Best Bets: Things to do this weekend in Columbus, including Downtown Disco, bourbon tasting

Michael Grossberg, Margaret Quamme, Peter Tonguette and Allison Ward
·7 min read

Whether you've got the fever for Saturday Night disco dancing or a jones for jazz-flavored Stones, this weekend offers a decidedly mixed bag of entertainment options.

You can watch the puck fly during the Ice Hockey State Tournament, which includes two semifinal games today or bend an elbow at the The Short North Bourbon Tasting, which also takes place this evening.

Flashback fashionistas will go wild sorting through the wares at the Ohio Vintage Fest, while comedy fans will yuk it up with storytelling standup Todd Snider.

But that's not all, folks! Read on below to find more fun-tastic things to do in Columbus this weekend.

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Hippo Campus
Hippo Campus

Indie band rocking on

Minnesota-based indie band Hippo Campus is coming to Kemba Live at 7 p.m. Saturday. The five-member band got its start at St. Paul Conservatory of Music, where its future members were studying jazz and opera. They'll be focusing on their recent third album, appropriately titled “LP3.” Expect plenty of opportunities for dancing and jumping. Opening will be alternative hip-hop artist Jelani Aryeh. Proof of vaccination or negative COVID test required. Tickets: $26 (614-461-5483, promowestlive.com)

The Ice Hockey State Tournament will take place at Nationwide Arena on March 10 and 12.
The Ice Hockey State Tournament will take place at Nationwide Arena on March 10 and 12.

Ice, ice baby!

The Ice Hockey State Tournament will take place this weekend at Nationwide Arena, 200 W. Nationwide Blvd. The puck will drop for the two semifinals games at 5 and 8 p.m. Thursday with the final matchup at 7 p.m. Saturday. Don't miss a chance to cheer on your favorite team! (www.ohsaa.org)

Ohio Vintage Fest comes to the Ohio Expo Center on Saturday.
Ohio Vintage Fest comes to the Ohio Expo Center on Saturday.

Oldies but goodies

The Ohio Vintage Fest will take place from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Ohio Expo Center, Interstate 71 and East 17th Avenue. The vintage clothing market will feature 70 vendors from Ohio and surrounding states who will offer apparel from all eras ranging from the 1920s to the early 2000s for all genders, sizes, styles and budgets. Admission is $5 and parking is $5. (www.ohioexpocenter.com, @ohiovintagefest)

Disco fever invades the Bluestone on Saturday for the Downtown Disco Columbus event.
Disco fever invades the Bluestone on Saturday for the Downtown Disco Columbus event.

Boogie down

The Bluestone, 583 E. Broad Street, will get a Saturday Night Fever makeover as Downtown Disco Columbus takes over the music venue. From 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday, attendees, dressed in their '80s best, are invited to shake and groove to all the disco hits. A full bar will be available and tickets cost $29.99. (www.discolumbus.com)

Bottoms up

The Short North Bourbon Tasting returns on Thursday at Bristol Republic, 1124 N. High St. The Short North restaurant known for having 150 rare bourbons and whiskeys on its menu will be serving up five different bourbon samples to attendees, including one billed as "extra special." The bourbons will vary from previous tastings and guests should arrive between 6 and 8 p.m. to finish the tasting by 9 p.m. The full food menu will be available. Tickets cost $20. (www.eventbrite.com)

The Columbus Jazz Orchestra, led by Byron Stripling, will perform songs by the Rolling Stones this weekend.
The Columbus Jazz Orchestra, led by Byron Stripling, will perform songs by the Rolling Stones this weekend.

Stones and Stripling

You can’t always get what you want, but you can hear the Columbus Jazz Orchestra perform the songs of the Rolling Stones this weekend. Conducted by Artistic Director Byron Stripling, the orchestra will team with Tim Ries, a saxophonist who has toured with the Stones, and Bernard Fowler, who has been a backup vocalist with the band for more than three decades, to perform “The Rolling Stones Project.” Concerts will take place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 3 p.m. Sunday in the Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main St. Tickets start at $10. (www.jazzartsgroup.org)

Sara Shepherd will portray the title character in "Beautiful - the Carole King Musical."
Sara Shepherd will portray the title character in "Beautiful - the Carole King Musical."

A natural woman

Songwriter-singer Carole King’s rise to stardom is dramatized in “Beautiful — the Carole King Musical,“ a long-running Broadway hit highlighting many of her best songs —"It’s Too Late," "You’ve Got a Friend," "You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman“ — will be presented by Broadway in Columbus and the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts during an encore run of the national tour at 8 p.m. Friday, and 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday at the Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St. Masks and proof of vaccination or negative COVID test required. Tickets start at $34. (CBUSArts Ticket Center, 614-469-0939, www.capa.com)

Jon Meacham will speak at an event Thursday at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.
Jon Meacham will speak at an event Thursday at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

Seeking our better angels

Jon Meacham — biographer, historian and MSNBC contributor — will discuss his book, “The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels,” in an in-person and live-streamed event at 3 p.m. Thursday. The event, presented by Gramercy Books and the Columbus Bar Association, will be held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, 400 N. High St. In his book, Meacham cites some of the worst events in and aspects of American history, how they were gradually overcome and how those lessons can apply to today’s problems. Tickets start at $40. (614-867-5515, www.gramercybooksbexley.com, www.cbalaw.org)

Todd Snider will perform at the Davidson Theatre this weekend.
Todd Snider will perform at the Davidson Theatre this weekend.

Storytelling and songs

Americana singer-songwriter Todd Snider will sing and chat at 8 p.m. Thursday at the Davidson Theatre at the Riffe Center Theatre Complex, 77 S. High St. The musician, whose songs are infused with political humor, will be showcasing his 20th album, 2021's “First Agnostic Church of Hope and Wonder.” Audiences are likely to be treated to what Rolling Stone calls Snider's “sardonic Nashville hippie storytelling.” Opening will be Aaron Lee Tasjen, known for putting a pop twist on roots music. Masks and proof of vaccination or negative COVID test required. Tickets: $30 (614-469-0939, www.capa.com)

Faux Paws will perform at Natalie's Coal Fired Pizza.
Faux Paws will perform at Natalie's Coal Fired Pizza.

A harmonic convergence

When Great Bear contra dance band dissolved in 2018, playing its last set at a dance festival in Worthington, two of the brothers in the band got together with an old friend and put together a new band, combining roots, bluegrass, pop sounds and three-part harmonies to make a new style of eminently danceable music. Faux Paws — made up of Andrew and Noah VanNorstrand on a host of instruments and Chris Miller on sax and banjo — will be convening at 8 p.m. Sunday for a Greater Columbus premiere at Natalie's Coal Fired Pizza, 5601 N. High St., Worthington. Tickets: $10-$15. (614-436-2625, nataliescoalfiredpizza.com)

Still need more ideas? From movies to pop music, there is bound to be something of interest here!

Movies
Movies

MOVIES

• “All My Friends Hate Me,” various showtimes starting March 11, Gateway Film Center, 1550 N. High St.; tickets: $5 to $12, or as noted; 614-259-7182, www.gatewayfilmcenter.org

Pop music
Pop music

POP MUSIC

• Dogs in a Pile, 7 p.m. March 10, Woodlands Tavern, 1200 W. 3rd Ave., $10; 614-299-4987, woodlandstavern.com

• Subtronics, 9 p.m. March 10, The Bluestone, 583 E. Broad St., $30; liveatthebluestone.com

• Chicks with Hits, 8 p.m. March 11, Hollywood Casino, 200 Georgesville Road, $45; 614-308-3333, hollywoodcolumbus.com

• Gangstagrass, 8 p.m. March 11, Rumba Cafe, 2507 Summit St., $20; 614-268-1841, columbusrumbacafe.com

• Jimmie Allen, 7 p.m. March 11, Bluestone, 583 E. Broad St., $28.50; liveatthebluestone.com

• Caroline Rose, 7 p.m. March 13, Skully's Music-Diner, 1151 N. High St., $20; 614-291-8856, www.facebook.com/skullysmusicdiner

• Half alive, 7 p.m. March 14, Newport Music Hall, 1722 N. High St., $25; 614-461-5483, promowestlive.com

• Sammie Rae, 7:30 p.m. March 14, Columbus Athenaeum, 32 N. 4th St., $20; www.columbusathenaeum.com

Classical music
Classical music

CLASSICAL MUSIC

• Opera Project Columbus, “Great American Opera: Menotti & Gershwin,” 7:30 p.m. March 11, 3 p.m. March 13, Lincoln Theatre, 769 E. Long St.; $27 to $47; www.operaprojectcolumbus.com

• ProMusica Chamber Orchestra winds musicians with pianist Scott Cuellar, 7:30 p.m. March 11, The Fives, 555 W. Goodale St.; $42; www.promusicacolumbus.org

• Dublin Wind Symphony, 3 p.m. March 13, Dublin Scioto High School, 4000 Hard Road, Dublin; donations accepted; www.dublinbands.com

• Central Ohio Symphony, “La Traviata,” 3 p.m. March 13, Ohio Wesleyan University’s Gray Chapel, 61 S. Sandusky St., Delaware; $6 to $29; www.centralohiosymphony.org

Theater
Theater

THEATER

• Grandview Carriage Place Players, “Arsenic and Old Lace,” 7 p.m. March 10-12, 2 p.m. March 13, Columbus Performing Arts Center, Van Fleet Theatre, 549 Franklin Ave., $5 to $10 (614-645-3715, columbusrecparks.com)

• Abbey Theater of Dublin, “The Claw,” 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. March 12, 1 and 4 p.m. March 13, 5600 Post Road, Dublin, $10 (614-410-4550, dublinohiousa.gov/abbey-theater)

Comedy
Comedy

COMEDY

• Funny Bone Comedy Club, Aries Spears, 7:45 and 10:15 p.m. March 11, 7 and 9:45 p.m. March 12, $32; Columbus Comedy Showcase, 7:30 p.m. March 16, $5; Easton Town Center (614-471-5653, www.columbus.funnybone.com)

• The Nest Theatre, Here the Musical, 8 p.m. March 11, $15 or $16; 2643 N. High St., 614-929-5545, www.nesttheatre.com

Note: Check venue websites for COVID policies.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Best Bets: 10 things to do this weekend in Columbus, Ohio