Time Warner Cable is airing a new Local On Demand program, Play. Dine. Shop. , all about unearthing Columbus gems and showing them off. If you’re a local Time Warner subscriber, you’ll find the shows on channel 1111.

The post below was written by Amy Weirick of Weirick Communications , who shares a peek into the first episode that features her girls’ day out in the Short North Arts District.

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Girls’ day out in the Short North Arts District
by Amy Weirick, Weirick Communications

Partnering with Experience Columbus to help promote our city to visitors means I’m always on the prowl for unforgettable experiences that make Columbus special. I’ve gotten to know memorable restaurants tucked away in charming neighborhoods, funky shops jammed with goodies you won’t find anywhere else and places that put you at the center of the artistic process, letting you design something to take home.

Play. Dine. Shop. , a new show on Time Warner Cable’s Local on Demand, is all about these experiences. In the first episode, three of my most intrepid girlfriends join me to check out some cool spots in the Short North .

We kicked off the day with a fantastic breakfast of turkey and sweet potato hash, ricotta pancakes, fresh juices and amazing scones at Northstar Café . Then we had a blast shopping at Flower Child . Room after room is packed with fun retro furniture, clothes and accessories from the 1950s-80s. We tried on crazy 1970s sunglasses and hung out in what my friend swears was her mom’s living room in 1962.

Substance For Fashion Conscious People

After shopping, it was on to Betty’s Fine Food & Spirits for an awesome lunch where I enjoyed the warm mushroom and goat cheese salad. We hit some more great Short North shops, including Substance , where we designed and made our own t-shirts. That was unforgettable - and so much fun.

What better way to wrap up a day with friends than with Jeni’s ice cream ? We sampled dozens of flavors and settled on ordering our faves, including goat cheese with sour cherries. Amazing.

The show featuring our day in the Short North will be available to view on May 15, and new shows about special Columbus spots will be loaded on Time Warner channel 1111 every few weeks. Tune in and you might discover a new Columbus treasure!

During the holidays, I mentioned that I bought tickets for a friend and I to attend a Chef Series Cooking Class at the North Market . These classes, which are limited to only 26 participants, allow you to get up close and personal with some of Columbus’ best chefs while they prepare a special meal for you.

Our tickets were for last Wednesday’s class, taught by Paul Yow of Barcelona Restaurant & Bar and held in the Dispatch Kitchen (top floor of the market). I liked that the intimate class size allowed everyone attending to feel comfortable asking questions throughout the class. We could also walk up to the kitchen area and observe Chef Yow’s techniques at any point during the presentation - or we could simply remain seated, savor some wine and enjoy the rotation of smells filling the room.

Our captivated class

Our meal included a starter of cheese, chutney, bread and a spicy salad. The main courses included a side of fideo (a pasta dish) and sautéed sea scallops. The finale was a wonderful caramel chocolate almond sauce served on Jeni’s ice cream .

Throughout the evening I never saw the bottom of my wine glass, as it was continuously filled with a nice variety of red and white wines from the Rioja region of Spain.

Chef Yow’s sense of humor and affectionate approach to food kept the class captivated throughout the entire two-hour period. He created an enjoyable, open environment and a true learning experience for us.

And even if you couldn’t care less about learning to cook, you’re sure to enjoy the eating. A Chef Series class offers an evening that all types of food and wine lovers can enjoy together.

A schedule of upcoming Chef Series classes and other North Market events is available here .

The post below is written by Matt Slaybaugh and originally appeared over at Indie Columbus . When I saw it, I couldn’t resist asking Matt if I could share it here with our readers.

Delicious things are happening at Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams , a perennial Columbus favorite.

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Jeni’s Winter Flavors
By Matt Slaybaugh, Indie Columbus

If you haven’t stopped in lately, you’re missing a couple of Jeni’s most unique flavors yet.

It’s that time. Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream has a few new flavors. They first came to my attention during a long afternoon of web-site editing and twittering, by a friend I’ll refer to here as "the devil herself." And so, over the course of the next few days in Grandview, I gathered some friends and tested Jeni’s new confections. Roll call!

Roxbury Road
The official description goes like this:

Jeni’s own handmade marshmallows and brown sugar caramel sauce with Krema’s smoked almonds - all mixed in milky chocolate ice cream.

This is a softer, less-dense ice cream compared to many of our Jeni’s favorites. You don’t know what you most want with each bite. Sometimes you want the nuts, sometimes you want the caramel, sometimes you want the marshmallows. Every bite is different and wonderful.

Smoked Dark Chocolate with Handmade Marshmallows
Jeni says this will make you "feel like you just spent the afternoon sledding." The smoky flavor is really strong and has a good bit of bite, so be prepared for that, but the chocolate is so dark and so deep, you’ll get lost in it. And let’s talk about those marshmallows - they’re like cotton balls with a little bit of sugar. You’re gonna love ‘em.

Of course, if you’re like "the devil herself" and you don’t even like marshmallows, you’re not having any fun here.

Cognac Ice Cream
If you like alcohol, this might be your favorite Jeni’s flavor ever. It’s surprisingly smooth and fruit forward and … well … cognac like.

THIS JUST IN: Influenza Sorbet
From Jeni’s official notice:

If you’re feeling under the weather lately (I know I am), try our Influenza Sorbet! With Orange juice, Lemon juice, Maker’s Mark bourbon, Honey, Pectin, Ginger, and just enough Cayenne Pepper–ingredients proven to soothe and relax! Trust me, the combination really will coat a sore throat and clear your nasal passages.

It’s only available in our shops (sorry out-of-towners!) and only available in pints! We made just enough to get us through flu season! So grab a pint while it lasts!

Word on the street is that Ms. Britton has a couple of new flavors up her sleeve just in time for Valentine’s Day. We’ll back with more updates from as the scene develops. Stay tuned to IndieColumbus.com .

On the heels of Kelly’s North Market post where she mentioned her love of Riesling Poached Pear Sorbet, I thought I’d share this update I received from the Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams Facebook page :

"In his endless quest for the best sweet and salty treats around, that charmer Marc Summers stops at Jeni’s Ice Creams to watch us make our ROXBURY ROAD!

Milk Chocolate with smoked almonds and our own handmade caramel sauce and marshmallows … ROXBURY ROAD is a winter favorite, and it’s only around for a short time! We’ll start making it in January– check our website for availability!!!

TUNE IN THIS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26 AT 11:30 PM!!!"

Unwrapped is broadcast on the Food Network and Jeni’s will be featured on a Sweet and Salty themed episode. Tune in to see one of our Columbus favorites spotlighted.

Okay, dear readers, we all know we love it. But got a favorite Jeni’s flavor to recommend to first time tasters? Do tell…

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.