Open Mic

***Vibe out with your tribe, out. (No coding experience required or expected!)*** Join us for **Vibe Code & Chill: October Edition** on Sunday, October 5th, 2025. This isn’t your average meetup: no stuffy panels, no boring lectures. We’re here to vibe, imbibe, and make progress on our *projects-de-jour*: from AI experiments to Web3 hacks, AR side projects, or just messing around with next-gen tools. ***New to the crew?*** Expect a warm welcome and friendly face to greet you before introducing you around and helping you find your people. We keep it friendly, fun, and inclusive and with free snacks and drinks, you’re covered. Bring your laptop and your best coding mojo. **What to expect:** * **Chill coding & collaboration:** Bring your laptop and your current coding project. Find a spot in our comfortable booths or at tables with fellow coders. This is a space for hands-on work, casual discussions on the latest gizmos, and helping each other out. * **Free refreshments:** Stay fueled and hydrated with non-alcoholic drinks and a selection of snacks provided by the club. The pub has a great range of meals and drinks if you're looking for something more. * **Headphone-free zone (official hours):** You can code in your own world at home! We have a no-headphone policy for the first hour of the meetup. * **Flexible timing:** You're welcome to arrive early and get started before the official event kicks off at 2PM. and you're welcome to stay and vibe on as long as you like. No sweat if you can't stay the whole time, just pop in and join the fun for as long as you can! Come ready to laugh, learn, and grow with a community that's excited by design, tech, and innovation. This is your chance to make new friends, share ideas, and be inspired by fellow driven and generous minds.

Come join in and watch this anniversary screening of a classic 90s SciFi! Meet at the cinema 8.15pm for 8.30pm kick off

Join us at Aspendale Gardens Community Centre for a FREE fun-filled Walking Football Mixed Gender Session, brought to you by Walking Football 4 Health Victoria. This event is designed for anyone looking for a low impact sport to stay active, be part of a welcoming community, and most importantly have fun. Our friendly hosts, Ivy (0423858705) and Rudi will be there to introduce you to walking football, ensuring a safe and engaging experience. Don't miss out on this opportunity to engage in sports, socialise, and promote a healthy lifestyle in a welcoming community environment. Enjoy your first four sessions on us — absolutely free! After that, it's just $5 per session. Sign up now and be a part of this exciting Walking Football Session. If you wish to contact the organiser, Mick directly, you can do so on: 0430 163 550 Email: [info@wf4hvictoria.org.au](mailto:info@wf4hvictoria.org.au) Website: wf4hvictoria.org.au Facebook Community: [https://www.facebook.com/groups/wf4healthvictoria/](https://www.facebook.com/groups/wf4healthvictoria/)

The theme for this week is “*The Courage to Say Hello*.” This week, we’ll have **fun** trying out **simple ways** to **start conversations**, break the ice, and take small social risks that can lead to **real connection**. Through **activities and conversation** prompts, you’ll get to meet others, **share stories**, and see how a tiny moment of **courage** can open the door to something **meaningful**. There’s **no right or wrong** \- just a **relaxed space** to **chat, laugh,** and **connect**. Bring a **pen** and your **journal**, and get ready to meet new people and maybe make a friend or two. We’d love to have you there! Meeting point: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/U3oaqAs5gAoz5EKV6](https://maps.app.goo.gl/U3oaqAs5gAoz5EKV6)

After some great discussions using these cards, we just had to continue! "It isn't easy to get into a good conversation. Many of our best ones seem to have happened by chance. Far from it - we believe a great conversation always starts with someone asking a great question.” The School of Life's "Philosophical Questions For Curious Minds" cards contain questions designed to get a group of people into entertaining and meaningful conversations. This is a casual, social and fun event where we share our thoughts and experiences with a group. **Topics covered**: * Is there a God * What is the meaning of life? * What is real? * What is a society? Questions vary depending on the day and the table, based on the cards chosen by the audience. Please arrive hungry and thirsty so we can maintain a good relationship with the venue and continue hosting our events. \*\*\* Meaningful Discussions events take place in 11 countries and this will be our 151st event in Melbourne! :) Please be try to arrive on time if you can. This event will allow a thoughtful, respectful and engaging discussion. So if you're looking for open-minded, friendly and intelligent people, you've come to the right place!

Ready to add some rhythm to your week? Join us for a **FREE Salsa class** right in the heart of Melbourne! No partner or experience needed — just bring your energy, and we’ll handle the rest. You’ll learn the basic steps, meet amazing people, and have a ton of fun while moving to Latin beats. ✨ **What to expect:** * Easy, step-by-step instruction — perfect for first-timers * A fun and welcoming community * Great music, great vibes, and maybe a new obsession! 📍 **Location:** 600 Little Collins St, Melbourne CBD (The Salsa Foundation Studio) 🕕 **When:** Multiple sessions weekly — book your spot now! 🎟️ **Cost:** 100% Free — bookings are essential due to limited space

Let’s do some floral sketching at The Conservatory! 🌺✏️✨ What to bring checklist 📋 - Your sketchook or tablet - Any drawing/painting materials At the end of the event I will take a photo of all our artworks together 📸 ✏️ We welcome all artists of any skill level or medium, Whether you’re a beginner or pro, traditional or digital, absolutely anyone can join ⚠️IMPORTANT⚠️ Please do not attend if you are sick. Keep everyone safe by staying home if you are unwell —————————————————— Check out our instagram @shypeoplesdrawingclub to see more about our awesome group. We also have a Discord group for online events if you would like to join and chat with more artists. ✨

Please join us this Sunday as we discuss how to live the good life. Ilya will be leading this session. **We will meet at the Queensberry Hotel, 593 Swanston Street, Carlton (100m north of previous location) at 2pm for a 2:15pm start sharp.** **We kindly ask attendees to pay $5 to attend to help with MeetUp costs & venue costs. This is not mandatory, but if you are a regular member it would be appreciated. Any extra moneys will go towards buying food and drinks for the table. The venue also expects us to spend money as a group, so grateful if everyone could buy a drink from the venue.** There is no pre-requisite preparation necessary, nor a philosophical background, all that is required is a curious mind. These discussions are both a Socrates Cafe style discussion and lively metaphysical dojo, in the spirit of learning and friendly debate, so please feel free to challenge assumptions and be prepared to have your own assumptions challenged. Find below some questions to consider, however these are free-ranging events and the below serve as a springboard for the discussion: **Happiness: a trap?** 1\. Is being happy the same thing as having a Good Life? 2\. If you could be plugged into a "happiness machine" that gave you nothing but blissful experiences, would you do it? 3\. Is happiness the right goal\, or a side effect of living well? 4\. Can a Good Life include significant amounts of suffering\, if that suffering is meaningful? **Meaning and purpose** 5\. Can a life be good if it is lived pursuing whatever we want in the moment, without a long-term goal or overarching personal narrative? 6\. What makes a given pursuit ‘purposeful’? 7\. Does the fact that we die make life more or less meaningful? 8\. Is the meaning of life to give life meaning? **Being authentic and agentic** 9\. How much of our life and identity is a performance for others and society? Does this inhibit living the Good Life? 10\. Is it important to feel in control of our lives and exercising a high degree of personal agency, rather than following some kind of social script? 11\. Would you feel most fulfilled if you were able to live in a way that is ‘true to yourself’ (without high regard for the expectations of others)? **Keepin’ busy** 12\. Should a Good Life be easy? 13\. Could pure leisure \(no work\, no struggle\) comprise a Good Life? 14\. Does "meaningful" activity have to be productive\, or can hobbies and pursuing individual interests be at the centre of a Good Life? 15\. Are some kinds of leisure inherently more conducive to the Good Life than others (eg. watching Netflix vs reading Dostoevsky) **What about other people?** 16\. Are certain kinds of relationships a mandatory ingredient for a Good Life? 17\. Does having children provide a path to fulfilment and meaning? 18\. Does performing some kind of sacrifice \(time\, effort\, money etc\.\) for the benefit of the community or future generations help us feel that we are living the Good Life? Hope to see you there!

Our favourite day of the year is almost here - and in honour of a day that's all about celebrating women's achievements, we're bringing you our biggest event yet. A mixture of social and inspiring, this is an event in three parts that combines all our favourite parts of Girls Who Boss. **Here's the agenda:** 2pm - Arrival 2.30pm - Fireside chat with three women who inspire 3.15pm - Activities, including the trivia and board games you've loved this year 4pm - General mingling, friend-making and networking *About the fun, social side* As with all our events, our focus is still on allowing new friendships to develop, and we'll be running some of our signature activities to help you meet new people. We're bringing along board games, icebreakers, trivia and more to help you move around the room with confidence and make new friends. *About the fireside chat* Our fireside chat is themed "Women Who Inspire", and you'll hear from the following women. **Kathy - Thankly** Kathy is the Re-Founder and Creative Director of Thankly, a Melbourne-based online card and gifting business making gratitude simple, personal, and part of everyday life through handwritten-style cards and thoughtful curated gifts. After 13 years in management consulting and advisory across Deloitte, Accenture, and Microsoft, Kathy stepped away from large-scale transformation and change to question what success, impact, and connection really mean. In 2023, she took a career break to reimagine what truly matters and re-launched Thankly as a part-time, purpose-led venture alongside a co-partner, focused on making “thank you” feel human and easy again. Shaped by personal loss and loneliness, Kathy lost both parents by the age of 21 – experiences that deeply inform her mission. In a country where 1 in 3 Australians report feeling lonely, she believes gratitude can be a powerful bridge back to belonging. At the start of 2025, Kathy became the sole owner of Thankly and stepped into founder life full-time, committing fully to re-imaginig a scalable and sustainable, purpose-led brand founded on gratitude and real human connection in the modern world. **Zoe - Owner and Organiser of Girls Who Boss** Zoe's career has spanned more than a decade of charity work (alongside international diplomats and on her own projects), study in five countries, advocacy for safer cities for women, an ongoing career as a lawyer and community building through Girls Who Boss. You'll likely have met her at one of our events - read more about what this event means to her [here](https://open.substack.com/pub/girlswhoboss/p/why-international-womens-day-2026?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=4apm4h). **Julianne Valles - Identity and Decision Authority Coach** Having rebuilt her identity and life from scratch multiple times - across different countries, career pivots, and seasons - Julianne understands the grit required to choose yourself when there are no guaranteed outcomes. She helps women break free from the "work-hard" trap and stop waiting for the "perfect moment" to act by tapping into **unapologetic self-trust.** By anchoring into their own authority, her clients move from paralyzing overthinking into a life defined by purpose and freedom of mind. Julianne works with women who are ready to stop seeking permission and start owning their power, creating a reality that is as bold as their ambitions - no matter their circumstances. Through a facilitated discussion, we'll learn about twists and turns in each panellists journey and take inspiration from how they went about building lives they love. *Come solo, or bring a friend* Guests are welcome at this event - but as with all of our events, friend-making remains central and you are more than encouraged to come alone and meet some new incredible people. *Who is this event for?* In short, this event is for anyone looking for inspiration and to grow in themselves - whether that's in business, career or just life generally. There is no "one size fits all" description of our members and we look forward to the diversity in the room at this event.

**We’re back! 🚀** If you’re reading this, chances are you’re not just after small talk and swipes. We’re not products on a dating app. There are no algorithms here, just proper hellos and a bit of good old-fashioned eye contact. After some remodification, Slow Dating 2.0 is back after several requests! Thank you for your patience and support. It means a lot to us! 💞 If you never heard of us, no worries! We welcome new people and souls! 🐢 ### **Introducing our venue partner: Paradise Alley** This time, we’re hosting Slow Dating inside one of Collingwood most charming local spots. Soft lighting, a relaxed pub-bar atmosphere, and just the right amount of buzz — the bar creates a space where genuine conversations can breathe and chemistry has room to grow. ### **So how does it work?** At slow dating events, you will have **more time AND multiple chances** to build some more connections with the ones you are interested in. **🍹 You can claim your welcome drink when you arrive.** **🗣 One-on-one rotations** to spark conversations with your handpicked matches. 🎴 **Conversation cards are provided if you need.** **🤙Private matching system**—no awkward rejections on the spot :) You will be notified of your matches afterwards. At **Slow Dating**, we focus on building **real connections** by 👥 **Keeping it intimate**—a limited number of participants are accepted because we focus on **quality, not quantity.** 🎟️ **The dating may be a bit slow, but tickets sell fast!** **‼️GET YOUR TICKET HERE**👉👉[YOUR TICKET](https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/not-so-speed-dating-age-45-60-sunday-collingwood-registration-1983192113999?aff=oddtdtcreator)👈👈‼️

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!

It's happening again! **WHAT:** Free Improv Drop-in. No experience needed / beginner friendly! (18+ for now; plans for a "kids and parents" drop-in are in the works) **TIME & PLACE:** Sunday 1:30pm - 3pm Delaware Library - 84 E Winter St, Delaware, OH 43015 in the Community Room **WHAT TO BRING:** Punctuality, yourself, a good attitude, and a willingness to have fun and be a bit silly and goofy around others. That's it! **WHAT THIS IS:** A time for fun and exploration. We're going to do improv warm-up exercises and play silly improv games. Think of it as "dipping your toe" into improv comedy. **WHAT THIS IS NOT:** Deep improv training with scene work; a place of judgement or worrying what others think; a place where you're expected to know what you're doing. Please mention in the comments if you're planning on attending or use the "attending/interested" function; it really helps me plan the class depending on the amount of people participating. Feel free to comment / spread the word / message me if you have any questions. Thanks!

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!

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.