Out in LGBTQ GUIDE - OUTINCBUS.COM - Experience Columbus

LGBTQ
 GUIDE

 Out in

Explore boutiques, bars, restaurants and attractions in Columbus
   – declared one of the most exciting LGBTQ-friendly travel
        destinations in the world by Expedia (May 2018).

                  OUTINCBUS.COM

Columbus is home to one of the largest Pride festivals in
the Midwest. Attracting more than 700,000 people every
  June, it includes a downtown parade along with more
  than 180 vendors, two music stages and a family area.
The festival was named on the list of 11 Spectacular Pride
Celebrations in Unexpected Cities by Fodors (June 2018).

Welcome
TO COLUMBUS
We’re excited for your visit to our city. There’s a palpable
energy here that will hit you as soon as you arrive. Not
only is Columbus one of the New York Times’ 52 Places
to Go in 2019, it’s also a smart, open and welcoming
community that continually scores a perfect 100 on the
Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index. As
the President of Columbus City Council and an openly
gay man, I am dedicated to keeping Columbus a top
LGBTQ+ inclusive city.

The city is booming. Few places can keep you so busy
and entertained as Columbus, with its vibrant blend
of arts and culture, dining, fashion, music and sports.
Our flourishing downtown, lively urban entertainment
districts and variety of renowned visitor attractions
invite exploration. We’re the fastest growing city in the
Midwest. We’re committed to growing the right way and
ensuring everyone has a place here.

Big things are happening, and you’re invited to join.
I promise you’ll feel right at home.

Yours in service,

                       Shannon Hardin
                       Columbus City Council President

Show your love of the city using #outincbus when
posting about your experiences on social media.

Tip: Take a selfie with the deer on the Rich Street bridge
(pictured on front cover) to use the skyline as a perfect backdrop.
During Pride, the deer is decked out for the occasion.

THE GUILD HOUSE

Dining

True food cities are always full of hidden gems, and
Columbus is no exception. Named one of Food & Wine’s
32 Places to Go (And Eat) in 2019, every neighborhood
features coffee shops, diners, bakeries and eateries —
some tucked down back streets or hidden just out of sight.
Get a taste of the city with tried-and-true favorites such
as Katalina’s famous pancake balls, the unique flavors at
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams or Donatos’ Edge to Edge®
pizza. Connected to the pizza joint’s Short North location
is Black Brick Bar, where you can enjoy its full menu along
with craft cocktails and live music. Barcelona, in German
Village, features Spanish cuisine on a menu that changes
weekly. Here you’ll find live music and one of the best
patios in Columbus, with their Pride flag flying proudly out
front. Visit the North Market, downtown’s historic public
market, for a variety of prepared foods from independent
merchants. If you’re looking for upscale dining, any of the
brands under Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, started in
Columbus, are always a good choice. You can find a list of
options on their website. Visit The Keep inside the iconic
Hotel LeVeque, part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection,
or the modern American kitchen at Service Bar located
inside Middle West Spirits.

EXPERIENCE COLUMBUS
                                            VISITOR CENTER

 Shopping
As headquarters to popular brands like Bath & Body Works,
Express and DSW, Columbus is widely considered fashion’s
best kept secret. Many of Columbus’ neighborhoods offer
chic boutiques from independent fashion retailers and
designers. Make sure to check out these one-of-a-kind
shops in the Short North Arts District:
  • Pursuit - slim suit styles, thoughtfully curated
     accessories.
  • TORSO - men’s clothing store known for their huge
     selection of guys’ underwear and swimwear.
  • Manhood + Home - men’s underwear and home accent
     store.
  • Homage – the softest shirts, screened with vintage
     sports and civic logos.
  • Rowe Boutique – hip, trendy women’s apparel.
  • Samson Men’s Emporium – boutique specializing in
     classic men’s casualwear and gifts.
Visit any of The Candle Lab’s four locations throughout
the city and hand-pour your own custom-scented candle.
Purchase the pre-made ‘Nina West’ candle, named for
Columbus’ favorite drag queen, and the proceeds go to one
of her charities.
Stroll the shops along Grandview Avenue in Grandview
Heights to find women’s clothing stores like THREAD or
Vernacular, or check out State of Devotion for all your
Ohio-themed gift needs.
The unique village setting at Easton features major national
brands like Tiffany’s and Nordstrom, and offers a broad
assortment of restaurants, entertainment and retailers, just
15 minutes east of downtown.

PIZZUTI COLLECTION

Arts & Attractions

For exciting entertainment, visit the Short North Stage
showing everything from Broadway classics and edgy
off-Broadway musicals to progressive one-act plays, dance
and everything in between. Shadowbox Live, the largest
resident theatre company in America, offers a hybrid form
of entertainment with their original sketch comedy, live
rock ‘n’ roll, dance theater and new media. For families,
COSI continues to be a top-rated science center thanks
to its more than 300 interactive exhibits, including the
American Museum of Natural History Dinosaur Gallery. The
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium boasts the Heart of Africa
exhibit where you can hand-feed a giraffe and then head
next door and splash in the wave pool at Zoombezi Bay
during the summer months. Family activities and crafts
are offered every weekend to enhance your experience
at Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens,
including the 2-acre Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation
Children’s Garden.

START PLANNING NOW FOR 2020
Feb. 14, 2020 through May 17, 2020, the Columbus Museum of
Art will feature “Art After Stonewall.” Coinciding with the 50th
anniversary of the Stonewall Riots of 1969, this long-awaited
and groundbreaking survey features more than 200 works
of art and related visual materials that explore the profound
impact of the LGBTQ civil-rights movement on the art world.

TOPIARY PARK

Sports & Recreation

Explore the 20+ Metro Parks throughout the city or
stroll along the Scioto Mile to enjoy miles of multi-use
trails or take in free concerts on summer weekends at
Bicentennial Park or the Columbus Commons. Scioto
Audubon Metro Park adds excitement with the largest
free outdoor climbing wall in the country.
No matter the season, there is always a sporting event
taking place in Columbus. Cheer on the baseball stars
of tomorrow, the Columbus Clippers, at Huntington
Park, repeatedly voted best Triple-A ballpark by Ballpark
Digest. Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew SC play
at MAPFRE Stadium, the first major league stadium built
specifically for soccer in the United States. During the
winter months, the National Hockey League’s Columbus
Blue Jackets are sure to get you pumped up with the
firing of the cannon every time they score! Most teams
host a ‘pride night’. Check individual websites for dates
offering program specifically for LGBTQ fans.

START PLANNING NOW FOR 2020
Aug. 24-29, 2020, the North American Gay Amateur Athletic
Alliance (NAGAAA) returns to Columbus. The world’s largest
annual LGBTQ single-sport competition brings more than 5,000
participants from 45 cities competing in the Gay Softball World
Series at Berliner Sports Park.

GERMAN VILLAGE

Neighborhoods

Columbus has several extraordinary neighborhoods
throughout the city where LGBTQ residents reside that
also offer fun opportunities for exploration. For a modern
and trendy picture of LGBTQ life in Columbus, head to the
Short North Arts District. As a business district full of art
galleries, restaurants and shops, the Short North is one of
the city’s most active spots for gay nightlife. The nearby
homes sport many Pride flags flying from historic porches.
A few miles south, German Village ranks highly for
partnered gay couples in Columbus. The South High
Street corridor is home to several LGBTQ establishments,
some of which offer a glimpse into the dive-bar scene of
previous decades.
Seeking someplace more subdued? Live the suburban
dream and head up to Clintonville—or, more specifically,
Beechwold. From the exceptional architecture and leafy
tree canopy of the historic district on the west side of High
Street to the charming Cape Cod cottages on the east
side, the neighborhood offers a unique slice of the city’s
LGBTQ culture. Just south is the University District for a
trendy look at the college scene in Columbus.

NEW IN 2019
The new Stonewall Columbus Community Center is now open on
High Street in the Short North Arts District. The center opens with
a first-level LGBTQ+ artist gallery, expansive event space, exciting
new programming, while adding a new hub for the vibrant LGBTQ+
community. Learn more at stonewallcolumbus.org.

Nightlife                                            UNION CAFÉ

The Short North Arts District offers some of the most well-
known gay nightlife in the city. Union Café is a bustling
LGBTQ-friendly bar/restaurant and a great weekend brunch
spot, while Axis Nightclub features Columbus’ largest
dance club, cabaret (with all male revues) and the best in
entertainment from the country’s best drag queens.
AWOL, in the historic Olde Towne East neighborhood, is a
laid back, local bar with a great selection of drinks and an
excellent outdoor patio. Thursday-Saturday, The Barracks
at AWOL transforms into a large dance club, more than
doubling the capacity of the bar.
For a true throwback, head to Tremont Lounge in German
Village – one of the city’s oldest gay bars where a diverse
clientele gather for cheap drinks and fun shows. Slammers,
in the heart of downtown, is a popular lesbian bar featuring
great drinks, pool tables, a patio, delicious pizza and live
entertainment. Club Diversity is an offbeat gathering place
in a circa-1880 house featuring live music, themed nights
and a great martini selection.
Just a little south of German Village, Boscoe’s is a new bar
offering darts, drag shows and karaoke. Southbend Tavern
features drag shows, open mic night, karaoke and more.
Cavan’s Irish Pub is a convenient walk from German and
Merion Villages, providing a relaxing and LGBTQ-friendly
place to enjoy traditional Irish beer.

Hot Spots
LGBTQ BARS AND NIGHTCLUBS
Columbus’ reputation for being an open and smart
city is highlighted by its vast array of LGBTQ bars and
nightclubs throughout the city. Find live music, karaoke,
local drinks and more at any of these spots in the
downtown neighborhoods. Take the free CBUS circulator
up and down High Street to visit many of these places.

   1    Union Café
        columbusnightlife.com
        782 N. High St., 614-421-2233
   2    Axis Nightclub
        facebook.com/AxisNightClub
        775 N. High St., 614-291-4008

   3    Slammers
        slammerspizza.com
        202 E. Long St., 614-221-8880
   4    AWOL Bar
        awolbar.com
        49 Parsons Ave., 614-621-8779
   5    Tremont Lounge
        facebook.com/TremontColumbus
        708 S. High St., 614-444-2041

   6    Club Diversity
        clubdiversity.com
        863 S. High St., 614-224-4050

   7    Boscoe’s
        facebook.com/boscoes.bar
        1224 S. High St., 614-826-3758

   8    Southbend Tavern
        facebook.com/SouthBendTavern
        126 E. Moler St., 614-444-3386

   9    Cavan’s Irish Pub
        cavansirishpub.com
        1409 S. High St., 614-725-5502

   10   Pride Festival (COSI)
        columbuspride.org
        333 W. Broad St., 614-299-7764

              = Approximately
                                = COTA CBus Route   = Parking Garage   = Entrance/Exit Ramp
                10-min. walk

Stonewall Columbus
                  Community Center

Pride Location
  June 14-16

Annual Events
  Plan your trip around one of these annual events.
  Check experiencecolumbus.com/events for the
  full calendar and dates.
  MAR

         Arnold Sports Festival
         Columbus Crew SC Opening (thru Oct.)
  APR

         Columbus Clippers Opening (thru Sept.)
         Comic Bowling Tournament (IGBO Event)
  MAY

         Asian Festival
         the Memorial Tournament, presented by Nationwide
  JUNE

         Columbus Pride Festival
         Columbus Arts Festival
         ComFest

         Red, White & BOOM!
  JULY

         Jazz & Rib Fest
         Ohio State Fair
         Picnic with the Pops (multiple dates)

         Dublin Irish Festival
  AUG

         Columbus Food Truck Festival
         Labor of Love (NAGVA Event)

         Greek Festival
  SEPT

         Oktoberfest
         Buckeye Softball Classic
         Columbus Oktoberfest
  OCT

         HighBall Halloween
         Fashion Week Columbus
-DEC

         Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
NOV

         Conservatory Aglow
         Dragon Lights Columbus

 This is just a start for exploring the
 LGBTQ scene in Columbus. To see
 all dining options, attractions and
 events available in our open and
 smart city, visit outincbus.com.