Columbus Monthly – September 2024

Named Best Publication in Ohio.

Columbus Monthly took home the prestigious “Best in Ohio: Print Periodical” win in the 2024 All-Ohio Excellence in Journalism Awards presented by the Press Club of Cleveland.

Additional wins for Columbus Monthly and Columbus CEO from Press Club of Cleveland (PCC) and Ohio Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) include:

First Place

Best in Ohio: News Reporter (Print/Online), Joel Oliphint (PCC)

Writing: History, "What Lies Underneath," Dave Ghose (PCC)

Writing: Food/Restaurant, "A Chef With Intention," Erin Edwards (PCC)

Writing: Health & Medical, "Healing Hallucinogens," Randy Edwards (PCC)

Second Place

Best Monthly in Ohio (SPJ)

Best Photographer in Ohio, Tim Johnson (SPJ)

Best Reporter in Ohio, Joel Oliphint (SPJ)

Writing: Environment, "Soil is Our Salvation," Randy Edwards (PCC)

Writing: Crime & Justice, "The Long Shadow of Vice," Andy Downing and Joel Oliphint, Columbus Monthly and Matter News (PCC)

Writing: Investigative Journalism, "The Long Shadow of Vice," Andy Downing and Joel Oliphint, Columbus Monthly and Matter News (PCC)

Third Place

Writing: Travel & Transportation, "The Ohio You Don't Know," Staff (PCC)

Writing: Health & Medical, "Anatomy of a Measles Outbreak," Joel Oliphint (PCC)

20 FALL ARTS GUIDE

The new director at BalletMet, an artist inspired by astronauts and where to see Hitchcock this fall. Plus, pages of ideas for where to engage with the arts in the coming months.

29 SAVING THE BIG DARBY WATERSHED

As development moves west of Franklin County, one of Ohio’s most pristine aquatic ecosystems is being watched closely by the conservationists who have guarded it for decades.

56 TEACHERS OF THE YEAR AWARDS

Meet three educators who excel in the classroom.

ON THE COVER: Local artist Stephanie Rond

Photo by Tim Johnson

Nate Shoobs looks to identify a freshwater mussel along a stretch of the Big Darby Creek

Get to know the Columbus soccer team’s new general manager.

The marketing director known for his joie de vivre isn’t letting cancer stop him from celebrating life.

Weekly sessions at a former church in Old North Columbus help dancers find peace, community and themselves.

Mike and Janelle Coleman’s Blacklick abode is filled with art centering the Black experience.

Streetlight

The original Short North location of this Columbus chain still delights with its progressive, healthy-ish fare.

Inside the kitchen at one of Columbus’ hottest reservations

Where to eat and drink in Columbus.

33 EXCEPTIONAL EVENT VENUES

Plan unforgettable weddings and other gatherings at these Central Ohio venues.

Get away this fall to the mountains of North Carolina, sample bourbon in Kentucky, relax on a Lake Erie beach or get a rollercoaster thrill at Cedar Point.

COLUMBUSMONTHLY.COM

OPERATIONS MANAGER

Michelle Crossman

EDITORIAL

EDITOR

Katy Smith

SENIOR EDITOR

Joel Oliphint

FOOD & DRINK EDITOR

Linda Lee Baird

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Amy Bodiker Baskes, Jeff Darbee, Nicholas Dekker, Chris DeVille, Randy Edwards, Joy Frank-Collins, Kathy Lynn Gray, Andrew King, Jill Moorhead, Mandy Shunnarah, Steve Stephens, Peter Tonguette, Steve Wartenberg, Bethia Woolf

DESIGN & PRODUCTION PAGE DESIGNERS

Kathryn Biek, Kelly Hignite, Kaity Morrow, Hannah Patton

DIGITAL EDITOR

Julanne Hohbach

Sarah Irvin Clark

Irvin Clark, founder of Irvin Public Relations, relates how emotional— and uplifting—it has been to watch “joy Olympian” Gregg Dodd do life with stage IV melanoma.

PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO EDITOR

Tim Johnson

ADVERTISING MULTIMEDIA SALES MANAGERS

Heather Kritter, Adam Trabitz

PRODUCTION DESIGNER

Rebecca Zimmer

MARKETING MARKETING MANAGER

Lauren Reinhard

LETTERS: letters@columbusmonthly.com

ADVERTISING: advertise@ columbusmonthly.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS/CUSTOMER SERVICE 760-237-8505 columbusmonthly@pcspublink.com

EDITORIAL/ADVERTISING OFFICES

605 S. Front St. Ste. 300 Columbus, OH 43215 614-888-4567

CONTRIBUTORS

Samantha Harden

The Ohio State University journalism student spent an entire day with the chefs in the kitchen at Agni, one of Columbus’ top restaurants.

Randy Edwards

The longtime science writer takes us to the Big Darby watershed, where conservationists continue to call for protections.

New Faces, Fresh Voices

There’s nothing like a fresh perspective to wake you up. This month’s issue brings two bylines not before seen in Columbus Monthly. First, we have a piece from a personality you may know, about a personality you may know. Sarah Irvin Clark, the public relations pro who regularly connects us with the top events and arts organizations in the city, gets personal in her essay on Page 12 about her friend, Gregg Dodd. He may be your friend, too—he has so many, and reading Sarah’s piece, it’s easy to see why. Gregg battled stage IV melanoma this year with what Sarah brilliantly calls his weapon of choice—joy.

Katy Smith katy@columbusmonthly.com

mantha Harden spent a whole day in the kitchen at Agni documenting the supreme organization and occasional tricks with liquid nitrogen that make it all work.

Speaking of joy, have you been to Agni, chef Avishar Barua’s wonderful restaurant on South High Street? The tasting menu takes you through one fun surprise after the next, all infused with his special Bengali American spirit. The staff shines through in the dishes, too, and we’ve got a behind-the-scenes look at how they put it all together starting on Page 74. Ohio State University student Sa-

COMMENTS

Meals on Wheels

I have another suggestion for “Best Culinary Bike Rides” (from the July Best of Columbus issue, Page 29): The Clintonville Farmers Market on Saturday mornings. You can cut up from the Olentangy Trail and enjoy lots of great food. There’s even a free bike corral.

I also love that Understory’s patio in the Old North Open Air building faces the ravine. So often businesses and restaurants have their backs to the river and woods. Think about the ones on High Street near Arcadia Avenue—the Walhalla Ravine side is where you find the Dumpsters. Open Air shows how successful you can be when you highlight instead of hide existing green spaces.

Kristina Emick, Clintonville

Besides mine, you’ll notice another new name on the magazine’s masthead this month—Linda Lee Baird, who joined Columbus Monthly as food and drink editor in July. She’s already become a regular byline at columbusmonthly.com and dispatch.com and is quickly embedding herself in the city’s vibrant dining scene. Linda brings experience as a magazine editor, blogger and grants writer, and she lived in New York for a decade, so she knows food. We’re thrilled to work (and eat) with her.

Editor, Columbus Monthly

CORRECTIONS

Tara Miller is owner of New Albany Ballet Co. A story in the June issue provided an incorrect company affiliation.

Dr. Darrion Mitchell at The James Cancer Hospital specializes in radiation oncology, head and neck cancer. Dr. Jason Lichten specializes in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, “Mommy Makeovers,” breast cosmetic surgery, breast reconstruction, liposuction and body contouring and Botox and fillers. The Top Doctors listings in the August issue used incorrect practice descriptions for the doctors.

Send letters to: Editor, Columbus Monthly, 605 S. Front St. , Ste. 300, Columbus, OH 43215. Or email: letters@columbus monthly.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.

Web: ColumbusMonthly.com

Email: letters@ columbusmonthly.com

Rising uterine cancer rates and deaths are urgent “health care crises” for Black women

While most rates of cancer continue to decrease, oncologists express concern that rates of uterine cancer (also known as endometrial cancer) continue to rise, and this trend disproportionately affects Black women.

According to recent statistics from the American Cancer Society, uterine cancer has become the deadliest form of reproductive cancer among women. The gap between how this disease impacts Black and white women continues to widen, with more Black women being diagnosed at later stages and more Black women dying of the disease.

“The health disparities in endometrial cancer are a health care crisis. This needs to be on the forefront of our conversations about impacting patient care,” said Casey Cosgrove, MD, a gynecologic oncologist with The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James). “Rates of uterine cancer are not only continuing to rise among Black women in America compared to other races — but more women are dying of this disease.”

Research to understand rising rates

Although obesity is the leading known risk factor for uterine cancer, Cosgrove hypothesizes that underlying differences in the molecular drivers of the disease in Black versus white women could play a significant role.

His team at the OSUCCC – James is conducting a research study funded by the National Cancer Institute and Cancer Moonshot to look at how DNA/RNA-level drivers of this disease differ between Black and white women.

“All endometrial cancers are not created equal. And unfortunately, especially for Black women, many of the more aggressive endometrial cancers are seen in women who are Black. It is imperative that we get to what is driving this on a cellular level so we can develop better treatment options for this disease,” said Cosgrove.

For this study, Cosgrove’s team is conducting extensive genomic (molecular) testing on tumor samples from 700 women with very high-risk endometrial cancer. Half of those

women are self-reported Black women, and half are self-reported white.

“We hope that our findings will shed light on whether or not there are differences at a DNA level that explain how these tumors are ticking so that we can better personalize therapies, especially based on race, ethnicity and other factors in the future,” said Cosgrove.

Scan the QR code to learn more about gynecologic cancer care at the OSUCCC – James.

Recognizing concerning symptoms

An estimated 90 percent of endometrial cancers present with abnormal uterine bleeding, so Cosgrove says it is important for women of all ages — but especially those with additional risk factors such as obesity, polycystic ovarian syndrome, diabetes, high blood pressure and irregular ovulation — to consult with their gynecologist.

Columbus, Ohio, resident Adrienne Shinn lost her sister, Clarise, to advanced uterine cancer. She says her sister’s abdominal pain was dismissed for months before she was diagnosed with the disease. Shinn says it is critical for women to advocate for themselves, especially when implicit bias may play a role in medical care.

“It’s your body, it’s your health, you know your body better than anyone,” she said.

“My sister was an Aerospace Safety Engineer for NASA. She was a highly intelligent, accomplished woman and proactive about her health. Yet we still lost her to this disease — because it took a long time for the medical community to take her concerns seriously. This should not be the outcome for any woman who is expressing concern about her health and seeking help.”

Cosgrove noted that only about 3-5 percent of endometrial cancers can be explained by known genetic risk factors, which include Lynch syndrome. Women who carry a Lynch syndrome mutation have up to a 60 percent lifetime risk of developing endometrial cancer. Shinn encourages women — and men — to seek genetic counseling like she did after her sister’s death.

“One of the most incredible breakthroughs with endometrial cancer in the last decade has really been the utilization of immunotherapy, which is a different way to fight the cancer. In traditional chemotherapy, we kind of knock down the cancer cells and make it so that they can’t continue growing. But immunotherapy actually has a patient’s own immune system start attacking the cancer. We know that immunotherapy works very well in many different types of cancers, including some uterine cancers with specific molecular characteristics.”

Scan the QR code to learn more about cancer research at the OSUCCC – James.

front & center

PHOTO BY TIM JOHNSON

Menu for Joy Gregg Dodd’s chalkboard list charts 52 weeks of living life to the fullest. It’s a strategy that kept his spirits high as he battled stage IV melanoma this past year. Reflections on his resilience, Page 12.

Issa Tall’s Crew

The Columbus soccer club’s new general manager brings diverse experience to the team he now leads, both personally and professionally.

By Andrew King

The Columbus metro area is a diverse place, a community growing into more of a melting pot by the day. According to recent census estimates, 10 percent of the region’s population are immigrants, with people born in foreign countries leading recent population growth. German Village gets its name from Bavarian immigrants, while the nation’s second-largest group of Somali immigrants resides here.

In the world of soccer—arguably more global than any other sport—that diversity is leveraged as a gift. Powerhouse national teams vie for stars with ties to multiple nations, and talented children of immigrant parents are discovered by club academies before they’re teenagers.

In that spirit, the newest leader of the Columbus Crew wants to rethink the way the team develops its talent to more closely match the global game—inspired by his own long journey to Columbus.

In early June, the Crew announced Issa Tall had been hired as the team’s new general manager, filling the role formerly held by Tim Bezbatchenko, who left the Crew to join Black Knight Football Club (owner of four global soccer teams, including the English Premier League team AFC Bournemouth) as the organization’s first president.

A native of Westerville, Bezbatchenko earned legendary status after leading the team’s post-Save the Crew era, building Lower.com Field, bringing two MLS Cups to Columbus and signing multiple high-level players and managers. His reign represented an unprecedented era of Crew success.

During that success, Bezbatchenko’s right-hand man and assistant GM was his old friend, Tall. The pair first met at the MLS league office in New York, Tall’s

Front & Center | Sports

first internship after college. Bezbatchenko has been a friend and mentor of Tall’s for more than a decade, and the new Crew GM says he feels a “sense of ownership” for what he and Bezbatchenko “built together.”

But that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t want to forge his own path, too.

“My plan is to continue doing what we have done, but at the same time, put some things in place where I think we had our differences,” Tall says. “That’s where our relationship was great: We acknowledged

our differences and accepted them.”

If Bezbatchenko was the perfect fit because of his Central Ohio ties, Tall is a perfect fit because of his international background.

The son of Senegalese immigrants, Tall was born in Strasbourg, France, where he started playing soccer by age 4 and joined the RC Strasbourg Academy at 14 with the goal of being a professional. When he wasn’t offered a contract, he eventually came to the United States for college at Adelphi University on Long

Issa Tall, Columbus Crew GM

Island. He excelled, but not enough to play professional soccer.

By his senior year, he was an assistant coach. A few months later, he was scraping by in New York City at the MLS league office, working under Bezbatchenko as a temp worker “so broke you have to make choices.”

When Bezbatchenko was named GM of Toronto FC in 2013, he hired Tall in his player personnel and scouting department. Two years later, a homesick Tall would take a job at FIFA headquarters in Switzerland, where he helped plan the 2018 World Cup in Russia before joining Bezbatchenko in Columbus in 2019.

Now at the helm himself, it’s time for Tall’s philosophies, experiences and passions to guide the future of the Crew.

“I love that aspect,” he says of the international scope of the game. “How do you bring [international] players? How do you bring [international] teams? How do you bring [international] ways of doing things? You can look at how a team does certain things in Sweden and replicate it.”

Today, Tall’s biggest task and inspiration comes in developing talent.

When he arrived, he says he would have classified the Crew Academy as “bottom third, if not dead last” in MLS. “The academy had almost disappeared,” he says. Five years later, it’s in a better spot. But Tall wants to look in new places for the future stars of the Crew, bolstering an effort made in recent years to embrace lower income neighborhoods and immigrant families and seek players who aren’t currently within typical club soccer structures.

“My aunt lives here, in an area of the city that we have a hard time targeting,” he says. “But the thing in soccer is that we want to get to those areas, where we’ve found very good, young players. But how do we get that connection for the Crew? Because on paper, Columbus is one of the most diverse cities. So how do we do a better job together?”

If Tall can crack that code, he’ll achieve something more lasting and organic than a trophy or a signing—neither of which are his ultimate goals.

“I hope my encounters with people will be my legacy,” he says. “I hope I won’t just be judged on results. I want to be remembered as someone who cared for the club.” ◆

PHONE: 614-400-5978

EMAIL: INFO@AIDENANDGRACE.COM

INSTAGRAM: @AIDENANDGRACE

Joy Olympian

Gregg Dodd is well known in Columbus circles for the zest he brings to life—his and theirs. Battling stage IV melanoma during the past year didn’t dull his spark.

My good friend Gregg Dodd rang the bell to signify the end of months of stage IV melanoma treatment on June 6. His weapon of choice while battling cancer? Joy.

The marketing director for the Columbus Metropolitan Library radiates joy. In fact, he has created what can only be referred to as the “Joy Olympics” every other year. First it was the “Hug Log” in 2012, where he sought out someone to hug every day of the year. Then it was “Gregg’s List” in 2014, when he identified 52 things he had always wanted to do. (Unfortunately for me, I joined him on the “take an aerialist class” item. I couldn’t lift my arms over my head for the next week.) In 2018, he wrote letters every day to people who had impacted his life and changed him for the better; and on and on.

By Sarah Irvin Clark

Fast forward to 2023, an “off year” for Gregg.

Gregg had seen something on his skin that he was worried about, so he scheduled an appointment with his dermatologist. The mole he was concerned about was fine, but on a whim, he asked her to check something else—a mole he’d noticed just the day before on his shoulder. She biopsied it and said she’d be in touch.

On Feb. 21, he heard the words, “You have melanoma,” and was told he needed surgery on his left shoulder and likely would need treatment. Surgery came in April and revealed stage IV melanoma, a scary diagnosis that would require 18 rounds of immunotherapy. I happen to know personally how scary it must have been for Gregg, as my husband had just been through stage III melanoma and, thankfully, concluded treatment

Gregg Dodd in his Victorian Village home

Dodd’s 52-week joy agenda

successfully during COVID.

Others who receive that kind of diagnosis might be paralyzed by fear or grow bitter and despondent. But in true Gregg fashion, he threw his energy into finding joy.

“I wanted to relive some of my most joyous moments and came up with 52 things between the first and last treatment just to ensure my joy was intact and that my attitude was strong,” he says.

He enjoyed a dirty martini at a jazz bar; he held all kinds of parties, from game night to a roller-skating party; and he went on a cruise. Through everything, he brought his community along for the ride.

About a month before his final treatment, he posted on social media that all were welcome to come and watch him ring the bell. I made a mental note to go and figured since it would be during the middle of the workday, just a couple of us would be there to celebrate.

How wrong I was. Not with this Joy Olympian!

I got to Columbus Oncology and Hematology and walked up to the front desk, and the receptionist asked with a knowing smile, “Are you here for Gregg Dodd?” She then went on to tell me there were already about 50 Gregg supporters congregated in the back.

Of course there were! I walked in and, once again, saw joy. So many people from every walk of life were there—arts leaders, volunteers, family members, dear friends, colleagues and co-workers. In fact, so many people that the bell ringing ceremony had to be moved outdoors.

As we paraded outside, I was overcome with emotion—that patients who were still getting treatment were avidly cheering for Gregg, that so many people took time out of their day because of their love for their friend, and that one man could make such a difference and impact on others by creating a community of joy even in the darkest of times.

He was overcome with emotion, too. He later told me that as a single person with no family in town, the outpouring of love and support from his adopted family saved his life.

Actually, Gregg, your ability to lasso joy and—as a first-class PR and marketing pro—share it with the masses has saved more lives than you’ll ever know. ◆

Photo credit: Jennifer Zmuda Dracula dancer: David Ward Nutcracker dancers: Caitlin Valentine & Leiland Charles

We Tried It: Ecstatic Dance

One Columbus group encourages expression through movement, without judgment.

By Emma Frankart Henterly

“We are here to express, not to impress.”

So opened my second experience with Ecstatic Dance Columbus, a dance party held Sunday afternoons at the Church of the Sparkling Unicorn (2350 Indianola Ave., University District). The speaker was Allan “DJ Kofdrop” Kofman, the group’s original DJ who this week stepped away from the turntables to act as co-facilitator for the event, repeating a core tenet of the organization.

I consider myself a dancer the way I consider everyone a dancer—that is, I believe dancing is part of what makes us human. It’s innate; just watch any toddler bopping their head to the beat. It’s only as we age that we learn self-conscious-

ness and lose touch with our bodies.

This is the cycle ecstatic dance seeks to break.

In ecstatic dance, “you allow your body to move however it wants to move. You let go of the expectations you have of yourself and other people [and] submit to the music,” says Ayala Wolak, who co-founded Ecstatic Dance Columbus with her father, Nick Wolak, in October 2022. “It’s really beautiful.”

Each event begins with an opening circle, where attendees—between 30 and 40, at my events—give brief introductions, and facilitators share the group’s agreements: We dance sober. (“We emphasize that so you can have an oppor-

tunity to connect with yourself in a way that you wouldn’t if you’re otherwise inhibited,” Ayala Wolak says.) We dance without shoes and without words. We ask for and provide consent when interacting with others. We respect boundaries.

The dance starts slow and builds to a crescendo before winding back down, all in the span of about 90 minutes—though there’s no obligation to be active or even physically present the entire time. Soft floor mats and old church pews line the perimeter of the room. When I attended, musical styles spanned world genres and time periods. A closing circle completes the ritual.

One of the first things I noticed was the

Ecstatic dance can elicit emotional responses from participants.

level of intimacy among participants. It makes sense, I think: In an environment where everyone is encouraged to shed artifice and just exist as they are, the sensation of deeply knowing another person arrives faster than you’d expect.

“I was instantly welcomed,” longtime participant Ruby Redd tells me. “That was something I hadn’t really experienced in a lot of spaces where I was a stranger.”

Beyond an instant sense of community, ecstatic dance can provide space to grow. “Since coming here, I really found a lot of security with the relationship with myself,” Redd says.

I could relate. I’ve spent most of my life battling imposter syndrome and insecurity. My mind/body connection has always been poor. I started my first visit sitting with my back to the wall, gently tapping my toes and watching with mild envy as others dove right in. But people were friendly and open, and it wasn’t long before the music was guiding me through space and time in a way that felt natural, never forced.

By the dance’s end, I found myself rolling on the floor, flowing with the soft beat like someone who’d spent their whole life “dancing it out.” I had felt, and observed in others, everything from unrestrained joy to inexplicable grief; I closed the session on my back, tears gently rolling into my hairline as I stared at the stainedglass ceiling above. I was not the only one weeping.

“It can be intense, and it can also be really uplifting. It can be healing,” Ayala Wolak says. “When I first started ecstatic dance, I probably cried in every single dance. It can be really difficult to step into a different side of yourself.”

The therapeutic effect of free expression through movement is a common theme among participants.

“I feel like I’ve completely blossomed here,” says dancer Carrie McGill. “It’s like a giant permission slip to just be whatever you want to be.”

Some advice for those interested in trying ecstatic dance: wear comfortable clothes and bring a towel. Water and cacao from nearby Casa Cacao on Hudson Street, another father-daughter venture by the Wolaks, are provided.

Expect to be a little uncomfortable, Ayala Wolak says. “[And] trust yourself. Trust the people you’re there with. Trust the facilitators,” she adds. “Let go of expectations, and trust.” ◆

Grief, Growth and Cookies

Gallerist Sarah Gormley’s new memoir plumbs the depths of the human experience and comes up with a heretofore strange fish: joy.

By Amy Bodiker Baskes

You have to love a good chocolate chip cookie. It’s the perfect ending to a rich meal or a bad day.

And that’s just the way Sarah Gormley ends her self-published debut book released this month, “The Order of Things: A Memoir About Chasing Joy.” In its last pages, Gormley generously shares the recipe for her “Martha Stewart Fired Me” chocolate chip cookies, which she perfected after 38 attempts.

But, as Gormley insists, hers is not a cookbook. Gormley is not a cook; rather she is the owner of the eponymous Sarah Gormley Gallery, where she celebrates the works of mostly Ohio artists with the slogan #Artisjoy.

When Gormley opened her original art gallery in the Short North in 2019, she surprised herself. Just 18 months earlier, Gormley had left a big-city, big-salaried marketing career to return to care for her dying mother on the family farm in Zanesville. At the end of what was meant to be a “grown-up gap year,” she planned to return to the grind.

Except she didn’t. Instead, at 45 years old, Gormley found love and happiness in Ohio, the home she eagerly fled as a teenager. In a period of utter devastation and loss, Gormley began to experience profound joy—a feeling that largely had escaped her in the decades she spent achieving and succeeding. “The Order of Things” is Gormley’s attempt to make sense of her wild transformation. How exactly did she get from there to here?

The book is both approachable and quirky. There are bulleted lists, poems and helpful asides written directly to the reader. Gormley draws you in with a casual Midwestern friendliness and

Front & Center | Books

just enough curses to make you feel as if you’re chatting with her over a glass of wine in the backyard. Engaging vignettes written in crisp, tight language hint at

Gormley’s crackerjack marketing skills.

As befitting a gallery owner, the book itself is gorgeous—coffee table worthy. Its hard cover is wrapped with a portrait of Gormley created by Columbus artist Joey Monsoon. Gormley selected Monsoon for the way he captures faces with both the beauty and scars of real life, just like Gormley’s narrative.

“The Order of Things” is fun and charming, even as it’s centered around the grief over losing her mother. Gormley shares her intentional journey to rewire her negative default settings and embrace self-acceptance through the hard work of therapy with vulnerability and intimacy. Like the joyful, purpose-driven gallery in Downtown Columbus she now runs, Gormley’s memoir is a delightful exploration of the universal heartache and beauty in all our lives. And it ends on a sweet note, with a homemade chocolate chip cookie. ◆

PHOTOS FROM TOP: TIM JOHNSON, COURTESY SARAH GORMLEY

Gallery owner and author

Sarah Gormley in her home.

Front & Center | People

Inspiring Women

Columbus Monthly honored 20 Inspiring Women at its inaugural event June 20 at The Fives, sponsored by Oliver Law Office, Easton and Middle West Spirits. More than 200 people gathered to meet the honorees, who are trailblazers and activists helping other women in the community. Emcee Colleen Marshall, anchor with NBC4, led a conversation where the women shared personal stories of overcoming challenges, growing in their businesses and lives, and supporting and mentoring others.

1 Hope Yin, Madi Carrell and Rachel Hellerman 2 Sydney Braverman, Jami Oliver, Lauren Nadolski and Alexis Hytrek 3 Ann Walker, Dave Kaylor and Colleen Marshall 4 Audrey Bishop and Caitlin Kegley 5 Joe and Judith Horvath 6 Hannah Schuller, Austin Copley and Katie Lundy 7 Elise Barber and Mona Barber 8 Marthal Burr, Kwabena Boamah-Acheampong and Juliana BoamahAcheampong 9 Melissa Barton-Briggs and Carter Gerlach 10 Julia Grisdela and Cassandra Binkley 11 Amy Parker, Maria Jones and Katherine Robinson

datebook

SEPT. 1-15 | Rhapsody & Refrain

Every night, for the first half of September, Streetlight Guild will feature two Columbus poets at the nonprofit’s East Side gallery and art space. That’s 30 poets in 15 days, including talents like Hanif Abdurraqib, Ruth Awad, Darren C. Demaree, Sara Abou Rashed, Steve Abbott, Streetlight’s Scott Woods and many more, all performing free of charge nightly. streetlightguild.org

SEPT. 20 | Charli XCX

In June, electro-pop singer Charli XCX released brat, the English star’s sixth studio album that boasts a minimalist, low-res design with a now-iconic, lime-green color scheme. “Brat Summer,” a nebulous mix of casual messiness and don’t-care attitude, became an entire aesthetic, reaching all the way to Kamala Harris’ campaign. Troye Sivan opens this Nationwide Arena show. nationwidearena.com

SEPT. 20 | The Price is Right Live

Come on down! The longest-running gameshow in TV history comes to the Palace Theatre, where randomly selected audience members become contestants who play games like Plinko and Cliffhangers, all in hopes of spinning the big wheel and making it to the Showcase Showdown. capa.com

A CURATED LIST OF THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN COLUMBUS

SEPT. 21-DEC. 28 | Tell Me a Story Where the Bad Girl Wins: The Life and Art of Barbara Shermund

Who says women aren’t funny? They are, especially when they speak their minds about sex, marriage and society. The renowned New Yorker cartoonist Barbara Shermund brought these themes to life through her art, which will be on exhibition at the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio in Lancaster (on loan from the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library). decartsohio.org

SEPT. 26 | Maggie Smith and Saeed Jones

Join Columbus’ Maggie Smith and Saeed Jones—both authors and poets—in conversation at the Bexley Public Library. Smith’s 2023 memoir, “You Could Make This Place Beautiful,” made the New York Times’ bestseller list, while Jones’ “How We Fight for Our Lives” earned him a Kirkus Prize in 2019. The evening is sure to educate, entertain and inspire. bexley.libnet.info

GIVE BACK

SEPT. 15

New Albany Walking Classic

Celebrating 20 years, this walking-only race offers 5k and 10k options, with all proceeds supporting the programs and services of Healthy New Albany, a nonprofit that promotes community wellness. newalbany walkingclassic.com

SEPT. 20

Blast

The 2024 edition of COSI’s annual “sneaker ball” celebrates the science center’s 60th anniversary. Pair formal wear with some comfy kicks and enjoy food, drinks and dancing while supporting this beloved local gem. cosi.org

SEPT. 25

The Big Table

The Columbus Foundation’s community-wide day of conversation aims to facilitate dialogue in hopes of creating a just and kind future for all Central Ohioans. Individuals and organizations can join as hosts or participants. columbusfoundation. org/the-big-table

Author and poet Saeed Jones

fall arts guide

By Joel Oliphint and Peter Tonguette

Stasis rarely produces greatness. This is especially true of the arts. Creative acts usually stem from some kind of change, or the need for change. And even when life feels like it’s stuck on a treadmill, the natural world provides seasons, kickstarting those creative juices. Here in Central Ohio, the summer festival circuit is waning and ceding the stage to a fall season bursting with arts programming. BalletMet welcomes new artistic director Remi Wörtmeyer. Movie houses are reviving Hitchcock’s classic films. Multiple galleries will feature thought-provoking work by women artists. And music venues soon will erupt with the alt-rock sounds of Weezer, the desert blues of Mdou Moctar and the cosmic country of Kacey Musgraves. Yes, summer’s almost gone, but that means autumn is nearly here. Embrace the change.

“Layers of Splendor” from Marty Husted’s show at Studios on High Gallery

VISUAL ARTS

Women’s Work

Through Sept. 21, Urban Arts Space

By exhibiting Alex McClay’s weavings and bead work alongside Stephanie Berrie’s sewing and sculptural printmaking, Ohio State University’s Urban Arts Space in Downtown Columbus is hoping to reclaim the term “women’s work,” a derogatory tag historically used to delegitimize textiles and other visual art mediums. The show encourages a reassessment of what “women’s work” could be and also, according to the gallery, reveals “the power, strength, detail and time that is put into these art forms.” Free. uas.osu.edu

Marty Husted: Uplift & Inspire

Sept. 7-Oct. 3, Studios on High Gallery

In one of her first Studios on High shows in years, Columbus artist Marty Husted will fill the long-running Short North gallery with her signature style of naturalistic paintings that portray a more hopeful, joy-filled world. Working in oils, acrylic and mixed-media collage, Husted’s imaginative and generous use of color infuses scenes of woods, wildflowers and rolling hills with a fantastical quality meant to evoke wonder and awe. Free. studiosonhigh.com

Fragments of Epic Memory

Sept. 19–Jan. 26, Columbus Museum of Art

In an exhibition the museum describes as “a multigenerational—and multicentric—survey of Caribbean art and visual culture,” CMA will present contemporary art alongside historical documents, encouraging museumgoers to draw connections among the items. Anchoring the show is a curated selection of more than 100 photographs from the Art Gallery of Ontario’s Montgomery Collection of Caribbean Photographs. $10-$20; free admission Sundays (and Thursday evenings through Sept. 18). columbusmuseum.org

Ming Smith: Wind Chime and Rotimi Fani-Kayode: Tranquility of Communion

Sept. 21-Jan. 5, Wexner Center for the Arts

The Wex will debut two fall exhibitions centered around photography; both are part of the FotoFocus Biennial, a monthlong celebration of lens-based art throughout southern and Central Ohio. Smith, a Columbus-raised artist who also exhibits at the Columbus Museum of Art this fall, will display black-and-white

photographs from her travels to Senegal, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast and Egypt. The work of Fani-Kayode, a Nigerian British photographer who died in 1989, is informed by Black queer club culture and Yoruba spirituality. Free. wexarts.org

Cartoon Crossroads Columbus

Sept. 26-29, multiple venues

This year marks the 10th anniversary of CXC, the annual nonprofit festival of cartoon art that brings together makers and fans of comic books, graphic novels, political cartoons, animation and comic strips. This year’s special guests include Bryan Lee O’Malley, creator of the Scott Pilgrim series; Jerry Craft, bestselling author and illustrator of the graphic novel “New Kid”; and Art Spiegelman, legendary author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Maus graphic novels. Free. cartooncrossroadscolumbus.org

Michelle Blackstone

Oct. 23-Dec. 27, Fresh A.I.R. Gallery

Columbus artist Michelle Blackstone takes inspiration from her mother and grandmothers, who worked in quilting and sewing, and incorporates textile elements like patterning, dyeing and needlework, all while investigating the ways in which traditionally gendered materials can obstruct reception to art. Fresh A.I.R. Gallery, a project of Southeast Healthcare, exhibits the work of artists

affected by mental illness and/or substance use disorders; A.I.R. stands for Artists In Recovery. Free. southeasthc.org/services/freshairgallery

All We Cannot Forget

Oct. 29-Jan. 3, Riffe Gallery

“What issues and ideas from the past can and should inform the future?” asks curator Char Norman. To investigate potential answers, All We Cannot Forget will feature a dozen artists, including Elham Bayati, Kimberly Chapman and Leigh Brooklyn, who explore issues affecting women. Katie Mongoven and Tariq Tarey highlight immigrant experiences, while others bring to light ideas around environmental justice. Free. oac.ohio.gov/riffe-gallery

CONCERTS

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony

Sept. 4, Newport Music Hall

Every so often, this legendary Ohio hiphop group convenes onstage to perform hits like “1st of tha Month” and “Tha Crossroads,” which won the rappers a 1997 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. Columbus native Bizzy Bone has complicated feelings about his hometown, telling this magazine in 2004 that the city stabbed him in the back. But he returns nonetheless. $35-$90. promowestlive.com

Ebony G. Patterson’s “...three kings weep...,” from CMA’s “Fragments of Epic Memory”

SPOTLIGHT:

stephanie rond

In ‘Spacewalkers,’ the Columbus street artist’s first solo show in 10 years, Rond seeks to uplift women and spread goodness.

By Joel Oliphint

About four years ago, Columbus artist Stephanie Rond was listening to a talk by former NASA astronaut Kathryn Sullivan. In 1984, during a mission in the space shuttle Challenger, Sullivan became the first American woman to go outside a spacecraft in her space suit. As Rond listened to Sullivan describe working on the Hubble Space Telescope in a later mission, the artist was struck by a particular word the astronaut used.

“She kept talking about ‘spacewalkers’—the people that go outside of the ship,” Rond says on a warm afternoon in late July, surrounded by spray paint, stacks of stencils and a tattered, 30-yearold “thinking chair” in the art studio above her Clintonville garage. “My work has always been about how women take up space, how we perceive women who take up space, indoor and outdoor. So, thinking about how my work is about space, place and power, and hearing the term ‘spacewalkers,’ I was like, that’s it. That’s where I’m going.”

Ten years after her last solo show, Rond will launch “Spacewalkers” at the McConnell Arts Center of Worthington with a reception on Sept. 19. The exhibition, which runs through Nov. 14, will occupy all floors of the MAC, including the lower level, which Rond refers to as the “bargain basement.” “I want it to be about accessibility,” she says, “so I’m slashing prices. I’d rather it live on somebody else’s wall than in my storage.”

In one series of tall, narrow paintings on wood panels, Rond places women on pedestals alongside signifiers that speak to their character. “When I’ve traveled, especially abroad, I’ve seen museums full of statues. But they’re all men,” Rond

says. “I wanted to reverse that.”

Some of these spacewalkers are Rond’s friends, like her hair stylist, whom Rond says “really needed antlers.” Others have faces that visitors might recognize, like “Warrior,” which features Greater Columbus Arts Council’s Jami Goldstein paired with an owl (“Jami is one of the most intelligent humans,” Rond says), or “Queen,” featuring artist Queen Brooks (bedecked in a crown, of course).

The first 100 visitors to “Spacewalkers” also will receive yard signs with Rond’s artwork featuring women. The giveaway continues Rond’s focus on accessibility

while fulfilling her mission as a street artist to take art out into the community. It’s also no coincidence Rond is making yard signs during another divisive election season.

“I’m disheartened by the way we are going about our lives as if it’s a sport, like one team versus the other, with blind allegiance,” Rond says. “The idea behind the signs is to hopefully allow everyone to just take a breath and remember that we are part of a larger community, and that we have to be better.

“My art is my way of trying to help put good in the world. ... I want to give a breath of hope.”

fall arts guide

Weezer, Flaming Lips, Dinosaur Jr.

Sept. 7, Nationwide Arena

It started 30 years ago with a hit single about a sweater. Then came smash hit after smash hit from Weezer’s debut record, a guitar-drenched, hook-laden classic known as the Blue Album. Frontman Rivers Cuomo and his band have rarely stopped recording and touring ever since, amassing 35 million record sales. But this show is more than its headliner, boasting a trifecta of ’90s altrock titans that each found a niche. $39$150. nationwidearena.com

Cat Power

Sept. 18, Athenaeum Theatre

One of Bob Dylan’s most famous bootleg recordings is a 1966 concert at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester, England—mistakenly labeled the “Royal Albert Hall” concert (the name stuck). Dylan played the first half of the show solo acoustic, the second half electric with a band, which prompted a concertgoer to famously yell, “Judas!” Last year, singer and songwriter Chan Marshall, aka Cat Power, released a recreation of the evening, Cat Power Sings Dylan: The 1966 Royal Albert Hall Concert, and then embarked on a tour of the same name. $59-$90. celebrityetc.com/athenaeum

Meshell Ndegeocello

Sept. 22, Mershon Auditorium

On Aug. 2, writer James Baldwin would have turned 100, making it the perfect release date for the new Blue Note album from singer, songwriter and poet Meshell Ndegeocello, No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin. Ndegeocello will pay homage to the civil rights activist in this Wexner Center for the Arts concert. $15$40. wexarts.org

Twenty One Pilots

Oct. 4-6, Nationwide Arena

Amassing enough fans for an arena show—that’s an accomplishment. Playing to an arena three nights in a row? That’s another level, and one reached by Columbus duo Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun of Twenty One Pilots. The genre-jumping pop act is touring behind its seventh studio album, Clancy, released in May. The record is the culmination of a conceptual storyline that began with 2015 album Blurryface. $80-$160. nationwidearena.com

Mdou Moctar

Oct. 11, Athenaeum Theatre

Raised in a village in Niger, Mahamadou Souleymane, aka Mdou Moctar, began playing guitar at an early age, blending West African influences with Western guitar heroes—a sound that has matured into an infectious concoction of desert blues. In May, the Tuareg musician’s band released its latest offering, Funeral for Justice, a scorching collection of fuzzed-out jams. $25. celebrityetc.com/athenaeum

Josh Rouse

Oct. 12, Natalie’s Grandview

There’s a casualness to the songs of Josh Rouse that makes them go down smoothly, effortlessly, which might lead you to initially overlook his tunes. But Rouse’s songcraft is impeccable, whether he’s writing about his former stomping grounds of Nashville or his adopted hometown of Valencia, Spain. Dig into Rouse’s catalog and then secure your spot at this intimate gig with a special talent. $31. nataliesgrandview.com

Tyshawn Sorey Trio

Nov. 13, Mershon Auditorium

This year, musicians and arts organizations across the country are marking the 100th birthday of legendary jazz drummer Max Roach. In Columbus, Pulitzer Prize-winning composer and musician Tyshawn Sorey will premiere a new piece inspired by Roach and commissioned by the Wexner Center for the Arts. Sorey’s trio features Columbus native Aaron Diehl on piano and Harish Raghavan on bass, along with chamber ensemble Sandbox Percussion. $15-$40. wexarts.org

Kacey Musgraves

Nov. 13, Schottenstein Center

On 2024 album Deeper Well, Kacey Musgraves looks to the sky for answers, turning her laid-back Southern pop into a modern version of cosmic country. “My Saturn has returned,” she sings on the title track, an album standout that also finds Musgraves shedding baggage and ditching bad habits (“I used to wake and bake”). The recentering suits her; Deeper Well is Musgrave’s best album since 2018’s Golden Hour. $40-$220. schottensteincenter.com

PERFORMING ARTS

VIVO Music Festival

Aug. 29-Sept. 1, multiple venues

In 2015, violinist Siwoo Kim and violist John Stulz—longtime friends with deep ties to Central Ohio—tapped their network of classical-music colleagues to put on a citywide chamber-music festival. A decade later, the festival has emerged as one of the signature kickoff events to the fall performing-arts season. This year, intimate concerts will be held at a series of spots, including Natalie’s Grandview, the Southern Theatre and the Ohio State University’s Timashev Family Recital Hall. Ticket prices vary. vivofestival.org

‘Black on Earth’

Sept. 13-14, Wexner Center for the Arts

Dynamic visuals, evocative soundscapes and, above all, powerful dance will be marshalled to relay the life stories of Black farmers in “Black on Earth.” The original dance piece will be performed by the acclaimed, decade-old group Brother(hood) Dance! wexarts.org

SPOTLIGHT:

Remi Wörtmeyer

BalletMet’s new artistic director takes the helm.

By Peter Tonguette

Australian dancer and choreographer

Remi Wörtmeyer is no stranger to the spotlight.

As a member of the Australian Ballet, Wörtmeyer once found himself performing in front of one of his home country’s most famous acting exports.

“My very first ‘Nutcracker’ with the Australian Ballet, Nicole Kidman was in the audience,” Wörtmeyer says. “She wrote a thank you to the company, saying, ‘Thank you for this wonderful performance.’ I think I’d had about an hour-and-a-half of sleep because I was so nervous.”

Wörtmeyer will soon have a different set of eyes trained on him and his handiwork: the thousands of Central Ohioans who regularly attend BalletMet performances.

The 41-year-old native of Adelaide was hired in June as BalletMet’s new artistic director. Wörtmeyer steps into the shoes that had been filled by former artistic director Edwaard Liang, who had led the company since 2013 before departing for the Washington Ballet in the nation’s capital.

“It was a great relief to come to Columbus and to spend time here,” Wörtmeyer says. “I was met with such warmth, which was very nice, but also I could see honest determination for this company to continue to be pushing forward into the future with great ambition.”

Wörtmeyer—who began taking dance lessons as a youth after his mother and grandmother noticed his propensity to dance while watching television—received training at the Australian Ballet School. His first solo onstage was a turning point. “I was maybe 7 or 8 years old, and I came offstage and I told my mum, ‘This is the best day of my life!’ ” he says.

Wörtmeyer progressed to become a principal dancer at the Australian Ballet. Most recently, he danced and taught at, and created works for, the Dutch National Ballet. He has accumulated over 30 choreographic credits. “I’m very comfortable with narrative work,” he says.

BalletMet officials contacted Wörtmeyer, who developed a pitch outlin-

ing his vision for the company and a hypothetical three-year program. Then he came to Columbus, taught company classes and got to know the players.

Wörtmeyer had been approached about artistic director jobs in the past but had never taken one. This time, he was drawn to BalletMet’s stability: Founded in 1978, the company has steadily grown in artistry, reach and prestige.

Because of the timing of the hire, Wörtmeyer did not have a hand in the 2024-25 season, which will open on Oct. 25 with “Dracula.” The horror-themed favorite will run through Nov. 2 in the Riffe Center’s Davidson Theatre. Other shows include “The Nutcracker” (Dec. 12-28) and “West Side Story” (Feb. 13-16).

Wörtmeyer is happy to stand on the sidelines—or in the theater wings— this first year. “It’s such a diverse repertoire that I get to learn what the dancers’ strengths are and where they shine most,” he says.

After moving to Columbus, Wörtmeyer plans to choreograph for the company and take the troupe on tour. He also wants to breathe fresh life into traditional ballets. “Ballet is timeless,” he says. “It’s up to us to continue the legacy and to make it relevant and to make it interesting to the public.”

Columbus Symphony

Sept. 20 & 22, Ohio Theatre

This fall, the Ohio Theatre will resound with sounds of “Star Wars,” “Saving Private Ryan” and more—and a movie won’t even be shown. The Columbus Symphony will return to its longtime home venue for a season-opening salute to the music of composer John Williams. The ensemble will be conducted by longtime music director Rossen Milanov, whose contract with the symphony was recently extended through 2028 (when the symphony also hopes to open a $275 million concert hall). $38 to $110. columbussymphony.com

ProMusica Chamber Orchestra

Sept. 28-29, Southern Theatre

ProMusica will open its season with notes both serene and satirical: Music director David Danzmayr will take the podium to lead the chamber orchestra in concerts featuring Franz Schubert’s classical masterwork “Symphony No. 5” and Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht’s acerbic vocal work “The Seven Deadly Sins.” To bring the latter work to life, the orchestra will be joined by vocalist Storm Large of Pink Martini and the vocal quartet Hudson Shad. $18 to $64. promusicacolumbus.org

Joshua Bell

Oct. 4, McCoy Center for the Arts

From the Columbus Symphony to the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, Central Ohio can boast more than a few firstclass, homegrown classical music ensembles, but this fall also will see some of the genre’s most noted names appear in the region. At the McCoy Center in New Albany, violinist Joshua Bell will demonstrate the adventuresome artistry that has netted him a Grammy Award (and six Grammy nominations). The concert also will feature pianist and NPR host Peter Dugan. $47 to $107. capa.com

‘The Book of Mormon’ Oct. 8-13, Ohio Theatre

In 2011, this hit Broadway musical proved that the travails of Mormon missionaries were the stuff of high comedy and terrific music. In this Broadway in Columbus presentation, longtime fans of the show— which features music and lyrics by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone—will have another chance to revisit what has become a modern classic, and first-time audiences will discover what all the fuss (and all those Tony Awards) is about. capa.com

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Hitchcocktober

The Gateway Film Center’s beloved annual series of Alfred Hitchcock movies returns.

By Peter Tonguette

More than many art forms, movies depend on the new, the fresh and the never-before-seen. Yet, this fall, one of the biggest stars on the Columbus film scene will be a director who would have turned 125 this year: Alfred Hitchcock.

Hitchcock specialized in movies that jostled, startled and outright scared audiences of his day, including “Rear Window,” “Psycho” and “The Birds.” Thanks in large part to the advocacy of French film critics who perceived the artistry behind the frights, Hitchcock earned a reputation as a top-flight filmmaker.

Yet, to a remarkable degree, Hitchcock’s films retain their effectiveness with contemporary viewers. “There are very few filmmakers … who still continue to resonate with audiences the way that Hitchcock does,” says Chris Hamel, the president of Gateway Film Center, which, for the 15th consecutive autumn, will present its “Hitchcocktober” program.

From Sept. 29 through Oct. 31, 18 Hitchcock films will be screened at the film center. All will be presented digitally

in 4K restorations. “He was a magician when it comes to photography … but also, these are great stories, and he knew exactly how to tell them,” Hamel says.

This year’s lineup will open with “North by Northwest,” running Sept. 29Oct. 1 and starring Cary Grant as an ad man whose mirthful existence is upended when criminal characters surmise he is a spy.

The schedule also includes staples like “The Birds” (Oct. 3-5) and the film widely regarded as Hitchcock’s most significant artistic achievement, “Vertigo” (Oct. 19-21). As usual, the series will wrap with “Psycho,” shown Oct. 27 through Halloween. “I can’t even begin to tell you how many people have thanked me for screening ‘Psycho’ over and over again that week of Halloween,” Hamel says. Mixed in with these familiar favorites are lesser-known Hitchcock titles such as “The Wrong Man” (Oct. 13) and the Hitchcocktober premiere of his final film, the thriller-comedy “Family Plot” (Oct. 14). “I want to make sure every year that the people who are loyal and

come back each year have something new to see,” Hamel says.

When Hitchcocktober was launched in 2010, Hamel did not realize the series would have such staying power. “I did not intend for it to be a recurring annual series,” he says. “But ever since that first year, it’s always been an important part of our autumn season.”

The Gateway Film Center is not the only area venue to be honoring Hitchcock this fall. On Sept. 12-14, the Wexner Center for the Arts will present “North by Northwest” in a format likely to be new to even the most ardent Hitchcockians: The movie will be shown in a restored 70mm print.

And on Oct. 25, the Bexley Public Library will present Hitchcock’s 1927 silent film, “The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog,” with live musical accompaniment by the ensemble Musicians for Silent Film.

It all adds up to an awful lot of Alfred—a good thing for serious Central Ohio cinephiles. “I think there are members of our community who have the dates on their calendars already,” Hamel says.

Cary Grant in “North by Northwest”

SPOTLIGHT:

‘The Greatest Jazz Concert in the World’ Oct. 10-13, Southern Theatre

The Columbus Jazz Orchestra is among the jewels of the area performing arts scene, and it isn’t afraid to tell you so, either: For its first concert of the season, the orchestra will present what is being billed as “The Greatest Jazz Concert in the World.” OK, OK, that’s likely a reference to a 1967 live album of the same name by Duke Ellington, but it just may describe this season-opening concert, as well. Artistic director Byron Stripling leads the ensemble, which will be joined by bassist John Clayton and drummer Jeff Hamilton. $24 to $98. jazzartsgroup.org

‘Jersey Boys’

Nov. 21-Dec. 29, Garden Theatre

If your toes start tapping while listening to the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, you are likely among the ideal intended audience for this beloved jukebox musical. The Short North Stage will present a local production of the hit show with music by Bob Gaudio and lyrics by Bob Crewe. Short North Stage associate artistic director Dionysia Williams Velazco will direct and choreograph the show. $45 to $89. shortnorthstage.org

‘The Threepenny Opera’ Nov. 22 & 24, Southern Theatre

To launch its new season, Opera Columbus will turn to the past with an eye very much on the present. The group will revive Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht’s 1928 masterpiece, “The Threepenny Opera,” for its social and political relevance. Besides the show’s abundant cultural commentary, the music isn’t bad, either: The songs include “Mack the Knife.” The singers and musicians will be led by the opera’s newly appointed principal guest conductor, Everett McCorvey. $17 to $134. operacolumbus.org

FILM

Unorthodocs

Oct. 17-21, Wexner Center for the Arts

This year, the Wexner Center’s annual selection of important and innovative nonfiction films has no shortage of intriguing titles on tap, including “Union,” about the Amazon Labor Union; a program in tribute to the Oscar-winning Yellow Springs documentary filmmaking team of Steven Bognar and the late Julia Reichert; as well as “Architecton,” about

the role of architecture in our lives; and “Grand Theft Hamlet,” about a pair of actors’ efforts to present “Hamlet” within the violent videogame. Ticket prices vary. wexarts.org

The Sound of Screaming: Early Horror Films

Oct. 9-10, 31, Wexner Center for the Arts

This Wexner Center program will prove that a movie being nearly a century old is no impediment to its capacity to frighten an audience. Classics from a bygone era of horror cinema will be shown as double bills: “Island of Lost Souls” and “Murders in the Rue Morgue” (Oct. 9), “Mystery of the Wax Museum” and “Doctor X” (Oct. 10), and, on Halloween night, “Freaks” and “Dracula.” $5 to $10. wexarts.org

Nightmares Film Festival

Oct. 17-20, Gateway Film Center

Horror film fans will have plenty to choose from in the latest edition of this annual fright fest, including a new 4K remastered version of the 1974 movie “It’s Alive” and a screening of the 2013 indie horror flick “Proxy” with director Zack Parker in attendance. VIP badge $149, or $15 for individual films. nightmaresfest.com

‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse: Live in Concert’

Nov. 6, Palace Theatre

Comic book connoisseurs and lovers of live music alike will find something to take from this program, which presents, on a big screen, the hit animated movie from 2023, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.” As the movie is shown, assembled orchestra musicians, percussionists, electronic instrumentalists and a DJ will offer a live performance of its musical score. $62 to $106. capa.com

LITERARY/COMEDY

Jay Leno

Sept. 13, Mershon Auditorium

Many modern comics specialize in shock value or drift into overtly political subject matter, but Jay Leno’s brand of kinder, gentler, altogether milder comedy has proven to have staying power. The beloved former host of “The Tonight Show” will bring his humane but hilarious act to Columbus. $52 to $228. schottensteincenter.com

fall arts guide

Martin Lawrence

Sept. 21, Nationwide Arena

From his iconic 1990s-era sitcom, Martin, to his recent appearance in the hit movie sequel “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” Martin Lawrence now can say he has made multiple generations of audiences laugh. You can be among them when Lawrence makes a stop in Columbus as part of his latest tour, “Y’all Know What It Is!” $50 to $130. nationwidearena.com

Louis Bayard

Sept. 30, Giuseppe’s Ritrovo

A ticket to this author event at the Bexley restaurant will buy you a glass of prosecco, hors d’oeuvres, a meet-and-greet and a talk by the author of “The Wildes: A Novel in Five Acts.” Bayard’s historical novel offers an account of the family of Oscar Wilde. A book signing will follow. $50. gramercybooksbexley.com

R.L. Stine

Oct. 14, Drexel Theatre

What major author not named Stephen King can give you goosebumps, nightmares and plain-and-simple scares merely by standing in line to meet him?

That’s R.L. Stine, of course, and the Bexley native will be on hand in a Gramercy Books-sponsored event at the nearby Drexel Theatre. Stine will discuss his work, take questions from attendees and sign copies of purchased books. $10. gramercybooksbexley.com

Neil deGrasse Tyson

Oct. 17, Mershon Auditorium

To many of us, “The Search for Life in the Universe” might go no further than watching Steven Spielberg’s classic movie “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” but for those who want real, scientifically based answers to the big questions of life as it might exist beyond planet Earth, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson is com-

ing to town with a talk of that title. $52 to $253. schottensteincenter.com

Craig Ferguson

Nov. 1, Southern Theatre

Late-night television is changing all the time, but some of us have never moved on from Craig Ferguson’s departure from CBS’ “The Late Late Show,” which the Scottish comic hosted from 2005 to 2014. Ferguson fans can get their fill of his wit and wisdom during this stop. capa.com

Matthew Desmond

Dec. 8, Main Library

The Columbus Metropolitan Library plays host to celebrated, gifted and thought-provoking authors throughout the year under the auspices of its Carnegie Author Series, and the 2024 edition of the series will end on a high note: Matthew Desmond, who teaches sociology at Princeton University, will talk about the topic of poverty, which was the subject of his Pulitzer Prize-winning 2016 book, “Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City,” and the more recent “Poverty, by America.” Free. columbuslibrary.org/special-events

Neil deGrasse Tyson

PROTECTING THE BIG DARBY

As development marches westward from Franklin County, conservationists are raising the alarm about preserving biodiversity in the Big Darby creeks.

By Randy Edwards

by Tim Johnson

Freshwater mussels, clam-like creatures that spend remarkably long lives at the bottoms of rivers and lakes, are among the most endangered animals in the world. Big Darby Creek, a mostly sleepy stream that passes just a few miles west of Downtown Columbus, is one of the best places in the Midwest to find these mussels and, in fact, hosts some very rare species.

And yet, not counting shells of dead specimens, most people don’t see the mussels, which resemble rocks and often are similarly encrusted in algae and sediment. They are nearly invisible to the untrained eye. That’s why I’m standing knee-deep in the Darby with two men whose eyes are well trained: Nate Shoobs, the curator of mollusks, crustaceans, and general invertebrates at the Museum of

Photos

Anthony Sasson seines for small aquatic animals along the Big Darby in the Prairie Oaks Metro Park.

Biological Diversity at Ohio State University, and a genial middle-aged librarian named John Tetzloff, president of the Darby Creek Association and for nearly three decades a stalwart defender of Big Darby Creek.

Both men could fairly be called malacologists, the name for someone who studies mollusks, the phylum of invertebrate animals that includes mussels and clams as well as snails and squid. Tetzloff is self-taught and is laser-focused on mussels, while Shoobs is universitytrained and specializes in snails. Both are peering through clear plastic boxes that they lower into the water to cut through the reflections and movement on the surface. Only Shoobs has a permit to handle mussels—which are legally protected in the U.S.—so when Tetzloff spots an interesting critter, he calls on the museum curator to confirm its species.

Many of their common names are comical: snuffbox, heelsplitter, kidney shell, spike, pistol grip. Shoobs pulls them, dripping, from the water and points out various features that make them unique, then releases them back into the cool, late-spring flow of the creek. After about an hour, Tetzloff, who is wearing chest waders and a Harry Potter ballcap, announces that he’s found a clubshell. This mussel is one of the Big Darby animals added to the federal endangered species list. Shoobs avoids touching it, but instead uses his viewing box and an underwater camera to confirm that yes, it’s a clubshell.

Indeed, we’d selected this stretch of river within the Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park because it is one of the locations where more than 2,000 rare mussels were transplanted about 10 years ago, having been relocated from a bridge construction site on the Allegheny River in Pennsylvania.

Though they are found throughout the Big Darby Creek and its principal tributary, the Little Darby Creek, mussels overall are in decline. The most recent survey of the creeks, completed 10 years ago, documented promising improvements in the aquatic life of the Darby creeks, state and national scenic rivers that have been the focus of intense conservation efforts for decades. Fish and small invertebrates seem to be improving. But mussels have steadily declined over the past few decades, despite a half century of work by scientists, govern-

ment agencies and advocates like Tetzloff to protect their habitat.

“There are a lot of mysteries in the Darby,” Tetzloff says, “but the current one is, why are the fish doing so well, and the mussels doing so bad?”

To be fair, freshwater mussels are in decline across the continent, and scientists can’t pinpoint why. As they study the sources, and as urban development is increasingly moving into once rural parts of Franklin and surrounding counties, all eyes are on the recent decisions of local and state officials who have the unenviable job of striking the balance between competing visions of the Darbys’ future.

The Big Darby Creek runs more than 80 miles through four counties from its source in Logan County to where it empties into the Scioto River near Circleville. Along the way, the Little Darby Creek joins its larger namesake near Georgesville, at the heart of the Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park. Together the two streams drain 556 square miles, mostly farmland until at least the 1950s, when Columbus and its suburbs commenced a wave of growth that has scarcely ebbed since.

When he was young, Big Darby Creek was “nothing special” to Tetzloff, 61, who grew up in Columbus’ Hilltop neighborhood.

“Me and my buddies were really into fishing, and we dipped a line in most Central Ohio streams. I remember going out there (to Big Darby Creek) a couple of times, and honestly, mostly I remember it was mosquito-infested. It was a pretty wild place.”

A scrap of land purchased by the fledgling Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks system was open to the public by then. Tetzloff and his high school fishing pals were unimpressed. “Back then, we’d look at Field and Stream, or Outdoor Life, all the big outdoor magazines, and they never had a story about Ohio,” he recalls. “We didn’t have trout, or northern pike, or muskies (muskellunge). We had muddy rivers with catfish and carp.”

Tetzloff stayed in Central Ohio for his undergraduate degree at Otterbein College and later went to Pennsylvania State University for a master’s degree in philosophy. By the time he came back, the Darby creeks had become the toast of the town’s environmental community.

Actually, efforts to protect the creek had been ongoing for at least two decades. Proposals to dam the creek and create a reservoir in the 1960s and the 1990s failed, due in part to community opposition. The creeks were declared state scenic rivers in 1984, with national scenic river designation in 1994. In 1991, the Nature Conservancy, a global nonprofit conservation group, included the Darby creeks on a list of “Last Great Places,” where they kept company with marquee sites like the Florida Keys and a condor preserve in Ecuador.

And in 1992, while working as a landscaper and developing a bird-watching habit, Tetzloff read a series in The Columbus Dispatch that highlighted the ecological value of the creek.

“Back then, you could go in the stream and run your hands through the substrate and pull out mussels. And it was absolutely stunning to me that you could sit in this one run and pull out 15 different species that were virtually invisible (from the surface). And that was it for me.”

Tetzloff began haunting the mussel collections of OSU’s Biological Diversity museum. The institution on Kinnear Road boasts the world’s largest collection of species of the family unionidae (freshwater mussels). Eventually, he joined the museum’s payroll for more than a year, helping to maintain the collection.

As often happens with those who immerse themselves in the natural world, Tetzloff evolved from autodidact to advocate. He joined the Darby Creek Association, a group founded in 1972, and

Although some conservation efforts have failed, including plans for a national wildlife refuge, efforts to preserve the health of the creeks have expanded over the past two decades.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has protected more than 1,500 acres along both streams, including the 430-acre Little Darby Creek State Nature Preserve, dedicated last summer near West Jefferson. The Appalachia Ohio Alliance has conserved about the same, mostly along the southernmost reaches of the Big Darby. And the Nature Conservancy has protected more than 1,000 acres and completed a restoration of the Big Darby’s headwaters in Logan County.

Metro Parks has acquired more than 2,000 additional acres, and Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park is now the largest park in the system, says Kevin Kasnyik, resource manager for Metro Parks. Fold in Prairie Oaks Metro Park, just up-

stream, and the system now owns 9,486 acres within the watershed.

The Big Darby is one of the most biologically diverse streams of its size in the Midwest “It has a very high proportion of its original fauna,” says Shoobs. “Most streams around here have lost way more diversity over time (because of dams and industrial pollution). This is reason enough to protect it.”

In 2006, the political subdivisions of Franklin County approved the Big Darby Accord to protect the streams with guidelines calling for low-density home development.

It’s the type of development today’s homebuyers are seeking, says Josh Barkan, vice president of land for M/I Homes, one of Central Ohio’s largest homebuilders. M/I’s Hill Farm development has 229 homes now being built within the Darby watershed in Hilliard.

Construction of the new Hill Farm development near the Big Darby watershed

John Tetzloff and Nate Shoobs look for and identify freshwater mussels along a strech of the the Big Darby Creek.

“At M/I, we’ve really leaned into smaller lots and more open space,” Barkan says. Families have less time, and “people want green space that they don’t have to take care of.”

With 69 percent open space, Hill Farm is close to the limits set by Hilliard’s new comprehensive plan, which calls for 70 percent open space within the watershed. “We certainly believe that protecting the Darby is important,” Barkan says. “To have a resource that is so revered by the community is an important part of creating a great place to live.”

Yet M/I ran up against opposition this year when it proposed phase two of Hill Farm. The Darby Accord Advisory Panel, which makes recommendations to local governments on proposed developments, declined to support the plan, and the city followed suit.

Threats to the Darbys are primarily from water running off in urban areas, says Anthony Sasson, a former ecologist with the Nature Conservancy and a longtime Darby advocate. The more hard surfaces like rooftops and asphalt fill the watershed, the more the streams suffer pulses of stormwater that cause erosion, disrupt habitat and carry pollutants. Sasson hopes Hilliard officials hold the line on future development.

“There is a technical limit to how much development you can put into a place be-

fore the streams decline. Those who don’t want to recognize that are louder voices and have significant resources,” he says.

What concerns Darby advocates now are the parts of the watershed not protected by the Darby Accord. Projects in Madison and adjacent counties have more traditional urban densities, and some are being built quite close to Big Darby Creek.

Tetzloff and other advocates have asked the Ohio EPA to extend the protections provided by the accord to the entire watershed, not just the Franklin County portion. In March, the EPA rejected a proposal supported by most environmental advocates to designate the Big Darby an Outstanding National Resource Water, the highest possible protection for a waterway. Instead, in June, the EPA approved stormwater regulations in the entire watershed.

The new regulations won’t provide the same degree of coordination and review as the accord, but they will toughen oversight of development in the watershed while still allowing growth, says Ohio EPA Director Anne Vogel.

“We’re going to protect forested areas, require additional stream setbacks,” she says. “It’s about protecting wetland and riparian areas, and highly erodible soils.”

In the meantime, ODNR is planning a

thorough assessment of the entire Scioto River watershed, which includes the Darbys, says Bob Gable, scenic rivers program manager for ODNR’s division of natural areas and preserves. The effort, which will take place over the next year, will attempt to integrate new EPA data and fresh mussel surveys with some modeling–trying to establish how much more development the Darby can withstand.

ODNR does not have the authority of the EPA or local communities when it comes to development, Gable says.

“We’re trying to get as complete a picture of the ecological condition as we can, so we can use this as a tool to reach out to communities and say, ‘If you want to protect the Big and Little Darby creeks, these are the things we need to do.’ ”

Will it be enough? Tetzloff isn’t sure.

“In the eastern United States, we don’t have coral reefs or rainforests. Our claim to fame is our biological diversity. And as the nation developed, our rivers took a hit. But they survived in some spots, and Big Darby Creek is one of the best spots. If we lose something like Darby, we’re never going to be able to stitch things back together.” ◆

Editor’s Note: Randy Edwards was a writer for The Nature Conservancy for 22 years before retiring in September 2024. He was a Columbus Dispatch reporter for 15 years prior to that.

Drone photos of the Hofbauer Preserve along the Big Darby Creek

PHOTO:

Exceptional Event Venues

Explore some of Central Ohio’s most intriguing gathering places.

The cause is important. The guest list is impressive. The occasion historic. Shouldn’t the setting be too? Treat your clients, employees or guests to an event like no other when you host your next meeting, sales event or holiday party at COSI. COSI offers a convenient, downtown location with full event planning service professionals and a team of culinary experts. With a variety of event spaces to choose from, the science museum can accommodate conferences and black tie galas to holiday parties and employee appreciation days.

Let COSI take care of every step of the event process. With an in-house catering and an AV team, the museum has you covered with food and beverage, AV requirements, vendor coordination and setup/teardown. A complete inventory of tables and chairs is included in your facility rental, along with built-in stages, screens and projectors in select rooms.

Atrium

The Atrium is a great place for a reception, dinner or corporate meeting, accommodating up to 250 guests.

Gallery 2

Gallery 2 is a perfect space for events on a grand scale for many occasions. Seats up to 550.

English Plaza

COSI’s English Plaza is one of our outdoor spaces with a beautiful view of the Columbus skyline suitable for a large reception, accommodating up to 800 guests.

South Point

COSI’s South Point space offers large windows so you can utilize a

EXCEPTIONAL E VENT VENUES COSI

333 W. Broad St., Columbus

614-629-3135

cosi.org/events

great amount of natural light for your event with a great view of Downtown Columbus.

COSI Exhibition Areas

COSI’s unique science exhibitions are available for receptions, tours, cocktail hours and more.

EXCEPTIONAL E VENT VENUES

GRANGE INSURANCE AUDUBON CENTER

Hold your next event at the Grange Insurance Audubon Center and enjoy a venue that lets in sunlight, honors nature and is true to a sustainable mindset, all while being conveniently located in the heart of the city.

Spectacular city views and beautiful natural landscapes surround one of the most unique event spaces in Central Ohio. The center is centrally located in the Scioto Audubon Metro Park on 160 acres of the Whittier Peninsula adjacent to Downtown Columbus. Whether you need space for a wedding, corporate function, training, family reunion, fundraiser or conference, the Audubon Center provides not only the latest in audiovisual capabilities, but the beautiful natural backdrops are perfect for group or wedding photos.

The Grange Insurance Audubon Center is truly one of the area’s premier rental venues offering multiple catering options to suit your needs from the finest caterers in Columbus.

For events larger than 36 guests, we take pride in offering first class catering with our full- service caterers, Creative Cuisine and Together & Co./Sweet Carrot.

Events with 36 or fewer guests have the flexibility to schedule a drop-off from Freedom a la Cart or a restaurant delivery of their choice (no outside caterers please).

When you hold your event at the Grange Insurance Audubon Center, you also help support our conservation and science education programs.

Indoor and outdoor spaces are available for your special event and can accommodate up to 200 guests. The venue includes free onsite parking for

505 W. Whittier St., Columbus giacrentals@gmail.com grange.audubon.org

up to 96 cars. Indoor and outdoor wood burning fireplaces are also available upon request to enhance your special event.

Board room and classroom spaces are available and can accommodate eight to 36 attendees, respectively. Nonprofit organizations are eligible for a 10 percent discount. Recurring daytime rentals also may be eligible for a discount.

For more information or to arrange an appointment to view the facility, please contact giacrentals@gmail.com.

Our center operations manager and preferred caterers look forward to assisting you in coordinating a special event to remember.

EXCEPTIONAL E VENT VENUES

HOTEL LEVEQUE

Soaring skyward in the heart of Downtown Columbus, the historic LeVeque Tower is an art deco masterpiece, providing an elegant and unique backdrop for any event. Tucked inside this iconic building, Hotel LeVeque offers the perfect blend of historic charm and modern luxury, making it an ideal venue for your special occasions.

Elegant Event Spaces

Hotel LeVeque boasts three versatile event spaces that can be tailored to your needs, whether you’re hosting an intimate gathering or a larger celebration.

Deshler Room: Our largest individual event space, the Deshler Room can host up to 60 guests for a standing reception or 40 guests seated. Located on the second floor, this space is perfect for a rehearsal dinner, welcome reception or farewell brunch.

Ionian Room: The Ionian Room, also on the second floor, creates a charming setting for small gatherings up to 50 guests standing or 30 guests seated. This space is ideal for an intimate wedding ceremony or bride/groom get ready space.

Coleman Room: Serving as our private dining room for The Keep Kitchen & Liquor Bar, the Coleman Room is the perfect, cozy setting for up to 30 guests for a seated meal.

Personalized Service and Unforgettable Experiences

At Hotel LeVeque, you and your guests are as important as this place, and you’ll feel it in every detail. As an intimate boutique property, we don’t mass-produce weddings but instead customize every aspect just for you. It’s why we consistently make Columbus Monthly’s “Best of” weddings lists. Let us ensure your first night as a married couple is beyond dreamy with our unforgettable bridal suite experience,

50 W. Broad St., Columbus 43215

614-745-0369

hotellevequecolumbus.com

followed by a next-day breakfast or brunch.

Luxurious Accommodations for Your Guests

Booking a hotel block for out-of-town guests is a breeze, keeping your family and friends together at a special discounted rate. We’ll keep you posted on which guests have booked and joyfully present them with your welcome bags upon arrival. You and your guests will enjoy sleeping under the stars with our inspiring signature starry turndown service.

Host Your Professional Event at Hotel LeVeque

Hotel LeVeque is not just for weddings and social gatherings. Our versatile

event spaces and dedicated planning team also make it the perfect venue for business meetings and professional events. We’ll ensure every detail is executed flawlessly, from audiovisual equipment setup to customized catering menus that fuel productivity and impress your attendees.

From incredible chef-driven catering and mixology, elevated event space and guestrooms, to unmatched backdrops for once-in-a-lifetime photos, no Columbus address offers a more perfect setting for a truly unforgettable event.

YOUR DREAM Wedding Venue

HIGH LINE CAR HOUSE AND THE FIVES EXCEPTIONAL E VENT VENUES

Find historical ambiance with industrial charm at the High Line Car House. At The Fives, enjoy a wedding with unmatched skyline views. These two unique venues are exclusively catered by Together & Company, a passionate team of event experts providing unparalleled food and hospitality for over 25 years. Both venues were named Best of Columbus Weddings in 2024.

High Line Car House

Nestled between historic German Village and the Brewery District, Together & Co.’s newly renovated High Line Car House is more versatile than ever. Built in 1873, the site originally served as operations and car storage for the High Street Railroad Co. Ten years ago, it became the headquarters for Together & Co. and the event space it is today. Enter through a new grand entrance Foyer that serves as a private room for getting ready or a hospitality space for enjoying specialty cocktails. The updated site includes a Veranda for mingling outdoors, refreshed bathrooms and dramatic uplighting along the interior brick walls.

Step into a wedding venue that holds the perfect blend of downtown history and industrial charm. Host your ceremony under stunning new chandeliers framed by luxurious floor-to-ceiling curtains, allowing you to personalize your space. For smaller ceremonies during warmer seasons, the Veranda serves as an elevated urban oasis for private ceremonies, complete with a covered pergola and romantic lighting. After 150 years, this historic site is ready to host the timeless wedding of your dreams.

The Fives

The Fives will inspire you. Host your ceremony on the rooftop Terrace within folding glass walls that perfectly frame the Columbus skyline. Open the space in warmer seasons for a true rooftop wedding experience, with dramatic city views just within reach. In spring or fall, lean into a grounded ambiance by hosting your ceremony at the Amphithe-

The Fives

550 Reach Blvd., Columbus 43215

614-882-7323

thefivescolumbus.com

High Line Car House

550 S. High St., Columbus 43215 614-882-7323

highlinecarhouse.com

ater. After exchanging vows, transition seamlessly to a cocktail hour and a newlywed photoshoot surrounded by modern architectural features.

Following the excitement of your ceremony is a reception dinner set to perfection in the stunning Social Hall, designed to suit a range of wedding themes from glitzy retro vibes to a clean, contemporary aesthetic. Enjoy a customized menu and signature cocktails by Together & Co. with your loved ones, then dance the night away under mesmerizing crystal chandeliers. Open glass garage doors on either side of the space to extend the party to the Patio, making your wedding the peak event of the season.

High Line Car House and The Fives are exclusively catered by Together &

Co., with a culinary and events team dedicated to making your creative vision come to life with ease. Every couple gets to work with an event designer who creates a detailed timeline and offers design and menu consultation. On the big day, an event manager is on site to oversee the ceremony rehearsal and coordinate vendors. From booking your date to the last song of the night, your wedding is in expert hands, so you can enjoy your special day from start to finish.

High Line Car House

The Fives

2024 BEST OF COLUMBUS WEDDINGS

High Line Car House

Reception: Industrial Urban

The Fives

Reception: Hotel/Event Center

For an unforgettable event that is uniquely you.

Experience Award-Winning Venues with Historical Charm & Modern Sophistication

Exclusively catered by Together & Company™ — creating exceptional culinary experiences for over 25 years.

Javier Jarrin Photography

Aimee Thomas Photography

EXCEPTIONAL E VENT VENUES

VITRIA ON THE SQUARE

Vitria on the Square is Columbus’ newest sophisticated event venue to host your upcoming celebration. Vitria is located at the storied intersection of 15th & High within steps of the iconic Ohio State University Oval as well as Mirror Lake. The venue is proud to feature elevated dining with a beverage-forward approach that will leave your guests impressed and stand out from their typical event experience. The culinary team prides themselves on curating menus specific to the event they are hosting and suggests special touches to enhance the experience for all attendees. The beverage team enjoys customizing cocktails with fresh-pressed juices and signature garnishes unique to an event that adds a custom touch.

The Grand Ballroom at Vitria on the Square features 25-foot, floor-toceiling windows that overlook several of the iconic landmarks of The Ohio State University. This space features state-of-the-art monitors built-in that can showcase logos, a slideshow or custom artwork during an event. The Grand Ballroom can accommodate 320 guests seated at round tables with a stage or dance floor or 500 seated theater style.

The Gallery is just outside of the Grand Ballroom and is ideal for a cocktail reception or seating area. This space has natural lighting and features its own private balcony overlooking University Square available for guests to enjoy. The Gallery features soft seating and artwork throughout the space with a built-in monitor to display a logo, slideshow, or custom artwork as well.

The Terrace Ballroom is just on the opposite side of the Gallery and is surrounded by windows and features

14 E. 15th Ave., Columbus

614-540-3436

vitriaonthesquare.com

its own private balcony also looking out to University Square. The space can accommodate 100 guests seated in round tables or 150 guests seated in theater style seating. This space can split into two separate sections that could both accommodate 50 guests seated in round tables. The Terrace Ballroom also features two built-in monitors that guests can utilize as they would like.

EXCEPTIONAL E VENT VENUES

WHITE WILLOW MEADOWS

Nestled in Orient, just south of Columbus, White Willow Meadows offers a stunning escape into nature without sacrificing the sophistication needed for exceptional events. This venue seamlessly combines the tranquility of its natural surroundings with top-tier amenities, making it the perfect location for weddings, corporate retreats, and private gatherings.

Imagine your event set against a backdrop of lush oak trees, where the sweet scent of honeysuckle fills the air. At White Willow Meadows, the serene ambiance is more than just a setting— it’s an integral part of the experience. The Main Barn, the venue’s centerpiece, can accommodate up to 350 guests. This versatile space is equipped with a state-of-the-art AV system, a luxurious bridal suite, and a spacious catering prep kitchen, ensuring every detail is executed flawlessly.

The charm of White Willow Meadows extends beyond its indoor spaces. The venue boasts a fire table, an outdoor pergola within an Italian-inspired garden, and a covered porch. The centerpiece of the outdoor features is the picturesque wedding garden, the primary location for wedding ceremonies during warm weather. These features provide perfect spots for informal gatherings, allowing guests to connect and converse in a relaxed, picturesque setting.

Beyond the Main Barn, White Willow Meadows offers additional spaces tailored for various event needs. The Dairy Barn is perfect for after wedding gatherings 45 people, workshops, and breakout sessions. It features reclaimed hardwood floors, preserved original barn features, and a luxurious kitchen and lounge area upstairs. The Dairy Barn includes four bedrooms, four and a half baths, two bar areas, a kitchenette/bar and hot tub. It houses the Groom’s Suite, complete with a billiards table, bar, TV, and lounge area—ideal for the wedding party to relax.

10260 Ballah Road, Orient 43146

513-507-0005

whitewillowmeadows.com

White Willow Meadows takes the stress out of event planning with its all-encompassing packages. These packages include seating arrangements, decor, and advanced technological needs, offering a turnkey solution for event planners. The venue’s adaptability is highlighted by its luxury bridal suite, which can be repurposed for executive use, ensuring privacy and comfort for high-profile attendees.

Whether you’re planning a grand corporate gala or an intimate wedding, White Willow Meadows offers an unparalleled blend of natural beauty and modern amenities. Its commitment to providing a bespoke experience ensures that every event hosted here is memorable and unique. Discover the exceptional possibilities at White Willow Meadows and make your next event truly unforgettable.

A Luxurious Destination for Your Dream Wedding

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

Your dream wedding awaits.

Alyssa Matt Photography

Always in Season? IT’S A SHORE THING

Immerse yourself in culture through a variety of diverse community events. Indulge in local cuisine, from upscale to casual, even dine lakeside. Take a ferry ride to a Lake Erie island, explore miles of natural beaches and trails, enjoy quaint downtowns and museums, and experience the beauty of the changing seasons in Shores & Islands Ohio

Make memories that’ll last a lifetime. Find your Lake Erie Love year-round at SHORESandISLANDS.com.

Scan and sign up to receive the 2024 Play + Stay Travel Guide.

FALLGETAWAYS

By Steve Stephens

North Carolina barbecue, Kentucky bourbon, Ohio rollercoasters and Lake Erie resorts beckon as the leaves turn.

BULLITT COUNTY

So you want to take a tasting trip to Kentucky bourbon country this fall, but your traveling companions aren’t big whiskey fans?

The Bullitt County Wine, Whiskey & Ale Trail might be the perfect solution.

About 30 minutes south of Louisville, Bullitt County is easily accessible from I-75.

As might be guessed from its name, the trail includes four wineries for oenophiles and a brewery for beer lovers. Also on the trail are two iconic bourbon destinations: The James B. Beam American Outpost, and the Four Roses Warehouse and Bottling facility, so Bullitt County is no mere compromise for bourbon fans.

Trail visitors will find that each of the wineries has its own delightful personality and atmosphere.

Although Brooks Hill Winery was sold this year, the new owners have vowed to keep the friendly atmosphere, award-winning wines and live music on the patio (most Saturdays through mid-October) that have made the destination a local favorite.

MillaNova Winery is a child- and pet-friendly stop with a wide variety of wines, several honoring the owners’ Italian heritage, and a large pavilion with panoramic views of the winery’s 22 acres.

Wight Meyer Vineyard and Winery is the county’s oldest winery featuring its most mature vines, and wines that include the unusual and popular Kentucky Diamond white.

Forest Edge Winery is another childand pet-friendly stop, with operations overseen by Ava the wine cat. The award-winning winery is located adjacent to Bermheim Forest and

Arboretum, itself a must-stop destination with a variety of botanical and artist attractions spread over its 16,000 acres.

The trail’s beer-making repre sentative, Gallant Fox Brewing Co., features food, house-brewed and guest beers and a bar featuring, of course, a large selection of bourbons.

A trail “passport” is available on-line or at any trail stop or the Bullitt County Visitors Center. Visitors who get their passport stamped at all seven stops receive a souvenir trail glass.

Trail visitors who don’t have a designated driver or who want to enjoy a guided tour can also choose from many different local transportation/ tour companies at TravelBullitt.org.

NORTH CAROLINA

Simply perusing a state map will show a would-be visitor many great features that make North Carolina such a popular travel destination, with the beautiful Atlantic coastline on the east; the rugged and magnificent Blue Ridge Mountains on the west; and the big city attractions of Charlotte and Raleigh and small-town delights of places like Asheville, Wilmington and New Bern.

But you can’t taste or smell a map. (Or at least you probably shouldn’t.)

One of the best features of North

North Carolina barbecue is, arguably—and you will get an argument—the best barbecue bar none.

Sure, Texas, Memphis and Kansas City barbecue have their devotees, maybe because those devotees haven’t visited North Carolina.

The debate about the best ‘cue even rages within North Carolina, which features two distinct styles of its own, each with its own fans.

All classic North Carolina barbeque features pig—and pig only—slow roasted over wood or charcoal. Eastern style uses the whole hog served with a vinegar-based sauce. Only shoulders, served with a brown sugar and ketchup-based sauce, are used in Lexington-style barbecue.

EXPLORE yours to

Eastern barbecue is, as the name suggests, found primarily in the eastern part of the state. Lexington barbecue, born in the city which gives it its name, reigns supreme in the west.

Which is best? Only an in-person taste-test will reveal the truth.

Finding the best barbeque in town is easy—just ask the first local you see. (Although the next person may give you a different answer.)

Visitors can also find many suggestions of classic barbecue joints to try at visitNC.com.

SHORES AND ISLANDS

There is no bad time to visit Sandusky, one of America’s best and most welcoming small-town coastal destinations.

But something about the fall, as lake breezes turn a bit chilly and the sun-seeking crowds of summer melt away, lends Sandusky’s verdant and historic downtown streets even more charm.

A great place to start a Sandusky visit is at the Shores and Islands Welcome Center downtown. Visitors will find

Discover Ohio Wine Country this fall

Fall is fleeting, but it’s amazing how lakeside moments feel bigger and brighter. Less than three hours from Columbus, our hotel and cottages give you the perfect accommodations to experience the bold foliage in neighboring Geneva State Park.

Cedar Point

maps, lodging and dining suggestions and information about things to do in Sandusky and the surrounding area, which is chalk-full of delightful attractions.

Of course, autumn visitors still have time for a stop at Cedar Point, one of the world’s great amusement parks and the undisputed roller-coaster capital. Plus, a variety of indoor water parks including Castaway Bay, Great Wolf Lodge and Kalahari Resorts offer a good, fun soaking anytime of the year.

But the high point for many visitors is time spent exploring downtown Sandusky.

Watching autumn clouds soar over the churning lake from Jackson Street Pier; marveling at architectural treasures such as the Erie County Courthouse and the Sandusky State Theater, recently rebuilt to its original splendor after storm damage in 2020; or dropping in to history-filled sites such as the Maritime Museum of Sandusky or the can’t-miss Merry Go Round Museum.

Downtown Sandusky also features many interesting shops, galleries and entertainment venues, and a wide

The Jackson Street Pier

variety of places to quench a hunger or thirst, among them Vita Sandusky, whose magnificent setting in a lofted art deco former bank lobby must be seen to be believed.

LODGE AT GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE

Some travelers, contemplating the ideal fall getaway, might picture romantic lodgings with a magnificent waterfront view.

Others might yearn for a wine-tasting as the harvest comes in, or a visit to a lovely historic covered bridge as the waters of autumn gurgle beneath, or an exhilarating zip through mature trees flashing hues of crimson and gold.

Well, as luck would have it, the Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake (thelodgeatgeneva.com) offers all that and much more.

The lovely resort on the Lake Erie shore, celebrating its 20th anniversary, has something delightful to offer almost every traveler, beginning with those cozy, comfy rooms in a variety of layouts, plus stand-alone lakefront cabins for guests who prefer a more homey stay.

And to explore the region in style, guests can avail themselves of several day-trip tour options leaving from the lodge.

The lodge’s beloved wine shuttle offers several daily scheduled departures, taking visitors to a changing set three of the area’s more than a dozen wineries. Each stop lasts about an hour, giving guests plenty of time for tastings and exploring each of the lovely vineyards. The shuttle’s stops vary, so guests who want to visit a variety of

wineries can ride on multiple days or visits.

This fall, the Lodge at Geneva will also be offering a daily, four-hour Covered Bridge Tour, led by a guide who shares entertaining stories about the rich history of Ashtabula County’s 19 covered bridges. The number of stops on each tour varies, depending on the amount of time the guests and guide spend exploring each bridge.

Visitors looking for a bit of high-flying fun can find plenty of it at Lake Erie Canopy Tours located on the resort grounds. Guests can soar through the treetops along a zip-line network that offers unmatched views of the lake and Geneva State Park, or test their skills on a self-guided adventure course, including a separate kid-sized course for thrill-seekers ages 4 to 10.

The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake

A special quarterly section of Columbus Monthly

Meet the outstanding educators who earned accolades in our 10th awards program.

Page 56

EDITED BY JULANNE HOHBACH

Educational Excellence

Our 2024 Teachers of the Year go the extra mile to help their students succeed.

By Julanne Hohbach

Photos by Tim Johnson

Teaching is a rewarding job, no doubt, but it comes with a fair share of challenges. From staying on top of technology to keeping students attentive and engaged in the digital age, a career in education now involves much more than doling out lessons in reading, math and social studies.

In recognition of all they do, Columbus Parent and Columbus Monthly are partnering to recognize outstanding

educators through our long-running Teachers of the Year awards. The program, in its 10th year, honors outstanding K-12 teachers throughout Central Ohio, divided into elementary, middle school and high school categories.

Readers nominated teachers online from March 7 to April 5. Submissions came from parents, current and former students, administrators, colleagues and family members. Nominated teachers

came from public and private schools throughout the Columbus region. Our editorial staffs reviewed all the submissions, did some independent research and then narrowed the list to 15 finalists.

Winners were selected through a public voting process, which ran May 24 through June 19.

Congratulations to all of the 2024 honorees.

Tracy Imamura, Fort Hayes Arts & Academic High School

Tiffany Erdelt, Raymond Elementary School

PHOTOS: TIM JOHNSON

OUR 2024 FINALISTS

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Lisa Colahan, Stevenson Elementary School, Grandview Heights Schools

Amy Day, Darby Woods Elementary School, South-Western City School District

Tiffany Erdelt, Raymond Elementary School, Marysville Exempted Village School District

Jillian Hinkson, East Columbus Elementary School, Columbus City Schools

Tamara Schmidt, Norwich Elementary School, Hilliard City School District

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Korey Black, Worthingway Middle School, Worthington City School District

Bruce Carlson, Dominion Middle School, Columbus City Schools

Isabella Dawes, Heritage Middle School, Hilliard City School District

Jennifer Felbaum, Columbus Collegiate Academy - Main Street, United Schools Network

Erica Hitzhusen, Worthingway Middle School, Worthington City School District

HIGH SCHOOL

Betsy Higginbotham, West High School, Columbus City Schools

Tracy Imamura, Fort Hayes Arts & Academic High School, Columbus City Schools

Alex Jacky, Columbus Academy

Paul Johnson, Marion Franklin High School, Columbus City Schools

Emily Meister, Grandview Heights High School, Grandview Heights Schools

Bruce Carlson, Dominion Middle School

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WINNER

Tiffany Erdelt

RAYMOND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Marysville Exempted Village School District

By Chuck Nelson

Longtime kindergarten teacher Tiffany Erdelt has welcomed many students to Raymond Elementary School, so it’s fitting she was one of the first staff members incoming principal Erica Sypek met upon arriving last year. It didn’t take long for Sypek to understand Erdelt’s popularity among students and their families.

“She’s that first experience that our students have, and she makes it a positive one,” Sypek says, noting that Erdelt always puts her students first. “She treats them with all the same love and nurturing she would if they were her own children.”

Erdelt is so well known in the Raymond community that some families request to be in her class, Sypek says. “She’s just a great addition to the team.”

Twenty of Erdelt’s 25 years in teaching have been spent in kindergarten classes, with most of those in the Marysville Exempted Village School District. She’s also taught second, third and fourth grade. “I absolutely love their energy and their excitement for learning,” Erdelt says of her “kinders.” “Their excitement to learn is something that keeps me going every day.”

While she remembers playing school as a child growing up in Columbus, teaching wasn’t her first career choice. The Lewis Center resident, 52, received a degree in criminology from Ohio State University in 1995 with the goal of working with troubled youth. “I have a helping nature,” she says. “I knew I wanted a job where I could help people and be an influence in people’s lives.”

That desire eventually led to education. She returned to school and completed a degree in elementary education at the University of Rio Grande in 1998, followed by a master’s in classroom education there in 2004. She has taught in the

“I believe that teaching happens at home and in the classroom, and we have to be on board together.”

Marysville district since 2006.

“Not every teacher can handle kindergarten,” Sypek says. “She’s a hard worker. She’s very creative. She’s always that person who has a smile on her face and asks, ‘What can I do to help?’ ”

Three grandsons of retired educator Merrlyn Cahill have passed through what she calls “Miss Erdelt’s Finishing School.” Cahill nominated Erdelt for the award, noting the “safe, positive and happy tone” she sets in the classroom.

Cahill’s grandson Jack “had a wonderful experience” in Erdelt’s class, she says. Jack was thrilled when his brother Vincent got Erdelt a few years later. And both boys were excited for younger brother Mikey when he got Erdelt as a teacher.

“She knew how to motivate the kids,” Cahill says. “They were doing fun things in class as they were learning.”

Erdelt says she tries to create handson experiences to keep her students engaged. “I’m really impressed with how she gets students to enjoy reading,” says Cahill, a former English teacher.

“She gets them excited about the authors, themes in the book,” she says. That excitement carried through to summer reading programs at the local library.

“I love teaching kids how to read,” says Erdelt, who uses different character voices during read-alouds. “That’s my favorite part of the day.”

While Erdelt clearly connects with her students, Sypek and Cahill also praise her communication and outreach to parents and extended family. “She loves to make connections with her families,” Sypek says.

Teaching is a collaborative effort, says Erdelt, who uses newsletters and social media to give families a way to see what’s happening at school. “I believe that teaching happens at home and in the classroom, and we have to be on board together,” she says. That includes inviting family members in to talk about their careers or to participate as “mystery readers.”

“Getting a nomination like this doesn’t happen very often. For someone to recognize the hard work that she’s put in is huge,” Sypek says. “The fact that our school community and families value her says a lot about her as a person.”

Erdelt says teaching can be demanding and stressful at times, particularly when a kindergartner is struggling.

“You always have those kiddos that you’re just not reaching, and you have to be a problem solver,” she says, figuring out different approaches to meet students’ emotional and behavioral needs.

But she manages to find ways to keep herself grounded.

“I just try to remember my reason why,” she says. “And my reason is the kids.”

There’s a lot to question about the world today. And he’s asking.

It’s our job to make sure he’s ready. We empower him to ignite his curiosity and develop an appetite for learning as well as the confidence to live with intention. It’s the difference between simply achieving and thriving. #CAnotherWorld

Ready to thrive.

MIDDLE SCHOOL WINNER

Bruce Carlson

Columbus City Schools

By Chuck Nelson

When Dominion Middle School principal Dottie Flanagan interviewed Bruce Carlson for an opening in the music department 15 years ago, she thought his ideas for the program might be overly ambitious.

“But he’s managed to reach them,” she says. And then some.

When he started at Dominion, the school had 30 instruments—all broken. “Not every kid can afford an instrument. We had way more kids than instruments,” Carlson says about his first years at the school, which moved in 2020 from East Dominion Boulevard to the former North High School.

Fundraising through a new band booster program helped change that. Now, the school has more than 150 working instruments. “It’s transformed a lot of lives,” Carlson says. “If they have a decent instrument, they’re going to sound a lot better.”

“Bruce was really resourceful at finding ways to get instruments in these kids’ hands,” says Jenna McGuinness of Clintonville, who nominated Carlson for the award. Her son Noah was among those who benefitted from the music program. “My son was not a strong student before he came to Dominion,” says McGuinness, “and now he’s an honor roll student”—an achievement she attributes in part to the confidence he acquired through band.

Carlson, 60, who lives in Lewis Center with his wife, Molly, and children Nels and Anna, planned to be a veterinarian, but developed terrible allergies to cats and dogs during his college years.

His mother—a flute player who taught in the Cleveland area—got him involved

Smile Brighter

“They realize that they all matter. There’s no second string in band.”

in music, buying him a baritone horn in 1973. “I always dreamed of being the quarterback for Ohio State or being in the Ohio State marching band. The quarterback thing didn’t work out,” Carlson says with a laugh, “but I was in the band.”

Ohio State University marching band director Paul Droste pointed him toward teaching. “He’s one of my great mentors,” Carlson says.

After playing in the Best Damn Band in the Land, Carlson graduated from OSU in 1990 with a degree in music and earned a master’s in 1999 at the University of Akron. He worked at elementary schools in Columbus and at Northland High School before arriving at Dominion in 2009.

Carlson’s band program now includes two beginning, one intermediate and two advanced bands in grades 6-8; a drumline; and a 25-piece big band. He enjoys working with students, “getting to go on the big stage and perform with them, sharing that joy with them,” he says. “Just seeing their faces light up when they

realize they’ve done something great.”

It starts with a culture of teamwork, Carlson says. At the beginning of the year, he likes to pass out pieces from a jigsaw puzzle and have students write their names on the back. It’s a way to illustrate that they’re all “a little piece of a bigger, beautiful thing,” he says. “It takes everybody to make this picture.

“They realize that they all matter. There’s no second string in band.”

Raising money to fund the program is a constant challenge, but it’s easier due to buy-in from the students and their parents, he says. That funding also allows the school’s musicians to make an annual trip to a band contest at Cedar Point. “They’ve been one of the top bands up there every year, and I’m really proud of that,” Carlson says. His students also played at a Columbus Blue Jackets game last year, which was a highlight for many members.

“He’s been very influential for my son and a lot of other kids,” McGuinness says of Carlson. “They just want to make him proud.”

Winning a Teachers of the Year award is “very humbling,” says Carlson, who also received a Columbus Symphony Orchestra Music Educator Award in 2017. “This is really a group award, not just me, because so many people work together to make this a wonderful, memorable organization. The good Lord has blessed me in many ways, and this is one of them.”

He’s currently organizing “a giant celebration band” of alumni and current members for the school’s 100th anniversary on Aug. 31. In his spare time, he plays with the Grove City Community Winds to stay sharp.

“He’s just an all-around great guy, a passionate educator and great musician,” says Flanagan. “He instills in [the students] a love of music, and that’s something you take with you the rest of your life.”

HIGH SCHOOL WINNER

Tracy Imamura

FORT HAYES ARTS & ACADEMIC HIGH SCHOOL Columbus City Schools

By Chuck Nelson

Fort Hayes Arts & Academic High School Japanese teacher Tracy Imamura fulfills her passion for languages and culture both in and out of the classroom. When the pandemic interrupted international travel, it halted a long-running exchange program between Imamura’s students and their peers at Asahikawa Jitsugyo High School in Hokkaido, Japan.

Not content to let it fall by the wayside, Imamura worked to get the program up and running again. Students and a teacher from Hokkaido visited Columbus in March, and some of Imamura’s students are traveling to Japan next year.

Reviving the program required a lot of effort—educating and organizing new host families, arranging transportation and planning visits to local sights— which Imamura did in addition to her regular teaching duties, says Kristen Skiles, a French teacher at Fort Hayes who nominated Imamura for the award.

“All our kids were enthralled with the experience,” says Skiles. “It was beautiful to see it all come together.”

“I just love languages and different cultures,” Imamura says. In addition to teaching Japanese at Fort Hayes and AIMS Arts Impact Middle School, she’s learning Spanish, speaks French and participates in a French book club online. “Whatever I do seems to be about language or a culture.”

When Imamura travels to Japan to visit her husband Yoichi’s family, she’s also on the lookout for materials to use in her classroom. It’s one more way to motivate students and keep them—and herself— current with Japanese culture and new vocabulary.

Connecting with students and bringing a piece of the world to them that they might not otherwise know or see in per-

“I tell my students, ‘I don’t care what country you go to—it doesn’t have to be Japan—but you have to, at some point, travel overseas.’ ”

son is her goal, she says. “I tell my students, ‘I don’t care what country you go to—it doesn’t have to be Japan—but you have to, at some point, travel overseas and see how people live, see the different cultures,’ ” she says. “I think everyone should do that around the world. I think that would help us have a better understanding of each other.”

Imamura’s interest in world cultures was sparked in high school when her family, who lived in Springfield, hosted a French foreign exchange student. “We are, 35 years later, still friends,” Imamura, 53, says. “I just saw her in June, and she’s coming to visit me in November.”

Imamura, who lives in Dublin with her husband and sons Zachary and Maxwell, graduated from Ohio State University with bachelor’s degrees in international relations and Japanese in 1995 and returned for a master’s degree in education in 2001. She taught English in Japan for four years after spending a year there during college.

Imamura is one among just a handful of Japanese teachers in Central Ohio. According to the Ohio Department of Education, only 38 districts or community schools offer the language. Of the 320,472 students studying a language other than English in 2022-23, only 1,420 took Japanese—a far cry from the 212,532 who took Spanish.

“It’s a unique lane and she’s so good,” says Milton Ruffin, principal/director of the Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center. “She creates such an enthusiasm.” Ruffin says Imamura is “a teacher leader” who shares with the whole staff. “Just a real asset. The kind of teacher you want on your team.”

“Tracy has always been at the forefront of, ‘Let’s try something new,’ ” says Skiles. In addition to the exchange program, Imamura takes advantage of opportunities organized by the Japan-America Society of Central Ohio, including its annual Ohio Japan Bowl quiz competition, which Fort Hayes hosted in February. “That’s exciting because they get to meet other students from around the state who are studying Japanese like they are,” she says. “We practice for that and use some of that in the classroom.”

Her students also participate in the Japanese National Honor Society and a national competition to design New Year’s cards (nengajo).

“She uses a lot of fun technology when she’s teaching,” says Ruffin, as well as interactive “bell ringer” warm-up questions and games with alphabet songs and rap songs in Japanese. “She’s committed to giving kids on-ramps to a language that’s kind of complicated.”

“I feel fortunate because I’m doing my dream job,” says Imamura.

PHOTO: TIM JOHNSON

home & style

The Colemans at Home

The former mayor of Columbus and his wife have created a stylish sanctuary in Blacklick, where their art collection, including this papier-mâché giraffe from the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans, has space to shine. See inside, Page 64.

PHOTO BY TIM JOHNSON

Black Art in Blacklick

Mike and Janelle Coleman in their Blacklick home filled with colorful, local artwork, including the piece above the stairs by Michael Garcia.

Story by JILL MOORHEAD • Photos by TIM JOHNSON

Graphic collage by artist Bryane Broadie

Home & Style | Home

The suburban home of Michael and Janelle Coleman is an oasis where they find peace away from the public eye and enjoy growing their art collection.

In 2016, after serving four terms as the first Black mayor of Columbus, Michael Coleman and his wife, Janelle, made a significant lifestyle change by moving from Downtown Columbus to a home located at the Jefferson Golf & Country Club in Blacklick.

The Colemans’ decision to move to Blacklick was driven by a need for a change of pace. “I love where we came from. I love that part of the city,” Mr. Coleman says of their Downtown Columbus home. “But when I left the mayor’s office, I needed to withdraw, and we needed to experience something different. People would knock on our doors. It was intense all the time.

We needed a time out.”

Their new home, a spacious 4,500-squarefoot house with three bedrooms, two offices, a workout room and a great room, offers an open concept with marble floors and a view of one of the golf course’s ponds. “The pond looks like it’s ours,” he muses. The floors were a major draw to them both.

For Mrs. Coleman, moving to Blacklick—a place she finds surprisingly diverse—was an adjustment. “I’ve always lived in urban environments until I went to Athens [for college]. When we decided to come out here, I liked the room to spread out, and the yard for the dog. When the pandemic hit, we were thankful we were here.”

The Colemans’ wine collection is next to a painting by Elisa Vesta, a paraplegic artist who paints indigenous people throughout South and Central America.

The Colemans’ home blends modern aesthetics with antiques, and a neutral palette sets off the vibrancy of their art collection. Janelle, with her minimalist style, and Mike, who prefers bold colors and leather, have struck a balance. Their furniture includes pieces from Restoration Hardware and Crate & Barrel, with the dining room set being a particular favorite.

Art plays a significant role in their home, reflecting both personal and cultural history. A giant painting of Janelle by Columbus College of Art & Design alumnus Mark

Bush is a centerpiece. “I wanted something that embodied me and my style,” she explains. Her husband adds, “It’s the one thing that people talk about.” Another favorite of the couple includes a piece honoring Mike’s great-great grandmother, a former slave, by Aminah Robinson. Their collection grew naturally, oftentimes with Mr. Coleman finding pieces, whether on his travels to Ghana, the Philippines, Israel and more, or in places like barber shops or antique stores. The collection includes work by Columbus artists Benjamin Crumpler, Kojo Kamau

The living room overlooks the Jefferson Golf & Country Club.

1800s magazine prints show how Black people were portrayed during that period.

“I keep them as a constant reminder that we were [viewed] as sometimes less than human,” Michael Coleman says. “You cannot look to the future unless you first understand where we have come from.”

Home & Style | Home

and Denny Griffith, as well as work by Black artists such as Broadie, who makes graphic collages from his studio in Maryland. “I support local artists, and I support Black artists,” he says. “Most of our art is from Black artists.”

Coleman began collecting art when he was a student at the University of Cincinnati. “My art teacher, Mrs. Dobbins, said, ‘You need to start collecting now,’” he remembers. His first purchase was a set of magazine illustrations from the 1800s. “I wanted to remember the plight of Black people,” he says of the purchase. Dobbins taught Coleman that once you start pur-

chasing pieces you like, an art collection will grow over time.

“It’s never too late [to start collecting],” says Mrs. Coleman, adding, “Buy what you like and don’t let others judge your art. It doesn’t have to be expensive.” (One of their pieces is a framed 25-cent postcard.)

Since moving in, the Colemans have made several improvements to their home. In 2016, they remodeled the master bathroom with designer Jared Blevins, completing it just in time for their wedding reception. The backyard has been transformed into Mrs. Cole-

man’s “outdoor living room,” featuring a 3,000-square-foot stone patio and dining area, a pergola for shade, speakers for music and a soft seating area perfect for relaxing or entertaining.

The kitchen is next on their list, with plans for a complete overhaul including new cabinets, countertops and additional storage space.

Despite living in a suburb, the Colemans remain deeply connected to their community. They frequently host events, fundraisers and gatherings, creating a nucleus spot for family and friends. Mrs. Coleman appreciates Blacklick’s diversity

Portraits of Mr. Coleman’s great-great grandmother, who was born in slavery and freed from slavery, hang in his office.

An open plan connects the kitchen to the sunroom.

and proximity to Downtown Columbus, making it a convenient and vibrant place to live.

Mike Coleman may have stepped back from the public eye, but he still likes to have a little control. “I project manage everything. It’s got to be a certain way. I can’t help myself,” he admits. Yet, for all his management skills, there’s one thing you won’t find him doing—mowing the lawn. As his wife laughingly points out, even in suburbia, some habits are hard to change. ◆

Sculpture by Woodrow Nash of Akron. Below, Caribbean pieces in Janelle Coleman’s office.

Mike Coleman’s office

A piece by Aminah Robinson in the dining room

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$2,675,000 3007 Avalon Rd., Upper Arlington

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$2,372,500 1809 Upper Chelsea Rd., Upper Arlington

BUYER/SELLER

Riverside Investment Holding LLC from Donna Laverne Bassett

Sonya Lynn Bjork and Carl Ross Bjork II from 3007 Avalon LLC

James D. Conroy II from Brian Schottenstein

Ryan F. and Belinda Smith from Kurt A. and Christine A. Kane

$2,250,000 7825 Brandon Rd., New Albany Karishma and Tarun Nagrani from Travis Shaw

$2,050,000 24 Sessions Dr., Bexley

$1,885,000 5580 Riverside Dr., Perry Township

$1,800,000 132 Liberty Woods Court, Johnstown

$1,650,000 4519 Ackerly Farm Rd., New Albany

$1,600,000 1171 Fairview Ave., Grandview Heights

$1,600,000 7916 Tartan Fields Dr., Dublin

$1,590,000 1833 Barrington Rd., Upper Arlington

John Thomas Stutts and Joseph Brent Watson from Pamela and Jason Quintiliano

Ellin Frair Gafford and Terry Dean Bigham; no seller listed

Steven T. and Marybeth C. McManus from Matthew W. and Jodi J. Beebe

Jenna Samuelson and Benjamin Jacob Frydman from William N. and Elaine Natsis

Trenton Rink and Elizabeth Mitchell from Michael A. and Jennie Amicon

Lyndel Dean and Diana Lynn Hay from Mark Joseph and Jenny Jane Ruble, trustees

Antonio G. and Melissa J. Cabrera from Carol H. Gibbs

$1,590,000 4711 Millburn Place, Columbus James W. Harrison from James M. Matesich

$1,525,000 1941 Scioto Pointe Dr., Columbus

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Geoffrey S. Kunkler, trustee; no seller listed

David A. and Donna M. Sajdak, trustees, from William C. and Lisa Baird

Ryan E. Arbogast and Angela C. Cook from Edington on First LLC

Shrinivas and Rosha Hebsur from Pallavi Reddy Ramidi

Paul Louis Selner and Melissa Joan Diethelm from Seth A. Abel and Steffanie L. Wilk

Falen and Joseph Nutis from Stacey J. Gaines

Joseph A. and Karina M. Casey, trustees, from Dana De Lisa and Kim Beyke

Christopher and Ali Luffler from Sean P. McGartland and Alicia M. Terando

Ross and Jodie Murphy from Anna W. and Joseph G. Munhall

Mark and Kimberly Allison from Master Investments IV Ltd.

Blaire and Kory Cutler from Mark R. and Shannon L. Weimerskirch

Erica E. and Benjamin M. Elting from Christopher A. Smiley

food & drink

Culinary Close-up

We go inside the kitchen at Agni.

Story, Page 74

PHOTO BY TIM JOHNSON

Restaurant with a Cause

Two decades later, Northstar Café’s community impact continues.

By Amy Bodiker Baskes

Northstar Café sparkled with new energy when it opened in the Short North in 2004. From the start, its friendly, socially responsible attitude and commitment to local, organic farmers was novel in Columbus—well ahead of the films Fast Food Nation and Food, Inc., which mainstreamed such ideas. Because customers ordered at the counter, the restaurant was an early adopter of a (now abandoned) no-tipping policy, which was initially used to justify their somewhat higher prices. Northstar’s menu had just enough juices and bowls to earn it a “healthy” reputation, despite the size of their cookies, muffins and scones, which are bigger than anything that would reasonably qualify as health food.

Owners Katy and Kevin Malhame were fresh out of college and all-in when their new restaurant opened. Food service work is a notorious grind—equipment breaks, staff unexpectedly quits, custom-

THE DETAILS

Northstar

Café

thenorthstarcafe.com

951 N. High St., Short North 614-298-9999

Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily

If you go: Northstar isn’t fully meatless, but it could be a contender for the “best vegetarian” spot for its incredible veggie options and dishes that can be made so.

ers complain—and opening is a roundthe-clock endeavor. And yet there they were, day after day, sporting high-beam smiles and modeling for staff Northstar’s signature friendliness.

Northstar Café’s original Short North location, complete with bar renovation.

Cast Iron Steak and Enchiladas

Two decades later, the Malhames no longer work regular shifts. Kevin’s brother, Darren, joined the group in 2005 and helped them grow to six Northstar Cafés throughout Ohio that now serve breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Today, Northstar purchases a total of 24,000 pounds of organic kale from local farmers annually and sources ingredients from over a dozen responsible, artisan producers in Ohio and across the country, according to its website. The Malhames’ reach now also includes Third & Hollywood in Grandview and four Brassica Middle Eastern restaurants. Given their intentionality, it’s no surprise the Malhames’ restaurants boast a fiercely loyal customer base who return frequently for the comfort of the food and experience.

And the food? Classics like the bright orange Shooting Star, a freshly made carrot/citrus juice ($7), the Cloud Nine Ricotta Pancakes ($15) and the Buddha Bowl ($17) remain strong sellers. Of course, there have been tweaks and trials over the years, but things have stayed remarkably consistent for a restaurant that’s cooking so much from scratch. Perhaps the biggest evolution on Northstar’s menu has been the addition of a full-service bar in 2019 serving craft cocktails (all $12) and a strong selection of Ohio-brewed beers and global wines. I started a recent lunch with a Housemade Ginger Ale ($5), a bright and sassy treat made with a tingling amount of freshly grated ginger and puckery lime juice. It was more like a special occasion mocktail than any ol’ can of pop.

My typical business lunch order is the Chopped Salad ($18), protein-forward and both smokey and sweet. On a recent visit, I branched out and dug into a few of Northstar’s sandwiches. The humongous Chicken and Avocado Sandwich ($19) arrived on a buttered, toasted bun held

together with four wooden stakes—a clue it requires a knife and fork to eat. The sweet roasted red pepper and creamy avocado provide a vegetal contrast to the richness of the warm, shredded chicken and melted smoked gouda.

Similarly, the Northstar Burger ($18) offers an excellent blend of flavors more delicious than the sum of its parts. Much has been written about Northstar’s celebrated veggie burger over the years, offered for free on Earth Day to its loyal fans. This is a veggie burger that embraces the flavors and textures of its meatbased cousin—with your eyes closed it’s hard to tell it’s meatless. The patty is made with black beans, roasted beets and brown rice, then grilled to add a smokey char. It’s served on a toasted bun with the traditional burger toppings, with the addition of shredded kale instead of lettuce, adding to its vegetarian credibility.

Dinner at Northstar looks fairly similar to the lunch menu, with most of the same pizzas, salads and sandwiches available;

the few new additions are seemingly borrowed from the Third & Hollywood playbook. The Little Gem Caesar Salad ($10) is both creamy and tart, with a generous serving of cheese and homemade croutons. Its small lettuce leaves are left whole, highlighting their attractive colors and unique folds.

For an entrée, the Cast Iron Steak and Enchiladas ($28) featured a modest piece of seared tri-tip with a marinade a little sourer than I would have liked. Earthy black beans accompanied the steak on a warm cast iron platter. I loved the enchilada; its cheese and sweet potato filling were topped with salsa verde, crema and toasted pepitas, highlighting contrasts of sweet and savory, crunchy and smooth—and the meal was large enough to share.

As new restaurants pop up all around Columbus, it’s refreshing that Northstar remains vibrant and contemporary, but comfortable enough to return to regularly. Things today generally look and feel the same at the original Northstar, despite a refresh of its host stand earlier this year and the addition of the bar. (That consistency is due in part to a longstanding relationship with architect Andrew Rosenthal, who has created a bright, modern interior for every Northstar Café, incorporating natural elements like wood, stone and daylight.) Its fundamental commitments to social responsibility, quality and to the environment are thankfully now more mainstream, an indication of how forward-thinking this Short North institution was when it opened 20 years ago. ◆

Above, Chicken and Avocado Sandwich; left, Northstar Burger

One Night at Agni

Behind the scenes in the kitchen at one of Columbus’ hottest reservations.

Story by Samantha Harden

Photos by Tim Johnson

From left: Naomi Sakuma and Antonio Vargas prep dishes; a whirlwind of activity in the kitchen;

BBut for the low hum of machinery and prep lead Chelly Aquino Jiménez quietly singing to herself in Spanish, the kitchen is quiet at 7 a.m.

“It’s a long day,” sous chef JJ Garlock says. “Are you sure you’re ready for it?”

“I think so,” I reply.

Few considered the realities of working in a restaurant until the TV show The Bear provided a glimpse into the utter dysfunction of the fictional kitchen run by Carmen Berzatto, played by Jeremy Allen White.

Agni founder Avishar Barua—a Top Chef alum and Columbus native—and Garlock run their kitchen in a much more organized fashion.

Just over a year after Agni’s March 2023 opening, Barua is one of only two chefs in Columbus to receive a James Beard Award nomination for best chef in the Great Lakes region.

The restaurant is known for its six-course tasting menu—available with pescatarian, vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options— and there is a lot that happens in the kitchen before the dishes make it to the dining room.

10 Hours to Open

The prep team, consisting of Garlock, Jiménez and prep cooks Joe Liles, Naomi Sakuma and Mary Valladares, arrives at 7 a.m.

The Agni kitchen is reminiscent of a kitchen in a home, with a large butcher block counter in the center. To its left are the fry and sauté

JJ Garlock serves up fish for the staff dinner at Agni.

Chelly Aquino Jiménez talks with Naomi Sakuma; Andrea Mendes reaches for supplies.

stations. At the dishwashing station, dishes are neatly stacked on a shelf, and every surface gleams.

The prep shift, which lasts until the beginning of dinner service at 5 p.m., is the calm before the storm. It’s a time Garlock describes as “dull,” but I find it rather interesting.

Garlock brews coffee and Jiménez tapes a spreadsheet onto a pillar in the center of the kitchen. This document lays out how the kitchen will operate that day, listing every task, the names and roles of the day’s prep cooks and a shopping list.

8 Hours to Open

Valladares and Jiménez are tasked with hand-folding lamb dumplings, and they do it standing side by side, speaking to each other in Spanish.

Valladares takes a pinch of lamb filling and carefully places it onto a small potsticker wrapper, a wheat flour circle that resembles a miniature tortilla. She then dips her pointer and middle finger into a container with water and wets the edges of the wrapper, folding it in half and making three creases to form the dumpling.

Valladares and Jiménez repeat these steps until 200 dumplings have been folded, enough to last the whole week.

6 Hours to Open

At 11 a.m., Jiménez places a large bowl of mashed potatoes, a pan with small cubes of well-done steak, a small bowl of cream of spinach and six stacked dishes on the butcher block counter.

“Lunch is ready,” she calls out.

After a moment, Liles walks over, saying, “Ooh, steak dinner.”

“I was craving a prime rib dinner,” Garlock says. “So, prime rib lunch it is.”

5 Hours to Open

Liles is creating the Agni version of a Midwestern tradition, the buckeye.

He enters the kitchen carrying a small red Igloo cooler containing liquid nitrogen that leaves a trail of steam sinking onto the tile floors. Liles puts on disposable gloves, then a layer of black winter gloves followed by another pair of disposable gloves.

He grabs a piping bag filled with peanut butter gelato and picks up a griddle spatula in his right hand. As he squeezes the piping bag, he cuts 1-inch gelato pellets, letting them drop into the steaming liquid, where they sizzle.

Liles uses another spatula to transfer each one from the cooler onto a small metal tray.

Meanwhile, on a nearby burner, a boiling mixture of brown butter and finely blended chocolate graham crackers bubbles away. Liles dunks each of the peanut butter pellets into the mixture, removing them with a metal fork

“Do you want to see me pour the nitrogen on the ground?” Liles asks me. “That’s the best part,” says Garlock with a smile.

I follow Liles out the navy blue back door and look into the sunlight for the first time all morning, the contrast from the dim, windowless kitchen forcing me to squint. Near the dumpster, Liles carefully tips the cooler and the cloud-like liquid nitrogen flows into a puddle of rainwater on the ground, creating a sizzling reaction.

4 Hours to Open

Garlock reaches under the grill and grabs two pieces of wood, placing them parallel to each other across the flat surface of the grill, then places two more perpendicularly on top, repeating once more.

The neatly stacked wood is then buried by large pieces of black charcoal, leaving a cloud of black smoke in the air, but only for a moment.

Garlock lights the wood with a blue blow torch. As it begins to crackle, the kitchen starts to smell like a bonfire.

Even though they are small embers now, in three hours the full flames will be used to cook duck egg rolls and fresh bread.

3 Hours to Open

Nic Lombardo, the first of that evening’s kitchen staff to arrive, walks through the back door smiling at 1:50 p.m., dressed in black and sporting a trucker hat that reads “I’m not lazy.” He’s immediately cracking jokes with the surrounding staff, a stark change from the quiet of the prep shift.

He walks through the kitchen to the grill, picks up another log and tosses it in, sending up an eruption of sparks.

2 Hours to Open

Jiménez and Liles clear their stations, leaving the counters and shelves the exact way they found them, not a dish out of place. They will not see the fruits of their 10 hours of labor tonight when service commences.

“Is there anything else you need from me?” Liles asks Garlock.

“You’re all good,” Garlock says.

From left: Chefs prepare dishes as Agni owner Avishar Barua supervises; Antonio Vargas preps dishes; Camilo Bautista puts

1 Hour to Open

Lombardo tends to the fire, prodding it with a poker and adding logs as the wood burns down to low embers.

He stacks quart containers filled with sauces and spices on either side of the large stove, every so often returning to the fire.

“Five minutes until the first table,” Garlock calls out.

“Heard,” Lombardo replies, and they fist bump. “Let’s do this.”

Dinner Service

Eight minutes later, the printer lets out a repetitive clicking as the first ticket begins to print. Dinner service has begun.

Garlock grabs the ticket from the printer and tucks it into a thin metal bar taped in the center of the butcher block surface, using a Sharpie to write, “50/2,” and “B-day,” across the top of the receipt – “50” for the table number, “2” for the number of people at the table and “B-day” signifying the occasion for which the guests had come, he explains.

Everything in the kitchen has a position, not one marker out of place.

“Walking in, two regular menus, one with caviar,” Garlock calls out.

“Two regular menus, one with caviar, yes, chef,” replies the kitchen staff.

“I need two pani puri and two breads,” Garlock calls out.

“Two pani puri and two breads, yes, chef,” replies the kitchen.

“Walking in, two menus, both are vegetarian,” Garlock calls out. “Two menus, both vegetarian, yes, chef,” replies the kitchen.

Garlock turns to a small dish—a Chilean sea bass fish stick, sitting in a dollop

of housemade tartar sauce, decorated with a bit of caviar and three perfectly placed green garnishes—inspects it, and then turns to fry station chef Jesus Pagan Rosario.

“This is a little overcooked, can you fire me a new one?” Garlock asks. “Yes, chef,” replies Rosario, returning to his station.“Thank you, chef,” Garlock says.

Garde manager Marta Aquino Vargas completes pani puris as Lombardo follows with petite blue and white plates of bread and honey butter.

Throughout service, every server helps deliver dishes to all tables.

“Two pani puris and two breads to table 50,” Garlock says, as he turns to hand four small dishes to two servers (each server carries only two plates at a time).

“Table 50, yes, chef,” the servers say in unison as they quickly turn and walk out of the kitchen.

“Can you scope out some information for me?” Garlock asks a server who is waiting patiently by the steps.“Can you see if bar two is almost done with their crispy rib?”

“Yes chef,” the server replies, turning on his heel and leaving the kitchen. He returns in seconds. “You’ve got about one minute,” he says.

“We can pick up one egg chaat for the bar,” Garlock calls out, and the kitchen refrain echoes, “yes, chef.”

As service went on and the tickets began to come in quicker, the kitchen only got more organized. Each course would take approximately five minutes to prepare before it was placed before Garlock, who would hand it to a server and use his Sharpie to cross it off on the corresponding ticket.

After 10 hours of prep work, the five hour dinner service seems to end

in a flash. Garlock stabs the last ticket through the receipt spike and service is declared over.

Closing

Lombardo stacks up his quart containers, returns them to the refrigerator and wipes the counter clean of any remaining crumbs.

Eduardo Medina Cruz, the night’s dishwasher, pulls down the lever on the machine, closing the metal doors around the last load of dishes.

Lombardo’s fire is down to a small gray pile of ash and embers, the red glow breathing in and out with what little energy it has left.

He stands in front of the grill with a hair dryer, blowing it on the last embers.

“It speeds up the process,” he explains.

Grill station chef Camillo Mendez prods at the embers with a long metal rod, herding them toward small holes that empty into a small, flat pan.

The pan of gray ash is emptied into the trash can and taken out for the night. The grill is wiped clean, dishes done, tables reset. The kitchen is once again quiet.

Editor’s note: Nic Lombardo left Agni prior to the publication of this story.

Handwritten recipes at Agni

bread on the wood-fired oven; Andrea Mendes checks off an item on the daily to-do list; Emerari Franciso stirs a goat dish.

let’s eat

WHERE TO DINE THIS MONTH

Editor’s Note: Please call restaurants to check hours and menu availability.

$$$$ Very expensive, $26 and higher

$$$ Spendy, $16–$25

$$ Moderate, $11–$15

$ Affordable, under $10

NEW Restaurant has opened within the last few months. B Breakfast BR Brunch L Lunch D Dinner

Outdoor Seating

2024 Best New Restaurants

Let’s Eat comprises Columbus Monthly editors’ picks and is updated monthly based on available space. Send updates to letters@columbusmonthly.com.

AFRICAN

Fetty’s Street Food

Chef Damian Ettish’s food truck menu draws inspiration from Thailand, India and his native South Africa. Expect dishes such as bunny chow, tom yum gai, boerewors, massaman curry, chilli paneer and more. Food truck, Citywide, 614-400-9607. LD $$

Intercontinental Nigerian Restaurant

This Northland establishment has been serving traditional Nigerian and West African cuisine since 2011. Go for authentic fare such as fufu, egusi stew, jollof rice, moi moi, fried plantains and more. 5777 Cleveland Ave., North Side, 614-259-3951. LD $$

Riziki Swahili Grill

There’s a lot to love about Riziki Yussuf’s charming spot, serving authentic Tanzanian fare. Don’t miss the excellent chapati platter with chicken curry, the tender mishkaki (beef kebabs) or the turmeric-scented urojo soup (served only on Sundays). 212 Kelton Ave., Franklin Park; 1872 Tamarack Cir. S., North Side, 614-547-7440. LD $$

AMERICAN

The Locust Table

The name of this neighborhood café stems from the owner’s generations-old family farm, The Twin Locust Farm, which is a main source for the eatery’s ingredients and

produce. The menu at this downtown Powell spot includes scones, egg sandwiches, veggie burgers and more. 16 Crossing St., Powell, 614-553-7322. BBRL $$

Over the Counter

Boasting a hip, retro vibe and seriously solid bar food, Over the Counter has become a Worthington staple since opening in 2017. Don’t miss the Where’s Waldo bologna sandwich and Sweet & Spicy BLT. 5596 N. High St., Worthington, 614-846-1107. BRLD $$

Uptown Deli & Brew

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. 41 N. State St., Westerville, 614-891-2337. LD $$

ASIAN

Ampersand Asian Supper Club

Megan Ada’s Ampersand serves ramen, donburi rice bowls and more in the heart of the Short North. This sister restaurant to Westerville’s Asterisk Supper Club also offers craft cocktails and a variety of sakes. 940 N. High St., Short North, 614-928-3333. LD $$

Cobra

Though first-and-foremost a neighborhood bar, Cobra offers a creative menu of sandwiches, skewers and handmade pastas with Pan-Asian flavor profiles. Think: a chicken patty katsu sandwich, dan dan spaghetti and Cacio de Szechuan with mafaldine. The cocktails are on point, and the kitchen stays open late. 684 S. High St., Brewery District, 614-502-8863. D $$

Ty Ginger Asian Bistro

This suburban restaurant serves well-executed Pan-Asian fare as well as Central Ohio’s best dim sum served daily from carts traversing the dining room. 5689 Woerner Temple Rd., Dublin, 614-889-8885. BRLD $$$

BAKERY

Al Aqsa Sweets

Excellent baklava, petit four cookies, knafeh and other desserts are the focus of this traditional Middle Eastern bakery owned by Fathieh Abdellatif. 1940 Schrock Road, North Side, 614-806-0293. LD $

Pistacia Vera

The crème de la crème of Columbus pastry

Visit columbus monthly.com to read about the latest restaurant openings.

shops, with macarons, croissants, éclairs, tarts, quiches and a small selection of sandwiches. 541 S. Third St., German Village, 614-220-9070. BL $$

DINER

George’s Beechwold Diner

A diner offering home cooking and all-day breakfast, with specialty burgers, omelets and homemade sausage gravy and biscuits. 4408 Indianola Ave., Clintonville, 614-4470944. BL $

The Mercury Diner

A&R Creative runs this cosmic breakfastand-lunch joint. Don’t miss the signature egg ’n’ cheese sandwich on housemade English muffin and Drippy Turkey Sandwich. Mercury’s universe also includes shakes, floats and brunch cocktails. 621 Parsons Ave., Schumacher Place, 614-8523036. BL $$

Tommy’s Diner

A longstanding, classic 1950s-style diner serving breakfast (a popular choice among the Downtown business crowd), lunch and some Greek dishes. 914 W. Broad St., West Side, 614-224-2422. BL $

ETHIOPIAN

Addis Restaurant

The injera here is about as good as it gets with traditional Ethiopian dishes like tibs, kitfo, shiro wot and doro wot. 3750 Cleveland Ave., North Side, 614-269-8680. LD $$

Nile Vegan

Vegan meets Ethiopian at this restaurant, where customers can expect affordable combination plates of stewed or puréed veggies on injera. Go for the mushroom combo, a mushroom stew with curry split peas, a beet medley and Puy lentils. Don’t forget the chai. 1223 Goodale Blvd., Grandview, 614-223-1288. BLD $$

GASTROPUB

Elevator Brewery & Draught Haus

In the historic Bott Brothers building Downtown, this brewpub’s stunning stained glass is contrasted by modern touches like a bar equipped with flatscreen TVs. Similarly, on the menu it’s fish and chips and wings alongside vegetable lasagna and steaks. 161 N. High St., Downtown, 614-228-0500. LD $$

The Pearl

Gastropub meets oyster bar at this Cameron Mitchell restaurant with a throwback vibe, craft beer and barrel-aged cocktails. 88 N. High St., Dublin, 614-695-6255; 641 N. High St., Short North, 614-227-0151. BRLD $$$

ITALIAN

Ann & Tony’s Restaurant

A quaint family restaurant serving traditional, homemade Italian and American dishes, including chicken Parmesan, prime rib, spaghetti, seafood and homemade desserts. 211 E. Main St., West Side, 614879-8897. LD $$

Moretti’s of Arlington

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. 2124 Tremont Ctr., Upper Arlington, 614-486-2333. D $$

NEW Piazza Pelino

From the owners of Pelino’s Pasta comes this shop offering fresh focaccia sandwiches, housemade gelato, wine and imported Italian goods. 772 N. High St., Short North, 614849-5019. LD $$

KOREAN

Ajumama

Owner Laura Lee’s truck offers a mix of

traditional Korean and Midwestern comfort food including bulgogi, kimchi, sesamegrilled pork belly, potstickers, jackfruit and french fries. Food truck, Citywide, 614-8596119. LD $

Gogi Korean BBQ

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. 1138 Bethel Rd., Northwest Side, 614-670-4790. LD $$$

LATIN AMERICAN

Cilantro Latin Fusion

The owners of Cilantro food truck have a new dine-in restaurant serving a mix of Colombian, Venezuelan and Ecuadorian fare such as arepas, pabellon, patacones and more. 4852 Sawmill Rd., Northwest Side, 614-966-1222. LD $$$

Sí Señor Peruvian Sandwiches & More

Owner Guillermo Perez crafts outstanding handhelds at this casual café. The roasted turkey club, meatloaf and fried pork shoulder sandwiches are hard to beat. Don’t skip the cilantro pasta. 155 W. Nationwide Blvd., Arena District, 614-670-4985; 1456 W. Fifth Ave., Fifth by Northwest, 614-369-1500. L $$

MIDDLE EASTERN

Habibi Grill

Chef Tarek Albast (former owner of Mr. Hummus) presents this hip Italian Village eatery specializing in Lebanese fare such as baba ghanoush, fattoush, kafta kebab and chicken shawarma. Tacos, burgers and pizza round out the extensive menu. 1131 N. Fourth St., Italian Village, 614-999-9909. LD $$$

Yemeni Restaurant

Offering a cuisine rarely found in Columbus, this eatery serves authentic Yemeni specialties like fahsa and foul stews, lamb mandi and Adeni milk tea. 5426 Cleveland Ave., North Side, 614-426-4000. LD $$

POLYNESIAN

Huli Huli Tiki Lounge & Grill

This bar in historic downtown Powell celebrates tiki culture with carefully crafted rum drinks like mai tais and zombies. A food menu includes kalua pork sandwiches and combo plates with rice, mac and your choice of protein. 26 W. Olentangy St., Powell, 614-396-8437. D $$

Ohana Island Grill

Traditional Hawaiian eats are the focus of this casual restaurant, with offerings like spam musubi, saimin and loco moco. Don’t miss the mixed combo plate with teriyaki beef, barbecued chicken, short ribs, rice and macaroni salad. 3512 W. Granville Rd., Northwest Side, 614-698-0044. LD $$

SEAFOOD

COLO Market & Oyster Bar

In addition to fresh seafood for cooking at home, this North Market fishmonger offers lobster rolls, chowder, shrimp po’ boys and oysters on the half shell. 6750 Longshore St., Dublin, 614-683-8782; 59 Spruce St., Short North, 614-929-5701. LD $$$

Shrimp Lips

The married duo of Dorothea and John Carter offer expert Southern seafood boils at their carryout-only spot on Parsons. Lobster fries, lobster mac, chicken platters and Philly steak sandwiches round out the menu. 1622 Parsons Ave., South Side, 614-230-2550. LD $$$

VEGAN/VEGETARIAN

Seitan’s Realm

This devilishly named deli specializes in plantbased sandwiches such as Reubens and gyros. Try the vegan cheesesteak sandwich with curly fries for a great combo. 3496 N. High St., Clintonville, 614-230-2889. BLD $$

Two Dollar Radio Headquarters

An indie bookstore/bar/café residing on the South Side. The bar serves cocktails and draft beer (except on Sundays) while the café focuses on plant-based salads, burritos, sliders, sandwiches and dips. 1124 Parsons Ave., South Side, 614-725-1505. BRLD $$

Habibi Grill

My Neighborhood

Ravine Life

By Steve Wartenberg

For the past two years, I’ve written about other people’s neighborhoods. So, when the new editor of Columbus Monthly, Katy Smith (who lives two blocks away), suggested I write about my (our) neighborhood, I jumped—and then walked—at the opportunity.

My wife Susan and I moved from Philadelphia to South Clintonville in 2006. I immediately noticed the narrow streets and that when two cars are coming in the opposite direction, it can get dicey. Remember to fold your sideview mirror in after you park, or you could lose it. I also quickly learned

South Clintonville is an extremely walkable neighborhood (two supermarkets, several restaurants and bars, and the Studio 35 movie theater are within a mile), and so, my list of favorite places involves lots of walking.

Great Glaciers

Thousands of years before Susan and I arrived in Clintonville, ancient glaciers carved out several ravines. My favorite is Glen Echo, where, in the midst of a growing, bustling city, you can return to nature and leave urban life behind. There’s a waterfall and a climb up to the top of a row of

cliffs for a great view of the meandering creek that feeds the Olentangy River. There are a few deer living in the ravine, including the ones (I think) who enjoy eating the hostas in our front yard.

An Educational Walk

There are about 10 Little Free Libraries in front yards on my walking routes. I love this book-sharing concept and have scored some sweet titles, including a Philip Roth (“American Pastoral”) and a James Herriot (the writer who inspired the TV series “All Creatures Great and Small”).

What’s That?

This is what I ask Susan, who is much more of a horticultural expert, as we stroll around the neighborhood and admire people’s gardens. She usually knows the answer, and I’m always impressed.

Where the Geese Gather

When I’m not walking, I’m riding my bike, most often on the Olentangy Trail. I’ve done so many miles here that I know where the mud and puddles pool after a heavy rain, where the geese gather and graze, and the location of every port-a-john.

SOUTH CLINTONVILLE

Steve and Susan Wartenberg