Here’s a roundup of all the events, live music, and entertainment happening around Alexandria this weekend.  Enjoy! 

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Friday, April 19

Things To Do

• 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.: Character Building Workshop at Military Children’s Six Foundation
• 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Fun Friday at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
• 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Degas Art Bingo at Nepenthe Gallery
• 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.: In My Cookie Era! Cookie Decorating at Lost Boy Cider
• 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Guided Meditation With Cats at Mount Purrnon Cate Cafe & Wine Bar

Live Music & Entertainment

• Alexandria Bier Garden: Hall Pass from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Blackwall Hitch: Ryan Forrester from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m.
• Daniel O’Connell’s: Johnny Artis Band from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
• Fish Market: DJ at 9 p.m. 
• Galactic Panther: The Dead Queens W/ Folking Tunes and Tennessee Frisky from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Laporta’s Restaurant: The Satin Doll Trio from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Lost Boy Cider: Game Night from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Poehemia & Pat Carroll at 9 p.m.
• O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Crushing Diamonds from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m.
• Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
• The Light Horse: Broken Ground at 9:30 p.m.
• The Study at Morrison House: Live piano music from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Two Nineteen Restaurant: Rich Russman Band from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

City of Alexandria

• 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.: Parents Night Out at Mount Vernon Recreation Center

Saturday, April 20

Things To Do

• 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.: ALX Dog Walk at Oronoco Bay Park
• 7 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Old Town Farmers’ Market at Market Square Plaza
• 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Del Ray Farmers Market at Pat Miller Neighborhood Square
• 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Pop Up Spring Marketplace Boutique at the Athenaeum
• 10 a.m.  to 12 p.m.: Del Ray Kitchen Confidential Design Tour at Del Ray Design Tour
• 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.: Animal Family Day at Mount Vernon
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Old Town Alexandria Historic Home and Garden Tour Kicks Off Spring Tradition in Old Town Alexandria
• 10:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.: Saturday Pop Up, Pop In Story Time at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Exploring Watercolor Takes Courage – A painting class by artists Teresa Brunson and Lynn Martin at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Garden Day Tours at Carlyle House Historic Park
• 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Board Game Cafe at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
• 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.: Embroidered Tapestry Workshop with Beta White at Fibre Space
• 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.: 10th Anniversary Party at Sweet Fire Donna’s
• 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.: ReFashion Show at The Garden ALX
• 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Brews & Booze Motor Cruise with Tall ship Providence Foundation
• 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.: Gadsby’s Tavern Museum Society Spring Fling at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum
• 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.: To The Sea | Pro Coro Alexandria Concert at Westminster Presbyterian Church

Live Music & Entertainment

• Alexandria Bier Garden: Small Town 7 from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Blackwall Hitch: Larry Thomas Duo from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m.
• Daniel O’Connell’s: Practically Einstein from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
• Galactic Panther: RedHorizon, The Backbeat Collective & Zawadi Live Music @ Galactic Panther from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Hops N Shine: Karaoke from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Laporta’s Restaurant: Sharon Clark Trio from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Poehemia & Pat Carroll at 9 p.m.
• Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center: ASO Presents: On the Town & Shostakovich 5 – Shuffle and Deal at 7:30 p.m.
• Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
• The Birchmere Music Hall: Steep Canyon Rangers at 7:30 p.m.
• The Light Horse: Black Cactus Hotels at 9:30 p.m.
• The Study at Morrison House: Live piano music from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Two Nineteen Restaurant: Bill Pappas Project from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

City of Alexandria

• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Charles Houston Health & Fitness Expo at Charles Houston Recreation Center
• 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Annual Invitational Cheer Competition at Alexandria City High School Gymnasium

Sunday, April 21

Things To Do

• 8 a.m.: Dyke Marsh Sunday Morning Bird Walk at Dyke Marsh
• 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market
• 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The Art of Manual Coffee Brewing at Galactic Panther
• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Old Town North Farmers Market 
• 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.: Animal Family Day at Mount Vernon
• 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Burpees and Brews at Port City Brewing Company
• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Girl Scout Garden Day at Carlyle House
• 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Writers Group at Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
• 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Kids Arts & Crafts at Hops N Shine
• 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Oddball Cinema – Barry Landon at James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library
• 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.: Jazz at Meade featuring the Vaughn Ambrose Quartet at Meade Memorial Episcopal Church

Live Music & Entertainment

• Blackwall Hitch: Jazz Brunch with Black Coffee from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Daniel O’Connell’s: Conor Malone from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Galactic Panther: ESP’s InterGalactic Open Mic from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
• Hops N Shine: The Office Trivia Night from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Laporta’s Restaurant: Steve Zubrick from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Walt Johnson Trio from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Meade Memorial Episcopal Church: Jazz at Meade featuring the Vaughn Ambrose Quartet from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Rook Richards at 8:30 p.m.
• Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center: ASO Presents: On the Town & Shostakovich 5 – Shuffle and Deal at 3 p.m.
• Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
• The Birchmere Music Hall: SGGL (Speidel, Goodrich, Goggin, & Lille) at 7:30 pm
• Two Nineteen Restaurant: Kev Powe Thang from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m.

City of Alexandria

• 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award at Del Ray GardenFest

Image via Facebook

Ryan Belmore is an award-winning news publisher, editor, and journalist. Born and raised in Rhode Island, he now resides in Alexandria with his wife and two rescue dogs. He was recently appointed to the City of Alexandria’s Board of Zoning Appeals and previously served on the City’s Commission For The Arts. Email listings and events to Ryan at [email protected]. Follow Ryan on Instagram at whatsupalexandria.

Beautiful, calm and easygoing can be used to describe Burch!

This four-year-old black cat is ready for her lucky break and she’s been on the prowl for a wonderful forever home.

Burch is, of course, a beauty with piercing green eyes. She just loves the company of people, according to AWLA spokesperson Erin Shackelford.

“She likes to be pet and receive affection and will give you loud purrs of content,” said Shackelford. “So far, Burch seems to prefer human interaction over toys.”

This kitty just knows what she wants!

Is Burch that special companion you’ve been searching for? Read her entire profile to learn more and to start the adoption process email [email protected] or call 703-746-4774

Alexandria has seen an increase in neglected animal seizures over the last few years, including animals rescued from hoarding situations and one confiscated alligator.

This year, 11 animals have been legally seized due to animal cruelty/neglect investigations, versus two animals seized in 2022 and eight in 2021, according to the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (4101 Eisenhower Avenue).

Most recently, on July 11, a man brought a cat into the animal shelter that he found in an apartment in the unit block of E. Linden Street near Hoofs Run. The Alexandria Police Department then responded to a call for service and found the home “filled with large amounts of trash and clutter and had a bad odor of feces throughout the residence,” according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.

“Officers on the scene reported they did not believe the residence was suitable for habitation,” according to the search warrant affidavit.

Three cats were taken from the home and AWLA, with help from the City Attorney’s office, was granted custody of all three cats by the General District Court on August 3. Police later found that the woman had been convicted of animal care violations for hoarding 36 cats in Henrico County, Georgia, according to the search warrant affidavit.

“The cats were very dirty with feces and urine embedded in their fur, but were otherwise in good nutritional condition,” said Tony Rankin, the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria’s chief of animal services. “We do not plan on filing any charges at this time. The case info was forwarded to Adult Protective Services in the hopes that (the former owner) can receive assistance.”

The number of animal abuse calls for service remains steady, with 174 calls reported from Jan. 1 to July 31 this year, 175 calls for service for the same period in 2022, 138 calls for service in 2021 and 93 calls for service in 2020, according to AWLA.

Animal Services received 3,382 calls for service in 2022, 3,252 calls in 2021 and 2,218 calls in 2020. Rankin said that a vast majority of those calls are for wildlife complaints related to barking dogs, aggressive dogs and dog bites, while about 10% are for stray animal calls.

Who’s at the shelter now?

There are currently 55 animals available for adoption at the animal shelter, and 89 animals in the building (47 dogs, 30 cats, a ferret, six rabbits and five hamsters). Sometimes the shelter also has tropical birds.

Many of the animals are surrendered by owners who couldn’t take care of them.

“All the hamsters with Marvel names are surrenders,” Rankin said. “They started out with two and then they had 20 on their hands… So, Groot, Pepper Pots, Natasha, Valkrie, and Shuri were all surrenders.”

AWLA is open every day for adoptions from noon to 7 p.m.

Alright, but what about the alligator?

Last summer, a three-foot-long alligator named Daryl was brought into the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter (4101 Eisenhower Avenue). Daryl had been living in a five gallon fish tank in a small apartment in the West End.

“The owner got it at a roadside place in Florida,” said Rankin. “The only reason we got it was because he made his girlfriend mad and she called him out for having an alligator in the apartment.”

The former owner lost an appeal for custody of Daryl with the Alexandria General District Court, and AWLA then worked with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources to find him a new home at a wildlife enter in Lexington, Virginia.

“He wanted his alligator back,” Rankin said. “But he lost his appeal.”

Image via Google Maps

A national 24-hour emergency veterinary hospital chain is looking to open a location in the Shoppes at Foxchase in the West End.

New York City-based Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG) filed a special use permit (SUP) application to open at 4525 Duke Street, which is the current home of Mattress Firm. VEG wants to transform the 5,279-square-foot space into an animal clinic that would be open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

“The proposed use is a veterinary hospital operating 24 hours a day,” VEG wrote in its special use permit (SUP) application. “The veterinary hospital will not include boarding.”

The SUP was filed on Feb. 27, and the last day for public comments is March 23 before it goes to the Planning Commission and City Council for final approval. A public notification was also posted on the front door of the business and city planners have confirmed that the address is correct.

VEG has dozens of clinics around the country, and the Alexandria proposal would make it the first location in Virginia.

The proposal includes a complete renovation of the interior of the store with examination rooms, an operating room for surgeries, a lab/pharmacy, workstations, seating nooks for customers, a staff break room, a laundry room and storage areas.

“Emergency is all we do, and that’s why we do it best,” VEG said on its website. “VEG is a true partner with your primary vet, acting as an extension of their practice for after-hours emergency care.”

In its application, VEG anticipates accommodating 15-to-20 customers a day.

Representatives with Mattress Firm did not respond to calls for comment, and aside from the SUP request there is no official notification of whether the store is closing. The property manager for the shopping center’s owner, Global Retail Investors LLC, also did not respond to calls for comment.

Mattress Firm filed for bankruptcy in 2018 and closed hundreds of stores. There are reportedly 2,400 Mattress Firm locations around the country, and other stores in Alexandria are located at 3925 A Richmond Highway in Potomac Yard and at 821 S. Washington Street in Old Town.

The adoption fees for a pair of tabby cat brothers are covered in Alexandria.

It’s hard to tell apart Pakizim and his brother Pistikim, since both two-year-old cats have similar personalities.

“Both are inquisitive, affectionate and playful, rushing to greet you as you enter their enclosure to solicit attention with head butts and meows,” said Gina Hardter, a spokesperson with the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. “But they are equally happy playing with a wide variety of toys together, with their goofy antics amusing everyone they meet.”

Through the month of December, it’s two for the price of none, because Pistikim and Pakizim’s adoption fees have been pre-paid by Priority Automotive as part of the AWLA’s Home for the Pawlidays event. Schedule time to meet them both at AlexandriaAnimals.org/Adopt-By-Appointment.

Bread & Water Co. just got into the pet store business.

The restaurant company recently finalized its purchase of The Dog Park at 705 King Street. The dog and cat boutique has been owned and operated the last 12 years by Anna Franklin, who thanked her customers on Instagram

“As some of you may already know, I have officially sold The Dog Park,” Franklin wrote. “These past 12+ years have been more than I could have hoped.”

New owners Markos Panas, Noelle Rickey and Doug Abedje opened their first business, Bread and Water, in the Belle View Shopping Center. They also own Beeliner Diner in the Bradlee Shopping Center and the Bun Papa sandwich restaurants.

Rickey was a former veterinary technician for 10 years and has a lengthy background in retail.

“We have a lot of work to do, but my hope and goal is to make something that is successful, does good for the community and can grow,” Panas said. “This is all one day at a time, but I’m excited about the opportunities to be an active member of the community.”

Panas said that the deal has been months in the works, and that his partners also recently became members of the Chamber ALX and the Old Town Business Association.

“We’re going to offer food subscriptions with online ordering,” Panas said. “There’s also a dog grooming station built out in the back that has ever been used. So, we’re going to do something with that. We’re also going to do a lot of public events.”

Photo via The Dog Park/Instagram

Inquisitive cat Loki is up for adoption in Alexandria.

The four-year-old black and white male domestic short-haired cat isn’t as mischievous as his name suggests, said Gina Hardter, spokesperson with the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.

“Loki is the ultimate lapcat, and even in his current office environment, you can still generally find him on a staff lap in front of the computer,” Hardter said. “Loki’s also an inquisitive gent, who likes to know what’s going on in the world around him, whether it’s watching visitors at the door or checking out the birds through the window.”

Learn more about Loki by going to AlexandriaAnimals.org/Adopt-By-Appointment or calling 703-746-4774.

Zen kitty Callie is looking for a new home in Alexandria.

The 13-year-old female domestic longhaired brown and gray tabby cat is up for adoption with the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.

“Callie has gorgeous long fur, and would love the help of a personal stylist who can help her keep it brushed and fluffy,” said AWLA spokesperson Gina Hardter. “Callie is the ultimate zen kitty, who would love to be by your side for a variety of calming activities, from reading a book to taking in a movie marathon to watching the world go by outside the window.”

November is National Adopt a Senior Pet Month, and Callie’s adoption fees are waived for the rest of the month. Schedule time to meet her by emailing [email protected] or calling 703-746-4774 (opt. 2).

Little Lola looks good for being 12 years old. The black and white domestic short-haired cat looks and acts half her age, according to the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.

November is National Adopt a Senior Pet Month, and all month long adoption fees are being lifted for AWLA’s senior pets.

“Lola has lived with cats her whole life (including the also adoptable Regina) and would be open to a variety of household types, including those with built-in feline friends,” said Gina Hardter, spokesperson for the AWLA. “As a super senior, Lola has years of best friend experience, and she’s happy to share that with her new human family.”

Like his name, hanging out with Whirlpool the cat is relaxing. The 17-month-old male gray tabby cat with piercing golden eyes is up for adoption with the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.

Whirlpool is currently enjoying a stay with one of the AWLA’s foster caregivers, where he has built a collection of blanket nests throughout the home where you can find him lounging throughout the day.

“”Looking for someone to tell about your day?” asked AWLA spokesperson Gina Hardter. “Once Whirlpool feels comfortable in his new home, he’s an affectionate fellow who loves to let his human friends know when it’s time for ear and chin scratches by gently butting them with his head.”

Learn more about Whirlpool and schedule time to meet him from his foster home by emailing [email protected] or calling 703-746-4774 (opt. 2).