District Community Events July 10-17, 2008

FORT STEVENS DAY PROGRAMS, one-mile hike to Fort DeRussy, 10 a.m.; Fort Stevens history talk, 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.; planetarium program about slaves' use of the night sky to navigate on the Underground Railroad, 1 and 4 p.m.; Battleground National Cemetery talk about the defense of the city during the Civil War, 1:30 p.m.; exploration of the night sky with park rangers and members of the National Capital Astronomers, 9 p.m. Military Field, off Military Road, near Picnic Grove #13. 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Fort Stevens, 13th and Quakenbos streets NW. Free. 202-895-6070.

PETWORTH QUILTING CLUB, for beginning and experienced quilters, take your own projects and learn from group members. 10:30 a.m. Saturdays, Petworth Library, 4200 Kansas Ave. NW. Free. 202-541-6300.

CHILDREN'S SHORT FILMS, for those 4 and older, "Walking Man" (1999); "Seven Blind Mice" (2007); "Aston's Stones" (2007); and "Mary Cassatt" (2008), an animated biography about the artist's life and work. 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Wednesday, July 19 and 23; 11:30 a.m. Sunday and July 20, National Gallery of Art, East Building, Fourth Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Free. 202-789-4995.

GUIDED BIKE RIDE, a three-hour tour led by a National Park Service ranger, with stops to discuss presidents, authors, poets and others. Take a bike and water. Helmet required. 1 p.m., Thomas Jefferson Memorial, 900 Ohio Dr. SW. Free. 202-619-7222 or Jason_martz@nps.gov.

LIBRARY STITCHERY, knitters, crocheters, beaders, quilters and embroiderers meet to create projects and share ideas. 1 p.m., West End Library, 1101 24th St. NW. Free. 202-724-8707.

EXISTENTIAL READING, Gary Snyder reads from his "Mountains and Rivers Without End," a poem that encompasses Asian artistic traditions, Native American storytelling and Zen Buddhist philosophy. 2 p.m., Freer Gallery, Meyer Auditorium, Jefferson Drive and 12th Street SW. Free. 202-633-1000.

"MAGIC LANTERN SHOW: VICTORIAN TRANSFORMATIONS," lanternists David Francis and Joss Marsh use period lenses, music and narration during the presentation of three short films circa 1900. 4:30 p.m., National Gallery of Art, East Building, Fourth Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Free. 202-842-6799.

NATIVE AMERICAN BLUES MUSIC, by Los Plateros, a Navajo family band. 6 p.m., Kennedy Center, Millennium Stage, 2700 F St. NW. Free. 202-467-4600.

"LORNA DOONE," the 1951 film adapted from the Richard D. Blackmore novel, starring Barbara Hale and Richard Greene; a short film will also be screened. 7 p.m., Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 545 Seventh St. SE. $5. 202-547-6839.

Sunday 13

DUMBARTON OAKS HIKE, for those 8 and older, a National Park Service ranger leads a hike along forest trails and discusses the pioneering designs of landscape architect Beatrix Ferrand. 10 a.m., R and 31st streets NW. Free. 202-426-6851.

PARK TOUR ON HORSEBACK, for those 12 and older, a National Park Service ranger leads a one-hour ride along a creek. 11 a.m., Rock Creek Park Horse Center, 5100 Glover Rd. NW. $35, reservations by credit card required. 202-895-6070 or 202-362-0017.

GUIDED BIKE RIDE, a three-hour tour led by a National Park Service ranger, with stops to discuss the health of past presidents and their battles with gout, dysentery, depression, heart attack, stroke and worse. Take a bike and water. Helmet required. 1 p.m., Thomas Jefferson Memorial, 900 Ohio Dr. SW. Free. 202-619-7222 or Jason_martz@nps.gov.