COSI's first 10 years in its new digs haven't gone as expected ...

Thank you!

Hasn't anyone stopped to think that maybe it wasn't meant to be complete on day 1? That there would be room to add new things? Now you see that happening. Give them a little credit.

Hard Truth wrote:

And, BTW, the computer server is from N.C. I live in Cow Town.

How is that happening? Mine says that too.

I grew up in a city that had no science center. Sure, we visited the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago now and again, but in general, I did not have the luxury of watching science come alive in a fun, interactive environment. When I moved to Columbus six years ago as an adult, one of the first things my family and I did was go to COSI. It was awesome, and it's only gotten better in that time. In fact, a friend I know who has a baby takes her to the infant workshops at COSI where parents and babies bond while learning. Recently some other friends went to Brew Science where they sampled locally brewed beers and learned the science of brewmaking. And I personally have experienced COSI through the eyes of my elementary-age nephews who are more than likely every bit as "wowed" as all the posters here who literally are still yearning for a place called "Yester-Year." It's hilarious, really, and reflects how much we take things for granted when they're right there in front of us.

Things we take 4 granted wrote:

I grew up in a city that had no science center. Sure, we visited the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago now and again, but in general, I did not have the luxury of watching science come alive in a fun, interactive environment. When I moved to Columbus six years ago as an adult, one of the first things my family and I did was go to COSI. It was awesome, and it's only gotten better in that time. In fact, a friend I know who has a baby takes her to the infant workshops at COSI where parents and babies bond while learning. Recently some other friends went to Brew Science where they sampled locally brewed beers and learned the science of brewmaking. And I personally have experienced COSI through the eyes of my elementary-age nephews who are more than likely every bit as "wowed" as all the posters here who literally are still yearning for a place called "Yester-Year." It's hilarious, really, and reflects how much we take things for granted when they're right there in front of us.

Glad you like the New COSI. Yet don't knock us for comparing it to the old one when you have never see it. We are not taking it for granite. Just wanting it to be better. I think COSI is on the right track. For those of you who have not been since it opened 10 Years ago. Try it again. You will like some of the changes.

As a former student volunteer of the old COSI on E. Broad Street I was very disappointed by the new venue. The new building lacks all of the ambience and historical appeal of the old location. The new COSI is sterile and cold. Furthermore, the most popular exhibits were thrown away. The old COSI was welcoming, engaging and truly interactive. I am not surprised that the new COSI has flopped: the mission became revenue instead of education.

Mike wrote:

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I'll certainly agree that the presentation may not work today, and if I hear you right, evaluating the facility through the eyes of a child is important. But the sentiment I'm getting from many that these things from the old COSI wouldn't be relevant today is just wrong. I get the feeling that, in planning the new facility, they eliminated a lot partially due to money, but mostly because they confused dated with irrelevant.

I agree wholeheartedly here. As a kid, I wasn't incredibly interested in the talking presidents, but I did visit that exhibit many times, sometimes because pushing a button and having a president speak was cool, and sometimes because my mom wanted to see it. That was the great thing about COSI; parents and kids alike could enjoy themselves there.

I haven't been to COSI for 4 years now, and I would be willing to go again if the price was right, but I have to say, I was severely disappointed everytime I have visited the new location.

We love COSI and go as often as we can. It is one of Columbus' best places to take children. Surely the recent state of the economy has not been kind, but if COSI goes, I can't think of another place quite as interesting for children. Cities such as San Diego and Los Angeles have museums and other attractions for adults and children located all around their Science museums within walking distance. Perhaps more can be done to move other attractions or use Central High School more fully so as to develop or attract other businesses to want to be near the river.

I've never quite understood the water playing-spraying area in the Ocean Exhibit --- not sure the kids learn a whole lot in that dark, wet cave but they do come out soaked. The old planetarium would have been a better choice for learning.

sorry but wrote:

I've never quite understood the water playing-spraying area in the Ocean Exhibit --- not sure the kids learn a whole lot in that dark, wet cave but they do come out soaked. The old planetarium would have been a better choice for learning.

What? That sounds ridiculous like a babysitting operation. NO taxpayer dollars ever!

Thinker wrote:

I see discounts for teachers, military, single parents, why should couples who work in private industy pay full price + the difference for the subsidized groups?
http://www.supportcosi.org/join/

Discounts for single prents? What? Single parent are mostly that way not because of widowhood but by choice! No discounts for that!

rebel wrote:

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Discounts for single prents? What? Single parent are mostly that way not because of widowhood but by choice! No discounts for that!

By choice? Not if the other parent is abusive and you have to fleet the situation in order to raise the children in a good environment. Not to mention, some parents may be separated for other good reasons. I agree their should be a single parent discount, but it would be hard to prove.

Progress wrote:

In most cities if you build it they will come. Columbus is an enigma and it is depressing. People would truly rather stay at home and watch dancing with the stars than get out and experience anything other than Buckeye football...i have lived here for a little over a year, moved from a similar sized city and am thoroughly depressed over the mentality of people here. Columbus residents, particularly those that make comments on this site, are truly anti-progress in my opinion. WAKE UP COLUMBUS!
by the way, there is no better place to bring a child in Columbus than COSI - it is wonderful and there is nothing like it in most cities.

Having only moved to Columbus recently you have no idea how great the old Cosi is compared to the new. Having lived in this city for only a year you really have no idea about the people and how this city looked and felt year"s" ago. Taking Cosi which already existed and existed well, moving it and turning it a pile of sh*t is not progress.

rebel wrote:

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Discounts for single prents? What? Single parent are mostly that way not because of widowhood but by choice! No discounts for that!

Are you kidding? Single parents are not that way typically from widowhood. What about the girls who decided to hoe around and get preggo over and over?

Many comments, especially those from Kelli and Optimist, have convinced me that the new COSI has improved enough since I visited it in 2000 to give it a second chance, which I intend to so in the next month or two... A bit off topic, but from an outsider who has always loved Columbus since visiting family there in the 50’s and 60’s and who attended OSU in the 70’s, it seems that a disproportionate number of my favorite Columbus institutions and businesses have relocated or disappeared. Off the top of my head: old COSI, original Wendy’s, Christopher Inn, Holiday Inn on the Lane, Ohio Stater motel, Northland, The Continent, Lazarus especially the downtown store, City Center, Big Bear (especially the Lane Avenue store), Kroger on East 12th, the Gold Circle and the Pirates Cove (?) on Olentangy River Road, and a few High Street bars between 9th and Lane. Now my son tells me that the Jai Lai / Buckeye Hall of Fame Café building will be torn down. Not a criticism, just an outsider’s observation. Maybe I’m just getting old and change is passing me by.(No one needs to tell me that Cleveland has changed and still isn’t perfect, by the way.)

Clevelander wrote:

Many comments, especially those from Kelli and Optimist, have convinced me that the new COSI has improved enough since I visited it in 2000 to give it a second chance, which I intend to so in the next month or two... A bit off topic, but from an outsider who has always loved Columbus since visiting family there in the 50’s and 60’s and who attended OSU in the 70’s, it seems that a disproportionate number of my favorite Columbus institutions and businesses have relocated or disappeared. Off the top of my head: old COSI, original Wendy’s, Christopher Inn, Holiday Inn on the Lane, Ohio Stater motel, Northland, The Continent, Lazarus especially the downtown store, City Center, Big Bear (especially the Lane Avenue store), Kroger on East 12th, the Gold Circle and the Pirates Cove (?) on Olentangy River Road, and a few High Street bars between 9th and Lane. Now my son tells me that the Jai Lai / Buckeye Hall of Fame Café building will be torn down. Not a criticism, just an outsider’s observation. Maybe I’m just getting old and change is passing me by.(No one needs to tell me that Cleveland has changed and still isn’t perfect, by the way.)

Yeah. I just heard that too about Buckeye Hall. Fortunately I also hear that it'll be rebuilt just down the road a little ways in a better location.:)

No one even mentioned the Kahiki? What a sad, sorry bunch, the lot of you!

1. I moved to Columbus, went to the old COSI & loved it.
2. I got married, had kids. COSI moved. I took the kids. TOO expensive and totally exhausting to walk around. The silence was intimidating. The kids were bored. Stopped going.
3. Became a single parent (no, NOT by choice, thanks anyway). Went back to COSI (BEFORE single-parent discounts), hoping to keep up family standards despite being utterly broke and alone. WAY too expensive. Movies cost extra. The kids wanted to stay in the gift shop. Stopped going, again.
4. Got remarried. HAD THE WEDDING AND RECEPTION AT COSI! Does anyone else know what a fabulous venue it is? Our guests were delighted at the river view, the excellent catering, and the unique setting--a science museum! Who knew???
The wedding cost enough to cover an awful lot of annual memberships ... I asked if they'd throw one in for the new couple. Nope. oh, well.

Now we go back when we can. Something about happy memories makes it a fun place....

Clevelander wrote:

Many comments, especially those from Kelli and Optimist, have convinced me that the new COSI has improved enough since I visited it in 2000 to give it a second chance, which I intend to so in the next month or two... A bit off topic, but from an outsider who has always loved Columbus since visiting family there in the 50’s and 60’s and who attended OSU in the 70’s, it seems that a disproportionate number of my favorite Columbus institutions and businesses have relocated or disappeared. Off the top of my head: old COSI, original Wendy’s, Christopher Inn, Holiday Inn on the Lane, Ohio Stater motel, Northland, The Continent, Lazarus especially the downtown store, City Center, Big Bear (especially the Lane Avenue store), Kroger on East 12th, the Gold Circle and the Pirates Cove (?) on Olentangy River Road, and a few High Street bars between 9th and Lane. Now my son tells me that the Jai Lai / Buckeye Hall of Fame Café building will be torn down. Not a criticism, just an outsider’s observation. Maybe I’m just getting old and change is passing me by.(No one needs to tell me that Cleveland has changed and still isn’t perfect, by the way.)

I went this last year --- third time over the years in the new building and I still say sterile cavernous walls.... Better to go to Old Man's Cave, or one of Ohio's great state parks than this waste of time and money--Been there in the last 2 months!!!

>We are not taking it for granite.

Well, at least you were paying attention in the geology exhibit.