“Our Beloved Community: Uniting Through Stories”
Ongoing.
Free. Preregistration required. To register as a Story Teller, click here. To register as a Story Adapter, click here.

The deadline to register for Storytellers and Story Adapters is February 5, 2021. The deadline to submit story adaptations is April 30, 2021.

*All workshops will take place virtually over Zoom.

 

Each year, The Alden endeavors to honor the life and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by engaging and connecting the many communities of McLean through live performance. While live performances remain unsafe, The Alden is committed to finding new and creative ways to break through the barriers brought on by the global pandemic and bring our “Beloved Community” together in a tangible way.

 

While we have all witnessed the damaging effects caused by COVID-19, it is our senior neighbors that have, perhaps, struggled the most due to the isolation in which we find ourselves. Recognizing this as a problem easily solved, we look to the principles of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with the goal of uniting our community through outreach and personal connection. This year, The Alden is launching a community connection project that we are calling “Our Beloved Community: Uniting Through Stories.” We are inspired to dust off our virtual note pads and pencils and help our community reconnect and heal through the power of storytelling.

 

How will this project work?

First, we invite those of you with generations of knowledge and wisdom to share with us a personal story—it could be historically significant, a family story that you hope will live on or just a story you love to share. We will affectionately refer to this group as our Storytellers. Some ideas to help get your creativity started are:
•  The day your child was born.
•  How you met your spouse.
•  A story from your days in the service.
•  A moment you made a difference in someone else’s life.
•  The experience you had on a big day (Inauguration day, President Kennedy’s assassination, September 11, D-Day, Pearl Harbor, etc.)
•  Your first... (fill in the blank).
•  Why did you move to McLean? What was it like then?
•  Something you want to pass on to the generation that is growing up now.

 

Next, we will match that story with Story Adapters, composed of families, friend groups, scout troops, etc., to interpret their given story into whatever art form they are comfortable with. Comic books, videos, short plays, songs, visual art… the possibilities are only limited by your imagination!

 

The Alden will be providing a virtual workshops* for teams so our Story Adapters can help you brush up on your artistic storytelling skills. As projects are submitted, we will determine the best way to curate and display these art pieces for the community’s viewing.

 

This project is open to everyone in the McLean community and the surrounding areas as either a Storyteller or Story Adapters. We encourage families to work on this together, but all participants age 13 or younger should have parental supervision when creating their stories.

 

Won’t you please help us share a story? You never know how sharing a life story could inspire someone else to rewrite their own.

 

To register as a Story Teller, click here. To register as a Story Adapter, click here.

 

For more information, please contact Danielle Van Hook at Danielle.VanHook@fairfaxcounty.gov or Jeff Virchow at Jeffrey.Virchow@fairfaxcounty.gov.

 

“Seeing White”—Season Two of “Scene on Radio” from the Center for Documentary Studies
Thursdays Jan. 14–Feb. 18, 7 p.m.
Moderated by the staff of The Alden
Free. Preregistration required. Registration closes at 5 p.m. the day before each session. Click here to register for one or all the sessions.

*All events will take place virtually over Zoom.

 

About “Seeing White”
Where did the notion of “whiteness” come from? What does it mean? What is whiteness for?
Hosts Jon Biewen and weekly guest host Dr. Chenjerai Kumanyika delve into the historical origins of whiteness and racism in the US. The series looks at the history as well as the social constructs and emotional grappling that Americans engage in when discussing race and whiteness.

 

Prior to each session, listen to the corresponding episodes of “Seeing White” on your own, and then join your friends and neighbors for a virtual community conversation about the episodes. The podcast can be accessed through your preferred podcast app or on the “Scene on Radio” website.

 

For more information, please contact Sarah Schallern Treff at Sarah.SchallernTreff@fairfaxcounty.gov.

 

Session 1 Thursday, Jan. 14, 7 p.m.	Parts 1, 2 and 3 • Turning the Lens (16:30) • How Race Was Made (28:50) • Made in America (33:39)
Session 2 Thursday, Jan. 21, 7 p.m.	Parts 4 and 5 • On Crazy We Built a Nation (36:30) • Little War on the Prairie (62:57)
Session 3 Thursday, Jan. 28, 7 p.m.	Parts 6, 7 and 8 • That's Not Us, So We're Clean (40:05) • Chenjerai's Challenge (14:27) • Skulls and Skin (45:56)
Session 4 Thursday, Feb. 4, 7 p.m.	Parts 9 and 10 • A Racial Cleansing in America (29:14) • Citizen Thind (38:26)
Session 5 Thursday, Feb. 11, 7 p.m.	Parts 11 and 12 • Danger (45:53) • My White Friends (40:17)
Session 6 Thursday, Feb. 18, 7 p.m.	Parts 13 and 14 • White Affirmative Action (48:00) • Transformation (44:11)

Live Launch: Saturday, Jan. 23, 4 p.m.

Free admission; registration is required.

Activity No. 2000.321

 

The Be Fit McLean health fair is back! This event offers valuable information on a variety of health issues and preventive practices. Learn how to better manage your mental and physical wellness. Health experts and wellness-related exhibitors offer up-to-date information on such topics as stress management, work-life balance, happiness, nutrition and much more.

Live Launch: Sunday, Feb. 7, 5–6 p.m.
Free admission; registration is required. Activity No. 2012.321

For beginners and connoisseurs alike, this wine experience will not disappoint! Join your friends or surprise your Valentine and enjoy this fun, virtual, live and interactive wine tasting and food pairing event. Four unique wines for this tasting are available to pre-purchase by registrants at Balducci’s in McLean. A wine expert will lead this session and explore the selected wines as well as other interesting aspects of the art of wine tasting.

Check back later for a full list of featured wines and purchasing information from Balducci's.

McLean Uncorked is a series of three unique wine tasting events featuring local wine experts.
Sunday, Oct. 25, featuring Chain Bridge Wine Cellars. Click here to view.
Sunday, Dec. 13, featuring holiday-themed wines from The Wine Outlet in McLean. Click here to view.
Sunday, Feb. 7, featuring food and wine pairings from Balducci's. Register today.

 

For more information about McLean Uncorked, contact events@mcleancenter.org.

Saturday, April 17, 9 a.m.-noon
Free admission; preregistration required.

Register here: 2001.321

This drive-through, outdoor, environmental action event provides a convenient way for McLean residents to better the planet. Several local community businesses and organizations will provide four key facets of environmental health in the spirit of shredding, reusing, recycling and planting. Free tree saplings and pollinator seeds will be distributed, first-come, first-served. Limits apply.

Celebrating Our Hometown Since 1915
McLean Day 2021

Saturday, May 15, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

Free admission

 

New! McLean’s favorite annual event is celebrating our hometown in a different way this year! Check this space closer to the event date for up-and-coming information. Due to Covid-19, event details may change.

 

Exhibitors, please check the Exhibitor Page to apply.

Saturday, Dec. 5 & Sunday, Dec. 6, 4 p.m.

The virtual 2020 McLean Holiday Art & Crafts Festival has concluded; however, you can still view the show, relive the fun and shop unique gifts from wonderful vendors!  Enjoy both days of our recorded content now through February 14, 2021.

 

Founded in 1982, The McLean Holiday Art & Crafts Festival is a highly anticipated, juried show featuring exceptional regional artisans. These fine, handcrafted works include established, high-quality, seasoned artisans as well as new artisans exhibiting innovative concepts. The show includes pottery, glass, jewelry, holiday decorations, mixed media, fashion accessories, wood, fine art, artisanal foods, and more. See behind the scenes and watch how these artists create their masterpieces. Support the arts and buy a unique gift for someone special!

Show management will be provided by the Northern Virginia Handcrafters Guild (NVHG). Founded in 1972, the NVHG, a 501(c)3 non-profit community-based organization, is dedicated to helping artists and craftspeople exhibit and sell their work, promoting the development of arts and crafts in the community and supporting arts and crafts educational activities. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

McLean Holiday Art & Crafts Festival Artists

Basketry

Linda Bowers, Just For You Baskets, www.just4youbaskets.com 

Pam Scott, Just For You Baskets, www.just4youbaskets.com 

Candles and Wax

Ashley Mahan, McLean Candle Company, www.mcleancandle.com 

Ceramics

Barry Hash, B H Ceramics, Inc., www.etsy.com/shop/bhceramicsinc 

Charles Cheek, CDC Stoneware, www.cdcstoneware.com 

Clothing

Anne Alden, Fringe Benefits, www.etsy.com/shop/fringebenefitsscarf 

Anikka Becker, Anikka Becker Design, www.anikkabecker.com 

Fiber and Textiles

Sandra McCaslin, Alexandra's Accents, www.etsy.com/shop/AlexsAttic 

Ivy Wong NG, G's Glory Handbags, www.gsglory.com 

Joanne Strehle Bast, Joanne Bast, www.jbast.com 

Suzanne Wennermark-Roskowick, www.etsy.com/shop/warmheartwarmsoul 

Glass

Anne Clark, Anne P. Clark, www.anneclarkglass.com 

Anjali Sunderam, Sovereign Treasures, https://sovereigntreasures.square.site/ 

Emily Pezzulich, Pezzulich Glassworks, www.pezzulichglassworks.com 

Glass Jewelry

Shona D'Cruz, Blue Hyacinth Mosaics, LLC, www.bluehyacinthmosaics.com 

Jewelry

Réjane Pratelli , Anvil Fire and Time, www.anvilfireandtime.com 

Rona Fisher, Rona Fisher Jewelry Design, www.ronafisher.com 

Jungwhon Joo, Jungwhon Joo, www.enamelsbyj.com 

Michele Ross, Shiny Objects by Michele, www.etsy.com/shop/shinyobjectsmichele 

Cindy Shafer, Classics by Cindy, www.etsy.com/shop/StatementsinLeather 

Leather

Lisa Strauss, Col de Mar Sea Leather Accessories, www.coldemar.com 

Multimedia

Andrew Gallagher, Andrew Gallagher, www.etsy.com/shop/WoodAndGlassDesign 

Ellen Rosenthal, ERosenthal Printmaker, www.etsy.com/shop/erprintmaker 

Maritza Maxwell, Hatch, mmaxwell@hatchskills.com

Painting/Drawing/Etching

Carol McPherson, Sparrow, www.carolslittlesparrow.com 

BJ Opfer, Opfer's Wildlife Art and Pet Portraits, OpferBirdsandPets@gmail.com

Bob Friedenberg, Not-Wolf-Productions, Dr.Bob@Not-Wolf-Productions.com

Paper

David Jenkins, David Jenkins Papercuttings, www.davidjenkinspapercuttings.com 

Mila French, Gilded Paper Art, gildedpaperart@aol.com

Photography

Gloria Freund, Freund and Friends Photos, www.sentientseas.com 

Elly Uehling, Nature Cards by Elly, www.etsy.com/shop/cardsbyelly 

Chris Fedderson, MacroFine Photography, www.macrofinephotography.com

Soap and Skin Care

Brenda Simon, Brenda's Bars, blsimon99@gmail.com 

Specialty Food

Bobbie Pontzer, Betty Jane's Sweet Delights, Inc., www.BettyJanesSweetDelights.com 

Amy Yule, Pecan Yummies, www.pecanyummies.com

Woodcraft

Paul Dunlap, High Ridge Woodworking of Deep Gap, NC, highridgeww@yahoo.com

 

Questions? Please contact events@mcleancenter.org.