🍴 5 New Columbus Restaurants To Try In September

Plus: 🐻 Cute Baby Animal Alert!

Author

Chelsea Wiley
September 02, 2025

Sponsored by Columbus Recreation and Parks 🎶
Columbus, get ready for a night of jazz magic! 🎺 The Columbus Jazz Orchestra with Byron Stripling is taking the stage Sept. 12, bringing powerhouse performances and big-band energy you don’t want to miss. Food and drinks start at 5, opener hits at 6:30, and the Jazz Orchestra lights up the night at 8. Learn more at columbusrecparks.com.

Hello, Tuesday (and September)! Chelsea here.

Welcome back! We hope your long weekend was full of sunshine, backyard hangs, and maybe a little time off from your inbox. September is here, and with it comes a fresh batch of spots worth checking out around town. From a coffee shop straight out of Austin with vibes that are totally Instagram-ready to a fried chicken bus that defies classification, Columbus is keeping things interesting. We’ve rounded up the newest restaurants, bakeries, and bars making their mark this month.

🐻 Two Adorable New Bear Cubs Are Moving Into The Columbus Zoo
Columbus Zoo just got a lot cuter! Two orphaned black bear cubs, Ursula and Yzma, now call the Zoo home. You can catch them on select mornings starting today, where they’ll be stealing hearts (and probably snacks) while settling into their new home.

🦣 Everything You Need To Know About Visiting The Ohio History Center
Discover Ohio’s past without leaving Columbus. The Ohio History Center is full of fascinating exhibits, from Ice Age mastodons to 2,000-year-old Hopewell artifacts. And it’s waiting for you to come and explore.

Headlines 📰 

🎙️ Explore Ohio’s Ancient Earthworks, hear about endangered heritage sites from the World Monuments Fund, and learn the art of landing a plane on Travel with Rick Steves. (Rick Steves)

🧠 More Ohioans than ever are seeking mental health care. But with demand outpacing supply, millions still can’t get the help they need. (WOSU)

🌩️ A century ago this week, the Navy’s first rigid airship, the USS Shenandoah, met a tragic end over southeast Ohio. Relive the dramatic final flight, the last chilling transmission, and the storm that sealed its fate. (Ohio History)

☀️ Weather: 80 and sunny

Sponsored by the Greater Columbus Arts Center 🖼️
Explore Columbus through a new lens with the For Us by Us Public Art Tour curated by Lance Johnson. This self-guided tour highlights 11 inspiring works across the city, celebrating compassion, empathy, and connection through public art. Discover the pieces that bring our community together and experience art made authentically. For more info, head over to columbusmakesart.com 

Coming Up 📆

🎵 9/2: Ani DiFranco w/ Special Guest Hurray for the Riff Raff
⚾️ 9/2-9/7: Columbus Clippers vs. Indianapolis
🎻 9/3: Sierra Ferrell
🐶 9/3: Puppypalooza at Huntington Park
🎵 9/3: d4vd – Withered 2025 World Tour
🤣 9/4: The Second City 65th Anniversary Show
🛍️ 9/4: Pearl Market
🖼️ 9/4: Reception — I Know Why the Blackbird Sings & Don’t Sell Grandma’s House
😂 9/4: Drunk Powerpoint
🎭 9/4-9/7: American Idiot
🎭 9/4-9/7: Alice By Heart
🎵 9/5: Bernstein in Story and Song
🎭 9/5-9/7: Heathers: The Musical
🏈 9/6: Ohio State vs. Grambling State University
🍁 9/6: Harvest Fair at the Columbus Commons
💃 9/6: Dancing in the Streets - Sensory Friendly Series
⚡️ 9/6: Electric Fair on Gay
🏰 9/6-9/7: Ohio Renaissance Festival: Fantasy Weekend
🌵 9/7: Community Day at Franklin Park Conservatory

Today's Photo 🤳

🏈 Ohio State football kicked off over the weekend with a fantastic win over Texas. Let’s go, Buckeyes!

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- Chelsea