Backup and Recovery

**This talk has completely sold out in advance and no door tickets will be available.** [Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Love and Monsters,”** on the inescapable bond between romance and horror, with Joshua Barton, scholar of horror and lecturer in English at Virginia Commonwealth University. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/nv-love-monsters](https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/nv-love-monsters) .] Romance and horror might seem like opposite genres, but they share a deep emotional core, and the combination of them has captivated audiences across time and culture. Put even your worst Valentine’s Day in perspective by hearing this strange relationship discussed by Joshua Barton, who has earned a big following among Profs and Pints fans with his past talks on cryptids, American horror, and Christmas ghosts. He’ll explore the undeniable and unsettling intersection of romance and horror and examine how and why love and fear intensify each other and combined to create tension, drive narratives, and explore human vulnerability. We’ll look at works that have blended passion and terror, including Gothic literature like the vampire novella *Carmilla* and modern films like *Spring* and *Crimson Peak*. We’ll study the fine line between obsession and adoration running through Stephen King’s “I Know What You Need,” Adrian Lyne’s *Fatal Attraction*, and the timeless *The Phantom of the Opera.* We’ll discuss the seeds of monstrous love that were planted with *Beauty and the Beast* and *Creature from the Black Lagoon* and bloom ferociously in works like *Twilight* and *The Shape of Water*. Through it all, we’ll find the threads of otherness and the taboo that intertwine horror, love, and reflections on identity. Join us for a journey through storytelling that combines the grotesque and the scintillating as we uncover why romance and horror are a match made in the dark. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: From the original 1954 advertising poster for *Creature from the Black Lagoon* (Artist: Reynold Brown / Public Domain).

**Ed and Gail's Second Saturday Dance** features our delightful mix of your favorite DJ’d dance selections suitable for a wide variety of dance styles (similar to the Tuesday night music mix). **7:00-7:45 Beginner Bolero** **7:45-8:30 Intermediate Bolero** **With Guest Instructor Silvia Beltran!** **8:30-11:00 Dance** **(Ballroom, Latin, Swing, Country, Hustle, a bit of everything!)** **$15** **Celebrate Valentine’s Day with us – whether or not you have a valentine! Good company, friendly people who dance with everyone, tasty snacks, delightful music – What better way to spend a Saturday night that happens to fall on** **Valentine’s Day!**

Social Sips & Bites — DC Rockers Winter 2026 Showcase Social Sips & Bites friends, we’re heading to the DC Rockers Winter 2026 Showcase- an all-ages, afternoon-to-night celebration of Rock ’n’ Roll through the decades. Five bands. Five decades. One epic day. Each band performs a full 1-hour tribute set, so come early, stay late, or drop in anytime. Lineup & set times • 2:00 PM – Barco Loungers • 3:30 PM – The Redactions • 5:00 PM – The Wanderers • 6:30 PM – The Spirographs • 8:00 PM – Dad Bod **Event fee: $15** Questions or Tickets : Email: ericSeisler@yahoo.com Easy vibes, great music, and classic Social Sips & Bites energy. RSVP and let’s rock winter 2026 together. https://www.unionstagepresents.com/shows/dc-rockers-15-feb

**Stress Free Living: Create Calm from the Inside Out** Stress doesn’t have to be your default setting. This workshop offers a grounded, practical approach to cultivating inner calm and resilience in the face of life’s demands. Through mindfulness, breathwork, and nervous system regulation techniques, you’ll learn how to shift from stress to ease—without needing to escape your life. This is about building a sustainable inner sanctuary, no matter what’s happening around you. Key Takeaways: * Understand the root causes of stress and how it affects your body and mind. * Learn simple, effective tools to reduce stress in real time. * Build a personalized stress-reduction toolkit. * Cultivate a calm, centered presence in everyday life. Sun., Feb., 15th, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm. Held at Brahma Kumaris Center, 14020 Thunderbolt Pl, Suite 200, 2nd Floor, Chantilly, VA. Free Event – Register at: [https://shorturl.at/dvOpI](https://shorturl.at/dvOpI)

Come on out and celebrate our first luncheon of the year with a post Valentine lunch with your travel friends. It's ok to wear your favorite RED. Check out the extensive menu here: [Our Menu | Lazy Dog Restaurants](https://orders.lazydogrestaurants.com/menu?_gl=1*10uhl75*_gcl_au*MTQxMDkzMzc1MC4xNzY4NTA3MjUz) There's plenty of free parking: 11963 Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax, VA 22033 Open · Closes midnight · [More hours & services]() [(703) 791-1032](tel:7037911032)

Mahashivratri is an exuberant nightlong festival with explosive **meditations by Sadhguru** and spectacular **musical performances** by renowned artists. **Significance of Mahashivratri** The unique planetary positions on Mahashivratri are such that there is a natural upsurge of **energy** within the human system. It is enormously beneficial for one’s **physical and spiritual well-being** to stay awake and aware in a vertical posture throughout the night. **To Learn More Visit: [isha.us/msr](http://isha.us/msr)** **Ways to join the celebrations in Person** **In a City Near You -** [https://Isha.us/MSRWashingtonDC](https://Isha.us/MSRWashingtonDC) Isha Institute of Inner-sciences TN - **[RSVP](https://online.innerengineering.com/en/program-details/mahashivratri--iiiprogram-isha-institute-of-inner-sciences-tennessee-us-feb-15-2026?utm_medium=email&utm_source=mkto&utm_campaign=weeklynl&utm_content=20260112&sftoken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpYXQiOjE3Njg4NzA4MjgsImV4cCI6MTc2ODg3MDg4OCwiaW5kaXZpZHVhbElkIjoiMDAzMEcwMDAwMloxbHl1UUFCIiwidGVuYW50SWQiOiJhMzYwL3Byb2QvMmJhYWM2ZmY1ODVhNDNjMWFmZmQ2N2FiNDllNTU0ZDciLCJjb3JlVGVuYW50SWQiOm51bGx9.jJfg0WgChvIKjafZrHExURCvM7TfKko_LFVOJxF8Rfk)** Isha Yoga Center LA - **[RSVP](https://online.innerengineering.com/en/program-details/free-mahashivaratri-cityprogram-isha-yoga-center-la-california-us-feb-15-2026?sftoken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpYXQiOjE3Njg4NzA4NTksImV4cCI6MTc2ODg3MDkxOSwiaW5kaXZpZHVhbElkIjoiMDAzMEcwMDAwMloxbHl1UUFCIiwidGVuYW50SWQiOiJhMzYwL3Byb2QvMmJhYWM2ZmY1ODVhNDNjMWFmZmQ2N2FiNDllNTU0ZDciLCJjb3JlVGVuYW50SWQiOm51bGx9.ReJffmM0FoH0aV6qEvhfjMZCs-YNFDcMyU1DmWw2a_M&utm_campaign=weeklynl&utm_content=20260112&utm_medium=email&utm_source=mkto)** **Join online: [https://isha.sadhguru.org/mahashivratri/](https://isha.sadhguru.org/mahashivratri/)** Mahashivratri is of great significance for all those who aspire for the Ultimate. May this night become an exuberant awakening for you. ***—Sadhguru***

Discover the path to stress management, life's tranquility, and self-improvement through Heartfulness Meditation. Embrace relaxation, meditation, and emotional detoxification practices to unlock your best self. Join our free sessions every Sunday at 8 AM at VA. Experience the profound benefits of these simple yet powerful practices. Commit to a few months of meditation and witness the transformative impact firsthand. We eagerly await your presence at these enlightening sessions.

The next NoVABeerSec event - "Informal Gathering of Security Minds Over Beer'' will be Wednesday, February 25th, 5:30PM til 7ish at Crooked Run Fermentation (22455 Davis Drive, Sterling, VA ). **BONUS** there is a Senor Ramon Taqueria as part of the brewery; so it will be a “Taco Wednesday” for everyone ;) **Venue for February:** Crooked Run Fermentation (https://crookedrunfermentation.com/sterling-virginia-2/) - Crooked Run Fermentation is a Virginia-based producer of contemporary and traditional beers, coolship sours, natural wines, ciders, and seltzers. Started in 2013 in Leesburg, Virginia, Crooked Run has developed a following for creative and nuanced beverages across a variety of styles, from lagers to IPAs, barrel-aged stouts, sours, and beyond beer. In 2017, we opened our main production facility in Sterling, Virginia, and will open a third location in northeast DC in 2022. Opened in 2017, the Sterling location features a bustling taproom, outdoor biergarten, 10 BBL brewhouse, and best of all, TACOS! Senor Ramon Taqueria offers a full menu of tacos, quesadillas, empanadas, and more. Come relax with 12 beers on tap, weekend live music, and some great food! If you're biking, we're right off the W&OD Trail. **Additional Info:** We are an inclusive group, so if we missed anyone please let us know or if you want to bring your significant other/spouse please do. Have a great week and see you later this month! Cheers, Rinaldi Rampen & Mike McCabe of @NoVABeerSec

RSVP or DO NOT COME OUT TO THE EVENT! Bring DARK and WHITE shirt to keep the teams even. This is a friendly game, please keep aggressive plays out of the game and keep it competitive but friendly. For safety, please wear safety gear. If you slide tackle or show aggressive behavior, you will be kicked out of the group.

Title: Talk/listen about life-changing loss and grief, and care-giving challenges We have created “LET'S TALK - Leesburg” and you are invited to attend. Folks meet to give and receive support dealing with caregiving or life-changing events. This activity is for any one that is experiencing powerful life changes such as loss of independence, caregiving challenges, any loss that has been a life-changing blow to them or has significantly changed their life, including the loss of a precious person. Participants who attend the “LET'S TALK” group say that the group is a place to: Feel safe, to talk or to listen, gain understanding of experiences, and foster confidence! Realize that: “I Can do …” , “Get my equilibrium back.” “LET”S TALK” invites participants to come together...so that they might share the feelings, thoughts, questions, challenges and concerns. This activity is facilitated by a professional counselor.

RSVP or DO NOT COME OUT TO THE EVENT!
Bring DARK and WHITE shirt to keep the teams even.
This is a friendly game, please keep aggressive plays out of the game and keep it competitive but friendly. For safety, please wear safety gear.
If you slide tackle or show aggressive behavior, you will be kicked out of the group.

Join our partners Watermark Woods Native Plants, Loudoun County Public Library (LCPL), and Birch Tree Bookstore for the Read! Plant! Grow! Book Club, which focuses on native plants, sponsored by Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and LCPL. At this meeting we’ll discuss the book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. Both memoir and journalistic investigation, this book explores how the Kingsolver family took on a new challenge: to spend a year on a locally -produced diet, paying close attention to the provenance of all they consume. Concerned about the environmental, social, and physical costs of American food culture, they hoped to recover what Kingsolver considers our nation’’s lost appreciation for farms and the natural processes of food production. You can either buy the book from Birch Tree Bookstore or contact Allison Forbes at [Allison.forbes@loudoun.gov](mailto:Allison.forbes@loudoun.gov) to borrow a copy of the book at the library. There are two ways to participate: attend the event online via the library website or [sign up to participate in person at Birch Tree Bookstore](https://www.birchtreebookstore.com/event-details/read-plant-grow-2026-02-24-18-30). ***Questions:*** *Contact [info@loudounwildlife.org](mailto:info@loudounwildlife.org)*.

Bring a treat to share! Event limit says 10, but all are welcome - no need to RSVP. Let's get together for support. We'll spend an hour having a social hour to meet other people just like you, and then a round table where we will discuss any of the financial questions you've had come up about divorce. Nothing is off the table! I'm here to open up resources needed to make informed decisions when starting over, and I'd love to see you there!

Run starts promptly at 9:45 am and follows a 1.5 mile loop around the lake. Do however many loops you like! Run at your own pace. After the run, we'll meet at the Brew House for a beer or coffee and BREAKFAST pretzels! Those cannot be anything but delicious. See you there.