Stop Trump

**The concert has been cancelled due to the forecasted extreme heat** The band Bansy will be part of the Summer Concert Series I. Bethesda. Their set list spans genres and generations. They blend classic guitar anthems with today’s most popular pop hits. With multiple lead vocalists, instrument switching, and an energetic, interactive stage presence, they focus on keeping the crowd engaged, singing along, and having a great time from start to finish. Bring a chair. Try to get there early to help me grab some tables.

Reserve your seat on **[Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-tie-club-dinner-federico-ristorante-italiano-tickets-1989160603913?aff=oddtdtcreator)** so we have an accurate guest count. We will gather at Federico Ristorante Italiano. Federico is your destination for authentic Italian cuisine, drinks, and decadent desserts. The casual dining event is free to attend, but any drinks or meal are on your own. If you wish to optionally dine (on separate checks of course), view the [menu](https://www.federicoristoranteitaliano.com/menu). Don't forget dessert! Federico is known for its desserts, including Tiramisu, Cannoli, Chocolate Fudge Cake, Creamy Cheesecake, Crema Caramel, Spumoni, Cherries Jubilee, and Great Falls Dairy Ice Cream. This event is hosted by Go Gay DC, Washington DC's inclusive LGBTQ+ community focused on friendship, leadership, and service. It now reaches over 10K fabulous people and is growing fast. Visit [https://www.gogaydc.com](https://www.gogaydc.com) Mingle with fabulous LGBTQ+ folk and allies. Go Gay DC Leader [TJ Flavell](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjflavell/) will be there to greet you. Bring your friends and meet new people from all over the world. Casual attire is fine. Feel free to invite all your friends to join you there. Parking is usually available nearby on the residential side streets. Metro Directions: Be eco-friendly. Crystal City Metro station on the Yellow/Blue lines is the closest Metro stop. When you arrive, go out the station, walk towards your left to 18th Street and then veer right and walk under the Route 1 overpass to Eads St. Turn left and walk to 23rd Street. Turn right. Federico is half a block up 23rd Street on your right. There's no need to print out and show your Eventbrite ticket. Please be sure to tag any event photos on social with #gogaydc This event is a safe, inclusive space for everyone under the rainbow. This event is for all ages. Remember to bring your ID, as everyone who wishes to drink alcohol is carded of course. Go Gay DC is also on social media: Like the Facebook Page [https://www.facebook.com/GoGayDC/](https://www.facebook.com/GoGayDC/) Follow on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/GoGayDC/](https://www.instagram.com/GoGayDC/) Follow on Threads [https://www.threads.com/@GoGayDC](https://www.threads.com/@gogaydc) Follow on Bluesky [https://gogaydc.bsky.social/](https://gogaydc.bsky.social/) Follow on X [https://www.x.com/GoGayDC](https://www.x.com/GoGayDC) Watch on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/GoGayDC](https://www.youtube.com/GoGayDC) LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/GoGayDC](https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/GoGayDC?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExZG1DTnM0VnJybG83U3FWcnNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR765Xxf5t8wFzbCac74QNX3p0Bs2oT0drXZoOmLV63J8cURMl3ta5b8iP3ztg_aem_nSdndpxd5-hXJ8myNF2_vQ) Search tags: LGBT LGBTQ LGBTQI LQBTQIA Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Intersex Straight Allies Two-spirit non-binary

Details **Location:** Bus Boy and Poets (K st) The purpose of Thinkers and Drinkers is to facilitate casual but meaningful and interesting conversations with other people in a face-to-face setting. The topics cover a wide variety of issues and are different for every meeting. While conversations may get heated at times, we ask that all members be respectful of each other and refrain from personal insults. **Topic: Party Politics and the Future of the Two-Party System** For more than 150 years, American politics has been dominated by two major parties. While third parties have occasionally influenced elections or introduced new ideas, the Democratic and Republican parties have remained remarkably resilient. In recent years, public frustration with the current system has become increasingly apparent. According to a 2025 [Gallup poll](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2026/05/01/americans-continue-to-view-both-the-republican-and-democratic-parties-negatively/?utm_source=chatgpt.com), **62% of Americans believe the Democratic and Republican parties are doing such a poor job that a third major party is needed.** This dissatisfaction has led the percentage of Americans identifying as political independents to increase from **33% in 1988 to a record 45% in 2025**, **Questions to Consider:** 1. Could a third party ever find success within the near future? 2. Will the main parties see an increase in factionalism? (Socialist faction in the Democratic Party MAGA in the Republican Party) 3. Would electoral reforms such as ranked-choice voting or proportional representation improve political representation? 4. Is today's political polarization primarily caused by the two-party system? 5. What do you think American politics will look like 20–30 years from now?

MEET AT FRANCONIA METRO- I will wait until 7:15 Have to change plans due to road closures in DC The Washington Monument Illumination returns to the National Mall July 1 through July 5. Each evening, an 18-minute projection-mapping presentation will light the Monument with the people, places, and moments that have shaped the American story, ending with the Monument glowing as a giant birthday candle.

To secure your spot, purchase your ticket from the Eventbrite link ([https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dc-foam-fest-tickets-1992068997998](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dc-foam-fest-tickets-1992068997998)). RSVPing only on the Meetup page, doesn't allow you to attend the Event. ADVANCE TICKET PURCHASE IS REQUIRED. ABOUT THE EVENT Kick off 4th of July Weekend at The Biggest Foam Party in DC's history! FOAM FEST DC in The Bullpen on 7.2.26 Join us live at THE BULLPEN on 7.2.26 for an unforgettable day packed with fun, friends, and loads of foam! This in-person event is the perfect chance to let loose, dance, and get a little messy in the best way possible. Whether you're rolling solo or coming with your crew, the vibes will be off the charts. Don’t miss out on the ultimate foam party experience right here in DC! **There will be a lot of people. Use the comment box of the Meetup to coordinate amongst the group.** **This is also a wicked 'MeRtUp' with a saving!** **What is MERTUP?:) Mer + Meetup = Mertup.** **Mer is known as the Meetup guy. He likes to connect people and his fans coined that name for him. So, at his events, everyone will become a Wing Person to everyone:) When you get get there, we will introduce you to someone and you will be responsible to introduce that person to another person. That is MERTUP!** **Enter the Promo Code 'MERTUP' to redeem your 20% discount!** ([https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dc-foam-fest-tickets-1992068997998](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dc-foam-fest-tickets-1992068997998)) FAQs TICKETS You MUST have your ticket on your phone. Tickets are transferable and not refundable. You can give your ticket to a friend to use if you cannot attend the event. ID Government issued ID is required! It will be checked at every participating bar that you choose to go to. All participants must be 21 years old or older. WEATHER Event goes on rain, snow or shine! STILL HAVE QUESTIONS? Reach out to info@merevents.com Payment Instructions : 1. Login to see the 'Get Tickets' button, on the ticket link. Then hit the button. 2. Verify correct dollar amount for number of people you're paying for. 3. **If *you don't have a Paypal account, proceed to the next page and scroll down to see "Pay with a Debit or Credit Card". Then turn off the button 'Save The Info and Create Your Paypal Account'.*** 4. If you have a Paypal account, simply log in, and pay as you normally would via Paypal. **How to Unblock the Pop-up Blocker on Your Phone** Many of our patrons advised us that they have a Pop-up Blocker on their iPhones and it hinders them from buying tickets. To unblock, please follow the following steps : For Safari Users : 1. Go to Settings. 2. Scroll down to Safari and click on it. 3. Select Block Pop-ups and turn it off. For Google Chrome Users : 1. Open Google Chrome. 2. Click on the three dots and you will see many options. 3. Click on Settings. 4. Scroll down to content settings. 5. Select Block Pop-ups and turn it off. Refund & Ticket Resell Policy All sales are final. We only refund the full amount, if the event is canceled. If it is rescheduled, we will send an email to ticket holders advising that. A full refund will be given to those that let us know within 2 calendar days of the update email, if you are unable to make it on the new date. No refunds will be given after that time. However, you can sell your ticket to someone else if you are unable to attend. Please, feel free to post in the comment box for the event, that you have a ticket for sale. Work out payment between yourselves, and have the seller only send the organizers a message letting us know the full name of the person taking your spot. You must let us know two hours before the RSVP close time, on the day of the event. **FOR FURTHER INFO, REFER THE EVENTBRITE LINK AND PURCHASE TICKET. IT RULES.**

Happy 250th MAGA! We're going to get together this Sunday at Noon to celebrate America's 250th! Out of town MAGA is encouraged to join us and hang out for a few hours. We will meet on the right side of the THIRD level of CC Sports Pub. We will have two bartenders so please order drinks and food from the bar. And TIP WELL! See you there! Fox Magee

Join us to drum for rain! The drum circle will be at the Guru Rinpoche statue at the entrance to the Peace Park, across the street from the temple. We will be chanting sacred mantras as we drum, praying for abundant rain to ease the drought. All are welcome! Please bring any percussion instruments you have - the more the merrier! If you don't have any drums, there are typically extra available. Either way, you can chant along with everyone. In the event of inclement weather, we usually drum as long as we can before the storm starts, or wait it out and start a little late. We hold out until the last minute to cancel so if the weather seems iffy, keep an eye on our Facebook page for announcements. The DC region is currently experiencing moderate to severe drought. Many other regions of the world are also experiencing drought conditions. We will dedicate our prayers to bringing life-giving rain to all who need it!

To secure your spot, purchase your ticket from the Eventbrite link ([https://www.eventbrite.com/e/clarendon-drink-for-america-bar-crawl-tickets-909952842447](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/clarendon-drink-for-america-bar-crawl-tickets-909952842447)). RSVPing only on the Meetup page, doesn't allow you to attend the Event. ADVANCE TICKET PURCHASE IS REQUIRED. ABOUT THE EVENT What’s better than day drinking?! Bar hoping and day-drinking for AMERICA! Come celebrate the good ol' USA in your most patriotic red, white and blue outfits and get ready for one heck of a party! Sport your American pride with all day drink specials, DJs, bands, dancing, patriotic swag and tons of give-a-ways. You must get a wristband to participate in the fun. **Registration : is from 3-5pm. But the party continues till 10PM!** You or a friend must pick up your ticket before registration ends. If you couldn't make it before 6PM, text the QR Code of your ticket, to your friend. So that they would be able to pick up your wristband. **What your ticket to Freedom includes:** Cover-free admission to each venue (venues will charge entry without wristband) Drink & food specials throughout the day Independence Day signature mug or koozie Patriotic swag Give-a-aways to most patriotic crawlers Tons of your closest friends to cheers with If you’re proud to be an American, you don’t want to miss this epic bar crawl. Come alone or bring a group but remember to suit up in your most patriotic gear and be ready to celebrate! It’s time to party in the USA! FAQ: **What if I can’t pick up my wristband before registration cuts off?** A friend may pick up your wristband and meet you later on the crawl. **Can someone under 21 participate?** Sorry, you must be 21+ to enter participating venues. Please bring proper identification. **How can I get to the bar crawl?** If you are not taking public transportation, please do NOT drink and drive! Take A Ride Share OR Taxi Service OR Metro. Stops are also conveniently located near all participating establishments (Orange and Silver lines). **ID** Government issued ID is required! It will be checked at every participating bar that you choose to go to. All participants must be 21 years old or older. **WEATHER** Event goes on rain, snow or shine! **STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?** Reach out to info@merevents.com **HAPPY CRAWLINGS!!!** Payment Instructions : 1\. Click on the ticket link and 'Pay Now' button\, after RSVPing\. Then hit the button\. 2\. Verify correct dollar amount for number of people you're paying for\. **3\. If you don't have a Paypal account\, click "Pay with a Debit or Credit Card"\.** 4\. If you have a Paypal account\, simply log in\, and pay as you normally would via Paypal\. **How to Unblock the Pop-up Blocker on Your Phone** Many of our patrons advised us that they have a Pop-up Blocker on their iPhones and it hinders them from buying tickets. To unblock, please follow the following steps : For Safari Users : 1\. Go to Settings\. 2\. Scroll down to Safari and click on it\. 3\. Select Block Pop\-ups and turn it off\. For Google Chrome Users : 1\. Open Google Chrome\. 2\. Click on the three dots and you will see many options\. 3\. Click on Settings\. 4\. Scroll down to content settings\. 5\. Select Block Pop\-ups and turn it off\. Refund & Ticket Resell Policy All sales are final. We only refund the full amount, if the event is canceled. If it is rescheduled, we will send an email to ticket holders advising that. A full refund will be given to those that let us know within 2 calendar days of the update email, if you are unable to make it on the new date. No refunds will be given after that time. However, you can sell your ticket to someone else if you are unable to attend. Please, feel free to post in the comment box for the event, that you have a ticket for sale. Work out payment between yourselves, and have the seller only send the organizers a message, letting us know the full name of the person taking your spot. You must let us know two hours before the RSVP close time, on the day of the event. \****For further info, refer the Eventbrite Invite. We may have already answered one of your questions, see our FAQs.*** http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/b/0/8/2/600_436665186.jpeg http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/b/0/8/8/600_436665192.jpeg http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/a/5/8/7/600_433122375.jpeg

Allen Pond Park, 3330 Northview Dr, Bowie, MD \*\*\*PLEASE DOWNLOAD ROUTE PRIOR TO MEETUP. NOT A BEGINNER'S RIDE. Beginners please join us on Wednesdays at Paceline Meetup 8:30 am Ride off 9:00am A/B Group Route (40 miles, 1,900 ft): https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44688420 A Group average moving speed = 20+ mph B Group average moving speed = 17-19 mph \*\*\* C-Group Route (20 miles, 854 ft): https://ridewithgps.com/routes/47505625 C-Group average moving speed = 14-16 mph \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- \*\*\*PLEASE DOWNLOAD NEW ROUTE PRIOR TO MEETUP. NOT A BEGINNER'S RIDE. Beginners please join us on Wednesdays at Paceline \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- This is a self-supported ride. No SAG. No Sweepers. Group Ride Guidelines: 1\. Safety first is the primary tenet of DMVCR\! 2\. Bicyclists who participate on DMVCR club rides are required to wear a properly fastened helmet\. 3\. Bicyclists may not ride more than two \(2\) abreast and may not impede traffic\. 4\. Bicyclists must come to a complete stop at all stop signs and traffic lights displaying a red signal\. 5\. Bicyclists are expected to have their bikes in proper working order\. 6\. Bicyclists are expected to ride with repair equipment in the event for flat tire\, etc\. 7\. Bicyclists should bring adequate nutrition to include enough hydration and snacks\. 8\. At night\, bicycles must be equipped with a front white light and a rear red reflector or red light visible\, both visible from 600 feet away\. Disclaimer: \*\*\*Please note DMVCR is not responsible for any accidents, injuries and/or damages or any combination thereof, which may occur to you and/or your bike. If you decide to participate on the ride, it means that you have read, understood and agreed that you are riding at your own risk and you waive all claims against all other riders who participate or organize the group ride.\*\*\*

Join us for an afternoon of chess in a fun and relaxed setting. Players of all ages and skill levels are welcome! Club boards are provided. Bring your own clocks or use Chess.com's Chess Clock app. We generally meet in the blue room, which is to your right after entering. If we're not in the blue room we're at the far left near the beer tanks in the back corner.

To secure your spot, purchase your ticket from the Eventbrite link ([https://www.eventbrite.com/e/clarendon-drink-for-america-bar-crawl-tickets-909952842447](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/clarendon-drink-for-america-bar-crawl-tickets-909952842447)). RSVPing only on the Meetup page, doesn't allow you to attend the Event. ADVANCE TICKET PURCHASE IS REQUIRED. ABOUT THE EVENT What’s better than day drinking?! Bar hoping and day-drinking for AMERICA! Come celebrate the good ol' USA in your most patriotic red, white and blue outfits and get ready for one heck of a party! Sport your American pride with all day drink specials, DJs, bands, dancing, patriotic swag and tons of give-a-ways. You must get a wristband to participate in the fun. **WHEN : Saturday June 29th, 2024.** **Registration : is from 3-5pm. But the party continues till 10PM!** You or a friend must pick up your ticket before registration ends. If you couldn't make it before 5PM, text the QR Code of your ticket, to your friend. So that they would be able to pick up your wristband. **What your ticket to Freedom includes:** Cover-free admission to each venue Drink & food specials throughout the day Patriotic swag Give-a-aways to most patriotic crawlers Tons of your closest friends to cheers with If you’re proud to be an American, you don’t want to miss this epic bar crawl. Come alone or bring a group but remember to suit up in your most patriotic gear and be ready to celebrate! It’s time to party in the USA! FAQ: **What if I can’t pick up my wristband before registration cuts off?** A friend may pick up your wristband and meet you later on the crawl. **Can someone under 21 participate?** Sorry, you must be 21+ to enter participating venues. Please bring proper identification. **Will food be available at the participating bars?** Yes, every establishment participating in the crawl serves food available throughout the day. **How can I get to the bar crawl?** If you are not taking public transportation, please do NOT drink and drive! Take A Ride Share OR Taxi Service OR Metro. Stops are also conveniently located near all participating establishments (Orange and Silver line). **ID** Government issued ID is required! It will be checked at every participating bar that you choose to go to. All participants must be 21 years old or older. **WEATHER** Event goes on rain, snow or shine! **STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?** Reach out to info@merevents.com **HAPPY CRAWLINGS!!!** Payment Instructions : 1\. Click on the ticket link and 'Pay Now' button\, after RSVPing\. Then hit the button\. 2\. Verify correct dollar amount for number of people you're paying for\. **3. *If you don't have a Paypal account, proceed to the next page and scroll down to see "Pay with a Debit or Credit Card". Then turn off the button 'Save The Info and Create Your Paypal Account'.*.** 4\. If you have a Paypal account\, simply log in\, and pay as you normally would via Paypal\. **How to Unblock the Pop-up Blocker on Your Phone** Many of our patrons advised us that they have a Pop-up Blocker on their iPhones and it hinders them from buying tickets. To unblock, please follow the following steps : For Safari Users : 1\. Go to Settings\. 2\. Scroll down to Safari and click on it\. 3\. Select Block Pop\-ups and turn it off\. For Google Chrome Users : 1\. Open Google Chrome\. 2\. Click on the three dots and you will see many options\. 3\. Click on Settings\. 4\. Scroll down to content settings\. 5\. Select Block Pop\-ups and turn it off\. Refund & Ticket Resell Policy All sales are final. We only refund the full amount, if the event is canceled. If it is rescheduled, we will send an email to ticket holders advising that. A full refund will be given to those that let us know within 2 calendar days of the update email, if you are unable to make it on the new date. No refunds will be given after that time. However, you can sell your ticket to someone else if you are unable to attend. Please, feel free to post in the comment box for the event, that you have a ticket for sale. Work out payment between yourselves, and have the seller only send the organizers a message, letting us know the full name of the person taking your spot. You must let us know two hours before the RSVP close time, on the day of the event. \****For further info, refer the Eventbrite Invite. We may have already answered one of your questions, see our FAQs.***

(Cancelled because of excessive heat forecast. Hope to reschedule soon.) Another Fourth Of July is about to explode all around us, so it's time to renew the annual Independence Day hike at Great Falls (MD), an Adventuring tradition started by the late, great Damon Miller. This will be an easy round-trip stroll of about five miles, starting and ending at the historic Great Falls Tavern on the C&O Canal. Shortly after our start downstream, we will detour off the Canal towpath across Bear and Olmstead Islands to the Falls Overlook, where we can savor its ever-fabulous view of Great Falls. Retracing our steps to the towpath, we will pass several locks and the impressive Widewater Basin. Our turnaround point near Anglers Inn just beyond Widewater features nearby restroom facilities. Our return leg will be on the Berma Road atop the Washington Conduit that carries Potomac River water down to the Georgetown Reservoir. Once we're finished our hike back at the Tavern, we'll head over to the nearby picnic grounds to enjoy our lunches. Those who are still thirsty after our bully summer endeavor may consider adjourning to Anglers Inn for refreshments, if there's any room at the Inn. Bring plenty of beverages, lunch and/or snacks, sunscreen, bug spray and the $5 Adventuring trip fee; carpool passengers from Tenleytown Metro should also give their drivers $5, plus a share of the Park Admission Fee in case the entrance stations are staffed. (Bring a National Parks Pass if you have one; it will get your entire carload in for free.) Those needing rides and those able to offer rides will form our carpool at the Tenleytown Metro Station in front of the Panera at Wisconsin Avenue and Albemarle Street at 11 a.m. Carpool participants will rendezvous at the Great Falls Tavern with those driving directly to the Park at 11:45 a.m. The Tavern's address is 11710 MacArthur Boulevard, Potomac, MD 20854. We should finish by 3 p.m. NEW! Please [click here](https://adventuringlgbtq.com/Adventuring_Release_Form.pdf) to review our release form. When you RSVP to an event, you affirm that you have read and agree to the terms of the release. Everyone must RSVP on their own behalf.

We'll meet at The Capital One Café, 167 Easton Town Center, Space A-103. This is in the main mall where the Microsoft store used to be, on your left if you're standing at the bottom of the AMC Theater escalator. Join us on Saturday for an hour of uninterrupted wordmaking! • What we'll do Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at 10AM on Saturday mornings. Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done. SCHEDULE: 10:00 - SESSION 1: quick intros. 10:10 - timer starts: write for 1 hour. 11:10 - chat / take off / keep writing. OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING happens at 11A-11:30ish. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing. BEING LATE IS OKAY: just show up and get settled, then check-in with me after the session. (I’ll be the person with the Shut Up & Write! sign.) If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing and I look forward to seeing you! • What to bring Whatever you need to be able to write! Bring earbuds/earplugs if you want to block noise or the occasional conversation by other patrons. Electrical outlets are limited, so charge your devices before whenever possible. See you at The Café on Saturday!

Why are we unhappy? Where does emotional pain come from? Studies show that people who suffer from long-term emotional pain have painful experiences in their lives that were never fully resolved in their mind. In other words, there were issues in the past that were not completely dealt with. This can include abuse in childhood, breakups, divorce, death of a loved one, to name a few. How do you know whether you have gotten over something painful? Here is an easy test: Do you still have attention on what had happened to you? For instance, do you still find yourself thinking about something painful that you went through? If you are, then you are not over it. In fact, in severe cases, people find themselves playing a "tape" in their mind over and over again. So how do you heal from your past? How do you stop the "tape" playing in your mind? In this meeting, you will learn a technique to help you with that. Come join us! Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there. This group is created by the Dianetics and Scientology life improvement center.

Greetings writers! Come down and join your fellow wordsmiths for one hour of uninterrupted writing time in the upper level of the Market District Supermarket in Upper Arlington. The main entrance of the shopping center opens onto stairs/elevator leading up to the 2nd floor cafe section where we will have a table displaying a sign with the Shut Up & Write logo. Writing is largely a solitary craft. Practicing with others in a community setting may be the thing you need to fire your own routine. We’ll meet on Wednesday evenings, starting the clock at 6:30, following a brief period of introductions. This is solid writing time and all inclusive. Any project is acceptable, be it fiction, non -fiction, work or homework assignment. All is welcome and will remain private to you. The market boasts a Starbucks, a full service bar and various affordable food options. Parking is plentiful, free Wifi is provided as well as outlets for charging your devices, though they are somewhat limited, so plan accordingly. Show up as early as you like, or stay late. This group tends to socialize some, both before and after the alloted time, but this is not mandatory to you. Feel free to come and go as you please and late arrivals are welcome. The cafe may be noisy on occasion so headphones/ earbuds are reccommended as you see fit. Please try to RSVP if possible so that we may grab enough seats for all—the venue can be busy at times. Feel free to message me privately wth any questions and/ or concerns you may have. Happy writing!

The topic for July is "Shoes" Speak Easy: true stories, told live. The idea is simple: an audience, an open microphone, and great stories. Hilarious, gripping, poignant- it's up to you. Audiences are invited to come to listen or come to tell as folks from all corners of Columbus offer their stories live on stage! Held at Wild Goose Creative's warm, intimate space, this night of tales occurs on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Doors open at 6:30 pm, show starts at 7:00 pm. Please arrive early if you want to tell, as we generally only have room for a limited number of tellers, and the sign-up sheet has a tendency to fill up fast. Formed around the idea that people need stories--they're what hold and draw us together--SpeakEasy celebrates the strangeness and commonness of being human. And in a world of smartphones, Facebook, Twitter, and more . . . it gives people a real, breathing, in-person way to connect. The night is geared for true stories of all kinds, taking the best tales told around kitchen tables, in darkened pubs, on the street corner, and at late-night parties and giving them an audience. Speak Easy is also a great outlet for performers, writers, and artists looking to share their favorite stories and perfect their skills. We strongly encourage tellers to please tell the story rather than read it so we keep within the spirit of good storytelling and stay engaged with the audience. All are welcome. Hang around after the show for a drink and build community!

Some trained COUNT volunteers work together once a month at RMH (http://www.rmhc-centralohio.org/volunteer.php) as Housewarmers (usually on the 1st Sunday from 1 – 5 PM). Some schedule other shifts at their convenience. You may try this out with less fuss by following a "Fast track" or go through the normal process. Fast track • Arrange a time to shadow a COUNT volunteer. Call Dave Nohle at 614-268-9558 (cell). • Show up and try it out. • Complete application, etc. later. Normal process • Complete an online application (http://rmhc-centralohio.org/volunteer/). • Attend orientation in advance. • At orientation you will complete forms agreeing to keep family/patient info private and allowing a background check and tour the facility. • Complete one training shift. Daily shifts are: morning 9 AM - 1 PM, afternoon 1 - 5 PM and evening 5 - 9 PM. • Schedule shifts online using the on the RMH scheduling system (http://www.volgistics.com/ex/portal.dll/?FROM=32895). The Ronald McDonald House (RMH) provides housing and meals for families with sick children. The Columbus RMH is the largest in the world with 137 rooms. COUNT has been volunteering there since May 2014. Housewarmers work with RMH guests to provide a home-like environment - greet, assist with family needs, answer phones, give tours, assist with checkin/checkout, prepare guest rooms after checkout, clean facility, laundry, restock supplies and staff the front desk. RMH Housewarmers volunteer at least one four-hour shift a month. All Housewarmers must complete an application and agree to a background check before they can be full fledged volunteers.

Hi everyone! We're Jared and Petria Walker, local real estate investors based in Columbus, Ohio, with a passion for short-term rentals and hospitality. We're looking to start a casual monthly Columbus-area meetup for entrepreneurs, investors, real estate professionals, and anyone interested in short-term rentals to share ideas, discuss market trends, learn from one another, and build meaningful relationships. Whether you're just getting started or have years of experience, we'd love to connect, collaborate, and grow together. We believe some of the best opportunities begin with great conversations. See you soon!

Join us for the Summer edition of [Nature Loving Fest](https://www.facebook.com/events/1575999320350910/), a small, thoughtfully curated outdoor gathering celebrating vibrant vegan eats, handmade goods, and the fullness of the season. Formerly known as our Vegan Pop-Up, this gathering continues to grow as a space rooted in nature, community, and intentional living. Expect around 20 + local vendors offering refreshing seasonal vegan dishes, small-batch bakes, handcrafted goods, and earth-conscious products. This is a welcoming space to slow down, connect, and enjoy the warmth and abundance of summer. Come support local makers, share good food, and celebrate the height of summer with us. Admission is Free.