Brooklyn

♠️ Last Saturday Spades in Silver Spring! ♠️ 🌟 In Downtown Silver Spring 🕕 6:00pm to 10:00pm 😀 **Posted in multiple groups. So, expect a nice crowd.** 🚗 Nearby Parking in Wayne Ave. Garage 🍷 Alcoholic beverages are available! Please support the business by purchasing food/drinks. ✅️ No partner needed! Get matched with a partner onsite. All skill levels are welcome. ❤️ Come hang out with a friendly and welcoming group. Meet new people and have a great time! 🌟 The fun starts at 6:00pm! RSVP today.

Love audiobooks and nature? Looking to connect with fellow book lovers? Come **Book It Around** with us! This month's is a shorter walk on a paved urban trail in conjunction with Independent Bookstore Day! We'll walk out-and-back on the Bethesda Trolley Trail then join the festivities just down the street at local indie Wonderland Books (7920B Norfolk Ave., Bethesda, MD). Meet at the playground at Battery Lane Urban Park, near the intersections of Rugby and Norfolk Ave. in Bethesda. There is street and garage parking nearby, and it's .75mi from the Bethesda Metro (Red Line). Monthly audiobook walks are FREE and held in accessible public spaces around the D.C. Metro area. These \~ 90 minute walks (though only an hour this month!) are often followed by a social gathering -- book swap, picnic, indie bookstore private shopping, etc. Get a little dose of nature, listen to a few chapters, and make a bookish new friend! All ages, fitness levels, and identities welcome. If the event listing says "full," ignore that, come anyway, and bring a friend -- the more the merrier! Questions? Email bookitaround AT gmail DOT com

♠️ Last Saturday Spades in Silver Spring! ♠️ @Nando's Peri Peri Chicken!!! 😃😃😃 Join us for Last Saturday Spades in Silver Spring! The fun starts at 6pm! All skill levels are welcome. RSVP today. Check out The DMV Spades Meetup Group https://meetu.ps/c/8qv5/1SV52/d on Meetup Free parking in Wayne Ave Garage. Near Silver Spring Metro Station. (Event is posted on multiple platforms, number of attendees is much higher than displayed here). We hope to see you there! God bless. 😊❤️🙏🏾

*"We solemnly swear that we are up to no good!"* Calling all Muggles, Wizards, Squibs and Elves! Grab your cloaks, brooms, owls and wands, and get ready for the Wizarding bar event of the year! We’re casting a spell on the best bars in Dupont Circle on **Saturday, April 25th.** ⚡🧙‍♂️ We do this event every year and ALWAYS have an amazing time. Prepare to meet tons of new friends as you enjoy ALL-DAY drink specials, and visit numerous participating bars. **There'll be over 100 Meetup members in attendance.** **When:** 2PM – 10PM, Saturday, April 25th, 2026 **\*\* Use promo code "[MEETUP](https://dcpottercrawl2026.eventbrite.com/)" and save on your tickets. [You can sign up HERE.](https://dcpottercrawl2026.eventbrite.com/) \*\*** For more event info and to see the participating venues visit: **[https://dcpottercrawl.com](https://dcpottercrawl.com/)**

Let’s read Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and come ready to discuss secrets and “what did I just read?” 👀

Let's enjoy an afternoon of exceptional live music with the United States Marine Band Jazz Orchestra! The Marine Jazz Orchestra will perform alongside celebrated artist Michael Feinstein, showcasing songs from Hollywood and the Broadway stage. We’ll meet at the lobby at 3:30 to grab good seats and mingle before the show starts. Afterward, anyone interested can stick around for a casual hangout. **RSVP:** The concert is FREE BUT TICKETS ARE REQUIRED. You may get up to two free tickets online and in person at the Ticket Office. Here's the link to get your tickets online: [https://www.strathmore.org/events-tickets/in-the-music-center/michael-feinstein-marine-jazz-orchestra/](https://www.strathmore.org/events-tickets/in-the-music-center/michael-feinstein-marine-jazz-orchestra/) Tickets are valid until 3:45pm, at which time all tickets become null and void and any remaining seats will be filled with persons in the stand-by queue. **Parking** : Park in Metro garage and take the sky bridge over to the Music Center. No parking fee on weekends.

Love Riot is a Baltimore-based indie rock band started in 1993. In 1994 Love Riot won MusicQuest, a worldwide contest sponsored by Yamaha, traveling to Japan and taking grand prize. They released four critically acclaimed albums before going on a hiatus in 2000. Now Love Riot is back, with a new album, Better Now, set for early 2026 release. Bring a chair. We will sit near the front to the right facing the stage.

## 🛼 Sunday City Skate: Potomac Loops & Kalorama Heights Since **Freedom Plaza** is still closed for construction, we are shifting our starting point slightly to the **WWI Memorial**! This 12-mile intermediate loop is a classic D.C. tour, hitting scenic bridges, urban climbs, and historic neighborhoods. *** ### 🕒 THE SCHEDULE * **10:00 AM:** Meet at the **WWI Memorial** (Pershing Park, 14th & Pennsylvania Ave NW). * **10:10 AM:** Rollout sharp! ### 📍 THE ROUTE (12.1 Miles) This intermediate-level route offers a mix of scenic views and urban challenges: * **Downtown & Georgetown:** Warming up through the city. * **The Bridges:** Cross the **Key Bridge** into Rosslyn and return via the **Roosevelt Bridge** past the Kennedy Center. * **The Climb:** Push through the hills of **Adams Morgan** and the beautiful embassy-lined streets of **Kalorama**. * **The Finish:** A smooth descent back through Georgetown to wrap things up where we started. **Route Map:** https://onthegomap.com/s/b79a2mqf *** ### 🎒 WHAT TO BRING * **HELMETS ARE REQUIRED** for all Washington Area Roadskaters events. * Wrist guards, knee pads, and elbow pads are strongly recommended. * Water and a way to carry your shoes (skate leash or backpack). * Ensure your hardware (axles and bolts) is tightened before arrival. ### ⚠️ SKILL LEVEL **Intermediate:** You should be confident maintaining a steady pace of 10-12 mph, navigating city traffic, managing moderate hills/descents, and performing reliable stops in various conditions. *** *Washington Area Roadskaters is a community of skaters dedicated to promoting safe and fun skating in the D.C. metro area. Join us for the roll!* For up to the minute details, check Facebook and Instagram. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WashingtonAreaRoadskaters/events Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weareskatedc/ We hope to see you Sunday!

Join us for a spring urban hike - a brisk-paced (2.5-3 mph) 5.3-mile loop, beginning and ending at Pitango (1841 Columbia Rd NW) in Adams Morgan. We'll walk through Adams Morgan, Woodley Park, the National Cathedral grounds and Tregaron Conservancy. We'll be on a mixture of trails (1/3) and sidewalks (2/3). We'll have a restroom break halfway through the hike. Bring plenty of water and some snacks, and be sure to wear sturdy, comfortable footwear. Brunch in ADMO after the hike is an option. **DISTANCE:** 5.3 miles **ELEVATION GAIN:** 800 feet - there will be hills! **PACE:** Our average moving pace will be between 2.5 and 3 miles per hour. **DOGS:** Dogs on a leash are welcome. Pitango is halfway between Dupont Circle (North/Q street exit) and Woodley Park (.7 miles). Bus routes C51 C53, D70, D72, D74 are all within a few blocks. There free street parking in the surrounding neighborhood (meters are free on Sundays). But please arrive early so you have enough time to find parking or allow for metro delays.

Welcome, readers! Our April read is **_Martyr!_ by Kaveh Akbar.** The story follows a young Iranian American poet grappling with grief, addiction, and the aching question of what makes a life meaningful. Drawn into an unexpected friendship with a terminally ill artist, he begins to confront faith, love, and the seduction of self-destruction. Lyrical, darkly funny, and emotionally piercing, the novel wrestles with beauty and despair in equal measure. It’s a story about longing—to be seen, to be forgiven, and to matter. Looking forward to discussing with everyone! 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! 📖

"The SOB is a ballet dancer. He’s the best ballet dancer that ever lived, and if I get a good chance I’ll kill him with my bare hands." - W.C. Fields In *City Lights*, Chaplin's Little Tramp meets a blind girl selling flowers who mistakes him for a wealthy man. When he learns that an operation may restore her sight, he sets off to earn the money she needs to have the surgery. He also befriends an alcoholic millionaire who only recognizes him when he is drunk. When the blind girl and her grandmother fall behind in the rent and face eviction, he tries working and even enters a boxing competition to raise the money they need. Regarded as Chaplin's masterpiece, *City Lights* has been ranked on more than seventeen "100 greatest movies of all time" lists. Orson Welles cited it as his favorite picture. *City Lights* is available for streaming on Amazon Prime, Hulu, HBOMax, Tubi and PlutoTV. The Columbus Library lists three copies on blu-ray and eight copies on DVD. Watch the movie on your own, then join us upstairs at East Market to discuss the film. If you want more, *Unknown Chaplin* is a three-episode lost-footage documentary available on Youtube. It covers his time on *City Lights* beginning at the twenty-six minute mark of episode two: https://youtu.be/f8960Uc15hI?t=1558

**Our May novel is: *The Quiet Librarian* by Allen Eskens** **This month’s book is set in the 20th century and mixes historical fiction with suspense and thriller elements. It also centers on women’s stories and relationships. The novel is 368 pages in print or 8 hours and 12 minutes on audiobook.** Hana Babic is a quiet, middle-aged librarian in Minnesota who wants nothing more than to be left alone. But when a detective arrives with the news that her best friend has been murdered, Hana knows that something evil has come for her, a dark remnant of the past she and her friend had shared. Thirty years before, Hana was someone else: Nura Divjak, a teenager growing up in the mountains of war-torn Bosnia—until Serbian soldiers arrived to slaughter her entire family before her eyes. The events of that day thrust Nura into the war, leading her to join a band of militia fighters, where she became not only a fierce warrior but a legend—the deadly Night Mora. But a shattering final act forced Nura to flee to the United States with a bounty on her head\*\*.\*\*

A movie this big deserves a big dinner! Join us after MICHAEL for fun and delicious dinner at another CMG-favorite restaurant, CAP CITY FINE DINER! RSVPs are limited for the dinner portion of this event! Here are complete details: CAP CITY FINE DINER: This upscale diner from Cameron Mitchell is known its “retro-cool” atmosphere, modern twists on classic comfort food and their “showstopper” desserts! The menu reimagines nostalgic dishes like meatloaf, beef stroganoff, and pot roast with gourmet twists. The menu also offers vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options with lots of apps, cocktails, salads, sandwiches, burgers (including a black bean veggie burger), the most welcome return of their Veggie Plate (with Hummus) and more. Desserts include their 24K Carrot Cake, Coconut Cake and Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Pie. MENU: [https://capcityfinediner.com/locations-menus/gahanna/menus/dinner/](https://capcityfinediner.com/locations-menus/gahanna/menus/dinner/) RSVP: Dinner immediately following the movie at nearby CAP CITY FINE DINER! Please RSVP for here for the dinner portion of this event at Cap City Fine Diner. Since the dinner portion of this event is limited, please only RSVP if you plan to attend. If your plans change, please update your RSVP as early as possible. Please RSVP in both events, if you plan to attend the movie and dinner. Look forward to seeing you there, Dan

Join us for our May Book Club gathering where we will come together to discuss *[Cantoras](https://caroderobertis.com/books/cantoras/)*[ ](https://caroderobertis.com/books/cantoras/)by [Caro de Robertis](https://caroderobertis.com/bio/) in a safe and welcoming environment. Make new friends who share your passion for books and connect with fellow LGBTQ book enthusiasts.

Let’s meet, wander the exhibits and open galleries, and enjoy an evening out in the Franklinton Arts District. (Nearby pay parking is available in the garage on McDowell, right around the corner from One Line Coffee, and, past it along the curb as McDowell dead ends.)