Geek Culture

Welcome to Casual Dining Out, the event series where we explore counterserve establishments, food halls, and other venues for quick bites of Asian, "fusion", and other fare! As in the past, the field for these events will typically be limited, so please RSVP quickly if you know you're coming (or drop out quickly if you can't make it to give others a chance). RSVPs will close at 4 PM the day of the event and anyone who drops afterwards may be subject to the dreaded "no show" designation. This edition: Thai delights! [https://www.soulthaikitchenandbar.com/](https://www.soulthaikitchenandbar.com/) As always, a bonus activity could follow if the mood is right. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- If you have Instagram, you can check out our account at asiandiningandadventuregroup for photos and announcements of group outings!

***Join us for an evening in an electronics lab where we will attempt to run clean scans of gold samples, and then clean up that data with post processing.*** This is a high sensitivity experiment, and we do not plan on being successful so early. But we've had promising results lately - so we will be putting in the time. We are NOT meeting at our usual location, but rather at Steve's house/lab. If you RSVP, you will get a DM with the address but it's located in Silver Spring. We will attempt full, clean lab - clean tip repeated scanning tests to see what we can learn and improve. We will experiment with online attendees, but if all possible showing up in person is strongly encouraged. Online join link is: - [https://meet.jit.si/mocomakers](https://meet.jit.si/mocomakers) Our community is building (and documenting for other teams) how to build a scanning tunneling microscope using a mix of common and 3D printed parts. This will allow us to scan and visualize a single atom - an ambitious we are doing over the course of a few months. The MoCo Makers community is one of the most innovative and competent groups in Maryland, and we've done everything from [publishing cancer research](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38136356/), to [launching products](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gotim/cozy-curvy-multi-contour-pillow), [winning grants](https://covidinfocommons.datascience.columbia.edu/awards/2014255), and inspiring thousands. Now our biggest challenge yet has appeared. We are building a Scanning Tunneling Microscope, that will allow us to scan and visualize single atoms. To get a better idea of what we are doing, see our reference project here: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N3OqTEq08g](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N3OqTEq08g) All starting CAD, code, and reference files should exist. However, let's be the first Maker community to document the build process and share it with learners around the world. We will be publishing our work here -[ https://hackaday.io/project/202816-qt-panda](https://hackaday.io/project/202816-qt-panda) If you need a ride, let us know.

Want to mess with some electronics? Or perhaps contribute to HacDC's main group project? HacDC's latest event brings hardware projects to the community. We will focus primarily on the main project (Space Blimp!) but please feel free to bring some of your own projects to show off and work on!

\*This in-person program isn't affiliated nor related to World Language Cafe. Lingua Lounge is a place to speak a language you know or one you are learning, converse in a friendly atmosphere, meet new people who enjoy learning about other cultures, increase your fluency by speaking and listening, pick up useful phrases to use when traveling and recall your childhood language. Lingua Lounge are held once a month year-round. The Lingua Lounge meets on the second Thursdays of the month from 7-9pm at the Howard County Library Miller Branch. Come in and join the language table of your choice. Language tables are hosted by a native speaker who will facilitate conversation. Languages include American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese - Mandarin, Chinese - Cantonese, Dutch, English, Esperanto, Farsi, French, German, Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Hindi, Irish Gaelic, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Turkish. Children under the age of 13 should be accompanied by an adult. People are welcome to bring food and beverages and may bring treats from their culture to share with their table. For more information, to find out if there will be a native speaker of the language you are interested in practicing, to become a native speaker table host, or request that your email be added to the Lingua Lounge email group, please contact nagahana@gmail.com If you are a Language Table Host (native or fluent speaker of a particular language), please let us know if you will be able to host by sending an email to nagahana@gmail.com. If you are new and would like to host a table, please specify which language you speak fluently.

Think BINGO… but hotter. We’re swapping boring numbers for bangers, adding drinks, and turning game night into a mini party. Join us for Music BINGO, where you’ll mark off songs instead of numbers, belt out throwbacks you forgot you loved, and compete for prizes while sipping your favorite drink. Expect guilty pleasures, sing-along classics, and that song that makes everyone lose their dignity (in the best way). Come solo, bring friends, flirt with strangers — we don’t judge. ✨ Fun beats 🍺 Flowing drinks 😊 Happy Hour prices until 8:00 🎵 Shameless singing 🏆 Prizes worth yelling “BINGO!” for Low pressure. High vibes. Slightly inappropriate dancing encouraged. Grab a glass, grab a card, and let’s see who’s got the best ears (and worst dance moves).

GM Anne will run a Mythic Bastionland one-shot and GM Jason will run an Into the Odd one-shot! Explore strange Bastion and its environs either in a medieval-ish or industrial revolution-ish setting. (Same game designer, same universe, same mechanics, different time periods.) In Mythic Bastionland you are a company of Knights sent to explore a Realm and seek out its Myths, which could be anything from a monster or a strange phenomena to an outright invasion. In Into the Odd, Bastion sits as the smoke-shrouded hub of mankind, surrounded by a world of lurking horrors and cosmic interference. You are an Explorer, braving places too far for maps and too old for records. Your expeditions touch the bizarre, wondrous, and horrific. New players welcome! No prep needed! **Where**: Your Hobby Place in Old Town Alexandria Looking for a place to play in-person RPGs and make new friends? Burnt out on internet D&D? Interested in trying games like Shadowdark and Dungeon Crawl Classics? Look no further than DMV RPG - Open Table! Whether you're a seasoned player or just getting started with tabletop role-playing, our group offers a welcoming, inclusive, and safe environment for all gamers to gather and embark on epic adventures together. From Dungeons & Dragons to sci-fi sagas, there's something for everyone here. Join us for regularly scheduled meetups, make new friends, and unleash your imagination in a fun and collaborative setting. Let the games begin! **Rules**: always teachable at the table **Gaming is for everybody**: Welcoming, inclusive, and safe **Pregens**: the GM will have pre-made characters so you can jump right in **Game**: Old School & New School, but likely lightweight **Multiple GMs**: We run games in a rotating GM format, so come to play and make friends, but we'll be looking for your interesting one-to-three shots to try

**Order Tickets here:** [https://awesome-con.com/badges/](https://awesome-con.com/badges/) Please note that Geek Nite Out is a Meetup Group attending this event. We are not the organizers of Awesome Con. Awesome Con is a comic-con that embraces all aspects of geekdom and pop culture, with a wide assortment of comic books, collectibles, toys, games, original art, cosplay, and more. Special events include discussion panels, costume contests, trivia contests, gaming tournaments, and tons of activities for kids. **Programming Schedule:** [https://awesome-con.com/programming/](https://awesome-con.com/programming/) **Guests:** Nathan Fillion Alan Tudyk Gina Torres Morena Baccarin Jewel Staite Sean Maher Summer Glau Gillian Anderson George Takei Jamie Campbell Bower Adam Savage Jim Beaver Misha Collins Tyler Labine Paul Giamatti Parker Posey Molly C. Quinn Henry Thomas Carla Gugino Katie Parker Ron Perlman Theo Rossi Sylvester McCoy Sophie Aldred Carole Ann Ford Frazer Hines Nicola Bryant **More Information:** [https://awesome-con.com/](https://awesome-con.com/) Geek Night Out will be hosting the **Cheesy Line Reading Contest** twice again this year! The first will be the **Kids Cheesy Line Reading Show**. It's on Friday, March 13th at 4:30 PM at the Awesome Con Jr. Movement Zone Booth #442. You can find more info about it here: [https://www.meetup.com/geekniteout/events/313586618](https://www.meetup.com/geekniteout/events/313586618) The second will be the **Cheesy Line Reading Contest.** That will be on Friday, March 13th at 8:00 PM in Room 206. You can find more info about it here: [https://www.meetup.com/geekniteout/events/313586642](https://www.meetup.com/geekniteout/events/313586642) **--MEETUP INFORMATION--** **METRO:** Mt Vernon Square Metro, along the Yellow and Green lines, is the closest metro station. It is right outside the convention center. **MEETING:** With these types of events, people like to go off and do their own thing. With that in mind, there will be an #awesomecon channel on the GNO Discord server. We can use that to communicate and arrange to meet for some panels or grab a bite to eat. The channel will be created the day before the Con. You can join the Discord server here: [https://discord.gg/d4e9MKScVP ](https://discord.gg/d4e9MKScVP)(link should be permanent. Please let me know if it stops working)

**Geek Nite Out Presents Cheesy Line-Reading Contest!** Awesome Con’s most talked about panel returns! Acting can be difficult, especially when you’re given atrocious or ridiculous dialogue. Come join other Awesome Con attendees in a competition to see who can deliver the most hilariously terrible dialogue in TV and movie history. May the cheesiest actor win! This panel is in Room 206. **An Awesome Con pass is required for entry.** You can purchase them here: [https://awesome-con.com/badges/](https://awesome-con.com/badges/) We will also be hosting a Kids Cheesy Line Reading Show this year! You can learn more about it here: [https://www.meetup.com/geekniteout/events/313586618/](https://www.meetup.com/geekniteout/events/313586618/) **GNO at Awesome Con:** [https://www.meetup.com/geekniteout/events/313368484/](https://www.meetup.com/geekniteout/events/313368484/)

**Geek Nite Out Presents Kids Cheesy Line Reading Show!** Ever wanted to be an actor? Come share your talent with some of the corniest, cheesiest, most absurd lines ever uttered by kids from movies and television. Presented at Awesomecon Jr. Now this is podracing! This panel is in the Awesome Con Jr. Movement Zone Booth #442. **An Awesome Con pass is required for entry.** You can purchase them here: [https://awesome-con.com/badges/](https://awesome-con.com/badges/) We will also be hosting the Cheesy Line Reading Contest again this year! You can learn more about it here: [https://www.meetup.com/geekniteout/events/313586642/](https://www.meetup.com/geekniteout/events/313586642/) **GNO at Awesome Con:** [https://www.meetup.com/geekniteout/events/313368484/](https://www.meetup.com/geekniteout/events/313368484/)

Awesome Con is Washington DC’s Comic Con! A 3-Day celebration of geek culture, bringing over 60,000 fans together with their favorite stars from across comics, movies, tv, toys, games, and more! DADA will have a table in the exhibit hall along with other local fannish organizations. If you're attending Awesome Con, stop by to see us! (Table # TBA) There is a variety of registration options available. Please see the Awesome Con website for details, schedules, conduct regulations, and to register for the convention: **[https://awesome-con.com/](https://awesome-con.com/)** NOTE: This is a leaderless meetup. Attend on your own and make your own fannish fun!

Food is one of the most meaningful ways to experience culture — and Ethiopian cuisine is rooted in community, tradition, and bold, layered flavors. Join the Global Food & Culture group as we gather at Enatye Ethiopian Restaurant to explore traditional dishes served on injera. If you’re open to sharing, we can create a few shared platters so everyone can sample a variety of dishes — but individual ordering is perfectly fine too. Enatye is a small restaurant and does not make reservations so they recommended the 2-4 pm time frame. We’re initially capping this at 12 guests to keep the experience comfortable and conversational. If interest is strong and the restaurant can accommodate, we may open additional spots. The good news is that they will bill each of us separately! Come hungry. Come curious. And come ready to connect around the table.

Enjoy fun at DC’s Awesome Con, a convention in DC where you get to meet your favorite movie celebrities. From TV shows to movies in general, the con is from March 13-15! I’m going to be 15th of March, which the cost is $75 per person! Friday I think is $70 and Saturday I think is $80, but you can look on the website for more information about it! Here’s the link to the website: https://awesome-con.com Please get your own ticket and you can go on your own day! On Sunday, I will be there for a couple of hours, but NOT the whole time! Can’t wait to see you all there! You may cosplay if you wish you don’t have to!

Padaek is a family owned restaurant showcasing Lao and Regional Thai cuisine. Their new location in Arlington Ridge represents cultures through food, inspired by stories and family recipes from Chef Seng Luangrath's grandmother, aunt, and friends passed along in a refugee camp in Thailand. The integrity of Lao and Regional Thai cuisine is further demonstrated through the homestyle setting and art by a young local artist. Laotian food is similar to the cuisine from northern Thailand, but is spicier and more complex.

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."

This month, we are in-person at GameArena!!! We will also be joined by students and their games from [Shawnee State](https://www.shawnee.edu/game-design-programs)! \-\-\- Join us for our our monthly COGG Prototype and Play event @GameArena! Come to play and showcase your games. We're back in the upper levels of the catwalk mezzanine area. It'll be packed with lots of camaraderie playing your game(s) and other's games on the 2nd floor as well as the 1st floor in the gaming room below the mezzanine. Light snacks and water provided but you can buy food and drinks at the bar (alcoholic drink ID required). [https://www.game-arena.co/menu](https://www.game-arena.co/menu) **Attendees:** Don't have a game to show? Not a problem! All are welcomed and invited from all ages and backgrounds. The more we can have to play test our games the better! **Developers:** Do you have a game that you would like to get critical feedback on? Would you like an excuse to work on a game with other talented artists, programmers, musicians, designers, and writers? Digital, table-top, non-experienced developers, and the like are welcomed! We'll provide signage for your game to help others learn more about your work. Wifi, outlets, tables, and seats (though standing tables also) are available. Come to the Prototype and Play workshop to collaborate and meet local game developers for an evening of epic and raw game play fun! Play works-in-progress, show off your own game, work with others to add polish to a game, or even lend your talents to other fellow developers. Can use South Garage at the Gateway with a $5 voucher on your way out. 75 E 11th Ave, Columbus, OH 43201 [https://maps.app.goo.gl/UwgveUYG37Jy7RtS9](https://maps.app.goo.gl/UwgveUYG37Jy7RtS9) If you have any questions or comments, as always, feel free to reach out to us at [info@thecogg.com!](http://info@thecogg.com!/)