Sierra Club

Bedoba is one of Georgia’s most meaningful traditions — a centuries-old celebration believed to set the tone for the entire year ahead. According to Georgian belief, **how you spend Bedoba is how your whole year will unfold**: the people you are with, the emotions you feel, the laughter you share. On this special day, Georgians choose joy, kindness, good company, and positive energy — welcoming destiny with open arms. Join us at **La Mano on January 2nd** to celebrate Bedoba the right way: ✨ warm atmosphere ✨ good drinks and music ✨ smiles, conversations, and new connections Spend your Bedoba surrounded by positive people and good vibes — and let your year begin beautifully. 📍 **La Mano** 🗓 **January 2nd – Bedoba Day** Become a community member: [https://chat.whatsapp.com/IUnd6m86Ado8R8FFaeGsdC](https://chat.whatsapp.com/IUnd6m86Ado8R8FFaeGsdC) Cafe La Mano Location: [https://goo.gl/maps/z22W9fmf1ZypivVT9](https://goo.gl/maps/z22W9fmf1ZypivVT9)

### A Night of Luck, Vibes & Celebration Join us at **Niema – Expats Bar** for **BEDOBA**, a special Georgian-inspired night celebrating **luck, positive energy, and good beginnings**. In Georgian tradition, **Bedoba** is the *Day of Fate* — it’s believed that how you spend this day sets the tone for your future. That’s why this night is all about **good people, good music, good drinks, and good vibes only**. ✨ Positive energy & celebration 🎶 Music to dance, vibe, and connect 🍷 Drinks flowing all night 🌍 International & friendly crowd 🔥 Party atmosphere with cultural spirit Come celebrate, smile, dance, and create good memories — because **your Bedoba should be joyful**. 💵Free 📍 https://maps.app.goo.gl/NTsnCf5C6WHgnBAHA?g_st=ic Instagram 📲: https://www.instagram.com/cafeniema/profilecard/?igsh=cXF1ejJuZ2l2cWhp

Join us for a hands-on **Khinkali Masterclass** — the most delicious Georgian experience you can have! 🇬🇪 You’ll learn how to make **traditional meat, cheese, and mushroom khinkali** from scratch, guided by our local expert. Of course, we’ll finish by tasting your creations — paired with a **glass of fine Georgian wine** and a **shot of homemade chacha** 🥂 **📍 Location:** Mziani Cafe **📅 Date:** 8 November **🕓 Time:** 4:00 PM **💸 Price:** 50 GEL per person (includes all ingredients, drinks, and tasting) **👥 Minimum participants:** 4 **⏱ Duration:** 2 hours Come with friends or meet new ones — either way, you’ll roll, twist, and taste your way to becoming a real **Khinkali Master!** Location link: https://share.google/lUpkFFCYQNkrWZkXT

New faces. Real talk. No pressure. Join us for Speed Friending at Niema — the easiest (and most fun) way to meet people in the city. Whether you’re new in town, a creative soul, or just tired of small talk—this night is for you. 💵Free 📍 https://maps.app.goo.gl/NTsnCf5C6WHgnBAHA?g_st=ic Instagram 📲: https://www.instagram.com/cafeniema/profilecard/?igsh=cXF1ejJuZ2l2cWhp

Say goodbye to the old year and welcome the new one with great vibes, good music, and an international crowd! 🌍✨ Join us at **Expats Bar Niema** for a **New Year’s celebration** where locals and expats come together to dance, drink, and celebrate as one big community 🥂 🎶 Music & party vibes 🍹 Great drinks & special offers 🌍 Meet international people 🎉 Celebrate together until the countdown Let’s make memories, share cultures, and start the New Year in the best way—**together**! 💵 Free 📍 [https://maps.app.goo.gl/DLxPtzPb5T1AwWJXA?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy](https://maps.app.goo.gl/DLxPtzPb5T1AwWJXA?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy) 📲 Instagram : [https://www.instagram.com/cafeniema?igsh=cXF1ejJuZ2l2cWhp&utm_source=qr](https://www.instagram.com/cafeniema?igsh=cXF1ejJuZ2l2cWhp&utm_source=qr)

### New Year Day Party @ Niema Start the year the right way at **Niema – Expats Bar** with **First Day, First Party**, the ultimate New Year Day celebration. From the afternoon till late, expect **good music, cold drinks, and nonstop vibes** in a relaxed, international party atmosphere. Whether you’re recovering from New Year’s Eve or ready to turn up again, this is where Day One comes alive. 🔥 Party music all day & night 🍹 Cocktails, beers & bar specials 🌍 Expat & mixed crowd 💵 Free 📍 [https://maps.app.goo.gl/DLxPtzPb5T1AwWJXA?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy](https://maps.app.goo.gl/DLxPtzPb5T1AwWJXA?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy) 📲 Instagram : [https://www.instagram.com/cafeniema?igsh=cXF1ejJuZ2l2cWhp&utm_source=qr](https://www.instagram.com/cafeniema?igsh=cXF1ejJuZ2l2cWhp&utm_source=qr)

Welcome, readers! ❄️ Our December read is **_A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella._** A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella is a tender, character-driven novel that follows three people in a small Pennsylvania town as they each cope with loss and seek connection. Chuck, a widower, struggles to find meaning after his wife’s death; Ella, a young woman, faces the heartbreak of her missing daughter; and Kirsten, a veterinary technician, grieves her father while contemplating her future. Their stories intertwine gently, revealing how grief and hope coexist—and how even small acts of kindness can help people rediscover purpose and peace in the aftermath of tragedy. Looking forward to discussing with everyone! At this meeting, our third annual White Elephant book exchange will take place! If you'd like to participate, bring a gift-wrapped book that you already own. On the gift wrap, write the genre of the book. We will meet at Zaftig Brewing Co in their event room in the back. We are welcome to bring in our own food, but **drinks must be purchased at the bar.** Happy reading! 📖

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

We meet at lunch each week and each meeting follows a fairly organized agenda. First all participants pass their business cards around. Then each member and guest is invited to give a one-minute overview of their company and what is a perfect referral for the week. We always have a 10 minute presentation from one of the members about their business in more detail. And finally we pass referrals. You're welcome to visit. Nobody is ever put on the spot. Bring plenty of cards!

Join us for Slow Horses and a Book Exchange! In addition to our usual chat about the book, we’ll be exchanging books. Bring two books you’re willing to part with and we’ll exhange books. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- Welcome to the thrilling and unnervingly prescient world of the slow horses. This team of MI5 agents is united by one common bond: They've screwed up royally and will do anything to redeem themselves. This special tenth-anniversary deluxe edition of a modern classic includes a foreword by the author, discussion questions for book clubs, and an exclusive short story featuring the slow horses. London, England: Slough House is where washed-up MI5 spies go to while away what's left of their failed careers. The "slow horses," as they're called, have all disgraced themselves in some way to get relegated there. Maybe they botched an Op so badly they can't be trusted anymore. Maybe they got in the way of an ambitious colleague and had the rug yanked out from under them. Maybe they just got too dependent on the bottle-not unusual in this line of work. One thing they have in common, though, is they want to be back in the action. And most of them would do anything to get there-even if it means having to collaborate with one another. When a young man is abducted and his kidnappers threaten to broadcast his beheading live on the Internet, the slow horses see an opportunity to redeem themselves. But is the victim really who he appears to be?

Interested? Contact Preston Moore k.preston.moore@gmail.com 614-300-5989 ———————————— Engaging in men’s work is the new way to forge friendships while being open-minded to personal growth. Many men experience healthier relationships, personally and professionally, by engaging in this work. Open Men’s Group is a container for men to share vulnerably without receiving judgment or feedback. We believe that emotionally mature, powerful, compassionate, and purpose-driven men will help heal some of society’s deepest wounds. We support the powerful brilliance of men and we are willing to look at, and take full responsibility for, the pain we are also capable of creating – and suffering. We care deeply about men, our families, communities, and the planet. Visit ManKind Project USA to discover more. https://mkpusa.org/