Kubernetes

6:30 Doors / 6:45 Talk, Panel, Q&A / 8:15pm Social Join us at Restoried Bookshop for **Melanated and Animated** — a panel discussion on exploring the ways in which Black and Japanese cultures have influenced each other. *This event is open to all no matter how you identify. Membership is free… Meetup+ not required!* Our teammates Grace and Jeremy are hosting this conversation with special guests [Derrick Fields](https://derrickfields.co/) (Chicago-based artist, video game director, and educator exploring the cross-cultural blend of Black and Japanese media) and [Restoried](https://restoriedbookshop.com/) owner Justin Valas. This Spotlight focuses on Black and Asian cultural dialogue through manga, anime, and fiction. This event brings together a diverse group of local guests for a lecture, panel discussion, and Q&A. We’ll tackle the characters, collaborations, cross-cultural connections that underpin the stories and communities we love. **LOGISTICS** • Accessible via Kedzie Brown Line & #93. Metered parking available. • Open to the public. Arrive promptly to secure a seat and settle in. • Please support our host with a purchase. No outside food or beverages. • Mask to your comfort. Cancel and message if symptomatic. • We expel No-Shows and last-minute Dropouts.

Our February book is American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America Join your fellow readers at our usual in-person location, the upstairs area of the Whole Foods Lincoln Park (stairs located by the self-checkout). Each person will have a few minutes to discuss their impressions of the book before general discussion. [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/American-Nations-History-Regional-Cultures/dp/0143122029) [WorldCat](https://search.worldcat.org/title/810122408) [Libro.fm](https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9781596599888-american-nations)

**Join us at our TECH MIXER AND SOCIAL for afterwork drinks, networking with tech workers in Chicago and meet people from Chicago and all over the world 🌏🎉** Tech, AI, Data, and more \~ Whether you're a seasoned tech veteran or just starting out, let's create the ideal afterwork place to meet and chill with other workers in tech - find that new job, expand your network, share ideas, and stay up-to-date on the latest trends in the industry. Let's inspire, innovate, and shape the future of technology in Chicago! 🍺🥃 Afterwork drinks 📍 **Hopsmith Tavern** \- 15 W Division St\, Chicago 🕕 **5:30pm** onwards **every** **Friday** 🎫 just $4 entry online or $8 at the door! (helps us to run the event inc. Meetup costs etc!) 🔗 [Link to Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1379224400309?aff=meetup) WhatsApp community in the Eventbrite link above *Chicago tech social mixer afterwork drinks AI connect network data IT programming cybersecurity digital nomad blockchain crypto big data science computer networking community career jobs entrepreneur industry product design startup Chicago tech social mixer afterwork drinks AI connect network data IT programming cybersecurity digital nomad blockchain crypto big data science computer networking community career jobs entrepreneur industry product design startup*z

ChiPy February **main** Meeting – February 12, 2026 We'll have food and beverages at 6pm, with talks starting at 6:30pm. **Bots, Androids and Academia: A Tail of Fraud Detection** By Hugo Seguin Experience level: Novice What happens when malicious actors try to game an academic research study? Hugo Seguin shares his experience with fraud attempts in his research: what happened, how he and his team responded, and how they decided what to fix and what to change. He also reflects on how the behavioral sciences are handling these kinds of cyber threats, and how technologists and technology companies can help protect research from deceptive actors and raise awareness of common pitfalls in academia. **Further details:** [https://www.chipy.org/meetings/1013/](https://www.chipy.org/meetings/1013/) ***Logistics*** *When:* February 12th, 2026, 6:00 pm *Hosted by:* Slalom Build *Where:* 200 E Randolph St, Suite 3800 Chicago, IL 60601 Please fill your full legal name and email. This information is required to send your invite and to allow building security to verify your name against your photo ID at check-in.

Please note that Chicago BitDevs aims at a technical audience. A general expectation is that people are quite familiar with the design, security, and specification of Bitcoin. Everyone is welcome and we encourage newcomers to observe, but it is unlikely that we will spend time answering introductory questions. Newcomers to bitcoin should make sure check out the Bitcoin & Open Blockchain meetup at [https://www.meetup.com/Bitcoin-Open-Blockchain-Community-Chicago/](https://www.meetup.com/Bitcoin-Open-Blockchain-Community-Chicago/) . Check out [https://ChicagoBitDevs.github.io](https://ChicagoBitDevs.github.io) as the meetup draws near for the topic list.

KIRTAN LAB An Ongoing Mantra & Kirtan Practice Series Kirtan Lab is an ongoing, bi-monthly program that meets every other week, offering a participatory space to explore sacred sound through practice. Through live kirtan, mantra meditation, and call-and-response chanting, we engage sacred mantras from the Bhakti tradition in a warm, welcoming community. Thursdays (every other week) Upcoming dates: • February 12, 2026 • February 26, 2026 (and continuing every other week) Time: 6:00 – 7:30 PM Location: Moksha Yoga Center 2528 W Armitage Ave, Chicago Illinois A healthy vegetarian dinner is served for all participants. No prior experience needed. All are welcome. Register for the Feb 12 session: [https://www.mokshayoga.com/mec-events/kirtan-lab/](https://www.mokshayoga.com/mec-events/kirtan-lab/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExQ2tPSEc1c1dEd05jaWdsTXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR7G2lzL-K5RAcUmaYfLm7pGS6aZ8mdVN4tPLfPAKoZsjkBiH-SW1e1Di02KEQ_aem_u_lt3TreCcYxbcdAp97Jxg)... Come chant, listen, and share an evening of sacred sound and nourishment in community.

🚀🔐 **Unlock the Excitement at Burbsec South! 🍻🎉** Are you ready for a night of geeking out, making new friends, and expanding your network in the world of infosec? Look no further—Burbsec South is the place to be, and everyone is welcome! 👥 **A Community Just Like You:** We're just like you, and you'll fit right in! Whether you're passionate about infosec, love indulging in memes, enjoy a good beer, or appreciate compliance jokes (among other things), we've got you covered. Our diverse skill set ranges from novice to expert, and yes, we even dabble in paper hat making! 🎩✨ 🤝 **Connections That Matter:** At Burbsec South, you'll find more than just like-minded people. You'll make valuable contacts, form genuine friendships, and expand your network of professional connections. These are the kinds of connections that come in handy when you're tackling that thorny problem at work, at home, or in the job market. 💡 **Knowledge Exchange:** Whether you're seeking answers to tough questions or ready to share your expertise, there's always someone at Burbsec South who's got your back. We thrive in a collaborative atmosphere where knowledge flows freely, and camaraderie is key. 🕕 **Flexible Timing:** Don't worry about being fashionably late! People will start rolling in after work around 6 pm, and we keep the vibe going for a couple of hours, then a small group often heads out to another local pub for further shenanigans. 🌐 **Stay Connected:** Don't miss out on the latest updates and community banter! Join the BurbSec Discord and follow us on Twitter for all the behind-the-scenes action and event sneak peeks. * BurbSec Discord: [https://discord.gg/invite/VVYDZYmd2w](https://discord.gg/invite/VVYDZYmd2w) (Bridged with Slack!) * Web: [burbsec.com](http://burbsec.com/) * Twitter: [@burbsecsouth](https://x.com/burbsecsouth) * Mastodon: @[email protected] Get ready for a night of laughs, geekiness, and unforgettable moments! See you there! BurbSec Discord: ([https://discord.gg/VVYDZYmd2w](https://discord.gg/VVYDZYmd2w)) Twitter: ([https://twitter.com/burbsecsouth](https://twitter.com/burbsecsouth))

*Before and After, an instant drama* **Fridays/Saturdays, 7:30 PM, January 30-February 21** Life is defined in moments. *Before and After* explores the story leading to a life-changing event and the impact of that instant on all that is to follow. Are we truly changed by the big moments in our lives, or are we only revealed? No two performances are ever the same, but every show is an instant drama created before your eyes. Theatre Momentum is the **only** theatre in Chicago dedicated to dramatic improvisation. Join us for a night of grounded instant theatre. Fridays/Saturdays, 7:30 PM (doors open at 7 PM) January 30-February 21 All tickets $5! Studio Momentum, 1541 W Belmont Ave ### **Get your tickets!** **[https://www.theatremomentum.com/shows](https://www.theatremomentum.com/shows)**

Bingo Bingo Bingo! $20.00 buy in Tic Tac Raffles Pull Tabs Come on out and enjoy a night of fun and prizes!

💗 Let’s celebrate Valentine’s Day starting with a yummy breakfast. Yay! 💗 LOCATION Portage Park Breakfast Place 5040 W Montrose Ave, Chicago **meeting 915 for 930 seating** **It's cash only as we will have separate checks.** Google maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/XnGCasE2Vr7BoBYE7?g_st=ic Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays and getting people together to celebrate is the best. Come celebrate with us. After breakfast if anyone wants to continue with more spontaneous fun I’m a yes. Let’s bring ideas to breakfast. 🙂 Happy Valentine’s Day. We look forward to celebrating with you. 💗

Hi, okay I am so not even sure if this version of the movie will be good. BUT I loved the original years back by Emily Bronte. The EYE Candy isn't too bad either:) So if you're interested in joining me, I'll be in the lobby at 12:45. Synopsis: Tragedy strikes when Heathcliff falls in love with Catherine Earnshaw, a woman from a wealthy family in 18th-century England. Featuring: Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie 2 hr. 16 min. $7.00 before 5:00 p.m. PS - If enough join - I will see about a reservation at Baroni's Pizza down the street to grab a bite afterwards. Thanks! 

**🎟️ 🎶Theater Week Stop 3: $30 tix-Trial in the Delta: Murder of Emmett Till🎭** *Chicago Theater Week 2026 Play #3 - $30 Tix-* *Trial in the Delta: The Murder of Emmett Till @Kimball Arts Center* **Chicago Theater Week Play #3** 🎶 *Trial in the Delta: the Murder of Emmett Till* 📅 **Saturday Feb 14, 2025** ⏰ **7:30 PM** 📍 **The Kimball Arts Center \|** 1757 N. Kimball Ave, Chicago, **🎟️ General Admission Seating** Our **3rd & final stop** for Chicago Theater Week is **Trial in the Delta: The Murder of Emmett Till**, a powerful, award-winning live docu-drama presented by **Collaboraction** in their brand-new **House of Belonging** in Humboldt Park. This immersive production brings the **1955 murder trial of Emmett Till** to life using the **recently unearthed trial transcript**, placing audiences inside the courtroom for a **deeply human, radically honest** examination of a case that changed America forever. Actors sit among the audience, taking the stand as witnesses for both the defense and prosecution — including **Mamie Till-Bradley** — creating a stunning, immediate, and unforgettable experience. New this year! Tickets are available on Hottix, no special codes needed! 🎟 **Theater Week Deal via Hot Tix** • **$30 tickets + fees (normally $55.00)** — no special code • **Limited quantity — WILL sell out** 👉 Buy here: https://hottix.org/shows/collaboraction-in-the-kimball-arts-center/trial-in-the-delta-the-murder-of-emmett-till/ ✔️ Select **2/14/25 General Admission – 7:30 PM** \| **The Kimball Arts Center** **-reg price $55.00 for $30! so $25.00 savings!** Any issues calls Hot tix helpdesk at Phone: **(312) 977-9483 or** Email: **[[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])** ⚠️ **Important Ticket Rules** · You must buy your own ticket · **DO NOT RSVP YES until ticket is purchased** · GA seating — we’ll meet in the bar & sit together · High probability of value-priced tickets selling out!! - buy asap! I’ll arrive around **7:00 PM to grab seats as general admission.** *I may grab a meal nearby earlier & I will post a comment of where I will go for those who wish to meet & grab a bite. Check back for updates* 🍷 **Food & Drinks** • No food served and no outside food allowed • Full bar available (wine, spirits, non-alcoholic drinks allowed in theaters) • If you want to eat, plan to do so before the show — many nearby options • Some of us may grab a bite. I’ll post updates closer to the date **Trial in the Delta: the Murder of Emmett Till** 🎶 About the Production On September 20, 1955, testimony began in the murder trial of two members of Emmett Till’s lynch mob. What happened during that trial — and in the weeks and months surrounding it — would help ignite the Civil Rights Movement. Written by Willie Round & G. Riley Mills, directed by Anthony Moseley & Dana Anderson, this production is drawn directly from The State of Mississippi vs. Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam trial transcript. It plays as a live courtroom reenactment, featuring top Chicago actors seated among the audience. Join us as we witness this vital story — and stay to discuss its impact and legacy. **🏛️ About Collaboraction & the Kimball Arts Center** Collaboraction celebrates **30 years** of innovative, socially conscious theater and opens its new **House of Belonging** in Humboldt Park. The space includes: • 🎭 99-seat flexible studio theater • 🍷 50-seat cabaret with café/bar • 🏙️ Located next to the **606 Trail**, where Logan Square meets Humboldt Park Collaboraction’s work is grounded in **KEDA** — *Knowledge, Empathy, Dialogue, and Action* — theater for social change. **Kimball Arts Center** Kimball Arts Center is a hub of Chicago creativity located next to the 606 Trail, where Logan Square meets Humboldt Park. Home to a collection of independent businesses for over 15 years. Always inclusive. Always open-minded. 🚗 Parking: Metered street parking nearby; SpotHero/ParkWhiz recommended 🚇 CTA accessible https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/ ❗ **No-Show Policy** 3 no-shows without RSVP updates = 3-month event freeze. 🎭✨ **This is a true Theater Week steal — grab your ticket before it’s gone!**

Join Golden Glove Champ and Pro Judge Andrew for a fun and informative group boxing class at a real MMA gym. It takes a couple minutes to prep, so try to arrive no later than 8:45am sign-in! $20 for meetup members ($30 normally)

NERP is Not Exclusively Raspberry Pi, the small computer and embedded systems interest group at Pumping Station One in Chicago. (Chicago's oldest and finest hackerspace.) NERP is discussion driven. There may or may not be a scheduled speaker or meeting topic. NERP provides a place for learning, discussing, and experimenting with open source hardware and software. Also, electronic sensing and control, general electronics, and early history of computing machines and process control, and the Raspberry Pi and friends, of course. And whatever related topic you want to discuss. NERP meets every other Monday at Pumping Station:One http://pumpingstationone.org/ The meeting is free and open to the public. If you would like to show your work or lead a discussion, contact Ed (the meetup organiser) to schedule a day. We are hosted by Pumping Station One, 3519 N. Elston Ave in Chicago. PS1's mission is to foster a collaborative environment wherein people can explore and create intersections between technology, science, art, and culture. NERP and other PS1 interests and activities can be seen at the PS1 blog. http://pumpingstationone.org/

Join other developers for a casual evening of chatting and shop-talking. There is no formal agenda, so feel welcome to drop in and say hi or stick around and make a few new pals over drinks and snacks.

Join the **Elastic Chicago User Group** on **Thursday, February 26th** for a meetup. Terry Dupureur (Elastic) and Saurin Patel (Data Scientist) will present, followed by networking, refreshments, and pizza. *Thank you to [Improving](https://www.improving.com/locations/chicago/) for hosting our meetup. Improving is* *a modern* *digital services consulting firm focused on solving business problems with innovative technical solutions.* **RSVP Instructions:** Please provide your email when you register for this event. **Please bring an ID to the event for check-in.** 📅 **Date and Time:** Thursday, February 26th from 5:30-8:00 pm 📍 **Location:** Improving - 222 S Riverside Plaza 15th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606 **🚗 Parking:** * [SpotHero](https://spothero.com/search?kind=address&latitude=41.87850760000001&longitude=-87.63932179999999&search_string=222+South+Riverside+Plaza+15th+floor%2C+Chicago%2C+IL+60606%2C+USA&ends=2025-11-05T20%3A00&starts=2025-11-05T17%3A00&view=dl) is a great option to resvere parking in advance * Improving recommends the following parking garages: 229 S. Desplaines St (which is also the 625 W. Adams building), 500 West Monroe, and the outdoor lot at 718 W Monroe. 📝**Agenda:** * 5:30 PM – Doors open, grab a seat, and enjoy some pizza! * 6:00 PM – Welcome & Introduction by Improving * 6:05 PM – Building AI-Powered Search & RAG Systems with Elastic: From Logs to LLMs - Saurin Patel (Data Scientist) * 6:30 PM – Lightning talk & demo on Elastic Workflow Terry Dupureur (Elastic) * 7:00 - 7:30 PM – Networking & refreshments **Arrival Instructions:** * **Please bring an ID for check-in** * Upon arrival at 222 Riverside, check in at the **Improving table** * Take the elevator to the 15th floor - the meetup will be in the common area through the doors. 💭**Talk Abstracts:** **Building AI-Powered Search & RAG Systems with Elastic: From Logs to LLMs -** Saurin Patel (Data Scientist) *Modern AI systems are only as good as the data they can retrieve. In this talk, I’ll walk through how I’ve used Elastic as the backbone for AI-powered search and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) systems — combining logs, documents, and real-time signals with LLMs. We’ll cover practical indexing strategies, vector + hybrid search, relevance tuning, and lessons learned from deploying Elastic-backed AI systems in production.*

Managing AWS at scale means balancing performance, cost, and business objectives—but are you making decisions based on assumptions or evidence? Join Bob Dussault from Sycomp to discover why observability isn't just monitoring; it's the architectural foundation that enables excellence across all six pillars of the AWS Well-Architected Framework. Learn how Sycomp's Intelligent Cloud+, Intelligent Observability+, and Managed FinOps services help organizations build observable, cost-efficient infrastructure that delivers measurable business value

**Main Presentation:** In today’s data-driven world, organizations must handle vast and varied data sources while delivering timely insights. This session explores how to design and implement scalable, resilient data pipelines on AWS—from raw data ingestion to delivering business-ready insights. We’ll walk through real-world architecture patterns using AWS-native services such as Kinesis, Glue, EMR, Athena, and Redshift, with a focus on modular design, data governance, cost optimization, and performance. Attendees will learn how to handle both batch and streaming ingestion, orchestrate complex workflows, and manage data across different lifecycle stages (raw, refined, curated) using scalable storage solutions like Amazon S3. We'll also dive into transformation strategies using PySpark and SQL, techniques for metadata management and schema evolution, and tools for observability and access control. Whether you're building your first pipeline or optimizing existing systems, this talk will equip you with practical strategies, architecture blueprints, and lessons learned from real-world implementations. By the end of the session, you’ll understand how to create data pipelines that are robust, cost-effective, and ready to scale—empowering your teams to move faster from data to decisions in the AWS ecosystem. **Lightning Talks:** J Coleman presents "LabCOAT Begins" Alan Gutnov presents "On-Demand MCP Servers and Gateways"

Bingo Bingo Bingo! $20.00 buy in Tic Tac Raffles Pull Tabs Come on out and enjoy a night of fun and prizes!

***Please join us for our monthly Chicago Data Night, cohosted by [Drive Capital](https://www.drivecapital.com/), [ChiData](https://uchi-db.github.io/chidatasite/) and the [DSI](https://datascience.uchicago.edu/)***, ***Practitioners, academics, and aficionados within the Chicago area are all invited to be part of a community at the intersection of industry and academia, brought together by a mutual interest in data. Each month, guest speakers will cover a specific data-related topic.*** *Hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be provided. Admission is free, and we strongly encourage an **RSVP** to attend.* **Meeting Location** **[Drive Capital, Fulton East Building](https://www.google.com/maps/place/215+N+Peoria+St,+Chicago,+IL+60607/@41.8860371,-87.6494763,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x880e2cd00cb2d1cb:0xd3b3f93168e93802!8m2!3d41.8860371!4d-87.6494763!16s%2Fg%2F11cs6mv4hh?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MDkyNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D)** 215 N Peoria St Chicago, IL 60607 **AGENDA** **5:30pm: Networking Reception** **6:00pm: Welcome Remarks** **6:05pm: Guest Speaker** **6:50pm: Q&A** **7:00pm: Networking Reception** **7:30pm: Event Concludes** **Talk Title: Why Knowledge Graphs and Context are the Next Big Thing** Knowledge graphs are a cornerstone of modern AI architectures. They can now be found at the heart of production enterprise systems anytime the business stakes are high. Knowledge graphs provide agents with uniform access to knowledge and context, and work alongside LLMs to mitigate models' top shortcomings: hallucinations, explainability, and discernment; and overcome limitations imposed by data silos. In tonight's talk, Philip will explore how AI changes the way applications are developed, how agents introduce new requirements for the AI knowledge layer, what you can learn from real-world successes at companies like Walmart, Uber, Adobe, Comcast, and more, and how you can get started yourself. **Bio: Philip Rathle is the CTO of Neo4j,** where he helped to pioneer the graph database category, and one of the world’s leading database, analytics, and AI companies now valued at >$2B. Philip’s influence on the data landscape includes spearheading ISO GQL (“Graph Query Language”), the first new international database language standard since SQL was introduced 40 years ago. His work powers mission-critical AI applications at 84 of the Fortune 100, including Uber, Walmart, Abbvie, Pfizer, JPMorgan, Airbus, BMW, and many more; as well as at thousands of startups. Philip is a native Chicagoan who fell in love with data & AI at his first job at Accenture. After a decade in consulting working with some of the world's largest database systems, he co-founded an early Customer 360 startup before moving to Silicon Valley to lead product management for database tooling vendor Embarcadero Technologies, and ultimately to lead product and then technology at Neo4j.