Chicago Bears

Join us for a daily chess meetup in the heart of Berlin at Schönhauser Allee 174. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned player, feel free to drop by anytime between 7 PM and midnight, every single day of the week. No registration is required – just show up and enjoy a game in a fun, inclusive, and casual environment. Newcomers can take advantage of a friendly crash course to get started, while experienced players share strategies, discuss best practices, and even explore quirky variants like Duck Chess or Bughouse. Boards, sets, and clocks are provided, with time controls up to 10 minutes per player for a rapid, engaging experience. It’s the perfect way to unplug, detox from screens, and connect with a diverse, kind-hearted community of chess lovers. The gathering welcomes all levels and backgrounds, creating a vibrant, family-friendly space where everyone can enjoy the game and forge real connections.

Join the Minotaurs Men's Basketball Team on Wednesday at 8pm at an indoor basketball court in Neukolln. We currently have two teams, one in Bezirkliga and one in FBL. We are looking for new players to add to the teams so come by to play together and meet. Please send a message to the event organizer if you are interested in coming.

Cuban salsa classes every Wednesday . Join us, learn how to dance, save lives and make friends! **Classes**: 19:00 - Absolute Beginners (For Free) 20:00 - Beginners 2 21.00 - Improvers 1 **Price: (Card payment only)** 1 class - 7€ 10 class pass - 49€ or 42€ reduced* (To use within 11 weeks. Valid for all our classes. It can only be used by one person per class. No refund possible) * Reduced price for students, Schüler, Azubis, H4-Empfänger, and pensioners/retired folks. A valid proof is needed. **Why should you learn Salsa, and why with us?** - It's great fun! - You don't need any prior dancing experience. - You get to know loads of new people. - No registration, just swing by. - No fix starting date - you can start any week. - No dress code - come in whatever you feel comfortable in. Note:No outside shoes in the room: socks or a pair of clean shoes will be required - No partner needed - we change regularly during the classes (bring all your friends though!) - You can help us make a difference! **What is Salsa4Water**? Simple! We teach Salsa and donate all our profits to the NGO Welthungerhilfe, which uses these funds for their local projects in Malawi. Welthungerhilfe fights for equal access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene in nearly 40 countries world wide. This gives you the chance to save lives while dancing!

**MELDE DICH FÜR DIE VERANSTALTUNG AN, INDEM DU DIE [WEMEET-APP HIER](wemeet.weroad.com/event/ef945ecf-486d-4a7e-8b4b-31877cd477ff) HERUNTERLÄDST** Neu in Berlin? Alte Freunde zu beschäftigt? Zeit, das zu ändern! Wir treffen uns einmal pro Woche, um gemeinsam neue Events zu erleben, neue Leute kennenzulernen und einfach eine gute Zeit zu haben. Bei **Games & New Friends** treffen wir uns, spielen gemeinsam als WeMeet-Team und rätseln über Wissen, unnützes Wissen und alles dazwischen – begleitet von einer Auswahl guter Craft Biere und entspannter Pub-Atmosphäre. Vorkenntnisse nicht nötig, Spaß garantiert! 🤝 **Kein Ghosting. Kein Drama.** Wer sich anmeldet, kommt auch. Und wenn nicht: bitte rechtzeitig absagen, damit niemand allein warten muss. Wir kümmern uns um die Reservierung und Organisation. Du bringst Neugier und Teamgeist mit – mehr braucht es nicht. Komm vorbei, quizze mit und lerne neue Leute kennen 💚🧠

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, the season of reflection and renewal that leads toward Easter. This ancient service invites us to pause, to take an honest look at our lives, and to remember both our fragility and our hope. In the Christian tradition, Ash Wednesday is a day of repentance and grace. We receive ashes on our foreheads as a sign of our humanity — “remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” — and as a sign of God’s mercy that meets us precisely where we are. It is a reminder that life is finite, precious, and worthy of deep care. In human terms, this service speaks to something universal: our longing for meaning, our need for honesty, our awareness that life is brief, and our hope that renewal is possible. It creates space to reflect, to let go of what weighs us down, and to begin again. The service includes Holy Communion, where we gather at Christ’s table to receive forgiveness, strength, and hope for the journey ahead. Whether you come with strong faith, quiet questions, or simply a desire for a meaningful moment of stillness in a busy world — you are welcome here. And when we say *all*, we mean **all**.

🎤 **Stegreifreden-Wettbewerb am 18. Februar – Spontan. Mutig. Mitreißend.** Was passiert, wenn 13 Menschen dieselbe Frage bekommen – und nur 1–2 Minuten Zeit, um zu antworten? Es entsteht ein Feuerwerk aus Ideen, Perspektiven und überraschenden Wendungen. Bei unserem **Stegreifredenwettbewerb** treten 13 Teilnehmer gegeneinander an. Alle erhalten exakt dieselbe Frage. Keine Vorbereitung. Kein Skript. Nur ein Moment, ein Gedanke – und eine Bühne. Innerhalb von 1–2 Minuten verwandeln sie ihre spontane Eingebung in eine kleine Rede. Mal humorvoll, mal tiefgründig, mal völlig unerwartet. 👀 **Das Publikum erlebt:** * kreative Gedankensprünge * überraschende Pointen * inspirierende Mini-Reden ⚖️ **5 Richter** bewerten die Beiträge und entscheiden über die Platzierungen. Ob als Zuschauer oder Redner: Dieser Abend zeigt, wie viel Ausdruckskraft in einem einzigen spontanen Gedanken stecken kann. Sei dabei, wenn Worte Flügel bekommen. 🚀

### **THE BEAR** presents: **COLD** *A night of true, personal storytelling* Winter has a way of showing us where warmth is missing — and where it suddenly appears. This month at **THE BEAR**, we explore the theme COLD: stories about distance and closeness, breaking the ice, emotional frost, quiet loneliness, or jumping into cold water — literally or metaphorically. On stage, everyday people from Berlin share true, personal stories, told live and without notes. No acting. No fiction. Just real experiences, shared in a warm, cozy atmosphere. You don’t need to know anyone. You don’t need to be “into storytelling.” **Just come, listen, and be part of the room.** **🔥 What to expect** • 8 short, true stories (about 5–7 minutes each) • Live music throughout the night • A relaxed, welcoming audience • Laughter, honesty, and moments of quiet connection **We start as strangers — and often leave feeling a little closer.** **🎤 Want to tell a story?** Anyone can put their name into our legendary hat. Names are drawn at random — courage counts more than experience. If you’d like feedback on your story beforehand, just write to us. hello(at)thebear-storytelling.de **💬 Language note** Stories are told in English (and sometimes German). **Everyone is welcome — listeners and storytellers alike.** **If winter feels cold, let’s warm up together.** **We’d love to have you there 🐻✨** 🎤 Open Stage · True personal stories (5 minutes) 🗓️ **Thursday, Feb 19, 2026 · 19:00** 📍 Theatre Pool, Berlin 👉 **[Tickets:](https://www.eventbrite.de/e/the-bear-berlin-presents-cold-stories-about-breaking-the-ice-tickets-1980509250482?aff=oddtdtcreator&_gl=1*1q61529*_up*MQ..*_ga*NzgxMjIwNDM3LjE3NjgzNDM1OTA.*_ga_TQVES5V6SH*czE3NjgzNDM1OTAkbzEkZzAkdDE3NjgzNDM1OTAkajYwJGwwJGgw)**[ €15–20 (sliding scale donation)](https://www.eventbrite.de/e/the-bear-berlin-presents-cold-stories-about-breaking-the-ice-tickets-1980509250482?aff=oddtdtcreator&_gl=1*1q61529*_up*MQ..*_ga*NzgxMjIwNDM3LjE3NjgzNDM1OTA.*_ga_TQVES5V6SH*czE3NjgzNDM1OTAkbzEkZzAkdDE3NjgzNDM1OTAkajYwJGwwJGgw) ## **Our Mission** ## *THE BEAR* **has grown into one of Berlin’s most beloved live storytelling events: a place where strangers become a community through the simple act of listening.** Supported by: [THE BEAR e.V. ](https://deref-web.de/mail/client/3fe0d0dh9KM/dereferrer/?redirectUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fthebear-storytelling.us6.list-manage.com%2Ftrack%2Fclick%3Fu%3Db5d7f087b587f8f081c447437%26id%3Dfc0e2d8df3%26e%3D711d4db9af), [Moving-Speaker.com](https://www.moving-speaker.com/), [Female Speaking Berlin](https://www.femalespeakingberlin.com/), and [Experience Berlin Youtube Channel](https://www.youtube.com/@Berlin-Videos).

Welcome! This football session is for individuals who like playing on moderate to high intensity (run a lot and change position to give player with the ball option to pass). Usually play on a pretty competitive level. Our football skills are average to good. To keep things fair and enjoyable for all, we follow a few simple rules: * **Show up at 07:45** so that you can get checked by the organiser * If you are not checked by the organiser then \*\*1 match penalty applies\*\*(being moved to waitlist) * **No studs** * If you show up with studs, then you wont be allowed to play * No dangerous tackling * If you get tackled, you need to call the foul * In case of handball only people close (1-2m) can call handball * Since we play 12v12, we have offsides (0-1m difference is still tolerated) * No penalties for handball in penalty box(no way of proving handball and please be fair) * In case of handball, the other teams goalkeeper gets the ball

Join us for chill **indoor** beach volley! 🏐 🏐 🏐 This event is for everyone who enjoys chill games and is not a *complete* beginner (A1.5+). We play 3v3 (or 4v4) with beach rules. There are no trainers at this event. Register via [the simultaneous event](https://www.meetup.com/berlin-volley/events/) for higher-level 2v2 matches (F1+). After playing, you can join us for socials with drinks and snacks at the bar area. We often play a social deduction game, which you're also welcome to join. We play in domes that are heated up to at least 15C. It's recommended that you come 10 minutes early so you have time to change and find the fields. If it is your first time, 15 minutes might be even better. You can join whatever court you like and move between courts during the event. We self-organize, so once you finish a game, you can start a rematch, mix with another court, or take a break as you see fit. Upon arrival, join the warmup happening on one of the courts. Join our WhatsApp community via [https://volley.berlin/WhatsApp](https://volley.berlin/WhatsApp) ([QR code](https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/b/f/d/5/highres_532249109.webp)) Follow us on Insta at [https://www.instagram.com/berlinvolleyball](https://www.instagram.com/berlinvolleyball) **Rules**: Do not join if you have an infectious disease. For everyone's safety, we do not allow kicking the ball during games with beginners. Be respectful of your fellow players. **Venue**: We play at BeachMitte. There are changing rooms, toilets, and hot water showers that cost 1 EUR. There are no lockers. There is a bar that sells drinks and snacks. **Payment**: You pay in advance via Meetup. Payment via PayPal or Urban Sports Club is not possible. **Refunds**: The venue does not provide refunds. Thus, we cannot refund you either, even if the event is canceled due to bad weather. If you know you can't make it in advance, you can try selling your spot to someone else via WhatsApp or the comment section. In the rare cases that we cancel an event due to poor attendance, everyone gets a full refund. Pictures might be taken and shared publicly, such as on Meetup or Instagram. You can opt out by letting the organizer know you do not wish to be photographed. By RSVP'ing to this event, you acknowledge and agree to the following: Participation in this volleyball event is at your own risk. The organizer is not responsible for any injury, loss, or damage sustained during the event, whether caused by negligence or otherwise. You are aware of the inherent risks involved in beach volleyball and voluntarily assume these risks. You agree to hold the organizer harmless from any claims, liabilities, or expenses arising from your participation, including any medical costs. Share anonymous feedback with the organizer via [https://www.admonymous.co/entropy](https://www.admonymous.co/entropy)

Do you like to play football - but relaxed and not with competitive or aggressive players? Are you a bit lazy, a bit old, a bit unfit or not so talented? Are you tired of insecure bros who only want to show off their skills? **Then [Lousy & Lazy Football](https://www.instagram.com/landlsc/) is the right thing for you!** We are a group of friendly people who just want to have a relaxed kick. All genders, ages (+18) and nationalities welcome. **Feel free to join the waitlist even if it seems long - sometimes we make the event larger and play on two pitches (24 players, four teams) or even three pitches (36 players, six teams), depending on demand.** Note: **We do not allow high-studded football boots during our sessions.** To avoid injuries, we only play with "Multinocken" (multistuds) or shorter. Please have a look here: [link](https://www.11teamsports.com/de-de/fussballschuhe/multinocken/). Rules for lazy & lousy football 1. **Don’t be competitive** 2. **No hard tackling/sliding challenges** 3. **Support new players by giving them the time and space to play the ball** 4. **Don’t dribble past multiple players (trying to take on a player is fine but at no point should you be trying to dribble past multiple players).** 5. **Don’t close down the defenders too quickly. Give the team a chance to play the ball out.** 6. **Rotate the goalkeeper** 7. **Be a teamplayer** Waiting list: This meetup is for members of the Lousy & Lazy Sport Club. If you want to try out our lousy & lazy sport events, you can do a trial run (Probetraining).

Dear Dragons, The year of the horse is just around the corner. To celebrate, we're having a dinner party at a Chinese restaurant. What will the year of the horse bring? 马到成功, 马上有钱, 马上升官发财, are just a few blessings that come to mind. Ready to hit the ground running in the new year with a tummy full of delicious Chinese food (preferably after the food has digested... you get the picture) and good company? We are happy to celebrate with you! Sincerely, Yimu and Xuedi \-\-\-Important Note\-\-\- This is a paid event (pay at the venue). We have a set menu (LINK below) from restaurant Ni's with a fixed price. Please check the menu. !!! Please also let us know in advance if you have any dietary restrictions (vegetarian, vegan, etc.) so we can coordinate with the restaurant to potentially adapt the menu as needed. +++ check set menu here +++ https://1drv.ms/i/c/245b842c5017b525/IQBIfrXwVc70SrkSe4cmpEyQAQqyR58p_Gm3bN43HEb_848?e=Jnf3Tj

All thx to the sponsor! **Line-Up:** 👉 *TBD* by TBD **Speaker Bios:** 🗣 *TBD*

Here, If you are good .... you are doing it wrong! Join us for a fun, low-pressure meetup where everyone's a terrible volleyball player! Whether you're a complete beginner or just really, really bad, we're all here to have a laugh and enjoy the game. No experience necessary, just a willingness to have a good time. See you there! 🏐😂 NOT SUITABLE for competitive players ! ***This is an indoor event. Please bring hall-sport shoes with light colour soles, street shoes or dark soles are not allowed.*** Follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/landlsc

Our next much-awaited **COLUMBUS** meetup is **Tuesday February 24 from 7-10 pm at ACE OF CUPS**. Meet patients, cultivators, processors, dispensary managers/staff, physicians, home growers, educators, activists, nonprofits, artists, attorneys, business owners, writers, students, and supporters to network, share our knowledge, collaborate, support each other and make new friends! WE HOPE TO BE COLLECTING SIGNATURES TO OVERTURN SB56. BRING YOUR FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES AND FAMILY MEMBERS TO JOIN US AND SIGN! Hope you will be there too! Save the date and pass the word. **Please RSVP** so we know who is coming and how many to expect. Find us to say hi and we will introduce you to others. We should be easy to spot. (The happy-looking group wearing cool nametags! See photos from our past events.) Sign in, grab a name tag, start your own bar/food tab, meet old friends and make new ones! Everyone is welcome. SEE YOU THERE!

**Summary** For this event, we will do the [Rhino Barn Tour](https://www.thewilds.org/rhino-barn-tour) at [The Wilds](https://www.thewilds.org/), a ten-thousand acre conservation center in Muskingum County. It is the largest such center in North America and one of the largest in the entire world. During this tour, we'll visit The Wilds' rhino herd in their state-of-the-art heated barns and learn how The Wilds' animal management team takes care of one of the largest herds of rhinos outside of Africa and Asia. **The date and time of this tour** We will be doing the 1:00 p.m. [Rhino Barn Tour](https://www.thewilds.org/rhino-barn-tour) on Saturday, February 28. The tour is scheduled to last 90 minutes. **What you need to do to attend** Signing up here on Meetup will not get you into The Wilds for the tour. You must go out to The Wilds' [website](https://www.thewilds.org/) and [buy a ticket](https://www.thewilds.org/rhino-barn-tour). Please [purchase your ticket](https://www.thewilds.org/rhino-barn-tour), then sign up here on Meetup so I know how many to expect. **Attendance cap** There are only eight total slots/tickets available for this tour. As I obviously have already bought one of the tickets, that leaves seven spaces for everyone else. If you are interested in this event, I urge you to [buy a ticket](https://www.thewilds.org/rhino-barn-tour) at The Wilds' website as soon as possible. Since their website is obviously public, nothing prevents other people having nothing to do with *GOhio!* from buying their own tickets, thereby potentially taking an available slot away from you. **Additional notes on attendance** I have now run several events at The Wilds. While the location of The Wilds and the pricing of the tickets generally leads to small turnouts, the people who have gone have all enjoyed it and were glad they went. If you've never been to The Wilds and you like zoos or animals at all, you are likely to find any tour at The Wilds to be a rewarding experience. **Tickets and pricing** [Tickets](https://www.thewilds.org/rhino-barn-tour) for this tour are $95, or $76 if you're a Wilds' member. I've posted screen shots, below, to help you be sure you're buying tickets for the correct event. Wilds' memberships pay for themselves if you go to The Wilds at least twice a year, and [Columbus Zoo members](https://www.columbuszoo.org/membership) get a discount on memberships to The Wilds. I will always run at least two events a year at The Wilds. Tickets for all Wilds' tours must be purchased at least 24 hours in advance of the actual tour. **Cancellations and refunds** Per The Wilds' [Cancellation Policy](https://www.thewilds.org/policies): *In order to be eligible for refund and accrue no rescheduling fees, cancellations must be made at least 14 days in advance of reservation. Cancellations made within 14 days of reservation will not receive a refund.* You may [contact The Wilds](https://www.thewilds.org/contact) at (740) 638-5030 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., or you can email them at information@thewilds.org. **Waiver of liability** After you purchase your ticket, you will likely be asked to fill out a waiver of liability. This is a very short document and should take you no more than two minutes to complete. **Where we'll meet** We will meet at The Wilds, whose actual address is [14000 International Rd, Cumberland, OH 43732](https://www.google.com/maps/place/14000+International+Rd,+Cumberland,+OH+43732/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x8837dae07a595557:0xa1ceca93325a8bd1?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111). Please try to be there by 12:30 p.m. For most Wilds' tours, a shuttle bus will take you to the actual spot of the tour. So think of this as though you're going to the airport to catch a flight. It helps to be on time. The Wilds generally asks that people arrive at least thirty minutes because the scheduled start time of their tour. **GPS / Getting to The Wilds** The Wilds is in a very rural area, but I've never had a problem getting there with my GPS (I have Verizon). I've also uploaded a JPG map, below, of Muskingum County. Sometimes, though, it's hard to get a signal when you're at The Wilds and getting ready to leave. So you might want to consider downloading an offline map in Google Maps. Your cell phone should pick up a signal, however, within a few minutes after you leave. The Wilds' Visitor Center does have free Wi-Fi. **Carpooling?** If you want to carpool, I recommend discussing this in the comments, below, to this event. While I don't myself carpool, I will do what I can to help you arrange something if I can. **The weather** Dress for the weather. Just because the barn is heated doesn't mean it will be warm. And wear closed-toed shoes. Wilds' tours typically run no matter what the weather is. **After the tour** Once we're done with the rhinos, we'll head over to the very highly rated [Y-Bridge Brewing Company](https://ybridgebrewing.com/). The brewery is about thirty minutes from The Wilds, and it will be on the way back to Columbus for most, if not all, of us. The brewery's actual address is [1417 Linden Ave Ste D, Zanesville, OH 43701](https://www.google.com/maps/place/1417+Linden+Ave+d,+Zanesville,+OH+43701/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x8837edd6cc50824f:0xe3a0af1ccb2aefbf?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111). Y-Bridge Brewing does not serve food; however, they have several [food options](https://ybridgebrewing.com/food-options). I encourage you to check these out ahead of time on their website for yourself. However, here are a few of them: *Within walking distance -- 120 feet away* * [Angry Bull Saloon](https://www.facebook.com/AngryBullSaloonZanesville/) (pizza & subs) * The Corner Pub Sports Bar and Grill (classic bar food) *Delivery options -- [Door Dash](https://www.doordash.com/)* * [4 Star Pizza](https://fourstarpizza.com/), (740) 452-9300 * [Donatos](https://www.donatos.com/), (740) 452-7900 * [Pizza Cottage](https://www.pizza-cottage.com/), (740) 455-6000 * [Dominos](https://www.dominos.com/), (740) 455-3126 * [Papa John's](https://www.papajohns.com/), (740) 450-4100 If you live in the area or can't make The Wilds but still want to meet us at the brewery, that's fine too.

Get ready for an unforgettable night of Women's Indoor Volleyball and camaraderie! Join fellow members for an action-packed evening and cheer on the Fury together. Where: Nationwide Arena Price: $27 Who: Active Member & Guest Non-Member Event Contact: Betsey Lyon, betseyllyon@yahoo.com Sign up link below: [Columbus Fury Volleyball Game - Calendar - Columbus Ski Club](https://www.columbusskiclub.org/content.aspx?page_id=4091&club_id=686961&item_id=2795127)

Topic details coming soon. AGENDA: 7:00pm - Opening announcements 7:10pm - Main Topic 7:50pm - Q&A

We will have our certified mediums available and you can receive 3 10-minute readings for $20. To keep you safe, we will be following all CDC and Health Dept. guidelines at our psychic fair today. Sitters and readers required to wear a mask. We will maintain a minimum of 6 foot physical distance during readings. Please, if you can, bring your own portable chair to use during your readings. Please note that we are at our wonderful new home at Unity of Columbus, 4211 Maize Road, Columbus, OH

We'll play board games at the [Land-Grant Brewing Company](https://landgrantbrewing.com/). The brewery has multiple [food trucks](https://landgrantbrewing.com/food/) on Sundays, including [Ray Ray's Hog Pit](https://rayrayshogpit.com/franklinton), [Buck City Sammies](https://www.buckcitysammies.com/menu), and [Hai Poké](https://www.haipokefoodtruck.com/). The brewery also has (passable) drip coffee, free water, and Jeni's ice cream. You can also walk over to the [Land Grant Extension](https://callinyourbluffcoffee.com/) for "real" coffee. (You may have to stand in line, though. The Extension is popular.) You can come late or leave early. Please just sign up so I know to expect you. **Notes on Parking** * You'll (probably) have to park on the street, but street parking is free on Sundays. * There are [parking garages](https://landgrantbrewing.com/parking/) a little farther away if you want. These are obviously not free, though. * There is a [lot next door](https://www.google.com/maps/place/39%C2%B057'26.0%22N+83%C2%B000'40.9%22W/@39.957211,-83.0119921,19z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m12!1m7!3m6!1s0x88388f3efd89238b:0xc139207386232411!2sLand-Grant+Brewing+Company!8m2!3d39.9577613!4d-83.011426!16s%2Fg%2F1pzt7t9df!3m3!8m2!3d39.957211!4d-83.011347?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDEyMS4wIKXMDSoKLDEwMDc5MjA3MUgBUAM%3D) to the brewery that you're allowed to park in, but it is not free. I've never parked there, so I don't know anything about rates. (I'm told though that if you eat at Milo's Deli next door to this lot that Milo's will stamp your parking so it's free.) * You're going to see odd signs on [Lucas St](https://www.google.com/maps/place/39%C2%B057'26.1%22N+83%C2%B000'40.3%22W/@39.957256,-83.0124134,19z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m10!1m5!3m4!2zMznCsDU3JzI4LjgiTiA4M8KwMDAnNDEuNSJX!8m2!3d39.957993!4d-83.011536!3m3!8m2!3d39.957256!4d-83.011197?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDEyMS4wIKXMDSoKLDEwMDc5MjA3MUgBUAM%3D) (saying it's a "private street") that will lead you to believe you're not allowed to park there, but you actually are. * Columbus parking cops literally do not work on Sundays. This means that, even if you're driving a non-EV, you can park in the EV spots near the brewery. **Games** I do bring many games, but please bring some of your own as well.