Data Art

Title: Frontrunners, the Mid-Atlantic's AI conference! You're invited to the Frontrunners AI conference, March 27th, in Arlington, VA at GMU's Van Metre Hall. Frontrunners will be a single day tech conference this year featuring AI and data topics. You can read all about Frontrunners here: [Frontrunners](https://frontrunners.tech/) If you want to speak at Frontrunners, submit your talk here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSedNNa4N64vgfsvAtGcBngKJrtd3h1_x0T019GTW-rSwCj0jQ/viewform This is a paid event, so you will have to register at the Frontrunners AI site or at the direct registration link is as follows (but please also RSVP on this meetup to help us reach others): https://frontrunners.ticketspice.com/frontrunners-2026 Thanks. We hope to see you there.

**SEVERAL SEATS ADDED — register now to ensure your spot!** **A comprehensive 2-day class in machine quilting with Catherine Redford as you learn to finish your quilts on your domestic machine!** Begin your first day with a brief overview of Catherine’s steps for success, and then start to stitch while enjoying all the control of your walking foot. On day two, discover the magic of free motion quilting in a relaxed, no-criticism- allowed setting. Class will discuss using colored threads, combining walking foot and free motion motifs, and try adding hand stitching for maximum impact. \*\*\* Due to the size or other requirements of the class or concurrent scheduling, some classes are in our second-floor space: access is via stairs only. Registrations for all Artistic Artifacts classes MUST be paid for [through our website](https://artisticartifacts.com/collections/wk), or via a visit to our shop at 4750 Eisenhower Avenue. We encourage you to RSVP here, but to ensure your seat you MUST follow through via our website. [View our complete class policies »](https://artisticartifacts.com/pages/class-policies)

This is a unique event. More than 20 embassies from countries that have French speakers will have booths with incredible home-made food and interesting wines and beer. The catch is that it's always packed, but there is always plenty of food. So if you like to sample all kinds of foods, enjoy dancing, and don't mind the crowds and the splurge (around $60 including food, and drinks for the first two hours), it is a yummy, fun-filled party with a distinct French accent! I waited a couple days to post to make sure tickets are still available. It usually sells out pretty quickly. **\*\*Here is [the link](https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/2026lgf?utm_source=wordfly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MAR26eMLaGrandeFete3.2.26&utm_content=version_A&promo=287221) to buy the tickets.\*\*** Also it's not a walk-around-with-the-group kind of event, though we will try to meet up later in the evening when the live musical entertainment starts. Just too crowded. The key is to get in line outside as early as possible - by 6 pm if you can. That will give you about 30 minutes of access to all the food booths before it gets nuts. The annual month-long Francophonie Cultural Festival spotlights the music, art, literature, film, cuisine, and customs of French-speaking countries and regions from across the globe. One of the celebration’s highlights, La Grande Fête is always *magnifique*, and this year’s bash is no exception. The don’t-miss event is your passport for a world tour of francophone cultures. Starting at 7 p.m., sample food and drink from more than 20 embassies as you explore each nation’s unique attractions and traditions. Participating organizations and countries include France, Belgium, Guinea, Canada, Gabon, Kosovo, Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco, French-American Chamber of Commerce, Tunisia, Québec, Central African Republic, Alliance Française of Washington, DC, Democratic Republic of the Congo—and that’s just the start of the growing list. This year’s live entertainment features TBD.

Greetings! \*A Few Quick, Important Notes\*: 1. Location/Further Details/Tickets required at: [https://thewashingtonforum.com/showcase-social-march-2026/](https://thewashingtonforum.com/showcase-social-march-2026/) 2. A Free RSVP on Meetup is NOT a ticket for admission to this event. This is NOT a free event. Thanks! 3. Can't make this one, but interested in future events? [https://forms.gle/4Pnws1HBn5M89Ro28](https://forms.gle/4Pnws1HBn5M89Ro28) \*\*\* You are cordially invited you to a **SHOWCASE SOCIAL** Join us to meet people from a wide variety of backgrounds and fields as we come together for meaningful conversation and new connections. In an era when so much interaction happens online, evenings like this provide a chance to connect face-to-face and share ideas in good company. We will be showcasing work from local alumni artists. We are also inviting distinguished people in various fields to highlight some of the intellectual capital here in the DMV. These people will be leading conversation hubs in their field of expertise. **Food & Drink Specials for our Group until 7:00 pm.** In an era where so much of our interaction is filtered through screens and scrolls, opportunities for **Face-to-Face (F2F) interaction** are more valuable than ever. There’s something irreplaceable about real dialogue—about enjoying a laugh, an idea, or a story in real time with others who share your curiosity! Feel free to forward this invitation to friends. I look forward to seeing you on **Friday 27 March**! Yours,  **John Hanshaw** **Questions? Feel free to reach out at:** [https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhanshaw/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhanshaw/)

Come celebrate the golden anniversary of the showcase transit of Washington, the Metrorail! We'll be traveling back and forth over the original stretch of the Red line that opened on March 27, 1976, distributing [t-shirts](https://transitenthusiastsdc.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/t-shirt-order-form.pdf), balloons and stickers. Once we've spread our cheer, we'll retire to the Metro Bar just outside the Rhode Island Avenue station to reminisce and celebrate more. Join us! **NOTE**: Our "official" celebration begins at 4:30. We may add a noontime celebration if there is enough interest. Please email me at williamrice63@gmail.com if you'd like to participate in the earlier event. **ALSO NOTE**: WMATA has of this writing not yet announced what it is doing to celebrate. We will monitor its communications and keep you updated if we adjust our activities to accommodate the agency's plans.

Let us get together and plot to conquer the world!:) ***GRAB A DRINK AND YOU ARE ALL SET TO FLEX YOUR LANGUAGE CAPACITY. YOU NEED TO GET AT LEAST A DRINK OR FOOD:) To get the event going and show support. We know that you like our events. P.S. : We have non-alcoholic drinks as well.*** ***Tate has been doing crypto and investment for years and he will share his immense experience.*** We have a tiny venue and we hit capacity often and early arrival is suggested. We have the discretion to decide entry. Instead of silently doing research on your own, it is well known that when you are regularly connected with people of your own investment interest, you are likely to be more motivated, better informed and less likely to miss out on opportunities. Meet and discuss face-to-face. **HOW IT WORKS : We will try to assign tables for each represented INDUSTRIES/SECTORS/SPECIALIZATIONS and will direct attendees to their respective tables accordingly. All industries are welcome! However we don't guarantee the availability of a partner in that particular field, you would like to exchange experience. Space is limited and advance RSVP is required. PLEASE BRING BUSINESS CARDS (Hard/Soft Copy).** THIS IS NOT A SEMINAR or A PANEL EVENT AND THERE WILL BE NO SPEAKER. It is just a happy hour social event for those interested. In the past we had a great mix of developers, miners, investors, blockchainers and people who are completely new to cryptos. \- Come one\, come all OR FLY SOLO; this is the most friendliest event you have ever attended\! \- Feel free to invite your friends\. They don't necessarily have to be a member \- Event is 21\+ ***AFTER THE HAPPY HOUR, WE WILL HIT THE DANCE FLOOR AND DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY. BRING YOUR DANCING SHOES!*** ***N.B. : We have ZERO TOLERANCE for solicitation. We don't allow anyone to run their own agenda at the Event. If you are interested to promote/sponsor/collaborate; contact us via ([info@merevents.com](http://info@merevents.com/)).*** [)

If you have ever wanted to try creating an artwork in clay, you don't want to miss out on this workshop. Even if you have experience with clay, you can take your time experimenting and build on your skills. In this workshop, you'll learn how to hand-build a ceramic piece. What you create is up to you! Register here: [https://brandywineartlounge.com/workshops/](https://brandywineartlounge.com/workshops/) Three timeslots available: 10 AM - 12 PM 1 PM - 3 PM 3 PM - 5 PM Registration fees: $30 Plus $10 for firing Price Total: $40.00 *Additional fees for firing and glazing.*

This is a **four-part community art workshop series**, where participants will collaborate to create a **public artwork that will be exhibited in May**. Participants are required to attend **all four workshops**. Please **sign up using the link below first**, and then **RSVP on the Meetup group**. [https://forms.gle/kdKdZ91zZYcrBgGC9](https://forms.gle/kdKdZ91zZYcrBgGC9) **Community Member Call: Public Art Project** Your story becomes public art. Art in Daily Spaces 2026 invites you to join a community-based public art project where you don’t need to be a professional artist to join. No prior exhibition experience required. If you’re curious, creative, and open to collaboration, you are welcome. Journey of Belonging explores themes of movement, home, identity, roots, and connection. Together, we will share stories, create art, and transform everyday space into a meaningful public installation. **Who Can Join** • Anyone interested in art and community • No professional art background required • Local residents, emerging creatives - all are welcome **This Project Is For You If ...** • You have ever wondered, “Can I be part of an art exhibition?” • You want to turn personal or community stories into art • You enjoy creating with people, not just for yourself **Workshop Venue & Schedule** Four-Session Community Art Workshop Series **John Calvin Presbyterian Church** **(6531 Columbia Pike, Annandale VA 22003)** **• Saturday, March 28, 1-3 PM** **• Sunday, March 29, 1-3 PM** **• Monday, March 30, 7-9 PM** **• Tuesday, March 31, 7-9 PM** "Your journey matters. Your presence creates belonging."

This is a **four-part community art workshop series**, where participants will collaborate to create a **public artwork that will be exhibited in May**. Participants are required to attend **all four workshops**. Please **sign up using the link below first**, and then **RSVP on the Meetup group**. https://forms.gle/kdKdZ91zZYcrBgGC9 **Community Member Call: Public Art Project** Your story becomes public art. Art in Daily Spaces 2026 invites you to join a community-based public art project where you don’t need to be a professional artist to join. No prior exhibition experience required. If you’re curious, creative, and open to collaboration, you are welcome. Journey of Belonging explores themes of movement, home, identity, roots, and connection. Together, we will share stories, create art, and transform everyday space into a meaningful public installation. **Who Can Join** • Anyone interested in art and community • No professional art background required • Local residents, emerging creatives - all are welcome **This Project Is For You If ...** • You have ever wondered, “Can I be part of an art exhibition?” • You want to turn personal or community stories into art • You enjoy creating with people, not just for yourself **Workshop Venue & Schedule** Four-Session Community Art Workshop Series  **John Calvin Presbyterian Church** **(6531 Columbia Pike, Annandale VA 22003)** **• Saturday, March 28, 1-3 PM** **• Sunday, March 29, 1-3 PM** **• Monday, March 30, 7-9 PM** **• Tuesday, March 31, 7-9 PM** "Your journey matters. Your presence creates belonging."

We are looking for volunteers to help support our community art workshops. Please sign up!

Our next event will be at Tatte Bakery at City Center. There is space to draw inside or out and there are beautiful cherry blossom decorations in the area for inspiration. Gabriel, who will be hosting this week, will have a meetup sign. Photo by [Evan Wise](https://unsplash.com/@evanthewise?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/a-cup-of-coffee-sitting-on-top-of-a-saucer-NFWaoPmPOpk?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash)

See the arts of Asia's most ancient civilization for free on Saturday, March 28th, from noon to 1 PM at the Asian Art Museum! The Asian Art Museum is located at 1050 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC. We'll meet at the West Building Information Desk. Please be on time. The tour starts promptly at noon. HOW TO GET THERE The Asian Art Museum is steps away from the Smithsonian Metro Stop (located on the Orange/Blue/Silver Lines). Use the 12th St. at Jefferson Dr. SW (the Mall) exit, then cross the street southbound to enter the West Building (Freer Gallery of Art). Then proceed to the Information Desk. HOW TO FIND US I am a white woman with long wavy brown hair. I will be wearing red glasses and carrying a blue backpack and a walking stick. If you have trouble finding us, please call or text me at 202-802-3238. DINING The Moongate Cafe is open daily from 10 am - 4 pm in the East Building (Arthur Sackler Gallery) of the Asian Art Museum. HEALTH & SAFETY I will take a COVID/flu test. If I test positive or am sick, I will stay home and isolate. If I am well and test negative, I'll be there! I will post the Metro Service adjustments the week before the event. See you soon, Jenny

Welcome to the Art School - 20's & 30's artists Meetup group! This is a community for young artists who are passionate about exploring different mediums and techniques in the world of art. Whether you're a painter, sculptor, photographer, or mixed media artist, this group is the perfect place to connect with like-minded individuals, have a space to work on your craft, and showcase your work. Let's inspire and support each other on our artistic journeys! Whether you're a novice or a seasoned artist, all skill levels are welcome. Join us and unleash your creativity! This month we will be discussing **Frank Santoro**, an American cartoonist, painter, and comics critic known for his expressive lines, experimental page layouts, and vibrant use of color. His graphic novels—including *Storeyville*, *Pompeii*, and *Pittsburgh*—blend personal storytelling with innovative visual structure, often exploring memory, place, and relationships. In addition to his comics, Santoro has been an influential voice in comics education and criticism, co-founding the magazine *ComicsComics* and creating the **Santoro Correspondence Course for Comic Book Makers**, which has helped train and inspire a new generation of cartoonists. Afterwards, we will have time to work on our individual art projects, hang out, and if anyone is interested in feedback on their work, there will be time for that as well.

The Fellowship of the Star Schema: Transforming OLTP Data for Power BI One does not simply build reports on OLTP data. Join us on an epic journey from the depths of raw, normalized tables to the shining halls of a well-modeled star schema fit for Power BI greatness. We will demystify the differences between OLTP and OLAP, walk through star schema vs snowflake (and why Power BI has a clear favorite), and show you the compression differences between normalized and columnar storage that will make you never look at an OLTP model the same way again. We will cover the different types of dimensions, when to use them, and how to handle Slowly Changing Dimensions without losing your mind. You will leave knowing exactly how to identify a bad model, how to convert OLTP data into a clean star schema, and how to forge relationships that rule them all. Whether you are a data wizard, a curious hobbit, or somewhere in between, your models will never be the same.

**The Data-Driven Brand: Using Analytics to Shape Perception** Can you use analytics to improve tacos? This being CBUSDAW, we think the answer is probably “yes”, but we’re not sure how to implement or test this theory. For our April meetup we’ve got Sara Kear, CMO of Condado Tacos, to investigate this delicious question. Sara will explore how she blends quantitative data and qualitative customer feedback to shape brand positioning and drive business decisions. We all know that marketing and analytics go way beyond attribution. Sara will show how Condado uses customer insights to inform product and pricing strategy. She’ll also highlight how Condado leverages customer feedback at scale to influence operational priorities, positioning marketing as the voice of the customer across the organization. In the last 12 years Condado has gone from one location in Columbus to 52 locations across 10 states, so we’re guessing there’s more to that growth than really good guac (though the guac probably helps). Ultimately, this talk focuses on the intersection of art and science—using data to inform creativity and build a brand that resonates with customers in a measurable way. **About Our Speaker** Sara Kear is Chief Marketing Officer at Condado Tacos, where she oversees brand, restaurant design, menu and pricing strategy, off-premise including catering, and customer data strategy. Since joining in 2021, she has helped grow the brand from 19 to 52 locations while building a data-driven marketing organization focused on loyalty and customer insights. Condado has since been named to the Inc. 5000, recognized as Breakout Retailer by Chain Store Age, and consistently ranked among FastCasual’s Top 100 Movers & Shakers. Thanks to our 2026 sponsors: [Clarivoy](https://www.clarivoy.com), [What Box Consulting Group](https://www.whatboxconsultinggroup.com), [Conductrics](https://www.conductrics.com), and [Piwik PRO](https://piwik.pro) More info at [cbusdaw.com](https://cbusdaw.com)

The April Ohio North Database Training user group meeting will be held on **April 7th, 2026 at 5:00PM**. This will be a **HYBRID** event and we will be joined online by **Kayla Boor**. You're welcome to come meet in-person at our meeting location, the offices of Improving at **[6000 Freedom Square Dr,](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Improving/@41.4004167,-81.6614462,17z/data=!3m2!4b1!5s0x8830e5b8255c5919:0xd8297060eb68fe04!4m6!3m5!1s0x8830dc7a0fe35dc9:0xbfc4710ecadfc5c!8m2!3d41.4004127!4d-81.6588713!16s%2Fg%2F1hm3hkqp3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDQzMC4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D)** **[Unit 110,](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Improving/@41.4004167,-81.6614462,17z/data=!3m2!4b1!5s0x8830e5b8255c5919:0xd8297060eb68fe04!4m6!3m5!1s0x8830dc7a0fe35dc9:0xbfc4710ecadfc5c!8m2!3d41.4004127!4d-81.6588713!16s%2Fg%2F1hm3hkqp3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDQzMC4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D)** **[Independence, OH 44131](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Improving/@41.4004167,-81.6614462,17z/data=!3m2!4b1!5s0x8830e5b8255c5919:0xd8297060eb68fe04!4m6!3m5!1s0x8830dc7a0fe35dc9:0xbfc4710ecadfc5c!8m2!3d41.4004127!4d-81.6588713!16s%2Fg%2F1hm3hkqp3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDQzMC4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D)** [Teams Link ](https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/22562814501129?p=w1cSxeUXFTVeIpZiMw)if anyone needs it after RSVP-ing for in person. If you would like to subscribe to our email list outside of Meetup, we have changed platforms recently and you will need to register [here in Kit ](https://ohio-north-data-training.kit.com/b8f036f615)instead to receive emails. Agenda: **5:00 PM EST**: Online and in-person meeting begins with a social hour. This is an unstructured hour where you can join us to catch up and meet other group members before the session starts. There will be food brought in for in-person attendees. **6:00 PM EST**: Updates and announcements, followed by our feature presentation. See below for presentation details. **7:30 PM EST**: Optionally after the main presentations, the in-person crowd may go out for snacks and drinks at a local establishment. We hope to see you there! Session Abstract **Accidental friends: How a DBA and an SRE worked together to optimize the system.** This session is focused on how to communicate effectively between teams to improve alert fatigue, performance, and observability. \*\*NEW SPEAKER \*Please note, that we will be using Microsoft Teams for the online portion of this meeting. You may want to join a few minutes early to ensure you do not have any issues. If you are attending in person, there are large TVs at the office, and you do not need to bring a laptop or use Teams.

NFT's are here to stay folks! This is a group for like minded people interested in understanding, leveraging, using, creating for, profiting from, trading too i suppose, NFT's.. everything around them, complexity, fear and exploits, best practices and more. **PLUS** This group will talk AI ART tools, techniques, artists, video, audio, prototypes and more in the AI assisted production space- ART specifically, but we can get into any aspect of some of the cooler things happening in AI in general.

**Improving Office in Franklinton** Physical location: Improving Office 330 Rush Alley Suite #150 Columbus, OH 43215 Schedule: 6:00 p.m.: Socialize, eat, and drink. Improving will be providing pizza and beverages. 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Main meeting and presentation(s). Topic: Type Annotations with John Cassidy We meet on the last Monday of each Month. Presentations are given by members and friends of this group. If you would like to do a presentation (small or large) on a python topic, please contact Central OH Python at centralohpython@gmail.com

**First meetup of the Columbus AI Engineering group.** We’ll kick things off with a practical, beginner-friendly discussion on: **How LLMs like ChatGPT actually work — and how to build real applications with them.** We’ll cover: * what’s actually happening under the hood (at a high level) * why LLMs behave the way they do (hallucinations, prompt sensitivity, etc.) * how people are building real systems with them today * where things break in practice This will be a **short, informal talk (\~15–20 min)** followed by open discussion and Q&A. Whether you’re an engineer, builder, or just curious about how modern AI systems work, you’re welcome to join. No slides, no fluff — just real conversation about real systems. We’ll hang out afterward and get to know each other.