Locals & New in Town

Whether you're a passionate zine lover or completely new and simply interested, come join us! What's a zine? A zine is a DIY publication, a handmade booklet or pamphlet. (pronounced zeen, like the second half of the word magazine) You can share your art, try creative writing, make a collage, create a how-to guide, and more! Zines also have a history as a feminist medium, using their accessible format to uplift marginalized voices. Join this first event to \- explore/read some zines \- collect some zines for yourself \- make your own zine\! English and Dutch are both welcome. This is a laidback group with hopes of helping many socialize and make connections. You can come to chat or to sit back and create - any type of interaction is welcome. feminism centered, queer-affirming, neurodivergent affirming, introvert-friendly, limited Dutch-language welcome, limited English-language welcome

Come together, festive forest spirits! It’s time for our **Queermas Hike** through the magical winter landscapes of the Veluwe! Think crunchy forest paths, frosty heather fields, rosy cheeks, and a sparkling Christmas market finale with mulled wine to warm our queer little hearts. ❄️🍷🏳️‍🌈 ✨ **What to expect?** We’ll hike from **station Putten to station Ermelo**, covering about **12 km**. Expect wide winter skies, that quiet Veluwe calm, and plenty of photo moments for your most whimsical seasonal selfies. 📸 Our reward at the end? The **Veluwe Christmas Market**, packed with **local products, hot chocolate and mulled wine**. 🎁🫖 No devils this time, darlings: just **Christmas magic and queer joy in the winter wilds**. 🌲💗 **Practical info** 📏 **Distance:** \~12 km (about 3–4 hours including breaks) 🥾 **Difficulty:** Easy to moderate — mostly flat, winter-friendly terrain 📍 **Start:** Station Putten 🏁 **End:** Station Ermelo + Veluwe Christmas Market nearby *🤝🏼 Meeting point*: **Utrecht Centraal** (underneath the light cloud) *🕙 Gathering time*: **10:00** *🚆 Travel schedule*: Train to **Putten** (direction Zwolle) at **10:21** (platform 4) ➡️ arrival at **Putten** station at **10:59** ❗You can also travel on your own from another direction and meet us along the way or in Putten 🚗 If you come by car, you can park at Station Putten. Please arrive there by 11! 🚶🏾After a round of introductions, we start walking around **11:10** Pack your: 🧣 Christmas sweater /festive winter outfit 🥾 sturdy shoes 🍱 lunch box & snacks 🚰 water 🧥 rain coat/umbrella ☀️ sun screen 🏳️‍🌈 anything else you might need ❌ If you signed up and cannot make it in the end, please cancel your RSVP attendance so we know how many people will show up and someone else can take your place instead. Otherwise we'll put you on the naughty list :) 💗 A voluntary donation helps us to keep the Meetup group up and running :) you can either pay via a Tikkie or in cash after we finish the hike. *Hiking Queers Netherlands*

✨ La Cumbipeña - last edition of the year! ✨ On Saturday, December 20th, we gather once again to celebrate music, dance and community in our cozy corner of Utrecht 💛💃 [@cafeaverechts](https://www.instagram.com/cafeaverechts/) We’re super happy to welcome Rosse [@rossienholanda](https://www.instagram.com/rossienholanda/) (Uruguay), a powerful voice with deep Latin roots, together with Ezi [@ezimusicnl](https://www.instagram.com/ezimusicnl/), one of our beloved organisers and musicians. Expect a fun warm up, live music, rhythm, joy… and a space where everyone can express themselves and feel at home ✨ 🕗 20:00–23:00h 📍 Lijsterstraat 49, Utrecht 🎶 Dance workshop + Live Music + Open Mic 🌟 Donation based — everybody welcome to join! Come dance, sing, connect, and celebrate the last Cumbipeña of the year with us 💛 [#lacumbipena](https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/lacumbipena/) [#latincommunity](https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/latincommunity/) [#utrecht](https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/utrecht/) [#livemusic](https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/livemusic/) [#openmicutrecht](https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/openmicutrecht/)

Let's spend a nice gezellige evening together in the best place for alternative music in Utrecht -> dB's!

Join us for an open, grounded conversation inspired by Tara Brach’s work on Radical Acceptance — the practice of meeting our thoughts, emotions, and life circumstances with clarity and compassion instead of self-criticism or resistance. You don’t need any background in meditation or psychology to join. We’ll explore accessible ideas such as: * The “trance of unworthiness” — the quiet belief that something is wrong with us * How resistance and self-judgment amplify stress * What acceptance actually means (and why it is not passivity) * The RAIN method: a simple, practical way to work with difficult emotions * How compassion creates real emotional freedom This is a relaxed, supportive space where you choose your level of participation. Sharing is optional; listening is welcome. The focus is on understanding ourselves better, building emotional resilience, and having an honest conversation about being human. Who’s this for? Anyone interested in mindfulness, emotional growth, or easing self-judgment. First-timers welcome. What to bring: Optional journal or notes, comfortable clothing, and an open mind. Tone: Warm, steady, non-judgmental. This is not therapy and not a meditation class — just thoughtful dialogue and practical insights.

Lieve leden, Vanaf 19:30 op onze oude vertrouwde locatie, MFA Safari Maarssen Dan nog een veel gevraagd onderwerp.. de entree! Vanaf deze post gaan we wel starten met de mogelijkheid tot doneren. Heb je het de afgelopen jaren naar je zin gehad? Overweeg dan te doneren, zo kunnen we blijven vernieuwen! Weet je niet hoeveel? Met 5,- kunnen we al een hoop. Bij binnenkomst op de club zullen we ook een QR-code plaatsen die je kunt gebruiken en natuurlijk.. de vertrouwde spaarpot. Tot de Gamenight!Spellenclub Maarssen --- Board game fanatics and beginners, assemble! We host a GameNight every two weeks on a Friday. We have our own game collection that you can use, but we encourage you to bring some of your favourites as well! No entrance cost. We have coffee, tea and drinks from the fridge for low prices! Parking is free and there are over a hundred spaces in front of the building. Please use the stairs at the back of the MFA Safari building outside to get into the club.

Lieve leden, Vanaf 19:30 op onze oude vertrouwde locatie, MFA Safari Maarssen Dan nog een veel gevraagd onderwerp.. de entree! Vanaf deze post gaan we wel starten met de mogelijkheid tot doneren. Heb je het de afgelopen jaren naar je zin gehad? Overweeg dan te doneren, zo kunnen we blijven vernieuwen! Weet je niet hoeveel? Met 5,- kunnen we al een hoop. Bij binnenkomst op de club zullen we ook een QR-code plaatsen die je kunt gebruiken en natuurlijk.. de vertrouwde spaarpot. ## Tot de Gamenight! Board game fanatics and beginners, assemble! We host a GameNight every two weeks on a Friday. We have our own game collection that you can use, but we encourage you to bring some of your favourites as well! No entrance cost. We have coffee, tea and drinks from the fridge for low prices! Parking is free and there are over a hundred spaces in front of the building. Please use the stairs at the back of the MFA Safari building outside to get into the club.

⚠️ **IMPORTANT: You must sign up and buy a ticket here to attend:** [https://groupvibe.com/](https://groupvibe.com/) **This is a curated, small-group meetup make new friends in Utrecht.** Each meetup brings together 4–6 like-minded people for casual conversations over coffee. We use the Groupvibe platform to organize and ensure everyone’s a good fit. 👉 **To attend, you’ll need to complete registration via this link:** [https://groupvibe.com](https://groupvibe.com) Once you register, and **buy a ticket or become a Groupvibe member**, we’ll share the exact location and match you with your group. **Why this works:** \* Smaller groups make real conversations easier \* Matching helps avoid awkward dynamics **Note:** RSVPs here on Meetup don’t reflect total attendance. Many attendees register directly via our website. This meetup is organized by **Groupvibe**, a small team passionate about helping people form meaningful friendships offline.

*Event full? Sign up anyway, we often pull people in from the waiting list!* We're a group of locals and immigrants/expats intending to stay in Amsterdam long-term, looking to make friends and connections. ​We aim to create a small, close-knit, and welcoming environment where it's easy to make friends and good conversation, and you're always looking forward to the next event. We keep the number of attendees low to create a more intimate atmosphere with a diverse crowd. In order to maintain this, we please ask you to respect the waiting list and not show up unannounced if your RSVP is not confirmed by the event host. The Meetup app often fails to send you a notification if you're moved from the waiting list, so it may be smart to double-check on the day of the event! We're *usually* the only large group in the bar, but you can always ask the bartenders if you can't find us. Think of this less as an event and more as just a group of friends and acquaintances hanging out in a bar. This also means you don't need to show up exactly on time, but we usually leave around 11. Our event is international, and the official language of the event is English, in order to encourage and allow the most number of people and nationalities to participate. We ask people to pay for their drinks immediately at the bar, as keeping a tab for up to twenty people gets challenging - people have (accidentally or not) ran away from their bill in the past. The bar does serve food, but if you're looking to have a proper dinner before we recommend eating elsewhere. Sababa and Manginacora are good nearby options! We kindly ask you not to post this event on other platforms like Couchsurfing, or invite people to the event in large Whatsapp groups. If you want to invite specific individuals to this event, send them a link to this Meetup event page. We do not tolerate any sexism, racism, homophobia, harassment or creepy/inappropriate behavior at our events. **Our meetups are NOT singles/dating events, do not assume other attendees are here for this reason**. If you notice any behavior at our events that make you or anyone else uncomfortable, please do not hesitate to reach out to the organizers.

Come and join us for an evening of Buddhist meditation with like-minded people. The doors open at 7:00 PM, and meditation begins promptly at 7:15 PM. The meditation will last between 30 to 40 minutes, followed by tea and biscuits for anyone who would like to stay and chat. On some evenings, there will also be a short Dharma talk to provide some Buddhist context. The meditation space is down at the canal. To get there, you can take the stairs down. The meditation is offered on a donation basis. See our [website](https://utrechtbuddhistcentre.nl/) for more information.

Join in for a morning of crafting & chatting over a drink at Cafe Le Journal. Just bring your own project and payment for drinks. Meet fellow crafting enthusiasts, whether it's knitting, crocheting, stitching, origami, or something more unique! We talk about our projects, exchange tipps, but also just get to know each other and enjoy a relaxed Sunday morning in good company. All ages, levels and crafts welcome! And don't be shy, we have newcomers most weeks! You'll find us in the right-hand corner in the very back of the café. **We have limited space at the café, so if you've RSVPd and can't make it, please cancel as early as possible so another person can join!** We now also have a WhatsApp group, where we want to organise get-togethers and other events. Ask one of the organisers at the next Meetup you join for more information and access.

🧃 This Sunday we get together to thank 2025 and visualize our 2026. You will make your personal collage, and take it home as a visual reminder for your wishes for this year. ✂️ If you have, bring magazines, pictures, books, texts, that we can cut. And your favourite scissors. I'll provide some too. 🔮 This is the fourth edition of this workshop because I believe in the importance of giving space to our creativity in everyday life, and receiving its magic. It really works ;) 💌 Invite your loved ones and let us know if you are joining. Donation-based. ✨ Hope to see you there! Thank you, Luz

Voor dit event kun je je nu inschrijven! Dit gaat via de website van de bibliotheek. You can now sign up now for this event, use the site of the library: https://www.denieuwebibliotheek.nl/activiteiten/workshop-miniatuur-schilderen-allycon-time-travelers Tijdens het evenement AllyCon - Time Travelers op 20 december in de Nieuwe Bibliotheek in Almere-Stad sta ik namens Warmere, onderdeel van de Almere Tabletop Community, om uitleg te geven over het schilderen van miniatuurtjes. Ik ga ook korte workshops Schilderen van miniatuurtjes voor beginners geven! Warmere organiseert ook een Mini's on Parade tijdens dit evenement, met een prijsuitreking! Wil je kennismaken, meedoen aan een workshop, of aan de tentoonstelling met een of meerdere van je mooist beschilderde miniatuurtjes? Stuur een bericht! Hou de website van de bibliotheek in de gaten: https://www.denieuwebibliotheek.nl/activiteiten **Details** During the AllyCon - Time Travelers event on December 20th at the Nieuwe Bibliotheek in Almere-Stad, I'll be present on behalf of Warmere, part of the Almere Tabletop Community, to explain how to paint miniatures. I'll also be giving short workshops on painting miniatures for beginners! Warmere will also be organizing a Mini's on Parade during this event, with awards! Would you like to meet up, participate in a workshop, or show off one or more of your most beautifully painted miniatures in the exhibition? Send me a message! Keep an eye on the library website: https://www.denieuwebibliotheek.nl/activiteiten

Early-bird coffee and conversation at [Jennings Java Artisan Coffee Roasters](https://www.jenningsjava.com/)!

# **Band: Firefly Trace, caller Kenny Greer** Beginner lesson at 7:30, regular dancing begins at 8:00 **Sponsor: All Soles Contra and Square Dancing, First Unitarian Universalist Church, 93 W. Weisheimer Rd., Columbus OH 43214** 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. Please bring your own refillable water bottle.

**Caller: Gaye Fifer** **Band: Hot Coffee Breakdown** **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!

Coffee and conversation at [The Roosevelt Coffeehouse](https://www.olentangybrew.com/roosevelt-coffee), located at Olentangy River Brewing. They will also have a Venezuelan [food truck](https://www.olentangybrew.com/eventsandfood) that always gets good reviews.

**White Elephant Gift Exchange** (WEGE): This may be your only chance to re-gift that “undesirable” bobble or whats-it that you got for Christmas. Every year for Christmas my evil ex in-laws would give me the exact same gift that properly symbolized how well they knew me and how much they cared. For 24 years I received a bushel-basket sized bag of white tube socks from Gabe’s, a local discount/factory seconds store based in Morgantown, WV. If I were still married, that’s what I would re-gift in this gift exchange. No worries. I have since recovered emotionally and all my socks match and are all the same length. Goodwill was the lucky recipient of my 24-bushel sock collection quite some time ago. Things are better now. If you have nothing that merits being re-gifted, please try to keep the price limit to around $15. Remember, no one is required to participate in the gift exchange. You can watch and still have fun. The way this works: Each person bringing a gift will get a pretty yellow ticket (just like the ones we use for the Queen of Hearts). When the gift exchange starts I will draw a ticket and read the number. The person with that ticket may select a gift from the table. Being first is not a true victory in this instance. The next person whose number is drawn will chose a gift AND if they don't like it, they can exchange it for (steal?) the one the previous person selected. It goes on and on as mayhem ensues. Only one exchange. Exchange for any previously selected gift. Got it? Good. **On Freestyle night** \- just bring a bottle to share\. There is NO formal wine tasting like on other weeks\. Door charge is $10 \(cash or Venmo only please\)\. We may have some left over wines to clear out\! Glasses are provided\. Take Care\. See you there\. **Parking**: There are several public parking lots near the Alive614 hall. Please be careful to NOT park in private parking lots. They do tow. Check Google maps to scope out your space. Anyone who is early could easily find a parking space on the street nearby. I am told that the Chase parking lot is safe after hours. **Glasses**: …will be provided. Please note that after the wine tasting, the EMPTY glasses need to be returned to the boxes at the service table. Please do not make me hunt down your empty glass. Please be gentle, our glasses are fragile. Uh, they are made of glass! **Food**: You are welcome to bring a snack to share. It is not required. Most people do though. If no one brings anything, there will be nothing. **Code of Conduct**: Though mostly understood, it’s still worth mentioning. We don’t have rules per se, but we highly discourage the following topics of discussion because they are likely to incite anti-social responses - Sex, Politics, Religion. Please don’t mistake this as an attempt to limit your free speech rights but rather a guide to a place and time for appropriate discussions. **After the lights go out**: After the last sip of wine, when we clean up and turn the lights out, if you still haven’t had enough of us, it is typical for a group to get together and go to a local eatery for food and/or drinks or coffee. Again, We look forward to meeting new members and reuniting with old friends. Sincerely, ***Paul Uttermohlen***, **Red 1 Realty** *Your Hilliard Wine Club Host*

Do you sometimes feel like you do well in life then something happens and you slide back, never quite getting ahead. At this Meetup you'll find out how to identify what actually causes the lows, the highs and everything in between. More importantly you’ll get the secret of how to gain control over your life so the highs are higher and the lows go away. Wouldn’t it be nice to stop the wild roller coaster ride for good? Or at least make it a fun roller coaster ride, with more ups and downs. There is a hidden factor that will be going over and you’re going to be quite surprised what it is and how much it affects your life. Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to the event. We look forward to seeing you there. This group is hosted at the Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Center.