Long Island City

**Note: This event is cross-posted to Arlington Coffee & Chill as well. You do NOT need to RSVP in both groups if you plan to come!** Next up on the Happy Hour circuit is Junction Bakery and Bistro in Del Ray! This establishment is a bakery and restaurant offering dinner and HH bites. There's a back bar area with a decent amount of floor space, and some booths indoor as well as outdoor on their side patio if you choose to have a sit-down meal with a few friends. If you have a sweet tooth, the pastries are all made in-house daily as well. 🍽️ **Coffee & Drinks:** Junction's Happy Hour runs from 4-7. Not in a drinking mood? No Problem! They also offer coffee-based drinks all day! 🅿️ **Parking:** Junction Bistro has about 5-6 parking spots on-premises. Additional parking is readily available on most side-streets off of Mt. Vernon Ave, and there are metered spots right on Mt. Vernon Ave itself. Just pay attention to parking signs, as some streets only have parking on one side and not the other. 🚇**Transit** \- Take the Blue or Yellow lines to the Braddock Rd\. metro\, and it's a 15 minute walk up Mt\. Vernon Ave from there \(about \.7 miles\)\.

Come play some casual Commander at Crystal City! Bring your favorite decks for some pickup games, and feel free to bring your trade binders if you'd like! **We play at 2100 Crystal Drive** in Arlington, VA, 22202, which is a seating area that is right next to We, the Pizza in Crystal City. Detailed directions on how to get there: **Directions from the Metro:** If you're taking the Metro, exit at Crystal City. When you come up the first set of escalators, turn left to enter the underground shops and then turn left again after a brief walk. Cross the street, enter the next building, and the seating area will be on the left after passing the Minuteman Press Printing and Marketing shop. **Parking:** If you're driving, garage parking is free after 4 pm. Enter the garage on 2144 Crystal Drive. There will be elevators that take you up to the main level. If you have any questions, please join our Discord for the most up-to-date information: https://discord.gg/fBUWvrAVMv

## Is your investment strategy actually built to withstand market volatility? Most investors view financial planning as an overwhelming maze of complex data and endless noise—without realizing that simplicity is often the key to long-term success. Join us for a high-value Lunch & Learn featuring [Diamond Chaflawee](https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.linkedin.com/in/diamond-chaflawee/__;!!D7qffA6_gfy2!W9Kl5KQHdka1HlvCIkpoVOcRgKPRFStfo2L_MnJjyJ_h8gFOPfzSVrd8kn6J1JfAc89W95GKhEU-1CJwLpDBZET_jQ$). What we’ll discuss: \- Decoding Sound Strategies: Explore five core investment principles designed to simplify the process and provide a clear roadmap for your wealth\. \- Building Financial Confidence: Actionable best practices to strengthen your financial standing and protect the future you’ve spent years building\. \- Stop worrying about market fluctuations and start building a strategy grounded in sound principles\. Event Details: Location: Founding Farmers, MD Save Your Spot: [https://zurl.co/zHA8A](https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/bnicentralmaryland.com/en-US/eventdetails?eventId=rK0lPGCox5soGaxXZ9hfmQ*3D*3D__;JSU!!D7qffA6_gfy2!W9Kl5KQHdka1HlvCIkpoVOcRgKPRFStfo2L_MnJjyJ_h8gFOPfzSVrd8kn6J1JfAc89W95GKhEU-1CJwLpCMxic_vw$ "https://bnicentralmaryland.com/en-US/eventdetails?eventId=rK0lPGCox5soGaxXZ9hfmQ%3D%3D")

JxJ, the DC Jewish Film and Music Festival does an excellent job of scheduling interesting films, conversations and receptions. This documentary film short looks particularly absorbing and very cool that Regina Spektor will be there to discuss. (It now says her husband will appear instead. But still good reception.) **The cost is $18 and includes a reception after. Tickets can be bought [here](https://www.edcjcc.org/jxj/show/my-friend-sam/) and in person that night if it does not sell out.** Singer-songwriter Regina Spektor’s life changed forever when, as a child, she was taken under the wing of musicians Sonia Vargas and Samuel Marder. Blending frank interviews with powerful animation, Samuel walks through his childhood in Romania, the trials he faced as a Holocaust survivor, and the transformative impact that music had even during the darkest times. His endurance as a violinist and the lessons he shared with Regina charted the course of her own musical development for the decades that followed. **Q&A with producer Regina Spektor following the screening.** **A catered reception will follow the conclusion of the Q&A**.

In the heart of Bethesda, an evening awaits that feels like a coastal escape without ever leaving the city. Our singles mixer brings together the breezy charm of the Chesapeake with a warm, social atmosphere designed for effortless connection and genuine conversation. Step into a space filled with inviting energy, where singles gather not just to meet, but to truly engage. Whether you're hoping to spark a romantic connection or simply walk away with a few new friends, the setting makes it easy to relax, be yourself, and enjoy the moment. The nautical-inspired vibe sets the tone—subtle, stylish, and just a little transportive. Think soft lighting, a hint of seaside influence, and a crowd that’s equal parts interesting and open. It’s a refreshing change from the usual, where the environment naturally encourages conversation to flow. Throughout the night, conversations unfold organically, laughter carries easily, and connections begin in the most natural way. There’s no pressure—just a shared understanding that everyone is here for something real, whether that’s friendship, romance, or simply a great night out. Join us in Bethesda for a singles mixer that captures the spirit of the Chesapeake and the excitement of meeting someone new. Come curious, leave connected, and let the night take you somewhere unexpected. **Can't make this event? Sign up for FREE on our website to get updates on future events:** [www.Intelligent.Events](https://www.intelligent.events/ "https://www.Intelligent.Events")

April showers bring May flowers! We are NPS Weed Warriors and Arlington Regional Master Naturalists and you should volunteer with us on Sunday, May 17 to learn about nature and remove invasive plants from everyone's favorite urban island. Meet us at the entrance to the bridge (on the parking lot side, look for the sign) at 10:00 and bring your garden gloves and loppers/pruners if you have them. If not, we can provide gloves and tools. Wear long sleeves and pants and don't forget a water bottle. We will have tasks ranging from easy (cutting English ivy and honeysuckle vines from trees) to hard (sawing down bush honeysuckle). Parking at TRI can be tight if it's a pretty day. When the parking lot is full, you can park in Rosslyn and take the trail down. If you can bike or walk or take public transit, that's wonderful. We'll see you there! Erica, Stephanie, and Heidi P.S. If you can't wait until then to RIP (Remove Invasive Plants!), go here to find more volunteer opportunities in Arlington parks: [Volunteer to Restore Native Habitat – Arlington Regional Master Naturalists (armn.org)](https://armn.org/volunteer-opportunities/)

**Hey Everyone!** *********************Please note new location for Meet& Greet Happy Hour for OC Trip. The new location is Corella Cafe&Lounge. It is on the front side of the AC Hotel facing Wisconsin Ave .The address is 4646 Montgomery Ave, Bethesda,MD 20814. There is also a county garage across the street for $2.25 per hour . This is also across the street from Bethesda Metro Station.** **This gathering is primarily for anyone who is fully booked to go on the Ocean City Trip scheduled for May 28th - May 31st 2026! This will give everyone a chance to meet & greet prior to the trip and to answer any lingering questions you may have.** **If you are still on the fence, but leaning toward joining us on the OC trip, you are more than welcome to join us for happy hour!** **Also, If you have made alternate hotel arrangements, (meaning you are staying someplace other than the Hyatt ) this meet &greet is also for you! 😀.** **\*****\*****\*****\*****\*****\*****\*****\*****\*****\*****\*****\*****\*****\*****Important Note: Please RSVP and after you RSVP, Please note in the comments your intention to join us for happy hour. By commenting “ GOING” , This will ensure we have a seat for you. Happy Hour is at your own expense! Happy Hour is from 4-7. However, host will arrive by 5PM. If you are not able to make it by 5, just come when you can, before 7PM. If you are unable to make the gathering and you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the hosts! Thanks! 😊** **You can find Info regarding OC Trip and booking link to reserve at the Hyatt on the link below! Thanks!** **https://www.meetup.com/singles-in-dmv/events/312256286/?eventOrigin=group_featured_event**

**WAIVER REQUIRED:** You must read the following NVHC Sign-in Sheet Statement/Liability Disclaimer, [https://nvhc.com/signin.pdf](https://nvhc.com/signin.pdf) and then answer the question that you will see when you RSVP with "I accept" to be permitted on the hike. **HIKE:** An 8-mile urban hike will take us through the neighborhood streets of Tenleytown, American University's campus, and the Palisades, and a patchwork of trails including Glover Archbold, Battery Kemble and the Palisades Trolley Trail. Along the way we’ll visit a "[glass forest](https://notboredindc.com/dc-glass-forest/)" and pass an old schoolhouse built in 1874. The hike has a few minor stream crossings, and a few stairs and hills. We'll be on sidewalks half the time and on trails half the time. We'll have a snack/restroom break halfway. **WHERE TO MEET:** We will begin and end outside the Tenley-Friendship Library (4450 Connecticut Ave., NW), across the street from the Tenleytown metro. Parking is available on the side streets. **DISTANCE:** 8 miles **ELEVATION GAIN:** 600 feet **PACE:** Our average moving pace will be between 2.5 and 3.0 miles per hour. **DOGS:** Dogs on a leash are welcome in accordance with NVHC pet policy ([https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy](https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy)).

Dust off your dancing shoes and get ready for a night of vintage vibes! We’re heading to **Alfio’s La Trattoria** for an evening where the pasta is fresh, the wine is flowing, and the music spans five decades of hits. Whether you're here for the classic Italian comfort food or to cut a rug on the dance floor, **J Train** will be providing the perfect soundtrack from the 30s all the way to the 70s **Getting There & Staying Stress-Free** * **🚆 Metro:** Only **two blocks** from the Friendship Heights Red Line stop! * **🚗 Parking:** Free valet parking is available, plus plenty of easy street parking nearby. * **📞 Reservations:** Highly recommended! Call **301-657-9133** to snag your table.

Click Here For More Videos: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/17vTa7EuwG/ ********************************* The Biggest Salsa Night to hit your mid-week is happening at Latin City Wednesdays. Get the feel of the Latin Beat as your hips and feet groove the right way. ********************************* Viva Dance Columbus (2809 Festival Lane Dublin, OH 43017) 830pm-930pm Cuban Salsa Lessons 930pm-Midnight Open Latin Dance Party $15 With Lesson $10 Just Open Dance ********************************** Free Parking, No Need to Bring a dance partner, No Sandals Please and Plenty of Space to Move Around.

**History** The history of [Blendon Woods Metro Park](https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/blendon-woods/) began long before its 1951 opening, rooted in a landscape of rugged ridges and deep ravines that made the land unsuitable for traditional farming. In 1945, a report proposing a metropolitan park system for Franklin County specifically highlighted these cliffs of Bedford Shale as some of the "wildest land in the vicinity". Following this recommendation, the recently formed park district purchased the first 229 acres in early 1949. Because the terrain was so uneven, developers had to cut a mile-and-a-half-long roadway through dense woods just to bring in heavy equipment. This initial preservation effort ensured that the mature second-growth hardwood forests remained largely untouched by the urban expansion spreading toward Westerville. Opening day arrived on Labor Day, September 3, 1951, marking Blendon Woods as the second park in the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks system. The final push to open was a frantic race; the State Highway Department only finished the primary gravel access road four days before the gates opened. Early staff members, consisting of just four full-time employees, had to hand-dig pit toilets and learn construction skills on the fly to build the first picnic shelters. Despite the dusty conditions and limited facilities, the park was an immediate success, drawing massive crowds from across Central Ohio. By the end of the 1950s, annual visitation had already climbed to over 190,000 people. As the surrounding suburbs grew in the 1960s, the park faced severe overcrowding that threatened its natural habitats. In response, Franklin County voters passed the first Metro Parks levy in 1960, providing the funds necessary for a decade of steady expansion. During this era, the park nearly doubled in size, growing from 264 acres to over 570 acres by 1968. Planners also addressed a critical water shortage by collaborating with the U.S. Soil and Conservation Service to build a lake in 1964. This body of water originally served as a temporary reservoir before its role shifted toward conservation and wildlife support. The 1970s marked a transition toward the specialized wildlife and educational focus for which the park is known today. In 1971, the Walden Waterfowl Refuge was established around the 11-acre Thoreau Lake, creating a sanctuary that remains restricted to provide a quiet habitat for migratory birds. A formal nature center was also developed during this period, expanding on the guided Sunday walks that had been a park staple since the early 1950s. The park’s famous "Monarch Mansion" also became a prominent fixture, starting a long tradition of raising and releasing thousands of monarch butterflies each September. These initiatives cemented the park’s reputation as a premier destination for birders and nature enthusiasts. In more recent decades, Blendon Woods has continued to modernize while maintaining its wilderness character. The 10-acre Natural Play Area was added in 2017, encouraging kids to explore the ravines and woods off-trail. This was followed by the opening of a $1.5 million inclusive playground in April 2025, designed to accommodate children of all physical abilities. The nature center also underwent major renovations to include immersive, three-dimensional exhibits and a new butterfly house. Today, the park encompasses 653 acres, preserving a unique geologic and biological corridor amidst the bustling Westerville and Northeast Columbus area. **Map of the Park** Here is a map of [Blendon Woods](https://www.metroparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/BLN_map_Inclusive-Playground-and-Butterfly-Trail_May-2025_1980px.png). **Summary** For this event, we will hike the Lake View, Hickory Ridge, Ripple Rock, Overlook, Brookside, and Sugarbush Trails. This sounds like a lot, but it will really be only a little over five miles. Blendon Woods has a few hills here and there, but it's not one of the more strenuous metro parks. **Where We'll Meet** We'll meet just in front of the Nature Center. This is about a mile into the park from the main entrance. You have to go past the Ranger Station and the Shadblow Reservable Area to get to it, so don't stop too early at the Ranger Station and get it confused with the Nature Center. **After the Hike** Afterward, we will head over to [Forbidden Root Restaurant & Brewery](https://forbiddenroot.com/restaurants/columbus-ohio/) at Easton for [drinks](https://forbiddenroot.com/restaurants/columbus-ohio/#dinner-menu) and [food](https://forbiddenroot.com/wp-content/uploads/Cbus-Food.pdf). We should be there by 5 if you can't make the hike and just want to join us for drinks. The brewery's actual address is [4080 Worth Ave, Columbus, OH 43219](https://www.google.com/maps/place/4080+Worth+Ave,+Columbus,+OH+43219/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x88388a86d10b6619:0x4d42b470a5cf11d3?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111); however, I recommend pointing your GPS to the [Worth Garage](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Worth+Garage/@40.0542293,-82.9137962,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x88388b4df6082825:0x17582f0eccd9dda1!8m2!3d40.0542293!4d-82.9137962!16s%2Fg%2F11rzfvvv8b?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDQxNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) across the street. Parking in this garage is free as long as you're not on the first floor, and it is literally right next to the brewery.

This meetup is a beginner-friendly session introducing version control for Unity projects, with a look at three common tools: Git, Perforce, and Unity Version Control. The goal is to help you understand what version control is, why it matters for Unity development, and what options are out there. The format will likely be presentation-style, with live demos and time for questions throughout. You'll see each tool in action and learn how they fit into a Unity workflow. What to Expect: * An introduction to version control and why it's essential for Unity projects * An overview of Git, Perforce, and Unity Version Control * Demos of each tool in a Unity workflow * Tips for getting started * No prior version control experience required * Resources for continued learning All experience levels are welcome. Whether you're new to version control or already using one of these tools, this session will help you understand what each one offers. Food and drinks provided. Join us to learn more about version control options for Unity.

PO Box 21. Is a speakeasy in the basement of Highbanks Distillery in Westerville. Check out the menu: https://www.poboxtwentyone.com/home

This is an in-person meeting. Did you know that unwanted emotions like loneliness, sadness, hopelessness, anger, fear, anxiety, or feelings of irritation don’t just fall on you for no reason. They are not random occurrences that simply happen to people's minds. They are definitely not chemical imbalance in your brain due to some nebulous chemical reactions by chance. Your negative emotions are the symptoms of the painful experiences that you have which are not healed, and which are still affecting you. The effects of these painful experiences are exacerbated by the pressures or difficulties of the other problems in your life. For instance, let's say you are already carrying a huge load on your back, then you cannot take on much more, but, let's say something else happens to you, such as the difficulties from the Pandemic, then the resultant combined weight on you can take you over the edge, kind of like the straw that break the camel's back. When this happens, people's attention usually goes to the straw that was added, but actually the majority of the weight had come from the huge load that were already there, holding a person down and causing a person issues. So how do you remove the huge load that was already there? How do you lighten them up? Is it possible to get rid of them? That is what this meeting will be all about. Come to our Meetup, where we can introduce you to some of the knowledge, tools and techniques of the breakthroughs in the field of the mind that we can apply to this ever important area of life. Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there. This group is created by the Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.

Let's check out the Maker's Market in German Village, a large outdoor Artisan Market, featuring over 65 Makers, Goods, Art and Delicious Food Trucks! Admission is FREE! [GVMM](https://www.gv-mm.com/) Let's get outside and enjoy the New Spring Season and Warm Weather! We will meet at Stauf's Coffee Roasters in German Village on South 3rd Street at Noon, 12 PM and then take a brisk walk to the Maker's Market, just south of Schiller Park. We can initially get coffee at Stauf's Coffee Roasters, if anyone may want to do so. Parking is widely available at Schiller Park and surrounding side streets. Thanks and hope to see you come out!