Coffee & Books

📚 Do you love reading, but wish you had a structure and a community to share your insights with? Join our small circle of curious minds (just 4 members per gathering) as we come together for an hour of focused reading—in the calm setting of a library or the cozy atmosphere of a café. Here’s how it works: First part: Quiet reading on your own—bring a book you’re exploring, whether it’s philosophy, history, psychology, literature, or anything meaningful to you. Second part: We regroup and each person shares key takeaways, insights, or questions sparked by their reading. This sparks a structured yet free-flowing conversation around ideas, perspectives, and personal reflections. Why join? Add structure to your reading habit. Discover new books, authors, and ideas through others’ choices. Build real connections by sharing and listening deeply. Socialize around something meaningful instead of small talk.

**Description:** Join us for trivia at Lost Dog Cafe in McLean, Virginia located at 1690 Anderson Rd every Tuesday evening in October. Trivia begins at 7pm, but please consider joining earlier, around 6:30, since seating’s first-come-first-served. Speaking of seating, per Lost Dog’s regulations, a team needs to have at least five members in order to participate in trivia. So please make sure you RSVP so we can secure a spot to play in trivia. The nearest metro is McLean. **Donation:** Neurodivergent District strives to compensate Neurodivergent District members that volunteer to host our events. Please consider a donation to @katewoodwardcm for hosting. Please specify "donation to trivia host" in the description of your payment. Questions? Text 202-930-2881.

# The Second City’s Jack Frost Roasting on an Open Fire [FOR TICKETS CLICK HERE](https://www.arlingtondrafthouse.com/events/123726) Need something better than old reruns of a Christmas Story? Want to see some real nutcrackers this holiday season?! Dash on through the snow (even though we don't get any anymore) to The Second City’s Jack Frost Roasting on an Open Fire...Your classic holiday family gatherings, office parties, movies, and Mariah Carey on infinite repeat will be severely lampooned in this fast-paced, interactive comedy revue stuffed with seasonal songs, sketches, and ,of course, a heaping slice of our world-famous improv comedy. Warm your heart with the most “wonderful” show of the year. *This show contains adult content.* 7:00pm & 8:30pm Shows - Admission is 21 and Over Unless Accompanied By a Parent 9:30pm Shows - 21 and Older Only, no exceptions [Arlington Drafthouse FAQ-CLICK HERE](https://www.arlingtondrafthouse.com/pages/faq) All Sales Are Final-Refunds Are Not Available \* For groups of 8 or more that purchased tickets separately, please add a note in the comment section or a name under group code so we can seat everyone together. We will seat everyone together but section will be released 10 minutes before show time \* Your ticket confirmation email will act as your ticket at the box office when you check in \* Show your ticket after the show to receive a special discount at [Pike Cornerstone](http://www.pikecornerstone.com/) across the street!!

Calling all Crew Members! 🚢 BBaddies On A Track! We will be meeting at 6am to hit the track. We will do a warm up and then a few drills and sprints on the track! We will also have fun and be in community!

Weekly Draft night in NW. We currently meet up at Franklin Hall near 14th and Florida. U Street Metro is the closest stop. I'll have packs but feel free to bring packs if you have them. Entry is $17 (you can bring Play Booster packs to lower the cost by $3.50). If it is a special set, it will be more.

**A drop-in game every other Tuesday at the Bread Me Cafe on 10th Street NW.** The coffee shop is located 2 blocks west of the Convention Center. Street parking is available. **All skill levels are encouraged to participate,** however, no lessons are given after game play. Games begin at 1:00 and ends around 3:00 **If you own a mah jongg set, we encourage you to bring.**

It’s likely cold so we’ll be meeting inside for the first coffee meetup of the new year! Come out for some low key conversations and the chance to meet new people in person over a hot cup of something. The venue also has a decent array of food options! We typically take over some chairs in the upstairs alcove to the left. Note there is an attendance cap and waitlist because we will be indoors and have limited space available - please be considerate and update your RSVP if you won’t be able to attend so someone else has the chance. *for everyone’s safety, please ensure your profile has at least a first name and/or face photo so we can see who is attending the event. Fully appreciate online privacy but we need the basics to keep everyone safe meeting strangers*

We’re doing it again! The Social Sips and Bites is heading back to the State Theatre for another round of $5 COMEDY NIGHT! If you missed it last time, here’s your chance to redeem yourself (and your sense of humor). For just $5, you’ll get a night full of laughs, good vibes, and memories that might just become inside jokes. Grab your friends, prep your laugh muscles, and join us for another epic night of comedy gold. The State Theater is offering a fantastic deal—tickets for just $5! But act fast, as they’re selling quickly. If you’re interested, here’s the link to grab your tickets Don’t miss out! http://m.thestatetheatre.com/events/e2221.xml

After a wonderful kickoff open mic, we’re gathering again, this time for a relaxed, conversational meetup focused on craft, process, and the real questions writers carry with them. Coffee & Craft Talk is exactly what it sounds like: a welcoming space to sip your cafe drink of choice, connect with other writers, and talk honestly about our work. We’ll share experiences and learn from one another in a way that’s thoughtful and unpretentious. You’re welcome whether you’re actively drafting, revising, querying, submitting, or just trying to stay connected to your writing life.

Hi everyone! I thought we could kickstart the year by connecting over shared love of books while consuming some delicious food and drinks. It would be cool if you also brought a book you’re currently reading or want to read for us to talk about.

* We meet inside Compass Coffee. * Details on parking below. * Bring something to read, as we often take some time at the beginning telling each other about what we're currently reading. * I have a favor to ask of you. To offset the cost of Meetup fees (\~$200 a year), I kindly request that you consider a small donation to my my [Pledge account](https://www.meetup.com/a-different-type-of-book-club-arlington/#pledge). 😊 **NOTE: NO DISCUSSION OF POLITICS: 12/31/21 UPDATE** For the sake of polite company, moving forward, we will avoid the discussion of politics at meetings of the book club. Please let me know if you have any questions. **PARKING** On Saturdays and Sundays, parking is free on 16th Street N. (near Hillside Park, 1601 N. Pierce Street, Arlington, Va.), and also on the adjacent N. Pierce Street (between Clarendon Blvd. and Fairfax Dr.). Likewise, on weekends, parking on N. Queen Street (between Clarendon Blvd. and Fairfax Dr.) is free. **NON-ATTENDANCE / NO-SHOW POLICY** If you have said that you will attend this event, but no longer are able to attend, please kindly update your status to "Not Attending" so that someone on the waitlist is able to RSVP. **Because this Meetup group is popular, and typically has a waitlist, effective immediately, I'm instituting a two-event no-show policy. If you RSVP as "Attending" but do not show at two events, you will be removed from this Meetup group.** We look forward to seeing you! Best, Jay

I don't usually pick romance but I really wanted to do a Hanukkah book. It's a bit on the longer side but hopefully a quick read. The library only has 5 audiobooks so please try to remember to "release it" when you're done. Columbus libraries: [https://cml.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S105C3503238](https://cml.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S105C3503238) Location: The Goat Riversouth [219 South High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215](https://www.google.com/maps?q=219%20South%20High%20Street%2C%20Columbus%2C%20Ohio%2043215%2C%20United%20States) [Menu](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/686d3ed16745133042482c5f/t/68ff654dbb03b96875430bde/1761568077220/all_brunch-20250311.pdf) Book summary: Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt is a nice Jewish girl with a shameful secret: she loves Christmas. For a decade she’s hidden her career as a Christmas romance novelist from her family. Her talent has made her a bestseller even as her chronic illness has always kept the kind of love she writes about out of reach. But when her diversity-conscious publisher insists she write a Hanukkah romance, her well of inspiration suddenly runs dry. Hanukkah’s not magical. It’s not merry. It’s not *Christmas*. Desperate not to lose her contract, Rachel’s determined to find her muse at the Matzah Ball, a Jewish music celebration on the last night of Hanukkah, even if it means working with her summer camp archenemy—Jacob Greenberg. Though Rachel and Jacob haven’t seen each other since they were kids, their grudge still glows brighter than a menorah. But as they spend more time together, Rachel finds herself drawn to Hanukkah—and Jacob—in a way she never expected. Maybe this holiday of lights will be the spark she needed to set her heart ablaze.

First attempt at this. If it's good, we'll do it again. If it sucks, we tried. (Event photo is from a recent trip to Flagstaff. Stock photos of fake people drinking coffee are the worst.) **Why I'm doing this:** You're the average of the people you spend the most time with. Running a business solo means I've been spending most of my time with myself. And AI tools, which are great for thinking through business problems, but terrible for actual human connection. I want to raise that average. Looking for people who want real conversations. Not networking, not pitches, just the kind of talk that makes you think differently about what you're building and why. If we all end up making a few friends along the way, even better. **What to expect:** Coffee. Conversation. No pitches, no elevator speeches, no going around the table introducing ourselves like it's a corporate icebreaker. Just show up and talk like a normal human. **Ground rules:** * No pitching your business * No recruiting * No MLM talk * No hustle porn **RSVP cap:** 6 people max so it doesn't turn into a crowd. **Location:** Transcend Coffee & Roastery in Grove City **Time:** Friday, January 16th at 11 AM. See you there!

Welcome, readers! ❄️ Our December read is **_A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella._** A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella is a tender, character-driven novel that follows three people in a small Pennsylvania town as they each cope with loss and seek connection. Chuck, a widower, struggles to find meaning after his wife’s death; Ella, a young woman, faces the heartbreak of her missing daughter; and Kirsten, a veterinary technician, grieves her father while contemplating her future. Their stories intertwine gently, revealing how grief and hope coexist—and how even small acts of kindness can help people rediscover purpose and peace in the aftermath of tragedy. Looking forward to discussing with everyone! At this meeting, our third annual White Elephant book exchange will take place! If you'd like to participate, bring a gift-wrapped book that you already own. On the gift wrap, write the genre of the book. We will meet at Zaftig Brewing Co in their event room in the back. We are welcome to bring in our own food, but **drinks must be purchased at the bar.** Happy reading! 📖

Early-bird coffee and conversation at [5 Bean Coffee](https://5beancoffee.com/)!

Join us for Slow Horses and a Book Exchange! In addition to our usual chat about the book, we’ll be exchanging books. Bring two books you’re willing to part with and we’ll exhange books. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- Welcome to the thrilling and unnervingly prescient world of the slow horses. This team of MI5 agents is united by one common bond: They've screwed up royally and will do anything to redeem themselves. This special tenth-anniversary deluxe edition of a modern classic includes a foreword by the author, discussion questions for book clubs, and an exclusive short story featuring the slow horses. London, England: Slough House is where washed-up MI5 spies go to while away what's left of their failed careers. The "slow horses," as they're called, have all disgraced themselves in some way to get relegated there. Maybe they botched an Op so badly they can't be trusted anymore. Maybe they got in the way of an ambitious colleague and had the rug yanked out from under them. Maybe they just got too dependent on the bottle-not unusual in this line of work. One thing they have in common, though, is they want to be back in the action. And most of them would do anything to get there-even if it means having to collaborate with one another. When a young man is abducted and his kidnappers threaten to broadcast his beheading live on the Internet, the slow horses see an opportunity to redeem themselves. But is the victim really who he appears to be?

Join us for our January Book Club gathering where we will come together to discuss *Can't Spell Treason Without Tea* by Rebecca Thorne in a safe and welcoming environment. Make new friends who share your passion for books and connect with fellow LGBTQ book enthusiasts.