[Archived] Weekly Event Announcements: June 19 – 25, 2010

Sunday, June 20 – Free Father’s Day Tours
Celebrate with your favorite father at the place where the Father of our Country ate, drank, and influenced history. Gadsby’s Tavern Museum (134 N. Royal St) is pleased to offer free tours on Father’s Day for all visiting fathers between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Junior Docents, volunteers from grades 3 through 6, will be stationed at each stop on the tour. Cost is $5 for all other adults and $3 for children (ages 5-12). For more information, visit www.gadsbystavern.org or call 703.746.4242.

Sunday, June 20 – Free Father’s Day Tours
The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum will offer free tours on Father’s Day for all visiting fathers!  From 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., treat your father to a special tour of the Apothecary (105-107 S. Fairfax St.) which first opened in 1792. See the outstanding collection of herbs and botanicals, shop furnishings, apothecary bottles and equipment, many still in their original location. Cost $5 for all other adults and $3 for children (ages 5-12). For more information, visit www.apothecarymuseum.org or call 703.746.3852.

Sunday, June 20 – Father’s Day Open House
Friendship Firehouse (107 S. Alfred St.) is offering free tours for fathers on Father’s Day. From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Friendship Firehouse will make every father an honorary chief of the Friendship Fire Company Bucket Brigade. Every dad, with his children, will receive a certificate, get to ring the fire bell, and have his picture taken with the Friendship fire engine. For more information, visit www.friendshipfirehouse.net or call 703.746.3891.

Wednesday, June 23 – Alexandria Historical Society Lecture
The Alexandria Historical Society will host a lecture entitled “Reflections on Alexandria’s Pottery Industry” at 7:30 p.m. at The Lyceum (201 S. Washington St.). Ceramics expert Barbara Magid of Alexandria Archaeology will draw on her 30 years of experience working with artifacts from the City’s archaeological sites to discuss pottery made and used in Alexandria. The archaeological materials show that from 1792 to 1876 local potters like Henry Piercy, Lewis Plum, John Swann and B.C. Milburn supplied nearly all of the earthenware and stoneware used in Alexandria kitchens, while Alexandria merchants such as Hugh Smith and Robert H. Miller supplied finer imported ceramics for use on Alexandria tables. This free lecture is open to the public and reservations are not required. For more information, please visit www.alexandriahistory.org or call 703.746.4994.

Wednesday, June 23 – Seventh Annual Fostering the Future Cruise
Sail away on the “Love Boat” at Alexandria’s seventh annual Fostering the Future Cruise! Purchase your $75 ticket to come aboard the Cherry Blossom riverboat in Old Town Alexandria for a wonderful evening of TropRock music, dance, food and drinks. A silent auction and raffle will also offer fabulous items! All proceeds from the event go to The Fund for Alexandria’s Child at the Department of Human Services, which benefits Alexandria’s most vulnerable children—those in foster care or who are at risk of abuse and neglect. For more information, contact Suzanne Kratzok at 703.746.5663 or e-mail thefundforalexchild@alexandriava.gov.

Thursday, June 24 – SummerQuest: A Puppet Show
The Barrett Branch Library (717 Queen St.) will host a puppet show at 11 a.m. for children ages 2 and up. The puppet show, “A Fisherman and His Wife,” is a free event and part of the Alexandria Library’s SummerQuest program. For more information, call 703.746.1703.

Coming Soon!

Saturday, June 26 – Parker Gray Roundtable Community Day
Learn about the Parker-Gray Roundtable and get to know your neighbors at an old-fashioned block party. The event, which will be held at the Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe St., from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., features barbecue, refreshments, music, Recreation Center open house, and health fair; and workshops on Parker-Gray history, employment programs, substance abuse prevention, summer recreation programs and more. For more information, contact Jack Browand at 703.746.5504.

Saturday, June 26 – Civil War Camp Day and Skirmish
Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site (4301 W. Braddock Rd.) is hosting Alexandria’s largest Civil War event of the year from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Event includes a tactical skirmish, Civil War artillery demonstration, Union and Confederate camps, drills, food preparation scenario, medical impressions and civilian interpretations. Admission is $5 per adult and $10 for families with children. For more information, visit www.fortward.org or call 703.746.4884.

Sunday, June 27 – First Presidential Salon with James Madison
Join President James Madison at a Presidential Salon at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum (134 N. Royal St.) from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. At this salon, President Madison focuses on the most recent domestic and foreign events of June 1810. He will also discuss his cabinet, moving into the President’s mansion, and his relationship with his wife Dolley. Reservations are recommended. Madeira, Port and other libations, as well as the Salon Savory, will be available for purchase. Tickets are $15 per person and $10 per high school/college student. For reservations or more information, visit www.gadsbystavern.org or call 703.746.4242.

Saturday, July 10 - Annual USA & City Birthday Celebration
The City of Alexandria will celebrate its 261st and the USA’s 234th birthday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Oronoco Bay Park, 100 Madison St., located at the Potomac River between Fairfax, Pendleton, and Madison Streets. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.alexandriava.gov/Recreation or call 704.746.5418.

Ongoing!

West End Farmers’ Market 
The West End Farmers’ Market is open to the public on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through November 21 at Ben Brenman Park, 4800 Brenman Park Drive. This outdoor market is one of a kind in the City’s west end, featuring colorful displays of fresh, locally grown, in-season vegetables and fruits, gourmet coffee, fresh squeezed orange juice, and fresh baked pastries. For more information, visit www.alexandriava.gov/farmersmarket.

Upper King Street Fresh Farmers’ Market 
The Upper King Street Fresh Farmers’ Market, located at King Street Gardens Park, 1806 King St., is just a few steps from the King Street Metro Station. Offering area residents and commuters the opportunity to shop for fresh, locally grown produce, meat, dairy and bakery items, the market is open Wednesdays through October 27 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. For additional information, visit www.upperkingstreet.org 

Through Sunday, June 27 – “Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts” Exhibition
This exhibition has been extended at The Lyceum (201 S. Washington St.)! It blends historical photographs, artifacts and reflections to tell the story of Girl Scouting in the Washington metropolitan area. The exhibition features a collection of Girl Scout uniforms from the 1910s, 1930s and 1960s, Brownie items from as early as 1937, a display of cookie fundraising materials, and extensive camping and hiking exhibits highlighted by a tent and official Girl Scout gear. Suggested admission is $2. The Lyceum is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sundays, 1 to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.alexandriahistory.org or call 703.746.4994.