Esten Concert Raises $22,000
A night of songs, jokes and nostalgia in Old Town benefits T.C. Williams grads.
The Durant Arts Center multipurpose room rarely gets as glamorous as it did on Friday night, May 3, when The Scholarship Fund of Alexandria ushered Charles “Chip” Esten onto its brightly lit stage. The “Nashville” star, who plays Deacon Claybourne on the hit series, informed the audience of Alexandrians that though he would be whoever they wanted him to be that night at autograph time — Deacon, Charles or Chip — he was the boy they knew. “It’s Chip not Charles. It’s Puskar,” said the star as he walked on.
Absentee Voting Starts Now for Democratic Primaries
Primaries held for lieutenant governor and attorney general.
The State Board of Elections reported Monday, May 6, that absentee voting began for the June 11, 2013 primary and all localities met the required 45-day deadline for mailing absentee ballots to voters.
Women Mean Business
In the two months since the much-hyped and dreaded sequester took effect, the daily economic forecast has been almost as painful as the slow grinding of bureaucratic wheels. But here’s some good economic news, especially for aspiring female entrepreneurs: the numbers are in your favor.
Alexandria Bulletin Board May 8
Information on events taking place in Alexandria.
Governor McDonnell Endorses Springfield Site for FBI Headquarters
In letter to FBI director, McDonnell says Fairfax County site will advance “national security mission.”
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell has publicly endorsed the Springfield warehouse site for the new FBI building headquarters. In an April 30 letter to FBI Director Robert Mueller and Dan Tangherlini, the acting administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration, McDonnell said the federally owned warehouse is the best choice for a number of reasons.
A Firehouse Mystery: Who Vandalized Two Antique Dalmatian Statues?
Two separate statues damaged on opposite sides of Old Town in late-night crime.
Ever since they were donated to the two Old Town fire stations a few weeks ago, the antique Dalmatian statues have stood as silent witnesses to the life of Alexandria's firefighters.
Federal Officials Audit T.C. Williams to Follow $6 Million in Federal Funds
Three-year program dubbed school 'persistently lowest achieving.'
For two days this week, a team of federal officials from the U.S. Department of Education were in Alexandria to follow the money.
Horse Trading at City Hall as Council Members Approach Budget Deadline
Warwick Pool to remain open for the short term; holiday lights to stay dim during the summer.
The Warwick Pool is likely to stay open for another year, although what happens beyond that is a mystery. But the holiday lights along King Street will likely go dark during the summer months, despite one councilwoman's longtime quest to persuade her colleagues otherwise.
33 Variations’
The genius of Beethoven at LTA
Was it genius or obsession? From the pen of Moises Kaufman, author of “The Laramie Project” and “Gross Indecency; The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde,” The Little Theatre of Alexandria debuts “33 Variations,” where eminent musicologist Katherine is determined to discover the reason Beethoven spent so much time writing a series of variations on a second-rate waltz he once described as “a cobbler’s patch.”
‘Ghost-Writer’
Witty wordplay at MetroStage.
Novelist Franklin Woolsey is a stickler for punctuation. He insists that the hyphen in “gentleman-farmer” suggests a dual nature, thus revealing the subtle meaning behind the hyphenated title of Michael Hollinger’s “Ghost-Writer,” a brilliant, witty production making its Washington-area debut at MetroStage. Not to be confused with the Roman Polanski film of the same name — without the hyphen — Hollinger’s tale is set in 1919 in Woolsey's one-room office in New York City. Much to the chagrin of his wife, Woolsey (Paul Morella) has hired Myra Babbage (Susan Lynskey) to type his novels as he dictates them.
Charles Esten: From Alexandria to 'Nashville'
May 3 show at the Durant Arts Center features Esten's new, original songs, benefits The Alexandria Scholarship Fund.
Charles "Chip" Esten, an Alexandria boy from age 8 who plays Deacon Claybourne on the ABC hit show "Nashville," likes to think of songwriting like it's farming. "I love the farming as much as I love the crops, I love doing it as much as what you get out of it," said Esten, speaking of his love for the writing process as much as the record deals and shows that it can yield. The 47-year-old actor, comedian and singer-songwriter credits Alexandria, in part, for helping him fall in love with the city of Nashville, because of its "Virginia qualities." Charles "Chip" Esten, an Alexandria boy from age 8 who plays Deacon Claybourne on the ABC hit show "Nashville," likes to think of songwriting like it's farming. "I love the farming as much as I love the crops, I love doing it as much as what you get out of it," said Esten, speaking of his love for the writing process as much as the record deals and shows that it can yield. The 47-year-old actor, comedian and singer-songwriter credits Alexandria, in part, for helping him fall in love with the city of Nashville, because of its "Virginia qualities."
Barking Up The Right Tree
Community supports dogs’ continued use of Westgrove Park.
Approximately 100 citizens attended the Park Authority’s public hearing Tuesday night, April 30, to discuss the proposed master plan for the Westgrove Park, off of Fort Hunt Road and adjacent to Belle View Elementary School. Although some residents and organizations expressed reservations and concerns, the majority of attendees and speakers supported the creation of the off leash dog area at Westgrove Park. Opposition was minor, with the bulk of the criticism aimed at fine tuning the proposal. The next step for the Park Authority staff is to review the residents’ comments and modify their proposal before submitting to the Park Authority Board for its review and final vote.
Cook Off Benefits Carpenter’s Shelter
More than 600 people crossed the threshold of the Birchmere to attend the 11th annual Carpenter’s Shelter Cook-Off fundraiser on Sunday afternoon, April 28.
New Beginning at Cemetery
New Beginning at Cemetery
Anywhere else in the city, it would appear out-of-place in size and design. But being the lodge — or gatehouse, as many say — at the entrance to Alexandria National Cemetery, the building is a perfect fit. Montgomery C. Meigs, Quartermaster General of the Army, is remembered for ordering that Federal troops be buried all over the plantation estate of Robert E. Lee. Today, that place is Arlington National Cemetery.
Mount Vernon Bulletin Board May 1
Information on events taking place in Mount Vernon.