Events - Month View

Teams from BMAV volunteer the first Monday of each month to make lunches for unhoused in our community. Please only sign up if you know you can make it, as Bethesda Cares counts on us being there. IF you find you can no longer make it, reach out to the Helping Hands SIG to find a replacement. Note that the activity involves standing for most of the hour. There is no dedicated parking lot, but county spaces can be found on the street or other lots. Contact SIG lead Andy Brown for more information.

Join this program to learn computer basics with the Walt Whitman Highschool Coding Club to learn more about technology. In this class you will learn the basics of using a computer or smartphone with various programs. We‘ll teach computer terminology as well as beginner level applications. Feel free to bring your personal Laptop or Smartphone with you. This program will take place in the Connie Morella Meeting Room the first and third Monday of every month.

Join in to discuss what you are working on or perhaps be encouraged to start a project. Open to all BMAV members. The first week of the month we meet at the Battery Park Clubhouse.

A soldier, statesman, and humanitarian, George Marshall spearheaded the Allied Victory in World War II, created the Marshall Plan for the recovery of Europe and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1953. The George Marshall Foundation is a fully private non-profit that offers a world-class research library, public programs, educational initiatives, and a host of digital offerings documenting George Marshall’s visionary ideas and achievements. In this presentation, Melissa Davis, the Marshall Foundation’s Director of Library and Archives, will explain how the Foundation is promoting and preserving Marshall’s legacy. ANV‘s Speaker Series is held each Wednesday from 10–11 am. and invites all villages to join the weekly conversations via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88948577106?pwd=eW0rN1RTTU5ITmJ5NnF2QXZINmdUQT09

The group chooses movies to watch ahead of time, and then gather to discuss. This month we are discussing the Robert Redford films: All The Presidents Men, Horse Whisperer, and Barefoot in Park. All are welcome. Hosted by Diana Kitt.

Weather permitting, BMAV members will meet in-person at Bethesda Lane the first Thursday of each month - the benches near Luke‘s Lobster, which is in the pedestrian paved area between Elm St and Bethesda Ave off Arlington Rd. Maman, Hawkers and Dolcezza Gelato are other establishments located in that area.

BYO coffee. RSVPs are not required. Hosted by Diane Goldman and Hanne Caraher.

If the weather is uncertain, we will send out an email by 9am on the day of the event to those on our email list to confirm or cancel the official coffee hour. People are certainly welcome to meet informally on their own if weather conditions improve after that time.

Hosted by Bob Metzler and Reid Detchon. Themed discussions are held the first half of the lunch and the second half is for catching up.

NEW HOURS!! We are moving up the start time to 4 pm for the winter months. We are meeting this week at Gringos and Mariachis, a Mexican restaurant located at 4928 Cordell Ave. Drinks and food specials are $8. They have a new enclosed, heated patio area which is part of the restaurant (not a separate room) where we will be seated.

RSVP required on website or to Kathy Wiggins by noon on Thursday, December 4 so she can make a reservation.

BMAV‘s newest SIG reads fiction and nonfiction and discusses them in a social, informal setting. The host and moderator switches each month. This month we are reading The Art Spy by Michelle Young and meeting at Trudi Small‘s home. Please only RSVP if you plan to read the books and attend as space is limited. From 4-5 pm the focus will be on the book, and from 5-5:30, socializing. Sign up early as space is limited. If you can‘t make it, contact SIG lead Andy Brown to be added to the group‘s email list and learn about the location and selection next month.

The Sibley Senior Association invites you to join a lively discussion group on how to better cope with living alone. Living alone presents its own opportunities and issues, whether the reason is by choice or loss of a spouse/partner. Join us to discuss the benefits and challenges of living alone in the D.C. Metro area. Recent discussion topics include the retirement living options, online services for seniors, the value of participating in community activities, cooking for one, opportunities for volunteering and the many resources for help/advice for seniors in the local area. The Living Alone discussion group meets monthly (usually) on the third Monday via Zoom. Register for the discussion group two weeks in advance by emailing kenfgordon@gmail.com or calling the SSA office at 202-364-7602. The Zoom link will be provided to all registered attendees. Mondays | Jan 20, Feb. 17, March 17, April 21, May 19, June 16, July 21, August 18, September 15, October 20, November 17, December 9, 2025 Noon to 1 p.m. | via Zoom

Join village members to talk about your book recommendations in this discussion led by Jane Boynton on Zoom. Unlike most book clubs where everybody reads the same book, this group encourages participants to share whatever they are currently reading or have enjoyed in the recent past. Members are also invited to come and just listen to get new ideas for books. To see book recommendations the group has discussed at past meetings, check out the forum.

For December we will stay close to home and sample the new sushi restaurant that opened where Wang Dynasty used to be - next to Griffin Cycle - for "sushi, sashimi, handcrafted rolls, hibachi entrées, and shareable Japanese appetizers."

Once a month we pick a restaurant and descend en masse – partly for a fun meal out, partly to sample new places (or new choices from old places!), and partly to get to know each other better.

We start early to go easy on the restaurant and get a little extra attention before the place fills up. Come at 5:30 for a Happy Half-Hour! We’ll have name tags for all. RSVP is required! Please click on the button on this page or send an email to the co-leads, Reid and Janet, the earlier the better.

Journey of Navel Engineer Michael Bosworth will highlight his living history journey for the WWI Centennial. He will focus on the U.S. involvement late in the war and the U.S. Marine Corps 5th Regiment. Mike is a living history volunteer who does historical lectures and reenactments. He founded the very popular Ship’s Company Chanteymen sea & tavern music performing troupe. A naval architect and marine engineer with degrees from the U.S. Naval Academy and MIT, Mike spent his career as a U.S. Navy civil service engineer. ANV‘s Speaker Series is held each Wednesday from 10–11 am. and invites all villages to join the weekly conversations via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88948577106?pwd=eW0rN1RTTU5ITmJ5NnF2QXZINmdUQT09

David Shipler, who has authored several books on the US Constitution and Bill of Rights, will discuss the constitutional framework of checks and balances created by the framers and how it’s being challenged now more than ever. He will examine the aggressive policies of the current administration that are being applied beyond government and into civil society, including deploying the US military in US cities. Shipler will address censorship, re-interpreting history, and the ethics of threatening political opponents. And he will consider whether this is a major infection point in American political history? David K. Shipler is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author of nine books and a former New York Times correspondent in Saigon, Moscow, Jerusalem, and Washington. He was executive producer, writer, and narrator of two PBS documentaries on the Arab-Israeli conflict and has taught at Princeton, Dartmouth, American University, and the University of Southern California. His book of poetry, The Wind is Invisible, was published in 2023. His latest book, The Interpreter, is a novel set at the end of the Vietnam War 50 years ago. He writes online at The Shipler Report and co-hosts a podcast, Two Reporters. Register Here https://chevychaseathome.org/content.aspx?page_id=4091&club_id=559717&item_id=2765257 or email info@chevychaseathome.org.

Are you looking to learn something new in the new year? Want to finally figure out what Artificial Intelligence (AI) is and how you can use it in your everyday life? Join Scott Price, volunteer for Capitol Hill Village, for an introductory session on Zoom with our village, Wednesday, December 10, 2-3:30 pm. We will learn which AI programs are available, how to start using AI tools for things like preparing for doctor‘s visits, solving computer problems, researching options for continuing care housing, and rephrasing memories into lullabies, and more. This session will include demonstrations and time for Q and A, as well as discussion of pitfalls. Those ready to take the plunge can join in a second session on January 14, 2-3:30 pm, to get tips on how to take the next steps.

In this community conversation, David Yaden, PhD explores how to maintain emotional well-being and physical health during the often stressful holiday season. He shares practical, science-based strategies for managing anxiety, fostering gratitude, setting healthy boundaries, and staying grounded amidst seasonal pressures. Drawing from his research in psychology and human flourishing, Dr. Yaden encourages a balanced approach that supports both mind and body, helping individuals not just cope, but thrive, during the holidays. REGISTER here https://jhjhm.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__HriXbS6SyuNQZM90Da-Og#/registration

In this workshop, you’ll learn how to utilize the latest high-tech safety features in your current car, what technology to look for when shopping for a new car, the safety benefits of blind-spot warning systems, forward collision warnings, lane departure warnings, smart headlights, and more!

Join hosts Paul Thorn and Barbara Reese for a series of curated TED Talks. After watching videos together, we will discuss our reactions and the most important takeaways. This month‘s topic is the politics of climate change. Come for what is always an enriching conversation with other BMAV members.

BMAV members are invited to socialize this holiday season at Tim French‘s home. Join us for drinks, hors d‘oeuvres and warm conversations between 5 - 7 pm. Space is limited and RSVP REQUIRED. Note it will be cozy...if you find you have symptoms of illness please join us another time.

This month we are meeting at the home of Barbara Brown and trying out a varied assortment of sparkling holiday wines. $15 donation offsets the cost of the wine and accompanying cheese, etc. RSVP is required. Register on the website or by contacting Amy Young. If you can‘t attend but would like to be added to the group‘s email list to learn about future meetups, contact Amy.

North Bethesda Village is pleased to sponsor a series of Zoom conversations on the topic of Mental Health and Aging. These conversations are open to Village participants throughout Montgomery County (subject to space limitations). Our Presenters: Ms. Alavi is Manager of Seniors‘ Services at the Sante Group medical health clinic (Silver Spring).Dr. Rene Laje, PhD, LICSW, LCSW-C and Yasaman Alavi, LCPC Dr. Laje is the Director of Clinical Operations/Mental Health Services at the Jewish Social Services Agency (JSSA). Ms. Alavi is Manager of Seniors‘ Services at the Sante Group medical health clinic (Silver Spring). Join us for an engaging workshop on strategies to build and strengthen resilience. Resilience is the ability to recover and adapt to adversity, stress, or major life changes. It involves a combination of mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility, allowing a person to withstand hardship, cope with challenges, and bounce back from difficult experiences. While some personal qualities are innate, resilience is largely a skill that can be developed over time. Our speakers will guide us through practices such as cultivating a positive mindset, building strong relationships, and practicing self-care. The session will take place via Zoom. The Zoom link will be sent to registered participants seeking virtual attendance about one week before the event. https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/mental-health-and-aging-session-3-resilience-during-challenging-times

Join us on Monday to talk tech with BMAV volunteer Tony Mastria. He can answer your questions about computers, smartphones, anything tech-related. We discuss advice on universal problems. This month Tony will also address how tech has changed and advanced. Open to Full and Social members. You can drop in to as many sessions as you‘d like, but an RSVP by the day before with your question will be most helpful to give Tony time to prepare.

This month we will discuss how tech has changed and advanced.

Join this program to learn computer basics with the Walt Whitman Highschool Coding Club to learn more about technology. In this class you will learn the basics of using a computer or smartphone with various programs. We‘ll teach computer terminology as well as beginner level applications. Feel free to bring your personal Laptop or Smartphone with you. This program will take place in the Connie Morella Meeting Room the first and third Monday of every month.

BMAV‘s Helping Hands group will be making soup together for Kindworks. Teams make homemade soup, following Kindworks recipe and joining others on Zoom if so desired, then donate it to local causes.

On this date, up to 3 people can join Andy in her kitchen to make soup, then package it for delivery to Bethesda Cares. More groups can also meet at other homes or you can even make soup individually and join in by Zoom. Signup on the website if you would like to attend at Andy‘s home.

If you can host a group in your kitchen on this or a future date, or would like to make the delivery to Bethesda Cares, contact Elizabeth. Kindworks holds this event the third Monday of every month, but BMAV will only run a group if we have a host.

Read more about Kindworks and their soup program here. https://dokindworks.org/get-involved/kindsoup/

We‘ll gather monthly via Zoom for 60-90 minutes of relaxed yet guided conversations, centered on digestible reading assignments from "Essential Retirement Planning for Solo Agers: A Retirement and Aging Roadmap for Single and Childless Adults" by Sara Geber. To customize this experience to your preferences, please answer the questions in the registration link here. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe1zdaxMrrYI3WFMKPQbwp7Dj4F8iclNZDEuaAJFJMTIlFSiA/viewform We‘ll use your input to send notifications and gather feedback on the idea. Future meeting dates and times will be set by the group. The book is affordably priced at just $12 on Amazon. Special thanks to Ingleside for their generous support of the Positive Aging Community Book Club.

Prior to the Civil War, Paul Edmonson, a freed Black man, lived with his family on what was then one of the largest Black-owned farms in Montgomery County, now part of the land comprising Leisure World. However, while he was free, Paul’s wife and their 14 children were all still enslaved. Join Dianne Bradley and Juanita Sealy-Williams as they tell the fascinating story of Paul’s journey to free his family from slavery and their part in the abolition movement. This session will be conducted via Zoom. Please register below or visit our website for the link to register. If you have questions about accessing the talk, please contact Matt Gagle, Director of Programs, at MGagle@MontgomeryHistory.org.**

Many older adults turn to vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements to support their health—but not all supplements are safe or effective. Kathy Cameron is a retired Senior Director of Health Promotion at the National Council on Aging. Her presentation explores the role of dietary supplements in promoting health and wellness among older adults, including easy-to-understand guidance on questions to ask doctors and pharmacists, choosing common supplements wisely, avoiding harmful interactions, and recognizing when supplements may or may not be needed. ANV‘s Speaker Series is held each Wednesday from 10–11 am. and invites all villages to join the weekly conversations via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88948577106?pwd=eW0rN1RTTU5ITmJ5NnF2QXZINmdUQT09

BMAV members are invited to virtual coffee talk. Hosted by Diane Goldman. Note our new schedule where we meet in-person on the first Thursday of the month and on Zoom the third Thursday of the month.

Now that it‘s cold outside, we‘re going for borscht and dumplings at the first Ukrainian restaurant in the region, located on Cordell across from Barrel & Crow.

Hosted by Bob Metzler and Reid Detchon. Themed discussions are held the second half of the lunch; the first half is for catching up.

Potomac Village‘s speaker, Jim Johnston, is a lawyer, writer and lecturer who resides in Potomac. Late in his life, former president Lyndon B. Johnson told a reporter that he didn‘t believe the Warren Commission‘s finding that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in killing President John F. Kennedy. Johnson thought Cuban president Fidel Castro was behind it. After all, Johnson said, Kennedy was running "a damned Murder, Inc., in the Caribbean," giving Castro reason to retaliate. Jim Johnston‘s presentation is based on his book: Murder, Inc., which tells the story of the CIA‘s assassination operations under Kennedy up to his own assassination and beyond. Jim Johnston was a lawyer for the Senate Intelligence Committee in 1975, which investigated and first reported on the Castro assassination plots and their relation to Kennedy‘s murder. Johnston will discuss how the CIA steered the Warren Commission and later investigations away from connecting its own assassination operations to Kennedy‘s murder. He also looks at the effect this strategy had on the Warren Commission‘s conclusions that assassin Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone and that there was no foreign conspiracy.

We will be meeting inside at Black‘s 7750 Woodmont Ave. RSVP required on website or to Kathy Wiggins by noon on Thursday, December 18 so she can make a reservation.

BMAV Board game nights are back. Small groups will be meeting from 4 to 5:30 on the 4th Monday of each month. Hosts will rotate and capacity - and game choice! - will be set by the host. Members will need to volunteer their homes for the group to be successful and have enough hosts.

If you would like to participate, email SIG co-lead Jane Boynton to be added to the email list. RSVP on the website here.

Bring your favorite game to play. Street parking available.

Please join us for an always enjoyable ladies lunch. Location TBD. If you‘d like to be part of the fun, register on the BMAV online calendar or let LLO lead Lynn Barclay know.

Round House Theatre is again providing free tickets to BMAV as part of its program to partner with nonprofit community organizations.

A “raucous, unbridled” (The Guardian) hit at London’s National Theatre, "Rules for Living" has its American premiere at Round House this holiday season! The holidays are all about family, but what happens when long-standing tensions, buried resentments, and hilariously disastrous coping mechanisms collide at Christmas dinner? In this inventive, high-energy comedy, the internal rules that the characters live by become visible, turning every awkward pause, biting remark, and outburst into a brilliantly choreographed meltdown. Wickedly funny and all too relatable, this is one family holiday gathering you won’t want to miss.

Paid parking is available at a flat rate of $6 for Round House patrons entering after 6 pm - underneath the theatre at 7501 Wisconsin Ave. 10 tickets are available and RSVP is required by December 19, first come first served.