Expressive Arts

***Please fill registration [form](https://forms.office.com/r/y5UgWSbP8P) before 10th Februray, 5:30 PM If you are going to attend in person*** **.NET Aspire is Microsoft’s opinionated toolkit for building, composing, and running modern distributed applications with a strong focus on local development and observability.** In this session, we’ll explore how Aspire can be used as the backbone of a modern application by building and evolving a distributed system live. The talk will be almost entirely demo-driven, using the terminal and VS Code, with minimal slides and no traditional PowerPoint, focusing on how Aspire works in practice rather than theory. **What to expect** * 🎤 Demos about Aspire * 💬 Plenty of time for Q&A and open discussion * 🤝 Casual networking with developers of all levels * 🍕 Snacks & drinks provided (while they last!) ***Note: Please fill registration [form](https://forms.office.com/r/y5UgWSbP8P) before 10th Februray, 5:30 PM If you are going to attend in person*** **Schedule** * 17:30 - 18:00 - pizza and networking * 18:00 - 19:00 - talk * 19:00 - 19:30 - wrap up **Sponsors** * [Microsoft](https://www.microsoft.com/) \- Venue * [Arinco](https://arinco.com.au/) \- Food and drinks ***Note: Please fill registration [form](https://forms.office.com/r/y5UgWSbP8P) before 10th Februray, 5:30 PM If you are going to attend in person***

***Please fill registration [form](https://forms.office.com/r/y5UgWSbP8P) before 10th Februray, 5:30 PM If you are going to attend in person*** **.NET Aspire is Microsoft’s opinionated toolkit for building, composing, and running modern distributed applications with a strong focus on local development and observability.** In this session, we’ll explore how Aspire can be used as the backbone of a modern application by building and evolving a distributed system live. The talk will be almost entirely demo-driven, using the terminal and VS Code, with minimal slides and no traditional PowerPoint, focusing on how Aspire works in practice rather than theory. **What to expect** * 🎤 Demos about Aspire * 💬 Plenty of time for Q&A and open discussion * 🤝 Casual networking with developers of all levels * 🍕 Snacks & drinks provided (while they last!) ***Note: Please fill registration [form](https://forms.office.com/r/y5UgWSbP8P) before 10th Februray, 5:30 PM If you are going to attend in person*** **Schedule** * 17:30 - 18:00 - pizza and networking * 18:00 - 19:00 - talk * 19:00 - 19:30 - wrap up **Sponsors** * [Microsoft](https://www.microsoft.com/) \- Venue * [Arinco](https://arinco.com.au/) \- Food and drinks ***Note: Please fill registration [form](https://forms.office.com/r/y5UgWSbP8P) before 10th Februray, 5:30 PM If you are going to attend in person***

**The Arts of Life with Nancy Burbridge - Discover Yourself through art!** **You're Invited to 'Arts of Life'** A meditative journey through art with local artist Nancy Burbridge Join us every third Friday of the month at the Brahma Kumaris Meditation Museum, Virginia from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM for creativity, relaxation, and self-discovery. In this interactive session, you will learn how to draw, paint, and explore the beauty within, cultivating the best version of yourself in a serene and supportive environment. Come experience the magic of art and meditation as tools for self-expression and inner growth. All materials are provided, and no prior experience is necessary. Just bring your curiosity and a willingness to explore! We can't wait to see you there! Fri., Feb. 20th, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm. Held at Brahma Kumaris Meditation Museum- Virginia, 14020 Thunderbolt Pl., Suite 200, Chantilly, VA, 20151. Free Event – Register at: [https://shorturl.at/m6Ncn](https://shorturl.at/m6Ncn)

This class will provide instruction into various concepts of **Jiu-Jitsu** as a form of **martial art**. Participants will have the opportunity to **study**, **practice**, and **experiment** with **submission holds** and **strategic fighting controls** that are the hallmark of the now famous methodology of Professional MMA athletes and professional combatives users. This **gi class** is held every **Tuesday** and **Thursday** and includes **one hour of instruction** and **30 minutes** (sometimes longer, TBD) of **open training**. Gis are available if you need one. Drop-in fee for non-members is **$20** which which can be paid on-site. Note that we are in **Suite #130**.

Let’s hang out and journal together, trade stationary and stickers, and have a good time! Please note, we do not have a reservation, so we will do our best to find some good spots when we get there.

Join us for this exciting painting workshop in NOVA area. I am a [professional artist/university prof.](https://www.nataliyagurshmanpaintings.com/) and I will teach you ins and outs of palette knife painting. You will learn new techniques, and create a beautiful landscape painting to take home. No experience required, just desire to explore something new and meet other creatives, and enjoy a sip of wine (not included in the ticket). All of the art supplies are provided. Please [sign up at the link below.](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/creative-singles-40-plus-painting-workshop-with-live-instruction-tickets-1980791522766?aff=oddtdtcreatorte) https://www.eventbrite.com/e/creative-singles-40-plus-painting-workshop-with-live-instruction-tickets-1980791522766?aff=oddtdtcreatorte I am looking forward to meeting everyone. Bring your friends and family.

Artistic Artifacts hosts **Open Stitch sessions on the first and third Thursday evenings** from 5:30 - 7:30 pm — join us! This is a drop-in, bring your own hand stitching project and the necessary supplies (or you can knit, crochet... whatever needle arts you like). There’s no fee to attend, no instruction nor agenda — just a time to spend with other creatives! Visit our website for all other class & event information: **[https://artisticartifacts.com/collections/wk](https://artisticartifacts.com/collections/wk)**

\*\*\*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).

Looking for a quiet, focused space to write? Come be part of our writing group—a dedicated time just for writing alongside fellow writers in your community. No readings, no critiques, no peer-review—just you writing within a supportive atmosphere. 7pm-7:15pm: Find your seat, set up your writing station, quick intro's. 7:15pm-8:45 pm: An hour and a half of silent focused writing. 8:45pm-9pm: Quick debrief, pack and head home. Can't wait to see you! :)