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- Columbus Curiosity - 19th September 2025
Columbus Curiosity - 19th September 2025
Your Weekly Dose of Columbus Events, News, and Fun
Nathan Griggs
September 19, 2025
Hey Columbus crew,
Columbus never sits still, this week it’s vibe taxes, mosquito scares, million-dollar chemical oopsies, and a music lineup that jumps from bourbon to Blood Orange. Buckle up.
The Lineup:
📰 The Headlines – Short North’s new “vibe tax,” an Ohio mom’s mosquito warning, The Big Table returns, and 3M drops $4M over “forever chemicals.”
💎 Hidden Gems & Local Legends – Fine dining spots worth bragging about, 113 years of donuts at Resch’s, Indian street food at Chipotle speed, and salads that actually slap.
🎶 Live Music & Entertainment – Oktoberfest steins, runway finales, bourbon fests, indie icons like Lorde and Blood Orange, and dance floors that don’t quit.
🚗 Topic of the Week – Road rage on blast: Columbus drivers tailgating, honking, and rage-flipping their way into Reddit infamy.
Let’s dive into this week’s chaos:
🚨 The Headlines
Short North Now Charging a “Vibe Tax”
Columbus City Council just greenlit a new fee for anyone eating, shopping, or parking in the Short North. Because if there’s one thing that neighborhood needed, it’s another line item on the receipt.
The Deets:
The Fee: 1% on purchases, plus a cheeky extra 1% for those late-night 3 a.m. impulse buys (because poor decisions should cost more).
The Goal: $2 million a year for safety, cleanliness, and “beautification” aka making sure the graffiti art stays insta-worthy.
The Vibe: Betsy Pandora from the Short North Alliance says it’s all about “a better overall experience.” Translation: your $4 coffee now costs $4.04. You’re welcome.
Ohio Mom Issues Mosquito Warning After Daughter’s Scare
Kristy M., an ER nurse and supermom, is telling everyone to watch out after her 5-year-old daughter Emily contracted La Crosse virus, a rare mosquito-borne illness that’s more common in Ohio than anywhere else.
The Drama:
Symptoms: Seizures, brain swelling, and general nightmare fuel.
The Takeaway: Mosquitoes are officially the worst. Use bug spray. Check your kids. And maybe don’t let them play in stagnant water unless you’re going for a real-life episode of House.
The Big Table: Where Conversation = Community
The Columbus Foundation is back with The Big Table on Oct 21, a no-frills, no-BS event where people actually talk to each other. No PowerPoints. No corporate jargon. Just humans.
Why It Rules:
In a city growing faster than a kid who only eats Resch’s donuts, it’s easy to feel disconnected. The Big Table cuts through that. It’s not some corporate “networking event” where everyone’s secretly scanning the room for someone more important. It’s CEOs, artists, parents, and students all sitting at the same level.
Dr. Katelin Hansen from Community Development for All People put it perfectly: “We want everyone to experience this as something good.” So if you’ve ever wanted to change the world over a cup of coffee (or something stronger), now’s your chance.
3M Pays Columbus $4 Million Over “Forever Chemicals”
In a classic “oops, our bad” move, chemical giant 3M is cutting Columbus a $4 million check after forever chemicals (PFAS) were found in the water.
The Context:
These chemicals hang around in your body and the environment like that one cousin who won’t leave after Thanksgiving. They’re called “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down, ever. They’ve been linked to everything from thyroid issues to cancer, which is… less than ideal.
The good news? Columbus already has a fully staffed Water Quality Assurance Lab monitoring this stuff, and our water meets all safety standards. The settlement money will go toward even better tech and infrastructure to keep it that way.
So, while it’s not quite “ Erin Brockovich” levels of drama, it’s a win and proof that sometimes, suing giant corporations actually works.
💎 Hidden Gems & Local Legends
Fine Dining Spots You’re Not Talking About Enough
Basi Italia (Victorian Village): Tiny, intimate, and so good people don’t want to tell you about it.
The Top (Bexley): An old-school steakhouse that’s been doing it right since before “foodie” was a word.
Lola & Giuseppe’s (Gahanna): Upscale Italian without the pretension. Just go.
My New Favorite Excuses to Skip Cooking
Resch’s Bakery: Donut Heaven Since 1912
This 113-year-old spot on E. Livingston is slinging what might be the best donuts in Ohio. The glaze crackles. The cake donuts melt. The line is long. Worth it.
Triveni Express: Indian Street Food at Chipotle Speed
Move over, there’s a new fast-casual player in town, and it’s bringing flavor. Triveni Express just swung open its doors in Dublin, serving up Tikka Masala, curry, and fresh-baked goods faster than you can say “extra naan, please.”
Salads That Don’t Suck
Cornerstone Deli: So good it’s basically a religious experience.
Market 65: Downtown’s worst-kept secret.
Chop5: Salad chain that actually makes you like salad. BOGO deals = chef’s kiss.
🎶 Live Music & Entertainment
Fri, September 19th
Germania Oktoberfest @ Germania Singing & Sport Society
Classic German food, beer, and music at one of Columbus’s oldest cultural hubs.
Columbus Comedy Cash Contest @ The Attic
Comics battle it out for laughs and cash, hosted by Ty Moore.
Opera Columbus: Rappaccini's Daughter @ Southern Theatre
A haunting operatic love story with lush visuals and stirring vocals.
Scioto Fest @ Scioto Audubon Metro Park
Outdoor fest with climbing, camping, music, and food trucks—Columbus’s adventure party.
Cap City Festival @ Maloney Park
Community vibes with local music, food, and cultural showcases.
Sat, September 20th
Fashion Week Columbus Finale Runway Show @ Hilton Downtown
The big closing show—Columbus’s top designers on the runway.
All of Us Block Party @ MPACC BoxPark
Community festival with music, food, art, and family fun.
Bourbonfest @ Watershed Distillery
Craft bourbon, cocktails, and live entertainment at one of the city’s best distilleries.
United We Dance @ Newport Music Hall
Massive dance party with DJs and lights—Columbus goes late.
Sun, September 21st
World’s Largest Sound Bath @ Columbus Commons
100+ sound healers in one massive session—pure vibration immersion.
Sunday Supper: Summer Spanish Tapas @ The Kitchen
Participatory dinner party—cook, sip wine, and share Spanish plates.
Alice By Heart @ CAPA
A musical retelling of Alice in Wonderland set in WWII London.
OSU Women’s Volleyball vs. Troy Trojans @ Covelli Center
Top-tier volleyball action—home-court energy guaranteed.
Mon, September 22nd
Indigo Girls @ Wexner Center
Folk-rock icons bring harmonies and decades of hits.
Lambrini Girls @ Newport Music Hall
UK punk trio bringing wild, unfiltered energy.
Melvins: Redd Kross @ A&R Music Bar
Sludge pioneers Melvins team with alt-rock vets Redd Kross for a heavy-hitting double bill.
Tue, September 23rd
Blood Orange @ KEMBA LIVE!
Dev Hynes brings his soulful, genre-bending sound.
Negroni Notte @ Le Méridien
Cocktail-focused tasting with an Italian twist.
Lorde @ Schottenstein Center Alt-pop icon behind Royals and Solar Power brings her ethereal energy to the stage.
Wed, September 24th
Peter Antoniou @ Columbus Funny Bone
The “psychic comedian” mixes stand-up and mind-reading.
Dance Break @ Stonewall Columbus
Midweek dance session for all levels—movement, music, and community.
Cassie & Maggie @ Natalie’s Grandview
Folk duo blending Celtic, roots, and Americana.
Thu, September 25th
Turnpike Troubadours @ KEMBA Live!
Country-Americana heavyweights headline with Evan Honer & Ken Pomeroy.
Carolyn Wonderland @ Natalie’s Grandview
Texas blues powerhouse with soulful guitar and vocals.
Ecstatic Dance: Liquid Bloom @ Maynard Ave UMC
Free-form dance journey with global beats and community vibes.
A Tribe for Jazz: Kalia Vandever Quartet @ Columbus Museum of Art
Bold trombone-led jazz ensemble with fresh soundscapes.
How'd We Do This Week?We’re always cooking up new ways to make your inbox the best part of your week. Be honest—how’s this one stacking up? |
🚗 Topic of the Week
Road Rage Rising
A post on r/Columbus this week struck a nerve: one driver shared how a simple left turn (with no turn lane) spiraled into horn blasts, flying hands, and middle fingers. Even cruising 70 mph in the “slow lane” wasn’t enough—still honked at, still tailgated.
The thread exploded with locals saying they’ve noticed the same thing—an uptick in extreme road rage across the city.
Reddit’s take
“They should make emotional regulation part of driver’s ed.”
“Everyone’s fuse is alarmingly short.”
“I got rage-honked for not running a family over in a crosswalk.”
Between phones, packed commutes, and a general “everyone’s on edge” vibe, some folks think Columbus roads have become the city’s mood ring—glowing red with stress.
Is it the economy? The traffic? Or just Netflix being too good to wait for? Reddit doesn’t have the answer, but it sure has the commentary.
👉 What about you? Have you had your own run-in with Columbus road rage? Hit reply and tell us your story.
😀See You Next Week
From donuts older than your grandparents to drivers angrier than your ex, this city keeps us entertained. Stay cool, stay kind, and maybe leave a little earlier for that left turn.
Until next week,
Stay curious. Stay caffeinated.
— Nate
Columbus Curiosity