Portrait Painting

Come and join Northern Virginia porcelain artists. We will provide all the paints and materials needed. Just bring your smile and creativity. We paint from 10:00 am - 2:00pm every Tuesday & Wednesday. Please RSVP in advance if you like to join oir group. Text: 703-906-9150 We are located few minutes from Tyson’s corner in McLean.

Cooking with Cupid is a flirty, fun-filled singles cooking experience where participants learn to whip up fresh, heart-healthy meals perfect for a Valentine’s date night. This one-of-a-kind program blends hands-on cooking, light nutrition tips, and playful icebreakers to help guests connect while they chop, stir, and plate romantic, restaurant-quality dishes they can easily recreate at home. With upbeat music, themed décor, and simple but impressive recipes, Cooking with Cupid gives singles a confidence boost in the kitchen and a new menu of “wow” worthy ideas to cook for a current crush, future Valentine, or even a self-care date for one. **Registration Required. Ages 18 & up; FREE** Suitland Community Center **[REGISTER THROUGH PARKS DIRECT](https://mdpgparksweb.myvscloud.com/webtrac/web/search.html?display=detail&FMID=551514831&Module=PST&_csrf_token=gb6T6T6Z0B022B4E1R3M404E5O4G6G6B025U5T5K500E5H4L555J1H6W4Q564Y1B5V4M573W05604F5H4V0M5Q5W5D506Y6V4L6N4V615P4W6E6E6Y60606J6J035J4D59)** For fastest response to any questions, or for more information, please contact Health and Wellness directly via email [wellness@pgparks.com](http://wellness@pgparks.com/)

Since 1961, Amnesty International USA has fought to protect human rights as the world’s largest grassroots human rights organization. Our local group generally meets the second Wednesday of every month at the Cleveland Park Library. Each month, we do letter writing actions, discuss human rights issues in the news, and plan for hosting or participating in occasional events area events. For more information, email Mike Duffy at michaelbernardduffy@gmail.com.

Beginner-friendly evening [Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_jiu-jitsu) (BJJ) class [at OSMA in Herndon, VA](https://www.virginiabjj.com/): Learn escapes, submissions, and live strategy with expert instruction. **🔥** No experience is required -- new students and first-timers are genuinely welcome. Classes focus on practical, real-world fundamentals taught in a safe, technical, and highly supportive environment. You’ll learn how to **escape common holds**, **apply effective submissions**, and **understand live positional strategy** \-\- the same leverage\-based system used in modern BJJ and [Mixed Martial Arts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed_martial_arts) (MMA), adapted for everyday people. This **gi class** takes place every **Monday** and **Wednesday** and includes **one hour of guided instruction** followed by **one hour of optional open training** (live rounds, drilling, review, and research). Gis are available if you need one. **Drop-in fee** for non-members is **$20** and can be **paid on-site**. We are located in **Suite #130** \-\- let us know when you arrive and we’ll take care of the rest\.

Come Craft with us. Don't let the lack of RSVPs stop you, they aren't required, nor is membership to our group. Bring your project and join a boisterous group of crafters in the Kogod Courtyard of the Smithsonian Portrait Gallery - American Art Museum. This glass roofed space is climate controlled and has the most beautiful light for crafting. (If there's an event in Courtyard head over to the MLK library Cafe.)

Join us for a cozy and creative Paper Portrait Craft Night hosted by Sip Happens! In this guided workshop, you’ll create a unique paper portrait of someone you love—or yourself (self-love absolutely counts 💕). Whether you’re coming with your partner, a friend, or solo, this event is all about relaxing, connecting, and enjoying the creative process—no art experience needed. ✨ What’s included: • All craft materials provided • Step-by-step guidance • A relaxed, fun, and welcoming atmosphere

**Masterpieces in Real Life – DC Art Brunch Series** Inspired by this [Deconstructing.AI article](https://deconstructing.ai/blog-1/f/where-america-keeps-its-masterpieces), this series visits the most important artworks and objects in Washington in small, relaxed Sunday outings. We’ll look closely at 2–3 works, share the human stories behind them, and then continue the conversation over brunch nearby. Not a formal tour—just curious people learning to see together. I'll share a little background on the art and venue pairing for each outing. SCHEDULE & PAIRINGS **1) Leonardo & Vermeer – The Quiet Room** **Sunday, 12:30–3:30** **Art:** • Leonardo – *Ginevra de’ Benci* • Vermeer – *Woman Holding a Balance* • Bonus: Monet *Japanese Footbridge* **Meet:** National Gallery West Building, Constitution Ave entrance **Brunch after (3 min walk):** **The Smith – Penn Quarter** – bright, easy tables, good for groups **Masterpieces in Real Life #1 – Leonardo & Vermeer** We’ll begin where Washington quietly keeps two of the most intimate paintings in the world. Leonardo da Vinci’s *Ginevra de’ Benci* is the only Leonardo in the Americas, yet it behaves nothing like a celebrity. The panel is small, moody, and slightly wounded—its lower edge trimmed centuries ago, taking Ginevra’s hands with it. What remains is a face suspended between confidence and doubt, framed by juniper leaves that pun on her name. Nearby, Vermeer’s *Woman Holding a Balance* performs a different kind of magic: a domestic scene so still you can almost hear the dust settling. The scales may hold pearls or nothing at all; scholars still argue, which is part of the pleasure. The National Gallery’s West Building is the perfect stage for this slow kind of looking—marble floors that encourage quiet footsteps and skylit rooms that make even hurried visitors lower their voices. We’ll wander from Leonardo to Vermeer and then to Monet’s luminous bridge, tracing how artists turned light into a language. No lectures, no exams—just stories about missing hands, hidden pigments, and the surprising ways these works ended up in Washington instead of Florence or Delft. After the gallery, we’ll walk a few minutes to **The Smith** in Penn Quarter, a bright brasserie that feels like the cheerful cousin of the museum: high ceilings, good bread, and tables made for lingering conversations. Over brunch we’ll compare first impressions—Did Vermeer feel calm or unsettling? Is Leonardo’s Ginevra shy or simply unimpressed with us?—and let the art continue to do what it does best: start arguments among friends. *** \*\*\*\*\* Coming Up Next\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* ### 2) Van Gogh / Degas / Rodin – Bodies & Minds **Sunday, 12:30–3:30** **Art:** • Van Gogh *Self-Portrait* • Degas *Little Dancer* • Rodin *The Thinker* **Lunch (4 min walk):** **Oyamel** – lively but not loud, great sharing plates *** ### 3) America in Objects **Sunday, 12:00–3:00** **Art & Objects:** • Star-Spangled Banner • Greensboro Lunch Counter • Julia Child’s Kitchen • Ruby Slippers **Lunch (2 min walk):** **Carmine’s Penn Quarter** – easy large tables *** ### 4) Flight & Moon – Fragile Futures **Sunday, 12:30–3:00** **Art/Engineering:** • Apollo 11 Columbia • Wright Flyer **Lunch (5 min walk):** **Cafe Riggs** – calm, elegant, conversation-friendly *** ### 5) Memory in Stone – Evening Light Edition **Sunday, 1:00–3:30** **Art:** • Lincoln Memorial • Vietnam Memorial **Lunch (before walk – 12:00):** **Tonic at Quigley’s** – reliable, close to Mall *** ### 6) The Hope Diamond & the Stories We Invent **Sunday, 12:30–3:00** **Art:** • Hope Diamond • Geology hall **Lunch (5 min walk):** **Old Ebbitt Grill** – classic DC, easy meet point *** ## FLOW OF EACH EVENT **12:30** – Meet outside museum **12:35–2:00** – Slow look at 2–3 works **2:00** – Walk together to lunch **2:10–3:30** – Brunch/lunch + conversation

Come Craft with us at either the MLK Library or the Kogod atrium of the Portrait Gallery. There are generally knitters/crocheters/needle workers in both places. Our success has made us a fairly large group so we are meeting in both places on Saturdays. Don't let the lack of RSVPs stop you, they aren't required, nor is membership to our group. Bring your project and join a boisterous group of crafters in first floor of either building.

The topic for February is "Transitions" Speak Easy: true stories, told live. The idea is simple: an audience, an open microphone, and great stories. Hilarious, gripping, poignant- it's up to you. Audiences are invited to come to listen or come to tell as folks from all corners of Columbus offer their stories live on stage! Held at Wild Goose Creative's warm, intimate space, this night of tales occurs on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Doors open at 6:30 pm, show starts at 7:00 pm. Please arrive early if you want to tell, as we generally only have room for a limited number of tellers, and the sign-up sheet has a tendency to fill up fast. Formed around the idea that people need stories--they're what hold and draw us together--SpeakEasy celebrates the strangeness and commonness of being human. And in a world of smartphones, Facebook, Twitter, and more . . . it gives people a real, breathing, in-person way to connect. The night is geared for true stories of all kinds, taking the best tales told around kitchen tables, in darkened pubs, on the street corner, and at late-night parties and giving them an audience. Speak Easy is also a great outlet for performers, writers, and artists looking to share their favorite stories and perfect their skills. We strongly encourage tellers to please tell the story rather than read it so we keep within the spirit of good storytelling and stay engaged with the audience. All are welcome. Hang around after the show for a drink and build community!

Looking for a creative night out that isn’t boring or corporate? Come hang out at **The Arcane Foundry** for an open candle bar and a 3D print paint and sip! Choose something from our 3D-printed shelf — *think ceramic paint-and-sip, but way cooler and with custom models we print in-house.* Or head to the candle bar and pick your fragrances to pour your own **pillar candle or container candle**. Sip complimentary tea, enjoy bakery snacks, and **BYOB wine or beer** while you paint, pour, and make whatever the hell you feel like making. No experience needed — this is all vibes, fun, and meeting new people while creating something you’ll actually want to take home. Starting at a very low price of $10 and up for paint and sip (Includes use of community paints, paint pallet, paint brushes) Monster and Fantasy Fidgets $10 75mm Resin Fantasy Models $25 Garden Gnomes $12 32mm Table-Top Miniatures $10 **Candle Making** (includes vessel, your choice of wick, wax, scented oil, labels and lids) 5oz Glass Jars $18 8oz Candle Tins $28 12oz Glass Candles $38 12oz Amber Jars $45 16 oz Skull or Jack o Lantern Candle Mugs $60 (Limited Edition!) \[www\.thearcanefoundry\.com\]\(The Arcane Foundry\) **All materials included. You just bring yourself (and your drink of choice).** **Payments accepted:** * Cash * Venmo: @Daclaud-Lee * Cashapp: $DaclaudL * PayPal: daclaudlee@gmail.com

Join us for a casual chat over coffee & tea at Grandview Grind! Come out and meet some new people, enjoy your favorite drink, and make some new friends!

NFT's are here to stay folks! This is a group for like minded people interested in understanding, leveraging, using, creating for, profiting from, trading too i suppose, NFT's.. everything around them, complexity, fear and exploits, best practices and more. **PLUS** This group will talk AI ART tools, techniques, artists, video, audio, prototypes and more in the AI assisted production space- ART specifically, but we can get into any aspect of some of the cooler things happening in AI in general.

**⚔️ Introduction to Wargaming & Painting Miniature Soldiers at The Arcane Foundry ⚔️** Join me in **The War Room at [The Arcane Foundry](https://share.google/S5i6DYJnJteHWeKtd)** for a laid-back evening of hobby talk and tabletop fun! For just **$15**, you’ll get a **3D-printed regiment of 20 high quality resin models** of your choice to paint — a **$40 value!** Bring your creativity, relax, and let’s make something awesome together. **Choose one from Below:** * 20 Orc Warriors * 20 Empire Soldiers * 20 Dwarf Warriors * 20 Elf Spearmen Step into a world where strategy meets artistry — and where every painted figure tells a story of battle, honor, and imagination. Join **Daclaud** at **The Arcane Foundry** for an evening that introduces newcomers and enthusiasts alike to the timeless craft of **tabletop wargaming** and **miniature painting**. My own journey began with a fascination for fantasy — knights in armor, grim and hardened warriors, and monstrous creatures locked in epic battle. That passion led me to **Dungeons & Dragons**, where I painted my first **Basic Heroes set** and felt the spark that comes from bringing a character to life in miniature form. Not long after, I discovered **Warhammer Fantasy** and **Warhammer 40,000**, and I was hooked. The vision of vast armies clashing across the table — each unit meticulously painted, each story unfolding through dice and imagination — became my creative obsession. During this event, we’ll explore the **origins of wargaming**, from its early military simulations to the richly detailed worlds of modern tabletop battle systems. You’ll learn how to **build and customize your own armies**, paint your first figures, and experience the joy of turning strategy and storytelling into a hands-on art form. Whether you’re drawn by the lore, the hobby, or the thrill of commanding miniature legions, this introduction will open the gates to a world that has captivated hobbyists for generations. **🎨 RSVP today and join us at The Arcane Foundry — where every brushstroke and battle tells a story.**

Join us for something different as we get together to see EPIC: ELVIS PRESLEY IN CONCERT! While researching his 2022 film, director Bas Luhrmann came across and compiled rare and previously unseen interviews and videos of Elvis in concert to create “one of the most exciting concert films you’ve ever seen!” Here are details, a trailer and our plan for this event: DESCRIPTION: Part documentary, part concert film, the latest from director Bas Luhrmann is a follow-up to his 2022 film starring Austin Butler. While researching the film, he came across 68 boxes of previously unseen interviews, concert performances and outtakes from previous films. A combination of offstage and onstage Elvis, comes a film that “befits the magnitude of Elvis as a performer but also offers deeper revelations of his humanity and inner life." It is written/directed by Baz Luhrmann (ELVIS, MOULIN ROUGE, THE GREAT GATSBY) and stars the legendary Elvis Presley! TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmqWusmzp0k BUZZ AND ACCLAIM: The film screened at the 2025 Toronto Film Festival where it was the runner up in the category People’s Choice Award for Documentaries. Next Best Picture says, “Certain to energize longtime fans and generate new ones for generations to come, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert is a masterwork of montage.” And according to the NY Post, whether you have a room in the house devoted to Elvis or not, this truly “Epic” concert film is an energizing experience!” PLAN: We’ll plan for a pre-show bite at nearby BRAVO around 5 or 5:30pm followed by a 7pm-ish showing on one of their larger screens. Once showtime is announced, advance ticket purchase is advised. Please list your seat number in the Comments below. Exact showtime and meeting details will be confirmed/announced as the date gets closer. Look forward to seeing you there, Dan