Banjo Player

The Glen Echo Folk Dancers will be meeting in-person every Wednesday evening at Glen Echo Park (7300 MacArthur Blvd). **7:30 pm: beginning/intermediate/advanced teaching** **8:30-10 pm: open request dancing** Admission: $10 We strongly urge everyone to be vaccinated and fully boostered, but do not require it. If you have not done so already, please send your email address to [dancingplanet@erols.com](mailto:dancingplanet@erols.com). Note: if you are having symptoms, or if you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, or may be positive, please attend the class via Zoom for the next week or 2. If you attend the class and then test positive, please let me know immediately, so I can inform those who attended the class (without identifying you). See the website for more information and for Zoom link: [dancingplanetproductions.com/folkdance](http://dancingplanetproductions.com/folkdance)

Wednesdays April 22, May 6, May 20, May 27, June 3, + June 10th. 7-8:30pm. In this ensemble we’ll have fun learning and playing songs selected from the early, middle and late periods of the Beatles catalog. I’ll provide the materials we need to render them accurately and in their full complexity, while also tailoring them to meet the needs and abilities of our ensemble. Although we won’t always be able to recreate the exact instrumentation on the records, we will strive to inhabit and enjoy the essence of the songs— the rhythmic feel, edge, humor, whimsy and joy. All instruments and skill levels welcome— A flexible, kind and playful attitude required. All instruments and skill levels are welcome, though you should have basic proficiency on your instrument to get the most out of the class. Register Here: [https://square.link/u/ImF28kj1](https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsquare.link%2Fu%2FImF28kj1%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExV2w0WEZMTGNGTkNGQktoQnNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR7BOCUv-XVwSnSwH_-c8DcgcZSC7KdP8IJbLZwNJkXdOA1NXL6-08GCGDJMBg_aem_RE80Bgus9zv1f4wWnmx7uQ&h=AT0sAyu5subhlD_LJxmjSpxk5ky4-2Gmgbo1J5iHBD_KHsON3kBmc3c3fEekqZRmyYU6IrREx1g3zqX1MpH8f84Pn6qiPIfHOUlqVnxld7NQCmPHv9g39lGM_HPfoH0u4rNpI2x8PsR9o9oMJ3Q&__tn__=q&c%5B0%5D=AT3F9jdYQviC34I7hMHagGZ3ZlUUYzK2hQLGtyEmpwL_i9PQEBqKEUKvl9qhlEYdCO0UbGFyGHOW4lQeD14-7j1dsmt-oqYiqRHAzWAWQ0otrRu2fDdhFP0PZRKuWqvqbzQ-4Vay6eLgA59Nfr0IBYSSqelI31cv5fg) See what else we have coming up at the school: [https://schoolofmusicaltraditions.com/classes-workshops](https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fschoolofmusicaltraditions.com%2Fclasses-workshops%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExV2w0WEZMTGNGTkNGQktoQnNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5UW5QJr3I6pBhufZQbIqo83BBaWjKIFLlu41cseQ7txoFF29QuC1SpYfUTaw_aem_pY6cFjl2p42tIJAF_my4yQ&h=AT04M-pjqGxeXjjpJGCP1o996m4kzAS20MZVLNT57NYloPHdj5bcsettpGMNEZv0iVEq63w21StyhIFT5PBHoAaY6fgf_bMjszANBhm2oDOK-UTzChot4dQQCcsX87JeUHfZYoq9oDp2XvYIvP8&__tn__=q&c%5B0%5D=AT3F9jdYQviC34I7hMHagGZ3ZlUUYzK2hQLGtyEmpwL_i9PQEBqKEUKvl9qhlEYdCO0UbGFyGHOW4lQeD14-7j1dsmt-oqYiqRHAzWAWQ0otrRu2fDdhFP0PZRKuWqvqbzQ-4Vay6eLgA59Nfr0IBYSSqelI31cv5fg)

I am going to end the Monday night game in Manassas and start this new series on Wednesday's in Fairfax. Picking Santini's as the place to play as I like their food better. We play almost exclusively double deck pinochle. All levels of play are welcome from beginner to expert. We will teach and coach new players.

Badminton at Chinquapin! See you there!

[Profs and Pints DC](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Doom and Dinosaurs,”** a look at how mass extinctions shaped the dinosaurs and what research on these events tells us about Earth life’s long-term prospects, with Ian Wilenzik, paleontologist and visiting assistant professor of biology at George Washington University. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/dc-doom-and-dinosaurs](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/dc-doom-and-dinosaurs) .] Pity the poor dinosaurs. They lacked both scientific research to help deal with potential environmental catastrophes and places where they could have a beer and discuss it. You, on the other hand, have the opportunity to come to Profs and Pints to hear a fascinating talk on the impact of mass extinctions on dinosaur evolution and what research on dinosaurs tells us about biodiversity and Earth’s current biodiversity crisis. Dr. Ian Wilenzik, who has studied and taught courses on dinosaur evolution, population spread, and extinction, will leave you with a greater appreciation of the resilience of life on earth and how we’re both the product and source of biologically catastrophic events. Many of us are familiar with how a big meteor impact about 66 million years ago wiped out the Earth’s dinosaur population, leaving us only with their feathered descendants, birds. Less well known is how the Earth actually has undergone five periods of mass extinction that wiped out nearly all life, and how dinosaurs arose from one and endured another—both caused by volcanic activity—before meeting their match in the third. To ground his discussion, Dr. Wilenzik will talk about how we study mass extinctions by looking for geologic evidence of volcanic activity, meteoric blasts, and other catastrophic activity and of gaps in the fossil record after them. He’ll also discuss what makes a dinosaur a dinosaur, describing their distinct anatomical features. He’ll talk about how they and other forms of life evolved over long periods of time and were affected by extinction events. We’ll look at how the meteor-caused mass extinction that wiped out dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous paved the way for the rise of mammals and the emergence of primates, and, eventually, us. Looking ahead to future mass extinctions and what might survive them, we’ll talk about how that plant you forget to water might have the last laugh, as well as why crocodiles might be around a while. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: A *Triceratops* mounted skeleton at the Los Angeles Museum of Natural History (Photo by Allie Caulfield / Wikimedia Commons).

Friday, April 24, 2026. Doors at 7PM, Music at 7:30PM. CRESCENDO STUDIOS 8101A Lee Hwy Falls Church VA 22042 Pre-sale tickets: 10$. At the door: $15. Get your tickets early and save! https://snrg.bigcartel.com/product/april-is-for-emo-crescendo-band-night Get ready for a night of pure pop-punk, emo, and post-hardcore nostalgia. Four killer bands are hitting the stage to give tribute to the songs that defined a generation. Scream along to the iconic hits of Paramore, sing your heart out to the anthems of Pierce the Veil, throw down with the heavy pop-punk energy of A Day to Remember, and relive the classics from Blink-182. From emotional breakdowns to crowd-jumping choruses, this show delivers the full Warped Tour-style experience. Expect big riffs, bigger sing-alongs, and a crowd that knows every word. Whether you grew up on these bands or just love high-energy live music, this is a night you don’t want to miss. Grab your friends, lace up your Vans, and get ready to party like it’s the mid-2000s again. Doors at 7PM, music at 7:30PM. THERE IS NO PRINTED TICKET \*\*\*IMPORTANT: PLEASE KEEP YOUR EMAIL CONFIRMATION OR TAKE A SCREENSHOT. THIS IS YOUR PROOF OF PURCHASE AT THE VENUE FOR ENTRY.\*\*\* "When you take the time to WORK on your SOUL, your SOUL shall find you WORK." -BEAUcanLAST of SNRGmusic.com YOUR SOUL SHALL NET WORK. YSSNW.COM

The MD group of the Black Banjo Reclamation Project will be tabling at the Montpelier festival, welcoming in spring with various community organizations, and of course-- Banjos! This festival is FREE for the entire family, hosted by the Montpelier Historic Site & Museum and the Montpelier Arts Center! Explore the Vendor Marketplace, attend a talk on gardening and herbs, tour the Museum, and relax to live music. Beginning at 11am, we will host outdoor performances featuring: the Jane Austen Society of North America – Maryland Region; the Natyabhoomi School of Dance; and Samaria Marley with a special guest. Visit the resident artist’s studios at the Arts Center, watch art demonstrations, paint the Montpelier bird, and create spring-themed crafts. Stroll the galleries and view the exhibitions of Amanda Spaid, Linda Bernard, and the Laurel Art Guild. At 1 pm, join us in the Main Gallery for a free performance by classical guitarist Gwenyth Aggeler.

This is a great class for beginner to intermediate players looking to get into bluegrass. Students will learn the basic chords and melody of one or 2 classic Bluegrass songs and how to approach playing them in a jam setting. Over the course of about an hour the class will play the tunes several times as a group exploring different possibilities for kickoffs, solos, endings and more. At the end of the class we open up the jam! Justin plays guitar and banjo with Cherry Blossom Special and runs jam sessions along and runs jam sessions along with mandolinist Nick Cameron and fiddler Mari Carlson. He has been teaching guitar, banjo and mandolin in Takoma Park since 2012. This class was designed to give people an affordable entry point to Bluegrass music, and help grow the community. The class is $30 Register [Here!](https://checkout.square.site/buy/GUSSUYYW5UMKDMCDV4CQBOBL)

Competitive and fun session focused on live points and match play scenarios. Players rotate partners and work on strategy and consistency. Small Group Location: Jefferson District Park Sunday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM ⚠️ Meetup RSVP does not reserve a spot. Registration required. https://dcacetennis.com/#spring-programs These tennis clinics are run by a former European junior competitive player with over 10 years of coaching experience. Sessions are designed to be high energy and fast paced, focusing on repetition, movement, and live ball situations that help players improve quickly. Players will work on point play and strategy in quick pace. The goal is to maximize hitting time, improve consistency, and build confidence in real match situations. ⚠️ This is a paid clinic and RSVP on Meetup does not guarantee a spot. Registration and confirmation from the host are required.

*12:00 - 1:30 PM EST Followed by slow session from 1:45 - 2:45 pm* Ever wanted to learn a Celtic tune? This is your chance! Celtic cellist Ellen Gira leads a monthly intro to Celtic repertoire class where students learn a groovy Celtic tune and create a fun arrangement as a group. This class will also offer ideas to take your playing further, including ornamentation and Celtic jamming skills. All instruments are welcome. Cost is $30. Afterwards, Ellen hosts a **Free Celtic Slow Session** that is open to players of all levels and all instruments. These classes and sessions will help prepare you to join the DMV’s thriving Celtic music community and play in sessions anywhere in the world! This class is open to middle school age students and above, who are able to play chords and/or basic melodies as appropriate for their instrument. Students under the age of 12, or who have questions about whether their skill level or instrument is appropriate for the class, should contact SMT prior to registration. Sheet music is provided and added to Ellen’s growing tune book: [Celtic Slow Session Tunes](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/101oWUnaTqOOdrrqjQnTEL8lK34dVIyTh?usp=sharing) *Jam Content/Repertoire examples:* * Jimmy Ward's (Irish Jig) * *Lochaber Badger (Scottish)* * *Mairi's Wedding (Scottish tune)* * *The Silver Spear (Irish reel)* * *Lisnagun (Irish jig)* * *Wild Mountain Thyme (Scots/Irish song)* $30 Register Here: https://checkout.square.site/buy/T4Q2LUUYFIHVTLLFWFSSQX2O See what else is going on: https://schoolofmusicaltraditions.com/classes-workshops

Join us on Wednesday, April 22 8:00-10:30 PM. Dan Gillespie and Wendy Clarke call to the music of Niki Yeracaris (fiddle), Paul Oorts (mandolin and accordion), and Neil Epstein (piano) Register: [https://www.fsgw.org/event-6606292](https://www.fsgw.org/event-6606292?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExcjc4RHdyVTFETXowNEpMTHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR54kFuHxU9pluTqCOjqiKnDa9foD2DBYSOl_H3IbRd0gNiZw4mq-hbkjzVtTA_aem_fAEJCbUV9S0O1G4kdufaiA) (Please note, you are not registered by responding on meetup, you must register through the FSGW website, or at the door if tickets are available) The FSGW weekly English Country Dance offers delightful dancing, led by talented callers, accompanied by top-notch musicians playing a wide variety of instruments. The crowd is friendly and enthusiastic; new dancers are always welcome and can get an informal lesson if they arrive around 7:30. You don't need to bring a partner, or dress up. * If you have not previously attended a Wednesday night English country dance at Glen Echo, you may select "first time free" when registering. New dancers are welcome. If you have no previous English country dance experience or would like a refresher, please arrive at around 7:30 for a lesson. Covid Protocol: masks and vaccinations are encouraged but not required. Some dancers are sensitive to fragrances, and they are grateful when you skip the perfume and scented after-shave. Additional information about this weekly event is available on the English Country Dance (in-person) web page. [https://www.fsgw.org/ecd](https://www.fsgw.org/ecd) **Pay at the door:** Admission - $15 FSGW Members, $8 Students and those with limited income, $17 Others. **Questions?** Email English Country Dance * **We look forward to dancing with you!**

Friday night Greenbelt International Folk Dancing has gone "virtual". As we all practice good social distancing, many in our folk dance community are feeling the absence of our usually scheduled local dances. In response, please join us for the Greenbelt Virtual Folk Dance Session. Let’s keep dancing! • Connect and dance in our own homes • Watch hosts leading familiar dances • See each other; listen and dance to our favorites How: We will be using the ZOOM video conferencing app to share music and live videos of the leaders and each other. This can be used on a desktop, laptop, or smartphone. What to Expect: Your hosts are Linda Mansdorf, Vita Hollander, Ben Hole, and John Robinson. Collectively they will play 25-30 dances, which should approximate the number of dances normally done on a Friday night in-person event. The hosts will do a quick teaching or demonstration of the steps to some of the dances that may be less familiar to you or just as a refresher, but the session is not designed as a workshop, so the majority of the evening will be spent playing dances that many of us already know and love to do. How To Join Us: Each week we will send an email with the Zoom Meeting link ID. Make sure John Robinson knows you would like to receive this email with the link. John's email address for Info: j_srobinson@verizon.net. https://www.facebook.com/GreenbeltInternationalFolkDancing/ Co-sponsored by the Folklore Society of Greater Washington

**Caller: Richard Ades** **Band: The McKenzies** **Clinton Heights Lutheran Church** **15 Clinton Heights Ave, Columbus, OH 43202** WHAT IS CONTRA DANCING? Picture the Grand Ball scenes like you’ve seen in period films such as “Pride and Prejudice”, where the dancers are lined up in long lines, across from each other. That’s English Country Dancing, the predecessor of contra dancing. Now, add moves like “swing your partner” and “do-si-do,” like you’ve seen in square dancing. Set it to fabulous, high energy, live music with fiddles, guitars, percussion and more, alá “Riverdance.” Finally, set the whole scene down in the middle of Woodstock, with a hip, groovy atmosphere, a bit of tie-dye, and hints of counter-culture attitude. THAT’s Contra Dancing! Wear cool and comfortable clothes (you will get warm) and clean shoes that won't mark up our nice wood floor. Be sure to come for the beginner's lesson from 7:30 - 8:00, followed by dancing 8:00 - 10:30. All dances are taught; we will help you learn! Beginners always welcome, no need to bring a partner. Cost is $10.00 adults, $5.00 ages 12-26. Under 12 free. Free parking in church lot. For more information contact me or check out our website: [www.bigscioty.com](http://www.bigscioty.com/) Please bring your own refillable water bottle.

We’re still working to get more people into these Meetups, but our goal is to give PlayYourCourt members a few social tennis outings each week in addition to your practice sessions and Challenge League matches. These Meetups are co-ed, super laid back, and all skill levels are welcome. Post your skill level and a suggested court in the comments section so we can round up as many players as we can for some tennis fun! Also, if you’re looking to meet new practice partners or play some matches and you aren’t already in the PlayYourCourt Community, you can go here to see what we’re all about and sign up: https://www.playyourcourt.com/tennis-community/columbus-oh/meetup/ If you love tennis, we’d love to have you! Be sure and watch the quick video that explains how everything works. Happy hitting! - Scott

Join us as we get together to see the BAFTA-winning British biographical dark-comedy/drama, I SWEAR! The film is based on the true-life story of a Scottish man diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome at an early age. Here are details, a trailer and our plan for this event: DESCRIPITON: This true-life story follows a Scottish man diagnosed with Tourette's at 15. Targeted as 'insane' by his peers, he struggled with a condition few had witnessed. In search of his life’s purpose, he began campaigning for better understanding and acceptance of the condition of Tourette's as an adult. The film is written/directed/produced by Kirk Jones and stars Robert Aramayo, Maxine Peake, Shirley Henderson and Peter Mullan. TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeWqQN3snCU BUZZ & ACCLAIM: I Swear currently has an incredible 100% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which says: “A deft balance of prickly and sweet that's bound together by Robert Aramayo's knockout performance, I Swear doesn't sugarcoat the challenges of Tourette syndrome while delivering an uplifting tale of resilience.” Others call it, “"funny, fierce and full of heart!” The film was released earlier in the UK making it eligible for this year’s BAFTA’s where it won Best Casting and Best Lead Actor for Robert Aramayo. The film and Robert Aramayo's performance will be eligible for next year’s Oscars! PLAN: We’ll plan for a 7pm-ish showing and will meet in the bar area about 30 minutes before showtime! Once details are confirmed, advance ticket purchase is advised! Details will be confirmed/announced as the date gets closer. Should be a good one, Dan

Hike approx 4.0 miles at approx. 18 minute mile pace. Meet in front of the Nature Center.

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 You will need to scan your ID at the door to get a visitor badge. **Abstract** GitHub Copilot is powerful, but what if you could scale from a solo AI assistant to an entire team of specialized agents working in parallel? This session introduces Squad: an open-source framework for multi-agent orchestration that lets you define teams of AI agents with specific roles, responsibilities, and expertise. We'll progress from Copilot basics to the Copilot CLI, explore how Agents add autonomy, and see how Instructions and Skills let you customize agent behavior. Then, the climax: a live demo where a Squad team of 3 agents (Lead, Developer, Tester) stands up and builds a working application in real-time, showcasing true multi-agent collaboration. Whether you're new to AI or exploring how to scale your use of Copilot, this session will show you what's possible when agents work as a team. **YouTube Link** TBD

Ready for a night of music, laughter, and fun? Join us at Thunderwing Brewery for Music Bingo — a lively twist on classic bingo where songs replace numbers and good vibes are guaranteed! RSVP to secure your spot. Text Renee (614-257-9389). (Headcount needed to make sure staffing can accommodate the group) Arrive early to get a seat - **bring a camping chair for extra seating.** Often the brewery has food trucks or you can bring in your own food. Bonus - You can bring your dog!