Food Tasting

Maxwell Park is 4 blocks from the Mt Vernon Sq/7th St-Convention Center. 🍷 RSVP Please: --Thee are a limited amount of spots and if you are on the "going" list it means we are holding a space for you. --**If your plans have changed, please edit your RSVP (even if you are on the waiting list),** so that someone else gets sufficient notice to attend in your place. --We track our attendees list, and a late drop or no show might affect your participation at future events. **Waitlisted Friends!** \*PLEASE\* keep an eye on this page and your messages, especially close to the day of the event. Thanks! *Note start time of 6:15 PM!* Please plan to arrive on time. 🍷 What is blind wine tasting? In a blind tasting you use your sense of smell, sight, and taste to try to deduce which variety(wine grape) is in your glass. 🍷 Do I need to be a wine professional? Definitely not - this group is experience diverse and we welcome both wine newbies and wine pros (and everyone else in between). 🍷 How does this work? --Please arrive slightly before 6:15pm to grab a seat. --Maxwell Park will serve us two wine flights: 3 white wines around 6:20 pm and 3 red wines around 7:30 pm. Each flight is $20. Food and other wines are also available for purchase. --We will discuss each flight as a group and try to reach somewhat of a consensus. Then comes the *big reveal* where we discover if our guesses were right. Full vaccination is required, masks are optional. Unfortunately, while we will try to be as careful as possible, we cannot promise that this will be 100% Covid risk free, please keep that in mind when deciding whether or not to attend. Stay home if you are experiencing any symptoms of Covid 19. Please keep an eye on this event for possible changes. Hope to see you there ! \~ Linda Lists of possible wines: [White Wine Varieties](https://www.mastersommeliers.org/sites/default/files/ES%20Tast-CMS%20Probable%20List%20of%20Examinable%20White%20Grape%20Varieties-NEW_2015.pdf) [Red Wine Varieties](https://www.mastersommeliers.org/sites/default/files/ES%20Tast-CMS%20Probable%20List%20of%20Examinable%20Red%20Grape%20Varieties-NEW_2015.pdf)

Welcome to a new year with all new food adventures! Our NEIGHBORHOOD GEMS series features emblematic meals from around the world. This series shines a light on local restaurants and is designed to bring together inquisitive foodies and dishes that are unique and oh so worth a trip on roads less traveled! Join us for a memorable evening at ***Beteseb Restaurant*** \- one of Tom Sietsema's top 40 Restaurants in the area \(October 2025\)\! **Washingtonian (Jan 2025)** Lately, we've gravitated to this homey SIlver Spring dining room for our injera fix. The vegetarian platter is a gorgeous color wheel showcasing tumeric - spiced cabbage, vibrant sauteed greens, and three kinds of lentils, each distinct and delicious. Green salad, often an afterthought, gets a zippy dressing. Omnivores: Add the excellent beef tibs to your platter. Even if you upgrade to the juicy rib eye, Beteseb offers incredible value. **Washington Post (October 2025)** Declaring “the best” Ethiopian restaurant in a region overstocked with them is a challenge. While their menus tend to read alike, they distinguish themselves with fine points. Let’s just say Beteseb Restaurant in Silver Spring is where I think about going most often when I need my kitfo and vegetable fix. No other Ethiopian spot of my acquaintance has a more compelling physical menu. It comes in the shape of a round of injera, with lush, life-size photos of some of the dishes you can order. My current fascination is dullet: boiled, ground beef tripe seasoned with cardamom, jalapeño and mitmita — a torch song trilogy rounded out with garlic, onion and butter. I like to pair the offal with one of the top vegetable combinations around, a garden of delights gathering lentils in three colors: near-melting cabbage, garlicky collard greens and an orange puddle of shiro, chickpea flour stew shot through with onion, garlic and berbere. Thought has gone into the 50-seat storefront, a wall of which reflects a shade of yellow lentils and a corner of which displays woven baskets and wine. A silver-toned silhouette of Addis Ababa adds to the interior appeal. Beteseb translates from Amharic to “family,” which sums up both the business owned by chef Darmyelesh Alemu and her brother, Aynalem Zeleke, and the chef’s philosophy. “We want you to feel like family when you come in,” she says. Done! **Check out the menu** [here](https://www.betesebrestaurant.com/menu-1) Separate checks will be arranged in advance. All diners will settle their own tabs. We ask that ALL folks honor their RSVP. If you are unable to attend after sending in a YES, please update your status so that others may join and help us support local businesses. In the event our group incurs a fee for no-shows / late cancellations, your ability to RSVP for future events will be restricted. Thank you in advance for your understanding. To enhance the opportunity for great conversation, we will continue to limit the group size. Please feel free to sign-up to meet us along with up to 3 friends. **\*\*** **WAITLIST:** Meetup does not allow waitlists for paid events. *If this event fills and you would like to be added to the waitlist, please send a note to the host through the Meetup app. **\*\**** In the future, we will vary the days of the week and the types of restaurants to keep events interesting. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE COMMITTED TO GO WHEN YOU RSVP FOR THIS EVENT. Feel free to make suggestions for future meet locations. \*\* The small non-refundable registration fee helps us share the cost associated with the Meet-Up platform ($360/yr) and reduces the likelihood of no-shows, allowing us to better plan our events and accommodate all participants. Meetup charges $0.51 and Paypal charges $0.53 on the $2 registration fee. Thanks in advance for your understanding!\*\* If you are unable to join us in January, we hope you'll stay interested and join us for a meal in the future. Looking forward to catching up with you for delightful Ethiopian dinner at Beteseb Restaurant!

Mondays just got delicious! Join us at **Divino** for **Wine Mondays: 50% off our entire wine list**—all day, every Monday. From crisp Italian whites to bold Barolos, it’s the perfect excuse to explore something new or revisit a favorite. **Less Monday stress...More Wine!** FREE PARKING

Join us for an LGBTQIA+ D&D happy hour! Come unwind, roll some dice, and share adventures over drinks (alcoholic or otherwise)! Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or just curious about the world of tabletop roleplay, it’s a space to connect, laugh, and celebrate community. Can't make it? Join the [DMV D&D Discord ](https://discord.gg/bDvGRtKfhR)to stay up to date on all the latest and greatest events!

_Games this month:_ Dominion, Everdell: Silverfrost, Heat, and more! **A note from the organizers:** We see that this is becoming a popular event and so there's not a ton of space available for general non Patreon members rsvp'ing via meetup. Space is limited by how many volunteers we have to host games each month, and first access goes to the members of the Patreon who support everything DCGG does. We have the goal to train and provide additional staff for this event as we gain capacity. **Note: If you are a member of the Patreon and have already secured early access via the form you do NOT need to RSVP on Meetup.** By popular demand and with the amazing friendship of the Highbinder Bar, we are introducing the **Charcuterie Board!** These are meaty games for experienced tabletop players or players who are comfortable with complexity. **About the Games** This series will focus on bringing experienced tabletop fans and meaty games together. These games will include titles with rulesets that are a bit more complex, take a bit more time, and are often strategic and competitive. DCGG will curate the games and provide trained game hosts to help get games going quickly and make sure all players are supported as they learn and engage with the games. The month's games will be in the title of this event. **Who this event is for:** Self-declared board game enthusiasts and/or people people looking to get into the hobby of tabletop games. While our game hosts will be there to help explain the game and rules, this event is targeted at players who are comfortable learning lots of rules and dedicating a few hours to a single game. And as always, DCGG enforces polite and healthy play spaces. **Not into complex games or just not ready for the meaty games?** Please explore our other events, such as Meat You at Fat Pete's or Rhythm and Brews, which have more party-focused and easy- to mid-level games. **What if we don't have enough players?** Through the power of teamwork and friendship, we will find a way for everyone to play and have a good time. **Please arrive on time, or else your space will be forfeit (cuz we often cant wait for people to get games going).** **BUT WAIT THERES MORE:** If you are interested in becoming a Supporting Member and enjoying perks like: * **Early RSVP Access:** Supporting Members will get early access to RSVPing to regular events. * **Town Hall meeting:** Supporting Members will be invited to participate in town halls and polls that will help determine how revenue past operating costs is directed. * **Discounted Ticket:** In the event that DCGG hosts paid ticketed events in the future, Supporting Members will be offered discounted prices. * The knowledge that you make all this possible! Visit the Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/DCGamingGroup Feel free to join the DC Gaming Community by hopping into the Discord: https://discord.gg/NP7v7VF **Disclaimer and Community Code of Conduct:** The DC Gaming Group is dedicated to creating a safe and inclusive space for participants. to learn more about our code of conduct you can read more here. Events may be recorded for promotional materials.

First one of 2026 at Verre in Virginia, come on out and let's kick off the post-holiday wine season! **EVENT STARTS AT 6PM. PLEASE BE PROMPT.** 🍷What is blind wine tasting?🍷 You use your sense of smell, sight, and taste to try to deduce which variety (grape) is in the glass. This group is very experience-diverse and we welcome both wine newbies and wine pros (and everyone in between). Verre will pour us two wine flights, one white and one red (3 of each, so a total of 6 wine samples) and we will discuss what we are tasting to try to solve the mystery together. After each flight is a big reveal where we find out just how right (or wrong!) we were. Diana will let us know the possible wines we are going on grid tonight. Please arrive at **6:00pm**. The white wine flight is served around 6:10 and the red flight around 6:50. The cost will be about $15 per flight, depending on what is poured for us. Food and other wine will be available for purchase as well. 🍷RSVPs: Verre has a limited amount of table space and is reserving much of that space for our group. Out of consideration to the business, the event hosts, and anyone on the wait list, **please edit your RSVP as soon as possible if your plans change** and you can no longer attend the event, **even if you are on the wait list**. 🍷Transportation: * METRO: Verre Wine Bar is walking distance from Courthouse metro. * CAR: Metered street parking and paid garage parking are available in the area. Hope to see you there! \~Pete Waitlisted Friends! \*PLEASE\* keep an eye on this page and your messages especially close to the day of the event. Thanks!

Love Sushi has a 4.5 rating! Get their signature 'Crush on you' roll (Yummy!). They are a fusion Asian place serving mostly Japanese, some Thai (Curried coconut chicken is great and Dam Dam noodles are spicy and really good), and they have really good Chinese won ton soup. Besides raw fish in Sushi and Maki there's cooked food like tempura and teriyaki. I love eating at "Love Sushi" as they make really good Sushi, Sashimi, Tempura, and Teriyaki, and they have Nigori Sake! Let's meet and greet over some good Asian food in Gaithersburg! Menu: http://lovesushirockville.com/menu.html All Aboard, Mates!

It’s been a few months since our last get together. An early thaw is on tap this week. This community of Pizza people have never visited Boogy and Peel, currently the number 3 ranked pizza joint in DC on yelp, It is a quick walk near the Dupont Circle metro, with fun shops near by (Help me find something useful rather than used vinyl). So come on by for some fellowship, a slice and some respite from the darkest days of winter.

Kick off 2026 with us as we explore the vibrant and diverse wines of Latin America! Join DMV Wine Explorers for an evening reconnecting over wines from Mexico and South America. From the high-altitude vineyards of Argentina to the coastal valleys of Chile, from emerging Mexican producers and beyond, we'll journey through regions that are redefining wine on the global stage. Join us at La Posada in Crystal City off 23rd St South - around the corner from Lucky Strike.

We liked it so much, we're going back! Thursday is lobster night, but you can get anything else you like. They have the best white pizza and other Italian delights that we can have for dinner. Here's their menu: [cheftonysseafood.com](https://cheftonysseafood.com/dinner) They have traditional American Italian food including pizzas, pastas, lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs, and fresh seafood galore, mussels, oysters, scallops, cod, halibut, etc. Sorry, I wasn't able to cut and paste their menu so go have a look. All aboard mates!

🎲 Join Us for a Bunco Night! 🎲 Join us for an exciting evening of Bunco, where all are invited to come together for fun, laughter, and friendly competition! Please bring $5 to play! 🌟 No previous Bunco experience necessary! This is a fun, luck-based game of dice perfect for groups. With table rotations and a bell to signal rounds, it’s easy to learn and guarantees great fun for everyone. **Game Plan:** Each attendee needs to bring $5 cash to play. Cash will be converted to quarters for playing prior to the first round. 25¢ per round; Each player will contribute a quarter for every round we play. Don't worry; the winners of each round get to keep their quarters! The remaining money from each round will go into our collection jar. At the end of the year, we'll donate these funds to an agreed upon local non-profit which helps those facing food insecurity. ***\*\*Please send organization suggestions via DM message in the Meetup App prior to the inaugural Bunco event in January 2026 so the group can discuss and make a selection\*\**** Let’s make our Bunco nights not only fun but also impactful! **Attendees are also asked to bring one of the following:** A wine or beverage of your choice A fun nosh to share The host will provide glasses, wine openers, plates, and napkins **What to Expect:** Friendly games and an introduction to the house rules Opportunities to meet new people and connect with fellow enthusiasts Light snacks and refreshments to keep you energized Don’t miss this chance to dive into the fun of Bunco while supporting a great cause! Bring your friends or come solo—everyone is welcome! We’ll reconfirm RSVPs before the event to avoid no-shows and ensure that those on the waitlist have an opportunity to join. **WAITLIST:** Meetup does not allow a waitlist for paid events. If this event fills up and you’re interested in being added to the waitlist, please send the host a message through the app. Note: The small non-refundable registration fee helps us share the costs associated with the Meetup platform ($360/year) and reduces the likelihood of no-shows, allowing us to better plan our events and accommodate all participants. Meetup charges $0.51 and PayPal charges $0.53 on the $2 registration fee. Thanks for your understanding. We look forward to a fantastic night filled with laughter and camaraderie!

I've supported this local popcorn business for 30 years. It is my pleasure to introduce you to this family-owned, made in house, gourmet popcorn! (note: the official nat'l popcorn day is the 19th but this store is bombarded that day, lol) **TASTING:** The staff can answer every question you have about popcorn. They have a tremendous assortment of 65 sweet and savory flavors, including their classic Columbus Mix (white cheddar/vanilla butternut mix), Pizza, Peanut Butter and Jelly, Buckeye, Buffalo Ranch, and Green Apple. I challenge kids to not try to blow a bubble when they taste the Bubble Gum flavor! ***The owner knows we're coming by and offers complimentary taste testing! BRING YOUR KIDS AND GRANDKIDS!*** **AFTERNOON SNACK**: Bring along $**5.00** cash for a variety of pizza slices to munch on next door at Grandads Pizza. While we wait on our pizzas, we can share Popcorn we purchased at Al's. ## HISTORY OF NATIONAL POPCORN DAY Did you know that the corn we eat and the corn we pop are two different varieties of maize? In fact, the corn you’d find on your dinner table is most likely unable to pop at all! Only one variety of corn is able to become popcorn: Zea mays everta. This particular corn variety has small ears, and the kernels burst when exposed to dry heat. **[Al’s Delicious Popcorn](https://alspopcorn.com)** is a family owned and operated business located in Columbus, Ohio. Founded in 1985, we have over 30 years of popping experience! During the past 3 decades, we’ve worked hard to perfect our popping techniques and recipes. Our dedication has paid off and today we are proud to offer popcorn lovers over 65 varieties of delectable gourmet popcorn! Being a small, family run operation, we put our heart and soul into what we do. Each and every order is hand prepared, right in our own store, not in some remote processing facility.

Join us for a guided wine tasting sponsored by Wine Trends, featuring a curated selection of wines paired with individual charcuterie boards. $30 per person paid at venue. RSVP required. Each guest receives a personal board with a curated selection of meats, cheeses, olives, nuts, jam, grapes, and baguette. A relaxed, social way to unwind and try something new. Must be 21+ to attend

This is "***New Members Night***." If you are one of the many folks on the fence about coming to your first wine tasting with the *Hilliard Wine Club*, this is the night to come. There will be many other new people, so you won't be alone. And the regulars will be there to help make you feel welcome. We're a relaxed and warm group. We hope to see you. **SIDE NOTE:** New members are welcome to ALL our Friday night wine tastings, but this night is a special overture to those who don't want to feel that they are the only new person in the room. Don't worry. You won't be. And don't hesitate to RSVP to other events. **OLD MEMBERS NOTE**: Hey Old Members! You're not excluded from this event. We expect to see you there to help make the new members feel welcome. **Sample 4 different wines** this Friday for $15 (*Cash or Venmo only please*). Glasses are provided. Bring a snack to share. Bring a bottle to share if you care to. See all the details below for the Hilliard Wine Club Wine Tasting. In Person. In Real Life. Actual Wine from glass bottles with corks and everything. **Wine**: Tastings will be $15 for four samples as always. And you are welcome to bring a bottle of your favorite wine to share with others. Participation in the wine tastings is optional. But since you’re going, I will buy enough wine to cover you. If you bring your own wine and do not participate in the tasting you will only pay $10 to cover the door charge. **Parking**: There are several public parking lots near the Alive614 hall. Please be careful to NOT park in private parking lots. They do tow. Check Google maps to scope out your space. Anyone who is early could easily find a parking space on the street nearby. **Glasses**: …will be provided. Please note that after the wine tasting, the glasses need to be returned to the boxes at the service table. Please be gentle, our glasses are fragile. Uh, they are made of glass! **Food**: You are welcome to bring a snack to share. It is not required. Most people do though. If no one brings anything, there will be nothing. **Code of Conduct**: Though mostly understood, it’s still worth mentioning. We don’t have rules per se, but we highly discourage the following topics of discussion because they are likely to incite anti-social responses - Sex, Politics, Religion. Please don’t mistake this as an attempt to limit your free speech rights but rather a guide to a place and time for appropriate discussions. **Extra Wine**: After everyone has had their samples, we remove the pouring spouts and any remaining wine is poured freely to whomever wants it. I hate having leftover wine. **Queen of Hearts**: The Queen of Hearts raffle is a fundraiser for the club and a Barnum and Bailey type extravaganza - minus the dancing ponies, clowns, and actual circus. Bring your ***cash*** as the Queen does not accept American Express or other plastic. **After the lights go out**: After the last sip of wine, when we clean up and turn the lights out, if you still haven’t had enough of us, it is typical for a group to get together and go to a local eatery for food and/or drinks or coffee. Again, We look forward to meeting new members and reuniting with old friends. Sincerely, ***Paul Uttermohlen***, **Red 1 Realty** *Your Hilliard Wine Club Host*

Let’s meet for lunch at Tensuke market. They offer a variety of sushi and other Japanese food. Within Tensuke market is the restaurants Sushi Ten and Tensuke Ramen.

**Karaoke Night**: Bring your glee club friends. Enjoy a flashback to your choir days. No chorus line. It's all you baby. Sing. Shout. Scream. Lip sync if you need to. But do show up and do have a good time. **On Freestyle night** \- just bring a bottle to share\. There is NO formal wine tasting like on other weeks\. Door charge is $10 \(cash or Venmo only please\)\. We may have some left over wines to clear out\! Glasses are provided\. Take Care\. See you there\. **Parking**: There are several public parking lots near the Alive614 hall. Please be careful to NOT park in private parking lots. They do tow. Check Google maps to scope out your space. Anyone who is early could easily find a parking space on the street nearby. I am told that the Chase parking lot is safe after hours. **Glasses**: …will be provided. Please note that after the wine tasting, the EMPTY glasses need to be returned to the boxes at the service table. Please do not make me hunt down your empty glass. Please be gentle, our glasses are fragile. Uh, they are made of glass! **Food**: You are welcome to bring a snack to share. It is not required. Most people do though. If no one brings anything, there will be nothing. **Code of Conduct**: Though mostly understood, it’s still worth mentioning. We don’t have rules per se, but we highly discourage the following topics of discussion because they are likely to incite anti-social responses - Sex, Politics, Religion. Please don’t mistake this as an attempt to limit your free speech rights but rather a guide to a place and time for appropriate discussions. **After the lights go out**: After the last sip of wine, when we clean up and turn the lights out, if you still haven’t had enough of us, it is typical for a group to get together and go to a local eatery for food and/or drinks or coffee. Again, We look forward to meeting new members and reuniting with old friends. Sincerely, ***Paul Uttermohlen***, **Red 1 Realty** *Your Hilliard Wine Club Host*

Your Friday night just got sweeter! Join us at select [#MarketDistrict](https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/marketdistrict?__eep__=6&__cft__%5B0%5D=AZXglupYTNnuPXhU3gU2DI9GInOg8OWWSvEJTry0VDGnMwh3tC6LxAkyc13s7j-hzoCa7zpemBLJbwdOAIfL-4l-h-eX3x7UFBl6CgHm1ijsL9C9hR_jWvIa_CNOjxBCQzMpVcaRfKr1LrRukr4nY0KHoqN2w3gXLadSqHBf6hPcBx13ltDk2suI8GhnjfjDOUs&__tn__=*NK-R) (we are meeting at Grandview Yard) locations for Flights & Bites on the third Friday of the month from 5-8pm. We'll meet about 5:30pm til 7:00pm. Feel free to join us anytime before 6:45pm. **Cost: $15.00 per person *(covers 4 wine or beer samples paired with gourmet appetizers)*** **Meet**: I'll post our location once we assemble and start our tasting.

**400**: Amazingly, this is our 400th event! A big, big, big thank you to all the members who have made the Hilliard Wine Club a great place to meet friends and drink wine. Thank you. **Smashburgers**: We'll close the doors at Alive614 a little early this evening to take a short trip to Wilson's, a new restaurant/bar that replaced Yabo's. I'm going for the smash burgers, but if that's not in your culinary wheelhouse they have a fairly generous menu featuring "Smash burgers, wings, Tex‑Mex", etc. : https://wilsonshilliard.com/menu/ . **On Freestyle night** \- just bring a bottle to share\. There is NO formal wine tasting like on other weeks\. Door charge is $10 \(cash or Venmo only please\)\. We may have some left over wines to clear out\! Glasses are provided\. Take Care\. See you there\. **Parking**: There are several public parking lots near the Alive614 hall. Please be careful to NOT park in private parking lots. They do tow. Check Google maps to scope out your space. Anyone who is early could easily find a parking space on the street nearby. I am told that the Chase parking lot is safe after hours. **Glasses**: …will be provided. Please note that after the wine tasting, the EMPTY glasses need to be returned to the boxes at the service table. Please do not make me hunt down your empty glass. Please be gentle, our glasses are fragile. Uh, they are made of glass! **Food**: You are welcome to bring a snack to share. It is not required. Most people do though. If no one brings anything, there will be nothing. **Code of Conduct**: Though mostly understood, it’s still worth mentioning. We don’t have rules per se, but we highly discourage the following topics of discussion because they are likely to incite anti-social responses - Sex, Politics, Religion. Please don’t mistake this as an attempt to limit your free speech rights but rather a guide to a place and time for appropriate discussions. **After the lights go out**: After the last sip of wine, when we clean up and turn the lights out, if you still haven’t had enough of us, it is typical for a group to get together and go to a local eatery for food and/or drinks or coffee. Again, We look forward to meeting new members and reuniting with old friends. Sincerely, ***Paul Uttermohlen***, **Red 1 Realty** *Your Hilliard Wine Club Host*