Cartography

[Profs and Pints DC](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“How AI Alters Thinking,”** on dealing with artificial intelligence’s capacity to change and undermine our thought processes, with Eli Alshanetsky, assistant professor of philosophy at Temple University, principal investigator at its Cognitive Integrity Lab, and author of an upcoming book on AI and freedom of thought. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/dc-how-ai-alters-thinking](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/dc-how-ai-alters-thinking) .] Doctors who give bad advice can be sued for malpractice. Teachers belong to a profession with set standards. When artificial intelligence guides you, however, that guidance comes with a disclaimer: Use at your own risk. Every day millions of people take that risk, and usually AI seems genuinely helpful. But even if AI gives us good answers, might its use over time do bad things to how we think? Explore the relationship between AI and our own minds with Eli Alshanetsky, whose Cognitive Integrity Lab studies how artificial intelligence changes how we think, learn, and build trust. Author of *Articulating a Thought* and the upcoming book *Freedom of Thought in the Age of AI*, he’s on the cutting edge of efforts to answer AI-related questions such as: How can we tell when work is truly our own? How can technology support rather than replace authorship and reflection? What does trust mean when AI mediates our relationships with others and with our own thoughts? To set up his discussion of potential consequences of AI, he’ll describe how social media’s impact on society serves as a preview. Social media didn’t just give people what they wanted to click on, it actually changed what they regarded as click-worthy. It broke attention spans and fueled radicalization across millions of very different people. It left us with people who doom-scroll for hours, who can’t focus, who don’t know what to trust anymore. If you’d shown people this version of themselves ten years ago, would they have chosen it? Artificial intelligence is making a similar deal with us, but the stakes are higher. It isn’t chasing clicks. It’s optimized for giving you the most satisfying response to whatever is on your mind right now. The risk over time isn’t just that you’ll get lazy. More profoundly, even when you think hard, your sense of what counts as good thinking—as well as what sounds like you—will shift to match what AI has been feeding you. We’ll consider what kind of person this produces and whether this is someone we want to be or want children to become. Professor Alshanetsky will lay out a practical framework, which he calls “the interaction layer,” for using AI without letting it replace the thinking it’s supposed to support. He’ll also talk about what AI-related concerns should be the focus of parents and educators. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: Illustration by David S. Soriano / Creative Commons.

Hit the pause button for an hour and reduce your stress. You will be compassionately guided through an exploration of intentionally linking your breath with the movement of both dynamic and static stretching and its impact on your (P)hysical, (I)ntellectual, (E)motional, and (S)piritual layers. Then experience the calming practice of restorative yoga which was designed specifically to move you from the fight, flight, or freeze state of the nervous system into the rest and digest state. Leave this all levels, accessible class feeling restored, renewed, and ready for what life has in store for you next. **Please reserve your spot at www.piesfitnessyoga.com.** The session is offered InStudio only. **Sign up for sessions must be made at least 2 hours prior to class.** The address is 1322 Prince St Alexandria, VA 22314. Our entrance is located on the side of the building, parallel to West St. **Street parking is available and additional parking is located at Shiloh Baptist church, spaces 3,5,7,9.** The church is located across the street from the studio, on the corner of Duke St. and West St.

This walk will start at the Stadium Armory Metro (Stadium Entrance/North Entrance) and proceed to the walking trail along the Anacostia to Navy Yard and then to the Waterfront. It will end at the Waterfront Metro Station. **Mileage:** 4 mi **Start Location:** Stadium-Armory Metrorail Station **End Location:** Waterfront Metro Station **Time:** 6 pm - 8 pm **Terrain:** This will be mostly flat, on paved or gravel ground We try to be punctual with our event times so please be respectful to others and show up a few minutes early, because we will leave without you. Note, we often limit the RSVPs to keep group sizes manageable.

This class is designed to target those places in the body that might need a little extra space breathed into them after a night's sleep. This morning, get your blood pumping and work out all the stiffness, cramping, and tightness that are often left in the body after hours of laying still. Now seize the day! **Please reserve your spot at www.piesfitnessyoga.com**. The session is offered both InStudio and OnLine. The Zoom link for the OnLine session will be emailed 15 minutes before class starts to those who are registered at www.piesfitnessyoga.com. **Sign up for sessions must be made at least 2 hours prior to class.** The address is 1322 Prince St Alexandria, VA 22314. Our entrance is located on the side of the building, parallel to West St. **Street parking is available and additional parking is located at Shiloh Baptist church, spaces 3,5,7,9.** The church is located across the street from the studio, on the corner of Duke St. and West St.

A Civil War & Lincoln Tour of Downtown D.C.!! Downtown D.C. from the Capitol Building to Ford’s Theater has dozens of locales relating to amazing events and personalities of the Civil War. This unique walking tour, held on the anniversary of Lincoln's tragic assassination, will touch on the startling events that occurred on these streets. BONUS: We'll do a Capitol Building & Congress history tour at 10:30 am that morning. (https://www.meetup.com/washarea-discovery-hikes/events/314600728/?eventOrigin=group_upcoming_events) If you pay for either tour, you get to take the other one for free! MEET outside U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave SW, Washington, DC 20001 When: Monday, May 18, 2 pm Length: About 2 hours. Fee: $22. Pre-Register and PrePay via: Paypal, sending $23 to: paypal.me/EMoser460 Or Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2-for-1-the-civil-war-lincoln-tour-of-downtown-dc-may-18-2-pm-tickets-1988806833777?aff=oddtdtcreator Or, pay in cash at the start of the tour. Some of our action-packed itinerary!: • The war’s unknown great photographer • The secret grotto for Civil War veterans • The statue of the hero of Gettysburg, who ran as a pro-South presidential candidate • The man who killed John Wilkes Booth—or did he? • The place which inspired an Oscar-winning movie, and where a plot to assassinate pre-war President James Buchanan was hatched! • The Confederate soldier who revolutionized warfare • The secret society of “free men of color” • The North divided: Yankees vs. Irish • Workplace of the most famous caregiver in American history, and the astonishing task Lincoln gave her • The lodgings of the Booth conspirators • The great inventor who botched antebellum politics • The military nurse who was the country’s most eminent poet • The place of the assassination of a President & former Union general • The astonishing plot to kill Confederate President Jefferson Davis • The hulking guard whose critical absence led to Mr. Lincoln’s demise • The building where Walt Whitman and Clara Barton worked • A reenactment of Lincoln’s murder • The Lincoln conspirators’ horrific fate • A slain President’s final and noble request Your guide is a former writer for the “Tonight Show”, and ex-White House speechwriter, and author of a book on the history of presidential politics, including several chapters on Civil War era presidents: https://www.amazon.com/Two-Term-Jinx-Presidents-Washington-Theodore-Roosevelt-ebook/dp/B01K0NT0CK/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0 And his book on the Capitol Building’s wild history: https://www.amazon.com/Lost-History-Capital-Tumultuous-Congress/dp/1493055909 Also his crime thriller drawing on Civil War lore: https://www.amazon.com/OLD-TOWN-HORROR-Americas-Historic-ebook/dp/B0BX27RWYG We’re on TripAdvisor!: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g28970-d12791843-Reviews-Lafayette_Square_Tour_of_Scandal_Assassination_Intrigue-Washington_DC_District_of.html Think history is boring? Think again! 2 tours for the price of 1!!

Do you find yourself showing up in meditation sessions wondering why your mind won’t settle down?Are you trying to figure out why your body seems to become so uncomfortable in meditation sessions? Join Marsha, non-conventional meditator, certified yoga therapist, trauma sensitive yoga facilitator, and energy and sound healing facilitator, as we show up and unpack ways of meditating that uniquely resonate with you. Whether you find comfort in standing, sitting in a chair or on a yoga mat, or lying on the floor, eyes open or closed, you are welcome to show up just as you are, as we seek peace through movement and compassionate sharing experiences, while embodying the physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual benefits of meditation, energy + sound healing, and yoga therapy. **Please reserve your spot at www.piesfitnessyoga.com**. The session is offered both InStudio and OnLine. The Zoom link for the OnLine session will be emailed 15 minutes before class starts to those who are registered at www.piesfitnessyoga.com. **Sign up for sessions must be made at least 2 hours prior to class.** The address is 1322 Prince St Alexandria, VA 22314 Our entrance is located on the side of the building, parallel to West St. **Street parking is available and additional parking is located at Shiloh Baptist church, spaces 36,37,38,39.** The church is located across the street from the studio, on the corner of Duke St. and West St. Discount is available to seniors, teachers, students, emergency responders, and military. All can save by purchasing class packs.

This week's guest cube is Michael's Creepy Cube! List here: [https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/de98a70c-665d-4d8f-b77c-39f83a827a77](https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/de98a70c-665d-4d8f-b77c-39f83a827a77) **NEW UPDATE:** Additional members of the cubing community have reached out to me and we all agree, the more cubing the better! I have removed the 12 person limit and we are adding an overflow cube for those also interested in non vintage type cubes! These guest cubes may consist of the following: \- Alex's Enchantment Cube: [Enchanted to Meet You](https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/enchantedCube)! \- Matthew's Avatar cube: [Avatar: The Last Airbender Power(ful) Cube](https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/avatarTLA) Priority will still fall to firing the vintage cube but what this means is if we reach 12 members we can offer the option to fire both cubes at 6 and 6 or just the vintage cube at 2 pods each. If we reach over 12 we will divide up the players between the two cubes with earlier RSVPs getting priority on their choice. If you have a cube that you are interested in having as a spill over cube please reach out to me and we can coordinate. Thank you! Come join and casually draft cube! No cost to enter and no cards needed! The store provides promo booster packs and I usually throw in a pack of the most recent standard set to award to the people with the best records at the end of the night. [What is Cube?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNDBTRG6keM) What: Cube Draft When: 6:00pm Where: Your Hobby Place in Old Town Alexandria (Your Hobby Place, 700 N Washington St, Alexandria, VA 22314) We aim to start drafting shortly after 6:00pm as the store's register closes at 9:00pm. The store owner is kind enough to keep the space open for us to finish rounds. In previous events we've usually wrapped up around 9:45. All skill levels are welcome and all cards, lands, tokens needed are provided so you only need to bring yourself and potentially some dice and playmat if you prefer. The list can be seen here: [https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/proxybacon](https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/proxybacon) Join Your Hobby Place's Discord and grab the Cube Role in the mtg-chat channel for the most up to date information on cube at their location: [https://discord.gg/9je3G8vzXh](https://discord.gg/9je3G8vzXh) **Important Notice:** I have seen an increased number of signups and no shows amongst brand new accounts. In an effort to make sure we have room for everyone if this is your first time joining and you have just created a meetup account please reach out to me via Meetup or discord. **Late Policy:** RSVPing will hold your spot for up to 10 minutes after 6. If you expect you may be running late please reach out to me via the store's discord. My username is iluvbacon610.

Leave your landlubber cares behind you and join us on the only waterborne transit in the D.C. area! Incorrectly dubbed the Potomac Water "Taxi", this is instead and indisputably a water bus: it runs on a regular advertised route, carries large numbers of passengers and cannot be hailed. This regular outing ends the "season" (TEDC takes summers off) and this year for the first time we'll be traveling from the Wharf to National Harbor in Maryland. After lunch at the Potbelly Sandwich Shop, we'll board the P90 bus for Alexandria, the Metro and home. **IMPORTANT NOTE**: Our outings usually require only a Metro Card, but this one is different. Each participant needs to [visit this website](https://www.cityexperiences.com/washington-dc/city-cruises/water-taxi/washington-dc-water-taxi/) and purchase a ticket for the **Saturday, June 23, 11:45 AM Water Taxi from the Wharf to National Harbor.** The cost is around $27. Hope to see you all there!

Try knitting, crocheting, or weaving if you prefer! We recommend bringing your knitting or crochet needles along with any fabric or yarn you’d like to work with. Register here: [https://brandywineartlounge.com/workshops/](https://brandywineartlounge.com/workshops/) Three timeslots available: 10 AM - 12 PM 1 PM - 3 PM 3 PM - 5 PM Registration fee: $30 *Pay $10 non-refundable deposit to secure your spot. Remaining $20 due before workshop starts.*

Let's explore Kingman Island again. **Route:** * Start at Stadium-Armory Metro station * Walk to Kingman Island and traverse the length of the island * Return to Stadium-Armory Metro station **Millage:** 3.4 mi **Start/End Location:** Stadium - Armory Metro Station **Map:** [https://maps.app.goo.gl/EGo96sJc4HhBbgQq9](https://maps.app.goo.gl/EGo96sJc4HhBbgQq9) **Time:** 6 pm - 8:00 pm **Terrain:** This will be mostly flat, with some trail walking on Kingman Island itself. We try to be punctual with our event times so please be respectful to others and show up a few minutes early, because we will leave without you. Note, we often limit the RSVPs to keep group sizes manageable. We're always looking for new leaders who can showcase their neighborhood or any cool places they know, so please reach out either at an event or on meetup if you are interested. If you've enjoyed our walks please consider donating a few bucks to help us keep this group walking (meetup is expensive!). [Donation Link](https://venmo.com/code?user_id=2158403661070336114)

Please join us at Hill Center on Thursday, May 21st from 6:30pm-8:30pm for an Opening Reception showcasing new works from amazing local artists who are members of the the Capitol Hill Arts League. Juried by Nicky Cymrot, Director, Hill Center Galleries and Anne Barnes, Artist. There are always nice refreshments here. During the Opening Reception certificates will be presented for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Honarable Mention Awards. All pieces of art may be purchased and will be on display throughout our Galleries and [online at Hill Center Galleries](https://www.hillcenterdc.org/artist/chal-2026/). The exhibitions run from May 7th through August 30th.

[https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34803272 ](https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34803272) This trail is 22 miles long. Toilets are at the beginning, end, and near the middle of the route. There are plenty of opportunities to find a restroom elsewhere along the route. **PDF with points of interest and more details** https://ebikelovers.com/2021/01/23/trail-2-virginia-and-maryland-e-biking-from-washington-sailing-marina-to-national-harbor-fort-foote-and-old-town-alexandria-waterfront/ This trail is 22 miles in flat terrain with a fantastic view from the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and a lovely picnic area at the Potomac River. We arrive at 10:00 AM and leave at 10:15 AM. The meeting place is at the parking lot on the left near the public restrooms of the marina. The group stops a few times for slower riders to catch up. The distance will be 22 miles or shorter any time you are fully satisfied with biking for the day. Our bikes will always be in our sight. No additional locks are required to keep your bike safe on this trip. As usual, non-assisted bikers are most welcome. **About Jones Point Lighthouse** The lighthouse is one of the last riverine lighthouses in the country and the only one still standing in the Chesapeake Bay area. It was first lit on May 3, 1856 by keeper George L. Deeton. Today it is the focal point of Jones Point Park and a clue to area's history as a busy commercial center and naval base. Whale oil lamps were originally used to power the beacon at Jones Point, but in 1858 the Lighthouse Board allowed an Alexandria gas company to extend lines to the station. The land included one of the original District of Columbia boundary stones, which was installed by George Washington and marked the southern point of the ten-mile-square district. The stone is still visible today in the seawall just south of the lighthouse, and to the north of the lighthouse a marker designating the boundary between Maryland-Virginia can be seen. **About Fort Foote** Fort Foote was constructed in 1863 atop Rozier's Bluff to strengthen the ring of fortifications that encircled Washington, D.C. Two of the Guns that protected Washington are still there along with the remains of the fort's earthworks. **About the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge** Also known as the Woodrow Wilson Bridge or the Wilson Bridge, the bridge is a bascule bridge that spans the Potomac River between the city of Alexandria, Virginia, and Oxon Hill in Prince George's County, Maryland. The original bridge was one of only a handful of drawbridges in the U.S. Interstate Highway System. **About National Harbor** National Harbor is situated on the banks of the historic Potomac River, just minutes from the nation’s capital. Featuring 350 acres of waterfront resort space, National Harbor is a destination unlike any other. The harbor is home to 160 stores, 40 restaurants, the Capital Wheel, and the best sunsets in the area. **Free Ride With GPS for E-Bike Lovers** Membership of the Ride With GPS E-bike Lovers club is now free as www.ebikelovers.com is generating sufficient income from ads to cover the costs. Here is the link to activate your free membership: https://ridewithgps.com/auto_approve/Club/6746/Zwa5jhttF5mJrFbN **More information about using GPS files:** https://ebikelovers.com/2021/03/15/download-our-trails-and-never-get-lost/ **More information about e-bike ranges:** https://ebikelovers.com/2020/12/31/e-bike-longer-and-happier-15-smart-strategies-to-reduce-your-e-bike-range-anxiety/ **DISCLAIMER** LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMISSIBLE PURSUANT TO APPLICABLE LAW, NEITHER GREGORY MAASSEN, NATHAN MERRIS, TRIP COORDINATORS, THEIR AFFILIATES, FAMILY AND FORMER AND CURRENT EMPLOYERS NOR ANY OTHER PARTY INVOLVED IN CREATING, PRODUCING, OR DELIVERING E-BIKE LOVERS GUIDES, OUR MEETUP EVENTS, AND THE GPS E-TRAILS IS LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF A USER’S ACCESS TO, OR USE OF THE E-BIKE LOVERS GUIDES, OUR MEETUP EVENTS, AND THE GPS E-TRAILS. See for full disclaimer: https://ebikelovers.com/disclaim

This is a great class for beginner to intermediate players looking to get into bluegrass. Students will learn the basic chords and melody of one or 2 classic Bluegrass songs and how to approach playing them in a jam setting. Over the course of about an hour the class will play the tunes several times as a group exploring different possibilities for kickoffs, solos, endings and more. At the end of the class we open up the jam! Justin plays guitar and banjo with Cherry Blossom Special and runs jam sessions along and runs jam sessions along with mandolinist Nick Cameron and fiddler Mari Carlson. He has been teaching guitar, banjo and mandolin in Takoma Park since 2012. This class was designed to give people an affordable entry point to Bluegrass music, and help grow the community. The class is $30 Register [Here!](https://checkout.square.site/buy/GUSSUYYW5UMKDMCDV4CQBOBL)

[Profs and Pints DC](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Demography as Destiny,”** on understanding the links between population trends and world events, with John Rennie Short, geographer, professor emeritus of public policy at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and author of *Demography and the Making of the Modern World: Public Policies and Demographic Forces.* [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/dc-demography-destiny](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/dc-demography-destiny) .] The size of a family doesn’t just affect food and clothing budgets and space needs. If it reflects a broader trend in birth rates, it also can have a profound impact on politics, the economy, and world affairs. Come to Washington D.C.’s Penn Social for a fascinating look at how demographic forces shape the modern world and have driven developments such as the Arab Spring, political unrest in Sri Lanka and Nepal, economic growth in Vietnam and India, the budget crisis in the United States, and the rise of nationalist populism in Europe. Dr. John Rennie Short, who has written several acclaimed books on world trends and gives excellent Profs and Pints talks focused on geopolitical affairs, will break down how various demographic changes can alter nations’ destinies. You’ll learn how baby booms can dampen economic growth, as has occurred in central Africa, and how a “youth bulge” caused by the aging of a baby boom provides tinder for social unrest, as happened in the United States of the 1960s and 1970s and is the case today in Nepal and Sri Lanka. We’ll look at the “demographic dividend” reaped when a youth bulge ages enough to become economically productive and the roles that such dividends played in periods of sustained economic growth in Japan, China, and, most recently, Vietnam. We’ll look at how the aging of a demographic bulge into retirement years can strain national budgets and strengthen the appeal of conservative or populist political movements. You’ll emerge from the talk better equipped to make sense of political and economic developments in the United States and elsewhere around the world. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image by Canva.

**Welcome to Drunken Philosophy** a casual, curious social discussion **Optional topic for this meetup: What's up with all the AI hate?** A recent survey found that 74% of Americans have a negative view of AI, and I want to know why. Come out and debate whether AI is good or bad. My hot take: a labor-saving tool that could potentially help cure cancer gets called dangerous because it might raise unemployment or cause a speculative investment bubble, that tells you a lot more about capitalism and the economic system we live under than it does about the tool itself. As a computer programmer, I think AI is a wonderful tool that has increased my productivity by at least an order of magnitude. I'd go so far as to say Claude Code is the best tool I have ever used. Debate me and name a better one. Is AI potentially dangerous? Yes, but so are a lot of tools. Chainsaws. Steam engines (early ones would occasionally explode and kill everyone in the room). Do you think cavemen sat around debating whether fire could be used as a weapon or for self-harm, and decided not to discover it? I have two friends who hate AI for opposite reasons: one thinks it's a fad and not useful, and the other thinks it's going to take over everything and cause human extinction. Come out tonight, have a friendly debate, and make some friends. No lectures. Friendly crowd. Drop in for one drink and stay if it's fun.

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.

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 You will need to scan your ID at the door to get a visitor badge. **Abstract** TBD **YouTube Link** TBD

Join the Columbus AI community for our quarterly gathering — a casual, community-focused evening where everyone has a chance to share, learn, and connect. These open mic–style events give anyone in the community up to **5 minutes** to present a project, share a tool, pose a question, or offer a perspective on the evolving AI space. No slides required — just a welcoming space to exchange ideas and keep the local AI conversation moving. If you’d like to take the stage, message \*\*Chris (the organizer)\*\*with a **title and short description** of what you’d like to share. Whether you’re deep in the field or just getting curious, come connect with others building and exploring AI in Columbus. Sponsored by [Transform Labs](https://www.linkedin.com/company/transformlabs/) Sign up also accessible via [Transform Labs Luma](https://luma.com/transformlabshq)

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)

Customer identity resolution becomes increasingly complex as organizations scale across multiple systems, regions, and data formats. Traditional rule-based approaches often fail to keep up with data variability, require constant manual tuning, and struggle with real-time processing needs. This session presents a practical approach to building a scalable identity resolution pipeline using AWS services and modern AI techniques. The architecture combines data ingestion through Amazon S3 and AWS Glue, transformation pipelines using Spark on EMR, and machine learning models deployed via SageMaker for entity matching and standardization. Graph-based relationship modeling is implemented using Amazon Neptune to improve resolution accuracy by incorporating household and shared attribute context. We will walk through how machine learning models can be used for name and address normalization, how intelligent blocking strategies improve matching efficiency, and how feedback loops can be introduced to continuously improve accuracy. The session also highlights how serverless components such as AWS Lambda can be used for orchestration and real-time processing. **SPEAKER BIO** Mosaic Syed is a Senior Data Engineering and Cloud Solutions Architect with over 20 years of experience designing and delivering scalable, secure, and high-performance data solutions across global enterprise environments. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mosaic-basha-syed-92300856 **CALL FOR SPEAKERS** Learn more: [https://www.awscolumbus.com/get-involved/](https://www.awscolumbus.com/get-involved/) **THANK YOU** *VEEAM* for hosting our meetup! To learn more about *Veeam*, please visit their website: [https://www.veeam.com/](https://www.veeam.com/) **DIRECTIONS** 8800 Lyra Dr #450 · Columbus, OH go to 4th floor. **Want to sponsor the pizza and/or bar tab?** Please contact me if you would like to sponsor this meetup's pizza and/or bar tab: angelo@mandato.com