[Archived] Weekly Event Announcements: November 22 - 28, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 21, 2008    

Weekly Event Announcements for the City of Alexandria
 November 22 - November 28, 2008 

Saturday, November 22 – Governor’s Ball with Patrick Henry
Join Gadsby’s Tavern Museum (134 N. Royal St.) for a special evening with Governor Patrick Henry as we host a ball in his honor. Taking place in 1786, Gov. Henry will be welcomed at a special pre-ball reception from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., followed by the ball from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. The evening will feature a variety of English country dances, live music, dessert collation, gaming, and a cash bar. Period costume is optional, “after-five” attire is encouraged. Tickets to the special reception and ball are $75 each and reservations are required. For further information, please visit www.gadsbystavern.org or call 703.838.4242.

Saturday, November 22 – Child Safety Awareness Event 
The Police Department will be conducting a Child Safety Awareness event at Wiygul Automotive, located at 6001 Lane Drive, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Seventy Child Safety Identification kits will be distributed and police staff will be available to conduct child safety seat checks. For more information, call 703.838.4636.

Wednesday, November 26 –Mayor’s Fifth Annual Unity Breakfast
Residents of all ages, economic levels, religious beliefs, and political leanings are invited to unite for a special morning of thanks and celebration at Mayor William D. Euille’s Fifth Annual Unity Breakfast. The event is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Hilton Hotel at Mark Center, 5000 Seminary Rd. The theme for this year’s breakfast is “Celebrating Service” and Dr. Morton Sherman, Superintendent of Alexandria City Public Schools, will be the keynote speaker. For more information, call 703.751.7970 or e-mail UnityBreakfast2008@gmail.com.

Thursday, November 27 –  Thirty-third Annual Turkey Trot 5-Miler
Residents are invited to participate in the 33rd Annual Turkey Trot 5-Miler race, which will begin at 10 a.m. at the Cora Kelly Recreation Center, 3600 Commonwealth Ave. Online registration is available until midnight on Monday, November 24, or in person from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on the day of the race. All participants are encouraged to bring two nonperishable food items to support ALIVE. For more information, please visit www.visitdelray.com/turkeytrot or e-mail AlexTurkeyTrot@gmail.com.

Thursday November 27 and Friday, November 28 – City of Alexandria Government Offices Closed in Observance of the Thanksgiving Day Holiday

Friday, November 28 - City of Alexandria Tree Lighting Ceremony
The public is invited to attend the 2008 City of Alexandria Tree Lighting Ceremony at 7 p.m. at Market Square, 301 King St., officially opening the holiday season. Admission is free, and the event will be held rain or shine. Entertainment features a message from the Mayor, a visit from Santa, performance of Santa’s Frosty’s Follies by the Metropolitan Fine Arts Center, plus caroling and a community sing along. For additional information, please call the City’s Special Events Hotline at 703.883.4686 or the Special Events Office at 703.838.4844.

Opening Wednesday, December 3 – Childhood Memories in Miniature: African American Dollhouses Exhibition
Take in the memories of childhood and the spirit of the holidays with this joyful exhibit of miniature dollhouses by Sharon J. Frazier and Linwood M. Smith. This new show at the Alexandria Black History Museum (902 Wythe St.) features more than a dozen buildings and rooms in 1:12 scale, including a log cabin, stone home, one-room schoolhouse, and church, as well as buildings and rooms inspired by real places in Alexandria. A barbershop and hair dressing salon, a medical building, an attorney’s office, and a florist were all influenced by actual businesses in the Parker-Gray community, a historically African-American neighborhood in Alexandria. The exhibit is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., through Saturday, January 24, 2009. Suggested 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.

Now open through Saturday, February 28, 2009 – Jones Point Lighthouse Exhibition
A new exhibit at The Lyceum, Alexandria’s History Museum, highlights the Jones Point Lighthouse and the Fresnel lenses that guided vessels into Alexandria along the Potomac. A scale model of the building and interpretative panels discuss the history of the lighthouse from its construction in 1856 to recent restoration efforts. Also on view are two original Fresnel lenses, one of which was actually used in the lighthouse itself. The Lyceum, located at 201 S. Washington St., is open Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Suggested admission is $2 and limited free parking is available. For more information, please visit www.alexandriahistory.org or call 703.838.4994.

Coming Soon!

Saturday, November 29 – Scottish Heritage Preview
From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., celebrate Alexandria’s Scottish heritage at The Lyceum (201 South Washington Street) a week before the Scottish Walk. At this free event, visitors will enjoy bagpipes and other Scottish music, performances by highland and country dancers, historical re-enactors displaying period clothing, weaponry, and armor, and the opportunity to learn about Scottish breed dogs and meet some available for adoption. For more information, please visit www.alexandriahistory.org or call 703.838.4994.

Saturday, November 29 - Holiday Concerts Begin in Historic Old Town Alexandria
Enjoy the music of the season in Alexandria as a break between shopping, on your way to dinner, or just to get in the spirit of the holidays. The 2008 Holiday Concerts take place during weekends and evenings from November 29 through December 19. Local performers volunteer their talent to entertain during this festive time. Outdoor concerts are cancelled in the event of inclement weather. For a complete list of concerts, visit www.alexandriava.gov/recreation.  For additional information, call the Events Hotline at 703.883.4686 or the Special Events office at 703.838.4844.

              November 29, Market Square, 301 King St.
              1 p.m. Alexandria Kleztet (Traditional & Innovative Jewish Music) 
              2 p.m. Michael Mulvaney (Holiday & Blues Americana)

              November 30, Market Square, 301 King St.
              2 p.m. Doris Justis (Folk/Acoustic Holiday)
              3 p.m. Lisa Taylor (Acoustic Holiday)

Friday, December 5 through Sunday, December 7 – Pet Photos With Santa
The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria will host “Pet Photos With Santa” on December 5-7 at the Olde Towne School for Dogs, 529 Oronoco St. Both pets and people are welcome to pose with Santa. All proceeds benefit the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria and the animals of the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter. To schedule an appointment, call 703.836.7643.

Saturday, December 6 - Ornament Decorating Workshop for Families
A free Ornament Decorating Workshop for families will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Alexandria Archaeology Museum, 105 N. Union Street, #327. Be inspired to decorate take-home artifact-shaped dough ornaments based on colors and patterns from the Museum's collection of excavated artifacts. For more information, call 703.838.4399 or visit www.alexandriaarchaeology.org.

Saturday, December 6 - City of Alexandria Hosts Annual Scottish Christmas Walk Parade
The City of Alexandria invites the public to attend the 38th Annual Scottish Christmas Walk Parade at 11 a.m. in historic Old Town. The centerpiece of the Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend, the parade celebrates the City's Scottish heritage, featuring more than 100 Scottish clans, bagpipe and drum bands, living history reenactment groups, dog clubs, and a special appearance by Santa Claus. This year’s Grand Marshal is Willard Scott of NBC’s The Today Show. For information on The Campagna Center, call 703.549.0111, or visit www.campagnacenter.org.

Saturday, December 6 - Burke & Herbert Holiday Boat Parade of Lights
Fifty powerboats, sailboats and the District's fireboat, the John Glenn, will parade down the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., to Alexandria fully decked out in holiday spirit and cheer for the ninth annual Burke & Herbert Holiday Boat Parade of Lights. Beginning at 5 p.m. in the Washington Channel (between East Potomac Park and the Southwest Waterfront), the parade will head to the Alexandria waterfront marina by 6 p.m. The brightly lit boats are creatively decorated as they compete in categories such as "Best in Show," "Best Thinking Outside the Christmas Box," and "Hardiest Souls." Watch the parade from the docks of the Alexandria marina, where the parade concludes and many of the boats will tie up in the harbor. The festivities begin at 4 p.m. in the Alexandria marina with entertainment, live music and Santa. For additional information, call 703.838.5005 or visit www.VisitAlexandriaVa.com.