Middle Eastern Culture

It looks like Tuesday will be the last of 70° temps we'll see for a while, so let's take a nice evening stroll along the Patuxent River. We will start at Patuxent Valley Middle School, which has plenty of parking. The short sidewalk path along Vollmerhausen Road has the only notable elevation gain, but is a steep hill that we'll have to ascend at the end. The majority of the trail is perfectly flat and runs along the Little Patuxent River. We will head 1.4 miles upstream to the truss bridge, take a short break, and then return the way we came. Total distance is 3.1 miles. We will meet in the front parking lot of the school at 6:15 sharp, do quick introductions, then start hiking. I know Friday night summer traffic can be a bear, but we can't wait for latecomers due to shortening days. We should be back at the cars no later than 7:45. Sunset isn't until 8:27, but it will be getting a bit dark since we will be in a fairly deep valley in some parts. If people are interested, there are two restaurants that we could head to in Savage Mill afterwards, or Jailbreak Brewery and Foodworks, just a bit further down US 1.

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/6/3/f/8/event_160705592.jpeg (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=ZA8SWMLWS7WHA) NOTES 1. The conversation course is continuing education, designed to excel students' Amharic conversation skill. 2. The course runs for 12 weeks. 3. We don't give placement test. The students place themselves and they can switch to a level up or down, after they examine themselves. 4. Class cancelled due to 'Force Majeure', will be recovered at the end of the course. 5. Arriving by Metro: The closest metro stations are Farragut West and Farragut North. 6. Meter parking is also an option. It is about $ 0.25 for 8 minutes. 7. The payment for each class is $ 15.00 per person per hour. It will be $ 20.00 per person per hour for walk-ins. However, it is depending on availability. 8. Students can bring friends and pay $ 20 for 2 persons per hour. But it has to be an advance payment.

Weekly Bible study currently reading through the Gospel of Luke. We meet at Teaism in Penn Quarter. You can find us in the downstairs seating area!

Join us for a quiet, grounded Tuesday afternoon practice in community. We typically gather with 4–10 practitioners for seated and walking Zen meditation or practice instruction, along with brief Dharma instruction. **Schedule** * Please arrive by **4:30 pm** to settle in * First bell rings at **4:45 pm sharp** *(If you arrive late, please wait in the hallway until the next bell. Someone will greet you)* * 25 minutes of silent sitting * 5 minutes of walking meditation * 25 minutes of sitting with Dharma talk * 5 minutes of walking meditation * 15 minutes of closing meditation or chanting * We close at **6:00 pm** with tea and informal conversation, sometimes followed by a simple soup dinner **Experience** No prior experience is necessary. You may sit on a cushion or a chair. Whether you are new to meditation or have an established practice, you are welcome here. It is offered free of charge. **Location** Our Zendo is located in the **back** of Rockville United Church: [355 Linthicum St, Rockville, MD](https://maps.app.goo.gl/AABDrCx3sHvBPVBf9) After parking in front, please do **not** enter through the main church doors. Walk slightly downhill, then take the small rightward path up to the rear entrance. Look for posted signs. We meet on the lower level, past the double wooden doors. Guiding map: [https://postimg.cc/nMWsMnQy](https://postimg.cc/nMWsMnQy) **Who we are** [Joyful Mind Zen Community](https://www.joyfulmindzendo.org/) offers Zen practice, teaching, sitting, and walking meditation on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays in our Rockville Zendo. Our guiding teacher is authorized in the Soto Zen lineage and has practiced Zen for 25 years. If you have questions or are attending for the first time, feel free to reach out.

The first band at Brookside Gardens summer twilight concert series is the Olney Big Band. The Band specializes in performance of classic swing, dance and jazz music from the Big Band Era of the ‘30s and ‘40s in addition to arrangements from the '50s to present day. Bring a chair.

## **Mid-Week Service: Renew Your Spirit** Join us every **Wednesday evening at 6:15 PM** for our Mid-Week Service, a dedicated time to pause, pray, and recharge in the middle of a busy week. Held in an intimate and welcoming setting, this service is designed to help you reconnect with God and find peace through His Word. ### **What to Expect** * **Deep Biblical Teaching:** We move beyond the surface, engaging in verse-by-verse studies of Scripture—such as our current journey through the **Book of Acts**—to gain practical wisdom for daily life. * **Community Prayer:** We believe in the power of collective intercession. Each week, we lift up the needs of our families, our city, and the world. * **Heartfelt Worship:** A time of singing and reflection to center our hearts on the presence of the Holy Spirit. * **Authentic Fellowship:** Connect with a supportive community of believers who are walking the same path of faith. Whether you are looking for a deeper understanding of theology or simply a quiet place to sit at the feet of Jesus, our mid-week gathering offers the spiritual nourishment you need to finish your week with strength and purpose. *** > *"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have."* — **1 Peter 3:15**

Come exchange Asian Languages that you speak! ***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. We will assign tables for represented languages. All languages are welcome! However we don't guarantee the availability of a partner in that particular language, you would like to exchange. As you all remember well, this event used to bring out hundreds of people every week. However, it was discontinued last year for obvious reasons and we couldn't gather that many people now, because of restrictions. Hence, we are downsizing and caping the number of attendees. We have super limited spots and advance ticket purchase is required. ***AFTER THE HAPPY HOUR, WE HIT THE DANCE FLOOR! BRING YOUR DANCING SHOES, WE WILL DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY!*** HOW IT WORKS : We will try to assign tables for each represented languages and will direct attendees to their respective tables accordingly. All languages are welcome! However we don't guarantee the availability of a partner in that particular language, you would like to exchange. Rules to abide : 1. Event is free and 21+ (bring ID). 2. Be respectful to your counterparts and give them a chance to exchange with others as well. 3. We all are native speakers of one or two languages and be willing to help others and try to accommodate as much as possible. 4. If you don't speak the other person's required language, LEAVE THEM ALONE. 5. Rude or aggressive members are removed from the group at an organizers discretion. 6. This is a face-to-face language exchange event. DO NOT try to arrange an online meeting, by using the comment box or direct message. 7. Most of our members complained about people writing in the comment box. Since it sends notification to all attendees. If you have any questions, send a message to the organizers. Don't write in the comment box. 8. We have ZERO TOLERANCE for solicitation. We don't allow anyone to run their own agenda at the Event. If you are interested to promote/sponsor/collaborate; contact us via (info@merevents.com). 9. When you get there, we will greet you and take you to your respective group. 10. Don't be shy of your local languages. We have diplomates assigned to different countries, who would love to practice your languages. 11\. Be patient for the first 30 minutes\, up until we form your respective language group\. 12\. We will have a registration station and check you in\. You ought to have register on Meetup for a free entry\. Otherwise\, you will be subject to a cover charge\. 11. 13\. This is mainly a social for Intermediate/Advanced/Native Speaker\. It is not as such to learn a language\. Beginners\, if you want to learn a language\, reach out to us \(info@merevents\.com\)\. We have a school and will arrange you a class\. 12.

**NEW MEMBERS or 1st TIME EVENT GO-ERS** Before attending your first event, please take a moment to understand how our dinners work and what we ask of members. → **[Learn how DC Metro Dining works](https://tinyurl.com/Landing-Page-DC-Metro-Dining)** → **[Ensure Group Notifications are Setup (Announcements + In on Waitlist/Attending List)](https://app.tango.us/app/workflow/Enable-Meetup-Email-Notifications-3a85109614fc4907940503d096331392)** **RSVP CUTOFF (i.e. Final Change Your Mind if Registered YES)** → **RSVP Cancellation Cutoff for this Event is Sunday 10a, 6/6**. (*Late Cancel applies after this, repeat occurrences can impact membership*) Let’s head to upper Northwest DC for an Indian dinner at Masala Art in Tenleytown, a long-running neighborhood favorite known for refined North Indian cuisine and regional specialties. The restaurant was founded by chef Surinder Singh, formerly of Heritage India, and continues to maintain a strong reputation for consistent execution and depth of flavor. **FOOD**: Masala Art focuses on North Indian cuisine with a mix of classic curries, tandoori dishes, and harder-to-find regional specialties, vegetarian & GF friendly. Recent diners frequently highlight the Railway Lamb Curry, lamb korma dishes, garlic naan, and vegetarian items such as baingan bharta and okra preparations. Tandoori items and biryanis are also consistently well reviewed, with many diners noting balanced spice levels and strong flavor without excessive heaviness. The menu supports a wide range of preferences, including vegetarian-friendly selections and several richer meat-based dishes. Expect traditional Indian desserts and a full bar with wine, cocktails, and beer available. Most members should expect total spend to land roughly in the 40 to 70 dollar range, depending on ordering style & beverage participation. → **Explore Masala Art's menu (please note the 3% service charge, their way of defraying increasing costs):** **[https://masalaartdc.com/washington-dc-tenleytown-american-university-park-masala-art-food-menu](https://masalaartdc.com/washington-dc-tenleytown-american-university-park-masala-art-food-menu)** **SPACE**: Comfortable and intimate dining room with warm décor and a quieter neighborhood feel compared to downtown DC dining corridors. Expect moderate noise levels and a more relaxed pace on a Saturday evening. → **Visit the restaurant site**: **[https://masalaartdc.com](https://masalaartdc.com)** * Tax/Tip combo is our required 30% tax/tip policy (see the FAQs for more details). * Limited to 8 slots. See you there! JoeN **CLOSEST METRO**: * **Tenleytown–AU station (Red)** is the closest stop. Quick walk (exit on Tenleytown EAST (same side as Whole Foods) walk south along Wisconsin Ave & cross over Albermarle St NW). The walk is a quick 3–5 minutes based on routed walking directions and traffic signals. * For directions using the Metro, try using the Plan a Trip feature at the WMATA website ([click on your preferred Metro station](https://www.wmata.com/rider-guide/stations/index.cfm) then at the Station page level click "Plan a Trip". **PARKING**: Street parking and several public parking garages are available throughout Tenleytown. Weekend evening parking is generally easier here than in central DC neighborhoods, though nearby retail activity can still affect availability. Members may also want to check parking apps such as SpotHero and Parking Panda for discounted garage reservations and advance booking options nearby. Plan accordingly. ***Attendance Notes:*** * **If you RSVP “YES,” please commit to showing up***. With 5,400+ members and limited seating, we can’t afford no-shows. It’s not fair to other members or to our relationship with the restaurant.* * **New Members / 1st Timers: Trying to get a slot?** Join the Waitlist and check back frequently: spots (*often open up before Noon on the day of the event. You may also receive midweek confirmation emails to reconfirm your RSVP, so please check your Meetup DMs inbox).*\*\* * **Billing Reminder - Add 30% for tax and tip to your food and drink total.** This is part of our group’s expectations and helps smooth out service with the restaurant. Looking forward to dining with you! JoeN

Summer temperatures look like they will start returning later this week, so let's take an after-work a jaunt up the Patuxent at Brown's Bridge before it gets too toasty. I haven't been downstream at all this year, so we'll make a right from the ramp and head downstream for about a mile and a half before turning around. There is no discernable current in this section. We have to be off of WSSC property by sundown at 8:27, but launching by 6:15 should give us plenty of time for a three-mile round trip. Give yourself enough time to drop your gear off at the water and park across the street. This is event is suitable for kayaks and canoes (but not inflatables). WSSC does not allow paddle boards on their reservoirs and has been getting more serious about enforcement. If you've got a seat attachment for your SUP and can paddle it sitting down, I think you're in the clear. As always, you must WEAR, not just carry your life jacket/PFD. WSSC requires a watershed use permit. Permits are $6.25 per day or $72 for the year. I heard that they increased the fine for not having one to $100. You can purchase them online at: [https://my.wsscwater.com/selfcare/views/public/login/login.faces](https://my.wsscwater.com/selfcare/views/public/login/login.faces)

You are warmly invited to an evening of chamber music on **June 6 at 7:00 PM** at the **Kosciuszko Foundation Washington, DC Center**. # Myths and Sacred Tales This special concert features a distinguished string quintet: * **Devree Lewis**, cello * **Susanna Mendlow**, cello * **Agata Miklavc**, violin * **Holly Nelson**, violin * **Ting-An Wei**, viola They are joined by **Jason Solounias, piano**. **Program** *Mythes, Op. 30* by Karol Szymanowski I. La fontaine d’Arethuse (The Fountain of Arethusa) II. Narcisse (Narcissus) III. Dryades et Pan (Dryads and Pan) **With accompanying poetry:** * *Arethusa* by Percy Shelley * *Narcissus* by John Keats * *Hymn to Pan* by Aleister Crowley Performed by: **Susanna Mendlow**, reader **Agata Miklavc**, violin **Jason Solounias**, piano **Intermission** *String Quintet in C major, D.956* I. Allegro ma non troppo II. Adagio III. Scherzo. Presto – Trio. Andante sostenuto IV. Allegretto **Tickets:** $35 General Admission / $25 KF Members **Purchase tickets** **[HERE](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/myths-and-secret-tales-an-evening-of-chamber-music-and-poetry-tickets-1988631854409?aff=oddtdtcreator)** Hors d’oeuvres and wine will be served. We look forward to sharing this inspiring evening of music and poetry with you. More info **[HERE](https://thekf.org/event/myths-and-secret-tales-an-evening-of-chamber-music-and-poetry-at-the-kf-washington-dc/)** #### **The event is co-sponsored by the Sylvan and Eugenia Bobinski Fund.**

Come exchange Asian Languages that you speak! ***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. We will assign tables for represented languages. All languages are welcome! However we don't guarantee the availability of a partner in that particular language, you would like to exchange. As you all remember well, this event used to bring out hundreds of people every week. However, it was discontinued last year for obvious reasons and we couldn't gather that many people now, because of restrictions. Hence, we are downsizing and caping the number of attendees. We have super limited spots and advance ticket purchase is required. ***AFTER THE HAPPY HOUR, WE HIT THE DANCE FLOOR! BRING YOUR DANCING SHOES, WE WILL DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY!*** HOW IT WORKS : We will try to assign tables for each represented languages and will direct attendees to their respective tables accordingly. All languages are welcome! However we don't guarantee the availability of a partner in that particular language, you would like to exchange. Rules to abide : 1. Event is free and 21+ (bring ID). 2. Be respectful to your counterparts and give them a chance to exchange with others as well. 3. We all are native speakers of one or two languages and be willing to help others and try to accommodate as much as possible. 4. If you don't speak the other person's required language, LEAVE THEM ALONE. 5. Rude or aggressive members are removed from the group at an organizers discretion. 6. This is a face-to-face language exchange event. DO NOT try to arrange an online meeting, by using the comment box or direct message. 7. Most of our members complained about people writing in the comment box. Since it sends notification to all attendees. If you have any questions, send a message to the organizers. Don't write in the comment box. 8. We have ZERO TOLERANCE for solicitation. We don't allow anyone to run their own agenda at the Event. If you are interested to promote/sponsor/collaborate; contact us via (info@merevents.com). 9. When you get there, we will greet you and take you to your respective group. 10. Don't be shy of your local languages. We have diplomates assigned to different countries, who would love to practice your languages. 11\. Be patient for the first 30 minutes\, up until we form your respective language group\. 12\. We will have a registration station and check you in\. You ought to have register on Meetup for a free entry\. Otherwise\, you will be subject to a cover charge\. 11. 13\. This is mainly a social for Intermediate/Advanced/Native Speaker\. It is not as such to learn a language\. Beginners\, if you want to learn a language\, reach out to us \(info@merevents\.com\)\. We have a school and will arrange you a class\. 12.

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. Per what this group is about: "Everyone is welcome! International transplants to Columbus who want to improve language skills, Columbus residents who enjoy talking to people from other countries, and those who would like to discuss international travel and culture, and who enjoy getting together for good conversations."

[Columbus library link to book](https://cml.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S105C3351321) Location: The Goat River South 219 S High St, Columbus, OH 43215 Street parking is free on Sundays [Menu](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/686d3ed16745133042482c5f/t/68ff654dbb03b96875430bde/1761568077220/all_brunch-20250311.pdf) Book summary: On a hot day in Bethlehem, a twelve-year-old Palestinian-American girl is yelled at by a group of men outside the Church of the Nativity. She has exposed her legs in a biblical city, an act they deem forbidden, and their judgement will echo on through her adolescence. When our narrator finally admits to her mother that she is queer, her mother's response only intensifies a sense of shame: 'You exist too much,' she tells her daughter. Told in vignettes that flash between the U.S. and the Middle East--from New York to Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine--Zaina Arafat's debut novel traces her protagonist's progress from blushing teen to sought-after DJ and aspiring writer.

Please reserve your spot by registering on the below link : **Reserve** https://www.eventbrite.com/e/join-biggest-community-investors-founders-columbus-online-tickets-1988563717610?aff=meetup **QUESTIONS ?** Pls Reach out to; Ridhi - +971504724873 ( WhatsApp Only)

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/a/9/6/600_348310902.jpeg Instructor - Crow, HPS Class fee is $30 at the door or approved exchange RSVP with Advance pay of $25 (discounted) by PayPal on the web or by contacting Enchanted Elements (614) 437-2642. Reservations made directly to Enchanted Elements will be added to the class list manually not online. Private Instruction ~ Closed to the Public ~ Initiated Members Only Please come prepared for ritual. Blessings ~ Crow

June meetup at the Library. We’ll play games and have casual conversation in Japanese and in English. All levels of Japanese ability, from non-speaker to native, are welcome. After the meetup we will go out to eat at a local restaurant.

Let’s meet and share discussion of the James Baldwin short story collection, Going to Meet The Man.