APRIL EVENTS ROUND UP
Get out and about in Old Town North this month!
Saturday, April 5th
4th Annual ALX Dog Walk
ALX Dog Walk (image courtesy of ALX Dog Walk)
Oronoco Bay Park (100 Madison St.)
7am - 11am
Join fellow dog lovers in Oronoco Bay Park on Saturday, April 5th for this annual dog walk and festival supporting sustainable living. Registered attendees will receive a goodie bag and there will be free coffee for the first 400 attendees who bring their own cup, performances from the Alexandria Singers and the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, and more! The 2-mile walk starts at 8:15am followed by a celebration in the park afterwards.
For more information, visit:
To register, visit:
https://thezebrapress.evvnt.events/events/alx-dog-walk-4-5-2025
Sunday, April 6th
Made in ALX Presents Science Sunday
Make your own Cyanotypes with Friends of the Mt. Vernon Trail
Learn about Robotics with Titan Robotics
415 King St.
10am - noon (Make your own Cyanotype)
11am - 2pm (Learn about Robotics)
Cyanotype prints are made using sunlight to create vivid cyan-blue prints with white designs. Learn how to make your own at Made in ALX this Sunday. The class is free, but Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail is asking for a suggested donation of $10 to support their work on the Mount Vernon Trail.
Titan Robotics is the student-run robotics team from Alexandria High School. Stop by to learn about robotics and pick up a copy of their new children’s book!
For more information, visit:
Monday, April 7th
Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail Night at Royal Restaurant
730 N. St. Asaph St.
4-10pm
Dine at Royal Restaurant and support this amazing volunteer organization that is in its fourth year as a philanthropic partner of the George Washington Memorial Parkway and was the recipient of the 2024 National Park Service National Excellence in Volunteerism Team Impact Award. Enjoy a delicious meal at Royal Restaurant and support a great cause! 15% of the day’s sales will go to Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail.
To make a reservation, visit:
https://royalrestaurantva.com/
Spring2Action - Wednesday, April 9th
(Early Giving Runs from March 26th - April 8th)
Spring2Action is a 24-hour online giving day on April 9, 2025. This year marks the 15th anniversary of this virtual fundraising event organized by ACT for Alexandria. Many of the nonprofit organizations have matching plans in effect so the donations you make can have even greater impact. In 2024, 7,808 donors gave $2.97M to 188 nonprofits serving the Alexandria community.
Consider a donation to an OTNA Member:
To donate to the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, visit:
https://www.spring2action.org/organizations/aso
To donate to The Art League, visit:
https://www.spring2action.org/organizations/the-art-league
To donate to MetroStage, visit:
https://www.spring2action.org/organizations/metrostage
To donate to Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail, visit:
Thursday, April 10th
NOTICe Spring Membership Meeting: “What’s up in the Arts in OTN?”
SOLD OUT (Waiting List Only)
The Gables (525 Montgomery St.)
Doors open at 6:30pm. Meeting starts at 7pm.
On Thursday, April 10th NOTICe is hosting a panel discussion on the current status of the Arts & Cultural District in Old Town North for their Spring Membership Meeting. The discussion will be moderated by Michael Lee Pope and the panel will include Council Member John Chapman, Diane Ruggiero from the Office of the Arts, Kelly Martin from AEDP, OTNA President Ryan Whitaker, and representatives of MetroStage and The Art League.
The meeting is open to the public, but it is sold out. If you would like to put your name on the waiting list, please send an email to notice.communications@gmail.com with your name, contact information and the number of tickets you need.
Wednesday, April 16th
MetroStage at the Lyceum Presents: A Tribute to Athol Fugard with a Reading of “The Island”
Doug Brown in MetroStage’s 2015 production of “The Island” (image courtesy of MetroStage)
The Lyceum (201 S. Washington St.)
7pm
“The Island,” a play about two political prisoners in apartheid South Africa, was written by South African playwright Athol Fugard, who passed away earlier this year. Producing Artistic Director Carolyn Griffin explains that Fugard’s work “reflects a very important part of MetroStage’s history.” MetroStage has staged two productions of “The Island,” in 1990 and 2015. MetroStage proudly pays tribute to Mr. Fugard with this reading of “The Island,” featuring Doug Brown and Bill Grimmette, two actors who have performed in MetroStage productions of Fugard’s plays.
To purchase tickets, visit:
Hotel AKA Presents: Lalita Method Pilates Mat Classes
on the Terrace
Saturday Mornings Through June Starting Saturday, April 19th
Lalita Method Pilates Mat Class (image courtesy of Hotel AKA Alexandria)
625 First St.
Enjoy pilates on the beautiful terrace at Hotel AKA Alexandria starting Saturday, April 19th. Classes will continue on Saturday mornings through June. Bookings may be made two weeks in advance - classes fill up fast, so don’t delay!
To reserve your spot, visit:
https://lalitamethod.com/pages/reformer-pilates
Wednesday, April 23rd
Alexandria Economic Development Partnership Presents:
Meet Your Network! Alexandria Business Networking Event
Don’t miss this event organized by the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership to connect entrepreneurs, business leaders, and professionals with all of the free business resources available in Alexandria. Enjoy a light breakfast and learn about AEDP’s new Business Mentorship Program. The Old Town North Alliance will have a table at the event - please stop by and say hello!
Virginia Tech (Boeing Auditorium)
3625 Potomac Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22305
8am - 10am
To register for this event, visit:
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/b3x4c6d
Saturday, April 26th and Sunday, April 27th
Alexandria Symphony Orchestra Presents,
“Ravishing Rachmaninov”
Pianist Sofya Gulyak (image courtesy of Alexandria Symphony Orchestra)
Saturday, April 26th
Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall (4915 E. Campus Dr. Alexandria, VA 22311)
7:30pm
Sunday, April 27th
George Washington Masonic Memorial (101 Callahan Dr. Alexandria, VA 22301)
3pm
Join the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra for their season finale featuring the William Tell overture, recent works by Clarice Assad and Carlos Simon, and Piano Concerto No. 2 by Rachmaninov. The Rachmaninov piece will be performed by renowned pianist Sofya Gulyak.
For tickets to the April 26th performance of “Ravishing Rachmaninov,” visit:
https://alexandriasymphonyorchestra.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/instances/a03Nt00000D93JoIAJ
For tickets to the April 27th performance of “Ravishing Rachnmaninov,” visit:
https://alexandriasymphonyorchestra.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/instances/a03Nt00000D93bOIAR
Sunday, April 27th
Hotel AKA & Old Town Books Present “A Silent Reading Party”
SOLD OUT
625 First St.
1pm - 3pm
SOLD OUT
The Silent Reading Parties hosted by Hotel AKA Alexandria and Old Town Books have become so popular that they are selling out almost as soon as they are announced! The April 27th Silent Reading Party is unfortunately sold out, but stay tuned to Hotel AKA’s instagram (@hotelaka.alexandria) for future event announcements.
Friday, April 25th
The Art League Presents, “The Art of Comedy”
(Rescheduled from March 7th)
1201 N. Royal St.
7pm - 9pm
Enjoy a night of comedy in the new Art League space at Muse. Featuring traditional stand up from Matt Chrzanowski, Alex Tyminski, and Izzy Gelfand and an improvisational set from Winston Hodges.
To purchase tickets, visit:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-art-of-comedy-tickets-1275150843499?aff=erelexpmlt
Wednesday, April 30th, 5:30pm to 7pm
Old Town North Alliance Spring Member Happy Hour
(Members Only)
Jula’s on the Potomac
Please join us for our Spring Member Happy Hour later this month at Jula’s on the Potomac. This is a Members-Only event. Members should have received an email invitation last week. Please RSVP so we know how many guests to expect. We are looking forward to seeing you there!
If you are interested in joining the Alliance, please contact director@otnalliance.org.
MAY PREVIEW OF EVENTS
Saturday, May 3rd
Made in ALX Spring Makers Market
Port City Brewing (3950 Wheeler Ave.)
12pm - 5pm
Shop from over two dozen local makers while you enjoy beer from local favorite Port City Brewing and delicious food from La Tingeria.
For more information, visit:
https://www.madeinalx.com/s/stories/spring-makers-market-at-port-city-brewing-co-may-3
Monday, May 12th and Tuesday, May 13th
MetroStage at the Lyceum Presents: A Roberta Flack Tribute Concert: Simply Roberta
Performers for Simply Roberta (image courtesy of Metrostage)
The Lyceum (201 S. Washington St.)
7pm
Join MetroStage for this tribute concert to the legendary Roberta Flack. Featuring Linda Harris with David Cole, Pete Frassrand, Emory Diggs, Manny Kellough (May 12th), Greg Holloway (May 13th), and special guest Steve Novosel. Limited tickets remain for May 12th, but a second show has been added on May 13th.
To purchase tickets for May 12th, visit:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/metrostage-at-the-lyceum-presents-simply-roberta-tickets-1287029583129
To purchase tickets for May 13th, visit:
Wednesday, May 28th Old Town North Alliance Night at Royal Restaurant (Open to All)
Dine at Royal Restaurant on Wednesday, May 28th from 4pm - 10pm and support the Old Town North Alliance. Enjoy a delicious meal and connect with other members and prospective members who are invested in the implementation of the Arts & Cultural District and the future of Old Town North!
To make a reservation, visit:
https://royalrestaurantva.com/
NEIGHBORHOOD NOTES
July/High Summer by Ali Wunder (image courtesy of The Art League)
Ali Wunder’s “The Language of Flowers” exhibit is open now in the Muse Studio One Gallery (1201 N. Royal St.). Stop by Muse between now and April 30th or view the exhibit online.
For more information and to view the online exhibit, visit:
Break Water, the temporary art exhibit in Waterfront Park is officially open for viewing. Break Water will be on view through November 2025.
For more information about the exhibit, visit:
https://www.alexandriava.gov/public-art/project/site-see-break-water
The 15th Annual March 150 Special Exhibition and Art Sale continues through April 19th at The Gallery @ Canal Center (11 Canal Center Plaza). Stop by on Fridays from 1pm - 8pm and Saturdays from 11am - 8pm. Proceeds benefit free community programs at the Torpedo Factory Art Center.
For more information, visit:
https://torpedofactory.org/event/15th-annual-march150/
The terrace at Jula’s on the Potomac is open for the season. Stop by to enjoy their amazing views of the waterfront and check out their new Terrace Menu and Social Hour menus.
For more information, visit:
Don’t miss out on these regularly scheduled events in and around Old Town North!
Weekly Farmer’s Market in Montgomery Park (every Sunday from 9am - 1pm).
Made in ALX classes (415 King St.). Also note new store hours for spring: Monday - Friday 10am - 7pm, Saturday 10am - 6pm, and Sunday 11am - 5pm. https://www.madeinalx.com/shop/classes-events/68
Volunteer with Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail. Various dates and locations. https://mountvernontrail.org/events/
History lectures and events at Lee-Fendall House. https://leefendallhouse.org/pages/events