Dubai

Svalbard isn’t on most people’s bucket lists—but it should be. At 78° N, this remote Arctic archipelago offers stunning glaciers, tundra, and endless daylight. Polar bears roam the pack ice, Arctic foxes prowl the tundra, and Svalbard reindeer graze among snowfields. For birders, it’s a world of extremes—alive with Thick-billed Murres, Dovekies, Northern Fulmars, and Ivory Gulls patrolling the ice edge. In June, Alex Pellegrini led a small-group expedition there with *Caretta Inspired Nature Journeys*, a nonprofit helping wildlife “one trip at a time.” Join Alex for breathtaking photos, close encounters, and stories from the top of the world. The meeting will be at the Hap Arnold Center, College Park Airport. It will start at 7:30PM, the door opens at 7:00. Free and open to the public.

We’re turning Tysons Corner Center into a competitive indoor playground for one hour. We’ll meet on the 3rd level cafeteria, split into teams, and race through the mall completing photo challenges for points. Every task requires at least one team member in the picture — so no cheating and no solo lurking. Creativity, strategy, and teamwork will matter just as much as speed. After 60 minutes, we’ll regroup at TGI Fridays to tally points, laugh at the best photos, and crown the winning team. No purchases required — just good energy, fun people, and a little competitive chaos. 📍 Plan • Meet: Level 3 Cafeteria • Form teams • You get 1 hour • Regroup + scoring at TGI Fridays ⸻ 📸 IMPORTANT RULES 1. At least ONE team member must be in EVERY photo. 2. No purchasing required. 3. Be respectful to staff and shoppers. 4. All items must be photographed inside the mall during the 60 minutes. 5. Creativity > speed. ⸻ 📝 SCAVENGER LIST (Points Attached) 🧥 Fashion & Style Finds 1️⃣ A celebrity picture – 5 pts 2️⃣ An extremely ugly sweater – 6 pts 3️⃣ Shoes that look impossible to walk in – 6 pts 4️⃣ A mannequin posed in a dramatic or awkward way – 5 pts 5️⃣ An outfit over $1,000 total (estimate tag prices) – 8 pts (extra 5 points If you’re wearing the outfit) 6️⃣ A jacket that looks straight out of the 90s – 5 pts ⸻ 💎 Random & Unexpected 7️⃣ The most expensive item you can find (price visible) – 10 pts 8️⃣ A product that makes you say “who is buying this?” – 7 pts 9️⃣ Something glittery and over-the-top – 5 pts 🔟 A completely all-white outfit display – 6 pts 1️⃣1️⃣ A product with a name you can’t pronounce – 6 pts 1️⃣2️⃣ A tiny item with a surprisingly high price – 7 pts 1️⃣3️⃣ Strike your best runway pose inside Zara - 5 points ⸻ 🍔 Mall Energy 1️⃣4️⃣ A dessert that looks ridiculously unhealthy – 5 pts 1️⃣5️⃣ A seasonal or holiday decoration – 5 pts 1️⃣6️⃣ A team member pretending to be a mall security guard (respectfully staged) – 6 pts 1️⃣7️⃣ A window display that makes no sense – 5 pts 1️⃣8️⃣ Take a group pic representing 3 different cuisines (no buying required) - 6 points 1️⃣9️⃣ Team selfie in front of the giant directory - 5 points 2️⃣0️⃣ Get a stranger to take a picture of all of you sleeping on a bed - 10 points _______ 📍 Mall Items 2️⃣1️⃣ A red tote - 2 points 2️⃣2️⃣ A purple tie - 2 points 2️⃣3️⃣ Chocolate - 2 points 2️⃣4️⃣ A pair of neon-colored sneakers - 3 points 2️⃣5️⃣ A watch priced over $1,000 - 3 points 2️⃣6️⃣ A pair of sunglasses - 1 point 2️⃣7️⃣ A perfume bottle shaped in a unique way - 2 points 2️⃣8️⃣ A stuffed animal bigger than a backpack - 4 points 2️⃣9️⃣ A coffee cup with latte art - 4 points 3️⃣1️⃣ A candle with a food-related scent - 2 points 3️⃣2️⃣ A phone case with glitter - 1 point 3️⃣3️⃣ A denim jacket with patches or designs - 5 points 3️⃣4️⃣ A sale sign that says “70% OFF” or more - 5 points 3️⃣5️⃣ A winter beanie with a pom-pom on top - 6 points 3️⃣6️⃣ A backpack with a cartoon character on it - 2 points 3️⃣7️⃣ A pair of platform shoes - 2 points 3️⃣8️⃣ A necklace with an oversized pendant - 3 points 3️⃣9️⃣ A seasonal decoration display - 2 points 4️⃣0️⃣ A store window featuring only one color theme - 5 points 4️⃣1️⃣A dessert covered in sprinkles - 2 points 4️⃣2️⃣A mannequin wearing a bold patterned outfit - 5 points 4️⃣3️⃣A hoodie with a large graphic logo - 4 points ⸻ ⭐ BONUS POINTS • Compliment a stranger (reaction videoo) – +5 pts • Get a stranger to join your team photo – +8 pts • Funniest team name – +5 pts • Most coordinated team pose across 3 photos – +7 pts • Best dramatic “return to Fridays” entrance video – +10 pts • Random act of kindness caught on video – +6 pts • Funniest caption when posting (optional IG story tag) – +5 pts ⸻ 🏆 Winning Team Most total points wins. Tiebreaker = loudest crowd applause at Fridays.

We're back. Brisk, 3- to 4-mile urban hike starting and ending at Whitlow's on the Wharf. We will hike around Hains Point before looping back to Whitlow's for drinks and food. Rideshare or public transportation recommended, closest metro L'Enfant.

Come hang out at a Bethesda staple and total crowd favorite! 🎉 We’ll meet at the patio at 7:00 pm to say hello, catch up, and get warmed up before trivia kicks off. Tuesday night perks you’ll love: 🍹 Happy Hour from 3–10 pm 🍕 Half-off pizza all day 🧠 Trivia starts at 7:30 pm — bring your brainpower, bring your curiosity, or just your good vibes. 🚗 Easy parking with plenty of street spots and nearby public garages.

This session will explore the history of the Cuban Revolution and Cuba’s long-standing role in supporting African liberation struggles and Global South development. We will examine why Cuba has been treated as a threat to Western hegemony, the ongoing impact of the U.S. blockade, and Cuba’s model of people-centered systems in healthcare, education, and participatory governance. The discussion will highlight Cuba’s internationalist commitments— including the deployment of over 600,000 doctors across Africa and the Global South—and reflect on what it means for African people and movements today to stand in solidarity with Cuba. Together, we will consider the broader connections between anti-imperialism, internationalism, and the collective struggle for self-determination. This is a hybrid event, with the option to participate in-person or via Zoom. Register here for either option: https://africansolidaritywithcuba.eventbrite.com *Food will be provided!*

**[CUBA TRIP!](https://globe-drifters.com/trip/cuba-march/)** **• Dates:** March 14 - 22, 2026 *(9 days / 8 nights)* **• Cost:** $2700 *(per person, excluding flights)* **• Single supplement:** $450 **• Detailed itinerary, visa info, FAQ, etc:** [https://globe-drifters.com/trip/cuba-march/](https://globe-drifters.com/trip/cuba-march/) See photos from previous trips here: **[CUBA TRIP PHOTOS](https://www.flickr.com/photos/155293978@N02/albums/72157707700724005)** For more information or if you have questions, please email [info@globe-drifters.com](http://info@globe-drifters.com/) ***Cuba travel, legal and local…*** Thanks to the small group size, we avoid the big, government-run establishments, most of which US travelers aren’t allowed to patronize. As a small group, we can also dine at privately owned restaurants to support everyday citizens. Our groups of 12 travelers or less can visit smaller, more off-the-beaten-path places for more meaningful interaction with locals. Below are some of the things that make our small group trips to Cuba unique: **Authentic, local interaction:** Your own dedicated Cuban trip leader throughout the trip will be your friend and show you Cuba through the eyes of a local. **Playa Larga:** A sleepy beach town on the Bay of Pigs to escape the hordes of travelers at the major tourist hotspots. It’s a great place to witness everyday Cuban life in a typical Cuban town. **FAC:** The Fábrica de Arte Cubano is a great place to mingle with Cubans over a drink while listening to live music and admiring works of art by local artists.

Danceintime runs Cuban Salsa Classes & Social Dancing Every Saturday, all year-long. Come at 1:15 pm to sign in. Stay till 4 pm. Some of us go out for coffee or a bite to eat afterwards and everyone is welcome! $15/person. Cash, PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, or Card accepted. Chevy Chase Baptist Church; 5671 Western Ave. NW; Washington DC 20015. NOTE: Enter through back corner door of the church. Danceintime classes are great fun. The dance moves are beautiful, fun, and our class creates a bonded community... Check it out! Class will be held every Saturday in December....celebrate the holidays with dance! For more info: danceintime.com/classes Questions? Contact Barbbernsteintalks@gmail.com

Join us as we get together to see SIRAT, an Oscar-nominated Best International Film from Spain that follows a father, accompanied by his son, goes looking for his missing daughter in North Africa. Here’s a description, trailer and our plan for this event: DESCRIPTION: A father, accompanied by his son arrive at a rave deep in the mountains of southern Morocco while searching for his daughter who vanished months ago at one of these endless, sleepless parties. As their search continues, the journey forces them to confront their own limits. The film is directed by Oliver Laxe and stars Sergi Lopez, Bruno Nunez Arjona and Richard Bellamy. TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww-IXHXvS70 BUZZ & ACCLAIM: SIRAT has already won numerous awards, including 4 at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, along with the Chicago, Montclair and Toronto International Film Festivals! It also earned a whopping 11 nominations at the 40th Goya Awards, including Best Film and Director, and was nominated for Best International Feature Film and Best Sound at this year’s Academy Awards. The film is earning a stellar 92% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes which calls it “an unforgettable exercise in tension” and “a brutal reminder that the journey can be more important than the destination.” PLAN: Please purchase your ticket for the 7:00pm showing and we’ll meet inside the upstairs lobby between 6:40 and 6:50pm. Super Tuesday ticket price is just $6.50 (including online fee)! Advance ticket purchase is advised (via Gateway website preferred). Once you have yours, please list your seat number in the Comments section of this event! This one will be a “movie only” event. PARKING: Close, convenient parking is available in the nearby garage (located between 9th and 11th, just off High St). Bring your ticket with you and have it validated at the theater and for $2, you’re covered for the night! Look forward to seeing you there, Dan

Let's grab some coffee/food and share a morning chat! The East Market has an ample parking lot and outdoor and indoor seating. Grab a cup of coffee from Winston's Coffee & Waffles or on your way to East Market and meet us on the second floor - table behind or east of the elevator. Per what this group is about: "Everyone is welcome! International transplants to Columbus who want to improve language skills, Columbus residents who want to discuss international travel and culture, and anyone who enjoys getting together for good conversations."

Early-bird coffee and conversation at [Crimson Cup Coffee Shop - Clintonville](https://www.crimsoncup.com/about/location/clintonville)!