[Archived] Weekly Event Announcements: July 19 - 25

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 18, 2008

Weekly Event Announcements for the City of Alexandria July 19 – 25, 2008

Saturday, July 19 – Comcast Outdoor Film Festival
The Comcast Outdoor Film Festival will sponsor a free outdoor movie to benefit the Hopkins House. Transformers will be featured, beginning at 8:30 p.m. at Ben Brenman Park, 4800 Brenman Park Dr. For additional information, call Comcast at 703.567.4488 or the Special Events Hotline at 703.883.4686.

Saturday, July 19 – Gadsby’s Tavern Museum Society’s Caribbean Night
Enjoy some summer fun at the Fifth Annual Caribbean Night at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 North Royal St. From 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., enjoy two flavors of margaritas while you bid on fantastic silent auction items to benefit the preservation of the City Tavern ice well. Cost is $30 for members of the Gadsby’s Tavern Museum Society, $40 for non-members with reservations paid in advance, and $50 at the door. Reservations are required; please call 703.838.4242 or visit www.gadsbystavern.org for more information.

Sunday, July 20 – West End Farmers’ Market at Ben Brenman Park 
Shop at the West End Farmers’ Market beginning at 9 a.m. at Ben Brenman Park, 4800 Brenman Park Dr. Summer’s bounty just gets more and more delicious. The vendors at the West End Farmers Market are now displaying a sumptuous array of tomatoes. Mounds of large multi-colored heirloom tomatoes can be found next to baskets of cherry tomatoes, yellow and red plum tomatoes, and the all time summer favorite, large juicy red tomatoes, right off the vine. The West End Farmers’ Market is 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, July 20 – 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. Musician Stephen Christoff explores early American music, playing an octave mandolin, hand-flute, saw and more! Meet “Charlotte,” the enslaved head seamstress to Martha Washington, and hear about her life and survival as she visits Alexandria. For more information, please visit oha.alexandriava.gov/oha-main/oha-historicAlexandriaLive.html.

Monday, July 21 – Duncan Branch Book Discussion Group
Participate in the Duncan Branch Book Discussion Group, who will be meeting to talk about Censoring Science by Mark Bowen. The group will meet at 7 p.m. at Duncan Branch Library, 2501 Commonwealth Ave. For more information, please contact Ruth at 703.838.4566.

Monday, July 21 – Landmark/Van Dorn Advisory Group Meeting
The group will meet from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at a new location, the cafeteria at Samuel Tucker Elementary School, 435 Ferdinand Day Dr. Topics to be discussed include the Alexandria Transportation Master Plan, transportation analysis, and transportation issues in the plan development. For more information, please contact Pat Mann at 703.838.4666 ext. 303.

Wednesday, July 23 - Canal Center Plaza Concerts 
This concert will featuring folk and pop musicians Cletus Kennelly & Lori Kelley beginning at noon at 44 Canal Center Plaza. Concerts are cancelled in the event of inclement weather and subject to change without notice. For up-to-date information, call the Special Events Hotline at 703.883.4686 or visit alexandriava.gov/recreation.

Thursday, July 24 - Music at Twilight Concert, Fort Ward Park, 4301 W. Braddock Rd
This concert will featuring the barbershop choral group Alexandria Harmonizers beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Ford Ward Park, 4301 W. Braddock Rd. Concerts are cancelled in the event of inclement weather and subject to change without notice. For up-to-date information, call the Special Events Hotline at 703.883.4686 or visit alexandriava.gov/recreation.

Thursday, July 24 – 2008 Ambassador City Award Presentation
The City will be recognized as a 2008 Ambassador City at a ceremony at 1 p.m. in the Vola Lawson Lobby of City Hall, 301 King St. This award, to be presented to Mayor William D. Euille by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National Association of Realtors, recognizes the partnership between the City and the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors in providing homeownership education for low- and moderate-income City residents and City and school workers, and for their foreclosure prevention education initiative. 

Thursday, July 24 – Jane Austen Dance Class
In preparation for the Jane Austen Ball on August 9, learn 18th-century English country dancing from expert dance instructors at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 North Royal St. The class is scheduled from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and costs $12. Sign up for classes July 31 and August 7, too, and pay just $30 for the series of three! Reservations are recommended. Call 703.838.4242 or visit www.gadsbystavern.org for more information.

Friday, July 25 – Lantern Tours
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 cost is $5 per person, ages 5 and up. The museum may be closed on some occasions; call 703.838.4242 in advance to verify tour dates.

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, visit www.alexandriahistory.org or call 703.838.4994.

Open through Wednesday, December 31 – Drawings by William Lydston, Jr. Exhibition
This exhibition of Civil War artwork at Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site (4301 W. 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, visit www.fortward.org or call 703.838.4848.

Coming Soon!

Saturday, July 26 – African Heritage Cultural Festival
The City of Alexandria will host the African Heritage Cultural Festival from 1 - 7 p.m. at Market Square, 301 King St. This year’s theme is “Reaching Back, Moving Forward.” Admission is free and the festival will be held rain or shine. For up-to-date information, call the Special Events Hotline at 703.883.4686 or visit alexandriava.gov/recreation.

Saturday, August 2 – Friendship Firehouse Festival
Don’t miss the annual the Friendship Firehouse Festival in the 100 block of South Alfred Street from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Celebrate the 234th anniversary of the Friendship Fire Company, founded in 1774, and enjoy birthday cake, craft and food vendors, and a special display of antique and modern firefighting equipment. Free fire helmets and balloons for children! For more information, please visit www.friendshipfirehouse.org or call 703.751.6416.

Saturday, August 2 and Sunday, August 3 – Railroad Days
All aboard! The Potomac Division of the National Model Railroad Association returns to The Lyceum, 201 South Washington Street, with working HO gauge trains and a state-of-the-art digital command system. New this year is a hands-on Thomas the Tank Engine area for toddlers. Railroad Days also features Whistle Stop Hobbies, who will discuss the fun of miniature trains and Operation Lifesaver, a national railroad safety program headquartered in Alexandria. The Lyceum is open Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, please visit www.alexandriahistory.org or call 703.838.4994.