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Yes! Check out adventure events happening today here. These are in-person gatherings where you can meet fellow enthusiasts and participate in activities right now.
Discover all the adventure events taking place this week here. Plan ahead and join exciting meetups throughout the week.
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Adventure Events Today
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Maakavond Meet Je Stad - Fijnstof en Temperatuur
Tijdens de maakavonden van Meet Je Stad soldeer je je eigen meetkastje dat temperatuur, luchtvochtigheid en fijnstof\* kan meten. Het solderen is geschikt voor iedereen: van beginner tot expert! Daarnaast bieden we begeleiding, dus hoef je niet bang te zijn dat je er niet uit komt. Ter deelname betaal je €15 voor de materialen. Vaak lukt het niet om al het soldeerwerk binnen één avond af te krijgen, maar dit is geen probleem; tijdens onze volgende maakavonden kun je langskomen om je werk af te maken. Inmiddels zijn er in de stad Utrecht nu zo’n 150 mensen die hun eigen meetkastje hebben gesoldeerd.
Als je kastje af is wordt hij geregistreerd en kun je hem bij jou thuis ophangen/neerzetten. Hierbij krijg je instructies zodat je de juiste locatie kunt kiezen en je metingen zo betrouwbaar mogelijk zijn. Als het dan eenmaal hangt kun je via de kaart op de [website van Meet Je Stad](https://meetjestad.net/index3.php?loc=Tb) bijhouden welke metingen je kastje neemt: zo kun je bijvoorbeeld zien op welke momenten het bij jou het warmst is en vergelijkingen maken met waardes van andere meetkastjes. Dat kan door middel van [deze tool](https://mjs-datavisualisation-fez7kynngq-ez.a.run.app/) die je helpt om grafieken te maken. Dan kan je er achter komen hoe jouw omgeving ervoor staat in vergelijking met de rest van de stad.
Meet Je Stad organiseert ook kennisavonden met gastsprekers die vertellen over hitte, fijnstof en andere burgerinitiatieven in de stad. Dit zijn ook gelijk geschikte momenten voor deelnemers om met elkaar in discussie te gaan over hun metingen en ondervindingen. Zo hopen we een netwerk van betrokken inwoners te creëren en meer te weten te komen over de milieuomstandigheden in de stad!
*\*De fijnstofsensor is optioneel en kost 20 euro extra. Indien je deze bij je meetkastje wilt moet je deze via een draad met een stroombron binnen 15 meter kunnen verbinden.*
**Organisatie:** Milieucentrum Utrecht (MCU) in samenwerking met de Makerscommunity HaHaHo.
**Locatie:** Bibliotheek Neude, Collegezaal (2e verdieping)
**Kosten:** 15 euro voor materiaalkosten, 20 euro extra voor fijnstofsensor.
*Bij te weinig aanmeldingen kan de workshop afgelast worden.*
Mannengroep Nijmegen
**Let op: RSVP via Meetup is géén directe aanmelding. De startdatum op meetup is niet de daadwerkelijke startdatum van de mannengroep; lees verder voor meer informatie**
**Voor deelname plannen we eerst een korte intakecall. Na die call bevestigen we of deelname past.**
**Stuur dus altijd eerst een mail naar: mannengroep024@gmail.com voor een kennismaking!**
In een tijd waarin veel mannen in hun eentje worstelen, willen wij iets anders aanbieden:
een plek waar je niet hoeft te presteren. Waar je mag vertragen, voelen en delen.
Dankzij veel animo starten we nog een nieuwe groep! De grote aanvraag bevestigt voor ons: de behoefte aan échte verbinding en verdieping onder mannen is groot.
In deze mannengroep komen we om de drie weken samen met een vaste groep van maximaal 10 mannen. We creëren een warme, veilige setting waarin we onderzoeken wat het betekent om man te zijn, in relaties, in werk, in vriendschap en in het dagelijks leven. Je hoeft niets te fixen of op te lossen. Je hoeft alleen te verschijnen zoals je bent.
Elke avond werken we met een thema zoals woede, kwetsbaarheid, angst, kracht of verbinding. We combineren rituelen, lichaamswerk, deelrondes en oefeningen uit o.a. mindfulness, ademwerk en systemisch werk. Alles in een sfeer van openheid, zachtheid en respect.
Je doet een commitment per 4 sessies. Je betaalt vooraf voor elke reeks van 4 bijeenkomsten. De groep loopt door; na elke reeks kun je je opnieuw verbinden en blijft je plek behouden. Zo ontstaat er vertrouwen, diepgang en continuïteit in de groep.
De eerste stap is een korte, vrijblijvende kennismakingscall, om elkaar even te spreken en te voelen of het past. Daarna krijg je praktische info via WhatsApp en kun je instappen zodra de nieuwe groep start.
De definitieve datum wordt afgestemd op de groepsgrootte en beschikbaarheid van de deelnemers. Meld je gerust aan om op de hoogte te blijven!
Aanmelden kan via: mannengroep024@gmail.com
Locatie: Nijmegen
Investering in jezelf: €200 voor 4 sessies van 2,5 uur per sessie.
Over de facilitators
Deze mannengroep wordt begeleid door David Gelsing en Steyn Maréchal. Twee mannen met een open hart en een gedeelde missie: ruimte creëren waar mannen écht kunnen landen in zichzelf en in verbinding met elkaar.
David Gelsing
Is Toegepast Psycholoog en lichaamsgericht therapeut, gespecialiseerd in het begeleiden van innerlijke processen via het lichaam. Zijn kracht ligt in het verbinden van hoofd en hart, ratio en gevoel. Iets wat hij diepgaand leerde via zijn eigen persoonlijke transformatie.
Mensen ervaren David als kalm, zacht en geduldig, maar ook als levendig, direct en met een groot gevoel voor humor wanneer dat past. Hij begeleidt met scherpte, veiligheid en een warm hart.
🌐 www.davidgelsing.nl
🔗https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidgelsing/
Steyn Maréchal
Is facilitator en communitybouwer met ervaring in het begeleiden van groepen, mannencirkels en processen rond persoonlijke ontwikkeling.
Hij heeft een scherp gevoel voor groepsdynamiek, brengt rust, structuur en uitnodiging in het moment. Steyn is altijd op zoek naar wat er écht speelt onder de oppervlakte en helpt anderen daarin tevoorschijn te komen.
🔗https://www.linkedin.com/in/steyn-mar%C3%A9chal/
Samen creëren ze een bedding van vertrouwen waarin kracht en kwetsbaarheid naast elkaar mogen bestaan.
Agentic AI Development - Deep Dive into Kiro (AWS UG Nürnberg 02/26)
**Hey fellow AWS enthusiasts! ✨**
Last time we heard a lot about the latest announcements from AWS re:Invent 2025, featuring AWS' new **[Agentic AI IDE Kiro](https://kiro.dev/)**!
This evening, we are welcoming **[Marco Strauß](https://www.linkedin.com/in/marco333444555/)**, a Senior Solutions Architect at AWS, supporting customers in the Manufacturing sector. With his talk **"AI-driven Software Development - Dawn of a New Age?"**, he will introduce Kiro, the new agentic AI with an IDE and CLI that helps you go from prototype to production with spec-driven development. Using Kiro's structured approach will help you go far beyond the boundaries of vibe coding and deliver production ready software at scale.
A special shoutout to our friends from **[nerdware](https://www.nerdware.dev/)** who supporting us with location, drink and food!
**📆 Tonight's Agenda**
18:45 - Doors Open
19:00 - Welcoming by our hosts
19:15 - Talk by our speaker
20:00 - Pizza, Drinks & Networking
Looking forward to seeing you 👋🏻
Nora & Frank
Swimming lessons for adults | Beginners
If you are living in The Netherlands, by now, you may well have noticed the amount of open water. If you enjoy cycling in the city, you may wish to feel safer as you navigate the bridges and canals. And you may also want to get ready for visiting the beach, pools or the many lakes this summer.
Learning how to swim takes approx 1 year and it all starts with the very first lesson. New comers enroll via our website and pay € 30,50, this is the first lesson and a goody bag. After the class you agree with the personal swim coach how to continue to obtain your final objectives.
Enrolling is only possible via [www.your-personal-swim-coach.nl ](https://www.your-personal-swim-coach.nl/)hence a rvsp via meetup is not enough.
Buitenspelen voor volwassene
Samen sporten, gewoon voor de fun, elke week een divers programma, met allerlei verschillende sporten. Je hoeft niet de beste te zijn, maar wel zin hebben om samen te spelen en te leren.
Tijdens een training doen we verschillende spelletjes, basketbal, voetbal. volleybal, spikebal, honkbal.
Kom je ook, de bal ligt bij jou!!
Eerste keer meedoen is altijd gratis, daarna kan je beslissen of dit voor jou is, of niet!! Dus kom een keer proberen.
Kan je niet op deze dag, we sporten ook op andere dagen nl
Zondag om 9:30 of
Maandag om 20:30
Stuur mij een berichtje als je op die dagen een keer wil proberen!
The amount of people rsvp'd to this game doesn't match the real number of people at the event, as Meetup is only used for promotion purposes.
Indoor Volleyball Classes for Beginners
New Year, New Sport! 🏐
Whether you've never played volleyball before or it’s been many years since you last hit the court, you are very welcome to join our Beginner Group!
We train every Monday at 9 PM at Gymnasium Bibian Mentel in Zeeburgereiland.
Come learn the basics, get moving, and meet new people in a fun, relaxed environment.
Get more info here:
WhatsApp Group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/EnPEK1bHLiTGdpqz6Vtbm4
Instagram: @brazucavolley
Adventure Events This Week
Discover what is happening in the next few days
ManKracht Avond (Amersfoort)
Ha mannen!
Weer een reguliere ManKracht meetup op de vrijdagavond in Amersfoort! Zoals altijd is de intentie voor onze meetups op locatie om een gemakkelijke, veilige en open atmosfeer te ervaren waarin we allemaal kunnen delen of inbrengen wat ons bezig houdt als man.
Uiteraard zijn tijdens de ManKracht Avond nieuwe deelnemers welkom, we streven zoals altijd naar een groepsgrootte aan van 6 tot maximaal 10 man.
Hier kort wat belangrijke info op een rijtje:
* De offline meetup begint stipt om 20:00, vanaf dat moment zijn de 'deuren' gesloten. We vragen je dus om uiterlijk 5 minuten van te voren aan te komen. Je bent vanaf 19:30 welkom.
* De avond duurt tot ongeveer 21:30. Voel je vrij om daarna het gesprek met andere deelnemers voort te zetten op een andere locatie (café/bar/kroeg).
* Graag op tijd de RSVP in te vullen i.v.m. beperkte plaatsen. Mocht je op tijd weten dat je verhinderd bent, graag je RSVP aanpassen zodat mannen op de wachtlijst op tijd weten dat ze toch kunnen deelnemen.
* Voel je vrij om een vriend mee te nemen, geef dit in dat geval ook even aan in de RSVP.
Hopelijk zien we elkaar weer en mocht je nog vragen hebben dan hoor ik het graag natuurlijk.
P.S. locatie is thuis bij Sam
AI Essentials for professionals - 2e pilot
We zien dat AI inmiddels door veel mensen en organisaties wordt gebruikt, vooral voor tekst, plannen en ideeën. Tegelijkertijd merken we dat dit gebruik vaak onzeker en oppervlakkig blijft. Mensen experimenteren, maar twijfelen:
* Klopt dit wel?
* Gebruik ik AI “goed”?
* Haal ik er echt voordeel uit, of kost het vooral tijd?
De kern van het probleem is niet een gebrek aan tools of kennis, maar een gebrek aan grip, overzicht en vertrouwen in het eigen oordeel bij het werken met AI.
**Wat houdt deze workshop in?**
We willen een kleinschalige pilot-workshop (halve dag) organiseren waarin we professionals helpen om:
* AI anders te leren zien (als denkpartner, niet als antwoordmachine)
* Bewuster vragen te stellen en context te geven
* AI‑output te beoordelen in plaats van blind te volgen
Het is nadrukkelijk geen technische training en geen overzicht van tools.
Het is een leerervaring die zich richt op denken, beoordelen en professioneel gebruik.
**Voor wie is dit bedoeld?**
De Training richt zich op:
* Niet-technische managers en professionals
* Die veel werken met tekst, plannen en besluitvorming
* Die AI al gebruiken (bijv. ChatGPT), maar daar nog te weinig zekerheid en rendement uit halen
**Wat maakt deze aanpak anders?**
* Interactief en herkenbaar: deelnemers werken met hun eigen praktijk en leren van elkaar
* Beperkt en scherp: geen overload, maar drie kerninzichten
* Veilig en menselijk: twijfel wordt genormaliseerd, niet weggepoetst
Deelnemers weten na afloop wat ze “maandag anders doen”
**Pilot2**
Na een succesvolle eerste pilot op 16 januari hebben we weer verbeteringen anagebracht voor deze pilot. We verwachten dan ook eerlijke feedback om deze workshop nog gerichter in te kunnen zetten om professionals meer bewust te maken van de mogelijkheden en onmogelijkheden van AI.
Deze workshop wordt verzorgd door Edgar Stormbroek en Ziryan Salayi
9:00 9:30 Inloop
9:30 - 12:00 AI in praktijk
12:00 - 13:00 Lunch
13:00 - 14:00 Vervolg AI in praktijk
14:00 - 14:30 Afronding en feedback
PHPAmersfoort February 2026: What's New in PHP 8.5 & The Future of PHPAmersfoort
This time, we will have a slightly different meetup than usual, as we want to gather some feedback about how we should shape the future of PHPAmersfoort. Should we continue as a PHP meetup, or switch to a broader topic such as web development? Should we continue with monthly meetups, or reduce the frequency to bimonthly or quarterly meetups?
**Nic Wortel** will open the evening with a short talk about **What's New in PHP 8.5**, and then we will have a group discussion about the future of PHPAmersfoort. Once again the kind people at Enrise are opening their doors for us.
19:00 - Doors open
19:30 - **What's New in PHP 8.5** \- Nic Wortel
20:00 - **The Future of PHPAmersfoort**
21:00 - Social
KI in der BIG direkt gesund & F*ck Feature Branches
**Um was geht es dieses mal?**
Dieses Mal haben wir zwei Talks für euch!
**KI in der BIG direkt gesund - Von der Vision zur Realität - Stephan Rex (BIG direkt gesund)**
BIG direkt gesund zeigt in dieser Präsentation, wie die strategische Einführung von Künstlicher Intelligenz im Unternehmen umgesetzt wird. Im Fokus stehen die Rolle des KI-Boards, das Architektur-Zielbild und die ersten praktischen Anwendungsfälle. Die Inhalte geben Einblicke in Erfahrungen aus Pilotprojekten und verdeutlichen, welche Faktoren für eine erfolgreiche Implementierung entscheidend sind.
**F\*ck Feature Branches - Felix Fischer (codecentric AG)**
Direkt auf Main pushen – das klingt ziemlich gruselig. Wie sollen wir nur ohne PRs und asynchrone, ineffiziente Code Reviews Kontrolle über unsere Kollegen ausüben? In diesem Talk werden wir die Geheimnisse des Trunk-Based-Development lüften. Wir wollen herausfinden, warum die angestaubten Wege der Software-Entwicklung hoffnungslos veraltet sind. Lerne durch Feature Flags, Dark Launches, synchrone Code Reviews und Pair-/ Mob-Programming Dich vom Drama der Feature Branches zu verabschieden!
**Hybrides Setup!**
Wir freuen uns, euch bei uns in den Räumen der codecentric AG in Dortmund willkommen zu heißen. Vor Ort versorgen wir euch mit Snacks und Getränken und freuen uns gleichzeitig über interessante Diskussionen und einen guten Austausch. Für alle, die es nicht zu uns ins Office schaffen, werden wir das Meetup Hybrid durchführen. Der Stream beginnt ca. 10 Minuten später, damit wir vor Ort ausreichend Möglichkeit für persönliches Kennenlernen haben.
Den Live-Stream findet ihr auf dem [YouTube-Channel](https://www.youtube.com/@codecentricAG) der codecentric AG.
**Anreise**:
Per Zug: Vom Dortmunder HBF sind es ca. 10 Minuten zu Fuß.
Mit dem Auto: Rund um das Office gibt es einige Parkflächen, dazu befinden sich in dem Parkhaus der Thier-Galerie weitere Parkplätze.
UX Beers Brussels February @ Proximus
**Welcome to our February UX Beers in Brussels!**
This time, we will host our event on Tuesday the 10th of February at [Proximus](https://www.proximus.be/en/personal/) in Brussels.
[Ariad](https://www.ariadgroup.com/) and [Creative Skills](https://www.creativeskills.be/) sponsor our events.
📺 Follow the event online? We stream live via [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBqyTDAyQBw)
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***Spots for this event are limited to 45 people in person. We kindly ask you to confirm your attendance and to change your availability on Meetup in advance if you can’t make it, so your spot can be given to someone else.***
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\#\#\# UX TALKS
**Talk 1: Lavender: One Year to Reimagine Design at Proximus**
Julie Toussaint and Julien Bertholet from Design System team @Proximus
This talk explores the journey of building a Design System from the ground up at Proximus. Julie and Julien will share the challenges they encountered, the design choices they made, and how they laid strong foundations through design tokens, variables, and scalable component libraries.
Beyond the system itself, they will look at how they collaborated with multiple teams and supported designers after launch, introducing a new, more consistent way of working across the organization.
**Talk 2: Panel discussion about design leadership**
[Joana Silva](https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanasf/), UX Design Manager @Lighthouse
[Mathias Van Daele](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathias-van-daele/), Service Design Lead @Luminus
[Adrien David](https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidadrien/), UX/UI Design Lead @Proximus
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\#\#\# SCHEDULE
18:00 - Doors open. Drinks & snacks
19.00 - 19.15 - Introduction to UX Belgium Meetup, announcements
19.15 - 19:45 - Talk #1
19:45 -20:15 - BREAK
20:15 - 20:45 - Talk #2
20:45 - 21:30 - Socialize
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\#\#\# SLACK CHANNEL
We have our own UX Belgium slack channel.
[Come join us and say hi!](https://join.slack.com/t/ux-belgium/shared_invite/zt-1bjpnuiog-T4Di4flXYPWgbT9KrZ53CA)
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\#\#\# YOUTUBE CHANNEL
All our livestreams and talks are recorded and available on our [UX Belgium youtube channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCno7V18T-EglYXprgrUZQ7A).
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\#\#\# ABOUT UX BELGIUM
UX Belgium is a growing community of User Experience (UX) professionals in and around Belgium.
Look for these types of events:
UX Beers
Periodically, we gather at a different company, agency or venue to drink beers, network and listen to speakers on various themes in the world of UX and digital design.
UX Antwerp: Each last Tuesday of the month
UX Brussels: Each second Tuesday of the month, 4x per year
UX Hasselt: 4x per year
UX Workshops
Now and then we organize events to dive deeper into specific skills and techniques in UX. These are smaller, hands-on workshops designed to boost your UX toolbox.
\*\*\*
The UX Belgium Meetup Team
Shut Up & Write!® in Doorn
Join us for some focused writing time. All writers and all experience levels are welcome and don’t worry, no one will see what you've written. This session is about getting your writing done and meeting other writers in your area.
When you show up, say hello to everyone, grab a drink, and get your writing tools ready. Once you’re all settled, take some time to chat with your fellow writers. Once everyone’s arrived, I will lead quick introductions and then set the timer for our quiet and focused writing session.
Afterward, we’ll have time to chat and get to know each other. We often talk about our successes and challenges as writers. If you don’t have time to stick around, no worries!
**A note about the format**
We don’t host critiques or readings. These events are a safe space for writers of all skill levels and genres to work on their craft, so no one will read or critique your writing.
For our full event schedule, visit [https://shutupwrite.com](https://www.shutupwrite.com).
**Other Important Details:**
WiFi name/password: [PLEASE INCLUDE DETAILS]
Travel / Parking info: [PLEASE INCLUDE DETAILS]
Adventure Events Near You
Connect with your local Adventure community
Trails & Valentines! Quarry Trails Metro Park / Johnnie's Tavern
***(She loves me!)* A Brief History of Quarry Trails**
[Quarry Trails Metro Park](https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/quarry-trails/) traces its origins to a vast limestone quarry operated by the Marble Cliff Quarry Company starting in the early 20th century. The site, located along the Scioto River west of downtown, supplied crushed stone for local construction projects and roads throughout central Ohio. Operations peaked mid-century, with massive excavation creating deep pits and steep cliffs that reshaped the landscape. By the 1980s, demand declined, and the southern section of the quarry closed (with the northern section of the quarry remaining in operation to this day by a separate company), leaving behind scarred terrain and abandoned equipment. Environmental concerns arose as the area became a dumping ground and off-road playground for locals. Columbus Metro Parks began eyeing the property in the 1990s for potential reclamation into public green space.
In 2015, Metro Parks acquired the initial 180 acres from the quarry's owners, marking a pivotal step toward transformation. Thrive Companies, a local developer, partnered in the deal to build adjacent housing while funding park improvements. Cleanup efforts removed tons of debris, stabilized cliffs, and addressed water quality in the flooded quarries. Planners envisioned a mix of adventure and preservation, incorporating the site's industrial remnants as features. Community input from nearby Grandview Heights and Hilliard residents shaped early designs. The project gained momentum with state and federal grants supporting habitat restoration.
The park officially opened its first phase in November 2021, featuring 3.5 miles of trails, a waterfall overlook, and climbing walls on the quarry faces. Visitors quickly embraced the unique terrain, with mountain biking loops and a 25-foot waterfall drawing crowds from across the metro area. Metro Parks added a canoe/kayak launch on the Scioto River, connecting to the city's broader trail network. Dog parks and picnic areas rounded out the amenities, making it a year-round destination. Expansion continued with land acquisitions pushing the total toward 600 acres. By 2023, the park hosted events like guided hikes and birdwatching tours.
Ongoing development includes a planned adventure center with zip lines and more extensive single-track trails set for completion in the coming years. Metro Parks collaborates with conservation groups to plant native species and monitor wildlife returning to the reclaimed quarries. The site now serves as an educational hub, with interpretive signs explaining its quarrying past and ecological recovery. Local schools incorporate field trips to study geology and restoration science. Quarry Trails exemplifies Columbus's shift from industrial reuse to innovative urban parks. It stands as the newest addition to the Metro Parks system, complementing favorites like Scioto Audubon and Highbanks.
Today, Quarry Trails continues evolving, with future phases adding connections to the Olentangy Trail and more water access points. Annual visitor numbers have surged, boosting nearby businesses in the evolving west side neighborhoods. The park's success has inspired similar reclamation projects elsewhere in the region. It highlights how Columbus balances growth with green space preservation. Residents enjoy a one-of-a-kind spot that honors the area's gritty history while offering modern recreation. Quarry Trails remains a testament to community vision and adaptive reuse in our city.
***(She loves me not.)* A Briefer History of Valentine's Day**
The origins of Valentine's Day trace back to ancient Rome and the festival of Lupercalia, celebrated in mid-February to honor fertility and purification rites. During this raucous event, young men drew names of women from a box in a matchmaking lottery, often leading to pairings or marriages. By the late 5th century, Pope Gelasius I officially replaced Lupercalia with St. Valentine's Day on February 14 to Christianize the pagan holiday. Although several early Christian martyrs were named Valentine, the most commonly associated figure is a 3rd-century Roman priest who secretly married couples against Emperor Claudius II's ban on young men marrying, believing single soldiers fought better. Legend claims Valentine was imprisoned and later executed on February 14, around 269–270 AD.
The romantic associations with Valentine's Day emerged much later, during the Middle Ages. The pivotal moment came in the late 14th century when Geoffrey Chaucer, in his poem "Parlement of Foules" (c. 1381), linked St. Valentine's Day with courtship, writing that birds chose their mates on this date. This literary connection spread rapidly among the English and French nobility, transforming the saint's feast day into a celebration of romantic love. By the 15th century, lovers began exchanging handwritten notes called "valentines," often containing verses or simple declarations of affection.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, Valentine's Day became increasingly commercialized, especially in England and later the United States. The introduction of printed valentines in the 1840s, pioneered by Esther Howland in America, turned personal notes into mass-produced cards adorned with lace, ribbons, and Cupid imagery. Factories began producing elaborate cards, and the tradition of giving flowers (especially roses), chocolates, and jewelry took hold during the Victorian era.
Today, February 14 is one of the most widely celebrated secular holidays worldwide, generating billions in spending on cards, candy, flowers, and romantic dinners. While still officially the feast day of Saint Valentine in some Christian traditions, the modern version has largely shed its religious roots in favor of universal expressions of love and friendship. From ancient fertility rites to global commercial phenomenon, Valentine's Day has evolved dramatically over two millennia while retaining its core focus on human connection.
***(She loves me!)* Map of the Park**
Here is a [Map of Quarry Trails](https://www.metroparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Quarry-Trails_JUNE-2025_1980px-Web.jpg).
***(She loves me not.)* Summary**
For this hike, we'll do a loop of the park. This will be about four miles. Now, this won't be one of our longer hikes. However, in my experience, Quarry Trails tends to wear people out more quickly than other parks. I suspect this is because most of the trails are either paved or heavily graveled (no surprise at a park which abuts an active stone quarry), with some elevation changes along the way.
***(She loves me!)* Where We'll Meet**
Quarry Trails has multiple entrances, but none of them are connected internally within the park. So you must drive to the correct one for this event.
Set your GPS to [2319 Quarry Trails Dr, Hilliard, OH 43026](https://www.google.com/maps/place/2319+Quarry+Trails+Dr,+Hilliard,+OH+43026/@39.9998462,-83.0873077,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x883891dd76f5eedf:0xf1cb9d34c1069580!8m2!3d39.9997868!4d-83.0872621!16s%2Fg%2F11y17k0ms5?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTExMi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D), or use the map pin I've provided here. Do not just type "Quarry Trails" into Google Maps and expect it to take you to the correct place. It probably won't.
We will meet in the parking lot of the Lake Area. The best entrance to this parking lot will be your first left off of Quarry Trails Dr after Gunnison Dr (which will be on your right). I recommend taking a few minutes and looking at Maps before you head out to make sure you know where you're going.
***(So walk with me...)* Restrooms and Water Fountains**
There are a few port-a-potties sprinkled throughout the park (including two at the parking lot we'll be meeting at), and the Park Office, roughly in the center of the park and which we'll pass twice on this hike, has restrooms and a water fountain. This is the only water fountain, though, at Quarry Trails.
***(At Trails Quarry!*)** **After the Hike**
Afterward, we'll head over to [Johnnie's Tavern](https://johnniestavern614.com/) for [drinks](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Johnnie's+Tavern/@39.993202,-83.0903169,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sCIABIhAulLarLYZC3hY_vRGwoakV!2e10!3e12!6shttps:%2F%2Flh3.googleusercontent.com%2Fgps-cs-s%2FAG0ilSzkwnMN29-lrgzp50Rzeaq5jXCGM1xLS1poH0Mc52-E9NYBvdS99ei7zGmlAYJZyk8OeNW5YvS7agj8M2Bom4ri1m_-NcJiT-LQUDphkS-SB5Vq8JhO-8NSP-_m80HeLz4-pGhjrwhuBKSv%3Dw146-h195-k-no!7i4284!8i5712!4m7!3m6!1s0x883891c4d61ba04d:0x5134f225cbf678bf!8m2!3d39.9932439!4d-83.0902078!10e9!16s%2Fg%2F11c1p57s3t?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTExMi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) and [food](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Johnnie's+Tavern/@39.993202,-83.0903169,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sCIABIhB5lD4Uly_4O9BjNH4r3ywB!2e10!3e12!6shttps:%2F%2Flh3.googleusercontent.com%2Fgps-cs-s%2FAG0ilSy7tQcc7CtCeuUAKwEVJoxtOs8Ycohjy3mGZZOC_kJVdB8wEaGuC4-p5z_jxn2JnpmSEkh_HG7Aok_ZPEgmK57rEBqNIPH8J5tiyAP5vbrRYkUso_fKTkW5vJc47UusNoGiRzs2Vf0m1JcV%3Dw146-h195-k-no!7i4284!8i5712!4m7!3m6!1s0x883891c4d61ba04d:0x5134f225cbf678bf!8m2!3d39.9932439!4d-83.0902078!10e9!16s%2Fg%2F11c1p57s3t?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTExMi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D). Its actual address is [3503 Trabue Rd, Columbus, OH 43204](https://www.google.com/maps/place/3503+Trabue+Rd,+Columbus,+OH+43204/@39.9932491,-83.090227,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x883891c4d6199677:0x1fda03b0add81e7c!8m2!3d39.9932491!4d-83.090227!16s%2Fg%2F11c14yf3m6?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTExMi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D), and it's only about a five minute drive from where we'll be parked at Quarry Trails. We should be at the tavern by 5 if you can't make the hike and just want to meet us for drinks.
Humanist Community Celebrating Darwin Day
Dale Gnidovec, Curator of the Orton Hall Museum of Geology at The Ohio State University, will be presenting a program he has wanted to share with us for a long time: Plate Tectonics. His description of his program:
Continents on the move - Nothing in Earth history makes sense without moving continents - it tells us why mountains, volcanoes, minerals, and fossils are where they are. This talk examines the evidence for continental drift, why it was disbelieved, and explains how the more-encompassing theory of plate tectonics was developed and eventually proven. Dale is an energetic, incredibly knowledgeable, and very entertaining speaker and this will be another wonderful program by Dale. Hope to see you there!
Food and drinks will be provided at the event. Feel free to show up a little bit early to hang out and talk.
Going forward our meetings will be hybrid. You can meet us in-person or attend online
Join Zoom Meeting
[https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1](https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1)
Meeting ID: 878 3656 4953
Passcode: 760812
One tap mobile
+19292056099,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (New York)
+13017158592,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (Washington DC)
The formal presentation will start at noon
BeComing Circle Initiates
http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/a/9/6/600_348310902.jpeg
Instructor - Crow, HPS
Class fee is $30 at the door or approved exchange
RSVP with Advance pay of $25 (discounted) by PayPal on the web or by contacting Enchanted Elements (614) 437-2642.
Reservations made directly to Enchanted Elements will be added to the class list manually not online.
Private Instruction ~ Closed to the Public ~ Initiated Members Only
Please come prepared for ritual.
Blessings ~ Crow
The Fisherman by John Langan
Join us for The Fisherman by John Langan.
In upstate New York, in the woods around Woodstock, Dutchman's Creek flows out of the Ashokan Reservoir.
Steep-banked, fast-moving, it offers the promise of fine fishing, and of something more, a possibility too fantastic to be true. When Abe and Dan, two widowers who have found solace in each other's company and a shared passion for fishing, hear rumors of the Creek, and what might be found there, the remedy to both their losses, they dismiss it as just another fish story. Soon, though, the men find themselves drawn into a tale as deep and old as the Reservoir. It's a tale of dark pacts, of long-buried secrets, and of a mysterious figure known as Der Fisher: the Fisherman. It will bring Abe and Dan face to face with all that they have lost, and with the price they must pay to regain it.
Saturday Board Games! ♟️ 🎯 🚉 🎲 🎴 ♥️ ♠️ 👾
Let's play various and sundry board games at [Crooked Can Brewing](https://crookedcanohio.com/)! The brewery has extensive food options, a good amount of space, and a large (free) parking lot.
The games I bring come from the following list, but feel free to bring some of your own as well!
1. *[Bang!](https://www.amazon.com/dV-Giochi-VINCI-Bang-4th/dp/B001RU7UNW)*
2. *[Chinatown](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IVF4ZH0)*
3. *[Codenames](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014Q1XX9S/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)*
4. *[Coup](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GDI4HX4?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title)*
5. *[Deception](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019FPQZNG)*
6. *[Family Feud](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08Y5XD2HN)*
7. *[Just One](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07W3PJTL2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)*
8. *[Mafia](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D97V536)*
9. [Mexican Train Dominoes](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EULZDM?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title)
10. [Playing cards](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003E6Q8R6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
11. *[The Resistance](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008A2BA8G?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title) ([Hidden Agenda](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OVZ693W?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title))*
12. *[Secret Hitler](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01JKD4HYC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)*
13. *[Sequence](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08NLKHQ3Q/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)*
14. *[Settlers of Catan](https://www.amazon.com/CATAN-Board-Game-Discovery-Civilization/dp/B00U26V4VQ)*
15. *[So Clover!](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0941TJHXX/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)*
16. *[Splendor: Marvel](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08DG63MBG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)*
17. *[Telestrations](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0083J768O)*
18. *[Ticket to Ride](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0975277324/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)*
19. *[Tsuro](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002SQBB3O)*
20. *[Ultimate Werewolf](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MHWUJA0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)*
21. *[Uno](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07P6MZPK3/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)*
22. *[Wits & Wagers](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09C916PWB)*
23. *[Yahtzee](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TLEMRKM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)*
Discount Tuesday: GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON’T DIE at Marcus Crosswoods!
Join us for a CMG Discount Tuesday event to see the hilarious, action-packed and absolutely-bonkers-looking sci-fi-action-comedy, GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON’T DIE! The film follows a man from the future who recruits diners at an LA restaurant to help combat rogue AI. Here’s a description, trailer and our plan for this event:
GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON’T DIE: A man from the future arrives at a diner in Los Angeles where he must recruit the precise combination of disgruntled patrons to join him on a one-night quest to save the world from the terminal threat of a rogue artificial intelligence. The film is directed by Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean series) and stars Sam Rockwell, Haley Lu Richardson, Michael Peña, Zazie Beetz, Asim Chaudhry, Tom Taylor, and Juno Temple.
TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkFW7BZyqkI
EARLY BUZZ AND REVIEWS: Early reviews have been stellar with the film earning a 94% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes! “It offers laughs, thrills, and it’s a thinker; you will not be disappointed.” It’s a “laugh-filled yet incredibly dark and poignant fever dream that pleads for a safer AI tomorrow” and director Gore Verbinski's “command over utter chaos is nothing short of marvelous!”
PLAN: Please purchase your ticket for the 6:20pm showing and meet in the bar area between 5:45 and 6:00pm! A smaller theater so advance ticket purchase as soon as possible is advised! (If we fill it up, we can sometimes persuade them to move it to a larger theater.) One you have yours, please list your seat number in the Comments below.
Should be a fun one, Dan






























