Idea Cafe
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Check out idea cafe events happening today here. These are in-person gatherings where you can meet fellow enthusiasts and participate in activities right now.
Discover all the idea cafe events taking place this week here. Plan ahead and join exciting meetups throughout the week.
Absolutely! Find idea cafe events near your location here. Connect with your local community and discover events within your area.
Idea Cafe Events Today
Join in-person Idea Cafe events happening right now
Speaking - Fun & Fast Learning
Practice speaking/leadership at SmashSpeak.
Less formalities and technicalities, just speaking!
Suits beginners to confident
Multicultural Hub, 506 Elizabeth St (Opposite Queen Vic Market)
Level 1, **Purple Room** (End of corridor)
More to come...
Thursday night Rainbow Boardgames - Marché Board Games Cafe
Join your fellow LGBTQIA+ folks for a social evening of board games at Marché Board Games Cafe.
We have access to the games library at the cafe. If you have a game that you want to share, please feel free to bring it along. We play all sorts of games - card games, party games, strategy games - and we're happy to teach new players.
Groups for games usually form between 6:30-6:45, so it's important to try arrive on time to ensure you're allocated to a game/group. Anyone arriving late may have to wait for a game if all groups have started.
The cafe has drinks and food available. Check out their menu here: https://mbgcafe.com.au/menu.pdf
We only accept payment at the time of booking to reserve your spot. This means you will need to pay the booking amount via PayPal at the time of booking to confirm your spot.
If you can't make it to the event, please ensure you get in touch by messaging the event hosts or emailing rainbowbg.melbourne@gmail.com at least one day before the event, and we can reverse your payment via PayPal.
The cafe does NOT have a liquor licence. Consuming alcohol on the premises is illegal, and will result in any members being banned from future events.
See you on Thursday!
[FREE New Venue] THURSDAY 🇯🇵🇦🇺[English x Japanese Language Exchange : 日本語&英語
FREE ENTRY, 1 drink order upon entryMax 80 guests.
1 Crockford St, Port Melbourne VIC 3207
EVERY FORTNIGHT THURSDAY!
2週間に一度の開催!
PRIVATE EVENT! 完全プライベート語学交換会!
\[FREE Language Exchange:無料\! 2週間ごと開催!!日本語と英語で話しましょう\!\] \[MUST READ\!\!\! English below\] hosted by: MELLIFE メルライフ主催 概要は下に!
We do most of the announcements on Instagram! Check us out! インスタフォローもよろしくお願いします
IG: @mellife2022
[毎月2回木曜日開催]
Location: The Cornerstone
1 Crockford St, Port Melbourne VIC 3207
Entry fee: Free !!!
Time: 6pm\~ 8pm
[Schedule 当日のスケジュール]
6:00 - 6:30 Entry opens 入場開始
6:30 - 6:45 Japanese time 日本語タイム
6:45 - 7:00 English time 英語タイム
7:00 Announcement from staff members, crowd shuffle, find different partner/group スタッフからのお知らせ、注意喚起等。違うパートナーを探す時間
7:00 - 7:15 Japanese time 日本語タイム
7:15 - 7:30 English time 英語タイム
7:30 - 8:00 Socializing time 社交タイム
メルボルン最大の日英ランエク【会場変更のお知らせ】
長すぎたロックダウンを終え、新しく皆が楽しめる場所を提供したいと始まった私たちMELLIFE
初回は30名ほど集まる小さなコミュニティでしたが、結成から半年が経ち、あっという間に多くの方々に参加頂けるメルボルン最大の日英ランエクグループに成長する事が出来ました
今後のMELLIFE が更に成長して、より楽しい時間を提供するために次回のイベントから会場を変更し、質を上げた会場へ移る事を決めました
今回からはメルボルン市内でもとても有名でおしゃれな会場、The Cornerstoneで開催を決定いたしました。
ぜひ次回のイベントからもMELLIFE をよろしくお願い致します
メルライフ一同
日本語を学びたい世界の方が集まるので、英語が得意でなくても、コミュニケーションが取れます(日本語、英語喋れる人も)
お互いの得意な言葉を教え合って一気に語学上達しちゃいましょう✨
メルボルンで新しい友達が出来るチャンスです
ぜひ参加表明をお願いします!
途中参加の方も受け付けております!
[下記を必ずお読みください]
メルライフが主催するイベントはどのような方も歓迎しています。しかし、"お酒などの強要・いじめ・ハラスメント・暴言" など他のメンバーが不愉快に感じる行為は絶対におやめください。このルールを守れない方は積極的に処置をとらせていただきますので、これらを経験した、または見つけ次第メルライフスタッフにいつでも言いつけをお願いいたします。メルライフを ”いつでも気軽に来れて安全なコミュニティ” をモットーにするため、皆様のご協力をお願いいたします。
Social event: JAP/ENG language exchange at a fancy venue with great vibes!
FREE ENTRY!!!!
✨️ Thursday from 6pm\~✨️
Do you want an opportunity to have a conversation and make friends in person? Say no more! We are organising a language exchange event at a trendy venue near the CBD!!!
Feel free to join at any time throughout the event, but good things may happen to those who come in early ;)
See you guys then!
ENROLL EARLY TO SECURE YOUR SPOT
See you guys then
PLEASE READ BELOW
(Everyone is welcomed to MELLIFE events. However, we ask that all attendees treat each other with respect and be polite. Our community does not tolerate innappropriate behaviour or any form of HARRASMENT!!!!! When you see or experience any, please call it out or reach out to Mellife staff members ASAP so we can address this and keep the community a safe space.)
Japanese Mahjong (Riichi/リーチ麻雀) at Marché Board Game Cafe
Join us for an evening of Japanese Riichi Mahjong at **Marché Boardgame Cafe**! Players of all skill levels are welcome, and no experience is needed! If you want to learn how to play, we can teach you, and if you already know how, then join our shuffle and monthly leaderboard!
This event has a $10 fee which you can pay on the night. This money is used to pay for our use of the store space, maintaining equipment and other meetup services, and organising larger events open to everyone! Members get a special discount - ask the organisers for more details.
Marché provides food and drink for purchase to consume at the table. Check out their menu here: [https://mbgcafe.com.au/menu.pdf](https://mbgcafe.com.au/menu.pdf)
Tables are shuffled at around 7:00 pm and again at 8:30 pm. If you're looking to learn, please aim to arrive at 5:30 pm, otherwise there might not be an open seat - you're more than welcome to stay, watch, and ask lots of questions!
Be sure as well to check your RSVPs leading up to the event as attendances and wait listed attendees may change. We take photos and videos at our meetups for posting on social media, you may potentially appear in these.
Hope to see you all then!
***
Scores tracking: [https://scores.vicriichi.org/](https://scores.vicriichi.org/)
The mahjong ruleset we play with: [https://www.vicriichi.org/mahjong-meetups#meetup-rules](https://www.vicriichi.org/mahjong-meetups#meetup-rules)
Join us on Discord and connect with other jongers! [https://vicriichi.org/discord](https://vicriichi.org/discord)
How 3 yr projects can be delivered in 3 months - no kidding!
For our March meetup we are excited to host Darryl Wright who will demonstrate how you really can deliver 3 yr projects in 3 months using Value Stream Mapping and Flow Efficiency.
Find out what other organisations are doing to slash the time it takes them to deliver value, and how you can do it too.
This talk explores:
1\. What is Value Stream Mapping \(VSM\)\, and Flow Efficiency ?
2\. What does VSM reveal about how most organisations deliver value today ?
3\. The big lightbulb moment: can 3 yr projects really be delivered in 3 months? \(hint: yes\!\)
4\. Where to from here ? \(and can I use AI to help with all of this ?\)
And then, as we always highly encourage participation to embed what we learnt, we'll give the method a go ourselves with Darryl's expert guidance.
**Meet your Speaker - Darryl Wright, Value Delivery Advisor and Trainer at Organa**
*The only constant in life is change.*
Darryl comes from a strong commercial and delivery background borne from two decades of experience in traditional IT project and program management and running IT businesses.
This led him on a journey to find more successful and humane ways of working, becoming an Enterprise Agile coach and trainer. He is now a passionate champion of changing the way the world works.
His guiding vision is to assist organisations to become great places to work that have happy, effective staff who create brilliant products and services that their customers love.
Duke of Wellington Rooftop 😊 Social Drinks
Established in 1853, **The Duke of Wellington** is Melbourne’s oldest licensed pub. Join us on the all-weather rooftop for after work socialising.
📍Location: Rooftop, 146 Flinders Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Opposite The Forum. A short walk from Fed Square.
Most people come along by themselves so don't worry if you don't know any of the other members. Come along for relaxed socialising and making new friends in a change of scenery. New people are always welcome. We have all been the new person at some point in time.
How often do we have events? Weekly! Join us at a different bar/pub each week to meet new people and see the familiar faces of the regular members. This is a regular weekly group for socialising and unwinding for the weekend.
Events are also on:
Meet New People, Make Real Friends [https://www.meetup.com/casual-catchups-and-cool-connections/](https://www.meetup.com/casual-catchups-and-cool-connections/)
Bartopia [https://www.meetup.com/bartopia/](https://www.meetup.com/bartopia/)
Bartopia [https://www.facebook.com/groups/bartopia/](https://www.facebook.com/groups/bartopia/)
Follow us on Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/bartopia.melbourne/](https://www.instagram.com/bartopia.melbourne/)
Women in Cloud - International Women's Day
To celebrate ***International Women’s Day***, we’re bringing our community together for a special evening featuring two inspiring women in tech.
This event is all about sharing experiences, learning from real journeys, and creating space for honest conversations about building a career in cloud and technology. Whether you’re just starting out, making a transition, or already deep in the industry, you’ll find stories, insights, and perspectives that resonate.
**And some exciting news** — thanks to our friends from [Programmable](https://www.programmable.tech/), attendees on the day will get a chance to win a ticket to the Programmable conference (valued at $449!).
Expect practical lessons, personal reflections, and the kind of discussions that remind us why community matters. See you then!
**Topics**
**1\. One Platform\, Infinite Connections**
An API Platform is not simply a layer for routing traffic; it is an operating model for how organisations design, secure, and monetise digital capabilities. This session opens by defining what an enterprise API Platform looks like in practical terms and why it’s becoming a core part of modern engineering and business strategy.
Using a real implementation as context, the discussion examines how Apigee enables structured governance, streamlined developer onboarding, intelligent traffic control, and deep observability. It also addresses how the platform supports emerging AI, LLM, and MCP patterns, outlining its security architecture in production environments and demonstrating how APIs can be bundled into consumable products to create commercial value. Particular attention is given to advanced protection strategies for managing both conventional API workloads and AI-driven traffic.
Attendees will leave with a concrete, experience-backed framework for turning an API platform into a measurable driver of innovation, resilience, and revenue.
**About the speaker**
Neha is an Engineering Manager at MYOB, leading the API Platform capability. With nearly two decades of experience in the IT industry, she has built deep expertise across cloud infrastructure, platform engineering, and large-scale technology transformations.
**2\. Stateful Secrets in a Stateless World: Navigating the Azure Serverless Landscape**
Serverless is more than just a buzzword; it represents a fundamental shift from managing infrastructure to focusing entirely on code. In this session, we’ll begin by comparing serverless with traditional server-based models to unpack the true differences in cost, maintenance, and scalability.
From there, we’ll walk through a real-world application architecture to see how Azure Functions can be used to solve practical engineering problems that conventional servers often struggle to handle efficiently. Drawing on lessons learned from hands-on experience, we’ll also explore common pitfalls, optimisation strategies, and cost-saving techniques.
Whether you’re new to serverless or already working with cloud-native systems, this talk will leave you with a clearer, more practical blueprint for designing and building modern applications.
**About the speaker**
Archana is a Master’s in Data Science candidate with a foundation in Computer Science and Engineering. She brings hands-on experience from her background as a Full Stack Developer, where she focused on building web applications powered by Azure serverless backends.
By blending her software engineering roots with her current work in data science, Archana designs cloud-native solutions that are both scalable and data-driven. She is passionate about sharing practical lessons and helping the community understand how to effectively bridge the gap between web development and serverless technology.
**Agenda**
5:30pm – Food and networking
6:00pm – Presentation 1
6:40pm – Presentation 2
7:20pm – Networking
Thanks to our sponsors: [HAL systems](https://www.halsystems.com.au/), [Mantel](https://mantelgroup.com.au/) and [REA group](https://www.rea-group.com/)!
Join us for an evening of learning, conversations, and great company!
Idea Cafe Events This Week
Discover what is happening in the next few days
📚 #InPursuit – A Book Club for Builders, Thinkers, and Doers
📚 #InPursuit is a book club for entrepreneurs, creatives, and curious minds who know personal growth fuels business growth.
**See a lot of RSPVPs and wonder how it works? We'll break up into groups of 6-8 to share our insights, then swap groups after 30-45min so you can maximise learning from everybody!**
*Note: this even is not organised by or affiliated with The State Library of Victoria*
**That's what #InPursuit is all about**
It’s not a traditional book club, it’s a space for people who are actively designing a better life through the pursuit of business, creativity, and personal growth. This event is for anyone #InPursuit of better business, life and relationships.
Instead of reading the same book, we each come prepared to share one powerful insight from something we’ve read in the past 3-months. Anything non-fiction that’s moved us forward.
Whether it’s a mindset shift, a productivity system, a new philosophy, or just a truth that punched us in the gut. This is a place to unpack it together and hear what others are learning too.
We’re not just here to *read*. We’re here to *integrate*. Because when we grow, our business and our lives grow too.
**🔍 Why Join? You'll leave with:**
* 5–10 fresh insights from books you may never have picked up
* Deeper awareness of how others think, lead, and evolve
* New connections with people walking a similar path toward purpose, results, and impact
This isn’t a lecture. It’s a room full of people building themselves while they build the thing.
**📖 How It Works**
First time? No pressure to share, just come curious.
We'll break up into groups of 6-8 and share our insights, then swap groups so you can maximise the learning!
Returning? Bring one idea you’ve read about in the last 3-months and be ready to speak on:
1. What did you learn?
2. How did it shift your perspective about the world or yourself?
3. How has it changed the way you show up or behave?
We keep it structured, but flexible. After sharing, we open up to Q&A, personal stories, challenges, and deep dives. Some of the best insights come from the conversations *after* the share.
**🧠 Who This Is For**
* Entrepreneurs or side-hustlers finding their footing
* Business owners, and doers building toward better
* Curious minds who love ideas but care more about action
* People tired of shallow conversations and hungry for growth
If you’re working on something—or becoming someone—this space is for you. It’s a practice ground for people who want to grow forward.
We’re all #InPursuit of mastery, momentum, and the kind of success that starts from within.
**Map on how to get there**
We're in the Create Quarter on the ground level (back right of the Quad as you enter from Swanson St). We'll likely be on a long table together.
https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/SLV-EnglishMap_Jan25.pdf
*If there is no room at a table I'll post on the event page that we'll be going to Mr. Tulk Cafe, which is on the corner of the library at Swanson St and La Trobe St.*
Philosophy Roundtable: How to live the 'Good Life'?
Please join us this Sunday as we discuss how to live the good life. Ilya will be leading this session.
**We will meet at the Queensberry Hotel, 593 Swanston Street, Carlton (100m north of previous location) at 2pm for a 2:15pm start sharp.**
**We kindly ask attendees to pay $5 to attend to help with MeetUp costs & venue costs. This is not mandatory, but if you are a regular member it would be appreciated. Any extra moneys will go towards buying food and drinks for the table. The venue also expects us to spend money as a group, so grateful if everyone could buy a drink from the venue.**
There is no pre-requisite preparation necessary, nor a philosophical background, all that is required is a curious mind. These discussions are both a Socrates Cafe style discussion and lively metaphysical dojo, in the spirit of learning and friendly debate, so please feel free to challenge assumptions and be prepared to have your own assumptions challenged.
Find below some questions to consider, however these are free-ranging events and the below serve as a springboard for the discussion:
**Happiness: a trap?**
1\. Is being happy the same thing as having a Good Life?
2\. If you could be plugged into a "happiness machine" that gave you
nothing but blissful experiences, would you do it?
3\. Is happiness the right goal\, or a side effect of living well?
4\. Can a Good Life include significant amounts of suffering\, if that
suffering is meaningful?
**Meaning and purpose**
5\. Can a life be good if it is lived pursuing whatever we want in the
moment, without a long-term goal or overarching personal narrative?
6\. What makes a given pursuit ‘purposeful’?
7\. Does the fact that we die make life more or less meaningful?
8\. Is the meaning of life to give life meaning?
**Being authentic and agentic**
9\. How much of our life and identity is a performance for others and
society? Does this inhibit living the Good Life?
10\. Is it important to feel in control of our lives and exercising a high
degree of personal agency, rather than following some kind of social
script?
11\. Would you feel most fulfilled if you were able to live in a way that is
‘true to yourself’ (without high regard for the expectations of others)?
**Keepin’ busy**
12\. Should a Good Life be easy?
13\. Could pure leisure \(no work\, no struggle\) comprise a Good Life?
14\. Does "meaningful" activity have to be productive\, or can hobbies and
pursuing individual interests be at the centre of a Good Life?
15\. Are some kinds of leisure inherently more conducive to the Good Life
than others (eg. watching Netflix vs reading Dostoevsky)
**What about other people?**
16\. Are certain kinds of relationships a mandatory ingredient for a Good
Life?
17\. Does having children provide a path to fulfilment and meaning?
18\. Does performing some kind of sacrifice \(time\, effort\, money etc\.\) for
the benefit of the community or future generations help us feel that
we are living the Good Life?
Hope to see you there!
Vibe Code & Chill
***Vibe out with your tribe, out. (No coding experience required or expected!)***
Join us for **Vibe Code & Chill: October Edition** on Sunday, October 5th, 2025.
This isn’t your average meetup: no stuffy panels, no boring lectures. We’re here to vibe, imbibe, and make progress on our *projects-de-jour*: from AI experiments to Web3 hacks, AR side projects, or just messing around with next-gen tools.
***New to the crew?***
Expect a warm welcome and friendly face to greet you before introducing you around and helping you find your people.
We keep it friendly, fun, and inclusive and with free snacks and drinks, you’re covered. Bring your laptop and your best coding mojo.
**What to expect:**
* **Chill coding & collaboration:** Bring your laptop and your current coding project. Find a spot in our comfortable booths or at tables with fellow coders. This is a space for hands-on work, casual discussions on the latest gizmos, and helping each other out.
* **Free refreshments:** Stay fueled and hydrated with non-alcoholic drinks and a selection of snacks provided by the club. The pub has a great range of meals and drinks if you're looking for something more.
* **Headphone-free zone (official hours):** You can code in your own world at home! We have a no-headphone policy for the first hour of the meetup.
* **Flexible timing:** You're welcome to arrive early and get started before the official event kicks off at 2PM. and you're welcome to stay and vibe on as long as you like. No sweat if you can't stay the whole time, just pop in and join the fun for as long as you can!
Come ready to laugh, learn, and grow with a community that's excited by design, tech, and innovation. This is your chance to make new friends, share ideas, and be inspired by fellow driven and generous minds.
Friday Coffee/Lunch/Chats @ Tesoro Gastronomia Balwyn North 3104 💕☕️
Hi Radiant ladies,
Lovely environment, great coffee, and homemade food. Tesoro is the perfect place for us to enjoy a Friday lunch.
Lyn ☕️💕
Saturday Morning Coffee @ Windchimes Cafe 3109 🌸
Hi Radiant Ladies,
After our Saturday walk, join us at Windchimes Café for coffee, friendly vibes, and a relaxed catch-up.
🅿️ 2-hour parking out front.
See you there!
Lyn 😀
Coffee Catchup, for a Cause
Girls Who Boss is a community dedicated to helping driven, kind women make new connections in Melbourne.
Join us for a casual coffee catch-up on the weekend of International Women's Day, to meet new friends and raise funds for an important cause.
All ticket sales from this event will go towards Share the Dignity. As always we are keeping our ticket price low to make it as accessible as possible, but if you'd like to make an extra donation to our fundraiser, you can do so here: https://www.sharethedignity.org.au/fundraisers/girlswhoboss
**Share the Dignity**
Share the Dignity works to make a real, on the ground difference in the lives of those experiencing homelessness, fleeing domestic violence, or doing it tough. They distribute period products to those in need and work to end period poverty here in Australia.
When someone is doing it tough, the last thing on their mind should be dealing with their period.
They assist those in need by collecting thousands of period products each year through collection drives and campaigns and distribute them directly to charities across Australia.
Idea Cafe Events Near You
Connect with your local Idea Cafe community
Columbus Code & Coffee 84 @ Improving
Columbus Code & Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. People of all skill levels attend, and we love it that way. Many people (optionally) bring projects to work on, and many other people (optionally) socialize the entire time. It's entirely up to you!
**What to Expect at the Intro Circle**
\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~
Near the beginning of the event (1:30 pm), we do a standup:
* Organizer announcements, updates, and logistics
Round 1 - (7 secs max):
* Your name
* What you're working on
* What you can help others with
Round 2:
* Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too.
Round 3:
* Job opportunities you're hiring for OR announce that you are looking for one. If none, that's cool.
After the introduction circle, everything is self-organized! Feel free to work alone, pair up, attend one of our workshops/presentations, or mingle!
Finjani Yemeni Cafe
Let’s meetup for a some coffee, tea, and delicious pastries at a popular Yemeni cafe
Check out the menu:
https://finjani.my.canva.site/finjanicoffeemenu
IxDA Chat ‘n Pancakes
Join membersrs of the Central Ohio UX and digital design community for a casual monthly breakfast.
Morning people unite!! 🐤 ☕ + 💬 @ Fox in the Snow Cafe (Dublin)
Early-bird coffee and conversation at [Fox in the Snow Cafe](https://www.foxinthesnow.com/) in Dublin!
Agile Coaching Circle -- IN-PERSON
Join other experienced and aspiring agile coaches and professionals to:
* develop and practice your coaching skills in a peer-to-peer environment
* share current successes and challenges in your work environment and get support from each other
* learn from each other, build better relationships and experiment with new ideas
BeComing Circle Initiates
http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/a/9/6/600_348310902.jpeg
Instructor - Crow, HPS
Class fee is $30 at the door or approved exchange
RSVP with Advance pay of $25 (discounted) by PayPal on the web or by contacting Enchanted Elements (614) 437-2642.
Reservations made directly to Enchanted Elements will be added to the class list manually not online.
Private Instruction ~ Closed to the Public ~ Initiated Members Only
Please come prepared for ritual.
Blessings ~ Crow
Morning people unite!! 🐤 ☕ + 💬 @ Crimson Cup Coffee Shop - Clintonville
Early-bird coffee and conversation at [Crimson Cup Coffee Shop - Clintonville](https://www.crimsoncup.com/about/location/clintonville)!


![[FREE New Venue] THURSDAY 🇯🇵🇦🇺[English x Japanese Language Exchange : 日本語&英語](https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/9/e/2/f/highres_514900495.webp?w=640)

















