I work with a variety of groups visiting Columbus – girlfriend getaways, family reunions, church groups, school groups, book clubs…the list goes on. And they almost always ask for “something different” to do.

In response to these requests, Experience Columbus has worked with a number of partners to develop a variety of options for people looking to do something fun and hands-on. We now have 57 different “experiential” activities that include everything from interacting with exotic zoo animals to learning about herbs to tasting and toasting with Irish beers .

If you’re part of a group looking to plan something unique in Columbus, check out some of what’s available:

• Be a Columbus Clippers baseball player . Attend a press conference announcing your signing with the team, dress in the clubhouse, warm up in the cages and then take the field.

 

• Go behind the scenes of the renowned BalletMet and discover what it takes to bring a production to life. Learn secrets the audience never sees, enjoy an interactive meeting with dancers and take an exclusive backstage tour

 

• Participate in a one-of-a-kind sensory experience in Worthington . Blend and pour a scented candle, then sniff and sample among two-dozen distinctive wines.

 

• Learn what’s in fashion from the experts , create scrapbook memories , and learn to cook with top chefs – all at Easton Town Center.

 

• Cook with spicy foods master CaJohn , sample an array of amazing tastes and learn how artisan ice cream is made from farm-to-table at Columbus’ lively and historic North Market

 

• Tour a 13,000 year-old cranberry bog where only a rare few are permitted to travel, create a blown glass ornament and make teas when you explore Licking County

 

• Pamper yourself at a spa , enjoy an evening of adventurous dining , and become a winemaker in the lively Short North Arts District

 

• Be a horse trainer for a day , learn about saddles, bits and more or discover some betting secrets of the pros with a behind-the-scenes thoroughbred racing experience

 

A complete list of current tours can be found here . For more details or to set up an experience for your group, feel free to call me at 614-222-6136 or send me an email .

Great ready for elaborate costumes, spectacular staging and over-the-top performances by some of the world’s most talented entertainers, because Cirque du Soleil’s Saltimbanco is coming to Columbus.

If you’ve never been to a Cirque du Soleil performance before, this is a great chance to check it out. Tickets start at $45, which is very reasonable - if you see it in Vegas, the price is at least double that.

I went to my first Cirque du Soleil show back in 2006 when Corteo came to town. I honestly thought I wouldn’t like it - I imagined leotards and freaky makeup, which didn’t sound like my thing. I was totally wrong! I couldn’t keep my eyes off of the amazing stunts they did, from aerial acrobatics with flips and turns to walking up a wire 40 feet up in the air. And I always wonder how they move their bodies into human pretzels - I can’t even do the splits.

Saltimbanco will be running from August 12–23 at Nationwide Arena . Check here for tickets and more information.

See you at the show!

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?

Opening Day

There was no better place to be this past Saturday than Huntington Park . The new park, the new affiliation with the Cleveland Indians and a day of celebration had Columbus coming out in masses.

The park itself is beautiful and when you look around, you are consumed by Clippers baseball history. There are old pennants from when they were the Columbus Red Birds and bats from the former affiliation with the Yankees. There are quotes and banners all around the park that would take all day to read, so if you’re going to catch a game, arrive early to catch up on history.

Even though Huntington Park is a new stadium, you will see familiar landmarks from other stadiums across the nation. There are open-air bleachers on the Left Field Building roof that are reminiscent of Wrigley Park. The wall in right field is slightly higher than the rest of the outfield, a nod to the "Green Monster" at Fenway Park. There is even lawn seating where you can lay on a blanket to watch the game, similar to PETCO Park’s Park at the Park.

Wherever your ticket may be, there isn’t a bad seat in the house. I had a standing room ticket and parked myself at the huge drink railing that goes around the entire park. There are plenty of spots to hang out and watch the game if you don’t have a seat or if you prefer not to sit the entire time. I also checked out the huge 100+ foot bar in the Left Field Building prior to the game to catch up on other sports scores and stay in the shade for a bit.

Even though the Clippers lost the game, it was still a great time. The Columbus Clippers are downtown and they are here to stay.

Photo: Columbus Clippers

Saturday is going to be a memorable day in Columbus’ history with the opening of Huntington Park . When the Clippers take the field, they will be doing so under the affiliation of one of Ohio’s most historic and beloved sports franchises, the Cleveland Indians.

Also on Saturday, the Blue Jackets take on the Red Wings in the second game of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs from Detroit (there’s a viewing party at the Arena Grand ), and Fleetwood Mac will perform live at Nationwide Arena .

With so much happening in the Arena District on Saturday, it might be helpful to have a rundown of events and tips for getting around:

Noon
Clippers standing room only seats go on sale at the Center Field entrance of Huntington Park, located at the corner of Nationwide Boulevard and Neil Avenue. There’s a limit of 4 tickets per purchase.

1:15 p.m.
Opening Day Parade begins at High Street and Nationwide Boulevard and will make its way west to Huntington Park. The parade will feature more than 50 participants, including former Cleveland Indians Bob Feller, Len Barker and Joe Charboneau and several ex-Clippers. Former Franklin County Commissioner and minor league baseball executive Harold Cooper will be grand marshal of the parade.

2:15 p.m.
Ribbon cutting ceremony and unveiling of Harold Cooper statue at the Center Field entrance. After the ceremony, Franklin County Commissioners will officially open the ballpark to the public and Party-at-the-Park begins featuring the Danger Brothers .

4:05 p.m.
First pitch at Huntington Park is thrown out and a new era in Clippers baseball begins.

6:00 p.m.
Blue Jackets vs. Red Wings in Game 2 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in Detroit. The Arena Grand Theatre is hosting the official viewing party and admission is free.

7:00 p.m.
Doors open at Nationwide Arena for Fleetwood Mac in concert .

Parking in the Arena District is only $3 for Clippers Games; a parking map and directions are available here . If traveling from out of town, there are still hotel rooms available within walking distance of the Arena District; click here to book a room.

The Experience Columbus Visitor Center will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday. Stop by and see Ben for info about more fun things to do or where to grab a bite to eat.

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.

The beginning of the Columbus Clippers 2009 baseball season on April 9 in Louisville is truly historic time for Columbus sports. We’re looking forward to many years of success, and interest in the brand new Huntington Park is at an all time high.

For that reason, Experience Columbus , the Greater Columbus Sports Commission and the Columbus Clippers are hosting a special opening day eve reception.

When : Wednesday, April 8 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where : Experience Columbus Visitor Center , 277 W. Nationwide Blvd.

Meet and greet with players and management during an autograph session, get your hands on the latest Clippers gear featuring the team’s new logo, and hang out with team mascots LouSeal and Krash .

Free pizza and pop will be provided courtesy of Donatos and Pepsi, and you will also be able to purchase single game and season tickets on-site.

Hope to see you there!

Columbus Blue Jackets’ Rick Nash

After Saturday night’s historic win over Detroit, the Columbus Blue Jackets have inched closer to securing a playoff spot for the first time in franchise history.

But why wait for the playoffs? The remaining home games on the schedule are playoff-like in atmosphere and importance - teams in the Western Conference playoff race are only separated by a few points and every game counts.

Columbus had been waiting for nine years to see playoff hockey at Nationwide Arena . This year’s attendance is up over last year, averaging over 15,151 per game, and the team recently announced commitments to keep ticket pricing affordable as a way to thank fans for their support.

Upcoming home games include:

March 10 (tonight!) against Boston

March 12 against Pittsburgh

March 15 against Detroit

March 18 against Chicago

And here are some package options to save money, get great seats and still see the Jackets before the hoped-for playoff run begins.

Jackets Night Out
Two tickets for a Tuesday or Wednesday game, two 24 oz. draft beers and two Donatos pizzas for just $60.

All You Can Eat Package
A ticket to the exclusive AAA Sky Terrace and an All You Can Eat buffet of hot dogs, chicken strips, popcorn, peanuts, Pepsi products and more for just $39.

Ticketmaster’s ticketexchange
The opportunity to purchase tickets from season ticket holders unable to use their premium seating.

More promotions and discounted ticket pricing can be found here.

It’s Jackets time, Columbus! The question is…will you Carry the Flag ?

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 past weekend a few of the Experience Columbus crew hit the new piano bar, The Big Bang . We had one rockin’ time!

Located under Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant in the Arena District , dueling piano players sit opposite each other and play old school favorites that you can’t help but sing out loud.

If you are looking for a high-energy hang out, this is the place to go. Tip: You should get there early - the night we went it was packed by 11 p.m. and we spotted a line at the door.

Here are the impressions our group had about the night:

Meg Gordon : When I heard that Big Bang was opening in Columbus, I was super pumped and my expectations were high. I was not disappointed! I think it’s nearly impossible to go to The Big Bang and not have a good time. I mean, what could be better than belting out some of your favorite tunes with your friends?

Melissa DeGraw : I liked that we got there before a cover started and the drinks were not that expensive. It’s a fun place to hang with your friends and relax with some great entertainment to boot!

Kate Kastenholz : I think The Big Bang is a home run. There was so much energy and I was amazed that the performers were able to rotate and play each instrument!

Brenda Carter: I loved the music and group participation, and that the price of drinks was reasonable.

Kelly Brooks : My favorite thing about The Big Bang is that it has a little something for everyone. Whether you want grab a few drinks, enjoy some live entertainment or spend a night people watching, you can do it here. But make sure you arrive early if you want to grab a table - it fills up quickly!

Since it’s new, we know only some of Columbus has had the chance to experience The Big Bang. Have you? How was it?