Buy Local
Meet other local people who support locally owned businesses by buying locally produced products as an economic development strategy. Whether local is your city or country, discuss strategies that help strengthen your communities.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Check out buy local events happening today here. These are in-person gatherings where you can meet fellow enthusiasts and participate in activities right now.
Discover all the buy local events taking place this week here. Plan ahead and join exciting meetups throughout the week.
Absolutely! Find buy local events near your location here. Connect with your local community and discover events within your area.
Buy Local Events Today
Join in-person Buy Local events happening right now
Volunteer Night @ The Warehouse
Come volunteer with us refurbishing donated bicycles so that they can be used again by the community! This event is open to both new and existing volunteers. No mechanical experience is necessary.
Note: The warehouse location is in the alley behind 1502 Mt Vernon Ave. Enter through the gray door next to a roll-down garage door. If you drive to the location, be sure to park in the street, not in the alleys or parking lots surrounding the warehouse. And wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty with bicycle grease!
Please be aware that volunteers under 18 need a parent or guardian to accompany them to their first volunteer experience and sign a liability waiver, while volunteers under 16 need a parent or guardian to accompany them at all times while volunteering with Vélocity.
Open Shop Hours
We will have open shop hours for anyone to bring their bikes to work on or need help fixing your own bike.
We will also have bikes that need to be fixed so you can learn if you like.
We will need everyone to sign in when arriving and sign out when leaving so we can keep track of volunteer hours and shop times.
Suggested donation of $15 per hour for use of tools and space would be appreciated. Thank you!
DC Open Doors Home Buyer - Tuesday
Every Tuesday at 5pm!
RSVP at the following link to receive login details:
https://www.enggarcia.com/hbstuesday/
* The Districts Best first time home buyer webinar
* Learn about the home buying process
* How to qualify & what loans are available
* Qualifying for DC Open Doors and other programs
* Reduced down payment and closing cost opportunities
We're looking forward to seeing you soon!
Walk at Brookside Gardens
There is supposed to be a let up in the seemingly incessant rain. Let’s take advantage with a walk at Brookside Gardens. We will meet to the right of the visitors center. If anyone is interested we can go to lunch afterwards.
Tysons Social Tennis
🎾 Welcome to the Tysons Intermediate Tennis Group (3.0 Level)! 🎾
Looking for consistent tennis games around the Tysons Corner area with players at a similar level? This group is designed for intermediate 3.0 players who enjoy friendly rallies, doubles matches, improving their game, and meeting new people.
We’ll organize:
• After-work weekday sessions
• Weekend tennis meetups
• Casual doubles & singles matches
• Fun, social, and competitive games
This is a great group for players who can rally consistently, serve, keep score, and want enjoyable matches without too much pressure.
Games will mainly be around Tysons, McLean, Vienna, and nearby Northern Virginia courts.
Bring your racket, good energy, and let’s build an active tennis community together! 🎾
Live Music - Every Tuesday
Whether you’re coming solo or with friends, Divino is the perfect place to gather. Enjoy live music, handcrafted dishes, and a warm, social atmosphere.
FREE PARKING GARAGE
Cocktails & Coloring @ Ballston Market food market, Basement level
Come the whole time or if you just spend 30 minutes. All are welcome.
You are welcome and encouraged to bring your own coloring supplies but, if you don't have any, I will have plenty and am happy to share! (coloring books, colored pencils, and markers).
Part of the mission of this group is to provide us an opportunity to check out AND SUPPORT local businesses. So, please don't bring any outside food/drinks and, while purchasing something isn't at all a REQUIREMENT to participate in the event, I do strongly encourage you to try something from the vendor :)
I look forward to seeing and meeting you there!
***\*\*DISCLAIMER*\*\*** Photos may be taken during the event to be shared here on Meetup so feel free to let me know if you'd like to be excluded from them.
Buy Local Events This Week
Discover what is happening in the next few days
Annandale, VA - Goodwill Finding Your Good Shopping Meetup
**Join me, Carolyn Becker (aka [@Petite_Punk)](https://www.instagram.com/petite_punk/), and thrifters like yourself for exclusive access to shopping one hour before a Goodwill store opens, coupons, and breakfast bites! *The event is free, but each attendee must bring a bag of donations to receive event benefits.***
Please be sure to encourage your friends to create an account with Meetup and RSVP (here) to attend the event. RSVPing on this platform *is required* to attend our Meetup.
We will also have special curated racks from local thrift fashion influencers! Guests will be announced soon!
Meetup breakdown and details (please see the details in each Meetup event for final logistics):
* At around 8:50 AM, in front of the store of the month, Carolyn will greet attendees and lead everyone into the store by 9 AM (unless otherwise stated).
* Those who arrive after 10 AM will not receive Meetup benefits unless an RSVP is made on this site and presented.
* Meetup benefits cannot be shared or duplicated at multiple Goodwill locations.
* Guests can have +1.
* The RSVP cap is 200 attendees.
* We will be taking pictures and videos for social media at this Meetup.
* We provide complimentary snacks and beverages. Please be mindful of spills and food debris.
* Due to limited parking, carpooling is encouraged.
* Attendees must RSVP by 5/29 to attend.
I look forward to thrifting with you!
Address:
#### Annandale, VA
7031 Columbia Pike
Annandale, VA 22003
(703) 286-5176
[Find a Goodwill Retail Store Near Me | Goodwill of Greater Washington](https://dcgoodwill.org/find-a-store/)
**Note: Goodwill of Greater Washington is not responsible for transportation to and from the Meetup. Please plan accordingly. Carpooling is encouraged. Thank you!**
Washington DC Gay Men Dating From Home
**🏳️🌈 Live Video Gay Speed Dating for Washington DC Gay People Done with Apps — Verified Locals**
You get to work through live one-on-one Zoom rounds with gay people from Washington DC sorted by age and compatibility, with a real host running the session throughout.
Prior to the event, you complete a brief compatibility form — that data drives the matching to connect you with Washington DC gay singles who fit your profile, so your conversations have a better chance of going somewhere.
Once the event finishes, we send out mutual matches — with nothing shared unless both parties agreed — and you reach out whenever you are ready.
**Age-grouped registration — select yours:**
- **Ages 18-32** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=507.0&productType=onlineSpeedDatingGay&city=Washington%20DC&groupurlname=local-gay-men-connecting-through-culture&ar=18-32&face_v=2.0)
- **Ages 30-46** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=507.0&productType=onlineSpeedDatingGay&city=Washington%20DC&groupurlname=local-gay-men-connecting-through-culture&ar=30-46&face_v=2.0)
- **Ages 40-58** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=507.0&productType=onlineSpeedDatingGay&city=Washington%20DC&groupurlname=local-gay-men-connecting-through-culture&ar=40-58&face_v=2.0)
- **Ages 55+** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=507.0&productType=onlineSpeedDatingGay&city=Washington%20DC&groupurlname=local-gay-men-connecting-through-culture&ar=55+&face_v=2.0)
**⚠️ Do not skip this:** An rsvp on this page is not a confirmed spot, so use your age group link above to register and complete the short personality quiz — capacity is restricted so act soon, and that combination is your actual confirmation.
---
**Great for:**
- Gay singles around Washington DC getting away from the exhausting loop of apps that waste evenings and want to talk to real gay people tonight.
- Gay women around Washington DC done with swiping for months without meeting anyone worth meeting and are ready for something that feels natural.
- Queer individuals who live in Washington DC bored of profiles instead of real people and prefer meeting people in person first.
**What to do**
1. **Select your age range** – via the link for your age group above, then take the brief personality quiz, since that is what confirms your place.
2. **Show up on Zoom** – via the Zoom link when the event begins, zero setup is required — just open the link, and from that moment the host runs the whole show.
3. **Meet your matches** – short Zoom speed dating rounds with compatible Washington DC gay singles in your bracket, with a friendly host making sure every round feels easy, given that the matching was done before the evening started.
4. **Find your matches** – we share mutual match results after the session closes, with mutual-only sharing meaning no awkward one-sided messages, and the follow-up is yours to manage however feels right.
⭐ *"Honestly the best gay dating format — felt very different to what I imagined"* – Washington DC gay local
---
✨ The best gay conversations start somewhere — register through your age group and the evening takes care of itself for this event. You might be surprised what one evening can do. 🌸 ✨
❤️❤️ SPECIAL EVENT: Washington DC LOCK & KEY Singles Party ❤️❤️
Our larger singles party - meet even more people then Speed Dating. Lock & KeyTM Event in Washington DC, Maryland, the FUN way to socialize, make new friends, meet your match… or just have a great time! Woman get a Lock and men get a Key. Meet and mingle as you unlock and get tickets for a prize drawing at the end... but the real prize is all the new people you'll meet! Invite your fun single friends in Washington DC, buy your ticket, and join us to meet local singles Friday May 29 at LOCK & KEY SINGLES PARTY at Astro Beer Hall.
\* This is the REAL, Trademarked, Lock & Key Event: Don't be fooled by illegal copycats.
Read more: [Lock and Key Events.com](https://www.lockandkeyevents.com/dc-metro-singles-parties/)
DIY Hours at Del Ray Shop
This is an opportunity for volunteers to support a professional mechanic as he guides customers working on their own bikes. If you know how to do some basic repairs, that's a plus, but even if you don't, you can greet customers and manage who gets helped next. Feel free to attend for only a portion of the time if you can't be there the whole three hours.
Please note that this event is not usually an opportunity to learn about bicycle repair, since the mechanic tends to be very busy helping customers, especially during the warmer months. But it's a great way to contribute to Velocity, since almost all the funding for the volunteer program comes from the work done at the shops.
Capital City REIA Monthly Mtg - Tell Tammy that JJ Sent You
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
Live Music Night at Solace Outpost The Nonessentials Band!!
Hey Social Sips & Bites friends! 🎶🍹
One of our favorite bands is returning to Solace Outpost, and Social Sips & Bites is ready for another great night out!
Join us for live music, cold drinks, good food, and the kind of fun atmosphere that makes these nights unforgettable. The Nonessentialz always bring amazing energy, great songs, and a crowd that knows how to have a good time.
Come meet new people, hang with friends, sing along, and enjoy a fantastic night with the Social Sips & Bites crew.
https://www.thenonessentialz.com/
Swing's Coffee Roasters
This is a coffee roaster and cafe with a warehouse feel - Never been here before. Reviews are positive and it looks like there may be ample seating, but reserve your spot now to make sure you can be here for a simple start to a relaxing weekend. Join me.
(Please keep your RSVP updated if you know you won't be able to attend, so others who can join have the opportunity to. No discussions on politics, religion or potentially controversial topics. We're here to relax and have fun. Just be respectful and we'll be alright. Pay your own way, and enjoy!)
Buy Local Events Near You
Connect with your local Buy Local community
Saturday Mornings @ East Market
Let's grab some coffee/food and share a morning chat! The East Market has an ample parking lot and outdoor and indoor seating.
Grab a cup of coffee from Winston's Coffee & Waffles or on your way to East Market and meet us on the second floor - table behind or east of the elevator.
Per what this group is about:
"Everyone is welcome! International transplants to Columbus who want to improve language skills, Columbus residents who enjoy talking to people from other countries, and those who would like to discuss international travel and culture, and who enjoy getting together for good conversations."
How to Get Over Losses and Betrayls & Build Lasting Relationships
Join us for this free, in person meeting on the subject of betrayals, losses and how to get over them so you can build lasting relationships.
Do you want more motivation and confidence to build lasting relationships?
Are you burdened by a stressful relationship?
Unhealthy relationships can trigger feelings of anger, despair or self-doubt. They can create dwindling spirals of fights and seeking to make-up, or trying to “pin the blame” on someone or something. If you don’t find the RIGHT reasons, or select the correct sources of the problem, the problem can just get worse and worse.
Whether in love or personal ties, with friends or at work, our life really IS affected by the quality of our relationships. Good ones can promote pleasure and survival, while less optimum ones can lead to annoyance, anger, self-doubt, stress, or even affect our health and ability to survive well.
Whether you are suffering from a divorce, or a painful break-up, don’t know who to trust (or who to CHOOSE) as a partner, friend, boss or employee - the anxiety of relationship troubles can really make a mess of things. Maybe you’ve suffered a betrayal, or are dealing with hostility or criticalness or invalidation. Dwindling relationships can involve destructive behavior, where we hurt those we love, or start succumbing to self-destructive thoughts, attitudes or behaviors that spiral out of control and affect much more than our immediate relationship.
Past losses in love or life can affect how we act or react to new people and situations and hold us back from even starting to create new, possibly great relationships! How can one get back onto a saner course of action?
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: human relationships!
Break free from self imposed limitations
Here we will discuss:
• How to “erase” the trauma of past hurts and betrayals so that one isn’t always repeating past mistakes.
• Why and how do the negative emotions of others affect you?
• Why is my partner withdrawing and what can I do about it?
• Why do we sometimes feel compelled to hurt the ones we love?
• Fights & arguments - what's really behind them?
• What underlies “corrosive criticism” or the need to invalidate self or others?
• How one can stably change one’s outlook on life so they can affect positive change?
• Where do compulsive destructive behaviors come from and what can be done about them?
• How to form closer bonds & keep growing the relationships with the people you care about?
• How to enhance one’s own ability to survive and create positive healthy relationships whether in love, family & friendships or in work, business or one’s career?
Relationships can be hard and life itself IS challenging. Why not arm yourself with the knowledge and breakthroughs that have been made about the mind, mental reactions & interpersonal relationships, so that one has better awareness and control over themselves and life in general.
Learn where painful experiences are “stored” and how they can unknowingly affect us. You will also find out how one can “erase” those past painful experiences so that one is free to move forward without being tripped up by the past. Learn too, about what can lead some people to become “toxic” personalities and how to identify those traits in others so you won’t be tripped up trusting the wrong person.
Our free Meet-ups occur in a safe environment where one can learn, without fear of judgment or criticism, and without the recommendation of harmful mental techniques or therapies, just how YOU can get yourself onto a happier & more successful path: in love & in life.
We look forward to having you join us!
This class is held at the Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.
Marketing Monday Networking
Monthly working lunch for Columbus business owners. One specific topic, one to three actions you can run this week.
You can be the best at what you do and still be invisible. If local buyers cannot find you, the phone does not ring.
Marketing Monday Lunch + Learn is a monthly working lunch for Columbus business owners focused on building relationships, local networking, and local marketing. Every kind of local business welcome. No pitch round, no pressure, no upsell.
**This month**
Most local businesses pick one or two places to be visible and call it good. The result is inconsistent calls and a feeling that marketing is not working. We will walk through the three places every local business needs to show up, plus the fourth place most owners ignore that quietly produces the warmest leads.
**What to expect**
Doors open at noon. Order lunch and drinks at the cafe counter or bring your own. You get real conversation with other local owners and a focused marketing lesson. You leave knowing people and with one to three actions to run that week. The room is reserved through 1:30 PM.
**Who this is for**
Any local business owner who wants clearer marketing direction and real local relationships. Service businesses, retail, home services, professional services, online owners building local presence, anyone serious about being part of the Columbus business community.
**Not the right fit if**
You are here to pitch the room or recruit for an MLM.
**Details**
* Second Monday of every month
* 12:00 to 1:30 PM
* Good Cafe Easton, 4400 Easton Commons, Ste 150, Columbus, OH 43219
* Order lunch and drinks at the counter when you arrive
* Free to attend, RSVP required, space is limited
**About the host**
Rita Suzanne is a local marketing strategist and the founder of Local Marketing Method. She runs Visibility is Profitability, the membership where local business owners build the system that keeps their phone ringing. Learn more at learnlocalmarketing.com.
Register here: [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1989964540509?aff=oddtdtcreator](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1989964540509?aff=oddtdtcreator)
In-Person Meeting: How to Improve Relationships with Others
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.
Networking Night
Free monthly networking for Columbus business owners. Real conversations, real connections, no forced formats. Space is limited. RSVP now.
Most owners leave networking events with a stack of business cards and no plan. The best leads quietly slip through the cracks.
Networking Night is a monthly meetup for Columbus business owners who want to build real local relationships, not just trade contact info. Every kind of local business welcome. No pitch round, no pressure, no awkward speed-networking.
**This month**
We are focused on referral relationships. Walk in with a clear idea of who refers people like you. Walk out having met a few owners whose work fits next to yours.
**What to expect**
Doors open at 6 PM. You get real conversation with other local owners, time to actually connect, and a short marketing lesson woven in. The room is reserved through 7:30 PM.
**Who this is for**
Any local business owner who wants to grow through relationships, not just paid ads. Service businesses, retail, home services, professional services, online owners building local presence, anyone serious about being part of the Columbus business community.
**Not the right fit if**
You are here to pitch the room or recruit for an MLM.
**Details**
* Last Thursday of every month
* 6:00 to 7:30 PM
* COhatch Easton
* Free to attend, RSVP required, space is limited
**About the host**
Rita Suzanne is a local marketing strategist and the founder of Local Marketing Method. She runs Visibility is Profitability, the membership where local owners build the system that keeps their phone ringing, including tracking the referral relationships built in rooms like this one. Learn more at learnlocalmarketing.com.
Register here: [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/local-marketing-networking-night-tickets-1988510112275](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/local-marketing-networking-night-tickets-1988510112275)
Free In-person Meeting: Unwanted Emotions & Loneliness, How to Get Over Them
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.
Feel Good Friday: POWER BALLAD at the Gateway Film Center + SHAKE NO. 8!
Join us as we get together to see Paul Rudd in the latest comedy-drama-musical from John Carney, POWER BALLAD! The film follows a washed-up wedding singer, a fading boy band singer and a stolen hit song. Here’s a description, trailer and plan for this event:
DESCRIPTION: Rick, a washed-up wedding singer, and Danny, a fading boy band star, bond over music and a late-night jam session. When Danny turns Rick's song into a hit, Rick sets out to reclaim the recognition he believes he deserves. Power Ballad is written/directed by John Carney, the master of the modern musical and creative mind behind Once, Begin Again and Sing Street! It stars Paul Rudd, Nick Jonas, Peter McDonald, Marcella Plunkett, Havana Rose Liu and Jack Reynor.
BUZZ & ACCLAIM: The film premiered to rave reviews at this year’s Dublin International Film Festival where critics call it “a sure-fired crowd-pleaser” that “just might be the feel-good hit of the year!” Others say, “Paul Rudd delivers a career-best performance in this charmer” that’s both “hilarious and deeply moving!”
SUMMER OF ICE CREAM, VOL 2: SHAKE NO. 8! Ranked the #1 Ice Cream Shop in Columbus in 2024, this is the perfect place to kick off our Summer of Ice Cream and grab a sweet treat after the show! Their menu features an array of traditional, specialty and vegan shakes, hot cocoa, and more! You can check out their full menu here: [https://www.shakeno8.com/menu.php](https://www.shakeno8.com/menu.php)
PLAN: We’ll plan for a 7pm-ish showing and will meet in the lobby area about 20 minutes before the show. Once showtime is announced, advance ticket purchase is advised! Once you have yours, please list your seat number in the Comments section of this event. We'll head to nearby Shake No. 8 immediately following the show!
Should be a fun one, Dan






























