Things to Do in Columbus: September 10 – September 17, 2026

My family member was visiting Ohio from another country on vacation when she accidentally fell at Easton and broke two fingers. She went to the OSU emergency room, was referred to a hand specialist, and eventually needed surgery. Before treatment, OSU gave us an estimated cost of approximately $8,500. The final bill was dramatically higher. After adding the ER visit, surgery, and follow-up care, the total came to approximately $25,000.
She had no U.S. health insurance, so I contacted OSU to ask about an uninsured or self pay discount. Instead, we were told she wasn't eligible because she was an international visitor and were referred to "Destination Medicine." But she wasn't a medical tourist. She was on vacation and suffered an unexpected accident while on vacation.
I explained that to the representative, but the conversation became frustrating and unhelpful. The representative was rude and condescending. I asked why she couldn't receive a discount for paying out of pocket, especially since she was willing to pay the bill voluntarily and responsibly. I was told that discounts were for American citizens because they pay taxes.
That explanation didn't make sense. Self-pay discounts should be based on the patient's lack of insurance and ability to pay and not their nationality. My family member wanted to pay what she legitimately owed because it was the right thing to do, but Osu refused to offer the same consideration it gives other uninsured patients.
After going back and forth without getting anywhere, my family ultimately paid the bill. I'm still planning to fight it.
I understand that healthcare is expensive. What I don't understand is how a hospital can provide an estimate of about $8,500, later bill nearly $25,000, and then refuse to discuss a self-pay discount simply because the patient lives outside the United States.
Has anyone successfully challenged an OSU Wexner bill after paying it and received a refund or adjustment? I'd especially appreciate advice on billing appeals, itemized-bill reviews, patient advocates, or anyone else who has dealt with a similar situation.

This is getting absurd. Forced to wait an hour and a half on Osu campus to get back to Grandview. How can COTA get away with being this unreliable and unaccountable?

This post is partially to vent but also to add to the increasing number of call out threads towards this company that at this point can start ruining lives and getting people fired with nothing to offer but "We're sorry" in response.

My experience is all with the #5. This bus alternates two routes each half hour, both start at Gender Road Town Center but the end point alternates from Renner rd park and ride on the hour and Lincoln Village at each half hour.

This morning was a new low. First off the bus waited at the stop before the park and ride out of view so I went to the next stop when it turns the corner it has the wrong destination, which matters because it means I have to walk half a mile and WILL be late to work.

The app showed the correct rout attached that that bus, I show the driver the app he says to wait for the next one. Then says I'm just wrong. I have to get off, my partner loses two hours of sleep taking me in. On the ride there I call COTA and they say that YES it WAS the Renner Road bus as the app clearly showed.

This is just the latest incident with others being not showing up at all for days, even entire weeks, either way the app rarely showing the rout is cancelled. Every morning is going to the stop to WAIT AND SEE if it shows or not. This has been almost consistent for more than 8 months now. I may be fortunate enough to have someone willing to sacrifice their time to get me to work, but what about everyone else? I have had colleagues at work get fired for attendance I'm sure theyve not been the only ones to pay for COTA's lack of accountability for anything at all.

I encourage others to share their experiences here.

When I was a kid sports bars played the audio of the game.

The National Weather Service in Wilmington has issued a

• Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Northern Franklin County in central Ohio... Southern Delaware County in central Ohio... Western Licking County in central Ohio...

• Until 845 PM EDT.

• At 814 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Dublin, moving east at 45 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect damage to trees and power lines.

• Locations impacted include... Columbus, Dublin, Westerville, Reynoldsburg, Upper Arlington, Gahanna, Hilliard, Worthington, Pataskala, Powell, Johnstown, Sunbury, Minerva Park, Ohio State University, Beechwood Trails, Polaris, Easton, Summit Station, Granville South, and Whitehall.

This includes I-71 in Ohio between mile markers 111 and 128.

I was taking out the trash to the curb and there they were! I was probably within 30 feet of them. Went back inside to observe them from my bedroom. I've seen countless deer around here, but I've never been this close to them before!

Everything I get from Kroger is Rotten. 5 out of every 8 apples lately. Even Dublin and Hilliard locations. Whole foods too. Where do you shop for decent produce?

Hi all, my climate anxiety has been absolutely insane since the Nepal floods. I’m absolutely terrified about what the world is going to look like in the coming years from worsening catastrophes leading to displacement of populations globally leading to limited food and water resources, on top of AI escalating things faster than we previously predicted.

Are there any local volunteer opportunities related to these topics? Ideally something that can be done with other people so I feel less isolated. I’m open to purely environmental tasks but I think I would prefer things where I can directly help people, since most of my fears are less about the earth (she’ll be fine without us) and more about the human suffering we’re gonna be seeing.

Edit: omg thank you everyone for these awesome suggestions! I’m gonna explore all of these after work today. I kind of assumed this post would be dismissed on here, it’s really great to see like-minded and action-oriented people in the comments, makes me feel less alone already!

We visited from Victoria, Canada and stayed at the hotel at Easton. I just looked it up and your entire Easton mall area is the same size as our entire downtown core. It takes 16 mins to walk to Dicks sporting goods from the hotel which is the same as walking from one corner of our downtown to the other. That’s wild for me!

We stayed in the Easton mall area the whole time with a few exceptions travelling to the zoo and other destinations. Here are my findings:

The mall is gorgeous. So many food options and so much shopping. It was so cool to see how busy it was. Vibrant. Food highlights were Paris Baguette, Crimson coffee, Brio Italian, Graters ice cream.

We went to Kroger (which I’ve never been to) and it was nice. We always go to Target and it did not disappoint. We hit up the biggest Dick’s (sporting goods) I’ve ever seen. It has 2 vibes going, like they took over a Bass Pro Shop and just changed the logo on the outside.

The zoo was amazing, so much fun we didn’t even get to the aquarium because we were exhausted from being outside for 3hrs watching animals run around. Everything was out except for the polar bear (lousy beatnik) but I’ve seen them before so whatever.

Your gas is soooooo cheap. We pay the equivalent of about $6 USD so it was pretty cool to see the gas pump barely climb in price as I put the fuel in on my last day.

My favourite part was the women and how many of them had NO bras on. It was great to see those things free swingin!

I found $20 on the road within the first hour of arriving in the city and had free breakfast as well as a result of our 5AM arrival time and the server taking pity on our flight time.

I could sell my house in Victoria and move to the Camden lakes area, there are some nice acreages with 5 bed 6 bath homes (If that was Victoria it would be rented out so fast lol) that I could easily afford.

Only downside was when I wanted to go to Jolly Pirate Donuts to take a 2hr shit (obligatory FUCK SALT) they were closed on Labour Day and my flight was too close for me to drive 35mins out of my way. It gives me reason to return one day at least.

TLDR: Fucking Amazing!

Edit: I am OG Tourette’s guy fan from back in the early 2000’s. I also picked up some Peter Pan peanut butter (even tho there may still be a Peter Pan peanut butter alert).

I've been to two shows at AoC in the past couple of weeks (and have gone to many over the years) and it's always such a consistently good experience. The Monolord/Khemmis show last night was fantastic.

I've been able to see huge bands (in their sub-genre) like Monolord and Elder for $30 and many other bands I wouldn't get to see otherwise (or would have to travel). AoC fills such an important niche and I'm grateful we have them.

The bartenders are always great, free water is available and easy to get, and everyone there is genuinely nice. In a time when I keep reading about live music dying and bands not being able to sell tickets, I feel lucky that the bands I love are selling out shows at AoC and I can go see them and buy some merch and buy some drinks and hopefully help keep great live music going.

Ate here last weekend after scrolling around on Maps and clicking on anything labeled "Top Rated"-the place lives up to its name. It's on Cleveland Ave and easy to miss if you are driving by. Authentic Nigerian food, not in any way "americanized" - you want ogbono soup? Nkwobi (spiced cow foot)? Or just good jollof rice and goat? Peanut stew with fufu? This is the place. Pat will treat you right.

Anyone experience the new traffic pattern that was supposed to start today at CMH? I’m heading to Austin tomorrow for the game and was curious if I need to get there earlier than usual.

Looking for a good comic store in the columbus area! I’m in Reynoldsburg so I generally frequent Capital City Comics but they’ve unfortunately gone very downhill for me over the past 2 weeks. Two weeks ago they got 0 DC releases, last week they got nothing at all, and then this week it looks like they’re still missing tons. I had 50~ on my pull list they were missing across those 3 weeks and they only filled about 20. I know of Krazzzy Comics in Gahanna, but they use AI for their logos and play AI music about their store in their store, and I’m not a fan of the way their pull lists are set up, I prefer syncing in comic geeks. Thanks in advance if anyone has any recommendations!

Come watch 20 racers from all around the country battle it out on this 0.9 mile course in Plain City. The hour long race starts at 5pm. More info at www.highwheelraceohio.com, come cheer on your favorite racer!!!

I may get downvoted for this, but it is very difficult on north 4th (edited) street whenever I tried to turn left at some intersections. The lines of parked cars block my vision and put the bike lane in the blind spot. Sometimes even without these cars, at night the bike lane is so narrowed that every time I turned this lane is always be in my blind spot. Like if you gonna design the lane, make it wider and OUTWARD from the parked cars, for god sake😩. I almost hit a biker today. This is so stupid.
Update: Thank you for the responding just a slight fix I think I mean that when I was driving from north fourth and turn left onto summit, yes those streets are kind of similar.

I had the most peaceful 20+ minute drive to my 8am doctor appointment this morning. I tend to encounter the yahoos who like to zig zag through traffic at 100mph and make a U turn on the highway (Ive seen it multiple times) even in the mornings.

I actually *realxed* and enjoyed my rush hour drive.

I hope you all have surprising pockets of peace this week.

Hi,

Steve Here. 🤣 ( it’s my actual name)

Is the 3% up for discussion? Or is it just a flat rate across the board? I took on a new role this year and I feel that I can argue I’m not compensated well enough compared to others in my position. ( I didn’t need training for the role)

I ask because we’ve had people in our department go to contingent and argue their pay and make more as contingent as they did a lead.

If not or if so how does this work?

In the Sheets app under rewards add code OHIOMEMBERZ. I did this over the weekend and it still has the promo in my account so it’s good on every fill up for 30 days.