Farm Animals

Having dim sum is always a great way to start the new year. Joyous Chinese Cuisine has a big dim sum selection with great food so it should be a dim sum feast. The address of the restaurant is: Joyous Chinese Cuisine 5505 Leslie St. North York, ON M2H 3N6 Phone: (416) 497-2888 joyouschinesecuisine.ca **Billing:** Please note, dim sum orderings are shared among the table and final bill is equally split. I expect the bill to come out to around $45 per person. Please bring cash for the food bill. **Dietary notes:** If you have vegetarian, vegan, allergic to certain foods, or don’t eat beef, pork, fish, or seafood, this Meetup may not be suitable for you. **Please come to the restaurant on time:** Although I reserved us a table at the restaurant, we are at the restaurant at a prime hour. Please contact me if you are running late. The restaurant may give away seats or reduce our table size when people are not there on time.

🎆❄️ **New Year’s Day Walk: Toronto Island** **Walk off the hangover. Start fresh. Do something different.** Let’s be real — January 1st can go one of two ways: You stay on the couch all day… **or** you step outside, breathe in fresh air, move your body, and actually start the year feeling good. Join us for a **New Year’s Day walk on Toronto Island** — the perfect way to **reset after the night before**, try something new, and maybe even make a few new friends while you’re at it. Yes, I will be hungover. That’s why we’re starting at **1:15 PM** 😏🍾 Being surrounded by water and nature can be surprisingly calming. The Islands offer a quiet place to slow down, clear your head, and start the year feeling grounded — no mystical claims, just fresh air and space to think. Whether you’re setting healthy intentions, shaking off the fog, or just refusing to let January win — this walk is for you. “There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.” So layer up, grab your warmest coat, and let’s make **January 1st** a *choice*, not a write-off ❄️💪 Miss this and your New Year officially starts on January 2nd. Just saying. *** 🌆 **THE WALK** • Approx. **7 km** • Flat, easy, and very walkable — no hills • One of the **best skyline views** of Toronto • Calm, scenic, and surprisingly magical in winter Perfect for beginners, casual walkers, and anyone trying to ease back into movement after the holidays. *** ⚠️ **IMPORTANT NOTES** • This walk happens in **any kind of weather** — snow, cold, crisp winter vibes • **Do not sign up** if you’re not ready to walk in winter • Event will only be cancelled if it reaches **-20°C** *** 🕓 **MEETUP DETAILS** 📍 **Meetup Location:** 📍 **IMPORTANT: MEETUP LOCATION (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY)** I will be meeting everyone **INSIDE the Ferry Docks** — **INSIDE means AFTER your ticket has been scanned** and you are **in the ferry waiting area**. 👉 **This is NOT:** • The bathrooms **outside** the terminal • The bathrooms **before** ticket scanning • The other side of the ferry terminal • Anywhere outside the building 👉 **This IS:** • **After** your ticket has been scanned • **Inside** the ferry waiting area • Beside the **bathrooms INSIDE the terminal** 👀 **How you’ll spot me:** I’ll be wearing my **MOOSE HAT** 🦌 ⏰ **Meetup Time:** **1:15 PM** 🚢 **Ferry Leaves:** **1:30 PM** — *please arrive early* ⏰ **Ferry Back to Toronto:** **4:45PM** (or sooner) ⚠️ **PLEASE BE ON TIME** Once we’re on the ferry, it will be very hard to catch up with us. *** 💲 **COSTS** • **Meetup Fee:** $5 – Cash in person **or** – E-transfer to **mathewmaclean@hotmail.com** • **Ferry Ticket:** **$9.70** – You **must purchase your ferry ticket before signing up** – 🎟️ **Ferry Ticket: [Click Here!](https://secure.toronto.ca/FerryTicketOnline/tickets2/index.jsp)** *** 🎒 **WHAT TO BRING** • Snack • Water • **Good boots** • Warm coat • Something warm to drink ☕ *** ⏳ **HOW LONG?** Approx. **3 hours**, including a small break. 🚪 **Can you leave early?** Anytime you like. 👀 **NOT SURE YOU CAN MAKE IT?** You can **just show up** or even decide on the day — New Year energy is flexible. *** 📱 **Don’t forget to join our WhatsApp group** – [CLICK HERE!](https://chat.whatsapp.com/H59mSCbsAi018gYANrKAnc?mode=ac_t) ⚠️ **NOTE:** Sometimes things happen and I may need to cancel — please keep an eye out for updates. *** ✨ Fresh air. Movement. Skyline views. Good people. ✨ A healthier start to the year — without pretending you’re perfect. **Organizer:** Mathew 📧 **torontomoviesandoutings@hotmail.com**

January 1st | Downtown Toronto — Don Valley Urban Hike + Movie & Café Start the new year with movement, fresh air, and good company. This is a relaxed New Year’s Day social that flows from a scenic urban hike through the Don Valley, into a movie downtown, and ends with a cozy café hangout. No pressure, no rush — just an intentional, feel-good way to begin the year. What we’ll do (in order) 1️⃣ Don Valley Urban Hike Meet at Broadview Station Hike through the Don Valley Trail, moving from city streets into nature and back toward downtown Distance: ~12 km total Pace: steady and conversational, with breaks as needed This is a beautiful winter urban hike — peaceful, grounding, and a great way to reset on January 1st. 2️⃣ Movie (optional) End the hike near Cineplex Yonge–Dundas Square Watch the new release: Avatar: Fire and Ash Think of this as your post-hike reward — totally optional, but fun if you stay. 3️⃣ Wind-down at Juju Café After the movie, we’ll head to Juju Café & Board Games $5 board game play fee Warm drinks, food, vegetarian-friendly options Board games optional — relaxing and chatting encouraged What to bring Comfortable walking shoes Weather-appropriate layers Water / light snacks An easygoing mindset You’re welcome to join for any part — just the hike, the movie, the café — or the full flow. Come as you are. Start the year moving forward, one step at a time.

Tickets: www.codatoronto.com/events --- Table Reservations via email reservations@codatoronto.com - Doors: 4PM\-10PM \| 19\+ Government issued ID required CODA \| 794 Bathurst Street\, Toronto www\.codatoronto\.com \| @codatoronto

Join TBTC Hike Leaders Michael Humpage and Janet McColeman to start off 2026 on the right foot with a hike at Toronto's Tommy Thompson Park. Tommy Thompson Park ( Leslie Spit) is located at the intersection of Leslie St and Unwin Ave in Toronto. It is winter and the start of the new year so please dress accordingly. As we will be hiking near the lake it might be a little colder so dress for it. ICERS are advisable. The trail might be covered in a sheet of ICE, ( if you have them bring them with you ). Bring a snack, a hot drink, Water and any other essentials you will need for this outing. We will walk up to the light house and back. We meet in the sheltered area by the washrooms in the parking lot. Parking is FREE. Please arrive by about 15 minutes prior to the departure time of 11:00 AM as we will be leaving on time. Please register on the Bruce Trail Conservancy Hike Schedule at [https://hikes.brucetrail.org/event/new-years-urban-walk-tommy-thompson-park-leslie-spit/2026-01-01/](https://hikes.brucetrail.org/event/new-years-urban-walk-tommy-thompson-park-leslie-spit/2026-01-01/) RSVP On Meetup does not complete your registration.

**Algonquin Park Day Tour** Please join us for an exciting day adventure this upcoming Saturday, January 3, 2026, to Algonquin Park Provincial Park for a magical winter day full of stunning northern birds such as the Pine Grosbeak, Evening Grosbeaks, Common Redpolls and Bohemian Waxwings along with Pine Martens and a chance to see Moose and if we are really lucky, the Algonquin Wolf. Algonquin Park is magical in the winter, full of beauty, birds and wildlife surprises. Lev Frid, expert bird guide and former Algonquin Park naturalist will be joining us to make the trip extra special. On Saturday Morning, we will depart at 7:00 am for Algonquin Park. We will arrive in the Algonquin Park at approximately 10 am. We will then spend the rest of the day in search of birds and wildlife in the park. This will include a few short hikes. This winter has been exceptional for Pine and Evening Grosbeaks along with Common Redpolls and an excellent chance to see Bohemian Waxwings. These are three of the most colourful birds we see during the winter months. Quite often, they don't venture this far south, so it's a special treat to be able to see them. Algonquin Park is truly a winter birder’s paradise that is home to many unique birds including Canada Jays and one of the highlights is they will come feed right out of your hand. Birds that are not commonly seen in Southern Ontario but can be found in Algonquin Park include the Black-backed Woodpecker, Spruce Grouse, Red Crossbills, Pine Siskins, Common Redpoll, Bohemian Waxwing, Pine Grosbeak and Evening Grosbeak just to name a few. Another winter highlight is the American Pine Marten, these adorable small mammals are always a lot of fun to see and photograph. As with anytime in Algonquin Park, Moose are possible to see and wintertime is the absolute best time to encounter Algonquin Wolves. So, you never know what glorious surprise awaits us. Other animal possibilities are River Otter, Red Foxes and White-tailed Deer Wintertime is a great time of year to see Pine Martens frolicking in the snow, or an Otter, playing on the ice. A myriad of stunning winter Finches are being seen right now in the park and that will only increase in the coming days. After arriving at Algonquin Park Saturday at 10 am, we will travel through the park along the Highway 60 corridor, watching for wildlife and birds. You never know what you might see, so have your camera and binoculars ready! We will also be visiting the Algonquin Visitor Centre where we will see many of the birds that we are after as they visit the bird feeders located at the Visitor's Centre. You can also watch a short movie about the history of the park, wander through the display areas, and shop at the park store. The Visitor Centre offers a dazzling panoramic perspective of the park from the huge outdoor deck. Some Important Information: The trip is considered **Easy Activity**, but trails can be snow covered and icy. We will only be doing short walks as our priority is to show you wildlife and birds. Appropriate footwear and clothing are a must. Ice crimps that attach to your boots would be a good idea. So please join us for this visit to Algonquin Park. IMPORTANT: We will meet and be departing from Finch Subway Station Saturday Morning at 7:00 am. We will arrive back in Toronto at approximately 6:00 pm. Please feel free to bring lunch, snacks and drinks. We will be making stops along the way if you want to pick anything up. The Canada Birders Club reserves the right to adjust the schedule at any time, to give us the best opportunity to see wildlife. If this is your first visit to Algonquin Park, I promise you… it won’t be your last! So please join us on this exciting day adventure for an incredible price of 129.00 dollars including taxes. Please contact me if you would like to pay through e-transfer and I will manually add you to the outing. There will be a limited number of participants. IMPORTANT: I can take up to 3 members in my vehicle. If you want to travel with me let me know. If you are travelling in your own vehicle, that's fine. As with any wildlife viewing, we can't guarantee sightings, but with our experience, we have been highly successful over the years in Algonquin Park.

Just a safe space for pet parents (especially single pet parents) to share their experiences and support each other as a community.

## Spanish Conversation & Coffee @ Cafe Panchita ☕ **¿Quieres practicar tu español en un ambiente relajado y con sabor latino?** Join us for our first Spanish Conversation Club session in the heart of Port Credit! Whether you are a beginner looking to build confidence or an advanced speaker wanting to keep your fluency sharp, this is the place for you. We believe the best way to learn a language is through real conversation, laughter, and a good cup of coffee. This week, we meet at **Cafe Panchita**, a beautiful artisanal bakery known for its cozy atmosphere and delicious Latin-inspired treats (perfect for a full cultural immersion!). ### 🗓 Details: * **When:** Sunday, January 4th * **Time:** 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM (2 hours of practice) * **Where:** Cafe Panchita (152 Lakeshore Rd E, Mississauga) * **Price:** $10 CAD per person (Cash only, please). * **Level:** All levels are welcome! * **WhatsApp group :** join here https://chat.whatsapp.com/CctREp712VE2XULn5upHMr ### 💡 What to expect: 1. **Relaxed Conversations:** We’ll have conversation starters and prompts to keep the flow going. 2. **Cultural Immersion:** Practice your Spanish while enjoying a *tortilla de patatas* or some *empanadas*. 3. **Small Groups:** We try to group people by level so everyone feels comfortable speaking. ### ⚠️ Important Notes: * **Support the Venue:** As the cafe is hosting us, we kindly ask every participant to purchase at least one drink or snack. * **RSVP:** Space is limited to ensure everyone gets a chance to speak. Please update your RSVP if you cannot make it. **¡Nos vemos el domingo para hablar, conocer gente nueva y disfrutar de un buen café!**

Our group will leave at the posted time, so please arrive early. Please cancel your RSVP if you can't make it. How fast, how far? Assume 4.5 km/h for a distance of ~7km. The path is a paved, but we might go on some trails as well, plus snow is likely so be prepared for anything. The route is flat. It's mostly in clear land, but we'll come across a few forested areas as well. The route is a "there and back again" so we will finish where we originally start from. Bring water, a snack, and hiking footwear for a distance walk. We're getting to the point in the year where icers are required. Although the forecast is clear, please have them on hand in case. Required reading for you and your guests before RSVP'ing to all events: 1. [Liability Waiver and Group Rules](https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vR0LFNJVYn5j1AYl8eR63HjAxKMkRwg5ifKXqL3rP6Xl7v_Wcsx4xR_kNFluE3eILpSmP-EJ0OouQvT/pub) (updated 05/30/22) 2. When asked at RSVP time, indicate **\*Yes\*** if you agree to the question provided. 3. See general information about [Tick Safety](https://www.ontario.ca/page/lyme-disease)

STOP PLAYING SMALL. START PLAYING SMART. 🚀 Join our Cashflow 101 Game Night! It’s the famous board game by Robert Kiyosaki that teaches you how to think like a rich person. Ditch the daily grind (the "Rat Race") and learn the secrets to building passive income through smart investing in a fun, safe environment. No experience needed—just bring your ambition!

Join the [Columbus Vegan Meetup](https://www.meetup.com/columbusveganmeetup/) on **Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 11:00 AM** at **1043 W 3rd Avenue in Grandview**! Come hang out and enjoy delicious pastries from this **all-vegan, family-owned** local favorite. Whether you’re a longtime vegan or just curious, it’s the perfect time to build your social circle and support a community business. See you there!

Join us for lunch at True Food Kitchen in Easton as we celebrate the New Year and our friendships!

Early-bird coffee and conversation at [5 Bean Coffee](https://5beancoffee.com/)!

Our January program is privileged to have Kristen Tregar as our speaker. Ms. Tregar is the co-author with John de Lancie (the actor who portrayed the character Q on Star Trek next generation) of a radio play depicting the events surrounding the Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District trial. The trial decided the issue of some of the Dover school district board members attempting to insert creationism disguised as "intelligent design" into the 9th grade biology curriculum. She will discuss the trial and the process of writing the play. (Bob Leonhard has seen the play and it is riveting and tense). Ms. Tregar's bio is below: Kristen Tregar is a dramaturg, director, playwright, and theatre teacher. She earned her Ph.D. in Drama and Theatre from the UC San Diego and UC Irvine joint program. In addition, she has a MS in Forensic Science from City University of New York- John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a MA in Educational Theatre from New York University- Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. In 2013, in collaboration with Irish colleagues, she founded *The Ireland Project*, an intercontinental devised theatre work with high school students in New York and Tallaght, Ireland. Her original short story "Far From Here" was recently published in *Stay Awhile Longer: More Scenes From Temecula Valley*. She has two rescued dogs (Kira and Harry) and she rides, competes, and foxhunts with her horses, Andromache and Baker Street Irregular. Food and drinks will be provided at the event. Feel free to show up a little bit early to hang out and talk. Going forward our meetings will be hybrid. You can meet us in-person or attend online Join Zoom Meeting [https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1](https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1) Meeting ID: 878 3656 4953 Passcode: 760812 One tap mobile +19292056099,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (New York) +13017158592,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (Washington DC) The formal presentation will start at noon

Let's have lunch at Uptown Westerville's newest restaurant. Ampersand is owned by the same couple who owns Asterisk. They are known for ramen, rice bowls, teriyaki and small plates.

Start the new year with your local IxDA pals. Join members of the Central Ohio UX and design community for our monthly breakfast.