Cartography

Csatlakozz a Kezdő 1 kurzusunkhoz! Ez a kurzus a **2025 szeptemberében indult Teljesen kezdő csoportunk folytatása**, de új érdeklődők is csatlakozhatnak, ha már van minimális tapasztalatuk argentin tangóban. **Időpont:** Keddenként 19:00–20:00 (első alkalom 2026-ban: január 6.) **Helyszín:** Roxy Táncstúdió, Tátra utca 4., 1136 Budapest **Tanárok:** Szeghalmi Endre és Serbán Andrea Teljes órarendünk: [https://tangolibre.hu/orarend/](https://tangolibre.hu/orarend/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBEwaDNKZFpsQVh2dUpJMklKd3NydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR7-aVO75w-5o1MEitQYD_hyAji9mGat21L3FYSxxPdYQTAUrjN9qopadYwkuw_aem_cRLCRnGqUCcsUeCJj_XpyA) Árak: [https://tangolibre.hu/arak/](https://tangolibre.hu/arak/) \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **Beginner 1 Argentine Tango Course – continuation** This course is the continuation of our Total Beginner group started in September 2025. New participants are also welcome if you already have some basic experience in Argentine tango. **Time:** Tuesdays 7:00–8:00 PM (First class in 2026: **January 6)** **📍 Location:** Roxy Dance Studio, Tátra utca 4., 1136 Budapest **Teachers:** Endre Szeghalmi & Andrea Serbán Prices: [https://tangolibre.hu/en/prices/](https://tangolibre.hu/en/prices/) ***

Many organizations treat the Product Owner as a backlog administrator, ticket writer, or go-between — and then wonder why their products drift, stall, or miss the mark. The role gets distorted in predictable ways, and the cost is real: slower decisions, misaligned teams, and products that serve processes instead of users. In this session, led by [Tom Molnár](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamas-molnar-57902919/) we'll unpack the **6 misunderstood PO stances** — the anti-patterns that quietly erode value — and contrast them with the **6 effective stances** that make a Product Owner truly impactful. **What we'll cover:** ❌ **Misunderstood stances (anti-patterns):** * **Clerk** — just adds everything to the backlog, no vision or decisions * **Story Writer** — focuses only on writing user stories * **Project Manager** — focuses on deadlines and output instead of value * **Manager** — manages people instead of the product * **Subject Matter Expert** — gets lost in detailed expertise * **Gatekeeper** — becomes a bottleneck; everything goes through them These aren't value-creating behaviors — they're distortions of the role. ✅ **Effective stances:** * **Visionary** — defines a clear product vision and goals; focuses on the future * **Collaborator** — actively works with the team and stakeholders * **Customer Representative** — brings in user needs; explains the "why" * **Decision Maker** — makes fast decisions → faster time-to-market * **Experimenter** — thinks in hypotheses; validates instead of assuming * **Influencer** — creates alignment across the organization A good PO isn't just one of these — it's a combination of all. 🎯 **Key takeaway:** According to Scrum, the PO's goal is to maximize value. Many organizations misunderstand this. The goal is to recognize when you slip into a bad stance and shift back. **Who should attend:** Product Owners, Scrum Masters, agile coaches, engineering leads, and anyone working with or alongside POs who wants to raise the bar on how the role is understood and practiced. -- An in person, English speaking session. No video feed will be provided. Please note, that we dont have catering for the event.

If you live around Oktogon or Király utca and want to slow down your evenings, this is a simple way to transition into rest. Every Tuesday, we gather for a guided meditation and relaxation session, combined with herbal tea in a calm, intimate setting. The intention is to help you disconnect from the day, settle your mind, and go home ready to rest. Please plan your evening so you can leave in a relaxed state — ideally with a short, quiet way back home. **Important:** * Eat before the session (ideally you wont eat again until next day) * Arrive on time to keep the space calm * Limited spots **Practical details:** 📍 Okūma (Teahōm) - Concept Tea Lounge 🗓 Every 2nd Tuesday (fortnightly) 💳 Contribution based, this first time 🧘 Led by Marcos You can also purchase tickets in bulk for better price 👉 https://revolut.me/marcoshht/pocket/nyyRQdkeTQ

Csatlakozz a KEZDŐ 2 kurzusunkhoz! **Időpont:** Keddenként 20:00–21:00 (első alkalom 2026-ban: **január 6.)** **Helyszín**: Roxy Táncstúdió Tátra utca 4., 1136 Budapest [Teljes órarendünk](https://tangolibre.hu/orarend/) **Tanárok**: Szeghalmi Endre és Serbán Andrea ✦✦✦ Join our **Beginner 2 Argentine Tango course**! This class is for dancers who already know the basics and would like to continue developing their technique, connection, and enjoyment of tango. **🕒 Time** Tuesdays 8:00–9:00 PM First class in 2026: **January 6** **📍 Location** Roxy Dance Studio Tátra utca 4., 1136 Budapest **Teachers** Endre Szeghalmi & Andrea Serbán **Prices:**[ https://tangolibre.hu/en/prices/](https://tangolibre.hu/en/prices/)

Szeretnéd fejleszteni a beszédkészséged? Szeretnél fejlődni a kommunikációdban, mert szükséged van rá a munkádban, a hétköznapjaidban? Szeretnéd megtanulni, hogyan tudsz még kifejezőbb lenni? Úgy érzed, nincs elég önbizalmad, de már tudod, hogy növelni szeretnéd, és már azt is tudod, tenni is kész vagy érte? Van egy jó hírünk: a LEGJOBB HELYEN JÁRSZ! :) Mi minden kedden azért gyűlünk össze, mert hiszünk abban, hogy bárki képes megtanulni az önbizalommal teli, tiszta, célratörő és élvezetes kommunikációt. Teszünk azért, hogy nálunk a gyakorlás alapú tanulás mindenki számára elérhető legyen akár diák, otthon lévő szülő, karrier építő, vagy csak egyszerűen érdeklődő a találkozónk résztvevője. Nálunk bárki megszerezheti azokat a kommunikációs technikákat melykekkel képes érdekesen, tömören, érthetően átadni saját gondolatait a közö(n)sség felé. Várunk szeretettel, ha szeretnéd fejleszteni kommunikációs és vezetői készségeidet egy jó hangulatú, segítőkész és összetartó csapatban. Találd meg önmagad egy inspiráló környezetben! Amivel találkozhatsz egy esten: – képet kapsz arról, hogy mi a Toastmasters és hogyan néz ki egy klubest; – megláthatod mit is adhat a Toastmasters tapasztalt előadók által; – új érdekes emberekkel találkozhatsz; – barátságos környezetben szerezhetsz sok új élményt. Miért csatlakozz a SzóDa Retorika Klubhoz? 1\. Lehetőség önmagad megismerésére\, ami a személyes fejlődéshez nagyban hozzájárul; 2\. Új barátokra tehetsz szert; 3\. Több önbizalmat szerezhetsz; 4\. Új dolgokat tanulhatsz azáltal\, hogy gyakorlod őket\. Hogyan tudsz csatlakozni? * gyere el hozzánk, próbáld ki magad, ízleld meg, milyen a színpadon állni, merj rögtönözni. Ezt díjmentesen megteheted három alkalommal. * ha jól érezted magad, megtetszett és eldöntötted, hogy Te is szeretnél velünk hétről hétre, minden kedd este a fejlődés útján járni, bővebb információért látogass el ezekre az oldalakra: https://www.facebook.com/szodaretorikaklub/ A SzóDa vár szeretettel! :)

A női tangó technika gyakorlása segít abban, hogy magabiztosabban és elegánsabban táncoljunk, valamint könnyebben kapcsolódjunk a partnerünkhöz és a zenéhez. Hogy ne csak követőként, hanem tudatos táncosnőként legyünk jelen a táncban. **Mikor**: Kedd, 18:00 – 19:00 **Hol:** Roxy Stúdió, 1136 Budapest, Tátra utca 4. ✦✦✦ **Miért fontos a női technika a tangóban?** -Javul a tartás, az ölelés, a sétatechnika, a stabilitás és az elegancia -Izgalmas díszítésekkel szépítjük a táncot -Hogy ne csak követőként, hanem táncosnőként is jelen legyél ✦✦✦ **Tematika** Az órákat bemelegítéssel kezdjük, majd az adott napi témával folytatjuk (pl. tartás, séta, disszociáció, giro, boleo, enrosque, díszítések stb.). A cél olyan technikai alapok elsajátítása, amelyek hosszú távon is segítik a fejlődésedet. **Ruházat** Kényelmes öltözet ajánlott. Lehetőleg hozz magaddal magassarkú cipőt is. További részletek: [https://tangolibre.hu/arak/](https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftangolibre.hu%2Farak%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExbDFsUmtNd2dIQVpmSHY3TXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR6UMmb0UoScQqD_vY2si7YaoEL3eIt8sfl5_Umx1LOW3RE_yq1xpuO6AwQLiw_aem_79bdLWqEbvzUx5qtFeyneA&h=AT7a1OP5evVEHDcL1uUSIGhfFxkDzd37eVA1AGyELRZYfgq32JCYYoXLT6i2nOlRLNCuSfgbAqgcBIvkICHRxLTe9O522W5uKHL7ylZqitMdwj0lFPVQhxReRbq4PahKY2cBhvq_N8rHFCKPHKt8f81yHuxw_i3s9b4&__tn__=q&c%5B0%5D=AT6G1SRCcbuOonOjMDArF7zv6zzXg6TL30pzfPbLwkmUdqxAVtAkaebCIfT23D8QPA9-zyZxrXaset57fLmMJOmvIABzUucuXls3bJmthLKQq09teRoryNetMqhkBNlxKr0FPj_q9CFE178EVkVduxOJ9dEN1hq1kjY) Nemsokára találkozunk! \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- Women’s Tango Technique with Andrea Practicing women’s tango technique helps you dance with more confidence and elegance, and connect more easily with your partner and the music. So that you are present in the dance not only as a follower, but as a conscious and aware dancer. **When:** Tuesday, 18:00–19:00 **Where:** Roxy Studio, 1136 Budapest, Tátra utca 4. ### Why is women’s technique important in tango? * Improves posture, embrace, walking technique, stability, and elegance * Adds beautiful and expressive embellishments to your dance * Helps you be present not only as a follower, but as a dancer in your own right ### Dress code Comfortable clothing is recommended. Please bring high heels if possible. More details: [https://tangolibre.hu/en/prices/](https://tangolibre.hu/en/prices/) See you soon! ***

FlowDan’s Mix is a Latin-inspired dance party workout. High energy, easy-to-follow choreographies, and nonstop good vibes! Each class has a theme we dance through Class fee: 2500 Huf 5 class pass: 10000 Huf

*“...whatsoever thou doest, whereof thou thyself art the cause, to do it justly: which will be, if both in thy resolution and in thy action thou have no further end, than to do good unto others, as being that, which by thy natural constitution, as a man, thou art bound unto”* **Marcus Aurelius Antonino - Meditations.** **(Session in english!)** Stoicism, was a philosophy started by Zeno of Citium. Centuries after Marcus Aurelius, the "philosopher King" offered through *Meditations,* a direct and personal account on his thoughts and ideas. His message is still widely popular nearly 2,000 years later. More recently Stoicism re-emerged as a hack for self-mastery, achievement and life success. Picked and reinterpreted by modern voices such as Ryan Holiday, and amplified in more controversial forms by figures like Andrew Tate. In this session we will have the opportunity to focus on Marcus Aurelius' *Meditations* and how it has been passed through a filter of today's youtube pop-culture. If you like this philosophy, especially the new version, or hate this philosophy, especially the new version, please accept my most sincere invitation to assist to our session! If you have no idea about what this is, this will certainly be useful, too. We will focus on: *self-accountability, emotional control, power and masculinity, denial of mental health, competition, life as conquest, and finally how these ideas intersect with relationships, gender, and politics.* **Introduction of guests (15 minutes)** We start with a short introduction of the guests, and how familiar are they with stoicism (the classic or modern version) **Questions (1 hour and 45 minutes)** 1. Does classic stoicism and the new broicism intersect? The case of Ryan Holiday. 2. Radical self-accountability. Can it backfire? 3. Emotional control. What were Marcus Aurelius' actual takes on the mater? 4. Masculinity. Why is Stoicism often framed as a masculine philosophy? 5. Is emotional restraint a strength — or a social expectation placed on men? 6. Do women have the possibility to choose a stoic way of life, without assuming the traditional female role? 7. Can emotional detachment conflict with intimacy? 8. Is pop-stoicism more a cause or a consequence of today's cooling gender relations? 9. Can Stoicism help with depression? or hide it? 10. Is vulnerability an act of weakness? 11. Where is the line between discipline and self-neglect? 12. How aligned is the idea of brutal competitive life achievement to stoicism? 13. Would a classic stoic pursue dominance, influence or wealth? How important was it for them? 14. Why now? What can be the reasons for stoicism's new found popularity? 15. Is “focus on what you control” psychologically realistic in complex societies? 16. Can Stoicism be used to rationalize hierarchy, oppression and inequality? *** **RSVP:** Please confirm your attendance here on Meetup to save your space and if you cannot assist, yield your space to another person in the waiting list. We welcome donations from 1.000 HUF (min 400 HUF) to keep the costs of the meetup. **If you order food, or alcohol-free wines, you dont need to donate for the group. Thank you!**

Agilitás és beszélgetés és sör és fröccs. Vagy limonádé, kinek mi. Gyertek egy kötetlen találkozóra, ahol ha hozol egy elakadást, vagy ügyet, talán még beszélünk is róla, és segítünk továbblendülni. De ha nem, az is oké. Az asztal MASZK néven lesz, ha nem találsz minket.

Hello everyone, Take a break from your week, make progress on your reading in good company, then join a relaxed chat about what everyone's been reading. **Schedule** 10:30 \- 11:00 \| Arrival & Introduction round 11:00 \- 12:00 \| Silent Reading Hour 12:00 \- 13:00 \| Chat & Discussion **The After-Event** ☕ The trial was a success, so it's officially a thing! After the session, we’ll head over to Zaj kávézó for some tea, coffee, cookies, and sandwiches. Feel free to stick around and join us to keep the conversation going! **Location** Metropolitan Ervin Szabo Public Library, Boulevard Library It will take place in the event room. After you enter the library, turn right, cross the lounge, and go down the stairs at the far end. If you bring snacks, you can have them in the lounge area. Whether you're a regular or a first-timer, you're welcome. See you there! **[Facebook Page](https://www.facebook.com/people/Budapest-Silent-Book-Club/61567388151835)** (previous books read in sessions) **[Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/1271292-budapest-silent-book-club)**[ ](https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/1271292-budapest-silent-book-club)(monthly book club voting) **[Silent Book Club](https://silentbook.club/pages/about-us)** (the idea itself, where did it come from?) This is a free event, but Meetup has its own fee. If you'd like to contribute and help keep this going, you're welcome to donate [via Revolut](https://revolut.me/schmidtpeter), every bit helps! (we keep track of all donations in this [spreadsheet](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1C_N9CN_pQO5aUYezqzQW4GS7pr8IfplchwG8-ruZ19g/edit?usp=sharing))

In this session, we dive into Pranayama, (an ancient practice to discover the flow of energy within) and the power of conscious breathing, which is one of the most important aspects of the original yogic lifestyle. On these Tuesday evenings, we do more than just a breathwork session: this is an opportunity to explore a true harmony between our breath & the mind - body connection. We begin with a 15-minute chest-opening yoga sequence to gently expand our lungs and prepare for deeper breathing (no need for gym clothes though, just an open mind). Then, we explore different breathing techniques designed for self-awareness, relaxation, and energy flow. These classes are designed to help you discover how breath can be a tool to balance, energize, and center yourself. To close, we immerse in a short yet profound "silent concert", a meditative sound journey where 174 Hz sound waves or white noise guide us into a state of deep harmony. Whether emotions are light or heavy, thoughts are clear or clouded, this is a space to simply be and find some peace. Book your spot here: https://www.sanctuary.hu/service-page/thursday-pranayama-meditation-19-00-en?referral=service_list_widget

English below \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- 📚 A megszokott ütemhez képest itt egy extra alkalom most csütörtökön! Gyere és folytasd az olvasmányod a csendes könyvklubunkon a Fővárosi Szabó Ervin Könyvtárban: hozd magaddal az aktuális könyvedet, merülj el benne egy órácskát, majd oszd meg velünk, amit olvastál. 🗺 **Hogyan találsz meg minket:** A Központi Könyvtár fő épületének **Metszéspont** termében leszünk (régi tanulótér): a könyvtárba belépve haladj tovább a liftekig, de mielőtt elérnéd őket, fordulj balra a mosdók irányába. Az ott található lépcsőkön gyere fel fél emeletet. 💡 Az eseményen való részvételhez nem szükséges könyvtári regisztráció vagy beiratkozás, csak jelezd, hogy a Csendes Könyvklubra jössz. 🥤 **Étel-ital:** Kérünk, zárható üvegben hozz magaddal innivalót, ha az esemény alatt megszomjaznál. Másból inni, valamint a teremben enni nem lehet, de az épület átriumában üzemel kávézó. 🕑 **A menetrend (változás!):** 17:30–18:00 – Bemutakozókör: mit fogsz olvasni? 18:00–18:45 – Csendes olvasás 18:45–19:30 – Kiscsoportos beszélgetés a könyvekről (opcionális) 🍹 Az esemény után igény szerinti **afterezés** a [Prága Kávéház és Sörözőben](https://pragakavezo.hu/) (Baross u 8.), hogy ne csak könyvekről beszélgessünk! Ha csak erre jönnél, írj üzenetet, hogy ne kerüljük el egymást. 🇭🇺 Fontos: Ez egy teljesen **magyar nyelvű esemény**. A bemutatkozó kör az elején és a kötetlen beszélgetés a végén is magyarul zajlik. Az olvasás csendje persze mindenkié, így nyugodtan hozhatsz bármilyen nyelvű könyvet. **✨** **Önkéntes hozzájárulás** A Meetup-felület fenntartására elfogadunk adományokat, hogy eseményeket az eddig megszokott színvonalon és nyitott emberek között tarthassuk. Kérjük, amennyiben lehetőséged van rá, támogasd a könyvklubot! Az eseményen lesz adománygyűjtő doboz és Revolut QR kód. Köszönjük mindenkinek, aki eddig támogatott minket! Várunk szeretettel! \-\-\-\- Please note: This is a Hungarian-language event. The introductions at the beginning and the optional discussion at the end are held in Hungarian.

Ticket Link: [Click Here](https://cooltix.hu/event/69f0affc59e5398f945e2076 Join us on the ⏰16th of May at 📍Mixát Udvar for a night full of stories about love and heartbreaks💔. Our comedians are going to bare it all👐 🎟️Single Ticket price online: 3000 🎟️Student tickets; 2000 (Online only) 🎟️Door Prices: 3000 🎟️Reserve the best seats (Support Ticket): 4000 ⏰Show starts: 8PM 🚪Doors open: 7pm 📍Mixát Budapest, Krúdy u 7, 1088 Hosted by: Parvez Tauseef We have an amazing lineup in store for you. Featuring local and travelling comedians. Seats are on a first come first serve basis. So, come a bit earlier to make sure you have a good seat.🪑 Follow our page @hotpaprikacomedy to stay updated on future shows) Join us on the 16th of May at Mixát Udvar for a night full of stories about love and heartbreaks. Our comedians are going to bare it all Single Ticket price online: 3000 Student tickets; 2000 (Online only) Door Prices: 3000 Reserve the best seats (Support Ticket): 4000 Show starts: 8PM Doors open: 7pm Mixát Budapest, Krúdy u 7, 1088 Hosted by: Parvez Tauseef We have an amazing lineup in store for you. Featuring local and travelling comedians. Seats are on a first come first serve basis. So, come a bit earlier to make sure you have a good seat. Follow our page @hotpaprikacomedy to stay updated on future shows

Join us for a special edition of the Android Budapest meetup in May! This time, we’re collaborating with mDevCamp, the Prague-based mobile dev conference. You will have an opportunity to get a free ticket to the conference! Before the summer break, you’ll have another opportunity to learn more about Android and meet fellow mobile devs! We’ll have two great talks to set the tone of the evening - this time you’ll hear from two organizers of our meetup, on the topics of Kotlin Multiplatform and screen recording on Android. **📜 Schedule:** **18:00 - 18:30: Gathering and socializing** **18:30 - 19:15: First talk** **19:15 - 19:45: Break** **19:45 - 20:15: Second talk** **20:05 - : More socializing!** **—** **🔷 Going Multiplatform with Your Android App - Márton Braun, JetBrains** Existing Android apps are in a great position to expand into Kotlin Multiplatform: you might already be using patterns, libraries, and APIs that work on more platforms than just Android. With Compose Multiplatform, you can build an app with a fully shared Kotlin codebase, targeting iOS, desktop, and even the web! In this talk, we’ll look at how you can migrate an existing Android app to multiplatform. As this can be a significant engineering effort for an existing, well-established app, we’ll also discuss how to plan and organize the required changes, and how to adopt KMP incrementally across your codebase without disrupting day-to-day development. **🔷 When MediaProjection Isn't Enough - Building a Custom In-App Session Recorder - István Juhos, Spoke** Debugging user issues gets so much easier when you can see exactly what they experienced. While off-the-shelf solutions exist to integrate screen recording into our apps, they didn't give us the quality, flexibility, or control we needed. So, our team built our own native, in-app session recording tool for Android. In this talk, I'll share why we decided to go in-house, how we tackled the technical and UX hurdles along the way, and what we learned about recording high-quality video and audio data. We'll dive into tricky bits like exploring - and discarding - the MediaProjection API, handling codecs and muxers across devices, designing recording controls that stay out of the user's way, playing back recordings, and managing background uploads without draining your users' battery or patience. — 🏢🍴 Thanks to [Supercharge](https://supercharge.io/careers) for hosting us in their lovely office, and the organizers of [mDevCamp](https://mdevcamp.eu) for the food and the drinks! 🚪 Doors open at 18:00 and the first talk starts at 18:30! 🗓️ The event is free but requires registration, so please RSVP here and don’t forget to update your response if it changes! 📸 We plan to take photos, so if you would not like to appear on them, please tell one of the organizers! **🎤 We are always looking for new presenters, so if you have an idea for a talk, please reach out to us at meetup@androidbudapest.com or submit at [https://androidbudapest.com/talkidea](https://androidbudapest.com/talkidea)!**

**Total Eclipse of the Chart: School Redistricting Dashboards** In this presentation, we will explore the utilization of maps, sets, and SQL within a Tableau dashboard to help provide “what-if” analyses generated through the use of a mapped dashboard, providing different scenarios and the potential implications of these. While in this use case we are focused on a large school district, the concepts of utilizing existing data to explore the future impacts of modifying different geographic boundaries can be useful to many industries, balancing the mix of maps with visual analytics. **About Our Speaker** Robert Kramer is the Data Systems and State Reporting Coordinator at South Western City Schools in Grove City. He has worked there for 17 years, serving previously in the roles of Data Analyst, Programmer, and Operations Coordinator. Prior to working at South Western, he worked as a Systems Engineer at Pinnacle Data Systems in Groveport. He graduated in 2005 from The University of Toledo with his Bachelor’s in Computer Science and Engineering, and a minor in Mathematics. Robert resides in Obetz with his wife, and their 15 and 12 year-old daughters. He was also just elected to his 3rd four-year term on the Obetz City Council. Thanks to our 2026 sponsors: [Clarivoy](https://www.clarivoy.com), [What Box Consulting Group](https://www.whatboxconsultinggroup.com), [Conductrics](https://www.conductrics.com), and [Piwik PRO](https://piwik.pro) More info at [cbusdaw.com](https://cbusdaw.com)

Welcome to the Art School - 20's & 30's artists Meetup group! This is a community for young artists who are passionate about exploring different mediums and techniques in the world of art. Whether you're a painter, sculptor, photographer, or mixed media artist, this group is the perfect place to connect with like-minded individuals, have a space to work on your craft, and showcase your work. Let's inspire and support each other on our artistic journeys! Whether you're a novice or a seasoned artist, all skill levels are welcome. Join us and unleash your creativity! Afterwards, we will have time to work on our individual art projects, hang out, and if anyone is interested in feedback on their work, there will be time for that as well.

Join us this Thursday (5/14) at 6:30 pm at Rocky Fork Metro Park in Westerville as we walk about 2.5 miles of a fully paved trail. The Beech Woodland trail is a flat yet scenic trail with a variety of landscapes. Let’s take it in together!

Bring your work or your hobby, hang out, and code with us. Follow @buckeyecocoa for more information.

**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.

We connect you with up to 30 Men or Women tennis partners close to your PLAYING REGION and skill level. This program is less competitive, no champions crowned, no league standings just dedicated tennis partners who want to meet up with you on the courts. Players will meet up to play a tennis match or just to hit around. Just go through the [Join Page](https://www.tenniscolumbus.com/partner-program) to enter this program. [https://www.tenniscolumbus.com/partner-program](https://www.tenniscolumbus.com/partner-program)

FREE event [https://www.ccad.edu/chroma](https://www.ccad.edu/chroma) Friday, May 15, 3–7 p.m. CCAD campus, 60 Cleveland Ave, Columbus, OH Join Columbus College of Art & Design for *2025* *Chroma: Best of CCAD*, our annual campuswide exhibition showcasing outstanding student work from across the college’s academic programs. This faculty-juried show features select work from CCAD students of all class years, and is a can’t-miss end-of-year campus celebration recognizing their tremendous achievements. It’ll be a night of fun and entertainment, with interactive games, animation and film screenings, art symposiums, poetry and prose readings, and more (along with some of the best local food trucks). *Chroma* is free and open to all. Many exhibitions including... **Game Art & Design:** **DSB, first floor, Welcome Center lobby and Room 115**