Columbus, OH

The fireworks will still go on, you may just have a slightly more difficult time getting to a great place to see them. Road construction in the area has caused several of the most popular sponsors and entertainers associated with the event to move to new locations for this year.

Most of the entertainment you have seen in the past will still be there, but check their websites to be sure you will be able to find them. As always, most of the major roadways in the area will be closed. Some have already been shut down in anticipation of the nearly half-million strong crowd that sees the fireworks every year. According to local radio station WNCI, the primo spots for viewing the fireworks will be in North Bank Park and McFerson Commons Park.

You can find the Boom Central map HERE.

Red, White & Boom
On the Riverfront
July 3, 2008
At Dark (usually about 9:45 pm)

Columbus, Ohio, OH, Independence Day, fourth of July, 4th. of July, fireworks, Red White & Boom

The Building Industry Association’s Parade of Homes is on again, this year in Gahanna.

Reflecting current economic times, the parade this year is much smaller than in the prior years in which I’ve attended it. The theme this year is Herb Gardens and each of the seven homes involved has one.

I’m excited to get to this year’s parade, which promises to give the average attendee more affordable and unique ideas than in years past. Whether you are in the market for a home, looking to renovate or redecorate your own or just want to spend a pleasant afternoon out, don’t miss all that the parade has to offer.

Dates: June 14-29 2008
Location: Village at Hannah Farms
Address: Corner of Clark State Road and Reynoldsburg-New Albany Road, Gahanna
Hours: Monday-Saturday noon-9 p.m. Sunday noon-6 p.m.
Admission: $10
Phone: 614-818-1398, 614-891-0575

Columbus, Ohio, OH, Gahanna, BIA, Building Industry Association

This Friday night the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum opens their new exhibit, Motostars: Motorcycles & Celebrities. This exhibit features bikes owned or ridden by everyone from the absolute King of Cool Steve McQueen, to modern megastars like Will Smith, Tom Cruise & Brad Pitt.

Want to see the bike ridden by Robert Patrick as the 2nd. generation Terminator in T-2? They’ve got it. Loved Captain America since you were a kid? They’ve got that one too. Ever wonder what Keith Urban would ask for in a custom bike? Want to see a chopper built especially for Will.I.Am? Had an itch to eyeball a gold plated drum set lately? You can, starting this Friday at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington.

For those of you who’d like a little excitement with your museum going, there are two big events this weekend.

” ‘MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles’ VIP Gala
Friday, June 27, 7-10 p.m.

Information: (614) 856-2222 or info@motorcyclemuseum.org”

Columbus, Ohio, OH, Pickerington, AMA, American Motorcyclist Association, Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, Motostars, Motorcycles and Celebrities, Robert Patrick, Perry King, Mark Mederski

I haven’t had much of a chance to be out and about for the last week or so as I’ve been spending a lot of time at OSU Hospital with my friend that had the transplant. He’s had a few complications, as is normal for the first year or so after such a procedure, and is back in the hospital again. So while I’ve not been to any new restaurants, hotels or clubs, I have found this cool video from last year’s Gathering of Mustangs & Legends out at Rickenbacker. Enjoy!

I have told you in the past about the great exhibits put on by the Ohio Historical Center. Last week I took my son to experience Capture the Moment: the Pulitzer Prize Photographs at the Ohio Historical Society. The slogan for this exhibit is “Be Changed” and it’s a good representation of how one feels after spending an hour or more viewing these photos. These photos are so moving they speak to the very heart of the viewer.

The exhibit includes photos from as far back as the 1940s. Journalists have recorded human history on film for as long as the portable camera has been around. These pictures are horrifying, moving, deeply sorrowful and brightly joyful. One thing that really struck me was the fact that El Salvador means The Savior, yet some of the most violent and disturbing photos were from that region.

It is horrid that so many of the photos that have taken this prize are terribly sad or deeply disturbing. The photo of a child starving to death in the Sudan seems to be in contrast to the photo of Liberian militia smiling and laughing, until you read the commentary and realize the laughing soldiers are celebrating their part in a massacre. But the fact that there are so many photos like these makes the truly joy filled moments all that much more precious. You feel yourself aching for the pain of an African teenager subjected to female genital mutilation then turn to see the elated relief on the faces of the rescuers as a tiny Jessica McClure is pulled from the well.

These are the images that capture the truly human element of our world–the things we must fully realize if we are going to change the bad and celebrate the good. This is more than 60 years of photographers that have been in the right place at the right time, captured the moment or gotten the “lucky shot.” If these photos do not change you, they will definitely move you and leave you to wonder what part of 2008 will be captured then go on to capture this important prize.

Capture the Moment: the Pulitzer Prize Winning Photographs
Ohio Historical Society
April 25-July 25
1982 Velma Ave.

Museum Fees include:

Parking
OHS Members FREE
Vehicles $4.00
Buses $10.00
Buses and Private Cars that are transporting a group of school children FREE

Museum Admission:
OHS Members FREE
Adults $8.00
Children 6 - 12 $4.00
Children 5 & under FREE
School Groups $3.00 per student

AAA and senior discounts given. Military discounts are available to all active military and their dependents.

Columbus, Ohio, OH, Ohio Historical Society, OHS, Pulitzer Prize, Be Changed, Capture the Moment

If you aren’t headed for the Memorial Tournament this holiday weekend you could:

Attend the grand opening of Zoombeezi Bay at the Columbus Zoo.

May 26
Opens Memorial Day at 10:30 a.m.
$29.99. Children 2-9 and seniors $24.99.
4850 W. Powell Rd.
614-645-3550, 800-666-5397

WOW! Admission includes entry to the zoo.

Or…

You could attend the Columbus Asian Festival

May 24-25 2008
Franklin Park Conservatory
1777 E. Broad St.
Sat. 10-9 & Sun. 11-7
614-457-1311, 800-214-TREE
Admission is FREE!!!

or…

Join in the Native American Traditional Pow Wow

May 24-26 2008
Franklin County Fairgrounds
4100 Columbia St. in Hilliard
Sat. 11-midnight. Sun. 11-11 Mon. 11-6
Children 5 & under Free. Seniors and students $3. Adults $7. Weekend Pass $15.
614-443-6120

Of course, if you are headed to the Memorial Tournament, you can get some good tips from last year’s post HERE.

Columbus, Ohio, OH, Memorial Tournament, PGA, Dublin, Native American Pow Wow, Franklin County Fairgrounds, Hilliard, Memorial Day, Asian Festival, Franklin Park Conservatory, Powell, Columbus Zoo, Zoombeezi Bay

I don’t get over to Dublin too often these days, so maybe it was the luck of the Irish (OK, corny, I know) that led my pal Courtney to be holed up in a hotel on that side of town while doing her most recent training session for her job. She gave me a call and I drove over that way to see her since we’ve not seen one another for nearly a year.

Well, making a long story short, we asked the hotel limo driver for a recommendation on the best night spot in the area and he heartily recommended the Dub Pub.

The Dub Pub is a sports bar and one of the best in the state. The two gorgeous lady bartenders did a surprisingly great job at keeping up with the impressive-for-a-Tuesday-night crowd and the customers all seemed to really be in a good mood.*

The Dub Pub features a full bar, pub menu, great happy hour specials and honestly fast, friendly and great looking bartenders. They also hold several special events throughout the year. So if you’d like to hang out at a bar that’s got more awards than Kenny Chesney (figuratively speaking of course), head on over to Dublin and enjoy an evening at the Dub Pub.

* FYI ladies, if you like the numbers to be strongly in your favor, the clientele here was overwhelmingly male.

As always, there must be a dozen cab companies in the area. The Dub Pub wants you back, happy and healthy, and without a $6000 DUI hanging over your head. So if you are going to drink–DON’T DRIVE! The outstanding staff at the Dub Pub will be happy to call for a ride for you.

Columbus, Ohio, OH, Dublin, Dub Pub

I’ve written before about how much fun I have out running with my friend Lisa, who is among the fittest of my friends. Well, Saturday I had the chance to run the Komen Columbus Race for the Cure with her. Now, when I say run, I mean more like, she ran, and I jogged lightly, then walked, then jogged, then walked the 3.1 miles that makes up a 5K.

Lisa works for Limited Brands, the local powerhouse that owns Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works and C.O. Bigelow among other brands. We spent the early morning having breakfast at the Limited offices in northeast Columbus and hearing stories of survival from Limited associates and friends that made the reason for the race really hit home. The Limited supports Komen Columbus with huge financial contributions and sponsors their employees and guests in the race. They also provided busses to and from the race, which made running that much more enjoyable, as nobody wants to try to find parking downtown during this big of an event.

The atmosphere at the Komen is one of pure inspiration. The race raises millions to help with breast cancer research and 3/4 of the money raised by the organization goes right out to help with the fight.

The Race for the Cure is one of the biggest (if not THE biggest) charity runs in the Columbus area, with over 40,000 runners attending this year alone.

On the race route, the runners & walkers are encouraged by members of the community, cheered for by cheerleaders from local schools, serenaded by both local solo musicians and bands, and entertained by local dance groups. My favorite part of the run was coming within sight of the finish line and seeing a long string of bikers revving up their Harleys and cheering the runners on–many of the male bikers donning black leather jackets over pastel t-shirts that clearly read “Real Men Wear Pink.”

After the race, many local companies were represented, giving away free items including: spot remover from Stanley Steamer, ice cream from the Skinny Cow, iced coffee from Starbucks and scarves from Ford’s Warriors in Pink campaign among others.

If you’ve never done it and you have the opportunity next year to run the Komen, I can promise you it will be an experience you won’t regret.

Columbus, Ohio, OH, Komen, Race for the Cure, Limited Brands, breast cancer, real men wear pink

In what may very well be one of the last performances of the troubled Columbus Symphony Orchestra, cellist Yo Yo Ma is scheduled to play with them at the Ohio Theater this Thursday, the 15th.

Enjoy this youtube video and consider the amazement of such a gifted musician and the current issues with CSO before balking at the $175 ticket price.

Location: Ohio Theatre
Hours: Thursday 8 p.m.
Admission: $175
Address: 39 E. State St., Columbus
Phone: 614-228-8600

Columbus, Ohio, OH, Columbus Symphony Orchestra, classical music, Ohio Theatre, Yo Yo Ma

With pomp, pageantry and a lot of heart, the Licking County Visitor’s Bureau re-opened its doors this past weekend at its new home at the Moundbuilders State Park.

The ceremonies were to reopen the park museum, which now shares the space with the visitor’s bureau. A new 1000 square foot exhibit, which includes a timeline that stretches from modern times all the way back to the age of the Paleo-Indians, was also opened in the museum.

The highlight of the ceremonies was the presence of Aztec dancers, who were here from Mexico for the weekend conference, and agreed to do a blessing of the site. With an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe watching over them, they purified the area and the people with smoke, sang and danced, blessing the site.

The Moundbuilers State Park is on the list of nominated places to become a United Nations World Heritage site, which would be good for the preservation of the area and Licking County at large; but, I suggest you get there now and enjoy all the beauty and history (not to mention serenity) the park has to offer, before it becomes an official site and begins to draw real crowds.

The visitors’ center is a great place to find out about all the places to see and things to do in Licking County. You can stop by and plan an entire week’s worth of entertainment, or you can simply grab a single brochure and find a place to kill a few hours in the afternoon. While you are there, don’t miss the gorgeous Licking County quilt, which is a little bit hidden when you walk in.

Read more about the Great Circle and the other Newark Earthworks HERE.

Columbus, Ohio, OH, Licking County, Newark, Heath, Moundbuilders, United Nations, World Heritage Site, Aztec dancers, Licking County Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, Ohio history, Ohio Historical Society

In the midst of the economic crash that is sending workers straight back home and back to their kitchen cabinets in an attempt to save both gas and food money, two of Columbus’ favorite, and most cherished restaurant chains, have been sold to out of state investors this week.

Yesterday Max & Erma’s, a chain that started with a single bar and grill in German Village, was sold to Pittsburgh firm G&R Aquisitions. The firm paid $4 a share, which is slightly higher than the most recent trading price, and is returning the restaurant to private ownership. This is the first time Max & Erma’s will not be publicly traded since 1982.

Looking at the purchase, the only negative here seems to be that G&R is not a local firm. G&R has expressed its intention to retain all the current employees, while remodeling most of the stores and rehashing the menu, which has all but lost its neighborhood bar & grill roots. G&R intends to refocus the menu, taking the burgers that Max & Erma’s was founded on back to the spotlight.

I say, I’m glad that Max & Erma’s will be returning to their roots. I just hope the promise to maintain the staff holds true and I hope in their quest to eliminate unnecessary menu items that they don’t take away my favorites, the tortilla soup & Laredo steak!

Earlier this week, in a move that must have Dave Thomas turning in his revered grave, Dublin based Wendy’s was also sold, in a multi billion dollar all stock deal, to Atlanta’s Triarc, a firm owned by billionaire Nelson Peltz. Triarc also owns Arby’s, which has locals talking about the Arby’s-Wendy’s merger or about how Arby’s swallowed Wendy’s. Wendy’s has had disappointing sales in recent years.

As far as I can see, Wendy’s has had trouble since Dave Thomas, who was seen as a local celebrity and one of Ohio’s “favorite sons,” passed away. Since Thomas passed away Wendy’s has messed around with the menu, including offering a vanilla Frosty, something Dave said he would never do, eliminated the Big Bacon Classic in favor of of the artery hardening Baconator, closed the original Broad St. Wendy’s. Wendy’s used to be one of the absolute favorite places for Central Ohioans of all ages to grab some great food. As they say, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. No wonder Wendy’s is in trouble.

CBS news reported Dave Thomas’ daughter Wendy, the restaurant chain’s namesake, was “devastated” along with the rest of her family. I don’t blame her for feeling that way. I just hope the sale winds up being for the benefit of the company and not a step toward its demise.

With some luck, strong guidance and hopefully a positive turn in the economy, these two local chains can return to their roots and serve up some great food (and hopefully profits) once again.

Columbus, Ohio, OH, Dublin, Wendy’s, Arby’s, Triarc, Mac & Erma’s, G&R Aquisitions, Dave Thomas, Nelson Peltz

This weekend you could…

Enjoy the sounds of Salsa at BoMA during the Columbus Salsa Festival

April 24-27 2008
Bar of Modern Art
583 E. Broad St.
Thurs.-Sun. 8-11:45
$13-$70
614-487-9917

Get wild at the Party for the Planet at the Columbus Zoo

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
4850 W. Powell Rd.
Sun.-Sat. 9-5
Adults $10. Seniors/children 2-9 $7. Children under 2 free. Parking $5.
614-645-3550, 800-MONKEYS

Or join the Columbus Jazz Orchestra for New Orleans on Parade at the Southern Theater

April 23-27 2008
Southern Theatre
Address: 21 E. Main St.
Wed.-Sat. 8-10:30, Sun. 2-4:30 & 7:30-10
Tickets $35-$48
614-294-5200

Columbus, Ohio, OH, Columbus Zoo, Party for the Planet, Columbus Jazz Orchestra, Southern Theater, Southern Theatre, BoMA, Bar of Modern Art, Columbus Salsa Festival, salsa

Tomorrow, the Ohio Historical Center will open the new exhibit, It Happened in Ohio: The Kent State Shootings.

To tie into the Ohio Historical Center’s featured exhibit, Capture the Moment: The Pulitzer Prize Photographs, the 1971 Pulitzer Prize winner Kent State Massacre by photographer John Paul Filo and the upcoming anniversary of the event, the Ohio Historical Center will feature It Happened in Ohio: The Kent State Shootings. Visitors will learn about the build up and reaction to the Kent State shootings on May 4, 1970, through artifacts, photos and personal accounts.

I plan to take my teenager and his friend to see this. They learned about this event in school, but I find a good museum exhibit brings me and my family much closer to history than classroom insturction.

The exhibit runs April 25 through July 25.

Thursday 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday noon.-5 p.m.
Adults $8. Children 6-12 $4. Parking $4.
1982 Velma Ave.
614-297-2300, 800-686-6124

Columbus, OH, Ohio, Ohio Historical Society, Ohio Historical Center, Ohio Village, Kent State, national guard, Kent State Shootings

Celebrate Earth Day by learning about recycling options in Columbus.

Click HERE to be taken to the city’s official RECYCLING webpage.

Columbus, Ohio, OH, Earth day, recycling