Here are eclipse watch parties, happy hours and sweet treats to enjoy in Greater Columbus
Monday's total solar eclipse is the ultimate theme night, and Columbus bars, restaurants and food retailers are going to help us party like it's 1806.
Only better. They didn't have rooftop bars or scoop shops or our advanced cookie-baking skills the last time the path of totality settled over Ohio.
So, let's celebrate. Here are watch parties, drink specials and eclipse-related treats across central Ohio for the big day.
More: Solar eclipse: Everything you need to know about the Ohio eclipse path, forecast, viewing tips
Species X Beer Project
A brewpub founded by a guy whose long-term goal is to develop the technology for brewing beer on the moon is not going to let a total eclipse go uncelebrated. Species X Beer Project is hosting a 99.6% Totality Party on Monday starting at 11 a.m.
Its bar at 408 N. 6th St. Downtown has a rooftop patio that will double as an observation deck. Owner and brewer Beau Warren has no need to rename anything specially for the eclipse, though he'll offer discounts on his Lunar Base blonde ale. He'll also have a dark-and-light draft beer made with half smoothie-style beer (yes, it's thick like a smoothie) and half porter.
Look for an AI-generated cocktail and menu special as well, plus carbonated ice cream.
Bada Bean Bada Booze
The coffee shop/cocktail bar has created a Daytime Blackout Latte that it will sell on Monday. Bada Bean Bada Booze has two locations: 231 E. 1st Ave. in Italian Village and 527 W. 5th Ave. in Harrison West.
The drink can be ordered iced or hot and is made with activated charcoal to achieve an eclipse shade of black.
Cameron Mitchell Restaurants
Cap City Fine Diner's three restaurants, The Guild House in the Short North, both Hudson 29 locations, Marcella's at Polaris, Molly Woo's at Polaris and Valentina's in Dublin will host happy hour starting at 3 p.m. Monday and offer a special cocktail for the occasion.
The Eclipse Gimlet includes Hendrick’s Gin, cucumber and lime, with a “cucumber eclipse” garnish and eclipse glasses.
Shawnee Station Taproom ∣ Kitchen
The new brewpub operated by Toledo's Maumee Bay Brewing Co. has a Total Eclipse Breakfast Stout on tap. It's brewed with oats and espresso and is described by the brewer as "breakfast in a glass."
Shawnee Station, which started serving customers Thursday at 6058 Glick Road near Dublin, will open for eclipse watchers at noon Monday. Beverage service is available from the beginning, while food service starts at 4 p.m.
Land-Grant Brewing Co.
Care for a little science with your celebration? Land-Grand Brewing is hosting what it calls "an eclipse-viewing extravaganza" running from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday that will stretch from its taproom at 424 W. Town St. in Franklinton across the street to Gravity Experience Park.
The day includes interactive experiments hosted by COSI, a stage show from COSI, a live cover of Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side of the Moon" by Moon Voyager, food and beer. Among the beers served: Land-Grant's Totality black IPA.
The party is open to all ages (bring a chair), and the first 400 people to enter will get free eclipse glasses.
For those with sweet tooths
Bakes by Lo
Bakes by Lo, a cookie shop inside Hilliard's Center Street Market, has baked up two sweets that capture eclipse-mania in butter and icing.
Eclipse cookies are vanilla bean-flavored and decorated to depict smiling suns and moons. The Celestial Swirl is a spacey mix of chocolate and sugar cookie, sprinkled with glitter and stars. Both are available through next week.
Center Street Market is at 5354 Center St. in Hilliard.
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
Jeni's scoop shops in Columbus and beyond have been serving four eclipse-themed flavors: blueberry-and- raspberry-flavored Nebula Berry, tropical Cosmic Bloom, grape-and-black currant-flavored Purple Star Born, and Lucky Charms-reminiscent Super Moon.
Jeni's also has, for a limited time, a Pop Rocks-style fizzy candy topping.
Johnson's Real Ice Cream
Johnson's Real Ice Cream, in the midst of a central Ohio expansion with locations in Bexley, Dublin, Grandview Heights and New Albany — and Italian Village starting Thursday — has created an Eclipse Sundae that's actually a pretty good replica.
On one side of the bowl is a scoop of chocolate ice cream topped with marshmallow sauce and whipped cream. On the other is hot fudge and Orea pieces. An Oreo cookie is the divider between the two.
Lion Cub's Cookies
Lion Cub's Cookies,, 1261 Grandview Ave. in Grandview Heights, and a recently opened shop at 7105 N. High St. in Worthington, will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, which is usually the one day they're closed.
On the menu for the occasion: the Cosmic Cookie, a chocolate cookie with chocolate chips and crunchy chocolate meteor candies. It's topped with chocolate ganache and more chocolate meteors.
Instagram: @dispatchdining
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Eclipse watch parties, happy hours, drinks and treats in Columbus
