[Archived] Weekly Event Announcements: March 19 – 25, 2011

Saturday, March 19 – Green Building Workshop
Find out why an energy audit is beneficial, the elements of an audit, what to expect from an audit report, and much more at the second Eco-City Alexandria Green Building Workshop. It will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Community Meeting Room at Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library, 5005 Duke Street. 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.

Monday, March 21 – 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.

Wednesday, March 23 – Local Author Series Features Ellen Byerrum
Alexandria Library Duncan Branch's Local Author Series proudly presents Ellen Byerrum, who will talk about her mystery novel Shot Through Velvet: A Crime of Fashion Mystery. This free lecture begins at 7:30 p.m. at Duncan Branch Library, 2501 Commonwealth Ave. For more information, call 703.746.1705.

Wednesday, March 23 – Alexandria Historical Society Lecture “English Faces: Virginia Places” 
Just in time for the royal wedding, James C. Kelly, Ph.D., will present “English Faces, Virginia Places”, a light, anecdotal talk about the royals for whom Virginia counties are named. This free lecture begins at 7:30 p.m. at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St. Did you know that Caroline County is named for a queen who took pleasure in death because she never would have to see her eldest son again? Fredericksburg and Frederick County are named for him. Did you know that Prince William County is named for a prince remembered by the Scots as the “Butcher of Culloden?” For more information, visit www.alexandriahistorical.org or call 703.746.4242.

Coming Soon

Saturday, March 26 – Seventh Annual Rum Punch Challenge
Just as tavern guests did over 200 years ago, try different rum punch creations from local distilleries, restaurants and caterers – and then vote for your favorite at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum (134 N. Royal St.). This year’s participants include reigning champ Bacardi, returning competitors Dogfish Head Spirits, Bittersweet, and Basikneads Catering, and newcomers Jackson 20 and FireFlies. From 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., enjoy rum punch, period and modern food, and a silent auction full of great items. Tickets are $50 and reservations are required. For more information, visit www.gadsbystavern.org or call 703.746.4242.

Saturday, March 26 – Wonders of Science
Explore the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, 105-107 S. Fairfax St., through a tour and hands-on demos of 18th-century natural and medical science. Discover curious objects, from poison bottles to dragon’s blood, and find out how there were used – and if they worked! Scientific demonstrations will be conducted by Project Enlightenment, McLean High School’s historical reenactment society. Recommended for 3rd grade and older. Tours will be held every 30 minutes from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and last approximately one hour. Admission is $6 per person and reservations are required. For more information, visit www.apothecarymuseum.org or call 703.746.3852.
 
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. The deadline to RSVP is March 21. For more information, call Sarah Watson or Lisa Baker at 703.746.5030.

Thursday, March 31 – Film Screening of “Straightlaced — How Gender’s Got Us All Tied Up” 
The public is invited to a free film screening of “Straightlaced — How Gender’s Got Us All Tied Up,” a feature length documentary that takes a powerful and intimate look at how popular pressures around gender and sexuality are shaping the lives of American teens today. The film proudly showcases the diverse and unscripted voices of more than 50 youth from a wide range
of high schools, who speak with breathtaking honesty, insight, and humor about gender roles and the struggle to be who they really are. The film screening begins at 7 p.m. at the Durant Center, 1605 Cameron St. RSVP to Erika.Kleiner@alexandriava.gov. For film information and to watch the trailer, visit http://groundspark.org/our-films-and-campaigns/straightlaced.

Thursday, March 31 – Registration for Spring and Summer Classes Begins
Registration for spring and summer classes and activities opens on Thursday, March 31, at 9 a.m. for City residents, and on Friday, April 1 at 9 a.m. for nonresidents. This spring and summer, youth through senior adults can choose from more than 100 classes, and youth can enroll in more than 40 camps and out of school time programs. For additional information, browse the class offering and to register, visit www.alexandriava.gov/recreation.

Now Registering

Spring Break Camps
Looking for something to do over spring break? Look no further than the City of Alexandria! Children ages 3 to 18 can choose from sport to nature camps, youth sport leagues, field trips, out of school time programs and much more. Register early, space is limited! For more information and to register, visit www.alexandriava.gov/Recreation, call 703.746.5414 or e-mail registerarpca@alexandriava.gov.
Ongoing

Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library Call for Entries 2011 – 2014
The Office of the Arts and Alexandria Commission for the Arts in partnership with the Alexandria Libraries seek artist proposals to exhibit their three-dimensional works in the Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library, 5005 Duke St.  Proposals will be accepted from individual artists, consortia of artists, and organizations who work and/or live within the City of Alexandria until Friday, April 1, 2011 at 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.alexandriacommissionforthearts.org.

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.