Columbus Curiosity - 25th July 2025

Hey Columbus crew—

This week’s lineup has everything from toddler jailbreaks and lion-door showdowns to declaring us the ultimate sports state and pool parties gone wild.

Plus, Cat Bite Club is taking over Cobra with agave cocktails.

Let’s unravel the madness:

🗞️ News You Missed – Cedar Point’s Siren’s Curse ditched riders mid-tilt, our skies ghosted Perseid meteors, Food & Wine crowned Cbus a top food town, and the Jackets dropped a forward lineup nobody can pronounce.

🔍 Hidden Gems – Casa Jalisco’s $15 burrito love-bomb, 6-1-Pho’s $20 pho + banh mi trifecta, The Refectory’s 675-bottle wine vault, Schmidt’s supersized cream puff, and El Vaquero’s frozen margarita + nacho bunker.

🎟️ What’s On This Week – Bisons vs. Clippers baseball, Lucy Dacus & Jay Som indie-rock magic, Heatwave’s Ronstadt tribute on the Green, and Mojo x Yoncé’s Beyoncé blowout under the stars.

First things first, I want to ask you guys a quick question:

Grab your sangria and let’s dive into this weeks chaos:

🚨 The Headlines

🎢 Coaster or Curse? Cedar Point’s Siren’s Curse Lives Up to Its Name

Cedar Point’s new "tilt" coaster has malfunctioned three times since June. The latest? Riders dangled at 160 feet—in pouring rain—for 20 minutes. At this point, the ride’s either haunted or Ohio’s priciest thrill-therapy session.

Cold hard facts:

• Stats: Tallest/fastest tilt coaster in NA (when it works).

• Malfunction Bingo: Stuck vertically (opening day), mid-tilt downpour edition (July 19).

• Silver Lining: Zero injuries. So far.

→ Watch the soggy suspense

🌠 Perseid Meteor Shower: Ohio’s Celestial Drama Queen

NASA promises 50-75 meteors/hour... if you escape city lights. But let’s be real—Columbus clouds are the ultimate party crashers. Pro tip: Pack bug spray, not hope.

Stargazer’s cheat sheet:

• Peak: Aug 12–13 (avoid the Aug 9 full moon’s glare).

• Viewing Hack: Northeast sky, midnight–dawn. Or just Instagram someone else’s pics.

• Columbus Reality Check: "You’ll see 5–10 meteors/hour." Thanks, light pollution.

→ Dodge clouds like a pro

🍽️ Columbus Named a "Next Great Food City" – Surprise!

Food & Wine crowned us a culinary heavyweight, shouting out Agni, Law Bird, and BJ Lieberman’s empire. Finally, validation that our obsession with $15 toast isn’t just hipster nonsense.

Vibe check:

• Hotspots: Cobra, Ginger Rabbit, Chapman’s (RIP next month).

• Shoutout: "Sacramento, Madison... Columbus?" Yeah, we’re as shocked as you.

→ See the full foodie roster

🏒 Blue Jackets’ Lineup: NHL or Alphabet Soup?

GM Don Waddell’s playing 4D chess with forwards like "Voronkov–Monahan–Marchenko" and defense pair "Werenski–Fabbro."

Translation: We’re either playoff-bound or need a pronunciation guide.

Casual fan takeaways:

• New Faces: Charlie Coyle, Miles Wood (aka "The Human Wrecking Ball").

• Goalies: Elvis Merzlikins + Jet Greaves = "Elvis has entered the crease."

→ Decipher the lineup

💸 Restaurant Week Steals

• Casa Jalisco (Hilliard): $15 for guac, two burritos, and churros. Basically a edible hug.

• 6-1-Pho (High St): $20 = pork egg rolls + beef pho + half banh mi. Slurp responsibly.

🏆 Money Inc’s Elite Eats

1. The Refectory: 675 wines. Fancy, but can they fix my Wi-Fi?

2. Schmidt’s Sausage Haus: Because sometimes you need a cream puff the size of your head.

🌮 Bite-Worthy Buzz

• El Vaquero Patio: Frozen margs + loaded nachos + covered patio = summer salvation. Happy hour daily 4–8PM. You’re welcome.

• Abby & The Black Cat (Little Cat Boba): Vegan pierogi + kimchi toast pop-up Mondays. Because even herbivores need brunch.

Friday 25TH July:

Buffalo Bisons at Columbus Clippers – Huntington Park, 6:35 PM

Rivalry baseball action as the Bisons take on our home team.

→ Grab your bleacher ticket

Columbus Crew vs. Orlando City SC – Lower.com Field

MLS action under the lights—watch the Crew take on Orlando City.

→ Score your seat

Deep Sea Diver: Billboard Heart Tour – A & R Music Bar

Dreamy indie-pop live from the Billboard-charting frontwoman of Deep Sea Diver.

→ Reserve your spot

Saturday 26TH July:

2025 New Albany Dance Festival – Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts One-night showcase of cutting-edge choreography and global rhythms.

→ Grab your tickets

Columbus African Festival – Genoa Park, 5 PM

Live music, dance, and West African culture in a vibrant riverside setting.

→ Experience the festival

Lucy Dacus & Jay Som – KEMBA LIVE!

Two of indie rock’s most captivating voices share the stage for a night of introspective anthems.

→ Grab your tickets

95 Live: Presented by Franklinton Arts District – Land-Grant Brewing Company

Local visual artists and musicians transform the taproom into a live creative playground.

→ Reserve your spot

Sunday 27TH July:

Emblem3 And New Hollow – The Bluestone

Pop-rock brothers Emblem3 team up with alt-pop newcomers New Hollow for one explosive night.

→ Grab your tickets

Dragon Boat Race – Scioto Mile Promenade, 8 PM

Paddling teams race under the lights—cheer on your favorite crew.

→ Cheer them on

Concerts on the Green: Heatwave – Worthington Village Green

Classic Ronstadt hits under the summer sky—bring a blanket and sing along.

→ Pack your picnic

Monday 28TH July:

Candlelight: Tribute to Fleetwood Mac – Columbus Museum of Art, 8 PM

String quartet performs Mac’s greatest hits by candlelight.

→ Light your tickets

Clintonville Community Choir Summer Concert – Calvary Bible Church

Local ensemble presents a seasonal program of sacred and secular favorites.

→ Enjoy the harmony

Cafe Concerts – Cheers Chalet

Intimate live music sets paired with craft cocktails.

→ Savor the sounds

Tuesday 29TH July:

Back to the 90s Craft Night – Makers Social

Get jiggy with it: create retro-inspired crafts while ‘90s hits blast.

→ Reserve your kit

Columbus Crew vs. Toluca – Leagues Cup – Lower.com Field, 4 PM

International club soccer as MLS meets Liga MX under the lights.

→ Kick off your tickets

Summer Bouquet Centerpiece: Floral Design Class – Columbus Brewing Company Beer Hall

Design a fresh seasonal arrangement you can take home—no green thumb required.

→ Book your bloom

Wednesday 30TH July:

VENUE WARS – Lower.com Field, 4 PM

Food vendors battle for best stadium bite in this fan-favorite tournament.

→ Taste the rivalry

Hairball: A Bombastic Classic Rock Experience!! – Ohio University Lancaster High-octane tribute to ’70s and ’80s arena anthems—air guitars strongly encouraged.

→ Get tickets

Ronald McDonald House Celebrity Steer Show – Voinovich Livestock & Trade Center at the Ohio State Fair Local celebs wrangle calves in a good-fun, charity-raising rodeo spectacle.

→ Cheer them on

Thursday 31ST July:

Mojo x Yoncé… A MojoFlo Beyoncé show supported by Eric Rollin & Friends

High-energy Beyoncé tribute under the stars—Columbus meets Queen Bey for one night only.

→ Snag your spot

JT Hiller LIVE at Edison – Edison Brewing Company

Soulful vocalist JT Hiller lights up the taproom with a one-off acoustic set.

→ Save your seat

Out & About with the Lancaster Festival Orchestra – Keller Market House

Chamber ensemble serenades the evening market—sip, shop, and sway to live orchestral tunes.

→ Experience the melodies

🖼️ Picture of the Week

Long before asphalt and strip malls, this corner thrummed with trolley cars beneath the Yukon Building’s Capitol-style dome (added in 1885, removed in 1929).

Columbus wasn’t just a streetcar town, it was a hub for 70 mph interurban lines whisking riders to Springfield, Toledo, and beyond.

After private interests dismantled the rails, many tracks lay buried until rediscovered during modern roadwork.

→ Join the Reddit conversation here 

That’s a wrap on this week’s Columbus chaos, from malfunctioning thrill rides, cosmic light shows, foodie accolades, and more.

Until next time, keep your sangria chilled, your GPS guessing, and your curiosity caffeinated.

Until next week,
Stay curious. Stay caffeinated.

— Nate
Columbus Curiosity