Restaurant Industry

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone ! Welcome to our new location : The Urban House Kitchen & Bar on Queen St East! If you're available, please join us on the SECOND FLOOR of Urban House Kitchen & Bar, for your favourite Film and TV Networking evenings. Rain, Shine or Blizzard, WE WILL BE THERE! If you want to make sure you're receiving this invitation by email every month, please register for FREE at [https://tinyurl.com/TFIJan2026](https://tinyurl.com/TFIJan2026) Of course, if you feel sick, have a fever, a cough, or don't feel comfortable with attending such an event post COVID times, please, don't put yourself and others in a bad position, and wait for the next one, because there will always be a next one. :D Bring your smiles and business cards! See you there ! DISCLAIMER : The organizers are not responsible for the potential stupid behaviour of some people, and you and us know that there is always a possibility of these happening, so by RSVPing to this event, you assume all responsibility and won't be able to hold the organizers responsible if anything happens that is related to your decision of attending. ================ JANUARY Toronto Film and TV Industry Social Evening Thursday, Jan 29th 2026, 6PM The SECOND FLOOR at Urban House Kitchen & Bar 718 Queen St E. Toronto, ON M4M 1H2

(English below) Venez profiter de la bonne nourriture et une bonne conversation en français au café **Black Pony** situé au **1481 Gerrard St East**, le **jeudi 8 mai de 18h à 20h.** Nous serons à l'arrière du café autour d'une grande table, prêt à vous accueillir! On va pratiquer la langue de Molière tout en nous faisant de nouveaux amis. **Toutes les 30 minutes, nous changerons de place** pour favoriser les échanges. Tout le monde est bienvenu, quel que soit son niveau. Pour en savoir plus sur le café et son menu délicieux et varié : [https://www.blogto.com/restaurants/black-pony-toronto/](https://www.blogto.com/restaurants/black-pony-toronto/) Si vous ne souhaitez pas que votre photo soit publiée sur MeetUp, veuillez en informer Jesse. La plateforme Meetup engendre des frais de $560 pour l'année 2025. Pour soutenir le groupe, **nous demandons de payer $3.00 à chaque événement.** Jesse sera là pour recueillir vos contributions. Nous vous prions de bien vouloir apporter de la monnaie. Si vous préférez, vous pouvez utiliser ce lien sur Square **et montrer a Jesse votre recu:** [CLIQUER ICI](https://square.link/u/S6dAAKd1) Merci, **Pierre et Emily et Jesse** L'équipe du Toronto French meetup .................................................................................................................. Come and enjoy good food and good conversation at the **Black Pony café** located at **1481 Gerrard St East**, on **Thursday May 8 at 6pm until 8pm.** We'll be in the back of the café around a big table ready to welcome you! We'll be practicing the French language and making friends, **keeping in mind that every 30 minutes we'll be moving around to mix up the conversation.** Everyone is welcome, whatever your level. To find out more about the cafe and its delicious and varied menu: https://www.blogto.com/restaurants/black-pony-toronto/ If you don't want your photo published on MeetUp, please let Jesse know. The Meetup platform incurs a fee of $560 for the year 2025. **To support the group, we ask you to pay $3.00** for each event. Jesse will be on hand to collect your contributions. Please bring change. If you prefer, you can use this Square link and **show Jesse your receipt:** [CLICK HERE](https://square.link/u/S6dAAKd1) Thank you, Pierre and Emily, and Jesse The Toronto French meetup team

### JUST GO WITH IT IMPROV Come join us if you are experienced in improv or completely new, you’re invited to join us each week at the Thornhill Community Centre. We welcome all skill levels for a fun, supportive, and high-energy session. Have limited spots available and hoping to get a few extra from meetup. **$25 per drop-in • MONDAY Dec 29 6:30–8:00 PM (we could stay longer)**

Join us for an evening of French conversation at B Espresso Bar in the atrium of the Toronto Royal Conservatory of Music (near St. George station)!
We welcome all levels of French, and it's free\*.
Venez pratiquer votre français! \*While there is no fee to attend this event, guests are expected to purchase something from B Espresso Bar, in accordance with RCM's restrictions on usage of the cafe atrium space. **Building location:** The Royal Conservatory is at 273 Bloor St W, between Varsity Stadium and the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). There are entrances off Bloor St. and Philosopher's Walk. If you enter from Bloor St through the large glass doors, follow the hallway on the left beside the staircase and turn left at the end. (Closest TTC: St. George) **Notes and restrictions:** The host may or may not attend this event. Attendees are encouraged to seat themselves at two or more adjacent tables, as needed. Please form groups of 6 people at each table; do not rearrange chairs and tables to accommodate more people, as this obstructs the narrow walking space. Guests are expected to order something from the cafe, and are asked to please refrain from bringing outside food or drink. Attendees must leave the building at 8pm when the cafe stops serving. **Contributions:** If you are a regular with us and would like to support the group, please send any contributions by e-transfer to [diskutomeetup@gmail.com.](http://diskutomeetup@gmail.com.) The yearly donation goal and amounts received year-to-date will be tracked anonymously on [this google sheet](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18GfqYsis8Cf2XGg4KsKQJsY_0Fv3bsSQHwJAxvC1Km8/edit?usp=sharing). Thank you so much for your support.

In modern Java applications, distributed systems are everywhere, and so are failure modes. But how do you know when your cluster is fragile, or if it’s on the brink of breaking? This talk dives into practical observability and resiliency techniques for distributed Java environments. We’ll highlight key patterns, failure signals, and metrics that matter, backed by a live demo using Hazelcast, Chaos-mesh, Prometheus, and Grafana. You’ll learn: Core Patterns – Leader election, partitioning, replication Metrics That Matter – Backup count, member count, JVM health, Golden Signals Failure-Aware Design – Resilience patterns, chaos testing principles Live Demo – Deploy a working cluster, simulate node failure, and explore metrics to observe how data integrity holds as the system nears its fault tolerance threshold Ideal for Java developers, architects, and SREs, this session blends theory, tools, and real-world failure scenarios to help you build distributed systems that stay online—even when things go wrong. **About the venue** Free Times Cafe has bistro-style seating and a full food and drink menu. Please consider helping to support the venue by planning to have supper during the talk. **Speaker Bio** Joe Sherwin is a Principal Solution Architect at Hazelcast with 22 years of experience in the design, development, and implementation of application systems within multi-tier distributed computing environments. Working with clients such as Vanguard, Fannie Mae, Federal Reserve Bank, Citi Group, Bear Stearns, Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, Comcast Corp, Webster Bank, Gartner Group, The Hartford Life Company, IBM Global Services, Mass Mutual, Lincoln National Financial Corporation, Bank of America, and Barnes & Noble Online Group, Mr. Sherwin has been instrumental in the development of large-scale mission-critical E-commerce, insurance, and financial systems. He has experience architecting & implementing solution using CORBA, RMI, Java EE compliant distributed Object architectures, in-memory high transaction/low latency solutions using Hazelcast IMDG®, GemFire, Ehcache & Oracle Coherence, and solutions deployable on IaaS or PaaS platforms like Cloud Foundry, Amazon Web Services, Rackspace or Heroku.

The future of software needs product leaders who build with purpose. Join GitLab and Obsidi® for an **[exclusive Tech Talk](https://app.obsidi.com/event/8ce930f5-5e50-433f-8b0b-b747518fd855?utm_source=obsidi&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=techtalks-2026-jan-29&utm_content=meetup-hyperlink&utm_obsidi_source=events)** in Toronto—designed specifically for mid- to senior-level product managers who are shaping the next era of technology and want to accelerate their impact. As a global DevSecOps leader, GitLab is transforming the way products are built, shipped, secured, and scaled in a fully remote-first world. This Tech Talk explores how GitLab’s AI-driven development, secure-by-design product practices, and product-led culture are redefining what excellence looks like for today’s product leaders. This isn’t just a tech conversation—it’s a career catalyst. Connect directly with GitLab’s product leaders, hear how they navigate complex roadmaps at global scale, and discover what it takes to lead product with clarity, influence, and vision. Build smarter. Lead stronger. Ship with purpose — at GitLab. 💻 Can’t attend in person? Join virtually and take part in the conversation online. **[CLICK HERE TO REGISTER](https://app.obsidi.com/event/8ce930f5-5e50-433f-8b0b-b747518fd855?utm_source=obsidi&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=techtalks-2026-jan-29&utm_content=meetup-hyperlink&utm_obsidi_source=events)**

🦞🥖 **Dinner @ Red Lobster (Yes, *That* Red Lobster)** I honestly don’t know **why Red Lobster is as popular as it is** — and yet… every single time we go, it’s packed, the vibes are high, and everyone leaves **very full and very happy**. So here we are again. Join us for a relaxed night of **seafood, unlimited biscuits (the real stars), and good company**. Red Lobster somehow manages to be nostalgic, comforting, and wildly satisfying all at once. Is it fancy? No. Is it fun? Absolutely. Does everyone walk out stuffed? Always. Come meet other members, enjoy some surprisingly good-value seafood, laugh a lot, and leave with a full stomach and a few new memories (and maybe a biscuit or two living rent-free in your head). *** 🕖 **Meetup Details** **Meetup Time:** 7:00 PM ⏱️ I’ll wait **5 minutes** — after that, the biscuits wait for no one. **Meetup Location:** I’ll be standing **in front of Red Lobster**, wearing my **Moose Hat** 🦌 (As always, easy to spot.) **Leaving Time:** Any time you like — stay for dessert or Irish goodbye, both are valid. *** 💰 **Save Your Spot** Members *love* Red Lobster — don’t miss your seat at the table 🦞✨ • **Save Your Spot Fee:** $25 • E-transfer to **mathewmaclean@hotmail.com** within **24 hours of signing up** • When you arrive, you’ll receive **$20 back** • The remaining **$5 supports the group** 🚫 **No refunds or exchanges** — this helps ensure committed signups and avoids no-shows. *** 👀 **Not sure you can make it?** You can **just show up** or even decide on the day — Red Lobster energy is very *go with the flow*. 📱 **Don’t forget to join our WhatsApp group** – [CLICK HERE!](https://chat.whatsapp.com/H59mSCbsAi018gYANrKAnc?mode=ac_t) Get updates, chat with other walkers, and stay in the loop for future events! *** ⚠️ **Final Notes** Sometimes things happen and I may need to cancel — please keep an eye out for updates. *** 🦞 You don’t have to understand Red Lobster to enjoy Red Lobster. You just have to show up hungry. 👤 Organized by Mathew. For questions, please post on the event wall or email \*\*[torontomoviesandoutings@hotmail.com**](http://torontomoviesandoutings@hotmail.com%2A%2A/)

Come join La Dolce Vita Group for some Latin Heat at La Veranda Resto in Market Lane - Woodbridge. On the last Friday of every month, La Veranda hosts Fever Fridays with the best Latin beats spun by DJ Flo Jo. No dance experience? No problem! **They offer free dance lessons ( 9:30 p.m.) so everyone can join in on the fun. Bring your family, bring your friends, bring your neighbors, this dance party is for everyone!** **Pre-Set Dinner Menu - $50.00 plus hst plus 18% gratuity** (paid at the venue) **SIGN-UP PROCESS** **STEPS:** How Our New Process Works:\* 1. **RSVP to Join Waitlist**
 When you RSVP, you'll be added to our waitlist, which is your way of expressing interest in joining us. 2. **Secure Your Spot**
 E-transfer $5.00t to: [mirellaardizzi@hotmail.com](http://mirellaardizzi@hotmail.com)
. Include the event name in your message. If your email name differs from your Meetup profile, please let me know. 3. **Confirmation**
 Once payment is received, I'll move you from the waitlist to "going" - spots are secured in order of payment received. 4. **Event Capacity**
 When maximum capacity is reached, RSVPs will close. Please stay on the waitlist as spots may open due to cancellations. 5. **Manage Your RSVP** If plans change, please remove yourself from the waitlist to allow others the opportunity to join. \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* **POSITIVE GROUP POLICIES** * **Meet Someone New:** Every meetup is a chance to make a new friend! We encourage everyone to sit with someone different each time. * **Open Seating** * Seats are first come, first serve - no saving seats. This helps everyone feel welcome and included. * **Warm Welcome** * If you see someone new or alone, invite them to join your table or conversation. * **Positive Vibes Only** * We celebrate kindness, encouragement, and support in all our interactions. * **Respectful Listening** * Everyone's voice matters. Listen with respect & curiosity. Let's make every meetup a chance to expand our circle of friends. A smile and a hello can make someone's day - let's be that person for each other. Trying something new can be scary - thank-you for being brave and open to meeting new people! We are all here to connect, so let's make sure no one feels left out! Warmest Regards Mirella

This is February's *The Morning Toast* brunch event! Yes, there will be 🍞 **toast** and of course, a 🥂 **toast**! Join us and indulge in delicious brunch creations! 🍳 We’re gathering at The Pickle Barrel in Pickering - [picklebarrel.ca](https://www.picklebarrel.ca/en/locations/on/pickering/1809-liverpool-rd). Please note that there is no event fee for this meal, but we ask that you only reserve a spot if you intend to come and update us if your plans change. The restaurant is fully wheelchair accessible.

BNI Ascend is growing community of entrepreneurs, business owners, startup founders who value real relationships, referrals and growth. **Note:** To attend, please register yourself here: [Registration Link](https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/multi-industry-multicultural-networking-for-toronto-entrepreneurs-tickets-1980811489487) **BNI Ascend** is a newly launching and building something different- a multi-industry, multicultural chapter bringing together professionals across industries to grow through trust and collaboration. If you’ve been waiting for the right network, this might be it. If you’ve been to networking events that felt rushed, surface-level, or salesy, this will feel different. Join us for this exclusive networking event as we’re currently forming our **core member group**, so seats are intentionally limited. 💼 **What to Expect** **👋 Welcome & Check-In** Arrive, settle and ease into the room with a warm, inclusive welcome. **🌟 Member & Guest Introductions** Every attendee gets an opportunity to introduce themselves, their business, and what kind of connections they’re looking for. 🌍 **Experience How BNI Ascend Works** See firsthand why BNI is the world’s leading referral-based business networking organization. **🤝 Open Networking & Conversations with Diverse Professionals** Meet business owners and professionals from different industries, cultures, and backgrounds across Toronto. **🎤 Spotlight Opportunities** *(limited)* Business Owners get a short spotlight moment to showcase your business to the room. **📸 Photos & Community Moments** We capture moments throughout the event for community highlights and future promotions. ### **Who Should Attend?** You’ll meet professionals such as: 🚀 Startup, Tech & E-Commerce 🍽️ Restaurant & Café Owners 💼 Coaches, Consultants & Trainers 🏠 Home Service Providers 🧘 Wellness, Health & Service Providers 🎨 E-commerce & Tech Professionals 🌍 Immigrant & Multicultural Business Owners Come solo, bring a colleague or business partner. Either way, you’ll leave with clarity, connections, and momentum. **Note:** To attend, please register yourself here: [Registration Link](https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/multi-industry-multicultural-networking-for-toronto-entrepreneurs-tickets-1980811489487) **Dress Code** Business Smart / Business Professional **Media Consent** By attending this event, you consent to photography and video recording. These may be used by **BNI Ascend** for marketing and promotional purposes.

The Queen Seafood Cuisine is a seafood and dim sum restaurant with a very nice interior. They have a lot of classic dim sum dishes as well as some very interesting ones like scallop and spinach dumpling and crispy nest shrimp and peach roll. The address of the restaurant is: The Queen Seafood Cuisine 900 Don Mills Rd. UNIT 2, North York, ON M3C 1V6 PH: (416) 900-7668 [https://thequeenseafood.com/](https://thequeenseafood.com/) **Billing:** Paying the bill is **cash only**. 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.

Hello everyone! For our first dinner together, we’re keeping things low-key and casual. Take a look at the menu and let us know what you think we want this to be easy, relaxed, and enjoyable for everyone. Quick housekeeping note: many restaurants require most of the party to be present before seating. No-shows impact the entire group, so if someone repeatedly commits and doesn’t show more than once, we’ll have to remove you from future dinners to keep things fair and smooth for everyone. Looking forward to a great night and even better conversations 🍽️✨

**It's National Margarita Day!** Let's throw off our winter blahs and bask in the delight of margaritas and mexican food! We'll find a good spot...or, two to gather for drink specials, food and fiesta. [El Vaquero](https://www.vaquerorestaurant.com/menus) on Rte 161 Dublin has a huge bar area where we'll meet. Those wanting to sit down and eat dinner can grab a seat at our reserved table. Those just there for margs and chips n salsa can hang out in the bar. Their wonderful ***Happy Hour lasts til 8pm every night - Jumbo Margarita $9.99 Flavor $10.99!***

Yes, the [Chocolate Café](https://www.chocolatecafecolumbus.com/menu-1?menu=signature-desserts) serves chocolate fondue *(Chocolate Fondue Day is Feb 5th)*! No one does chocolate fondue like they do. It's rich, creamy, and served with an array of fresh fruit and other dipping items. They encourage making it a party! A perfect winter warmup to share with friends! **Chocolate Fondue Kit:** Served with dippers, including marshmallows, Rice Krispie treats, graham crackers, pound cake, strawberries, and pretzels. **COST**: Bring ***$5.00 cash*** to cover your portion of our delightful dessert bar. **EARLY ARRIVALS**: Go ahead and order dinner (before dessert). I love their toasted sandwiches and their soups. **PARKING**: In our parking lot, on the street (but not between 4-6 pm) or behind the Buckeye State Building. [Chocolate Cafe](https://www.chocolatecafecolumbus.com/): A fully stocked amount of *chocolate candies* including truffles, chocolate covered pretzels and chocolate and caramel turtles. We have menu options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Join us for brunch or a late night meal. Soups, salads & sandwiches served daily. Check out our [menu](https://www.chocolatecafecolumbus.com/_files/ugd/7ea733_0ebab62dcfc0435aa189b6d1a3c3ec82.pdf) for more information. We also offer wine, martinis and cocktails! Enjoy a *famous chocolate martini* or hand crafted cocktail, too!

For our next dinner event, Avenue Steak Tavern in Dublin, Ohio! A few friends have been raving about the great food and super friendly service, so it’s time for us to see what the hype is about. Come hungry, bring your best conversation, and get ready for a night of good vibes and even better meals. 🍽️🥩

***Okay, call me crazy but you have got to try their chip n dip!*** Club 85 is a true hidden gem in German Village! Seriously, old school, good comfort food and drink. We will try to gather in spaces near the windows. While we'll share Chip n Dip, you'll want to order a sandwich, too. **Where the Chip Began (1817)** Potato chips can be traced back to an English chef, William Kitchiner, who includes ‘crisps’ in his bestselling cookbook, “The Cook’s Oracle.” **Chip and Dip Popularity** The popularity of chip and dip skyrockets at the end of World War II with new entertainment fads and the introduction of Lipton’s new advertising campaign for their famous French Onion Dip. (Club 185 doesn't openly admit it, but I'm pretty sure that's their dip recipe!) **[Club 185](http://club185.com/)**—a true neighborhood bar serving since 1954, when it was known as a local 'speak-easy'. Located in German Village, Club 185 features a menu of quality casual comfort food and full bar. From politicians to lawyers, hardhats to hipsters—all find Club 185 the perfect place to tame their hunger and quench their thirst! **PARKING**: I know, brick street parallel parking can be a pain. Two other choices, metered parking along Livingston heading towards Children's Hospital or across the street in the large church lot (park in spaces farthest away from the church entrance doors, closer to the street). **PRE-EVENT**: **HAPPY HOUR (3-5pm)**: Italian drinks and bites at [Cento's happy hour](https://centogermanvillage.com/menus/), nearby.

Join us for an interactive Bombay Gin Cocktail Class at TownHall — a fun, social experience designed to bring people together over great drinks, great food, and great conversation. During the class, you’ll learn how to craft several different Bombay Gin cocktails, guided by a master mixologist in a relaxed, high-energy setting. This isn’t a lecture — it’s hands-on, engaging, and built to spark connection, laughter, and good vibes. Whether you come solo or with friends, this experience makes it easy to meet people, enjoy expertly crafted cocktails, and unwind mid-week. ✨ What’s Included (A Ton 😁) • Multiple Bombay Gin cocktails • Interactive cocktail instruction • Food & appetizers sponsored by TownHall • A lively, social atmosphere 🍸 Sponsored by Bombay Gin 🍽 Food & appetizers sponsored by TownHall Must be 21+ to attend $20 fee per person