2018 is drawing to a close, which means it’s the perfect time to get a little reflective.
We wanted to share with all of you some of our favorite things about Columbus this year, and what our hopes are for next year. With a little help from our friends, we’ve compiled this list of our great Columbus love affairs.
Contributors in addition to Columbus Navigator Staff:
Malini Swank of Lakes and Lattes
Jordan Abbruzzese of Hedgehog Files
Eryn Gilson of 614Mom
Julie Miller of What Should We Do Today Columbus?
Best New Restaurant
Tracie Baum: Cosecha Cucina
Eryn Gilson: Brekkie Shak
Julie Miller: Pecan Penny’s
James & Chelsea: Ambrose & Eve
Favorite Restaurant
Brad: El Ranchito Taqueria
Julie Miller: Lac Viet in North Market
Chelsea: Legacy Smokehouse
Tracie Baum: The Sycamore
Malini Swank: Cameron’s American Bistro. “It’s hard to pick a favorite restaurant in a city where we’re spoiled with so many outstanding options, but I will say that I’ve never had a bad meal or less than legendary service at Cameron’s American Bistro in Worthington. They make my whole family (including my little one!) feel special no matter if we’re dining for a basic family dinner on a Tuesday night, celebrating an anniversary/birthday, or a fun couple’s date night.”
Best place to grab Coffee:
Malini & Brad: Staufs Coffee Roasters
Jordan: Grandview Grind
Leanne: The Roosevelt Coffeehouse
Eryn Gilson: Coffee Connections
Julie Miller: Third Way Cafe
See more awesome, independent coffee shops here.
Best Breakfast/Brunch spot
Jordan: Forno Kitchen + Bar
Eryn Gilson: Milestone 229
Julie Miller: Katalina’s
Chelsea: “German Village Coffee Shop is my go-to breakfast stop. The staff is incredible, the food is delightful, and the experience is my favorite weekly occurrence. If you’re into bacon, you need to grab breakfast here. Without a doubt, the best bacon in the city.”
See more delicious brunch spots here
Place with the Best Sweet Treats (and a favorite item)
Brad, Chelsea, & Eryn: Bake Me Happy, specifically Peanut Butter Burners, Donut Muffin, and Zebra Cakes.
Tracie: Amy’s Donuts (The Elvis Donut is my fave)
Leanne: Fox in the Snow Cafe – Coconut Cake!
Julie: Kittie’s Cakes – the chocolate chip facecookie!
James: Johnson’s Ice Cream, the Columbus Crunch
Read more about ice cream, holiday treats, and donuts, and other fun sweets.
Best Cocktails in town
Malini & Jordan Light of 7 Matchsticks
Brad: Bakersfield’s Sangria Rojo. O.M.G.
Tracie & James: The Top. Tracie said, “The Top, fo’ sho’. Everything is great, but can’t go wrong with a dirty martini or a Gin & Tonic.”
Julie: Margarita at Balboa
Leanne: “Service Bar. Everything is amazing and their garnishes push them over the top!”
Get suggestions for making your own cocktails at home or get some suggestions for cheap (but good) cocktails around Columbus.
Favorite locally made Beer, Wine or Spirit
Brad: Anything from Brewdog
Tracie: Land Grant Pool Party (even if it’s indoor pool season)
Eryn: North High Brewing
Chelsea: “Wolf’s Ridge, Clear Sky Daybreak. There’s a reason it’s an award winning beer, and that reason is because it’s damned good.”
Check out The Best Breweries In Columbus for more drink suggestions.
Favorite local event
Jordan: Origins Game Fair
Eryn: Food Themed Festivals
Julie: Village Lights
James: Ohio State Fair
Brad: “Pride is one of my favorite events all year. It’s a great time to meet up with friends and family and celebrate everything that makes our vibrant LGBTQ community here in Columbus so great.”
Coolest public art
Brad: Columbus/LOVE sign
Tracie: I love the mural on North Broadway, under the bridge, headed into Clintonville
Jordan: The animal sculptures at Batelle Riverfront Park! As a kid, there was something really magical about seeing a unicorn statue among skyscrapers.
Eryn: 934 Gallery Mural by Dana Lynn Harper
James: Umbrella Girl at Schiller Park
Malini: “So the very talented local artist, Mark Bush, painted an awesome piece that hangs in the Columbus convention center. It’s a fabulous painting of the human face – and he incorporated features from all different races, cultures, and genders. I love it so much because it highlights all the ways in which we are different and beautiful and can all fit together. To me, it embodies the spirit of our fabulously diverse Columbus, OH. (Ok, ok, I also love that he painted my left eye in the piece)”
Get your art fix with 10 Eye-Popping Murals Around Columbus
Best place to take a date
Brad: Wild Lights at the Zoo
Tracie: If the date is my husband? Dirty Frank’s. If it’s a girlfriend? Marcella’s
Jordan: Tabletop Game Cafe
Eryn: Pins Mechanical Co.
Julie: Basi Italia
James: The Scioto Mile
Looking for date night ideas? We’ve got you covered.
Best Park or Outdoor activity
Eryn: ZipZone Adventures
James: Clear Creek Metro Park
Chelsea: Scioto Grove Metro Park
Tracie: “Glacier Ridge Metro Park. It has a playground for the kids, ninja challenge course for all, plus a stellar dog park!”
Favorite Neighborhood to visit
Malini: Team #Worthington all the way!
Julie: Franklinton
Everyone else: German Village
Best place to learn a new skill
Jordan: The Idea Foundry
Leanne: Cultural Arts Center
Eryn: The Kitchen
James: The Wonder Jam
Feeling inspired? Schedule a cooking class. Here are a few friendly suggestions. The Best Cooking Classes In Columbus
Favorite place of the kids in your life
Eryn: COSI
Tracie: The natural play area at Blendon Woods
Julie: LEGOLAND Discovery Center
James: Columbus Zoo
Cure the wintertime blues with 10 Indoor Activities Perfect For Kids
Best kept secret that shouldn’t be
Brad: Cafe Illyria
Jordan: Give MadLab Theatre some love!
Leanne: Diamonds Ice Cream! Their Paletas are unreal and I don’t know why everyone isn’t raving about them!
James: Sunrise at Confluence Park
Julie: Westgate – my neighborhood! There’s so much community, grassroots activity, and affordable, unique housing!
Favorite Locally Made Product/Business
Leanne: Ohiyo Chocolate!
Eryn: Savage Glow Skin Care
Julie: Red Giraffe Designs
James: Planthropy (great Christmas gift, so they’re getting a boost from fresh-ness)
Best store to buy a gift
Tracie: Hands down, Wholly Craft! There’s something for your tiniest feminist and your oldest friend (not mutually exclusive).
Jordan: Mystic Sisters in Grandview
Leanne: On Paper
Eryn: Gemma Shop
Julie: Celebrate Local
Best local shopping event
Brad Short North Gallery Hop
Tracie: The annual sidewalk sale at Urban Emporium
Leanne: German Village Makers Market
Julie: Ohio Made Market
James: Half Price Books clearance sale at the Ohio Expo Center
Favorite Local Artist
Jordan: Adam Brouillette
Leanne: Danielle Evans (Marmalade Blue)
Eryn: Natterdoodles
James: A tie between Logan Schmitt and Benjamin Howes
Chelsea: “Nick Fancher, an amazing local photographer. His Instagram account is on a constant refresh on my phone.”
Favorite Ohio based band or musical artist
Malini: Stadium 11 – they do covers of classic rock and they are SO good.
Leanne: Doc Robinson
Julie: The Floorwalkers
James: The National (They’re from Ohio and even though they’re incredibly popular, they still count to me)
Favorite Columbus Based Performer
Brad: Hellin Bedd
Tracie: Maggie Smith, poet
Leanne: Hanif Abdurraquib, poet and writer
Chelsea: Happy Tooth
Favorite local Instagram Account to Follow
Eryn: @ohioexplored
Julie: @sweetlycbus
James: @experiencecolumbus
Leanne: @ColumbusVisuals
Chelsea: @amyandcoffee
Malini: “@life_with_a_foodie No idea who the owner is in person, but I laugh at every.single.post. It’s a full-on roast of his foodie girlfriend (now fiance – yay! Congrats to you, internet stranger!!)”
Current construction project you are most excited about seeing completed
Tracie: 71 S into Grove City, I want to visit the FAM but it’s a nightmare
Leanne: The Budd Dairy Co Project by Cameron Mitchell
Eryn: Short North
Julie: Anything on 270!
James: Too soon to say Arena District Crew Stadium? Because Crew Stadium.
Chelsea: The Fives
Coolest Transformation of an Existing Building or Space
Leanne: I love The View on Grant, I think it breathes new life into that area
Eryn: National Veterans Memorial And Museum
James: Dorrian Green
Chelsea: The Fort
What are you looking forward to the most in 2019?
Jordan: I’m excited to see what other businesses move into Bridge Park in Dublin!
Julie: I’m looking forward to continuing to explore Columbus and sharing what I find with my readers through my blog!
James: Easton 👏🏼 Shake 👏🏼 Shack 👏🏼
Chelsea: Only the highly-anticipated, completely sold out, most exciting upcoming event in Columbus: Donut Fest!
Tracie: “I’m looking forward to new restaurants and new experiences in the city I love. More specifically, I can’t wait for Hamilton (!!!!) in February and having no more kids in diapers by September (or October…)”
Are you also excited for Hamilton? Here’s how you can score some cheap tickets this winter.
If you have one wish for Columbus in 2019 what would it be?
Malini: Getting the opioid crises under control.
Brad: To consider a rail transit system.
Leanne: More Protected Bike Lanes and Better Public Transit
Julie: I hope that as Columbus continues to grow and flourish that it stays approachable and accessible for all!
Chelsea: I hope the Columbus continues to get the national recognition we deserve. We’re a great place to live, work, and have fun!
