Quaker

_IMPORTANT: To RSVP you will also need to register as a member [here.](https://forms.gle/PsmYJ3vQKocXQCAY6)_ Join Sunday Vacations for a cozy Saturday brunch at **Aksum Coffee House**, one of Brussels’ most beautiful cafés, where rich Ethiopian coffee, fresh Moroccan crêpes, and vibrant international vibes meet in perfect harmony. This is more than just brunch, it’s a relaxed way to start your weekend, meet new people, and enjoy a soulful spot full of stories and flavors. ### 📍 Where? **Aksum Coffee House – Galeries Sainte Hubert (Just a few steps from Grand Place) ### 🕚 When? **Saturday at 11:30 AM** Come hungry, curious, and ready to mingle! ### 🍽️ What’s on the menu? ☕ Fresh-roasted Ethiopian coffee 🥞 Moroccan-style crêpes & artisan pastries 🥚 Tasty brunch dishes (vegetarian options too) 🧾 Everyone pays their own order at the counter. ### 👋 Who’s joining? Expect a mix of international professionals, friendly locals, and Sunday Vacations regulars. Solo? New in town? Come anyway, this is the perfect place to connect. --- 🧡 **Limited spots** – RSVP early to secure your place at the table. By joining this event, you agree to the Sunday Vacations [Terms & Conditions](https://www.sundayvacations.com/terms), [Privacy Policy](https://www.sundayvacations.com/privacy) & [Code of Conduct](https://www.sundayvacations.com/code)

If you have a ball, please bring it... Let's gather at the Parc du Cinquantenaire close to the Tour de Tournai (https://goo.gl/maps/RsxFtTJydq92) and organize a *low-level* football match on the grass. Unless it rains badly as we're about to play, the game is on. Players of any age, weight, sex and size are allowed. Come as you are, at any time after 4pm. IMPORTANT REMINDER -- As Shitty Players, we don't bite or growl when someone misses the ball. We don't do penalties or yellow cards because we're so gentle we don't need them. We vaguely know of the existence of other rules like off-side but we'd rather ignore them than argue about them. We may or may not keep track of the score: this is a game where everyone wins. To help build the Team, come with 2 t-shirts white and black (or similar colors: light grey and dark blue etc). Beer session will follow on the grass, for those who survive till the end. You can also join the Facebook group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/176606662846112/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/a/b/3/600_460870931.jpeg

Hi everyone, This coffee morning event is @ KAWA - Galerie Bortier! Saturday, 20 December 2025, from 10:00 - 13:00. It's limited to 65 attendees. Therefore, please, cancel if you can't join anymore. **Galerie Bortier opened its doors about a year ago, and KAWA café is inside the gallery.** **The bar, however, is at the entrance of the gallery. Get your drink there, and then walk into the gallery to the café/sitting area.** Its Instagram channel: https://www.instagram.com/gallery.bortier/ https://www.instagram.com/kawaclub.bxl/ **The address is:** KAWA - Galerie Bortier Rue de la Madeleine 55 1000 Bruxelles *** 1. The **prime time** of the event is **10:30 - 12:30**. That's when most people will be there. 2. When you enter the gallery, it's either on the right-hand side or left-hand side of its hallway, depending which entrance you take. 3. If you intend **to join past 12:00** (high noon), then there is no need to register. Just come and join! 4. **DON'T forget to cancel** if you can't join! 5. **Please, be respectful towards each other during the event. (And after ;))** **As always, feel free to follow us on INSTAGRAM!** [https://instagram.com/weekendmorningcoffee?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==](https://instagram.com/weekendmorningcoffee?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==) **THE STRUCTURE of THE EVENT:** * I will post the event on Saturday/Sunday evening for the following Saturday. * I send out a reminder to everyone on Friday. * There is sometimes a waiting list. * In case RSVP is closed (once there are 10-15 people on the waiting list), I might reopen it on Friday, depending on the number of cancellations in the meantime. * **For everyone on the waiting,** please check your status and messages on Friday evening the latest. I message everyone on the waiting list on Friday. * **Please, move to "not going" AS SOON AS you know that you can't come anymore, that includes everyone who is on the waiting list.** **IMPORTANT:** * **Please, be respectful towards each other during the event. (And after ;))** * When you register yourself, be careful not to register accidentally a +1 guest (unless you bring a guest). It happens very often. * If you have any questions then, message me. *** **A MESSAGE FOR NEWCOMERS:** *In the three years of hosting this coffee group, I have met many people who struggle with anxieties when coming to an event for the first time. Sometimes, it took them more than one attempt before being able to join.* *Occasionally, people reach out to me before the event, and I have always been grateful for that as it offers the opportunity to communicate with each other and to find the best and most gentle way for that person to join the group.* *I would like to encourage everyone who struggles with this to contact me before. It would really be too bad if you can't join us, as it mostly gets better the second or third time you come.* *In addition to that, if you arrive and notice any signs of nervousness or fear, you can always let me know right then.* **THANK YOU AND SEE YOU ALL ON Saturday!**

What does it mean for something - or someone - to be "strange"? What does it in fact mean for someone to be "a stranger"? Nowadays, can we truly ever experience any thing or person as _"strange"_ as our ancestors presumably did? What impact might our replacing the adjective "strange" and the noun "stranger" with new terms have on our collective social and political cultures? How would our attitudes towards other individuals or groups of people be if we removed all notions of "strangeness" from our assessments of them? Should the fact that we no longer truly experience strangeness be a sufficient reason for us to behave _very differently_ from how our ancestors did? Alien, foreign, unfamiliar, unknown, weird, bizarre, eccentric, inappropriate - or merely different - how are all these common perceptions and judgments interrelated? We can, and do, of course often find ourselves applying the description "strange" not only to people, but to things, ideas, experiences, phenomena... in fact potentially to anything and everything. If, however, nothing in our world and in our individual or collective life-experiences is any longer experienced _truly_ as strange, how is this impacting our relationships to the world, to others, to life, to knowledge, and to the unknown in general? How _big_ is our world actually? Even if we choose to systematically replace the word "strange" with "foreign", how foreign is anywhere or anyone in our world these days? "6° of separation" can also be framed as "6° of proximity"... The 6° phenomenon, moreover, observably applies not only to distances among people, but also to distances among _everything,_ including all our ideas, actions, languages, customs, beliefs, knowledge, etc. not to mention the propagation of toxicity and malevolence... The question then becomes no longer if, but _how_ are we each connected and related to any (and every) other particular person, thing and idea in the world? It can be mind-boggling just how much we do _not_ know (>99%?) about which shared people, places and experiences we in fact have in common with any one of the vast majority (<99%?) of the people we encounter in our daily lives... Just as in our collective culture we are becoming increasingly more demanding when it comes to being informed about what ingredients are in the foods we buy and what the supply chain has been of items we purchase, so too might we want to know more truly and clearly how any given person has ended up in our lives - and all of the hundreds, even thousands, of ways they are in fact connected to us without our realizing? This session will be a celebration of the phenomena of connections, friendships, threats, and, ultimately, of "strangeness". Recommended watching (33.17): https://youtu.be/CYlon2tvywA?si=vUrcibsjQM6cQeCZ Ideas explored in this video: 1) "Small world" problem/paradox/networks 2) Shortcut links 3) The strength of weak ties 4) Propagation of disease 4) Watts-Strogatz modelling 5) Barabási: hubs, natural growth, preferential attachment 6) Prisoner's Dilemma 7) The power of choice Further reading: https://plus.maths.org/content/six-degrees-separation It's A Small World: https://youtu.be/2rTZ9UndNeI?feature=shared Image: photo from kaleidoscopefightinglupus org modified according to my instructions by ChatGPT (requiring much pulling teeth and tons of patience 😬😅)

*IMPORTANT: To RSVP you will also need to register as a member [here](https://www.sundayvacations.com/membership).* As the year reaches its darkest night, we gather in warmth and friendship to welcome the return of the light. Join **Sunday Vacations** on **Saturday, December 20th**, for a special **Winter Solstice Fondue Evening** in one of Brussels’ best hidden gems: **Secret Chalet**, a cozy Alpine refuge tucked above the Grand Place. 🍷 **What to expect** * A welcoming evening in chalet atmosphere, as if transported to the Swiss Alps. * A rich, authentic **Swiss cheese fondue** (or raclette), prepared with care by maître fromager Julien Hazard. * Stories of the **Winter Solstice** – a tradition older than Christmas, celebrated across Europe from Celtic bonfires to Alpine feasts, marking the turning of the seasons and the promise of light’s return. * Great company, laughter, and the warmest way to close the year together. 📍 **Location**: Secret Chalet, Grand Place 24-25, 1000 Brussels 🌍 In the spirit of Sunday Vacations, this is not just a dinner but a chance to connect, share, and celebrate traditions both ancient and modern — together, in the heart of Brussels. 👉 Places are limited — reserve early to secure your spot By joining this event, you agree to the Sunday Vacations [Terms & Conditions](https://www.sundayvacations.com/terms), [Privacy Policy](https://www.sundayvacations.com/privacy) & [Code of Conduct](https://www.sundayvacations.com/code)

[Sign up via Hipsy ](http://hipsy.nl/event/166575-tea-gathering-cultural-sharing-the-ancient-way-of-tea) It will be a cultural sharing and a gathering, this time with a theme of **how Chinese people have made and enjoyed tea through history, and what has traditionally been considered “good tea.”** **What people say about it:** “A real revelation” "Immersive, Informative, Intimate" "Wholesome" “Enormous passion for her roots”, “ The most convivial and informative of tea drinking experiences “ "Beyond tea tasting" "Gentle healing" Our gatherings are rooted in the **ever-evolving** Chinese tea culture. We explore how contemporary Chinese people enjoy tea in daily life, discover its beauty, and reflect on the philosophies and mindsets behind it. I also call it an **honest tea-sensing experience**. Around tea, countless stories have been told or imagined. The story I’d like to share is the one already present — in the tea itself, and in our bodies. In our stories, we search for **“herbal remedies from the mountains and delightful moments at a writing desk”.** For me, it’s like opening a window for European friends to glimpse Chinese tea culture - a taste and a reference point for what tea means back home. In each gathering, we follow the changes of the tea, let our imagination wander, and enjoy the journies it takes us on. Not a ceremony, not a tradition beyond tasting, beyond organic To give you an idea, below are the teas we served in Amterdam ( 19/10 ) Depending on the number of participants and the time we have, we will taste 3 to 4 different teas，experiencing the terroir of the mountains, the character of heirloom varietals, the artistry of suitable processing methods, and immersing ourselves in an Eastern aesthetic. Yellow Tea - Wild Laochuan tea from the Hengduan Mountains, Sichuan heirloom varietal, Spring 2025. First flush, first pluck; grown by nature, with abundant tea energy (chaqi). Oolong Tea - Dongfang Meiren (Oriental Beauty) from Fujian, bitten by small green leafhoppers, 2024. From an ecological tea garden, with intertwining honey, floral, and fruity aromas. Dark Tea (Hei Cha) - Heirloom varietal tea trees, semi-wild in deep mountains, Spring 2016. Fresh woody and floral notes, pure dark tea with a cooling sensation, and a pronounced Hui Gan ( Returning Sweetness ) Black Tea (Hong Cha) - Zhengshan Xiaozhong (Lapsang Souchong) from Tongmu, Wuyi Mountains – heirloom varietal, Spring 2023. Withered and smoked over native pinewood inside village houses, then roasted. Pine smoke fragrance with longan-sweet liquor and floral undertones. If you'd like, you can also try brewing the tea in Gong Fu styl yourself. [Sign up via Hipsy ](http://hipsy.nl/event/166575-tea-gathering-cultural-sharing-the-ancient-way-of-tea) **"The only thing that does not change is change itself", this also applies to Chinese tea culture. We are excited to hold a space where we create our unique experience together.** Warmly, Wenwei Zhang Instagram: chinese_tea_with_wenwei Facebook:Chinese Tea with Wenwei in Belgium Google review: [https://g.co/kgs/cHZXuXL](https://g.co/kgs/cHZXuXL?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExRlFyOXJRMjg1cWdwV1JOZHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5gxWvHMVkIUl2jbLC56lRZFIl2B1Dut4Tp-T9I_XKuF6WSyZu19K5UyOxyiw_aem_ZWkQEpN8x6jnQS_xrr5yKw) Any questions: 0032 456 17 56 35 [Sign up via Hipsy ](http://hipsy.nl/event/166575-tea-gathering-cultural-sharing-the-ancient-way-of-tea)

. Find us on Facebook to see what's actually happening. Bring your own knitting or crochet project and join other people who enjoy yarn crafts for a relaxing couple of hours on Saturday afternoons. The 1st Saturday of the month is not an in-person meet-up, but on zoom. All people and all levels welcome, including beginners, whom we are happy to help get started (although we don't run classes). No charge. All you need is some yarn and a crochet hook or a pair of knitting needles. We are very friendly so don't be shy. The venue may change from time to time so please check back on the day before the event to be sure you have it right. We mostly speak English, but people in the group are very international and speak many languages. Looking forward to seeing you.

Easy walk & talk of approx. 1,5 -2 hours starting at the music pavilion of Bois de la Cambre (see Google maps & photo in event info), thru' the park and thru' the Forêt de Soignes, and back. Coffee or snack at the buvette (somewhat confusingly also called "le kiosque"). https://maps.app.goo.gl/n251GsZhoY8aC3mv6 If you're more than 10 min. late, go to the following next point en route https://goo.gl/maps/ak8wL3ZLqgtvu8ER9 The parc has easy access by public transport, e.g. trams 8, 25 Solbosch stop, or by bicycle, car ...

Welcome to our weekly event in the upstairs room of The Sister Café, rue Chair et Pain 3, one block from the Grand Place. Please get there early enough to order your drink at the bar first. Thank you! After introductions we will collect questions from the group participants, choose one by voting then discuss it for an hour. Then most of us stay for drinks and bizarre conversations. Past questions have been wide and not confined to academic philosophy: What is a genuine friend? Is social media turning us into emotional zombies? Do we lose some of the experience of things by defining them? Are we driven by sex? Is loneliness a personal failure? Is morality relative? **Crucially, be kind and respectful and generous** in your disagreements; remember how much you personally enjoy someone else proving you wrong before celebrating your cutting counterexamples.

Hey Folks, Grands Carmes is hosting their 3rd annual winter queer Market this coming weekend. Whether you need a last minute gift for a loved one ( or for yourself) or just want to enjoy some crêpes come enjoy the holiday spirit and support queer artists and places that foster them ! Nb: I'll need to leave around 3:30 pm as I'm catching a train later that day, but you're very welcome to stay until 8pm See you soon, Janai

**Alone for the holidays? We've got you!** Whether you're new to the city or simply have no one to spend the holiday season with, you probably don’t want to spend it alone. At this event, we’ll help you meet new people, with the hope that you’ll find a small group you feel comfortable with—maybe even to spend the holidays together. **You’ll:** * Meet new people in small groups (max 8 per group) * Be matched based on the answers you provided when signing up * Enjoy a completely offline, screen-free experience * Receive a little Christmas gift envelope from us This event is a **concept test of a revolutionary friendship app.** Always find your friends busy, or don’t know anyone in the city? Through the app, you’ll choose the date, time, and venue, and we take care of the rest. We match you with a group and send invites to people who fit your vibe. Just show up and enjoy. For this particular event, you won’t be using the app yet. However, **downloading the app is required to attend**, so if you like the concept, you can start using it immediately. And the best part? **It’s completely free.**

[Sign up vis Hipsy](https://hipsy.be/event/153966-chinese-tea-gathering-in-gong-fu-style-amsterdam) What people say about it: “**A real revelation**” "Immersive, Informative, Intimate" "Wholesome" “Enormous passion for her roots”, “ The most convivial and informative of tea drinking experiences “ "Beyond tea tasting" "Gentle healing" Our gatherings are rooted in the **ever-evolving** Chinese tea culture. We explore how contemporary Chinese people enjoy tea in daily life, discover its beauty, and reflect on **the philosophies and mindsets** behind it. I also call it an **honest tea-sensing experience.** Around tea, countless stories have been told or imagined. The story I’d like to share is the one already present — **in the tea itself, and in our bodies.** In our stories, we search for “herbal remedies from the mountains and delightful moments at a writing desk”. We serve top-quality teas that carry **a comforting Qi:** no jitters but calm, no bitterness but transformation. For me, it’s like opening a window for European friends to glimpse Chinese tea culture - a taste and **a reference point for what tea means back home**. In each gathering, we follow the changes of the tea, let our imagination wander, and enjoy the journies it takes us on. **Not a ceremony**, not a tradition beyond tasting, beyond organic To give you an idea, below are the teas we'll be serving in Brussels (11/10 ) and Amterdam ( 19/10 ) Depending on the number of participants and the time we have, we will taste 3 to 4 different teas，experiencing the **terroir of the mountains,** the **character of heirloom varietals,** the artistry of suitable **processing methods,** and immersing ourselves in an **Eastern aesthetic.** **Yellow Tea** \- Wild Laochuan tea from the Hengduan Mountains\, Sichuan heirloom varietal, Spring 2025. First flush, first pluck; grown by nature, with abundant tea energy (chaqi). **Oolong Tea** \- Dongfang Meiren \(Oriental Beauty\) from Fujian\, bitten by small green leafhoppers\, 2024\. From an ecological tea garden\, with intertwining honey\, floral\, and fruity aromas\. **Dark Tea (Hei Cha)** \- Heirloom varietal tea trees\, semi\-wild in deep mountains\, Spring 2016\. Fresh woody and floral notes\, pure dark tea with a cooling sensation\, and a pronounced Hui Gan \( Returning Sweetness \) **Black Tea (Hong Cha)** \- Zhengshan Xiaozhong \(Lapsang Souchong\) from Tongmu\, Wuyi Mountains – heirloom varietal\, Spring 2023\. Withered and smoked over native pinewood inside village houses, then roasted. Pine smoke fragrance with longan-sweet liquor and floral undertones. If you'd like, you can also try brewing the tea in Gong Fu styl yourself. **"The only thing that does not change is change itself"**, this also applies to Chinese tea culture. We are excited to hold a space where we create our unique experience together. The teas may be different for each gathering , but the love and passion we infuse will be just as strong, and for some of you, it will be a real revelation. Reserve your spot for **this convivial and informative gathering** in an intimate circle, where everyone shares, and every sense is engaged. Warmly, Wenwei Zhang **32€/ person** **[Sign up vis Hipsy](https://hipsy.be/event/153966-chinese-tea-gathering-in-gong-fu-style-amsterdam)** Instagram: chinese_tea_with_wenwei Facebook:Chinese Tea with Wenwei in Belgium Google review: [https://g.co/kgs/cHZXuXL](https://g.co/kgs/cHZXuXL) Any questions: 0032 456 17 56 35 Upcoming Gatherings: Brussels – Ma Art Space \| Saturday 11/10 \| 13:00–14:30 **Amsterdam – House of Compassion \| Sunday 19/10 \| 13:00–15:00** Antwerpen – GNYP Gallery \| Saturday 25/10 \| 13:00–15:00 Brussels \- Sq\. Marie\-Louise Sunday \| 16/11 \| 13:00–15:00

Let's meet to write ! Schedule : 11:00 - 11:30 am : Presentation tour. Share briefly with the group about your project and your "goal of the day". 11:30 - 13:30 : Let's write ! 13:30 : Conclusion tour. Did you achieve your goal of the day ? See you soon !

Join us on the **Winter Solstice** \- the shortest day of the year \- for a spectacular light adventure\! We are heading to the **Luminexus Festival** in the beautiful domain of Terhills. ### **👇 How to Join** 1. Send a WhatsApp message "Your name + Lum" @+32 483 464 569 2. Buy your entry ticket online. **Let’s light up the darkest night of the year together! ✨**

Sleep in on Sundays. When you've had your fill of pajama-time, roll out and have some tasty brunch with your fellow Humanists!

It’s time to take control of your mental health. How do you get rid of stress, anxiety and uncertainty? These emotions are buried deep in your reactive mind. Find out what the reactive mind is, and in the process find yourself. Have you ever suffered from a traumatic experience, a deep loss or been through a painful breakup? Has your ability to communicate suffered as a result? And after that, even though you "moved on" did you find that things were never quite the same? Have you ever looked at childhood photos, or reminisced your early life and wondered where that happiness and spark went? Are your emotions out of your own control? Have you ever felt, even if you aren’t aware of it, that possibly you are getting in your own way of your happiness and success? How does this affect your self-confidence? Find out what is at the root of all stress, anxiety, depression and self-doubt. Find out how and why you hold yourself back from achieving your goals and having the life you have dreamed of. As soon as you learn what is at the root of these unwanted conditions, you’ll see it is something you can DO something about. You will not be labeled or categorized at this MeetUp.

It’s time to take control of your mental health. How do you get rid of stress, anxiety and uncertainty? These emotions are buried deep in your reactive mind. Find out what the reactive mind is, and in the process find yourself. Here is the secret of being positive and free: Thinking positively is not enough. You also have to get rid of the negative thinking. Your mind is like a garden. You can plant many beautiful flowers in it, but if you don't get rid of the weeds when you plant your flowers, the weeds will soon take over the whole garden. A positive thought is like a flower in your mental garden, and a negative thought is like a weed. You cannot expect to have a positive mindset if you continue to have negative thoughts dwelling and growing there. So, how do you get rid of the negative thoughts? That's what this Meetup is all about. Attend this local meeting and find out! The Meetup event will be led by a consultant who had helped many people live happier in life. Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there. This group is created by the Dianetics & Scientology life improvement center.

Join us for lunch at True Food Kitchen in Easton as we celebrate the New Year and our friendships!

Let's grab some coffee/food and share a morning chat! The East Market has an ample parking lot and outdoor and indoor seating. Grab a cup of coffee from Winston's Coffee & Waffles or on your way to East Market and meet us on the second floor - table behind or east of the elevator. If the weather cooperates we will be meeting in the patio. Per what this group is about: "Everyone is welcome! International transplants to Columbus who want to improve language skills, Columbus residents who want to discuss international travel and culture, and anyone who enjoys getting together for good conversations."

ASH is Atheists, Skeptics and Humanists of First Unitarian Universalists of Columbus Ohio TBD Snacks are usually available, and you are welcome to bringing something to share!