Celtic Culture

In this monthly workshop, you will learn the fundamentals of proper vocal technique and practice singing in harmony with others. Each class will focus on different vocal exercises and aspects of vocal technique, including breath control, diaphragmatic support, upper and lower register, vocal placement and blending, vocal agility, engaging vocal performance, and more. Additionally, in each class you will learn a folk song to practice singing harmony together. Whether you are new to singing or a seasoned chorister, there is something for you to learn from this class! Register Here: https://square.link/u/FQbwT3kF

🍵**Zen & Zest: Japanese Art & Culture Workshops** \*\*Unlock the secrets to perfectly whisked, delicious Matcha!\*\*🍵 👉**Registration** is **Online Only** at: [https://portal.nova-labs.org/event-6616428](https://portal.nova-labs.org/event-6616428) ***(No drop-ins accepted.)*** 🕒**When:** Sunday, **19 Apr 2026**, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM 📍**Where:** Nova Labs, 3850 Jermantown Rd, Fairfax, VA 22030 **Details:** This immersive class teaches you the precise techniques for brewing, along with proper care for your tools. You'll leave with your very own Matcha set and the knowledge to find peace and flavor at home. While we sip, enjoy quiet mini-discussions on intriguing Japanese cultural mysteries. Master the art of Matcha and bring daily tranquility into your life! This class includes the Kit. Children are welcome but must be registered and accompanied by a parent or guardian if under 12. ⚠️ HOW TO REGISTER An RSVP on Meetup does NOT reserve your spot. **Please register via the link below** to attend. ***(No drop-ins accepted.)*** 👉[https://portal.nova-labs.org/event-6616428](https://portal.nova-labs.org/event-6616428) Hope to see you there!

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Goddess of Spring and the Underworld,”** an introduction to the Greek goddess Persephone in her many incarnations, with Brittany Warman, former instructor at Ohio State University and co-founder of the Carterhaugh School of Folklore and the Fantastic. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-persephone](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-persephone) .] Join Brittany Warman, who has earned a huge following among Profs and Pints fans by delivering fantastic talks on folklore, myths, legends, and fantasy, for the perfect event for the season: a look at the spring goddess Persephone and the many ways in which she has inspired the human imagination. The story of Hades and Persephone is one of the most famous—and most retold—episodes in Greek mythology. Persephone’s abduction, her interlude in the Underworld, and her partial return to the world above have inspired statues and webcomics, ancient cults and contemporary poetry. Thousands of years after her tale was first told, we’re still fascinated by this goddess. Brittany will discuss how Persephone’s appeal lies in her liminality in being caught between two very different worlds and lives. She represents spring, renewal, and rebirth because Earth blooms with her return, but she’s also the Queen of the Underworld. From a 21st-century perspective, she’s basically a goth girl adorned with a flower crown. We’ll also look at Persephone’s mythic roots, including their connections to the Eleusinian Mysteries. And then we’ll dive into some of the ways that Persephone has been revised and retold in recent years, from the Tony award-winning musical *Hadestown* to the webcomic *Lore Olympus* to memes and fairy tales and fashion. After all, why be just one thing when you can be the queen of both spring and darkness? (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: From “Proserpine” (Persephone) painted by Dante Gabriel Rossetti in 1882. (Birmingham Museums Trust / Wikimedia Commons.)

Ciao! Sono felice di comunicarvi che sarò a Washington DC domenica 19 aprile per fare una passeggiata e incontrare alcuni di voi per un caffé e una chiacchierata in italiano/inglese. Questo evento è aperto a tutti e non è a pagamento. Si accettano donazioni all'insegnante per sostenere questo gruppo, questi incontri e questa piccola comunità. Se ti va, passa fra le 5:30 e 7:30 pm per fare amicizia e parlare italiano. Magari fare una passeggiata se è bel tempo. aDiscuteremo anche della possibilità di viaggiare e studiare in italia quest'anno o l'anno prossimo :) A presto, Marty

Sunday, April 19, 2026 - Luncheon at 2 pm; Lecture at 3 pm **Legacy of the Minoans** **Emily Anderson - Johns Hopkins University** Sponsored by the Hellenic Society Prometheas Crete’s Minoan civilization was Europe’s first great Bronze Age society. Crete hosted magnificent palaces, including the labyrinth at Knossos, and Minoan art and traditions that profoundly influenced the Mediterranean world. The language of Minoan Crete is unknown, and their scripts, such as Linear A, have eluded translation since Sir Arthur Evans first excavated in Crete in 1900. Named after the mythological King Minos, Crete’s Minoan landscape serves as the setting for countless legends, including the birthplace of Zeus, the labyrinth where Theseus killed the Minotaur and the prison that Daedalus and Icarus fled with their ill-fated wings. How did Minoan society rise from small isolated farms to state-level palatial society with "international" prominence? Professor Anderson’s detailed exploration of the uniqueness and trajectory of Minoan Crete within the eastern Mediterranean will focus on the role of trade and exchange, seafaring, craft, politics, art and religion, and how these were all entwined. This event is sponsored by the Hellenic Society Prometheas Luncheon at 2 pm; Lecture at 3 pm This event will be held at Yayla Bistro: 2201 N. Westmoreland street / Arlington, VA 22213 Reserve your spot: [https://basonova.org/next-lecture-reservation.html](https://basonova.org/next-lecture-reservation.html)

**Sunday Afternoon Dancing Planet Contra Dance** Intro lesson at 2:30pm, dance from 3-6pm in the Bumper Car Pavilion at Glen Echo Park, MD. Caller: **Chloe Levine** Band: **Neon Creek** (Chloe Rosenthal on keyboard/synth/computer and Jared Bishop on fiddle) Admission: $15, cash, check, or credit cards accepted at the door (credit card fees apply). For more info: [https://dancingplanetproductions.com/contra/](https://dancingplanetproductions.com/contra/)

Instead of our usual 3rd Sunday ritual, please join MoonFire on Sunday, April 19 at 12:00 PM, for the “Exploring Your Core Values” workshop being offered at UUCA that you may find meaningful and engaging. It’s an interactive workshop designed to help participants discover what truly matters to them - - at a deep, grounding level. For more details and to enroll in the workshop, please either contact UUCA (703-892-2565 / uuca@uucava.org) or check out the Faith360 write-up on the UUCA web site under “In Person Workshops” at the following address: https://uucava.shelbynextchms.com/external/form/036d86f0-3e1d-4d24-b228-9bf787645305 MoonFire (usually) holds ritual the 3rd Sunday of every month at the UU Church of Arlington, VA, starting at 12 PM with a pre-ritual briefing. Plan to arrive a little early so you can meet folks and get settled in. Rituals are usually followed by a potluck. We welcome everyone. If you are wondering whether to bring children, are new to Paganism, or plan to take pictures or write about our ritual, let us know ahead of time.

In conjunction with the Interreligious Communities Project of Northern Virginia and [Sharing Sacred Spaces](https://www.sharingsacredspaces.org/), the Firefly House invites you to join us for an open house on Sunday, April 19, from 2 – 4pm in the McLaren Sargent Pavilion at beautiful Lake Accotink Park. You **must** [RSVP through the Sharing Sacred Spaces website](https://www.sharingsacredspaces.org/events-1/northern-virginia-sacred-site-visit-at-firefly-house) in addition to (or instead of) your response here. We will remind folks to do so a few times as we approach the open house. The afternoon will include a brief ceremony to consecrate our space and time together, a "Spring Awakening" walk in the park, information about the history of the Firefly House and an overview of the sort of Paganism(s) that we practice, some personal stories from members about how they came to the house, and the opportunity to ask any questions about witchcraft and Paganism in the modern world. **All are welcome!** You can be part of any religious community, or none, to join this event. We hope that anyone who is interested in learning in an interfaith setting will come. Please join us and feel free to invite friends and family. **Know before you go:** * Come with an open mind — Paganism carries a lot of baggage, and the Firefly House is excited to help unpack it. * As an earth-centered tradition, this visit will take place outdoors in a public park, in a reserved pavilion. Follow the directions to the pavilion below. * Hospitality is a core virtue here, expect to be warmly welcomed.

**\*TO ATTEND GET TICKET At** [https://www.socialevents123.com/event-details.aspx?id=13395#tix](https://www.socialevents123.com/event-details.aspx?id=13395#tix) (Multiple Meetup groups are co-organizing so the RSVP's shown are just a very small portion attending. We'll have at least 20 registered.) Our last online Bingo Night Party was such a BIG hit, we're doing it again! Do you like to play BINGO or want to just do something different?! Then you will LOVE this event! Here is your opportunity to have some fun playing our Live "Bingo" game. You will also get to socialize and make other friends from the comfort of your home. Prizes included Amazon gift cards, free future events and more! This completely online event will be LIVE and you will be able to see and hear the other participants while playing. You will either need to print or draw out your bingo cards. We will email you with how to get it after registering. You can have more than 1 person on your team as long as they're from your house and use same device. Friends/family around the country can also play. They would just need to also register for a ticket. This event will be held on Zoom which you would access through your computer/webcam, or via your phone/tablet. On day of the event, you will get a secured Zoom link and link to print out Bingo cards. \*RSVPS ON HERE ARE NOT REFLECTIVE OF ACTUAL ATTENDANCE as this is a multi group event. Cost: $15-$20 depending on how early you register. **\*TO ATTEND GET TICKET AT -** [https://www.socialevents123.com/event-details.aspx?id=13395#tix](https://www.socialevents123.com/event-details.aspx?id=13395#tix) To find more fun events: Follow: [https://www.eventbrite.com/o/new-york-city-social-events-10797526283](https://www.eventbrite.com/o/new-york-city-social-events-10797526283) Join: [https://www.meetup.com/NYC-Social/](https://www.meetup.com/NYC-Social/) Click: [https://dljparty.ticketleap.com/](https://dljparty.ticketleap.com/)

Philosophers, religionists, thinkers and psychologists have long debated whether we are born good, evil or full of sin – or whether we’re all blank slates just waiting to be filled in but with no inherent potential one way or the other. But what if we are actually created to be noble? How might that change the way we look at ourselves? What about others? At children? And the world? The world around us often seems to be telling us that we are unworthy of love or of excellence, that we as human beings are somehow inherently bad – or at least selfish in our motivations – and that this needs to be controlled. But what if we viewed ourselves and others as being born with inherent nobility just waiting to be realized? Is it possible that much of the negativity we see in the world today isn’t because people are inherently bad but that our inherent “goodness” and nobility is not being recognized and nurtured? What role does spirituality potentially play in this? How can a more spiritual perspective enable us to find reasons for hope and inspire us to act, to channel our unique strengths towards creating a world that reflects and nurtures our best selves? Can seeing the nobility in ourselves cause us to recognize and uplift the nobility in others, help us overcome challenges and forge a path towards a brighter future? Come join a different kind of conversation – one that welcomes every perspective in a search for the underlying truths that unite us all – as we discuss the spiritual perspectives offered by the Bahá’í Teachings to deepen our understanding of human nature and the nobility within each of us. Join us for a lively discussion as we explore the role each of us can play in transforming our communities, in building a spiritually dignified world where each of us can thrive. *“...Noble have I created thee, yet thou hast abased thyself. Rise then unto that for which thou wast created.”* – Bahá’í Teachings **\*\*\* This event is free and open to all regardless of background or belief. Donations will not be accepted.**

**MoCo Psychedelic Society — Monthly Gathering** 📅 Date/Time Sunday April 19th \| 1:00 – 3:00 PM 📍 Charles E\. McGee Public Library\, Downtown Silver Spring — Small Room *** Come join us for our monthly gathering — a space for fellowship, learning, advocacy, and community connection. Whether you're a familiar face or joining us for the first time, you are welcome here. *** **✨ This Month: Psychedelic Primer, Part 1 of 2** Are you new to psychedelics, or simply curious to learn more? This is the meeting for you. We're kicking off a two-part educational series with a friendly, accessible overview of psychedelic medicines — what they are, how they work, and why so many people and researchers are paying close attention to them right now. We'll take an in-depth look at five substances: * 🍄 **Psilocybin Mushrooms** * 💊 **MDMA** * 💉 **Ketamine** * 🌿 **Ayahuasca** * 🔬 **LSD** No prior knowledge is required — just curiosity and an open mind. *** **A Few Important Notes** The MoCo Psychedelic Society is a community space for education, connection, and advocacy — not a venue for sourcing or sales. All information shared at this event is for **educational purposes only** and does not constitute medical advice or encourage the use of any illegal substance. A note on legality: Most psychedelic substances are currently classified as **Schedule I** controlled substances by the DEA. Their use outside of clinical trial settings or states where they are becoming legal remains illegal in the United States. **Ketamine** is an exception — it is legal when administered by a licensed medical professional. *** We hope to see you there. Come as you are. 🌱

**NOTE: AN RSVP ON MEETUP DOES NOT SERVE AS A BOOKED SPOT. YOU MUST BOOK VIA LINK BELOW TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT.** **You must book your spot through our website: [[Booking Link Here](https://www.lesbifriendstravel.com/events/craft-and-spark)]** Spring is here, let’s meet it with creativity, intention, and connection. Lesbifriends Travel invites you to Craft & Spark, a fun and flirty afternoon designed for Black queer women and non-binary singles ready to step into the season with ease and possibility. We’re transforming a private residence into a warm, interactive space where good energy meets thoughtful play. This isn’t your typical social, no loud bars, no awkward hovering, just art, crafts, good music, guided moments of connection, and the kind of space where introductions flow naturally. Hosted in collaboration with Happy Trees Entertainment, create something tangible, and maybe even meet someone whose spark feels just right. **Event Details You Should Know:** 📅 **Date:** Sunday, April 19, 2026 ⏰ **Time:** 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM 📍 **Location:** Private Residence in Southeast DC (exact address shared with confirmed guests) 💸 **Cost:** $40 **What to Expect:** * One guided craft: Stained Glass Art Workshop – Design 3–5 stained glass pieces you can display in your window or space at home * Water and juice refreshments * Music, structured icebreakers, and social flow moments **Plus:** 💬 A short intentional icebreaker to spark conversation 🎶 Cozy house party vibes with music 📸 Time to mingle, create, and capture moments at the end **Who This Event Is For:** Black queer women and non-binary singles craving a relaxed, intentional, and creative way to meet new people and connect in real life. ✨ Lesbifriends Travel invites you to breathe, be present, make something beautiful, and let the laughter (and maybe flirtation) unfold naturally. Learn more details and claim your spot here: **[Craft & Spark](https://www.lesbifriendstravel.com/events/craft-and-spark)**! **Note:** By attending this event, you agree to being photographed. However, if communicated, we will try our best not to capture you in photos and post you publicly. That request must be communicated ahead of time/at the beginning of the event to photographer and host.

Let’s go see the [state fair exhibit](https://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/state-fairs) at Renwick! A nice way to move from winter into spring. We’ll meet out front at 10:30. The exhibit begins inside to your left and continues upstairs. Check comments day-of for how to find me. INHERENT RISK AND LIABILITY: Organizers carefully plan events and check public sources for weather and safety. Common sense dictates that conditions may change and there is inherent risk associated with attendance. Organizers do not accept any liability for accidents/injuries or any other incidences that may occur in connection with the activities published herein or on linked sites.

Let's grab some coffee/food and share a morning chat! The East Market has an ample parking lot and outdoor and indoor seating. Grab a cup of coffee from Winston's Coffee & Waffles or on your way to East Market and meet us on the second floor - table behind or east of the elevator. Per what this group is about: "Everyone is welcome! International transplants to Columbus who want to improve language skills, Columbus residents who want to discuss international travel and culture, and anyone who enjoys getting together for good conversations."

Sleep in on Sundays. When you've had your fill of pajama-time, roll out and have some tasty brunch with your fellow Humanists!

**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.