[Archived] Weekly Event Announcements: March 14 - 20, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 13, 2009    

Weekly Event Announcements for the City of Alexandria: March 14 – 20, 2009 

Saturday, March 14 – City of Alexandria to Hold Tenth Annual Dance for All Ages
The City of Alexandria invites the community to attend the tenth Annual Dance for All Ages on Saturday, March 14, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at T.C. Williams High School, 3330 King St. Admission and parking are free. This year’s theme, “The Great Gatsby,” is designed to appeal to both the young and the young at heart. The dance will feature jazz and dance tunes by DJ Enrique. There will be Roaring 20’s-style decorations, door prizes and great fun for all! Light refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to Margaret Orlando or Tutu Kargbo at 703.838.4345, or e-mail margaret.orlando@alexandriava.gov. For additional information, visit www.alexandriava.gov.

Saturday, March 14 – A Radiant Spirit: The Journey of Mary Ellen Henderson Gallery Talk
During Women’s History Month, attend a discussion with independent historian Patricia I. Knock and exhibition curator Nikki Graves Henderson at the Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe St. From 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., learn about their work on the exhibition and about the contributions of Mary Ellen Henderson to educational equality at this free lecture. For more information, please visit www.alexblackhistory.org or call 703.838.4356.

Saturday, March 14 Jefferson - Madison Inaugural Banquet
Celebrate the 1809 inaugural season at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal St., as Thomas Jefferson transfers the presidency to James Madison. From 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., enjoy a period-inspired banquet and program in the historic ballroom where George Washington celebrated his birthday. Tickets begin at $100 per person and reservations are required. For more information, please visit www.gadsbystavern.org or call 703.838.4242.

Sunday, March 15 – “Jewish Washington” Opening Reception
Join the Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St., for the opening of the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington’s award-winning exhibition, “Jewish Washington: Scrapbook of an American Community.” The free reception, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., includes a one-woman living history performance about immigrant life during the 1930s called “Anna Shulman: Queen of H Street.” Reservations are required. For more information, please visit www.alexandriahistory.org or call 703.838.4994.

Monday, March 16 – Tavern Toddlers
Join us for a special program for toddlers (walkers through 36 months) and their caregivers at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 North Royal St. Tavern Toddlers features a weekly open playtime in Gadsby’s historic ballroom on Mondays, excluding Federal holidays, any time between 10:30 a.m. and noon. New themes each month! Cost is $7 for a group of three, which must include one adult, or $30 for purchase a 5-week pass. For more information, please visit www.gadsbystavern.org or call 703.838.4242.

Tuesday, March 17 – iMovie Mentors Orientation Session
The City of Alexandria’s Court Service Unit is seeking “a few good men” to serve as mentors for at-risk 6th grade boys. Male mentors are paired with youth in the iMovie Mentors program (iM2) to produce a short movie. An orientation for interested mentors will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the library of the George Washington Middle School, 1005 Mount Vernon Ave. To RSVP for the mentor orientation, e-mail linda.odell@alexandriava.gov.

Wednesday, March 18 – City of Alexandria Holds Third Community  Meeting on Fort Ward Park Draft Action Plan
The Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities and the Office of Historic Alexandria invite the public to this third community meeting to receive the findings from two previous meetings, and make comments on a draft action plan for Fort Ward Park. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria of T. C. Williams High School, 3330 King St. For additional information, please call Laura Durham, Open Space Coordinator, at 703.838.5095, ext. 350 (TTY 703.838.4902), or e-mail laura.durham@alexandriava.gov.

Wednesday, March 18 – Board of Architectural Review Work Session on Wayfinding Program
The Board of Architectural Review invites the public to a work session on the City’s Wayfinding Program. The work session will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Workroom, City Hall, 301 King Street. For more information, contact Carrie Beach at 703.838.4666 ext. 325.

Thursday, March 19 – Eco-City Environmental Action Plan Cafe
Are you passionate about protecting the environment, reducing pollution, or improving access to public transportation? If so, the City of Alexandria and the Environmental Policy Commission (EPC) invite you to attend the Environmental Action Plan Cafe on from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Nannie J. Lee Center, 1108 Jefferson St. This will be an opportunity for residents, the EPC and the City to determine long-term actions to make Alexandria a more environmentally sustainable City. For more information, please contact Eco-CityAlexandria@alexandriava.gov or Khoa Tran at 703.838.4334.

Thursday, March 19 – Alexandria Community Services Board/Friends of Alexandria Mental Health Center Anniversary Celebration
The Alexandria Community Services Board (CSB) is celebrating 40 years of providing mental health, intellectual disability and substance abuse services to Alexandrians with disabilities. In addition, Friends of the Alexandria Mental Health Center, a nonprofit volunteer group, is honoring its 25th year of support and advocacy for CSB clients. The community is invited to join in this free event from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the George Washington Middle School, 1005 Mount Vernon Ave. There will be food, music, presentations and prizes for the best 1960s costume. There is no charge to attend and free parking is available. Please RSVP by e-mailing rchamowitz@gmail.com or calling 703.683.2360.

Thursday, March 19 – King Street Retail Forum
Learn about opportunities to strengthen the vitality and viability of King Street by attending the King Street Retail Forum. Interested participants can choose from two different times to attend. One forum is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. in Room 2000, City Hall, 301 King Street, and the other is scheduled from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street. For more information, contact Andrea Barlow at 703.838.4666 ext. 325.

Coming Soon!

Saturday, March 21 – Share Your Vision for a Healthier Alexandria
The Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria would like to invite everyone who lives, works, learns, or plays in Alexandria to a community meeting to share their ideas and experiences on how to make Alexandria a healthier place to live. The “Share Your Vision for a Healthier Alexandria” event will be held from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the First Baptist Church (2932 King St.) Everyone is invited, but please RSVP for this event by contacting Carrie Fesperman at 703.838.4400 ext. 263 or carrie.fesperman@vdh.virginia.gov. More information about this visioning process is available on the Partnership’s Web site at www.alexhealth.org/partnership/mapp.html.

Monday, March 30 – Annual Salute to Women Awards Banquet
The Alexandria Commission for Women invites the public to attend the 29th Annual Salute to Women Awards Banquet, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 901 N. Fairfax St. To reserve a seat at the banquet, or to sponsor a table, download the reservation card at www.alexwomen.com. The RSVP deadline is March 25. For further information, please call Angela Johnson at 703.746.3123.

Ongoing Events

Open through Saturday, March 28 – A Radiant Spirit: The Journey of Mary Ellen Henderson 
This traveling exhibition from the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation highlights the efforts of educator and activist Mary Ellen Henderson of Falls Church. This civil rights champion dedicated herself to ensuring educational equality for African Americans in a segregated school system and community. Free opening reception on Thursday, February 5, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe St. For more information, visit www.alexblackhistory.org or call 703.838.4356.

Open through Tuesday, March 31 – “Hail to the Chief” Mini-Exhibition
A rare 1797 medal commemorating George Washington and excavated in Alexandria is among the many local artifacts and historic images featured in “Hail to the Chief.” Located at the Alexandria Archaeology Museum, 105 N. Union St., #327, this mini-exhibition showcases American presidents, including Washington, Jackson, Lincoln, Grant and Harrison. The exhibition is free and open Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.alexandriaarchaeology.org or call 703.838.4399.