8 Things to Do in Cbus This Weekend

It's officially sweater weather this weekend!  The 70+ degree days are now behind us and it's time to get those sweaters, jackets, and boots out for a walk in the park or a bonfire... or maybe something from this week's list of things to do in Cbus...

1. It's the first weekend of the month and that means it's Gallery Hop time!  Grab some sushi and cocktails at Haiku in between gallery stops, they'll be closing their doors to make way for new development in a month.

2. TEDtalks helped make the airport and flying a little more bearable for me two weekends ago. See a few live at the Riffe Center this weekend for some ideas worth sharing.

3. Wanna play a game?  How about a whole bunch of games for 24 hours?  Join the Beers & Boardgames team and help raise money for the Children's Miracle Network.  If you can't handle a 24 hour game of Monopoly, you can still donate to our hometown team.

4. Appreciate the ballet but the thought of shelling out nearly $100 per ticket put a damper on that passion?  Artisan Ballet Company is putting on the Wonderful Wizard of Oz this weekend at the Northland Performing Arts Center.

5. If that nip in the air is just too chilly for you, park your butt at Cinema 35 for Idiocracy and some fine Hoof Hearted brews.

6. The Columbus library's largest annual fundraiser is this Saturday; the Celebration of Learning.  Food, drinks, and the chance to check out the newly renovated Main Branch.

7. The fall colors are still vibrant in Ohio, see them from above in a hot air balloon.  :)  Burnt Toast Farms will being flying all day on Sunday.  What a great opportunity to check something off your bucket list!

8. If you can't get enough fall fashion (the coats! the jewel tones! the boots! oh my!) then get your tickets to Fashion. Food. Fun., a fashion show benefiting IBRAK Partners.

Where to eat...
RAM opened it's doors earlier this week, so try how the PNW does pub food with some local beers on tap too.

Where to drink...
Sign up a team for the Grandview Pub Golf tourney... it's a pub crawl with scoring!  Drink and crawl while watching the game between six of Grandview's best watering holes.

8 Things to Do in Cbus This Weekend

It's Halloween weekend and that means this week's list is full of scary fun!

What to do...

1. Green Lawn Abby has some of the most famous people from Columbus' past buried there and what better place to hear ghost stories than a haunting cemetery for Tales From the Crypt on Friday night.

2. Ready to dance the night away in your perfect Halloween costume?  Get your tickets to Haunted Fest with all kinds of DJs and dance music.

3. Pump some iron... wait... I mean pump some pumpkins!  Freeman's Farm in Lewis Center has a fun Great Pumpkin Workout on Saturday.

4. Get your old school game on and another chance to wear your costume and win something at Old North Arcade (plus caramel apple jello shots, need I say more?!)

5. Dinner, death, dessert... a champagne themed dinner while solving the Murder Mystery at the Kitchen... the menu sounds delicious!

6. Donut ask me to run a 5k unless there are a half dozen donuts waiting form me at the finish line!  It's the third annual Columbus Donut Run with donut holes fueling you to the end on Sunday.

7. Smashing Pumpkins in Columbus?  No... we're just smashing some pumpkins at the Great Pumpkin Smash at Little Darby.  Might be a little therapeutic and then take a walk through the Great Pumpkin maize.

8. Calling all Juggelos, ICP is playing the Newport on Halloween Eve... this is sure to be an interesting event.

Where to eat...
If you're familiar with the Columbus Ale Trail, you have probably checked out the beautiful location of Rockmill Brewery south of Columbus... well, tonight is the grand opening of Rockmill Tavern in the Brewery District, so it's going to be the place to eat this weekend.  If you're not into waiting for a table, stop by the brand new BIBIBOP location at Graceland, even get a free lunch on Thursday!

Where to drink...
Do you like scavenger hunts?  How about a scavenger hunt where each clue leads you to a yummy crafted cocktail by some of Columbus' finest bartenders?  Grab your costume for the Halloween scavenger cocktail hunt.

8 Things to Do in Cbus This Weekend

After some record setting temperatures earlier in the week and some rain now, we'll be getting back to Fall weather here soon.  There's plenty to do this weekend indoors and out, so enjoy the fun, festive events our city has on tap for you...

What to do...

1.  Do you like everything pumpkin?  Well head on down to Circleville for the biggest Pumpkin Show around... she the biggest, the smallest, the oddest... then eat pumpkin donuts, pies, and cookies!

2.  Boo at the Zoo starts this weekend with all the animals you know and love, plus costumes, mascots, superheros, and fun activities.

3.  Granville is just a short drive out east, but once you're there it feels like miles from the city with the quaint, homey feel.  They add to that feeling by putting on a barn hop every season for a fun shopping experience.

4.  Ballet at the Ohio Theater is always a classy combination for a perfect date night.  You can still get tickets to this weekend's Night and Day three-part performance by BalletMet starting at $29!

5.  Hope your Halloween costume game is on point this year 'cause High Ball is this weekend!  Join the Halloween street party and see the best costumes in town.

6.  If you're on the east side check out Creepside for some family fun including smores, pumpkin painting, games, a mechanical bull, and live music.

7.  It's harvest season, so take a trip to the farm!  Slate Run operates a historical farm where they do things the old school way, grow crops, raise livestock, make butter, pack away canned goods... this weekend they're having hay rides to their pumpkin patch!  Come early for best selection.

8. We seem to always accidentally end up at Easton when the pet costume parade is going on... they are so adorable!  Catch the cuteness on Sunday at noon.

Where to eat...
If you haven't checked out GoreMade Pizza's permanent location yet, it's time to try this wood fired oven pizza in Italian Village!

Where to drink...
It's hard to believe Land Grant has only been open for two years!  And they are celebrating that anniversary this weekend with special beer releases, live music, guest beers, and food trucks.  They'll have the game on, so drink to Land Grant and a Buckeye win!

8 Things to Do in Cbus This Weekend

It's Fashion Week in the capital city, but that's not the only thing going on this weekend!  The current weather forecast says it's going to be perfect on Saturday, so get out and enjoy the Fall weather with all these fun things to do!

What to do...

1. It's the second to last weekend of Ohio Renaissance Festival, better get over to drink some mead, eat a turkey leg, and catch a couple shows.

2. The circus is in town!  Columbus has long standing history with the circus and it has returned for just this weekend.  Check out the Ringling Bros at the Schott starting on Friday.

3. Start your Saturday afternoon getting your workout in with Pure Barre inside Nationwide Arena and then stay to watch the CBJ for their first home weekend game of the season... only $27, what a deal!

4. Go old school with your music and join the Columbus Record Store Crawl!  There are eight local record stores participating and they are all running 20% off during the crawl.

5. Columbus Fashion Week finishes up with an impressive finale runway show.  Get your tickets before they sell out, snag that swag bag, and get up close with the third largest fashion capital in the country!

6. Why should kids have all of the trick-or-treat fun?!  German Village is hosting their annual Monster Bash where adults trick-or-treat, have a costume contest, drink in the bier garden, make smores, and dance the night away!

7. It's probably too late to train for the marathon, but cheer on the runners at the Nationwide Half and Full Marathon (or avoid the route if you're driving somewhere).

8. Last weekend was the last of Moonlight Market and this Sunday is the last of the Sunlight Market series for the year.  :(  Make the most of it by heading downtown for local food and goods.

Where to eat...
If you can't make it to Pure Barre and CBJ Saturday night, how about yoga and brunch Saturday morning?  Studio 543 and Arepazo team up to give you a morning workout/stretch, then feed that metabolism with an assortment of delicious latin brunch courses.

Where to drink... 
If you like Oktoberfest beers, this may be your last chance of the season to get some.  OctoberCrest is happening at the Crest in Clintonville featuring Platform Beer Co., Land-Grant Brewing Company, Lineage Brewing and Seventh Son Brewing.

8 Things to Do in Cbus This Weekend

It's going to be a beautiful, sunny Fall weekend here in Columbus!  A great time to get out and enjoy one of our many metro parks for some fresh air or hanging out by a bonfire at night.  Here are eight other things that you can add to your weekend calendar to make the most of your days off!

What to do...

1. Enjoy TED Talks?  Start the weekend off smart with three talks in person at Ohio State University on Friday all focused on chemistry findings.

2.  It's apple season!  If you haven't picked your own apples yet this year, head over to Lynd's Fruit Farm, Cherry Hawk Farm, or Legend Hill Orchard.  If you have all the apples you need, how about the apple butter festival in Mount Gilead?

3. We're closing out Columbus' summer festival season with the Italian Festival going on all weekend in Italian Village.

4. Fashion Week in Columbus kicks off with the most adorable show for a great cause, the Kids Fashion Show gets started on Saturday.

5. Head downtown to eat and shop local at Moonlight Market on Gay Street.  It's the last one of the year, so don't miss it!

6. Start your Sunday with Brewga at Zauber... stay for brunch with a side of coffee and beer!

7. Need a little more fall in your life?  Head over to Fall Fest in Upper Arlington for pumpkin carving, apple cider sipping, caramel apples, and hay rides.  Prefer something downtown?  How about Pumpkins on Park with Park Street's pumpkin painting contest.

8. Get a behind the scenes look of local produce being used at some of the most popular local place in Cbus (Seasoned Farmhouse, Middlewest Spirits, and Zauber) with the Ag in the City tour.

Where to eat...
From the same brains as Bodega and Balboa, the grand opening crowds have finally subsided to make Hadley's available without a long wait for their amazing brunch menu.

Where to drink...
The Hills Market downtown is hosting Sip + Spa where you get to pick your poison (wine, beer, or cocktails) with ten samples and appetizers for $15... ten samples!

8 Things to Do in Cbus This Weekend

It officially feels like Fall this week!  Time to get out sweaters, jackets, and boots then hit the town and enjoy all the fun things going on this weekend...

What to do...

1. Where did September go?!?  Onward to October, which means some scary stuff!  Haunted houses have started opening up, so pack up some friends and prepare to get spooked at one of these scariest in Ohio; Haunted Hoochie, Scareatorium, or Haunted Orchard.

2. Support local artists Saturday morning with Made Local Marketplace's fall pop up in Powell.  Jewelry, clothes, paintings and more make perfect gifts too!

3. Get into full Fall swing by grabbing a PSL and heading out to Dawes Arboretum Fall Fest and plant sale.  Stock up on apples and mums, enjoy the trees starting to change, and some fun fall activities including hay rides.

4. The beginning of October means it is Gallery Hop time too!  Check out the gallery schedule including Pizzuti Collection's Cuban Forever Revisited exhibition.

5. Cheer on our hometown club with a couple Land Grant brews this Saturday.  Get your Crew Brew bundle tickets here.

6. Need to warm up after the soccer game?  The fishnet mafia presents Rocky Horror Picture Show at Studio 35 with all of the cult following fanfare.  

7. Enjoy the cooler fall weather and get a little festive... paint some pumpkins while sipping on some hot apple cider (with a little something for the adults) at Goodale Park on Sunday.  

8. Keep your brunch game strong by going to Woodlands Tavern for Challah's Sunday bloody Sunday brunch while DJ Legend spins some background beats.

Where to eat...
Seven courses created by seven of Columbus' finest female chefs are being served at Gallerie Bar as part of the Cancer Sees No Borders dinner fundraiser this Saturday night.

Where to drink...
Last week may have been the official Columbus Oktoberfest, but some of our local breweries are hosting their own this weekend.  Actual Brewing is hosting Weinerfest and of course Zauber has their own Oktoberfest.

8 Things to Do in Cbus This Weekend

I've been off wandering around Iceland the past few weeks (post to come soon)... now we're back, the weather has cooled a little since we left.  Even though summer officially ends this week, there is still tons going on in Columbus! It's weekends like these that it gets hard to narrow down to only eight things.  :)

What to do...

1. Get a sneak peek at the newest bar in the Short North, Julep!  Sign up here, which includes two cocktails... and then checkout the self-serve beer taps.

2. Need a little pick-me-up and one cup of coffee won't do?  How about a Caffeine Crawl!  There's ten coffee shops on the list, you might want to order a little decaf.

3. You can feel fall in the air... or maybe it's just the smell of pumpkin spice.  Either way, Harvest Fest is going on from noon to 4pm at the Commons for some good family fun.

4. Put on your laiterhosen or braid your hair and join Columbus for Oktoberfest at the fairgrounds.  Prost!

5. Taking sidewalk chalk to a new level!  Easton's fifth annual Chalk-the-Block is going on all weekend, stroll around Easton marveling at the masterpieces.  

6. You may have heard that BrewDogs is building in Columbus and it is there first venture in the United States.  Well, with BrewDogs comes Equity For Punks USA first edition.  Just buy a share and you're set for life with discounts and fun events (like this weekend)!

7. Get all stretched out this weekend with free yoga at Hot Chicken Takeover (North Market) or how about in Nationwide Arena on Sunday and stay for the CBJ game!

8. Fast horses, cool concert, and walking around the richest family in Ohio's estate... check out the New Albany Classic on Wexner's estate all day on Sunday.

Where to eat...
Get ready to pound some burgers... there are 75 restaurants participating in the 614 Burgers & Beer week this week... and it ends Saturday!  So take advantage of the $6 pricing and enjoy a specialty burger... or five. ;)

Where to drink...
Craft Brew Festival is happening for the 11th year in North Market.  Enjoy beer from here and you get a voucher for the food vendors on the first floor, pretty sweet deal!

8 Things to Do in Cbus This Weekend

After a pretty hot and humid summer, things are starting to cool down (well, sort of) in the capital city.  This weekend is supposed to be puffy white clouds, some sun, and low humidity... pretty perfect!  Enjoy the last few weekends of summer before fall officially sets in.  Here is this weekend's list of things to do around town...

What to do...

1. Go to the zoo after hours, drink craft beers, and relive the 90s by listening to Smashmouth perform at Brew with the Zoo Friday night.

2. A little bit of hip hop a little bit of techno... get your tickets to Breakaway Festival at the fairground with names like Waka Floka Flame, Benny Benassi, and Ty Dolla Sign it promises to be a good time.

3. Have you ever had Egyptian food?  This weekend is perfect for taking your tastebuds on a trip to the 22nd annual Egyptian Festival.

4. Cheer on the Crew SC against the San Jose Earthquakes, but first, get ten tastings of craft beer including several local breweries for the Crew's Craft Beer Festival on Saturday.

5. Getting into the fall mood?  How about some apple picking?  It is Lynd's Fruit farm's first u-pick weekend and the gala apples are ready.  If you're a fan of honey crisp, head over to Cherryhawk Farms.

6. After a day of apple picking, grab a blanket and some movie snacks to watch Wall-E under the stars at Sharon Woods Saturday night.

7. Support all things Ohio at Easton this weekend at the Ohio Proud Summer Fest.  Get your local produce, baked goods, and crafts all in one place.

8. It's going to be beautiful this weekend, so get outside and stretch it out with Native Cold Press presenting Yoga on the Green on Saturday or start your Sunday Funday off right with some yoga in the park, Goodale Park.

Where to drink...
Ill Mannered brewing is celebrating their one year anniversary, join the party at their taproom on Saturday.

Where to eat...
Check out the newest restaurant opening in Cbus, Hadley's, on South Fourth Street.  If you're there on Saturday, stick around for the 4th & Main BBQ Block Party with BBQ and food trucks galore (and a half-k... not a half marathon, but a half kilometer... you can do it!).

8 Things to Do in Columbus This Weekend

After some much needed rain last weekend (that ruined a lot of plans), this weekend's forecast is looking a little nicer.  Still... pack the umbrella while you head out to these fun things to do around town this weekend...

What to do...

1. One of Broadway's most successful musicals comes to Columbus this week!  Get your tickets to see Wicked ASAP before they sell out!

2. Love shopping around the Short North but hate spending your whole paycheck?  It's the end of summer sale and 32 of your favorite stores are participating!  So grab a coffee at One Line and get a retail therapy session started while shopping local.

3. It's the seventh year for CrestFest, a community party in Clintonville.  Totally family friendly with kids activities, live music on two stages, food trucks, and a scavenger hunt quest/race around Clintonville!

4. When you're the crossroads of America, you get a lot of cool benefits (easy road trips, test markets, better economy), but it comes with the bad too... as we have scene with drug trafficking and heroin overdoses.  Sign up to volunteer at Hope Over Heroin on Friday or Saturday where people who need help can come get what they truly need.

5. Take your best friend (the one with fur and four legs) to Wag Fest at Prairie Oaks Metro Park to celebrate the dog days of summer.  Did someone say... treats?!?  

6. Run through the original site of our beautiful city, Franklinton, and celebrate with some great beer at the finish line with the Columbus Beer Run Saturday afternoon.

7. Support some local business that are out to change the world for the better.  Change Fest is happening on Saturday at McFerson Commons with a great local band lineup.

8. Stay up all night long at COSI!  You may have been to a COSI After Dark event in the past, but this is a bit different.  Starting right after gen admission closes down, the fun gets started with a cash bar, planetarium, access to Game Masters, movies on the NatGeo screen, Adventure land and more... all included... all night!

Where to drink...
Head over to Granview for some easy summer drinking at the Summer Session!  Food trucks, live music and more... and root beer floats for the DDs.  :)

Where to eat...
It's a little bit of a drive, but Hardscrabble Farms in Delaware is hosting the Benefit in the Barn fundraiser for the Hunger Alliance.  Enjoy dinner, local beer and wine, and a performance by the Columbus Symphony.

8 Things to Do in Cbus This Weekend

The kids might be getting ready to go back to school, but there's still plenty of summer, festivals, and sun to enjoy in Cbus.   There is rain in this weekend's forecast, but hopefully it holds off and just rains at night... if your plans are rained out, here's a list of 40 things to do inside.  But let's hope for sun so we can do all of the things on this week's list...

What to do...

1. Ever want to go on a hot air balloon ride?  How about while Bret Michaels is performing?  Check out all of the hot air balloons this weekend in Marysville for the All Ohio Balloon Fest.

2. Go for a leisurely paddle at Trapper John's in Grove City Friday night for a great cause, She Has a Name.

3. It is the height of harvest season, time to get the freshest tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, and all of the other delicious summer fruits and veggies at North Market's 25th annual Farmer's Festival with demos and activities.

4. Summer, the season of festivals includes Festival Latino this weekend.  Enjoy the best of Latin American foods, dance, and music while soaking in the summer sun downtown on the riverfront.

5. Rock out with some smokey BBQ at the Blitz's Great Summer Smokeout featuring Volbeat, Red Sun Rising, Devour the Day and Nine Shrines at Express LIVE on Saturday.

6. There are still a few spots left for the craziest, most fun 5k... it's an inflatable course!  They don't even keep time... it all about having a great time bouncing around and getting through the obstacles.  Sign up for the Insane Inflatable 5k here.

7. Been watching the Olympics and feeling inspired?  Get your toes in the sand at Woodland's Volleyball Tourney where the drinks will be coming and the top eight team win money!

8. Take your tastebuds on a world tour without leaving town!  The 42nd International Taste of Columbus is on Sunday featuring 20+ local restaurants that specialize in international cuisines.

Where to drink...
The Taproom is having a local beer and chocolate pairing afternoon, or if you prefer something a little stronger, how about a Bourbon Tasting with Grove City Brewing... both happening on Saturday.

Where to eat...
Gimme all the food trucks!  Food truck festival kicks off on Friday in Columbus Commons, so fill up on the best street eats in the city.

8 Things to Do in Cbus This Weekend

It's one of those weekends in Columbus where there is so much to do, you want to do it all!  The Olympics start in Rio, which I'm sure will be an entertaining opening ceremony, but you have to enjoy summer while it's here (apple picking has already started!).  Here's this weeks list of things to do...

1. It always feels like the end of summer when the Ohio State Fair comes around, but this heat says summer isn't over yet.  Ride the rides, play the carnival games, eat the fried foods, pet the farm animals, see the butter cow... it only happens once a year.

2. Pack your sunscreen and kilt for Dublin's Irish Fest going on all weekend.  Enjoy the cute, curly haired dancers, Irish folk and rock music, giant Irish wolfhounds, Irish food and drink, and all other things Irish.

3. Need a break from the heat?  Get to the Ohio Theater for CAPA's summer movie series... two of my favorite movies this weekend... the Princess Bride on Friday and the Wizard of Oz on Saturday... only $4!

4. Another indoor option is taking advantage of this weekend's tax free holiday.  Plenty of places to shop; Easton, the new outlets, local shops.  Here are the rules for what counts toward your tax free shopping spree.

5. Get up early on Saturday for some good clean... run!  The bubble run is here!  Put in the work before it gets too hot and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

6. Want bubbles in your glass instead of on the street?  How about the Rock'n'Hop 5k and quarter marathon where you end up on a hops farm with local beer.  There is even a one mile run, that sounds more my speed.

7. It's the first weekend of the month, so it's time for a gallery hop!  Check out this month's line up and make sure to stop by the Pizzuti collection for free (earlier on Saturday with the fam or later with some OYO cocktails).

8. Who better to throw a grand opening party than a party planning store?!  Surprise is opening on Saturday with a beach party, cocktails, swag bags, and a party bus! 


Where to eat...
Ready for a luau?  I mean it is hot enough for one!  Check out Grass Skirt Tiki Room for the feast of the Tiki gods for a delicious luau tropical buffet, live music, and hot rods.

Where to drink...
Soak up the summer sun while sampling tons of local and other craft beers at the Summer Beer Fest at Express Live on Saturday (after party at the Pint House).  Not a beer fan?  Try Brother's Drake for National Mead Day instead!

8 Things to Do in Cbus This Weekend

Boy, last weekend was a hot one, felt like I was melting away at times.  Ironically, we have had hotter summers, but with the humidity and heat index... even I (who enjoys hot weather) wanted to stay indoors.  At least this weekend is planned to be a little cooler (yet a little rainy).  Here is this week's list of things to do around Columbus...

What to do...

1.  Pelotonia is next weekend, so this weekend is some last chance fundraising opportunities (although riders have until October to raise their commitments).  Test your endurence by running up the hill on Denison University's hill in Grandville for the Alpe de Denison Hillclimb Challenge... then have s few drinks at Moe's Original BBQ with a Homestead tap takeover or check out Three Tigers Brewing.

2.  There are still a few tickets left to the Healthy Bites iteration of the Best Bites series hosted in Columbus Museum of Art.  I can't wait to check out the new Picasso exhibit while lasting the best healthy food Columbus restaurants have to offer.  Check out the list of who is participating here.

3.  Keeping with the healthy theme, wake up Saturday and run a 5k with sweat local columbus.  Hopefully it will be a bit cooler on Saturday, but if it too hot for a run, check out their expo indoors.

4.  Wolf's Ridge is not just having a plain old bottle release party this weekend... they are going to have a real wolf on site during the bottle release!  So get a number, then pet a real (trained) wolf... how often do you get the opportunity to do that?!  Oh yeah, the release includes Coffee Vanilla infused Dire Wolf and Coconut infused Howling Moon.

5.  What a drag... I mean, 100 drag queens are going to be at Axis Saturday night!  Go party with Nina West and help raise money to send their team to the Gay Softball World Series and dance the night away.

6.  Couldn't make it to the sweat local columbus 5k?  How about Sunday morning... this 5k ends with a pretty sweet cool down... the Frosty 5k hosted by Wendy's.  Kick it off from Huntington Park and end with a delicious frosty at the finish line.  :)

7.  Probably one of the weirdest things on my 'Columbus Bucket List' is seeing Greenlawn Cemetery.  Seems totally strange until you think of all the architectural, botanicals, and memorials to people who made this city great are all right there.  Columbus Landmarks Foundation is putting on a walking tour, which has to be the best way to get the most interesting factoids and history of Cbus.

Need more history?  Head over to the Orange Johnson house in Worthington to hear about the role central Ohio played in the Civil War way back when.

Where to eat...
The Ohio State Fair starts tonight... and you know what that means... fried everything for dinner!  Hope you're planning on fitting in some of those 5ks, because after eating at the fair... you'll need to fit in some cardio!

Where to drink...
It's the fifth Friday of the month and to celebrate Fri-YAY, the Daily Growler is throwing a $5 Fest where all pints are $5 all night long.  Aloha Streatery food truck will be there too for some fab eats while you get your beer on.

8 Things to Do in Cbus This Weekend

It's going to be a hot and sticky weekend, but don't let that stop you from having fun around town!  There are plenty of things to do indoors, but it's summer in Ohio, so get outside and find a shady spot to enjoy this week's list of things to do...

What to do...

1. Lancaster kicks off its annual Lancaster Festival today and the music, art, and community continues through next weekend.  Go on Friday to participate in the Artwalk too.

2. Grab a plain white tee and a tutu, then run, don't walk, to the Columbus Color Run on Saturday.  You'll be plenty colorful at the finish line!

3. Jazz and ribs... need I say more?  We always mark our calendars for this weekend... Jazz and Rib Fest sets up downtown for some good eats and cool tunes on this hot summer weekend. 

4. If you need a new fur baby in your life, you're in luck.  This Saturday all of the local animal shelters are teaming up with a Clear the Shelters adoption event where your new best friend will only cost you $20.  

5. The Franklin County Fair technically started last weekend, but it runs through Saturday, don't miss out on some good midwestern fun at this nearly century-old tradition (demolition derby is on Saturday at 7pm).

6. Seeking air conditioning or maybe shelter from a pop up thunderstorm?  Tuck away into the downtown Hyatt for Pulpfest.  Think Comic Con for pulp fiction.  

7. Start your Sunday funday with some brewga, yoga at a brewery!  Head over to Zauber, stretch it out, and stick around for some coffee, brunch, and brews of course.

8. Test your volleyball skills at Flannagan's Chaos Beach Volleyball Tourney all day on Sunday.  Enjoy the pool, the sand, the drinks...

Where to eat...
Finish out Restaurant Week with a bang and head to as many of the participating restaurants as humanly possible!

Where to drink...
Actual Brewing is hosting a game-a-thon where a dollar from every beer and 10% of the food truck sales are donated back to Nationwide Children's Hospital, so drink for a cause while having fun!

8 Things to Do in Cbus This Weekend

You may have spent last weekend catching Pokemon in random walks around town (ahh, they are taking over!).  This weekend, give your phone battery (and phone bill) a break with this list of things to do around town (okay... you can catch them in these places too).  :)

What to do...

1.  Get over to the zoo and enjoys the active animals after hours and then get your seat for some jazz at JazZoo on Friday night.

2.  Prefer a movie instead?  Take it way back with Honey I Shrunk the Kids under the stars a Highbanks metropark... popcorn is on them!

3.  Living in Columbus, you get the perks of a big city with the feel of a close-knit small town.  Enjoy that combo at the Pickerington Violet Festival where you have fair rides and food that ends with a pretty big concert at night.

4.  There are still some tickets left for Promowest Fest going on in McFerson Park all weekend.  Don't miss out on this lineup, including Snoop Dogg and Garbage... time for a 90s throwback!

5.  Speaking of the 90s, you're probably one of the millions clogging up the Pokemon GO servers (it's okay, I am too).  Meetups are popping up everywhere luring in those cute little pocket monsters.  Win prizes for the most Pokemon and most rare at some of these meetups; Como Park on Friday, The Oval on Saturday, and Goodale Park on Sunday.

6.  After all that walking from Pokemon catching, stretch it out with a little yoga.  Enjoy the new Cherry Street parklet at the Cherry Street Community Yoga Festival on Saturday starting at 6:30pm.

7.  Head over to German Village for an Art Crawl on Macon Alley.  See 30 regional artists, listen to live music, and wine/beer tastings all night.

8.  If you're riding in Pelotonia next month, it's time to start training... and the best way to end a long bike ride is with a cookout and ice cream at Velvet ice cream's mill!

Where to eat...
Stuff your face with all kinds of good eats at the Taste of Worthington on Friday night, there will be 60 different foods to try!

Where to drink...
Staas is celebrating their three year anniversary on Saturday with a party.  Don't want to drive all the way to Delaware?  Stay a little more local at Four Strings and partake in their Hawaiian BBQ popup.

Weekly Menu

Another great weekend in Columbus!  Beautiful weather... perfect for a visiting streetpub and picnic with the pops.  We finished our patio table last weekend and we've been using it ever since... casual coffee on the patio, grilling dinner, relaxing with a magazine, and post-concert Nelly listening under the stars.

That dang Pokemon game... held out downloading it until today (I really don't need another distraction) but now I have it.  Wonder if everyone who has it reached their step goals over the weekend, haha!  We saw people wandering aimlessly trying to catch these guys.  Now there are meetups at Pokestops to search for catch them all and battle at gyms.  I've also heard stories about budding friendships over trying to find the rare ones.  Oh well, back to being productive tomorrow!  Here is this week's meal plan...

BBQ chicken and corn-on-the-cob
homemade pizza
breakfast tacos for dinner
ravioli and sauteed zucchini

Weekly Menu

Hope you had a great three-day weekend!  Ours was kind of lazy... which was much needed.  Saw some fireworks, drank some drinks, had some great BBQ... you know... the ultimate American weekend.  

We also went chasing waterfalls... in Columbus!  There are a couple in Dublin that, while limited parking, are easy to get to if you know where to look (Hayden Falls and Indian Run Falls).

It's a short week after the long weekend... so it's a short meal plan...

chicken stir fry
shrimp po' boys
creamy salmon pasta
steak tacos

8 Things to Do in Cbus This Weekend (Independence Day Weekend)

It's a three-day weekend and we're about to have us some fun!  Fireworks, parades, cookouts, and 5ks... there are plenty of things going on, especially in each neighborhood around Columbus (check for your local fireworks here).  This week's list fills in the rest of your weekend with more fun!

What to do...

1. Most of the neighborhood fireworks are happening on the Fourth this year, so come downtown with the rest of Columbus and watch the largest display of fireworks in the Midwest, Red White and Boom... but first... put your reservation in now for Gallerie Bar's Red, White, and Blue Crab boil which includes parking in their garage.  Premium parking, AC, crab dinner, and fireworks for $29?!  Yes!!

2. If you like Pint House and Forno, check out the "sneak peek" opening of Standard Hall on Friday.  First people in the door get entered to with tickets to Austin City Limits music festival!

3. It's going to be another hot one this weekend, cool off with a beer and a dip in the pool!  Hoof Hearted is hosting a pool party on Saturday with DJ Thom playing his summer soundtrack.

4.  Clear Fork, normally known for skiing, is opening a summer adventure park, and Saturday is their opening day.  Tubing, wakeboarding, and zorbs... so much fun!

5.  If Clear Fork is too far of a drive, get tickets to Adult Day @ Camp, a fundraiser for Godman Guild's summer camps.  Everything gets started at 11am on Saturday at Camp Mary Orton.

6.  Stop by the Pizzuti Collection after they close (6pm) to get a unique view of the art while sipping OYO or Rockmill brews.  Afterward, head out to High Street for Gallery Hop.

7.  Get lined up on High Street Monday morning (since you don't have to go to work!!) and get ready for the Doo Dah Parade.  Dance around and join in on the fun!  Guaranteed to make you giggle.

8.  What's more American than hot dogs and baseball?  Celebrate our Independence Day cheering on the Clippers and more fireworks... don't forget your cowbell!

Where to eat...
Wolf's Ridge and Jackie O's are collabrating on a brunch menu for Saturday.  Check out the yummy four courses they have planned and the eight beers to choose from.

Where to drink...
Ohio Taproom is celebrating everything local with their Red Meat, White Wine, and Local Brew on Sunday (North Country Charcuterie, Debonne Vineyards, and Rockmill Brewery) so come in between your cookouts for this delicious local sampling.

Weekly Menu

Hope you didn't melt away this weekend in the heat and humidity!  After checking out Comfest on Friday, we took our Jeep in for maintenence on Saturday and wandered over to Grandville for some brunch and checked out Three Tigers Brewing.  They're still working on brewing their own beers, but there will be some soon!  Then supporting our Crew with a kick off to fireworks week (keep an extra close eye on your pets!).

 

 

 

Then today... went to check out the Columbus Tanger outlets, which are really in Delaware... and I'm pretty sure everyone else had the same idea.  I really just needed to make an exchange and I was running out of return window.  Any way, after getting through the traffic and finding a parking spot, the actual outlet mall was pretty nice, so I ended up sticking around to check a few stores out.   A lot of great brands and good deals going on!  I would recommend waiting another few weeks to avoid the traffic jam.

Alright, on to this week's meal plan.  What are you planning on making this week?

zucchini enchiladas
homemade pizza night
breakfast for dinner
shrimp po' boys and green beans

8 Things to Do in Cbus This Weekend

NatGeo Travel just posted an article about Columbus being the next cool travel destination now that everyone knows about cities like Brooklyn, Portland, and Austin... they lost a little of that cool edge.  We're still that undiscovered gem to most of the country.  I don't know where they got the nickname "biggest small town in America", but get out and enjoy our city this weekend... here are a couple things going on around town...

What to do...

1. After a fun Pride Fest last weekend, ComFest comes in and takes over.  Join the crowd of community lovers in Goodale Park; tie dye and flower headbands highly encouraged!

2.  We've been waiting over a year for this... the reopening of the main library downtown is this weekend!  The ribbon cutting ceremony is at noon and there are events all weekend.  The new space is beautiful with lots of natural light, tons of resources and meeting rooms, even an XBOX area for teens. 

3.  Speaking of books, Half Price Book's clearance sale is this weekend at the fairgrounds.  Bring a bookbag, because everything is priced $2 or less, so it is time to stock up!

4.  Listen to some live local bands and catch some fireworks at Powell Festival on Saturday.

5.  If you want live music, but want to cool off inside while listening... get a little bit of nostalgia with a side of fabulous at the Lincoln Theater where the Columbus Gay Mens Choir will be performing Finding Oz.

6.  Want to see what goes into your beautiful flower bouquets?  Go on a flower farm tour at Sunny Meadows Flower Farm on Sunday at 1pm and then pick up a couple bouquets for your place.

7.  Check out one of Columbus' historic neighborhoods at the Haus und Garten Tour of German Village on Sunday.  Start your tour at Pistacia Vera to caffeinate, check out a few homes, grab a seat on Lindey's patio for lunch, take an afternoon stroll through the Book Loft, and see a few more houses to finish out your German Village tour.

8.  Take a hike!  ... through Highbanks Metropark for a twilight hike on Sunday at 8pm... the hike ends with roasting marshmallows!  Be sure to look up, you might spot one of the resident bald eagles.

If you missed the Arts Festival a couple weekends ago, here's another chance to get you hands on some art (and it won't be quite as crowded)... Easton Art Affair!

Where to eat...
Eat ALL of the strawberries because it's Strawberry Festival time in London (Ohio).

Where to drink...
Head over to Grandview Hop on Saturday to explore some local vendors, but officially staking out your seat in the pop-up beer garden and enjoy some local brews in the summer sun.