Sunday, August 08, 2010

4MRMarket Report: After the Storm Edition

We've dried off, cleaned up and powered on, so the Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market is open again today (Sunday) at 8am.  Today Jeremy Fiori will be performing in the Market Lounge this week and the ANHSI (Alexandria Neighborhood Health Services), the providers behind the Arlandria Health Center, will be set up in the Community Tent to educate and inform about their programs and services.

ANHSI is also piloting a project this week, with the help of a government grant, to provide farm market vouchers to their patients -- an effort to make fresh farm products available to low income neighbors. In the near future, 4MRMarket hopes to build on this by making EBT (electronic benefits transfer, aka food stamps) available at the market as well.

The usual complement of vendors will be on hand again today (the full list is here).  Come on down and enjoy Four Mile Run Park.  It's a beautiful day.

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The Four Mile Run Farmers and Artisans Market (Alexandria, Virginia 22305) brings fresh, nutritious food to people of all income levels, provide an opportunity for local artisans and producers of goods to bring their wares to market, strive to reflect the diversity of the community, and improve the quality of life for Arlandria residents and visitors.  It is part of an overall vision to expand and improve Four Mile Run park and the surrounding neighborhood.


The Market is open every Sunday from 8am until 1pm from April through October in Four Mile Run Park at 4109 Mt Vernon Avenue, Alexandria 22305


For more info see: http://www.arlandria.org/p/4mr-market.html

Tuesday, August 03, 2010

Tonight is National Night Out



Not that you aren't familiar with many of your neighbors already, but no doubt there are those you've never met and some new additions to your neighborhood. National Night out is tonight (click here for history and details on the event as a whole). Come socialize with old and new neighbors, meet Alexandria's finest, and enjoy free food, drinks, and games (activities vary by location). Getting to know your neighbors and the police force fosters safer, more interconnected communities.

Here is Alexandria Police's official news release on NNO:

Alexandria Celebrates National Night Out

On Tuesday, August 3, from 5:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M., City officials will partner with Alexandria Police to celebrate National Night Out. The special celebration is part of a nationwide crime and drug prevention effort sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW).

To heighten awareness of crime prevention, residents in more than 25 Alexandria neighborhoods will turn on their porch lights, host neighborhood cook-outs and sponsor block parties in support of National Night Out. Mayor William D. Euille, members of City Council and Chief of Police Earl Cook will reaffirm the City’s commitment to fighting crime by visiting residents throughout the City. Chief Cook will be attending the National Night Out events at various locations throughout the City.

McGruff the Crime Fighting Dog, the K-9 Unit, Bike Patrol Unit and Motor Unit will tour neighborhoods and offer special demonstrations.

“National Night Out is an opportunity to celebrate the neighborhood spirit and strengthen our relationship with the community,” says Acting Chief Cook. “Our residents continue to support our department in reducing serious crime and in keeping Alexandria a safe place to live. National Night Out provides us with the opportunity to thank residents for their vigilance and their dedication to the City.”
Several of those 25 neighborhoods are in the North End of Alexandria. Here are details for a few North End neighborhood National Night Out events:
  • Lynhaven: 6:30 - 8:00 - Block party at the Lynhaven Rock Park. Raffle, games, food, and entertainment. 
  • Hume Springs: 6:30 - 8ish - Block party at the Flagpole Park at Edison and Dale St. Pizza and refreshments served and prizes raffled off. Show up at 6:30 to see APD Motors and the command bus (will be there for 1/2 hour).
  • Lennox Place at Sunnyside: 6:30 – 9:00pm - Cookout at Courtland Circle. From their flyer: "Courtland Circle is a busy place every National Night Out. Come out, meet your neighbors, enjoy the food and help us all welcome and support Alexandria City Police Department’s finest."

Sunday, August 01, 2010

4MRMarket Report: Lounge Edition

Now in its 7th week, the Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market opened today with several new craft vendors, live music, a newly created kids play area and, for the whole family,  the newly opened Market Lounge.

Vendors at the market now include produce from Pleitez Farms and Shlagel Farms, Northern Lights Seafood, salads from Zelda's Nova Soul, teas from Pearl's Fine Teas and Alexandria Tea and Spice Exchange, fresh baked goods from Vera's Bakery, Bread and Chocolate, Marcela's Bakery and MT Pastries and original confections from Krishon Chocolates. Crafters from UncommonKnits and local artisans round out the market along with St Elmo's Coffee Pub. (Stiffler Farms Beef has the week off but will be back in the near future).


A newly created Market Lounge has been set up for folks to enjoy the beautiful weather at Four Mile Run Park while indulging in breakfast, brunch or lunch and good conversation and live music nearby.




And thanks to folks from the Alexandria Arts Commission, the marketplace at the park now hosts a kids play area freshly painted over the past two weekends.


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The Four Mile Run Farmers and Artisans Market (Alexandria, Virginia 22305) brings fresh, nutritious food to people of all income levels, provide an opportunity for local artisans and producers of goods to bring their wares to market, strive to reflect the diversity of the community, and improve the quality of life for Arlandria residents and visitors.  It is part of an overall vision to expand and improve Four Mile Run park and the surrounding neighborhood.


The Market is open every Sunday from 8am until 1pm from April through October in Four Mile Run Park at 4109 Mt Vernon Avenue, Alexandria 22305


For more info see: http://www.arlandria.org/p/4mr-market.html