Armenian Culture

Дорогие друзья! Я приглашаю вас на встречу для практики русского языка как иностранного 🎉 📍 Где: Southbank Centre 🕖 Когда: каждый четверг в 19:00 💷 Стоимость участия: £5 В отличие от нашей традиционной встречи в пабе, это занятие будет более структурированным: • вы получите раздаточные материалы (handouts); • мы будем обсуждать интересные темы, делиться мнениями, дебатировать и играть — всё на русском! 🇷🇺 Эта встреча идеально подойдёт для тех, кто владеет русским языком на среднем уровне и выше, и хочет улучшить разговорные навыки в живом и увлекательном формате. Приходите — будет весело, полезно и по-русски! 😊

As part of an ongoing effort to reframe how its collection is activated and interpreted, [RAI FILM](https://raifilm.org.uk/) invited [KONTEKST Collective](https://www.kontekstcollective.com/) to develop an independent curatorial response to its film catalogue. **[The Transparent “I”: Authority and Authorship in Anthropological Filmmaking](https://raifilm.org.uk/events/the-transparent-i-authority-and-authorship-in-anthropological-filmmaking/)** brings together films that interrogate authority and authorship in ethnographic representation. The programme curated by KONTEKST Collective will feature the shorts *Wási* (2017), *All Eyez on Me!* (2021), *A Family Portrait* (2022), and *Making Worlds Otherwise* (2020). Through reflexive approaches and formal experimentation, these films invite the audience to think over the processes in which they were made, looking beyond common perspectives within the discipline. The screening will be followed by a conversation with members of the KONTEKST Collective, moderated by Lee Douglas (Centre for Visual Anthropology, Goldsmiths). **BOOK YOUR TICKETS HERE > [https://ticketlab.app/series/2610#/](https://ticketlab.app/series/2610#/)**

Flamenco Dance Classes for Improvers at Danceworks every Thursday! We will work on the placement of the body, the perception of the rhythm, clapping, footwork, and movements of arms and head. Choreography depends on the level: Alegrías, Bulerías, Tangos, Soleá, etc. If you have dancing shoes and clothes, bring them. Otherwise, don't worry, feel comfortable to dance! When? **Every Thursday** Time: **19:00 - 20:00** Where? **Danceworks** 16 Balderton St, London W1K 6TN Studio 4 Nearest Tube stations: **Bond St.** Marble Arch Cost? £12 per class. **Book here:** https://danceworks.com/london/classes/timetable/ Class bookings become available 7 days in advance. Online bookings close 15 minutes before the class starts but you can book in person up to the start time. **Waiting lists are available.** ***About Maika:*** Maika is a flamenco and Spanish dance teacher with more than 17 years of experience, teaching adults and children in Spain, the United States of America, Mexico, Canada, and UK. She also led flamenco classes at Rey Juan Carlos University from 2013 to 2018. Born and raised in Madrid (Spain), she began studying ballet and Spanish dance at the tender age of nine. Maika studied at Karen Taft Dance Academy and Flamenco Centre “Amor de Dios”, majoring in Spanish Dance at the Conservatory of Dance in Madrid. In 2003, she was awarded a Teaching Methodology Applied to Spanish Dance certificate and then focused her career on dance education. Maika has continued her professional training alongside teachers including Antonio Canales, Alfonso Losa, La Lupi, Rojas and Rodriguez. Maika co-founded the company Spanish Flamenco Tour, based in Miami (USA), a business dedicated to promoting flamenco and Spanish culture, to a local audience. Adding more strings to her bow, Maika embarked on a Master´s Degree in Leadership and Management of Cultural Projects at the Institute of Dance “Alicia Alonso”, Rey Juan Carlos University. Her final master’s project was based on promoting Spanish dance, receiving a First-Class Degree. Maika’s classes are designed to extract every student’s natural ability to dance and show them how wonderful and fun, this art form is.

***"In this complex and terrible development which has carried the epoch of class struggles toward new conditions, the proletariat of the industrial countries has completely lost the affirmation of its autonomous perspective and also, in the last analysis, its illusions, but not its being. It has not been suppressed. It remains irreducibly in existence within the intensified alienation of modern capitalism[.]"*** **\- Guy Debord\, *The Society of the Spectacle*** Welcome back readers! By popular request, we're bringing back (for a new generation of LMRG readers) an old favourite: the always-relevant Guy Debord and his masterful *Society of the Spectacle*. This is meeting two, where we'll be reading the fourth, fifth and sixth chapters. Find the classic text here: https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/debord/society.htm Or an alternative, possibly more readable translation here: [https://files.libcom.org/files/The%20Society%20of%20the%20Spectacle%20Annotated%20Edition.pdf](https://files.libcom.org/files/The%20Society%20of%20the%20Spectacle%20Annotated%20Edition.pdf) Often maligned as theorymaxxed nonsense but little-read, this slim volume is certainly dense with ideas - all of which carry as much relevance today as those half-forgotten postwar years when the Situationist International made its mark on the world, if not more. With the rise of the Internet and social media, the decline of literacy and the closing of the mass mind, the endless doom-loop of doomscrolling and bed-rotting, increasingly performative protest, the commodification of everything, the Epstein-approved culture war, and the theatre of spectacular cruelty that is imperialist colonial policy from Gaza to Venezuela, we really are living an age where everything that was once directly participated in has passed into representation. Every hand-grip one searches for to get some kind of grasp on the world seems to be a mirage; "participation" in anything, from politics to culture, has been reduced to fandom - limited to nothing more than expressing approval or disapproval through totally mediated social media platforms. Above it all stands an utterly corrupt, irresponsible elite class more and more transparent in how it relishes in conspiratorial play, power-games with unlimited stakes for us and no consequences for them. Such a world where power wears a shit-eating grin and keeps us off our balance by endlessly[ "flooding the zone"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flood_the_zone) (in Steve Bannon's terms) with distractions so intricate they short-circuit the collective brain is exactly what Debord not only predicted but described in frightening detail, with more than a little bit of humour. So let's dig in and find out: just what can we do to unplug from the spectacle? Is the spectacle even un-plug-from-able? Debord haters, cope and seethe: as a much more orthodox Marxist than he ever gets credit for, there really are some strategies in here. We just need to be creative. Take care and happy reading!

**This event is perfect for beginners looking to learn Italian in a casual and supportive environment. Join us to practice conversation skills, vocabulary, and pronunciation while connecting with others who share a love for the Italian language and culture.** **Whether you are planning a trip to Italy or simply want to expand your language skills, this Meetup is the perfect place to immerse yourself in all things Italian.** **Let's learn together and have fun while doing it!** ## 🕒 Agenda of the Event **1\. Benvenuti & Icebreaker** * **The Warm-up:** Grab a drink, settle in, and meet your fellow learners. * **Intro in Italian:** I will provide a simple "cheat sheet" so everyone can introduce themselves in Italian right away, even if it's your very first time! **2\. Speed Greeting "Mini\-Talks"** * **Asking & Answering:** We will learn some essential questions (Where are you from? Why are you learning Italian? How are you?...). * **Rotation:** We’ll practice these in pairs, to build your confidence and help you learn everyone's names. **3\. Interactive Learning & Games** * **The "Survival Kit" Challenge:** We’ll play games focused on "Useful Sentences" for travelers—how to order a coffee like a pro, ask for directions, or say "I don't understand!" * **Pronunciation Focus:** While we play, I’ll share some reading and pronunciation rules. **4\. Music & Culture** * **Italian Vibes:** We’ll listen to a short snippet of a famous Italian song and try to spot some of the words we learned. * **Q&A:** A relaxed moment to ask any questions about Italian culture, travel tips, or tricky grammar. **5\. Wrap\-up & Socializing** * Virtual high-fives and info about our next themed meetup! Francesca Pittau is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Join Zoom Meeting [https://us04web.zoom.us/j/74179075681?pwd=03FukYS4np48XhFwIYudX1vjipiaZq.1](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://us04web.zoom.us/j/74179075681?pwd%3D03FukYS4np48XhFwIYudX1vjipiaZq.1&sa=D&source=calendar&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw10jrZPIq4_JtNu9UhiYwP-) Meeting ID: 741 7907 5681 Passcode: 0S3xsb

I am excited to announce the launch of a series of healthy Persian cooking classes with Zohal. With her background as a street-food trader, she has developed a deep passion for sharing the joy of food. We will be hosting accessible yet delicious cooking workshops in her kitchen. During the class, participants will have the opportunity to cook alongside her and share tips. At the end of the session, guests will be served a delicious meal with tea and refreshments, allowing everyone to relax and socialise. Dish 1: Mirza Ghasemi is a delicious dish made primarily with eggplants, tomatoes, and eggs. Dish 2: Sabzi Ghormeh, a traditional Persian herb stew with 500g of lamb or beef. Dish 3: Lobia Plov (steamed Rice with Broad Beans) with julienned carrots, garlic, cumin, coriander, salt, pepper, vegetable oil. Refreshment Karak chai Herbal drink Saffron Tea Cookies Zohal has a Persian cat at home, so please bear this in mind if you have a cat allergy. Also, alcohol will not be available. Each dish will be shared in groups of three. A £25 contribution paid in advance to my bank account is requested to cover food and drink. Please contact me for the bank details. Depending on numbers, Zohal will host the class either at Mama Bistro (Bounds Green) or her home in Sheperd’s Bush. Zohal’s Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/zohal.kitchen](https://www.instagram.com/zohal.kitchen)? Are you interested in reading fiction and non-fiction in French Spanish, and English? -[www.meetup.com/gaia-books](www.meetup.com/gaia-books) -[www.meetup.com/gaia-libros](www.meetup.com/gaia-libros) -[www.meetup.com/gaia-livres](www.meetup.com/gaia-livres) -Instagram: @persian_culture* -Persian Culture Whatsapp group: [https://chat.whatsapp.com/EZk35ZbJZ6W6wwyHyuxoS2](https://chat.whatsapp.com/EZk35ZbJZ6W6wwyHyuxoS2)

Our 43rd Spiritual Creatives gathering - in person! Come and join us for a lovely walk and talk around Hampstead Heath. We are meeting just outside Hampstead Heath station (London Overground train) at 11.00 on Sunday the 26th of April. Please note: This is NOT Hampstead Station on the Northern Line! It is the Hampstead HEATH station. The Google link is here: [https://goo.gl/maps/AJCNoxkKNj6K9Gp77](https://goo.gl/maps/AJCNoxkKNj6K9Gp77) We will wait for people to arrive until 11.15am and then we will begin walking. If you arrive later, you will only be able to catch up with us at Kenwood House approximately between 12 and 12.30pm. You should be able to find us sitting around as a group having a drink. If the weather permits, you'll find us outside the main café, towards the back. Look for the guy with the multicoloured scarf... that's me! After a short break of 20-30 minutes, we then walk back through the Heath, taking the long way round to Parliament Hill, and conclude our stroll back to Hampstead Heath overground station around 2 to 2.30pm. (Please note that you may become so involved in your conversations that you end up losing sight of the main group! Unfortunately, there is no way for you to catch up with us once we have become separated (and we do NOT check our phones for texts or messages during our walk) so please be mindful and conscious to stay with the main group if you want to keep up. Also please bear in mind that Hampstead Heath can be muddy sometimes, so please wear the appropriate shoes). After returning to Hampstead Heath Overground station, many of our (usually hungry) members like to continue the camaraderie over lunch at one of the local cafés or restaurants. As our group has grown over the years, these gatherings can be quite large, so we usually have to split into smaller parties and explore different venues. Some of our favourite spots are Dominique’s Café (dominiquescafe.co.uk) and Silverberries (silverberry.net), both of which offer a welcoming atmosphere and delicious food. It’s a great way to wind down the walk and continue our conversations. Spiritual Creatives is a warm-hearted and popular meetup group, as you can see from our ratings and comments! We hope to meet you then! :-) Best wishes Cliff **Find out more about us at [https://www.spiritualarts.org.uk](https://www.spiritualarts.org.uk/).**

**A fresh take on dating for straight and LGBTQIA+ singles in their 30s, 40s and 50s, brought to you by LoMAZ. We visit a different museum on the last Friday of each month, before heading to the pub.** This month, join us for a relaxed evening of conversation and connections at the **National Gallery**. It's just like a usual LoMAZ event except for one thing: everyone there will be single. Come for friendship, come for dates, come along! [https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/](https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/) **HOW DOES IT WORK?** **6.00pm - 6:30pm: Meet and greet in the foyer of the main “Sainsbury Wing”Entrance of the National Gallery.** [Floorplan](https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/media/n1jh0au4/ng_online_map_downloadable_nov25.pdf) * Look out for LoMAZ hosts wearing a 'host' sticker in a yellow frame and they will welcome you. * You can choose to wear a LoMAZ logo sticker or a LoMAZ rainbow sticker, or both. Wearing stickers means everyone can see who is part of the group and helps you find us as we move around the museum. If you see someone with a LoMAZ sticker, feel free to chat to each other. **7.00 - 8.00pm: Explore the museum** * We'll then explore the museum together. Hosts will always be there to chat to. **8.30pm - late:** **Head to the pub.** * We'll carry on the evening in a nearby pub. ***Venue can be found in the event comments (visible only to members who have RSVP'd to this event).*** * As this is a free event we won't have a private space, but will aim to have a few tables reserved. So please expect some standing and mingling. **TICKETS:** Tickets are free and we do have a group booking however, if you arrive or choose to meet us inside the National Gallery then you need to book your own for 7pm using the following link. (https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/visiting/plan-your-visit/general-admission) **CONTACT AND GROUP LOCATION ON THE NIGHT:** * **We'll regularly update where the group is throughout the evening in the event comments.** * You can also message a host via Meetup if you have questions or any difficulties finding us. * Lates for Dates events do *not* have a WhatsApp group. **PLEASE NOTE:** * LoMAZ events are hosted by volunteers. Please change your RSVP if you can no longer attend. * This is a mixed orientation event. Let’s keep it friendly and respectful—please report any concerns to the hosts or Meetup. * All attendees at this meetup are coming as individuals and are responsible for their own security, and health and safety. Please check the Meetup Help section and the National Gallery for their policies. **Thank you for your interest in the LoMAZ and our Museum Lates for Dates event.** Image credit: Tiia Monto, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

### **Beginner to Mahjong?** Mahjong is a **timeless tile-based game** that has been played across Asia for over 300 years and is now gaining global popularity. Unlike poker, where you recognise the cards instantly, **Mahjong requires learning the tiles and rules before you can play**—and that’s where many beginners struggle. We’ve often heard how friends and family don’t always have the patience to teach every detail, and after hours of trying, beginners still **feel confused about the game**. That’s why **Dear Asia Mahjong Workshops** are here to help! ### **Why Learn With Us?** **We’re Professional Teachers** – We understand how people learn best and have designed two **step-by-step workshops** that makes Mahjong easy and engaging.**Mahjong is More Than a Game** – It’s a vital part of Asian social culture, and **Dear Asia London**, as a language and culture school, is passionate about sharing these traditions with you. ### **Ready to Play Guaranteed**! In this **Newbie workshop**, you’ll start playing right away! We’ll introduce you to the tiles, sets, and winning hands while guiding you through the basic rules and game rhythm. By the end of this session, we can guarantee that everyone who comes will learn how to play, and feel confident and ready to play Mahjong with others. ### **What’s Included:** **Mahjong Instructor** – Our experienced instructor will guide you in learning and playing.**Mahjong Worksheets** – Specially designed materials to help players of all levels learn and level up!**Free Tea & Coffee** – Enjoy a warm drink while you play.**Occasional Festive Treats** – Depending on the monthly theme, we might treat you to some special Asian delights! ### **A Social Game in a Social Space** Mahjong isn’t just about strategy—it’s about **bringing people together**. Our workshop offers a fun, welcoming space where you can meet new people, have a great time and maybe even organise future game nights together! We love seeing friendships blossom over Mahjong. Small note that there may be times when we don’t have four players equally per table. In such cases, we’ll combine players across the tables to ensure a full game, with guidance from our instructor of course. ### **Details of the Event** * **Where**: Aldgate Tower just outside of Aldgate East Station Exit 1 * **Who**: New beginners to Mahjong, come alone or come with your friends / family * **What is included**: worksheets, expert guidance, free tea and coffee, unbeatable vibes ### **Important Notes** 1. Each attendee must be registered to our building in addition to the meetup ticketing. If you book two tickets, we will need both individuals’ full names and email addresses for registration. 2. On **the same week**, you will receive an email from "Aldgate Tower" with your **building entry invitation**. This email includes a **unique visitor QR code**, which you’ll need to scan at the ground floor speed gates. Then, head straight up to the **6th floor**, where we’ll be ready to welcome you. 3. Please check your **spam or junk folder** if you don’t see the email. Still nothing? Send us a message / whatsapp us on +44 7423 755734 , and we’ll assist you promptly.

Join us on **Saturday 25 April, from 11 am till 4 pm,** for a joyful celebration of **International Mother Earth Day** in **Compton Terrace Gardens**, in front of Union Chapel. Discover the trees, plants, animals and insects that share our space, and learn about their usefulness, symbolism and medicinal properties. Enjoy homemade cakes, tea and coffee while supporting the wonderful work of the gardening team. With games and activities for children, this is a relaxed, family-friendly event connecting with nature and community.

Let's grab some coffee/food and share a morning chat! The East Market has an ample parking lot and outdoor and indoor seating. Grab a cup of coffee from Winston's Coffee & Waffles or on your way to East Market and meet us on the second floor - table behind or east of the elevator. Per what this group is about: "Everyone is welcome! International transplants to Columbus who want to improve language skills, Columbus residents who want to discuss international travel and culture, and anyone who enjoys getting together for good conversations."

ASH is Atheists, Skeptics and Humanists of First Unitarian Universalists of Columbus Ohio TBD Snacks are usually available, and you are welcome to bringing something to share!

Ciao a tutt\*! Let's meet Monday at 6.30pm at the Upper Arlington Library (Tremont Branch) in **Meeting Room A** to speak in Italian for 1 hour.

**Pickleball + coffee + community 🌱** **Let’s kick things off with pickleball at Park of Roses, then join us at Blackend Coffee to unwind and connect.** **Pickleball 🏓 10:30am-12:30pm** **Blackend Coffee ☕️ 🌯 1-3pm** **All levels welcome!** **Can’t waitt to see everyone!** **📍 Park of Roses** **3901 N High St** **Columbus, OH 43214** **📍Blackend Coffee** **2619 N High St** **Columbus, OH 43202**

Get ready for a fun night with amazing food, great energy, and even better company! 🥰✨ 🍽️ Portia’s Café — 6:30PM 🛼 Skate Zone 71 — 8:30PM Come join us for delicious vegan food and/or roller skating — it’s totally up to you! Whether you come for the food, the skating, or both… you’re in for a great time 💗 📍 Portia’s Café 4424 Indianola Ave Columbus, OH 43214 📍 Skate Zone 71 4900 Evanswood Dr Columbus, OH 43229