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Need plans? Check out these 10 cool events in Columbus and central Ohio

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Need plans? Check out these 10 cool events in Columbus and central Ohio

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Hey, batter-batter! This weekend, the Ohio Muffins and more than 30 other teams from throughout the state will face off as the Ohio Cup Vintage Baseball Festival gets into full swing at the Ohio History Center. The games are free to watch, so bring a lawn chair!

Another outdoor event, BAM UnderCurrent, will bring dancing, food trucks, games and other fun activities to the corner of High and Gay streets, beneath the “Current” sculpture. The event was originally scheduled for May but was canceled due to inclement weather.

Leading up to Labor Day, local musician Bill Cohen will present a program of songs paying homage to U.S. workers of every profession.

These and other happenings are just a few of the entertainment options Columbus has to offer. If you’d like these events delivered to your inbox each week, sign up for the Life in the 614 newsletter.

Ohio writers to celebrate life, work of author-activist James Baldwin

Countless writers have been deeply impacted by the life and work of late author and civil rights activist James Baldwin, including Ohio authors Prince Shakur and Quartez Harris. Join the pair for a conversation at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Bexley Public Library, 2411 E. Main St.

At the event commemorating Baldwin’s 100th birthday, which would have been Aug. 2, Shakur and Harris will be signing books after their conversation.

Held in partnership between the library and Gramercy Books, the event is free, but registration is required. (bexleylibrary.org/event/10191386)

Pianist and trio to perform improv jazz in Ohio debut at CCAD

A Tribe for Jazz will welcome pianist, composer and bandleader Miki Yamanaka, making her Ohio debut with her trio in Canzani Auditorium at the Columbus College of Art & Design, 60 Cleveland Ave., at 7 p.m. Thursday. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

In July, Yamanaka was named to the “25 for the Future” list, Downbeat Magazine’s look at artists to watch in improvised music. Her performance is part of A Tribe Called Jazz’s 2024 Columbus International Jazz Series.

Free general-admission tickets are available online. (atribeforjazz.org)

Event to bring BAM festivities from museum to the streets

Downtown Columbus and the Columbus Museum of Art are teaming up for BAM UnderCurrent. Rescheduled from May, this event will bring the museum’s signature BAM (Bar, Art, Music) series to Gay and High streets from 5-9 p.m. Friday.

Enjoy a dance party with theCOMINGHOME (tCH), creative experiences featuring quick guest portrait drawings by Mary Jane Ward and Shannon Vaught, an interactive photo booth, live painting with FDZgraffiti, food trucks, yard games and a cash bar directly beneath Janet Echelman’s “Current” sculpture.

Admission is free. (bit.ly/3WV7SWc)

Former ‘Daily Show’ funnyman to appear at Columbus Funny Bone

Comedian and PBS documentary producer Roy Wood Jr., a correspondent on Comedy Central’s Emmy-winning “The Daily Show” for eight years, will appear at Columbus Funny Bone, 145 Easton Town Center, for four shows this weekend.

Wood also guest-hosted “The Daily Show” last year and headlined the White House Correspondents’ Dinner to its highest ratings since 2017.

The 21-and-older shows are 7 p.m. Friday (doors at 5:30 p.m.); 9:30 p.m. Friday (doors at 9 p.m.); 6:30 p.m. Saturday (doors at 5 p.m.); and 9 p.m. Saturday (doors at 8:30 p.m.).

Tickets are $32 general admission and $42 VIP seating. (columbus.funnybone.com)

Viral sensation-turned-comedian to do stand-up at Davidson Theatre

Desi Banks began making a name for himself through sketches posted to Vine in 2012. A dozen years later, the 31-year-old comedian-actor has nearly 9 million followers on Instagram and his YouTube channel has almost 3 million subscribers.

Banks, who began doing stand-up in 2017, will bring his act to the Davidson Theatre at the Riffe Center, 77 S. High St., at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Tickets start at $51.22; there is an eight-ticket limit per person/household. (cbusarts.com)

Vintage ‘base ball’ teams to take a swing at Ohio Cup festival

It’s root, root, root for the home team this weekend at the Ohio History Center, 800 E. 17th Ave., where more than 30 vintage teams from all over the state will compete in the Ohio Cup Vintage Base Ball Festival. All teams play by the 1860s rules of the sport.

Games begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday; the final game each day will start at 4 p.m. Each game lasts about an hour.

Watching the games is free; spectators should bring lawn or camp chairs to watch the games. Food trucks will be onsite.

Game schedules and a list of teams are available online. (ohiohistory.org/events/ohio-cup)

Hundreds of dahlias to be in bloom at 58th annual flower show

Hundreds of blooms, floral arrangements and photographs will be displayed at the Greater Columbus Dahlia Society’s 58th annual Dahlia Show, set for 1-5 p.m. Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday at the Union County YMCA, 1150 Charles Lane, Marysville.

Top dahlia growers in the Midwest will compete for recognition and cash prizes in dozens of categories. Members and nonmembers of the GCDS are welcome to enter their blooms free of charge.

Admission to the show is free. (columbusdahlias.com)

Bill Cohen and friends to celebrate the workers of America

In honor of Labor Day, Columbus musician Bill Cohen will sing the praises of all the workers from farmers, truckers and factory workers to teachers and doctors at 4 p.m. Sunday at Columbus Mennonite Church, 35 Oakland Park Ave.

With vocal harmonies by Phil Hart and Teresa Schleifer, selections will include songs by Woody Guthrie, Sam Cooke, Dolly Parton, Pete Seeger, Bruce Springsteen, Alabama and James Taylor. The program also will include recollections about how labor unions won historic reforms that many of us take for granted today.

A $15 donation is asked at the door, but any contribution is welcome. Part of the proceeds will go to the Central Ohio Worker Center, which advocates for low-income and immigrant workers. (facebook.com/billcohensings)

Debuting artist to carve out a niche at Kittie’s Highline Art Space

Local artist Yani Sheng will open her debut exhibition, “Columbus Carved: Layers of History,” on Monday at Kittie’s Highline Art Space, 693 High St., Worthington, where it will run through Oct. 31.

Born in Taiwan, raised in Belize, educated in Canada and now living in Columbus, Sheng creates intricate linoleum block carvings inspired by the capital city’s rich architectural history and diversity.

Kittie’s also offers locally roasted One Line coffee, teas, hot chocolate, smoothies and baked goods. Operating hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. (rebeccaink.com/highlinecoffeeartspace)

Bone Thugs to spread harmony at Newport Music Hall

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, whose career was launched by N.W.A. rapper and Ruthless Records owner Eazy-E, will bring their rapid-fire melodic lyrics and group harmonies to Newport Music Hall, 1722 N. High St., at 7 p.m. Sept. 4.

The Cleveland natives’ hits include “Thuggish Ruggish Bone” and “Tha Crossroads,” their Grammy-winning tribute to Eazy-E, who died in 1995.

General-admission tickets are $35 in advance and $40 the day of the show. Platinum seating costs $90. (promowestlive.com)

bpaschal@dispatch.com

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