Daytime Activities

It’s \*\*Memorial Day Monday…\*\*which means the vibes are **OUTSIDE ☀️🔥** **[BAM BAM](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bam-bam-international-whinning-party-tickets-1988202397893)**[ ](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bam-bam-international-whinning-party-tickets-1988202397893)returns with a full mix of Soca, Dancehall, and Afrobeats for an all-white daytime/evening link-up in DC. Expect flags in the air, outdoor energy, good food, drinks, and a crowd ready to whine and enjoy the holiday. 🇯🇲🇹🇹🇳🇬 And if you know **Sounds of Reality from Brooklyn,** then you already know the music will be serious all evening. **🤍 ALL WHITE encouraged** 🇯🇲 Bring your flags 📍 Karma DC Live Music Venue 2221 Adams Place NE, Washington, DC 20018 🗓 Monday, May 25, 2026 🕔 5:00PM – 11:00PM 🔥 Ladies **FREE before 7:30PM** — **[Reserve your ticket](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bam-bam-international-whinning-party-tickets-1988202397893)**[ ](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bam-bam-international-whinning-party-tickets-1988202397893)early We’ll probably start arriving around 6:30PM or a little after once the vibes build up. 🎟 Tickets: **[HERE](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bam-bam-international-whinning-party-tickets-1988202397893)** ***This one might end up being more of an unhosted link-up depending on timing, but either way, it should be a great vibe and energy throughout the evening. I’ve already reserved my ticket and will confirm my attendance tomorrow.*** If anyone wants to coordinate beforehand or link up at the event, feel free to message in the comments or chat. And as always, coming solo is completely fine — these events are all about good music, good people, and good energy.

## Details - Please read all below before you sign up **Event Time:** You are free to come in 2 to 3 hours at a time and leave early or come in late. This is a **4 hour** volleyball event. **Cost:** Free **Court Type:** Outdoor Grass **Level:** BB **Transportation:** Parking will be right by the grass. **What to bring:** at least 3 bottles of water and a ball/net if you have one. **4 persons per net max** **Host's Philosophy on this event:** The purpose of this meetup is to create a fun and supportive environment where we can improve our skills, enjoy competitive games, and connect socially. While we do aim to play seriously and challenge ourselves, the focus is more on growth and enjoyment than simply winning at all costs. This event is more on the competitive side. **Skill Level:** 1. **If you want to know your level, please see the link below:** [Smiley Social Volleyball Levels](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PojSi4qdlRsv1msCHhvpQ43iDc4FfzQwpWCc3kafVMY/edit) **YouTube:** The games may be recorded and uploaded to our channel here: Let the host know if you have an issue with this. [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/@mp02626) **ATTENDANCE:** **Player Selection:** Regulars > Your Vibe > Skills > \*Flaky-ratio (your attendance ratio) > New Members \*If you have attended 3 events and dropped 6, you may or may not be invited. Anyone with a Flaky-ratio -.50 or lower. If you have a recent no-show, you may not be invited. The host takes attendance very seriously. Please remove yourself from the event (if you can't make it) as early as possible to allow others to join. You will be marked as a ***no-show*** if you don't show up to the event. [Smiley Social Rules](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HrG35p_0M08leRvCp8XWG3CMkr_GL928XFabl5T6Dvg/edit) **Q&A** *-Bringing your dog or cat is welcome and encouraged.* -Can I come if I don't know how to play? \*No, you may not. The host does teach a beginner's volleyball class that you may attend on Saturdays. -Can I be late or leave early? *The host expects you to be there **on time** and leave on time. If you need to come late or leave early, please let the host know ahead of time.* -Can I come even if I am not on the going list? No -How can I improve my Flaky-ration? *You can attend other Smiley events. Commit to showing up.* -Why are new members accepted last? *Because they are the most flaky.* -NO SMOKING (anything) **Smiley Social Important Links:** 1. [Group Rules](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HrG35p_0M08leRvCp8XWG3CMkr_GL928XFabl5T6Dvg) 2. [Liability Waiver](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W2mq-7m99lmvd7gdWYaSUFtvVg4UGnzV6koafAbHmco) 3. [Volleyball Levels](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PojSi4qdlRsv1msCHhvpQ43iDc4FfzQwpWCc3kafVMY/)

On Monday, we'll meet in front of the Courthouse Library, 2100 Clarendon Blvd, and head towards the Arlington Cemetery and Memorial Bridge. Notes: If you're not familiar with the area, please review the routes. If it's cold, take cover inside the foyer area of 2100 Clarendon Blvd. Routes: We'll run 20 minutes out and then turn around and run 20 minutes back to Courthouse. Everyone runs at his/her own pace, so the distance will depend on your speed. 1. Courthouse Library > N Rhodes St. Bridge > Arlington Blvd > N Meade St. > Iwo Jima/Marine Corps Mem > Arlington Cemetery > Memorial Bridge. Depending on your preferred pace, you may turn around at any point on the route. Pace: All paces are welcome! We'll be doing an out and back route, so everyone will turn around at the halfway time marker. That way we should all start and end at the same time. Free Parking at Courthouse Plaza: The underground garage is on Clarendon Blvd btwn Wayne and Veitch Sts. (near Strayer/CVS and the AMC Theater). If the first 2 levels on the left are full, you can park on the lower levels to the right. Street and Surface Parking lots should be free in the area as well. Metro: Orange or Silver line to Courthouse Station. Note: Photos taken during the event may end up on Instagram, Meetup, Strava and similar platforms.

Let’s enjoy a relaxed, scenic walk through one of the most beautiful gardens in the area 🌿 Brookside Gardens is a hidden gem filled with winding paths, seasonal blooms, and peaceful water features. Highlights include the Japanese Garden, Aquatic Garden, and the fragrant Viburnum Garden. Expect warm weather, fully green landscapes, lush, late-spring blooms, including roses, azaleas, and magnolias. and the seasonal [Butterfly Experience](https://montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/brookside-gardens/special-events/the-butterfly-experience-at-brookside-gardens/brookside-gardens-butterfly-experience-social-story/). This event is cross posted with The Bethesda Social Club. Please RSVP to one event only. This will be perfect for unwinding, meeting new people, and soaking up some fresh air. **\*\* Meeting Point: The VISITORS Center**

Come on out to our monthly Park Club, this time at Huntley Meadows! We'll take a pleasant late late May stroll through the wetlands and woods, with your fellow Environmentally conscious folks, which was gifted to Fairfax County by President Gerald Ford in 1975 after a long and storied history starting with George Mason (yes, that George Mason). The park is home to abundant wildlife and is known for attracting many birds, amphibians, and plants that are considered less common in the region. Secondary-growth forest sprinkled with several small, native-grass and wildflower meadows surround much of the wetland habitat. If you've never been, it's not to be missed!

Event posted for your enjoyment - **ATTEND AND ENJOY ON YOUR OWN.** Celebrate Thai New Year at our Songkran Festival with Thai food, cultural shows, Muay Thai, music, and family fun! Free ticket. Get ready for the fun and excitement of Thai Songkran Festival 2026 💦🇹🇭 Join us as we celebrate the Thai New Year in a warm, festive atmosphere filled with delicious food, cultural performances, music, and fun activities for the whole family ✨ 📍 7200 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003 📅 Saturday, May 30, 2026 ⏰ 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM Highlights include: 🍜 Thai Street Food 🥊 Muay Thai 💃 Thai Traditional Performances 👑 Ms. Songkran 🎶 Live Music and more! 🎟️ Free Entry 🐾 Pet Friendly Bring your family and friends and come experience the beauty, joy, and culture of Thailand with us at Songkran 2026 🙏💙

🔥Hey, beach lovers! ☀️🏐 Whether you're a hardcore volleyball player, a beach bum, or just in need of a fun getaway, **this 2/3-day adventure weekend in Ocean City Beach is for YOU!** **📍 Location:** Ocean City, MD **📅 Dates:** May 29th, 30th & 31st(maybe) \*Staying is optional, you are also welcome to take a 1 day drive or come on Saturday to Sunday if you can't take Friday off. *** ### 🏖️ Weekend Highlights: ✔️ **Beach Volleyball Games** (for those who want to play) ✔️ **Foodie Adventures** – Local eats, seafood shacks, hidden gems, and maybe even a food tour 😋 ✔️ **Sunset/Sunrise Hangouts**🔥 ✔️ **Sightseeing & Exploring** – Boardwalk walks, art installations, views, and more ✔️ **Chill Time** – Beach blankets, music, and soaking up the sun with your new crew ✔️ **Morning Workouts** – Nothing is better than a great beach workout and/or run to get your day started strong. ✔️ **Smiley Olympics** – Smiley Olympics is full of fun games and group activities. Other things that we will do: Play Freeze bee Play Football Play Minigolf Pool Parties Boardwalk Long Walks *** ### 👋 Who Should Come? * Volleyball players of all levels (there’s something for everyone!) * Friends, partners, and plus-ones who just want a great beach weekend * Locals and out-of-towners are ready to meet fun, adventurous people * Anyone who likes the idea of **a beach mini-vacation + new friends** * Anyone who just wants to have some fun and get some sun. *** ### 🎟️ How to Join: \*The host must know you to get an invite.

**Lake Artemesia Walk – College Park** Join us for a relaxed, easy-paced walk around beautiful Lake Artemesia. A chance to unwind, enjoy nature, and connect with others in a calm, welcoming setting. We’ll walk the scenic loop, take in the lake views, and enjoy light conversation along the way. All fitness levels are welcome. **Main parking lot:** **55th Ave & Berwyn Rd** College Park, MD 20740 Bring plenty of water, whatever you need for your hike, and your awesome authentic self. Keep it easygoing. RELEASE OF LIABILITY & ASSUMPTION OF RISK AGREEMENT: By being a member of this Group, RSVPing to any Activity, or participating in any Activity, You accept and agree to the terms and conditions described below: 1. You acknowledge that hiking in nature carries the risk of potential harm to yourself, including the risk of injuries such as broken bones or muscle/tendon injuries, illness, disability, or death. 2. You agree that You will at all times be responsible for Yourself and Your own safety. 3. You release and hold harmless with respect to all injury, disability, death, or loss of property, whether caused by negligence or otherwise, this group's leadership and members for the hikes that you participate in. 4. You acknowledge and agree that this Group is merely a collection of friends or potential friends who enjoy doing activities, and that in no event does any Organizer or Other Member assume any responsibility or liability for You. 5\. You agree not to sue and to release\, discharge\, waive and hold harmless all organizers and other members from and against all liabilities\, claims\, demands\, losses\, damages\, suits and proceedings\, for negligence\, carelessness or any other cause which you may have or that hereafter may accrue arising\, resulting from or related to your membership in this group or participation in any activity\.

# Stop Scrolling. Start Living. Sometimes the best way to meet new people is simple **get out of the house and do something in real life.** With weather still unpredictable, we’re keeping this one simple **we’ll be walking indoor or outdoor at Polaris.** Most people who attend often come alone. **This is a casual social walk designed to meet new people.** No awkward networking. No pressure. Just walking, talking, and good company. Whether you're new to the group or a regular, this is a great way to **get some steps in, meet new people, and do something different on a Tuesday evening.** Location **Polaris Fashion Place** **Meeting Spot:** Outside or just inside **"Dicks Main entrance"** from parking lot Look for the **Meetup sign and green or gold wristbands.** The Plan **6:45 PM — Meetup / Check-in** Arrive, say hello, meet a few people, and get checked in. *The first 15 minutes are usually the best time to meet people before we start walking.* **7:00 PM — Walk Starts (Sharp)** We’ll begin a **casual indoor or outdoor social walk around Polaris Mall.** by the end of the hour we should be near 3 miles approx. 6k steps **8:00 PM — Walk Ends** Anyone who wants to keep the fun going can join us for Topgolf. **Optional Activity** After We’ll head over to **Topgolf** No golf experience needed — **beginners welcome.** **Let’s** **see your best Happy Gilmore swing!!!** To reduce no-shows and keep events sustainable: **$2 — Walk RSVP** **$15 — Optional Topgolf add-on** or **$17 TOTAL** Topgolf is **limited to the first 6 paid players per bay.** If the first bay fills, I’ll open another lane if enough people want to join. **To keep group sizes manageable and reduce no-shows, this event is limited to paid attendees. RSVP alone does not reserve a spot.** Use payment link in comments to confirm your reservation. Even if only 1 person signs up and confirms their rsvp the event will happen! **Important** RSVP alone **does not guarantee a spot.** Paid attendees receive: • Event wristband • Guaranteed Topgolf spot (if purchased) • Inclusion in group activities Why These Events Exist Wise Unlimited events exist to help people: • meet new friends • get off their phones • **do more things in real life** Too many people **want to go do things** but **don’t want to go alone.** This solves that. **Stop scrolling. Start doing stuff.**

Let’s meet and wander the galleries! General admission on Sundays is free.

**History** The [Franklin Park Conservatory](https://www.fpconservatory.org/)’s roots trace back to 1852 when the Franklin County Agricultural Society purchased 88 acres of land to host the Ohio State Fair. After the fair moved to its permanent home, the city of Columbus transformed the grounds into Franklin Park in 1884. This transition shifted the space from a temporary event site to a dedicated public green space for the growing community. The park became a central hub for outdoor recreation and early civic gatherings in the neighborhood. In 1895, the landmark Victorian-style Palm House opened its doors, drawing heavy inspiration from the Glass Palace of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. This iron and glass structure became an immediate icon, housing exotic plants that residents would otherwise never see in the Midwest. It remains the oldest part of the facility and serves as a primary link to the conservatory’s 19th-century origins. For decades, it stood as a singular testament to grand horticultural architecture in Central Ohio. A major turning point arrived in 1992 when Columbus hosted AmeriFlora '92, an international horticultural exhibition. This massive event prompted a $16 million renovation and expansion, adding significantly more greenhouse space and the Dorothy M. Davis Showhouse. The festival put the conservatory on the international map and fundamentally changed its scale and ambition. Following the event, the facility transitioned from a city-run park to a private, non-profit organization. In 2003, the conservatory’s identity was further defined through a long-term partnership with world-renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly. After a successful exhibition, the Friends of the Conservatory purchased most of the glass installations, creating the largest permanent collection of Chihuly’s work in a botanical setting. These vibrant glass sculptures are now woven throughout the biomes, blending art with nature. This addition helped cement the conservatory as a premier cultural destination rather than just a botanical garden. Recent years have seen the site expand beyond the glass walls to emphasize community engagement and outdoor education. The 2018 opening of the Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden added two acres of interactive landscape designed for hands-on learning. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Community Garden Campus also provides local residents with space to grow their own food and learn sustainable practices. Today, the conservatory balances its historic Victorian charm with modern commitments to local ecology and the Columbus community. **Maps of the Conservatory** Here is the [main map](https://www.fpconservatory.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/franklin-park-zones-scaled.jpg) of the Conservatory grounds. Here's a [map of the areas](https://www.fpconservatory.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ConstructionMap-2026.jpg) in which the Conservatory has ongoing construction (see below). **Summary** For this event, we'll explore Columbus's highly-rated and very popular Conservatory. As mentioned above, the Conservatory is doing renovations on parts of the facility. These renovations are scheduled to be ongoing until the Fall of next year. Basically, no matter when you go to the Conservatory over the next 18 months, you're going to see some metaphorical orange barrels. So let's just go now. **Tickets and pricing** On the first Sunday of every month, the Conservatory is free for residents of Franklin County and the city of Columbus. You must bring an ID to receive this discount. (Yes, they do check.) Otherwise, tickets are $25.20. Members of the Columbus Zoo (of which I am one) do get a discount on tickets, though I have never actually bought a ticket to the Conservatory (I've always gone on free days). I believe the discount is $4. Parking is always free. If you have additional questions about pricing or whether and for what you qualify, you can reach the Conservatory at 614-715-8000. **Where we'll meet** We will meet just outside the main entrance. I guarantee there's going to be a line. The Conservatory is always popular on free days, and especially in nice weather. **Your GPS is stupid!** Be careful simply typing "Franklin Park Conservatory" in your GPS and going where it tells you. The only way to access the parking lot to the Conservatory is off of Broad Street. Unfortunately, since Google Maps is unable to find its way out of a wet paper bag, it has a tendency to want to take people to a mythical, non-existent Conservatory entrance on Nelson Road. If your GPS does this, just drive to the north side of the Conservatory along Broad Street. Your GPS should then redirect you to the main Conservatory entrance. If your GPS doesn't, then throw your phone away\* and look for the big Conservatory sign on the south side of Broad Street between Nelson Road and Franklin Park West. You also should be able to use the map pin I've provided, below, and it should properly direct you to where you need to drive. \* Don't really do this. **After the event** After stopping to smell the roses, for those that are interested, we'll head to the nearby [Columbus Brewing Company Beer Hall](https://columbusbrewing.com/location/beer-hall/) for [drinks](https://columbusbrewing.com/location/beer-hall/#draft-list) and [lunch](https://columbusbrewing.com/location/beer-hall/#food-menu). The Beer Hall's actual address is [200 Kelton Ave, Columbus, OH 43205](https://www.google.com/maps/place/200+Kelton+Ave,+Columbus,+OH+43205/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x883889a94ac4acad:0xadb2e60240dbc38b?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111) (it's literally just on the south side of the Conservatory). Be sure this is where your GPS is taking you when you use it, as the Brewing Company has a taproom on Harrison Avenue that is *not* what you want for this event. We should be at the Beer Hall by 1 if you can't make the Conservatory and just want to join us for drinks.

Who else is ready to sit outside? Join us for a casual chat over coffee & tea at Grandview Grind! Come out and meet some new people, enjoy your favorite drink, and make some new friends!