Celtic Culture

**Horror Everything: 2016 – Forever** Dr Joe Ondrak The history of horror is also the history of media, and key in understanding how we use media to play with the boundaries of what is real and what isn’t. In this talk, I explore and explain how horror fiction traditions are useful to understand contemporary conspiracy culture, moving from false documents and found footage to creepypasta and QAnon. Taking a formalist and stylistic approach, I demonstrate how social media platforms shape meaning, blur the boundaries of fact and fiction, and create a shared cognitive environment ripe for conspiracy belief. Dr. Joe Ondrak is a leading expert in digital horror, both real and fictional. He has published extensively on extreme right-wing terror, disinformation, and conspiracy theories, as well as creepypasta and networked digital horror genres. He currently works as a subject matter expert in hate groups at Resolver and consults on digital extremist behaviours and activities. His chapter for the Routledge Companion to Horror Studies – The (New) Medium is the Monster: Networked Digital Horror – is forthcoming. **NB: This talk has been rescheduled to a different date and will take place on the third Monday instead of the usual second Monday.**

Please join us for an evening of all things Umbraco - the latest news, community chat, and a talk or two! For 2026, we will be running both in-person and virtual meetups, alternating every month. For those who can't join in person, virtual attendance is available too, so you can join us no matter where you are! This month, we have **Owain Jones** talking about building friendly content editing experiences and **Markus Johansson** talking about building packages for Umbraco. **Owain Jones - Unlocking the Full Potential of Umbraco: Building Friendly Content Editor Experiences** Umbraco is often called "The Friendly CMS", and it absolutely can be when we, as developers, make the most of what it offers. In this talk, I’ll show how we can utilise Umbraco’s built-in features and community packages to build intuitive, efficient, and friendly experiences for content editors. **Markus Johansson - Extending Umbraco like a Swede** In this talk, Markus will share his learnings from over 15 years of extending Umbraco. We’ll get a brief overview of the possibilities introduced with the new backoffice “Bellissima”. He’ll also give us tips and tricks that is useful both when extending Umbraco for a specific project or publishing a package for the Umbraco Marketplace. There will also be food, drinks and some friendly socialising. What's not to like? 😄 Whether you are an Umbraco novice or a seasoned developer, this is your chance to meet like-minded people to talk about our favourite friendly CMS! No matter what your role is there will be something to learn and your chance to meet other members of the Umbraco community from Kent and the surrounding areas. Venue The meetup will be at Dragon Coworking in Rochester (7-8 New Road Avenue, St George's Hotel, Rochester, ME4 6BB), a short walk from Chatham train station and with free on-site parking. If you wish to use the car park, please access via Gundulph Road, Rochester, ME4 4ED. You can then use the steps between buildings to access the entrance. If the car park is full there is on road parking available, but please check the parking restrictions. On arrival, please make your way to St George's Hotel reception (where you access Dragon Coworking) and one of the organisers will come and collect you. **Please note: Do not bring bananas, nuts or pineapple into the coworking space as there are members with allergies.**

**Meet at Edgware Rd tube, BAKERLOO line.** Local history: There’s been a market on Church Street for hundreds of years. Portman Market was a covered vegetable and hay market set up in 1830. It was intended to rival Covent Garden market but never lived up to the dream. When it closed in 1907 stallholders simply moved to the street and continued to trade. This is another of our many outside Picture Hunts this year. If any issues with weather, we’ll switch to our 50-50 Trivia in the nearby Wetherspoon Sir Alexander Fleming, so turn up as something will be on regardless. If you’re new to Picture Hunts, check the previous weeks for winners and clue sheets. This time, the event will be centred around different buildings, shops and features on one side of Edgware Rd, Paddington, so there’s no crossing of busy roads. Please aim to turn up for 1:00-1:30 when teams are being arranged. The Hunt starts at 1:30. You're losing search time if you're late! Bring a pen please. As usual, portions of the road are split up into four areas where teams search for the locations of photographed items in the street, buildings or shop windows, and then record where they found them. Picture Hunts are a great new way to get up to speed with slices of London history while sleuthing around the area. Everyone is presented with twenty partial photos of objects around an area. Your team mission is to find them. Some well known, some well unknown! This makes Picture Hunts more interesting and challenging, bringing out the best of your teams detecting skills. You will also have a map of the area. It will be sub-divided into four sections, P, Q, R, S. Each photo will come from one of these. Four players max per team, but the lower number teams get a point per player start from the biggest team. For example, four teams of one, two, three and four. Four player team, no advantage, (the biggest and theoretically the more knowledge between them, except it doesn't always work like that). Three player team, one point start. Two player team, two point start. One player team, three point start. Scores are always close and around the 15-20 points mark. How many players do you want in your team? There's a dilemma! The clipboard holder enters one of the letters to note its area location. Dead simple, right? 90 minutes to do the hunt. We have the usual prizes of chocolate, including some great new varieties. There is also an equal prize for the funniest team name judged by Sue, my glamorous assistant. Names win prizes too! So there’s everything to play for. We mark up at the quiz finish point. The Wetherspoon Sir Alexander Fleming. Hunts are good fun and the proven experience so far is that members get to know each other better after working in teams as you all have to communicate. Great icebreakers. This is what Meetup is all about. Come and join us. **There is a £7 cash/card charge for this event. Pay on the day.** Contact number is 07422334411 if your transport is delayed. **If you can’t make it, please cancel using the “Edit RSVP Button”.** **Your consideration is greatly appreciated.**

Join us for open minded discussions and the opportunity to learn from other people's perspectives and life experiences. This episode will explore the topic of 'SHAME' by way of three original thought experiments (posted in the comments below on the day of the event). We'll meet at the beautiful Betjeman Arms in St Pancras Station. Spaces are limited and tickets sell out fast, so get your ticket early if you want to be there! **THOUGHT EXPERIMENTS** \- posted in the comments below on the day of the event **[SUBSTACK](https://experimentsingroupwisdom.substack.com/)** \- read more about this community and other related stuff **[INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/thoughtexperimentsinpubs/)** \- see what we look like \(including The People of TEiP project\) **[WHATSAPP GROUP](https://chat.whatsapp.com/DapwAXpnOHO5DRYThobpe4)** \- stay in the loop **The idea:** A chance to meet and talk meaningfully about thought provoking topics. **How we'll do it** (timings approximate): * 7:00pm - Arrive at The Betjeman Arms. You can access the pub either from the street (entrance to the right of The St Pancras Hotel entrance) or via St Pancras Station (entrance from the upstairs train platforms). We'll be in the private dining room - ask at the bar if you can't find us. * Organise ourselves into small groups (3-4 people per group) * Have a look at the **thought experiments** (announced on the day of the event) * 7:15 - First rotation begins - Talk about the first thought experiment, but feel free to veer off topic. * 7:35 - Optional reshuffle: swap groups, move on to the second thought experiment. * 8:00 - Optional reshuffle: swap groups, move on to the third thought experiment. * 8:25pm - Wrap up - hear about upcoming events, feedback/requests for future meetups. * 8:30 Meetup ‘ends’. But feel free to carry on conversations. We have the room until 10pm and usually a lot of us stay until then :-) **Notes on the general atmosphere**: * The vibe is to let conversation flow rather than stick strictly to one topic. * While we'd like to talk about 'meaningful things', we also see the value in lighter topics, so don't worry about not being 'deep' enough! * Feel free to suggest ideas for future Thought Experiments in Pubs meetup groups, both in terms of structure and topics to discuss. **Where we'll meet**: This group will be at The Betjeman Arms. The nearest Tube station is King's Cross St. Pancras. You can access the pub either from the street (entrance to the right of The St Pancras Hotel entrance) or via St Pancras Station (entrance from the upstairs train platforms). We'll be in the private dining room - ask at the bar if you can't find us. **Who should come**: Everyone! We believe that the more perspectives, the richer the conversation. This group is not about being experts in Philosophy, it is about *doing* philosophy. That is, bringing our various life experiences and lenses on the world to group discussions about the human experience, the nature of reality... etc.... I'm so looking forward to meeting & talking with you in this beautiful location :-) If you would like to further support these meetups, please [subscribe to the newsletter](https://experimentsingroupwisdom.substack.com/) and [follow us on instagram](https://www.instagram.com/thoughtexperimentsinpubs) :-) Thank you!

***WARNING*** *If you are new to our Meet Up or haven't attended any class for months, please, BEFORE signing up to a conversation class, send an email in French to Christian at frenchlondonexperience at gmail dot com ; Anyone -* aforementioned - *signing up to a class before getting an agreement will be removed from the list. Thanks for your cooperation.* You want to improve your fluency, your pronunciation and your French skills? You want to get more vocabulary, knowledge and understanding of French, the French and France? You want to speak on various topics with the support of a French native tutor? Each week, we come up to a different theme. It pushes your conversation skills up. It helps you to speak about many topics and to interact in French in multiple contexts. Regular attendees learn a lot, make improvements and are able to have a chat about numerous topic! The bonus, you will be able to ask questions to an authentic French native! **THE CLASS:** This is a face-to-face conversation class lasting 60 minutes run by a French native & professional tutor (in London since 2016). This is a Conversation Class dedicated to French learners who struggle to have a spontaneous conversation. If you think your French is rusty, if you feel not really comfortable to interact among a group of other French speakers, this class is for you (if not sure, send a message in French to the organiser). The class goes on an adapted pace with a first part dedicated to a chit-chat and then we'll focus on a short text to learn about French culture and the language. We approach the theme, read a short text (you get a copy for the session), speak, learn vocabulary and things about French culture. The theme is always linked to French, the French and France. At the end, we wrap up and keep a few minutes for some miscellaneous questions. After the class, you will get an email with a list of vocabulary (some words / expressions seen along the class). This is a very small group class: maximum of 4 attendees and a minimum of 2. So you will speak directly to the tutor. During the class, the tutor helps you to structure and improve your phrasing, and to develop your understanding. **IMPORTANT** If you are new to our Meet Up, please send ASAP an email at frenchlondonexperience at gmail dot com to introduce yourself, to check your level, to confirm your space and to get the Bank details for payment. **PRICING:** You can pay each time or by block (then you save money) \- £15 per session \(to be paid when signing up by bank transfer \- Bank details on request\) \- £60 for 6 sessions \(to be used within 3 months \- to be paid in advance by bank transfer \- Bank details on request\) People who sign up without paying will be removed from the list. If, after your first attendance, you decide to subscribe to the offer of £60 for 6 classes, you add £45 and then you incorporate your first class in the subscription. The pricing is made to encourage you to attend more regularly as improvements will come with regularity. **TERMS & CONDITIONS** If you are to join, you are more than welcome to sign up. But, please, if you have an unforeseen hitch, up date your status as soon as possible. As spaces are limited, if you don't turn up or if you cancel at the last minute, a space is wasted. Thanks for helping. \- Fees are payable at the booking \- No refund \(exchange for cancellation more than 12 hours before the start of the event\) \- No refund\, no exchange for late cancellation \(less than 12 hours\) or non\-attendance \- People who don't turn may be banned\. If the session is fully booked, please put your name on the waiting list but ONLY if you are sure to be able to attend the session. As soon a space becomes available, even at the very last minute, you will be on the attendance list. Then you will be expected to attend the session and it will be due, even if you don't actually attend. Thanks for your cooperation and thanks for understanding. Follow French London Experience [http://www.facebook.com/frenchlondonexperience/](http://www.facebook.com/frenchlondonexperience/) [https://www.instagram.com/frenchlondonexperience/](https://www.instagram.com/frenchlondonexperience/) [https://twitter.com/FLE_Christian](https://twitter.com/FLE_Christian) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0ZB8-AhXTeqNF9MwEySmeg Website: [www.frenchlondonexperience.com](http://www.frenchlondonexperience.com/)

Shake off the Monday blues with something truly special 🌸 Join us for a wander through *Chelsea in Bloom* — one of London’s most beautiful (and completely free!) events, transforming the streets around Sloane Square and King’s Road into a stunning open-air floral gallery. Expect jaw-dropping displays, bursts of colour, and plenty of unexpected creativity tucked into every corner. It’s the perfect gentle start to the week: a relaxed stroll, great company, and a chance to soak up some of the most imaginative flower installations in the city. We’ll take our time exploring the highlights before rounding things off the proper way — with a well-earned drink in a cosy nearby pub 🍷 To help cover Meetup costs, there’s a small £2 charge to join — thank you for supporting the group! Come along, bring a friend, and let’s make Monday something to look forward to. Meet outside Sloane Square Tube Finish has not been published yet but it's usually Knightsbridge. Will confirm

THE TRIP IS NOW FULL, IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND, ADD YOURSELF TO THE WAITING LIST AND I WILL CONTACT YOU IF A PLACE BECOMES AVAILABLE. Come along on Saturday 23rd May to visit two pretty market towns, a picturesque view in Gloucestershire and see some steam trains in action as part of the Cotswolds Festival of Steam! **About the day** Gloucestershire is a historic county to the south west of London, its a predominantly rural area which is bisected by the river River Severn. Part of Gloucestershire sits in the Cotswolds and has lots of honey-coloured pretty towns & villages. **Broadway-Cheltenham Train Route** Steam trains will be running along the Broadway-Cheltenham route on this day as part of the Cotswold Festival of Steam weekend. Its very expensive for a ticket - £37 plus per person, so instead we will be viewing the steam trains in action at various vantage points along the track for free at: \- Stanton Viaduct \(looking up as steam trains come over the viaduct\) \- Hailes Bridge \(looking down from the bridge as steam trains go under\) \- Winchcombe Greet Bridge \(as trains go into and out of a tunnel\) **Winchcombe** Winchcombe is a charming, less-crowded market town known for its authentic, medieval honey-coloured stone architecture and its independent shops and cafes. It was originally an Anglo-Saxon settlement, although the [Belas Knap](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belas_Knap "Belas Knap") Neolithic Long Barrow on Cleeve Hill above Winchcombe, dates from about 3000 BCE. **Painswick** Painswick is often regarded as a "hidden gem". Its known for its stunning 18th-century, grey-stone architecture, peaceful atmosphere, and the unique Rococo Garden, it offers a charming, less-crowded alternative to other Gloucestershire towns. It's church; St. Mary's is famous for having 99 Yew trees. **Painswick Beacon** Painswick Beacon is a 283-metre (928-foot) high Iron Age hill fort dated 400-100 BC offering 360-degree panoramic views of the Cotswolds, the Severn Vale, the Malvern Hills, and the Welsh Mountains. The beacon is only 1 mile from the village of Painswick, but we will use the coach to take us to the bottom of the hill, it'll then be a 10 min walk up the hill to see the view. **Coach seating** * If you wish to reserve a seat on the coach in advance, after you pay please look at the seating plan in the photos [here](https://www.meetup.com/london_cultureseekers/photos/35948261/533880318/) and then email me - [general@cultureseekers.org](http://general@cultureseekers.org), with the seat number/s you wish to reserve. Its first come first served. * The seat you sit on when you board the coach is yours for the day. If you wish to change seats on the coach during the day, you will need to get permission from the individual who is seated there. **Cost** Cost is £27 per person for Full Members and £33 per person for everyone else. After you RSVP: You will need to make payment (its not automatic), so either: \- send a bank transfer: TSB Bank plc\, sort code: 77\-66\-65\, account no: 00030809\, Account name: Cultureseekers \- Pay via credit card in advance \([https://pay.sumup.com/b2c/QDOWSSXO](https://pay.sumup.com/b2c/QDOWSSXO)) \- go to PayPal \- [https://www.paypal.com/uk/](https://www.paypal.com/uk/), ‘send a payment’ to general@cultureseekers.org and click on the ‘Goods & Services’ option and change it to ‘Friends & Family’, as this avoids a charge from PayPal. Once you RSVP and then pay, I will confirm your place. **Become a Full Member** To become a Full Member (£14 a year) either: \- Pay cash at an event \- Pay via Bank Transfer \(email me – general@cultureseekers\.org for details\) \- Pay via credit card on the day or in advance \([https://pay.sumup.com/b2c/QLAX8AUI](https://pay.sumup.com/b2c/QLAX8AUI)) \- Pay via PayPal\, send a payment to general@cultureseekers\.org\, using the ‘Friends & Family’ option You have 3 days to make a payment, if no payment is received within 3 days, your place will be offered to the first person on the waiting list. Benefits of becoming a Full Member [here...](https://www.meetup.com/london_cultureseekers/photos/22974682/531979527/) **Food & drink** Its up to you whether you wish to bring your own food and drink or purchase items whilst there. If you can't see us on Tothill Street, please text. Please note, we only wait for 10 minutes after the advertised meeting time, so please be early or on time. The coach has to leave at a specific time. Look out for the red and blue 'London Cultureseekers' group sign. Hope to see you there! Robert 07905 901 834 (prefer text) or email: [general@cultureseekers.org](general@cultureseekers.org) ***On the day, if you can’t make the visit, just change your RSVP to No or text me to say you can’t make it. Please don’t post any messages in the comments that you can’t make it, as this generates spam for everyone else.*** ***Please make sure you are aware of the group rules here before RSVPing - [https://www.meetup.com/london_cultureseekers/photos/22974682/523578875/Group_Rules/](https://www.meetup.com/london_cultureseekers/photos/22974682/523578875/Group_Rules/)***

Come join us and celebrate World Culture Day with art, culture, and make your own Chinese puppet! Join us in celebrating World Culture Day, a day to explore and enjoy the rich diversity of cultures from around the globe! Step into the magical world of Chinese shadow puppetry (中国皮影戏, Zhōngguó pí yǐng xì), one of China’s oldest and most enchanting art forms! Shadow puppetry is a traditional form of storytelling where intricately carved leather puppets are projected onto a screen using light. Through movement, music, and storytelling, these puppets bring ancient tales of heroes, folklore, and legends to life. It’s a vibrant mix of art, performance, and imagination that has delighted audiences for centuries. **What to Expect:** * Learn about the cultural significance of Chinese shadow theatre * Create your own shadow puppet to take home * Enjoy Chinese snacks, tea while creating your own puppet Come join us and celebrate World Culture Day with art, culture, and make your own Chinese puppet!

This week we'll be looking at one of the most celebrated masterpieces in Chinese art "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" by **Zhang Zeduan.** Come and learn with us as we discover more of China's famous art and culture. All welcome! *If you come after 6.30pm ring the doorbell*

Whether you're from China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, or anywhere else across Asia, or you're simply curious about Asian culture and looking to meet new people, you are warmly welcome here🙋 Join us for a fun-filled evening of culture, friendly competition, and genuine connection. We'll kick things off with a lively Interactive Culture Quiz covering Asian culture, history, food, and fun trivia, with prizes up for grabs for the top 5 players! Afterwards, we'll move into a relaxed conversation where you can mingle, share stories, and maybe even discover your next favourite dish. 🎮 Interactive Culture Quiz about culture, food & fun trivia 🏆 Prizes for the top 5 winners 🥟 A selection of Asian snacks available 💬 Free-flow conversation No prior knowledge of Asian culture needed, just bring your curiosity and an open mind 😊 🕒 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM 📍Loong Express, 104 Great Portland St, London W1W 6PE 📋 RSVP & Attendance • Please update your RSVP, if you can no longer attend, please cancel your ticket in advance so your spot can be offered to someone on the waitlist • Late arrivals may miss the quiz rounds‼️ ⚠️ Disclaimer The organiser has no responsibility for the loss, theft, or damage of any personal belongings during the event. Please take care of your personal belongings during the event. Hosted by [Nihao Serica](NihaoSerica.com) *As Nihao Serica is also building cultural travel experiences between the UK and China, we’ll also share a short 5-minute introduction to our upcoming China travel social for anyone curious about visiting China, exploring Chinese cities, food, heritage, and local experiences in the future.*

**Dracula will arrive in Whitby on a schooner in August. With no schooners in London, we shall be visiting a clipper; the famous Cutty Sark ship in Greenwich!** Cutty Sark was built in Dumbarton, Scotland in 1869. On its maiden voyage, the ship departed London on 15 February 1870, bound for Shanghai. On this outward voyage the ship carried a general cargo, including wine, spirits and beer and manufactured goods. It returned with a cargo of tea. In 1954 the ship was towed into a specially built dry dock in Greenwich. Extensive restoration work followed, and Cutty Sark was finally reopened to the public in 1957. **This event is part of our Dracula Daily series of events to connect to the book Dracula, running from May to November 2026. See [https://www.meetup.com/london-museums-a-z-lomaz/events/312216865/](https://www.meetup.com/london-museums-a-z-lomaz/events/312216865/)** You can sign up for Dracula Daily here: [https://draculadaily.substack.com/about](https://draculadaily.substack.com/about) Cutting from "The Dailygraph", 8 August, pasted in Mina Murray's journal: *"...a shudder ran through all who saw her, for lashed to the helm was a corpse, with drooping head, which swung horribly to and fro at each motion of the ship."* **Read more here:** [https://www.rmg.co.uk/cutty-sark/history](https://www.rmg.co.uk/cutty-sark/history) **MEET DETAILS:** **FROM 12:30pm: MEET AT THE HUNG, DRAWN & QUARTERED PUB (optional)** Address: 26-27 Great Tower Street, EC3R 5AQ [https://maps.app.goo.gl/MfkWqHDgqykAwSMX6](https://maps.app.goo.gl/MfkWqHDgqykAwSMX6) **1:15pm: TAKE THE THAMES CLIPPER TO GREENWICH** We will leave from Tower Millennium Pier to Greenwich. It is a 23-minute ferry with boats every 15 minutes. A single fare costs about £11 and you can use contactless. [https://maps.app.goo.gl/iuqXyPzkjYLSNeRj9](https://maps.app.goo.gl/iuqXyPzkjYLSNeRj9) **2pm: BOARD THE SHIP** Address: Cutty Sark, King William Walk, SE10 9HT [https://maps.app.goo.gl/MsD6AiFHrFZQmp987](https://maps.app.goo.gl/MsD6AiFHrFZQmp987) **4pm-Late: PUB SOCIAL (optional)** We'll head to a local pub for a social chit chat over drinks. ***Location to be confirmed before the event.*** **TICKETS:** **You will need to purchase your own ticket for this event.** **Please book [here](https://tickets.rmg.co.uk/webstore/shop/viewItems.aspx?cg=RMG&c=CST&_gl=1*hzwbna*_up*MQ..*_ga*NTQ1NzM0MTY4LjE3Nzg2MDU1Mzg.*_ga_4MH5VEZTEK*czE3Nzg2MDc5MjgkbzIkZzAkdDE3Nzg2MDc5MjgkajYwJGwwJGgw*_ga_7JJ3J5DBF6*czE3Nzg2MDc5MjgkbzIkZzAkdDE3Nzg2MDc5MjgkajYwJGwwJGgyMTQxMjU4NDE0)** and choose the 2pm slot (or thereabouts). Ticket: £22 for adults, £16.50 for students and £3 if on Universal Credit or similar. **GETTING THERE:** [https://www.rmg.co.uk/plan-your-visit/getting-here](https://www.rmg.co.uk/plan-your-visit/getting-here) **EVENT WHATSAPP GROUP:** Please join the event WhatsApp group to help you find the group on the day. The link will be posted in the Event Comments 48 hours before the event, for those on the confirmed going list. *NB* *Joining this WhatsApp group will make your phone number visible to other members in the group.* **PLEASE READ:** LoMAZ events are run by volunteers. This event has an attendee limit as we prefer a smaller, friendlier group. If you RSVP but can no longer attend, please change your RSVP as soon as possible, **otherwise you will be marked as a 'no show'.** We remove members from the group who: * repeatedly sign up for events then 'no show'. * repeatedly change their RSVP to 'No'. * are on the event waitlist or have not RSVPd but turn up anyway. Please see the **[About Us section](https://www.meetup.com/london-museums-a-z-for-30s-40s/)** for more information about the group and how it works. **Thank you for your interest in the group & being part of LoMAZ.** 📸 Follow LoMAZ on **[Instagram.](https://www.instagram.com/londonmuseumsatoz/)** Image credit: Cutty Sark, taken by Sandpiper, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons\*\*\*.\*\*\*

Whether you’re deeply connected to Asian culture, curious to learn more, or simply looking to meet new people in London, you are warmly welcome here 🙋 This event is open to everyone — no matter where you’re from. Whether you’re interested in culture, food, travel, languages, games, or just want to spend a relaxed afternoon and evening with friendly people, we’d love to have you join us. Join us for a fun-filled afternoon and evening of culture, conversation, games, and genuine connection. From **3:00 PM to 6:00 PM**, we’ll begin with our cultural activity and networking session, featuring an **Interactive Culture Quiz** about Asian culture, history, food, and fun trivia. There will be prizes for the top 5 players, followed by free-flow conversation where you can mingle, share stories, and meet new friends. From **7:00 PM to 10:00 PM**, we’ll continue the evening with a casual **Board Games Social**. Whether you enjoy strategy games, party games, or just want to relax and chat, you’re welcome to stay and join the fun. We also invite everyone to **bring your own favourite snacks** to share with others. It could be something from your culture, your hometown, or simply something you love. Let’s make it a cosy snack-sharing evening with friends old and new 🥟🍪 🎮 Interactive Culture Quiz about culture, food & fun trivia 🏆 Prizes for the top 5 quiz winners 💬 Cultural networking & free-flow conversation 🎲 Board games social from 7 PM 🥨 Bring your own snacks to share with others No prior knowledge of Asian culture is needed — just bring your curiosity, your favourite snacks, and an open mind 😊 🕒 **Cultural Activity & Networking:** 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM 🎲 **Board Games Social:** 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM 📍 **Loong Express** 104 Great Portland St, London W1W 6PE 📋 **RSVP & Attendance** • Please update your RSVP if you can no longer attend. Kindly cancel your ticket in advance so your spot can be offered to someone on the waitlist. • Late arrivals may miss the quiz rounds. • You are welcome to join the cultural activity, the board games session, or both. ⚠️ **Disclaimer** The organiser has no responsibility for the loss, theft, or damage of any personal belongings during the event. Please take care of your personal belongings throughout the event. Hosted by **Nihao Serica** As Nihao Serica is also building cultural travel experiences between the UK and China, we’ll share a short 5-minute introduction to our upcoming China travel social for anyone curious about visiting China, exploring Chinese cities, food, heritage, and local experiences in the future.

Ecstatic Dance\, Live Percussion\, Delicious Cacao Ceremony\, Fruit Social\! MUSIC VIBE: Mystical \| World Dub \| Tribal Breaks & Global Bass **ECSTATIC DANCE LONDON presents:** **🌀SHAMANIC BASS TEMPLE** **An Ecstatic Shamanic Dance Journey + Live Percussion + Cacao Ceremony + Fruit Social** **For Booking & more info:** [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1988862647718?aff=oddtdtcreator](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1988862647718?aff=oddtdtcreator) **Saturday Night:** 7PM–10PM **Fruit Social:** 10PM–10:15PM **Tufnell Park, London** Part of our all-day transformational workshop: **THE RITUAL: Summer of Love.** More info here([https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1987903571094?aff=oddtdtcreator](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1987903571094?aff=oddtdtcreator)) Immerse yourself in an ecstatic dance journey infused with Deep Global Bass, World Dub, Tribal Breaks, and live percussion. Move freely, connect deeply, and let the music take you on a powerful journey of embodiment, release and ecstasy. We’ll open the evening with a dance movement warmup, then shift to a heart-opening raw vegan cacao ceremony and positive intention setting ritual, tuning in together before the main dance Wave begins. **Expect:** ✨ Uplifting Dub & Bass Heavy Breaks, Mystical Shamanic Soundscapes, Drum & Bass, and Organic World Rhythms 🥁 Live percussion bringing fire and soul to the dancefloor 🍫 Raw ceremonial cacao to open your heart and elevate your energy 💃 Freestyle, expressive movement & moving meditation 🍉 Optional fruit social afterwards to nourish and connect No alcohol, no drugs, just rhythm, breath, and community. This is one of London’s most loved sober Saturday night dance experiences, where you can shake off the week’s stress and celebrate life through movement. **MUSIC VIBE: Mystical \| World Dub \| Tribal Breaks & Global Bass** **WHY CACAO?** At Ecstatic Dance London([https://ecstaticdancelondon.com/](https://ecstaticdancelondon.com/)), we adore raw ceremonial cacao. It’s a natural heart-opener and gentle energiser that supports emotional flow, creativity, and embodied presence on the dancefloor. Your complimentary raw vegan cacao is lovingly prepared using ethically sourced, high-quality cacao from Guatemala. Free from gluten, dairy, nuts, and refined sugar, velvety, nourishing, and deeply delicious. Cacao + Ecstatic Dance is a potent combination for transformation, connection, and joyful expression. **ECSTATIC DANCE GUIDELINES** • No alcohol, no drugs • No shoes • No phones on the dancefloor • No talking while dancing • Move however you wish • Respect yourself, others, and the shared space This is a zero-tolerance sober space. Please arrive clear-headed; anyone arriving intoxicated will be refused entry or asked to leave. No refunds. Dancers participate at their own risk. Ecstatic Dance London accepts no responsibility for spontaneous joy, open hearts, or sore cheeks from excessive smiling (or for injury, loss, or damage). **THE PRACTICE** Arrival & Warm-up: Gentle stretching, movement, and intention-setting to ease into the body. The Journey: A full ecstatic dance soundwave guided by a live DJ set, with light facilitation to support flow and presence. Integration: The dance typically closes with a deep relaxation to land the experience. Late arrivals disrupt the shared container. Entry closes 30 minutes after the start, please arrive on time so we can journey together from beginning to end. **SCHEDULE** 7:00–7:30pm Doors open & warm-up (No entry after 7:30pm — please arrive early) 7:30–10pm Cacao Ceremony • Chakra Journey • Ecstatic Dance Soundwave (Complimentary raw vegan cacao provided) 10pm–10:30pm Optional fruit social to nourish and ground after the dance **✨ The Journey** **Shamanic Bass Temple Ecstatic Dance journey:** A guided movement warm-up → our heart-opening cacao ceremony & connection ritual → a slow build into a euphoric, high-energy dance peak → softening into spacious, grounded integration → closing together with a gentle landing and fruit social. The music moves across World Dub, Bass-heavy, Rhythm-Infused, Shamanic Soundscapes, designed to take you out of your head and into your body: with live percussion woven in to ignite rhythm and release. **✨ What to Expect** 🎶 Uplifting, immersive bass-heavy/percussion-driven/shamanic-inspired ecstatic dance journey 🥁 Live percussion to deepen rhythm and embodiment 🍫 Cacao ceremony & intention-setting to open the night 🔊 High-quality sound in a stunning, atmospheric venue 💃 A safe, playful, non-verbal space to dance freely, express, release & connect 🍉 Complimentary fruit social to ground and reconnect after the journey 💫 A Saturday night out that leaves you energised, not depleted

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 enjoy talking to people from other countries, and those who would like to discuss international travel and culture, and who enjoy getting together for good conversations."

**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 You will need to scan your ID at the door to get a visitor badge. **Abstract** TBD **YouTube Link** TBD

**Pagans on the Patio! Summer/Fall Series** A casual gathering the first Thursday of each month. Time to relax, meet new people, and reconnect with old friends. There is no charge for the event itself and all are welcome but there are a few guidelines: 1. **You are expected to purchase food and/or drink to compensate the Cantina and our server.** 2. **No soliciting. Do not bring samples of your wares or brochures of your services.** 3. **Please respect the spiritual and political views of others that are present. No disruption of the peace.** In case of inclement weather, we will find seating indoors. I hope to see you there. Blessed be! \~ Cynthia ❤️---

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!