Columbus Monthly – November 2019 issue

COLUMBUS MONTHLY

The city’s top podcasters

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Homes: Curt Moody’s Modern Marvel

Wexner/EPSTEIN

What the explosive scandal means to Columbus and its most powerful leader

November 2019 NOVEMBER 2019

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Contents

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After Epstein A predator’s horrifying crimes are shadowing Les Wexner.

What does the explosive Jeffrey Epstein scandal mean to Columbus and its most powerful man?

On the cover: Illustration by Craig Rusnak

November 2019

Features 46

Will McKinney’s Way

How the Columbus Africentric girls’ basketball coach built a hoops powerhouse based on discipline, sacrifice and enduring sisterhood

52

City of Pod

photo: tim johnson

Meet the people turning Columbus into a hotbed of podcasting.

NOVEMBER 2019 Columbus Monthly

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Contents November 2019

110

126

Arch City

Home & Style

Dining

18 Arts

106 Q&A

126 Review

22 Music

110 Style Notes

128 Short Order

35 Perspective

112 Home

A Catholic museum’s crossroads The Columbus-Nashville connection Memories of busing

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Suiting up veterans Lincoln Social’s creative hive Curt Moody’s modern marvel

An Italian destination on the North Side Go beyond dumplings at Pierogi Mountain.

134 Drink

A botanical brewer opens in Easton.

in every issue 10 FROM THE EDITOR 12 Small Talk 26 Datebook 28 PEOPLE 118 TOP 25 real estate transactions 144 Calendar 152 City quotient

photos: clockwise from left, chris casella; rob hardin; courtesy forbidden root; jodi miller

18 134

Columbus Monthly NOVEMBER 2019

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photos: clockwise from left, chris casella; rob hardin; courtesy forbidden root; jodi miller

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

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This guide will show you the top picks from those who know the inside scoop.

As its first year of operations draws to a close, the National Veterans Memorial and Museum looks back on its accomplishments and forward to its next set of goals.

73 BEXLEY

This tiny, tony suburb is proof that even landlocked cities can foster dynamic growth.

Volume 45 / Number 11 Columbus Monthly (ISSN 2333-4150) is published monthly by GateHouse Media, LLC. All contents of this magazine are copyrighted © 2019, all rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without written permission, of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited. Publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited materials. Known office of publication is 62 E. Broad St., Columbus, Ohio 43215. Periodicals postage paid at Columbus, Ohio, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Columbus Monthly, 62 E. Broad St., P.O. Box 1289, Columbus, OH 43216.

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Columbus Monthly NOVEMBER 2019

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President Bradley M. Harmon publisher/general manager Ray Paprocki ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER/Advertising Director Rheta Gallagher

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Editor Dave Ghose Senior Editors Chris Gaitten, Suzanne Goldsmith Home & Style Editor Sherry Beck Paprocki Dining Editor Erin Edwards Special Sections Editor Emma Frankart Henterly

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From the Editor

The Cover King

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were substantially about the L Brands founder. They included the construction of his New Albany mansion (May 1990), the reinvention of his company (October 1997) and his $100 million gift to Ohio State University (January 2012).

Wexner doesn’t really have any competition. In comparison, here are the cover numbers on some other prominent local figures: Buck Rinehart (four), John Kasich (three), Jack Hanna (three) and Woody Hayes (three—four if you count the time his impersonator Roger Thomas appeared on the cover).

Sports Illustrated has Michael Jordan, Vanity Fair has Madonna, and it turns out we have Wexner.

He’s not as glamorous as those two celebrities, but I’m pretty sure he’s got a nicer boat. *** You can check out our coverage of Wexner over the years in a special section on our website devoted to him and fellow Columbus power players, the Wolfe family, at columbusmonthly.com/wolfewexner. There’s also a photo slideshow of our Wexner covers.

Dave Ghose dghose@columbusmonthly.com

Linda Deitch

is a longtime local journalist and a former news librarian and archivist at The Columbus Dispatch. Her story on the Jubilee Museum is on Page 18.

Phil Heston

wrote about Capital University’s slab of the Berlin Wall (Page 20). He’s a Columbus Monthly intern and a senior at Ohio State University.

Lia Eastep

is a freelance writer who grew up on the West Side of Columbus.

Her personal essay about school desegregation is on Page 35.

photos: clockwise from left, rob hardin; FRED SQUILLANTE; tim johnson; courtesy lia eastep

We’re revisiting one of our breadand-butter topics in this issue: the life and times of Les Wexner, the richest and most influential person in town. In many ways, to live in Columbus is to live in Wexnerville. He employs more than 8,000 in Central Ohio, chairs the powerful Columbus Partnership and shares his millions with important institutions all over the region. “He’s a titan among titans,” a civic insider told me.

“A hero,” said another. “Just what we imagine if Les Wexner wasn’t in learned this Columbus,” said a third. month I spoke to those three community leaders and several more The Jubilee Museum and while reporting on the latest Catholic Cultural Center in chapter in Wexner’s extraordiFranklinton has pieces of wood believed to be from the original nary life, the fall of his onetime cross of Jesus (Page 18). financial adviser Jeffrey Epstein (“After Epstein,” Page 40). In a life The 2003–04 Africentric filled with extraordinary accommiddle school girls’ basketball plishments, the sordid Epstein team had an average margin of victory of 63 points (Page 46). case marks a low point—the first significant scandal Wexner has Howard Dwight Smith, the ever faced. The article explores Columbus architect who what Epstein did for Wexner, designed Ohio Stadium, also drew from managing his money to up the plans for West High School overseeing the construction of (Page 152). his 316-foot superyacht, Limitless, while also digging into how Columbus is reacting to these developments and what might happen next. Believe it or not, Alan Dershowitz may play a role.

The story marks the return of Wexner to the cover of this magazine, a familiar place for the retail tycoon. As I worked on this project, I wondered if he might be the subject of more cover stories than anyone else in our 44-year history. A little research confirmed my hunch— specifically, I spent about 15 minutes studying a 2017 two-page ad that celebrated our 500th issue with a collage of all the covers we’d published up to that point. Based on that eye-straining review—and my personal knowledge of our more recent publishing history—I can say pretty confidently that Wexner takes top honors. Including our latest story, I discovered 11 cover articles—many of them written by current publisher Ray Paprocki, our resident Wexnerologist—that

Contributors

Columbus Monthly NOVEMBER 2019

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Small Talk

Finer Dining Our annual Restaurant Guide was delivered to subscribers with the October issue of Columbus Monthly, and our picks for the year’s 10 Best Restaurants, by dining editor Erin Edwards and freelancer G. A. Benton, generated lots of gratitude and pride.

“Pretty big day for our little distillery and restaurant,” commented Watershed Kitchen & Bar (No. 3) on Facebook. “Thank you to everyone who has ventured down to this corner to find out what we have to say,” wrote Comune (No. 6), which joined this year’s list despite its startup status, as did Ambrose and Eve (No. 10). Pick up a copy of the guide, which includes listings for 1,200 eateries, at a local bookstore or newsstand.

e-newsletter Your backstage pass to the Arch City

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Gimme Shelter Readers love our home stories as much as our dining coverage. In September, four of the five most-read stories on the Columbus Monthly website featured photos of beautiful Central Ohio homes and gardens. They ranged from Bill and Jodi Dawson’s creative garden retreat in Galloway, to the house Tom and Karen Gorman built on the site of Tom’s childhood home in Clintonville, to painter Jeny Reynolds’ uplifting explosion of interior color. “I love how she has wallpaper on the ceiling!” commented Kathy Bonham.

Personal Best Two first-person stories we published in August, both written by local novelists, generated praise online. “Thank you for this beautiful story, Lee and Cathy,” wrote Jeanne Voelker, referencing novelist Lee Martin’s “Love, Anew,” about reconnecting with his first love late in life. “Your home is blessed with everlasting love.” “A gorgeous piece!”

Adam Vitcavage exclaimed on Twitter after reading Mississippi transplant Nick White’s “From Possumneck with Love,” about how

Columbus gave him the courage to come out. “This is so sincere,” David W. Carstens wrote on Twitter. “This Texas boy also thinks Columbus is super underrated.”

We want to hear from you.

Send to: Editor, Columbus Monthly, 62 E. Broad St., P.O. Box 1289, Columbus, OH 43216. Or email: letters@columbusmonthly.com. A letter must include the writer’s name, address and daytime phone number. Letters will be edited for length and clarity. All letters sent to Columbus Monthly are considered for publication, either in print or online.

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Keeping the faith

A museum full of Catholic art and religious relics has big plans—and a few problems.

Photo by rob hardin

NOVEMBER 2019 Columbus Monthly

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Arch City books

Overcoming Opioids

From Me.” In the case of Parsons, a dentist from Bexley, she detailed how she made it her mission to convince her peers to preTwo professors engage Ohio communities in the search scribe fewer opioids after her son’s fatal overdose. Columbus writer Hanif Abdurraqib for healing and a way forward. By Amanda Page penned a chapter, and he hopes the Worry shows on the faces of people gathered book humanizes the struggle. “There ticipating in meetings about at Gramercy Books as they listen to Sharon are real people living through it, and opioids in Columbus that NOT Parsons talk about the death of her son. The it brings it back to people instead of eventually frustrated him.

FAR FROM crowd has come for an event related to “Not one overarching crisis.”

“I left events feeling like ME Far From Me: Stories of Opioids and Ohio,” The anthology shows the damage there was a lot of political a collection of essays, poems and first-perinflicted across all communities—poor posturing and photo ops,” son stories like hers. On a Monday evening to rich, urban to suburban to rural. he says. “The narratives in late July, she sits between Dan Skinner People may not even realize that neighweren’t transformative. and Berkeley Franz, co-editors of the book, bors and friends are affected because They weren’t first-person.” which was released in June. there are so many barriers to talking “We were interested in The three moderators turn the converabout it, Franz says. To help remove how people were talking sation toward the subject of stigma, and them, Franz and Skinner partnered with the about facts and figures, but not its impact how one goal of the book is to help reduce nonprofit Ohio Humanities to host the comon the ground—the individuals,” says Franz. it. The problem extends far beyond this munity conversations throughout the state.

As the two professors contemplated creparticular audience in Bexley, and the edi“People tend to blame a variety of facating a book, Skinner heard Sam Quinones, tors are hosting a series of conversations tors when hearing statistics,” Franz says. the author of “Dreamland: The True Tale around Ohio that are less focused on the “But hearing a personal story, listening to of America’s Opiate Epidemic,” speak in book and instead encourage open discuspeople’s stories, encourages empathy.”

Athens. Quinones pointed out how he’d sion. The goals of the talks are emerging as In 2019, they held 12 conversations, each come to Portsmouth, Ohio—the setting for more communities meet, but, Skinner says, with guided questions and a specific cur“Dreamland”—as an outsider. “He said, ‘Now “The big story is about stigma and bias, and riculum, and they hope to continue them is a time where people need to tell their own being able to talk about things.” next year. The events allow participants to stories,’” Skinner says. “It gave license for Skinner and Franz are colleagues at Ohio connect with one another and exchange the project. We’d already been talking about University, where Skinner is an associate proideas, says Skinner. it, but that solidified it.” fessor of health policy and Franz is an assis“We’re all a part of this,” Franz says. “We Dozens of contributors—police officers, tant professor of community-based health. all have a role to play in making our state health care workers, teachers, people in With his policy expertise, Skinner was parmore resilient.” ◆ recovery—shared their stories in “Not Far “A powerful call to

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public health crisis.”

STORIES OF OPIOIDS AND OHIO

EDITED BY D ANIEL SKINN ER AND BERK ELEY

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FRANZ

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illustration: betsy becker; book, courtesy ohio state university press

FOREWORD B Y TED STRI CKLAN

Columbus Monthly NOVEMBER 2019

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Beyond Burroughs As a lifelong fan of sci-fi stories, writer Matt Betts has spent years exploring other universes. Now he has the rare chance to build one.

Earlier this year, Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc. hired Betts to revive a fictional pulp series started more than 80 years ago by its long-gone namesake. Burroughs was an American literary institution, best known for his 1914 breakthrough bestseller, “Tarzan of the Apes.� He was also among the first authors to incorporate himself, and that company still exists to oversee his works. When director of publishing Christopher Paul Carey decided to breathe new life into several of Burroughs’ characters, he turned to Betts, an author who lives on the West Side of Columbus.

“The Edge of All Worlds� is slated for a spring 2020 release. At PulpFest in Pittsburgh in mid-August, Betts discovered Napier already has fans, who are (warily) excited about the character’s return. He says, “We had a few people that gave us those looks like, ‘This better be good.’� —Chris Gaitten

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It was a big ask. In addition to resurrecting the work of an icon, Betts’ story also kicks off a series of four novels featuring interconnected characters in what’s being dubbed the “ERB Universe�—a bit like recent cinematic crossovers from Marvel. “The Edge of All Worlds,� the book Betts is writing, revives the character of Carson Napier, an adventurer stuck on Venus. Burroughs wrote four novels and a novella about Napier, and though Betts wants his book to feel like an extension of that series, he also has creative freedom—like inventing an evil leader who attempts to conquer the planet.

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Arch City arts

Keeping the Faith Welcome to the Jubilee Museum, a Catholic arts center in transition.

By Linda Deitch

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Above, a room set up by the Rev. Kevin Lutz; left, wood and coins believed to be from the original cross; right, a 400-year-old statue of St. Anne

Meanwhile, Lutz retired in September from St. Mary parish in German Village. The next day, the diocese announced an investigation into allegations that he sexually abused a minor in the 1980s. Lutz had not been involved with daily museum operations, and Kenney says the investigation is unrelated to the temporary closing.

Later in September, a statement posted on the Jubilee website said: “We are undergoing a strategic planning and procedural review,” and asked visitors to check back for updates on the closing. Board of trustees chairman Travis Ricketts wouldn’t comment on a timetable for expansion plans, saying it’s too early to cite specifics, though he did express excitement about being part of the ongoing revitalization of Franklinton.

Kenney says the board might launch a capital campaign by early 2020. He sees the Jubilee evolving into something along the lines of a national Catholic museum, with a profile more like two of its neighbors, COSI and the National Veterans Memorial and Museum.

But as of early October, it was awaiting safety approval by a historic building inspector, Kenney says, and though leaders were hoping to re-open later in the month, a date hadn’t been announced. In the meantime, the Jubilee’s busiest season—Christmastime—is nearing, when hundreds of Nativity scenes are displayed alongside the largest collection of Fontanini figurines in the country, with 2,900 pieces telling Christ’s life story. It’s a sight to behold, so long as the doors are open. ◆

photos: rob hardin

Inside a tired-looking, 107-year-old brick building, the Jubilee Museum and Catholic Cultural Center is at a crossroads. Governed by the Catholic Diocese of Columbus, it operates above the Holy Family Soup Kitchen on Grubb Street in Franklinton, with only a tiny, unassuming sign pointing the way to parking. The museum claims it has been recognized by the Vatican as having the largest collection of diversified Catholic art in the United States, yet it remains unknown to many Central Ohioans.

Executive director Shawn Kenney wants to raise its profile, converting it from an overlooked trove into a top-tier tourist destination and event space. While the outside is worn, “People walk inside and go ‘Whoa!’” when they see the bounty within, Kenney says.

Original maple floors lead the way to room after room of relics and artifacts, from altars, Bibles and vestments to dolls, stained glass and Victrolas. In 2018, visitors could marvel at a temporary display of the Vatican re-created with a half-million Legos. There are coins dating to the time of Christ, a landgrant document for Ohio’s first Catholic settler and a chalice featuring a large amethyst once owned by Mary, Queen of Scots.

Founded by the Rev. Kevin Lutz in 1998 (just ahead of the 2000 Jubilee, a holy year in Catholicism, hence its name), it didn’t start out so big. Lutz collected items as a hobby and assembled a modest display. Two decades later, donations from individuals, schools and churches keep rolling in. Warehouses hold the surplus.

Kenney speaks ebulliently about ideas for growth that could include adding hightech attractions and constructing a second building. The Jubilee owns an adjacent lot where a more welcoming structure could connect to the original museum, significantly expanding the space.

But there are concerns to address first. The Jubilee Museum closed in August to repair an aging, leaky roof. Kenney says no artifacts were damaged; the closure was proactive.

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Arch City culture

OSU’s Yiddish Revival Sonia Gollance is determined to put the “oy” back into Oy-H-I-O. “I was brought here to revive the Yiddish program,” says the brandnew Ohio State University visiting assistant professor, who teaches the Yiddish Culture class and will lead a language course next year.

While articles have proclaimed the looming death of Yiddish, Gollance believes reports of its demise have been exaggerated. “There are hundreds of thousands of people around the world who speak Yiddish, and some estimate it to be a million,” she says.

How did a piece of communist Germany end up in Bexley?

On the west end of Capital University’s Bexley campus, a massive, graffitied, L-shaped block stands in stark contrast to the lush trees and grass of the courtyard it calls home. It’s a strange sight, like a giant tombstone alone in a park.

Instead, it is an artifact from the not-sodistant past. The reinforced concrete slab was once part of the Berlin Wall, which fell 30 years ago, on Nov. 9, 1989, marking the end of the Cold War. “The Berlin Wall was a major symbol of the failure of the totalitarian communist state to win the hearts and minds of its own citizens,” says Andrew Carlson, an American history professor at Capital, via email.

So how did this historical symbol, standing nearly 12 feet tall, end up in a secluded 20

spot at a Midwestern university? In 1992, German company Hansa Consulting brought the wall segment to an exhibit it sponsored at the AmeriFlora horticultural expo to increase interest in the reunified country’s industry, according to a Capital brochure about the wall. After AmeriFlora ended, Hansa, Capital and Huntington Bank partnered on a long-term loan so the segment could be exhibited at the university.

While it was previously featured at the Blackmore Library, the weight of the wall segment—2.8 tons—proved too much for the floor where it was displayed, even after being reinforced, according to Capital spokesperson Nichole Johnson. It was moved to its current location in the courtyard on the south side of Huber-Spielman Hall, a public space just east of the intersection of Mound Street and College Avenue.

Capital held an event for the 20th anniversary of the Berlin Wall’s demise in 2009, and some faculty members are thinking of holding another to commemorate the 30th. Carlson hopes they do, saying everyone can learn from the historical event.

—Phil Heston

Nevertheless, it has endured. The klezmer music of the Ashkenazic is gaining fans, and the Yiddish version of “Fiddler on the Roof” is a current Broadway hit. Then there’s the tradition of Jewish comedians and entertainers, who have made Yiddish words part of mainstream culture: klutz, nosh, schmooze and schmuck.

And chutzpah. “That’s when someone kills their parents and tells the court to go easy on them because they’re an orphan,” Gollance jokes.

But there’s more to Yiddish than humor. “It’s persisted because of the emotional qualities of the language and the history of the people,” Gollance says, “plus, people are fascinated by Germanic linguistics and European history, and learning Yiddish is a way to get insight into these topics.” —Steve Wartenberg

photo: tim johnson

Capital’s Cold War Relic

Yiddish is the language of the Ashkenazic Jews, who migrated from Germany to other parts of Europe and beyond. The influx of new arrivals to the U.S. in the early 1900s “didn’t want to be seen as ‘green,’ the term back then for ‘fresh off the boat,’ and didn’t teach their children Yiddish,” Gollance says. This desire to assimilate, plus the stricter immigration laws of 1924 and then the Holocaust, led to the decline of Yiddish.

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Arch City music

Sister Music Cities

For many aspiring artists, the road from Columbus leads straight to Nashville.

The stylish, black-and-white music video starts rolling, and the camera pans across a spacious living room that’s been turned into a recording studio, showing a few candid moments. Tim Easton takes a drink of coffee. Aaron Lee Tasjan stands ready to get going. Megan Palmer has her violin and bow in hand.

It could be a scene in Central Ohio, given the familiarity of these faces.

Instead, it’s set in Nashville, where the trio of musicians were covering Bob Dylan’s “Whatcha Gonna Do” for an annual video to raise awareness about homelessness in the Tennessee capital.

The collaboration illustrates the surprising number of musicians based in Nashville with strong Central Ohio ties, working to take their careers to another level. Tasjan grew up in New Albany and has been putting out wide-ranging Americana albums for more than 10 years, even though he’s only in his early 30s. Easton, who went to Ohio State, is a couple of decades ahead, with nearly a dozen singer-songwriter records to his credit. Palmer, well known in Columbus for her work with roots-rockers The Spikedrivers, mentions Talisha Holmes, Nicole Sherburne, PJ Schreiner, John Philip Allen and Delyn Christian among former Central Ohio performers who call the Music City home.

“I think the people from Ohio are pretty proud” of that presence, says rock artist Erica Blinn, who relocated to Nashville several years ago. “It’s kind of cool to band together a little. We like to tell people how cool it is in Columbus.”

The list of expats also includes Matt Marinchick, a pop-country singer-song-

t

From top, Tim Easton; Aaron Lee Tasjan;

Megan Palmer; Erica Blinn

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writer who played basketball at Ohio State in the early 2000s. His Nashville friends include Jutt Huffman, a rock artist from Pataskala. “This is probably the only town,” Marinchick says, “where you can make playing gigs a full-time job and make a living.”

Nashville provides a lot of practical advantages for musical artists, Easton says.

“It’s a great town for recording studios and studio gear, and the engineers and technicians who run, fix and maintain that gear,” he continues, also pointing out its benefits as a touring hub because there are so many gigs within a 10-hour drive.

The city accommodates musicians in ways you wouldn’t expect, says Palmer, who also works as a nurse at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “The great thing about Nashville is that [employers] are fine with the schedule I work,” she says. “I go on the road, and they don’t think that’s a strange thing.”

Central Ohio continues to exert a gravitational pull for many of those who have relocated, however, because of the large number of fans they left behind. That’s why appearances are common.

“Columbus is a strong location for me to return to as a working musician,” Easton says, complimenting venues like Natalie’s Coal-Fired Pizza for cultivating an audience for singer-songwriters. “It’s great to see old friends, and eventually I end up at Dick’s Den to hear some good local jazz.”

While Nashville is home to many recording industry stars, most musicians who relocate there are just trying to make a living, given the difficult road they’ve chosen. Palmer refers to her move as “spiritual” more than anything else. “You have to keep going with music once you get started,” she says. “You can’t stop, even if it means not paying your bills all of the time.” ◆

photos: Columbus dispatch file

By Ron Carter

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Clark Wilson playing the organ

Making the Morton Mighty Again To fans of CAPA’s Summer Movie Series, it’s a nightmare scenario: What if the Ohio Theatre’s Mighty Morton—the 91-year-old pipe organ used before and after each film—stopped making music?

Go to columbusmonthly.com or call 877-688-8009.

wexner center

EXHIBITIONS

It hasn’t happened yet, and a recent fundraising effort is aimed at preventing that tuneless day from coming to pass.

Last spring, CAPA launched a campaign to raise $100,000 to refurbish elements of the instrument. Although up to $10,000 is spent yearly on maintenance, more extensive repairs are needed. The pipes are in solid shape, but the console has seen better days.

“If you talk to someone, they would say, ‘When I press that key, I don’t get everything out of it I should,’” says Todd Bemis, CAPA’s vice president of theater operations.

Movie series organist Clark Wilson says problems include a worn console case, mismatched keys and wiring in need of replacement. During this past summer’s series, Wilson invited moviegoers to make donations, which helped raise about a third of the goal. The organization is turning to individual donors for the rest.

JENNY HOLZER

MAYA LIN

ON VIEW THROUGH DECEMBER 29

When the project is finished, organ aficionados might be able to hear a difference, but for most audiences, it’s what they don’t hear that might matter most. photo: Kyle Robertson

photos: Columbus dispatch file

The plan calls for the organ to be used during the next year—including a Feb. 21–22 Columbus Symphony Orchestra concert and next summer’s movie series—before it is disassembled and sent out for off-site repairs.

ANN HAMILTO N

“When it doesn’t work right, that’s when we go, ‘Hey, something’s wrong,’” Bemis says. “That’s what we want to prevent.” —Peter Tonguette

Organized by the Wexner Center for the Arts.

VISIT WEXARTS.ORG FOR RELATED EVENTS, SPONSORS, AND DETAILS. WEXNER CENTER FOR THE ARTS | THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY |

@WEXARTS #THEWEX

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Arch City image

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Andrew Kim, 4, of Dublin, hides from his parents and sister behind a corn sculpture during a celebration for the 25th anniversary of “Field of Corn” in Dublin’s Frantz Park.

Photo by jodi miller

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Arch City editors’ picks

Datebook Things to See and Do

See Page 14 for a full list 4 things to doof this month.

DRIVING FORCES Oct. 26–March 8, 2020

Most private collections are stashed away from the public eye, so it’s a boon to local art lovers that Driving Forces: Contemporary Art from the Collection of Ann and Ron Pizzuti will offer the largest exhibition ever from the couple’s world-renowned catalog. The show will feature 130 works from 75 artists at the Columbus Museum of Art and the Pizzuti Collection, the Short North gallery that was donated to the museum early this year. columbusmuseum.org

GOO GOO DOLLS Nov. 20

“THE POOL” Nov. 16–Jan. 5, 2020

Light artist and sculptor Jen Lewin conceived “The Pool” as a huge puddle of light that would invite viewers to jump in—literally—and create their own art together. The concentric circles of 100 glowing computerized pads light up when you step on them, sending ripples of light and color throughout the installation as you move. The work has visited more than 50 cities in 16 countries, and this month it comes to the Franklin Park Conservatory, expanding the delight for viewers who come to enjoy the annual holiday light experience, Conservatory Aglow. fpconservatory.org

“AS ONE” Nov. 8 and 10

SHERROD BROWN Nov. 17

Two singers—one a baritone, the other a mezzo-soprano—play the single role of Hannah, a transgender woman searching for her place in a bruising world. Hannah Before and Hannah After occupy the stage simultaneously throughout this 2014 chamber opera, presented by Opera Columbus at the Southern, dramatizing the dissonance— and eventual harmony—of her external and internal selves. operacolumbus.org

In his latest book, “Desk 88,” U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown tells the stories of eight statesmen, all of whom once sat behind the same mahogany desk on the floor of the U.S. Senate. Brown, the current occupant of the desk, will discuss his book—which features George McGovern, Robert Kennedy, Al Gore Sr. and five other progressive forebears—at Capital University’s Mees Auditorium. Tickets are $25 ($45 with a copy of the book), and a book signing follows the talk. thurberhouse.org

Give Back OHIO WILDLIFE CENTER Nov. 9

More than 200 volunteers assist each year with the center’s mission of supporting Ohio’s wildlife through rehabilitation and education, staffing hotlines and even fostering animals.

To attend this or another training session and learn how you can help, visit ohiowildlifecenter.org.

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Martinis and Magic Nov. 1

This ’80s- and ’90s-themed fundraiser for A Kid Again, which provides support for families raising children with serious illness, will feature strolling sleight-of-hand artists and inspiring stories in the ’Shoe’s Huntington Club. $125. akidagain.org

THANKSFORGIVING 4 MILER Nov. 28

Before you sit down to a Thanksgiving feast, help ensure others have enough to eat by participating in this race and fun run benefiting LifeCare Alliance, Mid-Ohio Foodbank and the New Albany Community Foundation. narun.org

photos: clockwise from top, Jen Lewin Studio; Renee Bouchard; istock.com/HitToon; Ed Gregory

“We grew up way too fast, and now there’s nothing to believe.” Those were prescient words sung in a simpler time—1995—by the Goo Goo Dolls’ frontman, John Rzeznik.

(Remember “Name” from A Boy Named Goo?) By some, ahem, miracle, the band’s founding members, Rzeznik and Robby Takac, are still together after 30-something years.

You can relive the ’90s (and sing along to “Iris”) when the alt rockers visit the Palace Theatre to promote their 12th studio album, Miracle Pill. capa.com

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photos: clockwise from top, Jen Lewin Studio; Renee Bouchard; istock.com/HitToon; Ed Gregory

Arch City People

Dine. Drink. Dress.

A fundraiser for Dress for Success drew 400 guests to Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, where they enjoyed a fashion show highlighting selections from the Dress for Success Boutique. The event raised $100,000 to support the organization’s mission of empowering women to achieve economic success.

Photos: Brock DuPont

1 Vera Lenston, Mia Hairston, Debra Griffin 2 Renee and Laura Resnik 3 Cindy Lynn, Thomas McClure, Nicole Zeta Pongonis, Gerardo Encinas, Jennifer Hanysh 4 Mark Carr, Wendy Bradshaw, Paulette Burks, Gwen Nichols, Rex Carr 5 Amanda Turner, Emily Toney, Jennifer Lynch, Megan Kilgore 6 Sarah Jurcyk, Ashley Alt, Maren Roth 7 Khayam Clark, Tasha Marie Jones, Geoff Stewart 8 Hilary Sievers, Rugy Ngaide, Tanisha Sievers 9 Karina Nova, Thomas McClure, Lubna Najjar 10 Julia Grisdela, Angel Harris, Olivia Patterson

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SHINING T0GETHER A community is only as strong as every life that shines within it. We strive through each season to lift up lives, build strong futures, light up communities. Together we can make

Photos: Brock DuPont

our community shine brightly for us all.

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Arch City People

TAPS Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors founder Bonnie Carroll was the guest of honor at a recent fundraiser for the organization at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum. The TAPS event, hosted by Battelle CEO Lou Von Thaer and his wife, Jennifer Massanova, raised more than $100,000 to provide assistance to families who have lost loved ones serving in the military.

photos: Kimberly Rottmayer

1 Brad and Rachel Harmon, Jane and Tim Robinson 2 Jennifer Massanova, Lou Von Thaer 3 Jill and Mario Wong, David White 4 Mike Janus, Dana Croom, Jeff Rose 5 Joy and Mike Gonsiorowski, Mary and Andy Auch 6 Sean and Mandy McGlone 7 Lori Barreras, Alex Fischer, Todd Harrington 8 Sandy Doyle-Ahern, Dave Williams, Michael Ahern, Margie Williams 9 Manny Guzman, Pat Tiberi 10 Bonnie Carroll, Scott and Lynn Rummage

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Arch City People

Easton Fashion Night Nearly 2,000 fashion lovers attended the eighth annual Easton Fashion Night, presented by Columbus Monthly on Sept. 20 in Easton Town Center’s North District. The event included fall fashion previews from a wide range of brands. Students from CCAD were on hand to sketch guests’ outfits. Fashion Night was free to attend, but a ticketed party, Wine & Design, raised $2,000 to support Fashion Week Columbus.

photos: tessa berg

1 Whitney Smith, David Shanahan 2 Emily Grigely, Melissa Mekesa 3 Jennifer Moore, Nia Noelle 4 April Johnson, Angelett Anderson, LaVonda and Erica Harrington 5 Lunetta Spivey, Safira and Jennifer Robinson 6 Arend Schuring, Gerardo Encinas 7 Sparkle Watson, Brandy Jones 8 Alexandria Hernandez, Miguel Estrada 9 Valerie Coleman, Gloria Tarpley 10 Tiffany Chambers, Joy Allen

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Arch City perspective

Students boarding school buses at Buckeye Junior High School in October 1979.

My Memories of Busing On the 40th anniversary of school desegregation in Columbus, a West Side native looks back at an experience that shaped her and thousands of her peers.

photo: dispatch file/Ken Chamberlain

By Lia Eastep

When I attended Kent State University in the late 1980s, all the students I met from Central Ohio were from the suburbs. Upon hearing I graduated from Columbus West High School, someone would inevitably (and snidely) ask if I’d ever seen a gun or witnessed a stabbing. While I knew my side of town had a reputation for high crime and poverty, it was also an area rich with tradition and pride, especially for its high school, where it is not unusual to have multigenerational alumni. Instead of explaining that I actually lived in a nice little pocket neighborhood with a great park, I would offer a joke: There was not a lot of knife and gun action around the choir and spirit week decoration committee. But the comments always left

me feeling unsettled and defensive—even though I couldn’t yet articulate why.

My suburban college classmates and I came of age during the desegregation of Columbus Public Schools (as the district was known back then), part of a bruising era of racially tinged anger and resentment that has returned to the national spotlight thanks to the Democratic presidential debates, most notably the clash between Kamala Harris and Joe Biden. In 1977, U.S. District Judge Robert Duncan ruled that Columbus school officials knowingly kept white and African American students apart in violation of the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education. Two years later, Columbus became one of the first cities in the coun-

try to desegregate, forcing children to ride buses to schools outside their neighborhoods to improve the racial balance of the district.

Many tend to view busing in Columbus, which ended in 1996, as a failure that hastened suburban sprawl as wealthier white families fled the city, creating an even poorer and more racially stratified community.

But that doesn’t take into account the other reasons for these changes—or the day-today experiences of the children, black and white, who crossed cultural barriers every morning when they stepped off their buses.

I was one of those children. In 1979, I was among the 35,000 students who participated in the inaugural class of court-ordered busing. Looking back, I have to acknowledge that my memories are filtered through my own white, middle class lens, as well as a gradually developing awareness of the history and complexities of busing in Columbus. But whatever our backgrounds, busing shaped me and my classmates, offering us new perspectives and opportunities but also highlighting the limitations of the social experiment that the courts forced upon us.

A bus can take you only so far.

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Arch City perspective My first experience with being bused out of my neighborhood took me to Mohawk Middle School, a large former high school. It was situated at the edge of Downtown overlooking the freeway, which made it seem ominous. Mohawk felt chaotic, although not necessarily as a result of desegregation.

It was the tough-looking white girls from a rougher part of the Hilltop who gave me pause. Because of alphabetic assignments in our classes, I often sat next to one of the toughest. She once stormed into the cafeteria, stomping up and across two tables to punch another girl in the face. In shop class, she hurled an iron stool at a boy.

Her locker was next to mine. My strategy between classes was to avoid any attention that might agitate her. One day, she was worked up and unable to get into her locker.

After a few failed attempts and frustrated pounding, she turned to me. “You! Open this for me!” I was terrified but not about to tell her no. She told me her combination, and I slowly turned the dial and slid open the metal latch. She looked me in the eye for perhaps the first time ever and said, jabbing me in the chest for effect, “Anyone mess with you, EVER, I’ll kick their ass!” I felt relieved, flattered and confused by the sud-

den attention. I can’t say that the moment made us friends. But I do believe it caused me to begin considering the complexity of lives different from my own.

The most significant exposure I had to black culture at Mohawk was in the gospel choir, the only choir at the school. The director was a large, exuberant black woman who liked to jokingly point out the obvious differences in the room. “Black kids, help sway the white kids,” was a common refrain. The pianist was a tall, thin black man in constant motion. As a brand-new piano player, I was in awe of his technique. Together, the teachers created an energy that was infectious. I still remember some of the songs we sang, as well as the elaborate walk we did from the back of the auditorium to the stage for performances. My friends and I later incorporated the “Mohawk walk” into high school dances and even wedding receptions and reunions.

Busing’s blunt strategy of transporting whole cohorts together from one neighborhood to another had some unexpected outcomes. A black student who grew up on the Hilltop, a friend of my brother, was also bused to Mohawk. There, he went from being one of the few minorities in his classes to reveling in having peers who resem-

bled him. He recalled lunchtime dances where the playlist didn’t default to “popular white-kid music.” “Rappers Delight” from the Sugar Hill Gang and songs from Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall were in heavy rotation. Likewise, I can remember being turned on to WVKO, then Columbus’ premiere R&B station, because the buses only had AM radio.

For seventh and eighth grades, my parents entered me in the lottery-enrollment middle school, Franklin Alternative. It also was desegregated, but students were bused in from all over the city, which I think helped avoid an “us versus them” attitude.

I loved that school: its space-station architecture, the energetic teachers and an environment that fostered creativity. I didn’t realize until much later that I was likely responding to deliberate measures like limited class size and broader course offerings, as well as a more thoughtful integration of the student population than what I’d experienced at Mohawk.

If my parents had reservations about busing, they did not express them to me. Recently, I asked my mom for her perspective, and she said, “We thought we were doing the right thing; I’m still not sure if we did.”

Opportunity Awaits.

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A city that more than doubles in population every day. Available sites for restaurants and retail in desirable, high-traffic locations. 38,158 residents in 14,814 households within a 10 minute drive. The advantages are here. Shouldn’t your business be, too?

To obtain a free market analysis or to find out more about opportunities in Groveport, call Jeff Green at (614)836-5301. www.groveport.org

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Arch City perspective In ninth grade, I was assigned to West. It was the high school my friends’ older siblings attended, the place where I’d spent many a Friday night awestruck as a kid in the stands at Magly Field, and even as a freshman, I tended to view my experience through a haze of nostalgia. The student body was generally self-segregating and, to my eyes, not overtly hostile to one another.

The year I graduated, the homecoming king and queen were black and were undoubtedly the most popular students in the class.

Recently, I learned from a former teacher at West that many of her students who were bused from the East Side were profoundly disappointed not to be attending East High, another Columbus school rich with tradition and pride, where they had spent their own Friday nights as kids, cheering on their beloved Tigers. But at the time, it didn’t occur to me to consider the experience of those who rode the buses from the other side of town. If they missed out on activities or hanging out with friends after school, or had trouble getting up significantly earlier than me to catch the bus, were threatened because of their race, or if their parents found it difficult to connect with teachers across town, I didn’t notice or ask.

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After many post-college years spent renting in Grandview, I bought a house in Westgate, the small community within the greater Hilltop neighborhood where I grew up. Over the last decade, it has experienced a renaissance of sorts, leading to continually rising property values and increased civic involvement. Unfortunately, this does not include its schools, especially West High. Alumni pride is still strong, but I can’t name a single person in the Westgate enclave who has attended the school since the early 2000s.

Not that I blame parents. I don’t have children but I understand the importance of choosing a decent school for your child.

The Ohio Department of Education recently ranked Columbus City Schools 601st out of its 608 districts, and West High was ranked 710th of 800 high schools.

Today, diversity looks different in Columbus than it did 40 years ago. The city now is home to many families for whom English is their second language. Somali and Latino students who live in the Hilltop neighborhood make up a significant percentage of the West High student population.

A few years ago, a classmate bought a house in Westgate and invited people over

to cook out before the West homecoming football game. It had been many, many years since any of us had attended homecoming, once a large-scale, multigenerational event.

Walking to the school that night, someone wondered aloud if it would be safe. “Probably more sad,” someone else replied.

Standing in the bleachers, among a few hundred kids with whom I share a ZIP code and, perhaps once, a locker, I didn’t feel sad. What I felt and saw was the genuine enthusiasm of celebratory teenagers on a beautiful fall night. Yes, the size of the band was significantly smaller than its drive-down-the-field heyday, but the kids in the stands—made up of more cultures and ethnicities than were likely imagined by the officials who laid the plans for school desegregation in 1979—threw their hands in the air and spun around to the same drum cadences that engaged a neighbor, parent and grandparent standing in the same spot 15, 30, 60 years earlier. They squealed in delight at the announcement of their friend as homecoming queen. If any of those kids that night wanted to be anywhere else or felt the burden of a neighborhood’s pity or the weight of the city’s expectations, they didn’t show it. ◆

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By Dave Ghose

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Illustration by craig rusnak

What the explosive scandal means to Columbus and Les Wexner

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If you’re looking for the quintessential Les Wexner experience, the Jefferson Series might be it. Since 2014, it’s featured renowned architects, best-selling authors, Oscar-nominated actresses, decorated military leaders, a former U.N. ambassador and other prominent figures in media and politics. The lecture series is a passion project for Wexner, who seems to love nothing more than reveling in its heady mix of big ideas, public service, deep thinking and philanthropy.

On Oct. 1, the program launched its seventh season with a typically star-studded affair. Washington Post columnist and CNN host Fareed Zakaria, a Wexner favorite making his fourth Jefferson Series appearance, moderated a panel discussion on China with two former U.S. secretaries of state, Colin Powell and Madeleine Albright.

Wexner often offers introductory remarks for these lectures, and this one was no different. The 82-year-old L Brands founder refused to let the explosive Jeffrey Epstein scandal—a controversy unlike any other Wexner has faced—keep him from a public appearance at one of his favorite Central Ohio events.

Standing before the sold-out crowd of nearly 900 at the McCoy Center for the Arts, Wexner thanked everyone for supporting the series and introduced the speakers. After he returned to his seat, Zakaria acknowledged Wexner and his wife, Abigail. “I first want to thank Les Wexner and everybody involved in putting this together,” he said. “As many of you know, this whole idea and this civic engagement has been the brainchild of Les and Abigail, and I think it is just so important to have successful

people in America give back to the community in this way.” The crowd responded with hearty applause.

The warm reaction revealed a lot about Columbus and its relationship with its most powerful citizen. Amid one of the darkest years of Wexner’s public life, his hometown hasn’t turned on him. After decades of good works, philanthropy and civic leadership, even a sordid saga of lies, extravagance, sexual assault and impunity hasn’t broken the cocoon of goodwill that surrounds him.

But the saga is not done. ◆

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This is the Columbus version of Les Wexner: the inspirational builder of one of the city’s most important corporations, the self-made billionaire who gives hundreds of millions of dollars away to improve his hometown, the unselfish civic statesman who’s a role model to other leaders, the visionary who built his own suburban Shangri-La in the rural flatlands east of Columbus. Now, this is the Epstein scandal version of Wexner: the careless rich guy who gave complete control of his fortune to a money manager with a sketchy history, the benefactor whose imprimatur gave an undeserving protégé status and power, the blinkered mentor who described his nowdisgraced pal in a 2003 Vanity Fair article as “very smart,” a “most loyal friend” and someone with “excellent judgment and unusually high standards.”

In Columbus, it’s hard to reconcile these two conflicting portraits. How can the same man be so savvy and so naive, so brilliant and so blind? How could Wexner—

photos: tim johnson

Many places throughout Central Ohio are named after the Wexner family.

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photos: top, jeffry konczal; bottom, New York State Sex Offender Registry via AP

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who’s avoided scandal all his life Meanwhile, Wexner’s backers and is married to a tireless advocate praise him for his integrity and for children and abused women— accept his explanations: that he associate himself with someone knew nothing about Epstein’s sex who turned out to be of such quescrimes, that he’s embarrassed and tionable character, someone who ashamed by his association with the was arrested in early July on sexdisgraced financier, that he “regrets trafficking charges? Columbus has having ever crossed his path.” His been forced to grapple with these early trust in Epstein might baffle questions since then, when Wexner some of these supporters, but they emerged as a central figure in the also sympathize with his plight. saga of Epstein, who hanged himThey say he’s an optimist, trusting self in a New York City jail cell while by nature, and that can make him facing charges he abused dozens of an easy mark for a master swindler underage girls, some as young as like Epstein. Wexner deserves our 14. The topic has dominated consupport, they say, not our scorn. versations, filled social media feeds, “Les Wexner is so well-respected,” spawned wild speculation. It’s been says Curt Steiner, the veteran politian oh-my-God moment. cal operative and former Ohio State As the Epstein scandal blotted out senior vice president of communithe sun during the summer, Columcations. “Something like this will bus leaders were disturbed. “The raise eyebrows, but it’s not going to concern was that we didn’t want it to change the level of respect people be a concern,” says Lisa Courtice, the have for him. Les Wexner is going CEO of United Way of Central Ohio. to be given the benefit of the doubt.”

“He’s revered and a hero to Colum“Those of us who know him best bus, so we are sad that he has to go Les Wexner, top, and Jeffrey Epstein know of his unwavering ethics, his through this and sad for his family. moral compass, his unselfish comI think that’s what I heard the most. He’s so important mitment to Columbus,” says Alex Fischer, the CEO of the to our history and our future. We just don’t want it to Columbus Partnership, the city’s most powerful civic impact our city.” organization, which is chaired by Wexner. “He’s been Indeed, a big public reckoning is unlikely. Columbus one of the people in my life who’s been the standard of Monthly contacted more than two dozen local leaders community engagement, and I don’t think anything in in politics, business, the nonprofit sector and the civic the summer’s events have changed that.” realm, and almost all declined to talk about Wexner on A divorce from Wexner is improbable, almost unimagithe record or didn’t respond to messages. (Wexner also nable. How could the city cut ties with someone who is declined to be interviewed for this story.) And those who essentially the father of modern Columbus, someone did talk were almost uniformly supportive of Wexner. whose last name is plastered on buildings and institutions You have to go a long way down the city’s power strucall over town, from COSI to Ohio State to Nationwide Chilture to find someone willing to criticize Wexner’s connecdren’s Hospital? tions to Epstein on the record. “Columbus as a whole is not “Les and Abigail both have earned an extraordinary OK with this,” says Liliana Rivera Baiman, an underdog reservoir of goodwill that is going to outweigh the negcandidate for Columbus City Council whose status as a ative fallout that he’s had to endure so far,” says Mike sexual assault survivor inspired her in part to speak out.

Curtin, the former state representative and ex-associate She is concerned that the most powerful person in the city publisher of The Columbus Dispatch. Speaking in early Sepwas associated with a sexual predator, wants to know more tember, Curtin says that he hasn’t seen any revelations so about their financial and personal relationship and wants far pointing to Wexner’s culpability in Epstein’s misdeeds. to hold Wexner accountable if wrongdoing is discovered.

“I believe we’ve seen the worst of it,” Curtin says. “I hope Mostly, she wants to have a loud, public conversation. we’ve seen the worst of it.”

To be sure, she’s not Wexner’s only public critic. There Yet the Epstein saga plays on. Books are in the works, are plenty of dark takes on Wexner, especially outside of as is a Netflix docuseries. A movie seems inevitable, Columbus and in the cynical, conspiracy-fueled world of and the courts aren’t through with Epstein despite his social media. But the Columbus establishment is a difdeath. Federal prosecutors in New York are continuing ferent story. For instance, all of Rivera Baiman’s incumto investigate, focusing on Epstein’s former associates, bent opponents—Councilmembers Elizabeth Brown, and several Epstein victims are suing his estate, valued Emmanuel Remy, Shayla Favor and Rob Dorans—declined at more than $500 million. The media continues to focus to comment for this article. “I think people are afraid of on Wexner, including a major Washington Post story pubbringing it up,” Rivera Baiman says. lished in early October that tied him and Abigail more NOVEMBER 2019 Columbus Monthly

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directly to a previously alleged 1996 Epstein sexual assault in New Albany. And Wexner could end up a major figure in an Epstein-related clash of legal titans that is playing out in both the courts and the media—a dispute between famed attorneys David Boies and Alan Dershowitz.

Wexner’s protective Columbus cocoon might need some reinforcements. ◆

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Since Epstein’s arrest in early July, Wexner has been the focus of a media feeding frenzy. The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Bloomberg and more have descended on Columbus, with reporters inundating Wexner’s friends, former work associates and acquaintances with phone calls. The attention—the most brutal coverage of Wexner’s life, made worse by the cultural backlash that was already roiling Victoria’s Secret, L Brands’ signature enterprise—peaked on July 25, when the Times and the Journal simultaneously published deep dives on Wexner and Epstein. One Wexner friend declined to speak on the record to Columbus Monthly, fearing that public comments might lead to even more calls from reporters. “I don’t have time for that,” the friend says.

Thanks to all that reporting, a striking portrait of Epstein has emerged: Wexner’s man in the shadows, his “international moneyman of mystery,” as New York Magazine dubbed respected individuals both as his financial clients and in him. For his only publicly known client, Epstein was more his inner circle,” Wexner wrote in an Aug. 8 statement than just a financial adviser. He oversaw the construction posted on the website of the Wexner Foundation. “Based of Wexner’s 316-foot superyacht, Limitless. He joined the on positive reports from several friends, and on my initial board of the Wexner Foundation, the tycoon’s charitable dealings with him, I believed I could trust him.” arm, replacing Wexner’s mother, Bella, who died in 2001.

Still, plenty of people questioned Wexner’s judgment With the help of Wexner, Epstein became a jet-setter in his from the start. Epstein, who owned his own wealth manown right. He bought a corporate plane from the Limited, agement firm after working as a Bear Stearns trader, then the name of L Brands, as well as a seven-floor home was a college dropout and a former math teacher at a in New York, the largest private residence in Manhattan, Manhattan private school with a skimpy resume despite from Wexner. Epstein even purchased a 10,000-squarehis high-profile references. “It’s a weird relationship,” foot home (originally intended for Wexner’s friend, New an anonymous Wall Streeter told New York Magazine in Albany Co. chairman Jack Kessler) for $3.5 million on the 2002. “It’s just not normal for someone of such enorgrounds that surround Wexner’s own mous wealth to all of a sudden give mansion in New Albany. his money to some guy most people Following months of media scruhave never heard of.” tiny, here’s a field guide to what Calling Bob Morosky: ColumColumbus Monthly and other outlets bus hasn’t heard a lot from Wexner’s have learned about Epstein, Wexner former top lieutenant of late, but and their professional and personal he was a frequent interview during relationship, as well as what questhe aftermath of Epstein’s arrest. tions remain unanswered.

Morosky didn’t return Columbus The Origins: Wexner appears to Monthly’s calls, but he did speak to have met Epstein in the mid-1980s. A The New York Times, The Wall Street source says Robert Meister, a former Journal and others, delivering some Aon insurance executive and a friend of the most biting comments about of Wexner, introduced Wexner to Epstein and Wexner. “I tried to find Epstein, who also received endorseout how did he get from a high school ments from Bear Stearns CEO Jimmy math teacher to a private investment Lisa Courtice CEO, United Way of Central Ohio Cayne and his predecessor, Alan “Ace” adviser,” the former chief financial Greenberg. “Mr. Epstein represented officer and vice chairman told The that he had various well-known and Times. “There was nothing there.”

“The concern was that we didn’t want it to be a concern.”

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Epstein’s connections apparently intrigued Wexner.

Morosky said his boss told him that Epstein could “introduce him to important people.” Morosky spent 15 years with the Limited before resigning in 1987. “Les is an insecure guy with a big ego. … He had a lot of money but craved respect,” Morosky told The Wall Street Journal. “They played off each other’s needs.”

Power of Attorney: Many observers have zeroed in on Wexner’s decision to grant Epstein power of attorney in 1991, allowing him to borrow money, write checks, buy real estate and more on his behalf. A power-of-attorney agreement is “common in that context,” Wexner wrote in his Aug. 8 statement, pointing out that it gave him more time to focus on his business and philanthropic efforts. Indeed, another wealthy Central Ohio resident agrees, saying such arrangements are common for high-net-worth individuals with complicated finances who need help managing their assets. “I’ve done that before,” the Central Ohio resident says, comparing it to a professional athlete who hires a personal manager to allow him to focus on his sport.

Close to Home: One of the earliest reports of a sexual assault committed by Epstein occurred in 1996 in his New Albany home, which he sold for $8 million in 1998. In a court affidavit and an interview with The New York Times, Maria Farmer, an artist who worked for Epstein, says he and his friend Ghislaine Maxwell, the daughter of the late British press baron Robert Maxwell, assaulted her in a bedroom in the home, twisting her nipples to the point of bruising. Fearing she was going to be raped, Farmer fled the room, The Times reported.

Epstein had invited Farmer to spend the summer in the home while she worked on two large-scale paintings

commissioned for the movie “As Good as It Gets” starring Jack Nicholson.

Farmer told The Washington Post she holds Wexner “responsible for what happened to me.” She pointed to Wexner’s close ties to Epstein, as well as the responsibility of his security team to monitor the property, located on the grounds of the Wexner estate about a half-mile away from his mansion. Farmer also said Wexner’s security officers held her against her will for about 12 hours following the assault until her father arrived from Kentucky to pick her up.

A Wexner spokesman told the Post the Wexners were unaware of the alleged attack: “Before the recent news coverage of Ms. Farmer, Mr. and Mrs. Wexner had no knowledge of her, never met her, never spoke with her and never spoke with Mr. Epstein or anyone else about her.”

Epstein and Victoria’s Secret: Then there’s Alicia Arden, a California model who says Epstein assaulted her in a Santa Monica hotel room. Posing as a talent scout for Victoria’s Secret, Epstein invited Arden to his hotel for an audition. When she arrived, he grabbed her and tried to undress her, saying he wanted to “manhandle” her, Arden said in an interview with The New York Times.

What’s more, The Times reported Wexner was told in the mid-1990s that Epstein was attempting to sell himself as a recruiter for Victoria’s Secret models, according to two executives at the time.

The L Brands board has hired a law firm to investigate Epstein’s role with the company, though a spokeswoman has said she believes he was never employed by the company or served as an authorized representative.

Opposite page, the Manhattan residence of Jeffrey Epstein was raided by police in July.

This page, clockwise from top left, attorney David Boies; Les and Abigail Wexner walk through the Wexner Center for the Arts; attorney Alan Dershowitz

continued on Page 148

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By Chris Gaitten

Will McKinney’s

He’s always plugged in, his phone’s earbuds hanging like bionic extensions.

His cell rings and chimes and vibrates incessantly. It’s a monster, he says with a laid-back chuckle. It’s largely a monster of his own making.

Will McKinney’s first call every day, to his friend Johnny “Jay-Bee” Bethea, begins before dawn. He regularly calls his players on the Africentric girls’ basketball team to make sure they’re going to the gym—always be in the gym. Then there are countless check-ins with former players. He’s also in contact with his coterie of fellow coaches, picking their brains for some new competitive edge.

In August, nearly four months before the season starts, McKinney sits on the patio behind his Pickerington home, where he lives with his wife, Anissa, and their two boys. He wears a purple T-shirt that lists the years of all seven state championships the Lady Nubians have won during his tenure as coach of Columbus Africentric Early College. They’ve gone to four consecutive Division III state final fours, winning three—a dynasty. His players talk about him in reverential terms, as a coach, mentor, friend and the man responsible for their enduring sisterhood. But he’s demanding, and they also talk about the program as something you survive.

While the cicadas vibrate in the summer heat, McKinney discusses the history that will be made if the Nubians win an eighth title this season, potentially becoming the sole owners of the all-time Ohio record. No one has ever done it quite like Africentric before, he says, thumping his hand on the iron patio table for emphasis. He’s the program’s first coach, its only one, and it’s the only high school gig he’s ever had.

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The Columbus Africentric girls’ basketball coach sacrifices for his players, and they do the same for him. The result is an Ohio hoops powerhouse that could set a new standard for excellence this season.

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When Alesia Howard thinks about the early days, before receiving championship rings was close to an annual tradition, she recalls a van they named Blue Magic. It was one of those 15-passenger extended wagons, owned by Columbus City Schools, a chariot of barest circumstance. McKinney says it was raggedy as all get-out. He got certified to drive it so he could ferry his Africentric players around the city. They all laugh when they remember Blue Magic.

Such was the life of a young team just getting off the ground. They didn’t have many resources or any alumni to lean on, says Tyeasha Moss, Howard’s teammate from 2004–08. In fact, McKinney hadn’t even wanted the job. In 2001, when the district was adding a new high school to the existing Africentric Alternative School, his old fraternity brother George Maxey was named its principal. Maxey asked him to start the girls’ basketball program, and McKinney declined.

He was just getting comfortable as coach at Linmoor Middle School. Why start a high school program from scratch? But no one else wanted the job either, McKinney says, and after several overtures from Maxey, he accepted as a favor.

Africentric’s athletic department rolled out its freshman teams in 2001–02, junior var48

sity in 2002–03 and varsity in 2003–04. That first year, McKinney estimates 13 or 14 girls tried out for the freshman team. He cut all but five, “because if the foundation is weak, then everything else is going to crumble.”

They had “extremely average” talent, but they were hard-working, dedicated, consistent.

No one missed practice. No one fouled out.

One unit, no subs, no excuses. You might beat the Nubians—and many teams did early on—but you would never outwork them.

McKinney was single, no kids, so he was always holding open gyms and training players one-on-one. Howard was the first girl he ever developed, and he taught her everything, from the fundamentals on. He never seemed to tire of the gym, long after she was sick of sweating. So if players wanted to get in early, McKinney would unlock the doors at 6 a.m. If they wanted to shoot after practice, he wouldn’t close until 10 at night. He would pick them up and drop them off, one by one, so their families didn’t have to worry about rides. Blue Magic was a van, but it was also a raggedy 15-passenger reminder of his willingness to devote time and energy to them.

In conversation, McKinney is animated and funny, with a dimple in his right cheek and

glasses resting slightly down the bridge of his nose. He was born on Christmas Eve on the South Side of Chicago, a city where basketball is “flat-out king.” He was an average player—“nothing to write home about”—but he made the high school team at Kenwood Academy because he practiced hard. He’s personable, a conversationalist. But his current and former players say he can be intense, very intense, even fiery.

“One day he can be the jokester, playful,” says former All-American guard Jordan Horston. “Next day, he’s strict, straight to business, cuss you out.”

Horston, now a freshman basketball player at the University of Tennessee, says he was a great coach who was full of good advice, though sometimes she had to glean the message amid profanity. When Janicia Anderson—or “Shaq,” as most people call her—transferred from Beechcroft in 2005, the Africentric gym was different than any she’d seen. The demands were higher, the competition more fierce.

McKinney believes in consequences for everything—not punishment, he loves his players too much for that. But he will hand out consequences until muscles scream for mercy. Showing up late, even by a minute, earns an extra sprint. If girls don’t run

photo: Eric Albrecht

Africentric basketball player Antoinette Williams (center) celebrates with teammates after winning the Division III state championship game in 2018.

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sprints in the required time, it’s a re-do.

Giving up a rebound equals five pushups.

Discipline and accountability are paramount, and practices have always been harder than games. He learned some of those lessons from Reggie Lee, the longtime coach of the Brookhaven girls’ team, who was inducted into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame in May and has served as an Africentric assistant for two years. When Lee first met McKinney 20 years ago, he says he saw the same thing that other mentors had: hunger. So Lee did what he has done for many young coaches over the years, opening up Brookhaven’s practices so McKinney could observe what it took to make a Columbus City League powerhouse.

Still, it takes time to build a program from scratch. McKinney recalls being deep into lopsided losses and urging his players to ignore the scoreboard and focus on incremental improvements—coaching for progression, he calls it. Get the ball across half court three times without a turnover. Make four passes and take a good shot. They’d celebrate a minor success during a 30-point defeat. The varsity team went 6-15 during its first season.

But talent was rising through the middle school ranks. Africentric, which educates a largely black student body from across the city through an African-American perspective, is filled by the district’s lottery system, so girls could come from anywhere if they were selected. Some followed McKinney from Linmoor. Others came from his connections to the Amateur Athletic Union, or AAU, where he’d been learning the ropes of coaching elite-level talent under Bethea’s tutelage. The same year the varsity struggled, Bethea took over Africentric’s middle school team—featuring Howard and Moss as eighth graders—and went unbeaten. The average margin of victory was 63 points.

The Nubians became known for their full-court pressure and aggressive, physical defense, and as the young talent matriculated to the varsity team, they scored with ease. Africentric’s record improved to 19-5 by the second year and 25-1 by year three, 2005–06, when they dethroned Brookhaven and Lee to win the city league.

Expectations changed. Two years after celebrating minor in-game successes, a city championship wasn’t enough. Anderson felt they didn’t live up to their potential, because a month after beating Brookhaven they lost in the regionals to defending state champ Berlin Hiland, ending her senior

Will McKinney’s championship rings

McKinney talks to his team during the Columbus City League championship game in 2018.

season. The Columbus Dispatch reported that Moss was so distraught she had to be helped to the locker room.

In 2007, she and her teammates got redemption, winning their first state title.

James “Satch” Sullinger met McKinney at Linmoor, after Sullinger left his job coaching the men’s basketball team at Oberlin College but before he led his son Jared to a state title at Northland. Sullinger too was struck by McKinney’s hunger, but he says the Africentric coach’s biggest strength is that he coaches the whole kid, not just her athletic side. Talk to McKinney’s players, former and current, and they don’t discuss wins and losses much, or even titles. They talk about their sisterhood.

At Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, McKinney joined Kappa Alpha Psi, and the bonding and closeness of the fraternity experience meant so much that he used it as a model for the Africentric program.

“Everything about me since 19 years of age has been about banding groups together,” he says. “That’s what I know. That’s what I do.”

For example, a favorite fraternity mantra of his: Proper preparation prevents pisspoor performance. The six Ps, as he refers to them, still roll off Howard’s tongue with ease. The sisterhood developed organically in some ways—hours in the gym, helping each other with school—but sometimes he compelled it, making them run suicides if they couldn’t recite each other’s family members’ names.

The other fraternity concept McKinney instilled was altruism—an unselfish concern to promote group interest, in his words. It’s about creating an environment where everyone has to work toward a common goal. It’s about spending time together, encouraging connections that last a lifetime, whether it’s someone to confide in or one player hiring another later in life. He has hired several of them as assistant coaches, including NOVEMBER 2019 Columbus Monthly

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by earning a suspension and then talking about the behavior the team had faced.

Moss and Horston say racist taunts in games weren’t uncommon, and they both think McKinney was simply fed up.

Horston, a sophomore on that team, says he typically told them to block all that out, but she gained respect for him when he stood up for them. “It was just bad, and people had to know.”

Then and now, McKinney praises the officiating and the presence of OHSAA officials at the regional final against Archbold, which he watched from the stands. He returned to coach the state semifinal versus Gates Mills Gilmour Academy, but Africentric fell 65-54.

Since that loss, the Nubians have rolled up a 55-3 record and added two consecutive state titles. As good as they had been during the previous decade, they seem to be getting even better.

The championship banners are hung on the entryway wall of the Africentric fieldhouse, just west of the main school building near the Columbus airport. On a Wednesday evening in late September, the players filter in for the weekly open gym. Anderson, in her second stint as McKinney’s primary assistant, oversees the session. When McKinney arrives— he’s late because he also coaches boys’ The only time in the last four years Afriand girls’ tennis, in addition to teachcentric hasn’t reached the state finals ing phys ed and health—he mostly just came in 2017, following controversy in watches. Tryouts are a month away, and the playoffs. After a blowout win over he’s not allowed to coach yet.

Mount Blanchard Riverdale in the The Nubians only lost two players, regional semifinals, McKinney comHorston and Tearra Cook, and they’re plained in a Dispatch article about the extremely skilled yet again, with a officiating and received a one-game deeper bench. But they will be tested. suspension from the Ohio High School The season opens on Nov. 30 against Athletic Association, along with a fine Cardinal O’Hara, a talented team from for Africentric.

New York, and they’ll face out-of-state Moss, his assistant at the time, would powerhouses Detroit Edison and Tenbecome the only former player to coach nessee’s Hamilton Heights Christian the team. In a phone call leading up to Academy. They have a rematch against the game, she says McKinney simply Newark, a Division I opponent the Top, Columbus Africentric’s Jordan Horston (23) and Sakima told her, “You got this,” and then hung Nubians only beat by two last season, Walker double-team Berlin Hiland’s Aila Miller during a up. No long, drawn-out speech necesplus games against typical city league semifinal Division III game in 2019; bottom, Africentric’s Alesia sary. She had been with the program. foes Eastmoor and Northland, where Howard defends against Berlin Hiland’s Jessica Stutzman in a semifinal game in 2008.

She was one of his. Moss led Africentric Bethea now coaches. to a 60-31 victory over Archbold and yet Plus, Berlin Hiland is likely waiting another trip to the state final four. he says now, including slurs directed at playsomewhere on the horizon in the state tourA few days later, the Dispatch ran a followers and someone imitating a monkey. He nament. The small school in Ohio’s Amish up story in which McKinney claimed the rant says that by criticizing the officiating without countryside is Africentric’s great rival. The against officials was motivated by their failure mentioning the taunts, he knew he would be Hiland Hawks have been to more state to address racial taunts, one fan’s pig calls in suspended and that was his goal. He figured final fours—16—than any school in Ohio particular. It was actually multiple incidents, he could draw more attention to the situation history. They’ve won five titles, including 50

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Anderson and Moss. He encourages all the alums to come back and support the program by volunteering or dropping in on practices, open gyms and games. They give advice to current players like senior guard Nyam Thornton, who says they’ve told her how to practice and how to work with McKinney. They’ve been through the Africentric crucible and know the way.

“When you walk in the gym as an alumni, he just glows, like he’s the happiest person in the world, like a kid,” says Anderson. She and Moss and Howard are all still close friends, a phenomenon that’s common among former players.

Every year on Christmas Eve, the Africentric family comes together again—the alums, current players, coaches, McKinney and his relatives— for a big breakfast at Africentric to celebrate his birthday. He estimates as many as 35 to 40 former players attend, a generational gathering of Nubians, a reunion where everyone has championship rings.

“I try to create a situation to where these young ladies will have something that they can just hold on to and grab on to forever,” McKinney says, “even if it’s just each other.”

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A parade and rally at City Hall celebrated the Africentric Lady Nubians basketball team after they won their sixth Division III state title in 2018.

championships in ’05 and ’06 after beating the Nubians in the regionals. The teams traded finals victories in ’08 and ’09, and Africentric beat Hiland en route to the last two titles. “We both don’t take our successes for granted or lightly, but you got to assume we’re on an inevitable path to meet again,” says Hiland coach Dave Schlabach.

Guarding against complacency is McKinney’s toughest challenge. He doesn’t want players to think the Africentric name will win them any games. He wants them to be hungry. Another title in 2020 would be the first time the Nubians have won three in a row, and if Pickerington Central or Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame doesn’t win the Division I championship, Africentric will stand alone atop the record books with eight.

In the fieldhouse, coaches from Ohio University, Wake Forest, Duquesne and the University of Illinois at Chicago are on hand to scout talent. The constant college presence has become a selling point for attending Africentric, as players know they will be seen. Thornton has verbally committed to Texas Tech, and fellow senior guard Alexia Smith committed to the University of Minnesota. Samika Walker, a highly recruited senior center and the daughter of former Whitehall star and ex-NBA player Samaki Walker, says she probably got more atten-

tion by transferring from Bishop Hartley to Africentric. She’s weighing offers from Ohio State and Rutgers, among others.

Helping his players get a free education has always been one of McKinney’s highest priorities. He memorializes their success on a custom jacket—each player who earns a scholarship gets her name stitched into the fabric next to her college. “It’s the dopest jacket ever,” Anderson says.

McKinney drove Anderson to visit colleges himself because her mom’s work schedule wouldn’t allow it. As she debated her options, she says McKinney felt she was becoming preoccupied with athletics. “And he looked at me and he said, ‘Shaq, I could care less about the basketball. You just make sure you come back to me with a degree.’”

She did just that, earning a communications degree from Wilberforce College in 2010. The jacket has 28 names and counting.

McKinney is still hungry. “This year I want to win so bad,” he says. A first-time high school coach taking a bootstrap basketball program to eight state titles in 17 seasons—wouldn’t that be something?

His aspirations run just as high. He’d like to coach on the college level, but it must be the right situation, where the school is committed to winning a national championship.

Otherwise, he’d just be coaching in college to say he did it, to cash out, and that holds no appeal. He’d rather stay where he is, winning titles with the Nubians and watching his kids—Xavier and Braylon—grow up. He coaches their basketball teams, too.

Ask him about success, and McKinney credits hard work, the culture he instilled, his players and colleagues, and the grace of the basketball gods. Sullinger, though, attributes it to something simpler: “He genuinely loves kids, and he wants what’s best for them, not what’s best for him.”

That’s how his players see him, too, especially the older ones who’ve had time to reflect. Howard, now the communications director for the WNBA’s New York Liberty, grew up in Linden without many resources. Though she had a great support system within her family, she feels McKinney was a crucial part of shaping who she has become.

Moss was also profoundly affected by his influence. “He was a huge part in developing me as a person,” she says. She’s forever grateful to be part of the 2007 championship team because she was able to give him that first title after all he’d given her. It’s a peculiar thought, a championship as a gift.

But it’s also comforting—a thing shared for someone else’s benefit. It sounds like altruism, one more thing she learned from him. ◆ NOVEMBER 2019 Columbus Monthly

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Meet the people turning Columbus into a hotbed of podcasting.

By Steve Wartenberg • Photos by Tim Johnson

City of Pod 52

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Podcaster Mikaela Hunt in Capital University’s Convergence Media Center

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ou can’t escape the popularity of podcasts. The guy with earbuds on the stationary bike next to you at the gym? Streaming Serial, the true-crime program that supercharged the podcast craze back in 2014. The couple in the car next to you at the red light laughing hysterically? Listening to Marc Maron or Conan O’Brien interviewing a comedian. Or maybe one of the Obamas.

The number of podcasts keeps growing—close to 800,000, according to the Columbus podcasting company Blubrry—and there are almost as many reasons for that growth as there are murder-mystery shows. With people spending more time alone these days, they increasingly turn to podcasts to keep themselves company. They download episodes at their convenience with their beloved smartphones and listen while making dinner, mowing the lawn or driving to work. And the format is more intimate than other forms of digital media—not to mention addictive, with shows like Serial, S-Town and The Shrink Next Door demanding binge listening. “You’re right in the listener’s ear,” says Dr. Mike Patrick, the creator and host

of Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s PediaCast. “You’re inviting them into your studio for a conversation.”

It’s also easy to create your own podcast. “The technology is incredibly accessible, and just about anyone can afford to get into it and create something,” says Michael De Bonis, a WOSU digital media and podcast producer. “There’s a place for all different types of people at all different skill levels.”

That variety is evident in Columbus, where locally produced podcasts run the gamut, from mainstream topics like Buckeye football and Statehouse politics to more niche fare like digital analytics, Star Trek and the Canadian rock band Barenaked Ladies. Some are produced by professional broadcasters, but most are the work of enthusiastic amateurs. A few local podcasts have even gained national audiences.

MacKenzie Bennett—the marketing services coordinator for Columbus’ Blubrry, one of the biggest podcast hosting companies—helps organize Columbus Ohio Podcasters, a group of local podcasters and aspiring podcasters who meet monthly. Bennett says the group includes more than 800 online members,

Dr. Michael Patrick, host of PediaCast from Nationwide Children’s Hospital

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The Essentials and about half have their own podcasts (and most of the rest hope to start their own programs, too).

Amid the boom, Columbus Monthly highlights four people who are helping turn Central Ohio into a hotbed of podcasting. You’ll learn about their motivations, successes and lessons learned, as well as the one quality that ties together all who excel in the field.

“The No. 1 thing I tell people is, you have to love it and have that burning passion for the project because people underestimate the amount of work it takes to make something really good,” De Bonis says.

Maybe their passion will even inspire you to pick up a mic yourself.

The Pediatric Pioneer Dr. Mike, as he’s known to his legions of listeners around the world, is a podcasting groundbreaker and the creator and host of what might be the area’s longest-running podcast.

It began in 2006 when Mike Patrick was working as a pediatrician in nearby Springfield. On his daily commute, he listened to several of those newfangled podcasts just starting to catch on. “I was working in PediaCast a really busy primary care Host: Dr. Mike Patrick practice,” Patrick says. “We Topic: Pediatric medical had to see a lot of kids in a and parenting advice Episodes: 440-plus really short period of time, and there wasn’t enough time to do the amount of education I wanted to do.”

And so the technically savvy former college disc jockey decided to start a podcast and educate parents on ear infections, baby poop, vaccines and toddler diarrhea. You know, the stuff parents desperately need to know. “It started as something for my patients and became something big,” Patrick says.

How big? “So big it was crippling the server,” he says of the early days. “We’ve had over 3 million downloads.”

So big that in 2011 he moved over to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where he sees patients two days a week and works on social media the other three days. In addition to PediaCast, he recently started a second podcast, PediaCast CME, for health care providers and does a regular gig on 10TV. “There aren’t very many people who can say they make a living podcasting, but it’s a large part of what I do,” Patrick says.

There are a couple of keys to the success of PediaCast. The first is Patrick, who comes across as a friendly physician you’d trust with your kids. He talks about his family, their vacations and other tidbits from his life. A new episode is a chance to catch up with an old friend. “Podcasting is very intimate compared to other forms of media,” he says. “[So it’s

Seven key ingredients of highly effective podcasting Paul Kotheimer offers a warning to prospective podcasters: Before spending a lot of money on equipment, consider renting a studio for your first taping. “Many people think they’ll love doing a podcast, but find they have no interest after just one episode,” says Kotheimer, a digital media producer in the College of the Arts and Sciences at Ohio State.

In fact, the phenomenon has a name: “podfading.” According to Blubrry, 50 percent of all podcasts never get past episode seven. “The time commitment is huge,” says Vince Tornero, president of Wessler Media, creator of Pelotonia’s One Goal podcast and A Fair To Remember for the Ohio State Fair. To avoid becoming a podfader, Kotheimer and Tornero recommend you focus on these seven essential ingredients of successful podcasting.

Hosting Site: A website to upload your podcast to.

Examples are Soundcloud, Blubrry, Libsyn or PodBean.

Recording Space: Studio time costs $25 to $50 an hour, Kotheimer says.

Or you can do it yourself. Find a quiet spot at home or the office, perhaps a closet, where the hum from the air conditioning and heating aren’t a problem. Even your car could work. “If you close all the windows, you sort of have a sound booth, although it’s not great for conversing with someone since you can’t face each other,” Kotheimer says.

Recording: The goal is to have the volume remain the same throughout the podcast so listeners won’t have to fiddle with controls. Easier said than done. “The most basic setup is a single mic that you plug into the USB port on your

computer,” Kotheimer says. “If you have multiple mics, then you’ll need a mixer.” A good mixer? Kotheimer recommends RodeCaster but warns they’re not cheap: $599 for one with four microphone inputs. A good mic?

“The Blue Yeti is a god mic to start with,” Tornero says. The Yeti mics range from $99.99 to $249.99. “If you have a long-term plan in mind, invest in a Shure SM7B [$399 and up].”

Editing: “If it’s boring and someone is babbling on and on, you may need to make more edits,” Tornero says. He and Kotheimer recommend Audacity, a free, entry-level editing platform.

Adobe Audition is a step up.

Time: Tornero admits he’s a bit obsessive about editing.

“It’s not uncommon for it to take a week, but a week and a half can happen. It all depends on how good you want it. The goal is to create an immersive audio experience.”

While Tornero’s podcasts are more complicated and include a lot of interviews and editing, a simple oneon-one interview podcast episode can take as little as three or four hours to produce.

Directories: iTunes is the biggest player in podcasts, so make sure the service has your RSS feed (most podcasting hosts do this automatically). There are several other directories, including Spotify, Google Play Music and Stitcher, to name a few.

Paid Sponsors: Once you get 2,000 to 5,000 downloads per episode, “you can start to talk to local businesses and go from there,” Tornero says. There are websites that find sponsors for popular podcasts and take a percentage of the revenue. Anchor.fm and wondery.com are examples.

Pro Tip

Other Podcasts Are Your Friends “There’s no secret to promoting your podcast. It’s week after week, month after month of promoting it. … I’ve been a guest on other podcasts and that’s a good way to reach potential listeners.”

—Eric Zimmer, creator and host, The One You Feed

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Alex Hastie, host of Ohio v.

The World podcast, at the Ohio History Center

important] to be relatable and a real person and connect with people.”

So is explaining complicated medical issues in simple terms. Each episode includes a guest expert in a specific pediatric field. Recent episodes have delved into newborn care, diabetes, anxiety in children and teens, and syndromic craniosynostosis, a condition that impacts the growth of a baby’s skull.

“I help guide the conversation,” Patrick says. “And if I feel the explanation is above people’s heads, I’ll sum it up in simple, plain English.”

Filling a Historical Void

Pro Tip

Watch Your P and B Sounds “I recommend using a pop filter on your mic. It absorbs ‘plosives,’ bursts of air when people make the P and B sounds, that can distort and overmodulate the signal through the mic.”

— Paul Kotheimer, digital media producer in the College of the Arts and Sciences at Ohio State

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When Alex Hastie was just getting into podcasts a few years ago, the Columbus attorney looked around for a program to teach him about Ohio history. The search didn’t go well. “I searched and searched, and there was nothing out there,” he recalls. So the former history major at the College of Wooster took action. “I decided to fill that void,” he says.

In 2016, Hastie created Ohio v. The World. In the first episode, Hastie interviewed two people who were at Kent State University on May 4, 1970, when the Ohio National Guard opened fire on students protesting the Ohio v. The World Vietnam War, killing four.

Host: Alex Hastie “I had no technical skills,” Topic: Ohio history Hastie says of his entry into Episodes: About 50 podcasting, adding he “got a lot of help from the internet and from trial and error. … When I listen to that first episode, I hear all these audio issues.”

Hastie’s podcasting skills and the audio quality of Ohio v. The World have grown by leaps and bounds.

“My tip is, don’t skimp on the equipment,” he says of the required microphones, editing software and mixing program.

Here’s another tip from Hastie that’s not so technical: Have fascinating guests talk about interesting topics. For example, a recent episode featured John Dean. Yes, that John Dean, the guy from Watergate, who discussed the 1970s scandal and its current relevancy. “People say that everything that’s happening now is unprecedented, but there’s usually something in the past that’s similar,” Hastie says.

Other episodes have examined the lives of Ohioans George Custer and Annie Oakley; how Ohio women led the suffrage movement; the infamous Cuyahoga River fire of 1969 that helped spark the modern environmental movement; and the story of John D. Rockefeller and Standard Oil. Hastie says he gets between 5,000 and 10,000 downloads per episode. “It’s rare now when an author says no, they don’t want to be on the podcast,” he says, adding that publishers now reach out

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to him. He’s had a sponsor in the past, GoBus, but not this year.

“When I started, my biggest fear was we would run out of history,” Hastie says. “I don’t have that fear anymore.” He does his podcast in seasons, and the 2020 season will focus on the U.S. presidents from Ohio, which is known as the Cradle of Presidents. “And another season will focus on cities around the state.”

Feeding the Beast There’s a Cherokee parable about the good wolf and bad wolf that reside inside everyone. “Which one wins?” a young boy asks his wise grandfather. “The one you feed,” he replies.

This is the premise behind The One You Feed, created in 2014 by Eric Zimmer, who struggled to feed his good wolf. At the age of 24, he was a homeless heroin addict facing a prison sentence. He eventually found and began feeding his good wolf and turned his

life around. “I wanted to do a podcast where I interviewed people about what living a good life means to them,” he says, adding that most of these people are the authors of self-help and spiritual guidance books. “The first few episodes were nerve-wracking, reaching out to people I didn’t know and asking them to come on a show that didn’t exist yet.”

Zimmer, 49, who is also a life coach, persisted, and The One You Feed has grown into a very successful podcast. “We’re close to 15 million downloads,” he says.

Recent episodes have explored depression, living with chronic pain, navigating romantic relationships and addiction. “My goal is to help listeners feel less alone with whatever they’re going through and have some tools to deal better with the situations in their lives,” Zimmer says. “I started the podcast because I wanted to help myself, and it remains a privilege and The One You Feed honor to help others.”

Host: Eric Zimmer Publishers now reach out Topic: Spiritual guidance Episodes: 200-plus to Zimmer, trying to book

Pro Tip

Get Off to a Good Start “You can draw people in with a compelling piece of [audio] right at the start … to introduce the main character and maybe set up some sort of conflict or problem the person is facing.”

— Michael De Bonis, digital media producer, WOSU

Podcaster Eric Zimmer at the Park of Roses

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From Print to Podcasting Yes, an ink-stained dog can learn new podcasting tricks.

It didn’t take me long to discover my verbal crutch. Two years ago, after a long career as a newspaper reporter and freelance writer, I started hosting a podcast for the Ohio State University James Cancer Hospital. The job forced me to listen more closely to my own vocal tendencies, and I came away with a startling discovery: I really like the word “wow.” A lot. And to avoid annoying the listeners of The James Cancer-Free World Podcast, I needed to expand my vocabulary.

That was just one lesson I learned over the course of planning, hosting and editing 40-plus episodes of Cancer-Free World so far. Here are a few more.

Reading is Fundamental It’s a lot harder than you think to read a few paragraphs of copy and make it sound natural. So before we record a new podcast, I find a quiet place, meditate and spend several minutes reading my three or four introductory paragraphs of copy over and over. And then two more times.

Listen Up It’s tempting to think ahead to the next question I’m gonna ask the top docs and scientists at the James. Instead, I listen closely to what the person I’m interviewing is saying and ask a followup based on his or her response. Be engaged in the conversation.

Gonna?

Yes, I just wrote “gonna” instead of “going to” above. Why? Because I stumble over the words “going to” when I try to read

them in my copy. And I say “gonna” a lot, as in: “Today we’re gonna talk to Dr. X about an amazing breakthrough in cancer research.” So avoid words you stumble over. Like rural or spinach.

Airplane Mode Need I write more?

Timer But I do put my phone on the desk and turn on the timer to keep track of how long we’ve been talking and when to take our “halftime” break.

Paraphrase When one of the James docs explains immunotherapy, amyloidosis or precision-cancer medicine, and I’m not quite sure if I understand what he or she is saying, I’ll paraphrase, hoping I’m on the right track. This helps the non-scientists out there to better understand.

Get Ahead Before you hit the “live” button for your first-ever, new-and-exciting podcast that will change the course of human existence and surely go viral … make sure you have at least three or four additional episodes “in the can” and ready to go.

And stay three or four episodes ahead.

Trust me, it’s gonna make life a lot easier.

The Fun Factor I quickly learned that I really enjoy podcasting. It’s a new way to tell stories, learn, share information and connect with people. Go ahead, give it a try. But remember: It’s a lot of work.

their authors on his podcast. They often send a list of questions to ask—which Zimmer ignores.

He reads each book and comes up with his own questions. “When they find I’ve read their work and am interested in it, they’ll go deeper, and we can engage in a meaningful way.”

The secret to the success of this podcast is hard work. Zimmer estimates it takes 15 to 20 hours to produce each episode, with the help of Chris Forbes, a longtime friend with a recording background.

The One You Feed has paying sponsors. “Early on, we went out and found our own sponsors,” Zimmer says. Now, he uses wondery.com. “If you have enough downloads—I’ve heard 5,000 to 10,000 per episode—they go out and find sponsors for you.”

On the Business Beat Business is booming in Columbus, and that’s the topic of cbuzz, a podcast produced by the Columbus Chamber of Commerce and hosted by longtime local TV journalist Mikaela Hunt.

“It’s an opportunity to tell great business stories and for business owners to learn from each other,” says Hunt, who now runs her own business, Mikaela Media.

For example, a recent episode featured Dr. Pete Edwards, one of the new co-owners of the Columbus Crew. He discussed the importance of the team for the region and the impact of the proposed Downtown stadium. Other past guests include Dr. Michael Drake, president of Ohio State University, and cbuzz Greg Ubert, CEO of Host: Mikaela Hunt Crimson Cup Coffee Topic: Local business & Tea. There was an and community leaders extra buzz at cbuzz Episodes: About 60 when Ubert visited.

Hunt has learned a few interviewing tricks over the years to help her guests feel more comfortable in front of a microphone. “As an interviewer, you have to tap into what that person is saying, focus in

Web Extra

A Podcast about Podcasting Steve Wartenberg, the writer, in the podcasting studio at OSU

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Steve Wartenberg worked with our friends at The Columbus Dispatch, which produces a host of podcasts, to create a one-off “podcast about podcasting” to accompany this feature. To hear Steve’s discussion with local podcasting expert Vince Tornero, go to columbusmonthly.com/podcast.

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Podcaster Mikaela Hunt in the Capital University’s Convergence Media Center

on them and be present,” she says. “And, when they hesitate or show some emotion when sharing a part of their life, you need to unearth the story behind it.”

Sometimes, a guest needs a little help finding their “Aunt Mabel.”

“I was taught a long time ago, in journalism school, to always think about your Aunt Mabel,” Hunt explains. “To break it down so even your Aunt Mabel will understand.”

She’s also learned the importance of a top-notch recording studio and sound engineer. “Over the years, I’ve had to record promos and commercials in my closet, but nothing beats the quality of a studio microphone and that control over the audio,” she says. The Chamber has teamed with Capital University’s Convergent Media Center to produce

cbuzz. “It’s a beautiful relationship. The students do the recording and editing under the direction of the faculty.”

Unlike many podcasts, Hunt does cbuzz in what she calls “batches,” recording four or five at a time, in a single day, every few months. While an efficient use of time, it requires a lot of planning, which is the job of Courtney West, the marketing manager of the Columbus Chamber.

Hunt is still relatively new to the world of podcasting but has quickly fallen in love with the medium.

“In TV news, we had two to three minutes total to do an interview,” she says. “Podcasts allow you to have a much more casual conversation where you can cover much more ground … and listeners walk away feeling like they’ve learned a lot.” ◆

Pro Tip

Build a Podcast Fort

“I like to create what I call a podcast fort [for better sound quality]. I once recorded sitting on my bed, surrounded by comforters, and I threw my blanket over my head and interviewed someone under there using Skype.”

— MacKenzie Bennett, marketing services coordinator, Blubrry

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More than a Museum

November 2019 Columbus Monthly

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New home of the Brave One year ago, the National Veterans Memorial and Museum opened as the nation’s first and only museum dedicated to telling the story of the Veteran experience. Housed in an awardwinning, iconic building, we are the New Home of the Brave, representing the stories of service and sacrifice from Veterans from all branches of the military and both wartime and peacetime service.

We have welcomed nearly 60,000 visitors in this first year—from Veterans and their families, to students on school tours, to non-Veterans of all ages, as well as business and community leaders. Many have come to experience our core exhibit: a multimedia narrative journey told by Veterans of military service and return to civilian life. Hundreds of guests have marked significant events at the museum, ranging from a rooftop Memorial Day remembrance ceremony to a Veteran Voices panel featuring firsthand experiences from a D-Day Veteran. And still others have joined us for more intimate experiences, like our monthly Rally Point breakfast gathering for local Veterans or our members-only events.

For both Veterans and non-Veterans alike, this museum provides the platform to begin important conversations about what it means to serve our nation and commit to something larger than yourself.

The National Veterans Memorial and Museum is a powerful reminder that freedom is never free. At this point in our

300 W. Broad St. Columbus, OH 43215 nationalvmm.org

President & CEO Lieutenant General Michael Ferriter (U.S. Army, Retired) Chief of Staff Colonel William J. Butler (U.S. Army, Retired) Vice President of Finance and Administration Jeff Nutter

Vice President of Advancement Candace Brady Associate Director of Visitor Experience Andy Cloyd Associate Director of External Affairs Shelly Hoffman Cover Photo by Brad Feinknopf

All photos courtesy National Veterans Memorial and Museum unless otherwise noted.

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nation’s history, less than 1 percent of the population is serving in the military.

The stories of Veterans told through the museum demonstrate the power of people coming together for the good of our nation. There is so much more that bonds Americans than divides us.

None of this would be possible without the vision of the late Senator John Glenn and the leadership of the Columbus community who stepped up to create this national treasure. It is fitting that the National Veterans Memorial and Museum is located in Columbus, near the center of the country and within a day’s drive of more than 50 percent of the population.

Our mission is to Honor, Connect, Inspire and Educate, and this makes us much more than a museum. We are on an incredible trajectory to touch and impact millions. We are grateful to the Columbus community for the incredible support in our inaugural year, and we look forward to building upon that base as we connect with Veterans and civilians across this great nation.

Sincerely and Hooah!

Lt. General Michael Ferriter (U.S. Army, Retired) CEO and President The National Veterans Memorial and Museum

62 E. Broad St. P.O. Box 1289 Columbus, Ohio 43216 614-888-4567

President Bradley M. Harmon Publisher Ray Paprocki project manager Emma Frankart Henterly

Production/Design Director Craig Rusnak Art Director Alyse Pasternak

More than a Museum is published by GateHouse Media, LLC. All contents of this magazine are copyrighted © 2019, all rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without written permission, of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited.

More than a Museum >>> National Veterans Memorial and Museum

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Building the Bridge Since opening its doors on Oct. 27, 2018, the National Veterans Memorial and Museum has placed heavy emphasis on its four pillars, including connecting Veterans with one another, with services that they might need and with the public at large.

Jennifer (Loredo) Ballou, who served in the Army for more than 20 years before retiring in 2015, experienced the power of those connections firsthand over Memorial Day weekend. Also a Gold Star Spouse, she traveled from her home in Texas to give a keynote presentation about her late husband, Edwardo “Eddie” Loredo, who died in combat.

“I was blown away at how great of a job the museum does at telling the stories of Veterans. I walked through it several times over the weekend, and I was just brought to tears every single time … seeing the different ways that they tell stories and connect you in that way is absolutely amazing,” she says. “It means more than I can really put into words.”

But the museum and memorial’s pillar of connection goes far beyond connecting visitors with Veterans’ per-

sonal stories. Programs like Rally Point (pictured above) connect Veterans with one another and with organizations that can provide vital assistance.

In the military, a rally point is a place where a unit can meet to regroup if things go south, says chief of staff Colonel Bill Butler (U.S. Army, Retired). “It’s kind of a space for Veterans to connect and to regroup to help one another,” he adds.

The free monthly programs have different themes, from recognizing Purple Heart recipients to presenting alternative, holistic physical and mental health therapies. Regardless of the topic, Butler says, the mission is the same: meeting Veterans’ needs, whatever they may be.

Scott Horsington, a helicopter mechanic and pilot who retired from the Army in 2007 after serving 21 years, has attended nearly every single Rally Point to date. He says he didn’t know what to expect at first; after just one meeting, he was hooked.

“It’s not just a museum and a memorial. [General Ferriter] is making it a community gathering place, a focal

point,” Horsington says. “To be able to meet other Veterans [from] all different branches and different times of service … it’s been huge for me.”

Other events focus on other needs.

For example, a Nov. 8 hiring event at 10 Topgolf locations nationwide “stands to really help Veterans tremendously,” says Butler. “Upwards of 2,500 or 3,000 Vets could get hired.” He adds that another professional program—a leadership certificate through Ohio State University’s John Glenn School for Public Administration—will launch in the spring.

In many ways, the National Veterans Memorial and Museum is bridging the gap—any gap—that any Veteran might be facing. And it’s doing it in a way that no other organization has before.

“To my knowledge, there’s nothing like it … that represents all services, all Veterans at the national level,” Ballou says. “All of the [military] services are working toward one common goal of protecting and defending our nation, so it only makes sense to tell all of the stories at the same time in one place. It’s so much more powerful that way.”

November 2019 Columbus Monthly

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Grand Opening Event

56,500

General Colin L. Powell (U.S. Army, Retired) spoke at the public ceremonies on Oct. 27, 2018.

visitors from

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states

Rally Point Meeting Veterans representing multiple post-service organizations chat during a Rally Point meeting.

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A Year in Review

Veterans Portrait Project Photographer and Veteran Stacy Pearsall takes Lt. General Michael Ferriter’s portrait.

Memorial Day Ceremony

Purple Heart

Gold Star Spouse Jennifer (Loredo) Ballou spoke

Monument Dedication

before 350 guests in a rooftop ceremony.

Memorial Grove’s first monument, honoring Purple Heart recipients, was dedicated in May.

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More than a Museum >>> National Veterans Memorial and Museum

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Soldiers’ Cross Dedication A monument to fallen service members was dedicated in Memorial Grove on Memorial Day.

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World War II Panel A panel of Veterans spoke to a packed house on June 6 for the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

9/11 Ceremony

philanthropic partners

The museum partnered with the city of Columbus and Franklin County to honor lives lost 18 years ago.

Red, White and Boom Families enjoyed Independence Day fireworks in front of the memorial and museum.

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hosted events

207 group visits

Topgolf Hiring Event A mid-September job fair connected Veterans with open positions at 10 local companies, including Battelle, Nationwide, Abbott and Airstream.

Flag Day The museum planted American flags on its lawn to celebrate the day in 1777 when the Stars and Stripes became our national flag.

Community Celebration of Honor Families gathered for a July 5 fundraiser featuring food and fun in support of the museum’s mission.

November 2019 Columbus Monthly

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Spreading the Word

The Gift of Time Where would the National Veterans Memorial and Museum be without its volunteers?

“My opinion is, we wouldn’t exist without them,” says Laurie Manley, internship and volunteer manager. “Every visitor, every person that comes in for a tour, every person that comes in for a group meeting or rents our space has contact with the volunteers.” Manley adds that ideally, she’d like to see the volunteer corps increase to 180 members or more; currently, there are about 100 volunteers, about 60 percent of whom are themselves Veterans.

Read on to meet three volunteers who help keep the museum and memorial running.

John Posey

Kathy Simcox

Steve Jones

College student and corporal, Army National Guard

Retail employee and photographer

Lt. Colonel (U.S. Air Force, Retired)

Why she volunteers: “I love serving the community, and I have six men in my family that have served in various branches going all the way back to World War I. I am a huge history buff, and there’s history all over the place. … [Veterans] come in, and we get to experience and talk to and interact with living history, people that we have read about in textbooks. … The whole experience has just been an honor and a privilege.”

Why he volunteers: “I’d been through military museums and battlefield museums, and they’re all impressive in their own regard. But this is really a very personal story, the kind that touches people in a way that no other museum that I’ve ever been in does. It’s almost a spiritual connection that really kind of tugs at your heart. Even to this day, as I go through, there are times that I get emotional when I see people and see their stories.”

Why he volunteers: “I love the sense that everybody is welcome.

A big part of that for me is … I haven’t been overseas yet. I don’t serve a certain amount of time; we’re parttimers, so I was struggling with, ‘Should I even really consider myself a Veteran?’ But they really put out open hands and said, ‘You’re wearing a uniform, you want to serve; you’re a warrior for our nation.’”

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When the National Veterans Memorial and Museum opened, Battelle donated an impressive $500,000 to fund educational programming. At the science and technology-focused organization, “we don’t necessarily see STEM specifically as ‘science, technology, engineering and math,’” says Aimee Kennedy, Battelle’s senior vice president for education, STEM learning and philanthropy. “We like to think of STEM as ‘strategies that engage minds.’”

The museum’s public programs manager Stacey Queen ensures the funds are well-appropriated, implementing customized curricula for each visiting school group, creating a fellowship program for college students and first-year teachers, and curating interactive carts with artifacts that visitors can see and touch.

“Our museum curriculum is heavily based on the state of Ohio standards of learning,” she says. From the symbolism of the American flag with kindergarteners to architecture with students from the Columbus College of Art & Design, thematic topics can cover a wide range.

John Glenn High School teacher Patti Logan brought her class to the museum in May. “Another teacher in our building … had raved about it,” she says. From initial contact with museum staff to creating a theme to a follow-up satisfaction survey, planning the trip “was just like clockwork,” Logan says. She and her students especially enjoyed the interactive elements of the museum, such as the ability to post questions for Veterans to answer in the future.

“It’s just very, very rich,” Logan says. “We’re very fortunate to have this so close to home.”

More than a Museum >>> National Veterans Memorial and Museum

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The Road Ahead

Photo: Brad Feinknopf

Celebrating Service through Storytelling “In my time here, part of my work has been to educate communities across the country on the fact that, while we are proud to have a national designation, we do not receive federal funding,” says Candace Brady, vice president of advancement for the National Veterans Museum and Memorial.

“We are a nonprofit, and we appreciate the support of all to propel our mission—including our membership program, which is 100 percent philanthropic. We have Inaugural Members from all over the country—25 states, D.C.—and Denmark and England.”

These Inaugural Members—those who have committed to give a fixed amount over one to two years—receive such benefits as unlimited admission, exhibition previews, private tours and more, to say nothing of the satisfaction that comes with supporting such an institution.

For Army Veteran Carl S. Ey, one visit was all it took to convince him to become a member. The interactive

features were particularly impressive for the Alexandria, Virginia, resident.

“I really get the sense that I’m talking to my neighbor, as opposed to walking through and reading a plaque,” Ey says.

“You really get [a sense of what featured service members] did if you go see this museum—more so, even, than at a lot of museums I see here in Washington, D.C., that are honoring the military. They really hit the nail on the head.”

Memberships, individual gifts, grants and corporate sponsorships support such initiatives as free access for Veterans and active-duty service members, education programs for students, events and more.

“Every donation has been so impactful in our first year,” says Brady. “Gifts given to this museum and memorial are put to immediate use to empower our mission: Honor all Veterans, connect our communities, inspire our nation and educate every generation.”

Visit NationalVMM.org to join us in our mission.

With so much accomplished in just their first year, the staff of the National Veterans Memorial and Museum already are looking to the future.

“The vision begins with growing to a national stature,” says President and CEO Lt. General Michael Ferriter (U.S. Army, Retired). “We want to reach coast to coast and north to south, impacting the lives of 1 million Veterans a year. And it’s not brick and mortar, and it’s not necessarily physically in Columbus, Ohio.”

Whether via an online virtual tour or the Airstream rolling exhibitions set to deploy next year, the facility aims to connect Veterans from Tacoma to Tampa to one another and the “big idea of their selfless service,” Ferriter explains.

Similarly, there are plans to bring touring exhibits from other museums in to Columbus beginning in 2020.

In the short term, a Veterans Day celebration on Nov. 11 and a 2020 Memorial Day weekend ride by Rolling Thunder—the motorcycle group that advocates for prisoners of war and missing in action service members—are both in the works.

“We’re developing an amazing team that wants to deliver the ‘greatest show on earth’ to the public and the guests that come in our doors,” Ferriter says, “all the while building out the next creative, innovative idea and fully expanding those opportunities.”

November 2019 Columbus Monthly

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Visit the New Home of the Brave 300 W. Broad St. Columbus, OH 43215 nationalvmm.org

Become an inaugural member at NationalVMM.org/membership 8

More than a Museum >>> National Veterans Memorial and Museum

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Bexley special advertising section

A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section

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Welcome to Bexley Bexley is thriving, and we want you to be a part of it.

Over the years, Bexley has carved out a unique position as a close-knit, historic neighborhood full of walkable and bikeable streets, first-rate educational institutions, neighbors that are truly there for each other and a bustling Main Street corridor.

Our educational institutions extend beyond our nationally ranked public school system to include top-notch places of learning at Capital University, Columbus School for Girls and St. Charles Preparatory Academy. Earlier this decade, Bexley became the first city in the world to be certified in its entirety as an arboretum, and our emphasis on tree canopy, pedestrian experience and quality of architecture and streetscape is palpable.

Today’s Bexley is not resting on its laurels or satisfied with the status quo. We’re building on our classic strengths with a futureforward vision that is welcoming to people of all backgrounds, focused on environmental stewardship, and ushering in a new era of dining, shopping, entertainment and recreational opportunities that draw visitors from throughout the Central Ohio region.

Whatever you or your family look or sound like, or where you come from, you’re welcome in Bexley. One of our greatest and proudest legacies is having served as a place of refuge for the Central Ohio Jewish community early in our history. Today, we’re proud to have residents and visitors who represent an increasingly diverse back-

ground of races, religions, ages, nationalities and identities.

We’ve established ourselves as a statewide leader in environmental stewardship initiatives, including our curbside food waste recycling program, our emphasis on clean energy infrastructure and our work on reducing single-use plastics in our local environment. Bexley’s Zero Waste Plan was adopted in 2018 and creates a blueprint for an increasingly diminished waste disposal footprint. Our quest for continued sustainability is leading us to think bigger than we ever have before, with utilityscale renewable energy generation for our entire community under exploration.

And our Main Street corridor, which serves as the heart of our commercial and community centers, is home to an increasing number of fantastic restaurants, unique shopping opportunities and, of course, the newly renovated and historic Drexel Theatre.

But beyond all of these points of pride and self-accolades, we are quite simply a community of lifelong learners and good neighbors, eager to welcome you to our proverbial front porch. We hope you’ll join us soon!

Take good care,

A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section

President

Bradley M. Harmon Publisher/General Manager

Ray Paprocki Associate publisher/ Advertising Director

Rheta Gallagher

EDITORIAL Special Sections Editor

Emma Frankart Henterly

Columbus Monthly Editor

Dave Ghose

contributors

Nancy Byron, Peter Tonguette, Rebecca Walters Intern

Phil Heston

DESIGN & production Production/ Design Director

Craig Rusnak

Art director

Alyse Pasternak

Associate art director

Betsy Becker

Digital Editor

Julanne Hohbach Assistant Digital Editor

Brittany Moseley

Photography Photo Editor

Tim Johnson

Associate Photo Editor

Rob Hardin

ADVERTISING Advertising Manager

Holly Gallucci

Account Executives

Michelle Crossman, Tia Hardman, Kyle Nussbaum, Jackie Vosler

Ben Kessler, Mayor

Sales Assistant

Samantha Belk

Marketing marketing manager

Lauren Reinhard

Photo: Derk's Works Photography

Inside

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All in the Family These features make Bexley a family-friendly community.

Editorial/Advertising Offices

12 16 22 26 Leading the Charge

Meet a few of the women who lead the city.

Small-Town Vibes Modern amenities don’t prevent Bexley from exuding charm.

Blending Old and New

Historic homes still can display new tricks.

62 E. Broad St. P.O. Box 1289 Columbus, OH 43216 614-888-4567

School Choice

Three top-ranked schools and a university call Bexley home.

ON THE COVER: Students and community members celebrate reaching a Bexley Community Foundation fundraising goal for Jeffrey Mansion. | Photo by Daniel Stemen

Bexley: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section is published by GateHouse Media, LLC. All contents of this magazine are copyrighted © 2019, all rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without written permission, of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited.

Publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited materials.

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Lifestyle

All in the Family Bexley’s connectivity fosters a tight-knit community that’s green in more ways than one.

The Main Event, a summer entertainment series

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Photo: Derk’s Works Photography

By Rebecca Walters

Bexley: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section November 2019

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Living in Bexley is like being part of a really big extended family. Like a family, the 14,000 residents who live in Bexley have strong ties to one another and care deeply for their community.

Great schools, historic houses, a walkable downtown, a collective concern for the environment and plenty of activities and events connect the community and make Bexley such a highly desirable place to live and do business.

“I love Bexley because everything is convenient, and there’s a sense of community in everything we do,” says Drew Flora, a Bexley resident for the past 20 years. “There’s always one or two degrees of separation from other people. It seems like we know almost everyone, or know someone who knows someone.”

Steeped in tradition but forward-thinking, Bexley city officials lead by example when it comes to making the city great. The community is big on sustainability and maintaining its small-town vibe, which is complemented by a touch of urban charm thanks to Columbus’ proximity.

Going Green With curbside composting, electric vehicle charging stations, and bans on plastic bags and straws, environmental sustainability is a way of life for Bexley residents.

“Food-waste recycling is not for the faint of heart,” says Bexley Mayor Ben Kessler.

“Sustainability is in our DNA. It’s part of the culture of our community.” Kessler lives this practice in part through his choice for transportation: an electric Chevy Bolt.

Flora also drives an electric car, a Tesla Model S, which he bought in part because he commutes 60 miles to Dayton, where his business is located. Although he could have relocated his family, they chose to stay in Bexley. “We love where we are,” he says.

Renewable energy is at the forefront of sustainability efforts in the city. Bexley is at the ready to participate in a statewide Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) solar panel program when it launches later this year. The program offers low-cost, long-term financing for residents to invest in energyefficient upgrades for renewable projects. In June, Bexley City Council passed legislation to approve the concept.

Future green efforts include a pet waste collection/disposal program, expanding recycling efforts to include commercial and multiunit housing properties and developing a dog park along Alum Creek, says Troy

find here.

At Gramercy Books, we share our love of books and the arts through a broad range of programs. From hosting writers to monthly book discussions, there’s something for everyone. We’re proud of our community partnerships and the incredible authors, poets, and songwriters that have passionately shared their stories.

You’ll find an incredible experience at Gramercy Books, from our warm, knowledgeable staff and curated selection to engaging events featuring authors, poets, and songwriters. Stop by and browse, grab a coffee at Kittie’s, and discover something you didn’t even know you were looking for.

We’re proud to be a locally-owned, independent bookstore serving central Ohio. Open daily at 9am!

2424 E. Main St. / Bexley, OH 43209 / 614.867.5515 / gramercybooksbexley.com Bexley: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section November 2019

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Playing cornhole at The Main Event

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A ropes course at the Labor Day Block Party

Photos: Top, Derk’s Works Photography; Bottom, Courtesy City of Bexley

Markham, service and environmental chair for Bexley City Council.

“Our community is probably unique in that we tend to be made up of people who really care about the environment and are open to ideas and programs,” he says.

Canopied streets are a distinguishing feature throughout Bexley, and the Tree & Public Gardens Commission sees to it that public gardens, urban forests and other plantings are protected.

“Tree-lined streets change how you relate to your environment,” Kessler says. “It’s both aesthetic and functional.”

Commission chair Susan Quintenz says that establishing and maintaining a consistent community feel is another undertaking of the commission, which created “gateways” to the city, “to create an identity and let people know they are entering Bexley.” The commission also researches and decides when and where new species should be introduced.

Bexley is so serious about its trees—it is home to 132 different species of plantings— that in 2013, it became the first municipality to be designated as an arboretum by the Bexley: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section November 2019

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“It’s not just about filling vessels with lots of content knowledge. It’s about helping students to take that content knowledge and do something important with it.

CSG girls learn from a very early age that what they do is more important than just what they know.”

- Jennifer Ciccarelli Head of School

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Celebrating Differences, Embracing Commonalities

Morton Arboretum in Chicago, says Grant Archer, urban forestry supervisor for the city of Bexley.

One of the criteria for maintaining its designation as an arboretum requires an education component. In addition to labeling trees and offering self-guided tours, Bexley offers Maple Syrup Workshops in which participants learn how to identify maple trees and install buckets to collect sap, which later is boiled and bottled at the annual Jeffrey Woods Festival.

Bustling Businesses At the heart of Bexley is Main Street, which buzzes with energy. It’s where families go for ice cream and pizza, meet for play dates, run daily errands and take in a yoga or fitness class. Residents enjoy having the ability to park their car once and walk to a variety of destinations along the quaint strip. And many just walk or ride their bikes from home.

Business owners say that while they attract customers from throughout Central Ohio, they have a dedicated base of followers in Bexley, mostly because of convenience and connectedness.

Jennifer Roy, owner of Urban Emporium, says Main Street was the perfect place to open her shop that features local artisans. “I love it because it’s a small town in a big city,” she says. “The business community is very strong. We’re connected to each other as business owners and because we have kids.”

Allyson Morena, owner of Piccadilly, an indoor play café on Main Street, also enjoys the strong sense of community she feels doing business in Bexley. “It’s a good environment because there’s a strong focus on family, and it’s easily accessible,” she says.

“It’s an easy place to get involved, and it’s very welcoming.”

In addition to being the gathering place for families and friends, Main Street also is where many of Bexley’s annual festivals and community celebrations take place.

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The city also stands out physically. Driving down Main Street, one is immediately aware they have arrived in Bexley, with its tree-lined streets, manicured lawns and stately mansions.

While cohesiveness is something that makes for a strong community, Bexley Mayor Ben Kessler also recognizes that nothing grows within a vacuum.

What’s commonly referred to as the “Bexley bubble” describes a perceived separation or boundary that exists in Bexley and its surrounding communities. Whether this perception is accurate is what motivated Kessler to dive deeper into the subject of where his city stands on diversity and inclusiveness.

Youths participate in a Bexley Recreation & Parks program.

To shed light on the issue, the city launched a Diversity & Inclusiveness Collaborative several years ago and has been conducting Implicit Bias Training sessions, as well as formal and informal public meetings, to poke holes in the invisible bubble.

“Everyone has biases. They aren’t necessarily good or bad, but it’s how we react and think to biases that could have an adverse or injurious impact on others,” says Steve Francis, president of Franchise D&I Solutions LLC, a consulting firm hired by the city to help gather information and engage the community.

“There’s always room for improvement,” Kessler says. The goals of the D&I Collaborative are to “honor, celebrate and be sensitive to differences and create a culture of unity with differentiations.”

Kessler says he wants to ensure Bexley’s outlook embodies a community-centric mentality that is open and welcoming to all—not that of a country club that promotes exclusivity.

As the initiative continues, the city plans to develop a timeline to track progress and accountability, Francis says.

Photos: Top, Courtesy City of Bexley ; Bottom, Derk’s Works Photography

Maple syrup at the Jeffrey Woods Festival

Residents of Bexley share similar values when it comes to raising families, holding education and the environment in high regard, and being connected to one another. Bexley also is one of the wealthiest cities in Central Ohio and, although steadily diversifying, is predominantly white; many of its residents are of the Jewish faith.

Bexley: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section November 2019

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Piccadilly play cafĂŠ

Community events range from a summer series, The Main Event, that features monthly movies, music, food and activities, to the Labor Day Block Party that involves a large cookout, food trucks, a ropes course, music, a movie, a talent show and more.

Photo: Courtesy City of Bexley

Pick Your Passion Manika and Jason Williams landed in Bexley about seven years ago. They didn’t have to go far from their former community of Berwick, just south of Bexley. “I’ve always liked Bexley,� says Manika, who often passed through the city as she jogged toward Downtown Columbus. “It reminds me of older neighborhoods in Cincinnati, where I grew up.�

The Williamses went for a bike ride on their first anniversary and found themselves taking part in Bexley’s annual Independence Day festivities. At that point, they started playing around with the idea of moving there.

They bought a three-story, 1920s brick house in central Bexley. Since then, the Williamses both have taken on active roles in the community. Jason sits on the Recreation and Parks board, coaches rec league middle

Live, Learn, Work, & Play our funds

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more info: www.bexleycommunityfoundation.org Bexley: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section November 2019

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school lacrosse and participated in a six-month training session with the Bexley Police. Manika is active on the Minority Parents Alliance and has volunteered with the Diversity & Inclusion Collaborative, among others. (See more on the city’s inclusivity efforts in “Celebrating Differences, Embracing Commonalities,” Page 8.)

As the Williamses have seen, getting involved in Bexley is easy. “You can serve on a committee, participate in a program, take a class, volunteer or simply show up for one of the city’s annual festivals,” says Michael Price, director of Bexley’s Recreation and Parks Department.

“Whatever level residents decide to commit to, there is something for everyone to enjoy, from preschoolers to seniors,” Price says.

Sports, dance, day trips and luncheons are just a handful of the programs offered through his department.

When it comes to programming and activities, “the vast majority are open to residents and non-residents alike,” Price says. “And events are always wide open to the public, no matter where they live.”

Independence Day festivities

Working on Wellness “The mental health of our children has really been on my heart and on my mind for a number of years,” she says. After more than 30 years in Ohio’s education system, she had been noticing a shift in students’ experiences with anxiety and other mental health issues. “I felt like we need to have a conversation about this,” she says.

So, Pietsch Miller asked for help, inviting 30 Bexley organizations to participate in the discussion. She reached out to the Bexley Public Library and was surprised to discover that Nationwide Children’s Hospital had already contacted them about the same topic. Those groups have joined with the city of Bexley, the Bexley Area Chamber of Commerce, Capital University and Columbus School for Girls to launch Bexley Be Well: A Community Conversation About Wellness.

The program kicked off in early September with a film screening and panel discussion, followed by a monthlong community reading of “What Made

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Maddy Run: The Secret Struggles and Tragic Death of an All-American Teen” and an October visit from the book’s author, Kate Fagan. Funding from the Bexley Education Foundation provided a copy of the book to every staff member of Bexley City Schools, including support staff such as custodians and bus drivers.

The Bexley Community Foundation also provides funding for the initiative.

health services for several years, Twymon says, but the Bexley Be Well initiative is remarkable in its scope.

Anxiety is of particular concern in schools, thanks to a combination of increased mental health awareness and a rise in pressure on teens and young adults, says Kamilah Twymon, a clinical coordinator with Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s behavioral health school-based program and community partnership. “There’s a different expectation around achievement for students today that creates some pressure,” she says. “But I also do think that there’s a new space for awareness … [and] that awareness in itself will cause people to think a little bit more.”

Bexley Mayor Ben Kessler agrees. “Raising awareness of mental health issues and providing key resources for improvement is a vital community need,” he says.

While the program stemmed from Bexley City Schools, Bexley Be Well partners now are in the midst of creating resource lists for students, adults and seniors, too.

Nationwide Children’s and area schools have partnered to provide behavioral

“I think it’s pretty notable that an entire community is thinking about how they wrap their arms around students or folks who are experiencing anxiety,” she says. “It sends a really clear message of support for those folks who may be experiencing some anxiety, or any other diagnoses.”

“Each generation faces a uniquely different set of circumstances, making it hard to plan just a few blanket events with a goal of helping everyone,” Kessler says.

“It must start smaller than that, and that is where we are right now. … We are eager to see how this program evolves.”

—Emma Frankart Henterly

Photo: Derk's Works Photography

Dr. Kimberly Pietsch Miller, superintendent of Bexley City Schools, was concerned.

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Elaine Pelz

Case Study

Leading the Charge A look at some of the women who make Bexley a great place to live, learn, work and play

By Emma Frankart Henterly

Last year, a massive influx of female Congresswomen led many to dub 2018 “the year of the woman.” But in Bexley, having women in leadership roles is nothing new. Though Ben Kessler has served as mayor since 2012, a number of female leaders in the public and private sectors show that there’s no glass ceiling under Bexley’s solar-paneled rooftops. Read on for a look at seven of the women who are helping lead Bexley to success.

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A Bexley resident of more than 20 years, Elaine Pelz had a varied career before taking the executive director role at the city’s chamber of commerce two years ago, with positions in the nonprofit, marketing, entrepreneurial and the arts sectors, to name a few. It’s that breadth of experience, she says, that helps her in her job now.

“I’ve always had a passion for connecting people,” Pelz says. “Being here at the chamber, I get to do that all the time.”

Pelz credits the residents of Bexley with supporting her leadership position in the business community. It’s no single individual, she adds, but rather the supportive nature of the community as a whole. “It’s a plethora of people and ideas and encouragement and belief in each other,” she says.

That spirit is especially reflected in one of the chamber’s key networking programs: Bexley Women in Business.

“When I came to this position, that was one of the areas that I felt that we were not tapping into enough, in terms of women who are leaders and women who are innovators,” Pelz says.

At the meetings, which happen several times a year, women share their stories of personal success. “People find so many similarities and so much strength and support in hearing each other’s stories,” Pelz says, adding that those same stories also are shared with male and female students in a partnership program with Bexley City Schools. “It is an opportunity to pass it forward to the next generation,” she explains. “I just think that’s part of what this community’s all about.”

Photos: Left, Brad Feinknopf; Right, Courtesy City of Bexley

Executive director, Bexley Area Chamber of Commerce

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Jennifer Ciccarelli

Hallie Raskin

Head of school, Columbus School for Girls

Executive director, Bexley Community Foundation

As the head of an all-girls school, Jennifer Ciccarelli is no stranger to the concept of fostering leadership skills in young women.

“I think that part of my role is to help other women,” she says. “I know that I’m always modeling for girls and young women, and for the women on my leadership team.” She credits a series of strong female mentors in her life with inspiring her to counter the societal perception of female competitiveness.

“There’s this reputation that women don’t support each other … they will cut each other down,” she explains. “In my 25 years as a leader, that has not been my experience.

I’ve had incredible women mentors and sponsors and supporters who saw things in me and encouraged me to develop my leadership qualities.”

The city of Bexley, Ciccarelli notes, was especially supportive of the dual roles that she and many women face: those of career professional and mother. In previous job searches, she had faced appalling questions about how she’d juggle a career and raising a young daughter. “I was stunned!” she says.

“And a little offended, because I was imagining that they probably hadn’t asked the men in the search the same question.”

When she interviewed for current position at Columbus School for Girls, however, she found no such quandary. “One of the first things that people said was, it would be so wonderful to have a head of school whose daughter is also in the school, and they embraced me as a leader who was a mother,” Ciccarelli recalls, citing Bexley’s family-friendly community as both fostering and being indicative of that attitude.

Deborah Kutasy

Photos: Courtesy City of Bexley

President, Bexley Area Chamber of Commerce, and owner, Touch Therapy Massage When Deborah Kutasy started Touch Therapy Massage in 2012, her first two locations were on the west and east sides of Columbus. “I would drive through Bexley … and I just felt this sense of community and a sense of belonging,” she says. “There was just something about that down-home, earthy feeling of Bexley.”

After deciding to move a location to Bexley in 2014, she was invited to join the Bexley Area Chamber of Commerce, which helped her plan a grand opening.

“They really, really blew me out of the water with the way they promoted that event and the way they supported that event,” Kutasy says. Mayor Ben Kessler was slated to appear at the open house, and much to Kutasy’s surprise, he followed through on that promise.

“The reason that I love Bexley so much is because as a business owner, it is accessible.

The mayor is accessible,” she says. “If you need to talk to someone, they have an opendoor policy.” This attitude contrasts with city staff she’s encountered through some of her

“I was always taught that giving back and being a part of the community in which you live is an important way to live your life,” Hallie Raskin says. A Dayton native who moved to Chicago for college, Raskin and her husband moved to Bexley—where Raskin’s mother grew up and where she still has family—in 2014.

Shortly after, Raskin gave birth to her first child and then applied for her current position with the Bexley Community Foundation. The role was a perfect fit for Raskin, who has always enjoyed working in the nonprofit sector. Bexley’s community vibe, she says, helped give her confidence to take on the role.

“There are so many families in Bexley that, when I started, it wasn’t a shock that a new mom would be able to balance [that role] with leading an organization,” she says. It’s not uncommon for her children—she now has two—to accompany her as the BCF’s executive director.

“They’re able to be there [with me at community events] playing, and I’m able to have my Bexley Community Foundation hat on, talking to people and spreading the word about the work we’re doing.”

Raskin’s work means she often is collaborating with other strong female leaders in the community, including Dr. Elizabeth Paul, president of Capital University; Pamela Glasgow of the Bexley Education Foundation; and Elaine Pelz of the city’s chamber of commerce.

“As a woman, to be able to come to work and have the day-to-day interaction with other women in these leadership roles … it’s a really nice feeling,” she says. “I’m lucky to be included in that list.”

business’s other locations, she notes.

That grand opening, she says, was the beginning of her involvement with the chamber; she joined as a board member in 2016 and now serves as its president.

“In Bexley … it’s like you are intentionally set up for success, because you know where your resources are, you know who your resources are, and they’re interested in your success,” Kutasy says. “It’s just that whole concept of accessibility of key people, key leaders that I think makes Bexley very warm and inviting and very supportive of us as females in business.”

Bexley: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section November 2019

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Pamela Glasgow Executive director, Bexley Education Foundation

President, City Council Though she and her husband have lived in Bexley for nearly 25 years, Lori Ann Feibel thinks of herself as a “newbie” to the city they call home, when compared to those who have been there for their entire lives.

She ran for City Council in 2013, thanks in part to encouragement from peers in her volunteer network and her husband.

“I love my community,” she says. “It’s so wonderful and such a fabulous place; I wanted to be a part of keeping it that way.” She was re-elected in 2017 and now leads the organization.

Describing herself as a “stay-at-homemom who is never at home,” Feibel lets her dual roles guide each other. “I never take my ‘mom’ hat off while I’m making decisions about our city, because I think that our city is very focused on the family, whether you’re an empty nester or just welcoming itty bitty ones into your life,” she says. “I feel like Bexley really embraces that whole family environment and the warmth that families get from our wonderful, loving community.”

For Feibel, her status as a Bexley leader is inseparable from her home life.

“It is setting an example to my daughters that you can do anything,” she says.

“That kind of modeling for our younger generation to see—it becomes the norm, not at all the exception. I think that the more women that are in leadership positions, the more girls are going to say, ‘Yeah, of course I’m going to step up.

Of course my chair belongs at the table.’

And they’re not going to ask to put their chair at the table; they’re going to put their chair at the table.”

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not only in their community but beyond, and that maybe fosters them or encourages them to take on leadership roles.”

For her own experience, Glasgow appreciates the necessity of her position as a role model. “Being able to be in contact with so many young people,” is key, she says. “For other young women to see me in this role, hopefully [it will] inspire them to go on to nonprofit leadership roles. That, to me, is the most important thing about being a role model and a mentor.”

Dr. Kimberly Pietsch Miller Superintendent, Bexley City Schools Now in her third year as superintendent of Bexley City Schools, Dr. Kimberly Pietsch Miller is no stranger to leading others in an educational setting. After more than three decades in the system, rising from English teacher to assistant principal and chief academic officer, among other roles, before coming to Bexley, Pietsch Miller has honed a focus on aligning teams to a common goal.

“I have a very strong sense of the importance of common vision,” she says. “In every role that I’ve taken, part of why I’ve gotten the job is my ability to get people aligned and focused.”

That skill set has extended outside classroom walls with the launch of Bexley Be Well, a mental health awareness program that Pietsch Miller worked with city leaders and others to develop. (Learn more about this initiative in “Working on Wellness,” Page 10.)

Having a tight-knit, collaborative community is a benefit in many ways, she says, and it helps create and support strong leaders.

“None of us are where we are, doing what we do, because we do it alone. We’re all part of a network of people that support us and care about us and help us,” Pietsch Miller says. “I don’t often think of myself as a ‘female leader.’ I just think of myself as a leader.”

Photos: Courtesy City of Bexley

Lori Ann Feibel

Pamela Glasgow and her family moved to Bexley 17 years ago for the schools, so it’s not surprising that the nonprofit sector professional has ended up leading the Bexley Education Foundation. Now that her children have gone on to college and adult life, however, she has no temptation to leave the city.

“We’re lucky to have the kind of services the city provides,” she says. “It’s a nice place to live, for people of all ages. … I have to challenge myself to leave Bexley occasionally for something I might need.”

Glasgow is just the second executive director of BEF, having taken over for after its first executive director, Charlene Morgan, retired in 2011. “I certainly admired, and still admire, the efforts that she did to really set the stage for the work of the foundation,” she says.

When asked why she thinks Bexley has such a strong pool of female leaders, Glasgow points to the community itself.

“Most of our community is fairly welleducated and socially involved, with lots of women who are professionals,” she says. “I think they really care about what happens,

Bexley: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section November 2019

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Bexley: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section November 2019

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About 20 years ago, the city of Bexley did some serious soul-searching.

By the mid-1990s, Main Street—once a vibrant corridor of commercial and retail activity—had begun to lose a bit of its luster. “Main Street used to be kind of quiet and boring,� says Larry Haas of Bexley Optical Boutique, a mainstay of the area since 1983. “It never changed for a long time, before I opened here, and then for probably the next 20 years after.�

Around that time, though, opportunity seemed to knock when a McDonald’s restaurant sprang up in place of the derelict Bexley Theater. Yet there was community pushback when the fast-food chain wanted to add a drive-thru window. “There was a whole conversation about whether or not there was going to be a drive-thru,� says Ben Kessler, the city’s mayor and director of development. “There was a charter issue in the ’90s where residents said, ‘No, we can’t ever have drive-thrus on Main Street.’ �

The restaurant eventually closed, sans drive-thru, but in the intensely argued debate, a future vision for Main Street started to take shape. “It was a moment where the community collectively decided that Main Street wasn’t going to become just your standard sort of drive-thru retail corridor,� Kessler says.

In the decades that followed, city leaders invested in the redevelopment of Main Street. While preserving such institutions as the Drexel Theatre and the Italian restaurant Giuseppe’s Ritrovo, the city has drawn a bounty of new businesses to Main Street and the immediate area, including Cherbourg Bakery, Giant Eagle Market District Express and a brick-and-mortar bookstore. “It’s incredible that there is this diversity, this variety,� says Gramercy Books owner Linda Kass. “There’s not a sameness.

There’s something for everyone, and there’s something different every day.�

The present-day Main Street is in some ways a mirror image of its historical predecessor. During the 1920s, the area was a hotbed of commerce, home to groceries, a drugstore, a butcher shop and a candy shop. “It was a true commercial community corridor,� Kessler says. But with suburban sprawl—and access, via Interstate 270, to nearby shopping malls—the need for such services within the city diminished. “There wasn’t a use for that small-scale neighborhood commercial [corridor],�

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Yet, as the debate over drive-thru restaurants demonstrated, citizens cared about re-energizing Main Street in a way that reflected the city’s small-town character.

The early 2000s saw the adoption of Main Street Design Guidelines calling for the establishment of traditional, mixed-use urban development.

“We’ve been pushing that for almost 20 years now as the form for Main Street,” Kessler says, adding that a live/work/play vibe has been spurred by tax abatements for residential units that sit above commercial spaces.

“We’ve encouraged new housing units that are above the commercial, which has created bedrooms on Main Street, a little bit more activity and the stuff you see in other

neighborhoods [such as the] Short North and Grandview,” he says.

“When we moved in, the storefronts were all hodgepodge-y—they weren’t consistent,” says Vesna Mangano, who co-founded Giuseppe’s in 1996 and has witnessed the evolution of the corridor’s aesthetic.

“They changed the glass, they changed the doors, they changed the façades,” Mangano says. “It looks modern and updated.”

Major improvements include the 2006 development of Bexley Gateway, which offers condominium units near such hotspots as Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams and Moshi Sushi Bar, and the 2016 conversion of the former City Hall site to a Giant Eagle Market District Express.

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Photos: Top, Courtesy city of Bexley; Bottom, Dispatch file/ Tom DOdge

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Drexel Theatre Although Bexley now is home to an array of new businesses and shops, the community has sought to preserve the amenities that make it unique—and that starts with the Drexel Theatre, the three-screen cinema whose marquee has illuminated Main Street since 1937.

Yet, by 2009, the Drexel found itself struggling as multiplexes, rather than independent art houses, gained a foothold. Rather than allow the theater to fold, residents drew up plans to establish Friends of the Drexel, which ultimately acquired the assets of the theater. “We had a series of residents come together, gather momentum and say, ‘this is worth saving,’ ” says Mayor Ben Kessler.

Photo: Derk’s WOrks Photography

The organization—now a nonprofit— turned to CAPA to help run the theater on a day-to-day basis.

Since then, CAPA and Friends of the Drexel have joined forces to raise about $2 million to substantially renovate the theater, giving it a new concession area, bathrooms and digital projection system. The funds, like the will to save the Drexel in the first place, were local in origin. “That money came from folks in Bexley that cared about that theater and wanted to make sure it was around for the next generation,” says CAPA president and CEO Chad Whittington.

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“Here are all these different uses that were all kind of outsourced to the [I-270] outerbelt that we’ve tried to encourage to come and be in the community,” Kessler says.

The abundance of activity has been a boon to local businesses, which rely on foot traffic to draw in potential customers.

“There’s a lot of walking on Main Street,” says Kass, who opened Gramercy Books in 2016. “There are just so many people walking, when weather is OK … in the neighborhood and coming to Main Street. I see that so much more today.”

The city continues to make the area more walkable, recently adding even more trees to Main Street medians that were added in 2013.

“What that said was, this is a pedestrian-

Photos: Top, Lauren K. Davis; Bottom, Tim Johnson

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Bexley: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section November 2019

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Equally advantageous is the proximity of the Capital University campus, which is located across the street from many shops and restaurants. Not only is the school the site of free outdoor events, including a movie series, but merchants tap the student body as potential consumers and employees.

“That’s really a very complementary relationship, because there are better employment opportunities for Capital [students]; there are better businesses for Bexley,” Kessler says.

As Bexley continues to blossom, Kessler forecasts redevelopment on the east end of Main Street, whose shallower lots have traditionally made redevelopment more difficult than on the west end.

And sometimes the simplest, most practical decisions make the biggest difference.

Haas points to a Chamber of Commerce effort to re-mark parking spaces along Main Street as a game-changer. “They clearly marked, painted the lines on the streets in the curb lane, so that people could park all up and down Main Street,” Haas says. “That has made a huge difference in itself.”

And, thanks to a city grant, Bexley invited property owners to install flower boxes—adding the perfect finishing touch to a transformed Main Street. “The first taker on that is at Drexel and Main above Giuseppe’s,” Kessler says. “It is just remarkable what a change that makes.”

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Bexley: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section November 2019

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Bexley has a wide range of housing stock, including historic mansions.

Housing

Blending Old and New Bexley’s housing stock combines preservation and history with modernization and sustainability.

Confined within 2.5 square miles and situated just east of Downtown Columbus, Bexley may be landlocked, but that doesn’t mean it’s not flourishing.

From starter homes to stately mansions, there’s something for everyone—young couples, growing families and empty nesters alike. But because of limited inventory and high desirability, houses don’t stay on the market long.

Generations of families have grown up here. And although the children go away to college or move to other cities to pursue careers, many of them return to Bexley when they start families of their own. Similarly, families new to the Central Ohio area are drawn to Bexley.

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There’s a “feeling of connectedness” that attracts residents to Bexley, and that feeling of belonging keeps them there, says Bexley Mayor Ben Kessler.

Amy Lee and her husband, Jun, moved to Bexley from Chicago nearly seven years ago and had three children in less than four years. They chose the area for its schools and tight-knit community.

“I’ve met some of my dearest friends at our annual block party,” says Lee, who lives on South Columbia Avenue. “We rely on each other, and it was easy to acclimate ourselves to the community.”

For years, both Lee and her husband had demanding careers. After the kids were born, Lee decided to open a yoga studio,

Bexley Yoga & Barre along the Main Street corridor, and now she walks or bikes to work as often as she can. “People are always out and about, and the tree-lined streets have a calming effect,” Lee says.

Andrew Rosenthal grew up in Bexley, moved away for a while and then returned about 15 years ago. He initially bought a house in South Bexley, an area known for its front porches, as it was a short walk from his mother’s house.

Rosenthal says that as an architect, he’s always appreciated the thoughtful variety of architectural design in Bexley. He also likes that the city has what he calls an “urban feel” to it.

Bexley is small enough that you can walk or bike to get where you are going, but it’s

Photo: Courtesy City of Bexley

By Rebecca Walters

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Photo: Courtesy City of Bexley

also always reinventing itself, says Rosenthal, who designed Bexley City Hall. One example of the city changing to accommodate its residents is a mixed-use commercial and residential development along Main Street. But for Bexley city officials and the community at large, blending preservation and history with modernization and sustainability go hand in hand, Kessler says.

As residents renovate and update their grand mansions and modest homes, city building and zoning administrators, as well as historic preservation oversight committee members, are keeping tabs on construction to make sure projects bode well for the community and that architectural style and design is maintained, says Kathy Rose, building and zoning director for the city.

“It used to be that you could do almost anything,” Rose says. But since 2002, any resident or company wanting to make exterior changes must get approval from the Bexley Architectural Review Board to make sure the proper aesthetics are maintained.

If deemed necessary, a person or entity could completely demolish a structure and rebuild something new in its place. “But you have to make your case,” Rose adds.

Rose says the city’s Historic Preservation Committee is in the midst of researching pockets of Bexley and plans to come up with identifiers that are illustrative of certain architectural styles, such as front porches, slated roofs and tree-lined streets, all of which are signature characteristics of Bexley.

“We want to give names to certain sections, as they are all unique in their own way,” Rose says. “It’s such a beautiful community.

In my mind, the architects must have had some sort of competition going on back then, as the houses are all so beautiful.”

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Solar panels on City Hall’s roof

As a past member of Bexley’s Architectural Review Board, Rosenthal describes the program as healthy and not overly cumbersome.

“It respects the history of Bexley while promoting modernization,” he explains.

Over the years, Rosenthal has made a number of interior renovations to his mid1920s, three-bedroom house. Many of them involved “backdating,” or undoing changes previous owners had made. For example, he took out floor-to-ceiling mirrors and re-installed a fireplace mantle he found in the attic.

“We also got rid of the wall-to-wall white carpeting and updated the house to give it cleaner lines, so it was more cohesive,” Rosenthal says.

Kessler has owned three houses in the city, all of which have required some renovations and TLC, since moving to Bexley in 2004. The first was a starter house in central Bexley that “needed a lot of work,” he says.

“Personally, for me, I love old homes and bringing new life into them.”

Another way Bexley is blending preservation with sustainability is through a solar panel partnership program with Toledo called Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE).

The program offers a low-cost, long-term financing mechanism for residents to invest in energy-efficient upgrades, such as solar panels and other renewable projects, says Thomas Winston, president and CEO for the

Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, which will oversee transactions between homeowners and contractors.

Instead of paying costs out of pocket, homeowners can finance the improvements as part of their property tax assessments. The upgrade is transferable when the house is sold.

In Ohio, PACE financing involves a publicprivate partnership among a municipality, a property owner, a lender and an energy special improvement district. Port Authority officials have contracted with Renovate America, a PACE lender based in California, which will issue loans to homeowners and pay contractors, Winston explains.

The PACE program will be up and running in the fourth quarter of this year, Winston says, having already been approved by council members in June. “All of the regulatory guidelines are in place,” Kessler says.

The solar panel program is just one example of how Bexley embraces sustainability while preserving its past. Always forwardthinking, city officials continually strive to find balance between modernization and conservation while maintaining the quality of life that residents have come to love and expect.

Photo: Courtesy City of Bexley

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Bexley: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section November 2019

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Education

School Choice A trio of top-ranked schools and a university call Bexley home.

Columbus School for Girls

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Photo: Ben Simon Studio/Courtesy Columbus School for Girls

By Nancy Byron

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For a suburb with just 4,000 households, Bexley offers a tremendous density of topnotch educational options.

Bexley City Schools is home to the No. 1 public high school in the Columbus Metropolitan Area, according to U.S. News and World Report. Columbus School for Girls, which enrolls 3-year-olds through 12th-graders, is consistently lauded for its progressive programming. And St. Charles Preparatory School is an all-male Catholic high school that boasts a 99 percent college acceptance rate.

“Having such strong schools here really ups the game for the whole community,” says Jennifer Ciccarelli, head of school at CSG. “It pushes us to be more thoughtful about what we’re doing and to be more articulate and clear about what makes us different.”

Photo: Ben Simon Studio/Courtesy Columbus School for Girls

Giving Girls a Voice CSG has been educating young females for more than 100 years. The school features a student-to-teacher ratio of 8:1, a crossgrade mentoring program and a school-wide emphasis on mind and body wellness.

“We teach our girls how to develop resilience, manage unhealthy stress, make healthy food choices, get enough sleep, be responsible with social media and navigate friendships,” Ciccarelli says.

Learning opportunities are similarly wellrounded, with some programs at the school’s 100-acre Cynthia’s Woods nature preserve in Gahanna and a focus on STEM—science, technology, engineering and math.

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“We have a wonderful, rich environment that fosters the mindset that girls can do computer science, math and engineering,” Ciccarelli says. “This is a place where girls know that their voices matter.”

In the Upper School, girls can choose from 20 honors and Advanced Placement courses, as well as interdisciplinary senior seminars such as bioethics and playwriting, and off-campus internships, research or service trips.

Last year, CSG launched a nonprofit called Her Educational Revolution, or H.E.R. Academy, focused on training more females in computer programming and data science.

“All of our students are taking computer science in some form now, from age 3 to 18,” Ciccarelli says. “The goal is to share this program with lots of other schools.”

Preparing Boys to be Men St. Charles is in its 96th year of preparing young men for both college and a spiritual life of service.

“We’re trying to build men of faith,” says principal Jim Lower. “We’re trying to build men who understand the importance of serving others and, as part of that journey, develop the value of hard work.”

The school’s curriculum is tailored to achieve these goals, requiring specific classes each year, starting with religion in grade

Bexley: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section November 2019

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9 and adding honors, Advanced Placement and college-level courses as students progress through their senior year.

“Our boys come together as a class to have a real brotherhood here,” Lower says.

“The curriculum is part of that, but it’s also the all-male environment. ... They can feel free to express themselves, to be the man God created them to be.”

The 15 varsity sports and nearly 20 student groups and clubs available at St. Charles also build upon that foundation.

“We view extracurriculars as an extension of the classroom,” Lower says. “There are lessons they can learn, whether it’s through athletics or the chess club or robotics, about how to get along in a team setting.”

Advancing Public Knowledge Not to be outdone by its private school counterparts, Bexley City Schools has been consistently recognized during its 102 years for being an excellent—or Excellent with Distinction, by Ohio Department of Education standards—public school system. It has only 2,500 students districtwide, but that’s part of its advantage.

“What makes Bexley special is that we are small and able to provide very personalized services to our students, parents and community,” says superintendent Kimberly Pietsch Miller.

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All three elementary schools teach Spanish and offer news broadcasting and theater among their extracurriculars. Middle school students get “flex time” at the end of each day to pursue specific interests or get personalized instruction, and eighth graders do a class-wide community service project.

Bexley High School offers 25 Advanced Placement and 10 honors courses, as well as 23 varsity sports and 34 student clubs and organizations.

“We are educating a whole student, so we must have programming that is balanced in order to engage, equip and empower each student to meet their goals,” Pietsch Miller says.

That includes addressing not just academic needs, but the social, emotional and mental health of students. In September, Bexley City Schools, along with several Central Ohio partners including CSG and neighboring Capital University, launched Bexley Be Well, an initiative to educate and spark community discussion about mental health issues. (Read more about it on Page 10.)

It’s one of many ways Bexley’s area schools interact with one another.

“We appreciate CSG and St. Charles and consider both educational partners,” Pietsch Miller says. They both are outstanding schools [that] offer different educations than Bexley City Schools.”

“I’m a big believer in finding the right school environment for your child,” Ciccarelli adds. Having so many options to choose from in Bexley makes the whole community, as well as each educational institution, stronger. “It helps us all be at the top of our game,” she says.

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Bexley High School football

Intellectual Capital Capital University has been an institution along Bexley’s Main Street for more than 140 years. Located near the Bexley Public Library and across from the iconic Drexel Theatre, Capital has grown along with the neighborhood.

“Capital and Bexley have always shared a deep value of education and strong community, which is why those things thrive here,” says Nichole Johnson, assistant vice president of integrated marketing communications at Capital.

Offering 60 majors and more than 50 minors for undergraduates, plus

graduate degrees and 17 varsity-level sports, Capital is home to roughly 3,500 students—one-quarter of Bexley’s total population. This annual influx of students brings more than intellectual capital and an enlivened cultural life to the city; it brings youthful job seekers, economy-stimulating visitors and plenty of community-minded individuals.

“Our students are interns, volunteers and tutors,” Johnson says. “And many of our faculty, staff and alumni live in Bexley and contribute to the neighborhood culture that makes it so special.”

Photos: top left and right, Courtesy Bexley City Schools; Bottom, Dispatch file/Brooke LaValley

Maryland Elementary School

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Proud to call Bexley home since 1876.

Memorial Gateway

Each year, hundreds of new students join Capital University by entering Memorial Gateway on Main Street in Bexley. They become part of a proud partnership between our Capital Family and our Bexley neighbors, sharing a beautiful campus and welcoming residential community within sight of Columbus’s vibrant downtown and all the urban amenities of Ohio’s largest city. Whether you live around the corner or across the state, come experience what a Capital education really means – inspired learning, sharpened critical-thinking, lifelong connections and purposeful opportunities that make a difference.

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In the beginning, there was kindergarten.

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Home&Style Q&A p. 106 | Products P. 108 | Home p. 112 | top 25 P. 118

112 Modern Design

A local architect builds his house on the banks of Hoover Reservoir.

Photo by sam brown

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Home & Style Q&A

Suiting Up How one man honors veterans.

By Sherry Beck Paprocki

You’ve been in the suit business for a long time. What are the trademarks of a really good suit? Quality fabric [a weave of 106

Army veteran John Hargrave, left, was a 2018 recipient of a suit donated

by Jim Rieser, vice president of sales for the custom suit company Hunter & Lords.

“I joined the military at the tender age of 17 in my junior year of high school [at Centennial]. I was enlisted as a reserve and then went active duty shortly after graduating from high school…,” wrote Hargrave as he was applying to the Suits for Soldiers program. “When I came home, I had twin girls and raised them as a single father.” Today, Hargrave works at Battelle.

super 120s or above] and quality construction. Most people can tell the difference from the feel.

Prior to joining Hunter & Lords, you owned your own tailoring company. How did you initially get so interested in men’s clothing?

I like feeling good in proper fitting clothing and the image it allows me to project.

This is the fifth cycle for this endeavor, so have you considered building the program to serve more veterans? Yes, but I truly enjoy the intimacy of my campaign, and it means more to me paying for the campaign out

of my own pocket as opposed to getting a sponsor who might have a different agenda.

Is it difficult to choose winners, given that you had 120 applicants this year? It is a very difficult task to select only the eight. Their stories of hardship and sacrifice are mind-numbing.

Do you want to share any words of wisdom?

I am blessed to have the loyal clients that I have developed deep relationships with over the years, and I think they truly value my service and guidance. Proper fitting quality clothing does not make the man, but it sure can help in establishing credibility. ◆

photo: tim johnson

Good suits for top CEOS, attorneys and such are the focus of Jim Rieser’s daily work, as vice president of sales for Hunter & Lords, which produces clothing at its Knoxville manufacturing facility.

A few years ago Rieser, a Central Ohio resident, had a brainstorm. He decided to pay for eight veterans to get new suits as they transition back to civilian life with a program he calls Suits for Soldiers.

“I don’t want sponsors,” says Rieser.

“It means more to me to come out of my own pocket.”

Hunter & Lords is a third-generation, family-owned company whose founder was a Marine colonel and a pilot in the Pacific theater. Now in its fifth cycle, the suits program has been so successful that last year 120 veterans told their stories at the Hunter & Lords website. Only eight were selected to be outfitted. In his spare time, Rieser sifts through the veterans’ stories and makes the difficult selection for suit recipients.

“We forget about these guys,” says Rieser.

“This keeps them top of mind for me.”

This year’s winners met to choose fabrics and get measured in September, and they will don their new outfits for the first time on Veteran’s Day. “The Suits for Soldiers helped boost my confidence in a way which launched me into the job market seeking a more challenging and lucrative position in my field of study,” says Columbus resident John Hargrave, an Army veteran who began working at Battelle as a contractor a year ago and today continues as an employee with benefits.

Hargrave is an electromechancial technician finishing his bachelor’s degree via a bridge program between Columbus State and Miami University.

Below, we’ve asked Rieser a few questions about his work and Suits for Soldiers.

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Home & Style products

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photos: 1 and 4, courtesy west elm; 2 and 7, courtesy williams sonoma; 3, 5 and 6, courtesy crate & barrel; 8, courtesy pottery barn

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Home & Style style notes

Lincoln Social’s Creative Hive The brain trust behind Cameron Mitchell’s aesthetically pleasing rooftop lounge

BY Sherry Beck Paprocki

It’s no secret that good creative teams take years to gel. In the case of Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, the company’s creative core has been working together for more than 20 years.

When it comes to concept creation, though, this local group flies under the radar in a town filled with artistic designers. The team that conceives CMR’s concepts includes those at the top of the food chain: Mitchell, company president David Miller and three other senior vice presidents and operating partners—Wayne Schick (planning and procurement), Brian Hinshaw (executive corporate chef over food and beverage) and Charles Kline (operations).

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In recent years, the group’s creativity has been on display throughout the Short North with the creation of Harvey & Ed’s Deli, Del Mar SoCal and the popular rooftop cocktail lounge, Lincoln Social.

“We’re very collaborative,” says Miller.

“We travel all over the country, and you see what’s out there.” Traveling to CMR’s existing restaurants across the United States is already part of the job, so stopping in at other spaces generally fits the itinerary.

Once a new concept is developed, project management and detailing is left to Mark Knauer, of the Chicago-based hospitality design firm Knauer Inc., which has been involved since 2004.

Regarding Lincoln Social, the CMR group was approached a few years back

by Columbus developers Michael Schiff and Mark Wood as they were launching a building in the 700 block of North High Street. They asked that a restaurant concept be created at sidewalk level and that a rooftop space be done on the ninth floor.

At first, says Miller, the team thought the two concepts would be under the same brand. Eventually, though, the plan changed.

“The rooftop scene was really exploding, so we jumped right into it,” he says.

Stopping in at rooftop concepts in big cities such as San Francisco, New York and

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CMR Columbus Short North Concepts To check out the aesthetics (as well as food and drink) at CMR’s newest Short North concepts in the hip, urban neighborhood visit: Lincoln Social Rooftop on the 9th floor at 711 N. High St. Hours vary six days a week, and the lounge is closed on Mondays. Expect to stand in line at the elevator on weekends, as crowd control at the rooftop is emphasized.

(It’s worth the wait.) lincolnsocial.com DelMar SoCal, 705 N. High St. This restaurant was one of the biggest challenges Mitchell’s conceptual team has had in recent years. “This was one of the toughest ones to get on the same page,” says Miller. “It took us a minute to get there.” delmarcolumbus.com Harvey & Ed’s Delicatessen, 698 N. High St. This location was inspired

by Miller’s memories of his father and uncle, both World War II veterans, who met for many years in various delicatessens. After visiting delis together for a few years, Miller persuaded Mitchell to recreate and update the classic Jewish deli in Columbus.

photos: Chris Casella (3); right, Fred Squillante

Lincoln Social, the rooftop lounge at 711 N. High St., opened last summer in the Short North. A retractable roof and a fireplace pit are two of the location’s biggest assets. Green walls, various comfortable seating areas and a detailed cocktail menu are also highlights.

Chicago added to their enthusiasm. “We got really excited.”

What was originally planned in beachy white tones—Miller calls it a “Hamptons feel”—eventually evolved into darker aesthetics highlighted by Instagrammable spots such as the green wall that visitors see—and consistently photograph—at the lounge’s entrance, just off of the elevator. The wall evolved after Miller saw a similar one in Las Vegas while attending his son’s 21st birthday celebration.

A retractable roof and windows that open provide a breezy venue for viewing the city during good weather. Curved booths offer comfy seats for those who

pay a food and beverage minimum charge that changes depending on the day of the week. No detail, it seems, has been overlooked. Even furry throws for the booths are part of the scene.

Another aspect requiring hyper-focus was Lincoln Social’s “cocktail program,” says Miller. Cameron Mitchell’s focus is usually on food first. “It was bar-forward and that was different,” he explains. “It’s a different economic model.”

Early on, the team knew it wanted a fire pit, and its importance will only grow as the weather turns cool. “The fire pit, its glow with the glow of the city is just spectacular,” adds Miller. ◆

To continue the concept tour, other existing CMR creations in the Short North include: Guild House at The Joseph Hotel, Martini, Marcella’s and The Pearl. Details for each can be found at columbusmonthly.com.

The creative team at CMR isn’t done yet. Coming in early 2020, the Budd Dairy Co. Food Hall is scheduled to open at 1086 N. 4th St. in Italian Village featuring nine kitchens and a rooftop deck. The concept reflects a national trend toward food halls with upstart chefs looking for citycenter spaces to launch their brands. budddairyfoodhall.com DelMar SoCal

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Home & Style Home

Elaine and Curt Moody relax on their outdoor patio, which overlooks Hoover Reservoir.

Curt is the CEO of Columbus-based Moody Nolan, the largest African-American-owned architectural firm in the country. He designed the couple’s contemporary home on a triangular lot with sweeping views of the water.

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y b e d Ma

The former Buckeye basketball player Curt Moody has built a mega architectural firm, designed his own home, and now he’s giving back.

By Laurie Allen

W

Photo: tim johnson

hen Curt Moody confronts a challenge, it’s game on.

From his time as point guard at Ohio State University to his groundbreaking success as leader of the nation’s largest African-American-owned architecture firm, Moody is driven to prevail over hurdles.

So, when faced with the proverbial square-peg, round-hole dilemma while building his own home, the founder and CEO of Moody Nolan Architects knew to design outside the box.

Moody’s airy, contemporary home sits on a triangular lot on Sunbury Road along Hoover Reservoir. The mid-century house that sat on the land before Moody bought it was rectangular, and land-use restrictions on the reservoir added additional puzzles to be solved. For Moody, it presented a unique opportunity.

“I was happy with the irregular condition. It forced me to do something different,” he says. “As architects, it’s part of our job to show people that you can do something different. Equally important, I wanted to dispel the notion that contemporary equals cold.”

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Home & Style Home

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The home’s spectacular shape resembles a ship on the banks of the reservoir. The exterior is made of stone and stucco while, indoors, the couple wanted a design that was warm and inviting. photos: Sam brown

Finding a builder who could work within the parameters set by lot shape, land-use codes and design requirements presented another potential obstacle. Contemporary homes are built with flat roofs, no interior cornice trim and walls that are not perpendicular. Moody chose Betley Vistain Builders to take on the challenge.

The home’s exterior is stone and stucco, with lineal forms that elongate its appearance. The waterfront side of the house is cantilevered and features terraced living and garden spaces.

On the interior, walls of windows and clean lines take advantage of the natural setting. A large, covered terrace blends the indoors with outdoors, extending living spaces both visually and practically. The 2,700-square-foot home can host large groups of people without seeming crowded, Moody says.

The previous home on the site had a basement that Moody and team transformed into a walkout lower level, housing bedrooms, a catering kitchen and what Moody calls his “game day” space, with comfortable seating around a sleek, limestone fireplace and TV. The clever use of a narrow table and chairs behind one of the sofas provides extra entertaining space without taking up valuable square footage.

Although the Moodys knew they wanted a contemporary space, they also wanted it to feel like home. To that end, they chose warm materials and colors throughout.

“Most contemporary homes use tile flooring, especially in the walkout areas, but I wanted this to feel like a real living space that was below ground level. Tile seemed cold to me,” Moody says. He chose, instead, a golden, engineered oak hardwood.

“Dark [wood] floors are great, but that’s not the mood we wanted to set for this house,” he explains.

Where white is predominant in the design—the granite kitchen countertop, bar seats and cabinets—it is offset by accents of aqua, yellow and blue. Family photos, flowers in bright vases and tigerwood-stained cabinetry further warm up the space. A green wall livens a nook on the lower level.

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“

As an architect, I’m pretty decisive.

Curt Moody

photos: Sam brown

”

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There is no mistaking that the Moodys are devoted grandparents. Tiny Adirondack chairs face the water on the top terrace, child-sized theater seats are in front of a TV in the master bedroom, a toy workbench and a bowling set are in a “kids’ room” on the lower level.

This is the third house on Sunbury Road that Moody and his wife, Elaine, have called home. They were drawn to the area because of the tree-lined streets, the natural environment and ultimately, the reservoir.

“We find comfort being by the water,” Moody explains. The environment is tranquil, thanks to a 10-horsepower limit on boating and the presence of sailboats on the water. The Moodys relish fishing and relaxing on their pontoon boat during weekends.

The serene and open setting is unlike Moody’s childhood rowhouse in the city’s Weinland Park neighborhood. He moved to a different kind of environment when he became a student at OSU. While on campus with his major in architecture and commitment to the Buckeye basketball team—an unheard-of combination at the time—he had many experiences that shaped him into the architect and person he is today.

“What it did for me was that I didn’t have the time other students had. I developed 116

an innate sense to be able to discard things quicker and find a solution,” he says. “As an architect, I’m pretty decisive.”

Plus, he strongly believes that team play provides an excellent footing for life in the business world. “You must learn and use the unique talents of each individual and not let ego get in the way. I wasn’t always the leading scorer, and that was something I came to accept,” he says. “If [another teammate] is a better shooter than me, I’m going to give him the last shot.”

In the case of designing his own home, Moody also understands that the last word isn’t always his. He thought the house would be improved by adding another level over the master bedroom and went so far as to design it. In the end, he ceded to Elaine, who thought the addition unnecessary.

Moody Nolan’s award-winning work spans the country, including the 545,000-squarefoot Malcolm X College and School of Health Sciences in Chicago and $1.5 billion expansion of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York. With offices in a dozen cities, the firm’s projects include hospitals, schools and universities, sports and recreational facilities and museums.

In Columbus, Moody Nolan’s work includes the Ohio Union, Columbus Com-

mons, several Columbus Metropolitan libraries and OSU’s Schottenstein Center/ Value City Arena.

Not every project involves billion-dollar budgets or acres of square footage. The firm recently designed and oversaw construction of a 750-square-foot home in the Linden neighborhood as the first of its Legacy Project houses. Planned as an annual gift, the firm will build similar homes in each of its market cities for deserving families who don’t qualify for mortgages but are willing and able to maintain a home.

The Linden house—built with donated time, talent and materials—is a contemporary design with three bedrooms, a kitchen, two bathrooms and a family room. An extended outdoor living and garden space maximize the site. Moody hopes other architecture firms also take on similar community outreach.

He remembers trying to find a way to make a difference in the AfricanAmerican business community at a time in his career when he could not financially afford to do so. He valued advice received from Smoot Construction CEO Lewis Smoot Sr. “Be successful,” Smoot told him. “Be an example that they can do it too.” ◆

photos: Sam brown

Home & Style Home

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Splashes of yellow and green were used in the home’s interior design. “I wanted to dispel the notion that contemporary equals cold,” says Curt Moody.

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Home & Style real estate

Top 25

real estate transactions aug. 1–Aug. 31, 2019

7130 Greensward $2,295,000

7518 Ogden Woods Blvd $988,800

7945 Straits Farm $684,500

PRICE

ADDRESS

BUYER/SELLER

$1,915,000

4 Highgrove Farms, New Albany

Nyquist, Gustav & Danielle from Herman, David S. & Lisa L.

$1,800,000

7081 Palmer Ct., Dublin

Hussain, Mazhar & Shaheen, Naghmana from Mirza, Alia

$1,800,000

81 N. Drexel Ave., Bexley

Consecutive Primes LLC from Sadler, Douglas S. & Good, James Daniel

$1,750,000

2001 Tremont Rd., Upper Arlington

Tansky, Nathaniel David & Treadwell, Scott J., trustees, from Copelan, Edward A. & Belinda R. A.

$1,680,100

4500 Dublin Rd., Columbus

Zumberge, Nicholas A. & Bullock, Jennifer Z. from Royder Family LLC

$1,585,000

3218 Bean-Oller Rd., Delaware

White, Adam J. & Carrie J. from Reed, Tyler L. & Michelle L.

$1,510,000

400 Potters Ln., Granville

Hinderer, Justin C. & Jennifer L. from Hinderer, Justin C., Jennifer L. & Federer, Lori J., trustee

$1,500,000

6940 Macneil Dr., Dublin

Rood, Bryan P. & Deborah K. from Infante, Stephanie, trustee

$1,450,000

4056 Courter Rd., Pataskala

Powell, Timothy S. & Danielle Marie from Ramm, Jeffrey W.

$1,339,168

6967 Hanbys Loop, New Albany

Muller, Patrick Rowan & Bird, Kristin Jane, trustees, from Guzzo & Garner Custom Builders LLC

$1,285,000

5160 Reserve Dr., Dublin

Chonko, Douglas J. & Beth B. from Griesemer, Fred C. & Kelly M.

$1,192,000

2531 Sherwin Rd., Upper Arlington

Garcia, Adrian R. & Ann E. from Williams, Scott W. & Kimberly P.

$1,188,212

250 W. Spring St., Unit 1111, Columbus

Lausecker, Sandra from 245 Parks Edge Place LLC

$1,130,000

5159 Daryn Ct., Powell

Peters, Joseph G. & Oksana, trustees, from French, Michael L. & Theresa B.

$1,125,000

1226 Lincoln Rd., Grandview Heights

Kitto, Benjamin & Elizabeth from Bethge, Beverly A.

$1,100,000

4830 Bellann Rd., Columbus

Slaight, Zachary D. from Bellann LLC

$1,080,000

2628 Dorset Rd., Upper Arlington

Brilliant, Heather E. & Daniel J. from Watkins, Christopher B. & Tammy B.

$1,050,000

11319 Periwinkle Way, Plain City

Dahan, Daniel & Marcia from Romanelli & Hughes Building Co.

$1,015,041

250 W. Spring St., Unit 411, Columbus

Chaddock, Jeffery & Morrow, Mark from 245 Parks Edge Place LLC

$1,000,000

7860 Cook Rd., Plain City

Styn, Nicholas & Melissa Lynn from Clark, James B. & Virginia S.

$998,500

5731 Evans Farm Dr., Lewis Center

The Millon Group LLC from Guzzo & Garner Custom Builders LLC

$995,000

6976 Hanbys Loop, New Albany

Johnson, Eric M. & Elizabeth from Weaver Custom Homes Inc.

$975,000

76 W. Second Ave., Columbus

Coe, Gabriel L. from Lazar, Frank Albert

$952,186

250 W. Spring St., Unit 815, Columbus

Burpee, Robert & Susan from 245 Parks Edge Place LLC

$938,900

7800 Red Bank Rd., Westerville

Bromley, Matthew & Nicole from Jones, Christopher S. & Tammara D.

As provided by The Columbus Dispatch researcher Julie Fulton. Statistics are gathered from the greater Columbus area, including Franklin and parts of other surrounding counties.

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Jill Beckett-Hill

Jan Benadum

Todd Berrien

Kelly Cantwell

Mike Carruthers

Alli Close

Realty Executives Decision BeckettTeam.com (614) 457-4000

Coldwell Banker King Thompson JanBenadum.com (614) 206-3373

Keller Williams Consultants Fausts.com (614) 477-3077

Keller Williams Classic Properties Columbus614.com (614) 256-1670

Coldwell Banker King Thompson MikeCarruthers.com (614) 324-4321

Keller Williams Consultants Realty TheCloseConnection.com (614) 726-9070

Amy Conley

Cutler Real Estate ConleyandPartners.com (614) 792-7500

Bruce Dooley

Keller Williams Classic Properties DooleyCo.com (614) 297-8600

CENTRAL OHIO

LUXURY HOME

Jean Ann Conley

Cutler Real Estate ConleyandPartners.com (614) 792-7500

Sarah Eagleson

Keller Williams Classic Properties Columbus614.com (614) 804-8470

NETWORK

Kathy Faust

Phil Giessler

Keller Williams Consultants Realty Fausts.com (614) 402-4107

Cam Taylor Company CamTaylor.com (614) 888-0307

WHEN THE STAKES ARE HIGH, IT’S IMPORTANT TO KNOW YOU HAVE ASSOCIATED WITH THE VERY BEST!

Cheryl Godard

Keller Williams Classic Properties CherylGodard.com (614) 353-8711

Kathy Greenwell

HER Realtors KathyGreenwell.com (614) 818-7210

Doug Green

Our team of certified luxury home specialists formed the Central Ohio Luxury Home Network to bring you the most qualified Realtors to serve you better. While we are competitors, we understand the importance of co-operation and with this in mind, we joined forces to bring the most exposure for your home to this elite group. Each month we tour our listings of luxury homes, share ideas on marketing and network our buyer leads to bring the most qualified prospects to your home!

Cutler Real Estate DougGreenRealtor.com (614) 893-8772

Traci Kaniaris

New Albany Realty NewAlbanyRealty.com (614) 286-2590

Call one of us and begin working with all of us-today!

Brian Kemp

Jon Kirk

Keller Williams Capital Partners RelocateColumbus.com (614) 825-0288

ReMax Premier Choice CalltheKirks.com (614) 791-2011

Jane Kessler Lennox

Stacy McVey

Jill Rudler

Jeff Ruff

Penny Smith

Marilyn Vutech

New Albany Realty NewAlbanyRealty.com (614) 939-8938

Keller Williams Classic Properties TheMcveyTeam.com (614) 206-3003

Keller Williams Excel Realty AllAboutColumbusOhio.com (614) 939-7400

HER Realtors Vutech-Ruff.com (614) 255-0660

NextHome Real Estate (614) 805-9162

HER Realtors Vutech-Ruff.com (614) 255-0600

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This is one of New Albany’s finest located across from the NACC golf course. Classic and modern updates are featured throughout this 5 BR, 5 full baths home including owner’s suite and bathroom, carriage suite, library, finished LL w/billiards, fitness, and wine room. A Chef’s kitchen w/ Carrara marble counters/back splash, high end appliances, and limestone flooring.

Brazilian cherry hardwood floors, marble entry with recessed staircase and domed cupola. The cozy and intimate dining room captures the private patio and expansive yard. $1,675,000

Custom Romanelli and Hughes quality home -4200 sq. ft + 1590 sq ft of living space in lower level. Likenew condition, huge gourmet kitchen with Wolf and Sub Zero appls, 2-story great room overlooking two-tier paver patio and exquisite, landscaped private backyard.

4/5 BR, 4.5 baths. $729,900.

This Amazing Upper Arlington ranch is a perfect place to call home. Big bright and it has a open floor plan that is great for entertaining. Fall in love with the lovely wood floors and beautiful tile throughout this home.

Kitchens and Bathrooms have been updated. Spend time on the patio and enjoy privacy from the fenced in back yard. There is a beautiful park right the street from this property. Finished basement. Home has a standby generator and 3 car garage. This home is move in ready. This property has too many features to mention. $665,000

Janbenadum@gmail.com • 614.206.3373

COLDWELL BANKER KING THOMPSON

REALTY EXECUTIVES DECISION COTTAGE & CARRIAGE HOUSE

BERRIEN-FAUST & ASSOCIATES todd@fausts.com • 614.477.3077

German Village. Come enjoy the stunning transformation of this 1873 historic German Village 2 bedroom, 2 bath cottage with 2 car garage and Carriage House addition. The Carriage House offers a 3rd bedroom, full bath & is equipped with wet bar. Professionally landscaped walled brick patio leads to Carriage House & garage. A little touch of Europe here! $679,000

RIVER VIEWS!

Contemporary design and stunning views to wake up to every morning. This home was built to enjoy all that nature has to offer! In addition to the large owner suite, there is a light and bright artists studio or exercise room with a private entrance! The finished lower level walks out and has 10 foot ceilings. 4 car garage! Must see to appreciate! $695,000

MIKE CARRUTHERS

ALLI CLOSE

mike.carruthers@kingthompson.com • 614.620.2640

thecloseconnection.com • 614.726.9070

COLDWELL BANKER KING THOMPSON 5410 DUNNIKER PARK DR, DUBLIN

Secluded at the Northern edge of Dublin on 27 acres sits a custom built four bedroom 3 1/2 bath cape cod with views of mature trees, pond and acres of green space. Idyllic for pets, 10 of the 27 acres are fenced. $1,795,000.

CONLEY & PARTNERS

amy@conleyandpartners.com • 614.792.7500

CUTLER REAL ESTATE

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KELLER WILLIAMS CONSULTANTS 6755 MERCHANT RD, DELAWARE

Located on the 2nd hole of Murifield Village Golf Club offers tremendous views from many of the oversized windows. Recently renovated kitchen & master bath. The interior is fresh with white woodwork and grey accents.

4 bedrooms, four full baths and two half baths 6419 sqft. $1,050,000

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CANTWELL EAGLESON GROUP

kelly@columbus614.com • 614.256.1670

KELLER WILLIAMS CLASSIC PROPERTIES

KELLER WILLIAMS CONSULTANTS

5590 WATERLOO ROAD

26 Acre Country Estate– Custom Built Brick Home–6 BRs–4 ½ Baths–8,266 SqFt–Open Floor Plan–3 Possible Living Quarters–3 Kitchens–Separate In-Law Suite–Abundant Greenspace, Pond, Creek, Woods– Phenomenal Views–Large Tiered Deck w/ Fire Pit–3 Car Attached Side Load Garage–Mint Condition– Equestrian Potential! $1,133,000

JAN BENADUM

JILL BECKETT-HILL

jill@becketteam.com • 614.563.9819

2069 PINEBROOK RD

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ELEGANT, QUALITY HOME IN OLENTANGY SCHOOLS

1 BOTTOMLEY CRESCENT, NEW ALBANY

CONLEY & PARTNERS

amy@conleyandpartners.com • 614.792.7500

CUTLER REAL ESTATE

10/10/19 10:38 AM

LOCATION LOCATION!

Fantastic Victorian Village home close to Goodale Park & Short North amenities.

Meticulously restored w/ character throughout. Lush landscaping, newer, extra deep front porch, elevated deck in back & patio off the kitchen, rare attached 2 car garage.

Wide center hall w/ 2 front parlors w/ wide moldings & ornate mantles. Spacious kitchen has tall cabinetry, SS appls, 2 sinks & granite counters. 3 lg BRs & 2 full BAs on 2nd fl. Vaulted ceiling on 3rd fl w/ exposed beams, bar & full bath. Now $748K

4391 SAWMILL RD

BRUCE DOOLEY

bruce@dooleyco.com • 614.297.8600

KELLER WILLIAMS CLASSIC PROPERTIES

5738 ENNNISHANNON PLACE

BERRIEN-FAUST & ASSOCIATES todd@fausts.com • 614.477.3077

KELLER WILLIAMS CONSULTANTS

19920 COMMERCIAL POINT, CIRCLEVILLE

KW CLASSIC PROPERTIES REALTY

Your home is your castle or in this case your 5 Star Luxury Resort! Enjoy resort living every day in your beautiful home on Onandaga Dr. in Upper Arlington where you and your family and friends will enjoy a sparkling pool and hot tub, putting green, outdoor kitchen, and cozy covered patio with fireplace! When it’s cold outside, enjoy sports or movies in your lower level theatre room, work on your golf game at the golf simulator, exercise in your gym or just relax at the bar in your great room.

Custom built by Betley Vistain in 2004, this gorgeous limestone home with 7 BRs and 8 baths on .7 acres is one of a kind and spectacular!

CHERYL GODARD

cherylgodard@kw.com • 614.353.8711

KELLER WILLIAMS CLASSIC PROPERTIES

LUXURIOUS FREESTANDING CONDO

If you love Country Estate living and Historic Homes, you will appreciate this very special place! Built in the early 1900s this Pickaway County landmark is a true gem. Wonderful original details showcase true craftsmanship.

Hand carved fireplace mantles each with its own story. A third floor gathering space used early on for social dances. Stately wood pocket doors connecting many of the first floor rooms. A large banquet sized dinning room. Beautiful leaded glass entry and transoms. Rich wood paneling and staircase. Generously sized bedrooms and much more! $895,000

DOUG GREEN

dgreen@cutlerhomes.com • 614.893-8772

CUTLER REAL ESTATE

7271 LAMBTON GREEN E

SAL

Magnificent first floor owner suite with walkout lower level. This unique patio-style home includes sophisticated amenities and quality upgrades throughout. Over 4,500 square feet featuring a three-sided fireplace central to the gourmet kitchen, hearth room and great room.

Upper level with En suite and lower level complete with large media/game room with wet bar, two bedrooms, bath and wine cellar.

KATHY GREENWELL

www.greenwellgroup.com • 614.818.7210

HER REALTORS

3704 S. BANK RD NE

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TRACI KANIARIS

tracikaniaris@hotmail.com • 614.286.2590

NEW ALBANY REALTY

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SARAH EAGLESON

Seagleson@kw.com • 614.804.8470

2321 ONANDAGA DRIVE

Beautifully maintained freestanding condo -enjoy the ease of low maintenance and outstanding amenities; including the screened porch, large private, tree shaded patio, and relax in your own jacuzzi with private entrance to the owner’s suite. The interior has beautiful hardwood floors, generous rooms, includes large, vaulted, light great room open to views of private back yard and entrance to screened porch.

Finished lower level includes kitchenette/bar, 1/2 bath, and dance floor/childrens play area.

Oversized 2.5-car garage

Spectacular lot in the NACC overlooking the park with a pond. Perfect for entertaining & family gatherings. Expansive owners suite, luxury appliances in the bright and spacious kitchen, 5 car garage, carriage suite, circle front drive, finished LL with bar and theater room and a private rear yard with a expansive patio. $1,395,000

Original owner of custom built 2 sty on prime acreage amid million dollar homes. Traditional floor plan with formal living and dining rooms, a sizable cherry kitchen with granite counters plus informal dining area.

Step down to a beamed family room with fireplace. Upstairs offers 5 large BRs & 2.5 baths. Lower level is partially finished w/ rec room, storage and walk out. Expansive patio with custom awning overlooks nearly an acre of gorgeous yard accented with stone walls. A home with ‘’good bones’’, plenty of space and a superior setting provides the buyer with a myriad of options for future plans. Bring your ideas and your dreams! $639,000

Summer on the lake is calling and we have the house complete with lifestyle. Rare opportunity to acquire a unique lakefront property updated for today’s lifestyle while maintaining original charm. Chef’s delight kitchen with crisp white cabinetry, SS appls and opens to large sun filled spaces. Large spacious bedrooms & updated baths. Enchanting guest house features glass ceiling for endless star gazing and comes complete with all amenities. Outdoor kitchen & salt water pool are the jewels of the outdoor entertaining spaces. $850,000

KEMP GROUP

office@relocatecolumbus.com • 614.450.0082

KELLER WILLIAMS CAPITAL PARTNERS

10/10/19 10:39 AM

4632 TENSWEEP, NEW ALBANY

8570 TARTAN FIELDS DRIVE

Beautifully updated home in all the current trends located on the 2nd hole of the Tartan Fields Golf Course.

Shows like a model. 1st floor master with fireplace & spa bathroom. $1,250,000

JON & PAM KIRK

www.callthekirks.com • 614.791.2011

Live With the Private View Your Neighbors Envy! Facing NACC golf course, this magnificent estate hides a one-of-a-kind secret garden in the backyard. Over 200 trees, fountains and a gazebo for entertaining. A 30-foot span of floor to ceiling windows bathes the first floor in light and provides a fabulous view! 6 Br, 6.5 BA & 9000 sq/ ft of comfortable living space. A magnificent combination of High Georgian Architecture and Open Contemporary Design. $1,650,000.

NEW ALBANY REALTY

RE/MAX PREMIER CHOICE 73 SYCAMORE RIDGE DR

SPECTACULAR WEDGEWOOD HOME

features 5 bedrooms, 6 full and 1 half baths. Owner’s suite is on the first floor with access to handsome den. Beautiful woodwork in the two story great room and recently refinished hardwood floors throughout first floor. The walk-out lower level features amazing finished spaces! A true “speakeasy” with full wet bar, ample seating at the bar, fireplace and spaces for pool table and poker table. Also includes office, work-out room and space that would make a great wine room! Over 9100 square ft of living space. $995,000

STACY MCVEY / THE MCVEY TEAM stacymcvey@kw.com • 614.206.3003

KELLER WILLIAMS CLASSIC PROPERTIES

Beautiful custom two-story home in Deer Run with several upgrades & beautiful finishes throughout!

Traditional concept with 4 bdrms, 3.5 baths upstairs, and a 5th bdrm with full bath in the finished lower level. The open kitchen boasts cherry cabinets with SS appls.

Spacious Living Room, Dining Room, Family Room with vaulted ceilings and brick gas log fireplace.

Large windows overlooking the backyard-a private oasis w/paver patio, mature trees, gorgeous gardens on a spectacular 1.3 acre lot. Convenient to schools, bike & walking trails, shopping and more! $569,900

New Albany Country Club’s finest overlooking the 3rd fairway and steps to the club! Three story home with over 6607 square feet of luxury living. Amazing finished lower level with wine cellar and more. Priced at $1,049,000.

PENNY SMITH

pnnysmt@aol.com • 614.805.9162

Fabulous ½ acre setting for this gorgeous home in the Worthington School district with 6-beds, 4 ½ baths, a 2-story great room, spacious kitchen and a fully finished walkout lower level with game room and large workout room. Outdoor living spaces include an expansive 3-level Timbertech deck, stone terracing, a freestanding screened porch and 3-car garage. $795,000

KELLER WILLAMS EXCEL REALTY

5225 CHERRY BOTTOM ROAD, WESTERVILLE

MARILYN VUTECH AND JEFF RUFF realtors@vutech-ruff.com • 614.255.0600

HER REALTORS

NEXT HOME EXPERIENCE

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JILL RUDLER

www.allaboutcolumbusohio.com • 614.939.7400

147 LAKE BLUFF DRIVE, THE SANCTUARY

4895 YANTIS DRIVE

Nestled along the banks of Big Walnut Creek on 5+ acres are two fabulous homes.

One is a log home built in 1940 w/ just under 3,000 sq. ft. and the other is a 1956 midcentury ranch. Both are expertly updated with great style combining great outdoor living spaces. Additional amenities include 3 guest cabins, tennis court and seven garage spaces. Close to Blendon Woods Metro Park & Wyandotte Winery. $995,000

JANE KESSLER LENNOX

janel@newalbanyrealty.com • 614.939.8938

10 N DREXEL AVE

MARILYN VUTECH AND JEFF RUFF realtors@vutech-ruff.com • 614.255.0600

HER REALTORS

Prestigious Drexel Circle!

Stately Georgian 3 Story – 6 BRs, 5 ½ Baths – Approx.

7,615 SqFt Plus Apartment over Garage - 10’ 6”+ Ceilings – Hardwood Flrs – Detailed Moldings – 40’ Hallway – Great Room w/ Mahogany Wood Paneling – Large Master – Finished 3rd Flr– Inground Pool w/ Pool House – 2 Car Garage Plus 5 Spaces – Huge Screened Porch –Private 1.2 Acre Lot – Extensively Landscaped Mint Condition! $1,950,000

MIKE CARRUTHERS

mike.carruthers@kingthompson.com • 614.620.2640

COLDWELL BANKER KING THOMPSON

10/10/19 10:39 AM

MUIRFIELD BEAUTY

30 N DREXEL

Renovated Stone & Stucco 1 ½ Story - Desirable 1st Flr Master – 5 BRs – 5 Full, 2 Half Baths – Approx. 9,267 SqFt - Large Rooms Throughout – Open Stairway – Abundant Natural Light – Newly Finished LL – 3 Car Attached Rear Load Garage w/ Additional Parking Courtyard – Extensive Landscaping – Indoor Pool – Excellent Condition $1,795,000

MIKE CARRUTHERS

mike.carruthers@kingthompson.com • 614.620.2640

COLDWELL BANKER KING THOMPSON

TARTAN FIELDS Stunning New England style beauty on the 7th fairway of Tartan Fields golf club! New roof just installed!

Hardwood floors carry throughout most of the first floor. The first floor owner suite has beautiful golf course views along with a spa like retreat and large closet. The best room in the home rests off the island kitchen and hearth room. The octagon shaped morning room has a floor to ceiling stone fireplace and views from every direction. It’s your slice of heaven any day of the week!

Need more space? Relax in the lower level bar with daylight windows-or get away to one of the 3 upstairs bedroom suites. $1,099,000

ALLI CLOSE

thecloseconnection.com • 614.726.9070

KELLER WILLIAMS CONSULTANTS

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KELLER WILLIAMS CONSULTANTS

Charming 4 BR 2.5 bath, 3400 SF home on Abington Road in UA! First floor features spacious LR with WBFP, DR, and office with built-in bookshelves.

Kitchen, centered in heart of the home, features large island perfect for cooking or gathering around with family and friends. Breakfast room and family room are off kitchen as is attached 2+ car garage (so hard to find in UA).

Spacious bedrooms up include lg owners’ suite w/fireplace and new spa bath (‘17). Finished rec. room, cozy screen porch and shaded paver patio with fire pit will check every box on your list! Steps to schools, parks, library, shops and restaurants. Minutes to airport and freeways! $797,000

CHERYL GODARD

cherylgodard@kw.com • 614.353.8711

KELLER WILLIAMS CLASSIC PROPERTIES

7714 OGDEN WOODS BLVD

CHERYL GODARD

cherylgodard@kw.com • 614.353.8711

KELLER WILLIAMS CLASSIC PROPERTIES

3349 TOWNSHIP ROAD 799, LOUDONVILLE:

This hillside retreat, Redbrush Farms, was designed by George Acock with incredible detailing to architecture and finishes including quarter sawn oak paneling, a second story galley library, wood burning limestone fireplace and a true Chef’s kitchen open to a newer lofted timber addition overlooking the refurbished log cabin pool house and in-ground pool. Between 20-99+ acres of mature woods are available to purchase. $1,395,000 - $1,900,000

ALLI CLOSE

thecloseconnection.com • 614.726.9070

2404 ABINGTON

4850 OLDBRIDGE

GORGEOUS 1.1 ACRE - Private, treed lot. Opportunity to build your dream home in UA or update existing home! Surrounded by $2M+ homes. Desirable open flr plan w/kitchen open to great rm & dining area, 2 story living rm with gorgeous limestone hearth & 1st flr owner’s suite. 4 add’l bdrms along w/fabulous 9’ ceiling great rm & bar in walk-out lower level. Tennis courts on current lot w/rm for pool & outdoor kitchen. Current exterior offers stylish contemporary design but could be transformed to a classic “Joanna Gaines” white farm house style if desired. Possibilities are endless! $879,000

This prestigious tudor has amazing views of the 15th fairway of the Muirfield Village Championship Course. The remodeled eat-in kitchen and Great Room overlook the expansive lawn leading to the course. The dining and vaulted living areas are elegant and large enough to entertain large groups.

Upstairs are 3 large bedrooms plus a charming owner’s suite w/ fireplace, an updated bath & balcony with spiral stairs to the lower level deck. The finished bsmt features egress windows, a media/ theater rm, office area, full bath & rec space w/ pool table. $715,000

Meticulously maintained 4453 sq ft custom home in desirable NACCC! Gleaming hardwd flrs, spacious rms, neutral, updated vibe, 6 flat screen TVs, sonos system. Gourmet kitchen: lg island, granite, SS appls opens to both great room w/fireplace & dining. Expansive 1st flr owner’s en suite plus 3 bedrms up. LL rec rm w/ wetbar, workout rm & full BA. 3 car gar! Mins to: Market Square, NACC, walking trails, schools, downtown & airport. $799,900

JANE KESSLER LENNOX

janel@newalbanyrealty.com • 614.939.8938

NEW ALBANY REALTY

761 WOODS HOLLOW LANE, POWELL

MARILYN VUTECH AND JEFF RUFF realtors@vutech-ruff.com • 614.255.0600

HER REALTORS

Custom designed home features modern and timeless architecture with quality finishes on a rare wooded ravine lot. Beautiful tongue and groove hardwood floors throughout the open floor plan including in the gourmet kitchen with SS appliances, porcelain tile backsplash and German made Bulthaup cabinets on one wall. Walk out lower level to patio and upper deck provide great outdoor living spaces.

Olentangy Schools! $669,500

MARILYN VUTECH AND JEFF RUFF realtors@vutech-ruff.com • 614.255.0600

HER REALTORS

10/10/19 10:39 AM

Dining review p. 126 | short order P. 128 | drink P. 134 | Let’s eat P. 135

132 Ohio’s bounty

Meet the man behind Yellowbird Foodshed.

Photo by tim johnson

NOVEMBER 2019 Columbus Monthly

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10/10/19 10:02 AM

Dining review Burrata

A Storied Meal The Pasqualone family has built a North Side destination for fine Italian dining. Don’t blink, or you might miss it.

BY Bailey Trask

A dinner at Pasqualone’s Ristorante comes with a side of storytelling. Stories of recipes created in the mountainous Italian region of Abruzzi by people trying to make ends meet.

Stories of the Pasqualone family working to keep the restaurant open through a recession. Stories of big union reps sharing the intimate 11-table dining room with a former Republican governor of Ohio. And if you get the right server at this unassuming Columbus Square restaurant, chances are you’ll hear some of those tales.

The restaurant, which opened as La Plaia Restaurant in 1993, was purchased by David Pasqualone in 2005. He and his wife, Lori, have been running the restaurant—which uses recipes inspired by the Abruzzi region of Italy, where David’s father was born—ever since.

The thing is, it would be easy to overlook Pasqualone’s as a strip-mall dive. Situated next to The Rock Pub and adjacent to Hoyo’s Kitchen, Estilo Brazil Café and Mi Li Café (the latter three being no-frills destinations for Columbus foodies), the family-owned Italian restaurant is unlike the others. Open only for dinner, the establishment comes with prices that far exceed those of its neighbors. Getting a table without a reservation is next to impossible.

And don’t count on bar seating. The bar itself is a homey wooden table topped with an array of liquors alongside a rack with a decent selection of Italian wines. Not all servers announce drink specials, and one, when prodded about cocktails, pointed at the bar and said, “I can make you anything from that, within reason.” Perhaps, but my Manhattan ($11) was so strong it went unfinished. It’s best to stick with one of the many bottles of Italian reds, which are presented with impeccable service.

The atmosphere is charming. One wall is covered with a mural of an Italian mountain village, while the rest of the room is kitschy shopping center architecture disguised as a fine-dining establishment, including a wall of painted brick and a drop ceiling of black tiles.

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Thick carpet featuring ornate patterns only partially helps to soak up the ambient sound of other diners.

Although opera music is always playing, the restaurant can get uncomfortably quiet as tables clear out.

How memorable your meal is at Pasqualone’s is directly connected to the service, which is sometimes formal (with napkins placed on guests’ laps) and other times aloof (when the evening’s specials needed to be requested). But when the service is on—it’s on. The charming servers become friends, cater to every detail and remind diners that tables only get one seating a night, so leisurely dining is welcome. This strategy makes getting reservations a little more difficult, especially on weekends.

The set menu centers on veal, chicken and pasta dishes. (Some pastas are handmade, while others are sourced from Cleveland’s West Side Market). And those aforementioned specials mimic the menu,

Veal scaloppini

Columbus Monthly NOVEMBER 2019

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10/10/19 10:03 AM

Pasqualone’s Ristorante 5766 Emporium Square, North Side, 614-890-2070, pasqualones.com

Hours: 5–9:30 p.m. Tue–Sat

which are delivered without prices, so it’s easy to run up the bill. Warm, fresh-from-theoven rolls (reminiscent of Parker House) and a simple lemon vinaigrette-drenched romaine salad come with every entrée. As a whole, the menu is insanely rich and relies on a recurring lineup of key ingredients, like Marsala, heavy cream, mushrooms, tomatoes and a neverending supply of provolone.

One special worth snagging is the burrata ($12.50). A large ball of cool, tender burrata cheese is surrounded by cantaloupe wrapped in ribbons of salty-sweet prosciutto over a bed of greens and fresh tomatoes drizzled with balsamic vinegar. All of this is served with the restaurant’s signature vinaigrette.

One special is a departure from the rest. The octopus ($19) comes poached in white wine, seared in a skillet and topped with a vinaigrette over lettuce. If the slightly too-chewy octopus had been served chilled versus downright cold, it would have made for a better result.

Portions for the entrées are not dainty. The veal scallopini ($35) takes up the entire plate.

Pancakelike in size and shape, and covered with a quarter-inch of a wine-, caper- and lemon-kissed sauce peppered with fresh parsley, the veal is succulent and tender.

In general, veal is always a winner at Pasqualone’s. A veal braciole special ($44) features a 6-inch round of salty veal rolled around a center of melted provolone alongside a generous portion of thick, house-made al dente cavatelli. Too large to be consumed in one sitting, it’s good to know that the leftovers are just as tasty.

The most interesting dish on the menu— and one that I’d definitely order again—is the veal loaf ($33). A giant, breading-laden meat-

ball stuffed with hard boiled egg, pine nuts, spinach, multiple cheeses and prosciutto is served in a creamy lake of Marsala-enhanced gravy. When asked about the egg, our server explained that the dish originated in a poorer area of Abruzzi, and locals would use eggs as a cheap way to boost protein in the dish.

A special served multiple evenings was a lasagna layered with both fettuccine Alfredo and a pulled, braised pork shoulder ($38).

The 2-inch stack of tender, house-made pasta was slathered with tomato sauce and melted cheese, and in the end, not as unique a dish as it sounds.

The chicken cutlet ($26) is a good option for the veal-averse carnivore. Pounded-flat chicken paired with prosciutto, sautéed mushrooms and provolone is covered in the restaurant’s much-loved Marsala sauce. The very rich dish is hard to finish in a single sitting, and setting it aside is advisable, especially to make room for dessert.

The majority of the desserts are shipped in, but the cannoli ($6.75) are made to order.

The thick crust is difficult to break, but it’s worth reaching the dense, cinnamon-sprinkled ricotta.

Pasqualone’s is a delightful surprise on Columbus’ North Side. The juxtaposition of the restaurant’s exterior and interior makes it feel like a secret, but the real secret is to get a server who guides the experience with narrative and an adept understanding of what makes a great night out. Without that attention from servers, a spell is broken—and you’re suddenly aware that you’re in a Columbus shopping center, albeit one with good food. Luckily, two out of my three visits, Pasqualone’s was a stellar experience that delivered me to Italy. ◆

Owners David and Lori Pasqualone

Price Range: $6–$20 appetizers, $16–$44 entrées

photos: jodi miller

Reservations: Required In Short: Tucked away in Columbus Square Shopping Center, Pasqualone’s serves Italian classics in an intimate dining room where kitsch and fine dining collide. Expect a good selection of Italian wines and excellent service that comes with a story or two.

The veal dishes, such as the restaurant’s sizable veal loaf, are the big star here.

HHHH (Excellent)

NOVEMBER 2019 Columbus Monthly

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10/10/19 1:50 PM

Dining SHORT ORDER

Hungarian poutine and mushroom stroganoff

Making Gravy Don’t be fooled by the name; Pierogi Mountain’s depth of flavor goes far beyond Polish dumplings.

Four years ago, Matt Majesky ended Columbus’ Polish dumpling drought by reviving his great-grandmother’s pierogi recipe and opening Pierogi Mountain inside divey Café Bourbon Street in Old North.

Since then, and even after a wowza review from Food Network’s Guy Fieri, his fare has arguably remained a hidden find. But with the opening of a second kitchen takeover earlier this year—this time serving from a window in the rear of the Cheers-esque Wunderbar in German Village—Pierogi Mountain is poised to gain traction. But not for the dish you might expect.

Alongside a rotating menu of authentic pierogi ($1.50 each), Majesky and coowner Charlie Greene are serving Eastern European-inspired classics, including sausages, stews and schnitzel, made for omnivores and vegans alike. Working in step, the two have created a menu as reliable as Newton’s Third Law—for every meat or cheese-laden dish, there is an equally delicious vegan option.

Take Greene’s shiitake mushroom stroganoff ($6). Coat-a-spoon thick, it bursts with an intense pop of caraway seed and has a cavernous depth of flavor that’ll scratch a comfort food itch you thought only your grandmother could reach. It’s cleverly partnered with vegan potato dumplings, known as kopytka, to sop up every ounce of gravy.

It’s a hearty counterpoint to chicken paprikash ($6) served atop egg dumplings with a soulful, dark brown stew and tender carrots and potatoes. The classic highlighter-orange, sour cream-enriched paprikash this is not. Rather, it’s the recipe Majesky’s dad taught him to make, seasoned with Kitchen Bouquet, a browning sauce used to infuse gravy-like richness.

While it certainly adds flavor, the browning sauce also can overshadow the sweet paprika, which should be the star.

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Ordering the paprikash as a Hungarian soned, crisp, breaded crust, plus sauerkraut, poutine ($5/$7)—smothered over a genfresh tomatoes and spicy brown mustard erous portion of smoked on a soft Auddino’s Italian paprika-spiced fries—helps Bakery roll.

Pierogi Mountain restore balance.

If, for some reason, 739 S. Third St., German Don’t leave this darkyou’ve still got room for Village, 614-420-2304, wooden corner bar, once dessert, I’d argue you have facebook.com/pierogimountain home to the original Max two options. Ask for a bas& Erma’s, without ordering ket of powdered sugarone of the house-made sausages ($5), served covered funnel cake bites ($4)—a happy with sauerkraut and mustard. Neither the accident of a dish created after the cooks smoky kielbasa with the perfect snap nor realized that, when fried, their kopytka the seasonal apple and juniper pork sausage dough puffs and crisps like the fair dish.

(Majesky’s favorite) is a bad choice. Nor is the Or order Wunderbar’s house Old-Fashioned (I still can’t believe it’s) vegan seitan schnitzel ($10), delicately sweetened with maple sandwich ($6), which has an intensely seasyrup and a dash of spice. ◆

photo: tim johnson

By Beth Stallings

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After hours with Aleks Shaulov Musician, avid Blue Jackets fan and Russian Jewish immigrant Aleks Shaulov has worked primarily in the service industry since his first job at Plank’s Café & Pizzeria in the 1990s.

His most recent role as a manager at Ace of Cups is a homecoming for him after more than a year at Yellow Brick Pizza. The music, drinks and vibe of the Old North live music venue fit, he says. Here’s where you can find him when he’s not creating new cocktails for the bar. —Jill Moorhead Breakfast: “Nancy’s Home Cooking is right around the corner from my house. It’s a decent greasy spoon breakfast place.”

Special Occasion: The Top Steak House. “I get their Kansas City dry-aged steak. It’s one of those places where time [stands] still. It’s Columbus history.”

photo: courtesy Aleks Shaulov

photo: tim johnson

Dive Bar: “I frequent O’Reilly’s Pub. I run into people there, grab a bite, hang with friends. It’s the definition of a neighborhood bar.”

Carryout: NE Chinese Restaurant.

“I order from their authentic menu.

There’s lots of flavor, and I love their cold beef noodle soup. It’s sweet and sour, and super refreshing.”

Cocktail Bar: The Oracle. “The vibe is kind of cool. The drinks are good. I like their Old-Fashioned. It’s a classic cocktail, you can’t go wrong.”

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Dining copy & Taste

THE SCOOP:

Grilled cheese from Woodhouse Vegan Café

Openings, Closings and other LOCAL food news Openings & Announcements Natalie’s Music Hall & Kitchen, the new spin-off from the owners of Natalie’s Coal Fired Pizza and Live Music, is expected to open this month at 945 King Ave. in Grandview. The restaurant/music venue replaces King Avenue 5. Running the kitchen will be chef Bradley Balch, formerly of Trillium Kitchen & Patio.

Filipino fare, Maine lobster rolls, Mexican street food, poke bowls and locally roasted coffee are the latest offerings announced by the forthcoming Budd Dairy Food Hall, which has pushed back its opening to early 2020. Joining four previously announced small businesses, the food hall’s final five vendors include Boni: Filipino Street Food (a spin-off of Bonifacio), Cousins Maine Lobster, Tacos Rudos, Pokébap and Stauf’s Coffee Roasters.

Co-owners Samer Chedid and Francesco Todisco plan to open a Mediterranean bistro called Bistrolino this fall at 495 S. Fourth St., replacing the original Harvest Pizzeria in German Village.

Flatiron Tavern (129 E. Nationwide Blvd.), a Philly-inspired restaurant and bar from the owners of City Tavern, has replaced Flatiron Bar & Diner. The longstanding restaurant closed last year after nearly 30 years.

Ruth’s Chris Steak House made its official return to the Columbus market in early October. The high-end steakhouse fills the former Double Comfort and DeepWood restaurant spaces at 511 N. High St. in the Short North.

The Old North mainstay Cazuela’s Mexican Cantina has opened a second location at the Gateway–University District. The new spot 130

is slinging margaritas at 1542 N. High St., formerly Mad Mex. Rockmill Brewery unveiled a new 1,500square-foot taproom on the grounds of its Lancaster farm, 5705 Lithopolis Road NW. The Youngstown-based Whistle & Keg opened just in time for hockey season at 343 N. Front St. near Nationwide Arena. The innovative “pour-your-own” taproom offers 50 self-serve taps and a pub grub food menu.

Chuy’s, the Austin-based Tex-Mex restaurant, is now open at 1481 Polaris Parkway. This makes two Chuy’s in Central Ohio, including an Easton location that opened in 2015.

Closings In September, owner Chris Kowalski put longtime Jack’s Downtown Diner (52 E. Lynn St.) up for sale and closed its doors. The

negative impact of years of construction in Lynn and Pearl alleys, combined with staffing issues and rising costs, led to his decision.

Little Eater Clintonville closed in September at 4215 N. High St. after two years in operation. Owner Cara Mangini’s original North Market location is still up and running, and the Clintonville space will serve as Little Eater’s commissary kitchen.

As Bonifacio prepares to join Budd Dairy Food Hall, its sister business, Red Velvet Café, ceased operations at 246 S. Fourth St. Owner Krizzia Yanga launched the Downtown café in 2015.

The casual Short North pizzeria Fabian’s (691 N. High St.), known for its Chicagostyle deep-dish pizza, has closed. Also in the Short North, Belgian Iron Wafel Co. shuttered after less than a year at 19 W. Russell St.

Beer of the Month

Commonhouse Ales Punkt

Style: Imperial Porter ABV: 7.8% Punkt first made its debut at Commonhouse Ales’ sister brewery, Smokehouse Brewing, and has since become part of the seasonal lineup, bottled and released every fall. The imperial porter is flavored with roasted pumpkin and autumn’s greatest hits: nutmeg, clove, allspice, Vietnamese cinnamon and fresh ginger. The resulting ruby red brew blends classic fall spices with a bit of caramelized sweetness from the pumpkin, plus the dark and toasty flavors typical of a porter. Punkt will be available through November. —Nicholas Dekker

photo: tim johnson

Woodhouse Vegan is a pop-up no more.

Woodhouse Vegan Café, a stand-alone restaurant at 851 N. Fourth St. in Italian Village, debuted in October. Prior to opening the café, entrepreneurs Cara, Nicole, Krista and Carla Woodhouse built a fan base during weekly pop-ups at Oddfellows Liquor Bar. Along with vegan menu items such as grilled cheese, loaded nachos and Caesar salad, the new spot has a liquor license.

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Dining recipe

Unearthing Real Mexican Cuisine Pibil Columbus celebrates the traditions of regional Mexican cooking.

photo: tim johnson

photo: tim johnson

By Renee Casteel Cook

The true cuisine of Mexico is hyper-regional and diverse, relying on seasonal ingredients local to each area. So when Alex Flores moved to the U.S. in 2009, he was disappointed to find that so many of the dishes from his Mexico City upbringing were being dumbed down with pre-made marinades, sauces and salsas.

Take Flores’ personal favorite, cochinita pibil. This Yucatan-style dish features pork marinated in annatto seeds, fresh orange juice and spices before being wrapped in banana leaves and cooked low and slow.

“Many businesses buy the paste, and there’s just so much junk in it,” says Flores, who committed to making his own sauces and marinades from scratch when he started his catering business, Pibil Columbus, in 2016.

(Pibil is a Mayan word meaning buried or cooked underground.) Flores’ take on cochinita pibil exemplifies this commitment to authentic Mexican cuisine and has become the caterer’s most popular order, available both as a menu item as well as a whole hog presentation dubbed “The Pibil Experience.”

Striving to showcase simple, colorful and flavorful traditional recipes, Flores takes pride in introducing Columbus to foods like hibiscus flower enchiladas and tacos campechanos, a Mexico City street food consisting of chopped tri-tip, Mexican chorizo and pork rinds mixed with a slightly spicy red sauce. Having relocated to Ohio originally for his wife, Michelle, whose favorite recipe is her husband’s chilaquiles, Flores has found strong acceptance here.

“Columbus is very passionate about food.

[People are] willing to try different foods, things they don’t know,” he says.

Though Pibil Columbus currently provides catering for groups and private events, Flores hopes to expand operations, with sights set on a future food truck or restaurant. You can also catch him at 1400 Food Lab, where Pibil often holds cooking classes. pibilcolumbus.com

Green Chilaquiles with Creamy Tomatillo Sauce Start to Finish: approximately 30 minutes Servings: 4 Ingredients: • 12 green tomatillos, husks removed • 1/2 medium onion, coarsely chopped • 2 or 3 garlic cloves, minced • 2 or 3 serrano or jalapeño peppers, diced (optional) • Salt and pepper, to taste • 1 cup cilantro • 4 ounces cream cheese • 2 teaspoons canola oil • 1 or 2 free-range eggs per serving • 2 cups tortilla chips per serving (El Milagro brand recommended) • Optional garnishes: – Mexican crema or sour cream – Cotija cheese – White onion, sliced – Cilantro

Instructions: In a large pot, cover tomatillos, onions, garlic and peppers with water and bring to a boil over high heat; turn off heat, cover and let sit until tomatillos lose their color.

Strain and cool mixture.

In a blender, add the mixture and cilantro, blending into a uniform sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

With the blender on low speed, add cream cheese in small batches. Once all cream cheese has been added, increase speed until the cream cheese has been fully integrated.

In a pan, warm the oil; add the tomatillo sauce and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes.

Cook eggs based on preference (scrambled, over easy, etc.).

To assemble, place tortilla chips in a shallow bowl, cover with creamy tomatillo sauce, top with eggs and garnish with Mexican crema or sour cream, Cotija cheese, white onion and cilantro, to taste.

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Dining in season

Benji Ballmer

The Best of Ohio, Boxed Yellowbird Foodshed wants to connect Ohio consumers to food from the state’s finest growers and makers.

By Nicole Rasul | Photos by tim johnson

For Benji Ballmer, the “tipping point” that led him to found Yellowbird Foodshed was the birth of his eldest child, a daughter named Dance, in 2005. “What am I going to feed this kid?” he says with a laugh, reflecting on those early years and the sea of parental responsibility ahead of him. After Dance’s birth, Ballmer dug deep, reading all he could about the state of food production in the U.S., including the nutritional, environmental and economic impacts of what he calls an “industrialized” and “commoditized” system that governs most American diets. Ballmer decided he wanted something different for his (now) four children, leading him to develop the Mount Vernonbased business he runs today.

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Connecting Farmers with Consumers Through a weekly food box program and online grocery store, Yellowbird Foodshed pairs fresh, seasonal and sustainably produced food from Ohio’s growers and makers with Central Ohio consumers.

Launched in 2014 from Ballmer’s house, the 10-person company now operates out of a 10,000-square-foot facility in Mount Vernon to feed a subscriber base of 1,000 accounts and growing, according to Ballmer.

Each week, Yellowbird picks up fruits, veggies and other goods from nearly 100 vendors around the state, assembles them in boxes and delivers the provisions to pickup points around Central and Northwest Ohio. During Ohio’s plentiful spring-

to-autumn growing season, boxes in three sizes containing 5 to 14 varieties of produce are available by subscription ($20–$40). In colder months, winter boxes are on offer, often containing hearty root vegetables, greenhouse-grown tomatoes or greens, and pantry staples like pickled beets or dried beans.

In January each year, Ballmer says he and his team are busy connecting with producers to plan for the upcoming growing season.

“What do we want? When? How much?” he remarks, rattling off the questions that must be sorted through to offer, say, 1,000 pounds of zucchini four times a season to subscribers. Ballmer calls this middleman work the “buzz” of the business for him, fueling his passion for the endeavor.

“I always tell our growers, ‘I’m not here to take over your direct-to-consumer market,’” Ballmer says. “There are 2 million people that live inside Columbus’ metro area.

If we can reach 1 percent of those people, we’re all going to win.”

Now five years in, Ballmer says Yellowbird wants to go beyond the produce box.

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“We want to become the online grocery hub for Ohio-grown, clean food,” he remarks, while pointing to local eggs, cheese and sauerkraut in a cooling unit at the company’s warehouse.

Local Food Fixing Local Economies One “win,” Ballmer explains, is helping to incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables into people’s diets. Another is bolstering communities and local economies, where some of Ohio’s small-scale growers and makers have been able to stay afloat or even expand thanks to Yellowbird’s model.

Caitlin Bergman, co-owner of Johnstown’s Copia Farm, says that having Yellowbird as a sales outlet for her operation’s eggs has made a difference to her business’s bottom line. “We believe in what Yellowbird is doing,” she says, noting that the convenience offered by the company has brought her new clients. “They’re a great partner for both farms and our community to get behind to make positive change in our broken food system.”

That “broken food system” is epitomized by the acres and acres of corn, soy and wheat­—heavily subsidized commodity crops at the heart of the American industrial food system—that Yellowbird’s trucks pass on their weekly trek across the state to gather farm-fresh fruits and vegetables.

“What if those fields—all of that space—was turned into real food?” Ballmer asks. “We could rebuild the soil, our economies and our relationships with food,” he says, eyes aglow with an almost childlike optimism.

It was having kids that changed his outlook, the entrepreneur says. During his own youth, he didn’t think much about how the food on his plate was grown, or its impact on communities. “I was asleep for 25 years.” yellowbirdfs.com

Lindsay Reasoner (above) and Haley Rook (below) load produce in the refrigerated sorting area at Yellowbird Foodshed.

Seasonal Migration How Yellowbird Foodshed delivers for its customers Monday

Tuesday

Yellowbird’s drivers traverse the state to pick up food from nearly 100 vendors.

By the afternoon, assembly into boxes of fruits, veggies and other provisions begins at Yellowbird’s warehouse.

Wednesday–Friday Each day, boxes are packed, loaded into refrigerated trucks and queued for delivery.

Yellowbird makes deliveries to more than two dozen spots in Columbus for pickup by subscribers. (Home delivery is also available for a fee.)

In addition, Yellowbird operates weekly drops in nearly a dozen other Central and Northwest Ohio communities.

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Dining drink

State of Nature Meet Forbidden Root, the botanical brewery opening soon in Easton’s new north end.

Standing in the middle of Easton Town Center’s $500 million expansion, a short walk from Nordstrom, is a large A-frame structure that looks like an Aspen ski lodge. It’s the new home of Forbidden Root Restaurant & Brewery, a newcomer to Columbus with a back-to-nature attitude.

The brewery, with only one other location in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood, was founded three years ago by “rootmaster” On the opposite end, some of Robert Finkel. His business partner, “alcheoffer at least 10 house beers Forbidden Root Forbidden Root’s most popmist” Randy Mosher, is the brand’s resident on draft and a couple of guest Restaurant & Brewery ular beers are its approachbeer expert and, yes, its mad scientist. drafts. The brewery also will 4080 Worth Ave., Easton, able, juicy, New England Forbidden Root is one of the country’s incorporate a 20-barrel foeforbiddenroot.com IPAs, such as the Snoochie emerging botanical breweries, likely one of der (a large wooden vessel) Boochies Double IPA. In the next big trends in brewing. Though you for making lagers, Finkel addition, the brewery always has a rotatmay have never heard of botanical beers, says, an homage to Midwest brewing tradiing “beer-flavored beer,” Mosher says, like they actually go back thousands of years to tions, and in particular, Columbus’ historic a kolsch or pilsner. a time when an herbal mixture called gruit Hoster Brewing Co. “Beer’s for drinking and being social and was used in flavoring and bittering beer, To lead the brewery and restaurant, having fun. … So, we’re just trying to be long before hops, yeast, barley and water Finkel and Mosher have hired two expesubversive in the fact that we’re bringing became the de facto ingredients. Today’s rienced locals. Nick Gabriel, formerly [botanical] ingredients in, but we’re doing botanical beers typically build flavor around head brewer at Four String Brewing Co., it sometimes in extremely subtle ways,” ingredients like roots, bark, flowers, herbs, will fill the same role at Forbidden Root.

Mosher says. “We like to lure people into our spices and other items found in nature. “No Meanwhile, executive chef Paul Yow, forworld and show them the delights that we ingredients are off limits,” Mosher says. merly of Barcelona and Hae Paul’s, will found, but we’re not hell-bent on changing Forbidden Root’s Wildflower Pale Ale, for lead the kitchen. In Chicago, the brewery’s people’s minds.” example, balances hops with floral ingrerestaurant has received high marks for its The 12,000-square-foot restaurant and dients—elderflower, marigolds and osmancheffy pub fare, which features items such brewery, which is expected to open in thus—that you might find in one of Jeni’s as malt and vinegar potato chips, a milkNovember, will feature two levels, with both more experimental ice cream offerings. brined pork schnitzel sandwich and musindoor and outdoor seating. The bar will In a more extreme example, an Amstersels bathed in cioppino broth. ◆ dam-based botanical brewery, Lowlander Beer, uses spruce needles and juniper berries from donated Christmas trees to brew its Winter IPA. Though botanical beers may seem avant-garde compared to their hoppy craft brethren, don’t expect most of Forbidden Root’s offerings to be really out there. (The brewery was recruited to join Easton, after all.)

“We kind of run the gamut,” Mosher says, adding that all of their beers incorporate hops to some extent.

On one end of the spectrum, you have Forbidden Root’s herbal-bomb collaboration beer with Fernet-BranTop, a rendering of the new Forbidden Root brewpub at Easton; bottom, Forbidden Root’s year-round beers ca, the intensely bitter Italian amaro.

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photos: courtesy forbidden root

BY Erin Edwards

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let’s eat our guide to the best restaurants in columbus

3 Brothers Diner Mexican/American | 3090 Southwest Blvd., Grove City, 614-317-7798. This family-friendly spot combines American, Mexican and Cuban diner fare on one menu. You’ll find a variety of omelets, egg scrambles, breakfast burritos, French toast and pancakes, plus entrées like Cuban roasted chicken, jambalaya and more. BLD $ 6-1-Pho Vietnamese | 4386 N. High St., Clintonville, 614-7064903. A fast-casual restaurant where diners can build their own noodle soups, sandwiches and noodle salads—all of which pull flavors from classic Vietnamese cuisine. LD $ 101 Beer Kitchen Gastropub | 7509 Sawmill Rd., Dublin, 614-2101010; 397 Stoneridge Ln., Gahanna, 614-934-5501; 817 Polaris Pkwy., Westerville, 614-776-4775. At this expertly executed gastropub (its owners could school others in the art of developing a restaurant), craft brews are paired with made-from-scratch, seasonal dishes. BRLD $$ 1808 American Bistro American | 29 E. Winter St., Delaware, 740-417-4373.

Josh Dalton’s bistro uses both contemporary and classic elements in décor and cooking. The menu features short ribs, filet medallions, and shrimp and grits. BRD $$$ Aab India Indian | 1470 Grandview Ave., Grandview, 614-4862800; 2400 E. Main St., Bexley, 614-237-5500. Aab India boasts a large menu of authentic Northern Indian-style curry offerings, plus papadi chaat, chicken tandoori and shrimp bhuna. LD $$ Addis Restaurant Ethiopian | 3750 Cleveland Ave., North Side, 614-2698680. The injera here is about as good as it gets with traditional Ethiopian dishes like tibs, kitfo and doro wot. LD $$

photos: courtesy forbidden root

Akai Hana Japanese | 1173 Old Henderson Rd., Northwest Side, 614-451-5411. This entertaining Japanese bento shop boasts some of the city’s best sushi and a wide range of Japanese and Korean entrées. LD $$ Alchemy Café Juicery | 625 Parsons Ave., Schumacher Place, 614305-7551. This café is no protein shake shack. It’s simple, healthy food that’s familiar and whole, with

recipes created by a registered dietitian. The menu is vegetarian-friendly and includes smoothies, toast, acai bowls, sandwiches, juice and grab-and-go salads and snacks. BLD $ Alqueria Farmhouse Kitchen Contemporary American | 247 King Ave., Campus, 614-824-5579. This rustic yet refined neighborhood restaurant is the work of two veteran chefs. Expect fine cheeses and charcuterie to start, plus entrées like buttermilk fried chicken and crispy pork shank. The bar offers several cocktails and takes care in selecting its craft beers and wines. LD $$$

eron Mitchell’s homage to the steakhouses of yore.

The restaurant’s retro design and clubby atmosphere are teamed with a menu boasting all the classics: oysters Rockefeller, beefsteak tomato salad, creamed spinach, potatoes in all the steakhouse ways and, of course, numerous cuts of beef. BRD $$$$ Baba’s Soup & Sandwiches | 2515 Summit St., Old North, 614262-2227. Dan and Caroline Kraus’ wheelless venture (they owned the now-defunct That Food Truck) specializes in “griddle muffin” breakfast sandwiches (think a much better Egg McMuffin), a killer grilled cheese and smoked meats. BL $

Ambrose and Eve Contemporary American | 716 S. High St., Brewery District, 614-725-2080. Chefs Catie Randazzo and Matthew Heaggans have teamed up to open this dinner party-inspired restaurant inside a former antique shop. The menu elevates comfort foods like liver and onions, chicken and dumplings, and fried chicken. BRD $$$

Bake Me Happy Café & Bakery | 106 E. Moler St., Merion Village, 614477-3642. This 100-percent gluten-free coffee shop and retail bakery is an extension of Bake Me Happy’s growing wholesale business. The cheerful café offers coffee from local roasters, nostalgic treats and some savory offerings. BL $

Amul India Restaurant Indian | 5871 Sawmill Rd., Dublin, 614-734-1600. One of Central Ohio’s most elegantly decorated Indian restaurants serves a full menu of Northern Indian dishes from tikka masala to chicken sabaji, a favorite among Indian patrons. LD $$

Bamboo Thai Kitchen Thai | 774 Bethel Rd., Northwest Side, 614-326-1950.

This bright spot in a drab strip mall offers well-executed Thai staples like som tum (green papaya salad), flavorful green and red curries and pad thai, plus some Vietnamese, Korean and Chinese dishes. LD $$

Ampersand Asian Supper Club Asian | 940 N. High St., Short North, 614-928-3333.

Megan Ada’s Ampersand serves ramen, donburi rice bowls and more in new Short North digs. This sister restaurant to Westerville’s Asterisk Supper Club also offers craft cocktails and a variety of sakes. LD $$

Bangkok Grocery & Restaurant Thai | 3277 Refugee Rd., East Side, 614-231-8787.

A family-owned grocery and eatery specializing in authentic Thai fare for more than 30 years. Go for some of the city’s best pad thai, tom yum soup, nam tok and Thai curries. LD $

Arepazo Tapas & Wine Latin American | 93 N. High St., Gahanna, 614-4717296. Owners Carlos and Carolina Gutierrez serve tapas and entrées in a chic and casual atmosphere with a focus on Venezuelan and Colombian fare.

LD $$

Barcelona Restaurant & Bar Spanish | 263 E. Whittier St., German Village, 614443-3699. Longstanding Barcelona is a classic for approachable Spanish tapas and other palateexpanding fare with an American influence. The patio is one of the most charming in the city. LD $$$

Asterisk Supper Club American | 14 N. State St., Westerville, 614-776-4633.

Owner Megan Ada offers teatime and suppertime in a bibliophile’s dream atmosphere. Craft cocktails are served at a handsome bar, while the eclectic menu leans on comfort foods like grilled PB&Js, meatloaf and chicken and Amish noodles. BRLD $$

Barley’s Brewing Co. Brewpub | 467 N. High St., Arena District, 614-2282537. The microbrewery offers an expansive selection of brews, which can be enjoyed at the hand-carved, century-old mahogany bar alongside American bar favorites like nachos and burgers. LD $$

The Avenue Steak Tavern Steakhouse | 94 N. High St., Dublin, 614-591-9000; 1307 Grandview Ave., Grandview, 614-485-9447. Cam-

The Barn at Rocky Fork Creek Steakhouse | 1370 E. Johnstown Rd., Gahanna, 614855-9840. While bourbon, barbecue and beef are king at Cameron Mitchell’s cozy steakhouse rehab

Let’s Eat comprises Columbus Monthly editors’ picks and is updated monthly based on available space. If you notice an error, please email eedwards@columbusmonthly.com.

$$$$ Average entrée $26 and higher $$$ Average entrée $16–$25 $$ Average entrée $11–$15 $ Average entrée under $10

- Valet Available - Kitchen Open Late Outdoor Patio Seating

B Breakfast BR Brunch L Lunch D Dinner

Critics’ Choice Columbus Classic

NEW! Restaurant has opened within the last few months.

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of the old Hoggy’s barn, don’t miss the baked oysters, fresh salads and blackened red fish. Predictably, some prices are on steroids. BRD $$$$ Ba Sho Japanese Restaurant Japanese | 2800 Festival Ln., Dublin, 614-766-7733.

This authentic Japanese restaurant offers Japanesestyle comfort fare like grilled meats and seafood, sushi and savory stew. LD $$ Basi Italia Italian | 811 Highland St., Victorian Village, 614-2947383. Nestled in the heart of Victorian Village, Basi Italia serves clean, simple Italian fare with innovative twists in a setting so intimate, you’ll feel like the chef invited you over for dinner. In the warmer months, Basi offers one of the city’s best patios. BRD $$$ Belle’s Bread Café & Bakery | 1168 Kenny Centre Mall, Upper Arlington, 614-451-7110. Tucked away in the same complex as Akai Hana, this French-inspired Japanese bakery and café is known for its outstanding pastries, cakes and treats. It also serves tea, coffee and a lunch menu with sandwiches and crêpes. BL $ Bexley Pizza Plus Pizza | 2651 E. Main St., Bexley, 614-237-3305. With 22 specialty pizzas and 41 toppings, the options are endless at this Bexley pizzeria. LD $ Black Point Seafood | 570 N. High St., Short North, 614-221-5294.

This Hyde Park Group creation brings high-end seafood to The Cap, along with a lively bar scene. Not to be missed are offerings like sea bass with lemon caper vinaigrette and kale salad, but pass on the sushi rolls. D $$$ Black Radish Creamery Soup & Sandwiches | 59 Spruce St., Short North, 614517-9520. This North Market cheese shop also offers cheese plates and traditional raclette. BLD $ Blunch American | 2973 N. High St., Clintonville, 614-6417501. This bright and friendly eatery covered in murals from Columbus artists offers creative breakfast dishes until mid-afternoon. You’ll find brunch cocktails, a massive Breakfast Club sandwich and a variety of pancakes and eggs Benedicts. BBRL $ Bonifacio Filipino | 1577 King Ave., Fifth by Northwest, 614-9148115. This modern take on Filipino home cooking from owner Krizzia Yanga features traditional brunch and dinner dishes, fast-casual lunches and occasional kamayan-style dinners. Try the fried chicken and ube waffles at brunch, chicken adobo and halo-halo, a shaved ice sundae. BRLD $$ Borgata Pizza Café Italian | 5701 Parkville St., North Side, 614-8912345; 2285 W. Dublin-Granville Rd., Northwest Side, 614-396-8758. A neighborhood Italian eatery specializing in New York-style pizza, scratch-made pastas, calzones and panini. Try the ricotta cavatelli with marinara or spicy stuffed peppers—tender Cubanelle peppers with marinara and gooey mozzarella cheese. LD $$ Brassica Mediterranean/Middle Eastern | 2212 E. Main St., Bexley, 614-929-9990; 680 N. High St., Short North, 614-867-5885; 1442 W. Lane Ave., Upper Arlington,

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614-929-9997. From the owners of Northstar Café comes this build-it-yourself eatery with a focus on fresh vegetables and proteins spiked with bold Middle Eastern and Mediterranean spices. LD $$ Brekkie Shack American | 1060 Yard St., Grandview, 614-208-7766.

Staying true to its name, this cheerful Grandview Yard spot focuses on breakfast, with scratch-baked goods, savory breakfast sandwiches, pancakes and coffee from Crimson Cup. Beer and cocktails are also available. BBRL $ Brown Bag Deli Deli | 898 Mohawk St., German Village, 614-443-4214.

The longtime German Village sandwich shop keeps it simple yet tasty with crave-worthy sandwiches like the turkey-and-cranberry-mayo-topped Village Addiction, plus daily soups, salads and sides on display under the counter. LD $ Buckeye Donuts Bakery | 1998 N. High St., Campus, 614-2913923. A Campus legend since 1969, Buckeye Donuts is open 24 hours to satisfy cravings for classic doughnuts and diner-style cuisine at all hours of the day.

BLD $ Buckeye Pho Vietnamese | 761 Bethel Rd., Northwest Side, 614-4512828. Venture to this strip mall eatery for high-quality Vietnamese fare with modern décor. LD $ Cap City Fine Diner & Bar American | 6644 Riverside Dr., Dublin, 614-8897865; 1301 Stoneridge Dr., Gahanna, 614-478-9999; 1299 Olentangy River Rd., Fifth by Northwest, 614291-3663. Cameron Mitchell’s popular, stylish diner serves retro fare with an upscale twist. Think American cuisine, like meatloaf, chili dogs, pork chops and homemade pies and desserts. BRLD $$ Cherbourg Bakery Bakery | 541 S. Drexel Ave., Bexley, 614-725-4560.

This quaint Bexley bakery offers high-quality sweet treats—cookies, muffins and double-lemon bars— without gluten or nuts. BL $ Ciao Café Coffee & Desserts | 2 N. Sandusky St., Delaware, 740990-4003. This authentic gelateria in the heart of downtown Delaware serves Italian-style ice creams, espresso drinks and pastries. BLD $ Club 185 American | 185 E. Livingston Ave., German Village, 614-228-3904. You’ll find cozy booths and a swinging jukebox at this dimly lit German Village hangout serving better-than-average bar fare like cheeseburgers, wings and pizza. LD $ A Common Table Soup & Sandwiches | 3496 N. High St., Clintonville, 614-824-1887. Uncommonly good deli fare can be found at this small spot from owners Josh and Kristen Taylor. The menu includes a soup of the day, Reubens, eggs salad sandwiches, tuna melts and more. L $ Comune Contemporary American | 677 Parsons Ave., Schumacher Place, 614-947-1012. Joe Galati and Brook Maikut’s restaurant and bar fills a void in Columbus with a plant-based approach to upscale dining. The seasonal and globally inspired menu includes shareable dishes like house-made pita, dan

dan noodles, tempura cauliflower and sesame ice cream. LD $$ Cosecha Cocina Mexican | 987 N. Fourth St., Italian Village, 614-3691129. At Cosecha, diners will find a contemporary twist on regional Mexican cuisine, with tacos, tortas and enchiladas, but this is not El Vaquero, folks. The rustic restaurant design and front patio are highlights, and don’t miss the agave-based cocktails.

BRLD $$ The Crafty Pint Gastropub | 2234 W. Dublin-Granville Rd., Northwest Side, 614-468-1675. The Crafty Pint is a gastropub offering rustic American food, craft beers (with a heavy emphasis on local brews), creative cocktails and a large outdoor patio. It’s all wrapped in a playful setting where beer samplers are built from old license plates and checks are delivered inside Dr. Seuss books. LD $$ Cravings Café Soup & Sandwiches | 114 N. Front St., Downtown, 614-670–4439. This café from Matt and Lindsey Tewanger offers sandwiches made with locally sourced ingredients, house-baked brioche and roasted meats. Also featuring small-batch coffee and breakfast pastries. BL $ Creole Kitchen Cajun & Creole | 1052 Mount Vernon Ave., East Side, 614-372-3333. Chef Henry Butcher serves up authentic, savory Creole food—po’boys, alligator, gumbo—in hearty portions. BLD $ The Crest Gastropub Gastropub | 2855 Indianola Ave., Clintonville, 614261-7128; 621 Parsons Ave., Schumacher Place, 614682-7090. These popular gastropubs serve a long list of craft and local beers, as well as upscale pub fare incorporating herbs and produce from nearby farms and each location’s rooftop garden. BRLD $$ Cuco’s Taqueria Mexican | 2162 Henderson Rd., Upper Arlington, 614538-8701. Once a Mexican grocery store with a tiny taco counter, Cuco’s has grown into a full-fledged, successful restaurant that still sells a few Mexican goods alongside ceviche, burritos, tamales, tortas and tacos al pastor. BLD $ Danny’s Deli Soup & Sandwiches | 37 W. Broad St., Downtown 614469-7040. The iconic downstairs deli specializes in classic deli sandwiches like the grilled Reuben, pastrami and turkey melt. BL $ Dan’s Drive In Diner | 1881 S. High St., South Side, 614-4447590. A kitschy 1950s South Side diner complete with red vinyl booths; open for breakfast and lunch.

Go for the breakfast skillets, pancakes, meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, hot roast beef sandwich and burgers. BL $ Del Mar SoCal Kitchen American | 705 N. High St., Short North, 614-300-9500.

Vintage luggage and maritime accents fill this attractive, Southern California-inspired restaurant and bar from Cameron Mitchell. Seafood stars, with dishes ranging from tuna poke to lobster rolls to Fisherman’s Stew. Stir frys, burgers and steaks are also available.

An elevator connects Del Mar to the rooftop lounge, Lincoln Social. D $$$

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Denmark on High Small Plates | 463 N. High St., Short North, 614-9146700. A European-style cocktail bar focusing on vintage and modern drinks, craft Ohio beers and seasonal small plates. On the second floor of the Yankee on High building. D $$

Date night deals without the download.

Diamonds Ice Cream Mexican | 5461 Bethel Sawmill Ctr., Northwest Side, 614-718-2980. This ice cream shop serves a dizzying array of Mexican desserts, juices and snacks. Go for the excellent paletas (popsicles) with flavors that range from the basic to the bizarre. LD $ Dirty Frank’s Hot Dog Palace American | 248 S. Fourth St., Downtown, 614-8244673. This hip hot dog joint with retro décor and oneof-a-kind wieners that can be topped with condiments such as sauerkraut, baked beans and Fritos. LD $ DK Diner American | 1715 W. Third Ave., Grandview, 614-4885160. The DK stands for doughnut kitchen at this off-the-beaten-path diner with a cozy atmosphere and local flavor. Enjoy breakfast all day. BLD $ Dosa Corner Indian | 1077 Old Henderson Rd., Upper Arlington, 614-459-5515. A family-owned, Southern Indian “fast food” spot that specializes in thin, pancake-like dosas made with rice and lentil flour batter with a choice of vegetarian fillings. LD $ Due Amici Italian | 67 E. Gay St., Downtown, 614-224-9373.

Exposed brick walls and modern black and white furniture give this Downtown Italian eatery an upscale feel. BRLD $$ The Eagle Southern | 790 N. High St., Short North, 614-745-3397.

This Southern-style restaurant from the Cincinnatibased owners of Bakersfield features Amish fried chicken, spoonbread, craft beers and a large patio along High Street. LD $ Eddie Merlot’s Steakhouse | 1570 Polaris Pkwy., Polaris, 614-433-7307.

This high-end steakhouse from Fort Wayne, Indiana, offers a menu of prime aged beef and seafood, plus classics like chateaubriand and Steak Diane served tableside. As the name implies, wine takes top billing here. D $$$$

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HOW B1G WILL THIS SEASON WIND UP BEING?

El Camino Inn Mexican | 238 S. Fourth St., Downtown, 614-220-8877.

This retro, ’70s-style taco shop from the owners of The Rossi, Club 185 and Little Palace is a bar first, restaurant second. Stop in for cheap beer or a margarita, and stick around for tasty Mexican bar fare, including tacos and tostadas. LD $ El Ranchito Taqueria Mexican | 1275 Brown Rd., West Side, 614-975-9164.

An affordable, family-run spot for authentic Mexican fare on the Hilltop, featuring horchata, tacos, tortas, sopes, burritos and entrée platters like carne asada.

The restaurant opens early on weekends when customers line up for bowls of birria (goat stew) and menudo (beef tripe soup). LD $

Stay tuned.

Elevator Brewery & Draught Haus Brewpub | 161 N. High St., Downtown, 614-228-0500.

In the historic Bott Brothers building Downtown, this brewpub’s stunning stained glass is contrasted by

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modern touches like a bar equipped with flat-screen TVs. Similarly, on the menu it’s fish and chips and wings alongside vegetable lasagna and steaks. LD $$ Figlio Wood Fired Pizza Italian | 1369 Grandview Ave., Fifth by Northwest, 614-481-8850; 3712 Riverside Dr., Upper Arlington, 614-459-6575. The vibe is simple and relaxed at both locations of this contemporary neighborhood restaurant with Italian dishes, wood-fired pizzas and a hearty wine list inspired by the travels of owners Peter and Laurie Danis. D $$

promises fine dining with a low country influence.

Expect bold flavors in dishes layered with components and exceptional sauces. Preparations and ingredients change with the seasons. D $$$

lection of small plates, house-made pasta and many dishes crafted with locally sourced ingredients. Sleek with a rustic edge, the 140-seat restaurant and bar is $$$ connected to The Joseph hotel. BBRLD

Gallerie Bar & Bistro Contemporary American | 401 N. High St., Short North, 614-484-5287. Chef Bill Glover looks to break the city’s resistance to hotel dining. In this airy yet refined space, inside the Hilton Downtown, Glover crafts a farm-to-plate menu with emphasis on Ohio meats, produce and cheeses. BLD $$$

Final Cut Steak & Seafood Steakhouse | 200 Georgesville Rd., West Side, 614308-4540. A contemporary American steakhouse inside Hollywood Casino featuring USDA prime beef, wagyu beef, Colorado lamb, lobster and an extensive wine list. D $$$$

Gallo’s Kitchen & Bar Cajun & Creole/Italian | 2820 Nottingham Rd., Upper Arlington, 614-754-8176. Expanding on the menu at the Tap Room location, Gallo’s Kitchen is more upscale, serving Walleye with Louisiana Crawfish Sauce, chicken étouffée and Pasta Russo. D $$

Hadley’s Bar + Kitchen American | 260 S. Fourth St., Downtown, 614-2223022. A hip neighborhood bar and restaurant known for its affordable happy hour, weekend brunch and burgers. Expect additional fare likes tacos, truffle fries, chicken wings and boozy milkshakes, plus daily specials. Vegan, gluten-free and vegetarian options are also available. BRLD $$

Fireproof Contemporary American | 1026 N. High St., Short North, 614-706-4425. Featuring a chic atmosphere, hand-crafted cocktails and globally inspired tapas by chef Michael Koenig, Fireproof takes its name from its historic building on High Street. D $$$

Gallo’s Tap Room Pub Grub | 5019 Olentangy River Rd., Northwest Side, 614-457-2394; 240 N. Liberty St., Powell, 614-396-7309.

A dark, modern sports bar brimming with top-notch beers and an updated pub grub menu featuring burgers, wings and pizza. LD $

Flavor 91 Bistro Burgers | 5186 E. Main St., Whitehall, 614-845-8840.

This family-owned craft burger joint on the border of Whitehall and Reynoldsburg is dedicated to serving local, organic and fresh ingredients. Go for the flavorful salads, the berbere-rubbed chicken wings, the Flavor Burger and the friendly atmosphere. LD $ Flip Side Burgers | 3945 Easton Station, Easton, 614-472-3547.

This burger and shake joint with a heavy emphasis on local ingredients (burgers are made with Ohioraised, grass-fed beef) serves great cocktails and boozy milkshakes, plus craft beers. LD $ Flowers & Bread Café & Bakery | 3870 N. High St., Clintonville, 614262-5400. Located across from Whetstone Park, this flower shop, bakery and café offers classes in baking, the floral arts, gardening and cooking. The café offers seasonal soups, salads, sandwiches and baked goods. BL $ Forno Kitchen + Bar Italian | 721 N. High St., Short North, 614-469-0053.

Located in a historic building in the Short North, this restaurant features pizza, sandwiches and shareable appetizers, plus house-made cocktails. BRLD $$ Fox in the Snow Café Coffee & Desserts | 210 Thurman Ave., German Village; 1031 N. Fourth St., Italian Village; 160 W. Main St., New Albany. A bakery and coffee shop offering pastries made in-house daily and coffee from Tandem Coffee Roasters. BL $ Fukuryu Ramen Japanese | 4540 Bridge Park Ave., Dublin, 614-553-7392; 1600 W. Lane Ave., Upper Arlington, 614-929-5910. Jeff Tsao, whose family owned the Kahiki Supper Club, brings his Melbourne, Australia, ramen shop stateside.

It’s quick, modern, bustling and adds a little rock ’n’ roll to traditional Japanese fare. The Signature Tonkotsu and Red Dragon ramens are standouts. LD $$ G. Michael’s Bistro & Bar Low Country | 595 S. Third St., German Village, 614-464-0575. This historic German Village eatery

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NEW! Geordie’s Restaurant Irish & British Pubs | 1586 S. High St., Merion Village, 614-674-6004. Chef-owner Glen Hall-Jones brings the flavors of his native northeast England to Columbus. At dinner, pair a pint with Cornish pasties or the fish and chips. Weekends bring brunch, featuring a full English breakfast, and Newcastle United on the TV. BRD $$ Giuseppe’s Ritrovo Italian | 2268 E. Main St., Bexley, 614-235-4300.This unfussy Bexley restaurant is the place to go for classic Italian pasta dishes, such as Gamberi Diavola and Fettucine Calabrese. Italy plays just as big a role behind the bar with a lengthy wine list, a solid amaro selection and outstanding craft cocktails. LD $$ Gogi Korean BBQ Korean | 1138 Bethel Rd., Northwest Side, 614-6704790. Gogi means “meat” in Korean, and that’s what you can expect (and lots of it) at this restaurant where diners can grill their own meat at the table.

The expansive menu also includes bibimbap, grilled fish platters, soups and rice pancakes, plus Korean beers and liquors like makgeolli and soju. LD $$ Gokul Café Indian | 2685 Federated Blvd., Dublin, 614-766-2233.

Chef-owner Santosh Sheregar has a reputation for crafting vibrant Southern Indian fare—a cuisine that relies on rice, lentils and aromatic spices. His Gokul Café continues to set the bar high, offering spicy and enticing Indian dishes in a sparse but clean setting. LD $$ GoreMade Pizza Pizza | 936 N. Fourth St., Italian Village, 614-725-2115.

It’s all about the pizza here at Nick Gore’s modest spot. Thin-crust pies are wood-fired in an oven imported from Italy, and seasonal toppings are locally sourced. Enjoy solid cocktails and salads while you wait. D $$$ The Guild House Contemporary American | 624 N. High St., Short North, 614-280-9780. Cameron Mitchell goes contemporary at The Guild House with a smart col-

Harvest Kitchen & Bar American | 2376 E. Main St., Bexley, 614-824-4081; 2885 N. High St., Clintonville, 614-947-7133. From the owners of Harvest Pizzeria, these locations offer the same wood-kissed pies plus salads, sandwiches, burgers and more. LD $$ Harvest Pizzeria Pizza | 45 N. High St., Dublin, 614-726-9919. Some of the best wood-fired pies in Central Ohio are served at this pizzeria owned by Grow Restaurants. LD $$ Harvey & Ed’s Deli | 698 N. High St., Short North, 614-641-4040.

This nostalgic concept from Cameron Mitchell Restaurants is inspired by New York delis. Located in the former home of Rigsby’s Kitchen, this carryout/dinein restaurant gives a contemporary twist to classics like matzo ball soup, cured fish platters with Block’s Bagels, Reubens and cheese blintzes. BRLD $$$ Heirloom Café Soup & Sandwiches | 1871 N. High St., Campus, 614292-2233. The fresh and seasonal café located inside the Wexner Center for the Arts always seems to have whatever we’re craving—homemade soup, sandwiches, salads, pastries and coffee drinks. BL $ High Bank Distillery Co. American | 1051 Goodale Blvd., Grandview, 614-8265347. High Bank’s dining room offers plenty of games, TVs and space for large groups. The cocktail menu puts the distillery’s own offerings to good use, while the food menu offers above average pub fare such as brunch items, salads, locally sourced beef burgers and Hot Honey Chicken. BRLD $$$ Himalayan Grille Nepalese/Tibetan | 1307 Stoneridge Dr., Gahanna, 614472-0211. A friendly spot serving Himalayan fare, like bhatmas sadeko, momos and vegetarian or meat thalis. Also serves familiar Indian fare like dal makhani, tandoori dishes and curries. LD $ Hong Kong House Chinese | 1831 Henderson Rd., Upper Arlington, 614538-9288. Don’t let the name fool you. Hong Kong House actually serves some of the most authentic Sichuan fare in town. LD $$ Hoof Hearted Brewery and Kitchen Brewpub | 850 N. Fourth St., Italian Village, 614-4014033. This collaboration between A&R Creative (The Crest, Market Italian Village) and popular Marengo-based brewery Hoof Hearted represents all the good things happening in Columbus right now: lots of craft beer and locally sourced food in a cool, modern space. BRLD $$ Hot Chicken Takeover Southern | 4198 Worth Ave., Easton, 614-532-7435; 59

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Spruce St., Short North, 614-800-4538; 4203 N. High St., Clintonville, 614-754-1151. Head fryer/owner Joe DeLoss jumped on the Nashville hot chicken trend and hasn’t looked back. HCT does an excellent impression of Prince’s, the Nashville original—the fried chicken is juicy, super spicy (unless you ask them to hold the heat) and sits on a bed of white bread. LD $$ Hoyo’s Kitchen Somali | 5788 Columbus Sq., North Side, 614-899-8800; 59 Spruce St., Short North, 614-745-3943. Hoyo’s Kitchen offers Somali cuisine with authentic dishes inspired by the owner’s mother. Don’t pass on a combo plate with goat and a berbere-spiked sauce or the daal soup, a hearty lentil dish. Hoyo’s added a fast-casual location inside North Market this year. LD $$ Hubbard Grille American | 793 N. High St., Short North, 614-2915000. Hubbard specializes in upscale takes on downhome and down-South dishes made with organic and local ingredients. BRLD $$$ Hudson 29 American | 260 Market St., New Albany, 614-8592900; 1600 W. Lane Ave., Upper Arlington, 614-4870622. This Cameron Mitchell restaurant looks to bridge the gap between Napa-inspired, Californiafresh cuisine and Texas-style comfort food, with simple approaches to dishes like flatbreads, steaks, sushi and knife-and-fork sandwiches coming out of an open kitchen. BRLD $$$ Huli Huli Tiki Lounge & Grill Small Plates | 26 W. Olentangy St., Powell, 614396-8437. This bar in historic downtown Powell celebrates tiki culture with carefully crafted rum drinks like mai tais and zombies. A small menu features items like the Big Island Sliders, which combine Spam, pineapple and Swiss cheese on mini Hawaiian rolls. D $ Huong Vietnamese Restaurant Vietnamese | 1270 Morse Rd., North Side, 614-8250303. Housed in a Northland-area strip mall, this bright and simply decorated restaurant turns out great Vietnamese fare with pho, Bun Nem Nuong and Asian-style barbecue pork. LD $ Indian Oven Indian | 427 E. Main St., Downtown, 614-220-9390.

Friendly and chic eatery serving Northern Indian and Bengali meals. The menu includes palak paneer, tandoori chicken, biryani and roasted lamb shank. LD $$ Indochine Café Vietnamese | 561 S. Hamilton Rd., Whitehall, 614-231-7357.

Classic Vietnamese and Laotian fare is presented in a colorful, photo-filled menu at this traditional momand-pop eatery. LD $$ Jack & Benny’s American | 12 E. Broad St., Downtown, 614-745-2313; 2563 N. High St., Old North, 614-263-0242. This Old North-area breakfast favorite for students and locals alike now has a second location Downtown. Fans clamor here for classic diner fare, breakfast all day, pancakes and sandwiches. BL $ Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse Steakhouse | 89 E. Nationwide Blvd., Downtown, 614-686-7800. This Cincinnati-based chain from restaurateur Jeff Ruby, offers top-flight steaks, a

la carte sides, oysters and sushi in an over-the-top atmosphere. The wine list is extensive, and the service is formal, with flourishes like Bananas Foster served tableside. D $$$$ Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams Ice Cream | 59 Spruce St., Short North, 614-2289960; 714 N. High St., Short North, 614-294-5364; 900 Mohawk St., German Village, 614-445-6513; 1281 Grandview Ave., Grandview, 614-488-2680; 2156 E. Main St., Bexley, 614-231-5364; 4247 N. High St., Clintonville, 614-447-0500; 1 W. Bridge St., Dublin, 614-792-5364; 8 N. Liberty St., Powell, 614-846-1060; 3998 Gramercy St., Easton, 614-476-5364. Jeni’s creative and seasonal ice cream flavors are renowned across the nation. Think Salty Caramel ice cream, ice cream sundaes and ice cream sandwiches. LD $ Jiu Thai Asian Café Chinese | 787 Bethel Rd., Northwest Side, 614-7325939. Located in the Olentangy Plaza shopping center, this restaurant specializes in flavorful, authentic cuisine from northern China. Go for the tofu skewers, lamb dumplings and handmade noodles in generous portions at low prices. LD $ Kabob Shack Afghan | 4568 Cemetery Rd., Hilliard. Owner Sakeena Bary’s casual eatery offers a cuisine rarely found in Central Ohio. Kabob Shack’s menu includes mantu (Afghan dumplings), lamb chops, kofta kebab, daal, samosas, falooda (an Afghan dessert) and more. LD $$ Katalina’s Latin American | 3481 N. High St., Clintonville, 614689-8896; 1105 Pennsylvania Ave., Harrison West, 614294-2233. Expect an eclectic menu of Latin-leaning items at this café known for its chalkboard walls, scratch-made salads and sandwiches and killer patio in the warmer months. BLD $ Katzinger’s Delicatessen Deli | 7160 Muirfield Dr., Dublin, 614-389-8444; 475 S. Third St., German Village, 614-228-3354. A 35-year veteran in German Village, Katzinger’s is a traditional East Coast-style deli, with 60-plus sandwiches, potato latkes, pickle barrels, specialty foods and cheeses. The Dublin location opened this fall.

BLD $$ The Keep Liquor Bar French | 50 W. Broad St., Mezzanine Level, LeVeque Tower, Downtown, 614-745-0322. With a modern take on the French brasserie, The Keep strives for LeVeque Tower luxury without being overly fussy. Expect a menu of classic steaks, seafood towers and an Old World-leaning wine list. The adjacent bar is darkly lit with an emphasis on craft cocktails. BLD $$$

Kuya Ian’s Bistro Filipino | 6863 Flags Center Dr., North Side, 614-9483333. The Firmalan family runs this no-frills restaurant serving straight-up Pinoy fare. The menu features tried-and-true favorites like chicken adobo and pancit, but also showcases lesser-known dishes like dinuguan and sinigang. The best time to visit is during brunch on Sundays, when the restaurant serves an $ all-you-can-eat buffet. BRLD La Chatelaine French Bakery & Bistro French/Bakery | 627 High St., Worthington, 614-8486711; 1550 W. Lane Ave., Upper Arlington, 614-4881911; 65 W. Bridge St., Dublin, 614-763-7151. Handcrafted woodwork and a crackling fireplace lend the feeling of a French castle to this bakery, bistro and wine bar with equally inspired dishes that range from beef bourguignon to croissants. BLD $$ La Tavola Italian | 1664 W. First Ave., Grandview, 614-914-5455.

Chef Rick Lopez has again revived his popular Old World Italian restaurant, this time in Grandview.

Dotted with green and yellow accents, the setting is open and welcoming. The food is simple and rustic Italian with pizzas, house-made breads and pastas.

D $$$ Lalibela Ethiopian | 1111 S. Hamilton Rd., Whitehall, 614-2355355. One of the best places for Ethiopian food in the city is Lalibela, a strip-mall restaurant that’s modest on the outside and welcoming on the inside. Request to be seated at a mesob, a colorful woven communal table, and start off with some Ethiopian beer or honey wine. LD $ Laughlin’s Bakery Café & Bakery | 15 E. Second Ave., Short North, 614914-8858. Jonas Laughlin’s quaint bakery focuses primarily on traditional European breads and pastries, like baguettes, croissants, tarts, stollen and shortbread. You’ll also find a variety of pound cakes and signature cakes like carrot and red velvet. BL $ Lávash Café Middle Eastern | 2985 N. High St., Clintonville, 614263-7777. This quick-service Middle Eastern eatery serves a mix of Mediterranean food, coffees and desserts. LD $$ The Light of Seven Matchsticks Small Plates | 5601 N. High Street, Worthington, 614436-2625. The owners of Natalie’s Coal-Fired Pizza and Live Music celebrate Prohibition-era Columbus with this charming basement speakeasy offering snacks, small plates and excellent cocktails. Open Wednesday through Sunday only. D $

Kittie’s Café Café & Bakery | 2424 E. Main St., Bexley, 614-9295000. Located adjacent to Gramercy Books, this surf shop-inspired café is an expansion of Kittie’s German Village sweet shop. The limited menu includes breakfast sandwiches, cinnamon rolls, scones, cupcakes, Stumptown coffee, wine and cocktails. BL $

Lincoln Social Rooftop Small Plates | 9th Floor, 705 N. High St., Short North, 614-300-9494. Cameron Mitchell Restaurants’ firstever rooftop lounge offers impressive views of the whole city from atop the Lincoln Building. Cocktails and socializing are the focus here, with a complementing menu of beach-y small plates and snacks.

D $$

Kittie’s Cakes Café & Bakery | 495 S. Third St., German Village, 614754-8828. Cupcakes, scones, biscuits, cookies and more are baked fresh at this contemporary bakery owned by two former professional golfers. Serves Stumptown coffee; open Wednesday through Sunday. BL $

Lindey’s American | 169 E. Beck St., German Village, 614-228-4343. A Columbus institution, this upscale German Village restaurant with Upper East Side New York flair is a diner favorite, no doubt due to its classic and consistently good fine-dining fare and lush patio. BRLD $$$ NOVEMBER 2019 Columbus Monthly

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Little Eater Contemporary American | 59 Spruce St., Short North, 614-670-4375. Beets, lentils, kale and quinoa have a home at Cara Mangini’s “produce-inspired” North Market stall, which sells healthful seasonal salads by the scoop, crostini, frittatas and quiches. BLD $ Little Palace Pub Grub | 240 S. Fourth St., Downtown, 614-4618404. From the creative minds behind The Rossi and Club 185 comes a revamping of this longtime Downtown eatery featuring fried cheese curds, pizza, sandwiches and burgers. BRLD $$ Los Guachos Taqueria Mexican | 7370 Sawmill Rd., Dublin, 614-726-9185; 5221 Godown Rd., Northwest Side, 614-538-0211; 1376 Cherry Bottom Rd., Gahanna, 614-471-4717. The brick-and-mortar version of the popular taco truck (461 Commerce Sq., West Side) offers all the truck favorites—authentic tacos, tortas and gringas—and, of course, the city’s best al pastor. LD $ Lou’s Fresh Flavor Caribbean | 177 1/2 S. Cypress Ave., Franklinton, 614-804-1521. A Puerto Rican carryout offering hot pressed sandwiches, chicken and rice platters, and sides like beans, tostones and empanadas. Open Thursday through Sunday. LD $ The Lox Bagel Shop Café & Bakery | 772 N. High St., Short North, 614-8244005. Kevin Crowley’s cute Short North shop offers handmade bagels that are boiled and then baked over a live fire. The shop’s namesake sandwich and pastrami sandwich are standouts. BL $ Lupo Spanish | 2124 Arlington Ave., Upper Arlington, 614914-5455. From La Tavola’s Rick and Krista Lopez, this tapas spot offers a menu of seasonal small plates combining Spanish and Italian influences. The full bar focuses on aperitivo-inspired cocktails and a curated list featuring Spanish and Portuguese wines.

BRLD $$ M at Miranova American | 2 Miranova Pl., Downtown, 614-629-0000.

Cameron Mitchell’s recently remodelled fine-dining restaurant is set apart by an outdoor terrace overlooking the Scioto River, an eclectic menu of Pacific Rim-influenced dishes and craft cocktails by one of the city’s most notable bartenders. D $$$$ Mr. Hummus Grill Middle Eastern | 1450 Bethel Rd., Northwest Side, 614-273-4444. Warm service accompanies authentic Lebanese fare at owner Tarek Albast’s restaurant, which takes what his food truck started and kicks it up a notch with tablecloths and impressive décor. Go for appetizers such as the fattet hummus and fried kibbeh, as well as entrées such as the fried red snapper and lamb shank. LD $$ Mai Chau on Prospect Vietnamese | 138 N. Prospect St., Granville, 740-9204680. This hip downtown Granville eatery is inspired

by Vietnamese street food and the owners’ travels.

The location is connected to Mai Chau’s sister brewing company, Three Tigers Brewing. Expect chicken wings, pho, banh mi, rice bowls and steam buns.

BRLD $ Marcella’s Ristorante Italian | 615 N. High St., Short North, 614-223-2100;

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1319 Polaris Pkwy., Polaris, 614-844-6500. Cameron Mitchell’s Italian bistro is fast-paced and always packed, which suits its bold-flavored and affordable food. D $$ Market 65 Salads | 65 E. State St., Downtown, 614-564-6565. By focusing on locally grown, organic ingredients, this Downtown lunch spot offers healthier options when it comes to soups, wraps and salads—the latter made to order as you watch. LD $ The Market Italian Village Mediterranean | 1022 Summit St., Italian Village, 614745-2147. What used to be a shady carryout is now a hip destination for dining or picking up specialty grocery items. Chef Tyler Minnis offers an exciting menu that changes often. BRD $$ Martini Modern Italian Italian | 445 N. High St., Short North, 614-224-8259.

Cameron Mitchell’s classy Short North staple offers classic Italian cooking in a modern, vibrant setting.

D $$$ Mazah Mediterranean Eatery Mediterranean | 1453 Grandview Ave., Grandview, 614-488-3633. A modest mom-and-pop eatery with new digs just a few steps down from its original spot in Grandview. With more room to grow, you’ll now find a full bar to complement the authentic Middle Eastern-style fare, including kibbe balls, lamb kebabs and mujadara. LD $$ McCarthy’s Wildflower Café American | 3420 Indianola Ave., Clintonville, 614262-2233. A cozy neighborhood restaurant serving made-from-scratch comfort food, with pot roast, meatloaf, Southern fried chicken and Sunday brunch. BBRLD $ Melt Bar & Grilled Pub Grub | 840 N. High St., Short North, 614-4531150; 4206 Worth Ave., Easton, 614-934-6020. The Cleveland-based, kitschy bar is all about one thing: grilled cheese. Here, you’ll get the expected plain cheese as well as odd variations, like two slices of Texas-style toast stuffed with pierogi, sauerkraut and cheese. LD $$ Meshikou Japanese | 1506 Bethel Rd., Northwest Side, 614457-1689. Meshikou is an open-kitchen ramen shop focusing on authentic preparations of noodle bowls, as well as a few Japanese comfort-food starters. Coowner Mike Shek learned the ramen craft under a NYC chef—recipes to which Shek has added his own touch for Central Ohio palates. LD $$ Mikey’s Late Night Slice Pizza | 1030 N. High St., Short North, 614-737-3488; 15 E. Duncan St., Old North, 614-262-0680; 268 S. Fourth St., Downtown, 614-737-3801. What started as a late-night pizza shack in the Short North has grown into a mini-chain offering thin crust whole and bythe-slice pizza, wacky seasonal toppings and famed hot sauce—a mix of barbecue, ranch and other hot sauces—to top it all off. LD $ Milestone 229 American | 229 Civic Center Dr., Downtown, 614-4270276. Milestone 229 fills a niche on the Scioto Mile: a lively and unpretentious place to eat and enjoy spectacular views of Downtown, coupled with classic American fare. BRLD $$

Mi Li Café Vietnamese | 5858 Emporium Sq., Northeast Side, 614-899-9202. The tucked-away North Side eatery is famous for its authentic, made-from-scratch banh mi, the first and one of the only remaining items from the original menu. It’s since expanded, offering a heartier list of Vietnamese classics. LD $ Min Ga Korean Restaurant Korean | 800 Bethel Rd., Northwest Side, 614-4577331. This friendly strip-mall spot serves Korean specialities like kimchi, bibimbap, bulgogi and gopchang. LD $$ Mitchell’s Ocean Club Seafood | 4002 Easton Station, Easton, 614-416-2582.

With wood-paneled décor, live piano music and martinis shaken tableside, the Ocean Club evokes the Rat Pack era. On the menu, expect high-end seafood like yellowfin tuna, teriyaki salmon and jumbo lump crab cakes. D $$$$ Momo Ghar Nepalese/Tibetan | 59 Spruce St., Short North, 614495-6666; 1265 Morse Rd., North Side, 614-749-2901.

Phuntso Lama’s modest lunch counters inside North Market and Saraga International Grocery specialize in momos, the handmade dumplings that she and her crew make by the hundreds, weekly. No trip is complete without the best-seller, jhol momo. LD $ Moretti’s of Arlington Italian | 2124 Tremont Ctr., Upper Arlington, 614-486-2333.

This welcoming, casual eatery is the place for zesty Italian-American food with homemade pasta, chicken Parmesan, Veal Moretti and the made-for-two Italian Plate. D $$ Moshi Sushi Bar Japanese | 2152 E. Main St., Bexley, 614-732-0641.

You’ll find a mix of traditional and modern Japanese entrées and sushi at this Bexley spot, with Moshi Fish & Chips, shabu shabu, O-H-I-O Roll and Moshi King Crab Roll. LD $$ Moy’s Chinese | 1994 N. High St., Campus, 614-297- 7722.

Owners Pak and Berlina Moy, who hail from Hong Kong, have served the Campus area for more than 25 years. Moy’s is at its best when focusing on simple Cantonese dishes like chicken braised in soy sauce or barbecued pork. LD $$ Nada Mexican/American | 220 W. Nationwide Blvd., Arena District, 614-715-8260. Sure, we love our taco trucks and taquerias. But we’re quite happy to add this lively (sometimes too loud) Cincinnati transplant to the list for upscale Mexican fare—like Mexican Mac ’n’ Cheese and pork belly tacos—and signature cocktails on tap. BRLD $$$ Namaste Nepali | 1279 Morse Rd., Northeast Side, 614-2613636. At humble Namaste you’ll taste Nepal via influential neighbors India and China. Familiar favorites like samosas, tandoori chicken and curries are all here, but the menu lets you know they’ve been seasoned Nepali style (think ginger, cumin, fenugreek, cardamom, coriander, cloves and mustard seeds). LD $$ Natalie’s Coal-Fired Pizza and Live Music Pizza | 5601 N. High St., Worthington, 614-4362625. Pies topped with imported cheeses and

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high-quality meats are cooked in an ultra-high-heat coal oven for an especially charred crust. A killer nightly live music lineup provides an Americana soundtrack. BRD $$

2070. This hidden gem in Columbus Square Shopping Center serves Italian classics in a dining room where a kitsch and fine dining collide. The veal dishes are the big star here. D $$$$

NE Chinese Restaurant Chinese | 2620 N. High St., Old North, 614-725-0880.

Authentic dishes from the Dongbei region of China are the specialty at this unfussy Old North spot. Go for the Cumin Potato, Spicy Twice-Cooked Fish or any of the hot pots. LD $$

Pat and Gracie’s Burgers | 138 Graceland Blvd., Clintonville, 614-9875147; 340 E. Gay St., Downtown, 614-914-8484. This friendly tavern serves up solid smash-cooked burgers, hand cut fries and craft beer. Also keep an eye out for $$ specials like Yankee Pot Roast. BRLD

Newfangled Kitchen Soup & Sandwiches | 2258 E. Main St., Bexley, 614817-1099. Located next to the Drexel Theatre, this chef-inspired sandwich shop reimagines the classic American meatloaf sandwich. Don’t miss The Fang, a meatloaf version of a cheeseburger. LD $

Paulie Gee’s Short North Pizza | 1195 N. High St., Short North, 614-808-0112.

A Brooklyn-based pizzeria with Neapolitan-style pies and craft beer. Offers traditional and eclectic pizza toppings with names like the Hog Pit Brisket, the Greenpointer and the Ricotta Be Kiddin’ Me. D $$$

Nida’s Thai on High Thai | 976 N. High St., Short North, 614-299-9199. A quirky, modern Short North eatery offering a mix of traditional and trendy Thai dishes. LD $$

The Pearl Contemporary American | 641 N. High St., Short North, 614-227-0151. Gastropub meets oyster bar at this Cameron Mitchell Restaurant with a throwback vibe, craft beer and barrel-aged cocktails. BRLD $$$

Northstar Café American | 951 N. High St., Short North, 614-2989999; 4241 N. High St., Clintonville, 614-784-2233; 4015 Townsfair Way, Easton, 614-532-5444; 109 S. State St., Westerville, 614-394-8992. Northstar’s imaginative menu has a healthful emphasis on organic ingredients served in a casual, order-at-the-counter café setting. At peak times, it’s common to see diners lined up for the beet-laden veggie burger, flatbreads, salads, rice-and-veggie bowls and oversized cookies.

BBRLD $$ Old Mohawk Restaurant Pub Grub | 819 Mohawk St., German Village, 614-444-7204. This German Village favorite housed in a historic building is rumored to have ties to Prohibition. On the menu is standard American bar fare, including the famed turtle soup. LD $ The Old Spot Gastropub | 1099 W. First Ave., Grandview, 614914-8057. The owners of La Tavola and Lupo have teamed with The Butcher & Grocer to provide elevated pub fare at this Grandview spot. Menu items range from charcuterie boards to fish and chips to the Mother Clucker sandwich, a Knead Urban Diner redux. LD $$ Olde Towne Tavern Pub Grub | 889 E. Oak St., Olde Towne East, 614-2522955. Olde Towne East’s convivial bar brings beer to a once-thirsty neighborhood, as well as gourmet grilled cheese and pizza in the style of Youngstown’s beloved Brier Hill. BRLD $$ Pablo’s Havana Café Latin American | 9685 Sawmill Rd., Powell, 614-3894302. This Cuban café serves authentic recipes made primarily with locally sourced ingredients. Be sure to try its signature El Cubano sandwich. LD $ Palle by Moretti Italian | 1021 W. Fifth Ave., Fifth by Northwest, 614421- 2255. Fast-casual meets meatballs at this sister restaurant to Moretti’s of Arlington. Just pick your meatball, a sauce and accompanying pasta, starch or vegetable. There’s an ample list of beers, wine, cocktails and sangria. LD $ Pasqualone’s Ristorante Italian | 5766 Emporium Square, North Side, 614-890-

Pies & Pints Pizza | 4205 Weaverton Ln., Easton, 614-478-7437; 7227 Worthington Pl., Worthington, 614-885-7437.

This chain hailing from West Virginia offers extensive beer offerings to go with solid chargrilled wings and hand-tossed pies. LD $$ Pistacia Vera Café & Bakery | 541 S. Third St., German Village, 614220-9070; 59 Spruce St., Short North, 614-221-1001.

The crème de la crème of Columbus desserts, with macarons, Pistachio Mascarpone Dacquoise torte and Chocolate Bombe. BL $ Plank’s Café & Pizzeria Pizza | 743 Parsons Ave., South Side, 614-4457221. Plank’s bakes some of the finest pies in the city with a notoriously sweet sauce and thin crust.

BLD $ Poong Mei Asian Bistro Asian | 4720 Reed Rd., Upper Arlington, 614-2739998. This popular spot boasts a sprawling menu showcasing Chinese, Korean, Japanese and KoreanChinese dishes, plus plenty of sushi and soju to choose from. Check out the fresh noodle dishes and spicy beef hot pot. LD $$ Portia’s Café Vegan | 4428 Indianola Ave., Clintonville, 614-9283252. This Clintonville café serves only vegan and gluten-free options with an emphasis on raw foods.

The menu includes dips like hummus and guacamole, falafel, soups, salads, wraps, smoothies and vegan-friendly Cheezecake. BRLD $ Preston’s: A Burger Joint Pub Grub | 668 Grandview Ave., Grandview, 614-3971592; 1200 W. Third Ave., Grandview, 614-299-4987.

The brainchild of chefs Matthew Heaggans and Catie Randazzo, this pop-up inside Woodland’s Backyard and Woodlands Tavern serves one of the best smash burgers in town. D $ Ranchero Kitchen Latin American | 984 Morse Rd., North Side, 614985-0083. Previously located in Saraga International Grocery, this Salvadoran eatery specializes in pupusas, thick tortillas stuffed with savory fillings.

LD $

Ray Ray’s Hog Pit Barbecue | 2619 High St., Old North, 614-753-1191; 424 W. Town St., Franklinton, 614-404-9742; 5755 Maxtown Rd., Westerville, 614-329-6654. James Anderson’s barbecue truck, parked in the Ace of Cups lot, serves up top-notch eats from the smoker.

Anderson is now up to three locations. Expect barbecue fare, with ribs, pulled pork and beef brisket $ sandwiches, plus sides. LD Red Door BBQ Barbecue | 264 W. Lane Ave., Campus, 614-715-8724; 177 S. Cypress Ave., Franklinton, 614-557-7469. Go for the smoky, dry-rubbed spare ribs, rib tips, scratch mac ’n’ cheese and cinnamony bread pudding. LD $ Refectory Restaurant & Wine Shop French | 1092 Bethel Rd., Northwest Side, 614451-9774. Columbus’ iconic French restaurant might put more kitchen effort into a single plate than an ordinary restaurant does into an entire menu. Inside this church-turned-fine-dining spot, expect impeccable service and a world-class wine cellar to pair with your meal. D $$$$ Restaurant Silla Korean | 1802 Henderson Rd., Upper Arlington, 614-459-5990. You’ll find real-deal Korean cuisine and a menu with semi-explanatory color photos at this casual restaurant. Their bibimbap is a textbook example of how the dish should be done—served in a scalding hot stone bowl with crispy rice on the bottom. LD $$ Rockmill Tavern Gastropub | 503 S. Front St., Brewery District, 614-7324364. Housed in the historic Worly Building, the tavern’s jumping-off point is Rockmill Brewery’s impressive list of Belgian-style beers. The menu includes burrata, a spicy chicken sandwich, daily fish special and Angus rib-eye. BRLD $$$ The Rossi Bar & Kitchen American | 895 N. High St., Short North, 614-2992810. A perennially packed Short North hot spot, diners flock here for inventive bar food (think gourmet pizza, lamb lollipops and grilled Caesar salad) in a new-meets-old atmosphere straight out of Manhattan. D $$ Sassafras Bakery Café & Bakery | 657 High St., Worthington, 614-781-9705.

Owner A.J. Perry got her start at the Olde Worthington Summer Farmers Market and now serves homecooked desserts (grab a slice of apple pie), pastries, quiche and soup using locally sourced ingredients in her Worthington shop. BBRLD $ Satori Ramen Bar Japanese | 59 Spruce St., Short North, 614-914-8799.

Tokyo native Seigo Nishimura runs this ramen spot in the North Market, serving a variety of Japanese ramen as well as gyoza, yakitori, rice bowls and more.

LD $$ Scali Ristorante Italian | 1903 State Route 256, Reynoldsburg, 614-7597764. This strip mall gem opened by Frank and Judy Scali in 1993 pulls off sophisticated Italian-American fare with the genuine warmth of a neighborhood institution. The veal Parmesan and classic lasagna give red sauce a good name. D $$$ Schmidt’s Restaurant & Sausage Haus German | 240 E. Kossuth St., German Village,

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614-444-6808. Hoist a stein of beer and treat your stomach to some hearty German food and culture at this longstanding restaurant popular with out-oftowners and locals alike. Bring a friend to help you enjoy huge portions of sausage, Wiener schnitzel, Bavarian cabbage rolls and cream puffs. LD $$ Schokko Art Café Contemporary American | 480 E. Broad St., Downtown, 614-221-8300. Chef Laura Richmond runs the kitchen at the Columbus Museum of Art’s house café.

Expect a menu of soups, salads, sandwiches and desserts to accompany a fantastic setting overlooking the museum’s sculpture garden. LD $$ Service Bar Contemporary American | 1230 Courtland Ave., Short North, 614-947-1231. From Middle West Spirits comes this fine restaurant run by executive chef Avishar Barua. Excellent seasonal cocktails (often featuring the distillery’s OYO spirits) are served at a gorgeous antique bar. Barua’s playful menu offers a mix of shareable plates and entrées that express his command of modern techniques and sense of nostalgia. D $$$ Sí Señor Peruvian Sandwiches & More Latin American | 72 E. Lynn St., Downtown, 614-2270070; 1456 W. Fifth Ave., Fifth by Northwest, 614369-1500. This Peruvian-style, order-at-the-counter sandwich shop adds Latin style to familiar American lunchtime staples. Go for the empanadas, Chicharrón Peruano (fried pork shoulder sandwich), cilantro pasta salad and tres leches cake. Hours differ by location. BLD $ Skillet American | 410 E. Whittier St., Schumacher Pl., 614443-2266. Chef Kevin Caskey has developed a huge following for his creative comfort food, served out of a cozy, no-reservations Schumacher Place space. The menu changes nearly daily to reflect whatever local ingredients the chef can source. BBRL $$ Smoked on High Barbeque Co. Barbecue | 755 S. High St., Brewery District, 614754-9711. Max McGarity runs this quick-service barbecue spot in a Victorian-style house in the Brewery District. Head there for craft beer and four standard meat options—chicken drumsticks, pulled pork, brisket and pork spareribs, plus sauces and sides. LD $$

Spagio Italian | 1295 Grandview Ave., Grandview, 614-4861114. A varied palette of dishes—from well-executed comfort food to up-to-the-minute trends—matches the varied décor at this Grandview restaurant founded by chef Hubert Seifert. It’s now under new ownership. BRLD $$$ Spicy Hop Chinese | 878 Bethel Rd., Northwest Side, 614-8869154. Spice up your mealtime with a customizable box of home-style Chinese fare at this cafeteria-style eatery. Highlights include the sweet and sour ribs, Sichuan minced chicken, tomato and eggs, and beef soup. LD $ Starliner Diner Diner | 4121 Main St., Hilliard, 614-529-1198. After 21 years in its Cemetery Road location, Starliner moved into a former post office in Old Hilliard. This funky diner serves giant helpings of zesty, Latinleaning comfort food at breakfast, lunch and dinner.

BLD $ Strongwater Food & Spirits American | 401 W. Town St., Franklinton, 614-9283170. Inside this 100-year-old former manufacturing space, expect a small-plates menu with an emphasis on smoked meats and thoughtful vegetarian fare. The bar, in the former lobby, features specialty cocktails with a focus on simple, house-made ingredients, plus local and imported beers. LD $$ Sunflower Chinese Restaurant Chinese | 7370 Sawmill Rd., Northwest Side, 614-7647888. An authentic Chinese restaurant in a shopping plaza just outside of I-270. Sunflower is best known for its delicious dim sum, served daily but most intensely pursued by diners on weekends. LD $$ Sushi Ten Japanese | 1159 Old Henderson Rd., Upper Arlington, 614-451-9100. Located next to Tensuke Express, this contemporary Japanese spot offers a large variety of fresh sushi rolls, nigiri and poke bowls. LD $$ Sushi Time Japanese | 2653 N. High St., Old North, 614-372-5228.

Standard sushi bar fare, with tempura, udon, soba, bento boxes and more in the former home of Angry Bear Kitchen. Offers dine-in, takeout and delivery.

LD $$

Soulshine Tavern & Kitchen Gastropub | 266 E. Main St., New Albany, 614-4501298. Andrew and Shanda Arthurs’ New Albany tavern is equal parts family-friendly eatery, sports bar and gastropub. Go for the Dutch baby pancakes, Cuban sandwich, burgers and mac ’n’ cheese.

BRLD $$

Sweet Carrot 1417 W. Fifth Ave., Fifth by Northwest, 614-488-7151.

Angela Petro’s fast-casual café sprouted from a food truck of the same name. The mix-and-match menu focuses on smoked brisket, pulled pork and Ohio chicken meatballs served over corn cakes or mac ’n’ cheese. LD $

South of Lane Café | 1987 Guilford Rd., Upper Arlington, 614-5862233. A quaint neighborhood café serving simple but tasty breakfast fare like Greek omelets, seasonal $ salads and Belgian waffles. BBRL

The Sycamore Contemporary American | 262 E. Sycamore St., German Village, 614-754-1460. This German Village eatery wants to be exactly what it is: a neighborhood hangout where locals can go for no-frills good food, cocktails and beer. The rehabbed, 50-seat eatery offers locally sourced, chef-driven bar favorites.

BRD $$

South Village Grille American | 197 Thurman Ave., German Village, 614826-0491. From the owners of Local Cantina and Old Skool, South Village Grille offers a classy atmosphere in a familiar neighborhood setting. You can expect lunch classics like the Croque Madame Toast, plus dinner options like roast chicken, short ribs, seafood and pasta dishes. BRLD $$$

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The Table Contemporary American | 21 E. Fifth Ave., Short North, 614-291-4555. Billed as a European-inspired charcuterie restaurant, this farm-to-plate-focused Short North eatery with mismatched décor and an

open kitchen offers meat-and-cheese plates, sandwiches, salads and baked goods. BRD $$ Tasi Café Café | 680 N. Pearl St., Short North, 614-222-0788.

A place where customers order at the counter and choose a table, Tasi Café uses only top-notch ingredients on its made-from-scratch menu with standouts like huevos rancheros, artisanal sandwiches and lobster mac and cheese. BL $ Ten Pin Alley American | 5499 Ten Pin Alley, Hilliard, 614-876-2475.

This bowling alley and family entertainment center features a full-service restaurant and 3,000-squarefoot patio. The traditional American menu includes scratch-made burgers, wraps and pizzas. A full bar offers wine, liquor and 15 taps featuring craft brews.

LD $$ Third & Hollywood American | 1433 W. Third Ave., Grandview, 614-4880303. The Northstar family’s ambitious, upscale lounge serving contemporary American cuisine, with the Hollywood Burger, salads, sandwiches and updated classic cocktails. BRLD $$ Thurman Café Pub Grub | 183 Thurman Ave., German Village, 614-443-1570. A Columbus landmark restaurant with the wait times to prove it. Diners flock here for over-the-top pub grub and the biggest burgers (like the towering, double 12-ounce patty burger, The Thurmanator) in town. LD $ Tiger + Lily Bistro Asian | 19 E. Gay St., Downtown, 614-928-9989. This inviting Downtown eatery features modern takes on Pan-Asian cuisine, such as lemongrass chicken or teriyaki tofu in a rice or salad bowl, chicken brothbased ramen, bubble milk teas and seasonal crêpe cakes. BRLD $ Tip Top Kitchen and Cocktails Pub Grub | 73 E. Gay St., Downtown, 614-221-8300.

This Downtown bar serves up homegrown comfort food and drinks in a pub steeped in Columbus history. Expect American cuisine like the Pot Roast Sandwich, burgers, chicken salad and sweet potato fries. LD $ Tommy’s Diner Diners | 914 W. Broad St., West Side, 614224-2422. A longstanding, classic 1950s-style diner serving breakfast (a popular choice among the Downtown business crowd), lunch and some Greek dishes. BL $ Tony’s Italian Ristorante Italian | 16 W. Beck St., Brewery District, 614224-8669. In business since 1982, this white-tablecloth Brewery District stalwart offers a blend of traditional and modern Italian-American food, with lasagne, shrimp scampi, veal saltimbocca and Tony’s Own Fettuccini. LD $$$ The Top Steak House Steakhouse | 2891 E. Main St., Bexley, 614231-8238. For 60 years, this Bexley palace of beef has offered award-winning, high-end cuisine (filet mignon, pork and lamb chops and seafood) in a dimly lit, vintage, 1960s-looking haunt. D $$$ Trism Contemporary American | 1636 N. High St., Campus,

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614-369-1450. This fast-casual eatery and bar by A&R Creative Group brings healthful eating to the University District. Serving smoothies, smoothie bowls and lunch and dinner entrée bowls. BLD $ Tucci’s Contemporary American | 35 N. High St., Dublin, 614792-3466. A Dublin standby has gotten a welcome shakeup in the form of dining room renovations and a menu revamp. It’s now a straightforward steak-andseafood spot with a huge patio and more than 200 wines in the cellar. BRLD $$$ Ty Ginger Asian Bistro Asian | 5689 Woerner Temple Rd., Dublin, 614-8898885. This suburban restaurant serves well-executed Pan-Asian fare as well as a popular dim sum brunch on the weekends, when tables are filled with folks eager to partake in Chinese small bites ordered tableside from carts traversing the dining room.

BRLD $$$ Uptown Deli & Brew Deli & Brewpub | 41 N. State St., Westerville, 614-8912337. Deli meets brewery at this white-tiled Uptown Westerville spot that’s three in one: an old-school deli, a restaurant serving fancy deli classics and the home of Temperance Row Brewing Co. LD $$ Valter’s at the Maennerchor German | 976 S. High St., Brewery District, 614-4443531. The Columbus Maennerchor singing society (founded in 1848) enlisted the help of Valter Veliu to run this kitchen out of the German Heritage House. Expect well-made German fare, such as stout bratwurst, schweinshaxe and an excellent German potato salad. There’s a beer garden to boot. BRLD $$ Veranico Kitchen & Provisions Soup & Sandwiches | 401 N. Front St., Arena District, 614-670-7423. A healthy option for Arena District workers and hockey fans from the owners of Market 65. Expect a good selection of salads, grain bowls, panini, flatbreads, soups, juice and more. LD $$ Veritas Contemporary American | 11 W. Gay St., Downtown, 614-745-3864. Chef Josh Dalton’s modern, tasting-menu-style restaurant celebrates the art and science of cooking while offering one of the finest dining experiences in town. Located in the Citizens Building at Gay and High streets, Veritas prides itself on excellent service and exhilarating cocktail and wine lists. D $$$$ Villa Nova Ristorante Italian | 5545 N. High St., Worthington, 614846-5777. A family-owned Italian eatery that’s a local favorite for its red-sauce Italian cuisine (manicotti, lasagna and ravioli), no-frills pizza and ice-cold beer. LD $$ Village Taco Vegan | 7 E. Main St., Alexandria, 740-405-0977. This charming spot near Granville serves flavorful, locally sourced vegan fare. The menu includes burritos, enchiladas, tacos, burgers and more. Open Friday through Sunday only. BRLD $ Watershed Kitchen & Bar Contemporary American | 1145 Chesapeake Ave., Ste. D, Fifth by Northwest, 614-357-1936. Watershed complements its distillery with a handsome and proudly Midwestern restaurant and bar. The bar’s

seasonal cocktail menu is always entertaining and top-shelf, while executive chef Jack Moore’s menu emphasizes quality product and shareable plates.

His dishes are probably best explored via the chef’s $$$ tasting menu. D The Whitney House American | 666 High St., Worthington, 614-3967846. Casual enough for the whole family yet upscale enough for date night, the sleek Whitney House takes familiar American classics up a notch.

The Daily Plates specials rise above the standard fare, and a solid cocktail and wine list make this Olde Worthington spot a good stop any night of the week. BRLD $$$ Windward Passage Restaurant American | 4739 Reed Rd., Upper Arlington, 614-4512497. This hoot of a retro restaurant has porthole windows and nautical décor, as well as some of the best fried fish in town. LD $$ Wolf’s Ridge Brewing Contemporary American | 215 N. Fourth St., Downtown, 614-429-3936. French- and Californiacuisine-inspired Wolf’s Ridge is a truly delightful reflection of how we enjoy fine dining today—a happy marriage of high-end cooking and pints of house-crafted beer. BRLD $$$ Wycliff’s Kitchen African | 2492 Home Acre Dr., Northeast Side, 614772-3461. The gregarious and charming Wycliff Nduati is usually on hand to guide diners through the menu at his Kenyan eatery. Dishes such as the karanga mbuzi (goat stew) make Wycliff’s a worthy destination. Be sure to pair dinner with notable sides like pilau (seasoned rice with meat) and kabeji (cabbage). LD $$ Xi Xia Western Chinese Cuisine Chinese | 1140 Kenny Centre Mall, Northwest Side, 614-670-7736. Xi Xia offers an authentic tour of flavors from the Ningxia autonomous region in northcentral China. Highlights include the chewy stirred noodles and rice pilaf with cubed lamb. LD $$ Yellow Brick Pizza Pizza | 892 Oak St., Olde Towne East, 614-725-5482; 245 King Ave., Campus, 614-429-0750. This pizzeria has the feel of a beloved neighborhood haunt while offering a fresh take on the classic ’za, with specialty pies and appetizers. LD $ Yemeni Restaurant Middle Eastern | 5426 Cleveland Ave., North Side, 614-426-4000. Offering a cuisine rarely found in the Midwest, this no-frills eatery serves authentic Yemeni specialties like fahsa and foul stews, lamb mandi and Adeni milk tea. LD $ Ying’s Teahouse & Yum-Yum Chinese | 4312 N. High St., Clintonville, 614-262-7587.

This humble shopping plaza spot hangs its hat on Northern-style Chinese fare. Skip the American menu and go for Xi’an-style dishes like barbecue skewers, spicy incense pot and qi-shan noodles with ground pork. LD $ Z Cucina di Spirito Italian | 6584 Riverside Dr., Dublin, 614-916-9200; 1368 Grandview Ave., Fifth by Northwest, 614-4869200. An upscale Italian restaurant offering a blend of traditional and modern Italian flavors with an emphasis on sourcing local ingredients. LD $$

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION 1.

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(Required by 39 USC 3685) Publication Title: Columbus Monthly Publication Number: 093-290 Filing Date: October 1, 2019 Issue Frequency: Monthly Number of Issues Published Annually: 12 Annual Subscription Price: $18 Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication: 62 East Broad Street, Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio 43215.

Contact Person: Brad Harmon.

Telephone: (614) 461-5000.

Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of Publisher: Same as Above.

Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor and Managing Editor: Publisher - Ray Paprocki, 62 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215; Editor – Dave Ghose, 62 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215.

Owner: New Media Investment Group, Inc. 1345 Avenue of the Americas 46th Floor New York, NY 10105 Known Bondholders, Mortgagees, and Other Security Holders Owning or holding 1 percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities: Citizens Bank 28 State St. MS1500 Boston, MA 02129 Tax Status (For completion by nonprofit organizations authorized to mail at non-profit rates). Does not apply.

Publication Title; Columbus Monthly Issue Date for Circulation Data below: September 2019

Extent and Nature of Circulation

Average No. No. Copies of Copies Each Single Issue During Issue Preceding Published 12 Months Nearest To Filing Date

a. Total Number of Copies (Net Press Run) 18,891 18,521 b. Paid Circulation (By Mail and Outside the Mail) (1) Mailed Outside-County Paid Subscription Stated on PS Form 3541 (Include paid distribution above nominal rate, advertiser’s proof copies, and exchange copies) 5,100 4,840 (2) Mailed In-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541 (Include paid distribution above nominal rate, advertiser’s proof copies, and ex change copies) 10,851 10,441 (3) Paid Distribution Outside the Mails Including Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Paid Distribution Outside USPS® 2,217 2,285 (4) Paid Distribution by Other Classes of Mail Through the USPS® (e.g., First-Class Mail) 0 0 c. Total Paid Distribution (Sum of 15b (1), (2), (3), and (4)) 18,168 17,566 d. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (By Mail and Outside Mail) (1) Free or Nominal Rate Outside-County Copies included on PS Form 3541 0 0 (2) Free or Nominal Rate In-County Copies Included on PS Form 3541 0 0 (3) Free or Nominal Rate Copies Mailed at Other Classes Through the USPS (e.g., First-Class Mail) 0 0 (4) Free or Nominal Rate Distribution Outside the Mail (Carriers or other means) 15 15 e. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (Sum of 15d (1), (2), (3) and (4) 15 15 f. Total Distribution 18,183 17,581 (Sum of 15c and 15e) g. Copies not Distributed 708 940 h. Total (Sum of 15f and 15g) 18,891 18,521 i. Percent Paid (15c divided by 15f times 100) 99.92% 99.91% 16. Total Circulation Includes Electronic Copies. Report Circulation on PS Form 3526-X Worksheet. N/A 17. Publication of Statement of Ownership. If the publication is a general publication, publication of this statement is required. Will be printed in the November 2019 issue of this publication.

18. Signature And Title Of Editor, Publisher, Business Manager, or Owner.

Brad Harmon President and Publisher I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or misleading information on this form or who omits material or information requested on the form may be subject to criminal sanctions (including fines and imprisonment) and/or civil sanctions (including civil penalties).

NOVEMBER 2019 Columbus Monthly

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Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo

COMPILED BY rylan lee

calendar November 2019

NOV. 1–3 Vogue Knitting Live This touring,

one-of-a-kind knitting event will stop in Columbus, bringing workshops on fit, shaping, patternreading and more. Shop the marketplace, catch a designer fashion show and admire the knitted art.

8 a.m. $10–$599. Greater Columbus Convention Center, 400 N. High St., 877-825-2480, vogueknittinglive.com

NOV. 2 Short North Gallery Hop On the

first Saturday of every month, thousands of visitors converge in the Short North to celebrate and partake in an evening of sights, sounds, food and shopping. 4 p.m. Free. The Short North, along N. High St., between Fifth Ave. and Nationwide Blvd., 614-299-8050, shortnorth.org

NOV. 10 Twig Bazaar You can find unique

gifts, home décor and holiday seasonal goods at

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this one-day bazaar boasting 200 tables of handmade crafts. All proceeds benefit Nationwide Children’s Hospital. 10 a.m. Free, $25 donation for early entrance passes. Lausche Building, Ohio Expo Center, 717 E. 17th Ave., 614-355-5487, nationwidechildrens.org/twig

NOV. 10 “Sunjata Kamalenya” Community Day Based on the story of the Lion King, Sunjata Kamalenya is a family-friendly, interactive production that chronicles the struggles of a young boy destined to be the leader of the Mandé people of West Africa. Family activities will begin in the theater at 1:30 p.m. Free. Performance at 3 p.m.

Lincoln Theatre, 769 E. Long St., 614-469-0939, capa.com

NOV. 12 Jami Attenberg Over a ticketed

lunch, guests will meet and hear from New York Times best-selling author Jami Attenberg as she discusses her latest novel, “All This Could Be Yours,” an emotional dive into one family’s secrets.

Noon. $45. Giuseppe’s Ritrovo, 2268 E. Main St., Bexley, 614-867-5515, gramercybooksbexley.com

Nov. 14–16 Columbus Funk ’n’ Beer Festival Get funky at this two-day, all-ages

music festival. Enjoy performances by GhostNote, The Werks and more while sipping drinks from Columbus craft breweries. 7 p.m. $15–$45.

The Bluestone, 583 E. Broad St., 614-884-4646, liveatthebluestone.com

NOV. 14–17 Mid-Ohio Cluster Dog Show The Central Ohio Kennel Club puts on this four-day dog show, featuring 2,000 dogs each day from more 150 breeds, for aficionados and everyday dog lovers alike. New this year is an allbreed health clinic. 8 a.m. Free Thu–Fri, $3–$12 Sat–Sun. Ohio Expo Center, 717 N. 17th Ave., 614-505-7200, centralohiokennelclub.com

NOV. 15 One Night Only “The Art of Jazz” is the theme of the Jazz Arts Group’s annual

photo: Samantha Madar

Events

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Tell Us About It

To have your event considered for our in-print calendar, email the details to calendar@ columbusmonthly.com. The deadline for the January issue is Nov. 22. To submit an event to our user-generated online calendar, visit columbusmonthly.com, click on the “Sections” dropdown tab, click on “Calendar” and then “Promote Your Event.” Questions? Email Suzanne Goldsmith at sgoldsmith@columbusmonthly.com.

fundraiser, featuring performances by Columbus Jazz Orchestra artistic director Byron Stripling, performance poet Barbara Fant, CJO keyboardist Bobby Floyd and members of the Columbus Youth Jazz Program. 6 p.m. $200. Columbus Museum of Art, 480 E. Broad St., 614-294-5200, jazzartsgroup.org

NOV. 15–16 Allstate Hot Chocolate 15K/5K Celebrate colder weather and the

beginning of the holiday season with a chocolate jog benefiting Make-A-Wish. Choose between a 5K and a 15K course and enjoy sweet stations along either route. 7:30 a.m. $49–$74.

McFersons Common Park, 218 West St., hotchocolate15k.com

NOV. 15–JAN. 5, 2020 Wildlights The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s holiday light display is one of the city’s hallmark holiday traditions. Entertainment includes recurring light shows and the Polar Bear Express. 5 p.m. $12–$22 (under 3 free). Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, 4850 Powell Rd., Powell, 614-6453400, columbuszoo.org

NOV. 17 Senator Sherrod Brown In

partnership with Gramercy Books, Thurber House hosts U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown to discuss his forthcoming book, “Desk 88,” in which he profiles eight senators who previously sat at his desk. 7 p.m. $25. Mees Auditorum, Capital University, 1 College and Main, Bexley, 614-4641032, thurberhouse.org

NOV. 22 21st Annual Holiday Lighting Ceremony Kick off the holiday season with

the lighting of Easton’s signature 56-foot digital Christmas tree. Santa and other special guests will be in attendance for fun and festivities before and after the main event. 6:30 p.m. Free. Easton Town Center, 160 Easton Town Center, 614-416-7000, eastontowncenter.com

NOV. 23–24 Christmas Fair The unique

photo: Samantha Madar

goods for sale from 150 artists and crafters will make great holiday gifts or a special treat for yourself.

Browse pottery, photography, jewelry and more.

10 a.m.–5 p.m. $6, kids 12 and under free. Lausche Building, Ohio Expo Center, 717 E. 17th Ave., 614975-3385, christmasfairartsandcrafts.com

CTHURBER@125 E L E B |RTHURBERHOUSE@35 AT E T H U RBER! | YEAR OF THURBER James Thurber’s The Last Flower November 1 - January 3, 2020 The Columbus Metropolitan Library Main Branch Carnegie Gallery Free and open to the public

A powerful and poignant exhibit of selected images from James Thurber’s iconic tale, The Last Flower.

Presented with the support of the Friends of the Library

Check the website for all the exciting events happening this year! www.thurberhouse.org

NOV. 28 Thanksgiving Wattle Start your

Thanksgiving with a walk, run or ride. In addition to the main 5K run/walk, the event will include a 12-mile bicycle ride, children’s fun run and a 100-yard course for those with disabilities. Bring a donation for the Grove City Food Pantry. 8:30 a.m. $15–$40. 1239 Lamplighter Dr., Grove City, thanksgivingwattle.com

Year of Thurber Supporters

Year of Thurber Media Sponsor

The Center for Charitable Giving

NOVEMBER 2019 Columbus Monthly

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Beeler Gallery Season Two: Follow the

Kelton House Museum and Garden

Brandt-Roberts Galleries Ohio Mod-

Mac Worthington Gallery of Contemporary Art Abstracted, Nov. 1–30.

Mud, through March 15, 2020. Noon–6 p.m. Wed and Fri–Sun, noon–8 p.m.

Thu. 60 Cleveland Ave., 614-222-3270, beelergallery.org

ernism, through Nov. 3; There’s No Place Like Home, Nov. 10–Dec. 29. 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

Wed–Sat, 1–5 p.m. Sun. 642 N. High St., 614-223-1655, brandtrobertsgalleries.com

Columbus Printed Arts Center News from Gologonooza, through Nov. 24. 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Thu–Sun. 2000 S. High St., 614-928-8063, columbusprintedarts.org

Columbus Cultural Arts Center The

Feminist post-punk rockers SleaterKinney are on the road this fall supporting their new album The Center Won’t Hold.

Although fans were disappointed by the departure of longtime drummer Janet Weiss last summer—Weiss helped write and plays on the album—they will still thrill to the vocals of mainstays Carrie Brownstein (of Portlandia fame) and Corin Tucker, trading lines in their new songs’ evocation of today’s fractured political landscape— gender-based and otherwise.

Fuse Factory, Nov. 1–Dec. 14. 1–4 p.m. and 7–10 p.m. Mon, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. and 7–10 p.m. Tue–Thu, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Fri–Sat. 139 W. Main St., 614-645-7047, culturalartscenteronline.org

Columbus Museum of Art Rodin:

Muses, Sirens, Lovers, through Dec. 8; Driving Forces: Contemporary Art from the Collection of Ann and Ron Pizzuti, Nov. 1–Feb. 2, 2020; Ivy Atoms: 2019 Columbus Comics Residency Exhibition, through March 5, 2020; A Mile and a Half of Lines: The Art of James Thurber, through March 15, 2020. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Tue–Wed and Fri–Sun, 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Thu. 480 E. Broad St., 614-221-6801, columbusmuseum.org

COSI Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant

Ninja Turtles: Secrets of the Sewer, through Jan. 5, 2020; Unseen Oceans, through Feb. 2, 2020. 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Mon–Sun. 333 W. Broad St., 614-2282674, cosi.org

Decorative Arts Center of Ohio The

Ohio Presidents: Surprising Legacies, through Dec. 29. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Tue–Fri, 1–4 p.m. Sat–Sun. 145 E. Main St., Lancaster, 740-681-1423, decartsohio.org

Dublin Arts Center Formations: Three

Artists and the Art of Mixed Media, through Nov. 1; Masayuki Miyajima: New York, Nov. 12–Dec. 18. 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Tue, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Wed–Fri, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

Sun. 7125 Riverside Dr., Dublin, 614-8897444, dublinarts.org

The Frank Museum of Art Jun Kaneko: Dot in Space, through Dec. 6. 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Wed–Sat. 39 S. Vine St., Westerville, 614-818-9716, otterbein.edu

Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens Bonsai, through

Nov. 10; Conservatory Aglow and The Pool, Nov. 16–Jan. 5, 2020; Chihuly: Celebrating Nature, through March 29, 2020. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon–Sun. 1777 E. Broad St., 614-7158000, fpconservatory.org

Fresh A.I.R. Gallery Melissa Spitz, through Nov. 15. 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

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Mon–Fri. 131 N. High St., 614-744-8110, southeastinc.com/fresh_air 19th Century Jewelry and Accessories, Nov. 2–24. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Mon–Fri, 1–4 p.m. Sat. 586 E. Town St., 614-464-2022, keltonhouse.com

Noon–6 p.m. Mon–Sat. 138 N. High St., 614-582-6788, macworthington.com

Ohio Arts Council’s Riffe Gallery

2019 Biennial Juried Exhibition, Nov. 7– Jan. 10, 2020. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon–Wed, 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Thu, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Fri, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Sat. 77 S. High St., 614-7282239, oac.ohio.gov

Ohio History Center World War I

Display, through Nov. 11; 1950s: Building the American Dream, through Dec. 31; Ohio—Champion of Sports, through Sept. 6, 2020. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Wed– Sun. 800 E. 17th Ave., 614-297-2300, ohiohistory.org

Open Door Art Studio & Gallery Are You Afraid of the Art?, through Nov. 1; Blue., Nov. 9–Dec. 6. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon– Fri. 1050 Goodale Blvd., 614-641-2900, cchsohio.org

Sherrie Gallerie Ron Isaacs, through

Nov. 24. 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Tue–Sat, 1–4 p.m. Sun. 694 N. High St., 614-221-8550, sherriegallerie.com

Urban Arts Space Assemblage,

through Nov. 9; Transference, through Nov. 16. 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Tue–Wed, 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Thu, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Fri–Sat. 50 W. Town St., Ste. 130, 614-292-8861, uas.osu.edu

Wexner Center for the Arts Here:

Ann Hamilton, Jenny Holzer, Maya Lin, through Dec. 28. 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Tue–Wed and Sun, 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Thu–Sat. 1871 N. High St., 614-292-0330, wexarts.org

NOV. 22 Independent Reel: “Aquarians,” with Ben Fritz 2 p.m. Free.

Canzani Center, Columbus College of Art & Design, 60 Cleveland Ave., 614224-9101, ccad.edu

Music NOV. 1 Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis 8 p.m. $30–$35. Natalie’s CoalFired Pizza and Live Music, 5601 N. High St., Worthington, 614-436-2625, nataliescoalfiredpizza.com

Sleater-Kinney 7 p.m. $35–$38.

Newport Music Hall, 1722 N. High St., 614-461-5483, promowestlive.com

Starset 6 p.m. $20–$25. Express

Live, 405 Neil Ave., 614-461-5483, promowestlive.com

NOV. 2 Julia Michaels 7 p.m. $25–$30.

Newport Music Hall, 1722 N. High St., 614-461-5483, promowestlive.com

NOV. 3 Japanese House 6 p.m.

$20–$23. A&R Music Bar, 391 Neil Ave., 614-461-5483, promowestlive.com

NOV. 5 Hot Tuna 8 p.m. $45–$65.

Natalie’s Coal-Fired Pizza and Live Music, 5601 N. High St., Worthington, 614-4362625, nataliescoalfiredpizza.com

NOV. 7 Fantasia 7:30 p.m. $58–$88.

Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St., 614-4690939, capa.com

NOV. 9 Gryffin 7:30 p.m. $25–$35.

Express Live, 405 Neil Ave., 614-4615483, promowestlive.com

NOV. 10 Wilco 7:30 p.m. $39–$64.

Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St., 614-4690939, capa.com

NOV. 11 The Neighbourhood 7 p.m. $32–$35. Express Live, 405 Neil Ave., 614-461-5483, promowestlive.com

NOV. 12 A$AP Ferg 7 p.m. $33–$35.

Films THROUGH NOV. 18 Monday Night Adventure Movies “Dawn Wall” Nov. 4, “Klunkerz” Nov. 18. 7 p.m. Free. Nocterra Brewing Co., 41 Depot St., Powell, 614-896-8000, nocterrabrewing.com

NOV. 5 America’s Greatest Films: “M*A*S*H” 7 p.m. Free. Drexel

Theatre, 2254 E. Main St., Bexley, 614231-9512, drexel.net

THROUGH NOV. 25 New York in the 1960s “Barefoot in the Park” Oct. 4; “The Young Savages” Oct. 11; “Planet of the Apes” Oct. 18; “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” Oct. 25. 6:30 p.m. Free. Grandview Heights Public Library, 1685 W. First Ave., 614-486-2951, ghpl.org

Express Live, 405 Neil Ave., 614-4615483, promowestlive.com

Slayer 6 p.m. $65–$90. Nationwide

Arena, 200 W. Nationwide Blvd., 614-2462000, nationwidearena.com

NOV. 15 Susan Werner with Jesse Ruben 8 p.m. $25–$28. Shedd Theater,

Columbus Performing Arts Center, 549 Franklin Ave., 866-890-5451, sixstring.org

NOV. 16 Hillsong Worship, Casting Crowns, Elevation Worship 7 p.m. $33–$103. Nationwide Arena, 200 W. Nationwide Blvd., 614-246-2000, nationwidearena.com

NOV. 20 Goo Goo Dolls 8 p.m.

$40–$80. Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St., 614-469-0939, capa.com

photo: courtesy cameron parkin/fam

Exhibitions

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NOV. 21 Static-X, DevilDriver 6 p.m.

$15–$18. Express Live, 405 Neil Ave., 614-4615483, promowestlive.com

NOV. 26 Five Finger Death Punch 6:30 p.m. $40–$90. Nationwide Arena, 200 W. Nationwide Blvd., 614-246-2000, nationwidearena.com

NOV. 30 Beirut 7 p.m. $31–$33. Newport Music Hall, 1722 N. High St., 614-461-5483, promowestlive.com

Performing Arts THROUGH NOV. 2 “Be Moved” 8 p.m. Oct. 25–26, 2 p.m. Oct. 27, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31, 8 p.m.

Nov. 1–2. $29–$78. Davidson Theatre, Riffe Center, 77 S. High St., 614-469-0939, balletmet.org

THROUGH NOV. 9 “Tiny Beautiful Things” 8 p.m. Thu–Sat, 2 p.m. Nov. 3. “Pay what you want.” Studio One, Riffe Center, 77 S. High St., 614-558-7408, avltheatre.com

THROUGH NOV. 10 “The Humans” 8 p.m.

Thu–Sat, 2 p.m. Sun. $25. The Franklinton Playhouse, 566 W. Rich St., 614-723-9116, redherring.info

THROUGH NOV. 14 “Thunder and Lightning” 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7 and Nov. 14. $25–$40.

Fri; 10 a.m., 1 and 4 p.m. Sat; 2:30 p.m. Sun. $15.

Park Street Theatre, 512 Park St., 614-224-6672, columbuschildrenstheatre.org

NOV. 9 Brahms v. Radiohead 7 p.m. $25–$78.

Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State St., 614-469-0939, columbussymphony.com

NOV. 9–10 “Annie KIDS” 11 a.m. and 2:30

p.m. Sat, 1 and 2:30 p.m. Sun. $10. Shedd Theatre, Columbus Performing Arts Center, 549 Franklin Ave., 614-469-0939, catco.org

NOV. 15–16 Chopin Piano Concerto and Enigma Variations 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Fri, 7:30 p.m. Sat. $10–$78. Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State St., 614-469-0939, columbussymphony.com

NOV. 16 Modigliani Quartet 8 p.m. $15–$55.

Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main St., 614-469-0939, chambermusiccolumbus.org

NOV. 19–24 “Les Misérables” 7:30 p.m.

Tue–Thu, 8 p.m. Fri, 2 and 8 p.m. Sat, 1 and 6 p.m.

Sun. $39–$134. Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State St., 614-469-0939, capa.com

NOV. 21 Backstage Revue 7 p.m. Tickets

TBD. Lincoln Theatre, 769 E. Long St., 614-4690939, lincolntheatrecolumbus.com

Shadowbox Live, 503 S. Front St., 614-416-7625, shadowboxlive.org

NOV. 22 Nick Offerman 8 p.m. $40–$50. Palace

THROUGH NOV. 17 “West Side Story” 8 p.m.

NOV. 23 Handel: “Messiah” 7:30 p.m. $10–$78.

Thu–Fri, 3 and 8 p.m. Sat, 3 p.m. Sun. $30–$49.

Short North Stage, 1187 N. High St., 614-7254042, shortnorthstage.org

NOV. 1 Naked Classics: Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony 8 p.m. $27. Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main St., 614-469-0939, promusicacolumbus.org

NOV. 1–2 Romantic Cello 7:30 p.m. $10–$78.

Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State St., 614-469-0939, columbussymphony.com

NOV. 2 Amizade: An Evening with Ken Peplowski and Diego Figueiredo 8 p.m. $20.

Lincoln Theatre, 769 E. Long St., 614-469-0939, jazzartsgroup.org

NOV. 2–3 Schubert and Scofano 5:30 p.m.

Sat, 7 p.m. Sun. $16–$58. Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main St., 614-469-0939, promusicacolumbus.org

NOV. 3 Black Violin 7:30 p.m. $29–$64. Palace

Theatre, 34 W. Broad St., 614-469-0939, capa.com

NOV. 6–24 “Home” 11 a.m. Wed, 7: 30 p.m. Thu, 8 p.m. Fri–Sat, 2 p.m. Sun. $20–$40. Studio Two, Riffe Center, 77 S. High St., 614-469-0939, catco.org

photo: courtesy cameron parkin/fam

NOV. 8–17 “Disney’s Frozen Jr.” 7 p.m.

Nov. 8 Justin Willman 8 p.m. $37. Davidson Theatre, Riffe Center, 77 S. High St., 614-4690939, capa.com

Stile Antico: Queen of Muses 8 p.m.

$12–$30. Trinity Episcopal Church, 125 E. Broad St., 614-973-1961, earlymusicincolumbus.org

NOV. 8–10 “As One” 7:30 p.m. Fri, 2 p.m.

Sun. $25–$94. Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main St., 614-469-0939, operacolumbus.org

Theatre, 34 W. Broad St., 614-469-0939, capa.com

Sat, 2 p.m. Sun. $39–$114. Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main St., 614-469-0939, columbussymphony.com

NOV. 23 “The Second City’s Greatest Hits Vol. 59” 7 and 9:30 p.m. $35. Lincoln Theatre, 769 E. Long St., 614-469-0939, capa.com

NOV. 29–DEC. 1 “Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol” 7:30 p.m. Fri, 2 and 7:30 p.m.

Sat–Sun. $25–$38. Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State St., 614-469-0939, capa.com

Sports Columbus Blue Jackets Nationwide Arena, 200 W. Nationwide Blvd., 614-246-2000, bluejackets. com. Calgary Flames, 7 p.m. Nov. 2; Vegas Golden Knights, 7 p.m. Nov. 5; St. Louis Blues, 7 p.m. Nov. 15; Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m. Nov. 19; Detroit Red Wings, 7 p.m. Nov. 21; Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m. Nov. 25; Philadelphia Flyers, 7 p.m. Nov. 27; Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. Nov. 29.

OSU Sports Call 614-292-2524 for tickets. ohiostatebuckeyes.com

Special advertising opportunities coming in Columbus Monthly

JANUARY Super Lawyers 2020 Vacations & Getaways January Issue Closing: November 22

Columbus Monthly Health Magazine

This annual guide is the onestop resource for health and wellness information in Central Ohio. Readers will find a mix of in-depth reports and quick reads on tips, trends and issues relevant to leading a healthy lifestyle in Columbus.

Columbus Monthly Health Closing: November 15

FEBRUARY Best New Restaurants

Editors reveal the best restaurants to open in Central Ohio in the past 12 months.

Guide to Private Schools K-12 Central Ohio’s top private education institutions.

Valentine’s Day Guide

Gift ideas from area retailers.

February Issue Closing: December 13

Best Driving Vacations

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Football Maryland, Time TBD Nov. 9; Penn State, Time TBD Nov. 23

Basketball, men’s Cincinnati, 8:30 p.m. Nov. 6; UMass Lowell, 4 p.m. Nov. 10; Villanova, 7 p.m.

Nov. 13; Stetson, 8:30 p.m. Nov. 18; Purdue Fort Wayne, Time TBD Nov. 22; Kent State, 6:30 p.m.

Nov. 25; Morgan State, 9 p.m. Nov. 29.

BEST CITY MAGAZINE IN AMERICA, 2018 CITY AND REGIONAL MAGAZINE ASSOCIATION

BEST MAGAZINE IN OHIO, 2017 THE SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS

Basketball, women’s Urbana, 2 p.m. Nov. 3; Ohio, 2 p.m. Nov. 17; UConn, 3 p.m. Nov. 24

NOVEMBER 2019 Columbus Monthly

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BY DAVE GHOSE

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provided to Columbus Monthly. “They’ve done so much to uplift both the university and the city of Columbus, and we sincerely appreciate their ongoing service and support. I continue to rely on Les and Abigail as valued partners and friends.”

ILLUSTRATION BY CRAIG RUSNAK

What the explosive scandal means to Columbus and Les Wexner

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Mysterious Money: In January 2008, Epstein transferred $47 million from his company and his own foundation to one created about a month earlier by Abigail Wexner. The transfer occurred a few months after the Wexners severed ties with Epstein following his indictment on sex charges in Florida in September 2007.

This payment raised plenty of eyebrows when The Columbus Dispatch reported it in July. Why would Abigail accept money from an accused pedophile she and her husband just fired?

The answer came in August, when Les revealed that in the fall of 2007, he discovered that Epstein had taken “vast sums of money from me and my family.”

The $47 million donation was actually a partial repayment for the misappropriated funds, Wexner said in his Aug. 8 statement. “All of that money—every dollar—was originally Wexner family money,” Wexner wrote. “I am embarrassed that, like so many others, I was deceived by Mr. Epstein. I know now that my trust in him was grossly misplaced.”

Ohio State has also been drawn into this controversy. Following Epstein’s July 2019 arrest, the university discovered two gifts connected to the disgraced financier: $1,000 to the Wexner Center for the Arts Membership Fund in 1990 and $2.5 million in May 2007 to the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. The athletic center gift was done in conjunction with a matching contribution from the Leslie H. Wexner Charitable Fund. The money fulfilled a pledge that led to the naming of the Les Wexner Football Complex, a surprise 70th birthday gift to Les from Abigail in 2007.

In early October, Ohio State was still reviewing its records for any other gifts from Epstein. The review is expected to finish soon. The university hasn’t decided what it will do with the tarnished money, but it could donate equivalent funds to charity. “Les and Abigail Wexner have been great community leaders and supporters of Ohio State for many years,” Ohio State president Michael Drake said in a statement 148

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What’s the next chapter for Wexner in the Epstein saga? Perhaps a court date with one of the country’s most famous (and outspoken) attorneys. Alan Dershowitz, the retired Harvard law professor, was one of the first celebrities to be accused of participating in Epstein’s sex-trafficking ring. Now, the onetime member of O.J. Simpson’s legal dream team is waging a scorched-earth campaign in the courts and in the media to clear his name—and Wexner may be the key to his defense.

It’s a convoluted story, but the gist of Dershowitz’s argument is that he wasn’t the real target of his accuser, Virginia Roberts Giuffre. He was merely a “stalking horse,” and Giuffre and her attorney—David Boies, a fellow legal luminary who represented Al Gore during the 2000 Florida recount—were really after Wexner and his riches. For about four years, Dershowitz has made this extortion claim in court filings and in media interviews. But interest has increased since Giuffre filed a defamation lawsuit against Dershowitz in April, and the FBI arrested Epstein three months later.

Dershowitz tells Columbus Monthly his legal team intends to feature Wexner if a trial moves forward, which could occur in about a year. “He is one of the most critical witnesses for my trial,” Dershowitz says.

Other witnesses could include Abigail and John Zeiger, the Wexner family’s Columbus attorney. At issue is a series of phone calls and one face-to-face meeting that occurred in 2015 between Giuffre’s lawyers and Zeiger. Dershowitz says he spoke to Abigail and Zeiger, and both used the word “shakedown” to describe Boies’ tactics prior to the face-to-face meeting that occurred at the attorney’s New York law offices in July 2015.

The court proceedings could prove unpleasant for Wexner. Dershowitz and his legal team want to know what was discussed during the phone calls and the meeting, in hopes they will discover something that will undermine the claims of Giuffre, potentially dragging Wexner through the mud. “I hate to be doing this,” says Dershowitz, who attended Wexner’s 59th birthday party in 1996 at the invitation of Epstein and taught Wexner’s son

Harry at Harvard. “I like Leslie Wexner.

He’s done an enormous amount of good to the world, to the Jewish community, for Israel, for Harvard. But the truth has to come out.”

Boies didn’t respond to a request for comment, but in a court affidavit, he denied the extortion claim, adding that no settlement demand was made or even discussed with Wexner or his attorney. A source close to Wexner also says there was no extortion. ◆

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As the Epstein story engulfed Wexner, some Columbus leaders worried the city might overreact. What if protests occur? What if names are removed from buildings? What if the city turns its back on its most influential family? If that were to happen, the thinking goes, then the Wexners might give up on the city. “That would be the most horrible thing that would ever happen to Columbus,” says a business leader.

That scenario hasn’t occurred. And civic leaders say Wexner remains just as engaged as ever. In early September, he joined 75 community leaders—60 CEOs, plus public officials such as Columbus Mayor Andy Ginther and Franklin County Commissioner Marilyn Brown—for the Columbus Partnership’s annual two-day retreat in Boston.

Hosted by the Harvard Kennedy School, the retreat featured big-picture planning, small-group discussions and high-profile guest speakers, including biographer Walter Isaacson and The New York Times’ Beijing bureau chief Jane Perlez.

The conversations were spirited, enthusiastic and challenging—and four attendees say Wexner was in the middle of it, as always: listening intently, asking questions, learning alongside his fellow CEOs. Wexner didn’t speak about Epstein, nor did anyone ask him to. “His work in the community, his work in his company, the work of his family—those are his loves,” says a Partnership member, adding with a laugh, “He doesn’t golf.”

As the retreat closed, Wexner gave his traditional benediction: He thanked all for their commitment and participation, stressing that Columbus owes the success of the past decade to leaders “committed to being in the room.”

Will Wexner remain in the room? Or, more specifically, at the head of the table?

Those four attendees are in agreement: He’s not going anywhere—despite his advancing age, despite the troubles at Victoria’s Secret, despite Epstein.

“It’s the same Les,” one says. ◆

Columbus Monthly NOVEMBER 2019

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City Quotient

Neighborhood in the Round The story behind an elegant University District area

BY JEFF DARBEE

What’s the story behind the “Circles” near the Victorian Village neighborhood? Those landscape features look pretty unusual. In the late 1820s, William Neil, builder of the first Neil House Hotel on Capitol Square and a successful stagecoach operator, acquired several hundred acres north of Downtown Columbus. In 1870, the year he died, Neil donated much of his land to the state of Ohio to establish the “State Agricultural College,” known today as Ohio State University.

By this time, Neil also had transferred some of the land to his children, one of whom was eldest daughter Anne Eliza Neil (1821–1911). She was the wife of William Dennison, governor of Ohio in the early Civil War years. As the city grew northward and land values increased, Anne saw opportunity, and in April 1888, she platted the Dennison Park Addition west of Neil Avenue between Fifth and King avenues.

Perhaps to distinguish the area and to signal that it was intended for high-end housing development, the street pattern

included six 68-foot-diameter landscaped circles where Sixth and Seventh avenues crossed Pennsylvania and Michigan avenues and Perry Street. Sure enough, the area gradually filled in with the elegant late Victorian and early 20th century homes we see today. However, only four circles survive. Perry Street, its houses and two circles were removed in the late 1970s to provide an access road and parking for Battelle.

City Quotient has written about Central High School before, but weren’t there other landmark city high schools from the same period?

There were indeed. The school system built North, South, East and West high schools between 1922 and 1929, a massive program for a city of under 300,000. East High School at 1500 E. Broad St. (home of the Tigers) was finished first in 1922, the same year as Central. Well-known Columbus architect Frank Packard did the design, and the school was fully renovated for continued use in 2008.

Next, in 1924, were North and South.

North is at 100 Arcadia Ave.; its students were the Polar Bears, and the design was also by Packard. The building is currently closed, but renovation plans are underway. South High School, at 1160 Ann St., was designed by St. Louis architect William B. Ittner (he also designed Central). It’s the home of the Bulldogs (if you visit, do not step on the image of the bulldog in the hallway) and was renovated in 2009.

And finally, the Cowboys call West High School their home. It opened in 1929 at 179 S. Powell Ave. Howard Dwight Smith, the Columbus architect who designed Ohio Stadium, did the plans for West. It featured a tall spire that over time became deteriorated. In 2018, it was replaced with a new one, returning the building to its proper appearance. And let’s raise a glass to Columbus City Schools, which over several years has renovated rather than torn down more than a dozen historic schools, making them safe, efficient and modern, and keeping them as treasured landmarks in their neighborhoods.

Jeff Darbee is a preservationist, historian and author in Columbus. Send your questions to cityquotient@ columbusmonthly.com, and the answer might appear in a future column.

illustration: brett affrunti

Sources: City atlases from 1856, 1872, 1899, 1910, 1920 and 1937; “Architecture: Columbus”; touringohio.com, “We Too Built Columbus”; various schools’ websites; city maps at Columbus Metropolitan Library

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