Renovation

The third band at the Brookside Gardens summer twilight concert series is Rene Ibanez & Cubano Groove. Cubano Groove, plays jazz, salsa, boogaloo and other Latin forms and keeps traditional Cuban Music – old and new – alive. Cuban music reflects many influences, especially West African and European (especially Spanish) music but is a true melting pot of influences, including indigenous traditions. Bring a chair I will be working early voting. Look for Janelle

Join us for modern island-inspired dishes at **Isla DC**! If it's good enough to attract the Obama's, I think we should give it a try too (they visited within weeks of its opening). **NOTE: This restaurant will NOT split the tab so please come prepared to cover your portion with Paypal, Venmo or Zelle. Thank you in advance for your understanding.** ***Washington Post:*** Beyond the shimmer, Isla is an ambitious Caribbean destination with a lot to say. Dinner at Isla does not end in the dining room. Chic customers filter back into the moodily lit entryway in twos and fours, where they put their to-go bags and fur coats to the side. They find their best light in a dramatic archway framed with mirrors. They strut a little strip of red carpet. As I duck inside, I always seem to land smack in the middle of Washington’s most fabulous photo shoot. Sorry! Isla opened in the shimmering Midtown Center in late October, and it already feels like a destination. A place to celebrate birthdays, to get engaged, to spend an inordinate amount of money on a company credit card, to see and be seen (and, maybe, to see the Obamas on date night). Past the entryway is the even grander dining room roaring with life, illuminated by a chandelier shaped like a beehive and dripping light off hundreds of delicate glass petals. Through and through, this is a power restaurant, the kind of place people go as much for form — the glam of it all — as function. (You know, the food.) A plate of lamb tartare was my first clue that Isla isn’t all window dressing. It arrives as a neat column, painted with a ticklingly spicy sweet potato and habanero cream and covered with a fine layer of chopped chives. Mixed almost imperceptibly in with the dark red cubes are bits of pickled shrimp, their slight chew giving way to waves of salinity. Instead of attempting to wrestle the gamy meat into submission, chef Lonie Murdock accentuates its undeniable intensity, breathing new life into a dish that tends to be more or less interchangeable from one glitzy restaurant to the next. Murdock is new to D.C., but Canadian expats and visitors might know her from Miss Likklemore's, the restaurant she and husband Darren Hinds opened in Toronto in 2022. There, Murdock says, she felt more beholden to tradition, honoring the substantial Caribbean population that calls Toronto home by serving faithful renditions of classics such as slow-cooked oxtails and the handheld chickpea wrap called doubles. At Isla, she wanted to step “outside of that comfort zone.” She brings her vision for a sprawling, globally inspired restaurant to Washington at an exciting moment for Caribbean cooking in the United States. In New York, chef Paul Carmichael opened Kabawa in early 2025, a sleek tasting counter where he exalts plantains with shaved salt cod and caviar, treating the sticky sweet fruit as a luxury ingredient. At Kann in Portland, Oregon, chef Gregory Gourdet rubs whole cauliflowers in jerk seasoning and brings them to life in his restaurant’s open hearth, his cooking a glorious collision of Haitian technique and Pacific Northwest produce. D.C. has played its part, too. Chef Kwame Onwuachi's Dogon is a destination restaurant built around coco bread and brown stew snapper. At St. James on 14th Street NW, paratha is served as a centerpiece dish, surrounded by an ornate spread of meat and vegetable curries. Where does Isla fit in? The restaurant’s most interesting dishes emerge when Murdock treats “Caribbean” less as a prescription than a loose framework. “For me, it was more important just to kind of highlight the beauty and the bounty of Caribbean ingredients, and not necessarily focus on a traditional dish hitting the plate,” she says. Take flaky patties. There are familiar fillings, like supple oxtail that melts into each bite of buttery pastry, but more thrilling are ones densely packed with crab cooked in a fragrant panang curry. Murdock, whose mother is Jamaican, is a quick study in the American palate: A particularly decadent patty features processed cheese and ground beef. Small plates and creative side dishes tend to outshine the bigger, spendier ones, but you can piece together a meat-and-starch dinner if that’s your thing. The showiest entrée on the menu (under a section called “feast & fire”) is a snapper whose meat has been separated from its bones and turned into fried nuggets. These morsels are then reunited with the fried skeleton, which wraps around the plate as if standing guard. For all the fun of the presentation, I found the fish disappointingly mild and craved a creamy sauce to dip into. For something substantial, I prefer the pork chop, lovingly charred and served in a deep, dark, puckering reduction made with pork bones and the Trinidadian green mango condiment kuchella. A pat of crab butter slowly melts into the chop and amplifies its meaty richness, and a few spears of grilled mango radiate like glimmers of sunlight. Whatever feast and fire you choose, pair it with a grilled plantain. “It is such a beautiful ingredient,” Murdock says. “I just didn’t want to see it hit the plate in any kind of way that I’d ever seen it before.” She roasts a sweet plantain until its skin is charred and the insides are beginning to soften, then slices it open and finishes it with butter infused with more bracing kuchella. The starchy fruit has all the heft of a baked potato, but so much more depth and curiosity. I like to double up with a side of mac pie. Murdock bridges the traditional Caribbean dish — a dense casserole — and ooey-gooey American mac and cheese. Her version is a brick of pasta almost caramelized around the edges, cheese lightly coating each noodle, all drenched in a devilishly rich Mornay. I’ve yet to leave Isla short of stuffed, but someday I’ll build a light dinner around bara, the springy Trinidadian flatbread used to make doubles. Here, the dish is deconstructed, the bread served on a glass pedestal, the fillings served separately for swiping and layering. I like a version featuring tender oxtails blanketed dramatically in a creamy butter bean foam, but my favorite of these dishes nods to tradition. A bowl of well-spiced chickpeas, surrounded by labneh and dotted with a sweet-sour tamarind achar, is comfort food dressed up with a bow tie. The leather booths are deep and cozy, and the cocktails, which favor rum and lean light and tropical, are lots of fun. A daiquiri stained blue with butterfly pea flowers is a refreshing start to the night, and Isla’s rendition of an espresso martini, coined the Style and Grace, balances jittery cold brew with sweet, milky peanut punch. Here, the classic cocktail becomes something rich and grown-up, almost devoid of its typical oversaturation. ***Check out the menu [here](https://isladc.com/menu/)*** 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. 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. **WAITLIST:** Meetup does not allow a waitlist for paid events. If this event fills and you are interested in adding your name to the waitlist, please send host a message through the app. In the future, we will vary the days of the week and the types of restaurants so that we can attract many different types of diners. Feel free to make suggestions for future meet locations. All diners will pay their own tab. before departing the event. If you are unable to join us in June we hope you'll stay interested and join us for a meal in the future. Looking forward to catching up with you for a fantastic dinner at Isla DC!

Everyone is welcome to attend our weekly happy hour, at Tony & Joe's Waterfront Bar in Georgetown (3000 K. St, NW). The event goes from 7:15 to around 10:00 PM. Feel free to show up at any time. French speakers of all levels- from beginners to expats- are invited. We hope to see you there!

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.

Whether you’re coming solo or with friends, Divino is the perfect place to gather. Enjoy live music, handcrafted dishes, and a warm, social atmosphere. FREE PARKING GARAGE

# Old Town Ace Hardware Group Grow Event No backyard? No problem. Join us at Old Town Ace Hardware for a beginner-friendly indoor gardening event where you’ll learn how to grow fresh herbs, greens, and vegetables indoors year-round using simple hydroponic and soil systems. Whether you live in an apartment, condo, townhouse, or just want fresher food closer to home, this event will show you practical ways to grow indoors using modern grow lights, compact systems, and easy starter methods. ## What You’ll Experience ✅ Live indoor gardening demos ✅ Beginner-friendly hydroponic systems ✅ LED grow light education ✅ Seedling starter bundles ✅ Harvesting & maintenance tips ✅ Soil vs hydroponic growing explained ✅ Community Q&A with local growers Modern indoor systems make it possible to grow herbs and greens year-round in compact spaces using LED lighting and vertical growing methods. *** ## Featured Indoor Growing Systems You’ll see: * LetPot countertop growing systems * Elfsys vertical hydroponic systems * Beginner seedling bundles * Indoor LED grow light setups Indoor Garden Market currently offers seedling bundles and year-round growing systems designed for small-space indoor food production. *** ## Perfect For • Apartment & condo residents • Beginner gardeners • Families & kids • Wellness-minded locals • Sustainability enthusiasts • Anyone curious about hydroponics *** ## What You’ll Learn -How much light indoor plants really need -Beginner-friendly crops to start with -How seedling bundles speed up success -How to harvest continuously indoors -Soil vs hydroponic growing basics Leafy greens typically need 40–50 watts of grow lighting per square foot, while vertical hydroponic systems help maximize production in small indoor spaces. *** ## Why Indoor Food Growing? Small indoor systems can help households grow fresh herbs and greens year-round while reducing dependence on outdoor space and seasonal weather. Even compact spaces can support productive indoor gardens using LED lighting and efficient systems. *** ## Community-Focused & Beginner Friendly This event is designed to help local residents: ✅ Learn together ✅ Ask beginner questions ✅ Explore systems hands-on ✅ Connect with the indoor growing community The goal is simple: Help more people learn how to grow food indoors successfully. *** RSVP today and join the Group Grow movement. Visit **[indoorgardenmarket.com](https://iwantagreenthumb.com)** to learn more, and RSVP now for a fun afternoon of herbs, learning, and indoor gardening! Thank you, Clift --- Chief Community Grower at indoorgardenmarket.com

Let's get together to chat and take in some art at the **[Phillips Collection](https://www.phillipscollection.org/about-collection)** during their **[FREE](https://www.phillipscollection.org/event/2026-06-18-third-thursday)**[ extended hours](https://www.phillipscollection.org/event/2026-06-18-third-thursday) on the third Thursday of the month. In addition to its permanent collection, the Phillips is featuring the special exhibition, **[Miró and the United States](https://www.phillipscollection.org/event/2026-03-21-miro-and-united-states)**. Agenda * **5:30 p.m.**: Let's meet for Happy Hour inside the Phillips Collection at the **[Bread Furst Cafe](https://www.phillipscollection.org/cafe)**, which will be open and serving its full menu plus aperitifs, wine, and beer. * **6:00 p.m.**: We'll check out the galleries. * **7:30 p.m.**: We can grab dinner from a local fast casual place. I haven't tried it, but **[Daily Provisions](https://www.dailyprovisions.co/menus/#sandwiches-salads-and-soups)** looks promising. Let me know if you have other suggestions in the comments! The closest Metro station is Dupont Circle (take the north entrance). The closest bus stops are the D74 and D96 at Connecticut Avenue and Q Street NW. There are a few parking garages around the circle.

To secure your spot, purchase your ticket from the Eventbrite link ([https://www.eventbrite.com/e/language-exchange-happy-hour-and-friending-tickets-264488420987). RSVPing only on the Meetup Page doesn't allow you to attend the Event. ADVANCE TICKET PURCHASE IS REQUIRED TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT. ](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/language-exchange-happy-hour-and-friending-tickets-264488420987) ABOUT THE EVENT Venez apprécier l'ambiance chaleureuse d'une conversation en français autour d'un verre de vin et d'apéritifs à moitié prix. C'est ouvert à tous quelque soit votre niveau, que vous soyez débutant ou bien que le Français soit votre langue maternelle. It is irresistible, to enjoy French convo with half-priced appetizers, glass of wine and rail drinks. The Event is open to all levels of French language, from beginners to native fluency. METRO & PARKING INFO : The closest metro station is Woodley Park/Adams Morgan. Street Parking might be a challenge. But if you plan to drive, try your luck on Champlain Street. Otherwise, there is a parking garage around. We highly recommend a shared ride or taxi service.

To secure your spot, purchase your ticket from the Eventbrite link ([https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rooftop-language-exchange-and-friending-sunday-edition-tickets-432819734477](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rooftop-language-exchange-and-friending-sunday-edition-tickets-432819734477)). RSVPing only on the Meetup Page doesn't allow you to attend the Event. ADVANCE TICKET PURCHASE IS REQUIRED TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT. If the link doesn't work please Copy and Paste the Ticket link in Google to see it. ABOUT THE EVENT Venez apprécier l'ambiance chaleureuse d'une conversation en français autour d'un verre de vin et d'apéritifs à moitié prix. C'est ouvert à tous quelque soit votre niveau, que vous soyez débutant ou bien que le Français soit votre langue maternelle. It is irresistible, to enjoy French convo with half-priced appetizers, glass of wine and rail drinks. The Event is open to all levels of French language, from beginners to native fluency.

Did you know..... The National Gallery conducts free guided tours. All we need to do is show-up! Join us Thursday, April 2, for the 11:00 am tour titled "The Collection, Up Close" The tour will start in the West Building, Main Floor - Rotunda, and will last one hour. Afterward, we'll walk to the nearby L"Enfant Plaza food court for coffee, a bite of lunch and to socialize. Need more info.? Send me a message. Hope you can make it! ....Ross A.

**Advance reservations REQUIRED. Tickets/Info:** [https://www.internationalclubdc.com/Events/EventDetails.aspx?EventID=C6FACBCB-3083-45D8-8CA8-DA4565FCAA34](https://www.internationalclubdc.com/Events/EventDetails.aspx?EventID=C6FACBCB-3083-45D8-8CA8-DA4565FCAA34) #### Join us for a special private tour of the exterior architecture of the eastern end of the National Mall, culminating in the interior of the US Capitol. The tour starts at Union Station, where you will have the chance to enjoy the breathtaking 96-foot coffered ceilings which have made Union Station “one of the finest examples of Beaux-Arts style of architecture.” The tour will continue walking towards the Supreme Court and Library of Congress (exterior of both covered in the tour), as you take in the architectural wonder of the outer edifice of the buildings of the East National Mall, ending at the Capitol. **Advance reservations REQUIRED. Tickets/Info:** [https://www.internationalclubdc.com/Events/EventDetails.aspx?EventID=C6FACBCB-3083-45D8-8CA8-DA4565FCAA34](https://www.internationalclubdc.com/Events/EventDetails.aspx?EventID=C6FACBCB-3083-45D8-8CA8-DA4565FCAA34) Our Capitol interior tour starts with a 15 minute presentation of the history and architecture of this grand monument to democracy. During the tour, discover the spacious awe-inspiring interior of the Capitol, which features a majestic mural depicting great heroes in American history. This is a great opportunity to meet other ICDC members and appreciate the history and national heritage of United States. Our museum and gallery tours are some of our most popular events, and frequently sell out well in advance. Please reserve your tickets early, as capacity is limited. Please also note that due to construction projects or security considerations some parts of the US Capitol might be excluded during the tour of the interior of the US Capitol. **Advance reservations REQUIRED. Tickets/Info:** [https://www.internationalclubdc.com/Events/EventDetails.aspx?EventID=C6FACBCB-3083-45D8-8CA8-DA4565FCAA34](https://www.internationalclubdc.com/Events/EventDetails.aspx?EventID=C6FACBCB-3083-45D8-8CA8-DA4565FCAA34)

Grab a drink or some food and get to know each other. This is our first event and we can take it slow. I’d love to meet everyone and hear if there’s anything you like to get out of the group. Looking forward to meeting you all!

**💥 Join us THIS Saturday and EVERY Saturday!** **💥 At Columbus’ Hottest New Salsa Venue!** **.** Lincoln Street Salsa THIS Saturday and EVERY Saturday! 8 pm – 1 am **.** **💥 Gorgeously Renovated Studio!** **💥 Free Parking!** **💥 BYOB!** **💥 Easy Access from Highway!** **.** Lincoln Street Salsa 1717 Brice Rd Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43215 **.** **ENTRANCE IS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE BUILDING** **Behind Anthony’s Pharmacy!** **.** **PLEASE SHARE and help get the word out!** **.** **🟣 Salsa, Bachata, and Merengue Dancing!** **.** **🟣** 8:00 pm – 8:30 pm **𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻** **.** **🟣** 8:30 pm – 9:30 pm **𝗕𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 Class!** **.** **🟣** 9:30 pm – 1 am **𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆!** **.** **✅ Questions?** **Visit [LincolnStreetSalsa.com](https://columbussalsadancing.com/)** Or Text Todd: 614-774-8146 **.** **✅ No Experience Necessary!** **✅ No Partner Required!** **✅ Plenty of People to Dance With!** **.** **✅ $15 Cash / $16 Card** **✅ College Students $5 Off with Valid ID!** **✅ BYOB** **✅ Age 18+** **.** **✅ Lincoln Street Salsa is the perfect place for…** **.** **👉 Learning to Dance** **👉** Social Dancing **👉 Birthday Celebration** **👉** Bachelorette Parties **👉 Girl’s Night Out** **👉 Date Night** **👉** Getting Fit / Burning Calories **👉 Meeting New People** **👉** Having Fun, Fun, Fun! **.** ✅ **Questions?** Visit [LincolnStreetSalsa.com](https://columbussalsadancing.com/ "https://columbussalsadancing.com/") Or Text Todd: 614-774-8146 .

Let’s meet and wander the galleries! General admission on Sundays is free.

**💥 Join us THIS Saturday and EVERY Saturday!** **💥 At Columbus’ Hottest New Salsa Venue!** **.** Lincoln Street Salsa THIS Saturday and EVERY Saturday! 8 pm – 1 am **.** **💥 Gorgeously Renovated Studio!** **💥 Free Parking!** **💥 BYOB!** **💥 Easy Access from Highway!** **.** Lincoln Street Salsa 1717 Brice Rd Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43215 **.** **ENTRANCE IS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE BUILDING** **Behind Anthony’s Pharmacy!** **.** **PLEASE SHARE and help get the word out!** **.** **🟣 Salsa, Bachata, and Merengue Dancing!** **.** **🟣** 8:00 pm – 8:30 pm **𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻** **.** **🟣** 8:30 pm – 9:30 pm **𝗕𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 Class!** **.** **🟣** 9:30 pm – 1 am **𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆!** **.** **✅ Questions?** **Visit [LincolnStreetSalsa.com](https://columbussalsadancing.com/)** Or Text Todd: 614-774-8146 **.** **✅ No Experience Necessary!** **✅ No Partner Required!** **✅ Plenty of People to Dance With!** **.** **✅ $15 Cash / $16 Card** **✅ College Students $5 Off with Valid ID!** **✅ BYOB** **✅ Age 18+** **.** **✅ Lincoln Street Salsa is the perfect place for…** **.** **👉 Learning to Dance** **👉** Social Dancing **👉 Birthday Celebration** **👉** Bachelorette Parties **👉 Girl’s Night Out** **👉 Date Night** **👉** Getting Fit / Burning Calories **👉 Meeting New People** **👉** Having Fun, Fun, Fun! **.** ✅ **Questions?** Visit [LincolnStreetSalsa.com](https://columbussalsadancing.com/) Or Text Todd: 614-774-8146

We are bringing Microsoft Build sessions to Columbus Ohio! The Central Ohio Azure Meetup and Central Ohio .NET Developer's Group (CONDG) are coming together to bring some of the labs and breakouts from Microsoft Build to your backyard. In this free, 1 day event, you are going to Build stuff with us! And yes, there will be free food. Please RSVP via [Microsoft Build //localhost:columbus | Microsoft Reactor](https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/reactor/events/27247/).

Bienvenue! We host a twice-a-month French conversation club at La Chatelaine on Lane. All levels welcome! Whether you're new to French or running for Président de la République you are welcome here! We often read plays together, play vocabulary games, and generally enjoy the delicious food available at La Chatelaine! We will be at the long table in the back of the restaurant. A bientôt!

The restaurant’s website doesn’t have the dinner menu listed. I took a picture of the dinner menu.