[Archived] Weekly Event Announcements: August 22 - 28, 2009

Weekly Event Announcements for the City of Alexandria: August 22 – August 28, 2009

For Immediate Release: August 21, 2009

Sunday, August 23 – West End Farmers’ Market Closed
The West End Farmers’ Market will be closed on Sunday, August 23, due to the scheduling of the Annual Cambodian Day Festival at the same location.

Sunday, August 23 – Annual Cambodian Day Festival 
The City of Alexandria will host the Annual Cambodian Community Day Festival from noon to 6 p.m. at Ben Brenman Park, 4800 Brenman Park Dr. Admission is free and the event will be held rain or shine. For additional information on the festival, visit www.cambodiancommunityday.org

Wednesday, August 26 – Upper King Street Fresh Farmers’ Market
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 Wednesdays through October 28 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. For additional information, visit the Farmers’ Market Online.

Thursday, August 27 – Bring a School Supply and Ride FREE!
DASH Bus is offering a free ride on August 27 to those who board a DASH bus with new, unopened school supplies. Riders are requested to place their donation in the special blue plastic bags attached to the side of the farebox. This is the third year that DASH has partnered with Community Partners for Children (CPC) in a Ride Free Day for School Supplies. If you have any questions, please contact Anne M. Janeski, Marketing & Communications Manager, DASH Bus, at 703.370.3274 ext. 614.

Thursday, August 27 – Orientation for Prospective SOHO Mentors
The Space of Her Own (SOHO) program invites creative female mentors to enjoy a light dinner with a wonderful group of women and learn details about an exciting art-based mentoring program for pre-teen girls in Alexandria. The orientation will occur from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Art League Annex, 1 Duke St. Each mentor makes a one-year commitment to attend Thursday evening sessions with her mentee. Together they participate in team-building activities, learn life skills and artistic concepts, techniques and processes. To RSVP for the mentor orientation, e-mail amy.cable@acps.k12.va.us. For more information, visit www.alexandriava.gov/soho. 

Thursday, August 27 – Opening Reception for “Spirits in a Bottle” Exhibition
The Alexandria Black History Museum (902 Wythe St.) will host a reception from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. to celebrate the opening of “Spirits in a Bottle” exhibition. Artist Barbara Hardaway decorated 100 Arizona Tea bottles for this exhibition of decorative expressions of an ancient African tradition. This whimsical show pays homage to the 9th- and 10th-century Congolese tradition of adorning the ends of tree branches with colorful bottles that would catch the sunlight. Hardaway updated this ritual by festooning her bottles with feathers, fabric, beads, netting, ribbons and seashells. The reception is free but reservations are requested. Please call 703.838.4356 or visit www.alexblackhistory.org for more information.

Friday, August 28 – Last Lantern Tour of the Summer
Tour Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal St., by candlelight with a costumed guide to experience the historic tavern and hotel before the advent of electricity. Tour times are 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., and the cost is $5 per person, ages 5 and up. This is the last tour, you don’t want to miss it!

Coming Soon! 

Wednesday, September 2 – Transportation Commission Meeting
The Department of Transportation & Environmental Services invites the residents to attend the Transportation Commission’s public hearing to discuss transportation project funding for Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality/Regional Surface Transportation Program grants and the City’s Transportation Improvement Program.  The informational meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. at Sister Cities Conference Room 1101, City Hall, 301 King Street. For additional information, visit alexandriava.gov/transportationcommission or contact Sandra Marks at 703.838.4411 or e-mail Sandra.Marks@alexandriava.gov.  

Thursday, September 3 – Free Potomac Riverboat Cruise & Dockside Reception
The Alexandria Mentoring Partnership invites interested volunteers to come to a Potomac Riverboat Cruise and dockside reception at 6 p.m. There will be interactive games, entertainment, and refreshments. Find out how you can mentor a child and change two lives! Admission is free, but space is limited to the first 100 respondents. RSVP to mike.mackey@alexandriava.gov. For further information, visit alexandriava.gov/mentoring or call 703-746-4496

Tuesday, September 8 – Annual Doggie Day Swim
Pet owners and their dogs are invited to come out to the Annual Doggie Day Swim,  a celebration of the end of the pool season at the Old Town Pool, 1609 Cameron St., from 4 to 7 p.m. There is a nominal fee for dog admission. Proceeds benefit the Alexandria Welfare League. All dogs should wear current vaccination tags or proof of vaccinations must be shown. For additional information, call 703.519.2160.

Ongoing

Open through September 20 – “Living Legends” Exhibition 
The latest class of Living Legends of Alexandria is profiled in an exhibit at The Lyceum, Alexandria’s History Museum, 201 S. Washington St. This photography exhibition, featuring the work of Nina Tisara, celebrates people who have made remarkable contributions to the quality of life in Alexandria. “Living Legends of Alexandria 2008-09” showcases 26 nominees who have worked to improve life in Alexandria. The museum is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sundays, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The suggested admission is $2. For more information, visit alexandriahistory.org or call 703.838.4994.