Short Movies and Documentaries Screening

One of the most acclaimed music documentaries of all time, *Say Amen, Somebody* is a joyous, funny, and deeply emotional celebration of Gospel music, featuring a line-up of earth-shaking performers by Thomas A. Dorsey, Willie Mae Ford Smith, The Barrett Sisters, and The O'Neal Twins, among others. Restored by the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in 2020, the film features archival footage, photographs, and moving on-screen memories. (George Nierenberg, 1982, DCP, 100 minutes) **And it's on the great National Gallery of Art screen! You must register - go to [this link](https://www.nga.gov/calendar/treasures-american-cinema-national-film-registry-2025-selections/say-amen-somebody?evd=202605231800)**. It starts at 2 pm but I wrote 1:30 because it's usually pretty crowded. From a review: “Say Amen, Somebody” is the most joyful movie I’ve seen in a very long time. It is also one of the best musicals and one of the most interesting documentaries. And it’s also a terrific good time. The movie is about gospel music, and it’s filled with gospel music. It’s sung by some of the pioneers of modern gospel, who are now in their 70s and 80s, and it’s sung by some of the rising younger stars, and it’s sung by choirs of kids. It’s sung in churches and around the dining room table; with orchestras and a capella; by an old man named Thomas A. Dorsey in front of thousands of people, and by Dorsey standing all by himself in his own backyard. The music in “Say Amen, Somebody” is as exciting and uplifting as any music I’ve ever heard on film.

Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial Library 901 G St NW Washington, DC 20001 Room 401 on the 4th floor. Don’t be shy. This is a good way to make friends who are also into anime. We will be discussing anime , manga, video games and all things Jpop Culture. Cosplay (Costume play) is encouraged as long as you don’t bring any prop weapons and keep the cosplay family friendly. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you there. This event is free and open to the public. For more information Email [president@dcanimeclub.org](mailto:president@dcanimeclub.org). Call (202) 262-2083 DC Anime Club Main Site www.dcanimeclub.org Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/DCAnimeClub/ Twitter:https://twitter.com/#!/DCAnimeClub Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DCAnimeClub/ Meet up: https://www.meetup.com/DC-Anime-Club/ Youtube:http://www.youtube.com/DCAnimeClub Tumblr: http://dcanime.tumblr.com/ Photobucket:http://s46.photobucket.com/albums/f115/DCANIMECLUB_photos/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dcanimeclub/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dcanimeclub

Storytelling Open Mic at Library. Sign up list goes out at 10:30 a.m. (**in the morning**, Do not show up 10:30 at night) Each performer will get 6 minutes to tell their story via Microphone. A true story. If you don't want to tell a story this time around, feel free to come enjoy the storytellers and relax. If you need to cancel, please change your status to "will not attend." Street parking is abundant. Train is one block away.

Improv workshop at Library. We will teach basics of Improvisation and rules before each game. Experienced and newbies alike are welcome to attend/participate. If you don't want to perform this time around, feel free to come enjoy the workshop and relax. If you need to cancel, please change your status to "will not attend."

Join us at chef Kevin Tien's new Moon Rabbit location in DC! ***Washington Post:*** Anyone looking for restaurant space should chat up Kevin Tien. After his Vietnamese-inspired Moon Rabbit at the Wharf went dark, the chef says he looked at 30 or so spots around Washington, including the vacated Cashion’s Eat Place in Adams Morgan and Seven Reasons on 14th Street NW. It wasn’t until he toured the onetime location of Co Co Sala in Penn Quarter that he found the right fit: an interior that included a bar near the entrance and an open kitchen. “This is it,” he and his team agreed. “I saw what could be our forever home,” says Tien, “or at least for the run of the lease,” he cracks. Let’s hope he stays put for a spell. His previous full-service restaurants — the Japanese-bent Himitsu in Petworth, the cart- and fermented-food-focused Emilie's on Capitol Hill, the original Moon Rabbit in the InterContinental Hotel — didn’t last beyond a few years. His new roost, 100 or so seats spread across a lounge, central dining room and private area, offers lots of dishes I hope to be eating for a long time. Crab rangoon, for instance. Initially, the appetizer, the provenance of so many American Chinese restaurants, sounds out of place. Tien says it’s a nostalgic nod to the block of Philadelphia cream cheese and topping of Tabasco-brand pepper jelly, slathered on Wheat Thins, that his wife’s parents serve him back in his native Louisiana. At Moon Rabbit, the idea is gussied up with a blend of housemade ricotta and robiola cheese topped with local jumbo crab and eaten with wavy sails of housemade scallion crackers. “Chips and dip,” a server says as she drops off the plate. “The cheese is homage to Laughing Cow,” popular in Vietnam, says chef de cuisine Minsu Son, who cooked with his boss when both were at the late, great Momofuku in Washington. Similarly, the spread is also flavored with imitation crab for a memorable “highbrow, lowbrow” experience. The sight and smell you can’t escape on streets throughout Vietnam is grilled meat, sometimes beef swaddled in betel leaves. Tien elevates the idea by wrapping ground Wagyu beef, perfumed with lemongrass and funky with fish sauce, in easier-to-find perilla leaves that give the meat a minty freshness. Pickled shallots make a zingy garnish and labne dappled with housemade sate sauce becomes a dip for a thoroughly modern bò lá lốt. At the first Moon Rabbit, the chef had to be mindful of travelers and tourists. At Moon Rabbit 2.0, Tien and team, including co-owner and chef Judy Beltrano, are free to be more adventurous. Working in a hotel, the kitchen had to deal with room service, a bar and additional amenities. Now, “we don’t have other distractions,” says Tien. Check out the grilled squid, stuffed with boudin (Cajun sausage) made bodacious with pork, chicken livers, Chinese sausage, jasmine rice, and pops from lemon and five-spice. The server who brought out the combination did a nice job of describing it, down to the charred, squid-inked eggplant puree, which he referred to as “best supporting actress.” Ha-ha and down the hatch. Vegetarians won’t be the only diners to swoon over the beautiful and delicious roasted Lodi squash, the scraps of which are fermented and pureed with coconut milk, garlic and lemongrass to create a vibrant yellow curry. Seeds in the center, a nod to Vietnamese sesame seed candy, include candied pumpkin and sunflower seeds. Flash-fried curry leaves complete the dish, which gives Tien, a co-founder of Chefs Stopping AAPI Hate and the creator of the casual Hot Lola’s, a chance to explain his thought process. With his new restaurant, he hopes to broaden the notion of what Vietnamese food is and break through what he calls “the bamboo ceiling.” Floppy rice cakes come with a crumble of dried tofu that mimics the texture of the more traditional dried shrimp, and purple yams lend their color to the city’s most intriguing risotto, ringed in pureed culantro and beefed up with roasted mushrooms. Bánh canh cua, Vietnamese crab soup, is reimagined with chewy dumplings made from sweet potato and tapioca flours — the kitchen refers to them as “f---ed-up gnocchi” — in a tantalizing, tomato-red broth enriched with crab fat. Vietnam’s long associations with foreign entities allow for such fancies as pâté chaud, flaky puff pastry filled with a meaty interior of ground pork, foie gras, chicken pâté and diced jicama for some crunch. Step aside, beef Wellington. Tien says, “I’m embracing the influences.” Diners are as well. Dinner is not an easy reservation, but the restaurant offers first-come, first-serve seating in the lounge, primarily at the bar. The chef’s crew is mostly composed of staff who have worked with him before, but no investors. So a lot of the look of the place was done on a budget. “Stuff from our basement” make up some of the details, says Tien. Note the great cookbooks lining the shelves here and there. The titles explain the chef’s story and his priorities. If a fire broke out, he says he’d grab "Uchi: The Cookbook", “Prejean’s Cookbook” and “My Vietnam: Stories and Recipes” by Luke Nguyen, reflecting places he’s worked or fellow cooks he admires. Lights that look like parachutes or jellyfish were hung by the staff, and the blue accents are inspired by the Vietnamese coastline. The previous restaurant, the British-themed Scotts, was dark; Moon Rabbit is lighter in every way, signifying “a fresh start for us,” says Tien. All but a few dishes — cumin lamb and quail claypot — are small plates. A couple of combinations could use some finessing. The spring roll is presented as upright bundles packed with hearts of palm, daikon and other vegetables. The trouble is, when you bite into the constructions, their filling spills out. But I love the accompanying sauce, an emulsion coaxed from housemade misos (peanut and sweet potato) and stinging with dried chiles. The bookends are noteworthy. Bar director Thi Nguyen whips up such liquid pleasures as Sài Gòn by Night — coconut-rinsed whiskey, sweet vermouth and lemongrass-coffee liqueur — while pastry chef Susan Bae makes endings as exciting as anything served before them. (Both talents deploy fish sauce in clever ways, too.) Consider Bae’s simply billed and delightfully refreshing “Seaweed”: coconut mousse, a suggestion of seaweed confit, panna cotta — green with the almond-suggestive pandan — rising from a base of chocolate crumbles. The frosty halo on top is frozen coconut milk and lime juice. Tien spends the first part of his day in the kitchen, which is why you see him touching tables throughout the restaurant at night. It’s good to see him back in the game, and fun to think about where he might go next with his food — far, I imagine. ***Check out the menu [here](https://www.moonrabbitdc.com/food)*** 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 May 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 Moon Rabbit!

Improv workshop at Library. We will teach basics of Improvisation and rules before each game. Experienced and newbies alike are welcome to attend/participate. If you don't want to perform this time around, feel free to come enjoy the workshop and relax. If you need to cancel, please change your status to "will not attend."

**Want to help bring your city’s community together?** We’re looking for local hosts to organize small group lunches, evening drinks, mixers, movie get-togethers and curated experiences. **No experience necessary,** just a friendly attitude, some local knowledge, and a willingness to meet a few new people. After each event, we’ll send a short feedback form so we can improve and support you. The host will also be able to provide feedback so we can learn what worked and what didn't. **[Click here](https://form.questionscout.com/6926c9ab87a828a5c11a79fc)** to apply and get started: if you’re selected, we’ll reach out for a quick screening call.

In the picturesque town of Eastwick, three dissatisfied women unknowingly summon a charismatic stranger whose seductive charm and supernatural influence awaken their deepest desires — and their darkest impulses. As the mysterious Daryl Van Horne turns lust, jealousy, and emotional vulnerability into a wicked carnival of manipulation, the women slowly realize that the true magic was never his power, but their unity. Beneath the film’s decadent humor, sexual satire, and devilish absurdity lies a sharp moral core: when women stop competing for male approval and stand together instead, even the Devil himself becomes just another man waiting to be shown the door. Director: George Miller Genre: Dark Comedy, Witch Horror, Comedy, Fantasy, Horror

Let's the latest chapter in the Star Wars series

We willl view 2 exhibits, one on [Mary Cassatt](https://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/mary-cassatt-1) & one on [Niagara falls](https://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/niagara-falls). It’s a large museum, so you are also welcome to stay longer & explore more. We’ll meet out front of the [entrance on 6th St NW](https://www.nga.gov/visit) at 10:30. The exhibit is in the West building (main building) Main Floor. Check comments day-of for how to find me. INHERENT RISK AND LIABILITY: Organizers carefully plan events and check public sources for weather and safety. Common sense dictates that conditions may change and there is inherent risk associated with attendance. Organizers do not accept any liability for accidents/injuries or any other incidences that may occur in connection with the activities published herein or on linked sites.

cut.rate.box has been creating iconic electro-industrial-future pop since 1989. Albums such as "new religion" and "dataseed” caught the ear of labels around the globe. After a long break, cut.rate.box returned with the 2025 "luxury anxiety" release. Back to their earliest musical roots, a punk ethos—driving minimalism and scathing lyrical takes on the current state of the world—to the electro-pop-industrial sound c.r.b is known for. [https://www.cutratebox.com/](https://www.cutratebox.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExcWwwNWtYeXY5SHdrWGhMenNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5zYcRx9_JU_iOgkEXa9vUfUNzurOE5fH1BNeL57fB2Kub7BNmhIH5p72niRQ_aem_oQrAtWJ1FgGemp21tBmUIg) Nuda is a solo darkwave/industrial artist based in Seattle, Washington. Nuda brings instrumental soundscapes with "a feminine touch to industrial music." The live performances feature guest vocalists and light shows that blend together an immersive experience. Nuda’s second album "Mindful Tragedies" was noted under "The Top 50 Albums" by ReGen Magazine. [https://www.nuda-official.com/](https://www.nuda-official.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExcWwwNWtYeXY5SHdrWGhMenNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR4-0nNUCh_5F4kvtaGu2aKi22KYGWblbm1feZLe5EOSh0MfeV15RLphc5kS1A_aem_WtcYRAPAsK4fyOjKsCtJRg) Signs of the Past, a Baltimore-based artist and producer has spent the last decade-and-a-half honing his chops as a proficient songwriter and producer, working in a broad range of styles from industrial/metal and alt. rock, to new wave-influence electro-pop. Now, several years in the making, he at last unveils the debut album from Signs of the Past, his latest solo endeavor. [https://signsofthepast.bandcamp.com/](https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsignsofthepast.bandcamp.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExcWwwNWtYeXY5SHdrWGhMenNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR7XZ35uC5Md7zsp6urCqEdG3mRu9bMyXPqq7aFJCwJkBUeeRqOs8BHDcz0vVw_aem_lCdjEdUtDiJxBoVyYyuP6g&h=AUB6VXWnBqpM1UFdDf8wAoObsbz1v5PnAmxldwj6AgEDPZbbN2lRd4vt-cdGwA5rGY2YeTsdUKT8Sm9JqoQ0XsgN2aZt-PYnte1i3RQl02Yc_7t6tMz1Bd7zN0oogFRa0f0Wuq9etaEu6xPS&__tn__=q&c%5B0%5D=AUCkVIupUUZOcrkRl8HGyHnhsO-jN8Kt9p0pSPtGjBO_z9hB7lfDoaek_1hhaBkwopNbNv65Bds5dMXsctHsTEludxf7tco0d6oqNFyIIigGBt2yGpu_IGXXSp4NeaSUMUq-sVOlFxQ6RUNlizieEh9SEy2f2duNB1M) DJ Villainess, The fabulous DJ alter ego of Bella La Blanc, and founder of Fiction DC, will be on the decks before/between/after bands. [https://www.facebook.com/DJVillainess](https://www.facebook.com/DJVillainess?__cft__%5B0%5D=AZaI8VpHCb7pJMLIgI0L-ElwLsdSoN7CHEdvtWxTS40WKhdpVe7b6PqOwajsgQTl2g_yIgK4OiJ1pTknp0A1JFc95Yhty5DcdnWmr5BtMjqed71fdKupdBelCwcfl0JnlWSY4K97VnNfR5TD3_yL7mvY&__tn__=q) Ages: 21+ Doors at 7 PM, show starts at 8PM $25 in advance / $35 at the door The Renegade in Arlington Virginia is Metro Accessible and there are parking garage options nearby as well as street parking. Make sure to bring your appetite, the food at the Renegade is awesome! Tickets and venue information can be found here : [https://renegadeva.com/](https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Frenegadeva.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExcWwwNWtYeXY5SHdrWGhMenNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5T8ufyQpU-s5T-bNY_SKcKmwcDF2uVsK_ZEPf55SIjVi03oUBqFtsMz5IbXA_aem_UL6-cr11Tx2poR6mltn9tg&h=AUC1Zf8uhgiffGnVFVocymVCkRb7imfNSf2n7nqxszxI1bAEW_lnfH6m8mmxxPD4uYTSl0z88q_u7AvlHzKBBdZCZ9Ayzjb1CSr1MTpyHMxN9SLcSBbCMH8cmlgjt6gE6YG9GVWqLpruS05a&__tn__=q&c%5B0%5D=AUCkVIupUUZOcrkRl8HGyHnhsO-jN8Kt9p0pSPtGjBO_z9hB7lfDoaek_1hhaBkwopNbNv65Bds5dMXsctHsTEludxf7tco0d6oqNFyIIigGBt2yGpu_IGXXSp4NeaSUMUq-sVOlFxQ6RUNlizieEh9SEy2f2duNB1M) 3100 Clarendon Blvd Arlington VA

PLEASE READ EVERYTHING! EVENT SUBJECT TO CHANGE! THIS EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THE RULE ABOUT CLUB DUES ARE FOR MEMBERS AND IF YOU WISH TO BE A MEMBER OF DC ANIME CLUB. You know the drill. You don't bring it we won't play it. We'll be at the Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial Library 901 G ST NW Washington, DC 20001 in room 401 on the 4th Floor of the library. So bring your games, game systems, monitors tv’s etc. AGAIN YOU DON’T BRING IT WE WON’T PLAY IT!!! DC ANIME CLUB CODE OF CONDUCT TO BE ENFORCED:Code of Conduct: During the beginning of each club meeting the following rules will be read to all attending club members. Members will be asked to pay club dues as soon as they enter club meetings and will be given a receipt, membership card and bracelet to identify you as a club member. Bracelets MUST be worn AT ALL TIMES AROUND THE WRIST during the club meetings. 1. Treat everyone the way you want to be treated. 2. Club Officers should be RESPECTED at ALL TIMES. 3. Please keep the meeting room Clean. 4. NO LIVE STEEL WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE CLUB MEETINGS I.E Swords, Knives etc. THOSE WHO BRING LIVE STEEL TO CLUB MEETINGS WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE ASKED TO IMMEDIATELY LEAVE CLUB MEETING. 5. Disruptions during anime/live action screenings will not be tolerated (i.e. cell phones, loud talking and uncontrollable kids.) 6. If you want to have conversation with your fellow club members please take your conversation outside of the meeting room. 7. Do not block the screen during anime screenings. 8. No Sleeping. If you have to sleep go home. 9. Please keep up with your own belongings. DC Anime Club will not be responsible for the lost/theft of any belongings of members. 10. If it does not belong to you DO NOT TOUCH IT. 11. Their will be no ruff housing. Period!!!! 12. You break. You bought. That Simple. 13. IF you see or have ANY problems, please see one of the officers. Failure to adhere to the code of conduct will result in asking you to please leave the meeting room and/or dismissal from DC Anime Club with removal of bracelet and/or membership card. In other words you will be kicked out of the club. Three strikes and your out. Please don't make us have to create more rules. It's a pain!!! Most importantly have Fun this is an anime club after all. We hope to see you there. Contact 202 262 2083 or president@dcanimeclub.org.Be sure to follow DC Anime Club on the following websites:Main Site www.dcanimeclub.orgTwitter:https://twitter.com/#!/DCAnimeClubFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/DCAnimeClub/Photobucket:http://s46.photobucket.com/albums/f115/DCANIMECLUB_photos/Youtube:http://www.youtube.com/DCAnimeClub America's Greatest Otaku https://www.facebook.com/AmericasGreatestOtakuChrisWanamaker

House of Heavy is a night built for the fans who crave the pit, the riffs, the breakdowns, and the chaos, but are tired of waiting for the next tour to hit their city. We’re bringing the energy of a packed metal show to you all year long: the nu-metal nostalgia, the alt-metal anthems, the metal-core breakdowns. Come scream along, throw down with friends, and lose yourself in the heaviest night out your city has to offer. Get tickets here: https://www.unionstagepresents.com/shows/house-of-heavy-23-may

Join us as we get together to see Paul Rudd in the latest comedy-drama-musical from John Carney, POWER BALLAD! The film follows a washed-up wedding singer, a fading boy band singer and a stolen hit song. Here’s a description, trailer and plan for this event: DESCRIPTION: Rick, a washed-up wedding singer, and Danny, a fading boy band star, bond over music and a late-night jam session. When Danny turns Rick's song into a hit, Rick sets out to reclaim the recognition he believes he deserves. Power Ballad is written/directed by John Carney, the master of the modern musical and creative mind behind Once, Begin Again and Sing Street! It stars Paul Rudd, Nick Jonas, Peter McDonald, Marcella Plunkett, Havana Rose Liu and Jack Reynor. BUZZ & ACCLAIM: The film premiered to rave reviews at this year’s Dublin International Film Festival where critics call it “a sure-fired crowd-pleaser” that “just might be the feel-good hit of the year!” Others say, “Paul Rudd delivers a career-best performance in this charmer” that’s both “hilarious and deeply moving!” SUMMER OF ICE CREAM, VOL 2: SHAKE NO. 8! Ranked the #1 Ice Cream Shop in Columbus in 2024, this is the perfect place to kick off our Summer of Ice Cream and grab a sweet treat after the show! Their menu features an array of traditional, specialty and vegan shakes, hot cocoa, and more! You can check out their full menu here: [https://www.shakeno8.com/menu.php](https://www.shakeno8.com/menu.php) PLAN: We’ll plan for a 7pm-ish showing and will meet in the lobby area about 20 minutes before the show. Once showtime is announced, advance ticket purchase is advised! Once you have yours, please list your seat number in the Comments section of this event. We'll head to nearby Shake No. 8 immediately following the show! Should be a fun one, Dan

Join us as we get together to see the top-reviewed comedy-drama, I LOVE BOOSTERS! The film comes from writer/director Boots Riley and follows a group of shoplifters who take aim at a cutthroat fashion maven. Here are details, trailers and our plan for this event: DESCRIPTION: The film follows a group of shoplifters who take aim at a cutthroat fashion maven. It is written/directed by Boots Riley (Sorry to Bother You) and stars Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, Poppy Liu, Eiza González, LaKeith Stanfield, Will Poulter, Don Cheadle, and Demi Moore. BUZZ AND ACCLAIM: I Love Boosters was the opening film at this year’s SXSW Festival and premiered to rave reviews! It is currently earning a tremendous 97% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes where critics call it, “an unexpected celebration of friendship, community, and solidarity.” Others call the film “an exercise in radical empathy,” a “masterful” and “optimistic” film designed to “provoke discussion” while making the audience laugh. TRAILER: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4lPRISgr9c](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4lPRISgr9c) SUMMER OF ICE CREAM: GRAETER’S! Established way back in 1870 in Cincinnati, this historic, family-owned brand is famous for their delicious small batch ice cream and any chocolate chunk flavors! They are currently the only commercial ice cream maker using the French Pot method that they’ve been using since they first opened! Plus, those chocolate chunks, oh my goodness! Vegan options are available. PLAN: We’ll plan for a 7pm-ish showing and will meet in the lobby area about 20 minutes before the show. Advance ticket purchase not required for this theater but Showtime and complete details will be confirmed/announced as the date gets closer. Look forward to seeing you there, Dan

By popular demand, the group wanted to read and discuss the semi-autobiographical novel by Henri-Pierre Roche, that inspired the Truffaut movie we watched last year. The book is available through the Columbus Library's interlibrary loan system. They reported there are twenty-eight copies available in the state of Ohio. If you have a library card, you can file an interlibrary loan request here: https://www.columbuslibrary.org/library-services/ . There are also used copies available on Amazon and eBay for under twenty dollars. You may want to rewatch the movie after reading the book, so we can compare and contrast in our discussion. The Columbus Library has four copies on DVD, and it's streaming on HBOMax.

**History** The [Franklin Park Conservatory](https://www.fpconservatory.org/)’s roots trace back to 1852 when the Franklin County Agricultural Society purchased 88 acres of land to host the Ohio State Fair. After the fair moved to its permanent home, the city of Columbus transformed the grounds into Franklin Park in 1884. This transition shifted the space from a temporary event site to a dedicated public green space for the growing community. The park became a central hub for outdoor recreation and early civic gatherings in the neighborhood. In 1895, the landmark Victorian-style Palm House opened its doors, drawing heavy inspiration from the Glass Palace of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. This iron and glass structure became an immediate icon, housing exotic plants that residents would otherwise never see in the Midwest. It remains the oldest part of the facility and serves as a primary link to the conservatory’s 19th-century origins. For decades, it stood as a singular testament to grand horticultural architecture in Central Ohio. A major turning point arrived in 1992 when Columbus hosted AmeriFlora '92, an international horticultural exhibition. This massive event prompted a $16 million renovation and expansion, adding significantly more greenhouse space and the Dorothy M. Davis Showhouse. The festival put the conservatory on the international map and fundamentally changed its scale and ambition. Following the event, the facility transitioned from a city-run park to a private, non-profit organization. In 2003, the conservatory’s identity was further defined through a long-term partnership with world-renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly. After a successful exhibition, the Friends of the Conservatory purchased most of the glass installations, creating the largest permanent collection of Chihuly’s work in a botanical setting. These vibrant glass sculptures are now woven throughout the biomes, blending art with nature. This addition helped cement the conservatory as a premier cultural destination rather than just a botanical garden. Recent years have seen the site expand beyond the glass walls to emphasize community engagement and outdoor education. The 2018 opening of the Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden added two acres of interactive landscape designed for hands-on learning. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Community Garden Campus also provides local residents with space to grow their own food and learn sustainable practices. Today, the conservatory balances its historic Victorian charm with modern commitments to local ecology and the Columbus community. **Maps of the Conservatory** Here is the [main map](https://www.fpconservatory.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/franklin-park-zones-scaled.jpg) of the Conservatory grounds. Here's a [map of the areas](https://www.fpconservatory.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ConstructionMap-2026.jpg) in which the Conservatory has ongoing construction (see below). **Summary** For this event, we'll explore Columbus's highly-rated and very popular Conservatory. As mentioned above, the Conservatory is doing renovations on parts of the facility. These renovations are scheduled to be ongoing until the Fall of next year. Basically, no matter when you go to the Conservatory over the next 18 months, you're going to see some metaphorical orange barrels. So let's just go now. **Tickets and pricing** On the first Sunday of every month, the Conservatory is free for residents of Franklin County and the city of Columbus. You must bring an ID to receive this discount. (Yes, they do check.) Otherwise, tickets are $25.20. Members of the Columbus Zoo (of which I am one) do get a discount on tickets, though I have never actually bought a ticket to the Conservatory (I've always gone on free days). I believe the discount is $4. Parking is always free. If you have additional questions about pricing or whether and for what you qualify, you can reach the Conservatory at 614-715-8000. **Where we'll meet** We will meet just outside the main entrance. I guarantee there's going to be a line. The Conservatory is always popular on free days, and especially in nice weather. **Your GPS is stupid!** Be careful simply typing "Franklin Park Conservatory" in your GPS and going where it tells you. The only way to access the parking lot to the Conservatory is off of Broad Street. Unfortunately, since Google Maps is unable to find its way out of a wet paper bag, it has a tendency to want to take people to a mythical, non-existent Conservatory entrance on Nelson Road. If your GPS does this, just drive to the north side of the Conservatory along Broad Street. Your GPS should then redirect you to the main Conservatory entrance. If your GPS doesn't, then throw your phone away\* and look for the big Conservatory sign on the south side of Broad Street between Nelson Road and Franklin Park West. You also should be able to use the map pin I've provided, below, and it should properly direct you to where you need to drive. \* Don't really do this. **After the event** After stopping to smell the roses, for those that are interested, we'll head to the nearby [Columbus Brewing Company Beer Hall](https://columbusbrewing.com/location/beer-hall/) for [drinks](https://columbusbrewing.com/location/beer-hall/#draft-list) and [lunch](https://columbusbrewing.com/location/beer-hall/#food-menu). The Beer Hall's actual address is [200 Kelton Ave, Columbus, OH 43205](https://www.google.com/maps/place/200+Kelton+Ave,+Columbus,+OH+43205/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x883889a94ac4acad:0xadb2e60240dbc38b?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111) (it's literally just on the south side of the Conservatory). Be sure this is where your GPS is taking you when you use it, as the Brewing Company has a taproom on Harrison Avenue that is *not* what you want for this event. We should be at the Beer Hall by 1 if you can't make the Conservatory and just want to join us for drinks.

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