Fun Times

Backgammon Bingo at Gest - read updated message below Venue: Gest Restaurant, by Euston Square Underground exit Address: 152/156 N Gower St, London NW1 2LU, UK Date/Time: Sunday 21 December 3-7.30pm (and possibly beyond!) at least 15% off food and drink for our group First timers please read below about Meetup fee, Bringing boards etc ☺️ Dear Backgammon Lovers, Ready to roll the dice together again? Festive Backgammon & Games Night at Gest 🎄Join us for a cheerful evening of backgammon, laughter, and good company at Gest! We’ll be rolling the dice, moving the checkers, and hopefully squeezing in a few other favourite games too - Rummikub and Yahtzee are on the table for anyone keen to join the fun. A special congratulations to David, our Backgammon Bingo Champion, for his remarkable achievement in winning both fun games — whether shared or solo! Bravo, David! 🏆 There’s no better place to celebrate the season than at Gest, whose warm atmosphere and charming management make this venue a backgammoner's delight with plenty if good cheer! Looking forward to seeing everyone there. Please note that we will continue at the CSC but are looking at alternatives when the Club is booked or closed around Christmas. Also as our group becomes even more popular it's nice to discover alternative venues with more space and warmer vibe.. It's always a treat to catch up with our regulars and welcome new players into the mix - and this session promises more of the same great energy. Social Backgammon Whether you’re a seasoned player or completely new to the game, everyone’s welcome. Our fortnightly Sunday afternoon offers the perfect blend of friendly competition, laughter, and the occasional lucky double six! Add drinks, food, and easy conversation, and you’ve got the ingredients for a truly relaxed afternoon and early evening.. so come and join us! Gest 20pc Off Food and Drink Gest has kindly offered our group (pssst.. keep this to ourselves) a discount on their drinks and food with great dishes served up. Please support the venue, as we're expected to do, by ordering at least a drink and a bite to eat during our session at Gest. About Our Backgammon Group Our group started in June 2015 - that’s over 10 years ago! Since then, we’ve held nearly 450 official backgammon meetups and well over 200 off-grid gatherings besides. With nearly 2,000 members, we’re the largest backgammon group in the UK - what makes our group special is the warmth, humour, and friendliness everyone brings to the board. We typically meet fortnightly on Sundays, with around 20 or so regular players and new faces each time. Everyone’s welcome. Dinner, Drinks and Playing Time We usually sit for a relaxed group meal around 6pm, but you’re free to order food and drinks whenever you wish. RSVP Please RSVP as soon as you can. It helps to know numbers in advance, especially as this is a new venue for us. Bring Your Own Board If you have a backgammon board, please bring it along. Don’t worry if you don’t yet own one - just post a note on the Meetup page or message me. It’s also fun seeing the wide variety of board styles people bring. Meetup fee: £4 per person. This modest contribution helps cover rising admin, hosting, and other organisational costs. Etiquette Let’s keep things friendly with each other, and please do thank the staff at Gest for hosting us. If anything comes up during the event, just have a quiet word with me. Backgammon Rules We play under international backgammon tournament rules, with one or two small exceptions. You can find the details on our Meetup page. My Contact If you need help finding the place or have questions, call or text me on 07956 263451. (Please avoid sending Meetup messages within two hours of start time, as I might not see them.) Looking forward to rolling dice and sharing another brilliant Sunday with you all - this time at our new trial venue! Best wishes, Chris Sattaur

We have been to this event before and always made to feel very welcome. The congregation are always invited to sing. There are places to wait inside, but come early if you want to meet first so that we can sit together

Head to our booking link to book: https://www.barefootyogaandtherapy.com/blank-2-1 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@barepawsyoga?_t=8qXEQMXJRhJ&_r=1 Barepawsyoga Instagram: Barefootyogastudio4 Puppy Yoga: In the first 3 months of a puppies life it is very important to expose your puppies to different people, new environments, sounds and smells. Puppy yoga is a safe and fun space that aids with our puppies socialisation. When you cuddle a puppy, it has psychological benefits, increasing the happy hormones: oxytocin and serotonin to the brain and lowering cortisol levels (the negative hormone) similar to when you embrace a new-born baby for the first time. This in turn with the yoga, will leave you feeling physically , mentally and emotional balanced and fulfillled. For health and safety reasons an Adult must attend and supervise the child. One adult per two children tickets purchased. Tickets non-refundable but can be redeemed against any future puppy yoga event with BarePaws Yoga Ltd.

Come & join our exciting puppy cuddle and puppy play events, at the weekends! You do not need a puppy - We will bring a litter of adorable Puppies! **Please book your ticket in advance directly on our website: www.puppyluv.co.uk** Join us for a pawsome event that will surely put a smile on your face! Get ready to cuddle, play, and experience pure joy with adorable puppies. Open to all the family. Our events not only benefit us but they hugely benefit the puppies as well. Allowing each puppy to gain valuable socialisation and confidence skills, exposing them to new smells, people, and environments in a safe and secure event space. And let’s not forget, these puppies will be receiving lots and lots of love from everyone that attends! ❤️🐾 This in-person event will take place EVERY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY in Herne HIll. SE24, Just a five minute walk from Herne Hill train station. This is a paid event. Please book in advance via our website: https://puppyluv.co.uk/puppy-events/ Tickets are £40 for adults and £20 for children Please book your ticket in advance directly on our website: www.puppyluv.co.uk Come along and unleash your inner child and let the furry bundles of happiness brighten up your day. Interacting with puppies has been proven to have a positive impact on mental health and overall wellbeing. So, whether you're a dog lover or just looking for a mood boost, this event is perfect for you. Don't miss out on this tail-wagging opportunity to forget your worries and enjoy some quality time with these adorable four-legged friends. Remember to bring your camera to capture those precious moments! Mark your calendars and get ready for a wag-tastic time at our "Puppy Luv and Wellness" event: Come and play with Puppies. Boost your Happiness and Wellbeing! For more information, exclusive offers and competitions, please follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/puppyluvandwellness?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA== puppyluvandwellness Also, please visit our website: www.puppyluv.co.uk for our FAQs and Terms and Conditions.

Practise yoga while the cute puppies roam acround you… A typical puppy yoga class will have approximately 8-10 puppies with around 15 participants and the puppies can range from 8-14 weeks old. Puppy yoga classes involve having puppies roaming from one mat to the next, leaping on participants, and tussling with other puppies as you try out different yoga poses. Often pups are incorporated into some of the yoga poses or they happily roam free throughout class. All puppies are borrowed from a local breeder and we find the breeders from websites such as Kennel Club or Pets4Homes. On some occasions, Puppy Yoga gives the puppies an opportunity to be adopted, if they haven’t already found their forever home. The puppies get the chance to be around other people (not just their breeder) which enhances their socialisation. In the first 3 months of a puppies life it is very important to expose your puppies to different people, new environments, sounds and smells. Puppy yoga is a safe and fun space that aids with our puppies socialisation. Interactions with animals, especially puppies, has been proven to be extremely beneficial to our mental wellbeing. The hormone oxytocin is released, in both dogs and people, when puppies interact with someone they like. This provides stress relieving physiological benefits. Find your inner, peaceful, playful child in our Puppy Yoga Classes BarePaws Yoga

Walk around London see Xmas lights. Have a drink and eat if you want to

**BOOK HERE**: https://sportas.co.uk/games/42304 **Game Description:** Intermediate Mixed Volleyball Games 🏐 Come get some quality court time with structured play and plenty of reps! We’ll have a minimum of 6 balls we ready, so no waiting around for touches—you’ll get plenty of swings, passes, and sets. We kick things off with about 30 minutes of warm-up drills (hitting lines, passing, serving, and maybe a few fun variations) to get everyone moving and dialed in. After that, we’ll jump into full games—fast, competitive, but always friendly. This session is intermediate level: you should be comfortable with the basics (serving, passing, hitting, and rotations). Expect good rallies, steady tempo, and a chance to sharpen your skills while still keeping it social. Come ready to play, improve, and have fun with a great group of teammates! **Rules** FIVB Rule Set

**Christmas is all about giving and spreading joy and so this year, we'll once again be teaming up with [Evolve](https://www.evolvehousing.org.uk/), a leading homeless charity for another afternoon of festive giving.** Yep on Sunday 21st December, we're hugely excited to hosting our 3rd Charity Santa Challenge. If you've not been in previous years, this can be best described as a fun hybrid of a scavenger hunt, "Supermarket Sweep" and a fast-paced Christmas shopping trip. The aim of the game is simple: **build the best sack of presents for the homeless.** Using your best creativity, resourcefulness, and negotiation skills - you’ll have approximately 3 hours to source a selection of gifts that can help add some sparkle for homeless young people. To help you do this, each team will have a team present fund that will be supplemented with presents and vouchers very kindly donated by a number of major high street brands, including **TK Maxx, ZARA, Lush and Sainsburys.** Along the way - to spice the game up, there'll be a series of live challenges designed to test creativity and speed, that can earn your team extra presents for your sack. When the time is up, we will then finish up at a pub in Central London where we'll be judging the sacks and awarding prizes, before taking the presents over to one of Evolve's shelters in the centre of the capital. Last year, we were able to create **[10 incredible sacks full](https://www.evolvehousing.org.uk/2025/01/fighting-homelessness-spreading-festive-cheer-the-great-santa-challenge/)** of thoughtful gifts, treats and much-needed essentials. It was a truly special afternoon of Xmas giving and so hopefully you can join us for what will be another fun and festive afternoon again this year. **\- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \-** **ATTENDANCE FEE** Whilst the event is free to attend, you are asked to bring a **£5 donation to contribute** to your team's present fund and so please do come with your cash donation on the day. **\- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \-** **WHERE TO MEET** Meet Point: Golden Square, London, W1F 9JJ (Exact Location: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/e6LhQTWnXLJVbM97A](https://maps.app.goo.gl/e6LhQTWnXLJVbM97A)) Closest Train/Tube stations: Piccadilly Circus (5 Min Walk) Oxford Circus (10 Min walk) Start Time: 1:30PM Finish time: 5:00PM **\- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \-** **WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?** **Last year, more than 118,000 young people approached their local council because they were at risk of homelessness - roughly one person every four minutes.** The cost of living crisis and rising youth unemployment have pushed even more young people into vulnerable situations and this Christmas, it’s estimated that over **23,500 young people will be without a home.** One of London’s amazing charities that are help tackling this issue is **[Evolve,](https://www.evolvehousing.org.uk/2025/01/fighting-homelessness-spreading-festive-cheer-the-great-santa-challenge/)** who help over 1,000 young people each year with both housing and support designed to break the cycle of homelessness for good. Their staff work daily with young Londoners who are rebuilding their lives under incredibly challenging circumstances. Sadly, demand for their services has never been higher and at Christmas, their already-stretched resources are pushed yet further, and increasingly have to seek external support. And for the young people themselves - whilst most of the city winds down, the festive period can be a stark and painful reminder of the year past and the challenges they’re contending with. And so our Charity Santa Challenge is a small and simple way to bring some joy and the sacks you create will go directly to young people that Evolve work with, and show them **they are not forgotten and that people out there care.**

**Join Us for an Epic Irish Night in Soho! 🎉🍻🍀** Get ready for an memorable evening at **Waxy O'Connor**, Soho's coolest Irish bar, right in the heart of London! ✨ We're gathering downstairs at the Cottage Bar for a night of pure, foot-stomping fun. 🕺💃 **What to Expect:** * **🎶 Live Folk Music**: The stage comes alive at **7 PM** with authentic folk tunes that'll have you singing along, dancing on benches, and channeling your inner leprechaun! * **🍴 Classic Irish Bites**: Dig into hearty pub grub like fish and chips, shepherd's pie, or loaded nachos—comfort food that hits all the right spots. * **🍺 Central Bar Vibes**: Sip on frosty pints of Guinness, crisp lagers, or expertly mixed Irish cocktails in a warm, buzzing atmosphere. * **🪑 Cozy Spots for All**: Claim a snug booth, pull up a bar stool, or join the crowd on communal benches—**everyone is welcome** to the craic! **📍 Where**: Waxy O'Connor, 14-16 Rupert St, London W1D 6DD. *Head downstairs to the Cottage Bar section—follow the sound of fiddles and laughter!* **📌 Pro Tip**: Arrive at the start time to snag the best area at the bar. No tickets required—free entry, first-come, first-served. Come for the pints, stay for the folk, and leave with stories that'll have you grinning for days. Let's make this Irish gem roar! 🎤🍻😎 *See you downstairs—sláinte!* \*\*\*\*\*\*\* \*\*\*\*\*\*\* \*\*\*\*\*\*\* **Some Tips:** 1. **Let’s all commit to updating our RSVPs if plans change**—it helps us plan better and ensures great attendance for everyone. If you RSVP “yes” but don’t attend and don’t update your RSVP, you may be removed from the group to keep things fair. No stress, though—you can rejoin for a small £10 fee! Just send me a DM, and I’ll share the PayPal details to get you back in. 2. **Turn Up on Time at the start!** This helps the quality of the event and helps you. 3. If you are struggling with the **app**, use the web page instead, that's what I use. 4. **Attendee Numbers & Guest Lists:** We have this event listed at least on two groups and the guest list includes attendees from all. You can see the list of attendees here: [https://www.meetup.com/zensingles/](https://www.meetup.com/zensingles/) [https://www.meetup.com/cityzenlondon/](https://www.meetup.com/cityzenlondon/) [https://www.meetup.com/LoveLife](https://www.meetup.com/LoveLife) 5. Join our **social media**: **Instagram**: [https://www.instagram.com/cityzen.london/](https://www.instagram.com/cityzen.london/) **X:** https://x.com/CityZenLondon 6. **Our WhatsApp group:** [See private comment in the comments section below]. We have a few rules including no ads, no DMs unless recipient is in the "Direct Messaging List" or risk removal and £10 rejoin fee. 7. **Support Our Amazing London Event Hosts! 🙌** Our incredible crew of hosts is the heartbeat of London’s buzzing meetup scene, bringing people together for unforgettable experiences that spark connection, growth, and fun! 🌟 From museum adventures to flirty dating mixers, these rockstar hosts pour their energy, time, and passion into creating events that level up your social and communication skills. But hosting isn’t easy—it takes resources, effort, and heart. 💖 Please consider supporting our hosts with a donation to keep the good vibes flowing and help us make London the ultimate social hub! 🚀 Below, meet our hosts for this event and see how you can chip in to fuel their amazing work. 8. To encourage signing up early to events and regulate the number of attendees a late joiner/overflow fee may be applied to an event for any **additional** people wanting to join the event. This may happen on the day or even an hour before the event. So there may be people who obtained a free RSVP to network with our group and some who had to pay. If you have successfully signed up to our event on meetup paid or not then you are in. Happy networking **Zen & The Meetup Groups** *The Visionary Social Connector* Zen, our AI guru with 25 years in the game, founded these meetups to transform his own social skills and now helps others do the same. From sparking in-person networking to coordinating epic events, Zen’s passion for connection is unstoppable. Help him keep the momentum going! Support Zen: Donate to cover event planning tools, venue bookings, and more. **[Donation Link](https://paypal.me/Zenswalks)** \*\*\*\* **Disclaimer, Liability Waiver & Media Consent** By attending this event, you acknowledge and agree to the following: **Organiser Identity** – The organiser operates under the community name **“ZEN”**, which is used as an alias for privacy and branding purposes. By joining, you understand that “ZEN” refers to the organiser and/or designated hosts of this event. **Assumption of Risk** – You understand and accept that participation in any social, recreational, or group activity involves inherent risks, including but not limited to personal injury, illness, property damage, or other unforeseen incidents. You voluntarily choose to attend at your own sole risk. **Personal Responsibility** – You are solely responsible for your own safety, health, wellbeing, and personal belongings at all times. It is your responsibility to exercise good judgment, act responsibly, and take appropriate precautions before, during, and after the event. **No Organiser Liability** – The organiser, hosts, volunteers, and the community known as **ZEN** accept no responsibility and shall not be held liable for any injury, loss, damage, accident, theft, or any other issue that may arise as a result of your participation. **Guests** – If you bring guests, you accept full responsibility for their conduct, safety, and understanding of this disclaimer. **Independent Event** – This event may be held in conjunction with other social or non-singles meetup groups. ZEN is not responsible for the actions, behaviour, or arrangements of any third parties. **Media Consent** – By attending this event, you consent to being photographed, filmed, or recorded. You grant ZEN and its organisers the irrevocable right to use such images and recordings for promotional, marketing, social media, and community purposes without compensation or further approval. If you do not wish to be photographed or recorded, it is your responsibility to inform the organiser in advance and to remove yourself from areas where filming or photography is taking place. **Acceptance of Terms** – By attending, you confirm that you have read, understood, and accepted this disclaimer. You release ZEN, its organisers, hosts, volunteers, and members from all claims, demands, or causes of action, whether known or unknown, arising out of your participation or the use of photography/videography captured at the event. Your attendance at this event signifies your full acceptance of this policy. If you do not agree, you should not attend.

Kick off your week with music, movement, and great vibes. Come solo or with friends—no partner needed! **Schedule (This Sunday):** • 6:30 PM – Free Bachata Taster • 7:00 PM – Bachata Classes (3 Levels) • 8:00 PM – Salsa Classes (3 Levels) • 9:00 PM–12:30 AM – FREE Social Dancing (Salsa, Bachata, a touch of Kiz) **What to expect:** • Friendly teachers, clear level splits, and lots of practice time • Great music and a welcoming crowd for all levels—absolute beginners to improvers • Central location, easy transport, and good vibes all night **Why social dancing is good for you:** Social dancing is a fun workout that boosts your cardio, coordination, and posture—without feeling like “exercise.” It reduces stress, fires up your brain with musical timing and footwork patterns, and improves confidence through gentle challenges and quick wins. Dancing with different partners builds connection, empathy, and communication skills (you literally learn to “listen” with your body). It’s also an incredible way to make friends and feel part of a community—one song at a time. Good to know: • No partner or experience required • Wear comfy shoes, bring water, and arrive a bit early for level check-in • Classes start right on time—don’t miss your warm-up! Price: £10 one class £12 two classes 6:30 PM class is FREE intro to bachata RSVP now so we can plan levels and floor space. See you on the dance floor! 💃🕺

Ready to ditch the boring tours? Join us for the **Unconventional Friend-Maker Tour**—your guaranteed pathway to **laughter 😂, making new friends from around the world 🌍**, and seeing London like a true local! **Important**: please register on this [page](https://www.meetup.com/your-london-exploration-family-of-fun/events/312296041/?recId=192b19e1-8a4b-4ad9-abe3-dfa3a03b2392&recSource=event-search&searchId=4d0daa5b-e84e-4382-aab8-dfd7f70c0bbb&eventOrigin=find_page%24all) (please click on the URL for the original event page). We are **unlike any other tour provider**; this is an active, social, and creative daytime adventure designed for connection. Don't just take our word for it: **our clients are 100% happy!** Please message either Jingyi: +44 &487 832243 or Avi: +44 7391 692387. 👏On this tour, you'll get to experience: * ✴ **Outernet:** Know the latest digital art piece. * 🎡 **London Eye:** Stroll along the iconic riverside, * **Big Ben:** Uncover the history of the famous big clock and feel the **vibrant, romantic energy** surrounding London’s most famous landmark. * 🥂 **Trafalgar Sqaure:** Immerse yourself in **London’s artistic elegance**, surrounded by grand architecture, lively culture, and the charm of the city’s sophisticated heart. \#\#\# 🎲 Games Designed for Friends & Fun This tour is built around interaction to ensure you leave with new connections: * 🤝 **Icebreaker Trivia Titans:** Test your London knowledge as we hit iconic spots! Expect **hilarious, interaction-based questions** that require you to **collaborate closely** with your teammates. * 📸 **The Ultimate Global Photo Challenge:** Forget stiff selfies! You'll receive a set of highly **creative photo prompts** for each neighbourhood. Capture amazing memories *with* your new international friends. * 🗺️ **Urban Treasure Hunt Twist (The Collaboration Catalyst):** Scattered clues and secret missions lead you between districts, forcing you to **team up and collaborate** with new friends to unlock the next stage of our journey. This is a high-energy, cross-cultural puzzle where teamwork means success! 🥳 This unique experience is **10 pounds,** payable on site. We believe in making our tours accessible to everyone while ensuring our passionate guides can continue to share their love for London. For those who can't join us in person, the journey will be recorded 🎥, so you can still be part of the adventure! 😎 Lace up your walking shoes 👟, bring your appetite and **waterproof jacket** in case of rain, and get ready for a memorable adventure that celebrates the best of London's diverse and delicious neighbourhoods.

*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! 😄

**White Elephant Gift Exchange** (WEGE): This may be your only chance to re-gift that “undesirable” bobble or whats-it that you got for Christmas. Every year for Christmas my evil ex in-laws would give me the exact same gift that properly symbolized how well they knew me and how much they cared. For 24 years I received a bushel-basket sized bag of white tube socks from Gabe’s, a local discount/factory seconds store based in Morgantown, WV. If I were still married, that’s what I would re-gift in this gift exchange. No worries. I have since recovered emotionally and all my socks match and are all the same length. Goodwill was the lucky recipient of my 24-bushel sock collection quite some time ago. Things are better now. If you have nothing that merits being re-gifted, please try to keep the price limit to around $15. Remember, no one is required to participate in the gift exchange. You can watch and still have fun. The way this works: Each person bringing a gift will get a pretty yellow ticket (just like the ones we use for the Queen of Hearts). When the gift exchange starts I will draw a ticket and read the number. The person with that ticket may select a gift from the table. Being first is not a true victory in this instance. The next person whose number is drawn will chose a gift AND if they don't like it, they can exchange it for (steal?) the one the previous person selected. It goes on and on as mayhem ensues. Only one exchange. Exchange for any previously selected gift. Got it? Good. **On Freestyle night** \- just bring a bottle to share\. There is NO formal wine tasting like on other weeks\. Door charge is $10 \(cash or Venmo only please\)\. We may have some left over wines to clear out\! Glasses are provided\. Take Care\. See you there\. **Parking**: There are several public parking lots near the Alive614 hall. Please be careful to NOT park in private parking lots. They do tow. Check Google maps to scope out your space. Anyone who is early could easily find a parking space on the street nearby. I am told that the Chase parking lot is safe after hours. **Glasses**: …will be provided. Please note that after the wine tasting, the EMPTY glasses need to be returned to the boxes at the service table. Please do not make me hunt down your empty glass. Please be gentle, our glasses are fragile. Uh, they are made of glass! **Food**: You are welcome to bring a snack to share. It is not required. Most people do though. If no one brings anything, there will be nothing. **Code of Conduct**: Though mostly understood, it’s still worth mentioning. We don’t have rules per se, but we highly discourage the following topics of discussion because they are likely to incite anti-social responses - Sex, Politics, Religion. Please don’t mistake this as an attempt to limit your free speech rights but rather a guide to a place and time for appropriate discussions. **After the lights go out**: After the last sip of wine, when we clean up and turn the lights out, if you still haven’t had enough of us, it is typical for a group to get together and go to a local eatery for food and/or drinks or coffee. Again, We look forward to meeting new members and reuniting with old friends. Sincerely, ***Paul Uttermohlen***, **Red 1 Realty** *Your Hilliard Wine Club Host*

# Save the date! FUTURE MEETINGS! [](https://www.meetup.com/funandfood/events/299189211//attendees/) [Hosted By](https://www.meetup.com/funandfood/events/299189211//attendees/) [Dara T.](https://www.meetup.com/funandfood/events/299189211//attendees/) This listing is information only. Each event will be scheduled individually. ## DO NOT TRY TO SIGN UP ON THIS LIST! January 12 , 2025 - Greek epiphany: Blessing of the Waters, Mad Greek Restaurant February 9, 2025 - Valentine's Day in Germany, Hillgarten Beer Garden, Hilliard March 15, 2025, Indian Holi Festival, Aab India Restaurant April 6, 2025 - Chinese: Hanchi / Qingming Festival May 4, 2025 - Japanese Golden Week, Akai Hana Japanese Restaurant June 8, 2025- Hawaiian King Kamehameha Day, Ohana Grill Hawaiian Restaurant July 5, 2025, 60's Nostalgia: Dance to the Moonbats, JT's Restaurant (Fabulous pub food and great beer, as well as dancing music). They play British Invasion music. Dining Out Fun Times Make New Friends ## Photos (1) [See all](https://www.meetup.com/funandfood/photos/34336422) Add photos