Hi again, my lovely readers!

We don’t have a New Yorker of the Week today! Could the next one be you?!

• Submit yourself to be a New Yorker of the Week

• Share events that you think should be featured (for free)

• Purchase an ad to promote your business

Now, onto the GIF and the goodness:

Gatherings

Double check details before you go, and contact the organizers with questions! The Joy List does not run these events.

Monday, August 17: Sincere Singles Social - Season Opener

Dating isn't about how many likes you get, it's about what happens once you're in the room. The real people skills; learning to tell your story so it lands, flirting without wanting to die a little inside, getting rejected and being completely fine (great, even). Come to Sincere Singles Social and learn to love dating again.

$36, 7-9:30pm, 113 W 24th St (2nd floor lounge). Info here.

Tuesday, August 18: Plus-One Party™: NYC [admits 2]

Everyone says they want to meet someone "through friends," and we help make it happen. Grab a pal and join us for a dating event with a twist: everyone brings a great single friend for someone else to meet! Each ticket includes admission for 2 people (1 woman interested in men + 1 man interested in women).

$45 (Admits 2), 7-10 PM, 300 Spring St. Info here.

Tuesday, August 18: Queer Uno Night

Play uno, make some friends, maybe some enemies, maybe lovers. The night holds so many possibilities. Social with tons of uno decks and competitive spirit. Great burgers, queer company: What more can you ask for?

$5 suggested donation. Bareburger, 366 West 46th St. Info here.

Thursday, August 20: What Does This Taste Like? An Olive Oil Experience

Olive oil is the perfect symbol for devouring life, and "What Does This Taste Like?" is a two-hour experience built around exactly that philosophy. Guided by a trained olive oil sommelier and Artist In Residence at HumorVille, we'll taste exceptional oils together, then respond through paint, color, and words. It's an event that uses olive oil as a muse and portal back into your senses. Come ready to taste, create, and leave feeling more connected — to yourself and others.

Note from Jillian: I’ve been to this, and can’t recommend enough! As someone who doesn’t drink, it was really fun to learn how to do a tasting.

$40, 6-8pm, HumorVille (164 Meserole St, Brooklyn). Info here.

Friday, August 21: Creative Women Walk: Washington Square Park to the Waterfront

Join the Creative Women Entrepreneurs community for our next Creative Women Walk on Friday, August 21st at 6PM.We'll kick things off in Washington Square Park, stroll through the West Village, and end the evening at Christopher Street Pier to catch the sunset over the Hudson.This is a relaxed, no-pressure way to meet fellow creative women while moving and chatting together. Confirmed RSVPs will receive our meeting location one day before the walk.

Free, 6-7:30pm, Washington Sq. Park. Info here.

Friday, August 21: Sacred Activist Potluck in the Park

You are invited to join Brooklyn Center for Sacred Activism for a special gathering of folks exploring what it means to organize for justice that is spiritually-rooted.Every month, we gather for a potluck meal, contemplative practice, and sacred conversation for the sake of nourishing the movements we're part of. This month, we're bringing our practice to the park and opening up to the wider community; we'd love for you to join!

Free, 6 to 8pm. Prospect Park (exact location sent upon RSVP). Info here.

Saturday, August 22: Misc Connections: An Olio House Party

Whether you're looking for new friends, lovers, or someone with a boat, we're here to make it happen for you. One of our favorite parts of running Olio (a miscellaneous collection of art + people) is making connections between our members based on their niche hobbies, interests, or that certain je ne sais quoi. Become a member to join the party, and you'll enter a whole new world of connections before the DJ even starts their set.

What to expect:

8pm: You're matched with new friends to discuss a couple of curated prompts.
9:30pm-midnight: DJ Zimmy Dynamite begins and we dance our asses off until he winds down the evening with an ambient set. Then, we'll stretch and have tea because we love our bodies.

$32.29. 8 PM to midnight. 603 Bergen St. Info here.

Sunday, August 23: Plan Your Partner's Perfect Day

Need a birthday or anniversary gift for your partner? Or maybe you just want to make them feel incredibly loved. In this hands-on workshop, you'll turn your memories and inside jokes into a one-of-a-kind surprise date.

$24 (early bird), 1-3:15 PM, Fractal Tech (111 Conselyea St Fl 2). Info here.

Sunday, August 23: Full Crate Kitchen x StoryTell

Join Full Crate Kitchen x StoryTell for a one-night-only culinary storytelling experience centered on Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" album. After the runaway success of The Dark Side of the Moon, the band channeled industry pressure, creative friction, and burnout into an album about absence — and that story unfolds here through a multi-course dinner paired with a full vinyl listening experience and story sharing. Your ticket includes the meal, the listening experience, guided conversation, and 2 drink tickets.

$155, 6:30-10pm, Williamsburg. Info here.

Saturday, August 25: Taboo Time

A community night where strangers get together to talk about the questions we all think about but rarely say out loud. It will involve a warm game, folks volunteering to be on the "hot seat" and small group conversations. All are welcome and all levels of participation welcome too!

Pay what you want (donations based), 7-9pm, 605 Rogers Ave, Brooklyn. Info here.

Are you design-challenged, but still need to make decks?

Jillian from The Joy List here. I have to make decks for my day job all the time: pitch decks for ghostwriting clients, LinkedIn profile redesign summaries, and my media kit for sponsorships. Boring adult shit.

Gamma allows me to upload all my own notes, and it transforms them into gorgeous and professional slides.

I recommend writing your own copy, but keeping the design. It saves me SO much time, and my decks have scored me a lot of business.

That's it for this edition. Sending hugs.

Stay cool,

Jillian