Freeze-o-ree Tradition Continues
Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Troop 1849 from Springfield recently enjoyed its annual Freeze-o-ree campout at Catoctin Mountain Park, Md. With temperatures in the low 20s during the day and nighttime low of 5 degrees and a wind-chill of minus 15, fourteen stalwart Scouts - some as young as 11 years of age - and 12 adults embraced the challenge. Troop 1849 has been doing this mid-winter campout at Catoctin Mountain Park nearly every winter for over 30 years.
Burke Resident Eric Fischer to Perform in Oberlin Conservatory Recitals
Eric Fischer '14 of Burke has earned the honor of performing in Oberlin Conservatory’s Danenberg Honors Recitals. Over the course of two nights on Feb. 7 and 15, a range of student musicians will perform in the annual Danenberg Honors Recitals in Warner Concert Hall.
Staying Warm and Entertained in Burke
Check out GMU’s Center for the Arts for winter fun.
Burke Residents have been interacting with members of the George Mason University Fairfax Campus for some time. One of the benefits of this relationship includes use of Mason’s many cultural and entertainment events at the Patriot Center and the Center for the Arts.
Starting the New Year with a Hike
Area residents spend New Year’s Day at Mason Neck State Park.
Park rangers led visitors of Mason Neck State Park through a series of hikes on Jan. 1 as part of America’s State Parks First Day Initiative. Mason Neck hosted three hikes on New Year’s Day, each of varying difficulty. Interpretive Ranger Kevin Koons led eager hikers on the third guided hike of the day, which included an easy one-mile walk along the Bay View Trail, providing views of marshlands and Belmont Bay. Koons said the park is famous for its bald eagle sightings.
When Books Are Outlawed and Knowledge Discouraged
Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451" comes to Center for the Arts.
Continuing a series of enthralling professional touring theater productions, George Mason University's Center for the Arts is presenting "Fahrenheit 451" by renowned science fiction and fantasy writer Ray Bradbury. It is another in an "amazing assortment of performances," said Tom Reynolds, Center for the Arts director of artistic programming.
Gift Baskets from Great Harvest
Local business in Burke offers last-minute gift ideas.
At Great Harvest Bread Company in Burke, customers can eat a freshly made bakery sandwich and complete some last-minute holiday shopping at the same time. The local bread and other baked-goods company, which also has a location in Lorton, provides a variety of gift baskets and products like baked goods and tea towels for a last-minute holiday shopper on any budget.
Small Business Saturday: Different Shops, Different Turnouts
The Bike Lane in Springfield and The Picket Fence in Burke experienced two versions of the national event.
Following the controversial additional shopping hours on Thanksgiving, the typical fray on Black Friday, and the online melee of Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday is positioned in a highly competitive shopping storm.
‘It’s a Slapstick Comedy – It’s Going to be Hilarious’
Paul VI performs ‘Christmas Carol: Traveling Travesty in Two Tumultuous Acts.’
Sure, Paul VI is performing "A Dickens Christmas Carol: A Traveling Travesty in Two Tumultuous Acts."
Saxophone Concerto at Mason
Soloist Carrie Koffman brings ‘melting tone and touching sensitivity.’
The Fairfax Symphony Orchestra (FSO) and music director Christopher Zimmerman will perform a concert of both familiar and new works on Saturday, Nov.16, 8 p.m., at the George Mason University – Centre for the Arts Concert Hall.
Area Roundups
A look at what's happening in the area.
Burke Ballet’s 20th ‘Nutcracker’
Cast of 200 draws heavily from Buffa’s Dance Studio, welcomes professionals from Cincinnati, Colorado and Manassas companies.
Just as Clara Stahlbaum’s dream of a being whisked away by a living nutcracker prince grows increasingly fantastic over the course of the night, director Buffa Hargett’s vision of a perfect performance of "The Nutcracker" ballet has evolved dramatically from mere scenes performed at local shopping malls to a staggering 200-person full production celebrating its 20th anniversary onstage.
‘It’s a Really Fun Horror Story’
Robinson presents ‘Little Shop of Horrors.’
Horror, romance, music – and a hungry, man-eating plant – they’re all in Robinson Secondary’s production of "Little Shop of Horrors."
Robinson Student Stars in Children’s Show
The Alliance Theatre presents “The Little Mermaid Jr.”
Ariel, Prince Eric, Flounder, Sebastian the crab and all the other characters from the popular story and movie are in The Alliance Theatre’s production of “The Little Mermaid Jr.” And a Robinson Secondary student has one of the starring roles. Performances are Nov. 9-24 (see box for details) at Mountain View High School, 5775 Spindle Court (behind Glory Days Grill) in Centreville. The musical features 10 adults and 35 students in grades three through 12, and Director Maggie Swan says they’re all really talented.
An Artistic Evening Like No Other
“ARTS by George!” returns to George Mason stage.
With an open invitation to the community, the George Mason University College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) is holding its eighth annual "ARTS by George!" event. It has quickly become one of the premiere arts events in Northern Virginia. The mission of "ARTS by George!" is to showcase and support Mason students in a wide range of artistic fields including arts, dance, music, theater, computer game design, film and video studies and arts management. The gala raises funds to provide for student scholarships. It is capped off this year by the headliner performance of Tony Award winner Laura Benanti.