25 adults; $20 seniors (65 years and older) and active military; $5 children (ages 6-17). Call 703-746-4242.

Del Ray Candy Cane Bar Crawl. 4 p.m. at Mount Vernon Ave., Del Ray. Free. Call 703-683-2570 or visit www.visitdelray.com.

Ivy Hill Cemetery Presents: The History and Mystery of Christmas​. 7 p.m. at Ivy Hill Cemetery, 2823 King St. Historians Terry Gish and Wayne Kehoe host an informational event. $10. Not for children under 10. Call 301-395- 9541 or 703-549- 7413 for more.

Alexandria Choral Society concert. 7:30-9:30 p.m. at George Washington Masonic Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive. Alexandria Choral Society presents “On This Shining Night,” featuring new settings of familiar works, modern compositions to evoke the season, and traditional seasonal carols. $20 adult, $15 senior/military/student. Visit www.alexandriachoralsociety.org for more.

Sunday/Dec. 10

Apothecary Museum Geek Tour Series. noon-1 p.m. at Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, 105 S. Fairfax St. $15. Call 703-746-3852 for more.

Colonial Handbell Ringers Concert. 2 and 4 p.m. at 201 S. Washington St. Free. Call 703-746-4994 or visit www.colonialringers.com for more.

Cookies with Santa. 4-5:30 p.m. at the Union Street Public House, 121 South Union St. Meet with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Visit www.unionstreetpublichouse.com for more.

Concerts at Saint Luke's. 5 p.m. at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 8009 Fort Hunt Road. A candlelight concert presented by Words&Music, who play holiday music of the Advent season. Words&Music is a vocal quartet with piano from the Alexandria area. $20 Adult; $15 Senior; free to students 18 and under. Call 703-765-4342 or visit www.saintlukeschurch.net for more.