Anarchism

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. **10 mile circuit hike with about 650 feet of elevation gain.** ***Join us for a scenic hike on this Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday along the C&O Canal towpath and the forest trails of Blockhouse Point Conservation Park.*** **Description:** Starting from Lock 22 Pennyfield Lock parking lot off of River Road we will hike on the C&O Canal towpath. We will then hike to Violette's Lock and on to Riley's Lock where we'll cross the Seneca Creek Aqueduct and take a short side trip to the Seneca Mill & Quarry Ruins. We'll retrace our steps and take a lunch/snack break at Riley's Lock before heading back to Violette's Lock where we will make our way into Blockhouse Point Park. We will take several trails in the forest and stop at a couple of overlooks of the Potomac and Canal Towpath on our way back to the parking lot to complete the circuit. This is a B hike due to the mileage, but most of the hike is level. There is one short but somewhat steep hill going up into the forest. You might want to bring hiking poles if you normally use them on hills. The overlooks are short out and backs and descend slightly from the forest area. **These rocky overlooks offer great views of the Potomac!** The pace will be about 2.5 mph. There are porta-johns at the locks. **Bring**: Adequate water/hydration, snacks/lunch, and sturdy hiking shoes since there are some rocky areas and tree roots with a lot of leaf coverage on the ground. There is one small stream that is easily stepped across. **Fee:** There is no park fee. **Dogs are welcom**e. NVHC Dog policy: [https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy](https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy) Meet at the trailhead parking lot 15 minutes early to allow everyone to sign in and get ready to hike at 9:00am. **Blockhouse Point Park**: [https://montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/blockhouse-point-conservation-park-trails/](https://montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/blockhouse-point-conservation-park-trails/) **C&O Canal Pennyfield, Violette's, and Riley's Locks:** [https://birdersguidemddc.org/site/co-canal-pennyfield-violettes-rileys-locks/](https://birdersguidemddc.org/site/co-canal-pennyfield-violettes-rileys-locks/) **C&O Canal Pennyfield Lock:** [https://www.canaltrust.org/pyv/lock-22-parking/](https://www.canaltrust.org/pyv/lock-22-parking/) **Meeting Place Instructions:** We will meet at Pennyfield Lock, Lock 22 parking area on Pennyfield Lock Road. **GPS 39.053641, -77.288893**. See attached directions in the link. After turning onto River Road west from I-495, **Pennyfield Lock Road** is about 8.5 miles on your left. Keep your eyes open and look for the sign for the turnoff onto Pennyfield Rd intersection. Proceed to the end of Pennyfield Road. I will be in a white Nissan SUV with the rear hatch open. **Post hike rehydration TBD.** If you have questions, please message me here or call/text me at 202-528-0456. If you text me, please include your name.

Games night is back! With our favorite local game store opening back up, Games night will come back starting Monday June 7th! We are an lgbt+ games group that’s been going for nearly 3 years now! We welcome anyone in the lgbt+ community to come play board games every Monday with our fun and chaotic crew! If you’re brand new to board gaming and looking to make some friends or if you love playing 4 hour space operas and are looking to make some rivals, we’re the group for you! We are an lgbt+ group that focuses on creating a safe lgbt+ community. Non-lgbt+ individuals are welcome when attending with an lgbt+ friend, family member, or partner. Huzzah hobbies currently follows cdc guidelines, where customers who are vaccinated are allowed to not wear masks indoors. With their current hours on Mondays, they are open until 9pm; if they change hours and remain open later, games night will continue until close. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please feel free to message us here!

After having no live games for about a year, lets try playing again on a Monday night. Some of the regular players have gotten shots and I am pretty sure we can find a secluded table to play some cards. Of course masks are required. Lets try playing again at Crossroads. They serve great food and beer. They are currently only open to 10 pm, so I set the play time on this one as 6:30 to 9:30.

Let’s get outside and explore the beautiful Great Falls Park. **No Fees ** We’ll take in the stunning river views, walk the scenic trails together, and afterwards head to a nearby spot for our signature sips and bites. The Plan • What: Group Hike + Lunch • Where: Riverbend Park , McLean (about 15 miles from D.C.) • Hike: 12:00 PM • Lunch: Right after at Kalypso's Sports Tavern Looking forward to a fun and refreshing day outdoors!

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Satanic Panics,”** a look at waves of fear of demonic activity as an American tradition, with Luxx Mishou, cultural historian and former instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy and area community colleges. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/nv-satanic-panics](https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/nv-satanic-panics) .] The 1980s found the United States gripped by fear of Satanic cults targeting children. They were believed to be corrupting young ones in daycare centers and tempting teens through subliminal messages on heavy metal albums or through the quiet inclusion of demonic rituals in role-playing games. Satanic serial killers supposedly stalked the suburbs. Doctors helped patients uncover what were claimed to be repressed memories of ritualistic satanic abuse. Parents, police, and politicians were urged to protect impressionable youths from both moral and physical danger. With Satanic cults deemed to be a real and material threat, it was a frightening time for everyone, including those who suddenly came under suspicion for doing evil deeds. Then, suddenly, it all faded from public consciousness, just as surely as did eighties fads such mullet haircuts, leg warmers, and Cabbage Patch Kids. Why did it all start? Why did it stop? And has this happened before or since? Hear such questions tackled by Luxx Mishou, a cultural historian and media specialist who has long researched the devious and villainous in cultural artifacts. She’ll discuss moral panics as a longstanding cultural tradition, with each new one stemming from fear of cultural shifts and shaped by the time and place where it occurred. Among the panics we’ll look into are the Red Scare of the 1950s and the public response to the gruesome 1969 murders committed by the Manson Family. Delving into the 1980s panic, Mishou will describe how it began with the 1980 publication of psychiatrist Lawrence Pazder’s memoir *Michelle Remembers*, detailing the suppressed memories of ritualistic abuse reportedly suffered by a patient. As that book quickly became a best seller, its ideas saturated American culture. A California daycare center became the focus of a three-year investigation, followed by three years of trials, based on allegations that its owner had engaged in secret ritualistic abuse of the children in its care. Mishou will lead you through the media that convinced the public that devil worshipers were among them, and she’ll talk about how reactions to imagined threats can have very real social costs. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image by Canva.

A unique worship experience for adults looking to engage their mind, body, spirit, and taste buds! Sundays, 5PM Join us each Sunday for a guided time of stretching, meditation, and mindfulness (think Yoga Church) – followed by a free mocktail and conversation! It’s a great day to end one week – and begin another. No reservations needed; just show up. (Invite a friend!) [https://www.thevineva.org/stretch-sip](https://www.thevineva.org/stretch-sip?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR5PvfHVivaZWvu3F4k-dNoYLoXZ9EkAZKcaOcJ2fBP09QM_svyEG0tkZgIH-w_aem_GVuOBm_3I478NQM3Lkqe0A) 2501 Gallows Road, Dunn Loring, VA 22027

**BreadBreakers is a community where people of all different belief systems and backgrounds can create community - and what better way to do that than reading together?** Join us as we combine the kind, curious, and welcoming atmosphere of a BreadBreakers dinner with the thought-provoking, fun format of a book club. Here's what to expect: * We'll be reading *Of Mice and Men*, by John Steinbeck. * This will be a one-meeting club, so if you've ever wanted to do a book club but couldn't commit to multiple meetings, here's your opportunity! * Snacks :) * BreadBreakers ground rules apply - we'll lead with curiosity, converse with kindness, and strive to dig beneath the surface level. * We'll be gathering in Meeting Room 1 at the Reston Regional Library. * Participants will be responsible for obtaining their own copies of the book. [Here's the Amazon link, if helpful.](https://www.amazon.com/Mice-Men-John-Steinbeck/dp/0140177396) * Our BreadBreakers table hosts will come ready with questions and facilitation skills - you come ready to discuss! **I've never attended a BreadBreakers event before - what is BreadBreakers?** BreadBreakers is a community where neighbors from all different beliefs and backgrounds can **hear, be heard, and know one another.** Most frequently, we do this through the ancient practice of breaking bread around a common dining table. But we're more than just a discussion group - we're a movement to heal our world's broken discourse and forge togetherness in a time of isolation and loneliness. **Through the sacred act of just "being" together, we're working to rebuild the town square, one table (or book club) at a time.** BreadBreakers is a religiously inclusive by Restoration United Methodist Church in Reston, VA. All faiths, beliefs, and stripes are welcomed, and our leadership and community include people who attend Restoration and people who don't.

Hey NOVA homeowners, join our upcoming free Seller Seminar on Saturday, January 24, 10-12pm. Panera catered lunch will be provided. We'll tackle your top concerns, including: * What we expect for the 2026 real estate market * Navigate buying and selling without the stress * Learn whether to sell as is or do updates * Understand top updates to get best Return on Investment * Hear latest Market Update & Info on New Commission rule changes Reserve your seat using this link [https://ddasellerseminar.eventbrite.com/?aff=meetup](https://ddasellerseminar.eventbrite.com/?aff=meetup)

**In a time of division and isolation, come be part of the community that's rebuilding the town square, one table at a time.** In BreadBreakers, we use the common space of the dining table to have conversations where neighbors can **hear, be heard, and know one another.** If you're hungry for good discourse and deeper community, join us for a Community Dinner in Reston and help blaze the trail to a healthier, more connected society and democracy. Here’s how it works: For just two hours, multiple tables of people set aside the need to "win" and instead focus on sharing, listening, and connecting. Guided by experienced table hosts, we'll tell our stories, try to understand each other, and practice being in community with those with different views or backgrounds. **At this dinner, participants will get to choose between three different topics, including some current events.** Topics could range from the political, to the spiritual, to the philosophical, to the off-the-wall - but no matter which table you choose to sit at, you can be sure it'll be like no dinner conversation you've had before! You can also **suggest a topic** by emailing us at BreadBreakersInfo@gmail.com. Food will be provided for free. For those who wish to provide a donation to help fund BreadBreakers, you can [give here](https://pushpay.com/g/restorationrestonumc?fnd=pO6G-N7oO7FH7Mp1u-x6mA&fndv=Lock&r=No&lang=en&src=pcgl) or at the event. We'll have vegetarian and gluten-free options available. If you have any additional dietary restrictions (Celiac Disease, vegan, etc.) please let us know at BreadBreakersInfo@gmail.com so that we can implement the appropriate food handling procedures. **Join us, invite a friend, and be a part of the movement to mend our fractured society and normalize a better way of talking with one another.** BreadBreakers, an initiative by [Restoration United Methodist Church](https://restorationreston.org/breadbreakers) in Reston, VA, is a religiously inclusive community. All faiths and all stripes are welcomed. Our leadership, volunteer team, and community include people who attend Restoration and people who don't.

Learn to manage stress and achieve self-growth through simple relaxation and Meditation. Heartfulness Meditation is a simple, modern, methodical approach to meditation. Rather than homing in on your breath or repeating a mantra, you simply focus inward, on your heart, to cultivate inner strength and serenity. Heartfulness meditation is gaining traction in recent years. It focuses on the heart, allowing individuals to connect with themselves on a deeper level, and ultimately achieve peace, relaxation, and clarity. It is a practice that encourages patience, self-compassion, and acceptance, helping cultivate a deeper appreciation for the present moment. This practice is offered with love and at no cost

Per Collective: Ooooh party people. LISTEN UP: we're doing something fun yet again. It's the only way we know how! On Friday Jan 23 Collective is holding a "Dark of Night" event at Rai's Rendezvous. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN!?!?!? Come in black - your fanciest, your most emo, your most badass black leather...it ALL goes. And we're pulling a bunch of older Collective songs out of the shadows and putting them back on stage for ONE NIGHT ONLY. We can't wait to see you!

IMPROV CHURCH! 7PM \| Vine Church \| Ages 14\+ \| $10 A short sermon. A team of pro comedians. Zero rules. They don’t preach it back—they rip it open, react, and run wild with it. Expect laughs. Expect questions. Expect the unexpected. This is church turned inside out. Uncensored. Unscripted. Unapologetic. Last Saturday of every month \| 7PM Buy your tickets at the door, or online ahead of time: [thevineva.org/worship/improv-church/](http://thevineva.org/worship/improv-church/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR5UNB76JC7-akqpbaSn-4H6JuOA6iTl5rIkmBfOaKKR0seKcd7Vqr9d79KA0g_aem_r2KcYCZ-Cr7akGszFEtDog) 2501 Gallows Rd \| Dunn Loring\, VA \| 22027

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Venezuela’s Future—and Ours,”** an analysis of how the Trump administration’s intervention in Venezuela will affect that nation, the U.S., and the rest of the world, with Ernesto Castañeda, Director of the Center for Latin American and Latino Studies and the Immigration Lab at American University. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/nv-venezuela-future](https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/nv-venezuela-future) .] On January 3rd, after a long military buildup, the United States used special forces to seize Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from their residence in Caracas, Venezuela to stand trial here on criminal charges. The development marked a major turning point in our relationship with Venezuela and the rest of Latin America and raised a host of complex questions, not just for Venezuelans living inside and outside that country but for American citizens and other nations of the world. Coming to the stage to break down what all of this means is Ernesto Castañeda, a scholar of Latin America who has given several excellent Profs and Pints talks on immigration policy and has given dozens of interviews to media outlets around the world in the wake of the U.S. raid. In a talk offering informed perspective on the latest news developments, Professor Castañeda will discuss various theories about why the U.S. conducted the operation to get Maduro out of Venezuela. He’s put our nation’s current plans for Venezuela into context by touching on previous U.S. military interventions in Latin America and beyond. Professor Castañeda will look at the implications of recent events for U.S. politics and U.S. citizens and what such developments tell us about the balance of power in the United States. He’ll examine the distance between decisions made by the White House and public priorities, touching on how it all relates to our immigration policies and our views about peaceful protest and democracy. He’ll consider how the Venezuela raid and our actions since have altered relations between the U.S. and other nations and provide scenarios about what the future might hold. (Door: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image by Canva.

**NOTE: This is NOT a screening, please watch the movie before the discussion.** *"I'm scared! It's like a horror movie!"* *"That's out of date. Step aside. This is a karate movie!"* Nobuhiko Obayashi’s *House* is less a horror film than a psychedelic fever dream that happens to be haunted. When a group of schoolgirls visit a remote countryside house, logic quickly evaporates, replaced by floating heads, ravenous furniture, and a visual language that feels closer to a children’s cartoon than a traditional ghost story. *House* was created in direct opposition to the prestige dramas and somber horror of its era, resulting in a cult classic that feels anarchic even today. Using crude visual effects, cartoon logic, and musical cues, the film creates horror through excess rather than restraint. It’s funny, disorienting, and utterly unique — a film that feels like it’s being invented moment by moment. ***

A unique worship experience for adults looking to engage their mind, body, spirit, and taste buds! Sundays, 5PM Join us each Sunday for a guided time of stretching, meditation, and mindfulness (think Yoga Church) – followed by a free mocktail and conversation! It’s a great day to end one week – and begin another. No reservations needed; just show up. (Invite a friend!) [https://www.thevineva.org/stretch-sip](https://www.thevineva.org/stretch-sip?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR5PvfHVivaZWvu3F4k-dNoYLoXZ9EkAZKcaOcJ2fBP09QM_svyEG0tkZgIH-w_aem_GVuOBm_3I478NQM3Lkqe0A) 2501 Gallows Road, Dunn Loring, VA 22027

Register at Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy at [Writing in Nature (New Location) - Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy](https://loudounwildlife.org/event/writing-in-nature-february/) Join Nancy Morgan, Director Emeritus, Georgetown Lombardi Arts and Humanities Program, for this regular monthly workshop, presented by Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy, to enjoy the combined health benefits of time spent in nature and writing thoughts and feelings. Writing is often considered a solo, reflective practice, but writing in the company of others can be a supportive, community building activity that encourages regular practice. Each session is a stand-alone event – come when you are able. Registration for each session is open through the morning of the workshop. For directions, click on the Google Map link at the bottom of this page. ***Registration required.*** ***Questions:*** *Contact [info@loudounwildlife.org](mailto:info@loudounwildlife.org)*.

Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy registration at [Birding Gilbert’s Corner - Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy](https://loudounwildlife.org/event/birding-gilberts-corner-january/) Join Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy for a bird walk at the relatively new [Gilbert’s Corner Regional Park](https://www.novaparks.com/parks/gilberts-corner-regional-park) in Aldie (see map below). With a combination of scrub, brush and meadow, this park is a great birding hotspot in southwestern Loudoun. *Limit 14. **Registration required.*** ***Questions:*** *Contact Joe Coleman at [jcoleman@loudounwildlife.org](mailto:jcoleman@loudounwildlife.org)*.

**Happiness is a Decision** Happiness does not come from outside, it comes from inside, and when you radiate a happy energy, you'll be amazed by what it attracts into your life. Wed., Jan. 21st, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm. Held at Brahma Kumaris, 14020 Thunderbolt Pl., Suite 200, 2nd Floor, Chantilly, VA. Free event - Register at: [https://shorturl.at/9BR5y](https://shorturl.at/9BR5y)