Funny Story Telling

We are happy to welcome Julie B. Booth back as a returning teacher for our annual Creative Minds Summit. During this 2 day workshop you will learn techniques to craft a unique and beautifully beaded bag. Allow stories to unfold while intuitively stitching and beading this uniquely shaped bag (finishes to approximately 10 in. tall and 7 in. wide) based on a late 19th century Sioux buckskin bag. Starting with a sturdy 100% wool felt base, participants will collage with bits of painted cheesecloth, fabric scraps, lace or doilies, yarns, ribbons and tulle. Then the fun — and stories — begin with couching, ruching, needle lace (including attaching sea glass in the lace), adding sequins and incorporating beads in your hand stitches to create richly encrusted surfaces. Learn more about this class, your student supply kit fee & list via Artistic Artifacts’ secure online website: [https://artisticartifacts.com/products/cms-storyteller-bag-with-julie-booth](https://artisticartifacts.com/products/cms-storyteller-bag-with-julie-booth) \*\*\* Due to the size or other requirements of the class or concurrent scheduling, some classes are in our second-floor space: access is via stairs only. Registrations for all Artistic Artifacts classes MUST be paid for [through our website](https://artisticartifacts.com/collections/wk), or via a visit to our shop at 4750 Eisenhower Avenue. We encourage you to RSVP here, but to ensure your seat you MUST follow through via our website. [View our complete class policies »](https://artisticartifacts.com/pages/class-policies)

plz dont RSVP if you cannot commit. The restaurant will charge me a fee if the total # of people on the reservation are less than the actual number. Join us at Green House Kitchen for their free happy hour special. How it works: ✔️ You must order any drink (cocktail, beer, wine, or mocktail) ✔️ Then you get to enjoy unlimited access to their chef-selected small bites bar—for free! Expect rotating favorites: flatbreads, wings, sliders, dips, salads & more, all in our cozy, greenhouse-inspired space in the heart of Tysons LIVE Latin Music starts at 8pm! Happy Hour is from 4pm - 7pm, we plan on getting there at 6pm. Regular Menu is [here](https://www.greenhousetysons.com/dinner) Address: 2070 Chain Bridge Rd, Vienna, VA Guests must adhere to a business attire dress code. Please refrain from wearing athletic wear or overly casual clothing. Management reserves the right to refuse service based on attire and guest demeanor. See you there! 😍💖

Gently flow to release the week's stresses, then deeply stretch with the yin and restorative yoga in an accepting, calm environment enhanced with candlelight and the aromatherapy of essential oils. Leave feeling relaxed, refreshed, restored and ready for what the weekend has in store for you! Class is 75 minutes. The session is offered InStudio only. **Sign up at www.piesfitnessyoga.com required at least two hours before class begins.** The address is 1322 Prince St. Alexandria, VA 22314. Our entrance is located on the side of the building, parallel to West St. **Street parking is available and additional parking is located at Shiloh Baptist church, spaces 36,37,38,39.** The church is located across the street from the studio, on the corner of Duke St. and West St.

🎾 Welcome to Tennis Lovers DMV 3+ 🎾 This group is for intermediate & advanced players 💪 with a USTA NTRP rating of 3.0+ ⭐ We thrive on competitive doubles 🔥🤝 and invite you to join us and RSVP ✅ for our exciting meetup events! Let’s rally, compete, and have a blast — see you on the court soon! 🎾😄🏆

♠️ Spades in Virginia! ♠️ Nando's Peri Peri, Mosaic District 2987 District Ave Ste 100, Fairfax, VA 22031 🌟 3rd Friday Spades in Virginia! 🕕 6:30pm to 10:30pm 😀 **Posted in multiple groups. So, expect a nice crowd.** 🚗 Parking is FREE!!! 🍷 Alcoholic beverages are available! Please support the business by purchasing food/drinks. ✅️ No partner needed! Get matched with a partner onsite. All skill levels are welcome. ❤️ Come hang out with a friendly and welcoming group. Meet new people and have a great time! 🌟 The fun starts at 7pm! RSVP today.

Improv Night at the Happy Treehouse with The Ripple Effect Improv Troupe Let’s be honest. Life gives us plenty of serious moments. This night is not one of them. Join us from 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM for a night of spontaneous comedy with The Ripple Effect, an improv troupe that travels around the DMV bringing laughter to places where people could use a little more joy. Hospitals, community events, gatherings like this one. Anywhere people need a good laugh, we show up and start a ripple. And once the laughter starts, it spreads fast. If you’ve never seen improv live before, you’re in for a treat. Nothing is scripted. No one knows what’s going to happen next, including us. The entire show is built in real time based on your suggestions from the audience. You might shout out a job. A location. A random object. And suddenly you’re watching a scene about a dog therapist with boundary issues or a married couple arguing about who forgot to charge the emotional support Roomba. That’s the magic of improv. Quick thinking, unexpected twists, and the kind of laughter that sneaks up on you. Why people love watching improv: *You laugh harder because you never see the joke coming. *You get to participate by shouting out ideas that shape the scene. *You watch performers build something hilarious out of thin air. And the whole audience ends up laughing together because everyone is experiencing something that has never happened before and will never happen again. You’ll definitely walk out feeling lighter than when you walked in. And along the way you might meet a few new people who also enjoy laughing. Because honestly… who doesn’t want funny friends? The vibe for the evening This is a relaxed BYOB potluck gathering under the pavilion. *Bring your favorite drink. *Bring a dish to share. *Bring a lawn chair if you have one. If you forget a chair, no problem. You can grab one of the chairs here, relax on the in-ground trampoline, or find a cozy spot around the pavilion. We’ll have the fire going, s’mores ready, and plenty of room to settle in and enjoy the show. Think backyard comedy club meets campfire hangout. Great people. Great laughs. A little silliness. And a ripple of joy spreading through the crowd. Come join us, Janine, your happy host Cell: 202-271-0922

Show Your Registration At The Box For Free Entry!!! 21 and Above Only Up To 5 Free Admissions!!! Welcome back to another Drafthouse Divas show,hosted by Miss Stormy.

We are going to talk about the books we read—any books, from any genre. Whether it’s fiction or nonfiction, classic literature or something modern, everyone is welcome to share their thoughts, impressions, and favorite passages. It’s a relaxed and friendly conversation where we can discover new ideas and enjoy each other’s perspectives.

**Neurodivergent Connections Bethesda: Board Game Meetup (Small Group Launch Event)** Join us for a relaxed and welcoming small group board game meetup. Whether you love board games or just want a comfortable way to meet people locally, you’re very welcome here. 🕐 Time: 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM (feel free to leave earlier, that's just when we have the room until.) 👥 Group size: 8 people Because our meeting space is cozy, this initial gathering is intentionally capped at a small group size. As the community grows, we plan to host additional events with larger attendance limits in the future. Since spots are limited, please RSVP only if you are fairly sure you can attend. If your plans change, updating your RSVP helps make space for someone else who would like to join. Thank you for helping to keep the group accessible and considerate for everyone. Looking forward to meeting you and starting something special together!

### Drop-In Improv Class — Beginner Friendly **Improv for good people.** Join us for a fun, beginner-friendly drop-in improv class focused on play, laughter, and connection — in a supportive, no-pressure environment. You don’t need performance experience, improv training, or a “funny personality.” You just need a willingness to try. *** ### What to expect Each session includes: * Friendly introductions * Easy warm-ups * Guided short-form improv games * Lots of laughter in a small, welcoming group The exercises are inspired by shows like *Whose Line Is It Anyway?*, but the focus is on participation, not performance. *** ### A few important reassurances ✔ You don’t need to be “funny” ✔ You don’t need improv experience ✔ You *do* need curiosity and a willingness to play Everything is explained clearly, and you’re never put on the spot. *** ### Who this class is for This class is a great fit if you: * Are curious about improv but a little nervous * Want to meet new people in a genuinely welcoming space * Enjoy playful learning and low-pressure activities * Want a break from overthinking and daily stress Many people arrive unsure and leave smiling. *** ### How Meetup fits in Many participants first discover Laughy Place Improv through Meetup, attend a class or two, and then decide whether they’d like to continue by booking future classes directly through the website. There’s no pressure — Meetup is meant to be an easy, friendly way to try things out. *** ### Location & logistics 📍 **Theatre on the Run** 3700 S Four Mile Run Dr, Arlington, VA Parking and entrance are on the opposite side of the building from Four Mile Run Drive. Use the door labeled **“Arlington Cultural Affairs – Main Entrance.”** Ring the doorbell to be buzzed in. Sunday classes are usually in room 174 and Wednesday classes are usually in room 147, but you can check the class list by the concierge desk to be certain. I’ll be in the room about 20 minutes early to set up and meet folks as they arrive. If you can, please come a few minutes before the scheduled start time so we can kick things off together. *** Looking forward to laughing with you!

Details Let's join together for a fiesta! (Invite friends - we have lots of room!) Taco Bar Margarita and Beer tasting Complementary chips and salsa Margs/cocktails at the bar for purchase Freshly prepared snacks in the deli for purchase Festive Band/Music Margaritas/Mexican Beer Tasting + Taco Bar: $15.00 per person (covers 4 Margarita or beer samples and one pass thru the Taco Bar) Where: #MarketDistrict (Grandview Yard) location. The party room (our private space) will be decorated with both patios open! Adjoining upstairs area also open for over flow and mingling. After Party: Sometimes, we head to a venue to hear live music afterwards. LDNL is at Black Swan in Hilliard tonight! Wear your bright colors and cheerful !Salud!

We'll meet at The Capital One Café, 167 Easton Town Center, Space A-103. This is in the main mall where the Microsoft store used to be, on your left if you're standing at the bottom of the AMC Theater escalator. Join us on Saturday for an hour of uninterrupted wordmaking! • What we'll do Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at 10AM on Saturday mornings. Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done. SCHEDULE: 10:00 - SESSION 1: quick intros. 10:10 - timer starts: write for 1 hour. 11:10 - chat / take off / keep writing. OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING happens at 11A-11:30ish. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing. BEING LATE IS OKAY: just show up and get settled, then check-in with me after the session. (I’ll be the person with the Shut Up & Write! sign.) If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing and I look forward to seeing you! • What to bring Whatever you need to be able to write! Bring earbuds/earplugs if you want to block noise or the occasional conversation by other patrons. Electrical outlets are limited, so charge your devices before whenever possible. See you at The Café on Saturday!

Posting this early because seemingly all Sundays in May are holidays or busy! I picked a shorter thriller that's hopefully a fast read/listen. [Columbus library link to book](https://cml.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S105C3458940) Location: Grandview Cafe, *1455 W. 3rd Ave*, Columbus, OH 43212 [Menu](https://www.grandviewcafe.com/menu) Book summary: Daniel leads a rich life in the university town of Athens, Georgia. He's got a couple close friends, a steady paycheck working for a regional airline, and of course, for a few glorious days each Fall, college football tailgates. He considers himself to be a mostly lucky guy -- despite the fact that he's suffered from a debilitating disease since he was a small child, one that has left him unable to speak or to move without a wheelchair. Largely confined to his home, Daniel spends the hours he's not online communicating with irate air travelers observing his neighborhood from his front porch. One young woman passes by so frequently that spotting her out the window has almost become part of his daily routine. Until the day he's almost sure he sees her being kidnapped.

The topic for May is "Ink" Speak Easy: true stories, told live. The idea is simple: an audience, an open microphone, and great stories. Hilarious, gripping, poignant- it's up to you. Audiences are invited to come to listen or come to tell as folks from all corners of Columbus offer their stories live on stage! Held at Wild Goose Creative's warm, intimate space, this night of tales occurs on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Doors open at 6:30 pm, show starts at 7:00 pm. Please arrive early if you want to tell, as we generally only have room for a limited number of tellers, and the sign-up sheet has a tendency to fill up fast. Formed around the idea that people need stories--they're what hold and draw us together--SpeakEasy celebrates the strangeness and commonness of being human. And in a world of smartphones, Facebook, Twitter, and more . . . it gives people a real, breathing, in-person way to connect. The night is geared for true stories of all kinds, taking the best tales told around kitchen tables, in darkened pubs, on the street corner, and at late-night parties and giving them an audience. Speak Easy is also a great outlet for performers, writers, and artists looking to share their favorite stories and perfect their skills. We strongly encourage tellers to please tell the story rather than read it so we keep within the spirit of good storytelling and stay engaged with the audience. All are welcome. Hang around after the show for a drink and build community!

Dinner and dancing

Welcome, readers! Our April read is **_Martyr!_ by Kaveh Akbar.** The story follows a young Iranian American poet grappling with grief, addiction, and the aching question of what makes a life meaningful. Drawn into an unexpected friendship with a terminally ill artist, he begins to confront faith, love, and the seduction of self-destruction. Lyrical, darkly funny, and emotionally piercing, the novel wrestles with beauty and despair in equal measure. It’s a story about longing—to be seen, to be forgiven, and to matter. Looking forward to discussing with everyone! We will meet at Zaftig Brewing Co in their event room in the back. We are welcome to bring in our own food, but **drinks must be purchased at the bar.** Happy reading! 📖

Let’s meet and share our thoughts about Carson McCullers’ novella, The Ballad of The Sad Café.