Small Breed Dogs

**###PLEASE NOTE: Even if you RSVP on Meetup, you will need to grab a ticket here https://www.skipthesmalltalk.com/store/skip-the-small-talk-night-at-metrobar-dc-thursday-february-26-2026 in order to attend###** This event is cross-posted so Meetup RSVPs won't accurately reflect the actual number of attendees; typically there are around 30-40 people in attendance. **What's It Like?** Do you wish you could have more of the kinds of conversations you have late at night where for some reason, you feel safe talking about the things you actually care about? Bring your friends (or come by yourself- most people do!) and spend your Thursday night at an event where you know everyone else is there for the same reason. We'll be offering 'big talk' conversational prompts on them to get you started, and we'll have lots of structure to make sure that you actually talk to people and that it's not awkward. There will be drinks and snacks available for sale! **There is a 1 drink/food item minimum purchase for this event,** so please keep that in mind. **Check-in** for this event will begin around **6:45 pm**. Please do your best to arrive before 7:00 pm so we can begin as close to on time as possible. Skip the Small Talk is dedicated to providing an inclusive, welcoming environment for everyone. Check out our safety policy here: tinyurl.com/ststSafety Please see our event [page](https://www.skipthesmalltalk.com/store/skip-the-small-talk-night-at-metrobar-dc-thursday-february-26-2026) for more accessibility info. **Ready to Skip the Small Talk With Us?** **[Grab a ticket](https://www.skipthesmalltalk.com/store/skip-the-small-talk-night-at-metrobar-dc-thursday-february-26-2026)** since entry is on a first come first serve basis and we tend to sell out in advance for these-- once we are out of tickets, we will NOT be able to accommodate folks at the door. metrobar has lots of other fun events going on, too. Feel free to check them out **[here](https://metrobardc.com)**! If you want to be the first to hear about our events before we sell out, feel free to join our mailing list at [Skip the Small Talk Mailing List Sign-Up](https://sendfox.com/skipthesmalltalk) **###PLEASE NOTE: Even if you RSVP on Meetup, you will need to grab a ticket here https://www.skipthesmalltalk.com/store/skip-the-small-talk-night-at-metrobar-dc-thursday-february-26-2026 in order to attend###** This event is cross-posted so Meetup RSVPs won't accurately reflect the actual number of attendees; typically there are around 30-40 people in attendance.

Γειά σας! I hope folks are doing well despite this non-Hellenic weather! Hopefully, the snow will be gone before our next Greek Language MeetUp on Thursday, February 26th, at 7 pm. It's still the Free State's turn, so we'll MeetUp at Mykonos Grill in Rockville. Though we will follow our usual format of chatting with our παρεα, I will bring a question to discuss as a theme for this MeetUp, There are a few more Hellenic events to flag, including: * The snow caused our friends at the Hellenic Society Prometheas to reschedule their inaugural Cultural Heritage Awards Gala to Saturday, February 14th, at 6 pm, at the Falls Church Marriott Fairview Park at 3111 Fairview Park Drive. The gala will honor three notable members of our community, Dr. Nicholas Patronas, Mrs. Sophia Tsangali, and Father Steven Zorzos, "who have championed the spirit of Hellenism and its historical and cultural richness" with music provided by pianist Dr. Mary-Victoria Voutsas, the Palko Greek Music Band with singer Sophia Pelekasis, as well as DJTheo. Tickets are still available for $150 and can be purchased at [DC Greeks](https://www.dcgreeks.com/event_display.asp?EventID=2026012401). * The annual Celebration of *World Greek Language Day* will be held on Sunday, Feb. 15th at 3:00 pm at Saint George in Bethesda. The main speaker is Mr. Dimitri Dandolos, a founding board member of the Odyssey School in Wilmington, Delaware. * Saint Sophia will hold its Mardi Gras Community Dance, or Apocreatiko/Αποκριάτικο, on Saturday, February 21st, from 6 pm to 10 pm. It will feature a buffet dinner and music from Palko. Tickets are $85 each. Let me know if we should get a MeetUp table! * Speaking of which, let me know if we should try to get tickets to see Greek-American humorist and author David Sedaris on Sunday, April 19th, at 3 pm, at DAR Constitution Hall. Tickets are between $50 and $75. A pretty nice list of events, highlighted of course by our MeetUp on February 26th at Mykonos Grill. Να τα πούμε! - Athan

Some expert speaker (or panel) will be telling us about some subject, or maybe we'll hold a roundtable discussion, or whatever. Please bring your questions, ideas, etc., and a friend or three who might be interested in our Meetup. Approximate Schedule: 7:00 pm: people arrive, network, mingle, and eat pizza 7:30 pm: presentation, discussion, or whatever, begins 8:30 pm: presentation/whatever is over; we network, mingle, and clean up 9:00 pm: we lose the room There has been progress on finding a space sponsor and a dinner sponsor, but nothing is yet set in stone. Meanwhile, I will hold the meetings at the Fairfax City Regional Library, bring pizza and soft drinks, and put out a donation jar. (When you RSVP, you can tell me what you want. There's no guarantee you'll get it, and "nothing" is a perfectly good answer.) PLEASE RSVP YES IF COMING, AND CHANGE IT TO "NO" IF YOU THEN WON'T COME AFTER ALL. DO NOT MAKE US WASTE TIME WAITING FOR YOU. DO NOT DEPRIVE OTHERS OF A SPACE BY BOGARTING ONE. DO NOT MAKE ME THINK UP AN APPROPRIATE PENALTY FOR NO-SHOWS. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ADJUST THE PICTURE. DO NOT TAUNT HAPPY FUN MEETUP ORGANIZER. This will be a joint meeting with the Independent Consultants of NoVa, DC, and MD (https://www.meetup.com/Independent-Consultants-of-NOVA-DC-MD).

Get ready for one of the most fun and legendary nights - **BINGO NIGHT is HERE**! We’re talking: Big energy. Big laughs . Big wins. And an even bigger Social Sips & Bites crew bringing the hype! Whether you’re the quiet strategist or the one who screams “BINGO!!!” before the last number even lands, this night is for YOU. We’ll play multiple rounds, cheer each other on, enjoy drinks, snacks, and nonstop fun. This is the perfect chance to meet new people, hang with friends, and make some epic memories. Bring your energy. Bring your luck. Bring your hype.

Our regular Sunday meetup at the Shirlington Dog Park -- members start arriving around 10:15 a.m. You'll always find an Aussie to play with. There are 3 entrances, so wander the park -- the dogs will find each other! For puppies, Shirlington has a small dog park within the larger dog park. It's the prefect place for your puppy to gain confidence and socialize with others. There is also plenty of room to run. Just a reminder, the Dog Park is under attack by the Arlington County Board of Commissioners. While early plans to decrease the size of the park by 50% has been tabled, it's important to remind Arlington County how important this park is to dogs and owners. Here are links to the change.org petition and the Facebook page where you can get updates. Shirlington Dog Park Page Petition: https://www.change.org/.../arlington-county-board-save... Arlington County Board: Save the Shirlington Dog Park! We love the Shirlington Dog Park -- it provides… change.org Shirlington Dog Park Page Shirlington Dog Park Page Save the Dog Park Facebook page; https://www.facebook.com/groups/696087663906890

Join Sarah and Willow for a walk at the Arboretum! We will meet at the Visitor Center Parking at 9am. It should be nice weather, so we will go on about a 1.5hr walk. We will start by heading past the visitor center to wooded hillside to take a long walk in the shade. Then we will walk to the other set of woods and walk through there. We will end at the capital columns. Time: 9am Plan on getting there a little early so we can be ready to go on time. Location: Visitor Center Parking lot by R street entrance What to expect: This walk will be on leash. Don't forget to bring water for you and your dog. The walking surface will be a mix of paved road and grass/dirt. More info and directions here: https://usna.usda.gov/visit/hours-and-directions/

PawsUP for David and Brick for originally suggesting this awesome meetup and our dogs love it! -Dumbarton Oaks/Montrose Park in Georgetown -Meet at the entrance off of R st, on the East side (closer to the cemetery) -Plenty of street parking in the area -Bring water and a ball for your Aussie This park is a very large open field, that is very dog friendly. Tons of space to run and chase. Most if not all dogs are off leash. Occasional runners and kids (there is a playground), so keep that in mind. There is also a trail inside with a stream that the dogs love to play in.

Meeting place - https://maps.app.goo.gl/P6yZKpmhMFhAipXW6 Questions? Call 240-447-4796 https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/mount-vernon-to-lbj-grove-trail-loop 4.9mi Length 91ft Elevation gain 1.5–2hr Estimated time Loop This trail starts at the parking lot off George Washington Memorial Parkway. It’s a mostly flat, multi-use path that follows the Potomac River and Boundary Channel through Lady Bird Johnson Park on Columbia Island. The trail passes the Navy Merchant Marine Memorial and Columbia Island Marina, offering beautiful views of Washington, DC.

Based on the Chinese Zodiac, 2026 is the year of the **HORSE.** Whether you are a horse or any other zodiac sign, you are all welcome to join us for a delicious Chinese lunch to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Please only RSVP if you are sure to attend as space is limited. Also, to ensure a smooth checkout process, please **BRING CASH** to cover the cost of your meal **plus 30% for tax and tip.** Some discussion about the HORSE from Astrology.com: "It is said that Horse would have finished the race in sixth place, but Snake snuck a ride in the equine hoof, unbeknownst to the host. When Snake jumped ashore, she startled Horse. In typical Horse fashion, this majestic creature reared back, and Snake slithered across the finish line first. This story exemplifies how Horse may run with full speed, strength, and intent after goals, promises, and love interests, but can also scare easily. Strengths: virile, easygoing, witty, honest, and outspoken Weaknesses: impatient, impulsive, and self-centered Compatibility: Tiger, Goat, or Dog Mixmatch: Rat, Ox, or Rooster Element: Fire Yin or Yang: Yang Years: 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 Chinese mythology contains stories of flying horses, horses that are part dragon or deity, and a silkworm/mulberry origin story wherein a girl promises to marry a horse if he helps her find her father. When found, the father murders the horse to preclude the marriage, and the girl and horsehide transform into a silkworm on a mulberry tree – thus even today, you can see a horse’s face on the silkworm. Those born in the year of the Horse have inexhaustible energy (including potent sexuality), yet are easygoing, witty, honest, and outspoken. Horses are independent, adventurous, have a quick intuitive intelligence, and are good with money. They are decisive, generous, extremely popular, and can often be found in the middle of large social happenings." Mama Chang (Fairfax Circle) 3251 Blenheim Blvd. Fairfax, VA 22030 703-268-5556 www.mamachangva.com

Part 3 of our celebration of the Year of the Horse takes us once again to one of our community favorites, Mark's Duck House in Falls Church. We will be ordering a la carte, which should allow more freedom to order things that we like or even go "family style" if that's what your table chooses. Here's the link if you wish to peruse their menu: [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qGwAZxwFPalz7R0ZK6NTPlkFte38bw4F/view](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qGwAZxwFPalz7R0ZK6NTPlkFte38bw4F/view) We really want to try and fill out our tables with attendees, so we ask that you be diligent with managing your RSVPs. The RSVP mechanism will close 24 hours before the start of the event, so make your decisions by then so that we can give the restaurant an accurate head count! Disclaimer that we have to say even though we don't want to.........Just a heads up that we may have to give out "No Show" labels to those who don't follow our attendance protocol, but we know you don't want that Scarlet Letter, so don't let it be you! Also, please do not show up if you are not in the field of attendees! You will only anger the horse! As always, a bonus activity could follow if the mood is right! \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- If you have Instagram, you can check out our account at asiandiningandadventuregroup for photos and announcements of group outings!

Are you a girls’ girl? Then you already know what time it is 💅🏼💕 For this wellness hosted by Glow Girl Baddie **Jaki**, we’re renting out a beautiful Pilates studio for a winter class that’s all about soft movement, stretchy moments, and sisterhood 💕🧘🏽‍♀️ After class, we’ll hang for a little social moment and we have a special treat just for you, because you deserve to move your body and feel spoiled all at once. 🌟 What’s Included: ✨ Private 45-min Mat Sculpt class ✨ Signature pajamas (yours to keep!) ✨ A special treat To keep the vibe cohesive and dreamy, everyone will receive and wear matching pajamas during class 💖 (No drop-ins — this is a private, all-in experience.) 🎟️ Ticket Tiers & Pricing Early Bird $45 (first 5 sign-ups) [SOLD OUT] Standard $55 (RSVPs extended to Jan 20) Includes Mat Sculpt Class + Pajamas (no drop-ins! Pre-registration required) Payment info below: CashApp: $JakiJuno Venmo: @JakiJuno Zelle: 571-351-7061 🛍️ First 5 sign-ups get priority sizing! We’ll do our best to accommodate everyone’s preferred size! The earlier you sign up, the better your chances of securing your exact size 🩷 Size Chart: S- 0-2 M- 4-6 L- 6-8 XL- 10-12 2XL - 12-14 3XL - 14-16 4XL - 16-18 5XL- 18-20 No refunds after January 20, all funds are used towards the event and can’t be refunded after this date. Please cancel ahead of time.

Evolve exists to connect women entrepreneurs connect with one another, serve one another, and help one another overcome challenges in marketing, sales, networking, and professional development. [Add to Calendar](evolvecolumbus.eventcalendarapp.com) What to Expect: \~ Welcome team to greet you, introduce you to others, and make sure you feel a part of the group from your very first meeting \~ Welcome & Introductions: 15 second introductions \~ 15 Minute Speaker Spotlight: Member speaker who shares a bit of her story, how she got to doing what she does, and a tangible tip she uses to gain success in her business. No hard selling...no expectations. Simply giving the group an opportunity to get to know her and her journey. \~ 20 Minute Break Out Sessions: Small groups is where we connect best. Extroverted and Introverted alike get the opportunity to share on a deeper level and learn from one another. \~ Take Aways: Hear what the other groups talked about and share resources to grow yourself and your business \~ Grow Time!: Do you need a specific connection to a person, company, or industry? Share it with us! We love to open our networks to one another and grow together! Guests are always welcome. Please contact Mentor Director Donna Schomer at Donna@EvolveWomensNetwork.com for more information. We'd love to meet you!

Evolve exists to connect women entrepreneurs connect with one another, serve one another, and help one another overcome challenges in marketing, sales, networking, and professional development. **[Add to Calendar](https://www.evolvewomensnetwork.com/columbus-oh.html)** **What to Expect:** \~ Welcome team to greet you, introduce you to others, and make sure you feel a part of the group from your very first meeting \~ Welcome & Introductions: 15 second introductions \~ 15 Minute Speaker Spotlight: Member speaker who shares a bit of her story, how she got to doing what she does, and a tangible tip she uses to gain success in her business. No hard selling...no expectations. Simply giving the group an opportunity to get to know her and her journey. \~ 20 Minute Break Out Sessions: Small groups is where we connect best. Extroverted and Introverted alike get the opportunity to share on a deeper level and learn from one another. \~ Take Aways: Hear what the other groups talked about and share resources to grow yourself and your business \~ Grow Time!: Do you need a specific connection to a person, company, or industry? Share it with us! We love to open our networks to one another and grow together! Guests are always welcome. Please contact Mentor Director Donna Schomer at Donna@EvolveWomensNetwork.com for more information. We'd love to meet you!