Local Issues

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.

**Anna revels in sacrilege and shameless self-determination in her 4th stand-up solo hour, The Devil in Miss Beros, an homage to the Golden Age of Porn’s, ‘The Devil in Miss Jones’.** Previewing Tuesday June 2nd as a work in progress, before premiering at Volksbühne Grüner Salon June 12th and at the Edinburgh Fringe August 2026. **“This was such a fun show and I genuinely couldn’t stop laughing!** It was so dark, a little twisted, and so wrong in all the right places! Viciously relatable and finally saying all the 18+ thoughts out loud that you’re ashamed of finding funny! 10/10, no notes, go watch!” – Sarah, audience review ‘High Hoe’ Edinburgh Fringe 2025 At 39, Anna appeals to all ages who love a naughty laugh. Bouncing with energy, she brings audiences together with warming crowd work and shameless authenticity. This show is ideal for dates looking for lively conversation topics, hungry singles, tourists who are apologetic about gentrification, families with unresolved tensions, the perverted, silver foxes with knowing smiles and connoisseurs of comedy. **About Anna** Kiwi born, Melbourne raised and Berlin saved, Anna is a headliner in major European cities, she opened for Jeff Arcuri at Admiralspalast twice in Berlin 2025 and has written for Comedy Central DE. Full-time indie stand-up since 2022, her solos ‘Creampie Curious’, ‘Creampie Clarity’ and ‘High Hoe’ had successful runs at Edinburgh Fringe 2023 – 2025, Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2023 – 2024, Leicester Comedy Festival 2024 and Adelaide Fringe 2023. She has the podcast, Adults ONLY Comedy Berlin, and hosts the comedy channel Erstie’s Nonsense. Check out what Anna’s been up to on instagram https://www.instagram.com/afberos/ or YouTube https://youtube.com/@afberos?si=VUZ-vkIxlyb-tW7s **On the night!** Doors from 7:30pm – Arrive early to secure your seat and get a drink Show starts 8pm – no break Show ends 9pm — stick around after the show for Back Door Comedy 9:30-10:30pm with 5 comedians + Anna working on very new material **About the venue: Mysliwska** Schlesische Straße 35 10997 Berlin (U1, U3) One of Kreuzberg’s oldest bars. Buzz in if you can’t open the door. Good vibes, locals and visitors. Performance space is non-smoking – Main bar is smoking Bar closes super late so stick around after the show **Prepurchase your tickets** [here](https://www.annaberos.com/event-details-registration/the-devil-in-miss-beros-edinburgh-fringe-preview-2) so you don’t miss out! Remaining seats may be available for sale 10€ cash or card on the night.

Hey everybody, Moving to Berlin is an adventure, but let’s be real—the bureaucracy is a headache and making friends in a city this big can feel like a full-time job. Whether you’ve been here for three days or three years, the **Expat Stammtisch** is your home base to meet cool people. 🍻 We have a reserved area just for us. Grab a drink, find a spot, and join any conversation. **Ready to join?** See you at the bar!

We are excited to feature **Georgia Channing**, who is currently leading the AI for Science team at **Hugging Face** and will discuss "**When Silicon Meets Carbon: Bringing Synthetic Biology to Life**", lasting approximately 45 minutes. After the talk, seize the opportunity to connect with fellow AI enthusiasts to share ideas and questions while enjoying free drinks and pizza. **Door close by 7.15pm, so please come early! Also, "attend"ing (RSVP) here on Meetup is strictly necessary to be guaranteed entry.** Please note that Meetup has recently been quite keen on promoting its Plus program. However, you are not obligated to purchase it, as both our events and the platform remain free. **Who is this event for?** This event is open to everyone interested in state-of-the-art AI research. We especially design it for students, PhD candidates, academic researchers, and industry professionals with a research focus in machine learning. **Abstract**: Foundation models have transformed how we read and design biological systems, from protein structure prediction to the generation of novel sequences. But building these models is as much an engineering problem as a scientific one. This talk looks at what it takes to bring AI for biology from research into practice, and at the challenges that make science a uniquely demanding domain for machine learning. We will cover how foundation models for biology are trained and deployed at scale, why scientific data is so different from the text and images that drive mainstream AI, and where the gap between a benchmark result and a real biological discovery still lies. The aim is to show how modern AI connects to living systems, and what we need to get right for synthetic biology to fully benefit from it. **Bio**: Georgia Channing is the AI for Science Lead at Hugging Face, working at the intersection of machine learning and the natural sciences. She read for her Master’s and PhD in computer science at the University of Oxford, with a focus on applying AI to scientific discovery. Her work has spanned a wide range of AI-for-science areas, including remote sensing, biophysics, and materials design. She now focuses on building open tools, models, and communities that make scientific research more accessible, collaborative, and reproducible. We are [BLISS](https://bliss.berlin/) e.V., the **AI** **organization** in Berlin that **connects like-minded individuals** who share great interest and passion for the field of machine learning. This summer 2026, we will, again, host an exciting speaker series on site in Berlin, featuring excellent researchers from cohere, ETH Zürich, University of Oxford, HuggingFace, and Stanford University. Website: [https://bliss.berlin](https://bliss.berlin/) Youtube: [https://www.youtube.com/@bliss.ev.berlin](https://www.youtube.com/@bliss.ev.berlin) Disclaimer: By attending this event you agree to be photographed.

Looking for a low-pressure way to get offline, meet new people, and actually do something fun on a Tuesday? This is a relaxed pool night in Spandau—come for a few rounds, stay for the chats, and leave with a couple of new familiar faces. **What to expect** * Casual pool games in **rotating rounds** (so everyone gets to play) — **beginners are welcome** * A friendly vibe: meaningful conversations *and* a bit of playful pool-table silliness * We **start on time** — please arrive punctually, otherwise it’s hard to fit you into the rotation **Costs** * Your own drinks + shared table costs (depending on group size) **RSVP** Please RSVP on Meetup so I can estimate how many tables we’ll need.

**New to the game? Please join our beginner-friendly Sunday event instead!** Hi folks, this is a special meetup group for the regular Blood on the Clocktower games every Tuesday in Berlin Mitte. This event is aimed at players who are already very familiar with Clocktower - if you have dozens of games under your belt and are excited to play custom scripts with other seasoned players, this is the event for you! Our group aims to provide a fun and welcoming space to experience this thrilling game of social deception. **We focus on promoting a positive and fun group atmosphere, where players don’t take themselves or the game too seriously, whether they’re heroically winning or spectacularly losing.** Our players follow the code of conduct for the Berlin Board Gamers group and are expected to treat each other with respect and consideration – “killing with grace, and dying with dignity”. If you are marked as "going" in Meetup and are in your seat at 19:00, your place is guaranteed. All other seats are first come, first served. There is a €3 entrance fee per person to cover the cost of hiring the venue, payable in cash. We play in English so players should be able to understand and express themselves in English: an exception is possible for one pair of players willing to play together (as a “Revolutionary” pair) where one player can interpret into and out of English. Please let us know in advance if this is the case.

**Hallo, Freunde!** Whether you’re a German language pro, a beginner, or somewhere in between, join us for a fun and social evening designed to practice your Deutsch, because well, let’s face it…Berlin is probably the worst place in Germany for that! **What to Expect:** * **Casual Conversations**: Practice your German in a relaxed and friendly environment—no pressure, just fun! * **All Levels Welcome**: From “Hallo, wie geht’s?” to crafting complex sentences, there’s room for everyone. * **Interactive Games**: Break the ice with language-themed games and activities designed to get you talking. * **Meet New People**: Connect with others who share your passion for learning languages. Whether you’re here to brush up on your skills or simply have a good time, you’ll leave with new friends, fresh phrases, and maybe a new favourite beer. 🍺🗣️ 🎯 **Pro Tip**: Bring a German-speaking friend or meet one here! Tag your fellow language lovers, grab a drink, and let’s make it a night of **Sprache & Spaß** (language & fun)! #SipHappens #GermanLanguageNight #SpracheUndSpaß **The usual information:** We always have several organisers there (male and female), so come say hello to us! We care to make sure that everyones 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:** \- 🍸 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 \(@siphappens\.berlin\)

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)

**⚠️ 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 \(@siphappens\.berlin\)

1 EURO DONATION FEE PER PERSON IS REQUIRED (on site, in cash), to pay back the Meetup subscription fees and support my Events. READ THE DESCRIPTION WITH THE INFO (IMPORTANT). We take a walk in Berlin to meet new people or people we already know 😁 It's a way to spend a few hours together on a Sunday afternoon. **How it works?** The concept is very simple: * We meet at Sonnenallee Station at 14,15 o'clock (we use the Whatsapp Chat to find each other: I will post there my exact location outside the station) * I wait for people for 10 minutes, till 14,25, then we start to walk direction Treptower Park, crossing the park 🌳🌳🌳 and going along the Spree river, to then go further * We go on along the Landwehrkanal, exploring Kreuzberg 🏠 * The total length of the walk is about 8kms * We land finally here to take coffee, a drink, or some food, and spend more time together ([https://maps.app.goo.gl/RsUCxwDKK6yVtiF48](https://maps.app.goo.gl/RsUCxwDKK6yVtiF48)) I consider that the event will last in overall around 4 hours (2 hours of walk 🚶🚶‍♀️ and 2 hours at the Cafe/Restaurant), but people are free to stay together longer, if they want 🙂 What I provide is leading the walk and the people at the Cafe, but I do not force anyone to stay shorter or longer. I do not provide a "personal support" for people who arrive after 14,25 (do not write to me expecting "private support"). You are responsible to check for the weather and decide if come or not. Thanks for understanding. If you have to contact me, make it via Whatsapp, not here on Meetup. WHATSAPP GROUP 💬 to find each other (join it, we use this group to find and synchronize us) [https://docs.google.com/document/d/157uLVXObKt1a4NqqvPa09NJW-050YBwHLW-7DbOD8R8/](https://docs.google.com/document/d/157uLVXObKt1a4NqqvPa09NJW-050YBwHLW-7DbOD8R8/)

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