[Archived] Weekly Event Announcements: April 18-24, 2009

For Immediate Release: April 17, 2009     

Weekly Event Announcements for the City of Alexandria: April 18 - 24, 2009 

Saturdays, April 18, 25 and May 2 – Spring Clean-Up 2009 
Citizens who receive the City of Alexandria's refuse services are invited to participate in Spring Clean-Up 2009. Scheduled pickups will be held each consecutive Saturday throughout the month of April and first weekend in May. Please check the Spring Clean-Up map at www.alexandriava.gov/tes/solidwaste to determine your assigned collection area and date of collection. For more information, call 703.519.3486.

Saturday, April 18 – City of Alexandria’s Annual Cheerleading Competition
The public is invited to attend the City’s Annual Cheerleading Competition, scheduled for 11 a.m. at T.C. Williams High School, 3330 King St. The competition features preteen and teen cheerleading teams from the Charles Barrett, Charles Houston, Cora Kelly, Mount Vernon, Nannie J. Lee, Patrick Henry and William Ramsay Recreation Centers. For more information or to purchase tickets to the event, contact the Recreation Services Division Office at 703.838.4345.

Saturday, April 18 – “From Clutter to Culture” Yard Sale
Looking for a bargain? Don’t miss the return of the From Clutter to Culture Yard Sale this spring to the Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe St. From 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., browse tables of collectibles, accessories for the home, CDs, DVDs and other great items. Your purchases support the museum’s programming for children. For more information, please visit  www.alexblackhistory.org or call 703.838.4356.

Sunday, April 19 – Apothecary Volunteer Open House
Want to share your interest in Alexandria history with others? Curious about early American medicine and health? Then consider volunteering as a tour guide at the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, 105-107 S. Fairfax St. Stop by our Volunteer Open House from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. to tour the museum and learn about special projects and volunteer opportunities. This would be a great activity for retired pharmacists, doctors, dentists, nurses and teachers! For more information, please visit www.apothecarymuseum.org or call 703.838.3852.

Monday, April 20 – Tavern Toddlers
Join us for a special program for toddlers (walkers through 36 months) and their caregivers at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal St. Tavern Toddlers features a weekly open playtime in Gadsby’s historic ballroom 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 of a five-week pass. For more information, please visit www.gadsbystavern.org or call 703.838.4242.

Tuesday, April 21 - Days of Remembrance for Victims of the Holocaust 
The City of Alexandria will observe the Days of Remembrance, Yom HaShoah, for the victims of the Holocaust at noon in Market Square, 301 King St. The Alexandria City Council hosts the annual ceremony as part of the weeklong commemoration of the national Days of Remembrance, Sunday, April 19, through Sunday, April 26. This is the 22nd consecutive year that the City has held the Days of Remembrance ceremony. The event is free and open to the public. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held in the Vola Lawson Lobby on the first floor of City Hall, 301 King St. For additional information, call 703.838.4812.

Tuesday, April 21 – Potomac Yard Planning Advisory Group (PYPAG) Meeting 
The next PYPAG meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Sister Cities Conference Room 1101, City Hall, 301 King St. The meeting will include a presentation and discussion on real estate economics, and a discussion of options for locating a Metrorail station. For more information, please contact Valerie Peterson at 703.838.3866 ext. 338. For more information on Potomac Yard planning, including materials and presentations from prior meetings, please visit www.alexandriava.gov/PotomacYardPlan.

Wednesday April 22 – Motorcoach Task Force
The City of Alexandria invites residents to attend the Motorcoach Task Force meeting at 7 p.m. in the Sister Cities Conference Room 1101, City Hall, 301 King St. The Motorcoach Task Force will discuss the short-term recommendations made to City Council and review actions by City Council and the Traffic and Parking Board. For more information or to review the agenda, please visit www.alexandriava.gov/MotorcoachTaskForce.

Wednesday, April 22 – Alexandria History Awards & Lecture
The Alexandria Historical Society will present its 2009 Alexandria History Award to Mary V. Thompson of Mount Vernon, author of “In the Hands of a Good Providence:” Religion in the Life of George Washington, at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St.  Also being honored are Char McCargo Bah, Rosalind Bovey, Leland and Janet Ness, and students from Alexandria’s four high schools. The guest speaker will be Dr. Ben Vinson III, who received the high school award in 1988. Today, he is Professor of Latin American History at the Johns Hopkins University and Director of their Center for Africana Studies. The program takes place from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., with a reception to follow. This event is open to the public and reservations are not required. For more information, please call 703.683.2636 or visit www.alexandriahistorical.org.

Wednesday, April 22 – Celebrate Earth Day
Join the Alexandria Library in celebrating Earth Day from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Whole Foods Market, 1700 Duke St. Residents will have the opportunity to learn about local food and reduce their carbon footprint. The event is free and no registration is required. For more information, call 703.706.0891. This event is part of the All Alexandria Reads program. All Alexandria Reads is a community-based reading cooperative program designed to create a dialog through reading. This year’s book is Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life.

Thursday, April 23 – Public Forum #1 on Alexandria Waterfront Plan
The first of two public forums on the Alexandria Waterfront Plan will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the City Council Chambers (second floor), Alexandria City Hall, 301 King St. Civic, business or community organizations are invited to give a brief presentation of any ideas they may have for the future of Alexandria’s Waterfront (the time allotted will depend upon the number of participants). If you are interested in speaking at the forum,  contact Andrea Barlow at 703.838.3866, ext. 665 to reserve a place on the agenda. For more information, visit www.alexandriava.gov/waterfront.

Thursday, April 23 - Softball Opening Day Ceremony
The Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities will hold the 2009 Girl's Softball League Opening Night Ceremony on Thursday, April 23 at 6:30 p.m., at Armistead L. Boothe Park Softball Field, 520 Cameron Station Blvd. The ceremony will be honoring all the players, coaches, volunteers and organizations who participate in and support the league. Following the ceremony, two games will be played. For additional information, call the Youth Sports Office at 703.838.4345.

Thursday, April 23 – My Pyramid Choices for Adults
As part of the All Alexandria Reads program activities, join staff from the Virginia Cooperative Extension for a presentation on healthy choices for eating. The event is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the Beatley Central Library, 5005 Duke St. All Alexandria Reads is a community-based reading cooperative program designed to create a dialog through reading. This year’s book is Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life. For more information, about call 703.519.5900. For more information, visit www.alexandria.lib.va.us.

Thursday, April 23 – Public Hearing on Proposed DASH Service Reductions 
The City of Alexandria reminds residents DASH will be holding a public hearing on proposed DASH service reductions at 5:30 p.m. in the Sister Cities Conference Room 1101, City Hall, 301 King St. For more information, visit www.dashbus.com.

Thursday, April 23 –The 16th Annual Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day
Bring your child to work or mentor a student and give them an opportunity that will last a lifetime! Mentors are needed for local students who are participating in the 16th Annual Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day. The event will kick off with a breakfast reception at 8:15 a.m. in Vola Lawson Lobby, City Hall, 301 King St. To volunteer as a mentor, call 703.746.5030 or complete an online application at www.alexandriava.gov/women/mentorapplication.

Coming Soon!

Saturday, April 25 – The 16th Annual Alexandria Earth Day and Arbor Day Celebration
The City of Alexandria will host the 16th Annual Alexandria Earth Day and Arbor Day celebration at Ben Brenman Park, 4800 Brenman Park Dr., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This year’s theme, "Take the Green Route,” will focus on showing citizens the benefits of leaving the car at home and walking, cycling or using public transportation. Admission is free, and food and beverages will be available for sale. For additional information, visit www.alexearthday.org.

Thursday – Saturday, April 30 to May 2 – The Second Annual Spring for Alexandria Event
The community is invited to participate in Spring for Alexandria, a three-day celebration of giving and service throughout the City. Spring for Alexandria offers multiple opportunities for residents to become involved, including the Generations of Giving Gala on April 30; the Business Philanthropy Summit, Day of Service and Celebration on Market Square on May 1; and Lemonaide Day on May 2. Spring for Alexandria is jointly hosted by the Alexandria Community Trust, the City of Alexandria, Kids Helping Kids and Volunteer Alexandria. For more information, please call 703.836.2176 or visit www.springforalexandria.org.

Ongoing

April 1-30 - Celebrating Poetry in the City of Alexandria
The City of Alexandria invites City residents to celebrate National Poetry Month in April. The Academy of American Poets has designated April as National Poetry Month to call attention to the ways poetry can enrich everyday life. Throughout the month, Mary McElveen, the City’s Poet Laureate, will make several appearances and participate in a variety of activities promoting poetry. For additional information, e-mail aca@alexandriava.gov, call Cheryl Anne Colton, Cultural Arts Administrator, at 703.838.6348 or visit http://marymce.googlepages.com/alexandriapoetry.

April through May – All Alexandria Reads 2009
The Alexandria Library presents All Alexandria Reads 2009, a community-based reading cooperative program designed to create a dialog through reading. This year’s book is Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver. Kingsolver is a Virginia author who chronicles her family’s attempt to eat homegrown and locally produced food. The book explores the origins of food and the impact that our eating habits have on the environment and economy. From April to May, Alexandria Library will hold community events that relate to the themes of Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. For more information about All Alexandria Reads, visit www.alexandria.lib.va.us.

Saturday, June 27 – City of Alexandria Hosts AHS Garden School, Registration Now Open
The City of Alexandria, in cooperation with the American Horticultural Society, will host a new Garden School, “Green Garage®: Sustainable and Earth-Friendly Solutions for the Landscape” from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Lee Center, 1108 Jefferson St. Garden School participants will learn about environmentally friendly gardening practices from organic lawn care and water conservation to soil health and creating wildlife habitats. AHS members and City of Alexandria residents will receive a registration discount. Space for this exclusive program is limited, so early registration is recommended. To register, visit www.ahs.org/events/garden_schools/09/index.htm, or call 703.768.5700, ext. 132.