Exploring the City
Meet other local people interested in Exploring the City: share experiences, inspire and encourage each other! Join a Exploring the City group.
48,388
members
74
groups
Largest Exploring the City groups
Newest Exploring the City groups
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Check out exploring the city events happening today here. These are in-person gatherings where you can meet fellow enthusiasts and participate in activities right now.
Discover all the exploring the city events taking place this week here. Plan ahead and join exciting meetups throughout the week.
Absolutely! Find exploring the city events near your location here. Connect with your local community and discover events within your area.
Exploring the City Events Today
Join in-person Exploring the City events happening right now
Walk & Talk About Life's Big Questions
[The Board Walks](http://www.theboardwalks.com/) are for curious people who love deep conversations.
If that sounds like you, **bring a thoughtful topic** and join us for a 5-mile walk (10,000+ steps!).
**HOW IT WORKS**
**Step 1: Bring a topic**
Before you arrive, think of **one** topic you want to explore. A question. A thought that's been on your mind. An obsession you want to geek out on. This is your ticket to the event.
**Step 2: Circle up & share**
We gather in a circle. Your friendly walk host gives a speech to set the tone. Everyone shares: your name, what you're grateful for, and your topic. That's it. 60 seconds.
**Step 3: Walk, talk & float**
We walk 5 miles. You naturally drift into conversation with 2-3 people at a time, pulled by topics that spark your curiosity. When you're ready to move on, just say: "I'm going to float!"
**Step 4: Feel more alive**
Two hours flies by. You're back where you started — but you feel different. More alive. More energized. More connected to yourself and others. That's why regulars join 20+ times.
*For more details, read our [Orientation Guide.](https://www.theboardwalks.com/orientation)*
**HOW TO BRING A GREAT TOPIC**
A great topic = something you're genuinely curious about.
Recent topics include:
* "What are you passionate about right now?"
* "What makes a good friend?"
* "What's a belief you used to hold that you've completely changed?"
* "How do you want to be remembered?"
* "What would you do if money wasn't a factor?"
Think of your topic like the dish you're bringing to our conversational potluck. If everyone brings an A+ dish (i.e. energizing, uplifting, expansive), we'll all walk away feeling lighter and brighter.
**WHAT TO EXPECT**
This isn't a fitness event with casual chitchat. It's a walking think tank where we explore life's big questions together, beyond small talk. *If you're looking for light banter or a standard networking event, this probably isn't the right fit.*
But if you crave depth, genuine connection, and conversations that make you feel alive? You'll love it here.
**FAQ**
* Wear casual athletic attire and sneakers. It's a long walk!
* We have multiple first-timers at each event. We work hard to create a welcoming, inclusive, clique-free space.
* We welcome people of **all** ages, backgrounds, and industries who align with the [intention](https://www.theboardwalks.com/ground-rules) of this space.
* Rain or shine, we've been out here nearly every week since July 2022. If the event is cancelled, we'll let you know.
* Dogs, babies in strollers, parents, and friends are welcome — please text/email them the event link so they can RSVP and prepare a topic!
**LOGISTICS**
* If you'll arrive over 10 minutes late, we suggest skipping the event. It's hard to find us once we start walking, and your host can't answer messages during the event.
* This walk is designed for everyone to *move together at the same steady pace* (about 20 min/mile). This format works best when the whole group moves in unison. If you have mobility limitations, we kindly encourage you to find an event better suited to your needs.
* Read our [Orientation Guide](https://www.theboardwalks.com/orientation) for full details.
* If you enjoy the event, send **[this](http://www.theboardwalks.com/)** to a friend or sign up for our **[newsletter](https://theboardwalks.beehiiv.com/)**. We're in multiple cities with more on the way. 🤠👋
**IF YOU WANT TO GO DEEPER...**
[The Board](https://stan.store/ellebeecher/p/the-board) is the next step: a high-trust collective for renaissance people devoted to creating, connecting, and building lives that light us up.
* This is a global HQ for people who crave big talk, deep connection, and dream collaborations with people across industries. If the walks feel like a spark... The Board is the fire. Apply [here](https://stan.store/ellebeecher/p/the-board).
Saturday Mornings @ East Market
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. If the weather cooperates we will be meeting in the patio.
Per what this group is about: "Everyone is welcome! International transplants to Columbus who want to improve language skills, Columbus residents who want to discuss international travel and culture, and anyone who enjoys getting together for good conversations."
Men of Unity: A Circle for Strength, Spirit & Connection
**Men of Unity** is a safe, welcoming space for men to connect, share, and grow together. In this circle, we explore what it means to live with purpose, integrity, and spiritual awareness in today’s world.
Through open dialogue, reflection, and mutual support, we learn to balance strength with compassion, confidence with humility, and action with mindfulness. Whether you’re seeking deeper spiritual connection, personal clarity, or simply a supportive brotherhood, this group invites you to bring your authentic self and grow in community.
Each gathering may include:
* Open discussion on real-life challenges and victories
* Guided reflection, prayer, or meditation
* Encouragement for living from truth, not fear
* Tools for emotional and spiritual growth
No preaching. No pressure. Just real men, real conversations, and real transformation.
Morning people unite!! 🐤 ☕ + 💬 @ Java Central Café and Roaster
Early-bird coffee and conversation at [Java Central Café and Roaster](https://javacentral.coffee/)**!**
Humanist Program
Our January program is privileged to have Kristen Tregar as our speaker. Ms. Tregar is the co-author with John de Lancie (the actor who portrayed the character Q on Star Trek next generation) of a radio play depicting the events surrounding the Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District trial. The trial decided the issue of some of the Dover school district board members attempting to insert creationism disguised as "intelligent design" into the 9th grade biology curriculum. She will discuss the trial and the process of writing the play. (Bob Leonhard has seen the play and it is riveting and tense). Ms. Tregar's bio is below:
Kristen Tregar is a dramaturg, director, playwright, and theatre teacher. She earned her Ph.D. in Drama and Theatre from the UC San Diego and UC Irvine joint program. In addition, she has a MS in Forensic Science from City University of New York- John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a MA in Educational Theatre from New York University- Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. In 2013, in collaboration with Irish colleagues, she founded *The Ireland Project*, an intercontinental devised theatre work with high school students in New York and Tallaght, Ireland. Her original short story "Far From Here" was recently published in *Stay Awhile Longer: More Scenes From Temecula Valley*. She has two rescued dogs (Kira and Harry) and she rides, competes, and foxhunts with her horses, Andromache and Baker Street Irregular.
Food and drinks will be provided at the event. Feel free to show up a little bit early to hang out and talk.
Going forward our meetings will be hybrid. You can meet us in-person or attend online
Join Zoom Meeting
[https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1](https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1)
Meeting ID: 878 3656 4953
Passcode: 760812
One tap mobile
+19292056099,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (New York)
+13017158592,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (Washington DC)
The formal presentation will start at noon
Exploring the City Events This Week
Discover what is happening in the next few days
Sunday Afternoon Coffee at Grandview Grind
Join us for a casual chat over coffee & tea at Grandview Grind! Come out and meet some new people, enjoy your favorite drink, and make some new friends!
Raising Conscious Kids – A Unity Family Experience
At Unity of Columbus, our Youth and Family Ministry nurtures the spiritual growth of children and families through love, joy, and practical spiritual teachings. Each Sunday, children explore timeless spiritual principles through stories, creative activities, music, and group sharing in a safe and welcoming environment.
Our program encourages children to discover their own inner light, express kindness, and develop a personal connection with God. Together, we celebrate diversity, cultivate understanding, and inspire each child to live with purpose and compassion. Parents and families are invited to join in this uplifting journey of learning, laughter, and spiritual connection.
Birthday Brunch: Celebrating January Birthdays @Goodale Station
Hey there Black Love Friends and Welcome to 2026! To start the year off right we're bringing back our monthly birthday celebrations...but over brunch!
To kick us off we'll be enjoying breathtaking city views at the exquisite Goodale Station. So join us for good food, good conversation and if it's your birth month, enjoy a birthday mimosa on us.
Space is limited so RSVP today
Brunch Club: Make New Friends
⚠️ **IMPORTANT: You must sign up and buy a ticket here to attend:**
[https://groupvibe.com/](https://groupvibe.com/)
**Join the Columbus City Brunch Club and make new friends!**
Each meetup brings together 4–6 people for casual conversations over brunch. We use the Groupvibe platform to facilitate the meetup and ensure everyone’s a good fit.
👉 **To attend, you’ll need to complete registration via this link:**
[https://groupvibe.com/](https://groupvibe.com/)
We’ll share the exact location of the upcoming meetup the night before only if you have bought a ticket or membership plan.
**Why this works:**
\* Smaller groups make real conversations easier.
\* Discover new restaurants in your city, together.
\* Curated lunch venues with good food and vibe.
\* If you hit it off with your group, there’s plenty of time to hang out afterwards.
**Note:**
RSVPs on Meetup don’t reflect total attendance. Many attendees register directly via our website. The event on [Meetup.com](http://meetup.com/) is only a placeholder.
This meetup is organized by Groupvibe, a small team passionate about helping people form meaningful friendships offline.
Exploring the City Events Near You
Connect with your local Exploring the City community
Saturday Mornings @ East Market
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. If the weather cooperates we will be meeting in the patio.
Per what this group is about: "Everyone is welcome! International transplants to Columbus who want to improve language skills, Columbus residents who want to discuss international travel and culture, and anyone who enjoys getting together for good conversations."
Latin City Wednesdays
Click Here For More Videos:
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/17vTa7EuwG/
*********************************
The Biggest Salsa Night to hit your mid-week is happening at Latin City Wednesdays. Get the feel of the Latin Beat as your hips and feet groove the right way. As always, we will provide refreshments and food.
*********************************
Viva Dance Columbus (2809 Festival Lane Dublin, OH 43017)
830pm-930pm Cuban Salsa Lessons
930pm-Midnight Open Latin Dance Party
$15 With Lesson
$10 Just Open Dance
**********************************
Free Parking, No Need to Bring a dance partner, No Sandals Please and Plenty of Space to Move Around.
Build Together: A Hands-On Unity Project Workshop
This meetup is a collaborative Unity workshop focused on real projects and shared problem-solving. Instead of talks or presentations, attendees bring a Unity project they’re actively working on and collaborate through discussion, troubleshooting, and hands-on exploration.
The format is flexible and community-driven. You might debug a tricky issue, improve your workflow, explore performance optimizations, or get feedback on architecture, tools, and implementation approaches. Learning happens by doing, asking questions, and helping each other.
**What to Expect:**
* Bring-your-own Unity project (any level)
* Group discussion and peer feedback
* Debugging, optimization, and workflow problem-solving
* Shared tips, best practices, and practical solutions
Example projects may include games, tools, or prototypes—personal or professional.
All experience levels are welcome. Whether you’re just getting started or refining advanced systems, this is a supportive space to learn and build together.
**Food and drinks provided. Join us to learn, collaborate, and connect.**
Pickleball.
CHANGED to WEDNESDAYS
COLUMBUS RECREATION CENTERS require membership fee to play. Register & Pay at the desk when you arrive. $5 day pass is available.
I have some extra pickle ball paddles and balls if you don’t have one. Definitely bring your own paddle if you have one and bring some balls if you have them.
Legal Stuff: The event hosts/Organizers are just fellow member volunteers. By participating in any event, you assume all risks of liability and injury inherent in these activities. You are responsible for your own safety and for determining if you are in condition fit to participate. You are also responsible for knowing and abiding by all laws and rules during your participation in any event.
Photos & or Video: by attending these events you acknowledge photos and or video may be taken and used on this and other platforms.
Tuesday Cocktail Class
**Shake up your after work routine.**
Join us for a guided cocktail class with our friends from Ilegal Mezcal and learn the story behind tequila and mezcal while creating three delicious cocktails from scratch.
Your $15 ticket includes the class, all three cocktails, and a few party favors to take home.
It is the perfect mix of learning, drinking, and socializing whether you are coming with coworkers, friends, or a date.
Must be 21+ to attend.
Happy 8th Birthday, GOhio! @ Pins Mechanical!!! 🎂 🎈 🍨 🎁 💐 🧁 🎉 🥳 🍰 🪅 📅
*GOhio!* turns 8!! 🥳 Come celebrate with us at [Pins Mechanical](https://www.pinsbar.com/locations/easton)! 😄
**Summary**
Pins Mechanical Co. is a social entertainment venue that combines old-school games like duckpin bowling, pinball, and other classic arcade and table games with craft cocktails, local beers, and punch. The vintage-industrial atmosphere is designed for playful, face-to-face gatherings with friends, family, and colleagues, offering a casual and lively alternative to a typical bar.
Pins' Easton location spans over 38,000 square feet, making it the largest in the United States. This massive entertainment venue features two floors, a mezzanine level with stadium seating, and three full-service bars. It offers 16 duckpin bowling lanes, two indoor bocce courts, and more than 60 classic and modern pinball and arcade games. For additional fun, the location is known for its two outdoor patios, an indoor slide, and an expanded patio pong setup.
**Activities**
As noted below, some machines take actual quarters. Pins has two change machines (one downstairs and one upstairs) that accept ones, fives, or tens (only), and return quarters (only).
* *Duckpin Bowling*
[Like Bowling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duckpin_bowling) but with smaller balls, stubby pins, and no oil on the lanes. The cost is $9 per game per person.
* *Pinball*
[Who](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Who)'s a [wizard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinball_Wizard) on these [retro machines](https://pinballmap.com/map/?by_location_id=15311)? At $1 per play, everyone! Takes quarters.
* *Arcade*
Play classics like Gorf, Pac-Man, Gorf, Donkey Kong, Gorf, Galaga, and Gorf! The best part is, there's Gorf! And all the arcade games are free!
* *Patio Pong*
The classic college party staple but bigger. Instead of tossing a ping pong ball into cups, you use a regular ball and oversized buckets. There are two of these upstairs, and they're both free!
* *Ping Pong*
The most popular sport in China! They have two ping pong tables downstairs and two more ping pong tables upstairs. For those of you who have studied topological spaces and set theory, you will know this means they have four total ping pong tables.
They have bubble gum dispensers with ping pong balls in them for 25¢ each. The dispensers take quarters. However, they also have racks where they store the ping pong paddles, and in these racks are slots for ping pong balls. It's not uncommon to see balls already here, so there's a chance you may be able to play ping pong for free if you want to.
* *Hookie*
You can't put your eye out! The safe alternative to darts: Hook thrown rings on a board. Outdoors on the upstairs patio, and free!
* *Bocce*
Like bowling, except there’s turf and a lot more balls. You can also knock your opponent’s balls out of the way. There are two of these upstairs, and they're both free!
* *Foosball*
Everyone loves [foosball](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_football)! 50¢ a game. Takes quarters.
* *Giant Jenga*
Stack massive wooden blocks into a tower, then take turns pulling out one block at a time without collapsing the tower. There are four of these sprinkled throughout the venue (two downstairs and two upstairs, with one on each patio), and they're all free!
* *Skeeball*
There are three skeeball machines on the first floor (near the Gorf machine!), and they're all free!
* *Giant Connect Four*
On the outdoor patio upstairs, and free!
* *Bubble Hockey*
This is upstairs. Up to four people can play at once, and it costs $1. Takes quarters.
* *Cornhole*
There are two cornhole lanes upstairs, and they're both free!
* *Basketball*
There are two basketball machines downstairs. They're tucked behind the downstairs bar, so they're not always obvious unless you go look for them. They're $2 per play, and they take quarters.
* *NES and Sega Genesis video games*
These are collections, downstairs (near the Gorf machine!), of video games that you can play for free!
* *The Big Metal Indoor Slide*
This large two-story slide is for kids, and certainly no adults would ride this. After all, it's not like it's free or anything.
**Outdoor Patio**
Pins at Easton actually has two outdoor patios. But for our purposes, only the upstairs one matters. See, it will be winter and likely cold. But their upstairs patio has multiple ceiling heaters and two massive gas fire pits that put out a ton of heat. Sitting out here may be a real option.
As mentioned above, the upstairs outdoor patio has one of the venue's two Patio Pong setups, one of their multiple Giant Jengas, the Giant Connect Four, and Hookie.
**Food**
Pins doesn't serve food, but there's a [Mikey's Late Night Slice](https://www.latenightslice.com/) next door. This Mikey's is basically an extension of the Easton Pins; there's a large open doorway between both establishments. Mikey's has a fountain dispenser with Coke products.
You can also get Coke and Diet Coke (but not Coke Zero, like you can at Mikey's) at the bars in Pins, but I think the quality of the soda pop from Mikey's fountain is better than that from the bar hoses Pins uses to dispense soft drinks.
You are also quite allowed at Pins to either bring food in or order it in via your favorite delivery app.
**Parking**
I recommend parking in the [Worth Garage](https://eastontowncenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/parking-at-easton-updated-file-sept-25.pdf). It's literally right next door to Pins, and it's free as long as you park on Level 2 or above.
They recently started charging people to park on Level 1, and you pay for parking on this level the same way you pay for street parking in Columbus, with the [ParkColumbus](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.parkmobile.parkcolumbus&hl=en_US&pli=1) app.
I've seen them enforce this by ticketing people's cars, but I don't know how they actually compel payment. The garage is not a public street that actual cops can write you tickets for parking illegally on. If you have an actual ticket from a cop that you don't pay, they can go so far as to issue a warrant for your arrest. But all Easton has, seemingly, is, "[Please pay our ticket](https://eastonpreferredpark.com/)." Still, in my ongoing efforts to eliminate needless stress and aggravation from my life, I just park above the first Level.
The actual address of the garage is [4049 Worth Ave, Columbus, OH 43219](https://www.google.com/maps/place/4049+Worth+Ave,+Columbus,+OH+43219/@40.0542293,-82.9137962,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x88388a86de3af559:0xc1dc8b4661fc834f!8m2!3d40.0542293!4d-82.9137962!16s%2Fg%2F11sgzjp4ml?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDkyNC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D). However, your GPS is stupid. The actual entrances to the garage are on the cross steets Brighton Rose Way and Fenlon St, not Worth Ave. Just keep this in mind once you get to the garage.
**Where we'll meet**
I'll post in the comments where I am. People will obviously want to explore different areas of the venue over the course of the event (and there's a lot to explore), but please just let me know (as in, come find me) once you've arrived.
**Peroration**
Come on out and say hi! 😄




























