Doom Metal

[Profs and Pints DC](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“The Single Lesson,”** a debunking of myths and misconceptions about singlehood and a look at research and advocacy efforts focused on the unmarried, with Craig Wynne, a professor of English at the University of the District of Columbia and pioneer in the growing field of Singles Studies. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at[ https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/dc-the-single-lesson]( https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/dc-the-single-lesson) .] All around us are messages that being “coupled up” is the norm. Shows like *The Bachelor*, 90-Day Fiancé, and *Indian Matchmaking* have people rooting and fawning for marriage. Yet, despite its supposed unpopularity, the rate of singlehood is increasing. By 2030, the Pew Research Center has projected, 25 percent of 45- to 54-year-old adults in the United States will never have married. What’s the real picture when it comes to singles? Is a growing share of the population missing out on marital bliss, or are single people on to something? Hear such questions tackled by Professor Craig Wynne, co-editor of *Singular Selves: An Introduction to Singles Studies* and author of *How to be a Happy Bachelor.* Dr. Wynne will discuss how stereotypes of singlehood are perpetuated in the media and how they influence laws, policies, and our daily social interactions in ways that harm not just single people but those who are married, cohabitating, or in a relationship. His talk will explore the concepts of “singlism,” the stereotyping and stigma around people who are not married or otherwise unpartnered; “matrimania,” over-the-top societal obsession with marriage and weddings; and “amatonormativity,” the assumption that a romantic relationship must be prioritized above all other kinds. Finally, Dr. Wynne will discuss the emergence of Singles Studies—a field devoted to granting singlehood validity in an academic context—and look at recent advocacy intended to secure single people equity in a world that still privileges being married or coupled. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image by Canva.

Interested in meeting new people, discussing and/or learning some of the old lore? Do you have a craft project you are working on? Perhaps a spiritual craft, a coloring book, or a new favorite sweater??? If so, this is for you! We have been discussing the Maria Kvilhaug books of late. Feel free to bring your own ideas. Come join us for a few hours for crafts and discussion. Topics are not predetermined; however we have been discussing Seiðr (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sei%C3%B0r), writing alliterative verse, knitting, carving, painting, and fashioning ritual tools. You can come and meet people and share knowledge of your own craft! We plan on meeting the second Wednesday of every month. This is a very laid back event where you can meet or talk with between 4 - 8 other like-minded souls.

This is a regularly held in-person integration circle and a supportive container that centered on psychedelic experiences. We co-create a space of inclusivity, compassion, and care for all. We gather to help each other integrate our journeys, find "the others", and or seek wisdom about altered states of consciousness. Arrive ready to share honestly, openly, and from the heart. Bring your insights from journeys to unpack or your questions about plant medicines and psychedelic experiences to ask the more experienced journeyers. At 7 pm we will do a short grounding exercise and a brief check-in/ice breaker. At 7:15 pm we will begin the integration circle with honest and open processing of psychedelic experiences. Your facilitators are trained in psychedelic integration and or other coaching/facilitation modalities but we are not mental health professionals, we are community members called to service in mutuality. The event is by donation as we do need to pay for the space and supplies used. The suggested donation is $10-$20/person (cash, Paypal or Venmo). Surplus above and beyond covering costs will go towards future community event facilitation and or materials.

**Do you want to play and grow with a band, without the commitment of starting a band? Join us for our Blues Jams. Great place to network with other musicians.** \*\*$10 for at the door\*\* \*\*Free for Singers and Drummers\*\* **\*Members Get in free and receive other benefits\*** **[Become a Member](https://patreon.com/DoctorStrings?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink)** **Beginner to Pro Blues jam 21+ only, BYOB. Every Thursday.** This is a smaller more practice focused event at my shop. **Open to everyone and is a learning experience for most.** Just bring your instrument(Electric), no need to bring an amp we have all of that. Do not bring a pedal board with a bunch of pedals. The amps are dialed in for blues, trust me it's all there. Drums are here already, very basic kit. If you want to bring cymbals or any other drum gear, please show up early to set up. Also please be aware that other people are going to play the kit as well.

Curious about DSA? Thinking about joining but want to hear more info first? Attended a few of our events already and ready become a member? Already a member and want to get more involved? If so, this event is for you! You'll learn about DSA, what we do, and how you can get involved in the fight for a brighter future. We'll outline our chapter's structure and our campaigns, working groups, and branches. Our chapter covers the DMV area, including the district, Northern Virginia, and Montgomery County and Prince George's County in Maryland. Please RSVP on [Action Network](https://actionnetwork.org/events/why-you-should-join-dsa-new-member-orientation-165/) to receive further updates on this event. \* \* \* This event is open to both DSA Members and supporters. Not a Member? Please consider [becoming a Member](https://dsausa.org/join?source=Metro%20DC). Fees are on a sliding scale according to what you feel you can afford.

Join us on Wednesday, February 11 at 7:30 Eastern at Busboys and Poets Takoma; or, for out-of-towners, via Zoom. Our featured tellers this month are Jessica Piscitelli Robinson and Chetter Galloway! Register or learn more: [https://fsgw.org/event-6452023](https://fsgw.org/event-6452023?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExYmJidk1nRERPWGM3dVFZWXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR45cyhwEfbx5cEQS85IVTzAM11Z9X0-qXNgay83bgLV1MB2aKtnvB-igMjc7A_aem_TJLVE9-uvHmaFP2zNXKhVw) You will get emails with reminders on the date, time, and location, as well as Zoom information. We ask for donations to support our tellers, suggested $20 per person (feel free to give more!). Donations can be made in person or online before, during, or after the show, at: [https://fsgw2.org/grapevine.html](https://fsgw2.org/grapevine.html?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExYmJidk1nRERPWGM3dVFZWXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR45cyhwEfbx5cEQS85IVTzAM11Z9X0-qXNgay83bgLV1MB2aKtnvB-igMjc7A_aem_TJLVE9-uvHmaFP2zNXKhVw) The Grapevine is spoken word performance for adults and teens, celebrating the timeless art of the story, hosted by storytellers Renée Brachfeld and Tim Livengood.

Dead of Winter is a meta-cooperative psychological survival game. This means players are working together toward one common victory condition, but for each individual player to achieve victory, they must also complete their personal secret objective, which could relate to a psychological tick that's fairly harmless to most others in the colony, a dangerous obsession that could put the main objective at risk, a desire for sabotage of the main mission, or (worst of all) vengeance against the colony! Games could end with all players winning, some winning and some losing, or all players losing. Work toward the group's goal, but don't get walked all over by a loudmouth who's looking out only for their own interests!

Ciao Amici! Let us speak Italian and grab a drink or two. ***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.*** We have a tiny venue and we hit capacity often and early arrival is suggested. We have the discretion to decide entry. Ci vediamo! ***AFTER THE HAPPY HOUR, WE HIT THE DANCE FLOOR! BRING YOUR DANCING SHOES, WE WILL DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY!*** HOW IT WORKS : We will try to assign tables for each represented languages and will direct attendees to their respective tables accordingly. Rules to abide : 1\. Event is 21\+ \(bring ID\)\. 2\. Be respectful to your counterparts and give them a chance to exchange with others as well\. 3\. We all are native speakers of one or two languages and be willing to help others and try to accommodate as much as possible\. 4\. If you don't speak the other person's required language\, LEAVE THEM ALONE\. 5\. Rude or aggressive members are removed from the group at an organizers discretion\. 6\. This is a face\-to\-face language exchange event\. DO NOT try to arrange an online meeting\, by using the comment box or direct message\. 7\. Most of our members complained about people writing in the comment box\. Since it sends notification to all attendees\. If you have any questions\, send a message to the organizers\. Don't write in the comment box\. 8\. 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 \(info@merevents\.com\)\. 9\. When you get there\, we will greet you and take you to your respective group\. 10\. Don't be shy of your local languages\. We have diplomates assigned to different countries\, who would love to practice your languages\. 11\. Be patient for the first 30 minutes\, up until we form your respective language group\.
 12\. We will have a registration station and check you in\. 13\. This is mainly a social for Intermediate/Advanced/Native Speakers\. It is not as such to learn a language\. Beginners\, if you want to learn a language\, reach out to us \([info@merevents.com](http://info@merevents.com/)). We have a school and will arrange you a class. ***AFTER THE EXCHANGE, WE HIT THE DANCE FLOOR! BRING YOUR DANCING SHOES, WE WILL DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY!***

Have a lucky Friday the 13th at Tommy Joe's with Oasis recording artist LESSON ZERO. Good food and drinks, friendly folks, no cover, parking available, and way cool music. www.youtube.com/lessonzero www.reverbnation.com/lessonzero

Let us speak Italian and grab a drink or two. 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. We have a tiny venue and we hit capacity often and early arrival is suggested. We have the discretion to decide entry. HOW IT WORKS : We will try to assign tables for each represented languages and will direct attendees to their respective tables accordingly. Rules to abide : 1\. Event is 21\+ \(bring ID\)\. 2\. Be respectful to your counterparts and give them a chance to exchange with others as well\. 3\. We all are native speakers of one or two languages and be willing to help others and try to accommodate as much as possible\. 4\. If you don't speak the other person's required language\, LEAVE THEM ALONE\. 5\. Rude or aggressive members are removed from the group at an organizers discretion\. 6\. This is a face\-to\-face language exchange event\. DO NOT try to arrange an online meeting\, by using the comment box or direct message\. 7\. Most of our members complained about people writing in the comment box\. Since it sends notification to all attendees\. If you have any questions\, send a message to the organizers\. Don't write in the comment box\. 8\. 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 \(info@merevents\.com\)\. 9\. When you get there\, we will greet you and take you to your respective group\. 10\. Don't be shy of your local languages\. We have diplomates assigned to different countries\, who would love to practice your languages\. 11\. Be patient for the first 30 minutes\, up until we form your respective language group\.
 12\. We will have a registration station and check you in\. 13\. This is mainly a social for Intermediate/Advanced/Native Speakers\. It is not as such to learn a language\. Beginners\, if you want to learn a language\, reach out to us \([info@merevents.com](http://info@merevents.com/)). We have a school and will arrange you a class. AFTER THE EXCHANGE, WE HIT THE DANCE FLOOR! BRING YOUR DANCING SHOES, WE WILL DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY!

The 23rd Annual Winter Dance celebrates the music of Buddy Holly. Richie Valens, and the Big Bopper whose genius died young in that fateful plane crash in February 1959. More than half a dozen bands, lots of musical guests and hundreds of their friends and fans will be celebrating while raising funds for [The After Dark Fun](https://www.facebook.com/AfterDarkFund/). The After Dark Fund helps local musicians with urgent financial need. Tickets are $38 with fees [Winter Dance Tix](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/23rd-annual-buddy-holly-tribute-tickets-1978432686423) Rosensteel Hall is in the Forest Glen neighborhood of Silver Spring (near the beltway and Ga Ave.). The hall has a nice dance floor, reasonably priced cash bar (free snacks are provided), plenty of free parking, and is metro accessible being a 9 minute walk from the Forest Glen Metro Station.

**Looking to** \- Help out neighbors in the DC area? \- Support a secular charity? \- Connect with other atheists and humanists? Join Atheists Helping the Homeless DC at our monthly distribution event! Atheists Helping the Homeless is a 501(c)(3) charity that distributes items like backpacks, socks, gloves, and toiletries to people in need throughout the Washington, DC region. We meet up on the second Saturday of every month outside of a homeless shelter in Silver Spring, MD, called Progress Place, and pass out whatever items we have to whoever is there. Each month we serve between 60 - 100 people. Afterwards, we usually go out for breakfast. Our goal is to provide a way for people to help each other without affiliating with a religion. Our method is to go straight to those in need, and create a welcoming and fun atmosphere to effectively create an environment where secular community can grow and thrive. If this sounds fun, see you there!

\*\*\*Meditation in our sacred space will begin promptly at 7:15 pm. Please refrain from entering after 7:15 pm. Additionally, space is limited to the first 35 attendees. Your RSVP here does not guarantee you a spot and tickets are available first come, first served.\*\*\* Donations are appreciated, and the average donation is generally $20, but all are welcome regardless of means! A portion of all proceeds will help fund the Crystal Ashram non-profit project where the Human Activation School of Expanded Consciousness will be located. A unique musical experience called a "Sound Bath" Sound bath! What's that? According to sonic specialist Monte Hansen from Annapolis MD, "A sound bath is an immersion in sound frequency that cleans your soul." Leave your rubber ducky at home. Bring your blankey instead, for this super relaxing immersion! According to cutting-edge doctors from Harvard, some of the deepest most profound healing in the body are accomplished with sound frequency. That's old news though. A 2nd century stone relief in the Himalayan mountains shows us that Buddha and his entourage knew this before Christ walked the earth. The stone relief depicts the Buddha and his buddies playing ancient Tibetan singing bowls. A sound frequency specialist from the [Human Activation School](https://humanactivation.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d88b4fea1b0f4ceaeb58f0e82&id=d6674b4603&e=465ba11f44), will be playing several of these rare Singing Bowls, some of which are over 200 years old. A magical alchemy of 7-12 different metals rings in the past, present, and future for our relaxing enchantment. Even modern doctors are using these old metal bowls for healing, and they are not practicing Buddhists! As a matter of fact, modern Buddhists no longer use the bowls in their practice. Come experience these gifts from the past in this NON-religious practice of our present. Come be rejuvenated or just captivated by this unique musical performance. Bring your pillows, blankeys, and yoga mats and snuggle into the comfort of the tranquil sounds. Feel free to sit, lay, or even stand! ***Did You Know?*** Singing bowls invite the mind and body into a tranquil state of being in which remarkable healing can occur, events that are unexplainable from a conventional biomedical perspective” *Music and the Meditative Mind: Toward the Science of the Ineffable*[Source](https://humanactivation.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d88b4fea1b0f4ceaeb58f0e82&id=9222616fc4&e=465ba11f44) "The sound bath meditation provides a nurturing space to connect and grow spiritually. The group atmosphere is welcoming and fun, and the meditation work is soothing and enriching. Loved it!"**-Cara** 7:00 pm - Meditation Reception\*\*\*Meditation in our sacred space will begin promptly at 7:15 pm. Please refrain from entering after 7:15 pm.\*\*\* 7:15 - Doors Close & Meditation Begins 8:15 - Meditation Ends, Followed by Community Reflection \*Please be respectful of Sticks and Stones employees and their instructions upon entering and exiting the space for the meditation\* A portion of all proceeds will help fund the [Crystal Ashram](https://humanactivation.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d88b4fea1b0f4ceaeb58f0e82&id=11664c3011&e=465ba11f44) non-profit project where the [Human Activation](https://humanactivation.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d88b4fea1b0f4ceaeb58f0e82&id=41699e76d8&e=465ba11f44) School of Expanded Consciousness will be located. Community sharing and engagement following after the meditation Questions? Please email [robert@humanactivation.com](http://mailto:robert@humanactivation.com/) or visit [crystalashram.com](https://humanactivation.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d88b4fea1b0f4ceaeb58f0e82&id=7d92f9b8f7&e=465ba11f44).

Join us at 11:30 a.m. for a meditation class led by Khenpo Karze, followed by a public talk and Q&A. The meditation focus varies from class to class. We are currently learning how to meditate on the Four Immeasurables: loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity. The class begins with 30 minutes of meditation instruction, followed by 5-10 minutes of meditation practice, and then continues with discussion and Q&A. Each session concludes with a brief Chenrezig practice in which we recite Om Mani Padme Hung (a prayer of compassion), and a dedication prayer that our efforts benefit all beings. This class offers a strong foundation in meditation, helping cultivate inner peace and compassion amidst busy lives. All are welcome! This program is open to anyone with an interest in Buddhism and you can come to all or any part of the program. Families are welcome. There is no fee, but donations are encouraged. Join us! Class is offered IN-PERSON in our Prayer Room and ONLINE on [Facebook Live](https://www.facebook.com/KPCBuddhistTemple/) and [YouTube Live](https://www.youtube.com/@KunzangPalyulCholing/streams). You can also watch online here: https://www.tara.org/kpc-maryland-events-calendar/ About the teacher: Khenpo Tenzin Karze graduated from Ngagyur Nyingma Institute’s intensive Buddhist graduate course in 2006, and was awarded the degree of Khenpo, equivalent to a PhD in Buddhist Philosophy, in 2011. He has received teachings and empowerments from many great Nyingma masters, and taught extensively in various Palyul temples in Nepal, India, Europe and Taiwan. This is his first time in the USA. We are delighted that Khenpo is now in residence at KPC and will be providing traditional Dharma instruction to help us deepen our practice of wisdom and compassion.

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Satanic Panics,”** a look at waves of fear of demonic activity as an American tradition, with Luxx Mishou, cultural historian and former instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy and area community colleges. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-satanic-panics2](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-satanic-panics2) .] The 1980s found the United States gripped by fear of Satanic cults targeting children. They were believed to be corrupting young ones in daycare centers and tempting teens through subliminal messages on heavy metal albums or through the quiet inclusion of demonic rituals in role-playing games. Satanic serial killers supposedly stalked the suburbs. Doctors helped patients uncover what were claimed to be repressed memories of ritualistic satanic abuse. Parents, police, and politicians were urged to protect impressionable youths from both moral and physical danger. With Satanic cults deemed to be a real and material threat, it was a frightening time for everyone, including those who suddenly came under suspicion for doing evil deeds. Then, suddenly, it all faded from public consciousness, just as surely as did eighties fads such mullet haircuts, leg warmers, and Cabbage Patch Kids. Why did it all start? Why did it stop? And has this happened before or since? Hear such questions tackled by Luxx Mishou, a cultural historian and media specialist who has long researched the devious and villainous in cultural artifacts. She’ll discuss moral panics as a longstanding cultural tradition, with each new one stemming from fear of cultural shifts and shaped by the time and place where it occurred. Among the panics we’ll look into are the Red Scare of the 1950s and the public response to the gruesome 1969 murders committed by the Manson Family. Delving into the 1980s panic, Mishou will describe how it began with the 1980 publication of psychiatrist Lawrence Pazder’s memoir *Michelle Remembers*, detailing the suppressed memories of ritualistic abuse reportedly suffered by a patient. As that book quickly became a best seller, its ideas saturated American culture. A California daycare center became the focus of a three-year investigation, followed by three years of trials, based on allegations that its owner had engaged in secret ritualistic abuse of the children in its care. Mishou will lead you through the media that convinced the public that devil worshipers were among them, and she’ll talk about how reactions to imagined threats can have very real social costs. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image by Canva.

**CONTENT WARNING: Disease, mutilation, abortion.** **This film contains extreme body horror, prolonged depictions of illness and bodily decay, environmental contamination, and disturbing imagery. It also includes references to pregnancy loss and a graphic act involving the removal of a fetus from a woman’s body. Themes of obsession, emotional distress, and death are central to the film. Viewer discretion is strongly advised. You are welcome to step out at any time.** Please read the original manga ahead of the dicussion: https://mangadex.org/chapter/bf397fc1-17bc-4fa1-8cd7-2cfd35f8170c Hideshi Hino's *Mermaid in a Manhole* is body horror stripped of bravado. When a lonely artist encounters a dying mermaid trapped in an underground sewer, he attempts to care for her — documenting her condition as her body deteriorates in disturbing and intimate ways. What begins as a strange act of compassion transforms into a bleak meditation on decay, obsession, and environmental collapse. Blending body horror with tragic romance, the film replaces shock-for-shock’s-sake with an atmosphere of sickness and inevitability that seeps into every frame.

**Come enjoy a unique musical experience called a "Sound Bath"** **Sound bath! What’s that?** **According to a member of our community from Annapolis MD, “A sound bath is an immersion in sound frequency that cleanses your soul.”** **Rubber Duckies not required.** **Get ready for this super relaxing immersion!** **According to cutting-edge doctors from Harvard, some of the deepest, most profound healing in the body are accomplished with sound frequency.** **That’s old news, though.** **A 2nd century stone relief in the Himalayan mountains shows Buddha and his buddies playing ancient Tibetan singing bowls.** **A sound frequency specialist with the Human Activation School of Expanded Consciousness, will be playing several of these rare Singing Bowls, some of which are over 200 years old.** **A magical alchemy of 7-12 different metals rings in the past, present, and future for our relaxing enchantment.** **Experience these gifts from the past in this non-religious practice of our present. Come be rejuvenated, or just captivated, by this unique musical experience.** ***Did You Know?*** **Mitchel Gaynor, Cornell Medical College's Center for Integrative Medicine director of medical oncology, is renowned for Tibetan Singing bowls successfully being used in his medical practice?** **"The peace, strength, and confidence this experience has given me has made me want to explore meditation. It’s given me a whole new perspective. My intuition feels incredibly enhanced and my sense of awareness has expanded. I’ve never felt better than I do now!"- MM** **Each month on the first Sunday we will be coming together as a community for a Unique sound bath offering in Burke VA. Every month will be something new ranging from different chakra centered meditations, Gong Baths, and even unique themed meditations honoring the whales and elephants of our sacred Mother Earth.** **Bring your pillows, blankets, and yoga mats and snuggle into the comfort of the tranquil sounds. Feel free to sit, lay, or even stand! First-timers welcome.** **7:00 pm - Meditation Reception** ***\*\*Meditation in our sacred space will begin promptly at 7:30 pm. Please refrain from entering after 7:30 pm.\*\**** **7:30 - Doors Close & Meditation Begins** **8:30 - Meditation Ends** **Contemplative Conversation will follow after the collective experience is complete.** **Suggested energy exchange, sliding scale between $15 - $30.** **All proceeds go to support the Crystal Ashram 501(c)(3) non-profit.**

Come out, make new friends and enjoy the edgy pop punk band Tunnels End as they perform all the nostalgic hits live!