👋 Alissa here. I've never visited New Orleans, but after trying a South Side staple for Creole cuisine, I'm thinking I should just for the food.Dining the news: With Mardi Gras just around the corner, I headed to Way Down Yonder, opened by a NOLA native in 2017.What I ate: A heaping plate of crawfish étouffée with two fluffy rolls ($20) and a side of creamy mac and cheese ($8).Served over rice, étouffée is a creamy stew with a kick, containing peeled crawfish tails (think shrimp or lobster-like flavor), onions, bell peppers, celery and green onions.My husband ordered a po'boy...

🦈 Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo it! Sing along to Baby Shark's Big Broadwave Tour at Ohio State's Mershon Auditorium.6:30pm tonight and 10am and 2pm Saturday, 1871 N. High St. $23-83.🐇 Enjoy a theatrical dance through the looking glass during BalletMet's performances of "Alice" at the Ohio Theatre.8pm tonight; 2pm and 8pm Saturday; 2pm and 6:30pm Sunday. $38.50-118.🥶 Be "freezin' for a reason" — take the Polar Plunge at Lower.com Field benefiting Special Olympics Ohio.11am Saturday. Registration begins at 9:30am, and $75 minimum fundraising is required to participate.Pro tip: If you're "too chicken to plunge," raise $50 and go watch!🐉 Join the Columbus Chinese Academy for a Lunar New Year celebration featuring food, games and performances at Dublin's Daniel Wright Elementary School.12:30-4pm Saturday, 2335 W. Case Road. Free!🍷 Celebrate Valentine's Day early at a paint and sip event with snacks at Mazah Mediterranean Eatery.1:30-4pm Saturday, 1453 Grandview Ave. $45.🛼 Cheer on the Ohio Roller Derby team during its season-opening matches inside the Ohio Expo Center's Lausche Building.5pm and 7pm Saturday. $10-16. Kids under 8 free!🗓️ Reminder: Free popup concerts, library programs and movies are happening this weekend to celebrate Black History Month. A list of events.Sign up for Axios Columbus for free.

After writing about my first Buckeyes game last fall, I asked readers for more "never have I ever" recommendations — things you must cross off your list to be considered a true Columbusite.One recommendation: A class at Glass Axis, a nonprofit art studio in Franklinton.They offer hot glass blowing and sculpting lessons, as well as classes with cold pieces that are heated later. I chose the latter ($45).How it works: Our group assembled glass scraps into mosaics to be melted and fused into decorative night light covers.You can cut a colored glass sheet into shapes by scoring the surface with...

Columbus City Schools stakeholders are once again tasked with recommending which buildings should close in the years ahead.Why it matters: Closures would help the district reduce expenses as it faces dwindling enrollment and a surplus of aging facilities in need of costly repairs.Yes, but: Past discussions have proven unpopular — and unproductive — among community and school board members.Officials say this time will be different, with new leadership in place.Flashback: In 2018, amid public backlash, board members rejected recommendations to close four schools and turn Linden-McKinley High School into a middle school.The same occurred in 2016 with different suggestions.Of note:...

It took millions of dollars and years of delays, but three permanent bathrooms in downtown Columbus are finally set to open today.Catch up quick: Columbus spent more than $2 million in pandemic relief funds on the project and hired the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District to administer it.But the effort was "clogged up by a host of regulatory and operational problems," as the Dispatch put it.Eye-popping stat: A total of 1,005 days passed between the first allocation of money in May 2021 and today's grand opening.That means the installation of three bathrooms lasted longer than …🏗 The construction of Nationwide Arena, Huntington Park or Lower.com Field.📘 Columbus Metropolitan Library's main branch renovations.🎨 The creation of the giant "Gavel" sculpture.🏫 Kristina Johnson's OSU presidency.Sign up for Axios Columbus for free.

Local officials are investing in plans to combine the region's love for sports with an ongoing commitment to promote racial equity and inclusion.Why it matters: As Columbus pushes to become a major sports hub, targeted investments can prevent diverse communities being excluded from the economic and cultural gains.Driving the news: Franklin County Commissioners invested $130,000 yesterday toward a partnership between the county's Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the Greater Columbus Sports Commission.In particular, the county wants to support events that promote women in sports and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).State of play: The Commission has turned our...

Tax season is here, and Ohioans have a new system they can use to file.The latest: The Ohio Department of Taxation has replaced the aging platform with a new website — but you'll need to be patient when using it the first time.How it works: Before you can access the system, you must create a new username and go through several steps to verify your identity.That includes sending multiple verification codes to your phone and email address, entering your driver's license number, completing a captcha question and providing a random line from your 2022 tax return.If you can't complete the steps, you'll have to verify your identity with an old-fashioned mailed letter.My thought bubble: The tedious process added an unexpected 15-20 minutes to my filing time this week, but I got through it OK.Some folks on Reddit, however, haven't been so lucky.Yes, but: Filing for free directly on the state website still beats paying somebody to do it, right?Sign up for Axios Columbus for free.

A Columbus runner who logged more than 400 miles in January to win free Chipotle does not prefer to run long distances.And truth be told, he's not even a huge fan of the chain's burritos.Yes, but: The "30-something" runner who goes by Fern tells Axios he was motivated to get off his couch and up his mileage to start 2024.Catch up quick: The month-long contest involved traveling a 0.2-mile "segment" along Lane Avenue as many times as possible to win free food from Chipotle for a year.The intrigue: Fern, who got back into running during the pandemic, heard of the...

Data: RentCafe; Table: Axios VisualsHuntington's recently announced plan to sell three historic downtown skyscrapers for housing and retail redevelopment is the latest update in an ongoing push to make downtown more livable.Why it matters: Converting underused office space into residential units is a key part of many big cities' efforts to adapt to post-pandemic realities and create much-needed housing, Axios' Kate Marino reports.Driving the news: Columbus' pipeline for turning old office buildings into new apartments is among the nation's hottest, per RentCafe's latest annual report on the topic, based on Yardi Matrix data.About 1,000 new units are expected this year,...

Reader Nancy asks: Will the Columbus Fury volleyball games be televised?Columbus' newest pro sports team will indeed have some televised games.State of play: The Fury are one of seven teams in the nascent Pro Volleyball Federation.Columbus lost its first match on the road in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Jan. 25, and has another scheduled in Orlando on Feb. 16.The team's Nationwide Arena debut will be Feb. 21 against the Omaha Supernovas. Tickets start at $29.Yes, but: If you can't make it to the Arena District, you can still follow the furious action.Zoom in: Some matches are broadcast on the Stadium network's website and its numerous streaming partners: Roku Channel, FuboTV, YouTube TV, Tubi, Samsung TV Plus, DistroTV, SportsTribal, Freevee and PLEX.Other matches are broadcast on the Bally Live app.The league also streams live matches on its YouTube channel.Be smart: Follow the team schedule for where to find each match through March 3.The league will soon publicize broadcasting details on later matches, Fury spokesperson Cassie Kelley tells us.Get more sports news in your inbox with Axios Sports.

Columbus is in the planning stages for a uniquely shaped linear park spanning seven miles of abandoned rail space on the northeast side.Why it matters: The Linden Green Line will be the first park of its kind in Central Ohio and will benefit an area historically underserved for park space and natural areas.Driving the news: The Columbus City Council is trying to secure federal funding for the project, having already invested $2.5 million and received an additional $2.5 million from the state.Details: Linear parks are narrow recreation paths that connect other landmarks and parks typically in urban areas.This 58-acre version,...

Columbus is in the planning stages for a uniquely shaped linear park spanning seven miles of abandoned rail space on the northeast side.Why it matters: The Linden Green Line will be the first park of its kind in Central Ohio and will benefit an area historically underserved for park space and natural areas.Driving the news: The Columbus City Council is trying to secure federal funding for the project, having already invested $2.5 million and received an additional $2.5 million from the state.Details: Linear parks are narrow recreation paths that connect other landmarks and parks typically in urban areas.This 58-acre version,...

Source: Columbus Metropolitan Library; Map: Deena Zaidi/Axios VisualsA new linear park is not the only makeover planned in the Linden area.The neighborhood library at 2223 Cleveland Ave., just a few hundred feet from the proposed Green Line, will soon be completely rebuilt.Why it matters: This is part of a long-term project by the Columbus Metropolitan Library system to bring "21st century libraries" to the whole region.Details: The Linden branch will close Feb. 17 and its collection will temporarily move to 1990 Jefferson Ave., next to the Linmoor Education Center.A new branch that will more than double in size will open sometime in 2025.State of play: Thirteen branches have already been renovated, expanded or rebuilt since 2014, spokesperson Ben Zenitsky tells Axios.The most recent reopening was in Gahanna last March, featuring a new children's area, School Help Center and larger book collection.What's next: A rebuilt Reynoldsburg branch will open later this year, Zenitsky says.Three other branch reopenings are planned in 2025: Barnett, Marion-Franklin and Canal Winchester.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Columbus.

Valentine's Day is just over a week away.Dining the news: If the way to your loved one's heart is through their stomach, here are some local recommendations with reservations still available.🇫🇷 Fine dining: The Refectory, one of Columbus' most-acclaimed restaurants, features its five-course Valentine's Day menu this weekend.4:30-9:45pm Friday and Saturday, 1092 Bethel Road. $165 per person.✈️ Sky dining: Take a plane ride over downtown from Bolton Field to cap a JP's barbecue dinner and dessert buffet.5-9pm Feb. 14, 2000 Norton Field. $259 per couple. ($129 for food only.)Call 614-878-7422 to reserve.🧑‍🍳 DIY: Cook up romantic memories during The Kitchen's...

Data: Ohio Casino Control Commission and Ohio Lottery Commission; Chart: Axios VisualsIt's official: Ohio is full of sports nuts willing to put a lot of money on the line.Why it matters: Ohioans have been doing that under the table for decades, but the first full year of legal sports betting shows our authentic appetite for action.Eye-popping stats: We collectively bet nearly $7.7 billion on everything from Buckeyes games to tennis matches and even esports championships, per an Axios analysis of state gaming figures.That's a whopping $878 for every Ohioan above the legal betting age of 21.Sportsbooks raked in over $900...

Ohio's favorite weather-predicting groundhog is a Clevelander now.What's happening: A rescued rodent who lives at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History was recently dubbed the new "Buckeye Chuck."He'll make his first prognostication Friday morning with radio station WMRN-AM in Marion, reviving a decades-old tradition.Flashback: Last Groundhog Day, the station subbed a stuffed groundhog for the real thing at the last minute due to a PETA controversy.Catch up quick: The new Chuck's actual name is Murray, named after "Groundhog Day" actor Bill Murray.He doesn't have the skills needed to survive in the wild because a family found him as an injured orphan and raised him.An animal rehabilitator brought Murray to the museum last summer. When he isn't predicting the weather, he participates in educational programs.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Columbus.

⛸️ Believe in magic at Disney on Ice, when your favorite animated characters skate into Nationwide Arena.10:30am and 7pm today; 11am, 3pm and 7pm Saturday; 10:30am, 2:30pm and 6:30pm Sunday. $15-70.🌈 Ease on down the rainbow at Axis Nightclub with "The Wiz of Oz," a mashup of the 1939 film and "The Wiz," which reimagined the original in New York City with a star-studded Black cast.8pm tonight and Saturday, 775 N. High St. $22 general admission.🎵 Sway to the mellow beat at Rumba Cafe's Yacht Rock Party.9:30pm tonight, 2507 Summit St. $15.🎪 Step right up to the Columbus Winter Carnival at the Franklin County Fairgrounds.11am-5pm Saturday, 4100 Columbia St. Free admission, but registration is required.Tickets required for activities ($3, or 3 for $6), with passes available.🌲 Create happy little trees — and gnomes! — during a pottery playshop at Mud Gallery.2-4pm Saturday, 123 N. Columbus St., Lancaster. $50.🍺 OK campers, rise and shine — and head to Studio 35 Cinema & Drafthouse for a "Groundhog Day" beer tasting.1pm Sunday, 3055 Indianola Ave. $45.🗓️ Reminder: Black History Month events kick off this weekend. Check out the full schedule.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Columbus.

State lawmakers recently took a lighter to Columbus' ban on flavored tobacco products like fruity vapes and menthol cigarettes.Now Columbus is headed to court to tell lawmakers they can stick that ban in their pipes and smoke it.Why it matters: The flavored tobacco issue is part of an ongoing conflict over cities' rights to govern themselves.Catch up quick: Columbus passed a flavored tobacco sales ban in 2022 to protect residents from "dangerous products and to reverse the impacts of generations of tobacco marketing focused on African Americans and children."Gov. Mike DeWine later proposed a statewide ban.Instead, legislators did the opposite...

Our Franklin County Historical Marker Tour takes us to one of the most creative homes in Columbus.The marker: Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson Home Studio and Artist's Residence at 791 Sunbury Road.Flashback: Robinson moved here in 1974 while working as an art teacher for the city's parks department and became a full-time artist in 1991.She worked in many different media as a painter, drawer, sculptor and author, with works often dedicated to Black history and culture.The intrigue: Robinson was known for large multimedia pieces she called "RagGonNons," made from various items like buttons, cloth and music boxes.Robinson hoped they would "rag...

We've compiled a list of places you can celebrate and learn about Black history throughout February.🪘 Make West African music, study genealogy, learn about Columbus' Black firefighters and more at local libraries, with free activities for all ages scheduled throughout the month.Schedule, starting Saturday.🍿 Watch movies depicting Black joy and experiences at the McConnell Arts Center, 777 Evening St., Worthington.2pm Saturday, "The Woman King." Free, but reservations required.More screenings.🎭 Learn about the Lincoln Theatre, school desegregation and the Underground Railroad during free programs at the Ohio Statehouse every Tuesday at noon.Schedule, starting Tuesday.🎶 Enjoy a popup concert by the Columbus Cultural Orchestra, multigenerational musicians whose performances range from classical music to Miles Davis and Kendrick Lamar.Schedule, starting Feb. 10.✍️ See poetry performances focused on Black womanhood at the Ohio History Center.11am-1:30pm Feb. 17. $20-25. Registration required by Feb. 14.🎨 Celebrate Aminah Robinson with art workshops at the King Arts Complex, 835 Mount Vernon Ave.Noon-4pm Feb. 17. Free, but registration required.📖 Learn about Ohio's role in the Underground Railroad during a local author's presentation the Ohio History Center.3-5pm Feb. 22. Included with museum admission ($10-16).Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Columbus.