Night of the Living Zoo

The National Zoo (Smithsonian National Zoological Park) is celebrating Halloween with the "Night of the Living Zoo" on October 30th from 8 p.m. until midnight. Enjoy the park and see the animal exhibits while dressing up in costume (prizes will be given for best group costume; 2 or more people) and enjoying such treats as palm readers, fire eaters, talking bats, and illusionists. There will also be a live performance by the musical band Soulive (featuring Shady Horns with special guest Nigel Hall). Food and beverages (event is sponsored by Magic Hat Brewing Company) will be available. It is a 21 or older event and, unfortunately, tickets have already sold out.

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ActivitiesAndEvents/Celebrations/LivingZoo/

Housing Prices: Major Metro Areas Showing Slow Decline

Housing prices in 20 major metro areas are not yet making year-over-year gains, but the decline is slowing according to the Standard & Poor's/Case Shiller home price index. The report indicated that home prices are about where they were in 2003, before the bubble began. Prices in the D.C. area were up 1.4% from July to August.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/economywatch/2009/10/home_prices_most_major_metro_a.html?hpid=topnews

Buy a House in Arlington, Virginia

"The urban villages that make up the majority of Arlington real estate provide terrific neighborhoods, shopping centers, and restaurants. Shirlington, Columbia Pike, Ballston, and Pentagon City – in addition to many other prime Arlington real estate spots – are always bustling with residents, workers, and visitors. Many Arlington real estate owners spend time both outdoors, along the Mount Vernon Trail, and indoors, at the many shops that make up the Crystal City underground. In addition, several Washington, D.C.-area landmarks call Arlington real estate home; both the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery, as well as the Defense Department Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), where the Internet was created, are located here.
This ethnically diverse city has one of the most educated populations in the country. Not surprisingly, twenty percent of the jobs in Northern Virginia are in Arlington, which makes Arlington real estate an ideal investment for business owners and commuters. But there are many other reasons to consider investing in Arlington real estate. The city offers easy access to I-395, I-495, I-66, and downtown D.C. And with its excellent public schools and convenient Metro access, the value of Arlington real estate has risen much faster than the national average in recent years." (Long & Foster Living)

http://virginia-homes.longandfoster.com/Northern_Virginia_Real_Estate/Arlington.aspx

Halloween Playlist

Being a music-lover, one of my favorite things to do is make playlists about EVERYTHING. Not the coolest thing ever to admit, but it's my thing. Here's what I came up with for the theme of "Halloween":

Jack'o'lantern's Weather (311)
Highway to Hell (AC/DC)
Wolfman Jack (Binary Star)
Dead Man Walking (Bruce Springsteen)
Devil Went Down to Georgia (Charlie Daniel's Band)
Drink to the Dead (Clutch)
I Put a Spell on You (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
Halloween (Dave Matthews Band)
Thriller (Michael Jackson)
Dr. Funkenstein (Parliament)
Wolfman's Brother (Phish)
Ghost of Tom Joad (Rage Against the Machine)
Living Dead Girl (Rob Zombie)
Black Magic Woman (Santana)
Psycho Killer (Talking Heads)
Werewolves of London (Warren Zevon)

Happy Halloween!

Arlington County Government

Arlington, VA is governed by a five person County Board, whose members are elected to staggered four year terms. The board elects a County Manager, who is chief executive of the County Government. Arlington, like all Virginia counties, also has a Sheriff, Clerk of Court, Commonwealth's Attorney, Treasurer, and Commissioner of the Revenue; all elected officers. There is also an elected five member School Board.

County Board: Barbara Favola (Chairman), Jay Fisette (Vice-Chairman), Mary Hynes, J. Walter Tejada, Chris Zimmerman.

Virginia Congress: Patsy Ticer (Senator), Mary Margaret Whipple (Senator), David Englin (Delegate), Albert Eisenberg (Delagate), Robert Brink (Delegate), Adam Ebbin (Delegate).

School Board: Sally Baird (Chair), Libby Carver (Vice Chair), Ed Fendley, Abby Rafael, Emma Sanchez-Violand.

Constitutional Officers: Frank O'Leary (Treasurer), Paul Ferguson (Clerk of the Court), Dick Trodden (Commonwealth's Attorney), Beth Arthur (Sheriff), Ingrid Morroy (Commissioner of Revenue).

http://www.arlingtonva.us/portals/topics/TopicsLocalGovt.aspx

National Association of Realtors

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) is the largest trade association in North America, representing over 1.2 million residential and commercial real estate brokers, salespeople, property managers, appraisers, counselors, and others in the industry of immovable property. The President of NAR in 2009 is Charles McMillan.
The NAR governs the hundreds of local Multiple Listing Services (MLS), which is a database of properties which are on the market. Using MLS, realtors have access to information about listings for sale in their area.
NAR requires realtors to take a code of ethics and offers additional certifications in specific areas of the industry.
NAR has a weekly, two hour radio program called Real Estate Today, which includes a local market report for each radio station.

http://www.realtor.org/

Gulf Branch Nature Center

The Gulf Branch Nature Center in Arlington, VA is a beautiful park to visit. It is staffed with friendly and knowledgable people who provide environmental education programs for all ages and small groups. It features exhibits, a small classroom, a children's discovery room, a live-animal exhibit room, a restored cabin, and a pond. It also has public restrooms and is wheelchair accessible.
Located at 3608 N. Military Road, the Gulf Branch Nature Center is open Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. as well as Sunday 1 to 5 p.m (closed Monday and Tuesday).
A few examples of upcoming events are the Coyote Campfire (mmm...smores!), the Animals' Thanksgiving (animals are thankful too), and the traditional Fall Hunt (followed by venison stew...if you're lucky).

http://www.arlingtonva.us/Departments/ParksRecreation/scripts/nature/ParksRecreationScriptsNatureGulfbranch.aspx