Children's Literature

Non-hosted event. If anyone is interested in hosting the group, send me a message. **\*\*If you can no longer come to the meetup, please un-RSVP as soon as possible (i.e. not the day of) so someone else from the waiting list can attend\*\*** This is an informal conversation group for anyone wanting to practice / use their French and meet some new people. All levels are welcome, but having a conversational level is strongly recommended (and of course native French speakers are very welcome too!). / Il s'agit d'un groupe de conversation informel pour toute personne souhaitant pratiquer / utiliser son français et rencontrer de nouvelles personnes. Tous les niveaux sont les bienvenus, mais il est recommandé d'avoir un niveau de conversation approximatif (et bien sûr, les locuteurs natifs du français sont également les bienvenus !) Nous nous rencontrerons dimanche, de 14h00 à 16h00, au foodcourt de Brookfield Place, qui heureusement a beaucoup de tables et garde la musique basse! **+ Juste un rappel que ce groupe est un lieu d'échange détendu avec les autres dans un esprit de respect, de tolérance et de réceptivité à la multiplicité des cultures et des niveaux de français représentés. Merci de respecter ces principes en participant aux meetups.**

This group is to discuss and practice our French . Everu

We're going to watch the Beaches Easter Parade ! We will take a nice stroll along Queen street and will stop in a chocolate store filled with Easter goodies before the parade starts at 2pm. We'll be joined by my other meetup group, Walk and Roll. Then we will walk along Queen street to see the parade filled with bands, dancers, floats and easter bunnies. Afterwards you can go to the beach. Queen street will be closed between Woodbine east to Neville Park from approximately 2 - 4pm. For those who are driving it is best to park near Woodbine and Queen. For those taking the TTC, go to Woodbine station and take the 92 Woodbine bus south and get off at Queen street. The firestation is very close to the bus stop. Or take the Queen car to Kingston road then walk a few blocks to the firestation. The firestation is at the corner of Queen east and Woodbine. It's the tall building with the bell tower. Felice is wearing a red hat. Please know that when you post a message below it goes to all members who have signed up. If you need to cancel please change your RSVP you don't need to leave a comment for me.

Join us for a **relaxed outdoor picnic** with **good food, games, music, and great company** ☀️. Let’s **celebrate spring together** and honor the beautiful tradition of spending the **13th day of Nowruz in nature**. *** **📍 Location:** **Wilket Creek Park – Picnic Area #2** **🕒 Time:** Sat, Apr 4 *** **🔥 What to Expect:** * **We will bring jooje kebab, desert, and drinks.** * **Games:** **badminton, Vasati, Hokm & more** * **Good vibes** * **Relaxed, laid-back picnic atmosphere** *** **Come for the sunshine, stay for the people.** **Fee for the event: $20** You can **e-transfer to: zandalex2@gmail.com** Once you pay, you will be **moved from waiting to the “going” list**.

We're going to watch the Beaches Easter Parade ! We will take a nice stroll along Queen street and will stop in a chocolate store filled with Easter goodies before the parade starts at 2pm. Then we will walk along Queen street to see the parade filled with bands, dancers, floats and easter bunnies. Afterwards you can go to the beach. Queen street will be closed between Woodbine east to Neville Park from approximately 2 - 4pm. For those who are driving it is best to park near Woodbine and Queen. For those taking the TTC, go to Woodbine station and take the 92 Woodbine bus south and get off at Queen street. The firestation is very close to the bus stop. Or take the Queen car to Kingston road and walk a few blocks to the firestation. The firestation is at the corner of Queen east and Woodbine. It's the tall building with the bell tower. Felice is wearing a red hat. Please know that when you post a message below it goes to all members who have signed up. If you need to cancel please change your RSVP you don't need to leave a comment for me.

# 🐣🌷 Easter Sunday Brunch (Buffet) @ HOTHOUSE! 🌷🐣 # If you know… you know. This brunch sells out every single year — and for good reason. It is hands-down one of the BEST brunch buffets in Toronto (and honestly, the GTA). When people ask me where to go for a truly memorable brunch experience, I always say **HotHouse**. The food is fresh. The selection is generous. The price point is fantastic for what you get. And the desserts? Unreal. 🍰 If you love cake, this is your moment. Add in a live jazz band, Easter energy, and a room full of great people — and you have what I truly believe is the **must-eat brunch of the season**. This isn’t just brunch. It’s an event. *** ## 🥂 Brunch Details 📍 **Location:** HotHouse Restaurant (35 Church St, Toronto) 🕐 **Meetup Time:** 12:45 PM (I’ll wait 5 minutes before we head in together!) 💲 **Buffet Cost:** $35 + tax + tip (paid directly to the restaurant) 🎶 Live Jazz Band 📜 **Menu:** 🐰 Click here to see what’s on the Easter buffet! 🐣 Please don’t call the restaurant — they won’t know about this private Meetup. Message Mathew directly with any questions. *** ## 🌸 Save Your Spot – Please Read Carefully This event fills up every year and seats are limited. **Save Your Spot Fee: $25** • Every single member must send the $25 by e-transfer — including returning members. • Your e-transfer must be sent within 24 hours of signing up. • If the e-transfer is not received within 24 hours, you will be removed from the event and marked as “Not Going.” • No reminder messages will be sent. Send your e-transfer to: 📧 **[mathewmaclean@hotmail.com](mailto:mathewmaclean@hotmail.com)** Only 25 spots available. When you arrive at brunch, you will receive **$20 back**. ($5 helps support the group and allows us to continue hosting events like this.) No refunds or exchanges — this policy ensures committed signups and protects the group from last-minute cancellations. Thank you for respecting the structure. It’s what allows events like this to run smoothly every year. 🌷 *** ## 🐰 How to Find Me I’ll be waiting outside the front doors wearing my famous Moose Hat 🫎 Please don’t go in without me — we’ll head in together as one fabulous Easter crew. 🌼 *** ## 🌼 About This Group Whether you’re single, partnered, new to the city, or just looking to meet great people — you’re welcome here. Many members attend solo. No cliques. No pressure. Just good conversation, shared tables, and genuine connection. We host movies, walks, hikes, cultural outings, dinners — and special seasonal events like this one. 📱 **Don’t forget to join our WhatsApp group** – [CLICK HERE!](https://chat.whatsapp.com/H59mSCbsAi018gYANrKAnc?mode=ac_t) *** ## 🐣 Leaving Time Stay as long as you like. Linger over coffee. Go back for another slice of cake. Enjoy the jazz. Soak in the Easter atmosphere. Note: Occasionally things happen and the event may need to be adjusted — please keep an eye out for updates. *** ✨ Come hungry. Come festive. Come ready to celebrate Easter in the most delicious way possible. ✨ This is one of the best brunch experiences in the city at an incredible price point — and it will sell out. Let’s eat well, laugh loudly, and make it a beautiful Easter Sunday together. 🌷🐰 👤 Organized by Mathew For questions, post on the event wall or email **[torontomoviesandoutings@hotmail.com](mailto:torontomoviesandoutings@hotmail.com)**

\*\***The Toronto History Walks Yearly Pass is available. Get it now for $125.00 for 1 year of unlimited tours, email** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com** **for more information or for signing up!\*\*** \*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket price when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com** In 1918, Toronto struggled to carry on in a world without hope. A world of violence and death. With the coming end of WW1 in sight, Toronto and Canada glimpsed hope for the first time in 4 years. But something worse was on the horizon, something unseen, worse than the trenches and the death from poison gas. It was a killer that encircled the globe and struck down victims in mere hours, soldiers and civilians alike, children and adults, and was called the Spanish Flu. In time millions would succumb to the monster. With the hundreds of troop ships, and the war still ravaging Europe, the disease spread unchecked. Wave after wave of influenza engulfed entire countries. Entire populations were sickened and thousands died in a matter of hours. The Spanish Flu disappeared as quickly as it appeared in early 1918. But that was a century ago. And we have learned plenty from it. Learn about the history of the Spanish Flu and its impact on Toronto, how we fought it both on the ground and politically, and how it eventually disappeared. And to see that our world is different and our health measures are stronger. We are in a better position because of the Spanish Flu. **This is a living history tour!** This walking tour begins on the steps of Old City Hall at the northeast corner of Queen Street West, and Bay Street. The tour returns to the start location at the Old City Hall. This walking tour is for all walking levels. Please dress for the season, and hope to see you there. This walk has a ticket price of $15.00 per person. If you plan to attend please secure your spot early! \*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket price when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com**

What's better than a Good Friday - obviously (a Good Saturday). The plan is to eat/drink/play (arcade) games/dance and hop bars (if we feel like it). The venue charges $10 cover that you can use towards games inside after 9pm. But depending on the crowds, they may start charging before that. Its hard to reserve a table but there are open spaces inside the venue where we can get together and partaaayyyy. We will stay some time and see if we like the vibe, there are other couple of bars in the area that we can check out later. The event is free, come as you please, go when you are tired and have fun while you are there.

⚠️ **IMPORTANT: You must sign up and buy a ticket here to attend:** [https://groupvibe.com/](https://groupvibe.com/) **Join the Toronto City Brunch Club and make new friends!** Each meetup brings together 4–6 people for casual conversations over brunch. We use the Groupvibe platform to facilitate the meetup and ensure everyone’s a good fit. 👉 **To attend, you’ll need to complete registration via this link:** [https://groupvibe.com/](https://groupvibe.com/) We’ll share the exact location of the upcoming meetup the night before only if you have bought a ticket or membership plan. **Why this works:** \* Smaller groups make real conversations easier. \* Discover new restaurants in your city, together. \* Curated lunch venues with good food and vibe. \* If you hit it off with your group, there’s plenty of time to hang out afterwards. **Note:** RSVPs on Meetup don’t reflect total attendance. Many attendees register directly via our website. The event on [Meetup.com](http://meetup.com/) is only a placeholder. This meetup is organized by Groupvibe, a small team passionate about helping people form meaningful friendships offline.

Let's bedazzle some books while we discuss our April pick: Bloodguard by Cecy Robson! Book description: One hundred years. Tens of thousands of gladiators. And today, only one will rise… Everything in the Kingdom of Arrow is a lie. Leith of Grey thought coming to this new land and volunteering to fight in the gladiator arena—vicious, bloodthirsty tournaments where only the strongest survive—would earn him enough gold to save his dying sister. He thought there was nothing left to lose. He was wrong—and they took everything. His hope. His freedom. His very humanity. All Leith has left is his battle-scarred body, fueled by rage and hardened from years of fighting for the right to live another day. Then Leith meets Maeve, an elven royal who is everything he despises. Everything he should hate. Until the alluring princess offers him the one thing he needs most: a chance to win the coveted title of Bloodguard—and his freedom. But in a kingdom built on secrets and lies, hope doesn’t come cheap. Nor will his ultimate revenge… Event: Please bring your own book, journal, bookmarks, etc to bedazzle. If you have bedazzling supplies, please bring them as well. I will supply gems, glue, and picker tools, but if you have certain colors in mind, you may want to bring your own.

Semi in honor of March being International Women's Month Columbus libraries: [https://cml.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S105C3454709](https://cml.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S105C3454709) Location: SOW Plated Menu: [https://www.sowplated.com/menu-brunch/](https://www.sowplated.com/menu-brunch/) Book summary: In 2006 Julia Lerner is living in Moscow, a recent university graduate in computer science, when she's recruited by Russia's largest intelligence agency. By 2018 she's in Silicon Valley as COO of Tangerine, one of America's most famous technology companies. In between her executive management (make offers to promising startups, crush them and copy their features if they refuse); self promotion (check out her latest op-ed in the WSJ, on Work/Life Balance 2.0); and work in gender equality (transfer the most annoying females from her team), she funnels intelligence back to the motherland. But now Russia's asking for more, and Julia's getting nervous. Alice Lu is a first generation Chinese American whose parents are delighted she's working at Tangerine (such a successful company!). Too bad she's slogging away in the lower echelons, recently dumped, and now sharing her expensive two-bedroom apartment with her cousin Cheri, a perennial "founder's girlfriend". One afternoon, while performing a server check, Alice discovers some unusual activity, and now she's burdened with two powerful but distressing suspicions: Tangerine's privacy settings aren't as rigorous as the company claims they are, and the person abusing this loophole might be Julia Lerner herself. The closer Alice gets to Julia, the more Julia questions her own loyalties. Russia may have placed her in the Valley, but she's the one who built her career; isn't she entitled to protect the lifestyle she's earned?

Bienvenue! Columbus French Conversation group invites you to our Saturday morning French conversation club. Expect a casual and welcoming atmosphere in which to learn french! I will bring my laptop so we can look up new vocabulary as needed! The venue is a beautiful French restaurant so you can really get into the zone :)

* Second ever book club! April meet up. All are welcome. * The book will be Play Nice by Rachel Harrison (determined by votes from March Book Club. Let me know if you’d like a free digital copy of the book) * This event will be at the main library, meeting room 1B, the location will not be changed for this event due to the number of people attending, we will just add more chairs if needed! * Feel free to come whether or not you’ve started or finished the book ◡̈ * Small snacks will be provided. You’re welcome to bring your own snacks & drinks too! Starting in June I will try to keep future book clubs at the Dublin Library. Now that I understand their reservation system, I will be on top of it with booking that location as soon as the date is released for the month. Thanks for your understanding with the varying locations in the meantime.

**Our April novel is: *The Hong Kong Widow* by Kristen Loesch** **This month’s novel blends gothic atmosphere with historical fiction and chilling horror, set against the haunting backdrop of China. The book is 368 pages in print and 10 hours and 42 minutes on audiobook.** In 1950s Hong Kong, Mei is a young refugee of the Chinese Communist revolution struggling to put her past in Shanghai behind her. When she receives a shocking invitation—to take part in a competition in one of the city's most notorious haunted houses, pitting six spirit mediums against one another in a series of six séances over six nights, until a single winner emerges—she has every reason to refuse. Except that the hostess, a former Shanghainese silent film star, is none other than the wife of the man who once destroyed Mei’s entire life. It is promised the winner will receive a fortune, but there is only one prize Mei wants: revenge. Decades later, the final night of that competition has become an infamous urban legend: The police were called to the scene of a brutal massacre but found no evidence, dismissing it as a collective hallucination. Mei knows what she saw, but now someone else is convinced they know what she did. She must uncover the truth about the last night she ever spent in that house—even if the ghosts of her past are waiting for her there. . . .