As venue and event spaces have begun to open their doors, a sense of hope has permeated through the city's entertainment circles.
As the summer festival and event season is fast approaching, we thought a roundup on the status of what is happening, what's going virtual or has been modified, and what is cancelled was in order.
Read MoreColumbus native Michaela James' vibrant smile and vivacious energy helped her earn the title of Miss Black Ohio during the 39th annual pageant last Saturday, according to Fanchon Page, the pageant director.
In front of nearly 60 attendees at the Lincoln Theatre, James, 21, was chosen from four contestants who competed for this year's title, an honor she said nearly brought her to tears once she heard her name called.
Read MoreWith the alluringly bright lights of the Miss Black Ohio pageant forced to fade last year due to COVID-19, a new line of contestants will take center stage on Saturday at the historic Lincoln Theatre.
In celebrating nearly 40 years of Miss Black Ohio, State Pageant Director Fanchon Page, 50, of Columbus, couldn't let the milestone pass without crowning a new queen after last year's cancellation.
Read MoreThe rhythmic movements and the sounds of Afro percussions echoed throughout the corner of Taylor Avenue and East Long Street, as Columbus poet Charles "Is Said" Lyons and others came together to commemorate an overlooked but integral fragment of Columbus history.
The Uhuru Dance Company, an African-based dance group that formed on the Ohio State University campus in the fall of 1971, celebrated its 50th anniversary Saturday with the placement of an outdoor mural at 1500 E. Long St., the former home of the Willis Beauty Supply Store.
Read MoreThe travel industry plummeted last year as the world struggled with the onset of a global pandemic, one that battered the economy and prompted uncertainty for businesses reliant on tourism dollars.
But with state parks, zoos, museums and other venues modifying COVID-19 safety restrictions and Gov. Mike DeWine announcing the ending of state health orders on June 2, there's a rising sense of optimism for national and state travel.
Read MoreAs Mindy Drayer reflected on the life of her 90-year-old mother, Carm Drayer, she was driven to write a book that served as a public and worthy tribute to the person who raised her and her three siblings.
At the start, Drayer, a former WCMH-TV (Channel 4) news anchor, chronicled her mother's triumphs, devastating losses and continued fight against sarcoma cancer. (Drayer's father passed away 10 years ago.)
But as she filtered through the loving memories shared with her m
Read MoreAs a former hairstylist and makeup artist, Sharon Gordon never imagined she would operate her own TV network, one that has positioned her as a pioneer in the Black media industry.
Gordon's journey began with a desire to change the narrative about Black communities in the media.
"In my opinion, when I would see and view news about us in the mainstream (media), very seldom was it good news. It was still murder, death, kill," Gordon, 57, said.
Read MoreAcademy Award-winning actor George Clooney will produce a docuseries, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter, centered on the decades-long sexual abuse scandal at Ohio State University.
The series, according to the Reporter, will detail the long list of allegations against former Ohio State sports doctor Richard Strauss.
Read More