Wein und Cocktails

Tijdens de maakavonden van Meet Je Stad soldeer je je eigen meetkastje dat temperatuur, luchtvochtigheid en fijnstof\* kan meten. Het solderen is geschikt voor iedereen: van beginner tot expert! Daarnaast bieden we begeleiding, dus hoef je niet bang te zijn dat je er niet uit komt. Ter deelname betaal je €15 voor de materialen. Vaak lukt het niet om al het soldeerwerk binnen één avond af te krijgen, maar dit is geen probleem; tijdens onze volgende maakavonden kun je langskomen om je werk af te maken. Inmiddels zijn er in de stad Utrecht nu zo’n 150 mensen die hun eigen meetkastje hebben gesoldeerd. Als je kastje af is wordt hij geregistreerd en kun je hem bij jou thuis ophangen/neerzetten. Hierbij krijg je instructies zodat je de juiste locatie kunt kiezen en je metingen zo betrouwbaar mogelijk zijn. Als het dan eenmaal hangt kun je via de kaart op de [website van Meet Je Stad](https://meetjestad.net/index3.php?loc=Tb) bijhouden welke metingen je kastje neemt: zo kun je bijvoorbeeld zien op welke momenten het bij jou het warmst is en vergelijkingen maken met waardes van andere meetkastjes. Dat kan door middel van [deze tool](https://mjs-datavisualisation-fez7kynngq-ez.a.run.app/) die je helpt om grafieken te maken. Dan kan je er achter komen hoe jouw omgeving ervoor staat in vergelijking met de rest van de stad. Meet Je Stad organiseert ook kennisavonden met gastsprekers die vertellen over hitte, fijnstof en andere burgerinitiatieven in de stad. Dit zijn ook gelijk geschikte momenten voor deelnemers om met elkaar in discussie te gaan over hun metingen en ondervindingen. Zo hopen we een netwerk van betrokken inwoners te creëren en meer te weten te komen over de milieuomstandigheden in de stad! *\*De fijnstofsensor is optioneel en kost 20 euro extra. Indien je deze bij je meetkastje wilt moet je deze via een draad met een stroombron binnen 15 meter kunnen verbinden.* **Organisatie:** Milieucentrum Utrecht (MCU) in samenwerking met de Makerscommunity HaHaHo. **Locatie:** Bibliotheek Neude, Huis van Actief Burgerschap (begane grond) **Kosten:** 15 euro voor materiaalkosten, 20 euro extra voor fijnstofsensor. (Meet-up suggereert bij het aanmaken van een account dat een betaald abonnement vereist is. Dit is niet zo, op de pagina waar gevraagd wordt om een abonnement te kiezen staat rechts bovenin de optie "Ga door met het gratis plan".) *Bij te weinig aanmeldingen kan de workshop afgelast worden.*

We are excited to announce our next Utrecht JUG meetup on **April 20, 2026,** hosted at the **Kamer van Koophandel.** Join us for an evening focused on the future of software development, where AI-driven, agentic systems are becoming an integral part of how we build and operate applications. In the first session, **Soham Dasgupta** will demonstrate how AI agents can power autonomous DevSecOps pipelines; from detecting vulnerabilities to generating fixes and validating them through CI. This hands-on talk offers a practical look at building self-driving security workflows with tools like GitHub Copilot. After the break **Raphael de Lio** explores how memory works in both humans and AI agents. By connecting insights from cognitive science to real-world engineering challenges, this session sheds light on how to design more reliable and context-aware AI systems. Join us for an evening of practical insight, new ideas, and great conversations. Please join us and RSVP! Because of the limited number of seats, please keep your RSVP up-to-date, so we can welcome someone else if you can't make it. *** ## Timeschedule 17:00 Doors open 18:00 Food & Drinks 19:00 Agentic DevSecOps: Autonomous Security Pipelines with AI Agents & Agentic Workflows by Soham Dasgupta 20:00 Break 20:15 The Anatomy of Memory in Humans and AI Agents by Raphael de Lio 21:15 Drinks # Giveaway 1 JetBrains licence *** # Talks ## Agentic DevSecOps: Autonomous Security Pipelines with AI Agents & Agentic Workflows What if your security pipeline could find vulnerabilities, file issues, write fixes, run CI, and request human approval — all autonomously? In this hands-on session, we start with a polyglot microservices repo that has zero security tooling and progressively build a fully autonomous agentic DevSecOps pipeline using GitHub Copilot. You'll see how AI agents perform repo-wide security assessments, how custom instructions shape agent behavior across the SDLC, and how agentic workflows chain dependency scanning, SAST, and test coverage checks into a self-driving loop: scan → auto-create issues → Coding Agent fixes → CI validates → AI code review → human approves. We'll also build custom Copilot agents for IaC security scanning and use GitHub's agentic workflow capabilities to generate recurring security reports — no human trigger required. Walk away with a working, repeatable pattern for embedding autonomous AI agents and agentic workflows into every stage of your DevSecOps lifecycle. *** # The Anatomy of Memory in Humans and AI Agents Artificial intelligence does not need to copy the human brain to advance, yet cognitive science still offers useful guidance. As agentic applications grow, understanding how humans store and retrieve information can help us design agents that act with greater context and reliability. This talk connects human memory to the practical challenges of building AI agents with memory. We will review the main types of memory in the brain, revisit a landmark case in neuroscience, and relate these ideas to how large language models process information. We will also look at the real difficulties of taking agents to production, where choosing what to store and how to retrieve it becomes the core challenge. Participants will learn: \- How insights from cognitive science can guide agent design \- The key forms of human memory and their relevance to AI \- What neuroscience reveals about the limits of large language models \- The main obstacles of deploying agents with memory in real systems \- How our work at Redis led to an open\-source\, production\-ready agent memory server \- Practical ways to improve memory in AI agents This session offers both conceptual clarity and concrete tools for building more capable agentic systems. *** # Speakers ## Soham Dasgupta Soham is a technology enthusiast working at Microsoft as a Solution Architect, with over 19 years of experience in software programming, designing, and architecture which includes on-prem, cloud-native applications, and web-based conversational application design. *** ## Raphael de Lio Raphael De Lio is an AI and Software Engineer at Redis with over eight years of experience spanning multiple industries and countries. He is passionate about distributed systems and specializes in Java, Kotlin, and building scalable, high-performance software with a growing focus on reliable, distributed agentic systems. What drives him is bridging the gap between software engineering and AI engineering, bringing the hard-won knowledge of building distributed, scalable systems into the world of AI where those foundations are often missing but matter most. Originally from Brazil, Raphael spent six years in Portugal before making the Netherlands his home, where he also helps organize the Dutch Kotlin User Group. He loves blending code, community, and creativity to help developers build better systems faster, and with a lot more fun along the way.

Time for our biweekly peer Satsang gathering! This is an open, equal and low-key gathering for spiritual seekers from all walks of life to get together, talk, feel connected and grow. The gathering will last for about two hours. Bring questions, thoughts, or just your presence. We'll see what unfolds once we're there. If you're interested but can't make the currently indicated time, the event is full or you have any other questions, get in touch with me at thijshugenholtz@gmail.com and we'll see what we can do! Location: Buurtcentrum Hart van Noord, Trumanlaan 60 Utrecht but the entrance is opposite Geallieerdenlaan 24

A great ride along the Vecht and Gein rivers. You will love this route. Please ride single file along the winding river as there can be cars around each corner. **Route:** https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/441606271 GPX: https://drive.google.com/file/d/17-T_pT_GH3QKSFcH1WWgfArvxSdAkVzO/view?usp=sharing **Afterwards:** Drinks at Polder https://maps.app.goo.gl/tbt5DDG7YLU3uWvaA **Rules:** \- Download the route to your cycling computer so you can always find your way home \- Make sure to arrive on time \- Before you ride\, decide as a group how you want to ride: you can split up in a fast and a slow group or stay together\, but make sure to discuss what pace you are going to ride and whether you are going to wait if someone is slower than the group\, or not\.

If you are living in The Netherlands, by now, you may well have noticed the amount of open water. If you enjoy cycling in the city, you may wish to feel safer as you navigate the bridges and canals. And you may also want to get ready for visiting the beach, pools or the many lakes this summer. Learning how to swim takes approx 1 year and it all starts with the very first lesson. New comers enroll via our website and pay € 30,50, this is the first lesson and a goody bag. After the class you agree with the personal swim coach how to continue to obtain your final objectives. Enrolling is only possible via [www.your-personal-swim-coach.nl ](https://www.your-personal-swim-coach.nl/)hence a rvsp via meetup is not enough.

Samen sporten, gewoon voor de fun, elke week een divers programma, met allerlei verschillende sporten. Je hoeft niet de beste te zijn, maar wel zin hebben om samen te spelen en te leren. Tijdens een training doen we verschillende spelletjes, basketbal, voetbal. volleybal, spikebal, honkbal. Kom je ook, de bal ligt bij jou!! Eerste keer meedoen is altijd gratis, daarna kan je beslissen of dit voor jou is, of niet!! Dus kom een keer proberen. Kan je niet op deze dag, we sporten ook op andere dagen nl Zondag om 9:30 of Maandag om 20:30 Stuur mij een berichtje als je op die dagen een keer wil proberen! The amount of people rsvp'd to this game doesn't match the real number of people at the event, as Meetup is only used for promotion purposes.

New Year, New Sport! 🏐 ​Whether you've never played volleyball before or it’s been many years since you last hit the court, you are very welcome to join our Beginner Group! ​We train every Monday at 9 PM at Gymnasium Bibian Mentel in Zeeburgereiland. ​Come learn the basics, get moving, and meet new people in a fun, relaxed environment. ​Get more info here: ​WhatsApp Group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/EnPEK1bHLiTGdpqz6Vtbm4 ​Instagram: @brazucavolley

Welcome to the first Cocktail & Mocktail Crawl: Pre King's Day Weekend Edition! **🍊🍹** After a successful first Cafe Crawl and with a second one just around the corner, it's time to introduce something new. This is the Cocktail & Mocktail Crawl. We're kicking off the King's Day weekend the right way, with good drinks, great company, and a little orange. Wear or bring something orange to get into the King's Day spirit! We meet at the Neude and from there we visit two great bars with a delicious cocktail & mocktail menu. At both stops you'll be put in small groups of 4 to 6 people, so there's nice space to connect and have good conversations. ⚠️ Not sure if you can make it? Please free up your spot for someone else.

**📣** Welcome to **our second meetup in 2026!** Missed last meetup? Then its important you know that the Green Software Foundation and Sustainable IT Netherlands meetups, merged into one: **Sustainable IT Action NL!** Our mission is still to build connections around sustainable IT, exchanging ideas in a space for learning - and from there inspiring our members to take action. **🌿** We’re excited to gather peers who care about green, efficient, and responsible cloud practices on **April 23rd**, kindly hosted by **GreenPT** in Utrecht. **⏳ Time schedule** 17:30 – 18:00 Welcome 18:00 – 18:30 Vegetarian bites & networking 18:30 – 18:45 Kick-off & community introductions 18:45 – 19:15 Measuring the environmental impact of Google's AI - interactive explainer – Ozan Ogreden 19:15 – 19:45 Maryse Meinen– Holistic Digital Sustainability 19:45 – 20:00 Pitches 20:00 – 20:45 Drinks & networking **📍** 📍 **Location:** Plompetorengracht 4, Utrecht. GreenPT **❗ Capacity is limited to 50 participants, so please register early.** **✏️ Title: Measuring the environmental impact of Google's AI - interactive explainer** **💡 Speaker: Ozan Ogreden** **🍃 Abstract:** I built an "interactive explainer" that reproduces Google's methodology from Elsworth et al. (Measuring the environmental impact of delivering AI at Google Scale, Aug 2025, https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.15734). I'd like to share the explainer and my observations with the community. What stands out to me is a striking analytical (or rhetorical?) choice by Google team, which seems to be leading to a downward bias in headline-reported figures of their work. With the community, I'd like to attempt at two goals. One of them is a "narrow-minded goal", trying to find a charitable interpretation of what may have motivated Google's choices (specifically in the discussion related to measuring environmental impact of LLMs). The second is a goal with a more important perspective: Given our discussion, what's the best use of our time to move the needle in sustainable IT? *Ozan works at GreenPT:* GreenPT is a GPT-powered chat platform, and robust API, trusted by governments, businesses, privacy-focused organizations, and developers. Running on renewable energy and hosted in Europe for strict data protection, GreenPT gives you and your team the answers you need with a clear conscience and total transparency. [https://greenpt.com/](https://greenpt.com/) **✏️ Title:** Holistic Digital Sustainability **💡 Speaker:** Maryse Meinen **🍃 Abstract:** Less is More! This interactive session brings you inspiration and practical tips for embedding more sustainability all throughout your digital Product Development Cycle! Of interest for any role in the whole cycle of our process, from Product Owner to Agile coach and from business analist to tester! **📖 About the speaker:** Maryse works at the Rabobank improving our way of working and inspiring people to embed more sustainability in how we do Product Development. She is also a Stoic Practitioner. **🎤 Pitches** Our goal is connect people around Sustainable IT. In order to build more connections, we would like to offer the stage to everyone who wants to share something. We will timebox each pitch on 2 minutes exactly! Please note that this session is intended as a community gathering, so commercial pitches are to be avoided :) **🔎 Looking forward to seeing you there!** **👥 Organizing team** Tim van Bergenhenegouwen, Nick Batenburg (GreenPT, host) Wilco Burggraaf, Chris Stapper, Corina Milosoiu, Sabrina Hsieh (Sustainable IT Action NL)

#This meetup is around a third-party organizer (Focus Filmtheater): you can either purchase your ticket online or right before the session. **Seats are numbered**# **Title**: L'engloutie **Language**: French **Subtitles**: English **Length**: 98 min **Director**: Louise Hémon **More info**: https://www.focusarnhem.nl/agenda/lengloutie-2/ **Ticket link**: https://www.focusarnhem.nl/tickets/143042/ **Synopsis**: On a stormy night in 1899, Aimée, a young republican schoolteacher, arrives in a snowbound hamlet on the remote edges of the French Alps. Despite the villagers’ mistrust, she’s determined to shed light on what she sees as their dark beliefs. As she gradually becomes part of the community, a sensual vertigo begins to grow within her. Until the day an avalanche claims the life of a first mountain dweller. **How it works**: I will be at Focus around 18:30, where we can meet before the movie starts. You can message me to find us. Screening starts at 19:00. After the movie, we can have a drink together. Hope to see you soon!

Whether you are a veteran board gamer, or it is your first time playing board games, time to roll some dice, play some cards and flip the table!!! :P You can bring your own games and/or play those brought by others. Also, plenty of games to be chosen from Het Lab to be played. No need to know the rules to a game beforehand. Usually people are happy to explain the rules. Feel free to drop a comment in the event's comments section to look for players for a specific game. \- You can bring your own food or have it delivered. There are plenty of restaurants and food venues are around Het Lab. You can buy soft drinks at Het Lab. \- As usual\, voluntary contribution of 3 Eur per person is more than welcome to pay for the costs of the venue \- All participants get 10% discount on all games purchases on the day of the Meetup Hope to see you all there, happy gaming in the meantime!

**Bitcoin Meetup met Crazy Pool!** Deze maand organiseren we iets leuks: voorafgaand aan de meetup (voor wie dat wil) spelen we Crazy Pool bij Timestamp op de Korenmarkt. Crazy Pool lijkt op minigolf, maar je speelt het met een keu en een bal die je door verschillende obstakels moet stoten. De speeltijd is ongeveer 45 minuten. Aansluitend eten we bij Flor Fina. Je kunt ook na het diner aansluiten als je alleen voor een drankje wilt komen. De Bitcoin Meetup is geschikt voor zowel beginners als ervaren bitcoiners. Stel je vragen en praat mee over de nieuwste ontwikkelingen in de wereld van bitcoin. Wil je meedoen met Crazy Pool of mee-eten? Laat het ons even weten, dan houden we daar rekening mee bij de reservering. * 16:30 — Crazy Pool @ Timestamp (Korenmarkt) * 17:30 — Diner @ Flor Fina (Korenmarkt) * 19:30 — Drinks @ Flor Fina (Korenmarkt) ## English Bitcoin Meetup with Crazy Pool! This month we’re doing something fun: before the meetup (for those who want to join) we’ll play Crazy Pool at Timestamp on Korenmarkt. Crazy Pool is similar to mini golf, but you use a cue to strike a ball through various obstacles. Playtime is about 45 minutes. Afterwards we’ll have dinner at Flor Fina. You can also join later if you only want to come for drinks. The Bitcoin Meetup is suitable for both beginners and experienced bitcoiners. Ask your questions and join the conversation about the latest developments in the world of bitcoin. Would you like to play Crazy Pool or join us for dinner? Please let us know so we can account for it when making the reservation. 16:30 — Crazy Pool @ Timestamp (Korenmarkt) 17:30 — Dinner @ Flor Fina (Korenmarkt) 19:30 — Drinks @ Flor Fina (Korenmarkt) ## Deutsch Bitcoin Meetup mit Crazy Pool! Diesen Monat organisieren wir etwas Schönes: vor dem Meetup (für alle, die möchten) spielen wir Crazy Pool bei Timestamp auf dem Korenmarkt. Crazy Pool ähnelt Minigolf, aber man spielt mit einem Queue und stößt eine Kugel durch verschiedene Hindernisse. Die Spielzeit beträgt etwa 45 Minuten. Anschließend essen wir im Flor Fina. Du kannst auch später dazukommen, wenn du nur auf einen Drink vorbeikommen möchtest. Das Bitcoin Meetup ist sowohl für Einsteiger als auch für erfahrene Bitcoiner geeignet. Stelle deine Fragen und diskutiere über die neuesten Entwicklungen in der Welt von Bitcoin. Möchtest du bei Crazy Pool mitspielen oder zum Abendessen kommen? Bitte sag kurz Bescheid, damit wir es bei der Reservierung berücksichtigen können. 16:30 — Crazy Pool @ Timestamp (Korenmarkt) 17:30 — Abendessen @ Flor Fina (Korenmarkt) 19:30 — Drinks @ Flor Fina (Korenmarkt)

We have never until now featured Zinfandel, the ubiquitous California grape with the Dublin Wine MeetUp Group. At its best Zinfandel, is rich, voluptuous, with great depth of red and blue fruits. Jammy and hedonistic are common descriptions Each person should bring one bottle of an quality Zinfandel wine; be creative and quality conscious, with some bottle age if possible. Turley, Martinelli, Biale, Seghesio, Ridge, Hartford Bedrock, Carlisle, Klinker Brick, Frog's Leap, and anything from the Rockpile vineyard is likely to be very good to great. The Prisoner wines began as a Zinfandel blend. Also bring a protein based appetizer to share and **a wine glass for your personal use.** Cheese and meats are best with these wines. There will be a gas grill behind the clubhouse to grill. We’ll gather at the Oak Creek clubhouse, where the Dublin Wine Group, hosted by Thom and supported by Timothy, will take it from there. Come join us for a fantastic mix of great wine, food, and even better company! The evening wraps up at 10 PM. **Please pay $10 at the door per person to cover the cost of the room rental and for the tableware, napkins, water and cups.** 🍷 **6:46 PM – Dublin Wine Group Social** 📍 **Oak Creek Clubhouse** **9005 Oak Village Blvd, Lewis Center, OH 43035** View on Maps (https://maps.apple.com/place?address=9005%20Oak%20Village%20Blvd,%20Lewis%20Center,%20OH%20%2043035,%20United%20States&coordinate=40.158011,-83.003901&name=Oak%20Creek%20at%20Polaris&place-id=I8D83B59D441EDD9B&map=explore)

## Candle Making Night at The Arcane Foundry \| Design Your Own Custom Candle **SPECIAL PROMOTION**: Buy 3 and get 1 Free! Step into The Arcane Foundry and create your own custom candle from start to finish. This is a laid back, hands-on experience where **you’ll blend fragrances, choose your vessel, and pour your own candle using 100% soy wax**. Whether you’re coming solo or with friends, it’s designed to be simple, creative, and a good time. We’ll walk you through the entire process, from picking your scents to choosing between a traditional cotton wick or a crackling wood wick. You can go with one fragrance or mix your own blend to create something completely unique**. No experience needed**, just show up and we’ll handle the rest. While your candle sets, feel free to hang out, play a game, explore the shop, or just relax and talk. Drinks and snacks are available, and the atmosphere leans into the **fantasy**, **dark academia**, and **gothic horror** vibe The Arcane Foundry is known for. Learn More: [Candle Making in Columbus, Ohio at The Arcane Foundry](https://thearcanefoundry.com/candle-making/) *** ### What to Expect: * Guided candle making experience * Choose your own vessel, wax, wick, and fragrance * 100% soy wax candles * Optional drinks and snacks * Time to relax while your candle cools *** ### Important Notes: * Please arrive on time so we can start together * Candles will need time to set before taking home * This is a beginner-friendly event *** ### RSVP Required Reserve your spot on Meetup to lock in your seat. **Candle Making** (includes vessel, your choice of wick, wax, scented oil, labels and lids) 5oz Glass Jars $15 8oz Candle Tins $25 12oz Glass Candles $35 12oz Amber Jars $40 16 oz Skull or Jack o Lantern Candle Mugs $65 (Limited Edition!) **All materials included. You just bring yourself (and your drink of choice).** **Payments accepted:** * Credit Card * Venmo: @Daclaud-Lee * Cashapp: $DaclaudL

The aim of this group is to get together and practice our German. Doesn’t matter if are a beginner or a native speaker. The goal is to speak and improve our German. Everyone is welcome! If the weather is good, look for us in the Biergarten. Pro Tip: Get there before 6:00 for happy hour pricing.

**Sunday Golf League at Safari Golf Club ⛳** Join us for a fun and social golf season at **Safari Golf Club** (next to the **Columbus Zoo and Aquarium**) in Powell! 🗓 **Sundays at 3:45 PM** 📅 May 3 – August 2 🏆 Week 13 (Aug 2): 9-hole scramble, awards party, food & prizes 🌧 Rain Date: August 16 🚫 No play on May 24 ⛳ **Season Includes:** • 13 weeks of golf • 12 weeks of 9-hole play • 13th week scramble + awards celebration 🚶 Walking is welcome in this league! You can choose to play in a **competitive** or **social** group — all skill levels encouraged. 💲 Full Season: $382 💲 Half Season: $210 YOU MUST SIGN UP AND PAY FOR LEAGUE WITH LINK BELOW: [Sunday Golf - 2026 - Calendar - Columbus Ski Club](https://www.columbusskiclub.org/content.aspx?page_id=4002&club_id=686961&item_id=2877928&actr=3) Questions? Peggy McDaniel (Activity Leader) – 614-216-6779 Bev McCain (Scoring Assistant) – 614-738-6560

Details Let's join together for a fiesta! (Invite friends - we have lots of room!) Taco Bar Margarita and Beer tasting Complementary chips and salsa Margs/cocktails at the bar for purchase Freshly prepared snacks in the deli for purchase Festive Band/Music Margaritas/Mexican Beer Tasting + Taco Bar: $15.00 per person (covers 4 Margarita or beer samples and one pass thru the Taco Bar) Where: #MarketDistrict (Grandview Yard) location. The party room (our private space) will be decorated with both patios open! Adjoining upstairs area also open for over flow and mingling. After Party: Sometimes, we head to a venue to hear live music afterwards. LDNL is at Black Swan in Hilliard tonight! Wear your bright colors and cheerful !Salud!

**History** [Prairie Oaks Metro Park](https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/prairie-oaks/) sits along the Franklin and Madison County border, west of Columbus near areas like Hilliard and West Jefferson. The land was part of the broader push in the late 1990s and early 2000s to expand the Metro Parks system into the northwest and western quadrants of the county. Metro Parks began acquiring parcels for what would become Prairie Oaks during the millennium era, as part of a wave of new parks aimed at protecting natural features around Big Darby Creek. Much of the property had been altered by past uses, including farming and quarrying, which left behind pits that later became the Darby Bend Lakes. The park's creation reflected growing interest in preserving remnants of the Darby Plains ecosystem, one of Ohio's original prairie regions that had largely disappeared after European settlement. The park officially opened to the public in 2000, making it one of the newer additions to the Metro Parks lineup at the time. As the 12th park in the system, it joined others acquired around the turn of the century, like Glacier Ridge. Initial access focused on basic trails and the scenic Big Darby Creek, a State and National Scenic River that winds through the property. Restoration efforts kicked off soon after opening, with crews using seeds native to the Darby Plains to replant nearly 500 acres of tallgrass prairie and grasslands. These plantings aimed to revive the open oak savannas that once characterized the area before widespread agriculture in the 1800s. Over the first decade, Prairie Oaks grew in popularity for its mix of restored habitats and recreational features. The former quarry in the eastern section transformed into the Darby Bend Lakes area, where four connected lakes now offer boating, fishing, and a dedicated dog swim spot. Trails expanded to showcase the prairie blooms, especially in summer and fall when asters and goldenrods light up the fields. Partnerships with groups like The Nature Conservancy highlighted the park's role in protecting the Darby Creek watershed, often called one of the "Last Great Places" for its water quality and biodiversity. Visitors from around central Ohio started discovering it as a quieter alternative to busier spots closer in. Restoration work continued into the 2010s, including wet prairie projects on about 190 acres to enhance hydrology and native plant diversity. The park's size reached over 2,200 acres, incorporating more floodplain along Big Darby Creek for flood storage and wildlife habitat. Amenities like parking at Sycamore Plains and Darby Bend Lakes improved access, drawing hikers, kayakers, and birders. Events and programs began emphasizing the prairie theme, from guided walks on blooming seasons to educational talks about pre-settlement landscapes. These efforts helped solidify Prairie Oaks as a showcase for ecological recovery in the Metro Parks system. Today, Prairie Oaks stands out for blending restored prairie with creek-side adventure, just a short drive from the west side. Its history mirrors the Metro Parks' shift toward large-scale habitat restoration in the 21st century. The park continues to evolve with ongoing stewardship, protecting what remains of the Darby Plains while offering locals a place to experience tallgrass vistas and oak openings. Whether paddling the lakes or walking the trails, it's a reminder of how much the region has changed since settlement — and how intentional work can bring some of it back. **Map of the Park** Here is a [map of Prairie Oaks](https://www.metroparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/POK_map_1980.jpg). **Summary** For this event, we will hike the Coneflower, Alder, and Sycamore Plains Trails, and, depending on conditions, the Osage Opening and Tall Grass Trails, or Lake View, Mound, Darby Creek Greenway, and River Rock Trails around the lakes. Either way, we'll go around 4.5 to 5 miles. For the most part, this won't be a terribly strenuous hike; Prairie Oaks tends to be flat. However, some of the hike won't be shaded, so be prepared for the possibility of some sun. Parts of the trails may also be muddy or wet, so I recommend [hiking shoes](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D972KN3W) and a change of socks. **Where We'll Meet** * Enter the Park at the main entrance at 3225 NE Plain City-Georgesville Rd. If you put "Prairie Oaks Metro Parks" into your Google Maps, it should default to this main address (but double-check to be sure). * After you enter the Park, the first parking lot on your right is the Park Office. Keep driving past this lot. * Enter the second parking lot you come to (which is also on your right). There's a picnic area, playground, and latrine here. There's no water fountain, though, so I recommend you bring water of your own, at least for after the hike. * I've included a screen shot in the Photos, below, where I've circled in blue the main Park entrance as well as the picnic area we're meeting at. **After the Hike** After we're done surveying the prairie grasses, we'll head over to [Crooked Can Brewing](https://crookedcanohio.com/) for [drinks](https://www.crookedcanohio.com/beer) and [food](https://www.crookedcanohio.com/center-street-market). The brewery has an entire food court, and they have a large free parking lot next to the [Early Television Museum](https://www.earlytelevision.org/). The actual address of the brewery is [5354 Center St, Hilliard, OH 43026](https://www.google.com/maps/place/5354+Center+St,+Hilliard,+OH+43026/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x883893f9ede6d5fb:0xbecf42d7055d9006?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111). We should be there by 5 if you can't make the hike and just want to join us for drinks.

Love getting lost in a good book? [The Book Loft](https://www.bookloft.com/) of German Village is an iconic independent bookstore packed with hard-to-find literary treasures! This isn’t your run-of-the-mill bookstore; it’s a 32-room literary wonderland that would make even the most seasoned bibliophile’s head spin (one of the largest in the country)! **MEET**: We'll gather outside the storefront and then start browsing... **DESSERT**: We'll grab some famous macaroons to start our foodie tour. [Pistacia Vera](https://www.pistaciavera.com/) is a delicious bakery and cafe in the German Village. This charming shop is especially known for its classic macarons. **HAPPY HOUR**: Italian drinks and bites at [Cento's happy hour](https://centogermanvillage.com/menus/). **PARKING**: Street parking all around here. Check the parking time limit. The bookstore and the foodie stops are all on 3rd Street within 4 blocks on the same side of the street.