[Archived] Weekly Event Announcements: September 4 – 10, 2010

Monday, September 6 – City Outdoor Pools Close for the Season
The City’s outdoor pool season will officially end on Monday, September 6. The Chinquapin Park Recreation Center’s Rixse Pool is available year-round. For more information, visit www.alexandriava.gov/12352.

Tuesday, September 7 - Seventh Annual Alexandria Doggie Day Swim
Treat your pooch to a summertime dip at the City of Alexandria’s Seventh Annual Doggie Day Swim from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Old Town Pool, 1609 Cameron St. Following the end of the summer pool season, this annual event provides dogs with the opportunity to swim and play games in one of the City’s pools. A portion of proceeds benefit the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. For more information, e-mail jannie.wray@alexandriava.gov.

Tuesday, September 7 – Volusia in the Civil War
Morrison House (116 S. Alfred St.) presents “Volusia: Civilian, Slave and Soldier Experiences in the Civil War” from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. During the first years of the Civil War, Volusia, then located just outside Alexandria and today the site of Foxchase, was home to a family of slave owners loyal to the Union, hundreds of Union soldiers who camped on the grounds for months at a time, and nearly a dozen enslaved African Americans who served their owners and soldiers alike before finding freedom. Admission is free, and food and drink available for purchase. For more information, visit www.torpedofactory.org/morrison/index.htm or call 703.838.8000.

September 7-9: Schuyler Hamilton Jones Skateboard Park Closed for Annual Maintenance
The Schuyler Hamilton Jones Skateboard Park, located at 3540 Wheeler Ave., will be closed for annual maintenance from Tuesday, September 7 through Thursday, September 9. Maintenance activities include graffiti removal, repainting of metallic structures, surface resealing, and fencing repairs. In addition, the facility will receive a full safety audit. For more information, visit www.alexandriava.gov/recreation.

Coming Soon

Saturday & Sunday, September 11-12 - Alexandria Festival of the Arts 
At Alexandria’s Festival of the Arts, Old Town’s King Street (from Union to Washington streets) becomes an open-air art gallery! More than 200 juried artists will display and sell fine art, ranging from paintings, sculpture, prints and photography to pottery, glass, jewelry and ceramics. Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call 703.746.5418.

Saturday, September 11 – Living History with the 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry
Learn about Civil War weapons, tactics, uniforms, rations and camp life with reenactors from the 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site (4301 W. Braddock Rd.). Activities begin at 10 a.m. with a roll call and inspection of troops. Special features of the day’s schedule include firing demonstrations at 11 a.m. and at 3 p.m., a noon meal in camp where army rations will be discussed, a knapsack inspection, and a discussion of the soldier’s uniform. This event is dependent upon the weather. Free admission, but donations are welcomed. For more information, visit www.fortward.org or call 703.746.4848.

Saturday, September 11 – “Blacks Without Borders” Film Screening
At 4:30 p.m. at the Alexandria Black History Museum (902 Wythe St.) see “Blacks Without Borders: Chasing the American Dream in South Africa,” a groundbreaking documentary that takes a heartfelt look at the emotional journey of a group of African Americans who called it quits in the U.S. to start a new life in South Africa. The film provides a candid and touching tale of sacrifice, hardship and great rewards by U.S.-born citizens as they adjust to the cultural differences and combat negative perceptions that America may garner in other parts of the world. This free screening will be followed by a discussion. For more information, visit www.alexblackhistory.org or call 703.746.4356.

Monday, September 13 – 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 15, any time between 10:30 a.m. and noon. Crafts change weekly! 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 703.746.4242.

Wednesday, September 15 – Grant Proposal Writing Basics Workshop
Come to a free workshop on the basics of writing a grant proposal from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Beatley Central Library, 5005 Duke St. Learn about the key components of a proposal, what to include in a proposal budget and how to package your grant proposal. The class is designed for staff, volunteers, and trustees of nonprofits only. Registration is required. For more information or to register, call 202.331.1400.

Thursday, September 16 – Silent Auction to Benefit Alexandria’s Breast Cancer Surgical Fund
The sixth annual Alexandria Breast Cancer Walk Silent Auction, hosted by Women Mean Business, will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Alexandria Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites, 625 First St. New this year, all funds raised at this event will benefit Alexandria’s Breast Cancer Surgical Fund, which will pay for breast cancer surgery for uninsured women who do not have the means to pay for it. Several local surgeons and anesthesiologists have agreed to reduce their fees to the Medicaid rate and this new fund will pay for the surgeries. Radiation and chemotherapy will be provided by Inova Alexandria Hospital. Women Mean business is seeking donations for the silent auction and accepting RSVPs for the event. For more information, visit www.womenmeanbusiness.info.

Now Registering

Saturday, September 18 – African-American Genealogy Workshop
Noted historian and genealogist Char McCargo Bah will conduct a workshop and illustrated lecture at the Alexandria Black History Museum (902 Wythe St.), showing how she successfully traced descendants of people buried at Freedmen’s Cemetery. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Bah will explore the use of church records and civic group networks in family history research. She will share how these resources helped her connect pre- and post-Civil War individuals to Freedmen’s Cemetery, the historic African-American burial ground reclaimed by the City in 2007, and discuss how her techniques can be applied to any family research. This event is $5, and advance registration is required. To register, please call 703.746.4356, or for more information, please visit www.alexblackhistory.org.

Saturday, October 2 – “Grapes of Wrath” Civil War & Vineyard Bus Tour
Explore Civil War while you sample the best of Virginia’s vineyards on the Friends of Fort Ward “The Grapes of Wrath” fall bus tour! This tour will focus on two key events from Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan’s 1864 Shendandoah Valley Campaign. The tour will visit sites related to the Battle of Third Winchester (Opequon Creek) and the Battle of Cedar Creek. Participants will enjoy popular tour leader Col. Robert Hudson's historical discussion, which will be combined with tastings at two local wineries. The registration fee is $140 before September 18, and $160 after that date. The bus will depart Fort Ward Museum parking lot, 4301 West Braddock Road, at 7:30 a.m. and return at approximately 5:30 p.m. For more information or to register, please contact Fort Ward at 703.746.4848.

Thursday, October 21 through Sunday, October 24 – Alexandria Archaeology Institute
Do you watch the History Channel and imagine yourself excavating a real historic site? Well, here’s your chance to grab a trowel and dig in! Join Alexandria archaeologists for a unique opportunity to excavate the Shuter’s Hill site on the grounds of the George Washington Masonic Memorial (101 Callahan Dr.) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Gain hands-on experience in site-excavation methods and record keeping. Learn how to use a transit, process and catalog artifacts in the laboratory, and interpret new discoveries. Advance registration is required. For more information, visit www.alexandriaarchaeology.org or call 703.746.4399.

Out of School Time Program
The Department of Recreation Parks and Cultural Activities is now accepting registrations for the 2010-2011 school year Out of School Time Programs. Program hours begin when school is dismissed until 6 p.m. Out of School Time Programs include the Power–On Program for elementary students from 5 (registered in Kindergarten) to 12 years of age, and the Power-Up Program is for middle school students in grades 6, 7, and 8. For more information, visit www.alexandriava.gov/recreation.

Ongoing

Assist in the Restoration of the City’s Tree Canopy
The City of Alexandria experienced the loss of hundreds of trees and extensive damage throughout the City as a result of winter snow and summer thunderstorms in 2010. Residents who want to help replenish the City’s tree canopy have a variety of options available. For more information, visit www.alexandriava.gov/recreation.

City of Alexandria Farmers’ Markets 
The City of Alexandria is host to a variety of farmers’ markets, including the Old Town Farmers’ Market and Del Ray Farmers’ Market on Saturday; the West End Farmers’ Market and Four Mile Run Farmers and Artisans Market’ on Sunday; and the Upper King Street Fresh Farmers’ Market on Wednesday. Markets feature colorful displays of fresh, locally grown, in-season vegetables and fruits, gourmet coffee, fresh squeezed orange juice, meat, bakery items and artisans. For more information, visit www.alexandriava.gov/farmersmarket.