Items Tagged Old Town

Ready to do a little shopping in Old Town while supporting nearly 40 charities?

The Reading Connection (TRC) would like to invite you to attend the Community Reading Festival on May 11 and to participate in the 2nd Arlington Kids Read Read-a-Thon.  TRC is holding a Community Reading Festival on May 11 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Campbell Elementary School. There will be books read aloud, a visit from Clifford, crafts and treats for all.  The event is open to the public and geared towards families with children aged 3 to 12. 

Tuesday's What's Next Alexandria Community Dialogue was all about making sure the new Civic Engagement Framework would work for City staff and community members alike.

MAPPing Alexandria - The culminating event in Alexandria’s National Poetry Month activities, Mapping Alexandria in Poems and Pictures features readings of poems about Alexandria with Poet Laureate Amy Young. A collaboration between the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association and the Office of the Arts.

Art events are popping up at venues near the waterfront from May through October! This month, Warhol goes polka. Pop art with a dash of surrealism is the evening's inspiration. Prizes for best dotted costumes, create dot designs and participate in "Spot the Dot" prize contests.

It’s kitten and puppy season and the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) is hosting a baby shower to collect items needed for its foster care program.  Animal lovers and prospective foster parents are invited to attend the shower at the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter to learn more about the foster care program, meet current foster parents, and donate items from the Foster Care Wish List

By Jeff Sypeck

How does an artist get into the Torpedo Factory? Artists who dream of having a studio here often assume the process must be baffling; in fact, it's surprisingly straightforward.

On Monday, March 18, 2013, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., aspiring Torpedo Factory artists will flock to the third-floor landing, bringing with them five original works (and cardboard to protect each work), a CD with 10 to 20 additional images, and an application that includes an artist statement and information about their process. They'll be assigned ID numbers to ensure anonymity—no résumés allowed—and they'll need to follow other criteria outlined in the official application: only one-third of the CD images may show work that’s more than two years old, for example—and please, no wet paint.

In relating the story of President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination and John Wilkes Booth’s escape, flight, and death, scholar Terry Alford will introduce fresh details and insights about the most consequential murder of the 19th century. Did Lincoln know Booth, and what did he think of him? Did Booth regret his actions?

Eight artists have filed applications for the 2013 Artist of the Year competition sponsored by the Friends of the Torpedo Factory Art Center. On Thursday, February 7 at 6pm, the Friends will announce the winner of this annual competition, which was open to all artists in the Torpedo Factory Artists' Association.

The Alexandria Childhood Obesity Action Network (A-COAN) is partnering with the Virginia Cooperative Extension to develop a Master Food Volunteer Program in Alexandria.  The Master Food Volunteer Program combines your love of cooking, nutrition, physical activity, and helping others!

Originally posted Friday, December 28, 2012

Jeff Sypeck, TFAA Writer

Dr. Peter Matic, Head of the Multifunctional Materials Branch at the Naval Research Laboratory, shares how visualization and simulatin of stress fields and fluid flows have shaped modern structural integrity while redefining the way we "see" in a data-rich world.

Hmm...what was going this weekend again? Oh, right! National Day of Service and the Inauguration!

It's going to be a cold week, but Saturday is looking good which is the perfect opportunity to volunteer and do service for National Day of Service. Monday, President Obama will be sworn in. How many of you are going?

If you don't have any plans this weekend, here are some events that'll get you out and about.

For a $35 registration/donation learn how yoga can support your running while supporting youth yoga programs.

The Visiting Artist Program is intended to serve as a professional development opportunity for emerging and experienced visual artists and to expose visitors to a new group of artists and projects. Applicants may apply for a one-, two-, or three-month summer residency (June, July, August).

Visual artists who are interested in joining the Torpedo Factory Artists' Association are invited to attend a Jury Information Session to learn about the annual jury process and the benefits of being an associate artist (such as eligibility for studio space).

Browse three floors of open studios and galleries, engage with artists, and enjoy a candy buffet at this free event! Stop into Target Gallery for the Between the Lines: Contemporary Drawing Now reception and visit The Art League Gallery to catch the reception for the All-Media Membership Show and 2013 Solo Preview. Be sure not to miss the DIY snowflake station!

If you are considering giving someone a pet as a gift this holiday season, please READ THIS FIRST. If you want to give someone the joy and companionship that pets bring, there is a proper way to do so.

This week, help Community Partners for Children raise $2,000 to help provide new toys to 650 children in need in Alexandria this holiday season.

You can give our homeless cats the gift of comfort this holiday season by donating a cat bed from Kuranda. We're collecting 100 cat beds before the end of the year, and donating through Kuranda earns you a 28% donation discount! Donate today at www.Kuranda.com/donate/2274

King Street Cats is Alexandria's only cat-exclusive, free-roaming, no-kill cat orphanage.

It's that time of year--when the leaves begin to fall, the air is grows cold and our televisions fill with political ads--Election Day is almost here! It's time to prepare to exercise your greatest civic responsibility and vote.

We've created guide to help you get your vote on!  What should you expect at your polling place? How do you get help should you need it. And nowww...

Autumn is a season of transition, and each year we marvel at the leaves changing color and falling to the ground. It is only fitting that October, the peak period of fall foliage, is Adopt-a-Shelter Dog Month. While each season is temporary, the change you will make in a dog’s life by adopting is forever. But don’t take our word for it. See why the kids in the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria’s Youth Volunteer Program think you should adopt!

The American Red Cross, through its strong network of volunteers, donors and partners, is always there in times of need.

What’s the best way to help Alexandria’s homeless animals? Obviously, adoption is the best and most immediate solution for the current residents of the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter, but what about the next generation of unwanted and abandoned animals? And if you’re like most of the staff and volunteers at the shelter, or most of Alexandria for that matter, what do you do if you already have a home full of animals?

This Wednesday, bring the kids to Sunset Park for another Community at Play event sponsored by the Childhood Obesity Action Network and ACTion Alexandria.
Come see the enhancements at Sunset Park, made as a result of the Project Play Spruce Up Grants contest. Enjoy free refreshments, games, bubbles and have fun with your friends and neighbors!

Alexandria is known for its historic ambience and contemporary flair offering an extraordinary collection of local, independent retailers. Shoppers can take part and enjoy this signature evening kicking off the fall shopping season.

Whole Foods Market Old Town is hosting a Back-to-School Festival on Saturday, August 11th from noon - 4 p.m. at John Carlyle Square Park. This first time community event features many fun and educational activities to help kids and their parents get ready for the new school year. 

Taking tea has never been such a historic affair! Sip the Museum’s special blend of tea and eat period-inspired delicacies with your 21st century friends and 18th century hostess. Fees include $35 per person, inclusive and reservations required. For more information contact 703.746.4242 or go to our website at gadsbys.tavern@alexandriava.gov.

Ever wonder how the first First Lady entertained her guests? What is the proper way to hold a teacup with no handles? Here is your chance to experience history with Martha Washington as she discusses 18th century tea customs as well as clothing of the period. 18th century tea includes the museum's special blend of tea, pound cake, dried fruit, and assortment of cookies.

"The Choked Voice of a Race, at Last Unloosed: African Americans and Civil War Music." A lecture and book signing sponsored by Friends of Alexandria Archaeology(FOAA). Music was more than mere entertainment during the Civil War and no one was more aware of its power than African Americans.

The Principal Story tells two stories, painting a dramatic portrait of the challenges facing America's public schools — and of the great difference a dedicated principal can make.

Join President Madison as he discusses and engages guests about political and personal issues of 1812. Reservations are recommended. For more information you may contact 703.746.4242 or check out https://cheyenne.alexandriava.gov/cgi-bin/oha_shop/index.html

Day camp for 12 to 15 year olds. Help Alexandria’s City archaeologists excavate a real archaeological site! Learn professional excavating, recording, and artifact processing methods. Uncover Alexandria’s buried past while protecting the City’s valuable historic resources. Choose one or two week-long sessions. $400 per session. Full scholarships available. 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

Come with the whole family to enjoy a great musical performance by Lesson Zero, featuring roots rock covers & originals! For more information contact the Special Events Office at 703.746.5418

Come down to Market Square, take a seat on your own folding chair or one of the area's many benches, and enjoy the musical harmony created by the Alexandria harmonizers, DC's premier barbershop group.

Want to learn to dance like George Washington? Intrigued by the wonders of "modern" science? Then come to Gadsby's Tavern Museum's free opne house - Tavern Day! Experience Alexandria's five-star hotel of the 18th century, made famous by John Gadsby, whose guests included George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. Tours are led by costumed guides.

Enjoy musical entertainment, caroling with a community sing  along, and greetings from the Mayor and Santa Claus.

On Saturday, the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum will offer a night of delicious foods and drinks all of which were inspired by the museum's own spices and herbs. For 75$ a ticket, one will support the preservation of the Apothecary's unique collection and will do what citizens of Alexandria have been doing for centuries - indulging in the Apothecary's exotic flavors.

The music, food, and culture of Ireland will be featured as the City of Alexandria hosts the annual irish Festival. Admission is free and the festival will be held rain or shine.

3rd annual Youth Arts Festival, provides a forum of expression of artistic, visual and perfomring arts.

The Friendship Firehouse Festival celebrates the 237th anniversary of the Friendship Fire Company, founded in 1774. Enjoy birthday cake, craft and food vendors, and a special display of antique and modern firefighting equipment. Free fun for kids of all ages!

This year, ACTion Alexandria and our community has been all about Project Play, an effort to ensure that every child in Alexandria has a quality space to play. Working with our partners, Alexandria Childhood Obesity Action Network and Alexandria/Arlington Smart Beginnings, we've been able to accomplished a lot!

• We hosted the $15,000 Project Play Spruce Up Grant Contest.
• We helped bring a $75,0000 STARS KaBOOM! playground project, sponsored by the Washington Capitals, to Old Town.
• We've been a big supporter of the Project Play city-wide assessment of playspaces.

So you can imagine how excited we were to hear that Project Play has acheived yet another goal. Alexandria has been named a Playful City by KaBOOM!

One City.  One Day.  One Opportunity.

What if we all gave one one day?

ACTion Alexandria's biggest action of the year, Spring2ACTion, begins at midnight on May 2, and we urge you to help us make it a record breaker. Last year, we all worked together to raise $104,000. This year, our goal is to help local nonprofits raise $200,000 in just 24 hours!

How would you make Alexandria a greener, more sustainable community?

On February 29, 2012, Eco-City Alexandria, Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission, and ACTion Alexandria teamed up to launch the Alexandria Green Ideas Challenge. We asked Alexandria to submit their ideas for making Alexandria a greener, more sustainable community. Our goal was to harness the incredible talent, intelligence and creativity of Alexandria citizens to generate and prioritize ideas for sustainability and serve as a community catalyst to move our city closer to being a true eco-city! 

One City.  One Day.  One Opportunity.

What if we all gave one one day?

On Wednesday, May 2nd, our community will come together for 24 hours of unprecedented giving.

Spring2ACTion is one extraordinary day to support the organizations that make Alexandria amazing. ACT and ACTion Alexandria, in partnership with our sponsors, are offering up to $30,000 in cash and prizes to help increase fundraising efforts by participating organizations and individual fundraisers.  Real-time tracking will be displayed on the leader board at www.Spring2ACTion.org on May 2.

Be Generous.  Be Alexandria.