Legendary Lunch #2 - January 22nd 2026 - Nedspace@Pioneer_Square

The first Legendary Lunch was a hit, we got too many requests for another one and this time we can get the word out in TIME!!!! :-) . Join us for another Legendary Lunch as we waive the red flag to the employment market out there.
Legendary Lunch #2 is where unexpectedly unemployed professionals and early-stage entrepreneurs meet each other at the moment when plans are still forming.

This is not a motivational event and not a career wake. It’s real people in real space having honest conversations about what comes next.

We believe opportunity still moves through people in rooms, not platforms and feeds. Legendary Lunch is designed as an open field of possibility at human scale: you show up willing to share what you’re trying to figure out next or who and what you’re seeking and the room helps you move.

• Networking-first (you’ll meet people quickly, without awkward “so what do you do?” loops)
• Two short talks to give the room shared context
• An unconference where attendees shape the sessions, discussions, and collaborations

• Unexpectedly unemployed professionals
• Early-stage entrepreneurs, builders, and operators
• Anyone in a career transition who wants clarity, collaborators, or the next door to knock on

You don’t need a pitch or a polished plan. Bring one of these:

• What you’re trying to figure out next
• Who/what you’re seeking (a role, a person, a collaborator, a resource)

If you’re willing to help and willing to ask for help, you’ll fit right in.

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Lunch Session (Two 30-minute talks)

• Surj Patel: What’s Ahead for AI in 2026
  A practical look at what’s likely to change next, what signals matter, and what to pay attention to now.
• Shashi Jain: English Is the New Programming Language
  Why natural language is becoming the interface, and what that changes for builders, teams, and careers.

1:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Unconference + Open Networking + Collaboration
The room opens into a true unconference format: open networking, self-organized discussions, impromptu working groups, and small collaborations that form around shared interests, needs, and ideas. You can stay as long as you like this is where the most durable connections tend to happen.

Town Hall: The Employment Environment (Layoffs + what’s next)
Hosted by Kristin Wolff, a policy analyst who has worked with the Department of Labor. Grounded, practical conversation about what’s aheadand how to think clearly when things feel unstable.Timing will be posted on the unconference board day-of.

During the unconference, you can propose:

• A problem you’re stuck on
• A tool you’re testing
• An idea you want feedback on
• A collaboration you want to start
• A role you want to move into
• A resource (or person) you’re seeking

One firm boundary: if a topic is offensive, overtly political, or intentionally polarizing, we’ll ask you to refrain. If the tone becomes mean-spirited or disingenuous, we’ll intervene.If it’s open, encouraging, grounded, useful, or exploratory, it’s welcome. This room is for constructive public thinking, not ideological combat.

Sign-up using this link: https://luma.com/wrnmkm0u

Info: Surj Patel: What’s Ahead for AI in 2026
A practical look at what’s likely to change next, what signals matter, and what to pay attention to now.
Shashi Jain: English Is the New Programming Language
Why natural language is becoming the interface, and what that changes for builders, teams, and careers.

Info: The room opens into a true unconference format: open networking, self-organized discussions, impromptu working groups, and small collaborations that form around shared interests, needs, and ideas. You can stay as long as you like this is where the most durable connections tend to happen.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

NedSpace, 621 Southwest Morrison Street, Portland, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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