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?

Photo: Shadowbox ,
The Sketch Comedy and Rock-n-Roll Club

Our friends at Shadowbox have done it again.

They’ve produced a remarkable production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum , the Tony Award winning musical by Stephen Sondheim.

Every time I attend a Shadowbox performance I’m struck by how fortunate we are to have such talent in our own backyard. This show has it all: great comedic acting, perfectly executed dialog, and wonderfully choreographed music, singing and dancing. The result is non-stop, goofy, hilarious entertainment. Throughout both acts, I was either laughing hysterically or smiling ear-to-ear.

Steve Guyer (Executive Producer/Director) and Julie Klein (Assistant Director) have done a masterful production job. The entire cast shines, but special acknowledgment goes to J.T. Walker for his performance as Pseudolus and Jimmy Mak as Hysterium. They were totally in synch throughout the show’s entirety.

My favorite thing about a Shadowbox experience is that the actors are also your servers. Amy Lay , who plays the amusing dumb-blonde Philia, was our server Sunday. Being able to interact with the actors during intermission, before and after the show creates a powerful intimacy. I had to ask Amy, “How did you cross your eyes like that?”

I can’t wait to see Forum again. You can check it out on Sundays only, at 2:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. through April 26.

Wildlights

I’m typically a person who staunchly waits until after Thanksgiving to do any type of holiday of activity. I avoid gift buying, just say no to caroling and partake in no general merrymaking. All of this grinchiness changed last Thursday as I sat in the beautiful and ornate Ohio Theatre and watched Harry Connick Jr. perform his Christmas concert . The show was fantastic and a lot of fun. The regal setting in the Ohio Theatre couldn’t be beat for a night of jazz and the snow falling outside was an added bonus.

Smiling as Harry made his way through familiar tunes, I couldn’t help but to think of the other not-to-be missed activities around Columbus this season.

• I’ll definitely be making it to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium for Wildlights (photo shown is by Rod Berry Photography ). Bundling up and sipping hot chocolate as you stroll through the light display is half the fun, so no fair picking a warm day to visit (besides it’s more crowded on the warmer days and way more crowded as you get closer to December 25).

• Although I usually avoid the malls this time of the year, I am really excited to visit Easton Town Center . They’ve gone out of their way to make shopping an experience. Beautiful decorations, carriage rides, pedicabs and photos with Santa are all featured. Also take note of 24 Days of Giving - if you’re caught feeding a meter, you might be rewarded with a gift card.

• The Holiday Hop in the Short North Arts District is always on my holiday must-do list. Not only is the Short North a great destination for one-of-a-kind gifts, it’s also a wonderful urban holiday experience complete with fantastic window displays and unbeatable people watching.

• For me the holiday season wouldn’t be complete without letting some of that inner snarkiness escape. For this purpose there is nothing better than a trip to CATCO’s Santaland Diaries . You can’t beat the works of David Sedaris for bringing out the levity in any situation and this one-man show leaves me in tears of laughter.

So I’ll be joining in the holiday spirit a little earlier than normal this year and I can’t wait to get started! What are your not-to-be-missed holiday outings or traditions?

Tiffany & Co. opened its first Central Ohio store at Easton Town Center last week. Situated across from Smith & Wollensky, the new location is one of Tiffany’s largest in the country.

Shelby Holliday at Palestra.net shares a look at the grand opening:

Crowd at the Crew Rally

Last night I attended a rally for the Columbus Crew at Easton Town Center . It was a great event with all players, coaching staff, Crewzers and Crew Cat in attendance.

There were a few hundred Crew faithful in attendance, from youth soccer teams to The Crew Supporters Union to suits and everything in-between. The event was to celebrate the Crew’s run into the playoffs and to encourage everyone to get tickets for Saturday night’s match up against Kansas City in Crew Stadium. The Crew displayed the MLS Supporters Shield and honored defender Chad Marshall for being named the 2008 Visa Defender of the Year .

Gino Padula and William Hesmer

One thing that I have always loved about professional soccer players in America, and the Crew is no exception, is their approachability. There was no formal autograph line with people ushering you through in turnstile fashion; instead the players and their families mixed and mingled with the crowd. Some stood on stage, some walked the crowd and others sat on the edge and let fans grab a seat next to them to chat for a few. Although professional athletes, these players appreciate their chance in the big league and know that there are many eager to take their spots.

Let’s hope fans and players alike can ride the wave into a victory Saturday night .