I love Christmas. Well, I love this Christmas, anyway. This is the first Holiday season in which: I have only had one job and/or have not worked in retail. Last year I was still baking and serving, and the 3 years before I was working at Williams Sonoma and serving. And before that, I was working in my corporate nightmare, Big Clothing Retailer, where, just because I had a desk job, didn't mean I wasn't expected to go out to the warehouse and pick orders for the 2 weeks leading up to Christmas. It is also the first season in which Husband has only had one job or wasn't working 70 hours a week. 2 Christmases ago, our first Christmas in a house we owned, with my family in town, Husband found himself the only manager in his bar, working from noon to 3 or 4 in the morning every day for over a month. You can imagine how fun that holiday was.
All of that to say, this Christmas we are having a party and enjoying the season. We've even had our first snow in Columbus, and it's bitterly cold to boot, just to be sure we know it's winter. So, let's all get out there and enjoy it.
I will refer to last week's edition, wherein I mentioned Skate on State, Shiny, Santaland Diaries, and other ongoing holiday events.
- Tonight, December 8th, is the Grand Opening of the restaurant inside BoMA, aka the Bar of Modern Art. Executive Chef, or, as BoMA's website refers to him, "Gentleman Cook" (I have no idea what that is, but it sounds like a job one might take at an old time bordello) is Alex Rodriguez, formerly of the Rossi. I have yet to grace BoMA with my presence, having been eagerly anticipating the opening of the restaurant. If anyone visits please send word.
- Candlelight at the Conservatory sounds romantic enough to entice me to beg Husband to get a Wednesday night off work and eat food catered by Cameron Mitchell restaurants (that's really saying a lot). Franklin Park Conservatory is one of Columbus' treasures, and is one of my favorite places in the city. Until the end of the year, they will have special Wednesday evening hours (December 13th, 20th, and 27th) where you can meander the gardens by candlelight from 5pm - 8pm, and enjoy a dinner in the Palm House at 6pm. Tickets are $46 (no word on the inclusion of wine at dinner) and reservations can be made by calling Cameron Mitchell Restaurants at 614.297.0870. There are a few family- and children-oriented events going on, which you can read about by following the link above.
- Another family-oriented event, which sounds like a dream come true to the 4-year-old who still lives in my heart is the life-size gingerbread house and candyland I read about in the food section of this week's Dispatch (registration might be required to view article). Located at an herb and knickknack store called Herb 'n Ewe, the life-size gingerbread house display, along with the Midwest Gingerbread competition, will take place trough the holidays. Herb 'n Ewe is located in Thornville, OH - about a 40 minute drive east of Columbus, just south of Johnstown. For more information, call 740.323.2264.
- It's that time of year again - Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo will take place until the end of the year. The zoo is decked out in millions of lights, and you can get warm with visits to the aquariums and reptile house if need be. Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for kids.
Hopefully I've provided some good ideas on what to do with your weekend. Next week, when I am not in the midst of Christmas party planning, I will dig a little deeper to find some fun events.
