The All American Quarter Horse Congress is the world’s largest single-breed horse show - and gosh is it HUGE! Spanning most of the Ohio Expo Center, the Congress attracts more than 650,000  visitors every year, along with 8,500 registered Quarter Horses. You can watch competitions and demos, eat great fair food, and shop for any horse-related product imaginable. The Congress started last Friday, and spans until Oct. 30. If yo’ve been - what’s your favorite thing about the All American Quarter Horse Congress?

Since 1919, Lynd’s Fruit Farm in has drawn people from miles away for a day of fall fun in their fields and orchards. Located in the rolling hills east of Columbus in Pataskala, Lynd’s is a beautiful sight on a crisp fall day. This past weekend, my wife and I embarked on our annual pilgrimage to stock on on some amazing Suncrisp apples (I think we can get through 20 pounds…) and I indulged in my weird addiction to pumpkins and squash for Halloween carving.

On beautiful day like last Saturday, there were hundreds of people picking apples, taking hay rides, enjoying apple fritters and shopping for farm-fresh produce. But on such a vast expanse of land studded with apple-laden trees, we were enveloped in our own world.

Beside all the delicious apples, Lynd’s has lots to see and do - hay rides, pumpkin patches, a corn maze, a farmers market, bouncy houses for kids, great prepared food and more. In all, a tremendously great way to spend a weekend day in Central Ohio - taking in the bounty of the land around us. Do you have an apple-picking tradition?

Fall in Columbus – it’s the perfect time of year! With the beautiful leaves, beautiful weather and great produce coming to market, it’s no wonder we made National Geographic’s Top 10 Fall Travel Destinations list! But if Nat Geo’s endorsement isn’t enough to entice you to visit, we’ve got another great reason to explore Columbus in October: Experience Columbus Days !

Experience Columbus Days is a city-wide partnership that runs Oct. 7-10, offering amazing deals and discounts to fun attractions , and 25% off your food bill at any Columbus Dine Originals restaurant !

If you’re a local, it’s a great time to explore the parts of Columbus you may have been missing –17 marquee attractions around the city like the Columbus Zoo, COSI, Franklin Park Conservatory and the Columbus Museum of Art offering half-price admission or buy-one-get-one tickets. If you’ve still never stopped a rhino at the Wilds or indulged in a tour with Columbus Food Adventures – they’re offering half-price tickets, too!

If you’re from out of town – what better time is there to visit? You can experience twice the number of attractions for your dollar, and get some great deals on Columbus’ independent and crave-worthy restaurants while you’re at it! It’s a great chance to turn a day-trip into an overnight stay to double the fun in another way!

To take advantage of these great deals, all you have to do is print out and show the Experience Columbus Days flier or simply visit it on your mobile device and show the screen to the particpating attraction’s ticket taker or restaurant’s server.

I hope you have a great time discovering the city! And make sure to share your experiences with us on Facebook and Twitter !

This post is written by Sandi Combs, Marketing Coordinator for Experience Columbus. You can follow Sandi on Twitter @Sandi_ExpCols .

We’re proud that Columbus was just nominated by TripOutTravel, LogoTV and Orbitz for best NewNowNext (up-and-coming) LGBT travel destination!  (Help us win - vote here !)

Over the past year or so, our city has had increasing recognition of being a hidden gem of LGBT tourism. Gay Travel named Columbus its “Most Underrated Gay City” and Gay Cities named Columbus as the “Up-and-Coming Gay City of 2011.”

So, what is it about Columbus that makes the city so Gay-friendly?

The first step I took in answering that question was talking to our media relations manager, Scott Peacock. Scott said:

Experience Columbus has been hosting LGBT travel journalists for over a decade now and their reaction to the city remains the same. Over the last few years more often than not journalists coming into town have heard that Columbus was a great LGBT friendly destination, but don’t know why that is. Whether it’s the openness of the city, feeling safe holding hands walking up and down any street; support for the LGBT community from civic leaders; the amount of LGBT-owned business in town or just the friendly, inviting nature of our residents, they always leave saying, “WOW, now I get it.” Almost every journalist has mentioned they would or are planning to come back with their partner, friends or family on a vacation and many have."

Then, I read through what writers are saying. Here are the points that keep coming up:

• Columbus is open minded – “This classic American city surprises with its modern attitudes, and the city has been rated as one of the best places in the country for gays and lesbians to live.” GuideMag.com

• Superb Culinary and Gay Nightlife Scenes – “As gay nightlife goes, Columbus stands out not simply for having so many bars, but for having so many attractive ones - smartly decorated places with clear-glass windows, smart decor, and popularity with both gays and straights. … The city, and particularly the gay community, supports a superb culinary scene as well, with a number of stellar restaurants in the gay-popular Short North district. GayTravel.com

• Annual Pride Festival – “[Columbus has] one of the most popular and successful Gay Pride festivals in the country, Columbus Pride. [The festival] set records last year, drawing roughly 210,000 participants and spectators.” GayTravel.com

• Third highest per-capita LGBT population – “The queer population spent three decades quietly building Columbus’ neighborhoods and embedding themselves citywide. Now Columbus has a widespread LGBT population with $7.5 billion in purchasing power that has helped establish the queer community as an integral part of the culture.” Queerty.com

It boils down to Columbus being an open-minded and welcoming city with a flourishing LGBT population. When a group of travel writers were in town last month, the Short North welcomed them by changing the lights on their arches to be rainbow-colored. Perhaps (614) Magazine said it best: "The chorus of support for our GLBT residents is increasingly encouraged – not simply tolerated – by a community working together to make Columbus a more progressive city as a whole."

Never been to Columbus, but thinking about visiting? Fall is a wonderful time of the year to visit. Come in late October and experience HighBall Halloween – a Halloween extravaganza like no other. The famous Nina West is back as this year’s emcee.

Been to Columbus? Why do YOU think the city is a great LGBT destination? If you want to keep in touch, Experience Columbus puts out a quarterly e-newsletter for LGBT travelers - you can sign up here .

This post is written by Melanie McIntyre, blogger at Thoroughly Modern Melly and editorial director of The Metropreneur . You can follow her on Twitter at @Mel_McIntyre .

Women’s clothing stores in Columbus get a lot of press− and rightfully so. We have some wonderful options in the capital city. However, I think it’s about time a few retailers that cater to the gentlemen get their turn in the spotlight.

Herewith, my list of the best local shops for men’s clothing. I’m confident that between the three there’s something for every man, no matter their age, profession, or style.

HOMAGE
The minute you step inside its doors, it’s easy to see how a guy could fall hard for HOMAGE. An NBA Jam: Tournament Edition console sits in one corner, framed photos of world-famous athletes line the walls, and the softest, vintage-style T-shirts, tank tops and hoodies you’ll ever find are piled high on tables, or hanging neatly on circular racks, throughout. The brand prides itself on “paying homage” to eclectic moments and personalities in sports, music, politics, and pop culture. And, boy, does it ever. This week alone, HOMAGE released new Ts reppin’ more than 30 colleges and universities− and they all have a backstory. Bonus: the merchandise can be worn by either sex. Ladies, no need to steal his comfy shirts; you can buy your own.

Brigade
If Brigade were a kid who went to high school with you, he’d definitely have been named “Best Dressed” in your class. He’d have swaggered through the halls looking natty but nonchalant, a copy of the latest Esquire atop his history and chemistry books. Brigade (the store) sells womenswear and menswear, but the latter is its strong suit, in my opinion. Expect a well-edited selection of high-end denim, slim-fit button downs, casual jackets, and unique accessories, such as a leather card case with a nickel chain or a raw-edged pocket square. Also, this store is ground zero for “big city” designer labels, such as Shipley & Halmos and Nicholas K. Oh, and the staff is quite knowledgeable, friendly, and always turned out. Of course.

Astor & Black Custom Clothiers
I’ll admit: Astor & Black is not for the faint of heart. Well-known athletes, celebrities, politicians, and CEOs frequently don the retailer’s handmade, custom suits featuring a full canvas layer between the fabric and Bemberg silk lining (which allows the suit fabric to drape naturally), working buttonholes, and picked stitching. Those kinds of design details are not standard in off-the-rack suits, so it should come as no surprise that Astor & Black’s prices are steeper than most shops’. Fittingly, its showroom is also unlike many others. Founder David Schottenstein once described it as a “high-end man cave” where customers can expect regular visits from a barber for an old school cut and shave, and (I’m imagining) martinis that are shaken, not stirred.

Sew to Speak is a stitching-maven’s paradise, located in Columbus’ Clintonville neighborhood. The small shop beautifully merchandises hundreds of trendy and classic fabrics that are hard to find elsewhere. A hub of the city’s maker culture, Sew to Speak not only carries supplies, but also offers classes – from simple projects to intricate quilting - learn more, and find some projects on their blog . It’s a favorite of my crafty wife’s, and definitely a spot to check out of you have an artistic inclination.

This post is written by Claudia Plumley, Experience Columbus’ Marketing Manager.

The fall’s one of my favorite times of the year and it’s not just because of the changing leaves. Fall’s the official start of the arts season.

Learning about Columbus’ arts scene - and all of Ohio’s arts events – is easy. Just read the Arts in Ohio Guide . Along with being available online, it’s also included in the September issue of Ohio Magazine.

I’ve already got my tickets for several events and have a bunch of others circled on my calendar. Here are just a few events I plan to see in 2011-12.

Guitarist Kevin Eubanks will join the Columbus Jazz Orchestra on Oct. 26-30. Does the name sound familiar? He’s the former bandleader from the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

The Columbus Jazz Orchestra will team with BalletMet for Jazz Moves Columbus Feb. 2-12. It’s the third time these two groups have collaborated. Having seen the first two shows, I can easily say I’d move a European vacation to see this show. It’s just that good.

I’m also really curious about BalletMet’s DanceTech on April 20-28. It’s collaboration with the Wexner Center for the Arts where real-time video images will be created in direct response to the movement of the dancers. No performance will be the same – how cool is that?!

The Columbus Museum of Art is bringing out many of my favorite artworks for the exhibit Monet to Matisse starting Sept. 23. They’re showcasing their entire Sirak Collection, considered one of the finest private collections in the world when they acquired it 20 years ago.

I’ve never seen Mamma Mia and can’t wait for it to return to Columbus Dec. 13-18. Who can resist singing those great ABBA songs?!

Then, there’s all of the great art that’s moved – or moving downtown in the next year. Shadowbox’s new digs in the Brewery District are awesome. (No more mall bathrooms!!) They’re presenting The Rocky Horror Picture Show Sept. 11-Nov. 13. I haven’t done the time warp since high school – can’t wait!

One of my favorite festivals, the Columbus Arts Festival , is moving back to the riverfront in next June. And The Columbus Symphony is moving next summer’s Picnic with the Pops concerts to the new Columbus Commons.

I could write all day about the great arts events happening year-round in Columbus. Check out the full list in the Arts in Ohio Guide .

Rachel Tayse Ballieul is an urban homesteader, food educator and blogger at Hounds in the Kitchen . Rachel is passionate about the local food movement, and posts in-depth reviews of area farmers markets on her blog.

Choosing the top farmers markets in Columbus is quite a task, as markets number in the dozens now and change with the seasons. Ultimately, my selections reflect the qualities I look for in a market: convenience, community and quality.

North Market - quality

The North Market deserves a place on this list for being the oldest farmers market and the one with the most options for shoppers. Their Saturday market is full of quality vendors and the indoor market is open seven days a week. In addition, the North Market schedules musicians and many food festivals to entertain and educate guests.

Pearl Market - convenience

You’ll find me at Pearl Alley Market many Tuesdays and Fridays. Being that it runs from 10 am - 2 pm, it is convenient for downtown workers and parents of small children who tend to go a little bananas at the late afternoon markets. Pearl Alley visitors seem to be all business, which suits me just fine when I’m running through to stock up on local produce for a cooking class.

Clintonville - community, convenience and quality

Held on Saturday mornings, Clintonville Farmers Market is my go-to community farmers market as it is within biking distance of my home. A wide variety of vendors offer meat, cheese, and baked goods in addition to produce and honey. Clintonville is also where I bump into many friends among the vendors and shoppers. Contributing to the social feel are helpful volunteers, musicians, and information tables every week.

Honorable mentions: The Olde Worthington Summer Farmer’s Market topped the straw poll I ran on the Hounds in the Kitchen Facebook page . It is one of the biggest (and most crowded) markets in town, the place most locavores go if they need a single stop shop. I also admire the Easton Farmers Market and New Albany Farmers Market that joined the suburban farmers market lineup in 2011 to provide local foods on Thursdays in the afternoon and evening.

You may find that your favorite market is the one closest to home, the one with your favorite vendor, or the one which is open at a time convenient to you. With the proliferation of direct-to-customer offerings, there are plenty of options to explore.

This post is written by Sandi Combs, Marketing Coordinator for Experience Columbus. You can follow Sandi on Twitter @Sandi_ExpCols .

Want to experience authentic Greek cuisine and culture without leaving the States? Head on over to the Annunciation Greek Cathedral’s 39th annual Greek Festival Sept. 2-5. There will be plenty to eat, see and do!

Greek food happens to be one of my favorite ethnic fares. If you’re just trying this food genre for the first time, I suggest trying the following popular dishes to start: Dolmathes (stuffed grape leaves), Pastitsio (Greek lasagna), Spanakopita (spinach and cheese filled puff pastry), Tyropita (cheese filled puff pastry), Loukoumades (fried dough with honey) and, of course, Baklava (yummy - no further explanation needed!) For veteran tastebuds, why not try out the new dish they’re offering this year: Plaki (baked, seasoned white fish)? Also, by popular demand, the organizers have brought back the Lamb Roast Taverna.

While I’ve not been to this particular event yet, I’ve been to many other Greek festivals around Ohio. Besides eating, my other favorite things to do are watch the dancers, browse through the marketplace for jewelry and art, and pick up some pastries to take home. At this festival, I hear there will also be Greek wine sampling as well as storytellers who will share the famed tales from mythology.

To see photos from years past, click here .  To check out details on the Drive-Thru Gyro Stand, and other new things for 2011, click here .

Looking forward to seeing you there. I’ll be the one yelling "Opa!"

What’s you’re favorite thing about the Greek Festival? Favorite food?

This post is written by, Erika Dellatorre, blogger at www.thefashionface.com and fashion editor for (614) Magazine .

Brigade
This Short North staple is the perfect place to pick up wardrobe essentials. However, don’t be fooled, as the “basics” sold here lack no sense of style. Denim, chinos, oxfords and casual dresses by cutting edge designers are just some of the items you can find at this clothier. With no shortage of shoes, handbags and accessories for both men and women, Brigade is a one stop shop to score a head to toe look.

Jinny
If it’s sophistication and elegance you crave, than look no further than Jinny. Boutique owner Jin Fillinger brings high fashion to High Street, hand selecting designs from the runways of fashion’s most famous like 3.1 Phillip Lim, Alexander Wang and Rick Owens. Whether you seek a casual-chic look or full on glamour, Jinny has you covered with the shoes, accessories and handbag to match.

Rowe
For the chic, “girl about town” Rowe is an urban oasis providing trendy designer duds for each season. Versatility and effortless glamour are just a few words that call to mind regarding Rowe’s ever-evolving stock. Did I mention it’s also a Mecca for accessories? If eclectic, personal style is your M.O., Rowe has an inventory which rivals that of a New York City boutique.