Brooklyn

**Lots of opportunities for flower, landscape, and bird photography!** We will meet in front of the visitor center. https://maps.app.goo.gl/3SQjUg5Y69bmyAfU6 \*\*Note: The butterfly experience ($$) is still ongoing through Sept 7: https://montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/brookside-gardens/special-events/the-butterfly-experience-at-brookside-gardens/ It's on the other side of the park in the Conservatories: https://maps.app.goo.gl/W26YTgshSkwktVcW7 Free but limited parking, free admissions. The visitor center opens at 9am and has clean restrooms. From the website (http://www.montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/brookside-gardens/visit/): Brookside Gardens is Montgomery County’s incomparable, award-winning 50-acre public display garden situated within Wheaton Regional Park. Included in the gardens are several distinct areas: Aquatic Garden, Azalea Garden, Butterfly Garden, Children’s Garden, Rose Garden, Japanese Style Garden, Trial Garden, Rain Garden, and the Woodland Walk. The Formal Gardens areas include a Perennial Garden, Yew Garden, the Maple Terrace, and Fragrance Garden. Brookside Gardens also feature two conservatories for year-round enjoyment. A horticultural reference library is located in the Visitors Center. Admission to the gardens is free. Here is the Photography policy per the website: Non-commercial, Hobby Photography Guidelines Are you taking photos of just the Gardens? Individual photographers are welcome to photograph the plants and gardens of Brookside. No permits are needed, though we ask that you follow the hobby photography guidelines: Do not disturb any gardens, stand on rocks or displays, block paths, or climb garden or fountain walls. The photo session must not interfere with other visitors’ enjoyment of the gardens. Absolutely no tripods are allowed in the Conservatories. Published photographs should credit location of photograph, i.e. “Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD”. \*Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Department of Parks, Montgomery County Policy on User Fees: (Effective January 1, 2010, approved by M-NCPPC Planning Board, October 2009) Be aware of your equipment, as there have been break-ins in past years. Bring: Comfortable shoes Water Fully charged batteries Empty memory cards Share only your very best, most interesting shots after the field trip and keep it down to between 5 and 10 photos. By sending in an RSVP and joining this meetup event hosted by the Virginia Beltway Photography Meetup, I am also agreeing to the terms of the following release and waiver of liability, which shall be binding on my heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns. In consideration of my (and my child’s) participation in the Virginia Beltway Photography Meetup, I do hereby release, discharge, and hold harmless the Organizer, its members, officers, directors, employees and the leader(s) of this event from any and all liability by reason of any damage, loss, expenses, or injury arising from my (and my child’s) participation in this event, including that caused solely or in part by the fault of any and all of the above-named parties.

Come out to Alfio's La Trattoria on Saturday, June 6th for a night of great jazz and great Italian food. SK Jazz is a quartet with Trumpet/Flugelhorn, Piano, Bass and Drums. The band will play music of Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, Blue Mitchell, Art Blakey, Charlie Parker etc. as well as tunes by Gershwin, Berlin, Cole Porter and others. Two Blocks from Friendship Heights Metro Station Free Valet Parking Available Reservations 301-657-9133 **Please call the venue in addition to signing up here** Looking forward to seeing you there! Feel free to contact me with any questions Steven Kaufman swkauf@aol.com SKJAZZ.net https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560760883607

With Christopher Nolan's film adaptation on the horizon, it's time for us to finally read one of the most iconic classics of Greek literature: Homer's *Odyssey*! We'll be reading the epic poem over the course of three meetings, starting with books 1-8, which introduce us to the situation on Odysseus's home of Ithaca and the first half of his long journey home from the Trojan War. I will be reading from the highly regarded [Lattimore](https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-odyssey-of-homer-richmond-lattimore/ca6dbb99680e7cd9) translation, but feel free to use whichever version you prefer. As usual, we will meet in the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in the **205-B Accessibility Room**, located on the second floor. Ask at the Center for Accessibility front desk if you are looking for us. See you there!

Before I head to Atlanta to host , I wanted to create space for us to gather right here in Maryland. I will be sharing how I moved to Panama, sight unseen in 5 months. Join us.. If you’ve been quietly thinking: “Maybe it’s time for a different life…” “Could I really move abroad?” “Where would I even start?” “What about money, healthcare, safety, housing, visas, or income?” This gathering is for you. Join us for an intimate social meetup for Black women who are curious about living abroad, actively planning their exit, or simply exploring what life could look like beyond the U.S. This is not a formal seminar. This is a room full of women having real conversations about what it means to build a softer, safer, more aligned next chapter. Come meet other Black women who are asking the same questions you are. Come hear stories. Come ask questions. Come connect with women who are already making moves. We’ll talk about: • How women are actually relocating abroad • Countries Black women are considering most • Cost of living, healthcare, visas, and lifestyle • Income and retirement concerns • Starting over after 40 or 50 • Fear, uncertainty, and what’s really keeping women stuck • The first steps to creating your own relocation plan Whether you are thinking about moving in the next 24 months or you’re just beginning to explore the possibility, you belong in this room. And yes… refreshments will be served. Bring your questions. Bring your curiosity. Bring the version of yourself that knows she wants more from life.

# ![]()Kensington, MD Breakfast Walk ## Saturday, June 6, 2026 ***The Start Time for individual walks is between 8:00 & 11:00 am but we will lead a group walk at 9:00 am.*** 10km (6.2 miles) AVA trail rating 2A 5km (3.1 miles) AVA trail rating 2A On this walk, you will walk through tree-lined residential streets in Kensington’s Victorian-era historic area and past the Noyes Library for Young Children district, Warner Mansion & Warner Circle Park, Antique Row and onto the Rock Creek Park Trail. Brainard Warner and Crosby Noyes, editor of *The Washington Star*, built Noyes Library (1893) — the oldest library in Montgomery County. Warner purchased property south of Knowles Train Station in 1890. His property became known as a “garden suburb” which he designed after Kensington, England. During the town’s incorporation (1894), the state named the new town, post office and train station “Kensington.” ***Breakfast.*** Enjoy a **Community Pancake Breakfast** ($8 donation per family) from 8:00 – 10:30 a.m., St Paul’s United Methodist Church (next to start point). ![]()***Trails*.** Both the 5K and the 10K are rated 2A and are mostly on sidewalks and macadam surfaces. There are several hills. ***Start/Finish.*** Kensington Town Hall, 3710 Mitchell St. Kensington MD 20895. **Start Time.** 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. **Finish** walk by 2:00 p.m. ***Event Information***. Darla Fera 301.651.1875 or [dmfera@rcn.com.](mailto:dmfera@rcn.com) ***Sponsor*.** Seneca Valley Sugarloafers Volksmarch Club, Inc. (sugarloafers.org) (AVA 419), a member of the Maryland Volkssport Association (MVA) (mdvolks.org). ![]()***Special Programs.*** Par for the Course, Walking the United States, Walking the USA A-Z. ***Sanctioned by.*** The MVA and American Volksport Association (AVA) (ava.org), a member of the International Volkssport Verband, to promote leisure sports in the interest of family health, recreation, fun and companionship. ***Eligibility***. We welcome everyone to walk with us. All participants must register and sign a waiver of liability. Each participant must carry a start card throughout the walk, and return the card in at the end of your walk, so we know that you are safely off the trail. An adult must accompany children 12 and under throughout the entire walk. Parents of minor children must sign a waiver of liability for the children. ***Conditions***. Restrooms and water are available near the Start/Finish Point. Pets are allowed but must be kept leashed at all times, and owners must clean up after their pets. This walk will be held regardless of the weather, unless conditions cause the sponsors to close the trails for safety reasons. ***Walkers over 12 years pay $4.00 participation fee***. Children under 12 may earn IVV credit for no charge at all events sponsored by the Sugarloafers. New Walker Packets and IVV Record Books will be available. Every reasonable effort will be made to conduct a safe, enjoyable, and memorable event. ***Disclaimer***. The Seneca Valley Sugarloafers Volksmarch Club, Inc shall not be liable for accidents, theft, or material damage. Every reasonable effort will be made to make this a safe, enjoyable, and memorable event. ***Membership***. Membership in the Sugarloafers Volksmarch Club is open to everyone interested in walking. Contact [membership@Sugarloafers.org.](mailto:membership@Sugarloafers.org) ***Directions to Start Point***\*.\* ### From the South: Use the Washington Beltway (I495), take Exit 33 keep right Take North on Connecticut Ave (MD-185). Drive 1.4 miles. Make a right onto Baltimore St. Make an immediate left onto Armory Ave. Make the next right onto Mitchell St. ### From the North: Use Connecticut Ave (MD-185) to Kensington, Make a left on Howard Ave, Make a right on Armory Ave, Make the third left onto Mitchell Ave GPS COORDINATE: 39.02603,-77.07509 Google Plus 2WGF-8X Kensington M

**NEW MEMBERS or 1st TIME EVENT GO-ERS** Before attending your first event, please take a moment to understand how our dinners work and what we ask of members. → **[Learn how DC Metro Dining works](https://tinyurl.com/Landing-Page-DC-Metro-Dining)** → **[Ensure Group Notifications are Setup (Announcements + In on Waitlist/Attending List)](https://app.tango.us/app/workflow/Enable-Meetup-Email-Notifications-3a85109614fc4907940503d096331392)** **RSVP CUTOFF (i.e. Final Change Your Mind if Registered YES)** → **RSVP Cancellation Cutoff for this Event is Sunday 10a, 6/6**. (*Late Cancel applies after this, repeat occurrences can impact membership*) Let’s head to upper Northwest DC for an Indian dinner at Masala Art in Tenleytown, a long-running neighborhood favorite known for refined North Indian cuisine and regional specialties. The restaurant was founded by chef Surinder Singh, formerly of Heritage India, and continues to maintain a strong reputation for consistent execution and depth of flavor. **FOOD**: Masala Art focuses on North Indian cuisine with a mix of classic curries, tandoori dishes, and harder-to-find regional specialties, vegetarian & GF friendly. Recent diners frequently highlight the Railway Lamb Curry, lamb korma dishes, garlic naan, and vegetarian items such as baingan bharta and okra preparations. Tandoori items and biryanis are also consistently well reviewed, with many diners noting balanced spice levels and strong flavor without excessive heaviness. The menu supports a wide range of preferences, including vegetarian-friendly selections and several richer meat-based dishes. Expect traditional Indian desserts and a full bar with wine, cocktails, and beer available. Most members should expect total spend to land roughly in the 40 to 70 dollar range, depending on ordering style & beverage participation. → **Explore Masala Art's menu (please note the 3% service charge, their way of defraying increasing costs):** **[https://masalaartdc.com/washington-dc-tenleytown-american-university-park-masala-art-food-menu](https://masalaartdc.com/washington-dc-tenleytown-american-university-park-masala-art-food-menu)** **SPACE**: Comfortable and intimate dining room with warm décor and a quieter neighborhood feel compared to downtown DC dining corridors. Expect moderate noise levels and a more relaxed pace on a Saturday evening. → **Visit the restaurant site**: **[https://masalaartdc.com](https://masalaartdc.com)** * Tax/Tip combo is our required 30% tax/tip policy (see the FAQs for more details). * Limited to 8 slots. See you there! JoeN **CLOSEST METRO**: * **Tenleytown–AU station (Red)** is the closest stop. Quick walk (exit on Tenleytown EAST (same side as Whole Foods) walk south along Wisconsin Ave & cross over Albermarle St NW). The walk is a quick 3–5 minutes based on routed walking directions and traffic signals. * For directions using the Metro, try using the Plan a Trip feature at the WMATA website ([click on your preferred Metro station](https://www.wmata.com/rider-guide/stations/index.cfm) then at the Station page level click "Plan a Trip". **PARKING**: Street parking and several public parking garages are available throughout Tenleytown. Weekend evening parking is generally easier here than in central DC neighborhoods, though nearby retail activity can still affect availability. Members may also want to check parking apps such as SpotHero and Parking Panda for discounted garage reservations and advance booking options nearby. Plan accordingly. ***Attendance Notes:*** * **If you RSVP “YES,” please commit to showing up***. With 5,400+ members and limited seating, we can’t afford no-shows. It’s not fair to other members or to our relationship with the restaurant.* * **New Members / 1st Timers: Trying to get a slot?** Join the Waitlist and check back frequently: spots (*often open up before Noon on the day of the event. You may also receive midweek confirmation emails to reconfirm your RSVP, so please check your Meetup DMs inbox).*\*\* * **Billing Reminder - Add 30% for tax and tip to your food and drink total.** This is part of our group’s expectations and helps smooth out service with the restaurant. Looking forward to dining with you! JoeN

Join us for a relaxed morning walk with waterfront views, fresh air, and great company as we stroll from Rosslyn into Georgetown and back. Meeting Point Rosslyn station Meet outside the metro station entrance at 10:30 AM The Walk Cross the Key Bridge We’ll walk from Rosslyn into Georgetown across the iconic Key Bridge with beautiful daytime views of the Potomac River and DC skyline. Destination: Georgetown Waterfront Park We’ll hang out by the water and optionally grab: * Coffee * Ice cream * Snacks Optional nearby spots: * Farmers Fishers Bakers * Baked & Wired * Fiola Mare After enjoying the waterfront, we’ll walk back across Key Bridge to Rosslyn. Total distance: * Approximately 4–5 miles roundtrip * Mostly flat and beginner friendly

Come check out the DC Rocker's Summer Showcase at Tommy Joe's in Bethesda. Five fantastic bands playing a mix of originals and rock covers. Admission is free, the food is great, and the crowd will be fun! 3 pm Shee's Unhinged 4 pm Neil Petty & The Horsebreakers 5 pm The Skinner Principle 6 pm Southfield 7 pm Hard Raki

Join us for a discussion of ***The Hollow Half: A Memoir of Bodies and Borders* by Sarah Aziza** Here's the summary: With the lucidity of a poet and the precision of a journalist, Sarah Aziza embarks on a quest to understand her family legacy, tracing three generations of diasporic Palestinians—from Gaza to the Midwest to New York City, and beyond In October 2019, Sarah Aziza, daughter and granddaughter of Gazan refugees, is hospitalized for an eating disorder. This brush with death becomes a rupture which brings both her personal and ancestral past into vivid presence. The hauntings begin in the hospital cafeteria, when a cup of apricot yogurt stirs the taste of Sarah's childhood, summoning the familiar voice of her deceased Palestinian grandmother. In the months following, as she responds to a series of ghostly dreams, Sarah unearths family secrets that force her to confront the ways her own trauma and anorexia echo generations of Palestinian displacement and erasure—and how her fight to recover builds on a century of defiant survival, and love. As silences break, heartbreak opens onto possibility. Sarah begins to grasp the ways her legacies echo and inform one another—through tragedy, and through love. She begins to resist the forces of assimilation, denial, and patriarchy, learning to assert herself in new ways that honor both her ancestors and herself. Weaving timelines, languages, and genres, The Hollow Half probes the contradictions and contingencies that create “history.” This stunning debut memoir ends in a cri de coeur for a world in which every body has a right to contain multitudes. **Let’s meet at Caboose Commons in Fairfax to enjoy some good discussion and meet new friends.**

These are really nice concerts, outdoors when possible. They do a great job finding amazing talent. And it's free. **[Will Kimbrough](https://www.willkimbrough.com/)** is a renowned Nashville-based singer-songwriter, an uber versatile multi-instrumentalist, a musicians musician and was named the Americana Music Association’s Instrumentalist of the Year in 2004. **Sign up [here](https://www.hillcenterdc.org/event/american-roots-concert-series-will-kimbrough/).** Known for his fluid, expert guitar work, he is considered a staple in the Americana music scene and a frequent collaborator with artists like Jimmy Buffett, Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, Shemeika Copeland, Todd Snider, Steve Forbert and more. He is recognized for his prolific work as a session musician, a Grammy winning producer, adorned with many more awards and accolades and often called the hardest working man in Nashville. Will is the longtime lead guitarist for Emmylou Harris and a member of her esteemed Red Dirt Boys. Kimbrough’s twenty year songwriting relationship with Jimmy Buffett culminated in Buffett’s swan song, “Bubbles Up” and Will still plays with Jimmy’s Coral Reefer Band. After the loss of two of his closest musical partnerships in the last year, Jimmy Buffett & Todd Snider, Will’s is on tour honoring these special relationships, with a delightful tribute sharing how music, stories and songs bring us together rather than tear us apart.

Has it really been that long?!?! Join Kari Shevlin for the 30th Anniversary showing of the fabulous movie “The Birdcage.” Starring Robin Williams and Nathan Lane, it’s time to revisit this hysterical comedy. Tickets are now on sale at AMC Tyson’s Corner 16 for the first of only 2 showings, Sunday June 7th at 4pm. Aim for seats in row J or K center to sit as a group, if you wish! See you at the theater! Purchase tickets ahead of time here to reserve your seat: https://www.amctheatres.com/movies/the-birdcage-30th-anniversary-82775

We'll be screening Paris is Burning (1990) film as part of our monthly series. Bring a friend or join us solo! Non-alcoholic drinks provided on a first come first served basis! **Come at 12 to mingle. Screening begins at 1PM sharp.** / **How to get here:** Use the stairs or elevator at the left or right of the entrance to find us on the **4th floor in Room 401-F** of the MLK Library. A library card is not required. / **Closest metro stations:** Gallery Place-Chinatown - Green/Red/Yellow Line - 3min walk Metro Center Station - Blue/Orange/Red/Silver Line - 5 min walk / 🎥**Movie Synopsis:** This documentary focuses on drag queens living in New York City and their "house" culture, which provides a sense of community and support for the flamboyant and often socially shunned performers. Groups from each house compete in elaborate balls that take cues from the world of fashion. Also touching on issues of racism and poverty, the film features interviews with a number of renowned drag queens, including Willi Ninja, Pepper LaBeija and Dorian Corey. **Run time:** 1h 18m / We hope to see you there!

Join us for Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn! Fresh from a brief stay at a psych hospital, reporter Camille Preaker faces a troubling assignment: she must return to her tiny hometown to cover the unsolved murder of a preteen girl and the disappearance of another. For years, Camille has hardly spoken to her neurotic, hypochondriac mother or to the half-sister she barely knows: a beautiful thirteen-year-old with an eerie grip on the town. Now, installed in her old bedroom in her family's Victorian mansion, Camille finds herself identifying with the young victims—a bit too strongly. Dogged by her own demons, she must unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past if she wants to get the story-and survive this homecoming.

Early-bird coffee and conversation at [Crimson Cup Coffee Shop - Clintonville](https://www.crimsoncup.com/about/location/clintonville)!

Big Ohio Book Con "A convention for book lovers all over Ohio (and beyond)! Author panels, signings, bookish vendors, meet & greets, and more!" Featuring more than 100 authors, more than 50 bookish vendors, and plenty of exciting activities throughout the event! Travel with fellow book lovers or meet us at the event. Park for free at the Medina Convention Center, 735 Lafayette Rd., Medina, Ohio 44256, then hop aboard one of the free shuttles whenever you’re ready for your next bookish adventure! The convention spans three neighboring locations, giving you even more to explore and enjoy.

**History** The [Franklin Park Conservatory](https://www.fpconservatory.org/)’s roots trace back to 1852 when the Franklin County Agricultural Society purchased 88 acres of land to host the Ohio State Fair. After the fair moved to its permanent home, the city of Columbus transformed the grounds into Franklin Park in 1884. This transition shifted the space from a temporary event site to a dedicated public green space for the growing community. The park became a central hub for outdoor recreation and early civic gatherings in the neighborhood. In 1895, the landmark Victorian-style Palm House opened its doors, drawing heavy inspiration from the Glass Palace of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. This iron and glass structure became an immediate icon, housing exotic plants that residents would otherwise never see in the Midwest. It remains the oldest part of the facility and serves as a primary link to the conservatory’s 19th-century origins. For decades, it stood as a singular testament to grand horticultural architecture in Central Ohio. A major turning point arrived in 1992 when Columbus hosted AmeriFlora '92, an international horticultural exhibition. This massive event prompted a $16 million renovation and expansion, adding significantly more greenhouse space and the Dorothy M. Davis Showhouse. The festival put the conservatory on the international map and fundamentally changed its scale and ambition. Following the event, the facility transitioned from a city-run park to a private, non-profit organization. In 2003, the conservatory’s identity was further defined through a long-term partnership with world-renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly. After a successful exhibition, the Friends of the Conservatory purchased most of the glass installations, creating the largest permanent collection of Chihuly’s work in a botanical setting. These vibrant glass sculptures are now woven throughout the biomes, blending art with nature. This addition helped cement the conservatory as a premier cultural destination rather than just a botanical garden. Recent years have seen the site expand beyond the glass walls to emphasize community engagement and outdoor education. The 2018 opening of the Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden added two acres of interactive landscape designed for hands-on learning. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Community Garden Campus also provides local residents with space to grow their own food and learn sustainable practices. Today, the conservatory balances its historic Victorian charm with modern commitments to local ecology and the Columbus community. **Maps of the Conservatory** Here is the [main map](https://www.fpconservatory.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/franklin-park-zones-scaled.jpg) of the Conservatory grounds. Here's a [map of the areas](https://www.fpconservatory.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ConstructionMap-2026.jpg) in which the Conservatory has ongoing construction (see below). **Summary** For this event, we'll explore Columbus's highly-rated and very popular Conservatory. As mentioned above, the Conservatory is doing renovations on parts of the facility. These renovations are scheduled to be ongoing until the Fall of next year. Basically, no matter when you go to the Conservatory over the next 18 months, you're going to see some metaphorical orange barrels. So let's just go now. **Tickets and pricing** On the first Sunday of every month, the Conservatory is free for residents of Franklin County and the city of Columbus. You must bring an ID to receive this discount. (Yes, they do check.) Otherwise, tickets are $25.20. Members of the Columbus Zoo (of which I am one) do get a discount on tickets, though I have never actually bought a ticket to the Conservatory (I've always gone on free days). I believe the discount is $4. Parking is always free. If you have additional questions about pricing or whether and for what you qualify, you can reach the Conservatory at 614-715-8000. **Where we'll meet** We will meet just outside the main entrance. I guarantee there's going to be a line. The Conservatory is always popular on free days, and especially in nice weather. **Your GPS is stupid!** Be careful simply typing "Franklin Park Conservatory" in your GPS and going where it tells you. The only way to access the parking lot to the Conservatory is off of Broad Street. Unfortunately, since Google Maps is unable to find its way out of a wet paper bag, it has a tendency to want to take people to a mythical, non-existent Conservatory entrance on Nelson Road. If your GPS does this, just drive to the north side of the Conservatory along Broad Street. Your GPS should then redirect you to the main Conservatory entrance. If your GPS doesn't, then throw your phone away\* and look for the big Conservatory sign on the south side of Broad Street between Nelson Road and Franklin Park West. You also should be able to use the map pin I've provided, below, and it should properly direct you to where you need to drive. \* Don't really do this. **After the event** After stopping to smell the roses, for those that are interested, we'll head to the nearby [Columbus Brewing Company Beer Hall](https://columbusbrewing.com/location/beer-hall/) for [drinks](https://columbusbrewing.com/location/beer-hall/#draft-list) and [lunch](https://columbusbrewing.com/location/beer-hall/#food-menu). The Beer Hall's actual address is [200 Kelton Ave, Columbus, OH 43205](https://www.google.com/maps/place/200+Kelton+Ave,+Columbus,+OH+43205/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x883889a94ac4acad:0xadb2e60240dbc38b?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111) (it's literally just on the south side of the Conservatory). Be sure this is where your GPS is taking you when you use it, as the Brewing Company has a taproom on Harrison Avenue that is *not* what you want for this event. We should be at the Beer Hall by 1 if you can't make the Conservatory and just want to join us for drinks.

**Our June novel is: *The Eights* by Joanna Miller** **This month’s novel is set during World War I. It’s a 20th-century historical fiction story about friendship and war, with coming-of-age elements and a slightly haunted tone. The book is 384 pages in print and 10 hours and 9 minutes on audiobook.** Oxford, 1920. For the first time in its one-thousand-year history, Oxford University officially admits female students. Burning with dreams of equality, four young women move into neighboring rooms in Corridor 8. Beatrice, Dora, Marianne, and Otto—collectively known as The Eights—come from all walks of life, each driven by their own motives, each holding tight to their secrets, and are thrown into an unlikely, unshakable friendship. Dora was never meant to go to university, but, after losing both her brother and her fiancé on the battlefield, has arrived in their place. Politically-minded Beatrice, daughter of a famous suffragette, sees Oxford as a chance to make her own way - and some friends her own age. Otto was a nurse during the war but is excited to return to her socialite lifestyle in Oxford where she hopes to find distraction from the memories that haunt her. And finally Marianne, the quiet, clever daughter of a village pastor, who has a shocking secret she must hide from everyone, even her new friends, if she is to succeed. Among the historic spires, and in the long shadow of the Great War, the four women must navigate and support one another in a turbulent world in which misogyny is rife, influenza is still a threat, and the ghosts of the Great War don’t always remain dead.

Let’s meet and share discussion of the James Baldwin short story collection, Going to Meet The Man.

**History** [Chestnut Ridge Metro Park](https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/chestnut-ridge/) is historically significant because it sits on a 300-million-year-old outcropping of Blackhand sandstone. Geographically recognized as the very first foothill of the Appalachian Mountains, the ridge rises 1,116 feet above sea level. Long before European settlement, the land served as a sacred site for ancient civilizations. The park contains the Old Maid's Orchard Mound, an eight-foot-tall burial mound constructed by the Adena culture between 1000 B.C. and 100 B.C. This ancient landmark has remained largely intact and is now protected on the National Register of Historic Places. The documented modern history of the land began with an official survey conducted by Ebenezer Buckingham in 1801. Original land deeds of sale from this period notably bear the signatures of United States Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. In the 1830s, Irish laborers arrived at the ridge to quarry its rich Blackhand sandstone. The blocks they hewed were used to build the crucial locks for the nearby Ohio and Erie Canal. Remnants of this early sandstone quarrying operation can still be spotted by sharp-eyed hikers along the modern trails. Agricultural transformation defined the ridge throughout the mid-to-late 19th century. Settlers discovered that the high elevation created a natural air flow that prevented late-season frost damage to crops. Extensive fruit orchards were planted across the slopes between 1860 and 1880. One notable orchard was established by John Wagner, a Spanish-American War veteran who chose the ridge specifically for its proximity to the bustling Columbus market. The park's current name pays homage to the massive American chestnut trees that once dominated the ridgeline before a devastating ecological blight wiped them out in the early 20th century. The conservation story of the modern 486-acre park began in March 1962. The Metro Parks board announced land acquisition plans to block developers from building a residential housing development called Chestnut Heights. Director-Secretary Walter A. Tucker advocated heavily for the purchase, citing the ridge's immense value as a scenic overlook for central Ohio. The district systematically purchased multiple agricultural parcels over the next two decades. After operating strictly as undeveloped farmland through the 1970s, Chestnut Ridge Metro Park officially opened to the public on December 18, 1988. In recent decades, the park has evolved from a quiet hiking spot into a premier regional destination for outdoor sports. A major turning point occurred in 2010 when the Central Ohio Mountain Biking Organization (COMBO) partnered with the park district to develop new infrastructure. Volunteers worked extensively to construct a single-track mountain bike trail, which officially opened in October 2011. An expert gravity and flow trail featuring advanced jumps was later integrated into the loop in 2016. Today, the park successfully balances its deep ancient, industrial, and agricultural history with active recreation. **Map of the Park** Here is a [map of Chestnut Ridge](https://www.metroparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/CHR_map_1980px_2026.jpg). **Summary** For this event, we will hike the Ridge, Meadows, and Homesite Trails, and Law's Lane, which is unmarked on some maps. None of these trails is individually very long, so we will hike a few permutations and loops until we get in 4-5 miles. The hike will be moderately strenuous. **Where We'll Meet** Drive to the rearmost picnic area at the back of the park. There's a latrine here, but there's no water fountain here or anywhere else at Chestnut Ridge. I strongly recommend you bring some water of your own, at least for after the hike. Cell service at the park is spotty, although your GPS will get you there just fine. The map pin I've provided here is exactly where we'll be meeting and should be able to be used directly in Google Maps, although Chestnut Ridge isn't big and you're unlikely to get lost here. **After the Hike** Afterward, we'll head over to [BrewDog DogTap](https://drink.brewdog.com/usa/brewdog-dogtap-columbus) for [drinks](https://usa.brewdog.com/pages/brewdog-lineup) and [food](https://usa.brewdog.com/cdn/shop/files/DogTap_Menu_2025_65e1ff8b-97d4-4f26-80f1-68321d482025.pdf?v=17356939232910340498). They also have an outdoor area that's extremely popular. I've had their burgers and their pizza, and I think they're both very good. I also really like their [Cold Beer](https://usa.brewdog.com/products/cold-beer-2024) (that's its actual name), which is their American light lager. BrewDog's actual address is [96 Gender Rd, Canal Winchester, OH 43110](https://www.google.com/maps/place/96+Gender+Rd,+Canal+Winchester,+OH+43110/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x88387c06afa21a85:0x804c611d373d8c54?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111), and they have a large, free parking lot. We should be there by 5 if you can't make the hike and just want to join us for drinks.