The cool of the pool.
PHOTO By Lee Coursey - Flickr

Fry’s Springs Beach club presents their summer concert series, Music by the Pool. The fun includes food, beverages, swimming, kids activities, and music featuring Charlottesville’s own Terri Allard Quartet. The stage will be by the pool under the beautiful shade of the old oak trees with lots of space for blankets and chairs. Come listen to great music, take a dip, get a drink and a burger by the pool. In case of rain, the fun moves indoors to the main ballroom. 2512 Jefferson Park Ave. 296-1600.

Lewis Carroll’s unflappable young heroine takes a tumble down an enchanted rabbit hole to an off-kilter world of mock turtles, dancing flora, punctual rabbits, and mad tea parties, where playing cards hold court and nothing is as it seems. Whimsy and wordplay are the order of the day in Prince Street Players’ musical adaptation of this children’s classic presented by Four County Players at Barboursville Community Center. Rt. 678 in Barboursville. 540-832-5355.

Swashing and buckling abounds as Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic Treasure Island is brought to life by local children and youth through a partnership between Old Michie Theatre and PVCC. Pirate lovers of all ages are invited to join Jim Hawkins as Long John Silver and a host of pirates as they race to find the treasure of Captain Billy Bones. Reservations for all performances may be made by calling the theatre box office at 977-3690, or by e-mail at . At PVCC in the V. Earl Dickinson Theatre, 501 College Dr.

Rivanna Golf Course.
PHOTO courtesy of RGC

Rivanna Golf Course offers families a structured, yet casual opportunity to learn and play the game of golf together. Parents and their children ages 5-17 can participate in a special family golf clinic at 4pm followed by golf on a 6-hole, family-friendly layout. Following golf, families can enjoy a hot dog and refreshments. Each family will receive a certificate of Family Golf Outing and a discount certificate for future range balls and greens fees. Reservations are required. Fee includes a short clinic, practice balls, golf carts, green fees, and refreshments after golf. 45 Friendship Way in Palmyra. 589-3730.

Bats in bed.
PHOTO BY Yuval Harmovits - Flickr

Nature lovers and others can learn about the amazing world of bats at Ivy Creek Natural Area. We’ll start in the Education Center for a short presentation on biology, adaptation, and myths concerning bats. Then Robin Eastham, local bat rehabilitator for the Wildlife Center of Virginia, will take us outside to observe the bats as they come out at dusk to feed. 1780 Earlysville Rd. 973-7772.

The cool of the pool.
PHOTO BY Lee Coursy - Flickr

Charlottesville Parks and Recreation invites swimmers and others over to Meade Park for a free swim at Onesty Family Aquatic Center from 5:30-7:30pm. Pack a picnic dinner, bring a blanket and enjoy the movie Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs starting at 8:30pm. 970-3260.

Sheanandoah Germanic Heritage Museum
PHOTO courtesy of SGHM

The Shenandoah Germanic Heritage Museum encompasses a 392 acre Hottel-Keller Homestead, historic buildings, and a variety of artifacts related to the history of the property and the people who lived there from the early 1740s until 1984. This new museum in the area invites everyone over to get to know them as they host their first annual GermanFest. The fun includes non-stop live entertainment and educational speakers, including an authentic German band; children’s activities; re-enactors from Revolutionary, Civil, and/or French and Indian Wars, arts and crafts vendors with period craft demonstrations; authentic German food, beer and wine garden, and more. North on I-81 to exit 291/Rt. 651, left to 11523 Back Rd. in Toms Brook, VA. 703-799-3969.

Artist Jody Matzer looks on as Catherine and Caroline Toole check out his work.
PHOTO BY HAWES SPENCER

In a room that used to be monochrome beige, Richmond-based illustrator Jody Matzer has unveiled a gift to the Virginia Discovery Museum in the form of a colorful undersea-scene mural. Matzer, as some might recall, is a former television game show contestant who parlayed a successful run on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? into a stint as an author.

But his long-time love has been design, and that’s just fine with Museum Director Peppy Linden, marveling that the stylized ship hull built about a decade ago by Jack Kavana has now been augmented by Matzer’s mural.

“Isn’t it just unbelievable?” exclaims Linden. “It’s fanciful, but it’s also based on nature, so it’s another opportunity for learning.”

The mural hangs in the toddler room of the Museum, which is located on the Downtown Mall and which recently celebrated its 20 years of being on the Mall.