Columbus, OH

This weekend you could . . .

See B.B. King and Henry Butler at the Palace Theater

CAPA/Palace Theater
34 W. Broad St., Columbus
Hours: Saturday 8 p.m.
Contact Phone: 614-469-0939, 614-469-1045
Admission: $37.50-$47.50

or . . .

Take a Holiday Tour on Capitol Square . . .

Ohio Statehouse
High Street at State Street, Columbus
Hours: Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday noon-3 p.m.
Contact Phone: 888-OHIO-123, 614-728-2695
Admission: FreeSee the Columbus Symphony Perform Holiday Pops

Or maybe you’d like to . . .

Ohio Theatre
39 E. State St., Columbus
Hours: Friday 8 p.m. Saturday 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Sunday 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Contact Phone: 614-228-8600
Admission: $18-$60

Columbus, Ohio, OH, Ohio Statehouse, Ohio Capitol, Capitol Square, Ohio Theater, CAPA, Columbus Symphony, Holiday Pops, Palace Theater, BBKing, B. B. King, B.B. King, Henry Butler

Today, courtesy of YouTube contributor IrenaScott, let’s take a tour of the Capital City from the cockpit of the original 1966 Batcopter.

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Last Friday I went shopping. I know that to some people this is less than exciting news, and to others it is a sign that I must be completely insane.

The day after Thanksgiving shopping spree seems to be more of a chore than an enjoyable outing to most of the people I talk to. Most of them would rather do all their shopping online. Who can blame them really? Take a look at the news anytime around Thanksgiving and the shopping frenzy seems to be all they can talk about. People lining up at 3 am to be the first through the door to purchase some random item that they are getting for a fantastic discount, but don’t really need (or for that matter want) anyway. South of here at the Prime Outlets, people missed Thanksgiving entirely to be there at midnight. Yes, that is a little rediculous.

I read about a guy who waited two days to save two hundred dollars on a $1000 laptop. I’m sorry, but 48 hours of my life is worth a lot more than $200 bucks. Maybe if he waited two days to PAY only $200 for a $1000 laptop, that might be worth it.

While there were crowds here in Columbus I wasn’t privy to any shoving, pushing or horrible name calling. People in the lines were tired, but polite. Rather than the fighting to get the last Cabbage Patch doll type of shoppers, I actually saw a lady at Schottenstein’s pass on a toy, simply because it was the last in the store and the woman she handed it to was probably twice her age.

Granted, I started my shopping around 8 AM and not at 5 or midnight. But the stores had every lane open and the cashiers all seemed to be in a decent mood. I got nearly all my shopping done, and was still able to take advantage of every discount I would have qualified for had I been there when the doors opened. All in all, it was a good day. Columbus’ retailers really seemed to have it together in the stores. If only I could have found a way to always find the perfect parking spot as well!

Happy Shopping!

Columbus, Ohio, OH, shopping, Thanksgiving, Prime Outlets, Schottenstein’s, Value City

Last Saturday, just before the Michigan game (Go Bucks!) my friend Lisa & I went for a quick run. We thought of going to Highbanks, but since that park is a good distance from her house and we wanted to get done in plenty of time to hit the bank and be back to make chili before the game, we decided to go to Blendon Woods to run instead.

Now Sugarbush, the longest trail at Blendon is 2mi. round trip, so we chose that one as 2mi. is the marker I have set my current goal to. The path we chose is marked “unimproved hiking trail.” Hiking is the activity I would get into on this trail, as the “unimproved” part is definitely correct. There are lots of exposed roots on the trail and that made for a difficult jog. I even tripped and fell once. The one positive thing that I can say about jogging on this trail is that my tibia muscle, which is usually screaming at me by 1/2 mile, didn’t even start to burn at all until I was almost finished. I think the softness of the trail had a lot to do with that. On the other hand, the end loop was quite overgrown with grass, and felt almost like running in soft sand, which makes the work all that much harder.

Another interesting thing to note about this trail is it is open to cross-country skiing. Actually, it is specifically closed to hiking when cross country skiing conditions exist.

This time of year there are far fewer families in the metro parks. The people we encounter now seem to be older couples out for the morning walk and dedicated running enthusiasts, but on this particular day, the most interesting people we encountered were a father and his pre-teen son, who were hiking the trails completely loaded with heavy backpacks in preparation for an upcoming scout hike. All I can say is “great job staying involved dad!”

Blendon does have several shorter trails, including a pet specific trail, in case you prefer to exercise with your best friend. One very nice thing about Blendon is that not only do they provide doggie clean up bags, but these are easy to find. Most other metro parks that have pet-trails also provide bags, but they are not always easily found.

Blendon Woods is on the northeast side of Columbus, near Westerville and across 161 from the Little Turtle area.

Blendon Woods
4265 E. Dublin-Granville Road
Westerville, OH 43081
Open 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. April through September
6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. October through March

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It’s a theatrical weekend here in Columbus, and this weekend you could . . .

Take the time to laugh it up at the Ohio Theater, where Broadway across America presents Spamalot! November 15-25.

Winner of the 2005 Tony Award for Best Musical, Monty Python’s Spamalot is the outrageous new musical comedy lovingly ripped off from the film classic “Monty Python and The Holy Grail.” Directed by Tony Award-winner Mike Nichols, with a book by Eric Idle and music and lyrics by the Grammy Award-winning team of Mr. Idle and John Du Prez, Spamalot tells the tale of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table as they embark on their quest for the Holy Grail. Flying cows, killer rabbits, taunting Frenchmen and show-stopping musical numbers are just a few of the reasons audiences everywhere are eating up Spamalot.

Or for something a little more touching, try the Southern Theater instead, where CAPA presents The Secret Garden, Nov. 15th to the 18th.

The classic story of an orphan girl who finds life and happiness by tending “a bit of earth” has charmed children and adults alike for generations. This Tony Award-winning musical adaptation featuring music by Lucy Simon and book and lyrics by Marsha Norman will be performed by deaf and hearing actors in both English and American Sign Language. This unprecedented collaboration between CAPA, The Phoenix Theatre for Children, and Opera Columbus will plant the seeds of love and hope in hearts young and old.

Columbus, Ohio, OH, Monty Python, Ohio Theater, Spamalot, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Southern Theater, CAPA, Secret Garden

Whether you are one of those really fit types that just loves to run outdoors, or you are like me and just barely able to get up a brisk walk, you will love the trails at Highbanks Metro Park.

My “fit” friends all tell me this is the best park in the Columbus area to jog in, and many drive in from other parts of town to enjoy Highbanks’ jogger friendly trails. Here you will find everything from short, flat, paved and very easy, to long, hilly, unpaved and very difficult. With trails rated everything from beginner to advanced it is easy to see why runners of all fitness levels enjoy Highbanks. Highbanks also has a pet friendly trail, so if your running or hiking partner is of the four-legged variety, this is the place to take him.

I recently took a run with one of my friends there. Now, I am definitely a beginner, so I appreciated the amount of time she took lagging behind her usual pace (Thanks Lisa!). But due to my slow going, she was able to take the time and really look around at the beauty of autumn in Ohio parks. The explosion of color and the more moderate temperatures this time of year make for a really enjoyable run.

Another benefit to the many trails at Highbanks is that there are many trail access points, and in turn, plenty of parking. The roads can get a bit maze like though, so if you are new to the park, stop at the information area right near the front gate and take a look at the map.

To get to Highbanks (which is actually in the suburb of Lewis Center) from Columbus you will need to take 270 around to the St. Rt. 23 north exit on the north side of town, leading toward Delaware. Take 23 north from the exit and drive about three miles. The entrance to Highbanks is on the left, before Powell Rd.

Click HERE to learn more about Highbanks Metro Park.

The park is open Open 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. April through September and 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. October through March.

9466 Columbus Pike
Lewis Center, OH 43035
(614) 846-9962

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Journey’s End

Two thousand miles from home.

Leather jacket, bandanna, beard, his weathered face, eyes full of purpose.

He rides the old Harley through the crowded streets.

He guides it carefully into the lot.

Next to the cherished bike he removes his goggles and looks toward the setting sun.

He reaches into the saddlebag and finds it.

Precious.

The others, leaving, look at him. He does not look back.

Not afraid. They are grateful.

He walks, quietly, deliberately, until he finds the place.

The bandanna comes off, gripped tightly in his big hand.

He looks.

The names.

Not that one. Not that one. No . . .

There he is.

Shaking.

Out of his pocket, it comes.

He brought it here, to leave at the wall.

The Purple Heart.

And then . . . He weeps.

Columbus, OH, Ohio, Veteran’s Day, Vietnam Wall, Vietnam Memorial

This weekend you could have a Buckeye radio inspired weekend and . . .

Head out to the Pickerington/Canal Winchester area to see the 10,000 Marooniacs (WNCI’s Morning Zoo) perform, along with Roundtree and Cool Ray. The Zoo recommends you try to get there by 9.

Friday November 9th
Club 33
9645 Basil Western Road
Canal Winchester, OH

Put a little country in your weekend. Head over the The Buckeye Hall of Fame Cafe for the WCOL Buckeye Tailgate Party. Party 2:30-4:30, Kickoff at 3:30. Get there by 1:30 if you can.

Saturday November 10
1421 Olentangy River Road
Columbus, OH

Or if classic rock is more your thing, get over to the Varsity Club where the QFM96 Budweiser Crank Up Party will be celebrating another Buckeye butt kickin’ session from 1:30-7:30.

Saturday November 10
278 West Lane Avenue
Columbus, OH

Go Bucks! Beat Illinois!

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Today is of course election day here in Columbus, OH and throughout the state and I’d like to encourage all of who are able to get out there and vote. Remember that voting is both a privilege and a responsibility. It is important to take it seriously. At the same time, if you chose not to vote, don’t come complaining to me when your candidate isn’t elected or your issue fails.

Among the string of issues you will be asked to decide are the race for Mayor of Columbus, several City Council seats and a few judges’ benches are open, and a number of local school districts have levies on the ballot. Whether you want to protect your schools or protect your wallet from more property taxes, today is the day to get out there and let them know.

If you are still undecided and would like a little help in choosing the right candidate for mayor, 10 TV has an excellent side by side comparison list of where current mayor, Democrat Michael Coleman and challenger, Republican Bill Todd stand on the issues. You can access that page by clicking HERE.

Pickerington is seeking a 5 mill permanent operating levy. For information click HERE.

New Albany is seeking a 2.34 mill levy to address the overcrowding issues in the district. For information click HERE.

Canal Winchester schools are seeking a 7.9 mill operating levy. Among other things, bussing for high school students is in jeopardy if the issue does not pass. For information, click HERE.

Upper Arlington is asking for a 6.2 mill operating and permanent improvement levy. For information on this levy click HERE.

If you are going out to vote, remember to bring identification. The easiest form of ID is of course your driver’s license or state ID, but polling stations will take several forms of ID, including:

Non-photo ID with name and current address
Copy of utility bill
Bank statement
Government check
Government documentation

Finally, if you are not sure where to go to vote. Contact your local county board of elections. The link for Franklin County is available HERE.

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I absolutely love Columbus on game day. No matter where you go the city is a wash of Scarlett, Gray and White. I of course have to be a little different and have been sporting the new OSU pink and white gear.

We are a city so proud of our home team. The Buckeyes must know they have the support of the entire city. There is simply no other city in the country with this kind of pride in a college team. You might call me a little biased, but in all honesty, when I have talked with friends from other places who think their town has us beat–all it takes is a trip to anywhere near the campus area on game day to get them to admit, there is nothing like Buckeye pride.

Anyway, I have posted this YouTube before, but if you’ve never seen it, you will see what I mean.

We are heading into November already. It’s hard to believe isn’t it? Summer is officially behind us and the holidays are right around the corner. Well the weekend is here and you might as well get out and enjoy a little decent weather and sunshine while we still have it.

You could . . .

Spend some time with the masters at the Columbus Museum of Art. The museum is featuring In Monet’s Garden: The Lure of Giverny which is a look at how the Giverny area influenced Monet and numerous artists that followed. In addition to the 10 works by Monet himself, there are 30 other pieces by artists that visited the area after Monet and used it as their inspiration. You will see works dated from Monet to the present day.

Columbus Museum of Art
480 E. Broad St., Columbus

Tues.-Sun. 10-5:30 Thurs. until 8:30
614-221-4848 or 614-221-6801
Adults $10. Seniors and students $8. Children 6-17 $5.

If you don’t have tickets to the game this weekend, have lunch at the Varsity Club, the Alumni Club or the Buckeye Hall of Fame Cafe. All in all some of the best places in town to get great pub food while watching the Buckeyes stomp the Badgers in the Horseshoe.

OSU-Wisconsin
At the Horseshoe, OSU Main
12 noon
Television coverage provided by the Big Ten Network

Football not your thing? Well then why not get a head start on the holidays by heading out to the Longaberger Homestead for the Holiday Craft Show, where over 30 crafters will feature their wares in the Crawford Barn. The rest of the site will be open as well so make your list of Longaberger fans and get to Frazeysburg/Dresden this weekend.

Longaberger Homestead
5563 Raiders Rd., Frazeysburg

Sat. 9-7 Sun. noon-5
Contact Phone: 740-322-5588
Admission: Free

Or . . .

In the city of festivals there is always room for one more. Vet’s Memorial hosts the International Festival this weekend. This is a multicultural event which features vendors, crafts, live performances, tons of information and of course–food!

Veterans Memorial
300 W. Broad St., Columbus

Sat. 10-10 Sun. 11-6
614-228-4010 or 614-421-7293
Toddlers Free. Children $2. Students and seniors $5. Adults $7.