Outdoors

Let's head outside and play in the sunshine Gather near the outdoor piano in the Töölonlahden Kesäpuisto. Bring an instrument, something to sit on, a tablet (or small laptop) if you have one, something to drink, sunscreen, etc ... and let's have a proper session playing our favorite songs in the sunshine. Whether you are a beginner, or an experienced player … or perhaps you just like to sing along … come and join use for a sing-a-long / play-a-long session. We will then start playing and everyone can join in. If you want to improvise over the song while we are playing, go ahead!!! Bring your uke, guitar, or any other instrument … or just yourself. Small amps are welcome. All ages welcome. We will cancel if it rains

Learning Finnish in Finland can be difficult because Finns tend to switch to English. That is one of the reasons people like our Finnish language café: you get to practice Finnish with Finns :) The events are completely free and there is always a native speaker to facilitate the conversation and to help find the right words. The coffee is good too ☕😋🇦🇹 Tervetuloa! When? ⏰ Usually Tuesday to Friday from 15:00 - 16:00 Where? 📍 In a cozy Viennese coffee house: The Good Coffee Company, Eerikinkatu 33, Helsinki The Good Coffee Company A Taste of Vienna 🇦🇹 Eerikinkatu 33, 00180 Helsinki Please visit our Facebook page for updates and changes: https://www.facebook.com/TheGoodCoffeeCompany/events

Most people agree that causing unnecessary suffering to animals is wrong. But beyond that, there is surprisingly little agreement. Do animals have rights, or only interests that humans should consider? Is it acceptable to eat animals? Use them in medical research? Keep them as pets? What, if anything, gives humans a higher moral status than other animals? Among other questions, we will consider: * Why is it wrong to kick a dog for fun? * If a trait gives humans a higher moral status than animals, what should we say about humans who lack that trait? * Should we intervene in nature to reduce animal suffering, or should we leave nature alone? * Is the capacity to suffer enough for moral consideration? * Would it be wrong to painlessly kill an animal that had a good life? * Do we owe more to our pets than to wild animals? Join us for an open and respectful discussion of one of the most enduring and challenging questions in ethics: what do we owe animals? Description by ChatGPT

Here’s an opportunity to learn Swedish over a good cup of coffee or tea ☕😋🇦🇹 for free! The events are free and there is always a native speaker to facilitate the conversation and to help find the right words. In addition, we offer free (yes, free) coffee, tea, and biscuits to participants! På svenska, men på olika sätt Att prata med folk på café kan vara både nöje och utmaning. Hos oss serverar vi kaffe med mycket glädje och inspiration. Tillsammans lyssnar, pratar, läser, berättar eller skriver vi nyfiket och glatt oavsett om du har den finlandssvenska kulturen redan i blodet eller vill bekanta dig med den. Vi erbjuder deltagarna gratis kaffe eller te med lite tilltugg. When? ⏰ Usually Thursdays at 16:00 Where? 📍 In a cozy Viennese café: The Good Coffee Company, Eerikinkatu 33, Helsinki Välkommen! **The Good Coffee Company** **A Taste of Vienna 🇦🇹** Eerikinkatu 33, 00180 Helsinki Please visit our Facebook Page for updates and changes: **[https://www.facebook.com/TheGoodCoffeeCompany/events](https://www.facebook.com/TheGoodCoffeeCompany/events)**

Pay the **5 € board gaming fee** to the bar at the counter when you arrive. You must be at least 18 years old to enter [Arkade](https://www.arkade.fi/). We play in English and the game rules are taught before starting play, unless everyone is already familiar with the game. No previous experience with board gaming required. Despite our RSVP numbers here on Meetup, we almost always have at least 20 people participating weekly. The venue has a great board game library, the host and other players usually bring their own games too: our selection varies weekly. We're a very casual group so you're welcome to arrive early or late and join whatever game is starting up, there is no attendance tracking, or welcoming process. The bar has alcoholic drinks, mocktails, and soft drinks available as well as some snack foods. They've been okay with people ordering food to the bar with meal delivery services. If you are feeling sick, please stay home.

**HOW TO FIND US** **Outdoors** ☀️🌻: We meet every Sunday at 15:00 in the Töölönlahti Park, opposite the entrance to Pikku-Finlandia. If you’re walking from Oodi, pass the playground with the big swings and the volleyball court. On the left, you’ll find us in the area with benches, hammocks, and yellow chairs. **Indoors** ⛈️ 🥶: When it's cold or rainy we move to the top floor of the Oodi Library, on the stairs opposite the children’s area. **To everyone who has already participated in our meetups:** We want to make it as easy as possible for newcomers to find us, whether we're meeting outdoors or indoors. If you have any suggestions for how we could improve these directions or make our meeting spots easier to find, we'd greatly appreciate a message. It's a good idea to **keep your sketchbook visible** so others can easily recognize that you're there for the sketching meetup. **HOW IT WORKS** At each meetup, attendees take turns being the model for a quick **10-minute sketch session**. One person poses, everyone else sketches, then we rotate. Attendance varies considerably from week to week. Some Sundays attract a larger group, while on others only a handful of people may attend. **Occasionally, nobody may show up at all.** The organizer is currently not based in Helsinki and does not attend the meetups, so the gathering is entirely community-driven. For this reason, we encourage everyone to participate with an open mind and flexible expectations. Whether you spend the afternoon sketching with many people, just a few, or simply enjoying some focused drawing time on your own, we hope you'll embrace the experience as it is. **WHAT TO BRING** Pencils and paper (or any sketching tools you like). It’s encouraged to bring some props to make drawings more varied and playful. 👘👒💐🍍🫖🏸🤿🎭🎺🔮🧸📣 No fees, no pressure. The only thing we ask is that everyone takes a turn posing for the group. You can sit however feels comfortable for you. We encourage people to experiment with different poses from round to round to keep the drawings interesting, but this isn't a yoga session - there's no expectation to do anything difficult or uncomfortable. ☺️ Draw as much as you like, skip a round if you're tired or just want to chat, and leave whenever it suits you. The event continues as long as there's interest. **STAYING CONNECTED** Anyone who has attended at least one meetup is welcome to join our WhatsApp group. If you’d like to be added, just ask around at the meetup - several community members can approve new participants, and there’s usually at least one of them present. Alternatively, send us a message with your phone number (including the country code) and a photo proving that you attended a meetup. This measure helps prevent spam and advertising in the WhatsApp group. **SOCIAL MEDIA** Curious about our work? 👉 instagram.com/sketchy.collective If you’d like to share your drawings from the meetup, you can send them on WhatsApp group or use the Instagram collab function. We warmly encourage everyone to share their work and take part in building our international sketching gallery - together with artists from all the cities where Sketchy Collective meetups are organized. **PHOTO CONSENT** Photos may be taken during the meetup and shared on our social media. If you don’t want to appear in photos, just let the photographer know. If you’re taking photos, please make sure people know about it and can choose whether they want to be included or not. **If you share a group photo in our WhatsApp group, we'll assume you've already checked that everyone in the photo is happy to be photographed and has agreed that the photo may be shared on our social media.**

Pihlajasaari Summer Social ☀️ Join us for a relaxed summer day on one of Helsinki’s most beautiful islands! We’ll take the ferry to Pihlajasaari, enjoy a walk around the island, meet new people, and spend time together by the sea. Feel free to swim, bring snacks, play games, or simply enjoy the summer atmosphere. This is a casual social meetup with no pressure and no fixed agenda. Whether you’re new to Helsinki or have lived here for years, everyone is welcome. Possible activities: * Island walk and sightseeing * Meeting new people * Swimming * Picnic * Beach games * Card games * Relaxing by the sea * Optional grilling (bring your own food) What to bring * Water bottle * Snacks or picnic food * Swimwear and towel (optional) * Sunscreen * Good mood 😊 Meeting point: 📍Cafe Carusel (Merisatamanranta) We’ll head to the ferry together. Boat ride is 8eur/person. Join our community on WhatsApp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/II3ThszaSSHH8wFqbwD6Zy

Step away from everyday noise and reconnect with yourself through the **calming world of MANDALA.** Mandala is a therapeutic art form that encourages **relaxation, focus, mindfulness, and creativity**. Beginner-friendly guided workshop. No prior art experience needed. Returning participants are welcome too—there’s something new for you. Basic materials will be provided. You’re also welcome to bring your own colored pens. Join us for a cozy afternoon of slow art, mindful creativity, and relaxed conversations in a warm café setting.

Join us on **Fridays, 18:00 - 19:30** at **Lapinlahden Lähde** for a free session where we’ll explore the topic of the week - **Feeling the emotions**. After 19:30, you're welcome to hang out with us. Depending on what the group decides, we sometimes: \- stay in\, enjoy tea and cookies and play board games \- go out for dinner or order food\, feel free to bring your meal \- Just engage in deep conversations ✅ Your **RSVP counts as your registration**, we expect you to **honour it**. 🤝 All conversations are confidential. What’s shared, stays in the group. 🌿 Small group, big heart: Everyone gets a chance to share. 🧘‍♀️ Come comfy, come curious. 💧 Bring water. Skip heavy meals & caffeine. 📍 **Tallipääty, Lapinlahdenpolku 8, Helsinki** (Through the gate, first door on the left!) **Kind reminder:** Last-minute cancellations or no-shows mean others miss out. To keep it fair, repeated cases may result in losing the spot in future sessions. If you want to be part of the MIITTI community, follow us on our other platforms: IG: [instagram.com/miitti1](http://instagram.com/miitti1) Facebook: [facebook.com/miitti1](http://facebook.com/miitti1) Web: [lapinlahdenlahde.fi/projekti/miitti](http://lapinlahdenlahde.fi/projekti/miitti) Whatsapp: Join our Whatsapp community network to join your favourite group and stay connected with the other members! When you participate in one of our groups or events, just ask the group facilitator to add you to the community!

Welcome to join our Ren Xue Yuan Gong practice with Ren Xue Finland at Lapinlahden Lähde! The practice is simple but yet practical and powerful. It is easy to learn and will help you: -gain energy, feel less tired and stressed -more mental clarity, easier to concentrate -boost your immune system Time: Sundays 15:30 - 17:00 WHERE: Tallipääty, MIITTI office Lapinlahden Lähde Lapinlahdenpolku 8 00180 Helsinki NOTE: occasionally, the lesson will be held in Wanha labra (through Kahvila Lähde, above the stairs of the auditorium) About REN XUE Ren Xue is a comprehensive system for uplifting human life. It includes a unique form of Qigong (Yuan Qigong); three foundational theories (Theory of Qi, Theory of Consciousness, Theory of Totality) and a large body of teachings. It was created by world-renowned teacher and healer Yuan Tze who continues to offer online and in-person events worldwide. Ren Xue combines ancient Chinese wisdom traditions with modern insights into health and well-being. The goal of Ren Xue is to help individuals improve their physical, emotional, and mental health through a holistic approach that emphasizes the connection between the mind, body, and spirit. REN XUE FINLAND Ren Xue Finland (RXF) is the Finnish branch of the global movement, an organization dedicated to the promotion and teaching of Ren Xue and its associated practices, including Yuan Gong and Yuan Ming Medicine. It provides easy entry into the Ren Xue system through local in-person sessions, online courses and workshops/retreats. Other learning methods can be found here: Ren Xue TV, a YouTube channel and Learn Ren Xue website. More about Ren Xue: [https://www.renxueinternational.org](https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.renxueinternational.org%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR06uJQRSC7BE3zhPePQ7X_KO7WXa60cr7NK25KdOqfbSIHpYqBLO3dYgVM_aem_alDR7a6KhbNhG3u9NhCUVA&h=AT18asmYaRkvHCJemaC7rr9GVu579uflDCg7T6mLNodWdtMVhuxwFhIyz0p5ONeJbm3WQ3ZGIwONIa0_pDvih4t9BCCJUBkjhK4BdIMEl4aQ_qPzR5ykW-aiOndhYDPeAW9_2_eWZaMsv889HKbp8_c&__tn__=q&c%5B0%5D=AT35KTjVjr2kCnYHrXXjXPxEGFK-RFbZnFVdDmWrTe5WwbSZZ5ulNxFEjPPhejS8Pf4xetwkU1hhM1P2K_ABugpnXL6w-CKE25ARXwtLSexv-4fPJ4s2_Kcqgj3g2XWjCVkPPgcjwrPoNWOvdKa2f1VqyVa-2kcTojodTS3wn9zrnRjZLcG7)/

You're welcome to join us for our film club featuring classic movies from all decades! After the screening, we'll gather somewhere nearby to discuss the film and share our appreciation for the art of cinema. -- This time our featured film is Damien Chazelle's Whiplash, screening at Gilda: > ***Whiplash*** is a 2014 American [independent](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_film "Independent film") [psychological drama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_drama "Psychological drama") film written and directed by [Damien Chazelle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damien_Chazelle "Damien Chazelle"), and starring [Miles Teller](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miles_Teller "Miles Teller"), [J. K. Simmons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._K._Simmons "J. K. Simmons"), and [Paul Reiser](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Reiser "Paul Reiser"). It focuses on an ambitious music student and aspiring [jazz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz "Jazz") drummer (Teller), who is pushed to his limit by his abusive instructor (Simmons). > *Whiplash* premiered in competition at the [2014 Sundance Film Festival](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Sundance_Film_Festival "2014 Sundance Film Festival") on January 16, as the festival's opening film, where it won the [Audience Award Dramatic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audience_Award_Dramatic "Audience Award Dramatic") and the [Grand Jury Prize Dramatic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Jury_Prize_Dramatic "Grand Jury Prize Dramatic"). The film opened in limited release domestically in the United States and Canada on October 10, 2014, gradually expanding to over 500 screens and finally closing on March 26, 2015. The film received acclaim for its screenplay, direction, editing, sound mixing and Simmons’s performance. It grossed $50 million on a $3.3 million budget during its original theatrical run. The film received [multiple accolades](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_accolades_received_by_Whiplash "List of accolades received by Whiplash"), winning [Academy Awards](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Awards "Academy Awards") for [Best Film Editing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Award_for_Best_Film_Editing "Academy Award for Best Film Editing") and [Best Sound Mixing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Best_Sound_Mixing "Best Sound Mixing"), and was nominated for [Best Picture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Award_for_Best_Picture "Academy Award for Best Picture") and [Best Adapted Screenplay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Award_for_Best_Adapted_Screenplay "Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay"). Simmons's performance won the [Academy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Award_for_Best_Supporting_Actor "Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor"), [Golden Globe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Globe_Award_for_Best_Supporting_Actor_%E2%80%93_Motion_Picture "Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture"), [BAFTA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BAFTA_Award_for_Best_Actor_in_a_Supporting_Role "BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role"), [Critics' Choice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critics%27_Choice_Movie_Award_for_Best_Supporting_Actor "Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Supporting Actor"), and [Screen Actors Guild](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screen_Actors_Guild_Award_for_Outstanding_Performance_by_a_Male_Actor_in_a_Supporting_Role "Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role") awards for Best Supporting Actor. It has since been assessed as one of the best films of the 21st century. The tickets to this screening cost 16€. Make sure to reserve yours before they run out: [https://www.gilda.fi/elokuva/whiplash/](https://www.gilda.fi/elokuva/whiplash/) -- After the screening, we'll gather near the theater exit before sitting down somewhere nearby to discuss our experience.

The only Metro Park with a fire tower! **History** [Scioto Grove Metro Park](https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/scioto-grove/) officially became the 19th park in the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks system when it opened to the public on May 6, 2016. Located along a scenic bend of the Scioto River in Grove City, just south of Columbus, the 620-acre park was designed to blend preservation with modern recreation. Long before it became a park, this river corridor served as a vital footpath and trade route for Indigenous communities. Decades later, the mature forests and dramatic river bluffs caught the eye of conservationists looking to expand regional green spaces. The grand opening was a major milestone, drawing over 19,000 visitors in its very first weekend. The creation of the park was made possible through a sequence of land acquisitions and strong community partnerships. In October 2009, Franklin County voters approved a critical property tax levy that funded the initial purchase of 66 acres. Shortly after, the City of Grove City generously donated nearly 193 acres of land, previously known as Talbot Park, to anchor the project. Additional parcels were acquired using state grants from the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund, successfully closing the gap between properties by December 2012. This collaborative funding model ensured that pristine wilderness areas remained completely protected from commercial development. From its inception, the park aimed to introduce innovative amenities to the regional park system, most notably the concept of "urban backpacking". Through a key partnership with the outdoor gear retailer REI Co-op, the park established the scenic REI River Trail. This trail features five rustic, reservation-only campsites along the river, specifically designed to give newcomers a safe place to practice backpacking close to home. Additionally, planners prioritized making the park fully pet-friendly, allowing leashed dogs across all trails and areas. This open-pet policy uniquely distinguished Scioto Grove from many other traditional Columbus Metro Parks. As the park grew in popularity, community members established special commemorative landmarks to honor local lives. In June 2019, a dedicated memorial garden was unveiled near the park entrance in memory of Reagan Tokes, an Ohio State University student. The serene space features a central pond bordered by bright blue flowers, representing her favorite color. A primary buckeye tree stands alongside a dedicated plaque, surrounded by four additional buckeye trees to represent her immediate family members. This addition transformed a portion of the park into a meaningful place for community reflection, healing, and peace. The historical depth of the park took a significant leap forward with the relocation of a massive piece of Ohio history. In August 2023, Metro Parks officially unveiled the Keystone Forest Lookout Tower, which had been carefully moved from Jackson County, Ohio. Originally constructed in 1942 by the Aermotor Windmill Company, the 82-foot-tall metal structure spent decades guarding southern Ohio’s vast forests from devastating wildfires. Workers painstakingly disassembled, re-galvanized, and reassembled the historic landmark at Scioto Grove. Today, visitors can climb its 111 steep steps to experience a panoramic view stretching all the way to the downtown Columbus skyline. **Map of the Park** Here is a [map of Scioto Grove](https://www.metroparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/SGR-map_1980px_2026.jpg). **Summary** We will hike around 5 miles on the Overlook, REI River, Mingo, and Arrowhead Trails. While the configuration of the trails can lead us to occasionally taking longer hikes than at other parks, Scioto Grove is not generally a very strenuous place to hike. If you use hiking poles and inadvertently forget them, this is not a park where you're likely to end up caring that much. That said, Scioto Grove is one of the better Metro Parks for hiking as well as other things. They are the only Metro Park with five camping areas where you can literally pitch a tent and sleep for the night. You must contact the park and reserve these in advance; they are however free. **Where We'll Meet** We'll meet at the Arrowhead Picnic Area, near the restrooms and playground. Arrowhead is the main picnic and parking area of the park, and it also has the only water fountain at Scioto Grove. **After the Hike** Afterward, we will head over to [Grove City Brewing](https://www.grovecitybrewery.com/) for [drinks and food](https://www.grovecitybrewery.com/menu). They have pretty good hamburgers. I was mortified to discover that I've never had their [Grove City Hooyah](https://www.beermenus.com/beers/486553-grove-city-hooyah) before, but I will correct that during this event. The actual address of the brewery is [3946 Broadway, Grove City, OH 43123](https://www.google.com/maps/place/3946+Broadway,+Grove+City,+OH+43123/@39.8836912,-83.0919635,16z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x88389b3a28d0f4ad:0x3d85c41f608406c6!8m2!3d39.8836912!4d-83.0919635!16s%2Fg%2F11g8dh6h1_?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTAwOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D). We should be there by 5 if you can't make the hike and just want to join us for drinks.

Moth Night with Butterfly Ridge in Granville Friday, July 17, 2026 8:45PM - 11:30PM Join Chris Kline from Butterfly Ridge for an evening learning about and identifying our nocturnal pollinating friends, the moths!! The program lasts a few hours, but you can leave on your own schedule. Free! Registration not required. Christopher Kline’s interest in butterflies began in 1997 when he began tagging Monarch butterflies in Indiana. Since 1997, he has tagged thousands of Monarchs, co-founded the Central Arizona Butterfly Association, and founded the Southwest Monarch Study. He has also served as the Butterfly Specialist at the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Columbus, Ohio. He now is the Director of Butterfly Ridge Butterfly Conservation Center in Rockbridge, Ohio where he and his wife have converted 21 acres of fields and forests into butterfly friendly habitats and have quintupled the butterfly population in the process. He has authored several books including A Field Guide to Tropical Butterflies of American Conservatories, Butterfly Gardening with Native Plants, Butterfly Rider, Moths of Butterfly Ridge, and the Beginner’s Guide to Mothing. 8:45PM - 11:30PM **Location**: Arena Area, Infirmary Mound Park 4351 Lancaster Rd in Granville, Ohio 43023 (Follow Signs in the Park to the Mothing location in the back) Other events at the Park: DIY Mosaic Stepping Stone - May 30 Gravel Gardens - June 4 Backyard Prairies - June 11 Rain Barrels - June 18 Moth Night - July 17 Butterfly Talk and Walk - July 18 More! Direct link to LPD activity catalog: https://secure.rec1.com/OH/licking-park-district-oh/catalog