Hobby Groups Melbourne

Social Chess Meetup - Wednesday 12 August

🎉 We’re excited to announce a brand new CBD venue for Melbourne Chess Society! Join us on Wednesday, 12 August, from 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm at Oche Melbourne (263 Bourke Street) for another evening of social chess. Everyone is welcome, from complete beginners to experienced players – there’ll always be someone to challenge. We’ll be playing on the top level of Oche, a fantastic venue with great food, drinks, and complimentary dart boards available for chess players to enjoy throughout the evening. As this is a smaller, more intimate space, attendance will be capped at 80 people. To help us manage numbers, please register via Meetup (it’s free). If your plans change, we kindly ask that you update your RSVP so someone else can take your place. ♟️ Boards, pieces and clocks will all be provided, just bring yourself :) Stay up to date through our socials or WhatsApp community: 📱 WhatsApp Community: Message David on +61 438 004 729 to join. 🔗 Instagram, Facebook & more: https://linktr.ee/MelbourneChessSociety See you there!

Hook, line, and stitcher

Let's build: A.I/ML/Robots using Google Colab and Aiko Services

**Aim:** Create A.I / Machine Learning projects ... optionally with Robots **Web-site: [https://ai-ml-robots.github.io](https://ai-ml-robots.github.io)** **Discussions: [https://tinyurl.com/ai-ml-robots-discussions](https://tinyurl.com/ai-ml-robots-discussions)** **Pre-meeting catch-up:** 6:00 pm at **[Grill'd Burgers, 127-133 Swan St, Richmond](https://maps.app.goo.gl/N6QBydEVo1JW6ctn9)** ... great opportunity for casual discussion and especially for newcomers to get acquainted with the group ***(our table will have orange traffic cones)*** **Activity:** Using [Google Colab](https://colab.google) and [Aiko Services](https://github.com/geekscape/aiko_services), we will build a project utilizing A.I/ML and simple, low-cost robots. **Agenda:** **7:00 pm sharp at 415 Church Street, Richmond** \- 7:00 pm ML software "guided" build session using Google Colab \- 9:30 pm Projects show and tell: ad\-hoc for anyone to contribute \- 9:45 pm Tidy up room \- 10:00 pm Hard stop \! **Please bring a laptop, as these are hands-on build sessions.** Just think of a laptop as a robot without wheels or legs ! If you are a newcomer to Machine Learning or robotics, you are still very welcome. If you do have a robot, please bring it along !

Paranormal Romance Book Club and Culture

Hi all, Welcome to the August Paranormal Book Club!! If you love books that are lighter and fluffier to read, with supernatural elements (magic, vampires, werewolves, etc.) then you will enjoy this group. After book club we head off and become a tourist in our own city, by attending an exhibition or some other cultural activity. For August, we are going to meet at Time Out Fed Square for book club, then head across to ACMI for a look at their free exhibitions. The play school exhibition we were originally thought about attending, will have concluded. I've included a link to the existing exhibitions and we can discuss which one we want to go to during the meet-up. [What's on | ACMI: Your museum of screen culture](https://www.acmi.net.au/whats-on/?what=exhibition&when_start=2026-08-23&when_end=2026-08-30) The books for Sunday 23 August 2026 are: An Ancient Witches Guide to Modern Dating by Cecilia Edward [An Ancient Witch's Guide to Modern Dating by Cecilia Edward | Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/236810735-an-ancient-witch-s-guide-to-modern-dating) The Book Witch by Meg Schaffer [The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer | Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/238226952-the-book-witch) Stay for a spell by Amy Coombe [Stay for a Spell by Amy Coombe | Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/238766958-stay-for-a-spell) If you would like to look at all the books that we have read so far, click [here](https://1drv.ms/x/s!Am2wjNpl1c1ijCNvt-hrWM8gPaem?e=riV48x). Finally, if you can't make it, please change your RSVP to a NO. Spaces are limited, so it will give other people a chance to attend. Happy reading until then!! 🤓

Creative Writing Workshop

Welcome to the Melbourne Sci-Fi & Fantasy Meetup's second creative writing workshop. The first one back in June was a success, and the plan is to do more in between the main book club meetups. This is an event for all writing levels, whether you’ve been writing for years or don’t know where to start. All genres are welcome – sci-fi, fantasy, horror, crime, literary, memoir, poetry, and non-fiction. We’ll talk about the craft of writing, why you want to write, and do some fun writing prompt exercises. Think about the books or events that inspired you to write, and the author you most want to write like. We’ll discuss this in the meetup. If for any reason you can no longer attend, please change your RSVP to a no or message here so I know numbers on the day. We’ll be sitting at the back of the bistro near the kitchen and restrooms (just ask bar staff when you walk in). **What to Bring:** Paper and pen. *About the Host:* I’ve studied creative writing and worked freelance editing in the past. Then life went in other directions. I joined the Melbourne Sci-Fi and Fantasy Meetup this year, and meeting other group members inspired me to pick up the pen again and organise writing workshops.

Denim and Lingerie Workshop

Tea and Type

Join me for a cozy afternoon of tea, books and writing. ✍🏻💞 I created this group for women who are looking for a community and space to write. I can host it at my place (max 10 people) and will provide tea and a some biscuits. I am a writer and new to Melbourne so I am keen to meet other like minded girls 🤗

1 Aug: Figurine Painting and Friends-Social

**✨Are you tired of making ‘how are you’ friends? This event is for you!✨** 🎨What better way to build and deepen connections than through a fun activity like **Figurine painting**! There are many social events but it isn’t easy to feel connected to someone in a large group setting. I am super extroverted yet found myself walking home after a great social feeling more lonely, because of all the superficial connections made. I started Hue&Crew to help people build their next close-friend circle based on age, personality and interest! 🎨**What to Expect** This isn’t a big mixer event, every event has a limit of 6 people per table and a fishbowl full of conversation starters to help people get started! We move around Melbourne's many beautiful cafes weekly to keep things fresh! Expect: * A fresh, comfy venue * A hosted structure so you’re never left awkwardly quiet * A fishbowl of conversation starters for the introverts * A relaxed atmosphere where you can genuinely be yourself * Hand-painted figurines you made yourself to bring home Each group is curated to feel natural, matched by age, interest and personality 🎨**Notice before you sign up:** As the events are really small and it might take some time to form a group with similar interests, we will inform you when there is a suitable group for you! **RSVP now:** [https://forms.gle/4MN6oygujee9qmej9](https://forms.gle/4MN6oygujee9qmej9) **Take a look at our instagram page to see past public events**👇 [https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXY8PXADXsm/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXY8PXADXsm/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==) **Bring a friend for a 10% Discount for the both of you!**

Neurodivergent Hobby Hangout

Origami and Chocolate

Join us for a relaxing time of folding together at the Ratio chocolate factory in Brunswick! Bring a fun origami project to fold and share, all while sipping on delectable hot chocolate! Standard origami paper will be provided. We just ask for a gold coin to help with group expenses.

Maribyrnong River Bank Clean Up

Join us for a relaxed morning of community connection, light activity, and caring for the Maribyrnong River. **What to Expect:** We will walk along the riverbank and surrounds collecting litter, enjoying fresh air, gentle exercise, and friendly conversation. After the clean-up, we will head to Myrtle Café together for a coffee and chat. This is an optional part of the event, and all are welcome to join. **What to Bring:** * Drinking water * Sunscreen * Closed shoes * Gloves (optional – we also provide gloves if needed) We will supply rubbish bags, and have gloves, extra sunscreen, and hand sanitiser available. **Meeting Point:** We meet at Footscray Wharf, near Waterside Metal Art in Footscray. This location offers shelter and free parking on nearby streets. **Important Information:** Please check the exact meeting point before attending. If you need help finding us on the day, call 0418 184 457 or 0415 635 063. Our clean-ups take place once a month and continue in all weather, unless conditions are extreme. Please check the event page on the morning of the clean-up for any last-minute updates.

Lights, Chemistry, Action...