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BIG PICTURE The Vulgar Vegan Bakery created one of her iconic cookie cakes as a delicious way to match our cover sectoing this month. TO SEE MORE OF HER CREATIONS GO TO (Pg. 32) PHOTO BY JEN BROWN
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CONTENTS
58 20 22 70 10
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C O V E R PA C K A G E DATING DISASTERS
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MAKERS SPACE: FORTIN IRONWORKS
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SMALL BUSINESS, BIG MOVES
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TACOS FOR PRESIDENT
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UNSAVORY SWEETS
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DATE SPOTS
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FOREVER AFTER
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ON THE COVER:
Created by Emma Quinn
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Opening Volley PUBLISHER Wayne T. Lewis
J AC K M C L AU G H L I N Editor-In-Chief
A LOVE LETTER FROM THE EDITOR T. S. Eliot begins his 1922 masterpiece “The Waste Land” by claiming “April is the cruellest month.” And while I love that poem, he might be off by a month. Or two. That’s because February is infamous. As we all know, it’s home to what is likely the single-most polarizing holiday of them all: Valentine’s Day. Some anticipate it for quite literally the entire year. Others decry Feb. 19 as a Hallmark invention, or a swift and painful reminder of the romance their life is lacking. But here’s the thing: Sometimes, even when we have an exciting evening lined up for the big day, things can go terribly, terribly wrong. We’re talking about bad dates, and almost all of us have had at least one several that we try our hardest to forget about. But instead of ignoring them, we’re telling all in this issue, as our cover section, Dating Disasters, features a handful of reader submissions chronicling their worst local date ever. Because, if we’re being honest, there’s something about a hilariously bad date story that we just can’t get enough of. A part of it is the humor, and there’s probably a bit of “At least that didn’t happen to me,” floating around in there as well. But just like an interstate fender bender or a public shouting match, there’s—for better or for worse—something inherently fascinating, and inherently human, about really digging into the train wrecks. So enjoy them, Columbus. We know we did.
But guess what else we all love? Happy endings. Our February issue also happens to include a sleek profile of some of the most beautiful local weddings that have happened recently, again submitted by our fabulous readers. And while it might at first seem counterintuitive to tie together romantic mishaps and dream weddings, just hear me out. We’re all looking for someone to spend our life with, but dating is a process. The slip-ups—like being stood up at a Denny’s, or listening to someone talk about their ex for the entire length of a 90-minute dinner—are all part of the process. They’re what we need to go through to find the person who’s truly right for us. In this issue, we’re absolutely laughing at the Dating Disasters we’ve compiled, but we’re also cherishing the happily ever afters just as much. We’re taking a step back, and appreciating the entire romantic arc so many of us are currently somewhere in the middle of. And like any issue of (614), we’ve also included a bevy of on-the-pulse Columbus food stories, a spotlight on a pair of unique local pets, a profile of an impactful Black-owned small business marketplace, and much more. So put down those candy hearts and pick up a bowl of popcorn, Columbus. Because it’s about to get interesting.
WITH LOVE, J AC K M C L AU G H L I N
IF YOU
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jack McLaughlin COPY EDITOR Allison Grimes CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Jen Brown, Maddie Schroeder, James DeCamp, Aaron Massey, Sarah Pfeifer CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jack McLaughlin, Melinda Green,
Jaelani Turner-Williams, Melissa Braithwaite, Jim Fischer Laura Hennigan CREATIVE DESIGNERS Emma Quinn, Willem Kern, Bryce Patterson VIDEO PRODUCER / EDITOR Austin Black MARKETING MANAGER Justynne Pride MARKETING COORDINATOR Julia Attanasio ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Meggin Weimerskirch SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Nikki Harris Mindy Wilhite BRAND MANAGER, 614 LAGER Lizzy Saunders OFFICE MANAGER Janae Brown Questions about advertising? Scan here!
US TOO,
SCAN TO TAKE OUR READERS SURVEY! We want your feedback, Columbus! Take our Reader Survey for a chance to win 6 months worth of free car washes from Moo Moo Express Car Wash!
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CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Lindsay Press
(614) MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2022 614NOW.COM
Created by
(614) Magazine 458 E Main St., Columbus, OH 43215 Office: (614) 488-4400 | Fax: (614) 488-4402 Email submissions to: editor@614now.com www.614now.com 21
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� S TA F F P I C K S
Our staff picks It’s February, Columbus, and our issue this month centers around the ideas of love and dating (even if the
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 suscribe to our daily email!
dates are bad ones). Naturally, we asked (614) staff members about their ideas of the perfect date, because no one wants to end up in a Dating Disaster story. Here’s what they said.
Outdoor picnic at Whetstone or Schiller with carryout food from a local business and wine. — Lizzy Saunders, Brand Manager, (614) Beer
Horror movies and chicken wings (both of which my wife hates). — Jack McLaughlin, Editor-In-Chief
→ New inclusive, 70’s-inspired bar and lounge opening Rumours will hold its grand opening on Jan. 28 at 4 p.m., according to co-owner Jackie Sansavera. The new Merion Village bar is located at 1071 Parsons Ave.The 2,000 square foot spot will feature late 70’s decor mixed with modern design elements and “warm tones of orange and splashes of purple, turquoise, and gold.”
Art Museum and dinner.
— Bryce Patterson, Creative Designer
Day drinking and bar hopping close to or on the water
— Meggin Weimerskirch, Advertising Director
Friday night happy hour with some spicy margaritas or a good brewery followed by grabbing some great pizza! (s/o Paulie Gee's) — Emma Quinn, Creative Designer
→ Woman charged after driving car into side of historic East Side restaurant One woman was arrested and a man was hospitalized following an incident at TAT Ristorante Di Famiglia that left the eatery damaged and temporarily closed.
Bowling and bar hopping! I'd like some flowers too. — Justynne Pride, Marketing Coordinator
Drinks and a show at Newport Music Hall! — Willem Kern, Creative Designer
Having fun drinks somewhere that also has old school games like skee ball and pop a shot — Nikki Harris, Senior Account Executive
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→ The Columbus Food Truck Festival is officially returning this year The Columbus Food Truck Festival is returning in 2022. Event organizer Mike Gallicchio told 614now that the popular event will take place Aug. 19-21.
#AsSeenInColumbus
@prestonsburgers
@afragrill_
@soleclassics
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@pitbbqgrille
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NEW Tasting Columbus That aren’t many pizzerias more engrained into the Columbus food scene than Massey’s. The iconic spot, known for its thin, Columbus-style pies baked directly on an oven hearth, opened their first Grandview storefront in 1949. The rest, as the Central Ohio pizza lover says, is history. This episode of “Tasting Columbus” takes a behindthe-scenes look inside Massey’s Gahanna location, so you can see how some of the city’s favorite pies are made for yourself. ↓
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How Grandview’s Fortin Ironworks turned a small welding business into a destination retail storefront, without abandoning its family-owned roots By Jim Fischer / Photos by Maddie Schroeder
If you’re among the thousands of Central Ohioans who have driven past Fortin Ironworks in Grandview and thought, “That sounds potentially cool. I wonder what they do,” then, you’re not alone. “It’s something we hear a few times almost every day, that someone has driven past and eventually decided to stop in just to see,” Bob Fortin, retail buyer and member of the company’s second generation of Fortin family members, said. So as a public service to all of the curious Columbusites out there, here’s the full story of the iconic Grandview business.
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The company recently celebrated its 75th anniversary, which means its roots go back to the middle of the 20th century, when Joe Fortin started Fortin Welding in 1946. Fresh out of the Army, he served as a welder, and was newlymarried to wife Josephine, with whom he’d built a home on 3rd Avenue. The business that stands today at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Hess Street in Grandview started in his garage, but grew quickly, necessitating the acquisition of additional shop and garage properties in the neighborhood over the ensuing decades. →
↑ Exterior of Fortin Ironworks
↑ Photo of first-generation Fortin owner
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Fortin also broadened the scope of the company, not only repairing but also fabricating residential and commercial iron (and other metal) products. Bob Fortin said he and his six siblings, each of whom has had some role in the company’s operations through the years, grew up in the shop. “It was our house,” he said matter-offactly. In the 1990s, Fortin Ironworks (as it was later named) purchased a former Columbus Hardware site around the corner from the original shop, consolidating the smaller shops into one four-acre site, which now houses a retail store, meeting space and a customer showroom in addition to its factory space. Not only did the company mark its 75th anniversary last year, but Josephine celebrated her 100th birthday as well. Bob Fortin said she still has an influence on the business, both as a physical presence and in its philosophy. “Everything has an underlying foundation of WWJJD, ‘What would Joe and Josephine do,’” he said.
" We do everything from old-world blacksmithing to modern laser cutting."
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↑ Work in the Fortin fabrication shop ↓
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↑ The Fortin retail store
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Joe Van Gundy, a company Vice President and member of the third generation of family leadership, said, “Everybody in the family, everybody in the company, has a little piece of grandma and grandpa in them.” The storefront, which was previously Bob’s focus and is now the domain of his son, Cameron Fortin – a company VP and another member of the family’s third generation – features designer furniture and accessories, all with a vintage or industrial feel, made by artists and artisans both local and national. Cameron has refocused inventory on locally-made items, in “keeping with the spirit of the company,” he said. “The whole purpose of the retail shop has been to attract people to us so they can find out better what all we do,” Bob said. “The factory remains our primary role. We are a custom metal fabrication company.” That means from traditional fencing to interior design to one-of a-kind gazebos and fire pits, Fortin makes it or can make it. Through the years, the company has grown and evolved around this core mission, adding technology to its processes when appropriate. “We do everything from old-world blacksmithing to modern laser cutting,” Bob said. Fortin has also found a niche in prefabricated railings and table legs and supports. Van Gundy (who, in case you were wondering, was named for his grandfather) adapted the company’s design and build process with the flexibility to premake railings at a variety of specifications, store them, and ship them to customers locally and via the internet. Fortin ships 300-400 of these railings a month, sometimes as many as 900 in busier seasons. “It’s still a handcrafted railing, but you don’t have to wait 10 weeks for it to be designed and built after you order it,” Van Gundy said. He also noted these kinds of modifications to the business model haven’t changed the company at its core. “We still have these guys in the shop with amazing hands, amazing eyes, amazing minds,” he said. “It’s still fabrication and, we like to think, over-designed and built the way grandpa did.” To learn more, visit fortinironworks.com
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↑ Candles from Soleil Candle Collections
How this new collective marketplace is boosting the Black-owned businesses of Columbus at a critical juncture By Jack McLaughlin / Photos by Sarah Pfeifer
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By day, Rhonda Shehee is a project manager for Bleckmann Fashion & Lifestyle Logistics. The rest of the time, however, she’s a small business owner, working tirelessly to keep Soleil Candle Collections–her selfcreated brand of luxury candles–afloat.
And like many other small, Black-owned businesses, Shehee’s company was stuck in a familiar growth-related Catch-22: When you’re too small to purchase your own brick and mortar space, but the fastest way to grow is by opening your own storefront. So in a world where a third avenue didn’t exist, Shehee made one. “What I’ve learned as a business owner is this: When there’s not an option, you make one for yourself.” What she created, which is now a regular fixture at Eastland Mall, and is also poised for growth at other locations, is Black Wall Street. Held once a month, this collection of roughly 40 vendors aids small to medium sized Black-owned businesses by providing critical visibility in addition to a supportive community network.
The event—which Shehee regularly positions outside the mall’s food court to maximize the amount of foot traffic—boasts a bustling farmers-market type atmosphere, complete with vendor tents and a wide variety of goods and services offered, including everything from baked goods to tax services. “Since COVID, the pop-up format has become really popular, and for good reason,” Shehee said. “And now with other Black-owned businesses embracing it too, Black Wall Street is helping a lot of people to get the word out, to make real progress with their brands.” 614NOW.COM
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↑ Rhonda Shehee
Black Wall Street has entered a partnership with Eastland Mall that allows the pop-up marketplace to take place on the first Saturday of every month. And according to Shehee, it isn’t a one-way transaction, either. “Everyone in the Black community is aware that a lot of your major-end retailers have left Eastland. It has been a challenge to get businesses there,” Shehee said. “So we’re hoping to help the mall while we help ourselves.” And now, it isn’t just Eastland where interested shoppers can find Black Wall Street, either. Shehee is hoping to expand the group’s footprint and create opportunities for vendors throughout the greater Columbus area. Most recently, she’s even secured a Black Wall Street event at Polaris Fashion Place, which will take place on Feb. 19. One of the many vendors making up the Black Wall Street marketplace is local author Kimberly Davis-Peters, who owns and operates Ellie’s Book Shop, an online store for children’s books featuring protagonists of color. “The Black Wall Street initiative is padding all of these local businesses, including mine; we come together and are able to present ourselves to shoppers in one location, where they’re already out shopping, already looking to buy,” she said. “It can be so hard to find your footing starting out, especially if you don’t have a large advertising budget.”
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↑ Mazo Beauty Co. products
Offerings from Ellie's Book Shop ↓
More than just supporting business, the local author also believes that Black Wall Street provides an important sense of community for smaller Blackowned businesses, many of whom are often dealing with similar hurdles. “It’s the whole idea of a collective that’s been just as valuable to me as the marketplaces. We can support each other as businesses; we know what the others are going through,” she said.
Shehee is embracing this holistic approach as well. Now formally an LLC, Black Wall Street has begun offering not only its cornerstone marketplaces, but a variety of other important classes to help Black business owners gain not only sales, but the skills necessary to keep their concepts profitable. “It really has evolved into an LLC, and going forward we’ll be providing financial literacy workshops and more for Black business owners; we’ll be providing aesthetic and design help even,” Shehee said. “Black Wall Street is becoming a onestop shop for vendors, not just to boost sales, but for the resources they need to succeed overall.” Learn more at www.blkwallstreetpopup.com
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tacos
for president This former ghost kitchen for tacos has found a brick and mortar home inside the Ohio Statehouse, and Columbus is eating it up. By Jack McLaughlin / Photos by Sarah Pfeifer
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↑ Some of the delicious offerings at House Taco
The Ohio Statehouse is a historical treasure. It serves as the site where each of the state’s carefully-considered laws are brought to life, and has stood in downtown Columbus since 1861, making it one of the oldest statehouses in the nation. And now, you can get tacos there. Really good tacos. No, this is not a joke, nor is it the premise of a bad Woody Allen movie, either. This is House Taco. And if you’ve never heard of the up and coming Columbus restaurant, you’re in for a treat. → 614NOW.COM
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"THERE’S THIS
AUTHENTICITY AND BOLDNESS OF FLAVOR YOU GET WHEN SOMEONE MAKES THEM PERSONALLY, SMALL SCALE...
"
↑ The taco salad box
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House Taco, which officially opened in early December, took the place of Milo’s Capital Cafe, the former tenant which ran a catering service and on-site eatery inside the Statehouse’s Capitol Cafe, a 2,500 square foot designated restaurant space located on the building’s first floor. “I worked with the owner of Milo’s for a while, and knew that they planned to get out of the Statehouse property because they wanted to do full-blown catering,” said House taco owner Zach Martin. “And this place came to me exactly when I needed it the most.” House Taco began as a pandemic passion project of Martin, who launched it while on furlough from his sales job. He began making tacos and quickly realized that Columbus really liked his food, from indulgent taco options like barbacoa and pork shoulder, to nachos and even stuffed chilies. “When you go to most places for tacos, they’re always represented the way they are in someone’s backyard. There’s this authenticity and boldness of flavor you get when someone makes them personally, small scale,” he said. “I wanted to bring forward those vingers, acids, the heat and the sweet you get with that kind of cooking.”→
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↓ Zach Martin, Owner of House Taco
What began as a ghost kitchen grew into a very popular ghost kitchen, and then again into Martin’s first brick and mortar eatery. A longtime Columbus chef, he had been longing to return to the kitchen after leaving the culinary world for a nine to five. “Four years ago when I started doing sales it took me about six months to realize I wasn’t made to do this for the rest of my life,” he said. “I’m a passionate creator, and even on my busiest days doing sales I felt bored.” Martin chose instead to launch House Taco, bringing new life–and continuing a long history of on-site dining–to the Ohio Statehouse. “The furthest back we have record of 30
the Capital Cafe existing is the 1960’s,” said Mike Rupert, communications manager of the Capital Square Review and Advisory Board. “But even before then there were always refreshment stands and the like.” Today, it’s just as common to see a state senator sitting down with tacos as it is a regular citizen opting for a pickup order. And while Martin is working on streamlining a cashless payment system with easy pickup and delivery options for online orders, House Taco can also fit more than 100 diners in its unique, historical Statehouse dining room that feels like it’s been plucked from a century ago.
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↓ Three of their signature tacos
It’s become a strange–and undeniably special–place where Columbus citizens can mingle with lawmakers, and legislators can come together over one of the only truly bipartisan things we have left: tacos.
THEY HAVE OUR VOTE.
For more, follow @house_taco on Instagram
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↑ One of the Vulgar Vegan's cookie cakes, great for Valentine's day
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UNSAVORY
SWEETS This vegan bakery is helping Columbus celebrate and commiserate, and it’s totally uncensored. By Jaelani Turner-Williams / Photos by Jen Brown
The vision for uncensored vegan goodies first came to Reggie Stepanov in a dream. Waking at 3 a.m. with the idea fresh on her mind, Vulgar Vegan Bakery was born. And while her often hilarious cakes and cookies scratch that itch for vulgarity we all have from time to time, there’s a larger social agenda crammed into her sweet, profane treats as well. “The last few years have been very hard for folx, and the importance of creating a safe space, even by way of a cookie cake in their home, is evermore important. I definitely knew that you can't go to your regular grocery store and get a cake that says ‘You’re fucking amazing’ because it's out of corporate policy.” Stepanov said. “I saw the need in my community to celebrate authentic, genuine moments without shame. What I didn’t envision is how my cookie cakes organically help build community, build up people and share unapologetic love, and I’m humbled by that opportunity.” Handcrafting creative, and often profanity-laced, phrases with (vegan) cookie dough, bright colors and an assortment of confections like sprinkles and frosting, Stepanov’s from-scratch cookies and cakes grant a small but uniquelyempowering freedom to everyone enjoying them. →
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↑ Reggie Stepanov, Founder of Vulgar Vegan Bakery
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" I SAW THE
NEED IN MY COMMUNITY TO CELEBRATE AUTHENTIC, GENUINE MOMENTS
WITHOUT" SHAME.
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← Carefully crafted cookie wtth a message
↑ Reggie Stepanov decorates a fresh cookie cake
“Vulgarity is certainly attention grabbing, and the vulgarity brings a punchline folx want to convey. I staunchly believe in authentic expression and empowering our voices, and some celebrations are significant enough to be topped with an F-bomb and a spray of unicorn sprinkles for emphasis,” she said. And while her cookies are often brash, she creates them for a broad variety of occasions. Whether it’s illness, breakups, or racism you’re dealing with—or if you just want to loudly celebrate one thing or hilariously denounce another—Vulgar Vegan has a cake for it.
Cakes with phrases like “Go run the world, bitch” and “Cool ass mom” alongside breakup cookies that proclaim “He sucks like a lot” are just a few of the items from Stepanov’s enormous catalogue. Stepanov—who grew up baking—has noticed more and more Columbusites willing to try vegan fare, sometimes even preferring it, even if they don’t opt for an entirely plantbased diet themselves. Something that was wanting in the local vegan food scene, she believed, was the cookie cake. A light-hearted cookie cake →
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“Cookie cakes are a classic! I also think they lack in the vegan community, so it took a bit to perfect a soft and chewy cake that would appease vegans and nonvegans,” she said. Perfecting soft and chewy vegan cookie cakes, the Vulgar Vegan Bakery menu also features chocolate chip cookies, which can be customized with phrases and decorations. In 2022, Vulgar Vegan Bakery will be launching decadent cake pops, cookie shot glasses, and secret menu ice cream cakes. While signature cookie cakes aren’t leaving the menu, there’s more room for uncensored treats galore. Uncensored goodies from Vulgar Vegan Bakery have become popular in Columbus, but have also caught attention from across the pond. Stepanov recalled that supporters from London once placed an order for a family member residing in Columbus. And although her business is local, she hopes to make a widespread impact with messages on her cookie cakes questioning social norms and belief systems. “Many folx feel uncomfortable discussing transgender rights or celebrating same-sex couples, or even more nervous to discuss the Black Rights Movement. To them, those topics alone are an ‘expletive’,” she said. “If those seemingly vulgar topics are met with a cute slice of cake and positive conversation, my job is done.” And even with her sights set high, Stepanov can recall the individual victories she’s seen; the moments where the humanity of others shines through that make it all worthwhile, the moments she can have her (vulgar) cake and eat it, too. “When a dad picks up a custom, ‘We know you’re gay & we love you’ cake, my little heart explodes from joy! It’s those moments that matter in people’s lives, and they fucking deserve to be celebrated hard and true,” Stepanov said. “I’m here to do what I can to help make it happen, in my apron and armed with frosting and sprinkles, and a few creative vulgarities to get the job done." ♦ To see more Vulgar Vegan creations, follow @vulgarveganbakery
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Wolf’s Ridge Brewing delivers brand-new concept with healthy fare, lighter beer in a natural landscape By Bella Czajkowski / Photos by Aaron Massey
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Outdoor and restaurant enthusiasts alike may soon find a nice spot to lay their roots. Columbus’ Wolf’s Ridge Brewing is expanding, hoping to bring guests closer to nature while offering an array of healthy food and lighter drink options at its newest concept, Understory. The new event space and lounge is situated in the Old North neighborhood, but due to the dense foliage preset and proximity to the woodsy Olentangy Trail, it almost appears to be located inside a forest itself. “It’s just an amazing location, in an urban environment that you don’t often see,” Bob Szuter, co-founder of Wolf’s Ridge Brewing, said of Understory. Located downstairs from a sizable private event space is the Understory lounge and patio. Szuter said the patio will have a more casual appeal, where runners or bikers may wander off of the Olentangy Trail for a break. This area will have less formal seating, serving as a place to hang out under the surrounding treetops. →
← Understory's lounge
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Natural light fills the Understory lounge ↓
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Mural in Understory showcases natural theme ↑
“They can pop off, not feel out of place if they’re wearing bike shorts and may be a little sweaty,” Szuter said. Understory will also feel a bit more upscale inside its lounge, making the experience flexible to meet guests’ needs. Whichever space visitors settle into at Understory, Szuter said they will be able to pick from an array of healthier food and beverage options. The menu will focus on casual vegetarian and vegan fare, also offering cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks. The new spot will also brew its own beer. But instead of the dark, massive imperial stouts that helped put Wolf’s Ridge on the map, it will focus on lighter
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styles, with an emphasis on oak-aged lagers, another nod to its natural theme. Understory has been hosting private events since October. The lounge and bar held its grand opening on Jan. 21, and the remaining patio is slated to open around the end of February as weather permits. Apart from its picturesque setting, the location also holds an interesting backstory. Understory is housed in the Open Air building, a historical structure in Columbus first built to accommodate children at high risk for tuberculosis. It was designed to promote free-flowing air, giving the building its unique open concept to this day.
When asked to describe the ambiance of Understory, Szuter couldn’t settle on just one depiction, as the space takes on the look and feel of its surroundings. Between the towering windows and patio that sits directly next to the forest, whatever is happening outside is mirrored within the walls of Understory. “Yesterday I was there and the sun was pouring through the windows and you could just feel the energy coming from that,” he said. “You just get this feel of really connecting with what’s going on outside.” Szuter emphasized that the last couple years in the pandemic have been challenging for hospitality, from a decrease in business to staffing and supply chain issues. “I think, like the rest of the world, we’re really excited to try to move past this,” he said. “We can’t wait to show this off to everybody.” To learn more, visit understorycbus.com
↓ Exterior of Understory
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Five different V-Day date ideas at five different price points By Laura Hennigan
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Whether you consider it to be a real holiday, or just something Hallmark invented, Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching and ready to inundate everyone with hearts, candy, and an endless loop of Ed Sheeran songs. As Columbus continues to navigate these strange times, there are still plenty of creative ways to celebrate love on February 14th - both in person, or from the comfort of your couch. We’ve rounded up the best V-day date ideas to match your budget and your comfort level, so grab a dozen roses and get ready to celebrate. →
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White Castle has been offering its signature in-Castle, reservations-only Valentine’s Day dinner since 1991. Out of caution for the health and safety of their customers and team members, they have decided to shift their focus and create a togo experience this year. On February 14th only, cravers can grab the new “Love Cube,” a meal for two (or one, we’re not here to judge) in a specially designed box. Binge some Netflix while enjoying eight Sliders, a choice of two shareable sides, five-piece cheese sticks, and two small Coca-Cola Freestyle soft drinks. The cube costs $14.99, and you can also add on their new strawberry swirl cheesecake on a stick dessert.
↑ The White Castle Love Cube
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↑ COSI visitors enjoy an After Dark event
Celebrate a few days early at the COSI After Dark on February 10th. The theme for this 21+ event is The Science of Love, and from 7 to 10 p.m. you and your date can explore the center kid-free. Tickets are $20 in advance, $30 at the door, and include entertainment and activity stations designed with love in mind. If you are looking to extend date night, COSI and the Hilton Columbus Downtown are partnering together for a special Valentine’s Day offer. The package will include a pair of tickets to the Feb. 10 After Dark event, plus an overnight stay in a deluxe king room, some bubbly and strawberries, breakfast for two and complimentary valet parking.
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Hot Chicken Takeover and Mikey’s Late Night Slice (dubbed Hot Mikey’s Takeover) will once again be hosting their annual Valentine’s Day fundraiser benefiting the Columbus Diaper Bank. Pizza kits will be available for pre-order on the Mikey’s Late Night Slice website in three different Hot Chicken Takeover combinations: Nashvillestyle, Ma Mac’s, and a vegan option. Kits will cost around $30, and there will be a live-streamed pizza making party with the owners on Feb. 14. “Whether you’ve got someone to spend it with or you’re single AF,” said Late Night Slice founder Mikey Sorboro, “this will be an unforgettable and unique experience that will bring us all together.”
↑ Steak from chef Benjamyn Greig
If you’re ready to ditch the sweatpants and enjoy a dinner out, head to High Bank Distillery. Executive Chef Benjamyn Greig has compiled a special $45 Valentine’s Day menu made up of 3 courses, including house smoked salmon, surf and turf and a specialty dessert from The Cheesecake Girl. This curated dinner will only be available on Feb. 9-12 and Feb. 14. High Bank is also featuring a speciality cocktail pairing for two V-day themed drinks. $25 will get you a Love Stuck, made with High Bank vodka, house made strawberry balsamic shrub, cucumber and fresh lime, along with Crimes of Passion, consisting of Whiskey War, chai-infused sweet vermouth, pomegranate and fresh lemon. ↑ Vegan pizza from Hot Mikey's Takeover
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The Kitchen on Livingston Avenue will be hosting two different Valentine’s Day experiences this year. On February 12, pairs can sign up for a Thai yoga workshop with Charles Gibson, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Tickets are $90 per couple and include a prepared brunch. On Feb. 14, there will be a participatory cooking and dining experience from 6-9 p.m. For $70 per person, participants will help create (and then enjoy) dishes including mixed green salad, petite filet mignon and flourless dark chocolate cake. “We feel like cooking can be a really intimate experience, whether it's with a friend or a romantic partner,” said founder and co-owner Anne Boninsegna. “Cooking is a great way to spend time together, and we try to make it fun and relaxing for everyone.”
↑ Participants preparing food at an event from The Kitchen
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Let's face it, when you need a professional, whether it's a doctor, a Real Estate agent, or some other service-related field, you want to know what services they offer, but you also want to know who they are and what they're about. (614) is going to help you with that! We will feature some of Columbus' top professionals in this special advertising section that helps you learn not just what they do, but how they do it and what their story is. From social enterprises that work to better their communities to highly skilled medical professionals who can better your health, we've got the story behind the storefront—and we're excited for you to meet them. Columbus, meet The Professionals. →
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Breaking Barriers Transcendio is helping women unlock their true potential in the booming technology field By Melissa Braithwaite / Photos by Aaron Massey
Hey ladies, particularly women of color—have you ever attempted to use a hand dryer and it didn’t turn on for your dark skin? Or has Siri or Alexa not heard you or misunderstood you because of the pitch and tone of your voice? Or even worse, has your head been cut off on a video conference because it didn’t recognize your dark-skinned face as a face? This is why we need women, and particularly under-represented minorities, in tech today, says Transcendio CEO and Co-Founder Elizabeth Tolia. “We need to change the face of technology,” she says. “The technology created in the tech boom over the last 25 years was created mostly by white men.” By getting more women on teams building technology, tech could work better for all end users, she says. “If we had more women working in tech today, our perspective would be considered, and we could begin advancing those technologies with input from an industry that considers many perspectives and the whole world,” Tolia says. Tolia co-founded Transcendio with Dan Greenleaf to help women transition into a career in tech by translating their existing skills into highly sought-after skills needed for success in the tech industry. For example, bartenders, servers and bank tellers already know how to interact professionally and make quick decisions. Mothers, in particular, have gained skills from organizing their lives and their kids’ lives. “Those are skills that can be transferred easily to an IT environment,” Tolia says. “Many people don’t realize that.” Transcendio is always looking for candidates for its program, which helps women and underrepresented minorities use their hard-earned skills and knowledge 54
Elizabeth Tolia ↑
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↓ Dan Greenleaf & Elizabeth Tolia
↑ First cohort of Explorers that have completed the Transcendio journey
“If we had more women working in tech today, our perspective would be considered, and we could begin advancing those technologies with input from an industry that considers many perspectives and the whole world,” to move into a career in tech. Transcendio provides training, mentorship, networking opportunities and career placement services at no cost to the candidate, as long as they complete the entire program, through placement. Transcendio is helping break down the barriers to technology careers for women and minorities by helping place more of them in tech leadership positions. “To change the culture, you have to change the leadership,” Greenleaf says. “You can either try to explain to a bunch of white guys how to value their contributions and help women to stay comfortable in their roles, or you can get women and minorities in those roles, which is obviously the answer we, and many companies, are betting on.” Sometimes the biggest barriers come from within.
“People new to the idea can get turned off by IT,” says Tolia. “That was my first reaction. I just thought, well coding isn’t something I want to do. But then I was exposed to the fun side of IT–delivering the value, working with customers and stakeholders and product owners to innovate new technologies to make things better for all people.” Transcendio places its candidates in tech roles ranging from scrum master to user experience specialist to project manager or business analyst positions.
www.transcendio.co (614) 412-5670
The tech field can be very lucrative and can offer women a well-defined career path that is not always offered to women in other industries. Greenleaf says that as the tech industry would benefit from more women, more women would also benefit from a career in tech. “I have five daughters, and I want them to have the same experience in the technology field as I have, to work on the tech they use on a daily basis,” he says. “It’s also a rewarding career path. I want them to have the same opportunities as the men, and I don’t think that’s the way it works today.” To learn more about Transcendio or to apply for the program, visit www.transcendio.co
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↓
So, in 2021, in partnership with 614 Media Group, they launched their newest business venture Empow(HER).
All Business How LKW Home Team is helping women-owned businesses boom
By Melinda Green / Photos by James D DeCamp
Jennifer Kessel-White and Lauren Lucas, co-owners of LKW Home Team, have built a top-one-percent real estate team, and now they are ready to invite Columbus to their “passion project”—they’re driven to help other women succeed as business owners, as well. 56
“We’re very passionate about female entrepreneurship,” Lucas said. “In 2020, when the pandemic hit, we saw people losing their jobs and starting to research how to have a business of their own.” “It was individuals who realized how important life was, and how valuable being happy in your career is,” Kessel-White continued. “It was ‘The Great Resignation’—we knew so many people who were starting their own business.” The pair decided to help those women who were exploring a transition to real estate, mortgage, even candle-making—really, any field they desired that would bring them fulfillment and income. Their first Empow(HER) panel discussion, in May 2021, addressed the question “How did you start your business?” and sold out in 24 hours. COVID restrictions limited the event to 35 participants and four panelists, but the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
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Jennifer Kessel-White and Lauren Lucas
“It was invigorating,” Lucas recalled. “We were getting messages afterward, of ‘I knew I was coming for empowerment, but I got so much more than I ever imagined.’” “Almost all of the women showed up alone, knowing no one, and made connections,” Kessel-White noted. Their second panel discussion, in late summer, drew 50 participants for the topic of “Growing your business.” For the $20 registration fee, each woman received a professional headshot, drink tickets, snacks, and networking before and after the event. The panels are set up to be interactive, with ample time for the question and answer period. Panelists are encouraged to be candid and real. They’re also encouraged to reveal their business plans. “We want them to share their heartaches, their glorious moments, things they’ve learned, things they would never do again,” Kessel-White continued. “It’s fun, and it’s funny; we laugh, we cry, we do all the things, and we build great relationships.”
↓
Jennifer Kessel-White and Lauren Lucas
↑
“Their first Empow(HER) panel discussion, in May 2021, addressed the question “How did you start your business?” and sold out in 24 hours. COVID restrictions limited the event to 35 participants and four panelists, but the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.” The result is that, as Lucas said, “women are really asking questions and feeling like they have the ability to go out there and do it. They’re hearing from other women who started with nothing.” Their primary audience is between 25 and 45 years old, although the founders don’t target any particular age group. And they realize that the rewards reach far beyond the entrepreneurs themselves. “My parents never owned a home until I was an adult. Our children are going to have different outcomes, because someone helped me change mine,” KesselWhite said.
Jennifer Kessel-White and Lauren Lucas
“Our mission is to become a resource for women to create their dream career or level-up their business, encouraging pride, growth and financial success, while changing family trees.” Lucas continued. Kessel-White and Lucas are growing their panel discussions to quarterly in 2022 and starting what Lucas calls a “raw and authentic” podcast aimed at emerging business owners, featuring established, local, female entrepreneurs also named Empow(HER)
1510 W. Lane Ave Upper Arlington, Ohio 43221 (614) 321-9262
And as Empow(HER) grows and secures nonprofit status, the founders plan to introduce a membership program, where women ready to take the leap will be able to ask questions and work with established women business owners in a mentoring process. Membership money will fund a “scholarship” program to start new businesses. “It’s inclusive; everyone is welcome,” Lucas said. “It’s a new era. We’re not in competition; we’re here to share our wins, our failures. Let’s get to where we want to be, quicker.” To learn more about LKW, visit www.lkwhometeam.com
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Every rose has its thorn... Whether or not we like to admit it, almost every one of us has been there: a bad date. They all start with good intentions, and hope. Lots of hope. Thoughts like “Is he finally the one for me,” and “Maybe she’s who I’ve been waiting for all long” start to bounce around in our heads. But then, as is the nature of bad dates, these dreams vanish before our eyes, like some kind of terrible magician. In this month’s cover section, we’ve fielded a variety of different bad dates, ranging from the shrug-it-off bad to the actually terrible. While we’ve kept this section entirely anonymous, single readers can still use these stories to feel better on Valentine’s Day, because having no date at all is much better than being part of a dating disaster. →
Check please!
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The Food Truck’s Third Wheel I might be a millennial, but I am old school when it comes to dating (no salud to the movie “Old Skool” here, sorry), and I prefer to meet people in real life. Yes, I know, how in the world do you meet someone you can see a future with if not on a dating site? Easy: get out and about (even in a mask)! I was out with my girlfriends and a man who owned a food truck offered me free food (sorry to my friends, they had to pay for theirs) and told me that a girl as pretty as myself should not be drinking without something to pair with it. Immediately my friends started creating names for the next Hallmark movie to come to a TV near you while I just brushed it off. I ended up leaving before my friends and he gave one of them his number to give to me if interested. I figured sure, let me shoot my shot since he made a nice gesture. We went on a date the next day and it was a blast until it was a disaster. Great conversation, tacos, and tequila. Who doesn't love that triple threat combo? Well, you wouldn't if towards the end of the date he confesses he is already in a relationship and isn't looking to date you, but would prefer you to be the third in the swinger lifestyle he and his girlfriend abide by. I have never ordered two shots of tequila, chugged them, and walked out of a date quicker than that. I have nothing agaisnt the swinger lifestyle, but it is not for me. I also had to go home and google some things he was referencing. This. Is. 30.
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The Whole Bottle I had recently split up with my longtime partner and was living in a new apartment downtown by myself. It was the depths of winter, and I was on a dating app. A young, attractive, single mom who I had very little in common with was super interested in hanging out. Here’s the catch, though: She lived like an hour and a half away. Friends encouraged me to go; "Strike when the iron is hot,” they said. I drive out to her knowing there may be a huge snow storm coming our way. The date is going moderately well for a while, and then the snow hits and I can barely get out of the restaurant parking lot. I can’t make it home in the weather, so I get a hotel. She says she'll come and hang out for a bit. We go grab a bottle of liquor. She basically drinks the entire thing in about 30 minutes, and that’s really when things start going downhill. She starts getting angry at me for no real reason, and I eventually tell her our date should end. After a lot of commotion, she takes a cab home, and I had the pleasure of spending the night in a Holiday Inn in the middle of nowhere, borrowing a shovel to get my car out the next morning, and driving the 90 minutes on insanely treacherous roads.
Too mainstream for him I had been dating a guy casually for about a month. My boss got me four 2nd-row-center tickets to a double-header concert featuring two multi-platinum, household name bands our generation had grown up hearing in every media outlet. The guy I was seeing seemed genuinely excited to go. But halfway through the first band's set, he confessed he'd never actually heard of either band, and he didn't like the music. So he sat in his expensive second-row seat, looking bored. That was the last time I spoke to him. A few weeks later, I realized I didn't even know his last name.
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On Thin Ice Back in 2019 (seems so far away now…) I had a first date with a guy who had approached me in the gym. While that should have been my first red flag (he interrupted my set — hello? Kinda rude) I told myself I was going to be more spontaneous this year and agreed to go ice skating with him. I’m no pro, but I know how to stay upright on the ice. I was stunned when my date wobbled across the ice like a baby giraffe, considering ice skating was his idea. It could have been endearing, but every time I would try to help him or hold him upright, he’d swat me away and squish up his face in concentration. He spent 15 minutes looking constipated on the ice while I skated around by myself. Eventually, he felt confident enough to skate side by side with me. It was going okay until it wasn’t.
He fell and, in the process, took me down with him. I remember a terrible cracking sound and piercing pain in my head. When I saw blood on the ice, I wasn’t sure whose it was—his or mine. By the large gap in his teeth, I soon realized it was his. He was wailing and scrabbling across the ice on all fours while I lay on my back, seriously wondering if I was concussed. A few bystanders came and helped us out of the rink. Because we drove separately (I always do on first dates—safety tip) my date immediately took off for what I assumed was the ER or a dentist. He didn’t even ask me if I was okay. A few weeks later, my date sent me a photo of his dental bill. Um, NO? I blocked him and haven’t heard from him since. I’m never ice skating again.
The Accidental Girlfriend I landed a job right out of college where I ended up working with a lot of people close to my age. I made friends with a lot of them, and remain friends with some of those people to this day. One of the initial friends I made was a nice guy who shared my tastes in music, and was generally easygoing and fun to hang around with. For the record, I had no romantic interest in him. Looking back now, I can see the signs were there, but at the time I thought we were just good platonic friends. We would hang out, both in groups and less frequently just us two, and occasionally grab dinner or see a movie. We never once talked about dating, and nothing romantic ever
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happened between us. Despite that, though, the story I’m about to tell happened. And it haunts me to this day. Without thinking much of it, I agreed to go to breakfast with him and his mom, who was in town for some reason or another. I get to the restaurant and meet with them, and before anything else happens, he decides to introduce me as his girlfriend to his mom. I’m pretty sure my heart stopped. I’m a relatively quiet person and I’m not a fan of making a spectacle, so I suffered through the ordeal without saying anything. It was brutal. He and I did talk afterwards though, and it wasn’t pretty. Needless to say we don’t hang out much anymore.
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m Mo
???
Two physicists, one weird date To this day, I’m not really sure how this happened. But at one point in my life I went on a first date with two totally different physicists, and only like a week apart. I’m not a scientist myself, and can’t recall ever meeting another one before or after this either. So physicist number two and I went to a roller rink, and I had just been on a different date with the first physicist a week or so before. After some conversation, I realized that they were friends. I was trying to figure out if I should say something and then, I shit you not, we saw the other physicist at the roller rink just open mouthed looking at us on his skates. Sir Isaac Newton himself couldn’t make this up. We actually all ended up laughing about it together, and all three of us are still friends today. I didn’t go on another date with either of them, though.
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Kentucky, here we come! I met this guy on a dating app, he is an HR professional, as am I. I was excited to meet somebody in my same line of work. We decided to meet up at The Eagle, one of my favorite restaurants, and watch the Buckeyes football game. He showed up a half hour late and was already hammered drunk. As soon as he arrived he ordered shots. I’m not a shot kind of girl, so I knew this was going downhill fast. After a few really uncomfortable questions and a bizarre rant that I won’t go into too much detail about, he asked me if I would like to go on vacation with him to Kentucky next week.
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I replied, “No, I don’t know you, and for all I know you could be an ax murderer.” He said, “Well, how do you know that I’m not?” At this point I’d had enough. I went to the bathroom to compose myself and texted a friend who lived nearby to come and get me. She parked her car in the alley next to The Eagle and texted me when she arrived. At this point I turned to the belligerent jerk and I said, “Listen, this is clearly the worst date I’ve ever been on. You’ve done nothing but be rude and make me feel uncomfortable. I’m leaving.” I left the restaurant, hopped in my friend’s car, and left him standing at the bar. Worst date ever.
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Well Done Only a few weeks after I moved to Columbus, I met a girl while I was out at a bar with some friends. She seemed great: funny, laid-back, smart. More important than any of those, though, was the fact that we just had a spark. Natural chemistry. Whatever you want to call it. We had also agreed to get to dinner together a few nights later, so I’ll fast forward to that, because that’s where the story really starts. I met her at a pretty casual place, one that’s also very popular, so I had no real misgivings about the kind of food she might have been into. I honestly don’t remember what she ordered, but I got a burger. And
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it was really good. So good, in fact, that I remember talking about it. And offering some to her. I did both of these things multiple times. And that’s when things got weird. That free-flowing conversation? Gone. Her humor and easygoing attitude? Nowhere in sight. At this point, I just thought she wasn’t into me anymore. But it was very awkward. All of her answers to my questions were single word answers, and other than that she didn’t speak at all. I can read a room well enough, and I knew to cut my losses at this point; I was not about to ask for a second date, or see if she wanted to
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keep the one we were on going. And as I walked her to her bike, I realized what was going on. Her bike frame and basket were absolutely covered in stickers proclaiming her veganism. For the record, I have nothing against vegans. I was vegetarian myself for a number of years, but she was clearly all in on it. There was one sticker I remember particularly clearly, it literally said “Billions of animals are abused and violently killed because you eat meat.” And I had waxed poetic about a hamburger for half an hour. Needless to say I never saw her again.
z z z
Asleep at the Opera When I first started working as a pediatrician, all the doctors at my practice were invited to dinner at a very nice downtown restaurant by a pharmaceutical company. They had also planned to have us attend a performance of “Phantom of the Opera” at an upscale venue. I’d been dating someone for a while, and things were going well, so I decided to invite him along. Dinner went about as well as it could have, and drinks were flowing the entire whole time, as the pharmaceutical company was paying for everything. After eating (and drinking, like I mentioned) we got to the venue, and things still appeared to be going fine. After taking our seats, though, I noticed my date get up and walk out of the seating area. I was expecting him to sit down after a few minutes, but by intermission (over an hour later) he still hadn’t come back to his seat. It wasn’t until everyone started filling out into the entrance area for intermission that I caught sight of him again, slumped over on the floor, fast asleep. He had spent all day playing softball in a rec league, so the drinking on top of everything put him over the edge, although it was still one of the more embarrassing moments in my life. This definitely qualifies as a dating disaster, but this story does have a happy ending. He managed to not fall asleep at any other important points in our relationship, and we’re now married.
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Six glamorous Columbus weddings submitted by (614) readers. By Jack McLaughlin
↑ Flowers from the wedding of Drew and Krista Stag Photograph by Lauren Anne Photography
↑ The invites and rings from the wedding of Tim and Dean Allenmang Photograph by Amy Ann Photography
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↑ Detail shot from the wedding of Drew and Krista Stag Photograph by Lauren Anne Photography
It’s been tough for all of us during the pandemic, but couples looking to get married in the midst of COVID-19 have had a particularly difficult time. But the six Columbus couples we’re featuring in our wedding section this issue are here to show us all that you can still have the wedding of your dreams, even during a pandemic. You may need to shuffle dates or swap a vendor or two, but where there’s a will, there’s a way. So during the next few pages, take your mind off all the problems going on in the world right now, and get lost in a handful of wonderful Columbus weddings.→
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I met Justin unexpectedly on November 24, 2019, through a neighbor, and found out very quickly that we were also neighbors in the Easton area. Justin at the time accepted a position as Assistant Program Director at Wamo 107.3 in Pittsburgh, and we were initially unsure if a long-distance relationship would work. We continued to travel to see each other every weekend until February of 2020 when the pandemic hit.→ Photographs by Julia Justice Photography Held at The Brookshire (Delaware, Ohio)
← Alisha and Justin Cochran
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↑ Wedding parties beside the bride and groom Justin Cochran during tosses the garter →
I moved to Pittsburgh for six months, worked and taught fitness classes remotely. Being together during the pandemic brought us closer, since we were able to work and live together for the first time. On October 31, 2020 Justin popped the question and I said "Yes!”. We continued to see each other every other week for another year until our wedding week (it took place on Oct. 24, 2021) when Justin finally moved back to Columbus.
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"Being
together during the pandemic brought us closer..."
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↑ Alisha and Justin Cochran kiss during their wedding ceremony
In March 2021, I opened Swerve Dance and Fitness Complex in Worthington, and Justin is currently featured on WAMO 107.3 (Pittsburgh), 105.1 The Bounce (Detroit) and Loud 102.3 (Youngstown). We are looking forward to going into 2022 as a married couple!
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Sam and I met in high school after a classmate invited me to sing with their band. Over the years we became closer friends through our love for music, but it was not until college that we finally decided to date. The best advice I could ever give anyone is to marry your best friend.→ Photographs by Hailey Lauren Photography Held at Our Lady of Victory Church (Columbus) and York Golf Club (Columbus)
Sam and Erin Colachis kiss at their wedding →
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"The best advice I could ever give anyone is to marry your best friend. " ↑ Sam and Erin Colachis’ wedding cake
↓ Sam Colachis showers the wedding party with Champagne
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↓ Sam and Erin Colachis share another kiss
Our original wedding date was October 3, 2020. Since I am a nurse and Sam works in the medical engineering field, we decided the best option would be to move the wedding date to a time when our family and friends could be better protected from the pandemic. Our new wedding date fell on July 10, 2021. Despite having to plan our honeymoon twice, our wedding twice, and a forecast full of rain, it was an absolutely perfect day that we will never forget. It was truly worth the wait.
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Tom and I met online less than a month after I moved to Columbus! I hadn’t been in the dating world much in the last few years, and I decided when I moved here it was time to really put myself out there. Tom was my third date, and I knew immediately he was the one. → Photographs by Asteria Photography Held at Columbus Museum of Art
← Faith Sherman Lin and Tom Lin share a kiss
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"Tom was my third date, and I knew immediately he was the one. "
↑ Faith Sherman Lin and Tom Lin inside a CMA installation
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↓ Faith Sherman Lin and Tom Lin at the CMA
↑ Faith Sherman Lin and Tom Lin during their first dance
Y’all, I moved across the country during a pandemic and found the love of my life after only three dates! A little over a year later, on December 16, 2021 we promised to love each other forever, standing in the beautiful Derby Court at the Columbus Museum of Art, surrounded by a few family members and dear friends. It was a perfect day, and we are so happy to be married! We look forward to all the hills and valleys life will bring us, knowing that we’ll always be side by side, hand in hand.
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Nic and I met at Southern Tier Brewery in Lakeview, New York. I was on a girls trip for the weekend. Nic was visiting for a bachelor party since his friend had a lake house in the area. Our groups started talking at the brewery although Nic was late (as usual) because he stopped in at the hospital to meet his best man's first son who was just born that morning. Once Nic got there we hit it off immediately! They invited us back to the lake house and we hung out all night. We realized that we had a friend in common – one of my close friends from high school in St. Louis was also a friend of his from college in Long Island. I called her at 2 a.m. and asked if Nic was safe to keep talking to and she approved! →
↑ Irina and Nic Miller during their first dance
Photographs by Emily Schutz Photo & Video Held at Jorgensen Farms (Oak Creek, Ohio)
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↓ The wedding party celebrates
↓ Irinia and Nic Miller share an intimate moment
We did long distance for a year, he moved to Columbus and the rest is history! The wedding theme was A Night Under the Stars. The goal was to keep it romantic, simple, intimate and most importantly a reflection of Nic and I. Nic was born in Hawaii so I walked down the aisle to the Israel Kamakawiwo’ole version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” played on a ukulele. He is also a huge Buffalo Bills fan so I opted out of a traditional wedding cake and surprised him with a Bills themed one. I am Russian and Jewish so we made sure the bar was stocked with vodka, and we taught the guests a bit about Russian traditions like the Hora. In general all the guests said it was the best wedding they had been to in a long time!
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↓ Irinia and Nic Miller kiss during their wedding
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My husband, Drew and I, actually met back in college. He went to Walsh University, where a lot of my friends from back home went, and I became a Buckeye at The Ohio State University. When I would head back home to hang with friends, I met Drew. → Photographs by Lauren Anne Photography Held at Magnolia Hill Farm (Centerburg, Ohio)
↑ Drew and Krista Stagg on their big day
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↓ Krista and Drew Stagg embrace
↑ Wedding cake, by Carrie's Sugar Buzz
"I
got to marry my best friend and celebrate with the best family and friends anyone could ask for. "
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After we both graduated college, I stayed in Columbus and he moved here as well. We would run into each other all the time when we were out downtown. We never exchanged phone numbers, just Facebook messages. Several years went by and we finally exchanged numbers. In 2018, someone sent me a random photo of Drew and I from a Halloween we ran into each other at Brothers. We laughed and chatted back and forth until he finally asked me to get a drink. The rest is truly history. We got married in July of 2021 at Magnolia Hill Farm in Centerburg, Ohio, and it was truly magical. The day was absolutely perfect! I got to marry my best friend and celebrate with the best family and friends anyone could ask for.
↑ The bride and groom alongside their wedding party
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My now husband, Dean, and I met through an app called Bumble. What started as a simple coffee date turned into a loving marriage. We are both members of the Columbus Gay Men's Chorus. → Photographs by Amy Ann Photography Held at COSI Planetarium and The Boat House at Confluence Park (Columbus)
↑ Tim and Dean Allenmang embrace on their wedding day
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↓ Tim and Dean Allenmang during their wedding ceremony
"What
started as a simple coffee date turned into a loving marriage."
I proposed in May of 2020 while we were quarantined. Our wedding was on September 25, 2021. The ceremony was at the COSI Planetarium. It had the stars set for how they were the night Dean and I met, and when we kissed, the Planetarium lit up with a rainbow.
↑ Detail shot from The Boat House at Confluence Park
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↑ Tim and Dean Allenmang take a carriage from wedding ceremony to reception
After the ceremony we were whisked away on a unicorn-drawn carriage to The Boat House at Confluence Park for our cocktail hour and reception. We had a KJ [karaoke DJ] for our reception who allowed us the opportunity to Rick Roll our entire wedding reception party.
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A spotlight on Columbus pets, told by their owners.
By Melissa Braithwaite Photos by Maddie Schroeder
When Robin McLaughlin was a child, she looked forward to holding the piglets when visiting her great uncle Wendell’s Ohio farm. “When I was little, my grandparents would let me hold the baby pigs and I absolutely loved it,” she said. Then came the mini-pig boom of the 2010s, when everyone from George Clooney to Paris Hilton had one. As tiny “teacup” pigs were popping up everywhere, McLaughlin seized the opportunity to make her childhood dream of becoming a pig owner a reality. After researching the Juliana pig (also referred to as the miniature painted pig), 96
applying with a reputable breeder and waiting a year, along came Wendell, McLaughlin’s very own Juliana pig named after her great uncle who introduced her to the beautiful beasts. “He’s an amazing boy and I love him,” McLaughlin said of her pet. But mini pigs are not for everyone, she also noted. Although Wendell gets along with his canine and feline siblings, some mini pigs (just like dogs and cats) do not cohabitate well with other pets. “Wendell is obstinate, and I have another boy who wants to dominate,” McLaughlin said.
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“The only real problem the dogs have with him is that his hooves hurt when he walks on them. But mostly they just love to cuddle by the fire together.” Mini pigs live a lazy lifestyle, the highlights of each day being sleeping up to 16 hours, moving minimally and eating anything they can get their snouts on. So while the mini might not be an ideal jogging partner, they’re generally easygoing companions. “He’s super chill. He loves to get scratched and he’s an easy pet,” said McLaughlin.
Neighborhood strolls aren’t the same as with a dog, she noted, because Wendell’s instinct is to eat the grass wherever he goes. This is why McLaughlin restricts him to her chemical-free yard, where he can freely graze. In fact, pigs will literally eat just about anything, which makes them highly trainable, according to McLaughlin. This is unfortunately also the same reason she doesn’t keep pork in the house. “He’s a living piece of pork, and sadly, he would probably eat it,” she said. Pigs get a bad reputation for frequently “making a pigsty,” but McLaughlin maintained that, of all her pets, Wendell’s the cleanest and least expensive to feed and care for. He prefers to go to the bathroom outside, unless it’s very cold or snowing, in which case he uses an indoor litter box. Wendell’s skin, which McLaughlin says is similar to human skin, can be dry and sensitive and requires some extra attention throughout the dry winters and scorching summers. In July, Wendell “blows his coat,” which is just what you imagine it is: a big, hairy mess. He remains bald for the summer and requires sunscreen when outdoors until his hair returns. If you’re interested in adopting a mini pig, McLaughin suggested first considering that they can grow to be upwards of 150 pounds, live 1820 years and possess the intelligence of a 3- to 4-year old child. “Wendell was 8 pounds when we got him at 10 months; now he’s 60 pounds,” she said. “They are ‘mini’ because they are not a regular 200 pound farm hog—but they do not stay small forever.” For potential pig owners, McLaughin also recalls the time Wendell escaped the property and was disrupting traffic down the street, and the night he got into the flour and tracked it throughout her entire house “He’s certainly a special little animal,” she said.
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She enjoys playing with Emma’s family’s dogs, although she occasionally fights for control of everyone’s favorite: the pizza toy. In their backyard, all the puppy energy comes out as she gallops figure-eights around and around and around …and around. Nola frequently spends her day at the 614 offices. She loves to visit Editor-in-Chief Jack McLaughlin, and if she doesn’t think it’s time for a potty break, she won’t go. “She’ll fight me until I carry her down the stairs,” Emma admitted. Nola prefers short walks, returning quickly to the office to be with her growing fan club or laying down if the walk takes her too far away. Will Nola still be one of the cutest dogs around when she’s fully grown? Undoubtedly. That boop-able nose isn’t going anywhere, nor are the ear patches or snuggles. She’s sure to charm everyone she meets for years to come.
By Melinda Green Photos by Maddie Schroeder
For more of Nola, follow @nola_quinn_ on Instagram!
614 Media Group Creative Designer Emma Quinn ended last year with a love story of a different sort: A new puppy that might just be the cutest we’ve ever seen. In late fall, Emma happened to see a picture of a shelter puppy and fell in love. But by the time she was approved for adoption, the puppy had been adopted. Emma was heartbroken. “At that point, I was so ready to have a dog,” she recalled. “I was so sad, and I wanted to find the perfect dog that was meant for me.” She began scouring the internet. “It was a Sunday night, and I think I had sent my dad 40 pictures of dogs I had found,” she said, laughing. The last was an adorable white puppy named Bailey, the only breeder-owned puppy among dozens of shelter dogs. Bailey, the runt of a litter of ten mini sheepadoodles (a sheepdog/poodle mix), had escaped the interest of buyers and was a full 16 weeks old. “I told my dad ‘I already reached out to them,’ and he was like ‘You need to be a little bit more patient,’” Emma said. But, almost immediately, the breeder confirmed that Bailey was still available. Later that week, Emma and her father visited the breeder. The puppy ran to them, wagging her tail and licking Emma’s face. “My 98
dad was choking up,” Emma recalled. “He realized this was a good fit.” Bailey became Magnolia (Nola for short), and, looking at her white coat, it's easy to see why. She’s as white as a new magnolia flower, and probably smells as sweet. It's hard to decide what the most adorable thing about Nola is. Is it her scruffy, brilliantwhite coat? Is it the unexpected jet-black patch on her rump or the light gray patches on her ears? Is it the floppy snuggles or the big-girl paws? Is it the black button nose? Yep, that's it. It's her nose. Her round eyes and button nose make her look like a reallife stuffed animal. It's a nose that begs to be booped, over and over and over. And we get it: crossing poodles with other breeds to get "Doodles" is polarizing. "They're nothing but mutts," some say. "They’re awesome and don’t aggravate allergies!" others say. But, whichever side you fall on, you have to admit one thing: the word "sheepadoodle" is extraordinarily adorable. Say it out loud and try not to giggle. We bet you can't. “Nola’s definitely a people dog, pretty quiet and chill,” Emma said. She loves to be picked up and cuddled, not really caring about finding the perfect position. And she’s a firstclass bed hog.
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