Upcoming Local and Regional Arts Events

Some upcoming arts events you'll want to put on your calendars:

* MAIMfest: Mid-Atlantic Independent Music Festival, October 31, 12:00 p.m. - Until — Halloween at the Prison promises live music at the Workhouse Arts Center (9601 Ox Rd.,  Lorton, Virginia), plus costume contests judged by the bands. Do you dare? A list of the bands and ticket information are here and here.

* 6 Artists of Rappahannock, October 31 - November 22 — R.H. Ballard Gallery (307 Main St., Washington, Virginia) presents the work of artists Kevin Adams, Robert Ballard, Jim Conaway, Vivianne deKosinsky, Nina Moore, and Thomas Mullany. A reception for the artists is Sunday, November 1, 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Click here for more information or telephone 540-675-1411.

* 22nd Annual Washington Craft Show, November 6 - 8 — 190 jury-selected contemporary craft artists will be presenting and selling their work at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center (Mt. Vernon Place, between 7th & 9th Streets., N.W., Washington, D.C.). Hours are 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., Friday; 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Saturday; and 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Sunday. Admission Fee. Leave your car at home and take the Metro to Mt. Vernon Square station. For additional information, click here.

* 5th Annual Artists of Rappahannock Studio & Gallery Tour 2009, November 7 - 8, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. — Seventeen artists open their studios and seven professional galleries open their doors to show off the art of the Rappahannock region. Two of my favorites: Sara Schneidman and Jeanne Drevas. Sponsored by the Rappahannock Association for the Arts and the Community. You'll need to get in your car for this one and head to the Fire Station in "Little" Washington, Virginia, where you'll find maps and a list of participants. Click here for more information.

* L'Invitation au Voyage, November 14, 7:30 p.m. —IBIS, a chamber music society, begins its season of free local concerts with a wonderful program featuring the music of Duparc, Piazzolla, de Falla, Pierne, Corigliano, and Dvorak. If you have a hard day at the office, take the Metro to the Clarendon station and walk to the concert site at Clarendon United Methodist Church (606 N. Irving St., Arlington, Virginia). The schedule for this and other performances around the region is here.

And now. . . My heartfelt congratulations to my friend Marga Fripp, entrepreneur and founder and executive director of Empowered Women International, a nonprofit organization that supports the arts and cultures of immigrant and refugee women. Marga recently was nominated for and awarded a 2009 Alex Art Award from the Alexandria (Virginia) Commission for the Arts, which is celebrating its 25th year. The Alex Awards program honors individuals who contribute significantly to the arts in the City of Alexandria. For Marga, Alexandria is like a second home.