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Opening Volley
JACK MCLAUGHLIN Editor-In-Chief
Past Perfect
Blockbuster movie nights. Dunkaroos, baggy flannel, and Bill Clinton.
There’s no denying that the 1990s are in, and rapidly-aging millennials (like yours truly) who grew up in the decade will take any chance they can get to reminisce about “the good old days” with fellow ‘90s kids.
The weird thing is, when I look back with an honest perspective, I don’t remember things being all that good. And that’s probably because they weren’t. At least not to the extent that today’s infatuation with the decade implies.
Nostalgia is amazing, but it’s deceptive. We as humans have an interesting habit of looking back on bygone eras with a fondness that usually doesn’t match the reality.
Here’s an example from my own life. Every Friday night in middle school, my dad would take me to Blockbuster, and I’d rent a movie or two for the weekend. Always horror movies, too, for some reason. Today, when I think of these trips, I think of them with nothing but fondness. The rose-colored glasses are all the way on.
When I really dig into my memories, though, the glossy sheen starts to fade. Sure, I enjoyed these trips, but my nostalgia completely removes them from the context of my life. And that time of my life wasn’t necessarily a happy period. I really came out of my shell a few years later, right before high school, and I had friends, but it was also a very lonely season of my life.
I wasn’t popular at school, I was insecure about a lot of things. I was a little bit angry at the world and a whole lot of confused. My point is, nostalgia has a way of distorting reality to make the past seem better than it was. I used to resist this. I used to shut down my own pining for the past because the things I remembered weren’t 100% accurate. I remember thinking that I was lying to myself, and in one sense I was right.
As I’ve grown older, though, I’ve started asking a very important question about this: So what? Slowly, I accepted the fact that, just because nostalgia isn’t totally truthful, doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing. You could have hated 3-D Doritos when they first hit the market in 2008, but that doesn’t make their weird 2020s revival any less fun (although for the record, I loved them then just as much as I love them now). And even if you were a lonely middle schooler, it’s not a bad thing to champion a formative part of your life.
So welcome to the ‘90s, Columbus, in all of its boy-band and flannel-loving glory. The decade is back in the Arch City, complete with Mariah Carey, VHS screenings, and even retro Pizza Hut revivals. It doesn’t matter if you hated the era growing up in it, or even if you weren’t alive yet, because no matter what happened back then, they’re here now, and they’re a whole lot of fun.
� STAFF PICKS
In honor of the ‘90s throwbacks in this issue, we asked staff to reminisce on the good old days and tell us what they loved about the era. Here’s what they said:
Friends, Seinfeld, REM, and Blockbuster!!
—Meggin Weimerskirch, Advertising Director
Dinner at Kahiki, City Center Mall during the holidays, AmeriFlora, Max & Erma’s sundae bar, and of course field trips to the old COSI.
—Lindsay Press, CEO
I love ‘90s tech! Semi-transparent iMacs, colorful Gameboys, tech that’s fun and useful but doesn’t demand all of our attention 24/7!
—Andrew Thomas, Creative Director
I want my MTV! (Like it was in the ‘90s)
—Mindy Wilhite, Senior Account Executive
Conan O’Brien on late night television and Norm Macdonald on Saturday Night Live. I know Conan is still with us, but his podcast does not hit the same as sneaking downstairs after dark to watch Late Night
—Mary McCarthy, Associate Editor
Myself!
—Anna Gerhard, Senior Account Executive
ON the WEB
Every day we’re posting Columbus’ top news, entertainment, and sports stories from throughout Central Ohio. Check out all the Columbus news online, including the new ones below, at 614now.com and subscribe to our daily email!
HOT TOPICS
40,000 pounds of Frank’s
RedHot spills across highway
A truck hauling 40,000 pounds of Frank’s RedHot leaked the spicy sauce across Interstate 71 in Delaware County, prompting an unusual cleanup to keep the acidic condiment out of nearby storm drains.
FOOD & DRINK
Owners of Sexton’s Pizza opening new, thin-crust pizza concept
The owners of Sexton’s Pizza are expanding again with a new concept focused on ultra-thin, crispy pizzas, bringing a different style of pie to Central Ohio.
From cocktails to food trucks and an adult prom, August has plenty in store.
Columbus Cocktail Festival
Land Grant Brewing Company
$11-61
Ohio State Fair Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds Admission varies
Columbus Food Truck Festival
Franklin County Fairgrounds, 4951 Northwest Pkwy.
$5-15
Columbus Crew vs. CF Montreal
ScottsMiracle-Gro Field
$30-200
OHIO OPINIONS
BY COLLIN CASTORE
Co-founder, Seventh Son Brewing Co.
Why Weed Drink Laws Make Our Legislature Act Like It’s High
In Spring ’25 Seventh Son registered and was fully licensed within Ohio to make some delicious, naturally derived THC beverages. This lasted for eight months—it really helped our business. We were growing and adding jobs. Then hemp beverage legislation got lumped into the s—show known as Senate Bill 56 (SB56), which revised adult-use marijuana laws. Beverage laws that would’ve allowed us to continue selling our hemp-derived drinks were a compromise on the bill that made sense to both manufacturers and legislators, but were line-item vetoed by Governor Dewine without cause or warning.
So myself and a handful of other brewery and beverage producers got to work. We met with legislators and aides for months, made a website, and got 17,000 Ohioans to reach out to their legislators. Right before the last session in June we even got whip counts that “leadership” asked for. These were tallies of support verified by legislators and lobbyists from both sides, showing both the Ohio House and Senate supported an override with overwhelming numbers. We cajoled and compromised and did all the things we were supposed to do (and told to do). It didn’t matter—“leadership” never brought it to the floor.
I learned that in a supermajority legislature (like Ohio currently has) only one-party matters—that’s why the Democrats said their vote doesn’t count. Is a one party system a democracy? I learned everyone is worried about being chastised by “leadership.” I learned political capital matters more than the issue itself and nobody wants to spend it. I received glassy-eyed stares when talking about jobs, revenue, taxes, etc.
I was a little surprised when I was asked to write an op-ed about our THC drinks and the nonsensical laws surrounding them. They are getting more popular by offering an alternative to alcohol for some, but it is not a category that affects most (614) Magazine readers’ day-to-day lives. What does affect everyone in Columbus and Ohio is our broken legislative process.
I thought the process could work but it doesn’t seem to anymore—as long as our voting maps look like psychedelic jigsaw puzzles, it won’t. As long as “leadership” spends decades-long careers in unassailable districts, it won’t. As long as people think not voting is the best way to get their point across, it won’t.
Even though I lost this one and it really hurts, there are so many issues left that matter. Speak up, stand up and vote. Even if the system is broken, it’s still the best chance we have.
Collin Castore is the co-founder of Seventh Son Brewing Co. and a former president of the Ohio
Craft Brewers Association, where he worked on issues affecting breweries across the state.
One of the THC-based drinks from Seventh Son spinoff Green Buddy. Photo courtesy of @thurmanrose_ ↓
Maiden Shield: Strength in Numbers by Catherine Bell Smith
House flipper
Tommy Harr and his family are turning abandoned houses into dream homes on their new A&E series
← Tommy Harr of Zombie House Flipping
By Sav McKee
“Ishoulda worn my boots,” laughs Katie Harr as the camera zooms in on her leather flip flops.
It’s the first episode of Zombie House Flipping: Family Business, and the matriarch of the Harr family has just stepped into her son Tommy’s latest project. The Blacklick house isn’t exactly screaming “dream home.” Or even “potential home.” It recently fell victim to a fireworks accident, leaving behind charred walls, exposed insulation, and a roof that’s more hole than structure.
Katie looks around at the mold and the wreckage. “I’m wearing my favorite white shirt,” she tells Tommy. “I don’t wanna ruin it!”
It’s a very Katie response—charming, just a little dramatic, but still unbothered—and it sets the tone for a show built almost as much on the family’s chemistry as it is on the houses themselves.
Most investors—and certainly insurance companies— would call a fire-gutted, moldy, roofless house a teardown. For Tommy Harr, it’s just another Tuesday.
The Pickerington native has built a career out of renovating houses others wouldn’t touch. But it wasn’t always this smooth. Tommy bought his first flip, a 4,000-square-foot house in Bexley, with his uncle in 2018 for $420,000—and lost $100,000 on it. “I hired the wrong contractor. Real money went into it, and real money was lost,” he admitted. Tommy didn’t quit, though. He bought a $60,000 house in Whitehall on a loan from a family friend and flipped it for $125,000 four months later.
Today, through his company Legacy Homes, Tommy has renovated more than 400 houses across Central Ohio. And despite the rocky Bexley flip, family is still at the center of the business.
Katie is the family’s realtor, interior designer, and resident comedian. Tommy’s father, Chris, is the lead inspector who taught Tommy everything he knows. Brother Jake is an inspector and investor too, while younger brother Will, also a realtor and inspector, is learning the ropes under Tommy’s supervision. Tommy’s sisters support the business from the comfort of their couches.
“My mom always says only crazy people have five kids,” Tommy joked. “We all still go home every Sunday for dinner and euchre. These are my best friends.” →
Photos by Steven Rankins
Story Design by Brooke Sheridan
“IT
WAS HARD TO LEARN A NEW NORMAL...BUT ONCE WE GOT IN THE GROOVE, IT WAS ROCKING.”
The family’s closeness caught a television producer’s attention. Tommy had been documenting their renovations online for five years when, at a real estate mastermind group, a former A&E executive behind shows like Duck Dynasty and Intervention told him, “Dude, I think you might have a show on your hands.”
Tommy wasn’t convinced anything would come of it. Then came a family dinner with the executive and a producer, followed by a pitch tape. A&E went quiet for almost a year, then last summer green-lit 10 episodes outright—skipping the usual pilot— filmed across Central Ohio neighborhoods including Clintonville, Grandview, and North Linden.
The homes range from disgusting to downright terrifying. One came with roaches, fleas and raccoons—the least of their worries. There are mold problems, collapsing foundations, and a hoarder home that makes you wonder how anyone even lived there.
“We’re taking houses that people would be terrified to flip and making them unbelievably nice,” Tommy said. He’s bringing dead houses back to life, hence the show name.
The process is far from the glossy, overnight transformations you might see on other renovation shows. Tommy buys the properties himself, funds the renovations with his own money, and oversees construction—all on his own. The cameras just follow along. “It was hard to learn a new normal,” he said. “But once we got in the groove, it was rocking.”
↑ A behind the scenes shot of Zombie House Flipping. Photo courtesy of Tommy Harr
The show is unscripted, but not effortless—sometimes a great moment happens off-camera, and the family has to recreate it. Still, Tommy made one thing clear from the start: if they couldn’t be themselves, the show wouldn’t work. Viewers get the real Harr family, cussing and all, including the moments Tommy loses his patience over a lumber delivery gone wrong or chastises his brother Will for a mistake on-site.
Authenticity matters to Tommy, because his reputation is tied to every house. “There are flippers out there that don’t care because their names aren’t on these homes,” he said. “But my name is on it. And I’ve been posting and educating people in Columbus for almost six years on how to do this right.”
Season two is already filming, with production wrapping in October and a spring release expected. But the stakes haven’t changed—if anything, they’re higher now that he’s gained national recognition. “If I was putting out a bad product, I wouldn’t be in business anymore,” Tommy said. “Besides, my mom would kill me.” ♦
Catch up with The Harrs and their houses by streaming the show on Hulu or directly from the A&E App. Learn free advice from Tommy by following along on Instagram, @tommyharr05.
Harr and his family are known for taking on projects no other house flippers will touch
Photo courtesy of Tommy Harr ↓
Hydrafacial Why the
the true magic of the Hydrafacial
With incredible customization in a single, seamless treatment session, it can deliver seven distinct therapies to your skin:
Hype is Real
In the ever-evolving world of skincare treatments, which ones are actually worth it? With endless trends flooding your feed, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. At Boss Gal Beauty Bar, we focus on effective treatments that deliver real results for your skin.
That’s why today, we are diving deep into our favorite facial that’s worth the hype: the Hydrafacial.
To understand why this treatment is so effective, we have to look at the stratum corneum, the outermost layer of your skin. Often called the skin barrier, it acts as a protective shield, keeping environmental toxins out and vital moisture in. While this barrier is crucial for your skin health, it sometimes does its job a little too well, blocking your expensive topical serums from being absorbed properly. When dead skin cells accumulate on the stratum corneum, your complexion looks dull, rough, and congested.
This is where Hydrafacial’s proprietary Vortex-Fusion technology changes the game. Instead of simply scraping the skin surface, the specialized HydroPeel tips utilize a unique spiral design. As the tool sweeps over your face, it creates a localized vortex effect. This mechanism simultaneously dislodges impurities and vacuums away dead cells while deeply infusing potent, nourishing serums past the stubborn stratum corneum.
No matter if you're dealing with stubborn breakouts, hyperpigmentation, or simply want that signature red-carpet glow, we can customize your Hydrafacial steps to achieve your specific goals. Boss Gal Beauty Bar is the leading Hydrafacial provider in Ohio and ranks #6 in the nation!
We can't wait to see your face!
We are also proud to support our local community. From now until August 15th, we are hosting a school supplies drive for Columbus City Schools. Drop off your donations at any of our locations to help local students start the year off right!
Readytoachieveyour Best Skin Yet?
Take advantage of our exclusive August specials at Boss Gal Beauty Bar:
• Members Only Gift: Receive a complimentary travel-sized Skinbetter Science prodauct (while supplies last!).
• $50 Off Platinum Hydrafacials.
• $100 Off RF Microneedling.
THE SWEET S P TO
How two lifelong friends are serving up the next chapter of Pataskala’s longstanding Dairy Hut
The Dairy Hut, now owned by former employees, has been a Pataskala fixture for decades →
By Camille Witt
On a sweltering summer day, nothing beats the heat quite like a cone piled high with creamy soft serve. And while some places may offer unique, trendy flavors, others serve up something you just can’t buy on the menu—memories.
For generations, The Dairy Hut has been making memories with families over its classic sundaes and soft serve. Since opening as a tiny red hut in 1973, the beloved ice cream stand has become a summertime tradition, where Little League victories, first dates, postfootball game celebrations, and family outings all seem to end with a cone in hand.
Now, two lifelong friends are making sure that tradition continues.
Ashlee Powell and Heather Schmidt officially took over The Dairy Hut this season, but their connection to the local landmark goes back to their childhood. Long before they became owners, they were just two teenage girls working together at Capuano’s Pizza House, another community staple just down the road.
“When we got off work, we’d come here for ice cream,” Heather recalled with a smile. “The lines were always long, and we’d just stand outside with our cones and hang out.” →
Part treasure hunt, part public art trail. Riverboxes turn the timeless thrill of treasure hunting into a journey through Dublin's history and natural beauty. Grab your curiosity and hit the trail: every find is a little adventure in discovery, recreation, and learning, hidden right along the river. dublinarts.org/riverboxes
curiosity and public art connect
Photos by Polly Sellers
Story Design by Brooke Stanley
↑ Dairy Hut owners Ashlee Powell and Heather Schmidt
When the opportunity arose to purchase the pizza shop they had worked at together in high school, it felt like a no-brainer. A few years later, another familiar opportunity arrived.
The previous Dairy Hut owner, who had already begun adding onto the property with a new barn and extended patio, was ready to sell. Since Ashlee and Heather already sold The Dairy Hut’s soft serve at Capuano’s, the relationship was baked right in.
“We spent the offseason mapping out what that would look like,” Ashlee shared. “Then we purchased it at the beginning of the season.”
The original menu remains intact, including the legendary homemade coney sauce recipe that has been served since the stand first opened. Fan favorites like the towering Buckeye Sundae, stacked with vanilla soft serve, hot fudge, peanut butter, chopped peanut butter cups, and whipped cream, remain just as popular as ever. The Strawberry Shortcake Sundae is Ashlee’s forever favorite, and a top choice among customers, while seasonal creations like Key Lime, Pumpkin, and this year’s Firecracker Sundae give regulars a reason to keep coming back.
Perhaps the biggest surprise is just how much variety can fit inside one little building. The Dairy Hut offers over 30 delicious soft serve flavors, along with blitzers, milkshakes, malts, floats, sundaes, and classic cones. There are lots of classic summer savory items to enjoy too, like hot dogs, burgers, bratwurst, and barbecue pork sandwiches.
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But ask either owner what they’re most proud of, and neither starts talking about the menu. They talk about the community. The pair regularly donates to local schools, sponsors athletic teams, provides team meals, hosts fundraising nights, and partners with local organizations throughout the area. One recent adoption event helped several shelter dogs find homes. Year-round, a portion of every Pup Cup sold contributes to the Humane Society of Licking County.
“We want to be successful,” Ashlee emphasized, “but we also want to do as much good as we can.”
Nearly all of The Dairy Hut’s employees are local high school and college students, many working their very first jobs, much like Ashlee and Heather when they first started working at Capuano’s together. The two understand how formative those first jobs can be, now that they’re owners of the very establishments they frequented as kids. That’s why the two love giving their team opportunities for a little bit of ownership and creativity. →
The Dairy Hut offers more than 30 flavors of soft serve, sundaes, and more
The staff helps run the Dairy Hut’s social media, develops TikTok content, pitches new menu ideas, and even helps create seasonal specials. This summer, the owners introduced a notebook where employees can submit new ideas and concepts. If their item makes it onto the menu, the student who created it earns a commission on every one sold.
“We want them to be creative,” Heather said. “A lot of our target customers are their age, so who
↑ Powell and Schmidt hope to serve a generation of Dairy Hut-loving Pataskala residents
of many Specialty Sundaes available on the 2026 menu
← From left: ORS member and lead bartender Jackson Proctor with ORS founder Chad White
The
Ohio Rum Society celebrates 10 years with devoted followers across the state, regular gatherings, and plenty of drinks along the way
By David Shaw
Inspired by a transcendent rum flight in a Cleveland bar, serendipitous exposure to the New Orleans rum community, and a bit of spousal insistence to deal with a large and growing rum collection, Ohio Rum Society founder Chad White seized the opportunity to channel a passion for rum into a Columbus-based group modeled after the aptly-named New Orleans Rum Society.
Founded in 2016, the Ohio Rum Society (ORS) has since amassed a statewide following of over 1,000 online members, hundreds of them joining the society’s paid membership ranks over the past decade. Past members include the founders of the quickly-growing Echo Spirits Distilling Co., Columbus-based producers of craft rum and whiskey.
Through a combination of monthly educational tasting sessions and quarterly in-house social gatherings nicknamed “Rum Church,” ORS has facilitated over 150 meetups focused on dispelling stereotypical views of rum that associate the spirit with pirates and tropical drinks. →
Photos by Tommy Feisel
Story Design by Brooke Stanley
“There are a lot of really, really incorrect and misleading myths about rum,” White said. “‘It's inherently sweet, it'll make me sick, it's for sweet drinks only, it's summer only.’ All of these things are very, very inaccurate and it's unfortunate because people don't realize what they're missing out on.”
The organization’s first event was held in November 2016 at the now-defunct Grass Skirt Tiki Room and featured tastings of Campari and Appleton Estate. Each event is individually curated by White as a personal passion project he takes on alongside a full-time job running a tech industry executive search firm. Monthly tasting events are intentionally held on weekday evenings as a way to give back to the local bar scene, providing a small boost in business on what might otherwise be a slow night.
“The mission wasn't just to educate on rum in a social setting,” said White. “It was also, in doing so, supporting this industry, this hospitality industry, that we've all grown to love and appreciate so much by shining a light on upcoming bartending talent, by shining a light and showcasing the top cocktail programs and establishments across town.”
Reservations for future quarterly Rum Church events, referred to as the ‘soul’ of the group by White, are already booked out over a year in advance by members eager to host an event. These more casual events allow members to exchange stories on new discoveries and trade rare bottles not available in Ohio.
ORS tastings educate members on the wide variety of the spirit’s flavor profile
From molasses-based rum to sugar cane-based spirits, ORS demonstrates the growth in the rum industry ↓
↑ Rum tastings are a cornerstone of ORS meetups
Access to the group’s events requires a $50 annual membership fee that has never increased in price over the group’s decade of operation.
To celebrate its tenth anniversary, the August ORS tasting session will be open to members and nonmembers alike, hosted at the new second location for Huli Huli Tiki Lounge on Mound Street in the former Jury Room space. The event will be held from 4-6 p.m. on Aug. 16. As the space has a 50-person occupancy limit, White noted there’s a chance (although a small one) that attendees may need to wait briefly before being allowed in. Representatives of Barbados-based Foursquare Rum Distillery will be on hand to provide samples and discuss the distillery’s history that stretches back to the opening of its sugar cane plantation in 1720.
“If there are people that have been rum curious, just kind of wallflowers on the Facebook group that haven't quite pulled the trigger to join us for an event, let alone join us as official members, they have a nice excuse to come meet some of us,” said White.
ORS tastings have grown from a sole focus on molasses-based rum to include sugar cane-based spirits such as rhum agricole and cachaça. The rum category as a whole has seen strong growth in the United States, fueled by consumers increasingly ‘trading up’ to higherend products. While dark and golden rums dominate U.S. market share, flavored and spiced rums represent the industry’s fastest growing segment. →
“There is a rum for every occasion, every season, every cocktail, every feeling,” White said. “You can taste the volcanic soil, for example, in certain cases. You can taste the seawater if the distillery is close to the coast.”
According to White, members who have been attracted to ORS usually enter from an adjacent spirit: bourbon drinkers disillusioned with chasing exclusive bottles, beer and vodka drinkers looking for variety, even tiki drinkers seeking an expanded view of rumbased cocktails. The dual educational and social focus of ORS events is intended to create an inclusive atmosphere facilitating a sense of community.
“After 10 years, you know, the narrative now isn't just about rum and about cane spirits and educating on the category and exploring it,” White said. “It's about the people. It's about the friendships that have been made through this little platform. People come for the rum education, but what keeps them is the fellowship and the friends that they've made.” ♦
Follow the group’s news and events by joining the Ohio Rum Society Facebook group.
The “Rum Church” in action ↓
C O N N E C G T I N
Dot Cakes are hot this summer, and the internet’s favorite food trend has landed in Columbus, with local baker Riley Harris leading the charge
By Sav McKee
There are some trends from our childhood resurfacing that, depending on who you ask, probably should’ve stayed there: tinned fish, cottage cheese, deviled eggs, to name a few.
Then there’s the return of something that’s still just as sweet the second time around: the Dot Cake.
If you’re unfamiliar (and apparently live under a rock), picture this: you’re 7 years old, “helping” your mom bake a boxed vanilla cake, and you “accidentally” dump the entire jar of rainbow sprinkles on top. To you, it’s pure joy. To your mom, it’s a sugar rush with a side of cavities.
That’s the idea of the Dot Cake, but just like us, it’s all grown up now. The sprinkles are more deliberate, the chaos a little more contained, but the same giddy spirit is there. And people are lining up around the block for a bite of their own childhood.
“For the first two weeks, we couldn’t keep these Dot Cakes in stock,” founder and owner of Love Riley, Riley Harris, said. The London-trained pastry chef opened her first Columbus bakery in early 2025 and just launched a second location in Grandview.
Harris was one of the first to bring Dot Cakes to Columbus in June, the same way she did with her now-signature vintage-style heart cakes piled high with buttercream, bows, and cheeky messages. But she doesn’t want to take credit for this trend.
“I’m just chronically online,” she joked. “I saw a video of these Dot Cakes, and I wanted to make my own version.”
She explained that the original Dot Cake debuted in 2017 at a bakery called The Dotcakes in Roslyn, New York. But it wasn’t until this year that the dessert exploded online, thanks to a viral TikTok featuring the ramekin-sized cakes The Dotcakes makes for New York City’s Butterfield Market. Suddenly, foodies and bloggers everywhere were lining up at the grocery store, phones out, hoping to snag one before they disappeared (and, naturally, film the moment for posterity). →
← Love Riley owner Riley Harris was one of the first local bakeries to bring Dot Cakes to Columbus
Photos by Emma Mortellaro Design by Julie Friedman
Experience art with all your senses in Tavares Strachan’s first U.S. museum survey—only at The Pizzuti, Columbus Museum of Art’s campus in the Short North Arts District.
Photo by JToland Photo.
“Whenever we have the opportunity to bring whimsy back into our bakery, we do it.”
“Whenever we have the opportunity to bring whimsy back into our bakery, we do it.”
← From cakes to cookies and more, Love Riley now serves Columbus from two locations
HENDERSON
“I think people love Dot Cakes because they bring back that feeling of being a again.”kid “I think people love Dot Cakes because they bring back that feeling of being a again.”kid
Dot Cakes took the internet, and Columbus diners, by storm this summer ↓
Underneath the blanket of rainbow nonpareils, you might be surprised to find that there’s no hidden filling, elaborate technique, or secret ingredient. It’s simply vanilla cake, vanilla frosting, and a ton of sprinkles on top. After the trend took off, countless home bakers recreated it online.
Of course, that simplicity makes for an easy target. Critics say there’s too much frosting, that it’s cloyingly sweet, and that it’s—well—just cake.
Harris isn’t fazed. “I mean, it is just cake and icing and sprinkles,” she said, noting Dot Cakes will be offered at both Love Riley locations indefinitely. “But that’s also our entire concept as a cake bakery.”
Nostalgia is having a moment, and the Dot Cake is just one piece of it. Fashion keeps looping back through decades we swore we’d left behind. Hollywood is dusting off childhood favorites for one more sequel. Vinyl, digital cameras, and charm bracelets have all found fresh converts among people who weren’t even around the first time they were popular. And the Dot Cake fits right into that lineup—a dessert from a time when a treat didn’t need a camera, a caption, or an audience.
“I think people love them because they bring back that feeling of being a kid again,” Harris said. “Whenever we have the opportunity to bring whimsy back into our bakery, we do it. We love reminding people that sometimes they need a little sweet treat, and it’s okay to be excited about something as simple as a Dot Cake.”
Sometimes a trend takes off because it’s shiny and new. Sometimes it catches on because it isn’t.
Maybe that’s what people are really lining up for. Not just cake, but permission to find delight in something as ordinary as Dot Cakes. And if the lines at Love Riley are any indication, simplicity is a recipe people are still hungry for. ♦
You can find Dot Cakes at Love Riley’s Lewis Center and Grandview locations until (or if) the trend dies down. Follow along on Instagram, @loverileycakes, to see what other things Riley has baking in the oven.
Hot Dawg
A
man, a mission, a bike, and a hot dog cart are what’s behind are what’s behind Columbus food scene veteran Jack Dale
Bennett’s new concept
By Ameera Rasoul
by Evan Frere
After years in the restaurant industry, Jack Dale Bennett, (formerly of Cobra, Saddleberk, and Watershed Kitchen & Bar) launched his one-man powered gourmet hot dog cart, Cheffy Dawg, in July of 2025. Now, just over a year later, Bennett is pushing to make a change to Columbus food culture, and he’s serving up some pretty hot dogs along the way.
“I’d worked in hospitality for so long and felt a little jaded with a lot of the issues in the industry. I wanted to drop all of it and start from scratch,” Bennett said.
And that’s exactly what he did. From scratch, Bennett crafted the menu, built the cart, and launched Cheffy Dawg all on his own. Instead of opening another traditional restaurant funded by investors and a team of business partners, he wanted to create something entirely his own with intention, and a mission backing it. →
Photos
Story Design by Lauren Green
Cheffy Dawg’s Sauerkraut Dog with caramelized onion, Chili Cheese Dog with mustard and onion, and Classic Dog with ketchup, mustard, and relish ↓
“I'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF REALLY GOOD FEEDBACK AND SUPPORT FROM THE CITY. IT REALLY MEANS A LOT AND KIND OF REAFFIRMS WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO.”
“I want to build a place that can offer real living wages, benefits, and ownership to employees,” he said.
For the Columbus food scene veteran, the ultimate mission behind Cheffy Dawg is about influencing long-term change and reshaping the hospitality workplace culture that he experienced throughout his career.
“If I can’t pay everyone in the kitchen at least 20 bucks an hour, I don’t want to run it,” added Bennett.
That people-first mindset is at the heart of Cheffy Dawg and has helped cultivate a strong community following. “I get a lot of just random neighborhood walk-up people that kind of see the cart and come over,” said Bennett. “It’s a very approachable thing.”
The concept has also built a loyal following, stationed every Sunday at Seventh Son Brewing and every Friday evening at Goodland since this past spring. He leaves his schedule open for pop-ups, late-night bar events, and occasional catering opportunities throughout Columbus.
For Bennett, those everyday interactions embody the kind of hospitality he hopes Cheffy Dawg brings to the city. →
While its menu, entirely crafted by the longtime chef, offers classic toppings on a base of a Dearborn Sausage Company-brand dog served on potato bun, he says the weekly specials are what push the cart into gourmet territory, with feature combinations like Deviled Egg Dogs, Fried Bologna Sandwich Dogs, and Japanese Curry Dogs.
“People always want the special,” Bennett said. “That’s where I get a little out there sometimes.”
Speaking of “out there,” how about hot dogs for breakfast? Bennett's Egg & Cheese Dog is inspired by his favorite breakfast sandwich. Made to order, the hot dog is wrapped in a freshly cooked omelet using a Japanese-style omelet pan, creating a mashup of breakfast comfort food and classic street fare.
“I think it's awesome,” he added. “It's kind of my version of a sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich.”
← The Cheffy Dawg concept is built around accessibility and community interaction
Cheffy Dawg has a variety of specialty hot dog flavors and toppings →
Even the cart itself reflects Bennett's personality. Originally designed to be bicyclepowered, the concept drew from his love of cycling and adventure. Bennett has completed multiple long-distance bike tours, including rides from Seattle to Los Angeles and Columbus to Cleveland.
Now over a year after launching Cheffy Dawg, Bennett says the community support has been overwhelming.
“I've gotten a lot of really good feedback and support from the city,” he explained. “It really means a lot and kind of reaffirms what I'm trying to do.”
For now, he remains the business’ sole employee, handling everything from menu development and operations to serving customers. But he sees Cheffy Dawg as the beginning of something much larger.
He sees the concept expanding into a brickand-mortar space where employees receive competitive wages, benefits, and even ownership opportunities.
Until then, Cheffy Dawg will continue serving creative specials, unexpected flavor combinations, and a vision for what a small food business can become.
“Keep an eye out,” Bennett said. ♦
While Cheffy Dawg can be found parked outside Seventh Son Brewing every Sunday from 12-4 p.m., check out the cart's Instagram, @cheffydawg, for future events and popups.
How Columbus is bringing back the food, fashion, and fun from everyone’s favorite decade
There’s a reason the ‘90s refuse to stay in the past. Maybe it’s nostalgia, maybe it’s the return of low-rise jeans (sorry, they really are back), or maybe it’s just that the decade was simply too good to leave behind.
Columbus has embraced the revival wholeheartedly. Thrift shops around town are stocked with windbreakers, mom jeans, and vintage band tees. Local bakeries are reviving your favorite after school sweet treats, theaters and venues around the city are bringing back ‘90s throwback movie nights, people are ditching streaming for CD’s, dusting off their VHS collections, and landlines are so back. If you’re chasing that specific blend of grunge and bubblegum pop nostalgia—you’re not the only one.
From bars to bakeries, there’s something nostalgic for everyone. This cover section rounds up the best of ‘90s food, fashion, and entertainment defining Columbus’s love affair with the era. →
By Jack McLaughlin, Mary McCarthy, Jackson Hall, and Maggie Valentine Section Design by Andrew Thomas
Photo by Tyler Jamison
Four movie programs showing classic ‘90s flicks this summer
There’s nothing quite like a movie night in the summertime—especially when the movie in question is a familiar favorite. Something about a warm night, a lawn chair, fireflies, and the opening bars of a soundtrack you know by heart just hits different.
Across Columbus, a plethora of big screens both indoors and outdoors are highlighting the decade that brought us Blockbuster Fridays and TGIF lineups. Whether you’re a Clueless fan, a Jurassic Park purist (RIP Sam Neil. They DO move in herds), or someone who still cries at the end of Titanic, there’s a throwback screening somewhere this summer with your name on it. Here’s where you can find them:
Studio 35
Located at 3055 Indianola Ave., the theater’s Weekend Cinema Classics series regularly shows ‘90s throwbacks, cult classics, and horror favorites. Their sister location, Grandview Theater and Drafthouse, is located at 1247 Grandview Ave.
Gateway Film Center
Located at 1550 N. High St., Gateway leans into the deep cuts, giving cult classics and ‘90s staples the kind of big-screen treatment they rarely get anymore outside of a beloved home VHS copy. Their series From Book to Film is chock-full of throwbacks, and free to attend with your library card.
The NightLight series
This Columbus staple takes the whole movie night concept outdoors. Described as “social cinema,” NightLight pairs favorite films with local brews, wine, and food trucks, all under a summer night sky. It’s set up at Genoa Park in Franklinton, right behind COSI, and it’s a 21+ affair, so think less “family movie night” and more “adult summer camp with popcorn.” While the ‘90s staple 10 Things I Hate About You played on July 30, plenty of others will be playing throughout the year.
“Cult classics are definitely a cornerstone of our programming. We always include new and emerging amazing movies, allowing people to share the experience of seeing it for the first time under the skyline together. However, there’s a truly unique magic in the experience— bringing people together for great food, drinks, and conversation under the stars while revisiting the nostalgic films that hold a special place in everyone’s memory,” said NightLight owner Patrick Cline.
Movies at the Commons
Located at the Columbus Commons, this event series is family friendly. They offer a free movie under the stars, views of the Columbus skyline are included. They also offer free popcorn while supplies last, but it’s more fun to bring your own picnic. Look for Ghostbusters, The Craft, and more later this year.
Find what’s within.
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✓ Make lasting friendships
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✓ Lead in her own way and connect with causes she cares about
Join Girl Scouts today and unlock her potential at gsoh.org/join
Skating rinks are back and better than ever in Central Ohio
Put on your favorite outfit, tie those laces, and get ready to glide across the hardwood.
For many, roller skating brings back memories of birthday parties, school field trips, and weekends spent circling the rink with friends. While the pastime became a staple for many throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s, it’s one trend that never really seemed to disappear.
Across Columbus, roller rinks continue to welcome skaters of all ages. Whether it’s a birthday celebration, a date night, a corporate outing, or simply an excuse to get out of the house, the classic rink still offers something for everyone.
Skate Zone 71, located on the city’s Northeast Side, is one example. The rink hosts public skate sessions, birthday parties, private events, and themed nights throughout the year, showing there’s still plenty of demand for an activity that’s entertained generations.
While entertainment trends constantly come and go, the experience has stayed largely the same. Step onto the rink and you’ll still find music filling the room, colorful lights reflecting off the floor, and skaters doing their best to make it around without taking a tumble.
“Step onto the rink and you’ll find music filling the room, colorful lights reflecting off the floor, and skaters doing their best to make it around without taking a tumble.”
And thankfully for your ‘90s nostalgia, Skate Zone isn’t the only place offering throwback skating in Ohio’s Capital City. Skate America in Grove City boasts a sizable rink, space for birthday parties, and even lessons, while one look at the website of the flawlessly-named United Skates of America on Refugee Road will tell you all you need to know about the Southeastern Side spot. An overload of neon colors and techy patterns already feels like they were plucked out of everyone’s favorite decade, and it even offers $5 Fridays, where patrons can free skate to R&B and vibrant lighting. Did we mention they also offer regular glow-in-the-dark skating events, where you can don a pair of glowing skates, grab your free glowstick, and hit the rink for only $10.
If that doesn’t scream 1990s birthday party, we don’t know what else does.
Nostalgic ‘90s snacks making a delicious comeback
As a bonafide ‘90s kid, there were few better feelings than opening your packed lunch to find a Zebra Cake or Oatmeal Creme Pie tucked inside. While that’s a feeling you likely can’t recreate, a host of new, nostalgic snack cakes taking over the Central Ohio food scene can get pretty close.
The hugely popular Merion Village spot Bake Me Happy (which is entirely gluten free, but good enough that even gluten lovers regularly patronize them) is leading the charge with a handful of treats inspired by childhood favorites.
“When starting Bake Me Happy 13 years ago, one major thing you miss when you need to eat gluten free is stuff you can’t have. So that became the basis of our business brand: gluten-free nostalgic treats,” said co-owner Wendy Miller Pugh.
Bake Me Happy began as a way to let its owners indulge in gluten-free versions of their favorite nostalgic treats ↓
↑ Bake Me Happy co-owner Wendy Miller Pugh
Photos by Jen Brown
While their brand started with throwbacks like their Oatmeal Creme Cloud (inspired by Oatmeal Creme Pies) and Spongie (Twinkies) they added King Dong (Ding Dongs), Zebra Cakes, Pop-Tarts, and many more, offering gourmet versions of throwback snacks.
“Our treats are so much better than the originals, gluten free or gluten filled,” Pugh added, noting King Dongs, Zebra Cakes, and Oatmeal Creme Clouds are available daily, with PopTart flavors rotating every other week.
Once a year, typically a Saturday in October, Bake Me Happy rolls out a menu that’s dominated by nostalgic treats, including Nutty Bars, Cheez-Its, Zingers, Classic Cupcakes, Fig Bars, Nutter Butters, Cosmic Brownies, Star Crunch, and more. These are delicious, but available in limited quantities. Make sure to follow their social media channels to learn when their next Nostalgic Treat Saturday will take place.
Bake Me Happy may be the clearest example of nostalgic treats returning in Columbus, but they aren’t the only ones. Lauded Columbus cookie-maker Lion Cub’s Cookies rolled out their Dunk-A-Lion, a Dunkaroos-inspired baked good, several years ago. ‘90s-themed Gahanna eatery Pizza Nerds offers their own variety of massive cookies inspired by Saturday morning cereal binges as a kid, which are typically stuffed with plenty of goodies and frosting. Even though the holidays are a ways away, local cheesecake spot The Cheesecake Girl annually rolls out their cheesecakes stuffed with an entire box of Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes (you read that correctly). Clintonville baker Rose Dough Donuts also offers unique versions s of ‘90s-inspired treats as well, like their Pepsi and pizza-flavored crullers modeled after the scene in Home Alone where the McCallister family orders 10 pizzas the night before their trip overseas.
Columbus is ditching digital entertainment for personal DVDs and VHS tapes
Not very long ago, we were renting movies from Blockbuster, borrowing from the library, and sending away for DVDs in the mail (we miss you, early Netflix). Before we knew it, there were full blown computers in our pockets streaming everything, all at once, all the time. Screen time went from an occasional treat—an hour of cartoons before school, or a movie night with friends—to a full-blown, doom-scrolling, can’tput-it-down way of life. Today, it only makes sense that people are hitting rewind, literally, and falling back in love with VHS tapes and DVDs.
Streaming promises endless choices, but decision fatigue is a very real side effect. Ask anyone who’s turned on their smart TV looking to find a new movie or TV series, only to turn it off 45 minutes later, having watched nothing. Keely Stagg, a local vintage seller, has ditched streaming altogether. Instead, she opts for a (small) thrifted TV for her kitchen counter, and a stack of DVDs and VHS tapes.
VHS tapes on display at VHS Social Club ↓
“I hate wanting to watch something but not knowing exactly what, and scrolling through hundreds of options on a streaming service. If I have DVDs or a VHS, I can just pick one I love and not have to be marketed to all the time,” she said. Now, her mornings are unplugged— music or a show playing in the background while she gets ready, no phone required.
“I want to reduce the amount of algorithms feeding me as much as I can,” Stagg said.
She’s not the only one getting connected—cord and all—with physical media. Enter VHS Social Club, a Brewery District bar that’s hitting rewind on entertainment. Located at 520 S. Front St., the bar is full of classic ‘80s and ‘90s movies on VHS, plenty of TV’s, board games, and throwback arcade games.
“VHS Social Club originally started out with a nostalgic emotion I wanted to evoke...it just grew naturally,” owner Rhome Ruanphae said. And it’s not just Gen X showing up for tactile pastimes that don’t include scrolling. “A lot of young people come out late and stay late, and they’re not drinking,” Ruanphae said. “It’s nice to have a space where kids want to talk to people and have experiences outside of the phone.”
Hospital stays, specialist notes, prescriptions — it all makes its way back to us. So your primary care provider stays up to speed, and you stay confident nothing gets missed.
Worthington
This Central Ohio eatery is hosting a ’90s music singalong brunch
Mariah Carey, Nirvana, Notorious B.I.G.— selecting a throwback to play is as easy as choosing what to eat for dinner. Sometimes you know exactly what you want, other times the options feel endless. Something everyone can agree on though, is when a ‘90s hit is played, the crowd will go wild.
It was a time that defined the golden era of boy bands, turned pop stars into icons, birthed an alternative rock movement, and revolutionized rap and R&B. And the folks over at Bucci’s Italian Scratch Kitchen—Located at 320 W. Center St., in Marion—are here for it.
Nearly a year ago, Bucci’s owner Alex Sheridan started Brunch, Please!, an event that has attracted guests internationally and ensured that sales, just like those ‘90s hits, are booming.
“We’ve had guests from 41 states and three different countries, they’re flying in from all over the place. It’s been wild and it took on a life of its own,” Sheridan said.
The guests are not just flying in for brunch, but for the ticketed event every Saturday and Sunday morning. Billed as part-concert, part-party, guests come together to scream-sing their favorite songs while digging into brunch. And while the occasional Taylor Swift track attracts a decent crowd, nothing gets the brunch crowd going like a ‘90s party.
From emulating Mariah Carey’s whistle notes in Emotions to screaming out Blink-182’s All The Small Things, nothing evokes a feeling more like a collective group singing the same ‘90s hit.
“It’s kind of like one of the last eras where everybody had the same soundtrack,” Sheridan said. Now there’s so much music out there whereas [then] everybody knew every popular song. It’s kind of just a common language.”
A brunch spread from Bucci’s Italian Scratch Kitchen ↓
Sheridan notes that the love for ‘90s music is not just because of how good a song is, but the nostalgia and longing for a time that we can no longer go back to.
“It’s what the music reminds them of. It’s what part of life they were in when that song was playing on repeat everywhere,” he said.
”Especially with the ‘90s, you think of a movie, or a girlfriend, or going to the fair with your friends, or a break-up. A lot of that emotion is tied to nostalgia.”
EVEN MORE LOCAL ‘90S MUSIC
Skully’s Diner
1151 N. High St.
This Short North spot offers regular ‘90s and ‘00s throwback nights, including many with a live DJ.
Ace of Cups
2619 N. High St.
Sadboyz, held on the last Wednesday of every month, is a throwback DJ set featuring music from the best era of emo, pop-punk, and alternative.
The Wet Bandits
A Columbus cover band performing around the Central Ohio area with classic ‘90s music from The Cranberries to the Backstreet Boys.
Newport Music Hall
1722 N. High St.
Club ‘90s Parties, the official host of all things throwback, frequently holds themed parties at the venue. From retro soundtrack anthems to dance club favorites, a ‘90s night at Newport Music Hall is not one to miss.
Everyone’s favorite food enjoying a ‘90s Renaissance
In the ‘90s, a pizza party was always a good idea. Whether it was a birthday party at a roller rink or celebrating a youth soccer game, pizza was always part of the equation. After a long game, covered in grass stains and sweat, there was no better feeling than the cool party room of a Pizza Hut—where else could you show off your participation trophy?
You can still find classic retro Pizza Huts in Ohio—in fact there are 11 official “Pizza Hut Classic” locations in the state—complete with red checkered tablecloths lit underneath the tacky, yet captivating Tiffany-style lamps.
Today, not only are multiple Pizza Hut locations across the country renovating back to their classic ‘90s redroof roots, one Central Ohio Pizzeria is also taking an unapologetic slice out of everyone’s favorite decade.
Pizza Nerds originally started as a food truck serving wood-fired pizza, and under a different name. In 2022, Pizza Nerds owners Katelyn and Brent Gargasz had the opportunity to open up a brick and mortar, and they decided to use the new space to celebrate the decade when they began their love affair with pizza.
“Everybody falls in love with pizza when they’re a kid,” Brent said. “We’re like it’d be really cool to go to our shop every day and make it feel as though we’re back in that decade when we were kids.”
After moving on from its original location in Newark in 2024, Pizza Nerds found its stride in Gahanna. Located at 1376 Cherry Bottom Rd., the eatery serves signature pies named after classic ‘90s cultural figures.
‘90s-themed pies from Pizza Nerds ↓
Photos by Evan Frere
“We just try to do something that’s a little bit silly, that’s also memorable for people. It creates something they can relate to,” Brent said.
Signature menu items include The Mario, Brent’s favorite retro video game character and a classic cheese blend with red sauce, banana peppers, pepperoni, and hot honey. Or The Jazzy Jeff, the Fresh Prince’s other half and a pizza topped with cheese, red sauce, sausage, onion, and Momma Lil’s Sweet Hot Peppers.
Besides the throwback menu, the interior of Pizza Nerds itself is a bit of a ‘90s time capsule. From vintage toys, ‘90s movie posters, and a cardboard cut out of Hulk Hogan himself, guests are teleported back to the age of pre-smartphone.
“We just wanted to put a bunch of our old toys in there, our favorite movies. It was really just because we thought it would be fun to spend all day in a spot like that,” Brent said.
After seeing guests stop in for pictures and chatting with the staff, he encourages people to come in and join in on the nostalgia—even leaving a trinket or two, making their own mark on Gahanna’s very own ‘90s pizza vault.
Pizza Nerds owners Katelyn and Brent Gargasz ↓
How a local entrepreneur is bringing landline telephones back, with a purpose
In a world where a smartphone feels more like a necessity than a luxury, it’s hard to even comprehend why—or how, for that matter—anyone would return to save the landline telephone from the brink of extinction, but it’s happening right here in Columbus.
There’s a chance you’ve heard of national providers like Tin Can and Ooma, which are embracing the return of the landline by offering home phone services, and now a new, and locally-based provider Chatterbox is bringing something similar, with their own distinct flavor, to the country.
For Grove City resident Drew Clauson, the business began as a family matter. Clauson, who has children of his own, was devising ways to better keep in touch with his brother in law, who lives in Michigan with six children, when inspiration struck.
“We didn’t want to just constantly be handing our kids tablets, so he sent some products in the [landline] industry, and I just kept thinking each of them weren’t quite right,” he said. “I’ve been in telecom or been close to it for 15 years as an engineer. Why don’t I just set this up myself?, I thought.”
A few months later, in the summer of 2025, Chatterbox was born. The company is still small, but growing, and serves families, including his own, in more than 15 states.
But why, in our era of one-touch wonders and ultraconvenience, would people willingly return to older technology?
“We didn’t want to just constantly be handing our kids tablets”
Chatterbox founder Drew Clauson, left ↓
Photos by Polly Sellers
There are a handful of reasons, Clauson said. Kids who are too young to use a smartphone can still operate a landline. For children below reading age, or those who simply can’t hit all the digits in a phone number quickly enough, Chatterbox has even added picture-based dialing.
Larson also believes the service teaches children important “phone etiquette” that they may not otherwise learn, and it keeps younger ones off smartphones for as long as realistically possible.
Ultimately, though, Chatterbox returns to where it started: It’s all about connection, whether that’s to a school friend from down the street, or a cousin living half a world away.
“Outside of actually being with someone, voice to voice is really where you see relationships forged,” Clauson said. “That’s what we’re trying to do.”
Getting Thrifty
Four local vintage clothing shops share their tips for finding authentic, high-quality ‘90s/2000s pieces—and how to style them.
By Jordan Abbruzzese Story Design by Andrew Thomas
Street 2 Vintage
796 Parsons Ave. @Street2vintage
TIPS FOR FINDING:
My tip for finding Y2K and ’90s clothing is to first get familiar with the pieces themselves. Once you start recognizing the patterns, construction, fabrics, and overall quality, vintage will stand out from fast fashion almost immediately.
It’s definitely getting harder to find these pieces than it was a few years ago, so consistency is key. Check different thrift stores, estate sales, flea markets, online marketplaces—don’t limit yourself to just one avenue.
TIPS FOR STYLING:
Get to know your personal style first. A lot of people focus on the clothes before figuring out what they actually like to wear. Once you understand your style, incorporating Y2K and ’90s pieces into your wardrobe becomes much more natural.
The Alley Vintage
2522 Billingsley Rd., Columbus, OH
@thealleyvintage
TIPS FOR FINDING:
1. Material: A lot of replications are going to be polyester or a polyester mix. For true vintage of that time period, you’re going to want natural fibers like silk, wool, and cotton.
2. Sizes and stitching of the fabric: True vintage is going to have a generous seam allowance because they didn’t make things for a one-time wear. It was meant to be able to take in and out to fit the person better as they lose or gain weight. Also with sizing, don’t go off what’s on the tag. A size 10 today could have been a size 4 in the ‘90s.
3. Tags: Not a lot of people think to look at the tags, but the tags can tell you a lot. You want to look for “Made in the USA,” “Made in Italy,” or even the United Kingdom. Nowadays, a lot of them will say they were made in China, and that wasn’t as popular back then as it is today. You also want to look at the style of the label and fonts—a good tool to use is Google Lens—it can help weed out the replications.
TIPS FOR STYLING:
Vintage is making a huge comeback and we love that, but not all vintage looks good, and if not done right, it can honestly look like a theater costume rather than an everyday look! We tell our customers to blend pieces; mix some vintage ‘90s with some modern day pieces and you can put together some amazing looks. Start with some neutral modern pieces that are black, white, or even cream based, and then throw in those fun vintage patterned pieces to give your outfits the pop you are looking for.
There are also two completely different spectrums of ‘90s and 2000s fashion: very minimalist or very “out there” statement outfits. Experiment with both, don’t just focus on just one end of the spectrum when it comes to fashion. We are very big on wearing what you are comfortable in and expressing yourself with clothing. →
Dustbunniez Vintage
400 W. Rich St. Ste. 222 @dustbunniezvintage
TIPS FOR FINDING:
Finding quality ‘90s/Y2K pieces can be tricky considering most modern brands dupe them! Always shop vintage or secondhand. Older pieces were made better than pieces we’re producing today. The tag is the first thing I find. If the tag is made of paper, you’re in luck—it’s most likely vintage. Luckily, vintage brands like Victoria’s Secret, Mudd, and Bongo, use cotton, silk, and wool materials.
TIPS FOR STYLING:
Y2K and ‘90s is my favorite style, and why my store specializes in them. Styling is quite easy! Although 98% of my closet is thrifted, it’s so easy to mix old and new pieces together. Whenever I’m shopping for Y2K, I buy statement pieces, but I also buy a bunch of Y2K basics. Have a pair of low rise bedazzled flare jeans? Wear a vintage plain baby tee with it! An all-over printed top? Add a plain denim mini! I also love combining modern brands with vintage. It’s okay to get out of your comfort zone. Wear your cute vintage with a smile and confidence, and you’ll look like you rolled right out of someone’s Pinterest mood board.
COLUMBUS has a robust VINTAGE scene. If you have a VISION for an outfit in mind, you can find what you need.
Midwest Vintage Collective
400 W Rich St. Unit 101 @midwestvintagecollective
TIPS FOR FINDING:
Sourcing for us is about digging, hoping we stumble upon gold, or locking in with a very specific find in mind. Most sourcing days you can catch us at estate sales, flea markets, and antique malls just hoping to find magical, quality pieces that tickle the special throwback itch. Other days, we might be scouring the internet or reaching out to our network of other shop owners and pickers for a specific band’s tee or wild card pieces. It’s all about nostalgia, and is sometimes inspired by something as simple as what we’re listening to in the shop that day. That’s why our collection is so curated.
Columbus has a robust vintage scene. If you have a vision for an outfit in mind, you can find what you need. We have tons of dedicated vintage clothing shops and incredible pop-up markets, like Atomic on High, where you can shop with curators that reflect your sense of style. Franklinton Fridays is a perfect day to stroll through and find vintage gems.
TIPS FOR STYLING:
As for styling vintage, my biggest tip is to get to know your personal style first. A lot of people focus on the clothes before figuring out what they actually like to wear. Once you understand your style, incorporating Y2K and ’90s pieces into your wardrobe becomes much more natural. ♦
A look into the people, professionals, and trends behind recent Columbus weddings
SummerLOVING
Section Design by Abby Nocera
Whether it’s a 400-person frenzy at the Franklin Park Conservatoryoratwo-personescapetothelocalcourthouse, everyone’s ideal wedding—like the people behind them—is totally unique. This year, our wedding section hopes to capture the variety that is love in Columbus. We’ve featured a pair of recently-married couples who embraced very different wedding celebrations, profiled on one of the city’s most prolific wedding bands and even sat down with a local wedding planner to understand a handful of 2026 wedding trends.
So whether you’ve been married 4 times, been wed to the same person for 30 years or never tied the knot at all, we want to show you a little slice of love in Columbus, and everything that comes with it. →
PHOTOS COURTESY OF AMY ANN PHOTOGRAPHY
WITH ONLY 90 DAYS TO PLAN, THIS COLUMBUS COUPLE STILL MANAGES TO HOLD THEIR BIG DAY IN A SHORT NORTH STUDIO WITH MORE THAN 200 GUESTS
We met in Columbus' Short North during a season of life when neither of us was looking for forever. We had both been happily single for quite a while, convinced and not upset that we would probably stay that way. We loved our independence, our friends, and the freedom that came with building lives we truly enjoyed. Falling in love or even thinking about dating simply wasn't part of the plan.
After initially meeting, the first time Amanda and Ivy really spent time together was at a drag show at none other than Wall Street Night Club, a Columbus landmark that has since unfortunately closed its doors. Drag has always been a meaningful part of our story, as one of us still performs as a Drag King and is a founding member of the Steele Brothas and a proud member of the Steele Family.
Over the next 15 years, we renovated three homes, loved three incredible dogs and multiple fish, built a thriving interior design and home staging business, Mission Design Co., and learned that the best adventures are the ones you never plan.
When we finally decided it was time to get married, we did so knowing it felt more important than ever. Just days after we made it official, the United States Supreme Court was scheduled to revisit a case that had us wondering what the future could hold for marriage equality and people who love as we love. We knew we didn't want to wait another minute.
As if life wasn't busy enough, we planned our entire wedding in just 90 days while filming a home renovation television series, Zombie House Flipping: Family Business, now streaming on A&E. We had absolutely no idea what we were doing when it came to planning a wedding, and we honestly couldn't have done it without our incredible photographer, Amy Tannenbaum. She became so much more than our photographer—she helped us build the timeline, kept everything moving, and made sure our day unfolded exactly as it should. We are forever grateful for her.
Even though our invitations went out with very little notice, more than 230 of our favorite people traveled from all over the country to celebrate with us. The moment everyone gathered together, the atmosphere was unlike anything we had ever experienced. After 15 years together, so many people had been waiting for this day right alongside us. The room was filled with overwhelming joy, excitement, and love. You could feel the energy of pure love in that room.
Of course, our family wouldn't have been complete without our beloved puppy, Walter Jamal. Including him in our ceremony made the day even more special. We also honored our two beloved furbabies who had passed by naming our signature cocktails after them. Alongside one for Walter, allowing all three of them to be part of the celebration in their own way.
Then came one final surprise. During the reception, the Steele Family took over the dance floor with a performance that brought our story beautifully full circle. Watching the community that helped bring us together celebrate with us in that way was a moment we'll never forget. It was a reminder that sometimes the places and people who shape our beginnings become part of our happiest endings.
Looking back, our wedding wasn't about perfect details or elaborate traditions. It was about celebrating 15 years of choosing each other, surrounded by the people who had loved us every step of the way. It was joyful, emotional, imperfect in all the right ways, and completely, unapologetically us.
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AMY ANN PHOTOGRAPHY
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*Promotional Period for Introductory APR: The Introductory APR for balance transfers to a BMI FCU Visa Platinum credit card will apply to transactions of $1,000.00 or greater posted to your account during the first 30 days following the opening of your account. Any existing balances on BMI Federal Credit Union loan or credit card accounts are not eligible for the introductory APR for balance transfers. After the introductory period and for balance transfer transactions below $1,000.00, APR will be 9.90% to 17.90% based on your creditworthiness when you open your account. Introductory rate not eligible for new purchases. Fees: No Annual Fees. Foreign Transaction fee of 1.00% of each transaction in U.S. dollars. Late Payment Fee of $25.00 or the amount of the required minimum payment, whichever is less, if you are 15 or more days late in making a payment. Returned Payment Fee of $25.00 or the amount of the required minimum payment, whichever is less. Effective Date: June 23, 2026. This information may have changed after that date. To find out what may have changed, contact the Credit Union. Rates, terms, and conditions are subject to change and may vary based on creditworthiness and qualifications. All loans subject to approval.
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FRANKLIN COUNTY MUNICIPAL COURT 2026
PHOTOS COURTESY OF AMY ANN PHOTOGRAPHY
THIS YOUNG COUPLE'S DOWNTOWN ELOPEMENT FEATURED COLUMBUS CLASSICS LIKE SPECK, JENI'S, AND A STROLL THROUGH THE SHORT NORTH
We first met in 2024 in Blacksburg, Virginia while attending Virginia Tech University, and started dating a year later. In 2016 we were both fortunate to have exciting opportunities in Columbus, with Lauren working at The James and Alec beginning a PhD program at Ohio State.
Fast forward to 2026 (or five homes, four jobs, and the addition of one dog later) and we wanted to do something special for our 11th anniversary. It fell on April 14, which was a Tuesday. We both wanted something intimate and casual. As we discussed it further, we ultimately made a decision: We were going to elope.
We planned a day of photos with Amy Ann Photography, starting with colorful murals near the Blockfort gallery in the Brewery District, then to the Statehouse and the Supreme Court of Ohio, followed by our marriage ceremony at the Franklin County Municipal Court. We then traveled to Goodale Park and the Short North for more photos. Last but not least was our favorite: Jeni’s Ice Cream.
This was our first time working with a photographer and Amy did not disappoint! She did a fabulous job documenting our day and keeping it fun! We were also lucky to have our closest friends, Natalie and Phil, join us for the day, and for dinner that night at Speck.
For us, the day was exactly what we wanted. We loved the idea of continuing to celebrate our existing anniversary. We view our marriage as much a commitment to one another as it is a celebration of the past eleven years together. We are so thankful for our relationship—it was great to celebrate all the time, energy, and love we’ve invested in one another, and thanks to Amy, we can look back on this day with fond memories of adventuring around Columbus!
← After 11 years together, the couple decided to celebrate their anniversary with an elopement
Vendors
VENUE
FRANKLIN COUNTY
MUNICIPAL COURT FOOD
SPECK ITALIAN EATERY
CAKE/DESSERT
JENI’S SPLENDID ICE CREAMS JEWELER
DAVID KLASS
PHOTOGRAPHER
AMY ANN PHOTOGRAPHY
SAY “I DO” AT THE ZOO!
Outdoor/Indoor Ceremony
Reception Table/Chair Setup
On- site catering & bar service
Animal Encounter included!
SINGERS
With a dozen members boasting everything from horns to keyboard and rap, The Conspiracy Band is the city’s ultimate form of wedding entertainment
By Laura Jones | Photos by Evan Frere
What has four singers, two rappers, three horns, and has been bringing down the house across Columbus weddings and events for nearly four decades? If you said “The Conspiracy Band (TCB),” you’d be right.
The 12-piece outfit plays weddings, events, and festivals all around town, and is widely considered one of Columbus’ best bands. Led by Rodney Sutton, they’ve played across Columbus for the last 36 years. They’re so tight, and gig so much, they don’t need to rehearse. And while they have a list of about 250 songs clients can choose from, Sutton prefers calling out tunes in the moment instead of a traditional set list.
Part band leader, part DJ, Sutton reads the crowd for what will best move them, groove them, or just get them dancing.
And if you think 12 musicians might not be enough, the band swells at times as big as 20. “I bring in extra horns, another keyboard, or guitar player. I’ve had violin players come in because
a lot of hip hop is now being played by strings. I really push clients to tell me what they want their people to see and experience,” Sutton said.
Beginning in the ‘80s as a typical five-piece called Crossfire, the concept behind the group has shifted over the years. Sutton, who grew up singing in a church choir, was recruited for lead vocals. He’s now the “only guy standing” from the original five. Players he’s picked up along the way tend to stay. Drummer Billy Hawthorne, for instance, has played with TCB since 2000. “The uniqueness about it is that we play everything from Bruno Mars to Frank Sinatra, from the Stones to Taylor Swift. And every member is unique in their own way. It’s a blessing.”
Singer Vanessa Jones agreed. She’s sung with TCB since she was 20 years old; she’s now 39 and married to one of the band’s rappers, Joe. In the summer, the two rarely have a weekend off. “People love our versatility and spontaneity. There’s so many people playing, it’s like a wall of sound,” she said.
The band boasts 12 core members, but grows to hold as many as 20 for certain performances ↓
“
EVERY MEMBER IS UNIQUE IN THEIR OWN WAY. IT’S A BLESSING.”
One of their many gigs this summer was a wedding at Bridge’s End Brewing Co., in Shawnee Hills. The back wall of the space was flung open to the stage, with white tents set up on either side. Flower girls in white dresses danced with their brothers, and groomsmen loosened their ties. Sutton took the stage and boomed into the mic, “Y’all are here for a party, right?”
From there it began, Bon Jovi slipped seamlessly into At Last and then Don’t Stop Believing. There was that wall of sound, especially from the trumpet, trombone, and sax, taking the party over the edge, just an embarrassment of riches. Sutton called up partygoers visiting from Chicago, Phoenix, and parts beyond. Soon, they were singing, too.
The band occasionally does pull people up for live band karaoke. In the past, luminaries like Beverly D’Angelo and Charles Barkley have grabbed a mic, the latter belting out “R-E-S-PE-C-T” to a crowd of curious onlookers. They’ve also opened for other visiting bands, like Earth, Wind & Fire.
If your event space is a tad smaller than The Schottenstein Center, that’s okay, too. Sutton is so popular with local musicians, he’s branched out into Sutton Entertainment, a booking company that places more than just TCB. He’ll find the right player for any event, no matter the size. “A lot of people these days seem to want a DJ and live saxophone,” he mused. Music is constantly changing but that’s what keeps it so exciting.
“My favorite thing,” he said, “is that I’m still learning. You never know it all, with music. There’s always something new. I love when my clients introduce me to younger artists. I’ll never get it all. I’ll never hear it all. But it’s fun finding it.”
Lead singer and sole original band member Rodney Sutton behind the mic ↓
Twenty-Six Years of Trust. One Way to Say Thank You.
August 18 through 29 th th
Up to 50% off estate and clearance jewelry. 26% off thousands of pieces throughout the showroom.
In 2000, we opened our doors with one hope: earn your trust, one customer at a time.
Twenty-six years later, you’ve welcomed us into your engagements, your weddings, your anniversaries, and the quiet moments in between. The ring cleaned before a vow renewal. The band resized for a hand that’s changed. The visit just to say hello. Those moments are the story of Worthington Jewelers, and we are grateful for every one of them.
This August, we want to celebrate together.
Family-owned by Bob and Theresa Capace since 2000. Thirteen consecutive years of The Knot Best of Weddings recognition, including Hall of Fame status. More than 2,000 5* reviews across Google, The Knot, and WeddingWire.
Worthington Jewelers | Where Columbus Gets Engaged | 692 High Street, Worthington | worthingtonjewelers.com Up to 50% off estate and clearance
By Olivia Grayce | Photos by Jen Brown
Columbus wedding planner Olivia Grayce of Grayce Weddings shares her top 2026 wedding trends—and traditional is totally out this year
SOMETHING N ew
The 2020s have forced the wedding industry into making quite the cultural shift. A wedding guest used to know exactly what they were walking into on their loved one’s big day. A standard wedding was one big budget day with a quick “repeat after me” ceremony, a casual and chatty cocktail hour for guests while the couple took photos, a “chicken or beef” plated meal served amongst large, single-use floral centerpieces, and a DJ playing one party playlist until the lights came on.
In 2026, “tradition” isn’t trendy, it’s the distant cousin your mom makes you add to the guest list. The Gen Zers and Millennials getting married are no longer accepting the “this
is how we’ve always done it” and “this is just how much it costs” mentality. They’re enjoying longer engagements, prioritizing smaller, more experiential celebrations over expensive, one-day weddings, and highlighting the true cornerstone of wedding days that has gotten lost in the traditional shuffle: themselves.
A wedding is meant to be a showcase of two people who love each other so much, they’re celebrating the joining of their lives. It’s no longer about ticking off the boxes of normal traditions to make it a “typical” wedding, but rather curating a celebration of newlyweds with the people they love most. The shift to showcasing the couple has ushered in a new era that sees the ideas of customization and individualization taking center stage.
Never has the connection between stars and diamonds been more hospitable than at the glamorous Hotel LeVeque, Columbus’ most stunning boutique property. Rooms feature a gold and gray palette with spacious subway-tiled showers and marble-clad vanities, each of which was custom cut due to the 33 variations of room size. Plan your next wedding room block with the iconic Hotel LeVeque! Host your reception, brunch or rehearsal dinners in style.
• Luxury boutique hotel with historic charm and modern character
• Event spaces rich in ambiance and design
• Locally crafted cuisine and curated banquet menus
• Celestial turn down service where we cast stars on the ceiling of each guest room
↑ From unique food to thrifted attire, wedding planner Olivia Grayce believes wedding tradition has been left at the altar in 2026
DAZZLE ANY OCCASSION AT HOTEL LEVEQUE
PERSONALIZING WEDDING PACKAGES
Even vendors are scrapping standard packages and branching out into specialties that help bring your vision to life. Foodies have the opportunity to share with their guests their favorite local coffee shops, food trucks, pizza joints, and breweries. They’re creating experiential dining with live oyster shuckers, bourbon tastings, and every kind of “bar” you can imagine (a la: espresso martini bar, ice cream bar, build-your-own charcuterie bar, etc.). Art-lovers are incorporating custom signage and intricate installations with nods to the couple’s cultures, inside jokes, travels, jobs, and hobbies. Fantasy and sci-fi fans are incorporating bookish references in their vows, characters in their decor, and even encouraging their guests to come in costume. Whether it’s fat heads of their pets for the dance floor, personalized temporary tattoos or stickers, fusion cuisine and cocktails that blend cultures together, walking down the aisle to the theme song of a beloved video game—we’re seeing couple’s personalities shine through down to the smallest details.
D.I.Y TO DIE FOR
Not being held to traditional standards means not being held to a traditional budget. It allows couples to decide where they truly want to spend the money. We’re seeing DIY on a whole new level. Brides are curating entire luxury aesthetics with a Cricut and a trip to their local thrift store. Couples may choose to forgo upscale all-inclusive venues for more affordable “blank spaces” that allow them to choose their own vendors and control the environment. Opting out of big, intricate centerpieces and pricey floral designs in place of more simple decor might leave the budget open for a DJ who brings the party and a photographer who captures the true love in the room. Cutting back the guest list and booking a venue with onsite lodging means an intimate weekend with your favorite people, rather than a few hours to try to talk to the aunt you haven’t seen in ten years.
The new norm of personalization has made it so your guests feel like they’re truly stepping into your love story. So out with the old and, as the saying goes, in with the new.
Wishing you luck and love, Olivia Grayce
To learn more about her wedding packages and services, visit grayceweddings.com.
↑ Eschewing tradition means an influx of new and unique food vendors in local weddings, such as an oyster bar from local vendor Blue Ember Oysters (pictured)
By Jackson Hall
DO THE M AT H
How Central Ohio teacher Caroline Carson, billed as the “Bill Nye of Math,” is helping kids learn through her very own PBS series
Photos by Aaron Massey
Design by Julie Friedman
Caroline Carson is teaching math to kids through her own PBS series, Doodles & Digits ←
For many students, science has Bill Nye. And history has documentaries. Even reading seems to have an endless catalog of engaging video analyses.
Math? Not so much.
That disconnect is exactly what former elementary teacher Caroline Carson noticed while teaching during the pandemic. As virtual learning became the norm, Carson found herself competing with video games, YouTube, and social media for her students’ attention. She searched for fun, high-quality math videos that her upper elementary students would enjoy. But she came up empty.
So she decided to make them herself. What started as a solution for her own classroom has since grown into Doodles & Digits, a Central Ohio-based educational media company that helps elementary students see math differently. Through colorful animations, real-world storytelling, and career-focused lessons, Carson’s videos show students that math doesn’t stop when the school bell rings— it shows up everywhere whether it be a rocket launch, race track, zoo, or even a hair salon.“I couldn’t find any math videos that my students enjoyed,” Carson said. “All other subjects got things like Bill Nye or BrainPOP. When it came to math, it was kind of like a desert.”
Before launching Doodles & Digits, Carson admits she wasn’t exactly what most people would call a “math person.”
In fact, math was once her least favorite subject. →
She intentionally packed her high school schedule with art classes instead, never imagining she’d someday build a career around teaching math. That perspective, she says, has become one of her biggest strengths.
“I always like to tell people I have not always been a ‘math person,’” Carson said. “If you would’ve told high school Caroline that I was going to be running a math company, I would’ve rolled my eyes.”
Everything changed after accepting a fourth-grade math teaching position. Once she discovered creative ways to explain concepts through humor, storytelling, and illustrations, she realized students didn’t necessarily dislike math—they just needed a different way to experience it.
That philosophy now serves as the foundation of Doodles & Digits
Carson taught herself animation, launched a YouTube channel, and has since expanded the brand into a public television series, with a new learning platform expected to launch later this year. The videos have reached viewers in more than 120 countries, and her popular videos often receive hundreds of thousands of views, all while remaining rooted in Central Ohio.
Season two, premiering this fall, explores how math is used in more than 30 different careers. Students will see everything from how firefighters rely on elapsed time to manage oxygen tanks to how hairstylists use fractions while mixing color, helping answer one of the most common questions teachers hear in the classroom: “When am I ever going to use this?”
While some professions naturally seem math-heavy, Carson said she’s continually surprised by just how many
Carson uses animation as a way to help students engage with math ←
“We really tried to make it so every student could see, ‘The math I’m learning right now in class I can use one day,’” she said. “Whether ‘I’m a rocket scientist’ or ‘I want to cut hair,’ whatever their dream is, hopefully they’ll see that math will be a part of it.”
Despite growing Doodles & Digits into a multi-platform educational brand, Carson still views herself as a teacher first.
She regularly connects with educators, encourages them to suggest future lesson topics, and continues creating resources based on what teachers say their students need most. For Carson, success isn’t measured by subscriber counts or television distribution, it’s measured by confidence.
“The thing that’s made me most proud is hearing parents and teachers say they’ve seen their kids go from, ‘I’m not good at math,’ to, ‘I can do this,’” she said.
Looking ahead, Carson hopes to continue building Doodles & Digits into a nationally recognized educational media company based right here in Columbus.
Her mission, however, remains the same as it was when she first sat in front of her computer searching for a math video her students might actually enjoy: Helping kids realize that math isn’t something to fear—it’s already part of the world around them. ♦
You can watch the show, and maybe learn a thing or too about math yourself, at doodleslearning.com.
“The thing that’s made me most proud is hearing parents and teachers say they’ve seen their kids go from, ‘I’m not good at math,’ to, ‘I can do
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A handful of family-friendly events offering visitors a glimpse into the weird and wonderful world of Ohio moths.
By Jack McLaughlin
Story Design by Kevin Krznar
It’s the middle of the night in a Central Ohio forest, and everything is silent except for the hum of the highwattage light you’re standing beside. Everything is still, until something lime green and the size of a dinner plate lands several feet in front of your face. It’s a luna moth, one of Ohio’s largest native moths, and the first of many beautiful and alien creatures you’re likely to see that evening.
While butterflies get the lion’s share of attention, their nocturnal counterparts are just as visually striking and far more diverse. Every summer, conservation groups, park systems, and more offer a glimpse into the secret world of moths in Ohio. Mothing, as it’s commonly called, has gained popularity in recent years as a unique, family-friendly way to experience some of the state’s most
interesting wildlife.
It typically involves a highpowered light placed on a stand that’s directed at a hanging white sheet, attracting moths in the general area. Viewers can then take in a number of Ohio’s 3,000-plus moth species, from the sleek, aerodynamic sphinx moths, to the massive and mysterious black witch moth, a migratory insect (often mistaken for a bat) with iridescent blue-black highlights and a wingspan that can exceed seven inches.
Late summer is prime time for mothing, with Ohio standing as one of the nation’s most moth-rich areas. The best part? Plenty of events, both local and otherwise, offer free mothing experiences that are great for all ages (providing you’re willing to push bedtime by a bit). Events are free unless otherwise noted.
A luna moth, one of Ohio’s largest and most striking species ↓
↑ Ohio’s largest species, the cecropia moth, can reach
August Mothing Events
Mothing Nights at Chadwick Arboretum
OSU Dept. of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences
2235 Fred Taylor Dr., Columbus 9-11 p.m.
Parks After Dark: Moths
Pickaway Country Parks District
16405 US-23, South Bloomfield
Aug. 7, 9-11 p.m.
Moth Lighting ($6)
Butterfly Ridge Conservation Center/ The Polygonia Foundation
17864 State Route 374, Rockbridge
Aug. 9, 16, 23, 8:30 p.m.-12 a.m.
Caterpillar Roundup*
Arc of Appalachia
7660 Cave Rd., Bainbridge
Aug. 26, 12-4 p.m.
*This event features a daytime collection of moth and butterfly caterpillars
Owney
the Railway Dog
By John Clark
Owney, a scruffy fox terrier mix, was adopted as a United States postal mascot by the Albany, New York, Post Office →
The true story of the cross country railway-riding dog Owney, and his love for the Buckeye State
Story Design by Brooke Sheridan
Owney was a loner. No family to speak of and always on the move. In the final years of the 19th century, he traveled aboard passenger trains from city to city, all across North America. And though he was penniless, he was never denied service. He went wherever he wanted and became a celebrity along the way. In fact, when townsfolk heard he was coming, they lined up at stations just to catch a glimpse. Ohio became one of his favorite destinations. But sadly, it was here in the Buckeye State that Owney met his fate, when old age caused his bite to become worse than his bark.
As far as anyone can tell, Owney’s story began in Albany, New York, in 1888. Some say the young fox terrier mix stuck his nose in the door of the Albany post office on one particularly cold winter night and was invited in. Others claim he was abandoned there. Either way, the post office became his first real home.
Owney’s calm demeanor and friendly personality captured the hearts of Albany’s mail carriers, who fed him leftovers from their lunch pails and allowed him to sleep on the department’s mail sacks. It’s believed he was attracted by their smell.
No one knows exactly who had the idea, but one of the employees suggested Owney might enjoy the company of the men who worked for the Railway Post Office (RPO). RPO employees rode passenger trains in dedicated cars where they sorted the mail while traveling from one city to the next. It was among these rail-riding postal employees that Owney found his true calling, jumping from train to train at stops throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. He quickly became the RPO’s unofficial mascot, and everyone who worked for the service treated him as a friend.
It was another postal worker who suggested it would be interesting to know exactly where Owney’s travels took him. So, the call went out to Railroad Postal carriers everywhere to be on the lookout for him and to add an identifying tag to his collar whenever he arrived at a new station. Soon, the scrappy little guy was so weighted down by his collection that the Postmaster General himself replaced the collar with a specially made harness, to distribute the weight more evenly.
↑ A commemorative silver spoon dedicated to Owney commissioned by postal workers in Cleveland
Jumping from train to train, Owney became a prominent fixture in the Railway Post Office ↓
Owney the Postal Dog “Forever” stamp honors the legacy of the beloved fox terrier mix →
And so, Owney traveled. His favorite Ohio stops included Toledo, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Columbus, as well as smaller towns like Chillicothe, New Richmond, Hillsboro, Logan, and Athens. And every stop he made came with another little souvenir of his visit. There were baggage tags, commemorative coins, even beer tokens—so many that by the end of his “career,” Owney had amassed more than a thousand of them.
During one visit to Ohio’s capital, in 1894, Owney was escorted to the offices of a local newspaper, where he entertained reporters who were eager to meet him, pet him, and read his many tags. One round medal was stamped with “B.B., Columbus, Ohio.” A distillery? A buggy factory? More than 130 years later, no one knows for sure.
On a trip to Tacoma, Washington in 1895, mail employees concocted a plan to put their furry friend on a steamer bound for Asia. Once there, Owney boarded trains that took him to such exotic locations as Shanghai, the Suez Canal, and the Azores. He supposedly even met the Emperor of Japan, who presented him with a Japanese passport. More than 130 days after the start of his history-making journey, he returned to Tacoma by way of New York City and received a hero’s welcome.
Owney also became known for his appearances at railway mail gatherings. In 1897, at a convention of the National Association of Railway Clerks in San Francisco, Owney reportedly received a 15-minute standing ovation. →
But time was bound to catch up with the four-legged railway rider, and it did. Nearing 10 years of age and now blind in one eye, Owney became less tolerant of strangers.
On a visit to Toledo in 1897, Owney, tired, cranky, and with poor eyesight, bit a postal worker who was introducing him to a local reporter. The word came from Washington. Owney had to be put down. Though he hated doing it, Officer Ted C. Freeman was dispatched to put little Owney out of his misery. Obituaries carried the mascot’s sad ending in newspapers around the world.
Owney’s body, though, was preserved. A taxidermist was called in to make him look as lifelike as possible. And for the next several years, Owney was displayed at mail carrier conventions and even the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis. Postal workers in Cleveland commissioned a commemorative silver spoon in his honor.
In 1911, little Owney wound up at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. Exactly 100 years later he was given an extensive makeover and honored with a “Forever” stamp, a children’s book, and a song recorded by Trace Adkins.
Today, Owney the Railway Dog delights all who visit the National Postal Museum. There, he peers out from a protective glass case, surrounded by many of the tags given to him more than a century ago by the young and old who became enamored by the thought of a little mutt who befriended an entire nation of mail carriers. ♦
↑ Owney’s legacy is now preserved as he sits in the Smithsonian National Postal Museum, donning historical medals and travel tags
Chillicothe
Cicinnati
Toledo
Athens
A collection of Owney’s Ohio travel tags ↓
Dogs. Cats. Horses. Farm animals. Around here, we provide every animal we treat with the best, most advanced care possible. Backed by cutting-edge research, state-of-the-art diagnostics, and dozens of board-certified specialists, we deliver complete, compassionate care for animals of every kind. Yes, even cats.
“They
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