(614) October | 2023

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1-800-FURNACE atlasbutler.com

JACK MCLAUGHLIN Editor-In-Chief

Fact or Fiction

If I told you that I consider myself a skeptic–which I do–you probably wouldn’t be surprised.

If, in the next breath, I told you about my passion for exploring supposedly haunted buildings, for even the corniest of ghost stories and for all things spooky and esoteric, this might cause a bit of confusion.

So let me explain.

The term “skeptic” has a few meanings depending on the context, but I think we can all agree that the most commonly-used definition is a person who is ruled by reason and demands hard, empirical evidence.

When we talk about the spooky stuff (finally, I know), a lot of people extrapolate skepticism to mean doubt. If I told you I was a skeptic in regards to ghosts, UFOs, Bigfoot, or whatever, I think most of you would take that to mean I’m a non-believer.

But, in my mind at least, that’s not the case. In the most general sense, skepticism refers to the act of questioning, of needing to see—and prove something— for yourself. Doubt, on the other hand, is when you’ve taken a firm stance against believing something regardless of what is put before you, and regardless of how compelling it is.

As someone who holds an unhealthy obsession with the paranormal, I know this all too well. But I’m also a skeptic. I'm fascinated by the paranormal and the unexplainable at a visceral level, and so I have to be a skeptic to retain some sense of balance, otherwise I’m in the deep end covered in crystals and patchouli.

I love exploring haunted houses (not the kind where actors with chainsaws scream in your face, though), or taking a ghost tour through a new city. But I'll be the last person to blame a bump or a creak on a ghost.

And I think this perspective goes both ways. The world we live in today is dominated by technology, by hard science, and in so many ways, that’s a good thing. But it also leads to a belief that if something hasn’t been scientifically classified, if something is not wriggling around a table in front of us, it doesn’t exist. And as we’ve seen with the mountain gorilla, the giant squid, and so many other things (even ones outside of the animal kingdom), that simply isn't the case.

This is what I would hope Columbus thinks about as they thumb through the pages of our October issue, Do You Believe in Magic? We’re taking a step into the unknown–into Columbus palmistry, tarot, Witchery and more–and we want you to come with us. Obviously it’s important to stay grounded in the real world, but you’d be surprised at what opening yourself up to the weird or mystical from time to time can do. Go to a seance. Have your palms or aura read. Do something witchy. You might not discover the secret to the universe, but you’ll probably learn a thing or two about yourself.

So enjoy the cooler weather as it comes. Enjoy the spooky season as it creeps in, and remember: Just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s not there.

SENIOR

� STAFF PICKS Costume Contest!

It’s October (dare I say the best month of the year?), and with Halloween on its way, we decided to ask our staff about the best costumes from their past. Here’s what they said:

I grew up in a cosplay family so there's almost too many to pick from, though one year I was the Hawaiian Punch mascot, complete with an inflatable surfboard and handmade hat.

— Atlas Biro, Creative Designer

My Mom performed some dark magick with cardboard boxes and spray paint to make me into a giant Lego brick one year.

— Jack McLaughlin, Editor-In-Chief

So weird but Jeff Gordon!

— Bryce Patterson, Creative Designer

This was not a costume I actually wore but I made it. When I was in middle school (in the midst of the duct tape era, iykyk) I made my sister a hippie costume entirely out of duct tape! She won more than one contest with it so I guess my creative gene started early.

— Victoria Smith, Creative Designer

This is honestly embarrassing because I was so weird as a kid but when I was 10 or 11 I dressed up as Old Gregg from The Mighty Boosh. Another time my friend and I got a fart noise-maker and she dressed up as a knife and I was a block of cheese. We would pretend she was cutting me and play the noise. The costume was ‘cutting the cheese.’

—

Lizzy Saunders,

Brand Manager, (614) Beer

I was obsessed with the movie Grease growing up, and my mom hand-made me a Pink Lady's outfit because we couldn't find one anywhere else. I'm talking 1950's poodle skirt, loafers, Pink Lady's jacket and all. She even cut my hair and bangs for it!

— Sav McKee, Assistant Editor

ON the WEB

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

→ Beloved Central Ohio restaurant and bakery rolls out new donut truck

Der Dutchman is on a roll. Literally. The popular Amish restaurant and bakery— known for its comfort food and indulgent baked goods—is expanding its concept in a way we can definitely get behind... Scan the QR to keep reading.

→ New scoop shop opening in Grandview area featuring ice cream from Ohio’s oldest dairy

This October, there will be a new spot to grab a scoop of pumpkin cheesecake ice cream, a soft-serve cone, or a flurry. Toft’s Grand Scoop has a target opening date of the second week of October... Scan the QR to keep reading.

→ International go-kart & entertainment chain opening first Columbus area location

The seasons are changing, and it seems as if almost every aspect of Mill Run Shopping Center in Hilliard, OH is changing, too... Scan the QR to keep reading.

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.

• Fall Can't Stop These Snack Attacks!

From tasty and zany to random oddities, Snack Attack will prep you with the dos and don'ts for your next grocery store trip.

• Hispanic Heritage Fueled by La Plaza Tapatia

La Plaza Tapatia is Ohio's Largest Hispanic Market and this month, they are serving up some incredible food to service your Hispanic Heritage celebrations!

THE BRUNCH BUFFET IS BACK

Buffet and Bloody Mary Bar available Sundays from 10 AM - 3 PM

• Downtown Columbus' Most Scenic Rooftop Bar

This laid-back cozy rooftop bar has all of your favorite locally sourced liquors and a delicious menu of totally shareable barfood.

NEW HOURS

Monday - Thursday: 3 PM - 10 PM

Friday - Saturday: 11 AM - 11 PM

Sunday: 10 AM - 9 PM

*New kitchen hours + bar is open 1 hour later

• Treat your Kids to Free El Vaquero!

Who doesn't love authentic Mexican cuisine? It's not only delicious, but it's great for the whole family. All year long, kids 12 and under eat free every Tuesday!

Inspired by Victorian spirit pictures and historical photographic practices, Circleville artist Amanda Fields is finding beauty in what was left behind

By Jack McLaughlin

In the photo, the ghost stares back at you.

The apparition – standing on the image’s right-hand side – dons period attire, and in addition, an arrestingly stern expression. Like the photo itself, its ghostly subject’s gaze is mysterious, and confrontational. For a second, the looks cut through you, the viewer, as if you are the ghost instead.

The photograph is untitled, like much of her work, and is the most recent photograph of Circlevillebased artist Amanda Fields, who

— through a myriad of antiquated and non-standard techniques — is pushing photographic boundaries while blurring the lines between past and present.

During a phone call from her Circleville home and darkroom, Fields tells me this image — which actually incorporates a photo of a family ancestor as its subject — is inspired not only by Fields' personal past, but also the rich history of photography as an art form. →

Photos by Amanda Fields Story Design by Bryce Patterson

Van Dyke Brown Print ↑

“I have always been a little bit obsessed with pictorialism. The images are soft, dreamy and otherworldly,” she said.

Additionally, Fields cited the Victorian-era trend of spirit photography, which — through double exposures and other manipulations of the medium — would depict translucent figures appearing to be apparitions.

Fields is an open book when it comes to her knowledge of antique photographic equipment, film developing techniques, and even about the medical conditions she faces on a daily basis, but if you ask her exactly how she created the image, however, then she has a bit less to say.

“Well, I don’t want to give it all away,” she said, I imagine with a grin. As an artist whose work I admire for its pervasive sense of mystery and intrigue, it seems only fitting that the exact methods Fields used to create the photo will stay a secret.

While the full-time Circleville artist (who holds a photography certificate from Columbus State University), won't give us the granular details of how to recreate her haunting, timeless images, she’s an open book when it comes to her tools. And there are many of them.

So many of her images appear to be plucked from another era due to the fact that, in many cases, they were created using the same equipment and procedures of that time.

Fields, who develops her film inside an in-home darkroom, experiments with everything from traditional darkroom developing to Kallitype printing (which involves hand coating paper with an iron-silver emulsion) to Lith printing, Van Dyke printing, Cyanotypes and glass Dry Plates. Each method boasts its own nuances and subtle visual identifiers.

Lith print, for example, is typically identified by its grittiness and harsh contrast.

“Lith almost looks like a drawing a lot of the time,” Fields recalled. “It’s interesting from a darkroom standpoint as well. It takes about 45 minutes to develop, but it feels like about 44 and a half minutes of nothing, and then in 15 seconds the image will start appearing and you have to snatch it out of the chemicals. Because it happens so quickly, you can’t really develop the same lith print twice, even if you wanted to.”

Fields – who shoots both digital cameras and film, although she said it’s often difficult to tell the difference from a viewer’s perspective – spends plenty of time playing around with newer processes as well.

One of her many self-portraits – informally titled “Infrared Self Portrait at Greenlawn Cemetary” – depicts a figure clad in white with their back turned to the camera. The sky appears in menacing gray while the trees and grass appear to take on an intense, almost electric, white color. As its name suggests, this photo was taken of Fields (and in Greenlawn Cemetery) with a camera she had modified to capture only infrared light.

Silver Gelatin Lith print →

Infared Self Portrait at Greenlawn cemetary ↓

Long exposure self portrait ↑

“Essentially, to make it work, we had to take out an infrared-blocking filter from a digital camera, but it was a new camera. The employees at Midwest Photo were a little confused,” she said with a laugh.

Fields’ infrared self-portrait joins a host of other self-portraits that appear in her oeuvre, and that’s not by mistake. The Circleville artist noted that her work tends to oscillate between focusing on “a king of witchy spiritualism,” and the chronic pain condition that she regularly grapples with.

Nevertheless, the act of turning the camera at oneself, she said – even though the results may appear atmospherically dark, and even though they’re sometimes captured in an actual graveyard – are far from the darkness they appear to embody. According to Fields, these images are able to offer some kind of solace, and even some kind of healing.

“I've never felt that I quite fit in, and after developing a chronic illness I feel it even more so. It’s like floating in and out of the ether, existing in this liminal space where I'm a ghost to society and my previous life. I think many folks can identify with a feeling of not belonging,” she said.

“Much of my newer work I use as a kind of therapy, being a woman and living with a chronic invisible illness. I’ve dealt with tons of gaslighting and sexism in the medical system. Even if most of my work looks dark, some of it is incredibly positive and powerful for me.” ♦ To learn more, visit:

From Bagel Bombs to Not F*cking Box

Brownies, this Columbus foodie-turned-baker with a penchant for Tim Burton is taking the city by storm

By Melinda Green

Photos by Tyler Jamison

Story Design by Bryce Patterson

Bite This! by Annie’s Ghoul Grub ↓

It was all kind of an accident,” Annie Dickson said when asked about the origin of her business, Bite This! by Annie. Yet, on some levels, it doesn’t seem like an accident at all.

Growing up, Dickson was heavily influenced by her grandmothers’ love of food. At one grandmother’s home in South Carolina, the kids would fight over who would make buttermilk biscuits with her. The other grandmother taught her how to make peanut butter fudge and no-bake cookies.

Eventually, Dickson’s love of Southern comfort cooking led to weight issues. She dove into all things baking, watching master classes online and perfecting her skills through repetition. “By the end of my weight loss journey, I knew I wanted to always have these things in my life. I always want to be able to eat the chocolate chip cookie or really f*cking good brownie. But I'm not going to waste my time on things that are subpar,” she said.

So she figured out how to bake, and she figured out how to do it well.

Dickson’s husband serves in the Army and was deployed from late 2020 through 2021. “While he was away, I decided to keep myself busy as a stay at home mom making charcuterie boards and layer cakes,” she said. Her baking specialty was what she called “nakey cakes,” which are layer cakes with no frosting on the sides. She also put her cooking skills to use by catering a friend’s wedding.

The charcuterie and cakes were a huge hit, and suddenly Dickson’s family and friends were recommending her to people she didn’t know. “At that point I was like, okay, I should probably start looking for a space of my own,” she recalled. →

Photo: Infinite Impact

Current by Janet Echelman soars over the intersection of Gay and High streets.

Cakes, charcuterie boards, catering— they’re all what Dickson calls “celebration-type things.” They’re great, but they don’t bring in daily business. As she developed her business plan, she realized she’d need “everyday” items to make customers want to buy frequently.

“I played around with biscuits, decided that was too overdone,” she said. “Everybody has a biscuit.” Then she remembered the tiny bagel bites that she used to get at Starbucks, filled with cream cheese or berries.

But copying that idea wasn’t enough for the self-described Tim Burton of Baked Goods. “What I like to do is take something and kind of blow it up and just make it weird and put my spin on things,” Dickson said, laughing. So the bagel bites became bigger Bagel Bombs, filled with “everything under the sun.”

At first, she offered her prototype “little, tiny, pastry things” to her friends and other local bakers. The general response was, “Hell yeah, I’d buy this every single day.” She perfected (and enlarged) the recipes and put the bagel bombs on Instagram. It wasn’t long before the entire Columbus foodie scene got wind of it.

“And since then, it's been a Bagel Bomb explosion all over Columbus, I guess,” she said.

But Bagel Bombs aren’t necessarily the focus of the business. Her Pub Grub snack mix and Not F*cking Box Brownie mix are huge hits at Saturday markets and specialty shops around town. Dickson admitted she always has a bag of Hellfire Pub Grub in her car.

“It's an enjoyable heat. It's a boldly spiced and buttery mix of crunchies that we bake until it's super crispy and it is pretty addictive,” she said. “I really like to find that balance with things. I think a lot of time that’s what brings people back to Bite This. It's not just a f*ck-ton of sugar that we shoved into a pan. There is a thought process behind every item that hits our table.”

A half-pound Glizzy Bagel Bomb ↓

The Shire is Burning Not F*cking Box Brownie ↓

But why the Tim Burton of Baked Goods? “Tim Burton takes anything that the world deems Bubblegum Princess and turns it into a little Goth kind of vibe and that's what I like to do with my business and with my treats. I'm not Princess Peach, you know, I'm not covering everything in sprinkles and glitter,” she emphasized.

Dickson exclaimed, “I think a lot of times, bakers get shoved into this category of the bubbly little poppy girl. I listen to heavy metal and I wear all black all the time, and I love Halloween. My business is all me. Every morning, it's ‘Good morning, creeps!’”

From her Fat Boy and Slim Boy cookies, to sweet Master of Puppy Chow Pub Grub, to her partnership with RayRay’s Hog Pit, Dickson grabs every opportunity to be witty and creative, and to put her personality into the business.

She explained, “The things that I did with my grandmothers now kind of go into everything that I do. You look back at your childhood and realize that all those special things that you ate, and that your grandmother taught you how to make, was sharing their love for you through food. And that's very much a part of what we do at Bite This. It's always made with love—and a little bit of heavy metal.” ♦

To learn more, visit: bitethisbyannie.com or @bitethisbyannie on Instagram.

↑ Bite This by Annie owner Annie Dickson getting into the Halloween spirit

The Old Mohawk ↓

PROUD SPONSOR OF OHIO STATE ATHLETICS

SEPTEMBER

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

OCTOBER

GOOD COFFEE, GOOD DEEDS

Douglas Buckley has a passion for creating community.

He’s been a high school English teacher, a humanitarian worker, and now? A coffee truck owner with Black Kahawa Coffee.

Over the summer, you may have seen him at farmers markets or on the Prow of the Scioto Mile. Black Kahawa is not only really great coffee; it’s Buckley’s latest venture into community building.

Buckley started on this path as a home coffee roaster. “It's a totally different world than when you're buying coffee that's been roasted for a month, two months, whatever, sitting on the shelf,” he said. He was hooked.

And when an opportunity for community work in Tanzania arose through Buckley’s church in 2008, he and his family answered the call.

“I discovered that coffee grew in East Africa, which, I mean, I kind of had a vague idea, but I didn't really know,” explained Buckley. So he brought his home roasting equipment along to Dar es Salaam.

“There are women that would cook on the side of the road; they would cook these pastries that people would get on their way to work. But then, once people are all gone to work, I noticed they were kind of just hanging out, and they have fires. I was like, ‘Well, I could teach a few women how to roast coffee,’” he said.

Meanwhile, Buckley started selling his own roasted coffee in the bustling port city and eventually worked his way into a few retailers, setting up a small company along the way.

Then, he accepted a position pastoring a church in Tanzania, working for eight years to bridge socioeconomic and racial differences. Along with it, he started a coffee shop. “The two things kind of worked hand in hand,” he recalled. “People would gather at the coffee shop throughout the week.”

After eleven years in Tanzania, the Buckleys returned to the United States. “When I returned in 2019, I was like, ‘I'm starting this business. I've been doing humanitarian work for the past 11 years,’” he said. He had already purchased a roaster and had it shipped to his parents’ house.

“We're not like ‘independently wealthy and I'm starting a business with my savings’ or something,” Buckley said. “I literally got that trailer, got a roaster, and started roasting coffee from my home because I felt like it was a strategic way to start without having to pay rent.”

Melinda

Now, the trailer is a registered food truck with direct-to-consumer sales on the Scioto Mile, and at the end of the day, Buckley parks it in his Berwick-area driveway, and it becomes a production facility. Fortunately, his neighbors don’t mind the roasting fumes. →

From pastoring in Africa to operating a coffee truck on the banks of the Scioto, Douglas Buckley is serving good coffee, and doing good for international communities

By

Green / Photos by Sarah Pfeifer

Story Design by Tori Smith

Buckley sources his coffee almost exclusively from Tanzania but includes a few other East African coffees as well. His suppliers include the Lunji Estate and the Mwankumbi Cooperative, some of whose farmers had never accessed the U.S. market before.

The coffees are rich and full of character, from the darkly decadent Columbus Peaberry to the popular Zanzibar Spice nitro cold brew.

Now that summer’s over, you can find Black Kahawa at Weilands, Hills, Bake Me Happy, Café Overlook, and of course online. Keep your eyes open downtown, though—Buckley is working on a permanent location for his trailer and an indoor roastery. “I want to be part of the, I won't say revitalization, but the continued vitalization of downtown,” he noted.

Still, he’s looking at the bigger picture. “There's, I think, a very valuable story in this,” Buckley explained. “I'm biracial, so, you know, I consider myself African American. And so I'm in Africa as all of this kind of racial awakening was going on—you know, that culminated [with] the murder of George Floyd. All of that stuff was going on, since Trayvon Martin in like 2014, and I'm seeing that from Africa. And, just all these things that I've thought about all the time, or that people like me have thought about, now it's becoming this thing.”

“It was very interesting for me to be living in East Africa and seeing that. At the same time I'm doing this coffee thing, I'm also personally discovering that coffee didn't start in South America because of Juan Valdez. All this coffee first started growing in East Africa, and then it traveled over water to Arabia, to Yemen. And so the boat logo for our brand is a dhow boat. That's the style of boat that probably transported coffee the first time from one landmass to another. And I felt like this is a story that needs to be told.”

So he named his company Black Kahawa Coffee, ‘kahawa’ being the Swahili word for coffee.

“The fact that coffee comes from Africa, I feel like, is empowering to African Americans,” he continued. “And it's interesting. The Indian Ocean is where coffee first traveled. And now all of us who are enjoying coffee, it's because it's traveled over water and it continues to travel over water on container ships. And I just felt like that was a very powerful thing.”

“Coffee, you know, is closely connected to power and influence,” he continued. “If you look at the history of coffee, it's traveled to places where people who have power and money are able to get it and figure out a way to cultivate it. And often it was stolen or given as a gift as it traveled from one continent to another continent. So you can almost tell the story of humanity, especially in the more modern era, [by] looking at where coffee went and how it got there.”

As a roaster, his approach is hands-on.“I'm really into knowing the coffee by your five senses,” he said. “And so, whereas a lot of American coffee roasters are, ‘We gotta have the thermometer in there; we've gotta gauge it; we have to get the rise and the fall,’ yeah, sure, but can you use your senses? There are indicators. There's popping; there's smell—I was able to train these women to roast perfectly roasted coffee that was on supermarket shelves just by using their five senses.”

Buckley is aware of the challenges coffee brings. “I was very intimidated to do something in coffee in the United States, because the level is just so high,” he admitted. “There's a lot of competition. But I feel like there's this story, and I feel like this company is for a time like this. I like bringing people together over racial differences, socioeconomic differences.”

Buckley emphasized, “We want to use coffee as a way to bring people together.” ♦

To learn more, visit www.blackkahawa.com

WE WANT TO USE COFFEE AS A WAY TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

↓ Owner Douglass Buckley (front) with Black Kahawa employees

From secret basement bars to local haunts, here’s how Columbus is keeping the tiki scene alive and well

↑ Cobra Fang, Karm-A-Kahliki

the first rule of this underground tiki culture is that you don’t talk about the hidden basement tiki bars sprawled throughout Columbus.

Just kidding! While the phrase “underground tiki culture” might sound exclusive, I found that these basement bars are incredibly warm and welcoming. This enigmatic tiki culture in Columbus is niche, all connected to each other through shared interests of The Kahiki Supper Club, mid-century modern décor, Rockabilly music, and even Disney World.

That being said, there are some rules and etiquette that I noted, just in case you ever unexpectedly find yourself invited to a secret, underground tiki bar in someone’s home, as I did. These include:

Always Bring a gift, Dress the Part & respect the spAce

If these home tiki bars do seem a little selective, there’s a compelling reason for that – devotees have invested extensive time (and dollars) to create a tropical escape in their own homes. If these elusive bars were open to the public, they’d likely be jam-packed – I found myself not wanting to go to any other type of bars during my assignment. I caught a bad case of tiki fever, and I fear (for my liver) that it’s here to stay.

The tiki appeal is rooted in escapism. Originating in the 1930’s, American tiki culture offered solace from the woes of the Great Depression, inviting people to sip on drinks that transported them to a warm, tropical vacation.

Today, although some would consider tiki a bit outdated, the resurgence of home tiki bars continues to embody the idea of escape, whether from the grips of the COVID-19 pandemic, a yearning for Disney World’s Polynesian Village Resort, or even a nostalgic trip back to a family dinner at Columbus’ beloved Kahiki Supper Club, which served as the largest tiki-themed restaurant in the U.S., right here on the East Side of Columbus.

The Kahiki may have met its demise in 2000, but tiki, in fact, is not dead, thanks to the Columbus enthusiasts who are keeping the Aloha Spirit alive in their hearts and basements. →

Story Design by Atlas Biro

Story and Photos by Sav McKee

shipwreck shirley’s

doug & Todd

SignaTure drink: The Shipwreck Shirley

iwas welcomed to my first basement tiki bar experience with open arms and an enthusiastic “Aloha!” Doug draped a pastel pink lei around my neck that perfectly matched their pink home and the flower I decided last minute to tuck behind my hair for an extra tropical flare.

Doug and his partner Todd share an unbridled passion for tiki culture that trickles into every aspect of their mid-century residence. Doug’s fascination began during his childhood in Reynoldsburg, when his mom treated him to a special dinner at The Kahiki Supper Club at the age of seven. “I’ve never seen anything so magical in my entire life. I was hooked,” he reminisced.

For Todd, his tiki obsession was ignited within the confines of Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room in Magic Kingdom. Having worked for Disney, he was able to acquire a few coveted pieces from there as well.

As their tiki collection expanded exponentially, they came to the conclusion that a basement tiki bar was the most logical next step – an ode to both The Kahiki and Disney, all in a single space of their own.

Over the past 6 years, they’ve opened their basement door to neighbors and friends. Every first Friday of every month, they’re slinging their signature Shipwreck Shirley cocktail behind their bamboo bar, creating a communal haven. They even host an annual Luau, where they’ve collected $30,000 in proceeds and donated all of it to charities.

Their entire space exudes authenticity but infused with their unique touch. My personal favorite spot in their home tiki bar was the corner with the mid-century leopard print couch and old tiki vinyl covers adorned on the orange walls above it, alongside a treasure cove of artifacts from The Kahiki.

As people started pouring in, so did the invites to other clandestine tiki bars hidden in Columbus basements. It was at that moment I realized I stumbled upon something even more profound and exhilarating than I could ever have imagined. ♦

“ı'Ve never seen Anything so magical in my entire life. i was hookeD.”

↑ (From Left) Doug and Todd, owners of Shipwreck Shirley's

↓ Karm, owner of Karm-A-Kahliki

karm-Akarm & SignaTure drink:

karm and Lori, who I had the pleasure of meeting at Shipwreck Shirley’s the night before, casually downplayed the adventure I was about to embark on at their own tiki bar the following evening. Lori told me that she grew up visiting The Kahiki and was always fond of Rockabilly and mid-century modern décor, and Karm was also into the Rockabilly and mid-century scene; a match made in paradise.

Upon entering their basement, I found myself in the midst of a tropical storm; lightning flashed, thunder boomed, and red sirens wailed. Coming from the speakers was, “Take Shelter Now!” Water sprayed me from behind the bar. My initial shock quickly turned to laughter after I realized this was all part of the experience. When the lights turned back on, I saw that Doug and Todd were sitting at the bar, and I noticed some other familiar faces from my tiki excursion the evening before, too.

Karm and Lori refer to their tiki bar as a “COVID passion project” and an escape from the reality of Lori working as a nurse throughout the pandemic, which sounds way less fun than the made-up origin story, which was that Karm stumbled upon an ancient Tiki Mask in the jungle. “The eyes lit up with fire and the deity within let out a roar and began to awaken,” Karm said. “The mask spoke its name and said it was the Great Karm-a Kahliki…it demanded a tribute…I looked around, saw my silver flask on the ground…and I drank the last of my rum. Then I built a bar as a tribute to him, too.”

“the mask...demanded a t dran Built a Ba

While he spun this tale, the lights shut off, and an enormous Tiki head with glowing red eyes announced to the room, “Who’s awakened me? You mere mortals must pay! Make a sacrifice!” At that moment, everyone raised their drinks to the tiki mask and took a huge gulp of their cocktail.

This all may sound improbable, but tiki really is all about escape, and Karm and Lori’s bar transported me not just to another country, but to another universe. Especially during yet another simulation that involved a smoking volcano, thunderous sounds, then an eruption, with lava flowing beneath the bartop surface, casting an amber glow throughout the room and revealing tiny, singed, skulls hidden within the bar.

Guests may initially be drawn to the gimmicks, but it’s the drinks that make them stay. Literally – they’re too strong to drive home right away. Karm crafted his own authentic tiki menu, featuring Jungle Birds served in bird cages and Cobra Fangs served in striking snake tiki mugs.

With 50,000 lights in their basement and Karm’s software engineering background, it’s no wonder Karm and Lori have one of most impressive bars I’ve ever seen. I’d certainly make a sacrifice and sell my soul to Karm-a-Kahliki if it meant coming here every weekend. ♦

PHOTO BY: TONY BENTIVEGNA PHOTOGRAPHY

rancho kAhiki tiki BAr

eliSe & Jim SignaTure drink: The navy grog

elise was the veterinarian assistant to the macaw bird that resided in the cage behind the bar of the Kahiki Supper Club. She went to a work party in 1996 there with the rest of her vet friends, and as it seems to go with most people who were lucky enough to visit The Kahiki, an obsession with all things tiki surfaced. “My mind was blown. The building was just fantastic. I couldn’t believe it – it was honestly a dream come true,” she remembered.

Her partner, Jim, had an affinity for the Rockabilly scene, and when they purchased their mid-century house, the basement already exuded a nautical vibe. They knew it would be the perfect canvas for their budding tiki collection. “We didn’t want to be that couple that had tiki everywhere in the house – so we decided to isolate our obsession just to the basement,” Elise laughed.

The basement is filled to the brim with The Kahiki Supper Club memorabilia, including but definitely not limited to: the original bamboo trim, 13 lamps, a driftwood birdcage, a bamboo fire extinguisher, mugs, and their most prized possession: a Ku Tiki they acquired at an auction when The Kahiki closed. I knew immediately why Doug gave me her number and told me that I had to see it for myself. Elise and Jim approach tiki with meticulous care, evident in the thoughtful sourcing of every individual item. The soft glow of the 13 different lamps provided a peaceful getaway, and I truly never wanted to leave.

Elise reflected on the joy that this basement has brought her and countless others. “What’s better than coming down here – with Hawaiian music, bird noises, an escape from the snow in the winter, and tropical drinks? We can’t always escape to Florida, but we can have this.” ♦

the golden Atoll

Jed & lindSey SignaTure drink: nui nui

this tiki community’s interconnectedness was amplified when I met Lindsey – she read a book written by none other than Doug (Shirley’s Shipwreck owner!) about The Kahiki, called Kahiki Supper Club: A Polynesian Paradise in Columbus, and it sparked her interest in tiki culture. “So, I started collecting here and there, at thrift stores, antique malls, and Facebook Marketplace,” said Lindsey. “But then, when I actually went to Shipwreck Shirley’s for the first time, I looked at Jed [her partner] and said, ‘We have to do this.’”

The pandemic provided Lindsey and Jed time to scheme and turn their dream into a reality. In the summer of 2020, they took the leap. “We couldn’t escape from the house, so we thought, let’s make something in the house we can escape to,” explained Lindsey. Despite taking a year to complete, they both said the effort was worthwhile.

To furnish their tropical escape, Lindsey scoured Ebay for vintage tiki mugs and also received authentic Kahiki items from a friend who used to work there. She drove countless hours to source the peacock chairs and bamboo tables, and Jed hand-made the thatched walls that transport you to a Polynesian village. Their tiki playlist was even curated exclusively for their basement bar by local DJ Lady Sandoval, featuring garage surf & psychedelic rock, which provided a cooler, more hip vibe than some of the other traditional tiki bars.

While Lindsey and Jed never got to step foot in The Kahiki Supper Club itself, their deep admiration for it and tiki culture in general was palpable. Their genuine passion for tiki was contagious. Just as Lindsey left Shipwreck Shirley’s and told her partner they needed to build a tiki bar, I walked out of The Golden Atoll, turned to my husband, and said, “We have to do this, too.” ♦

“ we couldn't escape from the house, so we thought, ‘let's make something in the house we can escape to.’”

↑ Rancho Kahiki Tiki Bar, interior

↓ The Golden Atloll, interior

thirsty for more?

There are technically no standalone tiki bars in Columbus proper (the closest one is Huli Huli in Powell). However, many bars around here serve a tiki inspired drink, and here’s where you can grab one:

parable after dark: the Port light

(uSing The exacT recipe from the kahiki Supper club)

huli huli tiki lounge: Buffett's remorse or fiji swizzle

Sacred palm: reVerB crash

the boTtle Shop: Painkiller slushee or Jungle BirD slUshee

the oracle: Jungle BirD, zomBie, mai tai, or mangoPeAch DaiqUiri

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

Mystical Columbus

From aura readings to palmistry and more, we take a look at the esoteric side of the Arch City this October

While the fine city of Columbus might not seem like a hub for all things mystical and magical, if you know where to look, Ohio's capital has it in spades. With the spooky season now upon us, we take a look at local palmistry, sound baths, Druids, Witches (the real kind) and much, much more. It's time to shuffle that tarot deck and take a step or two out of your comfort zone. Let's get mystical, Columbus. →

Section Design by Atlas Biro

Medium at Large

By Matt Mahoney / Photos by Sarah Pfeifer

How will I die? Will I find true love? What am I going to spend the rest of my life doing? How am I going to pay off my student loans? Who will take care of me if I get sick or injured? What am I going to make for dinner? Are my shoes too big? Does my hair look dumb? Soup or salad?

These are the questions that your Man about Town must grapple with on a daily basis. I bet a lot of you worry about these problems too – some of them anyway – as I believe these worries to be a nearly inescapable part of the human condition. Our minds have evolved to allow us to contemplate our existence in the universe, which naturally causes us to worry about said existence in a multitude of ways, oftentimes at the cost of our own sanity.

What I’m trying to tell you is this: I’m going to see a psychic.

Full disclosure: I have a deep, deep skepticism towards psychics, soothsayers and fortune tellers of all kinds. In my mind, claiming to be an authority and offering false hope to the particularly vulnerable in exchange for payment seems unethical. Capitalizing on others’ anxieties regarding death, love, and career success, while not uncommon in today’s economy, is an inherently exploitative and selfish venture, even if you buy into this stuff.

I must also admit however, that I have never been to a psychic. I’ve never even seen one in action, but I resolve to approach my fortune telling venture with an open mind. For better or worse, I’m going to learn something.

A mid-sized city like Columbus can support a few psychics, so I had a few choices here. The first one I spoke to indicated they were booked through October (which seems unlikely in my opinion), while the second never answered my call. I was finally able to make contact with a third palm reader who seemed open to setting something up in the next day or two. She told me to call back in two hours so she could make her schedule clear.

This is where the story began to enter the realm of the abnormal. Exactly two hours went by before I picked up my phone and dialed the number; however, just before I could press “dial,” I received an incoming call. It was the second psychic, the one who didn’t pick up the first time around. Could she have known?

We chatted for a little bit about my options, and it very quickly became apparent that I was in for a treat. There are three levels of services organized by levels of psychic energy (and cost of course). The least expensive will tell me how I’m doing right now, but I’m not sure I really need a psychic to do that. The highest level of psychic energy will not only introduce me to my potential fate, but also any past lives I might have lived. I decided to leave the past where it is and opted for the middle level, which should tell me a bit about what lies ahead for me. →

↓ Matt Mahoney, Writer for (614) Magazine

I got a text from my psychic of choice shortly before our engagement, indicating that she was running late. I wouldn’t think that unforeseen occurrences would be an issue for those who can see into the future, but hey, nobody’s perfect. I eventually arrived at my appointment with an open mind, eager to hear what the future holds.

After giving a brief rundown on what the session would consist of, my psychic took my hand. She stared at it for a moment, before letting out a perplexed, “Oh.”

As it turned out, I have what psychics refer to as “the gift.” Essentially, I have dormant psychic powers lying somewhere deep inside me. Not only that, but I also supposedly will be coming into a great deal of money in the near future (cc: (614) Magazine payroll department) and have found the love of my life in my current partner (cc: my girlfriend).

Of course, not everyone has these powers (sorry), but we talked a little bit about what I could do to help hone my psychic gifts. A big part of this surrounds meditation, which can only be done with various crystals; you know, the ones that the hippie types like to name their kids after. She indicated that she had some available for purchase, but in the spirit of the DIY ethic, I proposed mining my own. This is apparently a big no-no, as psychic forces can attack you when you’re out looking for precious stones (who knew?). Conveniently, I could protect myself from these attacks by purchasing a psychic protective barrier, but like all psychic services, these can be expensive. Are you noticing a pattern yet?

As the session came to an end, she provided me with an opportunity to ask a few questions. Among other things, we talked about other reputable psychics in the area. My psychic seemed to be under the (correct) impression that many of those who work in the field – herself excluded of course – are charlatans, who use fake crystals and are only pretending to have the gift. When I asked her how she could tell the difference between the two, she simply responded that she just knows.

On this, I believe she’s right. Trust your instincts my friends. I’m not sure if this experience did much to change my opinion of psychics, but I must admit, I learned a great deal through my visit. Maybe we’re all just looking for somebody to tell us some good news; maybe we’re just looking for a light shining through the darkness; maybe we’re just gullible. Whose fault is that?

On the other side of the coin, let’s not go in on the fortune tellers either. After all, we work in adjacent fields – we’re both storytellers – and as absurd as it seems, I do think many of these people genuinely believe that they can see into the future, and maybe some really can. This isn’t some cynical venture, but rather, a softer, brighter-hearted approach to quackery.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some crystals to mine. You never know what the future holds! ♦

Druids in Clintonville

For more than a decade, the Magical Druid has served the city’s Pagans, Wiccans, Witches and more from a High Street storefront

By Laura Hennigan

Photos by Aaron Massey

Sure, you could hop online and order a mass-produced candle along with some cheap incense and a generic beginner book on pagan rituals. But trust us, you’ll have a much more interesting experience, learn all sorts of new information, and discover some really cool, locally made items if you stop by the Magical Druid in Clintonville instead.

Owners Seamus Dillard and Michael Dangler first started exploring the idea of a business many years ago, after attending a festival together and realizing that the products they wanted to find weren’t readily available. “There’s a lot of new-agey kitsch out there, lots of cookie cutter items from overseas, and we couldn’t find the specific things we were looking for,” said Dangler. “We wanted to start something that would provide a service and make things that had meaning.”

The Magical Druid is both a physical shop, selling supplies for Pagans, Neopagans, Witches, Druids and Occultists, as well as a working storefront, offering a wide variety of classes, workshops and rituals. The term 'Druid’ comes from ancient Celtic cultures and referred to members of the learned class who acted as teachers, priests, and judges.

Dillard and Dangler are both Druid priests, trained in the study of Ár nDraíocht Féin, an international fellowship devoted to creating a public tradition of Neopagan Druidry. They view Druidry as a way of being, based on the traditions of seeking the sacred in nature, building relationships with others and creating a community. →

↑ Mortor and pestle sets Seamus Dillard, Co-owner of Magical Druid ↓

And community is exactly what they have formed, particularly now that the store has been in a larger space at 2887 N. High St. for a little over a year. With 5,000 square feet, there is plenty of room for all their wares, which include hand-poured candles infused with crystals and herbs, spell kits, engraved altar tiles, jewelry, runes and books.

There are also three reading rooms and a classroom which are used for a rotating list of offerings including Reiki, tarot readings, and how to make a sacred pact. “We’ve discovered that there is a niche for the things that we want, the things that aren’t necessarily ‘normal’ or mainstream,” said Dillard. “We try to balance that with the more common items that people are looking for, like the introductory books and candles. We want to make sure our inventory is high quality, as well as sprinkle in some new, odd, weird cool things.”

Another important community aspect of the Magical Druid is its hosting of the Columbus Witches’ Ball, an annual event slated to take place on November 4th at the Convention Center that will draw in Witches, Druids, Pagans, heathens and other open-minded people from all over.

It is held to observe Samhain, which marks the end of the harvest season and honors those who have passed. “The Witches’ Ball has been occurring in some form or another in Columbus for over 30 years,” shared Dillard. “First and foremost we want to emphasize that it’s a spiritual celebration, not just a Halloween party.” The ball includes a ritual, lecture series, ancestor shrine, energy work, plus many different vendors. The evening concludes with a DJ and dancing, and costumes are encouraged.

Whether you have dabbled in Paganism or are a complete newbie who’s interested in learning more, the Magical Druid offers a welcoming environment to explore and ask questions. “We are intentionally designed to be inclusive of any spiritual path for anyone who walks in,” said Dangler. “Our work is to create a space that anyone who is seeking is able to find what they need. That’s the central aim of what we do.” ♦

UPCOMING FALL 2023 SCHEDULE

OCTOBER 20

Ladies of the Lincoln

OCTOBER 27

The Gift Exchange

DECEMBER 8

A Christmas Concert with Quan Howell

THE LINCOLN 769 E. LONG ST.

Showtime 8pm / $27 seats

LincolnTheatreColumbus.com/club-lincoln/

Check out store hours, open classes, and more by visiting magicaldruid.com

“We are intentionally designed to be inclusive of any spiritual path…”

From her metaphysical shop Good Vibes Hive, Columbus Witch, Dani Sage, is looking into the future, one tarot reading at a time

By Shelby Metzger

The Not-So-Wicked Witch Of the Midwest

Photos by Leonardo Carrizo

↑ Dani Sage, Owner of Good Vibes Hive

October has arrived, and while it’s the month for spooky tricks and delectable treats, it’s also a moment to connect with your mystic side, live intentionally, and empower yourself. Dani Sage, a self-described modern mystic, opened up a shop to help you accomplish just that.

Sage, who owns the Good Vibes Hive located at 571 N. High St. Suite 2 in Worthington, Ohio, is dedicated to helping others find clarity in their lives and connect with their deeper selves. Sage’s shop is stocked with all things witchy, from crystals and incense to tarot cards and candles. She hand-selects her products from vendors who identify as LGBTQ+, people of color, or women.

Good Vibes Hive came to fruition six years ago as a result of Sage encountering clients in her beauty industry career who needed someone to lend an ear.

“All the stereotypes are true about how much people tell their nail techs and hairdressers. And I just noticed that people open up and there'd be conversations that we would have where I really wish that I could have reached over and grabbed my tarot cards for more guidance,” Sage explained.

After performing tarot card readings at an event for a beauty client, Sage received inquiries from others asking her for readings, too. And so, the Good Vibes Hive was born.

“Originally, it was just this kind of small, maybe 200 square foot room with a desk where I would do my readings, and then a single shelf from IKEA with crystals, and that kept growing and growing,” she said. “And now, I'm at my larger location in Old Worthington where I sell crystals, tarot, and oracle decks, ritual tools, and candles. Anything kind of supportive for a more intentional, ritualistic life.”

Sage’s interest in the metaphysical long precedes the shop’s existence, however. Her fascination began as a young girl, decades before witchcraft became a popular practice in mainstream media.

“I remember being a little girl and just picking random rocks off the ground or making pretend potions in the backyard with, like, sticks and mud,” Sage reminisced. “I bought my first tarot deck in the eighth grade and basically made every slumber party attendant get a reading, which then turned into kind of a college party trick. And then it just turned into a more serious practice as I got older.”

When asked about her motivation to pursue a career in all things witchy, her desire to help others was her main drive. →

“I love when I can tell that somebody feels seen. One service that I offer is human design, which is like a combination of ancient modalities and more modern modalities. But basically, it's a user guide on how to work with your own energetic blueprint. It's based on things like astrology and the chakra system and teaches you how you're uniquely designed to utilize your energy and interact with the world,” Sage described. “Being able to read people's charts for them and see them feel recognized in a way that maybe no one else has done before, or maybe they've never had the words for some of the things that come up in their chart before, and just to see them almost get permission to be exactly who they are and not change anything — just to kind of utilize that energy better and leverage it in their favor — is so magical and it feels like such an honor that I get to do it every day. I have to pinch myself.”

Recently, Sage has seen an uptick in the knowledge of human design practices amongst the general public, which she believes speaks to the general need for humans to be seen and heard in their lives.

“I've been working with human design for years and I feel like within the last maybe two years, people come to me already having kind of heard about it, which was unusual before. No one that I had met had really worked with it before, but it seems like it's more mainstream now and I think it just speaks to like, basically we kind of all [need to] have our human needs met,” Sage explained. “And it's kind of like the next level, like, okay, I have this, this and this now. Can I understand myself deeper and make my life easier now that I have this solid foundation?”

For Sage, magic and spirituality are simply about empowering yourself.

“A lot of it is just trusting yourself and finding clarity in your own life. Whether it's through the permission that human design gives you, or the connection with your intuition that tarot gives you, or the little moments in your everyday life that some of the things you can buy at the Hive give you, like lighting a candle and sitting down and journaling or buying a crystal because you want to be more intentional about not having imposter syndrome at your new job,” she said. “I feel like just all those little things that can give you moments of your day where you feel more empowered and supported and you are more clear in what you want in life, those are my favorite things.”

Sage emphasized that practices such as tarot cards cannot predict the future, but rather provide deeper insight and heightened truth to experiences or feelings in the past or present.

“I always just like to think of [tarot] as an external artistic representation of your internal intuition. So your connection with the cards coming out and giving you words for the energy that you're feeling. A lot of my clients come to me just restless but stuck or looking for clarity. And I always say, ‘I can't predict the future, but I can guide you to empower yourself and start taking your own steps towards your leap of faith or making your life more magical.’”

↑ Tarot cards being shuffled

↑ Dani Sage, Owner of Good Vibes Hive | ↓ Various crystals

If you are interested in finding out what astrology, tarot, or any other witchy practices have to offer you, but are unsure of where to start, Sage advised not to overwhelm yourself. Pick a single topic you’re interested in learning more about and begin to implement pieces of it into your life, whether it’s through books, podcasts, or experts on social media.

“I think oftentimes what people get hung up on, and this was totally true for me as well, is you feel like you have to know everything about something before starting out. Like if you want to get really into astrology, you better know your entire chart, whereas if you just read your sun sign every day or get an app that tells you what the energy is going to be like that day, dipping your toe in that way just to see if that is one of the modalities or the tools in your toolbox that is gonna stick,” she explained. “You're allowed to have fun with it and just play and explore.”

According to Sage, everyone has the ability to benefit from these practices. Still skeptical? Even if you have your doubts, becoming intentional with what you desire in life has a powerful effect.

“For skeptical people, I always say the placebo effect is real…,” Sage said. ”[Say] you buy a crystal because you are trying to overcome imposter syndrome in your daily life. And you're like, okay, this Bumblebee Jasper will help support me with that. It also happens to be pretty. Is it the crystal itself that is making me feel like less of an impostor in my daily life, or is the fact that I was so intentional about selecting a thing that will be a visual reminder to me that I'm trying to feel more empowered or believe in myself? Does it matter if it's the crystal or the intention? I also think you can just get into a lot of things because you like how it looks and you don't have to go that deep and know everything about every crystal ever grown by the earth. You can just surround yourself with beautiful things too. And I think that is just as powerful.” ♦

Interested in a tarot or human design reading, or perhaps some healing crystals? Check out goodvibeshive.com.

“I can't predict the future, but I can guide you to empower yourself and start taking your own steps towards your leap of faith…”

The Supernatural Spa

How a local spa is helping Columbus feel their best, physically and spiritually, through sound baths, massages, and auracapturing photos

By Katie Jones

↓ Calcite crystal, Photo by Brian Kaiser & Meghan Kerr

At Paloma, the wellness spa in Grandview, the warm, earthy color palette and carefully curated display of crystals and self-care items in the lobby are an immediate sign of what to expect when you stop in for a massage, guided meditation, or in my case, a sound bath and aura reading.

I was first led to a tiny room that contained only an analog aura-capturing camera, a bench for me to sit on, and two hand sensors. I was invited to sit on the bench and settled in on the fuzzy white seat covering as I aligned my hands with the silver plated handprint cutouts.

Like most of Paloma’s clientele, the concept of auras and how they encapsulate one’s energy was unfamiliar but fascinating to me. As my practitioner explained it, the sensors are able to pick up on electromagnetic frequencies from my palms that are then transferred to a polaroid as a color emitting from my head and shoulders.

The camera flashed, and after 10 seconds, the polaroid came out. She then slipped it into a small box to develop.

While it was developing, I was invited to a sound bath in The Dome. Paloma suggested taking this sound bath between the two aura photos in order to compare the two different energies. The Dome is deceptive in its simplicity; it’s exactly what it sounds like, yet nothing like what I initially pictured. The aesthetic oozed coziness, with its blue-hued, dim lighting, and nature sounds just loud enough to provide a calming ambience.

Half of the room was lined with individual mats, each with their own blanket and pillow. I was directed to lay on one of them. A simple, low platform with a series of seven crystal bowls dominated the other half of the room. These bowls, each for a specific chakra, exuded singing, vibrational sounds, which rang through me, some more intensely than others.

↑

Aura photos

Photo by Katie Jones

Sound baths and meditations inside The Dome ↓

Photo by Brian Kaiser & Meghan Kerr

After 10 minutes of bathing in good vibrations, my practitioner took another photo of my aura. She showed me the two different photos, one pre-sound bath, one post, side by side. In each, I had a strong red aura, though the second had more of a purple tinge to the top arch. She explained that the purple signified that I was more intouch with my emotions and my compassionate side after the sound bath. She then handed me both photographs and a small, informational card that explained each color and energy. Our conversation slowly veered beyond vibrant colors and instead, on life changes and goals.

This is not an uncommon experience at Paloma — co-founder Stella Giometti said that she’s witnessed other people who come to Paloma and have moments of revelation during their sessions. A few even quit their jobs and came back months later to share that they were inspired to pursue a new path.

Giometti emphasized that these clients embody the idea of leaving the mind to find the heart.

Most customers begin with Paloma’s more familiar services, like their Swedish or deep tissue massages, as well as facials, infrared sauna sessions, and even different types of lymphatic drainage sessions.

While booking these services, guests then hear about Paloma’s other, less “traditional” spa services, such as aura photography, human design readings, palmistry, Reiki, and astrological readings.

Like aura photography, these all take place in The Dome. During the palmistry session, a hand analyst looks at your palms to help you gain insight on your life. At the end of the session, customers leave with their inked palm prints, an overview of their life’s themes, and an information kit about palmistry.

Paloma wants you to feel your best, both physically and spiritually, and that’s apparent in their range of unique services they offer to the Columbus community. “The core of who and what Paloma is, is built on authentic, genuine relationships and experiences,” explained Giometti.

“90% of our customers have not tried some of the things that we’re doing. But I would say 100% of our customers are very, very open minded,” Giometti explained. “Which then allows us to be able to be like, ‘let's try all of these different things!’ So there's definitely a lot of education, but with customers that are highly curious about all of these things.” Capture

“The core of who and what Paloma is, is built on authentic, genuine relationships and experiences.”

A Columbus Coven

From crystals to talismans and esoteric taxidermy, WitchLab offers an occult corner of Columbus in the heart of Franklinton

By Molly Hammond

Photos by Alissa Ohashi

↓ Baphomet statue, from WitchLab

In the middle of Franklinton, a unique establishment stands as a beacon for those seeking spiritual enlightenment and metaphysical exploration. Located on Broad Street in Franklinton, WitchLab is a one-of-a-kind store that offers a wide range of products and services designed to cater to the city's growing community of spiritual seekers.

Tiffany Boggins, a New Jersey native, opened WitchLab with a vision to create a space where people could explore their spiritual paths in a welcoming and inclusive environment. After leaving a career in body piercing, Boggins wanted to create a haven for those interested in the mystical and the magical.

The business didn’t start off as a business at first—after her third child, the witchcraft, herbalism and art lover wanted to stay home and spend time with her kids, while also pursuing her love for the spiritual side of life. The business was originally all about making natural occult products; oils, perfumes, balms, and talismans.

After realizing that a lot of people were interested in learning about the spiritual and metaphysical side, she decided she wanted to offer a learning experience in an environment that felt witchy and magical. What originally started as a transformed basement project that had the look and feel of a Witch’s cottage, turned into a physical brick and mortar store in 2018.

WitchLab offers an array of products, from crystals, candles and tarot cards to herbs and ritual oils. The store also sells oddities and antiques like taxidermy, antique medical equipment, bones, and other fun, weird products. Boggins says WitchLab is more than just a store though.

“I aimed to create more of a community hub, offering workshops and classes on a variety of topics, from tarot readings to magic and shadow work readings,” said Boggins. “We wanted to provide a space where people can learn and grow in their spiritual practices.”

With the autumn season having an influx in magical, mystical interest for customers, WitchLab keeps busy during this time of year. The company is hosting their largest event yet this month at the downtown MLP building. Named the Dark Market, those who attend the event can expect performers, guest speakers, occultists, dancers and much more. The events that WitchLab hosts are commonly charity events, with proceeds and donations going to local charities including Kaleidoscope, Star House, and AFO. →

↓ Palmistry statue

↑ Tiffany Boggins, Owner of WitchLab

As events are one of Tiffany’s favorite aspects of the job, the business recently made a huge move and acquired the retail space next door to the original brick and mortar, to turn into an event space for larger classes, bachelorette parties, weddings and more.

The Columbus community is a huge part of Tiffany’s passion for her brand. The business often sets up shop at local markets and fairs, including the 13th Hour Halloween Market this October, as well as The Columbus Witch’s Ball in November.

“Being able to help people find their path in life is the most rewarding part of this business,” Boggins admitted. “We see all different walks of life come through our doors. We not only see people who actively participate in magic and are there for supplies and services, but also those who are seeking the more unique products we have to offer. Bringing exceptional customer service to those people is what we’re all about.”

She also added that the staff is the backbone of the business—with 7 staff members and 2 guest readers, she gushed that they are the reason the business is where it is today. ♦

“I aimed to create more of a community hub, offering workshops and classes on a variety of topics…”

↑ Crystal ball

↑ Rusty Baker, owner of Life of Leisure Shop, in his home

Rusty Baker, owner of the Columbus resell hub, Life of Leisure Shop, shares tips and tricks to help transform your house into your own unique home

By Rusty Baker

Photos by Jen Brown

Story Design by Bryce Patterson

I talk to a lot of people who are scared of making mistakes in their interiors but also don’t have the funds to hire a professional. I always tell them that if you really love something, buy it, and you can make it work. Don’t get too hung up on whether it works with “this” or “that.” If you buy furnishings and decor that you’re obsessed with then you’ll have a home full of stuff that you really love, and you can’t go wrong with that.

This ties into my first point. I think a lot of people are afraid to make mistakes, and they end up decorating their home like a mid-priced Airbnb. You walk in, and you have no idea who the real person behind the home is. There’s just no soul. A lot of people are more interesting than their homes give them credit for! The best way to add some of your own personality is by avoiding mass produced items and instead, buying vintage. Also, add pops of color; buy art from your friends; go with a bold patterned chair; whatever speaks to your soul. Enough of this bland, beige, faux tastefulness (unless bland beige is your personality, and then by all means do so).

Designing your home is a process that can’t be rushed. You have to live in a space and see how you use it before you can really determine what you need. Very rarely are you going to go shopping on a Saturday and come away with everything you need. Buy things that you love and swap out as you go. My boyfriend and I are always tweaking things. I know that our space will look completely different a year from now, but that’s all part of the fun.

↑ Baker’s home incorporates flashes of color, quirky personality pieces and more ↓

Instagram is a fantastic resource for interiors. Follow every country's Architectural Digest social media account. Find interior accounts that resonate with your particular vibe. Pay attention to how they style and play with their spaces. Also, shopping without the intention of buying is a great way to get inspiration! I will probably never buy anything off of vintage resale websites such as 1st Dibs or Pamono, but I do spend a ton of time on those sites researching and learning about designers and eras. Then, you can take that knowledge and apply it as you go hunting in more affordable places.

HOME EQUITY LINE OF CREDIT

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There are obviously the traditional routes: thrift stores, antique malls, Facebook Marketplace, which are all great resources. However, I recommend driving an hour or so out of the city. It can be pricey and picked over in Columbus or any big city. But, there are hundreds of small town antique malls and thrift stores with well-priced hidden gems. Also, consignment shops are seriously under utilized. The quality and pricing will be way better than trying to buy new. Shoutout to Grandview Mercantile, the best consignment shop in the Columbus area, and one of the best interior resources around.

All applications subject to credit approval. Cannot be used for purchase money transactions; primary residences only. Advertised rate is available to approved applicants with credit scores ≥720, with a minimum loan amount of $10,000 and maximum of $250,000, and with reoccurring automatic payments from an MB checking account. APR will never be lower than 3.50% APR or higher than 24.00% APR during the life of the loan. Rate is a variable rate APR based on the current Prime Rate as published in the Wall Street Journal and will be subject to change monthly without notice. Use of the word “Prime” does not mean that the rate is the best or lowest rate offered by any lender. To determine the annual percentage rate we use the current Prime Rate minus .50% (subject to the minimum APR above); as of October 1, 2023 Prime Rate is 8.50%. No loan origination or prepayment penalties. However, you may be responsible for reimbursement of certain costs paid on your behalf by The Middlefield Banking Company at time of account opening if loan is closed within 36 months of account opening. Annual fee of $85.00 beginning on the first anniversary date. Proof o f Property and Hazard Insurance is required. Contact bank for additional terms and conditions. Consult your tax advisor regarding deductibility of interest.

Rusty Baker’s vintage goods can be found at the Life of Leisure Shop’s booth at Grandview Mercantile at 1489 Grandview Ave. or on Instagram at @lifeofleisureshop

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TYING the Knot N

SIX COLUMBUS COUPLES

share an intimate look inside their big day

By Jack McLaughlin

ow with the pandemic (mostly) in the rearview mirror, we’re ready to see some happy endings. And that, Columbus, is exactly what we have for you here. Our wedding section takes a look inside the ceremonies and celebrations of six Columbus couples who held their weddings at locations across the city. Each couple shared a bit about their own personal love stories as well, so you can follow the happily ever afters from beginning to end. →

Story Design by Tori Smith

Photo by Sydney Palmer

Anup & Rupal

Indoor and outdoor options available

JUN ʼ23

Lauren Lee Photography

Anup and I first connected in the Fall of 2020, when I was living in Portland, ME and working in Cap-Haitien, Haiti while Anup was living in Columbus, OH. His aunt and my friend introduced us. At first it started with text messages which eventually turned into long phone calls. I was busy with travels for my job which would send me to Haiti for weeks at a time. It was also in the midst of the pandemic, so our travels were always planned with care and caution. Nevertheless, our love blossomed!

In January 2021, Anup and I met for the first time over dinner at Solo Italiano in Portland, ME. In July 2021, Anup proposed to me at the Hayden Run Falls Park in Columbus, OH. In September 2021, we had our two-day long photoshoot with 9 different outfits at the Table Rock State Park in Clemson, SC. As a disclaimer, the outfit changes were many because we wanted to represent our Indian roots and American upbringing, and my Tanzanian heritage. And finally in June 2023, we got married at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus, OH. We had a beautiful, multicultural, 5-day celebration beginning with a small closeknit family event on Wednesday evening, where the mehndi artists applied designs on my hands. The events ended with a nice farewell brunch for our guests on Sunday morning.

For our honeymoon, we chose to relax in Morocco and spent two weeks there in June right after the wedding. We traveled from Casablanca to Fes, all the way to the north in Tangier. We loved every bit of our time in Morocco. Months after the wedding, we are still grateful for our wonderful family and friends, who traveled from 11 different countries to celebrate with us. Most of all, we feel blessed and lucky to have each other, for a long, long, long time!

Photos by Little Tree Studios

jorgensen-farms.com

@jorgensenfarms

Photo: Gabriella Sutherland Photography | gabriellasutherlandphotography.com

Dave & Jeff

Dave and Jeff first met at a New Year’s Eve party in 2003.

We met again at a friend’s going away party the day after Valentine’s Day. After the party, we went out to some clubs to dance and hang out. There was definitely chemistry between us, and conversation came easily. I learned he was previously married and had a son, and we both loved to travel. We ended up going back to my place and literally talked until we heard the newspaper being delivered. We consider this our first date and is the date we always celebrate as our anniversary.

Over the years we’ve enjoyed traveling, skiing and running our pet sitting business, Critter Sitters. Our biggest joy though came in 2013 with the birth of our grandson Lincoln and granddaughter Tessa in 2020.

Jeff proposed to Dave on a trip celebrating his 50th birthday in Santorini, Greece. We were sitting on our patio wall overlooking the caldera and the surrounding cave houses that cling to the mountain side. The perfect setting!

We decided to get married at Hotel LeVeque in downtown Columbus on the 20th anniversary of our first date in front of a few lifelong friends. Another close friend married us. It was exactly what we wanted: very private and intimate, just Dave and I exchanging vows, memories, laughs, and a few tears among friends. There was so much love in the room that night. A night we will never forget. Afterwards, our parents and friends joined us at Lindey’s for a special dinner reception before returning to our suite at Hotel LeVeque.

Photos by Amy Ann Photography

OCT ʼ21

Sav & Mark

Our wedding was unconventional, extremely personal, and most importantly, exactly the way we wanted to seal our relationship, which we would say culminates us as a couple through and through.

We grew up in the same hometown but went to different high schools. We knew of each other, but didn’t really get to know each other until we ended up at Ohio State University together, a year apart. As most young relationships go, we were off & on throughout college. After undergrad, Sav was going to graduate school in Chicago, and Mark was staying in Columbus. There seemed to always be an unexplainable, deep connection between us, possibly the Red String Theory, which is a Chinese proverb that says, “An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle but will never break."

We ended up giving our relationship another chance after grad school ended – we decided to go on a cross-country road trip together in a refurbished van. We knew that if this worked, it was most likely meant to be – it ended up being the best time of our lives.

Our engagement was on a cliff, oceanside, in Italy, but throughout the pandemic, we realized that we simply didn’t feel like planning a wedding; traditional weddings weren't really our style. We got our marriage license on a Monday in October of 2021, and that following Wednesday, we decided to go to a drive-thru wedding venue off of 71 North, literally called “Ohio Drive Thru Weddings.” We rented a vintage BMW from an acquaintance and then had our best friend take photos of us in outfits we found second-hand.

Although our friends and family were bummed at first that we didn’t have a more traditional wedding, one they were invited to, we explained that we wanted this to be on our own terms – and a $60, drama-free, no hassle wedding is exactly what we’re all about, and they understood.

With the tens of thousands of dollars we saved opting for a drive-thru wedding instead of a "real" one, we booked an extravagant honeymoon on a remote island in the Caribbean. And we have absolutely zero regrets!

Photos by Sydney Palmer

The Grand Event Center Ballroom Jessica Miller Photography

Photo 243

The

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Marie & Keenan

When Mother Nature objects to your wedding

Keenan and Marie knew of each other as early as middle school; she remembers seeing him at their middle school's science fair (though his first memory of her isn't until high school). They ran in similar crowds but were never close.

A few years later, in the summer of 2016, they worked the same summer job. After being together during the day, they started hanging out in the evenings as well. Their friendship continued for a few more years before they finally realized what was happening.

When they officially began dating in 2019, everyone in their lives thought (and said to them), "Finally!"

They knew from the start of planning that they wanted a big wedding; the most important thing was that all of their favorite people were there. The next priority was for the wedding to represent them as a couple. They didn’t want things to feel or look out of place or too over the top. Marie had always wanted a winter wedding, and the timing worked out perfectly. The only way the day could have been better is if it had snowed!

Their vision was wintry and timeless, so they went for simple decor and white florals with winter greens. The real show-stopper was the floral installation. Marie says she’ll never get over it.

Photos by Amy Ann Photography

Escape to the ultimate luxury countryside retreat in Columbus, Ohio. Our brand new barn venue offers a stunning main space for up to 350 guests, a Dairy Barn bed and breakfast that sleeps 14, and accommodations for up to 50 partygoers. Enjoy endless celebrations surrounded by picturesque scenery, and peruse our on-site florist gift shop for the perfect finishing touch. Make your dreams a reality at our one-of-a-kind venue scheduled to open February 2024!!

Your dream wedding awaits.

MAY ʼ23

Emily & Matt

Emily and Matt were married on May 21st, 2023, at Scioto Audubon Metro Park in Columbus. This park is special to the couple because it is affiliated with the National Audubon Society, an organization dedicated to providing education and resources for environmental conservation, with a particular focus on birds and habitat preservation. We were also lucky to have a beautiful blue sky and the company of many beautiful bird visitors throughout our special day!

As we began our wedding planning, we new we wanted to incorporate many of our favorite local Columbus treats, but especially Jeni's Ice Cream. Matt and I met in early 2021 on Hinge, and our first date was at the Short North Jeni's where we got ice cream cones and walked around the neighborhood getting to know each other. It went so well that we fell in love during countless Jeni's ice cream dates that summer. The following Spring we had a date night planned at The Rossi in the Short North. We were walking there when we passed the Jeni's that we first met at, and Matt proposed!

We also made sure to incorporate other Columbus sweets at our wedding, including Cheryl's cookies and our wedding cake, made by Golden Delight Bakery.

Our ceremony took place under the beautiful white mulberry tree in the park. We made a DIY flower arch with the help of two friends, Josie and Orline. Emily’s makeup was done by her talented sister, Katie, and her hair was styled by friends at Avola Lanza Hair Salon. Wedding photos were done by Emily’s childhood friend, Ian. She even walked down the aisle to a special wedding version of Abba's Dancing Queen, composed just for the couple by their friend Chris, and during the cocktail hour, their doggies even got to join the party!

Photos by Ian Bradford

Miri & Patrick

Miri, a celebrated therapist, and Patrick, a visionary woodworker, met in September 2015 at a close mutual friend’s birthday party. They danced and chatted about their shared love for the study of psychology. The pair started dating in November when Miri found Patrick’s OKCupid profile and mercilessly poked fun at it before suggesting drinks at Old North Arcade.

Though Patrick proposed twice, after Miri’s cancer treatment in 2018 and in the misty Shenandoah Mountains in 2021, these two beautiful nerds did not get hitched until October 16, 2022 due to that weird time warp in 2020.

Their autumn wedding at the Franklin Park Conservatory was a perfect location to celebrate their shared love of nature and handmade crafts. Miri sewed a beautiful wedding dress capped by a handmade botanical headpiece and floral cape. She prepared similar headpieces for each of her bridespersons. Patrick crafted their own cufflinks from acorns and wood in addition to a custom hexagonal cake stand made from local cherry and birch hardwood.

Celebrating the couple’s love of the natural world, a tree-planting and handfasting took place in the gazebo of the Franklin Park Conservatory’s Palm House. The party participated by adding soil to their tree’s pot and watering it. The wedding itself was a celebration not only of their relationship, but of the renewal and healing that comes from fostering a community enmeshed in the natural world.

Miri and Patrick know that planting and nourishing a healthy tree takes time and effort, and that dedication will continue as their marriage continues ever onward into our constantly changing world.

Photos by Amy Ann Photography

CRAFTSMANSHIP –IT’S IN OUR DNA

Over 75 years of jewelry repair and custom design

Diamond Cellar started as a small jewelry repair shop and has grown to be one of the largest independent jewelers in the United States. We’ve never forgotten our roots. With over 200 years of combined experience, our staff of in-house designer goldsmiths are here to make your dream ring a reality.

MAKEUP

Amber Smith

@614.beauty

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MODELS

Ren Neu

Markise Johnson

VINTAGE ACCESSORIES

Artnewco

@artnewco

CAKE

Hart & Batter

@hartandbatter

HALLO Wedding

COLUMBUS MAKERS & ARTISANS

combine to stage a unique, fallthemed wedding lookbook that will fill your heart with warmth and send a chill down your spine

is the season. For Halloween, I mean. But it’s also great for weddings. We’ve curated a list of local makers and artisans to stage a fall-themed wedding, and in case you’d like to recreate anything you see here, we’ve included QR codes to all the vendors who had a hand in creating it.

By Jack McLaughlin / Photos by Jordy Middlebrooks / Story Design by Tori Smith

DRESS & VEIL Dumpster Score

@dumpsterscore

↓ Lake Erie Islands in the fall ↑

By Jack McLaughlin

While I’d be willing to bet your idea of an island adventure involves the summer sun and scorching temperatures, what if I told you it’s time to shift your expectations? It’s not that the summer months aren’t a great time to get away, but autumn on Lake Erie’s islands offers its own unique getaway potential, and you shouldn’t be sleeping on it.

We’re highlighting four of the best islands Lake Erie has to offer for a fall escape, so put down the bathing suit, grab a sweater instead, and jump on board! →

Fun in the sun doesn’t end with the summer, as Lake Erie’s bountiful islands make for a perfect, and under-appreciated, fall escape

Photos courtesy of Shores & Islands

Ohio

Story

Design by Bryce Patterson

The island nearest to the mainland is prime for fall escapes. While Kelleys lacks some of the high-energy atmosphere of Put-In-Bay, there’s just something about its peaceful, laidback charm that feels tailor-made for cozying up in the fall.

Golf carts (the island’s preferred form of transportation, although cars are allowed) cruise around Kelleys (the largest of Lake Erie’s islands in Ohio). It’s covered in large pockets of lush forest – making it perfect for fall foliage. Make sure to check out the ancient petroglyphs at Inscription Rock, the world’s largest glacial scoring at the Glacial Grooves, and there’s also some elite autumn birding opportunities at Jones Preserve on Long Point.

Don’t get it twisted, either: gamedays on Kelleys, especially at the largely outdoor Caddyshack Square or the West Bay Inn, are plenty vibrant in their own right. If you’re looking for a lively social scene that isn’t as focused on college football, head to KI Cantina, which shares a spacious farm property with Kelleys Island Wine Company, and offers a unique outdoor space, live music, and even farm animals for the kids (goat food will cost you extra, though).

↓ Portside Marina on Kelleys Island

↓ Kelleys Island sunset

Middle Bass Island is north of South Bass Island and offers an escape from the crowds and intensity of the mainland, in addition to a plethora of restful and relaxing fall activities.

And if sipping a glass of wine while taking in different palettes of leaves is your thing, Middle Bass is likely right up your alley. The Erie Islands were used widely for grape production in the early 19th century, earning them the nickname Wine Islands. Likely the most interesting vestige of this is the historic Lonz Winery. Located on the shores of Lake Erie, the winery was originally created in the late 1800s, and (after the building was closed to the public from 2000-2017) is now managed by the Ohio DNR and open for tours, including its Civil War-era wine cellars. The historic building also features its own speakeasy now as well.

The 1.27 square-mile island also features a number of attractions for those looking to get outdoors, including a wildlife sanctuary, South Bass Island State Park (complete with a campground) and the East Point Preserve.

Lonz Winery on Middle Bass Island ↓

Heading another few miles north sits North Bass Island. A far cry from the bustling Put-In-Bay, the island is only home to a handful of individuals year-round, but what it lacks in social settings, it makes up with plentiful outdoor recreation.

Secluded and largely undeveloped, North Bass is only accessible by private boat or plane, but for those looking for an uncharted Midwestern island adventure (bet you never thought you’d hear that phrase), or some true outdoors experience, North Bass is a hidden gem.

The nearly 600-acre island, which was long used as a vineyard offers the North Bass Island State Park, with primitive hiking and camping (with a permit), in addition to fishing and more. A hotspot for migratory songbirds in the spring and fall, the island also boasts prime birding opportunities.

Directly north of the mainland lies Lake Erie’s most popular island destination, and the one with the prominent nightlife and social scene. Technically situated on South Bass Island (the lake’s second-largest island), Put-InBay sees more than 1.5 million visitors every year and is known as a hub for boaters from far and wide.

While Put-In-Bay is higher energy than Kelleys Island–and features plentiful outdoor seating to enjoy a drink or some food on an evening out or during a Buckeyes game–the area still boasts plenty of autumn-friendly options if you’re not looking for a party atmosphere.

The Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial (which was built in 1915 and marks the victory of Commodore Perry in the historic Battle of Lake Erie) is a destination no matter the season. A unique, stone beach is accessible from South Bass Island State Park, and the Massie Cliffside Preserve is a sight to see–whether it’s by boat or on land–especially in the fall.

If you’re looking for something more on the daring side, try taking in the colorful leaf displays from thousands of feet above with a helicopter or bi-plane ride, both of which are available on the island.

To learn more about the islands, and to book a trip of your own, visit shoresandislands.com

Largely undeveloped, North Bass Island is only accessible by private boat or airplane ↓

Put-In-Bay boasts numerous dining and nightlife options ↓

Kayaking on South Bass Island State Park ↓