Modern Day Slavery

Let us meet, have a coffee and code together, or just discuss :)! This Meetup is everyone that considers himself "Techie", in the broad sense and wants to socialize :). Join us and chat, ask your questions, or work on your own projects. The choice is yours! There is no agenda, this is simply a gathering of interested folks :). We're meeting at Lebkov right inside the Utrecht Centraal station. We're typically sitting at the large table. Search for the folks with the laptops in the back! You are very welcome to join whether you are an experienced developer, or simply interested and want to chat!

Gather 'round lakeside legends! 🌊✨ This time we’re trading rugged trails for smooth, accessible realness with a **wheelchair-friendly wander alongside the Leersumse Plassen** — because nothing says queer joy like gliding past shimmering lakes without too many barriers killing your vibe. Serving soft heather and glassy water views at every turn, this route is basically a nature runway. Find out more details about the route here (in Dutch): [https://rolstoelwandeling.nl/wandelroutenatuurzonderdrempels/](https://rolstoelwandeling.nl/wandelroutenatuurzonderdrempels/) Come ready to soak up the scenery! Because queer outdoors joy, like these waters, flows freely for everyone. 🌈💙 **Practical info** 📏 Distance: several options! *\~3.3 km loop, if you come by car (wheelchair accessible) *7.5 km, from/to nearest bus stop Donderberg in Leersum (wheelchair accessible) - 11 km, if you continue on via forest paths to Maarn train station (not wheelchair accessible) **Practical info** 📍 Start: Maarsbergseweg 18a (Leersum) via bus stop Donderberg (Leersum) 🏁 End: Bus stop Donderberg (Leersum) or Maarn train station 🧑‍🦽 Difficulty: easy to moderate -accessible route with some slight bumpy sections *🤝🏼 Meeting point*: **Driebergen-Zeist** station *🕙 Gathering time*: **10:55** *🚆 Travel schedule*: Bus 350 to **Leersum, Donderberg** (direction Wageningen) at **11:04** ➡️ arrival at **Leersum, Donderberg** at **11:33** ➡️Walk to Maarsbergseweg 18a ➡️ arrival at starting point around **12:00** ❗You can also travel on your own from another direction and meet us along the way or in Leersum. 🚗 If you come by car, you can park at De Veldschuur (Maarsbergseweg 18a). Several accessible parking spots available. 🧑‍🦽After a round of introductions, we start our trail around **12:10.** Pack your: 🍱 lunch box & snacks 🚰 water 🧥 rain coat/umbrella ☀️ sun screen 🏳️‍🌈 anything else you might need ❌ If you signed up and cannot make it in the end, please cancel your RSVP attendance so we know how many people will show up and someone else can take your place instead. 💗 A voluntary donation helps us to keep the Meetup group up and running :) you can either pay via a Tikkie or in cash after we finish the hike. *Hiking Queers Netherlands*

The third session of Shared Reading will focus on poetry. Using two poems to get us started, one classic and one contemporary, we will try to get to the heart of what poetry is all about. Why do people read poetry? What can it do for us? How do you read a poem? Whether you are a long time devotee or poetry skeptic, this meetup is for you! As with all our sessions, you do not need to have prepared anything in order to attend the session- just come along, pull up a chair, and join the discussion. If there are particular poems or lines of poetry that resonate with you, feel free to share them with the group. We will meet at the circular table at the Dekker van de Vegt bookstore in Nijmegen. If you have trouble finding us, you can always enquire at the cafe bar- the staff know where we are. Looking forward to seeing you there!

A fun evening full of oooohh's and aaahhh’s and this is why: https://youtu.be/9Usnkt4mEvM It’s all about having fun, so don’t worry if this is your first or second time playing. We will help you and we always cheer every player to victory so everyone has a great experience. Pls be aware - paid event - read all information! I reserved 4 lanes for 1,5 hrs, so we play from 20.00 - 21.30 Since I have to pay in advance I ask anyone that joins to pay their part as well in advance. If you join the list for this event, please transfer 15 euros immediately or make someone on the waiting list happy by giving your spot to him or her. I will sent a tikkie or publish it in the comments. Your spot is only confirmed after payment. No pay. No play. Please note that there is no refund for cancellation, since I have reserved bowlinglanes and have to pay full price wheter we are with 10 people or 3 people. In case you can't make it, I suggest you find someone to take your spot and he or she pays you the money back. If someone on the waiting list takes your spot then a refund is possible. If someone takes your place, pls let me know in advance. Pls be on time. We start bowling at 8 pm sharp. So be there at least 15 minutes early since u need to change shoes and maybe want to get a drink at the bar. After the bowling we usually go to a café in the city for drinks but if u feel like going home this is ofcourse also okay.

🎶Calling all music lovers, players, and listeners!🎶 Do you play an instrument, love listening to live spontaneous jam sessions or just want to meet new people? Come join us for a musical evening at Cafe Domkop! 🎸🎹🥁Feel free to bring your own instrument if you have. There will be one keyboard, one guitar, one bass, cajón and two mics on site already. From beginners to pros, everyone is welcome to join. 👋 **Meetup hosts will be there from 17:00 to 19:00** \- you’re welcome to join anytime\. 🎶 **Jam session is from 17:00 to 20:00** \- stay as long as you like and enjoy the vibe!

Welcome to the second edition of the Cafe Crawl series! 🥐☕ After a succesful first cherry blossom edition, we will continue to use a theme for every cafe crawl. That way you can find the crawl that fits you best, and this time we're exploring the (hidden) bakeries of Utrecht's city center. We meet at Domplein and from there we'll take a beautiful walk along canals and through some of the prettiest corners of the center, stopping at two carefully selected bakeries along the way. One of them serves vegan options, so there's something for everyone! This edition we skip the sitting down, instead we eat, drink and chat on the go, taking in the city as we walk. If the weather is kind we'll make a little stop in a park along the way. You'll be put in small groups that switch a few times, so by the end you'll have had genuine conversations with a good mix of people. **How it works:** We walk, we discover, we eat something delicious, and we meet new people. The focus is on being in the moment, enjoying the city, and good company. ⚠️ If you're unsure whether you can make it, please free up your spot for someone else.

**Modern and Authentic kintsugi workshop in Utrecht.** Choose from three options: * 1-Day Modern Kintsugi workshop-€60 * 2-Day Modern Kintsugi workshop-€96 * 4-Day Authentic Kintsugi workshop -€180 For all details, please visit my website. [https://japanworkshopnet.com/upcoming-workshops/](https://japanworkshopnet.com/upcoming-workshops/) Location: **CLAY TO PLATE** [Biltstraat 55, 3572 AG, Utrecht](https://www.claytoplate.com/) **Booking is essential**. Please contact me if you would like to participate in the workshop. Email: info@japanworkshopnet.com Mobile:0616059840

**Do you enjoy walking in nature?** Would you rather do it **together** than alone? And are you someone who’s open to meeting new people, without the small talk? Then you’re warmly invited to join this **Walk & Talk** through the beautiful *Sonsbeekpark* and *Park Zypendaal*, a mix of forest and elegant landscape. Along the way, I’ll hand out **conversation cards** with thought-provoking questions. The goal? **Real human connection**, not just “Where are you from?” but deeper questions that help you discover common ground, shared values and maybe even new friendships or business sparks. ### What to expect: * A relaxed, open-minded group of locals & internationals * A beautiful walk through one of Arnhem’s most stunning green areas * Inspiring questions that help break the ice in a natural way ### Practical details: * **Start time:** 15:00 (3:00 PM) * **Meeting point:** In front of StadsVilla in *Sonsbeek Park (Big white building, de Witte Villa)* * **What to bring:** Comfortable shoes, a bottle of water and a smile :) See you then! Warm regards Julia

## 🎨**Activity for EXPATS & English Speakers** ☕ Are you an art enthusiast living in or around **Amersfoort, Hilversum, Utrecht, Nieuwegein, IJsseltein, De Bilt and the rest of cities of the Utrecht's province** who love painting or drawing? Maybe you've felt the joy of creating but struggled to find others who share your passion and speak **ENGLISH**? **You're not alone! 😉** ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ## 🖌️**About this event** You will meet other Art Lovers like you to Draw, Paint and have some drinks Together ! Our events are not just about sketching or creating art—they’re about building connections. Every two weeks, we meet at a café to have a relaxing time drawing a painting. Please keep on mind that **ENGLISH i**s the official language we will use to integrate everyone in our conversations. ⭕⭕⭕➡️ **IMPORTANT ⬅️** ⭕⭕⭕⭕ ### 👩🏻‍🎨**Book formally your Seat 🪑via [WHATSAPP](https://bit.ly/3BXXE0f)** **If you want to confirm officially your attendance and separate your seat🪑. Book your seat in meet-up, and contact us via [WHATSAPP HERE](https://bit.ly/3BXXE0f) to receive more information on the address of our activities.** **Thanks a lot for your understanding!** 💐🥰 ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ### 👩🏻‍🎨**How Does It Work?** This event is simple, this initiative takes 2 Hours. Most of the participants use pencils, water pencils or watercolours. Main aim is to socialize while we draw. There will be plenty of time to talk and get to know each other. We have to mention that this event is suitable for all levels. Many have started to draw in our event actually. Also it is very important that you **[JOIN US AT OUR WHATSAPP COMMUNITY](https://bit.ly/3BXXE0f),** to stay up to date on our upcoming events and participate in our Drawing and Painting Contests! **👉: [https://bit.ly/3BXXE0f](https://bit.ly/3BXXE0f)** 🍀 ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ### ☕**Where?** We will meet in different cafes mainly in the *center of Amersfoort ( and some occasions in other cities around)*. I will inform you of the exact place some days in advance this event. The place will depend on the number of attendees. ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ### **🎟️ What is included?** 🟢 **2 HOURS TO HAVE FUN!** 🟢 **15 mins warming-up creative activity and paper material**🖌️🎨 🟢 New friendships and **conversations in ENGLISH** in a relaxed atmosphere 🟢 **Souvenir picture** with you and the rest of Art Lovers 📷 🟢 Exclusive **access to our Art Lovers Community** on which you will receive: ***\~\~\~ Drawing challenges,*** ***\~\~\~ Training content,*** ***\~\~\~ FREE Entries only to members*** ***\~\~\~ Drawing Competitions*** 🟢 Time to **create alongside fellow artists and amateurs** 🟢 The freedom to **work at your own pace** 💃🕺🎈 ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ### 🖼️**Art Materials?** Bring your own practical art materials to be adaptable to sketch on a coffee table. Like your sketchbook, pencils, watercolor, markets, pencils, your Tablet..etc ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ## **See you to Paint, Draw, and drink together!🌟☕🍷🍪🍰**

🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏼‍♀️

Natalia Ginzburg wrote her masterful, Strega Prize winning novel *Family Lexicon* while living in London in the 1960s. Homesick for her big, noisy Italian family, she summoned them in this novel, which is a celebration of the routines and rituals, in-jokes and insults and, above all, the repeated sayings that make up every family. The father, Giuseppe Levi, is a Jewish scientist, consumed by his work and a mania for hiking. Impatient and intractable, he is constantly at odds with his impressionable and wistful wife Lidia - yet he cannot be without her. Together they preside over their five children in a house filled with argument and activity, books and politics, visitors, friends and famous faces. But as their children grow up against the backdrop of Mussolini's Italy, the Levi household must become not only a home - but a stronghold against fascism. Intimate, enchanting and comedic, Family Lexicon is an unforgettable novel about memory, language, and the lasting power that family holds over all of us.

Welcome to the second edition of the Cafe Crawl series! 🥐☕ After a succesful first cherry blossom edition, we will continue to use a theme for every cafe crawl. That way you can find the crawl that fits you best, and this time we're exploring the (hidden) bakeries of Utrecht's city center. We meet at Domplein and from there we'll take a beautiful walk along canals and through some of the prettiest corners of the center, stopping at two carefully selected bakeries along the way. One of them serves vegan options, so there's something for everyone! This edition we skip the sitting down, instead we eat, drink and chat on the go, taking in the city as we walk. If the weather is kind we'll make a little stop in a park along the way. You'll be put in small groups that switch a few times, so by the end you'll have had genuine conversations with a good mix of people. **How it works:** We walk, we discover, we eat something delicious, and we meet new people. The focus is on being in the moment, enjoying the city, and good company. ⚠️ If you're unsure whether you can make it, please free up your spot for someone else.

Colombus Code & Coffee is thrilled to partner with Central Ohio Azure to put on the global Azure community day! RSVP here: https://www.meetup.com/central-ohio-azure/events/313484939/ View the session lineup and speakers at [Global Azure Columbus 2026](https://coazure.github.io/cbus-global-azure-2026/) On **Saturday, April 18, 2026**, the Azure Columbus Meetup, DevOps Meetup, and Code and Coffee Meetup are hosting our local edition of Global Azure 2026. This is a free, community-driven event packed with learning, networking, and all things Microsoft Azure. Whether you’re building modern cloud-native apps, experimenting with AI agents, deploying containers, automating infrastructure, or just beginning your Azure journey, this event is for you! **What to Expect** * Engaging technical sessions * Real-world Azure architecture & cloud-native patterns * AI, agents, automation, and modern DevOps * Food and drinks (because learning burns calories) * Time to connect with fellow engineers, architects, and cloud enthusiasts **Who Should Attend?** * Software engineers (any language, any stack) * Cloud architects * DevOps engineers * Data professionals * AI explorers * Platform builders * Anyone who loves solving hard problems with great tools If you build, deploy, automate, scale, monitor, or optimize in Azure, you’ll feel right at home. **Why Global Azure?** Global Azure is a worldwide community event where Azure user groups host learning sessions on the same day across the globe. It’s grassroots. It’s technical. It’s practical. And it’s powered by people who genuinely love sharing what they’ve learned. And yes, it’s free to attend!

This month's prompt concerns the idea of the “warrior philosopher” (seemed appropriate in these times)--that is someone whose understanding of violence, power, and justice is forged through direct experience of war. We are looking at Major General Smedley D. Butler, a highly decorated U.S. Marine raised in a Quaker (pacifist) tradition who later became a prominent critic of American militarism (there is a wonderful biography of Gen. Butler called "Gangsters of Capitalism") Butler's argument in *War Is a Racket* (1935): that many U.S. interventions were driven less by national defense than by corporate and financial interests, with Butler portraying himself as an enforcer for business and Wall Street. We can consider the moral ambiguity of his insider critique—whether complicity strengthens or undermines credibility and also consider some of the concrete reforms he proposed (e.g., “conscript” capital before soldiers, restrict the military to coastal defense, and have only those who fight decide on war). Butler’s life arc clearly changed from pacifist upbringing to warrior to antiwar crusader—and asks whether true understanding of peace requires firsthand knowledge of war, and what that implies about the cost of suffering. So do we need to suffer to understand suffering? Do we have to experience war to appreciate peace? As one more question: in the movie "A Few Good Men" Jack Nicholson's character says that "you have the luxury of not knowing what I know" so do most of us go through life oblivious to real violence and suffering? See you at Drunken Philosophy!

Sleep in on Sundays. When you've had your fill of pajama-time, roll out and have some tasty brunch with your fellow Humanists!

Who else is ready to sit outside? Join us for a casual chat over coffee & tea at Grandview Grind! Come out and meet some new people, enjoy your favorite drink, and make some new friends!

Some trained COUNT volunteers work together once a month at RMH (http://www.rmhc-centralohio.org/volunteer.php) as Housewarmers (usually on the 1st Sunday from 1 – 5 PM). Some schedule other shifts at their convenience. You may try this out with less fuss by following a "Fast track" or go through the normal process. Fast track • Arrange a time to shadow a COUNT volunteer. Call Dave Nohle at 614-268-9558 (cell). • Show up and try it out. • Complete application, etc. later. Normal process • Complete an online application (http://rmhc-centralohio.org/volunteer/). • Attend orientation in advance. • At orientation you will complete forms agreeing to keep family/patient info private and allowing a background check and tour the facility. • Complete one training shift. Daily shifts are: morning 9 AM - 1 PM, afternoon 1 - 5 PM and evening 5 - 9 PM. • Schedule shifts online using the on the RMH scheduling system (http://www.volgistics.com/ex/portal.dll/?FROM=32895). The Ronald McDonald House (RMH) provides housing and meals for families with sick children. The Columbus RMH is the largest in the world with 137 rooms. COUNT has been volunteering there since May 2014. Housewarmers work with RMH guests to provide a home-like environment - greet, assist with family needs, answer phones, give tours, assist with checkin/checkout, prepare guest rooms after checkout, clean facility, laundry, restock supplies and staff the front desk. RMH Housewarmers volunteer at least one four-hour shift a month. All Housewarmers must complete an application and agree to a background check before they can be full fledged volunteers.

Columbus Code & Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. People of all skill levels attend, and we love it that way. Many people (optionally) bring projects to work on, and many other people (optionally) socialize the entire time. It's entirely up to you! **What to Expect at the Intro Circle** \~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~ Near the beginning of the event (1:30 pm), we do a standup: * Organizer announcements, updates, and logistics Round 1 - (7 secs max): * Your name * What you're working on * What you can help others with Round 2: * Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. Round 3: * Job opportunities you're hiring for OR announce that you are looking for one. If none, that's cool. After the introduction circle, everything is self-organized! Feel free to work alone, pair up, attend one of our workshops/presentations, or mingle!

Soccer + vegan deli eats = the perfect Saturday ⚽🌱🔥 We’re kicking things off with soccer (all levels welcome!) and then heading to Vida’s Plant-Based Butcher for some seriously good food—Vida’s Reubens, Philly cheesesteaks, Chipotle Cheddar Melt and classic deli sides. Whether you’re playing, socializing, or just here for the food, this is a great way to meet like-minded people and enjoy the day! Game → Food → Good vibes 📍 Soccer - Park of Roses 3923 N High St Columbus, OH 43214 📍 Vida’s Plant Based Butcher 1724 Northwest Blvd Unit C Columbus OH, 43212