Moving Words Poetry Contest

The deadline has past
I missed the contest - it didn't last
But I'm sad ,what to do
Submit my poem below, just for you ...


It's that time of year
Let's hear a cheer
The Moving Words contest is here

Last year I didn't win
That was a sin
I think they threw my entry directly in the trash bin

The deadline for Moving Words is today.
You’ve still got time, submit what you may.
Poems must be typed and ten lines or less.
It’s OK, you don’t need to stres.

Winning poets have their poems displayed on Metro buses.
You can read them while passing under bridge trusses.
Winners receive 100 dollars.
That’s enough to make you want to “holler”.

So get your poem(s) in now.
Maybe I’ll read it, when I’m out and about.

OK, so I don't think I would have won, but hey you enjoyed it, right?

Don't Let Taxes Get You Down

Nobody likes taxes and if you are a young person trying to get by in this area you probably don't have a lot of money to throw at the problem. There are many free tax prep clinics available to low income residents. I was involved with one in my area last year and I can vouch for the high quality volunteer tax preparers and the personal attention you get by attending a tax prep clinic.

If you are comfortable filing electronically on your own, use the IRS Free File program. They will give you step by step instructions if you are low income (under $56,000 in 2008) or you can just use the efiling without instructions if you are over income.

Not scared of Tax Prep? Why don't you consider volunteering to staff one of these clinics! They are recruiting volunteers now to be tax preparers.

Do You Know the Way for a Slippery Day?

A quick tip for Buckingham and Ballston residents who need to walk to Metro on icy days like this. There's a covered walkway that goes all the way from Glebe Road to Fairfax Drive.

Just enter the Ballston Common Mall and go to the second floor. Go through the tunnel over Wilson Blvd and follow the walkway through the office building, then through another tunnel over 9th St N. The walkways will continue past more offices, then you'll take the escalator down and walk another few steps to the entrance to the Ballston Metro.

It's only a couple of blocks, but on a slippery day like today, it's a lifesaver. Or at least, a coccyx-saver.

Sing Your Valentine Something Special

It's not too early to start thinking about Valentine's Day.

Looking for a unique gift for Valentine's Day?

How about a singing Valentine?

Guys - yes, I know this sounds painfully corny to you, but ...

Girls - what do you think? Corny or fantastic gift.

Here are the details:

Potomac Harmony Chorus of Sweet Adelines International presents:

Send that special someone an extra special valentine! “A SINGING VALENTINE!"
Say “I Love You” with a Song!

Friday Feb. 13th AND Saturday, Feb. 14th 2009

$50.00 Singing Valentine performed in person with candy and card, available in the Washington metropolitan area, including Northern Virginia & Maryland suburbs.

$20.00 Singing Valentine via Telephone

Choose Two Songs from this list:* Blueberry Hill * Cuddle Up A Little Closer * I Don't Know Why I Love You Like I Do ** It Had to Be You * Let Me Call You Sweetheart *

For more information call 703-764-3896 by Feb. 9th or email: potomacharmony@yahoo.com

Know Any Fabulous Women?

The Arlington County Commission on the Status of Women is recognizing Persons of Vision. If you know someone who has "demonstrate(d) a strong commitment to women’s issues and have, over time, developed and communicated their vision for women and engaged community members and other leaders in order to realize this vision" then you should nominate them! (A person of vision can actually be male or female).

Nominations are due February 9th.

Make Your Condo or Apartment Building Recyle More!

Want to help your building be greener?

Attend a training session for multifamily recycling coordinators on Wednesday, February 4 at 7:30 p.m. at the Arlington Central Library.

Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment (ACE) is seeking people with an interest in recycling to join a pilot program for volunteers.

Volunteers will serve a one-year term as recycling coordinators for their apartment or condominium with the goal to improve participation by residents in the building's recycling program.

ACE will provide training, resource materials, and support. For more information or to RSVP to the 2/4 session, contact Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment at office@arlingtonenvironment.org or 703-228-6427. This program is being conducted in partnership with the Arlington County Department of Environmental Services Solid Waste Bureau.

Out with the Old, In with the New at EatBar

Tallula (Washington Boulevard & Pershing Drive, closest Metro: Clarendon) is featuring a special inaugural menu tonight through Wednesday. But it looks like they're having much more fun on Tallula's EatBar side, with special "Out with the Old, In with the New" menus on Monday and Tuesday:

MONDAY NIGHT | OUT WITH THE OLD | TEXAS BBQ PARTY

Eatbar specials will include: Country-Fried Steak Strips w/ Black Pepper Gravy, Brisket or BBQ Plate with Corn Bread & Slaw, Texas-Style Chili, Texas Chili Burgers, and Texas beer specials from Shiner

TUESDAY NIGHT | IN WITH THE NEW | CHICAGO STREET FOOD

Eatbar specials will include: Three of Red Apron’s famous Chicago Style Dogs (Chili dog, straight Chicago dog, BBQ dog), Italian Beef Sliders, Italian Sausage “Pigs In A Blanket” - also, Chicago-scene cocktail specials will be offered all night long!

My only objection: italian sausage? This is a town known for its superfans, its polish sausage, and a certain team known as Da Bears.

Real Time Inagural Updates

Looking to stay in the loop on inaguration day with real-time updates on what's going on?

Check out the commuter page and learn how to sign-up.

Make MLK Day A Day ON

UPDATE: Opportunities are filling up quick. As one person pointed out, almost all of the inside opportunities are full. If you are looking for an inside opportunity you may call your local nursing home, hospital, or animal shelter because they will remain open on the holiday and are always looking for volunteers on an ongoing basis. You can search for particular agencies here.


Since 1994, MLK Jr Day (which has been observed as a holiday since 1986) has been a National Day of Service. Over the last 15 years it has been slowly growing in participation and interest, but this year with it coinciding with the inauguration of the first black President it is going to be a big deal.

DC has got tons of celebrations as well as ways to volunteer on Monday. Arlington is not getting as much attention but still has plenty of opportunities:

SATURDAY

Arlington Mill Highway Cleanup

Sponsor: Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment | Location: Arlington, VA 22204 Help Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment pick up trash from neighborhood streets in honor of Martin Luther King Day of Service. Meet at Arlington Mill Community Center, 4975 Columbia Pike, Arlington VA. more

Stream Clean-Up: Spout and Pimmit Runs Confluence

Saturday, January 17 at 10:00 AM

Small parking lot above the junction of Glebe and Chain Bridge Roads next to Chain Bridge on the Arlington side (Arlington, VA)

Join us at 10:00 am, Saturday the 17th, to help clean up the area around the ends of Spout Run and Pimmit Run where they... View Event Details

SUNDAY

Honor Martin Luther King, Jr.

Sponsor: Arlington Co. Parks, Recreation And Cultural Resources | Location: Arlington, VA 22204

Help us as we honor Dr. King at Arlington's 39th annual tribute to him and his legacy on Sunday, January 18th at the Thomas Jefferson Middle School Theatre. Entertainment will include a gospel group, a liturgical dance troupe, a. . . more

Wakefield High School Field Cleanup

Sunday, January 18 at 12:00 PM

Wakefield High School (Arlington, VA)

Meet at Wakefield High School stadium field behind the tennis courts to help us pick up trash from along the fences and under the bleachers... View Event Details

Welcome Visitors To Arlington During The Inauguration

Sponsor: Arlington Convention & Visitors Service | Location: Arlington, VA 22202
Volunteers will have the opportunity to provide visitors with maps of Arlington and to assist them with shopping and dining questions. We will need at least 2 volunteers posted at each location listed below (total of 6 volunteers required). Dates. . . more

MONDAY
Remove Invasives from Arlington's Nature Center

Monday, January 19 at 1:00 PM

Long Branch Nature Center (Arlington, VA)

Here's your chance to help remove non-native, invasive plants from Arlington, Virginia's Long Branch Nature Center. This beautiful natural area and education center is only... View Event Details

Paint/decorate the foster care visitation room -FULL (STILL NEEDS DONATIONS)

Monday, January 19 at 10:00 AM

Arlington DHS (Arlington, VA)

I am a DHS foster care worker who would like to request volunteers to paint/decorate a small room in a local DHS building. This... View Event Details

Trail Litter Cleanup-Theodore Roosevelt Island

Monday, January 19 at 10:00 AM

Theodore Roosevelt Island (Arlington, VA)

Come help clean up a local hiking trail with views of the Potomac River and DC! Monday Jan 19, 10am-12pm The Potomac Heritage Trail starts at Theodore... View Event Details

Oath of All of US (Day of Service - January 19)

Monday, January 19 at 12:00 AM

Youth Venture (Arlington, VA)

People of all ages and from all walks of life, LED BY YOUTH, will gather to share their own personal versions of the Oath of... View Event Details

Arlington Academy Hope truck packing event

Monday, January 19 at 8:00 AM

Wanda residence (Arlington, VA)

Arlington Academy of Hope, a grassroots non-profit located in Arlington, VA is shipping a container of books and supplies to our school and clinics in... View Event Details

AFAC Food Drive (FULL FOR VOLUNTEERS - NEED DONATIONS)

Monday, January 19 at 9:00 AM

Arlington Food Assistance Center (Arlington, VA)

Food Drive in support of the Arlington Food Assistance Center whch provides groceries to Arlington residents in need. We need all the non-perishable food item you... View Event Details

Dyke Marsh Clean-Up
Monday, January 19 9am-noon
Dyke Marsh and Belle Haven Mearina
Join groups from Arlington in cleaning up this strech of GW Memorial Pkwy in Alexandria. This will be a large intergenerational event.

For more information on opportunities in their area check out this Volunteer Arlington Spotlight.

Please let me know if there are opportunities I missed!

Looking for some history of Martin Luther King, Jr including interesting video and photos? Visit the Arlington Library's site.

Arlington's Best Diner Goes Smoke-Free

They said Arlington's bars would never voluntarily go smoke-free ... then Liberty Tavern did and places like Eleventh, Union Jacks, and Clarendon Grill soon followed.

They said sports bars would never go smoke-free ... then Summers created a separate smoke-free bar, followed by Four Courts and Crystal City Sports Pub, and Thirsty Bernie's opened entirely smoke-free.

Now Arlington's best diner, Bob & Edith's at Columbia Pike & S. Wayne St., is going 100% smoke-free:


Arlington bars and restaurants have no excuses left for not going smoke-free. Really, what are places like Rock Bottom, Bailey's, and Ri Ra's waiting for?

Hmmm. Maybe there's a pattern here. Seems like locally-owned places tend to listen to Arlingtonians and go smoke-free, while nationally-managed chains tend to stick to their smoky status quo. What do you think?