Jan./Feb. 2024

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Travel

​Cleveland Museum of Natural History Has Bold New Look

The beloved University Circle attraction’s new Visitor Hall previews the wonders to come when the institution’s full renovation is complete.

19 Great Ohio Date Nights

From elegant meals to cool classes and retro arcade games to classical music, amp up your next evening out together with one of these great ideas. 

30 Reasons to Love Ohio Right Now

From great new gathering spots and fun places to stay to fresh food finds and memorable moments, here’s what has our hearts aflutter about the place we call home.

Dum Dums Maker Opens Sweet Spot for Candy Lovers

Spangler Candy Co. makes Dum Dums and other treats we love. Now it has a fun place to visit in downtown Bryan that celebrates its legacy.

Past Times Arcade Houses Hundreds of Retro Games

Created by collector Rob Berk, this spot in Girard is filled with vintage pinball machines and old-school arcade cabinets. Even better, you can play all day for $20. 

Rainbow Row Creates a New Bellefontaine Landmark

The colorful redevelopment project provides a new downtown destination and fresh chapter in this Logan County city’s revitalization.

See 3 Museum Exhibits that Explore Black History

Check out this trio of interesting and educational exhibitions that offer insight into the African American experience and African art in America.

Take a Presidential Road Trip Across Ohio

These nine locations tell the stories of the eight men from our state who held the nation’s highest office as well as the role of our country’s first ladies.

The Downtown Exchange Transforms Zanesville Building

The new development brings a historic food hall to the city, offering new lunch options for daytime workers and a hub for the community.  

The Gatherall at Factory 52 Offers a World of Flavors

This food hall located in a former playing-card factory northeast of Cincinnati in Norwood serves up a variety of cuisines and an inviting space to socialize.

The Junto Brings New Hotel Experience to Columbus

Located on Columbus’ Scioto Peninsula, this modern spot offers an inviting space that is unlike any other you are likely to encounter in our capital city.

The Making of Our “Ohio Love” Cover

Watch JustAJar Design Press’ Bobby Rosenstock create our January/February 2024 cover and learn more about his woodcut process. 

The Toy Department Goes Big with 20,000-Square-Foot Store

Inspired by their love for 1980s pop culture, four friends took their fan-favorite Butler County store to a new level of fun.

Where and How to Witness the Total Solar Eclipse in Ohio

A huge swath of our state will have an incredible view of the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, as a 124-mile-wide band of totality stretches across Ohio. It won’t happen again until 2099. 

Food + Drink

Drelyse African Restaurant, Columbus

Restaurateur Lisa Bannerman’s capital-city spot serves the authentic dishes she grew up with in Ghana.

Seek-No-Further Cidery, Granville

This cider-making operation offers a core lineup of flavorful cider varieties as well as a cozy and inviting place to hang out.

Arts

Embrace Winter at Cleveland’s Outdoor Music Festival

Brite Winter began in 2010 as a way to bring northeast Ohioans out for live music and interesting art and has become a February tradition in the city. 

See ‘Clearly Indigenous: Native Visions Reimagined in Glass’ in Cincinnati

Featuring works by 33 contemporary artists, this insightful exhibition is on display at the Cincinnati Art Museum through April 7.

Home + Garden

How Artist Jon Lund Immortalizes Cleveland Landmarks and Icons

His Hudson-based Lund Studio creates a line of beautiful prints that celebrates neighborhoods like Little Italy, natural features such as the Cuyahoga River and more. 

Ohio Life

Buckeye Chuck, Ohio’s Own Weather-Predicting Groundhog

Punxsutawney who? When it comes to figuring out whether an early spring is on the way, the state of Ohio turns to our own resident expert. 

Live Well Jan./Feb. 2024

How to prevent common hazards in and around the home and cold weather arrives. Plus, Dublin resident Greg Ruf shares his work to bring awareness to a lesser-known heart condition. 

Lori Stewart Gonzalez on Being Ohio University’s First Female President

When she took the college’s top office in 2023, the longtime educator became the first woman to helm Ohio University. 

Martin Luther King Jr. Visits Ohio University

From Dec. 27, 1959, to Jan. 2, 1960, more than 3,600 college students gathered to consider a variety of modern topics from a Christian perspective.

Ohio Finds: Leuty McGuffey Manahan’s ‘Cutting Ice’

This folk art painting created by the artist in 1950 depicts frosty work from winters past.

Photos that Capture the Beauty of Winter in Ohio

Ohioans may not always love this time of year, but these four photographers show the wonder that can be found here as temperatures drop.

The Food, Drink and Furry Mythical Creatures of Cleveland Kurentovanje

This winter festival aimed at warding off winter and ushering in spring celebrates the city’s Slovenian heritage with an annual parade and party.

The Pencil Sharpener Museum in the Hocking Hills

The late Rev. Paul A. Johnson’s passion for pencil sharpeners led to this quirky mini museum at the Hocking Hills Regional Welcome Center in Logan. 

Visit the Home Where Writer James Thurber Lived

In the quiet corridors of Columbus’ 1873 Thurber House, explore the life of the noted 20th-century author and cartoonist. 

Visit the James A. Garfield National Historic Site in Mentor

The former president’s Lake County home played a pivotal role in his campaign for the White House as the site of his front-porch campaign. 

Visit the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museums in Fremont

Webb Hayes’ tribute to his parents at the northwest Ohio estate they called home was the nation’s first presidential library and museum.

Visit the William Howard Taft National Historic Site in Cincinnati

Our 27th president spent his formative years at this hilltop residence in a neighborhood built for the city’s social elite. Today, the restored home shares his story. 

Visit the William McKinley National Memorial in Canton

Our nation's 25th president is honored with an ornate monument that serves as his final resting place. An adjacent museum tells the story of his presidency and Stark County.