History

Whether you're writing for pleasure or for publication, international journalist and author **Anna Hart** has some tools of the travel-writing trade to share. In this 90-minute workshop, we'll explore how to find your own distinct voice as a travel writer, how to banish writer's block, and how to write about other people and places with respect, understanding and relevance. **[Buy her book here!](https://backstorybookshop.shop/product/departures-2/)** **About the host:** Belfast-born Anna Hart is an international culture and travel writer, with a specialist interest in social trends, migration patterns and urban culture. As an award-winning journalist, author, presenter and documentary director, she contributes regularly to The New York Times, Gourmet Traveller Australia, The Times, The Guardian and Conde Nast Traveller. Her first book, the solo travel memoir Departures, was published by Little, Brown Book Group in 2018, accompanied by a book tour that included Glastonbury Festival, Wilderness Festival, Stoke Newington Literary Festival and Port Eliot Literary Festival. Anna is currently working on her second book, Homes, about freedom of movement.

We are excited to announce our third edition Our theme for April is SEX🔥 Awkward, joyful, confusing, transformative, disappointing, liberating sex. First times, last times, and everything in between. Give us stories of desire, bodies, boundaries, fantasies, shame, pleasure, intimacy, and miscommunication. Sex that meant everything—and sex that meant absolutely nothing. As always, interpret the theme freely. Maybe it’s about a terrible hookup that taught you something important. Or the sex you didn’t have. Or the moment you understood your own desire for the first time. Storytelling Barcelona is a completely free event run by volunteers. We will always remain free because we want to be an event open to everyone! We do have a donation jar at the event that helps sustain the project, so bring some extra change and toss it in. **Interested in sharing a story?** Spots are volunteer-based and given on a first come, first serve basis. [Sign up through our form](https://forms.gle/gDY6vAA7fdiBwAC4A). Our find us on Instagram @storytellingbarcelona For any questions or concerns, reach out to us via DM! 📍 **Where:** Café El Noa Noa, C/Villarroel 71, Eixample 🕢 **When:** Wednesday, April 15th **Time:** Doors at 19:00 — Stories from 19:30 to 21:30 💶 **Free entry** \| **Donations welcome** **No RSVP needed to be part of the audience** — just walk in, grab a seat, and join us for an evening of community, courage, and connection.

Hi and welcome to our next Socrates Café philosophy meetup! Do you have a hunger for deeper understanding of yourself and the world? Do you value deep, honest and respectful dialogue? If yes, then this meetup will be very interesting for you. • WHAT IS A MEETUP ABOUT? At every meetup we have a discussion using Socratic method: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socratic_method](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socratic_method) We ask, answer and discuss questions and ideas to stimulate critical thinking and to widen our perspectives with new concepts and thoughts. The main purpose of these meetups is to enrich ourselves with the perspectives of others, not to convince others about our own perspectives. Our meetups are about our own philosophies of life and not necessarily what the great philosophers and academics have said or written. It is not a debating club or a platform for proselytizing. Instead, we place the emphasis on questioning, open mindedness and challenging our own assumptions while listening to and respecting the views shared by others. A Socrates Café meetup is considered a success when participants leave a discussion with many more questions than they had at the beginning. • WHAT TOPIC IS DISCUSSED AT THE MEETUP? Participants suggest topics at the beginning of each meeting. We then vote and choose that event's most popular topic for discussion. No academic training in philosophy necessary; just enthusiasm for exchanging ideas and points of view. Some examples of subjects chosen on previous meetups: * What ideals are worth dying for? * Why are we never satisfied? * Why is it that human beings know that the society is going wrong, leaders are well informed about it and things continue as is? * Is identity necessary? * How can it be that people in democratic societies are so obsessed with power? (Desire to be different, better, stronger than others) * What is friendship? • WHO PARTICIPATES AT THIS MEETUP? Anybody is more than welcome to join our meetups. Our events gather people from different backgrounds, different cultures, while no philosophical background is mandatory. Our usual participants are people that have a hunger for deeper understanding of themselves and the world. People that value deep, honest and respectful dialogue. The inspiration for Socrates Cafe originates with the book of the same name, written by the philosopher Christopher Phillips. (Socrates Cafe: A Fresh Taste of Philosophy, 2002). Phillips felt that the Socratic method of dialogue and discussion should be practiced not just in academic settings, but among everyday people interested in examining deep questions together. Hundreds of Socrates Cafe groups now exist around the world. To learn more, visit [[https://socratescafe.com](https://socratescafe.com/)]([https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsocratescafe.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7C%7C1b245fc060a24a1b22c508dd324f736a%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638722038989360624%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=pLtcEu25qgDHP1XvhFs5Cx4L1rRDYmqwnNWgxalKovY%3D&reserved=0](https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsocratescafe.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7C%7C1b245fc060a24a1b22c508dd324f736a%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638722038989360624%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=pLtcEu25qgDHP1XvhFs5Cx4L1rRDYmqwnNWgxalKovY%3D&reserved=0) "Protegido por Outlook: [https://socratescafe.com/.](https://socratescafe.com/) Haga clic o pulse para seguir el vínculo.").

¿Qué hacemos? A las 20:00h tenemos una meditación budista guiada. La meditación tiene una duración de unos 25 minutos y es accesible y beneficiosa para personas de todos los niveles de experiencia. ¡AVISO! Si es tu primer dia te esperamos 10 minutos antes. ¡Estaremos encatados de recibirte! ¿Qué es el Camino del Diamante? El Buda dio instrucciones a tres clases de personas. Las primeras que deseaban evitar el sufrimiento recibieron las enseñanzas sobre Causa y Efecto, llamadas Camino Angosto (Hinayana). El segundo tipo de personas sentía la necesidad de beneficiar a los demás, por lo que les dio enseñanzas sobre compasión y sabiduría, llamadas Gran Camino (Mahayana). Finalmente a las personas que tenían una confianza sólida en su propio potencial y en de los demás, el Buda explicó enseñanzas del Camino del Diamante (Vajrayana). En este último nivel utilizamos métodos de identificación con la meta y actuamos como un Buda hasta que llegamos a ser como él. En el nivel más elevado, la meta, es el completo desarrollo de la mente, a lo cual denominó el Gran Sello (Mahamudra). ¿Quiénes somos? El Centro Budista Camino del Diamante de Barcelona forma parte de los más de 700 centros de meditación a nivel internacional de la tradición Karma Kagyu del Budismo Tibetano. Estos centros han sido fundados y guiados por Lama Ole Nydahl y su esposa Hannah Nydahl, de acuerdo con los deseos de H. H. XVI Karmapa. Ahora están bajo la guía espiritual de H.H. XVII Gyalwa Karmapa, Trinley Thaye Dorje. Nuestro centro está formado por personas que tienen sus propios trabajos e incorporan las enseñanzas y las meditaciones del Camino del Diamante en sus vidas cotidianas. Nuestros miembros comparten la responsabilidad de guiar meditaciones, contestar preguntas y dar explicaciones sobre budismo. Nuestro trabajo no es remunerado y se basa en el idealismo y la amistad. Realizamos noches semanales de meditación, que están abiertas al público y son gratuitas. Hay un ambiente social relajado y se animan las preguntas. Las meditaciones son guiadas en castellano, permitiendo que el espacio, la claridad y la alegría surjan naturalmente. Otras actividades incluyen charlas, enseñanzas y práctica personal. INFORMACIÓN COVID-19 A continuación revisa las medidas necesarias para asistir a la meditación: * Si tienes cualquier síntomas o no te encuentras bien, por favor abstente de venir.

**Intercambio de idiomas: castellano, catalán, japonés y chino** スペインやその他の国の日本が大好きな人たちや、日本語を勉強している人たちと、バルセロナに住んでいたり、旅行で来ている日本人との交流です。参加費はありません。 スペイン語が分からなくても日本語のレベルが高い世界各国の人たちと、スペイン語のレベルが高い日本人がいますので、コミュニケーションに問題はありません。 Cada miércoles, nos reunimos para practicar idiomas tales como castellano, catalán, japonés, chino, coreano, francés, rumano, inglés, etc. ¡Únete a Mundiñol si quieres conocer a gente de otros países! Te lo pasarás la mar de bien. 这是一次让西班牙以及其他国家热爱中国文化圈、正在学习中文的人们，与居住在巴塞罗那或前来旅行的日本人进行交流的活动。 不收取任何参加费用。即使不会西班牙语也没有问题。这里有中文水平很高的各国人士，也有西班牙语水平很高的中文使用者，因此在交流沟通上不会有任何障碍。 Every Wednesday we get together in order to practice languages such as Spanish, Catalan, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, French, Rumanian, English, etc. If you want to meet people from other countries, please drop by this free meeting. You'll have a great time! **☆ Cada lunes / Every Monday, 20:45 - 22:45** New Orleans Coffee : [Pere d'Artés 10, Nou Barris, Barcelona](https://maps.app.goo.gl/xLh2Yk1Yxw82QvKK6) **☆ Cada miércoles / Every Wednesday, 20:30 - 22:30** Viena Paseo de San Joan : [Pg. de St. Joan, 26, Barcelona](https://maps.app.goo.gl/c7bHnT16pmgjB8bVA) **☆ Cada viernes / Every Friday, 21:00 - 23:00** Alex Bar Restaurant : [Córcega 170, Barcelona](https://maps.app.goo.gl/83yAPsJFejE2pKHH9) ※※※※※※※※ **INTERCAMBIO DE IDIOMAS JAPONÉS CASTELLANO CHINO** **言語交換 日本語 スペイン語 中国語** * [Castellano (スペイン語)](https://magradacatalunya.com/intercambio_idiomas_japones.html) * [Japonés (日本語)](https://magradacatalunya.com/spanish_japanese.html) * [Chino (中文)](https://magradacatalunya.com/intercambio_idiomas_chino.html) * [Idiomas europeos y asiáticos](https://magradacatalunya.web.fc2.com/spanish.html) ※※※※※※※※ **[Exploración Cultural y Lingüística](https://magradacatalunya.com/barcelona/linguist/)** Mundiñol es un espacio muy valorado donde se puede aprender y practicar en serio idiomas asiáticos, especialmente japonés y chino. Al mismo tiempo, es también un punto de encuentro para quienes vienen de Asia y desean mejorar su español, catalán u otras lenguas romances, en un ambiente internacional y acogedor. ※※※※※※※※ **[Mundiñol 文化と言語探究会](https://magradacatalunya.com/barcelona/linguist/)** バルセロナの Mundiñol（ムンディニョール） は、アジアの言語 (特に日本語や中国語) を本気で学び、練習できる場所として高く評価されています。 また、アジア出身の人たちがスペイン語やカタルーニャ語、そしてその他のロマンス諸語を真剣に学んだり練習したりする場としても知られています。 ※※※※※※※※ **VÍDEOS DE NUESTROS EVENTOS** **私たちのイベントのビデオ** * [Welcome to Barcelona!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl7kwr2PQgY&list=PLikpj83315BvAJpJQqpElcMjX01m5qjcR) * [Mundiñol バルセロナ国際交流](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnCxP7KnQXc&list=PL-5dlWpXEyn70DUhASm5K5CmBTLZPLCgN) * [Japoneses en Barcelona バルセロナの日本人](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVcylH4u7Ao&list=PLa_detxXmbGHCSMjgG55eap0xRALJpjnZ) ※※※※※※※※ ***

**¿Buscas un espacio para crear, soltarte y conectar contigo mismo sin expectativas?** En este taller de creatividad con barro sensorial utilizamos herramientas interdisciplinarias como movimiento, mindfulness, imágenes, experimentación con materiales, etc., para tener una experiencia creativa encarnada. Nos reunimos 2 horas cada dos semanas. Un espacio para explorar sin juicios y despertar tu expresión más auténtica. Aquí no venimos a enseñarte a hacer piezas perfectas; te acompañamos para que la creatividad salga de tu propio cuerpo. Usamos métodos sencillos pero poco convencionales. El objetivo no es "fabricar" algo bonito, sino experimentar y sentir lo que surja. **¿Cómo funciona?** Cada taller es un módulo independiente con una ruta diferente. A veces nos movemos, otras meditamos, y otras creamos un campo de juego. Además del barro, exploramos pintura, instalación efímera o escritura. Cada persona encuentra su propio camino para conectar con lo que realmente quiere expresar. Creamos un círculo entre tú y tu creación. Tú eres el creador y el observador. Estás creando tu obra, pero al mismo tiempo la obra te está creando a ti. **¿Es para ti?** Si algo de esto te resuena, no necesitas experiencia previa. Solo ganas de probar y sumergirte. **Te ofrecemos:** • Un espacio seguro y sin prejuicios. • Todos los materiales y herramientas (no traigas nada). **Nota importante:** Las piezas no se hornean. El taller es una experiencia efímera: valoramos el proceso creativo, no el objeto final. Si buscas llevarte algo cocido, este no es tu sitio. **Política de cancelación:** El pago no es reembolsable.

(ES abajo // CAT a sota) Join Speaking Social Barcelona for a lively evening of cultural and language exchange. Whether you’re a Barcelona local or you’re new to the city, this event is perfect for anyone looking to practise their English, Spanish, Catalan or absolutely any other language in a relaxed, sociable setting. Our language exchange nights will not only improve your language skills, they’re also a great excuse to meet people from diverse backgrounds and experience different cultures. Whether you’re a complete beginner or a fluent speaker, everyone is welcome to join us for an enriching social experience that’s open to everyone. Don't miss out on this opportunity to immerse yourself in a multicultural environment and make lasting connections with like-minded people. Entry FREE; drinks from €2 Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/speakingsocialbcn/ \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- Únete a Speaking Social Barcelona para una noche llena de diversión, cultura e intercambio. Ya seas barcelonés de toda la vida o acabas de llegar, este evento es perfecto para quienes deseen practicar su inglés, catalán o cualquier otro idioma en un ambiente relajado y social. Nuestras noches de intercambio de idiomas no sólo mejoran tu dominio del idioma, también son una excusa para conocer a gente de diferentes orígenes y ampliar tus horizontes. Ya seas un principiante o avanzado, todos los niveles son bienvenidos a unirse para una experiencia enriquecedora que está abierta a todo el mundo. No te pierdas esta oportunidad de sumergirte en un ambiente multicultural y hacer conexiones duraderas con personas de ideas afines. Entrada GRATUITA; bebidas a partir de 2€. Síguenos: https://www.instagram.com/speakingsocialbcn/ \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- Uneix-te a Speaking Social Barcelona per a una nit plena de diversió, cultura i intercanvi. Siguis barceloní de tota la vida o nou a la ciutat, aquest esdeveniment és ideal per a qui vulgui practicar anglès, català o qualsevol altre idioma en un ambient relaxat i social. Les nostres nits d’intercanvi d’idiomes t’ajudaran no només a millorar el teu domini de l’idioma, sinó també a connectar amb persones de diferents orígens i ampliar els teus horitzons. Siguis un principiant o avançat, tots els nivells són benvinguts a gaudir d’una experiència enriquidora que està oberta a tothom. No et perdis aquesta oportunitat de submergir-te en un ambient multicultural i fer connexions duradores amb persones d’idees afins. Entrada GRATUÏTA; begudes a partir de 2€. Segueix-nos: https://www.instagram.com/speakingsocialbcn/

Hola a tod@s, Continuamos con nuestras charlas mensuales en el café La Opera. En esta ocasión yo mismo realizaré la charla. Para los que no me conocéis soy Doctor en historia contemporánea por la UB y fundador de este grupo de meet up. ¿Sabías que la ley de vagos y maleantes en la que se apoyó la dictadura franquista para reprimir la homosexualidad era una ley aprobada por el gobierno de izquierdas de la II República? En esta charla exploraremos la represión de la homosexualidad durante el franquismo. Conoceremos el armazón ideológico-legislativo que enmarcó dicha represión. ¿Sabías que existieron colonias agrícolas donde estas personas eran aisladas y sometidas a trabajos forzados? Desde 1954, el régimen franquista convirtió a los homosexuales en “enemigos” legales. En esta charla analizaremos los argumentos pseudocientíficos en los que la dictadura se apoyó para justificar esta persecución. RESUMEN DEL PLAN: TÍTULO: **GAMBERROS, HOMOSEXUALES, VAGOS Y MALEANTES: LA REPRESIÓN DE LA HOMOSEXUALIDAD DURANTE EL FRANQUISMO** Ponente: Miguel Garau (Dr. en historia contemporánea y animador de este grupo de meet up) Duración de la charla: 60-75 minutos A continuación preguntas y tertulia abierta LUGAR: En el primer piso del mítico Café la Opera (Las Ramblas). Sala reservada exclusivamente para nosotros, donde podrás disfrutar de una bebida mientras escucháis Aforo limitado. Por favor se ruega compromiso, si no vais a venir desapuntaos previamente. Precio: 14 Eu (consumición aparte) Muchas gracias de antemano a tod@s, ¡Os espero! Miguel

¡NUEVA ACTIVIDAD ÚNICA! Tras más de un año cerrado el viejo **funicular del Tibidabo** ha reabierto sus puertas completamente nuevo, con un diseño espectacular que se convertirá sin duda, en **la nueva atracción de Barcelona.** En Descubridores os proponemos una nueva ruta cultural que nos permitirá subir en **la "Cuca de Llum"** (así han bautizado al nuevo transporte), para disfrutar de él y contemplar en la hora del atardecer las espectaculares vistas de la ciudad. Precisamente para mejorar **la panorámica**, los nuevos vagones son totalmente acristalados y ofrecen al pasajero una vista única y nueva hasta el momento. ¡Acompáñanos en esta nueva experiencia! Pero además, complementaremos nuestro **paseo con explicaciones históricas sobre la montaña del Tibidabo**, el Parque de Atracciones, el Observatorio Fabra, Vallvidrera... Una vez arriba, recorreremos el llamado **"Camí del Cel"**, es decir, la parte histórica y libre de acceso del parque de atracciones y **disfrutaremos del ambiente animado de esa zona**. También hablaremos de la **historia de algunas de las atracciones más emblemáticas del Tibidabo.** Como siempre, contaremos con guía profesional **licenciado en Historia por la UB.** Éste es nuestro **PLAN**: 1. Encuentro en la salida de los FGC de Av. Tibidabo (L7), Plaça Kennedy. 2. Subida por la Av. Tibidabo, con comentarios sobre el Dr. Andreu y los distintos chalets modernistas de la zona. 3. Viaje en el recién inaugurado funicular **"Cuca de Llum"** hasta la cima de la montaña. 4. **Paseo guiado por el "Camí del Cel" y visita al Templo Expiatorio del Tibidabo.** 5. Possibilidad de **tomar algo (opcional) y contemplar el atardecer desde la cima de la montaña.** 6. Viaje de regreso a Barcelona en funicular **PRECIO**: 12 euros correspondientes a los honorarios de guía profesional licenciado en historia. **VIAJE EN FUNICULAR**: cada uno podrá comprarse su billete en las taquillas de la estación. El viaje vale 12 euros ida y vuelta.

**Explora la Barcelona más antigua y descubre sus secretos mejor guardados.** Acompáñanos en un recorrido fascinante por el casco antiguo de la ciudad condal, donde la historia cobra vida en cada rincón. Durante aproximadamente 1 hora y 45 minutos, caminaremos por calles que han sido testigo de siglos de acontecimientos, desde la época medieval hasta nuestros días. Visitaremos algunos de los lugares más emblemáticos como **la Catedral de Barcelona, la Generalitat de Catalunya, la Catedral del Mar, el Born**, y finalizaremos nuestro viaje en el majestuoso **Arc de Triomf**. Este tour está pensado para los amantes de la historia y para los curiosos de corazón❤️​: **te compartiremos datos sorprendentes y anécdotas que te harán ver Barcelona con nuevos ojos.** 🗣 **Idioma:** Español/Català 🙋‍♀️​ **Guía:** Mia Soria 🕰 **Duración:** 1h 45min aprox. 💶 **Precio:** 10 € por persona 💳 **Pago al comienzo del tour en efectivo o vía Bizum** 📍 **Punto de encuentro:** Catedral de Barcelona 📍 **Punto final:** Arc de Triomf *Al finalizar el recorrido, te invitamos a quedarte a tomar algo si te apetece. Será un momento ideal para resolver dudas, compartir conocimientos históricos y disfrutar de un intercambio cultural en un ambiente relajado.* 🍻​ ¿Te animas a redescubrir Barcelona con nosotros?

There is no single agreed definition of religion, but different attempts to create one give us intellectual tools and insights to grapple with this universal cultural phenomenon. In this brief introductory talk, we’ll be looking at different anthropological views of what religion is, or might be. We’ll also touch on such questions as the possible origins of faith, ritual and religious experience, their purpose, and perhaps even their future. This respectful overview should interest people of faith, agnostics and atheists alike. This session will be led by Mike. Bring wine/beer/drinks/food/snacks/whatever if you want to. **Our events fill up very quickly. To avoid missing out on future events, join the WhatsApp group via this link:** [https://tally.so/r/w4G5L5](https://tally.so/r/w4G5L5) Press the buzzer marked Semi sotano 2 (bottom left on the panel) to be let in. It's down the stairs, first door on the right. **Image**: La Cueva de las Manos es un sitio arqueológico con pinturas rupestres, ubicado en el profundo cañón del río Pinturas, al noroeste de la Provincia de Santa Cruz, Patagonia, Argentina.

The climate emergency will not be solved by reading books. But by coming together to read, to educate ourselves, to share what we learn with friends and family, and to take action in our corner of the world we can be a small part of the wave of change humanity desperately needs. Sound like something you want to be a part of? We’d love to have you. Join the Climate Action Book Club this month to read the 'The Nutmeg's Curse: Parables for a Planet in Crisis' by Amitav Ghosh, the Bengali Indian novelist and writer who has several books on climate change. This event is free, but please get your copy from the wonderful English bookstore that hosts our book club meetings, Backstory. You can also [buy a copy from them online](https://backstorybookshop.shop/product/the-nutmegs-curse/). To cover Meetup fees, we also request a €1 donation per attendee. You are welcome (even encouraged) to join us even if you haven't read the book but want to hear and join the discussion about it. Feel free to bring a friend, too. Hope to see you!

This month's pick: The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science by Kate McKinnon Backstory’s **Story Squad!** is our book club for young readers — a space to discover incredible stories, share ideas, and nurture a lifelong love of reading. Led by a mom-and-daughter duo, each session is about celebrating books together in a fun and welcoming way. **Instructions** 1. Swing by the shop to pick up a copy of your book 2. Read it 3. Come discuss it Easy peasy! Happy reading!

This will be our last meeting on *Nature's God: The Heretical Origins of the American Republic*, by Matthew Stewart. For this meeting, please read the last two chapters: Chapter 7: The Empire of Reason Chapter 8: The Religion of Freedom **Where did the ideas come from that became the cornerstone of American democracy?** America’s founders intended to liberate us not just from one king but from the ghostly tyranny of supernatural religion. Drawing deeply on the study of European philosophy, Matthew Stewart brilliantly tracks the ancient, pagan, and continental ideas from which America’s revolutionaries drew their inspiration. In the writings of Spinoza, Lucretius, and other great philosophers, Stewart recovers the true meanings of “Nature’s God,” “the pursuit of happiness,” and the radical political theory with which the American experiment in self-government began. [LINK](https://a.co/d/bkTWJNb) I recommend using an AI tool like ChatGPT to ask these questions: 1. What does Matthew Stewart say about the empire of reason in his book Nature's God? 2. What does Matthew Stewart say about the religion of freedom? I hope to see you there! Fred

Sunday, April 19, 2026 - Luncheon at 2 pm; Lecture at 3 pm **Legacy of the Minoans** **Emily Anderson - Johns Hopkins University** Sponsored by the Hellenic Society Prometheas Crete’s Minoan civilization was Europe’s first great Bronze Age society. Crete hosted magnificent palaces, including the labyrinth at Knossos, and Minoan art and traditions that profoundly influenced the Mediterranean world. The language of Minoan Crete is unknown, and their scripts, such as Linear A, have eluded translation since Sir Arthur Evans first excavated in Crete in 1900. Named after the mythological King Minos, Crete’s Minoan landscape serves as the setting for countless legends, including the birthplace of Zeus, the labyrinth where Theseus killed the Minotaur and the prison that Daedalus and Icarus fled with their ill-fated wings. How did Minoan society rise from small isolated farms to state-level palatial society with "international" prominence? Professor Anderson’s detailed exploration of the uniqueness and trajectory of Minoan Crete within the eastern Mediterranean will focus on the role of trade and exchange, seafaring, craft, politics, art and religion, and how these were all entwined. This event is sponsored by the Hellenic Society Prometheas Luncheon at 2 pm; Lecture at 3 pm This event will be held at Yayla Bistro: 2201 N. Westmoreland street / Arlington, VA 22213 Reserve your spot: [https://basonova.org/next-lecture-reservation.html](https://basonova.org/next-lecture-reservation.html)

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Doom and Dinosaurs,”** a look at how mass extinctions shaped the dinosaurs and what research on these events tells us about Earth life’s long-term prospects, with Ian Wilenzik, paleontologist and visiting assistant professor of biology at George Washington University. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-dino-doom](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-dino-doom) .] Pity the poor dinosaurs. They lacked both scientific research to help deal with potential environmental catastrophes and places where they could have a beer and discuss it. You, on the other hand, have the opportunity to come to Profs and Pints to hear a fascinating talk on the impact of mass extinctions on dinosaur evolution and what research on dinosaurs tells us about biodiversity and Earth’s current biodiversity crisis. Dr. Ian Wilenzik, who has studied and taught courses on dinosaur evolution, population spread, and extinction, will leave you with a greater appreciation of the resilience of life on earth and how we’re both the product and source of biologically catastrophic events. Many of us are familiar with how a big meteor impact about 66 million years ago wiped out the Earth’s dinosaur population, leaving us only with their feathered descendants, birds. Less well known is how the Earth actually has undergone five periods of mass extinction that wiped out nearly all life, and how dinosaurs arose from one and endured another—both caused by volcanic activity—before meeting their match in the third. To ground his discussion, Dr. Wilenzik will talk about how we study mass extinctions by looking for geologic evidence of volcanic activity, meteoric blasts, and other catastrophic activity and of gaps in the fossil record after them. He’ll also discuss what makes a dinosaur a dinosaur, describing their distinct anatomical features. He’ll talk about how they and other forms of life evolved over long periods of time and were affected by extinction events. We’ll look at how the meteor-caused mass extinction that wiped out dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous paved the way for the rise of mammals and the emergence of primates, and, eventually, us. Looking ahead to future mass extinctions and what might survive them, we’ll talk about how that plant you forget to water might have the last laugh, as well as why crocodiles might be around a while. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: A *Triceratops* mounted skeleton at the Los Angeles Museum of Natural History (Photo by Allie Caulfield / Wikimedia Commons).

This training is designed for real estate agents who want to learn how to play the Agent Investor game. The goal of this training is to help you flip your income into ownership. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ **Inventory is the lifeblood of every market.** **And whoever controls inventory controls the opportunities, the buyers, and the leverage.** How to Generate a Steady Stream of Motivated Sellers teaches you a focused, repeatable system to consistently find and serve motivated sellers—without chasing random lead-gen tactics or relying on luck. Motivated sellers create multiple pathways: traditional listings, cash offers, creative solutions, rental opportunities, and investor deals. When you know how to help people in distress, you create impact and income at the same time. In this session, you’ll learn the core framework for building predictable motivated seller opportunities using ZONE: * Zero in on your target * Own the mindshare * Nurture the list * Expand your influence You’ll also learn the highest-probability seller funnels, including: * Pre-foreclosures (homeowners who need real help and clear options) * Absentee owners / tired landlords (10+ years ownership, deferred maintenance, vacancies, tax pressure) We’ll walk through the exact steps to build your first seller ZONE: get the list, segment it, create messaging, call the list, market weekly, build relationships—and control inventory. You’ll also get a proven seller message that converts because it offers real options: * 24-hour cash offer (speed + convenience) * traditional listing (maximum price) * renovate now, pay at settlement (maximize equity with zero upfront cost) This positions you as a problem solver, not a salesperson—and one strong seller ZONE can feed your business for years. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ **Did you miss it?** [Watch all GRID Reston event playback on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOTh5kxLLJI1G3VH6Pqhlhu0uTA8yrdpi) ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ **Join the GRID Facebook Community** [Join the online GRID community here](https://www.facebook.com/groups/gridinvestor) to post deals, ask questions, and connect with other investors across the globe.

**In a time of division and isolation, come be part of the community that's rebuilding the town square, one table at a time.** In BreadBreakers, we use the common space of the dining table to have conversations where neighbors can **hear, be heard, and know one another.** If you're hungry for good conversation and deeper community, join us for a Community Dinner in Reston and help blaze the trail to a healthier, more connected society and democracy. Here’s how it works: For just two hours, multiple tables of people set aside the need to "win" and instead focus on sharing, listening, and connecting. Guided by experienced table hosts, we'll tell our stories, try to understand each other, and practice being in community with those with different views or backgrounds. **At this dinner, participants will get to choose between three different topics, including some current events.** Topics range from the political, to the "slice of life", to the spiritual, to the philosophical, to the off-the-wall - but no matter which table you choose to sit at, you can be sure it'll be like no dinner conversation you've had before! You can also **suggest a topic** by emailing us at BreadBreakersInfo@gmail.com. Food will be provided for free. For those who wish to provide a donation to help fund BreadBreakers, you can [give here](https://pushpay.com/g/restorationrestonumc?fnd=pO6G-N7oO7FH7Mp1u-x6mA&fndv=Lock&r=No&lang=en&src=pcgl) or at the event. We'll have vegetarian and gluten-free options available. If you have any additional dietary restrictions (Celiac Disease, vegan, etc.) please let us know at BreadBreakersInfo@gmail.com so that we can implement the appropriate food handling procedures. **Join us, invite a friend, and be a part of the movement to mend our fractured society and normalize a better way of talking with one another.** BreadBreakers, an initiative by [Restoration United Methodist Church](https://restorationreston.org/breadbreakers) in Reston, VA, is a religiously inclusive community. All faiths and all stripes are welcomed. Our leadership, volunteer team, and community include people who attend Restoration and people who don't.

We have an opportunity to take a guided group tour of the International Spy Museum at L'Enfant Plaza! And maybe some drinks at The Wharf afterwards... Please RSVP by EOD Friday, March 27th so that we can submit a preliminary head count. After we send the count, details on pricing, payment options, and final schedule will follow in this space. UPDATE: Preliminary head count has been submitted! If you have still not RSVPd, please do so by Friday, April 3rd - RSVPs will be closed after that date. The cost is $25/person, payable via Venmo to Jay Heath. We are planning to meet in the lobby at 3 PM, with the first hour of the tour being guided, the second hour an individual tour. Parking is $30 with a six foot height limit, and the closest Metro is L'Enfant Plaza. We can discuss grabbing post-tour dinner and drinks afterwards, but the Wharf is nearby with lots of options! UPDATE 4/4: RSVPs are now closed. Since all attendees are on our Whatsapp group chat, we will discuss further details there.

Members of the public are invited to view the wonders of the universe through the telescopes of NOVAC volunteers at the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA. You do not need to be a member of the club or own any astronomical equipment to attend. Telescopes will be provided by the Smithsonian and pre-approved members of the NOVAC. No other personal telescopes are permitted at the event. The event will take place on the bus parking lot of the museum. **Please park your vehicle at the south end of the main visitors lot and follow signs and red lights to the observing site. As a reminder, parking during the event is free.** Have a cosmic question? One of NOVAC's astronomers or museum staff will be happy to help you. As the sky gets dark, be prepared to enjoy the wonders of the night sky! Don't forget to dress warmly. Please check the weather forecast. For lighting, cover a flashlight in red cellophane (the darker the better). Bring along water to keep hydrated. Note: This outdoor event is weather-dependent and may be cancelled because of significant cloud cover or precipitation.