Black Singles

ABCD Reads "**Heart the Lover**" by Lily King. [[RESULTS](https://opavote.com/results/6289524441481216) of the poll for this event] **:: ABOUT THE BOOK ::** "For its first half...a wry, witty, exquisitely evocative campus tale, a fevered fiction of a youthful love triangle, and a reflection,...on the growth and development of a writer. By the end, it stands as one of the most emotionally devastating and soulfully wise novels I have ever read ... Literary without pretension, emotional without maudlin sentimentality. It must be said, however, that King skirts perilously close to the latter in Part 3, and it is a tribute to the power of her moral vision, the precision of her prose, and her animating empathy that the novel avoids bathos and pulls off these wild swerves convincingly ... Heartrending, swoonily romantic, rigorously clear-sighted." (from [The Boston Globe](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/09/23/arts/lily-king-heart-the-lover/)) "Our narrator understands good love stories—their secrets and subtext, their highs and their free falls. But her greatest love story, the one she lived, never followed the simple rules. In the fall of her senior year of college, she meets two star students from her 17th-Century Lit class: Sam and Yash. Best friends living off-campus in the elegant house of a professor on sabbatical, the boys invite her into their intoxicating world of academic fervor, rapid-fire banter and raucous card games. They nickname her Jordan, and she quickly discovers the pleasures of friendship, love and her own intellectual ambition. Youthful passion is unpredictable though, and she soon finds herself at the center of a charged and intricate triangle. As graduation comes and goes, choices made will alter these three lives forever. Decades later, Jordan is living the life she dreamed of, and the vulnerable days of her youth seem comfortably behind her. But when a surprise visit and unexpected news brings the past crashing into the present, Jordan returns to a world she left behind and is forced to confront the decisions and deceptions of her younger self. Written with the superb wit and emotional sensitivity fans and critics of Lily King have come to adore, *Heart the Lover* is a deeply moving story that celebrates love, friendship, and the transformative nature of forgiveness. Wise, unforgettable, and with a delightful connective thread to *Writers & Lovers*, this is King at her very best, affirming her as a masterful chronicler of the human experience and one of the finest novelists at work today." (from [Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/228110489-heart-the-lover)) **:: ABOUT THE EVENT ::** You are welcome to arrive 30 minutes before the event and stay 30 minutes or longer afterward to connect with other attendees outside the book talk. Please ensure you have read the book before attending (though finishing any book is not a barrier to participating, as long as you don't mind spoilers). First-time attendees can join for free. If the event is full, we maintain an unofficial waitlist. Please send [Michael](https://www.meetup.com/members/55295192/) a direct message for more information, in either case. We request a $3 contribution from regular attendees to help cover our monthly meetup costs. **:: ABOUT OUR NEXT BOOK ::** At the end of each event, we will ask for nominees for our next book. If you have a good one in mind, please ensure it is between 200-400 pages long, available from the Toronto Public Library, and counts as contemporary literary fiction (though these are not hard and fast rules). When enough nominees are collected, Michael will send the members a direct message with a link where you can vote.

## 🎲 Toronto Backgammon Association **"Roll the dice, Join the fun!"** Looking for the perfect blend of strategy and social vibes? Welcome to the **Toronto Backgammon Association**! Whether you’re a beginner just learning the "doubling cube" or a seasoned shark looking for your next challenge, we have a seat for you at the board. We are a diverse community of all ages and skill levels meeting weekly in Toronto (and sometimes online) to keep the dice tumbling. Come for the strategic deep-dives, stay for the great conversations and friendly competition. *** ### 🏆 Weekly Tournaments & Meetups Ready to test your skills? We host regular tournaments where you can compete for more than just bragging rights. * **Cafe Entry Fee:** **$15** (Provides access to the venue and casual play). * **Tournament Entry:** **$20** (Optional for those seeking a challenge). * **Big Payouts:** We believe in rewarding our players—**90%** of all tournament entry fees are awarded directly as prizes to the winners! *** ### 💡 Why Join Us? * **All Skill Levels Welcome:** Our experienced players are always happy to share tips and tricks to help you advance your gameplay. * **A Welcoming Environment:** We pride ourselves on being a friendly, inclusive space for everyone from 18 to 80. * **Strategy Nights:** Sharpen your tactical thinking and learn the math behind the moves in a fun, low-pressure setting. Don't just play—belong. Grab a drink, find a board, and get ready for a memorable backgammon experience in the heart of Toronto. **Let’s see those doubles!**

Join us every Tuesday night at a coffee shop to practice conversation, while enjoying a cup of coffee or tea together. Our topics change each week, but the English practice does not! We are always open for Q & A (question and answer) about Canadian culture, life in the greater Toronto area, or anything else you can think of!

### The Hip Haus presents: [Professionals Networking Event](https://thehiphaus.com "https://thehiphaus.com")! Hosted at Mademoiselle ### \*\*\*\* What is The Hip Haus? \*\*\*\*The Hip Haus is an organization that exists to empower young and experienced professionals alike in the GTA and help the growth of local business. As professionals (especially post pandemic world) it is sometimes difficult to network with other like minded individuals, get good career advice or simply make connections with others you may be able to help or get help from. The Hip Haus is committed to providing social gatherings in an atmosphere where such networking can take place. \*\*\*\* Who Should Attend? \*\*\*\*The Hip Haus events are ***19+***. The focus however is the growth and development of professionals in the GTA. It doesn’t matter if you are a business owner, have a job, are looking for a job, recently graduated university/college, still in university/college, looking for others to launch a new idea or just want to meet other professionals, our events are for you. Remember that Industry is Industry. One is not better than the other to The Hip Haus. We are expecting a diverse range of industry professionals. Our events in clude professionals from Tech & AI to Entrepreneurs, Musicians, Artists, Bankers, I.T Professionals, Accountants, Investors, Advertising/Marketing Professionals, Bloggers, Authors, Lawyers, Doctors, Dentists (This List Can Clearly Go On). ALL ARE WELCOME! \*\*\*\* What to Expect at Our Events? \*\*\*\*Bring Business cards or have your LinkedIn QR code at the ready. Networking! That is the key to these events. Sure it can be a great place to hang out and have a beer with a few friends but it is important to come with an open mind to meet new people and make new connections. Build your network of friends/colleagues/advisors to help yourself as well as them. The Hip Haus wants the professionals of the GTA to come together to help foster personal and professional development. \*\*\*\* Dress Code! \*\*\*\*This is a tricky one. There is NO strict dress code but remember this; you are meeting professionals in an informal manner and we all know first impressions last forever. Come dressed in a way that would allow you to be comfortable and professional according to your industry. Consider This…would a professional musician/artist necessarily dress the same as an investment banker at work? Be who you are or who you want to be. #YoungProfessionalsNetworking #ProfessionalsNetworking #EntrepreneurNetworking #FounderEvents #FounderNetworking #AINetworkingToronto #TechNetworkingEvents #YoungProfessionalsAI #EntrepreneursAI #AIandTechToronto #NetworkingEventsGTA #IssabellsToronto **\*\* Let's Get Social!\*\*** WEB: [www.thehiphaus.com](http://www.thehiphaus.com/ "http://www.thehiphaus.com/") [INSTAGRAM](m/thehiphaus/ "m/thehiphaus/") \| [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/thehiphaus "https://www.facebook.com/thehiphaus") \| [TWITTER](https://twitter.com/thehiphaus "https://twitter.com/thehiphaus")

Hello everyone, I'd like to invite you out to a fun-filled afternoon with this fantastic party social game called **MUSIC BINGO** Everyone can play (It's easy to learn and most of all it's a lot of fun) \*Joined by my other groups too so we can anticipate a fabulous day :) **Where to Meet us?** **Date: Sunday February 22nd** **Arrive between 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm** **Location:** La Carnita - Good Fortune Bar (Main Floor) **Address:** 130 Eglinton Ave. Toronto, ON M4P 2X9 Event Details Below: Sincerely, Steve Flemming (Music Bingo Host) \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **Details of Event:** **\*MUSIC BINGO\*** **(An Afternoon of Fun, Treats and Great Music!)** -Lots of laughs and thrills in store as we enjoy a terrific afternoon making new friends, singing along (optional) and playing **MUSIC BINGO;** hosted in a super fun designed format :) \*Treats handed out to the winning participants during each round we play \*Invite your friends or come on your own! **Event Fee:** 10 dollars at the door (cash only please) Includes: **Music Bingo,** treats, reserved room/seating, lots of laughs and plenty of fun people to play the game with) \*or e-transfer in advance to **steveflemming11@gmail.com** \-\-\-\-\-\- **Friendly Reminders:** -Please arrive between 2:00 pm and 2:30 pm \*Music Bingo will start shortly after that (Invite your friends out too if you like) **Parking Available:** \*Plenty of free street parking on Eglinton and (Residential area south/east of venue for free) **Close to Subway Station:** \*Also right beside the Yonge/Eglinton subway station

Hello everyone, Plan to start your weekend off with an amazing evening of **Friday Night** **Laser Tag** (inside Play Time Bowl); while making lots of new connections, friends and sharing lots of laughs too! \*Joined by my other groups so we can certainly anticipate a fabulous, fun turn out! \*Dinner menu and reserved seating when we arrived (so bring your appetite if you like :) Event details below Sincerely, Steve Flemming Organizer/Host meetup.com/soulcity/ \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **Event Details:** **FRIDAY NIGHT LASER TAG WITH FRIENDS AND SINGLES! (At Playtime Bowl) (Men and Women welcome!)** **(with lots of Socializing Before & After)** \*No experience required\* -A fun, well organized event with lots of socializing, mingling and of course playing Laser Tag! -This event is co-ed for all ages (tends to be mid 20s to early 50s crowd) -Bring along your friends too if you like or come on your own; either way it's a blast -Free Parking all around the venue (Play Time Bowl) as well \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **Event Fee:** 30 dollars (HST is included) (Includes Co-ordination of event, Mix, Mingling & Laser Tag) \*Cash only when you arrive please or by e transfer in advance to: steveflemming11@gmail.com \*10 dollars if you wish to just take part in the all night mix and mingle \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **Please arrive between 7:00 pm and 8:00 pm**\- so I can get everyone registered when you arrive **Where to find us?** (You will see me (Steve Flemming) (and the group) when you walk in through the front entrance in the main bar/seating area \*We will have a small mix and mingle to settle in and get to know each other before we begin the laser tag :) \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **Friendly Reminders:** Located just south of 401 and just off of Dufferin (on west side) \*Parking is Free (located on both sides of building) Closest subway station is Yorkdale Mall -10 minute walk from the mall subway station \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-

Calling single men 40-55 and single women 39=49! Join us for a fun and fast-paced speed dating event designed for those looking to meet like-minded individuals in a relaxed and friendly setting. Each participant will have the opportunity to engage in quick, one-on-one conversations with a variety of potential matches. Whether you're new to the dating scene or looking to expand your social circle, this event is perfect for making new connections. Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to mix and mingle with other young professionals who are also seeking meaningful connections. Our events are facilitated by experienced hosts and offer a comfortable environment for you to meet new people. Grab your ticket now and get ready to explore new possibilities in the world of dating! \*\*IN order to actually reserve your spot, you must do so directly at https://www.25dates.com

Hello everyone, I'd like to invite you out to a fun-filled afternoon with this fantastic party social game called **MUSIC BINGO** Everyone can play (It's easy to learn and most of all it's a lot of fun) \*Joined by my other groups too so we can anticipate a fabulous day :) **Where to Meet us?** **Date: Sunday February 22nd** **Arrive between 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm** **Location:** La Carnita - Good Fortune Bar (Main Floor) **Address:** 130 Eglinton Ave. Toronto, ON M4P 2X9 Event Details Below: Sincerely, Steve Flemming (Music Bingo Host) \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **Details of Event:** **\*MUSIC BINGO\*** **(An Afternoon of Fun, Treats and Great Music!)** -Lots of laughs and thrills in store as we enjoy a terrific afternoon making new friends, singing along (optional) and playing **MUSIC BINGO;** hosted in a super fun designed format :) \*Treats handed out to the winning participants during each round we play \*Invite your friends or come on your own! **Event Fee:** 10 dollars at the door (cash only please) Includes: **Music Bingo,** treats, reserved room/seating, lots of laughs and plenty of fun people to play the game with) \*or e-transfer in advance to **steveflemming11@gmail.com** \-\-\-\-\-\- **Friendly Reminders:** -Please arrive between 2:00 pm and 2:30 pm \*Music Bingo will start shortly after that (Invite your friends out too if you like) **Parking Available:** \*Plenty of free street parking on Eglinton and (Residential area south/east of venue for free) **Close to Subway Station:** \*Also right beside the Yonge/Eglinton subway station

MASQUERADE DANCE PARTY Saturday February 21st 7.30pm -12.30 The Palais Royale 1601 Lakeshore Blvd West Join us for a special MASQUERADE DANCE PARTY where you can dance, mix, mingle and have fun dressing up. Complimentary masks and beads will be given out. It’s your opportunity to meet some new friends or maybe meet that someone special. A great DJ will have you energized to sounds of music from the past to the present. Please, no jeans please. The cover is only $25.00 at the door. The parking is free. For more info call 416-236-8222, Complimentary Masquerade masks and beads will be given out.

Good day everyone, Please join us for a fantastic Saturday Night experience as we mix, mingle, make new friends and then dance the night away to a fabulous Band and DJ! \*Joined by my other social groups too; so we can anticipate a terrific turn out with lots of friendly peers to enjoy dinner and the game **\*Meet us inside Smoke Show between 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm** \*If you have to arrive after that, still let the front door guy know you are with Steve's group so he can direct you to us (but kindly do your best to arrive between 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm (as I can't promise seating after that)-Thank you! (You will be paying me not the guy at the front door, so simply ask him to direct you to the group- thank you!) (Event Details Below) Sincerely, Steve Flemming (Organizer/Host ) Event Details: **The Saturday Night Fantastic February Dinner, Live Band and Dance Party!** (Saturday February 21st) -A fun, interactive, event with friends, food, reserved seating, live band, DJ and Dancing! -Pool Table available -DJ, Live band and Dancing after dinner :) -Plenty of parking all around the venue \*For more information on the menu please refer to the Smoke Show menu https://www.smokeshowbbqandbrew.com/ **Event Fee:** 10 dollars (cash only) when you arrive (HST is included) or e transfer in advance to [Steveflemming11@gmail.com](http://Steveflemming11@gmail.com/) (Beverage or Appetizer Minimum please) **-Arrive any time between 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm inside the restaurant (ask or look for Steve/Organizer when you arrive)** \*If arriving after 7:00 you still need to let the guy at the front know you are with Steve's group so he can properly direct you to us and help track our numbers- Thank you! (You will be paying me not the guy at the front door-so please let him guide you to the group) (15 minute walk from Yonge & Eglinton subway station-or simply take bus or uber from the station)

Join us for a vibrant gathering that honors the heart and hustle of local entrepreneurs. It Takes a Village is more than an event it’s a movement to uplift and spotlight small business owners who pour passion into their craft and creativity into our community. From authors and bakers to jewelry makers, t-shirt designers, candle crafters, and beyond. This is your chance to meet the makers, support their work and celebrate the spirit of collaboration. **_Expect_** * Local vendors showcasing handmade goods * Live demos and storytelling from featured creators * Food, music, and community vibes * Opportunities to shop, connect and be inspired * Celebrate the power of small businesses and we all rise

**💥 Join us THIS Saturday and EVERY Saturday!** **💥 At Columbus’ Hottest New Salsa Venue!** **.** Lincoln Street Salsa THIS Saturday and EVERY Saturday! 8 pm – 1 am **.** **💥 Gorgeously Renovated Studio!** **💥 Free Parking!** **💥 BYOB!** **💥 Easy Access from Highway!** **.** Lincoln Street Salsa 1717 Brice Rd Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43215 **.** **ENTRANCE IS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE BUILDING** **Behind Anthony’s Pharmacy!** **.** **PLEASE SHARE and help get the word out!** **.** **🟣 Salsa, Bachata, and Merengue Dancing!** **.** **🟣** 8:00 pm – 8:30 pm **𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻** **.** **🟣** 8:30 pm – 9:30 pm **𝗕𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 Class!** **.** **🟣** 9:30 pm – 1 am **𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆!** **.** **✅ Questions?** **Visit [LincolnStreetSalsa.com](https://columbussalsadancing.com/)** Or Text Todd: 614-774-8146 **.** **✅ No Experience Necessary!** **✅ No Partner Required!** **✅ Plenty of People to Dance With!** **.** **✅ $15 Cash / $16 Card** **✅ College Students $5 Off with Valid ID!** **✅ BYOB** **✅ Age 18+** **.** **✅ Lincoln Street Salsa is the perfect place for…** **.** **👉 Learning to Dance** **👉** Social Dancing **👉 Birthday Celebration** **👉** Bachelorette Parties **👉 Girl’s Night Out** **👉 Date Night** **👉** Getting Fit / Burning Calories **👉 Meeting New People** **👉** Having Fun, Fun, Fun! **.** ✅ **Questions?** Visit [LincolnStreetSalsa.com](https://columbussalsadancing.com/ "https://columbussalsadancing.com/") Or Text Todd: 614-774-8146 .

**Caller: Frank Buschelmann** **Band: The Rosenthorns** **Big Scioty Contra Dance** **temporarily returning to our long ago location for Jan-March - First Congregational Church, 444 E. Broad St., Columbus 43215** WHAT IS CONTRA DANCING? Picture the Grand Ball scenes like you’ve seen in period films such as “Pride and Prejudice”, where the dancers are lined up in long lines, across from each other. That’s English Country Dancing, the predecessor of contra dancing. Now, add moves like “swing your partner” and “do-si-do,” like you’ve seen in square dancing. Set it to fabulous, high energy, live music with fiddles, guitars, percussion and more, alá “Riverdance.” Finally, set the whole scene down in the middle of Woodstock, with a hip, groovy atmosphere, a bit of tie-dye, and hints of counter-culture attitude. THAT’s Contra Dancing! Wear cool and comfortable clothes (you will get warm) and clean shoes that won't mark up our nice wood floor. Be sure to come for the beginner's lesson from 7:30 - 8:00, followed by dancing 8:00 - 10:30. All dances are taught; we will help you learn! Beginners always welcome, no need to bring a partner. Cost is $10.00 adults, $5.00 ages 12-26. Under 12 free. Free parking in church lot. For more information contact me or check out our website: [www.bigscioty.com](http://www.bigscioty.com/) Please bring your own refillable water bottle. Snacks to share are always welcome!