Plants

We’re still working to get more people into these Meetups, but our goal is to give PlayYourCourt members a few social tennis outings each week in addition to your practice sessions and Challenge League matches. These Meetups are co-ed, super laid back, and all skill levels are welcome. Post your skill level and a suggested court in the comments section so we can round up as many players as we can for some tennis fun! Also, if you’re looking to meet new practice partners or play some matches and you aren’t already in the PlayYourCourt Community, you can go here to see what we’re all about and sign up: https://www.playyourcourt.com/tennis-community/toronto-ON/meetup/ If you love tennis, we’d love to have you! Be sure and watch the quick video that explains how everything works. Happy hitting! - Scott

\*These classes are not a language exchange, but instead are meant to be a step in between so that students feel confident maintaining in depth and grammatically correct oral conversations outside of class\* \***Meetup event numbers only tend to show new students registering and do not include returning students attending class.** **Per class, there is an average of 7 students.** The first 2 classes are free and then only cost between $15 and $45 depending on which type of class you want to continue with.\* These French, Spanish, and English, classes are primarily meant for adults who are travellers, or who are planning to live in a francophone, hispanophone, or anglophone country. *English in this class can only taught in French and Spanish unless you are an advanced learner* The classes are primarily oral-based through guided conversations. They will teach you how to handle conversations in situations such as **"Going to the Convenience Store"**, **"Making Plans"**, **"Negotiating Prices"**, and **"Going out for a Drink"**. To ensure that students get used to using the language automatically, students will learn to maintain contextual conversations with timing before moving on to the next lesson. **Program is also offered in private and online classes**. Call (647)787-9953, e-mail us info@monkeylingo.ca, or visit monkeylingo.ca for more information! **Online and private classes are also available!** No other French nor Spanish classes are as oral as these ones. We guarantee it! Group classes are hosted at **600 Bay Street** (Wishbone Animal Rights Lab) every Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Call (647)787-9953 upon arrival if no one is there to let you in, and someone will come down to let you in. Parking is available across from the Greyhound bus station on Elm Street and Bay Street.

**Description:** * **First time playing?** **:** Join us for a 2-hour show-up-and-play pickleball session. Don’t worry—we’re all beginners here, and you’ll leave with at least one new friend. We’ll mix in for doubles and keep it fun and low-pressure. Bring your own paddle and come play. * **Basic rules and scoring:** Check out the YouTube link below before the event. * https://youtu.be/RoheCHp6IDw?si=8isQQBuuplilTAmB **[Details]** * **Where:** Swing Star * **Address:** 1-15 Connie Crescent, · Vaughan, ca * **Level:** Beginners (Level 2.0 - 2.5) * **What to bring:** Comfortable athletic wear, court shoes, a water bottle, and **your paddle** ### **[Registration & Payment]** To finalize your registration, please send an **e-Transfer of $15** to **playtogether.ca@gmail.com** immediately after your RSVP. Your spot is only confirmed once the payment is received. * **Capacity:** Limited to 8 participants (First come, first served). ### **[Refund Policy]** A **full refund** will be issued in the following cases: 1. If the minimum number of participants (**3 people**) is not met 48 hours before the event. 2. If the court becomes unavailable for booking. 3. If the event is cancelled due to inclement weather. *Please note: No-shows or cancellations made within 48 hours of the event are non-refundable unless the organizer cancels the session.* Join us for a great workout and meet new pickleball friends in the Markham community!

Welcome! Join us at the North York Centre to colour and chat. You can bring your own colouring books and colouring pencils. There’s a Dollarama across the street to buy them. If you’re coming empty-handed, no worries, you can use ours for $2 cash. You can do other art related projects such as sketching, crocheting, etc. As long as you bring your own materials :) We’re meeting at the North York Centre food court by 5:55pm, at the long table in front of the subway. Please contact me if you’re coming late, have trouble finding the place, or have any other questions. Hope to see you soon:) P.S. The group will grab some food after the event in a nearby area and socialize. It is totally optional.

JOIN US AT ONE OF OUR LOCATIONS EVERY TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY WE ARE AT MULLIGAN S BAR AND GRILL LOCATED AT WOODCHESTER PLAZA ON DUNDAS BETWEEN . WINSTON CHURCHILL AND ERIN MILLS PARKWAY START TIME IS 7 30 GREAT FOOD AND GREAT SERVICE HOME COOKED MEALS GREAT SPECIALS COME JOIN OUR IN HOUSE POKER LEAGUE FOR A GREAT NIGHT OF ENTERTAINMENT I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT OUR TABLES

Practice and improve your English through conversation at St. Andrew's Church (73 Simcoe St, downtown Toronto), while making new friends! \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- How to Get Here: By TTC, exit at St. Andrew Station. Walk west on King St. West. Do not enter through the church building; the large church front doors will be closed. At the corner of Simcoe St. and King St. West, walk south on Simcoe St. Enter through St. Andrew Centre behind the church building.

**Facilitated by Chris Dub & Marda Sperber** [FULL DETAILS HERE](https://mailchi.mp/soulguidednetwork/january-march-mushroom-ceremony-18162258?) This ceremony will support you to nurture and strengthen the new pathways you are choosing to take mentally, physically and spiritually to ensure you are a living a life that feels in rhythm with your body and soul. Receive the support you need to let go of the pain, hurt, sense of unworthiness & not enoughness, as well as the struggle we can all feel victim to at times. Immerse yourself into a space of love, forgiveness, and compassion, unlearning the ways you've been taught to judge your *very* human emotions and thoughts. ***You deserve to feel the love and support that's all around you, so you can bring forward the gifts and purpose you came here to share.*** The mind can be sticky, but when you experience genuine love it clarifies any confusion of who you truly are. ***This ceremony is an opportunity for just that: to open up to the authentic love that is innate within you, which opens up your heart, and helps you gain control of the mind.*** ### **Energies that could potentially arise in ceremony** ***Shamanic medicine ceremonies may open access to a wide range of emotional, somatic, energetic, and spiritual experiences. Each journey is unique, and all expressions are welcomed within a container of safety, consent, and compassionate presence.*** ***Energies that may arise:*** * Emotional release such as grief, joy, anger, relief, or deep peace * Memories or imprints from early life, ancestral lineages, or collective experiences * Somatic sensations including trembling, heat, cold, expansion, or energy moving through the body * Kundalini life-force activation, energetic attunements, and realignment * Encounters with inner archetypes, sacred geometry, spirit guides, animal allies, or symbolic imagery * Awareness of repetitive patterns or subconscious conditioning * Messages from past loved ones or benevolent guiding energies * States of expanded awareness, unity, stillness, or heightened intuition * Heart opening, deep surrender, electromagnetic field expansion, and embodied presence *All energies arise only as each participant is ready to meet them and are supported within a regulated, grounded, and loving field.* **Truly forgive yourself, learning to love the darker aspects that are rising to be seen and witnessed.** Cultivate a deeper love for the past versions of you, as well as others who have negatively impacted you. Gratitude is the open door to freedom, and ***when you recognize the gifts of the lessons life has given you - it becomes easier to let go of the anger, resentment, and regret***. As you unravel what has been tight within you, there is a natural alchemy that takes place within the body. Energy blocks and stagnation are unfurled, allowing you to open to more love, and the flow of vital life force energy. ***You will feel a loving space to heal and process through old traumas, ancestral karma, and become more astutely aware of ego identification, leading to more freedom, peace, and simplicity.*** **Release negative thought patterns, rewiring your nervous system for peace, harmony, and balance.** Be held in safe space so you can look at the negative thoughts and limiting beliefs that hold you back from feeling your freest, clearest, most alive and fully expressed self. Regulate your system through the awareness of breath, body (all levels - mental, emotional, physical & energetic), your 5 senses, and extrasensory perceptions. ***As you re-balance and re-align your system you will be able to see your internal experience more clearly, and also recognize why other people are the way they are, allowing you to have more compassion and forgiveness both for others and yourself.*** The more ***aware*** you are, the better ***regulated*** you are, and from that space you can become the master of your domain. You deserve the space and time to simply be, rest, rejuvenate, and feel the aliveness of living life moment by moment for YOU! **You are fully supported throughout the entire journey.** This ceremony includes the optional combination of pure MDMA along with the psilocybin mushrooms. We have found these medicines work very synergistically together, and offer an amplified level of heart opening. The pure MDMA is optional, and the dosing for both medicines will be based upon your intentions, disposition, prior experience, and current state at the time of the ceremony. After this ceremony you will feel more love for yourself and others, with a heightened sense of courage, strength, and integrity. ***You will want to make better choices, and also have the self-awareness needed to stay accountable to yourself.*** This level of love and clarity will emanate out to reach and impact all those closest to you. **This is an invitation to open up your heart, and love and forgive yourself through unconditional acceptance. To awaken to your divinity and beauty, and access your greatest gifts of self-healing and conscious creatorship.** **Ceremony Preparation & Integration** Prior to the ceremony you will receive an in-depth **plant medicine workbook** to help you prepare, questions to ask yourself and a recommended diet to support your experience. We will meet as a group before the ceremony for an **Intention Setting Call**, to connect with each other and share our intentions for the journey. You will also receive a **nervous system regulating practice** that supports in expanding internal awareness, grounding, centering and overall mindfulness. Following the Ceremony we will have an **Integration Call** to support and hold space for continued breakthroughs, challenges and dream weaving. (*All is Included in the Energy Exchange)* \| **Ceremony Day Flow** * Introduction & Sharing of Intentions * Opening the Directions * Mushroom Medicine Ceremony **What Can Happen Throughout This Sacred Ceremony** * Calling in Deities to Support Moving Through Energy Blockages & Embodiment of your Highest Virtues. * Shamanic Drumming for Answering Prayers, Deep Emotional Healing, Connecting to Ancestors & True Forgiveness. * Medicine Songs, Frequency Transmissions, Gong, Shruti, Theta Chimes, Animal Spirit Drumming, Crystal Harp, Singing Bowls, etc. * Periods of Pure Silence * Earth Core Connection & Synchronizing with Mother Nature's Clock. * Channeling of Higher Dimensional Wisdom * Inter Dimensional Shifts of Consciousness * Future Visioning into Your Becoming * Energetic Shedding of the Old Self & Re-birthing as Who You Truly Are. **Ceremony Closing** * Integrative Sound Journey * Gratitude Circle & Honouring of Spiritual Supports * Organic, Vegan, Gluten-Free Potluck w/ Integration Circle **Timing** \~ Saturday, January 31st, 2026 &/or Saturday, March 7th, 2026 11:30 AM - 8:00 PM **Location** \~ Toronto, Ontario (Leslieville) Exact Address Given Upon RSVP **Energy Exchange** \~ **Jan 31st Ceremony** $325 = *when deposit is sent before Jan 16th* $375 = *Jan 16th or after* **March 7th Ceremony** $325 = *when deposit is sent before Feb 20th* $375 = *Feb 20th or after* **Both Ceremonies** $550 = *when deposit is sent before Jan 16th* $600 = *before Jan 30th* **(Includes Group Intention Setting Call, Ceremony,** **Post Ceremony Integration Call, & Prep Material)** *All Prices Includes Tax* **\*How to Register\*** *Email soulguided@soulguidednetwork.com if you are interested in joining the ceremony so you can fill out the intake form & get on a connection call to see if this is a fit. If you have worked with either of us before or we know each other well, you can just send the deposit.* $75 deposit, $150 deposit (for both ceremonies) or the full amount **E-Transfer:** chris@chrisdubkundalini.com **Paypal:** chrisdubkundalini@gmail.com \*\*Credit Card: [HERE ](https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/chrisdubkundalini?locale.x=en_US)\*\*through paypal *A couple spots are reserved for financial assistance. If you are in need, reach out to us at: [soulguided@soulguidednetwork.com](mailto:soulguided@soulguidednetwork.com) to start the conversation.* **Cancellation policy:** *If you cancel up to 7 days before the day of the ceremony, you may use payment towards the next ceremony.* \|

Welcome ! OM Chanting is a group practice that uses the transformational power of OM to activate the self-healing potential of participants, promote inner peace and purify the environment. OM Chanting is a free practice, however, donations are welcome to help cover the rent of the studio. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- EVENT DETAILS: address: 283 Spadina Avenue; 3rd floor. ( SE corner of Spadina and Dundas). We will start at 6:30 pm. Please plan to arrive 5-10 minutes earlier. We will be sitting on chairs; you can also sit on the floor if you prefer. You are encouraged to bring a bottle of water. Looking forward to seeing you ! For more information about Om Chanting, please visit: [https://bhaktimarga.org/yoga-meditation/](https://bhaktimarga.org/yoga-meditation/) Much Love, Veda Cell: 416-845-9375

Join us for a cozy Sunday afternoon of nut-milk tea, vegan treats, and easy conversation at **NUTTEA Toronto**. This is a **monthly, small-group meetup** designed for people who enjoy a calm pace and an intimate setting—think **tea shop vibes**. Whether you’re coming solo, bringing a friend, or simply looking for a relaxed way to meet other plant-based folks (and plant-curious folks!), you’re in the right place. You don’t have to be vegan to attend—everyone is welcome. Just note that NUTTEA is **100% plant-based**, so everything on the menu is vegan and delicious. ✨ **Spots are limited** to keep the gathering comfortable, so if your plans change after RSVPing, please update your RSVP so someone else can join. 📍 Venue **NUTTEA Toronto** 637 Bloor Street West NUTTEA Menu: [https://nuttea.net/](https://nuttea.net/) We’ll be sipping their signature **nut-milk teas** and enjoying baked goods from **Bad Attitude Bread**—one of Toronto’s favourite vegan bakeries. Expect a warm, relaxed atmosphere and the perfect setting for a long, unhurried chat. 📅 Event Details **Sunday, March 8, 2026** **1:00 PM – 3:00 PM** No cover charge — just please support our host by purchasing a drink and/or treat. ✨ What to Expect • A small, friendly group • Cozy nut-based teas, lattes, and vegan pastries • A relaxed, sit-down meetup made for conversation • A welcoming space for both regulars and first-timers • A calm Sunday afternoon vibe on Bloor Street ☕ How it works Come in, grab a drink or snack, and settle in. We’ll have **name tags** to make intros easy, and the rest is simple: chat, connect, and enjoy. Conversation can be anything from: • favourite vegan spots in Toronto • recipes and food finds • plant-based living (or curiosity about it) • travel, work, hobbies, books, life stuff • animal rights, sustainability, or whatever’s on your mind No pressure, no agenda — just a cozy place to meet good people ❓ Questions? Message the event hosts anytime — we’re happy to help.

✨ **Come and Enjoy Learning Japanese with Us!** ✨ This is a friendly and affordable class where you can practice speaking, reading, and writing Japanese in a relaxed environment. Whether you are a complete beginner, intermediate, or advanced learner, we have a place for you! **Registration** **form** [https://forms.gle/8MmojM2pzRJ75N1s9](https://forms.gle/8MmojM2pzRJ75N1s9) 📅 **When**: Every 🔸**Thursday**🔸, 7:00–8:30 PM (Starting February 19th) 📍 **Where**: Family Federation for World Peace and Unification 215 Mavety Street, Toronto, M6P 2M1 💰 Cost: • **$15 for 2 sessions** • Family discount: $20 for 2 sessions (for everyone in the family) (The fee helps cover textbooks, snacks, drinks, and events.) 📘 **Class Update** (Starting This Month!) From this month, classes will be divided into Beginner and Intermediate levels, and the lessons will be held on alternating weeks. 🟢 **Beginner Class: February 19th, March5th, 26th** • Basic words & grammer • long vowel,voiced consonant,double consonant 🔵 **Intermediate Class: February 26th, March 12th** • Conversation practice • Kanji 👥**Open to college students and adults**, But this course is intended for participants with some prior Japanese learning experience :) Classes will run weekly for now, with no set end date. Days with other events will be skipped. We hope you join us and enjoy learning Japanese in a warm, community atmosphere!

🌸International Women’s Day Urban Hike🌸 Come join a special urban hike in celebration of International Women’s Day a day to honour the strength, resilience, and connection of women. Meet your fellow Toronto Hiking Moms and enjoy a relaxed walk through High Park, with space to connect, breathe, and move together. This will be a mom’s only event. No kiddos. We’ll begin at the entrance of High Park (Bloor St W & High Park Ave), make our way through the park, and pause for a short guided walking forest bathing meditation. From there, we’ll continue along Howard Park toward our final stop: The Commoner – 2067 Dundas St W Stay for lunch, a drink, or simply good conversation—whatever feels right for you. You are responsible for your own purchase of lunch/drink. ✨ Details: • Distance: \~4 km • All ages welcome • Optional lunch/social after the hike This is a beautiful opportunity to meet other women, build community, and get some fresh air and movement into your day. Not staying for lunch? No problem—you’re absolutely welcome to join just for the hike. Bring water, dress for the weather and come celebrate women with me. See you in the park. 🌸💙 Disclaimer: By attending Toronto Hiking Moms events, you accept all risks associated with outdoor activities and take full responsibility for yourself and your child(ren), if applicable. Toronto Hiking Moms is not liable for any injuries or damages. By marking “attending,” you agree to this disclaimer.

**DANFORTH WALK, BUTTERFLY MURAL & GREEK LUNCH️** Street Culture, Public Art & A Proper Greek Feast There’s something about the Danforth that feels like old-school Toronto in the best possible way — vibrant, layered, proudly local, and full of stories. Join us for a social walk along one of the city’s most iconic stretches: **Danforth Avenue**. As we stroll west toward downtown, we’ll pass lively patios, long-standing family restaurants, cozy cafés, independent shops, and the everyday rhythm of a neighbourhood that has shaped Toronto’s cultural identity for generations. This area is famously home to the annual **Taste of the Danforth**, one of the largest street festivals in the city — and historically, it was once home to the largest Greek community outside of Greece. You feel that history in the bakeries, the signage, the music drifting from open doors. It’s not just a walk. I t’s a little slice of Toronto heritage — experienced together. **Don’t forget to join our WhatsApp group** – [CLICK HERE!](https://chat.whatsapp.com/H59mSCbsAi018gYANrKAnc?mode=ac_t) \*\*\* The Butterfly Mural Stop Along the way, we’ll stop at the Butterfly Mural, sponsored by the **David Suzuki Foundation** as part of The Great Canadian Butterflyway Project. It’s bold, colourful, and rooted in environmental awareness — a reminder that even in the middle of the city, we are connected to something larger. We’ll pause, take photos, chat, and enjoy a little moment of art-meets-nature in urban Toronto. \*\*\* ️ Greek Lunch at a Danforth Institution After our walk, we’ll sit down for lunch at the historic **Astoria Shish Kebob House**, one of the most well-known Greek restaurants in the city. Expect: Classic souvlaki Lemon potatoes Fresh Greek salad Big, generous comfort food energy Menu: Click Here! Nothing bonds people like sharing a table and passing the tzatziki. \*\*\* ‍♂️ What to Expect We’ll walk at a relaxed, social pace — stopping to observe, chat, and enjoy the neighbourhood. The route will take us toward Danforth & Chester. You’re welcome to leave at any time. \*\*\* ❄️ Weather & Commitment Please don’t sign up if you’re not ready to walk in real winter conditions. This event happens rain, snow, or classic Toronto wind. The only exception: if temperatures reach -20°C, the event will be canceled. Bundle up — this one is for the walkers. ❄️ \*\*\* Meetup Details Meetup Location: Outside the station (exact station noted in event listing) I’ll be wearing my Moose Hat ⏰ Meetup Time: 11:00 AM ❗ I will only wait 5 minutes Please arrive on time so we can begin together. End Location: Danforth & Chester \*\*\* Meetup Fee ️ **Meetup Fee:** $5 cash in person **or** e-transfer to \*\*[mathewmaclean@hotmail.com**](http://mathewmaclean@hotmail.com%2A%2A/) This fee helps support the group and allows us to keep hosting events like this. Thank you for supporting community! \*\*\* What to Bring * Water * Good winter boots * Gloves & hat * Something warm to drink * A small snack (optional) Layers are your best friend. \*\*\* Who Is This For? This group is open to anyone who wants to be social and make friends — whether you’re single or not. We also host: Movies Walks & hikes Arts & culture ️ Restaurant outings …and lots of welcoming, low-pressure community gatherings. You’re always welcome. \*\*\* REMEMBER: You can just show up on the day if you’re unsure about your schedule. And as always, sometimes life happens and plans may need to shift — please keep an eye out for updates. \*\*\* Organizer: Mathew Questions? Post on the event wall or email [torontomoviesandoutings@hotmail.com](mailto:torontomoviesandoutings@hotmail.com) Come for the culture. Stay for the conversation. Leave full — in more ways than one. The Danforth has heart. Let’s go feel it together. ️✨

Hosted by Licking Parks District Backyard Conservation: Composting 101 Thursday, March 5, 2026 Join us to learn how to create nutrient-rich compost right at home! Whether you have a small garden, a backyard, or just a few potted plants, this program is perfect for anyone interested in reducing waste and boosting soil health. We will go over what compost is and how to use it, what can and cannot be composted, when to turn and water your compost, and troubleshooting! Free. [Register by March 1. Click here ](https://www.lickingparkdistrict.com/267/March-2026) 6PM - 7PM Location: James Bradley Center, Infirmary Mound Park

Hosted by Wild Ones Columbus How to Install a Bog Garden, with David Marsolo Saturday, March 14th, 2026 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (Eastern Time) Innis House (Inniswoods Metro Park) , 940 S. Hempstead Road, Westerville, OH Public Welcome Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking A bog can serve the same functions as a traditional rain garden but has the advantages of being low maintenance, climate resilient and attractive for a much longer part of the year. David Marsolo is a long time Wild Ones member. He has been maintaining artificial bogs at his suburban Westerville home for about 20 years. He will describe how to install a bog and fill it with many interesting native plants including pollinator and host plants https://columbus.wildones.org/calendar-of-events-and-programs/?wo_event_id=11160

Hosted by Licking Parks District Planning and Growing a Cut Flower Garden Thursday, March 12, 2026 Are you a plant lover or garden enthusiast who would like to add growing cut flowers to your garden repertoire but don’t know where to start? Or maybe you’d like to grow flowers instead of grass to attract pollinators? Whatever your flower dream is, let’s dig in and start here! Join Tracey Barnes of Moon Maiden Flower Farm to learn the basic foundations of growing a cut flower garden, which includes planning, choosing the right varieties, succession planting for continuous blooms, maintenance, harvesting and post harvest care for making bouquets. Whatever your horticulture experience level is, you’ll gain confidence in your decision making, and before you know it, you’ll be slinging flowers and sharing their beauty with others. Register by Mar 11. [Register here for free https://www.lickingparkdistrict.com/267/March-2026](https://www.lickingparkdistrict.com/267/March-2026) 6PM - 7:30PM Location: James Bradley Center, Infirmary Mound Park

Come join us for coffee at Matari Coffee to discuss our March book, "The Enchanted Greenhouse"! Book description: Terlu Perna broke the law because she was lonely. She cast a spell and created a magically sentient spider plant. As punishment, she was turned into a wooden statue and tucked away into an alcove in the North Reading Room of the Great Library of Alyssium. This should have been the end of her story . . . Yet one day, Terlu wakes in the cold of winter on a nearly-deserted island full of hundreds of magical greenhouses. She’s starving and freezing, and the only other human on the island is a grumpy gardener. To her surprise, he offers Terlu a place to sleep, clean clothes, and freshly baked honey cakes—at least until she’s ready to sail home. But Terlu can’t return home and doesn’t want to—the greenhouses are a dream come true, each more wondrous than the next. When she learns that the magic that sustains them is failing—causing the death of everything within them—Terlu knows she must help. Even if that means breaking the law again. This time, though, she isn’t alone. Assisted by the gardener and a sentient rose, Terlu must unravel the secrets of a long-dead sorcerer if she wants to save the island—and have a fresh chance at happiness and love.

🌱 Vegan Dinner + Bowling Night 🎳 Join us for a relaxed vegan dinner at Loving Hut on Saturday, March 14 from 6:00–8:00 PM. We’ll enjoy delicious plant-based food, good conversation, and chill, friendly vibes. After dinner, we’ll head over for bowling at Holiday Lanes for some fun and laughs 🎉 ✨ All are welcome 🥗 100% vegan dinner 🎳 Bowling afterwards (optional) Come eat, connect, and enjoy a fun Saturday night together 💚 Locations: Loving Hut 6569 E Livingston Ave Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 Holiday lanes 4589 E Broad St Columbus, OH 43213

**Confidence in Bloom: How Creativity Builds Confidence** What happens when creativity becomes an intentional practice? In this month’s Confidence Lab, we’ll gather at **Petals That Inspire: The Flourish Studio** for an evening exploring the connection between creativity and confidence. How making with our hands, engaging our senses, and allowing space for expression can shift how we see ourselves and what we believe is possible. Our featured speaker, **Amanda Lorenzetti**, owner of Petals That Inspire, will share how creativity has shaped her own confidence journey and why creative environments play such a powerful role in well-being, resilience, and personal growth. Drawing from her work leading an experience-driven floral studio and a community-centered workforce development program, Amanda will reflect on creativity as both a personal and collective catalyst. Amanda will also guide us through a **hands-on floral design experience**, creating a fresh arrangement in a wide mouth mason jar. No prior floral experience is needed, just curiosity and a willingness to engage the process. This evening is an invitation to slow down, create, and reconnect with the part of yourself that grows through care, attention, and imagination. You’ll leave with a floral arrangement to take home, and a deeper understanding of how confidence can be cultivated through creative practices. **Featured Speaker: Amanda Lorenzetti** Amanda Lorenzetti is the owner and founder of [Petals That Inspire](https://www.petalsthatinspire.com/) and The Flourish Studio, a social enterprise florist based in Columbus, Ohio. She brings more than a decade of experience in wedding and event sales, paired with hands-on expertise in floral and event design. Amanda’s connection to the floral industry began early, spending time alongside her godmother, a professional florist on the East Coast. After earning her business degree, she returned to her hometown in Connecticut to work as a floral and event designer, blending creative artistry with strong operational and client-focused skills. In 2020, Amanda returned to the floral industry with a renewed purpose, driven by a desire to build a business rooted in creativity, community impact, and sustainability. During this pivotal time, she founded Petals That Inspire—an innovative floral concept that reimagines the traditional florist model by combining event florals, workshops, and experiential offerings with a mission-centered approach to workforce development. Today, Petals That Inspire is a thriving social enterprise known for its thoughtful design, educational experiences, and commitment to empowering young adults facing barriers to entry in the workforce. Amanda is deeply passionate about building businesses that are both profitable and purpose-driven, and she leverages her strong business acumen to create a scalable & sustainable model that inspires creativity while giving back to the community. **What is Confidence Lab?** Confidence Lab is a monthly community experience for bold, thoughtful leaders building confidence from the inside out. Whether you’re launching a business, leading a team, navigating change, or simply striving to show up more fully—you belong here. Our work demands clarity, courage, and conviction—but the pace of daily life can erode our sense of self. Confidence Lab creates space to reflect, reconnect, and grow with others doing purpose-driven work. It’s designed for entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, creatives, corporate professionals, activists, and anyone ready to lead with authenticity and impact. ***Please note:*** *All are welcome! If cost is a concern, please use promo code PUBLIC to access a free ticket—we want you to join us.*

**Caller: Frank Buschelmann** **Band: The Rosenthorns** **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!