(614) November | 2025

Photo: Tom Wehrung

Ballet folclorico Xochihua

Photo: Jamie Marsh

Evolve

Productions

Photo: Jason Wood

Opening Volley

JACK MCLAUGHLIN Editor-In-Chief

Love Thy Neighborhood

The city of Columbus was named by a legislator who was a fan of Christopher Columbus. Politics aside here, what does this tell anyone about the history of the city? Its people? Its character?

Not a whole lot, other than some guy in the 1800s was a Chris Columbus fanboy.

Let’s look a little closer, though. When we get to the neighborhood level, that’s where the narrative shifts.

If a city is a painting—so to speak—then its neighborhoods are the colors that bring it to life, the electric yellows, dazzling purples and endless blues.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved the names of neighborhoods, because of the stories they tell, and insights into people they offer. While an area like Flytown (northwest of Downtown) doesn’t technically exist anymore, I’m invested in it the second I hear the name. The context behind it doesn’t exactly live up to the image in my head of human-sized flies going to work, mowing their lawns and driving cars, but it does do something. Its name is a reference to how homes “flew up overnight” in the area. It gives us a brief, but meaningful look into the history of the area. It tells a story about people who lived here, and how they did so.

You can easily say the same for Italian Village and German Village (monikers given due to the large populations of Italian and German residents in the areas when or before they were named). Even in the case of the small neighborhood Linworth, did you know the name comes from combining the “Lin” from Dublin and “Worth” from Worthington? It doesn’t exactly tell you much (other than basic geography), but it’s subtly coded with the character and quirkiness of the people who lived here before we did.

Outside of names, I love neighborhoods because, on a very real, day-to-day level, they’re where people live their lives. This sounds dumb (and it might be!) but I mean it here in the most literal way possible. Sure, we might go Downtown for a birthday dinner, or we may jet across town to see a friend on the weekend, but neighborhoods are where people eat, play, love, suffer and interact with others every single day. We go to the bodega around the corner and talk to the clerk. We check in with our mail carriers. We spend a minute with a neighbor and their dog.

At the end of the day, neighborhoods are the most fundamental building block of communities, and least here in Ohio in 2025. We want to celebrate that. We want to take you on a tour, so to speak, of Columbus neighborhoods, what they are, what they offer, and who the people are behind them.

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PUBLISHER

Wayne T. Lewis

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Lindsay Press

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Jack Mclaughlin

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Sav McKee

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Emma

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Jordan

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Andrew Thomas

CREATIVE DESIGNERS

Tori Smith

Meg Rhoads

Liann Trahey

Abby Nocera

MARKETING MANAGER

Emma Mortellaro

EVENTS COORDINATOR

Jessica McDonough

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Zoe King

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Meggin Weimerskirch

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Mindy Wilhite

Anna Gerhard

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Meghan Chapman

Created by

Mortellaro, Benjamin Willis, Evan Frere, Cheyn Roux, Jen Brown

Abbruzzese, Alex Lewis, Camille Witt, Sav McKee, Jack McLaughlin, John M. Clark, Melinda Green, Kristen Paige, Laura Jones

� STAFF PICKS

It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

All of us here at 614 Media Group—our writers, photographers, designers, editors, and everyone else behind the scenes—live right here in Central Ohio, and we’re proud as ever to be part of such a cool, diverse, community, on every side of town. Here are some of our favorite neighborhoods around the city:

Victorian Village–Goodale Park, the beautiful homes, and it’s walking distance to so much!

Old Hilliard—always something going on in the evening but so peaceful during the day.

—Jessica McDonough, Events Coordinator

I like Grandview because there’s a ton of fun restaurants and bars all walking distance from each other!

—Teddy Walker, Executive Assistant

German Village! I'm so lucky to call this little pocket of Europein-Columbus my home.

—Sav McKee, Associate Editor

I love the urban vibes of the RiverSouth District in Downtown Columbus!

—Tori Smith, Creative Designer

Italian Village—it’s close enough to all the action in the Short North, Downtown & campus, but also charming & peaceful with beautiful churches, parks and homes.

—Meggin Weimerskirch, Advertising Director

—Anna Gerhard, Senior Account Executive

ON the WEB

Every day we’re posting Columbus’ top news, entertainment, and sports stories from throughout Central Ohio. Check out all the Columbus news online, including the new ones below, at 614now.com and subscribe to our daily email!

Columbus-area brewery defends no children after 7 p.m. policy

FOOD & DRINK

64 year-old pizzeria announces reopening

After initially closing this year, Vick’s Gourmet Pizza held their grand reopening on October 20th. HOT TOPICS

Eastside Brewing Co. recently defended its standing policy of banning children on the premises after 7 p.m. in a lengthy social media post.

Some fun ideas of what to drink, do, and see this November:

OSU Men’s Basketball vs. Purdue Schottenstein Center Starts at 6:30 p.m. $7-$80

Bourbon Trail

Hilton Columbus Downtown Starts at 6:00 p.m. $50

Hot Chocolate Run

McFerson Commons

7:30 a.m.-11:00 p.m.

$44-$79 at Registration

in Concert

HolidayGuideGift (614)'s

Four Markets. One Magical Season.

Try Our Seasonal Sweets!

Since 1981, Cheryl’s has been using quality ingredients to bake delicious cookies. Made with their signature cutout cookie dough and famous buttercream frosting, these buttercreamfrosted pumpkin-shaped sugar cookies are dressed for a season to celebrate. Individually wrapped and ready to make your Thanksgiving dessert table unforgettable and sweet.

Scan the QR code for more information

Not Your Mama’s Craft Market is Columbus’ OG indie holiday tradition—bringing 80+ makers, flash tattoos, and gifts worth bragging about.

◊ Nov 16: Polaris Mall (former Forever 21)

◊ Nov 23: The Exchange at Bridge Park (ticketed)

◊ Dec 7: Schiller Park Community Center | German Village

◊ Dec 14: BrewDog Canal Winchester

Scan the QR code for more information

Taste Tradition with The Carfagna’s Gift Box

Send the flavors of Carfagna's to family and friends-near or far. Packed in our signature gift box, this curated selection of Italian favorites is gift-ready, including:

2 Carfagna's Pasta Sauce Jars (32 oz ea)

2 Carfagna's 100% Italian Pastas (1 lb ea)

1 Carfagna's Original Italian Dressing (12 oz) AND MORE!

Scan to shop & enjoy free shipping

Spread Joy (and Schmear)

'Tis the season for gifting tastier things. Snag a gift card, grab some merch, and make everyone on your list feel warm, toasty, and well-fed.

Scan below to visit our website

Photo by Foodfest Media

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Give the Gift of Good Taste!

This holiday season, share the joy and get a little extra for yourself! From November 28th through January 1st receive a $20 bonus gift card for every $100 purchased in gift cards. It is the perfect way to treat someone special (and enjoy a treat of your own!)

Check out our website for more details

Holiday Style Starts at Just $49

Known as the place where Columbus gets engaged, Worthington Jewelers is also your go-to this holiday season for stylish, can’t-miss gifts starting at just $49. Explore a curated selection of fine and fashion jewelry, including Ania Haie—the London-based brand loved for modern, stackable styles. These on-trend pieces offer everyday elegance without the luxury price tag. Hurry in—our instore exclusives and holiday favorites won’t last long.

692 High Street | Worthington, OH | (614) 430-8800 worthingtonjewelers.com

The Gift of Feeling Beautiful

At Kenneth’s, beauty isn’t just what we do, it’s what we believe in. From a first haircut to life’s most meaningful moments, every visit tells a story, and every chair holds a memory. This holiday season, give the gift that makes every story shine a little brighter. Because at Kenneth’s, Your Salon and Spa, everyone deserves to feel beautiful.

Gift Cards available in any amount,

Seasonal Savings at Bates & Brown Barbershop

From November 15th to December 31st buy a $100 Gift Card and get a bonus $20 Bates Bucks Card. Designed especially for men, Bates & Brown offers traditional barbershop services and more. Give the gift of the old-time barbershop experience for today’s well-groomed gentleman.

Scan below to learn more & shop gift cards!

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Give the Gift of Clean this Holiday!

Starting at $35, choose from Moo Moo gift cards or a Wash Smart Unlimited Club gift membership, available online or in-store. Instore only, shop our exclusive line of Homage tees and hoodies— with all net proceeds donated back to Wagons Ho Ho Ho!

Scan the QR code for more information!

Looking for the perfect holiday or special occasion gift?

Give the gift of exploration and discovery with a COSI Gift Membership! Every COSI Gift Membership includes two Disney on Ice vouchers, plus two tickets each to Monster Jam and Ringling Bros Circus—over $120 in added value. It’s COSI’s biggest bonus yet and the perfect year-round gift for families and friends.

Scan the QR code for more information!

The Magpie Market Experience

Magpie Market is an independent, woman-owned business started by two best friends with a love for antique and vintage décor. We have 25 carefully curated vendors who each bring their own unique perspective to today’s design aesthetics. Visit us for one of a kind Holiday gifts and décor.

Scan the QR code for more information!

Jewelry with Heart—from Your Hometown Jeweler

As a family-owned jeweler where countless Columbus love stories begin, Worthington Jewelers offers a wide selection of jewelry for every style and budget. Find stunning specials like these 2 ctw labcreated diamond stud earrings in 14k gold for just $799 (regularly $1,350). Beautifully boxed and ready to give—while supplies last.

692 High Street | Worthington, OH | (614) 430-8800 worthingtonjewelers.com

From snake charmers to acrobats, one of Columbus’ first integrated communities was made up almost entirely of circus performers

By John M. Clark

Story Design by Meg Rhoads

← Circus workers and performers

, a present-day

AAfaded sign on the side of a multi-story brick building at 780 King Avenue identifies the former home of Weisheimer Brothers Flour Mill. Built in 1901, it’s believed to be the only remnant of one of Columbus’ most unusual neighborhoods.

From the early 1870s to about 1910, the area west of Olentangy River Road and north of Fifth Avenue was known as Sellsville, the home of the famed Sells Brothers Circus. Three of the Sells brothers had begun toying with the idea of starting a traveling circus in the late 1860s. Adding brother Peter to the team was the key to their success, and by the early 1870s, the four were well on their way to building a show business empire.

An early question was where to put all the tents, equipment, animals, performers and their families during the winter months, when the circus

did not travel. The answer was found on land near train tracks now owned by CSX Railroad. At the height of its success, the circus traveled in 47 train cars, so the brothers needed plenty of space…and access to the railroads. Thus was born the unincorporated community of Sellsville.

Sellsville was primarily an agricultural area, with dirt roads and paths that led through cornfields to homes, slaughterhouses, saloons, the grist mill, a church and a one-room school. And as you might expect, the residents of Sellsville included a colorful assortment. Along with the usual clowns and acrobats, there were a husband and wife team of “giants,” a “tattooed” couple, a snake charmer, a “wild man,” and one man who was paid five dollars a week to have rocks broken on his head.

Sellsville was also one of the first integrated communities in Columbus,

where people of different races lived, worshipped and learned side by side. The so-called “Polkadot School” enrolled an equal number of Black and white children. It’s believed that some of the older Black people were former slaves who had sought their freedom along the Underground Railroad and chose to remain in Central Ohio. The neighborhood even had a Black, 21-piece band and an all-Black baseball team called the Sellsville Sluggers.

The Sells brothers invested heavily in wild and exotic animals for their traveling show. At one time, the menagerie included 18 elephants, as well as lions, tigers, monkeys, antelope, panthers, rhinoceroses, camels, ostriches, sea lions and more.

A muddy pond was installed for the circus’ contingent of hippopotamuses; stables were built for the traveling show’s 250 horses.

↑ Top

shot of the Weisheimer Flour Mill at 780 King Avenue; Bottom, a class photo from the “Polkadot School”

↑ A Sells Brothers Circus poster from 1880

With all those animals confined to one area, escapes were bound to happen, and they did. One man was said to be walking to work one morning when he turned a corner and encountered five polar bears. A family had just sat down to dinner one evening when they were startled by a loud crashing sound. One of the elephants had just ripped the porch off their house.

By the 1890s, the Sells Brothers Circus had grown to be the second-largest show of its kind in the country, traveling annually throughout the Midwest and logging up to 40,000 miles a year. It even toured Australia in 1891. But the family began to lose interest in their business enterprise with the death of oldest brother Ephraim in 1898. The remaining three sold one-fourth of their business to rival circus owner James Bailey. And when both Allen and Peter passed away in 1904, remaining brother Lewis sold the rest of the enterprise to Bailey for $150,000 cash.

The headquarters of what had been the Sells Brothers Circus closed in 1910. Most of Sellsville’s residents moved on with the new owners, eventually becoming part of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey conglomerate. The school and church closed; houses and other buildings were leveled. And real estate investors soon began carving up the one-thousand acres of land.

As 20th century Columbus began spreading in all directions, the odd, little circus community known as Sellsville became nothing more than a distant—yet colorful—memory. ♦

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The Spirit of the Holidays

Middle West Napoleon Calvados Cask-Finished Whiskey is aged five years. The first four years are in American white oak barrels that impart hints of vanilla, leather and spice. It is then harvested and enters sunsoaked Calvados casks for another one to two years where it acquires soft notes of apple, pear and baking spices.

Scan below to learn more

Celebrate the Season with Stories Worth Sharing

Give the gift that celebrates Columbus all year long. A 614 subscription delivers the city’s best food, events, people, and stories—straight to their doorstep. Perfect for anyone who loves living local, it’s a present that lasts well beyond the holidays.

Scan the QR code to subscribe!

↓ The Sells Brothers on a poster, circa 1900

GET WHAT YOU GET

Can’t decide on a certain tattoo? Sacred Hand Tattoo Society’s gumball machine will make the decision for you

By Laura Jones

Photos by Cheyn Roux

Story Design by Andrew Thomas

Joey Knuckles thinks this article should be about the Columbus Rat. The Rat, a tattoo of a rodent smoking a cigarette and wearing a top hat, was created by artist Stoney St. Clair. He even tattooed it on Ed Hardy, probably the most famous tattooer in the world, and progenitor of his own iconic fashion brand. Not only does Knuckles, owner of Sacred Hand Tattoo Society, think it’s better for the article, he thinks it’s better for me. But I’m here for something else.

I’m here to get what I get.

In 2018, Sacred Hand introduced a unique, exhilarating and—dare I say— dangerous program called Get What You Get (GWYG), in which participants pay significantly less (only $150) for a tattoo that they don’t get to pick themselves.

Instead, their fate is decided by an old school gumball machine like the ones that used to beckon from across the grocery store. We all begged for a quarter so we could drop it into the metal holder and turn that delightful crank, unsure of what would pop out. Those bright plastic containers were the blind box of their day, and offer the same pleasure we feel cracking open a fortune cookie or even unwrapping a present. On some level, we all like not knowing what we are going to get. But who lays down 15 Benjamins for a gold plastic token that, once spun, will determine something you wear forever? Or at least until a laser treatment. (I’m looking at you, Pete Davidson.) →

MASAYUKI MIYAJIMA

A lot of people apparently. And I may be next to join the ranks.

“People come in every day and ask for this,” Knuckles says. “BFFs or date days or groups. People know we do really good tattoos and this is a great way to get a less expensive one from us. We have some customers that have maybe 20 of them out of the machine.” In fact, Knuckles points out that since these GWYGs became popular nationally, some customers just make the rounds from shop to shop getting whatever Lady Luck and similar machines decide. I’m starting to feel something I rarely feel: too conservative.

Don’t get me wrong. I like Knuckles. For one thing, he knows a lot about tattooing. He talks about it as folk art, pre-dating language, when one tribe communicated to another through image rather than words. He’s worked in Columbus for 23 years, written multiple books,

and tells me a lot of cool stories, like how spider web tattoos were used to mark trips around the equator (a new web line for every 10,000 miles). He also doesn’t usually do the GWYGs. He’s in higher demand than that for his elaborate monsters and mutants. There’s also this detail: when I ask him where the name Joey Knuckles comes from, he claims he got it while walking old ladies across the street. “The ladies just came up with it?” I ask.

“That’s my story and it can’t be fact checked, can it?” he responds. Joke’s on me. I like that about him.

We make our way to the machine that will determine my destiny. Knuckles says the tattoos aren’t really Traditional per se, but are American. “A Traditional tattoo,” he clarifies, “is a tattoo with a title: Pharaoh’s Horses, Rock of Ages, Rose of No Man’s Land.” These aren’t that, but they are simple and bold with strong outlines. My first pull? A half skull/

half panther I’m just not feeling. (Did I mention I’m a middle aged mother?) I decide to spin again, and luckily, there is that option. It costs just $10 extra when you do. Four more tries later, I’ve pulled a melting slice of pizza, an inordinately large bee the size of my palm, and a few other images I can’t seem to justify. Knuckles is tiring of me.

“Are you the kind of person who rides the rollercoaster at the State Fair?” he asks. “I don’t mean at King’s Island.” The cashier girl behind the counter quickly sympathizes.

“I wouldn’t,” she says. But she means the coaster, not the GWYG.

↑

While the Get What You Get option is popular at Sacred Hand, their team of expert artists, like Bre, specializes in custom tattoos

At the end of the day, I skip the tattoo. I guess I am the kind of person who might ride the coaster at the State Fair, but only because I haven’t considered the possible ramifications. Now of course, I will.

While I love tattoos and, like everyone else who lived through the 90s, have a few I’m proud of and a few I’d rather forget, I’m older and wiser now. If my body is going to tell a story, I want it to be mine, not a gumball machine’s.

But if you’re braver than me, or just up for an adventure, you can try your hand at the GWYG machine on a walk-in basis. Or call first and schedule Knuckles’ iconic Columbus Rat. He’s even got one that’s peeing on Michigan. And on that, I think most of us in Columbus can agree.

Stop in for a Get What You Get at Sacred Hand Tattoo Society, located at 960 Parsons Ave.

Joey Knuckles, owner

A Sliceof Their Own

After years at the East Market, The Bearded Baker launched its firstever standalone space, built on second chances and a bond that won't break

By Camille Witt

Photos by Emma Mortellaro

Story Design by Meg Rhoads

← Matt Estep, founder of The Bearded Baker, is proud of his flourishing business, and especially his fluffy cheesecake recipe

When Kylie Redman walked into the space that would become the Bearded Baker’s first standalone location, she knew immediately. “When I told Matt about the space, I was like, ‘What does it mean if I got into my car and immediately started crying?’ I had goosebumps everywhere,” she recalled.

For owner Matt Estep and his fiancée, Kylie Redman, the new location is the culmination of a journey that started with late nights, early mornings, and two people who found each other exactly when they needed to.

But the Bearded Baker had modest beginnings before the two crossed paths. When COVID hit, Matt, a former sous chef at Gallo’s, spent a few months at home perfecting his dessert recipes. A friend at The Woodbury offered him kitchen space in exchange for help, and soon Matt was making cheesecakes under his own name out of the back of the restaurant. “They were so receptive to the idea,” Matt shared with a smile. But it wasn’t long before he needed to find a space that could truly belong to The Bearded Baker. He started by selling slices out of a cooler at Butcher & Grocer

“Everything started on the East side of Columbus, and we wanted to stay true to our regulars at the market,” Kylie explained. Their new location on East Main Street is just eight minutes from their previous location, making it an ideal spot for both their most loyal regulars and new customers. The shift into their new space was bittersweet, after all; the couple met three years ago at that very market, where their partnership—both romantic and professional—took root.

“I could see that the business could be something so incredibly awesome if he let someone help," said Kylie. "Eventually, I told him, ‘You just have to let me, you’re not going to say no, I’m going to help you.’”

for the festival, the pair worked around the clock. “We were leaving at 8 o’clock and coming back at 3 in the morning,” Kylie reflected. When they survived the rush, she realized: “Clearly this works with the two of us.”

The shift from a late-night chef to an early morning baker would be challenging for anyone, but what made those grueling hours possible, Matt said, is a change he made years before he met Kylie or started The Bearded Baker. “The reason this place is probably here is because I stopped drinking almost six years ago,” he shares. “That made it a lot easier to change my lifestyle.”

Kylie revealed. “They’re both things that completely derailed our lives at the time. Looking back, we needed each other every step along the way.”

For Matt, now 40, the business represents a hard-won second act. “If anyone can see that it’s not too late to start your own business at 40—to stop acting like you’re 21 and stop living to party—then this is worth sharing,” he reflected with pride. “I realized that I wanted to do something with my life that was actually remembered.”

Her persistence paid off, and she helped him during the Sweet Treats Festival, which became a proving ground of sorts for their partnership. Slammed with orders for Restaurant Week while preparing over a thousand desserts

The stars seem to have been pointing toward their partnership for some time. “On the same day and year that Matt decided to get sober, three years before we met, I was told I was going to have a spinal fusion,”

“If anyone can see that it’s not too late to start your own business at 40

...then this [story] is worth sharing.”

↑ The Bearded Baker's Salted Caramel Brownie with buttercream frosting

↓ The Bearded Baker's Pineapple Upside Down Cake

“I think the lightness of our cheesecake is what I’m most proud of,” Matt emphasised. “We also have flavors that mix layers of cake with cheesecake for those who don’t love cheesecake.”

There is no shortage of incredible flavors to try, and selections change daily. For fall, don’t miss the Toasted Sweet Potato Cheesecake, Pumpkin Vanilla Swirl, and Caramel Apple Cheesecake.

But there are even more tricks up Matt and Kylie’s sleeves for the future of The Bearded Baker. The duo hopes to transform the space into a café with seating, a guest bathroom, and a selection of coffee and espresso that complements their offerings. It’s an ambitious vision, but one that feels possible thanks to the community rallying around them, and—of course—each other. ♦

Visit The Bearded Baker’s new home at 2918 E. Main St. for treats baked fresh daily.

The Bearded Baker's decadent S'mores Cookie ↓

Food the Soul for

↑ Fried Catfish, Fried Chicken, Chicken and Sausage Gumbo, Candied Yams and more from Modern Southern Table

Food Network winner and food hall favorite, Modern Southern Table is keeping family recipes and legacies alive, one fried catfish dish at a time

By Kristen Paige

You might be called “cuz” when dining at Modern Southern Table. When asked why, owner Sadaya “Daisy” Lewis said, “Everybody’s cousin. We are all family. I say that all the time. And I feel like that’s true.”

Modern Southern Table launched a new Clintonville restaurant this summer after opening in Budd Dairy Food Hall in 2021. At either location, you'll find a variety of Southern-style dishes and familiar comforts.

“It’s food that makes you feel like home,” said Lewis. “Southern comfort food is just good food that makes you feel good.”

Before any aspirations of opening a restaurant, Lewis ran a catering business. Her cooking eventually made its way to a Food Network

Photos by Benjamin Willis Story Design by Meg Rhoads

Patience, and trial and error, eventually helped her realize her dream of running a restaurant of her own.

Her restaurant, Modern Southern Table, is quite like its name—classic Southern comfort food for the modern eater who also craves the classics. Patrons can expect dishes like mac and cheese, fried chicken, and cornbread. It’s familiar foods you might see at your Thanksgiving table, like collared greens and candied yams. And while you’re indulging in the comforts of soul food, Lewis also wants you to think about where it comes from, too.

“People don’t realize we’re picking the freshest ingredients. And down South, they’re probably coming out of someone’s garden or someone’s field,” Lewis explained. “We’re picking the freshest produce for our potatoes, for our black eyed pea salads. And people may not see it that way, but soul food is defined as a fresh, homemade product,” she continued.

Modern Southern Table is no exception. “All of our stuff is hand diced, hand sliced, and the freshest option we have,” said Lewis.

In between the bites of fresh greens, fried catfish, and slurps of chicken and sausage gumbo is also the legacy of Lewis’

family. Lewis learned to cook at nine years old after her mother’s death, and quickly fell in love with it.

“Pretty much all of my recipes are inspired by my family. My grandmothers are the ones who taught me how to cook,” Lewis said. “And so because of them, I’m here where I am. I’m here to show people that soul food can be great and amazing and to carry our history of food along.”

Like a growing family, Modern Southern Table opened their second location this past summer in Clintonville, and it’s there you can easily spot the family influences. Among the photos of Lewis holding her first caught fish, is her family right beside her. Like images of her grandmothers, and her grandfather tending to their garden. Seeing them is a gentle reminder of the legacy Lewis carries with her.

“We’re losing our recipes when our grandmothers or our big mamas or whoever dies and passes on. We’re not developing them and carrying them along,” she explained. “We’re just kinda letting them go by the wayside. And so one thing I want to do for sure is to keep my family’s heritage alive.”

While you’re eyeing the family influences in Clintonville, also take

advantage of the unique specials available that you wouldn’t otherwise find at their Italian Village location. But what is absent from the changing specials at Budd Dairy Food Hall is gained in the exclusive chicken and sausage gumbo. Though the menus differ slightly, patrons can still expect the same great Southern charm at both spots. Lewis and the Modern Southern Table team take their Southern hospitality seriously. So much so, you might even be mistaken for family.

“I literally sometimes don’t know my cousin’s real name because all we say is, ‘Hey cuz.’ I had a cousin Facebook [message] me yesterday, and she was like, ‘Hey, cuz.’ I was like, ‘Hey cuz.’ But I didn’t recognize the name, so I’m thinking it was a customer—and it was my actual cousin,” she said with a laugh.

So on your next visit to Modern Southern Table, perhaps you can join their legacy and become a new entry to a long line of mistakeable cousins. We are all family, after all. ♦

Stop in to Modern Southern Table’s Clintonville location at 5179 S. High St., or their Budd Dairy Hall location for delicious soul food

WESTWARD GROUNDS

Giddy up, y’all—a Columbus coffee concept with “Wild West vibes, Midwest heart” is slinging drinks with thoughtful ingredients and a cowboy attitude

By Jordan Abbruzzese

Photos by Jen Brown

Story Design by Abby Nocera

Kylie Fadley, owner of Callin’ Your Bluff Coffee, loves a Wild West theme (and unique latte flavors) →

If lassos, fiery orange sunsets, and the pounding of horse hooves had a flavor, it would be a drink from Callin’ Your Bluff Coffee. The Wild West-themed traveling coffee concept is taking the city by storm, growing in popularity since they started brewing drinks this summer. Matching earthy seasonal ingredients with a strong matcha or coffee profile, and sprinkling just a hint of sweetness, they’re putting a new spin on coffee in Columbus.

I first heard of owner Kylie Fadley’s Callin’ Your Bluff on Instagram over the summer, after an intimate launch in North Clintonville. Their logo, a skeleton guzzling coffee while wearing a cowboy hat, stopped me mid-scroll. As a fan of Sergio Leone’s “Dollars Trilogy,” and the slow crawl of a Patsy Cline vinyl in the evening, they had me at “Howdy.”

“I was born and raised in Columbus, and I have always been this city girl, but I have this mild obsession with the Wild West theme,” Fadley said. “For me, it’s a different world. I’m from the city, it’s pretty fast paced. Things in the west move slower, and it comes back to connection. It gives intent for people to have a connection.” →

“WE REALLY LOVE TO KIND OF PLAY WITH INGREDIENTS, AND WHEN PEOPLE LOVE IT, IT INSPIRES US TO DO EVEN MORE OFF THE WALL THINGS.”

When customers line up to order their drinks, some are surprised to see two women, Fadley and her partner Molly, behind the cart.

“It’s kind of a ‘guys’ aesthetic,” Fadley laughed, with good humor. “It’s fun, it’s creative. Our drinks are all themed and named after western movies or cards.”

While Fadley doesn’t have any former barista training, she has a strong passion for creativity and flavor. The concept for Callin’ Your Bluff was started in her kitchen, as Fadley threw herself into making different syrups and flavors for her homemade coffee, asking Molly and their friends to try them.

“I’m not much of a cook or a chef or anything like that. But I know when things work and when they taste good,” said Fadley. “My partner does have a background with cooking, and she is one of the best cooks I’ve met in my entire life. She offers guidance, and she helps me make sauces. We do it together.”

While Fadley loves the Columbus coffee scene, she has a particular flavor profile and balance in mind. Many specialty coffees are sweet enough to be desserts, but Fadley offers high-quality coffee and ceremonial matcha mixed with her creative homemade syrups, sauces, and creams for something completely different.

She’s also influenced by international flavors not found on your typical coffee menu.

For example, her fall menu special, The Sharp Shooter, was born from traveling to another country.

“Sharp Shooter was inspired by our trip to Japan, and a coffee shop we went to while we were in Kyoto that had this ginger latte,” said Fadley. “And it’s the best thing I have had in my entire life. We went several times a day and kept getting it. And I said, ‘When I get home, I am attempting to make this.’”

Available through the rest of November, The Sharp Shooter might be the unappreciated hero of the coffee cart’s fall offerings.

“It’s fresh ginger, and hand ground peppercorns. It's beautiful, but it’s spicy. It’s not for everyone,” Fadley acknowledged with pride. “People say it’s so good—it’s like a hug in a cup. There is something so special about ginger, and people don’t play with it enough. I want that little bit of bitterness.”

Amongst the other fall drinks, you’ll find classic ingredients with a twist, like pumpkin spice mixed with chocolate and a bit of smoked pepper

“You’re going to see pumpkin, ginger, chai—and we want to include those ingredients, but do it in our own way,” said Fadley. “So, our pumpkin drink is a

↓ Amongst the other fall drinks, you’ll find classic ingredients with a twist, like pumpkin spice mixed with chocolate and a bit of

Mexican hot chocolate-inspired pumpkin latte with chipotle pepper. It’s our version.”

As we near the winter months, Callin’ Your Bluff has an ace up their sleeve. Not only are winter specials and a holiday menu coming, but the coffee cart will hang their hat in a semi-permanent location starting Nov. 1st. From 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. every Friday through Sunday, Callin’ Your Bluff will be dealing out drinks from the Land-Grant Extension Bar.

As Callin’ Your Bluff moves to their next home base, they’ll continue to roll the dice on new drinks, flavors, and community partnerships. But their biggest goal is to surprise you with a carefully concocted drink to start your day, or sip while you kick up your boots.

“We love to be creative. We have no chill. We really love to kind of play with ingredients, and when people love it, it inspires us to do even more off the wall things,” said Fadley. ♦

Follow Callin’ Your Bluff on Instagram at @callinyourbluffcoffee for new menu drops and operating hours, and check them out at the Land-Grant Extension Bar at 458 W. Chapel St. this winter.

smoked pepper

SCOTT A NTIQUE M ARKETS

Attention treasure hunters and vintage lovers! One weekend a month from November to March, the Scott Antique Markets will be live from the Ohio Expo Center just north of downtown Columbus. Step into a one-of-a-kind experience, where a vast selection of antiques, vintages, and collectibles await you curated by vendors from across the region for your discovery and enjoyment. You never know what hidden gems you’ll uncover at Scott’s, so don’t miss out — join us this winter for an unforgettable adventure!

JUSTONEBITE

ByJackMcLaughlin

PhotosbyEvenFrere

DesignbyLiannTrahey

ColumbuspizzamadeasplashthissummeronDave Portnoy’shugely-popular

OneBitePizzaReviews

andthesearehisfivehighest-ratedlocalpiesofalltime

season saw a flurry of high scores roll in, for newcomers and mainstays alike. Inspired by these rave reviews, we’ve rounded up the five highest-rated Columbus pizzerias of all time, according to One Bite Pizza Reviews

Sexton’s Pizza

Multiple Locations

Score: 8.1

Reviewed on April 10, 2023

The eatery behind the Arch City’s first-ever score in the 8s has become a local pizza powerhouse. According to co-owner Joey Sexton, this artisan eatery’s secret weapon is the attention paid to its house-crafted dough, which Portnoy noted was “good, crisp, light.” Joey Sexton and Portnoy shared a moment before the review began as well, where they smashed a White Claw sign in the parking lot, and the prolific pizza reviewer called Sexton his “ride or die.”

Emelio’s Pizza

574 Georgesville Rd.

Score: 8.1

Reviewed on Jan. 21, 2025

Even casual One Bite fans can tell you Portnoy isn’t a fan of Columbus-style (also referred to as Chicago-style or tavernstyle) pies. But that didn’t stop a Columbus-style stalwart from breaking into the 8s. Referring to Emelio’s and its “cracker” crust as “one of the better Chicago tavern-styles [he’s] ever had,” Portnoy handed over a serious score to the local shop that’s been a West Side staple now for 65 years.

Artisan Pizza Cafe

91 E. 5th Ave.

Score: 8.1

Reviewed on Sept. 8, 2025

This small Italian Village spot opened in June to minimal fanfare, but before fall had officially arrived, the eatery was already overwhelmed with a wave of new customers and lines down the block. In fact, in the days immediately following Portnoy’s review—which created a three-way tie for the highest-rated One Bite pizzeria in Columbus—the restaurant ran out of dough due to the massive demand. Each of their pies is carefully crafted (by the hand of the shop’s Italian-born owner), which means these pizzas take time. But like all good things, they’re worth the wait.

Iacano’s

Pizza & Restaurant

4452 Kenny Rd. 9303 Dublin Rd. (Powell)

Score: 7.9

Reviewed on Sept. 15, 2025

In another universe not so far removed from our own, Iacono’s would have landed in a four way tie for Columbus’ highestrated pie. But a 7.9 is as good a consolation prize as there is. Portnoy said the long-standing Columbus pizzeria is, “Excellent, excellent pizza,” and is, “as good as you can get for a tavern [style],” before adding Iacono’s “could have been an 8.1.”

Portnoy’s review also included an interesting interaction with an older Columbus couple and a shout-out to local barber Edwards Grooming for giving the Barstool founder a fresh cut.

BOBBY JO’S PIZZA

5225 N. High St. (inside Donnerick’s Pub)

Score: 7.5

Reviewed on Sept. 2, 2025

Friendly, straight-shooting and unapologetically Columbusloving, it’s hard not to like Danny Phillips, the Hilltop native behind Bobby Jo’s. And it might be even harder not to like his pizza. The Columbus restaurant veteran, fresh off launching his own corn on the cob stand last fall, turned to a New Haven-inspired pizza pop-up this year. The concept took off, and Phillips was able to open a brick and mortar space inside of Donnerick’s Pub on Aug. 9. Portnoy noted “the taste was great,” with an emphasis on the sauce in particular: “Great sauce. Great tang,” he said.

HOLIDAY COCKTAIL Guide

FEATURING

2 oz cranberry wine

1 oz Roku Gin

0.5 oz thyme & rosemary simple syrup 0.5 oz Drambuie

0.25 oz allspice dram 8 drops Angostura Orange Bitters

Combine all ingredients in stirring glass

Add ice and stir 25-30 seconds to chill and add dilution

Strain over fresh ice

Garnish with fresh rosemary

THYME TO LET IT IT'S Corn? Linger

2 oz chipotle-pepperinfused Hornitos Plata

1 oz creamed corn syrup

IAN LATTEA

Budd Dairy Food Hall

0.25 oz lime juice

Tajin-covered lime wheel garnish

Combine all ingredients in a shaker, add ice, and shake for 10-15 seconds

Strain over fresh ice

Garnish with a lime wheel and Tajin

PERSIMMON Martini

Combine all ingredients to a shaker, add ice, and shake for 10-15 seconds

Strain over fresh ice

Garnish with a lime wheel and Tajin

1.5 oz persimmon-infused Roku Gin

0.75 oz Japanese Bermutto Sake

0.25 oz salted pomelo jam

0.5 oz oloroso sherry

Dried persimmon garnish

BRANDON TIMM

FIOR DE Fuego

DANE KOCH

Lincoln Social

2 oz Hornitos Reposado Tequila

1 oz serrano, pink peppercorn, and blood orange cordial

0.5 oz grapefruit juice

0.5 oz Amaro Nonino

0.25 oz Aperol

1 oz Grapefruit Jarritos Citrus salt half rim

Shake Hornitos Reposado, Serrano, pink peppercorn, grapefruit cordial, Amaro Nonino, and Aperol in a shaker with ice for 15 seconds

Strain over ice

Top with Grapefruit Jarritos

Veritas

300 ml Suntory Toki Japanese Whisky

1 can + 2 tbsp sweetened condensed milk

1 can evaporated milk

1 can full-fat coconut milk, shaken well

1/4 cup cream of coconut

½ tsp vanilla extract

½ tsp ground cinnamon

Pinch freshly grated nutmeg

Pinch sea salt

Toasted rosemary & skewered fresh cranberries garnish

TAVERN Coquito Honeycrisp

1.5 oz Haku Vodka

2 oz Hana Fuji Apple Sake

0.75 oz honey/apple juice syrup

0.5 oz lemon juice

Dehydrated apple slice garnish

Combine all ingredients, mix until fully emulsified

Pour into a sterilized 64 oz glass jar or swing-top bottle, leaving headspace. Seal tightly

Refrigerate 7 days, shake once daily

Shake well before pouring.

Serve 4 oz in a small glass or coupe

KEVIN THOMPSON Worthington Tavern

Combine all ingredients into a shaker

Add ice and shake for 10-15 seconds

Double strain into glass

Garnish with a dehydrated apple wheel

ELAINA LUCIDO Song Lan Restaurant

LUKAS HALL Lemongrass Fusion Bistro

THE COCKTAIL GUIDE TECHNIQUES Samurai

1 oz Suntory Toki Japanese Whisky

1 oz Basil Hayden Dark Rye

1 oz ginger simple syrup

Juice ½ lime

3 dashes of spiced cherry bitters

Red wine float

Lime wheel garnish

Stir Suntory Toki Japanese Whisky, Basil Hayden Bourbon, ginger syrup, and lime juice for 25-30 seconds

Double strain over a big ice cube

Top with red wine float

You don’t need a bar program or professional tools to craft exceptional cocktails. With a few foundational techniques, you can transform ordinary spirits into extraordinary experiences. Here’s how to start building flavor like a pro—right from your kitchen.

SIMPLE SYRUPS

Combine equal parts sugar and hot water in a small sauce pan over medium to low heat, stir until sugar dissolves, remove from heat, add in desired flavor (herb, spices, fruit) and allow to steep for 5-10 minutes.

FAT WASHING

Combine your chosen spirit with a flavorful fat—think browned butter, coconut oil, or bacon grease. Let it infuse for several hours, then freeze until the fat solidifies. Skim and strain through cheesecloth. Keep refrigerated to store.

INFUSIONS

Add your chosen ingredients to a sealed jar of spirit. Let it rest for 1-3 days, gently shaking and tasting as you go. Strain when flavor peaks.

MILK PUNCH (CLARIFICATION)

Mix your all ingredients in your cocktail or with a small amount of milk, (usually 30% of total liquid) let rest in a cold space for 2 - 24 hours depending on batch size. After the milk solidifies, strain through coffee strainer. This process removes harsh flavors and impurities leaving you with a smooth cocktail with silky texture.

PRO TIP: Label and date your creations. Flavor evolves, and keeping notes helps you master your personal house style—one experiment at a time.

2 oz Suntory Toki Japanese Whisky

STEEP Dreams

0.75 oz ginger simple syrup

0.5 oz lemon juice

0.5 oz oolonginfused brown sugar simple syrup

0.75 oz soda water

0.5 oz oolong tea

Dehydrated lemon wheel & yuzu juice mist garnish

Combine Suntory Toki Japanese Whisky, ginger simple syrup and lemon into a shaker and shake with ice for 15 seconds

Strain over ice

Top off half way with soda water and the rest with an oolong-infused brown sugar simple syrup float

Garnish with a dehydrated lemon

PRAJESH RAJKUMAR

Lindey's

IN Memoriam

1 oz Suntory Toki Japanese Whiskey

0.75 oz Amaro Nonino

0.5 oz Bruto Americano

0.25 oz Bitter Bianca

0.25 oz Amontillado Sherry

Combine all ingredients in a stirring glass

0.0625 oz Fratello Hazelnut Liqueur

3 dashes

Trinity Bitters

Add ice and stir for 25-30 seconds to chill and add dilution

Strain over a big cube

Garnish with a cocktail umbrella

KYLE WESTERBURG

Forno Kitchen + Bar

SAGE THE Season

Harvest Pizza

1.5 oz Basil Hayden Dark Rye

0.75 oz Benedictine

0.25 oz Cognac

0.5 oz tart cranberry & sage syrup

Spritz rose water

4 dashes tiki bitters

Combine all ingredients in a stirring glass

Add ice and stir for 25-30 seconds to chill and add dilution

Strain into martini glass

Garnish with sage leaves

FLIGHT Delay

0.75 oz holiday-spice-infused Knob Creek Bourbon

0.75 oz Aperol

0.75 oz Amaro Montenegro

0.25 oz lemon juice

Pinch of nutmeg

Dehydrated lemon and star anise garnish

Combine all ingredients in a shaker

Add ice and shake for 10-15 seconds

Strain over crushed ice

Garnish with a dehydrated lemon wheel, star anise, and a pinch of nutmeg

EMILY SEGNER

Vaso Rooftop Lounge

LAUREN BERNARD

CHRISTMAS IN Costantia

1.25 oz bananainfused Suntory Toki

Japanese Whisky

0.25 oz Roku Gin

0.25 oz hot water

0.5 oz croissant syrup

0.5 oz oolong cream

Dash angostura bitters

Combine banana infused Suntory Toki

Japanese Whisky and Roku Gin with hot water and croissant syrup in a heat resistant glass

Top with tiki bitters and oolong cream

Garnish with tea leaves

REGAN DOUGHTY Brass Eye

BREAKFAST IN Japan

Combine all ingredients in a stirring glass

Add ice and stir for 25-30 seconds to chill and add dilution

Double strain into a martini glass

NICHOLS Stories on High

JOLLY Dreams

Garnish

PECAN Sour

THE SILK Compass

2 oz chai-infused Knob Creek Bourbon

1 oz unsweetened oat milk

JASON PRESTON ROACH The Bottle Shop

oz Disarrono Amaretto

oz apple cider cordial

apple slices & toasted oats garnish

Combine all ingredients in a shaker, add ice, and shake for 10-15 seconds

Strain over fresh ice

Garnish with dehydrated apple slices and toasted oats

MRS. CLAUSʼ Tea

oz Amaro Averna

Combine all ingredients in a stirring glass

Add ice, stir for 25-30 seconds to chill and add dilution

Strain over a big cube

Garnish with a cinnamon stick

CARLIE SHEARER Speck Italian Eatery

VIET Serve

Soft

GENEVIEVE JOHNSON I Like It Like That

1.5 oz Roku Gin

1.5 oz Earl Grey tea

0.75 oz bourbon cream

0.75 oz Earl Grey syrup

Top with chocolate foam and pecan crumble

Sugar cone garnish

In a stirring glass with ice, combine Earl Grey

Tea Infused Roku Gin, bourbon cream, and Earl Grey tea syrup gently for 15 seconds

Strain into glass and layer chocolate foam followed by the pecan crumble

Garnish with sugar cone pieces

ROCKWELL Manhattan

1.25 oz Maker’s Mark 46

0.75 oz Suntory Toki Japanese Whisky

1 oz Rockwell Native amber vermouth

0.25 oz Amaro di Angosturi

2-3 dashes Angostura bitters

Grapefruit expression garnish

Combine all ingredients in a stirring glass

Add ice, stir for 25-30 seconds to chill and add dilution

Double strain into a classic Nic & Nora glass

Garnish with grapefruit expression and swath

CAMERON HULL

Understory

GOURD VIBES Only

KEATON WHEELER

Astra

SPICED Gurl

1.5 oz Suntory Toki Japanese Whisky

0.25 oz pumpkin pie spice

0.25 oz coffee

0.25 oz sherry

0.75 oz chamomile

Toasted oat cold foam and spiced salt

Stir Suntory Toki Japanese Whisky, pumpkin spice, coffee, sherry, and chamomile tea together with ice for 25-30 seconds

Strain over a big cube

Top with cold foam and a pinch of spiced salt

2 oz Haku Vodka

1 oz English breakfast tea

0.75 oz Cinnamon Toast Crunch simple syrup

0.5 oz acid-adjusted orange juice

0.5 oz Averna

0.25 oz Amaretto

Crushed Cinnamon Toast Crunch rim

Pour cocktail into 2 oz Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal milk

Strain curds after 20 minutes through 2 layers of cheesecloth twice for clarified results.*

*(for large batches, let milk sit overnight)

PROMISE MCLEOD Antiques on High

WISHING YOU JOY, CHEER, AND THE Perfect Pour

MAY YOUR SEASON BE SPIRITED AND BRIGHT.

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY.

While everyone who lives in the (614) identifies as a Columbusite, if you ask each of us where we live, you may not get the same answer.

Whether you’re from Olde Towne East, German Village or somewhere else, neighborhoods act as one of the most fundamental, indivisible units of community we have. And our November issue wants to celebrate that.

We take a deep dive into Olde Towne East, German Village, Clintonville, Italian Village/the Short North and Franklinton. Five—well, technically six— of the most prominent neighborhoods in Columbus proper (we aren’t going outside of the city, for the record) that each offer their own unique identities.

Since fall brings hoodie temperatures and prime walking weather, let the following pages serve as a guide to the neighborhoods of Columbus. From a spot of history, to the must-know attractions, restaurants and events, and even the perspectives of neighborhood locals, we’ve got everything you need to know. →

Illustration by Andrew Thomas Section Design by Tori Smith

Neighborly northerners

From indie shops to High Street dining, this tree-lined, residential neighborhood marries a progressive ethos with practical urban living

By Jack McLaughlin

PAST & PRESENT

If you know anything about Clintonville, you likely won’t be surprised to learn that—even in the 1800s—the Columbus neighborhood was rooted in some form of quirky fun.

From 1880 until 1936, Clintonville was home to Olentangy Park, a bonafide theme park offering exotic animals (including bears and elephants), roller coasters, funhouses and much more.

The neighborhood’s roots trace back even further, as the area was first developed as Clinton Township (named after U.S. Vice President George Clinton) in the early 1800s, with it first being recognized as Clintonville in 1847.

An area that even today offers a blended demographic of off-campus OSU students, families and young professionals, Clintonville began to see an influx of Ohio State professors building summer homes in the neighborhood in 1900. This likely helped lay the foundations for what Clintonville is today: a lively, mixed neighborhood that embraces the arts and doesn’t shy away from the progressive, wild, or whacky.

A local’s perspective

Clintonville feels more like a small town than a city neighborhood. On a typical Saturday morning, I wake to the sound of neighbors walking their dogs and strolling with their kids. I head to the farmer’s market, picking up fresh produce and flowers from local farms. A stop at Dough Mama for a coffee and biscuit, and on the way home, I wander through antique shops, and after swing by Clintonville Cobblery to pick up my freshly repaired shoes. And somehow, it’s all before noon!

Ciara Ganoe

Glen echo park

510 Cliffside Dr

One of the Columbus area’s best kept natural secrets, it’s complete with winding trails, the famous bird tunnel, and even the ominous Gates of Hell, combining natural beauty with a little slice of magic and mystery.

Clintonville Farmers Market

Saturdays April 26-Nov 22, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Likely the most prominent farmers market in Columbus that’s second only to Worthington’s, this urban-feeling marketplace captured the progressive ethos of the neighborhood and is still rocking through its 23rd season.

Whetstone Park

3923 N. High St.

The crown jewel of this nearly 150-acre park is its beautiful 11acre rose garden, which features more than 350 varieties of roses. The park also doubles as a trailhead for the Olentangy Trail.

Studio 35

3055 Indianola Ave.

Not only can you take in a new movie at Studio 35, you can also dig into some of the city’s best pizza from the in-house Fiobionacci’s, and grab a craft beer to go with it.

Jenny’s Diner

4768 N. High St.

A longtime Columbus restaurant scene veteran—and former Tee Jaye’s Country Place employee—has launched a cozy little diner of her own, in the community she calls her own, as well.

O’Reilly’s Pub

2822 N. High St.

Every good neighborhood needs a good dive bar, and O’Reily’s Pub is a great one, boasting cheap drinks, a classic jukebox, plenty of booths and a surprisingly-delicious food menu complete with a fried bologna sandwich and their signature meatloaf.

Two Tigers Coffee

3341 N. High St.

Bigger isn’t always better, and Two Tigers proves that. Squeezed into a tiny retail space, the newer Columbus coffee shop pulls off a cozy-cool interior—plus really good drinks—with aplomb.

Dough Mama

3335 N. High St.

Really good pie. Need we say more? Dough Mama has been serving up some of the best pies–like Brown Butter Pumpkin and Buckeye Cream–alongside delectable breakfast fare and bakery items for a decade.

Preston’s: A Burger Joint

2973 N. High St.

One of Columbus’ most beloved burger concepts continues to thrive outside of its North Market birthplace. Expect indulgent smash burgers with a culinary twist, in addition to one the city’s most underrated chicken sandwiches, and meatless options that are also worth a hike up High.

NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORHOODS

The Laughing Ogre

4258 N. High St

A premiere spot for all things comics and tabletop games, The Laughing Ogre offers regular author events, midnight comic releases and more.

Eclectiques

3265 N. High St.

This quirky antique paradise reopened in 2022 under new ownership, bringing two stories of trinkets and treasures to N. High Street.

Rock Candy Healing Stones

3343 N. High St.

Whether or not you believe in the metaphysical power of crystals and stones, you can’t deny the allure of an eclecticly-sourced rock shop, complete with a passionate and knowledgeable owner.

Euro Classics

3317 N. High St.

Since 1986, this unassuming Clintonville storefront has served as one of the country’s best spots to purchase authentic furniture from the Arts & Crafts and Mission movements.

Tastes & Experiences, Under

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

Columbus’ iconic German Village is steeped in history, filled with culinary landmarks, and lined with charming brick streets

By Sav McKee

PAST & PRESENT

Today, German Village is one of Columbus’ most desirable neighborhoods, full of cafés, restaurants, and million-dollar homes. But beneath its brick-lined streets lies a history of hardship, neardemolition, and a community determined to rebuild.

In the mid-1800s, German immigrants settled in the South End, known to them as Die Alte Sud End. For decades, the community thrived with German-speaking schools, shopkeepers, churches, and a wealth of bier gartens. Life here was comfortable for nearly a century.

In 1923, new zoning laws designated the South End for industrial and commercial use. The character of the neighborhood—where homes and businesses had existed side by side—began to erode.

And by the 1950s, following anti-German sentiment and an economic nadir for the area, German Village had fallen into such disrepair that the city classified much of it as a slum. One-third of the neighborhood, between Main Street and Livingston Avenue, was bulldozed to make way for the interstate.

It was Frank Fetch who changed the course. In 1960, after restoring a small cottage, he helped establish the German Village Society to advocate for preservation and rehabilitation. At the time, it was considered a radical idea, but their work saved the neighborhood. Today, German Village is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of the most celebrated historic districts in the country.

A local’s perspective

My husband, and I decided to move to German Village last summer after living in a suburb for over 18 years! We were officially empty nesters and we absolutely love the history of German Village, the aesthetics, the walkability to so many restaurants, bike trails, and accessibility to Downtown and all the event offerings! We could not be happier!

Susan Huffman-Tracz

Frank Fetch Park

A pocket-sized park tucked between historic homes, featuring gorgeous flowers, brick walkways, decorative gas lights, picnic tables, and a small patch of green space for pets.

Village Lights

588 S. 3rd St.

If you’ve always wanted to experience something you’d only find in a Hallmark movie, make sure to get to the annual Village Lights on Dec. 7th, where the streets of German Village glow with candles, cocoa, and carolers.

Schiller Park

1069 Jaeger St.

Once a gathering spot in the 1800s, Schiller remains the heart of the neighborhood. It hosts garden tours, festivals, Shakespeare performances, a playground, tennis courts, a recreation center, and even the occasional pig-walking neighbor (if you know, you know).

Haus und Garten Tour

Every summer for more than 60 years, residents have opened their homes and gardens for this showcase of the neighborhood’s character and architecture. Tickets go on sale each spring.

228 E. Beck St.

Local Petals

537 S. Grant St.

This new flower shop (which replaced the long-standing Village Petals), boasts the same easy, intimate atmosphere as the house of a good friend.

The Book Loft

631 South Third St.

Visitors from around the world come to tour this labyrinth for booklovers, equipped with 32 rooms filled to the brim with new titles of every genre.

Our Graduate Entry Master of Science in Nursing is designed for students with non-nursing degrees and prepares them to become advanced practice nurses. Start your journey at nursing.osu.edu.

Hausfrau Haven

769 S. 3rd St. The Red Stable

223 E. Kossuth St.

Once a horse livery, now home to over 100 local artists and vendors selling gifts, art, and OSU memorabilia.

Hosting some friends? Stop into this neighborhood staple for global wines, beers, and even cocktail accessories such as olive juice and Luxardo cherries!

The Cakehound

1147 Jaegar St.

With all of the options for pastries for humans around the area, there has to be a spot for your dogs, too. The Cakehound offers cakes and beautifully decorated treats for your fourlegged best friends, along with cute pet accessories.

Vernacular

177 E. Beck St.

Whie most boutiques are reserved for neighborhoods such as The Short North, Vernacular serves as a hotspot for trendy women’s apparel and accessories.

Helen Winnemore’s

150 E. Kossuth St.

A quirky, long-standing shop that focuses on American artisans, Helen Winnemore’s has been a German Village staple since it was first established in 1966. Visitors can find whimsical art pieces, jewelry, ceramics, and much more.

Lindey’s

169 E. Beck St.

Since 1981, Lindey’s has defined polished dining in German Village with classic decor, perfectly cooked steaks, and one of the city’s best patios.

Barcelona

263 E. Whittier St.

This Spanish-inspired spot brings tapas and paella to a historic 1895 building, complete with its original oak bar and a can’t-miss happy hour.

Hey Hey Bar & Grill

Family-owned since 1900, this former Prohibition speakeasy is best known for cheap beers and legendary sauerkraut balls.

Beck Tavern

284 E. Beck St.

Tiny and cozy with dart boards, wood booths, and dirt cheap drinks, this no-frills dive is German Village’s go-to for a laid-back night out.

361 E. Whittier St.

Katzinger’s Delicatessen

475 S. 3rd St.

A Village institution for over 40 years, Katzinger’s serves New York–style deli fare—latkes, knishes, matzo ball soup, and homemade bagels— inside an 1827 storefront.

Schmidt’s Sausage Haus

240 E. Kossuth St.

Since 1886, Schmidt’s has drawn crowds for its Autobahn Buffet of sausages and sauerkraut, plus cream puffs the size of your head.

NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORHOODS

PAST & PRESENT

A former stretch of farms and countryside, Olde Towne East (OTE), was one of Columbus’ first suburban areas, and home to the city’s first horse-drawn street cars in 1863.

While the area, which was annexed by the city of Columbus in 1870, was once a bedroom community for some of the city’s wealthier residents, by WWII, the city of Bexley, just east of OTE, had begun to absorb the neighborhood’s wealthier residents at a fast clip. By the 1970s, the area was a shell of its former self, but even then, it had one unique draw: an excess of beautiful historic homes, although many had fallen into disrepair.

In the last few decades, OTE has witnessed a flurry of not just new development (the Trolley District, which contains the area’s first food hall and will see new apartments completed soon), but also an influx of new residents, including many who are attracted to fixing up the area’s historic houses, which recall more than 50 different architectural styles.

EAST SIDE PRIDE

Historic homes and a blended community define Columbus’ popular Near East Side neighborhood

By Jack McLaughlin

A local’s perspective

What I love about Olde Towne East, and the entire Near East Side, is that there is a place for everyone. You have a mix of grand historic homes, cool modern new builds, high-end apartments, affordable housing, and a community that embraces it all. It’s artistic, walkable, and full of hidden gems like A.J. Soseby, Old Salts Leatherworks, The Attic Comedy Club, and Yawning Bear Bread Co. There’s a sense that everyone here cares about preserving what’s special while still moving the neighborhood forward.

Jake Bluvstein

Old Salts Leatherworks

This charming leatherworker—whose claim to fame is their Front Pocket Wallet—is locallyowned, and even locally-er situated, which is to say the Old Salts store is actually inside of the owner’s home.

The Plant Gays

212 Kelton Ave.

From chic—and highly functional—pots to indoor plants and even plant design consultations, the Plant Gays’ regional brick and mortar home inside the East Market is a neighborhood staple.

Golden Hobby Gift Shop

865 E. Capital St.

Relocating to the Fran Ryan Center in January, Golden Hobby sells everything from handmade earrings to paintings and even woodwork, all while serving as a nonprofit consignment shop selling the work of over 200 senior citizen artists and makers.

267 Kelton Ave.

MEET THE NEW NISSAN/NORTH

Franklin Park Conservatory

1777 E. Broad St.

More than 200 years old and on the National Register of Historic Places, Franklin Park boasts more than 400 plant species, a yearly butterfly event, plenty of seasonal, familyfriendly fun and much more.

Columbus Museum of Art

480 E. Broad St.

Founded in 1878, the CMA offers a large collection of modern and contemporary art, folk art, photography and more.

East Market

212 Kelton Ave.

While Olde Towne East doesn’t offer the same density of culinary options as the Short North, it is home to one of Columbus’ cornerstone food halls. The East Market, part of the historic Trolley District development, serves up pizza, Korean fare, Creole cuisine, to name just a few.

Thurber House

77 Jefferson Ave.

Not just a museum and literary center dedicated to famous writer and cartoonist James Thurber, the Jefferson Ave. building was Thurber’s former home, and is allegedly one of Columbus’ most haunted spots.

Fran Ryan Center

865 E. Capital St.

I bet you didn’t know there was a public arts hub located in the heart of Olde Towne East. Technically part of Columbus Recreation and Parks, it offers hands-on classes across nearly every medium imaginable in its eight studio spaces.

Columbus Public Health

480 E. Broad St.

Originally created as the nation’s first school for the visually impaired in 1837, this sweeping campus offers stunning examples of French Second Empire and Jacobethan styles of architecture.

Osteria Pizzeria

892 Oak St.

After Mikey’s left the corner of 18th Street and Oak Street, the new Osteria Pizzeria fills the niche it left with mouthwatering pies, a host of traditional Italian options, and a cozy-chic interior.

Olde Towne Tavern

889 Oak St.

This Olde Towne East stalwart has served the area for more than a dozen years, offering contemporary American fare, cheap drinks and a neighborhood feel at the centrallylocated corner of Oak Street and 18th Street.

Gemüt Biergaten

734 Oak St.

In a sea of hazy IPAs and 18 Percent ABV imperial stouts, Gemüt bucks the trend, but does so with aplomb. This popular OTE brewery offers traditional German beer styles, accompanying German food, and a classic outdoor biergarten.

Upper Cup Coffee

79 Parsons Ave.

House-roasted espresso and made-to-order food meet at Upper Cup, alongside one of the city’s most unique—and beginnerfriendly—chess organizations, the Upper Cup Chess Club.

HangOverEasy

51 Parsons Ave.

While HangOverEasy may be one of few breakfast options in the neighborhood, it’s a great one, offering inventive skillets, plenty of boozy brunch cocktails and the Walk of Shame, an indulgent breakfast sandwich served on a glazed donut.

Buck City Sammies

212 Kelton Ave.

Starting as a food truck, Buck City Sammies moved into an East Market stall not long after opening, and it isn’t hard to see—or taste, for that matter—why that’s the case.

NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORHOODS

short of northing

Serving as the heartbeat of the city’s arts and dining scenes, Short North and Italian Village blend Columbus’ unique history with an energy-infused present

By Jack McLaughlin

PAST & PRESENT

Short North

Beginning as a nickname given by police officers who referred to the area as north of Downtown but just “short” of Ohio State’s campus, the Short North has likely been the highest profile Columbus neighborhood of the 21st century. But it wasn’t always that way.

Before becoming a go-to spot for dining and one of the city’s most prominent arts districts, it was created in 1850 as a hub for the city’s working-class. Eventually, by the mid 20th-century, the area became run down and crime-ridden, before an influx of individuals attracted to its historic architecture (like its iconic High Street arches) returned in droves. Fittingly for an arts district, it was the creation of the Short North Gallery Hop in 1985–an event that lives on to this day–that helped the Short North reach the popularity zenith it’s enjoyed over the past several decades.

Italian Village

Created at the turn of the 20th century after the installation of the Columbus-Worthington Pike (known today as High Street), the area likely found its name from the fact that many Italian immigrants called it home, and the prominent St. John the Baptist Catholic Church (which is now on the National Register of historic places and the site of Columbus’ annual Italian festival).

Later, in the 1970s, the Italian Village Commission and Italian Village Society were created in order to protect some of the area’s historic architecture, and in the last decade, Italian Village has become one of the city’s hottest dining hotspots, boasting Budd Dairy Food Hall, Seventh Son Brewing and Hoof Hearted Brewing and the original Fox in the Snow.

A local’s perspective

The Italian Village is special because of its unique blend of historic architecture and great sense of community. My husband and I chose to live here because it is urban, yet very much feels like a neighborhood. We love being able to walk to so many restaurants, bars, cafes, sports arenas, shops, the Gateway movie theater, and the like. We also have fabulous neighbors.

Jennifer Cornman

CRMD

1190 N. High St.

Black vanilla, traffic cone sprinkles, bubble cones and a whole lot more. CRMD is a contemporary ice cream shop if there ever was one. A little bit of adult humor to round out the concept never hurt anyone, either.

Bodega

1044 N. High St.

If a literal wall of craft beer tap handles doesn’t make you want to patronize a business, you may want to check your pulse. Bodega is a Columbus craft beer hub, offering food that’s surprisingly cheap, and undeniably delicious.

Woodhouse Vegan

19 W. Russel St.

No meat, no problem. Woodhouse Vegan has the uncanny ability to turn out dishes like nachos and Coney dogs that satisfy our desire to go all in on something indulgent without skipping a beat.

Hoof Hearted Brewing

26 E. Fifth Ave.

“World class craft beer in a weirdly lovable package” is probably the best way to describe this edgy craft brewer. While some of their triple IPAs may not be for the faint of heart, this mercurial brewery is churning out beers that can legitimately hold a candle with the best anywhere.

Fox in the Snow

1031 N. 4th St.

The location that started a craft cafe empire is Fox in the Snow’s 4th Street hub. Whether you want coffee, pastries to die for or their viral souffled egg sandwich, you can’t go wrong with a classic Columbus spot.

36 E. Lincoln

Chapman’s Eat Market may be gone, but the man behind the beloved concept is back with a new spot serving up wood-fire Italian fare in a chic, two-floor setting.

Columbus Food Adventures

3923 N. High St.

Whether it’s a cross section of Short North dining or a pizza-focused romp through Italian Village, Columbus Food Adventures–one of the city’s authorities on under-the-radar dining–allows you to get up close and personal with the Columbus eats you love most.

Gallery Hop

Along N. High St.

Once billed as “the best event in the state” by Ohio Magazine, the Short North’s monthly Gallery Hop (and its Holiday Hop on Dec. 6) helps the neighborhood come alive, and bring floods of viewers into local galleries and engaged with local art alike.

Union Cafe/ Axis Nightclub

782 N High St./775 N. High St.

Packed with some of the city’s best drag shows, a myriad of other community events and a lively atmosphere, both Union Cafe and Axis Nightclub are absolutely indispensable members of the city’s thriving LGBTQIA scene.

Budd Dairy Food Hall

1086 N. 4th St.

While it’s easy to fall in love with the North Market, don’t overlook its Italian Village counterpart. Budd Dairy offers an enticing cross sections of top Columbus eateries, a wonderfully quirky historic home (which used to serve as a dairy distribution center) and even a rooftop bar.

Pedal Wagon

848 N. Pearl St.

It’s one thing to see the city from the sidewalk, it’s another to be riding down the streets of the Short North and Italian Village on a pedalpowered vehicle with all your closest friends. The only thing you have to bring for both of these tour services is your own alcohol.

Flower Child

233 E. 5th Ave.

From vinyl records and cool clothes to authentic midcentury furniture dripping with nostalgia, when you enter Flower Child, you’re stepping into another world entire more than you are just a storefront. It’s the kind of place you can—and will, if nobody stops you—spend and entire day browsing and not get bored or see the same thing twice.

Prologue Bookshop

841 N. High St.

No good arts district is complete without a boundary-pushing indie bookstore, right? Prologue fits the bull nicely for this, offering–in addition to gifts, games and cards–its own “Banned Books” section.

Smartypants Vintage

815 N. High St.

At Smartypants Vintage, you’re shopping smarter, not harder, for classic midcentury clothing and more. A hand-curated and regularly-updated collection from Justina Smart means you won’t have top hit up four junkvolume thrift stores just to find a shirt you like.

Pochettely

1589 N. High St.

Billed as the first “Italian charm bar in Ohio,” this brand-new concept (it officially opened in late October) allows patrons to choose from hundreds of options to create their own “dream charm bracelet” in a chic setting.

Penn & Beech Candle Co.

737 N. High St.

November is peak candle season, but why stop at sniffing around for a scent that you think is good enough? Penn & Beech allows you to create your own custom candle, pulling from more than 100 different fragrances.

NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORHOODS

Harrison West

Westside Wonders

Franklinton, the artistic neighborhood West of the Scioto, thrives on community and camaraderie

By Sav McKee

PAST & PRESENT

A local’s perspective

Franklinton is unique and special from so many perspectives. It has always been a community of grit, determination, and tenacity. Why it continues to be so unique and special today is not just about the incredible redevelopment work happening, but much more about the close fabric of residents, businesses and organizations that call this neighborhood home, whether they’ve been here 60 years, or six months. I discovered this community in 2006 and now I am a Franklintonian for life.

Trent E. Smith

Though Columbus wasn’t officially founded until 1812, a settlement had already been established in 1797 by surveyor Lucas Sullivant on the west bank of the Scioto River. Granted several thousand acres of land, Sullivant set out to build a small town of his own. The area—now known as Franklinton, in honor of Benjamin Franklin—was heavily forested and largely uninhabited, though it had long served as a passageway for Indigenous communities. It soon became clear why Native Americans no longer lived there. Despite its fertile soil, the land was prone to frequent flooding—and just a year after its founding, the fledgling town of Franklinton was submerged under the Scioto River’s waters.

But, true to form, Franklinton persevered. To attract new residents, Sullivant offered free plots of land to anyone willing to build a home. Many claimed lots along what became known as Gift Street, and by the early 20th century, Franklinton had grown to nearly 30,000 residents. Despite periodic flooding and other hardships, the community continued to thrive.

That resilience was tested again during the Great Flood of 1913, which left more than 20,000 residents homeless. To make matters worse, postflood investment was restricted by law, preventing homeowners from making necessary repairs. What outsiders would later call “neglect” was, in truth, the result of legal barriers—not community apathy. A floodwall, completed in 2004, finally offered long-awaited protection and paved the way for revitalization. Today, Franklinton is home to roughly 8,800 residents—many of them artists, makers, and entrepreneurs. The neighborhood stands as a testament to endurance and reinvention, transforming a history of hardship into one of creativity and growth.

Feb 13-15, 2026 | Ohio Theatre

Grab your ticket to Neverland today! www.balletmet.org

Sweeney’s Tavern

3055 Indianola Ave.

Jim Sweeney, former executive director of the Franklinton Development Association, transformed a historic home into a cozy neighborhood tavern with a 1950s flair—an homage to Franklinton’s post–World War II glory days. Here, you’ll find friendly faces, bartenders spinning vinyl, and even a rotating Malört shot on the menu.

The Original Josie’s Pizza

3923 N. High St.

Family-owned and operated since 1959, this no-frills spot serves up quintessential Columbus-style pizza. If you don’t see the pepperoni on top, that’s on purpose—the Catalfina family discovered early on that layering it beneath the cheese locks in more flavor, letting the pepperoni’s juices infuse their signature homemade dough.

Tommy’s Diner

914 W. Broad St.

Athanasios “Tommy” Pappas grew up in a small village in Greece, where he taught himself to cook. At 21, he was drafted into the Greek army. While on leave, he met his future wife, Kathy, who was visiting from Columbus. She convinced him to make the move, and together they opened Tommy’s Diner on Broad Street. Ever since, locals and visitors alike have lined up to enjoy some of the best classic diner fare in town. Though Tommy has passed, his son Michael continues the diner’s legacy.

Land-Grant Wintergarden

424 W. Town St.

Each winter, Land-Grant Brewing transforms its outdoor extension into a whimsical wonderland. The Wintergarden offers igloos, brewery curling, ice bumper cars, and winter leagues—a perfect showcase of Franklinton’s playful spirit and community energy.

COSI

333 W. Broad St.

Named the number one science museum in the entire country for the last five years running by USA Today, we’re lucky to have The Center of Science and Industry (COSI) in Franklinton. Along with interactive displays and exhibits for all ages, COSI offers an “After Dark” event for ages 21+ every second Thursday of every month, where adults are encouraged to lean into activities, games, and experiences, all with a cocktail in-hand. Admission isn’t free, but their outside playground and greenspace are!

Columbus Glass Art Center

892 Scott St.

Ever wanted to play with fire, quite literally? You can here. This comprehensive glass-making facility encompasses molten glass, casting, fusing, neon, stained glass, cold working, and torching working. They offer stateof-the art facilities for glass artists in all stages of their practice.

Franklinton Cycle Works

897 W. Broad St.

New, used, and even electronic bikes can be found at this community bike shop, but don’t expect to stop in with an exact make and model in-mind, for it’s donation-based. But even cooler, they offer their shop space, stands, and tools completely free of cost to anyone who needs a place, and the means, to repair their bikes. Volunteers are even onhand to share their knowledge and experience.

Franklinton Farms

867 W. Town St. & Surrounding Markets

Sure, you’ve seen farms surrounding Columbus, but have you seen one almost Downtown? Franklinton Farms is an urban farm with a mission to fight food insecurity around Franklinton. The non-profit grows beautiful produce to then be donated and delivered around the community or sold at local markets. Along with placing an online order, you can also visit the U-PICK Garden at Town St. and Martin, where people can pick their own veggies, flowers, and herbs, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, open to all with no questions asked.

Rich St. Records

554 W. Rich St.

Formerly known as Roots Records, this 20-year-old shop offers an eclectic mix of new and used vinyl spanning reggae, house, jungle, drum and bass, hip-hop, rock, metal, soul, and R&B. Regular live DJ sets and listening parties make Rich St. Records as much a cultural hub as it is a music store.

400 W. Rich

400 W. Rich St.

This creative cornerstone of Columbus, known as 400 W. Rich, is home to an ever-evolving community of artists, makers, and entrepreneurs. The century-old building houses studios and offices for vintage dealers, photographers, painters, jewelers, and more. Visitors are welcome by appointment—and most spaces open up for Franklinton Fridays. Think of it as an intimate indoor market filled with some of the city’s most inspired minds.

NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORHOODS

By Jordan Abbruzzese

Back in 2023, the Aladdin Shrine Center’s FEZtival of Trees celebration started as a small community event. Now, in its third year, the annual tradition has grown to become a Central Ohio staple. Organized by Jill Jones, Aladdin's Event and Marketing Manager, and the rest of the FEZtival committee members, the FEZtival of Trees features dozens of themed, decorated Christmas trees that attendees are invited to bid on via a raffle. If your ticket is selected, you will receive the fully dressed tree with all of the presents and prizes underneath.

“It's a way to get the word out about the Aladdin Shriners and what we do for kids and the community, including our support of Shriners Children's Ohio,” explained Jones. “The FEZtival is our way of showing our appreciation and giving back to the community while also raising funds for our operations.

For over 70 years, the Shriners have been serving their hospitals globally, but also right here in Central Ohio, through their organization The Aladdin Shriners Hospital Association for Children (ASHAC). The Shriner’s community work also helps donate life-saving equipment to firefighters, and give-back to central Ohio during the holiday season by providing the trees for raffle.

“It's really what's helped make Christmas budgets easier for the community," added Jones. “The people who come in can win a tree and all the gifts under it.”

This year, Jones expects to see 40 trees—their biggest donation yet. Amongst the holiday trees will be some annual favorites, in addition to new themes that are sure to garner tickets. Guests can expect to see the “$1,000 Cash Tree” back again (literally a tree adorned with $1,000.00), the popular Ohio State Tree, the Designer Purse Tree, and the Blackstone Grill Tree. This season, there will be new surprises as well, like a Lottery Tree with hundreds of dollars

worth of lottery tickets hanging from the branches.

“Each tree is sponsored by a company or an individual. They bring it in, they decorate it, they load gifts under it, and they are all up for raffle. You buy a 50 cent raffle ticket, you drop it into the tree you want, and if you win, you win a lot,” said Jones. “We want to do something that has a positive impact on the community.”

Past trees have come with popular items such as a KitchenAid Standing Mixer, a 50 inch Smart TV, a set of luggage, camping gear, the Walmart Tree with dozens of toys underneath, and a special tree donated by the Hocking Hills Shrine Club. Gift card trees are also a hit, decorated with gift cards to beloved Columbus and Grove City-area shops and eateries. Beyond the tree raffle, attendees can also enjoy the expanded live entertainment and music offerings, including local choirs, bands, and small Christmas-themed acts.

Santa will be available every day of the event for free for both visits and

photos, along with a popular ornamentdecorating station for kids. If guests get hungry, favorites like hotdogs and burgers will be for sale, in addition to a popular hot chocolate station, and of course— holiday cookies,

The event will run from November 22nd through the 29th, open every day but Thanksgiving. Festival-goers can expect to pay five dollars to enter, with children 12 and under free. A set of 10 raffle tickets can be purchased for five dollars. Those who want to enter the raffle simply have to walk around the indoor tree display and drop their tickets into their tree(s) of choice.

“We are really excited about it this year. Word has gotten out,” said Jones. Join in on the festival cheer with music, decorations, Santa photos, and more at the FEZtival of Trees at the Aladdin Shrine Center, located at 1801 Gateway Circle in Grove City. ♦

Visit aladdinfeztival.com for more event information, hours, and the full entertainment schedule.

↑ This year's FEZtival of Trees runs from November 22-29, open every day besides Thanksgiving. Photo courtesy of Aladdin Shrine Center

The elder Landolls first thought they’d turn it into their home. But then, they decided to turn it into a lodge or hotel. And the building kept growing from there.

Jimmy left his job in the children’s book publishing business and joined the team in 2014. “I was in between jobs, and my mom asked me if I could kind of babysit the property while she and her sister went on a little vacation. I worked almost ‘round the clock the whole time she was gone. And I’m like, ‘Is this what you’re doing?’ And she’s like, ‘Yeah, I’m working like 100 hours a week.’ I always knew she worked hard, but I didn’t know it was to that extent. So I was like, ‘Well, maybe I’ll take a break from my career and I’ll come and help you for a couple months.’ And then I ended up staying.”

From that point, the castle’s growth really took off. Every year, Landoll said, they’re

adding something new. There are eleven uniquely-shaped suites in the castle itself, plus fourteen more traditional style suites in the Suites at the Stables. Add four units in the Highland building, two cottages (one built in the nineteenth century), and two villas to be constructed this winter, and it’s a busy, growing business.

But it’s more just an inn. It has a restaurant, event center, banquet hall, market store, and gift shop. Then there’s pickleball courts, a basketball hoop, an indoor pool, a sauna, and a nineteenth-century cemetery to explore on the 30-acre property. And, of course, there’s ample outdoor recreation just a few minutes away at Mohican State Park, Malabar Farm State Park, and Wolf Creek Grist Mill, plus dining and shopping in downtown Loudonville. It’s romantic, family friendly, and perfect for a weekend

getaway—and it’s only an hour’s drive from the Polaris exit on I-71.

And the family-business charm is everywhere. Rooms carry ancestral family names. The restaurant’s walls and shelves show off Landoll’s grandparents’ (and Jim’s) collected antiques—”sort of a ‘wizard’s library’ vibe,” Landoll said.

But—how did the family bring an old barn, with home-grown renovations, up to code for a hotel? “That was very challenging,” Landoll recalled. “I was in high school when the property opened in 2002. The castle didn’t have any blueprints, obviously, because it was a barn. And once it was built, they had to figure out, ‘How do we fit rooms in here, and how do we make it so it can be a hotel, and how do we get 11, 12, 13 bathrooms in this building?’ So as they went, they just designed each room at a time.”

↓ The cozy suites at Landoll’s are perfect for a winter getaway

As you might expect, the castle has a booming wedding business, especially in the fall peak season— over 120 weddings and rehearsal dinners in September and October alone. Then there are more than 70 corporate events rounding out the weekdays, making it nearly every day that the property has an event of some kind during this time of year. And then, in the summer and early fall, there are the haunted history tours in the cemetery.

Winter brings its own beauty to the castle, perfect for a quick staycation to escape or recover from holiday stress. But plan your trip early, because business isn’t slowing down any time soon. Visitors are pouring in to get their fill of the whimsical, home-grown-meetsluxurious, experience.

And Landoll wouldn’t have it any other way. “When I pull up the driveway and I see it every day, I’m like, ‘Why is that thing here? Why? Why, in the middle of Ohio, in the woods, is there a castle?’ It’s one of those things where you’re driving across country somewhere, and you see stuff and wonder what the story is. And we’ve opened the doors to let people come and be a part of that story.” ♦

Learn more and book your stay on Landoll’s website, landollsmohicancastle.com.

HEALTHY LEGS. RENEWED LIFE.

Ohio Vein & Vascular –Polaris helps Central Ohio patients find relief from leg pain

By Sav McKee

Photos by Jen Brown

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 – Polaris, 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 – Polaris. “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 – Polaris

ADVANCED, MINIMALLY INVASIVE TREATMENTS

Ohio Vein & Vascular – Polaris offers 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 the Polaris office, 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.

“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.”

Call (614) 426-8346 (VEIN) to schedule a free consultation at Ohio Vein & Vascular Center Columbus – Polaris, located at 1070 Polaris Pkwy, Suite 100. Visit LoveYourVeins.com for more information.

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

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. He now serves patients in North Canton, Independence, and Columbus, with prior roles at Mount Sinai and NYU.

How Zach Thompson and his Short North nonprofit merges the world of stylish shirts and mental health advocacy

stitched together

By Alex Lewis

Photos by Cheyn Roux Story Design by Andrew Thomas

Zach Thompson, founder of The Scatter Joy Project →

I saw Zach Thompson before I knew him. People might comment how someone’s reputation precedes them, but it really is true for Thompson, who is the Founder and executive director of The Scatter Joy Project.

It was the Wellington School auditorium in January 2023. Author and poet Hanif Abdurraqib spoke to an audience of students, parents, and alumni. Also, among them was Thompson and his wife, Molly. I saw them as the crowd dispersed and noticed their shirts. In big, bold letters, they read, “SCATTER JOY.” Over a year passed before Zach and I finally met for coffee at Colin’s in Upper Arlington, and he has been wearing merch from the mental health-minded nonprofit every time we have been together since.

Today, we are sitting in Scatter Joy’s newly opened storefront in the Short North Arts District. And of course, he looks the part. This time, his shirt boldly declares, “FIGHT FOR PEACE.” This feels especially fitting for Thompson, who has become increasingly attuned to how societal factors like racism and politics impact mental health, and how Scatter Joy can advocate for people in these conversations.

He speaks with confidence, “The utmost importance for us is to be able to step out in courage and hopefully inspire other people to do the same.”

The Scatter Joy Project is a nonprofit organization that supports and connects people with mental health resources, such as the Crisis Text Line and free and reduced cost care and treatment programs, through apparel, community initiatives, and creative arts. But put even simpler, Scatter Joy is a conduit for inspiration. This goes beyond mental health awareness. “If awareness was the solution to the mental health crisis that we see right now, then we wouldn’t have a crisis,” says Thompson. Rather, he and his team hope to pull people from awareness to action. To create more of what the world needs. →

The Scatter Joy Project is a nonprofit organization that supports and connects people with mental health resources.

← Scatter Joy’s shop offers a curated bookstore

Scatter Joy’s High Street space includes a retail shirt shop, pay-what-you-can coffee bar, and serves as a venue for arts events

“Mental health has always been this main character in my life. Now, I m just writing a different script with it.”

“I think you create what you wish you had,” notes Thompson. “Scatter Joy is a direct reflection of what I wish I had growing up in middle school, high school, college, and even now.”

Thompson’s mental health took a hit in seventh grade after the passing of his uncle, who he considered to be one of his heroes. Mired in grief, Thompson shut down. He quit all the sports he played and did not know how to move forward. Even as life went back to normal, Thompson still felt stuck. “Outwardly, it looked like everything was fine, and I had overcome it, and I was normal,” he shares. “But internally, I was battling something that no one could see, and I did that in silence.”

Years later, while Thompson was in college, his mom had a cardiac episode similar to that of Thompon’s uncle. She had a defibrillator implanted and encouraged her family to get tested because the condition was hereditary. As it turned out, Thompson was the only one out of his family who had the gene that could mutate into this heart disease. Upon receiving the diagnosis, he immediately got a

defibrillator implanted. Within the first three months, it went off three times and saved him from potentially going into cardiac arrest. Once again, Thompson’s grief was palpable because it felt reminiscent of how he lost his uncle.

“Mental health has always been this main character in my life,” confesses Thompson. “Now, I’m just writing a different script with it.”

That script began, in part, with a quote from well-known author Ralph Waldo Emerson: “There is no beautifier of complexion, or form, or behavior, like the wish to scatter joy and not pain around us.”

The words “scatter joy” jumped off the page when Thompson first read them in 2020. During a time as isolating as global lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Thompson dared to imagine how he could share more joy with the world. He started with a simple pennant in his office emblazoned with the phrase. Now, that same pennant hangs behind the checkout counter in Scatter Joy’s concept store, which Thompson describes as a “third space.”

While he hoped to give Scatter Joy a physical location to call home, Thompson also wanted to give people in Columbus a place that was not home or work where they could feel at home. The multi-purpose space, which is located at 896 N. High St., includes a curated bookstore, a paywhat-you-can coffee bar, and also serves as a venue for arts and storytelling events.

For folks who want to support Scatter Joy’s mission, Thompson recommends joining the organization’s membership program, The Society, for as little as $10 a month. But even beyond donating or wearing the apparel, Thompson encourages people to consider how they can make an impact in their community.

“It’s one thing to donate,” he says. “It’s another thing to create a movement of your own and have that benefit an organization that you deeply admire and enjoy giving to.” ♦

Visit The Scatter Joy Project at 986 N. High St. Thursdays through Sundays, and visit thescatterjoyproject.com for more information.