Gifted Adults and Children

## *A space where creativity flows and every sip inspires.* ‍ Start Your Weekend afternoon with a glass of wine in hand and let Your creativity come to life in a friendly, laid-back setting made for painting and having a good time. Whether You know it as Drink & Draw, Sip & Paint, or Wine & Paint, this experience brings together the best of art, people & good energy — all in one place. With easy and encouraging guidance from our Creative Teachers, You’ll paint Your own canvas while enjoying a relaxed atmosphere. ‍ Our Wine & Paint Sessions are great whether You're just starting out or have painted before - no pressure, just fun. ‍ ##### **WHEN:** Every Thursday: "Wine & Paint - After-work Edition" - for the early weekend fun * 7.30 - 9 pm Every Friday: "Date & Paint Edition" - for singles &/ couples to get to know new friends * 4 - 5:30 pm Every Saturday: "Wine & Paint - Pre-Drinking Edition" - start Your Saturday right * 4 - 5:30 pm Every Sunday: "Wine & Paint - Chill Vibes Edition" - for Smooth Sundays * 4 - 5:30 pm ‍Whether You're planning a date, looking to unwind solo, or meeting up with friends, this is Your moment to enjoy the process, get creative, and take home something You made Yourself. ‍ > *Join us for a relaxed evening of wine and painting — each week brings something new to create, cheers to, and enjoy.* ‍ ##### **INCLUDES:** **‍**All Materials (canvas, acrylic paints, oil pastels, brushes & more) + 2 glasses of wine / cocktail (2 × 200 ml) or 2 Soft Drinks & Water LEVEL: All levels COSTS: €28 General \| €5 for DNA\. Members ‍ ##### **SIGN UP & TICKETS:** **‍**No registration needed. Simply come by & get Your ticket at the box office before the class. ‍ See You Soon :) Love. DNA. ‍ *** \*Members of Dair Night Art e.V. and Subscribers of DNA. Art GbR. \*\*By entering the DNA. ART HOUSE, You agree to comply with the Hausordnung of Dair Night Art e.V. and Geschäftsordnung of Dair Night Art e.V. Please ensure You review these documents thoroughly in advance.

**A slick hour of standup with professional comedians and the finest spirits and cocktails.** Bar open from 7pm, show seating from 8:30pm, show 9 - 10pm no break. Start your weekend with an hour of undiluted comedy excellence. **produced by and often featuring ANNA BEROS** (AUS) Anna’s a Kiwi born, Melbourne raised, Berlin based full-time independent standup comedian, YouTube host, podcaster and producer. She celebrates life’s struggles with incisive standup and playful audience interaction. Her new standup solo, High Hoe enjoyed a successful full run at the Edinburgh Fringe 2025 and her previous solos, Creampie Curious and Creampie Clarity played at numerous comedy festivals through the UK and Australia in 2023 and 2024. She tours Europe and produces and hosts 5 weekly shows in Berlin. In 2025, she opened for Jeff Arcuri at Admiralspalast, in 2024 for April Macie on US army bases in Germany and for Ian Fidance in Berlin in 2019. She hosts the comedy channel, Ersties Nonsense, has the podcast Adults ONLY Comedy Berlin and has written for Comedy Central DE. "Beros is a full-time standup and her hours on stage are evident in her skill at taking the temperature of the audience and bringing them along with her as she veers into darker material." – The Age, Melbourne Australia [https://www.instagram.com/afberos/](https://www.instagram.com/afberos/) **featured COMEDIANS** updated on instagram stories @adultsonlycomedyberlin [https://www.instagram.com/adultsonlycomedyberlin/](https://www.instagram.com/adultsonlycomedyberlin/) **MEIN FREUND HARVEY** S/U-Yorckstraße, U-Kleistpark, U-Bülowstraße Your new favourite bar in Schöneberg - cosy, friendly and sophisticated with an impressive range of spirits, cocktails (non-alcoholic too) and wines. No beer, so treat yourself. Seasonal bar snacks available. Arrive early to enjoy something special. Non-smoking inside. Seating out front for smoking. Card payment preferred [https://www.instagram.com/meinfreundharveybar/](https://www.instagram.com/meinfreundharveybar/) **Tickets 13€ + booking fee** via https://www.annaberos.com/berlin or via https://comedyneat.eventbrite.de **Please prepurchase your tickets – limited capacity of 22 seats** **Remaining seats may be available at the door 15€ cash or card**

Shut-Up & Write Zehlendorf meets Fridays, except during school holidays, following the standard format of 15 minutes to say hello, followed by two 45 minute writing sessions and a break in between. The location is a cozy coworking space, which means it's quite peaceful, with no music playing or customers chatting around us. Coffee and tea are available in the kitchen, so there's no pressure to purchase anything (though donations are welcome!). So come and join us for some quiet work in a quiet space. When you arrive, if the door is closed, just text or ring The Space Coworking: 0178 869 0222.

**Stand-up with 3 experienced comedians, then brand new jokes workshopped as a panel with your input.** It's a stand-up show with a live writers' room. Like Pimp My Ride but with jokes! Help comedians pimp their jokes into bangers or watch them get dumped at the scrapyard. Strap in for a wildly funny ride with Berlin legends, rising stars and touring pros every Friday at Mein Freund Harvey - totally in English. Doors 7:00pm - Arrive early to enjoy something special **Show 7:30pm - 8:30pm (60min show no break)** ***Stay for Comedy Neat where the comedians do their best material 9-10pm*** **FREE ENTRY** \- A donation is expected at the end of the show between 7 and 15€ cash/card depending on your life situation \- thanks for supporting the arts\! **To secure a seat, reserve** [https://pimpmyjokesfridays.eventbrite.de](https://pimpmyjokesfridays.eventbrite.de) **for 10€ and that's your donation pre-paid** **Produced and usually hosted by** ANNA BEROS (AUS) Anna’s a Kiwi born, Melbourne raised, Berlin based full-time independent standup comedian, YouTube host, podcaster and producer. She celebrates life’s struggles with cheeky incisive standup and playful audience interaction. Her new stand-up solo, ‘The Devil in Miss Beros’ premiers at the Edinburgh Fringe 2026, returning with her 3rd stand-up solo, ‘High Hoe’ which enjoyed a successful full run at the Edinburgh Fringe 2025, as did her previous solos, ‘Creampie Curious’ and ‘Creampie Clarity’ across numerous festivals through the UK and Australia 2023 – 2024. She has written for Comedy Central DE, tours Europe and produces and hosts 5 weekly shows in Berlin. In 2025, she opened for Jeff Arcuri at Admiralspalast, in 2024 for April Macie on US army bases in Germany and for Ian Fidance in Berlin in 2019. She hosts the comedy channel, Ersties Nonsense and has the podcast Adults ONLY Comedy Berlin. [https://www.instagram.com/afberos/](https://www.instagram.com/afberos/) **LINEUP** updated on IG stories [https://www.instagram.com/adultsonlycomedyberlin/](https://www.instagram.com/adultsonlycomedyberlin/) **GUEST COMEDIANS:** Local and touring comedians with solid years in the game or hard-working promising new blood who host regular shows and/or are performing solo **MEIN FREUND HARVEY** S/U-Yorckstraße, U-Kleistpark, U-Bülowstraße Your new favourite bar in Schöneberg - cosy, friendly and sophisticated with an impressive range of spirits, cocktails (non-alcoholic too) and wines. No beer, tea or juice, so treat yourself. Seasonal bar snacks available. Arrive early to enjoy something special. Non-smoking inside. Seating out front for smoking. Card payment preferred. [https://www.instagram.com/meinfreundharveybar/](https://www.instagram.com/meinfreundharveybar/)

Liebe Schrägen, habt ihr Lust Basketball um Obama zu zelebrieren zu spielen? Wir treffen uns um 16 Uhr in der Nähe von Firlstraße / An der Wuhlheide. Wir setzen uns für eine halbe Stunde, bis wir alle da sind, dann spielen wir. Selbst bin ich Anfänger und gar nicht in Top Form. Die Regeln: Erst nach Zehn! Wir stehen üngefähr drei bis fünf Meter vor dem Korb. Wir werfen den Ball in den Korb. Wenn man erfolgreich den Ball in den Korb geworfen hat geht man weiter und wirft nochmal, doch diesmal mit der anderen Hand. Jedoch, wenn der Ball nicht in den Korb geht, dann ist der nächste Spieler an der Reihe. Erst nach Zehn. Eventuell wird es auch etwas Musik mit der JBL sein. Naturlich sind Zuschauer die gesellig sein wollen auch willkommen. Es gibt Sitzplätze am Rande des Platzes. Später könnten Wir eventuell Eis holen. Kommunikation bitte durch Signal Gruppe. Link im Kommentar. Auf den Basketball!!!

Hey Balkaneros! This is the perfect opportunity to connect with fun people while having delicious food and listening to live Balkan folk music. First-time attendees often say things like, “How did I not know about this?” and “This is such a unique experience in Berlin!” So, if you haven’t been to Šljiva yet, you’re definitely missing out. Check out [Šljiva's Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/sljivaberlin/) for some impressions. There will be a **fee of 8 euros** to participate in the event. Please send it through PayPal to ellenit.hernandez@gmail.com after you sign up. There are **only six spots**, so I'll only reserve your spot when you sign up AND send the money. This is meant to prevent last-minute cancellations. The money will go to the musicians. See you! Ellenit

**Summer Play Ritual** *Sensual Touch Lab Series* Mit ***Markus Kaufmann*** Für **GBTQ Männer\*** **[ANMELDUNG](https://wearevillage.org/shop/sensual-touch/w25-2026)** Mitglieder **15 €** Nicht-Mitglieder **30 €** In dieser Session richten wir den Fokus nach innen und erforschen, wie das Zusammenspiel von Erregung und Entspannung unser körperlich-sinnliches Erleben beeinflussen kann. Gleich einem Aufheizen und Abkühlen zwischen Tag und Nacht im Sommer lädt dieses Ritual zu einem spielerischen Ansatz ein, der alle Sinne einbezieht und körperliche Entfaltung ermöglicht, während zugleich das Nervensystem reguliert werden kann. So wie sich die Natur im Sommer vollständig entfaltet, dürfen auch wir uns öffnen und neue sinnliche Erfahrungen entdecken. Das Ritual begleitet die Teilnehmenden auf einer Reise der Selbsterforschung, intimer Eins-zu-eins-Begegnungen und gemeinsamer Gruppenerfahrungen. Die Erfahrung entfaltet sich in zwei Teilen: Zunächst führt ein\*e Facilitator durch angeleitete Übungen, die Vertrauen und Neugier fördern. Darauf folgt eine freiere und intuitivere Phase, die auf dem im ersten Teil entstandenen sinnlichen Bewusstsein aufbaut. Während der gesamten Erfahrung ist Kleidung optional und persönliche Grenzen werden jederzeit respektiert. **Vorteile** • Schafft wertvolle, gemeinsame Erfahrungen unter GBTQ Männer\* durch Nähe, Empathie und Verbundenheit. • Bekämpft Gefühle der Isolation und Einsamkeit. • Fördert Selbstliebe und Akzeptanz des eigenen Körpers und der Identität. • Bietet einen sicheren, urteilsfreien Raum zur Erforschung persönlicher Grenzen. • Trägt zum allgemeinen Wohlbefinden bei und unterstützt die Fähigkeit, dauerhafte Beziehungen aufzubauen. • Kann als gesunder Bewältigungsmechanismus dienen und das Risiko von Substanzmissbrauch reduzieren. **Hinweise** • Dieses Format ist für alle queeren Männer\*/Männlichkeiten, die Berührung in einer einvernehmlichen, unterstützenden Atmosphäre erfahren möchten. • Bitte lege Wert auf persönliche Hygiene. • Bringe zum Abdecken von Kissen, Matten oder Massageliegen ein Laken und ein Handtuch mit. • Dieser Workshop wird auf Englisch durchgeführt. • Dieses Event ist auch zu einem ermäßigten Mitgliederpreis erhältlich – aber kein Bestandteil der zwei kostenlosen monatlichen Mitgliederveranstaltungen. • Ermäßigter Zugang ist auf schriftliche Anfrage an: **[events@wearevillage.org](mailto:events@wearevillage.org)** 🔵 **Sensual Play Ritual** *Sensual Touch Lab Series* With ***Markus Kaufmann*** For **GBTQ men\*** **[BOOK YOUR TICKET!](https://wearevillage.org/en/shop/sensual-touch/w25-2026/)** Members **15 €** Regular **30 €** In this session, we turn our attention inward and explore how the interplay between arousal and relaxation can shape our embodied and sensual experience. Inspired by the rhythm of heating up and cooling down — like hot summer days followed by cool nights — this ritual invites a playful approach that engages all the senses and encourages full-bodied exploration, while supporting nervous system regulation. Just as nature unfolds in the summer, we too are invited to open ourselves fully and discover new sensory experiences. This ritual guides participants through a journey of self-exploration, intimate one-to-one encounters, and shared group experiences. The experience unfolds in two parts: it begins with a facilitator-led exploration designed to cultivate trust and curiosity, followed by a more intuitive and open phase that builds on the sensual awareness developed in the first part. Throughout the experience, clothing is optional and personal boundaries are respected at all times. **What is Sensual Touch Lab Series for GBTQ Men\*?** Sensual Touch Lab Series for GBTQ Men\* is a monthly workshop where we aim to create a space for sensual closeness and playful encounters. Embodied, somatic experiences that appreciate our full-bodied nature. Using sensuality as an approach to explore new ways of dealing with our own fears or patterns related to nudity, intimacy, and touch. We invite you to explore, communicate, and possibly expand your personal boundaries within a framework of mutual respect and consent. This opens up the opportunity to experience the power of touch, sensation, and non-verbal interpersonal connection. Each event will be a guided process, which will have a special touch depending on the theme and background of the facilitator\*, whether it be bodywork and touch, somatics and intimacy, or something else. These short workshops may include nudity, partner exercises or close physical interactions. **Benefits** Creates meaningful connections within the GBTQ+ community through collective experiences. Combats feelings of isolation and loneliness. Promotes self-love and acceptance of one’s body and identity. Provides a safe, judgement-free space to explore personal boundaries. Contributes to overall well-being and supports the ability to build lasting relationships. Can serve as a healthy coping mechanism and reduce the risk of substance abuse. **General Information** This format is for all queer men\* / queer masculinities interested in experiencing touch in a safe(r) setting. Please pay attention to personal hygiene. Bring a sheet and towel to cover cushions, mats, or massage tables. This event will be in German and/or English depending on participant needs. This event is also available at a reduced member price – but not part of the two-free-monthly-events benefit. Concession tickets upon written request to events@wearevillage.org

Train Your Brain Confidence & Adaptability Under Pressure What if confidence, adaptability, and decision-making could be trained through play? This interactive workshop introduces Cognitive Agility Through Chess — a beginner-friendly experience designed to strengthen focus, resilience, strategic thinking, and communication in a supportive and engaging environment. This is not a traditional chess class. Chess is used as a tool for reflection, collaboration, adaptability, and cognitive development through interactive challenges and guided exercises. WHAT TO EXPECT ♟️ Beginner-friendly introduction to chess fundamentals 🧠 Interactive cognitive and strategic challenges 🤝 Team-based and collaborative gameplay ⚡ Exercises focused on adaptability and thinking under pressure 💬 Guided reflection and discussion THIS EXPERIENCE SUPPORTS • Confidence-building • Strategic thinking • Communication • Adaptability • Emotional resilience • Cognitive flexibility • Decision-making under pressure WHO IS THIS FOR? Women interested in: • self-development • leadership • psychology • strategy • meaningful social connection • cognitive performance • creative and reflective experiences No chess experience is needed. EVENT DETAILS 📍 Motel One — Invalidenstraße 54, 10557 Berlin 🕒 2 Hours 👥 Limited small group experience, from 6-12 participants per event PILOT SESSION This is part of a limited founding pilot series in Berlin designed to create a thoughtful, engaging, and collaborative learning experience. FACILITATED BY Radwa Omar Founder & Cognitive Agility Facilitator Train Your Brain — Cognitive Agility Through Chess Train how you think. Elevate how you perform.

!!! Note the corrected meeting spot, which for some reason keeps getting changed in the event: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/L8SuKJxoLLa8hXCdA](https://maps.app.goo.gl/L8SuKJxoLLa8hXCdA) \-\-\- **Mandarin Learner Meetup in Berlin! *(Free resources below)*** **Learning Mandarin is like trying to tame a** 🐲**.** It can feel frustrating, but you’re not alone. **[WeHanzi](wehanzi.com)** is here to support! **[WeHanzi](wehanzi.com)** is an independently built iOS app created by Ben and Gina. We've turned the entire learning experience into ***Comprehensible Input* through both simplified and traditional manga** with support for **Zhuyin**, **Pinyin**, **flashcards**, **audio**, **direct translation**, an integrated dictionary. We also specifically design region-specific language to reflect real-life usage in both **mainland Chinese Mandarin** and **Taiwanese Mandarin**, allowing you to naturally compare and explore the differences between the two, so you don’t end up saying something that makes perfect sense in Beijing, but gets you funny looks in Taipei 😏. Now, together with our good friend Matthias from **[Gemeinsam Chinesisch & Deutsch lernen](https://www.meetup.com/gemeinsam-mandarin-chinesisch-und-deutsch-lernen/events/308204343/?eventOrigin=group_upcoming_events),** we’re inviting you to our very first **in-person Mandarin Learner Meetup in Berlin** together! All levels are welcome, from beginners to advanced learners. Just come hang out, share your stories, laugh at our tone mistakes! As a community, we can learn from each other and turn Mandarin into a piece of cake! 🍰 **Come and join us!** 📱 App: [Wehanzi.com](https://wehanzi.com/) 📸 Free bite-sized resources: [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/wehanzi/) 📚 More free tools: [wehanzi.app/menu](https://wehanzi.app/menu) **📍ABOUT THE MEETING SPOT** Please note that we will meet HERE, on the 3 wooden tree benches slightly left of the main entrance gate of Tempelhofer Feld: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/L8SuKJxoLLa8hXCdA](https://maps.app.goo.gl/L8SuKJxoLLa8hXCdA) We'll meet at the meeting spot first and then - depending on the weather - decide as a group to either walk around Tempelhofer Feld or go to a closeby restaurant to warm up and chat. So please be on time. Or if you are running late or can't find us, just give Matthias a call on 0176-21984345. See you all soon, Gina & Matthias

Train Your Brain Through Chess A Fun & Interactive Cognitive Agility Experience What if you could challenge your brain, meet interesting people, and learn new ways of thinking — all through play? Join us for a fun, beginner-friendly workshop that combines chess, psychology, strategy, and interactive activities to explore how we think, solve problems, adapt, and make decisions. This is not a traditional chess class. Chess becomes a tool for exploration, collaboration, creativity, and cognitive agility through games, challenges, and guided activities. What to Expect ♟️ Beginner-friendly introduction to chess 🧠 Fun cognitive and strategic challenges 🤝 Team-based and collaborative activities ⚡ Interactive games focused on adaptability and problem-solving 💬 Reflection, discussion, and shared learning 🎯 A relaxed and engaging social experience Skills We Explore • Strategic thinking • Communication • Adaptability • Cognitive flexibility • Problem-solving • Focus and attention • Decision-making under pressure Who Is This For? Anyone interested in: • Personal development • Psychology and human behavior • Strategy and critical thinking • Meeting like-minded people • Fun and meaningful social activities • Learning something new in a supportive environment No chess experience is required. Event Details 📍 Motel One — Invalidenstraße 54, 10557 Berlin 🕒 2 Hours 👥 Small-group experience (6–12 participants) Facilitated by Radwa Omar Founder & Cognitive Agility Facilitator Train Your Brain — Cognitive Agility Through Chess ♟️ Think. Adapt. Play. Connect

***Relax, you're in good hands.*** ***Pro comedians, cosy ambience, sophisticated drinks*** Saturdays in Schöneberg at Mein Freund Harvey, professional comedians bring their best material for longer sets of Top Shelf Comedy Doors 7pm - Arrive early to enjoy top-notch spirits, cocktails & wine before the show (no beer, so treat yourself to something special) **Show starts 8pm** Break 9-9:15pm Show ends 10pm Limited capacity of 22 seats so **please prepurchase your tickets** Tickets 17€+ booking fee here: **https://www.annaberos.com/berlin** or via **https://topshelfcomedymay2025.eventbrite.de** Remaining seats may be available at the door 18€ cash or card **produced by and often featuring ANNA BEROS** (AUS) Anna’s a Kiwi born, Melbourne raised, Berlin based full-time independent standup comedian, YouTube host, podcaster and producer. She celebrates life’s struggles with incisive standup and playful audience interaction. Her new standup solo, High Hoe enjoyed a successful full run at the Edinburgh Fringe 2025 and her previous solos, Creampie Curious and Creampie Clarity played at numerous comedy festivals through the UK and Australia in 2023 and 2024. She tours Europe and produces and hosts 5 weekly shows in Berlin. In 2025, she opened for Jeff Arcuri at Admiralspalast, in 2024 for April Macie on US army bases in Germany and for Ian Fidance in Berlin in 2019. She hosts the comedy channel, Ersties Nonsense, has the podcast Adults ONLY Comedy Berlin and has written for Comedy Central DE. "Beros is a full-time standup and her hours on stage are evident in her skill at taking the temperature of the audience and bringing them along with her as she veers into darker material." – The Age, Melbourne Australia **[https://www.instagram.com/afberos/](https://www.instagram.com/afberos/)** **GUEST COMEDIANS** see full lineup at **https://www.annaberos.com/berlin** or on instagram stories @adultsonlycomedyberlin **https://www.instagram.com/adultsonlycomedyberlin/** **Venue: MEIN FREUND HARVEY** S/U-Yorckstraße, U-Kleistpark, U-Bülowstraße Your new favourite bar in Schöneberg. Cosy, friendly and sophisticated with a huge range of spirits and cocktails, with seasonal bar snacks. Arrive early to enjoy something special. Non-smoking inside. Seating out front for smoking. Card payment only

Welcome! This meetup is for neurodivergent people (ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, OCD, etc.) who are learning German and want a low-pressure, structured space to practice speaking. **Logistics:** *📍Location: Kaffeekreis [https://maps.app.goo.gl/LR2yhChFpEkVB1HD9](https://maps.app.goo.gl/LR2yhChFpEkVB1HD9) - **Please order food or drink from the cafe.** *🎧 Bring sensory management tools (headphones, stim toys, sunglasses, etc) - (Optional) A notebook if you like writing things down **How it works:** 🗣️ **Level-based small groups** When we start, we’ll quickly split into groups based on your self-assessed level (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2). → **Max. 4 people per group** to keep sensory load low and speaking time fair. ⏲️ **Organizers group check** The organizers will come around from time to time to each group and ask if you want to stay in your current group or move to a different level—either higher or lower— or if you’d like to talk in different group. We’ll help you move. No pressure. No questions asked. 🚫 No pressure to speak every round. Just listening is fine. 🃏 **Conversation cards & prompts** Each group gets a set of prompt cards (simple questions, situational tasks, or grammar challenges appropriate for that level). You can follow the cards or go off-script — whatever feels right that moment. Let’s practice German in a way that actually works for our brains. ✨

Featuring Kaleidoscope, Berlin's premiere musical improv troupe. Laugh along as they make up a two-act Broadway-style musical on the spot, from your suggestions! Come see the show audiences are calling "riotously funny" and "pure magic on stage!" Doors 19:30: Show 20:00. Tickets at: https://www.improvworksberlin.com/shows

***Welcome to the Actors Gym!*** * A fun, supportive training ground where actors play, experiment, and build their craft. * *Through engaging games and exercises, you’ll develop core acting skills and bring them to life by performing a short script at the end of every session.* * This drop-in class welcomes both new and intermediate actors eager to learn, stretch, and have fun. ‍ **DURATION:** 60 – 90 mins (depending on numbers) **ABOUT YOUR COACH:** Geoff is a dedicated professional teacher and actor. He is also active as a writer, director and producer of small-scale projects here in Berlin. He has performed on many stages – as actor, host, and improvisor – and in many short films, across the UK and Germany. He loves to meet and work with new actors, and has a real passion for discovering new talent. His acting profile may be found [HERE](https://www.filmmakers.eu/en/actors/geoff-mills). ‍ **SPOTS:** Everyone is welcome. Beginner-friendly. €15 General Admission (*pay at venue*) Free to members of [DNA Arts](https://www.dna-artclub.com/) \- a vibrant community of artists and performers\. **DNA** members have access to over 5 dance classes and 5 creative workshops each week, covering everything from singing, writing, and marketing to theatre, including also 5+ shows weekly, all completely free for our members.

Welcome to Drunken Philosophy, a casual, curious, social discussion club. Come grab a drink and a seat at The Oracle. **Optional topic for this meetup: Where is everybody?** In 1950 the physicist Enrico Fermi was talking about aliens over lunch and asked a question that still has not gone away: if the universe is so vast and so old, and even a fraction of those billions of stars have planets, where is everyone? By the numbers the galaxy should be crowded with civilizations. Instead we look up and hear silence. That gap between "they should be everywhere" and "we see no one" is the Fermi Paradox. One of the most unsettling answers is the idea of a **Great Filter**: somewhere on the road from dead chemistry to a galaxy-spanning civilization, there is at least one step that is almost impossible to get past. Maybe the filter is behind us. Maybe life starting at all, or simple cells becoming complex, or intelligence ever evolving, is the freak accident, and we already cleared the hard part. Or maybe the filter is ahead of us, and advanced civilizations reliably wipe themselves out before they spread. Here is the part that messes with people. If we ever found life somewhere else, even pond scum on Mars, most people would call it the greatest discovery in history. But it might be the worst possible news. It would mean life is common, the early steps are easy, and the hard step is still in front of us. So the eerie silence overhead might actually be the best sign we could ask for. **Questions to wrestle with:** * Is it better to be alone? Would you rather we find alien life and learn we are not special, or find nothing and quietly improve our odds of surviving? * Where do you bet the filter sits, behind us or ahead of us, and why? * If it is ahead of us, what is it? Nuclear war, climate collapse, AI, something we cannot even picture yet? And can we do anything about a filter we cannot see coming? * Two principles pull opposite ways here. The principle of mediocrity (the Copernican principle, Sagan's "no privileged place in the universe") says we are ordinary, so what happened on Earth probably happened everywhere, which makes the silence scream louder. The anthropic principle says of course we find ourselves somewhere life was possible, since we could not observe anything else, so our being here may say almost nothing about how common life is. Which lens do you trust, and does the silence still demand an answer once you account for observer selection? * And if we did confirm life out there and had to accept we are not special, what would that do to belief in a higher power, and would shedding (or keeping) that belief help or hurt our odds of pulling together as one species? * Does any of this change how you live, or how humanity should be spending its time and money right now? As always the prompt is optional. Come for the conversation, stay for the drinks, and bring your own questions.

Private Group. Closed to the Public Knowing ourselves and understanding our abilities is the first step toward wielding our gifts with control and accuracy. In subsequent classes we will verify and hone our talents with activities and discussion. These are hands-on workshops and participation is expected. The goal of our series will be to develop expertise in areas of particular interest such as mediumship, channeling, divination, healing and, etc.. Our ultimate directions will be determined by class members as we evolve. I look forward to sharing and discovering with you. - Cynthia

☕ Coffee and Kaiwa: Casual Japanese Conversation Please purchase a beverage or snack to support the venue. Join us for a relaxed, informal hour of Japanese-English language exchange and cultural chat! Whether you are a native Japanese speaker, a fluent bilingual, or just starting your language journey, everyone is welcome. There is no set agenda—just grab a drink, pull up a chair, and practice speaking at your own pace. Who Should Attend? Beginners: Practice basic greetings and phrases. Advanced Speakers: Maintain your fluency. Native Speakers: Meet locals and share your culture.