Best Bets: Home & Garden Show opens, art meets dance, Black History Month events continue
If you've got a green thumb or a penchant for home improvement and you're seeking advice and ideas, you can find them at the 68th annual Central Ohio Home & Garden Show, which begins Saturday at the Ohio Expo Center and runs through Feb. 25 (closed Feb. 20).
Additionally, people of a certain age can take advantage of a dance class series offered by the Columbus Museum of Art, bibliophiles can trade in their old books for some new reads and the Ohio History Center continues its Black History Month events.
Heading into next week, Canadian rapper Drake is set to finally play the Schottenstein Center after postponing his appearances twice last year.
These events are just a handful of options to keep you entertained over the next few days. To receive these ideas in your inbox each week, sign up for the Life in the 614 newsletter.
Otterbein stages Shakespearean comedy
"A Midsummer Night's Dream" is a play about love — the course of which, according to William Shakespeare, "never did run smooth," as is evident in his best-known comedy. The Otterbein University Department of Theatre & Dance's production of the tempestuous tale will be performed at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday in the Fritsche Theatre at Cowan Hall, 30 S. Grove St., Westerville. This production includes adult themes. Tickets cost $22. The box office is open from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and one hour prior to performances. Student Rush discounts are available one hour prior to curtain, pending ticket availability. (614-823-1109, otterbein.edu/drama)
Author to debut romantic novel at Gramercy
Opposites attract to spark chemistry between a passionate dancer and a ladies’ man who’s given up on love in Jason Dutton's first romance tale, "How to Dance." Gramercy Books, 2424 E. Main St., Bexley, will host the Columbus author in conversation with romance novelist Jen Devon at “Stepping into Love One Tango at a Time! A Valentine’s Special!” which will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday. General admission without purchasing "How to Dance" is $5. The admission fee is waived with the purchase of the book for $21. Online registration is required. (eventbrite.com)
Center continues Black history programs
The Ohio History Connection and its National Afro-American Museum & Cultural Center is celebrating Black History Month with programs throughout February including screenings of “The Green Book: Guide to Freedom” at 3 p.m. Friday and Feb. 23, and “Columbus Neighborhoods: King Lincoln” at 3 p.m. Feb. 21 and 28 at the Ohio History Center, 800 E. 17th Ave. A book talk livestreamed from the auditorium will feature Kathy Schulz, author of "The Underground Railroad in Ohio" at 3 p.m. Feb. 22. These events are included with museum admission, which costs $16 for adults, $14 for those 60 and older and students with ID, and $10 for children 3 to 12. Children 3 and younger are free, as are Ohio History Connection members. More programs are listed online. (ohiohistory.org)
Disney animator to draw fans to CCAD
Disney fans can go behind the scenes of their favorite films with John Musker, a 40-year veteran of Walt Disney Animation, who will give a public lecture at 5:30 p.m. Friday in the Columbus College of Art & Design’s Canzani Center Auditorium, 60 Cleveland Ave. An animator, writer, director and producer, Musker worked on favorites such as "The Little Mermaid," "Aladdin," "Hercules" and "Moana," among others. He'll be discussing his career and the making of his self-produced, Oscar-shortlisted work, "I’m Hip." The lecture is free, but registration is required. (ccad.edu/musker)
Home & Garden Show to spring to life
More than 300 vendors and exhibitors specializing in remodeling, landscaping, home improvement and more will be on hand at the Central Ohio Home & Garden Show presented by Ohio Mulch, which will kick off Saturday at the Ohio Expo Center, Interstate 71 and East 17th Avenue. The 68th annual show, themed "Private Spaces. Beautiful Places," will run through Feb. 25 and offer special guest appearances, cooking demos, a plant sale, the ever-popular garden showcase and more. Admission is $8 online or $12 at door; children 17 and younger admitted free. See website for special admission days for active-duty military, veterans, teachers and seniors. (dispatchshows.com)
Museum to offer dance class series
Older adults can indulge their creative sides while building strength and flexibility in "Moving Art," a six-week dance class series at the Columbus Museum of Art, 480 E. Broad St. Classes begin at 10:30 Friday and will be held each Friday through March 22. Led by local dance artist Chloe Napoletano, participants will describe and interpret the artwork in the museum's collection. All activities can be done standing or seated. Registration for the entire series is $72 for members and $80 for nonmembers. The last day to register is March 1. See the museum website under "Events & Programs." (columbusmuseum.org)
Book swap to include various genres
Read a good book and want to share it? Looking for some new reading material? Then the South Eastmoor Civic Association has a book swap for you! From 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Bishop Griffin Resource Center, 2867 E. Livingston Ave., bring books you'd like to pass along and take home some new ones. The swap will offer various genres for different ages. (Bringing books is not required for participation.) Jigsaw puzzles and board games also can be traded in. Bring a bag or box to carry your new finds home. Also, parents can enroll their littlest readers in the Imagination Library, which allows all Ohio children 5 and younger to receive a free, age-appropriate book in the mail once a month. If you can't attend the swap but want to donate books, email southeastmoor@gmail.com or send a Facebook message. (southeastmoor.org/news-and-events, facebook.com/SemoCivic)
Sunday series to feature string quartet
Nonprofit chamber music recital series Sunday at Central will present the debut Columbus concert by the New York-City-based Abeo Quartet at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Ohio History Center, 800 E. 17th St. Formed at Juilliard in 2018, the much-sought-after quartet is made up of Njioma Grevious, violin; Rebecca Benjamin, violin; James Kang, viola; and Macintyre Taback, cello. Performances are recommended for ages 9 and older. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Admission and parking are free. Sunday at Central concerts are livestreamed on the series' website and can be watched later at youtube.com/sundayatcentral. (sundayatcentral.org)
Exhibit examines realism and the abstract
Reality and unreality are explored in the exhibit "Real and Imagined: The Photography of Paul Graham & Mark Steel featuring 3D Arts by Delia Smith" at High Road Gallery, 12 E. Stafford Ave., Worthington. Graham's photos walk the line between abstract and realism, juxtaposing the two in some instances. Steel pushes the boundaries of traditional photography by demonstrating the interplay between found objects, textures and colors. Nature is the inspiration for Smith's artistic woodwork, as she pays homage to the natural world by creating pieces that will live on as functional art. The exhibit runs through March 2. Gallery hours are 1 to 4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. (highroadgallery.com)
Drake headed to the Schott — at last
Fans are hoping the third time's the charm in the case of rapper Drake's twice-postponed Columbus appearances, which have been rescheduled to Feb. 20-21 at the Schottenstein Center, West Lane Avenue and Olentangy River Road. Both concerts will begin at 8 p.m. The Canadian artist, who's on his "It's All a Blur" tour, initially was supposed to perform two dates last July before canceling one show. The second show was moved to October 2023, then canceled less than two weeks before Drake was to perform. Tickets from the original dates will be honored. Tickets are still available; prices start at $126 for the Feb. 20 show and $129.50 for Feb. 21. (drakerelated.com)
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 10 things to do in Columbus this weekend
