Second Thursday Makes Old Town “Alive with History”
Old Town Alexandria spotlights its diverse and vibrant past with the theme “Alive with History” on Thursday, July 13 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Spend the evening exploring the shops, visiting the galleries and running into old friends. Many stores and galleries are open late. Activities abound and will be announced throughout Old Town by the Town Crier. For more information, visit www.secondthursdays.com or call 703-838-4565.
v Join the Potomac Riverboat Company for a Canine Cruise.
v Barkley Square Bakery, at One Wales Alley will sponsor a “Doggie Yappy Hour.”
v At Market Square, take an Alexandria Colonial Tours Ghost Tour starting at 7:30 p.m., or learn the art of Doggie Massage from Tails of Olde Towne.
v Help build a Wigwam at The Torpedo Factory Art Center and participate in a Scavenger Hunt!
v Alexandria City Archaeologist Pamela J. Cressey, Ph.D., RPA will guide a one-hour walking tour along Alexandria’s historic waterfront. Hear tales of the development of the waterfront from small tobacco trading port to regional transportation hub and international port. This fascinating tour starts at 7 p.m. from the bottom of King Street and the Strand in the park.
Spend Saturday Kayaking Pohick Bay
Kayak Pohick Bay in southeastern Fairfax, on the Mason Neck peninsula. This bay is home to many kinds of wildlife in the water, on land, and in the air. Watch ospreys hunt for fish, and bald eagles spar with each other over the open water. A naturalist will talk about features of the bay, its wildlife and its importance to the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem.
The next trip is Saturday, July 15, 9 a.m.-noon. NVCT kayaking trips are open to Virginia residents and their guests. Wear clothes and shoes that can get wet, and a hat with a brim. Sunglasses, sunscreen, and a bottle of water are also highly recommended. Call 703-354-5093, x6 in case of inclement weather.
The park’s address is 6501 Pohick Bay Drive, Lorton. Registration is required and these trips fill up fast. Cost is $40 per person. Additional donations are appreciated. Contact Whitney Bailey at 703-354-5093 or wbailey@nvct.org.
“Buddie” Ford Nature Center Summer Camps for Children
The City of Alexandria’s Jerome “Buddie” Ford Nature Center is offering several summer nature camps in 2006 for children ages 3 to 12. The camps will focus on sensory exploration, insects, reptiles and amphibians, and geology. Other activities and items offered include games and prizes, T-shirts, field trips, and take-home crafts. Participants will meet the center’s wildlife residents, such as the new Eastern Screech Owl.
Budding Naturalist Camp, for children entering kindergarten and grade 1, runs Monday, July 17, through Wednesday, July 19, 10 a.m. to noon, $65 per camper.
Junior Naturalist Camp, for those entering grades 2 through 4. Session 2 runs Monday, July 17, through Friday, July 21, 1-4 p.m., $75 per camper.
The newly renovated Jerome “Buddie” Ford Nature Center, which was officially reopened and dedicated in November 2005, is located at 5750 Sanger Ave. Registration is currently open for all the center’s summer nature camps. To register, call 703-838-4829. For more information, visit alexandriava.gov/recreation/nature/buddie_ford_center.html.
Thursday/July 13
<cal2>Second Thursday in Old Town. The Torpedo Factory Art Center, shops and galleries stay open until 9 p.m. with special events and live entertainment the second Thursday of the month, through September. www.secondthursdays.com or 703-838-4565, ext. 6.
Friday/July 14
<cal2>Alexandria Citizens Band Concert. The city’s oldest performing arts organization performs at 7:30 p.m. in Market Square, 301 King St. Free. 301-883-4686.
Saturday/July 15
Archaeology Tour. Behind George Washington Masonic National Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive. 1:30-2:30 p.m. Free. For reservations call Alexandria Archaeology at 703-838-4399.
Jaycees Yard Sale. Alexandria Jaycees are seeking sellers for for a community yard sale at Anthony Lane Elementary School, 7137 Beulah St. Jaycees will sell food and drinks. Visit www.alexjaycees.org or call the eventline at 703-866-7171.
Kayaking Trip at Mason Neck State Park, sponsored by the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust. 9 a.m.-noon, 6501 Pohick Bay Drive, Lorton. Wear clothes and shoes that can get wet, and a hat with a brim. Call 703-354-5093, x6 in case of inclement weather. Registration is required and these trips fill up fast. $40 per person. Contact Whitney Bailey at 703-354-5093 or wbailey@nvct.org.