Ideators & Inventors & Innovators

Welcome to our new home at the historic Tivoli Theater! Please check our details for access to the space on [our website](https://www.hacdc.org/visit/). Join the discord for questions / help getting in (use channel #let-me-in) [https://discord.gg/dNjuNhNmeT](https://discord.gg/dNjuNhNmeT)

[Profs and Pints DC](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/dc-runes](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/dc-runes) .] 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 Penn Social 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).

Every Monday Night (Rare Execeptions posted on NOVA BG website ) since the late 1980s, we are new to Meetup. https://sites.google.com/site/novabackgammon/ Register at 6:45PM Random Draw 7:00PM sharp. Results Usually Reported on Tuesday - via NOVA BG E-Mail Double-Elimination: Main & Consolation Brackets We follow USBGF Rules and the following options: - Legal Moves. - Use of two dice is Preferred over four dice. - Dice landing on checkers is legal. - Use of clocks is Preferred.

The Power of a Peaceful Mind In situations of conflict, we easily become angry. However, anger limits us and leaves a trail of painful feelings. On the other hand, the creative mind of patience opens us to options. In this series, we learn to understand and meditate on patience. We will discover how meditation helps us to find peaceful solutions to everyday problems. **REGISTRATION** Standard: $12 \| Financial Hardship: $6 \| Free for [Members](https://meditation-dc.org/membership/) [Pre-Register Here](https://meditation-dc.org/monday-evening-meditation/) Each class is available by drop in. Everyone is welcome to attend, no previous experience is required. **LOCATION** Kadampa Meditation Center DC 1200 Canal St\. SW \| Washington\, DC 20024 **Metro Stop:** Waterfront or Navy Yard

Reserve a spot on **[Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/out-and-about-in-shirlington-lgbtq-community-happy-hour-palette-22-tickets-1979555161777?aff=oddtdtcreator)** so we have an accurate guest count. We are absolutely thrilled to announce that **[Palette 22](https://www.palette22.com/)** is hosting Go Gay DC! Get ready for another gathering of members of the LGBTQ+ Community! About 30 LGBTQ+ folk are expected. Palette 22 offers modern street food spanning the globe served in a bustling art studio & gallery atmosphere. This event is ideal for making exciting new connections and community building. Or just to unwind and enjoy extended happy hour. **[See the happy hour menu](https://www.palette22.com/our-menus#happy)**. Arrive anytime that's convenient for you! Most attendees will likely arrive by 6:00 p.m. We will gather at the tables in the back of the bar. There is no pressure to order any food or drink; it is just optional. You're welcome regardless of where you live. Bring friends and meet new people. This is the place to be. This LGBTQ and Allies community-wide social provides everyone a chance to socialize, network, and share community spirit in an artsy setting. This event is being boosted by **[Go Gay DC](https://www.gogaydc.com/)**[,](https://www.gogaydc.com/) Metro Washington DC's inclusive LGBTQ+ community focused on friendship, leadership, and service. It reaches over 10K fabulous people and is growing fast. Visit [https://www.gogaydc.com](https://www.gogaydc.com/) At this exciting event, you'll even get to meet Go Gay DC's Founder **[TJ Flavell](http://www.tjflavell.com)**! Fabulous people from all over the world are expected. Name tags will be provided. It's FREE to attend; cash bar. There will be a bartender on duty; cash or credit card is fine. Casual attire is fine; this will be a relaxing and fun time. You are welcome regardless of where you live. Guests from DC, Maryland, and Virginia often attend. While there is no subway stop nearby, the local bus system is also very reliable and Shirlington is a very busy [transit hub](https://www.arlingtontransit.com/about/facilities/shirlington/). Use [Metro Trip Planner.](https://www.wmata.com/schedules/trip-planner/) Free garage parking is easy to find. Four of Shirlington’s garages share their parking so that the spaces available to office workers during the day are available for public parking on evenings and weekends. During the weekdays there are 879 public parking spaces and on evenings and weekends there are 2,446 public parking spaces. [See the map](https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Programs/Transportation/Parking/Public-Parking-Options/Shirlington-Parking). Invite your friends. This event is a safe, inclusive space for everyone under the rainbow. Go Gay DC is on social media: Join the Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/GoGayDC](https://www.facebook.com/groups/gogaydc) Like the Facebook Page [https://www.facebook.com/GoGayDC](https://www.facebook.com/GoGayDC) Follow on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/GoGayDC](https://www.instagram.com/GoGayDC) Follow on Threads [https://www.threads.com/@GoGayDC](https://www.threads.com/@gogaydc) Follow on Bluesky [https://gogaydc.bsky.social/](https://gogaydc.bsky.social/) Follow on X [https://www.x.com/GoGayDC](https://www.x.com/GoGayDC) Watch on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/GoGayDC](https://www.youtube.com/GoGayDC) Search keywords: LGBT LGBTQ LGBTQI LQBTQIA Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Intersex Straight Allies nonbinary non-binary

***“I am struck with how rare it is to find a few good friends on the path. It is easy to find people who simply want to sit and be entertained by teachers, or who want to sit and entertain by playing the role of teacher. In other words, the quest for affirmation often outweighs the quest for truth.*** ***Yet you may have one or two good friends, and definitely have one or two waiting to be discovered. Find them; be thankful.”*** ***— Shawn Nevins*** 'What will make me happy in life?' ... 'Am I my thoughts?' ... 'What is Enlightenment?' ... We meet every week to ask questions like these in the pursuit of Self-Knowledge and Truth. We are interested in topics like: Zen, stoicism, spirituality, psychology, mindfulness, Nisargadatta, non-violent communication, Socrates, existential philosophy, Alan Watts, taoism, Eckhart Tolle, meditation, Ramana Maharshi, etc. But we are not affiliated with any dogma, philosophy, or religion. Our goal each meeting is to serve as mirrors for one another using question-based inquiry in a safe environment. In a session, every participant takes turns discussing the week's question or topic, and the group asks reflective questions without any agenda besides trying to understand the person's beliefs. A few other guiding principles of our group: * No one is obligated to share * Be honest with yourself and others * Do not try to convince others to believe or think as you do * Keep the focus on the person being questioned We meet at the [Bethesda Library](https://maps.app.goo.gl/GWMozF8zpY1m1PY26) every Monday. The library is a 5 minute walk from the Bethesda Metro on the Red Line, approx 25 minute Metro ride from Metro Center and Gallery Place stations. The library has a a parking lot with metered parking for $1/hour. \*\*\* WE WILL BE IN MEETING ROOM 3 UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED ----- THE MEETING ROOM IS IN THE BACK OF THE LIBRARY \*\*\* Please contact us with any questions!

**\* This is an in-person event** Most people only experience finished products. Very few get the opportunity to work on something before it's finished when it can still be shaped. This is one of those opportunities. Karen Hold, Director of DT:DC, is currently developing a new innovation skills workbook with Jeanne Liedtka, based on over a decade of teaching and working with leaders across organizations, universities, and the DT:DC community. Her work focuses on the five statistically validated skills that help people develop as innovation leaders. This workbook builds on her work in design thinking and innovation education, including programs at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, École des Ponts Business School (Paris and Casablanca), and Boston College. For this session, Karen will share a draft chapter of her new workbook for live testing. This is not a polished workshop. It's a working lab. You won't just participate. You will help shape the material itself. What We’ll Be Testing: * Whether the exercises actually help people think differently * Where the material is clear and where it breaks * What feels useful vs. what needs to be reworked This is the kind of work that typically happens behind closed doors. **What You'll Do** Working in small groups, you will: * Work through exercises from a draft chapter of the workbook * Apply them to real situations and ideas * Share feedback on what is clear, confusing, or missing * Help identify how the material can be improved You’ll get: * Early access to work that is still being developed * A chance to influence how this material evolves * Practical tools you can immediately apply * A behind-the-scenes look at how skill-building experiences are designed This is a rare opportunity to be part of the process, not just the outcome. Join us if you want to be part of something early, unfinished and actively evolving. No prior experience is required. **About Karen Hold** Karen Hold is the founder of Experience Labs and Director of DT:DC, one of the world's largest innovation communities connecting founders, designers, policymakers, and changemakers. Her work sits at the intersection of teaching and real-world application. She works with Fortune 500 corporations, federal government agencies and non-profit organizations, helping teams strengthen how they think, make decisions, and move ideas forward. She teaches in graduate and executive education programs, including at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, École des Ponts Business School (Paris and Casablanca), and Boston College. Karen is a co-author of *Experiencing Design – The Innovator’s Journey*, and her work focuses on developing the skills that enable individuals and organizations to navigate complexity and create meaningful change.

Join us on **Thursday, April 2nd** for **Kickback & Connect** in **Washington, D.C.** From magazines to motion design and from newsrooms to nonprofits, if you make things in D.C., you’re invited. This is a low-key happy hour bringing together designers and creatives across disciplines in the DMV to kickback, connect, and share ideas—no panels, no pitches, no pressure. We hope to see you there! **Music by: Friends on Mars** Hosted by Good People DC and **[SPD](https://www.spd.org/)**, a nonprofit design community rooted in publishing and creative excellence. No cover charge = no excuse not to come Must be 21 to enter. Please drink responsibly.

**\*\*\* NOTE these lights appear to go on sale via Amazon frequently \*\*\*** Greetings CBG'ers, **Q:** How many Lumens should your light be to be able to SEE at night? **A:** It should be at least 100 Lumens. **Q:** Is there a brand that is good? **A:** NiteRider has been a solid brand for years, I've (Gary) owned them and they have never busted, but I've lost a few (ha ha). **Q:** Can you give me some examples of what would be good? **A:** Yup, see below but feel free to search Amazon for others as well. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ **NiteRider Swift 300 Front Cycling Light - USB Rechargeable:** Lumens: 300 Price: $26.98 (PRIME) [https://www.amazon.com/NiteRider-6786-Swift-300-Black/dp/B07DWH2YJC](https://www.amazon.com/NiteRider-6786-Swift-300-Black/dp/B07DWH2YJC) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ **NiteRider Swift 500 Front Cycling Light - USB Rechargeable:** Lumens: 500 Price: $39.99 (PRIME) [https://www.amazon.com/NiteRider-6785-Swift-Size-Black/dp/B07DWJ5ZTN](https://www.amazon.com/NiteRider-6785-Swift-Size-Black/dp/B07DWJ5ZTN) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ **NiteRider Swift 300 Front Bike Light Sabre 110 Rear Bike Light (Combo Pack) - USB Rechargeable** Lumens: 300 / 110 Price: $41.95 (PRIME) [https://www.amazon.com/NiteRider-Rechargeable-Headlight-Resistant-Flashlight/dp/B08F2X47SV](https://www.amazon.com/NiteRider-Rechargeable-Headlight-Resistant-Flashlight/dp/B08F2X47SV) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ **NiteRider Swift 500 Front Cycling Light & Sabre 110 Rear Bike Light (Combo Pack) - USB Rechargeable** Lumens: 500 / 110 Price: $46.95 (PRIME) [https://www.amazon.com/NiteRider-Rechargeable-Headlight-Resistant-Flashlight/dp/B08F2VCZFS](https://www.amazon.com/NiteRider-Rechargeable-Headlight-Resistant-Flashlight/dp/B08F2VCZFS) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ **NiteRider Sabre 110 Rear Bike Light:** Lumens: 110 List Price: $14.70 (see combo pack above) [https://www.amazon.com/NiteRider-Rechargeable-Taillight-Resistant-Commuting/dp/B08F12CWK3/](https://www.amazon.com/NiteRider-Rechargeable-Taillight-Resistant-Commuting/dp/B08F12CWK3/) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Details Location: Crimson Whiskey Bar (Either the downstairs whiskey bar, or main floor bar, TBD) The purpose of Thinkers and Drinkers is to facilitate casual but meaningful and interesting conversations with other people in a face-to-face setting. The topics cover a wide variety of issues and are different for every meeting. While conversations may get heated at times, we ask that all members be respectful of each other and refrain from personal insults. \*\*\* **Contemporary True Crime & Storytelling Most Often Spotlights the Villains:** ***Is there a meaningful difference between understanding a killer and being fascinated by one? Where's the line?*** True crime has always been with us — penny dreadfuls, tabloids, In Cold Blood — but has something shifted in the recent decades. Podcasts like Serial and My Favorite Murder, docuseries like Netflix's Making a Murderer, and entire cable channels dedicated to murder-as-entertainment have turned real suffering into a booming content industry. Is that something to celebrate, scrutinize, or just sit with uncomfortably? Is this part of a larger trend of glorifying the villain? **Some angles worth sitting with:** * The content boom has made this a business — and families are often the last to know. Crime Junkie, Netflix docuseries, Patreon true crime pods — someone is profiting every time a family's worst chapter gets a new season, and several have spoken publicly about learning a docuseries existed the same day the trailer dropped. * The killer gets the marquee, the victim gets a footnote. Dennis Rader (BTK), Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, Edmund Kemper — household names, all of them. The people they killed, largely not. * Villains prominent in other entertainment: Sports, movies, videogames etc. * Today's media villains are yesterday's killers. You, Dexter, (some other villain). The world is seen through their eyes and psychology, giving the viewer a sympathetic lense. * Who gets covered is not random. Missing white woman syndrome is documented and measurable; the cases that become cultural touchstones say a lot about whose suffering we've decided is worth dramatizing. * Not every famous case even has a killer to blame. JonBenét Ramsey has been a media fixture for nearly 30 years with no one ever charged — which raises the question of what we're actually chasing when there's no monster to pin it on. **Questions to Consider:** * Does true crime content actually make people safer, or is "awareness" mostly a guilt-free justification for what is really just entertainment? * How many serial killers can you name? Can you name that many victims? * Should producers and platforms be required to involve victims' families — or at minimum, notify them — before releasing content? * Why do you think women make up the majority of true crime consumers, given that women are disproportionately the victims in these stories? * Is the JonBenét phenomenon different in kind — or does an unsolved case just reveal more honestly what's driving the interest all along? * Dahmer merch. Kemper fan accounts. At what point does documenting a killer's story tip into something more troubling? **Major Survey’s include:** **[https://www.edisonresearch.com/the-true-crime-consumer-report-by-edison-research-and-audiochuck/](https://www.edisonresearch.com/the-true-crime-consumer-report-by-edison-research-and-audiochuck/)** **[https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/06/20/true-crime-podcasts-are-popular-in-the-us-particularly-among-women-and-those-with-less-formal-education/](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/06/20/true-crime-podcasts-are-popular-in-the-us-particularly-among-women-and-those-with-less-formal-education/)** **[https://www.bw.edu/academics/bios/cv/article-brian-monahan-timeless-kills.pdf](https://www.bw.edu/academics/bios/cv/article-brian-monahan-timeless-kills.pdf)**

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

**AI-Supported Creative Exploration** *For Unassuming Intuitives & Practicing Creatives* (Please note that this event has not been organized or endorsed by The Writer's Center.) This meetup is part of AI as Creative Partner — A Practice Group, a set of open, non-sequential creative labs you can join at any point. We use AI as a thinking partner—not to replace your ideas, but to help surface and shape them without overthinking or pressure. You bring fragments—ideas, impulses, unfinished concepts. With AI as a supportive collaborator, we explore how those fragments can become clearer, more coherent, and ready to share if and when you want to. No technical background is required. If you can talk or type, that's enough to work with AI here. This session is intentionally low-commitment and flexible: * Arrive late or leave early * Work quietly or observe * Ask questions, or simply watch the process unfold There's no presentation and no expectation to finish anything. Showing up as you are is enough. **CREATIVE WORK, GENTLY - AN OPEN PRACTICE NIGHT** This is not a workshop or a class. It's a calm room where people show up to work creatively—without urgency, performance, or pressure—using AI as a thinking partner. Come for 20 minutes or stay the whole time. Work quietly, observe, or ask questions. This space adapts to how you arrive. **HOW TO FIND US** Look for the room with the door open on the lower level. Look for the guy with the screen projector and ambient light and sound. Feel free to just walk in and settle. **(*This is an independent meetup using rental space at The Writer's Center. The Writer's Center has not organized or endorsed this event.*)**

🍻 What: ProductTank Happy Hour -- Join your fellow DC product people for a casual opportunity to connect and learn more about all things product from our ProductTank members. Whether you are a seasoned veteran or interested in diving into product management, all are welcome! 🏢 Where: The Admiral in Dupont (1 block from Dupont Metro) -- Guests will be asked to open their own tab. There is no minimum required. 🕒 When: 3/31/26 6:00-8:00 PM 👋We hope to see you there!

Pay attention! We’re delaying a week for those of you who may be on Spring break and/or celebrating the holiday. Ok, no pancakes, but waffles-a-plenty. Join the local UX and Digital Design community for a casual monthly breakfast. Look for us upstairs!

**The Data-Driven Brand: Using Analytics to Shape Perception** Can you use analytics to improve tacos? This being CBUSDAW, we think the answer is probably “yes”, but we’re not sure how to implement or test this theory. For our April meetup we’ve got Sara Kear, CMO of Condado Tacos, to investigate this delicious question. Sara will explore how she blends quantitative data and qualitative customer feedback to shape brand positioning and drive business decisions. We all know that marketing and analytics go way beyond attribution. Sara will show how Condado uses customer insights to inform product and pricing strategy. She’ll also highlight how Condado leverages customer feedback at scale to influence operational priorities, positioning marketing as the voice of the customer across the organization. In the last 12 years Condado has gone from one location in Columbus to 52 locations across 10 states, so we’re guessing there’s more to that growth than really good guac (though the guac probably helps). Ultimately, this talk focuses on the intersection of art and science—using data to inform creativity and build a brand that resonates with customers in a measurable way. **About Our Speaker** Sara Kear is Chief Marketing Officer at Condado Tacos, where she oversees brand, restaurant design, menu and pricing strategy, off-premise including catering, and customer data strategy. Since joining in 2021, she has helped grow the brand from 19 to 52 locations while building a data-driven marketing organization focused on loyalty and customer insights. Condado has since been named to the Inc. 5000, recognized as Breakout Retailer by Chain Store Age, and consistently ranked among FastCasual’s Top 100 Movers & Shakers. Thanks to our 2026 sponsors: [Clarivoy](https://www.clarivoy.com), [What Box Consulting Group](https://www.whatboxconsultinggroup.com), [Conductrics](https://www.conductrics.com), and [Piwik PRO](https://piwik.pro) More info at [cbusdaw.com](https://cbusdaw.com)

NFT's are here to stay folks! This is a group for like minded people interested in understanding, leveraging, using, creating for, profiting from, trading too i suppose, NFT's.. everything around them, complexity, fear and exploits, best practices and more. **PLUS** This group will talk AI ART tools, techniques, artists, video, audio, prototypes and more in the AI assisted production space- ART specifically, but we can get into any aspect of some of the cooler things happening in AI in general.

(Note: RSVPing here on Meetup does NOT reserve your seat. To do that, you'll need to register at our website, **[HERE](https://www.coreerocks.com/Events.aspx?ID=IN-PERSON-in-Columbus-Creative-Deal-Autopsies-Wholesaling-101-14-4-7-2026)**.) The market changed—and most investors are still operating like it didn't. Deals that used to work don't. Buyers want different things. And a lot of what's being taught right now is outdated or just wrong. And, since 2011, it's been our job to make sure that our members are armed with the most up-to-date, real-world strategies for building wealth in Central Ohio real estate… …so our mission with this meeting (and every meeting) is to give you the no-hype, warts-and-all info you need to succeed. First, Wholesaling 101—a clear, real-world look at how wholesaling actually works today, what to pay, and how to stay out of trouble. Then, Creative Deal Autopsies—real investors breaking down real deals with real numbers, real conversations, and real outcomes. You'll also get the chance to put the presenters in the hot seat and ask any and every question you have about how they did their deals. You'll learn: 1. What wholesaling actually is 2. How to calculate real offers 3. Where deals are coming from now 4. What buyers want 5. How creative deals are structured 6. What contracts and terms are used 7. What can go wrong—and how to avoid it **Agenda:** 5:00–6:00: Free Light Dinner and Networking 6:00: Earlybird Meeting – Wholesaling 101 7:00: Buy-Sell-Trade (members only) 7:30: Creative Deal Autopsies Members: Free First-time guests: Free Non-members: $35 (or join for $30 instead) Remember, to actually reserve your seat, you have to go **[HERE](https://www.coreerocks.com/Events.aspx?ID=IN-PERSON-in-Columbus-Creative-Deal-Autopsies-Wholesaling-101-14-4-7-2026)** and register on our website!

Central Ohio Radio Enthusiasts—CORE—is an informal community for anyone enthusiastic or curious about radio—whether you're new to radio and want to learn or you've been tinkering for years and want to share. Ham radio operators, GMRS users, Meshtastic fans, software-defined radio nerds, makers, and technical and non-technical folks are all welcome. No experience required or expected. This month we have **WiFi HaLow: Introduction and Practical Use** with **Alex Barbur**. Details are are [core.radio](https://core.radio).