From Cows to Condos, a new exhibit tracing the transformation of the region from agricultural to suburban, opens at The Manassas Museum on October 3, just in time for the Manassas Fall Jubilee.

The exhibit is part of the heritage series From Cows to Condos that uses educational programs and interactive learning to educate students and museum visitors about the significant changes in the county. Artifacts from many of the area’s once-familiar farm landmarks will bring to life the region’s agricultural heritage in the exhibit, open through May 15, 2010.
 

From Cows to Condos is open during the museum’s regular hours, Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is free with admission. Call 703-368-1873 or visit www.manassasmuseum.org for more information.
 

A new Manassas Museum exhibit opening in time for Black History Month, will highlight 27 unique African American stories and events depicted on Virginia highway historical markers.

The exhibit, Sites and Stories: African American History in Virginia, illuminates the often little known stories told in those familiar silver and black roadside historic markers found throughout the commonwealth. On loan from the Virginia Historical Society, the exhibit runs from February 2 through May 31.
 

The exhibit hopes to encourage visitors to travel to the physical sites of the historical markers, such as Farmville, Louisa County, New Kent County, Hopewell, Christiansburg, and Norfolk. Some of the sites are tourist destinations with surviving buildings or fortifications, but others only have the markers themselves to commemorate what happened there.

The exhibit and opening reception are included with admission.
 

Author and noted historian James Thompson will highlight events and individuals connected with the birth of Virginia;s aristocracy, a process that began in 1620 and ended in 1700. The discussion will be animated with a fascinating collection of illustrations and portraits of the scoundrels and heroes who carried the process forward including Thomas, 2nd Lord Culpeper, Col. Richard Lee and Thomas, 5th Lord Fairfax. Signed copies of Thompson's new book, "The Birth of Virginia's Aristocracy", will be for sale.

Please call 703-367-7872 for more information on this lecture.

City Square Cafe presents their annual Valentine's Dinner! Make a date for a gourmet romantic dinner to celebrate your Valentine.

Reservations available at 5pm, 7pm and 9pm. Please call City Square Cafe at 703-369-6022 for more information and to make your reservation.

La Capilla is planning a special event for Valentine's Day. Come join them for a pre-fixed menu, featuring exciting appetizers and salad with your choice of entrees, and concluding with a dessert sampler. Total cost for dinner is $45.00 per person, but for an additional $10.00 you can enjoy the wonderful entertainment of Soly Rumba. Make your reservations now for a lovers night of dinner and dancing at La Capilla.

Toddler Tuesdays, The Manassas Museum’s popular program for children ages two through five, resumes for the spring on Tuesday, February 16, with a “Victorian Valentine’s Day” theme.

The programs offer toddlers and their caregivers an opportunity to enjoy songs, story-telling and crafts, and include a special take-home surprise. Toddler Tuesdays are held at the Museum from 10:00-11:00 AM and the cost is $10 per child, per session.

Funding for the series has been generously provided by NOVEC.

Parents may register their children for Toddler Tuesday on-line at www.manassasmuseum.org or by calling 703-368-1873.
 

The Manassas Museum will offer a quilt program designed for Junior and Cadette Girl Scouts on Saturday, February 20 from 12 noon to 3 p.m. at the museum.

Individual Girl Scouts or troops are invited to learn about basic quilting skills, the meanings of quilt patterns from history, and the materials used in quilting. Participants will also create an original nine patch quilt “mug rug” to take home.

The program will fulfill some requirements for a Junior badge or Cadette interest project.

The cost for the program is $18, including materials, and preregistration is required by visiting www.manassasmuseum.org or by calling 703-368-1873.

Dr. Deborah Lee will speak about the Underground Railroad in Northern Virginia, specifically sites along the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area. Dr. Lee will highlight people and places that showed how many in the region resisted slavery or assisted others in their escape to freedom. Dr. Lee recently authored "Honoring Their Paths: African-American Contributions along the Journey Through Hallowed Ground", which highlights African-American contributions to American history along the Journey Through Hallowed Ground.

Please call 703-367-7872 for more information on this lecture.

The Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Dinner, which was originally scheduled for February 5 has been re-scheduled to February 26 due to inclement weather. Details for the event time and location remain the same.

The PW Chapter of Ducks Unlimited is hosting our 32th annual fundraiser dinner. Dinner includes door prizes, raffle prizes, items for sale as well as our exciting silent and live auctions. Ticket prices for the event are $85 per individual and $150 per couple.Corporate tables seating 8 people can be reserved for $900.

This event was originally scheduled for  February 7, but has been re-scheduled to February 28 due to weather concerns.

On Sunday, February 28, The Manassas Museum will continue its observance of Black History Month with a musical performance by “Voices of Tomorrow” and the “Step Team,” two popular youth groups from the First Baptist Church of Manassas. The groups will perform a lively mix of songs, dance and stories.

Both groups of local teens have performed for enthusiastic audiences at the Museum during the last six years. “Voices of Tomorrow” sings Gospel music, while the “Step Team” performs a unique dance-like step to music.

This year the free performance will begin at 1 p.m. at the Center for the Arts/Candy Factory at 9419 Battle Street in Manassas.
 

The exhibit and opening reception are included with admission. Visit www.manassasmuseum.org or call 703-368-1873 for details.

Can Chef Robert do it? Recreate Julia Child's' classic recipe for Bouef Bourguinon that gave Julie Powell such fits in the hit film "Julie and Julia"? Will Three Fox Vineyards Piemontese Nebbiolo or Alouette Cab Franc be the perfect match for this? Come find out, have a fabulous feast and enjoy a screening of "Julie and Julia." Not a "beef eater"? No worries - Chef Robert will have an alternate choice for you.
 

Please contact the City Square Cafe at 703-36-6022 for more information.

By the way, Three Fox Vineyards was selected by Sony Pictures to provide wines for the "Julie and Julia" opening week reception at the Smithsonian!
 

Toddler Tuesdays, The Manassas Museum’s popular program for children ages two through five. The Tuesday, March 16 program theme is “Under the Sea.”

The programs offer toddlers and their caregivers an opportunity to enjoy songs, story-telling and crafts, and include a special take-home surprise. Toddler Tuesdays are held at the Museum from 10:00-11:00 AM and the cost is $10 per child, per session.

Funding for the series has been generously provided by NOVEC.

Parents may register their children for Toddler Tuesday on-line at www.manassasmuseum.org or by calling 703-368-1873.
 

The 11th Annual Shamrock 5K Run/ 1M Fun Run Walk will take place on Saturday, March 20 beginning at 8:30 AM. The Run/Walk will begin and end at George C. Round Elementary School in Manassas. The registration fees are $20 to Run and $10 to Walk. Please go to www.active.com to register today! The first 500 registrants are guaranteed a t-shirt!

Local historian Art Candenquist takes us back to the early days of the American Civil War when Prince William County found itself in the front lines of the conflict. He will discuss the creation and usage of the Confederate Centreville Railroad, the first military railroad in US history. This railroad was used to send supplies from Manassas Junction to the troops in the Centreville area and was crucial to them in the winter of 1861.

Please call 703-367-7872 for more information on this lecture.

The City Square is happy to announce its 7th Annual Spring Wine Dinner has been scheduled for March 25, 2010 at 7 PM. Five courses carefully prepared and perfectly paired with Chef’s selection of wines.

Please call City Square Cafe at 703-369-6022 for more information.

Toddler Tuesdays, The Manassas Museum’s popular program for children ages two through five. The Tuesday, April 13 program theme is “Trains.”

The programs offer toddlers and their caregivers an opportunity to enjoy songs, story-telling and crafts, and include a special take-home surprise. Toddler Tuesdays are held at the Museum from 10:00-11:00 AM and the cost is $10 per child, per session.

Funding for the series has been generously provided by NOVEC.

Parents may register their children for Toddler Tuesday on-line at www.manassasmuseum.org or by calling 703-368-1873.
 

We're bringing 2,000 youth and adult volunteers to Georgetown South for a massive one day, one community, one impact neighborhood revitilization project on Saturday April 24, 2010 (Earth Day weekend).

Manassas and Indianapolis were the ONLY two cities in the United States selected for this concentrated effort by Group Work Camps (the award-winning Week of Hope Organizers).

Local partners include Georgetown South Community Council, Boys and Girls Club of Manassas, Manassas Assembly of God and Prince William Study Circles. Project list includes painting, landscaping and tree planting, replacing muddy paths with safer loose-filled walkways, building steps and railings, trash and litter pick up and more.

Kickoff Rally is at the Boys and Girls Club, work onsite until 4:30 to 6 PM Block Party.

Help us make April 24th a success!

To register your youth group (1 adult per 5 youths, ages 12+), go to www.1ByYouth.com The cost is $29 per person and includes lunch and festivities.

To volunteer in other ways (cash, material and in-kind donations, logistics, hospitality) to help us make April 24th a success, email 1 By Youth Project Leader Kisha Wilson-Sogunro at kishavolunteers@gmail.com

Addresses:

Boys and Girls Club of Manassas: 9501 Dean Park Lane/ Manassas, VA 20110

Georgetown South Community Center: 9444 Taney Road/ Manassas, VA 20110

It's that time of year to let the fresh air in and clean those closets out! In honor of Earth Day on April 22, Historic Manassas, Inc. announces the 3rd Annual Spring Cleaning Day. Recyle those gently used household items or clothes to a worthy cause, visit with the recycling and environmental exhibitors, and help the kids make earth friendly art projects! Even the merchants of Old Town are cleaning out their stores with a Sidewalk Sale!

Old Town will also once again play host to a community shred event during Spring Cleaning Day! Shredding documents is not only better for the environment, it increases the awareness of identity theft, making our communities a safer place to live. Check back for Shred It location and details.  

We'll have live entertainment, inflatables for the kids to climb on, and of course the Farmers Market will be open. It's an Old Town with a Green attitude!

Sponsors and eco-minded, non-profit exhibitors are needed for this event!

A special thanks to our sponsors...

Historian, author and lecturer Ron Coddington will discuss photography and its role in capturing images of common soldiers who fought for the Union or the Confederacy. Mr. Coddington has written "Faces of the Civil War: An Album of Union Soldiers and their Stories" and "Faces of the Civil War: An Album of Southern Soldiers and their Stories." He will have copies of his recently published scholarly works available for sale.

Please call 703-367-7872 for more information on this lecture.

Toddler Tuesdays, The Manassas Museum’s popular program for children ages two through five. The Tuesday, May 11 program theme is “Bugs.”

The programs offer toddlers and their caregivers an opportunity to enjoy songs, story-telling and crafts, and include a special take-home surprise. Toddler Tuesdays are held at the Museum from 10:00-11:00 AM and the cost is $10 per child, per session.

Funding for the series has been generously provided by NOVEC.

Parents may register their children for Toddler Tuesday on-line at www.manassasmuseum.org or by calling 703-368-1873.
 

The Manassas Heritage Railway Festival is a family celebration of the rich railway history that Manassas has to offer.  Manassas Junction was the site of both the 1st and 2nd Battles of Manassas during the Civil War and of the nation’s first military railroad. 

Details for the 2010 Manassas Heritage Railway Festival will be posted as they become available. Please stay tuned!

WOW! Over 25,000 people came out to Old Town for a beautiful day of trains trains trains! If you missed out on the fun in 2009, click here to visit the photo gallery! 

Now in its sixth year, the Manassas Wine and Jazz Festival is held on Father’s Day at the Harris Pavilion, located in the heart of historic Old Town Manassas.  Featuring headline jazz artists, this smaller event is a more intimate, relaxed afternoon of tasting and purchasing wines from award-winning Virginia wine artisans.  

Please stay tuned for further details about the 2010 Manassas Wine and Jazz Festival!

Thanks to everyone involved for helping to make 2009's festival so great! Click Here if you missed the fun and would like to check out the photos!

Celebrate America this Independence Day with one of the largest fireworks displays in Northern Virginia! It's another all-American beach party in Old Town Manassas, sponsored by the City of Manassas!

Please stay tuned for further details about Celebrate America in 2010!

Miss the Independance Day party in 2009?? Click Here to check out the Photo Gallery!