Drupal

Join Sunday Vacations for a cozy Saturday brunch at **Aksum Coffee House**, one of Brussels’ most beautiful cafés, where rich Ethiopian coffee, fresh Moroccan crêpes, and vibrant international vibes meet in perfect harmony. This is more than just brunch, it’s a relaxed way to start your weekend, meet new people, and enjoy a soulful spot full of stories and flavors. ### 📍 Where? **Aksum Coffee House – Galeries Sainte Hubert (Just a few steps from Grand Place) ### 🕚 When? **Saturday at 11:30 AM** Come hungry, curious, and ready to mingle! ### 🍽️ What’s on the menu? ☕ Fresh-roasted Ethiopian coffee 🥞 Moroccan-style crêpes & artisan pastries 🥚 Tasty brunch dishes (vegetarian options too) 🧾 Everyone pays their own order at the counter. ### 👋 Who’s joining? Expect a mix of international professionals, friendly locals, and Sunday Vacations regulars. Solo? New in town? Come anyway, this is the perfect place to connect. --- 🧡 **Limited spots** – RSVP early to secure your place at the table. By joining this event, you agree to the Sunday Vacations [Terms & Conditions](https://www.sundayvacations.com/terms), [Privacy Policy](https://www.sundayvacations.com/privacy) & [Code of Conduct](https://www.sundayvacations.com/code)

Hi everyone, This coffee morning event is @MIR Concept Coffee Store! Saturday, 23 May 2026, from 10:00 - 13:00. MIR opened its doors 4 years ago, right off Place Jourdan. Doriana, the owner, is a super nice host, and is excited to have our group as her café. The café is very beautiful and has great coffee, and many yummy food options. Their Instagram channel: https://www.instagram.com/mirconceptstore/ **The address is:** MIR Concept Coffee Store Rue Gray 4A 1040 Etterbeek *** 1. The **prime time** of the event is **10:30 - 12:30**. That's when most people will be there. 2. When you enter the gallery, it's either on the right-hand side or left-hand side of its hallway, depending which entrance you take. 3. If you intend **to join past 12:00** (high noon), then there is no need to register. Just come and join! 4. **DON'T forget to cancel** if you can't join! 5. **Please, be respectful towards each other during the event. (And after ;))** **As always, feel free to follow us on INSTAGRAM!** [https://instagram.com/weekendmorningcoffee?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==](https://instagram.com/weekendmorningcoffee?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==) **THE STRUCTURE of THE EVENT:** * I will post the event on Saturday/Sunday evening for the following Saturday. * I send out a reminder to everyone on Friday. * There is sometimes a waiting list. * In case RSVP is closed (once there are 10-15 people on the waiting list), I might reopen it on Friday, depending on the number of cancellations in the meantime. * **For everyone on the waiting,** please check your status and messages on Friday evening the latest. I message everyone on the waiting list on Friday. * **Please, move to "not going" AS SOON AS you know that you can't come anymore, that includes everyone who is on the waiting list.** **IMPORTANT:** * **Please, be respectful towards each other during the event. (And after ;))** * When you register yourself, be careful not to register accidentally a +1 guest (unless you bring a guest). It happens very often. * If you have any questions then, message me. *** **A MESSAGE FOR NEWCOMERS:** *In the three years of hosting this coffee group, I have met many people who struggle with anxieties when coming to an event for the first time. Sometimes, it took them more than one attempt before being able to join.* *Occasionally, people reach out to me before the event, and I have always been grateful for that as it offers the opportunity to communicate with each other and to find the best and most gentle way for that person to join the group.* *I would like to encourage everyone who struggles with this to contact me before. It would really be too bad if you can't join us, as it mostly gets better the second or third time you come.* *In addition to that, if you arrive and notice any signs of nervousness or fear, you can always let me know right then.* **THANK YOU AND SEE YOU ALL ON Saturday!**

BALAGAN X SANCTUM WE ARE BACK on Saturday, May 23 ! This Saturday 23th of May 2026 \| we are going to La Terrasse O2 for an unforgettable summer party \! BALAGAN & SANCTUM go to La Terrasse O2 w/ Party Finder - FREE ENTRANCE ☉ Priority free pass : [https://www.partyfinder.com/en/event/16117](https://www.partyfinder.com/en/event/16117) ☉ Facebook [https://fb.me/e/83Gq2wLxJ](https://fb.me/e/83Gq2wLxJ) ☉ Table booking : [https://www.la-terrasse.be/fr/reservation-du-salon/](https://www.la-terrasse.be/fr/reservation-du-salon/) ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ☉ Line Up (A-Z) → GERSH → VICC → JEREMIE CHARLIER ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ☉ DATE ? → Saturday 23 May ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ☉ TIME ⏰ → 6Pm - 12PM ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ☉ LOCATION ? La terrasse 02 Chaussée de la Hulpe 51-53, 1180 Uccle, Belgique ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ☉ Casual elegance with a touch of summer vibe priority pass with the free tickets , firt in first served

**Cinema Flagey : Amrum** 23/05 @ 15h00 De twaalfjarige Nanning beleeft het einde van de Tweede Wereldoorlog op een eiland aan de uiterste rand van het Duitse Rijk. Zijn wereld stort in, terwijl het leven doorgaat. De gefictionaliseerde jeugdherinneringen van Neuer Deutscher Film-meester Hark Bohm – en een belangrijke bron voor zijn latere werk. Amrum, in de lente van 1945. De twaalfjarige Nanning woont met zijn familie op de Duitse Waddeneilanden. Zijn moeder is een fervente nazi-aanhanger; zijn vader een Obersturmbannführer die altijd aan het front is. Het Duitse Rijk van de nazi’s is de enige wereld die Nanning ooit heeft gekend, dus als de Tweede Wereldoorlog bijna voorbij is, stort zijn wereld in. In het laatste shot van de film kijkt een oude man uit over de zee. Hark Bohm, op wiens jeugd Amrum is gebaseerd, overleed op 14 november 2025. Dit is een passend slotakkoord van zijn filmografie, want Bohm begon in de jaren zeventig met het maken van films voor kinderen (Tschetan, derIndianerjunge, 1973) en jongvolwassenen (Nordsee ist Mordsee, IFFR 2026), wat hij altijd is blijven doen. Amrum laat zien welke ervaringen de basis vormden voor zijn kijk op de kindertijd – en het verleden, het heden en de toekomst van Duitsland. – Olaf Möller [Cinema Flagey](https://www.flagey.be/fr/activity/14082-amrum-fatih-akin) [Internationale Film Festival Rotterdam](https://iffr.com/nl/iffr/2026/films/amrum) **For Dreamers, Coffee shots, Orezza, eau de Saint-Georges !**

We spend so much of the week keeping up. With work, with people, with the version of ourselves we're supposed to be. Saturday morning can be different. 🌿 Come and join for an honest conversation and a mindful walk with people who also get it. No pressure to share anything you're not ready to share. You can talk as much or as little as you like; sometimes, just being outside in nature with good people is enough. *This is the first in a series of regular walks for the [Mental Fitness Collective](https://www.meetup.com/mental-fitness-collective/) — a simple, free morning to step outside, move at a gentle pace, and be around people who aren't performing either.* **📍Meeting point:** Stella - Coffee Food Bakery (next to the tram stop Legrand), where you can buy a drink of your choice (optional). 🗓️ **Agenda:** We'll take a relaxed walk through Bois de la Cambre and a full loop around the lake, about 4-5 km, at a pace where conversation feels comfortable. We'll finish at the roundabout at the end of Av. Louise. **Small housekeeping rule:** What happens in the group stays in the group. Whatever is shared between participants during our time together stays between us. It is to make sure this feels like a safe place to be honest. I'll be there to welcome everyone. Come as you are. 🌿 Free to join, RSVP to save your spot! *The event is weather-dependent.* *This walk will run every other Saturday. Each one is standalone, so come whenever it works for you. Join our group, [Mental Fitness Collective](https://www.meetup.com/mental-fitness-collective/), and get notified of our events.*

***[✨](https://buytickets.at/billykissaimprov/2071050)[Register here](https://buytickets.at/billykissaimprov/2149191)[✨](https://buytickets.at/billykissaimprov/2071050)*** In an improvised scene we have so many choices to make and so many options! Too many ideas pop into our creative brain and sometimes it’s hard to pick! In this Masterclass we will work on simple tools to resolve complicated difficulties on stage! We will learn to focus on this ONE thing that is the most important in our scene, Expand it, let it Escalate, and why not, make it Explode! Let’s make our scenes matter while being easy to follow!! 📅: 23-24 May ⏰: 11:00 - 17:00 (including lunch break) 📍: GC Ten Noey 🪙: 140€ ***[✨](https://buytickets.at/billykissaimprov/2071050)[Register here](https://buytickets.at/billykissaimprov/2149191)[✨](https://buytickets.at/billykissaimprov/2071050)*** **\*\*Meet your instructor:\*\*** Billy Kissa is a professional Greek actress on scripted and unscripted Theatre, based in Brussels. She has been traveling the world performing, directing and teaching adults and kids. She is part of the multilingual show “Babel Games”, one half of the duo show “ECHO” with Raschid Sidgi and she is directing for the second season in Brussels the unscripted play “The Dark Age of Love”. As an instructor as well as a performer, she focuses on simplicity, emotional availability and the full and unconditional support of her students and colleagues. Respecting diversity is important to her, with ultimate purpose, safety, freedom of expression and creativity. Challenging herself is one of her strongest qualities, with the last challenge being her very recent dive into the terrifying world of stand up comedy.

Brussels is Europe’s heart, and our meetup is its friendly beat. [[ Whatsapp groupchat link to join ]](https://chat.whatsapp.com/CRmOwQksJ1g8qTd8z4RniU) Join us Saturdays at 7:30 PM for a language and culture exchange like no other. With attendees in their 20s and 30s from across the globe, it’s where ideas and friendships flourish. Let’s connect over words and waffles.

## Escape Brussels for a Sunny Coastal Sunday 🌿 Need a break from the city routine? Join Sunday Vacations for a relaxed coastal escape to the beautiful Zwin nature area near Knokke-Heist — one of Belgium’s most scenic seaside landscapes. This experience is all about slowing down, enjoying nature, meeting new people, and spending a meaningful Sunday outdoors with an international community of expats, locals, and solo joiners. We’ll follow the shorter 9.2 km Zwin walking loop, a beginner-friendly route surrounded by dunes, coastal scenery, peaceful walking paths, and fresh sea air. During the walk, we’ll enjoy a relaxed beach picnic and social time by the sea. Sunny weather is expected — perfect for a spring nature escape. ☀️ ## Event Type 🌿 Curated Experience ## Highlights - Scenic 9.2 km coastal nature walk - Beginner-friendly hiking pace - Beach picnic & seaside relaxation - International & expat-friendly community - Solo joiners welcome - Nature escape from Brussels - Meaningful conversations & relaxed social vibe - Slow Sunday outdoors ## Plan / Itinerary ### Morning 📍 Meet at Brussels Central Station (in front of Starbucks) ⏰ Meeting time: 08:30 🚆 Train departure: 08:43 We’ll travel together toward the Zwin coastal area near Knokke-Heist. ### During the Day - Start of the 9.2 km Zwin walking route - Relaxed social hiking pace - Coastal scenery & nature viewpoints - Beach picnic stop - Free time to relax, connect, and enjoy the sea atmosphere ### Evening Return to Brussels by train after the beach stop and group relaxation time. (Exact return timing may vary slightly depending on the group pace and weather conditions.) ## Meeting Point 📍 Brussels Central Station In front of Starbucks Please arrive on time — trains will not wait. ## Price / Contribution ### Sunday Vacations Member Pricing - Ambassador Members → Free - Voyager Members → Free - Explorer Members → €5 contribution 🚆 Train tickets are paid individually by participants. We strongly recommend checking SNCB weekend discounts and Train+ offers before booking. VAT not applicable – small business exemption scheme, Article 56bis Belgian VAT Code. ## Membership ### Sunday Vacations Memberships - Explorer → starting at €5/year - Voyager → starting at €50/year - Ambassador → starting at €150/year Sunday Vacations is a community for internationals, expats, and locals who want to discover Belgium and beyond through meaningful shared experiences. ## Who This Is For This experience is ideal for: - Nature lovers - People looking to meet new people naturally - Anyone wanting a peaceful Sunday away from the city No hiking experience required. ## What to Bring - Comfortable walking shoes - Picnic/snacks - Water - Sunscreen - Light wind/rain layer - Portable charger (recommended) - Positive energy ✨ Please check your preferred weather forecast source before departure and dress accordingly. ## Important Notes - Beginner-friendly experience - Distance: approximately 9.2 km - Dogs are not allowed - Participants are responsible for booking their own train tickets - WhatsApp coordination group will be shared before departure - Sunny weather is expected, but conditions may still change - Respect for nature and group atmosphere is important ## Legal Disclaimer Sunday Vacations / UJAMAA ASBL acts as a community organiser and not as a travel agency. Participants remain individually responsible for: - transportation, - personal insurance, - physical condition, - and personal belongings during the activity. Activities are organised by volunteers and covered under the Belgian legal volunteer insurance framework. This experience may involve third-party transport providers including SNCB. ## Call to Action Ready for sea air, nature, and good company? Come spend your Sunday exploring one of Belgium’s most beautiful coastal areas with a welcoming international community. 🌊🌿 Solo joiners are always welcome. RSVP early so we can coordinate the group smoothly.

What's up Friends! 👋 If the weather gods feel generous 🌤️, we’re going full park mode: picnic 🧺🌳, games, laughs… and a touch of chaos ✨ ‼️If not - we'll switch to the usual indoor format at Le Pantin or Café Leopold PDN. 📍Where Park Cinquantenaire, Tour de Tournai 🏰 (that little castle-looking thingy in the park). Can’t find us? 🤷‍♀️ Just ping me here. 💡 The Idea Chill picnic: bring your own drinks 🧃, snacks 🥪🍓, blanket, and games 🎲🏸 (sharing always appreciated 😋). We’ll break into small groups depending on the vibe: games, chats, sports. ⏱️ Timing We kick off at 14:00. Stay as long as you like. Joining later? Just drop a message in the chat in case we decide to move 😊. 🎲🏸 Games All games are welcome in the park - boards, cards, balls, random stuff! I’ll have a few with me, but feel free to add your own favorites too. 🚦On the waitlist but really want to join? Or got any questions? Just DM me. 📢 Extra info might drop in the group chat or via DM 💬. Check your messages 👀 the day before so you don't miss anything critical 🙄. 🐈‍⬛ The Friends Code: 👉 Games we play = group decision 👉 Smaller groups = cozier vibes 👉 Got a favorite game? Suggest it or show up with it 👉 Can't make it? Cancel on time so someone on the waitlist can grab your spot 👉 If you’re on the waitlist, showing up is at your own risk 😄 See you there, folks 😉

Welcome to our weekly event in the upstairs room of The Sister Café, rue Chair et Pain 3, one block from the Grand Place. Please get there early enough to order your drink at the bar first. Thank you! After introductions we will collect questions from the group participants, choose one by voting then discuss it for an hour. Then most of us stay for drinks and bizarre conversations. Past questions have been wide and not confined to academic philosophy: What is a genuine friend? Is social media turning us into emotional zombies? Do we lose some of the experience of things by defining them? Are we driven by sex? Is loneliness a personal failure? Is morality relative? **Crucially, be kind and respectful and generous** in your disagreements; remember how much you personally enjoy someone else proving you wrong before celebrating your cutting counterexamples.

***CE DIMANCHE 24.05 > GAY FRIENDLY RENDEZ-VOUS*** ***LA CROQUE OPEN AIR XXL \- FREE ENTRANCE 🌈 TERRASSE O2 & LES APRÈS\-MIDIS CROQUE\-MONSIEUR \| SUNDAY 24\.05*** 🌈☀️ **LA CROQUE OPEN AIR XXL** ☀️🌈 **Terrasse O₂ x Les Après-Midis Croque-Monsieur** 📅 **Dimanche 24 mai** \| 🕔 17:00 → 00:00 *** 💘✨ **LOVE • SUN • MUSIC • FREEDOM** ✨💘 Prépare-toi pour une édition XXL de **La Croque Open Air** dans l’un des spots les plus stylés de Bruxelles : **La Terrasse O₂** 🌿🌇 Un lieu unique avec : 🌞 Grande terrasse en bois baignée de soleil 💦 Piscine centrale pour se rafraîchir 🌴 Vibes naturelles & ambiance chill ✨ Lumières chaleureuses au coucher du soleil *** 🎉 **UN OPEN AIR COMME ON LES AIME** 🎉 🍹 Drinks frais & cocktails d’été 🎶 Sounds feel good : classics + hits actuels 💃 Dance, chill & sunset energy 💞 Espace rencontres & good vibes only 👉 Une atmosphère libre, safe & inclusive — **LGBTQIA+ friendly** 🌈 Viens comme tu es. Aime. Danse. Profite. *** 🎟️ **ENTRÉE GRATUITE** ➡️ Prends ton ticket : [https://www.partyfinder.com/en/event/16140](https://www.partyfinder.com/en/event/16140) ➡️ Event FB : [https://fb.me/e/4kTTV44pY](https://fb.me/e/4kTTV44pY) *** 🔥 **LE PLAN PARFAIT DU DIMANCHE** 🔥 On trinque, on danse, on profite du soleil… et on crée des souvenirs magiques ensemble ✨ Parce que cette soirée sera spéciale grâce à **toi** 💖 *** 📍 **La Terrasse O₂** 51-53 Chaussée de La Hulpe, 1180 Bruxelles 🕔 17:00 → 00:00 *** 🎶 Direction artistique : Gabriel Lelièvre 🌈 **OPEN TO ALL – ALL LOVE WELCOME** 🌍💫 *** 🕖 17h00 → 00h00 🎩 La Terrasse O2 : 51-53 Chaussée de La Hulpe -1180, Bruxelles

🏃‍♂️ Sunday Vacations | Train Together, Finish Together --- Thinking about joining the **20km of Brussels on May 31st**… but don’t want to train alone? 👉 Join our **after-work training group** and prepare together in a fun, social, and motivating atmosphere. Whether you're a beginner or already running regularly — **you’re welcome.** --- ## 📆 Weekly Runs (April → May) We train **twice a week after work**: ### 🔵 Once per week – Easy Social Run 👉 Perfect to build consistency and meet the group --- ### 🟣 Once per week – Long Run (Main Session) * Distance increases every week * Structured pace groups 👉 This is the **key session** to prepare for the 20km --- ## 🏳️ Follow Your Flag (Pace Groups) To keep things simple, we use the official **20km Brussels pacemaker system**: * 🟠 **Beginner (≈ 2h15)** Run/walk friendly — just aim to finish * 🟣 **Steady (≈ 2h00)** Comfortable and regular pace * 🟢 **Intermediate (≈ 1h45)** Faster group for those who want a challenge 👉 Not sure? Start easy — you can switch anytime. --- ## 📊 Long Run Progression We gradually build up to the race: 6 km → 8 km → 10 km → 12 km → 14 km → 16 km → 18 km 🔥 * lighter week before the race --- ## 🏁 Goal 📅 Sunday 31 May 2026 🎯 Run the 20km of Brussels — together --- ## 💡 What to expect * Friendly, international group 🌍 * No one left behind * Natural pace groups * Motivating and social vibe 👉 We start together, run in groups, and finish together. --- ## ☕ After the run Optional drink or snack — because it’s also about **meeting people and having fun** --- ## ⚠️ Practical info * Bring water * Wear proper running shoes * Join at your own responsibility * Beginners welcome --- ## 🌍 About Sunday Vacations We are a **Brussels-based community** organizing social activities, hikes, and trips. 👉 This training is part of our mission: **bringing people together through shared experiences** --- ## 🔗 Participation To join, a **Sunday Vacations membership** is required: * Explorer (€5/year) → + €5 organizing fee * Voyager (€50/year) → no organizing fee * Ambassador (€150/year) → no organizing fee + perks 👉 Details: [www.sundayvacations.com/membership](http://www.sundayvacations.com/membership) --- 🔥 Don’t train alone — join us and enjoy the journey to the 20km!

You are invited to join hike #2 of the Meetup group "**Walking, Talking, maybe a Picknick**". **Intro** We're going to hike **22km** on the **Kalmthoutse heide**, one of the most scenic nature areas of Belgium. This time we start from **station Wildert**, finishing at the Arboretum near Station Kalmthout. Contrary to Kalmthout station, sufficient car parking space available at station Wildert. **By car** Participants arriving by car in station Wildert carpark (Sint-Jansstraat 28, Essen), after the hike will obviously need to take a train from Kalmthout back to their car. Travel time Bxl to Wildert by car approx 1h15. Travel time Kalmthout to Wildert by train 4 minutes (17:20/18:20) To car arrivals, please be on time as **We will leave at 10:30.** **By train** Travel time **BxlC** to Wildert approx 1h30+. **08:49** platform 1 Travel time **AntwC** to Wildert approx 30+ min. 09:50 platform 21 The train should arrive Wildert 10:24. **We will start the hike at 10:30.** Travel time Kalmthout to Bxl 1h20 16:41/17:41/... platform 1 **The hike and your preparation** This 22km hike will take approx 6 hours, including necessary breaks. Bring-your-own-lunch, as we will be not close to catering of any kind . The weather forecast suggests sunny, few clouds, 24 °C, make sure to carry enough water, a hat and sun cream. **Optional** After the hike participants may want to join for a drink on the terrace of the Arboretum buffet. The **Arboretum** closes at 17h. Some may want to visit the excellent Arboretum, currently with plenty plants like Rododendron/Azalea/etc in spring blossom. Later some may also want to join for a diner at a Kalmthout/Wildert restaurant. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ To cover my costs as a Meetup organiser I'm going to ask for a voluntary calendar year contribution starting with hike #2. #/ Price / Contribution **Community contribution:** €5 for non members Includes: *Event organisation - Group coordination *Guided community hiking experience Not included: - Train tickets *Food & drinks - Personal expenses ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

⚠️ **IMPORTANT: You must sign up and buy a ticket here to attend:** [https://groupvibe.com/](https://groupvibe.com/) **This is a curated, small-group meetup make new friends in Brussels.** Each meetup brings together 4–6 like-minded people for casual conversations over brunch. We use the Groupvibe platform to organize and ensure everyone’s a good fit. 👉 **To attend, you’ll need to complete registration via this link:** [https://groupvibe.com](https://groupvibe.com) Once you register, and **buy a ticket or become a Groupvibe member**, we’ll share the exact location and match you with your group. **Why this works:** \* Smaller groups make real conversations easier \* Matching helps avoid awkward dynamics **Note:** RSVPs here on Meetup don’t reflect total attendance. Many attendees register directly via our website. This meetup is organized by **Groupvibe**, a small team passionate about helping people form meaningful friendships offline.

**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.

Our monthly PHP meetup. A virtual shindig courtesy of Zoom. Check back here for the details around 6:15 pm

**Latest Dojo Location!** **Knotty Pine Brewing** 1765 W 3rd Ave, Columbus, OH 43212 We're going to try a new dojo location for a few weeks and see how it works Dojos are informal Python group study sessions where everyone interested in Python gathers to learn about Python, help others with Python, or just hang out. Everyone is welcome from Python beginners to experts. Bringing a laptop is encouraged (we'll have extension cords and power strips). If there's something you want to learn leave a comment on this invite so we can plan ahead. We're looking for speakers for our Monthly Meetups! Fill out the form if you are interested in presenting to the Python Community. https://forms.gle/ehSfUAC2WgR34Crq9

Early-bird coffee and conversation at [Shibam Coffee](https://shibamcoffee.com/)!

**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.

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."