Photo: CATCO

In Kelly’s last post about giving the gift of a Columbus experience, she mentioned a handful of local favorites.

One she didn’t mention, however, is one I had the opportunity to check out: The Santaland Diaries , presented by the Contemporary American Theatre Company (a.k.a. CATCO).

Last Friday, CAPA Columbus gave away tickets from their Twitter account . I was among a few participants who won, which made my day; I was excited to see this show.

The Santaland Diaries is a story by humorist David Sedaris about his time spent as a Macy’s elf in New York City, when he was also a struggling writer. Jon Putnam, returning for his fourth year as this character, gives a stunningly convincing performance as David Sedaris.

Filled with off-color humor and observations on how strange and deranged people can be during the holiday season, The Santaland Diaries is perfect for anyone looking for laughs. And if you consider yourself a bit of Grinch, chances are good you’ll enjoy it, too.

While I was at the performance I forgot it was theater, as the setting and encouraged participation from the audience made me feel as though a good friend was recounting a horrifyingly hilarious life experience.

The show runs through December 27. For details and tickets, click here .

Stay tuned for more on holiday experiences in Columbus. Up next, Irene will be here to share her recommendation.

Photo by Bob Macklin/courtesy of BalletMet

With Thanksgiving come and gone, the holiday shopping list is now on a lot of minds. But before you hit the mall, consider getting a little more inventive.

Why not give your friends and family members an experience you can enjoy together? Who knows, you might even start a new holiday tradition.

Last Christmas, my boyfriend and I took our moms to see the musical Grease at the Palace Theatre. The day was such a hit that we’re continuing the trend this year. We tossed around several possible places to take them, including Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium , Shadowbox: Holiday Hoopla and the Short North Holiday Hop , which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this weekend.

In the end, we decided on a true holiday classic: The Nutcracker , which BalletMet will perform at the Ohio Theatre. Prices start at $29 and performances run December 11-23, so even the busiest holiday schedule can be accommodated. But don’t wait too long to buy tickets, because they go fast - you can get them online here .

I can’t think of a more perfect excuse to get dressed up, enjoy a night out and truly get into the holiday spirit.

On the heels of Melissa’s last post sharing a few free things to do in the coming weeks, I thought I’d share a new package that offers an incredible deal for experiencing Columbus in the coming months.

The Columbus Lights & Sights Gift Getaway includes $700 worth of things to see and do for only $259.

Here’s what you’ll get:

• Two nights accommodations (Drury Inn & Suites is the preferred hotel)

• Four tickets to Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

• Four tickets to the Columbus Museum of Art , including the Chihuly Illuminated exhibit

• Four tickets to the Franklin Park Conservatory , including the Chihuly Reimagined exhibit and holiday displays

• Four tickets to COSI , including the Joys of Toys

• Two free kids’ meals at Max & Erma’s

To repeat: all that stuff up there is a total of $259. It really is that inexpensive.

Have more than four people? No problem - you can book for more and pricing will be adjusted accordingly.

For more details or to book a Lights & Sights Gift Getaway, click here .

And stay tuned for more Columbus holiday ideas, coming from Kelly next week.

Photo: Easton Town Center

Many of us are looking for inventive ways to keep ourselves in the holiday spirit, while still keeping money in our pockets. Here, I have just a few picks for free, family-friendly holiday things to do during the next three weekends in Columbus.

Eleventh Annual Holiday Lighting Ceremony
Easton Town Center
November 20

Start off the holiday season tomorrow by bringing the family over to Easton Town Center for their Eleventh Annual Holiday Lighting Ceremony. The whole center comes alive and starts off the shopping season with the lighting of their huge 50 foot tree, complete with an appearance by Santa. Carolers will be strolling around the sparkling streets of the center and the stores will be abuzz with sales.

Grandview Holiday Hop
Grandview Avenue, between 1st and 5th
November 28

Grandview Avenue comes alive with holiday spirit the Saturday after Thanksgiving. You can start by seeing a live reindeer exhibit at Arlington Bank and end by getting a free picture with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Tri-Village Studios. There are free horse-drawn sleigh rides for all ages up and down the Avenue throughout the night. Smell the holiday scents at The Candle Lab and check out other holiday crafts and treats along the way.

Village Lights
German Village
December 6

Experience the holiday charm of German Village during the holidays. The village is truly beautiful, with luminaries lit throughout the streets and park, and local businesses come out in full force this night with samples, holiday treats and specials. There is also an appearance by Santa, live entertainment and music to get you in the holiday spirit.

These events are sure to get you excited for the season, and you can search for even more here . Enjoy!

Mother’s Day is quickly approaching on May 10. Wondering what to do? Here’s a unique event I’ll be experiencing with my mom: Mother May I in German Village on Saturday, May 9.

Mother May I is a series of events at participating German Village shops and restaurants. Take your mom on a stroll through the very walkable village and stop in various picturesque establishments to try unique treats and get special Mother’s Day themed gifts.

Most shops and restaurants will be open with specials between noon and 6 p.m.; some are open longer. Here are just a few of the stops that will make Mom happy:

Bakery Gingham
189 Thurman Ave
8 a.m. - 8 p.m
Sample miniature cupcakes called “Minis for Moms.” With a $5 purchase (easy to do with all the tasty cuppies), get a Polaroid “CupTake” souvenir picture with your mom.

The Book Loft of German Village

The Book Loft
631 South Third Street
10 a.m.-midnight
Peruse 32 rooms and a porch full of books in this old-fashioned bookshop. With any book purchase you’ll also receive a special Mother’s Day gift book.

Caterina Ltd.
571 South Third Street
11 a.m.–6 p.m.
Check out a Caterina Ltd. sidewalk sale. If your mother is one of the first 25 moms in, she’ll get a free chocolate-orange lip balm from France.

Pistacia Vera
541 South Third Street
10 a.m.–7 p.m.
Delight in some absolutely wonderful desserts, and enjoy live music from 1 p.m-3 p.m. Don’t forget to sign up for a chance to win a "Sweet Afternoon" of dessert and coffee with three friends.

T. David Collection
897 S.Third St.
11 a.m.–5 p.m.
Enjoy complimentary iced herbal tea while you browse the beautiful handmade jewelry. If your mom sees something she likes, you’re in luck - many items will marked 10-50% off for this day,

Barcelona Restaurant & Bar
263 East Whittier St
Opens at 5 p.m.
After you’ve explored the unique shops across the village, stop in Barcelona for dinner and tapas. Plus, your mom will get a gift.

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?

As Valentine’s Day approaches, I thought I’d share some budget-minded ideas for a unique, special way to celebrate this year. This list was shared with 10TV viewers on Saturday morning, so if you missed it, here’s a recap complete with costs.

Dining Ideas

Valentines by Candlelight at the Ohio Village
$57
From 6:30-9 p.m., guests will be greeted by Victorian costumed interpreters. After an elegant meal, the Ohio Village Singers will present a concert of period love ballads and comic songs interspersed with romantic verse, poetry and readings. Each guest also receives a handmade valentine.

Shadowbox Presents: Bringin’ Sexy Back
$30 or $20 for seniors and students
At 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., this show redefines sex appeal. It features outrageous original comedy sketches and raucous rock ‘n’ roll. The subjects range from the first date to the last - and everything in between!

Valentine’s Warmup at Vino 100 Polaris
$12-$14
From 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Vino 100 Polaris, you can enjoy a specially selected red or white wines and enjoy a serenade by jazz and blues singer Lisa Imondi.

Entertainment Ideas

Photo: Will Shively
BalletMet dancers Adam Hundt & Adrienne Benz

BalletMet and the Columbus Jazz Orchestra present: Jazz Moves Take 2
$28-$45
At 2 p.m. at the Capitol Theatre, Riffe Center. Directed by Byron Stripling, this performance creates a mesmerizing fusion of dance and music perfect for Valentine’s Day. Jazz lovers and dance devotees alike will be jamming to the most American of all art forms.

Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus Presents: Obsessed, A Vox Performance
$2
At 8 p.m. at the Columbus Performing Arts Center. Join Vox, a small ensemble of the Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus, for a fun and eerie performance. Audience members will enjoy a wide collection of fun and slightly creepy songs, such as Can’t Get You Out of My Head, Every Breath You Take, From This Moment On, and All By Myself, among others.

Free Valentine Concert of Love Songs at Areopagitica Books
FREE
From 7-9 p.m., the evening features serious love songs and a humorous trivia quiz. Bill Cohen will strum and sing acoustic guitar favorites made famous by great American folk singers like John Denver, Bob Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel and others. In addition to the classic love songs, Bill will challenge the audience with trivia questions about famous couples and love songs throughout the decades.

Warhol Farewell Reception
FREE, $8 to enter the exhibit
From 5-7 p.m. at the Wexner Center for the Arts, the reception will feature a live auction (around 6 p.m.) of two Andy Warhol/Wexner Center street pole banners and an Andy cutout to benefit Wexner Center education programs. Stick around for other events later in the evening, including a Hitchcock screening, a Japanese theater group performance and a live performance by Columbus-based Velvet Underground tribute band, Times New Viking.

Family-Friendly Ideas

Columbus Children’s Theatre Presents: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
$10 - $20
At 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. at the Park Street Theatre. This sprightly version of Snow White has played to the delight of children of all ages from Toronto to New York to Los Angeles. The exceptional score and the caring relatedness of the young girl and the dwarfs distinguish this version of the classic Brothers Grimm fairytale.

Valentine’s Day Sweetheart Skate at Skate Zone 71
99¢
From 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., featuring Radio Disney Music. Wear something red or pink for 99¢ admission to this family friendly Valentine’s Day party for kids. Skate, make Valentines, play fun games, and win great prizes.

For more ideas, you can visit the Columbus Events Calendar and search by date or enter keyword “Valentine.” Or please feel free to add your own in the comments.

No matter what you choose to do, I hope you share it with someone special. Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us at Experience Columbus.

Photo by
Randall Lee Schieber

Still figuring out how to ring in 2009?

Maybe we can help with a little inspiration from the Columbus Events Calendar. Click here to check out a list of events, performances, restaurants and hotel packages available across the city on December 31.

And thanks to Cara Keithley on Twitter, I also came across this list with additional options provided by Columbus Alive.

Have a suggestion you don’t see here? Feel free to leave a reply to share it with fellow readers.

Happy New Year!

The North Market
Photo by Rod Berry

The North Market is one of those unforgettable places in Columbus and I still remember my first trip. I was visiting a friend at The Ohio State University when she introduced me to the best ice cream I’d ever had (you guessed it, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams ). When I moved to Columbus years later, a return visit was at the top of my agenda — I was craving Jeni’s Riesling Poached Pear Sorbet!

The North Market is a perfect combination of chaos and clutter. With 30+ merchants offering everything from fresh seafood to vintage wines, it’s no wonder this public market is a Columbus favorite.

During the week the North Market draws a sizeable lunch crowd. Whether you’re craving pizza, sushi or something to satisfy that sweet tooth, you can find it here . Not in the mood for a full meal? Take some time to wander around and fill up on abundant samples. On any given day you can snack on flavored gourmet popcorn from Pam’s Market Popcorn , challenge your taste buds with CaJohn’s Flavor and Fire salsas, and guiltlessly sample bite-size treats from Mozart’s Bakery .

The weekends often welcome special events to the market, and this holiday season has been no exception. A few weekends back I visited The North Market’s Holiday Open House & Craft Extravaganza. My goal was to find a Christmas ornament for an upcoming ornament exchange party and I wanted something with a special Columbus touch. I didn’t have to look any further than the Glass Axis table. Their hand-blown glass ornaments are one-of-a-kind creations and mine is sure to be the hit of the party.

Planning a visit to the North Market soon? Go with an open mind and an empty stomach — you never know what you might find when you’re there.