Hey there, Columbus crew—

This week felt like trying to assemble IKEA furniture after three espresso shots—chaotic, oddly thrilling, and full of unexpected twists.

We’ve got a Belle-worthy Airbnb slashing prices faster than a clearance rack, retirees proving power tools > porch swings, and tornado heroes serving hope with a side of hot meals.

Plus, a buffet revival that’ll make your stretchy pants weep with joy.

Here’s the rundown:

• 🏠 Beauty’s Book House Bargain: A $1.69M Airbnb-library hybrid with 8 beds and 7,000 books.

• 🛠️ Retired? Not Tired: Local grandpas are fixing up Ronald McDonald House like legends.

• 🍦 Hidden Gems: Fountains, haunted museums, and ice cream in gas stations—yes, all of that happened.

• 📅 Events Rundown: Ska concerts, taco week, horror pop-ups, rooftop hangs, reptile expos, and a kid golf tourney with major Tiger energy.
  

🚨 The Headlines

 📚 Beauty’s Book House Bargain (Belle Not Included)

German Village’s "Book House" just got a $10K price chop ($1.69M now—steal, right?). This Airbnb goldmine sleeps 24 humans and 7,000 hardcovers.

Library ladders? Check. Projected $273K/year rental income? Double-check.

Shelf notes:

• Why it’s wild: Built in 2022 but cosplaying as a 1920s library. Perfect for hosting Cluethemed murder nights.

• Agent pitch: “Furnishings included!” Translation: “We know you’d fill it with bean bags and regret.”

• Reality check: 8 bedrooms = 8 chances for guests to “borrow” your first-edition Tolkien.

→ Peek the pages

🔧 Retirees: Fixing Faucets & Saving Souls

Meet “The Craftsmen”—a squad of grandpas volunteering at Ronald McDonald House. They’re out here laying floors, fixing ceilings, and radiating more purpose than a yoga influencer. 

Toolbox wisdom:

• Ed Krause (volunteer since ’06): “I’d do this for free.” Translation: “Retirement beats golf.”

• Why it slaps: 300+ volunteers keep families afloat while their kids heal. Mic drop.

• Unspoken perk: They probably know 17 uses for duct tape you don’t.

→ Salute the legends

🌪️ Columbus to Kentucky: “We Got You”

After tornadoes wrecked Kentucky, 28 locals raced down with hot meals, water, and zero capes (but all the hero vibes). 

Disaster dispatch:

• Fed 800+ people and first responders. Because carbs cure chaos.

• Evan Rochat (team leader): “We’re humbled to serve.” Translation: “Midwest hugs > thoughts/prayers.”

• Fun fact: Their care packs likely included Buckeye candy. Priorities.

→ Feel the love

🥫 Food Banks vs. Budget Cuts: Hunger Games, Ohio Edition

A federal program feeding families and farmers got axed—despite shipping thousands of Ohio-grown beans to food banks. 

Hot takes:

• Shagbark Seed & Mill lost 60% sales overnight. Cool cool cool.

• Owner Michelle Ajamian: “People shouldn’t risk their lives for a meal.” Preach.

• Irony alert: Lawmakers debating Superman’s status while kids skip meals. Priorities, people.

→ Rage responsibly

🚣 Free Paddle Parties: MetroParks’ Summer Flex

Franklin County MetroParks is back with free kayak/canoe/paddleboard events all summer. 

Why it rules:

• No gear? No cash? No problem. They even provide dog life jackets (yes, really).

• Pro tip: Preregister for spots at Scioto Audubon or Quarry Trails. Avoid “toddler tsunami hour” (3 p.m.).

→ Paddle like it’s 1999

🍔 New Eats: Custard, Cocktails & Gas Station Glory

• Teriyaki Madness (Worthington): Custom bowls + "orange chicken that glows" = lunch breaks with questionable chopstick skills.

• Palm Valley Cocktails (Dublin): “Retro-modern” drinks? Translation: “Your Instagram’s new muse.”

• Paris Baguette (Upper Arlington): Cakes + croissants + 6 a.m. coffee = responsible adults cosplaying Parisians.

• Draft Day (Dublin): Bar food + game day chaos = your new "accidentally stayed until last call" spot.

Treat yo’self

🥨 Schmidt’s Buffet Rises Like a Saucy Phoenix

The legendary Autobahn Buffet is BACK after 5 years. All-you-can-eat sausage, meatloaf, and mashed potatoes that’ll make your cardiologist sweat. 

Why it’s iconic:

• Featured on Man vs. Food. Translation: “Wear elastic waistbands.”

• Their Facebook announcement: “We listened!” Translation: “Columbus threatened mutiny.”

→ Embrace the meat sweats

Friday, May 30

🎤 Jakobs Castle (ft. Jakob Nowell of Sublime) @ A&R Music Bar

Ska roots and modern surf-punk energy collide. Expect major summer vibes, loud shirts, and at least one song you’ll want on repeat.

→ Catch the waves

🎭 A Tribute to Roberta Flack @ Up Front Performance Space

Celebrate the soulful legend with live renditions of her greatest hits. If “Killing Me Softly” doesn’t hit live, we don’t know what will.

→ Sing it soft

🍻 Bling Crosby LIVE @ Edison Brewing Co.

A high-energy set on the patio with beers flowing and sunsets glowing. Yes, the name is real. No, they don’t play Christmas music.

→ Find the bling

Saturday, May 31

📚 Pickerington Public Library Comic Fest @ Pickerington Public Library

Panels, cosplay, and all things comic culture in one library takeover. Come geek out with fellow fans and maybe win a prize or two for that costume you've been hiding in the closet.

→ Check the guest list

🖼️ Palette of Serenity: A Fusion of Art, Style, and Mental Health @ The Lady Lounge

Art meets mental wellness in this immersive pop-up. Browse paintings, catch a live style demo, and vibe with local creatives prioritizing self-care through expression.

→ Join the fusion

🎨 Reception for “Impressions and Expressions” @ High Road Gallery

Celebrate Melodie Thompson and Rachel Mentzer’s new exhibit—think bold color, emotional texture, and a charming gallery crowd that knows their rosé.

→ Meet the artists

Sunday, June 1

🎻 Concerts on the Green: Worthington Chamber Orchestra @ Worthington Village Green

Outdoor vibes meet classical flair. Bring a blanket, some snacks, and let this community orchestra soundtrack your Sunday chill.

→ Catch the harmony

🐍 Columbus Reptile Expo @ Columbus Reptile Expo

Scales, tails, and snake selfies. This one-day expo is packed with exotic pets, rare finds, and vendors who think tarantulas make great roommates.

→ Slither in

🏡 Bexley House & Garden Tour 2025 @ Columbus School for Girls

Sneak a peek into Bexley’s fanciest homes and gardens. Perfect for design inspo, floral envy, or pretending you're on HGTV for the day.

→ Tour the charm

Monday, June 2

🏌️‍♀️2025 The Memorial Junior @ Hickory Hills Golf Club

Tiny clubs, big swings. Watch the next Tiger Woods (or not) as junior golfers take over one of Ohio’s best courses.

→ Scout the future pros

🎤 Orion Sun @ Newport Music Hall

Soul, R&B, and ethereal stage presence. Orion Sun’s lyrics will hit your feelings like a freight train wrapped in velvet.

→ Feel everything

🌮 Columbus Taco Week 2025 (Launch Day!) @ Around Columbus

Dozens of taco joints. One glorious week. Tacos for $2-3 each, and your Monday dinner plan is now locked in.

→ Plot your taco route

Tuesday, June 3

🍽️ The Locust Table Chef Dinner Series @ Powell

One night, one chef, and five unforgettable courses. Seasonal ingredients, intimate vibes—this isn’t just dinner, it’s storytelling on a plate.

→ Book your seat at the table

🎸 Fotocrime, Idioms, Chains of Desire & DJ Erin Void @ Cafe Bourbon Street

Gritty guitars and underground energy collide in this stacked alt lineup. Post-punk fans, it’s your night to brood and mosh.

→ Catch the chaos

🎨 Step-By-Step Acrylic Painting: Mother and Child @ SourcePoint

Channel your inner Bob Ross with this guided painting session in Delaware. All levels welcome. Bonus: no one’s judging your brushwork.

→ Paint the feels

Wednesday, June 4

🎭 Kimberly Akimbo @ Ohio Theatre

Broadway comes to Columbus with this quirky, award-winning musical about a teenage girl with a rare condition and even rarer wit.

→ Grab your Playbill

🎸 Valley of the Sun @ Skully’s Music-Diner

Heavy riffs, gritty vocals, and a wall of sound that’ll shake your spine. Think desert rock meets Midwest mayhem.

→ Feel the thunder

🎤 James McCann @ Columbus Funny Bone

Get your midweek fix of laughter with this sharp, no-holds-barred comic. Perfect for forgetting your inbox exists.

→ Laugh like no one’s CC’d

Thursday, June 5

⚾ Columbus Clippers vs. Toledo Mud Hens @ Huntington Park

Take yourself out to the ballgame—minor league tension, local beers, and fireworks if you're lucky.

→ Batter up

🎤 Kyle Dion @ A&R Music Bar

Silky falsetto, R&B heat, and a voice that could make your ex text you back. One night only.

→ Feel the vibes

🎸 Red Sun Rising: Unplugged @ Rumba Café

A special stripped-back set celebrating Polyester Zeal’s 10-year anniversary. Raw vocals, acoustic grit, big nostalgia.

→ Go unplugged

📸 Picture of the Week

Bird Uber is real. In what might be the most Ohio moment of the year, Athena—the Grandview bald eagle—was spotted mid-flight with a red-winged blackbird catching a ride.

Locals say the blackbird was “attacking.” We say he’s just conserving gas.

This now-iconic shot was snapped by u/abito_OSU_Econ, who only picked up photography in January. Reddit went feral over the photo, with users calling it “award-worthy,” “NatGeo material,” and our personal favorite:

Think you can top it?

We want your weirdest, wildest, or most wonderful snaps from around Columbus. Reply to this email or tag us #ColumbusCuriosity on IG for a shot at next week’s spotlight.

That’s a wrap, Columbus.

This week gave us literary real estate, hero retirees, and buffet comebacks.

Spotted a kayaking squirrel? Know a better stress reliever than Schmidt’s mashed potatoes? Reply to this email—we crave your chaos.

— Nate
Columbus Curiosity