Kitchen & Bathroom Renovation

**Explore perfect pairing of McLaren Vale wines with sustainable Australian produce with passionate host and expert Sandra at Whitebark Bar in West Melbourne!** **TICKETED EVENT** TICKET: $70 TICKET LINK:[https://www.globalfoodsocial.com/event-details/atasteofaustraliamclarenvalewinepairingmasterclass](https://www.globalfoodsocial.com/event-details/atasteofaustraliamclarenvalewinepairingmasterclass) NOTE: RSVP doesn't guarantee a place, please book your ticket at the link. **WHAT YOU'LL EXPERIENCE** Guided by **sommelier and owner Sandra Petrovski**, explore a handpicked selection of **five boutique Adelaide Hills regional wines** with perfectly paired bites featuring **Australian produce** focusing on sustainable proteins and balanced with the vibrant flavours of **local herbs, native greens, and wild botanicals.** **Sip, savour, and connect** with fellow wine lovers as you enjoy perfectly paired bites in a relaxed, social setting. **Whether you're a wine novice or a connoisseur, come solo or bring your friends along for an engaging and enjoyable evening.** **WHAT YOU'LL GET** * **Varietal Exploration:** Dive into the world of five McLaren Vale regional wines each with its own tale to tell * **Pairing Bites:** Enhance your tasting experience with a delectable selection of Australian produce * **Wine Wisdom:** Learn from our knowledgeable host about the intricacies of each varietal * **Socialise and Sip:** Connect with fellow wine enthusiasts, share your passion, and make lasting connections Limited tickets are available, so secure yours now for an unforgettable experience! **TICKETED EVENT** TICKET: $70 TICKET LINK: [https://www.globalfoodsocial.com/event-details/atasteofaustraliamclarenvalewinepairingmasterclass](https://www.globalfoodsocial.com/event-details/atasteofaustraliamclarenvalewinepairingmasterclass) NOTE: RSVP doesn't guarantee a place, please book your ticket at the link.Tas

We will be continuing our trial of our new venue - 3rd floor of MIT Mahjong at 139 Franklin St, just a short walk from Melbourne Central! Players of all skill levels are welcome, and no experience is needed. Stop by for one game or play for the whole 6 hours. Warmup and casual gaming from 5 to 5:30 pm, and the first timed and recorded game starts at 5:30 pm. If you want to learn how to play, we can teach, and if you already know how, then join our shuffle and monthly leaderboard! The games schedule is: * 5:00 pm - 5:30 pm: Setup, Freeplay * 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm: Game 1 * 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm: Game 2 * 8:30 pm - 10:00 pm: Game 3 * 10:00 pm - 11:00 pm: Freeplay This event has a $10 fee which you can pay on the night. This money is used to pay for our use of the store space, maintaining equipment and other meetup services, and organising larger events open to everyone! Members get a special discount, which you can sign up for on the website links below. We also take photos and videos at our meetups for posting on social media, you may potentially appear in these. Hope to see you all then! *** Scores tracking: [https://scores.vicriichi.org/](https://scores.vicriichi.org/) The mahjong ruleset we play with: [https://www.vicriichi.org/mahjong-meetups#meetup-rules](https://www.vicriichi.org/mahjong-meetups#meetup-rules) Join us on Discord and connect with other jongers! [https://vicriichi.org/discord](https://vicriichi.org/discord)

Hey, lads! If you're looking for an evening pickup game, we have it happening **every Thursday at RMIT Bundoora from 7:30 to 8:30 pm**! Just download the Stranger Soccer app and register for free. Use the code **WELCOME** to book your first game for free if you're playing with us for the first time. Book your slot now and see you on the pitch!

IMPORTANT: PLEASE RSVP ON BEVY FROM THIS LINK Join GDG Melbourne this month to Build with AI (#BuildwithAI)? 💻 What do you need to bring? * Make sure to bring your laptop (better if fully charged) for hands-on training. Also, check the workshop descriptions and prerequisites to stay ahead of the game! Join us for an evening of not 1 but 2 hands-on workshops, delicious food, awesome networking, and some surprise swag you won’t want to miss. 🎉 Whether you're a seasoned developer, a cloud enthusiast, or just dipping your toes into the world of AI and tech, this is the place to be. 📍 Where? Mantel Group Office, Level 2/452 Flinders St, Melbourne Doors open at 5:45 PM—message us on Meetup or Slack if you're arriving after 6:00 PM, as the lifts won’t let you up. 🎤 Agenda: 6:10 - 6:20 Welcome &Intro6:20 - 6:30 Cloud Credits setup6:30 - 6:55 Building a Multi-Agent System: Patrick Haralabidis6:55 - 7:05 Break7:05- 8:00 Hands-on Workshop: The Self-Curation Engine (Gemini + Cloud Run + EventArc) : Anupam Phogat8:00 - 8:15 Closing and Door prizes From 8:15 Continue networking, chat & drinks at Insignia on Flinders, 502 Flinders St. 🍻Workshop: Building a Multi-Agent System - Patrick Haralabidis In this Workshop, you will go beyond simple chatbots and build a distributed multi-agent system. While a single LLM can answer questions, real-world complexity often requires specialised roles. You don't ask your backend engineer to design the UI, and you don't ask your designer to optimise database queries. Similarly, we can create specialised AI agents that focus on one task and coordinate with each other to solve complex problems. Handson Workshop: The Self-Curation Engine (Gemini + Cloud Run + EventArc) - Anupam Phogat Data arrives from disparate sources with inconsistent schemas in our warehouse. To solve this, we present a serverless Cloud Run agent that uses the Gemini API to automate schema mapping. Triggered by new data, the agent compares raw schemas to a BigQuery target and dynamically generates the required SQL or Dataform transformations. This talk highlights how AI automates the most manual parts of data engineering: schema maintenance and logic generation. 🎁 What’s in it for you? ⚡Workshop on AI from industry experts 🍕 Cloud-shaped snacks (okay, maybe not literally, but the food will be delicious!) 🤝 Networking that’s as smooth as a well-architected cloud solution 🎁 Surprise swag 💡 NOTES: This is an in-person-only event, but if you have any accessibility requirements, reach out to us via Meetup or Slack, and we’ll do our best to accommodate you. Doors open at 5:45 PM at our host, the Mantel Group, Level 2/452 Flinders S,t Melbourne. Message via Meetup or Slack if you are arriving after 6:00, as the lifts won't let you up. Don’t miss this epic night of learning, networking, and fun! RSVP now and we’ll see you there! 👋 #gdgMelbourne #BuildwithAI #fluttermelbourne Agenda *** Speakers Patrick Haralabidis Patrick is a Google Developer Expert (GDE) in AI and Machine Learning, a Cloud Champion Innovator, and the Melbourne TensorFlow User Group organiser. He currently leads the ML and Software Engineering Chapter at Flybuys, where he leverages his extensive experience spanning backend, mobile, cloud, and AI technologies. Patrick excels at developing solutions in emerging tech fields, focusin… Anupam Phoghat - Core-X (Founder) I am a seasoned IT professional with years of experience in the field. I have extensive experience with Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and currently hold many professional level Google Cloud and other industry certifications. I am also certified in Kubernetes, and have a deep understanding of the core concepts of Kubernetes. I am passionate about sharing my knowledge with others by activel… Hosted By Katie Barnett, GDE Android / GDG Organiser Katie is passionate about all things Android. She has taken on a wide variety of challenging projects including in the live event, media and travel space. Her favourite thing is to see someone having a delightful experience using something she has worked on. Katie is very active in the development community, she is a Google Developer Expert for Android, one of the organisers of GDG Melbourne and is a Women Techmakers Ambassador. She frequently runs events, speaks on technical and non-technical topics and enjoys writing blog posts to share her experience with others. Katie is based in Melbourne, Australia but loves to travel the world and outside of tech she enjoys boardgaming and attempting to finish many craft projects. Suesi Tran, Senior Flutter Developer Google Developer Expert in Dart, Flutter & Firebase, Women Techmaker Melbourne ambassador, GDG Melbourne & Flutter Melbourne co-organiser. In short: Flutter is love, and mobile is life. Poornima Sivakumar, GDG Organiser Lovee Jain, GDG Organiser Lovee is a Software Engineer at Prezzee, a GDG Melbourne Organiser and also a Women Techmakers Ambassador. A tech inquisitive philomath, she loves problem solving and solution design. She has worked at a city council where she developed a lot of useful system integrations and while at Prezzee she develops and works on multiple gift card solutions to cater the B2B2C market. Zach Jensz, GDG Organiser Passionate about the web, seamless UX and accessibility. I love attending meetups, find me and come say hi! Ujjawal Raj, GDG Organiser Bramley Turner-Jones, GDG Organiser Yuba Raj (UV) Panta, GDG Organiser Kartik Arora, Android Engineer Google Developer Expert in Android Android Engineer @ Bilue Carolyn Ai Chi Wong, Complete your event RSVP here: https://gdg.community.dev/events/details/google-gdg-melbourne-presents-gdg-melbourne-build-with-ai-event-may/.

Join us at this urban beer bar - **Hopscotch!** Hopscotch has 35+ beers on tap, plus cans and bottles to explore. Beer paddles and towers are also available, as well as cocktails, wine and spirits. Most people come along by themselves so don't worry if you don't know any of the other members. New people are always welcome. 📍**Location:** Hopscotch, Ground Floor, 4 Riverside Quay, Southbank Vic 3006. Alongside the Yarra River **How often do we have events? Weekly!** Join us at a different bar/pub each week to meet new people and see the familiar faces of the regular members. This is a regular weekly group for socialising and unwinding for the weekend. **Events are also on:** Bartopia [https://www.meetup.com/bartopia/](https://www.meetup.com/bartopia/) Raiders of the Lost Bars [https://www.meetup.com/barraiders/](https://www.meetup.com/barraiders/) Bartopia [https://www.facebook.com/groups/bartopia/](https://www.facebook.com/groups/bartopia/) Follow us on Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/bartopia.melbourne/](https://www.instagram.com/bartopia.melbourne/) This week's venue: https://hopscotchmelbourne.com.au/

Once a month Elni hosts our Port Phillip and Bayside socials. It’s a great opportunity to meet others. Our emphasis is on fun and enjoying each other’s company whilst supporting anyone who might need it. We each pay for our own food and drinks. This time, we’ll meet for dinner at Dendy Deli in Brighton — a relaxed local spot on Church Street known for its Mediterranean and modern Australian café style menu, with grills, salads, seafood, pasta, desserts and good coffee. We’d appreciate it if you could update your RSVP the day before so we can provide an exact headcount for the reservation. The table is booked under the name Elni. We hope to see you!

Clear skies + easygoing vibes 🌞 Vidula (founder of ***Connect Through Play***) will be guiding an afternoon of drama-inspired, interactive games designed to help you meet new people in a fun, low-pressure way. Think movement, laughter, structured group activities - just show up, play, and connect. A great chance to meet new people and make friends. Meeting point: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/U3oaqAs5gAoz5EKV6](https://maps.app.goo.gl/U3oaqAs5gAoz5EKV6) Cost: $4 (covers meetup costs) Payment details: Account name - Social Threads BSB - 063106 Account number - 10989323 **Payment confirms your spot.**

Enjoy brunch with the sat crew!

**Ballarat Day Trip: Autumn Special** 🍂 **Saturday\, 23 May \| 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM** 🌟 Experience the charm of Ballarat in autumn with Bondaroo! Join us for a scenic day trip filled with historic landmarks, cultural discoveries, and beautiful seasonal landscapes. 🏛️✨ Designed especially for international students, this trip blends exploration, connection, and fun group experiences - a great opportunity to discover regional Victoria while enjoying the colours and atmosphere of the autumn season. **📍 Starting Point:** Southern Cross Station platform 5A or 6A **Time:** 8:45 AM sharp **📅 Date:** Saturday (23 May) **💬 RSVP:** Secure your spot on [Eventbrite ](https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/ballarat-day-trip-with-bondaroo-registration-1989444505069?aff=oddtdtcreator)now! **Highlights:** Lake Wendouree, Ballarat Farmers Market, Ballarat Botanical Gardens, Ballarat Tramway Museum, Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Ballarat Town Hall, Chinese Library, and Art Gallery of Ballarat **🎟 Ticket Information** • Please register via **Eventbrite**. This Meetup page is for promotion only — RSVPs here will not be counted in the final attendee list. • **$10 deposit** (secures your spot, non-refundable if cancelled within 24 hours of the event) • **$49 total price including the deposit** (includes BBQ and light refreshments, pay the rest on the day) **⚠️ Important Notes** • Please ensure you have a **valid Myki with sufficient balance** for V/Line travel • Wear comfortable clothing and check the weather * Bring your water bottle to stay hydrated 👉 Limited spots – **book now on Eventbrite:** https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/ballarat-day-trip-with-bondaroo-registration-1989444505069?aff=oddtdtcreator Pack your cameras and ready your senses for a day full of discovery and enchantment in Ballarat with Bondaroo! 🌿🎨 ✨ **Community Rules** ✨ * This is a rain-or-shine event. * 18+ only. * Maintain respect and no unsolicited contact. * No advertising and selling during the event. * By attending this event, you accept our [Terms and Conditions](https://docs.google.com/document/d/11Afnnu5xW6Yhtgl4LGDAVEMSdJ-7M3aC7Cs-s_t0uOo/edit?usp=sharing), including [media consent policy](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rgNOcewZs-tKYUEBt3gV84hob1HdDXydjrGf_tEiXjQ/edit?usp=drive_link), and agree to adhere to our [liability waiver ](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hKqVIMcXMFdzvpjqO3KRf_uQ5xAzd-jt/view?usp=drive_link)

We’d like to inform you that our 7 pm session is also fully booked. Thank you so much for your interest! On May 23(Sat), we’re hosting a small kimchi making class in a private kitchen in Southbank. The session will be led by a Korean chef Asher(기훈) who will guide the process from start to finish, showing a simple and repeatable way to make kimchi at home. During the session, everyone will make their own personal portion of kimchi, following each step together. Apron, gloves, and trays will be provided, so you can join without any preparation. Throughout the process, there will be small tastings, including bossam and makgeolli. At the end of the session, you’ll take home the kimchi you made yourself. This class is designed to feel easy to follow, so anyone can make kimchi at home after. — This session is $39. — Kimchi Making Class Sat · 23 May Southbank [Apply here](https://forms.gle/EZd6sfufXHn2FpPp8) All genders, ages, ethnicities are welcome! Please follow us on Instagram @10outof10mel

**Join your local guides on the best pub crawl in Melbourne!** Meet at WAX Music Lounge on 250 Flinders St, and explore the best, most well-known venues with people from all over the world. With **4 free 'welcome shots'** upon entry to each bar followed by exclusive drink deals at each, you'll see just why Melbourne is known as the nightlife capital of Australia! Experience a range of Melbourne's most famous bars & pubs throughout the night, with **free entry** for all, and reduced entry/recommendations at the end of the event to keep your night going strong! Play games, **win prizes** and mingle with locals, travelers & everything in between on the most sought-after event in Melbourne! * **4 FREE SHOTS** * **4 BARS ALL WITH FREE SKIP-THE-LINE ENTRY** * **PLENTY OF GAMES AND PRIZES TO BE WON** * **UNLIMITED MEMORIES & CHANCES TO MAKE FRIENDS IN THE CULTURAL CAPITAL OF AUSTRALIA!** Starting at 5:30PM at WAX Music Lounge on 250 Flinders St, you will receive your skip-the-line wristband, free welcome shot and mingle with other attendees before we introduce our games and prizes to be won throughout the evening. We then mix it up weekly, visiting some of Melbourne's most iconic and well-known bars with your pub crawl crew who have lived and breathed the city for most of their lives. **Make sure to lock in your spot ASAP as tickets often sell out!**

## 🌿 **Kismetrix Singles Social Run/Walk + Coffee – TAN Track** [Register Here](https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/apr-26-kismetrix-social-runwalk-coffee-the-tan-botanical-gardens-tickets-1985661113844?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl) 📅 **Date: Sunday** 26th of April 🕘 **Time:** 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM (please arrive by 9:45 AM) 📍 **Meeting Point:** Royal Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre 🏃 **Route:** TAN Track loop through the Royal Botanic Gardens 📏 **Distance:** Approx. 3–4 km (relaxed social pace) Or Walk 🎽 **Dress Code:** Comfortable activewear or casual running clothes ## **About the Event** Looking to meet new people, get active, and enjoy great company — without the pressure of a dating event? The **Kismetrix Singles Social Run or Walk + Coffee** is a relaxed, feel-good experience for singles who enjoy movement, nature, and meaningful conversation in a warm, welcoming environment. We’ll run at an easy, conversational pace around the iconic **TAN Track**, giving you plenty of chances to chat, laugh, and connect with different people along the way. There’s no racing, no awkward icebreakers — just a friendly group of singles sharing a beautiful morning together. After the run, we’ll walk back as a group and enjoy **optional coffee and mingling at the Visitor Centre café**, where conversations can continue naturally and comfortably. Many guests tell us these events feel more like meeting new friends — with a spark of something extra. ## **Who It’s For** ✨ Singles who want to meet people offline ✨ Adults 18+ across a wide range of ages (20s to 60s+) ✨ People who enjoy light running, jogging, or active social experiences ✨ Anyone looking for community, confidence, and connection **Singles only. Adults only. No children or dogs.** This helps keep the space relaxed, focused, and socially comfortable for everyone. ## **What to Bring** * Water bottle * Comfortable running or walking shoes * Sunscreen / hat * Light jacket (weather can change) * Positive energy and an open heart 💛 ## 🎟️ This is a **free community event**, with **optional donations** to support the Kismetrix community. While many of our curated singles events are ticketed, this run is part of our **open community series**, created to make connection, movement, and belonging accessible to everyone. Your support helps Kismetrix continue building safe, welcoming spaces where real human connection can grow — romantically or platonically. ### **Hosted by:** **Kismetrix \| True Connection** Because real love starts with real connection. ### **🔗 Stay Connected with Kismetrix \| True Connection** Love this event? We run a variety of experiences to help people meet and connect in meaningful ways. 📧 **[social@kismetrix.com.au]()** 🌐 **[www.kismetrix.com.au](http://www.kismetrix.com.au "http://www.kismetrix.com.au")** 📱 **Follow us on Instagram:** [https://www.instagram.com/kismetrix_/](https://www.instagram.com/kismetrix_/ "https://www.instagram.com/kismetrix_/") **, Facebook & Eventbrite** 🤝 **Collaborations: [collabs@kismetrix.com.au]()** ### **📄 Important Notice** By registering for this event\, you confirm that you have read and agree to Kismetrix \| True Connection’s Terms & Conditions\, Privacy Policy\, Disclaimer and Code of Conduct\. Some events may be non\-refundable as stated in their individual descriptions\.

Join us for a relaxed and enjoyable brunch at 17 Arrows Kitchen and Bar! This is a great opportunity to meet new people, enjoy good food, and ease into the weekend with great conversation. Whether you’re new to the group or it’s your first event, you’ll feel right at home.

Community Backyards Workshop Join us at the Ohio Herb Center in Gahanna to learn about sustainable home gardening. We can make small changes in our yards to make a BIG impact for a better environment and healthier waterways while saving money. This workshop is presented by Friends of Alum Creek and hosted by Ohio Herb Center. By attending, any participating community resident can receive a voucher for a rain barrel, compost bin, or native plants for attending. Vouchers are limited to one per household per year. Registration in advance is encouraged but NOT required. Click here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/65f65aw (Free Workshop Registration: Registration is free. Registering in advance provides your information to Franklin Soil and Water ahead of time, so when you come to the workshop, we will have your voucher ready for you when you arrive) * Location: Ohio Herb Center, 110 Mill St, Gahanna, OH 43230 * Date and time: Sat, May 23, 2026 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM * Organizer: The Community Backyards Program, (614) 486-9613, communitybackyards@franklinswcd.org **FAQs** **Our Community Backyards workshops are FREE and a great way to participate in the rebate program. Our workshops are typically 1 to 1 and a half hours long and held in-person. Our workshops cover the same content as the online course, but they are more detailed and allow the chance to ask questions and have discussions with the presenters and other residents. We occassionally have "advanced topics" classes where you dive deeper into one topic of Community Backyards such as invasive vs. native plants or rain gardens.** **Registration is encouraged but not required.** You can register in advance to receive your voucher at the workshop. If you don't register in advance, that's okay - you can still show up (unless otherwise noted - which is very rare) and sign up for a voucher at the class, and we will send you one via email or mail within a few business days after the workshop. **"Do I have to be a resident of that community to attend that workshop?"** Nope! Our workshops are open to everyone (unless otherwise noted - which is extremely rare). You can attend a workshop that best suits your schedule even if it is in a different community than your own. **"Why is registration closed?** Can I just show up?" Yes, you can show up without registering! We close registration typically 1-2 days before the workshop to give the vouchers and materials to the presenters. However, you are always welcome to just show up and fill out a short form to request a voucher at the workshop. If eligible, we will send one to you within 1-2 business days after the workshop. **Voucher note**: Classes are free for everyone but vouchers are for residents of Franklin county or participating community (list here: https://www.communitybackyards.org/participate) 2026 Participating Vendors: City Folk's Farm Shop, Fisher's Gardens, Leaves for Wildlife, Scioto Gardens, Hoover Gardens & Gift Center, and the FSWCD/SWACO Compost Bin Sale. *when redeeming your voucher at a vendor, Please bring a physical copy of your voucher to receive an immediate discount on your purchase. Additionally, to keep up with number of vouchers that are given out, we have changed the expiration date on the vouchers to 30 days

Community Backyards Workshop .Community Backyards Workshop - Westerville Join us for the Westerville Community Backyards workshop! This is a FREE class on how you can protect our waterways and environment with small changes in your gardening habits. We will discuss rain barrels, rain gardens, composting, and native plants. This workshop is presented by Friends of Alum Creek. By attending, any participating community resident can receive a voucher for a rain barrel, compost bin, or native plants for attending. Vouchers are limited to one per household per year. Registration in advance is encouraged but not required. * Location: Westerville Community Center, 350 N Cleveland Ave, Westerville, OH 43082 * Date and time: Sat, May 30, 2026 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM * Organizer: Community Backyards Program, (614) 486-9613, communitybackyards@franklinswcd.org (Free Workshop Registration: Registration is free. Registering in advance provides your information to Franklin Soil and Water ahead of time, so when you come to the workshop, we will have your voucher ready for you when you arrive) https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/h2w5ms8 **FAQs** **Our Community Backyards workshops are FREE and a great way to participate in the rebate program. Our workshops are typically 1 to 1 and a half hours long and held in-person. Our workshops cover the same content as the online course, but they are more detailed and allow the chance to ask questions and have discussions with the presenters and other residents. We occassionally have "advanced topics" classes where you dive deeper into one topic of Community Backyards such as invasive vs. native plants or rain gardens.** **Registration is encouraged but not required.** You can register in advance to receive your voucher at the workshop. If you don't register in advance, that's okay - you can still show up (unless otherwise noted - which is very rare) and sign up for a voucher at the class, and we will send you one via email or mail within a few business days after the workshop. **"Do I have to be a resident of that community to attend that workshop?"** Nope! Our workshops are open to everyone (unless otherwise noted - which is extremely rare). You can attend a workshop that best suits your schedule even if it is in a different community than your own. **"Why is registration closed?** Can I just show up?" Yes, you can show up without registering! We close registration typically 1-2 days before the workshop to give the vouchers and materials to the presenters. However, you are always welcome to just show up and fill out a short form to request a voucher at the workshop. If eligible, we will send one to you within 1-2 business days after the workshop. **Voucher note**: Classes are free for everyone but vouchers are for residents of Franklin county or participating community (list here: https://www.communitybackyards.org/participate) 2026 Participating Vendors: City Folk's Farm Shop, Fisher's Gardens, Leaves for Wildlife, Scioto Gardens, Hoover Gardens & Gift Center, and the FSWCD/SWACO Compost Bin Sale. *when redeeming your voucher at a vendor, Please bring a physical copy of your voucher to receive an immediate discount on your purchase. Additionally, to keep up with number of vouchers that are given out, we have changed the expiration date on the vouchers to 30 days

This is a time where players of all ages, and skill levels can gather and enjoy a nice Sunday full of Chess!

**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.

Jimmy V's Grill & Pub in Grandview Heights. You are responsible for your own meal/drinks. We usually don't have any agenda other than eat, drink and talk. :) If the weather is nice we will be on the back patio, otherwise we are in the cigar room. This group has been meeting every Tuesday evening for over a decade. Many attendees do not RSVP on meetup. Please don't let the small number here discourage you. Anyone/everyone is welcome to come. We'd love to have you join us. COTA bus #5 comes to W. 5th and Wyandotte Rd. And it's a minute walk to the restaurant.

For the last 5 years, Central Ohio Friends and Columbus Social Connection have teamed up for some incredible nights out and some of the biggest social events in Columbus with our biggest combined event bringing out 80+ people. ⚠️ Please only RSVP through ONE group to help keep headcount accurate. Now we’re celebrating where it all started. On Friday, May 22, we’ll be joining Central Ohio Friends 🍻 **Starting at** Brothers Bar & Grill in the Arena District the same place their very first event was held back in 2021. Whether you’ve been to one of our events before or **have been waiting for the right one to come out to,** this is a great one to jump into. Stop scrolling. Start doing stuff. If you find value in these events consider contributing Link can be found in comments!