Taxonomy

Tree identification walk June 6th 10:00-11:30 am Bon Air Park Meet at the flagpole in the Rose garden 850 N Lexington St, Arlington, VA 22205 Learn about common Virginia native trees and how to identify them using the Virginia Department of Forestry’s identification guide. We will use the online pdf version. We will walk along flat paved paths and focus on the leaves and bark of 12 species. We will cultivate connection with each other and nature and enjoy a beautiful park.

Magic The Gathering Booster Draft Prizes based on participation 15$ Entry Fee

**Lots of opportunities for flower, landscape, and bird photography!** We will meet in front of the visitor center. https://maps.app.goo.gl/3SQjUg5Y69bmyAfU6 \*\*Note: The butterfly experience ($$) is still ongoing through Sept 7: https://montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/brookside-gardens/special-events/the-butterfly-experience-at-brookside-gardens/ It's on the other side of the park in the Conservatories: https://maps.app.goo.gl/W26YTgshSkwktVcW7 Free but limited parking, free admissions. The visitor center opens at 9am and has clean restrooms. From the website (http://www.montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/brookside-gardens/visit/): Brookside Gardens is Montgomery County’s incomparable, award-winning 50-acre public display garden situated within Wheaton Regional Park. Included in the gardens are several distinct areas: Aquatic Garden, Azalea Garden, Butterfly Garden, Children’s Garden, Rose Garden, Japanese Style Garden, Trial Garden, Rain Garden, and the Woodland Walk. The Formal Gardens areas include a Perennial Garden, Yew Garden, the Maple Terrace, and Fragrance Garden. Brookside Gardens also feature two conservatories for year-round enjoyment. A horticultural reference library is located in the Visitors Center. Admission to the gardens is free. Here is the Photography policy per the website: Non-commercial, Hobby Photography Guidelines Are you taking photos of just the Gardens? Individual photographers are welcome to photograph the plants and gardens of Brookside. No permits are needed, though we ask that you follow the hobby photography guidelines: Do not disturb any gardens, stand on rocks or displays, block paths, or climb garden or fountain walls. The photo session must not interfere with other visitors’ enjoyment of the gardens. Absolutely no tripods are allowed in the Conservatories. Published photographs should credit location of photograph, i.e. “Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD”. \*Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Department of Parks, Montgomery County Policy on User Fees: (Effective January 1, 2010, approved by M-NCPPC Planning Board, October 2009) Be aware of your equipment, as there have been break-ins in past years. Bring: Comfortable shoes Water Fully charged batteries Empty memory cards Share only your very best, most interesting shots after the field trip and keep it down to between 5 and 10 photos. By sending in an RSVP and joining this meetup event hosted by the Virginia Beltway Photography Meetup, I am also agreeing to the terms of the following release and waiver of liability, which shall be binding on my heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns. In consideration of my (and my child’s) participation in the Virginia Beltway Photography Meetup, I do hereby release, discharge, and hold harmless the Organizer, its members, officers, directors, employees and the leader(s) of this event from any and all liability by reason of any damage, loss, expenses, or injury arising from my (and my child’s) participation in this event, including that caused solely or in part by the fault of any and all of the above-named parties.

Let's meet at Springfield Mall to see the H-Man movie, on Saturday, we will buy the seats and tix there, so we can all sit together, and then after, go out to lunch at Silver Diner. I'll be wearing a super hero t-shirt. Mike T

**NEW MEMBERS or 1st TIME EVENT GO-ERS** Before attending your first event, please take a moment to understand how our dinners work and what we ask of members. → **[Learn how DC Metro Dining works](https://tinyurl.com/Landing-Page-DC-Metro-Dining)** → **[Ensure Group Notifications are Setup (Announcements + In on Waitlist/Attending List)](https://app.tango.us/app/workflow/Enable-Meetup-Email-Notifications-3a85109614fc4907940503d096331392)** **RSVP CUTOFF (i.e. Final Change Your Mind if Registered YES)** → **RSVP Cancellation Cutoff for this Event is Sunday 10a, 6/6**. (*Late Cancel applies after this, repeat occurrences can impact membership*) Let’s head to upper Northwest DC for an Indian dinner at Masala Art in Tenleytown, a long-running neighborhood favorite known for refined North Indian cuisine and regional specialties. The restaurant was founded by chef Surinder Singh, formerly of Heritage India, and continues to maintain a strong reputation for consistent execution and depth of flavor. **FOOD**: Masala Art focuses on North Indian cuisine with a mix of classic curries, tandoori dishes, and harder-to-find regional specialties, vegetarian & GF friendly. Recent diners frequently highlight the Railway Lamb Curry, lamb korma dishes, garlic naan, and vegetarian items such as baingan bharta and okra preparations. Tandoori items and biryanis are also consistently well reviewed, with many diners noting balanced spice levels and strong flavor without excessive heaviness. The menu supports a wide range of preferences, including vegetarian-friendly selections and several richer meat-based dishes. Expect traditional Indian desserts and a full bar with wine, cocktails, and beer available. Most members should expect total spend to land roughly in the 40 to 70 dollar range, depending on ordering style & beverage participation. → **Explore Masala Art's menu (please note the 3% service charge, their way of defraying increasing costs):** **[https://masalaartdc.com/washington-dc-tenleytown-american-university-park-masala-art-food-menu](https://masalaartdc.com/washington-dc-tenleytown-american-university-park-masala-art-food-menu)** **SPACE**: Comfortable and intimate dining room with warm décor and a quieter neighborhood feel compared to downtown DC dining corridors. Expect moderate noise levels and a more relaxed pace on a Saturday evening. → **Visit the restaurant site**: **[https://masalaartdc.com](https://masalaartdc.com)** * Tax/Tip combo is our required 30% tax/tip policy (see the FAQs for more details). * Limited to 8 slots. See you there! JoeN **CLOSEST METRO**: * **Tenleytown–AU station (Red)** is the closest stop. Quick walk (exit on Tenleytown EAST (same side as Whole Foods) walk south along Wisconsin Ave & cross over Albermarle St NW). The walk is a quick 3–5 minutes based on routed walking directions and traffic signals. * For directions using the Metro, try using the Plan a Trip feature at the WMATA website ([click on your preferred Metro station](https://www.wmata.com/rider-guide/stations/index.cfm) then at the Station page level click "Plan a Trip". **PARKING**: Street parking and several public parking garages are available throughout Tenleytown. Weekend evening parking is generally easier here than in central DC neighborhoods, though nearby retail activity can still affect availability. Members may also want to check parking apps such as SpotHero and Parking Panda for discounted garage reservations and advance booking options nearby. Plan accordingly. ***Attendance Notes:*** * **If you RSVP “YES,” please commit to showing up***. With 5,400+ members and limited seating, we can’t afford no-shows. It’s not fair to other members or to our relationship with the restaurant.* * **New Members / 1st Timers: Trying to get a slot?** Join the Waitlist and check back frequently: spots (*often open up before Noon on the day of the event. You may also receive midweek confirmation emails to reconfirm your RSVP, so please check your Meetup DMs inbox).*\*\* * **Billing Reminder - Add 30% for tax and tip to your food and drink total.** This is part of our group’s expectations and helps smooth out service with the restaurant. Looking forward to dining with you! JoeN

Free to play board gaming all day until we close

**Bring your pups out for a day of activities celebrating our furry friends.** **Enjoy a dog park and splash pad, pet vendors, rescues with adoptable dogs, giveaways and more!** **Party with your dog and PenFed with canine caricature art, a foam party for dogs, the Automatic Treat Machine (ATM), giveaways and more! PenFed members will get a VIP gift while supplies last.** **Participating vendors list:** **Bark and Boarding** **Dyson** **Homeward Trails** **Impact Over Money Companions** **Isy's Ways** **Paw Mind Body** **Pet Wants** **Puppy Pawtique** **Sassy Woof** **VCA Southpaws** **Wooftrap Animal Rescue** **Woofie's mobile grooming** **Bellani Pets** **St. Roccos Treat Shop** **More coming soon!** **This event is open to the public and free to attend. Sponsored by PenFed.**

Date: June 7 2026 Sunday 10:00 am - Noon EDT Full title: Machine Learning for Reliable Quantum Computing: An Algorithm–Hardware Co-Design Perspective Summary: Reliable quantum computing requires co-design across the full stack, including algorithm structure, compilation, and execution, rather than isolated optimization of any single layer. This talk presents a unified framework in which these layers are jointly optimized under realistic hardware constraints. Structure-aware compilation exploits algorithmic interaction graphs to reduce circuit depth; joint optimization across mapping, term ordering, and algorithm parameters yields significantly improved success probability; and execution-layer analysis reveals that error mitigation effectiveness depends critically on circuit symmetry and native gate choice. While demonstrated on superconducting quantum processors, the underlying co-design principles are potentially transferable across architectures. Building on this foundation, the talk highlights machine learning as the key enabler for closing the feedback loop: data-efficient, parameterized noise models learned directly from workload execution data achieve substantially improved predictive fidelity over vendor models without the overhead of dedicated characterization. These insights situate the co-design perspective within the emerging framework of quantum deep learning. In this broader setting, the talk also presents an operational definition, a unifying taxonomy, and a benchmarking protocol grounded in explicit resource contracts. Speaker: Dr. Yanjun Ji has an interdisciplinary research background in Physics and Computer Science. In 2020, she completed my Master's degree in Theoretical Physics at Saarland University. In 2024, she earned her Ph.D. in Computer Science at the University of Stuttgart. She is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Forschungszentrum Jülich. She is committed to interdisciplinary research at the cutting-edge convergence of quantum computing and artificial intelligence. Her research encompasses both foundational theoretical investigations and the development of practical applications, aiming to serve society and benefit humanity. Moderators: Dr. Pawel Gora, CEO of Quantum AI Foundation [Quantum AI Foundation](https://www.qaif.org/ "https://www.qaif.org/") Dr. Sebastian Zajac, member of QPoland [QPoland - QWorld](https://qworld.net/qpoland/ "https://qworld.net/qpoland/")

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.

With war breaking out, the gnomes of Brastlewark in Cheliax can no longer cling to their carefree ways. Self-proclaimed King Drum Thornfiddle is eager to ingratiate himself to Queen Abrogail, and so conscripts the city's magical and creative resources towards the war effort. A few gnomes have broken free, and they have brought evidence of the various works being created in Brastlewark. They're no fighters, though. It'll be up to the Pathfinders to get them safely across the border to Andoran and freedom. A Pathfinder Society Scenario designed for 1st- through 4th-level characters, playable in 4-5 hours. Written by Elizabeth V Nold **Scenario tags:** Hellfire Crisis

Let’s talk about how you use AI, what you love and hate about it, learn from others and connect with your tribe!

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy,”** on findings, debates and trends in the use of psychedelic substances to treat trauma and other conditions, with Whitney Marris, instructor at the University of Buffalo’s School of Social Work, certified psychedelic-assisted therapy facilitator, and consultant to clinical trials. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-psychedelic-assisted-therapy](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-psychedelic-assisted-therapy) .] Psychedelics are rapidly moving from the margins into the mainstream, and questions abound as the sociocultural and legal landscapes surrounding them shift. President Trump’s recent executive order expanding access to psychedelic drugs for certain conditions and accelerating research on them has both heightened interest and added to confusion. Learn more about the so-called “Psychedelic Renaissance,” and get help separating the hope from the hype surrounding it, with Whitney Marris, a leading trainer and facilitator of psychedelic therapy who has used it to treat trauma survivors, military veterans, and people with cancer. She’ll present foundational information on what we know about how psychedelics work. You’ll learn how psychedelic-assisted therapy differs from “trip sitting” and about what we know about the effects of “microdosing” versus “macrodosing.” We’ll examine what has been demonstrated to be helpful versus harmful before, during, and after a dosing session intended to support significant, sustainable change. Marris also will discuss the historical and cultural context of the use of psychedelic medicines for healing, and she’ll describe the ethical challenges that arise as such practices move from counterculture to clinic. We’ll look at emerging and evolving findings in the field, as well as at the roles being played by various financial interests and ideologies in determining the direction of psychedelic-assisted therapy and research on its outcomes. Attendees will gain an awareness of the need for new professional standards and regulatory guardrails related to such work, and they’ll leave knowing key questions to ask potential providers of psychedelic-assisted therapy. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image by Canva.

***For this event, we are opening a limited number of spots (about 15) to non-members who may be interested in getting to know our community while enjoying a relaxed social gathering.*** ***Must purchase your ticket on [Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/neurodivergent-friendly-spring-rooftop-meetup-tickets-1989847052098) to be added to guest list.*** ***This event is free for Constellations members.*** Join our[ free singles database](https://internal-icicle-6c4.notion.site/337184d944c780458ef2c61404a85be0). Join us for stunning city views, comfortable indoor space, board games, light refreshments, and an opportunity for new connections. This is our annual Spring Rooftop Meetup hosted by Constellations in downtown Washington, D.C. \*\*\*[Constellations ](https://www.harringtonmatchmaking.com/constellations-membership)\*\*\**is a neurodivergent-affirming membership that supports adults in building friendships and romantic relationships. It is designed for those who want thoughtful pacing and guidance — without the timeline or cost of a full-service matchmaking package. Members receive access to a private member portal with coaching support, social events, and community spaces.* Most attendees will be neurodivergent adults with low support needs in their 20s, 30s, 40s, early 50s. Some people attend to make friends and expand their social circle, while many others are single and open to dating and meaningful connection. You can expect: • A welcoming, low-pressure atmosphere • Snacks, appetizers, and light refreshments • Beer and wine available for those who choose to drink • Board games and activity stations to help make conversation easier • Comfortable spaces to sit, talk, and connect Space is limited and advance registration is required. To learn more about[ ](https://www.harringtonmatchmaking.com/constellations-membership)**[Constellations](https://www.harringtonmatchmaking.com/constellations-membership)**, visit our **[website](https://www.harringtonmatchmaking.com/constellations-membership)**. [Contact us ](https://www.harringtonmatchmaking.com/contact) at [Harrington Matchmaking](https://www.harringtonmatchmaking.com) with any questions.

Check your bucket list with this amazing Safari which is tailored to give you a feel of five of Uganda’s Wild Parks, with this you are assured of viewing a number of animals which include the Zebras of Lake Mburo, The chance to see the Mountain Gorillas of Bwindi, Chimpanzees, Zebras and Antelope herds in Lake Mburo, the tree-climbing lions of Queen Elizabeth National Park’s Ishasha Sector and a day in between to relax and enjoy the wildlife. Highlights Visited Places: * Kampala * MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK * KIBALE NATIONAL PARK * QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK * BWINDI NATIONAL PARK * LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK Travel Experience: Wildlife watching (viewing lions, giraffes, hartebeest, buffalo, elephants, and many more) Bird watching Game drives Gorilla trek Chimpanzees Local cuisine Boat ride Waterfalls Walking/Hike Tour Start Kampala Tour End Entebbe Flights • Arrival: Day01 before 4pm (Flexible) • Return: Day09 anytime after 7pm Airport: Entebbe International Airport (EBB) Itinerary Day01 Kampala City Day02 Murchison Falls NP Day03 Murchison Falls NP Day04 Kibale National Park Day05 Queen Elizabeth national park Day06 Queen Elizabeth NP Day07 Bwindi National park Day08 gorilla trekking - Lake Mburo NP Day09 Lake Mburo NP - Entebbe Airport Cost: $3690 (Double Occupancy) $4190 (Single Supplement) Inclusions Price Includes * Park fees (For non-residents) * Gorilla permits (One per person, non-resident) * Chimp permits (One per person, non-resident) * All activities (Unless labeled as optional) * All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade) * A professional driver/guide * All transportation (Unless labeled as optional) * All Taxes/VAT * Roundtrip airport transfer * Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section) * Drinks (As specified in the day-by-day section) Price Excludes * International flights (From/to home) * Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day) * Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.) * Travel Insurance ———————————————— For detailed itinerary and to reserve your seat follow the link below: [https://www.bucketlistgrouptravel.com/tour/uganda-9-days-murchison-falls-big-5-chimps-gorillas-trekking/](https://www.bucketlistgrouptravel.com/tour/uganda-9-days-murchison-falls-big-5-chimps-gorillas-trekking/) Questions? Text / Call - 2023787696 - Himanshu - Organizer

Topic to be announced. **THANK YOU** *Franklin University* for hosting our meetup! To learn more about *Franklin University*, please visit their website: https://www.franklin.edu/ **DIRECTIONS** Franklin University Fisher Hall 300 E. Main St, Columbus, OH 43215 Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jxjBA2hUmS5qrvhq8 Parking is FREE! Please park in Lot C in front of Fisher Hall. See attached map. NOTE: Map the address only. When mapping with Google Maps it may use the Fisher Hall at OSU, which is NOT correct. **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

We have moved to guild.host. Look us up there. https://guild.host/events/buckeye-cocoaheads-rcavwd

## 🤝 Host Information A co-hosted event by ProductTank Columbus & Women in Product Columbus 💡 About the Workshop AI adoption is stalling across organizations — not because of a lack of motivation or tools, but because it's fundamentally a behavior design challenge. This hands-on workshop applies proven Behavior Design models and methods to help you move from a vague organizational wish to boost AI adoption to 3-5 concrete, testable interventions you can act on starting tomorrow. Whether you're a product manager, on a product team, or just someone trying to get AI to actually stick at work, you'll leave with a clear picture of what's worth focusing on, what to ignore, and how to drive real, sustained adoption — no guesswork required. 🛠️ What to Bring Laptop: Fully charged and ready to go. AI Assistant: Have your favorite AI assistant pulled up. (Dom will be using Claude, but feel free to use whichever assistant you prefer!) 🍕 Logistics & Perks Food & Drink: Pizza and drinks provided! Parking: Plenty of free spaces available on-site. ###

Private Group. Closed to the Public Knowing ourselves and understanding our abilities is the first step toward wielding our gifts with control and accuracy. In subsequent classes we will verify and hone our talents with activities and discussion. These are hands-on workshops and participation is expected. The goal of our series will be to develop expertise in areas of particular interest such as mediumship, channeling, divination, healing and, etc.. Our ultimate directions will be determined by class members as we evolve. I look forward to sharing and discovering with you. - Cynthia

QA or the Highway is a one-day, affordable, regional, professional conference featuring real-world experience and thought leadership in the QA and testing industry. This is a ticketed event please register here: https://www.qaorthehwy.com/ Featured Keynote Speakers: **Matthew-Hope Eland** **(Wizard at Leading EDJE)** \- An AI Specialist and Wizard at Leading EDJE who is known to teach software engineering\, AI\, and data science concepts in the most ridiculous ways possible\. Matt has used machine learning to settle debates over whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie\, reinforcement learning to drive the behavior of digital squirrels\, data analytics to suggest improvements to his favorite TV show\, and AI agents to play board games and create an AI agent with the personality of a dog\. Matt is the author of "Data Science in \.NET with Polyglot Notebooks" and "Refactoring with C\#" as well as several LinkedIn Learning courses\. Matt helps organize the Central Ohio \.NET Developer Group\, runs several blogs and a YouTube channel\, has a Master’s of Science in Data Analytics\, and is a current Microsoft MVP in AI and \.NET\. **Tatyana Arbouzova** **(CEO at Innovate QA)** \- Tatyana Arbouzova is an engineering and business leader with a strong background in Quality Engineering across multiple industries\, including Big Tech\, Healthcare\, and Entertainment\. She has held leadership roles at world\-class companies such as Microsoft\, VMware\, Disney\, and The Pokémon Company International\, where she focused on building quality\-driven cultures and scaling teams to deliver high\-impact products\. With decades of experience\, Tatyana has helped organizations transform their quality practices so teams can deliver software efficiently\, confidently\, and with measurable business outcomes\. Today\, Tatyana advises software companies on adopting AI to optimize quality practices and improve how software is delivered at scale\. She is also a passionate community builder and the founder of Innovate QA\, a thriving Seattle\-based community and conference for quality professionals\.

NFT's are here to stay folks! This is a group for like minded people interested in understanding, leveraging, using, creating for, profiting from, trading too i suppose, NFT's.. everything around them, complexity, fear and exploits, best practices and more. **PLUS** This group will talk AI ART tools, techniques, artists, video, audio, prototypes and more in the AI assisted production space- ART specifically, but we can get into any aspect of some of the cooler things happening in AI in general.

The number of ticks and tick diseases in Ohio have quickly multiplied over the last 10 years. Dean Kreager discusses tick species, tick pathogens, tick-borne diseases, tick bite prevention, and proper tick removal. Kreager is an Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator with OSU Extension in Licking County * Lakewood Public Library (in Hebron)- May 26 at 7pm [https://events.lickingcountylibrary.org/event/tick-talk-29621](https://events.lickingcountylibrary.org/event/tick-talk-29621) * Johnstown public library at 7:00 pm June 8 [https://events.lickingcountylibrary.org/event/ctick-talk-29622](https://events.lickingcountylibrary.org/event/ctick-talk-29622) Free to attend, no RSVP needed