Ah yes, Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching and you have to find something to do with that special someone. I thought I’d share my plan and expand on one of the Valentine’s Day ideas Scott shared earlier , because Opera Columbus has covered me for part of the weekend. I’ll be attending the opening performance of Romeo & Juliet at the Ohio Theatre with my girlfriend. Performances take place Friday, Feb. 12 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 14 at 2 p.m. Tickets are available here .

Tip: I was able to get my tickets on the cheap. As Opera Columbus shared on their Facebook page , if you use code FANS when buying your tickets, you’ll get a 20% discount.

And I’ll leave you with a fun fact -  the leads, Jonathan Boyd and Malinda Haslett, are a real life married couple. Brian Banion (Friar Lawrence) and Elise DesChamps (Stephano) are also a married couple. Love will certainly be in the air on stage.

Opera Columbus presents
Romeo & Juliet
Photo: GroovyDoodle Photography

Wondering how to celebrate Valentine’s Day in Columbus?  Below you’ll find ideas for singles, couples and families. Everything listed here is happening on Feb. 14 unless otherwise noted.

Entertainment

• Ballet Met presents A Midsummer Night’s Dream , a comedic ballet based on the Shakespeare classic. Performances are at the Capitol Theatre, February 5-14. Tickets start at $25.

• Opera Columbus presents one of the world’s most famous love stories, Romeo & Juliet .  Performances are at the Ohio Theatre, February 12-14 . Tickets are $27.50-$102.50.

• From 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Valentine’s Day, BoMA is hosting The Rose Party - a night filled with music, dinner and dancing. There will be a buffet dinner, introductory dance class, a dance CD giveaway, and a professional dance show. Tickets are $20 or $25 at the door. VIP tickets are $35 or $40 at the door.

Dining

• At Barcelona Restaurant & Bar in German Village, enjoy dinner with music by Trista Hill , who performs in classical, popular and jazz styles. Read the rest of this entry »
  

Today’s post is written by Kristin Marks, a.k.a. cBus Mom . She writes a blog by the same name , which she created to offer suggestions and reviews of kid-friendly activities in Central Ohio. She also writes for Ohio Moms Blog and is a monthly contributor to Columbus Underground .

Here, she shares her experience at the Columbus Children’s Theatre , the award winning professional theater that has been entertaining families for over 40 years.

———————————————————-

Columbus Children’s Theatre: Engaging, fun and affordable
By Kristin Marks, cBus Mom

I recently went with a friend and three little girls to see Rapunzel at Columbus Children’s Theatre . We got the girls gussied up in their finest princess frocks and spent the afternoon enjoying the theater.

I have to admit, I was a bit nervous because the girls were not quite 4 years old (theater gives that as a suggested viewing age) and I worried that their attention spans would get lost in the middle, but that was not the case. Aside from a short game of musical laps, the girls did great at their first theatrical performance.

I think the elements the actors used to command audience participation helped keep the attention of little ones. The play was engaging and fun for the children because not only were the characters entertaining, but the children got to participate.

At the start of the show the audience was prompted to make certain noises or hand gestures when the witch came on stage. Each time the witch came out we all said in a scary voice "ooooohhh," and immediately there was giggling from kids - they loved being part of the production. Also, many times throughout the play there were chase scenes where an actor would run into the audience and sit in an empty seat. Read the rest of this entry »

Photo: G. Michael’s Bistro & Bar

Restaurant Week Columbus was last week, and I was presented with the difficult decision of selecting a restaurant from the list of enticing three-course deals. There was one restaurant on the list that I’ve always heard great things about, but hadn’t yet tried: G. Michael’s Bistro & Bar . I made my decision and quickly made my reservation. And I was not disappointed.

When I walked into the restaurant located in historic German Village , I thought the décor could be described as classic and contemporary, but the exposed brick walls gave it a comfortable and homey feel. It was early Friday evening, and the restaurant and bar were considerably busy and buzzing with conversations and laughter. We were immediately seated and greeted by our server.

I made my dinner selections from the Restaurant Week menu, but I browsed the regular menu and was impressed. It was much like their décor: contemporary in terms of their sophisticated seafood and unique pairings, but comfortable in regards to items like as grits and southern-fried chicken.

My first course from the Restaurant Week menu was their house salad made with poached pears, spiced pecans and gorgonzola vinaigrette, which was sweet and extremely fresh. My main course was seared scallops with braised short ribs, which I thought was the perfect example of a more refined food item (the scallops) paired with, in my opinion, the ultimate comfort meal (meat, potatoes and green beans). For dessert, I selected a delicious trio of one of Columbus’ favorite desserts: Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams . The entire meal and experience was incredibly satisfying.

If you’d like to experience a similar three-course meal for $30, check out G. Michael’s on Monday nights (menu selections change each week).

To sum it all up: my expectations for G. Michael’s Bistro & Bar were high, but they were definitely met. Great environment, great service and great food. If you’re looking for a place where elegance meets comfort, I highly recommend it.

If you only had 24 hours to spend in Columbus, what would you do? This was a hard question for me to answer, but I’ve come up with a list of must sees and must dos that I feel will leave any visitor with an experience uniquely Columbus.

I’m sharing these ideas in a three part series - the first post is geared to families, the next to the business traveler, and finally, a post to help a local decide what to do with visiting friends or family.

Here’s part three of three, with suggestions geared to residents looking to entertain visiting friends or family.

———————————————————-

We all have friends and family come to visit us. And inevitably we all get asked the question, “So, what are we going to do while in town?”  Check out the following ideas for a fun Columbus experience and give your visitors a better sense of why you call Columbus home.

Where to Eat
My favorite place to take family and friends to eat in Columbus is Tasi Cafe . Located just behind High Street, Tasi’s offers freshly prepared comfort food with a unique flair. The casual atmosphere makes it a favorite of locals, and the menu offers breakfast, lunch and dinner options.

The Refectory is an AAA Four Diamond award winner, offering contemporary American cuisine and classic French cuisine. The restaurant’s location is unique - it’s inside of an old church, and the atmosphere has a rustic feel. Also, they have an amazing wine cellar with over 700 selections.

No matter what your visitors’ tastes, they are sure to find something they like at the North Market . Central Ohio’s historic public market since 1876 and located between the Short North and Arena District, it features fresh and prepared foods, and authentic ethnic cuisine. Read the rest of this entry »

Broadway Across America-Columbus brings another highly anticipated show to Columbus this week with The 39 Steps .

Adapted from the 1935 Alfred Hitchcock film of the same name, this play has already proven itself a hit with people of all ages. It just finished a two-year run on Broadway, and the original production is in its third year in London. Critics have taken notice as well, awarding the play two Tony Awards and the Olivier Award for best new comedy in 2007.

Credentials aside, this is a show unlike anything I had seen before. Four actors play over 150 characters, and in the process create a frenzied pace that never slows down. The play transports you to a world of make believe—one in which four chairs can be believed to be a car, men can pass for women and a windy day can be conveyed with the mere shaking of the actors own clothes.

The best part? You, the audience, are in on the joke. The actors do not pretend to be fooling anyone. Instead, they embrace the minimal props and get creative with what they’ve got. They even go as far as to purposely slip up on occasion—forgetting to switch into a new character or leaving a prop behind a little too long—just to remind you they know you’re there.

Based on the reaction of the opening night crowd—people were laughing, a lot—I would say this show is a winner. But don’t take my word for it, catch one of the seven remaining performances at the Palace Theatre and judge for yourself. Tickets range from $20-$55 and can be purchased here .

Tip from the CAPA Facebook page : If you act fast, you have the opportunity to purchase two tickets for only $39 to the Wednesday or Thursday show. To redeem this offer, call the CAPA ticket office at 614-469-0939 and use the password “TRAINS”

Photo: Barrio

Owned by local restaurateur Jeff Mathes, who also owns Due Amici, Barrio opened in March of 2009. The tapas bar and lounge is open seven days a week and serves brunch, lunch and dinner. The menu features dishes from South America and Spain in a warm, neighborhood bar atmosphere. The wine menu is inspired by Argentina and Chile.

The new Express Lunch menu offers a wide variety of entrees to choose from, and sides including soup, salad, fries or chips and pico. Most items are around $10, making them a good value. I would recommend the fries, as they are deliciously drizzled with a sherry vinegar aioli, garlic and herbs. They are mouthwatering good.

My favorite menu item is the chorizo and manchego meatballs; I have been know to eat more than a few plates in one sitting. With any order you receive fresh bread that comes from North Market merchant Omega Artisan Baking , paired with a sweet creamy butter made with agave syrup and a side of ancho chili oil. Read the rest of this entry »

If you only had 24 hours to spend in Columbus, what would you do? This was a hard question for me to answer, but I’ve come up with a list of must sees and must dos that I feel will leave any visitor with an experience uniquely Columbus.

I’m sharing these ideas in a three part series - the first post is geared to families, the next to the business traveler, and finally, a post to help a local decide what to do with visiting friends or family.

Here’s part two of three, with suggestions geared to the business traveler.

———————————————————-

With Columbus being the state capital and the home of 14 Fortune 1,000 companies (six of which are Fortune 500), it is a frequent stop among business travelers. The city is located within a one-day drive or one-hour flight of nearly half of the population of the U.S. and Canada, so those who do travel here may be in and out of town in a day or after a brief overnight stay.

Here are some helpful tips and recommendations to make the most of your visit.

Where to Stay
Like I mentioned in the family travel post , there are several great hotel options at varying price points around downtown - click here to check them out. One property great for business travelers is The Columbus, A Renaissance Hotel , located on N. 3rd St. in the heart of downtown and near the capital, Nationwide Arena and the Greater Columbus Convention Center . The Columbus has the city’s only seasonal rooftop pool with great views of downtown; it’s often the site of an impromptu happy hour and always a great place to relax or swim a few laps. The hotel also has Wi-Fi access throughout, a large lounge and bar in the lobby.

Where to Eat

Photo: Latitude 41

If you’re staying at The Columbus, I recommend dining at Latitude 41 .  It’s located in the lobby of the hotel and it’s known for unique American cuisine. Also, a quick walk down Gay Street (across from the hotel) offers several unique Columbus restaurant options including fine Italian at Due Amici , great comfort food at Tip Top Kitchen & Cocktails and Cuban cuisine at Plantain Cafe.

Once you’re done with business, a few great places to get dinner and a drink with locals downtown include the Elevator Brewery and Draught Haus , M restaurant, Mitchell’s Steakhouse and The River Club at Confluence Park .

Another uniquely Columbus eatery is our public market, the North Market . This is one of my favorite places to grab a quick bite and people-watch, as it is home to dozens of unique, independent merchants and farmers. Merchants offer ethnic food specialties, gourmet groceries, flowers and gifts. Read the rest of this entry »

Photo: Barcelona Restaurant & Bar

Ok, so after the holidays, maybe going out to dinner is not your first thought. But, getting out of the house and trying out a new place does sound pretty good. And, getting a deal on your meal makes it totally worthwhile to brave the elements.

Check out the 40 restaurants that are a part of Restaurant Week Columbus, Jan. 18-23.

Some of my favorites are Figlio Wood Fired Pizza , Cameron’s American Bistro , Barcelona , Mezzo and the Upper Arlington Hyde Park location, the original in Columbus.

Each restaurant is offering a fixed-price, three-course meal for between $15-$35 per person. Most give you the choice among two or three selections each for an appetizer, main course and dessert. For example, at Figlio you can have Peasant Salad, Beef Tenderloin Medallions and Chocolate Silk Pie for only $20 per person.

Pick a place you’ve never been and make your reservation now. Some restaurants will fill up. For a list of participating restaurants, visit RestaurantWeekColumbus.com . The event is presented by (614) Magazine .

Where will you be dining?

If you only had 24 hours to spend in Columbus, what would you do? This was a hard question for me to answer, but I’ve come up with a list of must sees and must dos that I feel will leave any visitor with an experience uniquely Columbus.

I’m sharing these ideas in a three part series - the first post is geared to families, the next to the business traveler, and finally, a post to help a local decide what to do with visiting friends or family.

Here’s part one of three, with suggestions geared to families.

———————————————————-

24 Hours in Columbus - Family Edition

Columbus has always been a city with lots of fun and affordable things to do with family. Here are some recommendations for a great day in town.

Where to Stay
There are several great hotel options at varying price points around downtown - click here to check them out. Two properties that stick out to me as reasonably priced and great for families are the Holiday Inn Columbus Downtown Capitol Square , near the heart of downtown, and the Drury Inn & Suites Convention Center , near the Arena District. Both have a complimentary breakfast, a pool and adjoining rooms upon request.

Where to Eat
Cap City Fine Diner & Bar in Grandview is a local favorite. The menu features old diner favorites with an upscale twist, and you can’t go wrong with the meatloaf.

Max & Erma’s was founded in Columbus back in 1972 and serves great family meals as well as a good drink selection. You can dine at one of their 15 Columbus area locations, including the original Max & Erma’s in German Village. Don’t forget your order of hot cookies. Read the rest of this entry »