Columbus, OH

The downturn in the housing market has had a serious effect on everything from home values to the local economy. In these tough times it can be hard to see a bright spot on the horizon, but some local house hunters do see an opportunity . . . forclosed homes.

Forclosed homes and those on their way into forclosure can often be had at a bargain price. Banks don’t want to own them, neighbors don’t want them standing empty and sellers (if they are not yet forclosed) are motivated to get out from under them. But how do you find out about these homes and the deals to be had? Enter Coldwell Banker and columbusforclosurebustours.com. This group takes potential buyers on a bus tour of forclosed homes and homes that are close to forclosure. There are often snacks to be had and experts to give advise.

The tours are taking potential buyers into great suburban neighborhoods and trendy metropolitan hot spots. They show everything from one bedroom condos in town to 5 bed 3 bath mini-mansions in the ‘burbs.’ All you need to do is make sure you are boarding the right bus. If you are interested, simply choose your tour HERE and fill out the registration information.

This post is intended to be informational. No payment was received from Coldwell Banker or any other entity for the posting of this information. There may be other business/organizations also offering similar tours.

Columbus, Ohio, OH, forclosure, forclosure bus tour, Coldwell Banker

This weekend you could . . .

Watch the Crew’s Season opener featuring a concert by Saving Jane.

Columbus Crew Soccer vs. Toronto FC

Saturday, March 29 4PM concert to follow
Columbus Crew Stadium
One Black & Gold Boulevard, Columbus
614-447-CREW

Or you could take the kids to see a classic . . .

Columbus Children’s Theatre: The Magician’s Nephew
March 13-30 2008
Park Street Theatre–512 N. Park St.
Thursday-Friday 7:30 p.m. Saturday 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
$10-$20
614-224-6672, 614-224-6673

Or spend an evening with some Jazz . . .

Columbus Jazz Orchestra
March 26-30 2008
Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main St.
Wednesday-Saturday 8-10:30 p.m. Sunday 2-4:30 p.m. and 7:30-10 p.m.
$35-$48
614-294-5200

Columbus, OH, Ohio, Columbus Crew, soccer, Saving Jane, Toronto FC, Columbus Jazz Orchestra, Southern Theatre, The Magician’s Nephew, Columbus Children’s Theater, Park Street Theater

On my recent vacation to Las Vegas I saw this production at the Planet Hollywood Hotel & Casino (formerly The Alladin) and now it has come to Columbus! It was a welcome change from all the clowns and showgirls which have become the regular Las Vegas offering. Of all the shows I have seen out there this is one of the two very best (the other being Mystere, the Cirque show at Treasure Island).

If you have the opportunity to go, it is worth every dime of the ticket price. For a teaser, please enjoy this video which shows only a tiny sampling of the show. In Vegas, this sequence was the show opener. Enjoy!

Presented by CAPA
March 25-30 2008
Ohio Theatre
39 E. State St.
Tuesday-Friday 8 p.m. Saturday 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Sunday 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
$17.80-54.50
614-469-0939

I do suggest that if you have severe allergies you sit back a little from the main stage, as all that sweeping, stomping and dancing kicks up quite a bit of dust.

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The Columbus Dispatch reported this morning that Columbus based Skybus airline’s top executive Bill Diffenderffer has resigned. The airline is facing some serious financial issues in the wake of record setting oil/fuel prices.

This may mean some pretty substantial changes will be taking place at Skybus. The $10 fares are amazing, though for the most part they are snatched up within minutes of new flight announcements, making them unattainable for most flyers. At the same time, entire routes have been cancelled, passengers have been subjected to lengthy delays and amenities are practically non-existent.

The entire business model is suspect to many, with customer service being the number one issue. The Dispatch quotes aviation consultant Mike Boyd as saying, “It’s terribly flawed to have an airline without a complaint line.” This is a point many Skybus passengers would heartily agree with. A new company simply cannot afford to disappoint customers. Once disappointed though, today’s consumers demand to be heard. The online-only communication that Skybus offers falls far short of the standard set by other airlines. That being the case, many first time flyers will not be booking with Skybus again anytime soon.

So far, Skybus has had very mixed reviews. When I took them to Ft. Lauderdale last fall, they were on time both ways and the flight was quite comfortable. But even my confidence has been shaken by consistently negative press that leaves me concerned about having to cancel a trip and losing money because the airline may cancel a route after the ticket has been issued, or worse–that I may get somewhere and not be able to get back due to problems with a returning flight. Skybus is notorious for leaving passengers “stuck” and not extending a food or lodging credit to get them through until the flight can be taken.

Skybus needs to get both its financial and customer service issues under control if it is going to survive what looks to be a serious turn in the economy. During rough economic times, consumers expect not only great prices, but also true value for their money, which means on-time flights and top notch service. With other lines delivering both, it’s time for Skybus to step up, or step aside.

Columbus, Ohio, OH, Skybus, Bill Diffenderffer, Mike Boyd, Skybus

If you don’t need to be there, stay away from the campus area today & tonight.

This is the first day back to class for students, so over 10,000 kids are descending on the campus today.

There is a Bruce Springsteen concert at the Schott tonight.

There is a basketball game at St. John.

If you aren’t compelled to be there because of one of these three things, do yourself a favor and stay out of the way of those who are. Traffic is going to prove to be horrible.

If you do need to be there, give yourself plenty of time to negotiate traffic. Remember, yours isn’t the only event going on.

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Today’s the day to celebrate all things Irish and the man who drove the snakes from Ireland.

In the Columbus area there are only two places to REALLY CELEBRATE St. Patrick’s Day!

Flannagan’s Dublin
1270 Sawmill Rd.
614-766-7788

&

Fado Irish Pub
4022 Townsfair Way (at Easton)
614-418-0066

Both celebrate St. Patrick’s day with live entertainment, merriment and of course–green beer!

And now, an Irish Blessing

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Columbus, Ohio, OH, Irish, St. Patrick, Dublin, Flannagan’s, Fado Irish Pub, an Irish Blessing

Keeping it short and sweet today. Guys (and gals) be careful out there. Last night three women ran out of gas on the outerbelt and two women are in the hospital this morning and one sadly is in the morgue. I can’t express how tragic this is.

When you have vehicle trouble get to the side of the road if you can and if you don’t have the proper equipment to make your presence known, just abandon the car and call someone who does have the right stuff for help. No vehicle is worth your life, no event you need to get to either.

On another topic~

Today the weather is warming to truly spring like temperatures. With the massive snowfall we had last weekend this is going to mean tons of run off and flooding. If you come across a flooded street DO NOT drive through it. People are killed this way every year. For your sake and for the sake of those who love you, don’t risk it.

Until tomorrow, many blessings~

How can it be that two of the five best pizza places in Central Ohio sit right next to one another? Oh so lucky I guess . . .

Now, pizza is a very personal thing. These are simply my favorites.

My favorite chain is Pizzaria Uno, for the yummiest of crusts it’s hard to beat this Chicago style eatery. They are good and they are everywhere; I don’t have much more to say about that.

But as for local joints, the two I love are right next to each other on Main St. in Bexley. First, Bexley Pizza Plus is known for it’s combination of wonderful sauce and great toppings on homestyle crust. This is stick to your ribs pizza, a taste explosion served up by some of Bexley’s sweetest people. For pizza, it’s a little pricey, but worth it. FYI–it’s a Pepsi joint.

Just two doors to the west, you’ll find Rubino’s. If you are a fan of thin crust Pizza this is where you want to bring your hunger. The perfect thin and crispy crust is complemented by great sauce and your favorite toppings. Here they have sit down service, the booths are showing some wear and the atmosphere is a little 1980s, but the pizza is great and the prices are wallet friendly. FYI–it’s a Coca-Cola place.

For the best taco pizza you’ve ever had, head just a little northeast of Columbus to Johnstown where they have Johnnie’s Villa Pizza. Everything else here is good pizza, but the taco pizza is divine. With fresh fresh (did I say fresh?) ingredients and plenty of taco sauce and sour cream sent along with you, this is the place my family goes for that special treat. Johnnie’s Villa Pizza is take out only and has prices on par with most other places.

Finally, consider the humble pepperoni–the staple of pizza lovers everywhere and the pizza upon which pizza joints are judged. My favorite pepperoni pizza comes from Park Pizza, a little place in Newark, about 40 minutes east of Columbus. Park Pizza is a small family place and like Rubino’s, is easy on the wallet. For a place on an end street that looks like it barely escaped the 70s with no delivery and limited hours, Park Pizza does a great business. It has three old booths you can eat at if you like, but most people take their pizza and go. The pizza here comes in generic cardboard boxes with no particular indication that what is inside will have you addicted as soon as you take your first bite. It’s not one thing, but the combination of crisp crust, excellent sauce and plentiful pepperoni that keeps families ordering from Park Pizza generation after generation.

Rubinos Pizza
2643 E Main St
Columbus, OH 43209
(614) 235-0712

Bexley Pizza Plus
2651 E Main St
Columbus, OH 43209
(614) 237-3305

Johnnies Villa Pizza
105 W Coshocton St
Johnstown, OH 43031
(740) 967-2988

Park Pizza
354 Union St
Newark, OH 43055
(740) 344-5005

Columbus, Ohio, OH, Central Ohio, pizza

Having lived in central Ohio since I was a small child, it always amuses me how silly people act when we get a few measly inches of the white stuff. You would think this was the first time many people had ever seen snow, much less had to drive in it.

But this weekend folks, we really got it good didn’t we? I am someone who, right about Christmas, thinks I should have taken the opportunity over the summer months to load up my stuff and head to Arizona. Not because I hate the snow, but because I hate the endless march of dreary cold days, without any good snowstorms, but with all the misery that winter weather can produce. Sleet, freezing rain, hail . . . that’s the kind of stuff that we usually get with our Ohio winters.

But this past weekend reminded me of the Ohio winters of my childhood. When there really was good snow. The blizzard of 1978 and the near blizzard-like snowstorms of the following year combined with the wonderful snows of 1984 and 1987 leave me with good memories, not horrible ones (in all cases my family was fortunate enough never to lose power, phone service or heat).

While the snow fell we could watch real accumulation, not a powder that fell, melted then froze into a treacherous mess. Then once it was through falling, we had the stuff—the stuff that made great snow men, snow balls and snow forts. We went sledding and really enjoyed it. We made snow angels with character. My brother finally got to try the snowshoes he bought at a yard sale for a dime.

I hope you didn’t lose power during the storm. I hope you get up a little early over the next week. I hope you drive slowly and carefully everywhere you need to go. I hope you will be careful and consider your health as you start to shovel out. I hope this stuff melts slowly, so we don’t wind up flooded.

But I also hope you were one of the ones who managed to snag those clearance sleds over the weekend. I hope your sledding hills were appropriately steep and your wipeouts fairly painless. I hope you had a great snowball fight with your kids. I hope you had a carrot and some buttons lying around for your snowman. I hope this is the year you finally get to ski on some real nature made powder instead of that stuff they spew from the snow machine. And I hope you really appreciate the chance to get stuck inside with family.

Oh, and I hope all your snow angels are smiling.

And while the National Weather Service says this past weekend doesn’t really qualify as a blizzard, I say to heck with that, it was blizzard enough for me.

So, I hope you will join me, as I raise a glass (of hot chocolate) and toast the blizzard of 2008.

Columbus, Ohio, OH, blizzard, 1978, 1979, 1984, 1987, 2008, snow angels, snow storm, sledding, fresh powder, skiing

This weekend you could:

Celebrate a timeless wardrobe staple at OSU

The Little Black Dress: A Fashion Icon

October 18 - May 10 2008
Campbell Hall Auditorium, The Ohio State University
200 Campbell Hall, Columbus
Wednesday-Saturday 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Admission: Free
614-292-8999

Enjoy a combination of beauty & power at the Greater Columbus Convention Center

Columbus International Auto Show

March 8-16 2008
Greater Columbus Convention Center
400 N. High St., Columbus
614-799-2232
Admission: adults $8, children under 12 free with accompanying adult

or just kick it on campus with a great band

Wish You Were Here
(primarily features the music of Pink Floyd)

March 8
Newport Music Hall
1722 N. High St.
Saturday 7 p.m.
Admission: $13-$15
614-431-3600

Columbus, Ohio, OH, OSU, little black dress, Wish You Were Here, Newport Music Hall, Columbus International Auto Show, Greater Columbus Convention Center

“As Ohio goes, so goes the Nation.”

Over the last two days I’ve encouraged Central Ohioans to get out there and vote, and vote you did. 38% of registered voters in Ohio turned out, and while that may sound like a small percentage, it’s a record for an Ohio primary.

John McCain clenched the Republican nomination with all four states going to him, including 67% of the Ohio Republican voters. Mike Huckabee bowed out gracefully and of course gave his endorsement to McCain. Today, John McCain is expected to make a trip to the White House to receive the endorsement of President Bush.

The real news seems to have come from the Democratic primary though. With Hillary Clinton seeming like she was down for the count, the surprising news that she took three out of the four states that voted yesterday has put her solidly back in the race. In her evening speech she said “This is for all the people who work hard and never give up!”

Barak Obama took only Vermont, a state he was heavily favored in. It is important to note he is still ahead in the delegate count. Senator Obama says he is not discouraged and is ready to continue campaigning.

Maybe some of Hillary’s good karma came from her early morning talk with Columbus’ top morning DJs, Dave and Jimmy of the Morning Zoo. The Senator took some time mid-morning yesterday to call in and have a few laughs with the WNCI morning crew.

What lies ahead for this historic race is anyone’s guess, but Senator Clinton was 100% correct about one thing last night; no candidate in recent history has taken their party’s nomination without winning the Ohio primary.

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Today’s vote could determine the next four years, and believe me, it WILL affect you.

If you want your candidate to succeed, get out there and support him or her, because plenty of supporters for the competition are making their mark today. Your candidate needs your support and the issues need your votes too.

To find your polling place in Franklin County visit http://vote.franklincountyohio.gov/boe/.

To find the board of elections in other central Ohio counties, simply type “‘your county’ Ohio board of elections” into your favorite search engine.

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That’s how long you have to make your decision regarding which candidate you will support in the Ohio primary, which starts at 6:30 tomorrow morning.

Yesterday, both of the Democratic frontrunners visited Columbus suburb Westerville, utilizing the facilities of that city’s outstanding High Schools to hold rallys. The support for both candidates was overwhelming, with Senator Clinton speaking at Westerville North at 10 and Senator Obama holding a town hall meeting at Westerville Central at noon. Thanks to the excellent planning of the candidates’ staffs and the professionalism of the Westerville police both events went off without incident.

John McCain is currently campaigning in Texas. A strong showing tomorrow could move the Vietnam Vet from frontrunner to the official Republican candidate for President in November.

Yesterday evening, Hillary Clinton’s campaign announced that it would celebrate the election results here in Columbus. Senator McCain will be celebrating in Texas. Mr. Obama has not announced where he will celebrate.

To find your polling place in Franklin County visit http://vote.franklincountyohio.gov/boe/.

To find the board of elections in other central Ohio counties, simply type “‘your county’ Ohio board of elections” into your favorite search engine.

Please note the above photo is from the Congressional Black Caucus 35TH Annual Legislative Conference and was taken in Sept. 2005.

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