New Urbanism

\* PLEASE NOTE: **THE BRUNSWICK CLASSES ARE NOW CLOSED** **FOR THE CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR BREAK** **\- THE 2026 BRUNSWICK CLASS DATE WILL BE** **CONFIRMED IN THE NEW YEAR** Thank you for all your support and we look forward to seeing you all in the new year. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a fabulous New Year!

Join me for a family friendly afternoon walk, coffee and a game of bocce in the Royal Botanic Gardens. This environment is a stunning place to relax, explore, and make new connections in all seasons. There are winding paths, groves, lakes, lawns and more than 8,500 species of plants. We will stop in at the Terrace cafe for takeaways, or bring your own drinks and snacks and we can stop for a chat and a game on the lawns. Our walk will finish at the Shrine of Remembrance to see the beautiful views of the city. This walk is rated easy, it is relatively flat and we will walk at a slow to moderate pace so we can socialise along the way. There are a few sections with stairs but there are alternative pathways close by. **Agenda:** I will meet you at **2pm** at the circular sculpture near the Observatory & Visitors Centre, 100 Birdwood Avenue. There is a map and photo of the meeting place below. We will head off no later than **2.15pm** We will reach the Terrace Cafe by **3pm**, have a coffee and a game of bocce on the lawns, then explore the gardens finishing at the Shrine of Remembrance at 5pm. When you RSVP **please click Attend** on the event page and I will be in touch about the details via direct message. As this is a rain or shine event I will also be available in the Event Comments on the day, and add any updates there if needed regarding weather conditions.

**Please note:** This event has been posted on multiple Meetup groups. You can access a discounted ticket price if you are a **Vrewards member**. Not a Vrewards member? **[Join now for FREE](https://villagecinemas.com.au/vrewards).** \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* **Meetup Time / Session:** 12.45 pm, for the 1.20 pm Europa session. **How to find us:** Meet outside TGI Fridays (on the left-hand side, underneath the sign). **Duration:** 113 minutes - i.e., about 2 hours. **Meetup Venue:** Village Cinemas, Southland - 1239 Nepean Hwy, Cheltenham, Victoria 3192. **\> Directions on [how to get there by car](https://villagecinemas.com.au/cinemas/southland?tab=about); or [how to get there by train](https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/stop/1001/southland-station/0/train/#StopPage:::datetime=2024-12-30T10%3A38%3A24.933Z&directionId=-1&showAllDay=false&_auth=879472dc6ad13266ce18119ab192f14e882dcdb8fe511a14e585563cac243abe)** **Details:** You don't need to purchase your movie ticket beforehand. We will meet at the meetup location and wait about 15 minutes until everyone has arrived. We will then line up together to get our tickets and snacks for the movie so we can sit next to each other. **(Optional)** After the movie, we will go for a post-film chat and enjoy a drink/food. If you have any questions, feel free to drop a message in the Comments section. I look forward to seeing everyone there! \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* **Watch Trailer:** [Watch Trailer](https://villagecinemas.com.au/movies/the-choral?tab=about) **Synopsis:** 1916\. As war rages on the Western Front\, the Choral Society in Ramsden\, Yorkshire has lost most of its men to the army\. The Choral’s ambitious committee\, determined to press ahead\, decides to recruit local young males to swell their ranks\. They must also engage a new chorus master\, and despite their suspicions that he has something to hide\, their best bet seems to be Dr\. Henry Guthrie \(Ralph Fiennes\) – driven\, uncompromising\, and recently returned from a career in Germany\. As conscription papers start to arrive, the whole community discovers that the best response to the chaos that is laying waste to their lives is to make music together. Directed by BAFTA, Olivier and Tony Award winner Nicholas Hytner (The Crucible) and written by BAFTA, Olivier and Tony Award winner Alan Bennett, The Choral marks their fourth writer-director collaboration following the acclaimed films The Madness of King George, The History Boys, and The Lady in The Van. **Classification:** M (Coarse language and sexual references) **Genre:** Drama **Release Date:** Thursday, January 1, 2026 **Director:** Nicholas Hytner (The Crucible) **Cast:** Ralph Fiennes, Simon Russell Beale, Alun Armstrong, Roger Allam, Mark Addy, Robert Emms

Spice up your Wednesday night with a **FREE Salsa class** at **600 Little Collins St, Melbourne**! No experience or partner needed — just show up, and we’ll teach you everything from the first step to your first spin. You’ll laugh, move, and meet a great mix of new people who are all starting just like you. ✨ **Here’s what you’ll get:** * Step-by-step basics that anyone can learn * Fun, relaxed environment with great music * Meet new friends and feel amazing doing it! 📍 **Location:** The Salsa Foundation — 600 Little Collins St, Melbourne 🕕 **Time:** Wednesday 6 PM (arrive 5–10 mins early to check in) 🎟️ **Cost:** FREE — bookings are essential (spots fill fast!)

New year, new you? Was "Learn to dance. "Return to Dance, "Find a fun way to get fit / keep fit, "Do something for ME" on your resolutions list?!? Do it. Join a fun, welcoming, all ages, all abilities group of social dancers ... learning & dancing every Wednesday night in January (with opportunities to keep dancing weekly). Come when you can — drop in any week (you won't be "behind"; each class is self-contained). Pay as you go. No lock-ins. Just fun. Dance for fun, friends, fitness. No partner needed. No experience necessary. All welcome! Throughout January, learn Modern West Coast Swing -- taking TikTok & Instagram by storm. Your teachers have 20 years' experience in this style, dancing, competing, judging & teaching across Australasia, southeast Asia & the US. Dress comfortably — neat casual. Wear supportive, flat or low-wide-heeled shoes ... No high heels. Nothing too grippy ... No sneakers. Bring friends. Meet friends there. Again, no partner needed. Licensed premises. Bar open. Class starts at 8PM\*, followed by Social Dancing until 10 ... followed by further socialising & nourishment at Pancake Parlour Knox, for anyone who's keen. \*/ Arrive roughly 10 mins early to sign in, if you can.

This meetup is your introduction to Dianetics, and you can have your questions answered. **[DIANETICS THE ALL-TIME CLASSIC ON THE HUMAN MIND](https://www.dianetics.org/about/films/what-is-dianetics.html)** For 75 years, Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health has remained popular, with over 20 million copies sold across 206 nations. Why? Because it challenges everything you thought you knew-about yourself, your decisions, and the unseen influences affecting your life. You may not know what the reactive mind is-yet. But once you do, it will change your life forever. This hidden part of your mind stores painful experiences and uses them against you, altering your thoughts, emotions and behaviors in ways you don't even realize. Inside this handbook, you'll discover: • Why the same struggles keep repeating—and how you can break free • The real reason behind stress, unreasonable fears, and negative emotions • A clear step-by-step method to clear your mind and unlock your true potential This is not theory—it's a practical, one-on-one journey into your reactive mind and how you can get rid of it. You don't have to wait for change-you can start today. **Discover the Power of Your Mind** Join us for a relaxed, interactive **Dianetics Meetup**, where it's your chance to explore the groundbreaking discoveries in *Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health* and have all your questions answered. Come with your curiosity—leave with insight. Ask for Michel, Pam or Donovan. If the time and date do not suit you personally, you may reschedule, SMS Pam on: 0405 648 822 https://www.dianetics.org/about/films/what-is-dianetics.html

**\* CLOSED - NO CLASSES** **THE BENTLEIGH CUBAN SALSA** **& BACHATA DANCE CLASSES** are currently **CLOSED** for the **CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR BREAK** **\* THE 2026 BENTLEIGH CUBAN SALSA & BACHATA CLASSES** **start back date will be confirmed in the new year.**

**If you haven't escaped to the coast, let’s get together @ Transport Bar with Andrew De Silva for great music, good vibes and fun times all round!** Bring a friend, meet new people, and let the good times roll 💃🏽🎉🍸🕺🏻. Late night Happy Hour and more live music kicks in at 9pm if you fancy extending your Saturday night fun. We'll have a reserved area under Andy in the 'Glasshouse' area on the Swanston St side where the band is. See you there 😊

**walk & meet new people @Albert Park Lake** \- social walking \- dogs welcome \- prams welcome \- for ages 18 and over how it works: We will do 1 lap around Albert Park Lake (4.8 km) where - meet at pin on Meetup map @Palms Lawn, Albert Park Lake - coordinates 37.84198S, 144.96466E \>\[note: searching **37.84198S, 144.96466E** in your maps app will show the exact meetup location] who is it for - anyone 18 years old and over **cost: FREE** \- rain: this walk will continue in the event of rain\, unless conditions are deemed unsafe Got a question? contact **0431 833 624**

Welcome to Thornbury, where Thornbury meets Northcote. Why not join us on a summers night and enjoy a drink and company, not to mention some food. Situated on High street, it's a bit of an icon to the area. With a good selection of beers and food trucks to choose from, it should be a great summers night. And don't forget to check out our Facebook page. https://m.facebook.com/pages/category/Community/Northside-Explorers-113121036867952/?__nodl&refsrc=https%3A%2F%2Fm.facebook.com%2Ffbrdr%2F274%2F113121036867952%2F&_rdr

**🚲 Eat Drink Dance Melbourne – Summer Social Cycle!** Saturday 3 January • 10.30 AM – approx. 2:00 PM Please be at the Ferris wheel at 10.15 AM. We will leave by 10.30 AM **Meet & finish at:** Love Café, South Wharf (next to the Skyline Ferris Wheel & Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre) Ready to roll into the new year with sunshine, good company, and Melbourne’s most iconic cycling loop? Join us for a 30 km social ride around the Capital City Trail—fun, flirty, relaxed, and absolutely not a race. Think of it as a moving summer hangout with wheels. **_### If you are considering coming on this event please ensure you read the group rules at the end_ ###** **🌞 What to Expect** - A chilled 3‑hour ride with rest breaks every 30–45 minutes - A friendly pace where conversation is encouraged and Lycra‑hero energy is optional - Plenty of time to snack, hydrate, laugh, and enjoy the long‑overdue warm weather (…it’s Melbourne, so fingers crossed) - A big scenic loop through the inner suburbs, leafy **riverside paths, and long stretches** along the Yarra - A gorgeous skyline moment on the return leg—one of the best views in the city **🚴 No Bike? No Problem** You can hire one just across the river at Blue Tongue Bikes in Batman Park. Easy. Feel free to bring an electric bike if you're lazy! ****🚲** What to bring****** Bike, water, bike lock, helmet, fun and smiley 👀 😉 **❤️ Start & Finish** We’ll meet at Love Café—because where better to kick off a flirty summer ride than a place literally called Love? After the loop, we’ll roll right back there to unwind, cool down, and enjoy a well‑earned drink together. **🎉 Vibe Check** This is relaxed exercise, not a time‑trial. It’s about sunshine, connection, movement, and a little playful summer energy. Come for the ride, stay for the people. **Group Rules and Event Etiquette** **Fitness Requirements**: This should be a moderate level of difficulty for most riders. Please ensure you can walk between 3 and 4km/hr and 200m vertically in an hour. If riding a consistent pace of around 10 to 15km/hr is great. We usually walk or ride at a relaxed pace but people have time constraints and it's not fair for people in the group to wait around for extended periods for you to catch up. Please go on easier events with the group if you are unsure. **People who walk/ride very fast and prefer being by themselves** This is a group activity and I can't manage the group if it splits up, please consider going by yourself or joining a faster group. **If people have time constraints** Best to give yourself some wiggle room, Things rarely go to time due to various factors especially in big groups. If you have very specific time goals and constraints it's best not to come. **+++VERY IMPORTANT+++** **People who do a No - Show**. This is unfortunately too common for the small group events, especially when we have people in a wait list wanting to come on the event. Remove yourself from the going list 24 hours before the event starts to give people on the waitlist an opportunity. **If you do a No Show you will be removed and blocked from the group**. If you remove yourself from the event an hour or two before the event you may also be blocked and removed from the group as this gives very little time and opportunity for people on the waitlist to prepare and is inherently unfair to people on the waitlist. Please communicate with me if you do not want to be blocked and removed from the group. **People who turn up without registering** This is a major security concern, **DO NOT DO THIS**.You will be asked to leave the event unless you have made arrangements with me **PRIOR** to the event. **People who are late** You will be left behind and or removed and blocked from the group as a No-Show. It is your responsibility to communicate with the organiser if you think you will be late, otherwise you will be blocked and removed from the group. It is up to you to catch up and or attempt to communicate with me.

⚠️ **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.

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!

# **Band: The Pegheads; Caller: Liz Burkhart** 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.

Happy New Year Colleagues, The next Columbus Futurists public forum will be **Thursday January 15 at 12:00 pm noon** (eastern) [https://osu.zoom.us/j/93451873651?pwd=RXIyZ2t5RjRqRG02UGQ1aEFVQ1NFZz09](https://osu.zoom.us/j/93451873651?pwd=RXIyZ2t5RjRqRG02UGQ1aEFVQ1NFZz09) Please come prepared to offer your **"What if?" questions for 2026**. (I will offer seven to begin our conversation.) I also would like to announce the publication of my latest book: *[Anticipatory Biographies: Personal Histories of the Future](https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-032-08912-0)*, the tenth volume in the “Anticipation Science” series. Grounded in design fiction, futures research, anticipation science, and scenario writing, *Anticipatory Biographies* envisions how the world will be reshaped by artificial intelligence, technological automation, climate change, political disintegration, and the decline of higher education. This work of creative non-fiction bridges literary and scholarly forms, blending biography and design fiction with research-based insights to offer a narrative-based method for exploring futures. Ed Finn, Director of the Center for Science and the Imagination at Arizona State University says: “In this book **David Staley has invented a delightful new genre: the future biography.** He invites us to step into gritty, thrilling, and inspiring futures elbow-to-elbow with the characters living those stories. *Anticipatory Biographies* beautifully synthesizes Staley’s training as a historian, his expertise as a futurist, and his desire to ignite the imagination of his readers.” Hope you'll be able to read it, and hope to see you all on the 15th. D. David J. Staley, Ph.D. President, Columbus Futurists 614.316.1348 [columbus.futurists@gmail.com](mailto:columbus.futurists@gmail.com) [http://columbusfuturists.org](http://columbusfuturists.org/) [https://davidjstaley.substack.com/](https://davidjstaley.substack.com/) 

NFT's are here to stay folks! This is a group for like minded people interested in understanding, leveraging, using, creating for, profiting from, trading too i suppose, NFT's.. everything around them, complexity, fear and exploits, best practices and more. **PLUS** This group will talk AI ART tools, techniques, artists, video, audio, prototypes and more in the AI assisted production space- ART specifically, but we can get into any aspect of some of the cooler things happening in AI in general.

Early-bird coffee and conversation at [Java Central Café and Roaster](https://javacentral.coffee/)**!**