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!

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!

Its that time again. Time for the Arnold Sports Festival.

With 44 sports and events, including 12 Olympic sports, the 2010 Arnold Sports Festival presents fitness and fun for all ages March 4-7. The festival has expanded into the world’s largest multi-sport fitness weekend since its 1989 beginning as The Arnold Classic as a one-day professional men’s bodybuilding competition.

About 170,000 sports fans are expected to see 18,000 athletes compete in a variety of more than 40 sports and events at five premier venues: the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Franklin County Veterans Memorial, LC Pavilion, Nationwide Arena and the Dispatch Ice Haus. At the popular three-day Arnold Fitness EXPO packed audiences enjoy 700 fitness-related booths and ongoing stage entertainment.

Many Arnold Sports Festival participants are youth competing in archery, boxing, cheerleading and dance, dancesport, fencing, figure skating, gymnastics, martial arts, skateboarding, table tennis, weightlifting and wrestling. Top student athletes compete for one of nine $2,000 college scholarships presented by the Columbus Rotary and the Arnold Sports Festival.

Olympic Sports: The Arnold Sports Festival is a proving ground for many aspiring athletes. Former Olympians and Olympic hopefuls will appear or compete in 12 Olympic Sports: archery, boxing, fencing, figure skating, gymnastics, judo, karate, running, table tennis, tae kwon do, weightlifting, and wrestling.

New in 2010:

* Arnold Figure Skating Exhibition is scheduled Saturday in the Dispatch Ice Haus
* Arnold Amateur Strongman will bring 50 of the world’s top amateurs to compete in a new event separate from the professionals in the Arnold Strongman Classic
* Art at the Arnold where artists compete in a drawing and painting competition
* Skateboarding competition
* Amateur MMA Festival
* Arnold Sports Photo Workshop
* Ohio Senior Olympics competitions added to the Active Living Festival
* CrossFit multisport event that promotes overall physical fitness

“A $10 daily EXPO ticket affords you a great entertainment value.” co-producer Jim Lorimer said. “There’s something for everyone … from world class athletes, sports fans and those seeking self improvement tips or just a fun time. You’ll find a dazzling array of sports and fitness options.”

The Conservatory’s Pacific Island Water Garden comes alive with the warmth and color in the midst of winter. Waves of hundreds of colorful, tropical orchids are arranged on arches, descend from trees and complement lush, green foliage. Waterfalls, and a koi pond, along with Dale Chihuly glass artworks set the stage for a mid-winter escape.

This Sunday, November 15th from noon until 6:00 p.m., why not head down to the Nationwide arena where you can rub elbows with some of your favorite Blue Jackets players and personalities in a fun, casual setting. There will be no checking on Sunday and you’ll be helping the Blue Jackets Foundation!

The Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that works in partnership with the National Hockey League club.

The Foundation is dedicated to using its unique resources to raise public awareness and financial support for essential and timely initiatives that represent our four recognized pillars of giving – pediatric cancer, children’s health & safety, education and the development of youth hockey.

Some highlights of this year’s festival include:

• Interactive game stations with Blue Jackets players in the Best Buy Zone
• Player photo opportunities in the penalty boxes and with Steve Mason and the Calder Trophy
• Autograph stations with multiple players
• Locker room tours presented by FOX Sports Ohio
• 2K Sports NHL 2K9 video game tournament where winner plays Rick Nash
• Live and silent auctions featuring Blue Jackets items and experiences, array of other sports memorabilia

And ode to pumpkin:

We love you pumpkin
Oh yes we do
We love you pumpkin
You know it’s true
When it’s not October
We’re blue
Oh, pumpkin, we love you.

The annual Circleville Pumpkin Show officially kicks off tonight and I’ve got pumpkin on the brain. In over its 100th year, the show one of the nation’s larges, a Columbus staple, and appropriately billed as the “Greatest Free Show on Earth.”

Parades, rides and a whole lot’ of pumpkins – pumpkin pie, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin fudge, pumpkin decorations, pumpkin pumpkins. It’s pumpkastic.

The show runs Wednesday Oct 21 through Saturday Oct 24. It takes place on the streets of downtown – you really can’t miss it.

Photo credits: gorkon280 and rduffy

Being the Italian writer for GCOA I felt it my duty to inform everyone of the Italian Festival this weekend, Columbus Day weekend October 9th, 10th and 11th.

Come and enjoy  live entertainment, open-air markets, Italian dancing, Bocce, Zona Bambini (children’s area) and incredible food from Columbus area Italian eateries.

ADMISSION

Adults $5 per day, Children 12 and under (when accompanied by an adult) are free.

3-day Weekend passes will be available for $10.00 at:

•  Casa di Carfagna, 1405 E. Dublin-Granville Rd

•  Carfagna’s Kitchen, 2025 Polaris Pkwy

•  Cafe del Mondo, 659 N. 4th Street

HOURS

Friday, October 9th: 5 -11PM

Saturday, October 10th:  Noon-11PM

Sunday, October 11th: Noon -8PM

LOCATION

The festival will be held outdoors on the grounds of the historic Saint John the Baptist Italian Catholic Church, in Italian Village at the corner of Hamlet & E. Lincoln Streets next to the Wonder Bread building. The location is easily found one block west of N. 4th Street, just north of the I-670 ramp at 168 E Lincoln St, Columbus, OH  43215.

Visit Columbus Italian Festival website for all the details.

Mangia, Mangia!

All the best food that the 43212 has to offer, all in one place

This Sunday, October 4th, is the fourth annual taste of Grandview, a chance to enjoy the best appetizers, entrees and desserts from 16 Grandview Heights restaurants, including Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream, Champps, BW3, Gordon’s Gourmet, W.G. Grinders, Trattoria Roma, Hoggies, Smokeshack BBQ, Marshall’s, Five Guys Burgers & Fries, Cap City Fine Diner and Bar, Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, Columbus Fish Market, Old Bag of Nails, Noodles & Co. and Third & Hollywood. There will be live bands, childrens’ arts and crafts and more.

The event will be held from 2 to 7 p.m. at McKinley Field Park, 1661 Goodale Blvd. Admission and parking for Taste of Grandview Heights are free. Over 4,000 people attended last year’s event.

Taste of Grandview is sponsored by Members First Credit Union, Grandview Marble Cliff Chamber of Commerce and the city of Grandview Heights.

After nearly being canceled for 2009, the Columbus Oktoberfest is a go this weekend.

This year’s event will take place at the Ohio Expo Center instead of in German Village. Schmidt’s Restaurant and Sausage Haus took over the event this year after the German Village society canceled the event back in July claiming economic issues.

…don’t they know that during economic downturns people tend to drink MORE beer? Just one more reason to keep the event going during a recession. Just my opinion, of course.

Gather the family and come on out to one of Columbus’ favorite festivals, Oktoberfest, and enjoy some great food, music, games and of course… BEER. Ich bin ein Oktoberfester! (I am an Oktoberfester!)

Admission is free; parking is $8.