October 2008 Public Calendar
THIS IS A WEB VERSION OF OUR CALENDAR. Contact information has been removed to protect the privacy of our members. Please see your printed Capital M or M-Anations for full contact information. The full calendar is also available in the on-line Capital M which can be accessed through American Mensa’s website when you log in with your membership information.
IMPORTANT CALENDAR INFORMATION: We recommend that you contact the host prior to the event to make sure there are no last-minute changes. All events are smoke-free unless noted. No events will be scheduled opposite an official MWM event. All are reminded that, with the exception of official MWM events, attendance at events is at the discretion of the host. This being said, we encourage hosts to be inclusive and welcoming. In general a spouse, significant other, family member, or guest will always be welcome. The deadline for calendar entries is the 5th of the month preceding the targeted month. (If your event is in January, the deadline is December 5.)
We share our event calendar with our neighbors to the north, Maryland Mensa. A notation of (MM) indicates that Maryland Mensa supplied the calendar entry. A notation of (MWM-W) indicates that the event will take place in Virginia, west of the Beltway. (NM) indicates a Non–Mensa sponsored event. NOTE: In the event there are last-minute changes, deletions, or additions to the calendar, updates may be found at the mwm_calendar group of yahoo groups. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mwm_calendar/
Go to October: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 - 20 - 22 - 24 - 25 - 26 - 29 - 30 - 31
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2008 Top
Noon Suitland Lunch Bunch
Contact Paul Bethe for the location in or near Suitland, MD.
6:30–10 PM Games Night
Potomac Community Center, 11315 Falls Rd., Potomac, MD (240-777-6960). Take I-270 exit for Montrose west, go left on Falls Rd, PCC is on left after about 1.4 miles. Ask for “Board Games” at front desk. $2 toward room rental. Call PCC in case of bad weather; we will meet if Center is open—even if they think all events are cancelled! Non-members welcome. Contact Perry Farrar. (Theme on second Wednesday.)
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2008 Top
6:30 PM First Friday Film Fun (MM)
Come to the Charles Theater, the 60-year-old Baltimore icon at 1711 North Charles Street (near the intersection with Lanvale Street), to choose and watch a distinctive film with other Mensans. Afterwards, we’ll go to a nearby restaurant or coffee shop and share our thoughts about what we just saw. Please tell Mary Sherry if you plan to go.
7 PM Friday Night Salon
Enjoy stimulating conversation, as well as the best in French country cuisine at La Madeleine Cafe, 7607 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD 20814, at the corner of Old Georgetown & Commerce and just one block from the Bethesda Metro stop on the Metro red line. Park in La Madeleine's own parking lot, on the street, or in the newly renovated (and inexpensive) public garage on Woodmont Ave. Our format: We begin with casual conversation. After about an hour, we segue into a question-and-answer period. Each participant writes down a question he or she wants the whole group to address; this guarantees that people get a chance to talk about something they're interested in. Questions are submitted anonymously, then read aloud. No pressure – just fun – and being on time is not a requirement! If you have questions, please contact Herb Guggenheim. This event is wheelchair-accessible.
7 PM Meeting of the Minds
Back to Booey's! Meeting of the Minds moves back to Friendship Heights for its lively open forum. We promise eclectic ideas, a laid-back attitude, and a curious mindset. We'll meet at the Friendship Heights Booeymonger's, 5252 Wisconsin Ave., 202-686-5805, a half block from the Friendship Heights Metro Station. Plenty of parking in nearby parking garages, and freshly made sandwiches, soups, and salads within. Beer and wine available, as well as a variety of unusual sodas. Booey's is open until 1 a.m. on Friday nights, so come early, stay late, or meet in the middle. Wheelchair accessible. No reservations required. For more information, contact Stephanie Smilay.
7:30 PM DC Happy Hour
This long-running weekly get-together convenes at Zorba's Cafe, www.zorbascafe.com,1612 20th St., NW, just north of Dupont Circle in Washington, DC. Contact Stefan Patejak for information.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2008 Top
5:30 PM IDEAs
IDEAs meet to investigate where your ideas come from and how they were developed. Dinner with the group is optional but you may not join the discussion once we've started. Introverts and new thinkers welcome. If you enjoy exploring the intellectual realm, this is for you. Reservations required: seating is limited to eight. Dinner in DC and discussion at my home. No smoking. Contact Catherine Woytowicz.
7:30 PM Choral Concert (MWM-W)
MWM's own long-time member Col. Hork Dimon invites us to a choral concert of lite popular musical favorites, at which he will be singing (possibly even a solo). The Manassas Community Chorale, founded in 1994, has 75 members, presents four major concerts each year, one per season, in addition to many other local performances, and one each December in Colonial Williamsburg. Musical styles vary from sacred to secular, from traditional Americana to more culturally and ethnically diverse pieces, from classical masterworks to Broadway show tunes. This concert will be held at the Manassas Baptist Church, 8800 Sudley Road opposite the Manassas Post Office. $15 admission. The Chorale has received an invitation to sing at New York's Carnegie Hall next June, and is trying to raise money for the trip. Within the next two years the Chorale will be moving to the new $60-million >Hylton Performing Arts Center at the George Mason University Manassas campus. Since 2007, the Chorale has partnered with several local charitable organizations for "Concerts with a Cause," in which singers and audience members are asked to support such efforts as Youth for Tomorrow, Matthew's Center for Visual Learning, and SERVE.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2008 Top
6 PM Urban Dining SIG Hits the Heights
Let's meet for a casual dining experience at The Heights Restaurant & Bar,3115 14th St. NW, DC.--a great new American venue from the folks who brought us Grillfish, Merkado, and Logan Tavern. Just 1/2 block north of the Columbia Heights Metro station (green and yellow lines); there's also street parking and a pay lot at the Giant around the corner. Complete details and menus can be found at http://www.theheightsdc.com/. As usual, all Mensans and their guests are welcome. For a head count, please contact Leslie Horne.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2008 Top
8 PM Scavenger Hunt RSVP
A GNYM tradition finally makes its way down to MWM. For details on The Hunt itself, see the Oct. 10 and Oct. 11 calendar entries, and the article elsewhere in this issue. For those people who would like to participate in this Scavenger Hunt, you *must* RSVP to Jared Levine by tonight at 8 p.m. Gather up your teams (please, no more than 4 people per team), and send your names and e-mail addresses to Jared. (Please put “SCAVENGER HUNT RSVP” in the Subject line, so I can find it easily.) While Non-Ms are more than welcome to participate, only teams with at least one current Mensa member will be eligible to win The Hunt. The List gets e-mailed out to all participants on Friday, Oct. 10 at 5pm.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2008 Top
6 PM Pizza SIG/Vicious Rumor SIG
Kevin McCall invites all to share pizza, sodas, beer, and the check at Joe's Pizza and Pasta, 5555 Lee Highway in Arlington, VA. (There is also a full buffet for those who eschew pizza.) Pizza SIG is sharing its space and membership with a new SIG: Vicious Rumor SIG. Bring an anecdote or two about your fellow M’s. If you're not there, the anecdotes could be about you!
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2008 Top
Noon Rockville Lunch Bunch
Meet at El Mariachi in the Ritchie Center in Rockville, MD, at the corner ofWooton Parkway and Rockville Pike (Rt 355). Call Jewell Golden by COB Tuesday to reserve your place.
6:30–10 PM Games Night
See First Wednesday entry for details. Theme: Ships.
7:30 PM Chinese Restaurant Odyssey
To learn the location and to reserve your place (required!), call Gail Korb or Greg Key by Monday.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2008 Top
6:30 PM Harford County Camaraderie (MM)
Link up with northern Maryland’s Mensans for dinner and friendly, thought-provoking conversation at the Grand Buffet in the Festival at Bel Air mall, Bel Air, MD (MD Route 24 and Bel Air South Parkway). The menu features oriental and other foods, all at reasonable prices. Just as in Frederick, no reservation needed: simply ask for Mensa—the manager and natives are friendly. Please contact Barry Williams for more information.
7:30 PM South Mountain/ Western Maryland Mensa (MM)
Join Mensans from western Maryland and West Virginia, or ones who wish they were, at the Pizza Hut on U.S. Route 40 on the west side of Frederick, MD (1220 West Patrick Street; 301-695-0100). No reservation needed: just ask for Mensa—the manager and natives are friendly. We’re usually in the party room in the back, and we usually order pizzas to share from the menu. Cost for the evening will be in the $10 range. For directions and answers to Mensa-at-Pizza Hut questions, please contact Carol or Robert Martinez.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2008 Top
5 PM Scavenger Hunt Begins
The GNYM version of a scavenger hunt finally makes its debut in MWM. Participants who have RSVP’d by Monday, Oct. 6 will be sent The List and The Rules. Judging of each team’s items will occur during the Annual Party. While some items may be obvious exactly what we want, sometimes the Mensa-esque “creative interpretation” may be the way you go. It may work, it may not. But the attempt will surely put a smile on everyone’s face. And remember the grand prize: your team gets to put on The Hunt next year. See the article elsewhere in this issue for more details about the Scavenger Hunt.
6:30 PM Early Zorbas
Catch an on-street parking spot as such open up at 6:30PM and get quickly taken. Then come to Zorba’s (see below) for an early dinner or whatever. See menu http://www.zorbascafe.com/. Say ‘Hi!’ to the regular “DC Happy Hour” MWM crowd and then at 8:00PM join our growing entourage as we walk about 1½ blocks to the Cosmos Club, 2170 Florida Avenue NW for the free 8:15PM
meeting of the Washington Philosophical Soc. with light refreshments afterwards. Tonight we’ll hear "Computational Thinking" by Jeannette M. Wing, Assistant Director of the Computer and Information Science and Engineering Directorate at NSF and former head of the Computer Science Department at Carnegie Mellon. Talk abstract and speaker credentials are available on http://www.philsoc.org/. For further info. please call Rebecca Prather.
7 PM Friday Night Salon
See First Friday entry for details.
7:30 PM DC Happy Hour
See First Friday entry for details.
7:30 PM Northern Area Friday after Work Cards and Games Night (MM)
What a perfect way to end your work week—going to Gary’s and Sheila’s home on the north side of Baltimore for an evening of playing cards (games such as Hearts, Oh Hell, etc.) and board games (such as Taboo, Time’s Up, trivia games, etc.). If you can’t make it at 7:30, that’s OK—you can come later (the games should be going on for hours). Also, you don’t have to be in the northern area—all are welcome (even y’all from down South!). Sheila and Gary again made the date easy to remember: 10/10. Please let them know you’ll be there. Note: Gary and Sheila have cats in their home.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2008 Top
12:30 BLAMs Go Shooting
(Blazing Lightly Armed Mensans) Target shooting at the NRA's state-of-the-art range, held monthly on the second Saturday. Women, men, novices, first timers, liberals, conservatives, young, old and experienced shooters attend this event. 5-20 Mensans and their guests usually attend. For many this is their only Mensa activity. Gun ownership not required, nor is NRA membership. Bring your non-Mensan friends and family -- and your kids! Noobies should arrive at noon for their safety orientation. You can expect training on a variety of rifles and pistols. The range staff knows us well, so tell them you're with Mensa when checking in. Wheelchair accessible. Free garage parking. Metro pickup available (Vienna Station). Please RSVP so we can reserve enough lanes, but come anyway even if you didn't. Late lunch afterward to shoot the manure at Dave's Seafood and Subs. Contact Adam Beslove. NRA HQ 11250 Waples Mill Rd., Fairfax, VA 22030.http://www.nrahq.org/shootingrange/nrahqrange/
1 PM Cheap Shows
Meet Ken Kaufman and JJ Armour for a movie at a Metro-accessible theater followed by a late lunch. Call on Friday night or Saturday morning for the show and location.
2 PM Parapsychology SIG
Phone Stanley Korn or use your ESP to reserve by preceding Thursday.
2 PM Frederick Games (MM)
Every second and third Saturday starting at 2pm and ending whenever folks want to leave, we play board, card, and strategy games, including but not limited to Boggle, Jokers & Pegs, Scrabble, Spades, and Upwords. A core group of six people attends most sessions. We are actively looking for new players, and you need not attend all or even most sessions to join us. You’re invited to bring a game to teach the rest of the group if you wish (though the hostess tends to dislike war and fantasy role-playing games and points out that there are plenty of other venues for those). Free non-alcoholic drinks are served, and you’re welcome to bring munchies to share if you care to. For more information, including directions if you decide you’re interested in attending, please contact Cynthia.
5 PM ExComm Meeting
MWM's governing body meets at the home of Local Secretary Herb Guggenheim. All members of Mensa are welcome. Contact Herb before the meeting if you wish to put an item on the agenda. See page 2 for contact information.
7 PM Saturday/Sunday Indoor Games SIG (MM)
You’ve spent a hard-working Saturday in the yard, or cleaning the house, or maybe even in the office. What’s the best way to unwind? Why, SIGSIG of course! Join us at the home of Mary Sherry in Reisterstown, MD and find out just how relaxing it can be to give someone an old-fashioned butt-whipping in Trivial Pursuit or whatever is your favorite game. So call Mary Sherry so she’ll know how many cushy chairs to have available—and then bring your favorite games and snacks, and take time to unwind with us!
7 PM MWM ANNUAL PARTY!
FREE! Come one come all to the BIGGEST PARTY OF THE YEAR! Each year we have a great turnout for the annual party, and if the Saturday Night Parties this year are any predictor, we expect a record number of Mensans to arrive at the Friendship Heights Village Center ready to eat, drink, and be merry! So come out and party with old friends and new! Light fare, beer, and wine will be available. Free to MWM members. Non-MWM guests are welcome, and pay only a $5 contribution.
The Friendship Heights Village Center is located at 4433 S Park Ave, Chevy Chase, MD, one block west of Wisconsin Ave, 2 blocks north of the Friendship Heights Metro station and Western Ave.
DRIVING: From the Maryland Beltway, drive south on Wisconsin Ave (Rt. 355) for about 4 miles, to S Park Ave. The Village Center is on your right one block in. There’s on-street parking after turning right, or turn left and park in the parking lot at Saks Fifth Avenue – it’s FREE after 6 PM. It’s the lot on the northeast corner of Wisconsin and S Park Ave. DO NOT PARK in the lot behind Tiffany’s – it’s NOT free.
<WALKING: From the Wisconsin Circle exit of the Friendship Heights Metro station, turn left towards Wisconsin Ave, and then turn right to walk north along Wisconsin. You will walk past Clyde’s, then a strip of “haute couture” stores ending at Tiffany’s on the corner of S Park Ave. Turn left, cross Wisconsin, and walk 1½ blocks to the Village Center on your right.
While you’re at the party, you can participate in or watch the judging of ….
8 PM Scavenger Hunt Ends
Did you RSVP by Oct. 6? Then you got The List yesterday at 5pm and have been driving friends and family NUTS trying to get some of this paraphernalia. (Don’t worry, you’ll be able to hand it all back to them tomorrow.) Be sure your team and ALL of the items you plan to have judged ARRIVE at the ANNUAL PARTY by 8 pm. Make sure to account for traffic and the unexpected, because if anyone on your team or any of your items are late, there may be a penalty imposed. And as in most Mensa contests (thanks to Carnelli), the decision of the judges are arbitrary, capricious, and final. Though you need to be here by 8pm, you’ll be able to enjoy the greater Annual Party for about an hour before the actual judging begins. Depending on how many teams are competing, though, we may move up the judging time. See the calendar entry above about the Annual Party for location and directions. See the article elsewhere in this issue for more details about the Scavenger Hunt.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2008 Top
11 AM Northern Virginia Brunch
Foxfire Grill 6550 Little River Turnpike (entrance on Braddock Road) in Alexandria VA. RSVP to Rose Chu by Sunday October 12th 10am.
11 AM Columbia Sunday Brunch (MM)
Columbia Sunday Brunch is back from vacation, brimming with energy, and better and more delectable than ever. Enjoy it with Mensans in the Holiday Inn Columbia (7900 Washington Boulevard [U.S. Route 1 at its intersection with MD Route 175] in Jessup). The hotel’s restaurant offers a brunch buffet with made-to-order omelets and waffles; $13 covers buffet, beverages, tax, and tip. Please contact Dottie Kuhlman at 410-381-5005 or Cindy Zelkowitz at 410-730-2148 for more information or directions; or just meet us in the hotel lobby at 11.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2008 Top
6:30–8 PM World Affairs Discussion Group
Have you traveled overseas, or would you like to? Were you born in another country, or do you know people who were? Or, do you just like to read a lot? If you would like to tell us what you know or simply listen to others. We will meet in the Delhi Club restaurant, at 1135 North Highland Street in Clarendon, Virginia. The Delhi Club is across the street from the Clarendon Metro station -- in fact, you can see it from the front door of the station. Please feel free to call Dan Willmore if you have any questions, or go to http://www.willmore.net/world/, where you can find a list of topics and selected readings.
6:30 PM Annapolis Gourmands (MM)
Celebrate fall colors with Autumnal Mensans at Jalapenos, in the Forest Plaza strip mall at 85 Forest Drive in Annapolis (www.jalapenosonline.com or 410-266-7580)—just across Forest Drive from the gargantuan, still-rising, Annapolis Town Centre. As you’d guess from its name, Jalapeno’s serves Mexican dishes – but as you might not guess, about 30 percent of its dishes are Spanish. It serves tapas y antojitos, for instance—Spain’s ‘little meals’—including such choices as pork tenderloin sautéed in a sweet sherry cream sauce; artichoke hearts sautéed in olive oil with slivers of Serrano ham; calamari with salsa; and Gambas al ajillo (sizzling shrimp). Entrees range from fresh, whole, broiled rainbow trout, boned tableside; through a roast suckling pig for four (which must, please note, be ordered two days in advance); to meat, seafood, and combination paellas and beyond. Dozens of beyonds, in fact. Please plan to join us, and then make your reservations with Emily Joyce by Saturday the 11th.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2008 Top
6:30 PM Science SIG
Meet Michael Hendrickson in the Food Court in the Ballston Common Mall in Arlington, VA for dinner and to discuss the latest science news and issues. Look for a Mensa sign and a Cap-M on the table.
6:30–10PM Games Night
See First Wednesday entry for details.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2008 Top
Noon Silver Spring Lunch Bunch
This lunch bunch, in the heart of the new downtown in Silver Spring, MD, is hosted by Scott Shaffer (alumnus of Asilomar). Lunch will be at the Lebanese Taverna, 933 Ellsworth Dr., Silver Spring, MD. Call 301-588-1192 or check their website http://www.lebanesetaverna.com/cafes/silver_spring for information and directions. Call Scott for reservations. There is no parking on Ellsworth, but the Wayne Ave. garage is open and next to the new downtown area.
8:30 PM Writers’ Group
We are looking for serious writers who will attend as regularly as possible and in turn produce writing for the rest of the group to critique and discuss. We started this group on July 9, and had five writers in attendance. Each of us emails a piece of writing to the others. Thus, the work can be critiqued before the meeting and discussed during the session. Two of us are published authors. I myself have a PhD and teach writing at Montgomery College. I have published over thirty articles and stories ranging from scholarly to scurrilous, and am currently seeking an agent for two manuscripts, "Cockney Girl" and "Diary of a Mad Hatter." We will meet at my home in Wheaton. Non-Mensans are welcome. For directions please call Gilda Haber, evenings 7-10 p.m. except Friday evenings. Participants can bring drinks. Snacks will be provided.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2008 Top
7 PM Friday Night Salon
See First Friday entry for details.
7 PM Meeting of the Minds
See First Friday entry for details.
7:30 PM DC Happy Hour
See First Friday entry for details.
7:30 PM Maryland Mensa Monthly Meeting (MM)
Our northern neighbors meet each month on the near side of Baltimore. You’re invited to join them at the Stillmeadow Church near Catonsville, 1.2 miles inside the Baltimore beltway at 5110 Frederick Road (MD 144; exit 13 east off I-695, toward Irvington—the church is on the left-hand side). October’s speaker will be Thomas F. Monteleone, author of 36 books (including the bestselling The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Writing a Novel) and more than 100 short stories; writer of scripts and screenplays; columnist in the bi-monthly Cemetery Dance literary magazine; editor of seven anthologies; winner of four Bram Stoker Awards and The New York Times Notable Book of The Year Award (the latter and one of the Bram Stokers for The Blood of the Lamb); and much, much more. His books and stories, principally science fiction and horror fiction, have been translated into 12 foreign languages. Come and hear him speak in our language about writing and the writer’s life at this month’s meeting of Maryland Mensa. To learn more about MM’s monthly meetings in general, contact Programs Officer Jean O’Donnell.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2008 Top
1- Late PM Northern Virginia Board Games
A monthly gaming group which meets in Northern VA and alternates between two homes. Always the third Sat. of each month from 1:00 till late evening. This game night is not limited only to members of Mensa. We mostly play board games such as Princes of Florence, Lowenherz, Settlers of Catan, Carcassonne, Puerto Rico, lots of other Euro-type games, RoboRally, a couple of "train games" of various lengths; and also occasionally word games, family games, or party games. We generally have between 8 and 15 people. It's a lot of affable quiet guys, a few women, and sometimes a couple of older kids who like games too. We split into groups as the number grows, according to what people want to play. People in this group are not fiercely competitive, will teach you games, and will even help you out during play if you want. We often discuss strategy during play and sometimes people will even point out a better play to someone and let them start over if they want. There is of course no charge for this group, and it's come and go as you please. You don't have to bring any snacks unless you want to; we usually order pizza around 6:00. If you think you might be interested, please e-mail me at my work e-mail, as I don't check my personal e-mail every day. Contact: Karen Williams.
1 PM Mature Mensans (MM)
Mature Mensans of any age, but particularly those already enjoying or eligible for retirement, are invited to join host Eric McKeever in comparing notes over lunch at Pebbles Pub, 7165 Security Boulevard in Woodlawn, MD (at the intersection of Security and Rolling Road; 410-265-7878). The pub menu offers a broad selection of entrées, ranging from deli sandwiches through subs, pizza, chicken, beef, crab cakes, and broiled salmon. Please contact Eric for more information, or just to tell him you plan to come (so he’ll know how many places to hold at the table).
2 PM Frederick Games (MM)
We play board, card, and strategy games, including but not limited to Boggle, Jokers & Pegs, Scrabble, Spades, and Upwords. A core group of six people attends most sessions. We are actively looking for new players, and you need not attend all or even most sessions to join us. You’re invited to bring a game to teach the rest of the group if you wish (though the hostess tends to dislike war and fantasy role-playing games and points out that there are plenty of other venues for those). Free non-alcoholic drinks are served, and you’re welcome to bring munchies to share if you care to. For more information, including directions if you decide you’re interested in attending, please contact Cynthia.
7 PM A Little Drinkin' and Thinkin'
Ever wonder where all the 20-something Mensansin DC are? If so, come and meet other Mensans our age (Generation Y, if you must) Saturday, October 18th at 7 PM for some drinks at the Brickskeller, 1523 22nd St. NW, off the Red Line in Dupont Circle. Grab something to eat or drink (the bar boasts the "World's Largest Beer List") and join us for the evening or just stop by. Guests are welcome! For more information or directions, please contact Allison Rice. Hope to see you there!
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2008 Top
6 PM Bridge SIG
Come to the home of Joanne Schneider in Annandale for friendly party bridge. $5 standard contribution includes delicious dinner refreshments (i.e., real food), and all bridge tolls (pun intended) from MD or DC will be cheerfully refunded! We welcome all players and will try to find you a partner if needed. N/S. Contact your hosts for more information. For other questions about this group, contact BridgeSig coordinator Sheldon Hofferman.
6 PM Gourmensans
Come to Nava Thai, 11315 Fern St. in Wheaton (between University and Price, less than 1/4 miles NE of the Wheaton Metro). Located behind Hung Phat market. The Washington Post says "this little cafe specializes in authentic noodle dishes, such as pad Thai, and spicy soups, such as hot and sour lemon grass." New and prospective members, family members, and other visitors are always welcome to attend. Questions/directions? Call Paul or Nancy Vogel.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2008 Top
7:30 PM Investment & Speculation SIG
If you're so smart, how come you aren't rich? Bring a $1 contribution to Ben Perchik's house in Reston, VA to learn how. Call Ben for directions. Please call to confirm this event is taking place.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2008 Top
6:30–10 PM Games Night
See First Wednesday entry for details.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2008 Top
6:30 PM Early Zorbas
Catch an on-street parking spot as such open up at 6:30PM and get quickly taken. Then come to Zorba’s (see below) for an early dinner or whatever. See menu www.zorbascafe.com .Say ‘Hi!’ to the regular “DC Happy Hour” MWM crowd and then at 8:00PM join our growing entourage as we walk about 1½ blocks to the Cosmos Club, 2170 Florida Avenue NW for the free 8:15PM meeting of the Washington Philosophical Soc. with light refreshments afterwards. Tonight we’ll hear "The History of Probability" by Michael Shlesinger Research Division Director in the Expeditionary Maneuver Warfare and Combating Terrorism Department at Office of Naval Research. Talk abstract and speaker credentials are available on http://www.philsoc.org/. For further info. please call Rebecca Prather.
7 PM Friday Night Salon
See First Friday entry for details.
7:30 PM DC Happy Hour
See First Friday entry for details.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2008 Top
Noon Brunswick Lunch
This event has mutated from a Sunday brunch to a Last Saturday Lunch because of the unfortunate noise level experienced in the presence of a jazz quartet. Will be held the last Saturday of every month. Hosted by Katherine DeWitt. Lunch is at Beans in the Belfry, a trendy (believe it or not) café in the historic and photogenic town of Brunswick, Maryland. Enjoy a nice menu of salads, sandwiches, or soups. Child-friendly with children’s menu, dress-up trunk, dollhouse, kids’ books and more on premises. For sample menus and directions, go to www.beansinthebelfry.com and click on menu tab. Please e-mail me BY 5:00 PM the day before the event so I can give the café an approximate head count.
MAKE IT A FULL DAY and go on to the gift shops and antique shops in town or in Frederick, visit the Railroad Museum (www.brrm.net ), the rail yards and the exterior of the historic train station – or go on the Harpers Ferry 15 minutes away, or Antietam battlefield a little farther, or Monocacy Battlefield in the other direction. For more, see the web site www.hallowedground.org. There are several wineries in Virginia and Frederick County, and a number of other great spots! There are even rafting and innertubing on the Potomac (www.rivertrail.com), and great fishing.
Noon Picnic and Wine Tasting at Gadino Cellars (MWM-W)
Last year we hosted a very successful Wine Tasting/Picnic at the beautiful Gadino Cellars in Washington, Virginia. We're doing it again this year. October 25, 2008, at 12:00 noon, Bill Gadino will present a wine tasting which will include three of his newest wines; 2007 Pinot Grigio, 2007 Dolce Sofia (dessert wine) and 2006 Delfino Rosso (Ameritage blend with 44% Petite Verdot). If you would like to attend, please RSVP by Sunday, October 19th. The cost is only $6 per person to participate in the wine tasting, but RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED. We must advise Gadino Cellars how many will attend. The $6 will not allow participants to keep the Logo Wine Glass but they are welcomed to use the glass throughout the picnic. A Logo Wine Glass may be purchased for $3.
This event will be on a first come-first served basis as we must limit the number of participants to thirty. If more members wish to come, we will create a Standby List in case of any cancellations. Should you need to cancel, PLEASE let us know promptly so we may allow someone to attend from the Standby List. PLEASE don't be a "no show". We also request that you bring a food item to share at the picnic. It would be appreciated if you would let Chris or George know what you are bringing so there will be a variety. Also, for your comfort, bring an outdoor chair. Gadino Cellars is located at 92 Schoolhouse Road, Washington, Virginia 22747, (540) 987-9292. To find directions please visit their website at www.gadinocellars.com or ask George for directions. Contact George and Chris Cooper.
7 PM Listeners of Classical Music
Join the Listeners of Classical Music for quiet conversation, a friendly atmosphere, snacks & pizza to share, and classical music. This month's theme is: "Political Campaign Music." Bring records or CDs to share. BYOB. No donations, but you should bring a few dollars for optional pizza. LCM is located in Falls Church near Hwy 50 and the Beltway in Virginia. Call Ken Zabielski for directions and information.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2008 Top
2-5 PM New Members Open House
FREE! NEW MEMBERS BEGIN READING HERE: Are you a new member of Metropolitan Washington Mensa? If so, those of us who’ve been here for a while want to meet you and welcome you to the organization. A lot of new members are mystified when they look at all the activites in the monthly calendar. They don’t know which activity to attend first. We’re suggesting that the New Members Open House (NMOH) is a good place to begin. The NMOH is a long-running tradition in MWM and it’s the closest thing we have to a monthly general meeting so you’ll see many long-time members as well as a small group of new ones. The NMOH is a casual activity, featuring light food, soft drinks, beer, and wine. There’s no program per se; you just come, chat, and socialize with other Mensans. The NMOH is easy, casual, fun, and FREE!
LONG-TIME MEMBERS BEGIN READING HERE: This month’s NMOH will be held at the designer home of Alex Belinfonte and Keren Coxe in DC near Rock Creek Park. Please call Alex and Keren for more information. Plenty of street parking is available. Smoking outside only.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2008 Top
6:30–10 PM Games Night
See First Wednesday entry for details.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2008 Top
7 PM Eastern Shore Get-together (MM)
Curious about life in the land of pleasant living between the Chesapeake and Ocean City? Learn more about it with resident Mensans at Vinnie’s LaRoma Ristorante, 934 South Salisbury Boulevard in Salisbury, MD (one block north of Salisbury University on Route 13). No reservation required. Please contact Steve McCoy for directions or other information.
8:30 PM Writers’ Group
We are looking for serious writers who will attend as regularly as possible and in turn produce writing for the rest of the group to critique and discuss. We started this group on July 9, and had five writers in attendance. Each of us emails a piece of writing to the others. Thus, the work can be critiqued before the meeting and discussed during the session. Two of us are published authors. I myself have a PhD and teach writing at Montgomery College. I have published over thirty articles and stories ranging from scholarly to scurrilous, and am currently seeking an agent for two manuscripts, "Cockney Girl" and "Diary of a Mad Hatter." We will meet at my home in Wheaton. Non-Mensans are welcome. For directions please call Gilda Haber evenings 7-10 p.m. except Friday evenings. Participants can bring drinks. Snacks will be provided. (NOTE: This group usually meets every other Wednesday, but has been rescheduled this month due to the Holidays.)
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2008 Top
7 PM Friday Night Salon
See First Friday entry for details.
7 PM Meeting of the Minds
See First Friday entry for details.
7:30 PM DC Happy Hour
See First Friday entry for details.
NEXT MONTH PREVIEW
NOVEMBER 15, 2008
Would you like to have less stress in your life? Innovitation SIG is focused on ideas for improving your personal life and the lives of others. We are hosting the monthly Saturday night party on Nov 15 at the North Arlington home of Faith Halter. As a special feature, Faith - a stress reduction specialist - will offer a short optional free session on stress reduction. This will be an experiential journey through a few quick and simple techniques. Standard $5 contribution. Please visit http://www.innovitation.com for more info about Innovitation and http://www.InsightfulTransitions.com for details about Faith's work.
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