Connecting with Old Friends Again

Please join us every week for power networking! Our Chapter Passed $1,666,736 USD in the past 12 months! BNI members, on average, increase their business 20% the first year. Our chapter is a dynamic, committed group of business people who know how to refer business to each other. Come for our meeting -- stay for the referrals!!! We have open categories for individuals who will bring enthusiasm and integrity to our meeting. Just one person per professional specialty is allowed in each chapter. Visit a meeting to find out more and lock out your competition! Register Here: https://bninovanorth.com/va-nova-north-bni-mclean-business-connection--n136/en-US/visitorregistration?chapterId=16988

**It’s St. Paddy’s Day and you KNOW we’re not staying home... especially if Collective is on stage!!! Join us at Rai’s Rendezvous for a night of green drinks, great music, and dancing. Wear your green. Bring your lucky charm. And let’s turn Rai’s into the luckiest party in town.💚🍻🎶**

Social Sips & Bites family - it’s time to wear your green and bring your Irish spirit. We’re heading to Kalypso’s Tavern for a St. Patrick’s celebration packed with festive vibes, great company, and special deals on food and drinks. What to expect: • Irish favorites like corned beef & cabbage • Shepherd’s pie and other hearty classics • Guinness specials • A lively crowd and that classic SSB energy Whether you’re coming for the food, the drinks, or just the fun, this is one of those nights you don’t want to miss. Come hungry. Come social. Let’s turn Kalypso’s green together. 🍀

Regular boba tea meetup for people to meet, make new friends, or enjoy general conversations. Great for those who are new in town or find new activities to do!

Mindfulness Meditation group practice every Wednesday evening at Unity of Gaithersburg. Mindfulness practice is not about achieving some special state of mind; it is more about noticing the experience you are having without trying to change it. This interesting video suggests why you might sit and watch your mind wander off. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmmBF8eTl18 This noticing tends to shift your nervous system from a 'fight-or-flight' state to a more relaxed and receptive state. In this receptive mental state, you begin to see your own experience differently and, over time, see other people and the world differently. Also, it is good for you: "the effect of regular meditation on the cortex was so profound that fifty-year-old meditators had a prefrontal cortex that looked like that of a twenty-five-year-old" [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PLRZVTT](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PLRZVTT) Here is an interesting and funny take on meditation by Ajahn Brahm: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR60RRmXeYs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR60RRmXeYs). If you arrive on time, there will be an introduction at the beginning, if you arrive late, find a chair and join us. There will be some discussion after. This is a free event, but contributions to the church's expenses are welcome. You can just show up this Wednesday or subsequent Wednesdays. More information at [https://www.unityofgaithersburg.org](https://www.unityofgaithersburg.org/)/

We had a great conversation the last time we went here. For everyone attending this was a new find, a cafe tucked away on the upper level, not immediately noticeable by the average visitor to this shopping center. I’ll probably have a matcha, but get whatever you like, and start the weekend off right. (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!)

Attendance is $35 (cash, credit/debit card, or ApplePay - paid at the door), which includes water/soda/coffee, bread, choice of a plated lunch entrée, and a dessert assortment. Parking is also validated in the Reston Station garages (3 hours of validation). Join one of Northern Virginia's most successful business networking groups (part of BNI). Open to the public and is typically attended by business owners, business developers, and entrepreneurs. Meetings are typically attended by 30-40 members and guests. \*\*\*PLEASE RSVP here: [REGISTER HERE](https://square.link/u/0WvC6Eir) \*\*\*If you do not register on the BNI website, there may not be a seat available for you.

Join us for the first NoVA Gay Men 40+ meetup. Casual dinner. Real conversation. If there’s a game on, we’ll watch it. This group is for grounded gay and bi men 40+ in Northern Virginia looking for connection beyond nightlife. Recently out or long out — all welcome! No pressure. No drama. No expectations. Just show up, eat, talk, and build something real. Come solo. Leave whenever you want.

Join us on this magical trip to Japan to experience the enchanting allure of spring, where nature paints the landscape with vibrant colors. We chose this season for the unparalleled opportunity to explore some of the country’s most iconic destinations at their best: Tokyo, Mount Fuji, Kyoto, and Osaka. We will also visit the Japanese Alps with stays in Matsumoto and Kanazawa. Each city boasts unique attractions and seasonal charm that will captivate our senses and leave us with unforgettable memories. A true Meetup Experience! What is included: * 3 nights in Tokyo * 1 night in Matsumoto * 2 nights in Kanazawa * 2 nights in Kyoto * 3 nights in Osaka * Arrival and Departure Airport Transfers * Transportation throughout by Coach * English Speaking guide throughout the itinerary * Sightseeing tours with admissions fees per itinerary * Breakfast Daily * 2 lunches, 5 dinners Experience: * Visit to shrines, temples and castles with amazing Spring Blossoms * The Bullet train-Shinkansen * Sushi Making Class * Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony * Maiko Dinner (apprentice geisha) * Samurai Experience What is not included: * International Airfare * Tips for the guide and driver * Meals not listed in the itinerary * Items of personal nature Japan during spring is a feast for the senses, offering a harmonious blend of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and urban excitement. We will enjoy it all and this promises to be an unforgettable adventure with our fellow Meetup travelers! **Land Tour cost $5760 per person, double occupancy** **(we match roommates for those wishing to share)** **Solo occupancy additional $1050** **\*\*\*International Airfare not included\*\*\*** The only way to guarantee your spot for this meetup is a **$400 deposit.** **[CLICK HERE](https://www.paypal.com/instantcommerce/checkout/TB7SYRJPHPT5A) for secure deposit link:** Upon submitting the deposit, please **[fill out this form](https://forms.gle/toSHuzqVMT92rutL7)** RSVP to the event with your email to receive additional info. **RSVP DOES NOT RESERVE YOUR SPOT.** Deposit is the only way to hold your spot. **[Click Here for secure deposit link.](https://www.paypal.com/instantcommerce/checkout/TB7SYRJPHPT5A)** Your deposit is fully refundable up to 90 days before the departure. For airfare and other info on the trip, [click here to message Anna](https://secure.meetup.com/messages/?new_convo=true&member_id=131297062) [Click Here](https://forms.gle/cQdqYw74gAYqphXX8) to fill out our google info request form to receive detailed itinerary. We believe in good decent social. This event is cross posted to several other groups and the number of RSVPs on each is not reflective. [Click Here ](https://www.meetup.com/ccccc-c/events/299222593)for the main location of this event. Still have questions? We do a monthly [Q&A Travel Zoom](https://www.meetup.com/moretoexplore/events/296044209/) on all our events Come to the zoom and ask any questions. Great way to get the info you want without all the other fluff. As well as meet us and other attendees. [Click here for General Policies](https://www.meetup.com/MoreToExplore/events/282719353/) and useful info about our international trips. We have a set of sister groups where we post our local free, local/regional camping, and our overseas events too. [Click Here to see all our other fun events](https://www.meetup.com/CulturalArts/Events) Live the adventure instead of only dreaming it! SOT 2000318-10

⚡ **What’s Your Go-To Dish?** The one you make when you don’t want to experiment. The one that always works. The one you trust. Bring that. Join us for a relaxed, small-group potluck lunch held in our "Startup Garage" — a spacious, bright, comfortable living-room style space inside a single-family home. Think couches, real food, and meaningful conversation — not an actual garage 😊 Many of us have a go-to move — in the kitchen and in life. If you’d like, share why it’s yours. Funny, practical, meaningful — your call. 🕐 1:00–4:00 PM (arrive between 1:00–1:30 PM) **What to Bring** 1. A dish (homemade or store-bought — no pressure) 2. A short explanation behind it (optional) **Who Typically Attends** • Professionals in their 30s–40s–50s • Entrepreneurs and builders • Divorced or separated individuals navigating what’s next • People who prefer substance over surface level talk **What You’ll Experience** • Smart, grounded adults • Humor, laughter and perspective • Conversation that flows naturally • A relaxed, low-key Sunday atmosphere No spotlight. No forced sharing. Just solid food and solid company. This is a free community event designed to strengthen real connection within the Midlife Reinvention community. Space is intentionally capped to keep it comfortable. **Full address (Ashburn - 20147) and parking details are emailed 2–3 days before the event.** 🌐 Learn more about the community: [https://midlifereinvention.co](https://midlifereinvention.co)

Live music every Thursday night at Jimmy’s. [Jimmy’s upcoming events.](https://www.jottnew.com/upcoming-events.html)

**In a time of division and isolation, come be part of the community that's rebuilding the town square, one table at a time.** In BreadBreakers, we use the common space of the dining table to have conversations where neighbors can **hear, be heard, and know one another.** If you're hungry for good discourse and deeper community, join us for a Community Dinner in Reston and help blaze the trail to a healthier, more connected society and democracy. Here’s how it works: For just two hours, multiple tables of people set aside the need to "win" and instead focus on sharing, listening, and connecting. Guided by experienced table hosts, we'll tell our stories, try to understand each other, and practice being in community with those with different views or backgrounds. **At this dinner, participants will get to choose between three different topics, including some current events.** Topics range from the political, to the spiritual, to the philosophical, to the off-the-wall - but no matter which table you choose to sit at, you can be sure it'll be like no dinner conversation you've had before! You can also **suggest a topic** by emailing us at [BreadBreakersInfo@gmail.com.](http://BreadBreakersInfo@gmail.com./) Food will be provided for free. For those who wish to provide a donation to help fund BreadBreakers, you can [give here](https://pushpay.com/g/restorationrestonumc?fnd=pO6G-N7oO7FH7Mp1u-x6mA&fndv=Lock&r=No&lang=en&src=pcgl) or at the event. We'll have vegetarian and gluten-free options available. If you have any additional dietary restrictions (Celiac Disease, vegan, etc.) please let us know at [BreadBreakersInfo@gmail.com](mailto:BreadBreakersInfo@gmail.com) so that we can implement the appropriate food handling procedures. **Join us, invite a friend, and be a part of the movement to mend our fractured society and normalize a better way of talking with one another.** BreadBreakers, an initiative by [Restoration United Methodist Church](https://restorationreston.org/breadbreakers) in Reston, VA, is a religiously inclusive community. All faiths and all stripes are welcomed. Our leadership, volunteer team, and community include people who attend Restoration and people who don't.

Spring has long been seen as a season of renewal—when longer days, new growth, and fresh energy invite us to reflect on our own lives. In this discussion, we’ll explore the idea of spring as a time for personal and spiritual renewal. What does renewal look like in our lives? Are there practices, habits, or perspectives we want to refresh as the season changes? Together we’ll share reflections, experiences, and ideas inspired by the themes of growth, renewal, and new beginnings. This is an open, welcoming conversation. Whether you come with thoughts to share or simply curiosity to listen, you’re invited to join the dialogue. **All are welcome.**

If you’ve been wanting to connect more with the people around you, this is your invitation. We’ll gather, eat well, and make space for genuine conversation.