“Day of the Dead”- at the Museum of the American Indian Oct 29-Nov. 1

“Dios de los Muertos”- 8pm-11pm at The Torpedo Factory, Alexandria. See events@torpedofactory.org. Student discount available.

Alexandria Film Festival- November 3-6. See www.AlexandriaFilm.org

Flu season is about to begin. Be aware that APIA health insurance will not pay for the shot.

If a host family recommends that their aupair gets the shot, they should cover the payment. If the aupair wants the shot, and the host family has no opinion,  she should pay for it. Shots are generally in the $25.00-$35.00 range.

Shots are available at most Target, Giant, Safeway and CVS stores, including those with Minute Clinics.

The City of Alexandria also sponsors clinics for shots.  Hours are Mondays-9am to 11am- and Mondays 2pm-6pm, by appointment only on Mondays-Tuesdays 1pm-4pm and Wednesdays 8am-11pm. Both Tuesdays and Wednesdays are walk in dates only, so arrive early.  There is also a charge for the shot for adults in the $30 range. Go to 4480 King St, second floor. Call 703-746-4980 to make any appointment.

Here are some activities for our aupairs to consider for American Halloween:

Boo At the Zoo!- October 21-23 5:30pm-8:30pm. The National Zoo hosts its Halloween experience for kids.

Immanuel-on-the-Hill Pumpkin Patch- Pick out your kids’ pumpkin from Oct 2-31st. See www.icoh.net 3606 Seminary Rd.

Del Ray’s Annual Halloween Parade- Oct 30 at 2pm. See www.delray.com. For kids and adults!

Clarendon Ballroom Halloween Monster Bash- Oct. 28 8pm at 3185 Wilson Blvd. Costume contest with cash prizes. 703-469-2244.

Beginning Friday, Oct. 14 through Nov. 10, 27 European countries and their embassies will be sponsoring a performing arts festival for area children, ages 2 through 12,  in cooperation with several different venues in our area. For more  information, go to www.kidseurofestival.org or call 202-944-6558. Some performances require reservations.

My aupairs and their school aged kids might enjoy a visit to:

The Godspeed, a re-creation of one  of the three ships that brought America’s first permanent English colonists to Virginia.

The ship will be docked at the north end of the Alexandria City Marina, adjacent to Founders Park near the intersection of North Union and Queen St and is open for free tours from 3-6pm Oct. 4-7  from 10am to 1pm and Oct. 8-9 from 10am to 6pm.

                                                          ALSO

West End Festival at Ben Brennan Park on Duke St across from Charles Beatley Library this Saturday 10am-7pm and Sunday, 10am-5pm. Food, entertainment, arts and crafts. Check it out!

                                                           AND

Taste of DC. Oct 8,9 and 10 on Pennsylvania Avenue NW with live performances by Styx, Big and Rich, Rusted Root and Ed Kowalczyk, lead singer with LIVE. Go to www.thetasteofdc.org and save $5 if you buy tickets online

Del Ray Arts Festival- something for everyone in our cluster!

Food, Fun, early Christmas shopping! 10am-6pm, Saturday and Sunday, October 1 and 2, Upper Mt. Vernon Avenue area.

Sept 24-25 Das Best Oktoberfest at National Harbor, MD. (right across  the Wilson Bridge). Noon to 6pm. $25 admission. Fun for aupairs of legal age.

Sept 25- Latino Festival in Colombia Heights, MD  from noon-7 with a parade beginning at 1:30pm. See www.fiestadc.org. Best way to go is to take Metro, blue or yellow line, to L’Enfant Plaza and then take green line to Colombia Heights. This is a well known and big area happening.

Interested in the history of Alexandria? Download a museum day ticket from www.smithsonian.com/museumday, and you will receive free admission for two people to Gatsby’s Tavern Museum, located at 134 North Royal St,  Alexandria Archaelogy Museum, located inside the Torpedo Factory Art Center on the waterfront, and the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum at 105-107 South Fairfax St.

Seat belts must be buckled and seats must be adjusted for all.

Mirrors must be adjusted before the car moves

Make sure you look  before backing up. Little people or objects may be behind you that you cannot see in your mirrors.

Come to a full stop at every STOP sign and every “right on RED”. Very important

Be careful of other drivers. Sometimes they do unexpected things.

It is a good idea not to have any music or radio playing while you are driving. You may not be able to hear what is going on around you.

Never,  never talk on a cell phone or text while  driving.

Never, never drink and drive. Never have open alcohol in the car.

Yellow lights mean be prepared to stop.

Keep the car neat inside, and keep the tank half full at all times

Windshield wipers and lights need to be on if it is raining  or snowing

Be very careful of driving in a school zone.

When a stopped school bus has it lights on, do not pass it in either direction. If lights are flashing, it is about to stop.

Here are some aupairs (and their counselor) enjoying the great weather, food and fun at this year’s annual picnic. Donations of new and gently used children’s books were collected and given to The Yellow Ribbon Fund for children living at Ft. Belvoir, in honor of the 10th anniversary of 9/11.