Learning About Wines Around the World

We invite you to an engaging evening of wine, cheese and lively conversation around NYT Editor's Choice ***All The Worst Humans: How I Made News for Dictators, Tycoons, and Politicians,*** a bridge-burning, riotous memoir by Phil Elwood, a top PR operative in Washington who exposes the secrets of the $129-billion industry that controls so much of what we see and hear in the media—from a man who used to pull the strings, and who is now pulling back the curtain. **From Goodreads:** After nearly two decades in the Washington PR business, Elwood wants to come clean, by exposing the dark underbelly of the very industry that’s made him so successful. The first step is revealing exactly what he’s been up to for the past twenty years—and it isn’t pretty. Elwood has worked for a murderer’s row of questionable clients, including Gaddafi, Assad, and the government of Qatar. In *All the Worst Humans*, Elwood unveils how the PR business works, and how the truth gets made, spun, and sold to the public—not shying away from the gritty details of his unlikely career. This is a piercing look into the corridors of money, power, politics, and control, all told in Elwood’s disarmingly funny and entertaining voice. He recounts a four-day Las Vegas bacchanal with a dictator’s son, plotting communications strategies against a terrorist organization in Western Africa, and helping to land a Middle Eastern dictator’s wife a glowing profile in Vogue on the same time the Arab Spring broke out. And he reveals all his slippery tricks for seducing journalists in order to create chaos and ultimately cover for politicians, dictators, and spies—the industry-secret tactics that led to his rise as a political PR pro. Along the way, Phil walks the halls of the Capitol, rides in armored cars through Abuja, and watches his client lose his annual income at the roulette table. But as he moved up the ranks, he felt worse and worse about the sleaziness of it all—until Elwood receives a shocking wake-up call from the FBI. This risky game nearly cost Elwood his life and his freedom. Seeing the light, Elwood decides to change his ways, and his clients, and to tell the full truth about who is the worst human. As always, please feel free to join even if you have not finished the book - no stress :-) All attendees are asked to please bring one of the following: 1. A bottle of wine 2. Cheese and Crackers 3. An alternate beverage or nosh of your choice Host will provide glasses, wine opener, plates & napkins. To enhance the opportunity for great conversation, we would like to keep the group small. Please feel free to sign-up to meet us along with up to 2 friends. 📚 Exciting Updates for 2026 Book Club! 📚 Starting in January 2026, we’ll be implementing a new system for book recommendations that will make our reading selections even more collaborative and engaging! **Book Recommendations:** From January through October, members can submit book recommendations at each meeting, via email, text or Meetup DM. All suggestions will be added to a shared Google Sheet, which will include links to Goodreads and other pertinent information for each book. [LINK to 2027 BOOK LIST](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18AC_FH9bGGxyH6v7Rw36EvPtKtVl5e_N/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=102804280893316002961&rtpof=true&sd=true) **Voting for 2027 Reads:** Our voting for next year’s book selections will take place during the November 2026 meeting. Members in attendance will have the opportunity to cast 12 votes for their favorite picks. If you’re unable to attend the November meeting, you can still participate! Simply submit 6 votes via email, text, or DM through Meetup before the start of the November meeting. **Announcement of Selections:** The chosen books for 2027 will be revealed at the end of the November meeting. We’re excited about this new process and can’t wait to see the amazing book recommendations you all have! 📖✨ PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE COMMITTED TO ATTEND WHEN YOU RSVP FOR THIS EVENT. We ask that ALL folks honor their RSVP. If you are unable to attend after sending in a YES, please update your status so that others may join us. In the event you do not communicate and are a no-show, your ability to RSVP for future events will be restricted. Thank you in advance for your understanding. If you are unable to join us in June, we hope you'll remain interested and join us for an evening in the future. Looking forward to wine & cheese with you soon - happy reading!

Mama Lucia's in Rockville has half-priced bottles of wine on Weds. They also have the best pizza and my favorite type (NYC-style). They have great pasta dishes too. If it's nice, we can sit outside. Great view of the parking lot. LOL Have a look at their menu: [Mamma Lucia Menu | Order Pizza, Pasta Online Delivery & Pickup](https://mammaluciarestaurants.com/menu/) Please pay $2 via Venmo to @DIANNEE-GODAR for this event or I will have to remove you from the guest list. Thank you All aboard mates!

Whether you’re new to modern games, or a seasoned gamer, our new Boards & Barrels game night is the place to play. We’re pairing the best wines with new and classic games for an evening of analog fun and community. Choose from our growing game library or bring a favorite. *Unplug. Uncork. Unbox.* **Every Wednesday 6 pm - 9 pm**

**Trivia Night is Back!** Congratulations to our team last week at Celtic House (Fernando, Scott, Eileen and myself). We won first place so we are going back to Celtic House this week for Wednesday night trivia! The game starts later here, at 8:00 pm. Please arrive by 7:30. Right now we are planning on just one team. If we get enough signed up on the waitlist, we may open it up to two teams. **Please remember, if you sign up, we are counting on you to be part of the team!** If you realize you can’t make it, please change your rsvp early enough so someone on the waitlist can take your place. Spots are limited, we can only have 7 players. This is a great chance to connect, have some fun, and show off our smarts. Come for the fun, stay for the friendly competition- let's show everyone how SSB does trivia!

New to practicing? Interested in mythology and pagan practices? Join Carmilla in her new series tackling different deities from pantheons all around the world. Each class will focus on one deity, their correspondences, portfolios, stories, and worship. Deity work can be challenging and difficult to research, but in this class we offer facts and fun while discovering a new potential ally. Taught by Carmilla Harker, also known for her herbology, dark magic, and history classes at Sticks and Stones. She has been practicing witchcraft for six years and counting. She has her degree in art history and a fascination with the occult to tackle the fascinating world of belief and deitywork. Bring a notebook/pencil! Fee: $25 No admittance under age 18.

Come watch the World Cup hosts, Canada, take on [Switzerland on](https://www.volosports.com/d/ccd51ed5-5885-4e06-ac61-f4292afa01f3) **[Wednesday, June 24th at 3pm at Wunder Garten](https://www.volosports.com/d/ccd51ed5-5885-4e06-ac61-f4292afa01f3).** **What you can expect:** Great soccer and vibes 🍺 **2 Free Anheuser-Busch products** i.e. Michelob Ultra, NUTRL, Bud Light, Budweiser **Limited edition World Cup merchandise for giveaway and raffle** 🔥 Exclusive, soccer themed Volo Pass swag (Members Only, [sign up here](https://www.volosports.com/volo-pass)) Bring your friends, wear your Switzerland or Canada gear, and come ready to celebrate, cheer, and enjoy the game together! Note: General admission and entry to Wunder Garten is free, but the immersive Volo experience and perks are available only this registration.

Our inaugural event was small but successful, so we'll be doing it again--this time with more notice. Once again, the event will be held in my apartment building, The Edmund, which is located directly above the Wegmans in Reston. Wegmans offers free parking, so park there and walk around the building to the lobby of the apartment complex, where I'll greet everyone and bring us all up to the fourth floor. (The elevator is access controlled, so we'll go up together.) Just bring a bottle of wine and however many cups you want to use to sample everyone else's wines. (There's a sink to wash out the cups.) Also, Meetup charges organizers (meaning me) $180 every six months, so please bring $1 to help defray this cost. Hope this massive sum doesn't break the bank. :-) Depending on the weather and what everyone is in favor of, we'll either meet in a big room or in a courtyard. (They're both on the same floor.) We'll decide once we're upstairs. Can't wait to meet you all!

New to tennis? Welcome — this is exactly where to start. This clinic is designed for **adult beginners** who are stepping onto the court for the first time (or returning after a long break) and want to build real skills from the ground up. Sessions are led by **Coach Yiran**, a former nationally ranked junior (No. 89 in the US 16s), collegiate player at Carnegie Mellon University, and current NTRP 5.0C on USTA record and Coach **Shawn**, USTA 4.5 player with PTR L1 certified. Coach Yiran's teaching philosophy is built on **efficiency and clarity** — no overwhelming technical jargon, just clean fundamentals that actually stick. You'll learn how to move, how to hit, and how to think on the court from day one. Expect a supportive, structured environment where every drill has a purpose and every session builds on the last. Whether you've never held a racket or just need a proper foundation, this is your starting point. We have two adult beginner lesson this Sunday, 8:00AM- 9:30AM, price are all 45$ for 1.5 hour. Please choose the series you are interested in and text me for any questions. I will send the court details 30 minutes before the course starts.

Venez apprécier l'ambiance chaleureuse d'une conversation en français autour d'un verre de vin et d'apéritifs. C'est ouvert à tous quelque soit votre niveau, que vous soyez intermédiaire/avancé ou bien que le Français soit votre langue maternelle. ***GRAB A DRINK AND YOU WILL BE ALL SET TO FLEX YOUR LANGUAGE CAPACITY. YOU NEED TO GET AT LEAST A DRINK OR FOOD :) To get the event going and show support. We know that you like our events. P.S. : We have non-alcoholic drinks as well.*** We have a tiny venue and we hit capacity often and early arrival is suggested. We have the discretion to decide entry. It is irresistible, to enjoy French convo with a glass of wine, appetizers and drinks. The Event is open to all levels of French language, from intermediate to native fluency. This is mainly a social for Intermediate/Advanced/Native Speakers. It is not as such to learn a language. Beginners, if you want to learn a language, reach out to us ([info@merevents.com](http://info@merevents.com/)). We have a school and will arrange you a class. ***AFTER THE HAPPY HOUR, WE HIT THE DANCE FLOOR! BRING YOUR DANCING SHOES, WE WILL DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY!***

Venez apprécier l'ambiance chaleureuse d'une conversation en français autour d'un verre de vin et d'apéritifs. C'est ouvert à tous quelque soit votre niveau, que vous soyez intermédiaire/avancé ou bien que le Français soit votre langue maternelle. ***GRAB A DRINK AND YOU WILL BE ALL SET TO FLEX YOUR LANGUAGE CAPACITY. YOU NEED TO GET AT LEAST A DRINK OR FOOD :) To get the event going and show support. We know that you like our events. P.S. : We have non-alcoholic drinks as well.*** We have a tiny venue and we hit capacity often and early arrival is suggested. We have the discretion to decide entry. It is irresistible, to enjoy French convo with a glass of wine, appetizers and drinks. The Event is open to all levels of French language, from intermediate to native fluency. This is mainly a social for Intermediate/Advanced/Native Speakers. It is not as such to learn a language. Beginners, if you want to learn a language, reach out to us ([info@merevents.com](http://info@merevents.com/)). We have a school and will arrange you a class. ***AFTER THE HAPPY HOUR, WE HIT THE DANCE FLOOR! BRING YOUR DANCING SHOES, WE WILL DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY!***

1 Jun 26 update: adjusting the date to 28 June. Hope you can make it. It's a surprisingly quick read, given the length, and, as always, please feel free to come out, even if you don't finish it in time.

Join us to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group A match between South Korea and South Africa at Walter's Sports Bar & Restaurant in Washington, DC. Whether you're a fan of South Korea, South Africa, international soccer, or the FIFA World Cup, come enjoy the match with fellow supporters in a fun atmosphere. 📅 Match: South Korea vs. South Africa ⚽ Event: FIFA World Cup 2026 – Group A 📍 Location: Walter's Sports Bar & Restaurant, Washington, DC 🕣 Meetup Time: 8:30 PM 🕘 Kickoff: 9:00 PM All soccer fans are welcome. Come cheer, watch the game, and meet other World Cup supporters in the DC area!

An evening of wit, wine, and a little friendly competition. Join us for **Trivia Night at Divino**, where Northern Italian flavors set the stage for a lively night of questions, laughter, and prizes. Bring your sharpest friends, enjoy housemade pasta and curated wines, and see who leaves crowned champion. FREE PARKING GARAGE

A refined evening of high quality Sauvignon Blanc from Around the World and Seafood. There will be Six selections. Cost will about $40-$50, depending on the wines, to be paid prior to attending. Wines will be served single blind format. Guests will bring a seafood entree. Resort wear, please. This will be a couples focused event at a residence in Dublin, although singles are welcomed; pair up with someone for your entree. Details, wine selections, payment mechanism, and other details to follow. Sancerre Bordeaux New Zealand California Italy TBD Sauvignon Blanc is grown in nearly every major wine-producing region, with each area highlighting a different side of the grape: * **Loire Valley, France –** Elegant and restrained, with high acidity, citrus flavors, and flinty minerality. * **Bordeaux, France –** Often blended with Sémillon to add texture, weight, and aging potential. * **New Zealand –** Bold and aromatic, featuring grapefruit, passionfruit, and fresh herbal notes. * **California –** Ranges from lean, stainless-steel styles to richer wines with subtle oak influence. * **Italy & Other Cool European Regions –** Focused on balance, freshness, and food-friendly structure rather than overt fruit.

This is "***New Members Night***." If you are one of the many folks on the fence about coming to your first wine tasting with the *Hilliard Wine Club*, this is the night to come. There will be many other new people, so you won't be alone. And the regulars will be there to help make you feel welcome. We're a relaxed and warm group. We hope to see you. **SIDE NOTE:** New members are welcome to ALL our Friday night wine tastings, but this night is a special overture to those who don't want to feel that they are the only new person in the room. Don't worry. You won't be. And don't hesitate to RSVP to other events. **OLD MEMBERS NOTE**: Hey Old Members! You're not excluded from this event. We expect to see you there to help make the new members feel welcome. **Sample 4 different wines** this Friday for $15 (*Cash or Venmo only please*). Glasses are provided. Bring a snack to share. Bring a bottle to share if you care to. See all the details below for the Hilliard Wine Club Wine Tasting. In Person. In Real Life. Actual Wine from glass bottles with corks and everything. **Wine**: Tastings will be $15 for four samples as always. And you are welcome to bring a bottle of your favorite wine to share with others. Participation in the wine tastings is optional. But since you’re going, I will buy enough wine to cover you. If you bring your own wine and do not participate in the tasting you will only pay $10 to cover the door charge. **Parking**: There are several public parking lots near the Alive614 hall. Please be careful to NOT park in private parking lots. They do tow. Check Google maps to scope out your space. Anyone who is early could easily find a parking space on the street nearby. **Glasses**: …will be provided. Please note that after the wine tasting, the glasses need to be returned to the boxes at the service table. Please be gentle, our glasses are fragile. Uh, they are made of glass! **Food**: You are welcome to bring a snack to share. It is not required. Most people do though. If no one brings anything, there will be nothing. **Code of Conduct**: Though mostly understood, it’s still worth mentioning. We don’t have rules per se, but we highly discourage the following topics of discussion because they are likely to incite anti-social responses - Sex, Politics, Religion. Please don’t mistake this as an attempt to limit your free speech rights but rather a guide to a place and time for appropriate discussions. **Extra Wine**: After everyone has had their samples, we remove the pouring spouts and any remaining wine is poured freely to whomever wants it. I hate having leftover wine. **Queen of Hearts**: The Queen of Hearts raffle is a fundraiser for the club and a Barnum and Bailey type extravaganza - minus the dancing ponies, clowns, and actual circus. Bring your ***cash*** as the Queen does not accept American Express or other plastic. **After the lights go out**: After the last sip of wine, when we clean up and turn the lights out, if you still haven’t had enough of us, it is typical for a group to get together and go to a local eatery for food and/or drinks or coffee. Again, We look forward to meeting new members and reuniting with old friends. Sincerely, ***Paul Uttermohlen***, **Red 1 Realty** *Your Hilliard Wine Club Host*

**Due to Paul falling ill, we will have to postpone our trivia night to another day.** **This will be a normal freestyle night.** **On Freestyle night** \- just bring a bottle to share\. There is NO formal wine tasting like on other weeks\. Door charge is $10 \(cash or Venmo only please\)\. We may have some left over wines to clear out\! Glasses are provided\. Take Care\. See you there\. **Parking**: There are several public parking lots near the Alive614 hall. Please be careful to NOT park in private parking lots. They do tow. Check Google maps to scope out your space. Anyone who is early could easily find a parking space on the street nearby. I am told that the Chase parking lot is safe after hours. **Glasses**: …will be provided. Please note that after the wine tasting, the EMPTY glasses need to be returned to the boxes at the service table. Please do not make me hunt down your empty glass. Please be gentle, our glasses are fragile. Uh, they are made of glass! (ps - empty the glasses into the sink, not the trash ... please) **Food**: You are welcome to bring a snack to share. It is not required. Most people do though. If no one brings anything, there will be nothing. **Code of Conduct**: Though mostly understood, it’s still worth mentioning. We don’t have rules per se, but we highly discourage the following topics of discussion because they are likely to incite anti-social responses - Sex, Politics, Religion. Please don’t mistake this as an attempt to limit your free speech rights but rather a guide to a place and time for appropriate discussions. **After the lights go out**: After the last sip of wine, when we clean up and turn the lights out, if you still haven’t had enough of us, it is typical for a group to get together and go to a local eatery for food and/or drinks or coffee. Again, We look forward to meeting new members and reuniting with old friends. Sincerely, ***Paul Uttermohlen***, **Red 1 Realty** *Your Hilliard Wine Club Host* **Answer**: *That's right!* / We sent a rocketship with live astronauts to the moon for a quick lap around our only natural satellite. They didn't land. And they never got out of the capsule... for 10 days! Been there. Done that! (It's like they're replaying all the greatest hits from my childhood.)

Welcome, readers! Our June read is ***Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible*** ***Voyage*** **by Alfred Lansing.** A work of nonfiction, and one of the most astonishing survival stories in history, we follow Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew after their ship is crushed by Antarctic ice. Stranded in one of the harshest environments on Earth, the men endure months of isolation, freezing temperatures, and near starvation—yet refuse to give up hope. Lansing brings their ordeal to life through vivid detail and firsthand accounts, capturing both the brutality of nature and the resilience of the human spirit. At its core, the story is a powerful testament to leadership, perseverance, and the unbreakable will to survive against impossible odds. Looking forward to discussing with everyone! We will meet at Zaftig Brewing Co in their event room in the back. We are welcome to bring in our own food, but **all** **drinks must be purchased at the bar.** Happy reading! 📖

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