Home Cooking

In onze volgende uitwisseling van 6 februari bespreken we het boek[ De meester en Margarita](https://www.bol.com/be/nl/p/de-meester-en-margarita/9300000155096384/?cid=1765021197714-7146058440756&bltgh=oYpNj4gXlFOAqqTcg8JGiQ.4_25.26.ProductTitle) van Michael Boelgakov en kiezen we een nieuw boek Er zijn verschillende oudere en recente vertalingen. Tot dan!

**Sip. Listen. Wander. Unwind.** **Slow evenings of art, music & wine.** Enjoy soulful live music up close, savor a curated selection of three fine wines, and explore our upcoming exhibition alongside the artists. Part vernissage, part concert, part wine tasting — the perfect way to ease into the weekend! ### **PROGRAM:** > CONCERT *Classical* by Florie Emond (soprano) & Juliette Gauthier (harp) > VERNISSAGE art exhibition by TBC > WINES by Slowine [About organic wines “Slowine”.](https://www.slowine.be/about-us) \* *nonalcoholic beverage option available* For information and registrations: https://www.culturalcreativecorner.com/events/friday-soiree-2602/

✨ **Meet new people in Brussels** **in a friendly, relaxed and international atmosphere.** The ambience is relatively quiet, calm and sober for easy-going casual conversation, with no chaos and loud party music in the background! 🍻 Large selection of drinks and food available 🌍 Internationals, expats & locals welcome 👨‍👩‍👧‍👧 Over 10,000 members overall in our Brussels community 😀 Our events usually attract **30–40 attendees**, with an age average of around 35 years old and good gender balance (the event announcement is relayed across multiple social media, not just on this page) 💪 Organized weekly since early 2025 🩷 **Safe, respectful environment, and zero tolerance for any harassment!** The organizer is always present all evening in case of problems. You can also leave any anonymous feedback about the event here under this form: [https://gmogni.aidaform.com/brasserie-meetup-feedback-form](https://gmogni.aidaform.com/brasserie-meetup-feedback-form) **.** Looking to meet new people and expand your social circle in Brussels, as well as your network of professional contacts? Join us **every Friday evening anytime from 18:30** **and until at least 23h** **at** **the** **“Quartier Leopold”** **brasserie**, in the heart of the famous Place du Luxembourg in front of the European Parliament, for a fun, relaxed night of **drinks, food, spontaneous conversations, and great vibes**! 💛 . 📍 **Location**: “Quartier Leopold” brasserie, Pl. du Luxembourg 9, 1050 Ixelles 📌 **Google Maps**: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/oCvSP1AGZNX2ZV3C8](https://maps.app.goo.gl/oCvSP1AGZNX2ZV3C8) (don't worry if you see the bar marked as "closed" on Google Maps for the Friday nights, they will always be open for us!) **🌐 Website of the venue**: [https://www.quartier-leopold.be/en](https://www.quartier-leopold.be/en) 📸 **Pictures gallery from previous events:** [https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1LRbsinA1wEtUrDhlyw8K6Uz9YKeq0_dw?usp=sharing](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1LRbsinA1wEtUrDhlyw8K6Uz9YKeq0_dw?usp=sharing) . ✨ **Why you’ll love it**: ✅ **Everyone is welcome**, even if you don’t know anyone else yet—expats, locals, newcomers, solo adventurers, or groups! ✅ Completely **free to attend**—just grab a drink and join the fun! Please ask the bartenders when you arrive if unsure where to find our meetup group and tables ✅ Possibility to make also useful **professional exchanges and networking** with other participants who work in similar domains, so remember to bring also your business card! ✅ Tons of **indoor and outdoor space available**—the square in front of the bar is quite pedestrian-friendly, and we have a private large room reserved entirely for the Meetup participants at the back of the bar! ✅ Possibility to have **dinner at the brasserie** during the meetup (until 22h), thanks to its comprehensive selection of dishes available in the menu: [https://www.quartier-leopold.be/web/content/1467?unique=b27f82e985f525417a92cbeaf0f1ac1c5e2fb4a0](https://www.quartier-leopold.be/web/content/1467?unique=b27f82e985f525417a92cbeaf0f1ac1c5e2fb4a0) ✅ **Want to keep the night going?** After the meetup, we often continue as a group to explore nightlife hotspots in the city center. . 💬 **Stay connected with our Community**: ▶️ Join our **Facebook/Messenger chat** to get updates and easily find the group on arrival:[ ](https://m.me/ch/Abaqvj9lxNT3_xh7/)[https://m.me/ch/AbaV86vk4SHop_eD/](https://m.me/ch/AbaV86vk4SHop_eD/) ▶️ Otherwise, if you prefer to use **WhatsApp**, please join this other group: [https://chat.whatsapp.com/FMjWrr9wCR7JYsudMD6XV0](https://chat.whatsapp.com/FMjWrr9wCR7JYsudMD6XV0) ▶️ We are also active on **Telegram**: [https://t.me/euromeet_meetup](https://t.me/euromeet_meetup "https://t.me/euromeet_meetup") ▶️ And don’t forget to join our **EuroMeet Facebook group** for many more social events in Brussels: [https://www.facebook.com/groups/euromeet](https://www.facebook.com/groups/euromeet) ▶️ Finally, we also manage a **professional networking group on LinkedIn** as well, for more easily retrieving each other's LinkedIn profiles and identifying people who also work in similar domains: [https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13194613/](https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13194613/) . Come alone or bring a friend—either way, you’ll leave with **new friends, great memories, and maybe even some ideas on how to develop further your professional career!** See you this Friday! 🍻✨😀 . 📧 Got questions? Reach out to the **organizer**: [gabriele.mogni@gmail.com](mailto:gabriele.mogni@gmail.com) . 👉 Please **RSVP on Meetup** if you would like to attend our next event, so that we can plan accordingly. . *** **#BrusselsMeetup #ExpatsInBrussels #BrusselsSocialLife #BrusselsEvents #FridayVibes #EuroMeet #SocialInBrussels #BrusselsNightlife #MakeNewFriends #MeetupBrussels #SchumanAfterWork #WeekendVibes**

✨ **Meet new people in Brussels** **in a friendly, relaxed and international atmosphere.** The ambience is relatively quiet, calm and sober for easy-going casual conversation, with no chaos and loud party music in the background! 🍻 Large selection of drinks and food available 🌍 Internationals, expats & locals welcome 👨‍👩‍👧‍👧 Over 10,000 members overall in our Brussels community 😀 Our events usually attract **30–40 attendees**, with an age average of around 35 years old and good gender balance (the event announcement is relayed across multiple social media, not just on this page) 💪 Organized weekly since early 2025 🩷 **Safe, respectful environment, and zero tolerance for any harassment!** The organizer is always present all evening in case of problems. You can also leave any anonymous feedback about the event here under this form: [https://gmogni.aidaform.com/brasserie-meetup-feedback-form](https://gmogni.aidaform.com/brasserie-meetup-feedback-form) **.** Looking to meet new people and expand your social circle in Brussels, as well as your network of professional contacts? Join us **every Friday evening anytime from 18:30** **and until at least 23h** **at** **the** **“Quartier Leopold”** **brasserie**, in the heart of the famous Place du Luxembourg in front of the European Parliament, for a fun, relaxed night of **drinks, food, spontaneous conversations, and great vibes**! 💛 . 📍 **Location**: “Quartier Leopold” brasserie, Pl. du Luxembourg 9, 1050 Ixelles 📌 **Google Maps**: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/oCvSP1AGZNX2ZV3C8](https://maps.app.goo.gl/oCvSP1AGZNX2ZV3C8) (don't worry if you see the bar marked as "closed" on Google Maps for the Friday nights, they will always be open for us!) **🌐 Website of the venue**: [https://www.quartier-leopold.be/en](https://www.quartier-leopold.be/en) 📸 **Pictures gallery from previous events:** [https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1LRbsinA1wEtUrDhlyw8K6Uz9YKeq0_dw?usp=sharing](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1LRbsinA1wEtUrDhlyw8K6Uz9YKeq0_dw?usp=sharing) . ✨ **Why you’ll love it**: ✅ **Everyone is welcome**, even if you don’t know anyone else yet—expats, locals, newcomers, solo adventurers, or groups! ✅ Completely **free to attend**—just grab a drink and join the fun! Please ask the bartenders when you arrive if unsure where to find our meetup group and tables ✅ Possibility to make also useful **professional exchanges and networking** with other participants who work in similar domains, so remember to bring also your business card! ✅ Tons of **indoor and outdoor space available**—the square in front of the bar is quite pedestrian-friendly, and we have a private large room reserved entirely for the Meetup participants at the back of the bar! ✅ Possibility to have **dinner at the brasserie** during the meetup (until 22h), thanks to its comprehensive selection of dishes available in the menu: [https://www.quartier-leopold.be/web/content/1467?unique=b27f82e985f525417a92cbeaf0f1ac1c5e2fb4a0](https://www.quartier-leopold.be/web/content/1467?unique=b27f82e985f525417a92cbeaf0f1ac1c5e2fb4a0) ✅ **Want to keep the night going?** After the meetup, we often continue as a group to explore nightlife hotspots in the city center. . 💬 **Stay connected with our Community**: ▶️ Join our **Facebook/Messenger chat** to get updates and easily find the group on arrival:[ ](https://m.me/ch/Abaqvj9lxNT3_xh7/)[https://m.me/ch/AbaV86vk4SHop_eD/](https://m.me/ch/AbaV86vk4SHop_eD/) ▶️ Otherwise, if you prefer to use **WhatsApp**, please join this other group: [https://chat.whatsapp.com/FMjWrr9wCR7JYsudMD6XV0](https://chat.whatsapp.com/FMjWrr9wCR7JYsudMD6XV0) ▶️ We are also active on **Telegram**: [https://t.me/euromeet_meetup](https://t.me/euromeet_meetup "https://t.me/euromeet_meetup") ▶️ And don’t forget to join our **EuroMeet Facebook group** for many more social events in Brussels:[ https://www.facebook.com/groups/euromeet](https://www.facebook.com/groups/euromeet) ▶️ Finally, we also manage a **professional networking group on LinkedIn** as well, for more easily retrieving each other's LinkedIn profiles and identifying people who also work in similar domains: [https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13194613/](https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13194613/) . Come alone or bring a friend—either way, you’ll leave with **new friends, great memories, and maybe even some ideas on how to develop further your professional career!** See you this Friday! 🍻✨😀 . 📧 Got questions? Reach out to the **organizer**: **[gabriele.mogni@gmail.com](mailto:gabriele.mogni@gmail.com)** . 👉 Please **RSVP on Meetup** if you would like to attend our next event, so that we can plan accordingly. . *** *** **#BrusselsMeetup #ExpatsInBrussels #BrusselsSocialLife #BrusselsEvents #FridayVibes #EuroMeet #SocialInBrussels #BrusselsNightlife #MakeNewFriends #MeetupBrussels #SchumanAfterWork #WeekendVibes**

Ciao a tutti! Ci ritroviamo ogni venerdì dalle 18:00 per un bicchiere (si può anche mangiare) da Poppy's Bar, che si trova a 2 minuti di camminata da Parvis St Gilles. Un tavolo per 20 persone è riservato sotto il nome di Salvatore. Dunque, se non ci sono o se sarò in ritardo, potrete chiedere al barista. È un incontro informale, perché non è un evento strutturato, ma piuttosto un gruppo di persone che si riuniscono per parlare e praticare l'italiano. Anche i nativi italiani sono benvenuti :) Tutto ciò che serve è un sorriso — e puoi anche portare un amico! 👉 **Importante:** * È obbligatorio essere iscritti all’evento su Meetup per partecipare. L’iscrizione è importante per gli organizzatori, perché permette di conoscere il numero dei partecipanti e di garantire la sicurezza e il benessere di tutti i presenti. * Se cambiano le vostre circostanze e non potete più venire, annullate la vostra partecipazione per lasciare posto ad altri. * Vi chiediamo di assicuravi di pagare i vostri consumi, per evitare che gli organizatori saranno rimasti a pagare per gli altri. * Si prega di non parlare di politica cosi ci godiama la serata in tranquilita, di rispettare tutti i partecipanti e di non trattare l’incontro come un appuntamento romantici o intimo: l’obiettivo è semplicemente praticare e migliorare l’italiano in un ambiente piacevole e rilassato. PS : FR - Table de conversation en italien chaque vendredi de 18h00 à 22h00 au bar Poppy's, à deux minutes à pied du Parvis St-Gilles" (adresse : rue de Moscou 11, 1060 Saint-Gilles) NL - Praattafel in het Italiaans elke vrijdag van 18.00 tot 22.00 uur in de Poppys bar, op twee minuten lopen van Sint-Gillisvoorplein (adres: 11 Moskoustraat, 1060 Sint-Gillis) EN - Conversation table in Italian every Friday from 18:00 till 22:00 at Poppy's, 2 minutes walk from tram stop Parvis Saint-Gilles (address : Rue de Moscou 11, 1060 Saint-Gilles) ES - Mesa de conversación en Italiano cada viernes desde las 18:00 hasta las 22:00 en el bar Poppy's, a dos minutos a pie de la parada del tranvía Parvis St-Gilles (direccion: Rue de Moscou 11, 1060 Saint-Gilles)

_IMPORTANT: To RSVP you will also need to register as a member [here.](https://forms.gle/PsmYJ3vQKocXQCAY6)_ This winter we’re combining **Alpine magic** with the charm of **Lake Como** — all in one unforgettable weekend! **Join the WhatsApp group for details.** ## 🌍 Highlights ✅ UNESCO World Heritage: ride *both* the Albula & Bernina railway lines in one journey ✅ Winter landscapes of Switzerland + Italian lakeside beauty ✅ Group atmosphere: travel, hike, and dine together --- 👉 **Interested? Please fill out the Google Form (link in comments) so we can coordinate tickets & logistics.**

Dear Folks, Bowling night this Friday! Let’s get together, have some fun, play bowling, relax, and enjoy a drink at Agenda afterward. The bowling place charges **8 euros** per person for each round, which including equipment. Everybody needs to pay at the reception desk. We will meet up directly there and play as a group. Contribution to Our Events Starting this year, we kindly ask participants to contribute in one of the following ways: **€5** per event, or **€40** annual membership fee Yifei Yang BE12363234512492 Communication: your name+ event/membership If you feel like supporting us beyond this, to help people who can’t afford it, you are very welcome to do so 💛 If the contribution is a concern for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us directly 😉 These contributions will help us: Cover the annual Meetup platform fee Encourage everyone to respect RSVPs (We experienced a high number of no-shows at several events last year, which made organization more difficult.) We will donate 10% collected fees to support Queer oriented organisations in the end of the year. Thank you very much for your understanding and cooperation. **Cheers!** 🥂 [Follow us ](https://www.instagram.com/thisis_yifeiyang?igsh=ZjBjeGxqMGh0NTV3&utm_source=qr) Yifei

This Weekend Morning Coffee Meeting - Sunday Edition - will take place at Bar Mazette, in the heart of the Marolles, and will be hosted by Emilia and Adriano. Newbies welcome! 🗓 **Sunday, 8 February** ⏰ **from 10:30** 👥 **limited to 12 people only** **Address:** **Bar Mazette** **Place du Jeu de Balle 4** **1000 Brussels** This is one of our Sunday editions, which are usually meant to test new places outside our usual coffee locations. These editions are smaller and more experimental, and focus as much on the place and the neighbourhood as on the group itself. *** ### ⏰ Timing The **core time** of the event is **10:30 – 12:00**. That’s when everyone should be there. Because this is a **very small group (12 people maximum)**, **registration is obligatory**. *** ### ⚠️ IMPORTANT — please read carefully Places are usually **very limited** on Sundays. Please **do not register if you are unsure you can come**. If you register and later realise you can’t make it, **cancel as soon as possible, latest on Saturday afternoon.** There is often a **waiting list**, and it’s only fair to give people on it a real chance to join. Registering and not showing up means someone else stayed home for nothing. Thank you for being fair and respectful. If you’re on the waiting list, please **check your status on Saturday evening at the latest**. See you on Sunday ☕ *** ### 📍 The place & the area Mazette is located right next to **Place du Jeu de Balle**, where Brussels’ best-known flea market takes place every Sunday morning. The area is busy, sometimes messy, full of objects with past lives and people just passing through. It’s a very typical Marolles atmosphere. Mazette opened in 2022 as a **cooperative project**. It was created by people who wanted a place that belongs to the neighbourhood and works with it. It’s not only a bar, and not only about beer. Part of the beer is brewed on site, with the tanks located below the bar. The food follows the same logic: bread baked in-house, a short menu, seasonal ingredients, and dishes that are simple and meant to be shared. Nothing complicated, nothing rushed. The place also works as a neighbourhood meeting point. Locals come in after the flea market, others stay for events or just to sit for a while. Conversations overlap, people stay longer than planned, and the space naturally shifts between café, bar and meeting place. For a small Sunday morning coffee meeting, it’s a very fitting setting: informal, local, and closely connected to the Marolles around it

Hi everyone, This coffee morning event is @MIR Concept Coffee Store! Saturday, 7 February 2026, from 10:00 - 13:00. MIR opened its doors about 3 years ago, right off Place Jourdan. Doriana, the owner, is a super nice host, and is excited to have our group as her café. The café is very beautiful and has great coffee, andmany yummy food options. Their Instagram channel: https://www.instagram.com/mirconceptstore/ **The address is:** MIR Concept Coffee Store Rue Gray 4A 1040 Etterbeek *** 1. The **prime time** of the event is **10:30 - 12:30**. That's when most people will be there. 2. When you enter the gallery, it's either on the right-hand side or left-hand side of its hallway, depending which entrance you take. 3. If you intend **to join past 12:00** (high noon), then there is no need to register. Just come and join! 4. **DON'T forget to cancel** if you can't join! 5. **Please, be respectful towards each other during the event. (And after ;))** **As always, feel free to follow us on INSTAGRAM!** [https://instagram.com/weekendmorningcoffee?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==](https://instagram.com/weekendmorningcoffee?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==) **THE STRUCTURE of THE EVENT:** * I will post the event on Saturday/Sunday evening for the following Saturday. * I send out a reminder to everyone on Friday. * There is sometimes a waiting list. * In case RSVP is closed (once there are 10-15 people on the waiting list), I might reopen it on Friday, depending on the number of cancellations in the meantime. * **For everyone on the waiting,** please check your status and messages on Friday evening the latest. I message everyone on the waiting list on Friday. * **Please, move to "not going" AS SOON AS you know that you can't come anymore, that includes everyone who is on the waiting list.** **IMPORTANT:** * **Please, be respectful towards each other during the event. (And after ;))** * When you register yourself, be careful not to register accidentally a +1 guest (unless you bring a guest). It happens very often. * If you have any questions then, message me. *** **A MESSAGE FOR NEWCOMERS:** *In the three years of hosting this coffee group, I have met many people who struggle with anxieties when coming to an event for the first time. Sometimes, it took them more than one attempt before being able to join.* *Occasionally, people reach out to me before the event, and I have always been grateful for that as it offers the opportunity to communicate with each other and to find the best and most gentle way for that person to join the group.* *I would like to encourage everyone who struggles with this to contact me before. It would really be too bad if you can't join us, as it mostly gets better the second or third time you come.* *In addition to that, if you arrive and notice any signs of nervousness or fear, you can always let me know right then.* **THANK YOU AND SEE YOU ALL ON Saturday!**

Need some quiet time for reading? Want to share the experience with others? Join us at the charming venue of La Belladone to read in the company of others. It’s alone, but also together, get it? We read for an hour, then chat over a drink, then go back to reading (if we feel like it) This is a free activity except for drinks.

El libro de enero es ***Antigua vida mía, de Marcela Serrano*** ***.*** De la noche a la mañana, Violeta Dasinsky se vuelve noticia a causa de una tragedia y Josefa Ferrer, su amiga de la infancia, con los diarios de Violeta en la mano, empieza a contar su historia. Es decir, la de ambas. Aunque Josefa, una exitosa y angustiada cantante chilena, es la narradora, a su voz y a la de Violeta se agrega la de «nosotras, las otras», suerte de coro griego y testigo de la experiencia femenina a través de las generaciones. En un vívido contrapunto, el relato irá trazando las búsquedas a un tiempo paralelas y divergentes de Violeta y Josefa, desde la infancia común en el Santiago clasista y turbulento de los años 60 hasta el «viaje terapéutico» a la ciudad de Antigua, Guatemala, apostando a la amistad como una cura posible. El amor y la traición, la sexualidad y el dolor, la utopía y las perversiones de la modernidad, la tensión entre lo público y lo privado. Ser mujer en América Latina cuando muere el siglo XX. As usual for the first Saturday group, you may use both English and Spanish during the book discussion; you just need an acceptable level of oral comprehension of both languages to fully enjoy it. Participar cuesta 1€ (para cubrir el coste de la suscripción a MeetUp). Durante la conversación elegiremos el libro para el mes siguiente, podéis proponer cualquier libro que os apetezca leer o discutir. El número de participantes está limitado. Si no podéis participar, por favor, indicadlo actualizando el RSPV en MeetUp.

What's up Friends! 👋 Let's meet at Le Pantin for another round of games and laughs. Special theme: light strategy games (Catan 🐑🪵🌾 or similar). Games: 🎲 The pub has a fair collection of games. Feel free however to bring any of your own favorites. Food & Drinks: Le Pantin serves only drinks🍸🍺🍹, however you’re also welcome to bring your own snacks 🍟🍩🍿 to enjoy during the games. Ordering: 🤑 At least one drink is mandatory - this is how we support cool places like this! Timing: ⏱️ We kick off at 14:00, and you’re welcome to stay for as many games as you like. Joining later? Just let me know in advance in the chat so we don’t slow down the start 😊 🚦If you find yourself on the waiting list but you absolutely want to join or if you have any other question - feel free to contact me directly via the chat. 📢 Further details may be shared via the group chat or via DM 💬. Make sure to check your messages 👀 at least on the day before the event to avoid missing any mega important 🙄 announcements. 🐈‍⬛ The Friends Code: 👉 Which games are played will be agreed by the group 👉Depending on preferences and group size we usually split into several tables 👉 Got a favorite game? Bring it along or drop a suggestion in your reply 👉 Can't make it? Cancel on time so someone on the waitlist can grab your spot 👉 Don't show up (or show up at your own risk:) if you are on the waiting list. There may be no space for extra players and you risk to get disappointed. See you folks 😉

. Find us on Facebook to see what's actually happening. Bring your own knitting or crochet project and join other people who enjoy yarn crafts for a relaxing couple of hours on Saturday afternoons. The 1st Saturday of the month is not an in-person meet-up, but on zoom. All people and all levels welcome, including beginners, whom we are happy to help get started (although we don't run classes). No charge. All you need is some yarn and a crochet hook or a pair of knitting needles. We are very friendly so don't be shy. The venue may change from time to time so please check back on the day before the event to be sure you have it right. We mostly speak English, but people in the group are very international and speak many languages. Looking forward to seeing you.

⚠️ **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 Brussels.** Each meetup brings together 4–6 like-minded people for casual conversations over brunch. 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.

Inspired by the successful events like "Pot Luck in the Park" and "Saturday Mornings @ East Market," this meetup promises a fun and engaging atmosphere where like-minded individuals can connect over a shared love for languages and cultures. Whether you're a language learner, ESL student, or simply passionate about exploring new cultures, this event is perfect for anyone looking to immerse themselves in a diverse and welcoming community. Come join us for an enlightening afternoon of language, culture, food, of course, and connections! (Everyone will individually choose from the buffet and pay for their own meal, by weight.)

**Our February novel is: Julia by Sandra Newman** **This month is a classic, dystopian, fiction, literary fiction, women’s fiction, and science fiction novel. The book is 394 pages in print and 14 hours and 20 minutes on audiobook.** **An imaginative, feminist, and brilliantly relevant-to-today retelling of Orwell’s 1984, from the point of view of Winston Smith’s lover, Julia, by critically acclaimed novelist Sandra Newman.** Julia Worthing is a mechanic, working in the Fiction Department at the Ministry of Truth. It’s 1984, and Britain (now called Airstrip One) has long been absorbed into the larger trans-Atlantic nation of Oceania. Oceania has been at war for as long as anyone can remember, and is ruled by an ultra-totalitarian Party, whose leader is a quasi-mythical figure called Big Brother. In short, everything about this world is as it is in Orwell’s 1984. All her life, Julia has known only Oceania, and, until she meets Winston Smith, she has never imagined anything else. She is an ideal citizen: cheerfully cynical, always ready with a bribe, piously repeating every political slogan while believing in nothing. She routinely breaks the rules, but also collaborates with the regime when necessary. Everyone likes Julia. Then one day she finds herself walking toward Winston Smith in a corridor and impulsively slips him a note, setting in motion the devastating, unforgettable events of the classic story. Julia takes us on a surprising journey through Orwell’s now-iconic dystopia, with twists that reveal unexpected sides not only to Julia, but to other familiar figures in the 1984 universe. This unique perspective lays bare our own world in haunting and provocative ways, just as the original did almost seventy-five years ago.

Early-bird coffee and conversation at [Paris Baguette](https://parisbaguette.com/locations/oh/columbus/3969-merchants-row/)!

**I’m planning future book club meetups and would love your input. Please choose your top three from the list below—your picks will help decide what we read next!** **Book Options** *The Hong Kong Widow* – Kristen Loesch *American Spy* – Lauren Wilkinson *God of the Woods* – Liz Moore *Listen for the Lie* – Amy Tintera *The Swallows* – Lisa Lutz *The Drowning Kind* – Jennifer McMahon *The Eights* – Joanna Miller *The Quiet Librarian* – Allen Eskens Thanks so much for sharing your pick! Please **reply in the comments** with your top three. I can’t wait to see which books rise to the top and to discuss them together at our next meetups.

Join us for an interactive Bombay Gin Cocktail Class at TownHall — a fun, social experience designed to bring people together over great drinks, great food, and great conversation. During the class, you’ll learn how to craft several different Bombay Gin cocktails, guided by a master mixologist in a relaxed, high-energy setting. This isn’t a lecture — it’s hands-on, engaging, and built to spark connection, laughter, and good vibes. Whether you come solo or with friends, this experience makes it easy to meet people, enjoy expertly crafted cocktails, and unwind mid-week. ✨ What’s Included (A Ton 😁) • Multiple Bombay Gin cocktails • Interactive cocktail instruction • Food & appetizers sponsored by TownHall • A lively, social atmosphere 🍸 Sponsored by Bombay Gin 🍽 Food & appetizers sponsored by TownHall Must be 21+ to attend $20 fee per person