[Archived] Weekly Event Announcements for the City of Alexandria: October 10 – October 16, 2009

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 10 – Tools of the Soldier’s Trade: Civil War Firearms Program
Beginning at 1 p.m., attend a free discussion and demonstration of advances in firearms and munitions technology at Fort Ward Museum, 4301 W. Braddock Rd. Learn how changes in Civil War weaponry influenced military tactics beyond World War I and see a display of reproduction weapons and ammunition, plus a firing demonstration. For more information, please visit www.fortward.org or call 703.838.4848.

Saturday, October 10 – “Traces of the Trade: A Story From the Deep North” Film Screening
At the Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe St., follow the discovery into the history and “living consequences” of slavery with a free film screening at 4:30 p.m. Katrina Browne, a direct descendant of slaver Mark Anthony DeWolf, traveled from Rhode Island to Ghana to Cuba and back, revisiting the Triangle Trade that made the DeWolfs the largest slave-trading family in U.S. history. “Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North” is Browne’s spellbinding account of the journey. For more information, please visit www.alexblackhistory.org or call 703.838.4356.

Sunday, October 11 – 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 12 – 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.

Tuesday, October 13 – Books to Film Discussion Group
On the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m., readers and movie buffs are invited to gather at Beatley Central Library, 5000 Duke St., to talk about a novel, play, short story, or work of nonfiction and the motion picture version inspired by the written tale.  This month, the group will discuss the book and movie October Sky/Rocket Boys by Homer Hickam. For more information, call 703.519.5900 ext. 3.

Wednesday, October 14 – 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 14 – “A Defenseless Alexandria in 1814” Lecture
Join Carole Herrick, local historian and author, at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal St., as she chronicles Alexandria’s role in the War of 1812. Learn about Alexandria’s precarious situation during this often-overlooked chapter in American history from her book, August 24,1814: Washington in Flames. Copies will be available at a discounted price and a reception follows the lecture. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the lecture begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $12 per person. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.gadsbystavern.org or call 703.838.4242.

Thursday, October 15 – “Archaeology: History Under Your Feet” Lecture
Archaeologist Dr. Pamela Cressey will present “Archaeology: History Under Your Feet” at a special lecture, sponsored by the Torpedo Factory Art Center and the Morrison House, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Explore Alexandria heritage and culture at Morrison House, 116 South Alfred St., for open and lively discussions with artists, authors and staff hand-picked by the Torpedo Factory. For more about this free lecture and others celebrating local arts, literature and history, please contact tfaa@torpedofactory.org.

Coming soon!

Saturday, October 17 – Family Fall Festival
Visit the Alexandria’s Family Fall Festival, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Armistead L. Boothe Park, 520 Cameron Station Blvd. Admission is free, and the festival will be held rain or shine. The festival features entertainment, crafts, demonstrations and fun for the entire family.  There will be fees for scarecrow making, bouncy boxing, pony rides and moon bounce. For additional information, visit alexandriava.gov/Recreation. 

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.

Tuesday, October 20 – Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy (ACAP) Training 
Please join ACAP for a free workshop, “The Birds and the Bees: What to Say When You Don't Know What to Say.” This workshop explores what youth want to know about sex and practice ways to respond. The workshop is designed for those working with youth and will take place in the Charles Beatley Library, 5005 Duke St., from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. A continental breakfast will be served. Registration is required by Tuesday, October 13. Please visit www.alexgetreal.com for more information. 

Saturday, October 24 – Old Town North Community Partnership: Paws for the Park
Paws for the Park will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Montgomery Park, North Royal and Montgomery streets. Area dogs, kids and the folks who love them are invited to gather for DOGA, Pumpkin Painting, a Blessing of the Animals, K-9 Games, Musical Sit, a fur-filled Costume Parade for two and four legged contestants and much more! The cost is $15 and proceeds benefit the Montgomery Dog Park Improvement Fund, the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria and the Alexandria Police Department K-9 Program. For more information, please contact Old Town North Community Partnership at 703.836.8066 or info@oldtownnorth.org.

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 alexandriava.gov/Environment.

Ongoing!

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.

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