The Local magazine

A Liberal Amount of Creative Freedom

Posted on September 10, 2026September 10, 2026 by Editor - the Local

By Andy Carpenter It was refreshing to be reminded that the word “liberal” has a meaning beyond its modern political associations – its root word, liber, means freedom. Over time, to be liberal has also come to mean being generous, open, receptive to new ideas, and free from narrow constraints. Local creative and filmmaker Terrance Smith reminded me of this when I sat down to interview him at Fountain City Coffee. Framed through his perspective,…

Still Riding Together

Posted on September 2, 2026September 2, 2026 by Editor - the Local

Bikes Off Broadway brings 25 years of fellowship, remembrance and one hell of a good time to Woodruff Park By Monica Jones It began on Broadway in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, when members of Columbus’ motorcycle community came together to honor those who had fallen and create a new space rooted in fellowship, remembrance and service. Twenty-five years later, the name has changed and the gathering has moved a few blocks toward the…

The Man a Few Stools Down

Posted on August 19, 2026August 19, 2026 by Editor - the Local

By Monica Jones We spend a lot of time in these pages telling the stories of Columbus through its events, businesses, and creative voices. This one is different. It’s a personal story, but it’s also a Columbus story. And after more than twenty years, I’m hoping you can help me finish it. I’ve written before about my mother and the mills, about how deeply that world shaped our family. This is a different story from…

Strangers in a Strange Land

Posted on August 10, 2026August 10, 2026 by Editor - the Local

BB Palmer and the Boys Play Pasaquan By Frank S. Etheridge IV The Gospel According to BB Palmer spreads like a shared secret. Handed to you like a joint passed between buddies, rolled up real nice with the good news, discovering the mystical bent of BB’s genius craftsmanship for sho-nuff country music is a life-changing revelation. Though packing the potential power of an opiate for the masses, a bucket of warm buttery popcorn for the…

You Know the Words

Posted on August 7, 2026August 10, 2026 by Editor - the Local

Gotta Sing Brings the ’80s Back to Columbus After filling the room with Broadway favorites earlier this summer, Gotta Sing Events returns to The Loft for a night of big songs, shared memories and absolutely no pressure to sing them well. By Monica Jones When Gotta Sing Events made its Columbus debut earlier this summer, no one in the room had to be persuaded to join in. The first song began, the lyrics appeared on…

Barber’s

Posted on August 7, 2026August 7, 2026 by Editor - the Local

Still Driving Forward More than 60 years after a Columbus police officer began teaching adults to drive, Barber’s Driving School is serving a fourth generation of local families while reaching students across Georgia and beyond. By Monica Jones Ask almost anyone who grew up in Columbus about driving school, and there is a good chance the name Barber’s will surface before the question is finished. Some remember the marked training cars on city streets. Others…

More Than a Newspaper

Posted on August 5, 2026August 5, 2026 by Editor - the Local

Why Columbus Chose to Invest in Local Journalism By Monica Jones When a community decides local journalism is worth investing in, it’s making a statement about more than newspapers. It’s saying that informed citizens matter. That local stories matter. That understanding what happens in city hall, our schools, our neighborhoods and our businesses is essential to the health of the place we call home. That is exactly what happened this month as the Georgia Trust…

CineForge Co-op:

Posted on July 23, 2026July 23, 2026 by Editor - the Local

2026 Columbus Filmmakers Grant Winners By Paul Rowe Every industry analyst will tell you that 2026 is the rise (or the return, for you history buffs) of the independent film – of investing in new, creative voices. Five Columbus creators, all 2026 Local Filmmaker Grant Program winners, have entered the chat. The genres they work in span horror, comedy-thriller, drama, and crime. Ask any of them why they put themselves through the arduous journey of…

Circles, Color, and a Space to Discover

Posted on July 16, 2026July 16, 2026 by Editor - the Local

Carol John’s Sunshine, Happiness, & Joy fills The Do Good Fund Gallery with color, curiosity, and possibility, offering visitors of every age the chance to discover something unexpected. By Monica Jones There is something wonderfully disarming about walking into a gallery filled with bright colors, playful shapes, and thousands upon thousands of painted circles. At first glance, Carol John’s work feels joyful. Her exhibition, Sunshine, Happiness, & Joy, now on view at The Do Good…

More Than a Choir

Posted on July 9, 2026July 9, 2026 by Editor - the Local

On July 17, a room full of people will gather at The Pearl in downtown Columbus to sing. By Monica Jones Some will be experienced musicians. Some will be former choir kids. Some will know exactly what they’re doing. Others may be stepping into a choir for the first time. There will be food, drinks, laughter, a little friendly competition, and a room full of people making a case for their favorite song in this…

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