Animation & Visual Effects

Sorry for the last minute planning. Please come join me for Bubble Planet before they close if you are free! **BUBBLE PLANET** At this immersive experience in Toronto, *bubbles are reimagined bigger than ever*. Enjoy the latest VR technology, illusions, ball pits & more at Bubble PLANET [BUBBLE PLANET Toronto: An Immersive Experience](https://bubble-planet.com/toronto/) Please bring your photography skills to the event! **DATE: SUNDAY JANUARY 18th at 11 AM** **ADDRESS:** **30 Hanover Road, North York, ON M3K 0E2**, within the Downsview Airport Lands (YZD) area **Tickets are 33.93 taxes in. You will need to buy your tickets online yourself** Afterwards, we may head over to Hangar Skating right next to it. Please bring your own skates, otherwise it cost $5 for rentals

## Spanish Conversation & Coffee @ Cafe Panchita ☕ **¿Quieres practicar tu español en un ambiente relajado y con sabor latino?** Join us for our 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:** Every Sunday * **Time:** 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM * **Where:** Cafe Panchita (152 Lakeshore Rd E, Mississauga) * **Price:** $10 CAD per person (First time Free! - 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!**

[https://goodvibes.to/event/sexoMCv6ELeMpd2md](https://goodvibes.to/event/sexoMCv6ELeMpd2md) Come enjoy a relaxing Sunday with Goodvibes - Curl up in our theatre room to watch Zootopia 2 with a great group of friends who enjoy watching new movies every Sunday. Ticket to event includes ticket to movie: \- $5 per ticket\. \- Free for subscribers $4 per month\. \- Location revealed with ticket\. [https://goodvibes.to/event/sexoMCv6ELeMpd2md](https://goodvibes.to/event/sexoMCv6ELeMpd2md) \- Feel free to bring your own snacks/drinks to enjoy during the movie \- Hosted in personal theatre room\. Location revealed only to ticket holders on this page and sent to your e\-mail the day before\. \- Refunds are allowed up to 24hrs before event start date\. Event host: Kynan B. For any other questions feel to reach out to me! [kynanbertulli@gmail.com](mailto:kynanbertulli@gmail.com) Thanks, hope to see you there Kynan Goodvibes

\*These classes are not a language exchange, but instead are meant to be a step in between so that students feel confident maintaining in depth and grammatically correct oral conversations outside of class\* \***Meetup event numbers only tend to show new students registering and do not include returning students attending class.** **Per class, there is an average of 7 students.** The first 2 classes are free and then only cost between $15 and $45 depending on which type of class you want to continue with\* These French, English (for Spanish and French speakers only), and Spanish classes are primarily meant for adults who are travellers, or who are planning to live in a French, English, or Spanish-speaking country. The classes are primarily oral-based through guided conversations. They will teach you how to handle conversations in situations such as **"Going to the Convenience Store"**, **"Making Plans"**, **"Negotiating Prices"**, and **"Going out for a Drink"**. To ensure that students get used to using the language automatically, students will learn to maintain contextual conversations with timing before moving on to the next lesson. **Program is also offered in private and online classes**. Call (647)787-9953, e-mail us info@monkeylingo.ca, or visit monkeylingo.ca for more information! **Online and private classes are also available!** No other language classes are as oral as these ones. We guarantee it! Group classes are hosted at **600 Bay Street** every Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Call (647)904-5285 upon arrival if no one is there to let you in, and someone will come down to let you in. Cheap parking can be found using the "Spot Hero" app.

*** **🍗 Sunday Wing Meetup at Wild Wing 🍻** 📍 **Wild Wing – 362 Bloor St W, Toronto** 🗓 **Sunday, January 18** ⏰ **Meet at 10:45 AM** *(Look for Nick outside with the Meetup sign — doors open at 11:00 AM)* **Why we’re meeting:** We’re taking advantage of Wild Wing’s **limited-time All-You-Can-Eat wing deal — just $24.99 for endless wings** (drink purchase required)! 🐔🔥 With **over 100 flavours** to choose from, this is a wing lover’s dream. Not feeling *that* hungry? No problem — you’re welcome to order from their **regular menu** instead. 💸 **Each person is responsible for their own bill.** 📖 **Check out the menu here:** 👉 [https://www.wildwingrestaurants.com/menus/](https://www.wildwingrestaurants.com/menus/) **NOTE - this is a fully accessible venue (entrance and bathrooms)** 📌 **RSVP note:** Please **respect your RSVP** so we can give the restaurant a heads-up — **but feel free to just show up** if your schedule is uncertain. Last-minute wing decisions are totally valid 😉 Come hungry, bring your flavour strategy, and get ready for a fun Sunday feast! 🍗😄 ***

\*These classes are not a language exchange, but instead are meant to be a step in between so that students feel confident maintaining in depth and grammatically correct oral conversations outside of class\* \***Meetup event numbers only tend to show new students registering and do not include returning students attending class.** **Per class, there is an average of 7 students.** The first 2 classes are free and then only cost between $18 and $36 depending on which type of class you want to continue with\* These French, English (For Spanish and French speakers only), and Spanish classes are primarily meant for adults who are travellers, or who are planning to live in a French, English, or Spanish-speaking country. The classes are primarily oral-based through guided conversations. They will teach you how to handle conversations in situations such as **"Going to the Convenience Store"**, **"Making Plans"**, **"Negotiating Prices"**, and **"Going out for a Drink"**. To ensure that students get used to using the language automatically, students will learn to maintain contextual conversations with timing before moving on to the next lesson. Call (647)787-9953, e-mail us info@monkeylingo.ca, or visit monkeylingo.ca for more information! **Online and private classes are also available!** No other language classes are as conversational as these ones. We guarantee it! Cheap parking can be found using the "Spot Hero" app.

# ❄️🥾 **Mount Pleasant Cemetery Winter Walk** **Toronto’s Most Peaceful Winter Walk** Join me for a gentle **90-minute winter stroll** through one of Toronto’s most beautiful hidden gems — **Mount Pleasant Cemetery**. This isn’t just a cemetery — it’s like walking through a **living museum and botanical garden**, filled with winding paths, towering evergreens, and that quiet, magical winter stillness that makes you forget you’re in the city at all. It’s also one of the **best places to meet friendly people**, share great conversation, and enjoy winter without the chaos. Calm. Cozy. Surprisingly social. “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.” So **layer up, grab your cutest toque, and let’s make January our personality** 😏❄️ *** 💫 **Did you know?** When Mount Pleasant first opened in **1876**, it was actually a **Victorian-era destination**. Torontonians would dress up, hop on a streetcar, and spend the day picnicking and strolling here before heading back downtown. Very *romanticizing your life*, 19th-century edition. *** 🕚 **Meetup Details** **Meetup Time:** 11:00am *(I’ll wait 5 minutes — winter waits for no one)* **Meetup Spot:** Inside the **main gates of Mount Pleasant Cemetery** at the **Yonge Street entrance** (the big stone archway). 👀 **Look for me:** I’ll be wearing my **famous Moose Hat** 🦌 **End Spot:** Right back where we started — easy, breezy, no stress. *** 🍗 **Lunch After** After the walk, join us for a **cozy lunch at Swiss Chalet**. Warm food, friendly prices, and excellent post-walk vibes — the perfect winter reward. *** 💲 **Meetup Fee** $5 (cash 💵 or e-transfer 📲 to [mathewmaclean@hotmail.com**](http://mathewmaclean@hotmail.com%2A%2A/) You can send it before or on the day of the walk. *** 🧣 **What to Bring** • Warm boots and layers • Hat and gloves • A cozy drink ☕ • A small snack if you like *** ☃️ **Weather** This walk happens in **any kind of weather** — snow, cold, crisp winter magic. We’ll only cancel if it hits **-20°C or colder**. Remember: **no bad weather, just bad clothing** 😉 *** 💬 **Final Notes** • You can **just show up** — no need to commit early • Please keep an eye out for updates in case of cancellation • 📱 **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! ✨ This is one of the **calmest, friendliest, and most peaceful ways** to spend a winter morning in Toronto — good company, great conversation, and a setting that feels miles away from city life. **Organizer:** Mathew 📩 **torontomoviesandoutings@hotmail.com** If someone asks what you did this weekend and you say *“stayed in”*… just know this walk happened 😌❄️

\*These classes are not a language exchange, but instead are meant to be a step in between so that students feel confident maintaining in depth and grammatically correct oral conversations outside of class\* \***Meetup event numbers only tend to show new students registering and do not include returning students attending class.** **Per class, there is an average of 7 students.** The first 2 classes are free and then only cost between $18 and $36 depending on which type of class you want to continue with\* These French, English (For Spanish and French speakers only), and Spanish classes are primarily meant for adults who are travellers, or who are planning to live in a French, English, or Spanish-speaking country. The classes are primarily oral-based through guided conversations. They will teach you how to handle conversations in situations such as **"Going to the Convenience Store"**, **"Making Plans"**, **"Negotiating Prices"**, and **"Going out for a Drink"**. To ensure that students get used to using the language automatically, students will learn to maintain contextual conversations with timing before moving on to the next lesson. Call (647)787-9953, e-mail us info@monkeylingo.ca, or visit monkeylingo.ca for more information! **Online and private classes are also available!** No other language classes are as conversational as these ones. We guarantee it! Cheap parking can be found using the "Spot Hero" app.

Join us for the striking new Theatre Smith-Gilmour (Metamorphoses 2023) adaptation of **Pu Songling: Strange Tales**. **Plot:** Songling is a 17th century Chinese writer whose work blends myth and reality to criticize the dark side of society. Depicting the ‘strange’ in stories about ghosts and foxes, he shows the real world. Whimsical and spine-tingling, this dynamic production captures the spirit of a literary master whose work touches on timeless themes that bind us across generations. *”[Theatre Smith-Gilmour] have been producing thought-provoking movement based work that challenges the status quo for 42 years and have done it brilliantly.*” ***—Lynn Slotkin*** \*\*\* **OUR DISCOUNT TICKETS** Our group will receive 20% off the regular ticket price. All ticket prices include HST and service fee. **Discount Tickets:** * **$89.05** (reg. $111.31) **Tier A Adult** * **$71.87** (reg. $89.84) **Tier A Senior** * **$75.49** (reg. $94.36) **Tier B Adult** * **$61.02** (reg. $76.28) **Tier B Senior** **Meetup Fee:** $3 cash\* per attendee (Please pay Rosa exact change at the meetup spot) \**Note: Interac etransfers, cheques, etc. are not accepted.* \*\*\* **HOW TO PAY** 1\. Sign up on this event page\. 2\. Send an email to **belindameetup@gmail.com** to request the promo code. 3\. Specify you are inquiring about **Pu Songling** 4\. Include the number of tickets you want 5\. Include the name you use on this Thumbs Up Theatre website\. 5\. If you don't receive a reply in your inbox\, check your junk box in case it has gone there\. 6\. Once you receive the promo code\, purchase your tickets **[online](https://www.crowstheatre.com/cart/show/4810).** **Tickets selected will show up at the regular price but will change to the discounted price when you enter the promo code at checkout. Please ensure the price is correct before applying payment**. Phone the theatre box office @ 647 341 7390 if you need assistance. **Seating Arrangements:** Seating is general admission. We will get together before and after the show. \*\*\* **DETAILS** **When:** Sunday, January 18, 2026 **Time:** Show starts at 2 p.m. Meet Rosa at 1:15 p.m. **Where:** Crow’s Theatre. 345 Carlaw Avenue, Toronto **Show Length**: 90 Minutes (no intermission) \*\*\* **MEETUP ARRANGEMENTS** Meet Rosa at 1:15 p.m. in the theatre lobby. She will be wearing a pink fascinator hat. Please pay your $3 meetup fee to Rosa at the meetup spot. **After-Show Meetup Spot:** See Rosa in the lobby after the show. She will be wearing her pink fascinator hat. **\*\*THUMBS UP CELLPHONE POLICY:\*\*** Cellphones must be turned off, or kept in silent or flight mode (no sound and no vibration), and MUST NOT be pulled out or used under any circumstances during shows. **[Full details](https://www.meetup.com/thumbs-up-theatre-toronto/events/243426512/)**.

Let’s start the new year by attending the annual New Year celebration at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre - Oshogatsukai (New Year's Festival), filled with food/marketplace vendors, as well as many traditional Japanese activities and entertainment such as * Mochi tsuki (making mochi) * Shishi Mai Dance (lion dance) * Kagami Biraki * Kakizome (calligraphy) * Taiko Performance * Fukuwarai * Traditional games for kids * Food and market vendors, and more! The New year celebration is happening at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre on Sunday Jan 18 from 11 am to 5pm. You can find more information here, including how to purchase tickets ($10 for non-members, $5 for JCCC members) https://www.jccc.on.ca/event/2026/01/oshogatsu-kai-2026 \*Some vendors may only accept cash. Since there is no ATM at the JCCC, please be sure to bring cash with you. **Where and when to meet:** Meet me (Michelle) at 11:30 am inside the AROMA cafe 2300 Yonge street (Yonge and Eglinton). I will wait around for 15 minutes for people to arrive and will cross the street and head towards the subway. We will be taking the 34C bus. Keep an eye on this event page for any future updates.

## **🔥 LeaderSHIFT: New Year, New Opportunities** ### **Private Group Visit to The National Franchise Show (FREE Admission)** The new year is the perfect time to **reset, explore options, and think bigger** — without pressure, sales pitches, or noise. LeaderSHIFT is organizing a **group visit** to **The National Franchise Show in Toronto**, where attendees can explore **business ownership, franchising, and alternative paths to entrepreneurship** — all under one roof. This is **not** about selling franchises. It’s about **exposure, learning, and better questions**. *** ### **📍 Event Details** **Event:** The National Franchise Show – Toronto **Dates:** January 17 & 18 **Time:** • Saturday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM • Sunday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM **Location:** Metro Toronto Convention Centre 🎟 **FREE Admission** (regularly $15) Promo Code: **OWNABIZ26** *** ### **💡 Why Attend with LeaderSHIFT?** * Explore **dozens of business and franchise opportunities** * Learn about **ownership, systems, and scalability** * Attend **free educational seminars** * Ask real questions — no pressure * Connect with others who are **thinking seriously about their next chapter** This is ideal if you are: * Considering entrepreneurship but unsure where to start * Exploring alternatives to traditional employment * Curious about franchises, systems, or structured businesses * Looking to make **smarter decisions in 2026** *** ### **👥 How This Works** This is a **self-guided visit** with optional group coordination: * Come for as little or as long as you like * Explore at your own pace * Optional meet-up time for LeaderSHIFT members on-site No obligation. No expectations. *** ### **⚠️ Important Notes** * This event is **informational**, not a sales event * LeaderSHIFT is not affiliated with any specific franchise * Come curious, not committed *** ### **✅ RSVP to Save Your Spot** RSVP here so we know who’s attending and can coordinate group timing. Let’s start the year with **clarity, options, and better conversations**.

**Join us for a calming and creative** [Watercolour Workshop](https://drcolorons.com/product/paint-chill-watercolour-workshop/) **afternoon!** Whether you’re completely new to watercolor or already in love with the softness and flow of the medium, this workshop is designed for *all levels*. No pressure, no perfect lines, just color, intuition, and joy. I’ll provide everything you need: watercolor paper, brushes, palettes, paints, and a little spark of inspiration. You just bring yourself (and maybe a friend!), ready to slow down, breathe, and let the water and pigment do their magic ✨ **NB:** This is not a step-by-step “copy the instructor” class. You’ll have the freedom to paint in your own style, explore techniques, and express whatever feels right in the moment. I’ll be there to guide you, answer questions, demonstrate effects (like gradients, wet-on-wet, texture, etc.), and help you discover what watercolor can do, *without taking away your creative freedom.* By the end, you’ll walk away with: ✨ your own watercolor artwork ✨ a better feel for the medium ✨ and a refreshed, happy mind 💛 Let’s paint, relax, and let the colors flow together!

*Physically Accessible Venue* This is an opportunity to meet up for some LGBTQ2IA-flavoured gaming and socializing—allies also welcome. Come for the gaming, socializing, not to mention the draft! :) Be sure to invite friends and such, too. Although Fred, your amiable host, starts the event at 3pm, feel free to drop in when you are able, Steadfast opens at Noon! You'll have access to a robust library of board games, and attendees are welcome to bring their own games. There is no event fee. Instead we ask attendees to purchase beverages or food from the venue, Steadfast Brewery, conveniently located at Lansdowne and Dundas, 301 Lansdowne Ave. Of course, since they are offering us their space for free, please consider buying a drink if you can. Note - Sunday's is usually Miguel's day off, he may or may not pop in to cook up his amazing tacos, if the kitchen is closed, Steadfast welcomes outside food should you be hungry. We provide nametag stickers with a pronoun field; we want this to be a comfortable environment for everyone, kindly respect people's listed or stated pronouns. * If you are unsure of someone's pronouns, don't assume: Ask, Respect and Practice * Definitely ask before taking pictures/videos Steadfast Brewery is an accessible space with a smooth entrance and large single stall washrooms available on the main floor. For those with sensory concerns, there may be possible loud noises. Steadfast offers an annual Brew Membership called **The Mug Club** that offers the following: Your own mug! It has your name on it and is reserved for you. A larger pour-19.5 oz vs 16 oz 1$ off pours in that mug (if you do the math, this sums to about a 40% discount on beer to stay, I think) 1 free growler fill a month (15$ value each, so $180 value for the year) 30% off merch. It costs $150 year one, $100 every year after that.

2026 may be the last year many developers write code by hand. We need coding agents to solve complex problems in production codebases, but vibe coding alone won’t get us there. Vibe coding is all gas, no brakes. It burns up the context window until the agent slips on its own slop. You can go fast at first, but the more you stuff into the context window, the more tangled its outputs get. While the industry is rapidly increasing code generation speed, we still have to understand, review, merge, and maintain what gets shipped. This talk featuring Michael Geiger will outline how coding agents (Claude Code + Gas Town) work and a framework for orchestrating them to solve complicated problems in complex codebases. It’s about steering the model: doing the research to align intent, planning the approach up front, implementing in parallel steps, and breaking early. Human judgment still matters, but it should be spent on high-leverage decisions: what to build, what to forbid, and “what is quality?”, not cleaning up slop. Attendees will leave with a checklist to identify workflow and environment gaps that hold agents back, so you and your team can ship higher-quality software starting tomorrow.

Join us Saturday, 1/31 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm for an evening at The Cozy at Portia’s Café. Come learn about this local, grassroots animal rights organization and our current campaigns. Whether you want to do more for animals or simply meet other activists and vegans, this is the place for you. Bring your friends — all animal lovers are welcome. Enjoy games, socializing, and meaningful connections with fellow vegans and animal advocates. Light snacks and drinks will be provided. Feel free to purchase food from Portia’s if you’d like — it’s completely optional. Location: Portia’s Café 3083 Indianola Ave, Columbus, OH 43202 The Cozy is located right next door.

## Learn Infrastructure-as-Code (the FUN Way) — Through Minecraft 🎮☁️ **Joint Meetup: Azure CBUS × Columbus HashiCorp User Group × DevOps Columbus** What if learning Terraform and Infrastructure-as-Code didn’t feel like a whitepaper… but more like a game? Join us for a joint Azure CBUS, Columbus HashiCorp User Group, and DevOps Columbus meetup where **Mark Tinderholt** \(Principal Architect\, Microsoft Azure \| HashiCorp Ambassador \| “The Azure Terraformer”\) shows how **Minecraft** can be used as a surprisingly powerful way to understand real-world Infrastructure-as-Code concepts. In this session, Mark will demonstrate how Terraform and Azure can be used to provision, configure, and manage Minecraft servers—while teaching the same patterns you’d use for production cloud infrastructure. ### What we’ll cover * Infrastructure-as-Code fundamentals using **Terraform** * Provisioning real infrastructure on **Azure** * Applying **IaC best practices** (immutability, repeatability, versioning) * How playful environments like Minecraft make complex concepts *click* * Why learning through experimentation beats click-ops every time ### Who should attend * Developers, platform engineers, and cloud engineers * Terraform users (new or experienced) * Anyone curious about Infrastructure-as-Code but tired of boring examples * Minecraft fans who want to see it used in a totally unexpected way No prior Minecraft experience required—just curiosity and a willingness to learn infrastructure the fun way. Come for the blocks, stay for the Terraform. 🧱➡️📐 Want to be a speaker? submit your talk to our Call for Presenters!!! https://sessionize.com/azure-cbus-2026/

**Calling all queer crochet enthusiasts;** I am a visual artist located in Columbus that is searching for people who may want to gather while also participating in creating a piece of artwork. My goal is to spend time enjoying one another’s company while making a work of art that will be displayed within our community. I plan to teach people to crochet (if unfamiliar) while also inviting current fiber artists to join us for some much-needed social interaction. There are no expectations from those who attend, materials will be included, and any amount of participation is welcome! If you have a favorite crochet hook or current project you are welcome to bring that along too! The primary goal is to foster a safe space for our community to chat, create and be. For further information please email [landerknits@outlook.com.](http://landerknits@outlook.com.) \*This will be our 2nd meeting, bring friends and make new ones. Come as you are and make along side other like-minded folks.

Join us as we get together for something dark, humorous, twisted, violent and thrilling: SEND HELP! Rachael McAdams and Dylan O’Brien star in this film that follows a worker and her boss stranded on an island following a plane crash and their attempts to survive. Here are details, trailer and a plan for this event: DESCRIPTION: Two office colleagues find themselves stranded on a deserted island after they are the only survivors of a plane crash. They must overcome past grievances and work together to survive, but ultimately, it is an unsettling and darkly humorous battle of wills and wits to make it out alive. The film is directed by Sam Raimi (the Evil Dead franchise, the Toby Maguire Spider-Man trilogy) and stars Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien. TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4wiXj9NmEE PLAN: Details for this event have already been confirmed! Please purchase your ticket for the 7:15pm showing and meet in the lobby area between 6:45 and 7:00pm! Possible pre-show bite – we’ll confirm that part as the date gets closer! Tickets just $5.50 and advance purchase is advised! Once you have yours, please list your seat number in the Comments below! Look forward to seeing you there, Dan

Welcome to Casual Boardgames, where we enjoy classic tabletop games and social deduction games while bonding over good food, drinks, and great conversations. 
We started this group to meet new people and make new friends, and bonding over games in a relaxed atmosphere is a great way to do that. We currently meet near route 23 and Polaris Parkway, and this is close to areas like Powell, Lewis Center, Worthington, and parts of Westerville and Columbus. 
Feel free to bring your own games or play one of the many games our members bring. If you are inexperienced, we will help you learn. 
Here are just a few examples of the kind of games we play. 
Tabletop/board games: Splendor, Catan, Azul, Dominion, 7 Wonders… 
Social deduction games: Code Names, Chameleon, Werewords… 
IMPORTANT: 
1. While we love playing a variety of games and competing, we are not just about the games. We interact and talk while playing, and this leads to a lot of laughter and fun. If you just want to compete and focus solely on the game, then this is probably not the group you are looking for. 
2. Many people join groups like this and never (or rarely) show up after weeks or months. If you join and never really come, we will eventually remove you from the group as a courtesy to our members. Why? Because limiting group conversations (on the app) to regular members makes communication and planning much easier. Also, while it may be rare, it protects members from people who join because they are interested in following a person instead of having a real interest in our group. If you get removed, it is just because you haven’t come, and we follow this protocol as a courtesy to our regular game players.

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 **Abstract** GitHub Copilot is rapidly changing how developers write, understand, and maintain code. Powered by generative AI and deeply integrated into modern development environments, Copilot acts as an intelligent coding assistant, helping developers move faster while maintaining quality and focus. In this session, we’ll explore what GitHub Copilot is, how it works, and where it fits into a real-world developer workflow. We’ll break down what Copilot can (and cannot) do, where it can be used, and how licensing differs for individuals and organizations. Most importantly, this talk goes beyond theory with a live, hands-on demo showcasing Copilot inside the IDE and on GitHub, demonstrating how it can assist with code generation, refactoring, learning new APIs, and accelerating day-to-day development tasks. Designed for developers, technical leads, and engineering managers, this session provides a practical introduction to AI-assisted development, highlights best practices for getting value from Copilot, and closes with guidance on how to continue learning and evolving alongside this rapidly advancing tool. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of how GitHub Copilot can enhance productivity, improve developer experience, and fit into modern software teams today, not someday. **YouTube Link** TBA