That might finally be changing. A recent article from Eater named Columbus one of the best pizza cities in the country, putting us in the same conversation as places that usually dominate the spotlight. For locals, it feels less like a surprise and more like a long-overdue nod.

If you grew up here, this style probably feels like the default.

Thin crust, a little crunch, toppings spread all the way to the edge, and slices cut into squares. It’s simple, but there’s a lot of intention behind it.

The dough is rolled thin and docked so it stays flat while baking. Most shops use stone deck ovens, which help create that crisp texture without drying everything out. There’s usually a slightly sweet sauce, and a provolone-heavy cheese blend that gives it that familiar flavor.

READ MORE: The Best Pizza In Columbus

And then there’s the pepperoni. Not just on the pizza—covering it. Places like Massey’s Pizza are known for loading up each pie, while Donatos Pizza built an entire brand around getting toppings to the very edge. Spots like Terita’s Pizza have been doing their thing for decades, sticking with recipes that haven’t changed much over time.

One of the reasons Columbus pizza stands out is how consistent it is across the city.

You can walk into a longtime neighborhood spot or a local chain and still get something that feels distinctly “Columbus.”

That comes from history. Many of these pizzerias have been family-run for generations, and they’ve shared suppliers, techniques, and even equipment over the years. The result is a style that feels unified without being identical.

It also helps that pizza here is still pretty affordable. You can grab a solid pie without it turning into a whole event, which makes it an easy go-to for weeknights, gatherings, or game days.

For a long time, cities like New York, Chicago, and Detroit have dominated the pizza conversation.

Columbus has been doing its own thing in the background, building a style that’s distinct, affordable, and easy to love.

Now that it’s getting national attention, it feels earned. If anything, this is just more people catching up to what Columbus has known all along.

MORE LIKE THIS: Where To Find The Best New York Style Pizza In Columbus

Featured image via Donatos.

The post Columbus Is Finally Getting The Pizza Recognition We Deserve appeared first on Columbus Navigator.

On Saturday, March 28, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., non-members can shop a curated selection of orchids that have been retired from the Conservatory’s annual display.

The sale will take place in The Wells Barn, just a short walk from the main building (don’t worry—there will be signage to guide you).

Expect a wide variety of:

• In-bloom orchids (perfect if you want instant wow-factor)
• Out-of-bloom orchids (ideal for plant lovers who enjoy the process)
• A limited selection of tropical houseplants and foliage

But make no mistake, this event is all about the orchids.

What You Need to Know Before You Go

This isn’t a casual drop-in event. Reservations are required, and they’re expected to go quickly—especially the early time slots.

A few key things to keep in mind:

• Your reservation is free, but does not include admission to the Conservatory itself
• You’ll need to create an account to reserve a time slot
• Entry is timed, but once inside, you can shop until 3 p.m.
• Inventory is limited and not guaranteed, even with a reservation
• If slots fill up, a waitlist will be available.

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A post shared by Franklin Park Conservatory (@fpconservatory)

Pro Tips for Getting the Best Plants

If you’re serious about snagging the best selection, earlier is better. Members actually get first dibs from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., which means some of the most coveted plants may already be claimed before general entry begins.

That said, organizers have made efforts to ensure there’s inventory throughout the day, just don’t wait too long if you have your heart set on something specific.

Missed Out? You Still Have Options

If the reservations fill up (or the orchids sell out) you can always stop by the Conservatory’s year-round shop, Botanica Gift Shop & Greenhouse, which regularly carries orchids, tropical plants, and garden accessories (members even get a discount).

This is one of those blink-and-you-miss-it events for plant lovers in Columbus. Between the limited inventory, the beauty of the orchids, and the chance to own a piece of a world-class exhibition, the Retired Orchid Sale is well worth planning your weekend around. For more info, head over to fpconservatory.org.

The post A One-Day Orchid Sale Is Coming to Franklin Park Conservatory appeared first on Columbus Navigator.

That’s exactly what just happened to Afroman, the rapper best known for “Because I Got High,” who found himself at the center of a very 2020s legal battle. And now, after a short jury deliberation, he’s officially come out on top.

Back in 2022, law enforcement in Adams County raided Afroman’s home with a warrant tied to serious allegations. The search turned up nothing, and no charges were filed.

But what did come out of it? Security footage. Lots of it.

Between home cameras and phone recordings, the raid was captured from multiple angles. And instead of letting it sit on a hard drive somewhere, Afroman did what Afroman does. He turned it into content.

Songs like “Will You Help Me Repair My Door” and “Lemon Pound Cake” used clips from the raid, showing deputies breaking down his door and searching through his home. The videos racked up millions of views online. Which is when things took another turn.

The lawsuit, explained simply

Several members of the Adams County Sheriff’s Office sued Afroman in 2023, arguing that he used their images without permission and profited from it.

They also said the videos led to harassment, threats, and a wave of unwanted attention that spilled into their personal lives.

Afroman’s response was… very on brand.

In court, he argued that none of this would have happened if his house hadn’t been raided in the first place. He also leaned on a pretty simple defense: he’s a musician, and this is what he does.

“I have freedom of speech. I’m a rapper. I entertain,” he said during testimony.

The verdict

After just a few hours of deliberation, the jury sided with Afroman on all counts.

"In all circumstances, the jury finds in favor of the defendant" pic.twitter.com/YgqLg2bsMx

— Afroman (@ogafroman) March 18, 2026

Which means the videos stay up, the music stays out there, and one of the more bizarre Ohio legal cases in recent memory comes to a close. It’s not every day you see a case that mixes constitutional rights, viral internet culture, and lemon pound cake references.

But then again, this is Ohio.

Featured image via Facebook.

The post This Wild Ohio Lawsuit Involving Afroman Just Got A Verdict appeared first on Columbus Navigator.

AEP Ohio customers are expected to see multiple changes to their bills over the next few months, with at least one confirmed increase and the potential for more on the way.

The first increase is already approved

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio just signed off on a rate hike that will take effect in April. For the average household, that works out to about $7.90 more per month, depending on how much electricity you use.

AEP says the increase is tied to transmission costs, basically the infrastructure that moves electricity across the grid. That money, according to the company, will go toward maintaining and upgrading aging equipment.

Beyond that April increase, there are signs that electricity costs could keep climbing into the summer.

Energy analysts say a mix of factors, including higher natural gas prices during the winter and rising regional capacity costs, could push supply rates higher in both April and June. If those projections hold, some estimates suggest bills could climb by as much as $30 to $40 more per month by early summer compared to spring.

That part isn’t officially locked in yet, but it’s something being closely watched.

Why this keeps happening

Part of the challenge is that your electric bill isn’t just one thing.

There are separate pieces that cover generating electricity, delivering it, and maintaining the system. Some of those costs change on a set schedule, while others shift based on the energy market. So even when one part goes up by a few dollars, it can overlap with other changes happening at the same time.

For a lot of households, this is coming after a year that already saw noticeable increases in utility costs. Another bump, even a smaller one, can add up, especially heading into the warmer months when air conditioning starts driving bills higher.

There’s still some uncertainty around how much rates could rise beyond April. But the general direction is pretty clear.

Electricity in Columbus isn’t getting cheaper anytime soon.

The post Columbus Electric Bills Set to Increase Again This Spring appeared first on Columbus Navigator.

A recent deep dive into data from the Franklin County Municipal Court shows a steep decline in traffic citations across the board over the past 15 to 17 years. The analysis, compiled and shared in the r/Columbus subreddit by a local Redditor, pulled from annual court reports to track long-term trends.

The short version: a lot fewer tickets are being written.

The drop is hard to miss

Across dozens of categories, citations have fallen significantly since the late 2000s.

• Speeding charges dropped from a peak of more than 25,000 in 2009 to about 6,500 in 2024
• Stop sign violations fell from over 3,200 to under 1,000
• Driving under suspension, expired tags, and license violations all show similar downward trends
• Even categories like failure to control, improper turns, and marked lane violations have declined over time.

There’s a noticeable dip around 2020 and 2021, which lines up with the pandemic. But what stands out more is that many of these numbers were already trending downward well before that.

More recent numbers from the Ohio State Highway Patrol add a little more context, at least for 2026 so far.

In Franklin County, enforcement stops are down slightly compared to the same period last year, dropping from 3,281 to 2,832. Warnings are also down, along with seatbelt enforcement and distracted driving violations.

At the same time, some categories are moving in the opposite direction. OVI enforcement is up, along with felony arrests and crashes investigated.

Speed-related enforcement is mixed. Total speed violations dipped slightly, but higher-end speeding, like drivers going 30+ mph over the limit, actually increased.

Taken together, the long-term trend is clear: fewer traffic citations are being issued today than they were 15 years ago. The newer data shows that there is still enforcement happening, just not always in the same ways or at the same levels across every category.

The post This Chart Shows How Much Traffic Tickets Have Fallen In Columbus appeared first on Columbus Navigator.

For a lot of Columbus kids, that version of COSI still lives rent-free in their memory. Now, there’s a way to step back inside.

A delightfully old-school website called The Old COSI lets you explore the original museum through a point-and-click experience built from real photos. It feels less like a polished virtual tour and more like clicking through someone’s memories, in the best way.

A digital walk through old COSI

The site recreates the museum as it existed from 1964 to 1999, complete with some of its most iconic spots.

You can wander through the basement coal mine, revisit the presidents, explore the Street of Yesteryear, and even catch a glimpse of the original Wendy’s that once sat across the street. It’s simple, a little clunky, and surprisingly immersive.

There’s also a timeline that walks through the history of COSI, from its early days in Memorial Hall to its eventual move downtown.

Built to preserve a piece of Columbus history

The project was created by Columbus resident, Eric Upp back in 2009 while he was a student at The Ohio State University.

At the time, there weren’t many digital archives of the original COSI, so the site became a way to collect and preserve those memories. Some of the images even come from the museum’s final day in 1999.

Over time, it’s also become something of a shared memory bank, with other visitors contributing their own stories and experiences.

A time capsule in more ways than one

Part of what makes the site so charming is that it hasn’t really been updated to feel modern. The design looks like something straight out of the early internet, which somehow makes the whole experience feel even more authentic.

Clicking through it feels a little like opening an old computer file you forgot you had. The graphics are simple, the navigation is basic, and none of that really matters once you’re in it.

For anyone who grew up going to the original COSI, it’s an easy way to lose 20 minutes just clicking around and remembering what it felt like to be there. You can dive in by visiting oldcosi.com.

The post A Nostalgic, Retro Website Is Bringing Old COSI Back To Life appeared first on Columbus Navigator.

The convenience chain plans to hire 380 employees statewide and will host hiring events at all 135 Ohio locations on Wednesday, March 25 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Interviews will happen on the spot, so applicants could get answers pretty quickly.

The process is straightforward. You apply online ahead of time, show up to a participating store, scan a QR code to check in, and wait for your turn to interview. There’s even a free soda involved, which feels very on brand.

It’s about as close as job hunting gets to a walk-in experience.

What they’re actually hiring for

Open roles range from entry-level to management:

• Store team members working in the kitchen, register, and general store upkeep
• Supervisors helping run shifts and keep things moving
• Assistant managers overseeing daily operations and staffing

Like most convenience store jobs, it’s fast-paced and customer-facing, so it’s probably not for everyone. But for people who like staying busy, it could be a solid fit.

The company makes a big deal about internal growth, saying 90% of its store managers started in other roles. It’s also been a regular on “Best Companies to Work For” lists. That doesn’t automatically make it the right job for everyone, but it does give some context for why they’re able to hire at this scale.

This is part of a larger hiring push across seven states, with more than 1,500 positions open company-wide.

For Ohio, the takeaway is simple. If you’re looking for something flexible, quick to apply for, and available pretty much everywhere, this is one of those opportunities. To learn more, head over to jobs.sheetz.com.

The post Sheetz Is Hosting One-Day Hiring Events Across Ohio To Fill Hundreds Of Jobs appeared first on Columbus Navigator.

While Columbus still doesn’t have passenger rail service, the conversation around bringing it back is getting louder and a lot more serious. Next month, that conversation is landing right here in the city.

On April 18, All Aboard Ohio is hosting the first-ever Ohio Rail Summit at the Energy Advancement & Innovation Center on The Ohio State University campus. The event will bring together transportation leaders, policymakers, and advocates from across the country to talk about the future of passenger rail in Ohio and the Midwest.

It might sound a little niche at first, but this is actually a pretty big deal.

Passenger rail is getting real attention right now thanks to new federal funding and regional planning efforts. Projects that once felt like wishful thinking are starting to move forward, and Ohio is part of that shift.

“The Ohio Rail Summit reflects how the conversation has changed,” said Mitch Radakovich, Board Chair for All Aboard Ohio. “Passenger rail in Ohio is no longer a niche issue. It is part of a broader discussion about mobility, infrastructure, and regional connectivity, and it requires a forum that brings those voices together.”

In simple terms, this is about how we get around and how connected our cities can be in the future.

The speaker lineup includes some major names in the rail world. Joel Szabat from Amtrak will talk about national priorities and what new federal programs could mean for routes in places like Ohio. Sean Jeans-Gail of the Rail Passengers Association will share insight from Washington, D.C. And Hayden Clarkin, also known as The Transit Guy, will bring a more public-facing perspective on how to get people excited about transit again.

So what does all of this actually mean for Columbus?

Better rail could mean fewer long drives, easier regional travel, and stronger connections between Ohio’s cities. It could also bring economic benefits and give people more options beyond sitting in traffic.

Nothing is being built overnight, but conversations like this are where those future plans start to take shape. And for one day, Columbus is right in the middle of it.

The post Columbus Is Hosting A Major Rail Summit And It Could Change How Ohio Travels appeared first on Columbus Navigator.

The century plant, also known as Agave americana, doesn’t actually take 100 years to bloom. Its lifespan is usually closer to 10 to 30 years. But when it finally decides it’s time, it goes all out.

Right now, the plant is in the early stages of what’s often called a “death bloom.” A massive flower spike is shooting up from the center, and it’s growing fast. We’re talking inches per day. Eventually, that stalk can reach anywhere from 30 to more than 50 feet tall before it begins to flower.

Once it hits its full height, the blooms themselves will appear and stick around for a short window, usually a couple of weeks to about a month. It’s brief, dramatic, and not something you get to see twice from the same plant.

As the stalk stretches upward, it has a surprisingly familiar look.

If you’re thinking it resembles a giant asparagus spear, you’re not wrong.

Agave americana is actually part of the asparagus family, which makes the resemblance a little less random and a lot more fun to point out when you’re standing there staring up at it.

This bloom is the grand finale for the century plant. After spending years slowly growing, it pours all of its energy into this one towering display. Once the flowering process wraps up, the main plant will begin to decline.

Before it goes, the plant produces offsets, often called “pups,” which will continue growing and carry on the next generation. It’s a dramatic exit, but also a fresh start.

Moments like this don’t come around often.

The conservatory noted that the last time an agave bloomed there was back in 1982. That makes this a pretty rare chance to catch a unique stage in a plant’s life cycle without leaving Columbus.

The bloom is already underway, and over the next several weeks, visitors will be able to watch the transformation as the stalk climbs higher and eventually bursts into flowers.

If you’re looking for an excuse to stop by the conservatory, this is a good one. The timeline is short, the plant is putting on a full spectacle, and once it’s done, it’s done.

It’s not every day you get to see a plant spend decades preparing for one final moment.

The post A 30-Foot-Tall Bloom Is Growing Right Now at Franklin Park Conservatory appeared first on Columbus Navigator.

Pickle Palooza is firmly in the second category.

The traveling pickle-themed food and drink festival is making its way to Columbus this summer, bringing a full lineup of briny bites, drinks, and slightly ridiculous entertainment along with it. The event will take over Huntington Park on June 27 from 5 to 10 p.m., turning the home of the Columbus Clippers into a playground for pickle lovers.

And yes, that includes a mechanical pickle.

Pickle Palooza comes from Outlier Events, the same group behind other traveling fests dedicated to tacos, mac and cheese, and donuts paired with beer. Their first pickle-focused event in Grand Rapids sold out in just three hours, which is either impressive and, in my pickle-loving opinion, a sign that people have been waiting their whole lives for this exact moment.

Organizers are betting Columbus will show up with that same energy.

This is not a light “we added pickles to a burger” situation. Vendors go all in.

Expect things like deep-fried pickles, pickle pizza, and other creations that lean hard into that salty, tangy flavor. Some cities have seen items like pickle cheesesteaks and dill-heavy comfort food mashups, and while the exact Columbus lineup has not been announced yet, it is safe to assume things will get a little weird in the best way.

Drinks are just as committed. Pickle-inspired craft beers, cocktails, and even non-alcoholic options will be part of the mix. If you have never tried a pickle drink before, this might be your chance to finally discover whether or not it’s for you.

Beyond the food, the festival has fully embraced its theme with activities that feel equal parts county fair and fever dream.

There will be pickle eating contests, brine chugging challenges, and a photo booth dedicated to all things dill. And then there is the mechanical bull-style giant pickle, which really needs no further explanation but will absolutely have a line.

Live entertainment will keep things moving throughout the night, including a DJ and a throwback pop punk and emo party band. It is the kind of soundtrack that pairs surprisingly well with fried food and questionable decisions.

Tickets come with sampling tokens for both food and drinks, along with a commemorative lanyard and cup.

General admission starts at $45 without alcohol and $55 with it, while VIP and platinum options add more samples, early entry, and shorter lines.

There is also a priority list for early ticket access opening March 26, with general sales beginning April 9. Given how quickly the first event sold out, this is not one to casually circle back to later.

Columbus does a lot of food festivals, but not many of them involve riding a giant pickle before heading off to try pickle pizza and a dill cocktail.

That alone might be reason enough to check it out. For more info about the festival, head over to picklepaloozafoodanddrinkfest.com.

The post Columbus Is Finally Getting A Pickle Festival And Yes, There’s A Mechanical Pickle appeared first on Columbus Navigator.