The DC Traveler

Experience the unique holiday charm and colonial history at a evening candlelight walking tour of historic Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. 
The self-guided tours include four historical building.  On the walking tour are:

Gadsby’s Tavern Museum – a colonial tavern and meeting place.
Carlyle House – Alexandria’s only stone Palladian-style house dating back to 1753.
Lee-Fendall House, the home of the Lee family, and son Robert E. Lee. The urban plantation house was built in 1785 and restored to its early Victorian elegance.
Old Presbyterian Meeting House – In 1772, a small group of Calvinist who had split from the Church of England, …read more

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Visit the annual holiday extravaganza at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, Virginia.  Browse artist’s studios and galleries and watch as they create one-of-a-kind works of art and gifts.
Live music, drinks and hors d’oeuvres will add to the festive occasion.

Torpedo Factory Art Center – Holiday Open House 105 N. Union Street Alexandria, Virginia 22314 (map it) 703-838-4565
Dates and Times – Thursday, December 4, 2008  6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Admission – FREE, but please bring a non-perishable food item for their holiday food drive.
Nearest …read more

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When you mention a Parade of Lights to a pleasure boater, they know what exactly you mean.  You decorate your boat with lights and holiday decorations and take a slow harbor cruise so people can watch the brightly decorated crafts sail by.
This year, more than 50 power and sail boats should participate in annual Parade of Lights in suburban Alexandria, Virginia. Watch the floating parade along the Potomac River at the city’s historic waterfront.
Festivities also include pictures with Santa for small children. 
Holiday Boat Parade of Lights Alexandria’s Historic Waterfront at the foot of …read more

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Any good spy makes plans… And now is the time to plan to attend the annual New Year’s Eve gala – James Bond 007 Around The World party. It looks to be another great event to ring in the New Year.
Selected by Playboy as one of the top five parties for New Year’s Eve in the country, and with an estimated 1,600 guests, this party  attracts singles, couples and groups of friends alike.
While most New Year’s Eve parties simply offer a band and cocktails, the 007 Around The World party offers multiple country themes rooms, where you can pretend you …read more

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Former punk rock icon and hardcore Black Flag front man, Henry Rollins is hitting the road with a his new election-time ‘Recountdown Tour’ talking tour.
You’ll be sure to hear lots of Bush bashing, anti-war, anti-establishment, anti-government, and straight talking (and at times angry) social commentary on subjects ranging from music and culture to society and celebrities.
The host of the IFC one-on-one interview program The Henry Rollins Show, Henry grew up in Washington, DC where he sang for a couple punk bands, before joining Black Flag. He was considered one of the most intense and aggressive punk performers on the scene.  …read more

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“Here’s a bold Cabernet Sauvignon I created last season. Can you taste the raspberries and the hint of lavender?” That might be something you proudly state at your next wine tasting or dinner party. 
But even if you don’t own your own vineyard or winery in the South of France, Tuscany or the Napa Valley, you can still serve friends a personally created wine from the micro-winery, Carafe Wine Makers in suburban Alexandria, VA.
The concept of a boutique micro-winery or “brew on premise” winery is big in Canada, where over 600 micro-wineries are operating. Carafe Wine Makers, a franchise company with …read more

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Save gas when you visit King Street in Alexandria by using the FREE King Street Trolley.
Old Town Alexandria has blocks and blocks of unique shops and not your typical chain stores you find in the mall.  There’s countless  specialty boutiques, antiques shops, clothing stores, art galleries and a wide range of places to dine, most that let you leave your car behind and visit on foot or by hopping on the free trolley. 
The King Street Trolley runs up and down King Street, Alexandria’s main street, and runs daily (10 a.m. – 10 p.m.) about every 15 minutes. It starts near …read more

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One of Northern Virginia’s premiere professional orchestra, the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, presents a free outdoor pops concert and fireworks display along the banks of the Potomac River as part of Alexandria’s birthday celebration.   Join in for some great music and dancing under the stars.
Alexandria Symphony Orchestra – Pops on the Waterfront
Oronoco Bay Park
100 Madison Street
Alexandria, VA  (map it)
Dates and Times – Sunday, July 12, 2008,  8:30 p.m.
Admission – Free
Nearest Metro Subway Station – Braddock Road, Blue and Yellow lines, then a ¾ mile walk.
Parking – Street parking is available.
Image – Flickr, Symphony. 
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Hop aboard the Ferris wheel, the carousel or the Dizzy Dragon and enjoy the Alexandria Waterfront Festival at Oronoco Bay State Park in suburban Old Town Alexandria, Virginia.
The festival includes historic tall ship tours, live entertainment from bands such as on Saturday.
Take the kids to the free Children’s Harbor Tent for great crafts and activities, and then visit the Ocean in Motion interactive traveling aquarium and learn about the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.
 
Toad the Wet Sprocket video – Walk on the Ocean
Your admission price also includes a tour of the tall ship Schooner Sultana, a replica of …read more

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On the Potomac River waterfront in suburban Alexandria is The Torpedo Factory Art Center. The center is, yes, a former torpedo factory.
  
The day after World War I ended (1918), the U.S. Navy began construction on the U.S. Naval torpedo station in suburban Alexandria, VA.  Designed to build torpedoes launched from both submarines and aircraft, the factory housed torpedo manufacturing facilities for five years after World War I.  During the next 18 years of peace, the factory was used as munitions storage depot. (Can you imagine munitions being stored like that today, so close to a major metropolitan area?)
After the start …read more

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