Genderqueer

• What we'll do On https://blackecon101.podbean.com/ Thursdays at 6 pm. discussing the economy....

Come connect with fellow Startup founders over complimentary appetizers and great conversation at our monthly Startup Grind DC Founders Dinner. Quick heads-up: Your ticket gets you into the event and covers appetizers. Entrées and drinks will be on individual tabs. We’re also looking for sponsors who want to support the DC founder community. Whether that’s hosting us, covering food, or contributing financially, sponsors get the chance to connect directly with founders, get shoutouts in our promotions, speak at events, and reach our 10,000+ Pre-seed to Series A founders across the DMV. Agenda --- Hosted By Mia Orantes, Chapter Director I'm a dynamic speaker, angel investor, serial entrepreneur, the host of the celebrated Founders Only podcast, and the CEO & founder of the award-winning agency that automates online growth and profitability engines, Creative Analytics. As a lifelong entrepreneur, I am devoted to serving founders by showing them the road map for rapid online growth and helping them navigate that journey. A native Washingtonian, I hold several designations, including a PMI-certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification, an MBA & MS in Information Technology with a concentration in Project Management, and an in-progress certificate in Digital Transformation & AI from Cornell University. --- Partner Creative Analytics (https://creativeanalyticsdc.com/) Creative Analytics is a B2B growth marketing agency that leverages data-driven strategies and creative design to optimize digital performance and boost conversions for innovative brands. Specializing in SaaS, tech, and professional services, their services include conversion rate optimization, HubSpot implementation, content marketing, and web development. The agency combines deep expertise in CRO and product messaging with automation, helping clients scale faster with less time and effort. --- Startup Grind is a global startup community designed to educate, inspire, and connect entrepreneurs. We host monthly events in more than 600 cities and 125+ countries featuring successful local founders, innovators, educators and investors who share personal stories and lessons learned on the road to building great companies. Our monthly fireside chat interviews, startup mixers and annual conferences provide ample opportunities to connect with amazing startups and the people behind them, tap into a strong support network, form meaningful connections and gain inspiration for the startup journey ahead. For more information visit StartupGrind.com or follow us on twitter @StartupGrind. --- Complete your event RSVP here: https://www.startupgrind.com/events/details/startup-grind-washington-dc-presents-january-2026-startup-founders-dinner/.

Network of Light Event THE DESTINY OF A NATION - YEAR 2026 Vedic Astrology with Brendan Feeley Thursday January 22, 2026 at 7:30pm We Network of Lighters are so excited and delighted that Brendan Feeley, M.A., D.Ay., is coming to be with us Thursday, January 22! The year has started with a bang and the alignment of planets in the heavens in the first week of January promised an unexpected military event. What else can we expect in year 2026? What do the planets promise and when will the events take place? The year 2025 saw a shift in the global power structure with the inauguration of President Trump and the introduction of tariffs and many other strategic changes. 2026 brings the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and in November, the mid-term elections will determine the balance of power in the national capital's corridors of power. We also have the gubernatorial races; 36 states will elect governors. We can say that 2026 is a decisive year in defining the future of the nation and the driver is going to be voter sentiment. Since President Trump took office, we have witnessed a restructuring of global alliances and countries are redefining their strategies. Brendan will examine the following topics in his talk: USA economy Mid-term elections Venezuela and the fate of Nicolas Madura Israel, Iran and the Middle East Banking and digital money The stock market The property market DATE AND TIME: Thursday January 22 at 6:00 PM  Meet, Greet, Eat and Pray 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Potluck Please bring your favorite healthy dinner dish to serve 8 people. Astrology Presentation - 7:30 pm  PLACE: The Network of Light, 6304 30th Street NW Washington, DC 20015 Please park on Tennyson Street. Please do not park in the 30th St. cul-de-sac. LOVE DONATION: $20 suggested As usual, no one is turned away due to lack of funds. Brendan Feeley is a professional Vedic astrologer with a full- time practice in Rockville, MD. He is recognized internationally for his writings, teachings and lectures on Vedic astrology, Ayurveda and Vedic philosophy. He is a founding member of the Council of Vedic Astrologers-USA and has received the professional title of Jyotish Kovid (excellence in Jyotish) in recognition for his work. For more information, visit www.bpfeeley.com Contact Brendan Feeley, M.A., D.Ay. (301) 424-6644 or email bpfeeley@aol.com

AI has changed the World fast. It has created opportunities for all. Let's meet with the tech ecosystem to learn from AI leaders and startup founders as we hear different use cases. At this event, attendees will have the opportunity to meet mentors, advisors and investors to ask them questions about their business strategy, key decisions, next steps, and more. Don't miss this opportunity to learn how experienced entrepreneurs would tackle the problems you or others are facing and learn from various use cases. This event will be set as a panel discussing various AI use cases, solutions from all across industries. Guest Speakers include: * Guc Ozenci (Program Director, FI Washington DC) * Catherine Mc Millan (Founding Director, AI Collective) **❯** **Who should Attend?** * Anyone who wants to learn from AI leaders * Anyone curious about AI opportunities * Anyone who has a pre-seed company or a startup idea * Anyone who wants to learn about entrepreneurship **❯ What is the Agenda?** * Welcome and Socializing * Panel with Startup Founders and Local Ecosystem Leaders * Q&A Session * Conclusion and Networking **❯ Panel Speakers:** * Catherine McMillan, AI Collective * Andrew Tsintsiruk, Rohic.com * more to come... **❯❯ This is an in-person event, so be sure to RSVP at https://fi.co/e/384682/meetup to secure your spot and receive further details.**

Federal Executive GovCon - "Supporting Government Efficiency with Thought Leadership" When: Thursday, January 22, 2026, 5:30 – 8:00 Location: Lost Rhino, 21730 Red Rum Dr, Ste 142, Ashburn, VA 20147 (\*\* NEW LOCATION \*\*) Come network with other local GovCon Executives and enjoy a few free beers on us and engage with our sponsors and Industry speakers. Please register here for your spot and please enter full name and company so a badge will be waiting for you. Sponsorships: 1 of 2 spots are available. DM me to claim the 2nd sponsorship to highlight your company to an invitation-only executive audience.

👉 **Enroll at [https://www.worklifespanish.com/upper-intermediate-b2.htm](https://www.worklifespanish.com/upper-intermediate-b2.html)** This course will review the four indicative past tenses, the present subjunctive and the various uses of the imperfect subjunctive through the viewing of short films and class discussions and differentiate "por" & "para" and use "si" clauses. ​Books: [Demystified](https://www.amazon.com/Spanish-Demystified-Premium-Jenny-Petrow/dp/1259836851/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1519486720&sr=1-1&keywords=spanish+demystified) Day: Thursdays, 6:00pm - 8:0pm ET ​Dates: 1/22 - 3/26 Teacher: Mike Location: Falls Church 👉 **Enroll at [https://www.worklifespanish.com/upper-intermediate-b2.htm](https://www.worklifespanish.com/upper-intermediate-b2.html)**

Happy new year, cuties! We’re excited to ring in the New Year with the return of our **Pink Pony Club: Winter Wonderland** edition. Similar to past events, we love a fun dress theme. So we hope everyone can join with a **Winter Wonderland** inspired look. Think **whites**, **blues**, **rhinestones**, **sequins**, **shimmer**, **glitter**, or **sparkles**! Channel your inner **Elsa** (but do your best to stay warm as well)! And **pink** is always welcome in the spirit of Chappell Roan’s *Pink Pony Club*! Enjoy the holidays, and we look forward to seeing y’all in 2026! **The Venue**: Astro Beer Hall offers a fun, retro menu with elevated pub food like burgers, wings, tots, and unique doughnuts. They feature a rotating craft beer selection, a few N/A beer options, and creative cocktails with pop culture names. They offer tournament pool tables and darts along with a retro lounge downstairs. Check out a typical menu here: [https://www.astrobeerhall.com/shirlington-menus/](https://www.astrobeerhall.com/shirlington-menus/) Individual checks will be provided. A 22% gratuity and a 3.5% booking fee will be added to each check. **After-Party Fun**: Join Devyn for the after-party fun at Freddie's Beach Bar or another bar like Pitcher's DC! Check in with her at Astro Beer Hall to join in. **RSVP now to secure your spot!** **Attire** We want to continue to generate the goodwill produced at our other events, so we expect everyone to wear attire appropriate for a mainstream space. We take pride in the variety of ensembles ladies display while maintaining our tasteful and chic individual style. *No fetish or similar 'exotic' wear, please.* Bring your smartphones and cameras, and take pics to share on our meetup site. (Please be mindful that some ladies are adverse to being photographed so if in doubt ask first.) **Parking** Shirlington has extensive, free, garage parking in parking garages on weekends and evenings. **Lodging** The Hilton Garden Inn in Shirlington has rooms available starting at $123 + tax (as of time of event publish). We don't have any special rate negotiated so check out your discount options online when you book, e.g., use hotel chain points, AAA and AARP membership discounts, pay now discounts, or volume booking sites like Expedia, etc. It's just a two-minute walk from the hotel to the pub! The hotel's website link is: [https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/dcaasgi-hilton-garden-inn-arlington-shirlington/](https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/dcaasgi-hilton-garden-inn-arlington-shirlington/)

New players are always welcome to come try it out! What you need: A bathing suit. Preferably something light and tight. We have extra gear for new players. But if you have your own pair of flippers, a snorkeling mask, and a snorkel then bring them along. Please bring this signed and completed form to practice: https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/c7dc-2321473/USOA_Waiver_2022-07-07.pdf Unless you are already a member of USOA: https://www.underwater-society.org/page/show/4284471-usoa-registration To find us: You can tell the front desk that you are here for underwater hockey and they will let you in for free. You can ask them for help finding the pool. If no one is at the front desk just walk past it and there will be a set of stairs on the left. Take the stairs and take a right at the bottom of the stairs. The men's and women's locker rooms are straight ahead, and you will need to go through them to access the pool deck. Once you are out on the pool deck you will be exactly where we practice. Agenda: First 15 minutes: Arrival at the pool, getting gear from the shared gear bin, dividing into two teams, getting gear on. Minutes 15-30: Getting in the water, teaching any new players the basics Minutes 20-70: Scrimmage/practice. Minutes 70-75: Putting away club gear, putting the lane lines back in place, clearing the pool deck. (optional) afterwards: Go to a local restaurant for food, drinks, and socializing.

**NOTE: AN RSVP ON MEETUP DOES NOT SERVE AS A BOOKED SPOT. YOU MUST BOOK VIA LINK BELOW TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT.** **THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT!** **You must book your spot through our website: [[Booking Link Here](https://www.lesbifriendstravel.com/events/shape-sip-a-queer-clay-social)]** Bring your curiosity and creative spark! Lesbifriends Travel invites you to *Shape & Sip*, a queer clay social where we trade wine glasses for clay slabs and build something beautiful together. Whether you're sculpting your first coffee mug or just vibing with community energy, this event is all about creation and fun. No experience needed, just come ready to play, sip, and shape your Saturday with us. **Event Details You Should Know:** 📅 **Date:** Saturday, January 24, 2026 ⏰ **Time:** 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM 📍 **Location:** Moonlight Studios in Beltsville, MD 💸 **Cost:** $40 **What to Expect:** 🎨 Hands-on clay fun with guidance (Take home what you create) 🍷 Wine to sip while you sculpt 💖 A cozy, safe space for queer creativity **Who This Event Is For:** Queer BIPOC folks who want a chill, artsy Saturday full of laughter, new Lesbifriends, and feel-good vibes. ✨ Lesbifriends Travel invites you to create art, feel joy, and be connected. Learn more details and claim your spot here: **[Shape & Sip](https://www.lesbifriendstravel.com/events/shape-sip-a-queer-clay-social)**! **Booking deadline is January 14, 2026.** **Note:** By attending this event, you agree to being photographed. However, if communicated, we will try our best not to capture you in photos and post you publicly. That request must be communicated ahead of time/at the beginning of the event to photographer and host.

New (old) location - La Madeleine at 500 King St! Hope to see you there

⚠️ **IMPORTANT: You must sign up and buy a ticket here to attend:** [https://groupvibe.com/](https://groupvibe.com/) **This is a curated, small-group meetup make new friends in Washington.** Each meetup brings together 4–6 like-minded people for casual conversations over brunch. We use the Groupvibe platform to organize and ensure everyone’s a good fit. 👉 **To attend, you’ll need to complete registration via this link:** [https://groupvibe.com](https://groupvibe.com) Once you register, and **buy a ticket or become a Groupvibe member**, we’ll share the exact location and match you with your group. **Why this works:** \* Smaller groups make real conversations easier \* Matching helps avoid awkward dynamics **Note:** RSVPs here on Meetup don’t reflect total attendance. Many attendees register directly via our website. This meetup is organized by **Groupvibe**, a small team passionate about helping people form meaningful friendships offline.

**Brunch starts at 11 a.m.** at Freddie's Beach Bar & Restaurant, 555 23rd St. S, Arlington, Virginia 22202. Reserve a spot for free on **[Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1979005928004?aff=oddtdtcreator)** so we have an accurate guest count. Enjoy a delicious brunch and meet LGBTQ+ folk. Make meaningful new connections. The event is free to attend; you simply pay for whatever you order on your own on separate credit card; there's no group tab to worry about. Name tags will be provided. About 10 LGBTQ+ folk are expected. The menu is at [https://www.freddiesbeachbar.com/menu](https://www.freddiesbeachbar.com/menu) OR better yet, order the all-you-can-eat buffet that includes a mimosa or coffee/tea or soft drink, and dessert for only $14.99. Casual attire is fine. Feel free to invite all your friends to join you there. Please be sure to tag any event photos on social with #gogaydc **Metro Directions:** Be eco-friendly. Metro rides are now capped at only $2.50 on weekends, regardless of distance traveled. Crystal City Metro station on the Yellow/Blue lines is the closest Metro stop. When you arrive, go out the station, walk towards your left to 18th Street and then veer right and walk under the Route 1 overpass to Eads St. Turn left and walk to 23rd Street. Turn right. Freddie's is up 23rd Street just a block. Just look for the rainbow flags on the right-hand side of the street! The venue phone number is (703) 685-0555 in case you get lost. Parking is usually available nearby on the residential side streets. Freddie's was voted the Best Virginia Bar by *Washington Blade* readers. Don't like a smoky bar? You are covered: Freddie's is a smoke-free establishment. (Ashtrays are provided outside the back of the building if smoking is 'your thing'). Freddie's is an LGBTQ+, straight-friendly restaurant and bar. It offers Happy Hour daily from 4-7 pm. [https://www.freddiesbeachbar.com](https://www.freddiesbeachbar.com/) This event is being boosted by **[Go Gay DC](https://www.gogaydc.com/)**[,](https://www.gogaydc.com/) Metro Washington DC's inclusive LGBTQ+ community focused on friendship, leadership, and service. It reaches over 10K fabulous people and is growing fast. Visit [https://www.gogaydc.com](https://www.gogaydc.com/) Arrive at any time that's convenient for you. Go Gay DC Leader **[TJ Flavell](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjflavell/)** will be there to greet you. There's no need to print out and show your Eventbrite ticket. This event is a safe, inclusive space for everyone under the rainbow. This event is for all ages. Remember to bring your ID, as everyone who wishes to drink alcohol is carded of course. Go Gay DC is on social media: Join the Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/GoGayDC](https://www.facebook.com/groups/GoGayDC) Like the Facebook Page [https://www.facebook.com/GoGayDC](https://www.facebook.com/GoGayDC) Follow on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/GoGayDC](https://www.instagram.com/GoGayDC) Follow on Threads [https://www.threads.com/@GoGayDC](https://www.threads.com/@gogaydc) Follow on Bluesky [https://gogaydc.bsky.social/](https://gogaydc.bsky.social/) Follow on X [https://www.x.com/GoGayDC](https://www.x.com/GoGayDC) Watch on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/GoGayDC](https://www.youtube.com/GoGayDC) Search tags: LGBT LGBTQ LGBTQI LQBTQIA Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Intersex Straight Allies brunch nonbinary

Calling all founders, CEOs, lawyers, doctors, and entrepreneurs to join our special *Founder Edition* of Sip & Read meetup event. Let's sip on fine wine and discuss our first book **The 5AM Club- Own Your Morning Elevate Your Life, by Robin Sharma**. We will pair this book with our favorite wine at **Wine on High** and engage in thought-provoking discussions on startup businesses and entrepreneurship, and network with like-minded individuals in a cozy book club setting. *The 5AM Club* by Robin Sharma explores how waking up early and following a structured morning routine can dramatically improve productivity, mindset, and overall life mastery. Through a blend of storytelling and practical frameworks, it teaches high performers how to build discipline, focus, and long-term success by owning the first hour of the day. Come prepared to discuss this month's book. At the end of each book club meeting, we will take next book and venue suggestions from the participants for the next meeting. Whether you are a book lover, women entrepreneur, or a content creator, this event is perfect for sharing ideas and insights with other funders and founders in the entrepreneurial world. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to connect, learn, and grow together. Sign up now to reserve your spot! *Fun fact! This meetup was established in 2015 and had over 1,000 members. I had to shut down operations while attending law school, but we're back!!*

**(‼️‼️*Important:* GO [HERE](https://calendly.com/movewithcouragecoaching/leadership-coffee-chat) to be enrolled in the workshop. Signing up on Meetup won't fully register you!‼️‼️)** **WHAT: ☕ Leadership Coffee Chat** **WHEN: 🗓️ Thursday, January 29 at 7 PM EST** **WHERE: Sign Up: [HERE](https://calendly.com/movewithcouragecoaching/leadership-coffee-chat) only** Join us for a relaxed, supportive Leadership Coffee Chat where you can connect with others, share what you’re navigating at work, and get guidance from a certified career coach, interview coach, leadership coach, and professional résumé writer. This space is designed for real conversation — the kind you don’t always get at work. Bring your questions, your current challenges, or anything you’re trying to figure out in your career or leadership journey. You’ll have the chance to: * Meet other professionals who are growing and leveling up * Support each other through real‑life workplace situations * Get practical advice from a coach who specializes in career clarity, leadership, interviewing, and résumé strategy * Leave with clarity, encouragement, and next steps Whether you’re exploring leadership, preparing for a promotion, navigating workplace dynamics, or simply wanting to grow — you’re welcome here. ➡️➡️ Sign Up **[HERE ](https://calendly.com/movewithcouragecoaching/leadership-coffee-chat)**Not through Meetup if you'd like to attend!

**In February we will be decorating and making snowflakes out of paper crafts, coffee filters, popsicle sticks, and more! All supplies are provided, seats are limited! Come As you are, when you can; hope to see you there!**