[Archived] Weekly Event Announcements: March 26 – April 1, 2011

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.

Sunday, March 27 – Presidential Salon with James Madison
At Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal St., join President James Madison in the historic Assembly Room as he discusses and engages guests about political and personal issues of 1811. From 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., take part in this conversation with the fourth President of the United States and be a party to the public debate in the company of James Madison, as presented by John Douglas Hall. Reservations are recommended. Period attire is welcome, but not necessary for participation in this program. Madeira, Port and other libations, as well as the Salon Savory, will be available for purchase at the event. Tickets are $15 per person or $10 for high school/college students. For more information, please visit www.gadsbystavern.org or call 703.746.4242.

Monday, March 28 – 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 30 – Registration for Spring and Summer Classes Begins
Registration for spring and summer classes and activities opens on Wednesday, March 30, 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.

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 – 18th Century Dance Classes
In preparation for the Grand Ball on April 16, learn 18th-century English country dancing from expert dance instructors at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal St., from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Cost is $12 per class or $30 for the series of three. Reservations recommended. For more information, please visit www.gadsbystavern.org or call 703.746.4242.

Friday, April 1 - “Magic Tree House Tour” sponsored by Hooray for Books
Come meet author Mary Pope Osborne, lyricist Will Osborne and Traveling Duo, “Jack” and “Anne,” stars of the Magic Tree House: The Musical. For more information, call 703.548.4092. To learn how you can get involved in local poetry activities, e-mail poet@alexandriava.gov, or call Cheryl Anne Colton, Regional Program Director, Office of the Arts, at 703.746.5565.

Coming Soon

April - Celebrate National Poetry Month
The City of Alexandria celebrates poetry to promote an appreciation of the written word in all forms, especially poetry, to emphasize the importance and pleasure of reading and writing to Alexandria’s young people, and to uphold and call attention to Alexandria’s reputation as a leader in the arts. To learn how you can get involved in local poetry activities, e-mail poet@alexandriava.gov, or call Cheryl Anne Colton, Regional Program Director, Office of the Arts, at 703.746.5565.

Saturday, April 2 – “Meet the Artists” Reception for Charles Hamilton Houston Memorial
The public is invited to attend a reception to meet the four finalist artists for the commission of the Charles Hamilton Houston Memorial at 6 p.m. at the Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe St. The memorial will represent, honor and memorialize Charles Hamilton Houston and preserve the story of the city’s fight for equality in education, highlighting the history of the Parker-Gray High School. For additional information, visit www.alexandriava.gov/recreation.

Wednesday, April 6 – “Alexandria, Virginia: Southern Town, Yankee Citadel” Lecture
When Virginia’s vote of secession took effect on May 24, 1861, the town of Alexandria was immediately occupied by Federal troops and became an important logistical base for the Union war effort throughout the war. As a preamble to the Sesquicentennial, James Barber’s lecture at The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St., will provide an overview of Alexandria’s wartime history, and focus on the impact of the war on the local citizenry and the transformation of the town’s built environment. Lecture begins at 7:30 p.m. and admission is $10. Reservations are requested and can be made by calling 703.746.4994. For more information, visit www.historicalexandria.org.

Saturday, April 16 - 2011 Center for Alexandria’s Children (CAC) Family Fun Day
The third annual CAC Family Fun Day for Alexandria families will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the William Ramsay Recreation Center, 5700 Sanger Ave. The event will feature live entertainment, Digital Identification Kits for children, and a variety of interactive exhibits and activities designed to engage children. Parents will also receive useful information and resources to keep children safe and families strong. Admission is free. For more information, call Kim Turpin Davis at 703.549.3741.

Thursday, May 5 through Saturday, May 7 – Spring for Alexandria
Good ideas grow stronger with time and the 4th annual Spring for Alexandria celebration of giving and service will be in full bloom from May 5 - 7 throughout the City. Alexandrians are needed to clean our parks and schools, to attend fun events and to clean out their closets to donate to local charities. There is something for every Alexandrian, every skill set and every schedule. Help us keep growing for the common good!  For more information, visit www.springforalexandria.org or call Volunteer Alexandria at 703.836.2176.

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.