Fiction

New Starting Time: 12:00 For space reasons, we are limited to a certain number of attendees, so please update your RSVP if you can't come. If you are new, come and say hello, as we know that suddenly going quiet for 45 minutes and staring at that blank page can be intimidating when it's your first time. We have a lot of long-term regulars who will be happy to help you feel welcome. In between sessions, we have a Telegram chat: https://t.me/joinchat/ERW3pxD5kfELGeWs9SUhjw For more information, visit [https://shutupwrite.com](https://shutupwrite.com/).

A \~2 hours watercolor - gouache painting lesson. **About this course** The total watercolor, gouache course consists of around 30 lessons that last 2 hours each. You can join at any time during the course. At the start of the event you choose which material you will use. The lessons will happen almost every Tuesday at 19:00-21:00 in Berlin. This course is aimed at introducing the painting process with watercolor, gouache as the main medium. These lessons cover the various techniques and methodologies. It is suitable for beginners and or even professionals who want to rationalize the painting process. It is being hosted by the visual artist [Miltos Despoudis](https://miltosdespoudis.gr/). **How much does it cost?** Check below: * 1 Tryout Lesson costs **5€.** You can do that only once. * 1 x Lesson (2 hours) costs **20€**. * 6 Lessons (2 hours each) cost **90€.** You can pay either by cash or card at the event. **How do I subscribe?** You need to reserve a spot here and come at the event. You can pay at the event. Please verify that you are attending so that we know and prepare accordingly with the art supplies. **What do I need?** Materials will be provided at the venue. You can also bring your own art supplies, it might be helpful to learn working with what you have. **More Info** This lesson is also known as "Watercolor Painting Lesson" or "Watercolor Workshop". Learn more about the lesson plan here: [https://creativesessions.art/workshops/watercolor-gouache-workshop/](https://creativesessions.art/workshops/watercolor-gouache-workshop/) **Refund Policy** On case by case scenario. If you paid for the tryout session we can refund up to one day before the event starts. If you paid for the lesson packet and used one of the tickets no refunds are possible.

Come along, grab a coffee, shut up, and write! We will do at least two sessions of each 45 minutes of writing and two breaks. We will start the first writing session at 10:45. For space reasons we only allow a limited number of attendees, so please update your RSVP if you can't come. We'll probably be grouped around the large table in the back room's center. In the summer, also outside. Looking forward to seeing you there!

A 2‑hour painting session focused on colorizing 3D‑printed models. Tryouts only for today are 5€. **About this course** This workshop is designed to introduce participants to the world of painting 3D‑printed objects such as busts, masks, figurines, and miniatures. Whether you want to learn techniques for smooth gradients, realistic textures, weathering, metallic finishes, or character detailing, this course will guide you through every step. You can join at any time. Each session is self‑contained and suitable for all skill levels. All essential painting materials are provided, and you are welcome to bring your own brushes or paints if you prefer. The workshop is hosted by visual artist Miltos Despoudis. **How much does it cost?** See options below: Member Pass (8 × Lessons, 2 hours each): 100 € Includes: * up to 4 small 3D models of small size to print * special low‑cost 3D printing prices * storage space for your ongoing prints or projects * prepaid lesson tickets are valid for 3 months Single Drop‑In Pass 1 × Lesson (2 hours): 15 € **How do I subscribe?** Reserve a spot here and simply show up at the event. Payment is done on‑site. Please confirm your attendance so we can prepare the appropriate materials and printing resources. **What do I need?** All painting supplies are provided. Optionally you may bring your own 3d print models or art tools. There will be ready-to-paint small 3d prints at the session. These are given for free. For custom ones you need to book for the Member's Pass. **More Info** Sessions happen weekly. Learn more about additional creative workshops here: [https://creativesessions.art/workshops/painting-3d-prints/](https://creativesessions.art/workshops/painting-3d-prints/) **Refund Policy** Refunds are considered on a case‑by‑case basis. If you booked a Single Drop‑In Pass, refunds are possible up to one day before the event. For the Member Pass, once one session has been used, refunds are not possible.

📚 **Join our Queer Book Club!** 📚 Love getting lost in stories? Come read, laugh, and think with us! Our Queer Book Club is a welcoming space to explore books by queer authors and stories that celebrate LGBTQ+ lives, histories, and imaginations. Together, we’ll share insights, swap favorite reads, and dive into lively conversations—whether you’re a page-turning speed reader or a slow savorer of words. Beyond the books, you’ll find connection, community, and plenty of new friends who share your love of queer storytelling. Bring your curiosity and your bookshelf—we can’t wait to read with you!

Hey everybody, Moving to Berlin is an adventure, but let’s be real—the bureaucracy is a headache and making friends in a city this big can feel like a full-time job. Whether you’ve been here for three days or three years, the **Expat Stammtisch** is your home base to meet cool people. 🍻 We have a reserved area just for us. Grab a drink, find a spot, and join any conversation. **Ready to join?** See you at the bar!

### Imagined Gardens: Surrealism, watercolours and a lot of magic Inspired by the lush energy of spring, we’ll reimagine nature in unexpected ways: flowers that whisper secrets, fruits that transform, creatures that bloom, and gardens where anything can happen. What if plants could walk, dance, or speak? What if insects grew like fruit on branches? What strange and beautiful worlds are waiting in your imagination? Through a series of playful exercises and creative games, we’ll unlock new ideas and ways of seeing. Then, step by step, you’ll learn watercolour techniques to bring your imagined garden to life as a unique illustration. The workshop includes **four classes**, but you’re also welcome to join individual sessions (when available). **When:** Tuesday 2 · 9 · 23 · 30 June \| 18:00\- 19:30 h (important: NO class on 16.06) **Where:** Friedrichshain, Berlin **Price:** 85€ for the whole month (4 classes) Single class 25€ / Paypal & Bank Transfer **Booking:** Please register via the form [HERE](https://forms.gle/H5HnTA9aLGuhnpJe8). Please note: Clicking on 'Attend' on Meetup doesn't reserve you a spot. The only way to register is through the form. **Material:** You will need a watercolour set, watercolour paper (or sketchbook) and brushes. If you need suggestions about the material, get in touch. If you need some recommendations, this might help: **[Quick Material Guide](https://www.instagram.com/p/DBRDE95Ia5D/?img_index=2)** Come slow down, get your hands moving, and reconnect with nature 🌿 ✨ No previous painting experience needed. Gentle guidance provided throughout. See you!! Lu and the BAC You can find my work [HERE](https://www.instagram.com/lujancordaro/) and all updated classes [HERE ](https://www.instagram.com/berlin.art.club/)

Who is in the mood for some quiet togetherness while catching up on their reading? Let’s enjoy literature or non-fiction together and come to our Reading in Companionable Silence meeting. Miro will welcome members and there is time to socialize and to order some food or a beverage - ca. 30 min. Then we read for an hour in silence. After that - time to exchange impressions, suggestions, ask questions and generally have a good time. There might be a break in the middle in order to allow for more drinks, a bathroom break etc. Only RSVP if you really intend to come and are sure that you can make it. Please don’t waste our hosts‘s time and energy by reserving a spot and then dropping out at short notice.

RSVP on Luma: [https://luma.com/60nqjrxe](https://luma.com/60nqjrxe?utm_source=Meetup) Silent Reading / Creating Club is a gathering for people who enjoy focusing together in public. Bring a book, a notebook, a sketchpad, knitting needles, whatever you’d like to spend a quiet hour doing. All projects and all participants are welcome. We’re building a community of readers and creators who value depth, presence, and shared silence. The reading and creating isn't the real highlight, though, it’s in the people who return and make it feel like a familiar room. (Please RSVP “yes” only if you can make it, so we can save a seat for you and others on the waitlist.) Our Meeting Point is the **W66 Café**. There’s no entrance fee, but please order at least one item from the café and don’t bring outside food or drinks 🙂 No assignments, expectations, or pressure. Just a shared hour of intentional silence, followed by the opportunity for good conversation. 🕰 Our Agenda **10:30 – 11:00** Arrivals, ordering drinks/food, light social time **11:00 – 12:00** The Great Quiet Hour (Read. Write. Sketch. Code. Think. Sit.) **12:00 – 12:30** Optional socializing: share what you were reading or creating, or simply continue in quiet focus. ## 🏡 House Guidelines To keep this space calm and welcoming for everyone: • Silence during the focus hour (no calls or conversations) • Put cellphones on silent mode • If using technology, please avoid meetings or audio (headphones please!) • Arrive before 11:00 if possible to minimize disruptions

This time we will be discussing **Yazmin Zaher: The Coin.** We look forward to seeing you! If you have book suggestions, would like to vote on our next reads, or join us for additional activities, please ask someone at the meeting to add you to our WhatsApp group. Just a heads up: **The cafe only accepts card payments for amounts over €10**, so you may want to bring some cash for smaller orders. Please remember to cancel your participation in good time if you are not coming. This will give someone else enough time to read the book and come to the meeting.

🕢 Doors open at 18:30 and sessions start at 19:00. Freestyle vocal workout at and play session. €8-20 😌 Flow is a state of being… an experience when you allow yourself to be 100% fully engaged in the present moment in a feedback loop between clarity and satisfaction. It is an undeniable sensation where things seem to be more effortless, pleasurable, in sync, and you can easily sense a connection with something greater than yourself; this is what we will create…: • a connected and mindful meditation where it is possible to blissfully surf the cutting edge of the present moment together… • a game where it’s possible to feel excited and calm in the same moment, and everyone can win as much as they like… Scott Bolden, founder of Das Baumhaus Berlin will share some very easy, practical and effective methods developed during the last 12 years of facilitating the “Improvisational Groove Orchestra” (I.G.O.) improv vocal jam sessions. Within 20 minutes participants learn to use the common sound space to create resonance in the form of improvisational music where it is quite common to experience some real flow moments… It is very easy to participate, no musical talent or training is required so anyone is welcome to join. All of the session is done with eyes closed to avoid visual distractions and keep focus on the co-created sound space. During these sessions we will also have short breaks for feedback and refreshment. Important – Please be on time. It is very important to understand the methodology and warm up in the group before joining in! 🎤 @21:00 - Freestyle vocal workshop and practice session. €8-15 Have you ever wanted to learn how to do freestyle vocalizations? Maybe you are on your way and would like to just have a fun workout session with other vocal freestyle enthusiasts. All levels welcome. Links to sound samples - https://www.baumhausberlin.de/events/flow-a-guided-vocal-sound-bath-meditation/

Für Mitglieder von Text Collective Berlin ist die Teilnahme an dieser Veranstaltung kostenlos. Nicht-Mitglieder werden um eine Spende von zehn Euro gebeten. [https://textcollective.de/ticket](https://textcollective.de/ticket) **Besonderheit für dieses Treffen am 13. Juni:** Direkt nebenan, auf dem Mierendorffplatz, steigt schon am Vortag das Mierendorff-Inselfest. Das Text Collective ist dort am **Freitag, 12. Juni, von 16 bis 22 Uhr** mit einem eigenen Stand vertreten. Unsere Mission an diesem Abend: Wir sammeln skurrile, gruselige, lustige und mysteriöse Fakten rund um die Mierendorff-Insel. Was die Insel an Geschichten, Gerüchten und Geheimnissen hergibt, wird tags darauf zum Briefing für die Schreibwerkstatt – aus den gesammelten Funden entstehen am 13. Juni eure Kurzgeschichten. Wer also am 13. Juni dabei sein möchte, kommt idealerweise schon am 12. Juni aufs Fest und schaut am Stand vom Text Collective vorbei. So bringst du deinen eigenen Stoff mit, und wir starten am Samstag mitten im Material. **Jeden zweiten Samstag des Monats von 14:30 Uhr bis 16:30 Uhr in Charlottenburg (Haus am Mierendorffplatz).** **Was dich erwartet:** In unseren Treffen arbeiten wir mit abwechslungsreichen Schreibimpulsen, die neue Perspektiven eröffnen und spielerisches Experimentieren ermöglichen. Du schreibst direkt vor Ort, teilst deine Texte mit der Gruppe (freiwillig!) und erhältst konstruktives Feedback. Die Atmosphäre ist offen und unterstützend. Hier darf ein Text noch unfertig sein, eine Idee noch roh, ein Gedanke noch unausgereift. In dieser Atmosphäre gegenseitiger Wertschätzung entsteht der Mut, sich auszuprobieren und die eigene Stimme zu entdecken. Wir lesen einander vor, geben Rückmeldung, ermutigen uns gegenseitig und praktizieren das Zuhören. **Über Text Collective Berlin:** Wir sind eine kreative Schreibcommunity, die regelmäßige Workshops und Lesungen organisiert. 2025 erschien unsere erste Anthologie "Begegnung zwischen Welten" mit Texten aus der Schreibwerkstatt.

**Book Club** With ***Marco Astolfi*** For **LGBTQIA+** **[Free with registration](https://wearevillage.org/en/shop/book-club/w23-2026)** **“The Loves of My Life” by Edmund White (2025)** In this late-life memoir, Edmund White looks back on decades of desire, intimacy and queer experience. Moving from the closeted 1950s to the age of apps, he recounts encounters, relationships and fleeting connections that shaped both his life and his writing. The result is a candid, witty and deeply personal portrait of love in its many forms. This final memoir by Edmund White, one of the most influential voices in queer literature, traces more than sixty years of gay life through the lens of desire. From furtive encounters in mid-century America to the sexual liberation of the post-Stonewall years and the shadow of the AIDS crisis, White’s recollections map an entire cultural history alongside his own biography. Structured less as a linear narrative than as a constellation of lovers, episodes and reflections, the book blends erotic confession with literary meditation. White writes about transactional sex, longings, power dynamics and emotional attachments with his signature mix of irony, tenderness and intellectual curiosity. What emerges is not only a chronicle of excess and experimentation, but also a sustained inquiry into the meaning of love—whether fleeting, one-sided or transformative. At once provocative and reflective, “The Loves of My Life” becomes a celebration of queer existence across generations, shaped by memory, loss, humour and an enduring devotion to beauty and language. **Book Club** Fur **LGTBQIA+** Mit ***Marco Astolfi*** **[Kostenlos mit Anmeldung](https://wearevillage.org/shop/book-club/w23-2026/)** #### Village Book Club in English: "The Loves of My Life" von Edmund White (2025) In diesem späten Memoir blickt Edmund White auf Jahrzehnte von Begehren, Intimität und queerer Erfahrung zurück. Von den repressiven 1950er-Jahren bis ins digitale Zeitalter erzählt er von Begegnungen, Beziehungen und flüchtigen Verbindungen, die sein Leben und Schreiben geprägt haben. Das Ergebnis ist ein offenes, witziges und sehr persönliches Porträt von Liebe in all ihren Formen. Dieses letzte Memoir des bedeutenden Autors der queeren Literatur zeichnet über sechs Jahrzehnte schwulen Lebens anhand von Begehren und Beziehungen nach. Von heimlichen Begegnungen im Amerika der 1950er Jahre über die sexuelle Befreiung nach Stonewall bis hin zur AIDS-Krise entfaltet White zugleich seine eigene Biografie und eine kollektive Kulturgeschichte. Statt einer linearen Erzählung entsteht ein Mosaik aus Liebhabern, Episoden und Reflexionen. White verbindet explizite Erinnerungen mit literarischen Überlegungen und schreibt über käuflichen Sex, Sehnsucht, Machtverhältnisse und emotionale Bindungen mit Ironie, Zärtlichkeit und analytischem Blick. Dabei geht es weniger um Provokation als um die Frage, was Liebe bedeuten kann – als flüchtiger Moment, als unerfüllte Projektion oder als prägende Erfahrung. „The Loves of My Life“ wird so zu einer vielstimmigen Feier queerer Existenz, getragen von Erinnerung, Verlust, Humor und einer lebenslangen Hingabe an Sprache und Schönheit.

Welcome, readers! Our June read is ***Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible*** ***Voyage*** **by Alfred Lansing.** A work of nonfiction, and one of the most astonishing survival stories in history, we follow Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew after their ship is crushed by Antarctic ice. Stranded in one of the harshest environments on Earth, the men endure months of isolation, freezing temperatures, and near starvation—yet refuse to give up hope. Lansing brings their ordeal to life through vivid detail and firsthand accounts, capturing both the brutality of nature and the resilience of the human spirit. At its core, the story is a powerful testament to leadership, perseverance, and the unbreakable will to survive against impossible odds. Looking forward to discussing with everyone! We will meet at Zaftig Brewing Co in their event room in the back. We are welcome to bring in our own food, but **all** **drinks must be purchased at the bar.** Happy reading! 📖

Attend a free seminar on how to have successful and lasting relationships. At this seminar you will learn: How to spot and handle negative and toxic relationships. How to get through the "rough patches" in a relationship. How to choose the right people to work with. The three things that make or break any relationship. How to make a good relationship great. All are welcome. Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there. Hosted by the Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.

**Our June novel is: *The Eights* by Joanna Miller** **This month’s novel is set during World War I. It’s a 20th-century historical fiction story about friendship and war, with coming-of-age elements and a slightly haunted tone. The book is 384 pages in print and 10 hours and 9 minutes on audiobook.** Oxford, 1920. For the first time in its one-thousand-year history, Oxford University officially admits female students. Burning with dreams of equality, four young women move into neighboring rooms in Corridor 8. Beatrice, Dora, Marianne, and Otto—collectively known as The Eights—come from all walks of life, each driven by their own motives, each holding tight to their secrets, and are thrown into an unlikely, unshakable friendship. Dora was never meant to go to university, but, after losing both her brother and her fiancé on the battlefield, has arrived in their place. Politically-minded Beatrice, daughter of a famous suffragette, sees Oxford as a chance to make her own way - and some friends her own age. Otto was a nurse during the war but is excited to return to her socialite lifestyle in Oxford where she hopes to find distraction from the memories that haunt her. And finally Marianne, the quiet, clever daughter of a village pastor, who has a shocking secret she must hide from everyone, even her new friends, if she is to succeed. Among the historic spires, and in the long shadow of the Great War, the four women must navigate and support one another in a turbulent world in which misogyny is rife, influenza is still a threat, and the ghosts of the Great War don’t always remain dead.

This is a free, in-person meeting on the subject of betrayals, losses and how to get over them so you can build lasting relationships. Burdened by a stressful relationship? Unhealthy relationships can trigger feelings of anger, despair or self-doubt. They can create dwindling spirals of fights and seeking to make-up, or trying to “pin the blame” on someone or something. If you don’t find the RIGHT reasons, or select the correct sources of the problem, the problem can just get worse and worse. Whether in love or personal ties, with friends or at work, our life really IS affected by the quality of our relationships. Good ones can promote pleasure and survival while less optimum ones can lead to annoyance, anger, self-doubt, stress, or even affect our health and ability to survive well. Whether you are suffering from a divorce, or a painful break-up, don’t know who to trust (or who to CHOOSE) as a partner, friend, boss or employee - the anxiety of relationship troubles can really make a mess of things. Maybe you’ve suffered a betrayal, or are dealing with hostility or criticalness or invalidation. Dwindling relationships can involve destructive behavior, where we hurt those we love, or start succumbing to self-destructive thoughts, attitudes or behaviors that spiral out of control and affect much more than our immediate relationship. Past losses in love or life can affect how we act or react to new people and situations and hold us back from even starting to create new, possibly great relationships! How can one get back onto a saner course of action? Come to our Meetup, where we can introduce you to some of the knowledge, tools and techniques of the breakthroughs in the field of the mind that we can apply to this ever important area of life: human relationships! Break free from self imposed limitations Here we will discuss: • How to “erase” the trauma of past hurts and betrayals so that one isn’t always repeating past mistakes. • Why and how do the negative emotions of others affect you? • Why is my partner withdrawing and what can I do about it? • Why do we sometimes feel compelled to hurt the ones we love? • Fights & arguments - what's really behind them? • What underlies “corrosive criticism” or the need to invalidate self or others? • How one can stably change one’s outlook on life so they can affect positive change? • Where do compulsive destructive behaviors come from and what can be done about them? • How to form closer bonds & keep growing the relationships with the people you care about? • How to enhance one’s own ability to survive and create positive healthy relationships whether in love, family & friendships or in work, business or one’s career? Relationships can be hard and life itself IS challenging. Why not arm yourself with the knowledge and breakthroughs that have been made about the mind, mental reactions & interpersonal relationships, so that one has better awareness and control over themselves and life in general. Learn where painful experiences are “stored” and how they can unknowingly affect us. You will also find out how one can “erase” those past painful experiences so that one is free to move forward without being tripped up by the past. Learn too, about what can lead some people to become “toxic” personalities and how to identify those traits in others so you won’t be tripped up trusting the wrong person. Our free Meet-ups occur in a safe environment where one can learn, without fear of judgment or criticism, and without the recommendation of harmful mental techniques or therapies, just how YOU can get yourself onto a happier & more successful path: in love & in life. We look forward to having you join us! This class is sponsored by the Dianetics & Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.

Let’s meet and share discussion of the James Baldwin short story collection, Going to Meet The Man.

Join us for Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn! Fresh from a brief stay at a psych hospital, reporter Camille Preaker faces a troubling assignment: she must return to her tiny hometown to cover the unsolved murder of a preteen girl and the disappearance of another. For years, Camille has hardly spoken to her neurotic, hypochondriac mother or to the half-sister she barely knows: a beautiful thirteen-year-old with an eerie grip on the town. Now, installed in her old bedroom in her family's Victorian mansion, Camille finds herself identifying with the young victims—a bit too strongly. Dogged by her own demons, she must unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past if she wants to get the story-and survive this homecoming.