[Archived] Weekly Event Announcements: June 13 - 19, 2009

Weekly Event Announcements for the City of Alexandria: June 13 – June 19, 2009 

For Immediate Release: June 12, 2009 

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 - 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.

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 more information, and to purchase discount ticket sales, call 703.684.5697, ext. 310.

Sunday, June 14 – A Juneteenth Film & Music Celebration 
The Alexandria Film Festival presents the film “Come Walk in My Shoes” from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at MetroStage, 1201 N. Royal St. View and enjoy a performance by the Ebenezer Ecumenical Women’s Choir.  Reservations are required and tickets are $25 per person. To make reservations or learn more, visit alexandriava.gov/recreation.

Monday, June 15 – Alexandria’s First Half Real Estate Tax Due
The City of Alexandria reminds property owners that the first half 2009 Real Estate Tax and Refuse Fee payments are due June 15. To avoid a late payment penalty and interest, payment must be received by the City or postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service no later than June 15.  If you have not received a bill in the mail and do not have your real estate tax paid by your mortgage company, contact the City’s Treasury Division at payments@alexandriava.gov, or call 703.746.3902 to request a duplicate bill. Failure to receive a tax bill is not grounds for waiving the late payment penalty and interest, or extending the June 15 due date.

Wednesday, June 17 - Upper King Street Fresh Farmers’ Market Open
The public is invited to the Upper King Street Fresh Farmers’ Market located at the King Street Gardens Park, 1806 King St., just a few steps from the King Street Metro. The Upper King Street Fresh Farmers’ Market is open every Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m, through October 28. For more information, visit Farmers’ Market Online.

Thursday, June 18 - Alexandria Arts Forum Meeting
The Alexandria Arts Forum will hold its monthly meeting at the Dr. Oswald Durant Memorial Center, 1605 Cameron St. at noon. This month’s featured speaker is Sheila Whiting, Director of the Charles Houston Recreation Center.  For more information, contact Alan Wile at alan.wile@comcast.net.

Thursday, June 18 – The Fine Art of Jazz Exhibition
The new exhibition The Fine Art of Jazz opens at the Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe St., with a free reception at 6 p.m. The exhibition features a series of 50 black-and-white portraits of Kansas City jazz musicians by Dan White and insight into the performers’ lives through interview excerpts. The exhibition is open through August 8. To attend the reception or learn more about the exhibition, please call 703.838.4356 or visit www.alexblackhistory.org. 

Thursday, June 18 – Music at Twilight Concert
The Music at Twilight Concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Fort Ward Park (4301 W. Braddock Rd.) The concert will feature the music of Alma Folclorica del Peru (Folk Music of Peru). The concert may be cancelled or is subject to change without notice due to weather conditions. For up-to-date information, call the Special Events Hotline at 703.883.4686 or visit alexandriava.gov/recreation.

Friday, June 19 – “The Secret History of Juneteenth” Lecture
Learn about the powerful saga behind Juneteenth at the Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe St. In his illustrated lecture, historian C.R. Gibbs will reveal the story of courage and struggle of the earliest arrival of Africans when the territory was under Spanish control. Lecture begins at 7 p.m., followed by a reception.  Admission is free, but reservations are required. Please visit www.alexblackhistory.org or call 703.838.4356 for more information.
 
Friday, June 19 – Lantern Tours
Tour Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal St. by candlelight with a costumed guide and see how guests experienced the historic tavern and hotel before the advent of electricity. Tours proceed from 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 20 & Sunday, June 21 – Annual Alexandria Red Cross Waterfront Festival
The Alexandria Red Cross Waterfront Festival will be held at Oronoco Bay Park, 100 Madison St., on Saturday, June 20 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, June 21 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The festival includes food, arts and crafts vendors and entertainment for the entire family. For more information, call Dana Brunson of the Alexandria Chapter of the American Red Cross at 703.549.8300 or visit www.waterfrontfestival.org.

Saturday. June 27- AHS Garden School - Eco-City Principles In Action
The City of Alexandria, in cooperation with the American Horticultural Society (AHS), 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 receive a registration discount. Space is limited, so register early! To register, visit http://www.ahs.org/events/garden_schools/09/index.html, or call 703.768.5700, ext. 132.

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