Paleontology

\- Meet at 10:30 on the seats near the information desk in the Great Court\. \- Individual tuition with helpful step by step explanations\, demonstrations as you draw in the galleries\. \- Share your work with other students in the cafe are of the Great Court\, located nest to the Sainsbury Exhibitions Gallery\. The British Museum houses sculptures from many different cultures, many of which are from elaborate monuments. Some have powerful and moving static presence, and others a lively sense of movement. \- Understand the role statics and dynamics in the making of a drawing \- Practise techniques for aligning forms and sensing proportions \- Use a variety of lines and tones \- Respond to the flow of rhythm

***\-\-\-\-\-\- Welcome\, London R Users\! \-\-\-* This is a paid event *\-\-\-\-\-\-*** **Happy New Year, and welcome to 2026!** We’re excited to kick off 2026 with fresh energy and plenty of R fun ahead! As before, the event will be brought to you by **Datacove**. We are a Data and Analytics Consultancy Team based in Brighton, with experience in founding many well-attended R & Python events. Plus, home of the EARL Conference! We work across multiple streams - from marketing and customer analytics, to bespoke dashboards, process automation, and training! :) We will be supported by the generous team, organised by Matt Nixon, at **Incubeta**, London. Hosted by **Laura Mawer** and **Jeremy Horne** from **Datacove**. ***\-\-\-\-\-\-* !! Please Note !! *\-\-\-\-\-\-*** **This is a paid event.** Your ticket entitles you to pizza and drink options (soft and alcoholic beverages available). As standard, we cater for Vegetarian, Vegan, and GF. Please contact an organiser for any other requirements. **You can book your tickets online through [Ticket Pass](https://ticketpass.org/event/EVXIGF/londonr-january-29th-2026) at a discounted rate:** * **General Admission:** £8 online / £10 at the door * **Student Admission:** £4 online / £5 at the door Students must bring an NUS card or any other form of student ID. Cash and card accepted on the door. ***\-\-\-\-\-\- Talk Information \-\-\-\-\-\-*** ***\-\- Talk One \-\-*** Hannah Choi, Senior Public Health Intelligence Analyst, London Borough of Tower Hamlets Developing EDITH: a local public health team’s journey to build a complex Shiny dashboard Hannah will take us on a whistle-stop tour of the Tower Hamlets Public Health Intelligence Team’s journey to build EDITH - a Shiny dashboard of local-level statistics for public health decision-making. She will cover key methodological and operational challenges, and share reflections on what worked, what didn’t, and the importance of strong team culture and the wider R community. ***\-\- Talk Two \-\-*** Jeremy Horne, Founder & Director, Datacove Your Marketing Analytics Are a Mess - and Google Analytics is the Problem. While Google Analytics remains a powerful tool, relying on it as a single source of truth often leaves major gaps in paid media attribution and performance insight. Jeremy will unpack where GA excels, where it falls short, and why marketers need to look further beyond. This talk will explore how econometrics can provide a more robust, business-focused approach to measuring marketing effectiveness. ***\-\-\-\-\-\- Timing Information \-\-\-\-\-\-*** 6pm: Arrival and greetings from our team. 6:15pm: Food and drinks are served while networking. 6:40pm: Introduction to the event commences. 6:45pm: Talks commence. 8:00pm: Talks conclude. 8:10pm: Networking continues. 8:30pm: Event moves to the local pub. ***\-\-\-\-\-\- Sponsorship Information \-\-\-\-\-\-*** Our event relies heavily on sponsorship from companies that attend. Please contact the organisers or **admin@datacove.co.uk** to get involved. ***\-\-\-\-\-\- Arrival Instructions \-\-\-\-\-\-*** Please arrive at The Bower and locate the reception, where staff will be there to guide you to the correct floor. **What3Words**: magma.clip.achieving ***\-\-\-\-\-\- Registration Etiquette \-\-\-\-\-\-*** At our meetups, the event is sometimes capped by the space. We’re committed to keeping these events accessible for everyone, but to make that possible, we need your help. **Please ensure your registration is kept up to date.** If your plans change, simply update your RSVP to reflect your availability. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Please feel free to spread the word. We look forward to seeing you all again!

The session is Every Thursday 7PM till 10PM. There will be 3 courts for just games only as the other court is for training from 7pm till 8pm then all 4 courts for games. If you want training please join the other meet up sessions available. Any queries please don't hesitate to contact me. All levels are welcome. PARKING: Parking is available and Free onsite. PAYMENT: We are accepting bank transfer rather than cash payments. In 2 days in advance to confirm your attendance. If you don't pay 2 days in advance then you will be put on the non attending list and will have to go on the waiting list again. Bank details: Name: The Badminton Collective LTD Sort Code: 60-83-71 Account Number:69874292 Reference must be your Full Name to match you to the list of attendees. £13 for Games. £15 for Training and Games IMPORTANT NOTES: How to get there. If you use the provided postcode it will take you to the front of the school. For the car park please use this postcode E15 3PA. By all means message me if you are having troubles. There is now a water fountain so please bring a bottle to fill up, this is in the main building while they fix the one near the sports Hall. The Badminton Collective and School 21 are not responsible for any injuries or loss of items.

**Join us at the monthly late night opening at the Cartoon Museum** The Cartoon Museum is dedicated to preserving the best of British cartoons, caricatures, comics and animation. The museum houses a collection of over 6000 original cartoons and comics, and a library of over 8000 comics and books, documenting the history of British comics from the 18th century to the present day. Main exhibition - [The Future Was Then](https://www.cartoonmuseum.org/whats-on-exhibitions/the-future-was-then) This Autumn, The Cartoon Museum looks to the future – and the past – to explore comics that went beyond the final frontier and predicted what humanity would look like in years to come. Will the Daleks invade in the year 2150? Did the space travel of Dan Dare or the dystopia of V for Vendetta come true in the 1990s? What will our future look like? Take a journey through time and space and answer these questions and more! **MEET DETAILS:** **5.50pm Meet just outside the museum** **6pm: Enter Museum** Address: 63 Wells St, London, W1A 3AE Post Event Pub visit (optional) The Blue Posts, 81 Newman St, London W1T 3ET **TICKETS:** **Book your ticket** [here](https://www.cartoonmuseum.org/visit-us) (The museum has asked us all to buy before we attend , as we’re a large group and will hold up the counter - NOTE YOU DO NOT NEED TO BUY ANY EXTRA TICKET OPTIONS, AS WE WILL NOT BE TAKING PART IN THE TALK AVAILABLE ON THE NIGHT - Please buy a normal general admission pass - these tickets are an annual pass.) Adult \| **£12** Concession \(over 60 y/o\) \| **£8** Universal Credit & JSA recipients \| **£3** Student\, Museums Association \| **£5** Under\-18s\*\, ArtFund\, London Pass\, Members \| **Free** Venue Cancellation policy terms [here](https://cartoon-museum.arttickets.org.uk/pages/terms-of-use) Subject to these terms [here](https://cartoon-museum.arttickets.org.uk/pages/terms-of-use), tickets purchased online are non-refundable and may not be exchanged or transferred. **GETTING THERE:** **Tube** Less than a mile away from Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road and Goodge Street stations. **Bus** Buses 55, 88, 98 453, N18, N25, N55, N98, and N207 stop less than half a mile away from the museum. **Cycle** There are bike racks and a Santander Bike dock on Wells St. where the Museum is located. **On foot** Walking distance of Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road and Goodge Street stations. Oxford Street station is under 500 meters away. We recommend using Exit 1. **EVENT WHATSAPP GROUP:** If you are on the **'going' list** **only** please join the event WhatsApp group to help you find the group on the day. *Link will be shared in the event comments below 48 hours before the day.* *Joining this WhatsApp group will make your phone number visible to other members in the group.* **GROUP ETIQUETTE AND RULES:** * LoMAZ events are run by volunteers. We have an attendee limit to help the host manage the event. We prefer a smaller, friendlier group. * Once all the spaces are taken, Meetup adds you to the Waitlist. If someone drops out, waitlisted attendees are automatically moved to the 'Going' list by Meetup in order of priority. * **If you can no longer attend, please change your RSVP to 'Not Going' as soon as possible.** Then someone on the waitlist can take your place. **We remove members from the LoMAZ Meetup group who:** * **RSVP as ‘Going' but then do not show up three times in a row.** * **RSVP as ‘Going' but then change their RSVP to 'No' five times in a row.** * **Are on the Waitlist or who have not RSVPd, but turn up anyway.** **Thank you for your interest in the group & being part of LoMAZ.** Image credit: Lucía Bravo

**\*Please note we had to increase the session fees to £15 due to increase in court hire and shuttles.** Thursday Evening Badminton, High Intermediate/ Advanced Date: 29 January 2025 Time: 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm Courts: 3 courts available Shuttles: Feather (quality feathers) Session Fee: £15 per person. TWO HOURS OF BADMINTON - £15, Venue: Maria Fidelis Catholic School FCJ. 1 Drummond Crescent London NW1 1LY This session is for those that are high intermediate and above (strictly no beginners/ improvers/ Low Intermediates). We want to ensure the quality of play while controlling the standard of the club, this means that players who are not quite up to the standard may be asked politely to leave. PLEASE PAY BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE SESSION EITHER VIA BANK TRANSFER/ PAYPAL. IMPORTANT: OUR TERMS! Coronavirus: Stay Safe, Play Safe https://www.meetup.com/Central-London-Badminton-Club/boards/thread/52704882 PLEASE NOTE: DUE TO GUIDELINES, CURRENTLY THERE IS NO CHANGING ROOM FACILITIES AND NO SHOWER FACILITIES AVAILABLE AT THIS LOCATION. Badminton Tactics: https://www.meetup.com/Central-London-Badminton-Club/messages/boards/thread/52043613 \*PLEASE NOTE: LATE CANCELLATIONS (AFTER 10PM ON WEDNESDAY) OR NO-SHOWS WILL INCUR A PENALTY CHARGE OF £15. YOU WILL NEED TO PAY THE PENALTY CHARGE BEFORE BEING ALLOWED TO RSVP AT THE NEXT AVAILABLE SESSION. • You are responsible for your own well-being and we and the sports facility representatives will not be responsible for any injury, stolen or damaged property or any other occurrences during our sessions. • Organisers: Mohammed (mr. nice guy), Vin (the merciless) and Moynul (the dark side of badminton)

Please BOOK A FREE TICKET VISIT IN ADVANCE, on the British Museum website. This is to avoid queuing. I have a few spare tickets so you can message me with your email address or Whatsapp number if you want to use one of them. Meet on the seats in the Great Court opposite the information desk. The event is free to join. Please consider contributing contribute £2 toward the cost of the event and for my time. Alternatively, I can provide tuition at a cost of £10 for the session. All welcome! Please bring your own drawing materials. There are stools you can borrow. Please note MUSEUM POLICY - use a hand-held pad and only draw with pencils. We will draw in the galleries from 10.40 am. We will meet again in the Great Court Cafe nearest the Egyptian Galleries at 12:30 pm.

Come along on Sunday 1st February for a relaxing Sunday afternoon visit to the Natural History Museum! **About the Natural History Museum** The museum which opened in 1881 is home to life and earth science specimens comprising some 70 million items within five main collections: Botany, Entomology, Mineralogy, Palaeontology and Zoology. The museum is a world-renowned centre of research, specialising in taxonomy, identification and conservation. Given the age of the institution, many of the collections have great historical as well as scientific value, such as specimens collected by Charles Darwin. The museum is particularly famous for its exhibition of dinosaur skeletons, and ornate architecture — sometimes dubbed a cathedral of nature. **Cost** Entry is free! The visit is self-guiding. **Become a Full Member** To become a Full Member (£14 a year) either: \- Pay cash at an event \- Pay via Bank Transfer \(TSB Bank plc\, Sort code: 77\-66\-65\, Account no: 00030809, Account name: Cultureseekers) \- Pay via credit card on the day or in advance \([https://pay.sumup.com/b2c/QLAX8AUI](https://pay.sumup.com/b2c/QLAX8AUI)) \- Pay via PayPal\, send a payment to general@cultureseekers\.org\, using the ‘Friends & Family’ option **Afterwards** After we will head to 'Earth Hall Cafe' on the ground floor, near the east entrance from 4:00pm for a chat over a drink. If you can make it, please come to the cafe afterwards, as it’s a great way to meet and get to know others after the visit. Please note, we only wait outside the station for 10 minutes after the advertised meeting time, so please be early or on time. If you can't see us outside the station, please text. Look out for the red and blue 'London Cultureseekers' group sign. Hope to see you there! Robert 07905 901 834 (prefer text) or email: [general@cultureseekers.org](general@cultureseekers.org) ***On the day, if you can’t make the trip, just change your RSVP to No or text me to say you can’t make it.*** ***Please don’t post any messages in the comments that you can’t make it, as this generates spam for everyone else.*** ***Please make sure you are aware of the group rules here before RSVPing - [https://www.meetup.com/london_cultureseekers/photos/22974682/523578875/Group_Rules/](https://www.meetup.com/london_cultureseekers/photos/22974682/523578875/Group_Rules/)***

https://palestinecampaign.org/events/national-demonstration-for-palestine-31st-january/ When 31/01/2026 12:00 pm - 4:30 pm **END THE GENOCIDE – HANDS OFF GAZA – STOP ARMING ISRAEL** ⏰ Saturday 31 January, 12 noon 📍 Russell Square, London Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people has not ended. Join us for our next march for Palestine to demand our government end its complicity in Israel’s violence. **Join us on Saturday 31 January for the first national march for Palestine in 2026. Assemble 12 noon at Russell Square.** **Route:**  **Trade Union Bloc:**  **Coaches:** Colchester – Pickup at 9.00am from Colchester Park and Drive (J24, A12) – email mardybard@hotmail.co.uk to enquire about tickets Coventry – Coaches leave White Street Coach Park CV1 4TX at 8.15 a.m.; depart from London 4.30 p.m. Phone 07787-243-166 to book a seat Ipswich – Pickup at 8.30am from Crown Street, Ipswich, IP1 3HS (outside Crown House) – email [mardybard@hotmail.co.uk](mailto:mardybard@hotmail.co.uk) to enquire about tickets Nottingham – Pickup from Gregory Blvd, Forest Fields, Close to the Car Park for Park and Ride Entrance at 8am – tickets [here](https://events.humanitix.com/national-demo-for-palestine-date-not-confirmed)

HIGHTLIGHTS: * Remote heathland and picturesque lakes in pine & bracken forests * Bagmoor Common Nature Reserve with oak trees and Scots pine trees * Thursley Common Nature Reserve and Pudmore Pond with its diverse wildlife, boggy terrain and raised boardwalks * Views over Devils Punchbowl and Gilbert Hill * Greensand Way with fantastic views on our way to Haslemere. The area offers walking trails through marsh, woodland, and heath, through some muddy paths over a eerie terrain preserving delicate ecosystems. We will be walking over sandy paths through ancient established woodlands, heather and gorse and see evidence of bush fire in 2006 which has left a blackened moonscape. We then continue south up to Devils Punchbowl, a deep depression believed to be the result of erosion caused by spring water beneath the sandstone, causing the upper level to collapse. We continue on our way to Hindhead and Haslemere along the Greensand Way to end up in a pub for a deserved drink. A day of Englands beautiful heathland, forests and iconic views over surrey's hills. **SUMMARY** **Distance**: 22km from Milford to Haslemere **Ascent:** 350m **Duration:** 6-7 hours walking time **Grade:** Moderate **COST & LOGISTICS** **Cost:** £10 **Meet:** 8.30am Waterloo Station for Groupsave, 8.45am if getting own ticket or 10.10am at Milford Station **Train from Waterloo:** 9.00am **Finish:** 5pm into Haslemere/ local pub **Recommended ticket:** Return to Haslemere **Recommended:** An annual Network Railcard gives the same discount as a group save ticket - www.network-railcard.co.uk **REVIEWS** [Trip Advisor](https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g186338-d19994843-Reviews-AAA_Hiking_Outdoor_Group-London_England.html) \| [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/AAAHikingUK/reviews) \| [MeetUp](https://www.meetup.com/aaa-outdoor-hiking-adventure-travel/feedback-overview/) **PRICE INCLUDES** * Guided hike planned and led by an experienced AAA leader, trained in Outdoor First Aid. **PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE** * Travel costs * Lunch, drinks or any refreshments * PayPal fees **RECOMMENDED KIT LIST** [(](https://mailchi.mp/aaalondongroup.com/kitlist)[complete list](http://www.aaahiking.co.uk/kit-lists)[)](https://mailchi.mp/aaalondongroup.com/kitlist) * Suitable hiking shoes or boots * Packed lunch and snacks * Water - 2 litres recommended * Waterproof jacket and trousers (Please no jeans!) * Warm windproof layer e.g. Down/Primaloft/Fleece * Wicking base layer e.g. Polyester/Tencel/Merino **CANCELLING/REFUNDS** If you can no longer join the hike, please message the Host listed on here, and update your RSVP status to 'Not going', to allow others to take your place. If the hike is full, and you have messaged us and have changed your RSVP to 'Not going', we will refund you, less than the PayPal/Meetup fees. To obtain this, please email [info@aaalondongroup.com](mailto:info@aaalondongroup.com) **after the event**, with the email address you use on your PayPal account and transaction reference. If the hike is not full, unfortunately we will not be able to provide any refund. **QUESTIONS** If you have any other questions, please check visit our [FAQ page](https://mailchi.mp/aaalondongroup.com/frequently-asked-questions). If you are still unsure, contact the event Host shown on this page. We have operated over 1,000 events without significant incidents in the last ten years, achieved through meticulous planning. All participants (members and their guests) in any AAA Hiking event or activity are personally responsible for their fitness, safety and welfare, and must be equipped accordingly. If you have signed up for the event, you acknowledge and accept the AAA London Group Terms and Conditions. © AAA London Group Ltd. Errors and Omissions Excepted [FAQs](https://mailchi.mp/aaalondongroup.com/frequently-asked-questions) \| [Terms and Conditions](http://www.aaahiking.co.uk/terms-and-conditions) \| [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/AAAhiking) \| [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/AAAHikingUK/reviews)

Hi everyone! Booking is now open for our next badminton session, 11am-1pm on Sunday at Ark All Saints Camberwell 140 Wyndham Road SE5 0UB. The cost is only £10 per person plus £1.62 Meetup booking fee, paid in advance before the start of the session. Bring your racket or lease one for the session for a nominal £2.00, shuttlecocks is provided. The lease rackets are available at the venue, so just make your way down. Please note we don't have enough for everybody just a few. If you damage your racket during the session you get one to use for free. So if you wish to play and don’t yet have a racket make your way down, try and have a couple of nuggets (£2.00) handy because the racket lease fee is not included with the session booking fee. Payment is by PayPal, Debit card, Credit card, Bank transfer, and Cash. Contact the host if you encounter any problem with making payment or wish to pay by other method (Payment by Bank transfer & Cash is £10.00) Direction: The badminton hall is situated at the rear of the school, read on for direction on how to locate the hall. The main entrance to the school is located on Wyndham road, on Wyndham road look for Toulon Street it is on the same side as the school. If you stand facing the school Toulon Street should be to your right. Toulon street lead on to Pitman Street which is where the entrance is located. Use the pedestrian gate to let yourself in, if it is locked use the intercom and somebody should let you in. Immediately inside the school premises the entrance to the badminton venue is the building to your immediate right. For more info, contact the host Look forward to seeing you! Many thanks Afam

This is a ticketed event. Not a FREE EVENT. **We did this event 5 times last year and they were all very successful events.** **The only Meetup Group with access to a private 5 star 🌟 Luxury 52 Seater Brand New Coach for these types of trips. To save you both time and money compared to using public transport such as trains and taxis** **Saves you 3 hours of travel time compared to using public transport.** **\-\-\-\-\-\-** **🦭✨ A Magical Day Trip to See the Baby Seals at Norfolk Beach! 🌊🐾** **Coach Trip from London** **Bring Your Best Camera with you and a drone is most welcome and useful too.** ***🦭🐾 Let’s go seal the day together! 🌊💙*** **\-\-\-\-\-\-** **If its full join the waitlist and we will move you to going list after you contact us to make a seat reservation via WhatsApp on 07590 919391.** **🗓️ Date & Time** 📍Meeting point: Outside Stratford Station (near the bus station). WHATSAPP GROUP FOR EXACT Location. 🕗 Departure: 8:05 AM sharp 🕚 Arrival at Norfolk: Around 11:00 AM 🍽️ Pub lunch: 4:00 PM (optional but highly recommended!) 🚌 Return departure: 5:30 PM 🏙️ Arrive back in London: Around 8:30 PM (traffic depending) \-\-\- **🌟 Event Overview** We’re heading to the beautiful beaches of Norfolk to witness one of nature’s most heartwarming sights — hundreds of adorable baby seals! 🦭💙 Every winter, between November and February, the beaches between Horsey and Winterton become home to more than 5,000 Atlantic grey seals, making Norfolk one of the best and largest seal-viewing spots in the world. You’ll see fluffy newborn pups, playful young seals, and giant males lounging on the sand. 🐾 Volunteers will be nearby to answer questions and help ensure everyone enjoys this special wildlife experience safely. After our gentle 6–7 mile easy coastal walk, we’ll head to a local country pub at 4:00 PM for a well-deserved late lunch and a chance to relax, chat, and share photos before heading back to London. 🍻🥧 \-\-\- ***📸 What to Expect*** **✨ Up-close (but respectful!) encounters with baby seals. Close Encounters not always possible. For health and safety reasons. Keep minimum distance of 10 meters for safety reasons.** **🏖️ A scenic beach and dune walk through the Broads National Nature Reserve.** **🌾 Stunning coastal views and charming nearby villages.** **🌤️ A relaxed, friendly group atmosphere with nature lovers like you.** **\-\-\-** ***🦭 A Little History & Fun Facts*** The Atlantic grey seals of Norfolk are one of the largest breeding colonies in England. Each year, female seals return to the same beaches to give birth — and the pups, born with white fur, stay close to their mothers for about three weeks before heading into the sea. In recent years, conservation efforts have helped the population thrive, turning this quiet stretch of coast into one of Britain’s most treasured wildlife spectacles. 🌍💚 \-\-\- **🚶‍♀️ Hike Details** **Distance**: 6–7 miles (easy and mostly flat) **Difficulty**: 🟢 Easy – suitable for all fitness levels **Terrain**: Sand dunes, grassy paths, and beach sections **Duration**: Around 3 hours (including photo stops and breaks) ***Please note: The seals are wild animals — if they approach you, do not touch them. Their mothers may abandon them if they smell human scent.*** **\-\-\-** ***💷 Cost & Payment*** 🎟️ £61 per person Includes: ✅ Return coach transport from London. ✅ Guided coastal hike with a qualified and fully trained and experienced Hike leader. ✅ Organising costs and group coordination **💰 *£1 deposit required to reserve your seat — this event always sells out fast!*** ***All payments are non-refundable unless the event is cancelled by us.*** \-\-\- **🍱 Food & Refreshments** ***🥪 Bring your own packed lunch and water, as there are no shops on the beach.*** ***🍻 Optional pub meal at 4:00 PM (bring cash/card just in case).*** ***\-\-\-*** **🎒 What to Bring** Waterproof hiking shoes or boots 🥾 Warm, weatherproof clothing 🧥 Packed lunch + snacks 🍎 Water bottle 💧 Camera or phone for photos 📸 Good vibes and curiosity! 😄 \-\-\- ***☔ Weather & Safety.*** We go rain or shine! 🌦️ Please dress appropriately — it might be breezy or muddy in places. Even if the forecast shows rain, it’s often just for a short while. Your host is first-aid trained. You are responsible for your own health and safety during the event. The Host is qualified and Experienced Hiking and Mountain Leader. \-\-\- 📱 **How to Book** **📩 Message the host on WhatsApp: 07590 919391** 💷 Pay your £1 deposit to reserve your seat (first come, first served) Once you’re confirmed, you’ll be added to the event WhatsApp group for all travel details and updates. \-\-\- **🚍 Why Coach Travel?** Travelling by coach makes the journey cheaper, faster, and more social! You’ll sit back, relax, chat with fellow adventurers, and arrive together right at the beach — no confusing train changes or long walks from stations. Last year’s trip was an incredible success (we did it 5 times!) and everyone loved it. 💬✨ \-\-\- **⚠️ Terms & Conditions** *This is a social, non-profit hobby group event.* *Participation is at your own risk. Please ensure you have suitable personal or travel insurance if needed.* *Refunds are only issued if the event is cancelled by the organiser.* \-\-\- **💚 Join Us for One of the Most Magical Days of the Year!** There’s nothing quite like seeing hundreds of baby seals up close in their natural habitat — a truly unforgettable experience! Spaces are very limited and this event sells out fast every year, so book your spot early! 🎟️✨ **🦭🐾 Let’s go seal the day together! 🌊💙** \-\-\-

**Caller: Dan Kappus** **Band: Trillium** **Big Scioty Contra Dance** **temporarily returning to our long ago location for Jan-March - First Congregational Church, 444 E. Broad St., Columbus 43215** WHAT IS CONTRA DANCING? Picture the Grand Ball scenes like you’ve seen in period films such as “Pride and Prejudice”, where the dancers are lined up in long lines, across from each other. That’s English Country Dancing, the predecessor of contra dancing. Now, add moves like “swing your partner” and “do-si-do,” like you’ve seen in square dancing. Set it to fabulous, high energy, live music with fiddles, guitars, percussion and more, alá “Riverdance.” Finally, set the whole scene down in the middle of Woodstock, with a hip, groovy atmosphere, a bit of tie-dye, and hints of counter-culture attitude. THAT’s Contra Dancing! Wear cool and comfortable clothes (you will get warm) and clean shoes that won't mark up our nice wood floor. Be sure to come for the beginner's lesson from 7:30 - 8:00, followed by dancing 8:00 - 10:30. All dances are taught; we will help you learn! Beginners always welcome, no need to bring a partner. Cost is $10.00 adults, $5.00 ages 12-26. Under 12 free. Free parking in church lot. For more information contact me or check out our website: [www.bigscioty.com](http://www.bigscioty.com/) Please bring your own refillable water bottle. Snacks to share are always welcome!

Dale Gnidovec, Curator of the Orton Hall Museum of Geology at The Ohio State University, will be presenting a program he has wanted to share with us for a long time: Plate Tectonics. His description of his program: Continents on the move - Nothing in Earth history makes sense without moving continents - it tells us why mountains, volcanoes, minerals, and fossils are where they are. This talk examines the evidence for continental drift, why it was disbelieved, and explains how the more-encompassing theory of plate tectonics was developed and eventually proven. Dale is an energetic, incredibly knowledgeable, and very entertaining speaker and this will be another wonderful program by Dale. Hope to see you there! Food and drinks will be provided at the event. Feel free to show up a little bit early to hang out and talk. Going forward our meetings will be hybrid. You can meet us in-person or attend online Join Zoom Meeting [https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1](https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1) Meeting ID: 878 3656 4953 Passcode: 760812 One tap mobile +19292056099,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (New York) +13017158592,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (Washington DC) The formal presentation will start at noon

**History** The Columbus Museum of Art traces its roots to 1878, when it was founded as the Columbus Gallery of Fine Arts, becoming the first art museum chartered in Ohio. A group of civic leaders established it to bring touring exhibitions and build a public collection. In 1887, it merged with the Columbus Art School (now CCAD) fostering a long partnership in arts education. Initially without a permanent home, the museum operated from temporary spaces until 1919, when art patron Francis C. Sessions deeded his Victorian mansion on East Broad Street to house the growing institution. As collections expanded in the early 20th century, the need for a dedicated building became clear. The Sessions mansion was demolished, and a new Italian Renaissance Revival structure was erected on the same site, opening to the public in 1931. This elegant building, with its grand steps and arches, remains the museum's core today and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. Key early acquisitions, like the Ferdinand Howald Collection of modernist works, helped establish its focus on American and European art. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the museum evolved significantly. It added the Ross Wing in 1974 for exhibitions and renamed itself the Columbus Museum of Art in 1978 during its centennial. A major renovation and expansion completed in 2015 introduced the Margaret M. Walter Wing and Center for Creativity, emphasizing interactive experiences. In 2018, the donation of the Pizzuti Collection and its Short North building expanded the museum's reach into contemporary art, solidifying its role as a dynamic cultural hub. The Columbus Museum of Art boasts a strong collection of late 19th- and early 20th-century European modern art, featuring well-known masters like Claude Monet, whose Impressionist landscapes capture light and atmosphere in ways familiar to many. Visitors can also encounter works by Henri Matisse, renowned for his bold use of color, and Edgar Degas, famous for his graceful depictions of ballerinas and everyday scenes. The museum's early Cubist holdings include pieces by Pablo Picasso, offering glimpses into his revolutionary fragmented style that reshaped modern art. On the American side, the collection highlights iconic figures such as Edward Hopper, whose evocative paintings of urban solitude and quiet American life are widely recognized, and Norman Rockwell, celebrated for his heartfelt illustrations of everyday Americana that have appeared on countless magazine covers. These accessible works by household-name artists provide an inviting entry point for those new to art museums, blending European innovation with distinctly American storytelling. **Summary** For this event, we will tour the [Columbus Museum of Art](https://www.columbusmuseum.org/), which is always free on Sundays. Afterward, we will head over to the nearby, highly-rated, and popular Gemüt Biergarten for drinks and food. Columbus's art museum is not large, and we won't need to rush through in order to see everything. However, it's a little windy (with a long "i") and maze-like in spots, and if you've never gone through it before, it can be a little confusing at first. **Tickets and Pricing** The Museum is free on Sundays. **Parking** The short answer here is that you can park for free (in the Safe Auto lot) when you visit the Museum on weekends. The longer answer is that the Museum has a dedicated parking lot, whose entrance and exit are on E Gay St, just north of Broad St. You can see this parking lot [here on Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Columbus+Museum+Of+Art+Parking/@39.9648853,-82.9882364,18.67z/data=!4m14!1m7!3m6!1s0x883888d20177f111:0xbf595a71d9d8c8c5!2sColumbus+Museum+of+Art!8m2!3d39.9642074!4d-82.9878972!16zL20vMDM0Z3F6!3m5!1s0x883888d21f05e00f:0xb72a56e4ac2d4fba!8m2!3d39.9651763!4d-82.9881746!16s%2Fg%2F11f3pdx3tx?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTIwOS4wIKXMDSoKLDEwMDc5MjA3MUgBUAM%3D). This parking has normally been $7, unless you buy something either in the Museum's gift shop or café, in which case it's $5 (you have to bring your receipt to the Museum's front desk to get this discount). However, the Museum is currently in the process of upgrading their parking lot's intercom (or some such), and until such time as this is completed, parking in this lot is free. Once this upgrade is complete, though, the charge is likely to increase from $7 to $10. This upgrade is supposed to be done by the time we run this event, but given how these things work, I wouldn't be totally surprised if it's not complete by then. You'll know the lot is free if the gate arms to both the entrance and exit are fixed in a raised position when you arrive. However, there's a large parking lot for Safe Auto on the other side of N Washington Ave, between Boone St and Hutton Pl. You can see this parking lot [here on Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/place/39%C2%B057'54.4%22N+82%C2%B059'13.9%22W/@39.9651069,-82.9884087,18z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m4!3m3!8m2!3d39.965105!4d-82.987191?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTIwOS4wIKXMDSoKLDEwMDc5MjA3MUgBUAM%3D). Visitors to the Museum may always park for free in this lot on weekends. **The End of History** After completing our dissertation in [Art Appreciation](https://www.facebook.com/groups/879880336006462/posts/1734229683904852/), we'll head over to the highly-rated [Gemüt Biergarten](https://www.gemutbiergarten.com/) for [drinks and food](https://www.gemutbiergarten.com/#full-menu). The brewery is located in [Olde Towne East](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Olde+Towne+East,+Columbus,+OH/@39.9600896,-82.9935095,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x883888c29b9d98cb:0x55fc96810facc832!8m2!3d39.9579938!4d-82.9761254!16s%2Fm%2F026vlz4?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTIwOS4wIKXMDSoKLDEwMDc5MjA3MUgBUAM%3D), and its actual address is [734 Oak St, Columbus, OH 43205](https://www.google.com/maps/place/734+Oak+St,+Columbus,+OH+43205/@39.9633755,-82.9808618,16z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x883888c53426d289:0x4aec638d8a5195d4!8m2!3d39.9633755!4d-82.9808618!16s%2Fg%2F11c4wy250w?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTIwOS4wIKXMDSoKLDEwMDc5MjA3MUgBUAM%3D). Gemüt Biergarten has a free parking lot that isn't small but also isn't huge. Street parking, however, is always free across Columbus on [Sundays and holidays](https://www.columbus.gov/files/sharedassets/city/v/1/public-service/right-of-way-permit/on-street-parking-out-of-service-policy-and-procedure-final-8.15.2022-signed.pdf), so I think we'll be okay with parking. The bigger issue may be the weather. The brewery has a good-sized outdoor patio that is covered and heated in the winter. However, that doesn't mean this patio will be warm. The inside of the brewery is "okay-sized," but again, the brewery is popular and by the time we get there, we may have no choice but to sit outside. If it's cold, I can and will ask them to fire up some of their additional outdoor heaters, which I think should be enough, but please bring something to keep you warm just in case we end up outside. Finally, while food at the Biergarten can be a little overpriced, in my experience it is excellent, and you are likely to enjoy whatever you get. We should be there by 1:00 if you can't make the Museum and just want to meet us for drinks.

It’s time to take control of your mental health. How do you get rid of stress, anxiety and uncertainty? These emotions are buried deep in your reactive mind. Find out what the reactive mind is, and in the process find yourself. Have you ever suffered from a traumatic experience, a deep loss or been through a painful breakup? Has your ability to communicate suffered as a result? And after that, even though you "moved on" did you find that things were never quite the same? Have you ever looked at childhood photos, or reminisced your early life and wondered where that happiness and spark went? Are your emotions out of your own control? Have you ever felt, even if you aren’t aware of it, that possibly you are getting in your own way of your happiness and success? How does this affect your self-confidence? Find out what is at the root of all stress, anxiety, depression and self-doubt. Find out how and why you hold yourself back from achieving your goals and having the life you have dreamed of. As soon as you learn what is at the root of these unwanted conditions, you’ll see it is something you can DO something about. You will not be labeled or categorized at this MeetUp.

Let’s meetup at Cafe Istanbul for the last day of Restaurant Week. You get three courses for $30. This is the menu: https://614now.com/rw-menu/cafeistanbul-easton

# **Band: Old Possum's Menagerie; Caller: Richard Ades** Beginner lesson at 1:30, regular dancing begins at 2:00 pm NOTE THAT WE ARE TEMPORARILY DANCING IN THE AFTERNOON INSTEAD OF EVENING. Dance with us in the afternoon then you can still go out in the evening! **Sponsor: All Soles Contra and Square Dancing, First Unitarian Universalist Church, 93 W. Weisheimer Rd., Columbus OH 43214** WHAT IS CONTRA DANCING? Picture the Grand Ball scenes like you’ve seen in period films such as “Pride and Prejudice”, where the dancers are lined up in long lines, across from each other. That’s English Country Dancing, the predecessor of contra dancing. Now, add moves like “swing your partner” and “do-si-do,” like you’ve seen in square dancing. Set it to fabulous, high energy, live music with fiddles, guitars, percussion and more, alá “Riverdance.” Finally, set the whole scene down in the middle of Woodstock, with a hip, groovy atmosphere, a bit of tie-dye, and hints of counter-culture attitude. THAT’s Contra Dancing! Wear cool and comfortable clothes (you will get warm) and clean shoes that won't mark up our nice wood floor. Be sure to come for the beginner's lesson from 1:30 - 2:00, followed by dancing 2:00 - 430. All dances are taught; we will help you learn! Beginners always welcome, no need to bring a partner. Cost is $10.00 adults, $5.00 ages 12-26. Under 12 free. Free parking in church lot. Please bring your own refillable water bottle.

Private Group. Closed to the Public Knowing ourselves and understanding our abilities is the first step toward wielding our gifts with control and accuracy. In subsequent classes we will verify and hone our talents with activities and discussion. These are hands-on workshops and participation is expected. The goal of our series will be to develop expertise in areas of particular interest such as mediumship, channeling, divination, healing and, etc.. Our ultimate directions will be determined by class members as we evolve. I look forward to sharing and discovering with you. - Cynthia