[Archived] Weekly Event Announcements: May 9 - 15, 2009

Weekly Event Announcements for the City of Alexandria: May 9 – 15, 2009
For Immediate Release: May 8, 2009 

Saturday, May 9 & Thursday, May 21 - Confident City Bicycling Classes
The City of Alexandria is partnering with the Washington Area Bicyclist Association to teach residents how to ride safely and skillfully through city traffic. Residents may attend one of two free workshops:  Saturday, May 9, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Cora Kelly Recreation Center, 25 West Reed Ave. or Thursday, May 21 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at Mount Vernon Community Recreation Center, 2701 Commonwealth Ave. For more information, contact Yon Lambert at 703.519.3400, ext. 183, or visit alexandriava.gov/localmotion. To register, visit www.waba.org.

Sunday, May 10 - West End Farmers’ Market Open
The public is invited to the opening of the West End Farmers’ Market at 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 3 at Ben Brenman Park, 4800 Brenman Park Dr. The West End Farmers’ Market is open to the public on Sundays beginning May 3 through November 22 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The market features fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables, fresh-baked breads, cheeses, jams, jellies, coffee, local honey, and free-range, grass-fed beef and chicken. For additional information, visit alexandriava.gov/recreation.

Sunday, May 10 – Free Mother’s Day Tours
Gadsby's Tavern and the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museums are pleased to offer free tours on Mother's Day for all visiting mothers! Treat Mom to a tour of the historic tavern (134 N. Royal St.) and apothecary (105-107 S. Fairfax St.) from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Junior docent volunteers from grades 2 through 5 will be stationed at each stop on the tour, including the taproom, bed chambers, ballroom, assembly room and dining room. Visitors can tour at their own pace while their kids learn about Alexandria history from other kids! Cost is $4 for all other adults and $2 for children (ages 11-17). For more information, please visit www.gadsbystavern.org or call 703.838.4242.

Monday, May 11 – Thursday, May 14 – “Lunch Bunch” Concerts at Market Square
The City’s Departments of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities and General Services are sponsoring the “Lunch Bunch” concerts at Market Square, 301 King St. The concerts, which feature students from local and visiting schools, are free and open to the public. All concerts begin at 12:15 p.m. Scheduled performances this week include:
May 11   St. Francis of Assisi Band (Triangle, VA)
May 13   Immanuel Lutheran School Chorus & Handbells (Alexandria, VA)
May 14   Corpus Christi School band (Falls Church, VA)

Monday, May 11 - Eco-City Action Plan Open House
The City of Alexandria and the Environmental Policy Commission (EPC) invite you to attend the Eco-City Action Plan Open House from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe St. This will be an opportunity for residents, the EPC and the City to review and discuss the draft Phase II Environmental Action Plan, which focuses on long-term actions the City and residents can do during the next twenty years to make Alexandria an Eco-City. For more information, please contact Eco-CityAlexandria@alexandriava.gov or the Office of Environmental Quality, Department of Transportation & Environmental Services, at 703.838.4334.

Tuesday, May 12 – Excellence in Aging Awards Presentation
The Alexandria Commission on Aging will present the 2009 Excellence in Aging Awards from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Vola Lawson Lobby at Alexandria City Hall, 301 King St. This year’s award winners are Virginia Hahn, Donald Templeman and Rebuilding Together Alexandria. Each year the Excellence in Aging Awards are given to individuals and organizations that have shown exemplary efforts in helping the City’s older residents maintain their independence and live their lives to the fullest. For more information, call 703.838.0927.

Wednesday, May 13 – Eisenhower West Industrial Use Study Community Meeting
A community meeting about the Eisenhower West Industrial Use Study will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the cafeteria of the Patrick Henry Elementary School, 4643 Taney Ave. For more information, contact Dirk Geratz at 703.838.4666 ext. 337.

Wednesday, May 13 – PYPAG Transportation Subcommittee Meeting
The Transportation Subcommittee of the Potomac Yard Planning Advisory Group (PYPAG) will meet at 7 p.m. in Sister Cities Conference Room 1101, Alexandria City Hall, 301 King St. For more information, contact Valerie Peterson at 703.838.4666 ext. 338.

Wednesday, May 13 – BRAC Advisory Group Meeting
The BRAC Advisory Group will meet from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Patrick Henry Recreation Center, 4643 Taney Ave. For more information, contact Pat Escher at 703.838.4666 ext. 367.

Friday, May 15 - Bike to Work Day
In recognition of national Bike to Work Day, the DC area celebrates and promotes bicycle commuting as an affordable, efficient, and environmentally-friendly way of getting to work. The City of Alexandria’s pit stop will take place from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., Market Square, 301 King Street. Commuter cyclists are invited to enjoy free food, beverages, and services provided by local businesses and sponsors. For more information or to register, contact Yon Lambert at 703.519.3400, ext. 183, or visit alexandriava.gov/localmotion.

Friday, May 15 – Alexandria and District of Columbia Needlework Identification Day
Do you have a wonderful old piece of needlework stowed away in a closet? Ever wondered where it might have come from or whose hands stitched the piece? Join a stellar group of experts and have your sampler or pictorial needlework identified at The Lyceum (201 S. Washington St.) between 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Learn what makes a sampler more valuable, hear great tips on care and conservation, and see the treasures from other people’s attics. Reservations are required so please call 703.838.4994. A contribution to The Lyceum of $5 per needlework includes full museum admission.

Open through Friday, May 15 – “Jewish Washington” Exhibition – The Lyceum
“Jewish Washington: Scrapbook of an American Community,” an award-winning exhibition from the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington, is now open at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St. With a special emphasis on Northern Virginia, the exhibition chronicles the people, places, and events that shaped the history of the Washington area’s Jewish community from 1795 to the present. It is open Monday through its closing date on Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Suggested admission is $2. For more information, please visit www.alexandriahistory.org or call 703.838.4994.

Coming Soon!

Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17 – Tea with Martha Washington
Ever wonder how the first First Lady entertained her guests? What is the proper way to hold a teacup with no handles? Here is your chance to experience history with Martha Washington as she discusses 18th-century tea customs from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal St. Learn about as clothing and dancing of the period from Mrs. Washington at this 18th-century tea, which includes the museum’s special blend of tea, pound cake, dried fruit, and assortment of cookies. Party attire requested. Cost is $25 per person and reservations are required. Please visit www.gadsbystavern.org or call 703.838.4242 for more information.

Saturday, May 16 – Mayor’s Get Healthy for Life, Alexandria! Kick-off Event
Alexandria Mayor William D. Euille invites residents to Market Square Farmers’ Market (301 King St.) from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. to celebrate the launch of the Mayor’s “Get Healthy for Life, Alexandria” initiative. The initiative, developed in collaboration with the Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria and local health and fitness organizations, is a program designed to encourage Alexandrians to eat better, start moving, and get healthy. The kick-off event features an appearance by former Redskins player Roy Jefferson, healthy cooking demonstrations by staff from Restaurant Eve, health and fitness demonstrations, and special activities for young people. For more information, contact Carrie Fesperman at 703.838.4400, ext. 263.

Saturday, May 23 – Teddy Bear Tea
The Teddy Bear Tea is a wonderful way to introduce young people to etiquette. This year’s event is from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Black History Museum, 902 Wythe St. Children ages 5 to 10 will learn to manage china plates, teacups and saucers, and linen napkins while enjoying Earl Grey tea, cucumber sandwiches, scones and fruit tarts. Reservations are requested by Monday, May 18, and can be made by calling 703.838.4356 or visiting www.alexblackhistory.org.

Ongoing

Stormwater Outreach Meetings
The Department of Transportation & Environmental Services invites residents to attend one of four upcoming stormwater management public outreach meetings, where residents are invited to discuss the City’s stormwater programs and provide input on funding options. For more information contact Maurice Daly, Department of Transportation Environmental Services, at 703.519.3400.
• May 13, T. C. Williams High School, Cafeteria, 3330 King St., at 7 p.m.
• May 21, Lyles-Crouch Elementary School, Multi-purpose room, 530 S. St. Asaph St., at 7 p.m.
• May 27, George Washington Middle School, Cafeteria, 1005 Mount Vernon Ave, 7 p.m.
• June 2, Samuel Tucker Elementary School, Cafeteria, 435 Ferdinand Day Dr., at 7 p.m.

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 home-grown and locally produced food. From April to May, the Alexandria Library will hold numerous community events that relate to the themes of Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. This week’s events feature several events at Duncan Branch Library, including “Grow Your Own Pizza,” “Tea Tasting With Great Falls Tea Garden,” and “The Not So Secret Life of Bees,” on May 9, and a “Gardening With Children” workshop on May 13. For more information about All Alexandria Reads events, visit www.alexandria.lib.va.us.

For more information, contact Jennifer Harris, Communications Officer, Office of Communications, at 703.838.5078 or jennifer.harris@alexandriava.gov