Camp Cookouts

*You must read the following NVHC Sign-in Sheet Statement/Liability Disclaimer, [https://nvhc.com/signin.pdf](https://nvhc.com/signin.pdf) and then answer the question that you will see when you RSVP with "I accept" to be permitted on the hike.* (7ish-mile, mainly flat, out-and-back moderate [roughly 3 mph while moving] hike. Rating: C) Looking for a getaway after Christmas presents have been unwrapped and before a festive dinner -- or just looking for a hike if you don't celebrate Christmas? Please join us as we trek along the paved W&OD Trail, its dirt horse trail, and a couple of side trails. We will attempt a couple of stream crossings (hopefully not too wet from the drought) but you can detour around them. We'll start at the RED CABOOSE in Vienna and turn around at Hunter Mill Road at Reston's border. **MEET:** Noon at the RED CABOOSE on the W&OD Trail ACROSS THE STREET FROM the Freeman Store & Museum, 131 Church Street, Vienna, VA. Copy these coordinates into Google Maps: 38.903539, -77.265726 **IMPORTANT NOTES:** **PLEASE READ. YOU WILL BE GRADED ON THIS.** Adults only and no pets, including pet reindeer. Bring: sense of humor and water. Optional binoculars, cameras, and iNaturalist apps are welcome since this stretch of the trail is usually birdy and the hike leader can't resist a good nature op. Please stay RIGHT on all public trails to allow bikes, runners, walkers, and sleighs to safely pass us. Finish time of 3:30 pm is approximate. **RESTROOMS:** Commercial/town restrooms will likely be closed for Christmas so stop by a restroom beforehand. There are portapotties at our turnaround point (and biobreaks available about half-way there). **PARKING:** Free street parking by meeting place and additional parking in the lot at the nearby Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St. SE, Vienna, VA. (PLEASE READ THE SIGNS. DON'T PARK WHERE IT SAYS NO W&OD PARKING OR YOU COULD BE TOWED.) **W&OD TRAIL:** (Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park) [https://www.novaparks.com/parks/washington-and-old-dominion-railroad-regional-park](https://www.novaparks.com/parks/washington-and-old-dominion-railroad-regional-park) **W&OD TRAIL MAP:** https://www.arcgis.com/apps/Viewer/index.html?appid=58c4130464c747abb0f70fce13b30729 **CLOSEST METRO:** Vienna-Fairfax/GMU station on the Orange Line. [https://www.wmata.com/rider-guide/stations/vienna.cfm](https://www.wmata.com/rider-guide/stations/vienna.cfm)

Social Sips & Bites - Christmas Day Chinese Dinner For Everyone Staying in Town & Looking for Good Company Not traveling for the holidays? No big plans on Christmas Day? Come join us for a cozy and delicious Chinese dinner with friends who are staying local! Let’s skip the stress, enjoy great food, and spend the evening with fun people who want good conversation and a relaxing holiday night together.

The pickleball courts are situated on the far side of the playground, past the swing sets and picnic area. These courts (are] strictly on a first-come, first-served basis, and we do not offer reservation for public use. The courts are frequently unoccupied, but sometimes few people utilize the courts. We've created a WhatsApp group for our Meetup community to help everyone stay connected and get event updates more quickly. It’s a great way to share important info, coordinate plans, and keep each other in the loop about upcoming meetups. Feel free to join so you don’t miss out on any of the fun! https://chat.whatsapp.com/Bw0vxcNKRC1CeHixU41wTG

If you have no Christmas plans come join us for Chinese food! It's going to cost between $40 and $60 per person so please bring cash or Venmo!

*Please [click here](https://adventuringlgbtq.com/Adventuring_Release_Form.pdf) to review our release form. When you RSVP to an event, you affirm that you have read and agree to the terms of the release.* As the creator of the Great Cookie Hike I am back and this year we will have bigger and better cookies :-) One of Adventuring's cherished Holiday traditions is what we call The Great Cookie Hike, held between Christmas and New Year's, as we stroll down the Capital Crescent Trail (CCT) from Bethesda to the Georgetown waterfront. Everyone is asked to bring a batch of cookies (store-bought or home-made) that can be passed around to share at lunchtime. (In case you miss us at the metro station here is the link to walk from the metro to where the trail begins. Do the sign in sheet and collect the $5 fee at the metro cash or venmo. https://maps.app.goo.gl/HrzL1fXPApFzJ6st9) The total length of this easy one-way hike is about 8 miles, all of it level or downhill. We'll meet at 9 a.m. on Saturday the 27th, at the top of the stairs for the Bethesda Metro Station at Old Georgetown Road and Wisconsin Avenue. We'll lunch about an hour later at a convenient spot on the CCT that has plenty of seating. Soon after lunch we'll leave Maryland and enter the District of Columbia via a long downhill stretch towards the C&O Canal. Once we've leveled out on the Canal Towpath, we'll stop at Fletcher's Cove for a restroom break. Our final leg takes us down to the CCT terminus on the Georgetown Waterfront near Key Bridge. Optional refreshments follow at an eatery/watering hole TBD. Bring water, snacks, comfortable walking shoes, $5 for the Adventuring trip fee, and whatever you need if you want to get back to our Bethesda starting point by Metrobus or Metrorail. Optional meeting for drinks and food and Dupont Italian Kitchen at 1637 17th St NW, Washington, DC 20009 [https://maps.google.com/?cid=5533807431872345202 ](https://maps.google.com/?cid=5533807431872345202)

Spend your Sunday morning with us on a scenic hike along the C&O Canal Towpath. This is the perfect opportunity to **meet new friends**, reconnect with familiar faces, and enjoy the beauty of Great Falls from the Maryland side. We'll walk along the towpath, chat along the way, and take a well-deserved break at the **Great Falls Overlook** to soak in the stunning waterfall views. Whether you're here for the hike, the conversation, or both, this adventure is all about enjoying the journey together! This is an **easy and beginner-friendly hike** which is generally flat with a few gentle inclines and a manageable 180 feet of elevation gain. The towpath is well-maintained and ideal for all fitness levels, making it a great choice for those looking to ease into hiking or simply enjoy a relaxed outdoor experience. To learn more about the trail, click the link in the **Trail Map section below**. **Meeting Time & Location:** Join us at **9:30 AM at the Carderock Cliffs North Parking Lot**. We'll meet at the trailhead, located midway down the parking lot on the right side (as you enter). **Distance:** 7 miles **Elevation Gain:** 131 feet **Difficulty:** Easy This hike is accessible for all skill levels, taking place on the towpath and Berma road, which both feature mostly flat ground and wide paths. **Estimated Duration** This hike is expected to take approximately 3 hours. **Pace:** Moderate Pace We’ll maintain a steady, comfortable pace with regular but brief breaks for a balanced mix of exercise and enjoyment. **Parking** Free parking is available at the **Carderock Cliffs North Parking Lot**, which is also our meeting point. **Trail Maps (AllTrails)** [Take a Hike! @ Great Falls Overlook (Maryland, towpath)](https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/map-january-23-2025-7e6b20d?u=i&sh=ylk43q) **Restrooms** Restrooms are not available on this hike. **Dog Attendance** For everyone’s comfort and enjoyment, we kindly ask that you leave your dogs at home for this hike. Thank you for understanding! **Lunch After the Hike** Following the hike, we’ll head over to TBD for a casual lunch. It’s the perfect opportunity to continue conversations, spark new ones, and unwind with your fellow hikers. Whether you’re new to the group or a regular, we’d love for you to join us - and for many, this might just be the best part of the hike!

**Goombay Ugly Sweater Glow Party** **Saturday, December 27th • 5 PM – 10 PM** **The Consortium at 201 • 201 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Washington, DC** Get ready to kick off the holiday season Goombay-style! Join the entire Goombay family, friends, and fans for our annual **Ugly Sweater Glow Party**—a festive night packed with good music, good people, and glowing holiday vibes. **$25 EARLY BIRD TICKETS \| $35 TICKETS AT THE DOOR** **$150 TABLE OF 4 \| $225 TABLE OF 6** **\*FREE PARKING DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET** **\*CASH BAR \| FOOD SOLD \| TABLES & BOTTLE SERVICE AVAILBLE** \*\*[Purchase Tickets HERE](https://posh.vip/e/goombay-ugly-sweater-glow-party) OR Go to [www.Goombay.net**](http://www.Goombay.net**) Come in your ugliest, brightest, or most creative holiday sweater and get ready for an evening of dancing, laughter, games, and unforgettable memories. The lights will be low, the glow gear will be bright, and the energy will be high as we celebrate another amazing year together. Whether you’re a longtime Goombay member or brand new to the crew, this is the one event that brings everyone under one roof for pure holiday fun. FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO RESERVE YOUR TABLE & BAR SERVICE CALL/TEXT BUTCH AT (202)210-1957

After our museum visit, we’re heading to OM Indian Restaurant for a flavorful group lunch, and you’re invited! To accommodate our large group, the restaurant has generously offered a special pre-set menu just for us: Menu Includes: • Appetizer: 1 Vegetable Samosa • Entrees: Mix Vegetable Curry, Channa Masala (chickpeas curry), Chicken Korma, and Butter Chicken • Sides: Rice and Naan • Dessert: Rice Pudding 💲 Cost: $25 per person (gratuity not included) We’ll be calling the restaurant ahead of time to confirm our group size so they can prepare accordingly. Because of this, accurate attendance is very important - **if you RSVP, please make sure you are 100% committed to attending.** Looking forward to continuing the fun and food together!

Welcome, readers! ❄️ Our December read is **_A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella._** A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella is a tender, character-driven novel that follows three people in a small Pennsylvania town as they each cope with loss and seek connection. Chuck, a widower, struggles to find meaning after his wife’s death; Ella, a young woman, faces the heartbreak of her missing daughter; and Kirsten, a veterinary technician, grieves her father while contemplating her future. Their stories intertwine gently, revealing how grief and hope coexist—and how even small acts of kindness can help people rediscover purpose and peace in the aftermath of tragedy. Looking forward to discussing with everyone! At this meeting, our third annual White Elephant book exchange will take place! If you'd like to participate, bring a gift-wrapped book that you already own. On the gift wrap, write the genre of the book. 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! 📖

Join us for our January Book Club gathering where we will come together to discuss *Can't Spell Treason Without Tea* by Rebecca Thorne in a safe and welcoming environment. Make new friends who share your passion for books and connect with fellow LGBTQ book enthusiasts.

I don't usually pick romance but I really wanted to do a Hanukkah book. It's a bit on the longer side but hopefully a quick read. The library only has 5 audiobooks so please try to remember to "release it" when you're done. Columbus libraries: [https://cml.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S105C3503238](https://cml.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S105C3503238) Location: The Goat Riversouth [219 South High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215](https://www.google.com/maps?q=219%20South%20High%20Street%2C%20Columbus%2C%20Ohio%2043215%2C%20United%20States) [Menu](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/686d3ed16745133042482c5f/t/68ff654dbb03b96875430bde/1761568077220/all_brunch-20250311.pdf) Book summary: Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt is a nice Jewish girl with a shameful secret: she loves Christmas. For a decade she’s hidden her career as a Christmas romance novelist from her family. Her talent has made her a bestseller even as her chronic illness has always kept the kind of love she writes about out of reach. But when her diversity-conscious publisher insists she write a Hanukkah romance, her well of inspiration suddenly runs dry. Hanukkah’s not magical. It’s not merry. It’s not *Christmas*. Desperate not to lose her contract, Rachel’s determined to find her muse at the Matzah Ball, a Jewish music celebration on the last night of Hanukkah, even if it means working with her summer camp archenemy—Jacob Greenberg. Though Rachel and Jacob haven’t seen each other since they were kids, their grudge still glows brighter than a menorah. But as they spend more time together, Rachel finds herself drawn to Hanukkah—and Jacob—in a way she never expected. Maybe this holiday of lights will be the spark she needed to set her heart ablaze.

You must check into with the host and say you are with Suzie or Columbus Meetup To get the drink specials you must check in before 8:30 pm These are the drinks specials: $3 Domestic Draft- Miller Lite & Coors Light $3 Well Liquor Cocktails (no doubles/no redbull/no shots) $4 Vizzy Seltzers $5 Select Call Liquor-Titos, Bacardi, Bombay, Cazadores Reposado, & Jack Daniels (no doubles/no redbull/no shots) $5 Select Shots- White Tea Shots & Fireball