[Archived] Weekly Event Announcements: April 26 - May 2

April 25, 2008      

Weekly Event Announcements for the City of Alexandria
April 26 – May 2

Saturday, April 26 – Annual City of Alexandria Earth Day Celebration
The City invites the public to join this year’s Earth Day Celebration, scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ben Brenman Park, 4800 Brenman Park Dr. The festival features environmental and family-friendly activities, including Arbor Day Tree planting, musical entertainment, environmental displays, the Blue Sky Puppet Show, food, fun and much more. Admission is free and the event will be held rain or shine. For more information, visit www.alexearthday.org, or call the Special Events Office at 703.838.4844.

Saturday, April 26 – Alexandria’s Urban Forestry Steering Committee to Hold Third Annual Alexandria Earth Day Tree Sale
Alexandria’s Urban Forestry Steering Committee and the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities will hold a City tree sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ben Brenman Park, 4800 Brenman Park Dr. Tree stewards will be available at the sale to provide consultation on tree choice and care. Shade and ornamental trees will be available for $30, and evergreen trees will be available for $40. If 10 or more trees are purchased and they will be planted on one site, assistance with planting can be requested (for an additional fee). To reserve a tree, call Jerry Dieruf, Arborist, at 703.838.4999, ext. 451, or e-mail jerry.dieruf@alexandriava.gov.

Saturday, April 26 – The MidAtlantic Dogs Search and Rescue Exhibit
The Alexandria Library is sponsoring an “All Alexandria Reads” program this spring, encouraging the community to come together and read Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog by John Grogan. As part of the ongoing program, the MidAtlantic Dogs Search and Rescue will exhibit at 11 a.m. at Duncan Library, 2501 Commonwealth Ave.  In the afternoon, Jazz the Dancing Dog will entertain residents of all ages with tricks at 1 and 3 p.m. For more information, call 703.838.4566 or visit www.alexandria.lib.va.us.

Sunday, April 27 – HistoricAlexandriALIVE
Alexandria's historic past comes to life between noon and 5 p.m. today! Courtesy of McLean High School’s Project Enlightenment program, have a conversation with local residents from the 18th century! This Sunday’s activities include street tour groups starting at the Gazebo behind the Torpedo Factory, a military muster at Market Square, a discussion on the natural sciences at the gazebo at the Waterfront, and a Ladies’ Tea on the porch of the Ramsay House, 221 King St. For more information, please visit
http://oha.alexandriava.gov/oha-main/oha-historicAlexandriaLive.html.

Monday, April 28 – Tavern Toddlers
Because it is 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 on Mondays at the museum, 134 North Royal St. In April, the theme is Having Fun, where kids take part in play activities from the past and present. Cost is $10 for a group of three and the program runs from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For more information, please visit www.gadsbystavern.org or call 703.838.4242.

Monday, April 28 - Alexandria Commission for the Arts Invites Public to Agenda Alexandria’s Panel Discussion on Public Art
The City’s Alexandria Commission for the Arts invites the public to attend Agenda Alexandria’s “Public Art: What is it? How Much Do We Want? Who Pays for It?” at the Holiday Inn Eisenhower Metro (2460 Eisenhower Ave.). Featured will define the term “public art,” discuss the current role of public art in the City, and talk about public art’s meaning and value in the midst of the City’s tight budget. For additional information and to make a reservation, call Sherry Brown, Executive Director of Agenda Alexandria, at 703.549.4696 or e-mail agendaalexandria@aol.com.

Tuesday, April 29 – Days of Remembrance Program for Victims of Holocaust
The City of Alexandria will observe the Days of Remembrance, Yom HaShoah, for the victims of the Holocaust at noon on Tuesday, April 29, in Market Square, 301 King St. The Alexandria City Council hosts the annual ceremony as part of the weeklong commemoration of the national Days of Remembrance. The guest speaker for the ceremony will be Dr. Klaus Sharioth, the German ambassador to the United States. The event is open to the public, and, in case of inclement weather, will be held in the Vola Lawson Lobby, located on the first floor of City Hall, 301 King St., on the Cameron Street. side of the building. For more information, please call 703.838.4343.

Tuesday, April 29 – Pet Nutrition Workshop with PetSage
The Alexandria Library is sponsoring an “All Alexandria Reads” program this spring, encouraging the community to come together and read Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog by John Grogan. As part of the ongoing program activities, a pet nutrition workshop wit PetSage will be held at 7 p.m. at the Barrett Library, 717 Queen St. Please call 703.838.4555 or visit www.alexandria.lib.va.us.

Tuesday, April 29 – Potomac Yard Community Meeting #2
A second Potomac Yard community meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at Mt. Vernon Recreation Center, 2701 Commonwealth Ave. The public will have an opportunity to discuss a proposal to transfer office density from Landbays J and L to Landbay H with the overall approved levels of development within Potomac Yard to remain the same. For more information, please contact Matt North at 703.838.4666, ext. 326.

Wednesday, April 30 – Ride Free Kickoff Event
The City of Alexandria invites commuters to take advantage of free bus rides all day today. April 30 marks the kick-off for the Ride Free 2008 Program, which allows commuters to ride Northern Virginia bus systems free on forecast Code Red days. An official Ride Free 2008 kickoff event will be held at the King Street Metrorail station from 6 to 10 a.m. During the event, select riders will receive promotional materials, such as mini-pullout transit maps, free SmarTrip cards, and free unlimited ride monthly DASH passes. For more information, please call 703.838.3800.

Wednesday, April 30 – Marley and Me Book Discussion Group
The Alexandria Library is sponsoring an “All Alexandria Reads” program this spring, encouraging the community to come together and read Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog by John Grogan. As part of the ongoing program activities, a book discussion group will be held at 7 p.m. at Beatley Central Library, 5005 Duke St. Refreshments will be provided by Cameron Perks Coffeehouse. For more information, please call 703.519.5900 or visit www.alexandria.lib.va.us.
Wednesday April 30 - Informational Meeting on South Carlyle Square
An informational meeting about South Carlyle Square, a proposed neighborhood park south of Eisenhower Avenue, will be held at 7 p.m. at the Society for Human Resources Management building (1800 Duke Street) in the First Floor Conference Room, Founders Room. For more information, please contact Katye Parker at 703.838.4666 ext. 372

Wednesday, April 30 – artCHAT on “Social Networking to Grow Arts Audiences”
The City’s Alexandria Commission for the Arts and the Alexandria Arts Forum invites the public to attend an artCHAT on Wednesday, April 30, 7 p.m., at a new location: Metro Stage, 1201 N. Royal St. The artCHAT will offer residents, artists and arts’ organizations the opportunity to learn the "social networking" lingo and explore this new horizon to grow arts audiences. Admission to the artCHAT is free. For additional information, call 703.838.6348, e-mail ACA@alexandriava.gov, or visit www.alexandriacommissionforthearts.org.

Thursday, May 1 – Alexandria Community Services Board Public Hearing
The Alexandria Community Services Board is holding a public hearing to receive comment on the needs of Alexandrians with a mental illness, intellectual disability, and/or a substance dependency problem. The public hearing will be held at 7 p.m. at 720 N. Saint Asaph St. To sign up to speak, please call Will Thompson at 703.838.4455, ext. 208 or e-mail will.thompson@alexandriava.gov   Written comments may be sent to Will Thompson via e-mail, faxed to 703.838.5070, or mailed to 720 N. Saint Asaph St., Alexandria, VA 22314. 

Thursday, May 1 – Community Meeting on Infill
After seven months of meeting, the Infill Task Force is in the process of developing recommendations to be discussed and refined at community meetings. The next community meeting will be held at George Washington Middle School, 1005 Mt. Vernon Ave, at 7 p.m. Now is the perfect time to get involved and make your voice heard on the issue of single-family infill in the City! For more information, please call Valerie Peterson at 703.838.4666 ext. 338.

Now Enrolling – Archaeology Summer Camp 2008
Young people ages 12 to 15 will discover Alexandria’s history through archaeology at this unique day camp. Assist professional archaeologists at a real excavation site, go on special field trips, and more! Applications are now being accepted for two week-long sessions in July. For more information, please visit www.alexandriaarchaeology.org or call 703.838.4399.

Now Open through Monday, September 8 – Living Legends of Alexandria Exhibition
The Lyceum (201 S. Washington St.) is hosting Living Legends of Alexandria, which celebrates and documents individuals who have made remarkable contributions to the quality of life in Alexandria. Living Legends of Alexandria features photographs of 48 nominees by Nina Tisara with information about their contributions by Christa Watters. The Lyceum, Alexandria’s History Museum, is open Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission and parking are free. For more information, please visit www.alexandriahistory.org or call 703.838.4994.

Now through Wednesday, December 31 – Drawings by William Lydston, Jr. Exhibition
The Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site (4301 W. Braddock Rd.) has extended this exhibition of Civil War artwork through the end of the year. Civil War drawings by soldier, artist, and musician William Lydston, Jr., are featured, with musical instruments and related objects as part of the statewide celebration of Virginia’s musical heritage. Admission to the museum is free. The Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sundays, noon to 5 p.m. For more information, please visit www.fortward.org or call 703.838.4848.

Coming Soon!

Saturday, May 3 -- Teddy Bear Tea
Last chance to register for the Teddy Bear Tea! Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street, hosts its annual Teddy Bear Tea to help children to learn about basic table etiquette. The tea is suitable for boys and girls from 5 to 10 years old, and parents or caregivers must accompany children for the entire program. Proper dress and advance payment required. Cost is $18 per person and the event goes from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. For more information, please call 703.838.4356.

Saturday, May 10 – Eco-City Summit
Help Alexandria to become an “Eco-City!” The City invites the public to participate in the Eco-City Summit from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the T.C. Williams High School, 3330 King St. The Summit, part of the City’s Eco-City Alexandria Initiative, will provide opportunities for residents to give feedback, input, and discussion on the City’s draft Eco-City Charter and to assist in the creation of a draft Environmental Action Plan. For more information, please visit https://www.alexandriava.gov/tes/, or call 703.838.4966.

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