Waiting to Adopt

The Second Tuesday of APRIL we will be at a location we really seem to like, Clyde's Willow Creek Farm. At the back side of the carriage bar, as usual (if we are lucky their new patio will be completed too). This restaurant is a must visit in Northern Virginia. Varied menu, fresh food, reasonable prices, and beautiful architecture... restaurant is an old barn and homestead actually re-located to Loudoun County.

We’re still working to get more people into these Meetups, but our goal is to give PlayYourCourt members a few social tennis outings each week in addition to your practice sessions and Challenge League matches. These Meetups are co-ed, super laid back, and all skill levels are welcome. Post your skill level and a suggested court in the comments section so we can round up as many players as we can for some tennis fun! Also, if you’re looking to meet new practice partners or play some matches and you aren’t already in the PlayYourCourt Community, you can go here to see what we’re all about and sign up: https://www.playyourcourt.com/tennis-community/gaithersburg-md/meetup/ If you love tennis, we’d love to have you! Be sure and watch the quick video that explains how everything works. Happy hitting! - Scott

Finally, a young adult group that includes ages 25+ This is a brand new small group! We will be studying the sermon on the mount 🤗

Fairfax Public Access fcac.org **Adobe Premiere Essentials – Start Editing Like a Pro!** Ready to bring your video ideas to life? Join our **Adobe Premiere Essentials** class and learn the fundamentals of one of the most widely used video editing programs in the industry. **About the Class:** Adobe Premiere is a real-time video editing software application used by both beginners and professionals. This course is designed specifically for new users and focuses on essential editing techniques and core functions of the program. **Topics include:** * Importing media * Project management * Trimming clips * Creating titles * Exporting final projects *Note: Part of the class will also include a review of our edit lab rules and station procedures.* **Prerequisite:** Basic computer knowledge **Certification:** Awarded upon completion of the class project **Schedule & Cost:** * 6 sessions (3 hours each) * Class fee: $290 ($26 annual membership) * Tue. and Thu. 7pm-10pm, edit 1 on 4/14, 4/16, 4/21, 4/23, 4/28, 4/30 * Inst. Moustafa Mohammed **How to Enroll:** Step 1: To join the class, you must become a member of FPA. Annual membership fee: $26 Join here: [https://www.fcac.org/payment](https://www.fcac.org/payment) Step 2: Contact the Training Department to confirm your registration and complete your class payment: 571-749-1132 / FPATraining@fcac.org **Not Ready to Enroll?** Come check us out first! Join our community media station’s next **FREE Open House** to learn more about community programs and content creation options: Wednesday, April 15 7:00 PM (2 hours) 2929 Eskridge Rd., Suite S, Fairfax, VA 22031 We’d love to meet you and help you get started on your creative journey!

**Agenda :** * 4.45 to 5.00 PM ET: Food and Networking * 5.00 to 5.50 PM ET: "Hands-On : GitHub Copilot SpecKit" Hello Everyone! Please join us for our April 14th edition of the AI-ML MeetUp. **Please note this is an in-person meeting and light refreshments/food will be provided. You will need a government-issued ID to enter the facility.** **Title:** Hands-On : GitHub Copilot SpecKit **Description:** Spec-Driven Development **flips the script** on traditional software development. For decades, code has been king — specifications were just scaffolding we built and discarded once the "real work" of coding began. Spec-Driven Development changes this: **specifications become executable**, directly generating working implementations rather than just guiding them. In this hands-on lab, we will be covering building your application using SpecKit. Pre-requisites: VSCode v1.107, GitHub Copilot, Python 3.13 + uv, Git installed. **Location:** The meeting will be hosted in the Applied Information Sciences ( AIS ) office in Reston, at 11440 Commerce Park Dr # 600 · Reston, VA. The location is also right off the Silver Line metro's Wiehle-Reston Metro Station. **Parking:** Parking is paid and can be validated at the AIS office reception. We will meet in Room Lake Anne. We hope to see you all there!!!!

This is a great opportunity to meet others who are new as well as those who have been around a while! Mission BBQ has some of the best BBQ in the area, served in a casual environment which honors our military and first responders. When you arrive, feel free to grab food then join us. As we're a large group, please be patient with restaurant staff and use any time in line to visit with others. Meals are in the $10-15 range. Look for GRASP table flyers and Eli's GRASP shirt to find us within the restaurant. Everyone is welcome and we can't wait to see you!

Join us on the April 14 (and 2nd Tuesday of the month) for this simple but powerful time to be inspired, encouraged and equipped to grow as a leader worth following. Come connect with other leaders and enjoy a delicious breakfast as we hear from a seasoned, creative and strategic leader share a few stories and critical principles they’ve learned and applied on their leadership journey. We are thrilled to here from **Jim Hadley** on April 14. Jim is the Founder/CEO/Board Chair of three companies – Tiber Solutions, Tiber Software, and Tiber Leadership.

Please join us for an early dinner/hang-out at Sunflower in Vienna, VA! [https://www.crystalsunflower.com/](https://www.crystalsunflower.com/) \*Please note -- there are multiple restaurants with this name. **This event will be in VIENNA, VA,** at 2531 Chain Bridge Road Vienna, VA 22181. \*Feel free to just have something from their "small bites" menu or a non-alcoholic beverage if you're not hungry enough for a full dinner at that time. (LOL, I'll be having a full dinner myself.) \*Sunflower is a **100% vegetarian restaurant with a great selection of VEGAN dishes** that "look and taste like real meat, poultry, and seafood. The menu features Japanese, Chinese, and Continental style dishes." \*\*\*Please note: Fairfax County charges a **4% Food and Beverage Tax** in addition to the 6% sales tax. This restaurant also charges a **3% large-party billing fee** to prepare the checks. And of course the gratuity will be 18-20%. \*I’ll bring nametags. The restaurant said that they could create separate checks for each single or couple.

We’re still working to get more people into these Meetups, but our goal is to give PlayYourCourt members a few social tennis outings each week in addition to your practice sessions and Challenge League matches. These Meetups are co-ed, super laid back, and all skill levels are welcome. Post your skill level and a suggested court in the comments section so we can round up as many players as we can for some tennis fun! Also, if you’re looking to meet new practice partners or play some matches and you aren’t already in the PlayYourCourt Community, you can go here to see what we’re all about and sign up: https://www.playyourcourt.com/tennis-community/gaithersburg-md/meetup/ If you love tennis, we’d love to have you! Be sure and watch the quick video that explains how everything works. Happy hitting! - Scott

**NOTICE: The park is open until 8:15 PM for Sunset Closing** https://www.novaparks.com/parks/meadowlark-botanical-gardens/events/sunset-in-the-gardens-815pm-closing Fees: $5 for ages 6-17 & ages 55+, $9 for ages 18-54, and free for ages 5 & under We will meet at the visitor center. Bring Water, Tripod, comfortable shoes, fully charged batteries, and empty cards There is no specific route in this park. Folks are free to wander around the trails in the park at their own pace. Check out Rob Trek's video from May 16, 2021: https://youtu.be/QwNR_TuxM4Y For dinner, after the field trip around 8:30 PM, we will head to Anita's New Mexico Style Restuarant, 521 Maple Ave E, Vienna, VA 22180 https://maps.app.goo.gl/3T7gw87tjvVuwDT96 Share only your very best, most interesting shots after the field trip, and keep it down to between 5 and 10 photos. Beauty, conservation, education, and discovery flourish throughout the year at this 95-acre complex of large ornamental display gardens and unique native plant collections. Walking trails, lakes, more than twenty varieties of cherry trees, irises, peonies, an extensive shade garden, native wildflowers, gazebos, birds, butterflies, seasonal blooms, and foliage create a sanctuary of beauty and nature. [https://www.nvrpa.org/park/meadowlark_botanical_gardens/](https://www.nvrpa.org/park/meadowlark_botanical_gardens/) 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.

\*\* RSVP if interested - no commitment necessary! [Complete information is here](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TfquVbV-CnU8JJPLhTX5sr8HlV3-9IBVlqVCs-tKU-Q/edit?tab=t.0). \*\* Downtown Austin, TX is a lively blend of culture, music, food, and scenic urban spaces. At its heart is Sixth Street, famous for its energetic nightlife, live music venues, and eclectic bars that showcase the city’s “Live Music Capital of the World” spirit. Visitors can explore the thriving culinary scene, from food trucks to upscale restaurants, or stroll through the historic Warehouse District for shopping, dining, and art galleries. With iconic landmarks like the Texas State Capitol, a growing arts district, and year-round festivals, downtown Austin offers something engaging for everyone. Join GRASP as we head to this historic city to take in all it has to offer. You won’t want to miss it! **How to sign up** Each person books their own travel using the provider of their choice. This allows maximum flexibility as members may arrive and depart on their own schedule. **Flights** Book **any flight** that allows you to join the group **April 16-19**. The organizer selected the following flights for his travel: (**$587** round trip as of 12/1/2025) * 4/16 Outbound: Southwest #791 (BWI-Austin) 10:20am - 12:55pm nonstop * 4/19 Return: Southwest #3853 (Austin-BWI) 3:25pm - 7:35pm nonstop **Lodging** Stay in **any lodging** that is within walking distance of **The Jackalope**. Following are a couple examples: **Hotel** / Cost (3nts, single occ) / Breakfast / Rating / Walking Distance 1. **Hyatt House Austin/Downtown** / $676 / Yes / 9.0 / 6min 2. **Hilton Garden Inn Austin Downtown** / $467 / No / 8.6 / 7min 3. **Tommie Austin - JDV by Hyatt** / $1,016 / No / 9.2 / 4min **Roommates** Because lodging is a significant part of the cost, some members may choose to share. If interested, please message the organizer (Eli) through the Meetup app to let him know. He’ll post a message in the event chat letting others know there is interest in a same-gender roommate and will share names only if there is mutual interest. **Cost** Cost varies widely based on flight and lodging selection. Using the above flights and lodging, single occupancy **cost could be as low as $1,054 plus food, beverage, and ground transfer**. Shopping around may reduce cost further.

# Immigration Rights & Communication Access Community Panel All of our happenings provide an opportunity for our community to come together and share with each other resources that we've found helpful. When a community gathers, an amazing thing happens: its members build each other up and help the whole network to get stronger. Join us, be strengthened, and strengthen others! Join NVRC for an **Immigration Rights and Communication Access Community Panel.** This in-person panel and community discussion will focus on immigration-related concerns within the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community, featuring legal and civil rights perspectives along with time for audience Q&A. **WHEN:** Saturday, April 18 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM **WHERE:** NVRC (ServiceSource Building – Community Room, 3rd Floor) 10467 White Granite Drive, Oakton, VA [Please RSVP here.](https://forms.gle/soqgBjjwatoR4AeP6) **Confirmed panelists:** **Michael Lukens**, Executive Director, Amica Center for Immigrant Rights **Anna Bitencourt**, Chief Litigation Officer, Deaf Equality

Join us for a special shopping event at Kendra Scott on Saturday, April 25, from 1–4 PM! As part of the Kendra Scott Gives Back program, 20% of all in-store and online purchases* during the event will benefit the Humane Society of Loudoun County. Be sure to use the code: GIVEBACK-LPPDB if shopping online or mention it during the checkout process in-store. Treat yourself or find the perfect gift while supporting local animals in need—we hope to see you there!

**Note the address says SE but it should be SW** HSLC is excited to collaborate with October One Vineyard for a monthly Yappy Hour! To support our local animals, please bring a pet food donation and you’ll be entered into a raffle for free tastings and glasses! You can also purchase raffle tickets. Your monetary donations help cover much-needed medical expenses for homeless and at-risk animals. This event will be 5-8pm on the last Friday of every month at the October One Vineyard tasting shop in Downtown Leesburg. This event is free to the public, so stop by and raise a glass. HSLC will be on hand to answer questions and let you know about available animals. Let’s “cheer” up our local area animals in need!

Your cat might be under 21, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t drink! We are bringing the cats to the beer garden. Feel free to come with or without a cat and get ready to socialize and raise a glass with fellow cat lovers! 🍻 This is a great opportunity to make new friends. I will be bringing one or both of my cats and they would love to meet you! If you bring your cat, make sure they are wearing a collar, harness, leash, in a backpack, carrier, and/or stroller. We will be meeting in the side tent called the “special events tent” opposite of the entrance. We have the tent fully reserved for our group! 🅿️: From the Shipgarten website, “Our free parking can be found at 1700 Old Meadow Rd McLean, VA 22102. We have a complimentary shuttle which has continuous service after 3pm on weekdays and starting at 11am on weekends.” Ⓜ️: The venue is a 7 minute walk from the McLean station on the silver line.

Walking around the bike path behind The Bike Lane then have coffee afterwards! The Bike Lane is a great place in town where a lot of the active community feels welcome. The local bike path has a great place to walk outside and get some fresh air. We'll grab some coffee inside after it's over. Come join us to meet new people and feel the better weather coming! It's Spring! Meet outside by the tables, and we'll head out from there.