Building Drones

I'm planning to go to this. You can buy tickets here: https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/dc-making-friends [Profs and Pints DC](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“The Science of Making Friends,”** with Marisa G. Franco, assistant clinical professor of psychology at the University of Maryland’s Honors College and author of the *New York Times* best-seller *Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make—and Keep—Friends.* Friends matter. They’ve been shown to improve mental and physical health, with one study of very happy people finding that their most defining characteristic was being socially connected. Yet friendship networks have been shrinking over the last few decades as people have coped with distraction, burnout, and chaos. It doesn’t help that we live in a society that often prizes romantic love at the expense of other relationships. How do we make and keep friends? What’s the secret to finding “your people” in an ever-more-fragmented world? Learn what science says about making friends in this interactive talk by Dr. Marisa Franco, a psychologist who has extensively researched human connection and systemic loneliness and whose book *Platonic* has been extensively lauded as a source of great practical advice. You’re never too old to make new friendships or deepen longstanding ones. Along with giving you an understanding of the scientific study of friendship, this talk will teach you practical steps you can take to build better connections with others to be happier and more fulfilled. (Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image by Canva.

Come kick back with the Black Code Collective! We'll be on the second floor by the main entrance in the mall!

The Capital City REIA Revolution is here! We TOUCH, MOTIVATE & INSPIRE ALL Real Estate Investors in the DMV and Baltimore metro area. With FUN, Laughter, Today's Hottest Education, The Area's Best Networking, "LIVE Hands-On Events," Local Subject Matter Experts, National Speakers, an interactive and engaging website, member discounts, resources and all the tools you need to create true financial independence as a Real Estate Investor. Capital City REIA is about setting you FREE to live the Life of Your Dreams! Capital City REIA is where LOVE, WEALTH & FREEDOM AWAITS YOU! Join the Revolution Today! Main Monthly Events are 100% FREE and are held in Hampton Inn 5821 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, VA Doors Open 6 pm Networking 6 - 7 pm Presentation 7 - 9 pm Night Owls Networking 10 - late... WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU! Cheers to You and Your Success... - Tammy and team ccREIA

\-\-\-\-\-\- [REGISTER FOR THE EVENT HERE (ON LU.MA)! ](https://luma.com/fnai8zxh)\-\-\-\-\-\- 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 LU.MA)!](https://luma.com/fnai8zxh) \-\-\-\-\-\-

**\* This is an in-person event** At the beginning of the year, most of us reflect on what we want to achieve and do in the coming months. However, if we only think about what we want to add, without reflecting on what we are already doing and what we might have to let go, we end up with an unrealistic plan that will leave us overwhelmed in March and abandoning change in May. In this reflective and interactive session we will create a plan that includes starting, prioritizing and letting go of activities to achieve the goals we strive for. You will leave the session with clear next steps to avoid the scarcity trap (not investing enough in promising ideas) as well as the rigidity trap (holding on to things because we know how to do them). In addition to these concrete plans, you will learn a set of planning facilitation tools that you can apply in group and individual settings, including Impromptu Networking, Ecocycle Planning, Troika Consulting and 15% Solutions. **Agenda** 6:30pm Welcome [Impromptu Networking](https://www.liberatingstructures.com/2-impromptu-networking/) (adapted Fast or Slow): 6:50pm Individual [Ecocycle Planning](https://www.liberatingstructures.com/31-ecocycle-planning/) 7:10pm [Troika Consulting](https://www.liberatingstructures.com/8-troika-consulting/) Peer Assist 7:40pm Shareout 8:00pm [Liberating Structures](https://www.liberatingstructures.com/matching-matrix/) intro 8:10pm [15% Solutions](https://www.liberatingstructures.com/7-15-solutions/) 8:30pm Closing **About our presenter** With over 20 years of professional experience as a facilitator, trainer, coach, poet and organizational change facilitator in the public and private sector, [Eva Schiffer](https://www.linkedin.com/in/eva-schiffer-675b058/) focuses on bringing people together to make progress on their most vexing challenges. She enjoys creating processes that allow for the unexpected to emerge, holding space for difficult conversations and inviting the whole person (mind, heart and body) into the room. Her career in international development has honed her skills in intercultural facilitation, and she passionately strives to create facilitated spaces that work for people from different contexts and with different needs.

​What if the American small farm could double as a high-tech power plant and farmers could become their own bank? Join us at PubKey DC for an exploration of a new frontier in rural land use. We’re sitting down with Mark Smith, CEO of [Carbon Country](https://www.carboncountry.us/), and Hunter Budd from the Digital Energy Council to break down a scalable model for the modern grower. 👉 [RSVP on LUMA](https://luma.com/fdvf8zd4) You’ll get an inside look at how integrating agrivoltaics (solar + grazing) with on-site Bitcoin mining creates a financial "flywheel" for regenerative agriculture. By monetizing excess energy and sequestering carbon through biochar, this model offers small farms a path toward energy independence and diversified revenue. Come find out how the intersection of Bitcoin and land stewardship is building a more resilient, decentralized grid—one pasture at a time. Read more about [Carbon Country on their website](https://www.carboncountry.us/). 👉 [RSVP on LUMA](https://luma.com/fdvf8zd4) ​**About the Bitcoin District Initiative** This event was organized by The Bitcoin District Initiative, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to build a grassroots Bitcoin circular economy in Washington, DC through education, business onboarding, and community outreach programs. If you’d like to get involved or support the Initiative, visit [https://bitcoindistrictinitiative.org](https://bitcoindistrictinitiative.org/).

***"Have you ever moved money from one account to another, not to save or invest, but just to make everything “clear” before the next bill hits?"*** That moment tells you something..... Does it ay more about your hustle? or more about your financial plan? When did money start feeling like something you have to manage… instead of something that supports you? If you’re ready to meet people who are building and get real clarity on what to do next, come out. If you’ve been looking for a different plan, come out. **Networking first, then a financial workshop in the DMV. Friendly, high-energy, feel-at-home room.**

Lego has a campaign slogan "adults welcome"... yeah duh... lol. This group is for adult Lego enthusiasts to bring their brick collections, any sets they're working on, and come build together and socialize with fellow Lego enthusiasts at the Chesterbrook Shopping Center Starbucks in McLean, VA. I look forward to meeting you all!

Want to mess with some electronics? Or perhaps contribute to HacDC's main group project? HacDC's latest event brings hardware projects to the community. We will focus primarily on the main project (Space Blimp!) but please feel free to bring some of your own projects to show off and work on!

Each week we’ll revisit the core cyberpunk classics — starting with Blade Runner (1982), then Ghost in the Shell (1995), Johnny Mnemonic (1995), Strange Days (1995), The Matrix (1999), eXistenZ (1999), and Blame! (2017).

***Tranquility* awaits you at Virginia Beach, February 26 - March 2, 2026.** Join us for five days of movement, healing, and community in a serene oceanfront setting. We will return to our beautiful, relaxing beach house to create a strong, compassionate container together. The ocean’s rhythm, the warmth of the house, the grounding dance, Anand’s healing touch, and the companionship of fellow travelers will weave a cocoon of ease and support for you to unwind, release and recharge. Rejuvenating experiences like cold plunges in the ocean, a sunrise dance, creative arts, hot tub soaks and nourishing meals are all designed to bring you back to the essence of being. Anand will offer individual Brennan healing sessions to each participant, deepening and supporting your journey into refuge. Nathalie will guide us on a creative arts experience to deepen your self expression and awareness. Come as you are, and let the waves of movement, emotion, and healing carry you to the sanctuary within. **To purchase tickets please event page:** https://www.annkite.com/tranquility

**IMPORTANT:** This event is free, but please register here with your email so we can get a clear view of the attendance: https://uxdx.com/community/community-dc-2026-02-28/ TALKS **Lina Reynolds- Lead UX Strategist, Ford** **➡️The Strategic UX Advocate: Driving Influence through Clarity and Metrics** Are you tired of fighting for a "seat at the table" only to be asked to "just make it pretty"? Join Lina Reynolds, Lead UX Strategist, for a tactical deep dive into how UX professionals can transform from order-takers into strategic partners. Drawing from her 10+ years of experience and her recent panel at UXCON '25, Lina will share how she used Clarity and Metrics to lead high-impact projects at Ford Credit, including a dealer application that achieved a record-breaking 82 NPS. **➡️Faz Besharatian- Product Strategy & Design Leader, North X Normal** **From Stuck to Constraints Based Strategy** "We can’t do that here." Sound familiar? If you’ve worked in healthcare, finance, or any risk-sensitive environment, you’ve heard all the ways innovation gets stalled. Regulation, legal, compliance, lack of time, too many cooks... But what if constraints weren’t the enemy? Using constraints as a starting point for smarter strategy. It’s practical, fast, and made for product and design leaders. **Event Details:** **Agenda** 3:00 - 3:20: Registration and networking 3:20 - 3:30: Introduction 3:30- 4:00: The Strategic UX Advocate: Driving Influence through Clarity and Metrics- Lina Reynolds 4:00-4:30: From Stuck to Constraints Based Strategy- Faz Besharatian 4:30 - 5:00: Networking and close 📍**Location- Cleveland Park Library, DC** \*\*\* 🙌 We hope you can join us for an inspiring evening of learning and connection! 👉 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: [https://www.youtube.com/uxdxconf](https://www.youtube.com/uxdxconf) ✉ Get alerts on the latest events: [https://uxdx.com/subscribe](https://uxdx.com/subscribe) ℹ Find out more about us: [https://uxdx.com](https://uxdx.com)

We will show a variety of methods for building agents that run in Microsoft Foundry. This covers the different types of agents: Prompt, Multi, and Hosted, as well as the development lifecycle using evals and traces.

This is an in-person meeting. Did you know that unwanted emotions like loneliness, sadness, hopelessness, anger, fear, anxiety, or feelings of irritation don’t just fall on you for no reason. They are not random occurrences that simply happen to people's minds. They are definitely not chemical imbalance in your brain due to some nebulous chemical reactions by chance. Your negative emotions are the symptoms of the painful experiences that you have which are not healed, and which are still affecting you. The effects of these painful experiences are exacerbated by the pressures or difficulties of the other problems in your life. For instance, let's say you are already carrying a huge load on your back, then you cannot take on much more, but, let's say something else happens to you, such as the difficulties from the Pandemic, then the resultant combined weight on you can take you over the edge, kind of like the straw that break the camel's back. When this happens, people's attention usually goes to the straw that was added, but actually the majority of the weight had come from the huge load that were already there, holding a person down and causing a person issues. So how do you remove the huge load that was already there? How do you lighten them up? Is it possible to get rid of them? That is what this meeting will be all about. Come to our Meetup, where we can introduce you to some of the knowledge, tools and techniques of the breakthroughs in the field of the mind that we can apply to this ever important area of life. Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there. This group is created by the Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.

Bring your Raspberry Pi, Arduino, microcontroller, or any other electronic project and join fellow electronics makers for a night of creativity and collaboration! This session is open forum to share your current projects—whether complete or in progress, it’s all interesting! Whether you’re deep into embedded systems, exploring new ideas, or just getting started, you’ll find a welcoming space to collaborate, share, and get inspired. **New to electronics or curious about tinkering?** You’re absolutely welcome. If you’re a beginner and want to experiment, I’ll have a couple of starter kits available so you can try things out—whether that’s blinking your first LED, putting something on a display, or experimenting with simple sensors. No pressure and no experience required—just an interest in learning and building. While we continue to pursue a more permanent venue for this Meetup, we’ll be using public library facilities based on availability. This session will be at the Worthington Park Library in the Olentangy Meeting Room.

Communication is everything in life You are only as successful as your ability to communicate. \- What if you could confidently talk to anyone? \- What if you had the ability to calmly control every conversation? \- What if you could close that sale\, ask for that date\, make new friends\, repair problematic relationships\, get that raise\, or effortlessly express any idea with confidence? You can! The secret to success relies on your ability or inability to effectively communicate. Attend a free seminar and gain a better ability to communicate. Hosted by the Church of Scientology of Central Ohio 1266 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH 43215 For more information, contact Rhiannon, the Event Host at 614-221-5024

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 You will need to scan your ID at the door to get a visitor badge. **Abstract** *Spec-Driven Development with GitHub Spec-Kit: From Intent to Implementation* Spec-driven development flips the traditional workflow on its head: instead of code being the source of truth, the specification becomes the backbone of design, collaboration, and delivery. In this session, we’ll explore how GitHub Spec-Kit enables teams to treat specifications as first-class artifacts—living documents that drive architecture, implementation, and verification. You’ll learn how Spec-Kit helps teams clearly express intent using structured, version-controlled specs that live alongside code. We’ll walk through a practical workflow that starts with defining system behavior and constraints, then progressively refines those specs into testable, automatable outcomes. Along the way, we’ll show how specs can reduce ambiguity, improve cross-functional collaboration, and make design decisions explicit before a single line of production code is written. This talk will cover: --What spec-driven development is (and what it isn’t) --How GitHub Spec-Kit fits into modern developer workflows --Using specs to align product, engineering, and AI-assisted development --Real-world examples of turning specs into implementations with confidence Whether you’re building greenfield systems, integrating AI into your stack, or trying to reduce costly rework, spec-driven development offers a scalable way to move faster without sacrificing clarity. Attendees will leave with concrete patterns and a clear mental model for adopting GitHub Spec-Kit in their own projects. **YouTube Link** TBA

Attend a free seminar on how to have successful and lasting relationships. At this seminar you will learn: How to spot and handle negative and toxic relationships. How to get through the "rough patches" in a relationship. How to choose the right people to work with. The three things that make or break any relationship. How to make a good relationship great. All are welcome. Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there. Hosted by the Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.

Join other experienced and aspiring agile coaches and professionals to: * develop and practice your coaching skills in a peer-to-peer environment * share current successes and challenges in your work environment and get support from each other * learn from each other, build better relationships and experiment with new ideas