Doodle Playdates

Join Neurodivergent District for a night of camaraderie over karaoke, classic arcade games, and good food at Alexandria’s **Continues Arcade** on **Wednesday, February 11** for a little Valentine’s Day “pregame.” We plan to arrive by **6:30 PM** for our reservation; karaoke runs **7:00–10:00 PM**, and arriving early helps with signing up to sing and ordering food/drinks. Co-hosted by Patrick Rohan — he pitched this event (if you’d like to show appreciation, you can donate by Venmoing **@katewoodwardcm** and putting **“Patrick”** in the note). This venue can be **loud and overstimulating** for some, so please feel free to bring supports that help (earplugs, noise-canceling headphones, taking breaks outside, etc.). And no pressure to sing — you’re welcome to cheer others on and/or just come to socialize. **Please note:** you’re responsible for any arcade/food/drink charges you accrue. We look forward to seeing you.

Ever had the thought that a friend of yours would really benefit from a proper introduction? ✨ This meetup is built around exactly that. Friends are invited to introduce someone they care about to the room — sharing a few thoughtful details about who they are, what they enjoy, and the kind of connection they’re open to. It’s simple, respectful, and intentionally low-pressure. No swiping 📵. No forced mingling. Just real people being introduced in a more human way 🤍. 🙋‍♂️🙋‍♀️ Who is this event for • Singles who are tired of dating apps • People who trust their friends’ judgment • Anyone open to meeting someone organically • Friends who love playing matchmaker • LGBTQ Friendly ⸻ 💡 How It Works 🎤 Pitching a Friend • Pitches are submitted in advance through a Google Form (link below 📝). • A friend is encouraged to present the pitch, with the host available to assist as needed. • If preferred, the host can present the pitch entirely, or co-present with the friend. This is meant to keep things comfortable and moving at an easy pace. ⸻ 📂 Pitch Format Pitches may be shared as: • A short slideshow • A 1–3 page PDF • A video collage 🎥 Suggested content includes: • Personality and general vibe ✨ • Interests and hobbies 🌍 • What they value in connection 🤝 • What kind of connection they’re open to 💫 • Photos or light, tasteful humor if helpful 🙂 ⸻ ⏱️ Timing • Each pitch is 3–5 minutes • The host will help manage timing so the evening flows smoothly and everyone is included ⸻ 🥂 After the Pitches: Social Mixer Once the pitches wrap up, we’ll roll right into a relaxed social mixer. This is time to: • Continue conversations sparked by the pitches 💬 • Meet people you didn’t already know 👋 • Follow up organically, without pressure 🌱 The mixer is casual, open, and designed to let connections develop naturally. ⸻ 📝 Submitting a Pitch Please click on the link below to submit your pitch https://forms.gle/T79RzL5yv4a1JhK58 The Google Form will ask you to: • Upload your slideshow, PDF, or video • Confirm the person being introduced is aware and comfortable ✅ • Share basic details (age, location, about them) • Provide a short summary the host can reference if needed Submissions may be lightly adjusted for clarity or timing. ⸻ 💬 Expressing Interest After a pitch: • Those who feel a connection may: • Briefly express interest after the pitch, or • Speak with the host privately 🤍 - Approach the indidual you’re interested in during the social hour Follow-ups and introductions will take place off-stage, and can continue naturally during the mixer. ⸻ 🎟️ Entry This is a ticketed event. $10 at the door, which includes one drink — your choice of a cocktail, beer, or wine 🍸🍺🍷 Payment options: cash, credit/debit, Apple Pay, zelle ⸻ ✅ A Few Guidelines • Keep things kind and considerate • No roasting or uncomfortable stories 🚫 • Everyone introduced must be single and open to meeting new people • The tone is relaxed, thoughtful, and respectful throughout ✨ ⸻ 🎯 Why This Format Works • Friends often describe us better than profiles do • Introductions feel more natural than cold approaches • Conversation starts with context, not guesswork You’re welcome to pitch someone, attend and observe, or simply see how the evening unfolds. 👉 RSVP and submit a pitch if you’d like to participate 💫

We’re still working to get more people into these Meetups, but our goal is to give PlayYourCourt members a few social tennis outings each week in addition to your practice sessions and Challenge League matches. These Meetups are co-ed, super laid back, and all skill levels are welcome. Post your skill level and a suggested court in the comments section so we can round up as many players as we can for some tennis fun! Also, if you’re looking to meet new practice partners or play some matches and you aren’t already in the PlayYourCourt Community, you can go here to see what we’re all about and sign up: https://www.playyourcourt.com/tennis-community/silver-spring-md/meetup/ If you love tennis, we’d love to have you! Be sure and watch the quick video that explains how everything works. Happy hitting! - Scott

**\*TO ATTEND GET TICKET AT - [https://www.socialevents123.com/event-details.aspx?id=13268#tix](https://www.socialevents123.com/event-details.aspx?id=13268#tix)** (Multiple Meetup groups are co-organizing so the RSVP's shown are just a very small portion attending. ) This is the ADULT version of our very popular Survey Says game. There is nothing X-rated, but some of the questions would be considered R-rated or involve adult themes. HOW IT WORKS: This completely online event will be LIVE and you will be able to see and hear the other participants while playing. In addition you will get to meet and interact with other participants. At game time, your host will read off several survey questions on a variety of topics. Your goal is to come up with the number one answer to each question and write it down on your paper. Once the round is over (about 6 questions), we will go through the answers and determine who had the highest score for the round. The winners will get a raffle ticket for a chance to win a prize at the end of the event. Prizes will be an Amazon Gift card! HOW DO YOU FIND THE ONLINE EVENT ROOM: Zoom link will be emailed to you DAY OF THE EVENT. RSVPS on here are NOT reflective of actual attendance as this is a multi group event. Prepay required at **[https://www.socialevents123.com/event-details.aspx?id=13268#tix](https://www.socialevents123.com/event-details.aspx?id=13268#tix)** **For more fun events:** **Follow: [https://www.eventbrite.com/o/new-york-city-social-events-10797526283](https://www.eventbrite.com/o/new-york-city-social-events-10797526283)** **Click: [https://dljparty.ticketleap.com/](https://dljparty.ticketleap.com/)**

We’re still working to get more people into these Meetups, but our goal is to give PlayYourCourt members a few social tennis outings each week in addition to your practice sessions and Challenge League matches. These Meetups are co-ed, super laid back, and all skill levels are welcome. Post your skill level and a suggested court in the comments section so we can round up as many players as we can for some tennis fun! Also, if you’re looking to meet new practice partners or play some matches and you aren’t already in the PlayYourCourt Community, you can go here to see what we’re all about and sign up: https://www.playyourcourt.com/tennis-community/arlington-va/meetup/ If you love tennis, we’d love to have you! Be sure and watch the quick video that explains how everything works. Happy hitting! - Scott

Cooking with Cupid is a flirty, fun-filled singles cooking experience where participants learn to whip up fresh, heart-healthy meals perfect for a Valentine’s date night. This one-of-a-kind program blends hands-on cooking, light nutrition tips, and playful icebreakers to help guests connect while they chop, stir, and plate romantic, restaurant-quality dishes they can easily recreate at home. With upbeat music, themed décor, and simple but impressive recipes, Cooking with Cupid gives singles a confidence boost in the kitchen and a new menu of “wow” worthy ideas to cook for a current crush, future Valentine, or even a self-care date for one. **Registration Required. Ages 18 & up; FREE** Suitland Community Center **[REGISTER THROUGH PARKS DIRECT](https://mdpgparksweb.myvscloud.com/webtrac/web/search.html?display=detail&FMID=551514831&Module=PST&_csrf_token=gb6T6T6Z0B022B4E1R3M404E5O4G6G6B025U5T5K500E5H4L555J1H6W4Q564Y1B5V4M573W05604F5H4V0M5Q5W5D506Y6V4L6N4V615P4W6E6E6Y60606J6J035J4D59)** For fastest response to any questions, or for more information, please contact Health and Wellness directly via email [wellness@pgparks.com](http://wellness@pgparks.com/)

We return to the Westminster Sportsplex for an encore Valentine's themed play party. I'll have photo backdrops as usual and light refreshments for humans. Please make sure to have all vaccinations and to pick up after your corgis if they go inside. The back door should allow you opportunity to take potty breaks to avoid accidents indoors. $10 donations welcome to help defer expenses. To avoid any confusion - THIS IS NOT A HUMAN DATING EVENT! WE ARE CORGI LOVERS!

**Paws, Pints & Puppy Love: Valentine’s Day Singles Meetup** Looking for love… or at least a new friend who thinks your dog is as cute as you do? Join us for a Valentine’s Day gathering designed for singles who own dogs (or just adore them.) We’ll be meeting at **Dog Daze Social Club**, a dog-friendly restaurant and social space where pups are welcome and conversations come easy. Whether you arrive with your four-legged wingman or simply want to meet other dog-loving singles, this is a relaxed, playful way to spend Valentine’s Day without pressure or awkward small talk. Expect: * A warm, casual atmosphere * Plenty of dogs to pet and talk about * Food and drinks available for purchase * A mix of people who love dogs as much as you do No speed dating. No forced activities. Just good company, wagging tails, and an easy way to meet new people. (maybe that special someone...) **Location:** Dog Daze Social Club - in a heated tent (so outside, for your awareness) 1100 Rhode Island Ave NW Washington, DC 20005 **Date:** Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2026 Bring your dog if you have one. Bring yourself if you don’t. Either way, you’re welcome. (But you must love dogs!) ***Important note:*** *Before attending, please review Dog Daze Social Club’s house rules to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone. Dogs must meet age and vaccination requirements, follow leash and collar rules, and display friendly behavior, while humans are asked to supervise their pups, clean up after them, and respect the facility’s guidelines. **The limit for dogs brought to the venue is 2**, and staff may enforce time-outs or removal for unsafe behavior.* Due to reservation limitations, no +1's are allowed. Full rules and details can be found here: https://dogdazedc.com/rules/

Come have some fun with your little one(s) at the Woodside Urban Park. Make a swing buddy. Explore one of downtown Silver Spring's park. Woodside Urban Park is located a the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Spring Street, across from Bank of America. The park has plenty of trees for shade. Two different play ages for younger and older kids to have fun. Hope to see you there.

**Masterpieces in Real Life – DC Art Brunch Series** Inspired by this [Deconstructing.AI article](https://deconstructing.ai/blog-1/f/where-america-keeps-its-masterpieces), this series visits the most important artworks and objects in Washington in small, relaxed Sunday outings. We’ll look closely at 2–3 works, share the human stories behind them, and then continue the conversation over brunch nearby. Not a formal tour—just curious people learning to see together. I'll share a little background on the art and venue pairing for each outing. SCHEDULE & PAIRINGS **1) Leonardo & Vermeer – The Quiet Room** **Sunday, 12:30–3:30** **Art:** • Leonardo – *Ginevra de’ Benci* • Vermeer – *Woman Holding a Balance* • Bonus: Monet *Japanese Footbridge* **Meet:** National Gallery West Building, Constitution Ave entrance **Brunch after (3 min walk):** **The Smith – Penn Quarter** – bright, easy tables, good for groups **Masterpieces in Real Life #1 – Leonardo & Vermeer** We’ll begin where Washington quietly keeps two of the most intimate paintings in the world. Leonardo da Vinci’s *Ginevra de’ Benci* is the only Leonardo in the Americas, yet it behaves nothing like a celebrity. The panel is small, moody, and slightly wounded—its lower edge trimmed centuries ago, taking Ginevra’s hands with it. What remains is a face suspended between confidence and doubt, framed by juniper leaves that pun on her name. Nearby, Vermeer’s *Woman Holding a Balance* performs a different kind of magic: a domestic scene so still you can almost hear the dust settling. The scales may hold pearls or nothing at all; scholars still argue, which is part of the pleasure. The National Gallery’s West Building is the perfect stage for this slow kind of looking—marble floors that encourage quiet footsteps and skylit rooms that make even hurried visitors lower their voices. We’ll wander from Leonardo to Vermeer and then to Monet’s luminous bridge, tracing how artists turned light into a language. No lectures, no exams—just stories about missing hands, hidden pigments, and the surprising ways these works ended up in Washington instead of Florence or Delft. After the gallery, we’ll walk a few minutes to **The Smith** in Penn Quarter, a bright brasserie that feels like the cheerful cousin of the museum: high ceilings, good bread, and tables made for lingering conversations. Over brunch we’ll compare first impressions—Did Vermeer feel calm or unsettling? Is Leonardo’s Ginevra shy or simply unimpressed with us?—and let the art continue to do what it does best: start arguments among friends. *** \*\*\*\*\* Coming Up Next\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* ### 2) Van Gogh / Degas / Rodin – Bodies & Minds **Sunday, 12:30–3:30** **Art:** • Van Gogh *Self-Portrait* • Degas *Little Dancer* • Rodin *The Thinker* **Lunch (4 min walk):** **Oyamel** – lively but not loud, great sharing plates *** ### 3) America in Objects **Sunday, 12:00–3:00** **Art & Objects:** • Star-Spangled Banner • Greensboro Lunch Counter • Julia Child’s Kitchen • Ruby Slippers **Lunch (2 min walk):** **Carmine’s Penn Quarter** – easy large tables *** ### 4) Flight & Moon – Fragile Futures **Sunday, 12:30–3:00** **Art/Engineering:** • Apollo 11 Columbia • Wright Flyer **Lunch (5 min walk):** **Cafe Riggs** – calm, elegant, conversation-friendly *** ### 5) Memory in Stone – Evening Light Edition **Sunday, 1:00–3:30** **Art:** • Lincoln Memorial • Vietnam Memorial **Lunch (before walk – 12:00):** **Tonic at Quigley’s** – reliable, close to Mall *** ### 6) The Hope Diamond & the Stories We Invent **Sunday, 12:30–3:00** **Art:** • Hope Diamond • Geology hall **Lunch (5 min walk):** **Old Ebbitt Grill** – classic DC, easy meet point *** ## FLOW OF EACH EVENT **12:30** – Meet outside museum **12:35–2:00** – Slow look at 2–3 works **2:00** – Walk together to lunch **2:10–3:30** – Brunch/lunch + conversation

Come join us for a fun, relaxing day of hanging out, arts & crafts, and board games at the NoVA Prism Center! We will be providing supplies for various arts and crafts, but feel free to bring your own project or supplies as well! We will also have board games ready for use for anyone not artistically inclined (\*cough\*like Velvet\*cough\*) who still wants to join in and chill with friends. Be sure to bring some games from your own collection as well, as ours will be somewhat limited. In addition, this is a fursuit friendly event! This is a FREE event, and is all ages! Everyone is welcome. This will take place at the [NoVA Prism Center](https://novaprismcenter.gay/), a locally-run 501(c)(3) organization/community center for queer folks in Northern VA. The staff at the NoVA Prism Center have very generously allowed us to use their facilities for this event for free, so please have the utmost respect for your surroundings, and clean up after yourselves. The NoVA Prism Center is also kindly providing light snacks and beverages! ✨As a thank you to the NoVA Prism Center for letting us use their space, please consider [donating to the organization ](https://givebutter.com/3EJN5K)if you have the ability – even a few bucks here and there helps!✨ Looking forward to seeing you all there!

Let’s try MILO this week. Back to our old stomping ground COLUMBUS RECREATION CENTERS require membership fee to play. Register & Pay at the desk when you arrive. $5 day pass is available for first time players. I have some extra pickle ball paddles and balls if you don’t have one. Definitely bring your own paddle if you have one and bring some balls if you have them. Legal Stuff: The event hosts/Organizers are just fellow member volunteers. By participating in any event, you assume all risks of liability and injury inherent in these activities. You are responsible for your own safety and for determining if you are in condition fit to participate. You are also responsible for knowing and abiding by all laws and rules during your participation in any event.
 Photos & or Video: by attending these events you acknowledge photos and or video may be taken and used on this and other platforms.