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Arlington’s 55+ Programs are offering a busy February lineup featuring concerts, Black History Month presentations, art workshops, travel, games and educational sessions.
Activities are held at 55+ centers unless marked as virtual. Participation requires a 55+ Pass, with annual fees starting at $20. Registration is available at registration.arlingtonva.us or by calling 703-228-4747.
Wednesday, Feb. 5
Opera commentator George Cecchetti will explore Richard Wagner’s “Die Walküre,” the second work in the Ring Cycle, at 1:30 p.m. at Lubber Run 55+ Center. Registration #912300-05.
Pianist Ken Schellenberg and singers Judy Lewis and Jane Petkovsky will perform selections from the Stephen Sondheim songbook at 2:30 p.m. at Aurora Hills 55+ Center. Registration #912301-09.
Arlington Regional Master Naturalist volunteers will discuss birds that spend the winter in Arlington and ways residents can support migratory species. The program begins at 5 p.m. at Arlington Mill 55+ Center. Registration #912400-26.
The 55+ Travel group will visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington. The trip costs $11 for Arlington residents and $13 for nonresidents.
Thursday, Feb. 6
A virtual Black History Month program will examine the 107th U.S. Colored Troops in Arlington. Local history expert John McNair will lead the 3 p.m. presentation. Registration #912400-09.
Opher Heymann, a student at the U.S. Army War College, will discuss strategic competition in Africa and U.S. efforts to advance democracy and peace through elements of national power. The virtual program starts at 2:30 p.m. Registration #912400-35.
Schellenberg, Lewis and Jane Petrovsky will perform Sondheim compositions at 1 p.m. at Walter Reed 55+ Center. Registration #912301-10.
Community Arts Programmers Jennifer Droblyen and Jim Halloran will lead a virtual, museum-inspired paint-along at 10 a.m. Registration #912303-09.
Musicians of every skill level may bring a banjo, guitar, fiddle, mandolin or dulcimer to an Appalachian old-time and string-band jam at 5 p.m. at Lubber Run 55+ Center. Volunteer Fred Winter, co-founder of New York City’s Old Time Music Project, will lead the session. Registration #912304-20.
Friday, Feb. 7
The 55+ Travel group will head to Maryland Live! Casino in Hanover and the Arundel Mills Outlets. The cost is $13 for Arlington residents and $15 for nonresidents. Registration #902502-03.
For Black History Month, 55+ Operations Supervisor Cory Cox will discuss African American women inventors at 2 p.m. at Aurora Hills 55+ Center. Registration #912400-10.
Monday, Feb. 10
A Community Arts Programmer will demonstrate a detailed, step-by-step painting process during a virtual session at 10:30 a.m. Registration #912303-03.
Tuesday, Feb. 11
Adults can perform vintage radio plays—complete with sound effects—during Reader’s Theater at 5:30 p.m. at Walter Reed 55+ Center. Registration #912301-14.
Spellbinders of Arlington will hold a 2:30 p.m. information session at Lubber Run 55+ Center for adults interested in oral storytelling. Registration #912301-24.
Participants can pair with Lubber Run preschoolers to make miniature Valentine’s Day cards at 10 a.m. Supplies are included. Registration #912310-10.
Wendy Zenker, executive director of Arlington Neighborhood Village, will explain the village model and ways to participate at 11:30 a.m. The Zoom presentation may be viewed at Lubber Run 55+ Center under registration #912400-01 or attended virtually under #912400-02.
Arlington Park Naturalist Bobbi Farley will present a virtual slideshow about how local animals survive harsh winter conditions. The program begins at 7 p.m. Registration #912400-27.
Wednesday, Feb. 12
Carrie Conley, director of Arlington Mill 55+ Center, will demonstrate how to make chocolate-covered strawberries at 6 p.m. Registration #912501-10.
February’s virtual history roundtable will examine major war-resistance movements at 11:15 a.m. Registration #912402-06.
A program about words and the history of English begins at 10:30 a.m. at Lubber Run 55+ Center. Register for the in-person session with #912402-13 or the virtual option with #912402-14.
Local musicians Phil Rosen, Ed Girovasi and friends will play classic pop, folk and blues from across the decades at 2 p.m. at Langston-Brown 55+ Center. Registration #912301-11.
The 55+ Travel group will visit the Virginia Museum of History & Culture in Richmond for an exhibit about educational initiatives led by Black educator Booker T. Washington and Jewish businessman and philanthropist Julius Rosenwald. The trip costs $34 for Arlington residents and $39 for nonresidents. Registration #902502-05.
Thursday, Feb. 13
A prerecorded virtual lecture will examine Virginia’s Green Book, which helped many African Americans travel safely during the Jim Crow era. Susan Hellman, principal planner with the City of Alexandria’s Planning and Zoning Historic Preservation Division, will lead the 2:30 p.m. program. Registration #912400-11.
Scott Taylor, president of the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington, will discuss the history and contributions of Arlington’s Black community during a virtual presentation at 3 p.m. Registration #912400-12.
A virtual tour billed as a Central America program will focus on Paraguay’s history, culture and geography. Ashley Gomez, director of Lubber Run 55+ Center, will present at 1 p.m. Registration #912400-40.
A beginner quilling class at Lubber Run 55+ Center will teach participants to turn coiled paper strips into decorations for note cards. The 1:30 p.m. class costs $18, with supplies included. Registration #912310-07.
Friday, Feb. 14
Aurora Hills 55+ Center will hold a Valentine’s Day soirée at 1 p.m., featuring sweets and classic love songs performed by pianist Valerie Welsh. Registration #912890-05.
A Valentine’s Day social with treats, music and games begins at 1:30 p.m. at Langston-Brown 55+ Center. Registration #912890-06.
Robyn Mitchell of the Therapeutic Recreation Office will lead an interactive discussion about making the 55+ community inclusive for everyone. The session starts at 11 a.m. at Walter Reed 55+ Center. Registration #912400-04.
Tuesday, Feb. 18
Sandy O’Shea will teach an introductory ukulele class at 4 p.m. at Walter Reed 55+ Center. A limited number of instruments will be available. Registration #912304-06.
Genealogist Eileen Bogdanoff will introduce primary sources, family records and DNA services such as Ancestry.com at 11:30 a.m. at Lubber Run 55+ Center. Registration #912402-03.
Jennifer Weber, director of Walter Reed 55+ Center, will show participants how to handle varied online tasks using Google, YouTube and educational platforms. The session begins at 5:30 p.m. Registration #912403-03.
Wednesday, Feb. 19
Pianist Valerie Welsh will lead a piano-lounge sing-along featuring favorite love songs at 4 p.m. at Lubber Run 55+ Center. Registration #912304-27.
Adults can play board games with third- through eighth-grade students from Aspire Afterschool Learning Academy at 4 p.m. at Arlington Mill 55+ Center. Registration #912600-05.
Cory Cox will present a program about Black inventors in American history at 2 p.m. at Aurora Hills 55+ Center. Registration #912400-13.
George Cecchetti will return to Lubber Run 55+ Center at 1:30 p.m. for another look at Wagner’s “Die Walküre,” including a discussion of the story and a video presentation. Registration #912300-06.
Thursday, Feb. 20
Library of Virginia Outreach Specialist Peter North will give a virtual presentation on the library’s digital collections and explain how to access historical records and archives. The program starts at 3 p.m. Registration #912400-19.
A coral-reef crochet project designed to raise awareness about climate change begins at 4 p.m. at Lubber Run 55+ Center. Participants should bring yarn and crochet hooks, although some materials will be available. Basic crochet experience is helpful, and a 55+ volunteer will offer some instruction. The event is drop-in.
Walter Reed 55+ Center will host Eurogames from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Participants will play strategy-focused tabletop games such as Wingspan, Ticket to Ride and Settlers of Catan. Registration #912600-03.
Friday, Feb. 21
The 55+ Travel group will take a one-hour guided tour of the College Park Aviation Museum. The trip costs $19 for Arlington residents and $22 for nonresidents. Registration #902502-08.
Community Arts Programmer Jim Halloran will offer a behind-the-scenes look at three professional artists during a virtual presentation at 10:30 a.m. Registration #912302-08.