Things to do in Columbus::July 10th Edition

Update!  James, a server extraordinaire at Alana's, who is only 26 years old, had a heart attack as a result of a congenital defect about 2 weeks ago.  There will be a benefit for James this Sunday at Alanas from 4-8pm.  The cost is $50, and you can buy drinks there or byob and share.  There will be a Mexican Buffet.  James is yet another member of the Central Ohio restaurant working community with no health care.  I don't mean to sound flippant about that.  Crumpet had a heart attack last year, and he received a bill for $127,000.  What is one supposed to do with that?  And he was only out of work for TWO WEEKS.  James was in ICU for at least 10 days.  My only small hope is that, somewhere out of this, comes some reform for insuring the employees small businesses.  (it's cost prohibitive for most employers, and at this time small businesses are prevented from co-opping for cheaper rates.)

By the way, thanks to the generosity of the Ohio Health System, Crumpet's bills were forgiven.  But not everyone can be so lucky. 

Whew!  Laziness overcame me, and I decided to volunteer to take the night off at work (July, for those of you who don't rely on tips, is a notoriously bad month in restaurants.  Unless you live in a resort town).  That was nice because it is allowing me to catch up on a few things!  There is a ton of stuff going on this weekend in Columbus, so if you can't find anything to do, you simply aren't trying hard enough!

As always, if there is anything you'd like to add, please leave it in the comments.

• First up is the Food & Ohio Wine festival at the North Market!  I will be an *ahem* celebrity pourer at the pre-show, which takes place tomorrow (Friday) night, so stop by and say hello!  Other celebrity pourers include CMH Gourmand and finalist for Alive's "People to Watch 2008" Walker Evans (actually not pouring this year, my bad!).  Saturday morning there will be cooking demos from Hung Huynh & Richard Blaise from Top Chef!
• The Musicians of the Columbus Symphony are working to raise money and awareness for the floundering symphony; this is a pretty cool grassroots effort by the artists to try to get control of their own future.  They have 2 performances this weekend, and they are a mere $10 for adults, $5 for kids.  Friday is Dance! Dance! Dance! a family pops concert in Dublin, and Saturday, the music will be announce from the stage!  How mysterious!
• The Wexner Center is in the middle of a full vertical (that's wine lingo for chronological) Stanley Kubrick retrospective (swoon); this weekend you can catch 2001:A Space Odyssey (Friday) and Spartacus (Saturday).  Don't forget to check out the Jeff Smith Bone & Beyond exhibit while you are there!  And an amazing Warhol exhibit is coming!  I'll be at the preview party!  I'm official media these days!
• This weekend is the Westerville Music & Arts festival at Heritage Park.  If you've never been to Heritage Park, it's super cool.  You should go.  There's this giant barn there.
• This Saturday is Waterfire on the Mile at North Bank Park.  It's free.  And smoky.
• This weekend the CAPA Summer Movie Series wraps up with Okalahoma!
• This Sunday, Music in the Air presents Helen Hagerty and Sweet Sixteen at Goodale Park; and Tuesday during lunch hour in the Topiary Garden, Spike Driver will perform.
• Speaking of outdoor music, tomorrow during lunch hour you can hear Steve Ball on the West lawn of the Statehouse.
• This week at Whole Foods Dublin: friday's Five after Five's theme is "running with the bulls"; OH, today was a singles event & pet adoption party!  too bad I'm late on my events!;  Monday is snack for tots, Monday's secret ingredient is French food, for Bastille Day, Tuesday is Seasonal Tea Beverages.  More info, events and detailed info.