[Archived] Weekly Event Announcements: October 4-10, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 3, 2008    

Weekly Event Announcements for the City of Alexandria
October 4 -October 10, 2008 (Updated)

Saturday, October 4 - Alexandria’s Urban Forestry Steering Committee and the North Ridge Civic Association Fall Tree Sale
A City tree sale will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Trinity United Methodist Church, 2911 Cameron Mills Rd. The goal of the sale is to promote the preservation of the Alexandria’s tree canopy by encouraging the planting of trees on private property throughout the City. Alexandria Tree Stewards and Master Gardeners will be on site to answer questions about tree selection, planting and care. For additional information, or to reserve a tree, call John Noelle, Arborist, at 703.838.5095, ext. 437, o e-mail john.noelle@alexandriava.gov.

Saturday, October 4 – Art on the Avenue
Art on the Avenue, a regional multicultural arts and music festival, will be taking place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. along Mount Vernon Avenue the Potomac West neighborhood of Alexandria. The festival feature over 300 arts vendors, live music, children’s art activities, and the fourth annual pie baking contest. For more information, visit www.artontheavenue.org.

Saturday, October 4 - Cameron Station/Summers Grove Community Emergency Plan Workshop
The City is holding a community emergency plan workshop from 9 a.m. to noon at Samuel Tucker Elementary School, 435 Ferdinand Day Drive. This event will include a preview of the emergency plans for the Cameron Station, Summers Grove and for Samuel Tucker Elementary School; an interactive emergency exercise; and a display of the City’s firefighting capabilities.

Saturday, October 4 – Fall Book Sale at Burke Branch Library
The Burke Branch Library will host a fall book sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The library is located at 4701 Seminary Rd. For more information, call 703.519.6000.

Saturday, October 4 – Artillery Day 
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site (4301 West Braddock Rd.) will host reenactors from the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery, a unit stationed at Fort Ward during the Civil War. They will highlight the role of the artillery service in the Defenses of Washington. Visitors will learn about artillery tools, equipment and projectiles in the historic Alexandria Civil War fort. Reenactors will conduct cannon firing demonstrations featuring a 3-inch ordnance rifle and a 2.25-inch mountain rifle, as well as a 24-pound Coehorn mortar. The Union artillery unit also portrays camp life, including camp cooking, mail call, leisure activities and civilian impressions. There is no admission fee, although donations of $2 for adults, $1 for children are suggested. For more information, please visit www.fortward.org or call 703.838.4848.

Saturday, October 4 – Jack and Jill “Spotlight on Youth” Program
In conjunction with the exhibition Ah THAT Jack and Jill!, the Alexandria Black History Museum (902 Wythe St.) is hosting a youth roundtable discussion from 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. Young people from pre-teen to voting age, representing school, church and Jack and Jill of America will form a panel to explore how education, politics, recreation/leisure, and the economy impact their lives. This free event is open to all. For more information, please visit www.alexblackhistory.org or call 703.838.4356.

Sunday, October 5 - Annual Scottish Heritage Fair
The City of Alexandria will celebrate its Scottish heritage at the Annual Scottish Heritage from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Fort Ward Park, 4301 West Braddock Rd. Admission is free and the fair will be held rain or shine. For additional information on the Scottish Heritage Fair, call the City’s Special Events Hotline at 703.883.4686 or the Special Events Office at 703.838.4844.

Sunday, October 5 – 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. 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, October 5 – HistoricAlexandriALIVE
Between noon and 5 p.m., watch Alexandria's historic past comes to life! See live, engaging performances at the Waterfront behind the Torpedo Factory. Join Mr. Thomas Wall, Gentleman Fencer, who will showcase the finer points of fencing and begin recruitment for new students. 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, October 6 – Tavern Toddlers
Because it’s never too early for kids to appreciate history, Gadsby’s Tavern Museum developed a special program for toddlers (walkers through 36 months) and their caregivers. Tavern Toddlers features a weekly open playtime every Monday through April at the museum, 134 North Royal St. Cost is $7 for a group of three and the program runs 10:30 a.m. to noon. For more information, please visit www.gadsbystavern.org or call 703.838.4242.

Monday, October 6 – 2008 Vehicle Personal Property and Business Personal Property Taxes Due
Both 2008 Vehicle Personal Property and 2008 Business Personal Property Taxes are due on Monday, October 6. Penalties, interest and administrative fees will be added to all vehicle personal property taxes not paid by the due date. Penalties and interest will be added to all business personal property taxes not paid by the due date. For information on these taxes, please visit alexandriava.gov/finance. For information on how to pay, please visit alexandriava.gov/payments. If you have not received a bill, please e-mail payments@alexandriava.gov or call 703.838.4777.

Wednesday, October 8 – Potomac Yard Design Advisory Committee Meeting
The Potomac Yard Design Advisory Committee will meet at 7:30 p.m. in the Sister Cities Conference Room 1101, Alexandria City Hall, 301 King St. The Committee’s role is to review preliminary development plan approvals for compliance with the Potomac Yard Urban Design Guidelines and to send its recommendations to the Planning Commission and City Council for their consideration. For more information, contact Matt North at 703.838.4666 ext. 326.

Wednesday, October 8 – Let’s Talk Books
“Let’s Talk Books” will feature a discussion of the novel The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy. The discussion will be held from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Barrett Branch Library, 717 Queen St. Registration is recommended. For more information or to register, call 703.838.4555.

Wednesday, October 8 – King Street Gardens Farmers Market
Enjoy locally grown produce and dairy and baked goods at the region's newest farmers market. The market is held every Wednesday, 3 to 7 p.m., in the King Street Gardens (King and Diagonal Streets), just steps from the King Street Metro and the free King Street Trolley.

Wednesday, October 8 – John Yagerline Lecture Series: Tavern Entertainments
Gadsby’s Tavern Museum (134 North Royal St.) welcomes Ken Johnston and Dean Howarth, who will engage in “An Entertaining Discourse on Natural Philosophy and Electrical Fire” and perform experiments of the 18th century in Gadsby’s ballroom. Doors open at 7 p.m. and lecture begins at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $12. For more information or to purchase tickets, please call 703.838.4242 or visit www.gadsbystavern.org.

Thursday, October 9 – “Dig It!” Archaeology Lecture
As part of the Torpedo Factory Art Center’s Second Thursday, celebrate Virginia Archaeology Month with this “Dig It” lecture beginning at 7 p.m. at 105 North Union St. Jordan Poole, Manager of Restoration for Historic Mount Vernon, will present "Forging George Washington's Blacksmith Shop: The History, Archaeology and Reconstruction of A Colonial Craft."  Based upon recent archaeological research, a reconstruction of Mount Vernon’s shop is underway and will open in April 2009 as a working blacksmith shop. This lecture is free and open to all but reservations are required. Please call the Alexandria Archaeology Museum at 703.838.4399 or e-mail archaeology@alexandriava.org to save your seat.

Thursday, October 9 – Latin American Book Discussion Group
The Latin American Book Discussion group invites the public to join them for a discussion of three stories by Latin American authors, including Enrique Anderson Imbert, Harold Kremer, and Carlos Salazar Herrera. The discussion group will meet from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Beatley Branch Library, 5005 Duke St. For more information, call 703.519.3498.

Friday, October 10 – Alexandria Fire Department Memorial Service and Wreath Laying

The Alexandria Fire Department will observe National Fire Prevention Week with a Memorial Service and Wreath Laying at 11 a.m.  The solemn ceremony is held each year at Ivy Hill Cemetery, 2823 King Street, to honor those who have died in the line of duty and to mark the passing of those members of the department who died during the preceding 12 months.  During 2008 there have been no line-of-duty deaths; two retired members of the department died during the past year.

Open through Saturday, November 15 – “Ah, THAT Jack and Jill!” Exhibition
“Ah, THAT Jack and Jill! Parents Empowering African-American Children,” is now on exhibit at the Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street. Jack and Jill of America, Inc., a national organization of mothers and children, is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. The exhibition highlights the organization’s history and the role of chapters in providing cultural, educational, recreational and community service opportunities to enhance and enrich the lives of children. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and admission is $2. For more information, please visit www.alexblackhistory.org or call 703.838.4356.

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, October 11 – Annual Family Fall Festival
Come one, come all to Alexandria’s Family Fall Festival, scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Armistead L. Boothe Park, 520 Cameron Station Boulevard. Admission is free, and the festival will be held rain or shine. The festival features entertainment from the Beale Street Puppet Theater, a magic show by students from St. Stephens and St. Agnes School of Alexandria, and country and honky-tonk music by the Folsom Prisoners Band. Activities include scarecrow making, pumpkin painting, bouncy boxing, pony rides, moon bounce and hay rides. Food and beverages, such as hamburgers, hot dogs and kettle corn, will be available for purchase. For additional information, call the City’s Special Events Hotline at 703.883.4686 or the Special Events Office at 703.838.4844.

Wednesday, October 15 - 2009-2010 Grant Workshop
The Alexandria Commission for the Arts will conduct a Fiscal Year 2009-2010 grant workshop from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. at the Dr. Oswald D. Durant Center, 1605 Cameron St. The workshop will provide information about the Commission’s programs and services and specifically discuss its annual grant program, which provides funding for various arts programs. All interested applicants, both new and past grant recipients, are encouraged to attend either grant workshop. For information call 703.838.6348 or visit alexandriacommissionforthearts.org. 

Wednesday, October 22 – Rape Aggression Defense Classes Begin
The first of four Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) classes for women begin on Wednesday evenings. RAD classes are “designed to develop and enhance the options of self-defense, so they may become viable considerations to the woman who is attacked.” Classes include identifying personal safety issues and learning risk reduction strategies and basic principles of self defense. Instructors will demonstrate and teach various self-defense actions, incorporating strikes and kicking motions. For more information or to register, visit www.alexwomen.com.  If you have any questions, please contact Patricia at 703.746.5030.