Columbus, OH

This weekend head downtown to the Riverfront and spend some time at The Columbus Arts Festival.

In the interest of acknowledging the fact that everything even remotely interesting seems to have corporate sponsorship, I’ll include the fact that the festival is now (sadly in my opinion, but probably good for the GCAC) sponsored by Chase.

The arts festival is a huge event, some would say the “premeir” arts event in Ohio. There are different crafts and live performances from all over the world.

In the past one of my favorite vendors has been Steve Vaughn photography. He has beautiful panoramic prints of tropical locales.

Also, don’t miss the Poetry Slam, which features live original performances from great young poets-Saturday evening at 8.

With everything from gourmet restaurants to hot dog vendors, there’s plenty of food, so bring your wallet and your appetite.

Good to Know Before You Go:

This is an outdoor event so dress for the weather, as I’ve said before, springtime in Ohio is unpredictable at best.

Don’t let the name Columbus Arts Festival fool you. No particular preference seems to be given to local artists, and they can be hard to find among out of staters who travel full time.

If you see something you really like, either buy it right then or convince the dealer to hold it for predetermined amount of time, otherwise you are likely to lose out.

Also, pay special attention to where you are. As items get sold, they are replaced, so when you go back the booth may look quite different.

One of the things that is great about Ohio is our amazing park system. Anytime you want to experience a mix of natural beauty and ancient history, just head east out of Columbus to the city of Newark, home of the Octagon and Great Circle Mounds.

The Octagon Mound, while owned by the Ohio Historical Socitey, is on the leased property of the Moundbuilders Country Club. Visitors simply need to view from a platform near the parking lot, or make arrangements with the club to visit the mounds. Built by the Hopewell people around two thousand years ago, with its amazingly accurate lunar alignment, the Octagon is believed to have been ceremonial in nature.

Nearly identical earthworks are also to be found in the Chillicothe area, over 90 minutes away by car, an amazing feat for an ancient people. The two sites were once connected by a walled area now referred to as the “Great Hopewell Road.”

The Great Circle Mound, or “Moundbuilders Park” as it is known to the locals, is a full-time state park, so you don’t need to make special arrangements to see it. The mound is a near perfect circle, over four football fields across inside. The mound is built up, with a trench from which the earth was dug, running alond the inside. Inside there are two smaller mounds, which resemble an Eagle and a crescent moon. The remains of a few smaller, secondary mounds are still on the property as well.

Several theories have come to light as to the reason for the mounds, from burial to protection, but the leading theory now is that the Great Circle Mound was also ceremonial in nature. (In the late 19th. and early 20th. century the Great Circle even served as a fairground.) Over the summer the Ohio Historical Society hosts educational programs here on the Hopewell and Adena people. There was also a museum on site, but it has been closed.

Two other sites exist in the Newark area, they are protected, but nearly gone, if you are able take a drive by the Wright earthworks, only a block from the Great Circle. A single mound is also preserved at the T.J. Evans athletic complex on the city’s north side.

Good to Know Before You Go

The Newark area is about 45 minutes east of Columbus. It has plenty of hotels and restaurants, and is easily accessable.

Parking and admission to both sites is free. They are open dawn to dusk April 1 through Labor Day.

These are revered, historic sites, please be respectful.

My Favorite Mexican–Food That Is

Just one exit down I-70 from Columbus is the suburb of Pickerington, home of the Mazatlan Mexican Restaurant. A little place tucked into a shopping mall, Mazatlan serves up authentic Mexican fare at great prices.

The thing that distinguishes Mazatlan from the other authentic Mexican restaurants in the area (and believe me there are plenty) is the warm welcome of the owner that greets you every time you come in the door. Maybe I have just coincedently run into him every time I’ve been there, or maybe he has a bunk in the office, but I’ve visited Mazatlan for early lunches and late dinners and never once missed his smiling face.

The rest of the staff takes their cue from the owner, with excellent, fast and friendly service. This is a place you feel comfortable from the start. They have a true appreciation for the customers and make you feel valued. And the grub is pretty good too.

From Columbus take I-70 to the Pickerington/St. Rt. 256 exit (112A). Go South on 256 about 1 1/4 mi. Mazatlan is on the left. If you get to Refugee Rd. you’ve gone too far.

Open Daily
1282 Hill Rd N Pickerington, OH
(614) 751-6467

So, you want to come to Columbus for the weekend. Or, you have to come to Columbus for the week. Now, if any old set of clean sheets will do, feel free to log onto Hotels.com or any old travel site and you are sure to get a good deal on a nice hotel.

But, if you need luxury accomodations in Columbus, you have only two choices. Either the Hyatt downtown, or the Columbus Hilton at Easton.

I’ll look at the Hyatt another time. They are the place to be if you need to be downtown, near the Short North, Campus, or the Arena District. On the other hand, if you need to be just about anywhere else, with the possible execption of the far west side, the Hilton is the place to stay.

Amenities: Gorgeous indoor pool, sports and lobby bars, gym, meeting facilities and restaurant.

Good to know before you book:

This is of course the Hilton–so it is pricey in comparison to other nearby hotels.

This is of course the Hilton–so you can expect a gorgeous room & top notch service.

If you need room to spread out, you will want to book a room with a king bed. Double rooms are fitted with full–not queen size–beds.

The housekeeping staff triple sheets the beds here, so you won’t touch anything that was touched by anyone else.

If you want to have an event at the Hilton, the sales staff here is second to none, with an attention to detail you have to experience to fully understand. Keep in mind though, this is the #1 event hotel in Columbus, and the ballrooms fill up fast. Check on your dates as soon as you possibly can.

The banquet staff at the Hilton has an excellent reputation. I have never personally been to a banquet there, but I know people who have and “so far so good.”

The restaurant is excellent as well. My favorite Friday/Saturday night at Easton trick is to grab dinner at the Hilton restaurant. While everyone else is waiting 1-2 hours to eat at the chains, we are whisked right into the Dining Room at the Hilton. Try this and you will be having dessert long before you would have been seated at most other Easton restaurants.

The Columbus Hilton consistently wins OHLA awards in a variety of categories, so feel confident booking here.

What do Nick Lachey and Oprah Winfrey have in common? OK, OK, other than being in the entertainment business and filthy rich. They both know a little Ohio secret. We are the home of Graeter’s Ice Cream, the best ice cream in the country.

I have to admit, I’m blatantly stealing some thunder from Cincinatti, the origin of Graeter’s. But Cincinatti doesn’t have the classic Bexley Graeter’s, with it’s classic movie house neighbor and soda shop feel. People come from miles around just to visit this particular location.

Besides the fantastic ice cream flavors you know and love, Graeter’s has several flavors of sorbet. They can make you a milkshake, the ultimate bananna split and yes, even a malted. But, their most tempting–and gut busting–sundae has to be the 1890 Tower, a huge conglomeration of chocolate and black raspberry, whipped cream and fudge. Not for the faint of heart, I usually see 2-4 people making dessert out of this creation.

My personal favorite (and Nick’s as it turn’s out) is the mint chip. Graeter’s doesn’t fill their chocolate chip ice creams with teeny weeny flecks of chocolate, but with big chunks of dark or milk chocolate, depending on the flavor. I ask for lots of chocolate, and have never been let down.

Graeter’s has locations all over Columbus, including Easton Town Center.

Oh, and yes, you are expected to tip at Graeter’s. But tips collected there go into a college fund for the kids serving you and Graeter’s matches it 100%, so be generous.

Cast Iron Chefs

You’ve watched the Iron Chefs, now for something quirky and completely different, go watch the Cast Iron Chefs.

Presented in Ohio Village at the Ohio Historical Society, teams of Cast Iron Chefs will have to prepare a three course meal, utilizing the ever important mystery ingredient, all using historical methods over an open fire.

Cast Iron Chef: The Final Competition
Ohio Historical Center/Ohio Village

1982 Velma Ave., Columbus
Hours: Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Contact Phone: 614-297-2300, 800-686-1541
Admission: Adults $8. Children 6-12 $4. Parking $4

Cirque du Soleil

If you have never had the chance to experience a Cirque du Soleil show live this is your chance. Set up in their own big top on the Ohio State Fairgrounds, Cirque is performing Corteo, which is described as “a joyous procession, a festive parade imagined by a clown.”

Personally, I have only seen Mystere, at Treasure Island in Las Vegas and another Cirque offering, I believe it was Varekai, on television. But, if what I have seen is any indication, the performances are stunning and worth every cent of the ticket price.

But speaking of ticket prices, join the Cirque Club online before booking, and you can get upgrades and/or ticket discounts.

To whet your appetite, enjoy a sample here–