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?

Photo: Randall Lee Schieber

If you’re at all interested in horses and admire their beauty, get your tickets now to the New Albany Classic Invitational Grand Prix & Family Day on September 27. This unique and prestigious event takes place at the Wexner Estate - yep, that’s Limited founder Les Wexner’s home.

The top 30 show jumping riders in North America compete at this invitational show with prize money of more than $80,000. Opening ceremonies begin at 1 p.m. with the jumping Grand Prix at 1:30 p.m.

However, this event is not just for horse lovers. It really is an event for the entire family beginning at 10 a.m. with carriage and carnival rides, clowns, face painting, a petting zoo, arts and crafts and much more. Plus, included in the price of your ticket is a concert by American Idol winner Jordin Sparks at 11:30 a.m.

The entire event is a fundraiser for the Columbus Coalition Against Family Violence, founded by Abigail Wexner. It’s a terrific event and such a worthy cause. (more…)

Every year or so, my girlfriends and I plan a girls weekend. Drawing us from Ohio, Indiana and Texas, sometimes it’s a big city, other times a spa retreat. This summer, we decided a hassle-free, affordable stay in Columbus was just what we needed. We developed a list of possible activities: festivals , Gallery Hop , glass art exhibitions , shopping , antiquing, swimming, live music, etc. The weekend’s theme was "As little or as much as we want to do."

After an afternoon of lounging poolside, we were ready to step it up . . . a little. Anywhere we went was sure to be filled with endless chatter, giggles and reminiscing. Being chicks who enjoy lots of options, we headed for Easton Town Center .

Easton Town Center

It was a gorgeous Saturday evening. As we approached the north district of Easton, my friend from Dallas exclaimed, "I didn’t know you had a Tiffany’s !"

"Yep, of course we do," I said with a proud smile.

Like kids in a candy store, we circled the brightly lit display cases, pointing, oohing and aahing over the necklaces, classic Tiffany bracelets and diamond rings. This was my first visit to Tiffany’s and I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of choices and price points. One of the girls purchased a lovely necklace with a key charm, a birthday gift from her parents (how convenient!). The friendly staff wrapped her purchase in the iconic little blue box with a ribbon and off we went to decide on a dinner spot.

Across the fountain, we spotted the patio at Bon Vie , a modern French bistro - the perfect place for cocktails and dinner. We started with summer-themed martinis and the savory brie fondue with apples, broccoli, carrots, celery and bread (a good way to fool yourself that you’re eating healthy). I was satisfied and could’ve stopped there. But, no.

For entrees, we shared and devoured the Pasta Pistou (penne noodles with chicken, French green beans, walnuts, tomatoes and goat cheese in a creamy pesto sauce), Fettuccine Bon Vie, Boursin Stuffed Chicken Breast and the Balsamic Chicken Chopped Salad. Each dish was delicious and we were stuffed, but then Crème Brulee was calling our name. The custard was rich and creamy with a perfect glaze on top, garnished with fresh strawberries.

After dinner, we explored some more boutiques, then headed in for a deep food-induced coma.

Maybe next year we’ll go somewhere else, but why? There are still too many things left to do on our Columbus list!

July 4 marks the beginning of an entire year’s worth of glass art exhibitions in Columbus. Seven organizations are hosting glass art programs - three featuring the works of Dale Chihuly, and many at the same time:

• Franklin Park Conservatory: Chihuly Reimagined (July 4-March 28)

• OSU Urban Arts Space and Hawk Galleries: BIGG: Breakthrough Ideas in Global Glass (July 10-Oct. 10)

• Upper Arlington’s Concourse Gallery: Melting Pot (July 22-Aug. 21)

• Columbus Museum of Art: Chihuly Illuminated (Sept. 25-July 4)

• Hawk Galleries: Chihuly XIV (Oct. 2-Jan. 31)

• The King Arts Complex: African Art: Tradition and Influence (Nov. 12-Dec. 15)

• Glass Axis : glass workshops (ongoing)

This weekend, the anticipated Chihuly Reimagined opens at the Franklin Park Conservatory . The Conservatory’s entire collection of Chihuly glasswork is on display throughout the facility, along with three brand new installations.

I was lucky enough to preview the exhibit and it definitely lives up to the hype. The contrast of the bold Chihuly glass among lush foliage is spectacular. My two favorites were the hundreds of blue reeds in the courtyard and a rowboat upstairs in the showhouse that is filled with gorgeous purple and blue glass.

Chihuly’s Blue Reeds
at Franklin Park Conservatory

Although most pieces have been on display at the Conservatory before, some of the work has been positioned differently, changing the light and bringing a fresh perspective. For instance, the Persian Ceiling is now in the Himalayan zone. It’s in two sections that are much closer to eye level, so you can see parts you never noticed before.

Next week, the OSU Urban Arts Space in the old Lazarus building and Hawk Galleries (a few blocks away at the corner of Main and Fourth streets) open a really intriguing exhibit of international glass artists entitled BIGG: Breakthrough Ideas in Global Glass . This is juried exhibition of master-level artists (or the equivalent in their country) and really represents the future of glass art.

On July 22, Melting Pot opens at the Concourse Gallery, followed by the rest . . .

For details on each exhibition and photos, visit GlassArt365.com .

If you grew up in Ohio, then you probably remember your seventh grade field trip to the Ohio Historical Center . I can just picture the enormous mastodon in the main exhibit area.

Have you ever wondered what happens at night in that huge dark building? Find out this Sat., June 20, from 7-11 p.m. during "Night at the Museum ," a family-friendly event inspired by Ben Stiller’s popular new movie "Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian ."

Visitors can explore the museum and take part in various activities that make history fun. Print your name in hieroglyphics, dress up as a star in a silent film, interact with historical characters (including a mummy!), play Native American games, make a shell necklace and toss corncob darts. There will also be face painting for the little ones and free refreshments for all.

You can’t miss the Ohio Historical Center building right off of I-71 at 17th Avenue, adjacent to the Ohio Expo Center. Admission is $12 for adults, $9 for children (ages 6-12). Kids 5 and under are free. Rates are discounted for members of the Ohio Historical Society.

For more details, visit their Web site or call 614-297-2300.

Sometimes, it’s hard to explain to someone unfamiliar with your city what the vibe is. It’s something that is better seen or . . . well, experienced.

One of the great things about Columbus is that we have a collection of unique districts that are drastically different from one another. Each with its own flavor and essence.

Through a video company called Turn Here , we discovered a dynamic way to tell the world about Columbus’ districts. We produced the Short North video a few years ago, and recently created brand new videos for additional districts.

What’s cool about these is that each neighborhood is introduced by local residents, who describe the scene in their own words and stories. Check them out on our YouTube channel :

Arena District

Downtown Columbus

Easton Town Center

German Village

The Ohio State University

Short North Arts District

A big thanks goes out to all of the folks who helped us out with this project. It was fun to hear your stories and to tap into the passion that you feel for your slice of Columbus. It’s contagious.

This year, I’ve decided to make it easy on myself. No cooking, no cleaning. Just reservations for my family for Easter. It’s coming up quickly on Sunday, April 12.

But where to go? I need to find something to please everyone from my 4 and 6-year-old children to my (can’t mention their age) parents.

Here are some of the possibilities we’re considering:

Cameron’s American Bistro

Cameron’s American Bistro in Worthington - a small, quaint restaurant that’s part of the Cameron Mitchell Restaurant line. They’re offering a brunch buffet to include French toast, shrimp cocktail and leg of lamb. Plenty of fruit and dessert for the kids, too. Sounds pretty good and they’re open 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., so we could get in early.

Another of Cameron’s restaurants, Mitchell’s Ocean Club , located at Easton Town Center , has added some special items just for Easter in addition to their regular menu: blueberry stuffed French toast, crab benedict (low-cal, no doubt) and short rib hash. Hmmm . . . maybe lunch, then walk it off with some shopping?

A classic, long-time favorite in Columbus, The Bexley Monk , will host a brunch buffet with stations for Belgian waffles and roast beef, plus a pastry display - that means it’s OK to take more than one, right?

It’d also be fun to take the group - we’ll probably have 12 - to the Short North Arts District . I noticed Surly Girl Saloon has an Easter lunch special: $8 for a grilled ham and cheese with tomato soup and rosemary deviled eggs. The kids would eat that (and maybe my dad, too). For the rest of us, in addition to the regular menu, the featured brunch item is Western breakfast pizza with eggs, ham, peppers, onions and cheddar cheese. And they’re serving chocolate Easter basket cupcakes all day. How cute!

Of course, these are just a few of many great places that have Easter specials and brunches. I still haven’t made a decision, but I sure am hungry now.

What are your plans? Do you have other ideas to toss in the hopper?

Experience Columbus staff was lucky to get a sneak preview of the much-anticipated restoration of the Lincoln Theatre . It’s located on Long Street in the King-Lincoln District, close to The King Arts Complex .

Lincoln Theatre rendering, courtesy of CAPA

CAPA has done an incredible job on the restoration of this intimate 600-seat 1928 Egyptian-style theatre. In its heyday, the Lincoln was the spot to see jazz legends such as Count Basie, James Brown, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington and Columbus’ own Nancy Wilson.

Our group was surprised and intrigued by the colorful, detailed Egyptian-looking paintings on the ceiling and all around the stage. This will be an awesome place to see almost any performance, as you’ll be so close to the stage, even in the balcony.

Pretty soon, the Lincoln Theatre will come alive with a packed schedule of diverse performances from groups like the Alfred Dove Dance Studio, Columbus Children’s Theatre , the Thiossane West African Dance Institute and OSU’s Theatre Department . It’ll also be home to an amazingly innovative Jazz Academy, operated by the Jazz Arts Group (JAG) .

A public grand opening is planned for the end of May with all kinds of activities and, likely, a big-name act. They promised the schedule will be announced soon, so watch the calendar .

Thanks, Todd Bemis of CAPA and Carol Agiro of JAG, for sharing your passion and ideas with us. Columbus residents and visitors are in for a real treat!

My husband and I recently entertained our friends, Jimmy and Stacy, who visited here from Richmond, VA. As a Columbus native, I wanted to be sure they left town knowing Columbus is a cool place. Since they were staying at the DoubleTree downtown, I chose the Short North and went about figuring what might fit their style.

Short North Arts District
Photo by Randall Lee Schieber

I landed on The Burgundy Room - good wine selection , interesting tapas and plenty of nearby watering holes to pop into when we wanted a change of scenery. My husband and I got there early and scored a parking spot in the lot right across the street (tip: meters are free after 6 p.m.). We chose an intimate table in the back, near the gas fireplace, and ordered a bottle of Oregon pinot noir.

When Jimmy and Stacy arrived hungry, we ordered the beef carpaccio (high-grade raw beef - sorry, vegetarian friends), calamari, and pancetta (think crumbled bacon) on crostini with a white bean spread. The carpaccio, sprinkled with romano cheese and sea salt and drizzled with horseradish aioli, melted in my mouth.

We finished and decided to head down High Street to Eleven , next to Hyde Park on The Cap at Union Station . At 10 p.m. on a Friday night, Eleven was packed full of trendy 30- and 40-somethings. We found a spot to stand between the bar and the expansive wine safe, a great location to people watch and check out current fashions. Plus my husband could keep an eye on the TVs showing the Blue Jackets game.

I was pleased with myself, having found the perfect chance to show off The Cap and explain how it actually sits on top of the freeway. Jimmy and Stacy were duly impressed with the architecture and (to my glee) exclaimed, "I’d kill to have this in Richmond." Mission accomplished!