Named one of America's Top ArtPlaces 2013, Alexandria is nationally recognized as a community with a "backbone of creative culture . . . exceptionally successful at combining art, artists and venues for creativity and expression with independent businesses, retail shops and restaurants, and a walkable lifestyle to make vibrant neighborhoods."
The city's visual arts hub is the world-famous Torpedo Factory Art Center, a former munitions factory transformed into a visual arts powerhouse with three floors of artist studios and galleries, plus the headquarters of the Art League School which serves 7,000 students annually. Other venues gaining buzz include the Athenaeum. Nestled in an historic bank building, it's a fine arts gallery with a weekly schedule of live music. Independent galleries for art, jewelry, and antiques hold treasures to discover around every corner.
The music scene is quirky and diverse. The world-famous music hall the Birchmere hosts the biggest names in country, folk and rock. Locals love the piano bar at the acclaimed Grille at Morrison House, which features performances by the Bob Smith, the White House pianist from the Nixon through the Clinton administrations. The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, Northern Virginia's only professional orchestra, is led by Maestro Kim Allen Kluge, whose dramatic and powerful conducting style is hailed by the Washington Post. And seven nights a week, the best in local jazz musicians perform at Laporta's, a cozy Italian restaurant.
Patrons flock to performances at MetroStage for "Off-Broadway on the River's Edge" and productions at the Little Theatre of Alexandria, the area's oldest continuously operating community theater presenting musicals, comedies, and dramas. Nearly 100 years after it first opened, the Old Town Theater has returned to its original splendor, saluting its vaudeville past with a full calendar of live entertainment, including comedy, music, magic and dance.
Enjoy a fun-filled show that takes you on a memorable musical "tour" of America presented by the area's best singers and musicians with multi-media effects and costumed historical greeters. Presented
Experience the foremost men's a cappella performing chorus in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area in a cutting-edge renaissance of vocal and visual excellence. Alexandria's own championship
The Alexandria Singers are the DC Area's premier pops chorus performing a repertoire of all types of American Popular Music - jazz, swing, standards, Broadway, and contemporary pop. Catch them at
Maestro Kim Allen Kluge guides the professional orchestra through critically acclaimed performances full of passion and power. Five concerts Sept.-May at 8 p.m. at the Schlesinger Center in
Founded in 1954, The Art League, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization, is among the nation's largest and oldest multi-service organizations for visual artists. As a major component of the cultural fabric of
A Greek Revival building built in 1851, it was home to the Bank of the Old Dominion, where Robert E. Lee did his banking. Today it is an art gallery and home of the Northern Virginia Fine Arts
This world-famous music hall hosts the biggest names in country, folk and rock. Recent and upcoming shows range from Isaac Hayes and Southside Johnny & the Asbury Dukes to the Bacon Brothers (Kevin
Designed in grand Art-Deco style and located in the heart of Alexandria, this is a club like no other in the Washington, D.C. area. Featuring white-tablecloth fine dining and live world-class jazz
A community art organization featuring visual and functional arts with monthly exhibits. Hours are Thursday noon-6 p.m., First Thursday (May through September) noon-9 p.m., Friday noon-9 p.m.,
Come visit our new location at the corner of Prince and Royal streets, just one block off of King and in one of the prettiest blocks in Old Town.Largest selection of Old Town prints and gifts,
Keenthings is a studio / workshop / cool little shop in the Torpedo Factory Art Center that sells Lisa Schumaier's art work. You will find large and small ceramic sculpture, found object mixed media
The area's oldest, continuously operating theater performs musicals, comedies, and dramas year-round with a holiday show in early December. Performances at 8 p.m.; Sun matinees.
You are royally invited to the finest live dinner show in Northern VA. Get live comedy, a four course feast, ale and live music for just one low price. Friday and Saturday nights from 7:00 until
MetroStage is a professional not-for-profit theater producing works by established and emerging playwrights, chosen for their social, political and entertainment value.
Now open! Nearly 100 years after it first opened, the Old Town Theater is returned to its original splendor. The theater, built just as vaudeville was giving way to motion pictures, is saluting its
This self-taught American folk artist portrays scenes from Alexandria and Washington, D.C. Her book about Alex, the un-official mascot of Alexandria, is available at the Alexandria Visitors Center and
We are the first fiber-art gallery in the Washington, D.C. area and a cooperative of 70 members. With 11 juried shows yearly, we exhibit and sell the finest in fiber art.
Constructed in 1918 for the manufacturing of torpedoes, the Torpedo Factory now features 82 working artists' studios, six galleries, the Art League School, Alexandria Archaeology Museum, and a cafe
Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Association (WMPA) is a not-for-profit organization of musicians and music lovers dedicated to making high-quality musical performances and opportunities

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