Kanban

• What we'll do Economist William Michael Cunningham on Podbeam Thursdays at 6 pm. https://www.podbean.com/

Let's check out the Washington and Arlington Blvd trails **Route:** * Start at Pentagon City Metro Station * Walk along South Hayes St * Take left on Army-Navy Drive * Turn right onto S Joyce Street * Turn left onto Columbia Pike * Take right onto Washington Blvd. Trail * Merge onto Arlington Blvd. Trail * Turn left onto N Rhodes Street * Turn left onto 14th street * Continue onto 15th street * Take left onto Clarendon Blvd. * Merge onto Fairfax Drive * End at Ballston Metro Station **Millage:** 5.5 miles **Start Location:** Pentagon City Metro Station **End Location:** Ballston Metro Station **Directions:** https://maps.app.goo.gl/MyfsmmsQNtH1JVSQ6 **Time:** 5:30PM-7:30PM **Terrain:** This will be moderately hilly (344 ft elevation gain), on paved or gravel ground \-\-\- We try to be punctual with our event times so please be respectful to others and show up a few minutes early, because we will leave without you.

Artistic Artifacts hosts **Open Stitch sessions on the first and third Thursday evenings** from 5:30 - 7:30 pm — join us! This is a drop-in, bring your own hand stitching project and the necessary supplies (or you can knit, crochet... whatever needle arts you like). There’s no fee to attend, no instruction nor agenda — just a time to spend with other creatives! Visit our website for all other class & event information: **[https://artisticartifacts.com/collections/wk](https://artisticartifacts.com/collections/wk)**

This is a last-minute hike as I've been waiting to see if the snowcrete along a portion of the walk is still present. As of Tuesday morning, a bit of it is. But we're expecting temps near 50 Tuesday and Wednesday so we should be OK. I have a Plan B if need be. Because this is a last-minute stroll rather than a walk-in-the-woods hike, I'm not sure how many will be interested. If there's insufficient interest, I'll cancel. Watch the website and your email for any updates. This is Columbia urban, not big city urban. Although Maryland has no natural lakes there are three human-made lakes in the Columbia area. We will circumambulate two of these: Wilde Lake and Lake Kittimaqundi. This will be an opportunity for those anxious to get outdoors after all the snow and cold. This is a figure-8 hike. The first loop is about 3 1/2 miles and the second loop (actuallly, it's an out-and-back because of construction) about two miles. You can call it a day after the first loop if you like as we'll be near parking. Our walking speed will be about 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 mph. Temps when we finish will be around 40 degrees with moderate winds will be brisk and overcast skies. We will be walking on sidewalks and paved trails. There are no stream crossings and a few modest rises, not hills as such. After completing the second loop, we'll repair to Whole Foods for an optional lunch OR we can have a lake-side brown bag lunch. Reply in the comments section if you have a preference. Whole Foods has a wide selection of ready-made meals-to-go. Here's a link: https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/columbia-md We'll meet near the entrance to Whole Foods 10275 Little Patuxent Parkway, 39.2141, -76.8570. Look for people with backpacks and/or hiking poles. I'll try to remember my neon-yellow cap. We will step off at the location shown on the map below. Note that we do not wait for late comers so please plan ahead. By registering for this hike, you agree to the following waiver of liability: *** “I am aware of the risks inherent in outdoor activities. Therefore, I will be responsible for my own well-being while participating in the activities of the Mountain Club of Maryland, and while traveling to and from these activities. I agree that the Mountian Club of Meetup Group, its officers, representatives, and trip leaders are not liable individually or collectively for any injury, disease, sickness, loss, or damage to my person or property, direct or consequential, arising out of the activities of the Group. Neither I nor anyone in my household is currently in quarantine, is awaiting the results of a corona-virus test, or has a fever, or any flu-like symptoms.” Come hike with us! It's good for your heart and good for your soul.

Come connect with founders across the DC startup community at our monthly Startup Grind DC Founders Dinner. This month, we’re spotlighting HealthTech & Wellness founders—but all founders are welcome to join us for complimentary appetizers and great conversation. Quick heads-up: Your ticket includes event access and appetizers. Entrées and drinks will be on individual tabs. We’re also looking for sponsors who want to support the DC founder community. Whether that’s hosting the event, covering food, or contributing financially, sponsors get the opportunity to connect directly with founders, receive shoutouts in our promotions, speak at events, and reach our 10,000+ pre-seed to Series A founders across the DMV. Agenda --- Hosted By Mia Orantes, Chapter Director I'm a dynamic speaker, angel investor, serial entrepreneur, the host of the celebrated Founders Only podcast, and the CEO & founder of the award-winning agency that automates online growth and profitability engines, Creative Analytics. As a lifelong entrepreneur, I am devoted to serving founders by showing them the road map for rapid online growth and helping them navigate that journey. A native Washingtonian, I hold several designations, including a PMI-certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification, an MBA & MS in Information Technology with a concentration in Project Management, and an in-progress certificate in Digital Transformation & AI from Cornell University. --- Global Partner Carta (http://www.carta.com/launch?utm_campaign=20240423-nam-general-smb-startup_grind_partnership&utm_medium=social&utm_source=startup_grind) Carta helps people manage equity, build businesses, and invest in the companies of tomorrow. Carta Launch is the only free cap table product, helping new founders get started. The company is trusted by more than 40,000 companies, over 7,000 funds and SPVs, and over two million equity holders to manage cap tables, compensation, valuations, liquidity, and more. For more information, visit carta.com. Startup Grind is a global startup community designed to educate, inspire, and connect entrepreneurs. We host monthly events in more than 600 cities and 125+ countries featuring successful local founders, innovators, educators and investors who share personal stories and lessons learned on the road to building great companies. Our monthly fireside chat interviews, startup mixers and annual conferences provide ample opportunities to connect with amazing startups and the people behind them, tap into a strong support network, form meaningful connections and gain inspiration for the startup journey ahead. For more information visit StartupGrind.com or follow us on twitter @StartupGrind. --- Complete your event RSVP here: https://www.startupgrind.com/events/details/startup-grind-washington-dc-presents-february-2026-founders-dinner/.

Join us for the Graduation of the latest Penn West Founder Institute Cohort, where you can see an inspiring talk by a Keynote Speaker and great pitches from the new Alumni. Learn about some of the companies that will go onto seed-accelerators, raise funding, and build the next great Penn West startups in DC. Hear brilliant founders in EdTech, HealthTech, FinTech, PropTech, LegalTech, Blockchain, AI and more... There will also be an opportunity to network with other entrepreneurs and celebrate the new Graduates. **❯ Featuring:** * Vikram Dhawan (Founder & CEO, KnoetiK Solutions Inc.) * Kuzeyhan Ozdemir (Lean Startup Mentor, Founder Institute) * Guc Ozenci (Program Director, FI Washington DC) * Andres Jordan (Founder, Factor6, LLC) * Elena Sterlin (Founder, Live Long Life) * Ufuk Demirci (Global Head, Venture Funds, IFC) **❯ Who Should Attend?** This is an essential event for investors, policy makers, economic development leaders, and anyone interested in the thriving startup ecosystem in Washington, D.C. Whether you are looking to discover new investment opportunities, engage with top entrepreneurs, or connect with industry leaders, the *Land & Launch* graduation is the perfect place to network and gain insights into the future of innovation and business in the region. **❯❯ This is an in-person event, so be sure to RSVP at [https://fi.co/e/388245/meetup](https://fi.co/e/388245/meetup) to secure your spot and receive further details.** \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **About Penn West and the Accelerator** The *Penn West Land & Launch Accelerator* was designed in partnership with Founder Institute to support high-potential companies from both tech and non-tech sectors. Over the course of the 14-week accelerator, these companies have received specialized support in venture-building, business development, legal and regulatory preparation, and market entry strategies. The accelerator culminates in a dynamic showcase of these startups ready to expand their operations and make their mark on the D.C. market. **About Founder Institute:** The [Founder Institute](https://fi.co/) is the world’s most proven network to turn ideas into fundable startups, and startups into global businesses. Since 2009, our structured accelerator programs have helped over 8,900 entrepreneurs raise over 2BN in funding. Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 100 countries, our mission is to empower communities of talented and motivated people to build impactful technology companies worldwide. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **❯❯ This is an in-person event, so be sure to RSVP at [https://fi.co/e/388245/meetup](https://fi.co/e/388245/meetup) to secure your spot and receive further details.**

On https://blackecon101.podbean.com/ Thursdays at 6 pm. discussing the economy...and Black people.

**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. **FROM FRAGMENT TO FORM - AN OPEN AI STUDIO** Many creative ideas don't arrive as "projects." They arrive as fragments, moods, or something that won't leave you alone. This open studio is a place to gently explore those fragments using AI as a thinking partner—without forcing clarity too soon. You're welcome to work, observe, arrive late, or leave early. This is a calm room for unfinished ideas. **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.*)**

**Joyful Mind Zendo** is happy to invite you to our **first film night** screening the Wim Wenders Oscar nominated film, **Perfect Days**. **Details:** * Come at **6:00 PM** to the **basement Zendo (back door)** to help set up. * Bring pizza, popcorn, dips, or beverages to share. * The screening will begin promptly at **6:30 PM**. * The films running time is 2hrs 4min, and will be followed by a short break and discussion. * Our evening will end by 9:30 PM. * Here is the [trailer](https://youtu.be/QzZBbX5A1FA?si=zTjQF8_t4oDzz3pd). * **See you soon and invite a friend!** | | | --- | | Perfect Days follows Hirayama, a middle-aged man living a life of humble simplicity in Tokyo. His days are governed by a meticulous routine: he wakes at dawn to the sound of a street sweeper, tends to his maple saplings, and drives his small van through the city to his job cleaning public toilets. Despite the seemingly lowly nature of his work, Hirayama performs his duties with the grace and precision of a master craftsman, finding deep contentment in the order and service he provides. | The core of Perfect Days is a celebration of presence and the dignity of labor\. Director Wim Wenders suggests that a meaningful life is not found in grand ambitions or material wealth\, but in the intentional appreciation of the here and now\. The film posits that true freedom comes from accepting life's limitations and finding 'perfection' in the subtle\, fleeting moments of harmony between humanity and nature\, encapsulated in the Japanese concept of Komerobi\. \|

In a Family Constellation workshop, your inner landscape is brought out of abstraction and into a living form. Rather than staying trapped in the loop of mental analysis, your issue is externally mapped into physical space, allowing you to see it as a three-dimensional field of relationships, forces, and movements. This spatialization creates an immediate, intuitive grasp of dynamics that are often invisible when held only inside the mind. As representatives embody elements of your system, unconscious material begins to speak through sensation, posture, emotion, and impulse—revealing hidden loyalties, interrupted bonds, and frozen patterns. What emerges is not a story about the problem, but a direct encounter with its structure. Family Constellation work operates as a post-modern, neo-shamanic ritual technology—an energetic container that the ancient layers of the psyche recognize and respond to. It bypasses excessive verbal processing and speaks in the language of image, body, and field, often landing with a depth and impact beyond talk therapy alone. This modality doesn’t just uncover wounds; it reconnects you to inner resources—strength, belonging, dignity, ancestral support—that were always present but obscured. From this place, genuine movement becomes possible. The work tends to feel less like “fixing” and more like remembering who and what you already are, creating conditions for profound healing, clarity, and moving forward. Randy Goldberg, LMT is a graduate of the DC Hellinger Institute, and of advanced studies in Family Constellation with Heinz Stark of Germany. He is a former Yoga monk, Craniosacral therapist, and a world-renowned astrologer (both Western and Vedic) interviewed by the Washington Post, NPR, and CNN. He has facilitated Family Constellation therapy for individuals and groups for more than 20 years. More information at www.randygoldberg.org ; 202-380-6850 or randygoldberg.org@gmail.com Febuary 21st Saturday 1-5pm at the TEAL Center in Arlington VA $65 4001 9th Street North, Suite 230 Arlington, VA 22203 To register, go to https://www.wellnessliving.com/rs/event/teal_center?k_class=870820

We'll meet at 6 pm outside the Bethesda Metro Station at the intersection of Wisconsin Ave and Old Georgetown Road. We'll walk south along the Capitol Crescent Trail for a couple miles and then return the same route. Total distance is about 4 miles and will take about 90 minutes.

# **Unlocking Flow: Aligning with Your Natural Rhythm** ### **Step into ease, creativity, and conscious momentum.** Flow is the state where effort meets ease, and time seems to dissolve. This workshop explores how to access and sustain flow in your daily life by aligning with your natural rhythms, mentally, emotionally, and energetically. Through movement, breathwork, and mindful awareness, you'll learn how to cultivate flow states that support creativity, productivity, and spiritual alignment. **Key Takeaways:** * Understand the science and spirituality of flow states * Identify your personal rhythm and energy cycles * Learn practices to enter and sustain flow * Enhance creativity, focus, and inner harmony Saturday, Feb. 21st, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm. Held at Meditation Museum, 9525 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD Free Event – Register at: [https://shorturl.at/6wKXS](https://shorturl.at/6wKXS)

Join other experienced and aspiring agile coaches and professionals to: * develop and practice your coaching skills in a peer-to-peer environment * share current successes and challenges in your work environment and get support from each other * learn from each other, build better relationships and experiment with new ideas

Hike approx 4.0 miles at approx. 18 minute mile pace. Meet in front of the Nature Center.

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 You will need to scan your ID at the door to get a visitor badge. **Abstract** *Spec-Driven Development with GitHub Spec-Kit: From Intent to Implementation* Spec-driven development flips the traditional workflow on its head: instead of code being the source of truth, the specification becomes the backbone of design, collaboration, and delivery. In this session, we’ll explore how GitHub Spec-Kit enables teams to treat specifications as first-class artifacts—living documents that drive architecture, implementation, and verification. You’ll learn how Spec-Kit helps teams clearly express intent using structured, version-controlled specs that live alongside code. We’ll walk through a practical workflow that starts with defining system behavior and constraints, then progressively refines those specs into testable, automatable outcomes. Along the way, we’ll show how specs can reduce ambiguity, improve cross-functional collaboration, and make design decisions explicit before a single line of production code is written. This talk will cover: --What spec-driven development is (and what it isn’t) --How GitHub Spec-Kit fits into modern developer workflows --Using specs to align product, engineering, and AI-assisted development --Real-world examples of turning specs into implementations with confidence Whether you’re building greenfield systems, integrating AI into your stack, or trying to reduce costly rework, spec-driven development offers a scalable way to move faster without sacrificing clarity. Attendees will leave with concrete patterns and a clear mental model for adopting GitHub Spec-Kit in their own projects. **YouTube Link** TBA

We will meet next to the restrooms at the [Big Meadows Picnic Area](https://www.metroparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/HBK_Web_1980.png). They're all the way at the back of the park, and they can be found at coordinates [40°09'06.6"N 83°02'30.2"W](https://www.google.com/maps/place/40%C2%B009'06.6%22N+83%C2%B002'30.2%22W/@40.151828,-83.0423587,214m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m10!1m5!3m4!2zNDDCsDA5JzA4LjAiTiA4M8KwMDEnNDUuMSJX!8m2!3d40.1522222!4d-83.0291944!3m3!8m2!3d40.151827!4d-83.041715?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTIwNC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) (near the playground and the zip line). We'll hike about 5 miles at [Highbanks Metro Park](https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/highbanks/) on the Dripping Rock and Overlook Trails. Afterward, we'll head over to [Olentangy River Brewing](https://www.olentangybrew.com/) for drinks, coffee, or food (their Sunday [food truck](https://www.olentangybrew.com/eventsandfood) is Venezuelan and always gets good reviews). The actual address of the brewery is [303 Green Meadows Dr S, 43035](https://www.google.com/maps/place/303+Green+Meadows+Dr+S,+Lewis+Center,+OH+43035/@40.1551938,-83.0144045,17.25z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x8838f395cef06c97:0xe407de61b3e30069!8m2!3d40.1551765!4d-83.0124352!16s%2Fg%2F11c26jc7j9?entry=ttu). If you can't make the hike, we should be there by noon. **How to find our starting point in Big Meadows:** If you are new to Highbanks, the Big Meadows picnic area is 1.5 miles into the park just after you turn into the park off of U.S. Route 23. That is, after you enter the park, drive a mile and a half into the park. You will come to a crosswalk with a yield sign in the middle of it (this is not to be confused with the first such crosswalk you come to just in front of the Nature Center, which you arrive at maybe a quarter of a mile into the park). Just after this second crosswalk, make a left. Then make another almost immediate left into the parking lot on your left. There you will see the jungle gym and the kiddie zip line to your left. I will be just in front of the restrooms just a bit further down from the jungle gym and picnic shelter; the restroom building will also be on your left.

Please join the Columbus Atlassian Events Team for an evening program where we show you how we are using the Atlassian tools to track, manage and collaborate with others on our hobbies, From Jira & Confluence and Lego, to Tabletop gaming and Trello to miniature painting and Jira. Join the Columbus Atlassian leaders as they walk you through how the Atlassian tools enhance their passion projects.   We'll go over space structures, lessons learned as we built and tracked our project and how it helped us organize group adventures.   Looking forward to sharing our fun with you!Please take note of the New Location and Time of the event. Pay Parking can be found on street, and in locations marked. Agenda --- Speakers Kimberly Deal - Columbus Atlassian User Group Leader Greg Sprowls - Columbus Atlassian Community Leader Kevin Stanley - Columbus Atlassian User Group Leader Moderators Kimberly Deal - Columbus Atlassian User Group Leader Greg Sprowls - Columbus Atlassian Community Leader Kevin Stanley - Columbus Atlassian User Group Leader Hosted By Kimberly Deal, Atlassian User Group Leader Kevin Stanley, Chief Everything Greg Sprowls, Agility Lead --- Global Partner Atlassian (http://atlassian.com) Millions of users globally rely on Atlassian products every day for improving software development, project management, collaboration, and code quality. For over a decade, Atlassian customers have come together to network, share ideas, solve problems, and find new ways to use Atlassian products. Today, more than 15,000 people take part in Atlassian community events in more than 30 countries. --- Complete your event RSVP here: https://ace.atlassian.com/events/details/atlassian-columbus-presents-for-the-love-of-atlassian-using-atlassian-to-manage-your-passion-projects/.

Come chat about Atlassian tools and best practices at the Reynoldsburg Sunny Street Cafe and Breakfast is on Atlassian! Let's get the day started off with breakfast with your ACE Leaders! We're always excited to talk about Atlassian Products, share our knowledge and hand out swag! Come chat with us about new product news and anything you are working on within the Atlassian product stack. This is a great opportunity to come see what we are all about, hear new business news and share with other Atlassian users your questions and experiences. We'd love to see new and old friends come out to chat and learn about Atlassian! Agenda --- Moderators Kimberly Deal - Columbus Atlassian User Group Leader Kevin Stanley - Columbus Atlassian User Group Leader Greg Sprowls - Columbus Atlassian Community Leader Hosted By Kimberly Deal, Atlassian User Group Leader Kevin Stanley, Chief Everything Greg Sprowls, Agility Lead --- Global Partner Atlassian (http://atlassian.com) Millions of users globally rely on Atlassian products every day for improving software development, project management, collaboration, and code quality. Partner Atlassian --- For over a decade, Atlassian customers have come together to network, share ideas, solve problems, and find new ways to use Atlassian products. Today, more than 15,000 people take part in Atlassian community events in more than 30 countries. --- Complete your event RSVP here: https://ace.atlassian.com/events/details/atlassian-columbus-presents-rise-and-shine-with-atlassian-reynoldsburg-4/.