Photo: godsmac on Flickr

If you’ve been paying attention in Columbus for the past several Julys, you’ll have noticed an influx of brightly colored classic cars cruising the streets. These nostalgic vehicles are part of the Goodguys PPG Nationals , which takes place each year at the Ohio Expo Center and Fairgrounds . This year’s Goodguys event is July 10 -12 and promises another year of cool cars and good times. The PPG Nationals features more than 7,000 rods, customs, classics and muscle cars made through 1972.

For the car enthusiast, this event is pretty much heaven with Friday night drag races at National Trail Raceways , a huge swap meet and the chance to visit vendor and manufacturer displays. There are also seminars on hot-rodding, the Model & Pedal Car Show and a poker run for the truly adventurous.

For the average person, this event is still a lot of fun. To be honest, I couldn’t tell you the difference between a Chevy and Thunderbird, but even I enjoy attending Goodguys. The colors of the cars - deep turquoises, vibrant reds and bright yellows - are like eye candy and the July sun really makes their bold paint jobs shine. Often, the hoods of the cars are open to show off the engines which are nothing like I’ve seen under a modern hood. These inner workings of the cars are made of gleaming metal and are beautiful in their intricate machineness. The time and dedication it has taken for these cars to come back to life is evident, even to a novice.

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If you don’t consider yourself a horse enthusiast, you might not be aware of Equine Affaire .

On the other hand, if you are a horse lover, you might already be planning to attend this annual Columbus event coming to the Ohio Expo Center , April 2 - 5.

Either way, the event is worth checking out, especially this year as a number of new events have been added that will appeal to horse enthusiasts and general animal-lovers alike.

Along with stellar equine education (the event features hours of clinics, seminars and demonstrations on topics relevant to horse people), other old favorites are back this year.

First, there is the shopping! The event features the largest horse-related trade show in North America with exhibitors to meet all equine and equestrian needs.

Also back this year is the nightly entertainment of the Pfizer Fantasia . This "musical celebration of the horse" requires a separate ticket, but it is great family entertainment. Fantasia is an impressive lineup of professional equestrian performers set to music - think people doing stunts on horses, horses doing interesting choreography and lots of acts that make you wonder how the horse and the rider do that.

I attended Pfizer Fantasia last year, and while not a horse person, really enjoyed the artistry of the night. If you go, I recommend arriving early so you can have dinner on the grounds. A variety of fair type food (yes, there are French fries with vinegar and cream puffs) is served, along with beer, wine and alcohol.

New this year is the Canine Affaire , a program of clinics and demonstrations on general dog training. You’ll be able to learn useful training tips and there are number of vendors who will be specializing in canine gear. One word of warning: plan on attending, but leave your furry best friend at home. Only guide animals and invited horses are allowed on the grounds.

To learn more about all that will be happening at Equine Affair, check out their Web site .

Photo: Randall Lee Schieber

One of the strongest weekends in Columbus is right around the corner. It’s time again for the Arnold Sports Festival , taking place March 6–8.

Named after Arnold Schwarzenegger (who won the Mr. World competition in Columbus in 1970), the event has evolved over 21 years to encompass more than 35 events including 11 recognized Olympic sports.

While many people think first of the Annual Arnold Classic (the professional bodybuilding competition), this is really only one component of the three-day event. Here are some tips for enjoying the complete ASF experience:

• Arrive early and don’t plan on parking at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. The Arnold Sports Festival takes place in four venues (the convention center, Veteran’s Memorial, Nationwide Arena and the Lausche Building at the Ohio Expo Center). So why pigeon hole yourself into just one? I recommend parking at the City Center garage and taking the free shuttle to the downtown venues.

• Take a look at the schedule to determine in advance what events you want to check out. Be adventurous here! Think of table tennis as something you do in your basement? Then take a look at the level of competition in the Terrace ballrooms at the convention center on Friday and Saturday. Also not to be missed are the various martial arts sports throughout the weekend. On Sunday morning there is a new event to discover: a racewalking competition .

• Know what ticket you have. Generally, the $10 Expo Ticket provides admission to most daytime events for one day of the festival. Check the schedule for ticketing information, too.

• Leave plenty of time to visit the booths at the Arnold Expo . The show floor gets crowded with thousands of sports enthusiasts discovering the latest in sports nutrition and fashion. There is also a stage in the back of the Expo hall that features various entertainment including bench press competitions, a fashion show and even an Irish dance demonstration. Various Strongman contests also take place on the Expo stage, so if you’ve been itching to see a really large man lift Hummer tires, here’s your chance.

• If you’re still pumped up by Saturday night, consider Party with the Pros at the LC Pavilion. It promises to be an entertaining event with several different bands performing and is the only official ASF after party.

Take these tips and enjoy this once-a-year Columbus experience. Whether you’re a fitness enthusiast, a weekend warrior or even a couch potato, there is something for you to check out at the Arnold Sports Festival.

Do you have your own ASF tip to share?

This is Part 1 of a 2-part series posted on The Columbus Experience. Part 1 is by Amy Gatto Klein, who features her last-minute shopping gameplan. Part 2 is by Brian Cheek, features some of his already-completed shopping stops made this holiday season.

It’s just a week before Christmas and my shopping list is sadly devoid of checked-off items.  This is one of those times I especially love living in my Clintonville neighborhood because I can just stroll up the street and find a perfect gift for almost everyone on the list.

By the time I actually shop it might be too late to share my recommendations with you, so I’ll tell you where I’m headed on my last-minute Christmas shopping stroll in advance. My gameplan:

• First stop will be Cup O’ Joe . I’m nothing if not realistic, and my mission will clearly need to be fueled by something stronger than good cheer. In addition to my coffee, I’ll buy a pound of fresh roasted coffee beans and travel mugs as good stocking stuffers for my husband and brother. The warmth of the fireplace will, like always, be inviting and the tables will be packed with neighbors chatting, studying and tapping away on laptops. But I won’t be able to stay this trip.

• Energized by my coffee, I’ll make my way north on High Street to stop by Wholly Craft for fun and funky handmade gifts. This store is a treasure-trove of unique items from a variety of individual crafters . This is where I’ll find cute earrings for my mom and a few friends, and I’ll also grab a package of hand-stamped note cards as a general all-purpose gift. If anyone needs gift hints for me, I’m also not-so-secretly hoping someone thinks of signing me up for one of their upcoming crocheting classes.

Oilcloth totes at SoBo Style

• Next I’ll cross the street and continue north to SoBo Style , home of shabby chic gift options.  The vintage furniture covered in bright fabrics always make me smile, but I’ll be looking for smaller items this time – purses and totes made with oilcloth, perfect to send to my sisters-and-mother-in-laws. They’re fun and functional in a whimsical retro way, plus the totes are a great alternative to plastic bags at grocery stores. I’ll also pick up some adorable all-purpose holiday decorations which will be good for my grandmother and aunts.

• Across the street, I’ll stop by Skreened for clever designs made on American Apparel tees I have pre-ordered online.  Here I’ll check my husband and brothers off the list, admire all the quirky shirts and bright colors, and know the ones I picked out will be hits on Christmas morning.

• Finally, I’ll swing by Mozart’s Bakery & Piano Cafe for some buttery and delicious hostess goodies to serve to my holiday guests.

The beauty of my last-minute gameplan? I’ll do pretty well in a small amount of time, then head for home reminded about how much I love living in this part of Columbus.

Wildlights

I’m typically a person who staunchly waits until after Thanksgiving to do any type of holiday of activity. I avoid gift buying, just say no to caroling and partake in no general merrymaking. All of this grinchiness changed last Thursday as I sat in the beautiful and ornate Ohio Theatre and watched Harry Connick Jr. perform his Christmas concert . The show was fantastic and a lot of fun. The regal setting in the Ohio Theatre couldn’t be beat for a night of jazz and the snow falling outside was an added bonus.

Smiling as Harry made his way through familiar tunes, I couldn’t help but to think of the other not-to-be missed activities around Columbus this season.

• I’ll definitely be making it to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium for Wildlights (photo shown is by Rod Berry Photography ). Bundling up and sipping hot chocolate as you stroll through the light display is half the fun, so no fair picking a warm day to visit (besides it’s more crowded on the warmer days and way more crowded as you get closer to December 25).

• Although I usually avoid the malls this time of the year, I am really excited to visit Easton Town Center . They’ve gone out of their way to make shopping an experience. Beautiful decorations, carriage rides, pedicabs and photos with Santa are all featured. Also take note of 24 Days of Giving - if you’re caught feeding a meter, you might be rewarded with a gift card.

• The Holiday Hop in the Short North Arts District is always on my holiday must-do list. Not only is the Short North a great destination for one-of-a-kind gifts, it’s also a wonderful urban holiday experience complete with fantastic window displays and unbeatable people watching.

• For me the holiday season wouldn’t be complete without letting some of that inner snarkiness escape. For this purpose there is nothing better than a trip to CATCO’s Santaland Diaries . You can’t beat the works of David Sedaris for bringing out the levity in any situation and this one-man show leaves me in tears of laughter.

So I’ll be joining in the holiday spirit a little earlier than normal this year and I can’t wait to get started! What are your not-to-be-missed holiday outings or traditions?

These first chilly weeks in Columbus have me thinking one thing: comfort food. One of the best places to hit up for such fare is Tip Top Kitchen & Cocktails .

In addition to the favorites your mom might have cooked - a very tasty pot roast, a simple grilled cheese and a killer meat loaf, there is a nice selection of updated standbys. My favorites are the fries, especially the eggplant and sweet potato varieties. Both come with imaginative dipping sauces and if you share a basket with your table, there won’t be any left - of the fries or the sauce (try the Bloody Mary sauce with the eggplant fries). If you decide to indulge in that basket of fries, there is also a nice selection of salads to feel virtuous about - I usually opt for the goat cheese salad.

Food is only part of the story at the Tip Top. The other part is the funky decor of Columbus pride items and the drink menu . In addition to a nice selection of beers on tap (including some CBC options and a couple of seasonal offerings), there is the not-to-be-passed-over whiskey cocktail menu. Those who have studied up on Columbus history will recognize some of the cocktail names, such as the Bottoms’ Up or the LeVeque Tower. Staying true to our family’s roots, my brother always chooses the Flytown Pick-Me Up, which combines ginger ale, whiskey and maple syrup.

If you save room for dessert, don’t forget to ask for the daily pie selection to pair with Brioso coffee. Cafe Brioso , just half a block up Gay Street from the Tip Top, roasts their own coffee beans so the product is always fresh.

From inventive cocktails and tasty fries to that last bite of pie or sip of coffee, the Tip Top doesn’t disappoint if you’re looking for a unique comfort food destination. Take some time to linger over the photos on the wall and try to forget the chill in the air that drove you here in the first place.