February 9, 2024

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Today’s Forecast

62º | Cloudy | 15% chance of precipitation | Sunrise 7:32 a.m. | Sunset 6:00 p.m.

📈 Numbers don’t lie

COSI continues to top national lists thanks to its dedicated fans and voters. | Photo by CBUStoday

Simply put: Columbus is the best... but we know we might be biased.

However, these national publications that are in charge of rankings, lists, and competitions are not. Check out all the headlines Columbus has made in 2024 from large-scale publications, proving we’re No. 1.

Real Estate

Whether you’re buying or selling a home, these publications are putting Columbus and the Buckeye State on the map.

Columbus was ranked the No. 3 hottest housing market heading into 2024 by Zillow.
Hilliard was named one of the top 10 hidden gem zip codes in the US by Opendoor.
Ohio was also ranked the No. 5 easiest state to sell a home in, according to CRM.

CBUStoday Otherworld — Keep an “eye” on Otherworld, an immersive experience only in CBUS + Philadelphia. | Photo via Otherworld

Business

Each year, USAToday runs its 10Best competition where it asks its readers to vote the best cities for select categories. Naturally, Columbus is no stranger here:

COSI, which won in 2023, has been nominated for best science museum. Voting ends Monday, Feb. 12 at noon.
Otherworld is nominated for best immersive art experience, and currently ranked No. 6 on the leaderboard. Voting ends Monday, Feb. 19 at noon.
Columbus moved into the No. 5 slot on the leaderboard this week for best beer city. Voting ends Monday, Feb. 26 at noon.

CBUStoday Beat Bobby Flay — Avishar Barua (right) was previously on Food Network. | Photo via Beat Bobby Flay

Culture

Two Columbus-based chefs are semifinalists for the prestigious James Beard Awards in the Great Lakes region. They are: Avishar Barua, who owns owns Joya’s and Agni; and BJ Lieberman, who owns Hiraeth, Chapman’s Eat Market, and Ginger Rabbit Jazz Lounge.

Events

Friday, Feb. 9

Nat King Cole and Friends | Friday, Feb. 9-Sunday, Feb. 11 | Times vary | Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main St., Downtown | $18-$86 | Step back to the era of classic jazz and swing featuring Kenny Washington on vocals.
Alice | Friday, Feb. 9-Sunday, Feb. 11 | Times vary | Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State St., Downtown | $34-$110 | Watch a captivating ballet show that is told in chapters like a story book.

Saturday, Feb. 10

Pop-up Pickers Club | Saturday, Feb. 10 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | The Point at Otterbein, 60 Collegeview Rd., Westerville | Cost of purchase | Browse local vendors offering vintage clothes, movies, and video games.
Mardi Gras Bar Crawl | Saturday, Feb. 10 | 3-10 p.m. | Park Street Cantina, 491 Park St., Columbus | $16-$18 | Crawl your way through multiple local bars, including Brothers Bar & Grill + Callahan’s.

Sunday, Feb. 11

The 5th Line 5K | Sunday, Feb. 11 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Nationwide Arena, 200 W. Nationwide Blvd., Arena District | $65 | Register to participate, or watch local athletes run a 3.1-mile loop around downtown that ends on the CBJ ice.

Monday, Feb. 12

Macrame Workshop | Monday, Feb. 12 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Repurposefully Yours, 6 W. Main St., West Jefferson | $45 | Bring your best friend for this Galentine’s-themed, all-supplies included workshop.

More local events

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News Notes

Real Estate

Preston Centre, located inside the PNC Tower, is now open with 100+ apartments available for rent. Developers successfully converted 13 floors from office space into residential space. Rent starts at $2,300+ per month. (The Columbus Dispatch)

Civic

The Columbus Symphony Orchestra could receive $10 million in funds if a statewide bill is passed by lawmakers. The bill, totaling $2 billion, was approved by the Ohio House of Representatives on Wednesday. It still awaits full approval before being enacted. (10TV)

Travel

And by travel, we mean people traveling to Columbus. The city reportedly hosted 435 conventions, trade shows, and sporting events in 2023, an increase of 34% compared to 2022. Check out other stats via Experience Columbus’ 2023 State of the Visitor report.

Feel Good

Bon voyage, Squirrel, Lizzie, and MaryKate. These three manatees were safely released from the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium and into the ocean near Florida. The manatees rehabbed and recovered in Columbus for three years after being rescued in 2020 and 2021. (NBC4)

Fun Fact

There are two former Buckeyes that will be playing in the Super Bowl this Sunday when Kansas City plays San Francisco. They are defensive ends Nick Bosa + Chase Young, both on the 49ers.

Try This

Switch up your regular Monday routine with 16-Bit’s Mario Kart Tournaments. These take place every Monday at the Dublin + Easton locations, beginning Monday, Feb. 12. Races will run from 7 to 10 p.m., and sign-ups are free.

Sports

Planning to watch the Super Bowl this Sunday? Stream it with a Paramount+ with Showtime subscription — get 30 days free with code GOAT.*

Announced

We’re excited to share that 6AM City, our parent company, closed its Series A funding round led by the media company, TEGNA. This partnership means continuing to deliver the same hyper-local news and events while expanding our reach to new readers and communities. Learn more.

Development

🎶 A well composed plan

How do you feel about a 200,000 sqft along the riverfront? | Rendering by AECOM

“Go big, or go home.”

We’re guessing that’s the motto for the Columbus Symphony, which submitted plans for a $275 million concert venue along the Scioto River. Here’s are five fast facts you need to know about this massive project:

The concert hall would be 200,000 sqft.
It would feature a main hall with 1,600 seats + a community theater with 500 seats.
Officials hope to break ground in September 2025 and open the venue by June 2028.
The current price tag is an estimate, but officials are hopeful to raise those funds through philanthropy, grants, and bonds.
The venue would be open year-round with shows, concerts, and musicals.

We’ve got more renderings on CBUStoday’s Instagram. But, now we’re shining the spotlight on you. Do you want to see a new concert venue along the riverfront?

Let us know

The Buy

Your must-have from Six & Main’s winter skin edit, featuring face wash, lip balm, and serums to keep your skin hydrated and radiant during the cooler months. Did we mention all products are from small businesses, too?

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Mitch

From the editor

TGIF, CBUS. I can’t believe I’m writing this newsletter with my window open in early February. Maybe there’s some truth behind Buckeye Chuck’s prediction... Just look at the upcoming forecast.

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