For Immediate Release: October 2, 2009

Weekly Event Announcements for the City of Alexandria: October 3 – October 9, 2009

Saturday, October 3 – Art on the Avenue
Art on the Avenue is a regional multicultural arts and crafts festival held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Del Ray section of Alexandria. Visit more than 350 vendors displaying their art for sale, while enjoying interactive children's activities, live music, entertainment, food, and more! For more information, visit www.artontheavenue.org.

Saturday, October 3 – City Promotes Plastic Bag Recycling Initiative at Art on the Avenue
Residents, students and businesses are encouraged to “Make the Right Choice, One Plastic Bag at a Time!” by reducing, reusing and recycling their plastic bags. Visitors to Art on the Avenue are encouraged to recycle their plastic bags at the event and receive a reusable one for free! For more information, visit www.alexandriava.gov/PlasticBags.

Saturday, October 3 – Fifth Annual Fall Tree Sale
The City of Alexandria’s Urban Forestry Steering Committee (UFSC) and the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities will hold a City fall tree sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 2911 Cameron Mills Rd. The goal of the sale is to promote the preservation of Alexandria’s tree canopy by encouraging the planting of trees on private property throughout the City. Alexandria Tree Stewards and Master Gardeners will be on site to answer questions about tree selection, planting and care. For more information, call Jerry Dieruf, Arborist, at 703.746.5498, or e-mail jerry.dieruf@alexandriava.gov.

Saturday, October 3 – Civil War Shelter Program
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., learn about the various forms of living arrangements for Civil War soldiers at Fort Ward Museum, 4301 West Braddock Road. Program reviews shelter structures, tents, winter quarters and huts. Tents erected to show size and design, plus methods of heating soldier quarters, including the display of an original Sibley stove. The event is free, but donations are welcomed. For more information, please visit www.fortward.org or call 703.838.4848.

Saturday, October 3 – History Scavenger Hunt
Celebrate Virginia Archaeology Month by identifying artifacts that bring Alexandria’s past to life at the Alexandria Archaeology Museum, 105 North Union Street, #327. Take part in a free Virginia TimeTravelers passport “Stories of a Nation” patch program from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, please visit www.alexandriaarchaeology.org or call 703.838.4399.

Saturday, October 3 – Apothecary Open House
This year’s Open House at the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum (105-107 South Fairfax Street) includes free tours, hands-on activities, and more! From 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., learn about the curative properties of the plants in your own yard and discover the important role the apothecary played in early Alexandria. For more information, please visit www.apothecarymuseum.org or call 703.838.3852.

Sunday, October 4 – West End Farmers’ Market 
The public is invited to the West End Farmers’ Market at Ben Brenman Park, located at 4800 Brenman Park Dr. The West End Farmers’ Market is open to the public, Sundays through November 22, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, visit alexandriava.gov/Recreation.

Monday, October 5 – Tavern Toddlers
Join us for a special program for toddlers (walkers through 36 months) and their caregivers at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal St. Tavern Toddlers features a weekly open playtime in Gadsby’s historic ballroom Mondays, excluding Federal holidays, through November 16 any time between 10:30 a.m. and noon. New themes this fall! Cost is $7 for a group of three, which must include one adult, or $30 for purchase of a five-week pass. For more information, please visit www.gadsbystavern.org or call 703.838.4242.

Wednesday, October 7 – 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.

Wednesday, October 7 – Grant Workshop Fiscal Year 2010 - 2011
The Alexandria Commission for the Arts will conduct a grant workshop from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Dr. Oswald D. Durant Center, 1605 Cameron St. The workshop will provide information about the Commission’s annual grant program, which provides funding to non-profit arts organizations for various arts programs, and instructions for the on-line grant application process. All applicants, including past grant recipients, are strongly encouraged to attend one of the grant workshops. For more information, visit www.alexandriacommissionforthearts.org or alexandriava.gov/Arts.

Thursday, October 8 – Alexandria Library “Read for The Record” Program 
America is reading Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar as a part of a nationwide “Read for the Record” program. The Alexandria Library will recognize this program with an “All Ages” storytime! Julie Carey, News Correspondent for Channel 4, will read the book at Duncan Branch Library, 2501 Commonwealth Ave., at 10 a.m.; and Mr. Nelson, Branch Manager, and Miss Beverly, Children’s Librarian, will read the book in Spanish and English at Burke Branch Library, 4701 Seminary Rd. at 10 a.m. Both events are free and open to the public. For more information, call 703.519.3498.

Thursday, October 8 – Silent Witness Candlelight Vigil
Please join the Office on Women for a Silent Witness Candlelight Vigil at 7 p.m. in Market Square, 301 King St. The Silent Witness Candlelight Vigil is held each year to remember and honor all those who have died, or are still suffering, from acts of domestic violence. For more information, visit www.alexandriava.gov/women.

Thursday, October 8 – Dig It! Torpedo Factory Second Thursday Art Night
The entire Torpedo Factory Art Center, including the Alexandria Archaeology Museum, will be open late from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. for Dig It! Dig It honors art and history with a special Archaeology Month theme at 105 North Union Street. For more information, please visit www.torpedofactory.org/thursday.htm or call 703.838.4399.

Coming soon!

Saturday, October 10 – Civil War Fall Bus Tour
Register now to join the Friends of Fort Ward on their fall bus tour of the Battle of Second Manassas (Bull Run) with military historian Colonel Robert Hudson on day-long guided tour from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Learn how the 1862 battle paved the way for Lee’s invasion of the North. Tour stops include Manassas, Thoroughfare Gap, Brawner’s Farm, Chinn Ridge, and Henry House Hill. Tour fee is $110 for members of the Friends of Fort Ward and $125 for non-members. Meet at Fort Ward, 4301 West Braddock Rd. Advance registration is required so sign up now by calling 703.838.4848.

Saturday, October 10 – Arts Safari & Museum Open House
Visit the Torpedo Factory Arts Safari and Open House to take part in a family-oriented hands-on activity at the Alexandria Archaeology Museum, 105 North Union St. The Office of Historic Alexandria will host this free event from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Participants can draw or paint patterns on paper inspired by designs from salt-glazed pottery shards excavated from local archaeological sites. For more information, visit www.alexandriaarchaeology.org or contact Ruth Reeder at 703.838.4399.

Saturday, October 17 – La Fête de Lafayette 
Join Gadsby’s Tavern Museum Society at this wine party from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette, the hero of the American Revolution. At Gadsby’s Tavern Museum (134 North Royal St.), sample delicious selections of old world French and new world Virginia wines and morsels! Meet General Lafayette “in person” as he recalls his 1824 grand tour of the United States. Tickets are $65 each and reservations are required. For more information, please visit www.gadsbystavern.org or call 703.838.4242.

Saturday, October 24 – Build Your Own Rain Barrel Workshop 
The City of Alexandria invites residents to attend a “Build Your Own Rain Barrel Workshop” from 10 a.m. to noon at Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology, 3600 Commonwealth Ave. For more information, please contact Jesse Maines at 703.746.4071 or visit www.alexandriava.gov/Environment.

Ongoing!

Enhanced Service Hours at the Charles Houston Recreation Center
Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe St., offers enhanced service hours, Monday through Friday, from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Participants can use the center’s fitness room, game room, gymnasium and computer lab. Single and multi-visit admission passes are available for purchase. For more information, visit alexandriava.gov/Recreation, call Sheila Whiting, Center Director, at 703.746.5552, or e-mail sheila.whiting@alexandriva.gov.

City of Alexandria in Search of Holiday Tree
During the holidays, the Market Square glistens with the sparkling majesty of a Holiday Tree, made possible only through a generous donation each year. The City of Alexandria is once again in search of a Colorado Blue Spruce, Leyland Cypress or other well-formed evergreen tree, approximately 25 to 35 feet tall, to serve as the City’s official 2008 Holiday Tree. The City will remove the tree from the donor’s property in mid-November and grind the stump at no cost. Persons in the Washington metropolitan area who are interested in donating a tree should contact John Noelle, City Arborist, at 703.746.5496 or e-mail john.noelle@alexandriava.gov.

Open through Saturday, January 9, 2010 – 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 Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Suggested admission is $2. For more information, please visit www.alexblackhistory.org or call 703.838.4356.