Columbus, OH

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.

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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

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“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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Also known as the Arnold Classic, this fitness extravaganza has been going on in Columbus for 20 years. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s annual festival of fitness features over 35 different sporting events, including ladies fitness figure competitions, martial arts and this year, the Team USA Olympic weightlifting qualifier.

From the early years, the California Governor has made a point of letting the world know what a great town Columbus is. And in response the event has grown and grown, expanding from just Veteran’s Memorial to take Vet’s, The Greater Columbus Convention Center & Nationwide Arena.

From a personal standpoint I think the Arnold Classic is a fun thing to go to. In any given year your admission fee will get you everything from personal fitness advise, supplement samples galore, the opportunity to ‘try before you buy’ the latest in fitness equipment, and even free evaluations from everyone from personal trainers to chiropractors and sports doctors.

On the other hand, if seeing impossibly perfected ladies and wildly bulked-up men is really not your thing, you might want to simply skip this one. The physical standards set at the classic are more of a ‘Wow! did you see that?’ type than an actually attainable goal for the masses. Added to that, the crowds are ridiculous, you have to pay to park and the vendors can get a little pushy. If you won’t enjoy the events or the trade show, your time and money might be better spent seeing a personal trainer and nutritionist, like the ones at Lifetime Fitness, in the relative calm of the health club and the privacy of their offices.

But if you have the time, $20, and even a little curiosity, the Arnold Sports Festival is one Columbus tradition that I recommend you get to at least once in your life.

Arnold Sports Festival

February 29 - March 2 2008

Greater Columbus Convention Center, 400 N. High St.
Nationwide Arena, 200 W. Nationwide Blvd.
Veterans Memorial, 300 W. Broad St.

EXPO hours: Friday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

$10 EXPO ticket provides admission to most events.

614-431-3600

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Tonight, if the sky is clear and you are able to withstand the cold, central Ohioans should get outside and take in the lunar eclipse. The eclipse is expected to begin around 8pm, with the moon turning red and slowly disappearing, then reappearing to its full intensity sometime after midnight. If you aren’t up to spending four-plus hours outdoors in the sub-freezing temperatures, then just head out for the hour between ten and eleven, when the eclipse is expected to be most complete.

FYI–if you are going to do it, do it tonight. The next full lunar eclipse that will be visible from this area won’t happen until 2014.

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Ok, so it’s not Hollywood, but tonight does mark your next-to-last chance to get in on some Medieval Merriment at, of all places, the Spaghetti Warehouse. On Tuedsays at 7, the Mayhem & Mystery Dinner Theatre takes over the restaurant, presenting an interactive experience to compliment your pasta like none other, all with a midevil twist.

The players & the audience become one, as diners are selected to be a part of the play. You may do nothing but sit there, enjoying the show and eating some great pasta, BUT you may also find yourself costumed and delivering lines.

Be sure to get there tonight, or make plans for next Tuesday, before this “round table” of fun is history!

Through February 26

The Spaghetti Warehouse
397 West Broad St.
Columbus, OH 43215

Tuesdays 7 p.m.

Admission $23.95

Phone: 614-464-0143

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Ok, yesterday on the ride home I saw a beautiful thing.

One of Columbus’ finest, yes a Columbus Police officer having a lady get back into her warm car while he CHANGED HER TIRE FOR HER!

Freezing cold outside, heavy, rush hour traffic.

You should have seen the look of shock on my face. I almost cried.

Ok, so not really cried, but I did call friends and tell them.

Amazing, a police officer, doing a kind service for a community member. Crazy isn’t it.

Actually, I find it a very heart-warming thing, in this day and age when women can and will be left on the side of the road ALONE by an on duty officer who won’t even loan her his jack when her’s is acting up. DO YOU HEAR ME HEATH POLICE?

On behalf of all women who have been both helped and neglected in this situation, I’d like to personally thank the officer who did this on the north side of 270 yesterday.

I’m only sad I didn’t think to take a picture for you.

To protect and SERVE, amazing.

Columbus, OH, Ohio, Columbus Police, Heath Police, to protect and serve

If you’ve never owned an Etch-A-Sketch, you’ve missed out on a piece of true Americana. If you have, you know how frustrating it can be to sketch anything more than rectangles with them. It’s an Ohio Art toy, but have you ever made anything you’d call ‘art’ with it?

Well, if you’d like to see the wares of someone who really can make art with this toybox staple, then head down to the statehouse between now and Feb. 29th. On display in the statehouse crypt are over 50 pieces of Etch-A-Sketch art by artist Tim George. The display includes among other things many symbols of Ohio, including the state seal and special people and places of Ohio.

While you are there, you can buy your own Etch-A-Sketch and a ‘how to’ book by George at the statehouse gift shop.

Ohio Statehouse
High Street at State Street, downtown Columbus
Hours: Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday noon-5 p.m.
Admission: Free
Phone: 888-OHIO-123, 614-728-2695

Columbus, Ohio, OH, Ohio Statehouse, Etch-A-Sketch, art, Tim George

Q-T Chris Brown is at Nationwide Arena tonight. If you don’t know about Chris Brown, it’s time to crawl out from under your rock and take in a concert. His chart topper, “Kiss Kiss” is currently #4 on the billboard top 40. Also performing are a pair of fellow high-school hotties–hometown favorite Bow Wow (yes, he’ll always be “Little Bow Wow” to the folks back in Reynoldsburg) and dance hall king Soulja Boy.

Nationwide Arena
200 W. Nationwide Blvd., Columbus
Wednesday 7 p.m.
$39.75-$69.75
614-431-3600

Pictured: top-Chris Brown, middle-Bow Wow, bottom-Soulja Boy

This weekend you could . . .

Catch Kathleen Madigan at the Capitol Theater and laugh your silly little head off.

Friday night only, January 11.
Capitol Theatre, Riffe Center
8 p.m.
$31.50
77 S. High St., Second Floor
614-431-3600

*

or for a preview of summer fun, spend some time at the annual Greater Ohio Boat and RV Show

Through Sunday the 13th.
Ohio Expo Center on the Ohio State Fairgrounds
Wednesday-Friday noon-9 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday noon-5 p.m.
Adults $7. Children 6-13 $1. Kids 5 and under free.
717 E. 17th Ave.
614-291-9112

Or you might even enjoy seeing the arts and fashions of the Dark Continent at . . .
En Vogue, The Style of Africa at the King Arts Complex.
Through January 26
$2 Free on Saturday
867 Mt. Vernon Ave.
614-645-0642 or 614-645-KING

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Happy New Year! It’s finally January and the weather is really showing it. The snow and the cold means bundling up so I sure hope you got some nice warm things for Christmas.

Once again, it’s that time of the year when the chaos of the holidays has passed and we look forward with a little bit of anticipation and a little bit of apprehension toward the upcoming year.

Will we start the year with the same old resolutions? And break them in the same old way? Or will we try something fresh?

Here are a few suggestions-

Don’t resolve to diet–resolve to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables.
Don’t resolve to work out more–resolve to take your best friend (hello-the dog) for more walks.
Don’t resolve to save $5,000–resolve to have the payroll department direct deposit a percentage of your paycheck into an online account.

As for me, I think the best way to take advantage of the New Year is to take a moment and think of all the things we have to be grateful for and build on those.

For example:

Look at “I’m fat-I’m going to lose weight” as “I’m blessed, I’ve got plenty to eat” and share some with the food pantry (which is struggling this year).
or
Look at “I need to save more money” as “I’m blessed, I’ve got a good job” and make a commitment to save a little and share a little with a local charity.

There are very few of life’s little irritations that are not lined with a blessing of some kind.

Columbus, Ohio, OH, New Year, resolutions

Have a very safe and happy New Year! Remember if you are drinking DON’T DRIVE!!!

I’ll be back in ‘08 with more great things to see and do in Columbus~

This weekend, take a break from the shopping frenzy and . . .

Enjoy a Dickens of a Mystery at the Ohio Village

Ohio Historical Center

Did you ever wonder what happened to Ebenezer Scrooge after his famous Christmas day reformation? You are in for a grand surprise in this dinner theater production of a Dickens of a Mystery. Enjoy a holiday buffet, witness a series of events and then help solve the mystery.

Tonight Friday Dec. 21
Thursday-Friday 6-9 p.m.
$57. $4 parking. Reservations Required.
1982 Velma Ave., Columbus
614-297-2666, 800-686-6124

or you could . . .

Head down to Alum Creek State Park and enjoy the Holiday Fantasy of Lights . . .

Come to the Alum Creek Marina and take a drive through the Holiday Fantasy of Lights. The 1 1/2 mile drive features more than one million lights and 100 displays, including a giant American flag and some with animation. After your drive, stop in at the Marina Boat House to visit Santa Claus at his Gift Shop and enjoy free cookies and hot chocolate.

Through the 30th.
Sunday-Thursday 5:30-9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday 5:30-10:30 p.m.
Monday-Thursday $10. Friday-Sunday $15. Pictures with Santa $5.
3615 S. Old State Rd., Delaware
740-548-4631, 740-548-6056

or you could catch a holiday classic at . . .

The Park St. theater where Columbus Children’s Theater is performing

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

They’re back! After a sold-out run in 2003, the Herdmans return to CCT in this hilarious Christmas tale. A couple, struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant, is faced with cast the Herdman kids. These are probably the most inventively awful kids in history. When the Herdmans collide with the Christmas story head-on - you won’t believe the mayhem and fun that ensues. This production is described by McCall’s magazine as “an American classic” and the Seattle Times says it’s “One of the best Christmas stories - ever - and certainly one of the funniest.

And Have A Very Merry Christmas!

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