Local Politics

Come learn how money really works. We’ll cover how to grow it, protect it, get out of debt, and use smart retirement and infinite banking strategies to build long-term security.

Let's go see the Holiday Train Set at the US Botanical Gardens and then walk around the Capitol Hill neighborhood and hopefully see some fun holiday lights and decorations! **Route:** * Start at Capitol South Metro Station * Walk north on 1st St to Independence Ave. * Walk west on Independence Ave. to the Botanical Garden * Walk around the Botanical Garden Holiday Train Set and/or walk around the atrium to see the Holiday Decorations/Plants :) - Note we will be here for approximately 30 min. * Meet back up at the front of the Botanical Garden to continue the walk * Walk towards the Capitol building and walk towards East Capitol St. * Walk East on East Capitol to Lincoln Park * Walk on Mass Ave till 7th St. * Stay on 7th till C st. and take a right * Walk on C till 12th, then 12th till Constitution Ave. and take a right unto Tennessee Ave. * Walk through Lincoln Park and get back onto 12th St. * Cont. on 12th and take a right on Independence Ave. * Walk on Independence Ave. till 7th St. * Walk on 7th through Eastern Market * End at Eastern Market Metro Station **Millage:** 4 miles **Start Location:** Capitol South Metro Station **End Location:** Eastern Market Metro Station **Directions:** [https://www.plotaroute.com/route/3182884](https://www.plotaroute.com/route/3182884 "Click here to view your route on plotaroute.com") **Time:** 3:30PM-6:00PM **Terrain:** This will be mostly flat, 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. Note, we often limit the RSVPs to keep group sizes manageable. If you are on the waitlist but would really like to join, reach out to the organizer. We're always looking for new leaders who can showcase their neighborhood or any cool places they know, so please reach out either at an event or on meetup if you are interested. If you've enjoyed our walks please consider donating a few bucks to help us keep this group running (meetup is expensive!). [Donation Link](https://venmo.com/code?user_id=2158403661070336114) (Confirmation code- 0802)

Need to do some holiday shopping? Join us as we explore the downtown DC holiday market! Buy from local small businesses and grab a warm beverage to celebrate the season. Located on F st NW between 7th and 9th st NW. And near the gallery place-Chinatown metro. We will meet in front of the national portrait gallery.

The Silver line has two eastern strands: one accompanies the Orange line to New Carrollton and the other goes with the Blue to Downtown Largo. Eastbound Silver line trains alternate the paths. Our goal is to metaphorically reunite the two threads of Silver by traveling to the end of one line, taking a bus to the other terminus, then riding back to our starting point. Bonus: We get to twice cross over the Anacostia River! We'll meet at the station where the lines diverge, Stadium/Armory, and when we're done we'll glide downtown for lunch at Potbelly. Hope you all can make it!

We'll check out Grace Street Coffee Roasters Address: 3299 K St NW suite 102, Washington, DC 20007 After the coffee meetup, we will check out Pizzeria Paradiso for some sour and wild beers. Please have a picture profile so we can recognize you in the meetup. Please only sign up if you're sure about attending this meetup, and please update your RSVP as soon as possible if you need to cancel, thank you!

A Pathfinder Society Scenario designed for 1st through 4th level characters. With war breaking out, the gnomes of Brastlewark in Cheliax can no longer cling to their carefree ways. Self-proclaimed King Drum Thornfiddle is eager to ingratiate himself to Queen Abrogail, and so conscripts the city's magical and creative resources towards the war effort. A few gnomes have broken free, and they have brought evidence of the various works being created in Brastlewark. They're no fighters, though. It'll be up to the Pathfinders to get them safely across the border to Andoran and freedom. Written by Elizabeth V Nold. Scenario Tags: Metaplot (Battle's Spark)

Open gaming at Panera! New players welcome. We have many games on hand or you can bring your own. We are happy to teach or learn one of yours.

Guest Speaker: Sarah Lu, Foster Program Coordinator at the Humane Rescue Alliance Post-PAM Animal Action: Ritz Carlton cage-free protest Sarah Lu, Foster Program Coordinator at the [Humane Rescue Alliance](https://www.humanerescuealliance.org/), will join [Pro-Animals DC](https://proanimaldc.org/) and the [Veg Society of DC](http://www.vsdc.org/) to explore the overpopulation of companion animals, the impact of the economy on this issue, the challenges and controversies facing animal welfare organizations, and ways you can help a cat or dog find a better future. We will have a special guest join us - an adoptable dog from HRA – but unfortunately, we cannot have other dogs attend. Before and after the presentation, we will enjoy a potluck of vegan savory and sweet snacks. Please bring finger food and sweets to share. Note that there are no kitchen facilities available, so plan accordingly. Please be sure to RSVP here! https://stampede.proanimal.org/events Join your fellow animal lovers and DC Animal Protection to discuss what’s happening in the animal advocacy scene in DC! This series is a weekly meetup, with guest speakers from all of the major animals rights orgs. We’ll host non-profits such as Pro-Animal Future, International Council for Animal Welfare, DC Voters for Animals, The Humane League, Mercy for Animals and Direct Action Everywhere as well as local grassroots groups like the DC Coalition Against Foie Gras and sanctuaries. We’ll also have special sessions related to health, nutrition and mindfulness! We encourage anyone who is interested in helping animals to attend- no need to be vegan! Come learn about our rich variety of local activism. With protests, outreach, wheat-pasting, signature collecting, leafletting, lobbying, tabling etc. there’s something to match everyone’s comfort level and skill set. Coffee, bagels and community will be provided! Feel free to bring any extra treats to share (no animal products please.) Hope to see you soon! :) Note: Unfortunately, animals are not allowed at our venue. Please leave your furry friends at home.

This Sunday, we’re hitting the streets for a scenic skate with a very special destination: the ice rink! Big Mike (our newly elected president!) will lead us as we head to Canal Park Ice Rink ([https://www.skatecanalpark.com/](https://www.skatecanalpark.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExYmVlTEx4UDVBNmNTeEJrVnNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR4oLu1_cix3RLFDfOKJFUTEVq6UOOM4uKZEZM1G-H0lHvm7Oc3I_0FwVgRsxQ_aem_SZv4joOrMKpw6FEyZJXYmQ)) to celebrate Donovan’s Birthday on the ice. Whether you're a pro on blades or just there for the vibes, let’s make it a party to remember. ________________________________________ The Pre-Party Roll Before we hit the ice, we’ll take a festive "birthday lap" through the city: • The Start: Meet at Freedom Plaza. • The Sights: A cruise down Pennsylvania Avenue to see the United States Capitol and its famous holiday tree. • The Waterfront: A scenic loop through Southwest DC and the Anacostia Waterfront, crossing the 11th Street Bridge as we head toward the rink. ________________________________________ The Main Event: Birthday on Ice! Our destination is the Canal Park Ice Rink ([https://www.skatecanalpark.com/](https://www.skatecanalpark.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExYmVlTEx4UDVBNmNTeEJrVnNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5sNOGE0i6xiGMxsJtGp7uHPj5g1IcJDUORIXkUqBzkpZXrts4cGCGBTVJxSg_aem_xpTO2-N9DYpA_6Zjln28Ew)). This is where the real celebration begins! Birthday Logistics: • Ice Session: We’ll be stopping here to swap our inline wheels for ice blades in honor of Donovan! • Adult Pricing (Ages 13+): Admission: $13.00 when reserved online or $15.00 for walk-ups. Skate Rental: $6.00 – $7.00 per person. • Sessions: Skating sessions are 90 minutes long. • Stay or Go: For those who want to keep rolling, a leader will guide a group back to Freedom Plaza immediately upon arrival at the rink. • The Ice Crew: If you’re staying to skate with Donovan, please be prepared to arrange your own way back to Freedom Plaza/your car afterward. ________________________________________ What You Need to Know • Bring: Socks for ice skates, your birthday spirit, and funds for rink admission/rentals (admission is typically \~$15 and rentals are \~$7). • Route: Urban street skating. The journey from Freedom Plaza to the rink is roughly 4.8 miles. Comfort with bridges and Sunday morning city traffic is recommended. The full route is \~9 miles with 280’ elevation gain. • Celebration Level: Maximum. Here is the route: [https://onthegomap.com/s/rvgmjjbl](https://onthegomap.com/s/rvgmjjbl?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExYmVlTEx4UDVBNmNTeEJrVnNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR7NCqRdiKThQjcJI3uGocst4PQvGBeTe8JamMOgp8TcjBcDYVRb5D_hmRYZ-g_aem_L-yuFzNCsznptJQ4m850lQ) For up-to-the-moment details, check Facebook and Instagram. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WashingtonAreaRoadskaters/events Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weareskatedc/ We hope to see you soon!

Sarah Lu, Foster Program Coordinator at the [Humane Rescue Alliance](https://www.humanerescuealliance.org/), will join [Pro-Animals DC](https://proanimaldc.org/) and the [Veg Society of DC](http://www.vsdc.org/) to explore the overpopulation of companion animals, the impact of the economy on this issue, the challenges and controversies facing animal welfare organizations, and ways you can help a cat or dog find a better future. We will have a special guest join us - an adoptable dog from HRA – but unfortunately, we cannot have other dogs attend. Before and after the presentation, we will enjoy a potluck of vegan savory and sweet snacks. Please bring finger food and sweets to share. Note that there are no kitchen facilities available, so plan accordingly. We will have coffee and water available. Veg Society of DC is pairing up with Pro-Animals DC to offer occasional educational programs, so watch for more presentations. After registering here, please [register on their site](https://stampede.proanimal.org/event/1764634382939x246683721837576200) as well. **VSDC: More Than A Meetup** We are delighted to have you as part of The Veg Society of DC Vegan Meetup group, and we look forward to seeing you at our events. Did you know that [VSDC](https://vsdc.org/%20) is a nonprofit organization with membership benefits? With VSDC membership, you will save money at area restaurants and businesses, attend VSDC member-only events, and, most importantly, support us as a clear and consistent voice for improving the lives of all beings through community building and education centered on the benefits of a vegan diet and lifestyle. The membership fee is minimal, but the impact is significant! [Join today](https://vsdc.org/membership/)! **Ways to Stay In Touch with Us** Thank you for being part of our Meetup presence and bringing like-minded people together. We invite you to: * Become a [VSDC member](https://vsdc.org/membership/) to save money at area restaurants and support us in being a clear and consistent voice for improving the lives of all beings through community building and education centered on the benefits of a vegan diet and lifestyle. * Sign up for our[ monthly e-newsletter](https://vsdc.org/about/newsletter/) to hear more about our activities. * Follow us on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/vegsocietydc/) or [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/vegsocietydc/) to engage with us. **Interested in Volunteering with VSDC?** VSDC offers many events each month, thanks to the dedication of our event planning team. Would you consider volunteering? To learn more and get started, [please visit our website](https://vsdc.org/volunteer/). **Only Vegan Food, Please** While VSDC welcomes people wherever they are on the path to an all-plant, vegan diet and lifestyle, it is our policy that only vegan food be served and consumed at all of our events. **Liability Waiver and Code of Conduct** When you sign up to attend, you automatically acknowledge [VSDC's Liability Waiver](https://vsdc.org/activity-waiver/) and commit to follow the code of conduct found at [Policies - VSDC - Veg Society of DC](https://vsdc.org/policies/). **VSDC. Creating communities. For your health, the animals, and the planet.**

This will be a brisk-paced hike with an approximate pace of 2.5-3 mph. This 5.1 mile loop starts from Pitango Cafe (1841 Columbia Rd NW) in Adams Morgan. We will walk Normanstone Parkway in Woodley Park to the National Cathedral and return to ADMO via the Tregaron Conservancy in Cleveland Park. Walking surface will be dirt and asphalt trails and sidewalks. Bring plenty of water and some snacks. Dress in layers, and be sure to wear sturdy, comfortable footwear. Well-behaved, leashed dogs welcome. Brunch in ADMO after the hike is an option. This is a joint hike between the ADMO Hiking Club and the Sierra Club. All hikers will be required to sign the Sierra Club waiver form to participate. Sierra Club Potomac Region Outings (SCPRO) appreciates a voluntary $2 per person donation to support our many volunteer-led activities. Also, you can become a Sierra Club member by clicking "join" on the Virginia Sierra Club website: [http://www.sierraclub.org/virginia](http://www.sierraclub.org/virginia) Dupont Circle is the closest Metro stop (.6 miles). Bus routes C51, C53, D70, and D74 are all within a couple blocks of Pitango. There is metered and free street parking in the surrounding neighborhood. Please arrive early so you have enough time to find parking.

• What we'll do Visit our observatory, look through club members’ telescopes, or bring your own. Location: Northway Fields Park, Greenbelt, MD. Observatory is at the end of a dirt road. Adults and children are welcome. Event will be cancelled if it’s clouded over. • What to bring Bring your own telescope if you want.

**Start the new year with a Braver Angels gathering focused on speaking openly and listening deeply.** **In small, structured groups, each person will have five minutes to share a political or social issue that matters to them and why- no debate, no interruption, just genuine curiosity.** **Participants will practice curiosity, reflecting back values and emotions they hear, asking thoughtful questions, and- only with permission- offering their perspective.** **It’s a simple and powerful way to connect with one another and begin the year with a respectful and courageous conversation.** **Date: Saturday, January 10, 2026** **Time: 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm** **Place: Columbus Metropolitan Library, Southeast Branch, 3980 Hamilton Rd, Groveport, Ohio** **All are welcome- bring a friend!** For additional information contact: Lee Evans at [LEvans@BraverAngels.org](mailto:LEvans@BraverAngels.org)

This special holiday event will be AT GAMEARENA near the Gateway!!! Come with games if you like but also come just to chill and relax with new and old friends before we end the 2025 year. Snacks will be provided and working to get holiday drinks like last year if you would like partake more at the bar. Play game at the main venue or other games COGG members bring! \-\-\- **Usual In-Person Notes** \-\-\- **Attendees:** Don't have a game to show? Not a problem! All are welcomed and invited from all ages and backgrounds. The more we can have to play test our games the better! **Developers:** Do you have a game that you would like to get critical feedback on? Would you like an excuse to work on a game with other talented artists, programmers, musicians, designers, and writers? Digital, table-top, non-experienced developers, and the like are welcomed! We'll provide signage for your game to help others learn more about your work. Wifi, outlets, tables, and seats (though standing tables also) are available. Come to the Prototype and Play workshop to collaborate and meet local game developers for an evening of epic and raw game play fun! Play works-in-progress, show off your own game, work with others to add polish to a game, or even lend your talents to other fellow developers. For this event, light snacks from the bar and water will be provided! Though you can purchase you own if you like at the bar: [https://www.game-arena.co/menu](https://www.game-arena.co/menu) Can use South Garage at the Gateway with a $5 voucher on your way out. 75 E 11th Ave, Columbus, OH 43201 [https://maps.app.goo.gl/UwgveUYG37Jy7RtS9](https://maps.app.goo.gl/UwgveUYG37Jy7RtS9) If you have any questions or comments, as always, feel free to reach out to us at info@[thecogg.com](http://thecogg.com/)!

First Sundays are free admission at Franklin Park Conservatory. Sunday, January 4th, is also the last day The Palm House will be open before renovations begin. Let’s meet, enjoy a respite from January weather, and wander the gardens. Free neanthe bella palms are available to guests, beginning at 10am, while supplies last. Afterwards, we can visit the nearby East Market (212 Kelton Avenue).

Let's grab some coffee/food and share a morning chat! The East Market has an ample parking lot and outdoor and indoor seating. Grab a cup of coffee from Winston's Coffee & Waffles or on your way to East Market and meet us on the second floor - table behind or east of the elevator. If the weather cooperates we will be meeting in the patio. Per what this group is about: "Everyone is welcome! International transplants to Columbus who want to improve language skills, Columbus residents who want to discuss international travel and culture, and anyone who enjoys getting together for good conversations."

Help us ringing New Year’s Eve with our traditional bowling Meetup and Bar crawl with Central Ohio friends. Sequoia has reserved 8 lanes for us at $15 per Person which includes 2 hours of unlimited bowling and shoes!! Bowling begins promptly at 9 PM. Please arrive early. See you there! Yes

Welcome, readers! ❄️ Our December read is **_A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella._** A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella is a tender, character-driven novel that follows three people in a small Pennsylvania town as they each cope with loss and seek connection. Chuck, a widower, struggles to find meaning after his wife’s death; Ella, a young woman, faces the heartbreak of her missing daughter; and Kirsten, a veterinary technician, grieves her father while contemplating her future. Their stories intertwine gently, revealing how grief and hope coexist—and how even small acts of kindness can help people rediscover purpose and peace in the aftermath of tragedy. Looking forward to discussing with everyone! At this meeting, our third annual White Elephant book exchange will take place! If you'd like to participate, bring a gift-wrapped book that you already own. On the gift wrap, write the genre of the book. We will meet at Zaftig Brewing Co in their event room in the back. We are welcome to bring in our own food, but **drinks must be purchased at the bar.** Happy reading! 📖