On a recent Saturday, Veux Café in Visakhapatnam was alive with the gentle activity of pressed flower art. A dozen strangers gathered around a long wooden table, crafting delicate designs with bougainvillea petals and fern leaves. The workshop, centered on Galentine’s Day, ran for nearly three hours without hurry or instructor, fostering deep focus and conversation. This event was hosted by Strings Community, a group started four months ago by Hersh Jain and Sai Vamsi Malyakula. Hersh, a financial investments professional, wanted to create spaces for calm, quality recreation. He said, “We prefer to keep our sessions around three hours because art loses meaning when it is hurried.” Their goal is to let conversations and art flow naturally, building connections among participants. Earlier, Strings Community hosted a clay trinket making workshop at another popular café. Their attendees included a balanced mix of men and women, showing wide public interest. This trend of activity-driven gatherings is growing in Visakhapatnam. Public spaces like beaches, parks, and independent cafés are turning into informal cultural hubs, especially on weekends. Communize Vizag, launched six months ago by data analyst Roshan Polamarasetty and his team, offers over 20 clubs on topics from book discussions to trekking and Formula 1. They plan to add finance and startup talks soon. “We realised that people were searching for spaces where they could engage beyond transactional exchanges,” said Roshan. The Formula 1 club alone attracted over 70 members who joined independently. On February 14, Communize Vizag will host a paint-themed gathering at Cheroney Café for Valentine’s and Galentine’s Day. Another local, Komal Bagrodia Saraf, started Vizag Coffee Club to counter loneliness after moving from Rajasthan. She organizes events like paint-and-coffee mornings and pickleball meetups. “It is remarkable to watch strangers arrive hesitantly and leave as acquaintances,” Komal shared. Meanwhile, Art Social Vizag, founded by IT professional Kiranmai Srinija and her sister Bhargavi, runs workshops including one in January teaching reusable rangoli mats to children. Their popular saree art picnic at VMRDA Park involved nature journaling and flower hammering. "Working outdoors introduced a certain attentiveness," Kiranmai said. Most organizers keep costs low to make these events accessible. Visakhapatnam values affordable, meaningful social and artistic activities that build community. Upcoming events include Art Social Vizag’s Valentine's Day workshop at Brew n Cue Café. For more information, visit the Instagram pages @strings_community, @communize.vizag, @komal_bagrodia, and @artsocialvizag.