[Archived] Weekly Event Announcements: June 7-13

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 6, 2008

Weekly Event Announcements for the City of Alexandria
June 7 – 13

Saturday, June 7 – Arlington & Alexandria Community Bike Ride
The City of Alexandria encourages residents to participate in the fourth annual Alexandria & Arlington Community Bike Ride at 7 a.m. This is a non-competitive ride designed for families and people of all ages. Choose from the 23-mile Community Tour or the 8-mile Family Ride, with full-service rest stops, valet bike parking, music and entertainment at the finish line. For more information, please contact Yon Lambert at 703.838.4328.

Saturday, June 7 – Sixteenth Annual Armenian Festival
The City of Alexandria will host the 16th Annual Armenian Festival from noon to 6 p.m. at Market Square, 301 King St. Admission is free, and the festival will be held rain or shine. The festival features Armenian foods, arts and crafts, and live entertainment including instrumentalists and vocalists, and Arax Dance Ensemble. For more information on the Armenian Festival, call the Special Events Hotline at 703.883.4686 or the Special Events Office at 703.838.4844.

Saturday, June 7 – Burke Branch Library Summer Book Sale
Burke Branch Library will be hosting a summer book sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its location at 4701 Seminary Rd. For more information, please call 703.519.6000.

Saturday, June 7 – All Alexandria Reads Event
Jordan the Jack Russell Terrier will be entertaining patrons at two public libraries this weekend in honor of the All Alexandria Reads program, which features the book Marley and Me by John Grogan. Jordan will be visiting Beatley Central Library (5005 Duke St.) at 11 a.m. and Burke Branch Library (4701 Seminary Rd.) at 2 p.m. All ages are welcome and this event is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Mark Schwartz at 703.519.3498.

Sunday, June 8 – Eighth Annual Arlandria-Chirilagua Festival
The City of Alexandria will host the Annual Arlandria-Chirilagua Festival from noon to 7 p.m. at the Mt. Vernon Village Shopping Center, in the 3700 to 3800 blocks of Mt. Vernon Ave. Admission is free and the festival will be held rain or shine. The festival features live entertainment, children’s activities, and traditional arts and crafts from South America, Bolivia, Peru, and Central America, and food and beverage sales. For more information on the Arlandria-Chirilagua Festival, call the Special Events Hotline at 703.883.4686 or the Special Events Office at 703.838.4844.

Sunday, June 8 – 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. Courtesy of McLean High School’s Project Enlightenment program, meet and talk with Alexandria visitors and residents from the 18th century along the waterfront and lower King Street. For more information, please visit
oha.alexandriava.gov/oha-main/oha-historicAlexandriaLive.html.

Sunday, June 8 – “Advertising and Medicine in the 19th Century and Today” Lecture
Robert E. Greenspan, M.D. and author of “Medicine: Perspectives in History and Art,” will discuss the relationship of advertising/promotion and medicine and the similarities between the 19th century and today, at the Athenaeum, 201 Prince St. Citing examples from his preeminent collection of medical tools, packaging and ephemera, he will illustrate the topic from the sublime to the ridiculous and back again. The lecture, which begins 4 p.m., is cosponsored by the Athenaeum and the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum. Seating is limited so reserve space online at www.apothecarymuseum.org. For more information, please call 703.838.3852.

Monday, June 9 – Motorcoach Task Force
The public is invited to attend the Motorcoach Task Force meeting at 7 p.m. in the Sister Cities Conference Room 1101, City Hall, 301 King St. The Task Force is a collaborative effort with multiple City stakeholders to develop a proactive approach to motorcoach management. For more information, please contact Yon Lambert at 703.838.4328.

Wednesday, June 11 – Potomac Yard Development Advisory Committee
The Potomac Yard Development Advisory Committee will meet at 7 p.m. in the Sister Cities Conference Room 1101, City Hall, 301 King St. For more information, please contact Matthew North at 703.838.4666, ext. 326.

Friday, June 13 – Lantern Tours
After happy hour or dinner in Old Town, see the 18th century in a completely new light! Tour Gadsby’s Tavern Museum (134 N. Royal St.) by candlelight with a costumed guide and see how guests experienced the historic tavern and hotel before the advent of electricity. Tour times are 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., and the cost is $5 per person, ages 5 and up. The Museum may be closed on some occasions, so call ahead to verify tour dates at 703.838.4242.

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.

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.

Open through Wednesday, December 31 -- Drawings by William Lydston, Jr. Exhibition
The exhibition of Civil War artwork at Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site (4301 West Braddock Rd.) has been extended through the end of the year. Civil War drawings by soldier, artist and musician William Lydston, Jr., are featured in this exhibit with musical instruments and related objects as part of the statewide celebration of Virginia’s musical heritage. Admission to the museum is free. The exhibition 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, June 14 – All Alexandria Reads Program Grand Finale Event!
The All Alexandria Reads 2008 Program will hold a grand finale fundraiser event at Barnes & Noble, Potomac Yard, 3651 Jefferson Davis Hwy. All purchases throughout the entire weekend will benefit the 2009 All Alexandria Reads Program. Visit www.alexandria.lib.va.us to print vouchers and the shop at Barnes & Noble to support the Alexandria Library.

Saturday, June 14 – African-American Writers Event
Local African-American authors representing a variety of genres will read and discuss their works and influences at the Alexandria Black History Museum (902 Wythe St.) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Among the participants at this free event are 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. The program also includes novelist, poet, and police officer Quintin Peterson, author of A Dark Place and The Kingsley Affair; and genealogist and columnist Char McCargo Bah, contributing author of Everyday Grace, Everyday Miracle. For more information, please visit www.alexblackhistory.org or call 703.838.4356.

Saturday, June 14 – Archaeology Family Dig Days
Help City archaeologists and trained volunteers screen excavated soil for artifacts from a real "dig" located on the grounds of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial (101 Callahan Dr.) from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Wear comfortable clothes, protect yourself from the sun, and bring a water bottle. Please, no sandals. All necessary equipment will be supplied. Children under 16 must be accompanied by a participating adult. Cost is $5 per person and reservations are required. E-mail archaeology@alexandriava.gov or call 703.838.4399 to reserve your space today!

Saturday, June 14 – Wilkes Street Tunnel Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
The City of Alexandria invites residents to attend the Wilkes Street Tunnel Ribbon Cutting Ceremony from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. The tunnel is located at the intersection of Wilkes and Royal Streets. This event recognizes the City’s commitment towards historic preservation and landmark recognition. For information about the Wilkes Street Tunnel Ribbon Cutting, please contact Kathleen Leonard at 703.838.4966.

Saturday, June 14 – Eco-City Environmental Charter Public Hearing
City Council will consider adoption of the Eco-City Environmental Charter at a public hearing beginning at 9:30 a.m. Following the public hearing, the Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission, Virginia Tech, and City staff will begin work on the Environmental Action Plan and plan to forward the Plan to the City Council for consideration early next year. For more information about the Eco-City Alexandria initiative, please contact Khoa Tran or Kathleen Leonard at 703.838.4334 or e-mail Eco-CityAlexandria@alexandriava.gov.