Sculpture

Looking for a quiet, focused space to write? Come be part of our writing group—a dedicated time just for writing alongside fellow writers in your community. No readings, no critiques, no peer-review—just you writing within a supportive atmosphere. 7pm-7:15pm: Find your seat, set up your writing station, quick intro's. 7:15pm-8:45 pm: An hour and a half of silent focused writing. 8:45pm-9pm: Quick debrief, pack and head home. Can't wait to see you! :)

Like their Fairfax location, this cafe has lots of options for bites and drinks, and some unique house made syrups. Friendly staff, dedicated parking, and plenty of seating. Let’s chill Tuesday morning to set us up for a productive rest of the day. (No discussions on politics, religion or potentially controversial topics. We're here to relax and have fun. Just be respectful and we'll be alright. Pay your own way, and enjoy!)

**DESCRIPTION**: Hurray! C & O Canal National Park's Billy Goat B trail has finally reopened, Let's walk it now before extensive undergrowth blocks our views. Less than 3 miles in less than 3 hours, this is a slow walk, **but on very rocky terrain** with slopes and a stream to cross. We will make full stops to enjoy exceptional river scenery. So much to see and hear and enjoy with many natural curiosities (impressive rock formations, long river vistas and islands and white water stretches, overlooks to climb, beaver lodges, and possibly bird and frog songs). **MEET** at the red brick restrooms building by 1:00 PM for introductions. Hike starts by 1:15 PM and ends around 4:00 or so. **ADVISORY**: This walk is NOT recommended for anyone with stiffness, balance, bending nor range of movement problems. My companion, last week, slipped and fell (not injured). Using poles and watching our footsteps, when we get to rocky and steep parts, we may stoop and stretch in a gingerly manner. The trail, itself, is 1.4 miles and the canal towpath back adds another mile or so to make a loop. https://liveandlethike.com/2016/09/17/billy-goat-trail-section-b-chesapeake-ohio-canal-national-historical-park-md/ **WAIVER:** All participants will sign a Sierra Club sign-in sheet with waiver before we set off on our walk. **BRING**: (Weather forecast is for 80 degrees Tuesday.) Lots of water and sturdy hiking footwear with grooves and traction are essential, hiking pole(s) (We will cross a stream), back pack, sun hat, sun block, layers for changeable hot weather, old plastic shopping bag or other to sit upon, snack, binoculars, camera.

Whether you're a player looking for a campaign, or a DM looking for players, this is the event for you! We'll meet and have DMs pitch their games and then open time for Q&A (players to talk to DMs, trade contact information, or ask more questions.) **IF YOU OR YOUR GUESTS ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND, UPDATE YOUR RSVP** **Agenda:** 1900 - Arrival, gather, find seats 1915 - DMs pitch their campaigns 2000 - Open mingle, trade contact info, talk with potential groupmates All player and DM experience levels are welcome! **For DM Consideration:** When thinking of how to pitch your game, be sure to include the following details: * Game system * Location * Day/Time * Frequency of sessions * Number of players wanted * Campaign concept * Tone of the game * Any fun (but spoiler-free!) details that will really spark interest in your game! From Matt Colville: Pitching Your Game: Running the Game: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtH1SP1grxo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtH1SP1grxo) We'll be pretty informal and allow questions after each pitch. No need to over-prepare, but do think of how best to sell players on your campaign! Also, while this is a D&D group, feel free to pitch a different game system if you'd like. **For Player Consideration:** Before you arrive, consider your preferences in terms of play schedules, location, campaign style, etc. Other than that, just bring your curiosity and sense of adventure! We'll meet in Paradise Games and Gifts (new name of GCPD). If I am not there greeting people and guiding them to our reserved area please kindly ask a staff member to point you in the right direction. **Contact:** Any questions or concerns? Discord Server Invite https://discord.gg/Zj58w85XuW Looking forward to seeing everyone there! If you have any questions, please comment below or contact Alejandro (Discord: MagicalKuyo).

**Unwind. Breathe. Reset.** Join us for a calming **guided evening meditation** designed to help you **release stress**, **quiet the mind**, and **restore inner peace**, even if you’ve never meditated before. * **Time:** 7:00 PM–7:30 PM * **Format:** Gentle guidance + quiet time + peaceful reflection * **Perfect for:** Beginners and experienced meditators * **What to bring:** Just yourself **Come as you are. Leave feeling lighter.** * **Reserve your spot** (recommended) * **Free Event - Donations Appreciated** * **Bring a friend. First-timers welcome!** * **Arrive early to settle in. Doors open at 6:00 PM.**

Food is one of the most meaningful ways to experience culture — and Ethiopian cuisine is rooted in community, tradition, and bold, layered flavors. Join the Global Food & Culture group as we gather at Enatye Ethiopian Restaurant to explore traditional dishes served on injera. If you’re open to sharing, we can create a few shared platters so everyone can sample a variety of dishes — but individual ordering is perfectly fine too. Enatye is a small restaurant and does not make reservations so they recommended the 2-4 pm time frame. We’re initially capping this at 12 guests to keep the experience comfortable and conversational. If interest is strong and the restaurant can accommodate, we may open additional spots. The good news is that they will bill each of us separately! Come hungry. Come curious. And come ready to connect around the table.

The Funeral Portrait at Tally Ho Theater! Get tickets here: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/the-funeral-portrait-tally-ho-theater-tickets/14177934?pl=tallyho&fbclid=IwdGRjcAQFlwRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeFyOltDlLYjjPJpZfszNST4m01x1U1z1h73l8dDHTCExAaGMjeFLUQu81YVE_aem_IDAzRkswIjEPHdKsEUTNCQ

What role do the arts play in building strong, vibrant communities? How can creativity bring people together across differences, spark dialogue, and strengthen our shared sense of belonging? Join us for an open, engaging discussion on how visual art, music, theater, literature, film, and public art contribute to community life. Whether you’re an artist, arts supporter, educator, organizer, or simply someone who values culture, this conversation is for you. We’ll explore questions such as: * How do the arts create connection across cultural, generational, and social divides? * Can creative expression help communities heal after conflict or crisis? This is a dialogue — not a lecture — designed to surface diverse perspectives and lived experiences. Expect thoughtful conversation and opportunities to imagine new possibilities together. **All are welcome.**

Local archaeologist Lisbet Fassbinder is looking for adventurers to help her explore a pyramid she has discovered in the Great Sand Sea. Sealed by agents of the Raven Queen about three centuries ago, and with no reported expeditions since, there's plenty to explore! This is a Tier 1 adventure, perfect for newer players! **Becoming a member in our Discord and accepting our Code of Conduct is required for play at all of our events. You must join and accept the Discord rules before signing up to any MeetUp events. These rules include but are not limited to:** * **Assigning your name and pronouns as your server nickname;** * **Confirming your age as 18 or older;** * **Participating in a respectful environment for both our AL DMs and your fellow players.** **If you do not join the Discord and accept these rules prior to signing up for an event, you may be removed from the MeetUp event or be required to join the Discord and agree to the Code of Conduct at the game table prior to playing.** *[Join us on Discord!](https://discord.gg/mG24YCk7wj) Attending this event indicates that you agree to follow NOVA Adventurer’s League’s Code of Conduct, which can be found in the #code-of-conduct channel on our Discord.*

Having secured the map to the temple of Orcus, you now journey into it's depth, accompanied by new allies in the hopes of rescuing, or recovering, the lost angel Ser Vindictus. Can you brave the hoards of demonic undead to discover her fate? Or will merely swell the ranks of the demon lord with your own demise? **This event is hosted using the Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition Adventurers League rules. It is a Tier 1 game suitable for players of all experience levels.** **Becoming a member in our Discord and accepting our Code of Conduct is required for play at all of our events. You must join and accept the Discord rules before signing up to any MeetUp events. These rules include but are not limited to:** * **Assigning your name and pronouns as your server nickname;** * **Confirming your age as 18 or older;** * **Participating in a respectful environment for both our AL DMs and your fellow players.** **If you do not join the Discord and accept these rules prior to signing up for an event, you may be removed from the MeetUp event or be required to join the Discord and agree to the Code of Conduct at the game table prior to playing.** \*\**[Join us on Discord!](https://discord.gg/mG24YCk7wj) Attending this event indicates that you agree to follow NOVA Adventurer’s League’s Code of Conduct, which can be found in the #code-of-conduct channel on our Discord.*

**Agenda :** * 4.45 to 5.00 PM ET: Food and Networking * 5.00 to 5.50 PM ET: "Data Science & Machine Learning with Microsoft Fabric" Hello Everyone! Please join us for our March 12th edition of the AI-ML MeetUp. **Please note this is an in-person meeting and light refreshments/food will be provided. You will need a government-issued ID to enter the facility.** **Title:** Data Science & Machine Learning with Microsoft Fabric **Description:** Explore Microsoft Fabric’s integrated Data Science experience across ideation, preprocessing, modeling, & deployment. Learn how to ingest and prepare data via OneLake and Lakehouse, leverage Notebooks, Data Wrangler, Spark, SynapseML, MLflow for experimentation, & operationalize predictions with batch scoring and Power BI direct integration. Also, learn to build generative AI Q&A systems using Fabric Data Agents. **Location:** The meeting will be hosted in the Applied Information Sciences ( AIS ) office in Reston, at 11440 Commerce Park Dr # 600 · Reston, VA. The location is also right off the Silver Line metro's Wiehle-Reston Metro Station. **Parking:** Parking is paid and can be validated at the AIS office reception. We will meet in Room Lake Anne. We hope to see you all there!!!!

Join us for a special **Drawing Northern Virginia meetup** as we celebrate **Ellen’s retirement** with a relaxed morning of sketching at **Paradise Springs Winery**. Paradise Springs is a beautiful historic winery with scenic grounds, vineyards, and outdoor seating. It’s a great place to relax, draw, and spend time together as a community. We’ll meet at **11:00 AM** and then spread out around the property to find interesting scenes to sketch. Toward the end of the session, we’ll gather again to share our drawings. Seeing everyone’s work is always inspiring and a great way to discover new techniques and ideas. There are several picnic tables available, but you’re welcome to bring a **portable chair, stool, or blanket** if you prefer. The winery offers **wine and food for purchase** if you’d like to enjoy something while you draw. **All skill levels are welcome!** Bring: • Your sketchbook or painting materials • Portable seating or blanket (optional) If you’d like to see photos from past meetups at Paradise Springs, check out this previous event: https://www.meetup.com/drawingnova/events/284731134/ Looking forward to drawing together and celebrating Ellen!

Let’s hang out and journal together, trade stationary and stickers, and have a good time! Please note, we do not have a reservation, so we will do our best to find some good spots when we get there.

\*\*\*Meditation in our sacred space will begin promptly at 7:15 pm. Please refrain from entering after 7:15 pm. Additionally, space is limited to the first 35 attendees. Your RSVP here does not guarantee you a spot and tickets are available first come, first served.\*\*\* Donations are appreciated, and the average donation is generally $20, but all are welcome regardless of means! A portion of all proceeds will help fund the Crystal Ashram non-profit project where the Human Activation School of Expanded Consciousness will be located. A unique musical experience called a "Sound Bath" Sound bath! What's that? According to sonic specialist Monte Hansen from Annapolis MD, "A sound bath is an immersion in sound frequency that cleans your soul." Leave your rubber ducky at home. Bring your blankey instead, for this super relaxing immersion! According to cutting-edge doctors from Harvard, some of the deepest most profound healing in the body are accomplished with sound frequency. That's old news though. A 2nd century stone relief in the Himalayan mountains shows us that Buddha and his entourage knew this before Christ walked the earth. The stone relief depicts the Buddha and his buddies playing ancient Tibetan singing bowls. A sound frequency specialist from the [Human Activation School](https://humanactivation.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d88b4fea1b0f4ceaeb58f0e82&id=d6674b4603&e=465ba11f44), will be playing several of these rare Singing Bowls, some of which are over 200 years old. A magical alchemy of 7-12 different metals rings in the past, present, and future for our relaxing enchantment. Even modern doctors are using these old metal bowls for healing, and they are not practicing Buddhists! As a matter of fact, modern Buddhists no longer use the bowls in their practice. Come experience these gifts from the past in this NON-religious practice of our present. Come be rejuvenated or just captivated by this unique musical performance. Bring your pillows, blankeys, and yoga mats and snuggle into the comfort of the tranquil sounds. Feel free to sit, lay, or even stand! ***Did You Know?*** Singing bowls invite the mind and body into a tranquil state of being in which remarkable healing can occur, events that are unexplainable from a conventional biomedical perspective” *Music and the Meditative Mind: Toward the Science of the Ineffable*[Source](https://humanactivation.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d88b4fea1b0f4ceaeb58f0e82&id=9222616fc4&e=465ba11f44) "The sound bath meditation provides a nurturing space to connect and grow spiritually. The group atmosphere is welcoming and fun, and the meditation work is soothing and enriching. Loved it!"**-Cara** 7:00 pm - Meditation Reception\*\*\*Meditation in our sacred space will begin promptly at 7:15 pm. Please refrain from entering after 7:15 pm.\*\*\* 7:15 - Doors Close & Meditation Begins 8:15 - Meditation Ends, Followed by Community Reflection \*Please be respectful of Sticks and Stones employees and their instructions upon entering and exiting the space for the meditation\* A portion of all proceeds will help fund the [Crystal Ashram](https://humanactivation.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d88b4fea1b0f4ceaeb58f0e82&id=11664c3011&e=465ba11f44) non-profit project where the [Human Activation](https://humanactivation.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d88b4fea1b0f4ceaeb58f0e82&id=41699e76d8&e=465ba11f44) School of Expanded Consciousness will be located. Community sharing and engagement following after the meditation Questions? Please email [robert@humanactivation.com](http://mailto:robert@humanactivation.com/) or visit [crystalashram.com](https://humanactivation.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d88b4fea1b0f4ceaeb58f0e82&id=7d92f9b8f7&e=465ba11f44).

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“The Secrets of Runes,”** on the origins, development, and interpretation of the runic script, with Lilla Kopár, runologist and a professor of medieval literature and culture at Catholic University. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-rune-secrets](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-rune-secrets) .] The fame of runes outshines that of any other ancient script. They can be found not just on Viking Age rune stones, but on Bilbo’s door and as the Bluetooth logo on your cell phone. Runic script is commonly associated with magic, used by modern practitioners of neopaganism, and in recent decades has captured the imagination of filmmakers and video game designers. Yet most of us know little about the historical origins of runes and have no clue how to read or use them. Come to Crooked Run Fermentation in Sterling, Va., to get schooled on runic script with the help of Lilla Kopár, a veteran scholar of runes who has earned a following among Profs and Pints fans by giving fantastic talks on medieval monsters and Norse mythology. As someone who has carried out extensive field research on runes, published several articles on runic objects, and even appeared on the History Channel commenting on runes in America, she’s exceptionally qualified to introduce you to runology and the fascinating things that runes tell us. Dr Kopár will discuss the development of runic script from its humble origins on the borders of the Roman Empire in the first or second century CE, through its popularity in the Viking world, to its use and misuse in modern times. She’ll discuss how runes are a set of related alphabets that underwent changes over time and she’ll describe what inspired changes in this writing system and where and how runes were used in the medieval period. Her richly illustrated talk will highlight some of the most intriguing objects with runic inscriptions, from humble bone fragments to impressive rune stones, and offer insight into the scholarly methods of deciphering and interpreting runic inscriptions. We’ll also look at the function of the runic script from simple practical notes and memorial inscriptions to cipher-runes and magic. The most fun might be the in-class assignment, which will involve reading a few runic inscriptions and writing your name and other words in runes. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: Part of Codex runicus, a rune manuscript written on animal skin and dating to about 1300 (University of Copenhagen / Wikimedia Commons).

Looking for a quiet, focused space to write? Come be part of our writing group—a dedicated time just for writing alongside fellow writers in your community. No readings, no critiques, no peer-review—just you writing within a supportive atmosphere. 7pm-7:15pm: Find your seat, set up your writing station, quick intro's. 7:15pm-8:45 pm: An hour and a half of silent focused writing. 8:45pm-9pm: Quick debrief, pack and head home. Can't wait to see you! :)