Alexandria Library Children's Calendar of Events - December 2011

All Alexandria Library will be closed for the Christmas Holiday:  Friday, December 23; Saturday, December 24; Sunday, December 25; and Monday, December 26.
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 , Tuesdays, from 10 am to noon, December 6, 13, 20 & 27. CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS: *registration required for story times: please call 703-746-1702x5 or visit the children's desk. *LITTLE ONE-DERS, Mondays, December 5 & 12, at 10:30 or 11:15 am, ages 12 to 23 months, with an adult. *TIME FOR 2's, Tuesdays, December 6 & 13, or Wednesdays, December 7 & 14, at 10:30 am, for ages 24 to 36 months, with an adult. *BABY RHYME TIME, Tuesdays, December 6 & 13, for ages 0 to 11 months, with an adult. *STORY TIME, Thursdays, December 1, 8 & 15, at 10:30 am or 3 pm, for ages 3 to 5 (children only). *KIDS READ TO DOGS, with PAL (People Animals Love), Thursdays, December 1 & 15, for 15-minute sessions which start at 5:30 pm. Please call 703-746-1702x5 or visit the children's desk to sign up.
James M. Duncan, Jr. Branch Library 2501 Commonwealth Avenue, 22301 Tel: 703-746-1705, Fax: 703-746-1785 Mon 10am-7pm; Tues 10am-7pm; Wed 1pm-9pm; Thurs 10am-7pm; Fri 10am-6pm; Sat 10am-5pm HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE Wednesday, December 7, 6:30 to 8:30 pm Featuring The Irish Breakfast Band All are welcome! CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS: BABY TIME, Mondays, December 5 & 12, at 11 am, for ages 0 - 11 months, with an adult. Sign-up half hour before story time. Limited to 20 children. STORIES & SONGS, Tuesdays, December 6 & 13, at 10 or 11 am , for ages 1 - 4, with an adult. Sign-up half hour before 11 am story time. THURSDAY STORY TIME, Thursdays, December 1, 8 & 15, at 11 am, for ages 3 to 5, without an adult. MOTHER GOOSE TIME, Thursdays, December 1, 8 & 15, for ages 12 - 24 months, 10 am, with adult. Limited to 25 children. STORIES & SONGS IN SPANISH, Mondays, December 12 & 19, at 10 am, for ages 0 - 5, with an adult. NATURE PROGRAM, Wednesday, December 14, at 3:30 pm. For grades K to 5 only. ANIMAL SHELTER VISIT, Monday, December 19, at 3 pm. For grades K to 5 only. GERMAN STORY TIME, Friday, December 16, at 4 pm for ages 2 to 5 with an adult.
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library 4701 Seminary Road, 22304 Tel: 703-746-1704, Fax: 703-746-1775  Mon 10am-9pm; Tues & Wed 10am-7pm; Thurs 1pm-9pm; Fri 10am-6pm; Sat 10am-5pm CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS: TUESDAY TOTS, Tuesdays, December 6 & 13, at 11 am, ages 2 to 3, with an adult. PAJAMA PARTY, Thursdays, December 1, 8 & 15, at 7 pm, ages 3 to 6, with an adult.
Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library 717 Queen Street, 22314 Tel: 703-746-1703, Fax: 703-746-1708  Mon 1pm-9pm; Tues 10am-9pm; Wed & Thurs 10am-7pm; Fri 10am-6pm; Sat 10am-5p BOOK SALE: Friday, December 2, and Saturday, December 3, from 10 am to 4 pm. CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS: MOTHER GOOSE TIME, Tuesdays & Wednesday, December 6 & 7, at 10:15 am, for ages 12-24 months. Select one program per week to attend. STORIES TO GROW ON, Tuesdays & Wednesday, December 6 & 7, at 11 am, ages 2 & up. Select one program per week to attend. THE NUTCRACKER, Tuesdays & Wednesday, December 13 & 14, at 11 am, ages 2 & up. Select one performance. STORY TIME, Thursdays, December 1, 8 & 15*, at 4 pm, ages 3 & up, without an adult. *Nutcracker performance.

City of Alexandria to Hold 37th Annual Toys For Tots Benefit Square Dance on Sunday, December 4

The City of Alexandria's 37th Annual Toys for Tots Benefit Square Dance is scheduled forSunday, December 4 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., at Lee Center Exhibit Hall, 1108 Jefferson St.  This year's theme is "Almost Heaven at Thirty-Seven" and will feature a special 3 p.m. performance by Capital Squares Demonstration Team. 

The annual square and round dance benefits the United States Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Drive.  Recommended donation for each couple is a new, unopened toy or a $10 minimum contribution (singles $5).  All toys and proceeds from this dance will remain in the Washington metropolitan area. If you do not wish to participate but would like to donate a toy, you may drop off your donation until 3 p.m. at the Lee Center.

The City's Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities and the National Capital Area Square Dance Leaders Association and Washington Area Square Dance Cooperative Association are cosponsoring the event.

For additional information, please call the City's Special Events Hotline at 703.746.5592or visit alexandriava.gov/recreation.

Tickets on Sale Now for Historic Alexandria Candlelight Tour

Discount Rate for Tickets Purchased byDecember 1

See historic Alexandria in a whole new light this holiday season! Four of Old Town Alexandria's finest historic sites will welcome guests on Saturday, December 10, and Sunday, December 11, for the festive Historic Alexandria Candlelight Tour. The area's premier traditional holiday event features holiday greenery, period decorations and music, light refreshments and a convenient shuttle bus running among the sites.

This season, as part of the Civil War Sesquicentennial events, experience 1860s Alexandria during the holidays with tours at Gadsby's Tavern Museum (134 North Royal Street), Carlyle House Historic Park (121 North Fairfax Street), Lee-Fendall House (614 Oronoco Street), and the Stabler-LeadbeaterApothecary Museum (105-107 South Fairfax Street). Tour times are from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, December 10, and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, December 11.

The tour is self-guided, and the sites may be visited in any order, with a complimentary shuttle running in a continuous loop among the sites. Ticket prices are $20 for adults, $15 forseniors, and $5 for children (ages 6-17). Special discount rates of $15 for adults and $12 for seniors are available when you buy before December 1. For information, tickets, and group sales information, please contact Gadsby's Tavern Museum at 703.746.4242.Tickets for this event can also be purchased online at www.historicalexandria.org.

See the National Christmas Tree

The Capitol Christmas Tree is Coming to Mount Vernon Community School

Saturday, November 26th

10am – 1pm (between MVCS and Duncan Library)

Bring the family to see the trees

bound for the US Capitol! Climb

up in the cab of a tractor-trailer and see firsthand what a truck driver can see! Take pictures with Mack the (inflatable) Bulldog!