Blogging Groups San Francisco

Take Time to Write at Cafenated Coffee

Spiritualism and its Evidential Theologies

Life's Big Questions @ Dolores

**RSVP via:** https://app.gistirl.com/event-details/hE7TpsNuitgLiotRHKLe?utm_source=meetup&utm_content=a **Early Bird Discounts | More $ Later** **This event is completely FREE** Hello fellow seekers, Here is the idea, plain and simple: one sunny afternoon in Dolores Park, a circle of thoughtful people, and the kind of conversation about life's big questions most of us almost never get to have. This is for people from all walks of life - devout, doubting, spiritual-but-not-religious, deconstructing, atheist, or just curious. Nobody is here to convert anybody. The only ask is that you come honest and stay curious. Most of us carry big questions we rarely say out loud. What do I actually believe, and how did I land there? What do I do with doubt? What makes a life meaningful? This afternoon is a space to say those things out loud, with people who genuinely want to hear them. How it works: We'll gather right in Dolores Park. For the first stretch of the afternoon, the Gist IRL app pairs you up for short, focused one-on-one conversations on the grass. You always know exactly who you are talking to next, so there is no wandering around wondering who to approach. That takes the pressure off and makes it surprisingly easy to skip the small talk and get straight to the meaningful stuff. Then the best part: When the rounds wrap up, you pick the people you clicked with, form a little group of 4 to 6, and walk from the park to a nearby bakery, coffee, or tea spot together to keep the conversation going. Everything on the list below is a short stroll away. By late afternoon you are sitting around a table with warm drinks, fresh pastries, and thoughtful people, talking openly about life, meaning, and what we each believe. Whether this becomes your monthly coffee and big-questions group or just a deeply refreshing weekend pause, I think you will leave feeling a little more grounded than when you arrived. The Plan: 1:00 PM - Check-in. Follow the link to set up your quick profile on your phone. Bring a blanket or something to sit on if you can - we'll have a few extras. 1:05 - 2:25 PM - One-on-one rounds. The app pairs you for short, focused chats about everyday life, purpose, and how you each see the world. 2:25 PM+ - Form groups of 4 to 6 with the people you clicked with, pick a nearby bakery, coffee, or tea spot, and walk over together - your group leaves together today. Instead of having one brief philosophical chat and trading contact info that never turns into an actual meetup, we grab pastries, coffee, and tea right away. You might just stumble into your new go-to people for bakery hunts, book clubs, and thoughtful Sunday walks. And when the afternoon wraps up, you can easily stay in touch with everyone through the app - no need to trade phone numbers. I can't wait to share a table and hear your stories. A few favorite spots nearby: Dolores Park Cafe - Directly across from the park, a relaxed neighborhood staple with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, fresh juices, organic teas, and light fare. Tartine Bakery - Just a block away, legendary for fresh sourdough, morning buns, and artisan coffee. Dandelion Chocolate - An airy bean-to-bar cafe with rich single-origin sipping chocolates, espresso drinks, and comfortable seating. Craftsman and Wolves - A sleek patisserie with inventive sweet and savory baked goods, specialty coffees, and teas. Stonemill Matcha - A tranquil spot on Valencia serving ceremonial-grade Kyoto matcha, roasted green teas, and Japanese-inspired pastries. **RSVP via:** https://app.gistirl.com/event-details/hE7TpsNuitgLiotRHKLe?utm_source=meetup&utm_content=a **Early Bird Discounts | More $ Later**

Blood on the Clocktower in Mission Bay!

Our next Genentech Hall event will be on **Sunday** October 11th! We usually have 2-3 games going on, there will always be a circle for any newcomers! We expect about 30-40 people to RSVP on Discord. Let us know if there is any particular script you want to play or if you want to storytell! **Please review and be familiar with our [best practices](https://docs.google.com/document/d/15WL2Da0003h5V-5p_JRNxjJ_gLsl2KKFzkfxyNM7K6E/edit?usp=sharing).** Call 510-457-1355 or ping Felicia (@crimson_flowers), Lily (@lilyblep) or Jim/ddz (@ddz7137) on Discord in the event thread if you need to get in or are lost. Make sure to have us added as friends as we don't get notifications for friend requests. A good number of attendees arrive between 11:00-11:30, but people come and go throughout the day, so feel free to show up and leave whenever you like - no need to be there for the whole day. If you text or call us, please give your Meetup/Discord name (some people both call and message on Discord and it's unclear whether we've already picked them up or not). Please come to the side entrance (not the main entrance) when you search for 1705 Owens St on Google Maps. You need badge access to enter so contact us to get inside. See [these images](https://imgur.com/a/roVuZ3S) for entrance location and parking details. There will be snacks and drinks and feel free to order food. The area has free and paid parking. Free parking is around a 5 min walk from Genentech Hall (near Mississippi and 17th). Join the [California Clocktower discord](https://discord.gg/ACwrXxtWyY) for more events!

20+30s Botanical Garden Coffee Walk (No Work Talk Allowed ;))

**RSVP via:** https://app.gistirl.com/event-details/SxtWK1tnc6pVUogEIoTR **Early Bird Discounts | More $ Later** Hey coffee lovers, This is the speed-friending group like no other. You’re guaranteed to meet at least 10 other people and have 1-1 conversations with them! So you get to really make new friends here. Grab your favorite iced drink and join me for a relaxed afternoon wandering through the lush, shaded paths of the Botanical Garden. We will kick things off with about an hour of app-paired 1-1 chats to get to know each other, and then head out in small groups to explore the greenery together. After we break the ice, you get to choose the people you vibed with the most to keep the afternoon going. By the time the rounds wrap up, you will be strolling through the botanical garden with a crew of 4-6 people you just met and clicked with. Whether this turns into your regular weekend walking crew or just a beautiful afternoon enjoying the blooms in good company, it is going to be a great time. The Plan: - 2:00PM: Check-In. Follow the link to set up your quick profile on your phone. - 2:05PM - 3:25PM: One-on-One Rounds. The app pairs you for focused chats. Find out who shares your favorite local roasters, neighborhood spots, and weekend routines. - 3:25PM+: Form Groups. Reconnect with your favorite matches, form groups of 4-6, and head into the Botanical Garden together to walk and relax — your group leaves together this afternoon. Instead of just swapping favorite cafe recommendations but never hanging out again, we are actually going to walk through the botanical garden today. My hope is that you find the people you will invite on future garden walks and park strolls to explore together. Plus, the app makes it incredibly easy to keep the momentum going. You can stay in touch with everyone you met today right through the platform, without ever needing to swap phone numbers. **RSVP via:** https://app.gistirl.com/event-details/SxtWK1tnc6pVUogEIoTR **Early Bird Discounts | More $ Later**

BALDT Fall Social: The Future of Learning Design

**Have you ever worked in L&D, Customer Education, or Enablement?** Maybe you’re looking to break into the industry. If any of that sounds like you, let’s meet up! **Join us at the [Barebottle Beer Garden in Salesforce Park](https://www.barebottle.com/salesforce-park-beer-garden) for a casual gathering with fellow learning design enthusiasts.** (If the weather really stinks, we’ll move around the corner to [83 Proof](http://www.83proof.com/). We’ll send an update on the day of the meetup to confirm the final location.) There’s no formal agenda, but we’d love to hear your thoughts about how technology is shaping the future of learning design. **Hope to see you there!** **We also recently launched a [LinkedIn group](https://www.linkedin.com/groups/40251013/) for the BALDT community.** It’s a place to connect between events and share what you’ve been working on. You don’t have to be located in the Bay Area to join; all we ask is that you have an interest in learning design. Come check it out! Photo by [clement proust](https://unsplash.com/@clementproust?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/person-walking-on-palm-tree-path-sF26NzXCWPM?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText)

Take Time to Write at Cafe Leila

Let's meet up to write on Sunday at Cafe Leila at 1724 San Pablo Avenue in Berkeley (cross street is Francisco St). Anyone who writes is welcome! Please not that this event is in ADDITION to the ongoing meeting at Cafenated Coffee on Vine St. (we are outgrowing that space). We'll be inside of the cafe, and I'll have a sign saying "Take Time to Write". We'll write in two 50-minute blocks, with breaks in between and after. Come find us between 10 and 10:30 to get set up in time for our first one at 10:30. Schedule: 10:00 - arrive, get drinks, chat 10:30 - Focused writing block 11:30 - End. (This is the time that we need to vacate to make space for other customers of the cafe) About the location: There will be wifi and some (limited) outlets. We'll be indoors, but they typically leaves the doors open so that the space is well-ventilated. The casual restaurant offers coffee, tea, bottled drinks, and a wide range cooked food. Please buy something to support them! About the group: Anyone who writes is welcome -- novelists, playwrights, academics, journalers. This isn't a critique group, and there's no pressure to share your work. We're here for camaraderie, moral support, and friendly peer pressure, so you can focus on taking time to do what you love to do. This meetup is for people who want to write! Take some time to sit down with other writers and focus on your work. We're here for camaraderie, moral support, and friendly peer pressure, so you can focus on taking time to do what you love to do. Anyone who writes is welcome -- novelists, playwrights, academics, journalers. This isn't a critique group, and there's no pressure to share your work. We meet in the East Bay and use the pomodoro method, with blocks of focused writing and breaks to socialize in between. Come join us!

Great Highway Art Walk

**RSVP via:** https://app.gistirl.com/event-details/DAdjeLspJaG4CzgfM4Kc **Early Bird Discounts \| More $ Later** Hey indie music fans, Come hang out by the water as the evening breeze kicks up, catching live acoustic sets while we wander past rows of colorful vendor tents. We'll kick things off with an hour of app-guided chats to warm up, then we'll split into small squads to hit the festival and grab some dinner. During the first part of the night, the Gist IRL app sets you up for a series of short one-on-one rounds with other locals who love discovering new sounds. It takes all the awkwardness out of mingling, giving us a super relaxed setting to talk about the best recent gigs and our favorite coastal spots. After the rounds wrap up, you'll pick the people you clicked with the most so you can keep hanging out. We'll group up and head out together to explore the art stalls and grab food truck bites right by the sand. By the end, you're strolling the festival and checking out local art with 4-6 people you just met but already like. Maybe they become your new go-to art walk and festival crew, or maybe it's just a perfectly spent evening by the ocean. The Plan: * 5:00 PM: Check-In. Follow the link to set up your quick profile on your phone. * 5:05 PM - 6:25 PM: One-on-One Rounds. The app pairs you for focused chats. Find out who shares your favorite local bands, creative taste, and laid-back coastal vibe. * 6:25 PM+: Form Groups & Explore. Reconnect with your favorite matches, form groups of 4-6, and head out in small groups to grab food truck bites and explore the art walk — your group leaves together tonight. The goal tonight isn't swapping Spotify playlist links or favorite band names that no one ever follows up on — it's about actually getting to explore the art walk right now, and finding those friends you'll invite to future art walks, festivals, and weekend coastal strolls to explore together. When the night is over, you can easily keep the conversation going and plan your next concert outing right through the app, without even having to trade phone numbers. I'm so excited to check out the art and hear some great live music with you all. **RSVP via:** https://app.gistirl.com/event-details/DAdjeLspJaG4CzgfM4Kc **Early Bird Discounts \| More $ Later**

We Have Moved To Mighty Networks - Come See All The Events

If you have not already done so I'd like to invite you to our New Space on Mighty Networks: \*\*\*Register with this link: [https://community.fff50.org](https://community.fff50.org/share/n3G3FpT_LWxPEkky?utm_source=manual)\*\*\* You automatically all join the National so please in addition be sure to select your chapter to join: San Francisco Bay Area. And be sure to look on the left side for the "Clubs" where you will see "Literary Ladies" "The Garden Girls" and other clubs of interest. Join as many as you like. Don't worry about getting inundated with emails...In "Notifications" select "Daily Digest" and you will only get one email a day summarizing everything new. It's great...I really love that feature. And another great feature on this new site besides having "FEEDS" & CHATS" you can find other ladies in your area by having your city location in the profile. Please feel free to reach out to me for any help or assistance.

Sit Down and Write

Writers write. And if you haven't written in a room full of writers writing, you haven't lived! It's a nice feeling, at the least. 11:00 a.m. Arrive, find a spot, support our patron by purchasing a beverage and/or snack and tipping well. Then socialize until writing-time begins! A few minutes before, we'll go around the circle introducing ourselves, our writing passions, and our goal for the day. 11:15 a.m. The organizer will start the clock, and for the next 1 hour conversation shall be discontinued as everyone works on whatever writing or reading (or what-have-you) strikes his or her fancy. The key here is a nice, courteous quiet. Headphones are recommended. 12:15 p.m. Writing-time ends. You're welcome to continue writing, resume socializing, hail a cab, do whatever you want, because you're an adult.

Jean Baudrillard - Simulacra and Simulation

"The simulacrum is never that which conceals the truth — it is the truth which conceals that there is none. The simulacrum is true." Jean Baudrillard wrote *Simulacra and Simulation* in 1981, before the internet, before social media, before generative AI. His claim is not the familiar one that media distort reality, or that we are surrounded by fakes. It is stranger and more radical: that signs and images no longer refer to any reality at all. The map now precedes the territory. Copies circulate without originals. Disneyland exists, he argues, to convince us that the rest of America is real — when in fact the "real" America is already hyperreal. For this session, we'll read the first essay of the book: "The Precession of Simulacra". You can find a copy of that essay [here](https://clarkbuckner.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Baudrillard-Simulacra-and-Simulation-45pgs.pdf). The book is also available on [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0472065211?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback) or at the [SF Public Library](https://sfpl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S93C1793785). If you're feeling lost in French postmodernism, there is a [Philosophize This episode](https://www.philosophizethis.org/podcast/simulacra-and-simulation) on the book that might be helpful

Bollywood Festive Nights at Union Square

Join us for an unforgettable **Bollywood Night** in the heart of San Francisco at Union Square – rhythm, fun, community. **5:00 – 6:00 PM** – *30 minute Bollywood* *Dance Lesson* + *Party* — we’ll teach you the steps, the flair, and the fun; then we dance it out together! **6:00 – 7:00 PM** – *30 minute Bollywood* *Dance Lesson* + *Party* — we’ll teach you the steps, the flair, and the fun; then we dance it out together! **7:00 – 8:00 PM** – *Dance Party* — We turn up the music and light up the floor with a 1-hour open dance party. 🌈 Open to all ages, all levels, all backgrounds. ✨ Come casual or dressed, no pressure! Bring your friends, learn some moves, find your groove, find your friends, be a part of a magical community once a month at Union Square. Previous class in 2025 summary joy v[ideo: ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHSENixJaVA&list=RDnHSENixJaVA&start_radio=1) Free class every month on 4th Friday of the Month except in August it will be on August 14th Classes go till end of September Park in garage, Uber over, or take Powell exit on Bart Do come say hello to us so we can welcome you in our La Dolce Vita :)