Haunted Places

Who needs history books when you have cemeteries marking waves of migration, settlement, epidemics, and war casualties? On this 6-mile walk we’ll pay respects to Rockville’s famous son, F. Scott Fitzgerald, visit headstones bearing the names of streets and schools, and stroll through historic African American neighborhoods and streets that witnessed civil war and civil rights history. Other highlights include pristine historical homes, an infamous asylum, and the misplaced monument, hidden in plain sight. Co-host Andrew also adds his signature secret passages and 'tree of the trek'. Browse more info with this [MAP](https://www.peerlessrockville.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/154151_Mad_Duck_Creative_LL_proof_141635-1.pdf) here! Path conditions: **6+ mile walk, mostly paved except for cemetery and park grounds...** Elevation gain: 500ft; a few gentle hills... Pace: 2.5mph Where to find us: Meet by the MARC sign on the East side of the Rockville Metro Station (see photo). The East side has a large parking lot (free on weekends) off of Stonestreet Ave.; if you see the skywalk over Rte. 355/Hungerford you’re on the wrong side. Please arrive around 9:15 so that we can start at 9:30 sharp. Bathrooms: Porta potties available en route. Well-behaved dogs on leashes are welcome. Optional social: Lunch at [Al Carbon](https://alcarbonrockville.com/), a family-run eatery serving up wood-fired Latino fare (please comment if interested in attending). A 'yes/ attending' RSVP is your digital signature that you've read, understood, & agreed to the Mosaic's [Liability Wavier hyperlinked here](https://drive.google.com/file/d/11SKNnO8e53UeSwvOZ58LPsMhRo1rTWat/view).

Meeting location: (40.0487110, -78.0958008) Please plug this into your mapping application and review the location. There is some parking here, but it may be advantageous to carpool at least to the meeting point. Also, as extra info, anyone interested in light painting the tunnels have a great opportunities to do so, be sure to bring any light painting equipment you want to use. The abandoned Pa Turnpike and its tunnels offer great photographic opportunities and even interesting audio characterteristics. This I s a cross-post event with DCUE as the tunnels offer great opportunities for low-light shooting even in the daylight hours! The meet location will be near to the Sidling Hill tunnel and coordinatenates will be posted here soon.

We’re still working to get more people into these Meetups, but our goal is to give PlayYourCourt members a few social tennis outings each week in addition to your practice sessions and Challenge League matches. These Meetups are co-ed, super laid back, and all skill levels are welcome. Post your skill level and a suggested court in the comments section so we can round up as many players as we can for some tennis fun! Also, if you’re looking to meet new practice partners or play some matches and you aren’t already in the PlayYourCourt Community, you can go here to see what we’re all about and sign up: https://www.playyourcourt.com/tennis-community/arlington-va/meetup/ If you love tennis, we’d love to have you! Be sure and watch the quick video that explains how everything works. Happy hitting! - Scott

This hike was originally planned for March 2020. Once again it's safe to visit our fictional grandmother’s house to celebrate Pi(e) Day! This year on 3.14, to our fictional grandmother's house we'll go as we rejoin the story, six years later. Our easy 5.5-mile hike is travels in an extremely unique environment where nutrient-poor soil does not allow for much to grow. Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area (NEA) is comprised of 1,900 acres of serpentine barren. The area has over 39 rare, threatened, or endangered plant species as well as rare insects, rocks and minerals, unique to this world. Bring water, lunch, snacks, sturdy footwear, any round-shaped treats you may wish to share (optional), and $12 for transportation and the Adventuring trip fee. Meet at 9:00 a.m., at the Greenbelt Metro Station entrance (in the big concrete plaza) of the station to form carpools. On the way, we'll make a stop for any last-minute snacking needs. After the hike, the group may opt for a brewery stop at Notch 8 Brewery to refresh us. *\*\*-> Please [click here](https://adventuringlgbtq.com/Adventuring_Release_Form.pdf) to review our release form. When you RSVP to an event, you affirm that you have read and agree to the terms of the release.*

We’re still working to get more people into these Meetups, but our goal is to give PlayYourCourt members a few social tennis outings each week in addition to your practice sessions and Challenge League matches. These Meetups are co-ed, super laid back, and all skill levels are welcome. Post your skill level and a suggested court in the comments section so we can round up as many players as we can for some tennis fun! Also, if you’re looking to meet new practice partners or play some matches and you aren’t already in the PlayYourCourt Community, you can go here to see what we’re all about and sign up: https://www.playyourcourt.com/tennis-community/rockville-md/meetup/ If you love tennis, we’d love to have you! Be sure and watch the quick video that explains how everything works. Happy hitting! - Scott

Info to Know: Admission: Free - A donation box for parking is $2 a day or $20 a year Dogs: Allowed on a Leash Bathrooms: In the Horticulture/Visitor Center Address: 4603 Green Spring Rd, Alexandria, VA 22312 Location: Lat, Long: 38.824471, -77.159254 = Witch Hazel Rd to park on side of the road if the gate to the parking lot is closed Plus Code: RRFR+Q7 Lincolnia, Virginia Website: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/green-spring Types of Photography: Landscape, Close Up, and Birds Green Spring Gardens, which sits on 9.5 acres of land, celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020! Even though the address on the website is 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, Virginia, it is actually on a side street that has no parking or any viable access to their parking lot. The best way to access the Gardens parking lot is from Little River Turnpike, head north on Braddock Road, and turn right onto Witch Hazel Road. Since the Group’s field trips begin at 7:00 AM, but the Green Spring Gardens gate is not lifted until later, photographers park on the side of Witch Hazel Road and take a short walk to the park. Or, in the alternative, if Witch Hazel is full on the weekends, parking is available in the business parking lot next door. There are two main buildings at the Gardens. One is the Green Spring's Historic House, and the other is the Visitor Center. There is also a greenhouse attached to the visitor center with flowers and plants. The field trip here begins at the parking lot, where flowers and birds can be photographed. Next, the Group takes one of the paths towards the Historic House, where there are many different types of flowers, including bleeding hearts, and also where several butterflies congregate. Waterproof shoes can help your feet from getting wet on the grass. Continuing on this path past the Horticulture/Visitor Center that leads to individual gardens. At this juncture, another trail appears that takes you down a meandering hill and across a stream. The trail leads to two small ponds, one has lotus flowers and the other a gazebo. Stay on this path and head toward Green Spring Road. Make a left turn, to head back to the parking lot and Witch Hazel Road. At the end of this field trip, the Group typically has breakfast at JukeBox Diner, 7039 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003 (jukeboxdiner.com) Bring: Water, fully charged batteries, empty cards, tripod, comfortable shoes Share only your very best, most interesting shots after the field trip, and keep it down to between 5 and 10 photos. By sending in an RSVP and joining this meetup event hosted by the Virginia Beltway Photography Meetup, I am also agreeing to the terms of the following release and waiver of liability, which shall be binding on my heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns. In consideration of my (and my child’s) participation in the Virginia Beltway Photography Meetup, I do hereby release, discharge, and hold harmless the Organizer, its members, officers, directors, employees, and the leader(s) of this event from any and all liability by reason of any damage, loss, expenses, or injury arising from my (and my child’s) participation in this event, including that caused solely or in part by the fault of any and all of the above-named parties.

**Spring Coed Kickball Newbies Open Play** **Sunday\, March 15th \| 1:00pm \- 4:00pm** Henson Creek Park/5601 Old Temple Rd. Camp Springs, MD 20748 Sunday is kickball day and we're inviting everyone to come out and learn how to play coed kickball at our Newbies Kickball Open Play. All skill level players are welcomed and participants will learn how to kick, catch and run. Please make sure you dress in play clothes and prepare to have fun! *We will also have three more open plays: March 22nd \| March 29th \| April 5th*  **OPEN PLAY IS FREE WHEN YOU RSVP AT WWW.GOOMBAY.NET** ***Click the direct link to sign up:*** [http://goombaydc.leagueapps.com/events/4909344-spring-coed-kickball-open-play-1-2026](http://goombaydc.leagueapps.com/events/4909344-spring-coed-kickball-open-play-1-2026) **__________________________** **League Information:** If you're interested in playing in our upcoming Spring Coed Kickball League, go to [www.Goombay.net](http://www.Goombay.net) and register as a Free Agent or Team Player if you already know which team you're playing with. The cost is $90 for the season and the league begins on Sunday, April 12th at Tucker Road Sports Complex. Games are 50 minutes and each team will play 7-8 games (1-2 games per week). **For more information contact Butch at (202)210-1957 or Godwin at (240)476-2224.**

[Profs and Pints Metro Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Celtic Mythology,”** an exploration of the beliefs of a people whose influence spread far beyond the British Isles, with Larissa “Kat” Tracy, past president of the American Society of Irish Medieval Studies, former editor of its journal, *Eolas*, and visiting assistant teaching professor of English at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-celtic-myths](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-celtic-myths) . The Celts inhabited lands stretching from the British Isles to parts of France and the Holy Roman Empire. Their influence can be seen in the art of the Vikings, in the rich oral and literary traditions of the Irish, Welsh and Bretons, and in the modern renaissance of Celtic culture. But who exactly were they? Get into the minds of the Celtic people by learning about their myths and beliefs with Larissa “Kat” Tracy, a scholar of Old and Middle Irish and Middle Welsh language and literature and published translator of Old Irish texts whose dynamic and fascinating talks have earned a considerable following among Profs and Pints fans. Dr. Tracy will delve into early medieval literary records that tell stories of the Tuatha de Danann, a godlike people who invaded Ireland and then were defeated themselves. She’ll offer a new perspective on faeries, banshees, and leprechauns by describing how the ancient Otherworldy people once believed to inhabit the western realms of Ireland were diminished or demonized into figures of popular folklore. You’ll learn how the ancient God of the Sun become one of the “little people” guarding cauldrons of gold and bestowing luck, how immortal beings of majestic stature shrank to small, winged creatures in the back of gardens, and how supernatural women associated with the “people of the mound” became screaming harbingers of death. We’ll explore how medieval literary texts inspired later legends and became adapted into folklore. You’ll gain an understanding of how the medieval Catholic Church’s growing power led local people to reimagine their ancient gods and goddesses as Christian figures like Saint Bridget and Saint Patrick. You’ll gain an appreciation of how the Celts gave rise to living traditions that survive in modern popular culture through the preservation of languages, storytelling and music enjoyed all over the world, and renewed interest in goddesses like Brid and celebrations like Samhain. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: From “Riders of the Sidhe,” a 1911 John Duncan painting of the Tuatha Dé Danann.

Get all your green clothes out bitches, your temporary Irish tatoos, green face paint, green tutus, green Mardi Gras beads, fake red beards with green suspenders, and your Irish baseball hat and come CHILL OUT by the fire pit or DANCE & MINGLE with some cool as F*ck people!* WHAT TO BRING: Bring some type of app or dessert to share! BEVERAGES: BYOB DRINKING: You can bring your own booze (if you drink), just no drinking and driving like some ignorant person from the 80s and 90s, when Uber didn’t exist! 5 USELESS FUN FACTS ABOUT ST. PATRICK’S DAY (taken directly from https://www.history.com/.amp/news/st-patricks-day-facts) 1. The Real St. Patrick Was Born in Britain Much of what is known about St. Patrick's life has been interwoven with folklore and legend. Historians generally believe that St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was born in Britain (not Ireland) near the end of the 4th century. At age 16 he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and sold as a slave to a Celtic priest in Northern Ireland. After toiling for six years as a shepherd, he escaped back to Britain. He eventually returned to Ireland as a Christian missionary. 1. There Were No Snakes Around for St. Patrick to Banish from Ireland Among the legends associated with St. Patrick is that he stood atop an Irish hillside and banished snakes from Ireland—prompting all serpents to slither away into the sea. In fact, research suggests snakes never occupied the Emerald Isle in the first place. There are no signs of snakes in the country’s fossil record. 1. Leprechauns Are Likely Based on Celtic Fairies Leprechaun is commonly associated with St. Patrick’s Day. The original Irish name for these figures of folklore is “lobaircin,” meaning “small-bodied fellow.” Belief in leprechauns likely stems from Celtic belief in fairies— tiny men and women who could use their magical powers to serve good or evil. 1. The Shamrock Was Considered a Sacred Plant The shamrock, a three-leaf clover, has been associated with Ireland for centuries. It was called the “seamroy” by the Celts and was considered a sacred plant that symbolized the arrival of spring. According to legend, St. Patrick used the plant as a visual guide when explaining the Holy Trinity. 1. Corned Beef and Cabbage Was an American Innovation The meal that became a St. Patrick’s Day staple across the country—corned beef and cabbage—was an American innovation. While ham and cabbage were eaten in Ireland, corned beef offered a cheaper substitute for impoverished immigrants. Irish-Americans living in the slums of lower Manhattan in the late 19th century and early 20th, purchased leftover corned beef from ships returning from the tea trade in China. The Irish would boil the beef three times—the last time with cabbage—to remove some of the brine. Read more about Irish-American traditions here. ANOTHER USELESS BULLET TO SEE IF YOU READ THIS FAR: Damn, details must be important to you! That’s sooooo not me, but I love you detailed f*cker! See you at the FAF killer St. Patrick’s day PARTY! And the following week we have the dress up for the wrong party party, where we will celebrate our cohost who is the kindest, most generous, loving fun person on earth, Amanda‘s 50th birthday. This is going be super FUNNNN. Why are you not signing up for that as well?!!! Get on it. Let’s get your head in the game now brah…it’s 2026 the year of the fire horse! Xo, Janine, Your HAPPY Host Cell: 202-271-0922 *This event will sell out so sign up now and out it on your must do Calendar!!!

Hi everybody! Want to see a horror movie about a paranormal podcast host that has recordings mysteriously sent to her? If so, join me on March 14th for a 6:25 pm screening of “Undertone” at the AMC Hoffman Center 22. I’ll be sitting in seat F8 in Auditorium 3. I’ll be at Atlas roughly an hour before the screening if anyone wants to chat.

Come assist Van Buren Shelter (https://ymcacolumbus.org/locations/vanburen) staff in serving dinners and cleaning up on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. Dinner for the women is 5-6 pm and for the families is 6:15-7:15 pm. There is ample free parking available in the shelter's lot. The recommended area to park is in green in the image above. There will be a new entrance for the time being. We are asking all volunteers to enter through the Donation Dock door, the orange mark on the image above. This door is located between the Single Adults and Family Shelter. You will see 2 large garage doors with a large green trash compactor in the center. Please head to the closest garage door to the building wall, with a ramp leading up. There, you will see a door with a sign stating instructions on how to enter the building. Please ring the doorbell, and a staff member will come and escort you into the building. If a staff member takes longer than 5 minutes, please call the front desk at 614-689-2020. This is a new process for us, and we do not want to keep you waiting! We appreciate your patience as we navigate this temporary change. The shelter needs a volunteer count the day before the event so sign-up ends Monday at 4:50 PM. Afterwards some of us go to the Omnipresent Atheists Weekly Meetup in progress to have a bit to eat or drink (http://www.meetup.com/omnipresentatheists/). Volunteers must be 14 or older. Since we will be working around families, the YMCA does not permit volunteering by individuals with convictions for violent or sexual crimes. The YMCA reserves the right to run background checks on volunteers. For questions, comment on this page or contact: Andrew, awhit12@yahoo.com, (614)937-5802 (cell). Please let Andrew know if you volunteer anytime other than our COUNT events so that he can count your hours toward our service record.

We’re still working to get more people into these Meetups, but our goal is to give PlayYourCourt members a few social tennis outings each week in addition to your practice sessions and Challenge League matches. These Meetups are co-ed, super laid back, and all skill levels are welcome. Post your skill level and a suggested court in the comments section so we can round up as many players as we can for some tennis fun! Also, if you’re looking to meet new practice partners or play some matches and you aren’t already in the PlayYourCourt Community, you can go here to see what we’re all about and sign up: https://www.playyourcourt.com/tennis-community/columbus-oh/meetup/ If you love tennis, we’d love to have you! Be sure and watch the quick video that explains how everything works. Happy hitting! - Scott

The topic for March is "Our Bodies, Ourselves" Speak Easy: true stories, told live. The idea is simple: an audience, an open microphone, and great stories. Hilarious, gripping, poignant- it's up to you. Audiences are invited to come to listen or come to tell as folks from all corners of Columbus offer their stories live on stage! Held at Wild Goose Creative's warm, intimate space, this night of tales occurs on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Doors open at 6:30 pm, show starts at 7:00 pm. Please arrive early if you want to tell, as we generally only have room for a limited number of tellers, and the sign-up sheet has a tendency to fill up fast. Formed around the idea that people need stories--they're what hold and draw us together--SpeakEasy celebrates the strangeness and commonness of being human. And in a world of smartphones, Facebook, Twitter, and more . . . it gives people a real, breathing, in-person way to connect. The night is geared for true stories of all kinds, taking the best tales told around kitchen tables, in darkened pubs, on the street corner, and at late-night parties and giving them an audience. Speak Easy is also a great outlet for performers, writers, and artists looking to share their favorite stories and perfect their skills. We strongly encourage tellers to please tell the story rather than read it so we keep within the spirit of good storytelling and stay engaged with the audience. All are welcome. Hang around after the show for a drink and build community!

Save the Date 🌱 The Licking County Master Gardener Volunteers invite you to the annual gardening conference, open to everyone who enjoys growing plants. 📅 Saturday, March 14, 2026 📍 OSU Newark Campus - Reese center 🎟️ Tickets go on sale in January and this event fills fast, sells out every year 🌿 2026 Theme: Unusual Gardens in Your Backyard You will hear practical ideas that help you rethink small spaces and try new approaches at home. This conference also arrives at the perfect time of year. It helps soothe the urge to get outside while winter is still around. Central Ohio gardeners wait until late May to plant outdoors, so this day helps you plan and daydream about spring projects. Speakers • Joseph Tychonievich, author of Rock Gardening: Reimagining a Classic Style • Debra Knapke, The Garden Sage • Denise Schreiber, author of Eat Your Roses You will find vendors, a silent raffle, and friendly conversations with other gardeners. Registration • Register by January 31 to pay 50 dollars • Starting February 1, the fee is 60 dollars • Tickets at the door are 75 dollars • Boxed lunch, coffee and pastries are included MGV website: [https://fourseasonsofgardening.org/2026-spring-conference](https://fourseasonsofgardening.org/2026-spring-conference) 9:00-9:20 Registration & Complimentary Muffins & Vendor Visits (Auditorium) 9:20-9:30 Welcome & Opening Remarks (Auditorium) 9:30-10:20 Denise Schreiber, “Mrs Know It All” Pittsburg, PA Beyond the Garden Gate, Peeking at the Neighbor’s (Ballroom/Hallway). 10:20–10:40 Break-Visit Vendors & Raffle Tables (Auditorium) 10:40–11:30 Debra Knapke, “The Garden Sage” Columbus Ohio Wanting it All—Evolving as a Gardener (Ballroom) 11:30-12:15 Lunch (Catered/Visit Vendors & Raffle Tables 12:30–1:00 Break Out—Session 1 (Ballroom) Dawn Seymour Hungry for Change: Avoiding “the Jones’” with Intentional Design (Auditorium) Ryan Slaughter, Ross County Ag. & Natural Resources Extension Educator Growing Berries in Home Gardens (Ballroom) 1:10–1:40 Break Out Session 2 Dawn Seymour Hungry for Change: Avoiding “the Jones’” with Intentional Design (Auditorium) Ryan Slaughter Growing Berries in the Home Garden (Ballroom/Hallway) 1:40-2:10 Break: Final Visit to Vendors & Raffle Tables 2:10–3:00 Joseph Tychonievich, South Bend, IN, Writer, Plant Breeder, Gardener Big Ideas, Small Spaces: Making Creative Gardens on Small Properties

Back By POPULAR DEMAND The BEST Saint Patrick’s bar crawl in Columbus! We will begin our crawl at BODEGA 7:30pm 1044 North High St. 8:30pm we will be found at GOOD NIGHT JOHN BOY. 906 North High St. 9:30pm LINCOLN SOCIAL ROOFTOP. 711 North High St., 9th floor. 10:30pm BROTHERS BAR & GASWERKS. 477 North Park St. They have $1 shots that we MUST avail ourselves of Wear GREEN! Of course. BEST DRESSED will win BRAGGING RIGHTS