Singles in the DMV

Are you ready to have fun in the big apple and the city that never sleeps!
because we really won’t be sleeping 😉.. All the details pertaining to our Winter NYC trip are as follow:

*** As a preface : Please Throughly read this entire message and if you have further questions please email me at t_bland73@yahoo.com. Please refrain from sending unnecessary questions and comments regarding trip in the chat . Thanks! …

All information listed is to be used as a suggested guide, by no means are you subjected to follow the suggested listings. I understand everyone has their own preferences and activities they enjoy doing while traveling.****

Accommodations: There are a plethora of hotels to choose from in the city. The suggested/ recommended hotel of choice is The AC Marriott in Times Square. This is a fairly new, beautiful, and modern hotel in Times Square and an easy ten minute walk from the train station. It has a restaurant and rooftop bar and lounge. The prevailing rates are very affordable at $440 Total with taxes and fees for a king room and $484 Total taxes and fees for 2 double queens. These rates are dynamic. I do suggest booking early for the best rates.

Transportation: Amtrak is suggested mode of transportation. I highly suggest taking Amtrak to NYC as it is a comfortable ride and you do not have to worry about gas, parking and dealing with NYC traffic . I will be departing on Friday, January 30th on train 182( current rate $51) at 10:03 am from BWI Rail Station and returning on Sunday, February 1st on train 145 ( current rate $73) leaving at 12:55 pm from NYP. It is approximately 3 hours each way. The Parking garage rate at BWI rail station is $12 per day. The Rates will vary depending on day and time of departure. However, I will stress the earlier you book train tickets the better the rate. In my experience, I rarely see the rate decrease prior to 45 days in advance of departure. For Amtrak booking make sure you are putting in NYP/ for New York Penn Station Arrival Station which is located in Midtown Manhattan. If you will be staying at the AC Marriott Times Square, it is approximately a ten minute walk from Penn Station.
Keep in mind : these prices are not locked in. They are dynamic and you will be subjected to prevailing prices depending on the time you book. I highly suggest booking early for best pricing.

Dining: Food/Drinks are on your own dime and won’t be provided. We will have a group meal at least once during the trip. More info on the itinerary page.

Are you ready for Food, Fun and Partying with a Broadway Play Thrown in ???Check out the official NYC trip itinerary below!

**** NYC Itinerary**
( subjected to change depending on weather and size of group) Most activities will be within walking distance of Midtown Manhattan and Times Square area . Keep in mind - All activities and events are SUGGESTED and not at all MANDATORY

Friday 1/30

*****- Happy Hour 4-6 Meet & Greet at Castell Rooftop Lounge inside AC Marriott Hotel Times Square (enclosed heated rooftop)

****7PM/Late dinner and nighttime walk around to see sights and sounds of Times Square —

930PM/ High bar late night DJ and beats/ dancing- Next to AC hotel / Dress Code-Smart Casual - cover charge applies after 10PM

Saturday 1/31

11AM-Brunch in Bryant Park - at Parker &Quinn then walk through and enjoy the shops in the area

***3PM- broadway show TBD on Jan 7th when Broadway week opens - Hell’s Kitchen is musical of choice / two for one deal**
*****if not attending show - take time to explore NYC on your own

6PM- dinner after show
At Yard House

10PM/Lyra rooftop party beneath Empire State bldg-
$20 cover charge - Dress Smart Casual

Sunday 2/1
9AM -Breakfast before returning home at Juniors in Times Square

## 🌆 Thrive: A Curated Singles Night (Ages 28–42)

Part of the Cuffed by Cupid Match Series 💘
A four-event winter singles series leading up to Valentine’s Day.
🗓 Saturday, January 31
⏰ 8:00 – 10:00 PM
📍 Eighteenth Street Lounge — Washington, DC

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You’re building your career. Your community. Yourself.
And maybe you’re also ready to meet people who are doing the same — and actually get it.
Thrive is a curated singles night for people in their late 20s to early 40s who want more than surface-level banter. This event is intentional, relaxed, and thoughtfully structured to help real conversations happen naturally.
We use our Matchbox compatibility quiz to guide up to three curated matches throughout the night — no speed dating, no awkward games, and no pressure to perform.
After hosting 12+ events for over 373 guests, we’ve refined the flow, questions, and hosting so the experience feels smooth, social, and genuinely enjoyable.

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### 🎟️ IMPORTANT: Tickets Required

RSVPing “Yes” on Meetup does not guarantee entry.
All attendees must purchase a ticket on Eventbrite to attend.
(The ticket link will be shared in the event comments and confirmation message.)

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### 💫 How It Works

• Arrive, grab a drink, and complete a short compatibility quiz on your phone
• Our Matchbox system uses values, goals, and personality to curate up to 3 matches
• Matches are revealed in relaxed rounds throughout the evening
• Plenty of time to mingle with the full group before and after
This is structured enough to make meeting people easy — and relaxed enough to feel natural.

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### ⏰ Event Schedule

8:00 PM – Arrival & check-in
8:15 PM – Compatibility quiz opens
8:45 PM – Matches revealed
9:00 PM – Match #1
9:20 PM – Match #2
9:40 PM – Match #3
10:00 PM – Open mingling
👉 Please arrive by 8:30 PM to be included in matchmaking.

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### 👗 Dress Code

Smart casual to semi-formal.
Sweaters, boots, blazers, jumpsuits — look polished, feel comfortable, and come as yourself.

***

### 📋 What You’ll Need

• A smartphone with internet access
• Arrival by 8:30 PM
• An open mindset — we’ll handle the rest

***

### 🛡️ Safety, Access & Policies

• Venue is upstairs with limited accessibility (stairs only)
• This is a safe, respectful, and inclusive space
• Disruptive behavior or harassment will result in removal
• Photos and video may be taken for community promotion
• Refunds available up to 4 days before the event (Eventbrite policy applies)

***

### 💬 Why Thrive Works

You’re not here to waste time — but you’re also not rushing it.
Thrive is designed for people who care about depth, direction, and meeting others in a similar phase of life.
📸 Follow along: @dmv.experiences

Remember the thrill of going to the arcade/fun center on the weekends as a kid? Let's recapture that and make new friends. Urban Air in Laurel offers a trampoline park, go-karts, laser tag, virtual reality, an overhead ropes course and a zipline. A Platinum pass ($39.99) grants access to all of that. The only thing not covered are the arcade games, which have to be paid for separately. If we have enough people interested and committed, we could qualify for a group rate, which I'll cover and have everyone compensate me. Let's have some fun! Afterwards, there are a number of good restaurants in the area we could go for drinks/dinner if so inclined. Hope to see you there! The address is 13446 Baltimore Ave, Laurel.

Here's the website: https://www.urbanair.com/maryland-laurel/