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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Check out news events happening today here. These are in-person gatherings where you can meet fellow enthusiasts and participate in activities right now.
Discover all the news events taking place this week here. Plan ahead and join exciting meetups throughout the week.
Absolutely! Find news events near your location here. Connect with your local community and discover events within your area.
News Events Today
Join in-person News events happening right now
DevOps Not Dead: DevOps, Cloud, Rock & Roll | LONDON 2026
**DevOps Not Dead: In-Person Event on DevOps, Platform & Cloud in LONDON**
Conference focused on modern DevOps, platform engineering, and cloud infrastructure. It brings together engineers, SREs, and platform teams to share practical experience in CI/CD, Kubernetes, automation, cloud architecture, reliability, and operating production systems at scale.
**🎤 [Speakers & Topics](https://devopsnotdead.com/2026-london-q1/)**
**🎟 [Tickets](https://luma.com/devopsnotdead-2026-london-q1?from=embed)**
Get your ticket — 50% OFF with promo code: MEETUP50
Life drawing class in Harrow - new
This is a new life drawing class in Harrow-on-the-Hill. The class is open to all and we particularly welcome those who are trying life drawing for the first time. The event is hosted by Glen, an experienced life model and member of the Register of Artists' Models.
The class will start promptly at 6 pm and finish on time by 8 pm. There will be a mix of short and longer poses.
Drawing materials will be provided, along with tea and coffee (or a glass of wine if you prefer).
Please note that the session takes place in a dedicated studio space at my home in Harrow-on-the-Hill: by day, it is a professional photographic studio. It is a private, quiet environment suitable for focused work.
What better way to start your early Friday evening and weekend? 
Alternative timings can be requested if Fridays do not suit you.
Come along, relax and enjoy a great drawing experience!
Check us out on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/harrow_life_drawing?igsh=MW0zMnZudm9mNzVr&utm_source=qr
Friday Coffee, Conversation & New Connections in Soho
Join us on Friday evenings at the charming L’ETO Café for a relaxed and inspiring social meetup in the heart of Soho.
Whether you’re a local or visiting London, this gathering is a simple, welcoming way to enjoy good conversation and meet interesting, open-minded people in a cozy café setting. Expect relaxed chats, thoughtful exchanges, and a friendly atmosphere - all over great coffee, tea, and indulgent cakes.
What to Expect
• Meet and connect with people from different backgrounds - professionals, creatives, and curious minds
• Easy, natural conversations in a respectful and comfortable environment
• A social evening that’s friendly and low-pressure, with no formal networking or expectations
From time to time, we may include a short, light activity (such as an icebreaker or quiz) and gently rotate seating so everyone has a chance to meet new faces - always keeping the focus on relaxed coffee and easy conversation.
Whether you’re new in town or a familiar face, join us for an evening of warmth, inspiration, and genuine connection. We’d love to see you there.
☕ Please note: The event is free to attend. To support our host café, we kindly encourage everyone to purchase at least one drink.
📸 We share upcoming events, community highlights, and social moments on Instagram - follow us to stay connected:
https://www.instagram.com/lsc.2026
✨ Stay Connected with London Social Connect ✨
🟣 Meet Your New Social Circle (30s & 40s) 🟣
Welcome! 😊
You can join us for a **unique experience** where you'll be allocated to a gathering/group **based on your interests** (more details on this below!).
Come unwind, meet new people, and enjoy some drinks in a relaxed setting. Whether you're looking to make new connections or simply unwind after a long week, this event is perfect for you.
**Here's how it works...**
✨ 1. **IMPORTANT:** To attend and be matched with a gathering, answer our quick, personality & interests quiz on [OkGather.com](https://OkGather.com) to become a member (*includes gatherings every week - you must be a member to attend*) 💭
🪄 2. We carefully match you with a gathering of amazing people 🫂
📍 3. We book the table for around 10 people in your gathering at a great venue & let you know **your** **venue** **& table details** (venues will be near the station mentioned in location section) 🥂
🎉 4. All you have to do is show up and have a great time! 🥳
If you have any questions, please email info@okgather .com
It's the perfect way to meet people with similar interests and expand your network/social circle (while having a lot of fun!).
Save your seat now at [OkGather.com](https://OkGather.com)
Earn £1k Challenge - become an LSC Event Host 💸
**EARN £1K CHALLENGE**
**Become a Paid Event Host**
We’re expanding fast. Which means we need hosts.
**If you’ve ever thought:**
*“I could run a better brunch than this.”*
*“Why are there no good midweek events?”*
*“I’d love to host music nights/food tours/activity socials.”*
**This is now your chance!**
**The Opportunity**
We are recruiting event managers to run **curated socials** across London.
Trial shifts available **immediately**.
**Paid shifts** after successful trials.
Some hosts will **earn £1,000+ monthly** as we scale.
**We provide:**
Part-time, flexible, self-employed shift/gig/event work.
We handle organisation, logistics, sales, marketing and training.
NO prior experience needed!
**You bring • Energy • Reliability • Initiative • Ideas • Good vibes**
**HOW TO APPLY:**
1. RSVP to this event.
2. Comment with what you’d like to host and your availability.
3. We’ll DM you the Host Application form.
**Comment format:**
Hi, I’m *[Name]*.
I can host *[Brunch/Games/Walks/Food/Live music/Day trips]*.
Available to host events on *[Days]*.
Based in *[Area]*, can host in *[Areas].*
**We are especially looking for:**
• Weekday evening event hosts (Mon–Thu)
• Food-based events
• Live music nights
• Games & Activity socials
• Afterwork/evening walks
• **Female hosts**
Spots are limited! We’re onboarding and training in waves.
If you’re ready to **build something** and get paid for it, **comment below!**
News Events This Week
Discover what is happening in the next few days
ClawClub AI Agents Hackday 🦞 London 15 Mar 2026
**You must register to attend:** [https://luma.com/d04bupgn](https://luma.com/d04bupgn)
Attention London agent tinkerers and curious humans 🤖✨
Come join us for **ClawClub AI Agents Hackday** \- a bring\-your\-laptop afternoon for playing with AI agents\, agent UX \(AUX\)\, OpenClaw\, Moltbot\, or any agent idea you’ve been meaning to try\.
No talks. No demos. Just tables, power, Wi-Fi, snacks, a shared scratchpad, and maybe a place where agents can hang out together.
* **bring a laptop 💻**
* bring an agent (or curiosity) 🤖
* register quick to avoid disappointment! 🎟️
* £10 ticket price covers food, drinks & venue costs 🍴
* hosted at [Newspeak House](https://newspeak.house/), The London College of Political Technology 🏛️
**You must register to attend:** [https://luma.com/d04bupgn](https://luma.com/d04bupgn)
GenAI in analytics workflows: What’s useful vs what’s theatre
Come and join us for a coffee/tea and chat as we discuss what’s hype and what’s real as well as how analytics helps us fight human trafficking. All
Food and drink must be paid for as you consume it. A minimum of a drink must be orders can be water soft drink or coffe/tea etc excellent cocktails available.
Creative Wellness Cycling Club (Members only)
Weekly cycling club open to members of that club only. Membership enquiries to creativewellnesswon@outlook.com
Chichester Challenge: Boat Ride & Beautiful Bosham Village & Lakeside Pub Garden
They say that pictures speak a thousand words, and so here are pics from this previous day trip on our website (click on this event): [www.aaahiking.co.uk/day-hikes](www.aaahiking.co.uk/day-hikes)
**DESCRIPTION**
Embark on a scenic adventure from Chichester, weaving through charming countryside and past stunning coastal homes before reaching the highlight of the journey—a picturesque ferry ride across the tranquil harbour. From there, follow scenic footpaths along the water’s edge, soaking in breathtaking views and the peaceful atmosphere. The journey culminates in the historic village of Bosham, known for its timeless beauty, rich maritime heritage, and stunning coastal scenery. To top it all off, we’ll end at a cozy pub, the perfect spot to relax, refuel, and take in the charm of this unforgettable hike.
**WHAT TO EXPECT - HIKING INFO**
Distance: **17kM**
Ascent: c.**mainly flat**
Estimated Duration (approx): **5 hours walking**
Difficulty: **[Moderate](https://www.aaahiking.co.uk/hike-grade)**
**PROGRAMME**
Meeting Point: Meeting Point: **[London Victoria Station](https://www.aaahiking.co.uk/meeting-places/)** (see pic in in link) in front of the ticket machines where the Benches are.
Assembly time: 08:00
Move to train: 08:15
Train leaves: 08:35
Arrive at Chichester station: 10:07
Departure Train: 17:02 from Bosham station, arrive back at Victoria 18:45
**Pricing Info:**
* £35 per person – includes hike + train travel. Book by 11:59 PM on Tuesday before the event to guarantee your spot at this £35 discounted price - after this time there might or might not be limited £35 tickets left upon checking event.
* Want to join for the hike only? Message me privately on Meetup to pay £15 anytime.
**HIKE INCLUDES**
* Guided Hike planned and led by experienced AAA leaders, trained Summer Mountain Leader with Wilderness First Aid Training.
* PayPal fees
**PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE**
* Travel costs ***(Unless you selected the train price)***
* Lunch, drinks or any refreshments
* Souvenirs
* Meetup Fee levied on all purchases via meetup
* Entrance fees to any attractions you wish to visit
**RECOMMENDED KIT LIST [(](https://mailchi.mp/aaalondongroup.com/kitlist)[full list](https://www.aaahiking.co.uk/kit-lists)[)](https://mailchi.mp/aaalondongroup.com/kitlist)**
* Suitable hiking shoes or boots
* Waterproof jacket and trousers (Please no jeans!)
* Water [2L recommended]
* Warm/Windproof layer, e.g. Down/Primaloft/Fleece
* Wicking base layer, e.g. Polyester/Tencil/Merino
* Camera & Phone
* Picnic lunch and snacks
**CANCELLING/REFUNDS**
If you can no longer join the event, please message the host and update your RSVP status on MeetUp to 'Not going', to allow others to take your place. If the event sells out, and you have messaged us and have changed your RSVP to 'Not going', please email us on [info@aaalondongroup.com](info@aaalondongroup.com) after the event date, requesting a refund, including your PayPal email address, so we can locate the payment. Unfortunately, as PayPal retains the original transaction fee, we cannot refund this. If the hike is not full, we are sorry, we are unable to issue a refund.
**QUESTIONS**
If you have any other questions, please check visit our [FAQ page](https://www.aaahiking.co.uk/faq). If you are still unsure, contact the event Host shown on this page.
We have operated over 1,000 events without significant incidents in the last ten years, achieved through meticulous planning. All participants (members and their guests) in any AAA Hiking event or activity are personally responsible for their fitness, safety and welfare, and must be equipped accordingly. If you have signed up for the event, you acknowledge and accept the AAA Hiking Terms and Conditions.
[FAQs](https://www.aaahiking.co.uk/faq) \| [Terms and Conditions](https://www.aaahiking.co.uk/terms-and-conditions) \| [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/AAAhiking) \| [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/AAAHikingUK/reviews) \| [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/aaahiking/) \| [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@aaahiking) \| [Trip Advicer](https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g186338-d19994843-Reviews-AAA_Hiking_Outdoor_Group-London_England.html) \| [TicTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@aaahiking) \| [Website](https://www.aaahiking.co.uk/)
© AAA London Group Ltd. Errors and Omissions Excepted
LCC CITY DRIFTING: Greenwich, Peckham, Lambeth [SOUTH LONDON]
Welcome back ramblers, rovers, loungers and loafers!
Once again, it's time to drift. We're picking up where we left off (well, a little west of there) last month to continue our long-term unguided navigation around the whole of London. We'll stay south of the river this time and keep pushing westwards into the heartland of glorious South London, starting from Greenwich and ending up, most likely, somewhere in Lambeth, via Peckham. These are some of the liveliest, most interesting parts of the metropolis so an extended exploration is a long time coming for us! Since this is a *dérive*, I won't say much more than that.
Meet out in front of Greenwich station, serviced by the DLR (Docklands Light Railway) as well as Thameslink (which cost the same as the Tube and run from big stations such as Farringdon and King's Cross) and Southwestern rail services.
Check planned TfL disruptions here - there are some disruptions to certain routes on the DLR for March 15th, but Greenwich station will be fine and our day should be all clear for most everybody: https://content.tfl.gov.uk/planned-track-closures.pdf
A little background on our City Drifting project here:
**Now just wait a minute. What the hell is a drift ([dérive](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%A9rive))?** A drift is any unplanned journey through the urban landscape in which participants practice a form of radical mindfulness, collectively exploring new ways of relating mentally, ideologically and materially to the "ordinary" urban environment we all think we know so well.
First theorised publicly by Situationist thinker, artist and provocateur Guy Debord in his 1956 essay *[Theory of the Dérive](https://libcom.org/article/theory-derive-guy-debord)*, drifting is a sort of *critique of ideology* done by walking, looking, and feeling. **The urban environment of London is not a neutral space:** it is packed with surveillance equipment, anti-homeless architecture, consumerist [Gruen transfers,](https://www.smartcapitalmind.com/what-is-the-gruen-transfer.htm) crowd management systems and security perimeters, among a thousand other subtle and not-so-subtle methods of population control. Moreover, our everyday relationship to the city and its pathways is conditioned deeply by our habits of movement and our habitual perceptions: our commute to work, to school, our nips down to the shops, etc. **All these routines create what Marxists call a *reified* relationship with the urban environment: through over-familiarity it becomes something seemingly natural, "just there", ordinary, unchangeable - boring.** This boredom and familiarity kills the radical imagination, without which we're fucked.
To be able to start to imagine how society could be transformed, we also need to imagine how spaces, buildings, their use, their whole purpose (and who these serve) could themselves be transformed. A necessary step in this process, according to Debord and the Situationists, is the drift. Like the 19th-century gentleman *[flâneur](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fl%C3%A2neur),* by wandering the city with an attitude of "fresh eyes", we can shake loose our ingrained sense of what London and its streets are like. **As a collective, we will work to "estrange our senses" and see the streets, buildings and people differently, as if we were encountering them for the first time.** That is to say: these aren't just random walks around London - with the right frame of mind, they will be opportunities to turn the world upside down, if only for a moment!
But don't take it from me - as Debord observed:
*"In a dérive one or more persons during a certain period **drop their relations, their work and leisure activities, and all their other usual motives for movement and action, and let themselves be drawn by the attractions of the terrain and the encounters they find there.** Chance is a less important factor in this activity than one might think: from a dérive point of view cities have [psychogeographical](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychogeography) contours, with constant currents, fixed points and vortexes that strongly discourage entry into or exit from certain zones."*
See you on the streets comrades, and remember, as [Raoul Vaneigem](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raoul_Vaneigem) once wrote: *"All space is occupied by the enemy. We are living under a permanent curfew. Not just the cops — the geometry".*
🇬🇧🇪🇸🇫🇷🇯🇵🇮🇹 ALDGATE - Language Exchange & Social 🇩🇪🇨🇳🇧🇷🇰🇷🇪🇬
IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ!
Welcome to the Highest Rated International Language Exchange group in London,🏆 with 1500+ reviews rated 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Join us on **Friday** for our weekend global language exchange and social 😊🍻🥂
TO ATTEND THIS EVENT YOU **MUST**👇👇
1. Have your Meetup confirmation visible on your phone when you arrive.
2. Collect & wear your badge as soon as you arrive and always BEFORE buying your drinks and food.
3. Pay the £2 event fee. The event starts at 7pm. **The event fee is £6 if you arrive after 8:30pm**
Start meeting the community and having fun...lots of fun!
www.languages.london
🇬🇧🇪🇸🇫🇷🇯🇵🇮🇹🇩🇪🇮🇳🇨🇳🇧🇷🇰🇷🇪🇬🇭🇰🇺🇸🇨🇴🇺🇦🇹🇷🇷🇺🇦🇺
WHEN & WHERE
This Friday we'll be returning to The Craft Beer Co, St Mary Axe.**
**Address: 29-31 Mitre Street, London, EC3A 5BU**
https://maps.app.goo.gl/49HnHGap8hQMbQNWA
**HOW WE DO IT**
It's simple ....
\~ When you arrive please collect your personalised language badge from us. We'll be waiting to give you a warm welcome 😃
\~ Please wear your badge during the event and always return it before you leave ♻️
\~ Start meeting the community and having fun...lots of fun!
Please buy something from the bar to support the venue, who kindly offer us a dedicated space.
🇵🇱🇹🇼🇲🇽🇻🇳🇧🇬🇵🇸🇸🇪🇮🇱🇨🇦🇳🇱🇿🇦🇭🇺🇹🇭🇵🇪🇧🇴🇳🇬🇳🇿🇨🇭
**WHO**
Languages in London events are organised for our community - being social, making new friends, building cultural bridges and always very relaxed. We have the largest number of languages and countries represented in our weekly language exchange and social events in London.
This is **not** a dating event.
Our events are open to Internationals, Locals, Expats, Students, Travellers..... Everyone!
Are you an 18 to 24 year old? Come and explore our events.
This is the event for a truly global community and for citizens from around the World.
Is this the Intercambio you've been looking for? Want to practice your ingles, espanol , francais, italiano, Deutsch, portugues or other European languages? Asian languages ? Or maybe prefer to only speak English.... that's just fine.
**All languages and all fluency levels are welcome** Spread the love...Bring your friends 💙
The creator and organiser of **Languages in London - Girish**, will always be visible at the event and there to support you and help with introductions, if you prefer.
We want to remain the BEST language events group in London, being the biggest isn't our focus.
These are real events with real people. We don't fill our events with inflated numbers and fictitious attendees 👻
**Community members that no-show at our events and inactive members are regularly removed from our group.**
**LANGUAGES**
Here's a selection of some of the languages that our community speak or have been practicing ... English, Spanish (incl Latin American), French, Italian, Portuguese (incl Brazilian), German, Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin & Cantonese), Russian, Korean, Hindi, Turkish, Arabic, Ukrainian, Polish, Hebrew, Swedish, Bulgarian, Vietnamese, Hungarian, Bengali, Dutch, Catalan, Farsi, Greek, Urdu, Welsh, Romanian, Norwegian, Czech, Slovakian, Estonian, Danish, Finnish, Turkmen, Latvian, Lithuanian, Nepali, Yoruba, Filipino, Thai, Albanian, Croatian, Serbian, Ebo, Afrikaans, Tamazight, Tagalog, Creole, Malagasy, Mongolian, Tok Pisin and more... you get the idea!
🇷🇴🇬🇹🇨🇿🇳🇴🇩🇰🇫🇮🇨🇾🇺🇾🇪🇬🇧🇬🇦🇷🇰🇪🇱🇰🇲🇦🇹🇳🇩🇿🇸🇬🇲🇾
**SUSTAINABLE** 🌎🌳
Like you, we really care about our planet.
We don't like single use paper name tags, stickers or wristbands as they can't be reused or recycled and can even damage your clothing ☹️
The Solution? ...Our personalised and completely reusable Languages in London badges! 🏆👍
So, please make sure you return your badge to us, before you leave the event. We'll sanitise it (anti bacterial & disinfectant cleaners) and use it again & again & again. Thanks for helping us do the right thing and keep our costs down🙏
**SAFE SPACE FOR EVERYONE** 👮♂️
We don't tolerate prejudice or harassment of any kind, at any time. Be polite and respectful to everyone else and they will reciprocate. Let's keep the space safe, welcoming for everyone and free of any political agendas. Please report any concerns to the Organiser immediately.
Please look after your belongings, the venue is a public place.
We may take photos or video at the event for future promotional use. Let us know if you'd rather not be included, we respect your choice 📸
**SPREAD THE WORD** 🗣️💬
If you enjoy our events, please tell your friends and colleagues and help us grow **your** community, thank you ♥️
Join our community - https://www.languages.london/
We're looking forward to welcoming you at Languages in London 😊👋
🇲🇰🇳🇵🇧🇩🇵🇭🇦🇪🇦🇱🇧🇪🇮🇪🇰🇿🇱🇦🇯🇴🇱🇹🇱🇻🇪🇪🇰🇭🇨🇱🇲🇳🇨🇺
News Events Near You
Connect with your local News community
Quarterly Goals Reset for Product Professionals
One of the most valuable parts of this community is the opportunity to think out loud with other product professionals. This session is built for exactly that.
As we wrap up the quarter, it’s a great time to pause and reflect. What’s on track? What needs adjustment? Where could a small shift create bigger impact?
Join fellow product professionals for a focused, interactive conversation designed to help you recalibrate for the next quarter. You’ll have the opportunity to share where you are, hear how others are thinking through similar challenges, and gain fresh perspective you can bring back to your team and organization.
We’ll gather at 8:00AM, with discussion starting promptly at 8:15AM.
📍 First Watch - 7227 N High St
Located in: The Shops at Worthington
Ample parking is available.
Food and beverages will be available for purchase.
Start your morning with clarity and connection — we hope to see you there! ☀️
Brunch Club: Make New Friends
⚠️ **IMPORTANT: You must sign up and buy a ticket here to attend:**
[https://groupvibe.com/](https://groupvibe.com/)
**Join the Columbus City Brunch Club and make new friends!**
Each meetup brings together 4–6 people for casual conversations over brunch. We use the Groupvibe platform to facilitate the meetup and ensure everyone’s a good fit.
👉 **To attend, you’ll need to complete registration via this link:**
[https://groupvibe.com/](https://groupvibe.com/)
We’ll share the exact location of the upcoming meetup the night before only if you have bought a ticket or membership plan.
**Why this works:**
\* Smaller groups make real conversations easier.
\* Discover new restaurants in your city, together.
\* Curated lunch venues with good food and vibe.
\* If you hit it off with your group, there’s plenty of time to hang out afterwards.
**Note:**
RSVPs on Meetup don’t reflect total attendance. Many attendees register directly via our website. The event on [Meetup.com](http://meetup.com/) is only a placeholder.
This meetup is organized by Groupvibe, a small team passionate about helping people form meaningful friendships offline.
TBD
**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you.
The building address is 4450 Bridge Park
The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400
**Abstract**
TBD
**YouTube Link**
TBA
Prototype, Play, and Build Workshops (In-Person @GameArena)!!!
This month, we are in-person at GameArena!!! We will also be joined by students and their games from [Shawnee State](https://www.shawnee.edu/game-design-programs)!
\-\-\-
Join us for our our monthly COGG Prototype and Play event @GameArena! Come to play and showcase your games.
We're back in the upper levels of the catwalk mezzanine area. It'll be packed with lots of camaraderie playing your game(s) and other's games on the 2nd floor as well as the 1st floor in the gaming room below the mezzanine.
Light snacks and water provided but you can buy food and drinks at the bar (alcoholic drink ID required).
[https://www.game-arena.co/menu](https://www.game-arena.co/menu)
**Attendees:**
Don't have a game to show? Not a problem! All are welcomed and invited from all ages and backgrounds. The more we can have to play test our games the better!
**Developers:**
Do you have a game that you would like to get critical feedback on? Would you like an excuse to work on a game with other talented artists, programmers, musicians, designers, and writers? Digital, table-top, non-experienced developers, and the like are welcomed! We'll provide signage for your game to help others learn more about your work. Wifi, outlets, tables, and seats (though standing tables also) are available.
Come to the Prototype and Play workshop to collaborate and meet local game developers for an evening of epic and raw game play fun! Play works-in-progress, show off your own game, work with others to add polish to a game, or even lend your talents to other fellow developers.
Can use South Garage at the Gateway with a $5 voucher on your way out.
75 E 11th Ave, Columbus, OH 43201
[https://maps.app.goo.gl/UwgveUYG37Jy7RtS9](https://maps.app.goo.gl/UwgveUYG37Jy7RtS9)
If you have any questions or comments, as always, feel free to reach out to us at [info@thecogg.com!](http://info@thecogg.com!/)
Contra dance March 21 (First Unitarian Universalist Church) note new time!
# **Band and caller TBA**
Beginner lesson at 1:30, regular dancing begins at 2:00 pm
NOTE THAT WE ARE TEMPORARILY DANCING IN THE AFTERNOON INSTEAD OF EVENING. Dance with us in the afternoon then you can still go out in the evening!
**Sponsor: All Soles Contra and Square Dancing, First Unitarian Universalist Church, 93 W. Weisheimer Rd., Columbus OH 43214**
WHAT IS CONTRA DANCING? Picture the Grand Ball scenes like you’ve seen in period films such as “Pride and Prejudice”, where the dancers are lined up in long lines, across from each other. That’s English Country Dancing, the predecessor of contra dancing. Now, add moves like “swing your partner” and “do-si-do,” like you’ve seen in square dancing. Set it to fabulous, high energy, live music with fiddles, guitars, percussion and more, alá “Riverdance.” Finally, set the whole scene down in the middle of Woodstock, with a hip, groovy atmosphere, a bit of tie-dye, and hints of counter-culture attitude. THAT’s Contra Dancing!
Wear cool and comfortable clothes (you will get warm) and clean shoes that won't mark up our nice wood floor.
Be sure to come for the beginner's lesson from 1:30 - 2:00, followed by dancing 2:00 - 430. All dances are taught; we will help you learn! Beginners always welcome, no need to bring a partner.
Cost is $10.00 adults, $5.00 ages 12-26. Under 12 free. Free parking in church lot.
Please bring your own refillable water bottle.
From Idea to Working App in Minutes: The Agentic Development with Amazon Kiro
Discover Kiro, AWS’s innovative development environment that adapts to your workflow. Whether you prefer specification-driven development or a more intuitive, vibe-based approach, Kiro empowers you to build applications your way.
In this session, speakers will explore Kiro’s core functionality and its evolution through re:Invent 2025, along with demonstrations of prompts used to create APIs, hooks, and steering documents.
In the latter part of the session, watch as we build a complete example from scratch, showcasing Kiro’s agentic AI workflow in action for spec-driven development and vibe coding.
What You'll Learn - Core Kiro concepts and development philosophy
Feature evolution: pre and post re:Invent 2025
Practical examples: API creation, hooks, and steering docs
Live coding demonstration with real-time problem solving
Who Should Attend - Developers, solutions architects, and technical leaders interested in modern AWS development tools and AI-assisted coding workflows.
**Speakers Bio:**
Matthew Jorat: Matthew Jorat is a Customer Solutions Manager at AWS with nearly three decades of expertise in AI, cloud transformation, migration, modernization, IT, technology, and business. His career spans infrastructure engineer, solutions architect, security auditor, customer success director, support and services director, and operations officer. He was an early adopter of AWS services as a customer, and his current role at AWS uniquely blends his technical and business skills as he partners with executive teams to translate strategic priorities into measurable business outcomes through cloud adoption, AI implementation, and operational excellence. Matt leads end-to-end AI initiatives for enterprise customers, identifying high-impact use cases and maintaining relentless focus on measurable ROI. He holds eight AWS certifications and serves as Adjunct Professor at Franklin University teaching cloud computing and AWS architecture. His expertise encompasses GenAI, agentic AI systems, migration, modernization, and optimization strategies that drive transformation at scale.
[https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattjorat/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattjorat/)
Girish Bhatia: Girish Bhatia is a seasoned technology delivery leader with deep expertise in cross-domain program management. He holds multiple AWS certifications, including AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, AWS Certified Developer – Associate, and AWS Generative AI Practitioner, and is also an AWS Community Builder. Girish brings over two decades of experience in the information technology industry.
Throughout his career, Girish has led major technology-driven business transformation from modernizing on-premises applications to driving large-scale cloud migrations. His work includes API-based integration platforms, data-center and mainframe modernization, and enterprise cloud adoption initiatives.
Based in Columbus, Ohio, Girish works at a tech-forward fintech company. He is passionate about AWS serverless architectures, Generative AI and emerging cloud technologies. An avid learner and builder, he continues to explore and apply the latest innovations in AWS to help organizations accelerate their digital transformation.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/girishbhatia/[https://www.linkedin.com/in/girishbhatia/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/girishbhatia/)
**THANK YOU** *Franklin University* for hosting our meetup! To learn more about *Franklin University*, please visit their website: https://www.franklin.edu/
**DIRECTIONS**
Franklin University
Fisher Hall
300 E. Main St, Columbus, OH 43215
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jxjBA2hUmS5qrvhq8
Parking is FREE! Please park in Lot C in front of Fisher Hall. See attached map.
NOTE: Map the address only. When mapping with Google Maps it may use the Fisher Hall at OSU, which is NOT correct.
**Want to sponsor the pizza and/or bar tab?**
Please contact me if you would like to sponsor this meetup's pizza and/or bar tab: angelo@mandato.com













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