Photo: Easton Town Center

Many of us are looking for inventive ways to keep ourselves in the holiday spirit, while still keeping money in our pockets. Here, I have just a few picks for free, family-friendly holiday things to do during the next three weekends in Columbus.

Eleventh Annual Holiday Lighting Ceremony
Easton Town Center
November 20

Start off the holiday season tomorrow by bringing the family over to Easton Town Center for their Eleventh Annual Holiday Lighting Ceremony. The whole center comes alive and starts off the shopping season with the lighting of their huge 50 foot tree, complete with an appearance by Santa. Carolers will be strolling around the sparkling streets of the center and the stores will be abuzz with sales.

Grandview Holiday Hop
Grandview Avenue, between 1st and 5th
November 28

Grandview Avenue comes alive with holiday spirit the Saturday after Thanksgiving. You can start by seeing a live reindeer exhibit at Arlington Bank and end by getting a free picture with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Tri-Village Studios. There are free horse-drawn sleigh rides for all ages up and down the Avenue throughout the night. Smell the holiday scents at The Candle Lab and check out other holiday crafts and treats along the way.

Village Lights
German Village
December 6

Experience the holiday charm of German Village during the holidays. The village is truly beautiful, with luminaries lit throughout the streets and park, and local businesses come out in full force this night with samples, holiday treats and specials. There is also an appearance by Santa, live entertainment and music to get you in the holiday spirit.

These events are sure to get you excited for the season, and you can search for even more here . Enjoy!

Photo: Randall Lee Schieber

The Create Columbus Commission is compiling a database of your favorite spots in and around downtown Columbus.

Why? Because your feedback will be used to create fun and interactive walking maps that show off Columbus’ best spots – including favorite landmarks, buildings, views, art, oddities and other sites.

What do you think should be included? What deserves a rightful spot on a walking map that would be shared with residents and visitors alike?

There are two ways to share your thoughts:

• Comment on this post . Let us know where your favorite is located, along with any other information you might know about it - who created it, who owns it, history, etc. Also, let us know why you love it.

- or -

• Visit this link to help populate the What I Love About Columbus database with your favorites.

Celebrate our favorite city on Columbus day weekend with Experience Columbus Days , Oct. 9 - 12.

You’ll get up to 50% off at at variety of Columbus entertainment and attractions, plus a can’t-be-beat 25% discount on food at Dine Originals Columbus restaurants.

Attractions and entertainment venues offering great deals include COSI, Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Columbus Museum of Art, Shadowbox, CATCO, the Wilds, the Wexner Center for the Arts . . . and the list goes on.

Dine Originals Columbus restaurants include those like Basi Italia, Tip Top Kitchen & Cocktails, Katzinger’s Delicatessen, Black Creek Bistro, The Refectory, Elevator Brewery & Draught Haus, Cafe Corner, DeepWood . . . and again, the list goes on.

To see everyone participating, visit ExperienceColumbusDays.com . While you’re there, be sure to download and print the discount flyer . You must present it at the places you’re visiting to receive the discounts.

Want to share this event on Facebook? Please do. Click here .

And for other ways to get the word out about Experience Columbus Days to your friends, blog readers, Twitter pals and others, check out the resources here .  Let us know if there’s anything else you need to help share the news.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - one of the things I love about Columbus is the undercurrent of creativity that exists here.

But, maybe I shouldn’t even call it an "undercurrent" anymore . . . it’s more obvious than that. It’s a definitive energy. An unmistakable spirit.

If you want proof, there’s somewhere you should be this Saturday, Sept. 19: on Gay Street for Independents’ Day . A gathering of active people and creative people, in celebration of all things independent and all things Columbus.

You’ll find…

• The Urban Street Market, made up of the booths of over 150 Columbus artists and businesses.

• Live music and performances on multiple stages, plus live painting (see bands and schedule listed here ).

• Via Colori artists creating large scale chalk masterpieces.

• Food from Dine Originals Columbus , a collective of well-loved, locally owned and operated restaurants.

• Films, a dance party, more, more, more . . .

Find out all that’s in store here .

Local blogger Leigh Householder, writer of Advergirl , described the event this way:

"In the words of the founders, this is a day-long explosion of creative spirit. I believe it’s destined to be as big as SxSW and twice as cool."

Click to read more about it from Leigh (plus, she shares additional Columbus event recommendations; ones that are right on target, if you ask me).

See you Saturday?

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!

The countdown has begun for the annual Dublin Irish Festival , taking place July 31-Aug. 2. If you’ve always wanted to go to Ireland but didn’t have the funds or time to make that trip, this is the place to be!

First, there are numerous culture exhibits throughout the weekend. Reenactors will share what it was like to live in 10th century Ireland - everything from how they made their food to how they fought in battles. You can also participate in hands-on activities and crafts, some of which are taught by nationally and internationally known artists.

I normally end up enjoying some great music or dance performances at one of the seven stages, and having fish and chips from Old Bag of Nails. Of course, a cold cup of beer is a must and Coors brewed a special beer in honor of the event - the Dublin Irish Festival Stout .

This year, I plan on trying something new by watching some traditional Celtic sports like caber toss and stone throw. It’s amazing how strong the men are. And who would have thought sheep herding was a sport?

Tickets are on sale now and you’ll save a dollar if you purchase yours online by July 30. For more details, including a planning tool you can use to schedule your whole weekend, visit DublinIrishFestival.org .

The summer months bring not just warmer weather, but also plenty of community-wide events. My personal favorite: yard and sidewalk sales. Anyone on a budget - or just looking for a good deal - can find items that range from random to playful to useful, and everywhere in between.

At last month’s Short North Neighborhood Yard Sale, my roommates came back with a Chop-o-Matic, a stained glass flower vase and a vintage polyester Hawaiian shirt - an eclectic assortment reflecting the neighborhood itself.

This weekend welcomes the annual Short North Summer Sidewalk Sale . The event takes place July 17-18 along High Street, between Goodale and Fifth Avenue. More than 50 local merchants will sell merchandise at discounts ranging from 10-75% (click here to see details on some of the places you’ll save). With art, clothing, gardening, wine and furniture stores all on the list, this is one-stop shopping at its finest.

For me, the timing could not be more perfect. With a new apartment and a lot of decorating to be done, I will be searching for a few items to spruce the place up. Happy hunting!

Grandview Hop

This Saturday welcomes the second Grandview Hop of the year to Grandview Avenue. I attended last month’s hop and had a great time. Taking place the last Saturday of each month, this local street fair caters to all ages.

In the mood for a little shopping? Check out the local vendors lining the sidewalk, and choose from a number of one-of-a-kind, handcrafted items. You can find anything from an airbrush tattoo artist to a vintage cartoon button maker—and everything in between.

Did the shopping make you hungry? You’re in luck because Grandview Avenue is home to many delicious options. My personal favorite: Figlio Wood Fired Pizza . Their creative take on Italian gives you options like Avocado Bacon Pizza and Chicken Diablo Pasta. Or, if the weather permits, grab a seat at one of the outdoor restaurant patios and settle in for a great night of people watching.

This time of year, distances to walk at lunchtime seem shorter than they did during the frigid temperatures of the previous months. I like to take advantage of the warmer weather by strolling to some of the lunchtime programs in the area. They’re great escapes in the middle of the day.

Below are a few options to consider:

• Every Friday between May 29 and September 4, The Ohio Statehouse offers free lunch time performances from 12:00- 1:00 p.m. on the Statehouse lawn (except for Friday, July 3). You can check the performance schedule here .

• The last Friday of each month this summer, stop in the Experience Columbus Visitor Center to see and touch exotic animals from the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. The first visit this season is this week! Additional dates and details are here .

• On varying days, the OSU Urban Arts Space offers a variety of exhibits and lectures at their space located in the historic Lazarus building. Check the schedule for upcoming "Brown Bag" dates here .

Pearl Market

• Daily, the Arena Grand Movie Theatre shows nonstop movie trailers during lunch for free. You can also grab food from their Bistro & Bar , which offers lunch specials Monday through Friday.

• If you’re a sports fan or just want to check out the new ballpark , the Columbus Clippers offer afternoon games on the following dates:

Thursday May 28 at 11:35 a.m.
Thursday June 18 at 12:05 p.m.
Thursday July 9 at 12:05 p.m.
Tuesday August 4 at 12:05 p.m.

(The full Clippers schedule is here )

• Every Tuesday and Friday, the Pearl Market offers special events, fresh local produce and gift items from local vendors. More information can be found here .

Do you have any lunchtime escapes to add?

Time Warner Cable is airing a new Local On Demand program, Play. Dine. Shop. , all about unearthing Columbus gems and showing them off. If you’re a local Time Warner subscriber, you’ll find the shows on channel 1111.

The post below was written by Amy Weirick of Weirick Communications , who shares a peek into the first episode that features her girls’ day out in the Short North Arts District.

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Girls’ day out in the Short North Arts District
by Amy Weirick, Weirick Communications

Partnering with Experience Columbus to help promote our city to visitors means I’m always on the prowl for unforgettable experiences that make Columbus special. I’ve gotten to know memorable restaurants tucked away in charming neighborhoods, funky shops jammed with goodies you won’t find anywhere else and places that put you at the center of the artistic process, letting you design something to take home.

Play. Dine. Shop. , a new show on Time Warner Cable’s Local on Demand, is all about these experiences. In the first episode, three of my most intrepid girlfriends join me to check out some cool spots in the Short North .

We kicked off the day with a fantastic breakfast of turkey and sweet potato hash, ricotta pancakes, fresh juices and amazing scones at Northstar Café . Then we had a blast shopping at Flower Child . Room after room is packed with fun retro furniture, clothes and accessories from the 1950s-80s. We tried on crazy 1970s sunglasses and hung out in what my friend swears was her mom’s living room in 1962.

Substance For Fashion Conscious People

After shopping, it was on to Betty’s Fine Food & Spirits for an awesome lunch where I enjoyed the warm mushroom and goat cheese salad. We hit some more great Short North shops, including Substance , where we designed and made our own t-shirts. That was unforgettable - and so much fun.

What better way to wrap up a day with friends than with Jeni’s ice cream ? We sampled dozens of flavors and settled on ordering our faves, including goat cheese with sour cherries. Amazing.

The show featuring our day in the Short North will be available to view on May 15, and new shows about special Columbus spots will be loaded on Time Warner channel 1111 every few weeks. Tune in and you might discover a new Columbus treasure!