Doo-Wop Wed Widing Hood @ Riverside Dinner Theatre

Set in the 1950s, hula-hoops are in high demand, and so is Little Red Riding Hood! Wise Prince Jason, strong Prince Justin, and loud Prince Frank all want to woo lovely Red. So the King and Queen hire Fairy Godmother to set three tasks to challenge the eager princes. Only the prince who can (1) find the missing girl, (2) defeat the fearsome dragon, and (3) awaken a castle visitor from her slumber will earn the right to woo Wed Widing Hood (that is, Red Riding Hood). Complete with the Big Bad Wolf and sock-hopping ’50s music, this adventure is guaranteed to end in "happily-ever-after" laughter for audiences of all ages! Enjoy lunch and a show at Saturday matinees (children-friendly menu), or just a show on select Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Showings:

Saturday Matinée 1:00-3:15pm

Select Tues. & Thurs. 10:00am-12:45pm

Admission Fee: $16.00

Riverside Dinner Theatre

95 Riverside Parkway

Fredericksburg, VA 22406

http://www.riversidedt.com/

Box Office: 540.370.4300

Toll Free Number: 888.999.8527

23rd Annual Chocolates Galore & More in Loudoun County

Chocolates Galore & More! is one of the area's most eagerly anticipated events featuring sumptuous dessert and hors d'oeuvre creations from favorite area restaurants and caterers; auctions; and dancing, while sipping champagne.

Proceeds support the YMCA Loudoun County, which provides scholarships to area families, so their children can participate in a variety of quality YMCA programs.

For the dessert and hors d’oeuvre competition, a superb panel of judges has been chosen for Critic’s Choice Awards:

Mike Isabella (Owner of Graffiato, DC; Contestant on Season Six of Top Chef & Top Chef All-Stars)
Rebekah Pizana (Owner of Gourmet Amore; Professional Pastry Chef and Travel Food Writer)
Charlie Adler (Founder and President of TasteDC; Author of “I Drink on the Job: A Refreshing Perspective on Wine”)

Ticket Prices:
$70 reserved seats
$60 general admission / $70 at the door

The National Conference Center

West Belmont Place
18980 Upper Belmont Pl

For more information and to register, please visit

www.chocolatesgalore.org

Tim's Rivershore Polar Plunge Festival

The Polar Plunge

Since its inception 18 years ago, more than 28,000 plungers have raised more than $5.5 million for Special Olympics Virginia. Children and adults with intellectual disabilities who participate in Special Olympics develop improved physical fitness and motor skills, greater self-confidence and a more positive self-image.

The Polar Plunge® Winter Festival is Special Olympics Virginia’s largest fundraiser, attracting more than 10,000 people to an otherwise deserted beachfront in February. Individuals and teams, alongside our athletes and thousands of community members, experience heartwarming and bone chilling extremes as they take the plunge into the icy Atlantic Ocean in the height of winter! Anyone can participate; those under 18 must have a parent or guardian signature.

Tim's Rivershore Polar Plunge

Join us Feb. 26, 2011 in Northern Virginia for the 9th Annual Tim’s Rivershore Polar Plunge® Festival benefiting Special Olympics Virginia. Live music, costume contests, prizes and more – don’t miss the chance to prove you’re FAN enough to take the Plunge for a great cause.

For just $100 in pledges – the cost to Plunge – Plungers automatically will receive an official Tim’s Rivershore Plunge T-Shirt! Plus, the more money you raise, the more cool stuff you can get, like two round trip tickets on JetBlue (awarded to the top fundraiser based on funds collected by the event’s end).

Tim's Rivershore Restaurant & Crabhouse

Saturday, Feb. 26

Dumfries, VA

For more on The Plunge, including registration information, visit

http://www.polarplunge.com/View/Page/Tims_Rivershore_Polar_Plunge

or contact

Ellen Fitzgerald
703.359.4301

efitzgerald@specialolympicsva.org

What a Special Day!

As we all know today is that special day where we celebrate all love, Valentine's Day. A quick fact- not much is known about St. Valentine, and as such most of the stories are rumors. The only sure thing we know is that he was buried on February 14th and the middle of February marks the beginning of the mating season of birds (hence the romantic aspect) http://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day

However, today is also special for other reasons...

-National Donor Day

http://www.organdonor.gov/materialsNtlevents.asp

Began in 1998, focuses on donations of the fives points of life: organs, tissues, marrow, platelets, and blood.

-Race Relations Day

http://www.facebook.com/RaceRelationsDay

Many churches celebrate this day as a day to recognize the importance of interracial relations, to bring people of all ethnicities together in peace. In New Zealand it is recognized on March 21.

-Random Acts of Kindness Week

http://www.randomactsofkindness.org/

An organization founded in 1995, whose aim is to help everyone create a better world by

spreading awareness and increasing engagement in kind actions, a resource for people committed to spreading kindness.

-Read to Your Child Day

This day stresses the importance of reading to your child (or someone you love) for at least twenty minutes a day;

researchers found that 4 out of 10 children have literacy problems. Also, February marks the month for book lovers.

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art55433.asp

So, don't let Valentine's Day get you down, and don't let it cloud your every thought either...there is always something more than what you know. Every day is a special day, spread the love :)

Lasagna Weekends @ Phillip Carter Winery of VA

Philip Carter Winery is located in Fauquier County, the namesake of Governor Fauquier®. In the spring of 2008, 1,800 vines were planted on the Philip Carter estate in symbolic remembrance of the 1,800 vines that Carter grew in the 1700s. In July of 2009, two dozen bottles of Philip Carter wine were shipped across the Atlantic and received by the Royal Society of the Arts, UK. These wines were declared to be of the same high quality as those received by RSA in the 1700s from the Carter family.

Join Philip Carter Winery in Lasagna Weekends starting January 8th through the end of March. Enjoy lunch surrounded by history with plate of lasagna, garlic bread, and a glass of wine by the fireplace in Cleve Hall.

Admission Fee: $12.50

Children and pets welcome

Philip Carter Winery

4366 Stillhouse Road

Hume, VA 22639

www.pcwinery.com

540.364.1203

Tavern Toddlers

Because it’s never too early for kids to appreciate history, the museum developed this special program for toddlers (walkers through 36 months) and their caregivers. Tavern Toddlers features a weekly open playtime on most Mondays in the spring and fall, excluding federal holidays. $7 for a group of three, which must include one adult, or purchase a 5 week pass for $30.

Monday, January 31 - Monday, February 14

10:30am-12:00pm

Monday, February 28 - Monday, April 25

10:30am-12:00pm

Gadsby's Tavern Museum

134 North Royal Street

Alexandria, VA 22314

703.746.4242

http://alexandriava.gov/GadsbysTavern

Happy Birthday Elmo!!

The Elmo we all know and love from the hit TV show Sesame Street and host of the segment Elmo's World celebrates his 26th anniversary today. Amazing...somehow he still is only 3 1/2 years old!

Elmo is a special furry red monster who is always willing to lend a helping hand to friends and gives the best hugs. He loves to laugh and often, in his excitement, will enthusiastically wave his arms over his head and nod his head from side-to-side, jumping up and down (he has a lot of energy!). One of Elmo's quirks is that he always speaks in the 3rd person. You frequently hear him say things like "Elmo loves his friends!" or "Elmo is so happy today!".

In addition to hosting Elmo's World, Elmo has starred in movies such as The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, Follow that Bird, and Muppets take Manhattan. As he rose in fame, he began making guest appearances on a variety of shows including Martha Stewart Living, The View, Emeril Live, and even The West Wing!

A little known fact is that Elmo is the only puppet to ever testify before the US Congress. He gave a heart warming speech encouraging Congress to increase funding for music education in schools. Elmo loves helping in any way he can!

So be sure to wish Elmo a very Happy Birthday today! He has done a lot to ensure the success of children everywhere and encourages adults to always remain young at heart. We are lucky to have him.

To learn more about our furry friend, please visit

http://www.sesamestreet.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elmo

http://articles.cnn.com/2002-04-23/politics/elmo.hill_1_elmo-instruments-congressional-committee?_s=PM:ALLPOLITICS