The following is from the Del Ray Business Association:
The Del Ray Business Association is proud to present the first-ever First Thursday: Porch Party from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 7. In the spirit of Del Ray's summer street festivals, the event features a wide range of activities that promote community while maintaining social distancing standards.
Wear your mask, keep proper social distancing, and participate in these community activities:
-- Support our restaurants: Order dinner and drinks for carryout from one of Del Ray's local restaurants, and have dinner on your front porch, front steps, or front yard, and wave to neighbors from a distance! For a list of the operating status and ordering information for our restaurants, visit www.visitdelray.com/covid-19
-- Give to those in need: Participants are encouraged to donate canned food for the Grace Church Food Pantry, which provides food staples to needy families and individuals. Our goal is to collect 1,000 non-perishable food items! On Thursday, May 7 (by 4 p.m.), plastic tubs or boxes will be placed on Mount Vernon Avenue at the intersection of all streets from Hume to Braddock; in front of the Mount Vernon Recreation Center; and at the intersection of Commonwealth Avenue and the following streets: Braddock, Monroe, Alexandria Ave., Windsor, Del Ray, and Ashby. Items will be picked up by 7:30 p.m.
-- Show community spirit: Decorate your house, porch, door, or sidewalks -- get creative and decorate in any way you wish! Enter to win $100 in Del Ray Dollars by registering your house as a participating house by emailing delraybingo@gmail.com. Rally cars will be going around taking pictures. The more houses on your street, the better! Chalk is available at the Del Ray Farmers' Market during market hours (Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.) or under the covered entrance at Del Ray Psych & Wellness (1900 Mount Vernon Avenue).
-- Make some noise: From 7 p.m. to 7:05 p.m., let us hear you! Bang on pots & pans, get out your noise makers, blast music, or play an instrument in honor of our health care heroes!
-- Share the love: During First Thursday, take a video or picture and post it on your social media accounts with the hashtags #VisitDelRay and #delraystrong. (This also completes square #1 on Del Ray Bingo! For details on playing, visit www.visitdelray.com/bingo).
Held the first Thursday from April to September along Mount Vernon Avenue in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria, First Thursday is a series of free outdoor street festivals that bring the community together around a fun theme, benefiting a local nonprofit. For more information, visit www.visitdelray.com.
