Virtual Worlds
Meet other local people interested in Virtual Worlds: share experiences, inspire and encourage each other! Join a Virtual Worlds group.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Check out virtual worlds events happening today here. These are in-person gatherings where you can meet fellow enthusiasts and participate in activities right now.
Discover all the virtual worlds events taking place this week here. Plan ahead and join exciting meetups throughout the week.
Absolutely! Find virtual worlds events near your location here. Connect with your local community and discover events within your area.
Virtual Worlds Events Today
Join in-person Virtual Worlds events happening right now
Juhannus - Our Summer Ritual
## **Juhannus – Our Summer Ritual**
A midsummer celebration for people who want something more meaningful than another late-night party. This Juhannus Friday you are surrounded by Nature, Saunas, Music, and Good company.
This event is a unique gathering of open-minded people who appreciate both Stillness and Celebration. Throughout the day you will have access to multiple Saunas, a wood-fired hot tub (palju) and a cold plunge. Here you can experience Sauna meditation, Traditional whisking (Vihtominen) and aromatherapy. Our Feel the Sun yoga session gets your body open and ready for the Dance to come. The day ends with uplifting music by Sauna Rave. Feel the rhythm by a fire to Free your soul and Release your energy.
You can come alone, bring a partner, or gather a few friends. The atmosphere is welcoming, relaxed, and free from the pressure of staying out until sunrise.
Sun. Sauna. Nature. Music. Human Connection.
**Location**
Villa Furuvik – Pihasauna Area
Furuvikintie 5, Helsinki
**Program**
**15:00–17:00**
**Open Sauna Experience**
*Enjoy multiple saunas, the wood-fired hot tub (Palju), cold plunge, swimming, and our guided ForestMade Sauna Rituals.*
**Sauna Ritual Schedule**
* 15:00 – This is Sauna
(Mindfulness Meditation)
* 15:30 – Summer Breath
(Breathing & Aromatherapy)
* 16:00 – Birch Blessing
(Birch Whisk Ritual)
* 16:30 – Oak Forest
(Oak Whisk Ritual)
*Each ritual lasts approximately 5–10 minutes.*
**17:00–18:00**
**Feel The Sun – Yoga Session**
*A gentle and accessible yoga practice suitable for all experience levels.*
**18:00–22:00**
**Sauna Rave**
*An uplifting dance experience featuring Techno remixes from 80s, 90s & eurodance classics.*
*Dance by the bonfire, enjoy the evening sun, cool off in the sea, and celebrate Juhannus in a unique way.*
**Additional Information**
* Fresh Lemonade, ForestMade Shirts and Jani Sydänsaari Art will available for purchase.
* Bring your own drinks and refreshments.
* Bring your own swimming wear and towel.
* The event ends at 22:00 in accordance with local quiet hours.
* After the event, guests are welcome to continue enjoying the Juhannus evening at the public beach area located on the property.
* No official afterparty.
**Ticket Information**
Official Ticket Sales through Saunat.fi
Availability is limited.
Questions? DM us on **Instagram: @ForestMadeBoys**
*Upon arrival at Villa Furuvik, you will receive your event wristband, which grants access to the event area and activities.*
**What to Bring**
* Swimming wear
* Towel
* Water bottle
* Your favorite summer drink
* An open mind and a willingness to enjoy something different
We look forward to celebrating the longest day of the year with you. 🌞🔥
BTCHEL Fridays
THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY!
Welcome to pay a visit to BTCHEL HUB every Friday from 10am to 6pm, as we launch a new meetup concept: BTCHEL Fridays!
BTCHEL Fridays is when the community hub has open doors for anyone to pay a visit, when the active Helsinki bitcoiner scene gathers together under one roof.
The BTCHEL Hub is a versatile physical space for workshops, meetups, parties, movie nights, game nights and of course, co-working office where all the members are building together!
Join us every friday at your convince! Coffee is on the house ☕️ You'll find us from google maps!
Learn more about us from BTCHEL.com
Finnish Language Café
Learning Finnish in Finland can be difficult because Finns tend to switch to English. That is one of the reasons people like our Finnish language café: you get to practice Finnish with Finns :)
The events are completely free and there is always a native speaker to facilitate the conversation and to help find the right words. The coffee is good too ☕😋🇦🇹
Tervetuloa!
When? ⏰
Usually Tuesday to Friday from 15:00 - 16:00
Where? 📍
In a cozy Viennese coffee house: The Good Coffee Company, Eerikinkatu 33, Helsinki
The Good Coffee Company
A Taste of Vienna 🇦🇹
Eerikinkatu 33, 00180 Helsinki
Please visit our Facebook page for updates and changes:
https://www.facebook.com/TheGoodCoffeeCompany/events
Outdoor Midsummer Meet Up (bring your own drinks)
Is a outdoor meet up. You can bring what you want to eat and share with others. And drinks for yourself. Bring blanket or something else to sit on. You're more than welcome to join us and meet some new friends! Let the evening unfold and people shape the course of the night 😎 Come share your best (or worst) comedic mishaps, stories, and gossip in a relaxed, conversational meetup The Torch (Miina Sillanpää Memorial; Sculpture) in Hakaniemi, Helsinki. 😉 Later in the evening, we cloud go somewhere else. 💃🏻🕺🏻🎤🎶🎵🎼
Virtual Worlds Events This Week
Discover what is happening in the next few days
Badminton at Tali
Hello sporty population!
Join us for badminton and meet people from around the world! Everyone is welcome, whether you’re a beginner or already experienced.
**IMPORTANT**: Spots are limited, so please reserve yours in advance. Only registered participants can join to ensure fair access for everyone. If you mark “going” but do not attend, or fail to cancel at least 1 day before(By 9pm Saturday), you may be suspended from the next two sessions.
📍 Location: Talihalli Huopalahti
⏰ Time: 11:00–12:30
🏸 Courts: 9, 10, and 11
You can meet us at the entrance a little before 11:00 or come directly to the courts (**please do not enter before our booking starts**).
Who can join?
• Open to everyone, regardless of background or gender
• No badminton skills needed – beginners are welcome
• **Age limit: 16+**
Event is free, but please bring your rackets and indoor shoes, or you can borrow a racket from the hall for free if needed.
We are committed to making our events and activities accessible to those who need them most. Therefore, **individuals with a refugee background are welcome to attend free of charge without prior registration.** If you plan to join, simply send a message to Alaa to let us know you’re coming.
This approach is intentional. Many refugees and newcomers face practical, cultural, and psychological barriers that can make formal registration difficult or discouraging. By removing this requirement, we aim to create a more inclusive, low-threshold environment where participation feels safe, simple, and welcoming.
Our events are designed to support the mental health and well-being of refugees and immigrants, while also encouraging dialogue that challenges cross-cultural stigmas and stereotypes. We believe open access is an important step in building trust, increasing participation, and creating meaningful connections across communities.
After badminton, we'll enjoy Talihalli's sauna and maybe go to a local restaurant to grab some lunch after the game.
Warm welcome!
📞 Questions / Contact:
Alaa – 040 5656096
Arun - 050 3206169
If you want to be part of the MIITTI community, follow us on our other platforms:
WhatsApp: Join our Whatsapp community network to join your favourite group and stay connected with the other members! When you participate in one of our groups or events, just ask the group facilitator to add you to the community!
[Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/miitti1)
[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/miitti1)
[Website](https://lapinlahdenlahde.fi/en/projekti/miitti)
Play Badminton [Social Games] @Helsingin Mailapelikeskus
【IMPORTANT SUMMARY】
* The purpose of social games is to know some people, do some exercise and enjoy the games together with others. Winning and getting points is not the focus of this session. Please play with consideration to your opponents' level.
* Please purchase your slot through this link [https://7538e9.myshopify.com/](https://7538e9.myshopify.com/)
【SIGN-UP SYSTEM】
* Please sign up and pay through this link. [https://7538e9.myshopify.com/products/social-game](https://7538e9.myshopify.com/products/social-game)
* We don't use the signup system on Meetup.com anymore. (Neither the waiting list)
* It says this event is full on this meetup page, because I didn't open any slots here for you to sign up. You have to check this [sign-up page](https://7538e9.myshopify.com/products/social-game) to see if there is still a slot available there.
* The background of using an external sign-up and payment system is because Meetup.com introduced a service fee to increase 21% of the fee in May 2023, and we want to reduce this cost.
【FEE and REFUND POLICY】
* Fee includes courts and plastic shuttles. Please sign up and pay before you come. NO refund if you do not cancel until 48 hours before the event.
* Racket: bring one or rent one at the counter.
* You can put a comment to sell your slot after the deadline of refund, or sell your slot in our whatsapp group.
* No matter the reason is sickness, accident or anything, the group or I will not afford the cost caused by your absence.
* Of course you CAN'T ask me, "Can I sign up for free for next week because I didn't come to use my slot this week?". Please remember, the court booked for you was there and it costs money. The court doesn't simply become "free of charge", just because you didn't come to use it.
【COMMUNICATION】
* Communication: our whatsapp group [https://chat.whatsapp.com/JJQbJlisbcj5YDnlcSu347](https://chat.whatsapp.com/JJQbJlisbcj5YDnlcSu347)
* There are too many spams, so I only accept +358 number to join whatsapp group. Numbers from other countries will all be rejected.
【OTHERS】
* Please always keep 1 meter away from those courts where people are playing. Never step into the corners of other courts! If I see you do this, I probably will yell at you!
* If you have some questions, you can put your questions in the comments on the event page. People will respond.
* We play double games to 21 points. After each game, please let those who are waiting to play. Feel free to play with whoever you want, but please avoid playing with the same people all the time.
* If you are new to badminton, please Google basic badminton rules in advance. Serve rules, double rules and point counting rules. You are always welcome to ask anyone in our group. Most of our members are more than happy to help you.
* Badminton activity is organized for non-profit purpose, but I take a small fee for my work.
* Want to restring your racket? I can do restring for you. €24 including the string. Please get contact with Ken.
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XdBBBKBmsHqvMyI7t1MttqOxwX8rs7vQ/view?usp=sharing](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XdBBBKBmsHqvMyI7t1MttqOxwX8rs7vQ/view?usp=sharing)
* [https://www.meetup.com/Helsinki-Badminton-Meetup/](https://www.meetup.com/Helsinki-Badminton-Meetup/)
* You want to pay with your sport card or voucher? check the bottom of the page. Click "read more"
* https://www.meetup.com/Helsinki-Badminton-Meetup/[https://www.meetup.com/Helsinki-Badminton-Meetup/](https://www.meetup.com/Helsinki-Badminton-Meetup/)
Finnish Language Café
Learning Finnish in Finland can be difficult because Finns tend to switch to English. That is one of the reasons people like our Finnish language café: you get to practice Finnish with Finns :)
The events are completely free and there is always a native speaker to facilitate the conversation and to help find the right words. The coffee is good too ☕😋🇦🇹
Tervetuloa!
When? ⏰
Usually Tuesday to Friday from 15:00 - 16:00
Where? 📍
In a cozy Viennese coffee house: The Good Coffee Company, Eerikinkatu 33, Helsinki
The Good Coffee Company
A Taste of Vienna 🇦🇹
Eerikinkatu 33, 00180 Helsinki
Please visit our Facebook page for updates and changes:
https://www.facebook.com/TheGoodCoffeeCompany/events
Outdoor Midsummer Meet Up (bring your own drinks)
Is a outdoor meet up. You can bring what you want to eat and share with others. And drinks for yourself. Bring blanket or something else to sit on. You're more than welcome to join us and meet some new friends! Let the evening unfold and people shape the course of the night 😎 Come share your best (or worst) comedic mishaps, stories, and gossip in a relaxed, conversational meetup The Torch (Miina Sillanpää Memorial; Sculpture) in Hakaniemi, Helsinki. 😉 Later in the evening, we cloud go somewhere else. 💃🏻🕺🏻🎤🎶🎵🎼
Founders Running Club :: Helsinki
**Founders Running Club** (FRC) brings founders, investors, tech, creative people and startup enthusiasts together for weekly easy runs and networking. We like to be comfortable when we run and finish with coffee and conversations. Choose your pace or follow a pacer—pets, friends, family, are welcome.
🗓️ Launched in San Francisco, July 16, 2022
🌍 Now in 35+ cities
📅 Running + Networking events + Community
**Join the community** [http://foundersrc.com/chats](http://foundersrc.com/chats)
**Stay updated**:
Instagram [http://instagram.com/foundersrc/](http://instagram.com/foundersrc/)
Podcast [http://podcast.foundersrc.com/](http://podcast.foundersrc.com/)
LinkedIn [http://linkedin.com/company/foundersrc/](http://linkedin.com/company/foundersrc/)
Strava [http://strava.com/clubs/foundersRC](http://strava.com/clubs/foundersRC)
Website [http://foundersrc.com/](http://foundersrc.com/)
Sketchy Collective: Helsinki Drawing Meetup (15:00 Helsinki time)
**HOW TO FIND US**
Outdoors: We meet **every Sunday at 15:00** in the **Töölönlahti Park**, opposite the entrance to Pikku-Finlandia. If you’re walking from Oodi, pass the playground with the big swings and the volleyball court. On the left, you’ll find us in the **area with benches, hammocks, and yellow chairs**.
Indoors: When it's cold or rainy we move to the **top floor** of the **Oodi** **Library**, on the stairs opposite the children’s area.
It's a good idea to **keep your sketchbook visible** so others can easily recognize that you're there for the sketching meetup. And if you’re a regular participant, making it clear that you're part of the sketching group can be very helpful for newcomers!
\*\*\*
**HOW IT WORKS**
At each meetup, attendees take turns being the model for a quick **10-minute sketch session**. One person poses, everyone else sketches, then we rotate.
Attendance varies considerably from week to week. Some Sundays attract a larger group, while on others only a handful of people may attend. Occasionally, nobody may show up at all. For this reason, we encourage everyone to participate with an open mind and flexible expectations. Whether you spend the afternoon sketching with many people, just a few, or simply enjoying some focused drawing time on your own, we hope you'll embrace the experience as it is.
\*\*\*
**WHAT TO BRING**
Pencils and paper (or any sketching tools you like).
No fees, no pressure. The only thing we ask is that everyone takes a turn posing for the group. You can sit however you feel comfortable - the 10 minutes go by quickly! Draw as much as you like, skip a round if you’re tired or just want to chat, and leave whenever it suits you. The event continues as long as there’s interest.
\*\*\*
**STAYING CONNECTED**
Anyone who has attended at least one meetup is welcome to join our WhatsApp group. If you’d like to be added, just ask around at the meetup – several community members can approve new participants, and there’s usually at least one of them present.
Alternatively, send us a message with your phone number (including the country code) and a photo proving that you attended a meetup.
This measure helps prevent spam and advertising in the WhatsApp group.
\*\*\*
**SOCIAL MEDIA**
Curious about our work?
👉 instagram.com/sketchy.collective
If you’d like to share your drawings from the meetup, you can send them on WhatsApp group or use the Instagram collab function. We warmly encourage everyone to share their work and take part in building our international sketching gallery - together with artists from all the cities where Sketchy Collective meetups are organized.
\*\*\*
**PHOTO CONSENT**
Photos may be taken during the meetup and shared on our social media. If you don’t want to appear in photos, just let the photographer know.
If you’re taking photos, please make sure people know about it and can choose whether they want to be included or not.
Desi Queer Meetup Helsinki: South Asian LGBTQ+ Pride Picnic
**A Pride Month hangout for queer Desi/South Asian LGBTQIA+ people in Helsinki.**
This meetup is for Desi and South Asian queer people who want to find community, friendship, and a sense of belonging with others who may understand similar cultural experiences.
Many of us come from families, communities, or countries where being queer can be difficult, hidden, judged, or unsafe. This space is for people who may have dealt with homophobia, transphobia, silence, shame, pressure to fit in, or the feeling of having to separate their queer identity from their Desi/South Asian identity.
The aim is to create a relaxed, low-pressure space where we can meet each other, talk, laugh, share experiences if we want to, and feel less alone. You do not have to be out everywhere, speak a specific language, drink alcohol, or explain your identity to join.
**Who this is for:**
Queer/LGBTQIA+ people with Desi, South Asian, or South Asian diaspora backgrounds, including Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Nepali, Bhutanese, Maldivian, Afghan, Indo-Caribbean, mixed, and diaspora identities.
**What we might do:**
This can be a casual pub, café, or picnic hangout during Pride Month. If people are interested, we can also make plans to go to the Pride parade together, so no one has to go alone.
**What to expect:**
No formal agenda, no pressure to share personal stories, and no need to stay the whole time. Come for a short while or stay for the full meetup.
**Community care:**
Please respect everyone’s privacy, names, pronouns, boundaries, cultures, faith backgrounds, and personal experiences. No photos, videos, or social media posts of people without clear consent. Racism, casteism, queerphobia, transphobia, harassment, or outing people will not be accepted.
This is a small first step toward building queer Desi/South Asian community in Helsinki.
Virtual Worlds Events Near You
Connect with your local Virtual Worlds community
Prototype, Play, and Build Workshops (In-Person @GameArena)
We're going to GameArena! We'll be in-person at the GameArena Gateway for our monthly COGG Prototype and Play event. Come to play and showcase your games!
We're back in the upper levels of the catwalk area. It'll be packed with lots of camaraderie playing your game(s) and other's games on the 2nd floor. Light snacks and water provided but you can buy food and drinks at the bar (alcoholic drink ID required).
[www.game-arena.co](http://www.game-arena.co/)
**Attendees:**
Don't have a game to show? Not a problem! All are welcomed and invited from all ages and backgrounds. The more we can have to play test our games is all the better!
**Developers:**
Do you have a game that you would like to get critical feedback on? Would you like an excuse to work on a game with other talented artists, programmers, musicians, designers, and writers? Digital, table-top, non-experienced developers, and the like are welcomed! We'll provide signage for your game to help others learn more about your work. Wifi, outlets, tables, and seats (though standing tables also) are available.
Come to the Prototype and Play workshop to collaborate and meet local game developers for an evening of epic and raw game play fun! Play works-in-progress, show off your own game, work with others to add polish to a game, or even lend your talents to other fellow developers. For this event, light snacks from the bar and water will be provided!
Though you can purchase you own if you like at the bar:
[https://www.game-arena.co/menu](https://www.game-arena.co/menu)
Can use South Garage at the Gateway with a $5 voucher on your way out.
75 E 11th Ave, Columbus, OH 43201
[https://maps.app.goo.gl/UwgveUYG37Jy7RtS9](https://maps.app.goo.gl/UwgveUYG37Jy7RtS9)
If you have any questions or comments, as always, feel free to reach out to us at [info@thecogg.com!](http://info@thecogg.com!/)
Recruiting Virtual Mental Health Group Leaders!
We are recruiting new group leaders for virtual men's groups! Our primary groups are outdoor movement groups, but we are launching virtual groups for the state of Ohio and beyond and the groups will move outside in the spring, creating room for men's groups, women's groups and coed groups all over the country.
Read below to learn about our groups and click the links at the bottom to apply.
### **What is an Outdoor Empowerment Group?**
Our Outdoor Movement & Community Empowerment Groups are simple, guided experiences designed to help people reconnect with nature, themselves, and others. We combine some form of movement (hike, walk, run, bike, yoga, workout) and meaningful conversation within a simple community circle to create a space where individuals can support each other while prioritizing mental and physical well-being.
Whether you’re seeking stress relief, personal growth, or community, our groups offer everyone a unique and welcoming environment.
## **Why Join?**
* **Improve Mental & Physical Well-Being** – Movement, nature, and supportive conversations reduce stress and promote balance.
* **Feel Less Alone** – Build genuine connections with like-minded people in a safe, welcoming space.
* **Gain Clarity & Perspective** – Step outside daily routines and into a space designed for personal growth and reflection.
## **The Ideal Group Leader**
The ideal group leader
* Has a born-in passion for mental health, movement, connecting with nature and building community.
* Has 5 extra hours per week to dedicate to a meaningful cause for at least one year. Yes, you can leave any organization at any time and we can also ask you to leave, but we are building with legacy in mind and we need people who can commit and be ALL IN on this mission to build with us.
* Is independently financially stable with the ability to volunteer with no expectation of pay. This is a deeply beautiful journey of service that all participants commit to at Speak Your Mind.
* An ability to manage groups with high emotional intelligence and desire for human connection.
* An ability to self-motivate and market/promote their group on Facebook and other social platforms.
* Nature informed therapy or clinical therapists/psychologists a plus.
## **Our Impact**

Since launching, we have helped thousands find support, connection, and healing through our Outdoor Movement Groups. 100% of participants surveyed have reported:
* A noticeable improvement in mental clarity and emotional well-being.
* An increase in social connection and a sense of belonging.
* Said they would return again.
We believe mental health should be accessible, community-driven, and rooted in nature. Join us and take the first step toward a more connected, grounded, and supported version of yourself.
### **Why Our Groups are Donation-Based**
Our Outdoor Movement Groups are made possible through a donation-based model. This approach allows us to keep our events accessible to everyone, regardless of financial circumstances, while also ensuring that we can continue expanding our reach. It’s a great way to pay it forward and support the growth of this beautiful mission!
Every contribution helps us:
* **Cover Essential Costs** – Donations allow us to pay essential legal, marketing, insurance, and admin costs as well as nourish the important people who run the organization.
* **Grow Our Mission** – With your support, we can bring these healing experiences to thousands more people in the future and execute our long term plan to expand across the USA, affecting up to 500,000 people per year.
By choosing to contribute, you’re not just leading an event—you’re helping build a mental health movement that supports long-term well-being and connection for all during a severe mental health epidemic.
## **Come Join Us!**
We’d love to have you be part of this growing community of people prioritizing their mental health, movement, and connection.
🔹 **Visit Our Website to Learn More:** https://speakyourmind.men/joinusoutside
🔹 **Apply Here to Lead Your Own Group!** – https://form.jotform.com/taketimespeakyourmind/sym-group-leader-application
🔹 **Support the mission**: If you resonate with the mission and want to support, feel free to join a group before applying or donate to help us reach our goals to help more people! You can donate here: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/angels-for-angels/speak-your-mind
Please text Mario with any questions: (808) 855-8831
Cape Coral Virtual Speed Dating on Zoom
**💫 Cape Coral Singles Night — Speed Dating Over Zoom**
Spend an evening meeting Cape Coral singles face to face on Zoom, matched by age and personality before you arrive.
**What to expect:**
- Register and take a short personality quiz
- Jump on Zoom when the event starts
- Meet singles in guided one-on-one rounds
- Get your mutual matches by email afterward
**Pick the age range that fits you:**
→ **Ages 18-32** — [Register here](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=573&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Cape%20Coral&groupurlname=manga-k-drama-foodie-language-feast-network&ar=18-32&face_v=8.0)
→ **Ages 30-46** — [Register here](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=573&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Cape%20Coral&groupurlname=manga-k-drama-foodie-language-feast-network&ar=30-46&face_v=8.0)
→ **Ages 40-58** — [Register here](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=573&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Cape%20Coral&groupurlname=manga-k-drama-foodie-language-feast-network&ar=40-58&face_v=8.0)
→ **Ages 55+** — [Register here](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=573&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Cape%20Coral&groupurlname=manga-k-drama-foodie-language-feast-network&ar=55+&face_v=8.0)
> Important: RSVP is not the same as registering. Use your age link below and complete the quiz to secure a place. Limited capacity.
Your next great conversation is one click away. 🌷
Rays Of Light Spiritualist Church Service
Rev. Steven Clevenger is an ordained spiritualist minister with over 40 years experience as a Spiritual Healer, Clairvoyant and Spiritual Teacher, educated and trained at the White Lily Chapel.
Rev. Siobhan Wolf Shaffer is an ordained spiritualist minister and certified medium and healer with over 20 years experience. She began her development in 1988 in Pennsylvania and continued when she moved to Ohio in 1998 where she studied at Rays of Lights Church with Rev. Steven Clevenger.
Our full worship services consist of an inspirational lecture, healing meditation, and messages from the spirit world that serve to demonstrate evidence of eternal life.
Please visit our Official Church Website (http://raysoflightchurch.com) for more information.
Drunken Philosophy: Where Is Everybody? The Fermi Paradox and the Great Filter
Welcome to Drunken Philosophy, a casual, curious, social discussion club. Come grab a drink and a seat at The Oracle.
**Optional topic for this meetup: Where is everybody?**
In 1950 the physicist Enrico Fermi was talking about aliens over lunch and asked a question that still has not gone away: if the universe is so vast and so old, and even a fraction of those billions of stars have planets, where is everyone? By the numbers the galaxy should be crowded with civilizations. Instead we look up and hear silence. That gap between "they should be everywhere" and "we see no one" is the Fermi Paradox.
One of the most unsettling answers is the idea of a **Great Filter**: somewhere on the road from dead chemistry to a galaxy-spanning civilization, there is at least one step that is almost impossible to get past. Maybe the filter is behind us. Maybe life starting at all, or simple cells becoming complex, or intelligence ever evolving, is the freak accident, and we already cleared the hard part. Or maybe the filter is ahead of us, and advanced civilizations reliably wipe themselves out before they spread.
Here is the part that messes with people. If we ever found life somewhere else, even pond scum on Mars, most people would call it the greatest discovery in history. But it might be the worst possible news. It would mean life is common, the early steps are easy, and the hard step is still in front of us. So the eerie silence overhead might actually be the best sign we could ask for.
**Questions to wrestle with:**
* Is it better to be alone? Would you rather we find alien life and learn we are not special, or find nothing and quietly improve our odds of surviving?
* Where do you bet the filter sits, behind us or ahead of us, and why?
* If it is ahead of us, what is it? Nuclear war, climate collapse, AI, something we cannot even picture yet? And can we do anything about a filter we cannot see coming?
* Two principles pull opposite ways here. The principle of mediocrity (the Copernican principle, Sagan's "no privileged place in the universe") says we are ordinary, so what happened on Earth probably happened everywhere, which makes the silence scream louder. The anthropic principle says of course we find ourselves somewhere life was possible, since we could not observe anything else, so our being here may say almost nothing about how common life is. Which lens do you trust, and does the silence still demand an answer once you account for observer selection?
* And if we did confirm life out there and had to accept we are not special, what would that do to belief in a higher power, and would shedding (or keeping) that belief help or hurt our odds of pulling together as one species?
* Does any of this change how you live, or how humanity should be spending its time and money right now?
As always the prompt is optional. Come for the conversation, stay for the drinks, and bring your own questions.
Casual Boardgames - make friends, then beat them in games
Welcome to Casual Boardgames, where we enjoy classic tabletop games and social deduction games while bonding over good food, drinks, and great conversations.
We started this group to meet new people and make new friends, and bonding over games in a relaxed atmosphere is a great way to do that.
We currently meet near route 23 and Polaris Parkway, and this is close to areas like Powell, Lewis Center, Worthington, and parts of Westerville and Columbus.
Feel free to bring your own games or play one of the many games our members bring. If you are inexperienced, we will help you learn.
Here are just a few examples of the kind of games we play.
Tabletop/board games: Splendor, Catan, Azul, Dominion, 7 Wonders…
Social deduction games: Code Names, Chameleon, Werewords…
IMPORTANT:
1. While we love playing a variety of games and competing, we are not just about the games. We interact and talk while playing, and this leads to a lot of laughter and fun. If you just want to compete and focus solely on the game, then this is probably not the group you are looking for.
2. Many people join groups like this and never (or rarely) show up after weeks or months. If you join and never really come, we will eventually remove you from the group as a courtesy to our members. Why? Because limiting group conversations (on the app) to regular members makes communication and planning much easier. Also, while it may be rare, it protects members from people who join because they are interested in following a person instead of having a real interest in our group. If you get removed, it is just because you haven’t come, and we follow this protocol as a courtesy to our regular game players.
St. Petersburg Virtual Speed Dating on Zoom
**🌙 St. Petersburg Singles Night — Speed Dating Over Zoom**
Hosted Zoom rounds, St. Petersburg singles your speed, and matches sent the next day. Easy as that.
**Here's how the night runs:**
- Register and take a short personality quiz
- Jump on Zoom when the event starts
- Meet singles in guided one-on-one rounds
- Get your mutual matches by email afterward
**Pick the age range that fits you:**
→ **Ages 18-32** — [Register here](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=573&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=St.%20Petersburg&groupurlname=manga-k-drama-foodie-language-feast-network&ar=18-32&face_v=8.0)
→ **Ages 30-46** — [Register here](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=573&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=St.%20Petersburg&groupurlname=manga-k-drama-foodie-language-feast-network&ar=30-46&face_v=8.0)
→ **Ages 40-58** — [Register here](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=573&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=St.%20Petersburg&groupurlname=manga-k-drama-foodie-language-feast-network&ar=40-58&face_v=8.0)
→ **Ages 55+** — [Register here](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=573&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=St.%20Petersburg&groupurlname=manga-k-drama-foodie-language-feast-network&ar=55+&face_v=8.0)
> Important: RSVP is not the same as registering. Use your age link below and complete the quiz to secure a place. Limited capacity.
Register, relax, and let the night do the work. 🥂






![Play Badminton [Social Games] @Helsingin Mailapelikeskus](https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/d/1/c/a/highres_456653706.webp?w=640)









