Local Issues

**They Call it Belly Dance** with ***Andrea Fahed*** for **LGBTQIA+ Queer Migrants** **[Free event with registration](https://wearevillage.org/en/shop/queer-bridges-monday/w23-2026)** 🔵 Often called “belly dance,” this form is known in its cultural contexts as Raqs Sharqi, Baladi, Hishik Bishik, among others. Rooted in rituals, social gatherings, and performance traditions, it carries a rich history that has been both celebrated and misunderstood. This workshop invites queer migrant and allies to explore foundational movements and rhythms and engage in guided improvisation. Alongside the physical practice, we will reflect on the form’s origins, history, and myths, reclaiming it from reductive and colonial narratives. **Queer Bridges: Forging connections and providing resources for LGBTQIA+ people with experiences of migration and/or displacement.** Queer people with experiences of migration and/or displacement in Berlin often face unique challenges in their daily lives that can limit their access to supportive communities and inclusive environments. With the support of the **Deutsche Fernsehlotterie Stiftung**, we have developed the Queer Bridges program to overcome these barriers. We provide resources, networking and support in a welcoming environment for queer immigrants and refugees through our special program. Our goal is to foster a sense of belonging to the local LGBTQIA+ community, enabling smooth integration and an improved quality of life for queer folks with experiences of migration and/or displacement. ✅ Our **Queer Bridges** program will continue to evolve and we are always happy to hear about your needs. If you are interested, you can send us an e-mail to stay informed about further updates. **General Information** **Participants**: This workshop is for all who identify as LGBTQ+ and have experienced migration and/or displacement. If you don’t share these experiences but are interested in joining please reach out to us first to see if space is available. We ask that all participants respect the program’s core focus and contribute to fostering an open respectful space. **Registration**: This event has limited spots available. Registration through our website is therefore required. **Language**: English every language is welcome. **Cost:** The event is free of charge. 🔵 **Sie nennen es Bauchtanz** mit **Andrea Fahed** fur **LGBTQIA+ Queere Migranten** ##### [Kostenlos mit Anmeldung](https://wearevillage.org/shop/queer-bridges-monday/w23-2026) Oft als „Bauchtanz“ bezeichnet, ist diese Tanzform in ihren kulturellen Kontexten auch als Raqs Sharqi, Baladi, Hishik Bishik u. a. bekannt. Verwurzelt in Ritualen, sozialen Zusammenkünften und Aufführungstraditionen trägt sie eine reiche Geschichte, die sowohl gefeiert als auch missverstanden wurde. Dieser Workshop lädt queere Migrant\*innen und Allies ein, grundlegende Bewegungen und Rhythmen zu erkunden und sich in angeleiteter Improvisation auszuprobieren. Begleitend zur körperlichen Praxis reflektieren wir Ursprünge, Geschichte und Mythen dieser Form und setzen uns kritisch mit reduktiven und kolonialen Narrativen auseinander. **Queer Bridges: Verbindungen schaffen und Ressourcen für LGBTQIA+ Menschen mit Migrationserfahrung bereitstellen.** Queere Menschen mit Migrationserfahrung in Berlin sehen sich in ihrem täglichen Leben oft mit besonderen Herausforderungen konfrontiert, die ihren Zugang zu unterstützenden Gemeinschaften und integrativen Umgebungen einschränken können. Mit Unterstützung der **Deutschen Fernsehlotterie Stiftung**, haben wir das Programm Queer Bridges entwickelt, um diese Hürden zu überwinden. Wir bieten Ressourcen, Vernetzung und Unterstützung in einem einladenden Umfeld für queere Migrant\*innen und Geflüchtete durch unser spezielles Programm. Unser Ziel ist es, ein Gefühl der Zugehörigkeit zur lokalen LGBTQIA+ Community zu fördern und damit eine reibungslose Integration sowie eine verbesserte Lebensqualität für queere Menschen mit Migrations- und/oder Fluchterfahrung zu ermöglichen. ✅ Unser **Queer Bridges** Programm wird sich stetig weiter entwickeln und wir freuen uns auch jederzeit von Euren Bedarfen zu hören. Bei Interesse könnt ihr uns eine E-Mail schicken, um über weitere Aktualisierungen informiert zu bleiben. **Hinweise** **Teilnehmende**: Dieser Workshop richtet sich an alle, die sich als LGBTQIA+ identifizieren und Migrations- und/oder Fluchterfahrung erlebt haben. Wenn ihr diese Erfahrungen nicht teilt, aber dennoch an einer Teilnahme interessiert seid, meldet euch bitte zuerst bei uns, um zu klären, ob ein Platz frei ist. Wir bitten alle Teilnehmenden, den Schwerpunkt des Programms zu respektieren und dazu beizutragen, einen offenen, respektvollen Raum zu schaffen. **Anmeldung**: Für dieses Event stehen begrenzte Plätze zur Verfügung. Eine Registrierung über unsere Website ist daher erforderlich. **Sprache**: Englisch **Kosten**: Die Teilnahme ist kostenlos.

Join us for a creative gathering for neurodivergent people, including those with autism, ADHD, AuDHD, dyslexia, and similar neurodivergences. This meetup is a chance to make friends, chat, and enjoy arts and crafts with other neurodivergent individuals. **Activities include:** * Clay work * Abstract painting * Finger painting * Creative journaling * Doodling and more Each session offers different activities, with some focused on one project and others on exploring multiple creative outlets. We will provide some arts and crafts equipments but feel free to bring your own arts and craft tools if you want to do your own project. **The event is free and there will be no donation box at the event, but your support is very much welcomed Donation Link: [Ko-fi](https://ko-fi.com/neurodivergentberlin)** **Where:** PopUp Gruppenraum 2 at Amerika Gedenkbibliothek **Facilitators:** Agnieszka Błaszczak (Aga), a multimedia artist, and Sheila (along with other occasional facilitators). **Important Notes:** * If you can’t attend, please edit your RSVP to give the spot to others people. * The community is run by neurodivergent volunteers, so please help us create a positive experience. * Bring sensory tools (headphones, stimming toys, etc.), and we will have some available. * A quiet corner will be provided for breaks. * This event is for late-diagnosed adults (18+). For children’s events, a parent or guardian must be present. See you there!

English below Liebe Nachbarn und Freunde, Kommt vorbei und lernt eure Nachbarn kennen bei einer Runde Wizard, Just One, Dixit, Fluxx, und noch viel mehr. Ihr dürft natürlich eure Lieblingsspiele mitbringen und sie uns beibringen, falls wir sie noch nicht kennen. Teilnahme auf Spendebasis. Wo: offenes Wohnzimmer, Waldenserstr. 13, 10551 Berlin http://www.offeneswohnzimmer.org/ Dear neighbors and friends, The Offenes Wohnzimmer is hosting the next board game night. Come around and meet your neighbors around a game of scrabble, cards and more. You’re welcome to bring your favorite games. Participation donation based 🙂 http://www.offeneswohnzimmer.org/ Anmeldung: tanjaklett@gmx.de oder spontan !

Life is short, so let's Make new FRIENDS & Enjoy the Life. the event is dedicated to everybody living or visiting berlin, with a special focus on people with an International attitude. We have the aim of connecting people with similar interest here in Berlin! Everybody, who likes to meet new poeple on monday afternoon is welcome to join! #The bar only accepts cash or debit cards. No credit cards.

THERAPEUTISCH ❤︎ Asana Basics THERAPEUTISCHES YOGA mit monatlichen Fokus: JANUAR ❤︎ Asana Basics FEBRUAR ❤︎ unteren Rücken MÄRZ ❤︎ Schulter, Nacken, oberer Rücken APRIL ❤︎ Schulter + Asana Basics MAI ❤︎ unteren Rücken ... REFERENZEN 'Ich wollte Dir/ Euch auch nochmal für die tollen Stunden danken! Ich habe Skoliose und ein Myofasziales Schmerzsyndrom in der linken Schulter und kann mir (seitdem ich bei euch Yoga praktiziere) den Gang zum Physiotherapeuten sparen! Das hat seit einigen Monaten wirklich mein Leben verändert und dadurch habe ich auch weniger Schmerzen/ Stressrelease - danke dafür! <3 Liebe Grüße, Sophia'

**📢 WICHTIG** 📢 Diesmal treffen wir uns in einem neuen Ort: KALLE HALLE Markthalle in Neukölln. Wir werden an den langen Tischen in der Mitte des Saales sitzen. Wir bitten euch um eure Mithilfe, indem ihr ein Getränk oder ein Gericht bei den Restaurants bestellt. Vielen Dank.

Join us for a relaxed Monday evening full of new faces, unexpected conversations and the kind of atmosphere that makes the week feel a little more alive. Whether you’re new in Berlin or simply looking to meet open-minded people, this is a space to connect, share stories and start the week with a little more curiosity. Orga The location accepts only card payments. We will be sitting in the first room. Questions? Check our Meetup-FAQs: [https://socialbutterfly.berlin/meetup-faq/](https://socialbutterfly.berlin/meetup-faq/) Meet your host I’m Julia — a Berlin local who loves bringing people together. My path went from growing up in a dance school to studying philosophy to working in IT support, and somehow all of that led me here: hosting meetups and creating spaces where people can show up, relax, and connect. Insta [https://www.instagram.com/juwaberlin/](https://www.instagram.com/juwaberlin/) LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-waehnert/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-waehnert/) About The Social Butterfly Club 🦋 is a Berlin-based community that has been bringing people together for over three years. Each gathering is part of a larger framework designed to help friendships grow through shared experiences in the city — with a long-term vision of turning Berlin itself into a shared, playful experience. Love the vibe? There’s a whole community waiting for you. 🦋 Join the Social Butterfly Club and experience Berlin together [https://socialbutterflyradar.substack.com/](https://socialbutterflyradar.substack.com/)

Join us the first Wednesday of each month for Art O'Clock! A show-and-tell style event for local artists to share a piece of work and answer questions from the audience. Whether it's fine art, performance art, or media productions, we'd love to see what you've been creating. If you are interested in sharing at Art O'Clock, send us a message. We hope to see you there! :)

**⚠️ IMPORTANT: REGISTRATION MANDATORY ⚠️** Registration on **Luma** is **REQUIRED** to attend this event. **Link: https://luma.com/qdncoq55?utm_source=meetup** Your registration is subject to host approval. You must complete the registration process on lu.ma to receive the full event location details and confirmation of your attendance. **Please note: Without approved registration on Luma, you will NOT be able to access the event location or attend.** Bliss - Berlin’s biggest AI community - is growing, and you can become part of it. Our team of over 30 volunteers organizes events such as speaker series, workshops, reading groups, diversity events, and more. ​In this event, we will walk you through everything you need to know if you are considering joining the Bliss team. We will introduce our current projects, explain how the team is organized, and show you where you can contribute based on your interests and skills. ​Afterwards, there will be free pizza and drinks, giving you the chance to meet the team, ask questions, and get to know the community in a relaxed setting. ​ **⚡ FINAL REMINDER ⚡** **You MUST register and be approved on Luma to attend. The event location will only be visible after your registration is confirmed by the host. Link: https://luma.com/qdncoq55?utm_source=meetup** *** We are **BLISS e.V.**, Berlin’s AI community connecting like-minded individuals passionate about machine learning and data science. Our **BLISS Workshops** connect **students and young professionals with industry partners**, offering an inside look into **how machine learning is applied in real-world settings** \- from research and development to deployment\. ​ ​​​BLISS Website:[ https://bliss.berlin](https://bliss.berlin/?utm_source=luma) ​​​BLISS Youtube:[ https://www.youtube.com/@bliss.ev.berlin](https://www.youtube.com/@bliss.ev.berlin?utm_source=luma)

The state deals with a lot of money. People and organisations need to declare, file, and pay taxes or receive returns if they overpaid the state. Tax contributions amount to billions of euros, funding public goods such as infrastructure, education, social welfare, and defence. In the 13th edition of our meetup series, we take a closer look at research and design in public finance and taxation, exploring diverse perspectives from 3 speakers. The evening aims to spark a discussion about the government’s or the state’s role, and how it can be accommodating to citizens, residents, and business owners. We will hear from: * Manuel Großmann (Taxfix) * Merici Vinton (formerly US Digital Service) * Sonja Wilczek (DigitalService des Bundes) The federal government’s DigitalService is hosting the meetup on the mezzanine floor of its Kreuzberg office. All presentations will be given in English. Questions in the later discussion part can be raised in either English or German. The event is jointly organised and hosted by CityLAB Berlin and DigitalService.

**⚠️ IMPORTANT: REGISTRATION MANDATORY ⚠️** Registration on **Luma** is **REQUIRED** to attend this event. **Link: https://luma.com/7zfk3orp?utm_source=meetup** Your registration is subject to host approval. You must complete the registration process on lu.ma to receive the full event location details and confirmation of your attendance. **Please note: Without approved registration on Luma, you will NOT be able to access the event location or attend.** We are excited to host a **BLISS x juna.ai workshop** featuring **Dr. Nima Siboni (senior RL Engineer)**, who will guide us through an interactive session on algorithm discovery with LLMs. **​​​ Title: The Heuristic Scientist: Open-Ended Algorithm Discovery with LLMs** **📅 Date: 03.06.2026** **🕕 Time: 18:00** 📍 Location: TU Berlin Marchstrasse 23 [Room 0.011] ​​​The session will last around 2 hours, followed by a networking session with juna.ai and fellow AI enthusiasts (and free pizza!🍕). Bring your laptop! **​Abstract:** Large language models are increasingly useful not only for writing code, but for exploring the space of possible algorithms. In this hands-on workshop, we will look at how LLMs can act as “heuristic scientists”: generating candidate strategies, turning ideas into executable code, testing them against concrete objectives, and refining them through feedback. The workshop centers on the general discovery loop behind LLM-assisted heuristic generation. Participants will learn how to structure problems for algorithm discovery, prompt models to propose interpretable heuristics, evaluate those heuristics with simulations or benchmarks, and use the results to guide further search. We will also discuss when simple prompting is enough, when training or fine-tuning may help, and how to keep generated heuristics understandable, testable, and auditable. ​By the end of the session, participants will have built a small discovery loop of their own and will understand the practical trade-offs involved in using LLMs for open-ended algorithm discovery: creativity versus control, exploration versus verification, and automation versus human judgment. ​ **⚡ FINAL REMINDER ⚡** **You MUST register and be approved on Luma to attend. The event location will only be visible after your registration is confirmed by the host. Link: https://luma.com/7zfk3orp?utm_source=meetup** *** We are **BLISS e.V.**, Berlin’s AI community connecting like-minded individuals passionate about machine learning and data science. Our **BLISS Workshops** connect **students and young professionals with industry partners**, offering an inside look into **how machine learning is applied in real-world settings** \- from research and development to deployment\. ​ ​​​BLISS Website:[ https://bliss.berlin](https://bliss.berlin/?utm_source=luma) ​​​BLISS Youtube:[ https://www.youtube.com/@bliss.ev.berlin](https://www.youtube.com/@bliss.ev.berlin?utm_source=luma)

### About this Event Weekends in Berlin are for slowing down. Whether you’ve lived here for years, just moved to the city, or are just passing through, come join us for a caffeine-fueled afternoon! The goal is simple: **Good coffee and even better conversations.** No forced networking, no strict agendas—just a relaxed group of people enjoying a break from the city hustle. Please support our partner and restaurant W66 by ordering something to eat or drink while you get the chance to meet up. ### Why join us? * **Meet Locals & Expats:** Expand your social circle in a low-pressure environment. * **Discover Berlin’s Cafe Scene:** We’ll explore one of the city's many cozy hidden gems. * **Perfect Weekend Kickoff:** It’s the best way to transition from your Saturday errands into the evening. We meet at W66. A cafe at Leipziger Straße! Looking forward to seeing you all there and sharing a slice of cake! 🍰☕

Meet up and join other people in Berlin this Saturday! Whether you're a long-time resident or just travelling through, come and meet new people to have fun, make new friends and enjoy your Saturday evening in a safe and welcoming environment at one of Berlins fantastic bars. This week we're heading to Biermesiterei bei Lemke & BATA Bar (see link to location) - looking forward to seeing you there! Look out for the "Meetup Saturday Social" signs on tables. We always have several organisers there (male and female), so come say hello to us! We care to make sure that everyone enjoys themselves and we have **no tolerance for bad behaviour or creepiness.** **Follow us on Insta:** @siphappens.berlin **Join us on Telegram:** t.me/siphappens_berlin **👉 Other important notes:** \- 🗒 Due to increased popularity and capacity restrictions of locations many of our events now have a guestlist with a maximum limit on attendees\. **ONLY THOSE WHO ARE ON THE GUESTLIST WILL BE ADMITTED** \- 🍸 The locations we visit are bars and clubs\, they are businesses and we are able to keep these events free ONLY if people buy drinks\. Please respect the locations and the event by **making purchases** \- 🦹‍♂️ Remember to keep an eye on your belongings and prioritize your own well\-being\. We are not responsible for any lost items or personal issues\. \- 📷 By attending our events\, you consent to being photographed or filmed\. Photos and videos taken during the events may be shared on our social media\. If you do not wish to appear in the photos or if you appear in a photo that we post that you would like removed\, please send us a private message as soon as possible on Instagram \(@siphappens\.berlin\)

Hosted by Licking County Soil and Water Conservation District **Stream Team Sampling Events** Are you interested in the health of local rivers and streams? You can join the Licking County Soil and Water in a Stream Team assessment. These events are a night filled will fun in the water. We look at habitat, biology, and chemical parameters in waterways that indicate how healthy our water is! We would love to see you at one of these events! Family friendly. Free to attend. June Wildwood Park, Granville Where: 785 W Broadway, Granville, OH 43023 Date: 6/11/2026 Time: 5:30 - 7:30 P.M. July Velvet Ice Cream, Ye Olde Mill Where:11324 Mount Vernon Rd, Utica, OH 43080 Date: 7/9/2026 Time: 5:30 - 7:30 P.M.

Let's grab some coffee/food and share a morning chat! The East Market has an ample parking lot and outdoor and indoor seating. Grab a cup of coffee from Winston's Coffee & Waffles or on your way to East Market and meet us on the second floor - table behind or east of the elevator. Per what this group is about: "Everyone is welcome! International transplants to Columbus who want to improve language skills, Columbus residents who enjoy talking to people from other countries, and those who would like to discuss international travel and culture, and who enjoy getting together for good conversations."

The number of ticks and tick diseases in Ohio have quickly multiplied over the last 10 years. Dean Kreager discusses tick species, tick pathogens, tick-borne diseases, tick bite prevention, and proper tick removal. Kreager is an Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator with OSU Extension in Licking County * Lakewood Public Library (in Hebron)- May 26 at 7pm [https://events.lickingcountylibrary.org/event/tick-talk-29621](https://events.lickingcountylibrary.org/event/tick-talk-29621) * Johnstown public library at 7:00 pm June 8 [https://events.lickingcountylibrary.org/event/ctick-talk-29622](https://events.lickingcountylibrary.org/event/ctick-talk-29622) Free to attend, no RSVP needed

**Local Cantina -** We'll shut down wine club at 8 pm this evening and take a short walk to our neighborhood Tex-Mex eatery - Local Cantina. Join us after wine club for a snack or meal. Please RSVP early AND Please let me know in the comments if you plan to join us after at the diner so I can have accurate numbers for the reservations. **On Freestyle night** \- just bring a bottle to share\. There is NO formal wine tasting like on other weeks\. Door charge is $10 \(cash or Venmo only please\)\. We may have some left over wines to clear out\! Glasses are provided\. Take Care\. See you there\. **Parking**: There are several public parking lots near the Alive614 hall. Please be careful to NOT park in private parking lots. They do tow. Check Google maps to scope out your space. Anyone who is early could easily find a parking space on the street nearby. I am told that the Chase parking lot is safe after hours. **Glasses**: …will be provided. Please note that after the wine tasting, the EMPTY glasses need to be returned to the boxes at the service table. Please do not make me hunt down your empty glass. Please be gentle, our glasses are fragile. Uh, they are made of glass! **Food**: You are welcome to bring a snack to share. It is not required. Most people do though. If no one brings anything, there will be nothing. **Code of Conduct**: Though mostly understood, it’s still worth mentioning. We don’t have rules per se, but we highly discourage the following topics of discussion because they are likely to incite anti-social responses - Sex, Politics, Religion. Please don’t mistake this as an attempt to limit your free speech rights but rather a guide to a place and time for appropriate discussions. Again, We look forward to meeting new members and reuniting with old friends. Sincerely, ***Paul Uttermohlen***, **Red 1 Realty** *Your Hilliard Wine Club Host*

Welcome, readers! Our May read is **_Kindred_ by Octavia E. Butler.** The story follows Dana, a Black woman living in 1976 California, who is suddenly pulled back to a Maryland plantation before the Civil War. She learns her survival is tied to a white slaveholder’s son. Forced to move between centuries, she must endure the brutal realities of slavery while fighting to hold on to her identity. Tense, intimate, and unforgettable, Kindred explores how the past refuses to stay buried. 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 **drinks must be purchased at the bar.** Happy reading! 📖

Join us as we get together to see Paul Rudd in the latest comedy-drama-musical from John Carney, POWER BALLAD! The film follows a washed-up wedding singer, a fading boy band singer and a stolen hit song. Here’s a description, trailer and plan for this event: DESCRIPTION: Rick, a washed-up wedding singer, and Danny, a fading boy band star, bond over music and a late-night jam session. When Danny turns Rick's song into a hit, Rick sets out to reclaim the recognition he believes he deserves. Power Ballad is written/directed by John Carney, the master of the modern musical and creative mind behind Once, Begin Again and Sing Street! It stars Paul Rudd, Nick Jonas, Peter McDonald, Marcella Plunkett, Havana Rose Liu and Jack Reynor. BUZZ & ACCLAIM: The film premiered to rave reviews at this year’s Dublin International Film Festival where critics call it “a sure-fired crowd-pleaser” that “just might be the feel-good hit of the year!” Others say, “Paul Rudd delivers a career-best performance in this charmer” that’s both “hilarious and deeply moving." The film continues John Carney’s “long run of success with yet another charmer” and “a sharp, hopeful crowd-pleaser that strikes the right notes!” SUMMER OF ICE CREAM, VOL 2: SHAKE NO. 8! Ranked the #1 Ice Cream Shop in Columbus, this is a perfect early stop on our Summer of Ice Cream! Their menu uses made-from-scratch recipes in an array of traditional, specialty and vegan shakes, hot cocoa, crepes, waffle sticks, specialty coffee & espresso, and more! Their specialty shakes are as delicious as they are over-the-top and they offer an extensive vegan menu! You can check out their full menu here: [https://www.shakeno8.com/menu.php](https://www.shakeno8.com/menu.php) PLAN: Please purchase your ticket for the 6:45pm showing and we’ll meet in the upstairs lobby between 6:25 and 6:35pm! Advance ticket purchase is advised for this opening night showing! Once you have yours, please list your seat number in the Comments section of this event. We'll head to nearby Shake No. 8 immediately following the show! Should be a fun one, Dan