August 24, 2026 \ Edition 51

Not really, but at least some of the things we have been gassing on about are taking off, especially among Gen Z and millennials who are craving IRL (in real life) experiences. According to the event platform Eventbrite, interest in “soft socializing” is exploding. Trivia nights are up 403%, while mahjong events have grown by 235%. Even birdwatching meetups and plant swaps – two things that we didn’t even know were things – have more than doubled between 2025 and 2026. 

Also on the rise: puzzle competitions, pilates socials, pottery classes and dating meet-ups. This all reflects the desire – and need – in the age of AI and social media to be in communion with other people and just do human things together.

Read on!