WAMU 88.5FM American University Radio

Buy the Building

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A year and a half ago we aired a story about a group of residents on Langston Place, in southeast DC, who were joining together in an attempt to buy their federally-subsidized Section 8 apartment building. They wanted to insure that down the line their building, like others in the city, would not lose its Section 8 status. Low income residents in many parts of town say they're being forced out of the District as more low-income housing is eliminated. Today we check back in with one group of neighbors that is determined to stay.

It's been a year since the Langston residents secured a lawyer and a developer to guide them through the purchase process. But now the clock has run out and the building owner has refused to give the group an extension to get its financing together. WAMU's Lisa Nurnberger reports.

Freecycle DC

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If you're anything like millions of other Americans, you may be listening to this on the way to the mall. It's Black Friday. The biggest shopping day of the year. But not everyone jumps on the bandwagon - for example, an international group of environmental activists has also dubbed it "Buy Nothing Day," a protest that seeks to call attention to a culture of rampant consumerism.

Now, you may be the socially conscious type, but… it's one of your only days off before the holidays, the sales are enticing, and your shopping list is long! Well, before you start fighting for spots in those parking garages, there may be another way for you to check off a few of those items without opening your wallet and without hurting the environment. WAMU's Sidsel Overgaard explains.

Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary

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At this point you probably already plowed through the big turkey dinner. You might be enjoying the leftovers right now. But at Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary, people feast WITH the animals, not ON them. The 400 acre non-profit refuge in Poolesville, Maryland offers care, rehabilitation, and permanent sanctuary for neglected, abandoned or unwanted farm animals. WAMU's Stephanie Kaye pulled on her dungarees and hit the farm with Terry Cummings, director of the Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary.

Grandsons

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DC roots-rockers The Grandsons been guests on Metro Connection multiple times over the years and it's great to have them back in the studio with us during Thanksgiving weekend. They'll be recording a new album LIVE at the Barns of Wolftrap on Friday the 25th at 8 PM.

Joining us are Alan MacEwen on vocals and guitar, Chris Watling on baritone sax, Matthew Sedgley on drums and Scott McKnight on bass.

Video Turkeys

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Every year video critic Bari Biern joins us at Thanksgiving to unveil her latest collection of the worst movies ever made. Three movies so awful, so painful, the perpetrators can spend the rest of their careers trying to live them down. So if you want to rent these DVDs and plan an evening mocking the filmmakers, the actors and the writers who were responsible, here's this year's lineup - but don't say we didn’t warn you.

Just a Turkey Girl

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Now that we have the dark side of Thanksgiving weekend taken care of, writer Melissa Jordan helps us get back to thinking about what makes the holiday so great.

Melissa Jordan is a writer living in Bethesda.