A few of the model railroad layouts include themed displays including a huge 40 foot by 50 foot display, along with close to a dozen other major displays  from Washington, DC area model railroad clubs, representing all kinds of different themes. 

Plus, there’ll be an interactive slot car track and a train layout made exclusively out of Legos. 

For the smaller children, take them on the Train on Time, a riding train just for kids.

And if you didn’t find that special model railroad gift you were hoping for this Christmas, expect many vendors selling all kinds of model railroad gear.

The Greenberg Train & Toy Expo
Dulles Expo Center
4368 Chantilly Center
Chantilly, VA  (map it)

Dates and Times – Saturday and Sunday, December 27-28, 2008.  10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. daily.

Tickets – Adults – $7.00,  children 11 and under free. Admission is good for both days. Tickets are available at the door. 

Parking – Free.

Images – Flickr – station, Santa Fe

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Post from: The DC Traveler

Meet over 400 artists and craftsmen and women at one of the highest rated crafts fairs in the country.  Many of whom will be working their trade at the show.

See custom jewelry, dried flower arrangements, pottery and sculpture, photography, paintings, leatherwork and more.

Craftsmen’s Classic Arts & Crafts Festival 
Dulles Expo Center
4368 Chantilly Center
Chantilly, VA  (map it)

Dates and Times – Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 17-19 , 2008.  Fri. – 10-6, Sat. 9-6, Sun. 10-5

Tickets – Adults – $7.00,  children 6-12 – $1.00, under 6 – free

Tickets are available at the door.  Click here for a $1.00 off coupon. 

Parking – Free.

Images – Flickr – glass vendor, cat dolls

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Post from: The DC Traveler

Learn about you cat or the many breeds at the annual National Capital Cat Show in suburban Chantilly, Virginia.

Again this years, over 500 cats compete at the Cat Fanciers’ Association Debutante’s Ball in various competitions.

And remember, dogs have owners…cats simply have staffs.

There’s several categories of contacts including a cat agility competition. There’s also no cat swimming contest, but I suspect if so, this scuba diving Calico named Hawkeye, would have taken that prize.

National Capital Cat Show
Dulles Expo Center
4368 Chantilly Center
Chantilly, VA  (map it)

Dates and Times – Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 6 & 7, 2008.  Doors open at 9:30 a.m. , and close at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, 4:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Tickets – Adults – $8.00, Seniors and children under 12 – $5.00. A family ticket pack gets a family of 4 in for $24.00. Tickets are available at the door.  Click here for a $1.00 off coupon. 

Parking – Free parking is available.

Image

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Post from: The DC Traveler

Yet the use of firearms continues to have a very negative impact on our society.  Even staunch gun rights supporters must admit the firearm is a double-edged sword, in the hands of the wrong person or criminal.

And at the top of the gun debate is the Second Amendment of the Constitution, which allows gun ownership.

It sates, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

The Amendment is continually reinterpreted, under attack or vocally supported by all types of pro and anti-gun organizations.

In March of this year, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments regarding a Washington, DC law which bans handgun ownership in the District and whether the Second Amendment forbids DC from making or enforcing such law. The outcome may dramatically impact handgun laws in cities across the nation. 

Regardless of the court’s decision, the first step in gun safety is to either never touch one or to take a course in gun use and safety, and then learn to shoot with proper oversight.

With a knowledgeable staff, classroom instructions, guns for rent and twenty, 75-foot shooting lanes, Blue Ridge Arsenal in Chantilly, Virginia it’s an ideal place for the novice to not only learn to shoot, but learn proper gun safety.

Their 4-hour Introduction to Shooting Course ($125) covers firearm safety, ammunition overview, safe operation, loading, unloading and storage of both semi-automatic pistols and revolvers, along with the fundamentals of pistol marksmanship.  The class, limited to ten students, includes everything, including materials, range time, firearm use and limited ammunition.  

Blue Ridge also rents handguns to shooters over 21 years of age for  use at the range.  Renters must be or be accompanied by someone who is familiar with the rented firearm or similar weapon.  Rental fees for most firearms is $12.00 plus ammunition, which must be purchased at the range.

Before visiting the range, please be sure to review basic gun safety rules and more advance safety rules.  If your planning on bringing an older (and hopefully VERY responsible) child to shoot or learn with you, here’s some great info for parents and a list of basic safety rules for bring children to a gun range.  

Blue Ridge Arsenal
14725-K Flint Lee Road,
Chantilly, Virginia 20151 (map it)
703-818-0230

Dates and Times – Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., Saturday 10-8, Sunday 10-6.

Fees ands Course Information - Range time costs $20.00 per person/per lane/per hour. Each additional person sharing the same lane costs $10.00 per person/per hour/per lane.  Children 12 and younger are no charge.

Additional equipment rental costs:

• Eye protection rental – $2.00 each
• Ear protection rental – $2.00 each
• Gun rental is $12.00 per firearm (ammo and targets not included)

For course schedules, e-mail blueridgearsenal@aol.com.

Closed-toed shoes are mandatory (so leave the flip-flops at home) and wear comfortable clothes, preferably with long sleeves.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Vienna/Fairfax-GMU – Orange line, then a 20 minute cab ride.

Parking – Free parking is available.

Images – Flickr – man on range, woman on range, target, range, S&W, 

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Post from: The DC Traveler

The Virginia Wine Showcase is this weekend in suburban Chantilly, Virginia.

Forty wineries will be serving, selling, and bragging about some of the 300 wines available for tasting.

The showcase also offers a series of fee-based wine seminars where you can learn about wine, winemaking, food pairings, and improving your enjoyment of the nectar of the gods.

Some of the more interesting seminars include:

• It’s All About The Chocolate – Perfect for planning a Valentine’s Day celebration, how to pair wines with chocolate. 
• Virginia Versus The World - Just how do Virginia wines compare to wines from other regions of the world? 
• Wine Futures And How to Buy - Similar to investing in stock futures? Find out.
• Winemaking Overview – Learn about the art and science of making high-quality wines.

Enter to win one of many door prizes and get a chance to win dinners, weekend get-aways and a 42″ LCD television. There’s also a Bounce Room to keep the kids distracted (they really shouldn’t be drinking wine anyway).

Virginia Wine Showcase
Dulles Expo Center
4368 Chantilly Center
Chantilly, VA  (map it)

Dates and Times – Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 9 – 10, 2008, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Tickets – $35.00 and are available at the door, $15.00 for non-tasters

Parking – Free parking is available.

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Post from: The DC Traveler