Archive for December, 2021
Up Front in Cbus | December 17 – December 31, 2021
Columbus Sports
2021 NCAA Volleyball at Nationwide Arena
Watch the top Division I Women’s Volleyball teams go head to head at the 2021 NCAA Championship! The final match is set to be held on Saturday, December 18 at Nationwide Arena. Tickets to the finals are on sale now—click here to purchase.
Can’t make it to the game? Watch the action from your favorite Arena District bars and restaurants. The designated fan gathering spots are below:
- Moran’s Bar & Grille – Wisconsin Badgers
- BD’s Mongolian Grill – Nebraska Cornhuskers
Celebrate the New Year with Hockey
What better way to ring in the new year than cheering on Columbus Blue Jackets from the stands? Catch the last home games of 2021 and the first game of the new year at Nationwide Arena—and don’t forget to fuel up before the game at one of the dozens of restaurants and bars in the Arena District. Grab tickets to these upcoming games:
- December 23 at 7 PM – Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Buffalo Sabres
- December 27 at 7 PM – Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
- December 30 at 7 PM – Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Nashville Predators
- January 1 at 1 PM – Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Check out the 2021-22 season game schedule here.
Columbus Community
Happy Holidays
Happy holidays and best wishes for a happy New Year! We hope this season is wrapped with cheer and filled with celebration for continued happiness and prosperity in 2022.
Columbus Gift Guide
Still searching for the perfect gift? We’ve got you covered! Check out our 2021 Columbus Holiday Gift Guide filled with the best gifts from our favorite Columbus spots here.
A Different View
The most famous fresco in the world, Michelangelo – A Different View, is coming to the Greater Columbus Convention Center! The exhibit will open on December 22 and stay on display until January 23, 2022. Visitors will have the chance to engage with the artwork and see every detail, brushstroke and color of Michelangelo’s frescoes. Click here for more information.
Columbus Entertainment
Live Music in Downtown Columbus
Celebrate the holiday season with live music! Visit the Arena District Events page to stay updated on shows and events coming to EXPRESS LIVE! and Nationwide Arena.
Don’t miss these upcoming events:
- Mitchell Tenpenny | Express LIVE! | December 17 | Tickets
- Trans-Siberian Orchestra – Christmas Eve & Other Stories | Nationwide Arena | December 26 | Tickets
First time back at Nationwide Arena? Click here to know what to expect before you go and enjoy making new memories! Stay safe and have fun! Concert goers must now provide proof of vaccination when visiting EXPRESS LIVE!, A&R Music Bar and The Basement. Click here for more details on PromoWest’s updated health policy.
Food & Drink
Welcome 2022 at the Haus
Celebrate the arrival of 2022 at Hofbräuhaus Columbus! Hofbräuhaus will be offering a special four-course New Year’s Eve menu for guests to enjoy. In addition, the Hofbräuhaus will toast the arrival of the New Year and stay open until 1:00 AM, with live entertainment by Matt Rees.
National Fruitcake Day
December 27 is National Fruitcake Day! Celebrate the day with a tasty glass of locally brewed Fruitcake Hefeweizen at Whistle & Keg. The most loved beer of the season, this brew takes a traditional Hefeweizen and adds citrus (pineapple and orange), along with cherries, toasted pecans and spices.
The Gift of fresh, Made-from-scratch Meals
Give the gift of an incredible meal this season. Ted’s Montana Grill is offering a free $10 gift card when you purchase a $100 gift card online now through December 24. Click here for more information.
Bring Winans Home for the Holidays
Winans is now selling their holiday coffee blends for you to take and make at home! The holiday favor collection features two delicious seasonal blends–cinnamon gingerbread and peppermint bark. Grab them while you can–these delicious flavors will only be available through December.
Stress-Free Holiday Hosting
Hosting for the holidays? Wow your guests with a delicious meal, baked goods or a boxed lunch from Brekkie Shack. A locally-owned breakfast and brunch spot, Brekkie Shack has a wide variety of catering offerings perfect for parties with coworkers, friends and family this holiday season.
Columbus Living
New Year, New Home
Start the year off right with a new Columbus Downtown Apartment! Whether you’re looking to live in the heart of all the action or searching for a more relaxing atmosphere, there’s something for everyone. View Arena District and Grandview Yard apartment offerings by taking a virtual tour on YouTube.
2021 Columbus Holiday Gift Guide
Happy Holidays, Columbus! The season is in full effect and there’s no time to waste. Whether you’re on the hunt for a gift for mom and dad, your siblings, a special someone, or your closest friends, it’s a race to the finish line to cross everyone off your list.
Lucky for you–we’ve done all the work. Check out our 2021 holiday gift guide featuring the best gifts in Columbus and save some time searching for the perfect gift.
The Gift of a Good Brew
A gift that lasts all year–a beer membership!
Hofbräuhaus Columbus offers the “1589 Growler Club” membership. With a wide selection of traditional beer brewed on-site every day. Growler Club members can get a 64 oz. “Drink Tank” growler AND monthly refills of their favorite Hofbräuhaus biers.
The “Daily Pass” program by Whistle & Keg has three levels of membership, regardless of which level you decide, the program gives the beer fanatic in your life access to free beer, merchandise discounts, and more!
The Gift of Sweetness
Winans gift sets are designed to help meet all your gift-giving needs this year! Filled with delicious, handcrafted chocolates made from recipes handed down over four generations, Winans has dozens of gift sets, boxes and baskets to choose from. Check out all of their wonderful gift ideas here.
The Gift of Relaxation
What’s better than me-time? Treat your friends to a day of pampering at the following Columbus locales.
A Massage Envy gift card lets the lucky recipient choose from relaxing massage, skincare services and more. Stop in-store now through December 31 and get a FREE $20 promo card when you purchase $100 in gift cards.
From hair, nails and skin to laser treatments, botox and spray tanning, MY SALON Suite is the perfect one stop shop for all your beauty and spa needs. Plan a girls day and book your appointment online.
The Gift of Health
Jumpstart your loved one’s fitness journey with a gift from one of the many great fitness centers and gyms located throughout Columbus.
Arena District Athletic Club members get access to the gym’s complete line of strength and cardio equipment, plus unlimited group fitness classes. Check out more member amenities here.
Book them a class at Club Pilates! A boutique studio offering comprehensive pilates training, Club Pilates’ has pilates classes for anyone, at any age or fitness level, at an affordable price.
The Gift of Live Action
The Arena District—Columbus’ ultimate sports destination—is loaded with countless gift ideas for all the diehard sports fans out there! Whether they prefer hockey, soccer or baseball, you can never go wrong with game tickets and special fan gear. Check out all the options available below:
The Columbus Crew Holiday Bundle includes two Crew scarves and four tickets to the 2022 Home Opener against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The Crew Shop carries dozens of products that fans can rock to show their support.
Get the best seats in Huntington Park with one of the Columbus Clippers’ season ticket plans and surprise them with merch from the Clippers Official Store.
The CBJ Hockey Holiday Pack includes two tickets to two games (based on availability) and one exclusive, limited-edition T-shirt. You can also grab some exclusive Jackets gear at the Blueline store.
The Gift of a Staycation
Give your loved one a mini getaway in downtown Columbus! There are countless hotel options throughout the city—perfect for the friend who loves to travel, but can’t leave anytime soon. Here are few of the best spots:
Hyatt Regency – Perfectly located in the heart of downtown Columbus with a direct connection to the Greater Columbus Convention Center.
Courtyard Marriott – Offers guests convenient access to the restaurants and entertainment at Grandview Yard, as well as Columbus’ top entertainment districts including the Arena District, downtown Columbus, The Ohio State University and the Short North Arts District.
Hyatt Place – Ideally situated just minutes from The Arena District, The Ohio State University, the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Berliner Park and the wonderful cultural neighborhoods of Downtown Columbus.
The Gift of a Great Morning
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day! Start the day off right with a delicious breakfast at these Columbus favorites.
Brekkie Shack – Popular breakfast, lunch and brunch spot that serves fresh, locally sourced plant-based dishes and scratch-baked goods.
Sunny Street Cafe – A neighborhood destination for fresh, wholesome food and friendly service for breakfast and lunch.
The Gift of Good Food
Good food puts everyone in a good mood! Grab gift cards at any of the dozens of restaurants and bars located throughout the Arena District and Grandview Yard. Here are some of our favorite spots:
Buca Di Beppo – Buca offers authentic Italian cuisine and family-style dishes in an eclectic, vintage setting perfect for celebrations and groups of all sizes.
Habaneros Fresh Mexican Grill – Specializing in delicious authentic street tacos, tequila infused drinks and mezcal, Habaneros’ traditional Mexican flavors make for a great happy hour.
Moran’s Bar & Grille – Whether you’re looking for burgers and beer before the game or a handmade meal after work, Moran’s warm, inviting atmosphere is perfect for any occasion.
R Bar – Perfect for the hockey lover in your life, Columbus’ true hockey bar, R Bar serves up delicious offerings and great vibes every day of the week and especially on game night.
Up Front in Cbus | December 3 – December 17, 2021
Columbus Entertainment
Events in Downtown Columbus
Temperatures are dropping—and live events in downtown Columbus are heating up! Visit the Arena District Events page to stay updated on shows and events coming to EXPRESS LIVE! and Nationwide Arena.
Don’t miss these upcoming events:
- COIN: Rainbow Dreamland Tour | EXPRESS Live! | December 10 | Tickets
- Playboi Carti: King Vamp Tour | Nationwide Arena | December 10 | Tickets
- Khruangbin | EXPRESS Live! | December 11 | Tickets
- Pentatonix: The Evergreen Christmas Tour 2021 | Nationwide Arena | December 12 | Tickets
First time back at Nationwide Arena? Click here to know what to expect before you go and enjoy making new memories! Stay safe and have fun! Concert goers must now provide proof of vaccination when visiting EXPRESS LIVE!, A&R Music Bar and The Basement. Click here for more details on PromoWest’s updated health policy.
GIVEAWAY ALERT
Don’t miss out on all the fun happening in downtown Columbus! Fill out the entry forms below for a chance to win tickets to either the WNCI Jingle Jam or COIN: Rainbow Dreamland Tour.
Click here to enter-to-win tickets to COIN at EXPRESS LIVE! >>
Click here to enter-to-win tickets to the WNCI JINGLE JAM at EXPRESS LIVE! >>
Columbus Sports
Watch the Action on the Ice
We’re two months into the 2021-22 NHL season, and the Columbus Blue Jackets are fighting for divisional dominance! Catch the action at their upcoming Nationwide Arena home games—but before you take your seat, fill up on your favorite drinks and apps at one of the dozens of nearby restaurants and bars.
- December 5 at 6 PM – Columbus Blue Jackets vs. San Jose Sharks
- December 9 at 7 PM – Columbus Blue Jacket vs. Anaheim Ducks
Check out the 2021-22 season game schedule here.
2021 NCAA Volleyball at Nationwide Arena
The 2021 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Tournament is coming to downtown Columbus! The tourney is set to begin on Thursday, December 2 with the semifinal matches taking place in Columbus, Ohio at Nationwide Arena on December 16 and December 18. Watch your favorite teams bump, set and spike their way to victory. Watch the teams advance here with this interactive bracket. For more information click here.
Columbus Community
Jingle Bell Run
Get back to jingling and join the most festive holiday fun-run around! The Arthritis Foundation’s annual Jingle Bell Run will return to Columbys on December 4 at 8:30 a.m. at Genoa Park. Join the battle against the #1 cause of disability and register here.
Holiday in the Heights
Holiday in the Heights–a family-friendly holiday favorite in Columbus–is set to take place on December 7 from 5:30-8:00 PM on Grandview Avenue. The holiday event will feature ice skating, local food, holiday shopping, live music, crafts, a visit from Santa, and more! Click here for more information.
Holiday Lights
Don’t miss the Scioto Mile holiday lights! Thanks to support from the Scioto Mile Endowment Fund, the holiday lights are back at the downtown riverfront through Monday, January 3, 2022 and will be visible every day from dusk until dawn. Click here for more information.
Food & Drink
Holidays at the Haus
Stop by Hofbräuhaus Columbus before or after Holiday in the Heights on December 7 for their winter lager tapping! Need a gift for a special friend? Save $4 on the purchase of a 4-pack of any Crowlers throughout the holiday season–and get a FREE holiday tote bag!
Happy Hour in Downtown Columbus
Need a drink? Or a few? Enjoy delicious tequila infused drinks and mezcal at Habaneros’ happy hour, Sunday – Thursday from 3-6 PM Happy hour specials include:
- $3 off appetizers
- $3 off margaritas
- $2 off draft beer
And if you’re looking for a new happy hour spot, Moran’s Bar & Grille in the Arena District has a warm, inviting and relaxed atmosphere making it a great spot to stop. Enjoy happy hour specials Monday – Friday from 3-7 PM.
Warm Up with Zoup
Celebrate soup season this winter and give the gift of Zoup! Gift Cards are on everybody’s wishlist–purchase a $25 gift card for someone special and get a $5 eBonus for yourself. With countless delicious soup recipes to choose from, there’s something at Zoup for everyone.