[Archived] Weekly Event Announcements: August 2 - 8, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 1, 2008    

Weekly Event Announcements for the City of Alexandria
August 2 – August 8, 2008 

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 – Tavern Day
Come to Tavern Day, a free open house at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 North Royal Street. From 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., experience Alexandria’s five-star hotel of the 18th century, made famous by John Gadsby, and whose guests included George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. Tours are led by costumed guides. Enjoy period music and light refreshments at this free event! For more information, please visit www.gadsbystavern.org or call 703.838.4242.

Saturday, August 2 – Irish Festival
The City of Alexandria will host the Irish Festival from 12 p.m. - 7 p.m., at Waterfront Park, 1A Prince Street. Admission is free and the festival will be held rain or shine. Entertainment features the Boyle Irish Dancers; Rocky Guttman; Pat Garvey; the Maple School of Dance; the Flying Cows of Ventry; The City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums and Lieutenant Colonel Dowd Division A. O. H. Color Guard, among others. Exhibits will showcase traditional arts, crafts, jewelry, paintings, and souvenirs. Throughout the day, Irish food and beverages will be available for purchase. For up-to-date information, call the Special Events Hotline at 703.883.4686 or visit alexandriava.gov/recreation.

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.

Sunday, August 3 – 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, August 3 – 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. Puppet shows were a common and exciting entertainment in the 18th century and now today’s visitors will be entertained by KD Puppets performing classic tales--but with a modern twist! Visitors can also watch the amazing feats of Italian equilibrist Signora Bella, an 18th-century acrobat, as she juggles swords and flaming torches and walks the slack rope. For more information, please visit oha.alexandriava.gov/oha-main/oha-historicAlexandriaLive.html.

Monday, August 4 – Summer Quest 2008 Event
Summer Quest 2008 will host the Barefoot Puppets, who will present Anansi for children ages 6-12. The event will be held at 3:30 p.m. at the Duncan Branch Library, 2501 Commonwealth Ave. For more information, please call 703.838.4566.

Tuesday, August 5 – Local Author Philip Effiong Hosts Book Discussion
Local Author Philip Effiong discusses his first published book, Monty, a novel of war in Nigeria.  The event will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Duncan Branch Library, 2501 Commonwealth Ave. For more information, please call 703.838.4566.

Tuesday, August 5 – National Night Out
The City of Alexandria will celebrate the 25th Anniversary of National Night Out from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. The special celebration is part of a nationwide crime and drug prevention effort sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch. To heighten awareness of crime prevention, residents in more than 25 Alexandria neighborhoods will turn on their porch lights, host cook-outs and sponsor block parties. For more information about this national celebration, visit www.nationaltownwatch.org/nno/

Wednesday, August 6 – Canal Center Plaza Concert
The Canal Center Plaza Concert series will feature Steven Gellman, folk musician, 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, August 7 - Music at Twilight Concert 
The Music at Twilight Concert series features Dagmar & the Seductones, a roots and rock ban, at 7:30 p.m. at Fort 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

Friday, August 8 – Market Square Concert
The Market Square Concert series will feature the Alexandria Citizens Band, the “City’s Oldest Performing Arts Organization,” at 7:30 p.m. at Market Square, 301 King St. 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

Friday, August 8 – 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.