Récits de voyage

Join me for a night photo walk through the city centre :) We will gather at Karlsplatz, then continue to Albertina museum, Michaeler Platz, Cafe Central, to Votiv Kirche. If you have a tripod, this could be a good opportunity to use it, but as always, any gear is good. The event is free of charge but will be limited to max 10 people as it is meant as an opportunity to connect. It is suitable for all regardless of age/level/gear.

Join us for 1 hour of German conversation practice on the go. We will PUNCTUALLY meet in-person at Quartier Belvedere station and then set out for a relaxing walk in the area, e.g. Belvedere palace gardens, Sonnwendviertel or Arsenal park. Exact meeting point is shared after RSVP'ing below. Event is suitable for levels A2/B1/B2 with a German native-speaking facilitator helping with discussion prompts and language questions. In case of bad weather, we will head to a nearby indoor venue instead. Admission is EUR 5.00 in cash (please bring exact amount) to help cover our efforts for organizing and hosting this event. HOW TO JOIN Step 1: RSVP here on Meetup first (optional but recommended) Step 2: Complete RSVP at https://wien.expat.info/walkntalk *Can't make it in-person? Join the [German Language Café (Online)](https://wien.expat.info/@deutsch) instead*

First and foremost - join our Telegram Channel! [https://t.me/cinetour](https://t.me/cinetour) film about what could happen if the wrong person pushed the wrong button -- and it played the situation for laughs. U.S. Air Force General Jack Ripper goes completely insane, and sends his bomber wing to destroy the U.S.S.R. He thinks that the communists are conspiring to pollute the "precious bodily fluids" of the American people. \*\*\* *HOW* **If you can't find us before/after the movie, write me a PM (Farit, the host) or post a message to this event, I monitor it during the meetup and will pick you up.** Let’s meet at 19:00 at Stadtboden pub (Krugerstraße 8), have a couple of drinks, and shortly before 20:30 we will go together to Filmmuseum. Optionally you can join us even at the cinema. We recommend to buy a ticket as soon as possible! [Buy Tickets - Dr. Strangelove](https://www.filmmuseum.at/kinoprogramm/produktion?veranstaltungen_id=1776016270907) Usually, after the movie we just chat a bit about it for a moment in front of the cinema. So don't run away, if you don't have to. \*\*\* ABOUT THE VENUE Since its founding in 1964, the Austrian Film Museum has been dedicated to the preservation, study, and presentation of the medium of film. Its pursuits are as wide and varied as the medium itself: The Film Museum operates a cinema, manages a collection, and functions as a research and educational facility. The heart of the Film Museum is the "Invisible Cinema." Its unique architecture offers the ideal environment for concentrated and intense cinematic experiences. With few exceptions, films are always shown in their original formats from the best available prints and projected with utmost care. As film prints become increasingly rare (and ever more valuable), Filmmuseum continues to source them from their own collection as well as the collections of their international FIAF partners. #96

A Board Game Evening at Munchy The Urban Kitchen am Schottenring! Come, play, socialize, meet and enjoy! You can bring your own games or choose from the ones available. We have: * Jenga * Monopoly * Tabu * Uno and so on... We are excited to see you here! Enjoy your nice Monday evening! 🥳 [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/makingfriendsinvienna)❤️ [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/makingfriendsinvienna)💙 Do you have questions? Write us on Instagram 🎉

-Outdoor Functional Training for All Fitness Levels- Join us as we combine healthy, balanced movement with fun, gamified ideas to give you our unique FUNctional training! And in case that doesn’t really tell you what to expect, just think short intervals of exercise combined together in a playful and interactive way to help you strengthen your body in a sustainable way while allowing you to meet new people (and often even forget how hard you’re working out). As a reminder for those nervous about their fitness level: Everything we do, we do with all fitness levels in mind; so the exercises are always adjustable to your level and you’re always strongly encouraged to take it at your own pace - I mean, we’re not called My Pace for nothing! How to find us: We meet and train behind the calisthenics workout station on the Zirkuswiese of the Prater. Here a link to the location on Google maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/QdRPEaYTiavZbmVW7 Cost: In the interest of inclusivity, we've decided to make our sessions donations based here, so you're invited to pay what you can afford. If that actually makes you more uncomfortable and doesn't make it easier to come, know that we've received donations from €2 to €20 and they all made us very happy, because our primary goal is to get people moving and to show them it can be fun all in all. The money is secondary. One other thing that’s useful to know: - In the case of bad weather, we do have a back-up location that will protect us from the rain. Should we need to move, we will change the location of this event here. Please feel free to check back here before any event where you suspect bad weather or, even better, simply get in touch with us! We’re available via WhatsApp message or email. --- If you'd like to know more about My Pace, feel free to visit our website at https://www.mypace.at

Hello Viennovans! Pickwick's is getting quizzical every monday night! You have a chance to win a round of shots, a 40€ bar tab and/or eternal bragging rights 😉 Teams of up to 6 people, reserve your spot today! Start time is 7! FREE SHOT FOR EVERYONE COMING FROM VIENNOVA!

On se rencontre chaque mercredi pour parler français. Parmi nous, il y a des gens qui ont le français comme langue maternelle, et des gens qui aiment le français et le maîtrisent plus ou moins. On aime discuter et parler de tout et de rien, et on est toujours content de recevoir des gens qui sont de passage ou des nouvelles personnes qui veulent écouter, parler, pratiquer ou poser des questions. Cette semaine, on retourne au Café Merkur, Café sympa et calme avec une cuisine de mediteranée orientale. La table est toujours gérée d'une façon très libre et relaxée, on se rencontre et on parle aux autres participants et participantes autour de nous. NOTE: Si vous comptez venir, inscrivez-vous s'il vous plaît, pour qu'on puisse prévoir assez (mais pas trop non plus) d'espace au restaurant. Comme ça, on sera à l'aise et l'endroit qui nous accueille aussi. On commence à 18h30 , mais ce n'est pas un problème de rejoindre après. Normalement, il y a au moins une dizaine de personnes qui vient aux rencontres. Cette rencontre est aussi annoncée sur notre groupe facebook ("Vienna French Meetings") A mercredi alors!

**Wachau Trip: Scenic Hike & Dürnstein Ruins** ❗️Even if Meetup shows the event as full, please still join the WA group and fill out the registration form. The form will indicate whether there are still spots available for the hike❗️ Join the WA group for the information: https://chat.whatsapp.com/GqWhKBUCR5RAhI6WUguIcR?mode=gi_t —————— **You asked for something more challenging… here it is** 😉 An adventure that’s still doable for most people — but not so easy that it gets boring. And trust me, the views are absolutely worth it. This one is going to be a hit. 📅 Date: May 24 🕒 Time: ~9:00 📍 Location: Franz-Josefs-Bahnhof **What makes it special:** — breathtaking viewpoints over the Danube valley — charming Dürnstein village — a visit to the famous castle ruins 📏 Distance: ~5–6 km ⛰ Elevation: ~330 m ⏱ Duration: ~2.5 hours (plus breaks & photos) **About the hike:** This route is sometimes classified as red or black. But I’ve done it several times, and it’s absolutely manageable if you’re reasonably active. It’s definitely more challenging than a typical Stadtwanderweg, but far from an extreme hike. ⚠️ **Expect:** – some steep and narrow sections with cables – a few rocky parts – beautiful exposed views 👉 You don’t need climbing experience, but you should: – feel comfortable walking on uneven terrain – not have a strong fear of heights – have basic fitness level Perfect for active people who want a bit of adventure, but not a hardcore hike. 🥾 Hiking shoes are a must 💶 **Participation fee:** 28 € (including train & bus tickets) 👥 **Group size:** strictly limited to 14 participants I keep the group intentionally small so the experience stays comfortable, safe, and enjoyable for everyone. 🎫 **If you have a Klimaticket:** Just mention it in the registration form, and you’ll only pay a 12 € organizational fee. In case of bad weather conditions the trip will be postponed. 🚸The main goal of my trips is about enjoying the moment, meeting new people, and making beautiful places accessible even if you’re not a pro. ——————— ❗️Please make sure to fill out the registration form: the link will be posted in the WA group ❗️

The High Tatra Mountains boast Slovakia's most spectacular views and have been identified as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Join us on this easy 2-day escape discovering the roof of Central Europe. On this adventure, we will head up to Hrebrienok ridge and experience part of the Tatra Magistrala trail between Skalnate Pleso and Studeny potok, a mind-blowing outdoor area in the Eastern part of the Tatras National Park (TANAP). Expect enchanting trails through wild nature of untold beauty. Price includes organization, train tickets, shared 3-star accommodation (gender-separated) with dinner and breakfast, local taxes and friendly host. Discounts available for early birds, repeat participants and groups. To secure your spots, please ... \# Step 1: RSVP here on Meetup first \(optional but recommended\) \# Step 2: Complete your booking at [https://vienna.ixpat.com/tatra](https://vienna.ixpat.com/tatra)

**Java Champion + 2 Tech-Talks + Raffle Prices + YOU**! **Join our on-site meetup in Vienna!** We'll take care of food, drinks and 2 awesome talks. You just need to bring you ;-) This Meetup is a joint event with the great Meetup group **Vienna DevOps & Security.** Both talks will be **presented in English**. RSVP now for an evening of learning and fun! The meetup will be at the Startup House \| by Lumia \- Stella\-Klein\-Löw\-Weg 8\, 1020 Vienna \- with food\, drinks\, snacks & more\. **Agenda** 17:30 Walk in 18:00 Food 18:30 Talk 1 *Making significant software architecture decisions* 19:30 Break 19:45 Talk 2 *Device Management the DevOps Way* 20:45 Drinks & *Raffle Prices* & Fun **Raffle Prices:** 1. Claude MAX Plan 20x for 2 months 2. DJI Mini 4K Drone 3. Flipper Zero **First talk**: **"Making significant software architecture decisions"** by Bert Jan Schrijver (OpenValue) Software architecture represents the significant design decisions that shape a system, where significant is measured by the cost of change. At its core, architectural decision-making is about balancing trade-offs to align technical solutions with broader requirements. But how do you approach a trade-off analysis? How do you choose between different solutions, frameworks, tools, languages, or cloud providers? Which factors should guide your decisions beyond just technical fit? And how do you make sure you’re not overlooking non-technical aspects like team expertise, long-term supportability, and hiring feasibility? In this session, he’ll share a structured approach to making informed, high-impact architecture decisions. We’ll break down technical, organizational, financial and other trade-offs and explore how to evaluate and balance competing concerns. You’ll walk away with practical strategies to make better architectural decisions in real-world projects. **About Bert Jan** Bert Jan is CTO at OpenValue and focuses on Java, AI, software architecture, Continuous Delivery and DevOps. Bert Jan is a Java Champion, JavaOne Rock Star speaker, Duke's Choice Award winner and leads NLJUG, the Dutch Java User Group. He loves to share his experience by speaking at conferences, writing for the Dutch Java magazine and helping out Devoxx4Kids with teaching kids how to code. **Second talk**: **"Device Management the DevOps Way"** by Erik Auer and Dimitrij Klesev (Whizus) In today’s hybrid work environment, traditional device management is often manual and opaque. This talk presents a DevOps approach to MDM using Infrastructure as Code and automation for speed, transparency, and GDPR compliance. We’ll show how Terraform defines device configurations and policies as code, while GitHub Workflows automate the full lifecycle — from validation and testing through approval to deployment. Emphasis is placed on a solid approval process where changes are reviewed via Terraform plans, with apply triggered only after the full pipeline and approvals. Learn practical patterns to make device management faster, safer, and fully auditable — turning MDM into a reliable, governed platform capability. **About Dimitrij and Erik** Dimi is Tech Lead at WhizUs with several years of experience working in the Kubernetes ecosystem and the Cloud Native domain. Erik Auer has been managing WhizUs, a company specializing in cloud-native technologies, for many years. He regularly attends meetups and conferences to share his expertise with the community as a speaker. He has been working with Kubernetes and other cloud-native technologies since around 2016. ***OpenValue*** *GmbH in Vienna is part of OpenValue Group, a group of premium consulting companies specialized in providing flexible and high-quality ICT services in the fields of AI and Java software development and Software architecture.* ***WhizUs*** *lives DevOps! That's why we support you from the development of your application, to the automation of all development and deployment processes using CI/CD, to the creation of a modern, scalable cloud infrastructure.* **OpenValue and WhizUs love to share knowledge <3** Question? Do not hesitate to contact me here or via [thomas.uecel@openvalue.at](mailto:thomas.uecel@openvalue.at), if you have any kind of questions!

Outdoors are back! You are invited to hike with us **on Sunday 24th May** through the peaceful silence of the Green Prater's vast forest, walking all the way to its far side! We meet at 13:55 outside the Praterstern station, on the side of the station that looks at the Prater. The exact **Meeting Point** is just outside the tunnel with the large bicycle parking. In Google Maps look for "Türkis Praterstern", we will wait in front of this restaurant. A funny little pug named Uschi will be with us! We start hiking exactly at 14:00 and we mainly follow the Stadtwanderweg 9. After 2 hours of walk, we'll do a 30-minute stop to have a short picnic in a meadow if it is not wet (please bring a blanket and some snack for you!). We plan to be back at the Praterstern station at 18:00. Please bring 1 liter of water and wear sturdy shoes and comfortable clothes. The walk is long (about 12 km) and the terrain might be wet in some points if it rained the day before. If heavy rain is forecasted we'll postpone the hike and notify all participants 48 hours before the event. IMPORTANT: This is not a guided hike, but simply a chance to experience nature around Vienna together, so everyone is responsible for their own health and safety. If you need more information, please ask in the comments.

Hi Deep Learners, We are happy to announce our next Vienna Deep Learning Meetup on **May 19** at Bosch. Our topics this time are: Improved Optimizers for Deep Learning and Automatic Speech Recognition in Air Traffic Management. \*\*\* **Agenda:** * 18:15 Arrival * 18:30 **Introduction** by the meetup organizers * **Welcome** by the host: Bosch * 18:45 **Talk 1:** **Momentum, Preconditioning, and Beyond: Practical Advances in Optimization** by Ionut-Vlad Modoranu (*ISTA*) * 19:30 **Announcements** * **Networking Break** * 20:00 **Talk 2:** **Cleared for Takeoff: Automatic Speech Recognition in Air Traffic Management** by Christian Sobtzick & Sahebeh Dadboud *(Frequentis)* * 20:45 **Networking** * \~21:30 **Wrap up & End** \*\*\* **Talk Details:** \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **Talk 1:** **Momentum, Preconditioning, and Beyond: Practical Advances in Optimization** Modern Deep Learning optimization is largely dominated by first-order methods such as Adam, yet their limitations in memory usage, scalability, and curvature awareness motivate the search for improved alternatives. This talk provides a practical perspective on optimization, starting from the roles of momentum and preconditioning and extending to recent advances that go beyond standard adaptive methods. We present techniques that improve optimization along three key axes: memory, structure, and computational efficiency. In particular, we introduce MicroAdam, a memory-efficient variant of Adam based on compressed optimizer states; Trion, a low-rank method that replaces costly SVD/QR projections with efficient, rank-independent alternatives; and DASH, a GPU-efficient implementation of Shampoo that accelerates second-order preconditioning via improved parallelization and fast matrix inverse root approximations. Together, these methods illustrate how careful algorithmic and systems-level design can overcome the practical limitations of existing optimizers, offering a path toward scalable, memory-efficient, and high-performance training beyond Adam. **About the speaker:** Ionut-Vlad Modoranu is a PhD student at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), specializing in efficient optimization for Deep Learning. His research focuses on reducing the memory usage and computational cost while maintaining the performance, including the development of practical optimizers for large-scale models, with publications at top tier international conferences. **Talk 2:** **Cleared for Takeoff: Automatic Speech Recognition in Air Traffic Management** Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) has made tremendous progress in recent years. However, its deployment in safety‑critical operational environments poses a fundamentally different set of challenges compared to demonstration systems or research prototypes. In this talk, we present how speech‑to‑text models are used in a real Air Traffic Management (ATM) product at Frequentis. We walk through the end‑to‑end lifecycle of an ASR system: how training data is collected and curated, how models are selected and evaluated, and what it takes to deploy and operate them reliably for customers in a regulated, safety‑critical domain. Beyond the models themselves, we discuss practical challenges from bringing ASR from research into production, where reliability and trust matter as much as accuracy. **About the Speakers:** Sahebeh (Saba) Dadboud is an Expert Data Scientist at the Frequentis AI Competence Centre. With over eight years of experience in the tech industry, she specializes in bridging Deep Learning, MLOps, and product development to build trustworthy AI for safety-critical systems. At Frequentis, she plays a pivotal role in driving company-wide AI initiatives, supporting the adoption of advanced technologies in domains where reliability, safety, and strict regulatory constraints are absolutely critical. She holds a Master’s degree in Computational Science from the University of Vienna. Christian Sobtzick is Audio Expert at Frequentis, leading the HET Audio Competence Centre. He is responsible for improving audio quality across all Frequentis voice communication products, drawing on more than 15 years of professional experience. In addition, he supports product development related to automatic speech recognition and contributes to research projects, such as the FFG “Next Generation Safety” project, which aimed to enable AI‑based automation in Air Traffic Management. His background is the field of acoustics, including electroacoustic transducers, acoustic measurements, and signal processing. He holds an MSc in Electrical Engineering and Audio Engineering from Graz University of Technology and the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz. We are looking forward to welcoming you at our next meetup. Your VDLM organizer team.

**Walk & Talk** Willst du auch mehr Bewegung in dein Leben bringen? Und dich dabei noch gut unterhalten, so dass die Zeit verfliegt? Dann bist du hier genau richtig, denn mir geht es genauso. Alleine ist langweilig und die Zeit vergeht nicht, daher hab ich mir Walk & Talk überlegt. Inspiriert wurde ich durch die Walk & Talk Gruppe in Hamburg, wo ich mehrere Male dabei war als ich in Hamburg lebte. Unterschiedliche Menschen treffen sich einmal in der Woche für einen flotten Spaziergang und unterhalten sich dabei. Ich liebe es neue Menschen kennenzulernen und auch bekannte Gesichter wiederzusehen, dann geh ich ganz nebenbei und das macht auch noch Spaß.😊 **Walk:** Wir brauchen einfach regelmäßige Bewegung und ich weiß selbst, wie schwierig es ist, diese in den Alltag zu integrieren. Deshalb ist dieser Walk genau richtig. Nach diesem Spaziergang fühlst du dich einfach wohl, fit und entspannt. **Talk:** Das Reden kommt ganz von selbst beim Gehen. Du kannst über alles reden, egal, ob privates oder berufliches, alles was sich ergibt ist willkommen. Und wenn du keinen Bock aufs Reden hast, dann gehst du alleine, auch das ist völlig in Ordnung. **Wie das ganze abläuft:** * Die Teilnahme ist völlig kostenlos. * Wo: U6 Spittelau (im Freien), Richtung Donaukanal, Ausgang Josef-Holaubek-Platz, direkt vor dem Fernwärme-Turm (https://maps.app.goo.gl/XwAayz4FQe2EW8WK9) Wenn du mit der U4 kommst, geh bitte zum Hauptgebäude, wo die Züge und die U6 fahren. * Wann: Wir treffen uns dienstags um 13 Uhr, egal, ob bei Regen, Sturm und Kälte oder bestem Sonnenschein – Walk & Talk findet nahezu JEDE Woche statt außer ich bin mal im Urlaub. * Wir starten pünktlich und beginnen mit einer kurzen Vorstellungsrunde. * Wie gehen am Donaukanal entlang von Höhe Spittelau bis zum Schwedenplatz und zurück. * Ca. 7 Kilometer sind wir unterwegs und unterhalten uns dabei mit interessanten Menschen. Dabei kannst du neue Bekanntschaften schließen, dich inspirieren lassen, von Projekten erzählen oder einfach nur smalltalken und die frische Luft genießen. Alles ist erlaubt. * Nach ca. 1,75 Stunden sind wir wieder am Ausgangspunkt zurück. * Bei einer Teilnahme von über 5 Personen gehen wir in Paaren und wechseln diese alle 10 Min. Wenn du aber lieber alleine gehst, ist das auch vollkommen in Ordnung. * Für alle, die einfach mal etwas Neues ausprobieren wollen. **Bist du bereit?** Dann komm mit! **Start bei U6 Spittelau Ausgang Donaukanal** Nochmal: um **PUNKT 13.00 Uhr dort sein**, denn **nach kurzen Vorstellungsrunde gehen wir gleich los. Sei pünktlich, denn die Gruppe wartet nicht.** Du musst nichts vorbereiten oder dich gar anmelden, komm einfach vorbei. Ausreden gibt es nicht. Geh mit und freu dich auf eine tolle neue Erfahrung. **Wer macht es?** Ich bin Marie Meyer-Marktl und Ideengeberin, Host und Organisatorin von Walk & Talk. Ich unterstütze seit 2019 Menschen dabei Freude ins Arbeitsleben zu bekommen und bin Business und Life Coachin. „Strahle, wenn du an deine Arbeit denkst“, ist meine Vision für jedermann und jedefrau. Privat merkte ich, dass ich endlich wieder mehr Bewegung brauche – und das klappt am besten gemeinsam mit anderen Menschen. Sei dabei bei Walk & Talk und bring Bewegung in dein Leben. **Do you speak English? Then welcome to Walk & Talk!** This event is suited for all people who like to connect to other people and like to walk. The beauty of this regular event is that you are in the nature and you walk around 7 kilometers. In the meantime, if you feel for it, you talk, if not, you just walk. You do something for your health, get to know new people and you will feel much better. It’s FREE, all you need to do is to show up this Tuesday at no later than 1 pm at the U6 Spittelau exit to Donaukanal.

SATURDAY: This event is 2:30 - 4 pm SATURDAY. Conversation tends toward intermediate/advanced, but everybody is welcome. If you come and don't see us right away, keep looking. We could be anywhere in the restaurant.

Click Here For More Videos: [https://www.facebook.com/share/r/17vTa7EuwG/](https://www.facebook.com/share/r/17vTa7EuwG/) The Biggest Salsa Night to hit your mid-week is happening at Latin City Wednesdays. Get the feel of the Latin Beat as your hips and feet groove the right way. Viva Dance Columbus (2809 Festival Lane Dublin, OH 43017) 830pm-930pm Cuban Salsa Lessons 930pm-Midnight Open Latin Dance Party 15 With Lesson 10 Just Open Dance Free Parking, No Need to Bring a dance partner, No Sandals Please and Plenty of Space to Move Around.

**History** The history of [Blendon Woods Metro Park](https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/blendon-woods/) began long before its 1951 opening, rooted in a landscape of rugged ridges and deep ravines that made the land unsuitable for traditional farming. In 1945, a report proposing a metropolitan park system for Franklin County specifically highlighted these cliffs of Bedford Shale as some of the "wildest land in the vicinity". Following this recommendation, the recently formed park district purchased the first 229 acres in early 1949. Because the terrain was so uneven, developers had to cut a mile-and-a-half-long roadway through dense woods just to bring in heavy equipment. This initial preservation effort ensured that the mature second-growth hardwood forests remained largely untouched by the urban expansion spreading toward Westerville. Opening day arrived on Labor Day, September 3, 1951, marking Blendon Woods as the second park in the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks system. The final push to open was a frantic race; the State Highway Department only finished the primary gravel access road four days before the gates opened. Early staff members, consisting of just four full-time employees, had to hand-dig pit toilets and learn construction skills on the fly to build the first picnic shelters. Despite the dusty conditions and limited facilities, the park was an immediate success, drawing massive crowds from across Central Ohio. By the end of the 1950s, annual visitation had already climbed to over 190,000 people. As the surrounding suburbs grew in the 1960s, the park faced severe overcrowding that threatened its natural habitats. In response, Franklin County voters passed the first Metro Parks levy in 1960, providing the funds necessary for a decade of steady expansion. During this era, the park nearly doubled in size, growing from 264 acres to over 570 acres by 1968. Planners also addressed a critical water shortage by collaborating with the U.S. Soil and Conservation Service to build a lake in 1964. This body of water originally served as a temporary reservoir before its role shifted toward conservation and wildlife support. The 1970s marked a transition toward the specialized wildlife and educational focus for which the park is known today. In 1971, the Walden Waterfowl Refuge was established around the 11-acre Thoreau Lake, creating a sanctuary that remains restricted to provide a quiet habitat for migratory birds. A formal nature center was also developed during this period, expanding on the guided Sunday walks that had been a park staple since the early 1950s. The park’s famous "Monarch Mansion" also became a prominent fixture, starting a long tradition of raising and releasing thousands of monarch butterflies each September. These initiatives cemented the park’s reputation as a premier destination for birders and nature enthusiasts. In more recent decades, Blendon Woods has continued to modernize while maintaining its wilderness character. The 10-acre Natural Play Area was added in 2017, encouraging kids to explore the ravines and woods off-trail. This was followed by the opening of a $1.5 million inclusive playground in April 2025, designed to accommodate children of all physical abilities. The nature center also underwent major renovations to include immersive, three-dimensional exhibits and a new butterfly house. Today, the park encompasses 653 acres, preserving a unique geologic and biological corridor amidst the bustling Westerville and Northeast Columbus area. **Map of the Park** Here is a map of [Blendon Woods](https://www.metroparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/BLN_map_Inclusive-Playground-and-Butterfly-Trail_May-2025_1980px.png). **Summary** For this event, we will hike the Lake View, Hickory Ridge, Ripple Rock, Overlook, Brookside, and Sugarbush Trails. This sounds like a lot, but it will really be only a little over five miles. Blendon Woods has a few hills here and there, but it's not one of the more strenuous metro parks. **Where We'll Meet** We'll meet just in front of the Nature Center. This is about a mile into the park from the main entrance. You have to go past the Ranger Station and the Shadblow Reservable Area to get to it, so don't stop too early at the Ranger Station and get it confused with the Nature Center. **After the Hike** Afterward, we will head over to [Forbidden Root Restaurant & Brewery](https://forbiddenroot.com/restaurants/columbus-ohio/) at Easton for [drinks](https://forbiddenroot.com/restaurants/columbus-ohio/#dinner-menu) and [food](https://forbiddenroot.com/wp-content/uploads/Cbus-Food.pdf). We should be there by 5 if you can't make the hike and just want to join us for drinks. The brewery's actual address is [4080 Worth Ave, Columbus, OH 43219](https://www.google.com/maps/place/4080+Worth+Ave,+Columbus,+OH+43219/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x88388a86d10b6619:0x4d42b470a5cf11d3?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111); however, I recommend pointing your GPS to the [Worth Garage](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Worth+Garage/@40.0542293,-82.9137962,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x88388b4df6082825:0x17582f0eccd9dda1!8m2!3d40.0542293!4d-82.9137962!16s%2Fg%2F11rzfvvv8b?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDQxNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) across the street. Parking in this garage is free as long as you're not on the first floor, and it is literally right next to the brewery.

CONNECTED – Grove City A casual, people-first networking gathering. CONNECTED – Grove City is a casual, people-first networking gathering. Join us for a relaxed, low-pressure space to meet new people, build real relationships, and have meaningful conversations — no sales pitches required. From 7:30–8:30 AM every 3rd Wednesday of the month at the Grove City Business Center. Coffee & baked goods available for purchase at Pick ’Em Up Joe's. Free street & public lot parking behind the building. Free to attend & open to all!

**How to Get Off-Market Deals With Direct-to-Seller Marketing** Want to learn how to get off-market deals through direct-to-seller marketing without relying on agents, wholesalers, or the MLS for consistent deal flow? That is exactly what we are covering at this next Columbus Investors Club Meetup. Get Your Free Ticket **[HERE](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-to-get-off-market-deals-with-direct-to-seller-marketing-tickets-1987845260686?aff=cicmeetupapp)**[ ](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-to-get-off-market-deals-with-direct-to-seller-marketing-tickets-1987845260686?aff=cicmeetupapp)🎟️ Most investors who try to do off-market deals make the same mistake: they throw money into a marketing channel, pray that it works, and hope a deal comes out the other side. There is no real strategy, no clear math, no tracking, and no process to know what is actually working. At this meetup, we are going to break down how to reverse engineer direct-to-seller marketing using our SCALE framework so you can approach your marketing with more clarity, confidence, and consistency. We will cover how to think through inbound, outbound, and free marketing channels, how to choose the right channel for your goals, how to run the numbers before you spend, how to allocate the right budget, how to launch the campaign correctly, and how to evaluate and track performance so you can make better decisions moving forward. **SCALE Framework:** **S –** Select the right channel **C –** Calculate the numbers **A –** Allocate the budget **L –** Launch the campaign **E –** Evaluate and track it **What We’ll Cover** * How to get off-market deals through direct-to-seller marketing * How to stop guessing and start reverse engineering your marketing * The difference between inbound, outbound, and free marketing channels * How to choose the right channel for your business and market * How to calculate the numbers before launching * How to allocate a budget based on goals, not emotion * How to launch and track a campaign the right way * How to create more consistent and predictable deal flow **Date:** May 28, 2026 (Thursday) **Time:** 6 - 8pm EST **Location:** Ohio Brewing Company, 421 E 2nd Ave, Columbus, OH 43201 **Save Your Seat** → https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-to-get-off-market-deals-with-direct-to-seller-marketing-tickets-1987845260686?aff=cicmeetupapp **FREE DRINKS & FOOD PROVIDED!** **About Columbus Investors Club** The Columbus Investors Club is a local meetup for real estate investors, aspiring investors, contractors, vendors, lenders, realtors, and other professionals who want to grow in the Columbus market. The goal is to create real connection, real opportunity, and real growth by getting the right people in the room. Whether you are brand new or already doing deals, this is a place to build relationships, learn from others in the business, find opportunities, and grow your presence in the local real estate community.

By popular demand, the group wanted to read and discuss the semi-autobiographical novel by Henri-Pierre Roche, that inspired the Truffaut movie we watched last year. The book is available through the Columbus Library's interlibrary loan system. They reported there are twenty-eight copies available in the state of Ohio. If you have a library card, you can file an interlibrary loan request here: https://www.columbuslibrary.org/library-services/ . There are also used copies available on Amazon and eBay for under twenty dollars. You may want to rewatch the movie after reading the book, so we can compare and contrast in our discussion. The Columbus Library has four copies on DVD, and it's streaming on HBOMax.