Tavern Entertainments lectures
Gadsby’s Tavern Museum hosts the John Yagerline Fall Lecture Series, named in honor of Alexandria’s former town crier and Gadsby’s volunteer. The series highlights historical topics related to 18th-century life in Alexandria.
This fall, the series examines “Tavern Entertainments,“ 18th-century amusements, from music to gaming to the world of electricity.
The series kicks off Wednesday, with “18th-Century Tavern Music: Lecture and Concert.“
Oct. 8 - “An Entertaining Discourse on Natural Philosophy and Electrical Fire,“ when experiments of the 18th century will be performed.
Oct. 15 - “Tavern Billiards,“ how the game became an integral part of tavern activities in Colonial days.
The lectures are open to the public and are at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 North Royal St., Alexandria. Doors open at 7 p.m., lectures begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 per lecture or $30 for the series of three.
Reservations are recommended and are available by calling 703-838-4242. Online tickets are available from GadsbysTavern.org, tickets.
Ghost tours
The National Building Museum offers fun and spooky ghost tours with a historic twist with hour-long, lantern-light Historic Hauntings Ghost Tours led by the ghost of Mary Surratt, co-conspirator in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.
Tours are offered at 8 p.m. Oct. 5, 14, 19, 24, 28, and Nov. 3, 16, and 23. Tours are recommended for ages 10 and up.
Tours are $12 for museum members and $14 for non-members. Prepaid registration is required and spaces are expected to fill up quickly. Registration is available from nbm.org or by calling 202-272-2448.
The museum is at 401 F Street NW, Washington, D.C. Hours are Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. Information is available by calling 202-272-2448 or from nbm.org.
Kingstowne Library events
Kingstowne offers a duct tape craft program for ages 13 to 15 Oct. 18, in celebration of Teen Read Week. Call or stop by to register.
On Wednesdays in October at 10:15 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., the library offers Practice your English, an adult conversation group for people learning English. Registration is not required.
On Wednesday at noon, there’s Lunch Bunnies, for kids 1 to 5 with an adult. Bring lunch, fun is at the library. Registration not required.
Event information is available by calling 703-339-4610.
The Kingstowne Library is on the lower level of the Landsdowne Shopping Centre. Directions are available from the library’s Web site, fairfaxcounty.gov/library.
Lawn mower racing champs
Lawn mower racing champions from across the Delaware-Maryland-Virginia area will be crowed at the 7th Annual Great American 250 Lawn Mower Race, Sunday, at 2 p.m. at Laurel Moose Lodge 1504, 430 Brock Bridge Road, Laurel, Md. Admission is $5 per adult and $2 for children 6 to 10.
The day also includes target golf, football toss, new vehicle display, car smash, an antique tractor display and food and beverages.
The DelMarVa Lawn Mower Racing Association will crown champions in seven racing classes at speeds up to 60 mph at this 2008 season-culminating event. More than 50 blade-less mowers from across the region are expected to compete.
Information is available by calling 410-530-4449 or via e-mail to
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Film Festival
The American Film Renaissance Institute Announces has its 5th Annual Film Festival Wednesday through Oct. 4 in Washington, D.C.
Wednesday’s movie is The Dukes, a heist comedy, followed by q-and-a session.
Oct. 2, Do As I Say, a comedic documentary at the Carnegie Institution, followed by an after party.
Oct. 3, An American Carol, a controversial new comedy, followed by a pub crawl.
Oct. 4, Dangerous Calling, a murder mystery; Blocking the Path to 9/11, which explores media bias and censorship; and U.N. Me, a searing look at the United Nations.
Tickets, venue and more information is available from afrfilms.org.
