(614) August | 2023

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

BIG PICTURE

A crowd gathers before the stage at this summer's INKcarceration Festival. The event, which took place this year from July 14-16, is dedicated to music and body art, and is held on the grounds of the historic Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield.

Photo by David Heasley

Photo by Aaron Massey, Design by Tori Smith

JACK MCLAUGHLIN Editor-In-Chief

Vintage Crocs

The first we think of when we think of thrift stores is probably clothing: A color-sapped pair of vintage jeans, a t-shirt from the Grand Canyon gift shop in 2002, or, if we’re really lucky, a Starter jacket bursting with 90s neon.

For me, something else comes to mind right away: alligators.

Well, no, I guess I don’t mean the actual animal. I mean an alligator mug. My alligator mug, to be precise. The single coolest alligator mug in the nearly 250 million years since the species crawled out of the primordial goo as a fullyevolved creature.

I remember, still, the day I bought it, for 50 cents at a St. Vincent De Paul outlet in Madison, Wisconsin (one of those stores where you pay for clothes by the pound). The internet tells me it’s a World Wildlife Federation fundraiser mug from 1991, but who really knows.

I was pretty proud of my find, and asked the thrift store clerk what he thought of it. “Do you want to know what I really think?” he said with a laugh.

Today, this is the mug I use whenever I’m at home. Whenever I’m drinking anything, really. You know how, whether it’s a car, a TV, a new book, a phone, or whatever, when you get something that’s new (to you), there’s a novelty to it, a sheen that eventually goes away over time? That mug, for me, never lost its newness. Which is ironic, because it’s very, very old. And that’s the part of thrifting that I really love. I do also love the idea that it’s better for the planet, and super affordable, but the cornerstone to me is how you can take something that at one point meant nothing to someone, and it can be the find of the year for someone else.

That’s why we’ve dedicated our August issue to thrifting in Columbus, to the adventure of it, to the exhilarating finds, to the environmental aspect and the stories behind the shops. Because it means a lot of different things for a lot of different people. And whether or not you ever find an alligator mug of your own, we hope you enjoy the thrill of thrifting, and our August issue.

ON the WEB � STAFF PICKS

Our staff picks

With this month’s issue dedicated to thrifting, we decided to ask our staff about the high school fashion trends they hope don’t make a comeback. Here’s what they said.

Two words: Galaxy print.

— Lizzy Saunders, Brand Manager, (614) Beer

Excessively large owl necklaces and low-rise anything.

— Justynne Pride, Marketing Director

Just say no to form-fitting band tees.

— Jack McLaughlin, Editor

Wearing two polos at once with the collars popped.

— Sav McKee, Assistant Editor

Hair feathers for sure.

— Anna Gerhard, Account Executive

My school was overrun by neon any and everything. Even my goth self had a pair of neon yellow jeans.

— Atlas Biro, Creative Designer

Crocs will never die and I stand by that.

— Tori Smith, Creative Designer

Pegged pants. Horrible back then and worse now with skinny jeans.

— Paul VanHorn, Account Executive

Jean jacket/Vest with jeans. Denim on denim, ewwww.

— Mindy Wilhite, Senior Account Executive

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 suscribe to our daily email!

→ Meet the new craft brewery concept taking over the home of Sideswipe Brewing

Sideswipe Brewing announced that it will close at the end of July, noting that a new concept from local homebrewer Jason Wing is slated to take their storefront.

→ Longstanding Columbus pizzeria announces a pizza vending machine and robot-run restaurant

A standalone pizza vending machine is deploying in Columbus, along with a plan to open a fully autonomous pizzeria with robots as the employees.

→ This gorilla at the Columbus Zoo was thought to be a male, until it gave birth

The Columbus Zoo & Aquarium welcomed a brand-new baby gorilla, and it was quite a surprise for zookeepers.

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.

Worthington Jewelers definitely has some beautiful pieces ready for you to make yours. But truly MAKING it yours? That's where custom jewelry has the leg up.

•

Everyone is guilty of getting the munchies, but trying the obscure, strange, and downright weird? Leave that to us! Snack Attack will prep you for your next grocery store trip.

• A Patio that Summer Deserves! Summer is the season of Sunny days, blue skies, and let's face it, high temps. Find the perfect way to cool off and relax at El Vaquero!

• ZipZone Outdoor Adventures

Fly high amongst the trees at Zipzone! 5 Woodland climbing and adventure courses await as you harness in and navigate these treetop obstacle courses and zipline your way to fun!

@itsashnails

@614sipsnbites

@l1ve4themoment

@columbushumane

• A Personal Touch from Worthington Jewelers

Snack Attack Returns! EP. 2

By

It has been viewed by millions of drivers. It has given a name to an intra-state sports rivalry, inspired a flaming cocktail and even made its way onto t-shirts, hoodies and more. Make no mistake: HELL IS REAL!

OK, so maybe not everyone would agree. But one cannot doubt the existence of a 450-square-foot billboard that carries the three-word warning just 20 miles south of Columbus, along I-71. →

Now iconic in millennial Midwestern culture, here’s the rarely-told history behind the infamous “HELL IS REAL” highway signs

Story Design by Bryce Patterson

John M. Clark

Photos by Jordy Middlebrooks

After all, it’s been there for well over a decade – longer than most people care to remember – near another sign with the message, “If you died today, where would you spend eternity?” These two ominous messages face southbound travelers, on the east side of the highway. Northbound drivers see the Ten Commandments on the backs of the two billboards.

By State of Ohio estimates, upwards of 40,000 drivers or more per day see the “HELL IS REAL” sign, which may reflect the beliefs of many conservative Protestants. But it also draws its share of cynics. And that’s where professional sports and retail sales fit in.

Shortly after Cincinnati’s professional soccer team joined the major leagues in 2019, the Orange & Blue began playing the Columbus Crew twice a season – once in each city. And the “Hell is Real Derby” was born, as players

and fans passed by the prominent billboard for every “away” match.

A suggested name, the Ohio Derby, fell flat among the increasingly vocal fans of each team. Perhaps it wasn’t “raw” enough; not “visceral” enough. When one fan on social media suggested the “Hell is Real Derby,” there was no going back. And the name seems appropriate enough, given the fierce rivalry that continues to build between the two clubs. But thank goodness, no one is suggesting that a missed goal will send anyone into an eternal lake of fire.

Aside from the game-day “HELL IS REAL” banner waving, images of the billboard have also turned up on clothing, on drink coasters and in at least one Columbus bar. Two years ago, a bartender at The Bottle Shop on King Avenue was moved to invent the “HELL IS REAL” flaming Jamaican rum cocktail.

BY STATE OF OHIO ESTIMATES, UPWARDS OF 40,000 DRIVERS OR MORE

PER DAY SEE THE “HELL IS REAL” SIGN...”

While the billboard-branded items might seem a natural outgrowth of the rivalry, given the popularity of the two soccer teams, the origin of the namesake sign is a curious one. It started with the Jimmy Harston family of rural Scottsville, Kentucky, two hours south of Louisville. Jimmy is often quoted as saying God instructed him 20 years ago to start erecting religious billboards after his prostate cancer “miraculously disappeared.”

The Harstons are members of a large family who have done well for themselves in Southern Kentucky, developing hundreds of lakefront properties for residences and vacation homes. They also rent “hideaway” cabins along Barren River Lake and do a fair amount of farming on their private land in Allen County. They can afford to spread the Gospel. →

Jimmy, 73, and son Chad, 42, are responsible for upwards of 20 religious billboards throughout Ohio and the Deep South. The Harstons’ routine includes placing newspaper ads to locate landowners who will lease them small parcels near busy highways. Finding like-minded Christians with prime property means they pay next to nothing for 99-year leases. The two men handle all the construction work, spending up to $8,000 of their own money to erect each billboard. “It’s a big job to do,” said Chad, by telephone. “But we put the signs up in a couple of days, and it’s done.”

Others in the area feature such religious directives as, “Use the rod on your children and

spare their life” and “Jesus said you be ashamed of me and I will be ashamed of you.”

So, why not a slogan that’s a bit more uplifting? One less likely to provoke a non-believer into painting graffiti on the signs or, in some cases, even sawing them down? “My dad and I were led to put those messages up there,” according to Chad. “Hell is mentioned in the Bible many more times than heaven. It’s a warning to those who are not prepared when they die. If you’re not saved, you’re certainly not going to heaven.” Chad is quick to add that everything he and his father do is perfectly legal, that all their signs are on private property, and that they obey all outdoor advertising laws.

As Jimmy has gotten older, though, health problems have pushed more and more of the signbuilding business onto Chad. A recent procedure to install a heart pacemaker put the older Harston out of commission for several weeks. And while Chad seems as dedicated as his father to spreading their version of God’s word along our interstates, it's still unclear whether or not he's a soccer fan. ♦

The Test of Time

From an out of the box Rolex to generational family heirlooms, Diamond Cellar watch technician Seth Knechtel is ready to repair whatever watches come his way

By Jack McLaughlin / Photos by Sarah Pfeifer

↓ Diamond Cellar watch technician Seth Knetchel hard at work

In a world of digital everything–where our cell phones, TVs and even refrigerators are linked to the internet–it’s easy to overlook the importance of many older, artisan crafts. Watch repair is one of those crafts. While watches feel just as much a part of today’s culture as they did 50 years ago, there’s no quick fix when yours (whether it’s an expensive new fashion piece or a nostalgic family heirloom) has suddenly stopped working.

Seth Knechtel, a Rolex-certified watch technician at Diamond Cellar, knows this all too well.

“A watch is a machine. It’s basically an engine that has to run 24 hours a day, and has to be pinpoint accurate over the course of months and years,” he said. “When they break down, it’s not a one size fits all quick-fix. We have to see the watch to really know what’s going on.”

Knechtel is one of multiple Diamond Cellar watch experts available at the store’s Sawmill Road location, offering a professional fix for when your favorite pieces need some fine-tuning due to everything from old age to serious physical damage.

“Recently, we had a customer who accidentally ran their Rolex over with a car, so it was pretty beat up,” he said. “We ended up being able to fix the middle case, which is the most important part of a Rolex because it possesses the original serial number. We also replaced a lot of the smaller parts that were damaged and we got it working.”

One of the reasons Knechtel has the ability to repair a Rolex that incurred that amount of damage is due to the Rolex certification training course he attended. Several years into his watch-repairing career, Diamond Cellar funded Knechtel’s twoweek trip to a Rolex facility in Pennsylvania where he learned the finer points of repairing Rolex timepieces.

Prior to being able to complete his Rolex certification, Knechtel had to become certified as a horologist in a setting he described as “a little bit of a boot camp.” Over the span of three years, participants of the SAWTA program (Swiss American Watchmaking Training Alliance) spent 12 hours a day for two weeks each quarter, practicing handson repairs of timepieces. While the course was difficult, Knechtel believes it boosted his proficiency not only at understanding the functionality and fine details of timepieces, but also his ability to diagnose and repair watches of many brands.

When you’re able to learn that intensively and learn from the best, you really get a handle on how everything works, and you can relate that to other watches”.

Whether you have a vintage watch that’s been in the family for decades, or a brand-new piece that’s seen serious damage, Diamond Cellar offers in-house repair technicians to meet your needs. Customers can bring their watches in person, where in most cases they’ll be able to receive an estimate for their repair on the spot.

While Knechtel said he doesn’t always get to see a customer’s reaction to his work, he and his Diamond Cellar staff take pride in their ability to restore so many pieces, many of which carry generations worth of family value, for their customers.

“Some of our favorite things to do are the vintage and really sentimental pieces,” he said. ”A lot of times these are more complicated, and that’s rewarding in its own right, but it’s even rewarding to know we’re repairing something that has so much value to someone.”

To learn more, visit Diamondcellar.com

“We were able to work on watches, to learn how to put them together and how to diagnose them,”

↑ Diamond Cellar watch technician Seth Knetchel

Building Roots

Following the completion of a plant-based “living wall”on a Franklinton office building, Columbus plant wall company, Planthropy, is in full bloom

By Sarah Grace Smith

Photos by Aaron Massey

Story Design by Bryce Patterson

↓ Planthropy's most recent "living wall" outside of Franklinton office building

In the middle of June, an 18-foot-tall plant arrangement blossomed on the corner of a Franklinton office building. With 231 plants wrapping around it, this “living wall” spans 29 feet of colorful, mostly perennial plants that will shift beautifully with the seasons throughout the year.

Inspired by European vertical gardens such as French botanist Patrick Blanc’s, the plant wall is self-sufficient with a drip irrigation system. Using a moisture retention mat made of foam, the plants are able to soak up water without needing much soil, allowing for no-fuss maintenance. →

↓ Planthropy co-owners Michael Creath and Jessie Laux-Creath

The creators behind this masterpiece? Michael Creath and Jessie Laux-Creath – husband and wife duo and owners of Planthropy.

It all started years ago when Jessie began creating plant arrangements to unwind after long hours at her marketing job. Quickly, her hobby grew into a passion, and she began selling the arrangements at farmers markets in 2015 under the business name Planthropy.

Michael, on the other hand, found his love for nature when hiking in Switzerland after high school. From there, he went into landscape design. He even built a vertical living wall similar to the one in Franklinton on his own house, earning a feature in the Short North Tour of Homes.

The two met when a client hired both to work together on a project. They clicked, and shortly after, they combined businesses, taking Planthropy to the next level in 2017.

Today, Planthropy creates walls made of moss, living plants, faux plants, and even bark. They also added overhead plantscapes: faux or preserved plant arrangements that hang from the ceiling. →

↓ Planthropy co-owners Michael Creath and Jessie Laux-Creath pose with a plant wall

“Our combined love for plants brought us where we are today,” Creath said. Just a few years ago, the couple worked out of a garage. Now, they’re in their own building and constantly growing. So far, they’ve traveled to 25 states to create installations across the country.

You may be wondering, “How do they even go about creating such gorgeous installations?” The couple explained that the moss walls, their most popular product, are like a mosaic. First, they design and draw their pattern. Next, the team fills in the moss wall, piece by tiny piece, to fashion one seamless work of art. Lastly, they hide any boundaries or seams that may be visible.

When asked their favorite types of installations to make, each of the two expressed their love for trying out new things.

“We try to start the trends rather than follow them,” said Creath. “We push boundaries. We tell our clients, ‘We aren’t limited to anything.’”

For inspiration, they draw mostly on the natural world around them. “We’re really a team of artists at our core, and nature’s our medium,” explained Jessie.

The two often hike together and take pictures of plants or natural growth formations that stand out to them. When they created a moss wall for a business in Washington D.C., they found inspiration in the Potomac River. The result was a lovely, winding strip of blue moss through the wall.

As they continue to expand to new states and grow their team, Planthropy wants to keep growing, to keep creating, and to keep inventing. Their goal and vision moving forward is “to continue to push the boundaries of interior plantscape design,” said Jessie. And we can’t wait to see which direction they grow toward next. ♦

To learn more, visit www.planthropy.co

The (Ridiculously)

Good

Stuff

How an untimely accident and a family recipe led to the creation of Ridiculously Good Salsa, a craft Columbus brand on the rise

Story Design by Atlas Biro

By Jack McLaughlin / Photos by Jen Brown

n 2014, Vicki Nortz had a career as a nurse and three healthy adult children, but as she would soob go on to learn, neither of these things are to be taken for granted.

That year, her son Andrew was involved in a serious accident, resulting in hospitalization and him being physically unable to work for nearly a year. During this time, Nortz had him move back into the family home, where she put aside her own seven-year career as a plastic surgery nurse to help him recover.

As the old saying goes, though, when one door closes, another one opens. While the family never thought this other door would have anything to do with salsa, life–and business, it seems–both work in mysterious ways.

“While [Andrew] was recovering, his friends would all come over and we would make food together. We have an old family recipe for salsa that I started to make. Everyone seemed to really like it, and told me I should sell it,” she said. “It was weird and amazing, I have three grown children, I never thought I would be starting a business this late in my life.”

According to Nortz, these sessions with her son’s friends not only provided some initial momentum for the concept that would become Ridiculously Good Salsa, they also provided something of a makeshift test kitchen. She would tweak the recipe slightly based on Andrew’s friends’ suggestions, eventually ending up with a handful of products that were ready for not only a room full of friends, but foodies across Columbus as well.

Happy Medi-Yum serves as Ridiculously Good Salsa's flagship offering. The recipe’s rich flavors of tomato, cilantro, onion and a proprietary spice blend are offset by a manageable amount of heat from jalapeno and habanero peppers, making it the brand’s best-seller and a perfect choice for tailgate parties with Buckeye football on the horizon. Their mild and hot options, known as Mellow and Hi-Heat, respectively, are also available.

While even the highly-processed and shelf stable salsa brands likely have a line or two about fresh ingredients in their marketing content, Ridiculously Good Salsa actually values fresh ingredients. →

"It was weird and amazing, I have three grown children, I never thought I would be Starting a Business this late in life."

“In all honesty we are a more expensive brand, but this is all handmade by family and friends every week, and shipped out to stores within 18 hours,” she said. “It’s important it gets to stores right away too, because it doesn’t last eight weeks like the overly-processed stuff. And we don’t think it should.”

The concept, which began offering salsa at local farmers markets (it remains a fixture at the Dublin and Worthington farmers markets every Saturday) wound up securing shelf space at a local health food store several years into its creation, a move Nortz thought would be the culmination of Ridiculous Good Salsa’s retail growth.

But she was wrong.

“First we took it to Celebrate Local, and they bought the salsa. Really, that was all I expected to do. That’s when other stores started calling,” she said. “Whole Foods first rejected us, actually, and I kept saying, ‘If this is meant to be, we’ll get into Whole Foods.’ Two weeks later, they reached out to tell us they’ve reconsidered and we would be a good fit.”

Now a bonafide “family affair,” with Vicki Nortz, her (now recovered) son Andrew helping with production and delivery and her daughter, Olivia, taking accounting duties, Ridiculously Good Salsa is a brand trending upwards. In

fact, it’s now available in three Cleveland stores, and a multitude around the Columbus area, including Giant Eagle, Whole Foods, Weiland’s Market and more. That being said, the family is not looking to take over the entire world with the brand.

“I think our ultimate goal is to become a really good regional brand. I think that would be very reasonable, to be in Pennsylvania, Chicago, Indiana and a few other spots, including throughout Ohio,” Nortz said.

In addition to the party pak (Mellow, Happy Medi-Yum and Hi-Heat) the brand will be adding two new flavors this year, and recently released a Spicy Margarita Cocktail Mixer that pairs well with all salsa flavors.

If the brand doesn't take the next step to multiple states, Nortz said she’s still happy with where the company is at–and more importantly–the product they make.

“Especially at markets, we hear stories about the people who love our salsa, and we love them. Just last week, a couple got married in the Hocking Hills. They took some wine, cheese, and our salsa for their guests,” she said. “How amazing is it that we can be at someone’s wedding? That’s the inclusion we’re most proud of.” ♦

To learn more, visit rgoodsalsa.com

↓ Ridiculously Good Salsa offerings

"...It doesn't last eight weeks like the overly-processed stuff. And we don't think it should."

↓ Ridiculously Good Salsa owner Vicki Nortz

Pop-Up Can't Stop the

Our list of must-try craft cocktail pop-ups coming to Columbus this summer

By Sav McKee / Story Design by Atlas Biro

As youngsters, we flocked to our neighborhood lemonade stands for a refreshing, home-made drink created by someone in our community. Now, as adults, we have cocktail pop-ups to fill that void, and our neighborhood has expanded to all of Columbus.

Pop-up concepts have become the talk of the town. Customers are seeking cocktail experiences beyond the ordinary, while the masterminds behind these pop-ups relish in the freedom to craft exhilarating menus on their own terms.

Groups of talented, creative, and passionate mixologists have joined forces with Columbus bars, breweries, and distilleries for collaborations and sponsorships, creating the ultimate cocktail experience for patrons yearning for something a little different.

These are four extraordinary cocktail pop-ups that plan to shake up our local beverage scene with their spontaneous spirits, from traditional Mexican micheladas to cocktails infused with cream cheese and mushrooms. →

↑

Photo by Madeline Prindle

Don't Take Our Weekend

One evening, Eddie Boyd and his companions were at their usual Monday night gathering at The Bottle Shop, sharing a bottle of natural wine together, wearily discussing their fatigue from working all weekend. As bartenders, Monday nights are usually their Fridays or Saturdays, and after catering to the 9-5 crowd all weekend, they were understandably drained. While considering going home early, one friend boldly declared, “No, you can’t let the man take your weekend! It’s Monday night, yes, but this is your weekend.”

This proclamation sparked a revolutionary idea among the friend group. “What if we provide a space for the service industry folks to come together, have a good time, and also showcase drinks and wines that my bartender friends and I are excited to share with people? Like stuff that doesn’t make it on the menus of places we work?” considered Boyd and his comrades, Julian Judge, B.E. Coleman, and Sean Gleeson. And so, their vision became a reality.

Don’t Take Our Weekend emerged from an idea borne of exhaustion, but blossomed into a celebration of the service industry’s cherished Monday nights that no one can take away from

them. It’s their way of keeping the nightlife alive for not only themselves, but for those on a different schedule than the average 9-5, M-F. “Our pop-ups are a space for basically everyone and anyone who wants to party on a Sunday or Monday night,” Boyd explained.

Their cocktails are also invigorating Columbus’ beverage scene. Take, for example, the Carrot Cake Milk Punch at their April pop-up: pecan fat washed Watershed Four Year Bourbon, carrot, brown sugar, baking spices, and cream cheese. Or the Cordyceps Club, with Chanterelle mushroom infused Watershed Four Peel Gin, Cocchi Americano, raspberry, lemon, and sesame oil. “We’re just trying to push the beverage scene in Columbus, and have a good time while doing it. The more people we can get to come out and experience these nights with us, the better,” Boyd said.

You can frequently find the crew popping up at bars around town, usually Seventh Son, considering some of the bartenders work there, and a local DJ usually joins too.

Get in on the fun – they post their pop-up announcements via @dont.take.our.wknd on Instagram.

“We're trying to push the beverage scene in Columbus, and have a good time while doing it.”

↓ Photo by Christina Vitellas

↑ Photo courtesy of Don't Take Our Weekend

The Boojee Boozy

This stand may be small, but it packs a powerful punch. Nicholas den Haan, a former bartender of esteemed bars like Citizens Trust and Veritas, markets his pop-up concept as a “mobile cocktail bar,” utilizing his bartending expertise to offer private services. From house parties to weddings, Nicholas brings a personalized, walk-up craft cocktail experience to any event.

His cocktail menu boasts 12 impressive drinks, personally concocted by himself, with a strong emphasis on gin, mezcal, and cognac. Playfully displayed on his bar is a sign that reads, “Fancy Drinks Only,” although he’s more than happy to whip up any drink that suits your preference. Every clients’ menus are fully customizable, catering to the specific theme or occasion if necessary.

He also wants to focus on personalized cocktails for each individual. At his previous bartending stints, Nick thrived on creating cocktails for people on the spot, tailoring each drink to an individual’s flavor preferences and overall vibe. Or sometimes, a customer would tell him to just surprise them. He said, “It’s something I’ve always loved doing, and my customers love it too.” →

The Boojee Boozy is available for hire starting this September. Check out their Instagram, @theboojeeboozy, for further details.

↑ Photo by Abby Reilly of Frame the People Photography

Xolo Mixto

“A good, true michelada makes me feel relaxed again – that I’m Mexican – that I don’t need to hide who I am,” explained Bert Chavez, the founder of this one-of-a-kind michelada popup.

Chavez, born in Tijuana, Mexico, relocated with his family to LA as a preteen, where he witnessed his dad’s bartending and catering business flourish. Initially, Chavez had no intention in following in his father’s footsteps, however, after exploring various career paths in his adulthood and moving to Columbus with his partner during the pandemic, he realized that a michelada pop-up would be a perfect opportunity to reconnect to his Mexican roots, engage with his new community in Columbus, and have a lot of fun while doing it.

“There’s a certain romantic aspect to a michelada – there’s something beautiful about roasting the chiles yourself – it’s not just something you can shake or throw in a blender. Dancing to mariachi music while making a drink…my pop-up is all about creating a cool experience. It’s also a family connection. Making one reminds me of being home in Mexico. Even talking to my family about the ingredients I’m using helps me reconnect with my culture,” said Chavez.

In Mexico, micheladas were perceived as “corny” and a “low income drink” according to Chavez. While he doesn’t view this as inherently negative, he knew he wanted to rebrand and reimagine the michelada concept with a craft experience, while still staying true to authenticity, especially since there are very few places in Columbus that serve a michelada that truly pays homage to Mexico. “When you ask for one somewhere here, they just make you a bloody mary with beer,” chuckled Chavez. While bloody marys have more savory and spicy flavor profiles, micheladas are known for being, “...the drink that makes you feel light again,” Chavez explained, emphasizing that the texture and citrus elements create a brightness that simply cannot be compared to a bloody mary.

Chavez’s special micheladas are crafted with clamato (or ponzu for those with shellfish allergies) and tomatillo juice, along with a cerveza (a N/A option, too, for those who abstain), lime, hand-roasted chiles for the chamoy, and a rim coated with

tajin and a meticulously blended cricket salt sourced from Mexico (or chipotle powder for the vegan and squeamish). However, the most significant ingredient in his concoctions is pure passion.

From the start, the Columbus community enthusiastically flocked to his pop-ups, and local bars like Seventh Son welcomed him in for pop-ups with open arms. Even Luke and Annie, the owners of Lawbird, offered mentorship, sampled his drinks, and provided valuable advice.

“My pop-up concepts allow me to have conversations with people to explain why micheladas are so important to me, and why I use these ingredients. When immigrants take their traditional food from their country to America, a lot of them tend to hide their roots. I’m not going to do that. I’m here to celebrate and share my culture with the people of Columbus, and I want my son to witness that, too.”

For next pop-up locations and details, search for @xolo_mixto on Instagram.

↓ Photo courtesy of Xolo Mixto

← Bert Chaves, Photo courtesy of Xolo Mixto

Not Ur Sweetheart

This isn’t just a pop-up – or a party, although it may seem like one – it’s a celebration of women having a blast while disrupting the service industry.

Not Ur Sweetheart is the brainchild of Nan, Lauren, Genevieve, Roni, B.E, Sarah, and Hannah, a group of bartenders (and artists) that felt used, undervalued, and underpaid in the service industry world. “As women in the industry, we’ve trauma bonded over all of the hurdles we have to face. We’re looking to change it. We’re looking to move away from the toxic, bad time that women have working at bars. We want our events to be fun for us too,” explained Nan.

And fun they are. Nan mentioned that they want to throw a fun event and not just serve drinks to people. Their lively, often themed gatherings are filled with people seeking a safe, inclusive, and enjoyable night out, drinking cocktails made by women who are passionate about being behind the bar. “Our mission is: by and for queer, nonbinary, and women. We make space for people who usually don’t have a space for them,” explained the Not Ur Sweetheart crew.

To indulge in their famous jello shots, milk punches, and craft cocktails, a suggested donation is requested at the door. It can be $1, it can be $100. In keeping with their spirit of inclusivity, “Everything we make at the door goes straight to the Abortion Fund of Ohio and Trans Ohio,” affirmed Nan.

Nan wanted to emphasize that, “Not Your Sweetheart is more than just creating pop-ups – we’ve become a family. It feels so much more intentional than just serving drinks. I want to highlight how much work we put into it and how amazing our team is. I’ve never worked with people that are so understanding and so communicative. Everyone slays.”

Keep up with their Instagram, @not.ur.swtheart, to join future celebrations.

↓ Photo courtesy of Not Ur Sweetheart

DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH

DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH

We all scream for ice cream, but paletas are the star of the show at Diamonds Ice Cream, which offers more than 50 varieties

By Laura Hennigan

There are still plenty of warm days left to enjoy cold, refreshing treats, and one of the best places to grab a few is in a plaza at the intersection of Sawmill and Bethel roads.

Walking into Diamonds Ice Cream is an entire experience, with a massive freezer featuring over 30 flavors of ice cream, another counter for ordering street food snacks, plus

an entire corner that functions as a souvenir shop, selling everything from piñatas to baseball caps.

But the star of the show is the case housing dozens and dozens of las paletas: Mexican frozen treats that look like popsicles, but are infinitely more delicious. →

Photos by Sarah Pfeifer

Story Design by Bryce Patterson

↓ Diamonds Ice Cream's paleta offerings

Fabian Torres runs the daily store operations and is co-owner with his father, who originally opened the shop in 2015. “My cousin owns several ice cream shops in Mexico, and when we were visiting, we really loved the las paletas he sold,” Torres said. “No one in Columbus had them at the time, and we thought they needed to be introduced here.”

Paletas are uniquely made almost entirely from fresh fruit, with just a little water and sugar added. Rows of the brightly colored treats are stacked, and it’s easy to see large slices of strawberry, kiwi, and mango in many of them. Unlike American popsicles, which are usually filled with additives and dyes, Diamonds makes their paletas with only real ingredients, crafted weekly in-house, and in small batches.

“When my cousin taught us how to make these, he told us to never downgrade your quality. Quality is what makes us stand out,” said Torres. “We’re different because we make everything here, we don’t outsource any of our products. We use at least 80% fresh fruit, so when you are eating a paleta you are basically eating straight fruit, with no artificial stuff.”

They offer at least 50 different varieties at any given time, many traditional like papaya, avocado and watermelon, along with more adventurous selections such as chili powder, pine nuts and pico de gallo. There are also paletas to tackle sweet cravings, including Oreo, brownie and cookie dough. →

Not in the mood for a popsicle? There are plenty of other choices available at Diamonds. Choose from savory snacks like corn on the cob topped with mayo, cheese, chili powder and lime (known as elote), or nacho-inspired Botes Locos, which are pork rinds topped with jicama, cucumber, peanuts, tamarind candies, chili powder and sauce. Torres recommends grabbing an agua fresca drink to-go as well, especially the horchata flavor, a traditional Mexican drink made from rice, milk, vanilla and cinnamon.

No matter what you decide to try, Diamonds is worth a stop (or three) to taste all the offerings and check out the gift shop area, which over the past few years has grown from a small table of merchandise to a whole gift shop area.

“I see a lot of new faces everyday… people love coming in to get ice cream and explore the store,” said Torres. “Diamonds is unique and all kinds of different people come in, and I want to share our culture with everyone.” ♦

To learn more, visit www.diamondsicecream.com

↓ Diamonds Ice Cream Mangonada

cOlUMbUs SECOND-HAND

Whether you’re doing it for the thrill of the hunt or to save the planet, thrifting is a worthy endeavor. So much so, that we’ve dedicated the cover section of our August issue to it. From must-try Columbus resale shops, to your guide to thrifting in Ohio’s capital city, to a story about how resale could help save the planet, there’s more than enough great content compiled here. And unlike going to thrift stores, you don’t have to look around to find it either. →

Section Design by Tori Smith

yOUr GUIDE TO IN

sEcONDHAND cOLUMBUs

Our top picks and tricks to shopping second-hand in Columbus

By Sav McKee

Story Design by Tori Smith

"thanks, it’s thrifted!” is such a satisfying phrase, and it’s something I find myself saying quite often, considering 99% of my wardrobe and home decor are second-hand. While I wouldn’t exactly crown myself as the Thrift Queen of Columbus, I’ve proudly embraced the world of second-hand for the past 15 years of my life. Maybe Thrift Princess better suits me. I’m here to share the knowledge I’ve gained from the past decade and a half of second-hand shopping, debunk the stigma around thrifting, and spill all the secrets I’ve learned along the way.

Why SecOndHand?

In addition to saving hundreds of dollars on every shopping trip, delving into the world of second-hand has allowed me to explore and develop my own sense of style. With shirts at thrift stores costing me $2, it’s easier than ever to experiment with clothing that makes me feel the most authentic. Picking out outfits for myself instead of walking into a store where a mannequin or advertisement is telling me how to dress helps my self-expression thrive. →

is it actually better fOr the planet?

Most importantly, circular fashion, where we share clothes, donate them, and then buy them from a second-hand source, whether at a thrift store, vintage pop-up, or curated secondchance store, is definitely better for the planet, and fortunately for Mother Earth, it’s all the rage right now. Volunteers of America, a chain of local, non-profit thrift stores, said, “The younger generation of shoppers is leading the charge in the quest for sustainable fashion, with many of them refusing to shop anywhere that isn’t a second-hand store.” This is a teenage trend we can all partake in.

The word “fast-fashion” is a term for mass produced clothing, usually of cheap, synthetic materials filled with microplastics, and made by underpaid and exploited women and children in garment factories. Most clothes at the mall would unfortunately fit into this category. Entire deserts and landfills are overflowing with these items, usually purchased on a whim for a single event and then never worn again.

However, everything you could ever want from a fastfashion website or storefront can be purchased second-hand in some way or form. You might have to adapt your expectations, but that’s part of the process. By not purchasing directly from a corporation that uses unethical labor practices and contributes to mass pollution, a thrift store outfit could be considered a boycott; a revolutionary act; a way to say, “No, I’m not participating in this type of consumption.”

A Volunteers of America (VOA) representative said they receive 15 million pounds of donated bags every single year – you’re bound to find exactly what you need at one of their stores. Some items are still brand new with tags. “The negative connotations are starting to fade into the background as the ‘environmentally friendly’ narrative comes to the forefront. Donating and shopping at thrift stores keeps more clothing and items away from landfills and reduces the pollution associated with new goods! A 2022 survey, Nosto, shared that 57% of shoppers say they want the fashion industry to become more sustainable. Thrift stores make this possible!” emphasized the VOA representative.

Shopping second-hand, whether it's clothes or home decor, allows you to reflect on your consumption and spending habits, explore your sense of personal style, and save the planet. It’s also incredibly fun, and Columbus’ pre-owned scene makes your second-hand journey easier and more accessible than ever.

where tO start?

First, set your intentions. Think: am I at a thrift store just to treasure hunt, with no actual item in mind? Or am I zoning in to find the perfect black skirt? It depends on the day, but I find thrifting to be less overwhelming when I have an outfit or item in mind.

On days that I’m just browsing with an open mind and no time limit, I grab an iced coffee, put on a good playlist, and look for gems. I’m not that superstitious, but I do seem to have developed a pattern over time that always works out for me. My friends swear by this method, too.

I start with items that I won’t be trying on in the fitting rooms: glassware first, maybe some artwork, then shoes, purses, and accessories, so that all of them are at the bottom of my cart. This way, the clothes are at the top, and you won’t have to sift through the shoes and potentially break any glasses that would otherwise be laying on top or in between the clothing.

I then head towards the men’s jeans section, crossing my fingers that there are vintage Levi’s in my size. Most of the time there aren’t, but sometimes I hit the jackpot. I love Arizona and Wrangler, too.

Some thrift stores sort their clothes by style, while others sort them by size. Volunteers of America incorporates both, which is why I tend to gravitate towards their stores the most. I work my way through the dresses and two piece suits (my favorite sections at a thrift store, actually!), not paying attention to the sizes; vintage sizes are fickle. A vintage size 16 could actually be a modern size 6, so it’s best to look at them all, and pick out any items that stand out to you rather than what size is marked.

While trying items on, I search closer for stains, rips, or broken zippers. If they pass their check, I then try to visualize what this would look like out at a restaurant or a concert rather than under the harsh fluorescent lighting of the fitting rooms.

Lastly, while in line to check out, I search the showcases by the registers. Sometimes they keep their name brand purses, higher-end shoes, and expensive art and decor there. There’s also jewelry locked away, and I’ve found almost all of my necklaces, hoop earrings, and rings hidden in the display sections of a thrift store, usually costing $.50-$6.00. →

THRIFT STORES MAKE THIS POSSIBLE!

THE LOOP VINTAGE

1559 N 4TH ST

This is a go-to storefront for the coolest second-hand sneakers, vintage graphic t’s, vintage jerseys, hats, and jackets. Everything is meticulously curated and cleaned.

fUrNITUrE wITh A heArT

2165 MORSE RD

Every day, hundreds of pieces of furniture are donated to the Furniture Bank. The larger items of exceptional quality are at this store, along with artwork, lamps, books, records, and much more. Plus, every purchase provides support to families in need.

LIfE Of LEIsUrE

1489 GRANDVIEW AVE

This booth at Grandview Mercantile has some of the trendiest vintage furniture in Ohio, filled with goods that you thought you could only find in Miami or LA. Think chrome chairs, retro lamps, and lacquered coffee tables. Rusty, the owner, also sells online through their Instagram, @lifeofleisure, wwhere he posts his available items directly. Anyone interested in the item can them send him a message.

vIntAGe MArkets & popups

FRIENDSHIP FLEA, SOHUD COLLECTIVE, ETC.

These vintage curators already did the dirty work for you. They spend hours a day at a thrift store finding the best of the best so that you don’t have to.

street 2 vIntaGe

796 PARSONS AVE

This is the place to go if you’re wanting a selection that’s already been curated and sifted through for you. Mini skirts, little black dresses, graphic t’s – Shayla Boyd, the owner, is an aspiring stylist, and she knows exactly what’s trendy right now. Prices are definitely more expensive than a thrift store, but I find a stop here to always be worth it.

eclectIques

AntIque mAll

3265 N HIGH ST

Every booth here has their own style with items from different time eras, making this antique store a one-stop-shop for basically anything you could want.

flOwEr cHILD

233 E 5TH AVE

Their clothing selection is outstanding too, with a surplus of leather jackets and vintage Levi’s, but their retro decor, ranging from lighting, glassware, and even vintage magazines are spectacular. Even just a stop in without the intention of buying anything is a boost of serotonin and inspiration.

1803 W. FIFTH AVE., GRANDVIEW HEIGHTS, OH

Second-hand Chanel? Yup. This award winning consignment boutique has an organized selection of women’s designer brands, a section for teens, maternity clothes, shoes, and accessories.

VOA

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS

I go here to thrift my basics for affordable prices. There seems to be an unlimited supply of t-shirts, vintage jeans, sweatshirts, sandals, and boots, and I love knowing that every purchase here goes directly back into my community. The proceeds from your purchases support life-changing programs.

bOOMErANG ROOM

3274 N HIGH ST

I’ve personally found two pieces of artwork here that are worth thousands of dollars, but they’re so cool that I ended up keeping them instead of selling them. This tiny Clintonville store has some of the most unique treasures in the city, ranging from the incredible artwork to vintage, smoked glass barware.

FINDS frEsH

Meet the Columbus vintage clothing fashionista boasting her own one-of-akind streetwear shop

By Molly Hammond

Photos by Jen Brown Story Design by Tori Smith

shayla Boyd was known by her high school acquaintances as the “freshest” and “flyest” girl in school, often walking in with vintage Nike windbreakers, Levi’s mom jeans and old-school Calvin Klein. Classmates took notice of her timeless wardrobe choices and began addressing her in the hallways, asking about where she bought the pieces that made her stand out to the whole school.

Boyd realized there was a true market for vintage clothing from then on. After all, she had students trying to buy items straight off her back. But Boyd's fashion taste didn't just spark one day; her business came from an enduring love of all things vintage.

“I grew up watching 90’s sitcoms, from the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to Family Matters,” Shayla explained. “They had a huge influence on me from a young age. I adored the way that the characters dressed and how they used fashion as a way to express themselves.”

Not only did fashion come easily to Boyd, but she also had the chance to study it. After graduating from The Ohio State University with a degree in fashion and retail, she quickly realized that she didn’t want to work for anybody else. In order to make her clothing store dreams become a reality, she knew she wanted to make her own decisions for a business. Thus, Street2Vintage was born.

Offering apparel from the 70’s to the 2000's, Street2Vintage also lets customers sift through one-of-a-kind options, like Prada archive pieces, Rick Owens, and more. When Boyd runs across these pieces, she has a relationship with her customers where she can call them up and give them first dibs on the unique finds. →

↓ Street2Vintage owner & founder Shayla Boyd, at Street2Vintage

THE COLUMBUS COMMUNITY IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME.

Street2Vintage is focused on individuality more than anything else, something that came easily to Boyd at a young age. “I didn’t like having things that other kids in my school had on—I didn’t want to look like them,” said Boyd. “I think that is something that my customers appreciate. Other vintage stores in Columbus can feel more niche-based where we just try to have pieces on the racks for each person that walks through the doors.”

Located blocks away from German Village along the Parsons Avenue corridor, Street2Vintage has a Columbus-first mentality. The store hosts a Small Business Saturday each week, where four to six small Columbus businesses can come in and set up pop-up shops in the store. The event gives other small businesses a chance to get their name out into the community. Boyd believes heavily in shopping small and supporting local businesses.

“The Columbus community is really important to me,” she said. “So far, I’ve had all positive feedback. I know multiple customers by name and have the chance to stir up friendly conversations every time I see them. It’s great to hear from them about the love they have for my store and the quality of items that I’ve handpicked.” ♦

To see some of Boyd’s latest finds, visit street2vintage.com

How one of the Short North’s cornerstone clothing shops, Smartypants Vintage, has evolved to stay relevant in the mercurial world of second-hand fashion

By Jack McLaughlin

Photos by Alissa Ohashi

Story Design by Tori Smith

↓ Smartypants Vintage owner & founder Justina Smart, at Smartypants Vintage

March of this year marked the 10-year anniversary of Smartypants Vintage opening its brick-and-mortar storefront in the Short North. But it didn’t hit the decade mark through luck alone.

If you ask owner Justina Smart, the concept has been deliberate (smart, if you will) about the brand, about how it's grown and evolved in the face of a rapidly changing vintage market where only the best of the best survive.

While Smartypants as most know it–that is, its physical storefront at 815 N. High St.–began just over 10 years ago, the concept itself was created even earlier, in the form of a resale Etsy shop in 2008.

“I think I was probably one of the first vintage sellers on Etsy back then,” Smart said. “It was a fun place to start when the market wasn’t so saturated like it is now.”

Until recently, she said, quality second-hand finds were sourced much more easily. Smart first noticed her goto “honey holes” becoming crowded with second-hand seekers in recent years, a trend that took off even more during the pandemic.

Smartypants deals in a wide range of eras (which Smart says is needed for the business to cater to a wide enough customer base), but she specializes in items from 1920-1970, with a particular passion for 1970s denim.

In part necessitated by the increasing number of thrifters at local estate sales and antique shops, and in part driven by her own immutable desire to find the coolest second-hand scores possible, Smart has traveled not only across Ohio, but across the country as well.

In fact, at the time I called to talk to her about the store, she was perusing the vendor stalls at a motorcycle event in Ohio. →

“Sometimes I’ll get tips that are a complete bust, but a lot of the time there’s no way to know until you’re there,” she said as the guttural thrum of a distant motorcycle engine was heard in the background. “Once I drove two hours out of my way because a woman said she had a coat that Audrey Hepburn wore in a movie, and it turned out she just thought it really looked like that coat.”

Smart said that part of what drives her is the thrill of the chase, the enchanting potential of uncovering the next big find. But there’s more to it for her. Unlike many second-handers who aren’t concerned with the provenance of their items, Smart is also compelled by the particular history of each piece, and she feels a responsibility to share the story of each one with its buyer, whenever possible.

“I think I’m in a unique position having a brick-and-mortar, because I have a captive audience in my shop,” she said with a laugh. “Each piece has its own story to

tell, to carry on, and sharing that is very important to me.”

While Smart is grateful for the benefits a brick-and-mortar offers, she also knows when it’s necessary to evolve, and has actively done so in recent years as she looks toward the future of Smartypants Vintage.

While in-person sales still make up a large percentage of Smartypants’ business, Smart has been placing an increasing emphasis on website sales following the pandemic, since the market has been demanding it. So just like her own vintage items and the cyclical nature of fashion trends, her business–which began itself as a website–has come full circle, in part, back to its roots.

“The pandemic has forced me to have more of an online presence, and to become better at marketing,” she said. “It’s forced me to become more creative, too, but I’m fine with that.” ♦

To learn more, visit @SmartyPantsVintage on Instagram

EACH PIECE HAS ITS OWN STORY TO TELL, TO CARRY ON, AND SHARING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.

REDUCE, REcycle, rE-wEAR

By Shelby Metzger / Photos by Jordy Middlebrooks / Story Design by Tori Smith

from electric cars to composting, there are countless ways communities have begun to consciously try to better the environment, especially as we become more aware of our negative impacts on the planet. But oftentimes, you can be sustainable and not even know it. Enter: thrifting.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, 11.3 million tons of textiles were sent to landfills in the United States in 2018, the most recent year for which data is available. The World Economic Forum states it takes roughly 700 gallons of water to produce a single cotton shirt. In short, a large share of the waste polluting our land and ocean and the drain on its respective resources is a result of the abundance of clothes being produced and subsequently thrown away.

Lisa Goldsand, the founder of Circular Thrift in Columbus, Ohio, is focused on creating a solution to this growing problem. Goldsand has dedicated her time to bettering the earth through reducing the environmental burden and waste produced by the creation and purchase of new clothing. Circular Thrift, a local startup, promotes the circulation of used clothing within the community by offering drop off points, home pickups, and pop-up events for people to donate, purchase, or swap used garments.

“The whole model is based on the premise that by making it convenient and fun to obtain preowned clothing, this startup can help to reduce the consumption of new items,” she said. “And thus, if it's repeated, it can also reduce the total greenhouse gas emissions, water, and energy that are associated with clothing production.”

Thrifting, or otherwise reusing clothing, can have a large impact on the waste created by producing new garments, according to Goldsand.

“Thrifting is really important for the environment. 65 to 70 percent of the resources which go into the clothing that we wear come from two parts of the process. The first part is getting the raw materials which, for 80 percent of what we wear, means growing cotton or drilling for oil, which, of course, is polyester. And then making the fabric itself which requires water, energy and chemical use…” Goldsand explained. “And so because today there really are not great end of life options for post-consumer textile waste – the industry needs time to scale – the best thing for us to do for the environment is to try and use what's already been produced as many times as possible before we use natural resources to make more fabric.” →

Aside from being cheap and trendy, here’s how Columbus resale clothing is helping save the planet

Columbus Vintage Thrift, owned by Jordan Hensley, is yet another business making strides in the thrifting industry while simultaneously protecting the environment.

After being out of work during the COVID-19 shutdown, Hensley and his fiancée started the business together, selling vintage items and clothing at various pop up sales and food truck festivals, as well as out of their physical location at Peddler’s Junction in Lancaster, Ohio.

“We kind of do everything from Victorian era clothing and furniture and photos to midcentury, modern furniture and clothing, upwards to the more current nostalgia of the ‘80s, the ‘90s, early Y2K clothing, toys, so on and so forth,” Hensley explained.

For Hensley, buying second-hand is a way to positively contribute to our planet while simultaneously giving high quality garments a second chance at life.

“When you buy second-hand and instead of buying into this kind of fast fashion idea, I mean, that stuff just ends up at a landfill, right, or on the side of the road because no one wants it,” he said. “So I think when you are buying second-hand, you're taking what someone may deem trash and make it your own treasure.”

The increasing popularity of fast fashion is a significant contributor to the abundance of low-quality clothing and subsequent negative environmental impact of the clothing industry, something Goldsand and Hensley both agree on.

According to Goldsand, the increase in low-quality clothing in circulation puts a strain on charities in the United States, which sort

donations and deem what is acceptable for domestic resale. Goods that aren’t sold domestically are bailed and shipped to developing countries. The lower quality items sell for less, impacting the compensation of the workers at the second-hand markets. Much of the low-quality clothing ends up in landfills or is incinerated.

“There really is a significant negative impact of the increase of volume in quality and in poor quality clothing through the whole ecosystem,” she said.

Hensley also acknowledges the issues that arise with purchasing from low-quality manufacturers.

“These clothes and things are being manufactured in warehouses in such a fast-paced way that quality control kind of goes out the window,” he said.

A possible solution to this wide-spread issue lies in shifting the view of those suspicious of buying second-hand. While data shows that consumers are increasingly engaging in thrifting or otherwise reusing clothing, there’s still progress to be made. There is a stigma many still hold when it comes to reusing clothes others have worn, a stigma Goldsand is fighting to eradicate.

“Really anything we can do to destigmatize reuse and also just to make it more convenient for people who would otherwise buy new, that really can move the needle in terms of the environmental impact of fashion,” Goldsand said.

Circular Thrift plays a large part in Goldsand’s effort to normalize reusing clothing. She is beginning to see a new customer base that is

learning the benefits of reduced consumption and are increasingly open to the idea of thrifting due to the convenience and hyperlocal model of her business.

“One of the goals of Circular Thrift is to make sure that clothing is used as many times as possible, really by making thrift appealing to the consumers that may not be committed to shopping at a traditional thrift store today,” she said.

For the creators of Columbus Vintage Thrift, helping to create a cleaner planet is an overwhelming plus to second-hand shopping, but the benefits don’t stop there.

“Not only is it environmentally friendly, but… it crosses so many generations. It’s a way for so many different people that come from different backgrounds, ages, whatever it may be to get together and enjoy the same things,” Hensley said. “I mean, I have a seven year old who's super into Pokemon and Power Rangers and all this, and that's what was big when I was a child. And so it's really cool for us to be able to connect to something that I can look back and relate to that he can also relate to.”

While staying green, thrifters can also find meaning behind each new treasure, keeping connections alive across generations.

“The connection part of it too is, that's what's most important for me,” Hensley said. “I don't want to say it's more important than the environmental aspect, I mean, that is also very important and part of it, but if I can be good to the planet and also have a real good time with my kids and everyone gets along and kind of relates. That's a win-win in my book.” ♦

To learn more, visit @ColumbusVintageExchange and @CircularThriftLLC on Instagram

↓ Circular Thrift owner Lisa Goldsand, photo courtesy of Lisa Goldsand

LOoKBoOk A VINTaGE

Some of our best retro finds from across Columbus

Photos by Alissa Ohashi / Pictured: Smartypants Vintage

Photos by Jordy Middlebrooks

Pictured: Columbus Vintage Thrift

Golf Gone Wild!

By Melinda Green /

Middlebrooks

This unique Japanese-born golf variation, described as “mini-golf on steroids,” has finally found its way to Ohio

Story Design by Atlas Biro

Photos by Jordy

↓ Hobart Shaw, manager of Wormburner Park Golf

It’s like golf. No, it’s more like mini golf. Well, that’s not exactly right, either; it’s more like… croquet? Not exactly…

It’s called park golf, and it’s poised to become a hot new activity across the nation. For now, though, you can only find it in two places in the USA – including right here in Central Ohio.

Off the highway and on the way to Hocking Hills State Park is family-owned Campbell Cove Campground. Hobart Shaw, the son of the owners, manages their Wormburner Park Golf course as well as the campground.

“It's the pickleball version of golf,” he explained. “It's easier to learn, easier to play, more accessible. Think about how pickleball is to tennis, as far as going out and having some fun with friends. Not super frustrating like a real, right game of golf.”

New York state boasts the USA’s first park golf course; Campbell Cove is the second. Since word’s gotten out, though, Shaw has been fielding many inquiries of, “How did you do it?”

It all started in 2020 with a YouTube video that mentioned park golf. Shaw went “down the rabbit hole” and realized that this sport was perfect for the open field in the campground his parents had recently purchased. After a quick trip with his father to Destroyer Park Golf in New York, he was hooked.

↓ Wormburner Park golfers ↑

He took drone photos of Campbell Cove’s field and mapped out a course, and his brother handled the landscaping. The course opened in 2021 and has been steadily gaining popularity.

But what is park golf? First of all, it is, as they say, “big in Japan.” Born in the 1970s, park golf was a way for Japan’s retired golfers and amateur seniors to continue enjoying golf into their twilight years. But it’s become a craze with other age groups, as well.

The ball is a little larger than a golf ball and often brightly colored. The holes are par three or four, and the greens are only 100 to 250 feet long. There are no sand traps, and flat-faced clubs ensure that the ball never flies more than about knee height off the ground (thus the name “Wormburner,” a golf shot that scoots across the ground). →

"It's the pickleball version of golf... It's easier to learn, easier to play, more accessible."

↓ Wormburner Park Golf clubhouse

↓ Wormburner Park golfers

At Wormburner, eighteen holes are packed onto 2.8 acres. Its flat, straightforward design makes the course fairly accessible to wheelchairs and assistive scooters as well as those who walk the course. “As long as you can go through the grass, drive through a yard, you're good to go,” Shaw said.

“People will always say it's like croquet, but it's really not. It's a lot more. It's really more like golf,” he explained. But not quite. “You don't have to put a lot of thought into it. It's not going to take you 4 hours to go play a real round of golf. Nobody's going to get super frustrated. Everybody can have fun.”

And yeah, it’s a little like mini golf, too, but, as Shaw noted, “Personally, I think it I think it's more fun in that you get to give the ball a good whack. I know that sounds funny, but you get to put some oomph into it.” He admits that he takes park golf fairly seriously when he plays, although fun is still his ultimate goal.

“Over here at my course, it's fun for everybody,” he said. “I had my 4-year-old out playing the other day. He was loving it. That's the thing about it—the elderly can play, your grandparents can play, but also, your teenage kids can play.”

Wormburner is open from 9am to sundown daily, on a first-come, first-served basis. “It only takes around an hour and a half to complete the course, so the wait usually isn’t more than 10 or 15 minutes,” Shaw said. Of course, weekends are peak times.

In addition, Wormburner hosts charity tournaments and has a seasonal weekly league. Some die-hard players are buying their own equipment—and yes, equipment has to be imported from Japan.

Shaw’s actually looking forward to seeing more courses open across the country. “I want more closer to me. I follow Instagram accounts in Japan and Korea, and I see all these beautiful courses that have been around for 40 years now, and they're so awesome.” He’s absolutely ready to see this sport take off.

For now, he’s putting his energy into promoting the sport locally to everyone who will listen, noting, “I think anybody who likes taking a walk outside and hitting things with a stick is going to enjoy it.” ♦

To learn more, visit wormburnerparkgolf.com

"Over here at my course, it's fun for everybody."

The Bazaar

Bizarre

(614)’s “man about town” Matt Mahoney dives head-first, and first-person, into the eccentric, eclectic world of the South High Flea Market

Story Design by Atlas Biro

By Matt Mahoney / Photos by Cassidy Lee

Columbus, oh – 7.8.23

Antique auctions, thrift stores, and flea markets especially have become the final frontier of American commerce; the last remaining bit of wild-west-style action that one can find in an economy that is growingly regulated, formalized, and centralized. If you’re brave enough you might walk away with your own personal goldmine, but on the other side of the coin, this is no country for old men. It’s okay to be scared, sure, but don’t let the sharks see that; lest you end up paying $5 for a DVD of Tombstone that goes for a buck on eBay, or worse: haggled to death.

Truth be told, I’ve never been to a flea market, but this strikes me as something I might enjoy. While scanning my available resources, I saw there was one not far from my home at South High Drive-In on Columbus’ Southside.

Now, things are a bit different on the Southside. I’m not talking German Village; no, the real Southside. It’s not always for the faint of heart. I should know, I live here.

Part of what makes the southside of Columbus so uniquely exciting is a phenomenon I like to call “guys with stuff.” Go down Parsons on any given day (and at any hour) and you will see at least a couple folks hauling what looks like (but is not actually) junk down the street in a truck, van, wagon, stroller, shopping cart, rickshaw or sometimes even on foot.

↓ Matt Mahoney talks to a flea market vendor

Where are they all heading? I always ask myself. Come to think of it, they all seem to be headed south: away from the bustle of downtown and towards the no-man’s-land between 104 and 270.

I know now, they were heading to South High Flea Market. So I took a trip myself.

When I first pulled up to the South High Flea Market, I was immediately struck by the scale of the event. This is the big show, I think to myself, as I stroll by a man carrying what looks to be two dolls created in the image of George W. and Laura Bush. There has to be at least 100 different vendors here, and likely many times more shoppers. The sellers at South High Flea Market, like the offerings, are decidedly eclectic in nature.

You’ve got the professionals who roll out tables upon tables worth of collector sports memorabilia. Then you have the hobbyists who don't seem to be in it for the money so much as the spectacle of the whole thing. Finally, we have a third class of attendees who can’t possibly be there with a serious intention of making money.

A collection of 80’s metal records brings me to the table of a man who later identifies himself as Larry Cline. This is actually a bit out of the ordinary, as I had trouble even getting a first name from half the people I talked to. We make small talk for a few minutes while I flip through Judas Priest and Ratt.

Just when I was about to move onto the next vendor, I saw it: there, obscured by a few stray records, was a box of vintage adult mags. I began to dig through the collection, and Larry tried to play it coy at first — even going so far as to mention something about the quality of the articles contained within — but after seeing I was comfortable with the “content,” he began to relax. →

Flea markets especially have become...The last remaining bit of wild-weststyle action...

“ ”

I ended up paying two dollars for a January 1987 copy of Playboy (the “Holiday Anniversary Issue”) that originally went for $4.50. Don’t complain to me about inflation.

The big shots at events like these get there early, forcing the later arrivals off to the periphery. I spotted one of these later arrivals starting to set up camp, and approached expressing interest in what looks like, but is not actually, an Atari 2600. The man’s setup looked a tad meager compared to some of his competitors. Rather than employing a table, he appropriated the hood of his car and a bedsheet that sits directly on the ground. A copy of Radiohead’s “The Bends,” a cork belt buckle, a portable air compressor: some might say this collection lacks cohesion. But in this, too, is beauty.

“I’ve been picking all my life, ya know. Here, check this out,” he said. After some interrogation, I got a name: Sweeney Todd. A pseudonym to be sure, but a surprisingly fitting name for a man who very well could be known as the Demon Barterer of South High Street.

“Ten dollars. Take it or leave it, I don’t give a [four-letter word that starts with “F”],” he retorted to a man eyeing his air compressor.

“That’s how you sell,” he turned and told me with a grin. To my surprise, this did not lead to a sale. I try to thank Sweeny Todd for his time by purchasing a belt buckle with ducks on it, but at $10, that’s a little much for me. Onto the next one.

As I made my rounds, I began to feel at home. Some of the faces might look fierce at first, but most folks here are happy to chat with you after you level

↑ Matt Mahoney talks to a flea market vendor

a few compliments towards their collection of what looks like, but is not actually, junk. Minutes later as I walked, a squirrely figure darted out from behind a van: it was Sweeney Todd. He ran up and gave me a sealed plastic bag filled with what looked like mesh clothing, but turned out to be garbage. “What am I supposed to do with this?” I asked as he scurried away.

“You’ll know,” he responded, although I did not.

Our next stop: Fred’s place. Fred occupies the flea-market middle class I spoke of earlier; I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s pulling in some decent money from this operation, but there’s also room for improvement. We made fun of the American Pickers for a few minutes, before I spied a Bud bottle opener going for a dollar. I’ll take it.

The day ended where the party started: back at Sweeney Todd’s bazaar of wonders. Despite wavering sales, Todd maintained an even keel. Yet another shopper came by and eyed down a collection of vintage video games, but was immediately warded away by the sticker shock when our beloved salesman looked him in the eye and said (not asked) “$1,000.” No sale.

It can be easy to laugh at some of the things you see here, but there’s something noble to these efforts, as well. Flea markets are a remnant of a different time: an era in which people thought long and hard before throwing things away. Repair, repurpose, recycle; only now, this conservation is done for amusement and beer money rather than survival. As long as I can scare up the $2 entrance fee and withstand the 8 am wake-up call, I know where I’ll be on Saturdays this summer. Sure, it’s not for everyone, but with the right combination skill and gall, you just might be able to survive the day at South High Flea Market. ♦

To learn more, visit http://southdrive-in.com

Your

Earn rewards on your everyday purchases.

Earn more interest when you have more with MB.

Security and savings have never been this simple.

Urban Roadtrip THE GREAT AUTUMN, ESCAPE!

Five urban destinations perfect for a getaway road trip this fall

By Laura Hennigan

Smith

Story Design by Tori

As the days begin to shorten and the air starts to feel a little more crisp, you know that autumn is on its way.

Luckily for us, fall is the perfect time for a great road trip, with plenty of sunshine-filled days intertwined with the changing leaves.

And there’s no better way to experience the seasons than from a cozy Main St. coffee shop, winding your way through a tree-lined campus, or browsing a local indie bookstore.

We’ve rounded up the most charming college towns perfect for a weekend getaway this fall, and you can get to each one in about five hours or less.

Lexington,

KENTUCKY

Tucked into the rolling hills of the Bluegrass region, you’ll find Lexington, known for horses, bourbon and the University of Kentucky. Many people start their visit at the famous Kentucky Horse Park, a working horse farm and equestrian competition venue where you can get up close and personal with many different breeds. Or amble around the park-like Keeneland Race Course, where the grounds are open to the public and you can catch a glimpse of horses on the track for their morning workouts.

Lexington itself is full of numerous historic sites and museums, including the Mary Todd Lincoln House and the Henry Clay Estate. As you wander the city, you’ll also discover beautiful, imaginative, and thought-provoking art just about everywhere you look, thanks to over 50 street murals. Whether or not to imbibe at one of the many distilleries is up to you, but either way plan to grab a tasty Kentucky Hot Brown sandwich, originally made famous in nearby Louisville.

There’s something for everyone in eclectic Knoxville, which manages to retain a small-town feel even with the presence of the University of Tennessee campus (be sure to pack something orange to wear). There’s a laid-back vibe wherever you go, from the historical Civil War walking and driving tours to the award-winning, vibrant restaurant scene. Check the calendar to see what’s happening in Market Square, which hosts live music, festivals and fairs throughout the fall.

Be sure to explore one of the many outdoor options, including the Knoxville Botanical Garden & Arboretum and the World’s Fair Park, where you can get a 360 degree view of the city from the Sunsphere observation deck. Or head a little further afield to check out the Knoxville Urban Wilderness, a massive outdoor space offering 50 miles of trails where you can bike, hike, climb and paddle. After a full day of adventuring, spend some time in Old City, a charming neighborhood full of shops, cafes, galleries, and breweries that offer something for everyone.

Bloomington,INDIANA

As the home of Indiana University, Bloomington embodies classic small-town Americana. The highly walkable downtown area is full of unique restaurants, shops, bars, and venues, particularly on Kirkwood Avenue, the city’s most iconic street. Spend a day wandering between small art galleries and boutiques, then cap off your evening at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, a Spanish mission revival silent movie house that hosts music, dance, film, and community events.

Venture out a little ways and you’ll find many outdoor adventure options, like kayaking and fishing at Monroe Lake, or hiking some trails in Hoosier National Forest. There are unlimited options for every meal, and the restaurants here are so diverse that the city’s dining slogan is “Bloomington: A World of Food.” Be sure to check out Samira’s, a unique restaurant that combines Mediterranean, Afghan, and Middle Eastern ingredients in its dishes. End the day by heading over to Switchyard Brewing Co. or Metal Works Brewing Company to enjoy a locally-crafted brew, or visit the toprated Oliver Winery & Vineyards, Indiana’s oldest winery. →

MICHIGAN

While anywhere in West Virginia is a dream in the fall, the state capital of Charleston is a safe bet to maximize your Mountain State experience. Boasting a population of nearly 50,000, the state’s most popular city offers its own urban charm, situated at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers. There are plenty of museums and markets in addition to the bustling Capitol Street, lined with historical buildings and unique businesses.

Located near the center of the state, Charleston is within a reasonable distance of some of West Virginia’s–and consequently, the country’s–most beautiful autumn landscapes. The New River Gorge, which is nothing short of breathtaking in the fall, and features a National Park, one of the country’s most iconic bridges (The New River Gorge Bridge) and more, is just over an hour away. Holly River State Park, the Monongahela State Forest, Blackwater Falls State Park and more are within a drivable distance, and in the fall in West Virginia, the drive is part of the experience.

We know, we know, but hear us out: take away the whole football thing, and Ann Arbor is actually a lovely place to spend a weekend. It’s developed into quite the foodie paradise, with dozens of locally-owned restaurants and breweries that invite both visitors and locals to enjoy a wide variety of diverse offerings. The city is also known for its globally-inspired cultural offerings, and is home to renowned galleries and museums, as well as theatrical and musical performances from local, regional, and international artists.

Spend a quiet afternoon perusing Literati Bookstore, which was named bookstore of the year by Publishers Weekly in 2019, then head over to the Main Street area for plenty of boutique shopping. See the “arbor” parts of this leafy locale from the water after renting canoes or kayaks from the Argo Park Livery. Wrap up your time with a Reuben at Zingerman’s deli, followed by drinks and live music at either The Ark or the Blue Llama Jazz Club.

WEST