Featured Events in Alexandria A in May, 2025 (June Updated)

CLASS DESCRIPTION: Curate your own personalized herbal tea blends in this immersive hands-on class! Explore the healing properties of various herbs, learning how to craft unique flavors tailored to your taste while also harnessing their natural benefits. From soothing and calming blends to energizing and immune-boosting infusions, you'll discover how to thoughtfully combine ingredients for both flavor and function. Whether you're a tea enthusiast or just beginning your journey into herbal wellness, this class will leave you with a deeper appreciation for the art of tea blending—and a custom mix to take home and enjoy! ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR: Jessica Eason is an herbalist, gardener and trained marine biologist and coastal ecologist. She is also the owner and creator of Rough Seas Productions. She values sharing the benefits of natural products and going to nature to heal and be healed. The use of natural herbs grown in a local community garden for lotions and hair health turned into a habit of curating a diversity of teas to be shared with friends and family. This habit turned into a business that serves as a platform for people to experience the diversity of nature's pantry and the benefits of consuming natural and organic products. This brand and our products reflect the colorful journey to reaching one’s goals. It’s about the calm before the storm, the exhaustion and struggle during the storm and the strength that comes while watching the colors after the storm passes. Life is unpredictable. Dreams change, relationships come and go, but through starting this company we have learned that if you are centered, willing to work hard, and have faith in what you’re capable of, you’ll always be able to weather the storm. Information Source: Shop Made in VA | eventbrite

Join the Brothers of the Alexandria (LA) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. for our 58th Annual Black & White Scholarship Ball ! This prestigious event celebrates our community's achievements and supports deserving students through our scholarship efforts. Get ready for a night of elegance, celebration, and meaningful impact at the Alexandria Convention Hall, Saturday, May 24, 2025, starting at 8:00 PM . Dress to impress in your finest black and white attire as we raise funds for scholarships. Enjoy live music, delicious food, and dancing the night away. Individual and Couple tickets are to be purchased through Eventbrite. Tables and additional sponsorship opportunities can be purchased through Eventbrite or by contacting the Event Chair at (318) 613-0279. Don't miss out on this unforgettable evening supporting education and opportunity. See you there! Information Source: Alexandria (LA) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi | eventbrite

Persian classical and folk music comprises scales, sub-scales, and segments called Gushehes. The scales selected to be showcased on May 31, 2025, are the Shoor and the minor scales. Altogether, there will be 15 songs carefully crafted and composed for the occasion and the taste and savor of the cultural audience who are oriented more towards pure art wroks and not entertainment solely. The songs selected are the works by contemporary Iranian Maestro musicians and Nader Majd. Notes: The doors will open at 5:30 pm, and the event starts at 7:00 pm. There are no age restrictions for attendance; however, we kindly request that children under the age of 7 refrain from participating, as the nature of the showcase may result in potential disruptions. There is ample parking on the premises. Tickets are non-refundable. Information Source: The Persian Classical Music Co | eventbrite

Affiliate Appreciation is a sentimental part of our association at GCLRA. We would like to invite our agents and affiliates to spend a day of fun, food, and family. The crawfish boil will be a hit and one for the books!! Information Source: Greater Central Louisiana REALTORS® Association | eventbrite

Spring into this beautiful season with a Fit Crawl! Join Zweet Sport, SolidCore, and Radiance Yoga for three classes: Cycle with Zweet Sport, Pilates with SolidCore, and Yoga with Radiance Yoga!! Each class will be 25 minutes long! All participants will receive a Spring Swag bag, with goodies and your very own medal to commemorate your achievements! Don't let this opportunity slip away! Grab a friend or two and make it a Saturday to remember! Information Source: Zweet Sport | eventbrite

Join Akilah Beavers of My Favorite Fixer and Sally Lee of New Habitude for a workshop on how to mount and utilize functional and decorative floating shelves. Participants will watch a presentation, practice techniques on sample wall boards, and learn how to apply organizing tips. There will also be raffle drawings for home care and organizing products . Mocktails and homemade dumplings will be served, too! Information Source: Made in ALX | eventbrite

Celebrate Wine & Art Night at Lee-Fendall! Enjoy an evening of wine tastings, art showcases, a silent auction, delicious food and desserts, and more. Wine & Art Night at Lee-Fendall is the museum's Spring fundraiser to support the Lee-Fendall House as we preserve and share nearly 200 years of local history through the stories of people who lived and worked on the property from 1785 to 1972. To celebrate with us, Mayor Alyia Gaskins , will be joining us in the Lee-Fendall Garden and providing a few remarks. The Virginia wineries that will be offering tastings during Wine & Art Night include: Prince Michel Vineyard & Winery (Leon, VA) Slater Run Vineyards (Upperville, VA) Showcased artists who will be displaying and selling their work at Wine & Art Night include: Barbara Cooper (paintings) Barbara Nowak (ceramics) Candace Stribling (jewelry) Jenny Nordstrom (photography) Each ticket holder will receive a special Lee-Fendall wine glass and a "tastings passport" which will give each attendee one tasting per winery. Glasses and bottles of wine will be available for purchase. Tickets are $75 for general admission and $125 for VIP admission. With a VIP ticket, arrive in the garden for a special reception at 6 PM for a special tasting from Wine Gallery 108 , a photography session, visit the silent auction first and enjoy the garden space on a beautiful Spring night. This is a 21 and over event. All guests will be asked to show their ID before entering the garden. Information Source: Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden | eventbrite

The Friends of Mount Vernon Trail will be improving the trail near the old power plant in Alexandria. We will be removing invasive kudzu vines that are killing nearby trees and constantly growing over the trail. Volunteers may perform some of the following work: Using pruners and loppers to remove invasive vines Hauling away vegetation and fallen tree branches What to Bring: Water Gloves (We'll have some to borrow) Long sleeves and long pants Where to Meet: The work area is on the Mount Vernon Trail just north of Old Town. See the picture for walking directions from the nearest address. Here is the meeting point on google maps Here is the meeting point on google street view Getting there: There is street parking and bus stops in the neighborhood around the entrance to the meeting spot. You can also walk to the location from the Potomac Yard Metro station which is 1.5 miles north. Restrooms: Please note that there are not any publicly available restrooms near the work site. If you need to use the restroom you can walk to businesses in Old Town Alexandria. COVID Safety Precautions: We follow current CDC guidance Work will be performed outside with room to socially distance Group Volunteering: We welcome groups to come volunteer at our events. If you plan on having more than 20 people come on a particular weekend, just let us know via email (hello@mountvernontrail.org) no less than one week prior to the day of the event so we can better prepare supplies and promote your group’s attendance on social media. You can read more about group volunteering on our website here . Support our Work: We're raising funds to continue to improve the Mount Vernon Trail. Donate to keep our volunteers equipped with tools and supplies at Donate to Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail . Keep up to date with upcoming events and news about the trail by following us on our website , Facebook , Twitter , Bluesky , YouTube , and Instagram . Photo and Liability Waiver: By registering to volunteer, you're agreeing to our Photo Release and Liability Waiver. Information Source: Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail | eventbrite

Georgia O'Keeffe's style of large-scale flowers, trees, and leaves that used distortion were inspired by her summer vacations to New Mexico. These beautifully colored leaves are sure to brighten up your home. Join us while we practice drawing organic shapes to create curvy oak leaves while learning about co lor theory and the amazing pioneer of modern art: Georgia O'Keeffe. All the supplies are provided. This workshop is for participants ages 6-12 years old. Family members are welcome to attend, listen, and learn. Please contact the Youth Programs Director at youth@delrayartisans.org with any questions. STEAM-tastic @ DRA – Come join us at Del Ray Artisans for interactive classes about Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM), taught by professionals from each field! Geared toward kids and teens, each lesson has a short talk or demonstration and a hands-on craft project. Del Ray Artisans’ STEAM-tastic workshops are made possible with support from the City of Alexandria through the FY2025 Annual Arts Program Grant. Instructor: Morgan Parr. Class size: up to 15 participants. Register in advance; walk-ins welcome if space permits. Information Source: Del Ray Artisans | eventbrite

Roll Back the Clock to the 1970s Trivia Night! Date: May 3, 2025 Time: 6:30-8:30pm Location: Green Spring Gardens Join the Friends of Green Spring Gardens (FROGS)  and test your knowledge at our 1970s Themed Trivia Night! Grab your family and friends and join us at the Gazebo for an evening of fun. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs for your team. This is an outdoor event. Tickets are $20 per person and include snacks and a mocktail. Additional mocktails and drinks will be available for purchase. No alcohol or outside food or beverage is permitted. Teams are limited to 6 people, all ages welcome. Trivia at Green Spring Gardens is sponsored by the Friends of Green Spring Gardens with proceeds going to support this unique site. Information Source: Friends of Green Spring Gardens | eventbrite

Men Who Cook & Men Who Mix at River Oaks Come join us at River Oaks Square Arts Center for a fun-filled evening of delicious food and refreshing drinks prepared by talented men in our community. This in-person event will showcase the culinary skills of our local cooks and mixologists, offering a variety of dishes and beverages for you to enjoy. Don't miss out on this opportunity to savor some amazing creations and support our talented men! Grab your friends and family for a memorable night out at River Oaks. Information Source: River Oaks Square Arts Center | eventbrite

WABA's Adult Learn to Ride class is for participants 18 and older . Our experienced Instructors break the skills down step by step to get you on a bike and rolling in no time. Participants learn to start and stop, balance, glide, pedal and steer a bike and progress at their own pace. Have any questions? Email us at education@waba.org . Click here to view WABA’s Code of Conduct for event participants. This class is for you if: You have never been on a bicycle before You have not ridden a bicycle in many years You have previously tried to learn how to ride a bicycle, but were unsuccessful Equipment: A bicycle and helmet will be provided for all class participants You will be asked to provide your height in the registration portal so that we can reserve a properly sized bicycle for you. Information Source: The Washington Area Bicyclist Association | eventbrite

Join Heather Jenkins of CalmConnectWell for this fun and educational workshop! You will create and take home 3 natural (soy wax) candles . Learn about different waxes, wicks and scents used in candle making. Choose from a variety of calming, relaxing scents for your own custom candles. Try something new and spark your creativity! Information Source: Made in ALX | eventbrite

IMPORTANT NOTE: This Eventbrite soley guarantees your copy of the book for the event. Your book will be avaialable to pick up onsite before the event via church staff. Alfred Street Baptist Church and the Women’s Ministry proudly hosts an exciting journey back in time with New York Times bestselling author Victoria Christopher Murray as she discusses her latest book Harlem Rhapsody and MahoganyBooks is thrilled to provide books. You won't want to miss this amazing event, highlighting the extraordinary story of the woman who ignited the start the of the Harlem Renaisance. Visit the Alfred Street Baptist Church for official event details or updates: https://www.alfredstreet.org/events/Church Event guidelines are subject to change. 9:15 AM - Doors Open for Registration | 10 AM Conversation Begins | 12 PM End Non-refundable tickets, however transfers made be made. Information Source: MahoganyBooks | eventbrite

CLASS DESCRIPTION: Step back in time and discover the charm of vintage cake designs! In this delightful class, you'll learn classic piping techniques that make vintage cakes so timeless. Whether you're a beginner or a baking enthusiast, you'll leave with a beautifully decorated cake and new skills to impress at your next celebration. Enjoy a complimentary lemonade bar and snacks while you decorate! Plus, after class, you'll receive an email with recipes and a supply list so you can recreate the magic at home. All supplies provided—just bring your creativity and a sweet tooth! ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR: Aleatra Dimitrijevski: Hospitality Educator. Dessert Designer. Hope Dealer. Teaching others to create inspires me! Professionally: Owner - Cake-wich Craft Bake Shop Youth Entrepreneur Advocate Graduate of Johnson & Wales University... JWUUUUUU! Experienced professional chef for various hospitality institutions for 12 years Certified Hospitality Educator, via American Hotel & Lodging Education Institute Public High School Educator of NAF Hospitality & Tourism Academy for 5 years ... Once a teacher, always a teacher! Notable Mentions: Destination DC Member Mentions & Features: Vogue, Glamour, Essence, Voyage Baltimore, Canvas Rebel, American Experience Spotlight Competitions: Food Network, US & Canada, National Capital Area Cake Show 2018 "Best Cupcake" Competition Winner Information Source: Shop Made in VA | eventbrite

Celebrate Mom this Mother's Day in the Lee-Fendall garden! Enjoy a beautiful Spring afternoon in the garden sipping tea, enjoying sweet treats, and listening to a music concert provided by the Swing Band of the Alexandria Citizens Band . Garden doors open at 2 PM for a chance to relax and enjoy your tea prior to the music recital at 3 PM. An optional house tour will be available at 1:30 PM for an additional $5 per person. Tickets are $30 per mother/child pair, with the option for $10 per additional guest to the group. Tickets are limited to 15 pairs, and must be purchased in advance. Questions? Please e-mail contact@leefendallhouse.org or call the museum at 703-548-1789. Information Source: Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden | eventbrite

CLASS DESCRIPTION: Celebrate Spring in the DMV with this guided 2-hour watercolor class. You will be provided with a pre-drawn image of a Spring picnic alongside a river and some cherry blossom tress. You will start out with a practice exercise to help you get comfortable with watercolors, even if you've never used them before (or it's been a while!). Then you will be taught how to paint the scene of this darling scene step-by-step. You will leave with a completed painting, a set of watercolor paints, and a brush or two to continue your artistic journey at home! Class will begin with a warm-up exercise that will provide the foundation for the rest of the class, so please make sure you arrive on time! Parking in OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA/GEORGETOWN can be tricky, so please allow plenty of time to find parking so you are able to make it to class by the start time. Thank you! ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR: Alexandra Schmeling is a watercolor artist based in Arlington, VA. She started her career as a watercolor painter doing pet portraits to raise money for local animal shelters, and now does her art full-time! She specializes in pet portraits and scenes around DC, though her absolute favorite thing to paint is France. Information Source: Shop Made in VA | eventbrite

Spend Mother's Day doing something fun with mom! Bring her to this class where you'll learn to make bath bombs using all natural ingredients, natural colorants and essential oils. Then, she can go home and relax, turning her own bathroom into a spa experience. You'll both leave this class with 3 bath bombs to use at home! Information Source: Made in ALX | eventbrite

Catch Zane Lamprey's new ANOTHER ROUND! comedy tour. Join us for a night of stand-up and amazing craft beer! 7:00 VIP Doors 7:15 VIP Drinking Games with Zane 7:30 General Admision Doors 8:00 Showtime! 9:15 Call an Uber As a pre-game, watch Zane's three Amazon Prime stand-up specials: Tender Looks , Ski Patrol and Medium Club ! The ANOTHER ROUND! stand-up is completely new jokes and stories, so watching his stand-up specials won't ruin the show. This event is strictly for 21+ If this event is canceled, tickets will automatically be applied toward a rescheduled performance. Information Source: Inzane Entertainment | eventbrite

Frühlingsfest is back for year 4 of celebrating the lagers we dig the most. Whether or not you've finished your Spring Cleaning, once again, it's time for Spring Drinking. In either case, we take Maria Kondo's question to heart — does it spark joy? This year's FÖURlingsfest, will be the funnest yet. A whole slew of our favorite brewers are bringing their favorite lagers, once again. And that's just the tip of the rapidly melting ice berg. Here's what else is on tap: Music! Hip shaking tunes to drink to Hammer Spike! Test your strength for glory and beer by smashing nails into stumps in public. Beer Mile by Light Horse Track Club . Experienced beer milers wow the crowd with this swift and refreshing exhibition. Festive food to wash it all down. Wait. What? Just go with it. 10 Breweries including: BlueJacket , Nighthawk , Southern Grist , Ardent Craft Ales , Dancing Gnome , Finback , Burnish Beer Co. and more Smash the ticket button and stay tuned for more updates. Pröst! Cheers! Whatevers! Information Source: Aslin Beer Company | eventbrite

Information Source: First Mount Zion Baptist Church | eventbrite

We will be using this time to learn the essentials for successfully performing a penetration test in the real world. AGENDA: Recap: Scanning and Enumeration Network Attacks Exploiting Vulnerabilities Intro to Web Attacks Q/A Keep in mind this is a 3 part series, but you can still engage with us for Chapter 2... even if you missed Chapter 1. We will also assist our attendees on how to leverage this experience to include it on your resume and prove it as cybersecurity experience. Chapter 01 - The Beginning Stages to Hack Chapter 02 - Time to Exploit Chapter 03 - The Post-Exploitation Stage AKA The Aftermath ESSENTIAL FOR ATTENDEES: Make sure to bring your laptop with Kali Linux installed The Kali Linux Virtual Machine is required to be installed on your laptop prior to attending the event. Without Kali Linux up and running on your laptop, you will not be able to participate for the hands-on lab. Follow Us on Instagram @respectthetech_ Linkedin Page: Respect The Tech Website: respectthetech.us Information Source: Respect The Tech | eventbrite

Register for the festival for free to be eligible to win a Grand Prize Raffle Basket. The first 100 individuals to the event will receive a Free Swag Bag from local businesses (note one per family)! On Saturday, May 17, 10AM-2PM , the Del Ray Business Association presents the annual Well Ray Festival, a celebration of health and wellness! This event will also be collecting donations for our featured non-profit organization, Wilderness Kids Alexandria , which provides life-enriching experiences in nature to teenagers from under-resourced families and underserved communities in Alexandria, Virginia. Join us in Del Ray, a neighborhood just outside of Washington, D.C. “where Main Street still exists,” to browse and experience health and lifestyle inspired vendors. Wellness and holistic health practitioners will offer services including therapeutic massages, acupuncture, physical therapy consultations, chiropractic assessments, nutritional counseling, blood pressure screenings, meditation, wellness coaching, energy work and more, wellness merchandise, and food bites. There will also be a Rockwall Climb for kids, face painting, and yard games for fun. Bring a water bottle, yoga mat and your work out shoes because at this festival there will be 15 outdoor classes for all ages for you to jump into! Sessions will include yoga, dance, high fitness, pilates, sound meditation, and educational classes for children and adults. Please register ahead of time to secure a spot! Each class is a $5 donation (all fees will go directly to our non-profit recipient). The Festival will take place in the Salvation Army and Wellness Junction parking lots on the corner of Mt. Vernon Ave & E Bellefonte Ave (s) in the heart of Del Ray. The full event schedule and participating vendors are located at WellRayDelRay.com . *Registration includes entry into a Grand Prize Raffle. You must check-in at the registration tent to be eligible to win of the items will be randomly drawn and announced at 12:00PM and on social media. You do not need to be present to win. Information Source: Del Ray Business Association | eventbrite

Have you ever tried to meet someone at a club and you couldn’t even hear yourself think? It’s practically impossible! At our speed dating event, you’ll not only be able to hear your own conversation but you’ll also get to talk face to face with many singles all in one evening. Start the night by checking in, grabbing a drink at the cash bar and mixing and mingling with other singles as they check in. As soon as everyone gets checked in, it’s time to speed date! We’ll seat one man across from one woman. Every few minutes we rotate the men to the next woman until everyone has met each other. A pencil and paper will be provided for you to take notes on whom you met. Once we’re done with the speed dating rotations you can feel free to stick around at the venue and continue the night! We’ll connect you to our dating system within 48 hours after the event so that you can send messages to anyone you met. We won’t release your personal information such as your last name or e-mail address- that is up to you to do that! Continue any conversations with anyone you had your eye on in a safe way. Check in is at 7:00 and the dating begins at 7:20. Please check in at 7:00 so you have a chance to mix and mingle before the dating begins. You will love this fast paced evening full of meeting singles and making new connections! Information Source: Professionals in the City | eventbrite

The Friends of Mount Vernon Trail will be improving the trail near Old Stone Bridge. No special skills are needed. We'll teach you how to help in just a few minutes. Volunteers may perform some of the following work: Using pruners and loppers to cut vegetation Using hand saws to cut tree branches Sweeping or using a leaf blower Hauling away vegetation Picking up trash What to Bring: Water Gloves (We'll have some to borrow) Pruners or loppers (We'll have some to borrow) Long sleeves and long pants (we sometimes encounter poison ivy) Where to Meet: We will meeting at the Mount Vernon Trail Trailhead near the rest area near Old Stone Bridge. See picture below. Approximate location on google maps here . Google street view here . Parking is available in the neighborhood. Look for the bikes and purple FoMVT signs. COVID Safety Precautions: We follow current CDC guidance Work will be performed outside with room to socially distance Group Volunteering: We welcome groups to come volunteer at our events. If you plan on having more than 20 people come on a particular weekend, just let us know via email (hello@mountvernontrail.org) no less than one week prior to the day of the event so we can better prepare supplies and promote your group’s attendance on social media. You can read more about group volunteering on our website here . Support our Work: We're raising funds to continue to improve the Mount Vernon Trail. Donate to keep our volunteers equipped with tools and supplies at Donate to Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail. Keep up to date with upcoming events and news about the trail by following us on our website , Facebook , Twitter , Bluesky , YouTube , and Instagram . Photo and Liability Waiver: By registering to volunteer, you're agreeing to our Photo Release and Liability Waiver. Information Source: Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail | eventbrite

Eyelash Extension Training Join us for our Eyelash Extension Training event! Are you passionate about beauty and want to learn a new skill? Our in-person training session will teach you everything you need to know about applying eyelash extensions like a pro. During this event, you will get hands-on experience, tips from industry experts, and the chance to practice different techniques. Whether you're a beginner or looking to enhance your skills, this training is perfect for anyone interested in the art of eyelash extensions. Don't miss out on this opportunity to boost your beauty career and become an expert in eyelash extensions. Sign up now! ✨ Lash Training Course ✨ $200 Non-Refundable Deposit required within 24 hours of eventbrite signup to reserve slot. Remaining $250 due at Training. Failure to pay deposit results in ticket cancellation. *$150 DEPOSIT FOR FIRST 5 ENROLLMENTS Become a Certified Lash Tech & Start Earning! Join our exclusive hands-on lash training designed to give you everything you need to master lash extensions and build a thriving business! ✔ Hands-on Practice ✔ Proper Application & Lash Removal ✔ Sanitation & Client Consultation ✔ Marketing Strategies ✔ Lash Supplies List & Lash Refills ✔ Comprehensive Training Manual ✔ Certificates of Completion ✔ Pricing Options & Business Guidance ✔ Exclusive Facebook Group Access ✔ Full Lash Kit ✔ Lunch Provided ❌ NO Cosmetology or Esthetic License Required ❌ NO refunds on trainings All training course purchases are non-refundable, no exceptions. For rescheduling inquiries, please contact the training coordinator directly. Secure Your Spot Today! Limited Spaces Available! -Blaqlist Aesthetics offers individual training sessions for $650, to inquire more feel free to text us at (240) 726-7775 or dm us via Instagram@ Blaqlist.aes Information Source: Tyteanna C | eventbrite

Calling all bookstagrammers! Whether you have 50 or 50,000 followers, you’re welcome at our Bookstagrammer Breakfast. The morning will start on our sales floor with a private first look at our Summer Reading Guides for kids and adults. You’ll have the chance to chat with our Buyer and Booksellers about the hottest beach reads and our personal picks for the best books of the season. All Summer Reading Guide titles purchased at this event will be 5 for the price of 4! Afterwards, join us upstairs in our clubhouse for bagels, coffee, and time to mingle and meet new book friends. The morning will end with a chance to browse our ARC library and everyone will be able to take home one ARC. Information Source: Old Town Books | eventbrite

Have you ever dreamed about writing a picture book, middle grade, or YA novel but don’t know where to begin? Or maybe you have a manuscript completed and wish you knew the next steps? Kickstart your writing goals by hearing from a panel of experts in the field!  A panel of local picture book authors and novelists will answer your questions and discuss their paths to publication. They will share their best tips for getting started with writing and what to do with a book once it’s completed. In addition to being authors, all three panelists are parents, and they will discuss how they balance busy lives with creative pursuits. At the end, there will be time for a Q&A and a book signing. Ticket cost is $10 and will be applied to your account to be used as store credit at the event or a later date. Topics covered: How to get started: Panelists will talk about the resources we used in learning to write well-written, properly formatted manuscripts. We’ll also talk about the distinctions between picture books, chapter books, middle grade, and YA—and why you need to know what type of book you’re writing at the onset. The actual writing: Panelists will share what a writing session looks like for each of us, how we structure our time as busy working people and parents, and the work that goes into putting a book together. We will also share some of our favorite craft books about writing and “mentor” texts to read when getting started. “I finished a book, now what?” – What does the publishing industry look for in a manuscript? In this section we’ll tackle revising, formatting, word counts, and other nitty-gritty standardizations you need to know about to be taken seriously. How to get an agent: As veterans of “the query trenches” we will talk about the process of researching agents and how to put together a submission package. We’ll also cover what makes a good agent versus a “schmagent” and how to spot the difference.  About the Panelists:  Gabriella Alderman Gabriella Aldeman is a Panamanian American author and professional translator of children’s books. Gabriella holds degrees from Georgetown University and the College of William and Mary. Her books include Paula’s Patches (Free Spirit, 2023), Squawk of Spanish (Charlesbridge, 2024), and the forthcoming Sometimes A Dream (Versify/HarperCollins, 2027). She lives in Fairfax with her husband and two children. Please visit her at www.writebetween.com . Alyssa Colman Alyssa Colman is the author of Where Only Storms Grow (available 8/19/ 2025), The Tarnished Garden, and The Gilded Girl , which won the 2021 Northern Lights Book Award for middle grade fantasy and was a Bank Street Best Book of the Year. Publishers Weekly called the story “a thoughtful and imaginative exploration of friendship, internal change, and perseverance” in a starred review. Alyssa lives in Vienna with her family including twin preschoolers. www.alyssacolman.com Leah Moser Leah Moser is a children’s book author living in Vienna. With degrees in Elementary Education and Psychology, Leah has spent years as a classroom teacher. She loves sharing her passion for picture books with her husband, three elementary-aged daughters, dog, and readers of all ages. She is agented by Daniel Cramer of Page Turner Literary Agency and also works as a freelance picture book editor. I Am a Thundercloud is her debut book and was released in April 2024 with Running Press Kids/Hachette. https://www.leahmoserwrites.com/ Information Source: Old Town Books | eventbrite

Join us for our bimonthly breakfast meeting on Wednesday, May 21 a t Piece Out Del Ray (2419 Mt. Vernon Ave) from 7:30am-9:00am. Networking begins at 7:30am; the program begins at 8am. Our guest speaker this month will be Mayor Aliya Gaskins. Please bring your questions for this engaging discussion! The program is free for DRBA members; please RSVP for planning purposes. We look forward to seeing you there! Information Source: Del Ray Business Association | eventbrite

Splash into summer reading at an exclusive preview party. Be among the first to shop our 2025 Summer Reading Guide, enjoy one-on-one time with booksellers for personalized recommendations, and sip tropical mocktails as you daydream about beach reading. All summer reading guide books will be 5 for the price of 4 at this event! Molly from Creative Chaos Body Care (@mmollay on Instagram) and Sheila from Lets Get Inked (@letsgetinked_) will be back with bookish tattoos and piercing pop-ups to help us kick off the season! Sign up sheets will open at 5:30 and tattoo and piercing spots will be first come-first serve.  Information Source: Old Town Books | eventbrite