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And we hosts what is likely the second largest Pride Parade and Festival in the Midwest, after Chicago, with over , people coming out for the event last year. The parade marches from downtown to Goodale Park in Victorian Village and is on the family-friendly side with many businesses, religious organizations, social groups, and individuals taking part. Comfest is the Columbus event of the year and is rumored to be the largest non-sponsored festival in the country. Tens of thousands of Columbusites of all ages fill Goodale Park the same spot as Pride for three days of local music, food, beer, hula hooping, and more.
The cute and occasionally topless girls that were missing from Pride come out in spades for Comfest. And not only is the whole event free and volunteer-run, but all extra money raised from beer sales gets donated to local homeless shelters. Located on Gay Street and Pearl Alley, this September event has five stages filled will all Columbus bands, and every year they showcase the best established and up and coming acts this city has to offer.
We try to avoid Park Street. If C-bus locals have one thing, it is Ohio pride.
Everywhere you go you see the heart-shaped outline of our state, whether it be on shirts, necklaces, bags, or coasters. Kat even has an Ohio flask that Annie may or may not have gotten her for Christmas. And Wholly Craft!
They only sell items made by fellow Columbus crafters, and they offer a slew of decently priced crafting classes. While we do have a few famous sports teams Ohio State Buckeyes, anyone? The girls are hot and play some feisty roller derby and the matches are affordable and a total blast. Available Light Theatre is one of our favorite art groups in Columbus.
They put on a mix of original and recreated works and they bring something new to everything they do. They also have a pay-what-you-can policy for day-of tickets, so this is a perfect place to experience theatre on a budget. To this day, it is still locally run and independently owned, making it one of the few still in existence. This musical den mostly hosts indie, alternative, experimental music. Located in the old Lazarus building downtown, the UAS is a free art museum, with ever-changing exhibits showcasing art that is mostly local, and often design-oriented.
If you are interested in urban sociology, development, or planning, make sure to check it out. If you are into the great outdoors, Columbus has more available than most people realize. We have an expansive Metro Parks system, with fifteen parks and many miles of hiking trails.
Our personal fave is Clear Creek Metro Park , where a winter hike is like stepping into a Christmas card. If you are near downtown, check out Scioto Audubon Metro Park W Whittier Street , where there is a lot bird watching and a free climbing wall. We also have one of the lowest unemployment rates in Ohio 6.
We also are home to large Latino and South African populations. Columbus is also a really easy city to get around. The freeways are well designed and maintained, so that even as we grow, rush hour traffic rarely adds more than ten minutes to any commute. Part of an ongoing series of Queer Girl City Guides. Certified cheese monger. Thank you.. We will force our awesome ice cream on you! You can dance away the calories at Wallstreet!
Happy to see Lavash on here! Make sure to get their Shwarma sandwhich…. English as well!
Mexico CIty. Also some weekends when things are happening elsewhere : Loading Got it! New York Gay Restaurants. Follow Us:. Part of an ongoing series of Queer Girl City Guides.
And I did actually live in Columbus for a year about five years ago, and its awesomeness was very much a factor in applying to OSU. Also Northstar. Basically all of the things. I am going into editing, so I can edit your stuff! I hope to meet you at some point! Columbus is hands down the best city in Ohio. I considered going to undergrad at OSU but — true story — knew I would be too tempted by the awesomeness that would be around me to study instead of party. Definitely have to make it to Columbus Pride this year. This article is informative, well written, the best and most accurate reviews, and great photos… and not just because it mentions me.
I love it here. You all should visit. Funny, I grew up near Cleveland but because I went to college in the southeast, I know Columbus much better. I was so happy to move here aft being there and in Pittsburgh. I have been trying to go to Banana Leaf for like three years, and it has never panned out.
I need to make this top priority, I hear such good things! Their food is to die for! Plus, it is super cheap. The only downside is that they are not used to dealing with non-Indian customers, so as a white girl I usually get a lot of disapproving glares when I pick up my food : It is worth it, though!
Another place I want to check out! I love dosas. I usually go to upipi cafe for veg southern indian. I had no clue there were so many Columbus girls! I agree, we definitely need to meet up or something. Happy Greek has awesome food, Marcellas has a great happy hour for food and Bar 23 has super cheapo martinis during happy hour. Pride is a blast, make sure to stay until Monday so you can go to Bat N Rouge on Sunday afternoon drag softball — so fun. The Ohio Theatre in downtown occasionally shows old movies, in between its off Broadway shows, that are reasonably priced.
You need First Friday. It made COTA look pretty awesome. Hopefully it was an off night at Wall?
I made the mistake of showing up around 10 once and it was pretty empty. Also some weekends when things are happening elsewhere :. I am in Dayton and have been to a few of these places and will be trying out the rest this summer…. All Ohio based college-age queers, the Equality Express mentioned in the guide will be a really cool internship opportunity this summer. I love living in Old Town in C-bus! I love that it is in this article. All of the places that were mentioned are great, and there are so many more!
Viva Columbus! Thank you!! Thank you for this!!! I have lived in Columbus for years, but am pretty clueless about where to go to meet other people. Thank you for helping to make me a more informed baby dyke : P. I think I had a class with you Dom…just saying. Spring It was basically lesbian history and we met a pornstar! It is likely that I am crazy :. I like the autocorrect version! Nikki was really fun. I love this!!!!! Columbus for the win! Their humus is fantastic an so are the Thai chicken kababs. Surly Girl is pretty amazeballs.
Definitely the most awesome chandelier, and their menus are boun in those leather hardbacks from Time-Life books. The cucumber infused peach vodka and soda is a must to cool down on a hot day! Everyone should check it out :. I wish this was here a year and a half ago when I transplanted from Toronto.
Trust me on this. Also- walk home after having this. I love Virtue!