Wonderland

Critically acclaimed singer, songwriter and guitarist John Mayer hits the area Wednesday night for an all-ages show at the Verizon Center. The Grammy award-winning artist is known for such hit songs as "Your Body is a Wonderland," "Daughters" and "Waiting On the World to Change." The show starts at 7 p.m. at Verizon Center, 601 F St. N.W., Washington. Tickets are $49.50 and $59.50. Information: 410-547-SEAT or ticketmaster. com.

Many of Judy Templeton's friends call her Columbia townhouse "the whimsical wonderland." She is pleased with the compliment. "This is my little-girl playhouse," said the holistic health counselor who also teaches musical theater and dance. "My home is an amalgam of everything that makes me happy." Ironically, the year in which it was planned followed one of the most difficult periods of her life. Templeton's husband died unexpectedly while out of town on a golfing trip. That was almost three years ago. At the time, the couple shared a villa-style townhouse on a golf course in Howard County.

The annual tradition at 6428 Deep Calm - where the Colby family illuminated their corner property in Owen Brown with thousands of Christmas lights and eye-catching decorations - has ceased. "It's kind of an end to an era," said Butch Colby, 63. "It's sad, but eventually it had to come to an end." Butch and Barbara Colby, who have been decking out their home each holiday season for 25 years, are preparing to put the property up for sale and move to a retirement community in Carroll County.

Alice's place -- Kinetics Dance Theatre will celebrate its 22nd year with a family-friendly modern dance concert, A Is for Alice, at 4 p.m. Sunday at Jim Rouse Theatre for the Performing Arts at Wilde Lake High School, 5460 Trumpeter Road, Columbia. On the program are works by company members and an adaptation of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. A reception for artists, characters and members of the audience will be held after the performance. Tickets are $15; $10 for students and senior citizens.

Lavender lovers will find themselves in a floral wonderland next weekend at the Pennsylvania Lavender Festival. The three-day celebration of the aromatic, purple flower will bloom at Willow Pond Farm in Fairfield, Pa. Visitors can stroll through the farm's 2.5 acres of lavender; hear discussions on the plant's medicinal aspects; learn about growing, harvesting and cooking with lavender; and hear the lecture "Lavender Lore and Other Herbal Mysteries."...

Here's a mind-boggling train of Alice in Wonderland logic: 1. Lobbying is generally defined as trying to influence legislation. 2. Members of the University System of Maryland's Board of Regents are prohibited from lobbying the General Assembly. 3. Regents Chairman David Nevins works for Constellation Energy. 4. The legislature recently considered bills that would have affected Constellation and its merger plans with Florida's FPL Group. 5. In February, Mr. Nevins coordinated "courtesy-call" meetings in which he introduced Constellation and FPL executives to General Assembly leaders.

Woodlawn's runner-up finish to Carroll County power North Carroll in last weekend's Class 4A-3A North regional wrestling tournament is part of what has been an outstanding winter at the Baltimore County school. Seniors Charles West (152 pounds) and Jariel Waters (160) and juniors Justin Wildy (130) and Alex Harper (275) all won regional titles to pace the Warriors, whose effort came on the heels of a fourth-place finish at the Baltimore County tournament. At counties, West (29-3) won a title, and Wildy (21-7)

Ooh and aah at this year's Symphony of Lights display in Columbia. The annual drive-through tour features more than 70 larger-than-life animated and stationary holiday light creations. From dancing candy canes and prancing reindeer to colorful toy soldiers, huge igloos and waving snowmen, the display is a showcase of winter wonderland scenes. Symphony of Lights runs through Jan. 1 at Symphony Woods, Columbia. Visitors should use the Merriweather Post Pavilion entrance on Broken Land Parkway.

Lunchtime lecture to focus on Monet The Carroll County Arts Council will hold a free "Lunch & Learn" lecture from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday at the Carroll Arts Center, 91 W. Main St., Westminster. Susan Williamson, visual arts coordinator, will present a slide lecture on Monet in conjunction with the Baltimore Museum of Art's exhibit, Monet's London. She will discuss the social and political climate in France that paved the way for the Impressionists and Monet's work in London, where he used the Houses of Parliament as a backdrop for his paintings.