True Crime

**This talk has completely sold out in advance and no door tickets will be available. It also is being staged at Penn Social in DC on March 17th, and tickets remain available then.** [Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Ireland’s Fight for Freedom,”** with Kevin Matthews, assistant professor of history at George Mason University and former London correspondent for Vatican Radio reporting on British and Irish news. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/northern-virginia-ireland-freedom](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/northern-virginia-ireland-freedom) .] After centuries of struggle, Irish men and women won their freedom from Great Britain after waging a war that set the pattern for all other independence struggles of the 20th century. But there was a price—the partition of their country, a split setting the stage for the Northern Ireland “Troubles” that didn’t end until 1998. Gain a deeper understanding of Ireland and its history with Professor Kevin Matthews, a historian and frequent Smithsonian Associates speaker who had served as a journalist covering the last stages of the Troubles in Ireland in the early and mid 1990s. He’ll discuss in depth how the Irish won independence in a two-year war between 1919 and 1921, covering topics as the role women played in the conflict, the life and tactics of the revolutionary leader Michael Collins, and the Irish development of “urban guerilla warfare” using small, highly mobile armed units called “flying columns.” Most important, this talk will examine how the conflict between Irish nationalists and Irish unionists led to Ireland’s division and later conflict. From the Easter Rising to the Good Friday Agreement, from Bloody Sunday to Brexit, this conflict has never quite gone away. As the Irish poet, William Butler Yeats once wrote: Now and in time to be, Wherever green is worn, Are changed, changed utterly: A terrible beauty is born. Professor Matthews will explore how the Irish fought to a standstill what was then the mightiest empire in the world and how, more than he could have known, Yeats’ prediction still rings true today. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: Members of the Irish Republican Army’s West Connemara Flying Column in 1921. (Public Domain photo.)

Put a spring in your step and march into spring with your fellow autistics at Cleveland Park Library! Conveniently located at 3310 Connecticut Ave. NW just blocks from Cleveland Park Metro on the Red Line in Washington, DC, the library is in the safe and walkable Cleveland Park neighborhood. We will meet in Meeting Room 1, which is located on the first floor of the library. Food is prohibited, but covered drinks are permitted. I will be bringing my UNO card game and PowerPuff Girls board game. Feel free to bring games if you like, but it's not required. We typically go out to lunch afterwards at Fat Pete's, a BBQ place which also has salads, pizza, and other non-BBQ options. PJ, the owner, has personally told me to call him and let him know when we're coming so he can sit us in a sensory-friendly space. If PJ says the place is too noisy, there are many other restaurants in Cleveland Park. Fat Pete's is located at 3407 Connecticut Ave. NW in Washington, DC, just across the street and a block away from the library. If you're running late or get lost, please call or text me at 202-802-3238.

**Real connection with fellow Catholics who are eager to grow in Faith and friendship!** This 3 year--- 45min deep dive into the Catholic faith is a great way to spend your Sunday rest day. When you are ready to dig deeper and live the faith more fully this is an optimal opportunity. Talk yourself into this! You may start whenever and can come as often or as little as you desire. Coffee is served w/ small donation. It is taught by the priest and/or OCIA director at St Louis Parish who are ALL fabulous- faithful educators filled with theologically inspired knowledge. You can ask questions at the end, which I love. It is just a wonderful experience to grow. Afterwards if you wish, you can also find your way over to the Little Way Cafe Coffee shop across the parking lot to stay for more community time or read some of the excellent books that line the shelves throughout. If you are new to the community of Alexandria and want to meet like minded folks or a veteran of it, this is a special and unique opportunity and did I mention it is free? :) Hard to believe! Please join me every Sunday at 945 am.

**RSVP Note:** You **MUST** register on links below, **not** on Meetup. **REGISTER: Weekend intermediate:** [https://playtennis.usta.com/northbethesdamiddle/BookClass/34bc4082-0e0c-44c6-8a45-01ce0a8400c3](https://playtennis.usta.com/northbethesdamiddle/BookClass/34bc4082-0e0c-44c6-8a45-01ce0a8400c3) **Private Lessons available: $70 PER HOUR** **[Read the Washington Post article about our class!](https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/its-not-whether-you-win-or-lose-its-how-much-you-sweat/2015/10/07/3b2f26c2-66b9-11e5-9ef3-fde182507eac_story.html)** Instruction provided by internationally recognized tennis coach, speaker, author David Robinson; USPTA and PTR certified professional. Cardio Tennis is a game-based, FUN way to play and learn tennis while burning more calories than singles! Instruction and game formats are provided by internationally recognized tennis coach, speaker, author David Robinson; USPTA and PTR certified professional. **LEVEL: Intermediate (NTRP 3.0-4.0)** PORTION OF PROCEEDS GO TO MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Come the whole time or if you just spend 30 minutes. All are welcome. You are welcome and encouraged to bring your own coloring supplies but, if you don't have any, I will have plenty and am happy to share! (coloring books, colored pencils, and markers). Part of the mission of this group is to provide us an opportunity to check out AND SUPPORT local businesses. So, please don't bring any outside food/drinks and, while purchasing something isn't at all a REQUIREMENT to participate in the event, I do strongly encourage you to try something from the vendor :) I look forward to seeing and meeting you there! ***\*\*DISCLAIMER*\*\*** Photos may be taken during the event to be shared here on Meetup so feel free to let me know if you'd like to be excluded from them.

**The MOOTS Routt 45 Demo Experience:** *A Full Size Run (50cm–60cm)* One bike for any occasion. Every size for our riders. **We are stoked to announce a special collaboration with our MOOTS factory representative for an exclusive demo day at Handy Bikes Retail Showroom.** We aren't just bringing a couple of bikes; we’ll have an entire size run of the legendary Routt 45 ready for you to throw a leg over. **The Bike: The Routt 45** **The Routt 45 is the "do-everything" titanium gravel machine**, named after the unpredictable mix of surfaces found on Routt County Road 45 in Steamboat Springs. Whether it’s forest tracks, chunky gravel, or the trails where the maps end, this bike is built to handle it all with: **-Modern Gravel Geometry:** *A longer top tube paired with a shorter stem for stability and precision.* **-All-Day Comfort:** *A relaxed, upright posture that lets you stay in the saddle longer.* **-Massive Clearance:** *Room for up to 50c-wide tires to soak up the chatter.* **-Ti-Flexibility:** *Compatible with both 1x and 2x drivetrains and featuring discreet fender eyelets.* **Find Your Perfect Fit** Titanium is a lifetime investment, and getting the fit right is the first step. Our rep will be on-site to help you dial in your setup across the full range: *Available Sizes: 50cm \| 52cm \| 54cm \| 56cm \| 58cm \| 60cm* **Don't Just Read the Reviews—*Ride the Legend*** It’s rare to see a full size run of MOOTS in one place, let alone get to take them for a ride. This is a unique opportunity to skip the 'parking lot test' and actually feel how handcrafted US-made titanium handles. Whether you're dreaming of your *'forever bike'* or just want to see what the hype is about, this is the day to do it.

**To receive future event updates, register on Luma:** **[https://luma.com/6qii7007](https://luma.com/6qii7007)** Let's discuss a podcast by Anders Ericsson, author of the renowned book "Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise". Anders demonstrates that talent is overrated and peak achievement is dependent on a specific type of learning called "deliberate practice", and that your skill in any area is a function of the quantity and quality of “mental representations” you have for that activity. We explore the science of learning and of skill mastery -- how it happens, and how to do it. **Please watch this YouTube video (try 1.25x speed) before joining the discussion:** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiBne5EGBQ8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiBne5EGBQ8) If more than 8 people join the discussion, we will break out into smaller groups. **(max 8 people per group)** \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- 1. **Mastery requires focused quality over mere repetition. How can we ensure our daily efforts are intentional enough to foster genuine growth?** 2. **Effective mentors provide the roadmap for stretching our abilities. How might we better identify the guides who can point out our hidden obstacles?** 3. **Immediate feedback loops are essential for identifying and correcting technical errors. How can we build systems that provide the rapid insights necessary for our collective improvement?** 4. **Peak performance often requires unlearning habits that limit our ultimate potential. What fundamental methods could we refine to ensure our foundations support world-class excellence?** 5. **Growth occurs when we consistently set goals just beyond our current comfort zones. How do we determine the ideal balance between manageable challenge and productive discomfort?** 6. **Elite performance is sustained through intense concentration followed by restorative rest. How can we better value recovery as a vital component of our highest achievements?** \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- To provide an enjoyable experience for fellow participants, here are three ground rules during discussion events: 1. Step up and step back. (If you feel that you’ve been talking too much, step back to listen more. If you feel that you’ve been relatively quiet, step up to share your perspective or ask a question) 2. Listen to understand, not to respond. 3. Be open-minded and value differences.

We will meet outside as long as the weather is nice. If not, we will move inside. Look out for a comment the morning of each meeting with our exact location. As we are meeting in person, please remember to bring something to read as we usually spend some time sharing our current reads and/or reading when meeting in person. As a reminder, there is no assigned reading; please bring whatever you are currently working on. This group is super casual, sometimes we read and sometimes we talk the whole time. **** NO SHOW POLICY: Due to the high number of members on the waitlist recently we are having to reinstate our no-show policy. If you sign up and no-show to 2 events you will be removed from the group. Reminders are provided weekly to change your RSVP to allow those on the waitlist a chance to come to the meet-up, no 3rd chances with be given. Please be considerate to your fellow members. Thank you! I look forward to reading you!

**Join us in Falls Church for conversations that go beyond small talk.** Higher Grounds – Falls Church is where this growing network of gatherings began: a 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 Falls Church who are also seeking deeper conversations. **Suggested Questions: Life Stages & Transitions** 1. What did you think you'd have figured out by now that you're still completely winging? 2. When did you realize your parents' advice was for a world that no longer exists? 3. What are you finally old enough to stop pretending to care about? **Suggested Questions: Identity After the Roles** 1. Who are you when nobody needs anything from you? 2. What dream keeps resurfacing even though the "practical" time has passed? 3. How do you handle having the freedom you always said you wanted? **Suggested Questions: AI & Being Human** 1. What human experiences will AI never truly understand? 2. If machines handled all your have-to's, what would you actually do? 3. What becomes more precious as everything becomes automated? **Suggested Questions: Belief & Meaning** 1. What certainties have you given up, and what rushed in to fill that space? 2. How has knowing someone who died changed how you live? 3. What do you believe now that would shock your younger self? **Suggested Questions: The Modern Psyche** 1. What anxiety do you carry that previous generations didn't have? 2. Which of your survival strategies are you ready to retire? 3. What uncomfortable truth about happiness did it take you years to accept? **Suggested Questions: Work & Purpose** 1. When did you stop believing that your job would complete you? 2. What would you do for work if money and status weren't factors? 3. How has your definition of "making it" changed over the years? **Suggested Questions: Relationships & Connection** 1. What relationship dynamic do you keep recreating, and why? 2. When did you realize your parents were just people trying their best? 3. What kind of loneliness doesn't go away even when you're with others? **Suggested Questions: Time & Mortality** 1. What are you running out of time to say or do? 2. How differently do you spend your time knowing it's finite? 3. What will you regret not trying, even if you fail? **Suggested Questions: Society & Culture** 1. What social convention do you follow even though it makes no sense? 2. Which generation do you understand least, and what might you be missing? 3. What aspect of how we live now will seem insane in 20 years? **Suggested Questions: Personal Philosophy** 1. What rule for life did you create after learning something the hard way? 2. When did you stop believing that everyone else had it figured out 3. What paradox about life have you learned to live with?

New (old) location - La Madeleine at 500 King St! Hope to see you there

Join us for a fun Sunday afternoon as we explore two of Ballston’s most unique local spots! 📍 The Game Plan • 01:30 PM | Coffee at Gute Leute ☕ We’ll kick things off at this highly acclaimed Korean coffee shop (this is their first U.S. location), known for their “bubble coffee” and amazing "coffee omakase" experience. • 02:30 PM | Lunch at Himalayan Wild Yak 🏔️ After our caffeine fix, we’ll take a short stroll over to this great spot for Nepalese and Tibetan food. Think momos, flavorful noodle and curry dishes, and yes, if you’re adventurous—WILD YAK!!! 🐂 🚇 Getting There • Metro: Both spots are an easy walk from the Ballston-MU Station (Orange/Silver lines). • Parking: Street parking is available, or you can use the Ballston Mall garage (only $1 for 3 hours). • RSVP: Please keep your status up to date so we can provide the restaurant with an accurate headcount for the table. Can't wait to see you there!

Early-bird coffee and conversation at [Crimson Cup Coffee Shop - Clintonville](https://www.crimsoncup.com/about/location/clintonville)!

The topic for March is "Our Bodies, Ourselves" 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!

How to Be a Better Communicator Communication is everything in life You are only as successful as your ability to communicate. \- What if you could confidently talk to anyone? \- What if you had the ability to calmly control every conversation? \- What if you could close that sale\, ask for that date\, make new friends\, repair problematic relationships\, get that raise\, or effortlessly express any idea with confidence? You can! The secret to success relies on your ability or inability to effectively communicate. Attend a free seminar and gain a better ability to communicate. Hosted by the Church of Scientology of Central Ohio 1266 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH 43215 For more information, contact Rhiannon, the Event Host at 614-221-5024

**Our March pick is *God of the Woods* by Liz Moore.** **This month’s novel is an award-winning literary mystery that blends family drama with psychological suspense. It explores women’s voices and relationships while delivering an exciting, eerie, and deeply suspenseful story. The book is 576 pages in print or 14 hours and 35 minutes on audiobook.** Early morning, August 1975: a camp counselor discovers an empty bunk. Its occupant, Barbara Van Laar, has gone missing. Barbara isn’t just any thirteen-year-old: she’s the daughter of the family that owns the summer camp and employs most of the region’s residents. And this isn’t the first time a Van Laar child has disappeared. Barbara’s older brother similarly vanished fourteen years ago, never to be found. As a panicked search begins, a thrilling drama unfolds. Chasing down the layered secrets of the Van Laar family and the blue-collar community working in its shadow, Moore’s multi-threaded story invites readers into a rich and gripping dynasty of secrets and second chances. It is Liz Moore’s most ambitious and wide-reaching novel yet.

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.

Join us as we get together to see Ryan Gosling and Sandra Huller in the highly anticipated sci-fi adventure, PROJECT HAIL MARY! The film is based on the best-selling novel of The Martian and follows a man who awakens on a spacecraft before realizing his mission to save Earth. Here’s a description, trailer and plan for this event: DESCRIPTION: A science teacher wakes up on a spaceship, light years from home with no recollection of who he is or how he got there. As his memory returns, he begins to uncover his mission to save the Earth. The film is directed by the filmmaking due Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (21 and 22 Jump Street, Into and Across the Spider-Verse) and is based on the 2021 novel by Andy Weir (The Martian). The film stars Ryan Gosling, Sandra Huller (Anatomy of a Fall, The Zone of Interest), Lionel Boyce, Milana Vayntrub and Ken Leung. TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VYsnngkS_U MOVIE PLAN: Please purchase your ticket for the 2:30pm SuperScreen DLX showing and meet in the lobby area between 2:05 and 2:15pm! Tickets already on sale and will likely move fast for this hot ticket / opening weekend showing so advance ticket purchase as soon as possible is advised! Once you have yours, please list your seat number in the Comments section of this event. As a head’s up, this is a longer movie at 2hrs 36mins. DINNER PLAN: Dinner immediately following the movie at 5:30pm at group favorite, FUGU SUSHI, located just next door! Separate RSVP required for the Dinner / Movie portions of this event. An RSVP here means you're signed up for the MOVIE! This portion will be open as long as seats remain. If you also plan to join for dinner, please also RSVP in the separate event listing for the dinner portion of this event. Should be a good one, Dan