The great outdoors

• We love a free event, and these free kayak days are paddling right up our alley. Keep this post saved so you can wade into local waters in July + August.
• Stay on the move by using these outdoor trails for running, hiking, and walking. Plus, take a sneak peek at the newest Canopy Walk in Blacklick Woods.

Tastes like summer

• Variety is the spice of life, especially with Land-Grant Brewing Co.'s Summer Session Variety Pack. It’s full of crushable beers like the EZ Pils, a light brew with just 3.8% ABV.
• Sometimes the classics need a seasonal twist, which is what Wolf’s Ridge Brewing is doing with its Coconut Cold Brew Daybreak.

Independence Day ideas

• Red, White and BOOM! | Wednesday, July 3 | Downtown Columbus | Prepare for an all day event with parades, kid activities, and street markets. Plus, it’s all capped off with the largest firework show in the Midwest.
• Doo Dah Parade and Music Festival | Thursday, July 4 | Goodale Park | The parade showcases the truly strange side of Columbus as no registration or theme is required to join the march, and it’s one of Mitch’s favorite events to attend each year.

• Wake Up and Run: Morning Jogging Group | Thursday, June 20 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Luxe at Highlands, 6965 Meadow Oak Dr., Dublin | $38 | This group activity is appropriate for all running levels + offers the chance to make new friends.
• Summer Solstice Rooftop Silent Disco + Yoga | Thursday, June 20 | 6:30-10 p.m. | National Veterans Memorial and Museum, 300 W. Broad St., Downtown | $45 | Celebrate the solstice with a optional rooftop yoga flow and a sunset silent disco.

• William Montgomery | Friday, June 21-Saturday, June 22 | Times vary | Columbus Funny Bone, 145 Easton Town Center, Easton | $32 | This rising comedian broke onto the scene after going viral on the popular podcast “Kill Tony” where he now makes regular appearances.

• The Official Pride Crawl | Saturday, June 22 | 4 p.m. | Howl at the Moon, 504 Park St., Downtown | $10-$30 | Keep the LGBTQ+ pride parties rolling with this crawl that stops at bars like Brother’s, Gaswerks, and Novak’s Tavern and Patio.
• Uncorked: Columbus | Saturday, June 22 | 7-11 p.m. | COSI, 333 W. Broad St., Downtown | $65-$80 | Sample your way through 100+ different wines and champagnes at this boozy, adults-only event.

• Copa America: USA vs. Bolivia | Sunday, June 23 | 6-8 p.m. | Grandview Theatre & Drafthouse, 1247 Grandview Ave., Grandview | Free | The theater will be open 30 minutes prior to kick off + will screen all other games for free.

• Cyndi Lauper’s Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour | Sunday, Nov. 3 | 8 p.m. | Schottenstein Center, 555 Borror Dr., Columbus | $34-$784 | Don’t miss your chance to see the Grammy-, Emmy-, and Tony Award-winning songwriter + performing artist take the stage in November — grab your tickets today.*

• Google is investing an additional $2.3 billion into its existing data centers in central Ohio. Google has now invested $6.7 billion into the Buckeye State, the second most in Ohio history, trailing just Intel. (10TV)

• This stretch of hot weather is no joke. That’s why Columbus Commons canceled its lineup of events planned for Friday, June 21. If you purchased tickets to this one, they can be redeemed for the July 13 show.

• Smith & Wollensky is returning to Columbus. The popular steakhouse will open in a new location at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on the first floor. It was previously located at Easton for 20+ years, but closed in 2023. The new location is expected to open in 2025. (Columbus Business First)

• Paris Baguette, a South Korea-based bakery, is bringing a second location to central Ohio at Arlington Gateway. The international bakery is also in the middle of opening its first location at Easton Town Center, which is expected to begin operations soon. (614now)

• If you see an animal on the loose at the Columbus Zoo, don’t worry — it’s more than likely just a scooter pal. The zoo now features animal-themed scooters for visitors to ride around during their visits. Variations include gators, giraffes, and bears — oh my. (The Columbus Dispatch)

• Melt Bar & Grilled, a Cleveland-based sandwich restaurant, filed for bankruptcy on Tuesday. “This gives us the best opportunity to reorganize and rebuild the company,” said Matt Fish, majority owner and president of Melt. He added that there are no plans to close any restaurant at this time. (Columbus Business First)

• The Cleveland Browns and wide receiver Amari Cooper aren’t seeing eye-to-eye about his contract extension. That might be why he missed a practice a couple weeks ago... Get the latest news, analysis, and insider information for the Browns with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
  

• The Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition is on display, but tickets are limited each day.
• Watch this video from the American Museum of Natural History for a preview of the Nature of Color exhibit.
• A visit to COSI is never complete without spending time with dinosaurs.
• We recommend parking in the underground parking garage for easy access.