John Glenn was born on July 18, 1921. | Photos via Wikimedia Commons
Whether you’ve flown out of the airport or studied on The Ohio State University’s campus, there’s a good chance you’ve been within orbit of John Glenn’s influence.
Today is Tuesday, July 18 — but it isn’t your average weekday. John Glenn was born on this very day in Ohio 100+ years ago, and we’re ready to blast off some fast facts in five... four... three...
A quick history
John Glenn was born in Cambridge, Ohio on July 18, 1921, which would’ve made him 102 years old today. He died on December 8, 2016 in Columbus at the age of 95.
The first of many
Did you know Glenn is the first person to average supersonic speed on a transcontinental flight? He achieved this in 1957 during his time with the US Naval Reserve where he earned the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Not one time, not two times...
Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth on Feb. 20, 1962, and thanks to faulty parts, this trip resulted with him circling our planet three total times. Throughout the nearly five-hour orbit, NASA reported his ship reached speeds of 17,000 mph.
Columbus renamed the airport to honor John Glenn in 2016. | Photo by Kati Hartwig/CMH
Man of science
Did you know Glenn was a member of COSI in 1965? The Columbus Metropolitan Library has the receipts.
Supersonic senator
After his time with NASA, Glenn was elected as an Ohio Senator in 1974. He served until 1999, and was able to squeeze in a trip to space in that time.
A lasting legacy
The John Glenn International Airport is Columbus’ main passenger airport, and it’s where 7.7+ million people fly through each year. Additionally, Glenn’s work in public service — both as an astronaut and as a senator — led to OSU creating the John Glenn College of Public Affairs.
Events
Tuesday, July 18
Tuesday Tastings | Tuesday, July 18 | 5-8 p.m. | Bubbly Food Hall, 6065 Central College Rd., New Albany | $10 | Sample a variety of wines from Wyandotte Winery & Rockside Vineyards.
Summer Books & Brews Pairing | Wednesday, July 18 | 7-8:30 p.m. | Grove City Brewing Co., 3946 Broadway, Grove City | $15 | This local brewery will provide a flight of beers while Southwest Public Libraries recommends a book to go along with it.
Wednesday, July 19
Art Auction | Wednesday, July 19 | 5-8 p.m. | Columbus Gives Back, 685 Parsons Ave., Columbus | Free | Compete with other bidders on locally-made art with proceeds benefiting this nonprofit.
Thursday, July 20
Cocktails at the Conservatory | Thursday, July 20 | 5:30-9 p.m. | Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Garden, 1777 E. Broad St., Downtown | $25-$30 | Enjoy a classy evening of gin samples with live music, activities, and local food trucks.
Friday, July 21
Popcorn Pops: SuperHEROES | Friday, July 21 | 6-8 p.m. | Columbus Commons, 160 S. High St., Downtown | Free | Kids are invited to dress like their favorite superhero at this outdoor concert hosted by the Columbus Symphony.
Equity’s TruePoint, a multi-year, $200 million project, is set to break ground on Wednesday, July 19 at 4457 Trueman Blvd. This mixed-use development will feature 15 total buildings spanning 340,000+ sqft with space for offices, a hotel, residential living, and restaurants. Developers said the project will be done in 2025. (Columbus Business First)
Try This
Columbus Brewing Company and Six Ways Market are hosting a shopping pop-up Saturday, July 22-Sunday, July 23. Stop by the CBC Beer Hall — located at 200 Kelton Ave. — to find 80+ local vendors selling art, vintage clothes, and home decor. Food trucks and CBC beer will also be available.
Concert
Lil Baby, a rapper with 31+ million monthly listeners on Spotify, announced a Columbus show at Nationwide Arena on Saturday, Aug. 26. The rising hip-hop star is joined by trending artists like Glorilla, Rylo Rodriguez, and Gloss Up. Tickets are available now.
Festival
Looking to step up your Sunday? We say Go Fourth! — literally. This one-day festival in the Italian Village is hosted by local businesses like Budd Dairy Food Hall and Seventh Son Brewing with live music, food trucks, fun activities, and plenty of shopping. It’s free to attend, and runs 12-5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 20.
Trending
C’mon Barbie, let’s go party at these local spots. The new “Barbie” movie premieres this Thursdsay, July 20, and many theaters in Columbus are hosting pink pop-ups in celebration. Participating theaters include Gateway Film Center, which is offering a Barbie Brunch on Sunday, July 23. (614now)
Edu
The Ohio State University will be more costly for new students after the Board of Trustees approved a raise in tuition. In-state students will see a 3% increase, making tuition with housing and dining $27,000+ per year. Out-of-state students face a bigger increase at 4.5%, or $41,000+ per year. (Columbus Business First)
The Buy
Our new must-have for concerts and baseball games this summer: this clear, stadium-approved backpack. Psst — It’s also great for football games in the fall.*
Drink
☕️ Currently caffeinating
25+ local coffee shops and roasters in Columbus
City Editor Mitch likes his cold brew with a small splash of oat or almond milk. | Photo by CBUStoday
What’s brewing, CBUS? If you’re anything like us, you can’t start your day without a cup (or three) of coffee.
So, we are sharing our favorite spots + asking you to join in on the fun. Where’s your favorite roaster? Send them our way and we will feature as many as we can in an upcoming story.
This coffee shop features whole beans from all across the world including Ethiopia and Argentina which are available to take home by the half pound. And if you prefer cold drinks, options like the iced caramel latte are just as delicious as they are Instagram worthy.
One Line has a roast from all across the southern hemisphere including countries like Colombia, Costa Rica, Kenya, and Peru. To keep things fresh, the coffee shop roasts small batches of its beans each week + options like the honey latte showcase what a difference these efforts make.
I hope my new photo at the bottom didn’t jump scare you. I have to come clean, CBUS — that old photo was five years old. I was long overdue for a new one, but I always prefer to be behind the camera (shooting awesome footage for CBUStoday’s Instagram) instead of in front.
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