On the calendar

Friday, Nov. 20, 2009

Concerts

Jazz after-hours — Café des Artistes will host live jazz by Gretchen Richie and dancing from 8:15-11 p.m. Nov. 21. The restaurant is at 41655 Fenwick St., Leonardtown. Call 301-997-0500.

Open mic — The event will be held from 7:30-10 p.m. Nov. 20 at St. Andrew's Church, 44078 St. Andrew's Church Road, Leonardtown. Fee is $5. Call 301-373-2661.

Mark Trautman — The organist will perform at 4 p.m. Nov. 22 at Christ Church. The concert is free. The church is at 112 E. Charles St., La Plata. Call 301-392-1051.

Theater<P> St. Mary's College — "Arms and the Man" will conclude at 8 p.m. Nov. 19-21 and at 2 p.m. Nov. 22. The college is in St. Mary's City. Tickets are $4 and $6. Call 240-895-4243.

‘The Fantasticks' — The Newtowne Players' production will conclude at 8 p.m. Nov. 20 and 21 and 3:30 p.m. Nov. 22. Tickets are $18, $15 for senior citizens, students and military. Three Notch Theatre is at 21744 S. Coral Drive, Lexington Park. Call 301-737-5447.

‘Much Ado About Nothing' — Lackey High School will present Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 20-21 and 2 p.m. Nov. 22. Tickets are $8, $7 for senior citizens. The school is at 3000 Chicamuxen Road, Indian Head.

‘Steel Magnolias' — Thomas Stone High School will present "Steel Magnolias" at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 19-21. Tickets are $7. The school is at 3785 Leonardtown Road, Waldorf. Call 301-645-2601.

‘Look Homeward, Angel' — Westlake High School will present "Look Homeward, Angel" at 7 p.m. Nov. 20-21. Tickets are $8. The school is at 3300 Middletown Road, Waldorf. Call 301-753-1758.

‘TXT U LATER' — A teenage comedy, "TXT U LATER," will be held at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 20 and 21 and 1 p.m. Nov. 22 at St. John Vianney Family Life Center Theater, 105 Vianney Lane, Prince Frederick. Dinner will be offered at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 21 for $6. Call 410-610-7550.

Special events

Halloween Train — The event will conclude on Nov. 21. See flying witches and ghosts and hear scary screams. Hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays. Tans is at Chesapeake Avenue and Fifth Street, North Beach. Call 410-257-6619 or 301-855-8337.

Buy a tree — The 21st Annual Festival of Trees will be held Nov. 27 – 29 at Huntingtown High School, 4125 Solomons Island Road. The theme, "The Dream Becomes a Reality," will celebrate the opening of the Burnett-Calvert Hospice House, a press release states. Call 410-535-0892 or 301-855-1226.

Free family movie — Watch a PG movie at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 25 at Charlotte Hall library, 37600 New Market Road. Snacks will be provided. Call 301-884-2211.

Steak and shrimp dinner — The event will be held from 5-8 p.m. Nov. 20 at the American Legion Post 221, 21690 Colton Point Road, Avenue. The menu will include a 12-ounce strip steak or a pound of steamed shrimp for $13. Sandwiches will be available, too. Call 301-769-2220.

Colonial food — Learn how to prepare food eaten by Colonists in Prince George's County on the eve of the Revolutionary War from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 21. There is a fee. The event will be held at National Colonial Farm, 3400 Bryan Point Road, Accokeek. Call 301-283-2113.

Jewelry fundraiser — Purchase a piece of sterling silver jewelry, a watch or belt to raise money for Calvert Adult Day Care, a press release urges. The event will be held from 9-11:30 a.m. Nov. 21 at Adult Day Care, 975 Solomons Island Road, Prince Frederick. Call 301-928-0466.

Plan ahead

Mystery author — Mystery author and retired homicide detective John J. Lamb will appear from 1-3 p.m. Nov. 28 at Borders, 3304 Crain Highway, Waldorf. His books include "The Mournful Teddy" and "Echoes of the Lost Order." His newest is the "The Treacherous Teddy." Call 301-705-6672.

Tree lighting — A holiday party will be held from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 1 at Nanjemoy Community Center, 4375 Port Tobacco Road. The holiday tree will be lit and music will be provided by the Lackey High School band and choir and the Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School chorus. Have your picture taken with a special "guest." Call 301-256-9612.

Auditions for ‘Cabaret' — St. Mary's College will have auditions for "Cabaret" from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Dec. 1 and 2 in Auerbach Auditorium. The college is in St. Mary's City. Performances dates will be March 4-7 and 9-11. E-mail wgillett@carollcc.edu.

Connections Literary Magazine — Contributor to the College of Southern Maryland's fall issue of Connections literary magazine will read and discuss their work at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at the La Plata campus, 8730 Mitchell Road. The event is free. Call 301-934-7864.

Leonardtown Rotary Performing Arts Series — Elisabeth von Trapp will perform at 7 p.m. Dec. 5 and Legendary Ladies of Song will perform Jan. 9. Tickets are $25, $15 for children younger than 15. Season tickets are $75, $50 for children younger than 15. The high school is at 21130 Great Mills Road. Call 301-475-6999.

Holiday Candlelight Tours — Set during the War of 1812, "Sotterley Under Siege" will be held from 6-10 p.m. Dec. 4 and 5. Tours inside the mansion run every 10 minutes. Fee is $15. The plantation is at 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood. Go to www.sotterley.org.

‘Tutti Fruitti' — Main Street Gallery will host its holiday open house from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 5. Check out "a wop bopa-a-lu whop of a fun-filled open house featuring a holiday art tree laden with handmade ornaments by local artists," a press release states. The gallery is at 486 Main St., Prince Frederick. Call 410-535-3334.

Family Plantation Christmas — Visit Santa Claus, take a horse-drawn carriage ride, sing with carolers, make holiday crafts and see what you can find in the scavenger hunt from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 5 at Sotterley Plantation. Sandi English will perform "Mammy Reminiscence." Fee is $5. The plantation is at 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood. Go to www.sotterley.org.

Open studio and food drive — Enjoy holiday treats while visit Sarah Houde's pottery studio from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 5 and 6. A raku firing demo will be held at 2 p.m. each day. Bring a canned food item for the Church of Ascension Food Pantry. The studio is at 44035 Drum Cliff Road, Hollywood.

Holiday Craft Fair — The free event will be held from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 5 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 28297 Old Village Ave., Mechanicsville. It will have craft tables, raffles and food. Call 301-290-0186.

Charles County Youth Orchestra and Encore Strings — A fall concert will be held at 3 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Westlake High School auditorium. The orchestra will perform works by Samuel Barber, Aaron Copland and Chuck Mangione. Tickets are $10, children younger than 18 get in for free. The school is at 3300 Middletown Road, Waldorf.

Preschool stories — Local storyteller Pat Harris will entertain children with her stories at 9:45 a.m. Dec. 9 at the College of Southern Maryland, 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata. Fee is $5. Call 301-934-7828.

Winter choral concert — The College of Southern Maryland will have it annual winter concert under the direction of Michael Santana at 8 p.m. Dec. 11 in the fine arts center, 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata. Fee is $5. Call 301-934-7828.

Christmas open mic — Southern Maryland Traditional Music and Dance's HomeSpun CoffeeHouse will be held from 7:30-10 p.m. Dec. 11 at Christ Episcopal Church's parish hall, 37497 Zach Fowler Road, Chaptico. Doors will open at 7 p.m. Fee is $5. Call 301-373-2661. Go to www.smtmd.org.

Christmas contra dance — Southern Maryland Traditional Music and Dance will have a contra dance from 7:30-10 p.m. Dec. 12 at Christ Episcopal Church's parish hall, 37497 Zach Fowler Road, Chaptico. Fee is $8. Bring a "sweet treat" to share. The open band will provide the music, and an ice cream social will be held after the dance. Go to www.smtmd.org.

Latin ensemble — The College of Southern Maryland's Latin ensemble will perform its annual winter concert at under the direction of Stephen Johnson at 8 p.m. Dec. 12 in the fine arts center, 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata. Fee is $5. Call 301-934-7828.

Holly Jolly Christmas — Gracie's Guys & Gals Dance Studio will present its annual Christmas show at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Dec. 12 at Chopticon High School, 25390 Colton's Point Road. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door, children younger than 2 get in for free. Call 301-475-5265. E-mail gghollyjollyxmas@aol.com.

‘Bright Shiny Beads' — Main Street Gallery will host a trunk show to celebrate Prince Frederick's annual holiday art walk from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 12. The show features jewelry by Susan Stockman. The gallery is at 486 Main St., Prince Frederick. Call 410-535-3334.

Ring in the holidays — Candlelight Tours will be held from 4-7 p.m. Dec. 12 at Thomas Stone National Historic Site, 6655 Rose Hill Road, Port Tobacco. Tour the house, which will be decorated with Colonial wreaths, and discuss the events of 1783. Call 301-392-1776.

COSMIC concert — The community orchestra will perform Handel's "Messiah" at 4 p.m. Dec. 12 at Patuxent Presbyterian Church, 23421 Kingston Road, California and at 5 p.m. Dec. 13 at Crossroad Christian Church, 150 Ball Road, St. Leonard. Go to www.cosmicmusic.org. Tickets are $10, $8 for students, senior citizens and military.