Del Ray Celebration of the Holidays

Del Ray Annual Holiday Tree Lighting, Luminaries,

& Visit with Santa Claus!

Moved to Sat., December 7th ~ 6 pm

 

Events are at the Del Ray Farmers Market

Corner of Mt. Vernon Avenue and East Oxford Avenue

And along Mt. Vernon Avenue

 

·        Enjoy thousands of Luminaries along Mt. Vernon Avenue

·        Sing holiday carols at the Del Ray Farmer’s Market led by:

“The Rainbow Lady from Rainbow Rock aka Kate Moran”

·        Enjoy a cup of hot chocolate provided by Evening Star & Buzz Bakery

·        Sit on Santa’s lap and have a photo taken

·Come out and see if you can “Find the Spirits” in Del Ray.  Many businesses will be open late for shoppers & offering special holiday spirits/beverages

·  Stop by Del Ray Artisans Holiday Market to shop & enjoy festive food

And, in the true spirit of the holidays, we are asking our neighbors to help those most in  need. In partnership with Carpenter’s Homeless Shelter, we ask you to please bring and  drop in the boxes at the tree lighting any of the following items:

·        Food – canned goods (soup, vegetables, canned meat)

·        Disposable diapers

·        New Twin Sheets

·        Towels and wash cloths

·        Deodorant/Razors

 Volunteers are needed December 6 at 2 pm to distribute the luminaries along Mt. Vernon Avenue, 5 pm to light them and at 10 pm to extinguish & pick them up.   

To help, contact Gayle Reuter at delraydrba@yahoo.com

 

Sponsored by the Del Ray Business Association

Del Ray Halloween Parade 2013

This coming Sunday is the Annual Del Ray Halloween Parade to be held on October 27th at 2 pm. In past years, more than 5,000 have participated in this annual event which included over 2,000 children, special dignitaries and elected officials; over 50 pets in Halloween costumes; and 25 decorated strollers.

The parade begins at 2 p.m. at Mt. Vernon Avenue, south of E. Bellefonte and continues down to the Mount Vernon Recreational Center play fields at Mt. Vernon and Commonwealth Avenues. Children, pets, and strollers in costumes are invited to march and show off their finest and scariest Halloween garb.

This year’s parade will feature awards for Best Pet Costume, Best Decorated Business, Best Decorated Home, and Best Decorated Stroller. Judges include elected officials & City Dignitaries.  Awards will be given out at a brief ceremony following the parade, along with refreshments (hot dogs donated by 7-Eleven, cider, and cookies) and goodie bags for the children (including as long as they last, healthy bags that will not have any candy). Entertainment will be provided by the popular band Mars Rodeo and again this year thanks to the Alexandria Jaycees there will be games and activities for the children. They will take place at the Mt. Vernon fields immediately following the parade. The Parade and all activities are free!

***This year, please note that there is a major change for Stroller Entries for both registration location and judging. Based on feedback from parents, judging for the Stroller Competition will be done prior to the parade. Stroller entries must register by 1:30 pm at the corner of Mt. Vernon Avenue and E. Howell – look for long string of orange balloons & signs. Once registered, strollers will line up on Howell to be judged prior to participating in the parade. Please allow extra time to get to the judging area by 1:30 pm especially if your entry is difficult to maneuver or if you are a large group. There is no fee to register and there are lots of wonderful prizes donated from our local businesses. Categories are: “Creative”, “Humorous”, “Best Group or Family”, “Less is More” and “Overall”.

Registration for Pets begins at 1:30 pm on Mt. Vernon south of E. Howell Ave. look for signage to register your pet. Categories include: “Creative”, “Team”, “How Could You Do This to Me” & “Best of Show”.

There is no registration required for children and families that march in the parade – they should gather at Mt. Vernon Avenue, south of E. Bellefonte.

Del Ray Variety Store will be offering parade day face painting from 10:30 and 1:30pm and sidewalk sale.

Happy Doh Lucky  will be handing out free samples in front of the Purple Goose. Happy Doh Lucky is a really fun, soft moldable dough that encourages children to make their own play! The company is run by a local mom and sold online and at the Purple Goose.

After the parade from 5 pm to 8 pm, for the 7th year, families can enjoy a Spooky Bean Halloween Haunted Graveyard and Belmonster Zombie Decontamination Zone (free!) and will be located next to Bean Creative at Mt. Vernon and E. Del Ray Avenue. The front part of the Haunted Graveyard is open to younger children but the back portion is recommended for a more mature audience.

Annual Preschool Fair

If you’re in the market for a preschool, you won’t want to miss the Moms Club of Alexandria-Northeast’s 11th Annual Preschool Fair this week!

WHEN: Tuesday, October 22, 2013 from 8:30am-12:00pm

WHERE: First Baptist Church, 2932 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22302

WHY: This highly informative fair is your one-stop shop to meet with representatives from preeminent preschools and programs from the greater Alexandria area. Last year, over 200 parents attended the fair to meet and talk with over 40 schools exhibiting. Here’s your chance to learn about the educational opportunities available for your child.

All parents are welcome and admission is free.

NOTE: As in previous years, the Moms Club will publish and distribute the 2013 Preschool Booklet to attendees of the fair. They ask for a $1-$5 donation to cover costs for printing/advertising the booklet and fair. This booklet lists each fair exhibitor along with a brief description of their program, including admission, tuition and open house information. It’s a great reference guide for all the local preschools available to you. After the event, they will make the booklet available to those interested.

About MOMS Club: The Preschool Fair is a service provided to the community by the MOMS Club of Alexandria-Northeast, VA. MOMS Club is an international nonprofit organization offering the invaluable resources of support, friendship, activities and local information to stay-at-home moms. The chapter is devoted to fulfilling the motto of MOMS Club International: Moms Offering Moms Support and also playing a key role in supporting the local community.

Time for Art On The Avenue

It’s time for one of Del Ray’s signature events; Art on The Avenue!

This is the 18th year of the art festival that takes over Mount Vernon Avenue. The festivities go from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. starting at Bellefonte Ave. and stretching down to Hume Ave. (right where Mt. Vernon runs into Commonwealth Ave.)

Over 340 artists and craftspeople set up along Mount Vernon Avenue to display and sell their work.

Here’s the list of free children’s activities:

Art on the Avenue hosts four stages that are packed with entertainment throughout the day.  Each stage has different performers scheduled from 10am to 6pm:

• Twin Stages at the corner of Mt. Vernon and E. Oxford Avenues – two stages go continuously, while one stage has performers, the other stage has the next entertainment being set up.
• Homegrown Stage at the corner of Mt. Vernon Avenue and Bellefonte Avenues – all performers on this stage are from the Del Ray area.
• Acoustic Stage in the Nature’s Nibbles side yard located at Mt. Vernon and Stewart Avenues – this stage features music at its’ best where individual artists perform playing their own music.
• Grassy Knoll Stage at the Mt. Vernon Recreation Center – this stage features musicians from the Del Ray Performing Arts Center.

There will be a children’s stage will the following line-up:

There will also be food vendors, so come hungry.

Here are a few more details that the amazing Del Ray Patch has pulled together about our neighborhood festival:

• Painter and singer-songwriter Alex Cook will be installing a mural on the E. Del Ray Avenue side of A Show of Hands throughout the day. You can view some of Cook’s other murals on his website.

• Del Ray Artisans (2704 Mount Vernon Ave.) will host artist demonstrations throughout the day outside its gallery. Inside, check out the new “Del-Ray-Geous” exhibit. 

• St. Andrew & St. Margaret of Scotland Anglican Catholic Church (402 E. Monroe Ave.) is hosting a blessing of the animals from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. All pets are welcome, even fish and snakes. There will also be animals available for adoption and an exotic animal petting zoo.

• The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary (1804 Mount Vernon Ave.) is hosting a flea market and estate sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday featuring furniture, collectables, educational games, books for kids and adults, stuffed animals, crafts and glassware. The market benefits struggling families living in Alexandria.

• Del Ray Variety (203 E. Custis Ave.) is hosting a Great Pumpkin Contest.

• The Neighborhood Pharmacy and Greener Cleaner are both closed Saturday for the festival.

• Evening Start will start serving food and pouring drinks at 11 AM so stop by for some mac and cheese, chef Jim’s housemade hot sauce and brews such as Terrapin Beer Co. Hopsecutioner and Long Trail Brewing Imperial Pumpkin Ale. Plus, 6 bands (Kate Moran Band, Lucky Dub, Mud Rey, Andrea Pais, Miss Shevaughn & Yuma Wray and Rachel Burns) will be supplying the tunes in our back lot. Can’t wait, Del Ray!

 

4th Annual Alexandria Story Festival

What’s the best free event in Alexandria for children and families that you may have never heard of? The 4th Annual Alexandria Story Festival of course!

This fun festival has been growing each year and this year offers an incredible line up of authors and performers. This year won’t disappoint! This is a don’t miss event for families.

The 4th Annual
Alexandria Story Festival
Saturday, September 28, 2013
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
T.C. Williams High School
3330 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22302
As always, the Alexandria Story Festival is a FREE event for children and their families.

2013 Author Presentations

Jonathan Auxier – Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes
John Belemans Marciano – The Nine Lives of Alexander Baddenfield,
Madeline and the Old House in Paris, Madeline at the White House, Madeline and the Cats of Rome, and others
Erin Cabatingan – A is for Musk Ox, Musk Ox Counts
Elisabeth Dahl – Genie Wishes
Martha Freeman – The Case of the Diamond Dog Collar, The Case of the Ruby Slippers,
The Year My Parents Ruined My Life, and others
Shannon Jones – KeeKee’s Big Adventures in Paris, France
Anne Marie Pace – Vampirina Ballerina Hosts a Sleepover, Vampirina Ballerina
Erica Perl – King of the Zoo, Chicken Butt, and others
Trevor Pryce – An Army of Frogs: A Kulipari Novel
Mark Tatulli – Desmond Pucket Makes Monster Magic, Lio: Making Friends,
Lio:There’s a Monster in My Socks, and others

Schedule of Events

Picture Book Panel: 10:00 am – 11:15 am Cafeteria Stage (in alphabetical order) John Bemelmans Marciano Erin Cabatingan Shannon Jones Anne Marie Pace Erica Pearl

Chapter Book Panel: 11:30 am – 12:30 pm Cafeteria Stage (in alphabetical order) Jonathan Auxier Elisabeth Dahl Martha Freeman Trevor Pryce Mark Tatulli

Performances/Presentations

Kaleidoscope for Kids Activity: 10:30 am – 11:15 am
Titan Den (for students in grades 3 and up)

Arts on the Horizon’s The young Spectaculars and the Front Yard Adventures: 11:30 am – 12:00 pm
Black Box Theater (performance for youngsters)

Lulu Delacre: Canta, Baila, y Viaje por el mundo!: 12:30 pm – 1:00 pm
Black Box Theater (for Spanish speaking students and families)

The Alexandria Story Festival is hosted by
Wright to Read, Hooray for Books!, ACPS Face Center and Carson Scholars Fund.

National Night Out Alexandria

Tomorrow, Aug. 6th, the Del Ray Citizens Association will host National Night Out at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center Field from 5:30-8:30.  National Night Out is a community gathering to promote community and public safety. Come visit with your neighbors and local police and other public safety officers. Refreshments will be served.

All through Alexandria there will be several National Night Out Celebrations . McGruff the Crime Fighting Dog, K-9 Unit, Motor Unit, Bike Patrol, Command Bus, Armored Personnel Carrier and the Crime Scene Mobile Lab will tour neighborhoods and offer special demonstrations.

National Night Out, a year-long community building campaign, is designed to:

•     Heighten crime prevention awareness;
•     Generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime programs;
•     Strengthen neighborhood spirit and law enforcement-community partnerships;
•     Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

“National Night Out is an opportunity for the Alexandria Police Department to strengthen our relationship with the community and thank the residents for their vigilance and their dedication to keeping Alexandria a safe place to live, work and visit,” says Chief Cook.

Del Ray Music Festival

The 2013 Del Ray Music Festival is coming soon so be ready for a day of family fun on Saturday, June 22, 2013. Scheduled from 12pm to 9pm on the Mt. Vernon Recreation Center Fields at 2701 Commonwealth Avenue.

The festival features a variety of music which have included reggae, jazz, blues, swing, folk, country, Celtic, and rock. The majority of the musicians who take the stage are residents of the neighborhood—something that makes this an extra special show for the performers and gives everyone a chance to hear some wonderful local talent.

There’s a great musical line up but they also have kids games, face painting, a moon bounce and crafts from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. to keep the whole family entertained!

There’s also food and snacks available to buy at the festival.

George Washington Middle School players present Once on This Island, a Caribbean version of The Little Mermaid

Don’t miss the George Washington Middle School players THIS WEEKEND for the final 2 performances of the acclaimed one-act musical Once on This Island, a Caribbean version of The Little Mermaid.

The Del Ray Baby family went to see the musical last weekend and gave it two thumbs up! The cast was energetic, full of talent and the story kept our 6 year old engaged the whole time.

Once on this Island has an exciting musical score that mixes Calypso, Reggae, and Salsa with classic Broadway show tunes. Tickets are only $5 and can be purchased at the door. This is a family-friendly production for children and adults of all ages.

WHEN:
Friday, April 19th, 7PM
Saturday, April 20th, 7PM

WHERE:
George Washington Middle School
1005 Mount Vernon Avenue
Alexandria, VA

PRICE: $5 per ticket, cash and check only, tickets on sale 45 minutes before the performance.

 

MVPC Preschool Spring Festival

 

The Mount Vernon Presbyterian church preschool Spring Festival is going to be tons of fun this year. The second annual event will be April 20th from 12-4 p.m.

Join the MVPC Preschool community for our second annual Spring Festival! This year’s festival will feature pony rides, moonbounce, crafts and games, a bake sale and silent auction, plus a very special guest … The Great Zucchini!
Saturday, April 20
Noon to 4 p.m.
2001 Sherwood Hall Lane
Alexandria, VA 22306
CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR GREAT ZUCCHINI TICKETS!

1 p.m. (doors open at 12:30)
$10 per person (children under 1 free)
Be sure to stay for all the great kids’ activities and check out the silent auction, with fabulous items to bid on such as Nationals tickets, spa gift baskets, jewelry, gift certificates to local restaurants, and kids’ stuff galore!