Location-Based Service

**We’re back!** After a break, the Berlin Tech Leads meetup is officially revived **\- and this time IRL at Berlin Vinted office\.** **We’ve missed the deep dives, the architectural debates, and the networking. To kick things off, we’re tackling one of the fastest-moving landscapes in the industry right now: the intersection of Engineering and Customer Support.** **About the Event** Customer Support is often the first place where AI moves from "experimental" to "mission-critical." For Tech Leads, this shift isn't just about plugging in a basic chatbot; it’s about re-engineering the entire lifecycle of a ticket and how our systems actually interact with our users. In this meetup, we’re looking under the hood of the support stack. We’ll discuss how the landscape is being reshaped by LLMs, the shift toward autonomous agents, and the real technical hurdles of building multi-modal support systems. **Talks:** * [Pau Agustín](https://www.linkedin.com/in/pau-agust%C3%ADn-granell-6420a5139/) & Team Help Experience (vinted.com): "Scaling Support: How Vinted Manages Tens of Thousands of Tickets Every Day" * [Yam Marcovitz](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAAbVVAwBOgouy-uT1QB1ixhqrafAv1kNxQk) (parlant.io) "Building consistently aligned agents with Parlant" * [Richard Lohwasser](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAABRCCmYBD9PS9O73AjQ244LC4Gc_NMUcnsY) (enneo.ai): "Applying AI across all channels in real-life customer service at scale: What works, what doesn't, and where we're heading to?" *Just a quick reminder: if you'd like to take the stage and speak at a future Berlin Tech Leads meetup, feel free to drop a message to one of the organisers.*

**💶 Eintritt: 13-20 Euro (nach eigenen Möglichkeiten)** **Sichere Dir Deinen garantierten Platz mit [einem Ticket (Eventbrite).](https://www.eventbrite.de/e/nur-fur-frauen-neue-freundinnen-in-berlin-workshop-tickets-1983044451336)** Falls Du doch nicht kommen kannst, sage bitte hier auf Meetup ab und gib Deinen Platz frei. Wir fangen 19:00 Uhr an. Sei deshalb bitte pünktlich 18:45 Uhr da. Ein späterer Einlass ist nicht möglich, weil wir mitten im Flow sind. **Vielen Dank Dir** 🙏🏽 \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **Menschen mit guten Freunden leben länger, glücklicher und gesünder. Außerdem machen gute Freundinnen einfach Spaß.** . Deshalb biete ich Freundschaftsworkshop an. . Manche sagen: "Es ist schwierig, in Berlin gute Freundinnen zu finden." Berlin, die Stadt der 1000 Möglichkeiten ... ich kenne das auch. . **🌸 Dann machen wir einen Workshop!** 1. Maximal 40 Frauen. 2. Eine leichte Moderation führt durch den Abend 3. Ihr lernt Euch kennen und habt Spaß. 4. Wer mag, trifft sich wieder. . Du wirst überrascht sein, wie vertraut Du mit vielen nach 3 Stunden sein wirst - so, als ob Ihr Euch schon lange kennt. . **🔱 4 Jahre Arbeit - 1 Workshop** Vier Jahre habe ich geforscht und ausprobiert, wie Menschen Freunde werden & was die Magie der Freundschaft ausmacht. Das Ergebnis ist dieser Abend. . Praxisnahe, schnell umsetzbare Tipps, die Du schnell in den Alltag umsetzen kannst. Kleine Happen zur Theorie. - Und vor allem: Kennenlernen & Spaß haben. Wir probieren einfach miteinander aus. . Eine Teilnehmerin sagte mal zu mir: * "Georg, das ist so eine angenehme Atmosphäre. Danke, dass Du das machst." . Was soll ich sagen? Stimmt. Das ist mein Anliegen 🤗. . . **🎁 Diese Methoden kannst Du in Deinen Alltag mitnehmen.** Ab sofort kannst Du Menschen besser und persönlicher kennenlernen – und damit tiefe Verbindungen und bessere Freundschaften aufbauen. . . **⏰ Die Türen sind offen ab 18:45 Uhr.** * Deinen Mantel aufhängen, WC, eine Runde schwatzen und los geht's... . **❓ Darf ich wiederkommen?** Es gibt nur wenige Veranstaltungen, bei denen man wirklich miteinander ins Gespräch kommt. Hier schon, mit Tiefgang. . Einige kommen immer wieder, um die Details des gut gestrickten Programms zu ergründen - und immer wieder neue Menschen kennenzulernen oder auf bekannte Gesichter zu treffen. . Bis es endlich Klick macht und die richtigen Freundinnen gefunden sind. . . **🎒 Was bringst Du mit?** * Etwas zu trinken (z.B. deine Wasserflasche, keinen Alkohol!) * Du solltest satt sein und vorher gegessen haben * Bargeld für den Eintritt oder Ticket von Eventbrite . **🏠 Der Veranstaltungsraum** * Wir haben einen wunderschönen Raum im Prenzlberg - im Life Artist Hub * Gut mit Öffis zu erreichen: Schönhauser Allee (Ringbahn, U2, M1), Eberswalder Straße (U2, M10, M12) * Vor Ort ist alles ausgeschildert. . **Vorsichtshalber hier die Wegbeschreibung:** * Du gehst in den Hof bis nach hinten durch. Dort ist eine Tür. * Du klingest bei "Life Artist Hub". Die Tür sollte sofort summen. Öffne die Tür. * Du gehst in den 3. Stock. Da sind wir. 🤗 . **👱🏽‍♂️ Warum moderierst Du als Mann diesen Workshop?** . Hi, ich bin Georg. Ich weiß, ich bin ein Mann. Warum moderiere ich dann diesen Workshop? . Abenteuer Freundschaft ist mein Beruf. Am Anfang war ich auf Männer-Freundschaften spezialisiert. Überraschenderweise waren 60 Prozent der Newsletter-Empfängerinnen Frauen. Frauen scheinen die Wichtigkeit guter Freundschaften viel mehr zu spüren. . Deshalb habe ich letztes Jahr angefangen, Workshops für Frauen anzubieten. Soziale Träger, das Rathaus Schöneberg und das Frauenzentrum Begine haben mich bereits für Freundinnen-Workshops gebucht. Im Frauenzentrum moderiert eine Bekannte die Workshops.... denn da darf ich noch nicht mal rein :). . Unseren Workshop werde ich zurückhaltend moderieren. Ich weiß mit der Situation umzugehen. Das ist Euer Raum. . Für die Männer gibt es alle zwei Wochen am Dienstag einen Männer-Workshop, der regelmäßig gut besucht ist. . . **Mehr über Abenteuer Freundschaft & mich:** 🌎 [www.abenteuer-freundschaft.de](http://%5Bhttps://www.abenteuer-freundschaft.de/%5D(https://www.abenteuer-freundschaft.de/) "\[https://www.abenteuer-freundschaft.de\](https://www.abenteuer-freundschaft.de)") . . **👋🏽 Get in touch & stay in touch:** . **✈ Telegram-Kanal: [t.me/abenteuer_freundschaft](http://t.me/abenteuer_freundschaft)** für Events, Workshops & Neuste Erkenntnisse aus der Freundschaftsforschung (Überschriften) . **✉ Freundschafts-Newsletter:** [https://abenteuer-freundschaft.de/newsletter](https://abenteuer-freundschaft.de/newsletter) Alle 4 Wochen das Neuste aus der Freundschaftsforschung; oft seltener, denn ich schreibe nur dann, wenn es wirklich etwas zu berichten gibt. . **🔥 6 Zutaten großartiger Freundschaften** Seit 2020 forsche ich, was großartige Freundschaften wirklich ausmacht. Das Ergebnis ist das 30seitige eBook: "Die 6 Zutaten großartiger Freundschaften". Du erhältst das eBook zurzeit kostenlos, wenn Du Dich für den Newsletter anmeldest: [https://abenteuer-freundschaft.de/newsletter](https://abenteuer-freundschaft.de/newsletter) . **🎭 Meet-Up-Gruppe:** [https://www.meetup.com/g/abenteuer-freundschaft/](https://www.meetup.com/g/abenteuer-freundschaft/) Hier bist Du schon: Workshops, Spaziergänge, Wanderungen, Treffen, Eislaufen, Eisbaden, Männer-Abende, Freundinnen-Workshops, Sonntagsausflüge . . **😲 Ehemalige Teilnehmende der Meetups:** . "Ich hatte Schwierigkeiten in Berlin anzukommen. Früher war es immer easy. Bei deiner Veranstaltung haben wir uns kennengelernt. Jetzt sind wir Freunde. Ich hätte das nicht mehr geglaubt." . "Ich bin ein bunter Hund und habe viele Bekannte. Aber eine Bekanntschaft zur Freundschaft machen - das hast Du mir gezeigt." . "Ich war nervös, ob ich wirklich kommen soll. Was sind da für Leute? Mit wem verstehe ich mich? Nach einer Stunde war mir klar: Gute Freundinnen sind gleich. Ich muss mich nicht mit jedem verstehen. Und allein für die Methoden hat es sich gelohnt. Dankeschön!" . "So schnell im Deep Talk. Interessant!" . **💫 Einige Highlights von der Webseite:** * [Wo kann man neue Leute kennenlernen?](https://abenteuer-freundschaft.de/neue-leute-kennenlernen) * [Wie schnell entsteht wahre Freundschaft?](https://abenteuer-freundschaft.de/wie-schnell-entsteht-freundschaft) * [Der ultimative Freundschaftstipp: Zum Essen einladen - bei Dir zu Hause](https://abenteuer-freundschaft.de/zum-essen-einladen) * [Das erste Freundschafts-Treffen: So lernt ihr Euch wirklich kennen](https://abenteuer-freundschaft.de/freundschaftstreffen) ++++++++++++

Join the Minotaurs Men's Basketball Team on Wednesday at 8pm at an indoor basketball court in Neukolln. We currently have two teams, one in Bezirkliga and one in FBL. We are looking for new players to add to the teams so come by to play together and meet. Please send a message to the event organizer if you are interested in coming.

**Register on the [343 Labs website](https://343labs.de/events/ableton-user-group-berlin-8/) to reserve your seat!** Berlin Ableton User Group is back! This meetup is open to producers, songwriters, DJs, and musicians of all types and proficiency levels who use Ableton and are looking to exchange ideas, network, meet like-minded producers, and learn new tips and tricks from our presenters and fellow participants. This month, 343 Labs instructor Alex Iso will lead a track feedback session. Producers of all skill levels are invited to attend and share their music, both finished tracks and works-in-progress. Peers and experienced mentors will offer each participant constructive feedback aimed at helping you improve your track; from songwriting to arrangement to sound design to mixing. Register now on the [343 Labs website](https://343labs.de/events/ableton-user-group-berlin-8/) and **bring your track on the day of the event** (mp3 file, email link, private Soundcloud). The time slots to play your music and receive feedback will be on a first-come, first-served basis, so arrive on time or early on the day of the event in order to participate.

💗 **This is not a speed dating! + No phone rule.** **No apps, no awkward small talk, just 6 curated singles at a cozy restaurant.** Think warm lighting, deep talks, no performance. 🇩🇪 **Zeya bietet kuratierte Hangouts für Singles in Berlin. Sicher, persönlich und ohne Dating-Apps.** **[Join next Berlin hangout – RSVP now!](https://zeya.cc/register)** ✅ **Women-Founded & Safe:** We prioritize a safe, respectful, and high-quality environment. ✅ **Expertly Curated:** We handpick 6 people based on vibes and interests = not just a random crowd. ✅ **Proven Success:** Proud **Web Summit Alpha Startup \| 92%** 🙌 Showed\-up \| **43%** 🔥 Hangouts matched \| **60%** 💖 Joined again \| **16** 💬 Hangouts **📋 How it works:** 1. **Register (1 min):** Fill out a curation form at [https://zeya.cc/register](https://zeya.cc/register) 2. **Get Matched:** We find the best match for you among Berlin singles. 3. **Join the Hangout:** Once matched, you’ll get a WhatsApp invitation to a cozy Berlin spot. 4. **No Pressure:** Just 🤍 First time €9 \| 💖 Regular €12 to ensure a balanced mix and no\-shows\. If no hangout offer in 31 days? **100% Full Refund.** **🥰** **Why Berliners Love Zeya?** * 🔒 **Privacy First:** No public profiles. No one sees you until you meet in person. * ⏳ **Zero Effort:** Skip the endless "Hey, how's your weekend?" texts. We do the work. * ☕ **Organic Vibes:** No awkward ice-breakers or loud moderators nor busy rotating with funny bell sound 🐶. Just 6 like-minded people having a great time. * 💌 **Smooth Follow-ups:** Like someone? Let us know privately via our post-event form. We connect you if it's a match! **[Join next Berlin hangout – RSVP now!](https://zeya.cc/register)** **Ready for a Wednesday evening that doesn't involve a screen?** #BerlinSingles #ZeyaHangouts #SocialMatchingBerlin #BerlinEvents #SafeDatingBerlin #BerlinSinglesHangouts #SinglesEventsBerlin #WomenFounded #DinnerDate #NeuinBerlin #Leutekennenlernen #Socialize #DatingAlternative #FreundeFinden

English, see below. *** Willkommen beim Bitcoin Meet-up im Café Holzmarktperle (Holzmarktstraße 25). Die Berliner Community kann einfach nicht genug davon bekommen über Bitcoin zu reden. :) Deshalb bieten wir dieses Meet-up als weitere Option neben dem etablierten “Berliner Bitcoin-Stammtisch @ Friedel Richter” an. Jeder ist willkommen - Bitcoin-Anfänger, Enthusiasten, etc. Wir freuen uns auf den gemeinsamen Austausch mit anderen Plebs in lockerer Runde und gemütlicher Atmosphäre und beantworten auch gerne eure Fragen. Natürlich könnt ihr im Café mit Bitcoin ₿ / Lightning ⚡bezahlen. Dies ist der richtige Ort für Menschen, die glauben, dass Bitcoin die Welt verändern kann und Teil der nächsten großen Revolution in der Finanzwelt sein wird. *** Welcome to the Bitcoin meet-up at Café Holzmarktperle (Holzmarktstraße 25, Berlin). Since we can’t get enough of talking Bitcoin we are offering this meet-up as a another option in addition to the established Berliner Bitcoin-Stammtisch @ Friedel Richter. Everyone is welcome - Bitcoin beginners, enthusiasts, … you name it. We are always happy to meet with other plebs, teach, talk and help! Payment in Bitcoin ₿ / Lightning ⚡accepted! This is the place to be for people who believe that Bitcoin will rock the world and will be part of the next big revolution in the financial world.

An inspiring, high-energy meeting of public speaking, connection, and personal growth in the heart of Berlin. **Mercury Toastmasters Berlin** invites you to our weekly meeting at our new home at **Das Center, Potsdamer Platz**, in the stunning **Historic Imperial Breakfast Hall**. *Experience the **power of prepared speeches** loaded with bold ideas, participate in our **dynamic Impromptu Session**, and **gain valuable insights** during our feedback segment.* *Leave with practical tools, fresh ideas, and renewed inspiration.* *Whether you want to speak up at work, boost your presence, or just meet inspiring people, you’ll feel at home at Mercury Toastmasters Berlin.* *** **[What to Expect:](https://mercurytoastmasters.de/find-toastmasters-meetings-in-berlin/)** ✨ A supportive space to speak, grow, and connect 🎤 Engaging prepared speeches ⚡ Fun, fast-paced impromptu speaking challenges 💬 Feedback session you can actually use 🌍 A friendly, international crowd (around 25–30 people) **Schedule** (times may vary) ⏰ 19:15 - Doors open & networking 🎙️ 19:30 - Prepared Speeches 🏓 20:35 - Impromptu Session (Guest welcome to join) ↩️ 21:00 - Constructive feedback 💬 21:30 - Food, drinks & relaxed socializing **No experience needed.** ***Come curious. Leave energized.*** *** **🤙 [Hear it from our members:](https://maps.app.goo.gl/eRtvR9DRNqU9WZQn7)** *“You can sharpen your public speaking skills and gain tons of confidence, while having fun and making new friends. Mercury is well-structured, fun, and affordable.”* — *Therese Pitt* *“Mercury gave me a safe place to speak, create, and grow. I love the multicultural vibe and supportive community. It’s the best place to learn and have fun.”* — *Krisztina Linka* *** **[Did You Know?](https://mercurytoastmasters.de/about-mercury-toastmasters-berlin/)** Toastmasters is where people go to get better at speaking—and grow into confident communicators and leaders. Today [Toastmasters ](https://mercurytoastmasters.de/about-mercury-toastmasters-berlin/)has 350,000+ members across 16,000 clubs in 143 countries. And [Mercury](https://mercurytoastmasters.de/find-toastmasters-meetings-in-berlin/) is one of the best places to experience it. So bring your curiosity, your energy—and just be yourself. Whether you’re just starting or ready to level up, there’s a place for you here. *** **[Wondering what you get as a member?](https://mercurytoastmasters.de/membership-mercury-toastmasters-berlin/)** Think expert feedback, real-world speaking practice, and a supportive crew that’s got your back. [See you Wednesday night! 🎉](https://mercurytoastmasters.de/find-toastmasters-meetings-in-berlin/)

Hi everyone, Our next CorrelAid Berlin in-person meetup is coming up! 📰📊 🗓️ When: Thursday, May 21, 2026 🕠 Time: 18:30 \~ 20:00 📍 Where: Café Milagro, Bergmannkiez, Kreuzberg The meetup is informal and open to **data folks, journalists, NGO practitioners, and anyone curious about #DataForGood**. No talks, no slides, no prior experience required – just bring your questions, examples, and opinions. Whether you’re already involved in projects or just curious about CorrelAid Berlin and data science, you’re very welcome to join – grab a drink, meet others, and exchange ideas. Looking forward to seeing you there! CorrelAid Berlin team 💙

Join us for a welcoming and reflective Saturday evening worship service in Engish. This service follows a classic liturgical form and includes Holy Communion, offering a meaningful and grounding way to end the week. The liturgy is a bit shorter than our Sunday service. After worship, stay for fellowship and conversation. Whether you are new to faith, returning after a long time, exploring Christianity, or deeply rooted in the tradition — you are truly welcome here. And when we say *all*, we mean **all**. Come as you are. You belong. We celebrate open communion, meaing all are wecome to recieve Holy Communion.

**[😊Scenes from our last kitchen gathering](https://www.instagram.com/vegan_chick_mskmtur/) 🌸** **Calling all tempeh lovers!** we’ll explore its incredible variety and transform it into creative vegan dishes together. **Please bring 1 of your favorite tempeh + 1 vegetable of your choice.** You may have noticed that Berlin now offers a wide variety of commercial tempeh made from different beans and pulses (soy, chickpeas, lentils, black beans, and more). Feel free to bring the one you’re curious about—or already love—and want to explore in cooking🔥 🥕 **What we’ll do:** **This is not a potluck.** **Each participant brings ingredients.** **and together we’ll cook**, taste, and build a shared meal. As the host, I’ll provide a variety of additional vegetables and carbohydrate options, basic spices, condiments ,olive oil, rapeseed oil and sesame oil.so we can mix, match, and create different combinations. *** 🏡 **What the organizer will provide 🏡** A selection of ingredients to support our cooking, including: Vegetables to choose from, carb options (grains or bread), tea, rapeseed oil, olive oil, garlic, onions, fresh herbs, soy yogurt, spices, condiments, and other essentials for vegan cooking. *** 💚 **Details at a Glance 💚** **Saturday\, May 23rd \| 13:00–16:00 \(The doors open 12:45\)** 🧺 **Please Bring:** **1 pack of tempeh + 1 vegetable of your choice** 💵 **Fee:** €5 (covers meetup fee & some shared ingredients) 🙏 **Please check your mailbox(DM) and confirm your attendance by Thursday noon to secure your spot** 🙏 Any unconfirmed slots may be offered to someone else. 🏡Flow of the gathering🏡 **13:00–15:00** Cook and experiment together **15:00–15:45** Meal time **15:45–16:00** Gentle closing *** ⚠️ **Important**⚠️ **Please do not bring homemade tempeh.** Tempeh is a fermented food, and for safety reasons (especially temperature control and hygiene during fermentation), we will only use commercially produced tempeh in this event. *** ⚠️ **Allergies / Food Intolerances**⚠️ Some ingredients may contain gluten,wheat, peanuts, **soy** (tempeh if often made with soy ), sesame, and nuts. As we are cooking collaboratively, exact dishes cannot be confirmed in advance. *** 📍 **Meeting Point** Levetzowstr. 13 (EG), 10555 Berlin – Moabit (Accessible via S-Tiergarten, U9 Hansaplatz, or U9 Turmstraße) *** ✨ **What to expect:** • Creative vegan cooking with tempeh (NOT tempeh-making) • Hands-on, collaborative kitchen experience • A cozy shared meal and good conversation ### 💚 About the Host Hi! I’m Misaki — a certified vegan/plant-based nutritionist. I teach simple and healthy vegan cooking and help people balance their diet. However, this event is not a cooking class. Instead, we’ll explore the versatility of different tempeh varieties through improvisation and shared creativity. Looking forward to cooking and sharing this experience with you! **This event is limited to 6 people and hosted in my private kitchen.** ***

Welcome to the Women's Basketball Berlin Meetup group for all basketball enthusiasts! Whether you're a seasoned player or a beginner looking to improve your skills, this group is the perfect place to connect with like-minded women who share a passion for the game. Join us for friendly games where you can hone your basketball skills, make new friends, and have a great time on and off the court. Looking for a fun, casual game of basketball? Join our women’s pick-up games every two weeks at the outdoor courts on Krausenstr. 🏀 All skill levels welcome – we play for fun 🚫 No scorekeeping, just play. 🌈 For women and FLINTA only. 🪙 Gold coin donation. If it rains, we cancel, because the court gets slippery Come shoot some hoops, bring your ball, meet new people, and enjoy the game! See you on the court! To join our whatsapp group, you can use the QR code [here](https://www.meetup.com/womens-and-flinta-outdoor-pick-up-basketball/photos/35924085/533625233/) Location: **40 Krausenstraße, 10117 berlin** **G95X+XR Berlin, Germany** **What to bring:** 🏀 A ball if you have one 💦 water bottle ☀️ sunscream 🧢 hat 👟 running shoes Try to wear dark or light colours so we can play teams!

Meetup -> Teamup -> Startup After or FirstFriday Meetup we connect Entrepreneurs in our OpenSpace format. How it works: In this high-energy "unconference" format, there are no pre-set speakers. Instead we introduce ourselfs and share our challenges to find together solutions or present our pitchdecks to get valuable feedback. Join us in our next inspiring session. Entrance is free. Please bring some snacks instead. ***

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!

**History** The history of [Blendon Woods Metro Park](https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/blendon-woods/) began long before its 1951 opening, rooted in a landscape of rugged ridges and deep ravines that made the land unsuitable for traditional farming. In 1945, a report proposing a metropolitan park system for Franklin County specifically highlighted these cliffs of Bedford Shale as some of the "wildest land in the vicinity". Following this recommendation, the recently formed park district purchased the first 229 acres in early 1949. Because the terrain was so uneven, developers had to cut a mile-and-a-half-long roadway through dense woods just to bring in heavy equipment. This initial preservation effort ensured that the mature second-growth hardwood forests remained largely untouched by the urban expansion spreading toward Westerville. Opening day arrived on Labor Day, September 3, 1951, marking Blendon Woods as the second park in the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks system. The final push to open was a frantic race; the State Highway Department only finished the primary gravel access road four days before the gates opened. Early staff members, consisting of just four full-time employees, had to hand-dig pit toilets and learn construction skills on the fly to build the first picnic shelters. Despite the dusty conditions and limited facilities, the park was an immediate success, drawing massive crowds from across Central Ohio. By the end of the 1950s, annual visitation had already climbed to over 190,000 people. As the surrounding suburbs grew in the 1960s, the park faced severe overcrowding that threatened its natural habitats. In response, Franklin County voters passed the first Metro Parks levy in 1960, providing the funds necessary for a decade of steady expansion. During this era, the park nearly doubled in size, growing from 264 acres to over 570 acres by 1968. Planners also addressed a critical water shortage by collaborating with the U.S. Soil and Conservation Service to build a lake in 1964. This body of water originally served as a temporary reservoir before its role shifted toward conservation and wildlife support. The 1970s marked a transition toward the specialized wildlife and educational focus for which the park is known today. In 1971, the Walden Waterfowl Refuge was established around the 11-acre Thoreau Lake, creating a sanctuary that remains restricted to provide a quiet habitat for migratory birds. A formal nature center was also developed during this period, expanding on the guided Sunday walks that had been a park staple since the early 1950s. The park’s famous "Monarch Mansion" also became a prominent fixture, starting a long tradition of raising and releasing thousands of monarch butterflies each September. These initiatives cemented the park’s reputation as a premier destination for birders and nature enthusiasts. In more recent decades, Blendon Woods has continued to modernize while maintaining its wilderness character. The 10-acre Natural Play Area was added in 2017, encouraging kids to explore the ravines and woods off-trail. This was followed by the opening of a $1.5 million inclusive playground in April 2025, designed to accommodate children of all physical abilities. The nature center also underwent major renovations to include immersive, three-dimensional exhibits and a new butterfly house. Today, the park encompasses 653 acres, preserving a unique geologic and biological corridor amidst the bustling Westerville and Northeast Columbus area. **Map of the Park** Here is a map of [Blendon Woods](https://www.metroparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/BLN_map_Inclusive-Playground-and-Butterfly-Trail_May-2025_1980px.png). **Summary** For this event, we will hike the Lake View, Hickory Ridge, Ripple Rock, Overlook, Brookside, and Sugarbush Trails. This sounds like a lot, but it will really be only a little over five miles. Blendon Woods has a few hills here and there, but it's not one of the more strenuous metro parks. **Where We'll Meet** We'll meet just in front of the Nature Center. This is about a mile into the park from the main entrance. You have to go past the Ranger Station and the Shadblow Reservable Area to get to it, so don't stop too early at the Ranger Station and get it confused with the Nature Center. **After the Hike** Afterward, we will head over to [Forbidden Root Restaurant & Brewery](https://forbiddenroot.com/restaurants/columbus-ohio/) at Easton for [drinks](https://forbiddenroot.com/restaurants/columbus-ohio/#dinner-menu) and [food](https://forbiddenroot.com/wp-content/uploads/Cbus-Food.pdf). We should be there by 5 if you can't make the hike and just want to join us for drinks. The brewery's actual address is [4080 Worth Ave, Columbus, OH 43219](https://www.google.com/maps/place/4080+Worth+Ave,+Columbus,+OH+43219/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x88388a86d10b6619:0x4d42b470a5cf11d3?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111); however, I recommend pointing your GPS to the [Worth Garage](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Worth+Garage/@40.0542293,-82.9137962,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x88388b4df6082825:0x17582f0eccd9dda1!8m2!3d40.0542293!4d-82.9137962!16s%2Fg%2F11rzfvvv8b?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDQxNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) across the street. Parking in this garage is free as long as you're not on the first floor, and it is literally right next to the brewery.

Westerville Pride Festival Sat\. June 6\, 2026 \| 5 PM \- 8 PM If you're thinking of attending, or being a sponsor, vendor, or volunteer, visit our website at https://www.westervillequeercollective.org/pride for more information! Location and other info will be announced soon :)

**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** TBD **YouTube Link** TBD

WQC has weekly Thursday night social nights at the Westerville Java Central. Come and grab a coffee and connect with the community: low stakes, chill environment, and tasty drinks. No registration is required; come as you are.

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!