Smart Cities

Greetings from the capital! Every Saturday at 7:30 PM, people from all walks of life — students, diplomats, travelers, locals — gather to unwind and connect. [[Click this whatsapp groupchat link to join](https://chat.whatsapp.com/JFESzopY1OgJ5z4r3RINfL)] Our age range is mostly 20s to 30s. If you enjoy discussing culture, politics, travel, or just want to practice a new language, this group is for you. A perfect blend of diversity and dialogue, right in the heart of D.C.

We have a **2 BR / 1 BA flat** for sale at Takoma Village Cohousing in Washington, DC! Join us at an open house on **Saturday, May 2, from 1:00 to 3:00** to view the home, which is being offered For Sale By Owner (FSBO). No registration is required. Learn more about this opportunity, including the seller's contact information, in the sale flyer and floor plan on [our website](https://takomavillage.org/page/39042~1039777/sales-and-rentals). You can also see more on the [linked web pages and photo gallery](https://wpl.mwg.mybluehost.me/website_8e2e0158/). Brief tours of the common areas will be offered to prospective buyers at the same time as the open house. Purchase offers are likely to be requested a few days later. If you are seriously considering this home for sale, please also review our [Guide for Prospective Residents](https://takomavillage.org/page/39042~755756/guide-for-prospective-residents). There are several upcoming activities you can participate in to fulfill the expectations, but please write to us to arrange for a host for any activity you want to join. Our email address is on [our website](https://takomavillage.org/page/39042~754251/public-inquiries). *Takoma Village complies with the Federal Fair Housing Act and the District of Columbia Human Rights Act.*

This class will provide instruction into various concepts of **Jiu-Jitsu** as a form of **martial art**. Participants will have the opportunity to **study**, **practice**, and **experiment** with **submission holds** and **strategic fighting controls** that are the hallmark of the now famous methodology of Professional MMA athletes and professional combatives users. This **gi class** is held every **Tuesday** and **Thursday** and includes **one hour of instruction** and **30 minutes** (sometimes longer, TBD) of **open training**. Gis are available if you need one. Drop-in fee for non-members is **$20** which which can be paid on-site. Note that we are in **Suite #130**.

***Please read entire posting for details*** Travel the World in One Day (Passport DC) Join us for one of Washington DC’s most unique cultural experiences — the Around the World Embassy Tour during **Passport DC! For one special day, embassies across Washington DC open their doors to the public, giving us the chance to travel the world without leaving the city. We’ll explore different embassies together, experiencing international culture through food, music, art, performances, and cultural demonstrations from countries around the globe. ✈️ What We’ll Experience As we embassy-hop, we may encounter: 🌎 Traditional cultural performances 🍽 International foods and drinks 🎶 Music and dance from around the world 👗 Cultural fashion and crafts 🎭 Art exhibits and cultural displays Participating embassies: Angola, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Belize, Burkina Faso, China, Costa Rica, Côte d’ivoire, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Fuji, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Lebanon, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Mexican, Cultural Institute, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine Last year, we only visited a few embassies due to long wait times. This year, we’re using a team strategy since we have over 400 RSVPs to this event, this way we can cover more ground and maximize the experience. 📍 How It Will Work We will split into teams (A, B, C, etc.), and each team will start in a different area of DC to avoid crowds. Each team will have 3 optional roles: Team Lead – Guides the group and navigates to assigned embassies Crowd Monitor – Monitors wait times and helps decide whether to stay or skip, can update the group chat with wait times. Photographer – Captures moments and shares photos in the group chat 👉 If you don’t want a role, no problem—you can simply join and enjoy. ⏱️ Strategy for Lines If the wait is under 20 minutes → stay If the wait is over 20 minutes → consider skipping 📝 Sign-Up Form Please sign up here and choose your team and role (if you don't want a leadership role select the option for "no role"): [https://grasshoppersignup.com/s/nqtzjk](https://grasshoppersignup.com/s/nqtzjk) Try to sign up no later than Thursday night/Friday morning so i have all the info needed to continue planning, and I will send follow up details after we have all the sign-ups. 📍 Team Starting Locations & Routes Each team has been assigned a starting embassy. This is where you will meet your group at 8:30 AM and begin your day. This way you can start assembling in the line and gear up for when the embassies opens their doors. After exploring your starting embassy, you will move on to the additional embassies listed for your team. 👉 We’ve intentionally grouped embassies into nearby clusters, so each team’s route is walkable and stays within the same area to save time and avoid unnecessary travel. IF YOU WANT TO VISIT AN EMBASSY NOT ON THE LIST - GO FOR IT! Once you arrive, your Team Lead will gather everyone and kick things off and you will enter the starting embassy. Team leads will be announced after sign-ups. Try to arrive on time so you don't get separated from your group. if you are planning to arrive later in the day and cannot find your group, then you are free to explore the embassies on your own, but its fun to do it as a group! 🅰️ Team A Start here: Embassy of Ethiopia (ARRIVAL: 8:30 AM) Once finished, continue to: Malaysia • Nigeria • Egypt • Pakistan • China • Singapore • Ghana • Bangladesh 🅱️ Team B Start here: Embassy of Nepal (ARRIVAL: 8:30 AM) Once finished, continue to: South Africa • Lebanon • Panama • Sri Lanka • Azerbaijan 🅲 Team C Start here: Embassy of Qatar (ARRIVAL: 8:30 AM) Once finished, continue to: Uzbekistan • Chile • Colombia • Trinidad & Tobago • Peru • Philippines • El Salvador 🅳 Team D Start here: Embassy of Rwanda (ARRIVAL: 8:30 AM) Once finished, continue to: Indonesia • Grenada • Eritrea • Zimbabwe • Botswana • Jamaica • Mozambique 🅴 Team E Start here: Embassy of Moldova (ARRIVAL: 8:30 AM) Once finished, continue to: Gabon • Benin • Thailand • Barbados • Costa Rica • Dominican Republic • Zambia 🅶 Team F Start here: Embassy of Guatemala (ARRIVAL: 8:30 AM) Once finished, continue to: Kenya • Haiti • Burkina Faso • Cameroon • Malawi • Côte d’Ivoire • Korea • Japan • Turkey • Guyana 💡 Important Reminder Your starting embassy is your meeting point After that, follow your team’s route Stick within your cluster, but feel free to adjust based on wait times You’re not required to follow this plan—it’s simply a suggested structure to help your team stay organized and make the most of the day. Feel free to adjust your route as you go to maximize how many embassies you’re able to visit. ⚠️ Important Tips Wear comfortable walking shoes Bring water & snacks Use Metro/Uber (driving is not recommended due to crowds) 🍴 Quick & Casual Lunch Spots (Near Embassy Routes) Here are easy, fast options close to the main embassy clusters so you don’t lose time traveling. Each team can pick a lunch spot based on where they are located. feel free to choose other options not on this list. This list is to just help you stay on track. 🌳 Woodley Park / Zoo Area Best for Teams A & B routes Open City – quick sandwiches, burgers, coffee, very group-friendly Duke’s Counter – fast burgers + fries, good for grab-and-go Chipotle Mexican Grill – fastest option for large groups 🏛️ Mass Ave / Embassy Row Area Best for Teams C & D routes Roti Mediterranean Grill – quick bowls, wraps, healthy-ish Shake Shack – fast burgers, easy group orders CAVA – fast Mediterranean bowls, great for groups 🌆 Dupont / Connecticut Ave Area Best for Teams E & G routes Sweetgreen – quick salads and bowls &pizza – fast personal pizzas Five Guys – fast burgers, no wait planning needed 💬 Stay Connected Join the WhatsApp group for updates and coordination for the day of event: [https://chat.whatsapp.com/KuqSMEeOAV8H4NHUgE77PQ](https://chat.whatsapp.com/KuqSMEeOAV8H4NHUgE77PQ) We’re trying this team-based strategy this year to see how it works and whether it helps us visit more embassies. Based on how it goes, we’ll decide if we want to use this approach again next year or try something different.

Come join us for informal discussions about AI, and meet others who are passionate about the subject!

Come play some casual Commander at Crystal City! Bring your favorite decks for some pickup games, and feel free to bring your trade binders if you'd like! **We play at 2100 Crystal Drive** in Arlington, VA, 22202, which is a seating area that is right next to We, the Pizza in Crystal City. Detailed directions on how to get there: **Directions from the Metro:** If you're taking the Metro, exit at Crystal City. When you come up the first set of escalators, turn left to enter the underground shops and then turn left again after a brief walk. Cross the street, enter the next building, and the seating area will be on the left after passing the Minuteman Press Printing and Marketing shop. **Parking:** If you're driving, garage parking is free after 4 pm. Enter the garage on 2144 Crystal Drive. There will be elevators that take you up to the main level. If you have any questions, please join our Discord for the most up-to-date information: https://discord.gg/fBUWvrAVMv

DC Code and Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. It's community-led and community-run by devs, for devs. People of all skill levels attend. Whether you’re dev-curious, aspiring, or a professional developer, we’d love to have you! Come chat or learn to code on a Sunday afternoon with coffee and cool-inclusive people. Bring your laptop! We typically meet every month on the weekend. **Join our online community!** For all things Tech in DC and to get latest updates and tech events from the DMV area, join the [DCTech Slack](https://dctech.chat/). All DC Code & Coffee announcements are in the #dccodecoffee channel **How it works** Near the beginning of the event, we do an introduction circle. You say your name, what you can help others with, and what you would like help with. You can also share job opportunities. After the introduction circle, everything is self-organized.

What do you *really* believe about money? Is it something to fear… something to avoid… or something that can support a meaningful, abundant life? Join us at **Unity of Fairfax** as we explore the connection between faith and finances—and how our beliefs about money shape our experiences. Through a Unity perspective, we’ll look at the origins of our “money consciousness,” gently uncover limiting patterns, and open the door to a healthier, more empowered relationship with abundance. And don't worry, this is not about tithing!! It’s about awareness, clarity, and possibility. Whether you’re feeling stuck, curious, or ready for a new perspective, you are welcome here.

Higher Grounds – Arlington is part of a growing network of gatherings where we create space for thoughtful, authentic dialogue about what matters most. Whether we’re exploring the nature of happiness, the challenges and possibilities of midlife, spirituality, culture, capitalism, parenting, or the role of art and travel in a meaningful life, every conversation is shaped by the people in the room. There’s no set leader or rigid agenda—just a shared commitment to listen as much as we speak. We start with brief introductions focused on what makes you you (not your LinkedIn bio), then dive straight into whatever is on people’s minds. The direction of each meetup emerges organically, making every event unique. MANDATORY: PLEASE REVIEW OUR COMMUNITY GUIDELINES IN THE GROUP DESCRIPTION. Everyone is expected to engage in respectful conversations and listen deeply as well as share. We have a zero tolerance policy of sexual harassment and hate speech. Come ready to share, reflect, and connect with others in Arlington who are also seeking deeper conversations. Suggested Questions: Life Stages & Transitions * What did you think you'd have figured out by now that you're still completely winging? * When did you realize your parents' advice was for a world that no longer exists? * What are you finally old enough to stop pretending to care about? Suggested Questions: Identity After the Roles * Who are you when nobody needs anything from you? * What dream keeps resurfacing even though the "practical" time has passed? * How do you handle having the freedom you always said you wanted? Suggested Questions: AI & Being Human * What human experiences will AI never truly understand? * If machines handled all your have-to's, what would you actually do? * What becomes more precious as everything becomes automated? Suggested Questions: Belief & Meaning * What certainties have you given up, and what rushed in to fill that space? * How has knowing someone who died changed how you live? * What do you believe now that would shock your younger self? Suggested Questions: The Modern Psyche * What anxiety do you carry that previous generations didn't have? * Which of your survival strategies are you ready to retire? * What uncomfortable truth about happiness did it take you years to accept? Suggested Questions: Work & Purpose * When did you stop believing that your job would complete you? * What would you do for work if money and status weren't factors? * How has your definition of "making it" changed over the years? Suggested Questions: Relationships & Connection * What relationship dynamic do you keep recreating, and why? * When did you realize your parents were just people trying their best? * What kind of loneliness doesn't go away even when you're with others? Suggested Questions: Time & Mortality * What are you running out of time to say or do? * How differently do you spend your time knowing it's finite? * What will you regret not trying, even if you fail? Suggested Questions: Society & Culture * What social convention do you follow even though it makes no sense? * Which generation do you understand least, and what might you be missing? * What aspect of how we live now will seem insane in 20 years? Suggested Questions: Personal Philosophy * What rule for life did you create after learning something the hard way? * When did you stop believing that everyone else had it figured out? * What paradox about life have you learned to live with?

\#\#\# This is now a No-Host Event. People may attend as individuals, but there will be no event host. Aditya will be put of state during this event. \#\#\# Free Tickets are available here: [https://www.washingtonperformingarts.org/event/tregaron-meadow-concert-26/](https://www.washingtonperformingarts.org/event/tregaron-meadow-concert-26/) Below is the official event description You will need to bring chairs or mats to sit on, or comment that you need one since I have plenty of outdoor chairs. You need to get a ticket from this website, the tickets are free, but are not available yet. An afternoon jazz performances by Mars Arts D.C. artists. In the Meadow, the magic of live performances and the tranquility of nature come together for an unforgettable experience of sensory delights. Tregaron performances are free and great for all ages. Artist details to be announced. Registration will be available in spring 2026.

Start with a Pisco Sour, a signature cocktail or mocktail. Enjoy ceviche just like you get in Peru, a choripan sandwich, some Lomo Saltado, Peruvian Chicken or many more delicious choices! [Check out their menu here](https://autenticoperu.com/menu/) Auténtico is born from years of dreams, sharing the rich diversity of Peruvian cuisine with Northern Virginia. Their menu celebrates variety and creativity, where traditional recipes meet subtle touches of innovation. It’s more than food, it’s a fusion of authentic flavors crafted with care, turning every plate into a story worth savoring.

Central Ohio Radio Enthusiasts—CORE—is an informal community for anyone enthusiastic or curious about radio—whether you're new to radio and want to learn or you've been tinkering for years and want to share. Ham radio operators, GMRS users, Meshtastic fans, software-defined radio nerds, makers, and technical and non-technical folks are all welcome. No experience required or expected. This month we have **Radio Signal Analysis Using SDRs and OpenWebRX+** with **Scott McCrory**. Details are are [core.radio](https://core.radio/).

Click Here For More Videos: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/17vTa7EuwG/ ********************************* The Biggest Salsa Night to hit your mid-week is happening at Latin City Wednesdays. Get the feel of the Latin Beat as your hips and feet groove the right way. ********************************* Viva Dance Columbus (2809 Festival Lane Dublin, OH 43017) 830pm-930pm Cuban Salsa Lessons 930pm-Midnight Open Latin Dance Party $15 With Lesson $10 Just Open Dance ********************************** Free Parking, No Need to Bring a dance partner, No Sandals Please and Plenty of Space to Move Around.

Practical AI for Power BI Developers A year ago, “agentic AI” was mostly hype for Power BI teams. Today, it deserves your undivided attention. For Power BI pros, there is now a real opportunity to reduce repetitive development work, accelerate delivery, and help developers do more, but only when strong DataOps practices are in place to make AI workflows effective. This session is a no-nonsense introduction to effective AI patterns for Power BI and Fabric development. Along the way, we will make sense of the growing pile of terminology, including skills, plugins, hooks, and MCP. You will see examples of how modern AI tooling can help with development tasks across Power BI and Fabric, along with the prerequisites, guardrails, and DataOps principles needed to use it responsibly. Whether you're burned out on AI hype or already using Copilot CLI daily, this session will show you the foundations that are finally making AI-assisted development genuinely useful.

This meetup is a beginner-friendly session introducing version control for Unity projects, with a look at three common tools: Git, Perforce, and Unity Version Control. The goal is to help you understand what version control is, why it matters for Unity development, and what options are out there. The format will likely be presentation-style, with live demos and time for questions throughout. You'll see each tool in action and learn how they fit into a Unity workflow. What to Expect: * An introduction to version control and why it's essential for Unity projects * An overview of Git, Perforce, and Unity Version Control * Demos of each tool in a Unity workflow * Tips for getting started * No prior version control experience required * Resources for continued learning All experience levels are welcome. Whether you're new to version control or already using one of these tools, this session will help you understand what each one offers. Food and drinks provided. Join us to learn more about version control options for Unity.

Customer identity resolution becomes increasingly complex as organizations scale across multiple systems, regions, and data formats. Traditional rule-based approaches often fail to keep up with data variability, require constant manual tuning, and struggle with real-time processing needs. This session presents a practical approach to building a scalable identity resolution pipeline using AWS services and modern AI techniques. The architecture combines data ingestion through Amazon S3 and AWS Glue, transformation pipelines using Spark on EMR, and machine learning models deployed via SageMaker for entity matching and standardization. Graph-based relationship modeling is implemented using Amazon Neptune to improve resolution accuracy by incorporating household and shared attribute context. We will walk through how machine learning models can be used for name and address normalization, how intelligent blocking strategies improve matching efficiency, and how feedback loops can be introduced to continuously improve accuracy. The session also highlights how serverless components such as AWS Lambda can be used for orchestration and real-time processing. **SPEAKER BIO** Mosaic Syed is a Senior Data Engineering and Cloud Solutions Architect with over 20 years of experience designing and delivering scalable, secure, and high-performance data solutions across global enterprise environments. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mosaic-basha-syed-92300856 **CALL FOR SPEAKERS** Learn more: [https://www.awscolumbus.com/get-involved/](https://www.awscolumbus.com/get-involved/) **THANK YOU** *VEEAM* for hosting our meetup! To learn more about *Veeam*, please visit their website: [https://www.veeam.com/](https://www.veeam.com/) **DIRECTIONS** 8800 Lyra Dr #450 · Columbus, OH go to 4th floor. **Want to sponsor the pizza and/or bar tab?** Please contact me if you would like to sponsor this meetup's pizza and/or bar tab: angelo@mandato.com

At Unity of Columbus, our Youth and Family Ministry nurtures the spiritual growth of children and families through love, joy, and practical spiritual teachings. Each Sunday, children explore timeless spiritual principles through stories, creative activities, music, and group sharing in a safe and welcoming environment. Our program encourages children to discover their own inner light, express kindness, and develop a personal connection with God. Together, we celebrate diversity, cultivate understanding, and inspire each child to live with purpose and compassion. Parents and families are invited to join in this uplifting journey of learning, laughter, and spiritual connection.

FREE event [https://www.ccad.edu/chroma](https://www.ccad.edu/chroma) Friday, May 15, 3–7 p.m. CCAD campus, 60 Cleveland Ave, Columbus, OH Join Columbus College of Art & Design for *2025* *Chroma: Best of CCAD*, our annual campuswide exhibition showcasing outstanding student work from across the college’s academic programs. This faculty-juried show features select work from CCAD students of all class years, and is a can’t-miss end-of-year campus celebration recognizing their tremendous achievements. It’ll be a night of fun and entertainment, with interactive games, animation and film screenings, art symposiums, poetry and prose readings, and more (along with some of the best local food trucks). *Chroma* is free and open to all. Many exhibitions including... **Game Art & Design:** **DSB, first floor, Welcome Center lobby and Room 115**