[Archived] Weekly Event Announcements: October 11-17, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 10, 2008    

Weekly Event Announcements for the City of Alexandria
October 11 -October 17, 2008 

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.

Saturday, October 11 – Arts Safari & Museum Open House
Visit the Torpedo Factory's Arts Safari and take part in this free, family-oriented activity from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Alexandria Archaeology Museum, 105 North Union Street, #327. Participants can draw or paint patterns on paper inspired by designs from salt-glazed pottery sherds excavated from local archaeological sites. For more information, please call 703.838.4399 or e-mail archaeology@alexandriava.gov

Saturday, October 11 – Apothecary Open House & Arts Safari
This year’s free open house at Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, 105-107 South Fairfax Street, includes tours, station activities, and craft demonstrations, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For the Arts Safari, enjoy take-home art projects and free crayons for kids! Learn about the special properties of herbs and discover the important role the apothecary played in early Alexandria at this free event. For more information, please visit www.apothecarymuseum.org or call 703.838.3852.

Saturday, October 11 – Murder Mystery
For a murderously good time, look no further than this 1920s “Great Gatsby” evening at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 North Royal Street. Enjoy an elegant dinner in the ballroom and three murders…will it be you? Festivities begin at 6 p.m., and tickets are $80 for GTMS members, $100 for non-members. Limited tickets are available for this event, so make your reservation in advance by calling 703.838.4242.

Sunday, October 12 – 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. The market offers  residents the opportunity to shop for fresh, locally grown produce, home made goods and bakery items. For additional information, call the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities at 703.838.4343.

Sunday, October 12 – 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. Behold the amazing feats of Italian equilibrist Signora Bella, an 18th-century acrobat, as she juggles swords and flaming torches and walks the slack rope! Listen to musician Stephen Christoff as he explores early American music, playing an octave mandolin, hand-flute, saw and other instruments. For more information, please visit oha.alexandriava.gov/oha-main/oha-historicAlexandriaLive.html.

Monday, October 13 – Columbus Day Holiday, City of Alexandria Government Offices Closed

Monday, October 13 – 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.

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 15  – Upper King Street Fresh Farmers’ Market
The 2008 Upper King Street Fresh Farmers’ Market is open from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the King Street Gardens Park, 1806 King St., just a few steps from the King Street Metro. It is open rain or shine. The market offers area residents and commuters the opportunity to shop for fresh, locally grown produce, home made goods and bakery items. For additional information, call Debra Monahan with the Upper King Street Neighborhood Association at 703.683.1696.

Wednesday, October 15 – John Yagerline Lecture Series: Tavern Entertainments
Gadsby’s Tavern Museum (134 North Royal St.) welcomes Kenneth Cohen, Consortium Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania McNeil Center for Early American Studies and Ph.D. candidate at the University of Delaware, who will explore “Tavern Billiards.” Discover how billiards became an integral part of tavern activities in Colonial days. 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 16 – “The Road to Wisdom, Plain and Simple” Lecture
Join author and educator Dr. Searetha Smith-Collins for an engaging program, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Alexandria Black History Museum (902 Wythe St.) as she discusses how parents can influence a child’s intelligence and talent through common sense approaches. She will discuss and sign her book, “The Road to Wisdom, Plain and Simple: Shaping Intelligence – Black Style,” which explores influences on developing intelligence, motivation, effort, and performance, with specific emphasis on African American children. Due to limited seating reservations are requested, but not required, to attend this free event. For more information, please visit www.alexblackhistory.org or call 703.838.4356.

Thursday, October 16 – Community Meeting to Discuss Arlandria Safeway Economic Report
A community meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the St. Mark Room of Grace Episcopal Church (3601 Russell Rd.) to discuss the Arlandria Safeway Economic Report. A presentation will be made on an analysis of the feasibility of redevelopment of the Safeway site at 221 West Glebe Road. The analysis was conducted in accordance with a condition of an SUP for a restaurant at the former Safeway site at 221 West Glebe Road. Spanish interpretative services are available at this meeting. For more information, contact Rich Josephson at 703.838.4666 ext. 321.

Thursday, October 16 – Braddock East Advisory Group Meeting
A Braddock East Advisory Group Meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Jefferson-Houston School, 1501 Cameron Street. The Braddock East Advisory Group is comprised of Braddock neighborhood residents, and housing and redevelopment professionals that guide and inform the process to create a redevelopment plan for the public housing sites within the larger Braddock area including James Bland, Bland Addition, Samuel Madden Uptown, Ramsey Homes and Andrew Adkins. For more information, contact Andrea Barlow at 703.838.4666 ext. 665.

Thursday, October 16 through Saturday, October 18 – Duncan Branch Library Book Sale
The Duncan Branch Library (2501 Commonwealth Ave.) will be hosting a book sale on Thursday from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 703.838.4566.

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 18 - 2nd Annual Paws in the Park
The Old Town North Community Partnership and the City of Alexandria will host the Second Annual Paws in the Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Montgomery Park (Montgomery and N. Royal Streets). Proceeds from the event will benefit the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria and the Dog Run Improvement Project for Montgomery Park. The cost for entrance is $10 per family including pets. Paws in the Park is a fall festival with events and activities for dogs, their families and the community at-large. Activities include “Doga” classes (Yoga for Dogs), a Halloween Costume Parade, and a Blessing of the Animals. For additional information, visit www.oldtownnorth.org, e-mail info@oldtownnorth.org or call the Old Town North Community Partnership at 703.836.8066.

October 21, 2008 – Dine Out and Shop for the Walk to Fight Breast Cancer
Mark your calendar for the 4th Annual Dine Out and Shop for the Walk to Fight Breast Cancer. Restaurants, retail stores, spas, and many other businesses throughout Alexandria will be contributing a portion of their proceeds throughout the day to the Walk to Fight Breast Cancer. All funds raised from this event will go to support Alexandria's Breast Cancer Fund at Inova Alexandria Hospital Foundation. View a list of participating restaurants, stores, spas, & more!  For more information, visit www.alexcancerwalk.com or call 703.746.5030.

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.

Saturday, October 25 – 15th Annual Walk to Fight Breast Cancer
The Alexandria Walk to Fight Breast Cancer will begin at 8:00 a.m. This year’s Walk, sponsored by the City of Alexandria and the Inova Alexandria Hospital Foundation, will begin and end at the AMC Hoffman Center Theaters, located at Eisenhower Avenue and Swamp Fox Road in Alexandria. For more information and to register, visit www.alexcancerwalk.com or call 703.746.5030.