Automated Machine Learning

Welcome to our new home at the historic Tivoli Theater! Please check our details for access to the space on [our website](https://www.hacdc.org/visit/). Join the discord for questions / help getting in (use channel #let-me-in) [https://discord.gg/dNjuNhNmeT](https://discord.gg/dNjuNhNmeT)

Join us for another session of our study group as we cover the book Build a Reasoning Model (from Scatch). In this session, we will cover Chapter 3 titled "Evaluating Reasoning Models", where we learn how to build methods for evaluating the responses of an LLM. This isn't just a lecture! Come ready to ask questions, share insights, and code along. Whether you're a beginner or have some experience, this is the perfect opportunity to continue to learn together. If you plan to work with the code on your own laptop during the session, try and download the code from it's GitHub repository at https://github.com/rasbt/reasoning-from-scratch ahead of time.

Let's go deeper! More than just a fun aerobic exercise, immerse yourself in the cultural roots of Brazilian movements and stir in the contemporary expression of dance Flavia Nascimento is top trained Brazilian dancer helping others explore the Afro Diaspora of Brazil through movement and music. Join the class to lift your heart rate and elevate your spirit. $20

This epic event will run for two weeks, I want to create a MeetUp giving others, like myself, a way to meet new friends and get out there for any day you have available. Each day will be a duplicate event, giving everyone the ability to sign up for the day they have free. I will not be at every event as I work three days a week, but I will put in the messages the days I'll be there. The Metro Smithsonian is a great place to meet since it's right at one of the two entrances. The only two entrances are at 12th and 4th and Jefferson. If you want to go to one or several of the days just hit the attend and message those who are also planning on attending that day. You can coordinate the times as well. Let's make new friends and experience the 250 anniversary of our country. [https://www.freedom250.org/celebration/the-great-american-state-fair](https://www.freedom250.org/celebration/the-great-american-state-fair)

Do you want more Self Confidence, less Self Doubt, more Happiness, less Anxiety, and more Love? Are you drowning in negative emotions and negative self-talk? Maybe you have suffered a traumatic experience, a deep loss or been through a painful breakup? After that, you try to move on- you just can't. Possibly you have a thought or emotion that hangs around for days and you just can't shake it. What is all this stress, anxiety, depression, and self doubt? It's just crazy! It's not the real you. You can find out what is at the root of all this. All the happiness you have lies within you. Let's find it! We only use natural proven techniques, no drugs or labeling. Refreshments will be served. Call to reserve your seat 202-797-9826. This group is sponsored by the Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Center.

Come join us in some debauchery for Latin Nights! We will be spinning all genres of latin music throughout the night, including Salsa/Bachata/Reggaeton and anything in between. ***SALSA LESSON : 7PM-8PM*** Socialize, mingle and dance the night away, your memorable night, rubbing your shoulder with DC's party snobs. DEETS : \- Huge line up of DJs \- Celebrate your birthday or your moments \(graduation\, anniversary\, promotion\, retirement\, bachelor/ette parties\,\.\.\.\.etc\) in life with us\! \- For bottle specials\, table reservation and ladies night email \(info@merevents\.com\) OR text 202\-368\-1878 \- Dress Code : Chic\, dressy and elegant \- Event is 21\+ -Come one, come all; YOU CAN FLY SOLO TOO:) This is the most friendliest event you have ever attended! \- Feel free to invite your friends\. They don't necessarily have to be our members Payment Instructions : 1. You should login from a PC to see the 'Pay Now' button, after RSVPing. Then hit the button. 2. Verify correct dollar amount for number of people you're paying for. 3. If you don't have a Paypal account, click "Pay with a Debit or Credit Card". 4. If you have a Paypal account, simply log in, and pay as you normally would via Paypal. **How to Unblock the Pop-up Blocker on Your Phone** Many of our patrons advised us that they have a Pop-up Blocker on their iPhones and it hinders them from buying tickets. To unblock, please follow the following steps : For Safari Users : 1\. Go to Settings\. 2\. Scroll down to Safari and click on it\. 3\. Select Block Pop\-ups and turn it off\. For Google Chrome Users : 1\. Open Google Chrome\. 2\. Click on the three dots and you will see many options\. 3\. Click on Settings\. 4\. Scroll down to content settings\. 5\. Select Block Pop\-ups and turn it off\. Refund and Ticket Resell Policy All sales are final. We only refund the full amount, if the event is canceled. If it is rescheduled, we will send an email to ticket holders advising that. A full refund will be given to those that let us know within 2 calendar days of the update email, if you are unable to make it on the new date. No refunds will be given after that time. However, you can sell your ticket to someone else if you are unable to attend. Please, feel free to post in the comment box for the event, that you have a ticket for sale. Work out payment between yourselves, and have the seller only send the organizer a message letting us know the full name of the person taking your spot. You must let us know two hours before the RSVP close time, on the day of the event. PARKING INFO Parking might be a challenge and the event involves drinking. We highly encourage you to take a ride share or taxi service. DRINK RESPONSIBLY. **FOR FURTHER INFO, REFER THE EVENTBRITE LINK AND PURCHASE TICKET. IT RULES.**

**THE POWER OF THE SUBCONSCIOUS OVER YOU** You are welcome to arrive 15 minutes early for refreshments! At the lecture "The Power of the Subconscious", the speaker will clearly and understandably explain topics such as: What is the exact definition of the Subconscious Mind? How does it inflict unwanted feelings and anxiety in you? What determines how much pressure it exerts on a person? What exactly is the goal of the subconscious? This is not just a lecture where you sit quietly and listen. It's interactive and LIVE, so you can ask questions at any time. And the most important topic: **HOW DO YOU TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR SUBCOUNSCIOUS!** Call 202 797 9826 for more information and to register. Walk-ins are welcome! Refreshments are served. This group is sponsored by the Dianetics Life Improvement Center.

From the organizers of the Silver Spring Cloud Meetup, this is a local tech meetup for AI builders, software engineers, cloud engineers, developers, founders, and AI practitioners in the Silver Spring / DMV area. ​**What to expect** Short talks plus open networking. Topics on deck for our first sessions: * ​Local AI models: running Qwen, Llama, and friends on your own hardware (Ollama, MLX, llama.cpp) * ​Agentic AI: what's actually working in production, and what isn't ​**Want to speak?** We're looking for 15-20 minute talks and lightning demos. Pitch us at [hello@cloudyeti.io](mailto:hello@cloudyeti.io). First-time speakers welcome. ​**Location: TBD** We're finalizing a venue around Silver Spring. RSVP and you'll get the address as soon as it's locked in. ​**Sponsors wanted** We're looking for sponsors to cover food, venue, and event insurance. If your company wants to get in front of DMV AI engineers and builders, email [hello@cloudyeti.io](mailto:hello@cloudyeti.io). ​**Cost** Free to attend. If we don't land a sponsor, we'll suggest an optional $10 donation to cover venue, insurance, pizza and drinks. Nobody gets turned away. ​ ​#techmeetup ​#AImeetup

Venez apprécier l'ambiance chaleureuse d'une conversation en français autour d'un verre de vin et d'apéritifs. C'est ouvert à tous quelque soit votre niveau, que vous soyez intermédiaire/avancé ou bien que le Français soit votre langue maternelle. ***GRAB A DRINK AND YOU WILL BE ALL SET TO FLEX YOUR LANGUAGE CAPACITY. YOU NEED TO GET AT LEAST A DRINK OR FOOD :) To get the event going and show support. We know that you like our events. P.S. : We have non-alcoholic drinks as well.*** We have a tiny venue and we hit capacity often and early arrival is suggested. We have the discretion to decide entry. It is irresistible, to enjoy French convo with a glass of wine, appetizers and drinks. The Event is open to all levels of French language, from intermediate to native fluency. This is mainly a social for Intermediate/Advanced/Native Speakers. It is not as such to learn a language. Beginners, if you want to learn a language, reach out to us ([info@merevents.com](http://info@merevents.com/)). We have a school and will arrange you a class. ***AFTER THE HAPPY HOUR, WE HIT THE DANCE FLOOR! BRING YOUR DANCING*** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Vv1wxZAR1k](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Vv1wxZAR1k)

NOTE: Chris will join virtually, event is hybrid. Aspire isn't just for .NET — it's a polyglot orchestrator that can wire together Python, Node.js, Go, Java, and C# services under a single AppHost, with automatic service discovery, connection-string injection, and a unified observability dashboard. In this session, we'll explore that idea hands-on through seven sample applications that range from Flask and Django to Go and Java. We'll start with how Aspire solves the polyglot problem: the service-discovery chaos, configuration fragmentation, and 15-step READMEs that plague multi-language repos. You'll see how AddPythonApp, AddNpmApp, and AddDockerfile let you bring any runtime into Aspire's lifecycle, and how environment-variable conventions replace hardcoded URLs and scattered .env files. We'll also look at OpenTelemetry integration so that distributed traces, structured logs, and metrics from every language land in one dashboard with no separate tooling per stack. As we walk through the demos, we'll cover the practical patterns that matter most to real teams: dependency ordering, health checks across languages, connection-string injection for Redis, PostgreSQL, CosmosDB, and Kafka, and what it looks like to debug a request that crosses from a React frontend into a Go or Spring Boot backend. Finally, we'll step back and talk about the Aspire CLI workflow, what a production-ready polyglot repo looks like, and how Aspire's resource model maps to CI pipelines and deployment automation, including where Azure fits into the picture if that's part of your story. \-\-\- Meet and greet at 6:30, presentation begins at 7 PM ET.

\-\-\-\-\-\- [REGISTER FOR THE EVENT HERE (ON LUMA)!](https://luma.com/h31qygsf) \-\-\-\-\-\- Join us for an evening of collaborative problem-solving as we work on a variety of civic tech projects together. Project needs vary but often include brainstorming, researching, writing, coding, or analyzing data. Check out [our website](https://www.civictechdc.org/projects) for a list of projects which may make an appearance! Meet other civic tech enthusiasts. Learn new skills. Contribute to a project to improve a local civic issue. **All are welcome and collaboration is encouraged.** Laptops are recommended but not required. **Where do I register?** To better serve our growing community, we’re transitioning our event registrations to Luma! **We still love Meetup** Meetup has been an incredible platform for us to build and connect with our community. We’ll continue sharing upcoming events there so that new people can find us, but Luma will be our primary registration platform moving forward. **Why we're making the switch** Meetup’s registration system has some limitations, and we need more flexibility to manage sign-ups and engagement. \-\-\-\-\-\- [REGISTER FOR THE EVENT HERE (ON LUMA)!](https://luma.com/h31qygsf) \-\-\-\-\-\-

Do you want more Self Confidence, less Self Doubt, more Happiness, less Anxiety, and more Love? Are you drowning in negative emotions and negative self-talk? Maybe you have suffered a traumatic experience, a deep loss or been through a painful breakup? After that, you try to move on- you just can't. Possibly you have a thought or emotion that hangs around for days and you just can't shake it. What is all this stress, anxiety, depression, and self doubt? It's just crazy! It's not the real you. You can find out what is at the root of all this All the happiness you have lies within you. Let's find it! We only use natural proven techniques, no drugs or labeling. Refreshments will be served. Call to reserve your seat 202-797-9826. This group is sponsored by the Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Center.

[Book Your Classes by Clicking This Link! ](https://crowndancestudio.com/group-classes/) Friday: Advanced Expression End the work week with high-energy **Advanced Rhythm** from **7:00 PM to 8:30 PM**. This session dives deep into the technicalities of Latin and Ballroom styles like Rumba, Samba, or Mambo, designed for dancers who value precision and artistic expression. For $25, you'll receive intensive instruction that pushes your physical boundaries and refines your competitive or performance edge in a high-vibe atmosphere. Yearly Schedule: Jan, Apr, July, Oct: Cha Cha Feb, May, Aug, Nov: Rumba Mar, June, Sep, Dec: Swing **When: Every Friday** **Time: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.** **1 Dances per month:** **\*Please check the flyer on the group class page for the dance of the month. Or contact us to find out.** **Cost:$25 per person for 90 min.**

Most people use LLMs by feel: ask a question, read the answer, decide whether it “seems good,” and move on. That works for casual use. It does not work when you are building software, automating workflows, writing important documents, or relying on AI for anything that needs to be repeatable. In this talk, we’ll look at how to improve and evaluate the inputs and outputs of LLMs using practical measurement techniques. We’ll cover how prompt changes affect results, how to compare outputs, how to build simple evaluation sets, and how math-based methods like similarity scoring can help you move beyond guesswork. This will be beginner-friendly, so even if you don't know anything about AI, you should get something out of it. However, this will be a little more technical than our intro talks. You do not need to be an AI researcher, but programmers and technically curious attendees will get a lot out of it. We’ll cover: * Why “it looks good” is not enough * How to improve prompts by changing the input, context, and constraints * How to compare LLM outputs more systematically * Basic evaluation techniques for accuracy, consistency, and usefulness * How embeddings, cosine similarity, and scoring can help evaluate results * Where automated evaluation works — and where humans still need to stay in the loop By the end, you’ll have a practical mental model for treating LLMs less like magic and more like systems you can test, measure, and improve. LOGISTICS AND PARKING: The talk starts at 7:00 PM. The first half hour is reserved for everyone to get set up and mingle. Free pizza and drinks! The cheapest parking option is to find street parking, which will only cost you a few bucks. Otherwise, park in the nearby veteran's museum lot for $8. It's highly recommended you avoid the nearby $15 garage parking.

If you enjoy knitting, crocheting, working with yarn, this is the group for you. Meet new friends, bring your projects, learn from others.
We normally meet a few times a month during the week from 6-8pm. We will occasionally meet on weekends during daytime hours.

🚀 **Go Viral with AI – Faceless Content on Autopilot** Launch a content brand that grows on autopilot using AI-generated media. ⚠️ Complete registration to confirm your seat. RSVP is not enough. ### [🔗 SAVE YOUR SEAT](https://aiventurelab.org/product/AiInfluencer?city=Columbus&groupurlname=the-book-lovers-journey-discussion-group&startgmtdatetime=2026-07-07T22:00:00Z) --- What you'll create: - A monetisation path from day one - AI tools to generate, edit, and post content automatically - A faceless brand that runs without your time *Your brand. Your rules. No face needed.* 🚀

🤖 **Create a Working AI Agent – OpenClaw Workshop** Launch a real AI agent in a single hands-on session. No experience necessary. ⚠️ RSVP alone won't hold your spot — complete registration below to confirm. ### [🔗 SECURE YOUR SPOT](https://aiventurelab.org/product/OpenClawMasterclass?city=Columbus&groupurlname=the-book-lovers-journey-discussion-group&startgmtdatetime=2026-07-07T22:00:00Z) --- What you get: - Hands-on experience building AI workflows from scratch - Practical skills to automate tasks that eat your time - A real, working AI agent by the end of the session *Real tools. Real agents. Built by you.* 🔧

## Candle Making Night at The Arcane Foundry \| Design Your Own Custom Candle **SPECIAL PROMOTION**: Buy 3 and get 1 Free! Step into The Arcane Foundry and create your own custom candle from start to finish. This is a laid back, hands-on experience where **you’ll blend fragrances, choose your vessel, and pour your own candle using 100% soy wax**. Whether you’re coming solo or with friends, it’s designed to be simple, creative, and a good time. We’ll walk you through the entire process, from picking your scents to choosing between a traditional cotton wick or a crackling wood wick. You can go with one fragrance or mix your own blend to create something completely unique**. No experience needed**, just show up and we’ll handle the rest. While your candle sets, feel free to hang out, play a game, explore the shop, or just relax and talk. Drinks and snacks are available, and the atmosphere leans into the **fantasy**, **dark academia**, and **gothic horror** vibe The Arcane Foundry is known for. Learn More: [Candle Making in Columbus, Ohio at The Arcane Foundry](https://thearcanefoundry.com/candle-making/) *** ### What to Expect: * Guided candle making experience * Choose your own vessel, wax, wick, and fragrance * 100% soy wax candles * Optional drinks and snacks * Time to relax while your candle cools *** ### Important Notes: * Please arrive on time so we can start together * Candles will need time to set before taking home * This is a beginner-friendly event *** ### RSVP Required Reserve your spot on Meetup to lock in your seat. **Candle Making** (includes vessel, your choice of wick, wax, scented oil, labels and lids) 5oz Glass Jars $15 8oz Candle Tins $25 12oz Glass Candles $35 12oz Amber Jars $40 16 oz Skull or Jack o Lantern Candle Mugs $65 (Limited Edition!) **All materials included. You just bring yourself (and your drink of choice).** **Payments accepted:** * Credit Card * Venmo: @Daclaud-Lee * Cashapp: $DaclaudL

💰 **Build a Self-Running Store with AI – eCommerce Blueprint** Let AI handle product research, ads, and fulfilment while you scale. ⚠️ RSVP won't hold your spot. Complete registration via the link below. ### [🔗 REGISTER NOW](https://aiventurelab.org/product/AIEcommerce?city=Columbus&groupurlname=the-book-lovers-journey-discussion-group&startgmtdatetime=2026-07-07T22:00:00Z) --- What you'll build: - A marketing funnel that runs on autopilot - A repeatable blueprint that works from day one - A store setup strategy that cuts setup time in half *Your automated store. Running 24/7.* 🛒

**Practical Curiosity: Learning from Everyday Data** How do we actually get better at utilizing our day-to-day data? Fancy dashboards and complex models might look nice and draw attention, but that’s not where most of us spend our time. In fact those shiny outputs frequently sit unused, while the real insights are drawn from the analyst’s daily practice. Sometimes it’s as simple and as powerful as noticing that a segment is shrinking, a channel is underused, or certain links keep getting all the clicks. There’s many different places that the spark of insight can come from, but you have to keep your head in the data and know where to look. In this session, we’ll explore real-world examples of how segmentation, testing, and click behavior can uncover practical digital marketing opportunities. You’ll leave with inspiration for your own use cases, along with a few simple ways to ask better questions, spot meaningful patterns, and make smarter decisions without overcomplicating it. **About Our Speaker:** [Elaine Armbruster](https://www.linkedin.com/in/elainearmbruster/) is a Director of Digital Experience at the [American Diabetes Association](https://diabetes.org/), where she focuses on using data and insights to create smarter, more effective digital experiences. A lifelong Columbus resident, she has built her career in email marketing and the broader digital user journey, and is finding she most enjoys working in the messy middle where systems, data, and big ideas don’t quite line up yet. Thanks to our 2026 sponsors: [Clarivoy](https://www.clarivoy.com), [What Box Consulting Group](https://www.whatboxconsultinggroup.com), [Conductrics](https://www.conductrics.com), and [Piwik PRO](https://piwik.pro) More info at [cbusdaw.com](https://cbusdaw.com)