(614) | June 2026

Take a peek inside.

Extended through Sept. 7, 2026 Purchase tickets at cosi.org/pixar

cosi.org/pixar

The Science Behind Pixar was developed by the Museum of Science, Boston in collaboration with Pixar Animation Studios. © Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved. Used Under Authorization.

June 18

Victor/Victoria 1982 PG

Silence of the Lambs 1991 R SERIES PREMIERE

HAPPY PRIDE!

OHIO GOES TO THE MOVIES FREE June 19 Lee Daniels’ The Butler 2013 PG-13 June 20 & 21

Casablanca 1943 PG

35mm

35TH ANNIVERSARY

Spaceballs 1987 PG MEL BROOKS’ 100TH BIRTHDAY

June 25 & 26

Hitchcock’s Family Plot 1976 PG SERIES PREMIERE

50TH ANNIVERSARY

South Pacific 1958 OHIO GOES TO THE MOVIES FREE July 22 Coal Miner’s Daughter 1980 PG

June 27 & 28

An American in Paris 1951 75TH ANNIVERSARY FAN FAVORITE SELECTION

Stand By Me 1986 R ROB REINER TRIBUTE

40TH ANNIVERSARY

July 2

Pretty Woman 1990 R SERIES PREMIERE

July 8

The Great Gatsby 1974 PG ROBERT REDFORD TRIBUTE

July 9 & 10

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! 1988 PG-13 SERIES PREMIERE

July 11 & 12

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones 2002 PG

Romancing the Stone 1984 PG SERIES PREMIERE

August 5

Unforgiven 1992 R SERIES PREMIERE

My Best Girl 1927 plus a classic comedy short

Roman Holiday 1953 July 25 & 26

Some Like It Hot 1959

SERIES PREMIERE

35mm

August 8 & 9

Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief 1955 August 12 & 13

July 30

Another Thin Man 1939

70TH ANNIVERSARY

FRIGHT NITE FRIDAY WITH FRITZ! August 14

Forbidden Planet 1956 COMEDY DOUBLE FEATURE July 31

Sons of the Desert 1933 Abbott & Costello Meet the Invisible Man 1951 SERIES PREMIERE

75 TH ANNIVERSARY

Summer’s Best Bargain!

Save $2 per ticket when you buy a 10-Pack of tickets for $40!

THREE WAYS to purchase 10-Packs: Visit CAPA.com Call 614-469-0939 Visit the CAPA Ticket Center 39 E. State St.

SERIES PREMIERE

July 15 & 16

August 1 & 2

SILENT FILM August 6 & 7

July 23 & 24

Shall We Dance 1937

Cartoon Capers

Cartoon Capers

65TH ANNIVERSARY

July 29

June 27

August 1

West Side Story 1961

July 18 & 19

SERIES PREMIERE

June 24

July 1

July 17

A BIG THANKS TO OUR SEASON SUPPORTERS!

Gremlins 1984 PG August 15 & 16

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers 1954 35mm

Day-of-show single tickets:

General Public: $6 Seniors & Students: $5 All tickets are general admission and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Single tickets go on sale Mon., June 1.

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Summer Fun

FOR EVERYONE

From the Mount Carmel St. Ann’s 4th Fridays and Uptown Untapped festivals to the annual Pride celebration, there's truly something for everyone in Westerville. Browse artisan goods and locally-grown produce at the Westerville Saturday Farmers Market and enjoy live music every Sunday at the Summer Concert Series.

Explore Westerville's authentic charm and learn how you can be a part of our connected and engaged community.

W W W.W E S T E R V I L L E .O R G

CONTENTS C O V E R PA C K A G E

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IN FULL COLOR

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Meet the nine Columbus artists making their mark across the city

WALLY’S WORLD

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THE BIRRIA BOOM

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A HIDDEN GIN

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SOFT SERVE, HARD DRINKS

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OVER MY DEAD BODY

40

BACK IN THE GAME

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GUIDE TO PRIDE

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THE NEW HOCKING HILLS

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ON THE COVER: Collective Consciousness by Nick Stull

PRODUCED BY

FREE! 250+ ARTISTS 4 STAGES of Music, Dance, Theater and Spoken Word

Columbus Jazz Orchestra

Kids Hands-On Activities Village

Fashion As Art

GENOA PARK STAGE Fri. 8 p.m.

ColumbusArtsFestival

VIP Packages Available Design: Formation Studio

ColumbusArtsFestival.org

Great Food Trucks, Craft Beers and Spirits

SUMMERS ARE FOR FESTIVALS IN COLUMBUS!

ColumbusMakesArt.com is a project of:

Find the next festivals on the calendar at ColumbusMakesArt.com/Events ArtMakesCbus

Design: Formation Studio

BICENTENNIAL PARK STAGE Sun. 12 p.m.

Opening Volley

PUBLISHER Wayne T. Lewis CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Lindsay Press EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jack McLaughlin

J AC K M C L AU G H L I N Editor-In-Chief

I Like Contemporary Art and Contemporary Art Likes Me For a second, you think the coyote might kill him.

In 1974, German artist Joseph Beuys spent eight hours a day, for three consecutive days, inside a small room in a New York City art gallery with a live coyote as part of his now-iconic performance piece, I Like America and America Likes Me. In one instance, while he was wrapped in a felt sheet and holding a massive shepherd’s crook, the animal, named Little John, shifted from cautious to aggressive, stripping the felt from the artist’s arm with its teeth. Later, Beuys managed to briefly embrace the animal.

There’s a lot you can say about I Like America and America Likes Me. People can— and have—spent days dissecting it, considering political angles and the words of the artist himself, who claims the performance serves as a shamanic healing ritual meant to patch up physic wounds.

As someone who studied art theory in college, and who covered it for a regional magazine for years, I couldn’t begin to tell you what Beuys is talking about. But I don’t really care.

I am sucker for ambition. I don’t know if I believe what Beuys had to say about I Like America and America Likes Me, but I love the idea that an inscrutable performance featuring a weird guy dressed like a post-modern shepherd and a live coyote can somehow wipe away our collective trauma.

I feel the same way for so much modern and contemporary art (they’re technically two different things, don’t @ me), like Mark Rothko, who claimed his paintings—featuring singular, enormous blocks of color–could elicit “tragedy, ecstasy and doom.” Do I see it myself? No. But it moves me because someone else genuinely does.

I think art is a necessity. Not because of any tangible utility it brings to the world, but because, as humans, we have the unquietable urge to express the things that move us most, whatever they are.

I invite you to think about this as you flip through the pages of our June issue, where we sat down with nine unique Columbus artists. In a world as big and boundaryless as contemporary art, it’s impossible to run across creators whose work you don’t enjoy. And that’s fine.

Instead of writing it off, or filing it in the “not for me” pile, take a moment to recognize how much these paintings, sculptures, installations—you name it—mean to the people who’ve put them together.

And how much it matters that you were there to see it.

ASSOCIATE EDITORS Maggie Valentine Mary McCarthy CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Joss Ford, Polly Sellers, Leonardo Carrizo, Aaron Massey, Tommy Feisel, Evan Frere CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Bea Mills, Sav McKee, Jordan Abbruzzese, Jackson Hall, Ellyn Briggs, Melinda Green, Asia Attuah, Mary McCarthy, Jack McLaughlin, Laura Hennigan CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERS Brooke Sheridan, Dawson Estep, Julie Friedman, Kevin Krznar CREATIVE DIRECTOR Andrew Thomas CREATIVE DESIGNERS Abby Nocera Leah Ronski MARKETING MANAGER Emma Mortellaro SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Zoe King MARKETING ASSISTANT Gillian Dunahoe ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Meggin Weimerskirch SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Mindy Wilhite Anna Gerhard ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Meghan Chapman

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now now open open

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� S TA F F P I C K S With so many amazing local artists featured in this issue, we can’t help but think about art in all its forms. We asked staff to share some of their favorite artists, authors, and musicians. Here’s what they said:

One of my all time favorite musicians is David Byrne.

His dedication to the craft is undeniable!

One of my favorite artists is Andy J. Miller, his illustration work and podcast were a huge inspiration for me as a student trying to make a career in the arts—and he’s local!

—Andrew Thomas, Creative Director

—Meghan Chapman, Account Executive

An artist I love is Roger Broders who is known for his art deco-style French travel posters. I got to see lots of his work over the summer in Provence which was so neat!

I have three brothers who are all musicians, they’re my favorite artists by far!

—Mary McCarthy, Associate Editor

—Leah Ronski, Creative Designer

One of my favorite artists in Botticelli. I have always been fascinated with Renaissance art. My favorite painting is Birth of Venus!

—Abby Nocera, Creative Designer

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Kristin Hannah is one of my favorite authors, I love how she builds such strong FMC’s and tells historical events from a woman’s POV —Anna Gerhard, Senior Account Executive

ON t h e W E B 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!

FOOD & DRINK, OPENINGS

A New Racing Simulator Bar is Coming to Grandview A new racing simulator bar is headed to Grandview bringing immersive virtual racing, drinks, and nightlife together under one roof.

HOT TOPICS

Central Ohio Pet Zebra Escapes Enclosure A runaway pet zebra caused a stir in Central Ohio after escaping its enclosure and roaming through Licking County.

EVE N TS C A L E N DA R Looking for summer plans? Try some of these fun in the sun events!

JUNE

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The Memorial Tournament Presented by Workday 5750 Memorial Dr. Dublin, OH 43017 Times Vary $20+

Buckeye Country Superfest Ohio Stadium 3:00 p.m. $54+

Columbus Arts Festival Bicentennial Park Times Vary Free Admission

Bat-n-Rouge Drag Softball Game

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CHRIS FRANJOLA MARCUS D WILEY PSYCHIC MEDIUM CINDY KAZA GRAESON MCGAHA ANDY HAYNES T.J. MILLER LAVELLE DONTAE JASON BANKS & HENRY ALLEN MIKE EPPS STEVE HOFSTETTER SOMMORE

Dodge Park 12:00 p.m. $10

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OFF THE RECORD OHIO OPINIONS

BY BE A MILLS 2019 Bigfooter of the Year

We Should Choose Bigfoot, Not the Loveland Frog, as Ohio’s State Cryptid Ohio has long embraced its folklore, and recently the debate over an official state cryptid (a previously undiscovered creature) has sparked both pride and playful rivalry. In April, a bipartisan bill (HB 821) was created, seeking to name the Loveland Frogman as the state’s official cryptid. The Loveland Frogman—strange, amphibious, and uniquely local—has earned a loyal following. But if we’re thinking a bit bigger (quite literally), it may be time to consider Bigfoot for the title. Not as a dismissal of Frogman, but as an invitation to see Ohio’s folklore through a more inclusive and generous lens.

Bigfoot, after all, isn’t just a regional curiosity. He’s a global icon.

From the forests of the Pacific Northwest to sightings whispered about in Appalachia, Bigfoot has become a shared cultural figure—a symbol of mystery that connects people across states and even countries. In that way, naming Bigfoot as Ohio’s state cryptid wouldn’t erase local identity; it would place Ohio within a much larger storytelling tradition.

But here’s where the spirit of the idea matters most: Bigfoot doesn’t need to “win.”

If we imagine Bigfoot not as a competitor but as the world’s undisputed hide-and-seek champion, the narrative shifts. His entire legacy is built on not being found. Decades of blurry photos, fleeting glimpses, and halfheard rustlings in the woods suggest a creature who is not only elusive, but intentionally so. In this light, Bigfoot’s greatness comes from stepping back, from letting others have their moment in the spotlight.

The Loveland Frog is delightfully specific to Ohio—quirky, memorable, and rooted in a particular place and set of stories. While Bigfoot could easily claim the title by sheer fame alone, there’s something generous, even noble, in imagining him tipping his (very large, hypothetical) hat to Frogman and saying, “This one’s yours.”

Choosing Bigfoot as the state cryptid, then, becomes less about dominance and more about acknowledgment. It’s about recognizing a figure so iconic that he doesn’t need the spotlight, and a local legend so beloved that it thrives in it. So, I see it more as a partnership, not a rivalry.

In a time when so many conversations are framed as either-or, Ohio has the chance to model both, even in something as fun and mysterious as cryptids. I feel like the Big Guy would be fine doing what he does best— being the quiet, unseen champion in the trees, while Frogman takes center stage along the riverbanks.

And maybe that’s the real story worth telling: Sometimes the greatest legends are the ones willing to share!

Bea Mills is an author, conservationist, outdoorswoman, and 2019 Bigfooter of the Year, according to the Hocking Hills Bigfoot Festival

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Love is Love.

Every couple is welcome here. Every ring tells a different love story. Find yours at Worthington Jewelers, Where Columbus Gets Engaged.

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WALLY’S

The story of 85-year-old jazz drummer and Dick’s Den legend Wally Mitchel, and how one local journalist set his story to film

By Melinda Green Story Design by Julie Friedman

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WORLD

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“H

e’s our very own Mr. Rogers, and jazz is his neighborhood,” is how journalist Mike Doody describes local legend and jazz drummer Wally Mitchel.

Mitchel, who’s been drumming for more than 75 years of his life, is an institution at Dick’s Den, the North Side dive bar known for some of the best jazz in town.

And now, he’s the subject of the locally crafted documentary Wally-The East Side Kid, co-produced by Doody (who is also listed as film originator) and directed by filmmaker Joey Viola.

Why Mitchel? One, because he’s a hugely respected local musician with amazing longevity. He’s still doing what he loves, and doing it well in his 80s. And two, as everyone on the team came to realize, stories like this are more than just local history. They’re jazz history, they’re American history, and they bring people together in unexpected ways.

Doody recalled, “It was around Thanksgiving 2019, and I was watching Wally play. I’m a big fan of Ken Burns, and I always wanted to think about [making] documentaries. And I thought, ‘It’s gotta be Wally.’”

After the 2020 COVID pandemic threw a wrench in his immediate plans, Doody started filming his documentary at Dick’s Den in 2021. One night, Viola approached him, introduced himself, and offered to help.

“When I started going to Dick’s Den on Sunday night, I was going through a hard time in my life. I’m a musician myself, and Wally’s music helped me,” Viola reflected.

“I don’t understand jazz. I’m not a jazz musician. But also, when you meet him, it’s immediate. People tell him all the time that he’s full of life and he loves what he does. That’s very clear and apparent from his presence in a room and his presence behind the kit. So when Michael started talking to me, I was like, ‘This could be really, really, really cool.’”

“I volunteered a few times to film with the crew that Michael had. And then I started stewing on it more. I was like, ‘Okay, GCAC (Greater Columbus Arts Council) could be a really good route for this from a grant standpoint, so that we’re able to commit and devote the necessary time.’”

“We had a lot of B-roll and we didn’t have a lot of interview. I knew from prior experience that we needed more interview, and people are definitely willing to talk about Wally. Obviously we wanted [bandmates] Matt Paetsch, Matt Adams, Mark Donavan, all those guys, Brett Burleson, to get in here and talk about Wally because they’re the closest to him. And that’s kind of where we went.” → Columbus jazz drummer Wally Mitchel.

Photo courtesy of Chris Heidel

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It took years to secure that GCAC grant to complete the project, but it finally paid off. The 40-minute film debuted to a sold out house this past April at Studio 35. Its second performance, at Natalie’s Grandview in May, sold out weeks in advance—many tickets going to repeat customers.

Mitchel and his band played for the first hour, and, as you might guess, most of the guests arrived early to make sure they didn’t miss a single beat.

Mitchel is grateful for the honor this film brings. “It’s something I would never have expected. It’s something I never thought I would get to do myself. And what people are saying, but also seeing the interest and a sold out show [and] a second sold out show, it’s absolutely appreciated, to say the least.”

Although he’s played his share of other genres along the way, Mitchel’s heart is in “what we hear now as classic jazz.”

In his younger days, it was called “modern.” Musically, he says, that’s where his heart is.

From his teenage years in Cleveland, playing in a Dixie Swing band, listening to jazz programs on late-night radio, and going to Sunday jazz matinees, to his time in the U.S. Army and at Ohio State, to a career taking him across the U.S. and always back to his second home of Columbus, his passion for jazz drumming has remained true. →

Mitchel, 85, continues to perform regularly at Dick’s Den. Photo courtesy of Chris Heidel

“People tell me, ‘You look like this is your passion.’

Other people tell me, ‘You look like you love what you’re doing.’ I’ve had to do other things along with it, things alongside of it. Nevertheless, it never changed anything.”

Wally-The Eastside Kid showing at its Studio 35 premiere. Photo courtesy of Dan Mitchell

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“Learning patience, learning kindness.

Learning to relax into it, let it be. I knew what he was saying to me, but he was speaking through the lens of music. That was the coolest part about all of this.”

Mitchel (left) with director Joey Viola. Photo courtesy of Dan Mitchell

He’s retained a solid regard for his seven (or “six plus one,” he says) “big dogs”—his biggest influences throughout his career. The first of those big dogs was Philly Joe Jones, whom Mitchel described seeing in Miles Davis’ band at a matinee.

“That’s the first time I saw a drummer who played jazz like this,” he recalled. “And I had a perfect seat right next to the bandstand. I had not seen that kind of jazz drumming in the flesh from anybody. Talk about wham! Here’s my first role model for what I needed in my own development. I could have not picked a better person out of all these good guys that I was going to see at the time. The timing of it was perfect. I walked out of that place 9 feet off the ground.”

And, in a way, that excitement’s never left.

“I realize that it’s never wavered,” he said.

“People tell me, ‘You look like this is your

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passion.’ Other people tell me, ‘You look like you love what you’re doing.’ I’ve had to do other things along with it, things alongside of it.

Nevertheless, it never changed anything.”

His excitement, his passion, his devotion to music, and so much more are what captivated Doody, Viola, and so many others to help commit this to a permanent record.

“I learned that it’s a lot of work to put together a documentary,” Viola admitted. “Honestly, through the editing process, I’d go back to what Wally says a lot of the time: ‘Let’s just play.’”

“I learned so much from this man, because I listened to him a lot,” he continued. “Learning patience, learning kindness. Learning to relax into it, let it be. I knew what he was saying to me, but he was speaking through the lens of music. That was the coolest part about all of this. In moments of frustration, in moments of like, ‘I don’t know if this is gonna work, we’ve

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got to get a lot of people together, a lot of logistics done, a lot of this and a lot of that,’ it was always Wally’s voice in the back of my head. I have to do it for this man because I respect this man.”

Viola realizes that history is important, but so is building a community. “Distilling [the story] down to something that’s maybe understandable to someone that doesn’t know jazz, I think that was important for us. Preserve the jazz history, for sure, but then also explain what jazz is so that maybe we have a new fan of jazz, and maybe we have a new fan of Wally Mitchel,” he said.

He then turned to Mitchel and said, “And part of the reason why we went for the GCAC grant was you. I felt firmly that you needed to see it ASAP because you need to understand how well loved you are, from the people that are closest to you.”

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Saxophonist and Wally Mitchel bandmate Matt Adams.

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And Mitchel plans to keep following the passion that inspires others. “[Getting tired of it]’s never occurred to me, sitting behind the drum set. Even now, even with other problems, sitting behind the drums, nothing’s changed. And so I’ll just play it out.”

“I’m fortunate to have the band I’m in. The idea is just to keep on going as long as I can. One has to realize though, in one form or another, there comes, and it’s not just by death, but there is a point in time where the song ends. I’ll leave it at that, you know, because I realize that, amongst other things, I’m a lucky person.”

A lucky person indeed. And, as Doody is all too happy to remind everyone in the room as we talk about the film, “He is really our Fred Rogers. And he’s beloved. That’s all I gotta say.” ♦ Follow Joey @joeyviolamusic, or stop by Dick’s Den Sundays around 8:30 p.m. to watch Wally play.

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BROUGHT TO YOU BY BOSS GAL BEAUTY BAR

Celebrat i ng More Than Just Skin

June is easily one of our favorite months at the spas. The energy in Columbus is unmatched this time of year, and for us, that excitement is tripled. We aren’t just gearing up for the summer sun; we’re leaning into a month of deep meaning as we celebrate Acne Awareness Month, Pride Month, and the birthday of our founder, Kathy Keeney.

It’s a time when our passion for skin health and our love for this community collide.

Treat Acne

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We’re on a mission to prove that clear skin is achievable with the right tools. While professional treatments are vital, what you do at home makes all the difference. This month, we are highlighting Omnilux Clear and Blemish Eraser devices. These medical-grade LED tools use specific wavelengths of light to kill acne-causing bacteria and reduce inflammation. To help you level up your home care, these devices are 20% off all month long.

Sculptra for acne scarring

If you’re dealing with residual scarring from acne, we may have the solution!

Often celebrated for its anti-aging benefits, Sculptra is also great for treating depressed or atrophic acne scars. By acting as a bio-stimulator, it encourages your skin to produce its own natural collagen, effectively filling those scars from within for a smoother, more even texture. It’s a long-term solution for a lifetime of confidence. Plus, when you buy two vials of Sculptra this June, you’ll receive 60 units of Dysport to complete your refresh.

Pride with a purpose

The glow continues with the return of a seasonal favorite: The Pride Facial.

This treatment is designed to relax you and have your skin glowing and ready for Pride Weekend. It features a gentle enzyme exfoliation to polish the skin, followed by a relaxing gua sha and scalp massage to melt away tension. We top it off with a customized mask for your skin’s needs. Best of all, for the entire month of June, 100% of the proceeds from The Pride Facial go directly to the Kaleidoscope Youth Center, Ohio’s largest organization dedicated to supporting and empowering LGBTQIA+ youth.

Kathy's Birthday Bag

We’re also keeping the celebration going for our founder! Kathy’s Birthday Bag is back for the entire month of June. For just $75, you can snag a curated collection of Kathy’s favorite skincare products—a total value of over $300.

These are perfect for taking on your vacation or trying something new!

Ready to start your summer skin journey?

Whether you need a skin consultation or a moment of relaxation, our doors are open. Stop by or book your appointment online at any of our four locations: Clintonville, Grandview, Easton, or Powell.

We can’t wait to see your face!

By Jordan Abbruzzese Photos by Polly Sellers Story Design by Brooke Sheridan

A beloved Central Ohio destination has just opened its second location in Hilliard,,where customers old and new can enjoy their takes on classic Mexican dishes

José Zach, owner of Martha’s Fusion Kitchen, stands in the brand’s new Hilliard space →

W

hen you go to Martha’s Fusion Kitchen, you order the birria. Whether you’re grabbing a cocktail to sit on the patio, or you’ve made the hour-long trek from the East Side of Columbus to pick up a to-go order, owner José Zach’s birria is probably top of mind.

But the restaurant didn’t start out that way.

“I found a place here in North Linden that used to be a pizza shop for a good rent so we decided to get the place and started making pizza, wings, and all that stuff—but then we decided to start making tacos,” said Zach, on Martha’s Fusion Kitchen’s early days. “Tacos took over, then we decided to make a little bit of birria, and we sold out the same day. From then to now it has been nothing but birria, birria, birria.”

As Zach will tell you, he has been around. With a career spanning from training in Italian and French cuisine, to working in radio, to real estate, he has actually been rooted in the food business since the early ‘90s. While Martha’s Fusion Kitchen opened in North Linden at 3331 Maize Rd. in 2021, Zach has recently launched a second location in his hometown of Hilliard.

“We thought it was a good time, and the right time to open it,” explained Zach. “I live in Hilliard, and have been a Hilliard resident for about 15 years.” →

with Cigarettes @ Sunset

WITH SPECIAL GUEST HUDSON FREEMAN

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“FROM THEN TO NOW IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT BIRRIA, BIRRIA, BIRRIA.”

The family-owned environment and authentic recipes inspired from Guanajuato, Mexico are what brings people in the door. The birria, colorful cocktails, and friendly service is what keeps them coming back. Now open at 4502 Cemetery Rd., customers can expect the same quality of burritos, fajitas, and every type of street taco you can imagine.

“People are liking the concept. They love the birria, they like the food. The only thing they don’t like is no alcohol,” laughed Zach. “We have paid for our liquor license, and Hilliard City Council has approved it—it is coming [this summer]!”

Martha’s is rolling out food that’s bigger than ever. “Our food is big, our food is huge,” said Zach. “We make really big burritos. And now we are going to introduce different sizes.

Our quesadillas look kind of like a pizza, so we will make 10 inch, 12 inch, or 14 inch quesadillas. For burritos, we’ll make 10 inch, 12 inch, and 14 inch options. So, we will have extra size burritos. Because people love them!”

While the bar is a popular part of the Martha’s Fusion Kitchen experience, Zach and his team encourage a familyfriendly atmosphere at the heart of their restaurants. After all, it is a family-owned spot serving customers from all walks of life. And this is part of what makes Martha’s different.

“I have been trying and successfully making it a family restaurant so people respect it,” said Zach. “They don’t drink too much. I even put on the menu this is a family restaurant, please don’t over do it. We serve with respect to everyone.”

Birria Quesadillas prepared at Martha’s ↓

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Tacos are one of many birria-packed offerings at Martha’s →

According to Zach, opening the Hilliard restaurant “has been an adventure,” but the team is settling into the new spot. In the future, he looks forward to growing their presence at the new location, and is looking to expand with more restaurant concepts in other parts of Columbus.

“People on the east side really want us to open up a restaurant, so I am thinking of one in the Reynoldsburg or Pataskala area,” said Zach.

“I am also working on a diner concept that may open sooner,” he added. “It would be Mexican dishes. I’m from Central Mexico but I have family all over, from different parts of Mexico. I like to share the flavors here with people in Central Ohio.”

Whether you want their iconic birria, or to take on a giant burrito you need a fork and knife for, Martha’s Hilliard location is ready to welcome you to the family. ♦

Visit the newest Martha’s Fusion Kitchen location at 4502 Cemetery Rd. for dine-in, or place an online order for food to go at marthasfusionkitchen.com.

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Tucked away into the unassuming space that once housed The Light of Seven Matchsticks, The Nine is serving elevated cocktails and small-plate pairings— just don’t call it a speakeasy

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By Sav McKee Photos by Joss Ford Story Design by Andrew Thomas

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← Bismark Akomeah is shaking things up with a new cocktail lounge, The Nine

S

ure, you might have to park in a lot shared with a veterinarian’s office and find the staircase that leads you underground to a dark, sultry bar with only a handful of tables lit by small lamps—but don’t call The Nine a speakeasy.

“Everything about this place might scream ‘speakeasy,’” laughed Bismark Akomeah, co-owner of one of Columbus’ newest (and coolest) cocktail bars, “but speakeasies are known for privacy and exclusivity, and I hate that. We want to be a gathering spot for everyone.”

Instead, he prefers “hidden gem,” or perhaps even “watering hole.” While the newly opened Worthington bar has that clandestine feel, it’s just as much a local hangout. It’s the kind of place where you can take a first date, bring your inlaws to, or quite literally bump into your neighbor.

“Last week, we had people sitting at the bar, and someone else came in the doors. They all realized they were neighbors,” said Annie Akomeah, Bismark’s wife and the mind behind the space’s thoughtfully curated atmosphere.

The Nine—named after the number that symbolizes new beginnings and, biblically, peace, love, joy, and kindness—is built around community.

“Our tagline is ‘Where Connections Begin,’” explained Bismark. After a couple rounds of Tiger Tears, he hopes even strangers start talking to one another.

“Everybody is so individualistic these days, because we all have so much going on,” he said. “But we want to create an environment where people feel comfortable just sharing with each other.”

The menu follows that same idea, with Mediterraneaninspired shareable small plates like Whipped Ricotta, Confit Byaldi, and Espresso Martini Crème Brûlée.

“The act of sharing food is one of the most powerful things in the world,” said Bismark. “I’m from Ghana, and how we show love to people is by cooking for them.”

“That’s one of the reasons we were hesitant,” admitted Bismark, initially intimidated by taking over a space that was so beloved before. “Right when we were going to sign a lease on a place in Olde Towne East though, this came on the market.

As soon as we walked in, it felt like the perfect space.” →

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(From left) Tiger Tears, Whispers of Tomorrow, Still Waters Run Deep, and Model Village from The Nine ↓

“We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel, but we’re trying to make sure our wheel is the best one that’s out there.”

To honor Matchsticks’ traditions, The Nine isn’t afraid of strong flavors. The Afternoon at the Nine features koji rice milk, shiitake mushrooms, ginger, and Suntory Toki.

“We don’t hide from doing things that might be a bit abrasive to other people,” Bismark said. The bartenders are encouraged to experiment, and if you’re willing to join in on the fun, try the Dealer’s Choice—a bespoke cocktail created on the spot.

But don’t let the boldness scare you—plenty of drinks lean nostalgic and easy-drinking too, like the Whispers of Tomorrow, meant to evoke sipping a Capri Sun after playing outside on a summer day.

“We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel, but we’re trying to make sure our wheel is the best one that’s out there,” said Bismark.

Columbus diners will also be thrilled to know that Fired Up Pizza—a wood-fired pizzeria and Italian deli—recently opened in the former Natalie’s space upstairs, ideal for grabbing a pie before a nightcap, or ordering downstairs at The Nine on industry nights, just like the good ol’ days.

An industry veteran himself, Bismark is still acquainted with the bartenders and regulars who once filled the room back when it was Matchsticks, many of whom now come in to support The Nine.

He cut his teeth at Asterisk—dishwasher to barback to bartender to bar manager—before becoming beverage director at Ampersand. After five years, and some burnout, he took on a corporate job.

“I just needed a break,” he said. But he quickly learned that office life couldn’t completely fulfill him.

“I realized that I really enjoy watching people enjoy their time. And I needed to figure out another way to create.”

After that, a part-time bartending gig at High Bank Distillery Co. confirmed it: He was ready to build something of his own.

“I got tired of making other people money. I got tired of working for other people, and I thought, ‘I know I could do this myself.’”

With guidance from industry leaders like Megan Ada (Asterisk, Ampersand) and Benjamyn Greig (The Clocktower), plus Annie’s design eye, Bismark was able to give Columbus a new hideaway—one that already feels like it’s been here forever.

“My biggest fear was failure—that we wouldn’t live up to our hype,” he said. But judging by the packed parking lot and the filled-to-capacity bar at 5:15 p.m. on a Wednesday, with friends and strangers chatting over martinis and meatballs, he doesn’t have much to be scared about anymore. ♦ Visit The Nine at 5597 N. High St. Look for the stairs to the right of Fired Up Pizza. Check out the full menu at thenineplated.com.

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YOU NEVER FORGET YOUR FIRST TASTE.

Visit TheDanhattan.com to find a purveyor.

SOFT SERVE

Soft serve margaritas have been all the rage on TikTok, and now they’ve landed in these five Columbus restaurants

← AJ’s Tacos’ Pineapple-Strawberry Soft Serve Margarita

By Sav McKee Photos by Polly Sellers Story Design by Brooke Sheridan

HARD DRINKS

T

his summer, while leisurely working your way through chips and guac on a patio somewhere, you may be faced with a new question: Would you like your margarita on the rocks, frozen, or…soft?

As if margaritas needed another upgrade, a growing number of Central Ohio restaurants are embracing the viral TikTok trend of soft serve margaritas. And no, they’re not the same as a classic frozen marg.

Soft serve margaritas are thicker, creamier, and airier, with a texture closer to ice cream than a slushy.

And in an era where drinks are often photographed before they’re sipped, they’re undeniably more photogenic too—often swirled high into cups like a boozy, more colorful version of a Dairy Queen cone.

“I figured I’d buy a machine and figure out how to make a mix for it,” said Agustin Aguirre, co-owner of AJ’s Tacos, the first local restaurant to offer the frozen treats. “Let’s just say the machine paid for itself the first day.”

Since introducing rotating flavors on the daily, Aguirre said demand has been nonstop, with lines of thirsty customers forming daily outside of AJ’s.

No two versions are exactly alike. Some restaurants use dairy for extra creaminess, while others keep theirs dairy-free. Some pour heavier on the tequila, while others prioritize that signature fluffy texture. Some offer “twists,” just like a cone, while others keep it classic. →

↑ AJ’s Tacos’ Watermelon-Mango Soft Serve Margarita

BEAT THE HEAT with soft serve margaritas from these other Columbus spots: LA PLAZA TAPATIA

255 Georgesville Rd., Columbus You just found out that soft serve and margaritas can be combined, and somehow, it gets even better: You can now grab one while grocery shopping. Located inside this bustling Latino supermarket, La Plaza Tapatia serves mango and strawberry versions—or, if you can’t decide, a swirl of both. Consider it the most fun errand run you’ll make all summer.

AJ’S TACOS 3307 Sullivant Ave., Columbus The first Central Ohio spot to jump on the trend, AJ’s has become a go-to for not only birria tacos, but for soft serve margarita lovers. Their rotating flavors change daily, with past favorites including pineapple, mango, strawberry, watermelon, and lime. Served in vibrant swirls and often topped with fresh fruit, these are so thick you may need both a straw and a spoon.

HERENCIA JALISCO 6542 Hayden Run Rd., STE. 2, Hilliard Why choose one flavor when you could try all three? Herencia Jalisco has become known for its creamy combinations like spicy mango with a Tajín rim, mango-strawberry swirls topped with sour peach rings, and classic strawberry finished with colorful candy. These drinks were practically made for your Instagram story.

TERRA MEZCAL MEXICAN GRILL 2171 E. Dublin Granville Rd., Columbus Terra Mezcal keeps things simple but has perfected their homemade recipe. Their mango and strawberry soft serve margaritas strike the perfect balance of sweet and tart, complete with a Tajín and Chamoy-covered straw for an extra kick. Pair one with their loaded tostadas and call it a perfect afternoon on the patio.

EL REY 5525 New Albany Rd. W., New Albany The presentation here is part of the experience. Soft serve margarita flavors like lime and guava are topped with cherries, tiny umbrellas, and edible tropical flowers that make each drink feel like a mini vacation.

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By Jackson Hall Photos by Leonardo Carrizo Story Design by Julie Friedman

OVER MY DEAD BODY Why Columbus fighter Maxwell Metzgar bet everything on himself

O

n most days, Maxwell Metzgar’s schedule starts before most people are awake and ends long after most are done working.

There’s boxing practice. Wrestling drills.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu sessions. Kickboxing. Strength training. Recovery work. Then there’s the business side of his life, running a personal training business and coaching an amateur MMA team in Columbus.

In total, the former Ohio State University student trains roughly 10 to 12 times a week, often multiple times a day, all while building a life with his fiancée ahead of their October wedding.

And if everything goes according to plan, that life could soon include a contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

“I’m not exactly one win away,” Metzgar said.

“You really never know how far away you are, but that’s kind of the idea.”

Metzgar, who grew up in Chicago, began wrestling at just 9 years old. He quickly found success in the sport, competing for powerhouse programs that won state and national championships. His high school coach is now in a hall of fame, and several of his former teammates went on to compete in the Big Ten and even the Olympics.

But Metzgar didn’t come to Columbus to fight.

He attended Ohio State to focus on school and build a more traditional career path. While in college, he worked for major sports media outlets including Big Ten Network, Fox Sports and ESPN. After graduation, however, his life looked a bit less glamorous.

He worked a series of jobs moving freight, working on airfields and waiting tables while trying to figure out what came next. At one point, he landed what many graduates would consider a stable opportunity selling tickets for the Chicago Cubs.

He hated the idea of it.

“I wanted to be excited for myself,” Metzgar said.

“I wanted to be grateful. I graduated from college, I got a good job…but I just didn’t feel that way.”

Instead, he felt something worse.

“I felt like my best days were behind me,” he said. “And I was like, over my dead body.” →

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Columbus fighter Maxwell Metzgar trains 10-12 times per week, with his sights set on a UFC contract

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“A PRIZE FIGHTER IS SOMEONE WHO GETS IN THE CAGE AND COMPETES FOR MONEY.

THAT’S DIFFERENT THAN THE PERSON YOU HAVE TO BE AS A MARTIAL ARTIST.”

Metzgar’s success has brought him to the verge of a contract with the UFC

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, Metzgar moved back to Columbus and made a decision that would completely reshape his life: he would become a professional fighter.

He had some boxing experience from a college gen-ed class and a wrestling background, but mixed martial arts was largely new territory.

Within a few years, he rose quickly.

Metzgar spent three years fighting as an amateur and became the No. 1 ranked amateur fighter in the country in his weight class. He turned professional roughly two and a half years ago and now ranks as Ohio’s top professional lightweight fighter. He said he currently sits among the top 20 fighters in North America in his division.

That rise came through relentless discipline.

“I don’t really allow anything else into my life,” Metzgar said. “It’s really just me, my fiancée and the little life that we’re carving out for ourselves.”

This Spartan approach extends beyond the gym.

Recovery routines include sauna sessions, ice baths, long walks and red-light therapy. Nutrition is carefully managed.

Every decision, he said, is tied to his larger goal.

But Metzgar rejects the stereotype many people have about fighters. He doesn’t view himself as someone simply stepping into a cage to hurt people. Instead, he sees a distinction between being a prize fighter and being a martial artist.

“A prize fighter is someone who gets in the cage and competes for money,” Metzgar said. “That’s different than the person you have to be as a martial artist.”

That mindset shapes the work he does outside of competition. In addition to chasing his own professional dreams, Metzgar coaches younger athletes and trains amateur fighters throughout Columbus.

He describes martial arts as a vehicle for self-transformation, one that forces people to confront themselves honestly.

“If you want an outcome to be better, you have to take full accountability and make the necessary changes,” he said.

For now, Metzgar is preparing for another training trip to Florida while continuing to build his career in Columbus.

A year from now, he hopes his life looks simple: A UFC contract. A house. A backyard for his dog. And proof that betting on himself was worth it. ♦ Metzger currently boasts a 6-0 record as a professional fighter.

To stay up to date on his next fight, follow him @Madmaxmetzgar.

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Former Pickerington North Star and NFL tight end Jake Butt returns to the field as a sideline reporter for the country’s hottest new pro football league

By Ellyn Briggs | Photos by Aaron Massey | Story Design by Andrew Thomas

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J

ake Butt didn’t expect to be on the sidelines this soon, but—like he did during his playing days—he’s taking it in stride.

The former Pickerington North standout tight end—who went on to earn two-time All-American honors at the University of Michigan and played four seasons with the Denver Broncos before repeated ACL injuries ended his NFL career at just 26 years old in 2021—is now a sideline reporter for Fox Sports’ coverage of the United Football League (UFL), a spring professional football league currently in its third season. The UFL was formed in 2024 through a merger of two preexisting spring football leagues, the XFL and USFL. “I think if I played 10 years, I don’t know if I’d be in media,” Butt told 614 Magazine at Historic Crew Stadium in April ahead of a matchup between the Columbus Aviators—new to the UFL this year—and the Dallas Renegades. “My playing career ended so abruptly that I felt like I wasn’t done with football yet, but I needed to pivot.”

The opportunity to do just that came about in 2023, when Butt was offered a position as a studio host, analyst and game-caller for the Big Ten Network, which is majority-owned by Fox Sports.

His UFL responsibilities are an evolution of this initial role—and they’re also a part of the upstart league’s mandate to provide football fans with unprecedented levels of access to gameplay.

Traditional college football and NFL broadcasts typically feature three on-field interviews: pregame, halftime and postgame. A Fox Sports UFL broadcast, meanwhile, often more than doubles this figure thanks to sideline reporters like Butt, who are tasked with interviewing coaches, key playmakers, and even officials as big moments unfold in real time. Instead of waiting out the clock in the locker room tunnel, Butt spends the entirety of the game darting between both teams’ benches, jotting down first-person color from staffers and players and deciding who he’ll feature in his next live hit, which frequently takes place from midfield.

“I like being in the booth or the studio, but you really can’t beat [being a sideline reporter], especially for a league so focused on access like the UFL,” he explained. “It’s much closer to playing in the sense that everything happens on the fly. I can prepare all week, but I still have to react and execute in ways I never could’ve planned for.”

Still, prepare all week he does—usually with the help of his wife, a former Michigan lacrosse player, who quizzes Butt on stats, names, and team standings. And though he’s a football guy through and through, Butt sees himself as more of a point guard

in his current role. “My job is to tee these guys up to give good insight when something important or explosive happens, but I’m intentional about it,” he said. “I’m not just going to interview the scorer after every touchdown. I’m always thinking, ‘Is there a storyline? Would this add to the experience of the fan watching at home?’”

The UFL also leverages other experimental presentation strategies. Miked-up officials—who explain calls to broadcasters live on-air—are common; so too are cameras affixed to drones that fly just feet above players’ heads, providing viewers with a unique on-field perspective. The league is betting that the sense of immediacy created by these tactics will be a major draw, especially in new markets like Columbus, which, according to Butt, has “an insatiable hunger for football.”

So far, this assessment is proving mostly correct.

Coached by former Buckeye great Ted Ginn Jr., the Aviators sold 14,810 tickets to their home opener on April 3. Subsequent home games on April 17 and May 1 each brought in approximately 9,000 fans despite the team’s less-than-stellar start to the season.

(The Aviators are 2-5 at the time of writing).

↑ Jake Butt interviews Dallas Renegades quarterback Austin Reed

“I THINK IF I PLAYED 10 YEARS, I DON'T KNOW IF I'D BE IN MEDIA. MY PLAYING CAREER ENDED SO ABRUPTLY THAT I FELT LIKE I WASN'T DONE WITH FOOTBALL YET.” 46

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On the UFL sidelines, Butt is required to deliver a flurry of realtime interviews throughout the games ↓

When asked about the Aviators’ future prospects, Butt is cautiously optimistic. “It takes time for any team to get to know each other and really gel,” he said. “But long term, things are looking up for Columbus.”

Things are looking up for him, too.

Butt, now 30 years old, had already built a sizable social media following during his playing career thanks to a healthy mix of football content, motivational posts, and the internet’s appreciation for someone with his last name and position. “The jokes are truly endless,” he said, himself laughing. But since making the jump into broadcasting, he’s roughly doubled his Instagram audience—something Butt points to not as vanity, but as an integral part of staying visible in a sports media landscape where online reach increasingly matters alongside traditional television work.

“The supply of people that would love to do this job is basically infinite and there’s only so many roles. I don’t take the fact that I have this opportunity lightly,” Butt reflected just before kickoff of the Aviators-Renegades game, where his dad—who still lives in Pickerington—joins him on the sidelines.

The UFL trades heavily in second chances, both on and off the field; players arrive hoping to revive stalled careers or prove they deserved longer looks in the NFL. Butt, in his own way, is doing something similar. ♦ The UFL playoffs kick off Sunday, June 7, with semifinal matchups airing nationally on ABC and FOX. The championship game follows on Saturday, June 13, at 3 p.m. ET on ABC. Games can also be streamed on most apps, including ESPN+, Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV.

In Full Color From graffitied murals to stacked Solo cups, meet the nine Columbus artists making their mark across the city Photos by Tommy Feisel | Section Design by Andrew Thomas

Y

ou’ve heard the question. We have too: “What’s the point of making art?”

While we’ve dedicated 20 pages of this issue to visual artists, you may be surprised to learn we don’t have a satisfactory answer to that question.

This is the case because, unlike money or food, the value of art is visceral. In most cases, it doesn’t have a tangible benefit you can point to. But you can say the same about love. Or about your family. Or your best friend. What’s the point of all these?

It feels like a silly question, because it is one.

While I don’t actually know if the Short North is still considered an Arts District, I do know Columbus is still an arts city, evidenced by the bustling galleries and vibrant murals beautifying nearly every other street, and the all-encompassing Columbus Arts Festival kicking off June 12. In this issue, we’re highlighting nine of the city’s visual artists whose work spoke most to us, whether that’s through public graffiti pieces, ornate mechanical sculptures or Renaissance-era oil portraits with a postmodern twist. It’s all here before you, in full color. → 614NOW.COM

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Inspired by street art and hip-hop, this Columbus muralist’s work brings layers of his native New York to Central Ohio

Lance Johnson

By Laura Jones

L

ance Johnson’s life changed when he was 14 years old, living in the Bronx. His mother played him a PBS documentary about the Harlem Renaissance called I’ll Make Me a World, featuring collage artist Romare Bearden.

“I would watch this thing over and over, just so inspired by the collaboration and culture,” Johnson said standing in his garage studio, surrounded by cans of spray paint, window frames, collage fragments, and, of course, paintings—bright, vibrant, and tagged with words like “hope” and “dream.”

“Bearden’s pieces were inspired by jazz,” he said. “Mine by hip-hop. I fell in love with graffiti and street art. I would just walk around the Lower East Side [of NYC] and look at the walls.”

Johnson’s paintings are layered, reflecting lived history—old images covered by new, urban decay and paint chips, not a distraction from but a part of the overall story.

“I like to recreate that, so I use a lot of plasters and acrylic spray paint and stencils. But for the most part, the foundation of all of my pieces are words of inspiration. Graffiti has always had this negative connotation, but I want to represent it as the voice of the voiceless. It was made by young people who didn’t have access to galleries, didn’t feel welcome in museums, so they created their own galleries on walls,” he reflected.

Johnson’s first commissioned work was a mural project in a Harlem restaurant, but he longed to travel and connect with other communities outside his beloved New York. In 2018, he received an opportunity to do just that at an artist residency called Next Level USA in Turkey. He called the resulting experience a “hiphop cultural exchange” where art did its work, “connecting across borders, boundaries, and cultural differences.”

Then six years ago, he was invited to Columbus. He fell in love with the city’s art community, which he said was “so collaborative, welcoming, and amazing.”

He’s since completed a collaborative performance with the Central Ohio Symphony, been honored by Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, and worked as an AmeriCorps embedded artist at Fort Hayes High School, where his students call him Funcle, for “fun uncle.”

Still, Johnson owns up to wanderlust and hesitates to say he’s here for good. He’ll be leaving Columbus temporarily—for a six-week residency in rural Kansas.

Like a tagged wall, his message remains. “Art connects us,” he said.“Creativity is the key, especially in tough times. It gets us through.” His takeaway, standing amidst discarded frames, paper clippings, and paint? “Find inspiration in everything.”

Catch up with Lance on Instagram @lanceljart or on the web at ljartlife.com.

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How a local oil painter is bringing the Old Masters to modern-day Columbus, blending classical realism with a feminist twist

Cassidy Boyuk

By Mary McCarthy

C

assidy Boyuk is a Columbus-based oil painter trained in the classical tradition—not in a vague, art-school sense, but in the very literal, centuries-old sense. She studied at The Florence Academy of Art, worked and taught there after graduating, and often spends months on a single painting.

As a student at the Academy, she worked strictly from life, exclusively under natural light, and followed the same methodical exercises that shaped Michelangelo and Caravaggio. “When I learned that I could still be classically trained the same way the Old Masters were, it felt like a perfect combination of my interests,” she said.

Her mentor, Columbus artist Michael Cooley, encouraged her to study abroad. But Central Ohio was always where she planned to land.

“I’ve always known it was important to me to bring these traditions back to my hometown,” she said. “Columbus is where I was first introduced to classical realism, and I want to contribute to that here.”

She can stretch and prime her own canvases, mix her own mediums, and make her own paint from scratch, all from her home studio.

“Being hands-on with my materials makes me feel very connected to the Old Masters, and especially to my finished paintings,” she said.

Boyuk’s medium is oil, and she’ll be the first to tell you it’s more accessible than people would think. “It’s slow drying and forgiving,” she said. “It can be used in thin glazes or thick impastos. Learning oil paint is all about embracing play and not being afraid to use a lot of it. I always knew that if I wanted to make the kinds of paintings I loved in museums, I’d need to learn to paint with oils.”

Her process is layered and deliberate: charcoal sketch directly on canvas; an umber underpainting to build value and depth; then color; then finishing touches. A single painting can take Boyuk two to three months, preceded by months of research.

Boyuk would tell aspiring artists to find community. She said, “I’m so lucky to have women in my life who also create.” Her latest series is rooted in mythology, and inspired by her friends, who double as models and muses.

“They bring an individuality and boldness to the work, which I look forward to representing in many paintings to come. My goal is to challenge traditions, and to create a space for modern subjects and audiences in classical painting,” she said.

Follow cassidyboyukart on Instagram or visit CassidyBoyuk.com to learn more.

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Elijah How a hobby stacking disposable cups turned into towering sculptures and an ongoing artistic undertaking for “Elijah the Cup Guy”

By Jack McLaughlin

W

hen Elijah Farrales first began working in his medium of choice, he didn’t intend for others to see it. In fact, he didn’t even consider it to be art at the time.

Instead of a brush or a sculpting pick, Farrales works with cups. Disposable cups, for that matter—stacking thousands, without glue or binders, to make a single piece.

“I was always very introverted, and I really didn’t have social skills, but I was always curious about shape and function,” he said. “I started stacking cups as an activity to do by myself. For me, it was catharsis; it was something I could lose myself in. But it was also intellectually engaging.”

Farrales, who is now a physical medicine and rehabilitation resident physician at Indiana University (although he returns to Columbus regularly and still displays his art across the city), began his “hobby” of cup stacking in middle school, gradually gleaning the structural and spatial knowledge he needed to create larger and more elaborate work.

His first stacked sculpture featured a “pyramid” of just over a hundred cups—his latest local piece, which was on display at the Columbus Metropolitan Library until May, included approximately 3,000, coming together in a castle-like structure made from a series of towers and vibrant, multicolored planes.

For Farrales, who goes by Elijah the Cup Guy on Instagram, his opinion of stacking started to shift—from personal hobby to something more meaningful—only when he began sharing it with others.

As a college freshman at Truman State, it didn't take long for him to notice an unintended side effect of his unique hobby: attention. People he didn't know would approach him to understand his stacking, which in turn helped him grow socially.

Speaking of attention, his hobby began to garner more of it throughout his time in college, as Farrales was asked tostack cups at Truman State events and was even invited to deliver a TEDx Talk about his work.

“Talking to others about it, and the TEDx Talk at my school, gave me a reason to distill the ideas behind my stacking. It was when I started to talk about it at a meaningful level that I realized I saw it as art, and that others did too,” he said.

In his site-specific process, Farrales begins every piece with a vision. As he hones in on the unique elements of each site, what he creates will often change due to any number of factors, including things as small as the way light from a window falls on the cups.

While so many of his pieces are large in scale—his latest at the Main Library stood at over 10 feet tall—they’re also deceptively fragile. Each sculpture stays together without the help of glue, tape, or binders, meaning something as seemingly small as an errantly thrown ball or a shoe kicked off by a toddler could send them tumbling to the ground.

Interestingly, Farrales believes his work is necessitated by the very thing that threatens to destroy it: people.

To this end, Farrales held multiple free events at the Library around his sculpture, including interactive workshops for kids and even the chance to participate in the public toppling of the piece, in early May. “My art requires space, and I have to find other people who support that, other people who have space to give,” he said. “Going into a space, into a community, I always want to be sure to give people an experience to interact with the work, to interact with me, and maybe to stack some cups too.”

To stay up to date on his work and to see some of his other local cup structures, follow him @Elijah_thecupguy.

Farrales

directed by Brandon Boring

ACTORS’ THEATRE AND IMAGINE PRODUCTIONS PRESENT

PETER and the STARCATCHER

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June 18 - July 12 Schiller Park Amphitheatre Thursdays through Sundays @8p a play by Rick Elice based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson music by Wayne Barker

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Madeline For this Columbus-based painter, the first canvas is in the unconscious psyche

Buanno

By Mary McCarthy

M

adeline Buanno would tell you that solitary time spent making art has always been when she makes the most sense of things. “It’s always been the only constant throughout my entire life,” she said. “Even though I’m a social creature now, I feel most myself locked up in my studio.”

She’s leaned into that feeling so completely that self-isolation has become a religion of sorts.

A 2020 graduate of Columbus College of Art & Design, she majored in illustration, with her sights set on commercial work in video games. Then COVID-19 happened, and the plan changed. Like a lot of artists who suddenly found themselves drifting, she looked inward. Buanno started painting in her apartment, found a handful of artists she loved (Rae Klein, Colleen Barry, and Maja Ruznic, just to name a few), and began experimenting. What started as pandemic restlessness evolved into a full studio practice, and she has no plans to slow down.

Buanno works primarily with oil paints, though she’s recently started mixing in acrylics for texture. The canvases are large— the biggest reaching 6 ½ feet—and she’s candid about the fact that her studio space is the only thing standing in her way. “If I had a bigger studio, I’d go even bigger,” she said, without hesitation.

Every piece is heavily rooted in symbolism. “I’m very curious about exploring symbols of the unconscious and how they work both in my psyche and the collective psyche… Dreams are really inspiring and esoteric.” She journals constantly, mines inspiration from her interior life, and then turns outward. “I like taking the inner world and trying to connect it to what’s going on now,” she said.

A recent piece was inspired by an apocalypse dream Buanno had, where the sky blackened out from an eclipse and the light turned red. In the dream, she collected her dog (Addy) and her childhood dogs as the world ended. She said “I follow a Jungian mindset and the symbols that stand out the most are the eclipse, which can represent sort of a spiritual transformation, and dogs, who typically represent (for me) inner intuition, and a bridge between civilized and wild natures.”

Her days don’t look the way you might expect. Buanno works full time as a graphic designer, logging off around 6 p.m., walking her dog, and making dinner before heading to her studio in Olde Towne East, where she paints until midnight.

Everything is personal work, made with the long game in mind.

More recently, she’s been expanding into the curation side of the art world. She organized Milk Train, a show built around the shadow of the feminine psyche, and the “wild” or “uncongenial” side of womanhood. The show featured over 30 artists and included paintings, sculptures, video, and photography.

Follow @madelinebuanno on Instagram to learn more.

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Adam

Hernandez Through vibrant color, striking pattern, and an affinity for compelling storytelling, one of Columbus’ most prolific muralists is painting the town far more than just red

By Jack McLaughlin

E

ven if you think you don’t, chances are you actually do know Adam Hernandez. Or at least you’re familiar with his artwork.

The Bronx-born painter has produced nearly a dozen electrically colored, and intricately tesselated, murals throughout Central Ohio, from a “psychedelic samurai” on the side of the Old North Arcade Bar to an uplifting quote emblazoned onto a Short North parking garage.

Hernandez was raised in an arts-friendly family, but it took until his 20s for the prolific local muralist to realize that same talent was also inside him.

“I went to a gallery hop in the Short North in 2011 I saw the different skill levels of artists and realized I could probably get my own show too,” he said. “It was the snowball that started the avalanche.”

Despite this moment of clarity, Hernandez learned that his “aha!” moment alone wasn’t a golden ticket to become a selfsustaining professional artist, as he had to wade through plenty of part time jobs and apprenticeships to get there.

Today, Hernandez’s work can be seen throughout Central Ohio, not only in public spaces, but also on the label of several Jackie O’s beers, the logo of Royal Flamingo Coffee, or even the captains’ arm bands for the MLS All-Star Game when it was hosted in Columbus in 2024.

“Messi was going to wear it, but then he got injured, so it went to someone else,” he said with a laugh.

And while Hernandez’s talent is clear and his work is visually striking from even a superficial glance, he postulated another reason for his longevity in the Columbus arts scene.

“I can definitively say there are artists with a lot more talent than me, but art is as much about the experience a viewer has and how they feel,” he said. “That’s where my storytelling ability and my ability to connect with people come in.”

His mural, Resilient Mother, which today beautifies MidOhio Food Collective’s food market on Norton Road, recalls the story of his own mother, who worked tirelessly to provide Hernandez and his siblings with as much as possible.

Whether it’s connecting with people on an emotional level, or a more visceral one through his line of “Godmask” paintings, Hernandez shows he has both the talent and the connective tools necessary to move people.

“I’m so drawn to it because it offers a chance to speak directly to my community,” he said. “Maybe I’m not being super specific when I’m speaking through some of my pieces, but ultimately I’m just trying to put out positive or beautiful vibes.”

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To learn where you can find all of Hernandez’ murals, visit ahernandezart.com.

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Alissa Ohashi

How a decorated CCAD grad leans into performance, collage, and Carl Jung to address complicated topics of ancestry and trauma

By Laura Jones

N

ot all of Alissa Ohashi’s work is for sale. It’s too personal. Take for instance the pair of collages hanging on her apartment wall. They’re titled EMDR, and include a split self-portrait of the artist—half young girl, half woman—surrounded by images she “saw” while doing experimental therapy designed to process trauma and PTSD. There’s a magical forest, a unicorn, a castle, and even a black dragon named Elixir that Ohashi calls her spirit animal. As she explains it, her actual animal, a pit mix in a pink collar named Gretchen, paces at her feet.

Her apartment is decorated with her own work, most of which she says is not for sale. Not her CCAD thesis re-present, which explores her Japanese ancestry and family’s internment. Not the blue sculpture resembling armor, created from found chicken wire, abaca pulp and twine that also hangs on her wall.

Ohashi uses art to explore ideas and selling is “never at the forefront of her mind.” (To be fair, she does sell some work; photographs and ceramics in particular). “I read a lot of spiritual philosophy and Carl Jung is my biggest influence,” she said. To her interest in Jung, astrology, and alchemy, she’s recently added a certificate in Depth Psychology from the Pacifica Graduate Institute. “What I’m exploring is my own inner world and experience, and trying to translate that into visible form.”

Art found Ohashi later in life. She spent her childhood in a small town in Champaign County, not practicing art, but athletics. Then, after a stint as a server in a New York City whiskey bar, she was introduced to the art world by her fellow staff, all of whom were filmmakers and photographers. The camera appealed to Ohashi. “I

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liked capturing the world and taking everything in. I liked having a new way of looking at things and being able to frame exactly what I saw,” she said.

In addition to photography, Ohashi also works with collage, installations, and most recently, performance. In 2023 and 2025, she collaborated with artist and CCAD classmate Janelle Bonfour-Mikes on two installation performance pieces called Conduit and Converge respectively. In them, the two women improvised mark making with blue painter’s tape, interacting and reacting to each other, and at points, destroying what the other had made, which was partly about, “the instability of life and specifically the political environment.” Her next gallery piece is a call-and-response collaboration with poet Sayuri Ayers.

Ohashi is also focused on teaching depth-oriented collage workshops to others interested in what could be called her metatext: transformation. “I like art therapy, psychology, Jung, and mixing them together for people to have a time and space to explore their inner world,” she said. “I hope by doing this work they will be able to see the possibility for change and transformation within themselves and the world.”

As collage reassembles fragments to create something new, Ohashi and her students will use the elements of their own past to create a new, transformed self. And along the way, they’ll make some art.

Learn more about Ohashi at alissaohashiart.com. Her next depth-oriented collage workshop will be offered on July 26th at the Jung Association of Central Ohio.

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Andrew Lundberg The local multimedia creator behind Franklinton’s giant slingshot is proving that art and engineering go hand in hand, through sculpture, 3D printing, metal fabrication, and more

By Asia Atuah

A

nyone who meets Andrew Lundberg would describe him as right-brained.

But not at the expense of his analytical side. Quite the opposite: The marrying of his artistic and engineering minds fuels his creative process.

“The two really fit well together. The fine art is in the feel and the end result. But there’s a whole lot of engineering that goes into that final look, and I’m glad I kind of started the way I started anyway, by learning all the different crafts,” he said. “It really allows me to create more that way.”

A former creative designer, Lundberg made his way to Franklinton in 2011, downsizing from an apartment to an Airstream travel trailer parked right outside a local arts studio space.

“All of Franklinton just sort of really wrapped its arms around me,” he reflected.

And now, over a decade later, Lundberg has cemented himself as a neighborhood artist known for large-scale public art installations: a wildlife-themed, stainless steel pyramid sculpture in Hilliard’s Station Park that illuminates at night; and perhaps most famously, the 20-foot-tall, interactive slingshot sculpture.

Lundberg dabbles in all sorts of mediums—and this is by design, as no one medium would give him enough success in his career shift, he said. So, alongside painting and sculpting, Lundberg grew skills in welding, fabrication, woodworking, and even signmaking.

“I kind of flex with whatever I’m working on, and whatever materials kind of make sense for the idea,” he said.

Case in point, his most recent project involves 65 3D-printed planes painted to look like steel and looming 50 feet in the air. For logistically ambitious projects like this, Lundberg emphasizes the importance of not overthinking things.

“I mean, I don’t want to sit around and think about how daunting that could be and how high that is. I’d rather think about the idea—and you kind of try to cleanse yourself from all that and just think, ‘What would be if I could do anything? What would it look like?’” he shared.

Lundberg really likes seeing the design influence echoed from his time as a creative designer, with fine art splashes in the repeated, beautiful shapes or monochromatic simplicity of his works. Even so, what he’ll always especially cherish is the labor of love baked into each piece, something made more important now than ever.

“I mean, we’re a little bit under fire as artists. There’s AI, there’s everything that’s gonna happen with that. But still, making something by hand is not going anywhere,” he said. “You really have to make things, and I like showing that off. I like showing the other people that have helped, and how hard that is to do, the skill and time it takes.”

To learn more about Lundberg, and to see his work, visit lundbergarts.com.

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Michelle Relying on a unique array of recycled materials in her sculptures, this Central Ohio artist has a wildly inventive method to her artistic madness

By Asia Atuah

Stitzlein T

he average person might walk right past plastic bottle caps discarded in the grass or electrical cords tossed in the trash can.

Not Michelle Stitzlein. The second she spots another’s trash, it becomes her treasure.

From afar, her 3D sculptures seem typical. But step closer, and the picture becomes clear: sunflowers made of cut-up measuring tape; butterfly wings constructed with piano keys; succulents crafted with rubber hoses.

“I like that you can’t immediately see what my work is created with. You can probably tell it’s repurposed, but it takes some time to identify the actual items. I really love that, and I love watching people engage with my work that way because it’s a surprise,” said Stitzlein.

Creating sculptures with recycled and found materials wasn’t always Stitzlein’s path. The concept of reuse was fairly absent growing up in the ‘80s. And throughout the ‘90s, Stitzlein kept busy working in various capacities across the design field.

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In 2000, she settled down in a repurposed grange hall in Baltimore, Ohio, a rural backdrop that has informed much of her work since then.

Butterflies and moths from her backyard inspired her Moth Series, a permanent exhibit in the hallways of COSI with the insects sporting bicycle bars as antennae and license plates for wings. The grass, moss, and succulents she observes fuel the various renditions of her ongoing Fynbos series. As her installations travel, Stitzlein assembles sculptures in varying ways using “units,” circular, floral pieces made of unique round items, like cans, colanders, and lighting fixtures.

This series also centers Stitzlein’s medium of choice: garden hoses—thousands of them.

“It’s something we all have. It’s in a garage, or it’s in the backyard. There’s thousands of colors, and it’s material I’ll usually see driving down the road,” she said.

Beyond searching thrift stores, garage sales, and local reuse programs, Stitzlein will often receive donated items from friends,

family, and strangers from the community. What results is largescale projects that could take anywhere from two weeks to six months to complete, she said.

But, perhaps larger than the scope of her installations is the sheer size of her repurposed materials collection.Curated over the course of 30 years, Stitzlein boasts a whopping tens of thousands of odds and ends in her studio space. Just one portion of her massive inventory is a floor-to-ceiling wall of moving boxes and milkcrates piled high with any item you could think of. Film reel, pots and pans, decommissioned fire hoses, salt and pepper shakers from her wedding.

And this arsenal doesn’t even include the garden hoses. Those require their own space, being separately housed in a barn on her property.

“Really, I’ve had so much fun. And I’m really lucky that I can do this,” she shared fondly.

While not as convenient as traditional materials, she wouldn’t choose to make her art any other way. Especially with the knowledge that she’s not contributing to the waste stream.

“All material, we can’t waste it. We absolutely can’t waste it.

We go through all this energy to produce some of these materials, stripping the land, pumping water, all of this equipment, oil, petroleum, and gas to get it from point A to point B, and then we use it for five minutes and we toss it,” she said. “That’s scary. And it’s more valuable than that.” ♦

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To learn about her process and see more of Stiltzen’s work, visit artgrange.com.

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Nick Stull

With murals on display everywhere from Budd Dairy Food Hall to Uptown Westerville, this local painter lifts up Columbus neighborhoods, one brushstroke at a time

W

By Jordan Abbruzzese

hile Nick Stull has his BFA from Ohio Wesleyan, he approaches his public art like a scientist.

“I see the studio stuff as being lab work with variables controlled, like with the lighting in check,” explained Stull. “And I like murals because it’s like doing a field study where you have to navigate all these other variables like weather, surface, and night and day that make it exciting.”

You have probably seen Stull’s murals around Columbus, like his colorful Village Tapestry portraiture in Italian Village by Budd Dairy Food Hall, or the history-inspired Flight Pattern mural in Uptown Westerville. Murals are Stull’s way of capturing the past, present, and future of a neighborhood, while working directly with the community to tell a story.

“Starting from growing up, I liked art and was into it. Mostly drawing, comics, and graphic arts,” said Stull. “I went to Ohio Wesleyan for College and was uncertain what route I was going to take . . . I really fell in love with figurative painting in particular.”

After graduating, Stull spent time in New Jersey creating art.

He later returned to Columbus, where he met some like-minded artists and started 83 Gallery, first operating out of a basement before moving to the Short North near Bodega.

“It was like a punk gallery,” said Stull. “We were very open to any and all art forms and artists who wanted to show with us.

We did big group shows, and a lot of events with bands, book signings—it was an awesome community space.”

When 83 Gallery closed in 2014, Stull began his career at the Wexner Center for the Arts as an exhibit designer, where he

would work closely with artists from all over the globe to develop exhibits while overseeing the crew that installed each piece.

During that time, Stull continued creating his own art and learned how to use a lift, a skill that would become key to creating his large-scale murals today.

“Right before I started at the Wex, I started painting murals and hand painted signage with a friend of mine named Andrew Kern, who now owns Flat Black Commercial Visuals,” recalled Stull. “That’s how I really learned how to paint murals and use certain materials.”

When the pandemic hit, Stull was furlowed, but the mural work kept coming in a time of uncertainty. He never looked back. The hands-on process with communities to create murals combines what he loved most about his gallery days with the technique gained from his exhibit installation experience. In addition, working completely for himself lets him experiment with scale and a variety of projects, often inspired by his wife Liz Morrison—also an artist—and their life raising three girls together.

“I love doing public art, because a lot of the murals I do the community will see every day,” explained Stull. “You’re engaging with community members and different committees to develop a mural that really speaks to that neighborhood or identity of that area, the history, or the trajectory of what a place wants to be.”

Follow @nick_stull_art on Instagram to learn more.

BETTER TOGETHER How the Polaris-area clinic Amigos on the Spectrum creates the groundwork for community, one person at a time

By Jack McLaughlin Story Design by Abby Nocera

I

n neither the HBO documentary that centered around his work with teens and young adults on the spectrum, nor the Broadway musical inspired by the film, does Dr. Emilio Amigo become the center of attention.

In fact, How to Dance in Ohio avoids casting any one person in the central spotlight, focusing instead on a group of seven young Autistic individuals as they plan to attend a prom-inspired dance hosted by Amigo.

And this is exactly how he’d like it to be, because building community remains a central focus of his Polaris-area clinic, Amigos on the Spectrum.

“We’re all looking for a place to belong, and if you have some challenges, it makes it hard to find your tribe,” he said. “We want to be that safety net, that safe place where people can work on who they are, but learn how they can become equipped,” Dr. Amigo said.

This starts at the level of the individual, as one of Amigo’s goals in practice is to equip clients with the skills and tools necessary to create meaningful relationships. Through its popular Friday Night Club activities, Amigos on the Spectrum has created groups for teens and adults of all ages to belong, based on their interests. There’s Movie Club, Art Club, LEGO Club, Dance Club and even a club dedicated to bringing theatrical performances to the stage.

The hope, Dr. Amigo said, is that by leaning into things people are passionate about, their ability and openness to connecting with others will be elevated. This is neuroaffirming.

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“If you’re neurotypical, it happens on its own: You go out and meet people, make friends, and find your place,” Dr. Amigo said.

“Our clients are eventually able to use the skills we helped them to develop to build their own social network. Our Club Night feels a little bit like being invited out with friends. And for some neurodivergent people, that means the world.”

With Friday Night Clubs dedicated to teens and adults of all ages, Amigos on the Spectrum is also making sure to offer social skills therapy groups to its young clients, ages 3-12, while keeping an eye on their future development. Amigos on the Spectrum is also building community outside of the clinic. Recently, the psychologist created a program where he connects with local churches, helping them understand how to be more inclusive of neurodivergent individuals.

Additionally, Amigos on the Spectrum will operate its first-ever booth at Stonewall Columbus Pride which will be held June 19th and 20th. Amigos on the Spectrum also offers a safe space for Columbus

LGBTQIA+ individuals, a community which overlaps significantly with the neurodivergent community. Amigos on the Spectrum’s now-famous spring formal–the event that How to Dance in Ohio focused on–is quickly approaching in 2026, and every year it does, it reminds Dr. Amigo and everyone on the Amigos on the Spectrum staff the importance of community building.

This is now the eleventh year since the documentary was released, and even more than a full decade after, Dr. Amigo hasn’t forgotten the impact that events like that dance–and his communitybuilding efforts across Central Ohio–have made.

“It’s not just a dance, it’s a celebration of our community. It’s their opportunity to stand out and shine and remember the larger community they’re a part of,” he said. “We don’t just treat, but we celebrate. We celebrate that they’re a part of something bigger than themselves, and something self-sustaining.”

“WE WANT TO BE THAT SAFETY NET , THAT SAFE PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN WORK ON WHO THEY ARE, BUT LEARN HOW THEY CAN BECOME EQUIPPED .”

HELLO, AMIGO Dr. Emilio Amigo has over three decades of experience as an evidence-based clinical psychologist. He’s authored his own innovative therapy programs, such as Respons·ability Social Therapy, and his staff and clients were previously featured on an HBO documentary about individuals on the spectrum, called How to Dance in Ohio (2013), and a broadway musical of the same name (2023-2024).

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Section Presented By

By Jack McLaughlin Story Design by Dawson Estep

W

ith an estimated 700,000 participants, Columbus’ lauded Pride festivities stand as the second largest in the Midwest (behind just Chicago), and one of the largest in the nation overall.

It’s a matter of Pride, both literally and figuratively, for Ohio’s capital city.

Every June, the entire city of Columbus comes alive to celebrate, whether that means drag shows, Pride brunches, raves, fundraisers, or a full slate of other events.

The following pages—which were presented with the help of KEMBA Financial, who proudly recognizes and celebrates the many contributions the LGBTQIA+ community has made to Central Ohio—serve as a resource to Columbus Pride, whether that means a Pride March FAQ, a list of LGBTQIA+ bars, drag performances and performers, and more. So whoever you are, and whomever you love, here’s your guide to Columbus Pride 2026. →

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From drag shows and safe spaces to a Stonewall Columbus Pride March guide, here’s what you need to know about Columbus Pride 2026

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MARCH

The Stonewall Columbus Pride March is not only one of the largest events of the Central Ohio summer, it’s a cornerstone of our country’s LGBTQIA+ celebrations. If, like 700,000 other individuals, you’re considering checking it out this year, we’ve put together a list of helpful tips and things to know before you go:

When & where

IS there a theme?

This year, the Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival & Resource Fair runs from June 19-20 at Goodale Park, although many Pride-related festivities in Columbus span the entire month of June.

Yes! Every year, Stonewall Columbus Pride takes on a different theme.

This year, it’s “Until We’re All Free.” This year’s theme, which was unveiled publicly in late January, draws attention to “both the urgency of the current moment and the enduring values that have guided Stonewall Columbus for more than four decades,” according to the Stonewall Columbus website.

The Stonewall Columbus Pride March itself, however, will take place June 20.

It kicks off at the corner of Front Street and Broad Street, before setting off through Downtown Columbus.

Can i join the MARCH?

How DO I GET HELP CREATING A FLOAT?

While Stonewall Columbus celebrates everyone’s desire to announce who they are on a public platform, all parade participants must register to march. There are different registration forms for individuals and organizations.

Stonewall Columbus does not provide float rentals itself, but the group recommends working with the Dover, Ohio-based group, Creative Floats.

You can register for the Stonewall Columbus Pride March by visiting stonewallcolumbus.org/pride/march/register-to-march.

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At KEMBA Financial Credit Union - recently named a ColumBEST top credit union - we believe financial empowerment should be accessible, personal, and rooted in the communities we serve. That’s especially true during Pride Month, when we celebrate the people, stories, and identities that make Central Ohio vibrant and uniquely our own.

We are proud to stand alongside all our members and communities - not just as a financial institution, but as part of the same community. Pride is about visibility, authenticity, and the freedom to show up as your full self.

From opening a first account to saving for something special to buying a home or building a business, we’re here to walk beside you and champion your goals - with no assumptions about who you are, where you’ve been, or where you’re going. Financial confidence should never be limited by identity, and opportunity should always feel within reach.

As a local credit union, our connection runs deeper than transactions. When you walk into one of our branches, call

our contact center, or see us at a community event, you’re engaging with people who live here, work here, and celebrate here - right alongside you. That shared connection matters. It allows us to show up authentically, listen intentionally, and serve in ways that reflect the real needs of our communities.

We believe our strength comes from the diversity of our people and the unity of our mission: every member matters, every associate matters, and every voice matters. That means creating space where every individual feels seen, respected, and supported - not only during Pride Month, but every day.

We actively welcome and affirm people of every color, every experience, every lifestyle, and every expression of who they are, because when people feel empowered to be themselves, they’re more confident in every aspect of their lives including their financial future - and that’s something worth celebrating. Together, let’s celebrate Pride and the vibrant, diverse, and inclusive spirit of Central Ohio…not just this month, but every day.

T gether,

let’s celebrate

Pride

not just this month but

every day.

Proudly serving Central Ohio.

kemba.org kembaFinancial kembaFinancial company/KEMBAFinancial-Credit-Union

Few things encapsulate the energy and atmosphere of Columbus Pride like a good drag show. Loud music, wild performances, bright colors and aggressive positivity. If any of those sound like your thing, you’re in luck, because June in Columbus means more drag events than one person could possibly attend. Here’s where you can find it:

Ivan Kane’s Forty Deuce Burlesque & Speakeasy

Axis NIGHTCLUB

3959 Brighton Rose Square

775 N. High Street

Come for the drag and burlesque, but stay for the food. Ivan Kane made a name for himself hosting world-class burlesque shows in Vegas, and he’s brought that–in addition to an energetic slate drag of events–to Central Ohio so we can all enjoy it too.

Two floors of fun and a packed slate of drag kings and queens defines what is Columbus’ largest LGBTQIA+ nightclub. Make sure to check out the annual Axis Pride Fest as well, which will be held this year from June 19-21.

SOUTHBEND TAVERN

District West

126 E. Moler Street

145 N. 5th Street

Small but mighty, the “Best little show bar in Columbus” lives up to its name with packed karaoke and drag nights. It also hosts the occasional LGBTQIA+ wedding reception and names a “Miss Southbend Tavern” every year.

When you think Columbus drag, District West is likely one of the first spots that comes to mind. The namesake of local drag stars like Nina West and Virginia West, the hopping High Street club offers Dragaoke, drag contests and a Pride Kickoff event on June 17, from 8-10 p.m.

UNION CAFE 782 N. High Street A popular drag brunch and spacious High Street patio make Union Cafe a popular spot outside of traditional night club hours, but that doesn’t mean the Short North spot doesn’t know how to get down in the evenings, as Union Cafe offers plenty of afterdark drag as well.

MORE LOCAL SPOTS to find drag events O’Connors Club 20

TREMONT LOUNGE

20 E. Duncan Street

708 S. High Street

THE TOOLBAR SALOON

THE WALRUS

744 Frebis Avenue

143 E. Main Street

THE SPACEBAR 1071 Parsons Avenue

AWOL BAR

RUMORS BAR

SLAMMERS

THE GO-GO

49 Parsons Avenue

1071 Parsons Avenue

202 E. Long Street

987 N. 4th Street

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Sure, we all know Nina West, but Columbus boasts no shortage of exciting drag talent in addition to the RuPaul’s Drag Race alumnus.

There’s no way we can fit everyone below, but we’ve rounded up a handful of local drag stars to keep your eyes on this summer:

Photo courtesy of Gretta Goodbottom ↓

Photo courtesy of Virginia West ↓

GRetta goodbottom

Virignia west

A longtime Columbus drag queen, Gretta Goodbottom is a fixture at drag venues across the city, and a prolific costume designer as well. You can find Gretta at her District West event, Don’t Tell Gretta, which features live piano cabaret (billed as “Ohio’s only live piano drag show”), every Sunday at 5 p.m.

Another high-profile performer emerging from Columbus’ lauded drag scene, Virginia West helped found District West in 2020, and serves as the venue’s executive entertainment director. Look out for her every Sunday at District West at 8 p.m., and at plenty of other local venues.

Photo courtesy of Chaylene Hardy ↓ ← Photo courtesy of Maya Bizness

MAYA BIZNESS

RILEY POPPYSEED

Prolific Columbus drag queen Maya Bizness might make puppets on the side (she actually does), but her high energy and charismatic presence mean she’s no puppet on stage. In the month of June, Maya has no less than 16 events booked at District West, including from the Pride Kickoff (June 17) to a Pride brunch (June 21).

According to Poppyseed, he was the first Black drag king to appear on a drag-related TV show when he made an appearance on OUTtv’s series Camp Wannakiki in 2023. You can find him at Marysville Pride, the Budd Dairy Food Hall Drag Show and other events throughout Columbus.

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Photo by Sarah Pfeiffer ↓

KEMBA Financial Credit Union PROUDLY SUPPORTS Central Ohio’s LGBTQIA+ Community

COMMANDER SINS Drawing inspiration from the horror classic Hellraiser, Commander Sins offers a vibrant take on the darker side of drag, claiming his “emo phase never left” in an interview last year. Follow his Instagram to keep up with future events.

Photo by Sarah Pfeiffer ↓

SHAWTY WEST Another “resident entertainer” at District West, Shawty West uses his background in traditional visual arts, applying it to makeup, posters and even set design for District West, while leaning into both silliness and drama in his live performances.

Follow Shawty’s Instagram to catch his live performances this summer.

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Downtown Columbus is a certified hotbed of LGBTQIA+ bars, which means during the month of June, the city’s nightlife comes alive in a way that’s truly something to admire. But don’t just take it from us, go out there and check out some of the city’s best LGBTQIA+ bars.

We’ve rounded up a handful of our favorites below, which means you’re fresh out of excuses not to check them out:

AWOL BAR

BOSCOE’S

49 Parsons Ave.

1224 S. High Street

A little brick house on Parsons Ave. with a big patio and even bigger gay energy.

Bustling Merion Village nightlife spot featuring weekly Euchre, karaoke, and Sexy Sunday.

Cavan Irish Pub

CLUB DIVERSITY

1409 S. High Street

863 S. High Street

Columbus gay bar? Yes. Also an Irish pub? You bet? Open until 2:30 a.m. 365 days a year? You’re damn right. We could say more about Cavan’s, but we’ll leave it at that.

A beautiful 1880s house in the Brewery District is now home to one of the best martini and piano bars in the city.

O'Connors Club 20

THE GO-go

20 E. Duncan Street

987 N. 4th Street Color-soaked Italian Village dance bar boasting drag brunches and a mixture of ages.

Tucked-away Old North gay bar boasting regular karaoke and drag. It serves as a hub where LGBTQIA+ softball leagues grab post-game drinks.

RumORS BAR

SOUTHBEND TAVERN

1071 Parsons Ave.

126 E. Moler Street

Merrion Village hotspot known for themed nights, craft cocktails, and a full schedule of visiting food trucks.

Marion Village’s small but energetic LGBTQIA+ spot offers everything from drag, bingo, Euchre, sponsored softball teams and even gay wedding receptions. It also crowns its own Miss Southbend Tavern each year.

THE TOOLBOX SALOON 744 Frebis Ave. This small neighborhood gay bar offers its own stage for karaoke and drag, and a surprisingly sizable outdoor patio space as well.

Tremont Lounge 708 S. High Street First opened in 1987, this Brewery district spot boasts plenty of LGBTQIA+ events and activities and, according to owner Billy Halford, offers some of the cheapest drinks in all of Columbus.

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SLAMMERS 202 E. Long Street “All Walks, One Groove,” has been the motto at Slammers now for over 30 years, since it was opened by Marcia Riley in 1993.

Today, it serves as one of Ohio’s oldest gay bars, one of the last remaining Lesbian bars in the nation, and one of the city’s best spots for Columbus-style pizza.

KEMBA Financial Credit Union PROUDLY SUPPORTS Central Ohio’s LGBTQIA+ Community

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In a city with one of the largest Pride celebrations in the nation, it should come as no surprise that there are a plethora of safe spaces (businesses that are either LGBTQIA+-owned or take explicit steps to make all feel welcome) for you to patronize, ranging the gamut from gluten-free bakeries to tabletop game taverns. Here’s a list of some of our favorites:

BAKE ME HAPPY 500 E. Whittier Street Entirely gluten-free, LGBTQIA+ owned and operated, and really, really delicious. Bake Me Happy–and its slate of gourmet riffs on Pop-Tarts and Little Debbie snacks–is a favorite spot among foodies, the majority of whom don’t even have a gluten intolerance. That’s how good we’re talking.

Fuzz 3309 N. High Street This collective of nail and tattoo artists doesn‘t just offer some of the city’s best methods of self-beautification, it’s also queer owned and operated. If you feel inclined to stop by (and we’re sure you do), just make sure to check in with the individual artist you want to visit, since Fuzz doesn’t have standard operating hours.

The Walrus 143 E. Main Street At a glance, The Walrus might seem like a fairly run-of-the-mill Downtown eatery–offering good food, fast service and drink deals– there’s a lot more to the popular spot than many of us realize, In addition to burgers and and fries, The Walrus is a staunch supporter of the Columbus LGBTQIA+ community, offering drag shows, a drag brunch, and even fundraisers for Kaleidoscope Youth Center.

The Kitchen

THE FORGE TAVERN

231 E. Livingston Avenue

1375 Bethel Road

A gem of German Village, this unique concept includes food service, but you’re more often than not the one making it more often than not. Offering experiential classes that are perfect for team building or just connecting with friends and family, The Kitchen is also hosting a regular pop-up for its employee-owned ice cream spinoff concept, The Dusty Touch.

What’s better than diving into your favorite tabletop game with a group of friends on an evening after work? How about doing so in a safe, welcoming space where the drinks are flowing freely? The Forge Tavern is the kind of truly unique Columbus business that, once we hear about, we can’t believe we didn’t think of first.

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ai177938152211_PRINT_614-Mag_KEMBA-Pride_2026.pdf 1 5/21/2026 12:38:43 PM

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The New

Six of our favori te Hocking Hills luxury -leaning G for this summer etaway spots

Hocking Hills

↑ Photo courtesy of Dunlap Hollow

By Laura Hennigan Story Design by Kevin Krznar

I

t’s finally summer y’all, time to get back outside! We are fortunate to have one of the most stunning natural areas in the world just a quick drive from Columbus. With its dramatic sandstone gorges, hidden caves and cascading waterfalls, Hocking Hills has long been a sought-after destination for folks in the (614) and beyond, and there is no shortage of adorable wood cabins tucked into the trees.

But over the last few years, the region has seen a huge uptick in deluxe lodging options that are thoughtfully designed to provide an elevated overnight experience.

Whether you are seeking a quiet romantic escape or an oversized group getaway, there are endless unique lodging options in Hocking Hills, from luxury stays bursting with amenities to secluded hideaways with no one around for miles. We’ve rounded up some of the coolest new accommodations and highly recommend that you make plans to check them out as soon as possible. →

The Cave Located on the Dunlap Hollow property, The Cave is an innovative, ecofriendly house, built into the side of a natural recess cave. With 1,500 square feet of space, the house has two bedrooms, sleeps up to six, and features a large outdoor patio with a fireplace and hot tub, full kitchen, pool table, and access to private hiking trails. It is, quite literally, part of the cave, with massive slabs of rock making up the walls and ceilings throughout. While it often books out up to a year in advance, you can sometimes score a last-minute cancellation if your schedule is flexible.

To experience The Cave for yourself, visit dunlaphollow.com/cave.

Photo courtesy of Dunlap Hollow ↓

ENDURING LEGACY CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF

OHIO DECORATIVE ARTS

↑ Photo courtesy of Shelby Brown

May 30 – August 30, 2026

The Fairchild Haus

Betty Talbott and Tracy Rieger | curators MADE POSSIBLE WITH SUPPORT FROM: The Wendel Family Fund of the Fairfield County Foundation and the Fox Foundation, Inc.

running concurrently in the lower gallery

THE STUDIO AND BE YOND

Situated on 30 private acres, The Fairchild Haus is a modern cabin that has been updated with the latest tech and amenities. Just a few minutes from Old Man’s Cave, guests will savor their time at this spa-like retreat, which features two full-body massage chairs that overlook a custom indoor koi pond. After a full day of hiking, relax in the sauna or hot tub on the expansive deck, wander the lighted path leading to a fire pit, and enjoy the gourmet kitchen, record player, and wood burning fireplace.

Reserve a weekend at Fairchild Haus at Airbnb or VRBO.

Wendel Center for Art Education Lisa Schorr | curator

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• Architecture & History

TIN

25 YE

• Three Exhibitions Annually

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Photo courtesy of The Box Hop ↓

EC TI

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• Art Classes, Ages 5–Adult

FREE ADMISSION

Wednesday–Friday, 11:00 am–4:00 pm • Saturday & Sunday, 1:00–4:00 pm 145 East Main Street | Lancaster, Ohio | 740-681-1423 | decartsohio.org

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Idyll Reserve A design-forward cabin retreat, Idyll Reserve is a collection of five sustainable luxury accommodations with plenty of extras. Each unit has been thoughtfully crafted to balance modern architecture, comfort, and immersion in nature. For an intimate escape, book The South, designed for two to four guests, and featuring a deck that boasts a sauna, hot tub and gas grill. Or opt to bring more friends along with a stay in The Cabin, a two-story, pet-friendly space with a large chef’s kitchen, EV charging station and wood burning stove.

To book your eco-friendly escape, visit idyllreserve.com.

Photo courtesy of Prestige Pro Photo ↓

a-toes m o t d Hea he fun 4 t family e l o h w

The Box Hop One of the most well-known unique lodging options in the area, the Box Hop was a pioneer in introducing the concept of experiential stays. What started with a single unit made from shipping containers has expanded into six bespoke Hops, each carefully curated to provide the ultimate escape. The OG was the first of its kind, offering an edgy, modern twist on the classic cabin in the woods. The Roca, Ellwood, Overlook, Hygge and Boho have now joined the collection, each with its own distinctive personality and amenities. No matter which you choose, you’ll enjoy unparalleled service, comfort, and surroundings.

Reserve your own Box Hop at theboxhop.com.

AUGUST 13-15 HUBER PARK ReyTomatoFest.com 614NOW.COM

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Greetings From

The Lost Cavern

Tucked in the sandstone cliffs and surrounded by oldgrowth hemlock forest, Lost Cavern is a sanctuary of modern design. Each of the three private, glass-encased cabins is perched on its own secluded overlook. The Study invites the outdoors in, offering uninterrupted views and a seamless connection to the landscape thanks to 360-degree floor-to-ceiling glass. Named for its dramatic setting, The Ledge is a moody private retreat that blends mid-century charm with industrial edge. And located partially underground, SubTerra is an exclusive haven featuring carved rock. Each escape offers its own incredible amenities, including heated floors, saunas, firepits, and even a cold plunge.

Book your own Lost Cavern adventure at thelostcavern.com. ↑ Photo courtesy of The Lost Cavern

Hugga in the Hills Derived from the 16th-century Norwegian word for “to embrace” or “to hug,” Hugga in the Hills is bringing luxurious Nordicinspired flair with a unique twist. Offering multiple Cabins, named after their location on Hugga’s 42 acres of woodlands (complete with an entire network of hiking trails), guests will be able to spend a night, a weekend or more at the Prairie, Rock, Creek and Pine cabins. While each offers its own appeal, the Creek cabin is especially original, featuring the kitchen and living room space in one cabin, and its two bedrooms and bathrooms each in their own separate buildings, just feet away.

Experience Hugga in the Hills firsthand by visiting huggaretreats.com.

← Photos courtesy of Hugga in the Hills ↓

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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.

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