For all of you who are looking for face-to-face, salon-style group discussions of philosophy (and related topics) in any part of the L.A. / Pasadena. Long Beach / Orange County area, I'll list here the groups I know of, along with contact information.

If any of you know of any group that I haven't listed here, please add that info to this thread (by clicking the "reply to this post" button at the bottom of this webpage). I'll also update this list as I hear of other groups.

I hope you find this useful!

Brian
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1) The Philosophy-in-LA discussion group, of course! That's the fun group that created this very webpage/ tribe!
Has been meeting on the 3rd Sunday of every month at 2pm or 5pm for the last 4 years! It's my favorite group :)
Contact: send a message to Brian (AKA ScreamBrian), the moderator of this tribe, by clicking on his profile, or email him at angelonapinhead@gmail.com
Or, check out the other name and website of this group, "The Santa Monica Philosophy Meetup Group," at philosophy.meetup.com/37/ or go to www.meetup.com and put the name of the group in their search bar.

2) Citizen-Thinker Salons will be held at Borders Books on Lake in Pasadena on the first Saturday morning of each month from November 2007 to May 2008. Contact: Philosopher- Citizen Institute philosopher_ citizen@hotmail.com (626) 585-7406. Facilitators: PCC Professors David Uranga (Political Science) & Linda Handelman (Philosophy).
Where: Borders Books on Lake, 2nd floor, 475 S. Lake Ave., Pasadena, CA 91101 (next to Macy's)
"To Our Fellow Philosopher- Citizens: You (along with your concerns about the future of our country) are invited to attend our new series of discussions. When: Our kick-off salon is on Saturday morning, November 3rd, 10AM to 1PM. Civil, balanced discussions. Open to the public. Coffee & light snacks. Suggested donation: $5.00"
Topic: Citizen-Thinkers: Can Our Voices Be Heard?
1. Can a thinking citizen make a dent in our media-blitzed culture?
2. Can our system of representative government ever work as our founders had intended?
(Excerpts from the Federalist Papers will be provided.)

3) Categorically Not! Meets monthly in Santa Monica on a Sunday at about 6pm, with three expert speakers giving short presentations on a theme relating to science, culture and/or (loosely) philosophy. Run by K.C. Cole, the chief science writer for the L.A. Times. Small ticket price (about $5). Santa Monica Art Studios, 3026 Airport Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90405. Contact: categoricallynot.org/upcomingevents.html or www.santamonicaartstudios.com and please RSVP to 310/ 397-7449 or info@santamonicaartstudios.com

4) The Altadena Socrates Cafe. Meets on one Sunday a month in Altadena (near Pasadena).
Contact: socratescafe.meetup.com/128/ , or go to www.meetup.com and put the name of the group in their search bar, or email Bernard at madbard@cafemadbard.com

5) The Los Angeles Philosophy Meetup Group. Meets one Wednesday a month in Eagle Rock (near Glendale).
Contact: philosophy.meetup.com/195/ or go to www.meetup.com and put the name of the group in their search bar.

6) The Orange County Socrates Cafe. For several years, Professor Martin Young has held occasional philosophy discussion cafes for his philosophy students and others in the Orange County area. Contact: www.Madwizard.com

7) The Long Beach Philosophy Meetup Group. Currently meets one Thursday or Friday a month at a coffee house in Long Beach.
Contact: philosophy.meetup.com/250/ or go to www.meetup.com and put the name of the group in their search bar. The organizer is talented Chris Bobo.

8) The OC Philosophy Meetup Group. Currently meets one Friday a month in Orange County.
Contact: philosophynow.meetup.com/1/ or go to www.meetup.com and put the name of the group in their search bar. The organizer is, again, the talented Chris Bobo.

9) The L.A. Futurists Society. Meets one Friday or Sunday a month in the West LA area, sometimes at UCLA.
Contact: go to Yahoo groups and put "LA Futurists" or "Los Angeles Futurists" in the search bar. You can also email them at LAFuturists@yahoogroups.com, but whatever you send to that email address will be distributed to the entire mailing list.

10) Philosophy Club Monthly Dinner. Contact: David at DavidCTerr@aol.com or 310-971-0357.
Here's what their flyer says: "This will be a very informal setting...where people can discuss philosophy, politics, religion, or whatever comes to mind."
Meets, currently, one Sunday evening a month at 6:30 at Souplantation in Brentwood, 11911 San Vicente Blvd (corner of San Vicente and Montana next to I-405) For more information about this restaurant, visit www.souplantation.com/locatio...rant.asp