[Archived] Weekly Event Announcements for the City of Alexandria: December 13 - December 19, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 12, 2008 

Saturday, December 13 – Annual Cheerleading Exhibition
The City’s Annual Cheerleading Exhibition kicks off at 11 a.m. at T.C. Williams High School, 3330 King St. The exhibition features preteen and teen cheerleading squads from the Charles Barrett, Charles Houston, Cora Kelly, Mount Vernon, Nannie J. Lee, Patrick Henry and William Ramsay Recreation Centers. For information on the exhibition, and to purchase tickets, call the Recreation Services Division Office at 703.838.4345.

Saturday, December 13 – Stretch Your Family’s Dollars
The Old Town Community Development Corporation hosts “How We Got Over—Stories and Strategies for Tough Economic Times.” Learn how to stretch your family’s dollar and make the most of limited resources. Hear innovative tips and ideas from Urban League presenters and experienced citizens who thrived during the Depression, recessions, and other challenging economic times. Forum will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at 634 N. Patrick St. To reserve seats, e-mail service@oldtowncdc.vpweb.com or call Nataki MacMurray at 202.412.2692. For more information, please visit www.oldtowncdc.vpweb.com.

Saturday, December 13 – Kwanzaa Craft Workshop
Join community educator Brian Sales at the Alexandria Black History Museum (902 Wythe St.) in a fun interactive program that guides participants through the principles of this unique African American holiday. From 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., find out how to incorporate this celebration into your life and learn how to make inexpensive Kwanzaa gifts known as zawadi. All supplies will be provided at this free event. For more information, please visit www.alexblackhistory.org or call 703.838.4356.

Saturday, December 13 – “Christmas in Camp” Open House
This holiday event at Ford Ward Museum (4301 W. Braddock Rd.) interprets how Christmas was observed during the Civil War. From noon to 4 p.m., the program features living history interpreters, a Victorian Christmas tree, period music, refreshments, readings of “The Night Before Christmas,” a patriotic Santa Claus, and weather permitting, guided tours of the fort. There is no admission fee, but there is a suggested donation of $2 for adults, $1 for children. For more information, please visit www.fortward.org or call 703.838.4848.

Saturday, December 13 – Annual Historic Alexandria Candlelight Tours
Take a break from the fast pace of the season and experience the unique charm and history at Old Town Alexandria’s most popular holiday event. Tour Gadsby’s Tavern Museum (134 N. Royal St.); Carlyle House (121 N. Fairfax St.); Lee-Fendall House (614 Oronoco St.); and Old Presbyterian Meeting House (321 S. Fairfax St.) by candlelight and enjoy seasonal decorations, entertainment and light refreshments. Tour times are from 5 - 9 p.m. Cost is $20 for adults, $15 for seniors (ages 65 and older) and $5 for children (ages 6-17). To learn more or to purchase tickets, please visit www.historicalexandria.org or call 703.838.4242.

Saturday, December 13 – Potter’s Wheel Activity
Kids can learn about Alexandria's potters at this fun, hands-on activity from 1 - 3 p.m. at the new Historic Alexandria History Center & Museum Store, 101 N. Union St. Discover Alexandria's salt-glazed stoneware potters and the decorative patterns exclusive to H.C. Smith (1825-1841) and B.C. Milburn (1841-1876), both of whom operated out of the Wilkes Street pottery. Kids will be able to copy or create their own take-home paper designs with markers, paint or both at this free, drop-in activity. Examples of Alexandria's salt-glazed stoneware are on display in the History Center and reproductions can be purchased at the Museum Store. For more information, please contact Alexandria Archaeology at 703.838.4399 or the History Center at 703.706.5262.

Saturday, December 13, 2008 – Holiday Concerts, Market Square, 301 King St.
Featuring the Bell’s Angels, St. John’s Lutheran Church Handbell Choir (“Holiday”) at 1 p.m., and the Alexandria Singers (“Choral Holiday”) at 2 p.m. 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.

Saturday, December 13 and Sunday, December 14 – HistoricAlexandriALIVE!
The talented troupe of performers for HistoricAlexandriALIVE! is back at the Alexandria waterfront for special holiday shows. These performances will take place at the new Historic Alexandria History Center & Museum Store, 101 N. Union St. On Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., meet Charlotte, the enslaved seamstress to Martha Washington, and talk with her about her life as she visits Alexandria. On Sunday, from noon to 6 p.m., musician Stephen Christoff explores early American music, playing an octave mandolin, hand-flute, saw and other instruments. For more information, please call 703.706.5262 or visit oha.alexandriava.gov/oha-main/oha-historicAlexandriaLive.html.

Saturday, December 13 and Saturday, December 20 – Caroling for Cats
The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria will host "Caroling for Cats" on December 13 and December 20 at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, 4101 Eisenhower Ave. The Animal Shelter will be staying open until midnight in an effort to boost adoptions of their furry friends! The family-friendly event is free, and all are welcome to join the Shelter in caroling, craft activities, and refreshments. Festivities begin at 5 p.m., but doors open at noon.  Consider bringing unopened pet food (cans or bags) for the Shelter's Community Pet Food Bank. For more information, please call 703.838.4774.

Sunday, December 14 – Kissing Ball Demonstration
Learn how to make a beautiful holiday kissing ball at this demonstration by the Lee-Fendall House. Stop by the Historic Alexandria History Center & Museum Store (ground floor, 101 N. Union St.) between 1 - 4 p.m. and take part in this hands-on activity. Create your own for $20 or purchase one to go for $25! Donations benefit the preservation of the Lee-Fendall House. For more information, please call 703.706.5262 or visit www.leefendallhouse.org.

Sunday, December 14, 2008 – Holiday Concerts, Market Square, 301 King St.
Featuring the Alexandria Harmonizers (“Barbershop Holiday”) at 2 p.m., and the St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church Youth Handbell Choir (“Holiday”) at 3 p.m. 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.

Monday, December 15 – Landmark/Van Dorn Advisory Group Meeting
The Landmark/Van Dorn Advisory Group will meet from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the meeting room adjacent to Lane Bryant at Landmark Mall. This meeting will provide an opportunity for the Landmark/Van Dorn Advisory Group to discuss and comment on the preliminary draft Landmark/Van Dorn Area Plan. Members of the public are invited to comment following the Advisory Group's discussion. For more information, contact Pat Mann at 703.838.4666, ext. 303.

Tuesday, December 16 – Potomac Yard Design Advisory Committee
The Potomac Yard Design Advisory Committee will meet at 7:30 p.m. in the Sister Cities Conference Room #1101 at City Hall, 301 King St. The meeting topic will be Developing Plan Principles, which will be the focus of the next couple of months. The meeting is open to the public, with time at the end of the agenda for public comment. For more information, please visit www.alexandriava.gov/potomacyardplan or contact Valarie Peterson at 703.838.4666, ext. 338.

Friday, December 19, 2008 – Holiday Concerts
Featuring the Thomas Jefferson High School Choral Department (“Choral Holiday”) at 7 p.m. at Market Square, 301 King St, and at 8 p.m. at King Street Arcade, 100 Block of 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.

Alexandria Police Youth Camp Christmas Tree Sale
The Alexandria Police Youth Camp is soliciting volunteers to help sell Christmas trees. Sales began Tuesday, December 2, and will continue while supplies last. Times are 4 to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. Come get in the holiday spirit while contributing to a great cause. The tree lot is next to the train station on Callahan Drive across from the Masonic Memorial. For more information, please contact Lieutenant Jack Compton at 703.838.3830.

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.

Opening through Saturday, January 24 – 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 buildings and rooms inspired 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 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 on Sunday from 1 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, December 20 and Sunday, December 21 – HistoricAlexandriALIVE!
See the talented troupe of performers for HistoricAlexandriALIVE for the last time this holiday season at the Historic Alexandria History Center & Museum Store, 101 N. Union St. On Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Shakespearean actors will present scenes from the Bard’s best, “Romeo and Juliet,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and “The Taming of the Shrew.” Then, from 4  to  7 p.m., meet Charlotte, the enslaved seamstress to Martha Washington, and talk with her about her life as she visits Alexandria. Finally, on Sunday, from noon to 6 p.m., family favorite KD Puppets’ special holiday show is sure to be great fun for kids and their parents! For more information, please call 703.706.5262 or visit oha.alexandriava.gov/oha-main/oha-historicAlexandriaLive.html.

Sunday, December 21 – Holiday Favorites with the Colonial Handbell Ringers
The Colonial Handbell Ringers bring a wide selection of holiday styles to “Glad Tidings We Ring,” this year’s new show at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St. Ten ringers play a full five-octave set of nearly 80 handbells from the world-famous White Chapel Foundry in England. Performance includes children’s classics such as “Frosty the Snowman,” and “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers,” an audience sing-along with holiday favorites and unique visual experiences with two original works. Enjoy these free performances at 2 p.m. and at 4 p.m. For more information, please visit www.alexandriahistory.org or call 703.838.4994.