Ohio State is home to more than 60,000 students and more than that, home to tons of fun opportunities for free concerts, events, oval beach fun and more. But, ever wondered what lies outside those precious campus boundaries, and inside the 15th largest U.S city, Columbus? Well, in a nutshell, tons. Columbus is home to a vibrant nightlife, a booming economy, a retro music and local arts scene and surprisingly is the topic of choice for several foodie bloggers. That’s right, people travel here from all over to experience our local scene, and if you’re living right here upon it as a Ohio State student, you should be taking full advantage of it.
One of the coolest areas of Columbus and a real representation of all the things the city has to offer is the Short North. If you aren’t familiar with this district, it is the area on High Street that runs from about 5th Avenue all the way down to Nationwide Boulevard. At that point, you’ve run into another popular district of Columbus, the Arena District. If you’ve taken the night owl, number 2, down High Street to the downtown bars, then you have indeed traveled through the Short North and seen the many hidden gems that line the streets underneath the lit-up arches. The Short North is home to various art galleries, local restaurants, cute boutiques, coffee shops and tattoo parlors; some HC favorites include Betty’s Bar and Grille, a locally owned restaurant with nothing bad on the menu; and for the 21 and up ladies, be sure to check out Bodega, a hipster bar with more than 100 beers on tap. If you’re not yet of legal age, don’t worry—on Mondays, Bodega hosts their famous dollar grilled cheese night, open to anyone.
For the artsy types, there are tons of art galleries to explore. In fact, a famous Short North event helping to feature all of these galleries is Gallery Hop. Gallery Hop is held the first Saturday of every month from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. During this time, the art galleries open their doors and shows off all of their artist’s new work. Often times, the galleries also give away free cocktails and refreshments. During Gallery Hop, High Street is lined with local artists and vendors and usually there is live music playing somewhere. This signature event draws hundreds of people each month and will give you a real idea of what Columbus is all about.
In addition to the Short North and Gallery Hop, Columbus has even more to offer including professional sports teams such as the Columbus Clippers, Blue Jackets, Crew, and most recently the Ohio Machine, a professional lacrosse team. Columbus truly has something for everyone. If sports aren’t your thing, check out one of the many local theatres including the Ohio or Palace Theatre. Don’t let transportation stop you from enjoying this great city. Hop the number two COTA bus down High Street today and come on down. Columbus is waiting.
If you want to learn even more about Columbus, check out www.experiencecolumbus.com.
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