[Archived] Weekly Event Announcements: June 6 - 12, 2009

Weekly Event Announcements for the City of Alexandria: June 6 – June 12, 2009

For Immediate Release: June 5, 2009 

Saturday, June 6 - Seventeenth Annual Armenian Festival
The Armenian Festival Committee and the Knights of Vartan, in partnership with the City of Alexandria, will host its Seventeenth Annual Armenian Festival from noon to 5 p.m. at Market Square, 301 King St. Event highlights include the sights, sounds, food and culture of Armenia. Admission is free and the festival will be held rain or shine. For additional information, call the City’s Special Events Hotline at 703.883.4686, or visit www.ArmenianFestivals.com.

Saturday, June 6 - Alexandria Library’s Double Summer Book Sale 
Get your summer reading off to a good start by visiting book sales at the Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library, 717 Queen St, or the Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library, 4701 Seminary Rd.  The Barrett Branch book sale will take place on Saturday, June 6, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Burke Branch book sale will take place on Saturday, June 6, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Plenty of books, music, and movies will be available for all ages! For additional information, call the Barrett Branch Library at 703.838.4555 or the Burke Branch Library at 703.519.6000.

Sunday, June 7 – Book Signing
Looking for that perfect graduation gift?  Stop by the Historic Alexandria History Center & Museum Shop, 101 N. Union St., between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., where John Phillips will be signing copies of his book George Washington’s Rules of Civility. Mr. Phillips combines history with words of wisdom in his commentary on the rules Washington followed throughout his lifetime. For more information, please call 703.706.5262 or visit oha.alexandriava.gov/oha-main/oha-historycenter.html.

Sunday, June 7 – Family Tour Day
Visitors will experience the historic Gadsby’s Tavern Museum (134 North Royal St.) through our new Junior Docent tours! From 1 p.m. to 5p.m., Junior Docents, who are second to fifth grade volunteers, 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! Admission is $4 per adult and $2 per child, ages 11-17. For more information, please visit www.gadsbystavern.org or call 703.838.4242.

Sunday, June 7 - West End Farmers’ Market 
The public is invited to the West End Farmers’ Market at Ben Brenman Park, 4800 Brenman Park Dr. The West End Farmers’ Market is open to the public every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through November 22. For additional information, visit alexandriava.gov/recreation.

Monday, June 8 - “Tea & Talk” Sharing Alexandria’s Civil Rights Stories
From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., the Charles Houston Recreation Center will host a “tea and talk,” where residents are invited to share their story of civil rights experiences in Alexandria and how it was shaped by the Parker-Gray School and Charles Houston. This event is free of charge but reservations are requested. RSVP to 703.838.6348 or e-mail aca@alexandriava.gov by June 5.  “Tea and Talk” is an outreach project designed in collaboration with the Alexandria Black History Museum, Parker Gray Alumni Association, Alexandria Commission for the Arts, Charles Houston Memorial Public Art Project’s Selection Panel and Stakeholders Advisory Group, Charles Houston Recreation Center, Parker Gray Alumni Association, The Office of the Arts, and the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities.

Wednesday, June 10 - Upper King Street Fresh Farmers’ Market
The City of Alexandria and the Upper King Street Neighborhood Association host the 2009 Upper King Street Fresh Farmers’ Market, available weekly from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. through October 29. The market will be located at the King Street Gardens Park, 1806 King St., just a few steps from the King Street Metro. For additional information, visit www.farmersmarketonline.com/fm/UpperKingStreetFreshFarmersMarket.html 

Wednesday, June 10 - Lunch Bunch Concerts at Canal Plaza
A lunch bunch concert featuring Lying Heart, a country, classic rock, and blues group, will be held at noon at 44 Canal Plaza. 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 www.alexandriava.gov/recreation.

Friday, June 12 – Lantern Tours
Tour Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal St., by candlelight with a costumed guide to see how guests experienced the historic tavern and hotel before the advent of electricity. Tour times are 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and cost is $5 per person, ages 5 and up. The museum may be closed on some occasions; call 703.838.4242 in advance to verify tour dates.

Coming Soon!

Saturday, June 13 – An Evening of Elixirs and Edibles
Experience the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum in a delicious new way—through your tastebuds! The Stablers and Leadbeaters were famous for bringing exotic flavors to the citizens of Alexandria from their apothecary, 105-107 S. Fairfax St. At “An Evening of Elixirs and Edibles,” from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., enjoy foods inspired by the herbs and spices in the store and sample beverages from imported liquors. Tickets begin at $75 per person and can be purchased online at www.apothecarymuseum.org or by calling 703.838.3852. All proceeds support the preservation of the Apothecary's unique collection.

Sunday, June 14 - Ninth Annual Arlandria-Chirilagua Festival
Tenants and Workers United will kick off the summer with the Ninth Annual Arlandria-Chirilagua Festival, 3700 Commonwealth Ave., from noon to 7 p.m. The event will feature Central and South American cuisine, music, and crafts. The festival will also include headlining music artists and the Reithoffer Carnival. An admission fee is required for entry into the event this year. For more information, and to purchase discount ticket sales, call 703.684.5697, ext. 310.

Ongoing

Let’s Get Healthy for Life, Alexandria!
Are you up for a challenge? Mayor William D. Euille, the Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria, and local health and fitness organizations have launched the Mayor’s “Get Healthy for Life, Alexandria” initiative to encourage Alexandrians to eat better, get moving, and get healthy. As part of the initiative, the City is participating in the “50 Million Pound Challenge,” developed by diet expert and author Dr. Ian Smith. The Challenge provides free resources and online tools for adult participants to follow their own diet and exercise program. MEC Kids, www.meckids.com/blog, a health and fitness social network, will provide special activities for young people. To join the Mayor’s Get Healthy Alexandria team visit www.50millionpounds.com. Click “Teams” and type “Alexandria, VA” under the “Search Teams”  search box provided. For more information, contact Carrie Fesperman at 703.838.4400, ext. 263.

2009 Summer Camps, Playgrounds & Teen Activities
The Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities offers a variety of summer program opportunities for children and teens ages 3 to 17. Camp opportunities include Recreation Camps (Ages 3-12), Jerome "Buddie" Ford Nature Center Camps (K-6th grade), Summer Programs for Children with Disabilities (Ages 3-17), Summer Playground Camps (Ages 6-12), and Summertime Fun Just-4-Teens. For additional information, visit alexandriava.gov/recreation.

Alexandria Film Festival Seeks Submissions through June 29
The Third Annual Alexandria Film Festival is soliciting entries from U.S. and international filmmakers. The festival will be held Thursday, September 24 through Sunday, September 27, at the George Washington Memorial Masonic Temple. This year, the Film Festival is partnering with Withoutabox, the film industry’s premier online service platform. To submit your film online, please visit www.withoutabox.com/login/7816. All entries submitted through Withoutabox will receive an additional discount. For more information or to obtain entry forms and submission guidelines, visit www.alexandriafilm.org. For more information, call the Alexandria Commission for the Arts at 703.838.6348 or e-mail aca@alexandriava.gov.

For more information, contact Jennifer Harris, Communications Officer, Office of Communications, at 703.746.3961 or jennifer.harris@alexandriava.gov