Cajun

Whether you’re new to modern games, or a seasoned gamer, our new Boards & Barrels game night is the place to play. We’re pairing the best wines with new and classic games for an evening of analog fun and community. Choose from our growing game library or bring a favorite. *Unplug. Uncork. Unbox.* **Every Wednesday 6 pm - 9 pm**

NOTE: You MUST sign up and pay via our website to reserve your spot (https://flyingbuddhastudio.com/#Events). Simply responding yes to attend via Meetup does not hold your spot. Thank you for your understanding! #### Wednesdays, 5:15pm – 6:15pm @Flying Buddha: 1/28, 2/4, 2/11, 2/18, 2/25, 3/4, 3/11, 3/18, 3/25 Rehearsals @ON: 4/12 (1pm – 3pm), 4/19 (1-3pm), 5/3 (1-3pm), 5/4 (6-9pm) Performance @ON: Friday, 5/8 (7:30pm-9pm) **Step into the season of love and renewal with our next aerial hammock performance theme: “Spring Has Sprung.”** We’re calling all junior aerialists, dancers, and dreamers to embody the elements—earth, wind, fire, and flora—in a show that celebrates nature’s untamed beauty and vibrant awakening. Think ivy-draped goddesses, mischievous nymphs, ethereal fairies, and butterflies taking flight. Over 9 weeks, students will create and refine their choreography with the support of a coach while adding performative elements to bring their routine to life. Followed by 4 weeks of rehearsal in the performance space. The series culminates in a live showcase at ON St. Elmo on Friday, 5/8, for friends, family, and community. Students will explore: * Choosing music that enhances their style and storytelling * Building a character and express it through movement * Adding creativity, musicality, and nuance to choreography * Growing in a supportive environment that celebrates artistry and cheers on every performer Prerequisite: Participation in a previous youth aerial dance series. Class limited to 8 students. Ages 11+. Cost of workshop: $660 Sign up: https://flyingbuddhastudio.com/#Events **What It’s Like to Perform at ON St. Elmo** Flying Buddha’s student showcase series is designed for anyone excited to perform—whether you want to step into the spotlight or deepen your personal movement journey. Performing at ON St. Elmo is a true professional experience: 🔹Professional lighting 🔹High-quality sound 🔹Live DJ introducing each act 🔹Option to perform under your own stage name 🔹Dinner-and-a-show atmosphere for your friends and family 🔹Professional videography 🔹A beautifully designed playbill featuring your bio and headshot The atmosphere is supportive, high-energy, and filled with performers of all backgrounds, levels, and styles. And if you want to take the series without performing, that’s completely welcome—your growth is what matters most. Please note: attendees under the age of 18 must be supervised by a parent or guardian.

Incontro Italiano a Pizzeria Da Marco per abitanti di Montgomery County e DC per parlare insieme mangiando una pizza. La fermata della Metro é molto vicina, quindi e' molto conveniente per tutta la zona. Please consider donating to us via the Pledge widget on this page to help us defray the costs of running a Meetup group. **Note: This event occurs on the fourth Wednesday of every month at Pizzeria da Marco in Bethesda.** **Note 2: This restaurant charges higher prices for each item when paying by card vs. when paying by cash. They also limit the number of credit cards per table, so it is helpful to have either cash or use of money transfer app.**

Winter just got a lot more delicious. ❄️🍝 Celebrate DC Winter Restaurant Week at Divino, extended January 19–February 1, with a three-course dinner for $40. Cozy flavors, Italian favorites, and the perfect excuse to order that extra glass of wine. See you at the table. DINNER MENU $40 =ANTIPASTI= POLPETTE meatballs, San Marzano tomatoes DOP, Parmigiano Reggiano CAESAR SALAD Earth - Eats romaine, Grana Padano, anchovies, pangrattato BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP crispy prosciutto, sage foam, pine nuts =ENTREES= LINGUINE pomodoro or broccolini pesto TAGLIATELLE BOLOGNESE San Marzano tomatoes DOP, beef, peperoncino GRILLED SALMON zucchini, red pepper sauce, cherry tomatoes BAROLO BRAISED BEEF SHORT RIBS creamy polenta, oyster mushroom, demi-glaze DOLCI MOUSSE AL CIOCCOLATO chocolate, cream, strawberries CLASSCI TIRAMISÚ

Join Social Sips & Bites for our Wednesday Happy Hour. Great drinks, easy conversation, new faces, familiar faces, and that signature SSB energy that turns a simple night out into something memorable.

Join us in opening the new year in French-Mediterranean Style at Barbouzard! The Washington Post review (by Tom Sietsema Sept. 18, 2025) The crackle of energy whenever a new restaurant debuts reminds me of opening night at the theater. In many cases, the dining room is (over) staffed with a cast of well-rehearsed people, dressed to impress in whatever uniform the owners think represents the theme, everyone eager to introduce you to a concept they hope you enjoy. A new-car smell typically mingles with kitchen aromas. “Welcome to Barbouzard,” a server says to my posse, launching into a spiel that announces veteran chef Cedric Maupillier, of the late Convivial in Shaw, as the headliner and a theme designed to bring a taste of the French Riviera to downtown Washington. The name, suggested by a friend of principal managing partner Nasr El Hage and rooted in French slang, alludes to the city’s sense of power, intrigue, the clandestine. “Barbouzard means ‘secret agent,’” says our server, whose gaze then pivots to me. “You never know,” he says playfully. “One of *you* could be a secret agent!” Maupillier and El Hage met at a Bastille Day party at the French Embassy last year and launched Barbouzard on K Street NW with a cocktail party for friends and supporters July 14 — a year to the day later. Maupillier seems born for this job. A son of Toulon, the chef has relatives in Cannes and Marseille. (His résumé includes the late Mintwood Place, Central Michel Richard and the long-shuttered Citronelle.) “I want to cook for everybody,” he says, acknowledging that not everyone has “a budget for caviar,” a feature along with shellfish platters at Barbouzard. One of his more gently priced dishes, a rabbit pasta, is $31 and harks back to his youth, when he spent time in Provence, hunting with his grandfather. Maupillier uses ruffled, bell-shaped campanelle, the better to catch juicy bites of braised rabbit, lightly sweet with carrots, woodsy with mushrooms and whisked to the table beneath filings of pecorino. If you pay any attention to menu categories, an increasing number of restaurants are offering what amount to two sets of appetizers. One is usually described as “snacks” or “bites,” sometimes for sharing; the other is a typical first course. A sly way of getting diners to spend more money? A chance for chefs to put more of their creativity on display? Whatever the reasoning, focus on what the menu at Barbouzard calls “easy to share finger food.” The showiest of the bunch look like petits fours: bases of brioche layered with foie gras mousse, preserved cherry and port jelly. Each of the five bites of “Foie Gras Opéra” glints with edible gold. “I feel bad about eating this,” says a companion as he pops the rich art into his mouth. Even the more common combinations call to me. Crimson slices of bell pepper slowly cooked in olive oil and paired with Nicoise olives and plump, intense Calabrian anchovies feels like eating red peppers for the first time, and salt cod whipped with potato, olive oil, garlic and thyme and sprinkled with toasted breadcrumbs makes a standout brandade de morue. Kudos to the restaurant for welcoming more people to the party by flagging dishes that contain nuts and pork and are gluten-free or vegetarian. Cracker-like chickpea pancakes served with a pistachio-colored foam of whipped scallions and cream cheese present like some of the fanciest chips and dip in town. Your next stops on the menu ought to be crudo and scallops. Maupillier creates what resembles a rose from ribbons of raw tuna, which blossom in a frothy pool of coconut milk and minced bell peppers dotted with cilantro oil. Influencers (aren’t we all these days?) are also likely to snap and post seared scallops interspersed with miniature corn flans in a foamy orange pool coaxed from red curry paste, fish stock, milk and sharpeners including ginger and lemongrass. The dish tastes of sea, summer, the tropics. Chef might consider bottling and selling just the sauce. (Hint, hint.) This being downtown, the owners thought Maupillier should put steak on the script, which the chef reluctantly did. D.C. is stocked with places that excel at grilled beef, after all. Still, hanger steak served with a bold green peppercorn sauce and housemade fries could compete with the city's best. More novel is a fan of smoked duck, each slice rimmed in a band of flavor-carrying fat, splayed over braised leeks and endive and a dark red beet puree. Orange in different guises lends vibrancy to the main course. Some lesser moments sneak in, among them the rich-on-rich lobster Américaine, the seafood a little muted, the pasta cooked nearly to mush. I love the sauce, though, a creamy, cognac-laced bisque fueled with lots of flavor from lobster shells. Maupillier is proud of his elegant bouillabaisse, in which the different fish and shellfish are cooked separately and the broth is added at the table. Fans of the traditional, more robust and saucier version of the classic might be disappointed. (In fairness, the dish is listed with quote marks.) The restaurant doesn’t pause between lunch and dinner. Instead, it offers “golden hour,” during which lighter fare — a wagyu cheeseburger, gazpacho, truffle prosciutto croquettes — is offered. Basically, the amenity is a happy hour that does double duty, playing up the room’s gold accents and its location in the Golden Triangle, downtown’s business district. I can see the room animated with diners who prefer way-late lunches, super-early dinners or anyone who needs a little festivity at odd hours. Convivial enjoyed a well-deserved reputation for sweet endings, renown that continues at Barbouzard, where the warm date pudding is enhanced with halvah ice cream and a cardamom-infused toffee sauce. Fittingly, one dessert is designed to look like a tin of caviar. In reality, it’s tiramisu paved with chocolate pearls set with chilled oil (hence a shimmer like pricey roe) set in a tin atop faux crushed ice. Very Vegas, the confection goes by “Caviamisu.” The charm award goes to what looks like a pear robed in chocolate, named for the chef’s mother, who adored the dish. Slicing into the dessert, Poire Belle Michèle, reveals a delightful surprise: the form is shaped from hazelnut financier, diced pear, white chocolate and more, then centered in a wavy bowl of marzipan-sweetened custard sauce. El Hage says he wants to make Barbouzard a dining destination, and he’s off to a strong start. More than $4 million went into the interior whipped up by designer Olvia Demetriou of HapstackDemetriou+. The light fixtures suggest champagne bubbles, the floors are paved with stone or tiles that look like white oak, the ceiling is coffered, and the seating — plush red chairs, cinnamon-colored booths with their own sound systems — is all about your comfort. El Hage says he plans to dim the lights and use blackout shades for future brunch service. Already, a DJ emerges on Friday and Saturday nights, when the owner hopes “After Dark” catches nightcappers. Is now a proper moment to talk about luxury dining? The times are some of the most sobering I can remember in the past 25 years, what with wage hikes, the federal takeover of DC police and ICE crackdowns on immigrants. I point this out to say the word “restaurant” comes from a French verb that means “to restore” and that eating establishments are, good times and bad, the backdrop to many of our lives — indeed, some of them make life more worth living. Barbouzard aspires to help light the way. Looking forward to sharing this experience with you! ***Check out menus [here](https://barbouzard.com/menu/)*** We ask that ALL folks honor their RSVP. If you are unable to attend after sending in a YES, please update your status so that others may join. In the event our group incurs a fee for no-shows / late cancellations, your ability to RSVP for future events will be restricted. Thank you in advance for your understanding. **WAITLIST:** Meetup does not allow a waitlist for paid events. If this event fills and you are interested in adding your name to the waitlist, please send host a message through the app. \*Note: Event fee is non-refundable\* In the future, we will vary the days of the week and the types of restaurants so that we can attract many different types of diners. Feel free to make suggestions for future meet locations. All diners will pay their own tab. before departing the event. If you are unable to join us in January we hope you'll stay interested and join us for a meal in the future. Looking forward to catching up with you for a fantastic dinner at Barbouzard!

All, it is that time of year. Ground Hog day in the US, Badger Day in Germany and Candlemas to Catholics...La Chadeleur in France celebrated countrywide with Crepes. Come read the weather guides and make your own crepes. Sweet crepes obviously, maybe a few galettes. I will provide sweet and savory crepe batter. Please let us know what you will be bringing either as a filling for the crepes or a beverage of choice. Cidre bouche is the traditional drink of choice. And if you can flip your crepe one handed while holding a coin you are in for a year of good fortune! A Bientot!

You have to buy a ticket for this event, not only RSVP! 🎟️Register here : https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1977534510956?aff=oddtdtcreator **French-Hispanic Networking: Connecting Communities, Creating Opportunities** On **January 29**, from **5:30 PM to 7:30 PM**, join us at **The Ven at Embassy Row** for an exclusive event bringing together the **French and Hispanic communities** in the Washington D.C. area. This event is proudly organized by the **French American Chamber of Commerce** and the **Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce**. This gathering is designed to **foster meaningful connections**, build lasting professional relationships, and open doors to new opportunities for collaboration between these two vibrant communities. It’s the perfect setting to **expand your network**, exchange ideas, and share experiences with leaders and professionals across diverse industries. Your **ticket includes one drink**, and if you are a member of one of the Chambers of Commerce, be sure to use your organization’s **PROMOCODE** to receive your exclusive discount. Throughout the evening, there will also be **surprises and special announcements** that will make this experience both unique and memorable. If you are part of the **Hispanic or Francophone community**, this event is made for you: a space where culture, business, and connections come together to create **real and lasting opportunities**. Don’t miss out—be part of this one-of-a-kind networking experience.

Advanced Tarot. You need to know how to play. No open hands. Always happy to talk strategy, but these are not teaching sessions. See Tuesday French Tarot for beginners. Beginners will be invited to join as they improve. Goal is maximum 2 tables of 5 players, we can play in multiples of 3,4, or 5. I'll prepare the main, and post here by Monday with a list of what would work with. Please indicate in comments what you will bring. I will be happy to provide address as we get closer. Housekeeping notes: 1. We have just learned that if you are on the wait list and a spot opens up you do not get notified. I will try to notify when I see this happening but will not always catch it...check back. 2. If you cancel after RSVP window, those on wait list will not get a notification, the wait list goes away, nor do I get notification. So if you are canceling after 7pm Thursday night prior to event, reach out to me as well so I can notify a possible wait list player.

Yummy Bowl serves Mongolian BBQ, sushi, and ramen. Mongolian BBQ is a stir-fry style of cuisine where you place a selection of raw noodles/rice, vegetables, fruit, and protein in to a bowl along with your choice of sauces and the dish is cooked for you on a large, round grill while you wait. Every bowl is delicious and you are the chef so the selection gets better every time! Expect entrees in the range of $17 plus tax and beverage. This is a great opportunity to meet others who are new as well as those who have been around a while! Look for GRASP table flyers and Eli's GRASP shirt to easily find the group. We can't wait to see you there!

**Travel to French soil and celebrate with us two of the most important French traditions. No plane ticket required. 👑** You need to buy a ticket for this event, not only RSVP ! 🎟️Register here : https://www.eventbrite.com/e/la-galette-des-rois-les-voeux-2026-a-french-celebration-tickets-1956401883699?aff=oddtdtcreator * **La Galette des Rois:** in the U.S., food festivities start at Thanksgving and continue with Christmas and New Year's Eve, and then it's over. But it's not over in France, where during the entire month of January and even a little beyond, families and friends gather, usually on several occasions, to celebrate the 700-year old tradition of Galette des Rois (The King's Cake). The cake, traditionally topped with a golden paper crown, is a sweet and delicious puff pastry confection with almond-flavored frangipane filling. But the celebration is much more than that, as the person who will end up with la fève, a small porcelain charm hidden in one of the slices, becomes a "King/Queen for the Day". Be assured, there will be many kings and queens during our evening! * **Les Voeux:** Wishing "Meilleurs Voeux pour la Nouvelle Annee" (best wishes for the New Year) in France is not just something you do on January 1. French people do it the entire month, and it often becomes the pretext for more celebration and Champagne toasting. **Join us for this most traditional yet lively evening featuring:** * **Delicious Galettes des Rois** prepared by Fresh Baguette * **Hors-D'oeuvre**s prepared by [Chef Daniel Labonne](https://labonnedc.com/ "https://labonnedc.com/"), Executive Chef at the Embassy of France - VIP Hour only * **Degustation of Jambon de Bayonne**, a delicate and delicious cured ham from the Basque region of France. * **Buffet** with delicious French cheeses, cold cuts and veggie options. * **Open bar all night** \- As if you were invited to an upscale party on the Champs Elysees\, set the mood to celebration by enjoying a glass of bubbly or other fine French wine\. * **Champagne** and bubblies from France * Excellent red, white and rosé wines from Bordeaux, Burgundy, Loire Valley, Alsace. Rhone, Provence, etc. * European Beers * **Live music** * All guests will leave with a **baguette from Fresh Baguette.** * **French photo backgrounds** for great-looking selfies * **Prizes for all the Kings and Queens** * **Raffle** * **Art** Take the opportunity to **network** with fellow Francophiles, French VIPs, diplomats, professionals and business people in the wonderful Maison Francaise at the French Embassy.

**Caller: Dan Kappus** **Band: Trillium** **Big Scioty Contra Dance** **temporarily returning to our long ago location for Jan-March - First Congregational Church, 444 E. Broad St., Columbus 43215** WHAT IS CONTRA DANCING? Picture the Grand Ball scenes like you’ve seen in period films such as “Pride and Prejudice”, where the dancers are lined up in long lines, across from each other. That’s English Country Dancing, the predecessor of contra dancing. Now, add moves like “swing your partner” and “do-si-do,” like you’ve seen in square dancing. Set it to fabulous, high energy, live music with fiddles, guitars, percussion and more, alá “Riverdance.” Finally, set the whole scene down in the middle of Woodstock, with a hip, groovy atmosphere, a bit of tie-dye, and hints of counter-culture attitude. THAT’s Contra Dancing! Wear cool and comfortable clothes (you will get warm) and clean shoes that won't mark up our nice wood floor. Be sure to come for the beginner's lesson from 7:30 - 8:00, followed by dancing 8:00 - 10:30. All dances are taught; we will help you learn! Beginners always welcome, no need to bring a partner. Cost is $10.00 adults, $5.00 ages 12-26. Under 12 free. Free parking in church lot. For more information contact me or check out our website: [www.bigscioty.com](http://www.bigscioty.com/) Please bring your own refillable water bottle. Snacks to share are always welcome!

We are a real world Martial arts group. \ Called DO JUNG ISHU (the art of fighting) \ Based off of Jeet kune do we just continued where Bruce Lee left off. \ We have been around a while. \ We are donation based. Every week we get together and work technical skills and live pressure testing. \ Almost all of the instructors have been in everything from altercations in the real world to the ring and some still compete in the cage. \ If you want to take your skills up, improve your confidence, gain self defense skills, get in better shape, test yourself or just want to kill some time and possibly get hit a bit come on down. \ We will be located at 3923 N High St, Columbus, OH 43214 inside the whetstone rec center in the auditorium, upstairs in classroom B or outside in the grass between the playground and horseshoe area. our instructors are normally in a black and red art of fighting shirt \ if you can not find us call or text me at 6143570295 Saturday 1pm Wednesday 5:30pm From Age 16 and up. attendees under the age of 18 must have a guardian with them. \ \ You must have a free leisure card for the rec center and must be registered for our class specifically .\ Wear workout clothing \ Bring a MOUTHPIECE! \ WE HAVE GLOVES. \ Hope to see you soon :-).\ We are run off of donations. \ let me know if you have any questions :)

Let’s meetup at Cafe Istanbul for the last day of Restaurant Week. You get three courses for $30. This is the menu: https://614now.com/rw-menu/cafeistanbul-easton

✨ **Wicks & Sips: A Candle-Making Experience** ✨ Join us for an afternoon of creativity, connection, and calm. **Wicks & Sips** offers a beautifully curated candle-making experience designed for every woman who deserves a moment to unwind. 🕯️ **Two Experiences. One Elegant Vibe.** **Creative Experience** Create a custom, single-wick fragrant candle while enjoying light appetizers and cocktail-inspired mocktails in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. **Elevated Experience** *(limited availability)* Step into a more refined experience featuring designer-inspired decorative candle vessels, premium colors and fragrances, and guided instruction to bring your candle vision to life. Enjoy curated appetizers, desserts, cocktails, and cosmopolitan-inspired sips—plus a keepsake takeaway bag to remember the moment. [Purchase Tickets](https://www.thepastry-boutique.com/event-details/wicks-and-sips-a-candle-making-event-1)

If you would like to participate in a fun gift exchange please bring a wrapped $5 sweet treat 😋

Start the year surrounded by Love From the Earth—with delicious vegan eats, sweet treats, artisan goods, and a chance to win one of our raffle baskets filled with plant-based goodies. Support small businesses, enjoy great food, and spend a cozy day with the community. We will reserve a table for this group if there is enough interest. Just comment "interest" below. Don’t miss out—see you there! Check [event page](https://www.facebook.com/events/893838639773267/) for a vendor list.