Columbus is My Home

28
Jun

Cycling Through

Author: Jodi, Category: Uncategorized

Cyclists from around the country will converge on Grandview this weekend for the 15th annual Tour de Grandview. The event, which will take place over two days, consists of a .8 mile Grandview Criterium on Saturday, June 30 and a 1.1 mile Grandview Cycling Classic on Sunday, July 1.

The professional bicycle races that make up the Tour are free and open to the public. Spectators can sit, stand and walk around the streets that make up the race courses throughout the event.

After the race on Saturday, Grandview will host a free street party starting at 6pm near Staufs and the Drexel Theatre on Grandveiw Avenue. Entertainment, music, food and dancing will be featured.

For more information, visit the Tour de Grandview website.

27
Jun

Rollin’ on the River

Author: Jodi, Category: Uncategorized

The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission Greenways Program is hosting Riverfest from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 30, 2007 at North Bank Park in downtown Columbus.

The free event features pontoon boating and canoeing on the Scioto River, art activities for children, live music and educational exhibits.

For directions or more information, visit the Riverfest Columbus website.

22
Jun

More Weekend Fun

Author: Jodi, Category: Uncategorized

If you’re bored this weekend, it’s really your own fault! Besides ComFest, Pride and the German Village Haus & Garten Tour, there are also various happenings in Columbus’s many suburbs.

Easton Town Center will be hosting the Easton Art Affair from June 22, 2007 through June 24. Hours are Friday 5-10pm, Saturday noon-10pm and Sunday noon-5pm. Over 100 artisans will be selling their wares  and exhibits include paintings, photography, sculpture, and jewelry. A Kids Corner where children are able to create their own artwork will be available on Sunday, June 24 from 12–4 p.m.

Easton competitor Polaris Fashion Place will be hosting an art festival as well, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm. The Columbus Art Affair will be located in the upscale mall’s parking lot between Macy’s and Sak’s Fifth Avenue. It will feature over 200 artisans showcasing their work in a variety of mediums including sculpture to paintings, photography, jewelry, ceramics, glass and mixed media.

The village of Powell is hosting its annual Powell Festival on June 22 and 23rd at Village Green Park on Hall Street. The Festival features food, games, music, children’s activities, animals from the Columbus Zoo and (my personal favorite-and no I’m not making it up) Girl Scouts Troop 1675’s Tattoo Shop. The Festival will end with a fireworks display at 10:15pm on Sunday. Admission is free. 

21
Jun

Have Some Pride!

Author: Jodi, Category: Uncategorized

Pride weekend, One of the largest events of its kind in the midwest, starts off with Rockin’ In the Streets on Friday, June 22 and concludes with the annual Bat-n-Rouge softball tournament featuring drag queens and kings

The Columbus Pride parade begins at Goodale Park at 1 pm, Saturday, June 23 and marches on to High St., ending at the Pride Festival at Bicentennial Park.

Pride Festival takes place from noon to 7pm. Entertainment includes dance club favorites Exposé, along with lesbian comedian Marga Gomez, Ariel Angels, Eric Himan and more. Local performers include the Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus, the Flaggots Ohio flag corp, the Capital Pride Band, the Columbus Stompers and Habeeba’s Belly Dancers. The Pride Festival will also offer a family entertainment area.

Bat-n-Rouge, heavily attended in recent years, will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 26 on the Africentric School’s ball field at Livingston and Grant Avenues. Gates open at noon and the $10 admission fee benefits various GLBT organizations

20
Jun

ComFest 2007

Author: Jodi, Category: Uncategorized

Everyone’s favorite crunchy Columbus festival, Community Fest, (aka ComFest) starts this Friday, June 22 at noon and continues until Sunday, June 24.  The festival, which turns 35 this year, takes place in Goodale park, located at the corner of Goodale Boulevard and Park Street.

As always, there will be food, art, local vendors and every type of music you can think of on six different stages. A children’s area is also included. New this year is a Healing Arts stage, which will offer workshops, presentations and performances by teachers and practitioners of non-traditional healing arts. Beer and wine will be sold as well, but no outside alcohol is allowed in the park.

Riding the COTA bus or your bike to the fest is strongly encouraged. Pedal Instead will provide ‘valet’ bike service throughout ComFest: Friday, 11 a.m.-midnight; Saturday, 10 a.m.-midnight and Sunday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

The organizers of ComFest (and I agree) also ask that you leave your pets at home. The weather this weekend is expected to be in the high 80’s and this factor, combined with noise and crowds, is not conducive to happy puppies. I’m sure your pets will thank you.

For a full schedule of events, visit ComFest’s website.

18
Jun

‘Heat’ at the Wexner Center

Author: Jodi, Category: Uncategorized

Thursday, June 21 marks the first movie of the free Wexner Center Outdoor Film Fest, Fritz Lang’s The Big Heat. The film will be shown starting at 9pm at the Wexner Center Plaza, 15th Ave. and High St. Film goers should arrive early for the best seats. Blankets and lawn chairs are allowed.

Starting an hour before the movie, free food and snacks will be offered including ice cream from local favorite Jeni’s Ice Cream, popcorn from Whole Foods, appetizers from Barley Brewing Company and Vitamin Water. A cash bar will also be available.

The Summer Outdoor Film Fest will also take place on July 19 with Billy Wilder’s Kiss Me Stupid and August 16 with Buster Keaton’s The General.

In case of bad weather, the films will be moved indoors to the Wexner Center itself.

For more details, visit the offical site of the Wexner Center.

18
Jun

A ‘Wicked’ Lottery

Author: Jodi, Category: Uncategorized

Broadway sensation Wicked lands in Columbus on Wednesday, June 20 at the Ohio Theatre and continues until Sunday, July 8.

The story of best friends Elphaba and Glinda (aka the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch) who live in a magical land called Oz, the musical details their lives before Dorothy dropped in.

Many of the shows are already sold out, but a day-of-performance lottery for a limited number of seats will be held prior to show time. Those who arrive at the Ohio Theatre box office 2½ hours before show time will have their names placed in a lottery drum and drawn a ½ hour later. These lottery seats will cost $25 each, cash only. There is a limit of two tickets per person.

The show runs two hours and 30 minutes with a 15-minute intermission.

15
Jun

Hoppin’ Through Columbus

Author: Jodi, Category: Uncategorized

Want a chance to see some of those pricey downtown Columbus condos that have been popping up lately? The Columbus Landmarks Foundation is sponsoring City Hop on Saturday, June 16 from 10am to 6pm. Loft-style units, renovated buildings, apartments, townhouses, and new luxury condominiums will all be featured. Cost is $18 the day of the Hop, but you can save $3 by purchasing them online from the Columbus Landmarks website or or by calling the Columbus Landmarks Foundation office at (614)221-0227.

Those who go to gawk can also save on shoe leather, the Foundation is offering shuttle service at three different locations, including the Arena District.

For more information, visit the Columbus Landmarks Foundation website.

14
Jun

Grillin’ and Chillin’

Author: Jodi, Category: Uncategorized

Dads love to grill out. So why not treat dad for Father’s Day by taking him to the North Market Grillmasters Festival on Saturday, June 16?

The festival includes grilling demonstrations and sampling, an amateur BBQ sauce contest, live music, kids’ activities and special vendors . This free event begins at 9 a.m. in the North Market, located at 59 Spruce St.

For more information, call the North Market at (614)463-9664 or visit their website at http://www.northmarket.com

14
Jun

Música, Cultura, Fiesta!

Author: Jodi, Category: Uncategorized

Celebrate Latin America and its culture at Festival Latino! The largest Hispanic event in Ohio, Festival Latino takes place on Friday, June 15 and Saturday, June 16 from 11am to 10pm at Bicentennial Park in downtown Columbus.

Latin American food, a children’s activity area, an arts and crafts marketplace, and educational presentations will all be included. Festival goers will also have the opportunity to experience continuous music and dance on four different stages.

Best of all, admission is free. For more info, visit the Festival Latino website.