Harry Potter Books

In the digital age💻📡📱, do you still like getting a physical book to read? Where do you buy them? Amazon? Waterstone? Blackstone? How about join us for a bookshop crawl, let's try to find some hidden gems of independent bookshops. (Or just tag along for a chat😁) Find out more book shops to try, this time we will be heading down to south London. We will meet at Brixton tube station, then walk towards Dulwich Park. There will be 4-5 book shops in total, never been to most of them, so it will be some new experience for me as well. Upon finishing, we can find somewhere to sit and chat about books. The two hour time is just a guidance, some shops take longer and some are less. If you ever want to stay in one shop for longer (I know, been there, done that😂) feel free to do so, you can join us at other shops. (See itinerary below) Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of the shops, so you are not obliged to buy any books, just get whatever you like. *** 📚💃🏼 📖💃🏿☕️ ITINERARY ☕️💃🏾🍷💃🏻🍴📚 We will all meet up at Brixton Station. Don't worry if you are late, join us in along the walks. Then the tour shall begin! 1: BookMongers Address: 439 Coldharbour Ln, London SW9 8LN 2: Round Table Books Address: Brixton Village, 97 Granville Arcade, Coldharbour Ln, London SW9 8PS (\~15mins walking distance) 3: Herne Hill Books Address: 289 Railton Rd, London SE24 0LY 4: Oxfam Bookshop Herne Hill Address: 9 Half Moon Ln, London SE24 9JU (\~15mins walking distance) 5: Village Books Address: 1D Calton Ave, London SE21 7DE *** Wow, you made it, hopefully you have found some books that will make you happy🎈🎉✨. For people who likes to have more socials or talk more about books (or just to show off your purchases😆), we can find some place for a cup of coffee or a late lunch. Depends on the weather and people's interests, we can either go to Dulwich Park or Dulwich Picture Gallery or just a café. *** There is a WhatsApp group for contact: TBA

In this event, we will discuss about a science or philosophy book chosen by London Science and Philosophy Book Club. The attendees will be divided into groups and each of them will focus on a chapter in the book. This month we will discuss about a fascinating book called The Art of Choosing by Sheena Iyengar. If you haven't read the book, it's no problem. I will bring you up to speed with the discussion materials. We will meet in a nice lounge area at 6 p.m for introductions. Please come on time so you will not miss out on valuable discussion midway. If you end up in the waitlist, feel free to show up. Book Description: Every day we make choices. Coke or Pepsi? Save or spend? Stay or go? Whether mundane or life-altering, these choices define us and shape our lives. Sheena Iyengar asks the difficult questions about how and why we choose: Is the desire for choice innate or bound by culture? Why do we sometimes choose against our best interests? How much control do we really have over what we choose? Her award-winning research reveals that the answers are surprising and profound. In our world of shifting political and cultural forces, technological revolution, and interconnected commerce, our decisions have far-reaching consequences. Use this book as your companion and guide for the many challenges ahead. Agenda: 6 p.m to 6:30 p.m: Introduction and Socializing 6:30 p.m to 9:30 p.m: Book Discussion 9:30 p.m to late night: Drinks, Dinner or Feel free to go home.

A chance just to work in company on your writing, be it a book, blog, screenplay, dissertation, poem, song, coursework, memoir, play, journal, travel writing or work stuff. Newcomers always welcome. No one will see what you're writing or give you unsolicited advice. WE FILL THE ROOM, so you MUST SIGN UP below AND ARRIVE BY 11.40 at the latest, or we can’t guarantee you a seat. And if you can't make it CHANGE YOUR RSVP to "not going" ASAP to give someone else a chance, thanks. WHERE? FIFTH FLOOR CAFÉ, Floor 5, Waterstones, 203-206 Piccadilly, W1J 9LE TIMINGS:- 11.00 - Café starts serving 11:30 - Host of the day will be there. Say hello, especially if you’re new. 11.40 - Brief introductions for everybody - your name and what you’re working on 11:45 - Timer starts: write for 45 minutes 12:30 – Break, chat to your neighbours if you like 12:45 - Timer starts: write for 45 minutes 13:30 - The End…feel free to stay and keep writing or chat some more. Bring whatever you need to be able to write. It’s a café, there’s some noise so earbuds/headphones/earplugs are handy. There’s very few mains sockets so charged-up laptops are a good idea too. And please remember everybody, thank our venue by buying a drink or food, and don’t consume anything from outside while you're here. IF YOU ARRIVE AFTER 11.45 - everyone will be quiet and writing. If there's no spare places ASK THE CAFE STAFF, they may be able to seat you in the adjacent restaurant section (without having to buy food). If not then there's sofas on the sales floors below as well as one cafe at the back of the ground floor and another in the basement. The hosts won't have any other alternatives to offer you. Please feel free to join us for the break and afterwards. We’re looking forward to writing with you, your hosts, Sarah, Nick, Laura and Anna

It's Herschel's birthday (1792). Not William, who discovered Uranus & various moons around it and Saturn, or Caroline who found a few comets. John, continuing the family work completed mapping of the Southern Hemisphere sky, and named the discovered moons - in Saturn's case, after Titans in Greek mythology. First stop along this Wealden walk will be his home at The Moor, a quintessential English village complete with green where cricket was played in Herschel's day, church, and the Eight Bells. The church houses a very unusual relic, delivered in 1944. Next in our orbit is Bewl Water, the largest stretch of water in SE England, described as unlike anywhere else. [Bewl Water - The Ultimate Destination for a Family Day Out](https://www.bewlwater.co.uk/) Final stop is Ticehurst, with chocolate box cottages. Further details: [Best places to live: Ticehurst, Sussex | Muddy Stilettos | Muddy Stilettos](https://sussex.muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/sussex/best-places-to-live-ticehurst/) And when taking photographs along the walk - who coined the word 'photography' which he helped develop? Yep, John Herschel. Outward Travel: Take the train departing 9.24 AM from London Bridge to ETCHINGHAM. The return train fare with a Network Card or GroupSave is £17.00. Gather outside the ticket office at London Bridge to arrange group tickets. Walk start: 10.31 AM from Etchingham rail station. Bring a packed lunch. Village / pub stops. Orbital walk. *How to join?* * The walk is entirely free of charge; * You only arrange for your own travel and pub expenses; * Understand our terms and conditions below (the "IMPORTANT" part); * Understand how to stay safe outdoors, as you will be responsible for yourself. See our quick safety tips: http://www.meetup.com/Free-Outdoor-Trips-From-London/about/ *What to bring* * Plenty of water, 1-2 litres recommended * Enough snacks and packed lunch to keep you energized along the walk * Extra snacks and an extra packed lunch just in case * Rainproof (ideally waterproof) clothing, sturdy shoes/boots you don't mind getting muddy * Spare socks * Walking poles and/or an umbrella :-) * Yourself... * ...and your camera! * Cash for train ticket * Cash for pub at the end of the walk? Feel free to ask any questions in the comments section! IMPORTANT Please bear in mind this is a free of charge, self-guided trip with a hobby group. It is not organized by a business nor any entity with commercial purposes. Any trip details, travel advice, route planning, instructions and other content in our group merely represent our shared personal knowledge, research and suggestions as outdoor enthusiasts. As this is no business, there is no "product", "service" or "package" and also no "tour guide", "operator" or "walk leader". Each participant is responsible for their own safety. Even if some of us are very experienced walking outdoors, nobody assumes responsibility for any kind of injury, damage or loss that may happen. Despite this, we take extreme precautions and all trips we plan are very safe, fun, highly educational and popular. Our experienced members volunteer their time and effort to shape a pleasant and quality adventure for everyone :-) By participating you acknowledge and agree with this disclaimer. Here are our tips on staying safe during outdoor trips: http://www.meetup.com/Free-Outdoor-Trips-From-London/about/ TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATION, INSURANCE Although we provide detailed suggestions, each participant is expected to arrange their own travel - this gives everyone the freedom and choice. Anyone interested in travel or outdoor insurance should also arrange this on their own. As mentioned above we always take extreme precautions, but some people may still feel safer if covered. As most of our trips are confirmed or postponed very close to the event date - heavily depending on the weather forecasts - we advise not to buy this until the last minute. People getting tickets from the same station are encouraged to meet early on the day to benefit from discounts such as GroupSave.

**We are using Playwaze to manage booking and payment. Please go to the link below to book. Make sure you check the date you want to attend and book and pay for the correct date:** [Playwaze - Session Dashboard](https://playwaze.com/lcwbc-badminton-club/3yupmsu7wwt/session-getdashboard) **Do not book or join waitlist here on Meetup as it will charge you additional fee.** **The number of attendees shown here is not accurate. The actual number is shown on Playwaze.** **Thank you** **Brian Ng**

Have you ever wanted to explore and embrace as many bookshops within an event? If so, this may be the right one for you. Welcome to the BOOKSHOP Crawl where you have the opportunity to explore the bookshops and browse through what they specialise in. 
With this particular event, we will be exploring an array of bookshops around Bloomsbury. This event is also inspired by World Book day which takes place 2 days after World Book day. Here are the Bookshops we’ll be visiting: * Bookmarks * Oxfam Bookshop * London review bookshop So the plan is extremely simple. We’re to visit each bookshop by browsing what they sell and specialise in. This is the opportunity to explore, reconnect with literature, make new friends but most importantly, have an enjoyable yet memorable experience. My fellow explorers, if you enjoyed the event, I’m more than happy to accept any donations which of course are optional but will go a long way to help me unlock and deliver even more exciting and engaging events and resources: https://www.paypal.me/calvinjoy 
WHAT - Bookshop Crawl
WHERE - Bloomsbury
WHEN - 2pm - 4:30pm
MEETING POINT - Outside Dominion Theatre https://maps.app.goo.gl/xLabCtVTFSzsA4YW6?g_st=ic
NEAREST STATION - Tottenham Court Road Station
REQUIREMENTS - Just your good behaviour is all and whatever is listed above for the walk.
 Disclaimers: Please be on your best behaviour and respect one another. This group doesn’t tolerate any misbehaviour and misconduct. Should such a thing take place, you will be removed. Whenever an event takes place, I will cut off contact 20 minutes after the event commences. If you message even 1 minute after the cut off time, I won’t be available as I’m conducting the event. There will be photography and videography by myself so if you are photo conscious and/or do not want to be in the video, do kindly inform me and I’ll try my utmost best to not involve you in the picture. Let’s all be responsible but please be aware you come at your own risk. Do be mindful of your possessions, belongings and most importantly, your safety. The ‘London society of explorers’ accept no risk of liability at this event.

*“Some men are born lucky; others are called Didius Falco”.* For our next read, we will discuss Lindsey Davis’s historical mystery novel *The Silver Pigs* on Saturday 7th March. **About the book:** * The first Lindsey Davis's Marcus Falco mystery series (1989), introduces the wise-cracking Roman informer Falco as a sort of detective in AD 70 Rome and Britain. * Alongside the mystery and adventure, the novel sets up a slow-burn romance that develops over subsequent installments. * The book received awards and widespread acclaim. **About the event:** * Location: The Mad Hatter Pub, 3-7 Stamford St, London SE1 9NY * Timing: Saturday 7th March from 3-5pm. Approximately 15 minutes walk from Waterloo station along the river. I'll have a sign on the table and a copy of the book so it should be easy to spot where we're meeting. * Our table is booked for six - please update your RSVP if you are unable to attend so that other people can join. * We have a WhatsApp group - totally optional but message me on Meetup if you want to join. Happy reading!

Hey Terrible Footballers! We play in Regent Park. See the map above or follow the below whatsapp link. Leave a message and someone will respond on Saturday night. Sometimes we have openings as late as that and this is when final list is finalised.So feel free to add your name to the waitlist. Everyone is welcome! That means every skill level, gender, sexuality etc. Just gotta be over 18! No one gets upset if we miss a pass.... or the ball altogether! Skills vary from old semi-pro players all the way to never kicked a ball. We weren’t fibbing when we said inclusive. Please bring a BLACK and WHITE tshirt. Please aim to arrive at 10:15 (ideally 10:15am to help out in the setting up) as we want to kickoff at 10:30. (If you arrive late after kick off, you may have to wait around half hour for the next half). Please sign up early (during the week if possible), check the meetup page for the week and our Whatsapp group for any last minute changes. Follow this link to join us on whatsapp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/HLps3JK0kSmHR2vuJj1VDu The game will normally go ahead come rain or shine if we have the numbers. Some important information: • Age 18+ • Terrible Football meet-ups are extremely popular but unfortunately we have limited spaces. If you end up on the waiting list, please wait and see if a spot becomes available. We will have to check who has RSVP-ed if too many show up and will have to turn people away if they’re not on the list. • Please show up on time! If you have RSVP-ed but don’t show up on time, we will have to give your spot to someone else! If you show up after we have started playing, and no one else has taken your spot, you might still be asked to sit the first half out in order to prevent confusion. There is nothing worse for organisers than people showing up late! • As mentioned above, we don’t charge, however, if you are a regular, we do ask you to donate some money once or twice a year for the upkeep and new equipment. For any questions, please contact one of the organisers. See you there! TFC Team

All you wanna do (is join our next table-read)! Welcome to the show, to the historemix! Our third table-read after Hamilton and High School Musical - come join us for a sing-a-long read through of SIX the musical! Unfortunately, like the Ex-wives, we're divorcing from the Meetup platform but we'll be continuing the party on Whatsapp so join us on this group here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/I5l4odh27LHGgfWqVLIsJF?mode=gi_t to stay tuned and keep the music playing. SEE YOU THERE👑

**LONDON: The Oak Trail, Theydon Bois** Join Hannah, Rob and London Wildish Club as we head out along the Oak Trail in Theydon Bois. Yes, it’s technically another Wildish walk in Epping Forest. But Epping is enormous, ancient, probably magic - and we’re still not finished with it. We’ll start and finish at Theydon Bois Station, quickly stepping straight from the Central Line into ancient woodland. The route weaves through old oaks, open clearings, quiet lanes and a few unexpectedly storybook corners (the kind that make you forget you’re still inside the M25). With a bit of luck, we’ll notice the earliest stirrings of spring. This is a slightly longer wander at 10.2 km, but very manageable, with just under 100 m of gentle ascent - [see route here](https://www.outdooractive.com/en/route/hiking-trail/east-england/oak-trail-theydon-bois/335211002/?share=%7E33xtwtco%244osscqw7). Expect mud in places, crisp air, friendly people and pauses for seasonal noticing along the way. Public toilets are available at Theydon Bois Station before and after the walk, but there are no facilities on route (though the Forest Gate pub in Bell Common may help out). Much of the walk is through woodland, so plan accordingly. Any questions, just give us a shout. **What to Bring** • Sturdy footwear (mud-friendly trainers or walking boots recommended) • Warm layers + waterproof jacket • Water + snacks/lunch • Your best winter woodland facts • A dog friend, if you have one **Route Info** • Loop route, starting and finishing at Theydon Bois Station • Distance: 10.2 km • Duration: approx. 2 hrs 35 mins (steady pace) • Ascent: 99 m • Terrain: woodland paths, gently undulating, likely muddy in places • We’ll walk rain or shine — come prepared 🌦️ **More About Wildish Club** [Wildish Club ](https://www.wildishclub.co.uk)is a place for outside people — bringing curious, friendly folk together across the UK to do interesting things outdoors. It’s a bit like Cubs, but for adults. When you join the club via [our website (it’s free)](https://www.wildishclub.co.uk), you gain access to our WhatsApp community where we share events and keep everyone up to date.

**Do you ever feel the pull to be creative, but don’t know how to start, or even what you want to make?** **Do you ever get a flash of inspiration, but never have the time or energy to follow it through?** **Do you worry that you have to become technically skilled before you have the 'right' to make art?** **If you answered yes to any of the above, then this event is for you!** As children, we create all the time. We sing, draw and write as part of our normal lessons. We make sandcastles, secret dens, friendship bracelets, invent ball games and make up elaborate storylines for dolls and action figures. We don’t fear failure because the point isn’t to succeed, but to express ourselves and have fun. In fact there’s a whole branch of folklore called childlore! But as adults, it can become hard to connect with that creative instinct, whether that’s due to time, energy, cost or self-doubt. So for this event, we’ll be taking time and space to connect with what inspires us and flex our creativity just for the fun of it. Skill and experience levels don’t matter (although those who are skilled or experienced are welcome!)-what matters is remembering what creative inspiration feels like to you personally, and pursuing it to create something authentic to you. To do this, we’ll be emulating artists across millennia in using folklore as inspiration. A collection of folklore genres will be supplied, each containing a collection of prompts, and you will be picking a piece of folklore that speaks to you on that day and creating a piece of art based on your own interpretation of your prompt. This art can be anything, from poetry to sketching, sewing to architecture, make up, set design, tattoo art, songwriting, fashion, game design or event planning-whatever your prompt inspires you to create! You can choose to do several pieces or spend the whole session on one. Paper and pencils will be provided, but please feel free to bring other materials so long as they are not disruptive to the people or environment around us (eg no liquid paints, musical instruments, etc). Please note: this is not a technical lesson! No specific creative skills will be taught, as the aim is connecting with your own personal creative process. But you are welcome to take your pieces home with you to hone your skills. We are currently exploring free spaces to have this event so location and accessibility details will be confirmed closer to the time. (And if you know of a good location, do let us know!) (This is a free event, so we ask that you please keep RSVPs updated to ensure that as many people as possible who want to come are able to. Cancellations with less than three days’ notice may be removed from the group to prevent wasted spaces in future. Many thanks for your understanding!)

Come along on Sunday 8th March to visit the Heath Robinson Museum! **About the museum** The museum in north west London is dedicated to showcasing the work of the artist, illustrator, humorist and social commentator [William Heath Robinson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Heath_Robinson "William Heath Robinson") (1872–1944). The museum opened in 2016 and is located in Pinner Memorial Park. The collection includes about 1000 pieces of original art work together with an archive of letters, association copies and special editions of the books that he illustrated, proof prints, advertising booklets and ephemera. William Heath Robinson was born in London on 31 May 1872 into a family of artists and grew up in Finsbury Park. Both his grandfather, father and his two brothers worked as illustrators. He was an artist who drew whimsically elaborate machines to achieve simple objectives. The visit should last about 1h 30mins and is self-guiding. **Cost** Entry £7 per person for Full Members and £8 per person for everyone else. Art Fund members are free (payable by cash or credit card on the day). **Become a Full Member** To become a Full Member (£14 a year), either: \- Pay cash at an event \- Pay via Bank Transfer \(\(TSB Bank plc\, Sort code: 77\-66\-65\, Account no: 00030809, Account name: Cultureseekers)) \- Pay via credit card on the day or in advance \([https://pay.sumup.com/b2c/QLAX8AUI](https://pay.sumup.com/b2c/QLAX8AUI)) \- Pay via PayPal\, send a payment to general@cultureseekers\.org\, using the ‘Friends & Family’ option Benefits of becoming a Full Member [here...](https://www.meetup.com/london_cultureseekers/photos/22974682/531979527/) **Afterwards** After we will head to the museum cafe next door, which is called 'Daisy's in the Park', for a chat over a drink from 3:30pm. If you can make it, please come to the cafe afterwards, as its a great way to meet and get to know others after the visit. Please note, we only wait outside the station for 10 minutes after the advertised meeting time, so please be early or on time. If you can't see us outside the station, please text. Look out for the red and blue 'London Cultureseekers' group sign. Hope to see you there! Robert 07905 901 834 (prefer text) ***On the day, if you can’t make the visit, just change your RSVP to No or text me to say you can’t make it.*** ***Please don’t post any messages in the comments that you can’t make it, as this generates spam for everyone else.*** *Please make sure you are aware of the group rules here before RSVPing -* ***[https://www.meetup.com/london_cultureseekers/photos/22974682/523578875/Group_Rules/](https://www.meetup.com/london_cultureseekers/photos/22974682/523578875/Group_Rules/)***

We will meet in the Janney parlor.

**This talk has completely sold out in advance and no door tickets will be available. It also is being staged at Penn Social in DC on March 16th and plenty of tickets remain available for that date.** [Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Terrors of Irish Fairylore,”** an introduction to Ireland’s strange and unsettling folkloric “Good People,” with Brittany Warman, former instructor at Ohio State University, co-founder of The Carterhaugh School of Folklore and the Fantastic, and co-author of the new book *Fairylore: A Compendium of the Fae Folk.* [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-irish-fairy-terrors](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-irish-fairy-terrors) .] Today it is common to think of fairies as small, childlike, sparkly creatures with glittering wings and dresses made from flower petals. But the fae of traditional Irish folklore were no such things. Amoral, capricious, even malicious when they chose to be, the too-frequently forgotten fairies of times long past would, more often than not, haunt nightmares. Join Brittany Warman, a folklorist who has earned a devoted following among Profs and Pints fans, as she explores the darker side of Irish fairylore. The figures she'll discuss include: The Leanan-Sidhe, a vampiric fairy who gives artistic inspiration in exchange for your mortal spirit. The Dullahan, a fairy with a human spine for a whip and a habit of hurtling across fields in a death coach made from human skin. The Banshee, a mournful fairy whose cry signals a death in the family to which she's attached herself. Dr. Warman also will examine the surprising impact of fairy folklore on two classics of Irish Gothic literature, Oscar Wilde's *The Picture of Dorian Gray* and Bram Stoker's *Dracula.* It’s a talk that will remind you that the relationship between the Irish and the spooky stretches well beyond Halloween. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: “The Banshee Appears,” an 1862 illustration by Robert Prowse (Wicklow Heritage / Public domain).

…Carroll, 304 pages [Physics] • Hardcover • Kindle • Audiobook • Library: https://fcplcat.fairfaxcounty.gov/search/title.aspx?ctx=1.1033.0.0.1&pos=1&cn=611358 Check the How To Find Us section for Zoom Link **(Remember, the Zoom Link is different each month, do not bookmark)** ### Review Praise for Quanta and Fields: “Readers will be electrified by his discussion of wave functions, entanglement, fields, and so much more. From the most infinitesimal of subatomic particles to the seemingly vast infinities of the universe’s great expanse, Carroll’s latest inquiry illuminates, well, everything.” —Booklist "In that void between hand-wavy popular science and academic textbook, this modern, informative and engaging account of quantum physics ticks all the boxes. Carroll the Explainer at his very best." —Jim Al-Khalili ### About the Author Sean Carroll is Homewood Professor of Natural Philosophy at Johns Hopkins University, and Fractal Faculty at the Santa Fe Institute. He is host of the Mindscape podcast, and author of From Eternity to Here, The Particle at the End of the Universe, The Big Picture, and Something Deeply Hidden. He has been awarded prizes and fellowships by the National Science Foundation, NASA, the American Institute of Physics, the Royal Society of London, and many others. He lives in Baltimore with his wife, writer Jennifer Ouellette.

**Looking for a group you can write with *whilst sipping your fave coffee*?** ☕✍️ Then come join **Shut Up & Write!** on **Saturday, March 21st from 1:30pm to 4:00pm** at **Ridgetop Coffee & Tea**! Whether you're cranking out a novel, journaling, looking for new friends, or just trying to get that stubborn paragraph right—we’ve got a cozy seat and a supportive group waiting for you! **No critiques, no peer review, no pressure—just a chill space to get words on the page.** 📝 **What to expect:** 1:30–2:00pm – Grab your coffee or tea, find your seat, and meet your fellow writers. 2:00pm–3:30pm – Silent, focused writing time 3:30–4:00pm – Debrief, celebrate any writing wins, commiserate on any obstacles, and head out feeling accomplished. **RSVP Info:** The room seats only 8 people comfortably! RSVP as soon as possible to secure your spot!! If you are unable to attend, please cancel your reservation **ASAP** so those on the wait list are able to RSVP and attend!!! **Meeting Room:** Enter the coffee shop, walk straight towards the play area and on your left you will see a meeting room just past the bathrooms. The room has a TV, white board, and walls are painted green. **What to Bring:** Whatever helps you focus, and be productive. There is a wall outlet at each end of the room, so you're able to bring your laptop to write. You're welcome to bring headphones if you enjoy listening to music while working. **Parking & Accessibility:** there is a large parking lot out front and it is free! There are no stair cases when entering the coffee shop or when inside. This coffee shop is incredibly spacious with many seating options. If you have any questions, please message me through MeetUp. I'm happy to help. **Dietary Information:** many GF, Vegan, and SF options. Just ask your barista when ordering for specifics! Can’t wait to see you there! 🎉

Hey all! My name is Sarah, I'm a romance girlie in my twenties, and welcome to the Mostly Romance Book Club! I am a big mood reader so assigned books at book clubs don't really do it for me. I wanted to create a space where anyone can come with whatever book they want, meet new friends, and chat about what they've been reading. When: First and third Thursday of every month. 7-8:30 pm. Schedule: First 30 minutes: Introductions and chat about all things books Next 45 minutes: Silently read your personal physical book, ebook, or audiobook (yes audiobooks count :)) Last 15 minutes: Chat some more and wrap up the meeting Check the home page for zoom links. Up to 100 attendees so still join the zoom even if you can't sign up for the event.

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“The Secrets of Runes,”** on the origins, development, and interpretation of the runic script, with Lilla Kopár, runologist and a professor of medieval literature and culture at Catholic University. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-rune-secrets](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-rune-secrets) .] The fame of runes outshines that of any other ancient script. They can be found not just on Viking Age rune stones, but on Bilbo’s door and as the Bluetooth logo on your cell phone. Runic script is commonly associated with magic, used by modern practitioners of neopaganism, and in recent decades has captured the imagination of filmmakers and video game designers. Yet most of us know little about the historical origins of runes and have no clue how to read or use them. Come to Crooked Run Fermentation in Sterling, Va., to get schooled on runic script with the help of Lilla Kopár, a veteran scholar of runes who has earned a following among Profs and Pints fans by giving fantastic talks on medieval monsters and Norse mythology. As someone who has carried out extensive field research on runes, published several articles on runic objects, and even appeared on the History Channel commenting on runes in America, she’s exceptionally qualified to introduce you to runology and the fascinating things that runes tell us. Dr Kopár will discuss the development of runic script from its humble origins on the borders of the Roman Empire in the first or second century CE, through its popularity in the Viking world, to its use and misuse in modern times. She’ll discuss how runes are a set of related alphabets that underwent changes over time and she’ll describe what inspired changes in this writing system and where and how runes were used in the medieval period. Her richly illustrated talk will highlight some of the most intriguing objects with runic inscriptions, from humble bone fragments to impressive rune stones, and offer insight into the scholarly methods of deciphering and interpreting runic inscriptions. We’ll also look at the function of the runic script from simple practical notes and memorial inscriptions to cipher-runes and magic. The most fun might be the in-class assignment, which will involve reading a few runic inscriptions and writing your name and other words in runes. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: Part of Codex runicus, a rune manuscript written on animal skin and dating to about 1300 (University of Copenhagen / Wikimedia Commons).