Just one more week ’til I get to enter into a wonderful, wine-induced coma.

That’s right – it’s almost time for the second Columbus Wine Fest, taking place July 30-31 at Franklin Park Conservatory. The festival provides an opportunity to sample and learn about more than 200 wines from around the world and around the corner. Mix that in with some of Columbus’ finest foods, like Barrio Tapas, Due Amici, Trattoria Roma, and BRAVO! Cucina Italiana, and you’ve got a can’t-miss Columbus event. There will also be a Belgian Beer Café to educate guests on proper beer pouring techniques, the importance of using the right glassware and food pairing ideas.

Proceeds from the festival benefit Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus’ premier horticultural and educational institution and a staple in the community. So feel good about that next glass of vino!

I had a BLAST at Columbus Wine Fest last year. You know when you’re six years old and your parents take you to Toys R Us and everything is so magical and perfect? That’s kinda like the Columbus Wine Festival, for grown-ups! I can’t wait to go back this Friday and look forward to recording an episode of TappedIn.tv there!

Pricing:
* Adult Wine Tasting Ticket – $25 in advance (by Thursday) or $35 at the gate. Ticket includes a souvenir wine glass, 10 tastings and a Festival Program
* Groups – $22.50 in advance for groups of 15 or more. The Group Ticket Package includes all of the same amenities of the Adult Ticket, yet saves your party $2.50 off the advance price and $7.50 off the door price.
* Designated Driver Ticket – $10 in advance or at the door. This ticket includes two non-alcoholic drinks, Festival Program and souvenir wine glass.
* Under 21 admitted free when accompanied by paid adult.
* Additional tasting coupons may be purchased at the festival for $5 for 10

To purchase tickets or for more event details, visit www.columbuswinefestival.com or call 877-772-5425.

See you there, winos!

Have you ever sat down and watched a movie and said….”I can do that!”?

Well, that’s exactly what hundreds of Columbus-area residents do each year during the annual 48 Hour Film Project. Filmmaking teams gather all around the city and in a mere 48 hours, they do just that.

Each year the 48 Hour Film Project, the world’s largest film-making competition, visits nearly 90 cities challenging teams to complete an entire film from writing, casting, filming, editing and submitting in a mere 48 hours. The challenge will be hitting Columbus, Ohio from August 13 to August 15th, 2010.

This year, Columbus will be one of a record 87 cities worldwide competing in the 48 Hour Film Project. Here is the Columbus 48HFP Page.

Filmmaking teams of all levels begin at 7PM on a Friday and deliver a finished 4 to 7 minute film by 7:30PM Sunday. Each team is assigned a genre, character, prop, and line of dialogue that they must work into their film. They are responsible for putting together a cast and crew and getting equipment and anything else necessary to make a film/video in just a weekend. Any team, regardless of skill level, is eligible to participate in this competition.

“We challenge the filmmakers not only with the tight deadline, but with the last minute assignment of a film genre and required elements such as a prop and a line of dialogue,” said Mark Ruppert, co-executive producer of the 48 Hour Film Project. “We’re always eager to see the creative work that the project inspires.”

The 48 Hour Film Project is the oldest and largest timed film competition in the world.  The Project’s mission is to advance filmmaking and promote filmmakers. The tight 48-hour deadline puts the focus squarely on the filmmaking, emphasizing creativity and teamwork and “doing” instead of “talking.” The emphasis is also on building communities of local creative people – - facilitating making new connections, showcasing skills and celebrating what creativity and teamwork can accomplish in just one weekend.

Think you might be interested in joining the filmmaking fun? Check out the details below and visit the Columbus 48HFP page for more info.

Interested in becoming the next Spielberg or Streep but don’t have a team? The Columbus site (Columbus 48HFP Page) has info on a fun meetup on Wednesday, July 28th from 7 to 10 pm at the Park Street Patio for people looking for teams and teams looking for help. Can’t make that meet-up? There is also a link to list yourself for teams that are looking for members and help. Don’t be left out….check it out!

Here is how it all works:

Sign-Up
Teams sign-up at the 48HFP website and pay a $155 registration fee (early bird special of $135 until midnight July 19th).

KickOff
THE COMPETITION STARTS HERE:
8/13/2010 6:00pm (Teams Leave at 7pm)
Movie Big Shots Studio, 753 Harmon Avenue, Columbus
Teams meet here and they will be given a genre, a character, a prop and a line of dialogue that they must work into their film.

48 Hours of Film Making Bliss
Teams meet and plan the events of the next 48 hours to produce their film. Write, cast, film, edit, compose and put in a format to turn in.

The Turn-In
THE COMPETITION ENDS HERE (TEAMS SUBMIT THE FILM THEY’VE CREATED):
8/15/2010 7:30
Gateway Film Center, 1550 N. High Street, Columbus
*Films submitted even one minute late will be disqualified.

Public Screenings
All submitted films will be screened for the public at The Gateway Film Center at 1550 N. High Street on August 18 and 19 at 6:30pm and 8:30pm.

Judging
A panel of experts will judge the films and the top films will screen again at a later date. The winning film from Columbus will be in the running for top honors at an International Film Event called Filmapalooza, the 48 Hour Film Project’s annual awards. The top 12 international 48HFP films will screen at the Cannes Short Film Corner in 2011.

And the Winners Are
The Columbus Best Film is awarded a trophy, is screened at the 48HFP Filmapalooza, and receives a $1,000 camera and gear rental from OhioHDVideo to use in their next production. The Filmapalooza Grand Prize winner receives $3000 cash, filmmaking equipment, and the Grand Prize Trophy.

Last year Columbus had 36 films submitted. The overall total films submitted in all cities was an impressive 3,000 films in 76 cities.

So, what are you waiting for?  If you’ve ever sat in a theater and thought: “I could make a better movie!“ — NOW is the time to go for it!

Who knows? Your next stop just may be the red carpet.

For More Information Please Contact:

Columbus 48HFP City Producer
KC ALLEN :: columbus@48hourfilm.com
419-434-0916 or 419-722-0824

Columbus 48HFP Associate City Producer
AMBER MIKESELL :: ammikesell@yahoo.com

www.48hourfilm.com

The 13th annual Goodguys PPG Nationals is the big one featuring more than 7,000 rods, customs, classics, muscle cars, street machines and trucks through 1972. There are also vendor and manufacturer displays as well as a huge swap meet. Take part in the Poker Run, view the Model & Pedal car show, listen in on a hot rod seminar or just kick back and have fun at a nostalgia stage show or nightly party.

The Fourth of July holiday falls on a Sunday so the celebrations and fireworks can be found throughout the weekend. Here is a list by date of the firework displays throughout Central Ohio.

July 2nd

• Buckeye Lake: dusk
• Red, White & Boom: Columbus: 10p downtown
• Granville: dusk downtown
• Heath: 10p Geller Park

July 3rd

• Dublin: 9:50 at Dublin Coffman High School Stadium
• Gahanna: 10p at Gahanna Municipal Golf Course
• Grove City: 10p at Beulah Park
• Groveport: dusk downtown
• Lancaster: 10:30p at Fairfield County Fairgrounds
• London: 9:45p at London High School
• New Albany: 9:45p at New Albany High School
• Newark: 10p at Ohio State University Newark
• Reynoldsburg: 9:45p at Civic Park
• Upper Arlington: dusk Northam Park
• Westerville: 10p at Alum Creek Park South

July 4th

• Clintonville: 10p at Whetsone Park
• Delaware: 10p at Ohio Wesleyan University
• Hilliard: 9:45p at Municipal Park
• Marysville: dusk Union County Fairgrounds
• Pickerington: 10p at Victory Park
• Plain City: 9:30p at Pastime Park
• Whitehall: 10p at John Bishop Park
• Worthington: 10p at Thomas Worthington High School Stadium

July 5th

• Bexley: 9:45 p.m.: Fireworks at Capital soccer field
• Sunbury: 10p at Big Walnut High School Stadium

There is a ton of art related stuff to do in Columbus this weekend!

• The Columbus Arts Festival starts today at 11:30AM and runs through Sunday at 6PM.  The festival is located in the Discovery District so while you’re there be sure to stop by the Columbus Museum of Art or check out the awesome art by CCAD students (their campus surrounds the festival).
• Saturday is the Gallery Hop in the Short North! Check out over 40 galleries and shops while walking around this awesome neighborhood. For more information visit http://www.shortnorth.org/
• Saturday is also the Short North yard sale from 9AM-3PM. So be sure to stop by and get some new treasures for your home. You can find more information about this event here: http://yardsale.shortnorthcivic.org/
• In the event you don’t want to walk around in the heat (and possibly rain) Sunday is also FREE GALLERY ADMISSION at the Wexner Center. There are some great artists featured at the Wexner right now including Mark Bradford and Zoe Strauss so be sure to make a stop before their shows are over.

I personally will be going to the arts festival and gallery hop tomorrow so if you see me out and about be sure to say hi! Whatever you decide to do have a great weekend!

ZombieWalk Columbus 2010: Raising the Dead to Feed the Living!

Photo from Creative Comments. Photographer David R. Hartley

Ever have the desire to dress like a zombie and participate in a mass street theater performance, both while raising awareness for charity? You’ll get your chance this Saturday, May 29th at 5:00 p.m.!

This almost two mile walk and mass street theatre begins and ends at Goodale Park and is opened to all. Participants are urged to bring canned food donations to be delivered to the Mid-Ohio Foodbank.

The official Zoombie Walk 2010 Afterparty is for Zombies 18 and over and will be held at Outland on Liberty, 95 Liberty Street, Columbus from 9a-2a. There is a $5.00 cover.

This event is definitely a site to see!

Guess what happens when two life-long film lovers get together over breakfast, discuss favorite flicks and their desire for more film discussion groups here in Central Ohio?

They decide to create one on their own.

That’s the origin of the OSU Theatre and Friends Film-Discussion Group, a newly-formed University and community-based film group that sponsors film series that invite audiences to participate in post-film discussions in person and online.

Thanks to that early morning breakfast brainstorm a few months ago, Central Ohio film lovers are now in for a treat when the “Kiss Me c/Kate: 3 Great Actresses, 7 Classic Films” discussion series kicks off at the Gateway Film Center beginning Sunday, May 23rd.

The six-week series features a selection of seven films by three of the silver screen’s most talented actresses, all of whom just happen to be named Kate/Cate:

KATE HEPBURN

KATE WINSLET

and CATE BLANCHETT.

I must disclose that it was yours truly, the Flick Chick, who was dishin’ about movies at that breakfast meetup a few months ago, along with my good friend Clay Lowe. No ordinary film lover, among his many accomplishments Clay just happens to be an Associate Professor Emeritus in the Department of Theatre at OSU. He also spent eight years discussing film as co-host of “It’s Movie Time” on WCBE-FM and spent many years as the co-host and programmer for the Columbus Museum of Art Film Series.

Let’s just say, “When Kelly met Clay”, this Flick Chick knew she had found a friend and a film series was born.

As series hosts and programmers, Clay and I will briefly introduce the films and each weekly screening and post-film discussion will include special invited guests from the worlds of film, theatre, art, music, dance, education and the media.

All screenings will be held at 2 pm on Sunday afternoons at the Gateway Film Center located on the OSU campus, with the discussion immediately following. The price is $5 per show and tickets may be purchased online at the Gateway website or at the box office.

In addition to the six Sunday afternoon selections, a special one-time only Tuesday evening screening of a newly-restored The African Queen, starring Katharine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart, will be held at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, June 1.

The series kicks off Sunday, May 23 at 2 pm with one of the greatest romantic comedies of all time, The Philadelphia Story. A wonderfully witty six-time Oscar nominee that turned star Kate Hepburn from an actress labeled “box office poison” into one of Hollywood’s most esteemed leading ladies.

Hepburn plays Tracy Lord, the perfectionist daughter of an upper class Philadelphia family who’s about to marry a charming young go-getter. But right before her big day, Tracy gets thrown for a loop by a few unexpected guests: a tabloid reporter (Jimmy Stewart) with charms of his own and her ex-husband Dexter (Cary Grant), who knows Tracy better than she knows herself.

Special first week discussion guests for The Philadelphia Story will be actress/producer Carolyna Bradford and Melissa Starker, former Arts Editor at Columbus Alive and current Sales and Marketing Manager at the Gateway Film Center.

If you truly love movies and enjoy thoughtful and engaging film discussion, make plans to see these three great Kates/Cates in action and attend the “Kiss Me c/Kate: 3 Great Actresses, 7 Classic Films” series.

Details and dates for the entire series are below:

(Click on film titles for more information)

Note: Convenient $1 parking (up to 4 hours) is available year round in the Gateway Film Center garage located right next door to the cinema on both 9th and 11th avenues.

Theater for a good cause? Count me in.

SNAP! Performance Productions is local volunteer group of singers, dancers, and actors who use their talents to raise money and awareness for Columbus charities. Over the past seven years, SNAP! has been an artistic outlet in the community to over 350 Columbus residents. This year, SNAP!’s beneficiary charity is Recreation Unlimited which is based in Ashley, Ohio and provides sport, recreational and educational programs to individuals with physical disabilities.

Next week, SNAP! Columbus will be performing their original show, Hugh Versus the Black & White, at The Lincoln Theater May 6th-8th. The storyline, song selection, vocal arrangements, choreography, set, staging, narration, and lighting design were all created over the course of 7 months and were created entirely by the cast. Hugh Versus the Black & White tells the story of a young woman separated from her true love and her quest to bring him back into her life.

Unlike a musical, Hugh is told entirely through song – singers, dancers, or both. While there is a narrator that helps push the plot along, none of the lead characters have speaking parts. The numbers this year range from rock songs (“Renegade” by Styx) to blues (“Home” by Marc Broussard) to pop (“Two is Better Than One” featuring Taylor Swift) to jazz (“El Tango de Roxanne” from Moulin Rouge).

The show runs May 6-8 with nightly performances at 8pm and a 2pm matinee Sunday, May 8. Tickets are $21 and can be purchased online here.

WIN TICKETS FROM GREATEST CITY OF ALL:
Post a comment and tell us what your favorite Columbus charity is. For a bonus entry, post a link to this article on Twitter and leave an additional comment with a link to your tweet. We’ll pick a winner on Tuesday, May 4th.

Since 1991 Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea has roasted and packaged quality, great-tasting coffee in Columbus, Ohio and taught independent business owners how to be successful in specialty coffee.  In May Crimson Cup turns 19; to celebrate on May 11th they are throwing a HUGE bash at their coffeehouse on High Street in Clintonville.  As a “thank you” to Columbus for being such a supportive community, they will sell $1 lattes and mochas all day!  In addition to $1 drinks there will be giveaways, music, and much more.  Make sure you mark this special event on your calendar!

When: Tuesday, May 11, 2010 from 6AM-8PM

What: $1 lattes and mochas to celebrate Crimson Cup’s 19th Anniversary!

Where: Crimson Cup Coffeehouse 4541 N. High Street Columbus, Ohio 43214

The Homeless Families Foundation is a family shelter in Columbus, Ohio. It provides shelter and support services for homeless families and an extensive tutoring and enrichment program for homeless and at-risk school age children.

On April 17th, Plant the Seed of Hope for homeless families in Columbus. Held at the Dowd Education Center, the event will include music by Arnett Howard, art by David Hostetler in live auction, food and beverages. Valet parking available.

Individual ticket are $100. Couple tickets are $175. Tickets can be purchased on-line.