September has arrived. School is starting, the days are getting cooler, and in Columbus, there is a sense of excitement in the air that means Ohio State football season is upon us. Dust off your buckeyes, gear up your Scarlet & Grey pride and read these helpful tips for how to enjoy your football Saturday on The Ohio State University campus.
O dds & ends
Before you experience a Buckeye game day, you need to do your homework. Do you have tickets to the game, the latest Buckeye attire, and a place to stay that night? (more…)
This might be the first time you’ve heard about rugby in Columbus, but it’s certain not to be the last. Ohio State is one of 16 teams in this round-robin tournament, along with the traditional powerhouses of Army, Navy, Harvard, Dartmouth and Cal, plus Indiana, Penn State and Bowling Green.
Sevens rugby will be an Olympic sport, beginning in 2016. It’s a fast-paced, high-scoring game with seven players on each team battling it out for two seven-minute halves. Click here for a Spectator’s Guide.
Games are Friday-Sunday. Ohio State is guaranteed to play three matches: on Friday v. Utah at 7:50 p.m., then on Saturday v. Bowling Green at 1 p.m. and v. Penn State at 5:30 p.m.
General admission tickets are $15 and $20. Kids 14 and under are free with an adult. If you can’t make it out, it’ll be broadcast live on NBC Sports from 4-6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
As spring approaches, so does the opening of the new Ohio Union at The Ohio State University. With such a great addition to campus, they couldn’t just have one day of grand openings, so they decided to have 30 days to make the celebration last!
The official grand opening is on Monday, March 29, when you can get your first peek at this great new facility. Events begin at 11 a.m. and include prizes, music, games, food and free Ohio Union keepsakes. The ribbon cutting will be at noon.
Some other great events that will be going on during this 30 day celebration are a concert with Black Shelton on March 31 and an Evening with Saturday Night Live’s Andy Samberg on April 25.
Clickhere for more details about all 30 days of activities.
I recently had a hard-hat tour of the Union and I can tell you firsthand that this space is great. Complete with Woody’s Tavern and Sloopy’s Diner, it will be a great place to eat when you are on campus. And if you’re planning a meeting or event, make sure to check out all 30 of their meeting and event spaces .
The new Ohio Union will definitely be a hopping place on campus for both students and guests. To keep up with the progress until the grand opening, you can check out their Web site .
It’s that time of the year when we tend to take a look back. When I reflect on what the past year and half has meant to Columbus, I’m reminded that this is a city with much to celebrate.
We love sports, but we also love books. The Columbus Metropolitan Library was ranked #1 library in the nation by Hennen’s American Public Library Rating (it’s been in the top four every year since 1999).
That was followed by the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium being named #1 zoo in America by USA Travel Guide .
Then, E. Gordon Gee, president of The Ohio State University , was named #1 college president by Time Magazine .
And most recently, Huntington Park was namedBallpark of the Year by Baseballpark Digest (and, the park received the same distinction from BaseballParks.com back in August).
We’re on a roll, Columbus. Who will be honored next?
This time of year, distances to walk at lunchtime seem shorter than they did during the frigid temperatures of the previous months. I like to take advantage of the warmer weather by strolling to some of the lunchtime programs in the area. They’re great escapes in the middle of the day.
Below are a few options to consider:
Every Friday between May 29 and September 4, The Ohio Statehouse offers free lunch time performances from 12:00- 1:00 p.m. on the Statehouse lawn (except for Friday, July 3). You can check the performance schedule here .
The last Friday of each month this summer, stop in the Experience Columbus Visitor Center to see and touch exotic animals from the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. The first visit this season is this week! Additional dates and details are here .
On varying days, the OSU Urban Arts Space offers a variety of exhibits and lectures at their space located in the historic Lazarus building. Check the schedule for upcoming "Brown Bag" dates here .
Pearl Market
Daily, the Arena Grand Movie Theatre shows nonstop movie trailers during lunch for free. You can also grab food from their Bistro & Bar , which offers lunch specials Monday through Friday.
If you’re a sports fan or just want to check out the new ballpark , the Columbus Clippers offer afternoon games on the following dates:
Thursday May 28 at 11:35 a.m.
Thursday June 18 at 12:05 p.m.
Thursday July 9 at 12:05 p.m.
Tuesday August 4 at 12:05 p.m.
Every Tuesday and Friday, the Pearl Market offers special events, fresh local produce and gift items from local vendors. More information can be found here .
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 :
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.
My in-laws, Ed and Bonnie, recently flew in to Columbus from their home in Long Island. They’ve grown to love Columbus, and each time they’re here my wife and I expose them to something new.
One cannot help but be overwhelmed by such an intimate look inside this complex artist. Searching for his own identity, Warhol utilizes a wide range of media in his expression of social, political and cultural upheaval. I felt like a voyeur watching his home movies, reading his personal scribblings and viewing his sketches and photos. It’s as though Andy touches your shoulder and says, “Come with me, I’ll show you the good stuff.”
As Ed and Bonnie went through the exhibit, their eyes grew big at the site of the iconic Campbell Soup art, their faces wrinkled in amusement while reading Warhol’s writings, and they smiled warmly at the gentle sound of Warhol’s voice in his movies.
Lifetime New Yorkers, Ed and Bonnie are never shy about expressing their opinions. They wouldn’t rave about something unless they were truly moved by it, and they raved about Other Voices, Other Rooms . Their reaction to the exhibit was as expansive as the exhibit itself.
“He has many people in his head,” Bonnie said, and Sherri smiled and agreed. Bonnie remarked on how many times she had seen Warhol’s work in galleries in New York, but had never seen a collection like this one (Columbus is the only U.S. stop on this international tour).
Bonnie was nearly moved to tears imagining what Warhol might think if he knew how close to him we had become:
And I was reminded to never take Columbus treasures like the Wex for granted.
