Weekend Update

Jefferson-Houston Meeting Monday (February 6)

ACPS will hold another meeting to discuss design of the new Jefferson-Houston school on Monday, February 6 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM in the school's multipurpose room.

The burning question for the neighborhood is whether ACPS really believes that a scanty 15 minute at the last meeting and perhaps two hours at the upcoming meeting are sufficient to reach consensus on the design of a new and much bigger school in an established neighborhood.  

Second Arrest in Lenny Harris Case

The discovery of Lenny Harris's body in a Ft. Washington, Maryland well over the past weekend, months after his disappearance, has triggered a tide of arrests in the last few days.  Earlier this week, Linwood Johnson of Prince George's County was arrested on murder charges, and today we learn that a 20-year old, Ivan Newman of Waldorf, Maryland, has also been charged. 

Living the Small Life

The Growler recommends a new exhibition of African-American dollhouses at the Alexandria Black History Museum.  Longtime Parker-Gray resident Sharon Frazier and Linwood Smith constructed more than a dozen buildings and rooms – most inspired by real places in Alexandria – in miniature. This exhibition runs from February 9 through May 1.

The two artists, both lifetime residents of Alexandria, began working together on their collection in 1994, combining their talents and drawing on their memories of places and people in Alexandria. Mrs. Frazier, a retired registered nurse, developed skills in miniaturization while Mr. Smith, a retired automotive mechanic, used his skills as a craftsman to construct dollhouses to scale. They first exhibited at the Alexandria Black History Museum in 2008 and the Growler found the dollhouses utterly charming.

New models include include the Carver Nursery School (the former American Legion building), the Robert Robinson Library, and the Hayden Photography Studio. Several of the buildings from the earlier and very popular exhibition also return, including a barbershop and hair dressing salon, a medical building, an attorney’s office, and a florist, all patterned after actual businesses in the Parker-Gray community.

An opening reception will be held on Thursday, February 9, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and guests will have the opportunity to meet Mrs. Frazier and Mr. Smith. The reception is free and open to all. Those wishing to attend are asked to RSVP by calling 703.746.4356.  The Alexandria Black History Museum is located at 902 Wythe Street.