Legislative Issues

Have you been thinking about trying self-defense training, but do not want a loud, aggressive, or overly competitive environment? This free intro class is a simple way to get started. Maryland Systema offers practical self-defense training for adults in Takoma Park with a focus on movement, awareness, breathing, posture, and calm under pressure. This class is designed for beginners and first-timers who want real-world self-defense training in a welcoming setting. You do not need experience. You do not need to be in top shape. You do not need a martial arts background. You just need to show up ready to learn. This is not a sport-based class built around winning points, memorizing routines, or trying to look impressive. It is a more practical approach to adult self-defense training that helps you stay balanced, aware, and functional when things feel uncertain. If you have been searching for self-defense classes in Takoma Park, beginner self-defense near you, or practical self-defense training for adults, this class is a good place to start. **What you will work on** * Breathing and staying calm under pressure * Movement that improves balance and mobility * Awareness and posture * Simple partner drills * Practical self-defense training for beginners **Who this class is for** * Adults new to self-defense training * Beginners looking for a low-pressure class * People who want practical self-defense instead of sport martial arts * Adults in Takoma Park, Silver Spring, Rockville, and nearby areas looking for realistic self-defense classes **What to wear** Please wear comfortable workout clothes. No uniform is required. **Why start with this class** This free intro class gives you a chance to experience the training, meet the group, and see whether Maryland Systema is the right fit for you before joining regular weekly classes. **RSVP** Reserve your spot and come try a beginner-friendly self-defense class in Takoma Park.

ASL HangOut is a safe fun social All levels D/deaf, Hard of Hearing, Hearing signers, ASL students, ASL interpreter. Hosted by Daniel Berke and his friends Jeremy, Andrew, Nathaniel. and Josh There's always a great mix of people and good conversations We will be meeting at the Tysons Corner Food Court (3rd Floor), Thursday at 7pm! Hope to see you all there! 🙂 Look for a table of ASL signers...don't be shy. 1961 Chain Bridge Rd Tysons Corner, VA 22102 join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/468631322134694

[Profs and Pints DC](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Owl Wisdom,”** an introduction to the biology, habits, and conservation of various owl species in our region and beyond, with Steve Sheffield, professor of biology at Bowie State University, curator of mammals and birds for the Natural History Society of Maryland, and president of the Maryland Ornithological Society. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/dc-owl-wisdom](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/dc-owl-wisdom) .] Who wants to learn about owls? If you are fascinated by these hunters of the night, you’ll love spending an evening with Steve Sheffield, a biologist who extensively studies owls and works to conserve them. He’ll start by covering the different types of owls in our region and elsewhere, and the ways in which their bodies and their sizes represent physical adaptations to their environment. He’ll especially focus on the owl species of the United States and Canada, describing their biology, ranges, preferred habitat and prey, behavior, and vocalizations. You’ll learn how and why field biologists study owls and how owl researchers from around the world assemble periodically to discuss their work. We’ll consider owls' value to ecosystems and, especially, humans and human-dominated landscapes where they serve as especially efficient killers of rodents and other crop-harming pests. Dr. Sheffield will talk about the many years he has spent researching owls, with much of his work focused on their exposure to environmental contaminants and how they’re affected. Being top predators, owls serve as sensitive bioindicators of contamination throughout the food chain. Much like canaries in coal mines, they function as an early warning system alerting us to potentially dangerous levels of toxicity. We don’t just study them for their own good, but ours as well. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: Burrowing owls in Florida (Photo by travelingwayoflife / Creative Commons).

Join us every Thursday for Beginner Friendly Social Classes and Social Ballroom Dancing. All is welcome and no partner is necessary. You will learn 2 dances per month in our beginner friendly classes every Thursday. 7:00 Pm Beginner Smooth (Waltz, Tango, or Foxtrot). Please see website schedule for dances of the month. 8:00 Pm Beginner Rhythm (Cha Cha, Rumba, or Swing). Please Check Schedule. 9:00 pm - 10:30 Pm Social dancing. [Register for Classes Here 📌](https://crowndancestudio.com/group-classes/) * Please visit our website in the link above to register and claim your free intro offer for first time visitors. \*You MUST register online to claim the free offer!! Select “Intro offer.” \*The RSVP here does not reflect the size of our classes. We have e at least 15 members each week. And the number is growing.

RSVP on Partiful: [Partiful](https://partiful.com/e/Fm3d7LNNhMshMW75NzVn?c=aeZd56dN). Join Network of South Asian Professionals at our monthly Third Thursday series. Come to connect over careers or interests or just make some friends. We ask guests to cover their own tab! See you soon!

DeafPlusAdvocate will host an ASL Social at Starr Hill Biergarten on Saturday, June 20tht at 5pm!! The event will be on the rooftop, 11th floor. We will be meeting near the Perch Putt, that's where you will see a big blue van. (In the event of rain, the social will be held in the Starr Hill Brewpub downstairs first floor in the same building facing the McLean Metro Station. Come and enjoy the warm weather, and ASL conversation! All seating is first come, first serve. No reservations. The address is: 1805 Capital One Dr. Suite 1100, Tyson, VA 22102 For parking, please see the map picture in the Discussion showing where to park your car. Public Parking is free. McLean Metro Station is available nearby! Also, you can use the Wegmans garage parking lot. The garage is open 24 hours a day. The first hour is free, but there is an hourly charge after that. The Biergarten is on the 11th floor and is accessible using the North and South elevators from the retail parking garage. Should you have any questions, you can reach out to the DeafPlusAdvocate team.

Families and children are invited to join us for an hour of stories, songs, and playtime! \* \* \* This event is open to both DSA Members and supporters. Not a Member? Please consider [becoming a Member](https://dsausa.org/join?source=Metro%20DC). Fees are on a sliding scale according to what you feel you can afford.

💃 Beginner-Friendly Dance Fitness Get ready to move, sweat, and have fun! This high-energy class blends Brazilian Carnival vibes with global street dance for a full-body workout that doesn’t feel like one. ✨ No experience needed ✨ No partner required ✨ Just come ready to move and enjoy the music Expect a fun, welcoming environment where you can let go, build confidence, and leave feeling amazing. 📍 Location: Salsa With Silvia (Bethesda) – Studio B ⏰ Please arrive 5–10 minutes early 💵 Drop-in: $12 (pay at the door or message for details) 🔗 More info + schedule: https://fitnesswithmikissz.com/connect-with-miki Let’s sweat, dance, and make it a vibe 🔥

**Advance reservations REQUIRED. Tickets/Info:** [https://www.internationalclubdc.com/Events/EventDetails.aspx?EventID=C6FACBCB-3083-45D8-8CA8-DA4565FCAA34](https://www.internationalclubdc.com/Events/EventDetails.aspx?EventID=C6FACBCB-3083-45D8-8CA8-DA4565FCAA34) #### Join us for a special private tour of the exterior architecture of the eastern end of the National Mall, culminating in the interior of the US Capitol. The tour starts at Union Station, where you will have the chance to enjoy the breathtaking 96-foot coffered ceilings which have made Union Station “one of the finest examples of Beaux-Arts style of architecture.” The tour will continue walking towards the Supreme Court and Library of Congress (exterior of both covered in the tour), as you take in the architectural wonder of the outer edifice of the buildings of the East National Mall, ending at the Capitol. **Advance reservations REQUIRED. Tickets/Info:** [https://www.internationalclubdc.com/Events/EventDetails.aspx?EventID=C6FACBCB-3083-45D8-8CA8-DA4565FCAA34](https://www.internationalclubdc.com/Events/EventDetails.aspx?EventID=C6FACBCB-3083-45D8-8CA8-DA4565FCAA34) Our Capitol interior tour starts with a 15 minute presentation of the history and architecture of this grand monument to democracy. During the tour, discover the spacious awe-inspiring interior of the Capitol, which features a majestic mural depicting great heroes in American history. This is a great opportunity to meet other ICDC members and appreciate the history and national heritage of United States. Our museum and gallery tours are some of our most popular events, and frequently sell out well in advance. Please reserve your tickets early, as capacity is limited. Please also note that due to construction projects or security considerations some parts of the US Capitol might be excluded during the tour of the interior of the US Capitol. **Advance reservations REQUIRED. Tickets/Info:** [https://www.internationalclubdc.com/Events/EventDetails.aspx?EventID=C6FACBCB-3083-45D8-8CA8-DA4565FCAA34](https://www.internationalclubdc.com/Events/EventDetails.aspx?EventID=C6FACBCB-3083-45D8-8CA8-DA4565FCAA34)

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

We meet to learn and practice American Sign Language and to grow our familiarity with Deaf culture. Facilitated by hearing folks (with a connection to a professional interpreter) using Deaf-created content. People of all ASL skill levels are welcome! As we learn, we hope to connect more with the Deaf community in Central Ohio. Join us as you're able! Come regularly or just once - whatever you're looking for! Each meetup will explore different topics related to ASL/Deaf culture, and will feature time to practice conversation with one another. Just bring yourself and a willingness to learn!

**Improving Office in Franklinton** Physical location: Improving Office 330 Rush Alley Suite #150 Columbus, OH 43215 Schedule: 6:00 p.m.: Socialize, eat, and drink. Improving will be providing pizza and beverages. 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Main meeting and presentation(s). Topic: This month Chris Pazsint will be talking about Agentic Coding. How does one use CLI Based Agents, and Agentic IDEs such as Cursor, Kiro, Antigravity? How to include agentic coding plugins for IDEs you already love such as Visual Studio Code. We meet on the last Monday of each Month. Presentations are given by members and friends of this group. If you would like to do a presentation (small or large) on a python topic, please contact Central OH Python at centralohpython@gmail.com

Let’s meet and wander the galleries! General admission on Sundays is free.

🔥 OVER 50 HAPPY HOUR at PBR EASTON! 🔥 Looking to meet new people, enjoy great music, dance, laugh, and have an unforgettable night out? Then grab your friends and join us for one of the most exciting Over 50 social events in Columbus! 📍 PBR Cowboy Bar + Smokehouse – Easton 📅 Thursday, June 18th ⏰ 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM (and the fun keeps going!) This is NOT your typical quiet happy hour… this is a high-energy, country-meets-nightlife experience designed for fun-loving singles and couples over 50 who still enjoy getting out, socializing, and making memories! ✨ What’s Happening: 🎵 Live Music from 6:30–8:30 PM 🐂 Mechanical Bull Riding starting at 8:30 PM 💃 Line Dancing with Instructor from 9–10 PM 🎧 DJ & Dancing starting at 9 PM 🍹 Drink Specials All Night: $3, $4 & $5 specials! Whether you want to relax with a drink, hit the dance floor, try the mechanical bull, or just meet a great group of people in a fun atmosphere — this event has something for everyone. 👉 IMPORTANT: When you arrive, CHECK IN with the host under: “Doug / Meetup” to receive your wristband. 🚗 FREE Parking available across from the venue and at the Easton West Garage. Come when you can, leave when you want… but don’t be surprised if you stay all night! Let’s make Thursday night FUN again! 🎉

Based on the novel Roadside Picnic, it is NO picnic, but rather one of the masterpieces of world cinema. Andrei Tarkovsky's 1979 Soviet sci-fi classic, recounts the expedition of a writer and professor led by a mysterious guide called "The Stalker." to a futuristic wasteland called "The Zone." Dripping with existential dread, it continually presents strange occurrences that will have us debating the meaning of what we've just viewed right through the ending. *Stalker* (1979) can be streamed for free on HBOMax, the Criterion Channel or Kanopy. It's also available for rent on Amazon Prime and AppleTV. The Columbus Library has two copies on disc.