E-Commerce

Join us for an engaging 30-45-minute talk, followed by casual networking and drinks. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly - perfect for learning something new, meeting interesting people, and enjoying good conversation over a glass of wine. **Who is it for:** This presentation is suitable for anyone interested in human or computer vision, and is designed to be informative and easy to follow. **What You’ll Learn:** You will learn how we see colour and how light works, how visual information is stored digitally, and the computer vision techniques used to manipulate visual data. **Why attend:** Feed your curiosity, enjoy a relaxed atmosphere with a glass of wine, and connect with others through networking.

​​**IMPORTANT: If you were not able to join our previous session on the 13th of December, we are re-doing the workshop with the SAME CONTENT, so more people can experience building AI apps using Redis AI products.** ​**​What?** ​​Redis AI workshop is a hands-on session with Redis AI products ​**​Why?** ​​Redis AI is a game-changer in the world of AI and machine learning **Where?** ​​Sofia, Synergy Tower, Boulevard "Tsarigradsko Shose" 111P, 1784 ​**​When?** 14th of May at 18:00 ​​ *Let’s run some live coding sessions together, where each participant can experiment with Redis LangCache, vector caching, and related features using their preferred programming language* ​**Workshop Agenda:** ​​17:30 - 18:00 Registration Session 1 ​​18:00 - 18:30 - Workshop intro and core concepts 18:30 - 19:15 - Coding Session 1 **Session 2** ​​ 19:15 - 19:30 - Recap and intro to Session 2 19:30 - 20:15 - Coding Session 2 **Session 3** ​​20:15 - 20:30 - Recap and intro to Session 3 20:30 - 21:15 - Coding Session 3 21:15 - 21:30 - Wrap up and Q&A 21:30 - 23:00 - Pizza and Networking ​**​*Bring your good coding mood and your own laptop with pre-installed containerization software (Docker, Podman, etc.)***

*🦞* Cogito Ergo Creo *🦞* Second gathering of OpenClaw Bulgaria. This time — we go local. On April 4th, Anthropic blocked Claude Pro and Max subscriptions from being used through OpenClaw and other third-party agent frameworks. The message was clear: if you want to run agents your way, you need to own your infrastructure. So that's exactly what we'll do. 🧠 Mental — Why local matters. What happened with Anthropic's decision, what it means for the agent ecosystem, and why running your own LLM isn't just a backup plan — it's freedom. 💻 Demo — Setup & run. Live walkthrough: setting up and running a local LLM from scratch. Models, hardware, tools, performance. No cloud, no API keys, no permission needed. 🔥 Live — Your turn. Bring your laptop, your project, your questions. Build something, break something, ask anything. Open floor. Who is this for? Developers, makers, entrepreneurs, and the simply curious. Whether you've been self-hosting for years or just want to understand what "running local" means — if you like building things, you belong here. Language: English + Bulgarian — whatever flows naturally. 📍 Location: SOHO — HOLISTIC Room, 4 Iskar Street, Sofia 1000 (near Serdika metro station) 🕐 Start: 17:00 🌐 www.openclaw.bg 💬 discord.gg/qu4gusnZd3 This is a recurring meetup — every first Thursday of the month (moved this month due to holidays). Come once, come always. Hosted by Alex Alexiew & Aria 🤖 ——— 🇧🇬 Български Cogito ergo creo. Втора среща на OpenClaw Bulgaria. Този път — ставаме локални. На 4 април Anthropic блокира използването на Claude Pro и Max абонаментите през OpenClaw и други агентни платформи. Посланието беше ясно: ако искаш да пускаш агенти по свой начин, трябва да притежаваш инфраструктурата си. Точно това ще направим. 🧠 Mental — Защо локалното има значение. Какво се случи с решението на Anthropic, какво означава за екосистемата на агентите и защо да пуснеш собствен LLM не е просто резервен план — а свобода. 💻 Demo — Настройка и стартиране. На живо: инсталация и стартиране на локален LLM от нулата. Модели, хардуер, инструменти, производителност. Без облак, без API ключове, без разрешение. 🔥 Live — Вашият ред. Донесете лаптоп, проект, въпроси. Създайте нещо, счупете нещо, питайте каквото искате. 📍 Локация: SOHO — зала HOLISTIC, ул. „Искър" 4, София 1000 (до метростанция Сердика) 🕐 Начало: 17:00 🌐 www.openclaw.bg 💬 discord.gg/qu4gusnZd3 Срещаме се всеки първи четвъртък от месеца (този месец преместен заради празниците). Елате веднъж, останете завинаги.

Join us for this year’s meeting with the queen of Guinean West African dance tradition – **Byshara Shokolate!** ✅ You can participate in the classes even without prior dance experience. 📅 **Program:** 💃🏾 **May 14 / 20:00 – 21:30 – Comorian Women’s Dances** 💃🏾 Learn how women from the Comoros Islands cultivate their femininity and strength through dance. 🥁 **May 15 / 20:00 – 21:30 – Drum and Dance** 🥁 NEW CLASS where we’ll dance while creating rhythm, inspired by STOMP and West African DUN DUN dances. Participants will both play instruments and dance at the same time. 🌴 **May 16 / 11:00 – 12:30 – West African Traditional Dance** 🌴 West African dances with live percussion. An exciting synergy between musicians and dancers, experienced through the traditions of Guinea and Mali. 👪 **May 16 / 12:30 – 13:30 – Dance for Kids & Parents** 👪 Time for parents and children spent on dancing, fun games, and bonding. 🥘 **May 16 / 18:30 – 20:30 – Cultural Night** 🥘 An evening to explore the cultures Bishara Chocolat comes from – the Comoros Islands and Guinea. Expect delicious food, captivating stories, and a small market with authentic jewelry and souvenirs. 🎟️ **Participation:** Pre-registration is required due to limited studio capacity – up to 25 people. (During Bishara’s previous visits, when the maximum capacity of 35 was reached, people continued to register at the last minute. Register early to secure your spot.) * Single class: €40 \* * Full pass – €140 / 8 passes available \*\* * Half pass (2 classes of your choice + Cultural Night) – €85 / 8 passes available * Cultural passes (3 classes of your choice + Cultural Night) – €110 / 8 passes available * \* For the “Dance for Kids & Parents” session, entry includes one parent with one child up to 13 years old. To receive a full / half / cultural pass, please contact us \- e\-mail: afrocenterbg@gmail\.com \- Viber / WhatsApp: \+359892 018 768 or sign the form - [MOVE YOUR AFRO with BYSHARA SHOKOLAT / 2026](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdci4Kjcafexsmjb4dhFF_8v2KYSdPMDjlAALLwq8UCrQPsHA/viewform)

Are you ready to enjoy warmer spring evenings together again? We are, and that’s why we’re inviting you to our next Data & AI Engineering [applydata](https://applydata.io) Meetup, taking place at our Bucharest office on the 14th May. **Bogdan Beda:** ***"Beyond Syntax: The Evolving Role of the Software Engineer in the AI Era"*** [Bogdan Beda](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bogdan-beda/) is a Principal Software Engineer at [Microsoft](https://www.linkedin.com/company/microsoft/), working on \*Copilot for Work\* backend, on a non-deterministic product using a codebase that is increasingly being generated by AI. In his presentation, Bogdan will explore the new essential toolkit for the AI era – moving beyond basic prompt engineering to mastering product development, from system design decisions to validating outputs. **Costin Vilcu: *"SOC Transformation in the AI Era"*** [Costin Vilcu](https://www.linkedin.com/in/costin-vilcu-oscp-pentester/) is an Information and Network Security Professional with 20+ years of experience, passionate about Penetration Testing, Security Consulting, Teaching and Social Communication. Costin's presentation explores how Security Operations Centers (SOCs) must evolve in the age of AI, from reactive monitoring to intelligent, autonomous threat detection and response. **Dana Juncu: *"The Invisible Threat: How a Sticker on a Traffic Sign Could Compromise Autonomous Vehicles"*** [Dana Juncu](https://www.linkedin.com/in/danajuncu/) is a Senior Product Manager at [Diconium](https://www.linkedin.com/company/diconium/posts/?feedView=all), working at the intersection of data, engineering, and product, owning end-to-end delivery of labeled datasets for ADAS & autonomous driving systems. In her presentation, Dana will cover why AI security is fundamentally different from traditional software security and what it actually takes to build robust, trustworthy AI in safety-critical domains. If you're curious, you can read more about the importance of Data Labeling in her previous blog articles: [Data Labeling as Continuous Service](https://applydata.io/data-labeling-as-a-continuous-service/) & [Traffic Sign Recognition at Scale](https://applydata.io/traffic-sign-recognition-at-scale-why-the-dataset-is-the-hard-part/) **What to expect:** * Three expert talks * Networking opportunities in our historical villa office * Some snacks & drinks **Timetable:** * 18:30 - Event admission * 19:00 - Welcome & introduction * 19:05 - First speaker * 19:30 - Second speaker * 20:00 - Third speaker * 20:30 - Connect & chat ✧ ✧ ✧ **Our goal is to form a local data-loving community, so join us and let's talk data together!** ✧ ✧ ✧ *At the event, sound, image and video recordings are created and published for documentation purposes as well as for the presentation of the event in publicly accessible media, on websites and blogs and for presentation on social media. By participating the event, the participant implicitly consents to the aforementioned photo and/or video recordings. Find [more information on data protection here](https://applydata.io/events/information-on-data-protection/).*

Join us for an engaging 30-45-minute talk, followed by casual networking and drinks. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly - perfect for learning something new, meeting interesting people, and enjoying good conversation over a glass of wine. **Who is it for:** This presentation is suitable for anyone interested in human or computer vision, and is designed to be informative and easy to follow. **What You’ll Learn:** You will learn how we see colour and how light works, how visual information is stored digitally, and the computer vision techniques used to manipulate visual data. **Why attend:** Feed your curiosity, enjoy a relaxed atmosphere with a glass of wine, and connect with others through networking.

​​**IMPORTANT: If you were not able to join our previous session on the 13th of December, we are re-doing the workshop with the SAME CONTENT, so more people can experience building AI apps using Redis AI products.** ​**​What?** ​​Redis AI workshop is a hands-on session with Redis AI products ​**​Why?** ​​Redis AI is a game-changer in the world of AI and machine learning **Where?** ​​Sofia, Synergy Tower, Boulevard "Tsarigradsko Shose" 111P, 1784 ​**​When?** 14th of May at 18:00 ​​ *Let’s run some live coding sessions together, where each participant can experiment with Redis LangCache, vector caching, and related features using their preferred programming language* ​**Workshop Agenda:** ​​17:30 - 18:00 Registration Session 1 ​​18:00 - 18:30 - Workshop intro and core concepts 18:30 - 19:15 - Coding Session 1 **Session 2** ​​ 19:15 - 19:30 - Recap and intro to Session 2 19:30 - 20:15 - Coding Session 2 **Session 3** ​​20:15 - 20:30 - Recap and intro to Session 3 20:30 - 21:15 - Coding Session 3 21:15 - 21:30 - Wrap up and Q&A 21:30 - 23:00 - Pizza and Networking ​**​*Bring your good coding mood and your own laptop with pre-installed containerization software (Docker, Podman, etc.)***

*🦞* Cogito Ergo Creo *🦞* Second gathering of OpenClaw Bulgaria. This time — we go local. On April 4th, Anthropic blocked Claude Pro and Max subscriptions from being used through OpenClaw and other third-party agent frameworks. The message was clear: if you want to run agents your way, you need to own your infrastructure. So that's exactly what we'll do. 🧠 Mental — Why local matters. What happened with Anthropic's decision, what it means for the agent ecosystem, and why running your own LLM isn't just a backup plan — it's freedom. 💻 Demo — Setup & run. Live walkthrough: setting up and running a local LLM from scratch. Models, hardware, tools, performance. No cloud, no API keys, no permission needed. 🔥 Live — Your turn. Bring your laptop, your project, your questions. Build something, break something, ask anything. Open floor. Who is this for? Developers, makers, entrepreneurs, and the simply curious. Whether you've been self-hosting for years or just want to understand what "running local" means — if you like building things, you belong here. Language: English + Bulgarian — whatever flows naturally. 📍 Location: SOHO — HOLISTIC Room, 4 Iskar Street, Sofia 1000 (near Serdika metro station) 🕐 Start: 17:00 🌐 www.openclaw.bg 💬 discord.gg/qu4gusnZd3 This is a recurring meetup — every first Thursday of the month (moved this month due to holidays). Come once, come always. Hosted by Alex Alexiew & Aria 🤖 ——— 🇧🇬 Български Cogito ergo creo. Втора среща на OpenClaw Bulgaria. Този път — ставаме локални. На 4 април Anthropic блокира използването на Claude Pro и Max абонаментите през OpenClaw и други агентни платформи. Посланието беше ясно: ако искаш да пускаш агенти по свой начин, трябва да притежаваш инфраструктурата си. Точно това ще направим. 🧠 Mental — Защо локалното има значение. Какво се случи с решението на Anthropic, какво означава за екосистемата на агентите и защо да пуснеш собствен LLM не е просто резервен план — а свобода. 💻 Demo — Настройка и стартиране. На живо: инсталация и стартиране на локален LLM от нулата. Модели, хардуер, инструменти, производителност. Без облак, без API ключове, без разрешение. 🔥 Live — Вашият ред. Донесете лаптоп, проект, въпроси. Създайте нещо, счупете нещо, питайте каквото искате. 📍 Локация: SOHO — зала HOLISTIC, ул. „Искър" 4, София 1000 (до метростанция Сердика) 🕐 Начало: 17:00 🌐 www.openclaw.bg 💬 discord.gg/qu4gusnZd3 Срещаме се всеки първи четвъртък от месеца (този месец преместен заради празниците). Елате веднъж, останете завинаги.

**Founders Running Club** (FRC) brings founders, investors, tech, creative people and startup enthusiasts together for weekly easy runs and networking. We like to be comfortable when we run and finish with coffee and conversations. Choose your pace or follow a pacer—pets, friends, family, are welcome. 🗓️ Launched in San Francisco, July 16, 2022 🌍 Now in 35+ cities 📅 Running + Networking events + Community **Join the community** [http://foundersrc.com/chats](http://foundersrc.com/chats) **Stay updated**: Instagram [http://instagram.com/foundersrc/](http://instagram.com/foundersrc/) Podcast [http://podcast.foundersrc.com/](http://podcast.foundersrc.com/) LinkedIn [http://linkedin.com/company/foundersrc/](http://linkedin.com/company/foundersrc/) Strava [http://strava.com/clubs/foundersRC](http://strava.com/clubs/foundersRC) Website [http://foundersrc.com/](http://foundersrc.com/)

Join us for this year’s meeting with the queen of Guinean West African dance tradition – **Byshara Shokolate!** ✅ You can participate in the classes even without prior dance experience. 📅 **Program:** 💃🏾 **May 14 / 20:00 – 21:30 – Comorian Women’s Dances** 💃🏾 Learn how women from the Comoros Islands cultivate their femininity and strength through dance. 🥁 **May 15 / 20:00 – 21:30 – Drum and Dance** 🥁 NEW CLASS where we’ll dance while creating rhythm, inspired by STOMP and West African DUN DUN dances. Participants will both play instruments and dance at the same time. 🌴 **May 16 / 11:00 – 12:30 – West African Traditional Dance** 🌴 West African dances with live percussion. An exciting synergy between musicians and dancers, experienced through the traditions of Guinea and Mali. 👪 **May 16 / 12:30 – 13:30 – Dance for Kids & Parents** 👪 Time for parents and children spent on dancing, fun games, and bonding. 🥘 **May 16 / 18:30 – 20:30 – Cultural Night** 🥘 An evening to explore the cultures Bishara Chocolat comes from – the Comoros Islands and Guinea. Expect delicious food, captivating stories, and a small market with authentic jewelry and souvenirs. 🎟️ **Participation:** Pre-registration is required due to limited studio capacity – up to 25 people. (During Bishara’s previous visits, when the maximum capacity of 35 was reached, people continued to register at the last minute. Register early to secure your spot.) * Single class: €40 \* * Full pass – €140 / 8 passes available \*\* * Half pass (2 classes of your choice + Cultural Night) – €85 / 8 passes available * Cultural passes (3 classes of your choice + Cultural Night) – €110 / 8 passes available * \* For the “Dance for Kids & Parents” session, entry includes one parent with one child up to 13 years old. To receive a full / half / cultural pass, please contact us \- e\-mail: afrocenterbg@gmail\.com \- Viber / WhatsApp: \+359892 018 768 or sign the form - [MOVE YOUR AFRO with BYSHARA SHOKOLAT / 2026](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdci4Kjcafexsmjb4dhFF_8v2KYSdPMDjlAALLwq8UCrQPsHA/viewform)

Are you ready to enjoy warmer spring evenings together again? We are, and that’s why we’re inviting you to our next Data & AI Engineering [applydata](https://applydata.io) Meetup, taking place at our Bucharest office on the 14th May. **Bogdan Beda:** ***"Beyond Syntax: The Evolving Role of the Software Engineer in the AI Era"*** [Bogdan Beda](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bogdan-beda/) is a Principal Software Engineer at [Microsoft](https://www.linkedin.com/company/microsoft/), working on \*Copilot for Work\* backend, on a non-deterministic product using a codebase that is increasingly being generated by AI. In his presentation, Bogdan will explore the new essential toolkit for the AI era – moving beyond basic prompt engineering to mastering product development, from system design decisions to validating outputs. **Costin Vilcu: *"SOC Transformation in the AI Era"*** [Costin Vilcu](https://www.linkedin.com/in/costin-vilcu-oscp-pentester/) is an Information and Network Security Professional with 20+ years of experience, passionate about Penetration Testing, Security Consulting, Teaching and Social Communication. Costin's presentation explores how Security Operations Centers (SOCs) must evolve in the age of AI, from reactive monitoring to intelligent, autonomous threat detection and response. **Dana Juncu: *"The Invisible Threat: How a Sticker on a Traffic Sign Could Compromise Autonomous Vehicles"*** [Dana Juncu](https://www.linkedin.com/in/danajuncu/) is a Senior Product Manager at [Diconium](https://www.linkedin.com/company/diconium/posts/?feedView=all), working at the intersection of data, engineering, and product, owning end-to-end delivery of labeled datasets for ADAS & autonomous driving systems. In her presentation, Dana will cover why AI security is fundamentally different from traditional software security and what it actually takes to build robust, trustworthy AI in safety-critical domains. If you're curious, you can read more about the importance of Data Labeling in her previous blog articles: [Data Labeling as Continuous Service](https://applydata.io/data-labeling-as-a-continuous-service/) & [Traffic Sign Recognition at Scale](https://applydata.io/traffic-sign-recognition-at-scale-why-the-dataset-is-the-hard-part/) **What to expect:** * Three expert talks * Networking opportunities in our historical villa office * Some snacks & drinks **Timetable:** * 18:30 - Event admission * 19:00 - Welcome & introduction * 19:05 - First speaker * 19:30 - Second speaker * 20:00 - Third speaker * 20:30 - Connect & chat ✧ ✧ ✧ **Our goal is to form a local data-loving community, so join us and let's talk data together!** ✧ ✧ ✧ *At the event, sound, image and video recordings are created and published for documentation purposes as well as for the presentation of the event in publicly accessible media, on websites and blogs and for presentation on social media. By participating the event, the participant implicitly consents to the aforementioned photo and/or video recordings. Find [more information on data protection here](https://applydata.io/events/information-on-data-protection/).*

If you’re trying to grow in marketing right now, guessing isn’t a great strategy. This event gives you direct access to how marketing leaders actually think. Join DC Marketing Tech Talks on May 19th in Tysons for a live **CMO Ask Me Anything** — a candid, open conversation with experienced marketing leaders who have built teams, driven revenue, and led at the highest levels. This is your chance to ask: * What skills actually matter right now? * What gets someone promoted vs. passed over? * What does it take to become a CMO today? * How are marketing teams and roles changing? * How do you connect brand to real business growth? Just real answers from people who have done the work. Whether you’re looking to move up, switch roles, or sharpen your edge, you’ll leave with a clearer sense of what to focus on next. As always, this event is free and open to the public thanks to our sponsors, SalesIntel. Food, drinks, networking, and a room full of marketers who care about getting better at what they do. Come with questions. Leave with direction.

[https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42682114](https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42682114) 28 miles. Picnic break at Wolf Trap around 13.2 miles into the ride. We have toilets halfway along the trail and near the beginning of the trail. NEW: E-biking to Wolf Trap (+/- 27.4 miles). Download the trail here: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42682114 PLEASE NOTE: We start from Lindway Terrace Park. It sounds so far away, but it is within e-biking range. Join us as we embark on a fantastic 28-mile e-bike ride to Wolf Trap National Park in Virginia and return via the W&OD trail. Be ready to e-bike through spectacular landscapes on rustic roads in McLean and Great Falls' upscale neighborhoods. We do not e-bike on gravel roads, but be aware of the hills. Charge your batteries. Wolf Trap National Park is a unique and beautiful destination in Northern Virginia's heart. It is the only national park dedicated to the performing arts, offering visitors various cultural and entertainment experiences. The park covers over 100 acres of lush woods and rolling hills, offering a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Visitors to the park can enjoy various outdoor activities, including hiking, picnicking, and birdwatching. The park also features several trails that wind through the woods, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. Whether you're a nature lover or just looking for a relaxing place to spend the day, Wolf Trap National Park is the perfect destination. The park's highlight is the Filene Center, a beautiful outdoor theater that offers a unique and intimate performance experience. From classical music to rock concerts, the Filene Center has something to offer for everyone. Visitors can also take a backstage tour and learn about the history and workings of the theater. Wolf Trap National Park is a must-visit e-biking destination for anyone looking to escape the city and immerse themselves in the beauty of nature and the arts. With its picturesque surroundings, diverse activities, and world-class performances, it's easy to see why Wolf Trap is a beloved destination for visitors of all ages. Did you know that E-bike Lovers is an Amazon Affiliate? [https://ebikelovers.com/reviews](https://ebikelovers.com/reviews) FYI: Ride With GPS E-bike Lovers club membership is now free as [www.ebikelovers.com](http://www.ebikelovers.com/) is generating sufficient income from ads to cover the costs. Here is the link to activate your free membership: [https://ridewithgps.com/auto_approve/Club/6746/Zwa5jhttF5mJrFbN](https://ridewithgps.com/auto_approve/Club/6746/Zwa5jhttF5mJrFbN) The group stops a few times for slower riders to catch up. For the E-bike Lovers group to be successful, we need to grow our membership carefully. Please feel free to invite other E-bike lovers, spread the word, and let's have fun. As usual, non-assisted bikers are most welcome. DISCLAIMER LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMISSIBLE PURSUANT TO APPLICABLE LAW, NEITHER GREGORY MAASSEN, NATHAN MERRIS, TRIP COORDINATORS, THEIR AFFILIATES, FAMILY AND FORMER AND CURRENT EMPLOYERS NOR ANY OTHER PARTY INVOLVED IN CREATING, PRODUCING, OR DELIVERING E-BIKE LOVERS GUIDES, OUR MEETUP EVENTS, AND THE GPS E-TRAILS IS LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF A USER’S ACCESS TO, OR USE OF THE E-BIKE LOVERS GUIDES, OUR MEETUP EVENTS, AND THE GPS E-TRAILS. See for the full disclaimer: https://ebikelovers.com/disclaimer

**ProductTank NoVA is back!** After a brief hiatus, we are relaunching the chapter with a format that cuts out the fluff and gets straight to the reality of building. Every product feed is flooded with AI hype right now, but what does it actually look like on the ground? Instead of a polished keynote, we are hosting **0 to 1 with AI: Real Product Talks**—a "Show & Tell" featuring 3–4 lightning talks focused on the intersection of AI and product. The framing for the talks is simple: *"Here is what I'm building, and here is what I'm stuck on."* We want to look at the messy, 0-to-1 reality of integrating AI into your workflows and products. *(Want to share what you are working on? Reach out! The bar is low-pressure, just 10–12 minutes to talk about a real AI problem you are trying to solve.)* **Agenda:** * **5:30 PM - 6:00 PM:** Doors open, networking, & name tags * **6:00 PM - 6:10 PM:** Welcome + Chapter Relaunch Intro * **6:10 PM - 7:30 PM:** Lightning Talks (Three 12-min talks + 5 mins Q&A each, with a 5-min stretch break) * **7:30 PM - 8:00 PM:** Open networking * **8:00 PM:** Soft close **Location & Logistics:** Herndon Fortnightly Library (Extended Hours Meeting Room) 768 Center St, Herndon, VA 20170 * **Parking:** We'll meet at the library, located just behind the Herndon Municipal Center. There is plenty of free public parking available around the municipal center. * **Metro & Bus:** Take the Silver Line to Herndon Metro Station, then connect via Fairfax Connector Route 921 or 950 to Historic Downtown Herndon. * **Driving (via VA-267/Dulles Toll Rd):** Take Exit 10 North (Centreville Rd, which becomes Elden St). Turn left onto Station St or Lynn St. * **Driving (via VA-286/Fairfax Co Pkwy):** Take the Elden St West exit. Turn right onto Lynn St. Looking forward to seeing everyone again and getting back to building!

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/54635719 20.6 miles; mostly paved trail; some designated bike lanes and relatively calm neighborhood streets. Toilet facilities at beginning and middle of the ride. Lunch at Fletcher's Cove, 13 miles into the ride. On this ride we explore two local gems: Rock Creek Trail/Beach Drive and the Capital Crescent Trail. Rock Creek Park is a national treasure and affords magnificent nature views. We'll ride on the trail and on sections of Beach Drive that have been closed to motor vehicle traffic. Feel free to stop for photos at Peirce Mill and the adjacent waterfall. We continue south past the National Zoo on the Zoo Loop and down into Georgetown. At the Georgetown waterfront, we'll make an optional stop at mile 0 of the C&O Canal. You may also choose to stop and explore the Georgetown Waterfront Park and its terrific views of the Potomac. From Georgetown we go west on the Capital Crescent Trail. After our lunch stop at Fletcher's Cove, we head further north to Bethesda then east through well-sculpted Chevy Chase neighborhoods before finishing the ride. **Please charge your battery, pump your tires, and check your brakes. Consider packing a spare tire tube. The ride is on paved trail and asphalt roads, but there are a few hilly segments. As usual, analog bike riders are most welcome.** **We highly recommend that you download the Ride With GPS route map.** https://ridewithgps.com/routes/54635719 **About Peirce Mill** Peirce Mill was built on Rock Creek in 1829 at the behest of Isaac Peirce. Using the moving water as a power source, the mill ground corn, wheat, and rye. Succeeding generations further developed the mill, sawmill, orchard, and tree nursery. In 1890, an act of Congress incorporated the mill and 350 acres of the property into Rock Creek Park. **About Fletcher's Cove** Fletcher's Cove, called by many customers "Fletcher's Boathouse," has been in this location since the 1850s and is renowned as a fishing and recreational area. The nearby Abner Cloud House is the oldest building on the canal, dating back to 1802. After 145 years of business, the fourth generation of the Fletcher family retired in 2004, and a National Park Service concessionaire assumed responsibility for the operation of the boat rental and fishing tackle/bait operation. The area surrounding the boathouse was then officially named Fletcher's Cove, though most people still call it Fletcher's Boat House. **About the C&O Canal** The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal operated from 1831 until 1924 along the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., to Cumberland, Maryland. The canal's principal cargo was coal from the Allegheny Mountains. The canal’s roots begin with George Washington’s dream of a waterway trade route. 74 locks were built. The full canal towpath is 184 miles long. See our September calendar for 4-day adventure on the towpath. **About the Capital Crescent Trail** The Capital Crescent Trail follows an abandoned Georgetown Branch railroad right of way and extends 11 miles from Georgetown, in the District of Columbia, to Bethesda, MD. It will eventually link to Silver Spring. The trail, one of 500 rail-to-trail projects in the nation, traverses’ park land and neighborhoods and includes stretches along the Potomac River. We'll cross a railroad trestle at Arizona Avenue and ride through the Dalecarlia Tunnel near the DC/MD border. **Free Ride With GPS for E-Bike Lovers** The Ride With GPS E-bike Lovers club membership is now free as [www.ebikelovers.com](http://www.ebikelovers.com/) generates sufficient income from ads to cover the costs. Here is the link to activate your free membership: [https://ridewithgps.com/auto_approve/Club/6746/Zwa5jhttF5mJrFbN](https://ridewithgps.com/auto_approve/Club/6746/Zwa5jhttF5mJrFbN) **More information about using GPS files:** [https://ebikelovers.com/2021/03/15/download-our-trails-and-never-get-lost/](https://ebikelovers.com/2021/03/15/download-our-trails-and-never-get-lost/) **More information about e-bike ranges:** [https://ebikelovers.com/2020/12/31/e-bike-longer-and-happier-15-smart-strategies-to-reduce-your-e-bike-range-anxiety/](https://ebikelovers.com/2020/12/31/e-bike-longer-and-happier-15-smart-strategies-to-reduce-your-e-bike-range-anxiety/) Did you know that E-bike Lovers is an Amazon Affiliate? [https://ebikelovers.com/reviews](https://ebikelovers.com/reviews) For the E-Bike Lovers group to be successful, we need to grow our membership carefully. Please feel free to invite other E-Bike lovers spread the word, and let’s have fun! **When you register for this ride, you are agreeing to the terms of the disclaimer below.** **DISCLAIMER** LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMISSIBLE PURSUANT TO APPLICABLE LAW, NEITHER GREGORY MAASSEN, NATHAN MERRIS, RICHARD CAMER, TRIP COORDINATORS, THEIR AFFILIATES, FAMILY AND FORMER AND CURRENT EMPLOYERS NOR ANY OTHER PARTY INVOLVED IN CREATING, PRODUCING, OR DELIVERING E-BIKE LOVERS GUIDES, OUR MEETUP EVENTS, AND THE GPS E-TRAILS IS LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF A USER’S ACCESS TO, OR USE OF THE E-BIKE LOVERS GUIDES, OUR MEETUP EVENTS, AND THE GPS E-TRAILS. See for full disclaimer: [https://ebikelovers.com/disclaimer](https://ebikelovers.com/disclaimer)

Attendance is $35 (cash, credit/debit card, or ApplePay - paid at the door), which includes water/soda/coffee, bread, choice of a plated lunch entrée, and a dessert assortment. Parking is also validated in the Reston Station garages (3 hours of validation). Join one of Northern Virginia's most successful business networking groups (part of BNI). Open to the public and is typically attended by business owners, business developers, and entrepreneurs. Meetings are typically attended by 30-40 members and guests. \*\*\*PLEASE RSVP here: [REGISTER HERE](https://square.link/u/0WvC6Eir) \*\*\*If you do not register on the BNI website, there may not be a seat available for you.

This group was originally started by Chad Keith who created and hosts a podcast by the same name in Charlotte, NC. I am hoping to continue his legacy here in NoVa as I recently moved to this area. This group is all about finding community around self-improvement and exchanging ideas on how to be your best self and get the most out of life. This group is for anyone who is interested in overcoming average in all areas - career, ambitions, relationships, hobbies, health, everything. I am so excited to meet driven individuals in the NoVa area so please reach out if you have any questions at all. EVERYONE is welcome so please sign up for an upcoming meetup!

We will be meeting at Starbucks to learn together. Come with an online class you're already going through or an interest and we will try to connect you with a course where you can learn it. Already have a skill you want to contribute to a Kaggle Datascience competition? We will work on these too! Laptop required :)