Social and Cultural Outings

**Build & Gin: "Gradimo zdrav tim"** *(druga radionica u seriji)* ### **O radionici** Kako izgleda zdrav tim u stvarnosti, ne idealan, nego onaj koji funkcionira i kad nije savršeno? Nakon radionice o disfunkcijama tima, idemo korak dalje. Na ovoj radionici istražujemo **kako se zdrav tim svjesno gradi**: * kroz ponašanja, * odnose i * svakodnevne odluke. Radionica započinje opuštenim uvodom: sudionici sami pripremaju svoj **gin tonik**, kao metaforu različitosti i osobnih stilova. Nastavljamo kroz **LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® metodu**, gdje svi aktivno sudjeluju, grade, dijele i reflektiraju. ### **Što ćeš dobiti?** * jasniju sliku što čini zdrav tim * uvid u vlastitu ulogu u timu * konkretna ponašanja koja jačaju suradnju * opušteno, sigurno i zabavno iskustvo ### **Serija radionica 2026.** 1. **Gradimo zdrav tim** 2. **Od pojedinaca do tima** 3. **Temelji jakog tima** 4. **Kako tim ostaje jak kad nije lako** **Radionicu vode:** **Josipa Borić-Novosel & Leonid Kushnir** LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® treneri i facilitatori 📍 Lokacija: **TBD, Beograd** 📅 Datum: 25.5.2026., **Okupljanje od 17:10 \| Početak u 17:30 \| Završetak u 20:00** ⚠️ 💶 Cijena: 20€- plaćanje na licu mjesta Studenti: 10€ 📧 **Prijave obavezne:** \*kroz Meetup aplikaciju i **mailom: jbn@astyre.hr**. Broj mjesta je ograničen.

Colors are not just what we see — they are energy vibrating at different frequencies. Each color brings unique benefits to the body and mind, supporting balance, clarity, and inner harmony. Experience colors as energy and immerse yourself in the healing qualities of green, blue, pink, gold, and crystal energy. Awaken creativity, strengthen your inner power, and bring more joy and success into your life.

Pozdrav Gopheri, Novi meetup! Tema ovog druženja je: Gdje idu moji paketi? Vodič kroz Go projektne strukture. Lokacija je: Dvorana C na Tehničko veleučilište u Zagrebu Borongajska cesta 83E, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia https://maps.app.goo.gl/1jKZDsiqMbhZc7136 Besplatni parking je moguć ispred zgrade Veleučilišta. Kao i uvijek, pozivamo vas da nam se javite s temom za predavanje. Dobrodošle su i teme za manje iskusne sudionike. Također vas pozivamo da nam se pridružite na Gophers slack kanalu: #croatia https://invite.slack.golangbridge.org/ \-\-\- Hello Gophers New meetup! The topic of this meeting is: Where do my packages go? A guide to Go project structures. The location is: Hall C at Zagreb University of Applied Sciences (Tehničko veleučilište u Zagrebu – TVZ) Borongajska cesta 83E, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia https://maps.app.goo.gl/1jKZDsiqMbhZc7136 Free parking is available in front of the University building. As always, we invite you to contact us with a topic for a talk. Topics for less experienced participants are also welcome. We also invite you to join us on the Gophers slack channel: #croatia https://invite.slack.golangbridge.org/

Marketingaši se često susreću s paradoksom da imaju više kanala i alata nego ikad, a sve je teže postići opipljive rezultate. Ako vam ovo zvuči poznato, **[događaj](https://go.leverup.io/leverup_braze_zagreb_2026?utm_source=Meetup&utm_medium=events&utm_campaign=Braze_events_2026)** koji **[𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗨𝗣](https://leverup.io/braze/?utm_source=Meetup&utm_medium=events&utm_campaign=Braze_events_2026)** organizira s **[𝗕𝗿𝗮𝘇𝗲𝗼𝗺](https://www.braze.com/?utm_source=Meetup&utm_medium=events&utm_campaign=Braze_events_2026)** je baš za vas. ✅ LeverUP, zagrebačka konzultantska tvrtka specijalizirana za customer engagement poziva vas na ekskluzivni događaj ***[Više kanala, više alata… a manje rezultata?](https://go.leverup.io/leverup_braze_zagreb_2026?utm_source=Meetup&utm_medium=events&utm_campaign=Braze_events_2026)*** Pokazat ćemo vam što Braze, vodeća svjetska platforma za customer engagement, može učiniti za vaše poslovanje i kako spaja podatke, kanale i personalizaciju na jednom mjestu i koristi ih u stvarnom vremenu. ⌛ **𝗞𝗮𝗱𝗮?** 27\. svibnja 2026\.\, od 10:00 do 13:00 sati 📍 **𝗚𝗱𝗷𝗲?** Hotel Zonar, Trg Krešimira Ćosića 9, Zagreb **Što vas sve čeka:** ✅ koliko zapravo znate o svojim kupcima? ✅ po čemu je Braze drugačiji od drugih platformi - višekanalna komunikacija, personalizacija, metrike ✅ interaktivni live demo - kad Braze Agent radi umjesto vas ✅ konkretni odgovori, a ne teorija - kako su brendovi povećali konverzije i lojalnost kupaca pomoću Brazea ✅ networking i razgovor s ambicioznim marketingašima u opuštenoj atmosferi Hotela Zonar ✅ piće i hrana Dress code - business casual Broj mjesta je ograničen. **[➡️ 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗷𝗮𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗮.](https://go.leverup.io/leverup_braze_zagreb_2026?utm_source=Meetup&utm_medium=events&utm_campaign=Braze_events_2026)** Veselimo se vašem dolasku. 🙂

\*\*\*\* Practice Foreign Languages with Native Speakers \*\*\*\*\* === \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* at the Language Conversation Table \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* === \*\*\*\* Practice Foreign Languages with Native Speakers \*\*\*\*\* === \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* at the Language Conversation Table \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* === The caffe Cukeraj provides us with a back-room reserved just for this event, where we get to practice Croatian and other languages three hours for free.The entrance is free, but to be sure that Domenico will continue to host us, please have at least one drink when you're coming.at Cukeraj, Petrinjska 61See you soon!P.S. IF U HAVE ANY PROBLEMS FINDING THE PLACE BE FREE TO CONTACT THE ORGANIZER: +385953913346 \*\*\*\*\* Vježbajte Strane Jezike sa Izvornim Govornicima \*\*\*\*\* === Za organizaciju događaja se ne mora nista platiti. Radi korištenja prostora u kafiću (koji se nalazi u dvorišnoj zgradi) , bilo bi poželjno kad bi svatko naručio barem jedno piće. Nedjelja 18:00 - 21:00 sati Cukeraj Petrinjska 61

\*\*\*\* Practice Foreign Languages with Native Speakers \*\*\*\*\* === \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* at the Language Conversation Table \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* === \*\*\*\* Practice Foreign Languages with Native Speakers \*\*\*\*\* === \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* at the Language Conversation Table \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* === The caffe Domenico provides us with a back-room reserved just for this event, where we get to practice Croatian and other languages three hours for free.The entrance is free, but to be sure that Domenico will continue to host us, please have at least one drink when you're coming.At Domenico, Preradovićeva 33/3. See you soon!P.S. IF U HAVE ANY PROBLEMS FINDING THE PLACE BE FREE TO CONTACT THE ORGANIZER: +385953913346 \*\*\*\*\* Vježbajte Strane Jezike sa Izvornim Govornicima \*\*\*\*\* === Za organizaciju događaja se ne mora nista platiti. Radi korištenja prostora u kafiću (koji se nalazi u dvorišnoj zgradi) , bilo bi poželjno kad bi svatko naručio barem jedno piće. Nedjelja 18:00 - 21:00 sati Domenico Preradovićeva 33/3

Hey everyone! Join us for our next meetup on **May 27th** starting at **18:00** at a new venue - **Pogon Mislavova** (Kneza Mislava 18). We'll have an interesting talk by our own Vitaliy, followed by our usual networking. Afterwards, we'll either stay at Pogon or head to a nearby bar (Canopy Bar sounds like a good option). \*\*\* Electron in Production: Building Efficient Desktop Apps with Native Modules by **Vitaliy Yunikov** VS Code, Slack, Figma, Linear, Notion — a lot of the desktop apps web developers use daily - are all Electron. Electron also has a reputation for being slow and bloated. Both are true: a well-built Electron app feels native, a default one doesn't. This talk covers what production Electron teams know that the docs don't tell you. We'll go through the process model and what each process costs, the security defaults you need from day one, the JS-side performance moves that buy back the memory Chromium charges, and what happens when pure JavaScript stops being fast enough - going native with N-API, including the data, threading, and memory contracts that surprise even experienced JS developers. Hope to see you there! Marcela

**Pridružite nam se na Engineering Management Meetupu #16** (a tražimo i još 1 sponzora tako da osiguramo snimku meetupa 🔎) Pozivamo sve **Senior Software Engineere, Tech Leadove, Team Leadove, Engineering Managere, Direktore, VPeve, CTOe**, kao ili sve one koji tome teže u budućoj karijeri, da nam se pridruže na idućem meetupu! 📆 Kada? **Utorak, 26. svibnja 2026.** 🌍 Gdje? Sveučilište Algebra Bernays, Gradišćanska 24, Zagreb (Spark event space) ✅ Mjesta su ograničena, pa rezervirajte svoje na vrijeme! Ispunite[ prijavni obrazac!](https://algebra.hr/mba/dogadanja/engineering-management-meetup/#prijava) 🙌🏻 📖 Program: 17.30 - 18.00 sati Registracija 18.00-20.00 sati: Program Panel diskusija **“AI u engineering timovima: upravljaju li voditelji promjenama ili hvataju promjene?”** Panelisti: * **Mario Žderić**, CTO, DECODE * **Nikola Buhiniček**, Engineering Manager, Productive * **Denis Buketa**, Engineering Manager, Solflare Moderator: **Filip Šišić**, Engineering Manager, Google Predavanje: “**Leadership je emocionalni proces. Zato vam AI tu ne može pomoći (i neće još dugo)**” Predavač: Ivica Vrančić, Management Development Consultant, Verantius Više [o programu](https://algebra.hr/mba/dogadanja/engineering-management-meetup/) \*\*\*\*\*\* Nakon službenog dijela programa, slijedi networking uz 🍕powered by **DECODE** i 🍻 powered by **Sofascore,** a podizanje šećera će nam osigurati **VuMedi.** Hvala [Poslovna škola Sveučilišta Algebra Bernays ](https://algebra.hr/mba/)našem glavnom partneru projekta, na prostoru i velikoj pomoći u organizaciji ❤️. \*\*\*\*\*\* **Upoznajte naše partnere i sponzore:** **[Poslovna škola Sveučilišta Algebra Bernays](https://algebra.hr/mba/)**: Za pokretanje rasta i razvoja tvrtki danas su neophodni poslovni lideri koji razumiju brzu transformaciju poslovanja i stvaraju nove vrijednosti u digitalnom okruženju. Vođenje ljudi i korištenje digitalnih tehnologija nadopunjuju se i postaju ključni element suvremenog poslovanja. Posvećeni smo razvoju e-lidera koji potiču uspješnu poslovnu transformaciju i inovacije u svojim sredinama, koristeći se naprednim informacijskim i komunikacijskim tehnologijama. Njihove vještine e-vođenja bitne su jer potiču gospodarski rast i stvaraju nova radna mjesta, zahvaljujući punom korištenju novih, inovativnih tehnologija. **[DECODE](https://decode.agency/open-positions/)** zagrebačka agencija za razvoj softvera. Od 2011. rade na kompleksnim mobilnim i web projektima za klijente od startupa do Fortune 500 kompanija. Trenutno broje oko 80 ljudi, a svaki projekt dobiva dedicirani tim s punim fokusom. **[Sofascore](https://corporate.sofascore.com/careers)** je tvrtka za sportske podatke sa sjedištem u Zagrebu. Aplikaciju za praćenje rezultata mjesečno koristi više od 25 milijuna korisnika koji pregledavaju više od 20 različitih sportova. **[VuMedi](https://www.vumedi.com/)**[ ](https://www.vumedi.com/)je najveća svjetska videoedukacijska platforma namijenjena liječnicima gdje više od pola milijuna stručnjaka koriste VuMedi za edukaciju, istraživanje i stručne rasprave, a znanje koje stječu svakodnevno primjenjuju u radu s pacijentima tako poboljšavajući živote ljudi diljem svijeta.

Hi everyone! Join us for RubyZG May meetup. We have 2 great talks lined up: Vlado will show us how to go beyond the default Rails 8 PWA setup and build apps that work offline, and Bruno will talk about using more database features in Rails with Scenic and FX. This is also our first meetup at a new location: [Pogon, in Mislavova street](https://www.pogon.hr/rezerviraj-prostor/mislavova/opis/). After the talks, we're going for drinks nearby. There are a couple of interesting options around, including Monocycle, Boogie Lab and Branimir Mall, so we can vote on the favorite after the formal part of the meetup. See you at Pogon! \*\*\* **Beyond manifest and service-worker: Rails PWAs in Practice** by [Vlado Cingel](https://www.linkedin.com/in/vladocingel/) Rails 8 ships with PWA support out of the box, but the built-in /manifest.json and /service-worker.js routes are just the starting line. In this talk we'll go from that default to a fully offline app: caching pages, storing structured data and building forms that work without a network. **Database Features, the Rails Way** by [Bruno Sutic](https://www.linkedin.com/in/brunosutic/) Rails makes database work simple, but sometimes the right solution lives closer to the database. In this talk we'll look at Scenic and FX, two gems that help us use views, functions and triggers in PostgreSQL while keeping the workflow familiar to Rails developers.

**History** The [Franklin Park Conservatory](https://www.fpconservatory.org/)’s roots trace back to 1852 when the Franklin County Agricultural Society purchased 88 acres of land to host the Ohio State Fair. After the fair moved to its permanent home, the city of Columbus transformed the grounds into Franklin Park in 1884. This transition shifted the space from a temporary event site to a dedicated public green space for the growing community. The park became a central hub for outdoor recreation and early civic gatherings in the neighborhood. In 1895, the landmark Victorian-style Palm House opened its doors, drawing heavy inspiration from the Glass Palace of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. This iron and glass structure became an immediate icon, housing exotic plants that residents would otherwise never see in the Midwest. It remains the oldest part of the facility and serves as a primary link to the conservatory’s 19th-century origins. For decades, it stood as a singular testament to grand horticultural architecture in Central Ohio. A major turning point arrived in 1992 when Columbus hosted AmeriFlora '92, an international horticultural exhibition. This massive event prompted a $16 million renovation and expansion, adding significantly more greenhouse space and the Dorothy M. Davis Showhouse. The festival put the conservatory on the international map and fundamentally changed its scale and ambition. Following the event, the facility transitioned from a city-run park to a private, non-profit organization. In 2003, the conservatory’s identity was further defined through a long-term partnership with world-renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly. After a successful exhibition, the Friends of the Conservatory purchased most of the glass installations, creating the largest permanent collection of Chihuly’s work in a botanical setting. These vibrant glass sculptures are now woven throughout the biomes, blending art with nature. This addition helped cement the conservatory as a premier cultural destination rather than just a botanical garden. Recent years have seen the site expand beyond the glass walls to emphasize community engagement and outdoor education. The 2018 opening of the Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden added two acres of interactive landscape designed for hands-on learning. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Community Garden Campus also provides local residents with space to grow their own food and learn sustainable practices. Today, the conservatory balances its historic Victorian charm with modern commitments to local ecology and the Columbus community. **Maps of the Conservatory** Here is the [main map](https://www.fpconservatory.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/franklin-park-zones-scaled.jpg) of the Conservatory grounds. Here's a [map of the areas](https://www.fpconservatory.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ConstructionMap-2026.jpg) in which the Conservatory has ongoing construction (see below). **Summary** For this event, we'll explore Columbus's highly-rated and very popular Conservatory. As mentioned above, the Conservatory is doing renovations on parts of the facility. These renovations are scheduled to be ongoing until the Fall of next year. Basically, no matter when you go to the Conservatory over the next 18 months, you're going to see some metaphorical orange barrels. So let's just go now. **Tickets and pricing** On the first Sunday of every month, the Conservatory is free for residents of Franklin County and the city of Columbus. You must bring an ID to receive this discount. (Yes, they do check.) Otherwise, tickets are $25.20. Members of the Columbus Zoo (of which I am one) do get a discount on tickets, though I have never actually bought a ticket to the Conservatory (I've always gone on free days). I believe the discount is $4. Parking is always free. If you have additional questions about pricing or whether and for what you qualify, you can reach the Conservatory at 614-715-8000. **Where we'll meet** We will meet just outside the main entrance. I guarantee there's going to be a line. The Conservatory is always popular on free days, and especially in nice weather. **Your GPS is stupid!** Be careful simply typing "Franklin Park Conservatory" in your GPS and going where it tells you. The only way to access the parking lot to the Conservatory is off of Broad Street. Unfortunately, since Google Maps is unable to find its way out of a wet paper bag, it has a tendency to want to take people to a mythical, non-existent Conservatory entrance on Nelson Road. If your GPS does this, just drive to the north side of the Conservatory along Broad Street. Your GPS should then redirect you to the main Conservatory entrance. If your GPS doesn't, then throw your phone away\* and look for the big Conservatory sign on the south side of Broad Street between Nelson Road and Franklin Park West. You also should be able to use the map pin I've provided, below, and it should properly direct you to where you need to drive. \* Don't really do this. **After the event** After stopping to smell the roses, for those that are interested, we'll head to the nearby [Columbus Brewing Company Beer Hall](https://columbusbrewing.com/location/beer-hall/) for [drinks](https://columbusbrewing.com/location/beer-hall/#draft-list) and [lunch](https://columbusbrewing.com/location/beer-hall/#food-menu). The Beer Hall's actual address is [200 Kelton Ave, Columbus, OH 43205](https://www.google.com/maps/place/200+Kelton+Ave,+Columbus,+OH+43205/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x883889a94ac4acad:0xadb2e60240dbc38b?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111) (it's literally just on the south side of the Conservatory). Be sure this is where your GPS is taking you when you use it, as the Brewing Company has a taproom on Harrison Avenue that is *not* what you want for this event. We should be at the Beer Hall by 1 if you can't make the Conservatory and just want to join us for drinks.

**Summary** We will play TV-style game shows at [Game Show Battle Rooms](https://gameshowbattlerooms.com/columbus/) ("GSBR"). These will include *Family Feud*, *Wheel of Fortune*, and *The Price is Right*, and we will play them over the course of an hour. We ran this event for the second time back in October, and it was an even bigger hit than it was the first time we ran it the February prior. GSBR has nearly 10,000 reviews on Google and a 5-star rating. If there were any event where you were just about guaranteed to have a good time, it's this one. GSBR changes their questions and answers every month, so if you attended in October (or even if you went with another group as recently as April), you will not see any of the same questions you saw before. **The Date and Time of This Event** Saturday, June 27, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. However, if someone books the 3:00 p.m. time before I do (meaning before I have enough paid attendees), well, that's the way the cookie crumbles and we'll have to move to Plan B. That might involve trying for either one of GSBR's 1:30 p.m. or 4:30 p.m. slots, or just cancelling the Meetup altogether. We'll cross that bridge if we get to it, but be aware of these possibilities. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to whatever our actual showtime ends up being. (Hence, this meetup's 2:45 p.m. start time.) **Cost** The cost to play, per person, is $36.95 plus 8% sales tax of $2.96, plus a refundable 8% gratuity of $2.96 (see the next section for more details), for a total cost of $42.86 per person. **Mandatory Gratuity (If 20+ Participants)** If we have 20 or more participants in this event, GSBR will assess a mandatory gratuity of 8%, or $2.96 per person. If we have 20 or more attendees, GSBR will give our group an extra 15 minutes of playing time. I am collecting the gratuity up-front to prepare for the case in which we have at least 20 people. However, in the event that we do not, I will refund this $2.96 to you. In the event we have fewer than 20 people and your gratuity is refunded, your cost for the event will end up being $39.91 (instead of $42.86). I will say more below on the actual exchange of money for this event. **Drinks** GSBR does allow beverages into the game room, and they also sell some on-site. These include bottled water, soft drinks, and some alcoholic beverages. You can bring your own bottled water, too, if you want. **Cancellations and Refunds** Per GSBR's [website](https://gameshowbattlerooms.com/questions/): *If you cancel your show 5 or more days in advance of your booking time, you will receive a full refund.* *You may reduce the number of tickets and receive a refund if you provide at least 5-days’ notice.* More on this in a moment. **Number of Participants** GSBR does not run events for fewer than 6 people. I will not purchase tickets for this event with fewer than 10 paid, and I will not send out a solicitation for money without at least 12 signed up for this Meetup. More on this below. **The Actual Exchange of Money** Tickets for GSBR events are not purchased piecemeal. I will need to book our GSBR event as a bloc. This means that everyone will need to send me his or her entrance fee via either Venmo or Paypal prior to me booking our time. Anyone failing to send me his or her money will be removed by me from this event. Once 12+ people are signed up here for this Meetup, I will send out a DM through the Meetup messaging system to those 12+ participants with my Venmo/Paypal information. You will then have 72 hours to wire me your share of the money. After 72 hours, if I don't have money from you, I'll remove you from event. If I don't have money from at least 10 people, I'll refund everyone's money, and we'll either re-start the process or I'll just cancel the event. I'm not going to book any event with GSBR unless I'm reasonably certain we're going to be able to run it. Assuming I have money from 10+ people, then I will book the event through GSBR's website. If you decide to cancel and you want a refund, you ***must*** give me time to contact GSBR with at least 5 days notice. Since the date of this event is Saturday, June 27, you have to let me know not later than Sunday, June 21, to allow me time to call GSBR not later than Monday, June 22, in order to get a refund for your share. Once I have confirmation from GSBR for the refund, I will Venmo/Paypal the money back to you immediately from my account. (There will probably be a 3-5 day delay before GSBR actually processes the refund, but I will absorb the cost of the float and get your money back to you right away.) **"Hey, Eric! I just saw this event! Can I sign up late?"** Yes, but you still need to Venmo/Paypal your share of the booking fee to me, which will be $40.55. If I don't get it within 72 hours after you sign up (or time permitting for me to book you in with GSBR if you sign up last-minute), then I'll remove you from the event. **Mandatory GSBR Waiver Requirement** GSBR policies *require* that each attendee signs a liability waiver prior to the event. You can find the waiver [here](https://gameshowbattlerooms.com/questions/) (on the right-hand side toward the bottom of the page under the section "Do I Need To Sign A Waiver Form?"), and you should also be able to skip directly to the form [here](https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/w/5c473bb934d6a/web/). *You must fill out this waver in order to participate in the event*. The form is short and this really shouldn't take you more than 2 minutes, but please send me a DM if you have any issues filling out the document. **Denouement** Afterward, for those who are interested, we'll drown our sorrows or celebrate our exultations at [Crooked Can Brewing](https://crookedcanohio.com/) in Hilliard. They also have extensive food options. The actual address of the brewery is [5354 Center St, 43026](https://www.google.com/maps/place/5354+Center+St,+Hilliard,+OH+43026/@40.0339813,-83.1623519,17.25z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x883893f9f30108a7:0xbe4c8919aa69e3e7!8m2!3d40.0344541!4d-83.1598828!16s%2Fg%2F11gxsh9f_0?entry=ttu).

Columbus Code & Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. People of all skill levels attend, and we love it that way. Many people (optionally) bring projects to work on, and many other people (optionally) socialize the entire time. It's entirely up to you! **What to Expect at the Intro Circle** \~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~ Near the beginning of the event (1:30 pm), we do a standup: * Organizer announcements, updates, and logistics Round 1 - (7 secs max): * Your name * What you're working on * What you can help others with Round 2: * Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. Round 3: * Job opportunities you're hiring for OR announce that you are looking for one. If none, that's cool. After the introduction circle, everything is self-organized! Feel free to work alone, pair up, attend one of our workshops/presentations, or mingle!

**History** [Chestnut Ridge Metro Park](https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/chestnut-ridge/) is historically significant because it sits on a 300-million-year-old outcropping of Blackhand sandstone. Geographically recognized as the very first foothill of the Appalachian Mountains, the ridge rises 1,116 feet above sea level. Long before European settlement, the land served as a sacred site for ancient civilizations. The park contains the Old Maid's Orchard Mound, an eight-foot-tall burial mound constructed by the Adena culture between 1000 B.C. and 100 B.C. This ancient landmark has remained largely intact and is now protected on the National Register of Historic Places. The documented modern history of the land began with an official survey conducted by Ebenezer Buckingham in 1801. Original land deeds of sale from this period notably bear the signatures of United States Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. In the 1830s, Irish laborers arrived at the ridge to quarry its rich Blackhand sandstone. The blocks they hewed were used to build the crucial locks for the nearby Ohio and Erie Canal. Remnants of this early sandstone quarrying operation can still be spotted by sharp-eyed hikers along the modern trails. Agricultural transformation defined the ridge throughout the mid-to-late 19th century. Settlers discovered that the high elevation created a natural air flow that prevented late-season frost damage to crops. Extensive fruit orchards were planted across the slopes between 1860 and 1880. One notable orchard was established by John Wagner, a Spanish-American War veteran who chose the ridge specifically for its proximity to the bustling Columbus market. The park's current name pays homage to the massive American chestnut trees that once dominated the ridgeline before a devastating ecological blight wiped them out in the early 20th century. The conservation story of the modern 486-acre park began in March 1962. The Metro Parks board announced land acquisition plans to block developers from building a residential housing development called Chestnut Heights. Director-Secretary Walter A. Tucker advocated heavily for the purchase, citing the ridge's immense value as a scenic overlook for central Ohio. The district systematically purchased multiple agricultural parcels over the next two decades. After operating strictly as undeveloped farmland through the 1970s, Chestnut Ridge Metro Park officially opened to the public on December 18, 1988. In recent decades, the park has evolved from a quiet hiking spot into a premier regional destination for outdoor sports. A major turning point occurred in 2010 when the Central Ohio Mountain Biking Organization (COMBO) partnered with the park district to develop new infrastructure. Volunteers worked extensively to construct a single-track mountain bike trail, which officially opened in October 2011. An expert gravity and flow trail featuring advanced jumps was later integrated into the loop in 2016. Today, the park successfully balances its deep ancient, industrial, and agricultural history with active recreation. **Map of the Park** Here is a [map of Chestnut Ridge](https://www.metroparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/CHR_map_1980px_2026.jpg). **Summary** For this event, we will hike the Ridge, Meadows, and Homesite Trails, and Law's Lane, which is unmarked on some maps. None of these trails is individually very long, so we will hike a few permutations and loops until we get in 4-5 miles. The hike will be moderately strenuous. **Where We'll Meet** Drive to the rearmost picnic area at the back of the park. There's a latrine here, but there's no water fountain here or anywhere else at Chestnut Ridge. I strongly recommend you bring some water of your own, at least for after the hike. Cell service at the park is spotty, although your GPS will get you there just fine. The map pin I've provided here is exactly where we'll be meeting and should be able to be used directly in Google Maps, although Chestnut Ridge isn't big and you're unlikely to get lost here. **After the Hike** Afterward, we'll head over to [BrewDog DogTap](https://drink.brewdog.com/usa/brewdog-dogtap-columbus) for [drinks](https://usa.brewdog.com/pages/brewdog-lineup) and [food](https://usa.brewdog.com/cdn/shop/files/DogTap_Menu_2025_65e1ff8b-97d4-4f26-80f1-68321d482025.pdf?v=17356939232910340498). They also have an outdoor area that's extremely popular. I've had their burgers and their pizza, and I think they're both very good. I also really like their [Cold Beer](https://usa.brewdog.com/products/cold-beer-2024) (that's its actual name), which is their American light lager. BrewDog's actual address is [96 Gender Rd, Canal Winchester, OH 43110](https://www.google.com/maps/place/96+Gender+Rd,+Canal+Winchester,+OH+43110/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x88387c06afa21a85:0x804c611d373d8c54?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111), and they have a large, free parking lot. We should be there by 5 if you can't make the hike and just want to join us for drinks.

**Karaoke Night**: Bring your glee club friends. Enjoy a flashback to your choir days. No chorus line. It's all you baby. Sing. Shout. Scream. Lip sync if you need to. But do show up and do have a good time. **On Freestyle night** \- just bring a bottle to share\. There is NO formal wine tasting like on other weeks\. Door charge is $10 \(cash or Venmo only please\)\. We may have some left over wines to clear out\! Glasses are provided\. Take Care\. See you there\. **Parking**: There are several public parking lots near the Alive614 hall. Please be careful to NOT park in private parking lots. They do tow. Check Google maps to scope out your space. Anyone who is early could easily find a parking space on the street nearby. I am told that the Chase parking lot is safe after hours. **Glasses**: …will be provided. Please note that after the wine tasting, the EMPTY glasses need to be returned to the boxes at the service table. Please do not make me hunt down your empty glass. Please be gentle, our glasses are fragile. Uh, they are made of glass! **Food**: You are welcome to bring a snack to share. It is not required. Most people do though. If no one brings anything, there will be nothing. **Code of Conduct**: Though mostly understood, it’s still worth mentioning. We don’t have rules per se, but we highly discourage the following topics of discussion because they are likely to incite anti-social responses - Sex, Politics, Religion. Please don’t mistake this as an attempt to limit your free speech rights but rather a guide to a place and time for appropriate discussions. **After the lights go out**: After the last sip of wine, when we clean up and turn the lights out, if you still haven’t had enough of us, it is typical for a group to get together and go to a local eatery for food and/or drinks or coffee. Again, We look forward to meeting new members and reuniting with old friends. Sincerely, ***Paul Uttermohlen***, **Red 1 Realty** *Your Hilliard Wine Club Host*