Ignore local storage; admin users NIP-05, media, events, footer updates

- Add /storage/ and /backend/storage/ to .gitignore
- Track meetup time helper, logo asset, and assorted frontend/backend fixes

.env.example

@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ JWT_SECRET=change-me-to-a-random-secret-in-production
 BACKEND_PORT=4000
 FRONTEND_URL=http://localhost:3000
 
-# Media storage
+# Media storage (path relative to repo root, or use an absolute path in production)
-MEDIA_STORAGE_PATH=./storage/media
+MEDIA_STORAGE_PATH=storage/media
 
 # Frontend (public)
 NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL=http://localhost:4000/api

.gitignore

@@ -42,4 +42,8 @@ coverage/
 # Misc
 .turbo
 
+# Local uploads / media blobs (not versioned)
+/storage/
+/backend/storage/
+
 deploy/

backend/src/api/media.ts

@@ -7,8 +7,12 @@ import slugify from 'slugify';
 import { prisma } from '../db/prisma';
 import { requireAuth, requireRole } from '../middleware/auth';
 
+const REPO_ROOT = path.resolve(__dirname, '../../..');
 const STORAGE_PATH = process.env.MEDIA_STORAGE_PATH
-  || path.resolve(__dirname, '../../../storage/media');
+  ? path.isAbsolute(process.env.MEDIA_STORAGE_PATH)
+    ? process.env.MEDIA_STORAGE_PATH
+    : path.resolve(REPO_ROOT, process.env.MEDIA_STORAGE_PATH)
+  : path.resolve(REPO_ROOT, 'storage/media');
 
 function ensureStorageDir() {
   fs.mkdirSync(STORAGE_PATH, { recursive: true });

backend/src/api/users.ts

@@ -22,12 +22,17 @@ function getBlockedUsernames(): Set<string> {
 
 const USERNAME_REGEX = /^[a-z0-9._-]+$/i;
 
-function validateUsername(username: string): string | null {
+function validateUsername(
+  username: string,
+  opts?: { allowReserved?: boolean }
+): string | null {
   if (!username || username.trim().length === 0) return 'Username is required';
   if (username.length > 50) return 'Username must be 50 characters or fewer';
   if (!USERNAME_REGEX.test(username)) return 'Username may only contain letters, numbers, dots, hyphens, and underscores';
-  const blocked = getBlockedUsernames();
+  if (!opts?.allowReserved) {
-  if (blocked.has(username.toLowerCase())) return 'This username is reserved';
+    const blocked = getBlockedUsernames();
+    if (blocked.has(username.toLowerCase())) return 'This username is reserved';
+  }
   return null;
 }
 
@@ -174,4 +179,58 @@ router.patch(
   }
 );
 
+router.patch(
+  '/:pubkey',
+  requireAuth,
+  requireRole(['ADMIN']),
+  async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
+    try {
+      const pubkeyRaw = req.params.pubkey;
+      const pubkey =
+        typeof pubkeyRaw === 'string' ? pubkeyRaw : Array.isArray(pubkeyRaw) ? pubkeyRaw[0] : '';
+      if (!pubkey) {
+        res.status(400).json({ error: 'pubkey is required' });
+        return;
+      }
+
+      const { username } = req.body;
+      const normalized = (username as string || '').trim().toLowerCase();
+
+      const error = validateUsername(normalized, { allowReserved: true });
+      if (error) {
+        res.status(400).json({ error });
+        return;
+      }
+
+      const target = await prisma.user.findUnique({ where: { pubkey } });
+      if (!target) {
+        res.status(404).json({ error: 'User not found' });
+        return;
+      }
+
+      const existing = await prisma.user.findFirst({
+        where: {
+          username: { equals: normalized },
+          NOT: { pubkey },
+        },
+      });
+
+      if (existing) {
+        res.status(409).json({ error: 'Username is already taken' });
+        return;
+      }
+
+      const user = await prisma.user.update({
+        where: { pubkey },
+        data: { username: normalized },
+      });
+
+      res.json(user);
+    } catch (err) {
+      console.error('Admin update user username error:', err);
+      res.status(500).json({ error: 'Internal server error' });
+    }
+  }
+);
+
 export default router;

frontend/app/admin/events/page.tsx

@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import {
   Check,
 } from "lucide-react";
 import { MediaPickerModal } from "@/components/admin/MediaPickerModal";
+import { getMeetupStartUtc } from "@/lib/meetupEventTime";
 
 interface Meetup {
   id: string;
@@ -73,12 +74,14 @@ type EditableStatus = (typeof EDITABLE_STATUS_OPTIONS)[number];
 // Display statuses (includes computed Upcoming/Past from PUBLISHED + date)
 type DisplayStatus = "DRAFT" | "UPCOMING" | "PAST" | "CANCELLED";
 
-function getDisplayStatus(meetup: { status: string; date: string }): DisplayStatus {
+function getDisplayStatus(meetup: { status: string; date: string; time: string }): DisplayStatus {
   if (meetup.status === "CANCELLED") return "CANCELLED";
   if (meetup.status === "DRAFT") return "DRAFT";
-  // PUBLISHED (or legacy UPCOMING/PAST values) → derive from date
+  // PUBLISHED (or legacy UPCOMING/PAST values) → derive from Brussels-local start (date + time)
-  if (!meetup.date) return "DRAFT";
+  if (!meetup.date?.trim()) return "DRAFT";
-  return new Date(meetup.date) > new Date() ? "UPCOMING" : "PAST";
+  const start = getMeetupStartUtc(meetup.date, meetup.time || "00:00");
+  if (Number.isNaN(start.getTime())) return "DRAFT";
+  return start > new Date() ? "UPCOMING" : "PAST";
 }
 
 const STATUS_LABELS: Record<string, string> = {
@@ -158,7 +161,7 @@ function StatusDropdown({
   meetup,
   onChange,
 }: {
-  meetup: { status: string; date: string };
+  meetup: { status: string; date: string; time: string };
   onChange: (v: string) => void;
 }) {
   const [open, setOpen] = useState(false);

frontend/app/admin/overview/page.tsx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { useEffect, useState } from "react";
 import { useRouter } from "next/navigation";
 import { useAuth } from "@/hooks/useAuth";
 import { api } from "@/lib/api";
+import { getMeetupStartUtc } from "@/lib/meetupEventTime";
 import { formatDate } from "@/lib/utils";
 import { Calendar, FileText, Tag, User, Plus, Download, FolderOpen } from "lucide-react";
 import Link from "next/link";
@@ -54,9 +55,11 @@ export default function OverviewPage() {
 
   const shortPubkey = `${user.pubkey.slice(0, 8)}...${user.pubkey.slice(-8)}`;
 
-  const upcomingMeetup = meetups.find(
+  const upcomingMeetup = meetups.find((m) => {
-    (m) => new Date(m.date) > new Date()
+    const start = getMeetupStartUtc(m.date, m.time || "00:00");
-  );
+    if (Number.isNaN(start.getTime())) return false;
+    return start > new Date();
+  });
 
   if (loading) {
     return (

frontend/app/admin/users/page.tsx

@@ -1,22 +1,55 @@
 "use client";
 
 import { useEffect, useState } from "react";
+import Image from "next/image";
+import { nip19 } from "nostr-tools";
 import { api } from "@/lib/api";
-import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
+import { cn, formatDate } from "@/lib/utils";
-import { formatDate } from "@/lib/utils";
+import { fetchNostrProfile, type NostrProfile } from "@/lib/nostr";
 import { ShieldCheck, ShieldOff, UserPlus } from "lucide-react";
 
+function hexToNpub(hex: string): string {
+  try {
+    return nip19.npubEncode(hex);
+  } catch {
+    return "";
+  }
+}
+
+function shortenNpub(npub: string): string {
+  if (npub.length <= 26) return npub;
+  return `${npub.slice(0, 14)}...${npub.slice(-10)}`;
+}
+
+function profileInitials(profile: NostrProfile | undefined, npub: string): string {
+  const n = profile?.name || profile?.displayName;
+  if (n?.trim()) return n.trim().slice(0, 2).toUpperCase();
+  if (npub.length >= 8) return npub.slice(5, 7).toUpperCase();
+  return "?";
+}
+
 export default function UsersPage() {
   const [users, setUsers] = useState<any[]>([]);
   const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true);
   const [error, setError] = useState("");
   const [promotePubkey, setPromotePubkey] = useState("");
   const [promoting, setPromoting] = useState(false);
+  const [hostname, setHostname] = useState("");
+  const [usernameDrafts, setUsernameDrafts] = useState<Record<string, string>>({});
+  const [savingPubkey, setSavingPubkey] = useState<string | null>(null);
+  const [nostrByPubkey, setNostrByPubkey] = useState<Record<string, NostrProfile>>({});
+  const [nostrLoading, setNostrLoading] = useState(false);
+  const [copiedPubkey, setCopiedPubkey] = useState<string | null>(null);
 
   const loadUsers = async () => {
     try {
       const data = await api.getUsers();
       setUsers(data);
+      setUsernameDrafts(
+        Object.fromEntries(
+          data.map((u: { pubkey: string; username?: string | null }) => [u.pubkey, u.username ?? ""])
+        )
+      );
     } catch (err: any) {
       setError(err.message);
     } finally {
@@ -28,6 +61,48 @@ export default function UsersPage() {
     loadUsers();
   }, []);
 
+  useEffect(() => {
+    setHostname(typeof window !== "undefined" ? window.location.hostname : "");
+  }, []);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (users.length === 0) {
+      setNostrByPubkey({});
+      setNostrLoading(false);
+      return;
+    }
+    let cancelled = false;
+    setNostrLoading(true);
+    setNostrByPubkey({});
+    (async () => {
+      const entries = await Promise.all(
+        users.map(async (u: { pubkey: string }) => {
+          const profile = await fetchNostrProfile(u.pubkey);
+          return [u.pubkey, profile] as const;
+        })
+      );
+      if (!cancelled) {
+        setNostrByPubkey(Object.fromEntries(entries));
+        setNostrLoading(false);
+      }
+    })();
+    return () => {
+      cancelled = true;
+    };
+  }, [users]);
+
+  const handleCopyNpub = async (pubkey: string) => {
+    const full = hexToNpub(pubkey);
+    if (!full) return;
+    try {
+      await navigator.clipboard.writeText(full);
+      setCopiedPubkey(pubkey);
+      window.setTimeout(() => setCopiedPubkey((p) => (p === pubkey ? null : p)), 2000);
+    } catch {
+      // ignore
+    }
+  };
+
   const handlePromote = async () => {
     if (!promotePubkey.trim()) return;
     setPromoting(true);
@@ -64,6 +139,26 @@ export default function UsersPage() {
     }
   };
 
+  const handleSaveUsername = async (pubkey: string, currentUsername: string | null | undefined) => {
+    const trimmed = (usernameDrafts[pubkey] ?? "").trim().toLowerCase();
+    if (!trimmed) return;
+    setSavingPubkey(pubkey);
+    setError("");
+    try {
+      await api.updateUserUsername(pubkey, trimmed);
+      await loadUsers();
+    } catch (err: any) {
+      setError(err.message);
+      setUsernameDrafts((prev) => ({ ...prev, [pubkey]: currentUsername ?? "" }));
+    } finally {
+      setSavingPubkey(null);
+    }
+  };
+
+  const handleCancelUsername = (pubkey: string, stored: string | null | undefined) => {
+    setUsernameDrafts((prev) => ({ ...prev, [pubkey]: stored ?? "" }));
+  };
+
   if (loading) {
     return (
       <div className="flex items-center justify-center min-h-[60vh]">
@@ -102,16 +197,109 @@ export default function UsersPage() {
         {users.length === 0 ? (
           <p className="text-on-surface/50 text-sm">No users found.</p>
         ) : (
-          users.map((user) => (
+          users.map((user) => {
+            const draft = usernameDrafts[user.pubkey] ?? "";
+            const stored = user.username ?? "";
+            const usernameDirty = draft.trim().toLowerCase() !== stored.toLowerCase();
+            const profile = nostrByPubkey[user.pubkey];
+            const fullNpub = hexToNpub(user.pubkey);
+            const nostrDisplay = profile?.name || profile?.displayName;
+            return (
             <div
               key={user.pubkey || user.id}
-              className="bg-surface-container-low rounded-xl p-6 flex items-center justify-between"
+              className="bg-surface-container-low rounded-xl p-6 flex flex-col gap-4 sm:flex-row sm:items-start sm:justify-between"
             >
-              <div>
+              <div className="flex-1 min-w-0 flex gap-4 items-start">
-                <p className="text-on-surface font-mono text-sm">
+                <div className="shrink-0 w-14 h-14 rounded-full bg-surface-container-high flex items-center justify-center overflow-hidden text-on-surface">
-                  {user.pubkey?.slice(0, 12)}...{user.pubkey?.slice(-8)}
+                  {nostrLoading ? (
-                </p>
+                    <span className="text-on-surface/40 text-xs">…</span>
-                <div className="flex items-center gap-3 mt-2">
+                  ) : profile?.picture ? (
+                    <Image
+                      src={profile.picture}
+                      alt={nostrDisplay ? `Avatar: ${nostrDisplay}` : "Nostr profile picture"}
+                      width={56}
+                      height={56}
+                      className="object-cover w-full h-full"
+                      unoptimized
+                    />
+                  ) : (
+                    <span className="font-semibold text-sm" aria-hidden>
+                      {profileInitials(profile, fullNpub)}
+                    </span>
+                  )}
+                </div>
+                <div className="flex-1 min-w-0 space-y-3">
+                <div>
+                  <p className="text-on-surface font-semibold text-base truncate">
+                    {nostrLoading ? (
+                      <span className="text-on-surface/40 font-normal">…</span>
+                    ) : nostrDisplay ? (
+                      nostrDisplay
+                    ) : (
+                      <span className="text-on-surface/50 font-normal">No Nostr name</span>
+                    )}
+                  </p>
+                  <button
+                    type="button"
+                    onClick={() => handleCopyNpub(user.pubkey)}
+                    className="mt-1 text-left font-mono text-sm text-on-surface/80 hover:text-primary transition-colors cursor-pointer break-all w-full"
+                    title={fullNpub || "Copy npub"}
+                  >
+                    {copiedPubkey === user.pubkey
+                      ? "Copied!"
+                      : fullNpub
+                        ? shortenNpub(fullNpub)
+                        : `${user.pubkey?.slice(0, 12)}...${user.pubkey?.slice(-8)}`}
+                  </button>
+                </div>
+                <div>
+                  <p className="text-xs font-semibold text-on-surface/50 mb-1 uppercase tracking-wide">
+                    NIP-05 username
+                  </p>
+                  <p className="text-on-surface-variant text-xs mb-2">
+                    Reserved names from the site blocklist can be assigned here (users cannot claim them on the dashboard).
+                  </p>
+                  <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2">
+                    <input
+                      value={draft}
+                      onChange={(e) =>
+                        setUsernameDrafts((prev) => ({ ...prev, [user.pubkey]: e.target.value }))
+                      }
+                      disabled={savingPubkey === user.pubkey}
+                      placeholder="local-part"
+                      className="bg-surface-container-highest text-on-surface rounded-lg px-3 py-2 text-sm font-mono min-w-[8rem] max-w-full flex-1 focus:outline-none focus:ring-1 focus:ring-primary/40 disabled:opacity-50"
+                    />
+                    <span className="text-on-surface/50 text-sm font-mono shrink-0">
+                      @{hostname || "…"}
+                    </span>
+                    <button
+                      type="button"
+                      onClick={() => handleSaveUsername(user.pubkey, user.username)}
+                      disabled={
+                        savingPubkey === user.pubkey ||
+                        !draft.trim() ||
+                        !usernameDirty
+                      }
+                      className="px-3 py-2 rounded-lg bg-gradient-to-r from-primary to-primary-container text-on-primary font-semibold text-sm hover:opacity-90 transition-opacity disabled:opacity-50 whitespace-nowrap"
+                    >
+                      {savingPubkey === user.pubkey ? "Saving…" : "Save"}
+                    </button>
+                    <button
+                      type="button"
+                      onClick={() => handleCancelUsername(user.pubkey, user.username)}
+                      disabled={savingPubkey === user.pubkey || !usernameDirty}
+                      className="px-3 py-2 rounded-lg bg-surface-container-highest text-on-surface/70 text-sm hover:text-on-surface transition-colors disabled:opacity-50 whitespace-nowrap"
+                    >
+                      Cancel
+                    </button>
+                  </div>
+                  {draft.trim() && (
+                    <p className="text-on-surface-variant text-xs font-mono mt-2">
+                      {draft.trim().toLowerCase()}@{hostname || "…"}
+                    </p>
+                  )}
+                </div>
+                <div className="flex items-center gap-3 flex-wrap">
                   <span
                     className={cn(
                       "rounded-full px-3 py-1 text-xs font-bold",
@@ -131,6 +319,7 @@ export default function UsersPage() {
                   )}
                 </div>
               </div>
+              </div>
               {user.role !== "ADMIN" && (
                 <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
                   {user.role !== "MODERATOR" && (
@@ -154,7 +343,8 @@ export default function UsersPage() {
                 </div>
               )}
             </div>
-          ))
+            );
+          })
         )}
       </div>
     </div>

frontend/app/events/page.tsx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { useEffect, useState } from "react";
 import Link from "next/link";
 import { MapPin, Clock, ArrowRight } from "lucide-react";
 import { api } from "@/lib/api";
+import { getMeetupStartUtc } from "@/lib/meetupEventTime";
 import { Navbar } from "@/components/public/Navbar";
 import { Footer } from "@/components/public/Footer";
 
@@ -110,8 +111,18 @@ export default function EventsPage() {
   }, []);
 
   const now = new Date();
-  const upcoming = meetups.filter((m) => new Date(m.date) >= now);
+  const upcoming = meetups.filter((m) => {
-  const past = meetups.filter((m) => new Date(m.date) < now).reverse();
+    const start = getMeetupStartUtc(m.date, m.time || "00:00");
+    if (Number.isNaN(start.getTime())) return false;
+    return start >= now;
+  });
+  const past = meetups
+    .filter((m) => {
+      const start = getMeetupStartUtc(m.date, m.time || "00:00");
+      if (Number.isNaN(start.getTime())) return false;
+      return start < now;
+    })
+    .reverse();
 
   return (
     <>

frontend/app/media/[id]/route.ts

@@ -3,16 +3,45 @@ import fs from 'fs';
 import path from 'path';
 import sharp from 'sharp';
 
+/** Walk up from cwd until we find backend + frontend package.json (monorepo root). */
+function findMonorepoRoot(start: string): string {
+  let dir = path.resolve(start);
+  for (let i = 0; i < 8; i++) {
+    if (
+      fs.existsSync(path.join(dir, 'backend', 'package.json')) &&
+      fs.existsSync(path.join(dir, 'frontend', 'package.json'))
+    ) {
+      return dir;
+    }
+    const parent = path.dirname(dir);
+    if (parent === dir) break;
+    dir = parent;
+  }
+  return path.resolve(start, '..');
+}
+
+/**
+ * Resolve relative MEDIA_STORAGE_PATH against monorepo root — matches
+ * `backend/src/api/media.ts` (REPO_ROOT + relative path).
+ */
+function resolveMediaStoragePathFromEnv(envPath: string): string {
+  if (path.isAbsolute(envPath)) {
+    return envPath;
+  }
+  return path.resolve(findMonorepoRoot(process.cwd()), envPath);
+}
+
 /** Resolve at request time so systemd / production env is visible (avoid build-time inlining). */
 function getMediaStorageRoot(): string {
   const envPath = process.env['MEDIA_STORAGE_PATH'];
   if (envPath) {
-    return path.resolve(envPath);
+    return resolveMediaStoragePathFromEnv(envPath);
   }
-  const cwd = process.cwd();
+  const root = findMonorepoRoot(process.cwd());
+  // Prefer repo-root `storage/media` first — matches backend default in `backend/src/api/media.ts`.
   const candidates = [
-    path.resolve(cwd, '../backend/storage/media'),
+    path.join(root, 'storage', 'media'),
-    path.resolve(cwd, '../storage/media'),
+    path.join(root, 'backend', 'storage', 'media'),
   ];
   for (const dir of candidates) {
     if (fs.existsSync(dir)) {

frontend/components/public/Footer.tsx

@@ -10,26 +10,32 @@ const LINKS = [
 
 export function Footer() {
   return (
-    <footer className="w-full py-12 bg-surface-container-lowest">
+    <footer className="w-full bg-surface-container-lowest pt-8 sm:pt-12 pb-[max(2rem,env(safe-area-inset-bottom))] sm:pb-[max(3rem,env(safe-area-inset-bottom))]">
-      <div className="flex flex-col items-center justify-center space-y-6 w-full px-8 text-center">
+      <div className="flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-6 w-full px-4 sm:px-8 text-center">
-        <Link href="/" className="text-lg font-black text-primary-container">
+        <Link
+          href="/"
+          className="text-base sm:text-lg font-black text-primary-container px-2 leading-tight"
+        >
           Belgian Bitcoin Embassy
         </Link>
 
-        <nav aria-label="Footer navigation" className="flex space-x-12">
+        <nav
+          aria-label="Footer navigation"
+          className="flex flex-wrap justify-center gap-x-4 gap-y-2 sm:gap-x-8 sm:gap-y-3 md:gap-x-12"
+        >
           {LINKS.map((link) => (
             <Link
               key={link.label}
               href={link.href}
-              className="text-white opacity-50 hover:opacity-100 transition-opacity text-sm tracking-widest uppercase"
+              className="text-white opacity-50 hover:opacity-100 transition-opacity text-xs sm:text-sm tracking-widest uppercase inline-flex min-h-[44px] items-center px-1.5"
             >
               {link.label}
             </Link>
           ))}
         </nav>
 
-        <p className="text-white opacity-50 text-sm tracking-widest uppercase">
+        <p className="text-white opacity-50 text-xs sm:text-sm tracking-widest uppercase max-w-[min(100%,22rem)] sm:max-w-md leading-relaxed text-balance">
-          &copy; Belgian Bitcoin Embassy. No counterparty risk.
+          &copy; Belgian Bitcoin Embassy.
         </p>
       </div>
     </footer>

frontend/lib/api.ts

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ async function request<T>(path: string, options?: RequestInit): Promise<T> {
   const res = await fetch(apiUrl(path), { ...options, headers });
   if (!res.ok) {
     const error = await res.json().catch(() => ({ message: "Request failed" }));
-    throw new Error(error.message || `HTTP ${res.status}`);
+    throw new Error(error.message || error.error || `HTTP ${res.status}`);
   }
   return res.json();
 }
@@ -88,6 +88,11 @@ export const api = {
     request<any>("/users/promote", { method: "POST", body: JSON.stringify({ pubkey }) }),
   demoteUser: (pubkey: string) =>
     request<any>("/users/demote", { method: "POST", body: JSON.stringify({ pubkey }) }),
+  updateUserUsername: (pubkey: string, username: string) =>
+    request<any>(`/users/${encodeURIComponent(pubkey)}`, {
+      method: "PATCH",
+      body: JSON.stringify({ username }),
+    }),
 
   // Categories
   getCategories: () => request<any[]>("/categories"),

frontend/lib/meetupEventTime.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+/**
+ * Event start times in Brussels local wall time, converted to UTC the same way as
+ * backend/src/api/calendar.ts (parseEventDates). Keeps admin/public UI aligned with ICS.
+ */
+
+// Parse "HH:MM", "H:MM am/pm", "Hpm" etc.
+function parseLocalTime(t: string): { h: number; m: number } {
+  const clean = t.trim();
+  const m24 = clean.match(/^(\d{1,2}):(\d{2})$/);
+  if (m24) return { h: parseInt(m24[1], 10), m: parseInt(m24[2], 10) };
+
+  const mAp = clean.match(/^(\d{1,2})(?::(\d{2}))?\s*(am|pm)$/i);
+  if (mAp) {
+    let h = parseInt(mAp[1], 10);
+    const m = mAp[2] ? parseInt(mAp[2], 10) : 0;
+    if (mAp[3].toLowerCase() === "pm" && h !== 12) h += 12;
+    if (mAp[3].toLowerCase() === "am" && h === 12) h = 0;
+    return { h, m };
+  }
+  return { h: 18, m: 0 };
+}
+
+// Brussels is UTC+1 (CET) / UTC+2 (CEST). Same as calendar.ts.
+const BRUSSELS_OFFSET_HOURS = 1;
+
+/** Extract YYYY-MM-DD from stored date (ISO date-only or full ISO datetime). */
+export function normalizeMeetupDateKey(dateStr: string): string | null {
+  const s = dateStr?.trim();
+  if (!s) return null;
+  const dayPart = s.includes("T") ? s.split("T")[0]! : s.slice(0, 10);
+  if (!/^\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2}$/.test(dayPart)) return null;
+  return dayPart;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Returns event start instant in UTC, or Invalid Date if date/time cannot be parsed.
+ */
+export function getMeetupStartUtc(dateStr: string, timeStr: string): Date {
+  const key = normalizeMeetupDateKey(dateStr);
+  if (!key) return new Date(NaN);
+  const parts = key.split("-").map(Number);
+  const year = parts[0];
+  const month = parts[1];
+  const day = parts[2];
+  if (!year || !month || !day) return new Date(NaN);
+
+  const t = timeStr?.trim() ? timeStr : "00:00";
+  const timeParts = t.split(/\s*[-–]\s*/);
+  const { h: startH, m: startM } = parseLocalTime(timeParts[0] ?? "");
+
+  const utcStartH = startH - BRUSSELS_OFFSET_HOURS;
+  return new Date(Date.UTC(year, month - 1, day, utcStartH, startM, 0));
+}