What Should I do this Week in Columbus?

The holiday season is in full swing.  It might have been 70 degrees here in Columbus, Ohio for the past week, but that doesn't mean it isn't time for shopping and eating.  It just means it's that time in Columbus.  Shopping, eating, and ducking in an out from under your umbrella for the next 2 months, patiently waiting for at least a little snow to make all the cold worth it.  Here are a few thoughts on what to do this weekend, and the week ahead:

• Fist of all, everyone should be going to Skate on State, the temporary ice skating rink on the lawn of the statehouse.  I really wanted to go last week, when it was warm, but a football-induced napping episode left me completely all wonky with a neck/nerve injury all week, so ice skating was out of the picture for me.  This should be a warning to all: dozing off while watching football, just because you're too lazy to get up and find something else to do, can be hazardous to your health!
• Tonight (Friday), you can get all dolled up and decked out in your Santa hat and head to Sugar Bar ( 525 N. Park) for the Kringle Mingle, bring a new, unwrapped toy to benefit Columbus Big Brothers & Sisters and receive a button for discounts at Short North Businesses.  7pm - 11:30pm.
• If you can face the crowds at Easton, check out Shadowbox Cabaret's Holiday Hoolpa show.  Shows are at 7:30pm, tickets are $25.
• The Wexner Center (corner of High & 15th Ave, campus area) still has their Shiny exhibit, as well as all kinds of good films and other exhibits this weekend.
• Saturday night, there's no place to be but the Short North for the Gallery Hop.  If you're coming in from the suburbs, take my advice and park in the parking garage on Vine street instead of driving around forever looking for a space.  It's only $5 or so, and isn't that worth you not getting in a fight with your backseat driving girlfriend before you even get to dinner?  This Saturday, December 2nd, is the Holiday Hop, which means every store will be fabulously decorated from top to bottom and there will be shopping galore.  If you're lucky, maybe they will even get those arches lit.  (Here's a brief history for new Columbusites, or out-of-towners: in the 1800s, Columbus was known as the "Arch City" for the wrought iron arches which lined High street for a mile or 2.  Of course, progress happened and they were torn down.  In the early 2000s, our city leaders decided to erect new arches, which would be lighted and would be a beacon of our fair city for miles around - people would travel to us just to gaze upon our amazing lighted arches.  Until they were actually lit, and then the dream faded.  Quickly.  The arches didn't even stay lit for a week before the lights begain to go out, piece by piece.  Millions of dollars and a few lawsuits later, the arches are supposed to be lit tomorrow night.  You'd better believe I'll be driving through on my way home from work to see how it turned out.)  At Holiday Hop, you can take carriage rides around the park, choke down a few roasted chestnuts, and spend the rest of the evening huddled in a bar, because, of course, it's been 70 degrees all week - until tomorrow, when the high will be 39.  Welcome to Columbus.
• For your libations, I would like to recommend 8 bar; it's a relative newcomer to the Short North, they have a great on-tap beer selection and the wonderful Chef Ben presides over the kitchen (you might remember him from such posts as "Look! Tomatoes!" and "I Grew This!", as he is tomato grower extraordinaire).  I have not yet written up 8 bar, although I have had some great food there and promise to get around to it very soon.  Or in January.  I can personally recommend: fish sticks - pictured above - (I've heard some people criticize their use of tater tots here, but, sitting around a table with Husband's coworkers last Saturday, we came to the conclusion, who doesn't like tater tots!?  Husband claimed he didn't, and then promptly consumed at least 10.  See?  Even if you claim you don't like tater tots, you still do, and you will still eat them with pleasure), lamb shank (should be especially good when it's 30 degrees out!), mac 'n cheese, and their burger is also good, but why get a burger?  Having had previous experience with Chef Ben's duck confit, I'm guessing that is pretty good, too.
• Get in the (cynical) spirit of Christmas and go see CATCO's production of Santaland Diaries.  I am a huge David Sedaris fan, and have seen him read a few times here in Columbus.  It is my holiday tradition to listen to "Holidays on Ice" while wrapping Christmas presents and traveling to various family members' houses for holiday events.  I probably listen to Santaland Diaries 5 times a season and never tire.  This is a play version, along with "Seasons Greetings," which was written by Sedaris, but will be preformed by CATCO members.  It's sure to be a hoot.  For mature audiences only, please.  Here's the best part - on Wednesday mornings at 11am, you can see the show for $11!!!  Perfect for restaurant workers like me.  Other tickets are $24.50 - $39.50.
• If you are a regular to ColumbusUnderground.com, you might want to join them this week for their monthly get-together, which will take place this Thursday, December 7th at Lotus Bar (Brewery District, 482 S Front) from 6p - 9p, drink specials and drawings for Paul Robinett candles.  I plan to attend, barring some sort of work emergency.

Comments

[Elizabeth]

simple but quality, thanks!o

[asdf]

Thank you sooooo much!s

[Dave]

I love my daughter more than anything in life, but I'm DYING to get out. This post is killing me. Santaland Diaries sounds incredible. We saw Sedaris on his most recent visit; he's hilarious. I'm curious to see how this production goes off.

TO the child-free, have fun!

Someday, we'll get used to using a baby sitter.