New Facebook Group, Board Games This Sunday, and Spring Mini-Meetups Everywhere

Author

John Bennett
March 25, 2023

Hello everyone,

We have quite a bit of news this month. A quick summary:

New Public Facebook Group

First off, we've made a new public facebook group. Hopefully this will serve as a compendium listing all kinds of ACX and other rationalist/rational-ish events in the DC area. Join the group at [ https://www.facebook.com/groups/605023464809227 ] to get the latest on Spring Meetups Everywhere, board game afternoons, focused discussions, and other cultural events.

Why the new group? Visibility has been a challenge with the old "DC ACX Meetup" facebook group, given its privacy settings and varying moderation. Facebook won't allow an existing private group to go public, so this new page is public and open-access from foundation. Going forward, Mike kept the private group around, but narrowed it to focus on his events, hence the "Downtown" name change.

We made this new page in partnership with Skyler Crossman, Scott Alexander's new Meetup Czar, and the worldwide Rationality Meetups organization. As part of that, we're also encouraging new hosts to have the sort of events they'd want to attend. February's Science Philosophy discussion went great. If you'd like to bring the salon to your neighborhood, take a look at the suggested templates linked in the group and reach out!

Following are the specific events we have coming up in the next month. I've included Facebook event links for each for discussion and RSVPs. While it's nice to have a rough headcount, RSVPs are not required for any of these events. In fact, one benefit of this new setup is that the event information and even discussions in them now don't require Facebook accounts at all. I know that was a concern for some of you.

Sincerely,

John Bennett

ACX DC Board Games in Crystal City

Tomorrow, Sunday March 26th, starting at Noon

Facebook Event for RSVPs and discussion: https://www.facebook.com/events/1263329454270680

Casual board games and interesting conversation. We gravitate towards games that can be taught in a few minutes and take up to an hour to play, so that everyone has a chance to try something new. Some people have brought heavier board games, but there doesn't tend to be enough interest in games that will take a few hours.

  • I'll be there from Noon until at least 3pm, but come and go as your schedule permits. We start games or fold in new players as people arrive. We average about 8-12 people, so we typically have two or three games going at a time.

  • The Crystal City Underground in Arlington has a food-court type atrium. It's intended for weekday-lunch crowds, so it gets used as an unofficial board game hangout place on weekends.

    • Google Maps calls this "The Landing", see link here: https://goo.gl/maps/hoGEvSvYMTUusPkE7

    • This is steps away from the Crystal City Metro station. The parking garage on 18th street is free on weekends.

    • The stairs to street level have been blocked off intermittently. If that's the case again, go down the first set of escalators to the Metro station, turn left, and follow the map towards the Party Store and Subway.

    • While this is an indoor commercial space, it's not owned by any of the nearby restaurants. No purchases are required or expected.

  • We'll provide some snacks and drinks, but feel free to bring more, or your own. Since we'll all be touching board game components, please don't bring nuts, due to food allergies.

  • If you have any issues or day-of questions, message John at 202-495-1332

ACX DC Meetup in Rockville 

Saturday April 8th, 6 PM - 10 PM

Facebook Event for RSVPs and discussion: https://www.facebook.com/events/1064365274937699

We will have a Rockville, Maryland meetup on Saturday, April 8th. This will be a social meetup with light refreshments provided.

  • Time: 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM

  • Place: 1707 Tweed St., Rockville, MD 20851 (Kayla's house)

  • You can park on the street or take the metro to Twinbrook (contact Kayla if you need a ride). Also, let me know if you have any dietary needs weirder than vegetarianism. I hope you can make it!

Spring Schelling Point / Mini Meetups Everywhere

Downtown at the Froggy Bottom Pub on K Street

Saturday, April 29th, starting at 6 PM

Facebook Event for RSVPs and discussion: https://www.facebook.com/events/562820449276368

We've rented the Froggy Bottom Pub again for this Spring's ACX Shelling Point / Mini-Meetups Everywhere. Scott Alexander describes it as:

Every year in autumn I hold a big Meetups Everywhere event, and every time people tell me I should do it more than once a year. This year we'll have a mini-Meetups-Everywhere this April. It won't be any different from the usual meetup schedule except that it'll be the Schelling time for everyone who only wants to come once every few months to come.

Since this is not the "come once a year" version, we're guessing we won't fill the place like we did in the Fall. So instead of renting the whole place, we'll be on the restaurant side with some lighter food, soft drinks, and enough space and tables to mingle. As before, alcohol and full meals will be available for purchase from the bar, but no purchases are required.

Hope to see you there!

Location:
Froggy Bottom Pub
2021 K Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20006.

Closest Metros are Farragut West and Farragut North. Metered street parking on nearby blocks is free after 6:30.


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