Vinyl Appreciation

Please join the Corcoran School for its annual NEXT Festival in the famed Corcoran building! For over a decade, NEXT has showcased the work and skills of Corcoran School students, featuring performances, exhibitions, and symposia throughout the campus. Attendees are able to view and engage with the vast displays of the end-of-year projects and appreciate the contemporary arts, dance performances, musical pieces, and research that the students have to offer. **[Register here](https://corcoran.gwu.edu/next-festival)**. Throughout the evening, attendees will be able to experience the exhibition and enjoy dance, theatre, and music performances. You will have the opportunity to network and connect with one another over food and drink. Public programming and events will run through May 8, 2026. They will soon launch a festival guide with more information about the graduating class and NEXT festival events. Join us in celebrating this year’s graduating students.

Today we are Steve's Lab. RSVP and you'll be sent the location. It's in Silver Spring. ***Join us for an evening in an electronics lab where we will attempt to run clean scans of gold samples, and then clean up that data with post processing.*** This is a high sensitivity experiment, and we do not plan on being successful so early. But we've had promising results lately - so we will be putting in the time. We are NOT meeting at our usual location, but rather at Steve's house/lab. If you RSVP, you will get a DM with the address but it's located in Silver Spring. We will attempt full, clean lab - clean tip repeated scanning tests to see what we can learn and improve. We will experiment with online attendees, but if all possible showing up in person is strongly encouraged. Online join link is: - [https://meet.jit.si/mocomakers](https://meet.jit.si/mocomakers) Our community is building (and documenting for other teams) how to build a scanning tunneling microscope using a mix of common and 3D printed parts. This will allow us to scan and visualize a single atom - an ambitious we are doing over the course of a few months. The MoCo Makers community is one of the most innovative and competent groups in Maryland, and we've done everything from [publishing cancer research](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38136356/), to [launching products](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gotim/cozy-curvy-multi-contour-pillow), [winning grants](https://covidinfocommons.datascience.columbia.edu/awards/2014255), and inspiring thousands. Now our biggest challenge yet has appeared. We are building a Scanning Tunneling Microscope, that will allow us to scan and visualize single atoms. To get a better idea of what we are doing, see our reference project here: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N3OqTEq08g](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N3OqTEq08g) All starting CAD, code, and reference files should exist. However, let's be the first Maker community to document the build process and share it with learners around the world. We will be publishing our work here -[ https://hackaday.io/project/202816-qt-panda](https://hackaday.io/project/202816-qt-panda) If you need a ride, let us know.

Artistic Artifacts hosts **Open Stitch sessions EVERY Thursday evenings** from 5:30 - 7:30 pm — join us! This is a drop-in, bring your own hand stitching project and the necessary supplies (or you can knit, crochet... whatever needle arts you like). There’s no fee to attend, no instruction nor agenda — just a time to spend with other creatives! Visit our website for all our class & event information: **[https://artisticartifacts.com/collections/wk](https://artisticartifacts.com/collections/wk)**

***Colvin Run's Thursday Night Country Dance with Tim Bowker*** Come early and enjoy the warmup music at 7:15 p.m. **Tim Bowker's Country Nightclub Two-Step lesson** is at **7:30 p.m**, and then stay for **DJ Tim's dance party 8:30-10:30 p.m.** Cold water, snacks and lots of friendly people included. No partner, experience, or reservations needed. Plenty of free, safe parking. $15 entry fee (cash/check only); Includes lesson, dance and light refreshments. ***First Timer? No Problem!! Come learn a great lesson from Timothy Bowker! We welcome everyone!*** \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* Mark your calendars for **West Coast Swing Sundays** Every 2nd & 4th Sunday at 4:00 p.m. The next WCS Sunday is January 11, 2026 ***Find your happy place at Colvin Run Dance Hall*** ***Where everybody knows your name, and everyone's glad you came!*** *Find Colvin Run at: http://www.colvinrun.org* *or contact Kathy.Milks@ColvinRun.org*

\*\* Tickets are $20 and can be purchased [here.](https://www.totalwine.com/class/pop-open-a-party-great-sparkling-wines/potomac-yard/virginia/e/ec724417) \*\* Please join us at Total Wine in Potomac Yards on Thursday April 23rd at 6:30PM as we sample a variety of sparkling wines. Nothing’s better than bubbly for celebrations and Sunday brunch. We’ll help you pair a bottle to whatever’s on your table and shop for sparkling wine that won’t break the bank. You’ll also learn about our favorite sparkling styles from Spain, Crémant de Bourgogne from Burgundy, and, of course, Champagne.

The WIFV Women of Vision Awards celebrate women's creative and technical achievements in media. On April 23, 2026 at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, WIFV will recognize the work of **Kate Beyda, Phylicia Rashad,** and **Cheryl Ottenritter**. A moderated panel will provide significant time for the honorees to share their expertise, adventures, and answer audience questions! The reception and silent auction will begin at 6:00 pm in the Museum's mezzanine. Silent Auction bidding closes at 7:15 pm. The awards program will begin at 7:30 pm in the performance hall. **Ticket sales close April 20, 2026.** You MUST register here: https://www.wifv.org/calendar/#id=32427&cid=783&wid=401&type=Cal

**🎉 Book Swap: Bring Your Books to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library! 📚** 📅 **Date:** Thursday, April 23rd, 2026 🕒 **Time:** 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM 📍 **Location:** Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St NW, Washington, DC 20001 **🪧 Room:** 401-G Conference Room **Agenda:** * **6:30 PM - 6:45 PM** \- Check\-in and chat * **6:45 PM - 7:00 PM** \- Introductions * **7:00 PM - 8:30 PM** \- Book swap **Please note**: * Gently used books are ideal for swapping. * If a book you bring isn’t swapped, you are responsible for taking it home. * This is a “stay-and-swap” event, so please join with the intention of engaging and connecting with the group.

"Clayton Bourassa, a pianist local to Alexandria, VA, will perform a classical piano concert featuring well-known composers from the 1900s." *$3.00 only.* **Once you scroll down & select "website" to purchase your ticket.** [Classical Piano Concert: A Walk Through Music History | Visit Alexandria](https://visitalexandria.com/events/classical-piano-concert-a-walk-through-music-history/)

We have a double header this week with two games, in two different competitions, going head to head and, it's bringing Arsenal and Manchester City together again! First up, kicking off at 12:15 pm is the first of this weekend's FA Cup semi-finals as Premier League Manchester City face EFL Championship team Southampton at Wembley. On their way to this fixture, City have bested Exeter City, Salford City, Newcastle United, and Liverpool. Southampton strung together victories over Doncaster Rovers, Leicester City, Fulham, and Arsenal. The stage is set, again, for either an epic upset, much like the Saints pulled off in the quarterfinals, an epic whooping, or potentially anything in between. In the second featured game, kicking off at 12:30 pm, Arsenal, in the midst of either a worrying wobble or an epic collapse, host Newcastle United, who have been on a miserable run of late also at the Emirates Stadium in London. The Gunners still technically have the title in their own hands as much as City does. The race is likely down to goal difference at this point as each of the two contenders are basically seeing who can outdo the other each weekend by beating their opponents by more goals in the remaining five games. City may have the momentum, but its the Gunners that arguably have the 'easier' fixture run between now and May 24th. We'll be meeting from noon at The Hawk & Griffin to keep an eye on each game and watch the drama unfold live - Join Us!

Love Riot is a Baltimore-based indie rock band started in 1993. In 1994 Love Riot won MusicQuest, a worldwide contest sponsored by Yamaha, traveling to Japan and taking grand prize. They released four critically acclaimed albums before going on a hiatus in 2000. Now Love Riot is back, with a new album, Better Now, set for early 2026 release. Bring a chair. We will sit near the front to the right facing the stage.

This is our monthly guy’s happy hour, a relaxed spot to grab a drink, meet new guys, and see what Choros is all about. Choros is a men’s social app that connects small groups of guys around DC for real-world hangs like trivia, hikes, TopGolf, board games, and brewery nights. RSVP here, then [fill out our quick questionnaire](https://form.typeform.com/to/DTAHl4GL) to join the app. The address and details for the happy hour will be shared inside the app once you’re in. We keep events small and intentional so it’s easy to actually meet people. No networking, no awkward mixers, just good dudes, good conversations, and a better way to make friends in DC.

Hello piano players: Our next meeting will be held on Sunday, April 26, 2026 at my house, 5612 Cromwell Drive, Bethesda, MD 20816. We will start at 2:00 pm. Also, reach out to a friend and work up a duet – they are fun and always welcome. In the past we have had duets with two pianos, with singers, and with the clarinet, and they bring a nice variety of music to our meetings. We will have snacks, finger food, light drinks, beer and wine, but your donations of food and drink are always welcome. Parking is on the street near my house. I hope to see you on April 26th. All the best, Paul Connor

Let's celebrate Brandon's birthday

"The SOB is a ballet dancer. He’s the best ballet dancer that ever lived, and if I get a good chance I’ll kill him with my bare hands." - W.C. Fields In *City Lights*, Chaplin's Little Tramp meets a blind girl selling flowers who mistakes him for a wealthy man. When he learns that an operation may restore her sight, he sets off to earn the money she needs to have the surgery. He also befriends an alcoholic millionaire who only recognizes him when he is drunk. When the blind girl and her grandmother fall behind in the rent and face eviction, he tries working and even enters a boxing competition to raise the money they need. Regarded as Chaplin's masterpiece, *City Lights* has been ranked on more than seventeen "100 greatest movies of all time" lists. Orson Welles cited it as his favorite picture. *City Lights* is available for streaming on Amazon Prime, Hulu, HBOMax, Tubi and PlutoTV. The Columbus Library lists three copies on blu-ray and eight copies on DVD. Watch the movie on your own, then join us upstairs at East Market to discuss the film. If you want more, *Unknown Chaplin* is a three-episode lost-footage documentary available on Youtube. It covers his time on *City Lights* beginning at the twenty-six minute mark of episode two: https://youtu.be/f8960Uc15hI?t=1558

Let’s meet, wander the exhibits and open galleries, and enjoy an evening out in the Franklinton Arts District. (Nearby pay parking is available in the garage on McDowell, right around the corner from One Line Coffee, and, past it along the curb as McDowell dead ends.)

Let’s meet and share our thoughts about Carson McCullers’ novella, The Ballad of The Sad Café.