(614) April | 2023

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BIG PICTURE

Annabelle the praying mantis stands guard in front of Chadwick Arboretum's Phenology Research Garden. Plan your own oddities road trip and see the rest of our roadside attractions on p. 47.

JACK MCLAUGHLIN Editor-In-Chief

The Open Road

There’s no road trip like the Midwestern road trip. This is a hill, I mean a cornfield, I will die on.

I mean, sure, the California coast is probably nice, and New England is cool in the fall, but when I really dig down to the roots of the American highway, what I think of is an endlessly flat plain against a stark blue sky, half-height cornstalks whipping in the mild breeze.

I’m an Illinois native, but the landscapes there and those here in central Ohio share a lot in common, in the sense that they’re largely defined by their negative space and their flatness. Maybe this is just something that happens when you’re reminded of where you're from, but there’s a beauty in this that I can’t quite annunciate, but can never get enough of.

I remember once, just over a decade ago, I was freshly out of college and relocating to Virginia from Chicago. I bought my uncle’s 1998 Honda Civic, threw the few things I owned in the back seat, and started driving east.

I remember the way the sunlight struck the windshield when I pulled out of the driveway, the only real home I had ever known, in the middle of the summer sunset.

I remember driving through Indiana in the dark, and being awestruck at the ghostly wind turbines that stretched for miles, blinking their single red lights in unison again the Midwestern night.

I remember a West Virginia sunrise, the day’s first light breaking out across the silent mining equipment, with the foothills of the Applachians still black in the distance.

There’s something about this trip that has stuck with me even after all these years. There’s an undeniable magic to the road trip, and there’s something undeniably American about it, as well. Sitting with your face pressed against the glass, or your hands gripping the steering wheel as you cruise through the rest of the country is truly the most personal way to experience it. And it’s a uniquely intimate experience to share with a friend, too. There’s a magic that takes over when the first song hits your car speakers, and when your wheels touch the open road and an entire country of possibility is spread out before you, with nobody telling you which way to drive.

This is the magic we want to capture with our April issue, as the weather warms up, and the car windows come down. So grab a copy, grab a friend or two, and let’s ride across Ohio together.

Welcome to the Road Trip Issue.

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Jen Brown, Leonardo Carrizo, Aaron Massey, Jordy Middlebrooks, Björn Anderson, Sumner Howells, Brian Jones, James Godwin

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

McLaughlin, Melinda Green, Jim Fischer, Laura Hennigan, Shelby Metzger, Jill Craig, John M. Clark

CREATIVE

VIDEO

SOCIAL

MARKETING COORDINATOR

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Wilhite

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

� STAFF PICKS

Our staff picks

Grab a 2 foot-long Slim Jim and buckle your seat belt, we're going on a road trip. Since our cover section is dedicated to cruising the Columbus area and all of its roadside revelations, we've asked our staff about their favorite local roadside oddities. Here's what they had to say.

Perry's Monument at Put-in-Bay/South Bass Island. So much history. Beautiful at sunrise & sunset.

— Meggin Weimerskirch, Advertising Director

There's a giant Ronald McDonald statue in Sunbury with little to no explanation. Hell is Real sign is definitely up there, too.

— Jack McLaughlin, Editor-In-Chief

Definitely the corn statues in Dublin.

— Julia Attanasio, Social Media Manager

The wall of gum at the Maid-Rite Drive-in is weird but cool!

— Anna Gerhard, Account Executive

I don't know why but I love the giant duck boot outside of L.L. Bean in Easton.

— Victoria Smith, Creative Designer

Well I used to love driving by the Wonder Bread building and smelling the fresh bread!

— Justynne Pride, Marketing Coordinator

Grandpa’s Cheesebarn is an Ohio Cultural Icon at this point.

— Atlas Biro, Creative Designer

HELL IS REAL!

— Lizzy Saunders, Brand Manager, (614) Beer

ON the WEB

Do you check your news and entertainment updates on 614now.com? You should. Every day we’re posting Columbus’s 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!

→ Popular spot for chicken and fish launches first food truck

LB’s Golden Fried Fish N’ Chicken has hit the road. For the first time, this popular ghost kitchen–which launched in the 1400 Food Labs incubator space in 2021–recently launched a food truck of its own... Scan the QR to keep reading.

→ A literal half-pound buckeye candy is now available for a limited time in Clintonville

When The Buckeye Lady goes big, watch out. The popular Clintonville-based sweet shop known for its “stuffed” Buckeyes has rolled out a new seasonal special that matches its largest candy yet... Scan the QR to keep reading.

→ Fast-growing retail craze described as “treasure hunt” opening first Columbus location

While Dollar General recently ran into some trouble in Ohio, this time the company is coming with only good things in tow... Scan the QR to keep reading.

PRES S PLAY

614 VIDEO

Did you know that (614) has a YouTube channel with some very shareable video content? It’s true. Keep an eye out for more on our (614) Columbus account and on social media. In the meantime, scan the QR code to check out our newest videos.

• Rualco Tiny Homes

Rulaco Tiny Homes hopes to carve a sustainable, smart-sourced and beautiful future for Columbus residents during the housing shortage.

• Your New Favorite Margaritas

These delicious, filled to the salty rim, Giant Margaritas from El Vaquero are absolutely brimming with all that sweet sweet margarita-y goodness.

• Hearty Soups to Warm You Up

What better way to beat these repeated cold snaps than a warm, delicious, and authentic Mexican soup? You'll find some of the best right here at El Vaquero!

• Tasting Columbus: 3 Bites Bakery

Pulling together a fusion of globally inspired baked treats, 3 Bites Bakery is creating some delectable treats beside their perfectly portioned lunch menu.

The Man in the Metal Mask

Columbus artist Elijah Secrest has amassed more than a million online fans for his weird and wonderful metalworks, and it’s not hard to see why

By Jim Fischer / Photos by Leonardo Carrizo / Story Design by Atlas Biro

In his Franklinton studio–surrounded by tools and machines, finished pieces, prototypes, boxes of raw materials, scrap metal, relics and other sundries–and wearing his handlebar mustache and Van Dyke, Elijah Secrest could come off as some twisted-genius steampunk antagonist.

Except that the metal artist/jewelry maker’s smile was warm and engaging, his space compelling and non-threatening and not once did he imply his enemies will rue the day they failed to listen to him.

The Columbus artist, who makes and sells wearable and functional art as Aerarius Metalworks, uses copper, bronze, brass, silver and other materials to craft rings, earrings and pendants, as well as less-traditional pieces such as scorpion rings that move with your finger and a fitted hand claw. →

← Elijah Secrest, owner of Aerarius Metalworks

The most eye-catching of his creations, though, are likely Secrest’s masks. Done on commissions (and requiring customers are present for a lengthy studio session to make sure each piece conforms to each individual’s face), he’s created masks with a flare of golden segments and wire, in addition to a piece with an attenuated mouth section that opens into a stand of spikey projections.

Each piece is completely fabricated by Secrest, whether cast (from a mold created by the artist) or assembled. Nothing, he said, in his collection is 3D-printed.

“The pieces, whichever they are, are meant to be used,” Secrest said.

And while form and function are important considerations, according to Secrest, each piece remains a handcrafted work of art with as much depth and meaning as anything that hangs in a gallery – He’s just not going to bother you with what that meaning is.

“You can dump all the meaning into a piece that you want but you can’t control how people are going to react to it or what meaning they might give something they buy,” Secrest said. “My practice is to develop a piece that’s beautiful – or ugly –and let people infer whatever meaning on it they choose. I don’t want to make a piece that requires reading to understand.” →

"The pieces, whichever they are, are meant to be used."

↑ Elijah Secrest, inside his Franklinton studio space ↓

However they’re interpreted, it’s clear people from all over the world are into Secrest’s creations. By early spring 2023, he had amassed 1.2 million TikTok followers, off the backs of atmospheric and eye-catching videos featuring his masks, claws and more.

Secrest got an early start in the art world, basically growing up in the longstanding, and since-closed, PM Gallery in the Short North, which was run by his parents, Maria Galloway and the late Michael Secrest.

“I was raised in the gallery, and mom would give me stuff to work on in the back, usually a hot glue gun and popsicles sticks,” Elijah Secrest recalled. “There was a patch of carpet that was coated with hot glue.”

In high school, Secrest enrolled in the welding program, eventually getting placed in a job at the age of 16. Among his public works made during this time are the spiked tops of the metal fences in the residential area along Gay Street downtown between 4th and Cleveland avenues.

"Sometimes pieces come out a little weird, and i like that."

↓ Elijah Secrest, holding a custom wire mask

Already experienced with metals by the time he enrolled at CCAD, Secrest took courses in jewelry and other 3D fabrication, majoring in contemporary craft. During this time, he began selling his pieces to friends and friends of friends, and later via the web.

Secrest has used his Instagram and TikTok feeds (search Aearius Metalworks) to grow his online presence, while building up inventory on his website.

“Along with the practice and encouragement that came from being raised by artists, I also had the understanding that a career in the arts was viable,” Secrest said.

Focusing on what he described as “antiquated practices and processes,” ecret seeks to create pieces that look older than they are, and he doesn’t shy away from the wild or the unusual, just one of the many benefits of working by hand.

“Sometimes pieces come out a little weird, and I like that,” he said. ♦

↑ Elijah Secrest, inside his Franklinton studio space

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How a meteoric rise in popularity for local concept Bears Bagels landed plenty of pop-ups, and a pizza bagel collaboration

By Melinda Green / Photos by Aaron Massey / Story Design by Atlas Biro

This April 20, keep an eye out for Bears Bagels: They’ll have some tasty surprises up their sleeve to celebrate 420 Day. And, through the entire month of April, they’re collaborating with another local favorite to bring Columbus a delicious, grown-up spin on a popular kids’ lunch.

But wait—Bears Bagels has come out of nowhere fast. How did all of this happen?

Co-owner Charis Yost is still reeling a little from the quick rise to popularity.

“I’ve been in the [restaurant] industry for fifteen years,” said the former General Manager of 101 Beer Kitchen. “I’ve done pretty much everything in front of house and kitchen, except for Executive Chef. →

← Charis Yost, co-owner of Bear's Bagels

“If you had asked me at the beginning of 2022, if I’d be leaving at the end of that year and starting my own business, my mindset was ‘I’m a lifer, or at least a long-term 101 employee.’ I saw myself having a very linear path there. But, you know—life happens.”

Yes, life happens—and his back of house experience didn’t extend to baking.

He recalled, “My first dive into anything, baking-wise, was during the pandemic, when I was furloughed and bored as all get-out and decided to get some flour and yeast at Aldi. Like everyone else, [I was] making breads and stuff.”

Although his wife and Bears Bagels co-owner, Lo Yost, is a pastry chef, she doesn’t work with yeasted breads and couldn’t help him. As a result, “Bagels were one of the things that I failed miserably at,” Yost said.

“My wife wouldn’t let me hear the end of it. She actually got me a bagel cookbook as a gag gift in 2021 for Christmas. So, after I got that, I made it my mission in 2022 to be able to make a good bagel.

“That’s when I kind of opened up Pandora’s Box, went down the rabbit hole, whatever metaphor you want. I kind of sunk my teeth into it, read that book front to back, and got good at that, and then I started looking into online recipes, what’s the difference between a Montreal bagel and a New York bagel, and workshopping my own recipe to get what I wanted out of a bagel—something Columbus didn’t have.”

Around Memorial Day, Lo finally gave Charis the nod of approval. “It was the first affirmation I was doing something right,” he recalled. →

"I started...workshopping my own recipe to get what I wanted out of a bagel—something Columbus didn't have."

↑ Pizza Bagel, Bear's Bagels

Then, she said “You should start selling these.”

“It went from her harassing me and telling me I was terrible, to her telling me that I could probably sell them,” he recalled, laughing.

The Yosts did flash sales throughout the summer and had pickup times at their house. Charis was still at 101 Beer Kitchen, making bagels about once a week when he had a bit of free time. And the bagels became really popular really quickly.

“Here in Columbus, the experience you’ll get is not anywhere near what you’d get in Philadelphia or New York,” he said. And, on the city’s West side suburbs where the Yosts live, there are none of the “mom & pop” shops that Yost considers the outlet for a really good bagel. All of the factors pointed in one direction.

Last October, he and Lo made the decision that he would go full-bore into bagels, leaving his position at 101 Beer Kitchen and focusing on coffee shops and farmers’ markets until Bears Bagels can eventually build a brick-and-mortar shop. (In the meantime, they’re using the kitchen of another local dining establishment to make their bagels.)

614 Magazine reached out to Yost for an interview the Tuesday of his first week in his new business. The headline of the article asked the question, is this the next Wizard of Za?

That’s a heavy question, and it led Eric Rosenberg, co-owner of Fusian and Wizard of Za, to try Yost’s bagels. The two struck up a conversation on Yost’s front porch, and Rosenberg dangled a tasty suggestion: Since Bears Bagels had already been compared to Wizard of Za, maybe the two should collaborate someday.

"It went from her...telling me I was terrible, to her telling me I could probably sell them."

↓ Pizza Bagels in process, Bear's Bagels

↑ Charis and Lo Yost, Holding an assorted bagel bag

“I was like ‘Yeah, that would be great, ha-ha-ha!’ and threw it to the side like ‘They wouldn’t wanna do something with us; we’re so young,’” Yost recalled.

But, in January 2023, Rosenberg reached back out to see if Yost still had interest.

It started with a concept of pizza bagels all through the month of April at Wizard of Za in Clintonville. Since Wizard uses sesame seed in their pans, the pair decided to use Bears’ sesame seed bagel as the base for this collaboration. The rest is just as simple: Open face pizza bagels with classic cheese and pepperoni (or whatever you want to add), along with Wizard’s signature Sproccoli and Pesto Rosso approaches.

As the ideas flowed, they had another thought: Maybe they should also do a collaboration focused around 420 Day, and have a little fun with the counterculture celebration of marijuana.

Although they won’t say what surprises they’re planning (and the surprises will be legal, of course), there definitely will be celebratory shenanigans in Fusian’s parking lot on April 20th from 4:20 until 8:00pm.

Throughout this process, Yost has learned to become comfortable with being uncomfortable as Bears Bagels grows by leaps and bounds. If you think about it, business might be a lot like baking.

“You think it’s just following a recipe to the T, but it’s also a little bit of flex and feel and flow to it, depending on the amount that you’re baking, the temperature and humidity, the water temperature,” he noted. “There’s a lot of variables that go into it that I’ve started to realize kind of have the element of art, contrasted to the science of it. That’s the fun part of it.” ♦

Follow Bears Bagels on Facebook and Instagram (@bearsbagels614) to keep up with their April activities.

"I was like...'They wouldn't wanna do something with us; we're so young.'"

How Brandon Bir, a former metal fabricator and cake decorator, became one of the city's leading coffee experts

Growing up in rural small-town Indiana, Brandon Bir spent a lot of time at his grandmother’s house, listening to stories and adding whipped cream to the cups of coffee she served him from a pot that was always percolating. →

By Laura Hennigan

Photos by Aaron Massey

Story Design By Bryce Patterson

He went to college at Purdue, then tried culinary school for a while. He also spent time interning at ESPN, owned a catering company, was a hip hop radio DJ, worked as a metal fabricator, and dabbled in cake decorating.

It’s safe to say Bir had seen quite a bit by the time he landed in Columbus. His trademark energy and optimism helping him gain experience in such a wide array of fields, but it also brought him back to a globetrotting career in coffee, worlds away from his grandmother’s home in Indiana, but still close to it at heart.

Soon after arriving in Columbus, Bir landed a job as an assistant manager at the Nordstrom Espresso Bar. A few months later he was a manager, and after that he began traveling to different trainings to learn more about the art and science of coffee tasting.

While the 2008 recession eliminated his Nordstrom position, Bir took a gig answering phones at Crimson Cup while earning his MBA from the University of Wisconsin, with a focus in sustainability and international business. At Crimson, he discovered a former cupping room (cupping is the industry term for coffee tasting) that was being used as a dumping space for marketing materials instead of its intended purpose, and decided to revive it.

“I learned how to blind cup with the 26ish coffees Crimson had at the time. My goal was to identify every single coffee without knowing what that coffee was,” Bir shared. “I wanted to have the drink put in front of me and know exactly what it was. That’s how I learned how to cup.”

He also started asking more questions about where Crimson was sourcing their beans, exploring the details about the locations and farmers who were producing them. “It wasn’t enough to know that the bean was a Tanzanian Peaberry; I wanted to know where exactly in Tanzania and who grew it,” says Bir. “I told (Crimson Cup) owner Greg Ubert, “my dream is to bring people into the back room, take them on a tour, point to every single bag of coffee and talk about the family that is behind that coffee.”

This dream led to Bir traveling the globe and buying coffee from farmers, learning the stories about each product, and helping to launch Crimson Cup Friend2Farmer program, which empowers coffee farmers and farming communities to sustain themselves by producing high quality crops.

At the same time, Bir continued to gain education and earn more certifications, and the coffee industry started taking notice of his knowledge and passion.

“I was asked to share more information with others. I started writing material for the Specialty Coffee Association, started creating curriculum. I still can’t wrap my head around it… why people wanted to hear from me,” he said with a laugh.

In 2016, Bir headed to the Coffee Quality Institute in Aliso Viejo, California to become a certified master level Q grader, often considered the highest professional standard for evaluating and grading coffee. After a few years of master level tasting under his belt, Bir was eligible to re-test, submit the required recommendations, and complete the process to become an Assistant Q Instructor.

In winter 2023, Bir and Todd Arnette, owner of The Academy of Coffee Excellence, held the first ever Q Arabica Grader Exam and Training Course to take place in Columbus. Attendees from across the country gathered at the Crimson Cup Innovation Lab, a multi-purpose space designed for education, cupping, and roasting that Bir helped create.

“It was cool to bring something like this to Ohio because there’s not a lot of opportunities for people in the coffee industry here to move forward with education and knowledge,” he says. “It's great to use the facility for classes and certification and be part of the community.”

Today, according to Bir, he is the only assistant Q Instructor in the state of Ohio, and one of only several in the country. While working towards his full Q Instructor certification, Bir is also hyper-aware of his privilege and isn’t necessarily pursuing it with a goal of teaching Americans how to slurp coffee correctly. “I want to do this so that I can go to places and share education. There are stories behind everything we consume and everything we touch. I want to show everyone that there is a big group of people who are being taken advantage of, and we need to appreciate what we’re drinking, that it's more than just a cup of coffee,” he emphasized. “ We need to understand where it’s coming from and take better care of the people who are behind all of the products that we consume and bring equality to the industry. I hope that sharing what I’ve gained can help somehow.”

Bir and Crimson Cup have physical trappings to show as well for all their striving toward ethical sourcing. The Assistant Q Instructor reflects on his path while sitting in Crimson, an airy coffee house and flagship retail concept nestled on a side street inside the Easton Town complex. The focus of the shop is to highlight the relationships that Bir and company have cultivated with small-plot farmers by serving sustainably sourced craft coffees and teas from all over the world. This location was a labor of love for him, literally, “I built some items by hand, did some of the plumbing and electrical. Crismon is a dream that got realized.”

So what’s next for Brandon Bir? Everyone is waiting to find out, even Bir himself. He has more ideas and interests than can be counted, but ultimately everything keeps coming back to making his mark by hopefully leaving things a little better than he found them.

“I’ve always been very curious, I want to understand the way the world works, I want to understand how people work,” he concludes. “My continuing goal is to make sure that there’s representation, make sure everyone gets an opportunity. Life is good and I want to celebrate that.”

To learn more, follow Brandon Bir on Instagram @brandonbir.

progressive pizza

Slammies on High, a pizzeria and bar spinoff of the historic LGBTQIA-owned Slammers, opens in University District

By Jill Craig / Photos by Leonardo Carrizo

Story Design by Atlas Biro

There’s a new bar and pizza kitchen in the Ohio State University District – and it’s shaking, stirring, and slicing things up with its food, drinks, and inclusivity.

“If you look nationwide, there’s been a decline in LGBTQ restaurants and bars. We wanted to progress in that matter and offer something more in Columbus,” says Slammies on High co-owner Carson Nethers.

Slammies might sound familiar to patrons of Slammers, its older downtown sibling that Carson’s aunt opened in 1993. When she announced her intention to retire last year, Carson decided he would take over. →

“It’s something that’s been in our family for a long time. I thought, who’s better to do this than me? I’m young, I have the energy to take this one.”

So much energy, in fact, that he also decided to open Slammies with Matthew Johns and Ryan Skehan, as an “all-inclusive safe space for people who identify in different ways.”

“When I first came to OSU, I was still closeted, and I wish I had an experience like this where there were other gay kids around me, compared to going to LGBTQ bars with an older audience,” says Logan K., an OSU student who also does social media for Slammies.

Slammers and Slammies share the motto of “all walks, many grooves.” While Slammers bills itself as being one of 21 remaining lesbian bars in the United States, patrons say that Slammies is the first and only LGBTQ+ bar at OSU.

Jason R., an OSU graduate student in social work, says they’ve been to Slammers many times downtown, even meeting their girlfriend there. Visiting Slammies for a recent happy hour, Jason says they love ‘all the rainbow-ness of it.’

“I’m so excited that there’s a queer place this close to campus. We love Slammers, but it’s downtown and that’s an Uber ride away. Now it’s just a walk away and I’m really excited about that.”

Skehan, who is also the general manager of Slammies, has high hopes for the new venture, saying that Columbus is his favorite city in the country.

“There’s so much potential. It’s friendlier definitely, especially for the LGBTQ+ community.” →

"When I first came to OSU...I wish I had an experience like this..."

↓ Slammies on High, Interior ↑

The New Jersey native also offers this high praise for our city’s signature pizza: “I think Columbus style pizza is much better than New York style.”

In case you don’t know, Columbus style pizza is known by its square cut, thin crust, and edge-to-edge toppings. It also happens to be what Slammies –and Slammers – are known for. In fact, the menus are almost identical, although Slammies caters to its campus lunch crowd by offering smaller pizzas as well.

“It’s great to have the support of the community, but we’re also a restaurant that serves everybody...We’re known for our pizza, so we’re getting that out here. We’re not just a bar, we also have great food,” said Nethers.

As for the drinks, Johns – who is also the bar manager at Slammers – is having some fun with the craft cocktails.

Two of his most popular creations include the “Slamminade” (vodka, raspberry, lemon, and soda) and the “Slammierita” (tequila, orange liqueur, strawberry, and lime). And for those looking to guide their evening in a different direction, he’s concocted the made-for-two “Homewrecker” (vodka, gin, rum, triple sec, strawberry, and Red Bull).

↑ (Left to Right) Pepperoni Pizza, Pickle Pie, and Cheese Pizza, Slammies on High ↓ Assorted Pizzas with Drinks, Slammies on High

A full mocktail menu is also available; the owners say this is yet another way they can strive to include everyone.

Slammies is also working to organize events similar to the mainstays at Slammers, including music and “regular” trivia nights and karaoke, according to Nethers.

“Last night, a group of people were playing cards and having drinks at the booths. That’s great, that’s fun. We want people to come in here and enjoy the time they’re spending, not just come in, get something to eat and leave,” said Nethers. “We want a more inclusive environment and give people more stuff to do.”

OSU undergraduate sociology major Devon R. was recently enjoying a happy hour Slammierita. When asked how Slammers compares to Slammies, she had this to say:

“I didn’t find love there like Jason, but maybe here…”

Whether you’re looking for love, pizza, a drink, or all of the above, Slammies offers a weekday happy hour from 4 to 6 pm, as well as weekday lunch specials from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. ♦

To view the menu and location hours, visit slammiesonhigh.com

↓ Slammies on High, Kitchen

From roadside oddities to pit stops and playlists, this is your guide to the central Ohio road trip

By Jack McLaughlin / Story Design by Victoria Smith

With the windows down and the first warmth of spring rushing through the open window: It's time for an Ohio road trip. We've compiled your definitive collection of Columbus-area roadside oddities (including a giant ground sloth skeleton, the world's largest ping pong paddle and one huge Ronald McDonald), our road trip playlist and the best pit stops in the Buckeye State. So take your mind off the world for a minute, but keep your foot on the gas. →

To see more, scan the QR code and visit the 614TV YouTube channel:→

From a massive mantis to the world's largest washboard, we've mapped out some of the world's largest, and some of the overall weirdest, roadside finds in central Ohio

GIANT RONALD MCDONALD STATUE

BROWN PET CEMETERY HUGE GOLF BALL SCULPTURE ON TEE

World's Largest Basket

BIG MUSKIE'S BUCKET

WORLD's LARGEST APPLE BASKET

WORLD's LARGEST WASHBOARD

CIRCLEVILLE PUMPKIN WATER TOWER

For photos & locations of each attraction, scan below:

ANNABELLE THE PRAYING MANTIS

For photos & locations of each attraction, scan below:

World's LARGEST PING PONG PADDLE

THE SLINGSHOT

WORLD'S LARGEST GAVEL

GAMBrInUS BEER KING SCULPTURE

RUSTY CIGARETTE SCULPTURE

JEFF THE GIANT SLOTH

Giant cardinal sculpture

SHORTEST STREET IN AMERICA

YAWNING HIPPO STATUE

HARTMAN ROCK GARDEN

For photos & locations of each attraction, scan below:

MASSIVE ADIRONDACK CHAIR

FIELD OF CORN

BEER KEG BURGLAR

SWORD IN THE STONE

GIANT TRAP

30 tracks from local artists that will get the wheels spinning for your next road trip

One of the most important parts of road trip preparation has nothing to do with your car itself. As any road-tripping veteran knows, music can make or break the atmosphere, and eventually the trip itself.

We’ve put together a list of 20 songs from Ohio-based artists that are the perfect complements to both the high and low energy stages of your trip, so you can carry the Buckeye state with you, no matter where in the country you end up.

Note: Columbus artists are marked with asterisk *

Our top spots to refuel yourself–and maybe even your vehicle–as you road-trip through Ohio

Let’s face it, even with the frenetic energy of a brand-new road trip, you and whatever you're driving are going to need to stop and refuel. So whether you’re taking a tour of all the roadside attractions we’ve compiled, or driving through the Buckeye State on your way to somewhere else, we’ve compiled a list of our top road trip stops.

Grandpa’s Cheese Barn

668 US-250, Ashland

Situated between Columbus and Cleveland, this roadside speciality shop has become a destination of sorts for Ohio travelers and curiosity-seekers alike. More than 120 different cheese varieties–hailing from a number of different countries–line the shelves of this Ashland store, alongside smoked meats and Ohio-made treats galore.

The J.M. Smucker Co. Store

333 Wadsworth Rd., Orrville

In case you were wondering, yes, THE Smucker's is headquartered in Orrvile, and yes, this is their retail store. Oh, and yes, it’s amazing. Opened in 1999, this unique stop is located inside a refurbished timber barn, and boasts not only every Smucker’s product you could possibly imagine, it’s home to a full cafe that offers wood-fired pizza and sundaes decked out with, you guessed it, Smucker's toppings. →

Chatham General Store

6403 Avon Lake Rd., Medina

There are few businesses holding truer to the term “general store” than Medina’s historic representative. Established in 1854, the storefront has housed a wide array of companies, and today serving as one of the only places you’re able to buy a fishing pole, antique stationary, camping knives and hot dogs all in the same place.

Yoder’s Bakery & Furniture

2621 Burnt Cabin Rd., Seaman

Formerly known as Keim Family Market, this truly original roadside store combines both an Amish furniture store and workshop alongside a bakery absolutely packed with some of the best sweets you’ll ever lay eyes on (homemade oatmeal pies, do we even need to say more?). Yoder’s also offers a bulk foods section, deli, and more.

Gas Station Birthplace of Rutherford B. Hayes

17 E. William St., Delaware

Wait, what?

No, the country’s 19th president was not born in a gas station. Hayes was actually born in the nearby city of Delaware in 1822, and the location of his former home is now the site of, well, a gas station. So while there’s nothing inherently special about this gas station itself, you will be able to say you bought Doritos and beef jerky where a former U.S. President was born. And you can’t put a price on that.

Spangler Candy Co. 400 N. Portland St., Bryan

The home of the Dum Dum Lollipop and the largest producer of candy canes in the United States is the long-standing Spangler Candy Co. in Bryan. The company, which creates approximately 2.7 million candy canes daily, and produces nearly half of all candy canes sold in the country today, boasts a 24/7 production facility. While its public museum closed during COVID, a new destination for visitors–Spangler Candy World–is coming to Downtown Bryan later this year.

Blake’s Pharmacy

206 N Market St., West Union

One of the last true soda jerk-pharmacies remaining in Ohio, this West Union storefront is a little piece of history, and a fun visit even if you don’t need to pick up a prescription. Although, if you did, the store would have a pharmacist on-site 24/7 so those with pharmaceutical questions or concerns are always able to receive advice. Sandwiches and plenty of products you might want to grab on your way out–like jumper cables, batteries and even belts–can be found among Blake’s eclectic offerings.

Carmazzi’s

Candy & General Store

100 S. Main St., Urbana

This 120 year-old shop offers just about everything, from a massive selection of vintage and difficult to find candies (sold in the style of old penny candy stores) to sandwiches and even auto parts. Located in Urbana’s Downtown square, the historic red-brick storefront is about as retro Americana as they come.

Guggisberg Cheese

5060 State Route 557, Millersburg

Most people don’t realize Ohio is the birthplace of baby Swiss cheese. More specifically, its home is Millersburg, a quaint village in the heart of Ohio’s Amish country. Not only can you stop buy the Guggisberg retail Store for more than 60 varieties of cheese, you can also take a tour of the facility to see exactly how it’s made. Make sure to check out their collection of cuckoo clocks as well, because why not?

Jungle Jim’s International Market

5440 Dixie Hwy., Fairfield

4450 Eastgate S. Drive in Cincinnati

12,000 beers, 12,000 wines and more than 1,000 different hot sauces? Yeah, that’s Jungle Jim’s. This eclectic international spot has more food than you’ll know what to do with. Even more, browsing the aisles of this massive market is as much as fun as actually enjoying the products, which range from bottles of kvass to Middle Eastern herbs. Did we mention there’s a waterfall?

↓ Bedroom in Idyll Reserve, Photo courtesy of Josh Mund, @thismundlife

By Shelby Metzger

Story Design by Victoria Smith

Hocking Hills in Hocking County, Ohio has always been a coveted vacation destination for anyone with a passion for nature and serene views. And now, naturelovers can drink in the woodlands while keeping their eco-footprint to a minimum.

Two eco-friendly retreats, Idyll Reserve and Magical Earth Retreat, represent a growing trend in Ohio and across the nation toward getting off the grid, but doing so sustainably, and in style.

Opened in 2021, Idyll Reserve is a family-owned retreat located at 25050 Purcell Road in South Bloomingville, Ohio. A scenic property nestled next to multiple trails, such as Conkle’s Hollow, and adjacent to the state park land, this reserve has something for everyone, including families, wedding destinations and company retreats. Created with sustainability at the forefront, travelers can feel satisfied about supporting the surrounding nature.

“The newer houses are specifically built from a team called Hygge Supply, and so they were the architect for those new projects. All of their systems are an on demand system. On the construction side, it cuts down on a lot of waste. So when the walls are ready, they ship you the walls, when the roof is ready they ship you the roof panels,” Kelly DeVore, the co-owner, explained. “It’s all pre-made seal construction, which is inherently a sustainable process. Everything materialwise from the build is sustainable.

Sustainably sourced wood, energy efficient everything, on demand hot water, which inherently is more eco-friendly.”

With five unique cabins available for rental, Idyll Reserve is the ideal spot for anyone from a solo traveler to large groups. The center of the reserve hosts a zipline and a kid’s play area, and each cabin is equipped with a hot tub and fire pit. The best part: two cabins are dog-friendly for travelers with furry friends.

The cabins themselves are intricately designed with a homey feel, down to the books and record players, they deftly balance comfort with a chic minimalism that’s easy on the eye.

The property also features a large covered patio space— complete with outdoor fire pit and sweeping, hilly views—perfect for group gatherings, as well as two car chargers for electric car owners. Even the interior of each cabin, which are sleek and modern while maintaining a woodsy feel, is designed with the environment in mind.

“Most of the furniture is either sustainably sourced, or vintage, or kind of a collection of things that we’ve gathered,” DeVore said.

DeVore, who owns the property with her husband, Jay DeVore, and her sister-in-law, Laura DeVore, has long been a Hocking Hills enthusiast, enjoying many vacations in the hills with family over the years. Eventually, they decided to create their own slice of paradise. →

Why so many upscale Ohio retreats are going green

↓ Exterior of Idyll Reserve, Photo courtesy of Idyll Reserve

↓ Dining Room in Idyll Reserve, Photo courtesy of Shelby Brown, @shelbywilray

↑ Living Room in Idyll Reserve, Photo courtesy of Diana Paulson, Linea Photo

“When we first had the idea, it was the three family members opened it, so myself, my husband and my sisterin-law. We, as a family, have always gone to Hocking Hills, but we really wanted something that we could all be at and was a little bit more modern,” DeVore said. “My husband and I met in architecture school and my sister-inlaw has a hospitality background. My husband and I, on our own we never would have done it, but bringing my sister-in-law in the mix, she was like ‘Well, I can organize everything.’”

While green living is at the core of Idyll Reserve’s ethos, even if you’re not an environmentalist, fret not. The sustainable features are covertly incorporated into the space, from the eco-friendly hot water tank that supplies the water for the hot tubs, to the low-voltage lighting and energy-efficient appliances.

“A lot of the stuff you might not know is sustainable. There’s things like the recycled countertops, we’ve got two cabins that [the countertops] are made out of compressed paper, two cabins have countertops that are recycled resin aggregate, which those you can touch and feel but a lot of the sustainable elements are really kind of behind the wall,” DeVore said. “We think, you don’t have to be overtly green or put grass on the roof to necessarily be sustainable. We’re trying to elevate the idea of what sustainability is.”

Another eco-friendly vacation spot in Hocking Hills, Magical Earth Retreat, also under the name Nature Mystique Retreat, opened in March 2022.

Located at 64237 Woodgeard Road in Creola, Ohio, it offers four partially underground cabins to stay in, with large circular doors giving way to a dwelling built into the hillside, giving the space the look and feel of a hobbit home. The retreat also recently opened two Moroccan abodes available for rental.

The fairytale-esque accommodations sit upon 11 acres, with the area just 3 miles from Hocking Hills State Park. Each cabin is fully equipped with a queen bed, or multiple beds for larger cabins, a private bathroom and kitchenette. The retreat focuses on sustainability, as well as wellness and stress relief, as witnessed →

by cedarwood hot tubs and sauna pods. The grounds feature a fruit garden, which they plan to expand to include other plants. The eccentric habitats are created with the environment in mind, and have their own special way of preserving energy.

“We’re actually built partially underground into the rolling hills, so the temperature within each of the accommodations does not go below 50 degrees. So, it’s built very energy efficiently,” Mervat Elschwarby, managing director of Magical Earth Retreat, said. “We also incorporated recycled materials into the design. We use whiskey barrels to create the sinks in the bathroom, and then we use reclaimed wood for one side of the walls.”

With staying eco-friendly at the forefront of their mind, the team at Magical Earth Retreat, which includes Elshwarby’s mother and brother, did nothing in haste – guests can see each unique accommodation was toiled over.

“A lot went into the design to make sure it was energy efficient, to make sure we were building responsibly,” Elschwarby said. “There was a lot of research, painstaking research involved in that whole process.”

The retreat also encourages their guests and travelers to just adopt more sustainable travel practices. This includes being conscious of turning off lights, bringing recycled water bottles, renting bikes, packing light and choosing ecofriendly lodging.

Magical Earth’s unique architecture isn’t something you see everyday, and the picturesque landscape each space sits upon was carefully chosen. The retreat, according to Elshwarby, was inspired by eclectic list of National and international destinations.

“We’ve always wanted to do something unique, we’ve traveled abroad a lot, we’ve been to a lot of the state parks, national parks, we had a trip to New Zealand a few years ago, and the landscape there is just incredible in terms of just the rolling hills and everything,” she explained. “I think it was just a combination of all our travels, and we’re big nature people. So, we love the outdoors. We all did, as a team, thought that Hocking Hills is just such a special place.”

With an increasing number of environmentally conscious lodging options available in Hocking Hills, it’s becoming simpler to travel while caring for the world around us. So relax, unwind, and keep the environment in mind on your next expedition.

To learn more, visit www.idyllreserve.com

(614) Beer is a Registered Trademark of 614 Media Group, Inc.

By Jack McLaughlin

Not all heroes wear capes. Some, like yours truly, can’t halt a robbery with martial arts while wearing a spandex bodysuit, but instead offer the city a service just as useful as Batman might.

I’m trying the absolute weirdest snacks you can buy locally, to save you from doing so yourself. So from Eggo Waffle Pop-Tarts to a parade of questionable Peeps flavors and even little Debbie ice cream, let’s dig in. →

From spicy Peeps to gummy Mac and cheese, we try the worst and weirdest snacks around (so you don’t have to)

Photos by Sarah Pfeifer

Story Design By Bryce Patterson

5/10

Dr. Pepper Peeps

The second stop on our “please, you don’t have to do this” tour is the one that seemed the least offensive before we tried them all. And they were magnificently “meh.” These smelled

Hot Tamale Peeps

Hot Tamales, the spicy cousin of the Mike & Ike, won’t be the top candy pick for many, but they’re still a solid choice. Unfortunately, very few are saying the same thing about Peeps. So what’s the combination of these two like? Not very spicy at all, actually. The cinnamon flavor was nice, and refreshingly different from all-sugar Peeps, but ithe flavor itself vanished almost immediately.

4/10

4.5/10

PuddingChocolatePeeps

This was truthfully the snack I was fearing the most: The word “Pudding” threw me off in a weird, bad way. As for taste, these were uninspiring at best. Flavor-wise, they pack a quick jolt of cocoa powder, followed by, well, not much. I don’t think this had an impact on anything, but they were bunnies instead of the traditional Peeps. Pretty much just a chocolate marshmallow.

Cinnafuego Toast Crunch

If it isnt clear that the sweet and spicy trend has fully arrived, it should be now. And honestly, we’re all for it. These looked gimmicky, but unlike spicy attempts at Peeps, they had a real, mouth-coating heat to them. The cinnamon and sugar added a pleasant balance to the burn, which took me by surprise. This may have been the winner on the day had it not been for their intense smell, which was pleasantly cinnamon and spice forward, but backed by a strange (and subtle), almost chemical note.

While these lab-grown breakfast rectangles are billed as Frosted Maple flavor, they’re more Eggo Waffle-y than they give themselves credit for. While they get a total of zero points in the looks department, these are actually really, really good. The maple is there, but so is a subtle richness that mimics the butter you might spread on your Eggos. Please do not put butter on your Pop Tarts, however.

Frankford

Gummy Snack Pack

Made to resemble Kraft Mac & Cheese, Oscar Mayer hot dogs and Claussen pickles, these gummies lend themselves to an uncomfortable cognitive dissonance. Also, the texture is variable between each shape: ranging from fine to “Is this leather?”

The flavor was definitively fruity, but also muted. So muted that I wouldn’t be able to name each flavor if my life depended on it. Thankfully it does not.

7.5/10 4/10

To see more, scan the QR code and visit the 614TV YouTube channel →

By Jack McLaughlin / Story Design by Atlas Biro

No gym, no problem. Now that spring has arrived, we all want to get outdoors and jumpstart our fitness routines. With warmer weather making an appearance for the first time in months, and with Earth Day and Arbor Day both in the month of April, we’ve decided to show you a handful of fun, refreshing ways to take your workout to the outdoors.

With the weather warming and April ushering in Earth Day, here are our top Fitness tips that incorporate Mother Nature

One, Two, Trees

While we don’t recommend hanging off unfamiliar tree limbs, did you know there’s still a ton of bodyweight-focused exercises you can implement in your fitness routine with trees? To feel it in your legs tomorrow, try a tree squat today, which is essentially nature’s version of the wall squat. Remember these from gym class? Did you know that tree climbing is actually, in many respects, a great full-body workout? It’s also a competitive sport, with an international championship every year. And while this can be a great way to get in shape, and a whole lot of fun, we would recommend doing it on your own property, with trees you know well.

↓ Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

These Dam Stairs

If jogging through the same neighborhood streets has you bored to tears, or if it’s not giving you the results you want, we have a tip for you. Stairs. While stairs at a local football stadium or another public space are great as well, we’re preferential to the Hoover Reservoir Park in Westerville, which offers a massive staircase and a great view of the turbulent water in the Hoover Dam below.

You can jump into the same workout–with similar views–at the Alum Creek Below Dam Area in Delaware.

At Your Stations

You can find many of these in the greater Columbus area (and of course, it depends on what your fitness goals are exactly), but a great workout involves a brief run or jog to your nearest outdoor workout station plus a full body bodyweight circuit using the relatively simple, but impressively efficient equipment. One of our favorites is Olentangy Park’s Outdoor Exercise Station. A space for pull-ups and multiple parallel bars make this a calisthenics hotspot. The best part? It’s located in a wooded area that feels totally cut off from the surrounding urban neighborhoods.

Another great workout with an arguably better view involves Scioto Audubon Metro Park which includes an obstacle course with a running track, tunnel crawl, and even its own climbing wall.

↑ Climbing wall at Scioto Audubon Metro Park, Photo by Aaron Massey

Hit the Trail!

Looking to lean more into cardio or biking? Columbus is full of scenic outdoor trails. With views of downtown and plenty of woodsy cover, the Olentangy Trail (which snakes along the Olentangy River, as you might have guessed) is a great, local option that you can pick up throughout parts of Columbus.

Looking for more? If you’re looking into longdistance cycling, you can catch the lengthy Ohio to Erie Trail in Westerville, which covers a whopping 326 miles on its path to connect Cincinnati, the Columbus area and Cleveland.

The Heritage Rail Trail, which can be picked up just off Center Street in Hilliard, heads west before ending in Plain City. This option may be a bit short for a bike ride, but makes a fascinating jogging path, and is dotted with antique train cars along the way.

↓ B&O Rail Car, Photo courtesy of Heritage Rail Trail

Burn Boot Camp

F45 Training POLARIS

← Portrait of Ryan McGuire

By Jack McLaughlin

How a whimsical public artist turned Granville business owner wants to bring the world’s largest coffee cup sculpture to Ohio

Photos courtesy of Ryan McGuire

↑ Portrait of Ryan McGuire

"Mighty Balloon II"

"Banana-pillar"

Your version of a tall cup of coffee is not the same as that of Columbus artist and business owner Ryan McGuire. In fact, it’s not even close.

McGuire, who serves as the co-owner of Bella’s Beans in Granville, also happens to be a public artist with decades of weird and wonderful experience. Previous projects include an undeniably-cute robot sculpture created using the negative space in the doorway of a long-standing Iowa City building and “Side of Eggs,” a 9-foot by 8-foot fried egg sculpture tactfully affixed to the side of a hotel in Grinnell, Iowa.

An Ithaca, New York native, McGuire and his wife Susan Villareal relocated to the Columbus area several years ago after Villareal landed a job as a professor at Granville’s Denison University.

So if you’ve noticed a refurbished Granville phone booth that replays positive messages after you pick up the phone, a giant banana, or a truck converted into a huge, brightly-spotted reptile, then you’re familiar with his work.

His next project, though, will be his biggest yet. Literally.

While many of the details have yet to be determined, McGuire hopes to create the world’s largest coffee cup sculpture, right here in Ohio.

“When it comes to creating massive oddities, you don't just settle for big; you go for the gold and aim for the world record,” he said.

The co-owner of Bella’s Beans in Granville, he’s hoping to merge his artistic career with his business venture by a statement that—quite literally—cannot be missed.

McGuire, a self-taught artist with a knack for figuring out how to make things work, hopes to put his skills to use with the massive sculpture Currently, it’s unclear where exactly it will go: Bella’s is located at 820 W. Broadway in Granville, but McGuire hasn’t narrowed much down yet, other than the fact that he wants it to be in the Buckeye State.

Portrait of Ryan McGuire →

"Stacked Library"

"I look silly"

“We know it will be an Ohio attraction, but the exact location is up in the air. We've considered putting it on Intel's campus, but we're not sure they're ready for that kind of caffeine-fueled chaos,” he said.

While the locale (and also funding) are right now undetermined, that doesn’t phase the endlessly whimsical and optimistic Granville artist.

Take, for example, a previous project in his native New York, where he found a way to convince 50 friends to take photos in Groucho Marx disguises (the classic glasses and mustache), and then turned these photos into banners. And what do you do with 50 photos of friends disguised as Groucho Marx? You convince your local library to line the outside of their building with them, of course.

In case you haven’t guessed by now, that’s exactly what McGuire did in a project called “I Look Silly,” which adorned the Tompkins County Public Library in the summer of 2014. And he did so without selling anything, and without making money for himself (outside of working with the library to have them cover the cost of production).

“I don’t really sell my art, I just give it away,” he said.

In fact, McGuire noted he enjoys the process of figuring out a project as much or more than admiring the finished art object.

“I love trying to figure out the engineering components, that’s what drives me to create. It’s been in my nature, my parents went bankrupt and we were always trying to figure out savvy ways to make things fun. I’m kind of MacGyverish like that now,” he said. “I’m more driven by the challenge,”

With his giant cup of coffee, McGuire most definitely has a challenge in front of him.

He sees the sculpture standing 18 to 20 feet tall (roughly the height of a two-story home), with a diameter of 25 feet. He believes a ferro-cement technique, laying a metal mesh over an armature and coating in mortar to be his best bet, although we’re not entirely sure what all of that means.

But we do know this: The local artist has never been one to stand down from these types of challenges. And central Ohio should be ready for what he has percolating.

“We have the potential to do something downright ridiculous and be celebrated for it, and this is why, I think a Goonie said, ‘childhood dreams of being record-breakers never die,’” McGuire said.

To see more of Ryan's work visit: mcguiremade.com