Urban Foraging

Let's explore Old Town, see the area’s other George Washington monument up close, and other hidden treasures of Old Town! **Route:** - Start at the King Street Metro Station - Go to the George Washington Masonic Memorial - Bask in the view of Old Town, head back down the stairs and back to King St Metro - Walk through the Carlyle neighborhood to the African American Heritage Park Trail - Walk towards Prince St and follow till the waterfront - Go to Wilkes Tunnel - Go down Wales Alley - Walk along the river towards Founders Park - Walk to the Spite House - Walk to Christ Church Alexandria - Walk along King Street to the Metro Station - Finish at the King Street Metro Station **Millage:** ~5 mi **Start/End Location:** King Street Metro Station [www.plotaroute.com/route/3248462](https://www.plotaroute.com/route/2996383) **Time:** 6PM-8PM **Terrain:** This will be mostly flat, on paved or gravel ground We try to be punctual with our event times so please be respectful to others and show up a few minutes early, because we will leave without you. Note, we often limit the RSVPs to keep group sizes manageable. If you are on the waitlist but would really like to join, reach out to the organizer. We're always looking for new leaders who can showcase their neighborhood or any cool places they know, so please reach out either at an event or on meetup if you are interested. If you've enjoyed our walks please consider donating a few bucks to help us keep this group running (meetup is expensive!). [Donation Link](https://venmo.com/code?user_id=2158403661070336114)

* Lunch with Bowling ($10) for One Hour * Menu at https://www.pinstripes.com/assets/pdf_menus/lunch-t1.pdf * Parking is two hours free in garages or outdoor lots (not street parking) * Nearest outdoor parking lot access from Towne Road

Come join us for bingo at Atlas Brew Works in Alexandria. It's free to play. Win prizes on every round, and the winner of the final round gets a $50 Atlas Brew Works gift card for your next visit! More information: https://atlasbrewworks.com/pages/events#calendar-c3cfc1a3-4344-434e-a1b2-fb876f819883 Parking: Wegmans has a parking garage (via the Stovall St entrance) and is next to Atlas Metro: Eisenhower Ave (yellow line)

Whether you’re new to modern games, or a seasoned gamer, our new Boards & Barrels game night is the place to play. We’re pairing the best wines with new and classic games for an evening of analog fun and community. Choose from our growing game library or bring a favorite. *Unplug. Uncork. Unbox.* **Every Wednesday 6 pm - 9 pm**

Join Social Sips & Bites for our Wednesday Happy Hour. Great drinks, easy conversation, new faces, familiar faces, and that signature SSB energy that turns a simple night out into something memorable.

This group was originally started by Chad Keith who created and hosts a podcast by the same name in Charlotte, NC. I am hoping to continue his legacy here in NoVa as I recently moved to this area. This group is all about finding community around self-improvement and exchanging ideas on how to be your best self and get the most out of life. This group is for anyone who is interested in overcoming average in all areas - career, ambitions, relationships, hobbies, health, everything. I am so excited to meet driven individuals in the NoVa area so please reach out if you have any questions at all. EVERYONE is welcome so please sign up for an upcoming meetup!

Is this climate change or climate confusion? Are we in FL? Let's enjoy this unusually warm pre-spring day! We can either go for a walk along the GW Parkway, H. Meadows Park, or Dyke Marsh. [Menu - Via Veneto Italian Restaurant](https://viavenetoitalianrestaurant.com/menu/) [Escape to Northern Italy at Via Veneto - Dining and Cooking](https://www.diningandcooking.com/2181428/escape-to-northern-italy-at-via-veneto/) ## [Wed3/11](https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/alexandria/22314/daily-weather-forecast/331249?day=11) [80° /56°](https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/alexandria/22314/daily-weather-forecast/331249?day=11) [15%](https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/alexandria/22314/daily-weather-forecast/331249?day=11) Low clouds, then perhaps some sun and remaining warm RealFeel® 78

A few years back, Amazon created a new TV show about the Tom Clancy character Jack Ryan. Somewhat infamously, [Jack Ryan's Morning Commute](https://dcist.com/story/18/09/04/jack-ryans-commute-to-work-makes-ab/) makes no sense. So this walk is inspired by the route he should've taken Part 1 (9.5 miles) - https://maps.app.goo.gl/2pmXJaixbXQxnvfv8 1\. Foggy Bottom metro 2\. Potomac Boat club 3\. Chain Bridge 4\. Potomac Heritage Trail 5\. Turkey Run Trailhead Part 2 (\~2 miles) 6\. Turkey Run Trail \- https://www\.trailforks\.com/trails/turkey\-run\-trail\-759628/ 7\. Langley Fork Trail \- https://www\.trailforks\.com/trails/langley\-fork\-trail/ Part 3 (4 miles) - [https://maps.app.goo.gl/4n54jMK1q2xbefix5](https://maps.app.goo.gl/4n54jMK1q2xbefix5) 8\. McLean Metro **Millage:** \~16.0 miles **Start Location:** Foggy Bottom Metro Station **End Location:** McLean Metro Station **Time:** 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM **Terrain:** This will be have a solid amount of uphill (\~700 feet) elevation gain) with a mix of paved, gravel, and trail surfaces

Join us to enjoy Marcus DC, located in the Morrow Hotel in NoMa / Union Market neighborhood -hailed as one of the area's top dining destinations (2026 Washingtonian 100 Very Best Restaurants List), recognized as America's most beautiful new restaurant of 2025 by Robb Report and recognized for Executive Chef Anthony Jones who was named Rising Chef in the 2025 Eater DC Awards. It features a unique menu blending modern American cooking with Ethiopian and D.C. **The Washington Post** (Sietsema) While a number of dishes explain why Marcus DC is a hard reservation, the most riveting is a shareable entrée that’s the taste equivalent of a three-ring circus. Order Mel’s crab rice, and out comes a round pan of Carolina rice infused with obe ata, a rousing Nigerian red pepper and tomato sauce. The surface of the grains is colored with glossy bell peppers, okra stinging with hot sauce and spidery-looking, tangy fennel. Mounded on top is blue crab finished with béarnaise sauce mixed with uni — rich on rich, the top hat to complete the outfit. Like a proper paella, some bites are crisp, others are soft. Each forkful delivers a riot of flavor. Lucky diners get the bonus of having the largesse presented by Anthony Jones, the restaurant’s executive chef. A son of Maryland, Jones pays tribute to his family’s favorite crab shack, Mel's Crabs, near where he grew up in Calvert County with one of the best dishes now playing in Washington. Yes, I’m obsessed with it. We should all have more obe ata and sea urchin butter in our lives. The man behind the restaurant's name is Marcus Samuelsson, the famous talent behind Aquavit and Red Rooster in New York whose portfolio embraces 15 restaurants. Born in Ethiopia and raised in Sweden, the chef, 54, prefers talking about Marcus DC, set in the sleek Morrow hotel near Union Market. And rightly so: He’s in a hot spot of the best kind now — so much foot traffic! Such an inviting interior! — serving some of the most personal food of his career. He’s supported by a cast of locals, foremost Jones, whose attention and enthusiasm surface in every exchange and every dish. This being the Mid-Atlantic, much of the food originates from the water. Here come slices of fluke arranged in a circle with watermelon radishes and golden plantain crisps, buoyed by a fetching green pond: green apple and cucumber juice, as revivifying as the combination sounds. The kick on the plantains? Berbere, the Ethiopian spice blend. Browned scallops alternate with fleshy mushrooms and pickled white asparagus in another appetizer, this one set against a mole that’s a touch nutty and smoky. The airy-creamy green dollops? A whip of serrano, scallions and more. If you like spice, the kitchen has you covered. Throughout the menu, the kitchen deploys little accents that nudge plates from good to great. “Swediopian” is fusion at its finest: silken cured salmon and charred cucumber around which a server pours goldenberry broth, light yet assertive with ginger, mint and lemon juice. A sail of crisp injera makes for a fun finish. Samuelsson’s restaurants all serve cornbread, although it differs from location to location. For Marcus DC, the tall slices are tinted with blue corn, lashed with honey and presented with yassa butter, a spread of caramelized onion, preserved lemon and Dijon mustard that goes down like sunshine. The combination pretty much sells itself. The most widely consumed fish in Sweden makes another appearance in a select entrée, salmon crisped in the pan and so tender it falls away at the touch of a fork. Glazed with nori and gochujang, the fish arrives on a pale yellow butter sauce that pops with orange roe and gains color with minced chives. More fancies come courtesy of chunks of pickled daikon and little scrolls of sheer daikon wrapped around seaweed salad. Sweden meets Korea meets Japan. The strong ensemble cast reminds of my first dinner, when a server talked up Samuelsson’s far-flung interests. I recall the only continent he left out in his introduction was Antarctica. Just as Le Clou, the newcomer’s predecessor in this space, represented an uptick in French restaurants around town, Marcus DC rides a welcome wave of Black chefs sharing their stories, notably Kwame Onwuachi at Dogon and Eric Adjepong at Elmina. (Gone but not forgotten: Danielle Harris at the short-lived Almeda in Petworth.) As much as the menu, the interior helps tell Samuelsson’s story; the dining room is alive with colors that weave those of his youth with those of his travels. I love the spacious curved booths, the handsome bar and the open kitchen animated by cooks “in the city and of the city,” as Samuelsson puts it. Friends have spotted the top chef multiple times on the Acela en route from New York to D.C. He’s in town a fair amount. Samuelsson might like to know he has a great ambassador in the personable Jones, 36, who previously cooked under his boss at Red Rooster Overtown in Miami and knows his taste and his standards. This isn’t just a fishing hole, by the way. There’s roast chicken on the menu, because a hotel restaurant almost demands it. A glaze of sweet-tangy mumbo sauce brings it home. There’s a pasta, too, tossed with smoked clams and crisp snow peas and showered with pecorino. A meal could be made of the sweet potato, a side dish with star power: The smashed vegetable is made elegant with crème fraîche and shimmering salmon roe. Samuelsson’s secret weapons extend to executive pastry chef Rachel Sherriffe, whose sweet résumé includes Rooster & Owl in Washington and Jean-Georges in New York. At Marcus DC, she seduces diners with an intriguing rice pudding whose crisp notes come from puffed rice and whose green hue and breezy accent stem from Thai basil. An oval of yogurt sorbet and ginger lime jelly add cool and spark to the bowl. (The bite in the jelly? Sherriffe, who plays up savory notes in her handiwork, sneaks cayenne into the jiggle.) A dome of warm plum cake, flavored with almond paste and subtly nutty with teff flour, arrives with a scoop of cardamom ice cream and a crimson pool of sorrel jus that acknowledge both Samuelsson’s background and her Jamaican heritage — “Everything diaspora,” says Sherriffe. Looking forward to sharing this experience with you! ***Check out the menus [here](https://marcusdc.com/marcus-dc#menu)***[.](https://marcusdc.com/marcus-dc#menu) We ask that ALL folks honor their RSVP. If you are unable to attend after sending in a YES, please update your status so that others may join. In the event our group incurs a fee for no-shows / late cancellations, your ability to RSVP for future events will be restricted. Thank you in advance for your understanding. **WAITLIST:** Meetup does not allow a waitlist for paid events. If this event fills and you are interested in adding your name to the waitlist, please send host a message through the app. In the future, we will vary the days of the week and the types of restaurants so that we can attract many different types of diners. Feel free to make suggestions for future meet locations. All diners will pay their own tab. before departing the event. If you are unable to join us in March we hope you'll stay interested and join us for a meal in the future. Looking forward to catching up with you for a fantastic dinner at Marcus!

Welcome to Casual Dining Out, the event series where we explore counterserve establishments, food halls, and other venues for quick bites of Asian, "fusion", and other fare! As in the past, the field for these events will typically be limited, so please RSVP quickly if you know you're coming (or drop out quickly if you can't make it to give others a chance). RSVPs will close at 4 PM the day of the event and anyone who drops afterwards may be subject to the dreaded "no show" designation. This edition: Thai delights! [https://www.soulthaikitchenandbar.com/](https://www.soulthaikitchenandbar.com/) As always, a bonus activity could follow if the mood is right. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- If you have Instagram, you can check out our account at asiandiningandadventuregroup for photos and announcements of group outings!

Hey Social Sips & Bites friends! 🎶🍹 One of our group’s absolute favorite feel-good bands, The Nonessentials, are back at The Solace Outpost, and we want the whole crew there! This is your chance to kick back with friends, enjoy amazing live music, sip on something delicious, and grab a tasty bite. Every time The Nonessentials play, the vibes are high and the dance floor is calling - let’s make it a night to remember! https://www.thenonessentialz.com/

Free at Bexley Library Adventures in Ecological Horticulture with Rebecca McMackin Wednesday, March 18 1:00pm - 2:30pm Gone are the days when a garden could be ornamental alone. We now recognize the impact that our land care practices have on the ecosystems around us, and can see the importance of encouraging biodiversity. Thankfully, we do not need to sacrifice beauty when we invite butterflies and songbirds into our gardens. Rebecca McMackin has cultivated gorgeous landscapes in the toughest environments possible: urban parks, school playgrounds, and the sidewalks of New York City. She will take lessons from her work at Brooklyn Bridge Park, the Brooklyn Museum, and decades of research to share how those of us who are fortunate enough to care for land, can do it beautifully and ecologically. Rebecca McMackin is an ecologically obsessed horticulturist and garden designer. She writes, lectures, and teaches on ecological landscape management and pollination ecology, as well as designs the rare public garden. She is currently Lead Horticulturist for the American Horticultural Society, an Associate with the Harvard Divinity School’s Thinking with Plants and Fungi Initiative, and Consulting Arboretum Curator for Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, NY. Rebecca spent a decade as Director of Horticulture of Brooklyn Bridge Park, where she managed 85 acres of diverse parkland organically. Their research into cultivating urban biodiversity and ethical management strategies has influenced thousands of people and entire urban parks systems to adopt similar approaches. She has been published by and featured in the New York Times, Gardens Illustrated, on NPR and PBS. Her garden for the Brooklyn Museum recently won the PPA’s Award of Excellence and her TED Talk has been viewed over a million times. She holds M.Sc. from Columbia University and University of Victoria in landscape design and biology and recently completed the Loeb Fellowship at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. This program is presented in partnership with Rooted in Bexley and generously funded by the Bexley Community Foundation and Bexley Community Author Series Fund.

***Okay, call me crazy but you have got to try their chip n dip!*** Club 185 is a true hidden gem in German Village! Seriously, old school, good comfort food and drink. We will try to gather in spaces near the windows. While we'll share Chip n Dip, you'll want to order a sandwich, too. **Where the Chip Began (1817)** Potato chips can be traced back to an English chef, William Kitchiner, who includes ‘crisps’ in his bestselling cookbook, “The Cook’s Oracle.” **Chip and Dip Popularity** The popularity of chip and dip skyrockets at the end of World War II with new entertainment fads and the introduction of Lipton’s new advertising campaign for their famous French Onion Dip. (Club 185 doesn't openly admit it, but I'm pretty sure that's their dip recipe!) **[Club 185](http://club185.com/)**—a true neighborhood bar serving since 1954, when it was known as a local 'speak-easy'. Located in German Village, Club 185 features a menu of quality casual comfort food and full bar. From politicians to lawyers, hardhats to hipsters—all find Club 185 the perfect place to tame their hunger and quench their thirst! **PARKING**: I know, brick street parallel parking can be a pain. Two other choices, metered parking along Livingston heading towards Children's Hospital or across the street in the large church lot (park in spaces farthest away from the church entrance doors, closer to the street). **PRE-EVENT**: **HAPPY HOUR (3-5pm)**: Italian drinks and bites at [Cento's happy hour](https://centogermanvillage.com/menus/), nearby.

Hike approx 4.0 miles at approx. 18 minute mile pace. Meet in front of the Nature Center.

We thought of one of the interesting things that can be enjoyed at this time of the year. We will be meeting at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church for a "Fish Fry" in Marian Hall on Friday, March 27th at 5:00 PM. It might be fun for you to experience what has become a tradition on the Fridays before Easter. They will have fried fish or baked fish, French fries and Cole slaw, as well as beverages, all for $16.00 for adults. They will have other beverages and desserts available for sale, as well. We have never tried this, and sometimes there are quite a few people at these events so we hope that we will be able to find each other easily. I'll try to have signs outside Marian Hall that Identify our group. We hope to have you join us!

Let’s meet up at this popular sushi restaurant in Gahanna. There are cooked items as sushi. Check out the menu: https://restauranttora.com/columbus-tora-food-menu

Celebrate the first day of Spring with us! Join us at select [#MarketDistrict](https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/marketdistrict?__eep__=6&__cft__%5B0%5D=AZXglupYTNnuPXhU3gU2DI9GInOg8OWWSvEJTry0VDGnMwh3tC6LxAkyc13s7j-hzoCa7zpemBLJbwdOAIfL-4l-h-eX3x7UFBl6CgHm1ijsL9C9hR_jWvIa_CNOjxBCQzMpVcaRfKr1LrRukr4nY0KHoqN2w3gXLadSqHBf6hPcBx13ltDk2suI8GhnjfjDOUs&__tn__=*NK-R) (*we are meeting at Grandview Yard*) locations for Flights & Bites on the third Friday of the month from 5-8pm. *We'll meet about 5:30pm til 7:00pm. Feel free to join us anytime before 6:45pm.* **Cost: $15.00 per person *(covers 4 wine or beer samples paired with gourmet appetizers)*** **Meet**: The staff will set aside tables for our group, just behind the bar. Feel free to brings cards if you want to play after your tasting. Sometimes, we head to a venue to hear live music afterwards.