What You'll Do: March 12-14

By WYDaily Staff Friday, March 12, 2010

It’s back to the rain, people, and indoor pursuits like spring cleaning and finding the kids’ cleats are the order of household business this weekend. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make time for opportunities to support local nonprofits, hit the farmers market or indulge in some music – after said spring cleaning has been checked off the list.

Speaking of closets, check out Hannah’s
Technically, Hannah’s closet is more along the lines of a storefront. Probably because it is a storefront. Semantics aside, this is a huge consignment sale – H-U-G-E – where you will find everything needed to raise a child today (except instructions). Clothing from preemie to 16, books, toys, strollers, furniture – all that gear is for sale, and all proceeds will go to some very good, kid-supporting causes: WJCC Bright Beginnings/NEED program and 4H Program. The sale’s on now, through Saturday, at High Street. Click here for details.

When there are multiples
We mean “multiples” as in children, as in twins, triplets or – as those TLC shows remind us – many more. Peninsula Mothers of Multiples are having their spring sale – all the great stuff you need for kids, in pairs, trios and more – this Saturday starting at 8 a.m. at Grafton Baptist Church. Click here for more.

Williamsburg Film Fest welcomes the dog heroes of Gunsmoke (and lots of the people, too)
The 14th annual Williamsburg Film Festival is in full swing through Saturday at the Holiday Inn Patriot. This year’s topic is the 55th year of Gunsmoke and honors Hollywood’s Golden Era in the group’s growing tradition. There will be writers from the show, a panel of guest stars, a program about Hollywood dog heroes, a schoolteacher who turned her lifelong interest in Miss Kitty into a biography and more – all of it family friendly. Click here for all the info.

Family Service Day for families in special need of some TLC for their cars
Every six weeks or so Charlie Marcotte and his staff at American Pride Automotive open either their Yorktown or Williamsburg shop on a Saturday and take care of the auto servicing needs of our neighbors who just can’t afford it. Everyone volunteers their time for this and the work they do doesn’t cost a penny. This Saturday’s Family Service Day is in the Yorktown location on Route 17. If you or someone you know could use a hand with making sure your transportation is reliable, learn more and make an appointment by clicking here. If you think this is a great idea and would like to know how you can help support it, contact Charlie by emailing him at Charlie@americanprideautomotive.com.

Who found James Fort’s first well?
Well, that’s a deep subject. Yes, we’ve been dying to say that. On Sunday at 3 p.m. if you head over to the Williamsburg Regional Library auditorium you can find out at the Preservation Virginia Colonial Capital Branch meeting. Jamestown Rediscovery Project Senior Staff Archaeologist Danny Schmidt will discuss the findings from the James Fort well, one of the most important archaeological discoveries in recent U.S. history. The well has been a treasure trove of finds. It’s free and open to the public. Schmidt has his own history with the well; he started working on it as a high school intern in 1994 and returned 10 years later with a couple of college degrees in hand.

Farmers Market in Merchants Square – get ready for spring
This is an effective way to tease us for springtime, these winter farmers markets. This Saturday head to DoG Street for the locally grown selection of, well, everything that’s in season. Parking is $1 an hour in the Prince George garage, but try the Francis Street lot first (it’s free til noon). For more information, click here.

After a hard day of spring cleaning, enjoy some music
Saturday will be spent culling the closets at our house. Afterward we’ll enjoy the reward of live music. But where to go? There are choices, including: The Toosday Night Band, straight from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, at the Corner Pocket in New Town. This is a jam band of the highest order – Jerry Garcia, Phish. Over on the Middle Peninsula you can grease those St. Patrick’s Day wheels by checking out Poisoned Dwarf, the Celtic jam band. They’ll be playing at the Bena Country Store and Almost Square Picture Framing (gotta love the multitasking name of the place) in Hayes, just five minutes north of the Coleman Bridge. Click here for details on that. Another option: The Chesapeake Bay Wind Ensemble. They’ll be at the Williamsburg Regional Library Theatre, performing works by women composers. Click here for more. And by all means do not forget to consider the Williamsburg Choral Guild’s annual winter concert at Williamsburg Presbyterian Church. The group is in their 34th season. The guild will perform Antonín Dvořák’s Stabat Mater, Op. 58, “one of the most compelling declarations of faith in musical history,” according to a release. It is a hopeful piece, based on the grief of the Virgin Mary at Christ’s crucifixion. Performances are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. You can get details by clicking here.

Walk with the birds
You can run with the wolves, but walking with the birds seems more our pace on a Saturday morning. You can do it this Saturday at New Quarter Park from 8-10 a.m. Walks are led by members of the Williamsburg Bird Club. Many birds who winter elsewhere have already returned; learn their names. Click here for more.

Calling all aeromodelers or scale modeling enthusiasts
The 19th Annual Aeromodelers Show will be at the Williamsburg Outlet Mall on Saturday all day, starting at 10 a.m. It’s free and, having seen this show before, we know there are some amazing (and tiny but to scale) models to be seen. Click here for details.