Looking for a few laughs? Check out one of my go-to spots, Funny Bone Comedy Club & Restaurant . With six or seven performances a week, there are shows to fit any sense of humor. From stand-up comics and hypnotists to Last Comic Standing contestants and celebrity guests, they do not disappoint.

Located in Easton Town Center , it’s easy to take advantage of the free parking, the abundant shopping and the delicious restaurants nearby. Another option is to check out Funny Bone’s full food and drink menu that’s available before each show—you can view it online here . As an added perk, all pre-show diners receive priority seating.

Before you leave the Funny Bone I recommend you fill out the information card on your table, to sign yourself up for the email list. Sure, you’ll receive emails promoting upcoming shows, but you may also receive emails containing offers for free tickets. Just another reason to keep going back!

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!

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 .

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.