Cbus Chic Favs
Just like Cincinnati, there are tons upon tons of fun and exciting things to do in Columbus. “The city has much to offer from great fashion, food and fun monthly events,” says Gwendolyne Rodriguez, publisher of Cincy Chic’s sister publication, Cbus Chic, which launched in February 2013.
If food is the thing for you, you’re in luck. Columbus Food Adventures is the only food tour company in the city. “This is a great option for those who want to try a variety of different places while in Columbus,” says Rodriguez. “Their wide variety of tours will satisfy any foodie’s palate.”
There’s also Hal & Al’s, which offers a great dining experience with live entertainment and weekly specials, Rodriguez says. “They also have vegan, vegetarian and gluten free food options,” she adds. “It’s a great way to get yummy bar grub for those with dietary restrictions.”
For major sweet tooth cravings, head over to Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, especially in the heat of summer. They offer a variety of 30+ handcrafted award-winning flavors of ice cream, prepared simply and flavored with the freshest local ingredients and responsibly raised exotics.
There’s no shortage of family-friendly events in Columbus, either. “COSI serves as a great destination for kids and adults,” Rodriguez explains. The science center also has Family Friday Night, a series of nights where they offer both reduced admission and extended hours. These nights are July 26, August 30 and September 27.
“Fashionistas flock to Columbus,” says Rodriguez. “There isn’t a shortage of fashion boutiques, department stores or shopping destinations here. You’re sure to find something here in Columbus to add to your clothing collection.”
There are also several fashion events throughout the year. For example, CMH Fashion Week is slated to run October 6-13. “Columbus is the fashion capital of Ohio,” explains Rodriguez. “In fact, several of the nation’s top fashion companies are headquartered here.”
One area in particular that every fashionista should visit, Rodriguez says, is Short North. “This picturesque and walkable area has stylish boutiques offering a variety of vintage, sustainable and high-end fashion,” she explains. “There are five boutiques in Short North that are bound to offer something you’ll love.”
The first of these is Smartypants Vintage. There, you’ll find unique vintage clothing and accessories. Ladybird offers a mixture of new and vintage, to keep you both well-dressed and on trend.
If you want to stick to clothing from organic cotton and sustainable materials, head over to Substance. For contemporary and emerging design clothing, you’ll find your style at Rowe Boutique. Then, there’s Jinny, a women’s designer boutique that has emerging and high-end design apparel, accessories and footwear.
Along with shopping, fine dining, galleries and nightlife can also be found in Short North and surrounding neighborhoods.
“Right down the street from Short North is the historic community of German Village. It’s a beautiful neighborhood with restored homes with great, one-of-a-kind restaurants, bakeries and delis,” Rodriguez explains. “The Book Loft, one of the largest independent bookstores is also a must-visit in German Village.”
If wedding bells are ringing in your near future, Columbus has top bridal boutiques where designer gowns can be found at an affordable price, Rodriguez says. “High-end designer gowns can be found at La Jeune Marie Bridal Boutique and a wider variety of pricepoints can be found at Wedding Plantation.”
Retail lovers can also head to Easton to visit top retail and local stores. Celebrate Local, located in Easton, just re-opened their doors this year and is supporting local businesses.
As for the summer, there are several fun events going on throughout the remainder of these warm months. The German Village Art Crawl is on July 20. There, you can purchase original artwork from local artists.
The Columbus Food Truck Festival will be held August 16 and 17 where you can enjoy entertainment, arts and crafts and food from the best of the best food trucks in all of Ohio.
Farm Days is held August 14-18 where guests can learn about raising crops, check out antique tractors and much more. Then there’s the Columbus Arts Ball will be August 17 and is a fundraising masquerade ball.
For a little “fun and fit muddy time,” check out Pretty Muddy for women September 14. There’s also no shortage of fun for your four-legged friends. Wag fest, the region’s largest dog festival, is August 24.
To learn more about what to do in Columbus and surrounding areas, click here to subscribe to Cbus Chic. “Be sure tell all your friends in Columbus about their new chic site,” says Rodriguez. “We’re really excited to have launched our monthly publication, weekly blogs and TV appearances, as well as events that will start later this year!”
