👁️ Seen/Unseen Listening Session
2026-06-27 17:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Iffy Books, 404 S. 20th St., Philadelphia, 19146, United States
Look around. What do you see? Look again.
What stories are hidden in plain sight?
Join us as we surface the power at work around us and within us, all the time. As we learn to read its myths loud in our landscapes and in our language, we see our society and ourselves being made. Inside power’s own construction process, can we begin to see its undoing?
Walk with Philadelphian Gigi Guida on a noticing tour of Philadelphia’s iconic City Hall, where we look again and look within.
This is a listening session and dialogue exploring the audio series, facilitated by Gigi and friend of the series and educator Mya Gordon.
Listen on the website, bandcamp, Apple podcasts, or in the store!

🏴 Anarchy Summer Reading Group
2026-06-28 18:00 - 20:00
We’re meeting every two weeks to discuss classics of anarchist literature, starting with Anarchism and Other Essays by Emma Goldman and The Conquest of Bread by Peter Kropotkin.
Stay tuned for more details!

📚 'Here Where We Live is Our Country' Reading Group
2026-06-29 19:00 - 20:30
Stay tuned for details!

✏️ The Writing Room
2026-06-30 17:00 - 19:30, 2026-07-07 17:00 - 19:30
Come co-work with other writers in three 40-minute units of silent writing. Writers and projects of any type welcome. 10-minute breaks and accountability check-ins between units. BYO coffee, water, computer chargers, notepads, etc.

☀️ Solar Music Synth Workshop
2026-07-01 10:30 - 12:30
Join us and build a tiny solar-powered square wave generator on a breadboard. No soldering required! The workshop is free to attend, but you’ll need to purchase a kit for $12.50 to complete the project.
Here’s a link to the how-to zine we’ll use.
And here’s a diagram of the oscillator circuit we’ll build:

Register:
Registration for this event is now closed. We'll offer it again soon!

📍 Offline GPS Unit Workshop
2026-07-03 14:00 - 16:00
In this workshop you’ll build a device that displays your GPS coordinates and the current time, without connecting to the internet or transmitting anything. 100% passive and off-grid, no internet or cell connection needed!
We’ll use the MicroPython programming language and the Thonny IDE, following the instructions on this page.
You’ll need to purchase a kit to complete this project, which includes the following parts:

RP2040 Pi Pico microcontroller unit w/ pre-soldered header pins
830 tie point solderless breadboard
NEO-6 GPS unit w/ antenna
0.96″ OLED display
Single-core 22AWG jumper wire (30″)
rubber band (to attach GPS antenna to breadboard)

Register:
Registration for this event is now closed. We'll offer it again soon!

💻 Philly 2600 Meetup
2026-07-03 18:00 - 20:00
> The Philly 2600 meeting is a monthly gathering of local hackers, phreaks, nerds, geeks, activists, tinkerers, developers, infosec professionals, and other interesting people.

🏠 IndieWeb Homebrew Website Club
2026-07-05 18:00 - 20:00
Homebrew Website Club is a growing world-wide network of meetups for everyone who wants to take back their web experience from social media silos, and own their online identities & content, or just want support with blogging!

☕️ Coffee Talk
2026-07-06 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-07-20 18:00 - 20:00
A social hangout every first and third Monday for trans and non-binary people, their significant others, and allies. We have snacks and coffee.

📼 Analog A/V Session
2026-07-08 10:30 - 12:30
Come experiment with VHS tapes and audio cassettes! We’ll have equipment on hand for analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog transfers.
Register:
Registration for this event is now closed. Sorry.
Here's a link to future workshops in this series!
This workshop is now full. We'll offer it again soon!

🔊 DJ Basixxx with Mixxx
2026-07-08 14:00 - 16:00
An introduction to Mixxx, a free and open source DJ program for macOS, Linux, and Windows that supports a wide range of DJ controller devices and audio file formats. You’ll be beatmatching in no time!
You’ll need to bring your own laptop and headphones for this workshop. We also recommend bringing a separate USB keyboard if you have one, ideally with a row of function keys (F1, F2, F3, etc.). We’ll be putting stickers on the keys to turn it into a DJ controller. If you have an external audio interface, you’re welcome to bring that too.
The DJ controller sticker sheets we’re using are available on our online store. Or print your own (4″ x 4″) on sticker paper!
➡️ Workshop instructions
Register:
Registration for this event is now closed. We'll offer it again soon!
This workshop is now full. We'll offer it again soon!

CircuitPython code for turning a Pi Pico microcontroller into a USB keyboard

💾☀️ Permacomputing + Solarpunk Meetup
2026-07-08 18:30 - 20:00
The Permacomputing + Solarpunk meetup is the first Wednesday every other month at Iffy Books! You can join us in person (404 S. 20th St., PHL) or remotely via Jitsi Meet.

➡️ Virtual meetup link
From Permacomputing.net: Permacomputing is a more sustainable approach to computer and network technology inspired by permaculture. Permacomputing is both a concept and a community of practice oriented around issues of resilience and regenerativity in digital technology. In a time where computing epitomizes industrial waste, permacomputing encourages a more sustainable approach, maximizing hardware lifespans, minimizing energy use and focussing on the use of already available computational resources. We do this because humans are part of nature and technology is an extension of humans, and we acknowledge that technology has been used to harm nature. We want to find out how we can practice good relations with the Earth by learning from ecological systems to leverage and re-center existing technologies and practices. We are also interested in investigating what a permacomputing way of life could be, and what sort of transformative computational culture and aesthetics it could bring forward. If you want to know more, please start reading about what is permacomputing in essence, and then dive into its principles.
Permacomputing Aesthetics: Potential and Limits of Design Constraints in Computational Culture by Mansoux, Howell, Barok, and Heikkilä (2023)

🔋 Beginner Soldering: Li-Ion Battery Pack
2026-07-09 14:30 - 15:30, 2026-07-16 14:30 - 15:30
Make a rechargeable battery pack for your LoRa node, a microcontroller such as an ESP32 or Pi Pico, or anything that runs on 3–4 Volts. Perfect for folks who’ve never soldered before!
To complete this project you’ll need to buy a li-ion battery pack kit for $3.99. Here’s what it includes:
• 18650 battery clip w/ attached wires
• TP4056 charge controller board
• PH2.5 plug w/ attached wires
• 1/8″ heat shrink tubing (1.5″ long)
• 1/2″ heat shrink tubing (1″ long)
You’ll also need a lithium-ion 18650 battery, available separately.
Register
Registration for this event is now closed. Sorry.
Here's a link to future workshops in this series!
This workshop is now full. We'll offer it again soon!

⚙️ Neo-Luddite Reading Group: 'Tools for Conviviality' and 'The Internet Con'
2026-07-09 18:30 - 20:30
➡️ Virtual Meetup Link
Discord: Email neoluddite@victorgom.es for an invite!
Full schedule: victorgom.es/neoluddite
If you’re joining for the first time, I’d suggest you read this before anything else for brief context: What the Luddites Really Fought Against by Richard Conniff.The only expectation is that you read the chapter(s) of the book that’s listed for that meeting. You’re still welcome to participate if you haven’t done the readings as long as you are mindful. For each chapter, I’ve also noted some optional readings for context, so I’d suggest checking those out rather than reading ahead in the book. And remember, if you ever find yourself struggling with any of the readings or concepts, reach out! Either directly to me over email or to the entire group over discord.

⚡️ Beginner Soldering: LED Spinning Top
2026-07-10 14:00 - 16:00
For this class we’re building a spinning top toy with LED lights that flash when it spins. No previous soldering experience required!

Registration
Registration for this event is now closed. Sorry.
Here's a link to future workshops in this series!
This workshop is now full. We'll offer it again soon!

☀️ Build a Solar-Powered Meshtastic Node
2026-07-11 12:00 - 15:00
This event will include an introduction to Meshtastic, followed by a beginner-friendly workshop where the attendees will build and take home a Meshtastic node of their own. Attendees will learn about Meshtastic, building a simple electronics project, and how to solder.
Meshtastic nodes allow users to send text messages to each other using the LoRa protocol. There is a large existing Meshtastic network in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas. More information about Meshtastic can be found at meshtastic.org.
Instructions for the solar node you will be building can be found here:
https://phillymesh.net/2025/06/21/harbor-breeze-node/
An Android or iOS phone with Bluetooth is necessary to connect to the node and a laptop with a USB-C cable is recommended for the workshop.
About the instructor:
PhillyMesh is an independent group of Meshtastic and HAM enthusiasts that run many nodes in the Philadelphia area. We collaborate to build, deploy, and educate folks about Meshtastic nodes. If you’re interested in joining, check us out at phillymesh.net.
➡️ Instructions
➡️ The solar light we’re using
Register:
Registration for this event is now closed. We'll offer it again soon!
This workshop is now full. We'll offer it again soon!

🧵 Anarchist Sewing Club
2026-07-12 15:00 - 17:00
Interested in learning to sew, mend or make clothes? Already know how and wanna hang out with people while sewing? Come and join us! Sewing supplies and a sewing machine will be available for anyone needing them.

Image credit

🏴 Anarchy Summer Reading Group: 'The Conquest of Bread' by Peter Kropotkin (2nd half)
2026-07-12 18:00 - 20:00

✨ NFC Sculpture Workshop
2026-07-13 18:00 - 20:00
In this workshop we’ll make little clay sculptures with NFC tags embedded inside, which you can use to trigger shortcuts on your phone. Fun!
Here’s a link to a blog post about this project.
Register:
Registration for this event is now closed. Sorry.
Here's a link to future workshops in this series!
This workshop is now full. We'll offer it again soon!

✏️ The Writing Room (canceled this week due to heat)
2026-07-14 17:00 - 19:30

☀️ Solar Music Synth Workshop
2026-07-15 10:30 - 12:30
Join us and build a tiny solar-powered square wave generator on a breadboard. No soldering required! The workshop is free to attend, but you’ll need to purchase a kit for $12.50 to complete the project.
Here’s a link to the how-to zine we’ll use.
And here’s a diagram of the oscillator circuit we’ll build:

Register:
Registration for this event is now closed. We'll offer it again soon!
This workshop is now full. We'll offer it again soon!

📓 DIY Digital Notebook Workshop
2026-07-15 16:00 - 18:00
In this workshop you’ll build a digital notebook, a pocket-sized device for taking notes with a USB keyboard. We’re using affordable, widely available components: a Seeed XIAO ESP32-S3 microcontroller, a 1-inch OLED display, and a microSD card reader, arranged on a solderless breadboard. The ESP32-S3 connects to the display via the I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) protocol, and to the microSD card reader uses the SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) protocol.
No soldering required! Cutting and stripping jumper wires requires a degree of manual dexterity.
Please bring a laptop if you have one! If not it’s OK.
Instructions
Register:
Registration is now closed. We’ll offer this workshop again soon!

🐌 Slow Living Support Group
2026-07-15 18:00 - 20:00
For people who value connection, sustainability, and creativity — without AI.
Bring:
• writing projects
• craft projects
• books & book recommendations
• CDs
Do not bring:
• screens
Provided:
• zine-making supplies
• snacks

🤔 FAFIO Beginner Tech Meetup
2026-07-16 18:30 - 20:30
FAFIO is a meetup for folks who want to learn new tech skills, but aren’t sure where to start. Let’s fuck around and figure it out. FAFIO means there is no instructor. Instead we learn by talking and sharing knowledge, reading info in zines and online, and hands-on trial and error.

📍 Offline GPS Unit Workshop
2026-07-17 14:00 - 16:00
In this workshop you’ll build a device that displays your GPS coordinates and the current time, without connecting to the internet or transmitting anything. 100% passive and off-grid, no internet or cell connection needed!
We’ll use the MicroPython programming language and the Thonny IDE, following the instructions on this page.
You’ll need to purchase a kit to complete this project, which includes the following parts:

RP2040 Pi Pico microcontroller unit w/ pre-soldered header pins
830 tie point solderless breadboard
NEO-6 GPS unit w/ antenna
0.96″ OLED display
Single-core 22AWG jumper wire (30″)
rubber band (to attach GPS antenna to breadboard)

Register:
Registration for this event is now closed. We'll offer it again soon!
This workshop is now full. We'll offer it again soon!

📡 Meshtastic 101
2026-07-18 10:30 - 12:00
Join us for an introduction to Meshtastic, an application that lets you send private text messages over the air using pocket-sized LoRa radio transceivers. We’ll show you how to flash the latest Meshtastic firmware to the device, customize the settings, and start chatting with your friends.
Here’s a link to our zine on LoRa + Meshtastic.
Register:
Registration for this event is now closed. We'll offer it again soon!
This workshop is now full. We'll offer it again soon!

🔊 DJ Basixxx with Mixxx
2026-07-19 16:00 - 18:00
If you’re curious about DJing but don’t have money to drop on equipment, this workshop is for you! You’ll learn to use Mixxx, a free and open source DJ program for macOS, Windows, and Linux. Mixxx supports a wide range of DJ controller hardware, but to make it more accessible we’re using regular QWERTY keyboards with stickers on the important keys. We’ll teach you to find tracks on the web, load them into Mixxx, and get started with beatmatching. It’s easier then you think!
You’ll need to bring your own laptop and headphones for this workshop. We also recommend bringing a separate USB keyboard if you have one, ideally with a row of function keys (F1, F2, F3, etc.). If you have an external audio interface, you’re welcome to bring that too.
The DJ controller sticker sheets we’re using are available on our online store. Or print your own (4″ x 4″) on sticker paper!
➡️ Workshop instructions
Register:
Registration for this event is now closed. We'll offer it again soon!
This workshop is now full. We'll offer it again soon!

CircuitPython code for turning a Pi Pico board into a USB keyboard
