This is a brainstorming page that launches collaboratation.
Cornhole at Columbia Island Marina's Island Time Bar and Grill (closes as 7 pm.) The burgers, fries, beers are affordable and the atmosphere, view of the boats and Pentagon make this place a terrific summer evening plan. Plenty of free parking. Walkable from the back of the Jefferson Memorial-- takes 15 minutes across the noisy 14th Street Bridge. Directions: Directly behind the Jefferson Memorial, walk across the bridge. (Tip! When you get halfway across the bridge look at the riverfront before you and notice a small bridge with a small TUNNEL next to it. Further to the right is a red flower/navy sculpture. These are important landmarks as you proceed.
As you come off the bridge, stay straight on the sidewalk for about 150 meters. You will travel across a very small bridge, then bear right down hill and go through a small tunnel. (From the huge 14th street bridge, if you have reached the naval bird/wave sculpture on your right surrounded by bright red flowers you have gone a few feet too far and should go downhill right away.) You will emerge from the tunnel to find the only restaurant at the Columbia Island Marina: Island Time Bar and Grill with picnic tables and a great vibe. Locate our Cornell group playing cornhole, sign in, and join the friendly competition. This is a kid-friendly event, for sure! Bring the dog on a leash and her water bowl! Bad weather cancels, so if in doubt, see the event confirmation at this site's logistics page before you head to the party. Who will co-host? Registration link coming soon!
Films at the Stone - Friday, Aug. 18 will screen WICKED and the gang is going! Come early and look for big red blankets and the Cornellians welcoming company near the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial. The films in that series are free and family friendly. BYOCoveredBeverage, bug spray, blanket and/or low profile lawn chair, and offer something salty like popcorn or refreshing to snack upon as you meet others (if you want.) Film begins at 8pm, weather permitting. Public transportation recommended, although there is parking advice here. Who will co-host? Registration link coming soon!
Thursday Night Sunset Cinema Series at the DC Wharf - Cornellians will go see La La Land on Thursday, August 28. Details and restrictions about food / bev as well as "getting there" info are all at the series web site. Watch it for cancellations due to poor weather. Film starts at 7:30 but get there plenty early find and introduce yourself to the Cornell group and establish your seating! Who will co-host? Registration link coming soon!
We need a leader (or a pair of leaders) to investigate by attending a rando event on the Pitch a Friend schedule. If it looks worth the time, we can draft a fun invitation with links so that single Cornellians can sign up to present their friends (or just attend together!) We could ask Steve to post it for Ivy Singles. You can proceed without Maggie's help by contacting our VP Programming: Programming@cornellclubdc.org and agree to receive requests for additional information. Best to post at least 4 weeks ahead of time since Cornellians will want time to prepare allllllll the great info to share about the pal they are pitching. See the sign-up form and details at "Pitch A Friend" for Quincy Hall (see menu) since they hold it first and 3rd Wed of every month, , or Cooper Mill. Read how it worked at Quincy Hall.
Should we plan a Pitch a Friend for a summer evening? Our should be start planning early for Valentines Week? Watch the CCW Events listings to join the fun if this event materializes.
Josef is co-host for an August morning hike followed by a noontime visit to a winery near Leesburg. Registration and details are linked here! Thanks, Josef! For this popular event, please do not sign up unless you intend to attend! Expect to fill your own needs for transportation and to enjoy a hike of about 2 miles at a leisurely pace built for socializing among our participants. In lieu of bringing snacks to share,, you can throw a $5 at Maggie or fund the "tip." (She'll bring extra.)
MaggieTheLibrarian is seeking additional hosts to offer the above activity as a SERIES whereby we visit various wineries or distilleries or craft brewers in October and November, 2025 and also in April and May, 2026. Reach out to her if you will host and/or just send your draft invitation with all of the logistics he needs to Steve at Programming@cornellclubdc.org . You'll get all the logistical help you need from Maggie or Josef. If combined with a hike, our host must preview the hike to provide sufficient detailed logistics when we draft the invitation-- THANKS!
Can it help you? What is a Death Cafe?
(There is a potential to organize a follow-up workshop on estate planning, prepping a will, a medical directive, etc. when we could discuss the use of the linked resources.)
Basically, just see all the events on this page. Volunteer with Maggie to co-host one and she'll do most of the work (with Steve P in charge of programming and registrations.) They're organized to be really affordable to our young alumni, especially. Bring mom, a new friend, your wingman for great conversation with smart Cornellians.
(Most events should be investigated and fully prepped to offer at least 4 weeks to allow time for PR and registration.)
Axe throwing for a weekday night in late July or 3rd week August? Need an investigator and co-host. I have some details to share.
A Family Fun and Date night doing Board Games mid-week in late July or late August before 27th? Potential to make a family friendly event happen either in a library space in Rosslyn, or the Woodrow Wilson House which has run such evenings and we could ask them to do another on their usual schedule that we promote... or prep one for JUST Cornell. If anyone wants to investigate and plan with me, reach out.
Forge / Blacksmithing Workshop: Looking for someone to co-host this event for the SATURDAY of Thanksgiving Weekend. It is a total winner and people want to do it again! Not sure if we will make BBQ forks or a different product, so save the date for Nov. 29 and watch the CCW calendar to register. I need one or two co-hosts, please, to finalize, so let me know if you are interested. Event cost may go up from $85 per participant... we'll see.(See example we did in 2024.) If anyone wants to organize a visit to this forge for one of its BBQ fork sessions or a different one (like the more expensive "ring" workshop at Lawless Forge), Maggie can give you advice to guide you towards success.
Paint and Sip - wine sipping and painting workshop. There are workshops (such as MuseBar in the Mosaic District, Merrifield, Virginia, in Ashburn, VA and in Gaithersberg, MD for $50 - 90 per person) that offer this type of event. Who can investigate and lead out with Maggie's logistical support, maybe for a weeknight event?
Mrs. Claus Gets Ready - this is an event mid Fall where we make one or some of the following: our lists for holiday shopping, gift tags for our gifts, a small crafting project, making salt ornaments for painting later, painting our salt ornaments, beading projects, or a session at a Ceramics Workshop where they take us through all the steps. I'd love the low stakes ease of the latter and we have a connection in Baltimore to someone's ceramic's workshop if folks want to go there together. Who wants to co-host this event with Maggie and help it take shape? We can make it as easy as a W(h)ine and Stitch and Bitch on a weekday night or 3pm-er if someone has their home to offer for a Women's only event. (Sorry fellas.) (This event could be a monthly series for 3 months.)
Pot Luck Cookie Share - for early November. Bring a really big batch of your cookie specialty for the holiday season. Bring also a plastic freezable container so that you can haul some home. We'll eat some of our cookies while socializing, but go away readier for the eating season! Served: hot chocolate and schnapps. BYOB if you want to share your wine or other bubbly. Take away an ornament and new Connections to Cornellians!
The Bazaar Bizarre - inspired by the "buy nothing" movement and White Elephant parties, folks can bring the gently used or new stuff from their cupboards but definitely "re-wrappable" items for participants to "shop" amongst the cast-offs of other Cornellians. Whatever you bring, you take away what didn't get selected, and we suggest you drive from our house directly to the Good Will. Bring items only in really nice condition. We do not pay one another anything, but if you feel great about what you take and it saved you some money, we urge you to make a donation to one of our favorite charities or a CCW scholarship fund. This event can be evening at a house, or at a venue. It is really fun in very early November to give everyone a leg up on holiday shopping. Expect to see some Christmas Ornaments in the mix. Think stocking stuffers! The better your items prettied up, the more we pat ourselves on the back for our frugality and living lightly on the earth. Notice how the "Mrs. Claus Gets Ready" offering above could tie in.
Wicked Wingman Series - Got a wingman who helps you network? Come together to these singles events:
Paddleboating on the Tidal Basin - Go to the area of the paddleboard launch on the DC Tidal Basin. Find the Cornell Big Red Blanket to check in and meet others. Drawing names from a hat, for 12 minutes, use the Club's Paddleboat to focus your conversation. Your Wingman gets to select your paddling partner. We will share the paddleboat to make prices for the paddleboating experience affordable for our participants. There is no guarantee of more than a short ride during our first experimental session. But you'll have a great time and meet a bunch of others. This Gay and Straight event is LGBTQ friendly and also not exclusive. Allies and matchmakers of all stripes are valued and welcome and meeting one another! Tentatively scheduled for August 14, 6 pm. Bring your own waterbottle (we don't care what's in it) and a bag of chips or pretzels or grapes or carrots to share. Heck, if you meet someone, ask 'em to dinner. Some might head to the food trucks nearby for a sunset meal, or to the Eastern Market neighborhood for dinner at Mr. Henry's, Cornellian owned.
Bowling? Location TBD by my co-host! Tentatively late November, 2025. You and your Wingman will team up against another pair for about 5 frames... but rotate through the frames to other lanes in a masterful mathematically mingling plan by Maggie-in-the-Tiara. It's good to be the queen. Plan to rent shoes, split costs of the games, and enjoy snacks at the bar. Your registration free gets you your first 2 games and a drink at the bar. Watch our logistics web page to observe our registrations growing!
Restaurant Exploration with these themes; draft an invitation with a specific date to get started (sample):
Vegans and Vegetarians Venturing Out (ongoing! This successful series has a wee bit of a following and a bunch of successes like these!)
The Big Red Food Tour - see what's developing!
Food Truck Favorites - a cheap and easy outing on any Summer Tuesday in DC! Especially for young alum! Organize a schedule for me to post when/where you will greet, and wear your Cornell Red when you show up and see who comes! Make intoductions. Munch! Please supply the details of the truck with maybe a picture and address.
Cornellian owned OR run Eateries / Bars - suggest yours!
Exploring Fantastic Black Owned Eateries across the DMV (or choose a locality)
Senior Specials - get a partner in crime and then organize and lead a group to find the bargains for brunch or lunchtime. Make new friends among the retired or semi-retired who have flexible workweek schedules!
Museum Meanderers - Select a museum cafe to meet for coffee to enjoy together, then set out to view the exhibits together. No need to formalize with a detailed registration process if you are flexible if no one shows up.
Sampling International Cuisine (including Alborz Persian in Vienna, Virginia)
Italian, Italian, EVERYWHERE! (Begin your series with half-priced menus at A Modo Mio in Falls Church where pasta is Tuesdays... pizza is Wednesdays. After you saved money there, splurge to go to Sfizi in Falls Church, and Ristorante Bonaroti)
Football Venues with Good Menus - plan for game day Sundays at 4:20 across the DMV and across the Fall. Find a place with good eats, plenty of seating and invite a viewing crowd. There is a BIG DEMAND for this sort of viewing party across our membership. First location could be in Merrifield at Open Road (Dunn Loring Metro station is within a mile) and maybe on opening day of the NFL season. I can post the schedule here and we'll see who shows up. Forming a fantasy football team is optional, but if you want to organize it, I can paste your contact and details onto the web page. Forming a date out for a COMMANDERS game could also be an outgrowth of this group's meetings. Who can lead out while Maggie provides some of the web site based PR?
Tasting out: Arlington Eateries! (can consult: 16 New Restaurants to Try In and Around Arlington, VA )
Alexandria Eateries to Taste Out! (can consult: Black-Owned Restaurants)
Reston Restaurants to Taste Out! (Or maybe a series to explore different locations in NOVA?)
The Best Nachos in the World: We list dates and places, and see who shows up to join the happy hour reservation that our host makes for "Ezra Cornell." Host and her/his co-host must promise to show up! But we'll go light on the other logistics and registrations to make this low-fuss.
Outdoor Dining FINDS! (WEATHER PERMITTING) Let's show one another the most pleasant places for outdoor dining and conversation among Cornellians. Feel free to list a few discussion topics if you think it will draw a like-interested crowd. Host once or often.
Books n Beers - lemme promote book clubs if we can commit to one of these reads: Anthony Fauci's memoir, On Call. Fran Teunis Meredith's breaking research in Concussion911 and Dream Hoarders (good for folks involved in scholarships.) Other titles (and movies) for talks.
Based on interest from CCW membership and enough participation (15 minimum) we will schedule these professionally guided tours.
Event 1 (was March 1, 2025): Italian Art and the transition to the early Renaissance (1300 - 1600) Bonus: examine a Delacroix in room 81.
Event 2 (was May 1, 2025): Beyond Realism: Romanticism, Orientalism, Impressionism: 1860 - WW I to include Delacroix, Renoir, Monet, Cezanne and Cassatt. Register here: https://cornellclubdc.org/event-6117134
Event 3 (was Thursday, May 22 ): Northern Europe 1600 - 1800 to include 17th century Dutch and Flemish art. Emphasis: Vermeer, Rembrandt, Still Lifes. Bonus: examine a Delacroix in room 81 within the context of Orientalism-- a period that stimulated controversy and intellectual discussion. Consider reading this overview ahead.
Event 4 (Potentially July 17): TBD and open to suggestion! Leaning toward early 20th century movements like post-Impressionism, Cubism, Expressionism for exploration. Might (instead) take a focus on a few specific painters from a variety of movements, to include Rembrandt or Vermeer, Caravaggio, Delacroix, and Picasso? Might take a look at Abstract Art to include the Color Field paintings of Rothko. I'm looking for a co-host if you are available!
TBD Event 5 (tentatively Oct. 4, 2024 - stop back in Fall for confirmation) Asian and Asian American Artists to include Hokusai, famous for The Wave. Ponder the relationship between humans and Nature in the context of spiritual and philosophical thought (animism, Shintoism, Taoism, orientation toward communal understandings more prevalent in the East than the individualism of Western cultures.)
TBD Event 6 (Fall, 2025) With a walking tour, might explore this theme: Palladio's influence on DC's architecture (see video) and apply helpful AIA Guide to the Architecture of Washington, DC, 6th edition. Might enlist a professional for such a tour if we garner enough interest among CCW members.
TBD Event 7 possibly on a Saturday or Sunday in Late Fall: Modern Art at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden - see features. Utilize "Hi" on your cell phone to learn more about artworks.
TBD: Event 8 at Smithsonian American Art Museum and/or possibly the Phillips: African-American Artists to include: Henry Osawa Turner, Jacob Lawrence (viewed at The Phillips Collection), Philip Simmons,
Re: Glenstone - Maggie will not be planning a visit there, but others can plan without her because it's a great trip. A host who wishes to plan such can contact Steve VP, Programming, and his contact information is here.
Thank you for supporting the development of this web site according to stated interests of attenders! Stop back to see how this schedule evolves.