[Archived] Weekly Event Announcements for the City of Alexandria

Weekly Event Announcements for the City of Alexandria
March 22-28 

Saturday, March 22 – Hunt for History 
Here’s a fun way to explore the Tavern and City Hotel! The history is easy to find, but where are the eggs?  Help find the Tavernkeeper’s Easter eggs and learn about the past at the same time at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 North Royal St. Light refreshments included. Reservations are requested, and admission is $5 per adult, $3 per child (ages 2-17). Tours times are available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, please visit www.gadsbystavern.org or call 703.838.4242.

Saturday, March 22 – Children's Book Fair
Join children’s book publisher Usborne at this special event for kids and adults! Usborne will be offering dozens of selections focusing on social studies and other educational areas at The Lyceum (201 South Washington St) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kids can play “Museum Detective” on a scavenger hunt of The Lyceum and enjoy other free activities like storytelling, crafts, and hands-on artifact stations. Stimulate your child’s curiosity at this fun family event. A portion of the book sales will benefit educational programs at The Lyceum. Admission is free. For more information, please visit www.alexandriahistory.org or call 703.838.4994.

Saturday, March 22 – Celebrate Women’s History Month
In honor of Women’s History Month, female authors representing a variety of genres will celebrate the contributions of women as they read and discuss their own works at the Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe St. Participants include novelist Vannessa Grace, author of The Dark Before the Light at Dawn; playwright Charnika Louise Hayes, author of The Other Side of Womanhood; local history writers Nathania Branch Miles and Jane Taylor Thomas, co-authors of photo histories Oxon Hill and Fort Washington from the Images of America series; and genealogist and columnist Char McCargo Bah, contributing author of Everyday Grace, Everyday Miracle. This free event runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and light refreshments will be served after the program. For more information, please visit www.alexblackhistory.org or call 703.838.4356.

Monday, March 24 – Tavern Toddlers
Because it’s never too early for kids to appreciate history, Gadsby’s Tavern Museum developed this special program for toddlers (walkers through 36 months) and their caregivers. Tavern Toddlers features a weekly open playtime every Monday through April at the museum, 134 North Royal St. In March, the focus is Going on a Trip where children will go on adventures as they pretend to be travelers. Cost is $10 for a group of three and the program runs 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For more information, please visit www.gadsbystavern.org or call 703.838.4242.

Tuesday, March 25 – Orientation Session for iMovie Mentors Program
The City of Alexandria’s Court Service Unit is seeking “a few good men” to serve as mentors for at-risk sixth grade boys. Mentors are paired with youth in the iM2—iMovie Mentors program to produce a short movie on a topic of interest. An orientation for interested mentors will be held on Tuesday, March 25, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the library of the George Washington Middle School, 1005 Mount Vernon Ave. Attendance at the orientation sessions and successful completion of a criminal background check are required for all mentors. To RSVP for the mentor orientation, e-mail linda.odell@alexandriava.gov.

Wednesday, March 26 – Alexandria Historical Society Lecture: “The History of Del Ray”
To commemorate the centennial of Del Ray, Leland Ness will give an illustrated lecture at The Lyceum (201 South Washington St) on the history of Del Ray, an Alexandria community now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Town of Potomac Historic District is recognized for its significance as one of the first streetcar suburbs in the United States. The state legislature incorporated the Town of Potomac in March 1908, but its independence did not last for long. On January 1, 1930, the City of Alexandria took control over the entire area and the Town of Potomac ceased to exist. This free lecture begins at 7:30 p.m. For more information, please visit www.alexandriahistory.org or call 703.838.4994.

Wednesday, March 26 – Mayor’s State of the City Address
Mayor William D. Euille invites the public to attend the annual “State of the City” on Wednesday, March 26, at 7:00 p.m. This year, the event will be held at T.C. Williams High School, 3330 King St. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free and light refreshments will be served. Parking is available in the parking lots in the rear of the school, and along Chinquapin Drive. The event will broadcast on all three government cable stations in the City (channels 69, 70, 71) and on the City’s Web site. For more information, visit www.alexandriava.gov.

Thursday, March 27 – Carlyle Design Review Board 
The public is invited to attend the Carlyle Design Review Board meeting at 7 p.m. in City Hall, Room 2000. Their meetings are held regularly every other month in City Hall. The Board reviews concept and final design proposals for development site plans in the Eisenhower East/Carlyle area. For more information, alexandriava.gov/planning or call Natalie Sun at 703.838.4666 ext. 368.

Coming Soon! 

Saturday, March 29 – Ninth Annual Dance for All Ages “Sock Hop”
The City invites the public to attend the ninth Annual Dance for All Ages on Saturday, March 29 from 7 to 9 p.m. at T.C. Williams High School, 3330 King St. This year’s theme is a “Sock Hop,” featuring music of the 1950s and 1960s by disc jockey Steve McIntire. Admission and parking are free. Please RSVP by Friday, March 21 to Robert Gordon at 703.838.4831 or e-mail robert.gordon@alexandriava.gov.

Monday, March 31 – Annual Salute to Women Awards Banquet
The Alexandria Commission for Women invites the public to attend the 28th Annual Salute to Women Awards Banquet. Individual banquet tickets can be purchased online through the City’s eChecks system or by downloading the invitation and reservation card at www.alexwomen.com. The RSVP deadline is March 28.  For further information, please call 703.746.5030.

Tuesday, April 1 – iM2 Film Festival 
The iM2--iMovie Mentors program is hosting their first annual film festival from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
at the Old Town Theater, 815½ King St. The iM2--iMovie Mentors program pairs boys from George Washington Middle School with adult male mentors, and they attend a weekly workshops together to establish a mentoring relationship and learn the fundamentals of filmmaking. Film festival attendees will see short features about Alexandria’s Mayor Euille, the Potomac Belle and the Alexandria Fire Department, and find out if there are ghosts that haunt the City. Tickets may be purchased at the door for $5 per person, which includes popcorn and soda. For more information, e-mail linda.odell@alexandriava.gov.

Now Being Accepted – History Award Nominations
The Alexandria Historical Society is calling for nominations for the 2008 Alexandria History Award, to be presented to a person or persons who have made noteworthy contributions to the preservation of the historic, cultural, and artistic heritage of Alexandria. Honorees will be presented with a certificate and gift at a special awards ceremony on Wednesday, April 23 at 7:30 p.m., at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St. Organizations and interested individuals are invited to submit written nominations, in the form of a narrative no longer than two pages, which explain the contributions of the nominee. Mail nominations by Monday, March 17, to the Office of Historic Alexandria, 220 North Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314. For more information, please contact Douglas Thurman at 703.548.7052.

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