Arts Nonprofit Celebrates New Location, Neighboring Restaurant Close To Opening

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The Art League's art education classes are here to stay in new Alexandria locations. The arts nonprofit is one of two locations on Slaters Lane that will see new uses.

The nonprofit Art League will hold an open house and block party to celebrate the opening of its two new locations in Old Town North. It will be held at The Art League's new Slaters Lane Annex at 800 Slaters Lane and Muse studio at 1201 N. Royal Street from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6. The open house will include art demonstrations, light refreshments and food and a preview of its Ice Cream Bowl Fundraiser at the Alexandria Art Festival Sept. 13 to 14.

A complimentary shuttle bus will run between The Art League's Slater Annex and Muse studio throughout the evening. The Muse studio will have refreshments provided by the Muse Social Committee, Royal Restaurant, Puptatella and Slaters Market. A 6:15 p.m. ribbon cutting will be held at the Muse location with Alexandria City Mayor Alyia Gaskins and other city leaders.

"This Open House is our way of saying thank you to Alexandria," said Suzanne Bethel, the executive director of The Art League. "Together, we’re opening not just new art spaces, but the door to a flourishing arts district in Old Town North."

The arts nonprofit has also opened studio space at the Muse condominium development at 1201 N. Royal Street and is keeping office and classroom space inside the Torpedo Factory Art Center (105 N. Union St., Rooms 216, 221, 213A and 213B). The new Muse and Slaters Annex locations will host classes for art forms like pottery and ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, fiber, photography, silkscreen, stained glass and mosaics.

The Art League previously had leased annex space for classes at the Montgomery Center (305 Madison Street) in Old Town North. The Montgomery Center, a block of business tenants, is slated to be redeveloped into a mixed-use development by Carr Companies. According to the developer, the mixed-use development will have 327 multifamily residential units, 25,000 square feet of retail space, 13,000 square feet for an arts venue, a 412-space parking garage and two outdoor dining plazas.

Down the road from the Slaters Annex, Pupatella will become The Art League's new neighbor at 700 Slaters Lane. The popular Neapolitan pizzeria is close to opening, the business says on its social media. Pupatella says it will announce an opening date soon.