Thursday, September 29, 2011

–Children’s ID Program

The Fairfax County Sheriff's Office will host a children's-ID program at theMcLean Governmental Center1437 Balls Hill Road on Saturday, October 1  11am-2pm.


Free, laminated IDs that include a photo, thumbprints and other information will be created that can be used by public-safety officials in case a child goes missing.  The process takes less than four minutes and uses inkless technology, county officials said.  For information, call Capt. Stacey Kincaid at (703) 246-3673 or e-mailstacey.kincaid@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Enjoy the Great Outdoors with Park Activities for Sept 24, 2011

Wild Side Wagon Ride: Take a 90-minute tractor ride with a naturalist to parts ofHuntley Meadows that are difficult to reach on foot. Relax as you ride through forest, meadow and wetland habitats. Look for songbirds, wildflowers, butterflies and waterfowl, then stop for a snack at the observation platform. Meet at the South King's Highway entrance to the park. 2 and 4 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday.) Huntley Meadows Park. $6/person. Register online. For information, call 703-768-2525

Fall Equinox Hike: Celebrate the arrival of fall with a naturalist-guided two-mile hike. See and feel the changes that are triggered by the shortening days. This hike is appropriate for adults and children age 6 and older. 2 to 3:30 p.m. Potomac Overlook Park. Free. For reservations (required) call 703-528-5405.

Mason District Park Fall Festival: Enjoy police and fire demonstrations, children's activities including moonbounces and pony rides, shopping for crafts, live entertainment, food vendors and more. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mason District Park. Free (ride tickets available for purchase). For information call 703-941-1730.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Smithsonian Museum Day Offers Free Admission to Three Alexandria Museums on September 24

 Local Museums Open for Free on Museum Day


Three Historic Alexandria museums are participating in the Smithsonian’s seventh annual Museum Day on Saturday, September 24. On that day, Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, Alexandria Archaeology Museum, and the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum will be offering free admission to anyone presenting a Museum Day Ticket. 


The Museum Day Ticket is available to download at www.smithsonian.com/museumday. Visitors who present the official pass will gain free admission for two people to participating museums and cultural venues. In 2010, Museum Day participants downloaded 227,747 tickets resulting in more than 500,000 museum-goers visiting over 1,300 venues in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.


Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 North Royal Street, consists of two buildings, a ca. 1785 tavern and the 1792 City Hotel, which are named for John Gadsby who operated them from 1796 to 1808. His establishment was a center of political, business, and social life in early Alexandria. The tavern was the setting for dancing assemblies, theatrical and musical performances, and meetings of local organizations. George Washington enjoyed hospitality there and twice attended the annual Birthnight Ball held in his honor. Other prominent patrons included John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and the Marquis de Lafayette. Visitors to the historic tavern will learn about the history, architecture, decorative arts, social customs, food, and clothing of a past era. For more information, please visit www.gadsbystavern.org or call 703.746.4242.


At the Alexandria Archaeology Museum, located inside the Torpedo Factory Art Center (105 North Union Street, #327), visitors can discover Alexandria’s once-buried past through artifacts and excavations. Learn about the archaeology and history unearthed during the Lee Street site excavation with the exhibit, “A Community Digs Its Past,” and see unique artifacts from an 18th-century wharf, 19th-century taverns, and a Civil War hospital. Also on display is Alexandria’s oldest artifact, a 13,000-year-old Clovis point recovered in 2007. For more information, please visit www.alexandriaarchaeology.org or call 703.746.4399.


The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, 105-107 South Fairfax Street, is noted for its outstanding collection of shop furnishings, apothecary bottles and equipment, and archival materials, many still in their original location. When the Apothecary closed during the Depression in 1933, the doors were simply locked, preserving the contents for history. More than 8,000 objects, including pill rollers, mortars and pestles, drug mills, and hand-blown glass medicine bottles with gold-leaf labels, were left in place. Medicinal herbs and paper labels remain in their wooden drawers. Large show-globes from the mid-19th century remain in the windows. It also has a spectacular collection of archival materials, including journals, letters and diaries, prescription and formula books, ledgers, orders and invoices. The names of famous customers appear in the documents, including Martha Washington, Nelly Custis and Robert E. Lee. For more information, please visit www.apothecarymuseum.org or call 703.746.3852.

Monday, September 19, 2011

Mason District Park Festival Offers Neighborhood Fun, Sept 24

Fall must be here if it's time for the annual Mason District Park Festival at Mason District Park in Annandale, Va. Join in the seasonal spectacular on Saturday, September 24, 2011 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Festival goers will find live entertainment, crafts, hayrides, pony rides and a moon bounce. Children will love the rides and spectators of all ages can watch the police and fire department demonstrations as well.

This year's live entertainment includes:

10 a.m. - DinoRock (Puppet Show) The DinoRockers invite you to meet eight wacky oddballs from the Mesozoic Era, including the thick-headed Pachycephalosaurus; Lumpy and his son Bumpy; Sarah, the Saharan Suchomimus who's only thought is of eating fish; the very cool Elvis, the Cryolophosaurus found in Antarctica, and the little lost T-Rex toddler named Wuzzy, who has feathers!

11 a.m. - Hui O Ka Pua `Ilima (Hawaiian Dance & Music) Hui O Ka Pua `Ilima performs traditional and contemporary songs and dances of Hawaii and the Polynesian islands of New Zealand and Tahiti.

12:15 p.m. - Chin Hamaya Culture Center (Okinawan Dance & Music) Enjoy the beauty of traditional Okinawan music and dance combined with dragon and lion dances.

1:15 p.m. - Fairfax Swing Band (Swing Music) In the tradition of Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey and other big bands of the '40s, the Fairfax Swing Band has been wowing audiences since 1989 with music from the big band era through today's contemporary sounds.

2:15 p.m. -- The Reunion Music Society Jazz Orchestra (Jazz Music) Led by NOVA's Professor of Jazz Studies Herb Smith, the Reunion Music Society Jazz Orchestra performs selections from jazz notables such as Duke Ellington, Charlie Bird and Miles Davis along with songs from Broadway shows.

Admission to the festival is free and tickets can be purchased for individual rides.

Mason District Park is located at 6621 Columbia Pike in Annandale, Va. Directions are as follows: Beltway Exit 52B (Little River Turnpike, Rt. 236) east two miles to right at John Marr Drive to right onto Columbia Pike to park entrance on right just before Sleepy Hollow Road.

For more information, please call 703-941-1730.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Colonial Market & Fair


The annual Colonial Market & Fair at Mount Vernon features dozens of America’s finest craftspeople and plenty of family fun! Colonial-attired artisans demonstrate 18th-century crafts and sell traditional wares such as baskets, woodcarvings, tin and ironwork, weavings, furniture, and much more. The event also features lively 18th-century entertainment including music, fire-eating, sword-swallowing, puppet and magic shows, plus hearty specialty food for sale on site. This weekend only, Potomac River sightseeing cruises, courtesy of Spirit Cruises and Potomac Riverboat Company, are free-of-charge.

  • Date(s): 09/17/2011 - 09/18/2011
  • Recurring daily
  • Time: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
  • Location: Mount Vernon: George Washington's Estate & Gardens Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway,, Mount Vernon, VA 22121
  • Phone: (703) 780-2000
  • Visit Website
  • Admission: $15/adult, $7/child, 5 and under free.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Talk like a Pirate Day - Sept 18


Arrgh!

Ahoy Matey! Explore Alexandria's waterfront history and discover your inner pirate by celebrating with us Talk like a Pirate Day. Event activities include hunting for treasure and collecting pirate booty from local merchants, listening to pirate stories at Hooray for Books, sailing on a Pirate Cruise with the Potomac Riverboat Company and so much more!!! Treasure maps will be distributed on September 18th at all participating locations including the Alexandria City Marina Ticket Booth and Hooray for Books! at 155 Kings Street. For more information please call 703-684-0580.
Talk like a Pirate Day




















  • Date(s): 09/18/2011 - 09/18/2011


September 18 – Ladies Tea at Gadsby’s Tavern Restaurant

Girls' Day Out

Taking tea has never been such a historic affair! Sip Gadsby’s Tavern Museum’s special blend of tea and eat period-inspired delicacies at Gadsby’s Tavern Restaurant, 138 North Royal Street. With your 21st-century friends and Gadsby’s 18th-century hostesses, this tea is ideal for a girls’ day out! Tea time is 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and then take a tour of the Museum at 4:45 p.m. Tea is $30 per person, plus tax and gratuity.  Reservations are required, so call 703.746.4242 or visit www.gadsbystavern.org to attend.

Friday, September 9, 2011

September 11 – Archaeology Walking Tour

Dig history?


As part of Waterfront Fun Day, held on the second Sunday of the month in the summer, City Archaeologist Pam Cressey will give a free walking tour exploring the rich history of Alexandria’s waterfront. Meet at the gazebo at the City Marina, 0 Cameron Street, at 3 p.m. The tour is free and expected to last about one hour. For more information, call 703.746.4399 or visit www.alexandriaarchaeology.org.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Alliance for Liberty: Military Encampment - 09/10/2011 - 09/11/2011


Live history at Mount Vernon

In September 1781, General Washington and French general Rochambeau traveled to Mount Vernon and created a bold strategy which led to the siege of British forces at Yorktown. In commemoration of the 230th anniversary of this historic visit, Mount Vernon will come alive with hundreds of Revolutionary War re‐enactors, including “General Washington” and “General Rochambeau.” Stroll the camp, talk with the soldiers, and watch military demonstrations throughout the day.

Alliance for Liberty: Military Encampment















September 10 – Civil War Fashion Show

Enjoy a history lesson through the lens of fashion

Enjoy high fashion from the past at Carlyle House, 121 North Fairfax Street. From 10:30 to noon, the Carlyle House terrace will be transformed into a runway as fashion historians and living history interpreters describe the various styles and types of clothing our models are wearing. Be a part of the discussion that covers the Civil War and colonial American fashion. Participants can tour the house after the show. Reservations are recommended, so call 703.549.2997 or email carlyle@nvrpa.org to save your space. Admission is $10 per adult and $5 for children.

BOOKSALE BLAST on sat. Sept. 10

Enjoy a full day of activities at the Beatley branch of the Alexandria Public Library for a good cause


The schedule of events:


BOOKSALE BLAST, Saturday, Sept. 10. Events for all ages!
10:15 to 11 am: "Singing Books with Emily"
11 to 11:45 am: Jane Harrington shares her Extreme Pets
11 am to 4 pm: Face-Painting with two face-painters
1 to 2:30 pm: Lisa the Unicycle Lady performs
2:45 to 3:45 pm: Mr. Don and his amazing Music Show


Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library
5005 Duke Street, 22304, Tel: 703.746.1702, Fax: 703.746.1763
Mon-Thurs 10am - 9pm; Fri 10am - 6pm; Sat 10am - 5pm; Sun 1pm - 5pm

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Virginia Indian Festival Provides Showcase for Native Arts, Sept. 10


Virginia Indian FestivalVirginia's rich Indian heritage will come alive as members of seven native tribes present a cultural demonstration of the arts and their ancient way of life at the 2011 Virginia Indian Festival. Enjoy Riverbend Park's annual celebration of Indian culture on Saturday, September 10, 2011 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Admission is $5.

Visitors will find tribal dancing, rhythmic drumming, pottery, crafts, food and lots of family-friendly, hands-on activities. Participants can try their hand at using chopping tools to help build a dug-out canoe from a massive log. Or perhaps you will be interested in taking aim and hitting the mark at the archery range or throwing spears with the atlatl.

For more information visit Riverbend Park online or call 703-759-9018.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Alexandria King Street Festival of the Arts, Sept. 10-11


Enjoy art

Old Town Alexandria's King Street from Washington Street to the waterfront is transformed into an outdoor art gallery with original fine artwork by over 200 artists from the US and abroad at this 9th annual event. The "Alexandria Art Experience" features hands-on projects, artist demos, and a sale of artist-made ceramic ice cream bowls, presented by The Art League and the Torpedo Factory Art Center.