[Archived] Weekly Event Announcements for the City of Alexandria: March 5 – 11, 2011

Saturday, March 5 – Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade
The City of Alexandria and the Ballyshaners (Gaelic for “Old Towners”) will host the 30th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, in celebration of Irish-American heritage. The parade begins at King and Alfred Streets and follows a route down King Street, past the reviewing stand at North Royal Street, and ends on the block of Lee Street between King Street and Cameron Street. The parade will begin at 12:30 p.m., and is expected to conclude by 2:30 p.m. All events are sponsored by the Ballyshaners, a not-for-profit group that organizes and orchestrates the Alexandria St. Patrick’s Day Parade in partnership with the City of Alexandria. For more information, visit www.ballyshaners.org.

Saturday, March 5 – Free Lecture on “Digging for Buried Treasure”
The Barrett Branch Library, 717 Queen St., will host a free lecture on “Digging for Buried Treasure” from 1 to 3 p.m. Learn how a treasure trove of lost family letters became the book Letters to Virginia, and find out how you can protect your own family papers. For more information, please call 703.746.1706.

Saturday, March 5 – Fiction Only Book Sale at Barrett Branch Library
What a novel idea! The Barrett Branch Library, 717 Queen St., is hosting a “Fiction Only” Book Sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Book Sale will also be ongoing from March 7 – 11. For more information, call 703.746.1703.

Saturday, March 5 – Free Tours at the Apothecary Museum 
Enjoy the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade and tour the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, 105-107 S. Fairfax St., for free.  From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., explore the Apothecary, which contains a large variety of curious objects, from poison bottles to dragon’s blood, most of it original to the 141-year-old family business that operated this shop. For more information, visit www.apothecarymuseum.org or call 703.746.3852.

Monday, March 7 – 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, March 10 - Handling Mental Health Concerns in the Workplace
The Alexandria Small Business Development Center is offering a workshop on "Handling Mental Health Concerns in the Workplace” as part of their Start, Manage, Grow Series. The seminar is scheduled from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St. Admission is free, but you must register to participate. For more information, call 703.778.1292 or visit www.alexandriasbdc.org.

Coming Soon

Saturday, March 12 – Swordsmen’s Rendezvous
En garde!  Experience this unique living history program as you learn a skill all 18th-century gentlemen must know – swordplay! The program at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal St., includes re-enactment of 18th-century swordplay and a display of 18th-century weapons. This popular family event will include some audience participation as you practice your newfound talents. Price is $6 per person, ages 5 and up. Program recommended for 2nd grade and older (adults will have fun too!). Tours are from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and reservations are required. For more information, visit www.gadsbystavern.org or call 703.746.4242

Saturday, March 12 – Tracing Your Civil War Ancestor Lecture
Commemorate the Civil War Sesquicentennial by finding out about your Civil War ancestors with this lecture at a 1 p.m. at Fort Ward Museum, 4301 W. Braddock Rd. Constance Potter and Katherine Vollen of the National Archives & Records Administration will review some of the many Union and Confederate records and resources for researching Civil War ancestors, and provide guidelines for how to get started. Cost for the lecture is $10 per person, and reservations are suggested due to limited seating. For more information, visit www.fortward.org or call 703.746.4848.

Saturday, March 19 – Green Building Workshop
Attend the second Eco-City Alexandria Green Building Workshop from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Community Meeting Room at Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library, 5005 Duke Street. The workshop will provide insight into why an energy audit is beneficial, the elements of an audit, what to expect from an audit report, and much more. Participants are encouraged to RSVP by e-mail to Erica.Bannerman@alexandriava.gov. Door prizes awarded at the event.  To learn more about the City's green building efforts visit the Green Building Resource Center at www.alexandriava.gov/gbrc.

Saturday, March 19 – “Her Story” for Brownies 
Celebrate women and learn about issues important to women and girls in your community at this special event for Brownie Girl Scouts during Women’s History Month! At “Her Story” at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St., Brownies will participate in hands-on activities and a service project with a choice of session times at 1:30 p.m. or 3 p.m. This program fulfills the requirements for the “Her Story” Try-It for Brownie Girl Scouts.  Advance registration is required and cost is $6. For more information, visit www.alexandriahistory.org or call 703.746.4994.
 
Monday, March 28 – 31st Annual Salute to Women Awards Banquet
The Alexandria Commission for Women invites you to reserve your spot at the 31st Annual Salute to Women Awards Banquet.  The event will kick off with a reception at 6 p.m., with the dinner and awards program to follow at 7 p.m. It will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel,  901 N. Fairfax St. For more information, call Sarah Watson or Lisa Baker at 703.746.5030.

Now Registering

Jerome “Buddie” Ford Nature Center Offers Alexandria Prehistoric Peoples Spring Break Camp
Wondering what to do over spring break? Children ages 7 to 10 can enjoy a week long, full day nature camp learning about the prehistoric Indian peoples who once lived within Alexandria's ancient forests. Activities include woodland hikes, games, role playing, stone tool making, storytelling, journaling, and more! The camp fee includes a field trip to the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC. Register early, space is limited! To register, visit www.alexandriava.gov/Recreation or call 703.746.5559 for more information.

Ongoing

Vote for Alexandria as Your Favorite 2011 Distinctive Destination
With fanfare on historic Market Square, the city announced on February 15 that the National Trust for Historic Preservation has named Alexandria to the list of 2011 Dozen Distinctive Destinations. The city earned this prestigious designation for its urban charm that blends an extraordinary early American past with modern flair and its citizens’ strong commitment to protecting and celebrating their history. Vote daily through March 15 for Alexandria to win Fan Favorite at www.VisitAlexandriaVA.com.

Ice Melt Contest
To raise awareness of its historic well and needed funds to restore it, Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal St., is holding an Ice Melt Contest. The subterranean ice well at Cameron and N. Royal streets was stocked with several tons of ice on February 18 and participants are invited to guess how long it will take to completely melt. Buy a chance for $10 and guess correctly and you could win some “ice: of your own, like a diamond bracelet or Waterford crystal. Monitor the melting through an underground webcam and the “History on the Rocks” blog at www.alexandriava.gov/IceWell. For more information or to purchase a guess, visit www.gadsbystavern.org or call 703.746.4242.

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 – “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 – Style and Identity: Black Alexandria in the 1970s, Portraits by Horace Day
At the Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 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.