As workers and visitors return downtown, restaurants, retail, entertainment, and special events will be ready to greet them. Here is a rundown of businesses and events that are back in the swing, plus some newbies to the hood.
What’s New and Re-Opening
NEW! Aroma Restaurant, offering Mediterranean and European cuisine, will open at 72 Lynn Alley in early July.
Café Brioso reopened its coffee shop at High and Gay streets. The flagship shop, which offers a great patio, is bright, open, and designed with a focus on sharing unique specialty coffees. A limited selection of bulk coffee is for sale at this location.
One Line Coffee is returning to their location in the Huntington Center, 41 S. High St. After closing during the pandemic, the coffee bar announced it is expected to re-open on Monday, June 28 with daily hours from 7 a.m.-2 p.m., Monday through Friday. One Line will continue to roast amazing specialty coffee from origin, grinding and brewing fresh batches throughout the day, and will offer more baked goods out of their Franklinton location. They are located on the first floor near the escalators.
POP Columbus! This retail Pop Up is celebrating summer by hosting a series of pop-up shops in their space at 44 N. High St. Check out a rotating group of vendors all month long. The event is hosted by the Gay Street Collaborative, the group behind the popular Moonlight and Sunlight Markets. Check out the vendor list here.
The Golden Hobby Gift Shop at 549 Franklin Ave. opened at its new location on June 1. Located in the Columbus Performing Arts Center, the shop offers unique gifts, home decor, and wearable items made by central Ohio senior artists and craftspeople. Stop by Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Sunday 1-4 p.m.
Events Back Online
BalletMet Presents Unlocked from June 4-27. Live performances are back, though limited to an audience of 33 members at BalletMet’s own Performance Space. Unlocked is a collection of World Premieres created by BalletMet Artistic Director Edwaard Liang, Company dancer-choreographers Leiland Charles and Karen Wing, and former Company dancer Gabriel Gaffney-Smith.
Broadway in Columbus has announced their 2021-22 season. It all kicks off in November with Hadestown and concludes in November of 2022 with the much-anticipated Hamilton. The schedule includes Fiddler on the Roof, Cats, Come from Away, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Pretty Woman, and Wicked. Click here for details and subscription opportunities.
CATCO for Kids has announced their Play Creation Workshop in August will be in person. Students will write and perform an original play. Held over two two-week sessions, students can choose to join one or both sessions. For more details, click here.
Picnic with the Pops is back. Upcoming shows include Patriotic Pops with N’Kenge, The Ohio State Marching Band, En Vogue, Tito Puente Jr., and Michael Bolton. Click here for more information.
The Columbus Museum of Art offers a free admission program called Wonder Pass for Columbus City School students and their families. Click here for more details.
Thurber House is offering its first in-person author event on Wednesday, June 23 at 5:30 p.m. The Outdoor Summer Series kicks off with Claudia Owusu talking about her work and films. She is a former Thurber House summer camper and counselor, so it’s bound to be interesting.