Power Map

The [Global Excel Summit](https://globalexcelsummit.com/?via=lem) returns on the **19-20 May 2026** and it will be Hybrid - so a mix of in-person in London (venue is Soho Place Theatre) and online. This is a paid event and as a London Excel Meetup group member, you get a special 15% discounted price by applying code **LEM15** at checkout. This is the ultimate Excel event with ✅ 2 days in-person learning (19 & 20 May) ✅ 30+ Main Stage presentations covering the MS Power Stack (Power BI, Power Automate, etc), AI, Data Viz, Analytics, Finance and Accounting, Python, Formulas, and more. ✅ Full access to the virtual platform ✅ Awesome chance to network with other Excel & Power BI professionals and companies ✅ All event recordings ✅ 30+ CPD hours and CPD certificate of attendance ✅ Optional Masterclass sessions to sign up to on 18, 21, and 22 May 2026 **Early Bird Tickets** Only 43 early bird tickets remain, so best **move fast** to secure yours before they run out. What is an early bird ticket? Well it is 30% off, so your £545 in-person ticket becomes £382 (for 2 days Excel learning). Use code **LEM15** for an additional 15% off this price. Crazy good value! Get your [Global Excel Summit 2026](https://globalexcelsummit.com/?via=lem) ticket today. Be sure to RSVP on this event page so other members know that you're going, but RSVP does not confirm attendance. It is a paid event and requires a ticket. I hope to see you there.

A Rabble session is 1 hour of fun and social team games. Each game disguises high-intensity intervals within the rules, giving you an effective, all-body workout without even realising it. We play a bunch of different games at each session (like British Bulldog, Capture the Flag, Dodgeball, Frisbee and many more), and every class is different. Sessions are open to all, no matter your sporting ability. Each game is explained before we start, so there's no need to have played any of the games before. Come solo or bring friends! And stay at the end for the social part! Who knew getting fit could be this fun? **TO BOOK**: It's essential that you book onto sessions via our website, using the link below; due to restrictions on games and preparation times we cannot accept walk-ins, or late arrivals. [https://joinrabble.com/locations/london/](https://joinrabble.com/locations/london/) Use the code **FREEPLAY** to get your first game free! *** We play every: * Monday in Finsbury Park (19:00 - 20:00) * Tuesday in Shoreditch Park (19:00 - 20:00) * Wednesdays in Elephant & Castle (19:00-20:00) * Saturday in Southwark Park (10:30 - 11:30) * Saturday in Finsbury Park (11:00 - 12:00) * Sunday in Clapham Common (12:00 - 13:00) We hope to see you playing soon! PS. We have a group of dedicated regulars, so numbers are usually much higher than meetup might suggest. Sign up at: [https://joinrabble.com/locations/london/](https://joinrabble.com/locations/london/) **Love Rabble**

**Tue Badminton 7-9pm @ Tower Building** **Fee £11 for 2 hours (payable in advance upon booking)** **3 courts in the Tower Building** Feather shuttlecocks will be supplied. Please bring your own racquets. **Payment details:** **\*\*\*Please pay in advance upon booking or at least 24h in advance before the session. Unpaid bookings will be removed from the list.\*\*\*** **REVOLUT BANK ACCOUNT** **Name: LM BADMINTON LTD** **Account Number: 19226405** **Sort Code: 23-01-20** **Reference: 'YOUR MEETUP NAME & DATE ie 270126'** \*No cash\* Please use your profile name and date of session as payment reference, so that it can be identified. To ensure fair access to the session, anyone who signs up but does not make payment 24h in advance will have their places cancelled and offered to other players. **Waiting List Update:** When the event is full, there will be a waiting list for players to put their names on. Once a spot becomes available, i.e. another member cancels, the first person on the waiting list will be added to RSVP automatically. As such, the person will be sent an automated email confirming so. For those who do not wish to be added automatically, please remove your name from the waiting list. Please cancel waitlist 24 hours before the event if made other plans, as meetup will push you to attending list if spot opens up. We charge on spot basis. **Late Cancellations Penalty:** If you cancel with less than 24 hours notice it is your responsibility to liaise with those on the waiting list and find a replacement. If you do then no penalty but if you don’t find a replacement you pay 50% of the session fee, raising to 100% on the second late cancelation. You MUST also inform the organisers who your replacement is. **No Show Fees:** Full fee will be added to the profile on the next visit. **Contacts:** The best way to get in touch is through meetup as your message will get picked up by the designated organiser for the chosen event. Otherwise please use WhatsApp to message us. Email: badmclub@gmail.com uni_badm1nton@yahoo.co.uk Primary: Vinh 07974 177707 Secondary: Nikita 07585 954797 **Disclaimer:** Organisers or LondonMet University can accept no liability for any loss or injury, however sustained, while taking part in club activities. If you want to cover yourself against injury to yourself or others, please make sure you have the appropriate insurance. In the interest of health and safety, proper footwear is a must in this club which means no casual footwear and no barefoot on the court.

Hey there, data enthusiasts and ClickHouse aficionados! We've got some exciting news to share - our next meetup is on the horizon, and it's going to be in London! Get ready for a delightful mix of mind-boggling data tales, insightful conversations, and maybe even a surprise or two up our sleeves. But here's the deal: to secure your spot, make sure you register ASAP! **Location:** *The Lighterman -* 3 Granary Square, London N1C 4BH **Agenda:** 6:00 - 6:30 - Arrival and Check-in 6:30 - 7:00 - **AI Dashboards & Time-Travel Debugging Kubernetes -** Rory Crispin, ClickHouse 7:00 - 7:30 - **Curing LLM amnesia with chDB and ClickHouse -** Shuva Jyoti Kar, Palo Alto Networks 7:30 - 8:00 - **ClickHouse @ Fluidstack** \- Xander Garbett\, Fluidstack 8:00 - 9:00 - Food, Drinks, and Conversation

**BOOK HERE**: https://sportas.co.uk/games/45398 **Game Description:** Come and play Tuesday evenings Lower-Intermediate volleyball session in Poplar 🔥 Picturesque court with plenty of serving space and also space to stay warm on the side when your team is off waiting for the next game 🙌 **Rules** 3 teams of 6 Games to 15 points

**BOOK HERE**: https://sportas.co.uk/games/46653 **Game Description:** Come and join our badminton session in Canning Town 🔥 Join our whatsapp Group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/LsLjg8CxI8MIxSFb82qkdb Music 🎶 3 courts, social session - the general ability is mid intermediate. There will be spare rackets but please bring your own racket if you do have one. 1 new tube of FEATHERED shuttles will be provided per session, plus a set of Yonex 300 plastic shuttles. 🚪 Getting Into the School 1\. The school is surrounded by a green fence\. 2\. Entrance is near the stone wall\. 3\. At the gate\, find the intercom on the right\-hand side\. 4\. Press the ‘Call’ button and wait for security to respond\. 5\. When the intercom flashes green\, push the gate open\. \-\-\- 🏸 Finding the Indoor Court 1\. After entering\, go through the visitor gate\. 2\. Follow the corridor to the end\. 3\. Look for the yellow double doors – the badminton courts are inside\! \-\-\- 🚻 Facilities 🔹 Changing Rooms & Toilets \- Located outside the court area in the corridor\. \- Male facilities – right\-hand side\. \- Female facilities – left\-hand side\. 💧 Water Points \- There are three water points in the corridor outside the court\. \- Bring a water bottle to use with the water pump\. Enjoy your game! 🏸🔥 **Rules** Games to 21 Max two games on Max one game off

Join our weekly mixed 3x3 basketball run, organised by the GG3x3 (https://www.gg3x3.com/), an hour of non-stop 3x3 action based on FIBA 3x3 rules all levels welcome! 3x3 is an Olympic Sport played in teams of 3 in half court, and is a fun way of experiencing the game of basketball. 3x3 is particularly suited to basketball beginners as you get more touches on the ball, have more space to move into off of ball screens or when you are playing off the ball. Please join this game using the free GameOn Active app ([download here](https://gameonactive.co.uk/connect.html)) which is a free app we use to organise the run. Crossharbour Montessori Day Nursery is 1 min walk from Crossharbour DLR station. On arrival, please let reception know that you are there for a basketball session and you will be let through, at the courts please ask for Scotty. We look forward to balling with you there!

This month we're celebrating the TENTH anniversary of the London Fabric User Group - having started life as the London Power BI User Group TEN years ago. We'd love you to join us at the offices of the aptly named Tenth Revolution to help us celebrate. # TENTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION WITH CHRIS WEBB Chris has presented at the user group every year in May to celebrate our anniversary, and we didn't want this year to be any different. **Power BI under the bonnet**: monitoring queries and refreshes using Workspace Monitoring, Log Analytics, Profiler and DAX Studio When you're performance tuning a slow Power BI report or refresh you need to know what happens inside the engine, and the good news is that the Power BI engine can give you all kinds of detailed information on its internals. But how do you get access to this? How can you understand it? In this session you'll find out: how you can get (almost) the same information on internals from Workspace Monitoring, Log Analytics, SQL Server Profiler and DAX Studio and when to use which; which engine events are relevant to queries and which ones are relevant to refreshes; and how you can interpret this information for tuning. **Agenda** 18:30 - Welcome, drinks, pizza & networking 19:00 - Main Session 20:00 - Help us celebrate at a local pub (details to be confirmed on the night) **Venue** Tenth Revolution offices in London. Aldgate House, 33 Aldgate High St, London EC3N 1DL Please provide your first and last name when registering for the event, as this is provided to building security to allow you entrance into the venue.

**BOOK HERE**: https://sportas.co.uk/games/48520 **Game Description:** Entrance from Redvers Street. 🏀🔥 SATURDAY MORNING PICK-UP BALL! 🔥🏀 Welcome to this FIBA half court morning power run. 💥 1 hour. Non-stop hoops. Max fun. At this newly refurbished basketball court. 💥 Kickstart your weekend with a shot of adrenaline, buckets, and banter! 😎💪 ✅ All abilities & all genders welcome – everyone gets game time 🙌 ✅ We switch it up: 🏃‍♂️ FIBA 4v4 or 🏆 FIBA 3x3 – depends on turnout! ✅ 60 mins might sound short… but trust us, your legs will feel it 🦵🦿🍗😎🏀✌️👀😄 🎥 Check out last sessions👉 https://youtu.be/wHivEa2vTZY?si=0_nSd6jMupKYi5Fg https://youtu.be/LAxvt06QuHA?si=Ilr-Apx0nN3UlB-X https://youtu.be/doCxu5pAlA4?si=IQpnpbZEmZNl3nVj https://youtu.be/movPfsKmot8?si=pNedkYn5HVU-6I04 https://youtu.be/tRSEfzBPIEw?si=Ul5t9kMJXUBCf-3y 📺 Games are filmed & streamed – see your highlights later 👀🔥 📍 New City Fitness - Hoxton 🚪 Entrance via Redvers Street! 🚶‍♂️ 3 min walk from Hoxton Overground 🚿 Showers & changing rooms available Entrance via Redvers Street. Walk through the metal gate, walk about 5 meters and turn right into the reception. Go downstairs via the staircase on your right, and find the entrance to the court. It is the court on your left. 💬 Join my WhatsApp group👉 with other 600+ ballers and 5+ sessions a week. https://chat.whatsapp.com/EtHAq8ycmea9EwtvgTsQPo No excuses. Just show up, hoop hard, and start your weekend with buckets 🏀💯🔥 **Rules** As a general rule (but we are flexible): 1-7 players -> FIBA 3x3 8-10 players -> FIBA 4v4

Sunday rehearsal with Castellers of London. Meet us at the OBC Community Centre to help build human towers! This get together is a great opportunity for you to meet new friends, socialise and have a go and explore your abilities as a human tower builder a.k.a Casteller! For newcomers we have a team of trained Castellers who will introduce you to the group, guide you through the activity and help you safely take part in this unique Catalan tradition. When you arrive just approach us as we are really friendly! If in doubt ask for Cuss! Please let us know if you are bringing guests. After the rehearsal we go to a nearby pub for social drinks where everyone is welcome :) What do you need? 1. Ideally a cotton shirt: to protect your neck and shoulders, the more durable the shirt/top the better. We do not recommend any thin items of clothing! 2. Jeans: allowing you to move freely without breaking. 3. Mask: We still require the use of a mask as you will be very close to your fellow Castellers - basically you will be hugging people! The rest of the equipment is on us! We take health and safety very seriously, both in relation to COVID-19 and also the activity- please be assured that the safety of all participants is of the utmost importance to us and we take all necessary precautions to minimize the risk, ensuring we all have a great time! Our regular members won't be filling in the Meet Up to say they are going 🙂 So don't be put off if you see only a handful have said they are going. A minimum of 25 on the day is normal. What the Meet Up may show is how many new people like yourself are going.

A fun and hands on introduction to LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®, ideal for those who have not experienced the method before. After being welcomed by our experienced facilitator Sean Blair, you will explore building models as an individual and as a group. You will become practiced at several methods of communication and learn to hear and understand others, all using LEGO! Following the workshop we will send you a free pdf copy of the book "SeriousWork" - a hands on guide to using LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® yourself (5\*\*\*\*\* reviewed book that sells for £25 on Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Facilitate-Meetings-Workshops-Serious-Method/dp/0995664706) Ideal for those who are interested in participatory leadership, better communication and creativity. If you have attended a taster workshop before, you are welcome to attend but please note this introductory workshop will be a similar experience.

You want to do your best! You want to realise your potential! You want to make the right decisions at the right time! Obviously- you want to be a success! Do you have all the skills in place? Do you have areas in your life or personality that are weaker and you feel can stop you or hold you back? Would you like a free personal consultation to help locate your strengths and weaker areas? We can help you to maximise on your potential. If you would like a free 1 hour consult then register now! We have various times available for your own personal consultation This is hosted at the Scientology Life Improvement Centre in London. We use the Oxford Capacity Analysis test. https://www.scientology-london.org.uk/personality-test/

**BOOK HERE**: https://sportas.co.uk/games/46677 **Game Description:** Come and join our badminton session in Canning Town 🔥 Join our whatsapp Group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/LsLjg8CxI8MIxSFb82qkdb Music 🎶 3 courts, social session - the general ability is mid intermediate. There will be spare rackets but please bring your own racket if you do have one. 1 new tube of FEATHERED shuttles will be provided per session, plus a set of Yonex 300 plastic shuttles. 🚪 Getting Into the School 1\. The school is surrounded by a green fence\. 2\. Entrance is near the stone wall\. 3\. At the gate\, find the intercom on the right\-hand side\. 4\. Press the ‘Call’ button and wait for security to respond\. 5\. When the intercom flashes green\, push the gate open\. \-\-\- 🏸 Finding the Indoor Court 1\. After entering\, go through the visitor gate\. 2\. Follow the corridor to the end\. 3\. Look for the yellow double doors – the badminton courts are inside\! \-\-\- 🚻 Facilities 🔹 Changing Rooms & Toilets \- Located outside the court area in the corridor\. \- Male facilities – right\-hand side\. \- Female facilities – left\-hand side\. 💧 Water Points \- There are three water points in the corridor outside the court\. \- Bring a water bottle to use with the water pump\. Enjoy your game! 🏸🔥 **Rules** Games to 21 Max two games on in a row Max one game off in a row

**BEFORE YOU BOOK: This is a Core Community meetup ❤️ To attend you must have played Zombies before, or attend with someone else who has played before - there will not be a beginner's tutorial at this event.** **Zombies** is a large-scale **infectious outdoor tag game!** 🏃 Evade zombies, pick up health packs, become the final survivor! If you're caught, you turn into a zombie and **join the hunt! 🧟** Watch the **Player Tutorial Video** to learn how to play! [https://youtu.be/waan3osJ1gI](https://youtu.be/waan3osJ1gI) \*\*\*\*\*\*\* **📍 LOCATION/HOW TO FIND 📍** Meet at the Red Bridge over the river in the Coal Drops area 5mins walk north of Kings Cross train station Map: **[https://maps.app.goo.gl/ExQ6Bkwe7S4sAGGq8](https://maps.app.goo.gl/ExQ6Bkwe7S4sAGGq8)** \*\*\*\*\*\*\* If you like hilarious situations, outdoor fitness, social times, group activities, games, adventures, sports or new ways to exercise, **you will love Zombies!** Bonding over nearly dying is also a fantastic way to **make friends for life!** ❤️ Our Gameplay Meetups are **100% FREE** and open to everyone (kids are allowed if accompanied by an adult). We are LGBTQ+ friendly and encourage everyone to be who you are - **we love you for you!** \*\*\*\*\*\*\* **📱 Get the PlayCulture App:** You'll be using the 100% free PlayCulture app to play at our meetups. Get it here: **[www.playculture.com/app](https://www.playculture.com/app)** (and if you're feeling creative, start designing your avatar!) **❤️ Support PlayCulture!** If you are loving our free gameplay meetups please consider supporting us on Patreon! **[patreon.com/playculture](https://www.patreon.com/playculture)** or drop us a one-off donation **[playculture.com/donate](https://www.playculture.com/donate.php)** \*\*\*\*\*\*\* **REVIEWS** ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ *Fun, engaging and intense, my new favourite workout!* \- Adrien ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ *I have made new friends who are now my go to activity buddies. I highly recommend it to your inner child! - Anon* ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ *I had so much fun! Definitely a very welcoming environment with lots of great people. It was a great way to unwind/de-stress - AnonymousGoat* \*\*\*\*\*\*\* **🚀 WHAT HAPPENS AT OUR MEETUPS? 🚀** Your friendly game leader will explain the rules and then we'll play a few rounds (about 20-30mins each) with some social time in-between to laugh about who got infected and how! At the end of the meetup we usually hang out until the owls are hooting **⚡ HOW DOES THE GAME WORK? ⚡** This game uses the free PlayCulture App ([playculture.com/app](https://www.playculture.com/app)). Players divide into **Survivors** and **Zombies**. Survivors try to evade the Zombies (using the danger compass to see where they are), and can pick up health packs to stay alive for longer. If a Zombie gets too close they can infect you! If you get infected you become a Zombie and join the hunt! At the end you will see a leaderboard showing everyone’s scores. You can watch our **Player Tutorial Video** to learn more [https://youtu.be/waan3osJ1gI](https://youtu.be/waan3osJ1gI) **🎈 CAN I BRING MY FRIEND? 🎈** Absolutely! If you want you can stick together and play as a ninja team! Just select extra tickets if you are bringing someone with you **🥾 WHAT TO BRING** 🌊 \- Smartphone with mobile data\, fully charged battery and PlayCulture App installed \([playculture.com/app](https://www.playculture.com/app)) \- Comfy shoes \- Bottle of water **🛍️ WHAT NOT TO BRING 🎒** Please try not to bring a bag/backpack as we don't have anywhere to store bags **📜 RULES 📜** Zombies takes place in public spaces, so please remember these rules: \- Non\-players always have priority \- Safety first: don’t do anything to endanger yourself or anyone else \- Don’t run around blind corners or across roads\, no risk\-taking\! \- Smile and enjoy\! **❤️ MORE INFORMATION 🤔** We're very happy to answer any questions you may have, just message us on Meetup, or email [info@playculture.com](http://info@playculture.com/), or visit [www.playculture.com](http://www.playculture.com/) **📷 PHOTOGRAPHY 🎥** Please note that we may film or take photos at our events, either for promotion or for our YouTube channel. By attending our events you agree to feature **📢 REMEMBER 📢** You are responsible for yourself and for your own safety. By attending you are agreeing to our terms (available here: [playculture.com/disclaimer](https://www.playculture.com/disclaimer)) Take care out there in the big wide world, and let us know if anything is troubling you **❤️**

Join us as we get together to see Paul Rudd in the latest comedy-drama-musical from John Carney, POWER BALLAD! The film follows a washed-up wedding singer, a fading boy band singer and a stolen hit song. Here’s a description, trailer and plan for this event: DESCRIPTION: Rick, a washed-up wedding singer, and Danny, a fading boy band star, bond over music and a late-night jam session. When Danny turns Rick's song into a hit, Rick sets out to reclaim the recognition he believes he deserves. Power Ballad is written/directed by John Carney, the master of the modern musical and creative mind behind Once, Begin Again and Sing Street! It stars Paul Rudd, Nick Jonas, Peter McDonald, Marcella Plunkett, Havana Rose Liu and Jack Reynor. BUZZ & ACCLAIM: The film premiered to rave reviews at this year’s Dublin International Film Festival where critics call it “a sure-fired crowd-pleaser” that “just might be the feel-good hit of the year!” Others say, “Paul Rudd delivers a career-best performance in this charmer” that’s both “hilarious and deeply moving!” SUMMER OF ICE CREAM, VOL 2: SHAKE NO. 8! Ranked the #1 Ice Cream Shop in Columbus in 2024, this is the perfect place to kick off our Summer of Ice Cream and grab a sweet treat after the show! Their menu features an array of traditional, specialty and vegan shakes, hot cocoa, and more! You can check out their full menu here: [https://www.shakeno8.com/menu.php](https://www.shakeno8.com/menu.php) PLAN: We’ll plan for a 7pm-ish showing and will meet in the lobby area about 20 minutes before the show. Once showtime is announced, advance ticket purchase is advised! Once you have yours, please list your seat number in the Comments section of this event. We'll head to nearby Shake No. 8 immediately following the show! Should be a fun one, Dan

**How to take control of your subconscious and harness its power!** Join us for an eye-opening lecture where the speaker will break down complex ideas in a clear and practical way. You’ll gain insights into: ✅ The true definition of the subconscious ✅ How it generates unwanted emotions ✅ Its real purpose and function ✅ What determines the pressure it exerts on you And the most important topic: **How do you take control of your subconscious!** But this isn’t just another lecture where you sit and listen passively. It’s interactive and engaging—you can ask questions at any time. 📅 Reserve your spot now! Seats are limited, so don’t wait too long to sign up. Location: 1266 Dublin Rd, Columbus, OH 43215 Hosted by the Hubbard Dianetics Foundation

Customer identity resolution becomes increasingly complex as organizations scale across multiple systems, regions, and data formats. Traditional rule-based approaches often fail to keep up with data variability, require constant manual tuning, and struggle with real-time processing needs. This session presents a practical approach to building a scalable identity resolution pipeline using AWS services and modern AI techniques. The architecture combines data ingestion through Amazon S3 and AWS Glue, transformation pipelines using Spark on EMR, and machine learning models deployed via SageMaker for entity matching and standardization. Graph-based relationship modeling is implemented using Amazon Neptune to improve resolution accuracy by incorporating household and shared attribute context. We will walk through how machine learning models can be used for name and address normalization, how intelligent blocking strategies improve matching efficiency, and how feedback loops can be introduced to continuously improve accuracy. The session also highlights how serverless components such as AWS Lambda can be used for orchestration and real-time processing. **SPEAKER BIO** Mosaic Syed is a Senior Data Engineering and Cloud Solutions Architect with over 20 years of experience designing and delivering scalable, secure, and high-performance data solutions across global enterprise environments. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mosaic-basha-syed-92300856 **CALL FOR SPEAKERS** Learn more: [https://www.awscolumbus.com/get-involved/](https://www.awscolumbus.com/get-involved/) **THANK YOU** *VEEAM* for hosting our meetup! To learn more about *Veeam*, please visit their website: [https://www.veeam.com/](https://www.veeam.com/) **DIRECTIONS** 8800 Lyra Dr #450 · Columbus, OH go to 4th floor. **Want to sponsor the pizza and/or bar tab?** Please contact me if you would like to sponsor this meetup's pizza and/or bar tab: angelo@mandato.com

We meet at lunch each week and each meeting follows a fairly organized agenda. First all participants pass their business cards around. Then each member and guest is invited to give a one-minute overview of their company and what is a perfect referral for the week. We always have a 10 minute presentation from one of the members about their business in more detail. And finally we pass referrals. You're welcome to visit. Nobody is ever put on the spot. Bring plenty of cards!

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

Interested? Contact Preston Moore k.preston.moore@gmail.com 614-300-5989 ———————————— Engaging in men’s work is the new way to forge friendships while being open-minded to personal growth. Many men experience healthier relationships, personally and professionally, by engaging in this work. Open Men’s Group is a container for men to share vulnerably without receiving judgment or feedback. We believe that emotionally mature, powerful, compassionate, and purpose-driven men will help heal some of society’s deepest wounds. We support the powerful brilliance of men and we are willing to look at, and take full responsibility for, the pain we are also capable of creating – and suffering. We care deeply about men, our families, communities, and the planet. Visit ManKind Project USA to discover more. https://mkpusa.org/

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