Speculative Fiction

Thursday nights just got an upgrade. Join us every Thursday from 8PM at The Raven, a 7,000 sq ft underground electronic venue right beside Eaton Centre. Expect immersive sound, elevated vibes, and a space built for connection. 🔊🖤 This season, we’re blending electronic lineups with pop-up health & wellness experiences featuring healthcare professionals, local wellness brands, and barbershops all under one roof. 🎧👨‍⚕️🥗✂️ This isn’t just a party. It’s a Thursday ritual. Come dance with intention, meet like-minded people, and leave inspired, energized, and already planning your next visit. 🔥 New look. New energy. Same mission: Building a community like no other. Be part of the rebrand. Be part of the movement. Portfolio Sessions - you don’t want to miss this. ⭐️ [Check out our YT](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaNYL3z7CSAZNN1PRrHT0Ow "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaNYL3z7CSAZNN1PRrHT0Ow") [Checkout our IG](https://www.instagram.com/portfolio.sessions/ "https://www.instagram.com/portfolio.sessions/")

### Thursday Evening Discussion Group **In\-Person \| Starts at 8:00 PM \(Doors open at 7:30 PM\) \| Drop\-In** **Starting material:** *[Network of Thought](https://www.holybooks.com/wp-content/uploads/Network-of-Thought-Krishnamurti-ebook.pdf)* by **Jiddu Krishnamurti** This weekly discussion group offers a reflective and open space to explore themes of **mysticism, spirituality, and inner transformation** through selected writings and talks by Jiddu Krishnamurti, Annie Besant, Alice Bailey, and other thinkers whose work invites deep **inquiry into consciousness, freedom, truth**, and **the nature of self-understanding**. Rather than promoting a particular belief system, the group emphasizes **shared reading, thoughtful reflection, and respectful dialogue**. Participants are welcome to engage at their own pace—whether through listening, contemplation, or open discussion. While there is **no requirement to commit before attending**, *the intention is to gradually build a group of participants who are interested in returning regularly and engaging sincerely with the material* and the group process. Newcomers are very welcome, and those who feel drawn to ongoing study are warmly encouraged to continue attending. **This is a drop-in group,** and no prior background or preparation is required. **All are welcome.** Come as you are, reflect together, and take part in a spirit of openness, seriousness of inquiry and mutual respect.

Please contact event host, Christopher, for the event location at christopher.tyrrell@ymail.com

Contact Alex for location and information.

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!

\#\# Details * Details * \#\# About the event \- tickets are only available on our website at [https://www.wtpg.ngo/event-details/65-boxing-week-sale-fire-effect-wtpg-signature-series-art-and-form-shutter-dragging-and-multi-flash-setup](https://www.wtpg.ngo/event-details/65-boxing-week-sale-fire-effect-wtpg-signature-series-art-and-form-shutter-dragging-and-multi-flash-setup-1) 8:30pm-10pm A flame - The flame dances only for a moment as it strains to perform its story to the audience We are thrilled to announce our upcoming Fire effect - Art and form lighting workshop, the technique to combine shutter dragging and multiple flashes in a single frame . Join us for this exciting opportunity to explore some epic show stopping Dramatic studio lighting setups and create some beautiful ethereal looks to enhance your photography portfolio and skills set. **Workshop Details:** Are you passionate about photography? Do you aspire to learn the secrets of beautiful and creative lighting techniques? We are dedicated to lighting and sharing our photographic knowledge with you. Our small, intimate workshop with professional instructors is designed to cater to your interests. Throughout the workshop, we will discuss the specific lighting setups for each scenario, explaining the choice of modifiers and angles to effectively illuminate the subject and accessories. Instructor - Phil Sutherland Model - Kallopsia - an amazing professional art nude model from Toronto Assistant - TBD **Techniques:** During the workshop, we will focus on various framing techniques, including: * Shutter dragging * multiple flashes in a single frame * planning the exposure and movement * colour gels and exposure \*\*Instructor:\*\*Phil Sutherland \*\*Assistant:\*\*TBD **Model:** TBD To ensure a high-quality experience for participants, we are limiting the workshop to a maximum of six participants. As an indigenous-run, not-for-profit arts group, we are dedicated to serving the artistic community and advocating for the photographic arts. At our core, we believe in sharing knowledge and the joy of photography with the community. We strive to make art accessible to everyone and work hard to bring arts programming to the community. **Workshop Details:** * Maximum Participants: 6 * Workshop Fee: CAD$95 plus hst and vendor fee (boxing day sale through our website only $65 plus hst and vendor fee) **Items to Bring:** * Camera/Lenses of choice (DSLR, medium format, or mirrorless) * Fully charged battery * Freshly formatted memory card(s) * General lenses * Pen and paper (if you wish to take notes)

A cozy Saturday yoga + book circle for building real, meaningful connections with people who share your interests. Flow & Fiction is a gentle Saturday space created for one purpose: to build real, meaningful, lasting connections in the real world.

Join us for our in-person Saturday critique session! We'll be meeting in the basement of **The Blake House**, which is located near Wellesley and Jarvis, about a 10-minute walk from Wellesley Station or Sherbourne Station. **In respect to the Blake House for hosting us, we humbly request that attendees purchase a meal, dessert, or drink if you are able to do so.** Feel free to bring in a piece of writing up to **2000 words** for reading and critique. Please bring paper copies so that listeners can easily follow and make notes. Dedicated listeners are equally welcome. In larger groups, please be mindful of giving everyone a fair chance to speak. Our group values and meeting structure can be found here: [https://www.torontosffwriters.com/sff-writer-rules-and-guidelines](https://www.torontosffwriters.com/sff-writer-rules-and-guidelines) We ask that writers provide content warnings when necessary. To limit the spread of diseases, we kindly ask that you stay home if you're feeling sick. We will be here every week! **\*\*We support the hard work and effort that goes into writing fiction, and do not condone the use of AI to replace the creative process.\*\*** And, that's everything! See you there!

Struggling with motivation and focus as you hammer away on your manuscript at home? Want to join a community of writers as we embrace the joys and pains (mostly pains) of writing together? Bring your laptop, pen & paper, old-school typewriter, or futuristic writing gadget, and join an enthusiastic community of science fiction and fantasy writers as we work on our current projects in the same space. The format will be similar to our online writing sprints: 30-minute blocks of focused, quiet writing time (the sprints), interspersed with breaks where we can chat, ask questions, and share our writing experiences.

📅 Weekly gatherings: **Every Saturday** ⏰ Time: **1:00 PM – 4:00 PM** 📍 Location: **The Only Café** \- 966 Danforth Avenue\, Toronto \- \(Just a short walk from Donlands Station\) We’re excited to begin an in-person **Starseeds & Lightworkers Coffee Chat** in Toronto! This is a relaxed, open-hearted meet & greet hosted by Tom, a member of our community, who lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. While I am currently based in Montreal, I may pop in from time to time via Zoom call to say hello. This is an informal gathering with no presentation or agenda — Simply an opportunity for Toronto members to meet with one another. This is a chance to explore: ✨ Higher consciousness ✨ Cosmic truths & the nature of reality ✨ Ancient wisdom & spiritual traditions ✨ Personal growth, intuition, and awakening ✨ Anything else that flows naturally in conversation Whether you are walking along your spiritual path or just curious, you’re warmly welcome to join us! **About the Coffee Shop**: **The Only Café** is a cozy, funky coffee shop/pub offering coffee, tea, baked goods, vegan-friendly food, and over 200 types of beer. Saturday afternoons can get lively, but we’ll have a table secured ahead of time. We kindly encourage everyone attending to purchase a drink or snack to support the venue. Feel free to drop in anytime between **1:00PM – 4:00PM**. If you have any questions, you can contact Tom at: **thespaceisalive@gmail.com** Come as you are, bring your curiosity, and enjoy a hot cup of coffee! Love💖and Light✨️, Crystal

\*\*NOTE: This meetup currently lacks a regular host. (The current hosts are volunteers for online organizational purposes; they show up in person occasionally.) If you arrive and there is no host, don’t worry. Whoever is the longest-running member (or whoever wants to) can set the timer for the writing session. In this way, the meetup is self-sustaining, and not dependent on any one person. Thanks for your understanding.\*\* Join us for an hour of quiet writing, followed by an hour of (optional) socializing. \*\*SILENT WRITING BEGINS AT 1:15 PM. IF YOU'RE LATE, WELCOME! WE WILL IGNORE YOU (BECAUSE WE'RE BUSY WRITING) UNTIL 2:15 PM.\*\* This meetup is open to everyone, whether you’re writing a novel, blog, class paper, or journal entry—or something completely different. Anyone interested is welcome to attend :) LOCATION: 5 Elements Cafe, basement level RSVP: Please be advised that seating is first-come, first-served, even if you have RSVP'd. Seats are not reserved and we can't control how many other people are in the cafe. We recommend coming down to the basement to grab a spot before you buy anything, just in case. SCHEDULE: 1:00 to 1:15 PM: Arrive and get settled in. 1:15 to 2:15 PM: Write in silence for an hour. \*\*If you arrive after 1:15, please silently find your own place to sit. We'll welcome you to join the group at 2:15.\*\* 2:15 PM: Introduce yourself. We'll go in a circle; just say your name and 1–2 sentences about what you're writing. (E.g., "I'm Rudolph and I'm writing a non-fiction book about reindeer.") 2:20 PM onwards: Chill/leave. Chat, hang out, keep writing if you want, leave whenever.

Note: You may be removed from the attendance list if you've participated in the previous week's event. This allows for more people to experience this Meetup. Avengers put your costumes on and let’s go and save the world!
Well we can’t save the world (yet), but we aim to try to play a small part in the lives of those experiencing homelessness by making their day a bit better!
Description: Before the event the organizer will post a list in the comment section of the attendees and what they are responsible to bring (food/drink, kitchen supplies, cleaning supplies). We normally ask each attending member to bring approximately $15-20 worth of ingredients/supplies to our event. We will use the items to prepare and serve food/drink at The Meeting Place.
Timeline: We will meet on location at 11:00 am, with lunch served between 12:30-1:00 pm.
Membership Dues: Membership dues are $2.00 for the calendar year. Membership dues go towards paying for food/supplies incurred by no-shows. Membership dues are due at the first meetup of the year that you attend.
No Shows/Late Un-RSVP: We’re relying on members who RSVP to bring key ingredients for recipes! Please try your best to show-up or alternatively change your RSVP early so another member may fill the empty spot.
\*\*\* If you are on the waitlist, keep checking as you may be moved into attendance to replace someone. We will try to message you to confirm your attendance in advance.
Donations will be assigned before the event.

Join us for an intimate afternoon of connection, reflection, and shared inquiry as we launch a **3-part community circle series exploring the intersection of Internal Family Systems (IFS) and psychedelic experiences**. This small-group gathering (max 10 people) is a welcoming space for anyone curious about IFS — whether you’re brand new to the model or have been walking with parts work for years. You do *not* need prior psychedelic experience to attend. Together, we’ll explore how an IFS lens can help us: ✨ Make sense of psychedelic experiences and altered states 💬 Gently engage with parts that may show up before, during, or after journeys 🔥 Build authentic connection, resonance, and support in community Each circle will include grounding and arrival, a gentle check-in, experiential parts-focused practices, and space for reflection, sharing, and integration. While the circles are connected as a series, each gathering can stand on its own. This is a **non-clinical, heart-centered space** rooted in curiosity, compassion, consent, and respect. No substances are used or consumed in this space. We welcome lived experience, honest questions, and the full spectrum of parts that may want to be seen. Bring your stories, your parts, and your open heart. We will serve coffee and teas. **Location:** Our home near High Park (exact address shared upon RSVP) **Contribution:** By donation (suggested $5–30)

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“The Life of Frankenstein,”** on the birth, evolution and impact of a tale of man-made monstrosity, with Bernard Welt, an emeritus professor of arts and humanities at George Washington University who frequently lectures on Frankenstein in literature, cinema, and culture. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/nv-life-of-frankenstein](https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/nv-life-of-frankenstein) .] Guillermo del Toro’s lush and lovingly produced film adaptation of Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel *Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus* is just the latest of many iterations of the story to capture the public’s imagination. People have watched Victor Frankenstein give life to his monster in numerous films, on television, and on stage, and even perform “Putting on the Ritz” with him thanks to the comic genius of Mel Brooks. Mary Shelley did not just tell a tale. She spawned the modern genre of speculative fiction and gave rise to a myth that would crop up in debates over nature versus nurture and other matters. Even today it stokes anxieties over the potential impacts of robotics, artificial intelligence, and genetic engineering, by evoking the image of a monster turning on its progenitor. Come gain a new appreciation of Mary Shelley’s creation with the help of Dr. Bernard Welt, who has studied the relationship between nightmares and the horror genre and is the author of *Mythomania: Fantasies, Fables, and Sheer Lies in Contemporary American Popular Art.* Dr. Welt will start by telling a literary origin story almost as famous as Frankenstein itself, of how an 18-year-old Shelley started writing *Frankenstein* in 1816 while staying in a villa on Lake Geneva with two of her era’s leading poets, Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley, her lover. Housebound by foul weather, the three read Gothic tales of ghosts and monsters and challenged each other to produce something even more terrifying. Mary dreamed up a story of a man who defied death by creating a living being out of scraps of deceased men harvested from graveyards and anatomy labs. The resulting novel, *Frankenstein*, published anonymously in 1818, would by that century’s end become a touchstone in philosophical discourse on the nature of humanity and in political discussions of imperialism and populism. By the 21st century, Mary Shelley (as she became) had earned a more significant place in the literary canon than Byron and her husband Shelley. We will examine how this grisly tale became a landmark of modern thought and look at the part played by numerous film adaptations from the first years of cinema to the present day. (Door: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: From a Theodor von Holst engraving in an 1831 edition of *Frankenstein* published by Colburn and Bentley of London.

Please join us as we discuss **CHILDREN OF TIME**, book 1 of *Children of Time* by Adrian Tchaikovsky. This novel won the Arthur C. Clarke award, and is of moderate length, at about 609 pages. Please keep your RSVP updated and accurate! Space is limited for this event. We are intentionally holding some RSVP slots for new members specifically, so if you’re new and the event is full, please get on the waitlist ASAP! You may bring your own food/drinks (no alcohol, please) or you may pick something up in Mosaic or at the farmers market before the meetup. We do ask that you pack your trash out with you. * **[KINDLE](https://a.co/d/a3Cy5hF)** * **[PAPERBACK](https://www.amazon.com/Children-Time-Adrian-Tchaikovsky/dp/0316452505/)** * **[AUDIBLE](https://www.audible.com/pd/Children-of-Time-Audiobook/B071Y9TTHC)** **BOOK DESCRIPTION:** ***Who will inherit this new Earth?*** The last remnants of the human race left a dying Earth, desperate to find a new home among the stars. Following in the footsteps of their ancestors, they discover the greatest treasure of the past age—a world terraformed and prepared for human life. But all is not right in this new Eden. In the long years since the planet was abandoned, the work of its architects has borne disastrous fruit. The planet is not waiting for them, pristine and unoccupied. New masters have turned it from a refuge into mankind's worst nightmare. Now two civilizations are on a collision course, both testing the boundaries of what they will do to survive. As the fate of humanity hangs in the balance, who are the true heirs of this new Earth? *\*Since missing one of these meetups is taking a spot away from someone else who wants to go, we'll need to have a stricter attendance policy than normal. For book discussions, 3 no-shows in a rolling 3-month period will prohibit you from attending any other book discussion for 2 months after your last no-show. In order to avoid a no-show, please update your RSVP no later than 10pm two nights before a discussion. Thanks for your understanding and cooperation! If you need to drop off because of Covid symptoms or exposure or a positive test or any other illness, there will be no penalty to no-showing or dropping late.*

My name is MJ Huntsgood, and I am a speculative horror author with award-nominated speculative fiction published in literary magazines, anthologies, and across the internet. I've taught classes online, at conventions, and in other venues. I'd love to bring my knowledge to the community. In this one-hour workshop, we’ll explore how to use speculative elements (science fiction, fantasy, horror, slipstream, dystopian, surreal) as tools for storytelling rather than decoration. The focus is on clarity, emotional stakes, and ideas that actually sustain a narrative. This session blends short craft discussion with guided writing exercises, so you’ll leave with new material on the page, not just notes. **In this workshop, you’ll:** * Learn a simple framework for generating speculative premises from personal, social, or philosophical questions * Explore how to ground speculative concepts in character and emotion * Draft a short piece or opening scene using a focused speculative constraint * Get tools you can reuse for future stories, regardless of subgenre **This workshop is for:** * Writers interested in speculative fiction (SF, fantasy, hybrid, literary speculative) * Writers who want their work to feel meaningful, not gimmicky * Writers comfortable doing short writing exercises You don’t need to be published, but some prior writing experience is helpful. This is not a critique workshop. **Format:** 1.5 hours **Includes:** Craft guidance, writing exercises, and optional sharing **Bring:** Something to write with and a willingness to experiment (a limited number of pens and notebooks will be available)

This meetup is for Japanese learners who want to practice speaking in a relaxed, supportive environment without pressure or perfection. It's also a great place to meet people with similar interests! If you’ve studied vocabulary or grammar but freeze when it’s time to speak, this session is designed to help you bridge that gap. **What we'll do:** * Simple self-introductions in Japanese * Guided speaking prompts (you won’t be put on the spot) * Light pair or small-group practice * Optional review games or activities to support speaking Mistakes are expected and encouraged. You’re welcome to use notes, look things up, or listen more than you speak. **Who this is for:** * Beginner to early-intermediate learners * People who want to practice speaking without pressure * Anyone who feels like they “know the material” but struggles to use it No high-level Japanese required. Just come as you are.

We're experimenting and trying a new place! Activities: Writing Sprints (individual time boxed writing time) These writing times can be used to do any writing-related activities like plotting/outlining, and most importantly writing and working on your own writing! Make sure to bring your writing tools (laptop, notebook, your brain). We start the first sprint promptly at 10:15 between every writing sprint we take 5-15 minute breaks We shoot for a total of 3 sprints (45 minutes of writing) Location: Corner Bakery Parking: Is free Food: breakfast until 11:00 Standard lunch menu after that https://cornerbakerycafe.com/

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Satanic Panics,”** a look at waves of fear of demonic activity as an American tradition, with Luxx Mishou, cultural historian and former instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy and area community colleges. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/nv-satanic-panics](https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/nv-satanic-panics) .] The 1980s found the United States gripped by fear of Satanic cults targeting children. They were believed to be corrupting young ones in daycare centers and tempting teens through subliminal messages on heavy metal albums or through the quiet inclusion of demonic rituals in role-playing games. Satanic serial killers supposedly stalked the suburbs. Doctors helped patients uncover what were claimed to be repressed memories of ritualistic satanic abuse. Parents, police, and politicians were urged to protect impressionable youths from both moral and physical danger. With Satanic cults deemed to be a real and material threat, it was a frightening time for everyone, including those who suddenly came under suspicion for doing evil deeds. Then, suddenly, it all faded from public consciousness, just as surely as did eighties fads such mullet haircuts, leg warmers, and Cabbage Patch Kids. Why did it all start? Why did it stop? And has this happened before or since? Hear such questions tackled by Luxx Mishou, a cultural historian and media specialist who has long researched the devious and villainous in cultural artifacts. She’ll discuss moral panics as a longstanding cultural tradition, with each new one stemming from fear of cultural shifts and shaped by the time and place where it occurred. Among the panics we’ll look into are the Red Scare of the 1950s and the public response to the gruesome 1969 murders committed by the Manson Family. Delving into the 1980s panic, Mishou will describe how it began with the 1980 publication of psychiatrist Lawrence Pazder’s memoir *Michelle Remembers*, detailing the suppressed memories of ritualistic abuse reportedly suffered by a patient. As that book quickly became a best seller, its ideas saturated American culture. A California daycare center became the focus of a three-year investigation, followed by three years of trials, based on allegations that its owner had engaged in secret ritualistic abuse of the children in its care. Mishou will lead you through the media that convinced the public that devil worshipers were among them, and she’ll talk about how reactions to imagined threats can have very real social costs. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image by Canva.