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RECORDEDOctober 15 Wednesday1:00 PM → 2:30 PMSessions: 1Instructor: Geoffrey Kabaservice, Director of Policy Studies, Niskanen Center, D.C.Locations: Hybrid - At Oasis and OnlineAs the Democratic Party responds to the return of Donald Trump to the presidency, internal debates about the party’s direction have grown more visible. Two major factions are emerging. One is the progressive wing, energized by younger voices like Zohran Mamdani, whose recent success in the New York mayoral Democratic primary has drawn national attention.... read moreAs the Democratic Party responds to the return of Donald Trump to the presidency, internal debates about the party’s direction have grown more visible. Two major factions are emerging. One is the progressive wing, energized by younger voices like Zohran Mamdani, whose recent success in the New York mayoral Democratic primary has drawn national attention. The other centers around a new vision of growth and investment, popularized in the book Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson—ideas now gaining traction among leaders such as California Governor Gavin Newsom. This session will explore the core values and proposals of each faction and consider how these differing approaches may shape the party's future. -
October 18 Tuesday10:30 AM → 12:00 PMSessions: 1Instructor: Julie Kurzava, Faculty, Loyola UniversityLocations: Oasis at the Macys Home StoreWe’ve heard that Broadway is riddled with backstage politics, but what about when the politics are right on stage? Broadway hitmakers have frequently used politics, both historical and contemporary, as a backdrop for our entertainment. Singer/actor Julie Kurzava will consider how the American musical theater has staged political intrigue as well as the... read moreWe’ve heard that Broadway is riddled with backstage politics, but what about when the politics are right on stage? Broadway hitmakers have frequently used politics, both historical and contemporary, as a backdrop for our entertainment. Singer/actor Julie Kurzava will consider how the American musical theater has staged political intrigue as well as the difference between truth and fiction. Part 2 covers "1776" and "Hamilton". Which show best portrays the story of America's founding? (For Part 1 of the class, see class #544) -
RECORDEDOctober 16 Thursday1:00 PM → 2:30 PMSessions: 1Instructor: Steven Gimbel, Professor of Philosophy, Gettysburg CollegeLocations: Online ClassMedieval Jewish thinkers entered into deep disagreement in part because they were Jewish, but also because they advocated different philosophical approaches to understanding the nature of reality, knowledge, and ethics. While the Torah and Talmud provided frameworks, thinkers like Maimonides, Judah HaLevi, and Philo adopted very different means of seeking... read moreMedieval Jewish thinkers entered into deep disagreement in part because they were Jewish, but also because they advocated different philosophical approaches to understanding the nature of reality, knowledge, and ethics. While the Torah and Talmud provided frameworks, thinkers like Maimonides, Judah HaLevi, and Philo adopted very different means of seeking knowledge. See related classes #520, 605, and 637. -
October 10 Thursday1:00 PM → 2:30 PMSessions: 1Instructor: Dan Sherman, PhDLocations: Hybrid - At Oasis and OnlineAlthough now best known for his work with Oscar Hammerstein, composer Richard Rodgers worked with the brilliant Lorenz Hart to give us some of his most inventive music in nearly 30 stage shows. Songs like Manhattan, Bewitched, My Funny Valentine, The Lady is a Tramp, Ten Cents a Dance, and I Wish I Were in Love Again have become classics. In our class, we... read moreAlthough now best known for his work with Oscar Hammerstein, composer Richard Rodgers worked with the brilliant Lorenz Hart to give us some of his most inventive music in nearly 30 stage shows. Songs like Manhattan, Bewitched, My Funny Valentine, The Lady is a Tramp, Ten Cents a Dance, and I Wish I Were in Love Again have become classics. In our class, we will learn about the Rodgers and Hart collaboration and enjoy seeing and hearing great performers, including Judy Garland. -
October 18 Tuesday1:00 PM → 3:00 PMSessions: 1Instructor: Henry George, Engineer, Archaeologist and GeologistLocations: Online ClassThe Egyptians have been keeping historical records of their rulers to the year since 1991 BCE and in approximate time before that. This lecture will begin with the story and resulting legends of Howard Carter’s discovery of King Tut’s Tomb. We'll then review the dynasties and rulers of Ancient Egypt from the Early Dynastic Period through the New... read moreThe Egyptians have been keeping historical records of their rulers to the year since 1991 BCE and in approximate time before that. This lecture will begin with the story and resulting legends of Howard Carter’s discovery of King Tut’s Tomb. We'll then review the dynasties and rulers of Ancient Egypt from the Early Dynastic Period through the New Kingdom, and follow with a brief review of the history of the last Millennium before the Common Era. This lecture is about both archaeology and ancient history. -
November 17 Friday10:30 AM → 12:30 PMSessions: 1Instructor: Marianne Starr, Naturalist, Locust Grove Nature CenterLocations: TripLevel of difficulty: 3/5 We’ll have spectacular views of the Potomac River, the C & O Canal, and trees in their fall glory. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and layers. Hiking poles are recommended for stability as the trail is uneven and relatively steep in a few places. . Bring a snack and water bottle. There are no restrooms here so plan accordingly! Maybe... read moreLevel of difficulty: 3/5 We’ll have spectacular views of the Potomac River, the C & O Canal, and trees in their fall glory. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and layers. Hiking poles are recommended for stability as the trail is uneven and relatively steep in a few places. . Bring a snack and water bottle. There are no restrooms here so plan accordingly! Maybe save your tea or coffee for the ride home. We will meet in the unpaved parking area by the information kiosk. (See additional walks: #478 and 528) -
October 18 Tuesday03:00 PM → 04:30 PMSessions: 1Instructor: Jonina Duker, Certified Book Discussion LeaderLocations: Online ClassPrize-winning author Geraldine Brooks gives us another dazzling work inspired by forgotten history. She once again weaves past (1850s Kentucky and Louisiana, 1950s New York) with the present (2019 Washington DC). The past includes the lives of a racehorse Lexington, his owner Richard Ten Broeck, his enslaved groom Jarret, the itinerant painter Thomas... read morePrize-winning author Geraldine Brooks gives us another dazzling work inspired by forgotten history. She once again weaves past (1850s Kentucky and Louisiana, 1950s New York) with the present (2019 Washington DC). The past includes the lives of a racehorse Lexington, his owner Richard Ten Broeck, his enslaved groom Jarret, the itinerant painter Thomas Scott, and the Abstract Expressionist art dealer Martha Jackson. With interracial interactions then and an interracial relationship now, the book is about racehorses and race in America. Please read the book so you can participate in our structured, facilitated, Zoom discussion. Author: Geraldine Brooks, 2022. (Note: Please join the meeting at 3 pm if you would like some assistance using the features of Zoom. Otherwise, join us at 3:15 pm for the start of our discussion.) -
November 20 Monday10:30 AM → 3:30 PMSessions: 1Instructor: Ken Ow, AARP VolunteerLocations: Oasis at the Macys Home StoreDrivers who complete this course may receive a multi-year discount on their auto insurance, depending on state regulations. Exciting new content includes information on brain health, railroad and animal crossings, plus expanded information on car technology and updates on the many new laws in Maryland. A number of tips will be offered to help reduce your... read moreDrivers who complete this course may receive a multi-year discount on their auto insurance, depending on state regulations. Exciting new content includes information on brain health, railroad and animal crossings, plus expanded information on car technology and updates on the many new laws in Maryland. A number of tips will be offered to help reduce your chances of having an accident and getting injured. The fee is due at the start of class ($20 for AARP members and $25 for non-members). You can pay by cash or check (made out to AARP). Bring your driver's license, AARP card, cash or check, and a pen. There will be a break for lunch. Limit: 18 -
October 15 Tuesday10:00 AM → 1:00 PMSessions: 1Instructor: CarFit TechniciansLocations: Oasis at the Macys Home StoreThere's a lot more to safe driving than how you drive. Having the proper fit inside your vehicle can make a big difference and help protect you and those around you. With CarFit, an educational program developed by AAA, AARP, and the American Occupational Therapy Association, you’ll get information and resources on how you can enhance your safety in the... read moreThere's a lot more to safe driving than how you drive. Having the proper fit inside your vehicle can make a big difference and help protect you and those around you. With CarFit, an educational program developed by AAA, AARP, and the American Occupational Therapy Association, you’ll get information and resources on how you can enhance your safety in the driver’s seat. Bring your car to this event where a trained expert will show you how you can enhance your comfort, safety and fit within your vehicle. Thank you to MileOne Cares/MileOne Autogroup for their generous support of this program! -
October 19 Wednesday10:30 AM → 11:30 AMSessions: 1Instructor: Cecilia Esquivel and Dani Cortaza, CantareLocations: Oasis at the Macys Home StoreCantaré performs songs in Spanish and Portuguese, while sharing the music’s cultural background. You will hear a variety of instruments from different Latin American countries. You'll also learn about the geography and history of Latin America and about the different cultures that shaped its music – Indigenous, European and African. This event is made... read moreCantaré performs songs in Spanish and Portuguese, while sharing the music’s cultural background. You will hear a variety of instruments from different Latin American countries. You'll also learn about the geography and history of Latin America and about the different cultures that shaped its music – Indigenous, European and African. This event is made possible through the Enriching Experiences program of Washington Performing Arts. -
October 19 Wednesday10:30 AM → 11:30 AMSessions: 1Instructor: Kimberly Coleman, Licensed Acupuncturist, RNLocations: Online ClassAutumn is here! Join Kimberly Coleman, a Registered Nurse and Doctor of Acupuncture to get an overview of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and its modalities including acupuncture, TCM practitioners use herbs, moxibustion, and cupping to treat a range of conditions. Kimberly will also discuss what foods are best to eat in Autumn and self-care treatments... read moreAutumn is here! Join Kimberly Coleman, a Registered Nurse and Doctor of Acupuncture to get an overview of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and its modalities including acupuncture, TCM practitioners use herbs, moxibustion, and cupping to treat a range of conditions. Kimberly will also discuss what foods are best to eat in Autumn and self-care treatments for common conditions, such as cold and flu. -
October 19 Wednesday1:00 PM → 2:30 PMSessions: 1Instructor: Daryl Davis, MusicianLocations: Online ClassMost people think in terms of Classical music when thinking of music prodigies. While there are many great Classical music prodigies, this class will dispel and shatter the myth that Classical musicians have a monopoly on the gift of musical genius. They come in all genres, genders, colors, and nationalities. Musicians like Mozart don't come along... read moreMost people think in terms of Classical music when thinking of music prodigies. While there are many great Classical music prodigies, this class will dispel and shatter the myth that Classical musicians have a monopoly on the gift of musical genius. They come in all genres, genders, colors, and nationalities. Musicians like Mozart don't come along often, but every once in a great while, another prodigy emerges whose abilities rival the most experienced masters. This class will introduce you to some of the most impressive yet unsung musicians who will leave you in awe. -
November 21 Tuesday1:00 PM → 2:30 PMSessions: 1Instructor: Bonita Billman, Art History LecturerLocations: Online ClassColonial American art was a vibrant concern, despite the small number of patrons who could afford to commission artwork. Portraiture was always much in demand. Benjamin West, John Singleton Copley and Gilbert Stuart were all leading lights in the Colonial and Federal periods. Also, there were many other artists just coming into their own by 1799 (when... read moreColonial American art was a vibrant concern, despite the small number of patrons who could afford to commission artwork. Portraiture was always much in demand. Benjamin West, John Singleton Copley and Gilbert Stuart were all leading lights in the Colonial and Federal periods. Also, there were many other artists just coming into their own by 1799 (when George Washington died), including the sons of Charles Willson Peale. Using the lifespan of George Washington (1732-1799) as our bookends, this lecture looks at the young arts of the American colonies, chiefly painting but other arts as well. -
RECORDEDOctober 22 Wednesday10:30 AM → 11:30 AMSessions: 1Instructor: Robert K Sutton, Chief Historian of the National Park Service (Retired)Locations: Hybrid - At Oasis and OnlineDuring the 1850s Kansas became the hotbed over the issue of slavery. It pitted radical abolitionists--determined that Kansas would become a free state--against radical pro-slavery advocates-- willing to literally stop at nothing to make Kansas a slave state. During the war, Kansas became the site of some of the most brutal guerilla warfare anywhere. After... read moreDuring the 1850s Kansas became the hotbed over the issue of slavery. It pitted radical abolitionists--determined that Kansas would become a free state--against radical pro-slavery advocates-- willing to literally stop at nothing to make Kansas a slave state. During the war, Kansas became the site of some of the most brutal guerilla warfare anywhere. After the war, Kansas settled into a normal life, but the legacy of its past became an important part of its identity. -
October 19 Wednesday1:00 PM → 2:30 PMSessions: 1Instructor: Daryl Davis, MusicianLocations: Oasis at the Macys Home StoreMost people think in terms of Classical music when thinking of music prodigies. While there are many great Classical music prodigies, this class will dispel and shatter the myth that Classical musicians have a monopoly on the gift of musical genius. They come in all genres, genders, colors, and nationalities. Musicians like Mozart don't come along... read moreMost people think in terms of Classical music when thinking of music prodigies. While there are many great Classical music prodigies, this class will dispel and shatter the myth that Classical musicians have a monopoly on the gift of musical genius. They come in all genres, genders, colors, and nationalities. Musicians like Mozart don't come along often, but every once in a great while, another prodigy emerges whose abilities rival the most experienced masters. This class will introduce you to some of the most impressive yet unsung musicians who will leave you in awe.
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November 21 Tuesday3:00 PM → 4:30 PMSessions: 1Instructor: Jonina Duker, Certified Book Discussion LeaderLocations: Online ClassJohn Robert Lewis was born in 1940 to a family of sharecroppers and died in 2020 as an acclaimed international leader. An original Freedom Rider in 1961, he was later elected 19 times as one of Georgia’s Representatives in Congress. Among the author’s honors is the 2009 Pulitzer for a biography of President Andrew Jackson. This work concludes with... read moreJohn Robert Lewis was born in 1940 to a family of sharecroppers and died in 2020 as an acclaimed international leader. An original Freedom Rider in 1961, he was later elected 19 times as one of Georgia’s Representatives in Congress. Among the author’s honors is the 2009 Pulitzer for a biography of President Andrew Jackson. This work concludes with Afterword written by Representative Lewis himself. Please read the book so you can participate in our structured, facilitated, Zoom discussion. (Note: Please join the meeting at 3 pm if you would like some assistance using the features of Zoom. Otherwise, join us at 3:15 pm for the start of our discussion.) Author: Jon Meacham, 2020 (For other book discussions, see classes #474, 514, 597.) -
October 15 Tuesday1:00 PM → 2:00 PMSessions: 1Instructor: Elaine Apter, Secretary, League of Women Voters, Montgomery Cty.Locations: Hybrid - At Oasis and OnlineOn November 5, we will choose our next President, and as Marylanders, we will also be asked to decide on several different state and local ballot questions. The wording in these ballot questions can often be difficult to decipher and may leave many voters wondering whether they voted in favor of or against an issue! Join Elaine Apter from the League of... read moreOn November 5, we will choose our next President, and as Marylanders, we will also be asked to decide on several different state and local ballot questions. The wording in these ballot questions can often be difficult to decipher and may leave many voters wondering whether they voted in favor of or against an issue! Join Elaine Apter from the League of Women Voters to help dissect the questions on the November 5 ballot. Voter guides and information about early voting will also be available at this presentation. We will discuss finding information about the candidates running in your district, voting options, and an explanation of all the important ballot questions. -
October 20 Thursday10:30 AM → 12:00 PMSessions: 1Instructor: Bonita Billman, Art History LecturerLocations: Online ClassYou may feel you have been here before, for Waddesdon was an inspiration for Biltmore in Ashville, NC. Part of the National Trust. Waddesdon Manor, built by the Rothschild family, is full of English Grand Manner portraits, French furniture and Sevres porcelain and countless other treasures. We’ll take a tour of the house, and revel in the art objects,... read moreYou may feel you have been here before, for Waddesdon was an inspiration for Biltmore in Ashville, NC. Part of the National Trust. Waddesdon Manor, built by the Rothschild family, is full of English Grand Manner portraits, French furniture and Sevres porcelain and countless other treasures. We’ll take a tour of the house, and revel in the art objects, the architecture and garden. -
RECORDEDOctober 22 Wednesday1:00 PM → 2:30 PMSessions: 1Instructor: Judy Scott Feldman, Ph.D., Art HistorianLocations: Hybrid - At Oasis and OnlineThis presentation delves into the Romanesque churches that grace the Camino de Santiago, the famed medieval pilgrimage route leading to Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain. Built in the 11th and 12th centuries, and housing the sacred relics of beloved Christian saints, these churches—including Conques, Vézelay, and Saint-Sernin in... read moreThis presentation delves into the Romanesque churches that grace the Camino de Santiago, the famed medieval pilgrimage route leading to Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain. Built in the 11th and 12th centuries, and housing the sacred relics of beloved Christian saints, these churches—including Conques, Vézelay, and Saint-Sernin in Toulouse—offered rest, inspiration, and awe to pilgrims. With richly sculpted façades and grand interiors, they embody the spiritual and artistic spirit of the age. Today, the Camino continues to draw thousands who walk or cycle its paths in search of meaning, echoing the devotion of centuries past. -
RECORDEDOctober 23 Thursday10:30 AM → 12:00 PMSessions: 1Instructor: Sue Kirchoff, Medicare Expert CounselorLocations: Hybrid - At Oasis and OnlineThis session is designed specifically for current Medicare beneficiaries to help you navigate the 2026 Open Enrollment period with confidence. Learn about important plan updates, changes to benefits, and how to make the best choices for your healthcare coverage. We’ll also cover practical tips to protect yourself from Medicare fraud and scams. The... read moreThis session is designed specifically for current Medicare beneficiaries to help you navigate the 2026 Open Enrollment period with confidence. Learn about important plan updates, changes to benefits, and how to make the best choices for your healthcare coverage. We’ll also cover practical tips to protect yourself from Medicare fraud and scams. The Montgomery County State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) provides free unbiased Medicare and Health Plans related counseling, education and guidance. This class is sponsored by Brighton Gardens of Friendship Heights.
