Ohio Love Staff Picks: January 2025

You love Ohio. We love Ohio. 

Each month, the Ohio Magazine editorial team shares what we adore about the Buckeye State right now. From a museum makeover that spurs long-held memories to food-and-drink finds that are worth the road trip to an adorable Instagram account you’ll want to be sure to follow, we hope you find something to love in our January 2025 picks. 

Tell us about your Ohio Loves by tagging us and using the #ohiolove hashtag in your social media posts or by sending us a note! 
Memories at the Museum

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History was one of the first museums my parents ever took my sister and me to. We were single-digit age at the time, and visiting a place filled with such wonder about the natural world was beyond fun. Plus, dinosaurs! That’s prime-time, grade-school wonder right there.

But the part of the day that we laugh about most when we recall it during family gatherings is the demonstration in which live animals were brought out by handlers for those of us gathered to take a closer look.

There was Red, the small screech owl that captured our imagination so much that when we discovered a screech owl in the pine tree outside of our house, we named him Red. (The local newspaper even came and took a photo of him with eyes half-shut, nestled in our spruce.)

Then, they brought out a snake — you know, to show us that they weren’t gross and slimy — and my sister jumped up from our spot near the front of the gathered group and trucked it toward our parents at the back of the room. “We instantly saw this little blonde head pop up,” my mom recalls with a laugh.

I braved the experience and found out that, no, snakes weren’t gross or slimy. I still don’t love them, but I feel like I understand them more, and it all started that day decades ago at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

That’s the beauty of studying the world around us, the surprises and wonder built into it all. So, when I got the invite to check out the Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s $150 million expansion in late 2024, I couldn’t say yes fast enough. It’s always been a place of wonder, but the museum is bigger, better and more engaging than ever. Plus, as always, there are dinosaurs.

For more information on the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, visit cmnh.org.

Cider by the Fire

If you’re like me, then this is the time of year you elect to stay inside as much as humanly possible. I wish I could tell you I was the type of person that bundled up to go hiking or for a walk, but aside from snowball fights in the backyard with my husband, well, let’s just say I’m more the indoorsy type from November through February. Pretty much the only thing I will venture outdoors for besides work is the once-weekly dinner date night my husband and I have. And there is perhaps no spot for drinks I pick more than a cozy cidery in Granville

Seek-No-Further Cidery opened in 2018 and was thought up by Trent Beers. He named the spot after the Seek No Further variety of apple that the village’s early settlers brought to Granville from Massachusetts.

And thank goodness they did. What first-timers will find here is the same sense of comfort I did, from the little garden out front with a fire pit and cozy Edison lights hanging above picnic tables to an inviting loft that might be one of my favorite spaces in the world. Here, you find cozy booths, a wood-burning stove and a selection of board games to play while you sip.

The cider is, of course, a huge draw, but when I think about Seek-No-Further, I always think about the atmosphere. Nights sitting in the garden area eating pizza from Elm’s Pizza Parlor across the street with my high school best friend or playing board games in the loft with my husband. On our first visit, we were the only ones there, and he took my hand so we could dance around the room together.

First-time visitors should opt for the cider flight, so you can try all the menu offerings before settling into your favorite. For me, it’s the Ramble on Rose, a semi-dry cider with apple and strawberry notes that incorporates fruits from Ohio-based farms, because what’s better than drinking local cider crafted from apples plucked from the farms near my hometown?

For more information on Seek-No-Further Cidery, visit seeknofurthercider.com.

Instagram-able Animals

A few months ago, in the middle of the fall season, I was scrolling through Instagram when a delightful video popped up. A zookeeper at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens hauls a giant pumpkin over the edge of an enclosure, tossing it into the gaping mouth of an eager hippo. The satisfying crunch that follows as Fiona crushes the gourd with her powerful jaws would fill any ASMR fan’s heart — and ears — with glee. I’m not one to get too excited about ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response) videos. You may know the ones: influencers clicking their acrylic nails against their latest skincare bottles, restocking their refrigerator shelves or whispering into the microphone. But when animals are involved, I’m all in.

A scroll through the zoo’s Instagram profile will make any animal lover happy. Love baby animals? The zoo has been chronicling the first moments of a set of baby cheetahs. Want to see what type of cake a trio of tortoises may get on their birthday? (It was their sweet sixteen!) And of course, the stars of the zoo, hippos Fiona and her baby brother Fitz, are featured heavily on the feed, swimming, playing and crushing various large fruits and vegetables. Gallagher would be impressed.

This year marks the 150^th anniversary of the zoo, making it the second-oldest zoo in North America. Last year, the Harry and Linda Fath Elephant Trek opened, expanding the habitat of the beloved herd of pachyderms. This year will see larger habitats created for more species, such as bears and primates. It would be exciting to make a visit there myself to see all the wonderful progress, but if that doesn’t happen, I’m happy to know I can watch all the fun that is taking place from the comfort of my couch.

Follow the Cincinnati Zoo on Instagram: @cincinncatizoo

Authentic German Eats

Schmidt’s Sausage Haus is hardly a new, buzzy destination. But with its beginnings as a meat-packing house in 1886, the iconic spot in Columbus’ German Village had loomed large in my mind for too long. How had I considered myself an Ohioan for 10 years without stepping foot inside this historic restaurant? Though I live in the northeast corner of the state, thankfully, one of my closest college friends, Dani, has since relocated to a neighborhood just outside downtown Columbus — so when I visited in September, I knew where we had to grab dinner.

It was the perfect fall evening, overcast, yet warm enough still to walk into the place without a jacket. We parked along the cobblestone streets, heading past the pastry cases, chalkboard menus and historic photos to get to our corner table, surrounded by exposed brick and presented with a two-in-one menu and placemat. I ordered the classic: a Bahama Mama. The beef-and-pork sausage sandwich came topped with grilled onions, the platter made complete with potato pancakes, applesauce and a dill pickle spear.

As we were served by a waiter in traditional German garb, we chatted about life and what was coming up next for us both. Authentic music played in the background, while Dani and I made plans to order the restaurant’s famous jumbo cream puffs to take back to her apartment. Later that evening, I tried about half of the hulking cream puff before refrigerating it overnight and blasting the air conditioning on my drive home so it might still be safe for my husband, Nick, to try when I returned to our place in Kent. Only after this experience do I feel like I can claim to be a true resident of the Buckeye State. If you’re looking for something to check off your Ohio bucket list this winter, I highly suggest a stop  at Schmidt’s.

For more information about Schmidt's Sausage Haus, visit schmidthaus.com.

Hot Shots

While it’s only my second winter spent away from Athens (following my graduation from Ohio University in 2023) I find myself especially missing the winter atmosphere that permeated the college town this time of year.

What I really crave is the cold, familiar trudge from my old apartment near South Green, up Mill Street, across Court Street and into the warm embrace of Tony’s Tavern for the bar’s signature pour: the Hot Nut Shot.

This is not your ordinary shot; it is the drink that defines Tony’s Tavern. Manager Chandra LaPorte describes it as a mix of hazelnut liqueur, coffee and, most importantly, “magic.” The flavor is unmistakably a combination of coffee and hazelnut, but it’s the warmth that truly sets it apart. 

The shots are poured straight from an electric kettle plugged into the wall behind the bar, and from the moment temperatures dip below 40 degrees, the drink seems to flow endlessly to eager patrons, either kicking off a night out or setting up camp for the evening. (Maybe this is that “magic” LaPorte was talking about.)

The popularity of the Hot Nut isn’t a fluke. Tony’s Tavern, which was established in 1982 by Tony Sylvester, has a loyal following of folks drawn in by its relaxed atmosphere and unique offerings.

What makes the tavern even more special is the sense of community. I’ve always known Tony’s to be a safe, inclusive space for everyone. The vibe is welcoming, and there’s always something to enjoy while you’re there.

In addition to settling down with a warm drink, you can catch live music from the house bands — alternating between jazz and rock — on Tuesdays. And don’t miss the Sunday specials, one of which is, of course, a Hot Nut Shot, served up for only $1.75.

For more information about Tony's Tavern, visit tonystavernathens.com.

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