English Discussion

📚 Do you love reading, but wish you had a structure and a community to share your insights with? Join our small circle of curious minds (just 4 members per gathering) as we come together for an hour of focused reading—in the calm setting of a library or the cozy atmosphere of a café. Here’s how it works: First part: Quiet reading on your own—bring a book you’re exploring, whether it’s philosophy, history, psychology, literature, or anything meaningful to you. Second part: We regroup and each person shares key takeaways, insights, or questions sparked by their reading. This sparks a structured yet free-flowing conversation around ideas, perspectives, and personal reflections. Why join? Add structure to your reading habit. Discover new books, authors, and ideas through others’ choices. Build real connections by sharing and listening deeply. Socialize around something meaningful instead of small talk.

Our NEIGHBORHOOD GEMS series features emblematic meals from around the world. This series shines a light on local restaurants and is designed to bring together inquisitive foodies and dishes that are unique and oh so worth a trip on roads less traveled! Join us for authentic Greek & Turkish dishes at ***Smyrna***! **From Northern Virginia Magazine** Chef Zeynep Güngören hails from Izmir, the third largest city in Turkey. Izmir, known as Smyrna until 1930, is located on the Aegean Sea. Not surprisingly, given its location, Greece and Turkey have squabbled over the city for millennia. The ancient site was once famous as one of Greece’s most important ports and later became a key site in Alexander the Great’s empire. Even today, its residents share strong influences of both countries. An aesthetician by trade, Güngören is new to the world of the professional kitchen. But after taking a first bite of her tzatziki, moussaka, or baklava, diners will realize that this isn’t an inadequacy but a stroke of luck for them to be able to discover this fresh talent. Zeynep and her husband, Alp Güngören, opened Smyrna Restaurant and it has attracted a hushed buzz among area food obsessives. It’s not just the ingredients on plates that are fresh — Alp believes that Smyrna is the only restaurant in the United States serving the Izmir-inspired, pan-Aegean cuisine in which he and his wife trade. For diners who can’t decide between Greek and Turkish for their next meal out, Smyrna has tastes of both, but national borders shouldn’t dictate what one orders. Zeynep cooks the food of her Aegean family, which combines the influences of her Greek grandmother and her parents, including her Turkish chef father. “Our goal is to transport our guests to the warm shores of the Aegean,” says Alp. The young couple settled in the U.S. five years ago, with Alp previously working at Michelin-recognized Levantine restaurant Ala and Turkish restaurant Ottoman Taverna, both in DC. It was his dream to have a business of his own with his wife’s big flavors on full display. This is a service to us, complete with the well-versed front-of-house team he manages. To attract neighborhood diners, the couple, who also are parents to two young children, offer low-cost prix fixe menus that make every day at Smyrna feel like Restaurant Week. For $35, dinner guests are treated to four courses known as the Aegean Odyssey. It’s a good starting point, but reasonable prices on the á la carte menu mean that for most, it’s worth a few more dollars per person to order dishes like the spread sampler. I always thought tzatziki was a little boring, more worthy of inclusion in a gyro than as a stand-alone appetizer. That was before I tried Zeynep’s version. Singing with mint and with a light pucker of fresh yogurt, the cucumber dip tastes new. Fewer diners will be familiar with Turkish atom, a crave-worthy portion of labneh (strained yogurt) that’s given a spicy topping of sundried chiles in sanguine-looking melted butter. Among the five other dips on the menu, hummus is the only forgettable entry, lacking in both acidity and garlic. But others make up for it. The baba ghanoush (on the menu as baba-ghannush) is exceptionally creamy, thanks to the addition of Greek yogurt to smooth out the texture of the charred eggplant with tahini. Pembe sultan pairs finely chopped beets with labneh and garlic for a sweet surprise that never verges on dessert. Her dolmades will win over even a diner who dislikes grape leaves. The warm center of rice is dotted with pine nuts for texture and sweet dried black currants. They’re served in pools of tangy yogurt sauce that enliven each comforting bite. Whatever starter diners choose, they should add the saganaki for the entertainment alone. The server who lit our portion of stretchy kasseri cheese aflame with a dousing Metaxa, a Greek muscat-blended spirit, looked genuinely gleeful to play with fire for us. The lemon-tempered result was every bit as delightful on the palate. Among entrées, moussaka, with its pairing of melty kashkaval cheese and bechamel sauce, is a lush, mouth-coating extravaganza of texture and flavor. The eggplants and potatoes layered with ground beef are tender, but never mushy. A bowl stacked with petite Turkish manti — beef-filled dumplings in dueling garlicky yogurt and spicy tomato-based sauce — is just as satisfying, in part thanks to a shower of mint. But an argument could be made to skip the entrées and order multiple starters and desserts. The chocolate baklava isn’t just filled with chocolate, it is made with layered leaves of chocolate phyllo dough, then finished with chocolate ice cream. Excessive? Yes, in the best possible way. The pastry is far from dry but doesn’t suffer from even a hint of the waterlog that baklavas often do. It crackles and shatters outside and oozes from within. But to stop there would mean missing out on the other pleasures at hand. Chocolate fiends could go for another application of their favorite vice and try the pasta sokolatina — Greek chocolate cake. A layer of cream rests atop pleasantly rugged cake, all enrobed in ganache. Ask the Güngörens, though, and they will say to try the rice pudding. It’s emulsified with mastic, a plant resin that’s responsible for the gummy chew of Turkish Delight, among other desserts. The cinnamon-scented, al dente grains of rice in a thick cream are oven-baked for a browned top, then served chilled. The neighborhood has welcomed Smyrna with both OpenTable Diners’ Choice and NextDoor Neighborhood Fave awards, and it can be a challenge to land a table at the small restaurant on weekends. For that reason, the Güngörens are already pondering a move to a larger spot. Zeynep says the greatest reward is that she’s making her family proud. And she’s doing it by sharing their culture with her new neighbors, transporting them, for a moment, to the Aegean coast. **Check out the menu** **[here](https://restaurantsmyrna.com/dinner-menu)** Separate checks will be arranged in advance. All diners will settle their own tabs. We ask that ALL folks honor their RSVP. If you are unable to attend after sending in a YES, please update your status so that others may join and help us support local businesses. In the event our group incurs a fee for no-shows / late cancellations, your ability to RSVP for future events will be restricted. Thank you in advance for your understanding. To enhance the opportunity for great conversation, we will continue to limit the group size. Please feel free to sign-up to meet us along with up to 2 friends. **\*\*** **WAITLIST:** Meetup does not allow waitlists for paid events. *If this event fills and you would like to be added to the waitlist, please send a note to the host through the Meetup app. **\*\**** In the future, we will vary the days of the week and the types of restaurants to keep events interesting. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE COMMITTED TO GO WHEN YOU RSVP FOR THIS EVENT. Feel free to make suggestions for future meet locations. \*\* The small non-refundable registration fee helps us share the cost associated with the Meet-Up platform ($360/yr) and reduces the likelihood of no-shows, allowing us to better plan our events and accommodate all participants. Meetup charges $0.51 and Paypal charges $0.53 on the $2 registration fee. Thanks in advance for your understanding!\*\* If you are unable to join us in May, we hope you'll stay interested and join us for a meal in the future. Looking forward to catching up with you for a delightful dinner at Smyrna!

This 1962 historical fiction novel, about the life and last days of the titular Artemio Cruz, is considered a milestone of the Latin American Boom that brought us writers such as Mario Vargas Llosa and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It explores the corruption of Cruz, a former soldier in the Mexican Revolution, by power. Interestingly, the structure of the book is heavily influenced by "Citizen Kane," with Fuentes attempting literary versions of such film techniques as cross-cutting, closeups, and deep focus.

Come join other guys in their 20s and 30s for a friendly group run! This run is not competitive and all skill levels are welcome. Join our [Slack](https://join.slack.com/t/arlington-run-club/shared_invite/zt-2lq70wa9t-INw_xk~MnZM~U41EQsKcXQ) to keep up to date with the group! **MEETING SPOT:** We'll meet a little before 6:30 PM at Rocklands BBQ (3471 Washington Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201). Then we'll head out right at 6:30 PM. **ROUTE INFO:** Here's our updated Tuesday route with the new starting and ending location at Rocklands (3.25 miles): [https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/5149157872/](https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/5149157872/) For those who want a slightly shorter route, you can end by turning down Quincy Street and running around Quincy Park (3.0 miles): [https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/5149206700/](https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/5149206700/) When viewing the route, you may want to login with a MapMyRun account and bookmark the route. Then you can download the MapMyRun app on your phone, login to the same account, and go to your bookmarked routes so you can follow along during the run. **POST-RUN:** We'll grab a drink and some food at Rocklands BBQ for those who are interested in sticking around. **WEATHER:** We won't run in the middle of a thunderstorm, but we'll still go if there's light rain. Many of us will plan to meet at the start time regardless and we can make a call then. We've learned that the weather can change quickly, so there's not much point in canceling the run prematurely. **RSVP:** If you're interested in joining, please join the group here and then sign up for this event so we know you're coming. You're welcome to bring a friend -- all guys in their 20s and 30s are welcome -- but please have them sign up through Meetup or shoot us a message so we know how many people to expect.

The action begins with a bloody shootout as police unsuccessfully try to capture criminals involved in illegal bitcoin transactions. The female officer in charge of the operation is blamed for its failure, and she vows to capture the computer genius who runs the bitcoin hacking ring. She recruits an assortment of shady but skilled characters while developing an absurdly complex scheme to infiltrate the illicit organization. For a while the movie has an “Oceans Eleven” flavor as the team executes intricate and precisely timed actions to further the effort in luxurious hotels and estates. Nonetheless, most of the participants are thieves, so hidden identities, secrets, and double-crosses will provide plenty of surprises. ■ Title — *Bitcoin Heist* ■ A.K.A. — *Siêu Trộm* ■ Director — Ham Tran ■ Cast — Nhung Kate, Thanh Pham, Petey Majik Nguyen ■ Unrated, suitable for teens and adults ■ ©2016 \| 1h 50m \| Action\, Comedy\, Crime ■ Vietnamese and Korean dialogue with English subtitles ■ Watch it free with ads on Fawesome: https://fawesome.tv/movies/10711899/bitcoin-heist ■ Watch it free with ads on Tubi: https://tubitv.com/movies/619622/bitcoin-heist ■ Available free without ads to Hoopla subscribers: https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/11895665 ■ As with most of our online features, you can watch this one whenever you like. Members who watch at the scheduled time may enjoy exchanging comments with other members on this page. If you post a comment before the show, please avoid spoilers. Comments posted after the show may contain any content, but Oddball Cinema encourages members to always avoid spoilers unless there’s some particularly important details you need to mention. ■ Many of the movies on our online events from as far back as March 2020 are still available for viewing. However, titles sometimes move from one streaming service to another. If you find that the links on an old event no longer work, you can search for the current providers of any title here: https://justwatch.com

Everyone is welcome to attend our weekly happy hour, at Tony & Joe's Waterfront Bar in Georgetown (3000 K. St, NW). The event goes from 7:15 to around 10:00 PM. Feel free to show up at any time. French speakers of all levels- from beginners to expats- are invited. We hope to see you there!

### **The Greenbelt Chapter** **Where curiosity meets community.** The **Greenbelt Book Club** is a welcoming neighborhood gathering dedicated to exploring diverse perspectives through the power of literature. Whether you’re a lifelong reader or looking to rediscover the joy of books, we offer a space for meaningful dialogue and connection. *** ### **What to Expect** Our gatherings are casual, engaging, and centered on shared discovery. Every month, we dive into new selections—ranging from contemporary fiction and historical deep-dives to thought-provoking non-fiction. * **The Discussion:** We move beyond simple "likes" and "dislikes" to explore the themes, characters, and bigger questions each book raises. * **The Atmosphere:** Expect a low-pressure environment where every voice is valued. You don’t need to be a literary critic to participate; you just need an open mind. * **The Connection:** We are all about building local friendships. It’s a great way to meet neighbors who share a love for learning and storytelling. *** ### **Meeting Details** * **When:** Every **Wednesday and Friday** * **Time:** 5:00 PM * **Where:** 9200 Edmonston Road, Greenbelt, MD 20770 *** ### **How to Join** Joining is easy! Simply show up at our meeting location at the times listed above. No long-term commitment is required—feel free to drop in for a single session to see if it’s a good fit for you, or join us every week. **We can’t wait to turn the page on a new adventure with you!**

Hey Poetry Lovers! This group is on a roll. Here’s the gist: We meet at the **Capital One Café in Chinatown** from **12pm - 2pm** every other week. For enrichment, we start by reading and reflecting on a **“published poem”**, suggested by someone in the group. No advance preparation is necessary. But feel free to check out some of the poems we’ve read [here](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vSyE_wCLQCPHRrKmN5F9tOIeeRQUZESxjRXGVBoCF2uU8Gm0_d0uECiCBCQXEy6ksxfsBOhtRIOpW3T/pubhtml?gid=0&single=true&widget=true&headers=false%22%3E%3C/iframe%3E). Or submit suggestions for future meetings [here](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSexGc2Z2Kp6bZW0D3_hfJ7NUUkfNHf7TXX-43FglCeBd9EF2Q/viewform?usp=send_form). Next, we **share our work and offer feedback**. Depending on attendance, everyone gets \~10 minutes to use as they like. (No need to share, though; you’re welcome to come even if you prefer just to listen.) We maintain a **Discord server** to help share our work and communicate outside our bi-weekly meet-ups. If you haven’t used Discord before, take a moment to download it and create an account before arriving. When we meet you on Saturday, we will add you to our server, the “DC Poetry Workshop”, and can help you navigate the app if you have questions. Finally, if you plan on sharing a poem, consider how you will do so. Some options include: * Print 5-10 copies to distribute in person * Take and share screenshots in the Discord chat. * Copy the poem into a google doc, change sharing settings to “anyone with link”, and copy the google doc link into the Discord chat. Most importantly, we’re excited to meet you! Catch you on Saturday, Diego / Ian / Cayden / Nate / Otasha / Lia / An

Please join us for the May Romance Book Discussion Club! Location is at my apartment in Dupont. Address and details will be provided to attendees closer to the meeting. Also, please update your RSVP by 6pm the day before, if you're unable to come. That will allow people on the waitlist to have enough time to consider coming, as well. Looking forward to discussing romance books with you all! **Information for New Members:** Each month we will vote on a subgenre and trope to guide our reading choices. There will be a voting link shared in the discussion board with 1 week to vote on your top choices. I'll then post the votes for that month and people can share recommendations. These are just for inspiration and as general themes. There is no set book - you're welcome to read whatever you like, although many members find it fun to explore new subgenres or tropes and see what you may like or hate. This is a book club for mood readers :) You're welcome to read whatever you fancy and come discuss it. Hopefully you'll leave with some new recommendations - or books you know are not your cup of tea. Please feel free to post below or message me with any questions.

Come join us for in-depth discussions on topics relating to moral and political philosophy. This is a group for members who are comfortable discussing topics that are often anxiety producing and controversial. *"Aristotle was a realist who believed that reality and knowledge are found in the physical world, accessible through sensory experience and logic. This led to contrasting views on ethics, politics, and the nature of reality itself. Plato emphasized abstract, ideal concepts, while Aristotle prioritized empirical observation and the study of the natural world."* \- Google Gemini Following Aristotle's lead, this group will lean heavily on empirical data to make arguments. The Socratic method is still the preferred way to engage in conversation, and Platonic Idealism is still relevant to the conversation as points of reference.

Join our friendly English Cafe community! Enjoy snacks and conversation with people from around the world at our Language Exchange Mixer. It's the perfect place to improve your English and make international friends. -All People Community Church English Cafe

📚 Do you love reading, but wish you had a structure and a community to share your insights with? Join our small circle of curious minds (just 4 members per gathering) as we come together for an hour of focused reading—in the calm setting of a library or the cozy atmosphere of a café. Here’s how it works: First part: Quiet reading on your own—bring a book you’re exploring, whether it’s philosophy, history, psychology, literature, or anything meaningful to you. Second part: We regroup and each person shares key takeaways, insights, or questions sparked by their reading. This sparks a structured yet free-flowing conversation around ideas, perspectives, and personal reflections. Why join? Add structure to your reading habit. Discover new books, authors, and ideas through others’ choices. Build real connections by sharing and listening deeply. Socialize around something meaningful instead of small talk.

Join us on Wednesday, May 20 8:00-10:30 PM. Tom Spilsbury and Wendy Clarke lead the dancing while Robin Wilson (flute), Becky Ross (fiddle), and Janina O’Brien (piano) make the music Register: [https://www.fsgw.org/event-6650248](https://www.fsgw.org/event-6650248?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExcGVDN0w5YWxFY20xektNaXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR7DHWh8Z-017uyLlRJKtJ0AcrUvZvEBf6tT5Dj4hB2oO7X-P7XDsmExNoxJkw_aem_PYmox3_ROQ-PhX7mmVB6Hg) (Please note, you are not registered by responding on meetup, you must register through the FSGW website, or at the door if tickets are available) The FSGW weekly English Country Dance offers delightful dancing, led by talented callers, accompanied by top-notch musicians playing a wide variety of instruments. The crowd is friendly and enthusiastic; new dancers are always welcome and can get an informal lesson if they arrive around 7:30. You don't need to bring a partner, or dress up. * If you have not previously attended a Wednesday night English country dance at Glen Echo, you may select "first time free" when registering. New dancers are welcome. If you have no previous English country dance experience or would like a refresher, please arrive at around 7:30 for a lesson. Covid Protocol: masks and vaccinations are encouraged but not required. Some dancers are sensitive to fragrances, and they are grateful when you skip the perfume and scented after-shave. Additional information about this weekly event is available on the English Country Dance (in-person) web page. [https://www.fsgw.org/ecd](https://www.fsgw.org/ecd) **Pay at the door:** Admission - $15 FSGW Members, $8 Students and those with limited income, $17 Others. **Questions?** Email English Country Dance * **We look forward to dancing with you!**

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 enjoy talking to people from other countries, and those who would like to discuss international travel and culture, and who enjoy getting together for good conversations."

We may pick a specific topic and post in advance or may discuss current events and various ad hoc topics . We would love to spend time hanging out and getting to know one another. Atheist, agnostics, other non-theists, and atheist-friendly people are welcome to join us. Note: COUNT operates a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/COUNT.discussions (http://www.facebook.com/groups/COUNT.discussions/) to promote discussions among members and visitors.

**Welcome to Drunken Philosophy** a casual, curious social discussion **Optional topic for this meetup: What's up with all the AI hate?** A recent survey found that 74% of Americans have a negative view of AI, and I want to know why. Come out and debate whether AI is good or bad. My hot take: a labor-saving tool that could potentially help cure cancer gets called dangerous because it might raise unemployment or cause a speculative investment bubble, that tells you a lot more about capitalism and the economic system we live under than it does about the tool itself. As a computer programmer, I think AI is a wonderful tool that has increased my productivity by at least an order of magnitude. I'd go so far as to say Claude Code is the best tool I have ever used. Debate me and name a better one. Is AI potentially dangerous? Yes, but so are a lot of tools. Chainsaws. Steam engines (early ones would occasionally explode and kill everyone in the room). Do you think cavemen sat around debating whether fire could be used as a weapon or for self-harm, and decided not to discover it? I have two friends who hate AI for opposite reasons: one thinks it's a fad and not useful, and the other thinks it's going to take over everything and cause human extinction. Come out tonight, have a friendly debate, and make some friends. No lectures. Friendly crowd. Drop in for one drink and stay if it's fun.

Hey Everyone! Let's meet at Belle's Bread Bakery and Cafe. There is lots of free parking and easy access to the cafe and many shops and restaurants as well. This is a great way to meet new and old friends while chatting about life and practicing English language speaking skills. All are welcome and encouraged to join us anytime between 11am and 1pm. Looking forward to seeing you soon.

Hey Everyone! Let's meet at Belle's Bread Bakery and Cafe. There is lots of free parking and easy access to the cafe and many shops and restaurants as well. This is a great way to meet new and old friends while chatting about life and practicing English language speaking skills. All are welcome and encouraged to join us anytime between 11am and 1pm. Looking forward to seeing you soon.

SATURDAY: This event is 2:30 - 4 pm SATURDAY. Conversation tends toward intermediate/advanced, but everybody is welcome. If you come and don't see us right away, keep looking. We could be anywhere in the restaurant.