Intellectual Discussions

**🗓 English Speaking Club — Saturday Meetup at Stars Coffee (Arbat, 19)** Want to practice your English, meet new people, and have some fun? **Join our English Speaking Club this Saturday at 15:00 at Stars Coffee (ул. Арбат, 19)! ☕️** 💬 **What to Expect:** We meet in a **friendly atmosphere to chat 1-on-1 in English — every 15–20 minutes you’ll switch partners**, so you get to talk to many different people. **After that, we play some English board games** — it’s a great way to relax, laugh, and keep practicing naturally. 🎲✨ ⏳ **Duration:** *Around 2.5 hours total:* *🗣 2 hours of chatting* *☕️ 5-min break* *🎯 25 min of English games* 👥 **Who Can Join:** *Our club welcomes everyone from Intermediate to Advanced (B2–C2) levels. We’re here to practice and get better together.* 💵 **Price & Registration:** * 🇷🇺 **For locals:** 600₽ *+ a drink at the café* * 📱 **Sign up in advance** *via* [Telegram-bot](https://t.me/Payment_RealTalkEnglish_bot) * ✨ **If it’s your first time**, *you can pay at the meeting — welcome!* * 🌍 ***For foreigners: FREE entry — no sign-up required!*** ⚡️ **Club Rules:** * ***Speak English only.*** * ***Don’t “teach” or correct others unless they ask for help.*** * ***Be respectful and open-minded — we’re all here to connect and learn together.*** * ***Don’t impose your religious, political, or other personal views on others.*** * ***Please order a drink or snack to support the café that hosts us.*** ☕️ ✏️ **Questions?** *Don't hesitate to reach out to Kirill via* [WhatsApp](https://wa.me/+79857387761) / [Telegram](https://t.me/RealTalkSpeakingClub). **💻 Stay connected:** [Our Telegram channel](https://t.me/RealTalk_english_speaking_club) [Our VK](https://vk.com/yourrealtalk)

🗓 **English Speaking Club — Sunday Meetup at Stars Coffee (Butyrskiy Val, 10)** Want to practice your English, meet new people, and have some fun? *Join our English Speaking Club this Sunday at 14:00 at Stars Coffee (ул. Бутырский Вал, 10)! ☕️* 💬 **What to Expect:** We meet in a **friendly atmosphere to chat 1-on-1 in English — every 15–20 minutes you’ll switch partners**, so you get to talk to many different people. **After that, we play some English board games** — it’s a great way to relax, laugh, and keep practicing naturally. 🎲✨ ⏳ **Duration:** *Around 2 hours total:* 🗣 *1.5 hours of chatting* ☕️ *5-min break* 🎯 *25 min of English games* 👥 **Who Can Join:** *Our club welcomes everyone from Intermediate to Advanced (B2–C2) levels. We’re here to practice and get better together.* 💵 **Price & Registration:** * 🇷🇺 **For locals: 600₽** *+ a drink at the café* * 📱 **Sign up in advance** *via* [Telegram-bot](https://t.me/Payment_RealTalkEnglish_bot) * ✨ **If it’s your first time**, *you can pay at the meeting — welcome!* * 🌍 ***For foreigners: FREE entry — no sign-up required!*** ⚡️ **Club Rules:** * ***Speak English only.*** * ***Don’t “teach” or correct others unless they ask for help.*** * ***Be respectful and open-minded — we’re all here to connect and learn together.*** * ***Don’t impose your religious, political, or other personal views on others.*** * ***Please order a drink or snack to support the café that hosts us.*** ☕️ ✏️ **Questions?** *Don't hesitate to reach out to Kirill via* [WhatsApp ](https://wa.me/+79857387761) / [Telegram](https://t.me/RealTalkSpeakingClub). **💻 Stay connected:** [Our Telegram channel](https://t.me/RealTalk_english_speaking_club) [Our VK](https://vk.com/yourrealtalk)

**🗓 English Speaking Club — Saturday Meetup at Stars Coffee (Arbat, 19)** Want to practice your English, meet new people, and have some fun? **Join our English Speaking Club this Saturday at 15:00 at Stars Coffee (ул. Арбат, 19)! ☕️** 💬 **What to Expect:** We meet in a **friendly atmosphere to chat 1-on-1 in English — every 15–20 minutes you’ll switch partners**, so you get to talk to many different people. **After that, we play some English board games** — it’s a great way to relax, laugh, and keep practicing naturally. 🎲✨ ⏳ **Duration:** *Around 2.5 hours total:* *🗣 2 hours of chatting* *☕️ 5-min break* *🎯 25 min of English games* 👥 **Who Can Join:** *Our club welcomes everyone from Intermediate to Advanced (B2–C2) levels. We’re here to practice and get better together.* 💵 **Price & Registration:** * 🇷🇺 **For locals:** 600₽ *+ a drink at the café* * 📱 **Sign up in advance** *via* [Telegram-bot](https://t.me/Payment_RealTalkEnglish_bot) * ✨ **If it’s your first time**, *you can pay at the meeting — welcome!* * 🌍 ***For foreigners: FREE entry — no sign-up required!*** ⚡️ **Club Rules:** * ***Speak English only.*** * ***Don’t “teach” or correct others unless they ask for help.*** * ***Be respectful and open-minded — we’re all here to connect and learn together.*** * ***Don’t impose your religious, political, or other personal views on others.*** * ***Please order a drink or snack to support the café that hosts us.*** ☕️ ✏️ **Questions?** *Don't hesitate to reach out to Kirill via* [WhatsApp](https://wa.me/+79857387761) / [Telegram](https://t.me/RealTalkSpeakingClub). **💻 Stay connected:** [Our Telegram channel](https://t.me/RealTalk_english_speaking_club) [Our VK](https://vk.com/yourrealtalk)

First Sundays are free admission at Franklin Park Conservatory. Sunday, January 4th, is also the last day The Palm House will be open before renovations begin. Let’s meet, enjoy a respite from January weather, and wander the gardens. Free neanthe bella palms are available to guests, beginning at 10am, while supplies last. Afterwards, we can visit the nearby East Market (212 Kelton Avenue).

Join us for a casual chat over coffee & tea at Stauf’s German Village! Come out and meet some new people, enjoy your favorite drink, and make some new friends! Afterwards, we’ll visit The Book Loft (next door) and stroll the shelves.

Our January program is privileged to have Kristen Tregar as our speaker. Ms. Tregar is the co-author with John de Lancie (the actor who portrayed the character Q on Star Trek next generation) of a radio play depicting the events surrounding the Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District trial. The trial decided the issue of some of the Dover school district board members attempting to insert creationism disguised as "intelligent design" into the 9th grade biology curriculum. She will discuss the trial and the process of writing the play. (Bob Leonhard has seen the play and it is riveting and tense). Ms. Tregar's bio is below: Kristen Tregar is a dramaturg, director, playwright, and theatre teacher. She earned her Ph.D. in Drama and Theatre from the UC San Diego and UC Irvine joint program. In addition, she has a MS in Forensic Science from City University of New York- John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a MA in Educational Theatre from New York University- Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. In 2013, in collaboration with Irish colleagues, she founded *The Ireland Project*, an intercontinental devised theatre work with high school students in New York and Tallaght, Ireland. Her original short story "Far From Here" was recently published in *Stay Awhile Longer: More Scenes From Temecula Valley*. She has two rescued dogs (Kira and Harry) and she rides, competes, and foxhunts with her horses, Andromache and Baker Street Irregular. Food and drinks will be provided at the event. Feel free to show up a little bit early to hang out and talk. Going forward our meetings will be hybrid. You can meet us in-person or attend online Join Zoom Meeting [https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1](https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1) Meeting ID: 878 3656 4953 Passcode: 760812 One tap mobile +19292056099,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (New York) +13017158592,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (Washington DC) The formal presentation will start at noon

**Start the new year with a Braver Angels gathering focused on speaking openly and listening deeply.** **In small, structured groups, each person will have five minutes to share a political or social issue that matters to them and why- no debate, no interruption, just genuine curiosity.** **Participants will practice curiosity, reflecting back values and emotions they hear, asking thoughtful questions, and- only with permission- offering their perspective.** **It’s a simple and powerful way to connect with one another and begin the year with a respectful and courageous conversation.** **Date: Saturday, January 10, 2026** **Time: 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm** **Place: Columbus Metropolitan Library, Southeast Branch, 3980 Hamilton Rd, Groveport, Ohio** **All are welcome- bring a friend!** For additional information contact: Lee Evans at [LEvans@BraverAngels.org](mailto:LEvans@BraverAngels.org)

Who says you can't get into someone else's head? In the 1999 movie, *Being John Malkovich*, Charlie Kaufmann and Spike Jonze explore the answer to that question with some strange and extremely funny consequences! Nominated for 3 Academy Awards, be prepared for a "mind altering" discussion!

We may pick a specific topic and post in advance or may discuss current events and various ad hoc topics . We would love to spend time hanging out and getting to know one another. Atheist, agnostics, other non-theists, and atheist-friendly people are welcome to join us. Note: COUNT operates a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/COUNT.discussions (http://www.facebook.com/groups/COUNT.discussions/) to promote discussions among members and visitors.