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By
Matt Mathrani
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Click on the link for a handy PDF version of our March 2008 Ohio travel feature!
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Skyscrapers rise from the flat fertile fields as if they were on the cover of a sixth-grade civics book. This classic American city is comprised of many ethnic neighborhoods. German Village, a gracious area of stately homes with narrow brick-paved streets shaded by
vast spreading elms, sports truly fabulous local restaurants such as
Barcelona (263 East Whittier), G. Michael's (595 South Third Street), or for a truly German meal,
Juergen's (525 South 4th Street). German Village's architectural treasures were threatened in the '60s
by the bulldozers of Progress. Many were saved by the outraged cries of local gays and lesbians, and are now some of the jewels of Ohio.
Ohio State University, with 60,000 students, is itself the size of a small city within Columbus. Whether it's the open mindedness of college students, or the high intellectual caliber of 21st century industry in this post-industrial town, there's a nonjudgmental acceptance
of others here. Indeed, The Advocate rates Columbus one of the best places in the country for gay folk to live. At gay pride last year, some 100,000 people turned out.
The Short North area is the one of the gayest in town, with shops, cafes, and bars-aplenty along High Street between downtown and Ohio State University. Downtown is reinventing itself with condo lofts and affordable rentals, which are attracting many gays
and lesbians along with their watering holes. German Village has been gay for years. North High Street and South High Street connect all three neighborhoods with ease.
For accommodations, the Brewmaster's House B&B (1083 South High; 614-449-8298) is a B&B for men in a grand historic German Village house. The four rooms have cable TV and wi-fi, while some have a fireplace; there's a full breakfast. Bathrooms are shared.
On the town
Short North's attractions, all walkable from one another, include
Union Station Video Cafe (630 North High), a classy, relaxed, video cafe and bar serving freshly-prepared food. Open daily, their before-the-bars happy hour pulls a crowd, as does the Sunday brunch
and Sunday evening's Show Tunes. Throughout the week, the latest music videos, gay TV, comedy, and classic clips are on the big screen. Play pool or darts, or get on-line with wi-fi.
Nearby Axis (775 North High, in a courtyard off the street) is open Friday and Saturday nights from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. On Fridays and Saturdays there is an all-male revue upstairs. Check out first-Friday Frat Night parties and third-Friday Shower Nights, with hot
jocks in two large showers all night long. Male-erotic-video stars appear periodically. On Saturdays at Axis college boys fill the dance floor.
Havana (862 North High) has an urbane upscale mix, good martinis, a pool table, plus a packed all-male revue at Sunday night's "Church." On Wednesdays, there's karaoke.
Eagle in Exile (893 North Fourth), open daily 9 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., has a weekend leather dress code, and the guys get into some hot bondage play. Male strippers perform Sundays as only the Exile can present them. Amidst the prison and St. Andrew's Cross,
there's karaoke on Wednesdays, Country Music on Thursdays, and the Rock and Roll Fag Bar on Fridays. It's Columbus: everyone's into a little of everything.
Open seven days a week, Q Bar (205 North 5th) is a video and dance bar in the heart of the downtown Warehouse District. Happy hour is a local favorite, featuring some of the best martinis in the city. Q offers a great view of the city from its
heated patio, complete with outdoor TVs. Mondays are comedy nights, while Sundays and Tuesdays offer karaoke. Thursdays are show tunes, first Fridays are disco, and fourth Fridays are '80s request dance nights. Saturday is a big dance night at Q, and everyone grooves
to the lights of the city.
Tradewinds II (117 East Chestnut Street) is also downtown. Check for bear-themed happy hours and some of the most relaxed socializing in Columbus. It's a complex of three bars and a restaurant, and with a
Torso store tucked within.
Scorebar (145 North 5th Street) is a sports bar for straights, gays, and lesbians.
Pyramid (211 North 6th Street) is a long, narrow dance and showbar with female illusionists and strippers providing much entertainment. Dart boards and pool tables add a sports-bar flair.
Bars in the Brewer's District/ German Village area include:
Somewhere Else (1312 South High),
Tremont (708 South High), and Woof's (1409 South High).
Club Diversity (863 South High) resides in a converted townhouse, complete with exposed brick walls and new artwork. It features live jazz three nights a week with no cover and great martinis. A small theater on the second floor offers serious drama several night
a week. This is a grown-ups bar for people who relish good conversation and fine music.
Other area bars include:A.W.O.L. (49 Parsons);
Closet (1297 Parsons); Club 20 (20 East Duncan);
Pyramid (211 North 6th), also with strippers;
South Bend (126 East Moler); Summit Station (2210 Summit), a women's bar; Vine (73 East Gay Street), a bar and restaurant; and
Wall Street (144 North Wall), a dance club.
Steam and body
For a night at the tubs or a good workout, Columbus has two choices.
Club Columbus (795 West Fifth), near the University, has a complete gym with free weights, top-notch equipment, steamroom, dry sauna, a whirlpool, a heated outdoor lap pool, single and
double rooms, and lots of lockers. They have guest memberships, in/out privileges, and they never close. Enjoy the complimentary buffet every Sunday. A new cafe within,
Cafe Etc., is a welcome addition. Here you can enjoy recovery shakes, specialty coffees, and protein
bars after a vigorous workout (of whatever kind!).
Flex Columbus (1567 East Livingston) has a workout room with complete weights, a dry sauna, steamroom, video lounge, and rooms and lockers galore. For those who like to play, there's a glory-hole room and for the more adventurous, a basement dungeon with
sling, St. Andrews cross, cage, chain web, and spanking bench. Fridays are now officially leather night here. Open 24 hours, Flex is 18-plus, with a friendly and informal staff.
Shopping and eats
Celebrating its 10th anniversary this June in the Short North,
Torso (772 North High Street) is mainly a clothing store but features jewelry, hysterical greeting cards, and unique seasonal gift items, as well. They're renown for their wide selection
of denim and fashion shirts from Couture, Pistol Pete, Eight X, Rass, and others. You can also find funky t-shirts from Hard 8 and Ajaxx63. And then there's an incredible selection of underwear lines from around the world. Shop online at their website.
Torso Leather & Fetish (117 East Chestnut Street), located inside Tradewinds II bar, is an offshoot from the main store. It's open Thursday through Sunday, 10 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Here you'll find fetish wear from Nasty Pig (Oink), 665 Leather, Leather Masters, and
a new line of underwear from London England called "Dirty Fukker." They also carry lubes, toys, and the lowest-priced video head cleaners in Columbus. The on-site "cockologist" can fit you with a new cockring made from leather, stainless steel, or
light-weight aluminum.
Piercology (190 West 2nd, two blocks west of High Street) is open daily offering professional, safe, and creative body-piercing work that is nationally recognized and always over-and-above all state standards. The store is a friendly, relaxed place, and they have a
large selection of jewelry with which to embellish yourself.
Merchandise on hand at Columbus Leather (642 North High, off the corner) includes a large selection of leatherclothing, boots, harnesses, luggage, accessories, and furniture. Plus there's rubber wear, Neoprene items,
toys,magazine, calendars, cards, and DVDs. Lubes, lighters, watches, militaryclothes, and bondage/restraint gear are also available. Also buy online at their website.
Phone David at German Village Floral & Nursery (614-443-5296) for all yourfloral needs, plus delivery.
Open Book (685 North High) is a well-stocked gay bookstore with videos and gifts. And if you're traveling with your pets, stop in at Columbus's only gay- owned
pet store, Village Pet Supply (364 East Whittier Street) where the owner, Jeff Lowe, also pours drinks at Club Celebrity.
L'Antibes (772 North High) is one of several fine area restaurants.
Union Station Video Cafe (782 North High) features designer ethnic fusion cuisine.
For lighter fare, the Coffee Table (731 North High),
Piece of Cake (772 North High), and Cup O Joe (400 North High and 627 South 3rd) are nearby options.
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