My thanks to quotesgram.com for the above graphic! It’s been a busy week with lots more to come over the coming weeks. Here’s what we’ve been doing, followed by some of the events we have on our calendar.

Cafe Alexandria – Monday, September 17
Our visitor to Cafe Alexandria this month was Marney Kennedy, Art Docent with the National Gallery of Art. We were in for a special treat because Marney created a special program just for our cafe about the Art Scene in Alexandria.

• First of all, we learned about the Torpedo Factory and all the things they offer there. Originally, it really was a factory that manufactured torpedoes and one of our attendees told the story of neighbors who met while working in the factory. These days the Torpedo Factory is an arts center with working artists that you can visit. It’s also home of the Art League School which offers classes and workshops and open to anyone – beginners are warmly welcomed. If you click here, you can check out the Art League catalogue and enroll for classes.
• The Athenaeum is home to the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association. Their current exhibition, The Cabinet of Curiosities is free and open until November 11.
• River Farm, on the banks of the Potomac River, is the home of the American Horticultural Society. People are encouraged to wander the grounds (sturdy shoes are recommended!) and to paint. The Estate House and grounds are also available as an event venue.
• Some of the other places Marney told us about were Del Ray Artisans and Art on the Avenue.
• In closing, Marney talked briefly about Kenneth Noland, Morris Louis, and Sam Gilliam of the Washington Color School, as well as Martin Puryear.

If you’d like to check out the Alexandria Art scene this weekend, here’s an event for you! The 16th Annual Alexandria King Street Art Festival is this weekend from Saturday, September 22, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, September 23, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information about the King Street Art Festival, click here to visit the event webpage.

Last but not least, we have a reminder about the Paul Spring Parkinson Support Group that meets again on Tuesday, September 25 at 1:00 pm. Paul Spring exercise instructors will be talking with the group. Information about this support group and others in our area are on our website.

Cafe Fairfax – Wednesday, September 19
We had a surprise visit by Grace Lynch and Mary Jane Dye from Fairfax County’s Golden Gazette at Cafe Fairfax, so we talked about all kinds of services by Fairfax County’s Services for Older Adults. Grace sent me some links to share with you:

• First off, you can click here to learn more about the Golden Gazette and to subscribe.
• On page 16 of the Golden Gazette, you’ll find a column called 16 on 16 with updates about the Mature Living series on the Fairfax County Government Television Channel. Some of the topics include Depression in Seniors, Money Management, Protecting Yourself from Scams, Safe Driving and Travel Options, Seniors and Animals, Seniors Who Sing, and When Hospitalization Happens. Click here for the Channel 16 webpage.
• One of the questions from our group was about how to obtain a large print version of the Golden Gazette. You can have it delivered to your Inbox as a PDF and then enlarge the font on your monitor, and it’s also available through Washington Ear, a free service for people who cannot effectively read print material.
• In addition to the shows on Channel 16, Fairfax County’s 50+ program also produce podcasts on a variety of topics – too many to list (really!). Some of the more recent topics were Emergency Preparedness for Access and Functional Needs, Ollie Players, and Mental Health First Aid for Older Adults. Click here to check out the podcasts.
• Our conversation about things we’d like to see invented led us to talking about a local “Shark Tank” type technology challenge where the participants are Fairfax area high school students. Click here to read more about the last challenge and how students can participate in it this year. Maybe you know a high school student who would be interested in participating? Or you have an idea for an invention?
• These links together with event and service links are on www.fairfaxcounty.gov/OlderAdults
• One more link . . . click here to follow Fairfax County 50+ on Facebook.

Event Announcements
It looks like things are really gearing up for a busy autumn! Here are some events to get you started. You’ll find these and more on our Community Events page.

Fair Oaks Folks (Parkinson’s Support Group) meets tomorrow!
Saturday, September 22 from 10 am to noon
At: Sunrise Senior Living at Fair Oaks,
2nd floor activity room, 3750 Joseph Siewick Drive , Fairfax
We do not have a program scheduled this month, but we look forward to spending time with friends and sharing our ideas for Fall activities and future programs.

Prevention & Alternatives to the Opioid Crisis
Thursday, September 27, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
At: Tall Oaks Assisted Living
12052 N Shore Drive, Reston, VA 20190
Speaker Beverly A. Whittenberg, M.D. of National Spine and Pain Centers will address prevention of the misuse of additive prescription pain meds and non-invasive alternative treatments. Light refreshments will be served.
Please RSVP to 703-834-9800 or RSVP@talloaksal.com

The 19th Beacon 50+ Expo
Sunday, September 30 from noon – 4:00 pm
At: Springfield Town Center, Springfield, VA
Exhibitors and resources, health screenings, entertainment, flu shots, giveaways and door prizes.
Also . . . Celebration of the Arts! Come meet the winners of our 50+ amateur art competition and see their winning works. Painting and drawing, sculpture, jewelry, pottery, mixed media, photography, poetry.

15th Annual Pancakes for Parkinson’s
Saturday, October 13, 9 am-2 pm, UVA South Lawn
Come celebrate UVA Homecoming Weekend and the beautiful fall weather at this outdoor brunch! Pancakes for Parkinson’s is an annual UVA tradition, featuring free pancakes and toppings and performances by various UVA music and dance groups. All donations will go to support Parkinson’s Disease research and the search for a cure through the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
More info can be found on our website at https://www.p4patuva.com/
Thank you to Susan Dietrich, Coordinator, American Parkinson Disease Association Information & Referral Center of Virginia for sending us information about this event. Susan also wrote: Whether local to Charlottesville or not, if you are up for a drive, this might be a good destination – for a good cause.

Paintings & Pairings
Thursday, October 25 from 5:30 – 9:00 pm
At: Fairview Park Marriott, 3111 Fairview Park Drive, Falls Church, VA 22042
Paintings & Pairings is a fantastic evening of paired hors d’oeuvres and wines, a delicious 3-course dinner, and exciting auctions and artwork for sale.
All proceeds from the event benefit Insight Memory Care Center, a nonprofit adult day health and resource center (and our Cafe Fairfax hosts!).
Click here to register.

Northern Virginia Dementia Caregivers Conference: Finding Hope & Harmony in Caregiving
Monday, November 12, 2018 from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm
Location: First Baptist Church of Alexandria
2932 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22302
Speakers include Kim Campbell, wife of country/pop legend Glen Campbell. We hear tickets are selling fast so if you’d like to attend, you may want to register soon. Click here for more information.

I hope to see you out and about soon! In the following week we’ll be at Cafe Ashburn as well as some of the events listed above. Busy, busy!

Cheers,
Sonia
email: Sonia@ParkinsonSocialNetwork.org