August 28, 2009

Weekly Event Announcements for the City of Alexandria: August 28 – September 4, 2009

Sunday, August 30 – West End Farmers’ Market
The public is invited to the West End Farmers’ Market at Ben Brenman Park, located at 4800 Brenman Park Drive. The West End Farmers’ Market is open to the public on Sundays through November 22 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, visit www.alexandriava.gov/recreation.

Wednesday, September 2 – “In Our Own Voice: Living with Mental Illness” Presentation
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) presents “In Our Own Voice: Living with Mental Illness,” at the Alexandria Black History Museum (902 Wythe St.) from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wilson Burse, NAMI’s Northern Virginia Ambassador to the African-American community, and mental health advocate Clarence Johnson will offer insight into the hope and recovery for people with mental illness at this free program. For more information, please visit www.alexblackhistory.org or call 703.838.4356.

Wednesday, September 2 – 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 more information, visit the Farmers’ Market Online.

Thursday, September 3 – ALL SPOTS FILLED: Free Potomac Riverboat Cruise 
A free Potomac Riverboat Cruise and dockside reception sponsored by the Alexandria Mentoring Partnership has filled all available spots for interested mentors. However, they still need more mentors! Find out how you can mentor a child by contacting Mike Mackey at 703.746.4496 or mike.mackey@alexandriava.gov. For more information, visit www.alexandriava.gov/mentoring. 

Coming Soon! 

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 p.m. 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 more information, call 703.519.2160.

Thursday, September 10 – “Bronx Princess” – Film Screening
Come to the Alexandria Black History Museum (902 Wythe St.) for a free screening of the new film “Bronx Princess” at 7 p.m. Follow headstrong 17-year-old Rocky as she leaves behind her mother in New York City to reunite with her father, a chief in Ghana, West Africa. By confronting her parents’ ideas of adulthood, Rocky reconciles her African heritage with her dream of independence. A discussion will follow the screening. For more information, please visit www.alexblackhistory.org or call 703.838.4356.

Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13 – Alexandria Festival of the Arts
Voted one of the top 100 art festivals in the country by Sunshine Artist magazine, the 7th Annual Alexandria Festival of the Arts is one not to be missed! Discover spectacular paintings, life-size sculptures, jewelry, photography, ceramics and more. This popular outdoor event will feature art for every taste and budget. It will be held in Old Town, located on King St. from Washington St. to the unit block at the waterfront. The festival hours are Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call the Alexandria Commission of the Arts at 703.746.5588.

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.

Open through Saturday, October 3 – Spirits in a Bottle Exhibition
Artist Barbara Hardaway decorated more than a hundred Arizona Tea bottles for this exhibition of decorative expressions of an ancient African tradition. This whimsical show at the Alexandria Black History Museum (902 Wythe St.) 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 museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Suggested admission is $2. For more information, please visit www.alexblackhistory.org or call 703.838.4356.

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