博物館

Come to check out our hackerspace, talk to people and learn some new things, maybe use the tools for a short while, or just sit down with a laptop and do some work in a quiet place. Also a good time to sign up for a membership! We will have tea and coffee, likely also cookies. Come whenever from 19:00 till 22:00 - we might even be open until 24:00! If there's a problem (i.e. doors not open), call 28701072.

Every Thursday we go to play Bingo at the Top club. We enjoy the evening, test our luck. Sometimes we also get gifts. Come play with us. Let's have a drink and talk together. **free** event . . Katru ceturtdienu mēs ejam spēlēt Bingo klubā Top. Izbaudām vakaru, pārbaudām savu veiksmi. Dažreiz mēs arī saņemam dāvanas. Nāc spēlēt ar mums. Kopā iedzersim un parunāsim. **bezmaksas** pasākums

Come and meet people in Riga! **New venue:** for the June 5 event I reserved a table at Tallinas Kvartals Ezitis Migla. If the weather is warm, we can be outside, if cold, we can be inside. * **When:** First Friday of each month, this time the 5th of June, 2026, at 7pm * **Ending:** while the duration is announced to be 2 hours, the party usually lasts longer * **Where:** The June 5 event will be held at **Tallinas Kvartals Ezitis Migla** * Prices: the event itself is free of charge, but please get a drink or a meal at the bar. Age limit: 18 and older. Photos of participants might be taken at the event and posted publicly to social media, including but not limited to [meetup.com.](http://meetup.com.) By joining the event, you accept this condition. Please join the event here (meetup.com is free for regular users) or contact us if you have any questions. Event communication will take place within [meetup.com.](http://meetup.com.) Please check for posts and messages regularly. Hope to see you soon. *Photo: [Sandra Q. on Trip Advisor](https://www.tripadvisor.fr/Restaurant_Review-g274967-d21225446-Reviews-Tallinas_Ielas_Kvartals-Riga_Riga_Region.html#/media/21225446/?type=ALL_INCLUDING_RESTRICTED&albumid=101&category=101)*

Wednesday is karaoke day. Every Wednesday we gather to sing. Come with a friend or alone, with or without a voice. The format is simple: show up, grab a microphone, and sing whatever you want. Or don't sing, just support others. As usual, the meeting place is Top Club. If you haven't been before, you can get to know the space at the same time. We're looking forward to seeing you this Wednesday. See you there! Trešdiena ir karaoke diena. Katru trešdienu mēs pulcējamies dziedāt. Nāc ar draugu vai viens, ar balsi vai bez. Formāts ir vienkāršs: nāc, paņem mikrofonu un dziedi, ko vien vēlies. Vai arī nedzied, vienkārši atbalsti citus. Kā parasti, tikšanās vieta ir Top klubs. Ja iepriekš neesi tur bijis, vari vienlaikus iepazīties ar vietu. Gaidīsim ciemos šajā trešdienā. Tiekamies tur!

## Riga Philosophy Discussion Meetup Welcome to an open philosophy discussion group for curious minds, thoughtful conversation, and respectful debate. After traveling the world for the past few years as a digital nomad, I’ve noticed that nearly every major city has a philosophy discussion group — a place where people from different backgrounds gather to exchange ideas, challenge assumptions, and explore life’s bigger questions together. This meetup is an opportunity to create that kind of space here as well. The purpose of this group is not to “win” arguments or prove others wrong, but to think deeply, listen carefully, and enjoy meaningful conversation. Whether you are new to philosophy or have studied it for years, everyone is welcome. **Topics may include:** * *Ethics and morality* * *Consciousness and free will* * *Meaning and purpose* * *Technology and society* * *Politics and human nature* * *Happiness and suffering* * *Logic, reason, and belief* * *Artificial intelligence and the future* * *Classic philosophical ideas and modern dilemmas* For our first meetup, we will begin by proposing several discussion topics. The group can then vote, and by majority we will explore whichever topic generates the most interest. Possible first discussion topics: * *Are humans naturally good or selfish?* * *Can happiness be the highest goal?* * *Ethics of artificial intelligence* * *Is ignorance bliss?* * *Should emotions guide decisions?* The format will be informal, open, and conversational. Everyone is encouraged to participate, ask questions, and share perspectives respectfully. If the first meetup goes well, the plan is to make this a weekly gathering. **Simply look for the table with the Latvian flag on it when you enter.** *Note: The conversation and all discussion will solely be in English.*

Who’s up for a pizza night at the highly requested Pizza House? 🍕🍻 Join us at for great pizza, good laughs, and even better company! Come hungry and ready for a cheesy good time.

Let's grab some coffee/food and share a morning chat! The East Market has an ample parking lot and outdoor and indoor seating. Grab a cup of coffee from Winston's Coffee & Waffles or on your way to East Market and meet us on the second floor - table behind or east of the elevator. Per what this group is about: "Everyone is welcome! International transplants to Columbus who want to improve language skills, Columbus residents who enjoy talking to people from other countries, and those who would like to discuss international travel and culture, and who enjoy getting together for good conversations."

**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.

Hey Everyone! Let's meet at Belle's Bread Bakery and Cafe. There is lots of free parking and easy access to the cafe and many shops and restaurants as well. This is a great way to meet new and old friends while chatting about life and practicing English language speaking skills. All are welcome and encouraged to join us anytime between 11am and 1pm. Looking forward to seeing you soon.