Memory

**June 15: Debating "Present Moment"** "All negativity is caused by an accumulation of psychological time and denial of the present." "Accept – then act. Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it." "Don’t wait to be successful at some future point. Have a successful relationship with the present moment and be fully present in whatever you are doing." -- [Eckhart Tolle](https://www.reddit.com/r/EckhartTolle/comments/1gaudvn/here_are_7_top_quotes_by_eckhart_tolle_on_staying/) vs. Some say in order to hear the silence or to abide in stillness you simply need to focus your attention on the present, "be" in the "now." Various techniques are offered for achieving this. But is this really possible? Can you actually do this? Have you ever actually done this? Does this mean focusing your attention so keenly on sensory perceptions that the 'you' having those perceptions is momentarily forgotten? Does it mean that you visualize the way you imagine that you should feel if you were "living in the now"? If so, then all you are doing is holding on to one thought for whatever the duration of your experience of "now" was—merely forgetting that the identity-based, body/mind 'you' still surrounds that experience. (Identity still spins identity.) This isn't living in the now, it's living in the past—waiting for the future to fulfill that past thought. It is spinning, after the fact, the stream of consciousness into an experience that belonged to you. You did not observe the observer. You only invented or witnessed an experience. You did not transcend the ego-self. Forgetfulness of self is not the same as self-transcendence and it is possible that for a lot of people, these meditation techniques merely induce a state of self-forgetfulness, which is then interpreted as some profound experience. It is just that, a pleasant experience. -- [Bob Cergol](https://tatfoundation.org/forum2002-05.htm#8) \-\-\-\-\-\-\- ***“I am struck with how rare it is to find a few good friends on the path. It is easy to find people who simply want to sit and be entertained by teachers, or who want to sit and entertain by playing the role of teacher. In other words, the quest for affirmation often outweighs the quest for truth.*** ***Yet you may have one or two good friends, and definitely have one or two waiting to be discovered. Find them; be thankful.”*** ***— Shawn Nevins*** 'What will make me happy in life?' ... 'Am I my thoughts?' ... 'What is Enlightenment?' ... We meet every week to ask questions like these in the pursuit of Self-Knowledge and Truth. We are interested in topics like: Zen, stoicism, spirituality, psychology, mindfulness, Nisargadatta, non-violent communication, Socrates, existential philosophy, Alan Watts, taoism, Eckhart Tolle, meditation, Ramana Maharshi, etc. But we are not affiliated with any dogma, philosophy, or religion. Our goal each meeting is to serve as mirrors for one another using question-based inquiry in a safe environment. In a session, every participant takes turns discussing the week's question or topic, and the group asks reflective questions without any agenda besides trying to understand the person's beliefs. A few other guiding principles of our group: * No one is obligated to share * Be honest with yourself and others * Do not try to convince others to believe or think as you do * Keep the focus on the person being questioned We meet at the [Bethesda Library](https://maps.app.goo.gl/GWMozF8zpY1m1PY26) every Monday. The library is a 5 minute walk from the Bethesda Metro on the Red Line, approx 25 minute Metro ride from Metro Center and Gallery Place stations. The library has a a parking lot with metered parking for $1/hour. \*\*\* WE WILL BE IN MEETING ROOM 3 UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED ----- THE MEETING ROOM IS IN THE BACK OF THE LIBRARY \*\*\* Please contact us with any questions!

PLEASE NOTE: RSVP ON MEETUP DOES NOT REGISTER YOU FOR THIS EVENT! YOU MUST REGISTER USING [THIS LINK](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/prjc-zoom-jazztalk-remembering-the-manassas-jazz-festival-wdavid-robinson-tickets-1988271902784)[ ](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/prjc-jazz-talk-barrelhouse-boogie-woogie-piano-wtom-roberts-tickets-1983892729559?aff=ebdsoporgprofile)BY 5 PM ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT TO RECEIVE THE LOGIN INFORMATION TO ATTEND THE EVENT! David Robinson takes us down memory lane to the legendary Manassas Jazz Festival in a multimedia presentation. From 1966 to 1989, the annual Manassas Jazz Festival was a much-anticipated event among Washington-area jazz fans. Held in rural Manassas, Virginia, and produced by Johnson “Fat Cat” McRee (a founder of the Potomac River Jazz Club), the festival brought together swing-era stars and prominent local musicians to play traditional jazz and swing in unpredictable combinations. Trumpeter Dave Robinson, who performed at several of these festivals, will give a multimedia presentation that takes a look back at what once took place, sharing musical highlights. Cornetist/trumpeter/historian/educator Dave Robinson (a charter member and past president of the PRJC) has been a fixture in Washington’s traditional jazz scene for decades. He has performed and toured with the top DC-area traditional and swing bands, including the Storyville Seven (leader), Sheiks of Dixie, Sunshine Skiffle Band, Manassas Festival Jazzers, Pontchartrain Causeway New Orleans Jazz Band, Royal Blue Orchestra, Doc Scantlin's Imperial Palms Orchestra, New Columbia Swing Orchestra, Radio King Orchestra, SingCo Rhythm Orchestra, and Hal's Bayou Jazz Band. Years ago Dave gigged with such swing era veterans as Maxine Sullivan, Billy Butterfield, Steve Jordan, Johnny Blowers, and Bob Haggart. He has performed at the White House, the Capitol, the Kennedy Center, the Smithsonian, New York's Rainbow Room, Preservation Hall, Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, and Blues Alley. Dave has toured the Pacific Northwest with the Boilermakers Jazz Band and has been heard at the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee, on National Public Radio, and in various film soundtracks. Along with Gary, Dave performed at a royal wedding ball in London; the Culinary Olympics in Frankfurt; appeared on-camera in NBC-TV's hit show "The West Wing"; was a finalist in the State Department's national Jazz Ambassadors competition; and was an Artist-in-Residence at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage. Dave was Adjunct Professor of Music at George Mason University, where he directed the Mason Traditional Jazz Ensemble. Since 1988, Dave has directed the award-winning Capital Focus Jazz Band youth ensemble, which has performed across the U.S. and in Canada, France, England, Scotland, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain, and the Caribbean. He is the founder of the Traditional Jazz Educators Network, is Past President of the American Federation of Jazz Societies, the Potomac River Jazz Club, and The Mainstay music venue, and has produced the Smithsonian's Jazz Concert Series. Dave helped to launch the Traditional Jazz Youth Band Festival in Sacramento, where he served annually as clinician, lecturer and adjudicator, and he also has served on the faculties of the STJS Trad Jazz Youth Camp in the Sierra Nevada mountains, the National Jazz Workshop at Shenandoah University, and Traditions Week at McDaniel College, as well as on the mentor teams of the Jazz Education Network and the National Association for Music Education. He has also served as a jazz instructor at Washington College, and has lectured and conducted jazz workshops extensively across the country. Dave hosted "The French Quarter" on Sirius XM Satellite Radio for three years, drawn from his huge archive of trad jazz recordings, and currently hosts "Jazz Gumbo" on WKHS-FM. He is the author and producer of the nationally-acclaimed Traditional Jazz Curriculum Kit, published in partnership with the Jazz Education Network (JEN), the Smithsonian, the National Endowment for the Arts, and various foundations. Dave has just been named for a Jazz Hero Award by the Jazz Journalists Association. Our Zoom Jazz Talks are always FREE to the public, but we greatly appreciate any donations made toward the program. [Registration ](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/prjc-zoom-jazztalk-remembering-the-manassas-jazz-festival-wdavid-robinson-tickets-1988271902784)required by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight time the day of the presentation to receive the Zoom link. The PRJC has been bringing trad jazz and swing music to the DC area for 52 years in the way of concerts, jams, and talks. Our Jazz Talk series centers around early jazz topics and features top musicians and historians. As these are all hosted on Zoom, you can enjoy them wherever you are. The PRJC began its Jazz Talk series during the pandemic shutdown as a way to support musicians who were less able to work. The series has blossomed into an ongoing project featuring speakers from across the country focusing on trad jazz and swing topics. You can support the PRJC or our Educational Talks and Concerts with a donation using the [Paypal](https://www.paypal.me/PotomacRiverJazzClub) link. More info is on [the Events page of the PRJC web site.](https://prjc.org/prjcevents.html) Video recording of the event will be posted on the [PRJC YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp4E8kJDZm2765ixumDWmAA) channel after it is completed. PRJC’s programs are supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council and the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County.

**THE POWER OF THE SUBCONSCIOUS OVER YOU** You are welcome to arrive 15 minutes early for refreshments! At the lecture "The Power of the Subconscious", the speaker will clearly and understandably explain topics such as: * What is the exact definition of the Subconscious Mind? * How does it inflict unwanted feelings and anxiety in you? * What determines how much pressure it exerts on a person? * What exactly is the goal of the subconscious? This is not just a lecture where you sit quietly and listen. It's interactive and LIVE, so you can ask questions at any time. And the most important topic: **HOW DO YOU TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR SUBCOUNSCIOUS!** This group is sponsored by the Dianetics Life Improvement Center.

Friends, let's go out to Mosaic to enjoy an Italian Wine Dinner at MacMillan's Whiskey Room. Amanda and I have been to a few of their events, and they never fail to delight. Get ready to sip and savor at the **ITALIAN WINE DINNER FEATURING FANTINI WINES**! This in-person event is all about enjoying delicious Italian wines paired with mouthwatering dishes. Whether you're a wine newbie or a connoisseur, you'll love discovering the rich flavors of Fantini wines. Grab your friends and come taste the passion of Italy in every glass. Cheers to great wine and even better company! Enjoy a Five Course Tasting Menu featuring the fine wines from Fantini. 1. First Course: Vermentino Saragut / Caprese Salad 2. Second Course: Lava Falanghina / Shrimp Oreganata 3. Gran Sasso Chardonnay Ltd. Edition / Pesce Alla Milanese 4. Monica Saragut / Porchetta y Polenta 5. Gran Sasso Montepulciano Acta Quota / Involtini alla Palermitana y Crema di Funghi Tickets can be purchased through EventBrite for $97.87 **[HERE](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/italian-wine-dinner-featuring-fantini-wines-tickets-1989928412449?aff=ebemoffollowpublishemail&ref=eemail&utm_campaign=following_published_event&utm_content=follow_notification&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eventbrite) .** Note: We will not be sitting together since there is very limited physical space. I suggest groups of 4 but no more.

Are past negative experiences hindering your ability to have a happy life or relationship in the present? This Webinar is an introduction to how to handle irrational emotion. Maybe you have suffered a traumatic experience, a deep loss or been through a painful breakup? After that, you try to move on- you just can't. Possibly you have a thought or emotion that hangs around for days and you just can't shake it. What is all this stress, anxiety, depression, and self doubt? It's just crazy! It's not the real you. You can find out what is at the root of all this. This is a FREE IN=PERSON Event Areas you can be helped with: Control of unwanted emotions Lack of confidence Grief Anxiety Anger management Creating ideal relationships Depression Memory and more... This is an in-person class that can start you on the way to a better life, more confidence and less negativity. All the happiness you have lies within you. Let's find it! This group is sponsored by the Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Center.

**THE POWER OF THE SUBCONSCIOUS OVER YOU** You are welcome to arrive 15 minutes early for refreshments! At the lecture "The Power of the Subconscious", the speaker will clearly and understandably explain topics such as: What is the exact definition of the Subconscious Mind? How does it inflict unwanted feelings and anxiety in you? What determines how much pressure it exerts on a person? What exactly is the goal of the subconscious? This is not just a lecture where you sit quietly and listen. It's interactive and LIVE, so you can ask questions at any time. And the most important topic: **HOW DO YOU TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR SUBCOUNSCIOUS!** This group is sponsored by the Dianetics Life Improvement Center.

[Profs and Pints DC](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“A Deep Dive into the Declaration of Independence,”** on the origins and impact of America’s founding document, with Denver Brunsman, chairman of George Washington University’s history department, lecturer at Mount Vernon, and noted scholar of early American history and the American Revolution. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/dc-deep-dive-declaration](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/dc-deep-dive-declaration) .] The celebration of our nation’s 250th anniversary will take on much deeper meaning if you take time to fully understand and appreciate the document that declared our independence from England and gave rise to the American experiment. Learn essential lessons about the Declaration of Independence from Denver Brunsman, an incredibly engaging speaker who has built a big following among Profs and Pints fans in and around Washington D.C. Professor Brunsman will start by discussing the Declaration’s background, composition, and philosophical underpinnings. You’ll learn how by 1776 American colonists had resisted British policies for thirteen years and endured open warfare with Britain for more than a year. We’ll look at how this imperial crisis influenced the Declaration’s primary author, Thomas Jefferson, as well as the larger Declaration Committee and the Second Continental Congress. In recent years, scholars have focused particularly on the previously underappreciated grievance section of the Declaration. Rather than simply being an afterthought to the more famous preamble (“all men are created equal”), the grievances followed a logical order that carefully presented the case against King George III and the British Empire for a “candid world” to consider. Professor Brunsman will fill you in on how that list of grievances rallied Americans and other nations to the cause. A document both timeless and of its time, the Declaration quickly soared beyond its humble origins as a committee report to become synonymous with American independence and an inspiration for rebellion elsewhere. Dr. Brunsman will consider the place of the Declaration in American life, from the eighteenth century to today, and how the document helped shape much of American history while influencing “the course of human events” throughout the world. The talk will close with customary toasts from the American revolutionary era. Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah! (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: From an idealized Jean Leon Gerome Ferris painting of Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams drafting the Declaration of Independence.

Title: What Is Progress? Knowledge Aggregation, Living Textbooks, and the Automation of Scientific Discovery Date: June 20 2026 Noon - 14:00 EDT Summary: Our collective knowledge infrastructure — the textbooks, professional training resources, and literature syntheses that define what professionals across disciplines believe to be true — is quietly accruing a structural liability. Compounded confirmation bias, stacked citation-by-citation into the foundations of formal knowledge, means that breakthroughs can take decades to reach the classrooms, clinical workflows, and decision-making frameworks where they matter most. Meanwhile, the deepest friction is rarely acknowledged: before any field can build meaningful consensus on "why" or "how" a phenomenon occurs, it must first establish honest, consolidated agreement on "what" has actually been observed. That prior step is routinely skipped, assumed, or fragmented across siloed literatures that never cross-pollinate. This talk introduces a framework called "Knowledge Aggregation" — with two distinct but complementary ambitions. The first is descriptive transparency: algorithmically mapping what has been said, measured, and documented across a problem space, without imposing causal interpretation or narrative. The second traces the boundary between empirical observation and explanatory claim, building systems that can separate the "what" from the "why/how" — because consensus on mechanism cannot be meaningfully constructed until consensus on phenomenon is first established. Both ambitions are now within reach. By composing tools already at our disposal — large language models, classical NLP pipelines, public data repositories, and engineering-grade automation frameworks — it becomes possible to model knowledge itself, rather than merely imitate individual experts. One concrete expression of this is automating the writing of living textbooks: compressing the lag from bleeding-edge discovery, through replicated evidence, all the way to professional training resources. But the deeper aspiration reaches further — toward automating the discovery of scientific insights that have never previously been conceived, by systematically surfacing hypothesis combinations that no single siloed researcher would have had the cross-disciplinary vantage point to even ask. Drawing on ongoing systems biology and computational research — with ME/CFS research demoed as a use case for what siloed, fragmented knowledge infrastructure costs in practice — this talk maps the conceptual architecture, the real-world friction, and the data science toolkit for building it. Speaker: As a systems biologist at heart, Sam specializes his biomedical research on interactions and connections in biology - rather than just one domain of expertise. He wears many hats and collects skill sets across disciplines, with degree studies and industry experience acquired across Chemical Engineering (BSc), Bioinformatics (MSc), Systems and Synthetic Biology (M2), Biomedical Sciences (MSc), and beyond. Even more important to him than niches or fields of work, comes down to the synergistic approaches that allow us to move beyond reductionism. The notion that a question can only allow for one answer, is inherently reductionist. By resisting many norms in science and engineering which can get overly reductive, his current role as Principal Investigator of Research for DMV Petri Dish (501(c)(3) non-profit local to the DMV region) embraces computational frameworks that aide scale-up and automation - not only around the processes which already exist with established workflows, but also taking a keen interest in attempting and accomplishing ambitions which have never been perceived to be possible previously. Sam carries a passion for the synergy of computational biology - fused with wet lab validation. This way, one can build a beautiful knowledge base in the theoretical sense, and then test to see if said computational prediction might actually be able to stand in the real world with wet lab validation. Translational modeling starts to become possible once biological experiment design can be iteratively looped alongside computational model design, optimization, and analysis - empowering the design of a better wet lab experiment, followed by a better computational model, back and forth until science is done!

Come to co-work at Reed-Cooke cafe. This will be a low-key container to get things done alongside other women and friends who work remotely. Bring your laptop, book, or to-do list, along with your good vibes and productive energy.

**Just discounted: $500 off!** **Register at** [https://www.lizardbrain.com/thinkwithink](https://www.lizardbrain.com/thinkwithink) Think With Ink™ is Lizard Brain’s 3-day premiere graphic facilitation workshop. This is an intensive workshop that covers the essentials of using visuals to facilitate a group process. The workshop covers three areas: * Technique: Markers, paper handling, color use, lettering, drawing, forms, levels of information, listening for synthesis. * Models, Methods, and Tools: visual energizers and icebreakers, meeting principles and ground rules, and visual tools for brainstorming ideas, comparing ideas, and collaboratively deciding the way forward. * Experiential Practice: hands-on practice designing and leading facilitated modalities. This workshop is meant for: * The facilitator who wants to build a repertoire of visual tools, * The graphic recorder or sketchnoter who wants to expand into graphic facilitation, * The team member who wants to bring visual, participatory methods to the team, * The consultant and coach who wants to help clients think through problems in a visual manner, or * The visual thinker, the whiteboard salesman, the data visualizer, or anyone that sits in the intersection of visuals and helping others solve problems. Each participant will receive: * Textbook * Sketchbook and sketchnoting materials * Handouts summarizing key practices * Set of markers * Roll of twenty-five-yard paper * This hands-on, practice-driven workshop will give you everything you need to graphically facilitate groups through the toughest challenges. **The next in-person running is in Reston, Virginia, June 17-19, 2026.** Click the link below to find out more! [https://www.lizardbrain.com/thinkwithink](https://www.lizardbrain.com/thinkwithink) **FAQs** * *Will this teach me to graphic record?* * Graphic recording is large-scale visual notetaking for groups. Graphic facilitation is using visuals to help move a group through a process. Although you can apply many of the graphic facilitation methods in Think With Ink to graphic recording, we will focus on visual group processes rather than on the aesthetic side of graphic recording. * * *Will this teach me to graphic facilitate?* * Yes! * * *What can I bring into the event?* * Please bring questions, comments, stories, favorite tools, examples, experiences, and a willingness to learn and share with others! * * *How can I contact the organizer with any questions?* * For any questions, please contact brian@lizardbrain.com.

Do you like having a reason to get up and get out the door in the morning? How about regular events to make part of your routine? If that's you, join us on Wednesday mornings! Drop in for as long as you like during the session, just leave a comment in the event here if you plan to arrive more than an hour after the start time. And please update your RSVP if you can no longer attend.

**THE POWER OF THE SUBCONSCIOUS OVER YOU** You are welcome to arrive 15 minutes early for refreshments! At the lecture "The Power of the Subconscious", the speaker will clearly and understandably explain topics such as: * What is the exact definition of the Subconscious Mind? * How does it inflict unwanted feelings and anxiety in you? * What determines how much pressure it exerts on a person? * What exactly is the goal of the subconscious? This is not just a lecture where you sit quietly and listen. It's interactive and LIVE, so you can ask questions at any time. And the most important topic: **HOW DO YOU TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR SUBCOUNSCIOUS!** This group is sponsored by the Dianetics Life Improvement Center.

Hey Poetry Lovers! This group is on a roll. Here’s the gist: We meet at the **Capital One Café in Chinatown** from **12pm - 2pm** every other week. For enrichment, we start by reading and reflecting on a **“published poem”**, suggested by someone in the group. No advance preparation is necessary. But feel free to check out some of the poems we’ve read [here](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vSyE_wCLQCPHRrKmN5F9tOIeeRQUZESxjRXGVBoCF2uU8Gm0_d0uECiCBCQXEy6ksxfsBOhtRIOpW3T/pubhtml?gid=0&single=true&widget=true&headers=false%22%3E%3C/iframe%3E). Or submit suggestions for future meetings [here](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSexGc2Z2Kp6bZW0D3_hfJ7NUUkfNHf7TXX-43FglCeBd9EF2Q/viewform?usp=send_form). Next, we **share our work and offer feedback**. Depending on attendance, everyone gets \~10 minutes to use as they like. (No need to share, though; you’re welcome to come even if you prefer just to listen.) We maintain a **Discord server** to help share our work and communicate outside our bi-weekly meet-ups. If you haven’t used Discord before, take a moment to download it and create an account before arriving. When we meet you on Saturday, we will add you to our server, the “DC Poetry Workshop”, and can help you navigate the app if you have questions. Finally, if you plan on sharing a poem, consider how you will do so. Some options include: * Print 5-10 copies to distribute in person * Take and share screenshots in the Discord chat. * Copy the poem into a google doc, change sharing settings to “anyone with link”, and copy the google doc link into the Discord chat. Most importantly, we’re excited to meet you! Catch you on Saturday, Diego / Ian / Cayden / Nate / Otasha / Lia / An

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Can Artificial Intelligence ‘See’?”** A look at how humans and artificial intelligence systems interpret the visual world in fundamentally different ways, with Arryn Robbins, assistant professor of psychology at the University of Richmond and cognitive scientist who researches visual attention, perception, and category learning. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-can-AI-see](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-can-AI-see) .] Artificial intelligence can now identify faces, categorize objects, describe scenes, and outperform humans on certain visual tasks. But does AI actually “see” the world the way that people do? Or does it arrive at correct answers using representations that differ markedly from human perception? Join Arryn Robbins of the University of Richmond for a fascinating exploration of how humans and AI construct meaning from visual information and a look at comparisons between human perception and AI that reveal just how dynamic and context-dependent our own visual systems really are. Dr. Robbins, who previously has given excellent Profs and Pints talks on flaws and biases in human visual perception, will draw from research in cognitive science, visual perception, and AI vision systems. She’ll explain how human perception is not merely a simple recording of the world, but an active process shaped by expectations, context, goals, and recent experience. You’ll learn how humans form flexible mental representations that allow us to recognize objects across changing environments and conditions, and why those representations continuously adapt as we interact with the world. Many AI systems, by contrast, learn visual categories through statistical patterns in data. They can produce impressive results, but sometimes they also produce strange and unexpected failures, and sometimes they classify images in ways that seem strange to us. Dr. Robbins will discuss what these differences reveal about the nature of perception itself, and why the mismatch between human and AI representations matters for technologies like self-driving cars, medical imaging, facial recognition, and automated surveillance. Important for anyone trying to understand the rapidly growing role of AI in daily life, this talk will explore one of the biggest questions in cognitive science and artificial intelligence: What does it actually mean to “see” and understand the world? (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: “Eye Farm” by Nevit Dilmen (Wikimedia Commons).

Join us for MORE Women's MTB Ride at the Cabin John Trails in Potomac, MD. Beginner-level riders are welcome and encouraged to join in the fun! A mountain bike in good condition and helmet are required. **Sign up at Golden Volunteer here:** [https://x.gldn.io/e/jgkrtQUn21b](https://x.gldn.io/e/jgkrtQUn21b) ***Please do not sign up on Meetup! If you do, you won't be alerted if the ride is cancelled!*** **Meet** at 6:00 PM with wheels down at 6:10 PM. We will not ride if the trails are wet or muddy. Check your email from Golden Volunteer in case the ride is cancelled due to weather/trail conditions. **Description** \- The event is open for women age 18\+\. You must sign a waiver on the Golden Volunteer link\, wear a helmet\, and be able to comfortably ride your mountain bike\. We expect to ride about 4\-5 miles on single track natural surface trails\. Bring your mountain bike\, helmet\, and drinking water\. This ride is **not suitable for hybrid bikes**! As space is limited, please update your RSVP if you cannot attend. **And support your trails and join MORE! www.more-mtb.org** **Where** – Meet at the parking lot for the Cabin John Group Picnic Area at 7701 Tuckerman Lane, Potomac, MD. Follow Google Maps at: https://goo.gl/maps/aumXoQnD2qAp3iNp9

Important: Register on [AICamp website](https://www.aicamp.ai/event/eventdetails/W2026061814) is required for admission. **Description:** Welcome to the AI meetup in Washington DC. Join us for deep dive tech talks on AI, GenAI, LLMs and Agents, hands-on experiences on code labs, workshops, and networking with speakers and fellow developers. **Agenda:** \* 5:30pm\~6:00pm: Checkin, Food/drink and networking \* 6:00pm\~8:00pm: Tech talks and Q&A \* 8:00pm: Happy Hour at Courthouse Social (cross the street) **Tech Talk: Secure Developer Environments in the Age of AI Agents** **Speaker:** Patrick Brown (Coder) **Abstract:** Federal engineering teams are under pressure to ship faster while meeting some of the most demanding security and compliance requirements in the world. In this talk, Patrick Brown of Coder explores how cloud development environments (CDEs) give agencies a foundation to accelerate software delivery without sacrificing control — and why that foundation matters even more as AI-powered coding agents enter the workflow. He'll cover how CDEs keep source code off endpoints, enforce zero-trust access patterns, and provide the consistent, ephemeral infrastructure that both human developers and AI agents need to operate safely at scale. **Speakers:** Stay tuned as we are updating speakers and schedules. If you have a keen interest in speaking to our community, we invite you to submit topics for consideration: [Submit Topics](https://forms.gle/JkMt91CZRtoJBSFUA) **Sponsors:** We are actively seeking sponsors to support AI developers community. Whether it is by offering venue spaces, providing food, or cash sponsorship. Sponsors will not only speak at the meetups, receive prominent recognition, but also gain exposure to our extensive membership base of 5,000+ AI developers in D.C and 500K+ worldwide.

Tuesday Night Women's+ Ride at Wakefield This is the women's+ night ride at Wakefield Park in Annandale, Virginia. Brought to you by MORE. **Sign the ride waiver here:** [https://x.gldn.io/e/Wc3cUSEpC1b](https://x.gldn.io/e/Wc3cUSEpC1b) Ride Leaders Simona, Kathy, and Jessica Location Wakefield Park, Annandale, VA Schedule Meet up at 6:30 in the last parking lot. Park in the last parking lot. After you turn into the parking lot, make an immediate right and park (across from the purple recycling bin). We meet there prior to the ride. All riders joining this ride will need to accept the standard MORE liability waiver form. **Wheels down at 6:45pm** Ride will be about 1 to 1.5 hours, depending on the group. The ride leader(s) will try to start as promptly as possible. Bring: Trail-ready mountain bike, helmet, tube, and water. Optional: Tools, gloves, snacks, and lights. We will need lights this time of year. Pace Casual to moderate pace depending on the group. This is a no-drop ride. (A drop is leaving someone behind who is slower than the group. We won't do that - but if you feel like you are not able to keep up, please let the ride leader know.) All riding abilities are welcome, but it is recommended riders have a few off-road rides under their belts first. Terrain Wakefield is generally considered easier to intermediate by most riders. There are a few small stream crossings and some log obstacles. Riders should use good judgment and dismount when in doubt. The ride will typically consist of a mix of single track, fire roads, and other trail sections in the park. Directions https://more-mtb.org/collections/virginia-trails/products/wakefield-park Weather To protect and maintain the trails, the ride will be canceled if weather conditions warrant. Information on closures will be posted here.

⚡ Reset your direction. Meet someone unexpected. Walk away with fresh clarity. Join us for a relaxed **small-group afternoon event** that blends a light **Inner Coach conversation experience** with a **community potluck lunch**. In February we hosted our first **Inner Coach event**, and many attendees said it helped them notice something powerful — the voice inside that quietly guides better decisions when life gets complicated. This event builds on that idea. Instead of overthinking the past, we’ll explore how to **reset direction for what’s next** — through thoughtful conversation, new perspectives, and the kind of questions that spark real insight. We’ll start with a few short conversation rounds designed to spark reflection, humor, and perspective — and then continue the discussion over food and relaxed conversation. Think **good food, grounded people, and real conversations about what comes next in life.** Held in our **Startup Garage** — a bright, comfortable living-room style space inside a single-family home. (Couches, food, conversation — **not an actual garage** 😊) *** ## **🥘 Potluck Lunch** If you're able, bring something small to share. Homemade or store-bought — both welcome. A dish you enjoy making. A dish that always works Or simply something easy from the store If you're busy, come anyway — the goal is **community, not perfection**. We’ll share a relaxed **afternoon potluck lunch** while continuing meaningful conversations with people navigating their next chapter. *** ## **What You’ll Experience** • Light conversation rounds designed to spark insight • Fresh perspectives from people navigating similar life transitions • Humor, perspective, and grounded conversation • A relaxed environment where ideas and connections happen naturally *** ## **Who Typically Attends** • Professionals in their 30s–40s–50s • Entrepreneurs and builders • Divorced or separated individuals navigating what’s next • People who prefer thoughtful conversation over surface-level small talk Whether you're **resetting direction, building something new, or simply meeting grounded people**, this event is designed for honest connection and fresh perspective. *** Most attendees are navigating life and growth with **curiosity, clarity, and a sense of humor.** 📍 Hosted in a spacious living-room setting inside a single-family home (Ashburn – 20147). Full address and parking details are emailed **2–3 days before the event.** 🌐 Learn more about the community [https://midlifereinvention.co](https://midlifereinvention.co) *** If you're curious about the **Inner Coach vs Inner Critic concept**, here’s a short introduction: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtgoDgqppGI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtgoDgqppGI)

Make games? Fund games? Dream about making games? *This one's for YOU!* IGDA DC and Loric Games are joining forces with support from Arlington County for a night where the DMV's game dev community shows up in one room. Students, hobbyists, seasoned devs, artists, investors, and the curious-but-haven't-started-yet are all invited! Show off what you're building in our open show-and-tell session (prototypes, jam games, or half-finished chaos), get live portfolio feedback from the Loric team, and meet the people who make, fund, and champion games right here in the DMV. If you'd like to be part of the show-and-tell session, submit your videos here: https://forms.gle/qP3TAtixo7NzEsYc8 So bring a build, a portfolio, a business card, or just your curiosity. This is the time to share your work, meet collaborators, and maybe even find your next opportunity. See you there! GMU's Pilot Space (First floor of Vernon Smith Hall) is accessible via the Virginia Square GMU Metro station, with plenty of street parking and a parking garage nearby. * Follow IGDA DC: https://www.meetup.com/igda-dc/ * With support from Arlington Economic Development (AED): https://www.arlingtoneconomicdevelopment.com/

**NOTICE: The park is open until 8:45 PM for Sunset Closing** **This is copied from the website:** Savor the beauty of Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in the soft glow of twilight. During these special extended hours, the gardens remain open until 8:45 PM, offering a peaceful and picturesque setting to unwind, take an evening stroll, or simply enjoy the changing light as day turns to dusk. **Admissions will end at 8:15 PM,** and the gardens will close promptly at 8:45 PM. Regular garden admission ($5–$9) and memberships apply. We will meet at the visitor center. Bring Water, a tripod, comfortable shoes, fully charged batteries, and empty cards There is no specific route in this park. Folks are free to wander around the trails in the park at their own pace. Check out Rob Trek's video from May 16, 2021: https://youtu.be/QwNR_TuxM4Y For dinner, after the field trip around 8:00 PM, we will head to The Virginian Restaurant, 169 Glyndon St SE, Vienna, VA 22180 Share only your very best, most interesting shots after the field trip, and keep it down to between 5 and 10 photos. Beauty, conservation, education, and discovery flourish throughout the year at this 95-acre complex of large ornamental display gardens and unique native plant collections. Walking trails, lakes, more than twenty varieties of cherry trees, irises, peonies, an extensive shade garden, native wildflowers, gazebos, birds, butterflies, seasonal blooms, and foliage create a sanctuary of beauty and nature. [https://www.nvrpa.org/park/meadowlark_botanical_gardens/](https://www.nvrpa.org/park/meadowlark_botanical_gardens/) By sending in an RSVP and joining this meetup event hosted by the Virginia Beltway Photography Meetup, I am also agreeing to the terms of the following release and waiver of liability, which shall be binding on my heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns. In consideration of my (and my child’s) participation in the Virginia Beltway Photography Meetup, I do hereby release, discharge, and hold harmless the Organizer, its members, officers, directors, employees, and the leader(s) of this event from any and all liability by reason of any damage, loss, expenses, or injury arising from my (and my child’s) participation in this event, including that caused solely or in part by the fault of any and all of the above-named parties.