Theme Parks

Join us as we get together to get together to help those in need at this CMG Gives Back event! We have a great little community of Movie Group friends so rather than see a movie this time, we’ll help “Create a better world” by helping serve those in need. NOTE: We’re switching it up this time and going with a DINNER shift on Mon, 7/6. Here are complete details and our plan for this event: FAITH MISSION – GRANT KITCHEN: The Faith Mission kitchen and dining room serves residents 3 meals a day, every day of the year. For this event, our group will help prepare food, serve meals, assist residents in the dining room, wash dishes, and clean surfaces. PLAN: We will be preparing / serving / cleaning for DINNER from 4:30 to 6:30pm and have space for a total of 7 volunteers. Please arrive at 4:20pm and wear closed-toe shoes and long pants. LOCATION: Faith Mission – Grant Kitchen is located at 245 N. Grant Ave. Enter the kitchen at Dock 1 (in the back of the building), indicated in the attached map. On-site parking in the adjacent lot and street parking are available in the surrounding area. Below are some links / attachments with additional info/details: IMPORTANT REMINDER: Our group will be providing all of the volunteers on this day so a firm RSVP count is essential. Please only sign up if you are certain you’ll be able to attend. If something unavoidable comes up, please try to update your RSVP no later than one week prior to the event. With few exceptions, no shows or cancelations within 1 week of the event will not be eligible for future CMG Gives Back events. I appreciate your understanding as we try to ensure the agencies have the volunteers needed to provide the essential services they provide to the vulnerable population they serve. Our Partner Agency for this event is Lutheran Social Services! A huge THANK YOU to those volunteering at this (or any of our previous or future) CMG Gives Back events! Look forward to seeing you there, Dan

Come join us for lunch together at Bendi Wok, one of my favorites!

Start your week the right way with Manic Mondays. Giving you an enjoyable Bachata lesson with a push of cool moves. The second hour has Beginner/Intermediate Salsa on 1. You must understand basic Salsa skills to participate. 730pm-830pm Bachata Cool Moves 830pm-930pm Salsa On 1 (Beginner/Intermediate) 15 for One Class 20 for Both Free Parking & Plenty of Dance Space. Viva Dance Columbus 2809 Festival Lane Dublin OH 43017

Ciao a tutt\*! Let's meet Monday at 6.30pm at the Upper Arlington Library (Tremont Branch) in **Meeting Room A** to speak in Italian for 1 hour.

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.

Wild Thursday: THE INVITE on Thursday, July 9th at Cinemark Polaris! Join us as we get together to see the spicy and hilarious comedy-drama-romance from A24, THE INVITE! The film stars Olivia Wilde (who also directs) along with Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton, and follows a dinner party that spirals into unexpected places! Here’s a description, trailer and plan for this event: DESCRIPTION: Joe and Angela's marriage is on thin ice. When they invite their enigmatic upstairs neighbors for a dinner party, the night spirals into unexpected places. The film is an English language remake of the Spanish film The People Upstairs by Cesc Gay. It is directed by Olivia Wilde, who also stars alongside Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton. BUZZ & ACCLAIM: The Invite premiered to rave reviews at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and sparked an immediate bidding war to acquire it! The film is earning a 93% positive rating with critics calling it, “marvelously entertaining” and “endlessly relatable, sometimes uncomfortably so!” Others call it, “a smart, sophisticated and incisively acted” comedy “with plenty to say and even more laughs to share.” TRAILER: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJ19I9q_hOQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJ19I9q_hOQ) PLAN: Details for this event have already been confirmed! Please purchase your ticket for the 6:45pm showing and we’ll meet in the lobby area between 6:20 and 6:30pm! Advance ticket purchase is advised! Once you have yours, please list your seat number in the Comments below. Look forward to seeing you there, Dan

Join us for an upcoming French Food Festival in Downtown Columbus, Ohio. Admission is FREE! Make sure to reserve a spot as soon as possible, as tickets are going fast: [Undercurrent Bastille Day Festival - A Taste of Paris in Downtown Columbus Tickets, Sunday, July 12 • 12 PM - 4 PM | Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/undercurrent-bastille-day-festival-a-taste-of-paris-in-downtown-columbus-tickets-1988784103791) This Outdoor Festival takes place at 66 North High Street, right next to the New Chouette French Restaurant. From the Eventbrite Page: "Transport yourself to the streets of Paris without leaving downtown Columbus! Join us for an authentic French celebration of Bastille Day in a vibrant street festival atmosphere. Experience the true joie de vivre with an afternoon filled with French culture, cuisine, and community." There will be Live Music, French Food, Art and Artisan Shops to explore! Parking is widely available in the Downtown Area at parking spaces on High Street and the surrounding area. I usually just park by the Old Fire Station on 4th Street and walk over to High Street. There are usually plenty of spaces available and the cost is only about $3.00 to $5.00. We will arrive at 1 PM with several hours to explore the festival. We will meet just inside of the Festival, next to the Chouette Restaurant. Thanks and hope to see you come out!

Meet at the parking lot closest to the playground at 2319 Quarry Trails Drive. We’ll hike 3-4 miles at a 17 minute pace. No one left behind. Optional lunch afterward.

It’s been way too long since we’ve had a night out at PBR, so let’s change that! Join us for an evening of great drink specials, live music, line dancing, and, of course, the mechanical bull. 📍 Check-In: 6:00–8:30 PM When you arrive, check in with the host and let them know you’re with Suzie or Foodies Meetup. 🍻 Happy Hour Specials (7:00–9:00 PM) * 🍒 $2 Jello Shots * 🍺 $3 Domestic Cans: Busch Light, Bud Light & Miller Lite * 🍹 $3 Well Cocktails (no doubles, Red Bull, or shots) * 🥃 $4 Select Call Liquor: Deep Eddy Vodka (including flavors), Captain Morgan, Bombay Dry Gin, Dulce Vida Blanco & Jim Beam (no doubles, Red Bull, or shots) * 🔥 $5 Select Shots: White Tea, Green Tea, Fireball, Fireball Apple & Jager Bombs * 🏖️ $5 Surfside Seltzers 🎉 Tonight’s Entertainment 🎸 Live Music: 6:30–8:30 PM 🐂 Mechanical Bull Riding: 8:30 PM–Close (FREE with a valid ID!) 💃 Line Dancing with an Instructor: 9:00–10:00 PM Whether you’re coming to dance, ride the bull, enjoy the music, or simply catch up with friends over a drink, this is the perfect night to join us. We can’t wait to see everyone there!

***July is National Picnic Month*** (along with National Hot Dog/Baked Beans/Ice Cream Month)! So let's do it up by joining a giant PICNIC celebrating America's 250th Birthday! Join us at Wyandotte Winery for an **America 250–Ohio Homecoming Picnic as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States in true Ohio style!** Throughout July 2026, communities across Ohio are gathering for food, fun, and friendship to honor our nation’s history and reflect on the contributions of Ohioans over the past 250 years. Our picnic will feature a relaxed atmosphere with food, live music (starts at 5pm), and opportunities to connect with friends. ***BRING***: ***Guests are encouraged to bring picnic blankets and lawn chairs*** and enjoy an afternoon of community celebration. ***FREE EVENT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC***: Food and beverages will be available for purchase from the shop and food trucks. ***PARKING***: limited near the wine shop. Most park one block away in the church parking lot. [Wyandotte Winery](https://www.wyandottewinery.com/) has been part of the Central Ohio community since 1977, and we are proud to host this gathering during our 50th year of operation as a local place for connection and hospitality.

A great musical deserves a great dinner! Join us for dinner at the Gahanna CAP CITY FINE DINER immediately following HADESTOWN! The film takes us from Broadway to the Big Screen! Dinner will take us to a CMG favorite location for another great dinner and a fun time together! Here’s the plan: HADESTOWN: From Broadway to the Big Screen, this presentation of Hadestown is a not theatrical adaptation of a beloved musical but a chance to see the actual musical featuring many of the original cast members from the hit Broadway production, recorded at the Lyric Theatre in London! Set to New Orleans-style jazz, the musical follows Orpheus and Eurydice. Desperate to get his love back, he travels down into Hadestown! Please purchase your ticket for the 1:00pm showing and meet in the lobby area between 12:35 and 12:45pm. See separate event announcement for complete details or to RSVP for the Movie Portion of this event. CAP CITY FINE DINER: Cap City Fine Diner is part of the Cameron Mitchen family of restaurants and their menu offers “a new spin on old school – classic comfort food made modern.” From starters like their Blue Cheese Potato Chips and Tamarind Glazed Chicken Wings to Soups, Salads, Sandwiches, and Classics like Cap City Diner Meatloaf, Glazed Salmon, the much welcome return of their Vegan Veggie Plate, Cap City has something for every taste. And don’t get me started on their desserts which match the epic theme! You can check out their menu here: https://capcityfinediner.com/locations-menus/gahanna/menus/dinner/ DINNER PLAN: Join us immediately following the movie for dinner at nearby Cap City Fine Diner! Always a great meal and a fun time! Seating is limited for the dinner portion of the event, so please be sure your RSVP is firm and updated as soon as possible if your plans change. REMINDER: if you’d like to join in for dinner, please be sure to RSVP in BOTH the Movie and Dinner Portions of the event. Look forward to seeing you there, Dan

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

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