Gun Safety

Bring your lights for the “Friday Night” Skate! **Join us for the Friday Night Skate!** See the monuments of DC all lit up at night! We will meet at the National World War I Memorial “Pershing Park” at 7pm. We’ll warm up with a nice easy skate to the Capital and skate along the mall and museums to the National Monument. We will then head to the Lincoln Memorial through the World War II Memorial. Those interested in just a 5.5 mile skate can backtrack to Pershing Park. The group will then proceed from the Lincoln to Haynes Point via Ohio Drive with the option to take the 3 mile loop (12 mile total skate) or sit by the water and enjoy the crisp air (8.5 mile total skate.) There are three options to loop back to the Pershing Park WWI Memorial and our path back will depend on the preferences / skill of the group. The skate is mostly flat on good pavement with a small slope coming down from the Washington Monument and a 40 yard small slop from the Lincoln to Ohio Drive. If skaters are more advanced we will cross the 14th St bridge, enjoy a few up and down hills and finish with a downhill through the 12th St. tunnel. Please feel free to jazz it up with lights, I wear a helmet bike light, a fun set of lights and lighted wheels! Wear your lights so you have fun, can see and be seen! In case of bad weather, I will cancel the skate by 6pm on this post. **Of course, all skating is at your own risk.**

It is a pleasure to announce that we have once again been invited to hold a spring event at the German Embassy! The German Wine Society’s Capital Chapter has held several asparagus-themed Spargelfest dinners at the Embassy, but this year’s Spring Gala event will offer something more, combining festive music with the pleasures of wine and food. We are collaborating this year with the International Club of DC to host this event, and so it is possible to register for the event through either organization at the same price. And this year, we are offering not only a dinner including white asparagus and with several German wines at the Embassy House, but also a reception and concert in the Carl Schurz Hall of the main Embassy building before dinner, with a selection of hors d’oeuvres and German sparkling, white and red wines. Guests will have the opportunity to attend just the reception, or the reception and dinner. For both the reception and dinner, cuisine will be provided by the German Embassy’s chef, Mikko Kosenen of Mikko Nordic Fine Foods. Chef Mikko also operates a restaurant in Washington, D.C., and was formerly executive chef for the Ambassador of Finland. Please plan to join us to share our love of German wine paired with white asparagus and other dishes, at the German Embassy where the German Wine Society began - and this year, to enjoy beautiful music and song at the start of our unique event, and to meet members of the International Club as well as those from our own Society! Please join our two groups at the German Embassy on the evening of **Friday, May 29, 2026,** from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Our event will begin with a reception, introductory remarks, concert and wine tasting with hors d’oeuvres at the Carl Schurz Hall of the main Embassy building from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. After this, guests who have also opted to attend the dinner will ascend the stairs to the Embassy House (or use escorted access to the Embassy elevator for those needing assistance) for our buffet dinner and dessert from 7:30 to 9:30 pm. Our dinner will feature not only white spargel and an array of other dishes, but also seven fine white and red German wines, including Silvaner, known for its affinity with asparagus. Overall, seven of Germany’s thirteen wine regions will be represented in our reception and dinner, including the Mosel, Rheingau, Nahe, Rheinhessen, Pfalz, Ahr, and Franken. Registration for this event must be received by **Friday, May 22, 2026.** We can accommodate a maximum of 120 guests for the reception in the Carl Schurz Hall, but only 80 for the dinner at the smaller Embassy House. When registering, please decide whether you want to attend either the reception only, or both the reception and dinner (the price of the dinner includes the reception, and attending the dinner without the reception is not an option). For the first two weeks after initial announcement of this event, we are reserving half of the dinner places for those who register through the German Wine Society, at the listed price. After that time, all of the places will be available for purchase by members of either group, and prices will be subject to revision without prior notice. The initial price to attend the Spring Gala for members of the German Wine Society is **$95** for the reception alone, or **$195** for the reception and dinner; for non-members, the initial price will be **$105** for the reception alone, or **$205** for the reception and dinner. Reserve early to avoid disappointment! We anticipate being joined by members of the German Embassy staff, some of whom will provide introductory remarks at the reception. Please take the opportunity to mingle with them and share your interests in German wines and Germany! Here’s what we have planned for our Spring Gala: **5:30 pm: entry to Embassy compound passing through security (plan to enter no later than 6:30 pm); Reception and concert at the German Embassy.** Enter at the main Embassy gate on 4645 Reservoir Road, NW, Washington, DC 20007, and after passing through security, proceed to the Carl Schurz Hall in the main Embassy building. For security purposes, the Embassy requires a list of all attendees in advance; no walk-ins are allowed. Please remember to bring a valid picture ID. There is no parking available on Embassy grounds, but it should not be difficult at this time of day to find parking on the street nearby if you are driving. Be alert, however, to DC parking restrictions. The German Embassy is not near a Metro subway stop, but it is also possible to arrive by Metro bus (D94) or by taxi/ride service. Welcoming menu: hors d’ oeuvres + Sparkling wine served at main Embassy Pretzel bites with beer- cheese dipping sauce German bratwurst pig in blanket with mustard Asparagus-cheese quiche Herring on potato with mustard mayonnaise Duck confit arancinis with cherry sauce These hors d’oeuvres will be accompanied by the following sparkling wine: *Nv Dr. Loosen “Dr. L” Sparkling Riesling, Mosel.* In Germany, sparkling wine is known as “sekt,” and the Loosen estate produces this distinctive dry sekt using the Charmat method, with a specific grape and region rather than a generic blend. Rated 91 points by Wine Enthusiast. Introductory remarks will begin at 6:00 pm, and the concert will run from about 6:20 pm until 7 pm. The program for our Spring Gala Concert will be a joyous chamber music celebration featuring various German, Austrian and Italian works, performed by the trio Cantabile (violinist Christine Kharazian, cellist Irina Ponomareva, and pianist Nina Willner) and soprano Angela Mariano. Biographies of the performers are listed at the end of this notice. Music will range from the Baroque and other classical pieces, including Bach, Vivaldi, Beethoven, Handel, Schumann, and Mendelssohn, to traditional German songs of the Mosel and Rhine on wine themes. The program will include the famed 17th century German hymn Schönster Herr Jesu (as arranged by Dawson Hull), brought to America in the 19th century by German immigrants, with its references to springtime. During and after the introductory remarks and concert, the following red and white wines will be served as well: *2023 Spreitzer Oestricher Lenchen Riesling Kabinett, Rheingau.* The Rheingau region has long been identified with high-quality Rieslings, and this Kabinett, at the lower end of the scale of sweet wines, provides an off-dry or mildly sweet experience. Rated 92 points by Wine Spectator and Antonio Galloni. *2023 Kühling Gillot Spätburgunder Trocken, Rheinhessen.* The Spätburgunder grape is better known outside Germany as Pinot Noir, and this is a fine example of a dry red from a leading estate. 90 points average critic reviews. Guests attending the dinner after the reception should proceed up the stairway alongside the main Embassy building depicted here to the Embassy House on the upper level, between 7 pm and 7:30 pm after the concert. For those who have difficulty ascending the stairs, escorts from the Embassy staff can bring guests through the Embassy building and up an elevator. Guests not attending the dinner, but only the reception, should exit from the Embassy by 8:00 pm, but may remain after the concert until then to enjoy the white and red wines and hors d’oeuvres. **7:30pm - 9:30 pm Buffet Dinner with Served Wines: inside Embassy House cantina and possibly on patio also if weather permits** Assortment of bread Green salad with lingonberry dressing German style potato salad Pasta Salmon salad Grilled white asparagus with hollandaise sauce Roasted spring vegetables Chicken Schnitzel with lemon and capers Black forest ham Spaetzle with mushrooms, ham Sweets: Apple strudel with vanilla sauce Black forest cake Rice porridge with red berry soup The dinner will be accompanied by the following wines: Served as starters: *2023 Hexamer Helmut Meddersheimer Rheingrafenberg Rieslling Quarzit, Nahe.* A fine example of a barely off-dry Riesling from the Nahe region west of the Rhine, across from the Rheingau. Critic James Suckling rated the previous vintage 92 points. *2022 Rebholz Weissburgunder Trocken, Pfalz.* The Rebholz estate in the Pfalz region is one of Germany’s top producers of dry “Trocken” wines, in this case made from the Weissburgunder grape better known outside Germany as Pinot Blanc. Reviewed at 92 points by critic James Suckling. Served with main buffet course: *2022 Meyer-Näkel Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) Estate, Ahr.* The small Ahr region near Bonn is more heavily focused on producing red wines, especially Spätburgunder, than any other wine region of Germany, with distinctive slate tastes. The Meyer-Näkel estate represents the 5th generation of winemakers. Critics have reviewed at 91 points. *2024 Carl Loewen Longuicher Maximiner Herrenberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel.* Grown from vines over 120 years old in Devonian slate soil, and fermented in traditional wooden barrels (fuder). Rated 94 points by critic James Suckling. *2023 Wirsching-Iphöfer Silvaner Trocken, Franken.* A dry Silvaner white wine, served in the fat “bocksbeutel" characteristic of the Franken region, is the classic accompaniment to a spargel (asparagus) dinner. Rated 90 points by Kristen Bieler, Wine Spectator. Served with dessert: *2023 Fritz Haag Braunberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese, Mosel.* Spätlese wines are the next step up the sweetness scale in Germany from Kabinett, the term translating as “late harvest.” From the Sonnenuhr (“sundial”) vineyard., one of the iconic steep-sided vineyards lining the banks of the Mosel river. Rated 92 points in Wine Enthusiast. *2023 Dr. Loosen Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Spätlese, Mosel.* The Mosel region, source of both dessert wines for this event, is one of Germany’s leading regions for the Riesling grape, and exports far more wines to the United States than any other single German wine region. From the Würzgarten (“spice garden”) vineyard in Ürzig. Rated 94 points by Master of Wine Anne Krebiehl, Vinous Media. You can register and pay for this event by registering through the GWS website, [https://germanwinesocietydc.org](https://germanwinesocietydc.org/). Guests can also register independently through the International Club of DC, which has issued its own announcement of the Spring Gala. Simply confirming attendance on meetup is NOT sufficient for a reservation. For this event, we are no longer requiring that guests take special health precautions. We do request that if you contract covid-19 or another communicable illness, or test positive for one, you refrain from attending the event and protect the health of others. We can refund payments for this reason if you notify us that you are not able to attend the event for this reason prior to the day of the event. Otherwise, refunds can only be given if requested before the registration deadline. All GWS members and guests are reminded that alcohol consumption can lead to intoxication. Members and guests should use public transportation to events, rely on a designated driver, or taste the wines rather than finish them. The event coordinator for the Spring Gala, on behalf of the German Wine Society, is Carl Willner, Capital Chapter President and Secretary, and National Vice President and Secretary. Please send any questions to Carl at [carl.willner1@verizon.net](mailto:carl.willner1@verizon.net) . We look forward to seeing you for our Spring Gala!

Meet in the parking lot of the Handy Bikes Service Center. At the start of each ride, we'll go over introductions to have a sense of participants' cycling experience. Over the course of our rides, we'll address the following: group riding dynamics; safety (ABC check & trail hazards); gear shifting; hill climbing; audible and hand communication within the group, with other trail users, and automobile drivers; what to bring on each ride; etc... Bring your questions, water & a snack. When it starts getting dark earlier, we'll need lights as well. Helmets a MUST. If you can, and especially if you've had issues with your bike, come a bit early to have it looked at ahead of the ride. PS - all levels are welcome to join, however, be mindful that if you are an experienced rider, please be prepared to ride at the pace of the newest rider in the group. Each week, depending on who's in attendance, and participants' riding ability/comfort level, we may do skills practice as a group in the parking lot or at the west end of Wheeler Ave. Once everyone is comfortable, we'll go for a ride on local trails and neighborhood streets and finish back at the shop. Happy Pedaling !! \~Maya

Friday night Greenbelt International Folk Dancing has gone "virtual". As we all practice good social distancing, many in our folk dance community are feeling the absence of our usually scheduled local dances. In response, please join us for the Greenbelt Virtual Folk Dance Session. Let’s keep dancing! • Connect and dance in our own homes • Watch hosts leading familiar dances • See each other; listen and dance to our favorites How: We will be using the ZOOM video conferencing app to share music and live videos of the leaders and each other. This can be used on a desktop, laptop, or smartphone. What to Expect: Your hosts are Linda Mansdorf, Vita Hollander, Ben Hole, and John Robinson. Collectively they will play 25-30 dances, which should approximate the number of dances normally done on a Friday night in-person event. The hosts will do a quick teaching or demonstration of the steps to some of the dances that may be less familiar to you or just as a refresher, but the session is not designed as a workshop, so the majority of the evening will be spent playing dances that many of us already know and love to do. How To Join Us: Each week we will send an email with the Zoom Meeting link ID. Make sure John Robinson knows you would like to receive this email with the link. John's email address for Info: j_srobinson@verizon.net. https://www.facebook.com/GreenbeltInternationalFolkDancing/ Co-sponsored by the Folklore Society of Greater Washington

Enjoy networking with other pros! METRO & PARKING INFO : It is one and half blocks from DuPont Circle metro station. Please take the Q Street exit. Check it on http://www.wmata.com/ and plan accordingly. Street parking might be a challenge. However, if you plan to drive, there are parking garages around. Payment Instructions : 1. You should login from a PC to see the 'Pay Now' button, after RSVPing. Then hit the button. 2. Verify correct dollar amount for number of people you're paying for. 3. If you don't have a Paypal account, click "Pay with a Debit or Credit Card". 4. If you have a Paypal account, simply log in, and pay as you normally would via Paypal. Refund & Ticket Resell All sales are final. We only refund the full amount, if the event is canceled. If it is rescheduled, we will send an email to ticket holders advising that. A full refund will be given to those that let us know within 2 calendar days of the update email, if you are unable to make it on the new date. No refunds will be given after that time. However, you can sell your ticket to someone else if you are unable to attend. Please, feel free to post in the comment box for the event, that you have a ticket for sale. Work out payment between yourselves, and have the seller only send the organizer letting us know the full name and Meetup profile URL (if a member) of the person taking your spot. You must let us know two hours before the RSVP close time, on the day of the event.

Our larger singles party - meet even more people then Speed Dating. Lock & KeyTM Event in Washington DC, Maryland, the FUN way to socialize, make new friends, meet your match… or just have a great time! Woman get a Lock and men get a Key. Meet and mingle as you unlock and get tickets for a prize drawing at the end... but the real prize is all the new people you'll meet! Invite your fun single friends in Washington DC, buy your ticket, and join us to meet local singles Friday May 29 at LOCK & KEY SINGLES PARTY at Astro Beer Hall. \* This is the REAL, Trademarked, Lock & Key Event: Don't be fooled by illegal copycats. Read more: [Lock and Key Events.com](https://www.lockandkeyevents.com/dc-metro-singles-parties/)

Be there or get chubby. You decide. https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/b/7/2/600_364811122.jpeg RSVPs are required. The reason is that it should increase your own enjoyment. You see, the ideal number of players for a pickup soccer game is perhaps 6x6 - 8x8; some players won't attend if they think the turnout will be low, and others will just assume the game will be cancelled even though we always play. (As a practical matter, smaller games are less fun since the comics won't have the audience they need, but, they do have two hidden benefits: shorter, more intense games/workouts and fewer face kicks/yellow cards. So we play no matter how small or large.) So non-RSVPers are a little short sighted, since they don't seem to want to maximize their own enjoyment in the long run. Rational and sane players who have a good chance of attending RSVP a week early both here and at https://meetup.com/dcsoccer , the parent soccer group.

As a reminder, since Freedom Plaza is under construction, we will meet at the plaza in front of The International Trade Center near the National Children's Museum (on Pennsylvania Ave). We'll begin with going over a few drills (varies week to week). The skills we drill will be for the first 30 minutes. For the second half, we will casually skate down the bike lanes on Pennsylvania Avenue from the plaza to the U.S.Capitol and stop at 3rd St. and then skate back the same route. This route is about 2 miles in total and is perfect for those who are new to skating in the city but feel comfortable on skates in a parking lot or roller rink. This is also great if you wish to start with shorter routes to increase your physical fitness or stamina for some of the other routes. This is an excellent opportunity to prepare to skate with others on the road. You will also get to meet skaters who will arrive for the Intermediate and Advanced skate routes following the introductory skate. This is great training to feel prepared for the Tuesday Night and Friday Night Skate! Route: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7653831 Inline skates (rollerblades), roller skates (quads), bicycles, unicycles, skateboards, longboards and other similar modes of transportation are welcome to join. Helmet, wrist guards, elbow pads, and knee pads are required. Skate at your own risk. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the session.

Thanks to extensive surveillance, tireless exploration, and intelligence from a recently rescued ally, First Seeker Sarmak has finally pinpointed a secret entrance to the mysterious Wreck of the Returned. If the Starfinders can gain access to this entry point and secure it without being caught, they can use this entrance as a foothold to launch two vital missions: a rescue mission to the conversion facility within the Wreck’s sublevels, and a direct assault on the being at the heart of the Wreck, Elovai. It’s up to you to navigate underground tunnels through the Sloughscar Hills on Akiton to gain entry to the Wreck of the Returned and secure an entry point without being discovered! A Starfinder Society Scenario designed for 3rd- through 4th-level characters, playable in 2-3 hours. This is an adventure in the ongoing Invasion's Edge metaplot. Written by Kyle T. Raes.

Hands-on learn how to save life & limb, when mired in the wilderness of an urban disaster zone, travel or rural area far from hospital, or natural area miles from an access point, during the critical minutes or hours before ambulance arrival. Come away with actual do-it-yourself care-giving skill and confidence, and 2-year SOLO certification. Counts as WFR Recertification, too. No prerequisites. YOUR SPOT IS NOT RESERVED UNTIL YOU'VE COMPLETELY REGISTERED AT WWW.SOLOWFA.COM \***Spaces are limited. REGISTER: www.solowfa.com or 434.326.4697** Can't make these dates? Check out more course locations and dates on our website. WHO: Open to the general public, adults & teens with solid attention spans. Know your loved ones are safe wherever they are. WHY: Mired in a disaster zone, travel or rural area far from a hospital, or natural area miles from an access point ... accidents, destructive weather, and terrorism happen, and all-too-often members of a group are not capable of dealing with the emergency. This leads to improper care of the patient, and endangers the entire group. Many recreational accidents are preventable, and improper care of trauma can compound even simple injuries. Very few first aid programs actually address the issues of providing emergency care in a setting where 911 is overwhelmed or not immediately reachable. In this course, classroom instruction and Q&A are interwoven with practical work and problem-solving exercises. Hands-on experience - a most powerful learning tool - during scenarios comprise \~50% of class. TIMING: This is a 2-day class, Saturday and Sunday, 8:00am -7pm each day. Fee: $295 (Earlybird)

This is a coffee roaster and cafe with a warehouse feel - Never been here before. Reviews are positive and it looks like there may be ample seating, but reserve your spot now to make sure you can be here for a simple start to a relaxing weekend. Join me. (Please keep your RSVP updated if you know you won't be able to attend, so others who can join have the opportunity to. No discussions on politics, religion or potentially controversial topics. We're here to relax and have fun. Just be respectful and we'll be alright. Pay your own way, and enjoy!)

Have you been thinking about trying self-defense training, but do not want a loud, aggressive, or overly competitive environment? This free intro class is a simple way to get started. Maryland Systema offers practical self-defense training for adults in Takoma Park with a focus on movement, awareness, breathing, posture, and calm under pressure. This class is designed for beginners and first-timers who want real-world self-defense training in a welcoming setting. You do not need experience. You do not need to be in top shape. You do not need a martial arts background. You just need to show up ready to learn. This is not a sport-based class built around winning points, memorizing routines, or trying to look impressive. It is a more practical approach to adult self-defense training that helps you stay balanced, aware, and functional when things feel uncertain. If you have been searching for self-defense classes in Takoma Park, beginner self-defense near you, or practical self-defense training for adults, this class is a good place to start. **What you will work on** * Breathing and staying calm under pressure * Movement that improves balance and mobility * Awareness and posture * Simple partner drills * Practical self-defense training for beginners **Who this class is for** * Adults new to self-defense training * Beginners looking for a low-pressure class * People who want practical self-defense instead of sport martial arts * Adults in Takoma Park, Silver Spring, Rockville, and nearby areas looking for realistic self-defense classes **What to wear** Please wear comfortable workout clothes. No uniform is required. **Why start with this class** This free intro class gives you a chance to experience the training, meet the group, and see whether Maryland Systema is the right fit for you before joining regular weekly classes. **RSVP** Reserve your spot and come try a beginner-friendly self-defense class in Takoma Park.

Thanks for being a part of the CABS Meetup Group! We meet @ the COFFEE UNDERGROUND on Indianola Avenue. We play many different games @ CABS - bring your own or play one of the OVER 2222 in our library. What are your favorite games? What was the last game you played? Hope to see and game with you soon! Check us out on Facebook! Doors open early on Saturday Mornings at 10am and around 4pm on Fridays if you are interested in learning new / simpler games ... or new to the hobby or just want to check us out come in early just after noon and we will show you around before the crowd grows. Stay for a game or two, an hour or two or for the day! Your first visit is free and after that it's $5 a meeting or you can join for the year! It's Your Move

This is an in-person meeting. At this meeting you will get answers to depression and anxiety. Find out the source of them and how to get rid of them. Did you know that unwanted emotions like anxiety, depression, unhappiness, loneliness, hopelessness, anger, fear, or feelings of irritation don’t just fall on you for no reason. They are not random occurrences that simply happen to people's minds. They are definitely not due to a chemical imbalance in your brain from some nebulous chemical reaction "by chance". Your negative emotions are the symptoms of the painful experiences that you have which are not healed, and which are still affecting you. The effects of these painful experiences are exacerbated by the pressures or difficulties of the other problems in your life. Come to our Meetup, where we can introduce you to some of the knowledge, tools and techniques of the breakthroughs in the field of the mind that we can apply to this ever important area of life. Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there. This group is created by the Hubbard Dianetics Foundation of Central Ohio and Church of Scientology of Central Ohio.

Dodgeball is back again! If you’ve been wanting to come out, this is an easy one to join. We’ll be playing for about 1.5 to 2 hours, you do not need to bring any equipment, and no experience is needed. We use a specific set of rules and equipment to make the games run better and keep them fun for everybody, not just people who already know how to play. If it rains, the event will be canceled.

Boardgaming and boardgaming and MORE boardgaming .... we have over 2000 games onsite to play Join us !!!

Hi Ladies , Let's Hike Blendon Woods Metro Park . We will meet at the nature center parking lot. Hiking about 4 miles completing the blendon woods loop and the sugarbush trail . Wear appropriate footwear and bring water for hydration .