Weekly Menu

Hope you had a relaxing Memorial Day weekend.  I know mine was filled with plenty of time outside despite a little bit of rain coming through Ohio.  Cookouts, hiking, and paddling... summer has certainly started for us... even if it is still "unofficial".

I'm so excited that our CSA deliveries start this week!  After a bit of a slow start to the growing season, they had to delay the first harvest for a week.  If you live in central Ohio, check it out, you can still get a share of customizable produce delivered to your house every week!

This week, thanks to Memorial Day, is a short meal plan...

sausage stuffed peppers
creamy dijon chicken with mashed potatoes and kraut
homemade pizza night
BBQ chicken and green beans

What are you planning to make this week?

8 Things to Do in Cbus (Memorial Day Weekend!)

Memorial Day weekend is known as the "unofficial" start of summer... but here in Columbus, it is going to feel like summer started already with temps in the mid 80s!  Some of you might be jet setting for the weekend and others might be entertaining guests.  So in between the cookouts and pool parties, here are eight things to do around Cbus this weekend.

What to do...

1. The Trout Club in Newark has been updated and is reopening its doors this weekend and celebrating all weekend!  Live music, good food, and fireworks.  It's finally warm enough for some pool time too.  :)

2. Asian Festival is all weekend, mostly centered around the Franklin Park area (so check out the giant origami statues) and is also downtown on the Scioto River for dragonboat racing.

3. Hoping to burn some calories by just watching the Reebok Crossfit Games Central Regionals at the convention center all weekend.

4. Step back in time by going to Ohio Village's opening day with Maypole dancing, old-timey baseball, ice cream making, and... Sweet Carrot food truck?

5. Have you ever wanted to go sailing before?  Well, grab your boat shoes and head over to Hoover reservoir for a free sailboat ride on Saturday to kick off sailing season.

6. Register to run or walk in the PetPromise Rescue Run 5k and bring your pup with you.

7. Ready for an over-the-top party?  Get your whites out and dance with drag queens at Axis' White Party 2016.

8. The Memorial Tournament starts on Monday, so beware of rain, but that never gets in the way of a good time!

Where to eat...
Well, you probably have some cookouts planned, but for when you don't, check out one of the three best patios in Columbus to enjoy the weather and some real good food too; Barcelona, Lindey's, and Milestone 229.

Where to drink...
To continue with the patio theme, how about the best patios for drinking?  Brazenhead (Grandview), Union, and Woodland's Tavern.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend!!!

Weekly Menu

Finally, a weekend both in-town and laid back!  And based on the weather forecast, it looks like summer is officially started in Columbus!  With the warmer weather (but pop up thunderstorms), we're planning to grill out often this week and it's reflected in this week's meal plan.  :)

If you haven't been to the zoo lately... the lion cubs are freakin' adorable!  They were playing and chasing each other.  It was so cute!  Not sure if it is dinner time, less people, or just the time of day... but 6pm and later is definitely the time to be at the zoo. 

 

  

 

 

Alright... and for this week's semi-grilled menu...

cheeseburgers
creamy shrimp pasta
crab legs and rosemary roasted potatoes
pepper-seared steak tacos
baked ravioli and salad
tortilla-less chicken enchiladas

What are you planning to make?

8 Things to Do in Cbus This Weekend

I'm ready for the weekend already, how about you?  Hopefully the weather is nicer than last weekend!  Here is this week's list of fun things to do around town.
What to do...
1. Easton is having Food Truck Friday AND An Evening of Dance on Friday.

2. Take your fur-baby out for a drink at Elevator's Bark and Brew to raise funds for the downtown dog park.

3. Green thumb?  Get your hands dirty at Topiary Park planting some annuals, meeting some friends, and enjoy some breakfast Saturday morning.

4. Head over to the Wilds for Wildzfest to kick off the season and meet some of the Columbus Zoo animals one-on-one.

5. Franklin Park Conservatory unveils their new outdoor exhibit, giant origami statues!

6. Did you grow up on Nintendo like I did?  Feel like you have mad Mario Kart skills?  Put them to the test at the Mario Kart tourney at Level One Bar + Arcade.

7. Good food, fun times, and great entertainment at the 29th annual King Arts Complex Gala Saturday night.

8. Business Insider selected New Albany as the best suburb in America last year and now you can tour some of their grandest homes on Sunday.

Where to drink...
Finish off an eventful Columbus Beer Week with Six One Pour at Huntington Park this Friday

Where to eat...
Have a sweet tooth that needs satisfaction?  Head over to Easton for Sweet Sunday on the Square for sweet samples from over a dozen Easton restaurants.

Weekly Menu

This weekend was one of those weekends where you kind of wanted to just stay in bed... cold, wet... just not the best weather.  But that doesn't mean you can't have some indoor fun around town!

We kicked off the weekend at Scioto Audubon's Flight of Fancy, which if you haven't been to Scioto Audubon, it has great views of downtown, dog parks, climbing walls, and connects to the Scioto Mile.  Then of course the rain could not keep away the tens of thousands showing up to run and walk the Race for the Cure.  It's always inspiring to see the streets full of people and hear survivors' stories of courage.  

It's the freakin' weekend, which always means brunch is on.  Wolf's Ridge was on our list for the new Cbus Ale Trail books (oh, and the Canis Mexicanus bottle release) and finally getting to Katalina's for the first time to dig into some pancake balls.  Yum!  

 

 

  

Last up on the list was the North Market Apron Gala!  So much food and so much fun!  Each of the 35 vendors at North Market prepared an appetizer, main course, or dessert sampler... plus there was beer, wine, and cocktails... live music... a live auction.  And I got to meet Jeni from Jeni's splendid ice creams!  Be sure to mark your calendars to go next year!

 

 

 

The end of another weekend means it's time to plan this week's meal plan!  Here is what I'm making this week...

homemade crunchwraps
lasagna rollups
southwest shrimp bisque
spinach enchiladas
homemade pizza night 

What are you planning to make this week?

8 Things to Do in Cbus This Weekend

It's a jammed packed week full of fun events, especially if you like beer (and who doesn't!) as we start into Columbus Beer Week!  If you're not into beer, there is still a ton to do... and if the weather isn't cooperating, you can always revert to this list of things to do when it is cold and rainy.

1. Missed Dine Originals Week a couple weeks ago?  Now you get a chance to try a little bit of everything... and it's in Franklin Park Conservatory... and it helps the Buckeye Ranch.  That's a win-win-win... get tickets here.

2. There is still time to sign up for Race for the Cure, the largest in the country!

3. If the weather holds out, Battelle Darby Creek is having yoga in the park at 11:30 to be recenter yourself

4. Have you been thinking about adding a fur-baby to your squad?  Stop by the Ohio Expo Center for Fetch-a-Friend Adoptathon all weekend.  

5. Let your inner child meet your grown up self and see the Columbus Symphony perform Disney classics at Tale as Old as Time in the Ohio Theater

6. Beer + Science = Science on Tap a fun way to spend a Saturday drinking local beers and full access to the exhibits at COSI

7. Start Sunday Funday off right with coffee and beer pairings!  Wolf's Ridge partnered with One Line Coffee for this Brew & Pour event.

8. Need a laugh?  Check out the lineup at Whiskey Bear's Comedy Festival featuring 45 standup comics from around the country performing all around Columbus.

Where to Eat...
Kraft House 5 is donating $5 for every brunch ordered this weekend.  As if I needed another reason to love their food!

Where to Drink...
Sideswipe just expanded!  Check out their new space, just in time for Beer Week!  For other Beer Week events, find the full list here.

8 Things to Do in Cbus This Weekend

Hope you have made plans and reservations for Mother's Day!  As for the rest of the weekend, here are a couple things to do around Columbus...

What to do...

1. BalletMet will be presenting Sleeping Beauty with five shows this weekend at the Ohio Theater.  Might be a good event to take your mom to?
2. Plan a backpacking adventure or just check out the grand opening and ribbon cutting for the new Scioto Grove metropark outside of Grove City.
3. Get away from the city and go to the Granville Barn Hop.  Four shops inside old barns all within a few miles for a vintage shopping experience.
4. Saturday is free comic book day!  Check out the selection at six participating comic book stores around Columbus.
5. Test your inner beast mode by participating in the Reebok Spartan Race at the Wilds.  Chose either the five or 14 miler with lots of obstacles and fun!  
6. It's Derby weekend!  Celebrate with Columbus Social Club's derby party at Rockmill Brewing on Saturday 2-7pm.  There will be games, live music, and a pig roast.  Don't forget to wear a crazy hat!
7. Need a new bag to take to the derby party?  Check out Purses and Pearls, a fundraiser for Friends of the Shelter... you might find a new friend to take home with you while you're there.  :)
8. Take your mom out for brunch and then head over to Franklin Park for tea in the garden and a dance performance by CoMo Dance.  Head inside afterward to check out Blooms and Butterflies, one of my favorite annual exhibits at the conservatory!

Where to eat...
Go to the newest restaurant in town, Balboa in Grandview.  So-Cal flavor with a huge patio... this sounds like a great summer hangout.

Where to drink...
Actual Brewing is celebrating their third anniversary with beer releases!  This quaint little brewery by the airport is a little hard to find, but once you're there, pick up a board game, order food from the truck, and get a few brews.

Weekly Menu

Gotta love springtime in Ohio... one day it's kinda cold, dreary, and just kind of crappy where you want to stay inside... the next day is warm, sunny, and beautiful despite every weather forecast calling for more rain.  It was such a nice day we went for a walk around Inniswood Metropark after checking out their plant sale, then I spent the rest of the afternoon gardening.  The rain finally came, perfect timing to water all the pretty flowers I just planted!

 

 

 

On Saturday we were invited to the Columbus Literacy Council's Alphabet Attractions gala!  The event was hosted at the Jessing Center (the event space at the Josephinum) and all of the tables had a book theme.  Our table was Ants at the Picnic, which I had actually never heard of before, but seems very popular since it is currently sold out on Amazon.  It was a fun event with dinner and a silent auction.  Literacy is so important to a community's success, the more people we can help the better the community becomes (less poverty, crime, and unemployment)!  If you would like to volunteer or donate, check out Columbus Literacy's website here.

 

 

 

Sunday means it is time to meal plan, here is what I'm making this week...

mexican stuffed shells (didn't get to them last week)
salmon burgers and asparagus
double decker chicken tacos
cheeseburgers and spinach salad
spinach artichoke mac and cheese

What are you planning to make this week?