Events in Central Virginia This Weekend: Jan. 18-21

Here are some fun things going on this weekend:

On the Virginia Sports calendar:

- Friday at 7pm: UVA Women's Basketball vs. Maryland, at John Paul Jones Arena.

From the Albemarle Family calendar:

- Friday is Public Night at the UVA McCormick Observatory from 7pm-9pm. Three telescopes at the McCormick Observatory offer amazing views of our galaxy (weather permitting) while astronomy staff and graduate students answer questions. A slide show and tour are also provided. Open every 1st and 3rd Friday.

- Saturday at 11am, go on a Teddy Bear Hike. Dress yourself and your favorite stuffed friend or toy warmly for a fun-filled winter hike on the Rivanna Trail. Discover how the city's forests help real animals stay warm in winter. For kids of all ages and their families or caregivers. Riverview Park. $free.

These events can be found at NBC29's Calendar:

- Special Olympics "Experience" Thursday-Saturday. Special Olympics Virginia tennis at the invitational tournament-the Boar’s Head Sports Club in Charlottesville. More than 30 of the most highly skilled tennis players from Special Olympics programs throughout the United States, including two of Virginia’s own Special Olympics’ star players, Jon Fried and Chris Raupp, will take to the courts during this special event, which marks Special Olympics Virginia’s first venture into an invitational with regional and national players. Free.

- Saturday the Charlottesville Swing Dance Society offers a high-energy evening of Swing Dancing and a variety of other dances at the Greek Orthodox Church Felowship Hall, located at 100 Perry Drive (off McIntire Rd) in Charlottesville. West Coast Swing and other favorites. The dance is held from 8 pm to 11 pm and our Dance DJ is Michael Smith. At 6:30 pm Terry Dean and Cindy Reynolds will teach a Beginner Salsa lesson followed by an Intermediate Salsa lesson at 7:15 pm. The lesson is included with the dance admission price. Singles and couples are welcome; no parter is needed. $12 general admission per person, $6 students (w/ID), $9 members.

- All day Saturday & Sunday T'ai Chi Workshops with Master Wang Fu-Lai, Chairman of the International Cheng Ming Martial Art Association, who will be visiting Charlottesville. This enlightening and enriching weekend of events is open to students of all levels, including beginners. Expand upon your practice or have your first experience with t'ai chi be a unique one! Master Wang's own practice and teaching style reflect a deep respect for these ancient internal arts - while also maintaining a friendly and accessible nature and attending to individual students' needs. He will offer workshops in Ch'i Kung Meditation; Push Hands; Cheng-Ming Forms; and Cheng-Ming T'ai Chi - 1-99 Steps.

- Sunday at 2pm Learn "The Three Stories of Ivy Creek": from 200 years of local history the overlapping stories of Hydraulic Mills, Hugh Carr and Riverview Farm, and the South Fork Rivanna River Reservoir. Dede Smith will present the intertwining stories of the unique cultural and social history of the area around and within what is now the Ivy Creek Natural Area. Presentation will be in the Education Building followed by a walk to the Hydraulic Mills overlook.
From the Downtown Business Association's calendar:

- Sunday see the Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band at The Paramount. "More than anything, Poncho Sanchez is a storyteller. Leader of the most popular Latin jazz group in the world, Sanchez lets his congas and seasoned ensemble do the talking -- spinning vivacious tales that pay homage to a half-century tradition born when Afro-Cuban rhythms merged with bebop. Sanchez and his well-traveled octet will explore traditional salsa and Cuban music, bebop-rooted and West Coast-seasoned Latin jazz, and vintage Latin soul in this exciting concert, a spicy amalgam of R&B and funk. Group discounts available. Half price student rush tickets 45 minutes before the show."

These were on the Virginia Is For Lovers calendar:

- The MAC Events Home Show at the Richmond Convention Center Friday-Sunday: will feature displays of the region's most innovative manufacturers and sellers of custom homes, window treatments, decks & outdoor lighting, kitchen cabinetry & custom furniture, hardwood & tile flooring, security systems, HVAC systems, patio & casual furniture, pools & spas, landscapers, closet systems, pianos, granite countertops, buidlers and remodelers, patio rooms, windows & doors, fireplaces, baths and so much more.

- The Virginia Boat Show is Friday-Sunday at The Showplace in Richmond. In addition to low boat show prices on all 2008 boats, attendees will have first opportunity to buy leftover 2007 boats. Boats on display will include runabouts, saltwater fishing boats, ski boats, pontoon boats, jet boats, PWCs, motor yachts and bass boats. Numerous companies representing marinas, marine electronics, wake boards, boating accessories, boat lifts and other boating related products and services will also have exhibits. Displays will also represent several boating publications and boating safety.

- Saturday & Sunday are Wintergreen Resort Freestyle Demo Days. Bring yourself up-to-date. Test out the hottest ski and snowboard equipment on the market today. Weather permitting.

- Friday-Sunday, there will be Gwen Weaver Origami Workshops at The Meeting Place in the Wintergreen area. This getaway weekend will be a favorite, come join us, ....RELAX and ENJOY!
- Monday is the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration in Fredericksburg at University of Mary Washington in Dodd Auditorium. Keynote lecture by Jim Lucas, acclaimed speaker and actor; a Cultural Awareness Series event.

Drive carefully in the snow tomorrow and have a great weekend!

Karen
www.move2va.com