Makers

Looking forward to meeting up with filmmakers in the Baltimore area. This will be an in-person event. Register to let us know how many seats to save! Organized by **Jacquie Greff**. You MUST register here: https://www.wifv.org/calendar/#id=32390&cid=783&wid=401&type=Cal

**WINTER NOON TIME START, temperature forecast mid 50s!** Arlington Triangloop Counter-clockwise but at a "social" pace (makes for a nice recovery ride). We will hang at coffee shop for a good 30 minutes to eat, drink, and relax. **I'LL BUY THE BEIGNETS!** **++++++++++++++++++++** **The Ride: Summary** **(Must Read)** **++++++++++++++++++++** * RIDE NAME: The Koffee Klatch Ride - Mardi Gras at [Bayou Bakery](https://www.bayoubakeryva.com/) * START LOC: Bluemont Tennis Courts Parking, N Manchester & Wilson, Arlington, VA * START GPS: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/gsMkdU7STFebbrFg6](https://maps.app.goo.gl/gsMkdU7STFebbrFg6) * START PARKING: Bluemont Tennis Parking lot (restroom available) * ARRIVAL: 12:00pm * SPEECH: 12:10pm ***\*\*you must be present for the speech or no ride for you!\*\**** * ROLLING: 12:15pm * LEVEL: Medium * PACE: 11-13 mph (a "social" pace) * DISTANCE: 16 miles * TERRAIN: Trail / Street / Cyclepath * RIDEWITHGPS ROUTE: CBG_KOFFEEK_BAYOU_2024 * [https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45541165](https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45541165) * **NOTE: Final Route will depend on trail conditions** * Alternate Route: CBG_KOFFEK_BAYOU4MG_2026 * [https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53996996](https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53996996) **++++++++++++++++++++++** **The Ride: Detail** **++++++++++++++++++++++** The ride is a 16 mile medium level ridden at a social pace (11-13 mph). We will ride the Arlington Loop counter-clockwise starting from the Bluemont Tennis Parking Lot, and stop for our "Koffee Klatch" at Bayou Bakery, Arlington (come try out the Beignets for Mardi Gras). We will exit the Triangle/Loop by Mom's (about mile 12.2) and take the Veitch bike lane to Bayou. After coffee we will ride the Wilson/Fairfax bike lanes and connect with the Bluemont Junction Trail at about mile 14.5 near the Holiday Inn Express You are not required to drink or even like coffee. Laissez le bon temps rouler! **+++++++++++++++++++++** **The Ride After The Ride:** **+++++++++++++++++++++** This week's coffee shop is the Ride WITHIN The Ride! ***I'll buy the beignets*** [Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery](https://www.bayoubakeryva.com/) 1515 N Courthouse Rd Arlington, VA 22201 **NOTES;** * These rides are organized "lean". * Check your brakes and pump your tires on the morning of the ride and please have a spare tube that fits your tire. * It is strongly suggested that you become a NoVA CBG RidewithGPS club member and download the route posted for each "Klatch". * Loading the route onto your Garmin (or other Nav device) is also acceptable. * **NoVA CBG has a turn by turn RideWithGPS club account that's free. [https://www.meetup.com/novacbg/events/271742916/](https://www.meetup.com/novacbg/events/271742916/)** **+++++++++++++++++++++** **Ride Level Chart** **+++++++++++++++++++++** NoVA CBG tries to accommodate all levels of cyclists by offering different types/levels of rides. We just ask that you come to the ride that suits your current riding ability the best. * Introductory Level: If you haven't ridden a bike in a number of years (or are uncertain of your abilities on a bicycle). * Beginner Level: You can ride for 10+ miles at a pace of 10+ to 12+ mph with potentially minor hills involved. * Medium Level: You can ride for 20+ miles at a pace of 13+ to 15+ mph with potentially moderate hills involved. * Advanced Level: You can ride for 20++ miles at a pace of 15+ mph with potentially major hills involved. Both Medium and Advanced Levels might require handling various challenges such as reading cue sheets, using a Garmin or navigation app, night riding, out of town travel, or any other odd cycling situations. **+++++++++++++++++++++** **The Fine Print:** **+++++++++++++++++++++** An RSVP of 'YES' is your digital signature and means you have read and understood MEETUP.com's: * "Terms of Service : Section 6. Release" found at https://www.meetup.com/terms/ * NOVA-CBG's "Assumption of Risk Agreement" found @ https://www.meetup.com/novacbg/pages/1942951/NOVA-CBG_Waiver/ * NoVA CBG's "COVID Policy" found @ http://bit.ly/2021_NoVACBG_COVID19_POLICY Helmets are required to participate in all NOVA-CBG rides. All riders ride at their own risk and with the understanding that cycling is an inherently dangerous activity. When coming to the meetup you do so voluntarily and are ready and able to participate in the ride as described under the conditions of the day. Be on time for the "pre-ride" preparation. If you do not attend the pre-ride preparation you will not be allowed to participate on the ride. There are NO exceptions to the above. ......................................................................................................................

[Profs and Pints DC](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Our Bodies, Our Minds,”** an exploration of the relationship between our biology and our thought processes, with Justin Brooks, M.D., associate professor of computer science and electrical engineering at University of Maryland, Baltimore County and scholar of computational psychophysiology. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at h[ttps://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/dc-bodies-minds](ttps://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/dc-bodies-minds) .] For millennia, humans have wondered how mind and body are connected. Are our thoughts just the electrical murmurs of nerve cells, or is there something more? Are they the result of millions of years of evolution? Explore the mind-body problem through the lens of measurable physiology with Dr. Justin Brooks, a physician-scientist whose research focuses on using mobile and wearable technologies to understand, predict, and influence human behavior and health. He’ll describe how millions of years of evolution shaped the way our minds and bodies speak to each other, with our nervous system being the product of countless adaptations that shape how we react, think, and survive. Reflexes hidden in our physiology, attention, and mental effort reveal a “biotype,” a stable but adaptable signature of how we process the world. The problem is that reflexes honed by a prehistoric world of predators and scarcity now must navigate the strange demands of a modern society. Rather than mirroring who we truly are, our reflexes often are just echoes of ancient survival needs. As a result, many of us live slightly out of sync with our own biology. We think faster than we feel, ignore our body’s quiet warnings, and misread the signals from our bodies that guide balance and well-being. Breakdowns in the conversation between mind and body cause stress to accumulate, performance to falters, and health to erode. In a talk that blends neuroscience, physiology, and philosophy, Dr. Brooks will discuss how our specific biotypes might hold clues for realigning our ancient wiring with the pace of contemporary life to avoid the pitfalls of burnout, chronic stress, and mental fatigue. He’ll explore how measuring the body can illuminate the mind and how both can be brought back into harmony for the world we live in now. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: Part of an illustration of the brain in Traité complet de l'anatomie de l'homme, a textbook completed by anatomist Jean-Baptiste Marc Bourgery and artist Nicolas Henri Jacob in 1854.

Join us for a fun-filled Lunar New Year celebration! Let’s eat delicious food, enjoy a beautiful show by the Hong Dance School, and have a great time bringing in the new year with friends! **12:00 pm to 2:00 pm, at Vienna Community Center – 120 Cherry St. SE, Vienna, VA 22180.** Register Here Starting Jan. 2, 2026 - [Lunar New Year Celebration at Vienna Community Center — Shepherd's Center of Northern Virginia](https://scnova.org/event/lunar-new-year-celebration-at-vienna-community-center/) or call 703-281-0538. \*SCNOVA will be closed for the holidays Dec. 24th at 1pm thru Jan. 1st. The office will open Jan. 2nd at 9:00 am.

​This gathering brings together women working in or curious about Bitcoin. We'll share real experiences, career paths, and lessons learned. The focus will be on how women contribute to building, securing, and supporting Bitcoin, from technical roles to adjacent fields. If you're already in tech or just starting to explore, join us to learn, connect, and discover what's possible. **👉 Please RSVP on Luma:** [https://luma.com/kn3txa1n](https://luma.com/kn3txa1n) Panelists will speak candidly about navigating the industry, building a career in emerging tech, and what it's really like to work in Bitcoin-focused organizations. The discussion aims to be approachable and insightful, giving women a clear, real-world view of opportunities, challenges, and growth in Bitcoin and related technologies. ​***Please respect the Bitcoin-only focus: We do not discuss, promote, or entertain conversations about altcoins, tokens, ICOs, NFTs, memecoins, or any other cryptocurrency projects. Nothing shared at this meetup is financial advice. Always do your own research!*** ​***🍺 Tell the bartender you're paying with Bitcoin before you close out your tab and get 21% off!*** ​ **Getting There:** * ​🔵🟠⚪ Federal Triangle + 10 min walk * ​🟢🟡 Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter + 2 min walk * ​🔴 Judiciary Square or Metro Center + 8 min walk * ​There is street parking and several nearby paid garages **👉 Please RSVP on Luma:** [https://luma.com/kn3txa1n](https://luma.com/kn3txa1n)

**AI-Supported Creative Exploration** *For Unassuming Intuitives & Practicing Creatives* (Please note that this event has not been organized or endorsed by The Writer's Center.) This meetup is part of AI as Creative Partner — A Practice Group, a set of open, non-sequential creative labs you can join at any point. We use AI as a thinking partner—not to replace your ideas, but to help surface and shape them without overthinking or pressure. You bring fragments—ideas, impulses, unfinished concepts. With AI as a supportive collaborator, we explore how those fragments can become clearer, more coherent, and ready to share if and when you want to. No technical background is required. If you can talk or type, that's enough to work with AI here. This session is intentionally low-commitment and flexible: * Arrive late or leave early * Work quietly or observe * Ask questions, or simply watch the process unfold There's no presentation and no expectation to finish anything. Showing up as you are is enough. **FROM FRAGMENT TO FORM - AN OPEN AI STUDIO** Many creative ideas don't arrive as "projects." They arrive as fragments, moods, or something that won't leave you alone. This open studio is a place to gently explore those fragments using AI as a thinking partner—without forcing clarity too soon. You're welcome to work, observe, arrive late, or leave early. This is a calm room for unfinished ideas. **HOW TO FIND US** Look for the room with the door open on the lower level. Look for the guy with the screen projector and ambient light and sound. Feel free to just walk in and settle. **(*This is an independent meetup using rental space at The Writer's Center. The Writer's Center has not organized or endorsed this event.*)**

Join us for a **scenic, social hike at Rock Creek Park** as we explore the "Southern Loop," starting from the Nature Center. Starting at the **Nature Center**, the "Southern Loop via Western Ridge Trail, Rock Creek, and Valley Trail" is a well-loved route. With over 2,700 glowing reviews on AllTrails, it offers beautiful scenery, well-maintained paths, and a refreshing escape close to the city. This **easy hike** winds through lush forested trails, showcasing the beauty of Rock Creek Park. While the trail is mostly straightforward, please note that sections may be **slippery**, so wear sturdy, grippy shoes. To learn more about the trail, click the link in the **Trail Map section below**. Get ready for fresh air, great conversations, and plenty of scenic moments! This hike is perfect for all levels, so bring your good vibes and let’s hit the trail together! **Meeting Time & Location:** Meet us at 9:30 AM at the **Rock Creek Park Nature Center,** located at 5200 Glover Rd NW, Washington, DC 20015. There’s plenty of parking available at the Nature Center. We’ll gather right in front of the building to start the hike. **Distance:** 5.6 miles **Elevation Gain:** 685 feet **Difficulty:** Moderate Walk/Hike This hike is a moderate walk with natural trails and a few gentle inclines to get your heart rate up. The terrain includes some uneven sections, and the fallen leaves can make it a bit slippery in spots. With sturdy footwear, it’s an enjoyable and accessible hike for most levels. **Estimated Duration** This hike is expected to take approximately 2.5 hours. **Pace:** Moderate Pace We'll walk a steady, comfortable pace that’s manageable for most hikers with a reasonable fitness level. Breaks are regular but not overly frequent, allowing for a balanced experience of exercise and enjoyment. **Parking** Ample parking is available at the Rock Creek Park Nature Center, with additional overflow parking located across the street. **Trail Map (AllTrails)** [Rock Creek Park - Southern Loop](https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/rock-creek-park-nature-center-a2f0474?u=i&sh=ylk43q) With over 2,700 reviews on AllTrails, this popular route offers insights into the trail’s conditions and highlights. Click the link above to learn more and prepare for your hike! **Restrooms** Restrooms are available at the Nature Center, our meeting point at the start of the hike. They open at 9:00 AM. Additionally, there are restrooms approximately 1 hour into the hike, where we’ll take a brief break. **Dog Attendance** For everyone’s comfort and enjoyment, we kindly ask that you leave your dogs at home for this hike. Thank you for understanding! **Lunch After the Hike** After the hike, join us for an optional lunch at **Pete’s New Haven Style Apizza** (4940 Wisconsin Ave. NW), an affordable, counter-service spot just a 10 minute drive away. They serve New England-style pizza, pastas, salads, antipasti, and local brews—something for everyone!

**Match 1** For current members only: [This client is interested in meeting a feminine, grounded woman with a little bit of spice. He is a Dallas native, currently based in Dallas, and open to a nationwide search. He is 36, 6’1”, and has one child. He would love to be a girl dad within marriage, “but it has to be a special woman.”](https://www.instagram.com/p/DSqkFFLjx_k/) If you are an active member and feel aligned, you may reach out directly to be considered. This introduction is part of a private, curated process. For non-members: Inquiries require readiness to become a member and begin with a consultation. To be considered for this match, please text one photo, your age, and location to 917-451-6561 for initial review. Applicants must be attractive and physically fit. Please note: Not all inquiries will receive a response. [📅 To learn more about our matchmaking and coaching services, please schedule a consultation using this link.](https://thehelpmeetclub.com/join-our-database-of-singles/) **Match 2** For current members only: [We’re sharing a match opportunity for a male client in his 30s, based in the Dallas–Fort Worth area.](https://www.instagram.com/p/DSqkFFLjx_k/) He was previously matched with one of our New York attorney clients, and the connection was strong on both sides. ❤️ Unfortunately, neither party was willing to relocate due to close family ties and career commitments. As a result, he has asked us to introduce another match. He has been a great match across our database, with consistent mutual interest from past introductions. His matches often highlight his balanced personality, his ability to lead while also listening, and his calm, grounded presence. He is open, emotionally supportive, and respectful of a partner’s career and ambitions. He appreciates a woman who may be more extroverted, as long as she is grounded and self-aware. We are seeking attractive women who do not currently have children and who desire marriage and family. Our search is nationwide; however, we need women who are already in Texas or open to relocating to Texas. He is also open to relocating within Texas, including Houston, for the right match. This is a private, curated process. For non-members: Inquiries require readiness to become a member and must begin with a consultation. To be considered for this match, you may text one photo, your age, and your location to 917-451-6561 for initial review. [📅 To learn more about our matchmaking and coaching services, please schedule a consultation using this link.](https://thehelpmeetclub.com/join-our-database-of-singles/)

Each week we’ll revisit the core cyberpunk classics — starting with Blade Runner (1982), then Ghost in the Shell (1995), Johnny Mnemonic (1995), Strange Days (1995), The Matrix (1999), eXistenZ (1999), and Blame! (2017).

Sunday Texas Hold-Em Tournament Cost: no cost to play Time: 12:00 (noon) - 2:00 pm Starting Stack: 30,000 chips Bonuses: 5,000 for arriving early, 5,000 for new players, 5,000 for registering online Blind structure Level 1: 100 chips / 200 chips Level 2: 200 chips / 400 chips Level 3: 300 chips / 600 chips Level 4: 400 chips / 800 chips Level 5: 500 chips / 1,000 chips 10 minute break / chip up Level 6: 1,000 chips / 2,000 chips Level 7: 2,000 chips / 4,000 chips Level 8: 3,000 chips / 6,000 chips chip up Level 9: 5,000 chips / 10,000 chips Level 10: 10,000 chips / 20,000 chips Level 11: 15,000 chips / 30,000 chips Level 12: 25,000 chips / 50,000 chips chip up Level 13: 50,000 chips / 100,000 chips Level 14: 100,000 chips / 200,000 chips Level 15: 200,000 chips / 4000,000 chips

Artistic Artifacts hosts **Open Stitch sessions on the first and third Thursday evenings** from 5:30 - 7:30 pm — join us! This is a drop-in, bring your own hand stitching project and the necessary supplies (or you can knit, crochet... whatever needle arts you like). There’s no fee to attend, no instruction nor agenda — just a time to spend with other creatives! Visit our website for all other class & event information: **[https://artisticartifacts.com/collections/wk](https://artisticartifacts.com/collections/wk)**

Bring your Raspberry Pi, Arduino, microcontroller, or any other electronic project and join fellow electronics makers for a night of creativity and collaboration! This session is open forum to share your current projects—whether complete or in progress, it’s all interesting! Whether you’re deep into embedded systems, exploring new ideas, or just getting started, you’ll find a welcoming space to collaborate, share, and get inspired. (NOTICE - Location change!) This session will be at the Karl Road Branch of the Columbus Library in the Conference Room 2.

Bring your Raspberry Pi, Arduino, microcontroller, or any other electronic project and join fellow electronics makers for a night of creativity and collaboration! This session is open forum to share your current projects—whether complete or in progress, it’s all interesting! Whether you’re deep into embedded systems, exploring new ideas, or just getting started, you’ll find a welcoming space to collaborate, share, and get inspired. **New to electronics or curious about tinkering?** You’re absolutely welcome. If you’re a beginner and want to experiment, I’ll have a couple of starter kits available so you can try things out—whether that’s blinking your first LED, putting something on a display, or experimenting with simple sensors. No pressure and no experience required—just an interest in learning and building. While we continue to pursue a more permanent venue for this Meetup, we’ll be using public library facilities based on availability. This session will be at the Worthington Park Library in the Olentangy Meeting Room.

**In March we will be making protest signs form carboard, paper, thick markers, and more! All supplies are provided, seats are limited! Come As you are, when you can; hope to see you there!**

**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 **Abstract** TBD **YouTube Link** TBA

Join us for a vibrant gathering that honors the heart and hustle of local entrepreneurs. It Takes a Village is more than an event it’s a movement to uplift and spotlight small business owners who pour passion into their craft and creativity into our community. From authors and bakers to jewelry makers, t-shirt designers, candle crafters, and beyond. This is your chance to meet the makers, support their work and celebrate the spirit of collaboration. **_Expect_** * Local vendors showcasing handmade goods * Live demos and storytelling from featured creators * Food, music, and community vibes * Opportunities to shop, connect and be inspired * Celebrate the power of small businesses and we all rise

Looking for a creative night out that isn’t boring or corporate? Come hang out at **The Arcane Foundry** for an open candle bar and a 3D print paint and sip! Choose something from our 3D-printed shelf — *think ceramic paint-and-sip, but way cooler and with custom models we print in-house.* Or head to the candle bar and pick your fragrances to pour your own **pillar candle or container candle**. Sip complimentary tea, enjoy bakery snacks, and **BYOB wine or beer** while you paint, pour, and make whatever the hell you feel like making. No experience needed — this is all vibes, fun, and meeting new people while creating something you’ll actually want to take home. Starting at a very low price of $10 and up for paint and sip (Includes use of community paints, paint pallet, paint brushes) Monster and Fantasy Fidgets $10 75mm Resin Fantasy Models $25 Garden Gnomes $12 32mm Table-Top Miniatures $10 **Candle Making** (includes vessel, your choice of wick, wax, scented oil, labels and lids) 5oz Glass Jars $18 8oz Candle Tins $28 12oz Glass Candles $38 12oz Amber Jars $45 16 oz Skull or Jack o Lantern Candle Mugs $60 (Limited Edition!) \[www\.thearcanefoundry\.com\]\(The Arcane Foundry\) **All materials included. You just bring yourself (and your drink of choice).** **Payments accepted:** * Cash * Venmo: @Daclaud-Lee * Cashapp: $DaclaudL * PayPal: daclaudlee@gmail.com

It’s time to take control of your mental health. How do you get rid of stress, anxiety and uncertainty? These emotions are buried deep in your reactive mind. Find out what the reactive mind is, and in the process find yourself. Have you ever suffered from a traumatic experience, a deep loss or been through a painful breakup? Has your ability to communicate suffered as a result? And after that, even though you "moved on" did you find that things were never quite the same? Have you ever looked at childhood photos, or reminisced your early life and wondered where that happiness and spark went? Are your emotions out of your own control? Have you ever felt, even if you aren’t aware of it, that possibly you are getting in your own way of your happiness and success? How does this affect your self-confidence? Find out what is at the root of all stress, anxiety, depression and self-doubt. Find out how and why you hold yourself back from achieving your goals and having the life you have dreamed of. As soon as you learn what is at the root of these unwanted conditions, you’ll see it is something you can DO something about. You will not be labeled or categorized at this MeetUp.