Time tends to pass quickly, and we often don't notice how fast things change. In the 60s, Columbus was already a major metropolis. Ohio State University played a major role in life around here. The suburbs were growing rapidly. The downtown area was being altered constantly to make way for a changing lifestyle that involved a rapid increase in automobile use.
This footage of Columbus in 1964-65 from YouTuber gothpapa shows how much the city has evolved over time. This video includes street scenes, the Ohio State University's Oval and Mirror Lake, downtown Columbus, and the construction of the underground parking garage beneath the Ohio Statehouse grounds. I hope this footage brings some fond memories— either your own or ones you've heard from friends family!
Do you remember Columbus in the 1960s? What are some of your best memories? Share them with us in the comments below!
I grew up in the '90s, in the heyday of shopping malls, so I'm not ashamed to say I'm a little obsessed with the American Dream mega-mall in East Rutherford. Less a shopping center than a massive one-stop destination with every kind of store, attraction, and restaurant you can imagine, it spent more than two decades in development. But under the management of Triple Five, the same team behind the Mall of America, American Dream has been adding new attractions in a hurry. Hot on the heels of this year's Hasbro Gameroom, the mall has opened Bubble Planet, a new interactive museum in New Jersey that brings the surrealist exhibition to the NY/NJ area for the first time. It opened in October and will be here until December, and we can't wait to see it for ourselves.
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American Dream is a wonderland of attractions, including dozens of restaurants, well over 100 stores, and a wild array of attractions, including a Nickelodeon-themed amusement park, a Dreamworks-themed water park, an indoor ski slope, a 7-D theater, and an underground aquarium. You could easily spend several days here exploring.
They've just been joined by Bubble Planet, a massive indoor exhibit that's something of a cross between an interactive museum and a surreal selfie opportunity. Featuring several colorful rooms filled with bubbles of every type, it's got an interactive playground, unique photo ops, and even virtual reality elements that are perfect for guests of all ages. This is a limited-time exhibit, and will only be around until the end of 2025 at present, so get your ticket while it's here.
Have you had the chance to visit this unique interactive museum in New Jersey? If not, tell a friend about this article and go visit Bubble Planet! You can book your tickets on the Bubble Planet website, and make sure to check out the American Dream website for a full directory of this massive mall. You'll definitely want to get something to eat while you're here, and some of the unique options include the modern Around the Clock Diner, and the unique self-serve wine bar Vinoteca. It definitely might take you more than a day to see everything here, so if you'd like a place to stay, I highly recommend the Homewood Suites by Hilton East Rutherford, I always choose this chain when I'm traveling, thanks to its spacious rooms and delicious free breakfast buffet.
The Epic Outdoor Food Fest In Columbus You Simply Cannot Miss
The 8th Annual Columbus Food Truck Festival, featuring 50-60 food trucks, will take place on August 17th and 18th at Bicentennial Park, Scioto Mile, and Rich Street Bridge.
The Annual Food Truck Festival takes place every year in August and it is always an absolute blast. If you live in Columbus, you already know how awesome the food truck scene is here. So what's the only thing better than a bunch of really good food trucks? When they're all in one place, and you can enjoy the delicious food all day long surrounded by other awesome Columbusites.
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Save the date!
The 8th Annual Columbus Food Truck Festival will take place over the weekend of August 17th and 18th. This two-day event is a must-visit! For the second year in a row the festival will take place downtown in Bicentennial Park, Scioto Mile, and on the Rich Street Bridge.
So what exactly will you get to eat at the festival?
The answer is: everything you can imagine! The festival brings together around 50-60 food trucks every year. These are food trucks that you've seen around Columbus, and ones from out of town. This is the midwest's biggest food truck festival.
2017's festival had an astonishing 54 vendors.
I'm just going to list a few to get your mouth watering: Hot Chicken Takeover, Mikey's Late Night Slice, Sobremesa Street Kitchen, The Gyro Guy Cart, Hai Poke. Alright, you get the idea - there are lots of vendors and so much variety in types of food and flavors.
Here are a few quick notes to get you prepped for the festival.
Most vendors accept both cash and cards, and if you need cash, ATMs are available at the festival. The festival runs from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm on both days. Feel free to bring blankets and lawn chairs to make your visit to the festival even more comfortable. Alcohol can be purchased at the festival, however you may not bring alcohol in from the outside. The event is wheelchair accessible.
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On top of serving great food, the event raises funds for some great causes.
In 2017 the festival partnered with Nationwide Children's Hospital and raised over $44,000! You can read more about the event's sponsors, vendors, and other details on their website.
Ready to get even more excited? Check out this video by Columbus foodtruckfest from last year's festival.
Planning to go to the 8th Annual Food Truck Festival this summer? We'll see you there!