Replacing Rotten Wood

Frequently, during a window replacement presentation, I am asked the question "what happens if you find rotten wood?". The answer is whenever we find rotten wood we replace it and do not cover it up. I will add, that in the last 8 years of replacing windows in the Fairlington neighborhood, I have

only had 10 experiences of rotten wood replacement. Typically we will take pictures and send them to the homeowner to document the problem and the fix.

Review: May Island

Looking for a new place for dinner, or someplace a bit more interesting to take friends from out of town? Try out a local gem – May Island. Incredibly unpretentious, but heavy on the wow factor, this Quaker Lane hidden treasure is sure to impress. Located right next to a 7-11, one might feel a bit uncertain upon entering this small restaurant. The establishment has made the most of it’s small space, but it still only holds a handful of tables (have no fear – we had no trouble getting a seat, as their takeout option is more heavily visited – also a great option!)

The large menu might have been overwhelming, had I not been told that Sushi was the real reason to visit this establishment. Wanting a good variety, our table settled on ordering four Sushi rolls and one Sashimi Deluxe. While I would definitely recommend this approach of table sharing, just so more selections can be tasted, I will say that we had FAR too much food! Expect sizable portions here.

While we waited for our food, we munched on some salad and sipped our soup. The miso soup was fairly standard, while still very good. But the first taste of the wonton soup elicited a more enthusiastic response – this often unimpressive starter was delightful, with a good amount of hearty wontons. Several at the table also sipped green tea, which the pleasant waitress was quick to refill.

But the excitement really started when the first main dish arrived – we had told our waitress of our table-sharing plans, and she kindly brought the dishes out one by one. First things first – the presentation was incredible. Each dish was visually spectacular, enough where you hesitated to dig in. Of course, after the first bite, that inclination was squashed.

First out – The Royal Roll:

This dish was unanimously the favorite of the table. The flavors blended so perfectly, with a subtle sweetness, and the texture of the tempura added a bit more depth to the roll. This would even be a nice roll to introduce to those friends who are new to the sushi world, as the raw presence is less noticeable to the palate.

Next up was the Ocean Roll:

Again, I have to applaud the presentation of this dish, but it was also delicious! While the flavors weren’t quite as complex or exciting, this would definitely be a strong recommendation. The white tuna on top was so fresh, and complemented the flavors of the roll beautifully.

Next, we moved on to something a bit different – the Sashimi Deluxe:

This dish is for the slightly more adventurous, as there is no rice or other ingredients. Sashimi is truly about incredible, fresh fish, and May Island really delivered. The texture of the fish, and the delicate flavors, not only testified to the freshness, but to the quality as well.

On to dish number 4 – starting to get pretty full at this point, but definitely found space for the Rainbow Roll:

This delicious roll had four different topping options, lending to its “rainbow” appearance. All the options were fantastic, and it was nice to see how the flavor of each fish blended with the ingredients in the roll.

Last up was the Pink Lady:

This dish, while we were already on the verge of being stuffed, was also a favorite. The chef’s special sauce on top was exquisite, and the flavors phenomenal. Again, as we did throughout the entire meal, we marveled over the gorgeous (and adorable – check out those tomato rabbits!) presentation. What a beautiful way to spend a delicious meal. The sushi at May Island was truly spectacular – a must-try for Arlington residents.

May Island

1669 North Quaker Lane
Alexandria, VA 22302-2338

(703) 575-4455

www.mayisland1.com

Vote For Our Favorite Car Free Skeptic

Arlington County, Virginia is looking for its biggest Car-Free Diet Skeptics – people who drive their cars all the time now, but who are willing to give car-free living a shot.

FW&D has a favorite daughter in this competition and we would like for you to vote for Mary. Go to http://carfreedietskeptics.com/stage/vote/ and click on MARY to cast your vote. You can vote once each day, now through March 31.Your votes will be combined with the judges’ scores to decide which applicants become the Skeptics. The chosen Skeptics will chronicle their car-free experiences on this website, www.carfreedietskeptics.com, for 30 days – follow along starting April 22! Hopefully you’ll be following Mary and her commute to and from Fairlington.

Arlington Car Free Diet

The Car-Free Diet Skeptics Challenge is designed for Arlington County residents that currently drive their cars frequently, but are willing to attempt car-free living for 30 days. You do not have to go 100% car-free for the entire 30 days, but you do have to try. If you are chosen as one of the final Skeptics, you will communicate online about all of your transportation experiences during the 30-day challenge. You’ll be given several items to use during the challenge that will make going car free easier. And if you successfully complete the challenge, you’ll receive more car free related items. If you are already on the Car-Free Diet, but know a friend, neighbor, or family member who needs to go on the diet, be sure to tell them about this challenge.
How to apply
You’ll need to create a 30 second to 2 minute video that shows why you would make the perfect Car-Free Diet Skeptic and fill out an online application. Video applications are being accepted through February 28, 2010.

How are the Skeptics chosen?
From March 1 – 31, 2010, all eligible entries will appear on carfreediet.com. During this time you can vote online for your favorite Skeptic candidate. At the end of the voting period, two Skeptics will be chosen to go on the Car-Free Diet for 30 days beginning April 22.

Skeptics Challenge
The chosen Skeptics will document their challenge online via videos, blogs, Tweets, and Facebook entries. If the Skeptics successfully complete the challenge, they’ll get everything needed to travel car free around Arlington and the Washington, DC region for a whole year.

FW&D Receives EPA Certification

FW&D LLC Remodeling Services received the following message from the EPA.

As an EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm, if you choose, you are now authorized to use and display the attached custom logo with your certification number.
The Lead-Safe Certified Firm Logo identifies a firm as certified under the Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule.

Snowstorm Press Release

With the recent snowstorms that hit Northern Virginia and Washington, DC, FW&D Remodeling chose to put people over products. In case you missed the story of how owner Ned Overton and staff helped out his Fairlington neighbors in a time of need, check out the press release.

The response has been overwhelming. Fairlington residents who got help from the FW&D crews digging out their cars were incredibly appreciative. Listen to neighbor Lou Dipalma’s review.

With the cold weather we’ve been having…it’s that kind of thing that warms our hearts.

Connecting with Your Contractor

Remodeling requires a lot of communication. You, the homeowner, have to communicate your vision and dream to us, the contractor. FW&D Remodeling believes in the power of connecting with our homeowners, and loves welcoming back past clients again and again.

FW&D recently finished a bathroom remodel project with Arlington resident Rick Kelly. This was not our first job with the retired Marine Corp General; back in September we replaced all the windows in one of Mr. Kelly’s rental units. When he was looking at Arlington window and remodeling companies, his first concern was “that the window replacement be done in a top quality manner”, which, of course, is always our concern too! We install superior class products that qualify for the federal and Virginia tax-credit.

But Mr. Kelly ended up not basing his decision solely on product quality. While he had received another estimate, he “chose FW&D based on the personal engagement of the owner.”

This is where our main focus lies. We want to not only give our clients in Northern Virginal beautiful, quality products and craftsmanship, but to also guarantee that the whole experience is as pleasant and personable as possible. Our hands-on approach gives homeowners comfort and confidence, which we think is necessary throughout the life of a remodel project.

So for his recent bathroom remodel, Mr. Kelly did not get a second estimate. He knew about our work and he knew our personnel. We were excited to work on his project and finished on budget and ahead of schedule. Mr. Kelly was pleased that his tenants were able to move in about a week before originally planned.

Remodeling projects are inevitably going to disrupt the lives of the homeowners a bit…there will be crews coming in, probably some demolition, and a space of your home that is temporarily out of use. But it shouldn’t be a situation where you feel helpless or out-of-the-loop. You can and should feel comfortable going to your contractor with your questions and concerns. We try to open that line of communication – check in with you before you have to come to us. It’s your home – we’re just there to make it more beautiful.

Listen to Rick Kelly's full testimonial about FW&D Remodeling.