Mary Riley Styles Library

Arlington poet Melanie McCabe makes her fiction debut with a thriller steeped in local historyJoin local author Melanie McCabe at Mary Riley Styles Public Library for a discussion of her debut novel Road Longer Than Memory!Out June 2, the book takes place in Arlington during the controversial construction of Interstate 66. It follows out-of-work teacher Sara Barlow as she returns home in search of a job and a clean slate. When a chance encounter brings back traumatic memories from her youth, she is forced to confront the mystery surrounding a classmate's death and her own complicity.

In addition to discussing her writing, McCabe will shed light on the history of I-66 and its effect on Arlington and her life. A book signing will follow with copies of Road Longer Than Memory available for purchase from Bards Alley.
RSVP for free through Mary Riley Styles Public Library here: <a href="https://www.mrspl.org/event/draft-june-author-talk-melanie-mccabe-32013" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">mrspl.org/event/draft-june-author-talk-melanie-mccabe-32013</a>ABOUT&nbsp;THE&nbsp;BOOKAfter a failed relationship and an unsettled teaching career, Sara Barlow returns to her childhood home in Arlington, Virginia, hoping for a fresh start. But when she applies for a job at her old high school, a chance glimpse into the gymnasium shakes her to the core—she spots the man she suspects was involved in a classmate’s violent death a decade earlier.
Haunted by the past, Sara confronts the memories she’s spent years trying to suppress: her sister Suzanne’s fatal car crash, her secret summer with the reckless Devlin Barrie, and the anonymous 911 call she made after witnessing what she believes was a murder. As the construction of Interstate 66 physically fractures her community, Sara grapples with emotional fault lines of her own—guilt, silence, and buried truth.
Set against the backdrop of suburban upheaval in the 1970s and ’80s, Road Longer Than Memory is a compelling story of memory, reckoning, and the cost of what we leave unsaid.ABOUT&nbsp;THE&nbsp;AUTHORMelanie McCabe is the award-winning author of four poetry collections and a memoir. Road Longer Than Memory is her debut novel. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, Reader’s Digest, The Georgia Review, The Massachusetts Review, Shenandoah, and other national publications. A lifelong Virginian, she taught high school English and creative writing in Arlington for over two decades.

Local Event: Author Talk: Melanie McCabe on "Road Longer Than Memory"

Fairfax County

Vienna

Virginia

Author Talk: Melanie McCabe on "Road Longer...

Arlington poet Melanie McCabe makes her fiction debut with a thriller steeped in local historyJoin local author Melanie McCabe...

Author Talk: Melanie McCabe on "Road Longer Than Memory"

Reston Regional Library

Queer literature takes the spotlight in a conversation and book signing with six local authorsReston Regional Library celebrates Pride Month with a panel featuring local authors Dominique Dickey (Redundancies &amp; Potentials), Susie Dumond (Bed and Breakup), Steven Gellman (Somewhere in Nowhere), Salinee Goldenberg (The Last Phi Hunter), Venessa Vida Kelley (When the Tides Held the Moon), and Andrew Joseph White (You Weren't Meant to Be Human).

The speakers cover a variety of genres, from romance to horror. Join us for a lively discussion and book signing! Bards Alley will have the authors' most recent titles available for purchase along with select backlist; specific books can also be reserved for pick-up in advance by calling (571) 459-2653.

Representatives from <a href="https://casabrumarfoundation.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Casa BruMar Foundation</a>, a Northern Virginian nonprofit that supports LGBTQ+ youth and adults, will be available to provide information and resources.Free registration is required through Reston Regional Library here: <a href="https://librarycalendar.fairfaxcounty.gov/event/16900862" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">librarycalendar.fairfaxcounty.gov/event/16900862</a>

Local Event: Queerly Written: LGBTQ+ Author Panel

Queerly Written: LGBTQ+ Author Panel

Queer literature takes the spotlight in a conversation and book signing with six local authorsReston Regional Library...

Vienna Community Center

Vienna250 welcomes&nbsp;Reclamation author Gayle Jessup White in honor of Juneteenth and the U.S. semiquincentennial
Bards Alley is delighted to join the Vienna250 Committee in cohosting a special series of author talks to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence this year. The series concludes on Saturday, June 20 with a visit by Charlottesville author Gayle Jessup White.
White will be at the Vienna Community Center to discuss her memoir Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant's Search for Her Family's Lasting Legacy. Centered on its author's quest to verify her ancestry, the book confronts slavery's role in the founding of the United States and the country's ongoing struggle to reconcile its history with its ideals.
Vienna bookstore Bards Alley will have copies of Reclamation available for purchase and a post-discussion signing. To reserve your copy for pick-up either at the store or at the event, call (571) 459-2653. Attendees can also enjoy light refreshments.
This event is free and does not require registration. For more information on the author series and other Vienna250 activities, visit historicviennainc.org/vienna250ABOUT&nbsp;THE&nbsp;BOOKGayle Jessup White had long heard the stories passed down from her father’s family, that they were direct descendants of Thomas Jefferson—lore she firmly believed, though others did not. For four decades the acclaimed journalist and genealogy enthusiast researched her connection to Thomas Jefferson, to confirm its truth once and for all.&nbsp;
After she was named a Jefferson Studies Fellow, Jessup White discovered her family lore was correct. Poring through photos and documents and pursuing DNA evidence, she learned that not only was she a descendant of Jefferson on his father’s side; she was also the great-great-great-granddaughter of Peter Hemings, Sally Hemings’s brother.
In Reclamation she chronicles her remarkable journey to definitively understand her heritage and reclaim it, and offers a compelling portrait of what it means to be a black woman in America, to pursue the American dream, to reconcile the legacy of racism, and to ensure the nation lives up to the ideals advocated by her legendary ancestor.ABOUT&nbsp;THE&nbsp;AUTHORGayle Jessup White is the Public Relations &amp; Community Engagement Officer at Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s legendary estate. A former award-winning television reporter and anchor, Jessup White started her career at the New York Times. She’s written and spoken extensively about her work at Monticello. She is a direct Jefferson descendant, and is also related to two well-documented families enslaved at Monticello—the Hemingses and the Hubbards. She lives in Virginia.

Local Event: Vienna250 Author Series: Gayle Jessup White

Vienna250 Author Series: Gayle Jessup White

Vienna250 welcomes Reclamation author Gayle Jessup White in honor of Juneteenth and the U.S. semiquincentennial
Bards Alley is...

Bards Alley

Michelle Witte

Washington Metropolitan Area

Tysons Corner

Patch AM Team

Wolf Trap

Fairfax

Tysons

Dunn Loring

Oakton

Merrifield

Idylwood

Pimmit Hills

Mantua

Fairfax city

Northwest Federal Credit Union Headquarters

<a href="https://craftsmanautocare.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Craftsman Auto Care</a>&nbsp;is hosting a Cars &amp; Coffee and the community is invited to join in for a great morning - all for a meaningful cause.
The event will take place at the NWFCU Branch in Herndon and will feature a wide variety of vehicles, from classics to modern performance cars. Guests can enjoy free coffee from Weird Brothers, explore unique cars from across Northern Virginia, and connect with fellow car enthusiasts.
All proceeds from the car show will be donated to the <a href="https://www.nwfcufoundation.org/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">NWFCU Foundation,</a> supporting their efforts in the local community.
Event Details: Where: NWFCU Branch, 200 Spring Street, Herndon, VA When: June 13 | 8 AM – 11 AM (Rain date June 14)
The event is free to attend and family-friendly.
Those interested in entering their vehicle can register here: 
<a target="_blank" href="https://pci.jotform.com/form/260625693318058" rel="nofollow noopener">https://pci.jotform.com/form/260625693318058<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" data-rtl-flip="" class="block h-[0.75em] w-[0.75em] stroke-current stroke-[0.75]"><use href="/cdn/assets/sprites-core-lbtco6v1.svg#304883" fill="currentColor"></use></svg></a>
Spectators are welcome - no registration needed.

Local Event: Cars & Coffee in Herndon

Reston

Cars & Coffee in Herndon

Craftsman Auto Care is hosting a Cars & Coffee and the community is invited to join in for a great morning - all for a...

Capital One Hall

The Ravel Dance Company presents Cinderella. &nbsp;This beloved fairy tale is brought to life through ballet. Complete with the Fairy Godmother, a glass slipper and magical fairies to demonstrate that kindness can triumph over cruely. With elaborate sets and costumes is suitable for all ages.&nbsp;

Local Event: Ravel Dance Company presents Cinderella 

Ravel Dance Company presents Cinderella 

The Ravel Dance Company presents Cinderella.  This beloved fairy tale is brought to life through ballet. Complete with the...

Chesterbrook UMC

Chesterbrook UMC is having a&nbsp;Kids VBS Camp end of June and would love to have your families join! Get ready to explore the Nature of God and spend the week discovering God’s love in every leaf, river, and creature, and learn how we are part of His beautiful story.&nbsp;
Campers will:
🌳 Adventure through hands‑on nature activities 🎶 Sing, move, and celebrate God’s goodness 🔍 Explore Bible stories in creative, interactive ways 🤝 Build friendships and grow in faith 
Use the QR code or link <a href="https://www.myvbs.org/chesterbrook-summer-vbs-2026" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">myvbs.org/chesterbrook-summer-vbs-2026 </a> to register and save your child’s spot for this joy‑filled, imagination‑sparked, God‑centered week. Please help us spread the word to your friends and neighbors! The week of 6/29-7/3 from 8AM-12PM&nbsp;

Local Event: Rainforest Falls

McLean

Rainforest Falls

Chesterbrook UMC is having a Kids VBS Camp end of June and would love to have your families join! Get ready to explore the...

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Posting Activity

Author Talk: Melanie McCabe on "Road Longer Than Memory"

JUN

13

2:00 PM

Mary Riley Styles Library, 120 N Virginia Ave, Falls Church, VA

Queerly Written: LGBTQ+ Author Panel

JUN

16

6:00 PM

Reston Regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Dr, Reston, VA

Vienna250 Author Series: Gayle Jessup White

JUN

20

2:00 PM

Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St SE, Vienna, VA

Cars & Coffee in Herndon

Ravel Dance Company presents Cinderella

Rainforest Falls