- Columbus Curiosity
- Posts
- Columbus Curiosity - 29th August 2025
Columbus Curiosity - 29th August 2025
Your Weekly Dose of Columbus Events, News, and Fun
Nathan Griggs
August 29, 2025
Hey Columbus crew—
This week’s lineup has everything from a $3M mansion with its own trampoline court (because grass is overrated), to an Arby’s-turned-EDM-rave, to OSU game-day rules that’ll make you wish you owned cargo pants.
We’ve also got a Shark Tank champ dropping wisdom on local students, speakeasies hiding under Forno, a clocktower turned restaurant, skyline cocktails at The Boat House, and enough live music to carry you from Friday to Thursday without coming up for air.
The Lineup:
🗞️ News You Missed — A $2.9M New Albany estate with its own trampoline court, an EDM rave inside an Arby’s, OSU’s strict game day rules, and a Shark Tank winner dropping wisdom on Columbus students.
🔍 Hidden Gems — A speakeasy tucked under Forno, a 123-year-old clocktower turned restaurant, skyline cocktails at The Boat House, plus new debuts in Dublin (Lebanese chicken + wine & cigar bar).
🎟️ Live & Local — One Magical Night under the stars, Karl Denson funk on the riverfront, Petey’s alt-pop chaos, Buckeyes vs. Texas at The Shoe, Tequila Fest and more..
🖼️ Picture of the Week — The Horseshoe turns 100+ — Built in 1922 with gravel, sand, and 1.8M feet of lumber.
Let’s dive into this weeks chaos:
🚨 The Headlines
New Albany Estate: Because Who Needs a Gym Membership?
A private retreat in New Albany is on the market for just $2.999 million (because rounding up to $3M would be outrageous)
This place isn’t just a house, it’s a lifestyle. Think indoor basketball court, pickleball, a pool, a pizza oven, and even an in-ground trampoline.
Because nothing says “I’ve made it” like launching your kids into the stratosphere from your backyard.
Cold takes:
Me: Looks at my bank account, cries in rental apartment.
The barn: “I have a better kitchen than your entire house.”
The turf play space: For when your kids need to practice their fake grass soccer dreams.
Arby’s: They Have the Meats… and the Beats
Someone in Dayton decided that what Arby’s really needed was a five-hour EDM rave.
Called “Bass N Cheddar,” this pop-up event featured Dayton DJs spinning tracks inside the Smithville Road Arby’s. Because why not?
The vibe:
Arby’s Curly Fries: Now with extra bass.
The event page: “This shouldn’t be happening, but it is.” (Truer words have never been spoken.)
My sanity: Questioning why I’ve never thought to RSVP for a fast-food rave.
OSU Game Day: Leave Your Bag (and Drones) at Home
The ‘Shoe is hosting Texas this weekend, and OSU Police are not playing around. The bag policy is stricter than my grandma’s curfew: no purses, no backpacks, nothing bigger than a wallet unless you’ve got medical needs.
Also, drones are banned—unless you want a “team” to “interact” with you.
Unspoken rules:
Chief Jeffrey: “Please, please look at the bag policy.” (Translation: Don’t make us confiscate your stuff.)
My advice: Wear cargo pants. So. Many. Pockets.
Also me: Still trying to figure out how to sneak in a sandwich.
Tom Burden, the Ohio native who won over the Sharks with his Grypmat (a non-slip tool tray), stopped by Columbus to inspire high schoolers at the Academy for Urban Scholars.
His message? Stop focusing on what you don’t have and start inventing stuff.
The vibe:
Students: “So that’s how you get on TV.”
Tom Burden: Probably the coolest guest speaker since that guy with the snake in fifth grade.
The rest of us: Still trying to invent something better than a grilled cheese sandwich.
💎 Hidden Gems & Local Legends
The Marmont: Speak-Easy, Drink Hard
Tucked under Forno in the Short North, this speakeasy is giving major old Hollywood vibes. Think dim lights, dirty martinis, and a secret door that makes you feel like a spy.
Pro tip: Book a reservation. This place is hotter than a pepperoni pizza fresh out of Forno’s oven.
The Clocktower Kitchen: Time for Dinner
A 123-year-old clocktower in Plain City is now a restaurant. Because why not? The menu features everything from poblano cornbread to wild mushroom pasta, and the vibe is “elevated but not uptight.”
Basically, it’s where you take your date when you want to impress them without wearing a suit.
The Boat House: Views on Views on Views
After a remodel, this riverfront gem is back with a vengeance. Floor-to-ceiling windows, skyline views, and cocktails served with literal popsicles.
It’s the kind of place you go when you want to feel fancy without actually leaving Columbus.
New Openings:
Farooj Abu Al Abed (Dublin): Lebanese chicken chain making its U.S. debut. Free knafeh on opening night? Yes, please.
Uncorked Wine & Apothecary Cigar Bar (Dublin): Two historic buildings turned into a wine and cigar paradise. Shared backyard? Perfect for pretending you’re in a period drama.
🎶 Live Music & Entertainment
Friday 29TH August:
Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe — Bicentennial Park
Jazz-funk fusion with legendary saxophonist Karl Denson and his powerhouse band. Outdoor grooves that’ll keep the riverfront buzzing.
Petey USA — Newport Music Hall
Alt-pop chaos meets meme-lord energy. If TikTok humor had a guitar, it’d sound like Petey.
Saturday 30TH August:
Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Texas Longhorns — Ohio Stadium (TBD)
The showdown everyone’s talking about. Expect packed stands, brutal ticket prices, and a city that bleeds scarlet.
Tequila Fest Columbus 2025 — Land-Grant Brewing Co. (Evening)
Live music, food trucks, and unlimited tastings of 50+ tequilas. Bring water. And maybe Advil.
unravel: Water Spirit — Natalie’s Grandview
A multidisciplinary performance mixing live music, movement, and immersive storytelling.
Sunday 31ST August:
OHIO World Cup 2025 @ Pathways Park (2 PM)
International soccer energy right here in Columbus.
VIVO – Momentum @ Southern Theatre (3 PM)
Chamber music collides with bold, modern performance.
Bexley Summer Festival 2025 — Main Street, Bexley
A full-day street fest with local vendors, food trucks, music, and family fun closing out summer in classic Bexley style.
Monday 1ST September:
Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival @ Northam Tennis Courts (10 AM)
Local art, food, and music to cap summer.
Columbus Clippers vs. Indianapolis Indians — Huntington Park, 6:15 PM
Nothing says Labor Day like baseball under the lights. Grab a hotdog, cheer on the Clippers, and close summer with some ballpark energy.
Tuesday 2ND September:
Ani DiFranco + Hurray for the Riff Raff — KEMBA LIVE! (8 PM)
Folk icon meets indie darlings in a powerhouse double bill. Expect political fire, soulful hooks, and a night of sing-alongs that matter.
Jazz Night with Pete Mills — Park Street Tavern (8 PM)
Saxophone-driven jazz in a classic Columbus bar. A low-key but deeply musical night, perfect for easing into midweek.
Rumba Café Showcase — Sligo, The Esteems & Aaron Plain & Tall (6:30 PM)
A triple-header of local + touring acts, blending indie, rock, and folk energy. If you’re into Columbus’s underground music scene, this one’s a gem.
Wednesday 3RD September:
Author Signing with Emily Rath — Clintonville Books (6 PM)
Meet the romance best-seller and get your copy signed in cozy Clintonville.
d4vd – Withered 2025 World Tour — Newport Music Hall (7 PM)
Genre-bending R&B/alt-pop phenom with viral hits and a moody live show.
Shadowgrass — Woodlands Tavern (7 PM)
Progressive bluegrass shredders with youthful energy—banjos, fiddles, and fast pickin’.
Thursday 4TH September:
Groove at The Yard w/ Bella Whitt — Easton (6–9 PM, free)
Outdoor, laid-back live music with local talent under the lights.
The Second City — Southern Theatre (7:30 PM)
Chicago’s legendary improv troupe lands in Columbus for one night of sharp comedy.
Come Back To Earth: Mac Miller Tribute Band — The Summit Music Hall (8 PM)
Celebrate Mac’s legacy with live renditions of the hits that defined a generation.
→ Lock in
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? |
🖼️ Picture of the Week
🏟️ The Horseshoe turns 100+
Ohio Stadium, better known as The Shoe, wasn’t always the roaring 100,000+ seat fortress we know today. When it opened in 1922, it was the largest poured-concrete structure in the world, built with gravel, sand, and 1.8 million feet of lumber.
From housing students under the stands during the Great Depression to now hosting graduations, concerts, and Buckeye Saturdays, it’s more than a stadium—it’s a century-old cornerstone of Columbus.
😀See You Next Week
From EDM curly fries to Buckeye bag bans, from secret doors in the Short North to cocktails with popsicles, Columbus is putting on a show this week.
Hydrate, tip your bartenders, and maybe start brainstorming your million-dollar Shark Tank idea.
Until next week,
Stay curious. Stay caffeinated.
— Nate
Columbus Curiosity