St. Elmo's Coffee Pub

Dear poets and poetry lovers, Please join us for the next Del Ray Poetry Reading at St. Elmo’s Coffee Shop (2300 Mt. Vernon Ave.) on Friday, Nov. 6 from 7-9 PM. Our featured poet is former Alexandria Poet Laureate Zeina Azzam. After her performance, we’ll open the mic for all to read their poems. Our theme this month is “What is Home?” We hope to see you there. Your co-hosts, Neal Learner and Wendi Kaplan 




About Zeina Azzam

Zeina Azzam is a Palestinian American poet, writer, editor, and community activist. She was selected as the Poet Laureate of the City of Alexandria, Virginia, in April 2022 and served in this position for three years, until April 2025. Her full-length poetry collection, Some Things Never Leave You, was published in 2023 by Tiger Bark Press. Zeina's chapbook, Bayna Bayna, In-Between, was published in 2021 by The Poetry Box, which nominated one of her poems ("Traveling with the Speed of Light") for the Pushcart Prize. In November 2022, The KNOT Magazine also nominated Zeina's poem, "Death in War," for a Pushcart. The City of Alexandria also published a collection of her poems in 2025 titled Poems for Alexandria. 
 
Zeina's poetry appears in a number of literary journals including Prairie Schooner, The Massachusetts Review, Michigan Quarterly Review, The Dodge Magazine, Pleiades, Plume, ONE ART, Vox Populi, Rusted Radishes, Mizna,
Sukoon, Passager, Gyroscope, Barzakh, Pensive Journal, Split This Rock, Streetlight Magazine, Cutleaf Journal, Beltway Poetry Quarterly, and
Voice Male. In addition, Zeina’s poems are published in anthologies and edited volumes such as Enemy of the Sun: Poems of Palestinian Resistance, Bettering American Poetry, Making Mirrors: Writing/Righting by and for Refugees, The Southern Poetry Anthology, Volume IV: Virginia, The Black River: Death Poems, Resilient Kitchens: American Immigrant Cooking in a Time of Crisis, Making Levantine Cuisine: Modern Foodways of the Eastern Mediterranean, Tales from Six Feet Apart, and Gaza Unsilenced. ​Her poem, “<a href="https://www.melissadunphy.com/composition/143/you-birth-the-seeds" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">You Birth the Seeds</a>,” was set as a choral piece by renowned composer Melissa Dunphy. Another esteemed composer, Ep Wesseling (from The Netherlands), has created choral music based on four of Zeina's poems: "Write My Name," "20,000 Children Killed in Gaza," "No Longer," and "Together." (These "<a href="https://drive.proton.me/urls/9RMRD7WVV0#tuTerjpsCVra" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Four Songs for Gaza</a>" are available for a free download online.) 
 
In addition to participating regularly in poetry readings locally and nationally, Zeina serves as a mentor for We Are Not Numbers, a writing program for youth in Gaza, and is currently poetry editor for WANN. She volunteers for humanitarian organizations that support Palestinian development. Zeina is also active in Grassroots Alexandria, a local group that advocates for the civil rights of vulnerable communities in Alexandria, Virginia, where she lives. Her educational background includes an M.A. in Arabic language and literature from Georgetown University, an M.A. in sociology from George Mason University, and a B.A. in psychology from Vassar College.

Local Event: Del Ray Poetry Reading

Alexandria city

Del Ray

Virginia

Del Ray Poetry Reading

Dear poets and poetry lovers, Please join us for the next Del Ray Poetry Reading at St. Elmo’s Coffee Shop (2300 Mt. Vernon...

Neal Learner

Washington Metropolitan Area

Patch AM Team

Alexandria

Michelle Witte

Old Town Alexandria

Fairfax County

Huntington

West End Alexandria

Rose Hill

Bailey's Crossroads

Arlington County

Michael O'Connell

Arlington

Clarendon

Clarendon-Courthouse-Rosslyn

Ballston

The free JSSA<a href="https://virtualexpos.accessjca.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"> </a><a href="https://jssa.org/virtualexpos/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Northern Virginia, MD Virtual 50+ Employment Expo</a> is designed to connect jobseekers aged 50 and over with age-friendly employers.
Expo program:
<ul>
 <li>Workshops (10 - 11:45 a.m.) Start your day with two engaging workshops tailored to jobseekers aged 50 and above. These sessions provide valuable strategies, tools, and insights to support your career journey.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li>Employer Presentations (12 - 3 p.m.*) Employers share information about their current full- and part-time job openings. Jobseekers can ask employers questions via Zoom chat, making the expo a dynamic and interactive experience.</li>
</ul>
Jobseekers: Whether you are re-entering the workforce, changing careers, or seeking new opportunities, you are invited to
join us for the expo on Thursday, October 15, 2026. Register today at <a href="https://www.jssa.org/services/career-services/virtual-50-employment-expos/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">jssa.org/virtualexpos/</a>.
Employers: If your organization has at least three job openings, this is your opportunity to meet talented and experienced professionals. Learn more and register today at <a href="https://www.jssa.org/services/career-services/virtual-50-employment-expos/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">jssa.org/virtualexpos/</a>. Registration is free and required.
*The expo end time will be extended to accommodate additional employers. You may join, exit, and rejoin the expo as your schedule permits.
The free JSSA Northern Virginia Virtual 50+ Employment Expos are generously funded by The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation.
As of July 1, 2026, JCA and JSSA merged. Find the same service programs you relied on throughout the years, just under the JSSA name.
JSSA serves people of all faiths, races, ethnicities, and income levels.

Local Event: Registration is Open - JSSA Northern Virginia, MD Virtual 50+ Employment Expo

Fairfax City

Registration is Open - JSSA Northern Virginia,...

The free JSSA Northern Virginia, MD Virtual 50+ Employment Expo is designed to connect jobseekers aged 50 and over with...

Registration is Open - JSSA Northern Virginia, MD Virtual 50+ Employment Expo

October 17:&nbsp; Fall&nbsp;COMMUNITY EVENT
 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM
YOU WILL FIND -&nbsp;Antique, Vintage, as well as Crafters/Artisan Vendors, and refreshments for sale.&nbsp;&nbsp;Bring visitors, your friends, and family.&nbsp; Please come support!&nbsp;&nbsp;Hosted by Lodge #219
INDOOR AND OUTDOOR VENDORS!!!&nbsp; &nbsp;Antique, Vintage,&nbsp;Artisans and Crafters will be outside and inside the air conditioned lodge building.&nbsp; 
Great Community Event with something for everyone. Up to 45 Vendors and crafters are set up both inside and outside, with unique, antique, vintage, retro and handmade, handsewn gift items available for purchase. Please Support YOUR local vendors who work so hard to offer unique and lovely items to YOU! 
Cake Faith: Breakfast/lunch, wraps, original recipe pound cakes: lemon, vanilla and more! Other goodies' Vendors on a rotating basis.
NEW! A Sotheby's-trained appraiser will assess your treasures for the low fee of $15 per verbal appraisal for hand-carried items. She will be located on site inside the air-conditioned lodge.
Customer Parking on site
Restrooms on site
Refreshments available for purchase
Pet and Family-friendly environment
ATM in 7-11 on Elkin street, across from lodge, overflow parking. 
Enjoy browsing all the handmade and hand-picked curated gifts, collectible&nbsp;items, while enjoying the controlled temperature of the lodge building and under canopy-shaded spaces outside. 
MARKET SCHEDULE REMAINING&nbsp;FOR&nbsp;2026:&nbsp; October 17, as well as Holiday-themed markets:&nbsp; November 21, December 5 &amp; December 19.
Parking and restrooms on site.&nbsp; Family and pet-friendly.&nbsp; Join the festivities all year long!&nbsp;&nbsp;Proceeds from vendor&nbsp;event contribute to college&nbsp;scholarships.

Local Event: MT Vernon Vintage, Antique & Artisan Market on Fort Hunt Road

MT Vernon Vintage, Antique & Artisan Market on...

October 17:  Fall COMMUNITY EVENT
 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM
YOU WILL FIND - Antique, Vintage, as well as Crafters/Artisan Vendors,...

MT Vernon Vintage, Antique & Artisan Market on Fort Hunt Road

Hayfield Community Park

This is a family-friendly memorial charity 5K race to help fight pancreatic cancer. Register now before the price increases on October 12th! Visit www.FilltheShoes.org for more info. Walkers welcome and there are tons of awards and prizes, so come on out on November 7th!

Local Event: 15th Annual Jack T. Farrar, Jr. "Fill the Shoes" 5K

Greater Alexandria

15th Annual Jack T. Farrar, Jr. "Fill the...

This is a family-friendly memorial charity 5K race to help fight pancreatic cancer. Register now before the price increases on...

15th Annual Jack T. Farrar, Jr. "Fill the Shoes" 5K

Nearby Communities

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Neal Learner, Neighbor

Posting Activity

Del Ray Poetry Reading

NOV

6

7:00 PM

St. Elmo's Coffee Pub, 2300 Mt Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA

Registration is Open - JSSA Northern Virginia, MD Virtual 50+ Employment Expo

MT Vernon Vintage, Antique & Artisan Market on Fort Hunt Road

15th Annual Jack T. Farrar, Jr. "Fill the Shoes" 5K