Local Politics

Hey everyone, we have all been snowed in and could all benefit with some socialization. Come on out to Barnes and Nobles Potomac Yards and sit in the cafe and meet some locals. I will get there early and be wearing my crocheted Thanksgiving Turkey hat. Come on out and make a new friend. Socializing is healthy and there is no better time to make a friend then now. Hope to see you there

Join us as The Washington Area Roadskaters lead you on a different adventure every week, skating through and around our Nation's Capital! For current 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!

Let's play monopoly in the open area called "The Landing" at the Crystal City Shops. The Landing is right at the Crystal City metro stop and, if you're driving, there is free parking [on weekdays after 4pm and weekends] in the garage. See below for more details. With many tables for games and nearby eateries in the mall, it is a fantastic location for playing board games. We'll be starting at 3:00 pm, but feel free to wander in whenever you'd like.Please RSVP to play. If you'd like to start earlier, feel free to mention that in the comment section. If everyone is already in the middle of games when you arrive, please don't hesitate to pull up a chair and watch a game in progress. We will play a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 6 people at each table. This is a friendly group of competitive and non competitive players and our different backgrounds and different experiences of Monopoly make for interesting conversation during the games. If you're taking the metro, exit at Crystal City and you can walk to The Landing without having to go outside. When you come up the first set of escalators, turn right to enter the underground shops and then turn right at Rite Aide. Continue straight and The Landing will be the large open seating area on your right, next to San Antonio Bar & Grill and Subway. If you're driving, parking is free in the garage. Enter the garage for 1750 Crystal Drive on 18th Street and take a ticket. (You'll need this to exit, but there's no charge). Take the elevators up to Level S. The Landing is the large open seating area next to San Antonio Bar & Grill and Subway. If that parking garage is full, exit the garage and turn left on 18th and left again on Crystal Drive. A second parking garage is located on Crystal Drive between 18th Street and 15th Street. This is a link to a map of the Crystal City Shops: http://www.thecrystalcityshops.com/ The Landing is in the yellow section on the map near the San Antonio Bar & Grill and Subway.

Help us celebrate the **Sierra Club’s Potomac Region Outings** **(SCPRO)** and usher in a new year of outdoor activities by joining us at this (indoor) winter potluck party. The party is open to all—outings participants (past, current, or future) and leaders (past, current, or future), as well family, friends, and curious onlookers—so feel free to invite others. Special guests are our long-term leaders whom we recognize with sincere appreciation for their volunteer service to the Club. They have helped introduce thousands of people to the outdoors and then helped them enjoy it for many more years! Photo albums of other SCPRO [socials](https://sites.google.com/view/wandering-soles/special-events/scpro-socials). **FOOD & DRINKS** You are invited to bring food (prepared or bought by you) to share—a main dish, side dish or salad, or appetizer. The food you bring should reflect your family's heritage so that we end up with international fare. (Don't forget serving utensils.) Please DO NOT bring desserts, chips, nuts, dips, and other snacks. If you can’t, don’t want to, or forget to make a dish, don’t let that stop you from coming as there is sure to be more than enough food! We will provide fruit snacks, dessert, water/soft drinks, and plastic/paper ware. To save a little bit of the world, please bring your own washable plates, cups, and eating utensils. A $5 cash voluntary donation per person to cover the cost of the event is welcomed, but not required. **WHEN & WHERE** Sunday, January 25, 2026, 5:30-8 pm, Bethesda Club Room, White Flint Station Condos, 11800 Old Georgetown Road, North Bethesda, MD ([GoogleMaps](http://goo.gl/yZLGhb)). The entrance is at the NE corner of the Chapman Avenue and Old Georgetown Road "T" junction (see photos below), and the room is on your right just after entering. **Metro:** The location is one block north of, or 0.4 miles from, the Red Line’s North Bethesda Metro station, 5679 Marinelli Rd ([GoogleMaps](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/39.0474399,-77.1125592/39.0500145,-77.110907/@39.0486043,-77.1132003,555m/am=t/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m2!4m1!3e2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTExMC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D)). **Parking:** Street meter parking is free on weekends (see photo below). There is a Metro parking garage (5627 Marinelli Rd, but entrance on Citadel Ave.; [GoogleMaps](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/39.0479932,-77.1094668/11800+Old+Georgetown+Road,+Rockville,+MD/@39.0491272,-77.1127684,1111m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m9!4m8!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x89b7cc2f1db815fd:0x8a0308c08227de73!2m2!1d-77.1108517!2d39.0502507!3e2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTExMC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D)) that is also free on weekends, and a commercial garage at Pike & Rose (11580 Old Georgetown Rd; [GoogleMaps](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/39.0489289,-77.1180482/39.0500176,-77.1109542/@39.0489563,-77.115838,931m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!4m1!3e2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTExMC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D)). Each garage is about 0.3 miles away. **SIERRA CLUB** You may join the Sierra Club by clicking the "JOIN" button at the top of the Virginia Chapter’s [website](http://www.sierraclub.org/virginia). Membership is not required for participation. **INFO?** If you have questions about the event, contact Mike (Mike.Darzi@Gmail.com).

Evie Nyilasi will be discussing generation Z and the global political factors that contribute to this generation's unique perspective and political actions. She will be discussing Generational movements that are unique to this generation across the globe, and attempt to explain the motivations behind them. Technology, global perspectives, and polarization will be common themes in this discussion. As she is a part of this generation herself, some of this will be anecdotal of her own experience. Evie Nyilasi is an 18 year old student at Heritage High School. She was born and raised in Northern Virginia and has attended Northern Virginia Ethical Society for more than a decade. She is a recent graduate of the NoVES Sunday school and is going to be attending Bryn Mawr College in the fall. Her parents are both active members in the NoVES community. Evie is also a politically minded and involved person having interned for the Harris-Walz campaign and passed a campaign finance resolution at the Leesburg Town Council. She's really excited to go from listening to talks, to finally giving one! Evie is also on the Board of La Mano Amiga, a non-profit helping Honduran adults become self-sufficient. We will be collecting donations for this organization for the month of February in honor of Evie's talk. This in-person meeting can also be attended on Zoom. The Zoom link is below. [https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83422695892](https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83422695892)

Please join us for our fun and friendly monthly VSDC Vegan Potluck in downtown Silver Spring MD, at the DC border, on Sunday, February 8th. It will start at 12 pm and go until 3 pm. There is no charge to attend the event but you will be expected to bring vegan food or drink to share. **Items to bring to the potluck:** \- Vegan potluck dish \(no animal products of any kind\) to share\. For food quantity\, please bring 4 to 6 times the number of servings times the number in your party\. \- A serving utensil for your dish \- Ingredients list or recipe for your dish \- ***Please print or write it out in advance*** \- Beverage for yourself or one to share \- To help reduce waste\, bring your reusable plate\, cup\, and utensils [VSDC will provide drinking water.] Please Note: \- Be sure to help leave the space clean before leaving the potluck and take the containers and utensils you brought with you\. *\- Vegans do not consume any animal products or byproducts \(no meat\, chicken/poultry\, fish/sea animals\, eggs\, milk or dairy products\, honey\, etc\)\.* **LOCATION** Eastern Village Cohousing, 7981 Eastern Ave NW, Silver Spring MD 20910. Enter into the front door and walk into the Community Room. **PARKING** Yes, there should be free street parking on Sundays in this residential neighborhood. Also there is free parking in the parking garage adjacent to 7981 Eastern Ave. *Please read and follow all parking signs.* **METRO** This location is accessible by public transport. It is 0.6 miles from the Silver Spring Metro station on the Red line. ***Please plan your trip in advance and ask any questions at least one day in advance. The organizers will do their best to answer questions but ones on the day of the event will be difficult for responses.*** Email potluck@vsdc.org for questions or to help plan future potluck events. VSDC Thanks Rodney Elin for arranging for this wonderful space! ***Don't be a no show! If your plans change, update your RSVP.*** **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 our events. If you would like to [explore a vegan diet or get support in making lifestyle changes, consider these resources](https://vsdc.org/exploringvegan/). **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.**

**Join us in Falls Church for conversations that go beyond small talk.** Higher Grounds – Falls Church is where this growing network of gatherings began: a space for thoughtful, authentic dialogue about what matters most. Whether we’re exploring the nature of happiness, the challenges and possibilities of midlife, spirituality, culture, capitalism, parenting, or the role of art and travel in a meaningful life, every conversation is shaped by the people in the room. There’s no set leader or rigid agenda—just a shared commitment to listen as much as we speak. We start with brief introductions focused on what makes you *you* (not your LinkedIn bio), then dive straight into whatever is on people’s minds. The direction of each meetup emerges organically, making every event unique. MANDATORY: PLEASE REVIEW OUR COMMUNITY GUIDELINES IN THE GROUP DESCRIPTION. Everyone is expected to engage in respectful conversations and listen deeply as well as share. We have a zero tolerance policy of sexual harassment and hate speech. Come ready to share, reflect, and connect with others in Falls Church who are also seeking deeper conversations. **Suggested Questions: Life Stages & Transitions** 1. What did you think you'd have figured out by now that you're still completely winging? 2. When did you realize your parents' advice was for a world that no longer exists? 3. What are you finally old enough to stop pretending to care about? **Suggested Questions: Identity After the Roles** 1. Who are you when nobody needs anything from you? 2. What dream keeps resurfacing even though the "practical" time has passed? 3. How do you handle having the freedom you always said you wanted? **Suggested Questions: AI & Being Human** 1. What human experiences will AI never truly understand? 2. If machines handled all your have-to's, what would you actually do? 3. What becomes more precious as everything becomes automated? **Suggested Questions: Belief & Meaning** 1. What certainties have you given up, and what rushed in to fill that space? 2. How has knowing someone who died changed how you live? 3. What do you believe now that would shock your younger self? **Suggested Questions: The Modern Psyche** 1. What anxiety do you carry that previous generations didn't have? 2. Which of your survival strategies are you ready to retire? 3. What uncomfortable truth about happiness did it take you years to accept? **Suggested Questions: Work & Purpose** 1. When did you stop believing that your job would complete you? 2. What would you do for work if money and status weren't factors? 3. How has your definition of "making it" changed over the years? **Suggested Questions: Relationships & Connection** 1. What relationship dynamic do you keep recreating, and why? 2. When did you realize your parents were just people trying their best? 3. What kind of loneliness doesn't go away even when you're with others? **Suggested Questions: Time & Mortality** 1. What are you running out of time to say or do? 2. How differently do you spend your time knowing it's finite? 3. What will you regret not trying, even if you fail? **Suggested Questions: Society & Culture** 1. What social convention do you follow even though it makes no sense? 2. Which generation do you understand least, and what might you be missing? 3. What aspect of how we live now will seem insane in 20 years? **Suggested Questions: Personal Philosophy** 1. What rule for life did you create after learning something the hard way? 2. When did you stop believing that everyone else had it figured out 3. What paradox about life have you learned to live with?

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: Susan Prolman, Activism for Animals Post-PAM Animal Action: TBD Susan Prolman is a lifelong advocate for animals. Susan served as Executive Director of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and as Director of International Campaigns for The Humane Society of the United States (now called Humane World for Animals). She lobbied against factory farming and for environmental protection for years. While a Georgetown University law student, she helped to create the school's first animal law course. Susan leads Activism for Animals, which shares ideas for creative, positive, everyday actions individuals can take to spread animal rights messages in their communities. 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.

Come the whole time or if you just spend 30 minutes. All are welcome. You are welcome and encouraged to bring your own coloring supplies but, if you don't have any, I will have plenty and am happy to share! (coloring books, colored pencils, and markers). Part of the mission of this group is to provide us an opportunity to check out AND SUPPORT local businesses. So, please don't bring any outside food/drinks and, while purchasing something isn't at all a REQUIREMENT to participate in the event, I do strongly encourage you to try something from the vendor :) I look forward to seeing and meeting you there! ***\*\*DISCLAIMER*\*\*** Photos may be taken during the event to be shared here on Meetup so feel free to let me know if you'd like to be excluded from them.

​**Due to the popularity of the event, registration is required at [https://luma.com/dcmahjongg](https://luma.com/dcmahjongg).** We do not use the RSVP system on Meetup. ​ **Drop-in games every Sunday afternoon at the Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum.** * **Lessons (11:00 - 1:00) for new and returning players begin promptly at 11:00.** The fee is $10. * **A Support Table (1:00 - 3:00) is available for those who have taken a lesson and want to play with an instructor overseeing the game.** The fee is $5. * **Drop-in play (1:00 - 3:00) for** all experienced players. Tables are labeled for All Levels and Mahj Mavens. All skill levels are encouraged to participate. Play is free, but a donation of $5 is encouraged to help defray event costs. ​ If you own a mah jongg set, we encourage you to bring it. Please bring your NMJL card if you have one. ​The museum is located one block from the Judiciary Square Metro station (Red line). Street parking is available, and a paid garage is located at 3rd and G Streets. You do not need to be a member of the museum to participate. On entry to the building, you will be directed to the Nosh Pit, where you can also purchase a snack and coffee while waiting for the games to begin. *Photographs taken by Museum staff during the program may be used for educational and promotional purposes in print and online publications. Attendance at the event implies your consent.*

A very Midwest way to spend the night. 🖤 Euchre Night at TownHall Short North brings cards, cocktails, and community together for an easygoing evening of friendly competition. All skill levels welcome—confidence encouraged.

As you may or may not know--I didn't until late last year--Aristotle wrote extensively on "friendship" in the Nicomachean Ethics. After 69 years the concept of friendship still creates questions and uncertainty. I had close friends in high school and for a few years after high school but our interests diverged and people moved all over the country so it was hard to maintain connections. * So if I/you haven't talked with a friend for several years, are you still friends? Are we friends who meet at Drunken Philosophy or Omnipresent Atheists? * Can you be friends with someone with whom you have virulently divergent political views? Sartre and Camus could not. * Aristotle regarded friendship as essential to a good life, not merely an added "bonus." Do you agree? * In the Nicomachean Ethics (Books VIII and IX), he claims that wealth and power are meaningless without friends. Trump has wealth and power but seems to have no real friends, but wealth and power seem meaningful to him in perverted ways. Can you have meaning in your life without friends? * Do men and women view and maintain friendships in different ways? * Aristotle categorizes friendship into three types, based on what forms the bond: * **Utility**: Based on mutual benefit, but this type is fragile and ends when the usefulness ceases. * **Pleasure**: Based on shared enjoyment (e.g., humor, hobbies). Common among youth but fades as interests change. * **Virtue (The "Complete" Friendship)**: Based on mutual respect for each other's character and goodness. You wish good for the other for their sake, not yours. * **Key Principles of "True" (Virtuous) Friendship:** * **Permanence**: Virtuous friendships last a lifetime whereas those based on utility and pleasure are fleeting. * **Reciprocity**: Requires mutual goodwill; secret or unreciprocated affection does not qualify. * **The "Second Self"**: A true friend is "another self"—their virtue helps you understand and improve yourself. * **Time and Intimacy**: Deep ("complete") friendships are few, built on time and shared experiences. * **Self-Love and Friendship:** * Good friendship starts with being a friend to yourself. * They distinguish shallow egoism (chasing honors) from real self-love (pursuing virtue). * A virtuous person’s pleasant self-company allows them to be a stable, good friend to others. * Aristotle argues that one's social circle ultimately reflects one's character—a view with striking relevance today. Well--the Drunken Philosophy social circle certainly reflects good character!

Thursdays just got smarter (and sassier). 🧠🍻 Join us at TownHall Short North for Trivia Night with Marquis—where the questions are fun, the competition is friendly, and the vibes are immaculate. Grab your crew, sip something good, and prove you know random facts you absolutely shouldn’t.

**Back By Popular Request!** Once you have spent an evening in the studio, you need some refreshments. Join us at Local Cantina in Bridge Park to recharge your energy! **Meeting Schedule:** 1. 7:10 - Chips and Salsa

**When:** Saturday\, February 21 \| 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM **Where:** [1124 Parsons Ave, Columbus, OH 43206](https://twodollarradiohq.com/about-us) Looking for a night of meaningful connection and great vegan food? Join us at [Two Dollar Radio Headquarters](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=/g/11fkn49_yq&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj14_nkjsWSAxVt4ckDHdRCH4oQqdYPegYIAQgFEAI) for a special community gathering! **What’s on the menu?** While [2$R](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=/g/11fkn49_yq&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj14_nkjsWSAxVt4ckDHdRCH4oQqdYPegYIAQgGEAI) typically serves a selection of [house-made sandwiches](https://twodollarradiohq.com/weekly-food) and vegan pastries, they are creating a **special menu** specifically for our event. You can also grab a coffee, tea, or a drink from their [full bar](https://twodollarradiohq.com/) of cocktails and beer. **The Main Event:** * **Play:** Bring a favorite game from home to share or dive into the ones available at the shop. * **Connect:** Meet new and old friends in a space that values independent culture and plant-based living. * **Support:** Help us champion a local, family-owned vegan business that doubles as a powerhouse [indie book publisher](https://twodollarradio.com/pages/headquarters). **Parking Instructions:** * **Street Parking:** There is free public street parking available on both sides of Parsons Avenue and on the surrounding residential side streets. * **Lot Parking:** The [Columbus Metropolitan Library](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=/g/126262ks5&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj14_nkjsWSAxVt4ckDHdRCH4oQqdYPegYIAQgKEAM) lot (1113 Parsons Ave) is located directly across the street and is available for guest use **only after the library has closed**. On Saturdays, the lot is typically available starting at 6:00 PM. * **Bike Parking:** For those cycling, there is a bike rack conveniently located at the corner of Cline and Parsons.

This is not just a money class. This is a restoration space. The I AM Worthy of Ownership™ Path is a 12-step, sister-centered journey for women who are ready to build financial stability without shame, fear, or pressure—and to do it in a way that honors both wisdom and the spirit. Many women don’t struggle with money because they lack discipline or intelligence. They struggle because of unhealed experiences, survival patterns, and the quiet belief that they are “behind” or “disqualified.” This series gently challenges those beliefs while offering practical tools for peace, clarity, and long-term planning. Together, we will talk honestly about: Releasing shame and money anxiety Building stability as a form of self-respect and spiritual discipline Understanding money as a tool, not a source of worth Managing debt with clarity instead of condemnation Preparing for life’s unexpected moments without fear Laying a calm foundation for future ownership and legacy Each session blends practical financial education with reflection, conversation, and encouragement. There is no pressure to share personal numbers or experiences. You are welcome to speak, journal quietly, or simply listen. This is not about hustle. This is not about perfection. This is about alignment, wisdom, and peace. Who this series is for: Women who are starting over or rebuilding Women who want stability without stress Women preparing for future ownership or housing decisions Women who want their financial lives to reflect wholeness, not fear No prior financial knowledge is required. Come as you are. Bring a notebook. Leave a little lighter than you arrived. Light refreshments will be served along with 30 minutes of networking.