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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! Check out it infrastructure events happening today here. These are in-person gatherings where you can meet fellow enthusiasts and participate in activities right now.

Discover all the it infrastructure events taking place this week here. Plan ahead and join exciting meetups throughout the week.

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IT Infrastructure Events Today

Join in-person IT Infrastructure events happening right now

Zürich AI | Agentic Loops
Zürich AI | Agentic Loops
**Sponsored by:** ***\- ACP*** ***\- TD SYNNEX*** ***\- Technopark Winterthur*** **Partner-led and partner-branded by**: ***Microsoft*** Speakers: * Firas Cheaib (ACP) – When Models Become the Commodity * Victor Chibotaru(LogicStar AI) – Shipping Faster, Drowning Sooner Abstract: When Models Become the Commodity ACP Engineering works extensively with LLMs to write production code across a small team. What makes that work is not the models, but the groundwork laid before them: a portfolio of Python projects sharing the same tooling, structure, tests, CI, and linters, the same conditions that already made the codebase easy for humans to navigate. That foundation is what powers the current build of ACP-M, ACP's industrial IoT platform for manufacturing customers, and an early agentic-loop prototype now running internally. The next step is enabling customers to automate their own operations the same way. Doing that requires the same kind of preparation on their side: turning fragmented operational data into knowledge graphs, unified namespaces, and typed semantic layers, so that agents act on information that is short, focused, and reliable. Once that environment exists, the model becomes a commodity. What matters is enterprise processes and domain knowledge, not which model happens to be in fashion that quarter. Attendees will leave with a concrete way to assess whether their own environment is ready for agents at all, and what it takes to get there -- Shipping Faster, Drowning Sooner AI ships your features faster than ever, but it also ships bugs faster than ever. Code got cheap, maintenance didn't: customer complaints stack up, Sentry alerts overflow, and triaging the pile is still as expensive as it ever was. I'll show how LogicStar finds bugs across your Sentry, Jira and codebase, separates signal from noise, and helps your team fix issues that matter.
Speak effortlessly to any audience - Toastmasters Zuriberg
Speak effortlessly to any audience - Toastmasters Zuriberg
**This Meeting’s Theme: “Horizon”** In public speaking, the horizon is that limitless line of your own potential ! It’s about having the vision to see beyond your comfort zone, expand your audience's perspective , and bring new ideas to light . Every speech is a chance to push that line a little further back. So come ready to aim high, broaden your views, and discover what's waiting just over the edge! \*\*\* You can **pay directly via Meetup**! For this meeting, we’re collecting **CHF 37**, which also includes a delicious dinner prepared by the restaurant. That’s dinner *and* personal growth in one go—what a deal! ️✨ Per default, you're in for the vegetarian option. If you want meat, let us know via PM before Sunday! \*\*\* \*\* Practice public speaking, sharpen your communication, and grow your leadership skills\*\* Ever wanted to feel more confident speaking in front of others? Or perhaps become a better communicator and leader? Toastmasters is the perfect place to challenge yourself in a warm, supportive, and safe environment. Here, you can practice, learn, grow, mentor, and share—while having a laugh or two along the way. With over **16,600 clubs worldwide**, Toastmasters helps people reach their full potential as confident speakers and inspiring leaders. \*\*\* \*\* Welcome to Zuriberg Toastmasters Club\*\* We usually meet on the **1st, 3rd, and 4th Tuesday** of each month in the beautiful **Zunftsaal** at *Restaurant Weisser Wind* in Zurich. (We’ll always notify you if there's a change in venue.) \*\*\* **️ What to expect at a meeting** Each meeting is hosted by the **Toastmaster of the evening**, who welcomes guests and introduces the *Word of the Day*. Then, we move into the main event: **️ Prepared Speeches** – 3–4 speeches, each 5–7 minutes long **️ Dinner Break** – Enjoy a delicious meal together \*\* Speech Evaluations\*\* – Supportive and constructive feedback \*\* Table Topics\*\* – Fun impromptu speaking, open to guests too! \*\* Meeting Evaluation\*\* – A general overview and suggestions for improvement **️ Guest Feedback & Closing** – Share your thoughts and wrap up the evening \*\* After-Hours Conversations\*\* – Stick around for drinks and good chats \*\*\* **❓ FAQs** **Do I have to speak at my first meeting?** Nope! You’re welcome to just observe. If you feel comfortable, you can introduce yourself and maybe even try Table Topics. Totally optional! **Is there a teacher or instructor?** There’s no formal instructor. The club is run by elected members, and learning happens through practice and peer feedback. You’ll receive a speaking guidebook and can also request a mentor. **Do I have to pay for the dinner?** Yes, the CHF 37 fee covers dinner and the venue. Soft drinks are not included and cost approx. CHF 6. **How many people attend?** Usually between **20–30 people**, a mix of members and guests. Meetup RSVPs mostly reflect guest numbers. **What is Toastmasters International?** A nonprofit founded in 1924 with **16,400+ clubs** in **141 countries**, Toastmasters helps people become better speakers, communicators, and leaders. **Can anyone join?** Yes! Anyone **18 or older** is welcome to become a member. **What is the refund policy?** Unfortunately, we cannot offer refunds for cancellations. But we know that life can get in the way, so guests cancelling two or more days prior to the event are welcome to reach out via private message and we can coordinate a visit at a later date without further charges. \*\*\* We look forward to seeing you—whether it’s your first word or your first speech. Come for the skills, stay for the stories!
✨ DC4131 - Beer on Tuesday (BoT) Zug🍻
✨ DC4131 - Beer on Tuesday (BoT) Zug🍻
Come and experience the infamous DC4131 hacker meetup vibe! 👾🍻 Please find more event specific info's on our **[webpage](https://www.beerontuesday.ch/)**. If you have any location specific questions, reach out to the local BoT Master, otherwise please don't hesitate to contact the board through our **[website](https://www.defcon-switzerland.org/)**. Did someone say **SWAG?! –** That’s right baby, we are back with our refreshed swag shop, where you can now again purchase the latest and sexiest DC4131 Swag – All options and details are here: **[DC4131 Swag Shop](https://industryink.co.uk/collections/defcon)** We are also on **[Discord](https://discord.gg/Q3KXn5u)**[ ](https://discord.gg/Q3KXn5u):) Come say hi!
Disney Lorcana Constructed Event @Kabooom Comic Shop
Disney Lorcana Constructed Event @Kabooom Comic Shop
# Something NEW is about to hit the stage! Goofy, Max Goof, and Powerline are ready to rock the realm alongside other glimmers from the fan favorite *A Goofy Movie*. They’re ready to dance their way into play or into your collection. **Players must bring a deck consisting of a minimum of 60 cards, a maximum of two inks, and a maximum of four of any card of the same full name**. There will be three 50 minute rounds with "best of three" matches! Prizes will be awarded for the top scorers at the end of the event on top of randomly awarded prizes! Tournament Form: Constructed Doors Open: 18:00 Start: 19:00 Entry fee: CHF 10.- Please be here 10 - 15 mins prior, so we have enough time to register you. (For the registration to be able to play at the tournament, you'll need a Melee Account) For every Player there is a 1.5 Boosters added to the price pool. **Follow us on:** Facekbook: [www.facebook.com/kabooom.comicshop](http://www.facebook.com/kabooom.comicshop) *Instagram:* [https://www.instagram.com/kabooom_comics/](https://www.instagram.com/kabooom_comics/) Join our Discord community: [https://discord.com/invite/XeEKXnk](https://discord.com/invite/XeEKXnk)
AWS with Yara
AWS with Yara
Yara is a fantastic art model. She will join us at the studio for an after work photoshoot. We will experiment with moody and dramatic light setups, to hopefully create some beautiful images. **Open to members and non-members.** Come for the photography, stay for the networking! All you need is a camera with a portrait lens and some enthusiasm. The event fee is CHF 100. Please understand that in case you cancel close to the event, we will ask you to pay anyway, as we have to pay for the model and the studio.
Boost your Confidence - Public Speaking & Presentation Skills with Toastmasters
Boost your Confidence - Public Speaking & Presentation Skills with Toastmasters
**Ready to Speak Up with Confidence? Join Us at WintiSpeakers! 🎤💥** Discover how fun and rewarding public speaking can be with WintiSpeakers! Whether you're a beginner or looking to sharpen advanced skills, our club offers a friendly and supportive environment for learning, practicing, and growing as a speaker. **Why Join WintiSpeakers?** * **Develop Public Speaking Skills**: Get hands-on experience with prepared speeches, impromptu speaking, and structured feedback. * **Build Confidence**: Speak in front of an encouraging audience and see your self-confidence soar. * **Improve Your English**: Practice and refine your English communication skills in a supportive setting. * **Leadership Opportunities**: Gain experience leading meetings and teams, perfect for enhancing workplace and international communication. **What to Expect:** Our meetings are relaxed yet structured, making it easy to jump in and learn. Each session includes: * **Prepared Speeches**: Members present speeches to improve their speaking abilities. * **Impromptu Speaking**: Fun, quick-speaking activities to help you think on your feet. * **Feedback & Encouragement**: Gain valuable insights from peers to refine your skills. **Guests Are Always Welcome!** Curious to try it out? Guests can join for free, and we usually have 2–3 new faces each meeting. It’s a great way to experience the club and see how Toastmasters can help you become the confident speaker and leader you want to be! *** *“Joining WintiSpeakers changed my life – I went from avoiding the stage to owning it!”* – Nico *“The skills and friendships I’ve gained here have been incredible. This is the best step you can take for your career and personal growth!”* – Kai **Connect with us to learn more:** [Website](https://winti-speakers.ch/) \| [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/wintispeakers) \| [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/wintispeakers) \| Email: info@winti\-speakers\.ch
Practice your programming skills with Python, Js, Java, C(++) or ...
Practice your programming skills with Python, Js, Java, C(++) or ...
Anybody who wants to practice their programming skills is welcome. We share our ideas, learn from each other, do some exercise, ask questions, etc. This meetup is the best for those who want to improve their skills by programming and learning in a group If you want to learn more about our Co-Learning, please have a look at our website: [https://opentechschool-zurich.github.io/](https://opentechschool-zurich.github.io/) \*\*\* We have a chat group you can join to get more information: [https://app.element.io/#/room/#ots-zh:matrix.org](https://app.element.io/#/room/#ots-zh:matrix.org) (You need to create a free account if you don't already have one) Remote participants are also welcome. You first need to join the Element chat and then get into the video call that we start at around 19:00 (if we forget, pleas ping us in the Element chat!) \*\*\* Our main languages are Python and Javascript, but we welcome every programming languages. Some of the skills we can help you learning: * Python and * ... PyGame (Zero / Play) -.... Flask * ... Jupyter and data science -... PySide2 / PyQt * ... Shoebot * C++ and * ... Qt * ... cmake * ... and modern C++ * Flutter for Apps * PHP and * ... Vue.js * ... Wordpress * JS and React.js We have a few Github repository that can be interesting to browse:: https://github.com/opentechschool-zurich/

IT Infrastructure Events This Week

Discover what is happening in the next few days

GDG Cloud Zürich - 28 May 2026 Meetup (#34)
GDG Cloud Zürich - 28 May 2026 Meetup (#34)
Important note: please sign up on the Google Developer Group platform to attend the meetup: https://gdg.community.dev/events/details/google-gdg-cloud-zurich-presents-gdg-cloud-zurich-28-may-2026-meetup-34/ Join the GDG Cloud Zürich community for an evening of technical talks on Google Cloud, real-world insights, and networking with local practitioners. This meetup is intended for developers, architects, and engineers working with Google Cloud technologies. Agenda ⏰ 18:45: Doors open ⏰ 18:55: Doors close (late entry may not be possible due to building security) ⏰ 19:00: Welcome – Erin, Alessandro and Rachel (organizers) ⏰ 19:05: Talk 1 – Ship features, not firewall rules: Abstracting GCP for speed, Norwin Metzger, Sanitas ⏰ 19:30: Talk 2 – Directly from Vegas, the SRE extension, baked in Zürich, is live! - Ricc & Ramón, Google ⏰ 20:00: Networking & Apéro – Supported by Google Cloud, Zencore, ABB, and Datwave Talk details Talk 1 Title: Ship features, not firewall rules: Abstracting GCP for speedSpeaker: Norwin Metzger, SanitasDescription: 80% of Sanitas’ workloads run on Google Cloud. To enable approximately 15 development teams to maximize business value, the Cloud Competence Center (CCC) abstracts away infrastructure and CI/CD complexity as much as possible. The CCC Product Owner will explain the challenges development teams face today and how the CCC continuously works to improve the developer experience at Sanitas. Talk 2 Title: Directly from Vegas, the SRE extension, baked in Zürich, is live!Speaker: Ricc & Ramón, Google
MASTERMIND LATAM
MASTERMIND LATAM
Mastermind LATAM is a high-level meetup group for professionals, entrepreneurs, and internationally minded individuals connected to Latin America. Every two weeks, members meet in a trusted environment where each person presents a challenge, opportunity, or goal they are working on. The group then provides constructive feedback, valuable contacts, know-how, and shared experiences to help each member move forward. With a strong LATAM focus, the group brings together people who want to grow, collaborate, and achieve meaningful goals together.
OWASP Switzerland Community Event, May 2026
OWASP Switzerland Community Event, May 2026
The OWASP community is getting together for another meetup in May 2026! Join us for some security talks 🔐, good company 🤝, and a little aperitif 🍕. **Program:** **16:00** - **Doors open**: Grab a drink, meet old and new friends from the OWASP Switzerland community **16:30** - **Hello from OWASP Switzerland** **16:40 - Talk: AI-Driven Development Lifecycle (AI-DLC) (Markus Rollwagen, Senior Solutions Architect, AWS)** **17:25** **-** **(10min break)** **17:35 - Talk: Using HoneyPots to protect critical Infrastructure (Giulio Grazzi, Head IT Security, SRF)** **18:35** - **(10min break)** **18:45 - Talk: We Tried to Detect Prompt Injection in Coding Agents. Here's What Broke (Paulo Martins, Principal Security Engineer, GitLab)** **19:30 - Networking & Pizza 🍕 & Aperitif**🍷- Grab a bite and chat with old and new friends **Talks Details:** **AI-Driven Development Lifecycle (AI-DLC) (Markus):** Software development is undergoing a fundamental shift. AWS’s AI-Driven Development Lifecycle (AI-DLC) positions AI not as a mere assistant, but as a central collaborator across the entire SDLC — from requirements to deployment. In this session, we’ll explore how AI-DLC’s three phases — Inception, Construction, and Operations — redefine team workflows, and what this means for security: how AI enforces organization-specific security standards consistently, maintains human oversight at critical decision points, and ensures traceability from requirements to deployment. We’ll discuss the security opportunities and risks this methodology introduces, and how teams can adopt AI-DLC while keeping security a first-class citizen in every “bolt.” **Using HoneyPots to protect critical Infrastructure (Giulio):** How do you protect your critical infrastructure in the days of agentic ai and very limited options on your hosts? You need to get creative and use stone age tech. I’ll give you some insights, from our journey and pitfalls you might be facing (and should be avoided :)) **We Tried to Detect Prompt Injection in Coding Agents. Here's What Broke (Paulo):** As a community, we are delegating a significant part of our development workflow to agents, and as the use cases grow, the risk of prompt injection keeps increasing - to the point that it made it to the top of the OWASP LLM Top 10. In this talk, I'll explore the concept of "detect and prevent prompt injection" and why it is particularly hard to do for coding agents. **Speaker Details:** **Markus Rollwagen** Senior Solutions Architect at AWS, based in Switzerland Markus enjoys deep dive technical discussions, while keeping an eye on the big picture and the customer goals. With a software engineering background, he embraces infrastructure as code and is passionate about all things security. **Giulio Grazzi** Head IT Security, SRF From bike messaging to networking to infosec - always maximize never max out. Currently at Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen dealing with all Infosec topics, background in networking, embedded devices and mobile security. **Paulo Martin** Principal Security Engineer, GitLab since 2021 Now focused on AI security: prompt injection, sandboxing, and keeping agentic workflows from doing things they shouldn't.
Lesbian Literature Club
Lesbian Literature Club
GDG Cloud Zürich: Build with AI
GDG Cloud Zürich: Build with AI
Important note: please sign up on the Google Developer Group platform to attend the meetup: https://gdg.community.dev/events/details/google-gdg-cloud-zurich-presents-gdg-cloud-zurich-build-with-ai-1/ Join the GDG Cloud Zürich to learn AI skills during ​a practical workshop alongside your local developer community. ​Use Google's integrated AI stack to solve real-world challenges, following a practical path from your first click to a fully deployed application. ​Peer-to-Peer Guidance by the Google Developer Organizers and local leads who share their honest experience building in the AI ecosystem. Google Developer Groups (GDGs) bring together local developers and technologists, from beginner to advanced, to connect, learn, and grow with Google's technologies and experts. This workshop is intended for developers, architects, and engineers interested in Google Cloud technologies. Agenda ⏰ 17:00: Doors open - please arrive on time ⏰ 17:15: Workshop starts (late entry may not be possible due to time constraints) ⏰ 18:45: Workshop ends. Participants join the tech talks. ⏰ 19:00: Welcome - Erin, Alessandro (organizers) ⏰ 19:05: Talk 1 – From DevOps to AI-Driven Software Delivery: The Sanitas journey – Norwin & Patrick, Sanitas ⏰ 19:30: Talk 2 – Directly from Vegas, the SRE extension, baked in Zürich, is live! – Ricc & Ramón, Google ⏰ 20:05: Networking & Apéro – Supported by Google Cloud, Zencore, ABB, and Datwave Workshop details Track 1 Title: Design-to-Code with Antigravity and Stitch MCPDescription: Build a production-ready website by bridging AI-driven design with an agent-first development environment. You will use Google Stitch to generate a high-fidelity UI, then connect it to the Antigravity IDE via the Model Context Protocol (MCP). Finally, you will use an autonomous agent to fetch the "Design DNA" and implement a pixel-perfect React application. Track 2 Title: Build a Multimodal AI Agent with Graph RAG, ADK & Memory BankDescription: Build an intelligent disaster response system by combining a graph database with multimodal AI and multi-agent orchestration. You will use Cloud Spanner Graph and Gemini embeddings to build a Survivor Network Database with hybrid search, then visualize the complex relationships using a React and Three.js frontend. Finally, you will use the Agent Development Kit (ADK) to coordinate specialized workflows and integrate the Vertex AI Memory Bank to enable long-term, personalized interactions.
Impact Over Perfection – A Practical Approach to Accessibility
Impact Over Perfection – A Practical Approach to Accessibility
Accessibility often feels overwhelming with all its guidelines, standards and edge cases. But in practice, meaningful improvements don’t require perfection. They require empathy and a sincere motivation to create a truly usable experience for all. In this talk, we share real learnings from UX and UI projects: what actually made a difference, where teams struggled, and how small, deliberate changes created a much more inclusive experience. You’ll walk away with a practical mindset and actionable ideas to start improving accessibility in your own projects — without waiting for the “perfect” solution. By Maria Timonen & Silio Keiser from Bitforge
Web Zurich Mai 2026
Web Zurich Mai 2026
Web Zurich presents inspiring talks all about the web. Join us for the Mai 2026 meetup! We will have three talks as well as chit-chat and drinks. Whatapp: [https://chat.whatsapp.com/FxOfVTK9nf431xHtVl3eGK](https://chat.whatsapp.com/FxOfVTK9nf431xHtVl3eGK) Website: [https://webzurich.ch](https://webzurich.ch) 18:30 \~ 19:00 Arrival time with drinks, chat 19:00 \~ 19:10 Welcome and introduction 19:10 \~ 19:30 *Alex Suzuki* **Monetizing JavaScript: Building Profitable Products as a Solo Developer** Lessons learned from building and launching a commercial JavaScript library as a solo developer. 19:30 \~ 19:50 *Hugo Sousa* **Ten times tea** I'm building a programming language. When I got to the frontend, I ran into a problem: React's mental model is elegant, but the mental model is at odds with the code. Hooks, effects, and render passes create a runtime that bears little resemblance to the code we write. The Elm programming language works differently and its architecture (TEA = The Elm Architecture) has been adopted by other tools over the years. So I copied it as well. My language embeds TEA at the language level, not as a library. This unlocks time-travel debugging, reproducible application state and serializable bug reports that include the entire program state. This talk covers the quick introduction of my language, TEA, why TEA is the right fit and what becomes possible when the architecture is baked into the language itself. 19:50 \~ 20:10 *Marco Gähler* **Software testing** Many old software projects don't have any tests - if the code works, why should you bother with tests? Well, you really should bother, because code changes all the time. During development, you keep adding new features which at times requires large scale modifications of the code that will inevitably alter existing functionality. And in existing projects, one still has to make updates once in a while, for example for security patches. These things will always break existing functionality and tests are the only remedy against this issue. In this talk, we will look at the basic idea of tests, how to implement them, what issues to look out for and how you can test pretty much any piece of code if your code base is well structured. 20:10 onward More drinks & chat We look forward to see you there! Location https://zurich.impacthub.ch/space/bogen_d/ Viaduktstrasse 93, 8005 Zürich, Switzerland Visit our website https://webzurich.ch/ for more information about the Web Zurich community. This event is supported by Impact Hub Zürich, The global community of entrepreneurial people prototyping the future of business. At Impact Hub, you can connect, collaborate, co-work and create great content in an inspiring environment.

IT Infrastructure Events Near You

Connect with your local IT Infrastructure community

Ensuring Software Quality in the world of AI Developers - Matt Eland
Ensuring Software Quality in the world of AI Developers - Matt Eland
**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** Like it or not, AI agents are now capable of turning a quickly written paragraph of requirements into a pull request that is ready to be integrated into real-world production applications and it's now our responsibility to make sure AI doesn't go rogue and take down prod - or corrupt our data by misunderstanding the requirements or our existing schemas. In this session we'll explore strategies to protect our codebases through unit and integration testing, documentation, and code review along with additional ways of providing context and guard rails to our AI agents as they carry out the work we've assigned them to do. By the time we're done, you'll have a firm grasp of the problem and understand some helpful options for protecting your codebase from vibe coding mishaps getting YOLOed into prod. **YouTube Link** TBD
Ultimate Frisbee on Saturday
Ultimate Frisbee on Saturday
QA or The Highway 2026
QA or The Highway 2026
QA or the Highway is a one-day, affordable, regional, professional conference featuring real-world experience and thought leadership in the QA and testing industry. This is a ticketed event please register here: https://www.qaorthehwy.com/ Featured Keynote Speakers: **Matthew-Hope Eland** **(Wizard at Leading EDJE)** \- An AI Specialist and Wizard at Leading EDJE who is known to teach software engineering\, AI\, and data science concepts in the most ridiculous ways possible\. Matt has used machine learning to settle debates over whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie\, reinforcement learning to drive the behavior of digital squirrels\, data analytics to suggest improvements to his favorite TV show\, and AI agents to play board games and create an AI agent with the personality of a dog\. Matt is the author of "Data Science in \.NET with Polyglot Notebooks" and "Refactoring with C\#" as well as several LinkedIn Learning courses\. Matt helps organize the Central Ohio \.NET Developer Group\, runs several blogs and a YouTube channel\, has a Master’s of Science in Data Analytics\, and is a current Microsoft MVP in AI and \.NET\. **Tatyana Arbouzova** **(CEO at Innovate QA)** \- Tatyana Arbouzova is an engineering and business leader with a strong background in Quality Engineering across multiple industries\, including Big Tech\, Healthcare\, and Entertainment\. She has held leadership roles at world\-class companies such as Microsoft\, VMware\, Disney\, and The Pokémon Company International\, where she focused on building quality\-driven cultures and scaling teams to deliver high\-impact products\. With decades of experience\, Tatyana has helped organizations transform their quality practices so teams can deliver software efficiently\, confidently\, and with measurable business outcomes\. Today\, Tatyana advises software companies on adopting AI to optimize quality practices and improve how software is delivered at scale\. She is also a passionate community builder and the founder of Innovate QA\, a thriving Seattle\-based community and conference for quality professionals\.
Franklin Park Conservatory / Columbus Brewing Company
Franklin Park Conservatory / Columbus Brewing Company
**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.
ServiceNow Knowledge 26 Recap + Topgolf Happy Hour
ServiceNow Knowledge 26 Recap + Topgolf Happy Hour
Couldn't make Knowledge? Or want to debrief the dancing robots or Autonomous Workforce? Join us for a Knowledge '26 recap, insights sharing, a couple rounds of golf, and fun at Topgolf. As always, drinks and food will be provided. More details to come — mark your calendar, RSVP, and save your spot today!
Columbus Arduino Raspberry Pi Enthusiasts (CARPE) (Check Location)
Columbus Arduino Raspberry Pi Enthusiasts (CARPE) (Check Location)
Bring your Raspberry Pi, Arduino, microcontroller, or any other electronic project and join fellow electronics makers for a night of creativity and collaboration! This session is open forum to share your current projects—whether complete or in progress, it’s all interesting! Whether you’re deep into embedded systems, exploring new ideas, or just getting started, you’ll find a welcoming space to collaborate, share, and get inspired. **New to electronics or curious about tinkering?** You’re absolutely welcome. If you’re a beginner and want to experiment, I’ll have a couple of starter kits available so you can try things out—whether that’s blinking your first LED, putting something on a display, or experimenting with simple sensors. No pressure and no experience required—just an interest in learning and building. While we continue to pursue a more permanent venue for this Meetup, we’ll be using public library facilities based on availability. This session will be at the Worthington Park Library in the Olentangy Meeting Room.
June 2026 AWS Columbus - Topic to be announced
June 2026 AWS Columbus - Topic to be announced
Topic to be announced. **THANK YOU** *Franklin University* for hosting our meetup! To learn more about *Franklin University*, please visit their website: https://www.franklin.edu/ **DIRECTIONS** Franklin University Fisher Hall 300 E. Main St, Columbus, OH 43215 Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jxjBA2hUmS5qrvhq8 Parking is FREE! Please park in Lot C in front of Fisher Hall. See attached map. NOTE: Map the address only. When mapping with Google Maps it may use the Fisher Hall at OSU, which is NOT correct. **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