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’re number one. A lot.

I’m not just saying that, either. There’s proof:

Excitement abounded when COSI was named #1 science center in the country by Parents Magazine .

Shortly after that, Columbus was named #1 sports town in the U.S. by Scarborough Sports Marketing.

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 named Ballpark 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?

Photo: Randall Lee Schieber

If you’re at all interested in horses and admire their beauty, get your tickets now to the New Albany Classic Invitational Grand Prix & Family Day on September 27. This unique and prestigious event takes place at the Wexner Estate - yep, that’s Limited founder Les Wexner’s home.

The top 30 show jumping riders in North America compete at this invitational show with prize money of more than $80,000. Opening ceremonies begin at 1 p.m. with the jumping Grand Prix at 1:30 p.m.

However, this event is not just for horse lovers. It really is an event for the entire family beginning at 10 a.m. with carriage and carnival rides, clowns, face painting, a petting zoo, arts and crafts and much more. Plus, included in the price of your ticket is a concert by American Idol winner Jordin Sparks at 11:30 a.m.

The entire event is a fundraiser for the Columbus Coalition Against Family Violence, founded by Abigail Wexner. It’s a terrific event and such a worthy cause. (more…)

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 .

Hole #9
Photo: the Memorial Tournament

Every year, my in-laws visit from South Carolina to attend the Memorial Tournament . It’s a special week in Central Ohio – I always look forward to it, and I always have fun. This year, it’s June 1-7.

PGA superstars descend upon Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, a northwest suburb of Columbus. The course and the tournament were created by Columbus native and golf legend Jack Nicklaus. As the Memorial Tournament site explains, Jack set out to design a golf course that would challenge the world’s best players in a spectacular setting, and he created the Memorial Tournament to remember and honor great golfers of the past. The tournament also gives back to the community through charitable donations to organizations throughout Columbus and Ohio.

My husband and my father-in-law, golf fanatics, run around the course chasing the likes of Kenny Perry, Fred Couples and Tiger Woods, to name just a few (you can check the most current list of who’s confirmed for 2009 by watching the news that appears here ).

In the meantime, my mother-in-law and I take in the previously mentioned spectacular setting. Muirfield Village Golf Club is an idyllic backdrop for the tournament – the landscaping and houses that line the course are beautiful, and everything is remarkably pristine.

Want to experience it for yourself? PGA tickets for the tournament are available here . You can also connect with the Memorial Tournament on Facebook and Twitter .

Opening Day

There was no better place to be this past Saturday than Huntington Park . The new park, the new affiliation with the Cleveland Indians and a day of celebration had Columbus coming out in masses.

The park itself is beautiful and when you look around, you are consumed by Clippers baseball history. There are old pennants from when they were the Columbus Red Birds and bats from the former affiliation with the Yankees. There are quotes and banners all around the park that would take all day to read, so if you’re going to catch a game, arrive early to catch up on history.

Even though Huntington Park is a new stadium, you will see familiar landmarks from other stadiums across the nation. There are open-air bleachers on the Left Field Building roof that are reminiscent of Wrigley Park. The wall in right field is slightly higher than the rest of the outfield, a nod to the "Green Monster" at Fenway Park. There is even lawn seating where you can lay on a blanket to watch the game, similar to PETCO Park’s Park at the Park.

Wherever your ticket may be, there isn’t a bad seat in the house. I had a standing room ticket and parked myself at the huge drink railing that goes around the entire park. There are plenty of spots to hang out and watch the game if you don’t have a seat or if you prefer not to sit the entire time. I also checked out the huge 100+ foot bar in the Left Field Building prior to the game to catch up on other sports scores and stay in the shade for a bit.

Even though the Clippers lost the game, it was still a great time. The Columbus Clippers are downtown and they are here to stay.

Photo: Columbus Clippers

Saturday is going to be a memorable day in Columbus’ history with the opening of Huntington Park . When the Clippers take the field, they will be doing so under the affiliation of one of Ohio’s most historic and beloved sports franchises, the Cleveland Indians.

Also on Saturday, the Blue Jackets take on the Red Wings in the second game of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs from Detroit (there’s a viewing party at the Arena Grand ), and Fleetwood Mac will perform live at Nationwide Arena .

With so much happening in the Arena District on Saturday, it might be helpful to have a rundown of events and tips for getting around:

Noon
Clippers standing room only seats go on sale at the Center Field entrance of Huntington Park, located at the corner of Nationwide Boulevard and Neil Avenue. There’s a limit of 4 tickets per purchase.

1:15 p.m.
Opening Day Parade begins at High Street and Nationwide Boulevard and will make its way west to Huntington Park. The parade will feature more than 50 participants, including former Cleveland Indians Bob Feller, Len Barker and Joe Charboneau and several ex-Clippers. Former Franklin County Commissioner and minor league baseball executive Harold Cooper will be grand marshal of the parade.

2:15 p.m.
Ribbon cutting ceremony and unveiling of Harold Cooper statue at the Center Field entrance. After the ceremony, Franklin County Commissioners will officially open the ballpark to the public and Party-at-the-Park begins featuring the Danger Brothers .

4:05 p.m.
First pitch at Huntington Park is thrown out and a new era in Clippers baseball begins.

6:00 p.m.
Blue Jackets vs. Red Wings in Game 2 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in Detroit. The Arena Grand Theatre is hosting the official viewing party and admission is free.

7:00 p.m.
Doors open at Nationwide Arena for Fleetwood Mac in concert .

Parking in the Arena District is only $3 for Clippers Games; a parking map and directions are available here . If traveling from out of town, there are still hotel rooms available within walking distance of the Arena District; click here to book a room.

The Experience Columbus Visitor Center will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday. Stop by and see Ben for info about more fun things to do or where to grab a bite to eat.

The beginning of the Columbus Clippers 2009 baseball season on April 9 in Louisville is truly historic time for Columbus sports. We’re looking forward to many years of success, and interest in the brand new Huntington Park is at an all time high.

For that reason, Experience Columbus , the Greater Columbus Sports Commission and the Columbus Clippers are hosting a special opening day eve reception.

When : Wednesday, April 8 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where : Experience Columbus Visitor Center , 277 W. Nationwide Blvd.

Meet and greet with players and management during an autograph session, get your hands on the latest Clippers gear featuring the team’s new logo, and hang out with team mascots LouSeal and Krash .

Free pizza and pop will be provided courtesy of Donatos and Pepsi, and you will also be able to purchase single game and season tickets on-site.

Hope to see you there!

If you don’t consider yourself a horse enthusiast, you might not be aware of Equine Affaire .

On the other hand, if you are a horse lover, you might already be planning to attend this annual Columbus event coming to the Ohio Expo Center , April 2 - 5.

Either way, the event is worth checking out, especially this year as a number of new events have been added that will appeal to horse enthusiasts and general animal-lovers alike.

Along with stellar equine education (the event features hours of clinics, seminars and demonstrations on topics relevant to horse people), other old favorites are back this year.

First, there is the shopping! The event features the largest horse-related trade show in North America with exhibitors to meet all equine and equestrian needs.

Also back this year is the nightly entertainment of the Pfizer Fantasia . This "musical celebration of the horse" requires a separate ticket, but it is great family entertainment. Fantasia is an impressive lineup of professional equestrian performers set to music - think people doing stunts on horses, horses doing interesting choreography and lots of acts that make you wonder how the horse and the rider do that.

I attended Pfizer Fantasia last year, and while not a horse person, really enjoyed the artistry of the night. If you go, I recommend arriving early so you can have dinner on the grounds. A variety of fair type food (yes, there are French fries with vinegar and cream puffs) is served, along with beer, wine and alcohol.

New this year is the Canine Affaire , a program of clinics and demonstrations on general dog training. You’ll be able to learn useful training tips and there are number of vendors who will be specializing in canine gear. One word of warning: plan on attending, but leave your furry best friend at home. Only guide animals and invited horses are allowed on the grounds.

To learn more about all that will be happening at Equine Affair, check out their Web site .

Columbus Blue Jackets’ Rick Nash

After Saturday night’s historic win over Detroit, the Columbus Blue Jackets have inched closer to securing a playoff spot for the first time in franchise history.

But why wait for the playoffs? The remaining home games on the schedule are playoff-like in atmosphere and importance - teams in the Western Conference playoff race are only separated by a few points and every game counts.

Columbus had been waiting for nine years to see playoff hockey at Nationwide Arena . This year’s attendance is up over last year, averaging over 15,151 per game, and the team recently announced commitments to keep ticket pricing affordable as a way to thank fans for their support.

Upcoming home games include:

March 10 (tonight!) against Boston

March 12 against Pittsburgh

March 15 against Detroit

March 18 against Chicago

And here are some package options to save money, get great seats and still see the Jackets before the hoped-for playoff run begins.

Jackets Night Out
Two tickets for a Tuesday or Wednesday game, two 24 oz. draft beers and two Donatos pizzas for just $60.

All You Can Eat Package
A ticket to the exclusive AAA Sky Terrace and an All You Can Eat buffet of hot dogs, chicken strips, popcorn, peanuts, Pepsi products and more for just $39.

Ticketmaster’s ticketexchange
The opportunity to purchase tickets from season ticket holders unable to use their premium seating.

More promotions and discounted ticket pricing can be found here.

It’s Jackets time, Columbus! The question is…will you Carry the Flag ?

Photo: Randall Lee Schieber

One of the strongest weekends in Columbus is right around the corner. It’s time again for the Arnold Sports Festival , taking place March 6–8.

Named after Arnold Schwarzenegger (who won the Mr. World competition in Columbus in 1970), the event has evolved over 21 years to encompass more than 35 events including 11 recognized Olympic sports.

While many people think first of the Annual Arnold Classic (the professional bodybuilding competition), this is really only one component of the three-day event. Here are some tips for enjoying the complete ASF experience:

• Arrive early and don’t plan on parking at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. The Arnold Sports Festival takes place in four venues (the convention center, Veteran’s Memorial, Nationwide Arena and the Lausche Building at the Ohio Expo Center). So why pigeon hole yourself into just one? I recommend parking at the City Center garage and taking the free shuttle to the downtown venues.

• Take a look at the schedule to determine in advance what events you want to check out. Be adventurous here! Think of table tennis as something you do in your basement? Then take a look at the level of competition in the Terrace ballrooms at the convention center on Friday and Saturday. Also not to be missed are the various martial arts sports throughout the weekend. On Sunday morning there is a new event to discover: a racewalking competition .

• Know what ticket you have. Generally, the $10 Expo Ticket provides admission to most daytime events for one day of the festival. Check the schedule for ticketing information, too.

• Leave plenty of time to visit the booths at the Arnold Expo . The show floor gets crowded with thousands of sports enthusiasts discovering the latest in sports nutrition and fashion. There is also a stage in the back of the Expo hall that features various entertainment including bench press competitions, a fashion show and even an Irish dance demonstration. Various Strongman contests also take place on the Expo stage, so if you’ve been itching to see a really large man lift Hummer tires, here’s your chance.

• If you’re still pumped up by Saturday night, consider Party with the Pros at the LC Pavilion. It promises to be an entertaining event with several different bands performing and is the only official ASF after party.

Take these tips and enjoy this once-a-year Columbus experience. Whether you’re a fitness enthusiast, a weekend warrior or even a couch potato, there is something for you to check out at the Arnold Sports Festival.

Do you have your own ASF tip to share?