DEL RAY HALLOWEEN PARADE

The annual Del Ray Halloween Parade will be held on Sunday, October 24, at 2:00 p.m., along Mt Vernon Avenue.  Come watch your neighbors, their children and pets parade up the Avenue in some of the most imaginative costumes.

WARWICK VILLAGE ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY

 lans are starting to get into high gear for our annual holiday party that is tentatively scheduled for Monday, December 13.  You will notice that day is not the normal third Monday of the month for our monthly association meeting.  The normal date would be December 20, but the majority of residents will be starting their holiday vacations.  So, in order for as many residents to be able to participate as possible, we have moved the annual holiday party and monthly meeting for December to the SECOND Monday of the month.  

This year we are also looking at accepting canned goods donations that can be given to the local food pantry.  This food will go a long way in helping others to have a great meal during the holidays.  So please bring any non-perishable items that you like and we will get them to the pantry.

Kathy Sugrue has been our annual holiday planner for several years now and she has always done a great job!  But, she cannot do it alone, she needs our help.  If you are interested in volunteering some time to help setup or decorate please contact Kathy at kgsugrue@comcast.net.

If you are interested in donating a pot-luck dish, something that is one of your favorites or something that is a family tradition, you can also sign-up for that.  You can contact Kathy or me (John Starcher) at WarwickVillage@hotmail.com.

4MR MaRKET harvest party

[http://www.4mrmarket.org/]

When we began planning the 4MRMarket back in May with the hope of opening in little more than a month, we had no idea whether we’d make back the money we invested, let alone make it through the season.  Now, as we wind down this year’s market in the final few weeks, we are happy with what we’ve accomplished, but eager to build and grow and provide more opportunities fulfill our mission statement:

“bring fresh, nutritious food to people of all income levels, provide an opportunity for local artisans and producers of goods to bring their wares to market, strive to reflect the diversity of the community, and improve the quality of life for Arlandria residents and visitors, as part of an overall vision to expand and improve Four Mile Run park and the surrounding neighborhood”.

Next week, October 24th, our penultimate market of the season, will be the 4MRMarket Harvest Party complete with music games and live performances.  Stay tuned for details shortly.

This week, the Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market still always has plenty to offer folks, whether they walk, drive or come on a bicycle, but this week we spotlight the many folks who come to market using our great system of nearby trails and bike lanes. VéloCity returns to the 4MRMarket this Sunday with their mobile bike repair shop.

Biking in with VéloCity, entertainer Aaron Lee will be providing music in the market lounge.  Aaron is a ukulele songwriter on a all-bicycle-powered concert tour. About a month ago he played at VéloCity in Old Town, and he will be back in the area tomorrow (Sunday, Oct. 17) at 4MRMarket. One goal of his tour is to promote local community organizations, like the Four Mile Run Market and bike co-op.

This 4MRide event is again another opportunity to educate citizens in understanding the importance of sharing the road responsibly and with respect and encouraging folks to try out our amazing park trails. So get on your bike and come on out.

DRA HOLIDAY MOSAIC ART WORKSHOP

When:                 Tuesday, November 30th and Wednesday, December 1^st

Time:                   7 – 9 pm each night

Where:                      DRA gallery

Cost:                   $35 DRA Members / $45 non-members (for both nights)

Registration:        Pre-registration at www.TheDelRayArtisans.org must be completed by Tuesday,           November 23^rd

Instructor:           Sally Coler

Materials:              A list of supplies to be purchased by participants in advance of the workshop will be provided by the instructor.  Instructor will provide tools and ceramic adhesive.

Looking for a perfect gift or decoration for the holidays?  Recycle your old decorations and ornaments into a one-of-a-kind holiday mirror, wall hanging, ornament, or door piece.  Create an original and unique mixed media piece using ribbons, ceramic pieces, coffee mugs, fabric or pins.  Samples of mosaic ornaments and tree and table decorations will be available at the workshop to generate ideas.

A list of stores and web sites is available from the instructor if you want to buy additional items.  Instructor will provide tools and ceramic adhesive.  For a list of supplies or to purchase a 12×12” frame and mirror, email instructor Sally Coler at sallycoler@hotmail.com.

Please register by Tuesday, November 23^rd at http://www.thedelrayartisans.org/WebCalendar/view_entry.php?id=626&date=20101130.  Contact Sally Coler at sallycoler@hotmail.com if you have questions or need additional information.  

“ART OF BOOKMAKING” WITH STACY RAUSCH

When:                 Sunday, November 14, 2010

Time:                   11 am – 4 pm

Where:                Del Ray Artisans gallery 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia 22301

Cost:                   $45 DRA Member / $55 for non-members

Class size:           15 people maximum (ages 13+) (5 people minimum)

Materials:           All materials will be provided to make several book styles

Instructor:           Stacy Rausch

You will learn several methods of bookbinding including:

• How to make a small hardcover notebook (saddle stitched single signature) and/or a “matchbook” style book
• How to make a scrapbook/photo album style book (side sewn/Japanese stab binding)
• How to make a hard “case” bound book (including multiple sewn signatures)

Optional items to bring in order to personalize your books:

• A specific paper design [scrapbook paper or decorative art paper (sold at art stores like Plaza) work well, card stock weight paper is a little too thick for book covers] or lightweight fabric you would like to use for a book cover.
• A specific color of ribbon or yarn for book closures.
• A specific color of text weight (copy paper) paper for inside book pages.

Examples of several finished books will be available during the workshop to spark your creativity and imagination!

Contact Stacy Rausch at SRausch@catholicherald.com if you have questions.  To register, please visit http://www.thedelrayartisans.org/WebCalendar/view_entry.php?id=729&date=20101114.

TURF DAY AT BEN BRENMAN PARK

The public is invited to visit the construction site at Ben Brenman Park, 4800 Ben Brenman Park Dr., on Wednesday, October 27 to learn about how a synthetic turf field is built. City staff will be at the site on Wednesday between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to answer questions and talk about the field conversion project. The public is welcome to watch the construction at any time, but is reminded to stay outside of the construction fence for their safety and the safety of the construction workers.

For additional information regarding the Bren Brenman Park Synthetic Turf Conversion Project, contact Beth Carton, Park Planner, at 703.746.5492 or e-mail bethany.carton@alexandriava.gov.

15^TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY MARKET

Reception:            Friday, December 3, 6 – 9pm

Market Dates:       Friday, December 3 (Reception 6 – 9pm), Saturday, December 4, 10am – 6pm,

                           Sunday, December 5, 12 – 4pm

Alexandria, VA (October 21, 2010)  Join us for the 15th annual Holiday Market at Del Ray Artisans!  The Market offers unique handmade fine arts and crafts from 20 exhibitors (including pottery/ceramics, photography, jewelry, cloth, paper crafts, and glass), beautiful poinsettias from West Landscapes LLC, and delicious Bake Sale items with proceeds to benefit the local community.  Of course, admission is free to browse! 

All exhibitors are DRA artists and artisans and all crafts are handmade.  The exhibitors participating in this year’s Holiday Market are Jen Athanas, Kimberley Bush, Rita Cohen, Matthew Tito Cuenca, Carol Fogelsong, Carol Freeman, John Green, Lesley Hall, Carmen Liu, Genevieve Lynn, Betsy Mead, Tangela Roe, Francine Rosenfeld, Ron Tickerhoff, Joyce Wagner, Deborah Wiggins, Tamara Wilkerson, Tracy Wilkerson, Paula Wulff, and Mike Yengo.

The Reception is on Friday, December 3, from 6 – 9pm.  Come early to enjoy some delicious hot food from Sapore D’Italia, a new local Del Ray restaurant.  There will be lots of holiday food and the exhibitors will be open for business.  The Holiday Market continues on Saturday, December 4, from 10am – 6pm.  On Sunday, the fun continues from 12 – 4pm when the Holiday Market will close for its last day this year, so join us for the holiday festivities!

Contact Tracy Wilkerson at (703) 501-1736 or DRA.HolidayMarket@gmail.com for additional information.  The Del Ray Artisans gallery is located at the Nicholas A. Colasanto Center, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria VA 22301 and the facility is handicap accessible.  Check www.TheDelRayArtisans.org for times and directions.

CORA KELLY PTA PLAYGROUND FUNDRAISER

Hello Alexandria neighbors — Back in August when the Cora Kelly PTA kicked off our playground fund-raising effort for the kids at CK, we thought we had started on a long journey with the end-goal far, far down the road. But I have good news — we’ve actually managed to raise $105,000 in a relatively short time, without having to harass the community [you!] too much, I think.

Now we’re closing in on the finish line and we just need a little bit more to reach our minimum target of $115,000 — and this is where we need the community [YOU!] to think about how important playgrounds are, how you have observed children enjoying playgrounds at Mount Vernon and other schools, and then think about Cora Kelly’s old, obsolete playground where the kids can hardly play on the equipment because of age, style and drainage issues.

If you can contribute to get us over the top, go to http://corakelly.org/, or mail a check to the CK PTA at 3600 Commonwealth Ave, Alex, VA, 22305. We are a 501(c)(3) and can send you a receipt for your taxes. We would also like to thank you in our ribbon-cutting program. An exciting and modern playground will inspire movement and imagination, welcome the kids and community, and help to combat childhood obesity. We’re hoping you will want to be a part.

THANKS,

Ashley Chappell
CK PTA Treasurer, ckpta@corakelly.org