Author: ARLnow.com Sponsor

Join Wild Birds Unlimited for their 32nd Anniversary Party starting November 16!

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
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Wild Birds Unlimited is having a party to celebrate our 32nd Anniversary starting on Thursday, November 16 through Saturday, November 18 from 10 a.m-6 p.m. and on Sunday, November 19 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Bringing People and Nature Together! This had been our passion for 11,680 days! What does that mean? What Nature? What People? Together where?

The answers are simple. Nature that is all around us, right outside our back doors. People who enjoy the majesty and beauty of all wild birds in our backyards. Together, from our business, Wild Birds Unlimited in Arlington, to the homes where they live.

Wild Birds Unlimited has been in business for 11,680 days. Through all that time, our dedicated customers have supported us and our mission, “Bringing People and Nature Together”. To celebrate, we are holding our 32nd Anniversary Party.

In addition to 11,680 days open, we’ve had:

  • 10,324,000 pounds of bird food sold
  • 40,000 transactions
  • 300 jobs created
  • 34,744 miles driven by staff to deliver seed
  • 2,080,742 steps to our basement and back
  • And 2 bajillion birds fed!

We have enjoyed our 32 years being part of this community offering interesting and educational information about the hobby of backyard bird feeding and bringing nature to their yards. Giving back to the community by having this party is one small way in which we, at Wild Birds Unlimited, are saying, thank you!

During the party, we’ll have huge sales, giveaways including samples and free calendars, and coffee and treats to enjoy while you browse! We have a huge variety of products in the store right now, including the best bird seed on the planet and the perfect gifts for your loved ones this year. Our expert staff will help you find exactly what you need, and our high-quality products will help you enjoy the outdoors 365 days a year. We hope to see a lot of people visit and enjoy this fun atmosphere, rain or shine! It’s a terrific way for people to get out and experience nature before the rush of the holidays.

What better gift to give to people than the joy of nature?

We could never have survived 11,680 days without the fantastic support of all our customers in the Northern Virginia community. Through all the challenges of running a retail store you have always been there for us, and we thank you profusely!

Visit our website and shop online at www.wbu.com/arlington and be sure to check out our Facebook Page! To learn how you can open your own Wild Birds Unlimited, visit www.wbufranchise.com.

For more information, contact Wild Birds Unlimited at 703-241-3988. Wild Birds Unlimited, located in Arlington, Virginia is part of the original and largest franchise system of backyard bird feeding and nature specialty stores with more than 350 locations throughout the United States and Canada. Wild Birds Unlimited specializes in bringing people and nature together with bird feeding and nature products, expert advice, and educational events.

The Nose That Knows: Elite Sunday Supertasting

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This column is written by the team at Arrowine & Cheese (4508 Cherry Hill Road). Sign up for the email newsletter and receive exclusive discounts and offers. Order from Arrowine’s expanding online store for curbside pickup or in-store shopping. Have a question? Email thenose@arrowine.com.

Why rake leaves when you could attend a Sunday Supertasting of Spanish and French wines at Arrowine?

Join us this Sunday, November 12 from 1-4 p.m. at Arrowine (4508 Cherry Hill Road in Arlington).

Take advantage of a special Supertasting on Sunday! At this Arrowine Sunday Supertasting event, you can taste top wines from Spain selected and presented by our friend Aurelio Cabestrero, who founded Grapes of Spain and was named a Wine Advocate Wine Personality of the Year! As if that wasn’t enough, there will also be a table with Laurent Givry, founder of Elite Wines Imports, pouring exciting French wine selections! It will be a tasting to remember — don’t miss it!

Additional Details:

When: This Sunday, November 12th, 1-4 p.m. at Arrowine & Cheese in Arlington
Cost: There is no charge for this exciting tasting event!
Discounts: Tasting discounts are “on”! Every wine you taste will be ON SALE during the event, at least 10% off the regular price. We’ll have wine available for purchase, and if you want more than we have available, discounts will apply to tasting wines you order during the event, too!
Reservations: This event will be popular. So that we can provide the best possible service, we ask that you RESPOND and let us know if you plan to attend. Please include the following information:

  • Name
  • E-mail or phone contact information
  • Number of people in your group
  • When you expect to arrive: (a) 1-2 p.m., (b) 2-3 p.m., or (c) 3-4 p.m.

This will allow us to plan appropriately and steer late reservations to less crowded times. We look forward to seeing you!

Drinking Wine (Photo by Nino Maghradze on Unsplash)

DC Fray winter leagues are now open!

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Break the ice this winter with more than 50 leagues across D.C., Northern Virginia, and Silver Spring in 11 different sports 🏀 🏐.

Whether you’re looking to embrace the chill with our outdoor polar bear leagues, looking to huddle up with our indoor leagues, or interested in more social or competitive play, we’ve got you covered.

Create your team or sign up with a friend or solo and we’ll handle the rest. Secure your spot and use code FRAYNOW24 for an exclusive discount at checkout and let the fun begin!*

*Get an additional 10% of leagues, deals and giveaways to partner events, VIP treatment including open bars at select Fray events and more by becoming a Fraylife member today!

Statutes of Liberty: What is it like to defend immigrants at a local nonprofit?

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This sponsored column is by Law Office of James Montana PLLC. All questions about it should be directed to James Montana, Esq., Doran Shemin, Esq., Janice Chen, Esq., and Austen Soare, Esq., practicing attorneys at The Law Office of James Montana PLLC, an immigration-focused law firm located in Falls Church, Virginia. The legal information given here is general in nature. If you want legal advice, contact us for an appointment.

[This is the third installment in our new series here at Statutes of Liberty, in which we interview professionals in our field to provide our readers with varying perspectives on what it is like to work in the immigration system.]

Katie Fourmy never smiles in court, except when she wins. She smiles a lot in court.

Q: Who are you and where do you work?

A: My name is Katie Fourmy, and I work at Just Neighbors, a nonprofit that offers very low-cost legal services.

Q: Did you once work for James Montana as an intern?

A: What is the first rule of Fight Club?

Q: Touché. Next serious question: You work at an immigration nonprofit. You defend people and charge low fees. But ‘low’ is more than ‘free.’ Why don’t immigrants just go to the public defender?

A: I wish! Immigrants have a right to an immigration attorney in court, but that means that they have a right to hire one, not a right to have one if they can’t afford it. That means that they have to save up money and either hire someone from the private bar or a low-cost nonprofit provider like Just Neighbors.

Q: When you say low-cost, what do you mean? What does Just Neighbors charge?

A: We charge a one-time $100 fee.

Q: Say what?

A: Well, $100 for an individual, $200 for a family. That’s the fee for the whole case.

Q: [Sound of shattering glass, as your friendly local immigration lawyer contemplates financial dystopia.] How on earth does Just Neighbors stay afloat?

A: We are very fortunate to benefit from the generosity of faith communities, individuals, and local jurisdictions, which provide us with funding. We also receive support from foundations. We don’t have enough money, and indeed, we don’t have enough lawyers.

Q: How many lawyers are we talking about?

A: Ten lawyers, currently.

Q: What geographic range does Just Neighbors cover?

A: Maryland, D.C., Northern Virginia, and swaths of rural Virginia — that’s five attorneys covering Northern Virginia, including Prince William and Loudoun.

Q: Do you represent people in detention?

A: We do not. We refer them to CAIR Coalition. CAIR Coalition is the only nonprofit in the area that does detained immigrant defense. KIND and Ayuda will sometimes take cases for detained children.

Q: Children? That reminds me. Do children have the right to counsel in immigration court?

A: Nope, neither children nor adults have the right to appointed counsel.

(more…)

Going fast! Order RSVP Catering’s all-in-one Thanksgiving deal now!

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

The deadline is fast approaching for solving ALL your T’giving feast home delivery needs from RSVP Catering. The turkeys are flying!

RSVP Catering, the region’s premier catering service, wants you to know orders are filling up fast for their Thanksgiving all-in-one home delivered holiday feast.

And why not? RSVP is offering to simplify Thanksgiving dinner by delivering it to your door in an elegant package complete with a choice of turkey, four side dishes, plus all the trimmings: turkey gravy, cranberry-orange relish, homemade mini brioche rolls, and sweet potato biscuits.

You can relax after you place your order: Your Turkey Day feast is as easy as your next phone call. And it’s up to you to decide if you confess to your guests that you prepared this awesome meal yourself.

But get moving! Orders are accepted until Monday, November 20 if they don’t sell out by then; call soon to make sure your order makes it. See the RSVP Catering Thanksgiving 2023 menu.

This year, RSVP Catering is offering herb roasted turnkey or honey-citrus glazed turkey as the showcase centerpiece of all-in-one packages for $195 and $390, depending on how many guests you expect to impress and, perhaps, overwhelm (in a good way!). 

Turkeys come with a choice of four sides, including creamy mashed potatoes, sage and turkey sausage cornbread stuffing, sauteed green beans, pomegranate roasted root vegetables, and fall harvest salad. Many of the options are gluten free.

Optional dessert offerings, which feed six to eight guests, bring to the table Dutch apple pie, bourbon pecan pie, pumpkin chiffon pie, and pear and pistachio tart. 

The full RSPV Catering menu is available for home delivery ala carte. Email RSPV Catering at [email protected], or call 703-573-8700.

Small Business Focus: #ShopSmall on Small Business Saturday

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
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This column is sponsored by BizLaunch, a division of Arlington Economic Development.

The Friday after Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season. This year, we hope you #shopsmall all season long, especially on November 25, Small Business Saturday.

BizLaunch is making it easy for shoppers to find local businesses and get rewarded for shopping locally. With our recently released Business Directory and Open Rewards, BizLaunch simplifies finding local businesses and incentivizes you to #shopsmall. Through Open Rewards, we give shoppers 5% in cash back rewards when they upload their receipts in the app. There are over 1,000 local businesses currently on Open Rewards, with more added every day; you’re sure to find something for everyone on your list.

Let’s meet one of the businesses on Open Rewards today!

The Golden Fox Boutique, a woman-owned lifestyle boutique, is set to launch this month in Arlington, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 15 at 4 p.m.

As the brainchild of a local Arlington resident, Paula Frishman, the Golden Fox Boutique offers a curated collection of elevated apparel, home decor, gifts and accessories for the entire family.

What sets The Golden Fox Boutique apart is its unwavering commitment to featuring woman-owned companies and products made in the DMV (D.C., Maryland, Virginia), aiming to support and promote local businesses.

To help her in her entrepreneurial journey, Frishman worked closely with BizLaunch for guidance and support in starting.

“BizLaunch helped me navigate the small business landscape, offered useful resources and is currently helping coordinate the boutique’s grand opening celebration, held November 15,” said Frishman.

Arlington was the obvious choice for The Golden Fox Boutique because Frishman and her husband reside in Arlington and saw an opportunity to fill a retail gap. “Especially when it comes to offering a high level of customer service and engagement,” says Frishman.

Frishman draws inspiration from friends who have successfully launched their boutiques, particularly Niki Kahle at Lemoncello Boutique. With a deep-rooted passion for offering quality products and exceptional service, The Golden Fox Boutique is committed to creating an elevated lifestyle and fashion destination that Arlington residents will cherish.

Come check out The Golden Fox Boutique at 2700 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 430, or at www.shopgoldenfox.com.

Don’t forget to #ShopSmall this holiday season, and on November 25, come out and support your favorite Arlington small businesses for Small Business Saturday.

Just Reduced Properties in Arlington

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Each week, “Just Reduced” spotlights properties in Arlington County whose price have been cut over the previous week. The market summary is crafted by Arlington Realty, Inc. Maximize your real estate investment with the team by visiting www.arlingtonrealtyinc.com or calling 703-836-6000 today!

Please note: While Arlington Realty, Inc. provides this information for the community, it may not be the listing company of these homes.

As of November 6, there are 135 detached homes, 38 townhouses and 176 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 32 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week, including:

2205 S Oakland Street

Please note that this is solely a selection of Just Reduced properties available in Arlington County. For a complete list of properties within your target budget and specifications, contact Arlington Realty, Inc.

Ask Eli: Class action lawsuit against realtors

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This regularly scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Arlington resident. Please submit your questions to him via email for response in future columns. Video summaries of some articles can be found on YouTube on the Eli Residential channel. Enjoy!

Question: What are your thoughts on the recent class action lawsuit against the National Association of Realtors?

Answer: You’ve probably read headline news over the past week about the Kansas City jury that found the National Association of Realtors and two of the nation’s largest brokerages, HomeServices of America and Keller Williams, guilty of colluding to keep Realtor commissions high via the use of the “clear cooperation” rule, which required there to be an offer of compensation to buyer agents/brokers for properties listed in an MLS.

The lawsuit awarded plaintiffs in Missouri, Kansas, and Illinois damages of $1.78B, which gets automatically “trebled” (tripled) by the court to $5.36B. Numbers that the defendants don’t come remotely close to having in combined cash and/or assets.

If you missed it, here’s a Housing Wire article with a good summary of the lawsuit, without subjective commentary. The lawsuit and others like it (there was a similar lawsuit settled a month ago and another copycat lawsuit recently filed) are a huge deal for the residential real estate industry and consumers.

I’m not going to waste your time making predictions about the legal process this and similar lawsuits will follow, you can google the lawsuit for plenty of opinions. It’s a massively complex issue from a legal and practical standpoint and nobody can honestly say they know where this will lead in the next six months or six years. It could end up at the Supreme Court years from now or it could send shockwaves through the residential real estate industry by next year.

I’m going to share my thoughts on a few of the ideas the lawsuit was built on, some of the more popular opinions I’ve read in the news, and things I find particularly difficult to solve in all of this.

There are reasonable, strong arguments to be made on both sides of most of the issues revolving around this topic. Most of what you’ll read/hear in the media is going to focus on opinions and ideas that are anti-Realtor “Cartel” because it appeals to the masses and generates traffic and eyeballs. I’ll touch on both sides of the argument in some cases, in others I’ll offer my perspective from inside the industry.

This is Mostly About Seller’s Paying Buyer Agent Commissions

Most MLS’s and Associations require(d) there to be an offer of compensation to the buyer agent/broker on a property listed for sale in the MLS; you could not sell something on-market with zero buyer-agent compensation. The lawsuit claims that ~500,000 sellers in MO, IL, and KS included in the class action lawsuit would not have offered/paid this compensation had it not been required and the $1.78B is the amount they “overpaid” in commissions.

The way most market transactions are structured (and have been for 2-3 decades) is that the seller agrees, prior to selling, to pay their broker X% and that amount is usually split evenly between the seller’s broker and the buyer’s broker, which is explicitly stated in the Listing Agreement. For reference, here’s the study I did this year on 2022 buyer-agent commissions in Arlington. There is clearly a “market” price for buy-side commissions.

While required, there is nothing that prevented offers of compensation of $1 or something well below the market, but people (consumers, agents, brokers) rarely chose that option. The plaintiffs in the case were able to make a strong enough case that sellers were forced to offer compensation at market rates and did not know they had a choice.

What if Sellers Stop Paying Buyer Agent/Broker Commission?

This is where it gets interesting and difficult, practically speaking. I could write a few columns on this topic and may do so over time, but I’ll keep it simple here.

Representation on both sides of the transaction is important. Yes, there are plenty of examples of bad representation and consumers who saw little or even negative value in their representation, but for the most part, studies show that buyers and sellers value having independent, professional representation in real estate transactions.

Sellers paying buyer broker commission makes sense and doesn’t make sense all at the same time.

It makes sense because it’s a cost taken out of proceeds for the sale rather than an out-of-pocket expense, so it’s much easier for a seller to receive less than a buyer to pay more. Anybody who has owed taxes understands the significance of how different paying taxes feels when it’s taken out of your paycheck vs cutting a big check to Uncle Sam.

It doesn’t make sense because of the obvious… why should I pay for your representation?

The problem, and I mean problem for consumers not for Realtors because of lost commission, is that if there’s a fundamental change to commission structure and sellers generally stop paying buy-side commission, the result is that most buyers cannot afford to tack on additional closing costs to their transaction and lenders will not allow it to be rolled into the loan (maybe this changes in the future). Wealthier buyers may be able to afford to hire buyer agents, but this scenario all but guarantees an even more difficult path to home ownership for those who can’t afford it.

(more…)

Peaceful Mind Solutions: Discovering inner peace begins with a free 15-minute phone call

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

On-call therapists offer a 15-minute FREE consultation to start your journey to a Peaceful Mind. Spots are filling up fast!

Are you feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or lost in the chaos of life? Do you want to unlock your full potential and embrace a brighter, more fulfilling future? Look no further — our psychotherapy company is here to guide you on your transformative journey towards mental and emotional well-being!

Why Choose Us? 🧠

At Peaceful Mind Solutions, we understand that mental health is the cornerstone of a happy and successful life. Our team of dedicated and experienced psychotherapists is committed to helping you overcome life’s challenges and harness your inner strength. We offer a safe, non-judgmental, and compassionate space for you to explore your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

Our Services ✨

  • Individual Therapy: Tailored one-on-one sessions to address your unique needs and concerns.
  • Couples Therapy: Strengthen your relationships, improve communication, and find harmony together.
  • Anger Management Group: We provide a once-a-week group setting to help address your needs.
  • Adolescent Therapy: Empower your teen to cope with life’s challenges and flourish.
  • Online Therapy: Convenient and confidential virtual sessions from the comfort of your home.

What Sets Us Apart? 🤝

  • Personalized Care: Our therapists create customized treatment plans to meet your specific goals.
  • Evidence-Based Approach: We use proven therapeutic techniques to achieve lasting results.
  • Compassion and Empathy: We genuinely care about your well-being and provide unwavering support.
  • Confidentiality: Your privacy is our top priority, and all sessions are completely confidential.

Begin Your 🌈 Healing Journey Today! It’s time to reclaim your happiness and well-being. Don’t let life’s challenges hold you back any longer. Contact us at 703-994-0300 or visit peacefulmindsolutions.com to schedule your FREE 15-minute consultation and take the first step towards a brighter you. Together, we can navigate the path to personal growth, resilience, and happiness. Let us be your partner in this transformative journey.

Legal Insider: Poppers and whippets — lesser-known substances that could put your clearance at risk

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Northern Virginia that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.

By Melissa L. Watkins, Esq.

One of the more common issues that arise for employees, applicants, and contractors who have or are applying for a security clearance is the issue of illegal drug usage. However, recently, there has been an uptick in agencies paying attention to employees, applicants, and contractors’ use of a less common substance, inhalants.

While many individuals pay attention to and understand their duty to report prior illegal drug use, many are unaware that there are other types of use, involving substances that are not considered illegal or covered by the Controlled Substances Act, that may impact the security clearance process.

In recent years, there has been a trend towards agencies considering misuse of substances, even if the substance is not technically illegal. These agencies have suggested that such use may need to be disclosed on the Standard Form 86 and have indicated that the use may create a basis for someone being denied a security clearance.

What are inhalants, you may ask? This question is the starting point for why this area of focus by agencies is complicated and difficult to navigate. The word actually covers a variety of substances that are consumed, as the name suggests, by inhaling. There is not necessarily a finite or specific list of what substances qualify as inhalants from agencies’ perspectives. However, a starting point for the conversation would be the security questionnaire itself, currently referred to as the Standard Form 86.

The Standard Form 86 contains a section where individuals are asked to disclose their prior involvement with various substances. Under the list of substances, there is a category for inhalants where only two examples are provided: toluene and amyl nitrate.

Toluene is the substance most often associated with paint thinners. Amyl nitrate, a controlled substance requiring a prescription, was previously an ingredient in “poppers” but has not been used in that manner since 1988. However, neither of these two substances are generally what is being consumed when people are engaging in the use of inhalants.

Most people using inhalants recreationally are using “poppers” or “whippets”. Poppers is a slang term that refers to the chemical class called alkyl nitrites that are inhaled. While similar in sound to amyl nitrates, the substance listed on the Standard Form 86, this is a distinct chemical compound. Whippets refers to nitrous oxide (also known as laughing gas). The name is in reference to whipped cream canisters, which contain little chargers that are filled with nitrous oxide. Both substances can be purchased from retail establishments, do not include the substances mentioned on the Standard Form 86, and are generally not considered to be illegal.

However, there are some laws in place regulating the production and sale of ingredients in some inhalants. For example, it is lawful to manufacture and sell products made with Isobutyl (including alkyl nitrites or “poppers”) for commercial purposes but such production and sale is prohibited for human consumption. This is why you may see “poppers” or “whippets” being sold as products labeled for other uses such as whipped cream canisters, room deodorizers, leather polish, or nail polish remover, to name a few. However, the laws currently in place do not relate to the person who may end up using the substance.

Given the gray area around the substances, individuals who have engaged in such use and who hold a security clearance or intend to apply for a security clearance should seek legal advice on whether their specific use should be reported and how such use may impact their clearance process.

Our law firm advises government contractors and federal employees in the security clearance process. We can be contacted at www.berrylegal.com or by telephone at (703) 668-0070.

RSVP Catering’s all-in-one package: Thanksgiving is done!

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Deadline approaching for solving ALL your T’giving feast home delivery needs from RSVP Catering.

RSVP Catering, Northern Virginia’s premier catering service, is offering to simplify Thanksgiving dinner by delivering it to your door in an elegant package complete with a choice of turkey, four side dishes, plus all the trimmings: turkey gravy, cranberry-orange relish, homemade mini brioche rolls, and sweet potato biscuits.

Now you can relax: Your Turkey Day feast is as easy as your next phone call. And it’s up to you to decide if you confess to your guests that you prepared this awesome meal yourself. But get moving: Orders are accepted until Monday, November 20. See the RSVP Catering Thanksgiving 2023 menu. 

This year, RSVP Catering is offering herb roasted turkey or honey-citrus glazed turkey as the showcase centerpiece of all-in-one packages for $195 and $390, depending on how many guests you expect to impress and, perhaps, overwhelm (in a good way!). 

Turkeys come with a choice of four sides, including creamy mashed potatoes, sage and turkey sausage cornbread stuffing, sautéed green beans, pomegranate roasted root vegetables, and fall harvest salad. View the complete offerings in the 2023 Thanksgiving menu. Many of the options are gluten free.

Optional dessert offerings, which feed six to eight guests, bring to the table Dutch apple pie, bourbon pecan pie, pumpkin chiffon pie, and pear and pistachio tart.

The full RSPV Catering menu is available for home delivery ala carte.

Email RSPV Catering at [email protected], or call 703-573-8700.

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