The light snow on Christmas Eve hinted at the possibility of a white Christmas, but it did not happen. A sunny and clear Christmas day enticed many folks to get a bit of exercise at Green Spring Gardens. Real winter weather arrived Wednesday with snow and sleet that stuck to cars, roads, walkways and rooftops.

The Dinosaur Film, Puppet and Craft Festival at Hidden Oaks Nature Center offered a wide variety of activities for area children. With a focus on print motivation, the “What’s Cooking?” story time at George Mason Regional Library included stories and songs about food. With colorful decorations on just about every street, it’s easy to get into the holiday spirit when driving around Annandale.

The Shepherds Center of Annandale-Springfield invited the Golden Rays senior tap dancing group to perform for the Lunch N’ Life attendees at the Annandale United Methodist Church. Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross hosted the annual Holiday Town Gathering at Mason District Governmental Center. There were refreshments and live entertainment, and Gross gave her annual “State of the District” talk. Many residents on Wayne Drive in Broyhill Crest have filled their lawns with colorful holiday decorations.

Green Spring Gardens was festively decorated for its annual Gardeners’ Holiday Open House sponsored by the Friends of Green Spring. Displays included a Santa Claus collection, model trains, miniatures and antique toys. There were lots of tasty treats for everyone to try and holiday decorations and gifts available for purchase. The Blue Sky Puppet Theatre performed “Rufus the Rednosed Raindog” for a full house at Green Spring Gardens. Though it was mild outside, the topic for the Small Wonders story time at George Mason Regional Library was snow.

A group of young children learned a bit about American Indian life at Hidden Oaks Nature Center on Sunday. They heard stories, played games and went on a short nature walk. Some area two-year-olds participated in a farm animal story time at George Mason Regional Library that concentrated on vocabulary. The gallery at the Korea Monitor Art Center was filled with photos from the 2012 PASK (Photo Artist Society of Korea) exhibition.

A beautiful Veterans Day enticed many people to take advantage of the facilities at Wakefield Park. Popular street lit author Wahida Clark entertained a George Mason Regional Library audience with stories about her life and her writing. The fall program of the Shepherd's Center of Annandale Springfield Adventures in Learning series concluded at John Calvin Presbyterian Church on Wednesday. There was a group discussion about issues important to an aging population and a presentation by Fairfax County environmental and energy coordinator Kambiz Agazi about the European passivhaus design.

The 2012-13 Muldoon Memorial Concert Series opened at St. Albans Episcopal Church with a performance by the Dominion Symphony Orchestra Chamber Ensemble. George Mason Regional Library offered programs for children and adults on Monday. In the afternoon, area children got a close look at a number of birds brought in by The Raptor Conservancy of Virginia. In the evening, Woodrow Wilson Library youth services manager and cookbook author Kay Karim, gave a presentation on Iraqi cooking that filled the room with delicious aromas and included a number of dishes for the attendees to taste. The …

What a busy week it was in Annandale. A variety of old cars were on display at Cruise Night in the JukeBox Diner parking lot, and Buenos Grill finally opened. The Annandale Fall Festival and Parade brought lots of people to town. Parade participants assembled in the Annandale United Methodist Church parking lot and marched down Columbia Pike. Rides, stages and vendor booths set up in the Safeway parking lot provided entertainment for the entire day. The American Legion held a large yard sale with all kinds of treasures as well as food and drinks. The strong winds and heavy rain of Hurricane …

A group of well-behaved two-year-olds enjoyed story time at George Mason Regional Library. Summer temperatures and autumn color combined to make a delightful day at Green Spring Gardens. The Shepherds Center of Annandale-Springfield Adventures in Learning participants met at John Calvin Presbyterian Church to hear Patrick O'Neill's War of 1812 presentation, "Between Burning and Bombardment: The Occupation of Alexandria and the Battle of the White House." After sharing lunch, the group heard Dr. Jack Kaye, Associate Director for Research Earth Science Division NASA, talk about some of the …

The Annandale Volunteer Fire Department ended Fire Prevention Week with an open house that included lots of information, demonstrations, balloons, hot dogs and a visit from a Fairfax County police helicopter. Artist and naturalist Lois Auer brought two owls and one hawk to Hidden Oaks Nature Center for an educational program on birds of prey. The Shepherds Center of Annandale-Springfield Adventures in Learning program continued at John Calvin Presbyterian Church. On Wednesday, author and historian Carole Herrick talked about the British attack on Washington, DC, during the War of 1812. The …

Though it was cool and damp, a group of hearty individuals enjoyed a Columbus Day hike along the trails of Hidden Oaks Nature Center. On Tuesday evening, author and educator Ann Dolin gave her "Homework Made Simple" presentation at Westminster School. Jane Turner Censer, professor of history at George Mason University, shared her Mexican War insights with the Shepherds Center of Annandale-Springfield Adventures in Learning participants. The program was held at John Calvin Presbyterian Church and included an afternoon presentation about energy conservation and generation given by Bob Kovacs.

The Friends of George Mason Regional Library held another of its very popular semi-annual book sales, and, as always, there were many people waiting in line for the sale to start at 5 p.m. on Thursday. Reporter Pat Collins with NBC4 WRC in Washington, DC, broadcast a live report from the parking lot in front of the former Bloom store. Collins report was a follow-up to the accident on September 20 in which Joon Seok Ahn from Annandale was struck and killed by a Fairfax County Public School bus at the intersection of Columbia Pike and Gallows Road. Read the Patch article about the accident here…

The annual Fall Festival at Green Spring Gardens offered something for everyone on a gorgeous autumn day. Vendors sold plants, garden accessories, artwork and crafts. There was live music by The New Old-Time String Band and King Street Bluegrass throughout the day in the gardens and a children's program by Virginia Virtuosi in the horticulture center. Kent Knowles from the Raptor Conservancy of Virginia gave a presentation that included a number of native owls and hawks, and Suzanne Holland from Hidden Oaks Nature Center gave a presentation on Monarch butterflies, which included the tagging …

The programs offered by George Mason Regional Library included story time for young attendees with songs, rhymes and, of course, stories. For adults the library brought in Michael Kelly, a ranger with the National Park Service, for a talk about controversy surrounding some of the monuments on the National Mall. Green Spring Gardens offered a program on vegetable gardening in the fall and had a presentation by the author and photographer of the book, "Capital Splendor."

As August's blue moon rose over the Mason District Park amphitheater, area residents enjoyed the final concert of the 2012 Spotlight by Starlight series. OCEAN Orchestra delighted everyone with great Celtic music and great costumes. Hidden Oaks Nature Center held its Dino Extravaganza with multiple puppet shows, a walk along the trail and a visit to Nature Playce. Skateboarders enjoyed the newly opened addition to the Wakefield Park Skatepark, and construction continued on the Beltway HOT Lanes.

The Shepherd's Center of Annandale-Springfield Lunch N' Life attendees gathered at United Baptist Church to hear a talk from Ruth Benker, a volunteer from Fairfax Pets on Wheels. Benker's dog, Teddy, delighted everyone as he circled the room to give 'high fives'. Members of the Fairfax Harley Owners Group spoke to a group of children at George Mason Regional Library about motorcycle safety. After the talk everyone went into the parking lot to get a close look at the motorcycles. Many kids and even a few adults climbed on the motorcycles, tried on helmets and tried out the horns. As summer …

Spotlight by Starlight continues to provide a variety of entertainment for area residents. On Friday evening, the Mason District Park amphitheater was filled with bluegrass music by Wayne Taylor and Appaloosa, and Elikeh performed Aftopop music at Ossian Hall Park on Saturday evening. Light rain on Sunday evening caused The Army Blues Jazz Ensemble to cut their performance at Mason District Park a bit short, but the audience enjoyed the music as long as possible. Students from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology led a program at George Mason Regional Library, which was co-…

The Fairfax Symphony Orchestra's OTO Brass Quintet explained how brass instruments work and played music from around the world during their performance at the Mason District Park amphitheater. The Blue James Band filled the amphitheater with lively music on Sunday evening, and the blues were all around when Bruce Ewan performed with Steve 'Baby Jakes' Jacobs, Steve Shaw and Bob Berberich on Wednesday. The Annandale Healthcare Consortium, a subcommittee of the Annandale Chamber of Commerce, gave a presentation at George Mason Regional Library about the services available for Fairfax County …

Annandale offers many different activities for both young and old, and this past week was no exception. The Friends of George Mason Regional Library sponsored a program by Reptiles Alive that included both large and small animals. The lively music of Rocknoceros at George Mason Regional Library had the kids clapping and dancing. Tom Paxton, accompanied by Greg Trafidlo, drew a large crowd at the Mason District Park amphitheater. Paxton invited his grandson, Sean Silvia, to join them on stage for a few songs. Mason District Park was the place to be on Saturday morning to learn about dinosaurs …

The Friends of George Mason Regional Library continue to sponsor enjoyable performances at George Mason Regional Library. Kofi Dennis had the young audience moving to rhythm and rhymes and, Jonathan Austin kept young and old entertained with humor, magic and juggling. The Spotlight by Starlight series brought Robin and Linda Williams and Their Fine Group to Mason District Park on Friday evening, Latin rock group Nayas on Sunday and King Soul on Wednesday. Saturday's Bolivian Cultural Heritage Night at Ossian Hall Park started a bit late because of a sudden shower that got performers and …