parking tips for mas bagua * lakehorse * the burning brain band at rumba cafe (columbus oh 01/14)

hey everyone, figured i'd share some parking tips for the mas bagua * lakehorse * the burning brain band show on 01/14. the rumba cafe area in old north columbus is awesome for music, but honestly, the parking is a total headache, and you really don't want to start your tuesday night with a ticket or, worse, a tow.

honestly the easiest way to deal with parking is to use an app called Prked. it's where people who live right next to the venue rent out their private driveway or garage spot. it's usually way cheaper than the public lots you might find, and you can book it ahead of time. that way you skip all the traffic chaos from people circling around looking for a spot and it's just a short, easy walk to the venue.

if you don't go the pre-paid route, your main option is street parking, but you have to be super careful and read every single sign. the good news is on-street parking is generally free around the venue. the best bet is to look for a spot on summit street, especially south of the venue. since rumba is a smaller spot, the competition isn't as bad as a big arena show, but you might still have to walk a block or two, maybe a quarter mile at the absolute worst. the show starts at 8:00 pm, so getting there a little early is always smart to grab one of the closer spots.

now for the super important warnings: first, you absolutely should not park in the small lot directly behind rumba cafe. the venue's website says it's permit-only and they are strict- they will tow anyone without permission, so do not risk it. a lot of the other businesses around there are also really quick to tow from their private lots, so stick to summit street or a pre-paid option. second, the side streets, especially closer to high street in areas like harrison west, have residential permit parking restrictions. paid parking in those zones runs until 10:00 pm, meaning you'd need to pay for a couple of hours if you find a metered spot- use the parkcolumbus app for that. after 10:00 pm, many of those side streets are strictly permit-only overnight, and without a resident permit, you will definitely get a ticket or a tow, so read those signs very carefully.

if you want a totally guaranteed spot and don't mind paying more, you can check apps like seatgeek or parkwhiz to see if there are any garages or lots a little further away selling prepaid passes for the night. finally, the area is generally fine, but like anywhere in a busy city, just make sure to not leave anything valuable visible in your car- no gym bags or shopping bags showing- better safe than sorry.

hope this helps you guys out for what is sure to be an awesome show on 01/14.