[Archived] Weekly Event Announcements for the City of Alexandria: April 24 - 30, 2010

Saturday, April 24 – Spring Clean-Up Area III
Spring Clean-Up for Area III will take place today, and residents who receive the City’s trash collection services are eligible to participate. Please remember materials should be set out no later than 7 a.m. For more information, visit www.alexandriava.gov/solidwaste.

Saturday, April 24 – Annual Earth Day Celebration
Come to the 17th Annual Alexandria Earth Day and Arbor Day celebration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ben Brenman Park, 4800 Brenman Park Dr. This year’s theme is "Teach (Green), Learn (Green), Live (Green)” and is based on the need to promote education and lead us all to a green and sustainable future, in keeping with the goals of the Eco-City Alexandria Initiative. This is a zero-waste and carbon neutral free event! For more information, visit www.alexearthday.org.

Saturday, April 24 - Plastic Bag Recycling Exchange Event
Bring your plastic bags and film and exchange them for a free reusable bag at the Earth Day Celebration at Ben Brenman Park. They will be accepted at the recycling program table from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, visit www.alexandriava.gov/plasticbags.

Saturday, April 24 – Duncan Library Book Sale Blast & Kid Fun Fest 
Thousands of books, CDs, DVDs and more will be sold at from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Duncan Library, 2501 Commonwealth Ave. There will also be performances and activities for the kids, such as singing, dancing, face painting, and interactive storytelling! Call 703.838.4566 for more information.

Saturday, April 24 – Her Story: Women in Action for Brownies
Celebrate women and learn about issues important to women and girls in your community at this special event for Brownie Girls Scouts at The Lyceum, 201 South Washington Street. In two afternoon sessions, Brownies will participate in hands-on activities as they learn about programs helping women today and talk with a panel of Girl Scouts and discover how scouting empowered them. Advance registration is required and cost is $6 per girl. Sessions run from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, please visit www.alexandriahistory.org or call 703.746.4994.

Saturday, April 24 – Peer Advisor Program turns 25!
The Alexandria Community Services Board's (CSB) Peer Advisors Program is celebrating 25 years of success with a program from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and socializing from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe St. The Peer Advisor Program is an after-school leadership program for at-promise City youth. Peer advisors are trained in leadership, peer pressure resistance, drug and alcohol information and positive youth development. For more information, contact Theodore Jones at 703.850.6016 or e-mail theodore.jones@alexandriava.gov.

Sunday, April 25 – Rabies Vaccination Clinic
The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) will host a rabies vaccination clinic at the shelter (4101 Eisenhower Ave) from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. A veterinarian will vaccinate any pets needing either a one- or three-year rabies vaccination. Rabies vaccinations cost $10, payable by cash or check only. Appointments are not necessary. Please make sure that all dogs are on leash and cats are in a carrier. Call 703.838.4774 ext. 225 for more information.

Sunday, April 25 – Family Tour Day
Visitors to Gadsby’s Tavern Museum (134 N. Royal St.) on Family Tour Day will experience the historic tavern through our Junior Docent tours! From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., volunteers from grades 3 through 6 will be stationed at each stop on the tour, including the taproom, bedchambers, ballroom, assembly room and dining room. Tour at your own pace and let your children learn about history from other kids!  For more information, please visit www.gadsbystavern.org or call 703.746.4242.

Monday, April 26 – Final Tavern Toddlers Weekly Playtime
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 between 10:30 a.m. and noon. Cost is $7 for a group of three, which must include one adult. For more information, please visit www.gadsbystavern.org or call 703.746.4242.

Thursday, April 29 through Saturday, May 1 – Spring for Alexandria
Celebrate giving and service by registering for Spring for Alexandria events today! Purchase your ticket to the Generations of Giving gala and the Business Philanthropy Summit, sign up online as a volunteer on community service projects, and more! Advance registration required for some events. Visit www.springforalexandria.org for details.

Friday, April 30 – Deadline for Nominations for John Duty Collins III Outstanding Advocate for Persons with Disabilities Award and Gerry Bertier Scholarship
April 30 is the deadline for nominations for the John Duty Collins III Outstanding Advocate for Persons with Disabilities Award, which recognizes an individual who has advocated for persons with disabilities, and the Gerry Bertier Scholarship, which awards up to a $1,000 merit based scholarship to a City of Alexandria resident with a disability or to a student at a school located in the City of Alexandria who seeks post-secondary education. For more information, contact Mike Hatfield at mike.hatfield@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3148 (711 TTY).

Coming Soon!

Saturday, May 1 - Invasive Species Plant Garlic Mustard Pull
The City of Alexandria seeks volunteers to take part in the statewide Garlic Mustard pull starting at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 1.  Volunteers will meet near the intersection of Holmes Run Parkway and Pegram Street (near the kiosk and pedestrian bridge). As part of the City’s Eco-City Alexandria initiative, this event focuses on hand-pulling and bagging the invasive Garlic Mustard along the paths of Holmes Run from the western end of the City at Dora Kelly Park east to the Duke Street Bridge. For more information about volunteering or meet up locations and times contact Claudia Hamblin-Katnik at 703.746.4068.

Sunday, May 2 - Opening of the West End Farmers' Market
The West End Farmers' Market will open at 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 2, at Ben Brenman Park, 4800 Brenman Park Dr. The West End Farmers' Market is open to the public on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., from May 2 through November 21. This outdoor market is one of a kind in the City’s west end. Multiple vendors lay out colorful displays of fresh, locally grown, in-season vegetables and fruits.  For more information, call 703.746.4343.

Wednesday, May 5 - Opening of the Upper King St. Fresh Farmers' Market
The Upper King St. Fresh Farmers' Market will open at 3 p.m. at King St. Gardens Park, 1806 King St. The Upper King St. Farmers’ Market is open to the public on Wednesdays, through October 27, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. This outdoor market is the only mid-week market, conveniently located across from the King Street Metro Station.  For more information, visit upperkingstreet.org/farmersmarketfrontpage.htm.

Saturday, May 8 -  Build Your Own Rain Barrel Workshop
Interested in saving the environment, living “green” and protecting the Chesapeake Bay? Attend a “Build Your Own Rain Barrel” workshop from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at James K. Polk Elementary School, 5000 James Polk Ave. For more information, visit www.alexandriava.gov/Environment or to register, visit www.arlingtonenvironment.org. 

Saturday, May 8 – A “Splendid Fabulous Affair”
Don’t miss the “Splendid Fabulous Affair,” the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria’s 24th annual gala dinner-dance and auction that helps make college a reality for hundreds of T.C. Williams’s graduates.  The gala, held at the Hilton Mark Center Alexandria (5000 Seminary Rd.) is where Alexandria comes together to celebrate the generosity of this community, which privately funds nearly $700,000 in scholarships annually. The evening will also honor the achievements of past scholarship recipients and raise contributions to benefit future grads of T.C. Williams. For more information, visit www.AlexScholarshipFund.org/gala.php.

Tuesday, June 1 – Alexandria Domestic Violence Program Volunteer Training
Volunteer training is set to begin Tuesday, June 1 for the Alexandria Domestic Violence Program. As a program that operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, volunteers play a key role in providing services to those affected by domestic violence. The Alexandria Domestic Violence Program (DVP) is dedicated to the fair, compassionate and respectful treatment of all survivors of intimate partner violence regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. For more information, contact Jen Clayton at 703.838.4911 or e-mail jen.clayton@alexandriava.gov.

Ongoing!

All Alexandria Reads 
Alexandria Library system invites the community to read the humorous travelogue The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World by Eric Weiner. Join Weiner in his search to discover what makes people happy. All Alexandria Reads is made possible through a generous grant from the James M. Duncan, Jr. Library Foundation, Inc. and the support of many local companies including Bombay Café, Fannon Fine Printing, Fresh Tulips USA, and the Whistle Stop. Visit Alexandria Library’s Web page (www.alexandria.lib.va.us) for a complete list of all events.

Prince Michel Winery Fundraiser for Animal Welfare League of Alexandria
For every $5 wine tasting enjoyed at the Prince Michel Tasting Room (1309 King Street), $1 will be donated to the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. Whether you love pets or wine, this is a wonderful way to sample Prince Michel’s award-winning wines! The tasting room is open Sunday through Wednesday from noon until 6 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday, noon until 8 p.m. This benefit continues throughout the month of April, so bring some friends, have a glass and help our homeless animals!