10,000 Maniacs in Concert on Friday, Oct. 13, 7:30 p.m. at The Birchmere, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave. A 1980’s favorite, Julian Velard will open the show. $35 Visit www.birchmere.com for more.
October
Ghost and Graveyard Tour. Throughout October, nightly at 7:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday second tour at 9 p.m. $13 adults; $7 ages 7-17. Tour departs from Alexandria Visitor Center, 221 King St. Hear ghost stories, legends and folklore. Call 703-519-1749 or visit www.alexcolonialtours.com for more.
Thursday/Oct. 5
Essential Oil Workshop. noon-1 p.m. at Caring Acupuncture, 2111 Eisenhower Ave., Suite 402. Free class — Essential Skin Care: How to Nourish and Maintain Healthy, Beautiful Skin with doTerra Essential Oils. Email jennamdaniel@gmail.com or call 479-426-2525 for more.
WEBA Happy Hour. 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Port City Brewing Company, 3950 Wheeler Ave. The West End Business Association (WEBA) will host a Networking Happy Hour. Visit www.alexandriaweba.com for more.
Swan Lake Ballet. 7:30 p.m. at the Rachel M.Schlesinger Concert Hall, 4915 East Campus Drive,The first time the Russian Grand Ballet has ever performed in Virginia. Visit www.RussianGrandBallet.com for more.
Oct. 5-Nov. 5
On the Stage. 8:30-12:30 p.m. at at MetroStage, 1201 North Royal Street. “Are you Now or Have You Ever Been…” written and conceived by Carlyle Brown. Visit www.metrostage.org or call 703-548- 9044.
Friday/Oct. 6
Grand Opening. 10 a.m.-noon at NOVA Alexandria Campus, 3301 Netherton Drive. Celebrate the opening of the NOVA Alexandria Campus Center for Design, Media and the Arts. Visit www.nvcc.edu/alexandria for more.
Pilates. noon-1 p.m. at John Carlyle Square Park, 300 John Carlyle St. Part of the outdoor fitness series in Carlyle.Visit www.AlexandriaVA.gov/CarlyleFun
Oct. 6-8
21st Annual Fall Wine Festival and Sunset Tour. 6-9 p.m. at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy. Meet “George and Martha Washington” on the Mansion's piazza. Guests experience an evening tour of the Washingtons’ home and are invited to visit the basement where he stored his wine. Call 703-780-2000 or visit www.MountVernon.org.
Oct. 6-14
Alexandria Live Music Week. Various times at venues throughout the City of Alexandria. Over 50 venues and more than 175 artists are set to perform over the course of the nine days. Visit www.alexandrialive.com for more.
Oct. 6-21
Drumming with Dishes on Stage. Various times at Arts on the Horizon, The Lab at Convergence, 1819 N. Quaker Lane. A children’s story about a girl and her imaginary friend, who discover they can use ordinary kitchen objects to make extraordinary music together. Visit www.ArtsOnTheHorizon.org for more.
Saturday/Oct. 7
Art on the Avenue. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray. More than 300 artists such as jewelers to silversmith and beaders, woodworkers, pottery makers, soap crafters, glass makers, unique painters, sculptures, and fabric artists, and musicians. Visit www.artontheavenue.org for more.
Garden Experts Lecture. 8:30-12:30 p.m. at Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road. Presenter Marianne Wilburn shares “Big Dreams, Small Garden” and Pam Beck imparts “Movement Through the Landscape.” Call 703-642-5173 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring/.
Port City Oktoberfest Party. noon-9 p.m. at Port City, 3950 Wheeler Ave. Call 703-778-0874 or visit www.PortCityBrewing.com/the-brewery/events for more.
Adopt the Block. 1-4 p.m. at Lost Dog Cafe Alexandria, 808 N. Henry St. To continue the celebration around the release of Lost Dog's Limited Collaboration Beer with Port City Brewing Company, Lost Dog Cafe will be hosting the Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation for an adoption event. Have a pint, have a sandwich, and maybe even take home a new member of the family. Visit www.lostdogrescue.org or www.lostdogcafe.com.
Public Square Dedication. 2 p.m. at the Del Ray Farmers' Market site, 2311 Mt Vernon Ave. The Alexandria City Council will officially dedicate the Del Ray Farmers' Market site "The Pat Miller Neighborhood Square." Visit www.alexandriava.gov for more.
'Rip the Runway' Benefit Fashion Show. 4:30-7 p.m. at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, 600 Dulaney St. Every dollar raised will directly support the Vola Lawson Breast Cancer Memorial Fund, a memorial fund established to raise money that contributes to the cost of annual mammograms for the women in Northern Virginia. Call 909-245-9661 for more.
Oktoberfest. 3-7 p.m. St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church and Day School, 8531 Riverside Road. German food such as knockwurst, bratwurst, potato salad; sides, beer and cold drinks, live Oompa band, bake sale, children’s games, petting zoo, moon bounce. Visit www.staidansepiscopal.com or call 703-360-4220 for more.
Saturday Cinema at Carlyle. 6:41 p.m. on John Carlyle Square, 300 John Carlyle St. Featuring Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds.” Free. Visit www.AlexandriaVA.gov/CarlyleFun for more.
Saturday Cinema at Carlyle. 6:41 p.m. at John Carlyle Square in the Carlyle District of Alexandria. 300 John Carlyle St. Showtime is sundown. Popped Republic Food Truck will be on site. Visit www.AlexandriaVA.gov/CarlyleFun.
Mount Vernon’s Blue Room Reopens. 7-9 p.m. at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Highway, Mount Vernon. The Blue Room in the Mount Vernon Mansion will reopen marking the completion of a major seven-month restoration. Visit www.mountvernon.org.
Sunday/Oct. 8
Yoga. 9:30-10:30 a.m.-noon at John Carlyle Square Park, 300 John Carlyle St. Part of the outdoor fitness series in Carlyle.Visit www.AlexandriaVA.gov/CarlyleFun
Kidney Donation Story. 10 a.m. at Beth El Hebrew congregation at 3830 Seminary Road. Documentary showing “Harold Mintz: The Life changing Experience of saving a Life.” Visit www.bethelhebrew.org/ or call 703) 370-9400 for more.
Museum Geek Tour. noon-1 p.m. at the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, 105 S. Fairfax St. Basement tour. Call 703-746-3852 or visit alexandriava.gov/apothecary for more.
Tuesday/Oct. 10
Lord Fairfax Descendant. 6:30 p.m. at the The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St.
The British author, Hugh Fairfax, a descendant of Thomas 6th Lord Fairfax, the Proprietor of the Northern Neck of Virginia and brother of Nicholas, 14th Lord Fairfax, will give a brief introduction to his new book “Fairfax of Virginia. The Forgotten Story of America’s only Peerage.” Visit www.alexandriava.gov/Lyceum or call 703-838-4994.
Wednesday/Oct. 11
Improve Arlandria Parks. 6:30 p.m. at the Leonard "Chick" Armstrong Recreation Center, 25 West Reed Ave. (formerly the Cora Kelly Recreation Center) with Rebuilding Together Alexandria to discuss improving 3550 Commonwealth Ave. and Four Mile Run Park at Dale St. Visit www.alexandriava.gov/Recreation for more.
Beautify Alexandria Lecture. 7-8:30 p.m. at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center in Del Ray, 2701 Commonwealth Ave. The Alexandria Beautification Commission is partnering with the Virginia Cooperative Extension to bring a series of educational program to Alexandria. These programs focus on ways residents can beautify their homes and neighborhoods using sustainable landscaping practices. Email AlexandriaBeautification@gmail.com for more.
Thursday/Oct. 12
Fashion Show and Luncheon. 10 a.m. at the Mount Vernon Country Club, 5111 Old Mill Road. The Yacht Haven Garden Club is presenting their 34th annual Fashion Show and Luncheon, “Floral Fantasy.” Proceeds will go to several agricultural projects. For further information and tickets contact: Kathy Ichter, Ichter@verizon.net or call 703- 780-8700
Chambers Breakfast. 7:30-9 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Rosslyn , 1900 North Fort Myer Drive, Arlington. Alexandria Chamber of Commerce teaming up with the Arlington Chamber of Commerce for this installation of this monthly event. Visit www.alexchamber.com/ for more.
Artists Reception. 6:30-8 p.m. at Studio 21 in the Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 North Union St. M. Jane Johnson's "Splendid Fortitude" Celebrates the Geisha. Exhibit on display through Nov. 5. Visit www.theartleague.org or 703-683-1780
Friday/Oct. 13
10,000 Maniacs in Concert. 7:30 p.m. at The Birchmere, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave. A 1980’s favorite, Julian Velard will open the show. $35 Visit www.birchmere.com for more.
Oct. 13-15
2017 National Kids Yoga Conference. 7 p.m. at the Nannie J. Lee Community Center, 1108 Jefferson St. Learn the art of successfully bringing yoga, mindfulness, and social emotional learning to the youth in your community. Visit conference.yokid.org/ for more.
Saturday/Oct. 14
Drawing Workshop. 9:30-11 a.m. at Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road. Artist and instructor Caroline Hottenstein shows how to use pen and ink, watercolor, graphite and colored pencils to capture and highlight details in insect illustration. Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring or call 703-642-5173.
Watershed Cleanup Day. 9-11:30 a.m. at Huntley Meadows Park, 3701 Lockheed Blvd. Opportunity for individuals, students, families, scouts and other community groups to be part of this year’s International Coastal Cleanup. Help clear the earth’s arteries by collecting tires, bed springs, bottles, cans and other debris from your local waterways. Visit bit.ly/FCPAwatershedClean for more.
Fall Family Carnival. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Gum Springs Community Center, 8100 Fordson Road. The Northern Virginia Urban League (NVUL), in partnership with Smart Learning Solutions, will host an ASTEAM Fall Family Carnival, with hands on learning activities for children and families, will feature a fun-filled day of Aviation, Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics. To register and for additional information about the ASTEAM Fall Family Carnival and Northern Virginia Urban League, visit www.nvul.org or call 703-836-2858.
Burgundy Fall Fair. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Burgundy Farm Country Day School, 3700 Burgundy Road, Alexandria. Family fun for all ages: Zombie run, pumpkin painting, moon bounce, live music, used book and kids’ closet sale, food tent. Free admission. Proceeds from activity tickets and food and merchandise sale benefit student financial aid. Rain or shine. Visit www.burgundyfarm.org or call 703-960-3431.
Touch-A-Truck. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Walt Whitman Middle School, 2500 Parkers Lane. An interactive event that allows children to see, touch, and explore their favorite big trucks and heavy machinery, as well as to meet the personnel who protect, serve, & build the Alexandria community. $5, children under 2 are free. Visit www.FortHuntPreschool.com for more.
Scottish Heritage Day. noon-4 p.m. at the Carlyle House, 121 N. Fairfax St. Scottish music, dancing, and fashion as well as tours of the Carlyle House. Call 703-549-2997 or visit www.CarlyleHouse.org for more.
Painting in the Park. noon-4 p.m. at John Carlyle Square in the Carlyle District of Alexandria. 300 John Carlyle St. Free. Visit www.AlexandriaVA.gov/CarlyleFun
Outlandish Event. 1-4 p.m. at the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, 105 S. Fairfax St. Tour the historic apothecary and learn about a few of the herbal medicines featured in Diana Gabaldon’s “Outlander” series of novels from cascara to dauco seeds. $18. Call 703-746-3852 or visit alexandriava.gov/shop for more.
Beer Tapping and Pet Adoption. 2-5 p.m. at Port City Brewing Company, 3950 Wheeler Ave. Port City Brewing Company and Lost Dog Café have partnered to support Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation by brewing a limited-edition IPA for National Adopt-a-Dog Month in October. Lost Dog Rescue Ale will be available for the first time in the Tasting Room that day. Visit www.portcitybrewing.com/ or www.lostdogrescue.org for more.
Long Black Veil Happy Hour. 6-9 p.m. at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal St. Enjoy Port City beverages. $25. Visit shop.alexandriava.gov/events.aspx for more.
Members Support Party. 7-9 p.m., at The Athenaeum, 201 Prince St. The Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association invites members and friends to join us for La Vie en Rose, a French evening in the Athenaeum Gallery. Visit www.nvfaa.org or call 703-548-0035.
Oct. 14-15
42nd Annual Virginia Wine Festival. noon-6 p.m. at Oronoco Bay Park, 100 Madison St. Wine tasting from many Virginia wineries, festival access to the Virginia Oyster Pavilion, and all concessions and musical entertainment. $35-65. Call 202-244-3700 or visit www.virginiawinefest.com.
Deadline Oct. 15
Photo Contest. Submit photos taken in the city with the theme "Support the well-being of Alexandria's residents by ensuring access to a variety of quality recreation, park and cultural experiences." Visit www.alexandriava.gov/Recreation for more information.
Sunday/Oct. 15
Walk to Bust Cancer. 8 a.m. at Fort Hunt Park, 8999 Fort Hunt Road. National Breast Center Foundation's Walk to Bust Cancer to increase awareness and celebrate survivorship. Email Martha Carucci at Martha.carucci@nationalbreastcenter.org or visit www.walktobustcancer.org for more.
First Annual Dogs for Literacy Dog Walk. 2-4 p.m. at Cameron Run Park, 4001 Eisenhower Ave. Proceeds will benefit the Alexandria Tutoring Consortium's "Book Buddies" program for struggling readers. $40 per dog. Call 703-228-2144 for more.
George V. Johnson Quintet. 4 p.m. at Meade Memorial Episcopal Church, 322 N. Alfred St. Jazz at Meade, $20 donation, free street parking, free intermission buffet. Call 267-463-7936 for more.
Free Speech Forum. 7 p.m. at 7:30 p.m. at The Birchmere, 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave. Visit www.wmal.com/freespeechforum/ or www.birchmere.com for more.
Tuesday/Oct. 17
Genealogy Lecture. 1-3 p.m. at the Hollin Hall Senior Center, 1500 Shenandoah Road. “Behind the Ivied Walls,” Sharon Hodges talks about records of genealogical interest found at colleges and universities. Call 703-768-4101 or visit www.mvgenealogy.org for more.
Oct. 17-Nov. 26
Multiple Exposures Gallery. Various times at the Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 North Union Street, #312. Photo exhibit. Visit www.multipleexposuresgallery.com for more.
Thursday/Oct. 19
Film Screening, Discussion, and Book Signing. 7 p.m. at the Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street. An Evening with Alexandria boxer Anthony Suggs, Sr. and moderator Michael Joyner. Free. Call 703-746-4356 for more.
Friday/Oct. 20
Ghosts and Grief Halloween Tours at Lee-Fendall House. starting at 7 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Lee-Fendall House, 614 Oronoco St. Learn more about the rituals and customs behind our modern-day funeral practices. $8 in advance; $10 at the door; free to members. Call 703-548-1789 or visit www.leefendallhouse.org.
Lloyd Cole Concert. 7:30 p.m. at The Birchmere, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave. Playing selections from his album “Rattlesnakes.” $25 Visit www.birchmere.com for more.