Things to do in Columbus::January 30th Edition

Is anyone else ready for Spring?  If I spend any more time sleeping and eating carbs, I am going to emerge from my house sometime in May, as jiggly and ghostly pale as a panna cotta.  Just yesterday, I think I ate 3 slices of potato bread, toasted and spread with sour cherry jelly (YUM. Tastes just like July), some egg noodles, and about a pound of white rice with butter.  Yay, things that are white! 

If it makes you feel any better, I was just reading through last year's posts, and I think I bought my first farm market goods on March 31st.  Of course, with this year's Worthington Winter Farm market, you don't have to wait so long, thankfully.

Well, here are a few things to do this week, if you can bundle up and face the wind and cold (weren't we supposed to have snow, too?)  As always, leave your events in the comments section or email me.

• First up, if you are feeling the pinch of January and need a cheap date, how about the Columbus Underground Movie Happy Hour tonight at Studio 35!?  Get this - 2 movies (Sweeney Todd, which is awesome, and No Country for Old Men) for $5, and $3 draft PBRs.  The event begins at 7pm.
  
• And, since I'm not the only one who listed Franklin Park as their favorite place in Columbus, don't forget the Orchid Forest is ongoing; tonight, from 5p - 8p is one of their "Winter Days, Orchid Nights," with music and tropical refreshments.  Yet another cheap date, boys!
• All kinds of great things are going on at the Wexner Center.  First of all, tonight you can see a selection of short films from OSU students.  Throughout the month of February, director Spike Lee, winner of the Wexner Prize, will be featured and honored for his work; you can see his moving When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts continuously during regular Wexner Center hours, in the Box.  Click over to their site for even more events.
• Of course, this weekend is the Gallery Hop in the Short North.  Bundle up!
• The Ohio Statehouse will feature the work of Etch-a-Sketch artist Tim George throughout the month of February.  Yet another fun and cheap (free, event!) date.  It is located in the crypt of the State House, which sounds very scary.  While you are there, take a tour of the Statehouse.  It is very pretty.  Being that February is Black History Month, the Statehouse will also feature an exhibit detailing the struggle for civil rights in our state.  There will be special soul food specials in the Statehouse Cafe, and there are free lunchtime concerts throughout the month.  Click to their website for more information.
• For those of you bloggers or blogger wannabes who are interested in the NPR Social Media Cafe, the next meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, January 31st at COSI; parking is $3.
• This week in the Sur la Table cooking school: Thu 1/31 - Stocks & Soups with Mike McCauley ($65); Fri 2/1 - Seasoning & Flavoring with Mike McCauley; Sat 2/2 - Essential Knife Skills with Mike McCauley (10:30 am); Mon 2/4 - Eating Healthy with Michael Frank; Tue 2/5 - Mardi Gras Party with Mike McCauley.  Unless otherwise stated, classes are $69 and take place at 6:30pm.  Click to their website for more information.
• This Week at Whole Foods Dublin: Mondays will feature special tastings; next Monday the 4th, taste some great Mardi Gras fare and enjoy music by Arnett Howard (6p - 8p); Saturday the 2nd, learn about the Whole Body product line with free lectures; Next Wednesday the 6th, there will be a special pre-store-opening yoga class for only $5.  Registration is required.  Click to their calender for more information.
• This Week at Wild Oats/Whole Foods Arlington: Sat 2/2 - Enjoy a clambake on the patio (12p - 3p)!  Wear your cutest scarf and enjoy a meat or seafood clambake for a mere $5 (notice a cheap date theme?); Thu 2/7 - Free singles wine tasting from 6p - 9p with food and prizes!