Columbus, OH

If you are a fan of British and European motorcycles, head over to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in Pickerington for this Saturday’s event honoring those bikes.

European and British Motorcycle Saturday
Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum
13515 Yarmouth Dr., Pickerington
Hours: Saturday
Contact Phone: 614-856-2222
Admission: $10

If you are feeling like a little education is more your speed this weekend, head to Easton Market Center, where Bodies the Exhibition, a scientific look at the human form is on display. Not for children (in my opinion) and not for the squeamish.

Bodies - The Exhibition
Easton Market Center
3749 Easton Market, Columbus
Hours: Friday-Saturday 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Contact Phone: 866-640-0303
Admission: Adults $22. Seniors and students $20. Children 12 and under $17.

Or, if you are a fan of cycling, head to Grandview, where the Tour de Grandview will attract over 100 professional cyclers over the weekend. There are events for all ages and you need not be a pro to enjoy this annual event.

Tour de Grandview
Throughout Grandview
Hours: Saturday-Sunday
Contact Phone: 614-529-4268

If Thursday nights find you looking for something to do in Columbus, but you are strapped for cash, grab a friend and a buck and head over to Cinema City at the Brice Outlet Mall.

On Thursday nights you can see a second run movie for only 50 cents each. That’s right, 50 cents! Cinema City runs other specials as well, like $1 tickets on Tuesdays, summer movie specials for kids, and $2.50 tickets every other day.

Now granted, these are for the most part movies that are on their last run before heading to video. But sometimes a night at the theater is just so much better than watching a movie at home.

The picture quality is usually perfect, but you can’t complain much about the occasional time it’s a little grainy or the sound’s not exactly right when your ticket only cost you 50 cents. But to be honest, as long as it’s not too bad it can sometimes add to the fun.

The theater is in about the condition you’d expect for a place that was built in the early 80s. But it’s warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

Eat before you come if you want to keep it cheap though. With the exception of Tuesdays, when the cinema runs some $1 specials on small drinks and popcorn, the snacks are priced the same as every other cinema in town.

Parking is free and well lit.

Call 614-322-5500 to see what’s playing.

Cinema City - Brice Outlet Mall
5737 Brice Outlet Mall Way
Columbus, OH 43232

Take I-70 E to the first Brice Rd. exit. At the first light turn right. Cinema City is in the old mall on the left, just past White Castle.

Ok, I admit it. I love Easton.

I remember when they were first building the place. I’d just come back from a trip to England and Ireland and it struck me how much it seemed the Easton property was trying to look European. In my head I called it cheesy. Yet I knew Columbus would love that cheese.

And here we are, just under a decade later and I am sitting happily among the cheese lovers.

The thing is, Easton is just so darn pleasant. And there’s no better word for it. It’s PLEASANT. With it’s mix of indoor and outdoor shops, restaurants and plenty of entertainment it’s almost a can’t miss proposition.

Over the next few months, I’ll spend some time letting you in on all the things one can do in this approximately one square mile area. And maybe while I’m at it, I’ll figure out how a shopping center becomes the second biggest tourist attraction in Ohio.

Yes, you read that right. Easton Town Center is the second biggest tourist attraction in Ohio.

Go figure . . .

If you enjoy harness racing, Columbus has you covered. Just south of town you’ll find Scioto Downs.

Celebrating 45 years of history, Scioto Downs features live harness races and simulcast harness and thoroughbred races throughout the evening.

You can spend $1.50 for general admission, or $3 for clubhouse/penthouse admission.

IMHO: We recently spent an evening at the track, including having dinner in the Clubhouse restaurant. The ambiance was great, but the food was only adequate. The clubhouse also takes reservations, but having a reservation right when they opened didn’t do us any good, as they were seating everyone right away and we still had to wait in line with people who did not have a reservation. As a restaurant, I was unimpressed, but I know people who love to go for the food, so hopefully it was just an off night.

But, hey, who really goes to the track for the food?

If you like betting, the ticket windows are easily accessible. The track is well maintained and the parking lot is well lit.

All in all, I think Scioto Downs is a good time whether you like harness races or like me, you just love horses.

From the Scioto Downs website:

Simulcasting Year-Round - seven afternoons & nights a week,
thoroughbred & harness!
FREE Parking and Admission for simulcasting.
Carrel Seating - including the revamped Penthouse Racebook - is always FREE!
Simulcasting begins with mid-afternoon West Coast T’bred signals [app.4 p.m.]
Gates Open one hour prior to first simulcast race.
LIVE SEASON PRICING:

Grandstand Admission: $1.50 - FREE Sun, Mon, Tues, & Wed
Clubhouse/Patio/Penthouse Admission: $3.00 - FREE Sun, Mon, Tues, Wed
General Parking: $1.00 - FREE Sun, Mon, Tues & Wed
Preferred Parking: $1.00 addl. - FREE Sun, Mon, Tues & Wed

First race post time: 6:30 p.m.
Holiday matinee post time (in lieu of night card): 1:00 p.m.

HOW TO GET THERE

Scioto Downs is located two miles south of Route 270 on Route 23 South (High Street). 270 is easily accessible from I-70 and I-71.

As always, Scioto Downs serves alcoholic bevarages. Columbus must have at least a dozen cab companies & Scioto Downs wants you back to play another day. If you are going to drink, play it straight–designate! Or let us call you a cab. Columbus wants you to go home healthy, so you can come back happy!

Move over Kansas City!

Outta’ our way Memphis!

Columbus-yes Columbus-is ready to earn it’s spot on the BBQ map!

If you are hungry for some slow cooked barbeque you need not drag out the smoker or start digging a pit.

You also don’t have to settle for some major restaurant chain’s attempt to cash in on the barbeque feeding frenzy.

What you want is some City BBQ!

City BBQ promotional photo.

Affectionately referred to by my friend as “an orgasm on a paper plate,” City BBQ is something you just don’t expect from Central OHIO.

They have all the things you can think of to make your barbeque experience complete. Beef briskit, turkey, pulled pork, sausage and of course the very best ribs around make up the meat portion of the menu. Then add to that the sides, like corn pudding, greens, green beans, baked beans & fresh cole slaw. Top it off with some decadent chocolate cake or bananna pudding and wash it all down with sweet tea and you’ve had yourself an authentic City BBQ experience.

The City BBQ motto is, “If we gotta’ put sauce all over our meat we must have something to hide,” and City BBQ has nothing to hide. Sauce lovers needn’t worry though; plenty of sauce in three different delicious versions is available right at your table if you want it.

In eight short years City BBQ has grown from one location in Upper Arlington to 12 locations across Ohio. They are open seven days a week, with extended hours for summer.

Hey sports fans!!! The NHL Draft, hosted by our own Columbus Blue Jackets, is at Nationwide Arena, with a packed schedule of things to do for players and fans alike, the Arena district is going to be hoppin’ all weekend! Parking is limited and what is available is pricey, so take a local’s advice and ride COTA.

Or once again, head back to the Riverfront, Columbus’ busiest festival location, for the annual Pride Festival. The Gay and Lesbian event attracts 100,000+ visitors a year and is the largest event of its type in the midwest.

Then again, you could set off for Goodale Park and take in Comfest. Courtesy of the Comfest website: “Come celebrate peace and social justice at Comfest, arguably the largest free, non-corporate urban music and arts festival in the US.”

On the northwest side of Columbus, you’ll find one of Columbus’ best gentlemen’s clubs, Columbus Gold.

This is what I know about Columbus Gold~

Columbus Gold in this incarnation has been around for almost 15 years. It is well maintained, dark, and has an “upper class” atmosphere. I know several ladies who are comfortable having a drink here.

The girls are going to be 18-35. Some of the most attractive and most “dancer savvy” girls in Columbus work here. If you are not careful gentlemen, you’ll part with a lot more money than you mean to.

The bartenders are real pros. Intelligent, pretty, well dressed and fast.

This bar has a mostly white collar clientelle through the week, with it being one of Columbus’ top bachelor party destinations on the weekend.

This is the only showbar in Columbus that still runs a feature dancer (a Penthouse Pet, porn star, or other girl customers would have reason to already know of) on a weekly basis. Some other bars still do it, but Columbus Gold is the most consistent.

Feature dancer Tanya Taylor

The girls here make their money through tips, table dances and getting you to buy them $20-500 drinks.

This is also one of the few showbars in Columbus that allows 18-20 year olds, so if you have a mixed bachelor party they can come here. Be prepared to pay though. 18-20 year olds must pay for and wear a bright yellow Columbus Gold t-shirt while they are there. They will be thrown out if caught without it on.

There is ample, well-lit parking.

Columbus Gold runs charity events around Christmas.

Columbus Gold
5411 Bethel Sawmill Center
Columbus, Ohio 43235
614-764-0500
Mon. - Thurs. 4-2
Fri. 11:30-2
Sat. 7-2
Sun. 8-2
Cover charge $10-20 depending on event and age

As always, Columbus must have a dozen cab companies and our bars are happy to call a cab for you. If you drink–USE ONE!

Last night I watched the movie Pulse. This is a different kind of horror movie. Still fairly scary in a “you jump when the music tells you to” kind of way, but the premise is more interesting than the average slasher flick.

The thing that made me smile as the storyline was becoming very intense was that Ziegler, the guy who knew how to stop the carnage and save the world, was from Columbus, Ohio.

I guess there is some good use for all these colleges, universities and tech schools after all!

If you’re not the strip club type, you’d probably never imagine that we–little old Columbus cow town that we are–have that many establishments of this type.

But, believe me, we do. I’m a woman and I can think of a dozen names off the top of my head. Just imagine how many a dedicated “gentlemen’s club” visitor might be able to think of!

Over the next few weeks I’ll discuss some of the biggest, and perhaps the best, of Columbus’ “Gentlemen’s Clubs.”

The highest concentration of large strip clubs is on the city’s north side. Here you’ll find:

Danny’s Gold Fox
1078 E Dublin Granville Rd
Columbus, OH 43229
(614) 841-0212
Open M-F 2pm-2am Sat. 6pm-2am Closed Sunday
Cover charge: $5-12 depending on the night or event.

On the northwest corner of St. Rt. 161 & I 71.

There is a Waffle House in the parking lot in front of it. If you are the designated driver, do yourself a favor and be sure to park in Gold Fox parking. The Waffle House can and will have your car towed.

This is one of the two remaining “Danny’s ____ Fox” bars that remain since the passing of founder Danny Weber, who once owned a virtual empire of showbars in Columbus (others were White Fox, Silver Fox, Platinum Fox, Diamond Fox and the only other remaining Weber club, Fox Run).

What I know about Danny’s Gold Fox~

This club is well maintained, but not overly fancy. Don’t expect it to look like Vegas. This is also one of the “cleanest” showbars in Columbus–meaning no “private” rooms.

The girls here are going to be 18-40, and of various sizes.

The bartenders are fun girls, and are allowed to drink if you’re paying. They pour drinks fairly stiff here.

Speaking of drinking, that is how the dancer’s here make the bulk of their money. With well shots starting at $10 and drinks running $20-$250 for a dancer, you can go through a lot of money without ever getting so much as a table dance.

As for atmosphere, if Cheers was a strip club, this would be it in Columbus. The customer’s are mostly regulars and locals, with the occasional bachelor party thrown in for good measure.

BUT, if you have a reason to go during the day, this is the place to go. The Gold Fox is known for having a good day crowd, and you are likely to find prettier girls working here on Wednesday afternoon than on Saturday night.

NOTE: Danny’s Gold Fox does sponsor charity events throughout the year, including the Danny Weber Memorial Golf Outing.

Also once again~Columbus must have a dozen cab companies, if you are going to drink USE ONE!

Yes, it’s true Columbus is unique.

Why? Because we’re average.

Studies show Columbus has the perfect mix of races, sexes, religions, incomes and sexual orientations.

So, basically, if you took the whole country and shrunk it into one city, you’d have Columbus.

I guess that’s also why we’re so tolerant. In Columbus, a Klan member can live across the street from a gay, Jewish, black couple and really there’s no problem. OK, maybe not that extreme. But really you could get pretty close.

It’s also why we make the perfect test market. Want to know if your new product idea will fly? Try it out in Columbus. If it succeeds here, you are good to go.

All I can say is, I love it, and I hope it lasts.

If you enjoyed last week’s Arts Festival, or if you missed it, head north to Worthington Village Green (at the intersection of High St. and 161) for the Worthington Arts Festival. While you are there check out one of my favorite booths, the beautiful wooden offerings of Turned Treasure.

Or, go east the suburb of Gahanna for the Creekside Blues and Jazz Festival.

Or, if you’d rather get some salsa in your life, head back to the riverfront downtown for the Festival Latino.

Or, if you’re feeling the need for speed, head way out east on Rt. 40 (Main St.) just past the village of Kirkersville, to the National Trail Raceway for the Holley National Hot Rod Renunion.

This post is not really the guide to Columbus type post I usually write. But last night I was looking for a movie to watch and in my collection I found Point Break.

Mmmmm, Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze at their (physical at least) best.

Now I have to tell you, Point Break is my #1 favorite guilty pleasure movie of all time. You know what I mean, not your favorite movie. Not the movie you would ever put down on any questionairre asking for your favorite movie. But the movie you watch again and again despite it being bad, because to you it is that good. Admit it, you’ve got one.

One of the things that has always given me a chuckle about Point Break is the fact that Keanu Reeves’ character is from Columbus. As a matter of fact, he’s a complete anomaly in the Columbus world, because he’s a former star Ohio State Buckeye quarterback, that actually hails from the capitol city.

Note dialogue:

Roach: What the f#@k is wrong with you? Don’t you think that’s a little out of line?

Bohdi: Cool it, Roach. Don’t you know who this is?

Roach: No, l don’t!

Bohdi: This is Johnny Utah, Ohio State Buckeyes, all conference. Remember?

Little Brother: Number 9 how ya doing?

Roach: Jesus Christ! Johnny f#@kin’ Utah! Sorry, man. Didn’t mean to get in ya face!

Bohdi: l knew l knew you. lt was the Rose Bowl. Three years ago you beat SC.

Tyler: You? You did this?

Bohdi: Yep, him!

Proving that everyone loves the Buckeyes–even semi-insane, impossibly gorgeous and amazingly precise surfing bank robbers.

And yes, I’m just sticking this picture in because I can, and because he was still too cute 12 years later.

If you are looking for something to eat while downtown, try heading down 3rd. St. into German Village for dinner at G. Michael’s. In the former Jimmy’s Too building, G. Michael’s has a great mix of Italian American food. You can have tasty sea scallops, tender steaks, and a strangely delicious appetizer of shrimp and grits.

G. Michael’s Publicity Photo

Good to Know Before You Go

G. Michael’s is very busy on the weekends. I recommend reservations.

Compared to other places in Columbus, G. Michael’s is a little pricey, but about right for German Village.

Ask for Tim, our favorite quick and witty waiter.

G. Michael’s has a great wine list.

You are in German Village, so parking is at a premium. Save yourself some trouble and pay $5 for the valet.

G. Michael’s is open for dinner Sunday thru Thursday 5:00pm - 10:00pm and Friday thru Saturday 5:00pm - 11:00pm.

G. Michael’s Bistro & Bar
595 South 3rd. Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614) 464-0575
(614) 464-0595 FAX
info@gmichaelsbistro.com

On the far north side of Columbus, just off Rt. 23, you’ll find the Crosswoods Center. This is where you can find one of Columbus’ 3 IMAX theaters, great restaurants like J. Alexander’s, and one of Columbus’ newest nightclubs–Columbus Light.

I went to Light last Saturday with two friends and had a really good time. We arrived about 10:30, which was perfect; because it wasn’t yet extremely busy and we were able to lay claim to a table. If you arrive after 11, good luck if you want to sit down. (At least Columbus clubs haven’t gone to a pay for a table system like clubs in Vegas, NYC or Miami.) We hung out, talked, danced (and drank) until closing without ever getting that “I’m getting bored and tired” feeling.

Good to Know Before You Go

The music was a very danceable mix, with songs from the 70s to today. It was mostly modern dance and light hip hop, with songs from the last three decades slipped in where they would fit and be fun.

The drinks were good, but a little pricey for the Columbus area, with attentive (and very pretty) servers.

Light has also opened a very nice patio bar. This is the only place you can smoke, so if you are a non smoker, you will want to sit upwind from everyone else.

There is a $5 cover charge.

The crowd was older than most Columbus nightclubs, which tend to be very young. If you are mid 30s, you are the average age at Light. I’ve been told the club is 25 and over.

Finally, gentlemen, please act like one at Light. A fellow was rude and touchy (uninvited) with my friend. It didn’t take long for security to “help” him out.

Open Thurs. & Fri. 4:30-2:30
Sat. 6:30-2:30

Light Columbus
7520 Highcross Blvd.
Columbus, Ohio

NOTE: Columbus must have a dozen cab companies. PLEASE, if you are going to drink, USE ONE.

Is this really doing it Dave’s Way?

Just a few months ago, the head honchos over at Wendy’s decided to do the unthinkable. They closed the original Wendy’s.

I remember as a kid going to COSI for the day and rounding out the afternoon with a Frosty at Wendy’s. Field trips from school often ended this way, with entire groups of school children decending on the burger joint en masse and ordering up 50 kids meals with 50 small Frostys at a go.

Now, only a few years after the death of the revered Dave Thomas, not only have they gone and introduced a Vanilla Frosty, something Dave flat out said they would not do, they have closed the flagship store at Broad St.

I understand the store was losing money, mostly due to the move of COSI and the inavailability of drive-thru service there. But every time I have been there, even since COSI moved, there has been a reasonable crowd. It seems there should be something more they can do with the property.

Even if it is not going to be a full-time restaurant, Wendy’s Inc. should find a way to continue use of the property. It’s wrong to just let this piece of Americana, not to mention Columbus history, just sit empty–for a company who prides itself on its history it’s shameful.