New Parents

📚 Do you love reading, but wish you had a structure and a community to share your insights with? Join our small circle of curious minds (just 4 members per gathering) as we come together for an hour of focused reading—in the calm setting of a library or the cozy atmosphere of a café. Here’s how it works: First part: Quiet reading on your own—bring a book you’re exploring, whether it’s philosophy, history, psychology, literature, or anything meaningful to you. Second part: We regroup and each person shares key takeaways, insights, or questions sparked by their reading. This sparks a structured yet free-flowing conversation around ideas, perspectives, and personal reflections. Why join? Add structure to your reading habit. Discover new books, authors, and ideas through others’ choices. Build real connections by sharing and listening deeply. Socialize around something meaningful instead of small talk.

New Columbia Swing is your source for swing dancing and learning. Take our free beginner lesson, offered every week, followed by a fun social dance. Dance is $15 at the door or $12 if you preregister at https://newcolumbiaswing.org/register. $10 for students/military. **Is this your first time dancing with us? Register with the code FIRSTTIME for a 100% discount!** **SCHEDULE:** Join us at 8pm for a drop-in beginner lesson (no partner required). The main social dance starts at 9:00pm! Any questions or concerns? Email us at info@newcolumbiaswing.org.

## Details Hello everyone! We climb at Crystal City Movement every Wednesday. Please read rest of the description carefully. We mostly do tope rope climbing but we can arrange bouldering sessions as well. If you prefer lead climbing please post on the comments to find your belay partner. FYI we have a group of 5-7 regulars that don’t rsvp anymore, so please still come even if it says no-ones attending. \#\# Requirements * If you are not a Movement member, you'll get a daily pass. If you don't have the equipments you can rent them in the gym. * Please sign the waiver through: [https://movementgyms.com/waiver/](https://movementgyms.com/waiver/) All skill levels are welcome! If you are totally new to climbing and want to do top rope, then you have to have a belay certificate. In order to do that; * You can check Movement gym Intro to Rope Climbing class : [https://movementgyms.com/crystal-city/climbing/classes/](https://movementgyms.com/crystal-city/climbing/classes/) * After the course, you should do the 'Belay Check' which can be done as soon as 24 hours after you take the class. The test takes around 15 mins so it can be done before the climbing session. Before your first visit you may want to check the related webpage: [https://movementgyms.com/first-visit/](https://movementgyms.com/first-visit/) \#\# Where to meet To find us go down the stairs in front of the front desk. We will meet around the benches next to climbing walls.

If you’ve already learned the basics of volleyball and want to keep improving your skills while having fun, this event is for you! **How to find us:** Park in the South Bluemont Parking Area and walk toward the south end of the lot. Near the end, you’ll see a bridge on your left—cross it. We’ll be on the field to the left of the picnic pavilion. **Skill Level:** Advanced Beginner (click [here](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PojSi4qdlRsv1msCHhvpQ43iDc4FfzQwpWCc3kafVMY/mobilebasic) for details). **Reminders** 1. Attendance: We’ve noticed that the waitlist is growing, so please make sure your name is on the Going list if you plan to play. Our number of nets is limited so this helps avoid too many rotations. If your name is on the list but you don’t show up, it will count as an absence according to Smiley Social rules. Please update your RSVP at least 12 hours in advance if your plans change. 2. Injuries: Play safely and be mindful of others on the court. Respect positions and avoid risky moves that could lead to injury. If you’re not sure the ball is yours, call it before going for it to avoid collisions. 3. Game Rules: Let’s follow the basic volleyball rules, especially the three-touch rule so we can play properly and improve as a team! **Smiley Social documents:** 1. [Group Rules ](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HrG35p_0M08leRvCp8XWG3CMkr_GL928XFabl5T6Dvg) 2. [Liability Waiver ](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W2mq-7m99lmvd7gdWYaSUFtvVg4UGnzV6koafAbHmco) 3. [Volleyball Levels](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PojSi4qdlRsv1msCHhvpQ43iDc4FfzQwpWCc3kafVMY/)

Come try underwater hockey! We are open to new players. You just need to bring a bathing suit. If you have a mask, snorkel, or fins bring those, but we have extra to borrow. We are at The Saint James Sport Center. Go in the main entrance, walk past the front desk. Take the first right down a hallway. Follow the hallway to a set of stairs, take the stairs. Take the first right down another hallway. Locker rooms on the left.

Join Social Sips & Bites for our Wednesday Happy Hour. Great drinks, easy conversation, new faces, familiar faces, and that signature SSB energy that turns a simple night out into something memorable. https://m.ruthschris.com/home/tysons-corner/7341

Our NEIGHBORHOOD GEMS series features emblematic meals from around the world. This series shines a light on local restaurants and is designed to bring together inquisitive foodies and dishes that are unique and oh so worth a trip on roads less traveled! Join us for authentic Indain dishes at ***Pink Saffron***! **From Northern Virginia Magazine** In his native India, Shashank Chatrapati grew up near a bakery. But his favorite treat sounds more like something out of his adopted home of Virginia: biscuits. "They were cooked in a wooden oven," Chatrapati recalls of the lightly sweet bread. As a chef with 15 years of experience, he and co-founder Ankush Kumar opened Pink Saffron in Westpost at National Landing in November 2025. When they did, Chatrapati tried the biscuit recipe he remembered, complete with nutty filling, but baked it in the restaurant's tandoor. The result is a heat blistered, oily delight that's a cousin to naan, but with a trademark twist. The goal at Pink Saffron is to serve cuisine that would play well in India. Spice levels are slightly higher than most area Indian restaurants, and dishes are mostly of the variety that diners won't find elsewhere in the United States. Chatrapati mentions Bengali dab chingari - a helping of tiger prawns cooked inside a coconut - as a favorite. Inside the tandoor, the fresh young coconut combines with mustard paste, creating a seafood stew. But event those who order familiar classics like butter chicken and biryani will be greeted with new flavors. "On our menu, it's called romesco butter chicken because of the high-quality tomatoes,"explains Chatrapati. He adds high-grade cashews and blends them with the signature Pink Saffron mix of the eponymous stamen and rosewater. "When you eat out butter chicken, it will give you this different taste from any other butter chicken you get anywhere else," says Chatrapati. Even the dessert menu includes several options diners won't likley see without a trip to India. The double ka meetha is a delight for fans of bread pudding; it's simultaneously comforting and novel. Descended from the royal cuisine of Indian Muslim rulers, the sweet features crispy ghee-fried bread in a floral condensed milk mixture called rabdi - which also serves as a base for black gulab jamun - in a startingly pretty treat. Whatever diners choose to order at the new restaurant, they can bet that saffron, rose and freshly ground spices will make it taste like nothing else! **Check out the menu** [here](https://thepinksaffron.com/food-menu) Separate checks will be arranged in advance. All diners will settle their own tabs. 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 and help us support local businesses. In the event our group incurs a fee for no-shows / late cancellations, your ability to RSVP for future events will be restricted. Thank you in advance for your understanding. To enhance the opportunity for great conversation, we will continue to limit the group size. Please feel free to sign-up to meet us along with up to 2 friends. **\*\*** **WAITLIST:** Meetup does not allow waitlists for paid events. *If this event fills and you would like to be added to the waitlist, please send a note to the host through the Meetup app. **\*\**** In the future, we will vary the days of the week and the types of restaurants to keep events interesting. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE COMMITTED TO GO WHEN YOU RSVP FOR THIS EVENT. Feel free to make suggestions for future meet locations. \*\* The small non-refundable registration fee helps us share the cost associated with the Meet-Up platform ($360/yr) and reduces the likelihood of no-shows, allowing us to better plan our events and accommodate all participants. Meetup charges $0.51 and Paypal charges $0.53 on the $2 registration fee. Thanks in advance for your understanding!\*\* If you are unable to join us in April, we hope you'll stay interested and join us for a meal in the future. Looking forward to catching up with you for a delightful dinner at Pink Saffron!

This is where you meet the area's 30, 40 and 50 years young; 30 somethings, 40 somethings, 50 [somethings.......as](http://somethings.......as/) they are known as GENERATION Xers....., who are active, self accomplished, sophisticated, young at heart, empty nesters; who would like to do things and enjoy life; who has got time and could afford it as well! ***GRAB A DRINK AND YOU WILL BE ALL SET TO ENJOY THE EVENT. YOU NEED TO GRAB AT LEAST A DRINK OR A FOOD ITEM :) 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. Direct RSVP required. We have the discretion to decide entry. Many of you were not born while we were partying:) The profile picture of this invite was taken while we were having a blast. One of our members was buying us rounds of shots. He almost spent $ 1K just on shots. LET US DO IT AGAIN! They also make us feel loved and honored, by serving, one of our signature cocktails, which is named after us - MerTini:) It will be one of the featured cocktails. Ask your bartenders:) Unacceptable Attire: 1. Athletic Clothing: This Includes gym attire, sweatpants, yoga pants, and tracksuits 2. Baggy Clothing: Clothing that is excessively loose-fitting or oversized, such as baggy jeans, sagging sweatpants or oversized t-shirts. 3. Sportswear: Jerseys, team logos, and other sport-specific attire 4. Beachwear: shorts, tank tops, swimwear, and revealing clothing 5. Flip Flops: Open-toe sandals, thong sandals, and flip flops are not allowed 6. Timberlands and Steel Toed Shoes. DETAILS : * We will have a registration station and check you in. * 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. PARKING INFO Parking might be a challenge and the event involves drinking. We highly encourage you to take a public transportation, taxi service or a ride share. DRINK RESPONSIBLY. ***N.B. : 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](http://info@merevents.com/)).***

Come volunteer with us refurbishing donated bicycles so that they can be used again by the community! This event is open to new volunteers and existing volunteers. No mechanical experience is necessary. Note: The warehouse location is in the alley behind 1502 Mt Vernon Ave. Enter through the gray door next to a roll-down garage door. If you drive to the location, be sure to park in the street, not in the alleys or parking lots surrounding the warehouse. And wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty with bicycle grease! Volunteers under 18 need a parent or guardian to accompany them to their first volunteer experience and sign a liability waiver. Volunteers under 16 need a parent or guardian to accompany them at all times while volunteering with Vélocity.

Hello! In rescheduling from March, we'll meet up for dinner at Shaw's Tavern. A bunch of us went here when Bella DePaulo came for her book talk a couple of years ago. They have some nice low-key, reasonably priced options: [https://www.shawstavern.com/](https://www.shawstavern.com/) \- I reserved some space on the covered outdoor patio\. Hopefully\, the weather is springy\! Street parking is free on weekends, but difficult to find. Alternatively, it's an eight-minute walk from the Shaw-Howard U stop on the Yellow/Green Line. A couple of disclaimers: this is not a "meet market." Many of us desire to become DINKs at some point, while others do not; let's not assume the former for anyone. In the spirit of the overall group, this is inclusive in that regard. But please just come with the intent to have fun and connect with other CFs, not to hook up or partner up. If it happens naturally, awesome. But please don't have that goal in mind. You can bring a guest provided they're single and childfree. If something comes up and you can't make it, please switch your RSVP to "no" by Friday, 4/24 at 5 p.m. That said, if you've repeatedly signed up and then switched your RSVP to "no," I reserve the right to move you to the waitlist if we have enough people wanting to go. Reservations are limited to eight people; if anybody wants to make their own reservation so we can have more, let me know, and I'll increase the size.

Come volunteer with us refurbishing donated bicycles so that they can be used again by the community! This event is open to both new and existing volunteers. No mechanical experience is necessary. Note: The warehouse location is in the alley behind 1502 Mt Vernon Ave. Enter through the gray door next to a roll-down garage door. If you drive to the location, be sure to park in the street, not in the alleys or parking lots surrounding the warehouse. And wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty with bicycle grease! Please be aware that volunteers under 18 need a parent or guardian to accompany them to their first volunteer experience and sign a liability waiver, while volunteers under 16 need a parent or guardian to accompany them at all times while volunteering with Vélocity.