[Archived] Weekly Event Announcements: May 10-16

May 9, 2008      

Weekly Event Announcements for the City of Alexandria
May 10 – May 16 

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 alexandriava.gov/tes or ecocity.ncr.vt.edu or call 703.838.4966.

Sunday, May 11 – West End Farmers’ Market at Ben Brenman Park
The public is invited to shop at the West End Farmers’ Market beginning at 9 a.m. at Ben Brenman Park, 4800 Brenman Park Dr. Featuring home baked goods, breads and pastries, and locally grown produce, this farmer’s market is one of a kind on the City’s West End. The West End Farmers’ Market will be open Sundays, May through October, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. For additional information, call the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities at 703.838.4343.

Sunday, May 11 – HistoricAlexandriALIVE
Alexandria's historic past comes to life between noon and 5 p.m.! See live, engaging performances at the Waterfront behind the Torpedo Factory. Meet with Alexandria visitors and residents from the 18th century along the waterfront and lower King Street, courtesy of McLean High School’s Project Enlightenment program. For more information, please visit
oha.alexandriava.gov/oha-main/oha-historicAlexandriaLive.html.

Sunday, May 11 – Free Mother’s Day Tours
Gadsby's Tavern and the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museums are pleased to offer free tours on Mother's Day for all visiting mothers! Treat Mom to a tour of the historic tavern (134 N. Royal St.) and the apothecary (105-107 S. Fairfax St.) from noon to 5 p.m. Cost is $4 for all other adults and $2 for children (ages 11-17). For more information, please visit www.gadsbystavern.org or call 703.838.4242.

Monday, May 12 – The Inner World of a Suicidal Youth: What Every Parent and Health Professional Should Know About Suicide
Millie Osborne, M.D., Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at The George Washington University, and author of The Inner World of a Suicidal Youth,  will give a talk to empower parents and professionals to identify and address signs of suicidal ideation, depression, and other dimensions in children's development. This event is from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Beatley Library, 5005 Duke St. There is no charge to attend. For more information, please contact Jennifer Cohen Cordero at 703.838.4455, ext. 161 or e-mail jennifer.cohen-cordero@alexandriava.gov.

Tuesday, May 13 – Preservation 101: Lecture
Learn how to maintain your historic property with this series of lectures and workshops throughout May! Discover The Basics of Alexandria Architecture with City Architect Al Cox. The lecture begins at 7:30 p.m. at Lloyd House, 220 N. Washington St. Cost is $10. Please visit www.historicalexandria.org or call 703.838.4554 for more information.

Wednesday, May 14 and Friday, May 16 – “Lunch Bunch” Concerts at Market Square
The City’s Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities and General Services is once again sponsoring the “Lunch Bunch” concerts at Market Square (301 King St.). The concerts, which feature students from local and visiting schools, are free and open to the public. All concerts begin at 12:15 p.m. Please note that in case of inclement weather, concerts may be canceled. To check the status of concerts, please call the Special Events Hotline at 703.883.4686.
Scheduled performances this week include:

May 14            Immanuel Lutheran School Choir and Handbell Choir (Alexandria, VA)
May 16            Thomas Aquinas Middle School Band (Woodbridge, VA)

Friday, May 16 – Bike to Work Day
Thousands of area commuters will ride their bikes to work to demonstrate that the region’s transportation network makes bicycling throughout the City a feasible and safe travel option. More than 20 “pit stops” are available in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area for commuter cyclists. The City of Alexandria’s pit stop will take place from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. at Market Square, 301 King St. This year’s event at Market Square will feature a Metrobus for cyclists to practice loading and unloading their bikes; cyclists will receive free food, beverages, and services provided by local businesses and sponsors. Bike to Work Day is free and open to all commuters throughout the City of Alexandria. For more information, visit alexandriava.gov/localmotion

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 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-era 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 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 17 – “Avoiding Plan B” Performance by City at Peace Teens are invited to an exciting performance by City at Peace at Cora Kelly Recreation Center. Registration and dinner will begin at 5 p.m., followed by the City at Peace performance of Avoiding Plan B at 6 p.m. The performance explores the lives and relationships of a group of teenagers as they approach high school graduation and deal with the perceptions and implications of sex in their lives. The performance will be followed by informative and interactive workshops given by the City at Peace performers and Game Show Night at Cora Kelly. For more information, contact Becky Griesse at rebecca.griesse@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.5030.

Monday, May 19 – Ad Hoc Motorcoach Task Force
The City of Alexandria has established an Ad Hoc Motorcoach Task Force to develop a proactive approach to motorcoach management that recognizes the economic value of the industry and balances its operational needs with measures to limit intrusive effects on Alexandria’s neighborhoods, the environment, quality of life, traffic and parking. The Task Force will hold its kickoff meeting at 7 p.m. in Room 2000, City Hall, 301 King St. For more information, call 703.838.4966.

Tuesday, May 20 - Public Hearing on Public Art to Honor Charles Houston
A public hearing will be held for residents to provide input and to develop criteria for art that will honor the memory and contributions of civil rights attorney Charles H. Houston at the Charles Houston Recreation Center, which is currently under construction. The public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, May 20 at 7 p.m. at the Dr. Oswald Durant Memorial Center (1605 Cameron St.). The Commission’s regular monthly meeting will follow the public hearing. For additional information, call the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities at 703.838.6348.

Monday, May 26 – 31st Annual Memorial Day Jazz Festival
The City of Alexandria will host the 31st Annual Memorial Day Jazz Festival from 1 to 7 p.m. at Fort Ward Park, 4301 W. Braddock Rd. Admission is free. (In case of inclement weather, the festival will be relocated to the Lee Center’s Kauffman Auditorium, 1108 Jefferson St.) The festival features music from the Difficult Run Jazz Band; Project Natale; Larry Brown Quintet; Sandra Johnson Quintet, and Al Williams. For more information on the City of Alexandria’s Annual Memorial Day Jazz Festival, call the Special Events Hotline at 703.883.4686 or the Special Events Office at 703.838.4844.

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