Cultural Activities

Let's meet in Louçainha for a cold swim and a snack afterward. What is this place, though? Well, there is a beautiful 40-meter-long pool filled with water flowing from nearby mountains. It's a classic place for local winter swimmers. I've been swimming there pretty much every week since November. The water temperature went as low as 8 degrees. That, without training, feels brutal. With training, spiritual :o Now is spring, though the water is still cold (around 15 degrees). Join me this Saturday for the swim.

**NOTE: THIS IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR INEXPERIENCED HIKERS.** **Details** Get ready to hit the trails at Turkey Run - this is a 5.38 mile hike at Turkey Run. This hike is a bit challenging, with a couple of **stream crossings**, and a couple of **significant elevation gains** (a total of 456 feet of elevation gain). Ideal for **intermediate to advanced hikers**. The trail includes shallow stream crossings, adding some fun technical elements along the way. We’ll take regular breaks to regroup, hydrate, and enjoy the scenery. **Hiking shoes are a must -** the trail is slippery, and the extra grip of hiking shoes is essential for safety. Also, don’t forget your **hiking poles**; they’ll be helpful at the stream crossings. After the hike, join us for a social gathering at \*\**Chiang Mai Thai Cookhouse [(6828 Old Dominion Dr., McLean)](https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=4250880837db9923fe99316769050373b426a317e7bdf43931605d5b92eba921JmltdHM9MTc3NDkxNTIwMA&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=4&fclid=108cd8d6-7e8f-6b13-174d-ce097fb86ad8&u=a1L21hcHM_Jm1lcGk9NTZ-fkVtYmVkZGVkfkFkZHJlc3NfTGluayZ0eT0xOCZxPUNoaWFuZyUyME1haSUyMFRoYWklMjBDb29raG91c2Umc3M9eXBpZC5ZTjg0NDI0Nzc2MDUyNTc5NzcmcHBvaXM9MzguOTM0NzY4Njc2NzU3ODFfLTc3LjE3OTQzNTcyOTk4MDQ3X0NoaWFuZyUyME1haSUyMFRoYWklMjBDb29raG91c2VfWU44NDQyNDc3NjA1MjU3OTc3fiZjcD0zOC45MzQ3Njl-LTc3LjE3OTQzNiZ2PTImc1Y9MSZGT1JNPU1QU1JQTA)* to unwind, grab a bite, and enjoy time with fellow hikers. **Meeting Time & Location** Meet at 9:30 AM at Turkey Run’s Parking Lot C-1. **Distance:** 5.38 miles **Elevation Gain:** 456 feet **Difficulty Level:** Intermediate Hike (challenging stream crossings) This hike features moderate inclines and **challenging stream crossings** over slippery rocks. Hiking poles are recommended for added balance and stability. **Estimated Duration:** 3 hours This hike is expected to take approximately **3 hours**, which accounts for breaks, stream crossings, and group pace. **Pace:** Moderate Pace A steady, comfortable pace that’s manageable for most hikers with a reasonable fitness level. Breaks are regular but not overly frequent, allowing for a balanced experience of exercise and enjoyment. **Parking** Park in Turkey Run’s **Lot C-1,** where there's plenty of room for all. Grab a spot, lace up, and get ready to hit the trail! **Trail Map (AllTrails):** [Take a Hike! @ Turkey Run](https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/custom-route-367d794?u=i&sh=mdqqtd) **Bathrooms** There are no bathrooms available on this hike. Please plan accordingly. **Age Requirement:** Children under 18 are not permitted. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. **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** Join us for a casual lunch at **Chiang Mai Thai Cookhouse (6828 Old Dominion Dr., McLean)**. Free parking is available in the garage off Beverly Rd.

☀️ SUMMER KICKOFF SOCIAL: Annual Happy Hour 🍹 We’re officially kicking off summer with our first annual Summer Kickoff Social — and this one’s a little more personal and laid-back than usual! Join us in the entertainment lounge + courtyard of my building in Gaithersburg for a fun, relaxed evening to celebrate the start of summer with great people, music, and good vibes. This will be a BYO (bring your own) food & drinks event, so feel free to bring whatever you’d like to sip on or snack on — and if you want to share, even better. 🌿 What to expect: Chill indoor/outdoor setup (lounge + courtyard) Great opportunity to actually mingle and hang out longer Music, conversation, and a more “house party” style vibe A mix of regulars and new faces (20s & 30s crowd) ⏰ When: Friday, June 5 | 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM 📍 Where: 800 Rockwell Ave, Gaithersburg, MD 🔐 Important: I’ll send out the door code and entry details the day of the event to those who RSVP. ✨ What to bring: Your drink(s) of choice Snacks or food if you’d like Good energy Please RSVP so I can plan accordingly and share access details. Let’s kick off the summer the right way — this is one you won’t want to miss

Regular coffee meetup for people to meet, make new friends, or enjoy general conversations with coffee. Great for those who are new in town or looking for new activities to do! This will be held at Weird Brothers Coffee at Worldgate Centre in Herndon. Afterwards, if anyone is interested, we can grab lunch at whichever nearby restaurant in the shopping center. There’s a TGI Friday’s, a Thai place, a Mexican place, Inchin’s Asian fusion restaurant, and we are open to alternative preferences. Additional Note: If you are on the Wait List, you can still feel free to attend if you wish.

Come join us for a taste of Korean, Japanese & Chinese cuisine at Tilly's Kitchen in Chantilly, where we get together for some dinner and play some board games until closing time. This will be a smaller event, due to the small capacity. If you are waitlisted, please standby until a spot opens up.

May is a great month for Asian festivals in the DC area, so let's pay a visit to another local one that we enjoy! Old Town Fairfax Business Association (OTFBA) partners with local business owners and the City of Fairfax to bring you the 6th Annual Asian Festival on Main 2026! This special event was created to bring the community together and celebrate our cultural diversity through food, arts & crafts, entertainment, and education. 60+ Food Vendors and 60+ Non-Food vendors and exhibitions will also be showcased to highlight Asian food, culture, and traditions from local and out-of-state Asian business owners, as well as some business owners from Old Town Fairfax, Virginia. Here's the website for further info: [https://asianfestivalonmain.com/](https://asianfestivalonmain.com/) Let's meetup around 1:00 PM in front of Courtside Thai and then enter together. Try not to be late! Free parking is available in the ["Old Town Plaza Fairfax Public Parking"](https://goo.gl/maps/AxHiegd2r1MDGuwq9?coh=178571&entry=tt) garage (and maybe on the street if you get lucky). You don't necessarily need a ticket, but if you find a site for it and want to register for one, it'll help with their planning if you do. As always communicate through the message boards if you're trying to find us! We'll try to post up at certain times so you can catch up with us, but of course, being on time is highly advised! \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- If you have Instagram, you can check out our account at asiandiningandadventuregroup for photos and announcements of group outings!

Meet & stroll over to the pavilion for free live music rock. Wear Yacht rock inspired attire. Bring lawn chair, if you can't stand 3 yrs. Music starts at 7:30 Saturdays May 16-Aug at RTC: Sip & Stroll alcoholic beverages from participating restaurants within the event footprint beginning at 6:00 PM. **Participating Sip & Stroll Restaurants:** Capital Burger CitySwing Fogo de Chao North Italia Sixty Vines Ted’s Bulletin True Food Kitchen Makers Union Uncle Julio’s