Saturday, September 22, 7pm, Ohio History Center, 800 E. 17th Ave.

Join us on Saturday, September 22nd at 7pm at the Ohio History Center, 800 E. 17th Ave. Help us to kick off the 50th anniversary of NNEMAP which had begun in 1969. As it happens, the groundbreaking for the Ohio History Center had also been in 1969!

Enjoy a variety of world cuisines from Linden restaurants, including Ethiopian food from Addis, Caribbean food from Ena’s, barbecue from The Pit, and Italian pastries from Auddino’s!

Take a stroll through the exhibits at the Ohio History Center, including “Ohio Through Time,” “Following in Ancient Footsteps,” “WWI Era Collections,” “1950’s Building the American Dream,” and the “Columbus Poindexter Exhibit.”

1960s music will be provided by The Bruise Brothers!

Our signature cocktail is either a gin or vodka martini; but wine, beer and other cocktails will be on hand!

NNEMAP’s history goes back to 1958. The construction of Interstate 670 disrupted the area’s “flytown” neighborhoods so drastically that home values plummeted. Within three months of that highway’s construction, a new population of disadvantaged persons needed emergency services. Fourth Ave. Christian Church opened a food pantry, with several auxiliary services, and maintained it at their facility for ten years. By 1968, about a dozen churches, known as the Near Northside Cooperative Ministry, were working with the Godman Guild Association to serve a population that had moved toward High St. In April 1969, the pantry incorporated as Near Northside Emergency Material Assistance Program. The pantry operated for 17 years out of a house on Dennison Ave., a former parsonage donated for that purpose by St. Mark’s Lutheran Church.

Tickets are $100 and $25 for children 17 and under. Tables for four are available for $500.