Things to do in and Getting around Columbus

At the first Brown Bag lunch today, we enjoyed the sun on the Oval and discussed topics as diverse as the Research on Research program, crossing the Canadian border, and cool things to do in Columbus. To that end, this entry is dedicated to various events and places in the city. It is by no means exhaustive, and feel free to post other points of interest here!

Getting Around

• First off, how does one get to these great places? The predominant mode of transporation is via car, but certain places are easy to reach using the COTA bus system. If you have a BuckID, COTA is free, otherwise it is $1.50 per ride. The #2 line runs consistently up and down High St. with limited service in the evening and the weekends. Here's a nifty tool that shows you bus routes and the real time location of buses on that route. The bus is all we have until a proposed streetcar system is passed and built.
• There are also a few cab services: Yellow cab (614) 444-4444 and Acme (614) 299-9990

Festivals

• This Friday is the Festival Latino downtown. Admission is only $1, and there are tons of food vendors and shows.
• Next Weekend, June 27-29 is ComFest in Goodale Park. Admission is free, but parking is extremely difficult to find. There are dozens of musical acts, and this is a unique event, to say the least.

Sports and Animals

• The Olentangy Bikepath is part of the Ohio greenway system and runs along the river from Worthington all the way downtown passing through campus. It is a great trail for jogging and cycling, but it does sometimes flood after heavy rain (but that makes it all the more fun, right?).
• The Columbus Clippers is a AAA minor league baseball team that plays at Cooper Stadium on the west side. Regular admission is $6, and there are food/drink promotions throughout the week.
• The Columbus Crew is a major league soccer team just northeast of campus. They're currently 2nd in the Eastern Division of the MLS, and games go through October. Tickets are between $14-$24.
• The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is known worldwide for its animal collection, most notably its mountain gorillas. It is located north of Columbus, and admission is $10 to the zoo, and it can also be reached by COTA. Admission to the new water park adjacent to the zoo is $29.99 and includes admission to the zoo.
  

Neighborhoods, the Arts, etc.

• The Columbus Public Library system is one of the best in the country, and its collection includes nearly all popular music albums and films. Membership is free, and the nearest branch to campus is Northside located at High St. and W. 8th Ave.
• The Wexner Center for the Arts here on campus has many events throughout the summer including the "Drive-in" film series that we'll be attending tomorrow night. Admission is free and so are walk-in tours on their calendar.
• CAPA Summer Film Series is shown in downtown at the Ohio Theatre through the summer. This Saturday and Sunday features Back to the Future! Each ticket is $3.50, but a strip of 10 tickets can be purchased for $20.
• German Village is a historic neighborhood south of downtown. It is home to many shops and restaurants. Of particular note are Schmidt's Restaurant and Sausage Haus, The Book Loft of German Village, and Global Gallery Fair Trade Coffee Shop. There are also free outdoor plays on the weekends in Schiller Park.
• The Short North is one of Columbus' arts districts located directly south of campus. There are many art galleries located along High St. and you can also find the North Market and Jeni's Ice Cream.
  
  

More?
This was just a brief overview of things available in Columbus. If you're interested in learning more, you can visit Experience Columbus or take a look at the Columbus Underground blog. Enjoy!