Literature

For our fourth meeting, we’ll be reading and discussing The Odyssey by Homer — one of the most famous and influential stories ever written. With a new film set to be released this year, it’s the perfect opportunity to (re)discover the original story before seeing it on the big screen. About the book: After the Trojan War, the Greek hero Odysseus begins his long journey home to Ithaca. But the trip that should take weeks turns into a ten-year odyssey filled with gods, monsters, temptations, and impossible choices. While Odysseus struggles to return home, his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus must face their own challenges as they wait for him in Ithaca. Along the way, the story explores themes of perseverance, loyalty, intelligence, and the desire to return home.

**We'll be discussing the book “Kindred” by Octavia Butler and choosing the next book.**

Spend time in the company of other writers putting pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard. Work on your current project or start something new. If you are fresh out of inspiration a member of the Wordcraft Collective will be ready with a prompt to get you going. You can use that to unlock your creative brain before moving back to your own project or run with it. Who knows where the story will take you? Arrive when you like, leave when you like, or join us for a drink in the bar downstairs afterwards. Location: Pianofabriek, Rue du Fort 35, 1060 Saint-Gilles.

**Somatic Movement** is a powerful method based on principles and wisdom from Eastern movement practices, such as yoga and Tai Chi, as well as Western techniques and insights from neuroscience, trauma therapy, and burnout recovery. The goal is to activate your body and brain by allowing energy to flow through your system without overloading the nervous system. This is achieved through gentle, intentional movements, stretches and exercises, but also by increasing awareness and sensory perception — both internally (within ourselves) and externally (of our surroundings). Combining tension-releasing stretches, easy flow-restoring exercises (using trees, branches, logs, stones, hills...), doing silent or touch meditations and playful authentic relating games, we're able to release a lot of stored tension and start to feel free, open-hearted, unassuming and adventurous again. The 2h-sessions focus on gradually increasing physical resilience, but include emotional and energetic aspects as well to restore balance in body, mind and spirit. There is no competitive stake, there are no extremes or high-intensity actions involved. But we do sometimes challenge our personal comfort zones a bit, sliding in and out, bumping into some limiting belief or conviction we might carry within. We learn by looking at things from different perspectives. The sessions are guided by seasoned therapist Ken. For more info on his practices, please visit: www.nieuwegrond.be **PRACTICAL** This is a free introduction session for you. But since this is a professional practice, where paying people might participate as well, we can only offer this once. If you wish to continue afterwards, you can talk to Ken personally or book through his website mentioned above. The session starts at 10h sharp and ends at 12h. Meeting and end-point is always Parking Forest Playground Everzwijnbad, Weertsedreef 16, Oud-Heverlee at the border of Meerdaelwoud. Please read the location description well, Google Maps can be a bit tricky. Since we're in the forest and will connect with trees, branches, soil etc, please make sure your clothes can handle this. If you wish, you can bring some water and small towel for comfort, but it's not a must. Please be aware that the organizer can not be held responsible for any damage or losses you might suffer. A safe environment is a priority for everyone. The event will be cancelled only when the weather really doesn't allow it. If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask via personal message. We hope to see and connect with you there! Ken

Hi everyone, This coffee morning event is @ **Schmet !!!**, on Saturday, is 20 June 2025, from 10:00 - 13:00. - Outside! Schmet opened its doors last year. 😃 It's right at Place Poelaert. This is their Instagram account. It's still very new. https://www.instagram.com/schmet.bxl/ 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 place, you will see a long table that is set up for the event. 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== *** **THE STRUCTURE of THE EVENT:** * I post the event on Saturday/Sunday for the following Saturday. * I send out a reminder as an email or a comment on the event page on Thursday/Friday. * There is sometimes a waiting list. * **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:** * 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!** **LOCATION:** Schmet 2 Rue des Quatre Bras Brussels 1000 (right at Place Poelaert)

We will be walking through the forest for a little over 1 1/2 hours, silently, just noticing the world around us and inside us. The idea is to experience the magic of a different type of walking, The invitation is to slow down and notice what is going on inside you and around you. Very often people experience a closer connection with nature and with self, with sometimes surprising insights. *Please make sure you are fit enough to go the 4.5 km distance. We will be walking slowly, but we will not take any breaks.* We will be meeting at the Hermann Debroux Metro at **14h**. (Exit straight ahead after leaving the platform--on the Loxam side). If you RSVP as coming, please be on time. We will be starting our walk from there 5 min. after the hour sharp. There is the renovated Maison de Prieur at the exit of the forest where we could gather for a drink or a meal after our walk, depending on what you feel like. Looking forward to an inward adventure? Come and join us on **Saturday, June 20, at 14h** My phone number is 0472 92 11 76, in case you need to communicate with me.

Ce samedi 20.06 – Tous en Blanc au Cactus [LA SOIRÉE BLANCHE 20.06 du CACTUS vs COEUR A COEUR LA PLUS GRANDE SOIRÉE CELIBATAIRES EN LIVE](https://www.facebook.com/events/1329106039075803/?__cft__%5b0%5d=AZaD-w5O5hlp9vJt1YXE9790p2JPDBoFgrtevZ1Ds6QdLgLfn5j3SV6jFoQe8i6lj2BE_3XyeXn9_J0-h9hQRa1GS588qHcB_Ky-D6Qxo76cHWIq0el5B1-2UxacVfRQznADUjwRlp8XixnQ1Sfd7M52y6kyXBiVym5A97g7Vabq5gMzadDKsXBHdT271jow7ze_KBHj7wWu37fGIMMl43U18LcrI7UxZgaYmb9aswN-Sw&__tn__=-UK-R) [+NEW\* Pour les gourmands : Nous vous proposons en option, un diner blanc en avant soirée au David lloyd uccle (voir plus bas) ] ________________________________________ LES SOIREES RENCONTRES NUMERO 1 EN Belgique Cœur à cœur et le Cactus club vous fixent rdv Ce samedi 20 NOVEMBRE Soirée blanche/ Le Cactus x cœur à cœur 80s • 90s • 2000s \| Célibataires\, Let’s Go \! Inscris-toi et invite tes amis : [https://fb.me/e/70VbCVHDf](https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Ffb.me%2Fe%2F70VbCVHDf&h=AUB_bS-hwecg-FylhdZBAjB58H860zwaF0O-sb5n3Fii-9NfWT-hMJwwAr1CMvAInwOz8ZB2puDxhr5FqZrKWuFs6JGZGojYrjW7qOKcVxc5d0NGnihB3ACrPdn3fy1PFqK9BuMyMg2Sc56q1wgQdts69TqlBok&__tn__=-UK-R&c%5b0%5d=AUAxnDXhUZzQQdnpBE6s-TewdbVFMOmdY9U3UwZZbtjabQIRCb8b4osf4ea7pb_Ce5HLRX4YGNWflo9fW2IpBFITyrrcWkliukBEcx9VOIi7aukXgGFp_aC0XsRFr_TIU9VIM3SNrvjeE39GBRLUGBeq9870vSuihmUJ06TCylMYqL-eQuUvbBv0Q9FaX1srdTpX_frGtVLLiVlolsNKXOhRuhGA474RT3IxNpfi9egCpw6V2ODIZgyda_kbyc8) Fonce sur la vente flash [https://www.partyfinder.com/en/event/16218](https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.partyfinder.com%2Fen%2Fevent%2F16218%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBEwNlZiQ1p0Y3RmSHlvUFBlRHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR7lSBO9pciHzhyBfHG_Lzl5VlZFexmF6b905dIso0KUFggrZ2DdAPkFg9g6jg_aem_4PztdotqabRGXdX40PDqaA&h=AUDlOLIoj91LFh_XP3I4ac9n0bYt-SLeHaec-2EzquHMAqw7pP-J7mSXHUwUuNCjff7NNUkXhU8zLc_opCBF_K8e40DoSzCTO2EduQJyxGpWffNh-fis8Y585UdlIssjZJANsoEyk5I2FG1VDZ6g3EeH1qFx9Wk&__tn__=-UK-R&c%5b0%5d=AUAxnDXhUZzQQdnpBE6s-TewdbVFMOmdY9U3UwZZbtjabQIRCb8b4osf4ea7pb_Ce5HLRX4YGNWflo9fW2IpBFITyrrcWkliukBEcx9VOIi7aukXgGFp_aC0XsRFr_TIU9VIM3SNrvjeE39GBRLUGBeq9870vSuihmUJ06TCylMYqL-eQuUvbBv0Q9FaX1srdTpX_frGtVLLiVlolsNKXOhRuhGA474RT3IxNpfi9egCpw6V2ODIZgyda_kbyc8) ________________________________________ \*Pour les gourmands : nous organisons un Dîner Blanc en avant-soirée au David Lloyd Uccle. Sur réservation uniquement. La participation vous donne automatiquement accès à la soirée au Cactus, sans frais supplémentaires. Voici le lien d’inscription : [https://www.partyfinder.com/en/event/16219](https://www.partyfinder.com/en/event/16219?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBEwNlZiQ1p0Y3RmSHlvUFBlRHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR4pD1AhVjnWvwmeYJfZr02AU6lMreXuPlaVZ7vsGy5gSEd3WC3jcNW6Pb2OyQ_aem_ubmgwTxwSxsDtndQkTPM_A) ________________________________________ Soirée blanche – Soirée Rencontres XXL en Live ! Cœur à Cœur x Cactus Club Cactus Club – Auderghem Samedi 20 JUIN \| Dès 22h30 ________________________________________ LA SOIRÉE CÉLIBATAIRES NUMÉRO 1 EN BELGIQUE Cœur à Cœur débarque pour la 9ème édition au mythique Cactus Club pour une soirée 100% rétro & 100% rencontres ! Ce samedi 20 juin ,nous vous proposons lors de la soirée Cœur à Cœur, un voyage dans l’esprit chic et intemporel des légendaires soirées blanches de Saint-Tropez Que vous soyez en couple, célibataire, ou simplement prêt à profiter d’une soirée festive, rejoignez-nous pour une expérience unique où le blanc immaculé est bien plus qu’un code vestimentaire : c’est une promesse de raffinement et de fête. Une soirée sous le signe de la fête, des rencontres et de l’amour, où chacun peut se laisser emporter par la magie d’une nuit chaude et enflammée _______________________________________ AU PROGRAMME : Soirée ouverte à TOUS Animation spéciale "rencontres en live" Show & surprises Ambiance rétro et festive Espace dansant XXL Zones chill pour discuter ________________________________________ INFOS & RÉSERVATIONS Inscription Facebook (RSVP & invite tes amis) VENTE FLASH & GARANTY PASS : 5€ ou 10€ + Cadeau Body Training Évite la file, sécurise ta place Billets aussi disponibles sur place le soir-même ________________________________________ Réserve ton PACK VIP ou ANNIVERSAIRE (table privatisée, bouteille, zone exclusive) : +32 477 60 61 31 ________________________________________ Que la fête commence... et plus si affinité Marque ta présence sur l’événement Facebook & Invite tes amis célibataires ! Inscris-toi et invite tes amis : [https://fb.me/e/70VbCVHDf](https://fb.me/e/70VbCVHDf) ________________________________________ Adresse : Cactus Club – Boulevard du Souverain 147, 1160 Auderghem

Let's meet to write ! Schedule : 11:00 - 11:30 am : Presentation tour. Share briefly with the group about your project and your "goal of the day". 11:30 - 13:30 : Let's write ! 13:30 : Conclusion tour. Did you achieve your goal of the day ? See you soon !

How do we connect to people? What is so great about being different? Is love selfless? Should we be dreamers or realists? What values are we losing? When are we at our best? Does childhood ever end? Is morality a matter of convenience? What makes a person beautiful? Such questions, and many more, await you Sunday at Sister's Cafe (second floor) . After introductions we will collect questions from the group participants, choose one by voting then discuss it for an hour. Then most of us stay for drinks and bizarre conversations :-).

Our last meetup before the summer break... 😀 What is the purpose of education? How should we order our priorities: acquiring knowledge, developing skills, assimilating values, ... ? To what extent should the role of education be to train students for future employment? Until which level of education should schooling be obligatory in today’s world? What should be the most important subjects comprising universal general education? Tailoring to individual differences vs moulding all students towards shared norms: what is the ideal balance? What is the ideal distribution between generalization and specialization? What qualifies a person to teach? What are the most important qualities a teacher should have? What should the roles of teacher and student be? How should teacher and student interact? How should students interact among themselves? Competition? Cooperation? Is passing exams a necessary component of learning? Is it sufficient? How can we determine the difference between "objective" education and propagandistic education? How separate or intertwined should state and school be? Does paying for one's (or one's children's) schooling compromise/prejudice that education? What, if anything, is missing or can be improved in our current systems and cultures of education? How is A.I. changing education? Is education increasingly turning into the urgent task of arming humans against A.I.? How can we best continue learning lifelong? How can we improve our learning *how* to learn? "Learning is a lifelong process; learning to learn, a lifelong task." [https://www.universitymagazine.ca/person-with-the-most-college-degrees/](https://www.universitymagazine.ca/person-with-the-most-college-degrees/) [https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/chennai-professor-vn-parthiban-with-150-degrees-most-educated-man-2808237-2025-10-25](https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/chennai-professor-vn-parthiban-with-150-degrees-most-educated-man-2808237-2025-10-25) [https://youtu.be/Q7SECM3vYKI?is=CwYZpxhoWPlwHyy6](https://youtu.be/Q7SECM3vYKI?is=CwYZpxhoWPlwHyy6) 😉 Image: concept by Alan Woo realized by ChatGPT

THIS SATURDAY\, 20 JUNE 2026 \| BXL MAIN EVENT \| 10:00 PM – 4:00 AM INTERNATIONAL PARTY – Madame Moustache \| 80’s 90’s 2000’s – Powered by Just A Night Facebook: [https://fb.me/e/20EUCkaNzB](https://fb.me/e/20EUCkaNzB) Skip the Line & Guarantee Pass: [https://www.partyfinder.com/en/event/16585](https://www.partyfinder.com/en/event/16585) Or tickets at the door +GREAT SUMMER TERRACE INTERNATIONAL PARTY BACK TO THE 80s 90s 2000s MADAME MOUSTACHE – Powered by Just A Night SPECIAL GUEST DJ: TBA XXL BRUSSELS PARTY \| INTERNATIONAL VIBES \| COSMOPOLITAN ENERGY Just A Night is landing at Madame Moustache for an exceptional edition! A must-attend roaming concept in Brussels, Just A Night has been bringing together nightlife lovers for over 10 years: Artists, DJs, models, party people, globe-trotters, expats, and cool crowds from all backgrounds! This time, get ready to dance to the best old-school hits from the 80s to the 2000s — remixed like never before. Retro vibes & atmosphere. A musical journey to experience with friends, right in the heart of the city’s nightlife. AT MADAME MOUSTACHE, WE’RE TURNING UP THE HEAT 😉 INFO & BOOKINGS info@justanight.net +32 478 58 60 39 (bookings & birthdays) Facebook: [https://fb.me/e/20EUCkaNzB](https://fb.me/e/20EUCkaNzB) Madame Moustache 5-7 Quai au Bois à Brûler, 1000 Brussels

What's up Friends! 👋 If the weather gods feel generous 🌤️, we’re going full park mode: picnic 🧺🌳, games, laughs… and a touch of chaos ✨ ‼️If not - we'll switch to the usual indoor format at Le Pantin or Café Leopold PDN. 📍Where Park Cinquantenaire, Tour de Tournai 🏰 (that little castle-looking thingy in the park). Can’t find us? 🤷‍♀️ Just ping me here. 💡 The Idea Chill picnic: bring your own drinks 🧃, snacks 🥪🍓, blanket, and games 🎲🏸 (sharing always appreciated 😋). We’ll break into small groups depending on the vibe: games, chats, sports. ⏱️ Timing We kick off at 14:00. Stay as long as you like. Joining later? Just drop a message in the chat in case we decide to move 😊. 🎲🏸 Games All games are welcome in the park - boards, cards, balls, random stuff! I’ll have a few with me, but feel free to add your own favorites too. 🚦On the waitlist but really want to join? Or got any questions? Just DM me. 📢 Extra info might drop in the group chat or via DM 💬. Check your messages 👀 the day before so you don't miss anything critical 🙄. 🐈‍⬛ The Friends Code: 👉 Games we play = group decision 👉 Smaller groups = cozier vibes 👉 Got a favorite game? Suggest it or show up with it 👉 Can't make it? Cancel on time so someone on the waitlist can grab your spot 👉 If you’re on the waitlist, showing up is at your own risk 😄 See you there, folks 😉

**Join us for a relaxed Sunday morning meetup at Caffè Leopold in Porte de Namur!** We’ll meet from 11:30 to 13:30 to enjoy coffee, brunch, and easy conversations in a friendly atmosphere. It’s a great opportunity to meet new people, practice English or French, and spend a nice Sunday morning together. Everyone is welcome — whether you come alone or with a friend. Just bring your good mood and be open to meeting others 😊 After the meetup, for those who want, we can also continue with lunch in a nearby place 🍽️ **📍 Location: Caffè Leopold, Porte de Namur** **https://maps.app.goo.gl/UvTUU1H59J4yatS86** **🕦 Time: Sunday, 11:30–13:30** **☕ What to expect: Coffee, casual conversations, friendly people, and a relaxed Sunday vibe.** Join the WhatApp group: [https://chat.whatsapp.com/EimXMXyRBjo7PfHRoVc1j7](https://chat.whatsapp.com/EimXMXyRBjo7PfHRoVc1j7) Personal number: 0471695419

Hi WW's, This Sunday we shall walk along some of the WWII anti-tank canals in the Haacht area. The walk should look something like this : [https://www.komoot.com/tour/2923379742?ref=aso&t_s=referral&t_cid=route_share&share_token=ad5Q7OflBA0kWw3JD9eOh2WZfsNIKUBku8iefM9xg52WlThEpm](https://www.komoot.com/tour/2923379742?ref=aso&t_s=referral&t_cid=route_share&share_token=ad5Q7OflBA0kWw3JD9eOh2WZfsNIKUBku8iefM9xg52WlThEpm) The weather should be quite hot but a lot of the walk is in the shade. Bring enough drinks and nibbles to keep you going. After the walk , we shall relax in taverne Den Dijk where we can also have lunch. We plan to leave on time, so if you are late , then follow the map to catch us up. If you have any questions , you can call me on 0475 801026 See you on Sunday. Igor

We'll meet at The Capital One Café, 167 Easton Town Center, Space A-103. This is in the main mall where the Microsoft store used to be, on your left if you're standing at the bottom of the AMC Theater escalator. Join us on Saturday for an hour of uninterrupted wordmaking! • What we'll do Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at 10AM on Saturday mornings. Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done. SCHEDULE: 10:00 - SESSION 1: quick intros. 10:10 - timer starts: write for 1 hour. 11:10 - chat / take off / keep writing. OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING happens at 11A-11:30ish. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing. BEING LATE IS OKAY: just show up and get settled, then check-in with me after the session. (I’ll be the person with the Shut Up & Write! sign.) If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing and I look forward to seeing you! • What to bring Whatever you need to be able to write! Bring earbuds/earplugs if you want to block noise or the occasional conversation by other patrons. Electrical outlets are limited, so charge your devices before whenever possible. See you at The Café on Saturday!

Welcome, readers! Our June read is ***Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible*** ***Voyage*** **by Alfred Lansing.** A work of nonfiction, and one of the most astonishing survival stories in history, we follow Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew after their ship is crushed by Antarctic ice. Stranded in one of the harshest environments on Earth, the men endure months of isolation, freezing temperatures, and near starvation—yet refuse to give up hope. Lansing brings their ordeal to life through vivid detail and firsthand accounts, capturing both the brutality of nature and the resilience of the human spirit. At its core, the story is a powerful testament to leadership, perseverance, and the unbreakable will to survive against impossible odds. Looking forward to discussing with everyone! We will meet at Zaftig Brewing Co in their event room in the back. We are welcome to bring in our own food, but **all** **drinks must be purchased at the bar.** Happy reading! 📖

Join the CONNECTED Westerville Mastermind Group for a dynamic afternoon of B2B networking! This event is perfect for professionals looking to expand their business connections, share insights, and foster collaboration within the community. Whether you are a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, this event offers a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas, build relationships, and grow your network in a supportive environment. Connect with like-minded individuals, explore potential partnerships, and discover new opportunities for professional growth. Don't miss out on this chance to enhance your business network and take your career to the next level with CONNECTED Westerville Mastermind Group! We meet the 4th Monday of every month from 11am-1pm. Welcome and general networking from 11am - 11:30am with core meeting 11;30 - 12:30 and a final round of networking from 12:30 - 1pm.

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.

This month we’ll be reading Goddess of the River by Vaishnavi Patel. Feel free to come even if you don’t finish the book!

Join us as we get together for a CAPA Summer Movie event to see the romantic, funny, heartwarming, feel-good classic, PRETTY WOMAN! Julia Roberts and Richard Gere star in this modern-day fairy-tale romance! Here’s a description, trailer and plan for this event: DESCRIPTION: A wealthy corporate raider hires a Hollywood escort as his date for a week of high-society business events. But what starts as a business transaction blossoms into genuine love, challenging both of their lives and leading to an unexpected romance. The film is directed by Garry Marshall and stars Richard Gere, Julia Roberts, Héctor Elizondo, Ralph Bellamy (in his final performance), Laura San Giacomo and Jason Alexander. MINI TRAILER: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-JghOdhAwc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-JghOdhAwc) SHORT BONUS CLIP #1 - DIRECTOR GARRY MARSHALL Recalls Famous Scenes from the Film: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpIMOzieGPs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpIMOzieGPs) SHORT BONUS CLIP #2 - RICHARD GERE on the Film’s Impact all these years later: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0T3O94dAA8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0T3O94dAA8) SHORT BONUS CLIP #3 - JULIA ROBERTS Remembers a Gift from Director Garry Marshall: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJ4AZSjbMsA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJ4AZSjbMsA) BUZZ & ACCLAIM: A huge box office hit at the time of its release, PRETTY WOMAN has since gone on to become a modern-day classic! The film catapulted Julia Roberts to superstardom and earned her a Golden Globe for Best Actress and her first Oscar nomination! Critics praise Julia Roberts’ star-making performance, the undeniable chemistry between her and Richard Gere, and its warm, funny feel-good story about kindness, self-worth and transformation! The film’s “intelligence and wit,” “first-class performances” and “sharp, funny script” have made Pretty Woman a classic and truly “something special!” THE OHIO THEATRE: The Ohio Theatre is located at 39 E. State Street, between 3rd and High Streets, across the street from the Ohio Statehouse. From classical music to modern dance, yearly family traditions to hot concerts, the world’s best artists come to the 2,791-seat, historic Ohio Theatre. The breathtaking details (including the 21-foot-high chandelier!) of its opulent, Spanish-Baroque architecture make any night at the Ohio Theater an event to remember! PRE-SHOW ENTERTAINMENT: Now celebrating his 33rd year as featured organist for the CAPA Summer Movie Series, Clark Wilson will again provide pre-show entertainment at the keyboards and controls of the Ohio Theatre’s treasured “Mighty Morton” theatre organ 30 minutes prior to each screening. PARKING: Parking is available at Columbus Commons Parking Garage off 3rd or Rich Streets or in Statehouse Parking Garage off 3rd Street. You can find out more about parking in Downtown Columbus by visiting the Downtown Columbus website. PLAN: Purchase your ticket for the 7:30pm showing and we’ll meet outside the theater between 6:50 and 7:00pm. We’ll head in at 7pm to get good seats and enjoy the pre-show organ music! TICKETS: Tickets just $6 adult / $5 senior! Parking is available under the Capital building, in the nearby garage, or on the nearby streets. You can purchase your ticket at the box office on the day of the event or online here: [https://www.capa.com/capa-summer-movie-series/](https://www.capa.com/capa-summer-movie-series/) Look forward to seeing you there, Dan