[Archived] Weekly Event Announcements: January 1 – 7, 2011 & Important Updates for First Night Alexandria

Important Updates for First Night Alexandria on Friday, December 31

Planning to attend First Night Alexandria? At this event, you can enjoy family-friendly entertainment at 17 indoor venues, with 100 performances from 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Here are some important updates:

• The new location for First Night Alexandria Headquarters is the Durant Arts Center, 1605 Cameron St. Attendees can purchase or pick up tickets purchased online at the Durant Arts Center.
• The Fun Hunt begins and ends at the Durant Arts Center. Clue sheets will be available beginning at 1 p.m. and must be turned in by 4:45 p.m. to be eligible for prizes that will be awarded during the event kickoff at 5 p.m. Winners must be present to claim their prizes.
• The grand finale fireworks show is all new this year at the George Washington Masonic Memorial! The best viewing location is on the lawn in front of the building. The lawn is open and you can bring chairs! There will be music, video, lasers, lights and pyrotechnics off three roof areas of the building! Music begins at 11:30 pm., and the finale is at midnight.
• The show goes on— rain, snow, sleet or dark of night!

For more information, visit www.firstnightalexandria.org.

Coming Soon

Saturday, January 8 & 15 - Christmas/Holiday Tree Recycling Collections
Residents who receive City trash service have two Saturdays to set-out trees for recycling pick-up, on Saturday, January 8 and Saturday, January 15.  Residents must:

• Remove all ornaments, tinsel, lights, and stands
• Not place trees in plastic bags
• Place the tree at the curb (no alleys) by 7 a.m.

Trees collected after January 16, will be collected as regular refuse. The trees are recycled into mulch by chipping in the spring. The mulch will be available at the City’s site (4215 Eisenhower Ave.) at no charge to residents in the spring, on a first come, first serve basis. Mulch is also available for delivery for a small fee. For more information, call 703.746.4410.

Monday, January 11 – 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 April 25 any time between 10:30 a.m. and noon. 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.

Thursday, January 13 – Civil War Dance Class
In preparation for the Civil War Ball on Saturday, January 29, learn the waltz, polka, Virginia reel and more from an expert dance master at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal St. The class is 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 703.746.4242.

Ongoing

City of Alexandria Farmers’ Markets 
The City of Alexandria is host to the Old Town Farmers’ Market and Del Ray Farmers’ Market every Saturday. The markets feature colorful displays of fresh, locally grown, in-season vegetables and fruit, gourmet coffee, fresh squeezed orange juice, meat, bakery items and artisans. For more information, visit www.alexandriava.gov/farmersmarket.

Open through May 1, 2011 – “Patriotic and Public Spirited” Commemorative Wares in George Washington’s Hometown
Alexandria prides itself on being the hometown of George Washington and Robert E. Lee, and historic events such as George Washington’s Birthnight Ball and Lafayette’s 1824 visit to Alexandria were cause for great celebration. This exhibition of commemorative ceramic wares, recovered from archaeological excavations or preserved in collections, shows the community’s interest in events and historic places of local and national significance. The Lyceum, Alexandria’s History Museum (201 South Washington Street) is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.alexandriahistory.org or call 703.746.4994.

Open through May 7, 2011 - Style and Identity: Black Alexandria in the 1970s, Portraits by Horace Day
At the Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 S. Wythe St., view this new exhibition of 32 paintings by Horace Day featuring Alexandria street scenes and portraits of African American Alexandrians. Described as an American scene or regional painter, Day created this body of work at a time when “Black” was becoming “Beautiful,” but when media still promoted stereotypical, demeaning images of African Americans. Day’s portraits reflect the dignity and beauty he saw in his subjects. Museum is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Suggested admission is $2. For more information, visit www.alexblackhistory.org or call 703.746.4356.