Pride on High viewing area to benefit Columbus LGBTQ+ groups
Boasted as the ultimate parade watching experience, Pride on High is a ticketed event allowing guests to view the march from Parlay Sports Club and Kitchen, Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse, or the recently opened El Vaquero. The event is the only one in the Short North offering live entertainment, food and beverages during the parade, along with shade and private restrooms.
In its 15th year, Pride on High was created by organizer Mike Maly and his husband, who noticed in 2010 that nearly all of the restaurants in the Short North were closed during the Pride march. Watch a previous NBC4 report on Pride on High in the video player above.
Out in Ohio: Stonewall Columbus gets ready for Pride 2025
'All of the restaurants were closed for the Pride parade, and my husband and I actually went down to Hyde Park and there was a high-top table, an umbrella and two chairs, and we sat there,' Maly said. 'That following Monday, I called them and said, 'Would you consider being open?' And that was the start.'
Their first year, Pride on High just welcomed 25 guests. But the event has steadily grown, from about 440 attendees right before the COVID-19 pandemic to more than 770 last year.
Tickets to Pride on High cost $75 per person, with every dollar benefiting the LGBTQ+ organization of your choosing: Stonewall Columbus, Kaleidoscope Youth Center, Equality Ohio, or Mozaic by Equitas Health, a community center for transgender, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary Ohioans.
'The mission is to bring the Columbus community together and provide funding for LGBTQ+ youth and community initiatives that, in turn, provides resources for a safe, educated and healthy future,' Maly said. 'Each and every one of these organizations, I know exactly where every dollar goes, and it's not wasted.'
List: 2025 Pride Month events, festivals in central Ohio
NBC4 will be streaming the march from Pride on High, with anchor Colleen Marshall hosting alongside Columbus drag queen Virginia West and Amber Nicole, who will be performing two songs before the parade.
Maly said this year, 'It's important for everyone to be seen, to be heard, to celebrate who we are' in the wake of federal measures and legislation at the Ohio Statehouse that opponents deem 'anti-LGBTQ+.' Maly said the rhetoric is having a tangible effect on Pride on High, as sales are down 50% compared to this time last year.
'I think with the political environment and everything that's going on out there, it's impacting the sales,' Maly said. 'This has been very tough this year. I've worked for over 30 years and making people's lives better and making sure that kids have a better future, and that's what keeps me going.'
Nissan, Walmart dial back Stonewall Columbus sponsorships for Pride 2025
While ticket sales may be down, Maly said donations to operate Pride on High are higher than they've ever been before.
'That tells me that there are people out there that truly do believe in who we are, what we are, what we bring to the world, and this is ridiculous what we're going through right now,' Maly said. 'Hopefully, we'll get some of the folks to come and join the party.'
Learn more about Pride on High and purchase tickets here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Chicago Tribune
an hour ago
- Chicago Tribune
Green Hills library promotes exploration, play with new kids area in Palos Hills
Activities such as telling stories and roasting marshmallows around a campfire, grilling and visiting farm stands provide memories for families, and the Green Hills Public Library District hopes to capture that vibe with its newly redesigned play area for children. The new theme of the space is a natural fit for the library, 10331 S. Interlochen Drive in Palos Hills. 'I chose the campground theme because I wanted a name/theme that evoked exploring, playing and fun,' said Natalie Djordjevic, head of Youth Services. 'This is what I want children to do in this space, so I wanted a name that reflected that.' A mural painted during the COVID-19 pandemic was camping themed, 'so the furniture, toys, and new additions were selected to fit our mural,' she added. 'We did some touch-ups on the paint during this construction project just to clean up the space a bit.' New play activities include log-like seating around a toy campfire with s'mores and roasting sticks that add to the playful element, a farmer's market stand, complete with play food and accessories, a wooden play grill and a snake that children are encouraged to sit on. Other activities that fire up imagination are a felt board table with themed characters and scenes, as well as an educational light table, which is the item Djordjevic likes best. 'My new favorite piece we added is the light table and all of the different science cards to use with it,' she shared. 'I love that we have a toy that is perfect for sensory play and also educational.' The light table includes X-ray transparencies and constellation patterns, encouraging young learners to explore science through play. In addition to the play items out on the floor, staff worked to develop a new in-house toy collection. Library patrons can check out kits with themes such as building, sensory, cars, active play and music. The reimagined space was part of the library's 2025-27 strategic plan, 'with the goal of transforming community feedback into functional results,' Deputy Director Sara Horn shared. She said the strategic planning process included surveying residents to get insights on how to meet the community's needs. 'One of our strategic directions is to optimize library spaces for access and comfort, and redesigning the play area became one of our priorities based on patron response.' Horn has high goals for the redesign. 'We hope that the space provides a positive, lasting impact on those that use it,' she said. 'These are some of the earliest interactions at the library for our youngest patrons. We hope that it can help establish a routine of regularly visiting the library as they continue to grow and pursue other services we offer.' The project cost about $16,000, which was built into the library's operating budget, and Djordjevic, with help from a committee, provided leadership for its planning and installation. 'I began by doing a lot of research on toys, furniture, and objects for the space. My main concerns were safety, ease of use, functionality, fun, if the new area and toy library would be manageable by staff, and cost,' she shared. 'After, I created a very detailed proposal, timeline checklist, purchase list, and task list. The team then completed tasks on the timeline. I created the toy library, trained staff on all the new procedures, and finally, our facilities manager assembled all of our new purchases.' Although one might be tempted to think only books would be important to libraries, that's not the case. 'Our mission is to connect the community with information and experiences to inspire lifelong learning. Books and reading are still integral to our mission, but libraries have evolved into community spaces that serve more needs than ever before,' Horn explained. 'For our youngest patrons, toys support learning, development, creativity, and imagination through play. And having an in-house toy library supports our sustainability initiatives since more patrons can get use out of the toys, reducing environmental and financial impacts.' Thus far, patron reaction to the changes and additions has been positive. 'The moment we opened the space there was already a family waiting to use it, and we've seen a lot of excitement from children and parents alike while they explored the new space,' Horn said. 'There have been times the space was filled with families enjoying themselves, which is really amazing to see.' Djordjevic said some equipment has been more popular than others. 'Definitely the farmer's market stand and grill, play food and cooking is always popular. The big sit and play snake has been a huge hit too!' Horn's favorite part of the redesign is tied to produce. 'I would have to pick the farm stand. When children serve up a platter of play food to their parent or caregiver, all with a big smile on their face, you can see their imaginations taking flight. And that is truly inspiring.' Although no specific programs have been planned, they are in the works. 'We would love to do some storytimes in the space during the upcoming school year,' Djordjevic said.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Louis Sachar won't write a ‘Holes' sequel, but he just released a new book for grown-ups
Don't expect a "Holes" sequel from Louis Sachar. The bestselling author behind the popular children's novel and its 2003 movie adaptation starring Shia LaBeouf is adamant the world of Stanley Yelnats is closed. But, he has a new story for longtime fans – his first novel for adults. 'The Magician of Tiger Castle' (out now from Penguin Random House) is a cozy fantasy set long ago somewhere south of France that follows a tea-obsessed magician who must save the royal wedding after a princess falls in love with a lowly scribe rather than her betrothed. He didn't originally set out to write an adult novel. Talking with USA TODAY ahead of the release, Sachar shares how "The Magician of Tiger Castle" unfolded naturally and what he thinks of the enduring 'Holes' fandom. 'The Princess Bride' inspired Louis Sachar's first adult novel Sachar took inspiration from 'The Princess Bride' by William Goldman – the book that made him want to be a writer. He wanted to try his hand at a similar story. This was during the early days of the pandemic, and Sachar's COVID hobby of choice was online courses about life during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. He was fascinated by humanity's limited scientific knowledge and the blurred lines between magic and medicine. That's how he created his protagonist, Anatole – kingdom magician, physician and unlikely hero. Once Sachar started writing him, he couldn't stop. 'He'd taken over the story,' Sachar says. 'I liked that. I liked him, but you can't have a 40-year-old man usually be the protagonist of a kid's book. So I said, 'OK, I'll make it an adult book.' Anatole is a sort of 'Miracle Max' type, but more rounded out than Billy Crystal's short movie scenes. He's up to his elbows in quirky, dungeon experiments. He's a tea snob. He's a father figure to both Princess Tullia and Pito, her forbidden love. He's got a plan to save the kingdom, impress his employers, deal with a rather annoying prince and avoid death by tiger. Though Sachar says writing an adult novel wasn't too different from a kid's book ('I wasn't trying to spice it up or anything,' he says), he was able to inhabit a more adult mindset with this protagonist. When he's writing a novel, it becomes his 'reason for getting up every morning,' he says. He found himself becoming Anatole, drinking his daily tea out of a cast-iron pot adorned with dragonflies. On vacation, he spotted a hand-carved mortar and pestle that seemed to jump from the pages. He bought it 'for' Anatole, he says. 'It just seemed like something he would like,' Sachar says. Anatole and the world of Esquaveta, a fictional 16th-century European kingdom, is Sachar to a tee – he likes books that teach him something (in this case, Medieval living), and he's not a fan of high fantasy with intense world-building and battle-hardened heroes. 'I get bored with stories about wars and superheroes,' Sachar says. 'I think it's more suspenseful to actually have someone who's kind of a klutz and kind of a coward have to suddenly be brave, because then you don't know how it's going to come out.' Louis Sachar thanks 'Holes' fans, but still won't write a sequel The magic of a novel like 'Tiger Castle' lies in the cozy afterglow – this feel-good fairytale is packed with whimsy and humor that reads like the grown-up version of 'Holes' or the 'Wayside School' series. Sachar is hoping that nostalgia brings in fans of those books, both of which remain beloved. 'Holes,' especially, has enjoyed long-lasting acclaim. On BookTok, readers rave about it as their favorite book as a kid or encourage a reread as an adult. Sachar says he feels 'more famous' now than he did when he first wrote 'Holes' because of that enduring fandom. But though readers keep asking whether he'll write a 'Holes' sequel, he's confident that world is finished: 'I'm not sure I can get into Stanley's head anymore,' he says. 'I wrote my first children's book when … I was 22 or 23 years old. I worked with kids while I was going to college, I wasn't that far removed from being a kid myself,' Sachar says. 'And now I'm 71 and I'm not sure how well I can relate to kids anymore, so I'd much rather relate to those same kids who grew up reading my books.' Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY's Books Reporter, where she covers buzzy releases, chats with authors and dives into the culture of reading. Find her on Instagram, subscribe to our weekly Books newsletter or tell her what you're reading at cmulroy@
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Ben Stiller, Christine Taylor's Daughter Ella Makes AJLT Debut
Ben Stiller, Christine Taylor's Daughter Ella Makes AJLT Debut Originally appeared on E! Online There's something about Ella Stiller following in her parents' footsteps. Indeed, the 23-year-old daughter of Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor made an appearance on the July 31 episode of And Just Like That, playing Mia, the pregnant girlfriend of Niall Cunningham's Brady Hobbes. Her debut in the Sex and the City universe comes more than 20 years after her paternal grandmother Anne Meara played Steve's mother Mary during the original show's fifth season. But as she's just the latest Stiller to enter the acting world—her grandfather was Jerry Stiller—her dad is more than ready to welcome Ella and her brother Quinlin Stiller, 20, to set. 'Both my kids are actors and not really kids anymore,' Ben, 59 age, told E! News in November. 'And they're both really good, so it'd be fun to work with them. I have done a couple of little things with them, but I'd love to. It'd be really fun.' What's more, the Severance producer's dream is to be cast in his children's future projects. 'I think eventually they'll probably be directing and producing stuff that I'll be asking them to cast me in,' he continued. 'That's how it goes.' More from E! Online Jack Osbourne Shared Update on Relationship With Sister Aimee Weeks Before Ozzy's Death Calvin Harris and Wife Vick Hope Welcome First Baby Kate Gosselin Shares Update on Her Kids in Rare Video After all, cinema has always been a family affair for the Stillers who have attended several red carpets as a family. And they've never hesitated to heap praise on one another. 'I'm so proud,' Ella said to E! News of her father's Apple TV+ drama at the 2022 Emmys. 'It's like my favorite show. I'm obsessed.' No stranger to sharing insight into their family life, Ben and Christine, 54, have been open about how they found their way back together while quarantining during the COVID pandemic, more than three years after their 2017 separation. 'When we were separated, it was just having space to see what our relationship was, what my life felt like when we weren't in that relationship, how much I loved our family unit,' Ben shared with the New York Times in January 2023. 'It was like three or four years that we weren't together, but we were always connected. In my mind, I never didn't want us to be together.' Keep reading for more about Ben and Christine's romance… ReunitedFather-Daughter DatesWorking TogetherFollowing In Her Parents' FootstepsCalling Out DadNot-So-Secret SwiftieTaking a BreakHealthy Family HabitsOut of the SpotlightSupporting Causes Together For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App Solve the daily Crossword
