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Happy New Year! This is our first Cantonese event in 2026. All levels of Cantonese proficiency are welcome! 新年快樂！ 今次係我哋 2026 年第一個廣東話活動，歡迎各水平嘅廣東話愛好者！ PS - Parking is free in the Metro parking garage on weekends. 週末地鐵嘅停車場係免費嘅。

This is a great opportunity to meet others who are new as well as those who have been around a while! Mission BBQ has some of the best BBQ in the area, served in a casual environment which honors our military and first responders. When you arrive, feel free to grab food then join us. As we're a large group, please be patient with restaurant staff and use any time in line to visit with others. Meals are in the $10-15 range. Look for GRASP table flyers and Eli's GRASP shirt to find us within the restaurant. Everyone is welcome and we can't wait to see you!

Let's celebrate George Washington's Birthday with a free visit to Mount Vernon! NB: This is a very popular event! Judging from past visits, we will almost certainly get separated by the crowds. Please plan to arrive early to find parking and find our group. Timed tickets for the mansion tour are handed out upon entry, so we are very likely to receive different times. Please do not get disappointed if/when we get separated -- just enjoy the visit! ❶ **What we'll do:** * We'll assemble at 8:30 am outside the Texas Gate and get in line to enter the grounds at 9 am. After going through security, receiving a ticket, and watching the introductory movie, we'll exit Ford Visitor Center and tour the grounds, with individuals taking a break to tour the mansion depending on the time on their individual ticket. Our tour alone covers 2 miles, but you'll probably cover as much again going back and forth to the mansion tour and other events. * Google map of our tour route: http://tinyurl.com/j4f48ba * There are several events taking place during the day you may wish to attend; see the notes section below. ❷ **How to get there:** Mount Vernon is 16 miles south of Washington DC, and 8 miles south of Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, at the southern end of the George Washington Memorial Parkway. From US-1/Richmond Highway (either direction) take VA-235/Mount Vernon Memorial Highway to the traffic circle in front of the entrance. Parking is free. For more details, see: [http://tinyurl.com/peytv8a](http://tinyurl.com/peytv8a) ❸ **What to bring:** Water, comfy shoes, and your furry friend if desired. The layered look is fashionable. * Food and beverages other than water are not allowed. * Bags/backpacks and containers larger that 16x16x8 inches are not permitted; smaller containers are subject to search. * See Bag Inspection & Prohibited Items and Dog Visitation policies in the notes section below. ❹ **Weather:** The forecast is cloudy and a high of 47F, with 7-8 mph N winds and a 6-8% chance of showers. Updates here: [https://tinyurl.com/3y2wpzp3](https://tinyurl.com/3y2wpzp3) ❺ **Advisory:** As a reminder, this is an adult group, and you are ultimately responsible for your own safety and well-being during events. No one under 18 years of age is allowed at this event, either as members or as guests, to include babies in carriers and/or strollers. ❻ **Administrative stuff:** There are restroom facilities at (1) the Ford Orientation Center, (2) just north of the Blacksmith Shop, (3) in between the Wharf and the 16-sided Barn, and (4) at the Museum. ❼ **Notes:** * Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, VA 22121, tele. 703-780-2000, [http://www.mountvernon.org/](http://www.mountvernon.org/) * Washington's Birthday Celebration and Events: [http://tinyurl.com/45frhmjx](http://tinyurl.com/45frhmjx) * Interactive map: http://tinyurl.com/lpma7u3 * Bag inspection & prohibited items policy: [https://tinyurl.com/sfnpdrb](https://tinyurl.com/sfnpdrb) * Dog visitation policy: [http://tinyurl.com/q5x8jbh](http://tinyurl.com/q5x8jbh)

☕💻 Join us for a relaxed coworking session with handcrafted coffee at Kaldi’s Social House in Clarendon. With its cozy café vibe, comfy seating, and free Wi-Fi, Kaldi’s is a great spot to settle in, get some work done, and sip on an excellent mocha or latte. 🥢🍜 Around 1:00 pm, for anyone who’s interested, we’ll take a short walk over to Wagamama—just a couple of blocks away—for lunch at this popular Asian-fusion favorite. Feel free to join for the coworking, the lunch, or both! [Kaldi’s Social House ](https://www.instagram.com/kaldissocialarlington?igsh=MWVpMTFoNDJlNGtvdw==) [Wagamama](https://northernvirginiamag.com/food-and-drink/reviews/2024/09/24/first-bite-review-wagamama-brings-big-flavor-to-clarendon/)

Mt. Vernon offers free admission on the 16th. We could also go either to Huntley Meadows or Belle View marina for a walk. It will be up to the attendees. [Dishes of India |Order Online Food| Catering Services in Alexandria, VA](https://www.dishesofindia.com/) ## [Mon2/16](https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/alexandria/22314/daily-weather-forecast/331249?day=10) [48° /30°](https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/alexandria/22314/daily-weather-forecast/331249?day=10) [0%](https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/alexandria/22314/daily-weather-forecast/331249?day=10) Mostly cloudy in the morning followed by sun through high clouds in the afternoon **Real Feel® 53\***

Join us as we do an invigorating outdoor walk and talk in Historic Greenbelt MD. Our goal is to walk twice around the 1.4 mile path. Should take about an hour. Afterward, those of us interested will head to nearby Cedars of Lebanon restaurant for lunch and conversation. The address for GPS is Buddy Attic Lake Park. 555 Crescent Rd. Greenbelt, MD. Meet us in the parking lot. Thank you! .....Ross A.

Mimic the great skaters who gracefully carve an ephemeral numeral “8” in the ice—but instead of skates, use the steel wheels of the Metro system! We’ll start at Metro Center, make our way to Ft. Totten on the Red line, transfer (in a very cool way) to the Yellow or Green lines; then go down to L’Enfant Plaza, where we’ll switch to the Blue, Orange or Silver lines to take us home to Metro Center and complete our ”8”. Then off to Potbelly Sandwich Shop for lunch and reflection on our feat!

**Join me, Carolyn Becker (aka [@Petite_Punk)](https://www.instagram.com/petite_punk/), and thrifters like yourself for exclusive access to shopping one hour before a Goodwill store opens, coupons, and breakfast bites! *The event is free, but each attendee must bring a bag of donations to receive event benefits.*** Please be sure to encourage your friends to create an account with Meetup and RSVP (here) to attend the event. RSVPing on this platform *is required* to attend our Meetup. We will also have special curated racks from local thrift fashion influencers! Guests will be announced soon! Meetup breakdown and details (please see the details in each Meetup event for final logistics): * At around 8:50 AM, in front of the store of the month, Carolyn will greet attendees and lead everyone into the store by 9 AM (unless otherwise stated). * Those who arrive after 10 AM will not receive Meetup benefits unless an RSVP is made on this site and presented. * Meetup benefits cannot be shared or duplicated at multiple Goodwill locations. * Guests can have +1. * The RSVP cap is 200 attendees. * We will be taking pictures and videos for social media at this Meetup. * We provide complimentary snacks and beverages. Please be mindful of spills and food debris. * Due to limited parking, carpooling is encouraged. * Attendees must RSVP by 2/20 to attend. I look forward to thrifting with you! Address: #### Alexandria, VA 7558-B Telegraph Road, Alexandria, Virginia [7558-B Telegraph Road, Alexandria, Virginia - Goodwill of Greater Washington](https://dcgoodwill.org/locations/7558-B-telegraph-road-alexandria-virginia/) **Note: Goodwill of Greater Washington is not responsible for transportation to and from the Meetup. Please plan accordingly. Carpooling is encouraged. Thank you!**

Weekly Saturday group ride, starting at Handy Bikes Retail Showroom. Come ride with locals in the area! This group ride is for average folks who want to go for an average ride. It's not quite a coffee ride, but it's definitely not a race! Routes will vary around the area, with an average speed around 14 mph (minimum of \~10 MPH) for around 15-30 miles. We'll be on pavement so bikes with smooth tires are encouraged, **helmets are mandatory**. Open to any riders who are willing and able to ride with a group including Class 1, 2, and 3 e-bikes. No speed demons please! Good group ride etiquette is a requirement. Shop opens at 10:00 am Show up and sign in by 10:15 am Roll out 10:30 am Please RSVP in advance, so that the ride leaders can prepare for the group's size. [Handy Bikes on Strava](https://www.strava.com/clubs/737920/leaderboard) [Handy Bikes on RideWithGPS](https://ridewithgps.com/organizations/14675-handy-bikes)

Join us for a **scenic, social hike at Rock Creek Park** as we explore the "Southern Loop," starting from the Nature Center. Starting at the **Nature Center**, the "Southern Loop via Western Ridge Trail, Rock Creek, and Valley Trail" is a well-loved route. With over 2,700 glowing reviews on AllTrails, it offers beautiful scenery, well-maintained paths, and a refreshing escape close to the city. This **easy hike** winds through lush forested trails, showcasing the beauty of Rock Creek Park. While the trail is mostly straightforward, please note that sections may be **slippery**, so wear sturdy, grippy shoes. To learn more about the trail, click the link in the **Trail Map section below**. Get ready for fresh air, great conversations, and plenty of scenic moments! This hike is perfect for all levels, so bring your good vibes and let’s hit the trail together! **Meeting Time & Location:** Meet us at 9:30 AM at the **Rock Creek Park Nature Center,** located at 5200 Glover Rd NW, Washington, DC 20015. There’s plenty of parking available at the Nature Center. We’ll gather right in front of the building to start the hike. **Distance:** 5.6 miles **Elevation Gain:** 685 feet **Difficulty:** Moderate Walk/Hike This hike is a moderate walk with natural trails and a few gentle inclines to get your heart rate up. The terrain includes some uneven sections, and the fallen leaves can make it a bit slippery in spots. With sturdy footwear, it’s an enjoyable and accessible hike for most levels. **Estimated Duration** This hike is expected to take approximately 2.5 hours. **Pace:** Moderate Pace We'll walk a steady, comfortable pace that’s manageable for most hikers with a reasonable fitness level. Breaks are regular but not overly frequent, allowing for a balanced experience of exercise and enjoyment. **Parking** Ample parking is available at the Rock Creek Park Nature Center, with additional overflow parking located across the street. **Trail Map (AllTrails)** [Rock Creek Park - Southern Loop](https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/rock-creek-park-nature-center-a2f0474?u=i&sh=ylk43q) With over 2,700 reviews on AllTrails, this popular route offers insights into the trail’s conditions and highlights. Click the link above to learn more and prepare for your hike! **Restrooms** Restrooms are available at the Nature Center, our meeting point at the start of the hike. They open at 9:00 AM. Additionally, there are restrooms approximately 1 hour into the hike, where we’ll take a brief break. **Dog Attendance** For everyone’s comfort and enjoyment, we kindly ask that you leave your dogs at home for this hike. Thank you for understanding! **Lunch After the Hike** After the hike, join us for an optional lunch at **Pete’s New Haven Style Apizza** (4940 Wisconsin Ave. NW), an affordable, counter-service spot just a 10 minute drive away. They serve New England-style pizza, pastas, salads, antipasti, and local brews—something for everyone!

Early-bird coffee and conversation at [Good Cafe](https://goodcafeeaston.com/)!

Google is leading the AI revolution—don't miss your chance to stay ahead of the curve. Join GDG Cloud Indy for an immersive session where we bridge the gap between AI experimentation and enterprise production. We are thrilled to feature two expert-led deep dives into the Google AI ecosystem, designed for Cloud Architects, Developers, and AI enthusiasts alike. **The Lineup:** **11:00 AM \|** **Getting Started with Google Gemini** Speaker: Vaidehi S. Tripathi\*\*,\*\* Cloud Advisor, GDE, GDG Organizer (Cloud Indy) Focus: A walk-through of Gemini and multimodal models to boost daily productivity. **11:30 AM \|** **Google AI Studio vs. Vertex AI: The Path to GenAI** Speaker: Olga Scrivner, PhD, Google Cloud & GenAI Leader, WTM Ambassador, IEEE Humanitarian Tech Chair (Indy) Focus: Navigating the journey from rapid prototyping in AI Studio to production-ready deployments in Vertex AI. **The Perks:** 🎁 Exclusive GDG Swag for attendees! 🍕 Pizza & Soft Drinks (for in-person guests). 🤝 Networking & Q&A with local industry leaders. **Meeting Link:** meet.google.com/wia-ygtn-fmc Also, Check our Meetup page at https://www.meetup.com/gdgcloudindy/ See you there! This is a hybrid event. Join the event virtually at: https://gdg.community.dev/events/details/google-gdg-cloud-indy-presents-level-up-your-ai-game-with-google-gemini/ or in person at: Zionsville Town Hall - 1100 West Oak Street Zionsville, 46077 *** *** **About the Speakers :** **Olga Scrivner -** PhD\*\*,\*\* a certified Google Cloud and GenAI Leader, IEEE Humanitarian Technologies Chair (Central Indiana), and Women Tech Makers Ambassador In this talk, we’ll walk through Google’s primary generative AI platforms: **Google AI Studio** and **Vertex AI**. We’ll explore what each tool is designed for and how developers typically begin their journey with Google’s AI ecosystem. Using **Google AI Studio**, we’ll demonstrate how you can experiment with Google’s **Gemini models** to create and test ideas, from text generation to image and video creation. We’ll also discuss how these early experiments can later connect to **Vertex AI** for production use cases. **Vaidehi Tripathi** \- Elevance Health \(Cloud Advisor\) Founder and Organizer GDG Cloud Indy. Google Developer Expert-GDE. Vaidehi is a Cloud Advisor at Elevance Health (Formally Anthem) and before that worked as Solution Architecture Manager in Accenture focused on designing solution based on Google Cloud Platform. Vaidehi is a Google certified Architect, Data, Network, Security, Developer, DevOps and Machine Learning Engineer. **Hosted By :** Vaidehi Tripathi, GDG Organizer Complete your event RSVP here: https://gdg.community.dev/events/details/google-gdg-cloud-indy-presents-level-up-your-ai-game-with-google-gemini/.

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 **Abstract** TBD **YouTube Link** TBA

Join the Columbus AI community for our quarterly gathering — a casual, community-focused evening where everyone has a chance to share, learn, and connect. These open mic–style events give anyone in the community up to **5 minutes** to present a project, share a tool, pose a question, or offer a perspective on the evolving AI space. No slides required — just a welcoming space to exchange ideas and keep the local AI conversation moving. If you’d like to take the stage, message **Chris (the organizer)** with a **title and short description** of what you’d like to share. Whether you’re deep in the field or just getting curious, come connect with others building and exploring AI in Columbus. Sponsored by [Transform Labs](https://www.transformlabs.com/services)

**NEW LOCATION: Improving Office in Franklinton** Physical location: Improving Office 330 Rush Alley Suite #150 Columbus, OH 43215 Schedule: * 6:00 p.m.: Socialize, eat, and drink. Improving will be providing pizza and beverages. * 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Main meeting and presentation(s). See the handy Parking Map - we recommend street parking. [Street Parking Map](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1u2A4fLNlxwLJn0KA_hKc8bnFlFHLvsHBDh-_8wzX_tk/edit?usp=sharing) We meet on the last Monday of each Month. Presentations are given by members and friends of this group. If you would like to do a presentation (small or large) on a python topic, please contact centralohpython@gmail.com

We will have lunch at Cap City Diner in Gahanna at 12:00 then walk over to the theater afterwards. The Movie Solo Mio starts at 1:20.It will be posted when tickets available to purchase probably the week before then we’ll post our seat number so we can all sit together 😎