Pirates

EVERY FRIDAY! FREE dance classes & social dancing and Reggaeton every week with Obsesión Latina - Salsa & Bachata & OYE Latino at The Albion Rooftop - South Melbourne! Main room: 6:45pm Doors open. Come in for a drink! 7:00pm 2 levels of Salsa classes 8:00pm 2 levels of Bachata classes 9:00pm Non-stop Bachata & Salsa 10:30pm Reggaeton all night! Rooftop: 10:45pm After the Bachata & Salsa in the main room, we can head upstairs to the rooftop for some more Bachata & Salsa until midnight followed by old school Reggaeton hits. FREE entry all night every Friday! Book your class spots to helps us manage the class ratios and also because we may need to start capping numbers as we sometimes have over 140 students! First-timers welcome! No need to bring a partner, but the more the merrier! Dress as if you're going to a bar/club. https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/643132756387?aff=oddtdtcreator https://facebook.com/events/s/free-salsa-bachata-classes-and/774826730817092/

**🌞 Eat, Drink, Dip & Coast — Summer Social Ride along the beach to Point Ormond - 22km Return** A breezy, cheeky, sun‑kissed roll along Melbourne’s waterfront Ready to flirt with summer? We’re taking our wheels, our wit, and our warm‑weather charm on a coastal cruise from the Skyline Ferris Wheel at South Wharf all the way to Point Ormond — with beach dips, café temptations, and plenty of banter stops to keep things loose (especially my muscles, which will absolutely need it). **🚲 Meet & Greet (and maybe a cheeky pre‑ride coffee) 10:15 a.m. — Arrive early** at the Skyline Ferris Wheel, right next to the Love Café by the Exhibition Centre. We'll leave by 10.30 a.m. Grab a snack, sip something energising, and warm up your social muscles. 10:30 a.m. — We roll out. Smooth, slow, and social. **🌊 The Route: Waterfront flirtation** We’ll glide along the cycleway to Beacon Cove, then follow the coastline past Port Melbourne, hugging the bay all the way to St Kilda and finally Point Ormond. It’s about 11 km each way — a breezy 22 km return — and absolutely not a race. Think: leisurely cruising, sunshine, sea breeze, and the occasional “wait, look at that view” pause. 🩱 Swim Optional… but highly encouraged if it’s hot If the day turns steamy, we’re making a splash. Bring towel + bathers if you’re feeling brave, beachy, or both. **☕ Lunch & Swim Stop — Group Choice** We’ll hit the café‑rich stretch around St Kilda for our mystery lunch decision point. The group decides where we land — café, swim, or both. Add an extra hour if we settle in for food or a dip. **🕒 Timing** Expect around 3 hours of rolling and chatting, plus optional extra time for lunch/swim indulgence **💬 Vibe** Light. Flirty. Inclusive. A summer ride with a wink — perfect for loosening up, meeting new people, and letting the coastline do its magic. **👍Requirements** Make sure your bike works and is capable of doing 22km return. Bonus if you can do it as well lol! Bike helmet and Bike Lock **Optional** Consider getting RACV Bike assist insurance. Only $23.50 per year that covers bike repair, or if you need repair and transport and can't finish the ride. Download their Arevo bike navigation app which contains the discount code. Beach towel and bathers (thongs) if an ocean dip is on the cards If you need a bike rental consider [Blue Tongue Bikes](https://bluetonguebikes.com.au/), just across the river at Batman Park, next to King St.

Welcome to Pachanga Nights – Melbourne’s Latin Party Spot! 🎉 If you love Latin music, good vibes, and meeting fun people — this is your group! Pachanga Bar is the heart of Melbourne’s Latin nightlife, bringing together locals and internationals every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday for unforgettable nights of reggaeton, salsa, bachata, and Latin hits. Join us to dance, socialize, and enjoy delicious cocktails, mojitos, and Latin energy in the city center. Whether you come alone or with friends, you’ll always find a warm and friendly community waiting for you. 📍 Location: 95 Queen Street, Melbourne CBD 🎶 Music: Latin, Reggaeton, Salsa, Bachata & Global Beats 🍹 Drinks: Mojitos, Margaritas, Latin Cocktails & Signature Shots 🕺 Events: Weekly parties, themed nights & special celebrations Follow us on Instagram for updates: @pachangaau Come experience the true Latin vibe of Melbourne — every night is a Pachanga! 💃🔥

Join party-people from around the globe and discover Melbourne's best bars, lounges, and clubs including a famous rooftop bar/club with amazing city views, a truly wild "underground" nightclub, and a premiere Melbourne ultra-club featuring top DJ’s from around the world -all with exclusive free VIP entry. Enjoy no entry fees, no queues, free shots and exclusive “pub crawl only” drink deals @ every bar! https://pubcrawlmelb.com.au https://www.eventbrite.com/e/melbourne-cbd-pub-crawl-tickets-45461115420

**Join your local guides on the best pub crawl in Melbourne!** Meet at WAX Music Lounge on 250 Flinders St, and explore the best, most well-known venues with people from all over the world. With **4 free 'welcome shots'** upon entry to each bar followed by exclusive drink deals at each, you'll see just why Melbourne is known as the nightlife capital of Australia! Experience a range of Melbourne's most famous bars & pubs throughout the night, with **free entry** for all, and reduced entry/recommendations at the end of the event to keep your night going strong! Play games, **win prizes** and mingle with locals, travelers & everything in between on the most sought-after event in Melbourne! * **4 FREE SHOTS** * **4 BARS ALL WITH FREE SKIP-THE-LINE ENTRY** * **PLENTY OF GAMES AND PRIZES TO BE WON** * **UNLIMITED MEMORIES & CHANCES TO MAKE FRIENDS IN THE CULTURAL CAPITAL OF AUSTRALIA!** Starting at 5:30PM at WAX Music Lounge on 250 Flinders St, you will receive your skip-the-line wristband, free welcome shot and mingle with other attendees before we introduce our games and prizes to be won throughout the evening. We then mix it up weekly, visiting some of Melbourne's most iconic and well-known bars with your pub crawl crew who have lived and breathed the city for most of their lives. **Make sure to lock in your spot ASAP as tickets often sell out!**

Come Trek to the incredible nerd heaven that is Fortress Melbourne! Eat, drink, and Trek out with us in this incredible venue. This month attendees will get a speciall Christmas door prize!! Amazing pub snacks, full meals and drinks of the alcoholic and non-alcoholic variety are available at the bar at pub prices. Come for all or some of the social event. FINDING US : Easiest way is to enter the Emporium shopping mall from any entrance and head to the basement level. Just walk right in to the tavern side of Fortress (there is no entry fee). We'll be at a table somewhere near the bar! Look for Starfleet uniforms. OPTIONAL : If you can, please make a small donation on the day to help cover the Meetup platform fees!

Please join us this Sunday as we explore the question of the Mental Health Industrial Complex. This session will be moderated by Glenn. We will meet at the **CAPTAIN MELVILLE**, 34 Franklin St in Melbourne CBD, at 2.00pm for 2.15pm start sharp. 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 have your own assumptions challenged! Find below some questions to consider, however these are free-ranging events and the below serve merely as a springboard towards a deeper discussion in waters unknown... Some points and questions to consider before the event: * Are mental health illnesses best understood as diseases, disorders, patterns of behavior, or socially constructed categories? * What distinguishes mental health issues from ordinary psychological distress, grief, or unhappiness? * Is there a meaningful boundary between mental illness and personality, or are we medicalizing temperament? * Are current diagnostic categories discovering natural kinds, or carving up a messy continuum for human convenience? * What would a society that took mental health seriously actually look like—in work, education, and law—and what trade-offs would that require? * In what sense, if any, are people responsible for thoughts or actions that arise from mental illness? * What do we gain, and what do we lose, when we describe a problem in medical rather than moral, social, or political terms? * How confident should we be in claims about prevalence, treatment effectiveness, or rising rates of mental illness, given how these are measured? * What was Thomas Szasz's argument in 'The Myth of Mental Illness?'. * Are identity disorders, such as transgender, mental health issues? * What role does loss of meaning in the world have to do with mental health? Hope to see you there!

Ever wondered how humanity would respond to an asteroid heading for Earth? Or how the world might react to first contact with aliens? Welcome to **The Thought Experiment** — a new kind of meetup where we explore big *“What if…?”* scenarios in a fun but thoughtful way. Each session, we’ll pick one scenario (from global crises to wild sci-fi situations) and work together to imagine solutions, strategies, and possibilities. This is for **curious minds of all kinds** — students, professionals, creatives, or anyone who enjoys thinking differently. Some people might bring research, others just bring imagination. Either way, we’ll brainstorm together and see where the discussion takes us. **We ask everyone to Buy a drink at the venue** **Format:** * Quick intro to the scenario * Small-group discussions * Share back with the group * Wrap up + (optional) post-discussion drinks For our first meetup, we’ll introduce the format, get to know each other, and jump into a scenario together. Keywords: Morality, End of the World, Survival, Debate **Scenario: Judgement Day (ENCORE)** ☢️ The sirens have begun. A nuclear strike has been confirmed. The city will be vaporized in one hour. 🚨 Deep beneath the streets, there’s a single bunker — a relic of the Cold War — sealed, powered, and stocked for a handful of survivors. Only a few can enter before the blast. ⏳ The rest… will face the fire. 🧩 Who gets a place — and who is left behind? Do we save the strongest, the kindest, the most useful… or the most innocent? ⚖️ Every choice has a cost. Every argument, a consequence. 🕯 And along the way… there will be twists.

Join us for our first meeting of 2026, the Seventeenth Page! Theme: novellas. Happy New Year! To start us off for the year, we're taking some of the pressure off. Novellas are typically within the 70 to 160 page range, but I would say as long as it's under 200 pages it qualifies. Feel free to bring along any discussion questions you can think of or theme suggestions. Happy reading :) See you there!

**Sunday Night Meditation Session - I Am Ready.** A gentle start-of-the-year meditation to help you arrive into the year without pressure, expectation, or the need to reinvent yourself. Rather than setting goals or resolutions, this session offers space to settle into your body and begin the year from a place of steadiness, self trust, and quiet clarity. Focusing on readiness, not striving. About recognising that you don’t need to keep working on yourself before you can live this year as yourself. The beginning of a new year doesn’t require a different version of you. It simply meets you where you are. We’ll be lying on the grass beneath the early evening sky in Edinburgh Gardens, allowing nature, breath, and stillness to help the nervous system settle and the body soften as the year gently begins. This session is especially supportive if you’re feeling reflective at the start of the year, tired of self improvement cycles, navigating uncertainty, or sensing that you’re ready to live more honestly and fully without expectations placed on yourself. It’s also a grounding way to orient into the year if you want something calmer and more embodied than the usual “new year” noise. **This session is designed to help you:** • Release pressure and expectations about the year ahead • Settle your nervous system and ground into the present • Let go of striving, fixing, and self correction • Feel steady, supported, and at ease • Step into the year as yourself, without needing to change \*\*\* *“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”* — **Ralph Waldo Emerson** \*\*\* **Session structure:** **We’ll begin with Yoga Nidra, a guided deep rest practice where you simply lie down, get comfortable, and allow your body to soften.** There is nothing to perform or achieve. Remaining still supports the nervous system to drop into deeper rest while I guide awareness gently through the body, helping the mind unwind and the system settle. **From there, we’ll move into a guided visual meditation focused on readiness and self arrival.** Through slow, grounding imagery and gentle hypnotic language, the practice invites a felt sense of stepping into the year as yourself, without expectations, pressure, or the need to become someone new. This part of the session is designed to land by helping the body register trust, presence, and enough-ness rather than effort. No experience is needed. This session is beginner friendly and fully guided from start to finish. **When & Where?** 🗓 Sunday ⏰ 5:00pm - 6:30pm (This is a 1.5 hour Session.) 📍 Edinburgh Gardens, Fitzroy North We’ll set up on the grass near the Rotunda. Look for my yoga mat and the large pink sign that says “Free Guided Meditation.” **Weather Notes.** This is an outdoor session. If the weather turns rainy or unsuitable, I’ll update the event listing beforehand. Please check the Meetup page before heading out. Early evening sessions are often calm and beautiful, but Melbourne weather can always surprise us. **What to bring?** • Yoga mat or something comfortable to lie on. • A light blanket or jumper for the evening air. • Eye covering or small pillow for comfort. • Water. • Comfortable, warm clothing. (If you forget a mat, I’ll have a few spares with me 😊). **Arriving Late.** Arriving a few minutes early helps you settle in and ground before we begin. If you’re running late, please still join, just slip in quietly when you arrive. You won’t disturb the practice 😊 **Everyone is Welcome.** Whether you’re easing into the year, feeling unsure about what’s ahead, or simply wanting a calm and grounding way to begin the months ahead, this space is for you. **\-\-\-\-\-\- Quik** **Update -** This is my last session before I leave for India, I will be back around the end of February and will re-start sessions when I am home. I’ve made an Instagram where I’ll share future meditation updates and things I find grounding. I’ll also post a few moments while I’m in India, if you feel like staying in touch there. **Link : [https://linktr.ee/Captureyourlight**](https://linktr.ee/Captureyourlight**)** **My Meetup Meditation and Yoga Group link - Where I post more regularly:** [https://www.meetup.com/free-mindful-yoga-sessions-melbourne-meetup-group](https://www.meetup.com/free-mindful-yoga-sessions-melbourne-meetup-group) **😊**✨ ------\*\* **I look forward to sharing this session with you 🌿✨** **Kathy.**

Melbourne Flames Dragon Boat Club is your gateway to the exhilarating sport of dragon boating. As one of Australia’s fastest growing water sports, dragon boating is truly unique as men and women of all ages can train and compete together in one crew. We welcome new members regardless of gender or fitness level (minimum age is 12 years). Come along and try dragon boating with one of Australia's top teams for FREE! Simply sign up for a Dragon Pass (1 month free trial) via the link below and follow the instructions sent to your email. You will need to download TeamApp and RSVP there to confirm your spot. [Registration - Melbourne Flames](https://members.melbourneflames.com.au/registration/) We recommend you attend a welcome Sunday session for your first training. After you've learnt the ropes, you can join any of our Tuesday and Thursday on-water sessions or gym workouts on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights. **What to bring to a training session** * Water bottle * Weather appropriate clothes that you don't mind getting wet i.e. hat and thongs in summer, thermals and shoes in winter * Towel and a change of dry clothes * Any friends you think would be interested, get them to register for DragonPass and TeamApp as well! * A sense of adventure and a positive attitude! All equipment, including a lifejacket and paddle, are provided. If you have any questions, please message the page!

Join us as we kick the New Year with a fun Happy Hour and your choice of two fun, new films! Option 1 is the biographical-musical-docu-drama, SONG SUNG BLUE, which stars Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson in the story about a real-life couple and Neil Diamond Tribute Duo. Option 2 is the comedy-action-adventure ACACONDA, which stars Jack Black and Paul Rudd as part of a group of friends remaking a favorite movie from their youth. Here’s a complete description, trailer and our plan for this event: SONG SUNG BLUE: The film follows Lightning and Thunder, a Milwaukee husband and wife Neil Diamond tribute act, who experience success and heartbreak in their musical journey together. Not a tribute to Neil Diamond, but a tribute to a Neil Diamond Tribute Band! The film is based on the 2008 documentary of the same name and is directed by Craig Brewer. It stars Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson, along with Michael Imperioli, Ella Anderson, King Princess, Mustafa Shakir, Hudson Hensley, Fisher Stevens and Jim Belushi. Critics call the film, “a crowd-pleaser with a ton of heart!” TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCM0Ztp3o1o ANACONDA: In this action-thriller-comedy-adventure, a group of friends going through a mid-life crisis head to the jungle to remake a favorite movie from their youth but encounter “unexpected events.” The film is directed by Tom Gormican and stars Jack Black, Paul Rudd, Selton Mello, Daniela Melchior, Thandiwe Newton and Steve Zahn. The film is a reimagining of the 1997 original. TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMsFsfrPNaw PLAN: PLAN: Here’s the plan: For those seeing ANACONDA, please purchase your ticket for the 5:15pm showing and meet inside the theater lobby between 5:00 and 5:10pm! Advance ticket purchase advised. Once you have yours, please list your movie of choice and seat number in the Comments section of this event. For the pre-show Happy Hour, we’re going early-early and will meet in the Bar Area at nearby BRAVO at 4:00pm. We’ll head over to the theater by 5pm. If you can, cash makes for a quick exit! For those seeing SONG SUNG BLUE, please purchase your ticket for the 6:30pm showing and meet in the theater lobby between 6:10 and 6:20pm! Advance ticket purchase advised. Once you have yours, please list your movie of choice and seat number in the Comments section of this event. For the pre-show Happy Hour, we’ll meet inside the Bar Area at nearby BRAVO at 5:00pm! We’ll head over to the theater around 6pm. If you can, cash makes for a quick exit! Look forward to seeing you there, Dan

We are excited to host Guided Meditations on Sundays at 6 pm in our Ashram/Gallery/Home! !! !! Everyone wants to know what kind of God we worship and what kind of meditation we do. We worship the GOD that LOVES US! We understand that god is an energy and it lives in us as us. Our meditations guide others to actually experience that energy! xoxo We don't just talk about peace, love and affection, we experience it :) Also we are a home not a business, so we enjoy building community one friend at a time. We always build in time for people to mingle & develop friendships! xoxo Much Love, Frank Tennyson Namaste, Frank Tennyson http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/a/f/9/9/600_447824953.jpeg

Join us as we get the New Year started with one of the best films of the year: THE SECRET AGENT! This political thriller from Brazil is set in 1977 where a man flees from a mysterious past and returns to his hometown but soon finds the city is far from being the refuge he seeks. Here’s a description, trailer and plan for this event: DESCRIPTION: In 1977, a former professor flees from a mysterious past and returns to his hometown of Recife in search of peace. He soon realizes that the city is far from being the refuge he seeks. The film stars Wagner Moura, Carlos Francisco, Tânia Maria, Robério Diógenes, Maria Fernanda Cândido, Gabriel Leone and Udo Kier in his final film role. TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UfrzDKrhEc BUZZ & ACCLAIM: The Secret Agent was the most awarded film at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival where it won Best Actor for Wagner Moura, Best Director for Mendonça Filho, the Art House Cinema Award and the FIPRESCI Prize. At this year’s Golden Globes, it became Brazil’s first film ever to be nominated for Best Film (Drama)! It also received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Foreign Film, a Best Actor nomination for Wagner Moura and was selected as Brazil’s entry for Best International Film at this year’s Academy Awards. The film is receiving an incredible 99% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes where critics say, its “compelling script, impeccable acting, and striking 1970s aesthetic” make it “impossible to look away!” Critics say The Secret Agent is “one of the few standout movies of the year” and the Chicago Tribune calls it a “masterpiece of a film” and “the best film of the year!” PARKING: Close, convenient parking is available in the nearby garage (located between 9th and 11th, just off High St). Bring your ticket with you and have it validated at the theater and for $2, you’re covered for the night! PLAN: Details for this event have been confirmed! A bit of a good news/bad news situation with the showtime. I was afraid it may disappear before we got a chance to see it! Its down to one showing at one theater. Showtime is a little early but if you can make it work, I think it’ll be worth our while! Please purchase your ticket for the 4:45pm showing at we’ll meet in the upstairs lobby between 4:25 and 4:35pm! At this time, tickets available via the Gateway website only! Advance purchase is advised! Once you have yours please list your seat number in the Comments below. Happy New Year and look forward to seeing you there, Dan

Rev. Steven Clevenger is an ordained spiritualist minister with over 40 years experience as a Spiritual Healer, Clairvoyant and Spiritual Teacher, educated and trained at the White Lily Chapel. Rev. Siobhan Wolf Shaffer is an ordained spiritualist minister and certified medium and healer with over 20 years experience. She began her development in 1988 in Pennsylvania and continued when she moved to Ohio in 1998 where she studied at Rays of Lights Church with Rev. Steven Clevenger. Our full worship services consist of an inspirational lecture, healing meditation, and messages from the spirit world that serve to demonstrate evidence of eternal life. Please visit our Official Church Website (http://raysoflightchurch.com) for more information.

CHANGED to WEDNESDAYS COLUMBUS RECREATION CENTERS require membership fee to play. Register & Pay at the desk when you arrive. $5 day pass is available. I have some extra pickle ball paddles and balls if you don’t have one. Definitely bring your own paddle if you have one and bring some balls if you have them. Legal Stuff: The event hosts/Organizers are just fellow member volunteers. By participating in any event, you assume all risks of liability and injury inherent in these activities. You are responsible for your own safety and for determining if you are in condition fit to participate. You are also responsible for knowing and abiding by all laws and rules during your participation in any event.
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**Men of Unity** is a safe, welcoming space for men to connect, share, and grow together. In this circle, we explore what it means to live with purpose, integrity, and spiritual awareness in today’s world. Through open dialogue, reflection, and mutual support, we learn to balance strength with compassion, confidence with humility, and action with mindfulness. Whether you’re seeking deeper spiritual connection, personal clarity, or simply a supportive brotherhood, this group invites you to bring your authentic self and grow in community. Each gathering may include: * Open discussion on real-life challenges and victories * Guided reflection, prayer, or meditation * Encouragement for living from truth, not fear * Tools for emotional and spiritual growth No preaching. No pressure. Just real men, real conversations, and real transformation.

We’ll be reading Brigands and Breadknives by Travis Baldtree this month! We recommend readingading “Bookshops and Bonedust” and “Legends and Lattes” before reading Brigands and Breadknives.