🥹 60 Years. 5,000 Books. One Beautiful Reading List.

Plus: 🐘 The Columbus Zoo Has An Brand New, 215lb Arrival

Author

Chelsea Wiley
July 24, 2025

Sponsored by the Greater Columbus Arts Council 🖼️
From neighborhood block parties to music, food, and cultural festivals, there’s something happening almost every weekend in Columbus. Don’t miss your chance to explore the city through art, creativity, and a whole lot of fun. Find your next summer favorite at columbusmakesart.com/events.

Hello, Thursday! Chelsea here.

I love a good reading list, but this one is really pulling at my heartstrings. When Dan Pelzer passed away earlier this month, he left behind a handwritten archive of every book he checked out from the Columbus library system since 1962. Thousands of titles, scribbled line by line, now digitized by his family and shared with the world. It’s a beautiful tribute to a lifelong reader and a reminder of just how much meaning a library card can hold. If you’re looking for your next read, or just a little faith in humanity, start here.

🏡 This Amazing Lustron Airbnb Is A Total Time Capsule
If you’re into vintage vibes and hidden gems, this 1949 Lustron home near Dayton is worth a look. It’s like stepping into a postcard from the past—and you can book it for your next getaway.

🐘 The Columbus Zoo Has An Brand New, 215lb Arrival
There’s a brand new baby elephant at the Columbus Zoo! First-time mom Sunny welcomed a healthy calf yesterday, and while they’re still bonding behind the scenes, this little one is already stealing hearts.

Headlines 📰 

🎟️ Minors need a grown-up to tag along after 6 p.m. at the Ohio State Fair this year. It’s all part of a renewed effort to keep things fun, safe, and drama-free once the sun goes down. (NBC4)

🍩 Rose Dough Donuts is gearing up to open its first storefront in Clintonville on August 23. The popular pop-up is finally going brick-and-mortar, bringing its signature brioche, cake, and cruller-style doughnuts to N. High Street. (Columbus Monthly)

🌆 As downtown Columbus gears up for a population boom, projected to triple by 2040, developers are betting on a retail and entertainment revival. At a Columbus Metropolitan Club forum, city leaders discussed everything from tax incentives and office-to-residential conversions to how residents will help shape the neighborhood’s identity as it evolves. (WOSU)

☀️ Weather: 94 and sunny with heat index values as high as 101

Sponsored by PromoWest 🎸
No one does live music in Columbus quite like PromoWest. They’ve got some fantastic shows coming up, including Lucy Dacus, Lord Huron, Sierra Ferrell, and more. To see what’s on the calendar, or to grab tickets to a show, head over to promowestlive.com.

Coming Up 📆

Today's Photo 🤳

🌳 Do you have a favorite spot in the city to sit down with a good book? I’m a big fan of finding the perfect tree… you know the kind you can lean into that’s inexplicably comfortable?

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- Chelsea