In the past few years, Columbus’ central business district has developed into a foodie zone - there are restaurants throughout downtown focusing on fresh, local, sustainable food ranging from quick service to fine dining. Market 65 on Capitol Square recently came onto the scene with a focus on Ohio-grown produce, meats and cheeses. Open Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Market 65 serves a creative range of dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner, including outstanding salads. The Capital Apple - with Granny Smith apples, roasted butternut squash, a generous portion of arugula and a surprisingly well balanced caramel apple vinaigrette - is a particularly good choice!

The coffee is roasted by Columbus-based Stauf’s, and is a custom organic blend. Even the oats for the oatmeal are Ohio grown. Market 65 is perfect you’re looking for a quick but hearty and healthy bite before a performance at the adjacent Ohio Theater , or a visit to the Columbus Commons .

Brunch is pretty much the perfect way to start a lazy Sunday. Whether you’re an in-towner or visiting Columbus, you’ve got to take the time to slow down your pace and enjoy the simple things in life. While I’m not really a breakfast food guy, I love brunch, because I can get a sandwich or soup while my co-diners can order omelets and waffles. The added bonus of brunch: it’s a socially acceptable way to have a cocktail before noon. Here are my three favorite brunch beverages in Columbus:

Due Amici – Bloody Marys
How awesome is this: You walk into this upscale, loungy spot for brunch, find a plush booth and while you’re waiting for your dining companions to arrive, a server wheels over a cart with all the fixings to make your perfect, customized bloody mary! Order an extra spicy (Tabasco, pepperoncini and pickle spear) for an added kick to your meal, or steer to classic (celery stalk.) Life is good. If you’re not a fan of tomato juice, Due Amici also serves mimosas and peach bellinis at brunch – thought I’ve never known anyone to pass up the bloody mary cart.

The Jury Room – The Nina West
Reopening earlier this year, the Jury Room has put a new spin on Columbus’ oldest restaurant. Serving hearty brunch staples with a twist, there is also a nice bar menu, to indulge a little more. One of the most fanciful drinks, (available for lunch and dinner, too) is the Nina West, named for Columbus’ premiere drag queen, comes complete with pop rocks and a candy cigarette. Fanciful, tasty, a bit tacky – perfect for a fun brunch.

Northstar Café – Shooting Star
OK, this one is perfect for teetotalers, and it also leaves you feeling like you’ve got the energy to conquer the world on your day off. Northstar Café, with locations in the Short North, Clintonville and at Easton, is a brunch mainstay in Columbus. While there are some boozy drink options, I always steer to the Shooting Star – and invigorating, organic blend of orange juice, carrot juice, lemon and ginger. And let’s be honest, I also grab a mug for a never-ending cup of eye-opening, mild coffee.

What would you add to the list?

I’m going to start off with a disclaimer: I’m a pescetarian (I eat seafood, but not other meat.) You’d think that would make the Jazz and Ribs Fest (July 22-24) low on my list of favorite summer festivals, but you’d be very wrong! There’s so much energy in this event that it’s hard to stay away - even if I’m grabbing a fresh squeezed cup of lemonade rather than a rack of ribs.

Set at North Bank Park and McPherson Commons in the Arena District, it’s a great place to spend a summer day. This year, the festival is even more special, because it’s the first big event to take place near the newly opened Scioto Mile park along the city’s riverfront! It’s a beautiful setting, made even better by the presence of cooling fountains and relaxing bench swings perfect for a break from the sunny July weather, just a short walk from the hustle of the festival. Even better, the festival is free!

Every year, the Jazz and Ribs Fest brings in more than 40 top national and local performers to fill downtown with music on three stages. This year, headliners include Dave Koz and Big Bad VooDoo Daddy and Latin Jazz virtuoso Bobby Sanabria, and local favorites MoJoFlo and Derek DiCenzo are always great to catch.

People tell me the ribs are outstanding, and having the chance to taste samples and meals from 23 different vendors in one location is pretty amazing. You’ll have to let me know - I’ll stick to the fair fries! You can even get tips for improving your own barbeque from the Great American BBC Tour

If you’re coming into town for this three-day festival, the Downtown Crowne Plaza is just a short walk away from the center of action. So come out and enjoy the music, the food and the new Scioto Mile! What are you looking forward to most?

If you find yourself in Downtown Columbus around lunchtime and you’ve got a few extra minutes on your hands, you have a great opportunity to stray from the beaten path. Pick from the area’s best bites and enjoy that food in a beautiful park for a truly relaxing interlude to your day.

First up, on Gay Street, you’ll find Tip Top Kitchen and Cocktails . Order the sweet potato fries. They’re so addictive, and come with spicy aioli for dipping. Sweet potatoes are healthy, right? While you wait for your order to come up, why not indulge in a drink? The Bottoms Up (whiskey and RC Cola garnished with a cherry) is only $3 all day, every day.

Right around the corner is El Arepazo , a pan-Latin restaurant on Pearl Alley. Pick up an arepa, which is a corn cake sandwich filled with meat and/or veggies, popular in the owner Carlos’ native Venezuela. The real show stopper here is the creamy, green sauce that comes on the side. You’ll want to order extra. El Arepazo is very popular, so arrive a bit before or after noon for a shorter wait.

For Downtown dessert, it’s hard to do better than Sugardaddy’s Sumptuous Sweeties . They’re famous for their brownies and blondies, packed with imaginative flavors. My favorite is the fiery brownie – with lots of ground hot pepper to add a memorable kick.

You’ll need somewhere to eat, because great food deserves a great atmosphere, and there plenty of parks within a few minutes’ walk. My nearby favorites are the new Columbus Commons and the Topiary Park . Columbus Commons has lots of shaded tables, a carousel and a free library of books to peruse while you eat. The Topiary Garden is a hidden gem. Mature trees provide shade, and the finely manicured topiaries recreate Seurat’s famous A Sunday Afternoon on the Isle of La Grande Jatte.

What’s your perfect combo for a downtown lunch?

This post is written by Guy Worley, president and CEO of the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation (CDDC).

_________________________________________________

There is nothing better than seeing a possibility become a reality. For many years, the land that ran along the Scioto River was filled with promise for Downtown. The green space could be so many things: a magnet, an oasis . . . a gathering spot.

In a few days, the Scioto Mile will be all those things. It will be a magnet, drawing visitors and residents to a gorgeous rolling park right on the riverfront. It’ll be a natural oasis in the middle of a thoroughly urban environment –and the new park is an oasis in a very literal sense: the Scioto Mile is home to two new watery works of art. Bicentennial Park hosts a dynamic interactive fountain courtesy AEP; and Huntington Plaza hosts a gorgeous copper fish fountain. With swings, chess tables, scenic walkways and fountains, the Scioto Mile will be the premier gathering spot in Columbus.

The Scioto Mile moves from potential to actual on Thursday, July 7. As the development manager, CDDC has been proud to help make this dream a reality. Join us at the grand opening at 5:30 p.m. Mayor Mike Coleman, AEP’s Michael Morris and some very special guests will usher in a new era for Downtown Columbus.

Come explore the new park. There’s something for everyone to enjoy at the debut: children can play in the fountains with an oversized Fountain Frog Mascot, or stand in awe at talented jugglers and unicycle artists.

Guests can take in the sounds of the Hoo Doo Soul Band, and try out the much-anticipated restaurant, Milestone 229 . As the sun sets, a dynamic fountain and light display will salute the first day of the Scioto Mile.

The opening celebration of the Scioto Mile continues all summer long with more musical performances, movies and family events.

Decades of dreams, years of planning and construction: it all comes together in one night. Join us on July 7 for the debut of the Scioto Mile.

This post is written by Amy Taylor, chief operating officer, Columbus Downtown Development Corporation and Capitol South. This is the group responsible for all of the construction and much of the programming for Columbus Commons.

__________________________

Columbus Commons is the right thing at the right place at the right time.

Maybe you already knew that. Passers-by have been largely unsuccessful at just passing by the park: the pathways and burgeoning gardens demand attention and exploration. Located in the heart of Downtown at High and Rich streets, Columbus Commons has already become a hub for downtown activity.

All this buzz, even before the official Grand Opening beginning Thursday, May 26 at 4 p.m.

The official debut of the park isn’t just an event, it’s an extended outdoor open house with enough room for the entire community to join in celebration. The best news is that everything is free, from the concerts, to the outdoor theater, to the inflatables and face painters.

We’ll Rock The Commons on Thursday with four local headlining acts. And Roll into the weekend with a mixture of activities ranging from bounce-houses and carousel rides to Blues and Brews.

Rock, Roll . . . then Relax on Sunday with a laid-back garden party followed by Lounge on the Lawn with the Downtown Residents’ Association of Columbus and a special production of "Back to The Garden" by Shadowbox Live.

When the weekend ends, we’ll just be warming up. Come back to the Columbus Commons for fitness classes, farmers’ markets, garden clubs, children’s events and concerts all summer long.

Visit www.columbuscommons.org for all of the details on the opening and daily activities.

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.

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?