Blood Drives Los Angeles

Blood Relations by Jonathan Moore

A modern detective novel featuring PI Lee Crowe, who investigates the mysterious death of Claire Gravesend, found in a cocktail dress atop a Rolls Royce in a dangerous San Francisco neighborhood. The story unfolds as Crowe navigates family secrets and unexpected twists while Claire's wealthy mother insists her daughter did not commit suicide

Join us at Westdrift resort in Manhattan Beach for happy hour !🍷🥃🥂

Drunk Dracula

After centuries of being cooped up in his creepy old castle, Transylvania’s thirstiest bachelor is in need of fresh blood to maintain his youthful looks and chiseled physique. But our actor takes 5 shots before show. He's set his fangs into Hollywood. Perhaps the only hope to stop him is a Scooby Doo-esque gang of vampire hunters. **[TodayTix $36-56](https://www.todaytix.com/los-angeles/shows/47628-drunk-dracula)**

Neurodiversity Real Talks Peer Support Group at Coffee Bean!

A San Marino/Lacy Park & Beyond, 10k-Steps Challenge #44 [TCP MOAI Adventure]

**Welcome to [The Canis Pack IKIGAI 10K Adventure] + Purpose, Friendship, Togetherness & Support!** **We Will Not Wait Until Life Is Not Hard To WELCOME Strength, Beauty & Joy Into Our Lives!** **SNIFF - EXPLORE - EXERCISE** [**THIS IS A WALK FOR PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE DOGS - AND FOR THOSE WHO DO**] **AGENDA;** **\- Gathering at 5:45 \- 1485 Virginia Rd\. Lacy Park** **\- Leaving at 6:00 pm Promptly** **\- Bathroom Break as we head out** **\- Continue with the Inner and Outer Loop walk** **\- After the Loops\, then exploring the surrounding San Marino neighborhood\.** **\- This will be a 10K Walk – About 6\.2\-5 miles** **\- 2 Hours or so Walk** **\- 8:00 pm \- Returning to Lacy Park** **WHAT TO BRING;** **\- Water** **\- A Warm Jacket for Chilly Nights** **\- Flash Lite** **\- Bug Spray** **\- Snacks if needed** **\- Good walking shoes** **\- Comfortable walking clothes** **\- A bright Jacket for the Dark days** **LISTEN THERE'S MORE;** **Goal: A STRONG LIKE-MINDED TOGETHERNESS!** \* We will Establish Togethereness \* We will Bring about a Strong Awareness \* We will Establish a Strong National Presence \* We will Be Active and Responsible \* We will Always Think as a Like-Minded Group \* We will Put our Health and Wellbeing First \* We are a Pack-Family **\* We will Gather and Walk with Harmony** I know—10,000 steps might not sound like a lot, but for those of us who sit at desks or stand in one place all day, it's not always easy to hit that goal. And while 15,000 or 20,000 steps would be great, they also require more time. So to make it fun and manageable, we’re starting with 10k steps as a challenge—and we may increase the goal in future events. **THE IMPORTANT POINTS ARE THESE;** Space is limited, so **please RSVP only if you’re 100% sure you’ll attend.** 🙏🏾If you RSVP and don’t show, you will be 🚩Red Flagged 🚩for future events—we all appreciate reliability and respect for others' abilities to get a spot to walk!🙏🏾 Expect to hit somewhere between **10,000–12,000 steps (approximately 7.5-9 miles),** depending on the pace and group. This **midweek walking event** is going really well. So, let’s **stay active together** and **make this a Strong part of our routine.** **See You There.** [COMMENT BELOW IF YOU ARE IN AGREEMENT] **NOW IS THE TIME, LET’S GET TO WALKING;** Btw. Yes, Lacy Park allows dogs. However, they must be on a leash and it will be your own responsibility. No running involved. Just a casual, social walk. Bring water if you need it. **Free street parking is available in the surrounding areas. Please avoid parking inside the park lot, as the gates may close before we finish our walk.** **Park closes at dusk so I strongly advise against parking inside any of the lots. Just drive around, and you can easily find free open parking spaces.** **Lacy Park is located at 1485 Virginia Road, San Marino, CA 91108**

NYC to Atlanta/Tampa via Skyline Drive, Blue Ridge Pkwy & Great Smokey Mtns NP

PIC/Video Credit [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5l1pj-l9Qw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5l1pj-l9Qw) as in the video trips have option to rent a RV vs Car or Van as Group desires. **See our ZOOM Events & RSVP GOING if you want info, planning or to join this event/trip.** **“Join as Friends, leave as FAMILY”** **We Value Trips of Customized Experiences and Adventures with each other vs Overpriced Cookie Cutter Profit Driven Commercial Travel Trips. \*\*\*Disclaimer: Trips as Events are Non Commercial. A National Park Pass is Required to visit National Parks. If Trips do not have a Minimum of 4 of us Host/Guide may self do trip or Cancel Trip just as any other events. All Cost of trip are provided and transparent. Commercial Customized Small Group for Profit Trips like this can average $300.00 p.Day.** **Suggested Itinerary which may change as TRIP is Customized by ALL of Us.** Day 1) Wednesday - NYC > Philadelphia Lunch & Sites > Washington DC Lodging. Day 2) Thursday - Washington DC all day > Lodging Waynesboro. Day 3) Friday - Skyline Drive Lodging Front Royal. Day 4) Saturday - Blue Ridge Pkwy. Day 5) Sunday - Blue Ridge Pkwy. Day 6) Monday - Blue Ridge Pkwy > Ashville Lodging. Day 7) Tuesday - >Smokey Mtns. NP Gatlinburg. Day 8) Wednesday - Smokey Mtns. > Chattanooga Lodging. Day 9) Thursday - Tampa \*\*\*Option to end trip in Atlanta. **$60.00 Per Day Per Person + Lodging, Meals and Extras.** **Our Goal of most Group Trips is an average of $150.00 or less per person per day which Includes Group Transportation w Guide(s)/Driver(s), Lodging, Meals and Extras. Maximum of 12 of Us Road-Tripping Adventure & Experience Seekers.** **\*\*\*RSVP Going if Interested and ZOOM/In-Person Planning Events will be created. Host/Guide Phone Number 702.292.5556 .**

Meetup on Orient Express. Autumn in Paris Venice Prague Vienna Budapest Istanbul

The Orient Express. . . you heard about it many times. The romance, the mystery, the adventure! Of course - the opulence too! ***While the original Orient Express train is now part of history, our journey revives its spirit—crossing Europe from Paris to Istanbul, echoing the legendary route that once defined luxury rail travel.*** This experience brings back the magic of the rails—without the inflated cost of old-world extravagance. Instead, we focus on service, comfort, and contemporary refinement, blending iconic train travel with thoughtfully curated experiences. We retrace the route of the original Orient Express using a mix of **modern night trains, high-speed day trains, and select short flights**, creating a seamless and unforgettable journey. Our route takes us to: Paris → Venice → Vienna → Prague → Budapest → Istanbul Included: * Train transportation between 4 cities. * 2 nights on an actual night train with sleeping compartment * Air transportation Paris / Venice and Budapest / Istanbul * 11 nights in First Class hotels with best central locations * Daily breakfast + select lunches and dinners * All transfers (hotels, train stations, airports) * Guided tours in every city * Entrances to many museums. * And more thoughtful touches throughout the journey We travel as a group, and also have the flexibility of hop-on, hop-off tours and museum passes with "skip the line" so you can enjoy complete independence. The trip is designed for curious, like-minded travelers who value both freedom and shared experiences. It is all included in the price! You are free to do your own thing, cater to your special interests, visit other sights and locations in the cities, while still being guided and helped with all the arrangements. A balance of independence when you want it and being included in all group activities when you prefer it. The idea is: come alone, meet new like-minded people and make lifelong memories . . . without being stuck with the "one size fits all" tour formula. Here is a basic thumbnail: · **Paris – 3 nights** Evening flight to Venice · **Venice – 1 night** Night train to Vienna · **Vienna – 1 night** Evening train to Prague · **Prague – 2 nights** Night train to Budapest · **Budapest – 1 night** Evening flight to Istanbul · **Istanbul – 3 nights**. Sleeper Cabins on the trains and First Class centrally located hotels in each city. ***What was The Orient Express?*** *It was long-distance passenger train service that began in 1883 with the original endpoints being Paris to Istanbul. The original name became synonymous with intrigue and was a showcase of luxury with comfort at a time when traveling was still rough and dangerous.* *In Istanbul the Pera Palace Hotel, built in 1892, was the accommodation at the terminus. And we are staying in it!* ***The original Orient Express ceased operation in 1977 and we are not using the original old train. It no longer exists.*** EVERY aspect of this trip is epic. * Visit picturesque and storied cities. * Enjoy trains and experience the enchantment of the rails. * In the end you will have visited 6 countries: France, Italy, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary and Turkey! **The tour starts in Paris on Sep 20 and ends in Istanbul on Oct 03.** ***$5490 total cost per person, double occupancy.*** ***$7090 total cost for solo occupancy.*** PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE AIRFARE. This allows for your flexibility and convenience. We are happy to give you an airfare quote. **To attend: $500 deposit. [CLICK HERE for a Secure Deposit Link](https://www.paypal.com/instantcommerce/checkout/FXWZ8KNQ95EFJ)** Your Deposit is Fully refundable to 90 days before the event (less any PayPal fees). Final payment due 60 days before departure. [CLICK HERE](https://forms.gle/cQdqYw74gAYqphXX8) To receive detailed itinerary and inclusions. [CLICK HERE ](https://www.meetup.com/moretoexplore/events/281542406/)for the main link for this event RSVP there to get notice on any conversations or discussions. AND/OR if you have questions? [CLICK HERE](https://secure.meetup.com/messages/?new_convo=true&member_id=131297062) to Direct Message to Anna [CLICK HERE](https://secure.meetup.com/messages/?new_convo=true&member_id=273063881) to Direct Message to Marc AND/OR We do a[ ](https://www.meetup.com/moretoexplore/events/284794370/)**[Zoom Q & A ( CLICK HERE to RSVP on the Q& A zoom)](https://www.meetup.com/moretoexplore/events/287318466/).** Come to the zoom, ask any questions and meet other attendees. Great way to get the info you want without all the other fluff. We believe in good decent social. We have a set of sister groups we post our local free, local/regional camping, and our overseas events too. [CLICK HERE](https://www.meetup.com/ccccc-c/events/)[ ](https://www.meetup.com/ccccc-c/)to see all our other fun and social meetup events. SOT 200318-10 ***Live the adventure instead of only dreaming it!***

Mid-Autumn Moon Celebration @ Huntington Library (San Marino)

Join me for a beautiful evening at **The Huntington's spectacular Chinese Garden (Liu Fang Yuan)** as we celebrate the **Mid-Autumn Moon Festival**, one of the most important traditional festivals in Chinese culture! 🌕🏮 We'll **meet at 6 PM** before heading into the special evening celebration at 6:30 PM. 🌕 What is the Mid-Autumn Festival? The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, is traditionally celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, when the moon is believed to be at its fullest and brightest. The festival has a long history dating back more than 2,000 years and is centered around themes of family reunion, togetherness, gratitude, and wishing for happiness and prosperity. One of the most beloved traditions is sharing mooncakes, a round pastry symbolizing completeness and family unity. Families traditionally gather together, admire the full moon, enjoy food and tea, and spend time with loved ones. 🏮 What makes this event special? The Huntington transforms its stunning Chinese Garden into a magical nighttime setting for the celebration. We'll have the opportunity to stroll through the moonlit garden, enjoy the beautiful scenery and atmosphere, and experience the Mid-Autumn Festival in a unique cultural setting. The combination of Chinese architecture, ponds, gardens, lanterns, the evening moon, and the festival atmosphere makes this a particularly beautiful experience—and a great opportunity for photos! 📸🌕 This should be a fun and relaxed evening whether you're familiar with Chinese culture or experiencing the Moon Festival for the first time. 🎟️ Tickets **Everyone is responsible for purchasing their own ticket.** Tickets are expected to be released by The Huntington in early September and may be limited, so please keep an eye on the official event page. Once tickets become available, we'll update the Meetup event with the ticket information. Please do not wait until the last minute if you want to attend. 📍 **Meeting Location** The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens 1151 Oxford Road San Marino, CA 91108 We'll meet at 6 PM and enter together for the 6:30 PM event. Come join me for a unique cultural experience, beautiful gardens, moonlight, lanterns, and a little taste of one of the most celebrated traditions of East Asia! 🌕🏮🥮 Hope to see you there!

A South Pas/Garfield Park & Beyond, 10K-Step Challenge #30 [TCP MOAI Adventure]

**SNIFF - EXPLORE - EXERCISE** **Welcome to [The Canis Pack IKIGAI 10K Adventure] + Purpose, Friendship, Togetherness & Support!** **We Will Not Wait Until Life Is Not Hard To WELCOME Strength, Beauty & Joy Into Our Lives!** [**THIS IS A WALK FOR PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE DOGS - AND FOR THOSE WHO DO**] **AGENDA;** **\- Gathering at 5:45 \- 1000 Park Ave\ Garfield Park** **\- Leaving at 6:00 pm Promptly** **\- Bathroom Break as we head out** **\- Continue with the Inner and Outer Loop walk** **\- After the Loops\, then exploring the surrounding South Pasadena neighborhood\.** **\- This will be a 10K Walk – About 6\.2\-5 miles** **\- 2 Hours or so Walk** **\- 8:00 pm \- Returning to Garfield Park** **WHAT TO BRING;** **\- Water** **\- A Warm Jacket for Chilly Nights** **\- Flash Lite** **\- Bug Spray** **\- Snacks if needed** **\- Good walking shoes** **\- Comfortable walking clothes** **\- A bright Jacket for the Dark days** **LISTEN, THERE'S MORE** **Goal: A STRONG LIKE-MINDED TOGETHERNESS!** \* We will Establish Togetherness \* We will Bring about a Strong Awareness \* We will Establish a Strong National Presence \* We will Be Active and Responsible \* We will Always Think as a Like-Minded Group \* We will Put our Health and Wellbeing First \* We are a Pack-Family \* We will Gather and Walk with Harmony **THE IMPORTANT POINTS ARE THESE;** ONLY (10) TEN DOGS FOR THIS WALK, SO SIGN UP QUICK AND BE ACTIVE AND SHOW UP. CALLING UP TO (60) HUMANS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN GETTING SOME STRONG, INVIGORATING, FRESH AIR! **[ALSO, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE BRINGING YOUR DOG!]** We will be walking around. No running involved. Just a casual, social walk. Bring water if you need it. Around the center loop of GP and around the outer loop of GP. Then we will venture through the neighborhood and back to the Park. At the end of the walk, the humans with the dogs may stay for 15 to 20 minutes to ask questions or get tips on dog behavior. 🙏🏾Space is limited, so **Please (RSVP) only if you’re 100% sure you will attend.** If you (**RSVP)** and don’t show, it is a **🚩Red Flag🚩** for future events—we all appreciate strong reliability and respecting others’ being able to have a spot.🙏🏾 We’ll be **walking until** **around 8:00 PM.** Expect to hit somewhere between **10,000–12,000 steps (approximately 7.5-9 miles),** depending on the pace and group. This is going to go really well, and I will be hosting more **midweek walking events** **every other week** so we can **stay active together** and **make exercise a routine in our day-to-day lives.** **NOW IS THE TIME, LET'S GET TO IT – GENERAL INFO;** This meetup group is for Dog owners and Humans who enjoy exploring, exercising, and socializing with their furry friends. Whether you're into agility training, dog training, or simply love visiting the great outdoors and fun places with your pup, or just yourself, this group is for you. All sizes and breeds of dogs are welcome to join us for group walks, or meetups, and social gatherings. Let's make new friends, strengthen the bond with our dogs, neighboring humans, and have a Pawsitively good time together! Join us and become part of the pack today. Garfield Park allows dogs. But they must be on a leash, and it will be your own responsibility. **Free street parking is available in the surrounding areas** **Garfield Park is located at 1000 Park Ave. South Pasadena, CA 91030**

Let's go to the California Avocado Festival in Carpinteria by Train!

What could be more quintessentially California than a festival paying tribute to the Avocado, full of different guacamoles, and getting there on the Pacific Surfliner? This is the 40th year they've been having this festival. There is even Avocado ice cream! Entry to the Festival is free, and the booths are sponsored by local non-profits to raise money for their worthy causes. We've done this trip a couple of times, and it's always been fun. This unique festival is in Carpinteria, only a couple of blocks from the Carpinteria Amtrak station. It's one of the largest festivals in California, with three days of fabulous food and terrific music. [https://avofest.com/](https://avofest.com/) In case you didn't know, Santa Barbara County is the third largest avocado producer in North America, with Carpinteria being a major contributor. As the Festival has grown, so do the number of participants and festival-goers. In past years, over forty non-profit groups benefited by catering to 100,000 avocado visitors. The California Avocado Festival™ itself is a non-profit group that generates its own operating revenue each year. The annual event is completely organized by a committee of volunteers, and includes one part-time staff person. Our group will take the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner from Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles, to Carpinteria. We'll walk to the Festival from the Amtrak station, just a few blocks. See a video from last year's festival [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8u9kEXivElM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8u9kEXivElM)[QI7U](https://youtu.be/C5BR4_hQI7U) **You need to buy your Amtrak round-trip ticket for Sunday, October 4, on the Amtrak web site.** **Train numbers are below**. [https://www.amtrak.com/home.html](https://www.amtrak.com/home.html) Our group will take the 765 Pacific Surfliner -- leaving Union Station at 9:13am, arriving in Carpinteria at 11:27am. Ticket prices: Senior ($30 Coach) Return trip: 790 Pacific Surfliner -- leaving Carpinteria at 4:57pm, arriving at Union Station at 7:43pm. Ticket prices: Senior ($30 Coach) There are two areas to park at Union Station. One, East, is $8 for the day, the other, West, is $16 for the day. See the map in the photo. The Union Station web site says the West area has limited parking, so it might be best to plan to park in the East structure. We can form carpools closer to the event date. Join us to Celebrate 40 Years of Peace Love & Guacamole!

Walk up Barnsdell to see the International Space Station go over

We will wait approximately 10- 15 minutes and then head up the park to hopefully see the ISS go over at 7:21 PM. It will be visible for 5 minutes! It will be 10° above NNW. Bring binoculars--not necessary. I've seen it without them before. We will walk to the grassy area next to the Hollyhock house. Link: [https://www.nasa.gov/spot-the-station/#Sightings](https://www.nasa.gov/spot-the-station/#Sightings) You'll have great views of the city up here too and get to see cool architecture like Frank Lloyd Wright Hollyhock House. [https://www.barnsdall.org/](https://www.barnsdall.org/) No one in bad health since we are walking up some stairs. Bring warm clothes. **Cloudy or rain cancels.**

RoadRunners group ride, L.A. (1st Saturday)

\*\*Mweep Mweep!\*\*━━ or is it Beep Beep? We are a growing community of cyclists who enjoy exploring Southern California on two wheels with friends. Our rides range from leisurely social outings to challenging, high-intensity adventures and we welcome guests on all our rides. The **Black Folk™ RoadRunners Bike Group** meet every 1st Saturday morning for rides of varying difficulty, starting from various locations in and around the Los Angeles area. We also administer and record Century Challenge rides, where cyclists can test themselves on 100-mile routes. Many of our rides take place on roads and trails less traveled and our calendar also contains special rides and events, highlighted by our signature ride, *The Black Tour*, in late February. This fully supported 24-hour event includes options for Double Century, Triple, and Quad rides. Throughout the year, we challenge cyclists with other featured rides, and our social events help us replenish the calories we burn while riding. Guests and Out-of-town cyclists are welcome on every ride. REGISTER TO ROLL: **[BlackFolk.net/Ride](BlackFolk.net/Ride)** * [Strava.com/clubs/BlackFolk](Strava.com/clubs/BlackFolk) * [Facebook.com/groups/BlackFolk.net](Facebook.com/groups/BlackFolk.net)