gifts for every celebration
Graduations
SIMPLE & DELICATE
A milestone years in the making deserves something lasting. Celebrate their hard work, their dreams and the journey ahead with a piece they’ll carry into every new chapter.
Weddings
HEIRLOOM-WORTHY JEWELS
From “yes” to “I do,” every moment tells a love story. Complete the celebration with heirloom-worthy bridal jewelry, elegant earrings, or a timeless necklace— pieces designed to shine on the day and for a lifetime beyond it.
Mother’s Day
HEARTFELT & MEANINGFUL
Celebrate the women that provide love and light in your life with jewelry that honors the strength and beauty they emanate.
Birthdays
COLORFUL & PERSONAL
Another year, another story worth celebrating. A birthstone piece, a stackable ring, or an engraved pendant can turn a special day into a lasting memory.
Anniversaries
COLORFUL & PERSONAL
Every year together is a chapter worth honoring. Whether it’s a diamond band, a refined bracelet, or a meaningful upgrade, celebrate your story with something as enduring as your love.
DAVID YURMAN
DY Madison Pearl Chain Drop Earrings
ROBERTO COIN Aurora Split Start Ring
DIAMOND CELLAR Emerald & Diamond Halo Earrings
CHARLES KRYPELL Morganite Pendant
TUDOR Black Bay 36 Champagne
TACORI Diamond Classic Crescent Band
Opening Volley
JACK MCLAUGHLIN Editor-In-Chief
When in Rome
When the Library of Alexandria burned—whether it did so over a period of years or in a great, single blaze—humankind lost a staggering percentage of its recorded knowledge. Hundreds of thousands of scrolls containing scientific data, literature, philosophy, and more, turned to ash.
While the real figure is impossible to calculate, and it likely didn’t set us back by 1,000 years like many claim, the loss of all that knowledge is no doubt still being felt, several thousand years later.
Have you ever considered what it would be like if you woke up one day if you woke one day and the internet was simply gone? It’s apples to oranges, but I imagine the internet today acts something like the Great Library did back then, as an ineffably large collection of knowledge, wisdom, data. And memes.
While it’s all too easy to sell the internet short, can you imagine how the ancient Romans would have reacted if they were handed an accumulation of the world’s knowledge inside a device that could fit in their hand?
I try to remind myself of this when I think of ColumBEST, our annual reader poll that tallies nearly half a million votes from more than 27,000 individual voters. In it, Central Ohioans join forces to name their favorite restaurants and bars, their top food trucks and french fries, the best things to do for free, and their top local bands. It’s a functional, and fully exhaustive, best-of guide to the city that you can access almost anywhere you go. The 2026 winners are available for the first time in the issue you’re currently holding, or e-reading. And they’re also fireproof. In an era riven by political differences, it’s impressive, and I think important, when people can come together to create something productive. Whatever it is. I like to think that, if something like ColumBEST was held in ancient Roman times—were nearly 30,000 of us gathered together in the Coliseum to mark our favorite blacksmiths and olivegrowers on a scrap of papyrus (I’m pretty sure that’s what they wrote on)—it would have felt like a party, with everyone celebrating together.
That’s the atmosphere I want ColumBEST to feel like. Sure, we aren’t physically together, but I can imagine it in my head. Everyone side by side—Roman wine or mead, or whatever they drank, flowing freely— all of us sharing our favorite things about the city we live in; the Great Library behind us, shining in the midday sun.
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� STAFF PICKS
With nearly half a million votes in the ColumBEST survey, there’s a lot of strong opinions on Columbus restaurants, businesses, and neighborhoods. We asked staff to chime in with their personal ColumBEST. Here’s what they said:
My ColumBEST pick would be my dog Arlo's daycare, Play All Day, in Westerville! They are family-owned and treat all the dogs as their own. For Thanksgiving last year, we weren't able to bring Arlo, so we boarded him. As an added treat that week, the Play All Day owners offered homecooked Thanksgiving meals for all the boarded dogs. I couldn't recommend them enough!
—
Emma Mortellaro, Marketing Manager
My ColumBEST is the espresso martini at The Avenue in Grandview! Even better if Yusef is the one delivering it to your table ;)
— Meghan Chapman, Account Executive
My ColumBEST's gotta be CM Chicken. Their Garlic Soy wings always hit, and at their Pickerington location, the Lychee Fruit Ade with Strawberry Boba is a must-try. So worth a visit!
— Asia Atuah, Associate Editor
My ColumBEST is Clintonville! I could eat at Cornerstone Deli & Cafe every day. Clintonville Books (right next door) is a must-visit.
My ColumBEST is Figlio; they have the BEST wait staff!
— Mindy Wilhite, Senior Account Executive
My ColumBEST is Mezze Mediterranean Cuisine in New Albany. They have the best Greek pitas and Mezze fries. It’s been my favorite for years!
I have to shout out ZC Tea House for their matcha; still the best I've had in Cbus! But they really get my kudos for their $2 Tuesdays. My classmates and I used to get these delicious matcha lattes for $2 (!!!) before class. I'm so sad they moved locations. One of my favorite restaurants is Song Lan in Bridge Park! Always a treat to get fancy sushi.
— Leah Ronski, Creative Designer
— Mary McCarthy, Associate Editor
— Abby Nocera, Creative Designer
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!
EVENTS CALENDAR
CATEGORY
Arson suspect arrives at police interview with singed eyebrows
A Columbus man unwittingly incriminated himself at a police arson interview by showing up with singed eyebrows and burns from the very fire he was suspected of starting.
CATEGORY
Columbus is getting a Korean-style convenience store and “ramen library”
Ramyun EZ, a new Korean-style convenience store and café on Olentangy River Road, offers 60 ramen flavors, fresh ingredients, Korean street foods, and groceries all under one roof.
From an epic music festival to a Broadway musical to a hands-on science extravaganza, May has something for everyone to enjoy.
Big Science Celebration
By Laura Jones
IOG N G OFFSCRIPT
From founding theaters to acting as consultant to Cirque du Soleil performers, local improv comedian Tara DeFrancisco is making it up as she goes
Photos by Cheyn Roux
Story Design by Julie Friedman
Business cards don’t work for Tara DeFrancisco—the multitalented creative has far too many passions to cram into a couple square inches of space. She’s an improv comedian, stand-up comedian, artistic director, podcaster, and actor. She organizes and runs retreats and creates curricula, served as an adjunct professor, and even once acted as an improv consultant for Cirque du Soleil performers. Ultimately, whether she’s behind the podium or podcast mic, DeFrancisco uses comedy as a means to encourage and support others, even if just to provide a laugh that lifts their day.
DeFrancisco now boasts hundreds of thousands of social media followers, but she started from scratch right here in Central Ohio. A Columbus native, she attended Ohio University, and was encouraged by a professor to investigate Chicago because, she said, “There are these institutions [there] that are almost like a grad school of comedy.” At the end of 1999, DeFrancisco took the leap and was “fortunate enough to be hired at all the places [she] wanted to be on stage.” These were comedy institutions like The Second City, iO Theater Chicago, and ComedySportz.
Fifteen years later, DeFrancisco was doing better than well. She’d fallen in love with improv and her partner, fellow comedian Rance Rizzutto, another transplant in Chicago honing his craft. The two were the creators and performers of the highly successful HERE: The (Improvised) Musical, a touring show made up fresh each night (songs included) from audience suggestions. But then, they decided on perhaps their greatest act: heading back to Ohio to create Columbus’ premier sketch and improv theater, The Nest. →
Tara DeFrancisco, the Columbus comedian and content creator, boasts nearly 400K followers online
“As a kid, I really loved Columbus, and I didn’t want to leave, but the opportunities were in Chicago or New York. Now, you can bloom where you’re planted.”
“As a kid, I really loved Columbus, and I didn’t want to leave, but the opportunities were in Chicago or New York. Now, you can bloom where you’re planted. With the expansion of the internet, it doesn’t necessarily take a city anymore,” she said. Part of The Nest’s mission is to continue to grow those opportunities by offering comedy classes to adults and children right here in Columbus. From 24 students who met in the original Nest brickand-mortar—an old boxing gym DeFrancisco described as “very punk rock”—1,800 students have since improvised, done standup, joined the Nest house team, or even gone on to form their own performance groups. That’s a whole lot of funny from one little idea.
Her successes have taken her across the country and back more times than she can count, but they’ve landed her opportunities even more unique than taking the stage in front of crowds of fans. Last year, DeFrancisco and Rizzutto acted as improv consultants to Cirque du Soleil performers. She learned quickly that since their acts were mostly choreographed, the idea of improving on the fly was frightening to many of them.
“They were so talented. They were some of the best performers in the world. It was so interesting to me, because they’re dangling above the stage on a piece of silk, but it’s improv that’s scary to them,” she said with a laugh.
While she later grew into the role of class clown, DeFrancisco described herself as shy in her early years, a “sweet little empath,” inspired by SNL and Spinal Tap, happy to have all types of friends. “I had a lot of compassion for my classmates and an eye on the world and how it felt for people. I’m definitely a person that roots for the underdog, and that’s really shaped my worldview,” she said.
Today she has more than 280,000 followers on Instagram, and another 108,000 on TikTok. In a typical post, DeFrancisco stands outside in medium close-up, her big brown eyes playful behind aviator frames. In a matter of seconds she delivers a punch, one part one-liner, one part feel-good message. Phrases like, “Maybe you don’t realize how good you are doing because you keep raising the bar” or “It’s almost as if being your own person is enough.” Watching them, it feels like she’s speaking to the underdog in all of us.
“I like to take care of people in this way,” she said. “It’s something I like about being a teacher, too. In my classes, you’ll see people that may have been the frat guy or the funny person at work or the emo kid, and they all can get along in comedy when there’s listening and presence as the underlying thread. That’s how my Instagram started. Just me being me, saying something I would to a friend. A kind of bolster for the human spirit out there.” ♦
You can find tour dates, buy tickets, and learn more about Tara at www.taradefrancisco.com.
↑ Whether it’s at The Nest Theater locally or across the country, DeFrancisco is a master of improv comedy
The
Gift She
Wants
A Mother’s Day Guide to Rest, Radiance, and Renewal:
As May settles in over Columbus, the search for the perfect Mother’s Day gift begins. We’ve all experienced that moment of being in the card aisle or contemplating a bouquet that lasts a week. However, if you truly want to impress the woman who keeps everything running smoothly, give her something she rarely allows herself: an hour of total, uninterrupted peace and a complexion that looks like she got eight hours of sleep.
We've created a guide to help you offer the mother in your life the perfect self-care day. Whether she’s navigating the excitement of her first pregnancy, chasing toddlers, or enjoying an empty nest, her skin tells the story of her dedication. Who doesn’t love a day devoted to beauty rituals and pampering? Here are a few suggestions to treat your mom this Mother’s Day
Nurturing the Mom-to-Be
Pregnancy is associated with a beautiful glow, but it also brings unique hormonal changes that can leave the skin feeling sensitive, dry, or prone to melasma and breakouts. We designed our Momto-Be Hydrafacial specifically with these changes in mind. We’ve tailored the classic Hydrafacial experience to ensure every step is safe for both her and her little one. By swapping traditional salicylic acid for pregnancy-appropriate alternatives, we can still clear pores and drench the skin with antioxidants, leaving her with a complexion that looks as vibrant as she feels.
For the mama who wants a bit more massage, our Mom-to-Be Facial is a dream. This treatment is a sanctuary for expectant and breastfeeding mothers, featuring pregnancy- and nursing-safe ingredients that soothe inflammation and deeply hydrate, without retinoids or salicylic acid. It’s more than just a facial; it’s a chance to lie back, breathe, and let us handle the “heavy lifting” of her skincare routine.
Introducing The Luxe Facial
For the moms who are past the pregnancy and nursing stages, treat them to our brand-new treatment, The Luxe Facial. This is our most results-driven, luxury facial yet, designed to seamlessly combine clinical results and total relaxation. This treatment combines dermaplaning, ZO Advanced exfoliation, and a no-downtime peel to refine texture, clear congestion, and boost radiance. Additionally, it offers the ultimate relaxation experience through a soothing lymphatic and sculpting massage, along with calming mask therapy featuring ice globes. This facial will relieve tension and leave her feeling completely rejuvenated. It is the perfect gift for the mom who rarely takes an hour for herself.
We’re making it easy to celebrate the incredible women in our community with these exclusive Mother’s Day promotions. Ditch the generic gifts, bring her into Boss Gal, and we’ll take care of the rest with skincare she will truly love, while you get the credit for the best gift she’s received all year.
The Gift of Choice
Our Mother’s Day Gift Card Sale is back! Buy a $100 gift card and receive a $20 bonus card. It’s the perfect way to let her choose her own adventure.
The Ultimate Refresh
Take $50 off a Mom-to-Be Hydrafacial to give that expectant mama the ultimate glow at an incredible value.
We can’t wait to see your face!
Pizza Pivot
The pandemic-era pizzas at Wolf’s Ridge Brewing were always a fan favorite, and after leaving the menu for years, they’re back full time in the form of Wolf’s Ridge Pizza Kitchen
By Joy Cho
Photos by Aaron Massey Story Design by Andrew Thomas
Wolf’s Ridge Pizza Kitchen pies are now available daily at their Downtown eatery →
Pizza wasn’t always on the menu at Wolf’s Ridge Brewing (WRB), but the pivot toward it made all the sense in the world back in 2020. “The one type of restaurant that was really doing well during the pandemic was pizza places—they just killed it,” recalled Bob Szuter, owner of the local craft brewery and restaurant he co-founded with his father, Alan, over a decade ago. “Instead of having pizza once a week, it was like, you know, pizza three times a week.”
Fueled by practical necessity as business slowed to a halt, WRB’s inaugural pizza program was born in the late spring of 2020. “We had a lot of kitchen space and ability to create pizza, so we started to explore that and found something that worked in limited quantities for the setup that we had,” Szuter explained. The operation was simple and scrappy—deliveries were done by the team themselves in the early days—but it tapped into the collective craving for accessible comfort food, and the masses ate it up.
As restrictions lifted and restaurants slowly reopened, the pandemic pizzas faded out (with the exception of one-off appearances for occasions like the Super Bowl), but the positive Instagram DMs, comments, and emails proved that they were onto something. “[The pizzas were] really well received, so it’s kind of been in the back of our minds for the past few years as we’ve been changing and downtown has been coming back and also how general consumer sentiment around dining has shifted,” Szuter said. →
↑ Wolf’s Ridge pizzas are and cooked prepped in a pan
When the logistics aligned, the idea to bring their pizzas back, and to do it full time, turned into a real possibility. “A lot of our brewery production has shifted to our production facility [on Hague Avenue], so we had some space open up in the building to add a pizza kitchen. So probably mid-last year we started figuring out how we can make that happen,” he continued. They also snagged game-changing equipment: two stone-hearth deck pizza ovens from Tommy’s Pizza’s nowshuttered campus location. With the proper infrastructure in place, the 2.0 pizza kitchen made its long-awaited return in January of this year.
WRB’s rectangular, focaccia-based pizzas are lighter than traditional Detroit-style varieties and boast a wonderfully crisp bottom with a pleasantly chewy crust amped up with herbed garlic oil and Romano. Flavor options include cheese, pepperoni, vegetable, and a rotating monthly special like Hawaiian or meatball, with the choice of tomato or roasted garlic sauce and add-on toppings for an extra charge. Each quarter-sheet-size pie serves one to two people, but a larger group could easily order the entire menu and mix and match slices. Pizzas are available in the downtown taproom and for lunch in the adjacent dining room. →
“With everything that we do, we try to keep it simple to start & grow into it .”
In contrast to the grab-and-go pizzas of the past, Szuter said the vision this time around was to offer a menu item to complement the dine-in experience, especially when paired with one of their crisp brews.
“Pizza and beer is a really good combination, and we’ve always wanted to make sure that we were highlighting the best of that experience,” he pointed out. “We’ve got burgers and we’ve got chicken sandwiches and salads and things like that that people gravitate towards, but this is another way in which they can experience the taproom.” Need a pint for your pie? Szuter said you can’t go wrong with Ridge Trail, a pale ale with a “nice hoppy finish that pairs real well with pizza,” and (614) Lager, a versatile and “super drinkable” lager.
As the Wolf’s Ridge team continues to refine the program, Szuter emphasizes intentionality and quality, rather than breadth or speed, as the main priority.
“With everything that we do, we try to keep it simple to start and grow into it,” he said. “We really want to make sure that we’re executing as best as we can before we bite off more than we can chew.”
And just like the resourceful innovation that sparked the ‘zas in the first place, WRB’s comeback pizza kitchen reflects the restaurant’s driving ethos of experimentation and evolution. “That’s a big part of what we do every day,” noted Szuter. “Try to put new and interesting dishes out there and see what works, what doesn’t, and continue to improve what we do and respond to how people are dining.” ♦
To see the full Wolf's Ridge menu, and to learn more about their pizza, visit www.wolfsridgebrewing.com.
According to Wolf’s Ridge co-founder Bob Szuter, their pizzas pair well with a (614) Lager ↓
How the minds behind Fukuryu Ramen leveraged Indonesian roots into a new grab-and-go concept
By Melinda Green | Story Design By Levi Gaidos
Admit it: You’ve probably tried a lot of things on the food scene. Fusions, small plates, comfort food, maybe even chaos cooking.
But you’ve probably never tried a BaliBox. If you like bento boxes, BaliBox is the next hot (but also cold) thing.
These aren’t your typical bento boxes. First, the BaliBox brand is centered on grab-and-go dining— the boxes are served from a cold case, ready to heat and eat in the office or anywhere you can make it happen. And second, more importantly, it’s not Japanese cuisine; it’s Indonesian.
What we know as a bento box is called nasi kotak in Indonesia. “Nasi means rice. It’s a boxed rice meal, but people probably aren’t too familiar with that term,” said Jason Lam, creative director of Fukuryu Brands, BaliBox’s parent company. "And so that’s why we’re pushing this other branding of ‘Indonesian bento box.’ It ties back to more of how we’re a Japanese brand. It makes sense. It’s fun. And nasi kotak box is very similar.”
When Fukuryu was initially exploring the takeout bento box idea, they also realized that Columbus was lacking in Indonesian food. “We were trying to revitalize that idea of being able to offer our guests a different type of cuisine, cuisine that we have experience with,” Lam said. “And not only offer that to the Columbus community, but to the growing Indonesian community here in Columbus.”
Fukuryu Ramen’s creative director, Yenny Tsao, is Indonesian, and the team realized she was the perfect person to spearhead the project. Lam noted, “She’s lived in Columbus for what feels like forever, but she has a really large background in the food scene there, and she brings a lot of experience just growing up, cooking with her family, things like that. So she really pushes us in the right direction.” →
BaliBox opened with two boxes: Beef Rendang and Ayam Kremes. The beef is simmered with really flavorful Indonesian spices, and served with crunchy mustofa potato fries to top it off. Ayam Kremes is a braised and deep-fried chicken leg, served with crunchy kremes crumb topping— crispy outside, tender and falling off the bone inside. Both boxes are served with savory glass noodles, coconut kale, and coconut or lime-leaf rice.
“It feels like soul food, like Indonesian soul food. Really flavorful, really warm. A lot of those Indonesian spices play on those aspects of, like, soul-warming,” Lam said. They’re so committed to this authentic, soulfood feeling that even all of BaliBox’s chefs are Indonesian.
is still in its infancy, but it’s highly promising. “We’ve had really great reception to the offerings that we have so far. We’re glad that Columbus has been so accepting of this Indonesian bento box concept and that it’s caught on pretty quickly,” Lam said. The best news so far? BaliBox is selling out of its boxes nearly every week. And they’re ready for the next step.
The menu is, admittedly, small at the moment, but not to worry: The online ordering site also includes ready-to-eat offerings from Fukuryu Ramen—although a BaliBox is definitely filling on its own. And you can pick up BaliBox at either of the Fukuryu locations (Dublin and Upper Arlington), or at Fukuryu Ramen’s ghost kitchen on Harmon Avenue in the west downtown area.
Since BaliBox has only been open a few months, the cold-case concept
“I think as we go into summer, we’re also going to focus on more of those cleaner protein offerings,” Lam said. “We’re thinking maybe an Indonesian take on Hainan chicken, which is white-meat chicken that you load your own type of sauce onto. So we’ll have different sauces as well, but also different vegetable offerings and possibly a soup offering.”
Lam is also working out the specifics on a vegetarian box. “Tempeh is very popular in Indonesian food, [along with] tofu dishes. The only thing with tofu is, how do we best keep it, quality-wise? Because sometimes when you cook tofu and then it gets chilled and then you reheat tofu, the quality of it goes down. And then different fun noodle dishes that I think a lot of vegetarian and vegan diners would enjoy.”
"It feels like soul food, like Indonesian soul food. Really flavorful, really warm."
↓ BaliBox offers several bento options, like the Beef Rendang below
to leverage some of Fukuryu’s partnerships and begin selling their boxes in specialty groceries.
But, above all, the team focuses on authenticity, Lam said. “We try to stay as authentic as possible. Like sourcing banana leaves to wrap the rice in, because that’s very traditional in nasi kotak. And even though the box itself doesn’t look traditional, we’re trying to find ways of how we might change that. Really staying true to those soul food flavors of Indonesia, not having it be too mainstream.
“If you walk into a Chinese place, you’re going to have your sesame chicken, your General Tso’s chicken, your lo mein, things like that. I’m sure Indonesian food has those types of things, but those are the things that we actually want to try to stay
↑ BaliBox’s Beef Rendang box
While paying homage to the coal mining roots of its native Athens county, Black Diamond Brewery & Distillery expands to the Columbus area with a full-service steakhouse and tasting room
By David Shaw
Photos by Jen Brown
Story Design by Levi Gaidos
↑ The Black Diamond Bone-in Ribeye
Black Diamond’s Bone-In Porkchop, offered as an Easter special →
he growing Black Diamond Brewery & Distillery empire crept a bit closer to Columbus when it took over the recently vacated Ray Ray’s Hog Pit storefront in Johnstown in March. What began as a student-staffed brewery on Hocking College’s campus has since grown into a sprawling network of taprooms, steakhouses, and production facilities focused on breathing new life and fresh economic development into small Ohio towns.
The distillery’s name is a reference to Appalachia’s long history with coal mining, characterized on the bottle label of Black Diamond Mineshaft (one of their flagship bourbons) as “a tribute to the grit of the coal seam.” That ethos was inspired by a serendipitous live music show in Shawnee, Ohio, where the future Black Diamond partners in attendance marveled at the attractive downtown and underlying business potential of the city. The result was not only a desire to explore Shawnee but a strategy to unlock on-the-ground opportunities across southeastern Ohio.
“I think the Black Diamond brand kind of feeds into the whole story of why we’re locating where we are,” said Michelle Robinson, Black Diamond spokesperson. “They went into this little, small, stonecold, dead-cold town and bought up properties that were dilapidated and falling down, really trying to inspire economic development and growth in the community.”
According to Robinson, the brand typically focuses on opening locations in small southeastern Ohio towns, stating part of Black Diamond’s mission is tied to supporting the economic development of these municipalities. They began expanding late last year, when their first steakhouse concept opened in Circleville. Just a few months later, and Black Diamond Prime was open for business in Johnstown.
“The city [of Johnstown] meets our demographic; it’s smaller, and we like to be in a community that has a smaller footprint. But it’s in close proximity to New Albany and Granville; it’s perfectly positioned between those two heavier-populated places,” she said. “Johnstown is a welcoming place. One of our partners had lived there for quite a while when they were younger, so there was a connection there, too.” →
The Johnstown restaurant is one of only two Black Diamond Prime concepts, the other located in Circleville. The rest of the Black Diamond network is largely comprised of taproomstyle restaurants offering food menus that fit a more casual presentation. Whereas Black Diamond taprooms lean into burgers and flatbreads, Black Diamond Prime is known for its premium steaks, with the bone-in ribeye and filet serving as two of the most popular choices.
There’s been plenty of expansion in recent years, but it all started in southeastern Ohio. The company’s initial investment arose in partnership with nearby Hocking College and the fermentation sciences program under then-leader Eric Hedin. Hedin oversaw the rollout of an on-campus production facility to provide students hands-on experience in brewing and distilling. When Black Diamond opened a small tavern in Shawnee, they did so in coordination with the Hocking College program, serving student-crafted products.
The partnership ultimately resulted in Hocking College approaching Black Diamond to take over the Nelsonville production facility, now the company’s flagship location and source of the vast majority of the company’s beer-brewing capacity. Though Hedin sadly passed away in the midst of the facility’s transition, one of his students, Gwyn Armstrong, agreed to leave Wolf’s Ridge Brewing in Columbus to take over as head brewer.
With brewing covered by Armstrong, Black Diamond’s first forays into distilling involved using a blend of pre-aged bourbons to get started. The company has since developed a custom mash bill (the unique blend of grains that gives bourbon its flavor profile) and partnered with Middle West Spirits for production support. Black Diamond is now aging 25 barrels of their proprietary concoction in the less-than-traditional venue of a Nelsonville rail car in conjunction with the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway.
Black Diamond’s growing product set that now includes beer, bourbon, vodka, and rum can be found in 50-plus Ohio liquor stores and behind the bar at Black Diamond taproom and steakhouse operations in Johnstown, Circleville, Waverly, Greenfield, and Marietta, in addition to the original Nelsonville and Shawnee locations. Future expansions are currently in the planning stages.
“We’re in primarily historic buildings, which is kind of cool,” said Robinson. “That hasn’t been an edict, but it seems to be where we’re going. It’s fitting. We’ve been able to go into places and not have to do a whole lot of renovations.”
“That hasn’t been an edict, but it seems to be where we’re going. It’s fitting. We’ve been able to go into places and not have to do a whole lot of renovations,” Robinson said.
Thanks in part to an opportunistic focus on historic structures, each Black Diamond location tells a unique story. The Marietta location was once Marietta Brewing Company, and some of the ex-brewery’s production equipment has been repurposed to support Black Diamond products. In Greenfield, the taproom plays a second role as a record store, allowing visitors to sample music while grabbing a drink.
In addition to a full-service restaurant, patrons can grab a variety of house-made spirits →
“I think the Black Diamond brand kind of feeds into the whole story of why we’re locating where we are.”
In Johnstown specifically, few updates were made to an already attractive space vacated by Ray Ray’s most recently and Ghostwriter Public House before that. The restaurant’s current head chef worked for Ghostwriter at one time, an example of the continuity that has enabled Black Diamond to scale aggressively over the past two years, targeting ready-to-move-in spaces in markets ripe for taproom and steakhouse offerings.
“The community has been overwhelmingly encouraging for us on our opening nights,” said Robinson. “Johnstown is definitely, you know I don’t want to say the star of the show because they really are all really very nice restaurants, but in terms of a slightly elevated experience, Johnstown is definitely the place to go for that.”♦
To learn more about Black Diamond's Appalachian roots, and to check out their spirits for sale, visit www. blackdiamondbreweryanddistillery.com.
With a zealous following in tow, Pilates by Ashtyn has opened Ohio’s largest Pilates studio inside of a former Italian Village home
By Sav McKee Story Design by Dawson Estep
Photos courtesy of The Pearl Creative Agency
← Pilates by Ashtyn founder Ashtyn Pharis
LeBron James swears by it. Lady Gaga worships it. Hailey Bieber claims it changed her life. At first glance, Pilates can look like a wellmarketed religious cult: There are devoted followers who try to recruit you to class, oddly expensive uniforms, and machines that resemble torture devices.
And if people want to call it that, then Ashtyn Pharis, founder of the aptly named Pilates by Ashtyn studio, joked she doesn’t mind being the local ringleader. But instead of serving Kool-Aid, she’s handing out freshpressed juice shots and protein bites.
Joseph Pilates himself was the original cult leader of this movement, although he probably didn’t know it at the time. He invented his now-famous exercise method in a British internment camp during World War I, with his fellow detainees using it to regain strength after being bedridden or injured. He never lived to see Pilates become a global phenomenon—he couldn’t have predicted that one day, his method would gain a mass following of modern students wearing Lululemon sets and grip socks, gliding on reformer machines to Drake, and grabbing matcha with their bestie after class.
“From the outside world, it might seem that Pilates really is cultish,” admitted Ashtyn, who opened her studio in October of 2025 and has already built a fiercely loyal following. “But really, it’s a community.”
Ashtyn, a longtime athlete, personal trainer, and nutritionist, stumbled into Pilates after burning out at the gym, mentally and physically exhausted from heavy lifting and years of training alone in sterile, fluorescent, and smelly spaces. One random Pilates class with a group of women flipped her entire trajectory. “I fell in love with it,” she said. “I thought, ‘This is exactly what I’ve been missing my entire life.’ And at that first class, I knew I was going to open my own studio.” →
“AT THAT FIRST CLASS, I KNEW I WAS GOING TO OPEN MY OWN STUDIO.”
If you know Ashtyn—or if you’ve ever taken one of her classes—it probably doesn’t surprise you that she didn’t just open a studio, but she opened the largest, and one of the chicest, in the entire state. After earning a 600-hour certification, mastering all six Pilates apparatuses, and teaching all over Columbus, Pilates by Ashtyn in Italian Village welcomed students right on Fourth Street in a space that, fittingly, used to be an actual house. “I wanted Pilates by Ashtyn to feel like home,” she said. “I wanted women to walk in and instantly feel like they belong.”
Where many gyms and studios feel cold, masculine, and aggressively lit, Pilates by Ashtyn is warm, soft, feminine, and photogenic. “Every single detail was made with the intention of how a woman wants to feel in a space where she’s going to move her body,” she said. Even the bathrooms are stocked with extra hair ties, bobby pins, and hairspray.
While the space may be cute, prepare to get your ass kicked. “I would say to any Pilates hater who doesn’t think this is an actual workout, ‘You’ve never been to Pilates by Ashtyn,’” she laughed. People may think Pilates is a trendy, stretching-only workout. But her mat and reformer classes are exceptionally challenging (and especially welcoming!), created to remind women they can do really hard things—whether that’s holding a plank for a full minute or surviving a lunge series that makes you wonder what
you did to deserve this. “I’m not wasting your time or your money. When you leave, you’re going to feel stronger than before,” she assured.
What makes Pilates by Ashtyn so effective, beyond the cute socks and aesthetically pleasing atmosphere, is that these classes train the core in a way most workouts don’t. And not “core” in the six-pack sense (but that’s definitely a perk), but in the everythingthat-keeps-you-upright sense. When those deeper muscles fire correctly, whether you’re on a mat or machine, your back stops hurting, your hips loosen up, your posture improves, and even other traditional exercises become easier. Pilates forces you to stabilize muscles you usually ignore and lengthen the areas that spend most of their day tight. It’s one of the only workouts that makes you feel both stronger and lighter at the same time. →
“I WANTED WOMEN TO WALK IN AND INSTANTLY FEEL LIKE THEY BELONG.”
↑ Pharis’ studio was created in a former Italian Village home
It makes sense why despite being not even a year old, classes routinely sell out. This is a safe, beautiful space for women to feel good in their bodies, no matter what they look like or how low they can squat. “It feels too good to be true,”
Ashtyn said, remarking that almost every class has a waitlist at this point. The Italian Village location has already outgrown itself, prompting a second, twice-as-large studio opening in Westerville this summer. Ashtyn will soon hold the title of having not one, but two of the largest Pilates studios in Ohio.
“I’m living a dream every day," she said. “Being surrounded by strong, likeminded women gives me so much life.”
If being encouraged and uplifted, moving your body in a beautiful space, and earning core muscles you didn’t even know existed counts as cult indoctrination, then sign us up. ♦
Visit www.pilatesbyashtyn.com to learn more and book a class.
↑ Following the success of her Italian Village space, Pharis is already planning to open a new Westerville studio later this year
Held in Columbus, the Quarter Horse Congress is the largest equine event in the world, and we’ve rounded up the best of the best
By Jackson Hall
Photos courtesy of Shane Rux
If you start seeing more cowboy boots than usual around Columbus this fall, there’s a reason.
The All American Quarter Horse Congress will return to the Ohio Expo Center from September 26 through October 24, 2026, bringing nearly a month of competition, shopping, and one of the city’s biggest annual events back to the Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds.
Founded in 1967, the Congress has grown into the world’s largest horse show, spanning more than 300 acres and drawing more than half a million visitors each year. While horses and riders take center stage, the event has also become known for its massive marketplace and all-day atmosphere.
“For nearly 60 years, the Quarter Horse Congress has brought the energy, tradition, and excitement of the Western lifestyle to Columbus. You don’t have to own a horse to enjoy it. Come for the food, the shopping, the entertainment, and experience one of the most unique events our city has to offer,” said CEO Justin Billings.
The Congress draws competitors and spectators from across the country, turning the Expo Center into a hub of activity for nearly a month. Some come for the competition, while others spend the day walking through barns and exploring everything the grounds have to offer.
Open to visitors of all experience levels—from seasoned cowboys to those who couldn’t tell you what a Quarter Horse is—the Congress features weeks of equestrian events, including reining, jumping, and barrel racing. Admission to the grounds is free, with free parking on Wednesdays.
For first-timers especially, the scale can be overwhelming. Here’s how to make the most of it →
YOUR GUIDE TO THE BEST OF THE BEST AT THE CONGRESS
• Best opportunity to meet a cowboy: Head to professional bull riding on Saturday, October 24, and experience one of the easiest ways to catch some of the nation’s top bull riders in action up close. Riders are competing for their spot in the PBR Challenger Series Championship—and a $20,000 cash prize.
• Best way to splurge: Go big and go home with a fully decked-out truck from Coughlin Automotive, official truck dealer of the All American Quarter Horse Congress. They boast an extensive supply of Chevrolet and GMC vehicles.
• Best way to channel Yellowstone: Think Rip and Beth, boots from Durango, a cowboy hat from Shorty’s, and CINCH jeans from NRS.
• Best bite to eat: Schmidt’s brings the fair staples, including potato soup, oversized cream puffs, and their signature Bahama Mama sausages, while the Sweet Shop’s cinnamon rolls are worth the stop.
• Best for families: Stop by Puppy Alley & Rescue Row and see about going home with a new furry friend. Or witness the spectacle that is freestyle reining on Saturday, September 26, a popular event where you can catch competitors (and their horses) in costume, performing with props and actors to popular music and displaying just as much athleticism as they do finesse. No matter where your interest lies, the Quarter Horse Congress is sure to offer a mix of hands-on activities and crowd-friendly events.
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR:
• If a winner appears twice on the same page, its address will only be listed the first time it appears.
• If a winner has multiple addresses, only one of their addresses will be listed.
By Jack McLaughlin, Mary McCarthy, and Asia Atuah
Section Design
by
Leah Ronski and Abby Nocera
Illustrations by April Finfrock
In a city as large as Columbus, it’s easy to get lost in a sea of options. Do you want sushi or pizza for dinner?
Ice cream or cookies after? Causal or dress code for that all-important first date?
While the bad is news is you’re still going to have to make those decisions yourself, there’s also good news.
More than 27,000 of our closest friends came together to cast their votes for the best Columbus has to offer (with nearly half a million total votes) in the form of ColumBEST, our massive, all-encompasing annual reader poll.
From the best restaurant to best to bar, to the best local band and TV personality. Heck, we were even able to name Columbus’ favorite bank. That’s how you know it’s immersive.
So whether you need help making a dinner decision, want tips on where to go bowling, or just want to see the best Columbus has to offer, we have it all right here at your fingertips (literally). Welcome to ColumBEST. →
BEST DELI & SANDWICHES
WARIO’S BEEF & PORK
111 W. Nationwide Blvd. (more locations)
#2 KATZINGER’S DELICATESSEN
#3 THE BROWN BAG DELI
BRATS
DIRTY FRANK’S HOT DOG PALACE
248 S. Fourth St. (more locations)
#2 SCHMIDT’S SAUSAGE HAUS RESTAURANT #3 TONY’S CONEYS
#2 PRESTON’S: A BURGER JOINT #3 NORTHSTAR CAFE
FIVE GUYS #3 CLUB 185
The Thurmanator from The Thurman Cafe.
Photo by Sarah Pfeifer ↓
HOGS’N’ HUNNIES BBQ
↓ The North Market Downtown. Photo by Evan Frere
ROOSTERS SEXTON’S PIZZA
897 City Park Ave. (more locations)
943 E. Johnstown Rd. (more locations) #2 WINGS OVER COLUMBUS
BEST FRIES BEST TRADITIONAL PIZZA
BRASSICA HOUNDDOG’S PIZZA
Wings, salads, and more from Roosters. Photo by Jen Brown ↓
MARCELLA’S
↑ Chicken Parmesan from Marcella’s.
Photo courtesy of Marcella’s
BEST MEDITERRANEAN/ MIDDLE EASTERN RESTAURANT
ALADDIN’S EATERY
2931 N. High St. (more locations)
#2 LAVASH CAFE
#3 BRASSICA
BEST INDIAN
RESTAURANT
AAB INDIA
1470 Grandview Ave.
#2 ROOH COLUMBUS
#3 EVEREST CUISINE
BEST AFRICAN RESTAURANT
HOYO’S KITCHEN
59 Spruce St. (more locations)
#2 AFRA GRILL
#3 ADDIS RESTAURANT
← A spread from Aladdin’s Eatery. Photo courtesy of Aladdin’s Eatery
TAI’S ASIAN BISTRO
1285 W. Lane Ave.
#2 AKAI HANA
#3 COBRA
BEST RAMEN
FUKURYU RAMEN
1600 W. Lane Ave. (more locations)
BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT
EL VAQUERO
2195 Riverside Dr. (more locations)
#2 LOS GUACHOS
#3 TACO NICE
#2 SLURPING TURTLE
#3 MESHIKOU RAMEN
BEST TACOS
LOS GUACHOS
5221 Godown Rd. (more locations)
#2 CONDADO TACOS #3 LOCAL CANTINA
BEST SUSHI
AKAI HANA
1173 Old Henderson Rd.
#2 MR. SUSHI
#3 FUSIAN
BEST SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
MITCHELL’S OCEAN CLUB
4002 Easton Station
#2 THE PEARL
#3 COLUMBUS FISH MARKET
Mitchell’s “Smoking” Seafood Tower. Photo courtesy of Mitchell’s Ocean Club ↓
↑ A noodle pull of Fukuryu Ramen.
Photo courtesy of Fukuryu Ramen
JACKIE O’S ON FOURTH
171 N. Fourth St.
#2 LAND-GRANT BREWING CO.
LINDEY’S
169 E. Beck St.
Lindey’s German Village patio.
Photo by Jen Brown ↓
Jackie O’s on Fourth’s patio.
Photo by Aaron Massey ↓
↑ Northstar’s Sweet Potato & Turkey Hash. Photo courtesy of Northstar Cafe
BEST STEAKHOUSE
THE TOP STEAK HOUSE
2891 E. Main St.
#2 TEXAS ROADHOUSE
#3 HYDE PARK PRIME STEAKHOUSE
BEST PLACE FOR LATE NIGHT EATS
MIKEY’S LATE NIGHT SLICE
1030 N. High St. (more locations)
#2 BUCKEYE DONUTS
#3 WAFFLE HOUSE
BEST DATE-NIGHT RESTAURANT
LINDEY’S
169 E. Beck St.
#2 THE TOP STEAK HOUSE
#3 MELTING POT
BEST SPLURGE RESTAURANT
LINDEY’S
#2 AGNI
#3 BUTCHER & ROSE
CAP CITY FINE DINER
1299 Olentangy River Rd. (more locations)
#2 TOMMY’S DINER
#3 DK DINER
The Top’s Crème Brûlée.
Photo by Heidi Oliver ↓
↑ Donuts from Resch’s Bakery. Photo by Evan Frere
↑ Macarons from Pistacia Vera. Photo courtesy of Pistacia Vera
Classic chocolate chip cookies from Lion Cub’s Cookies.
Photo courtesy of Lion Cub’s Cookies
Matcha Latte from Pistacia Vera.
Photo courtesy of Pistacia Vera ↓
↑ The exterior of The Barn.
Photo courtesy of The Barn
Basi Italia’s Pan-Seared Wolffish.
Photo courtesy of Basi Italia ↓
THE TOP STEAK HOUSE
STARLINER DINER
COOPER’S HAWK
#2 (TIE) LOLA & GIUSEPPE’S TRATTORIA / MITCHELL’S OCEAN CLUB
HIGH BANK DISTILLERY CO.
WARIO’S BEEF & PORK
TOMMY’S DINER
The iconic Tommy’s Diner sign. Photo courtesy of Tommy’s Diner ↓
The Chicken Cutlet from Wario’s Beef & Pork.
Photo by John Foglietti
A flaming tiki drink at Huli Huli. Photo by Aaron Massey →
KITCHEN SOCIAL
(TIE) GINGER RABBIT JAZZ LOUNGE / BUDD DAIRY FOOD HALL
BrewDog’s U.S. headquarters in Central Ohio. Photo courtesy of BrewDog ↓
← The Aloha Aina from Huli Huli.
Photo by Aaron Massey
We’re proud to introduce an exciting new chapter: Hilliard’s flagship enneth’s location at rue ointe.
Designed as a modern sanctuar , this new space rings together elevated services and intentional self-care experiences, including our new pa ar, luxurious suite facials, immersive head spa treatments, expert hair services, nails, and more t ’s a place to gather, recharge, and redefine what eaut and wellness can feel li e.
ALEXIS NIKOLE YOLANDA HARRIS
@BLACKFORAGER
#2 KATIE SANTRY (@KATIESANTRY)
#3 MEGAN RIVERS (@EATPLAYCBUS)
10TV
#2 DOM TIBERI, 10TV
#3 MATT BARNES, NBC4
PINS MECHANICAL CO.
141 N. Fourth St. (more locations)
BEST ART GALLERY
#2 STUDIOS ON HIGH GALLERY #3 934 GALLERY BEST BOWLING ALLEY
#3 (TIE) TEN PIN ALLEY + STAR LANES
#3 COLUMBUS SQUARE BOWLING PALACE
WEXNER CENTER FOR THE ARTS
1871 N. High St.
BEST COLUMBUS EMPLOYER
500+ EMPLOYEES
THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
281 W. Lane Ave.
#2 CAS, A DIVISION OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
#3 NATIONWIDE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL BEST COLUMBUS EMPLOYER UNDER 500 EMPLOYEES
MOO MOO CAR WASH
900 Goodale Blvd. (more locations)
#2 NORTHSTAR CAFE
#3 ANTHONY THOMAS CANDY CO.
Photo courtesy of Oakland Nursery ↓
BEST FLORIST LOCAL PETALS
573 S. Grant Ave.
#2 CONNELL MAPLE LEE FLOWERS & GIFTS
#3 FLOWERAMA
BEST PLANT/ GARDEN SHOP/ NURSERY
OAKLAND NURSERY
1156 Oakland Park Ave. (more locations)
#2 GROOVY PLANTS RANCH
#3 THE PLANT GAYS
BEST BANK OR CREDIT UNION
HUNTINGTON BANK
3960 Brookham Dr. (more locations)
#2 CHASE BANK
#3 KEMBA FINANCIAL CREDIT UNION
BEST DRY CLEANERS
SWAN CLEANERS
1140 Dublin Rd. (more locations)
#2 DUBLIN CLEANERS
#3 WESTERVILLE CLEANERS
BEST MORTGAGE COMPANY
FIRST OHIO HOME FINANCE, INC.
1147 N. High St. (more locations)
#2 BUCKEYE STATE MORTGAGE #3 LOWER.COM
BEST CAR DEALERSHIP
GERMAIN
4250 Morse Crossing (more locations)
#2 BYERS AUTO GROUP #3 ROUSH HONDA
Student athletes pose outside of Columbus School for Girls.
Photo courtesy of Columbus School for Girls ↓
BEST LOCAL GROCERY STORE
LA PLAZA TAPATIA
255 Georgesville Rd.
#2 WEILAND’S MARKET
#3 CARFAGNA’S MARKET & RISTORANTE
BEST MEAT MARKET/BUTCHER
LA PLAZA TAPATIA
#2 CARFAGNA’S MARKET & RISTORANTE
#3 WEILAND’S MARKET
BEST LARGE GROCERY STORE KROGER
150 W. Sycamore St. (more locations)
#2 ALDI
#3 TRADER JOE’S
BEST LOCAL DISPENSARY THE BOTANIST
115 Vine St.
#2 STORY CANNABIS
#3 TRULIEVE
Mangonada and Fresas Con Cream at La Plaza Tapatia. Photo by Joss Ford
MID-OHIO FOOD
COLLECTIVE
3960 Brookham Dr.
#2 COLUMBUS HUMANE SOCIETY
#3 RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OF CENTRAL OHIO
BEST THRIFT STORE VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA
3620 Indianola Ave. (more locations)
#2 OHIO THRIFT
#3 OUT OF THE CLOSET
An Ohio State veterinarian poses with a kitten. Photo courtesy of Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center ↓
The Gift Every Mom Deserves
A Woodhouse gift card inv ites her to slow down, recharge, and leave with a radiant sense of well-being this Mother's Day. #2 MUTTS & CO.
4032 Easton Station Rd.
#2 VERNACULAR #3 LADYBIRD
1900 Ikea Wy.
3960 New Bond St. (more locations)
#2 WORTHINGTON JEWELERS
#3 RED GIRAFFE DESIGNS
← Stacked shelves at Flower Child Vintage.
Photo by NV Gay
BOWLING is back
Pro bowling returns to Columbus after a six-year hiatus, and (614)’s Matt Mahoney is on hand to take it all in, from perennial pros to rappers and ball drillers
↑ Matt Mahoney at the 2026 Pilgrim’s PBA Ohio Classic
By Matt Mahoney
By Matt Mahoney
I. WHAT WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BOWLING
WWhat do we talk about when we talk about bowling? I would imagine that most have limited experience with the sport beyond childhood birthday parties. Before you start believing bowling is like boxing and horse racing—destined for decline after peaking in the ‘90s, those who have been paying attention to the world of bowling have noticed a distinct phenomenon surrounding the sport: Professional bowling is…back?
hat do we talk about when we talk about bowling? I would imagine that most have limited experience with the sport beyond childhood birthday parties. Before you start believing bowling is like boxing and horse racing—destined for decline after peaking in the ‘90s—those who have been paying attention to the world of bowling have noticed a distinct phenomenon surrounding the sport: Professional bowling is…back?
If you’ve been fortunate enough to subscribe (or have parents or an ex who subscribes) to HBO Max, you may have seen the new documentary series Born to Bowl, with Ben Stiller as executive producer. It feels clear to me that the documentary was created in part to help foster the commercial growth of the sport. Still, the fact that someone in a decision-making position at one of the largest streaming services in the world thought bowling was a promising choice as the next big thing isn’t a fact to just write off.
If you’ve been fortunate enough to subscribe (or have parents or an ex who subscribes) to HBO Max, you may have seen the new documentary series Born to Bowl, with Ben Stiller as executive producer. It feels clear to me that the documentary was created in part to help foster the commercial growth of the sport. Still, the fact that someone in a decision-making position at one of the largest streaming services in the world thought bowling was a promising choice as the next big thing isn’t something to just write off.
Recently, following a six-year hiatus, the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour returned to Columbus in the form of the Pilgrim’s PBA Ohio Classic, hosted at Columbus Square Bowling Palace from March 31 to April 5. The six-day event culminated with televised finals (known as “The Show”) on its last day, but the week began with a practice session followed by a lighthearted Pro-Am competition, and yours truly was invited to check things out.
Recently, following a six-year hiatus, the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour returned to Columbus in the form of the Pilgrim’s PBA Ohio Classic, hosted at Columbus Square Bowling Palace from March 31 to April 5. The six-day event culminated with televised finals (known as “The Show”) on its last day, but the week began with a practice session followed by a lighthearted Pro-Am competition, and yours truly was invited to check things out.
II. THE BIG DAY
I arrive at the tail end of the practice session and am initially shocked by the attendance. The parking lot is packed, not just with cars but also a series of trailers and recreational vehicles that give the event a hint of NASCAR energy. Likewise, the interior of the venue is crowded, with at least a few hundred people here for a practice session (cue the Allen Iverson “Practice?” sound bite). →
I arrive at the tail end of the practice session and am initially shocked by the attendance. The parking lot is packed, not just with cars but also a series of trailers and recreational vehicles that give the event a hint of NASCAR energy. Likewise, the interior of the venue is crowded, with at least a few hundred people here for a practice session (cue the Allen Iverson “Practice?” sound bite). →
Photos by Jen Brown
Story Design by Raygan Barrett
Photos by Jen Brown Story Design by Raygan Barrett
I take a lap around the perimeter in an effort to get the lay of the land before I come across an equipment room with bowlers filtering in and out. I scheme my way in and strike up a conversation with a man polishing his balls (sorry, there’s no other way to describe it). As Trey Brand shares, he’s making a few lastminute adjustments to the finish on his ball based on the oil pattern. Different competitions on the tour use a different pattern of oil to coat the lanes, thus creating subtle but important differences in how the ball shifts and spins as it travels. Who knew?
Soon after, I sat down with a bowler on the tour who has ties to the Buckeye state: Chris Via (pronounced v-EYE) was happy to share his thoughts on bowling’s big return to Columbus.
At 34 years of age, Via is much more athletic in build and charismatic in nature than what I initially expected from a professional bowler. “It’s strange…” reflects Via, who has resided in Blacklick since 2020, “the last time [a pro bowling event] was in Columbus was 2019, so I bowled here in Columbus, but I was not living in Columbus at the time.”
As our conversation continues, we turn to more serious topics, namely his preferences between the two premier bowling films of the 1990s: Kingpin and The Big Lebowski. “It’s gotta be Kingpin. Lebowski if I need a good laugh, but Kingpin is a bit more bowling true.”
We also touch briefly on some of the surprising physical preparations Via and his competitors undertake, as a stretching routine becomes essential when bowling multiple games in a day. “I feel like we’re still trying to earn the ‘sport’ aspect from the viewers who don’t know that much about bowling,” the 10-year tour veteran laments.
I’ve talked to a pro, but I’m here to get the full picture. As it turns out, one of the on-site trailers I mentioned earlier is actually the tour ball truck, where bowlers send their specifications and measurements to produce a perfectly tailored ball. Entering the tight quarters, I find Dylan Sager, who is in his second year drilling balls for the tour. “People don’t realize what goes into bowling, weeks on the road, the equipment they need to survive,” he tells me.
III. BOWLING’S BIGGEST RAPPER
Realizing I may be disrupting their work, I exit the trailer and begin to make my way back inside before I run into a face I recognize. A fan favorite featured on the HBO series, the rapper/bowler Keven Williams was kind enough to share some of his thoughts about the sport. Williams looks both too cool to be a bowler and yet not quite cool enough to make a believable rapper, but he proves to be the most entertaining conversation of the day.
“I FEEL LIKE WE’RE STILL TRYING TO EARN THE ‘SPORT’ ASPECT FROM THE VIEWERS WHO DON’T KNOW THAT MUCH ABOUT BOWLING.”
↑ A PBA tour equipment trailer
↑ Matt behind the scenes at the 2026 Pilgrim’s PBA Ohio Classic
↑ Dylan Sager drills a bowling ball for the PBA Tour
“I want it to be like any other mainstream sporting event… When you come to bowling, it’s a ‘gentleman’s sport?’ I disagree with that; I don’t think it really is a gentleman’s sport. It’s all blue-collar people that bowl league and drink beer and have fun. They want to get rowdy, let them boo.”
He has also never seen Kingpin or The Big Lebowski (Author’s note: Williams finished 101 out of 120 competitors. I am in no way suggesting these two points are related.)
As I thank the staff for their hospitality and prepare to make my exit, I notice a line beginning to form in the midst of the public viewing area. After a few moments, I catch a glimpse and instantly recognize the man they are all lined up to see: EJ Tackett, possibly the biggest name in bowling right now. If the giggles of the grown men walking away with signed pins are any indication, many appear to be starstruck by the pro bowler.
This, more than anything, reflects the burgeoning popularity of bowling. Between Born to Bowl and what I saw at Columbus Square, it becomes difficult to deny the commercial appeal of bowling. Forget bumpers and birthday parties, these are bona fide stars, with a self-aware brand of flair that very well may take them to the next level. You want something fun to look forward to every spring? Give bowling a chance. Come with an open mind and a few bucks for a pitcher of beer, and you may walk away with a whole lot more. ♦
IV. MATT’S 7-10 SPLIT Matt considers giving up
LOVE YOUR LEGS
Ohio Vein & Vascular – Downtown, Polaris, and Reynoldsburg help Central Ohio patients find relief from leg pain
By Sav McKee
Photos by Steven Rankins
I f you’ve noticed aching, swelling, or heaviness in your legs after a long day, it might be more than just fatigue. For many Central Ohioans, these are early warning signs of vein disease, a condition that affects nearly one in three adults. Left untreated, it can lead to serious health complications.
At Ohio Vein & Vascular’s offices in Downtown Columbus, Polaris, and Reynoldsburg, patients are finding relief and renewed comfort every day through expert, minimally invasive care, and most walk out the same day, already on the path to better circulation.
More Than Tired Legs
“Many people think leg pain and swelling are just part of aging,” explained Dr. Centa, one of the leading physicians at Ohio Vein & Vascular. “But they’re often your body’s way of saying something’s wrong.”
Symptoms of vein disease can include: •Aching or throbbing pain in the legs •Swelling or heaviness, especially after standing or sitting
“Vein disease doesn’t discriminate,” Dr. Centa said. “We see teachers, nurses, athletes, and retirees. Anyone can experience it.”
← Meet Dr. Joseph Centa, a surgeon at Ohio Vein & Vascular’s Polaris and new Reynoldsburg locations Downtown
ADVANCED, MINIMALLY INVASIVE TREATMENTS
Ohio Vein & Vascular – Polaris & Reynoldsburg offer advanced, minimally invasive treatments for varicose veins and venous reflux, such as thermal and mechanical-chemical ablation, that close damaged veins and restore healthy circulation. Procedures are quick, comfortable, and require no hospital stay or downtime. The team also treats Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD).
A LOCAL PRACTICE WITH A PERSONAL TOUCH
At all three offices, every patient receives compassionate, individualized attention. Most procedures are completed in under 20 minutes, and new patients are typically seen within days of calling us. Free vein screenings are available to identify symptoms and risk factors early. Best of all, Dr. Centa splits his time between the Polaris, Reynoldsburg, and Downtown locations.
“We’re here to make getting help simple and stress-free,” said Dr. Centa. “You don’t have to live with pain or swelling. Relief is closer than you think.”
Free LEG Screening
Don’t ignore the signs of leg pain, swelling, or visible veins. A quick, free, non-invasive screening could be the first step toward healthier legs and a more active, comfortable life, especially if you have the following symptoms:
• Pain in the muscles of the leg, buttocks, thigh, or calf while walking
• Aching pain in the legs at night
• Tingling, heaviness, numbness, or swelling of the lower extremities
• Restless legs
• Varicose veins or leg ulcers
• Leg wounds that don’t heal
• Leg cramps
Call (614) 426-VEIN (8346) to schedule a free consultation at Ohio Vein & Vascular. Their three Central Ohio clinics can be found at:
• 1070 Polaris Pwky., STE 100 (Polaris)
• 500 E. Main St. (Downtown)
• 6100 E. Main St., STE 105 (Reynoldsburg)
Meet the Doctors
As part of the Ohio Vein & Vascular network, bringing together innovative treatments and leading physicians, the office is staffed by three vein & vascular doctors:
DR. JOSEPH CENTA
Dr. Joseph Centa, a board-certified general surgeon with over 25 years of experience, practices in Avon, Norwalk, and Columbus. He is a graduate of Ohio State's College of Medicine and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
DR. BARRY ZADEH
Dr. Zadeh, founder of Ohio Vein & Vascular, is a board-certified surgeon with 35 years of experience. He’s a leader in vein care and has served as Chief of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery at various institutions in New York City and Pennsylvania.
DR. MICHAEL LEVY
Dr. Michael Levy, a board-certified surgeon, has performed over 10,000 vein procedures. With prior roles at Mount Sinai and NYU, Dr. Levy now serves patients in the greater Cleveland area.
After 20 years—and despite tantalizing new information—the disappearance of
By John M.
Brian Shaffer continues to haunt Columbus
Clark | Story Design by Levi Gaidos
The interest surrounding last month’s 20th anniversary of Brian Shaffer’s sudden disappearance has reinforced a lot of what we already knew about human nature: Everyone likes a mystery. Tidbits of information become major “clues.” And when answers are not forthcoming, we can always blame the investigators. Common sense be damned.
That the hype and a myriad of half-truths have survived for two decades is a testament to the power of this puzzling case. Surely, there’s a reasonable explanation for a secondyear medical student with excellent grades and a steady girlfriend to get separated from friends inside a bar and never be seen again…or is there?
It was the night of March 31, 2006. Shaffer, 27, after dining with his father at the Outback Steakhouse in Reynoldsburg, decided to celebrate the last day of finals by joining his old roommate, Clint Florence, for a few hours of barhopping. They started shortly before 10:00 p.m. at the Ugly Tuna Saloona on High Street, a popular hangout for college students next to the Gateway Film Center.
After a drink or two, the pair took the building’s escalator to ground level and walked south, stopping at other bars for drinks before reaching the Arena District and running into Florence’s friend, Meredith Reed. Reed drove the pair back to the Ugly Tuna at 1:15 a.m., where they apparently planned to continue drinking and enjoying live music until the bar closed at 2. Inside, Florence and Reed became separated from Shaffer. →
to find their friend. Shaffer had stepped outside the entrance about five minutes earlier, spoken briefly with two young women, and walked back in. But repeated viewings of the video convinced police investigators that Shaffer did not leave by the escalator.
This is the source of the most curious aspect of the disappearance. The video camera was stationary, and there appears to be no gaps in the footage. How could Shaffer’s departure go unnoticed? Police have said this is an easy one. There were other doors by which one could enter or leave the bar—service entrances for staff, the band, and trash removal; makeshift doors that led to a tiny construction site; and exits throughout the movie theater. Not all of them were outfitted with security cameras.
Could Shaffer have taken a different exit and fallen into the construction area, becoming buried in wet cement? Or crawled, injured and drunk, into a trash dumpster to sleep? Social media users have certainly suggested so. But the consistent answer from police detectives has been a firm “No.” The construction site was tiny—basically a service area for the uncompleted retail space below the bar and theater. Any wet cement would have been only a few inches deep. All of the dumpsters in the area were searched multiple times before any trash collection took place.
Less known is a fact shared by those who knew Shaffer. Some say he was known to wander after drinking. On at least one occasion he had been found asleep on a fraternity house lawn. Leaving by an alternate door and wandering off seems plausible. As for Shaffer’s body being hidden somewhere inside the Ugly Tuna, as others have proffered, investigators say, “Impossible.” They searched every possible nook, and in 2018 the bar closed for a major renovation that turned the space into offices.
Some have speculated that Shaffer, who they claim dreamed of a career as a rock star over that of a doctor, might have just walked away from his life and started a new one—a “do-over.” He played guitar, had the Pearl Jam logo tattooed on his arm, and wanted to meet the band that was playing in the bar the night of his disappearance. Shaffer was even said to be attending medical school only to please his mother, who had died of cancer three weeks earlier.
The end of the semester might have been the perfect time to do such a thing. But would he have left his expensive guitars behind? Wouldn’t he have withdrawn cash from his bank account? Packed a bag? Taken his car? Left some kind of message for his father, brother, or girlfriend?
Others have said Shaffer would never have left those closest to him, especially so soon after his mother’s death. He and Alexis Waggoner, his girlfriend and classmate, had planned to fly to Miami together three days later for a short vacation. It was widely reported that he had planned to propose marriage to her. But closer examination shows his relationships to be more complicated.
In the weeks before his mother’s death, Brian had told her that his father, Randy, had been cheating on her. Renee Shaffer quickly amended her will, leaving more of her life insurance payout to her two sons than she had previously intended. After she died, Randy pressured his boys to turn most of their inheritance over to him. The topic was expected to be raised at dinner the night Brian went missing, and Brian had wanted his brother Derek to join the two. Derek begged off because of a prior engagement. As for Brian’s relationship with Waggoner, his friends say there had been no mention of a marriage proposal and that one was unlikely.
In the two decades since Shaffer’s disappearance, questions have arisen about the work of police investigators. Did they do all they could to find the young man? Have they been totally forthcoming with the public?
↑ Shaffer’s friends Clint Florence and Meredith Reed on the South Campus Gateway escalator the night he disappeared. Photo courtesy of Kelly Bruce
↑ The area where Shaffer was last seen, as it appeared in April 2026.
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Last month, Kelly Bruce, the host of the Atlanta-based podcast Brian Shaffer Dead or Alive received a mysterious text message from an anonymous listener. He gave Bruce the name of someone he said should be investigated in connection with Shaffer’s disappearance. Bruce shared the name with a Columbus Police detective, who was startled by the information. She recalls him saying, “Holy hell! How do you know that name?” Apparently, it was the same name that two tipsters had mentioned to police in 2006, one of whom had been with Shaffer the night he disappeared. Police searched an area along High Street associated with the person who had been mentioned, but they found nothing.
In 2020, two detectives began discussing this person again and decided to check out a home near Lane Avenue where the mysterious person of interest had lived in early 2006. Police obtained a warrant and dug into a portion of the home’s concrete basement floor that appeared “different” from the rest of the floor. All they found was a discarded fuel oil tank that probably had been used in earlier years as part of a home heating system.
Don Corbett is a retired police officer and former investigator who befriended Randy Shaffer and helped the family look for clues into Brian’s disappearance. He is convinced the police could have done a better job.
In a recent interview with (614) Magazine, he said he struggles with what he called a “lack of transparency” on the part of Columbus Police. “The police fell short,” he said. “We’ve been lied to and misled. And that’s one of the reasons this case has not been resolved.” Corbett believes the department should open their files to reputable, independent, outside investigators— people who could lend a fresh perspective to a 20-year-old cold case.
“There are a number of programs throughout the country that involve themselves in missing persons cases,” he said, citing one in Charlotte, North Carolina, as an example. “I’m not talking about allowing others to do interviews. But there are a lot of trained people out there who could sit and look over the files and tell us if they see something others have missed.”
For their part, the Columbus Division of Police has been tight-lipped about the Shaffer case. In one recent call to the department, (614) was told there were explicit instructions from Chief of Police Elaine Bryant to not discuss the case. An emailed question to the department’s media relations department was answered with a statement saying the Shaffer disappearance was an “open case” and, therefore, there would be no comment on it.
At any one time, an estimated 1,000 Ohioans are missing, including Brian Shaffer and a 32-year-old Hilltop resident, Andy Chapman, who disappeared barely eight months after Shaffer was last seen. Chapman was described as a caring father with a career at the local clerk of court’s office. Chapman’s sister, Aimee, took up his cause and has kept her brother’s case in front of the public, partly by the use of billboards on the city’s west side.
Several months ago, State Representative Christine Cockley, who also lives in the Hilltop area, began noticing one of the “Missing” billboards on her drive to work. “Between the billboard and podcasts I listen to, I became interested in the plight of families who have lost loved ones,” she said.
After taking part in a “ride along” with Columbus Police, Cockley said she realized that officers and detectives are often hampered by lack of clear direction and a lack of resources. So, she teamed up with State Representative Kevin Ritter of Marietta to sponsor a bill requiring police and sheriff’s departments to report all missing persons to NamUs, a U.S. Justice Department database that has helped solve 46,000 missing persons cases since 2007. The bill passed the House 95 to 0 and now awaits action in the Senate, which Cockley hopes to see by the end of the year.
No one is of the opinion that a single state law will solve what has become a huge problem for society and one that tears at the very fabric of family relationships. But every official act can certainly help. Just as it helps to sort fact from fiction in high-profile cases like the disappearance of Brian Shaffer. ♦
The writer and (614) Magazine gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Kelly Bruce, independent investigator and host of the podcast Brian Shaffer Dead or Alive, for her invaluable help in assembling facts for this article.
Shaffer and Waggoner, photo courtesy of Kelly Bruce ↓
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