[Archived] Weekly Event Announcements for the City of Alexandria: October 31 - November 6, 2009

October 30, 2009

Saturday, October 31 – Poe in Alexandria
This Halloween, celebrate the bicentennial of Edgar Allan Poe’s birthday! Join actor David Keltz at the Lyceum, Alexandria’s History Museum, 201 S. Washington St., as he recreates Edgar Allan Poe’s visit to Virginia in 1849. The performance includes recitations from classic works such as “The Raven,” “Annabel Lee,” “The Tell-Tale Heart,” and many others. Doors open at 7:15 p.m. and performance begins at 8 p.m. Best for teens and up due to the scary nature of some material. Tickets are $15 per person. For more information, please visit www.alexandriahistory.org or call 703.838.4994.

Saturday, October 31 – Chefs’ Cooking Demonstration at Alexandria Farmers’ Market
Acclaimed chefs from Alexandria’s finest restaurants will give cooking demonstrations Saturday mornings at the Alexandria Farmers’ Market, located at Market Square, 301 King Street. Local chefs will show you how to prepare a variety of culinary delights and samples will be available for tasting following each demonstration. The cooking demonstrations are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. This week, the demonstration features Union Street Public House - Creole Sensation. For additional information, call 703.746.5504.

Saturday, October 31 – City of Alexandria Recycles Day Pledge Deadline
Make it a personal challenge to help Alexandria become a more environmentally friendly city—an Eco-City! Commit yourself to step up your reducing, reusing, and/or recycling efforts over the next year and formally make your pledge online by October 13, and you could be selected as one of ten winners in Alexandria to win an America Recycles Day Prize. All pledges will also be entered into a regional prize drawing, sponsored by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. Submit your pledge online today! 

Saturday, October 31 – Submission Deadline for America Recycles Day Contest
America Recycles Day is celebrated nationally each year on November 15, reminding us all that "It All Comes Back to You!" This year, in conjunction with the Plastic Bag Recycling Initiative, the City is asking residents, students and employees to submit ideas about how to reduce, reuse and better recycle plastic bags. E-mail your submission to stacy.herring@alexandriava.gov by October 31. Please include your name, address, telephone number and entry category (i.e. Student, Resident or Employee). Judges will select up to three best entries from each category, who will win a reusable bag full of prizes! For more information, visit www.alexandriava.gov/plasticbags.

Saturday, October 31 – 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 this 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.

Sunday, November 1 – 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 www.alexandriava.gov/Recreation.

Sunday, November 1 – Alexandria Soft Playroom Dedication
The City of Alexandria will celebrate the opening of the Alexandria Soft Playroom at the Chinquapin Park Recreation Center, (3210 King St.) with a dedication ceremony at 2 p.m by Mayor William D. Euille and members of Alexandria City Council. Designed for children five years of age and younger, the Soft Playroom is lined with cushioned walls and flooring, movable soft blocks and other structures that children can move and build, a ball pit, and a separate section for toddlers. Children’s activities begin at 1:30 p.m. For additional information, call 703.746.5553.

Monday, November 2 – 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, November 3 – Fundraiser for Beat the Odds Scholarship Program
The public is invited to help support the Beat the Odds scholarship program by attending a play, The Art of Murder, at 8 p.m. at the Little Theatre of Alexandria. The Art of Murder is the winner of the 2000 Edgar Award for Best Mystery Play. A reception for ticketholders begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $40, and can be purchased by calling 703.548.1105. Beat the Odds is a scholarship modeled after a Children's Defense Fund program that assists young people who have quite literally beaten the odds and are both excelling personally and contributing to the Alexandria community. For more information, contact Jean Kelleher Niebauer at 703.746.3140.

Thursday, November 5 – Retail Workshop on “Driving Sales from the Floor”
Alexandria’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is providing a free workshop, “Driving Sales from the Floor.” The workshop is designed for retail business owners, managers, and sales staff who want to get their “browsers” to become “buyers.” Virginia State SBDC Retail Industry Consultant Marc Willson will conduct the workshop, and provide particular emphasis on selling during the all-important holiday shopping period. The workshop will be held from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington Street. Please pre-register by sending an e-mail to pmelton@alexandriasbdc.org. Please include your company name, address and telephone number, and the name and e-mail address of all attendees.

Thursday, November 5 – 18th-Century Dance Lessons
In preparation for the Late Harvest Ball on November 21, learn 18th-century English country dancing from expert dance instructors at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal St. The class is scheduled from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and costs $12. Reservations are recommended. For more information, please visit www.gadsbystavern.org or call 703.838.4242.

Friday, November 6 – Deadline for Registration for 23rd Annual Caregiver Conference 
The 23rd Annual Caregiver Conference, “Shedding Light on Dementia Care,” will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 9350 Braddock Rd. The conference is co-sponsored by the City of Alexandria’s Department of Human Services, Office of Aging and Adult Services. Registration is required by November 6. For more information, or to request a registration form, call 703.324.5425. 

Ongoing!

Donors Needed for Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Holiday Sharing Program
Be part of the holiday spirit and reach out to eligible low income families, foster children, and elderly or disabled citizens through the DHS Holiday Sharing Program. You will get “wish lists” for children or senior citizens, which will include necessary clothing (jeans, warm jacket), a toy or recreational item, a book, and perhaps one family request (used computer, towels, pots and pans). Gift cards from stores such as Old Navy, Target, and Best Buy are also needed for teens in foster care. To sign up online, visit www.alexandriava.gov/holidaysharing. For more information, e-mail holidaysharing@alexandriava.gov or call 703-746-5663.