Outdoors
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Discover all the outdoors events taking place this week here. Plan ahead and join exciting meetups throughout the week.
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Summer Pickleball League, But Everyone's Single | DateColumbus
Pickleball \| Singles \| 20s\, 30s\, 40s \| Ditch the Apps\. Hit the Courts\. DateColumbus Pickleball League
**8 Weeks of Singles Pickleball - you joining us?!**
Summer is calling, and we've got better plans for you than swiping right.
DateColumbus's Pickleball League is back — 8 weeks of casual open play, rotating partners, new connections, and honestly? A really good time. Whether you've never held a paddle in your life or you've been playing for years, this league was built for you to show up, get moving, and meet people IRL.
**Never played before? You're in the right place.** For the first three weeks, we'll have on-site instructors ready to walk you through the basics in the first 30 minutes — no experience needed, no pressure, just good vibes and a little coaching. Our volunteers are also on-site every Monday to get you settled on the courts, introduce you around, and make sure you leave with at least a few new faces in your contacts.
**How it works:** We run open play — meaning you'll rotate courts AND partners throughout the night. Winners stay for one round before rotating, so there's always someone new to meet, rally with, and maybe grab a drink with after. Maximum mingling. Maximum fun.
**[Ticket & Registration is linked here!](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/summer-pickleball-but-everyones-single-datecolumbus-tickets-1990356562056?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true)**
**What's included:**
* Paddles available every week (or bring your own!)
* Locker room on-site
* Full restaurant + bar at Paddle Taps
* Every Monday, 6:00–8:00 PM for 8 weeks
* Eat, drink, and mingle during and after play
*
**Ready to meet your pickleball partner (and maybe more)?**
Grab your spot now — courts fill up fast and so do summer schedules, see you soon :)
Libera Animae - Freeing the Soul
Main Library, Meeting Room 2B
What does it mean to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world?
In this gathering, we'll continue our series on the Sermon on the Mount from a mystical perspective. Together we’ll explore Matthew 5:13–16, looking not only to the passage as moral instruction, but also to the deeper transformation of consciousness that Jesus invites. Together we'll reflect on how spiritual awakening changes the way we see ourselves, others, and the world around us.
Libera Animae is an interfaith community focused on inner growth, creativity, and authentic connection.
All backgrounds are welcome.
Beginner and Intermediate Bachata Dance Classes with Todd Smith!
**✅ Bachata Mondays with Todd Smith!**
**👉 Beginner Bachata Class**
**$15 In Advance / $20 At the Door**
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7:00 pm – 7:15 pm … Registration
7:15 pm – 8:15 pm … Beginner Class
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**👉 Intermediate Bachata Class**
**= $15 In Advance / $20 At the Door**
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8:15 pm – 8:30 pm Registration
8:30 pm – 9:30 pm Intermediate Class
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**👉 If You Take Both Bachata Classes**
**= $25 In Advance / $35 At the Door**
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**👉 Buy Advance Tickets Now at:**
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https://columbussalsadancing.com/bachata-mondays-dance-class-tickets/
Bachata Dance Classes: Beginner and Intermediate (Every Monday)
**✅ Bachata Mondays with Todd Smith!**
**👉 Beginner Bachata Class**
**$15 In Advance / $20 At the Door**
7:00 pm – 7:15 pm … Registration
7:15 pm – 8:15 pm … Beginner Class
**👉 Intermediate Bachata Class**
**= $15 In Advance / $20 At the Door**
8:15 pm – 8:30 pm Registration
8:30 pm – 9:30 pm Intermediate Class
**👉 If You Take Both Bachata Classes**
**= $25 In Advance / $35 At the Door**
**👉 Buy Advance Tickets Now at:**
https://columbussalsadancing.com/bachata-mondays-dance-class-tickets/
Italian Conversation Hour
Ciao a tutt\*!
Let's meet Monday at 6.30pm at the Upper Arlington Library (Tremont Branch) in **Meeting Room A** to speak in Italian for 1 hour.
Columbus Ruby Brigade Monthly Meetup
**\*\*\* We've Moved! Bold Penguin - 6555 Longshore St, Dublin, OH 43017 \*\*\***
Ryan Carroll
**Local AI in Rails: Fast, Cheap, and Predictable**
Rails apps usually reach for external AI services when they need “intelligence,” but that approach can bring latency, cost, and unpredictability along for the ride. This talk shows a different path: running a Japanese sentiment model directly inside a Rails app, using ONNX Runtime, background jobs, and real-time updates to keep the user experience fast and responsive.
Using a small app called **Sentiment Omikuji** as the case study, the talk walks through how the model was trained in Python, exported to ONNX, and loaded into Ruby for local inference. It also covers how Japanese text is tokenized, how the sentiment output drives a fortune generator, and why the app uses Solid Queue to keep model work off the request path. Along the way, the talk explores the tradeoffs of local inference versus API-based LLMs, and why classic machine learning can still be the right tool for focused problems.
Attendees will leave with a practical architecture they can adapt in their own Rails applications, plus a clearer picture of when local AI makes sense, how to keep it predictable, and what it takes to make it feel good in a real app.
**AGENDA:**
* See updates to parking below
* Doors open at 5:30, feel free to come and hang out before!
* Official start of the meeting is at 6:30pm
* After the meeting is done, we will go hang out at a nearby space in Bridge Park!
If you can, please sign up via meetup by noon the day of the meeting so we can have an estimate headcount for food :) We always order extra, so feel free to join us even if you don't get signed up!
Thank you to Bold Penguin for providing the food and location!
**Parking & Arrival:**
**Parking:** Parking in Bridge Park is free. The closest lots are the Mooney Garage and the Hotel/Endres Garage.
**Entry:** The doors to the office are to the right of PINS. The street level door and elevators lock at 6pm. If you arrive after that, someone should be there to let you in, else call the number posted. Take the elevator to the 2nd floor. Once you exit the elevator, turn right.
\*\*\*
We are a bunch of professionals, students, and geeks who are excited about Ruby programming language ([http://ruby-lang.org/](http://ruby-lang.org/)) and Rails framework ([http://rubyonrails.com/](http://rubyonrails.com/)) and the joy they have brought back to web development. Our main goal is to share the love of the Ruby and Rails ecosystems with anyone that is interested. We cater to everyone, whether a non-programmer through advanced Rubyists.
* We give lectures on programming topics
* We freely provide decades worth of experience
* For full details of this month's meeting please visit [http://columbusrb.com](http://columbusrb.com)
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Toledo Online Speed Dating
# 🎈 Meet Someone New: Toledo Speed Dating on Zoom
_An evening of face-to-face Zoom rounds, Toledo singles your speed, and your matches landing in your inbox by morning._
**How it all works:**
1. Sign up and answer a few quick personality questions
2. Hop onto Zoom right as we kick off
3. Chat one-on-one through guided rounds
4. Wake up to your mutual matches in your inbox
---
**Pick your group below and you're in:**
💘 **Ages 18-32** → [Grab your spot](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=574&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Toledo&groupurlname=cityscape-navigators-park-orienteering-team&ar=18-32&face_v=9.0)
💘 **Ages 30-46** → [Grab your spot](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=574&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Toledo&groupurlname=cityscape-navigators-park-orienteering-team&ar=30-46&face_v=9.0)
💘 **Ages 40-58** → [Grab your spot](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=574&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Toledo&groupurlname=cityscape-navigators-park-orienteering-team&ar=40-58&face_v=9.0)
💘 **Ages 55+** → [Grab your spot](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=574&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Toledo&groupurlname=cityscape-navigators-park-orienteering-team&ar=55+&face_v=9.0)
> ⚠️ One thing: hitting RSVP here doesn't reserve anything. You're only in once you register through your age link and finish the quiz — and seats are limited.
**Show up curious — the rest is on us. 💕**
Port St. Lucie Online Speed Dating on Zoom
**🌷 Meet Port St. Lucie Singles Tonight — Zoom Speed Dating**
No apps, no awkward bios. Just live one-on-one Zoom chats with Port St. Lucie singles picked for you.
**What to expect:**
- Register and take a short personality quiz
- Jump on Zoom when the event starts
- Meet singles in guided one-on-one rounds
- Get your mutual matches by email afterward
**Find your bracket and grab a seat:**
→ **Ages 18-32** — [Register here](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=573&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Port%20St.%20Lucie&groupurlname=manga-k-drama-foodie-language-feast-network&ar=18-32&face_v=8.0)
→ **Ages 30-46** — [Register here](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=573&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Port%20St.%20Lucie&groupurlname=manga-k-drama-foodie-language-feast-network&ar=30-46&face_v=8.0)
→ **Ages 40-58** — [Register here](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=573&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Port%20St.%20Lucie&groupurlname=manga-k-drama-foodie-language-feast-network&ar=40-58&face_v=8.0)
→ **Ages 55+** — [Register here](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=573&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Port%20St.%20Lucie&groupurlname=manga-k-drama-foodie-language-feast-network&ar=55+&face_v=8.0)
> Heads up: an RSVP here does not hold your seat. Register through your age link and finish the quiz. Spots are capped.
Register, relax, and let the night do the work. 😊
Trails & Ales! Scioto Grove Metro Park / Grove City Brewing
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.













