Arthouse

'KAFKA ON THE SHORE' by Haruki Murakami 'The aging Nakata, tracker of lost cats, who never recovered from a bizarre childhood affliction, finds his pleasantly simplified life suddenly turned upside down. There is a savage killing, but the identity of both victim and killer is a riddle. Kafka on the Shore follows the fortunes of two remarkable characters. Kafka Tamura runs away from home at fifteen, under the shadow of his father's dark prophesy. The aging Nakata, tracker of lost cats, who never recovered from a bizarre childhood affliction, finds his pleasantly simplified life suddenly turned upside down. Their parallel odysseys are enriched throughout by vivid accomplices and mesmerising dramas. Cats converse with people; fish tumble from the sky; a ghostlike pimp deploys a Hegel-spouting girl of the night; a forest harbours soldiers apparently un-aged since WWII. There is a savage killing, but the identity of both victim and killer is a riddle. Murakami's new novel is at once a classic tale of quest, but it is also a bold exploration of mythic and contemporary taboos, of patricide, of mother-love, of sister-love. Above all it is an entertainment of a very high order.' ***Please read the book and join us for a lively discussion (in English) about the contents during our afternoon book club meeting.*** \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **PLEASE NOTE:** This is an IN-PERSON event in Amersfoort, The Netherlands. Please cancel your attendance in advance if you are unable to join, so that those on the waitlist can participate. Looking forward to seeing you all IN REAL LIFE then! Best regards, Sandra

📍 Hilversum Station, 10:30 → finish at Baarn railway station (~17:30) We meet inside the station near piano. 🚶‍♂️ ~10 km total | ~6–7 hours | relaxed pace with sketching stops 🎯 Main destination: Kasteel Groeneveld We’ll walk together through nature from Hilversum to the castle (~7 km), making several short sketching stops (15–30 min), with a longer session near the castle. After that, we continue ~3 km to Baarn station. There’s a café at the castle (coffee, sweets, late lunch), but we’ll arrive later — bring your own food/snacks so you don’t get hungry. Bring along: * Sketching materials * Water * Foldable chair or blanket (there is no guaranteed seating in forest) * Comfortable walking clothes * Extra layer (it gets cold when sitting still) * Sandwich or snacks to keep energy going No pressure on skill level — all styles welcome. Come for the walk, the nature, and the sketches 🌿✏️

## Love is in the air…! After the crazy success of our first event, we're back with more connection games! This time, the games will be much shorter (15-20 mins each) to allow for easier rotation. For those who're new here, Affinitee hosts slow dating events focused on discovering relationships built on compatibility over superficiality! **No more swiping, skip the bad dates!** ### *This is how it works:* 1\. Before you arrive at the meetup\, you fill in a fun 5\-10 minute questionnaire before registration below \(if you haven't already\)\. We explore different aspects of relationship compatibility using this questionnaire\. To make use of the pre-matching facility, we recommend registering on the website as well. You may sign up here [https://affinitee.eu/au-event-3](https://affinitee.eu/au-event-3) 2\. A match will be automatically assigned \(if available\)\, based on your given criteria \(age range\, children\, location etc\.\) as well as the overall compatibility score based on your questionnaire answers\. 3\. At the event\, you will be able to try out a multitude of board/card games that are specifically chosen to explore various aspects of relationship compatibility \(moral values\, decision making etc\.\)\. 4\. After each game\, you can choose to switch partners\, or continue with the same person\, based on input from either parties\. 5\. At the end of the event\, IF you did indeed feel a spark with someone at the event \(and it is reciprocated\)\, we help you arrange a date with them\. You do not even have to exchange contacts\! **[!!IMPORTANT!!]** We recommend signing up through our website to guarantee a match as early as possible. But of course, even if no match isassigned to you due to late registration or gender imbalance, a majority of the games are still played as groups! *So nobody gets left out and everyone has a chance to meet and match with other singles.* We believe in conscious, compatibility based matchmaking. Don't waste your time dating the wrong people!

Join us for the XXL edition celebrating the 3rd anniversary of our (board) games meetup at our local community center! We’re doing things a little differently this time, so make sure to read everything below and we hope to see as many of you as possible on this special day! This event is part of an ongoing series organized through our Discord server [[discord.gg/utrecht](http://discord.gg/utrecht)] • Free entry for everyone, as always! • Bring your favorite (board) games • Meet new friends and fellow gaming enthusiasts • A night filled with exciting challenges and friendly competition • Warm food, snacks, and drinks will be provided for everyone! (e.g. fries, sauces, chips, fried snacks, sodas) There will also be a Nintendo Switch 2 available with games like Mario Party, Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros and other party games, so feel free to bring a controller if you’d like to play! Whether you're a board game aficionado or a video game guru, this event is for you. Bring your friends, bring your favorite games, and let’s celebrate three years of gaming together! Note that due to limitations of the location, we cannot open the door for you after 19:00. Make sure to read the ''How to find us'' carefully and join the Discord if you have any questions.

Lieve leden, Vanaf 19:30 op onze oude vertrouwde locatie, MFA Safari Maarssen Dan nog een veel gevraagd onderwerp.. de entree! Vanaf deze post gaan we wel starten met de mogelijkheid tot doneren. Heb je het de afgelopen jaren naar je zin gehad? Overweeg dan te doneren, zo kunnen we blijven vernieuwen! Weet je niet hoeveel? Met 5,- kunnen we al een hoop. Bij binnenkomst op de club zullen we ook een QR-code plaatsen die je kunt gebruiken en natuurlijk.. de vertrouwde spaarpot. Tot de Gamenight!Spellenclub Maarssen --- Board game fanatics and beginners, assemble! We host a GameNight every two weeks on a Friday. We have our own game collection that you can use, but we encourage you to bring some of your favourites as well! No entrance cost. We have coffee, tea and drinks from the fridge for low prices! Parking is free and there are over a hundred spaces in front of the building. Please use the stairs at the back of the MFA Safari building outside to get into the club.

Lieve leden, Vanaf 19:30 op onze oude vertrouwde locatie, MFA Safari Maarssen Dan nog een veel gevraagd onderwerp.. de entree! Vanaf deze post gaan we wel starten met de mogelijkheid tot doneren. Heb je het de afgelopen jaren naar je zin gehad? Overweeg dan te doneren, zo kunnen we blijven vernieuwen! Weet je niet hoeveel? Met 5,- kunnen we al een hoop. Bij binnenkomst op de club zullen we ook een QR-code plaatsen die je kunt gebruiken en natuurlijk.. de vertrouwde spaarpot. ## Tot de Gamenight! Board game fanatics and beginners, assemble! We host a GameNight every two weeks on a Friday. We have our own game collection that you can use, but we encourage you to bring some of your favourites as well! No entrance cost. We have coffee, tea and drinks from the fridge for low prices! Parking is free and there are over a hundred spaces in front of the building. Please use the stairs at the back of the MFA Safari building outside to get into the club.

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🎭 Improv Utrecht Presents a Show Like No Other! 🎭 The graduates of the course of trainer Emma Holmes at Improv Utrecht will take the stage at Villa Concordia to showcase their skills in a very fun and interactive show, called Time Well Wasted! Expect games like Whose Line Is It Anyway, De Lama's and even improvised singing! 💡 What is Improv? Improv is live, unscripted theatre where anything can happen! The performers create characters, scenes, and entire stories from scratch, all based on audience suggestions and their quick-thinking creativity. It’s spontaneous, electric, and completely unique—no two shows are ever the same! 🎟 Tickets Now Available! Don't miss this one-night-only spectacle of storytelling and laughter. Secure your tickets online before they’re gone! Book your ticket at [improv-utrecht.weticket.io](http://improv-utrecht.weticket.com/) : €12 plus €1 service fee Before and after the show we have a very nice bar to meet & greet people. 📅 When? Sunday 12 April 15:00h. Bar open 14:00 📍 Where? Villa Concordia. In your ticket confirmation mail you find directions to the theatre. Limited free parking spots available, close to Utrecht Central station. Join us for a night of creativity, comedy, and community—we can’t wait to see you there! Find out more about Improv Utrecht, our other shows and courses at [www.improvutrecht.nl](http://www.improvutrecht.nl/)

🎭 Improv Utrecht Presents a Show Like No Other! 🎭 The graduates of the course of trainer Emma Holmes at Improv Utrecht will take the stage at Villa Concordia to showcase their skills in a very fun and interactive show, called Wednesday Wonders! Expect games like Whose Line Is It Anyway, De Lama's and even improvised singing! 💡 What is Improv? Improv is live, unscripted theatre where anything can happen! The performers create characters, scenes, and entire stories from scratch, all based on audience suggestions and their quick-thinking creativity. It’s spontaneous, electric, and completely unique—no two shows are ever the same! 🎟 Tickets Now Available! Don't miss this one-night-only spectacle of storytelling and laughter. Secure your tickets online before they’re gone! Book your ticket at [improv-utrecht.weticket.io](http://improv-utrecht.weticket.com/) : €12 plus €1 service fee Before and after the show we have a very nice bar to meet & greet people. 📅 When? Sunday 12 April 19:30h. Bar open 19:00 📍 Where? Villa Concordia. In your ticket confirmation mail you find directions to the theatre. Limited free parking spots available, close to Utrecht Central station. Join us for a night of creativity, comedy, and community—we can’t wait to see you there! Find out more about Improv Utrecht, our other shows and courses at [www.improvutrecht.nl](http://www.improvutrecht.nl/)

Come and join us for an evening of Buddhist meditation with like-minded people. The doors open at 7:00 PM, and meditation begins promptly at 7:15 PM. The meditation will last between 30 to 40 minutes, followed by tea and biscuits for anyone who would like to stay and chat. On some evenings, there will also be a short Dharma talk to provide some Buddhist context. The meditation space is down at the canal. To get there, you can take the stairs down. The meditation is offered on a donation basis. See our [website](https://utrechtbuddhistcentre.nl/) for more information.

**We have limited space at the café, so if you've RSVPd and can't make it, please cancel as early as possible so another person can join!** Join in for a morning of crafting & chatting over a drink. Just bring your own project and payment for drinks. Meet fellow crafting enthusiasts, whether it's knitting, crocheting, stitching, origami, or something more unique! We talk about our projects, exchange tipps, but also just get to know each other and enjoy a relaxed Sunday morning in good company. We now also have a WhatsApp group, where we want to organise get-togethers and other events. Ask one of the organisers at the next Meetup you join for more information and access.

In *City Lights*, Chaplin's Little Tramp meets a blind girl selling flowers who mistakes him for a wealthy man. When he learns that an operation may restore her sight, he sets off to earn the money she needs to have the surgery. He also befriends an alcoholic millionaire who only recognizes him when he is drunk. When the blind girl and her grandmother fall behind in the rent and face eviction, he tries working and even enters a boxing competition to raise the money they need. Regarded as Chaplin's masterpiece, *City Lights* has been ranked on more than seventeen "100 greatest movies of all time" lists. Orson Welles cited it as his favorite picture. *City Lights* is available for streaming on Amazon Prime, Hulu, HBOMax, Tubi and PlutoTV. The Columbus Library lists three copies on blu-ray and eight copies on DVD. Watch the movie on your own, then join us upstairs at East Market to discuss the film.

...and speaking of breakthrough roles: who can forget the first time we saw Tom Cruise singing Bob Seeger in his underwear? Often considered an updated 1983 version of The Graduate, the movie sparkles with memorable lines and original music. I only regret that I was never told that "Princeton could use someone like Bob..." See the movie first and join us for some "Cruisin'"

Join us as we get together for a Discount Tuesday / Choose Your Movie event to see your choice of two great new films! Option 1 (and the one I'll be seeing) is the top-reviewed comedy-drama, THE CHRISTOPHERS! The film is set in the art world and follows the estranged children of a former artist who hire a forger. It is directed by Steven Soderberg, stars Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel and has been earning rave reviews on the indie circuit. Option 2 is the latest action-thriller starring Bob Odenkirk, NORMAL! The film follows a temporary small-town sheriff who uncovers dark mysteries after a local bank robbery. Here are descriptions, trailers and our plan for this event: THE CHRISTOPHERS: The children of a once famous artist hire a forger to complete some unfinished, long ago abandoned canvases so they'll have a better inheritance when he dies. It is directed by Steven Soderbergh and stars Ian McKellen, Michaela Coel, Jessica Gunning and James Corden. BUZZ & ACCLAIM: The film is earning an excellent 97% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes where critics call it a “dynamic, emotional and surprising journey” and a “compelling chamber piece that works like intellectual comfort food.” Others call the film, an “incredibly funny, comedy drama with plot reversals that make it feel like it’s on the verge of a thriller!” TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H79-EqzmdwY&t=20s NORMAL: This action-crime-thriller follows a man who comes to the sleepy town of Normal, Minnesota to serve as the temporary sheriff. But a bank robbery leads him to a criminal underground reaches throughout the entire town. The film is directed by Ben Wheatley and stars Bob Odenkirk, Henry Winkler and Lena Headey. The film comes from the same team that brought us Nobody and the John Wick series, so expect an over-the-top, action-filled thrill ride! TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rmm-lM33Qw0&t=19s PLAN: We’ll plan for a 7pm-ish showing of both films and will meet in the lobby area about 30 minutes before showtime. Once showtimes are announced, advance ticket purchase is advised (GFC website preferred)! Please list your movie of choice and seat number in the Comments section of this event. Showtimes and complete details will be confirmed/announced as the date gets closer. PARKING: Close, convenient parking is available in the nearby garage (located between 9th and 11th, just off High St). Bring your ticket with you and have it validated at the theater and for $2, you’re covered for the night! Look forward to seeing you there, Dan

Join us for a fun Dinner & a Movie event as we get together to see MICHAEL + Dinner at CAP City! The film is directed by Antoine Fuqua and stars Jaafar Jackson (Michael Jackson’s nephew) as the King of Pop! Early buzz is strong for what should be an excellent musical-biopic! Here are details, a trailer and plan for this event: DESCRIPTION: This biographical musical drama follows the life of Michael Jackson, from his time with the Jackson 5 to his early solo career! Highlighting both his life off-stage and some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career, the film gives audiences a front-row seat to Michael Jackson as never before. Jaafar Jackson (Michael Jackson’s nephew) stars in the title role alongside Nia Long, Laura Harrier, Juliano Krue Valdi, Miles Teller and Colman Domingo. TRAILER: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbtgEE6rkxw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbtgEE6rkxw) MOVIE PLAN: Please purchase your ticket for the 3:35pm showing and meet inside the theater lobby between 3:10 and 3:20pm. Tickets already on sale and advance purchase as soon as possible is advised! Once you have yours, please list your seat number in the Comments section of this event! DINNER PLAN: Dinner immediately following the movie (around 6pm) at nearby CAP City Fine Diner! Seating is limited for the dinner portion of this event, so separate RSVP required. If you plan to join for Dinner AND the movie, please be sure to RSVP in both places. CAP CITY FINE DINER: This upscale diner from Cameron Mitchell is known its “retro-cool” atmosphere, modern twists on classic comfort food and their “showstopper” desserts! The menu reimagines nostalgic dishes like meatloaf, beef stroganoff, and pot roast with gourmet twists. The menu also offers vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options with lots of apps, cocktails, salads, sandwiches, burgers (including a black bean veggie burger), the most welcome return of their Veggie Plate (with Hummus) and more. Desserts include their 24K Carrot Cake, Coconut Cake and Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Pie. Look forward to seeing you there, Dan