Landscape Photography

Brisk 3- to 4-mile urban hike starting and ending at Smoke and Mirrors. We will hike in and around Capitol Hill before returning to Smoke and Mirrors for drinks and food and a spectacular view of of the US Capitol from their rooftop bar.

Think you aren't flexible enough for yoga? Afraid to get onto the floor? Living with physical aches or restricted range of motion? Then this is the perfect yoga class for you! Explore your body's strengths in a fun, supportive environment while maintaining and growing your range of motion, flexibility, balance, strength, and sense of peace. All are welcome in this therapeutic class. Come ready to try new things, laugh, ask questions, and support each other. **Please reserve your spot at www.piesfitnessyoga.com**. The session is offered both InStudio and OnLine. The Zoom link for the OnLine session will be emailed 15 minutes before class starts to those who are registered at www.piesfitnessyoga.com. **Sign up for sessions must be made at least 2 hours prior to class.** The address is 1322 Prince St Alexandria, VA 22314 Our entrance is located on the side of the building, parallel to West St. **Street parking is available and additional parking is located at Shiloh Baptist church, spaces 36,37,38,39.** The church is located across the street from the studio, on the corner of Duke St. and West St. Discount is available to seniors, teachers, students, emergency responders, and military. All can save by purchasing class packs.

[Profs and Pints DC](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Demography as Destiny,”** on understanding the links between population trends and world events, with John Rennie Short, geographer, professor emeritus of public policy at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and author of *Demography and the Making of the Modern World: Public Policies and Demographic Forces.* [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/dc-demography-destiny](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/dc-demography-destiny) .] The size of a family doesn’t just affect food and clothing budgets and space needs. If it reflects a broader trend in birth rates, it also can have a profound impact on politics, the economy, and world affairs. Come to Washington D.C.’s Penn Social for a fascinating look at how demographic forces shape the modern world and have driven developments such as the Arab Spring, political unrest in Sri Lanka and Nepal, economic growth in Vietnam and India, the budget crisis in the United States, and the rise of nationalist populism in Europe. Dr. John Rennie Short, who has written several acclaimed books on world trends and gives excellent Profs and Pints talks focused on geopolitical affairs, will break down how various demographic changes can alter nations’ destinies. You’ll learn how baby booms can dampen economic growth, as has occurred in central Africa, and how a “youth bulge” caused by the aging of a baby boom provides tinder for social unrest, as happened in the United States of the 1960s and 1970s and is the case today in Nepal and Sri Lanka. We’ll look at the “demographic dividend” reaped when a youth bulge ages enough to become economically productive and the roles that such dividends played in periods of sustained economic growth in Japan, China, and, most recently, Vietnam. We’ll look at how the aging of a demographic bulge into retirement years can strain national budgets and strengthen the appeal of conservative or populist political movements. You’ll emerge from the talk better equipped to make sense of political and economic developments in the United States and elsewhere around the world. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image by Canva.

Join art teacher Donna Merchant for an evening of step-by-step painting fun as she coaches you through the process of painting a spring cherry blossom landscape painting. Registration recommended. RSVPing on Meetup does not register you for the program. To register, please [click here](https://pwcgov.libnet.info/events?term=donna+merchant&r=range&start=today&end=2030-12-31).

Hey, everyone: So this is going to be a variant of my usual Memorial Day trips (sorry for posting it late). The trip is limited to Saturday, Sunday, and Monday (so no additional time off). We're going to drive up and tackle the AFT, which is 41 miles, but maybe not the toughest trail in our repertoire (chapter 16 in my book). This will be two nights out, so splits like 12/15/12. I'm deliberately trying to keep the miles a little lower and see how my feet do. So, if this trip is for you, join us. I'm going to aim for a trip size of about 10. MM / U-Turn

For some reason I can’t stop thinking about this. I really want to do the whole C&O towpath next year. I just impulse bought all the bike spots on the Floridian 40 to Cumberland at 3:57pm on the Friday of memorial day 2026. As that is almost a year away I will post more about it later but this is just my obsession right now so here is the basic information: * splits are roughly 60/60/60 with a little wiggle room depending on which campsites we go with and how much we do Friday night * the cost of this trip is $53 for your train ticket * for this train, you can just hand your bike fully loaded to the guy at the train luggage car and they will give it back to you at the platform in Cumberland, super easy * I’m making this VMO+previous bike experience, we don’t really have bikepacking levels but you should be confident with basic bike maintenance and have the knowledge, tools and materials to fix a flat tire, fix a broken chain, wrenches for your bike’s nuts and bolts, etc. you should also have a bailout plan in case of emergency since nobody will have a car * you will need a bike that can handle gravel * the tickets are changeable and refundable so you can catch the train at a different spot if it would be more convenient (Alexandria, Rockville) Map (please add any fun side quests or food!): https://caltopo.com/m/0U4NSRV/AAB0T1CNG65HMTAK I can take 4!

**AFROASIS FRIDAYS — GRAND OPENING 🌍🔥** *Every Friday. Starting Now.* *** Free before 11:30PM with RSVP [Click Here To Register NOW](https://AfroasisFridays.eventbrite.com/?aff=AFDCMU) The wait is over. DC's newest weekly Afro-diaspora nightlife experience is officially here — and we're opening the doors for the very first time. **Afroasis Fridays** is not just a party. It's a feeling. A weekly rhythmical escape built for the culture, by the culture — where the city's most stylish, culturally tapped-in crowd comes to move, connect, and celebrate. And tonight? We're just getting started. Step inside **The Oasis at The Continent DC** — and experience something the DMV has never had before. An elevated, late-night sanctuary where the music never stops and the energy only builds. Whether you're celebrating a birthday, a graduation, a promotion, an independence, or just giving yourself the Friday you deserve — this is your spot. Every week. Expect the very best Afro-international DJs in the DMV taking you through the full spectrum — **Afrobeats. Amapiano. Dancehall. Reggaeton. Soca. Kompa. Zouk. Hip Hop.** Trending hits. Timeless classics. No breaks in energy. Just pure rhythm from open to close. And because this isn't just any venue — it's **The Continent DC** — the full experience goes beyond the dance floor. Start your night with an intimate African dining experience in the restaurant before the party pulls you in, or celebrate in style with your crew over authentic African bites and cocktails while the music moves you. It's a full night out, under one roof, with no need to go anywhere else. 🕙 **Free entry before 11:30 PM** 📍 The Oasis at The Continent DC 🗓 Every Friday *Welcome to Afroasis. You've been looking for this.*

This is a moderate circuit hike of 7.6 miles with 1320 feet of elevation gain on trails rich in both history and scenery. Adventuring's very first hike occurred 47 years ago this month, as our Founders ventured out in 1979 to Hoover Camp in the heart of Virginia's Shenandoah National Park. It's an exceptionally scenic spot, where two modest streams (Mill Prong and Laurel Prong) merge to create the Rapidan River. Hoover Camp was originally built by President and Mrs. Herbert Hoover as a mountain hideaway and fishing retreat, a precursor to today's Camp David. Though many of the original structures have disappeared, the President's House (a.k.a. the Brown House) and the Prime Minister's Cabin survive to this day. Our hike will begin at Milam Gap, just south of Big Meadows. We'll have one stream crossing at Big Rock Falls before we reach Hoover Camp, where we'll lunch on or near the porch of the Brown House and then explore the rest of the site. Our return route will first use the Laurel Prong Trail and then the Cat Knob Trail to reach the Appalachian Trail, which will take us back to our cars at Milam Gap. We will decide at the end of the hike whether to enjoy refreshments at the charming New Market Taproom in Big Meadows Lodge or somewhere on the drive home. Total length of this moderate circuit hike will be 7.6 miles with 1320 feet of elevation gain on the return leg. Bring plenty of beverages, lunch, sunscreen, sturdy boots, and $5 for the Adventuring trip fee. On the way to the hike, we'll stop at Sheetz in Warrenton so folks can pick up snacks or lunch. Carpool passengers should pay their drivers $20 (assuming each car has at least one rider with a Park Pass, which is usually the case). Meet at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday morning May 23 in the Kiss & Ride Lot of the East Falls Church Metro Station at North Sycamore and 19th Streets, to your right as Metro riders leave the station's only exit. NEW! 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.

Join us as The Washington Area Roadskaters lead you on a different adventure every week, skating through and around our Nation's Capital! Skate description will be placed here as the route is published. For up to the minute details, check Facebook and Instagram. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WashingtonAreaRoadskaters/events Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weareskatedc/ We hope to see you Sunday!

Who else is ready to sit outside? Join us for a casual chat over coffee & tea at Grandview Grind! Come out and meet some new people, enjoy your favorite drink, and make some new friends!

Join us this Thursday at 6:30 pm for a nice hike along the Big Walnut Trail along the Gahanna golf course, circling Creekside and back. This 2 mile hike is fully paved and a beautiful walk through the heart of Gahanna.

TOPIC (TBD): Meeting Schedule: 1. 6:00 - Introduction, Meet New Members 2. 6:10 - Old Business 3. 6:20 - New Business 4. 6:30 - Pre-Shoot Briefing/Education 5. 7:15 - Break 6. 7:30 - Image Critique 7. 8:00 - Adjourn Pre-Shoot Brief/Education: NIK Collection 8 Image Critique: Previous Photoshoot Images (iPhone images and Christmas Cards). If anyone has images they would like critiqued, please provide them at the beginning of the meeting. Providing Images for Critique: For now, I will collect images at the beginning of the meeting on a USB memory stick. My computer has USB-C ports, so a USB-C memory stick or one with dual (USB-C / USB-A) ports will be needed. Images should follow these format rules: JPG - 80% quality or higher 132 dpi resolution 2048 pixels across the long edge Embedded colorspace - sRGB

**Welcome to Drunken Philosophy** a casual, curious social discussion **Optional topic for this meetup: What's up with all the AI hate?** A recent survey found that 74% of Americans have a negative view of AI, and I want to know why. Come out and debate whether AI is good or bad. My hot take: a labor-saving tool that could potentially help cure cancer gets called dangerous because it might raise unemployment or cause a speculative investment bubble, that tells you a lot more about capitalism and the economic system we live under than it does about the tool itself. As a computer programmer, I think AI is a wonderful tool that has increased my productivity by at least an order of magnitude. I'd go so far as to say Claude Code is the best tool I have ever used. Debate me and name a better one. Is AI potentially dangerous? Yes, but so are a lot of tools. Chainsaws. Steam engines (early ones would occasionally explode and kill everyone in the room). Do you think cavemen sat around debating whether fire could be used as a weapon or for self-harm, and decided not to discover it? I have two friends who hate AI for opposite reasons: one thinks it's a fad and not useful, and the other thinks it's going to take over everything and cause human extinction. Come out tonight, have a friendly debate, and make some friends. No lectures. Friendly crowd. Drop in for one drink and stay if it's fun.

**History** The history of [Blendon Woods Metro Park](https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/blendon-woods/) began long before its 1951 opening, rooted in a landscape of rugged ridges and deep ravines that made the land unsuitable for traditional farming. In 1945, a report proposing a metropolitan park system for Franklin County specifically highlighted these cliffs of Bedford Shale as some of the "wildest land in the vicinity". Following this recommendation, the recently formed park district purchased the first 229 acres in early 1949. Because the terrain was so uneven, developers had to cut a mile-and-a-half-long roadway through dense woods just to bring in heavy equipment. This initial preservation effort ensured that the mature second-growth hardwood forests remained largely untouched by the urban expansion spreading toward Westerville. Opening day arrived on Labor Day, September 3, 1951, marking Blendon Woods as the second park in the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks system. The final push to open was a frantic race; the State Highway Department only finished the primary gravel access road four days before the gates opened. Early staff members, consisting of just four full-time employees, had to hand-dig pit toilets and learn construction skills on the fly to build the first picnic shelters. Despite the dusty conditions and limited facilities, the park was an immediate success, drawing massive crowds from across Central Ohio. By the end of the 1950s, annual visitation had already climbed to over 190,000 people. As the surrounding suburbs grew in the 1960s, the park faced severe overcrowding that threatened its natural habitats. In response, Franklin County voters passed the first Metro Parks levy in 1960, providing the funds necessary for a decade of steady expansion. During this era, the park nearly doubled in size, growing from 264 acres to over 570 acres by 1968. Planners also addressed a critical water shortage by collaborating with the U.S. Soil and Conservation Service to build a lake in 1964. This body of water originally served as a temporary reservoir before its role shifted toward conservation and wildlife support. The 1970s marked a transition toward the specialized wildlife and educational focus for which the park is known today. In 1971, the Walden Waterfowl Refuge was established around the 11-acre Thoreau Lake, creating a sanctuary that remains restricted to provide a quiet habitat for migratory birds. A formal nature center was also developed during this period, expanding on the guided Sunday walks that had been a park staple since the early 1950s. The park’s famous "Monarch Mansion" also became a prominent fixture, starting a long tradition of raising and releasing thousands of monarch butterflies each September. These initiatives cemented the park’s reputation as a premier destination for birders and nature enthusiasts. In more recent decades, Blendon Woods has continued to modernize while maintaining its wilderness character. The 10-acre Natural Play Area was added in 2017, encouraging kids to explore the ravines and woods off-trail. This was followed by the opening of a $1.5 million inclusive playground in April 2025, designed to accommodate children of all physical abilities. The nature center also underwent major renovations to include immersive, three-dimensional exhibits and a new butterfly house. Today, the park encompasses 653 acres, preserving a unique geologic and biological corridor amidst the bustling Westerville and Northeast Columbus area. **Map of the Park** Here is a map of [Blendon Woods](https://www.metroparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/BLN_map_Inclusive-Playground-and-Butterfly-Trail_May-2025_1980px.png). **Summary** For this event, we will hike the Lake View, Hickory Ridge, Ripple Rock, Overlook, Brookside, and Sugarbush Trails. This sounds like a lot, but it will really be only a little over five miles. Blendon Woods has a few hills here and there, but it's not one of the more strenuous metro parks. **Where We'll Meet** We'll meet just in front of the Nature Center. This is about a mile into the park from the main entrance. You have to go past the Ranger Station and the Shadblow Reservable Area to get to it, so don't stop too early at the Ranger Station and get it confused with the Nature Center. **After the Hike** Afterward, we will head over to [Forbidden Root Restaurant & Brewery](https://forbiddenroot.com/restaurants/columbus-ohio/) at Easton for [drinks](https://forbiddenroot.com/restaurants/columbus-ohio/#dinner-menu) and [food](https://forbiddenroot.com/wp-content/uploads/Cbus-Food.pdf). We should be there by 5 if you can't make the hike and just want to join us for drinks. The brewery's actual address is [4080 Worth Ave, Columbus, OH 43219](https://www.google.com/maps/place/4080+Worth+Ave,+Columbus,+OH+43219/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x88388a86d10b6619:0x4d42b470a5cf11d3?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111); however, I recommend pointing your GPS to the [Worth Garage](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Worth+Garage/@40.0542293,-82.9137962,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x88388b4df6082825:0x17582f0eccd9dda1!8m2!3d40.0542293!4d-82.9137962!16s%2Fg%2F11rzfvvv8b?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDQxNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) across the street. Parking in this garage is free as long as you're not on the first floor, and it is literally right next to the brewery.