April 16 in history: George Washington departs Mount Vernon for an eight-day journey to New York for his inauguration, 1789; slavery outlawed in the District of Columbia, 1862; first books of U.S. postage stamps issued, 1900; Lenin arrives in Russia to start Bolshevik Revolution, 1917; at least 500 people killed in Texas City explosion, 1947; President Bush pledges U.S. assistance of Kurdish refugees in northern Iraq, 1991. Celebrities' mundane birthdays: actor Charlie Chaplin (1889), composer Henry Mancini (1924), pop sensation Gerardo (1965) and singer Selena (1971). Be sure to celebrate in an esoteric fashion.

Today

Recovery: Alcoholics Anonymous meets Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. and Thursdays at 11:45 a.m. in Room 202, A.D. Bruce Religion Center. Everyone is welcome. For information, call 789-9420.

Courtyard: The schools of communication and theater will hold a barbecue to raise money for the Communication Building courtyard renovation project from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the courtyard.

Scientific: The Christian Science Organization holds its weekly meeting at 3 p.m. in Room 105, A.D. Bruce Religion Center. For information, call Sandra Wilkie at 743-6344.

Pre-Pharmacy Students' Association: will meet at 4 p.m. in the UC Rodeo Room to elect its Fall 1997 officers. For information, call Tara Bolden at 743-7345.

Negotiating the Net: UH Continuing Education will sponsor a free Internet demonstration class from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Continuing Education Center, Entrance 1 off Calhoun. For information, call 743-1060.

An evening of music: The Moores School of Music presents mezzo-soprano Debria Brown, assisted by pianist Sharon Goldsberry, in a faculty recital at 7:30 p.m. in the Dudley Recital Hall. Featured works include those of Purcell and Puccini. Admission is $3 for students, $5 general admission. For information, call 743-3009.

The first of Fiesta: 93Q radio welcomes everyone to Willie's Dance Hall and Saloon for the first annual Round-Up Dance on the Frontier Fiesta field, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Admission is free. For information, call 741-1544 or search the Web for "Frontier Fiesta."

Thursday

Old man trouble: Counseling and Testing will present a free workshop on worry-busting at noon on the second floor, Student Service Center. For information, call 743-5411.

College Republicans: hold their weekly meeting at 2:30 p.m. in the UC Spindletop Room. For information, e-mail Arik Wolf at joe51@ix.netcom.com.

Listen to the music: The SPB Concert Committee holds its weekly meeting at 5:30 p.m. in the Large Conference Room, UC Underground. For information, call 743-5210.

City planning: Angus Gavin and Ramez Maluf of the Lebanese Company for the Development and Reconstruction of the Beirut Central District will discuss the rebuilding of Beirut at 6:30 p.m. in Room 150, Hines College of Architecture Building.

Chi Alpha: meets Thursdays at 7 p.m. in the Aegean Room, UC Underground. For information, call 455-8163.

Friday

Toastmasters: The Toastmasters at UH hold their weekly meeting at noon in Room 202, Cullen College of Engineering Building. For information, call 743-4344.

Remember your prayers: The Muslim Students Association holds Jumma prayers Fridays at 1:30 p.m. in the A.D. Bruce Religion Center. For information, call 743-7331.

The Devils: Rice University Cinema will show Ken Russell's 1971 screen adaptation of Aldous Huxley's The Devils of London at 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. in the Rice Media Center, Rice Entrance 8, University Boulevard at Stockton Street. Admission is $4.50. For information, call 527-4853.

Announcements

SVN: Highlights of the Student Video Network's programming schedule, today through Thursday evening: Moonstruck (9 a.m. today); To Kill a Mockingbird/Video Radio (11 a.m. today); The Last Supper (2:06 and 8:06 p.m. today, 2:06 and 6:06 a.m. and noon Thursday); Mean Streets (4 and 10 p.m. today, 4 and 8 a.m. Thursday); The Bodyguard, starring the vivacious Whitney Houston (6 p.m. today, 12 and 10 a.m. Thursday); Hackers (2 p.m. Thursday); A Clockwork Orange (4 and 11 p.m. Thursday); The Hunchback of Notre Dame (7:06 p.m. Thursday); SVN-News (9 p.m. Thursday); Pirate TV Live! (10 p.m. Thursday). This schedule is subject to change; check on-campus Channel 6 for details.