Wine and Food Pairing

Our regular monthly presentation night on the second Thursday of the month from 6:30pm! Thanks to Mantel Group for hosting us again this month. If you're coming in person we're there with food and drinks from 6pm. We will be live streaming the presentations as usual from 6:30pm at [http://www.melbournecocoaheads.com/live](http://www.melbournecocoaheads.com/live) \-\-\- In an unusual turn of events we have two AI-related talks this month — but I think both will be speaking to the state of our industry and offering perspective on where we are and maybe where we're going. **Agenda** \| 6:00pm \| Food \+ Networking \| \| 6:30pm \| Event begins\. Introductions \| \| 6:40pm \| Andrew Murphy — The five stages of losing our craft \| \| 7:15pm \| Rob Amos \(Bok\) — Forging a Sword Spirit: From AI skeptic to autonomy \| \| 7:55pm \| Wrap up \+ social time at a nearby venue \| \* All times are approximate. Presentation order will be confirmed on the night. \-\-\-\- We are always looking for speakers and believe everyone has an interesting talk hiding inside themselves. If you are interested in letting that talk out at a future event you can get in touch on the website [https://www.melbournecocoaheads.com/talks](https://www.melbournecocoaheads.com/talks) or on Slack.

Join us at Dandenong Soccer5s for a 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. **Come join our regular group of 8-12 players every week** 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 session 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: [Walking Football | Walking Soccer | Walking Football 4 Health](https://wf4hvictoria.org.au/) Facebook Community: [https://www.facebook.com/groups/wf4healthvictoria/](https://www.facebook.com/groups/wf4healthvictoria/)

The Meetup QR is for reservations. Entry is Buy anything from venue or pay 4.5$ at the flag desk.

**A yacht club** i**n Carlton** **you ask** 🤔❓ Well a unique cocktail bar anyway...With a chilled vibe and great atmosphere, in the heart of Lygon St. CYC is a welcoming, fun and friendly cocktail lounge, serving up a large selection of beers, wines, and of course cocktails, where guest's enjoyment is always top of the list ☺️. Spots are limited as its an intimate venue, so get in quick if you'd like to come 🍹🍸.

Join your fellow LGBTQIA+ folks for a social evening of board games at Marché Board Games Cafe. We have access to the games library at the cafe. If you have a game that you want to share, please feel free to bring it along. We play all sorts of games - card games, party games, strategy games - and we're happy to teach new players. Groups for games usually form between 6:30-6:45, so it's important to try arrive on time to ensure you're allocated to a game/group. Anyone arriving late may have to wait for a game if all groups have started. The cafe has drinks and food available. Check out their menu here: https://mbgcafe.com.au/menu.pdf We only accept payment at the time of booking to reserve your spot. This means you will need to pay the booking amount via PayPal at the time of booking to confirm your spot. If you can't make it to the event, please ensure you get in touch by messaging the event hosts or emailing rainbowbg.melbourne@gmail.com at least one day before the event, and we can reverse your payment via PayPal. The cafe does NOT have a liquor licence. Consuming alcohol on the premises is illegal, and will result in any members being banned from future events. See you on Thursday!

For May we’ll be reading “The Butcher” by Jennifer Hillier. As always, if you haven’t read the book or finished, please still join us for a wine with some like-minded ladies! I ask that you please only RSVP if you are absolutely committed to attending, and please update ASAP if you decide not to attend. This means that everyone who really wants to come can join us! RSVP OPENS SATURDAY MAY 9 AT 12PM. *Please note the PayPal fee to join is to cover MeetUp admin app costs.

There have been some requests in the group for an afternoon tea, so here’s a really unique one! Oxi Tea Room was awarded one Hat this year and delivers an incredible afternoon tea experience. Here’s an example video of one of their previous menus: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIA3AtEh4bf/?igsh=MW5lN3ZmaGxkeHFwag== The new menu titled ‘Hatched - The Loop’ has just been released (menu here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cO4e2-mPF2ZE_C6Pce3FTallVZGlP1nJ/view) and I have booked this for 6 Fine Diners to enjoy from 12pm on Sunday 17 May. The price is $128 per person and includes a tea and a welcome drink. You can purchase additional teas/drinks on the day if you wish. 

Join the waitlist to express interest. Once I have names in the waitlist, I’ll send you a ‘Meetup Message’ to confirm you have a spot and how to pay. You’ll need to send me the full cost of $128 to secure your place as this is charged for cancellations. Once paid I’ll move you from the waitlist to going. Please check that you don’t have your settings blocking messages; if I can’t contact you I’ll have to move on to the next person. Also if you don’t respond to my message within 3 days, I’ll let you know that I’m offering the seat to the next person on the waitlist. 

Thanks and I’m looking forward to trying this beautiful-looking afternoon tea with you!

## **KISMETRIX \| True Connection: Singles Dinner Night at Gilbert's Bentleigh** [Ticketed Event](https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/may15-singles-dinner-night-feast-drinks-connection-gilberts-bentleigh-tickets-1987889234212?aff=oddtdtcreator) **A SINGLES DINNER NIGHT TO REMEMBER** 📍 **Gilberts — Bentleigh Private Function Room (Upstairs)** 282 Centre Road, Bentleigh 3204 📅 **Friday, 15 May 2026** 🕖 **7:00 PM** **🍽 Shared feast menu included** **🥂 Welcome drink on arrival** **🎫 Age groups: 28–42 · 38–52 · 48–65** \-\-\- AN EVENING OF FOOD, CONNECTION & GENUINE CONVERSATION Some evenings are made for slowing down. For sitting across from someone new, sharing a beautiful meal, and letting conversation unfold naturally — no scripts, no pressure, no swiping. This is Kismetrix Singles Dinner Night — an intimate, hosted dining experience at Gilberts in Bentleigh, where great food meets genuine connection. \-\-\- 🍽 **THE FEAST** Your ticket includes a shared banquet menu designed to bring people together around the table: * Renkon chips with green chilli & soy dipper * Roti bread with peanut sambal & cucumber relish * Steamed wagyu beef & chive dumplings with peanut chilli soy * Chicken & vegetable spring rolls with vermicelli noodles & nuoc cham * Cauliflower fritters with black vinegar & green chilli * Crispy pork bao buns with kimchi, hoisin, sriracha & coriander * Chilli salt chicken ribs with kewpie & hot tamarind dipper * Stir fried hokkien noodles with broccolini, Thai basil & chilli * Green chicken curry with baby corn, asparagus, oyster mushroom & lime leaf Please note: menu items may be subject to change based on seasonal availability. \-\-\- 🥂 **WHAT'S INCLUDED** ✅ Entry to the Kismetrix Singles Dinner Night ✅ Welcome drink on arrival ✅ Full shared banquet feast ✅ Hosted support throughout the evening ✅ A thoughtfully balanced and intimate dining experience Additional drinks available for purchase at the bar. \-\-\- **👥 AGE GROUPS & FLOW** This event is designed for three overlapping age groups: • 28–42 • 38–52 • 48–65 Overlapping ranges allow for natural flexibility and a warm, mixed atmosphere. The evening flows naturally — no rigid rotations, no forced formats. Just genuine connection over a shared meal. \-\-\- 🎯 **WHO THIS NIGHT IS FOR** This event is for singles who: * Appreciate quality food and good company * Want real conversation in a relaxed, intimate setting * Are ready to show up in real life — not behind a screen * Value depth, warmth and genuine human connection Come solo — most people do, and that's exactly the point. \-\-\- [🎟 ](https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/may15-singles-dinner-night-feast-drinks-connection-gilberts-bentleigh-tickets-1987889234212?aff=oddtdtcreator)**[TICKETS & PRICING](https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/may15-singles-dinner-night-feast-drinks-connection-gilberts-bentleigh-tickets-1987889234212?aff=oddtdtcreator)** 🌟 Early Bird: $90 per person 🎫 General: $99 per person ⏰ Last Minute: $109 per person Tickets are limited to maintain an intimate and balanced experience. Early booking is strongly recommended. Your ticket includes entry, welcome drink on arrival, and the full shared feast. Additional drinks available at the bar. \-\-\- ## 🔔 IMPORTANT NOTES * This is a hosted social dining experience — not speed dating * Shared banquet style — dishes are placed at the table for everyone to enjoy together * Dietary requirements: please contact us at social@kismetrix.com.au before booking * Tickets are non-refundable but transferable * Respect, warmth and good energy are essential \-\-\- **🔗 Stay Connected** 📧 **social@kismetrix.com.au** 🌐[ ](http://www.kismetrix.com.au "http://www.kismetrix.com.au")**[www.kismetrix.com.au](http://www.kismetrix.com.au "http://www.kismetrix.com.au")** 📱 @kismetrix_ on **[Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/kismetrix_/ "https://www.instagram.com/kismetrix_/") & [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559826808523 "https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559826808523")** By registering you confirm you have read and agree to Kismetrix \| True Connection's Terms & Conditions\, Privacy Policy\, Disclaimer and Code of Conduct\.

Get ready for a night of **pure, iconic rock-and-roll** — **7 Bridges: The Ultimate EAGLES Experience** delivers a jaw-dropping, note-for-note tribute to one of the greatest bands of all time. This isn’t a casual cover show. **No backing tracks. No vocal tricks.** Just elite musicianship, soaring harmonies, and the unmistakable sound that defined an era. 7 Bridges faithfully recreates the magic of an Eagles concert from the band’s most legendary period, performing **hit after hit after hit** — with a few electrifying **Joe Walsh surprises** thrown in for good measure. From the opening chords to the final encore, every song is instantly recognizable and endlessly singable, making this the **perfect show for lifelong Eagles fans and first-timers alike**. Expect a carefully crafted setlist that captures the full depth of the Eagles catalog — heartfelt ballads, laid-back California grooves, and powerhouse rock anthems. 7 Bridges is a **tour de force of talent**, featuring stunning vocal precision, masterful guitar work, and a commanding stage presence that has earned them nationwide acclaim. Each member channels the spirit, sound, and swagger of the original band, creating a live experience that feels authentic, immersive, and unforgettable. If you love the Eagles, this is a **can’t-miss night of timeless music** — the kind people talk about long after the last note fades. 🎸 Come ready to sing 🎶 Come ready to sway 🔥 Come ready for a legendary live experience [Get your tickets here!](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/7-bridges-the-ultimate-eagles-experience-tickets-1982589084321)

You can bring your own food for a picnic or get it at one of their food trucks or inside. Well-behaved dogs on a lease are allowed outside only. No children as it's adults only 21+. Windridge Vineyards is a family-owned farm winery dedicated to producing premium estate grown wines. Situated in Darnestown, Maryland on the Piedmont plateau, their three vineyard sites have been carefully chosen for their unique geology and microclimates. Over 50 years of family farming has guided these selections and underpins their commitment to craft exceptional and distinctive wines. Come relax on their expansive lawn, in their solar pavilion, or in their new tasting room surrounded by the vines. With a backdrop that includes the 6,300 acre Seneca Creek State Park, the 93,000 acre Agricultural Reserve, and views of the Blue Ridge and Sugarloaf Mountains, Windridge Vineyards is surrounded by breathtaking views and natural beauty. All aboard mates!

This is a nonstop, high-octane 80s explosion packed wall-to-wall with songs you absolutely know by heart. Get ready — **The New Romance** doesn’t just play a show… they **detonate the dance floor**. [Get your tickets here!](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-new-romance-the-ultimate-80s-tribute-band-tickets-1982540683553) This is a **nonstop, high-octane 80s explosion** packed wall-to-wall with songs you *absolutely* know by heart. You won’t be sitting. You won’t be scrolling your phone. You’ll be dancing for hours, screaming every lyric, and wondering how the night went by so fast. Think of your **ultimate 80s mixtape brought to life** — big hooks, bigger choruses, and zero filler. From the U.S. to Asia and everywhere in between, The New Romance has rocked crowds across the globe, delivering a true concert-level experience that feels massive, electric, and unforgettable. Their mission is simple: **play the songs you love with jaw-dropping accuracy** and keep the energy cranked to eleven from the first note to the final encore. It’s no accident they’ve earned multiple music industry awards, including **“Best Tribute Act”** and **“Best Cover Band.”** This is the kind of night people talk about all summer. Miss it, and you’ll hear about it from everyone who didn’t. 🔥 Come ready to dance 🎤 Come ready to sing 💃 Come ready to lose your voice **See you on the dance floor — if you’re fast enough to grab tickets.**

We invite you to an engaging evening of wine, cheese and lively conversation around NYT Editor's Choice ***All The Worst Humans: How I Made News for Dictators, Tycoons, and Politicians,*** a bridge-burning, riotous memoir by Phil Elwood, a top PR operative in Washington who exposes the secrets of the $129-billion industry that controls so much of what we see and hear in the media—from a man who used to pull the strings, and who is now pulling back the curtain. **From Goodreads:** After nearly two decades in the Washington PR business, Elwood wants to come clean, by exposing the dark underbelly of the very industry that’s made him so successful. The first step is revealing exactly what he’s been up to for the past twenty years—and it isn’t pretty. Elwood has worked for a murderer’s row of questionable clients, including Gaddafi, Assad, and the government of Qatar. In *All the Worst Humans*, Elwood unveils how the PR business works, and how the truth gets made, spun, and sold to the public—not shying away from the gritty details of his unlikely career. This is a piercing look into the corridors of money, power, politics, and control, all told in Elwood’s disarmingly funny and entertaining voice. He recounts a four-day Las Vegas bacchanal with a dictator’s son, plotting communications strategies against a terrorist organization in Western Africa, and helping to land a Middle Eastern dictator’s wife a glowing profile in Vogue on the same time the Arab Spring broke out. And he reveals all his slippery tricks for seducing journalists in order to create chaos and ultimately cover for politicians, dictators, and spies—the industry-secret tactics that led to his rise as a political PR pro. Along the way, Phil walks the halls of the Capitol, rides in armored cars through Abuja, and watches his client lose his annual income at the roulette table. But as he moved up the ranks, he felt worse and worse about the sleaziness of it all—until Elwood receives a shocking wake-up call from the FBI. This risky game nearly cost Elwood his life and his freedom. Seeing the light, Elwood decides to change his ways, and his clients, and to tell the full truth about who is the worst human. As always, please feel free to join even if you have not finished the book - no stress :-) All attendees are asked to please bring one of the following: 1. A bottle of wine 2. Cheese and Crackers 3. An alternate beverage or nosh of your choice Host will provide glasses, wine opener, plates & napkins. To enhance the opportunity for great conversation, we would like to keep the group small. Please feel free to sign-up to meet us along with up to 2 friends. 📚 Exciting Updates for 2026 Book Club! 📚 Starting in January 2026, we’ll be implementing a new system for book recommendations that will make our reading selections even more collaborative and engaging! **Book Recommendations:** From January through October, members can submit book recommendations at each meeting, via email, text or Meetup DM. All suggestions will be added to a shared Google Sheet, which will include links to Goodreads and other pertinent information for each book. [LINK to 2027 BOOK LIST](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18AC_FH9bGGxyH6v7Rw36EvPtKtVl5e_N/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=102804280893316002961&rtpof=true&sd=true) **Voting for 2027 Reads:** Our voting for next year’s book selections will take place during the November 2026 meeting. Members in attendance will have the opportunity to cast 12 votes for their favorite picks. If you’re unable to attend the November meeting, you can still participate! Simply submit 6 votes via email, text, or DM through Meetup before the start of the November meeting. **Announcement of Selections:** The chosen books for 2027 will be revealed at the end of the November meeting. We’re excited about this new process and can’t wait to see the amazing book recommendations you all have! 📖✨ PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE COMMITTED TO ATTEND WHEN YOU RSVP FOR THIS EVENT. We ask that ALL folks honor their RSVP. If you are unable to attend after sending in a YES, please update your status so that others may join us. In the event you do not communicate and are a no-show, your ability to RSVP for future events will be restricted. Thank you in advance for your understanding. If you are unable to join us in June, we hope you'll remain interested and join us for an evening in the future. Looking forward to wine & cheese with you soon - happy reading!

**Stifler’s Mom** is taking over Tarara on **FRIDAY, July 3, 2026**, and this is not just a concert… it’s a **holiday weekend kickoff celebration**. Break out the **JNCO jeans**, frost those tips, and charge up the Discman. This **11-piece powerhouse** is a full-throttle nostalgia machine, mashing up Rock, Hip-Hop, Pop, and R&B like your favorite mix CD on overdrive. From **Seattle grunge** to **TV theme song bangers**, from **East Coast to West Coast hip-hop**, this show delivers nonstop surprises. 🔥 Wild mashups 🎤 Massive singalongs 🎉 Trivia, contests & pure crowd chaos Expect **relentless energy**, deep-cut throwbacks, and every ‘90s anthem you forgot you loved — all wrapped into a **can’t-miss Friday night party** to launch the holiday weekend. 🎟️ **Tickets are moving FAST — don’t wait.** [Get your tickets here!](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/stiflers-mom-the-ultimate-90s-experience-tickets-1982696658077) 📅 **FRIDAY, July 3, 2026** 📍 Tarara, 13648 Tarara Lane, Leesburg, VA 👕 **‘90s attire STRONGLY encouraged** Celebrate freedom, summer, and nostalgia — **kick off Independence Day weekend with your Tarara family** and party like it’s 1999. 🚀🔥

Friends, it's time to head back to Sunset Hills to enjoy an afternoon sipping wine and enjoying this lovely winery. We will be sitting at a table under the pavilion, where there is also live music. "Once a working Amish farm, Sunset Hills Vineyard offers old-world charm with spectacular sunsets and mountain views, ample lawn areas to spread out and enjoy, and a stunning restored Amish barn surrounded by beautiful vineyards." [WEBSITE](https://www.sunsethillsvineyard.com/Your-Visit) [FOOD MENU](https://www.sunsethillsvineyard.com/Menus/Food-Menu) As an FYI - their warm ciabatta bread is especially yummy! Outside food is allowed under the pavilion if you'd prefer. If bring sharables, please leave a message as to what you are bringing so we don't have duplicates. As an FYI - their warm ciabatta bread is especially yummy! I will need to limit this to 8 ppl. to avoid paying for a reservation. So please keep your RSVP's updated so that others can enjoy your spot if unable to attend.