Open Mic

Practice and improve your English through conversation at St. Andrew Centre (73 Simcoe St, downtown Toronto), while making new friends! \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- How to Get to the Event: By TTC, exit at St. Andrew Station. Walk west on King St. West to Simcoe St. Do not enter through the church building; the large church front doors will be closed. At the corner of Simcoe St. and King St. West, turn south and walk on Simcoe St. Enter through St. Andrew Centre, which will be behind the church building.

This is a ticketed event. Please register at [this link](https://luma.com/hpn010ze). ​In this talk, [Kristy Loke](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristy-loke/) (MATS research fellow) will discuss: 1\. How did China come to lead in open\-weight LLMs? 2\. How are various jurisdictions’ \(such as the EU and the US’s\) interest in open\-weight models changing? 3\. What technical and global governance actions ought to be taken if we want to make sure the open\-weight AI space continues to thrive? ​**Event Schedule** 6:00 to 6:30 - Food and introductions 6:30 to 7:30 - Presentation and Q&A 7:30 to 9:00 - Open Discussions ​​​If you can't attend in person, join our live stream starting at 6:30 pm via [this link](https://www.youtube.com/@Trajectory-Labs/live).

Do you want to improve your Public Speaking skills, your Impromptu Speaking skills, learn how to present Feedback with Evaluations, and build your Leadership skills? If the answer is YES to any, attend SUN LIFE SPEAKERS CORNER online for an informative and fun filled session each Tuesday at Noon EST/EDT (except following a Holiday Monday). Guests/Visitors are welcome to participate in the Table Topics (impromptu) session. Join and become a Member to have access to all roles and Pathways, the education system. Please email info.sunlifespeakerscorner@gmail.com for the Zoom link.

Toronto Lodge invites you to join us for: 7:00 pm Council of Solace 7:30 pm Open Meeting **-** Topic "The Radiant Dawn" by Bill Anderson. *Rosicrucian Beacon*, June 2024 Both of these events are open to the public. Members are asked to please bring current membership credentials. Location: 7:00 pm Council of Solace - Toronto Lodge, 831 Broadview Avenue, Toronto, ON 7:30 pm Open Meeting, Rosicrucian Cultural Centre, 835 Broadview Avenue, Toronto, ON

Visit our Royal Lunch'n'Learn Toastmasters Hybrid meeting, meet people and develop your communication and leadership skills. At today's meeting we will be discussing how you can "Go for Gold", embrace excellence, peak performance, and personal bests, and thereby contribute to improving your life and the lives of others. This is a HYBRID event and so you can choose to join us in person, or online. We would like to encourage you to join us at noon! Reach out to us to receive the WebEx link or to reserve your seat. **What to expect:** Find out first-hand what it means to participate in a club meeting. * Watch as one of our members delivers a Prepared Speech. * Learn and practice how to think fast on your feet with an impromptu Table Topics session. * Witness how to give and receive constructive feedback to help encourage and build confidence with our members. Practice the skills you need to communicate with confidence and excellence. Experience a club meeting with Royal Lunch'n'Learn Toastmasters. It all starts with a fun club environment where you will learn and practice together—to grow individually. Contact us today. We hold Hybrid meetings on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month (check for variations in our schedule) so you have the option of in person or online. Our hybrid meetings are at RBC Wellington Square Conference Centre - 180 Wellington St West on the second floor. Plus, all our meetings are online which is super accessible! Guests are **free** to join us for their first three regular meetings - **contact us** to schedule your visit or ask us anything! contact-3648173@toastmastersclubs.org

\*These classes are not a language exchange, but instead are meant to be a step in between so that students feel confident maintaining in depth and grammatically correct oral conversations outside of class\* \***Meetup event numbers only tend to show new students registering and do not include returning students attending class.** **Per class, there is an average of 7 students.** The first 2 classes are free and then only cost between $15 and $35 depending on which type of class you want to continue with\* These French, English (For Spanish and French speakers only), and Spanish classes are primarily meant for adults who are travellers, or who are planning to live in a French, English, or Spanish-speaking country. The classes are primarily oral-based through guided conversations. They will teach you how to handle conversations in situations such as **"Going to the Convenience Store"**, **"Making Plans"**, **"Negotiating Prices"**, and **"Going out for a Drink"**. To ensure that students get used to using the language automatically, students will learn to maintain contextual conversations with timing before moving on to the next lesson. Call (647)787-9953, e-mail us info@monkeylingo.ca, or visit monkeylingo.ca for more information! **Online and private classes are also available!** No other language classes are as conversational as these ones. We guarantee it! Cheap parking can be found using the "Spot Hero" app.

\*These classes are not a language exchange, but instead are meant to be a step in between so that students feel confident maintaining in depth and grammatically correct oral conversations outside of class\* \***Meetup event numbers only tend to show new students registering and do not include returning students attending class.** **Per class, there is an average of 7 students.** The first 2 classes are free and then only cost between $15 and $35 depending on which type of class you want to continue with\* These French, English (For Spanish and French speakers only), and Spanish classes are primarily meant for adults who are travellers, or who are planning to live in a French, English, or Spanish-speaking country. The classes are primarily oral-based through guided conversations. They will teach you how to handle conversations in situations such as **"Going to the Convenience Store"**, **"Making Plans"**, **"Negotiating Prices"**, and **"Going out for a Drink"**. To ensure that students get used to using the language automatically, students will learn to maintain contextual conversations with timing before moving on to the next lesson. Call (647)787-9953, e-mail us info@monkeylingo.ca, or visit monkeylingo.ca for more information! **Online and private classes are also available!** No other language classes are as conversational as these ones. We guarantee it! Cheap parking can be found using the "Spot Hero" app.

**🎭 YOUR THURSDAY NIGHT OUT** Looking for a fun night out? A date night? Perfect post-work escape with friends? Join us for live comedy every Thursday at Desi Hakka Affairs. Enjoy fresh, emerging talent in an intimate setting with great food, drinks, and specials. No cover charge—just laughs and good vibes. **📍 LOCATION & SPECIALS** Desi Hakka Affairs, 3415 Dixie Rd Unit 4A, Mississauga, ON L4Y 2B1. Free parking. Enjoy drink and appetizer specials all night long while you laugh. **🎤 COMEDY & POETRY SHOWCASE** Love comedy? Love poetry? We feature local comedians AND poets. Want to perform? Spots are limited—sign up online at: [https://forms.gle/pgmJXhNom3XRESce6](https://forms.gle/pgmJXhNom3XRESce6 "https://forms.gle/pgmJXhNom3XRESce6") (required for performers—no walk-up additions). Spectators just need a ticket!

Do you ever find yourself looking for more from your relationships? Or finding that relating with others is challenging, and wish you could have help? This event may be for you. We’re having an afternoon of organized discussion about what it means to be human and to relate with others, followed by some connection exercises to practice skills and techniques. The discussion salon will include opportunities to share feelings in groups of different sizes. It’s a chance to feel heard and connected, and to practice openness and compassion and empathy. The connection exercises, following the discussion, will provide an opportunity to learn and practice skills that are helpful for open relating. These exercises may include opportunities for gentle, non-sexual touch and may tenderly touch on challenging edges for some people. Participants are always at choice, including choosing to observe the exercise or leave this part of the program. After the salon there will be a small casual gathering with snacks and a chance to connect informally.

Don't be disappointed if you don't see a bunch of people attending. I advertise this on multiple platforms and the class usually sells out. Improv comedy uses several techniques to create laughter. These include, creating an atmosphere free of judgement, saying 'yes', active listening, being positive, putting your focus on others, and the importance of play and laughter. Not coincidentally, these are the same things that happen to us naturally when we are bonding with another person. In this class, we'll explore these techniques not with the goal of being funny, but with the goal of being people that other people want to be around. The organizer, Ralph MacLeod, is a co-founder of two independent improv clubs in Toronto - Bad Dog Theatre and Social Capital Theatre. He's been teaching improv for over 30 years. He also teaches these same techniques to several organizations including UofT, Google, Kraft, Shopify and many, many more. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have! FAQs and Good To Know.... After every event, a group from this class sit down and have a drink together so be prepared to stay if you want! Of course, you don't HAVE to. You also don't have to be single or bring a friend. The vibe of this class is much more 'making new friends' than a 'singles' mixer'. We usually run to 8:15 so pay for extra parking!

Hello everyone, Please join us for our a great afternoon with **IMPROV and ACTING in the PUB.** \*Joined by my other groups too; so we can anticipate a great afternoon \*\*Stick around after as well for our weekly traditional Sunday Dinner Party-no extra charge- others will be joining us to for dinner (optional) Event details below: Sincerely Steve Flemming (Organizer/Host) Event Details: **IMPROV and ACTING in the PUB (with Optional Dinner Party After)** This is a well organized event filled with Improv games, skits and of course lots of hilarious scenes that we will create. -A fun afternoon for all Improv enthusiasts and newbies of Improv! \*No experience required; just an open mind and a desire to meet some wonderful people, laugh and have fun! \*Joined by my other groups too so we can anticipate a fabulous turn out \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **Event Fee:** 10 dollars (Cash only) (HST is included) or e transfer in advance to [[steveflemming11@gmail.com](http://steveflemming11@gmail.com)] \*Includes Dinner Party after at no extra charge :) \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **Friendly Reminders:** **Date:** **Sunday, March 15th** **Arrival Time:** Arrive between 4:00 pm and 4:30 pm **Where to Meet us?** **Location: La Carnita - Good Fortune Bar (Main Floor)** **Address:** 130 Eglinton Ave. Toronto, ON M4P 2X9 \-\-\-\-\- **Parking Available:** \***Plenty of free street parking on Eglinton** and (Residential area south/east of venue for free) **Close to Subway Station:** \*Also just a three minute walk east from the Yonge/Eglinton subway station

**Ideas Worth Saying Out Loud — Practice Session** Do you get nervous before speaking in meetings, presentations, or on stage? You’re not alone — and you don’t have to let fear hold you back. In this session, our gentle focus is: **Feeling Less Nervous on Stage**. Using **improv-inspired exercises** and small group activities, we’ll explore ways to: * Reduce stage anxiety and nervous energy * Speak with more confidence and presence * Express your ideas clearly, even when you feel nervous * Practice breathing, pausing, and grounding yourself before speaking No experience with public speaking or improv is needed. You can participate at your own pace and speak as much or as little as you want. This is a **safe, low-pressure environment** designed to help you feel calmer, more present, and more yourself on stage. **Come join us, practice speaking out loud, and take the first step toward speaking with confidence.**

Eventbrite Link: **[https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/769789610447?aff=oddtdtcreator](https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/769789610447?aff=oddtdtcreator)** **Saturday night sizzles with top-tier laughs! Join us at 10PM for Toronto's premier stand-up comedy showcase. An unforgettable weekend awaits** Elevate your Saturday nights with Toronto's comedy elite! Join us at 10 PM for a captivating showcase at Backroom Comedy Club. Experience an evening of top-tier stand-up, laughter, and unforgettable moments. Reserve your seat now for the ultimate weekend entertainment!

Eventbrite Link: **[https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/769805277307?aff=oddtdtcreator](https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/769805277307?aff=oddtdtcreator)** **Laugh out loud every Thursday at 10 PM! Dynamic duo comedy at Backroom. Toronto's best stand-up. Hilarious night out!** Embark on a laughter-filled journey every Thursday at 10 PM with Toronto's premier Dynamic Duo Comedy Showcase at Backroom Comedy Club. Immerse yourself in the wit of local stand-up talent, promising a hilariously unforgettable night out. Join the laughter movement and experience comedy excellence at its best. Secure your seat now!

Whether you've never done improv before, or you've done it for so long you knew Del Close on a personal level, or anywhere in between, come join us! Swing by *Gresso's* for the **Columbus Improv Comedy Meetup** for some fun and games! The idea behind improv is to create entire scenes from scratch based on a suggestion from the audience. This can be done in game form, like *Whose Line Is It Anyway*, *ComedySportz*, or *Wild 'n Out*; it could also be done to tell stories, like *Middleditch and Schwartz*. Our meetup, which is central Ohio's longest running (and free!) weekly comedy event, brings the games (and occasionally different forms) for you to play in a safe, supportive, and compassionate environment. Not only is it a lot of fun, but you get to work on thinking faster on your feet, plus it's an excellent way to meet new people and make friendships that'll last a lifetime! Ask yourself if you want to join the **Columbus Improv Comedy Meetup**, and say "Yes, And" that you'll have fun!

The topic for March is "Our Bodies, Ourselves" Speak Easy: true stories, told live. The idea is simple: an audience, an open microphone, and great stories. Hilarious, gripping, poignant- it's up to you. Audiences are invited to come to listen or come to tell as folks from all corners of Columbus offer their stories live on stage! Held at Wild Goose Creative's warm, intimate space, this night of tales occurs on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Doors open at 6:30 pm, show starts at 7:00 pm. Please arrive early if you want to tell, as we generally only have room for a limited number of tellers, and the sign-up sheet has a tendency to fill up fast. Formed around the idea that people need stories--they're what hold and draw us together--SpeakEasy celebrates the strangeness and commonness of being human. And in a world of smartphones, Facebook, Twitter, and more . . . it gives people a real, breathing, in-person way to connect. The night is geared for true stories of all kinds, taking the best tales told around kitchen tables, in darkened pubs, on the street corner, and at late-night parties and giving them an audience. Speak Easy is also a great outlet for performers, writers, and artists looking to share their favorite stories and perfect their skills. We strongly encourage tellers to please tell the story rather than read it so we keep within the spirit of good storytelling and stay engaged with the audience. All are welcome. Hang around after the show for a drink and build community!

Welcome to the first Let's Create. You will receive supplies to create one or more cards (but not the one pictured .. not this month anyway). These events are usually held at Day's Paper Palace (my home). However, this is a placeholder for the event and it may be moved to the Grove City Library. If you are new, you will not need to bring supplies. They will be provided.

We'll meet at The Capital One Café, 167 Easton Town Center, Space A-103. This is in the main mall where the Microsoft store used to be, on your left if you're standing at the bottom of the AMC Theater escalator. Join us on Sunday for an hour of uninterrupted wordmaking! • What we'll do Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at noon on Sundays. Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done. SCHEDULE: 12:00 - quick intros. 12:10 - timer starts: write for 1 hour. 1:10 - chat / take off / keep writing. OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING happens at 1-1:30ish. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing. BEING LATE IS OKAY: just show up and get settled, then check-in with me after the session. If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing and I look forward to seeing you! • What to bring Whatever you need to be able to write! Bring earbuds/earplugs if you want to block noise or the occasional conversation by other patrons. Electrical outlets are limited, so charge your devices before whenever possible. See you at The Café on Sunday!

Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at 7:00pm on Wednesday, March 25 at Streetlight Guild. Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done. **SCHEDULE:** 6:45ish - Quick introductions 7:00 - Timer starts: write for 1 hour 8:00 - The End **OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING** happens before and after the writing hour. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing. **BEING LATE IS OKAY:** just show up and get settled! If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing & I look forward to seeing you at Streetlight Guild! **WHAT SHOULD I BRING?** Whatever you need to be able to write! You're welcome to bring earplugs/headphones if noise will bother you! **OTHER IMPORTANT DETAILS:** * **RSVP:** Please RSVP by 6:00pm the evening of the meeting. This helps me know how many to expect, and if we'll need additional space! * **COVID:** While masks are not required, please be mindful of the other writers around you and their comfort levels. * **WIFI/OUTLETS:** Outlets are limited, so please ensure your devices are charged when you come! But Streetlight Guild does have free WiFi! Yay! * **PARKING:** There is free public parking at Streetlight Guild.

We'll meet at The Capital One Café, 167 Easton Town Center, Space A-103. This is in the main mall where the Microsoft store used to be, on your left if you're standing at the bottom of the AMC Theater escalator. Join us on Saturday for an hour of uninterrupted wordmaking! • What we'll do Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at 10AM on Saturday mornings. Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done. SCHEDULE: 10:00 - SESSION 1: quick intros. 10:10 - timer starts: write for 1 hour. 11:10 - chat / take off / keep writing. OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING happens at 11A-11:30ish. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing. BEING LATE IS OKAY: just show up and get settled, then check-in with me after the session. (I’ll be the person with the Shut Up & Write! sign.) If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing and I look forward to seeing you! • What to bring Whatever you need to be able to write! Bring earbuds/earplugs if you want to block noise or the occasional conversation by other patrons. Electrical outlets are limited, so charge your devices before whenever possible. See you at The Café on Saturday!