Rome is so vast that sometimes it takes a concerted citizen effort to "build" any one 'hood the way we'd like to see it done. Last year, Mons Aventinus benefited from a "combined effort" in historical and html development and won one of the three coveted "Best Places in AncientWorlds" awards. This winter, the place to be is Mons Esquilinus, another one of the great hills of Rome. Due to its historical situs as the home of the great Maecenas and Nero's Golden House, volunteers are being asked to consider developing the Esquiline Hill as an homage to the world of Roman fine and decorative art. Ask Xtreemli Curius, M. Fabius Furius, Kallistos Alexandros, or Heraklia Aelius if you need assistance! We hope to complete development in February, so check out the 'hood discussion.

Rome is bustling after the excesses of Saturnalia (allowing a couple of weeks for hangovers to recede and to enjoy all the other AW festivals). There are several ongoing plans for events in February and March and a major grass-roots 'hood' development in planning.

First, special thanks to everyone who helped make Saturnalia 2007 one of our best ever! Special thanks to our scribes, Safiria, Germaniae and Decius for all their hard work, but many well-known Romans also pitched in to help. Senex Caecilius had his traditional Advent Calendar, full of games and history; Balbas Scriptor made us crazy with his second "Consul, Emperor or Not" contest, you could design a Roman coin or turn famous AW figures "topsy-turvey" (well, that's what Saturnalia is all about), try Mauricius Fabius' Saturnian jigsaw, and more. Thanks to QC Cocceius, whose wonderful holiday posters were on walls all over Rome! The Saturnalia Banquet on December 17th was a great success, and Elenia Servilius and Marcus Antonius were Co-Misrulers with a vengeance! Thanks to M. Fabius Furius, who held the orgy at his Forum digs, The Fauces. Rumor has it that Alal-Sin Malachus actually came without clothing, but that's what those decadent easterners do at Roman holidays ;) Thanks to those who created the entertainment and those who partied, to help make it a very special Roman holiday. Even more thanks to all the Roman artists whose blizzard of Saturnalia cards kept everyone's spirits waaaay up.

Several fun events are ongoing in February! First, after a hiatus of a year or two, the 2008 Best Roman Homes contest will be held during the month of February. There's lots of good information on the contest sign-up page as to how to revamp your domus, and lots of sestertii will be shared for best overall (content and design) and sub-categories for either. Sign up - it's almost time for Rome Spring Cleaning anyway, so you might as well strut your stuff. The contest will begin February 1st, 2008 at 00:01 EST and will end February 29th 2008 at 11:59PM.

Every year, we're reminded of just where Valentine's Day came from - the Roman festival of Lupercalia, a very ancient, possibly pre-Roman pastoral festival, held February 13-15 to avert evil spirits and purify the city. During the Lupercalia, half-naked blood-stained young men ran through Rome striking women (especially the young and pretty) with hide strips called - you guessed it! - februa. Ever wondered where we got that dratted hard-to-spell month? Anyway, plans are afoot to celebrate Lupercalia again this year, so watch the planning thread and get your goatskins ready!

There are other signs of activity throughout Rome in these cold and house-bound months. You can join an ongoing discussion about the revamping of Rome's home page. Like all urban renewal, everyone has ideas for graphics, colors and changes. You can also join a grass-roots citizen movement that is encouraging development of the Mons Esquilinus as a Roman arts showplace (see the "Featured Hoods" section).

There have been some amazing stories recently in the real world regarding "finds" in Rome, including - amazingly! - the possibility that, after being "lost" for 1500 years, the Lupercal Cave has finally been located on the Palatine! News and notes from throughout modern archeology keep popping up on this thread, so keep your eyes open. For those lucky enough to visit Italy in 2008, apparently - after a few decades! - the House of Augustus Caesar will finally be open to tours. Maybe you can win enough site currency for a round-trip?

Finally, a spotlight on one of the fun quizzes on Roman history to take, "out and about" in the Eternal City - QC Cocceius' Roman History 100-1 BC. As usual, you'll feel both good and bad, afterwards, about how much you know! Just as a reminder, you can find many of Rome's quizzes on the Triumphal Procession of Knowledge thread.