Weekend to Weekend Pick: Big Saturday Events Galore

A lot is happening this Saturday in Rockville! Come out and experience the big events! A Winter Festival and Lunar New Year Celebration offer an extensive variety of entertainment and activities to enjoy. There’s no reason to stay home!

Rockville Town Square Winter Festival

There will be life-sized ice sculpture characters in Town Square! Are any of these a favorite of the little ones in your life?

• Rapunzel from Tangled
• Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story
• Ariel from The Little Mermaid
• Belle from Beauty and the Beast
• Mickey Mouse

Games will offer the chance for some active play on Gibbs Street:

• Snowboard Simulator
• Mickey Mouse Moonbounce
• Wintery Photo Booth
• Hose Hockey

Throughout the event, live music will add to the atmosphere:

Dan Haas (12-2 PM)
Leven Legs (2-4 PM)

You can register to Win Family 4-packs to Disney On Ice: Princess Wishes at the Verizon Center. I imagine some little girls would love it!

You can get a free gift of Chocolate Covered Oreo with a $20 or more purchase at Town Square during the Winter Festival from 12-4 PM. (Limit one per customer, regardless of purchase amount. Quantities are limited, while supplies last. No rainchecks.)

Lunar New Year Celebration

The Rockville Mayor and Council and the City’s Asian Pacific American Task Force will host a New Year celebration Saturday, February 12, 2011 11:30 AM - 3:30 PM. The event is completely free in the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre and Social Hall.

Between 11:30 AM and 12:30 PM

Bamboo Buffet at Twinbrook Shopping Center, Asia Taste, Seven Seas, Maria’s Bakery Café, Thai Pavilion and Ba Le Restaurant will be offering delicious samples of a variety of Asian foods.

Between 12:30 and 2:30 PM

Many groups will be offering some very special cultural entertainment:

• East Rising Lion Dance Troupe
• Fairfax Chinese Dance Troupe
• Japanese Dance Sakura
• Silver Fashion Group
• Filmi Dance Performance by Shadiyah
• Jinling D.C. Chinese Dancing School
• Ella Wu Piano Studio
• Kicks Karate

Between 2:30 and 3:30 PM

You can try various crafts and activities, such as Chinese character writing, traditional paper folding, and clay sculpting techniques.

The Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce, Asia Bank, Taiwanese Benevolent Association of Greater Washington and the Korean Community Service Center of Greater Washington support the celebration.

So much is happening, it will be difficult to decide where to have some fun this Saturday.

Weekend to Weekend Pick: Translations

Rockville Little Theatre presents Translations. Second and final week. Great reviews from last weekend!

“Translations takes place in late August 1833 at a hedge-school in the townland of Baile Beag, an Irish-speaking community in County Donegal. In a nearby field camps a recently arrived detachment of the Royal Engineers, making the first Ordnance Survey. For the purposes of cartography, the local Gaelic place names have to be recorded and rendered into English.

Brian Friel’s hauntingly lyrical script draws upon the rich traditions of Irish theater in examining the effects of the Survey on one small community, and confronts questions of culture and identity that have echoed through the years and across borders.”

F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater, 603 Edmonston Drive
February 4, 5 at 8pm
February 6 at 2pm
$16 Adult, $14 Senior (62+), $14 Student (with ID)
For tickets, call 240-314-8690 or go to the box office at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater, open Tuesday - Saturday from 2:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Strathmore’s Friday Night Eclectic Returns Tonight (Jan. 21)

The Friday night Eclectic series, a music and art mash up featuring local bands, displays by visual artists, and a Pabst’s Blue Ribbon happy hour, returns to the Mansion at Strathmore tonight, January 21, 2011. Last year the series was named the “best reason to trek out of the District” by the Express newspaper and they want to keep up their rep. I heard rave reviews last year and with the $10 admission price (in advance) or $12 at the door (Stars price: $9), this is affordable nightlife right here in Rockville.

Here’s the Friday night lineup for the season:

Jan. 21 — Rhree of Washington’s most popular MCs: X.O., RAtheMC, and AB the Pro.
“A powerhouse of MCs inaugurates the new season of Friday Night Eclectic. The 24-year old, Petworth-raised X.O. joins forces with the DC rapper/singer RAtheMC, a 2009 MTV VMA Breakout Artist nominee who has toured alongside Wale, The Clipse and Afrika Bambaataa, for an evening of hook-ridden melodies, hard beats and hip hop artistry. AB the Pro, the mastermind behind X.O. andRAtheMC’s mix-tapes, opens the show, demonstrating what makes him one of the most sought-after producers in the DMV.”

Jan. 28 — Washington’s premiere alt-classical group Great Noise Ensemble
“Created in 2005 through a listing placed on Craigslist by composer and conductor Armando Bayolo, Great Noise Ensemble has become one of the most important ensembles in DC’s bourgeoning new music scene, winning The Washington Area Music Association’s 2007 WAMMIE Award for Best Chamber Ensemble. Their Friday Night Eclectic program celebrates the music of Baltimore-based composer Marc Mellits whose works encompass an eclectic combination of driving rhythms, soaring lyricism, and colorful orchestrations.”

Feb. 4 — Dance rockers Ra Ra Rasputin
“…a live act that reliably can get asses not only in the door, but shaking on the floor with their infectious dance punk” (dcist.com), Ra Ra Rasputin’s Strathmore debut is a night you won’t want to miss. Combining dance beats over high-energy electronica, this band’s showmanship and nuanced sound attracts audiences from all over Washington, D.C. Hume is a genre busting D.C. classical/experimental/folk 4 piece band influenced by the Smashing Pumpkins, Morton Feldman and Mustapha Tettey Addy.

Feb. 11 — A benefit concert for the Washington Animal Rescue League with Joseph, Bellflur and Screen Vinyl Image
“Three of D.C.’s premiere indie bands join forces to raise money for the Washington Animal Rescue League.”

Feb. 18 — Hip hop artist Incwell
“This genre-busting D.C. hip hop artist and his 8-piece band push the limits with such far-flung influences as Al Green, Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon and Janis Joplin.”

Feb. 25 — Big band funk act Funk Ark
“The D.C.-based world funk ensemble Funk Ark draws on influences from African and Latin funk/dance music scenes of the 1960s and 70s. Their concerts are a gritty and soulful mix of inspired Afrobeat and big bang funk.”

Mar. 4 — Alt-bluegrass darlings Junior League Band,
“The Junior League Band is an old-time inspired rock band fronted by the Georgia grown banjo, vocalist, Lissy Rosemont. Based out of Washington, D.C., this nationally touring band has been compared to “Alison Krauss and the Band” by the Washington Post, and touts Levon Helm’s own horn players on their catchy single “South Carolina Blues.” The 5 instrumentalists merge these influences with delta blues and pop rock (50′s to Indie Rock) to make for an energetic, sing-song, string heavy, danceable yet mesmerizing live performance. Expect a show ripe with catchy melodies, toe tapping beats, sweet vocals, and some of the country’s most talented up and coming players.”

Mar. 11 — Rappers First Name Basis with Bo Jankans and Educated Consumers
“A night of hip hop when First Name Basis teams up with lyrical gymnast Seez Mics of College Park (aka Cole Policy) and Baltimore-based mix-master t.E.C.K! (aka Jason Fields) of Educated Consumers and the twenty two year-old Bo Jankans, whose music focuses on rhyme and message with compositions full of weaving hooks and catchy choruses.”

Mar. 18 — Sub-Continental Drift’s Fourth Stream and U.S. Department of Bhangra
“Established in January 2007, Subcontinental Drift is a collective of D.C. based artists and organizers who came together to foster and provide a supportive and collaborative South Asian American community for creative expression, encourage the sharing and involvement of community events, and expose people to new mind food. Tonight’s show features the funky jazz trio Fourth Stream, DJs U.S. Department of Bhangra, interactive art exhibitions and bhangra dance classes.”

Mar 25 — Nationally known folk rock group Scrapomatic
“As vocalists and songwriters, Derek Trucks Band’s lead singer Mike Mattison and his longtime partner, guitarist and vocalist Paul Olsen, break new ground with Sidewalk Caesers, an album that infuses the heart and soul of roots music with modern topics and incisive lyrics. The recording, enriched with themes that reverberate from urban to rural and back, showcases the duo’s breathtaking ability to mesh Mattison’s stirring vocal machinations with Olsen’s heartfelt tenor.”

Apr. 1 — Hard rockers ilyAIMY with the heavy metal cello quartet Primitivity
“Percussive, finger-style acoustic guitar, tribal percussion and lush male-female harmonies are the signature sound of ilyAIMY. The songs, a modern take on folk and roots music that includes elements of alternative rock, metal, country and R&B, have been recognized by the nation’s most prestigious festivals and contests. Primitivity is a cello and percussion ensemble that blends elements of classical and heavy metal music into a new genre called cello rock. Cellist Loren Westbrook-Fritts, former Strathmore Artist in Residence, composes the music and provides the leads, while cellists David Teie of the National Symphony, Kristin Ostling of the Baltimore Symphony, and Mauricio Betanzo of the Maryland Symphony all shred out intense riffs and harmonies. Specializing in the music of Megadeth, Apocalyptica, and Metallica, Primitivity also performs its own original compositions.”

Apr. 8 — The 8-piece Salsa band Sin Miedo
“ ‘Sin Miedo’ is Spanish for ‘Fearless’, and it’s also the name of one the best Salsa bands in Washington” (Washington Post). Led by French pianist Didier Prossaird, Sin Miedo’s 8-piece orchestra performs original music with Spanish and French lyrics and salsa hits from the ‘70s to today.”

The concerts are standing room only (with the exception of Great Noise Ensemble on January 28 and Scrapomatic on March 25).

All performances take place in the Mansion at Strathmore. Doors open at 8 PM and the concerts begin at 9 PM. To purchase tickets, call (301) 581-5100 or go to Strathmore.org.

Pabst’s Blue Ribbon supports the series with a pre-concert happy hour from 8-9 PM with 16 oz. PBR’s for only $2. Restaurant Associates is open all night with a cash bar plus chips, cookies, brownies and other light snacks.

Parking & General Information: Take Metro to the Grosvenor-Strathmore station on the Red Line. Parking is available on-site on a space available basis in the Mansion parking lot. Enter at 10701 Rockville Pike

Weekend to Weekend Pick: Trio Galilei

Concert to benefit Fisher House, which provides housing for families of hospitalized soldiers.

Trio Galilei features Susan Richards on harp, Carolyn Surrick on viola de gamba, and Ginder Hildebrand on guitar. They’ll be playing Celtic and Swedish selections along with their own original tunes.

Sunday, January 23, 2011
4 PM
Unitarian Universalist Church of Rockville at 100 Welsh Drive
$15 suggested contribution for Fisher House.

During the Rockville Town Square tree lighting, Sue Richards brought her festive and uplifting music to the Waygoose shop. Her beautiful music has become a community tradition. Warm your spirit with this upbeat performance for a great cause this Sunday.

A Fisher House™ is “a home away from home” for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers. The homes are normally located within walking distance of the treatment facility or have transportation available. There are 53 Fisher Houses located on 18 military installations and 15 VA medical centers. The Fisher House Foundation offices are located in Rockville. 96% of the contributions go to support military families. “Because a Family’s Love Is Good Medicine”

Info For Martin Luther King Jr. Day

This Monday commemorates what would have been Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 82nd birthday. Here’s the rundown on closings, celebrations, and volunteer opportunities.

Saturday, January 15 and Sunday, January 16, 2011

Food Collection Drive from 11 AM to 5 PM
Food being collected for Manna Food Center at all 28 Giant Food Stores across Montgomery County. If you are shopping at Giant on Saturday and Sunday, donate a can! Non-perishable food items can also be donated at any one of the volunteer sites or the musical tribute at Strathmore.

Monday, January 17, 2011

CLOSINGS FOR MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY

The following will be closed:

Rockville City Hall
The Rockville Senior Center
Rockville Civic Center Park
The Glenview Mansion and the Glenview Mansion Art Gallery
The F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre and Box Office
Twinbrook Renaissance and Beall Kidz Clubs after-school programs

Parking fees at meters and in City-owned garages will be suspended.

All residents will have their recycling and refuse collection day shifted to the following day. (Friday collection will be made on Saturday.)

All City of Rockville sports practices and programs held in Montgomery County Public Schools facilities are canceled.

The Twinbrook Community Recreation Center will be open 6 AM-9:30PM

The Lincoln Park Community Center will be open 9 AM-9:30 PM

Thomas Farm Community Center is open 6 AM-9:30 PM

Croydon Creek Nature Center will be open 10 AM-2 PM

The Rockville Swim and Fitness Center will be open regular hours.

RedGate Municipal Golf Course will be open, weather permitting.

For more information about schedules for specific facilities or programs: www.rockvillemd.gov.

CITY OF ROCKVILLE CELEBRATION

One of the largest celebrations in the Washington D.C area, free program and reception at noon at Richard Montgomery High School.

Maureen Bunyan, news broadcaster and anchor for ABC 7, will host the event which is made possible by the Mayor and Council and the Rockville Human Rights Commission. The program will include performances by vocalist Desiree Ellis, Urban Artistry, Soul in Motion and Body Moves Contemporary Dance Company, Capital Focus Jazz Band, Yellow River Art Ensemble and Soulfuldisiac.

The Martin Luther King Jr., Youth Award and the F. Michael Taff Award will also be presented during the program. The Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Award is given to a high school student who has promoted the dreams and goals of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The F. Michael Taff Award honors an individual, business or organization that has made a contribution to improving the lives of people in Rockville with disabilities.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY CELEBRATION

Tribute and Musical Celebration from 4 to 6 PM at The Music Center at Strathmore.

This year’s theme, “Continuing the Legacy…How will YOU Serve?” pays tribute to the life and works of Dr. King and its present day impact. County Executive Ike Leggett’s remarks will include a challenge to boost volunteer activity addressing poverty and need in Montgomery County. The two-hour musical celebration will feature jazz performer, Marcus Johnson; the 2010 winners of “How Sweet the Sound,” Men of Valor; Gospel jazz saxophonist, Brian Lenair; and a host of other performers from diverse backgrounds.

Advanced Tickets are Sold Out. STAND-BY LINE: For individuals unable to secure advanced tickets, a stand-by line begins at 3 PM, outside the Music Center, where noted, the evening of the performance. No lines may form before the designated time. At 3:45 PM all tickets are null and void and patrons in the stand-by line will be allowed entry subject to available seating.

VOLUNTEER

(1.) Clean Lake Needwood

Combined Stream Team Action! Everyone is invited to Lake Needwood on Monday to clear gobs of trash from the dredged lakebed. This is a unique chance to improve the health of this crucial element of Rock Creek. Wear hat & warm layers, sturdy boots and prepare to get wet! 10 AM - 1 PM. Meet in parking lot at 6700 Needwood Road, Derwood. They can use 50 volunteers and groups are welcome. Coffee & bagels will be provided. In order to participate email.

(2.) Attend A Volunteer Event and Fair

Volunteer Projects organized by Montgomery County’s Volunteer Center on Martin Luther King Jr. Day at:

Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, 5701 Marinelli Road, North Bethesda, 1 to 3:30 PM.
This event is free for all participants with free parking. Activities include decorating bookmarks and cards for children with cancer and other terminal illnesses; packing snow day baskets for county-wide Meals on Wheels programs; learning how to register as a bone marrow donor and attending sessions by the Conflict Resolution Center of Montgomery County. There will also be a Volunteer Fair with many nonprofit organizations throughout the County to share information about how to get involved with them throughout the year. There are projects for all ages and ability levels and groups are welcome.

Weekend to Weekend Pick: Austin Palooza

Hours and hours and hours of local live music in the heart of Rockville!

First Annual Austin Palooza
This Saturday Janaury 15, 2011 12 PM until Sunday, January 16, 2011 at 2 AM.
Main Stage - Rockville Austin Grill, 36-A Maryland Avenue

Take a look at the lineup for “one of the freshest live music events to hit the Rockville Town Square”:

MAIN STAGE

12 – 12:45 String Theory
2:05 – 3:20 Soular Power
4:05 – 5:2 0 Redline Addiction
6:30 – 7:30 The Fisherman Band
9:15 – 10:15 Yellow Dubmarines
11:00 – Close – Jamison And Double O Soul

SIDE STAGE

12:50 – 2:00 Mike/Mindy
3:25 – 4:00 The Hemlock Society
5:25 – 6:25 Force Major
7:35 – 9:10 Love Lucy
10:20 – 11:00 DJ Garret spinning for T.O.N.

Yes, one of my absolute favorite bands which leaves a smile on my face FOR DAYS is playing – that’s Force Major! I don’t know how they are fitting all these bands into one cold winter weekend but we can certainly use the heat!

Tickets are already on sale so get them now. Pre-Sale are only $10 and available at the Rockville Austin Grill or by phone at 301-838-4281. Tickets will be available at the door for $15.

Event information from Austin Grill Rockville on Facebook is here.

Learn How To Advocate For Wind Power In Maryland

Photo from the CCAN website

“The wind blowing off Maryland’s Atlantic coast is a vast, untapped energy source.” - CCAN

On Sunday, January 16, 2011 the Unitarian Universalist Church of Rockville’s Environmental Action Group will host Keith Harrington from the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) from 11:45 AM till 12:30 PM.

Keith’s will talk about CCAN’s activities to advocate for Wind Power in Maryland, as well as the role Maryland’s religious communities can play in this effort.

Maryland has set a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) pledge stating that 20 percent of the state’s electricity needs will be met by renewable energy sources including both wind and solar power by year 2022. CCAN believes the state is in danger of failing to meet this goal without harnessing offshore wind.

On December 4th a coalition of environment, business, and labor groups came together to talk about how to make offshore wind a reality in Maryland. Below are some video highlights:

Light refreshments will be served after the talk. The Unitarian Universalist Church of Rockville is located at 100 Welsh Park Drive, off Mannakee Street.

You may also want to participate in Maryland: Got Wind? campaign by submitting a photo of you with the slogan somewhere in the state.

The Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) is the first grassroots, non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to fighting global warming in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Our mission is to amass undeniable grassroots power in this unique region surrounding our nation’s capital to call for state, national, and international policies that will put us on a path to climate stability.

They envision a country where clean energy sources, such as solar and wind power, are prioritized and dirty fossil fuels are phased out; where our world is on a path to 350 ppm CO2 in the atmosphere, creating a stable, sustainable climate.

Weekend to Weekend Pick: Guys and Dolls

Guys and Dolls for one weekend only presented by the Musical Theater Center.

At the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre
Friday, January 14, 7:30 PM
Saturday, January 15, 2 and 7:30 PM
Sunday, January 16, at 2 PM
Tickets: $18 to $20 are available at the Box Office during these hours:

January 2010 Walk-in Box Office Hours:
Tuesday to Saturday 2 pm to 7 pm except
Friday, January 14, 28 - 2 pm to 9 pm
Saturday, Jan. 15, 22, 29 - 2 pm to 9 pm
Sunday, Jan. 16, 30 - 12 noon to 3 pm

Book by Abe Burrows, Lyrics and music by Frank Loesser. Based on “The Idyll of Sarah Brown and characters” by Damon Runyon

“Set in Damon Runyon’s mythical New York City, “Guys And Dolls” introduces us to colorful characters who have become legends in the musical theatre canon: Sarah Brown, the upright but uptight “mission doll,”; Sky Masterson, the slick, high-rolling gambler who woos her on a bet and ends up falling in love; Adelaide, a nightclub performer whose chronic flu is brought on by the fact she’s been engaged to the same man for 14 years; and Nathan Detroit, her devoted fiance, desperate as always to find a spot for his infamous floating dice game.”

Special Debut Event For A New Youth Arts Organization On Jan. 4

Local youth founded and organized a nonprofit organization, Eyes Closed Hearts Open, Inc. (E.C.H.O.), to provide students with the opportunity to perform and express themselves in the arts. Now they need your help to raise enough funds to have a theatrical production this coming summer.

Their debut fundraiser, New Voices, Fresh Expressions, will be held this Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 7:30 PM at the Auditorium at the Universities at Shady Grove. Tickets are only $5 and they are available at the door. Advanced tickets can be purchased at echo.ticketleap.com or by calling 240.464.5626.

The impressive list of performances includes:
Wootton High School’s CHAOS, Supertonics and Acabellas
UMD’s Terrapin Theatre Troupe
UMD’s Ballroom Dancing
Original short films by Mark Schoonmaker and John Liu
Violinist Alex Yin
Dancer Emma Lou Hebert
Original theater scene by Rocky Nunzio
Josh Eflin, musician
Soprano, Josi Suslov
plus other Visual Artists, original music compositions, and more!

Readers may remember that I was extremely impressed with Mattia D’Affuso’s performance as Lumiere the candlestick, in Beauty and the Beast, while he was a student at Wootton High School. So impressed that I covered his production of the West Bank Story which he created with Salah Czapary. Then, in the summer of 2009, they founded this nonprofit organization together as co-Executive Directors along with Anna Pham, and Joanna Dong and I’m astounded by their drive and dedication!

Mattia explains:

After we put together the stage adaptation of West Bank Story we started a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization called Eyes Closed Hearts Open, Inc. Our organization’s mission is to provide youth the opportunity to perform and express themselves in the arts. ECHO advocates youth initiative and originality. We use the arts as a healthy form of communication to unite the community and beyond. Our organization is completely youth founded, run and organized as of now but we hope to expand to all age categories eventually.

Here’s how he describes the event:

On January 4th, 2011 we will be hosting our debut event at the Universities of Shady Grove in Rockville. The event will introduce the organization to the community and celebrate the talent of young, up-and-coming local guest artists from the Washington Metropolitan Area who represent different branches of the arts such as music, theatre, dance, film, the visual arts, and many more. This event will be a great way to support local artists and to learn more about E.C.H.O.’s goals and future plans.

Take the time to experience, New Voices, Fresh Expressions, their kick-off event, a great way to support them and learn more about E.C.H.O.’s goals and future plans.

Visit E.C.H.O.’s website, eyesclosedheartsopen.org to learn more about the creation of the organization, their projects, and how you can help support them in addition to attending their debut event.

Weekend to Weekend Pick: New Year’s Brunch

Cindy Cotte Griffiths, Mark Pierzchala, and Lesley Cross. Photo by Max van Balgooy.

“Start off the New Year with a Rockville tradition!”

Peerless Rockville‘s 36th Annual New Year’s Day Brunch

Saturday, January 1, 2011
12 PM till 2 PM
Historic Glenview Mansion in the Rockville Civic Center Park
Peerless Members $10, Non-Members $15, Children 5-12 half price

Enjoy a delicious Buffet Brunch and Open House. Take a self-guided tour of the Mansion which is on the National Register of Historic Places in addition to being decked out in the holiday spirit.

Here’s Max van Balgooy’s description from last year’s event. To see some photos, this is his album from the day. As you can see, I attended last year for the first time and enjoyed myself (we were asked to wear vintage clothing last year).

Please bring a casserole, salad, side dish, hors d’oeuvre, or dessert to share.

Peerless Rockville safeguards and promotes Rockville’s past by preserving buildings, spaces, objects, and information important to our city’s heritage. Attend, contribute, and help the cause.

Everything You Need To Know About Home Energy Audits

Croydon Creek Nature Center Photo By Cindy Cotte Griffiths

As part of the Rockville Go Green Lecture Series, a free session on all the tools and cash incentives to make your home eco-friendly and energy efficient will be hosted by the City of Rockville and the Friends of Rock Creek Environment (FORCE).

Wednesday, January 26, 2011
7-8 PM
Croydon Creek Nature Center, 852 Avery Road

An energy auditor certified by the Maryland Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program will review the ways to reduce energy use and improve the comfort, safety and overall performance of your home. The lecture will cover combustion appliance safety. Best of all, finding out about and implementing an energy audit can help you save money.

Although the program is free, you must register with RockEnroll: http://www.rockvillemd.gov/recreation/guide/winter11/croydon.pdf
or call 240-314-8770.

Weekend to Weekend Pick: Save Lives With Amnesty International

Amnesty International Group 82’s Holiday Card Writing and Celebration

When I was in college, I was a member of Amnesty International. All these years living in Rockville, I didn’t know we had a local group. One of the main activities of Amnesty is to mail cards and letters to prisoners of conscience, those who have been imprisoned solely for the non-violent exercise of internationally recognized human rights. These correspondences give the prisoner hope and also let officials know that people are aware of the prisoner’s situation and are taking action. I can’t think of better cards to send out during this holiday season.

Date and Time: Sunday, December 19, 2010 at 12:00 noon
Location: At the Unitarian Universalist Church of Rockville, Room 52 (in the basement - take elevator at end of entrance hall of the new Sanctuary Building at 100 Welsh Park Drive.

From Group 82:

Amnesty International U.S.A.is a local community based group of the U.S. section of Amnesty International. We are one of hundreds of other such groups which are the heart of the worldwide human rights organization. Group 82 was created in 1976 by members of the Unitarian Church of Rockville. Although we enjoy some financial support and the facilities of the church there is no formal connection to the church and most members of the group have no connection with the church. The group meets the third Sunday of each month at noon.

The primary focus of our group is to work for the release of prisoners of conscience. We are assigned such a person with available information on the case, and we work for his or her release.

There are a variety of ways to get involved:

• Help work on behalf of our prisoner of conscience
• Work on anti-death penalty campaigns
• Participate in special short term campaigns (about 3 months average) emphasizing human rights abuses in specific countries or targeting certain groups such as women, children, conscientious objectors, refugees, and indigenous peoples.
• Join the Urgent Action letter writing network. Our coordinator sends out one case a month for prompt action. This is a good way to get involved for those unable to attend monthly meetings.

There are no membership dues.

How to get to the Amnesty Meeting:
If you are approaching Rockville on Route 270, take exit 6 heading East. Mannakee Street is the first street on your left. Follow Mannakee around the circle and then watch for the sign to turn right to the church as you come to Welsh park. If you are approaching from the East, continue on West Jefferson and then West Montgomery to Mannakee on your right.

Reader Note From Justine Cowan: A Magical Holiday Concert Sun. Dec. 19

We’re happy to pass along this announcement about a very festive and great family event in Rockville this weekend:

Rockville Chorus Photo From The City Website

Winter is here and Magic is in the Air! Join the Rockville Chorus on Sunday, December 19, 2010 at 7:30 PM, for “A MAGICAL HOLIDAY” Concert at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre.

For this concert, Rockville Chorus Director, Bryan Seith, has chosen a wide variety of selections with a holiday theme that will appeal to all ages and musical tastes. Highlights of this performance include THE RELUCTANT DRAGON by John Rutter. This whimsical piece tells the tale of a dragon that prefers writing poetry to fighting. More traditional selections include THERE SHALL A STAR FROM JACOB by Felix Mendelssohn, the CHERRY TREE CAROL by Robert Shaw and Alice Parker, as well as John Leavitt’s traditional Hebrew OSE SHALOM. Another selection by Robert Shaw, THE CAROL OF THE BIRDS, a jazz version of the well known HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS, and another classical selection, HOW LOVELY ARE THE MESSENGERS from St. Paul by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy round out the program.

The Rockville Chorus is currently composed of 70 members. They have been delighting local audiences of all ages with quality musical selections for more than thirty years. New members are always welcome and can schedule an audition at the beginning of the Fall semester or Spring semester by calling Julie Farrell at (240)314-8682.

The Rockville Chorus Concert is free. No tickets are required. Donations are appreciated. Ample free parking is available. Seating is on a first come, first-served basis. For more information call the Theatre Box Office at 240-314-8690 or the recorded direction line at 240-314-5004.

Justine Cowan

This is a Reader Note. We welcome submissions on all sorts of things — shopping, restaurants, performances, art, cultural events, and more. Rules: it should be in Rockville, and you should try to be nice. Get in touch with us us if you would like to submit something!

Weekend to Weekend Pick: The Nutcracker

Three years ago I featured the Nutcracker in my post The Nutcracker Ballet Spreads Joy On Stage And Off. The dancer, Paige Washington, still performs and she joins the troupe again this year for a terrific performance complete with their elaborate handmade costumes and unbridled enthusiasm. Don’t miss the last weekend of this annual Rockville tradition.

The Nutcracker performed by the Rockville Civic Ballet
F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre
Saturday, December 11, 2010 2 PM & 7:30 PM
Sunday, December 12, 2010 2 PM
Tickets: $16 Adult, $12 Senior (60+), $12 Child (12 & under), Group rates available.

Stop by the craft & gift table and bake sale to help support the Rockville Civic Ballet.

Weekend to Weekend Pick: Holiday Jazz And A Comedy

Holiday Jazz

Date: Saturday, December 4, 2010
Time: 7:30 PM
Location: Thomas Farm Community Center
Price: $2/person

Seeing our newest community center creatively booked with a festive event open to everyone brings holiday cheer. Kevin Mittleman’s Quartet will set the mood with a holiday jazz performance in the art gallery. This professional band will play holiday tunes while guests enjoy some light refreshments.

Kevin Mittleman plays all styles but hails from the Berklee School of Jazz. He’s studied one-on-one with the Legendary John Abercrombie and Mick Goodrick.

The current art exhibit features the paintings of Lois Levenson. Each work is based on a photograph that “caught her attention for one reason or another” then she let her imagination take over. Having painted as a hobby for five years, the exhibit features her favorites.

Get Smart

Obviously this is a comedy production about detective Maxwell Smart, his chief Agent 99, and the forces of KAOS presented by a talented group of high school students.

Dates: Friday, December 3 and Saturday December 4, 2010
Time: 7 PM
Location: Rockville High School
Tickets at the door: $5/students, $7 adults

It’s all about the community events!