Publisher's Notes

This July the USA will celebrate its 233th Birthday on July 4th and on July 11th the City of Alexandria will celebrate the 260th anniversary of the founding.
Oronoco Bay Park will be the scene of a day long celebration with entertainment, picnics, vendors and more. The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra will perform in the evening and the festivities will culminate with fireworks on the Potomac River while the orchestra plays Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture with U.S. Marine Corps canon fire. Of course there will be birthday cake.
To celebrate Independence Day the Little Theatre of Alexandria will present the play "1776" opening July 26th. Celebrating the theater's 75th season the show runs through August 23rd.
Not to be missed is The Fine Art of Jazz exhibit at the Black History Museum. Photographer Dan White spent most of two decades documenting the Kansas City jazz scene. The exhibit runs through August 9th.
While you are in the photography mood check out the Living Legends of Alexandria exhibit at the Lyceum. Photographer Nina Tisara's portraits show the people who have made remarkable contributions to the City of Alexandria. The exhibit is up through September 29th.
The month of August is ushered in with the 235th anniversary of the Friendship Firehouse. George Washington was a member of this unit. The event runs from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.
Gadsby's Tavern Museum will present The Jane Austen Ball on August 15th. This throw back to the 1790's will feature a variety of English country dances in the Museum's historic ballroom. Reserve you place on the dance floor.
Finish out the month at Metro Stage to see The Musical of Musicals. Enjoy this parody of musical theater where one story becomes five musicals. The curtain goes up on August 27th and runs through October 18th.
That's a sample of the happenings during July and August so mark your calendar and Discover All Things Alexandria.

Michael Geissinger
Publisher/Editor