[Archived] Weekly Event Announcements for the City of Alexandria: January 17 –23, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : January 16, 2009

Tuesday, January 20 – Presidential Inauguration Simulcast 
The 56th Presidential Inaugural will take place at noon on Tuesday, January 20. In Alexandria, residents and visitors can view the historic event in high definition, on a 13’ by 17’ LED Screen in Market Square, 301 King St. All Alexandria City government offices will be closed on January 20 in observance of the Presidential Inauguration. For updated information on how the Inauguration will affect Alexandria, visit alexandriava.gov/inauguration.

Tuesday, January 20 – Servant Forge Inaugural Ball
On January 20, celebrate the Inauguration, while making a difference in the lives of children in both Alexandria and Africa, by attending The Servant Forge Humanitarian Inaugural Ball. Scheduled from 8:00 p.m. to midnight at the Torpedo Factory Arts Center (105 N. Union St.), the theme of the ball is “An Imperfect Offering—Serving Kids from Kenya to King Street.” Proceeds from the event will support Alexandria’s Space of Her Own (SOHO) program and Sister to Sister, a newly developed initiative is developing garden projects for women living with HIV/AIDS in Swaziland and youth employment opportunities in Nairobi, Kenya. To purchase a ticket, visit www.servantforge.org. For more information, please contact Kim Dalferes at 703.624.4549 or e-mail at kim.dalferes@dalferesenterprises.com.

Free King Street Trolley Changes Operating Schedule
The free King Street Trolley moved to new hours on January 5. The trolleys now operate seven days a week, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Trolleys will depart from the Potomac River waterfront and the King Street Metro Station every 20 minutes. For more information about the free King Street Trolley service, visit www.alexandriava.gov/trolley or contact Jim Maslanka, Department of Transportation and Environmental Services, at 703.838.3800.

Chinquapin Recreation Center Changes Operating Hours 
The operating hours for the Chinquapin Park Recreation Center changed January 5. The Center’s new operating hours are Monday through Thursday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Winter classes beginning the week of January 26 will continue as scheduled. For additional information, visit www.alexandriava.gov/recreation or call 703.519.2160.

Friday, January 16 through Monday, January 19 – Historic Alexandria History Center and Museum Store Special Holiday Hours and Discount
The Historic Alexandria History Center and Museum Store, 101 North Union St., will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and will be offering a 10% discount on all purchases from Friday through Monday. Discovery Carts give visitors a sneak peek of museum collections, and hands-on activity areas for kids include a Civil War tent, dress-up costumes, and a “please touch” exhibit. The shop area offers great gift ideas and the very best selections from all the museum stores! For more information, please call 703.706.5262.

Saturday, January 17 – Christmas Tree Recycling
The City of Alexandria will collect Christmas trees for recycling from residents who receive City trash collection service on Saturday, January 17. Trees must be placed at the curb (no alleys) by 7 a.m. for recycling collection. There will be no additional pickups this year: Christmas trees placed at the curb after January 17 will be picked up on regular refuse collection days. For more information, contact the Department of Transportation & Environmental Services, Solid Waste Division, at 703.519.3486 or visit www.alexandriava.gov/tes.

Sunday, January 18 & Monday, January 19 – Alexandria Black History Museum Special Holiday Hours
Discover Alexandria’s rich African-American heritage during this historic weekend! In tribute to the Presidential Inauguration and Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Alexandria Black History Museum (902 Wythe St.) will be open on Sunday, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., and Monday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors will enjoy a special dollhouse exhibition featuring an interpretation of “From Slavery to the White House,” as well as the permanent exhibition, “Securing the Blessings of Liberty,” which tells the story of slavery from an African-American perspective. For more information, please visit www.alexblackhistory.org or call 703.838.4356.

Monday, January 19 – Gadsby’s Tavern Museum and Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum Special Holiday Hours
Honor the American spirit of freedom at Gadsby's Tavern Museum and the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, two of Alexandria's oldest and most historic sites! Both will be open with special holiday hours, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., for Martin Luther King Day. During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Gadsby’s Tavern, 134 North Royal Street, was the center of social and political life in Alexandria and the new Federal City of Washington. See the historic ballroom where George Washington was honored at the Birthnight Ball and Thomas Jefferson celebrated his inauguration in 1801. At the Apothecary, 105-107 S. Fairfax St., which opened in 1792, visitors will see its unique collection of herbs and botanicals, while discovering the important role the Apothecary played in early Alexandria. Apothecary founder Edward Stabler, a Quaker and avid abolitionist, helped enslaved Alexandrians obtain their freedom. For more information, please visit www.gadsbystavern.org or www.apothecarymuseum.org or call 703.838.4242.

Monday, January 19 – Martin Luther King Poster Contest
Celebrate this year's winners of the Martin Luther King Poster Contest! Join the Alexandria Society for the Preservation of Black Heritage and the Alexandria Black History Museum as they honor the winners of the annual elementary school student competition in the Council Chambers of Alexandria City Hall, 301 King Street St., from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Artwork will be on then be exhibited in the Vola Lawson Lobby of City Hall through February 28. Free and open to all! For more information, please visit www.alexblackhistory.org or call 703.838.4356.

Wednesday, January 21 – Potomac Yard Planning Advisory Group: Plan Principles Subcommittee Meeting
There will be a Potomac Yard Planning Advisory Group Plan Principles Subcommittee meeting at 5 p.m. in City Hall, 301 King St., Room 2000. For more information, contact Valerie Peterson at 703.838.4666 ext. 338, or visit www.alexandriava.gov/planning.

Open 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, 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, visit www.alexandriahistory.org or call 703.838.4994.

Winter/Spring 2009 - Support Groups for Sexual Assault Survivors
The Sexual Assault Response and Awareness (SARA) Program is offering support groups for survivors of sexual assault in winter/spring 2009. The groups offer a safe, supportive environment for participants to connect with other survivors. Members will gain further knowledge and understanding of the effects of sexual violence and how to develop healthy coping skills. All interested individuals are required to meet with the group facilitators before group begins. To see a list of support groups, visit alexandriava.gov/women. To sign up for a group or to receive further information, contact Jen McLish at 703-746-5030.

Coming Soon!

Saturday, January 24 - Tile Workshop 
A team of artists will complete the tile work started in the November class.  The finished art will be on display at the Dr. Oswald Durant Memorial Center in January.  Workshops are open to participants of the Charles Houston Recreation Center who attended previous workshops.  Workshops are sponsored by the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities. For additional information, e-mail aca@alexandriava.org or call 703.838.6348.
Morning Workshop: 10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.; Afternoon Workshop: 1:15 to 4 p.m.

Tuesday, January 27 – City Council Work Session on Wayfinding and the Waterfront Plan 
There will be a City Council work session on Wayfinding and the Waterfront Plan at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall, 301 King St., Council Workroom. For more information, contact Carrie Beach at 703.838.4666, ext. 325 or visit www.alexandriava.gov/planning.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009 – Greenbuilding Forum 
There will be a Greenbuilding Forum at 7:00 p.m. at George Washington Masonic Memorial, 101 Callahan Dr. For more information, contact Rich Josephson at 703.838.4666 ext. 302, or visit www.alexandriava.gov/planning.