Restaurant Widow

Don't Forget to Join the Potluck at Goodale Park Sunday!!

The Mooncussers are playing, and I'm making shrimp and grits!  I'll see you there! 

The show starts at noonish.  Please bring your own utensils and drinks!! (I am pretty sure I'm supposed to say "but not booze" right here).  Also bring a dish to share, if you are so inclined!

 

Join Me for the Mooncussers in Goodale Park this Sunday!!!

It's another hot summer, and there's nothing better to do on a Sunday afternoon than lay in the shade at Goodale Park listening to some awesome tunes and enjoying some delightful grub.

If you haven't been to a concert at the Goodale Park Music Series, then you are missing out.  I went to the first show of the season last Sunday and thought to myself "why don't I do this every Sunday?"  Even though it was hot, there is tons of shade and a nice breeze was blowing.  It was great.

So, what's this potluck thing?  Well, everyone can participate.  Bring a dish to serve 16 people - you don't have to make it, it doesn't have to be fancy.  Remember church potlucks as a kid? My favorite was always the bucket of chicken.

My theme is going to be Southern Cuisine; I'm not quite sure what that means yet....but there will definitely be cornbread. 

The band will be the Moocussers, and word on the street has it some special guests will also be showing up!

I hope to see you there!!!

Here's a slideshow from the Lonely Bones show last Sunday...(which features mostly dogs because I suck at taking pictures of crowds of people)

Thoughts on the Bourdain Show

It's no secret I love Anthony Bourdain.  Kitchen Confidential is a rite of passage for anyone in the restaurant industry, and the Nasty Bits is one of the best collections of essays of any sort.  Bourdain's writing is tough, honest, and brutal. It's rarely sentimental, so if he does wax nostalgic, you know it's for a good reason. 

Lest you think I'm just a raving sycophantic fan girl, there was a time when I wasn't quite sure about Mr. Bourdain. I wasn't crazy about the Cook's Tour show on Food Network, and I started to think perhaps he was a character - an affect - full of himself and riding the laurels of an accidentally good book. 

I remember there being one single point where I became fully re-convinced that he was indeed the bard of the back of the house, but I can't remember what it was.  At some point I realized he was completely honest; there was no affect. He really was that cool.

There were a few murmurings of people wondering what he would be doing.  I thought he might do some reading. It was a little like standup; nearly ever famous cook (not chef, but cook) on the Food Network and beyond, but he also poked fun at himself. The show was not just laced with but knitted with delightful profanity, just like a restaurant kitchen. I don't want to say too many things just in case anyone in another city googles and finds this.  

One of the things I loved the most was the Q & A portion of the evening.  Mics were set up in the theatre - even in the balcony - and audience members lined up to ask questions, which Mr. Bourdain answered honestly and completely.  There was one funny moment when some dolt from the corn industry stood up and started reciting everything they tried to shove down our throats in last year's High Fructose Corn Syrup ad campaign (literally, the same verbiage); "it's fine when used in moderation" until everyone booed and shut her up.  Actually that was pretty funny.

All in all, I found the talk to be completely inspiring; Mr. Bourdain waxed lyrical about traveling and food and his family.  The man can turn a phrase on the fly like no one I have ever heard.  It was super cool.

So now I've seen two of my heroes at the Palace - Anthony Bourdain and David Sedaris.  When's Neil Gaiman coming?

Dine Originals Restaurant Week Begins Today

Dine Originals Columbus is an organization which promotes locally-owned independent restaurants. Beginning earlier this year, DOC has featured Restaurant Weeks during some months which are typically slow.  This is a great chance to sample a restaurant you might not have a chance to otherwise.

Alas, those of us who work in these restaurants don't really get much of an opportunity to get out there and sample everyone else's fare, but then again, this week gives us a chance to make some money during a typically tight time of year.  Participating restaurants will have a menu (typically a pre-set, fixed price, multicourse menu) for either $20.09 or $30.09.  Some lesser-priced restaurants even have 2-for deals 

One great thing about this event is that there is a huge variety from which to choose. If you only have $30 to spend on eating out this week for 2, you can do it at Surly Girl. You can splurge and do $30 each at some of the best restaurants in the city (The Top, the Refectory, G Michaels) - the options are pretty endless.

You can read the menus on the DOC website; having perused them, I thought I'd offer my 2 cents - where I'd be going if I could. I hope to get a chance to do a few lunches.  Columbus Foodie is hoping to hit 8-10 restaurants this week, so you can keep up with her.

Alana's has quite a few options; including vegetarian options (kabocha squash risotto? yes, please!), and then there's that Mexican Chocolate tart with Jeni's Salt Caramel, the only dessert Husband will order in a restaurant.
Black Creek Bistro has gone out with four courses on offer - appetizer, salad, entree, and dessert!
The Elevator has options for meat, fish, and vegetables, including a winning-sounding nut brown braised short rib.
G. Michael''s also has choices to run the gamut of desires. The Widow family ate there last night and it was amazing, as usual. 
Katzinger's is offering up a menu for 2 (or 1!); choose a salad, sandwich, and dessert!
I certainly hope to get to Pistacia Vera for dessert for 2!! 
The Top Steakhouse has a great menu - escargots and prime rib!!
Aside from a lunch and dinner menu, the Worthington Inn will have 2/$30.09 brunch on Sunday.  I will tell you right now, it's way worth it. The brunch ladies visited in May and it was one of the best brunches in the city.

Things to do in Columbus::July 29th Edition

If you already checked this post out, you know I accidentally erased all of it. And it was such a good list!  At any rate, I have tried to remember everything.  As always, if you have anything to add, please do so in the comments.

• First up this week is Bacon Camp at Wild Goose Creative! Bacon camp will celebrate all things bacon, from food to arts and crafts! Some local bloggers and bakers will be competing to win top prize for their bacon creations.
• Tonight at Basi Italia, Richard Bruno from Vinum Cellars will be pouring his wines and strolling around to talk about them for Thursday night Vino on the Veranda.  Vinum is a favorite here in the Widow household, particularly for their Chenin and rose.
• Of course, the Ohio State Fair begain yesterday.  Every year I say I'm going to go to the fair and write about the yummy fair food, and I never do.  Maybe this will be the year.  One great thing happening at this year's fair will take place next Saturday, when the Columbus Crafty Cotillion takes over for the Handmade Expo!
• There are always great things happening at the Wexner Center, but this weekend you can see a compilation of animal cams! I love those! Like Falcon Cam! (well, the nest is empty now, but they'll be back next year.)
• This weekend at the CAPA Summer Movie Series, you can see Dirty Harry, King Kong, and Saturday Morning Cartoons.
• Tuesday is the Worthington Wine Walk.  Stroll through House Wine, the Candle Lab, and Caffe Daniella (among others), enjoying great wines along the way.  Tickets are $20 in advance, so it's a pretty good deal for a cheap date night.
• Summer Crab Boils return to the Hills Market - Maryland crab meets Ohio sweet corn and Ohio potatoes! There are three crab boils a day on Saturdays beginning with this Saturday! A great way to spend a Saturday afternoon after going to the farmer's markets!

Things to do in Columbus::July 23rd Edition

Can you believe how amazing the weather has been?! Seriously, I can't think of a nicer July in years and years.  I hope it's at least warm enough for the tomatoes and everything to be really great...

At any rate, I hope everyone is enjoying their summer and doing all the nice shopping and eating seasonally and event-hopping that I haven't been doing.  This is yet another great weekend of events in Central Ohio.  

As always, if you have anything to add, please leave it in the comments.  Always remember, too, that you have my permission to add me to your email list of special events or press releases.

•  This weekend is the Jazz & Rib fest in the Arena District!  I love the idea of moving the festival from the south edge of downtown to the North; you can walk to the festival, to bars, to the Short North - it's great.  The Jazz & Rib Fest always features tons of great music and of course, great food.  Best of all, it's free!
• There are lots of opportunities to see free or cheap music this weekend!  The Jazz Arts Group presents JazZoo this Friday, across town in Gahanna, you can see the Gas Pump Jockeys at Creekside in Gahanna.
• Tonight at the Wexner Center, you can see American Graffiti or Dazed and Confused! And of course, there are always lots of great things happening at the Wex.
• This week is the Violet Festival in Pickerington.
• This week's movie in the CAPA Summer Movie Series is The Awful Truth.  If you've never been to the Ohio Theatre, this is a great chance to see it at a great price. It is hands down one of my favorite places in the city.

A Few Events

I am about to head out to the country for a few days of peace, quiet, and family. And maybe the occasional political debate.  Oh! and of course, emus.I will be completely disconnected from the Intertubes (yes, if I think about that too closely I do start to feel panicky).  But I wanted to let you know about a few great things going on this weekend.

Fist up, tonight OEFFA will be hosting the Columbus premier of Food, Inc. (click on the link to see a preview of the film); there will be a reception featuring local foods (and Jeni's Ice cream!).  The 7:30 showing filled up so fast they've added a 9:30 seating.  The event will take place at the Drexel East.  You should go, because I can't. I'll be making beef and fish tacos for my whole family tonight.

Saturday at noon, I will briefly emerge from the cornfields to partake in a panel discussion on eating local foods.  This WCBE Coffee Klatch session will take place in the Dispatch kitchen at the North Market (2nd floor).  I will be joining other locavores to discuss the state of food in Central Ohio.  The others include:
Maureen Metcalf of the EarthTouch Giving Garden
*Michael Jones, Local Matters
*Nick Dekker, Wild Goose Creative
*Jaime Moore, Wayward Seed Farm
*Gabe Sturgess, Clintonville Community Market
*Lisa Dillman, RestaurantWidow food blogger
*Jen Bhaerman, Snowville Creamery

Get Ready for Bacon Camp

On August 1st, Wild Goose Creative will be hosting Bacon Camp, a national event which celebrates all things bacon.

Test your own bacon prowess by submitting a bacon-based dish or crafting a bacon-related item!  You can find more information on their website.

May Sunday Supper!!

Our next Sunday Supper will be Sunday, May 17th on the Veranda at the Hill's Market! We will finally have a few more local produce by then!! Well, at least lettuce. . .

Click below to reserve your spot (you will be able to adjust quantities on the next page), the dinner is $55, all-inclusive, and don't forget to let me know about any concerns you have, or anything you'd especially enjoy!

I can't wait to see you there!

Announcing Husband's Wine School

Husband is starting a new series of wine classes.  There will be a series of classes where you will learn progressively more about wine, regions, and tastings.  This first set of classes will focus on the fundamentals of tasting.

I you have never had the pleasure of having Husband teach you about wine, I can assure you he is really great at it (I will admit to being biased, but I am sure his guests can vouch for him).  He has a seemingly endless capacity for holding information and he is really great at educating.

Classes are a mere $25!!  Click over to his site for more information and to pay!!

Things to Do in Columbus::March 4th Edition

Well, it looks as though after today, the cold snap is going to be over for awhile, so it's time to start thinking about planting seedlings inside, maybe getting a little spring cleaning done, or whatever you're going to do this spring.

• If home improvements are on the agenda, you might want to get some ideas flowing at the Home & Garden Show, which continues this weekend.
• If exercise or weight loss is part of your 2009 plan (*sigh* I fail already), or if you would just like to ogle some muscles, this weekend is the Arnold Sports Festival, which is great for some very interesting people watching, if nothing else.  Every meat head I know loves to go to the Arnold to score the tons of free samples they offer.  
• Of course, it's gallery hope this Saturday. If you're going to be spending any money this weekend, how about supporting some locally-owned businesses during this rough economy.  With the way rents are in the Short North, some people are struggling more than ever. 
• This weekend is the Columbus Jewish Film Festival.  The festival will take place at venues from CCAD to the Museum.  The festival will showcase 10 films (click for list). 
• Don't forget that next week is Restaurant Week here in Columbus!  
• Shadow Cabaret begins "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" this weekend. 
• ProMusica will be performing at the lovely Josephinum this weekend. Organs will be featured. Fun Fact: the Josehpinum is actually part of the Vatican, and is the only pontifical college outside of the Italy (source). 
• CAPA presents Irish Fiddler Ireen Ivers on Sunday, and later in the month, the Japanese Kodo drummers!

Today is the Last Day to Sign Up for My Cooking Class at the Hills Market!

I think there might be a few spots still open for my cooking class this Thursday, March 5th! It's only $35 which includes an amuse + 4 courses and wine (more info)!

on the Menu:

Risotto Fritters

White Bean & Andouille  Soup

Arugula, celery root, and proscuitto salad

Simple Risotto

Flourless Chocolate Cake

Call the Hills Market at 614.846.3220 to sign up!

Columbus Restaurant Week - Get Ready!!

Finally, finally, Columbus has its own Restaurant Week!! From March 9th through the 15th, all 42 restaurants who are members of Dine Originals Columbus will feature a prix fix dinner for either $15 or $30.  

*Here's a little lecture: I just want to make a little note about eating at locally-owned, independent restaurants.  It's a really hard business, and they typically have little to fall back on when times our lean.  As we enter this time of "economic uncertainty" (aren't you tired of that phrase? I know I am), we have the opportunity to support the little guys.  Just something to think about before you stand in line 2 hours to eat at the blech-cake factory.*

This is your chance to dine in one of your favorite restaurant without taking the risk of breaking the bank. The menus are starting to pop up on the Dine Originals website, and they are varied.  Many of the menus give you the option of a fish or meat choice, along with a salad or appetizer and dessert.  Some restaurants with lighter menus include beer or wine with a salad and entree.  I plan to take full advantage of restaurant week because, well, restaurants are typically slow this time of year and in this economy, some of them are even slower, and even foodblogging waitresses need a cheap meal every once in awhile.  It's really hard to look through the menus and try to decide which restaurant we should try - a new spot or an old favorite? Some place we haven't been in awhile? Oh, the agony of decisions.  Would that I had the stamina to try 2 restaurants in one night!!  Hmmmm.

From the menus currently posted, here are some highlights (to me, anyway: (the links go to the restaurant's Restaurant Week menu, a pdf)

Alana's offers a choice of Lamb Bolo or Risotto - they're risotto is always amazing, and the Mexican Chocolate Pecan tarte they're offering for dessert, well, I've had one in the past 24 hours and it was nothing short of amazing.

The Burgundy Room in the Short North offers a $15/person menu which includes a spinach salad with Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette and for an entree, one of my all-time faves - cornmeal crusted walleye!

Barcelona offers a tapas tasting menu with 7 courses for $30/person. The selections will change daily and include a glass of sangria!

Basi Italia offers their famous Monday night special for a special price - spaghetti & meatballs for $15/person. I can attest to the deliciousness of this meal, trust me.

Betty's will offer a two-course menu along with a beer or glass of wine! Betty's might actually be one of those places which I could hit if I were going to do 2 places in a day, being that they serve food until 2am. This makes them a favorite for those in the restaurant business.

G. Michael's, one of my absolute favorite spots in the city (yes, I used to work there) has a seared scallop for an option as an appetizer (everyone knows they have the best scallops in the city), and highlights from the entree menu include the throw-concerns-about-cholesterol-to-the-wind Chorizo Stuffed, Bacon Wrapped Short Ribs (yes, you read that right) and a stuffed pork chop with bourbon caramel sauce. When I worked at G. Michael's, on of my favorite post-shift treats was a bowl of Chef Chef's amazing grits smothered in bourbon caramel sauce. And I weighed less then than I do now, so they can't be that bad for you!

The Inn at Cedar Falls has one of my favorites - flatiron steak - on the menu, and it's a little off the beaten path for us Central Ohians.

Katzinger's has a great option for a steal of a price - a flight of corned beef sandwiches (3 for each person), along with their great potato salad, a fudgie brownie, and of course, a trip to the pickle barrel.

The Rectory offers their yummy goat cheese salad and shoulder filet with their amazing cardamom sauce (we had that dish on our wedding day - everyone say "awwwwww).

Shaw's Restaurant and Inn offers a lunch menu featuring mini burgers, and a dinner menu with macadamia crusted Mahi Mahi!

The Tip Top offers their traditional comfort favorites with a choice of beef or veggie pot roast, and a dessert option of their great fruit pies. Is it just me or does the very thought of a fruit pie make you happy?

Tutto Vino offers a flight of cheeses!

The Wildflower Cafe will be serving up steak or bourbon glazed salmon (bourbon is a magic word on a menu for yours truly) for $15.

The Worthington Inn has a lunch burger, a dinner "discovery" menu, and, get this - a $15 elegant brunch!

I will add more highlights as menus become available. You can see the list of menus here.

Things to do in Columbus::February 25th Edition

Spring is in the air. For today, at least.  Maybe that means I'll magically become motivated to do all the writing I'm behind on!  The Home & Garden show is always a sure sign that Spring - and home improvement time - is right around the corner.  

• First up, I will be teaching a cooking class at the Hills Market a week from today. Husband will be my sous chef, and with Constance the wine buyer at the Hills, will be pairing my simple dinner with some excellent wines.  I'll make a delicious 3 ingredient soup, an very simple salad, yummy risotto, and flourless chocolate cake! I suppose this would make it a perfect cooking class for anyone who is on a Gluten Free diet, although it only just now occurred to me! Hm. Should have sold it that way. Ah well. Next time.
• I've been buying a bit of coffee from Kickstart lately, and it's tasty. In addition to coffee, Kickstart sells scooters, scooter gear, and heirloom candy, such as candy cigarettes! At any rate, every Saturday night, Kickstart has open mic night for local musicians. I never have a Satruday night off, but you should go and support local artists. Seems like a great time. They also sell treats from Pattycake Vegan Bakery! 
• As we've already discussed, this weekend, and continuing on through next weekend, is the Central Ohio Home & Garden Show.  It's a great place to see all the great things you could do for your home if you could afford it (or maybe that's just me). In addition to the tons of vendors at the show, there are always lots of great gardening and food demonstrations going on.  
• This Friday is the gala fundraiser for the Columbus Children's Theatre, "A Return to Neverland."  
• This Sunday the Too Many Cooks event at Wild Goose Creative will feature the folks from Northstar! Rumor has it these same folks will soon be opening a finer dining restaurant in Grandview with a display of tractor seats. I wouldn't know for sure, because I only have word of mouth. 
• This weekend is Polar Adventure Weekend at COSI! In addition to lots of fun events, on Sunday there will be a sled dog demonstration, along with actual sled dogs! 
• This Friday the Columbus Symphony presents Mozart til Midnight at the Palace Theatre. Snacks from Mozart's Cafe and Bakery will, appropriately enough, be available for purchase. 

Things to do in Columbus::February 18th Edition

Raise your hand if you're tired of winter. Bleh. It's funny because it seems as though every year during February, all I want to do is sleep and stay in the house and read, and it always catches me by surprise. Somehow I think Spring should be close! I suppose I should be grateful that I live here in Ohio; a friend was just telling me it's still only 12 degrees where her parents live in Michigan!

Okay, enough whining about the weather.  Let's talk about all the fun things there are to do this week in Columbus.

• First up, this weekend is the Fiery Foods Festival at the North Market! There will be a chili cookoff for both chefs and amateurs (I'm making chili! You can come judge me!) as well as a salsa competition, music, and all sorts of other fun stuff.
• Tonight is Pecha Kucha, which is a really cool event.  If you are looking to network or just see some really cool people, I highly recommend it. 
•  This weekend is the OEFFA (Ohio Ecological Food & Farm Association) Conference in Granville, OH.  I will be doing a demo Sunday about the wonders of dairy! I will show everyone how to make butter, cultured butter, and creme fraiche!
• Dudes!! Cheech and Chong are coming this weekend! 
• This Sunday is the Columbus Bridal Expo. Yikes! Let the cake eating begin!! 
• I have a cooking class coming up at the Hills Market on March 5th! Please sign up because if no one comes I will cry! I'll be making pantry basics, including risotto and yummy, yummy soups! Beware, if you click on the link there's a scary picture of me which looks nothing like me!! 
• This is an abbreviated list because I am working hard on a new project which I think will be awesome. More information coming very soon! 

Things to do in Columubs::January 28th Snow Day Edition

Let's hear it for snow days! Unless you are at/or had to work, in which case I am very sorry. I love snow days because I feel I have permission to spend the day all snuggly with various cats surrounding me, trying to motivate myself to get some writing done while surfing the intertubes and tweeting about the weather all day.

Although at some point throughout the evening, I do plan to put some dinner on the (coffee) table.  Maybe it will even *gasp* be worth writing about, who knows?!  Raise your hand if you're ready for spring.

I think everything should be all cleared up by the weekend, so we might as well talk about what there is to do.   A few things for this week have been canceled (namely Wild Raspberries at the Wexner Center), so if you are headed to an event tonight, you might want to call before you go.

As always, please feel free to add/amend/clarify events in the comments!

• Our first event this week is for those of you with kiddos in the house.  Super cool mom Amy (of Little Alouette) will be giving a talk on Saturday at Whole Foods about creative parenting.  I remember once reading on Amy's blog about how she had her son lay on his back and draw pictures using the bottom a chair to teach him about Michaelangelo painting frescoes.  How cool is that?  At any rate, she's the real thing. You should go see her.
• There are lots of cool things happening at the Whole Foods Dublin store, including lots of Valentine's Day-related events, even dinner of Valentine's from Chef Marc Dullin.  Click here for more from their calender.
• The Hills Market will present a four-part series introducing participants to the pleasures of wine.  This Wine 101 series will take place on Wednesdays during February. 
• I still have room for a few more people to join me on a tour of the North Market next Friday, February 6th at 5pm. (click the link above for more information and to reserve your spot.)  
• This Friday you can meet farmers and learn all about CSAs at Tehku Tea Room in old Dublin!  
• This Saturday, Chamber Music Columbus presents the Fine Arts Quartet at the Southern Theatre!
• In more music events, the Columbus Symphony presents conductor Edwin Outwater playing "Orchestral Jewels" this weekend.  The symphony will play Beethoven's Symphony no. 8 and Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 25, K. 503. 
• The Wexner Center's Andy Warhol exhibit Other Voices, Other rooms, closes on February 15th, so get there people!! (That includes me!) 
• There is no Clintonville Winter Market this weekend, but there is one in Worthington. 

Things to do in Columbus::December 17th Edition

Wow.  Is it cold out there or what?  I hope this means we're going to have a warm and early Spring...

Who can believe we are so close to Christmas?  Husband and I were sitting around this past Sunday and I refused to believe it was a week from Thursday.  Yikes.  This caused a whirlwind of shopping which I think is now (thankfully) over.  Now, for the wrapping.  Thank goodness for Husband, who is a whiz at wrapping (thanks, Mother in Law!)

I hope everyone out there is having a great holiday season, or non-holiday, if you don't celebrate any holidays.  I hope everyone out there is able to celebrate in the way they wish.  In this economy, I know it can be rough.  My family had a few rough Christmasses when I was little, and I turned out perfectly fine (well, I suppose that's debatable) - so, don't worry if you can't give the kiddos every single video game on their list.  They'll be fine.

So, what is there to do in Columbus this week?  Read on...

As always, if you would like to add an event, please feel free to do so!  And, please read the comments because I will not have the time to update the listing!  Events are a little light this week, probably owing to the holidays...

• First of all, Grease is in town.  Those of you who know Husband might be surprised to learn that he knows every single word to Grease.
• The Columbus Children's Theatre presents Ebenezer throughout the weekend! 
• If you missed the Holiday Hop in the Short North, which you probably did because the weather was nearly unbearable, you have another chance this Saturday during the Holiday [s]Hop.  
• Yet another chance to buy from local crafters is Gifts From the Craftsman at the Ohio Craft Museum.  One more place in Ohio I haven't been and have always wanted to go. 
• Pretty places to see holiday lights and other great things: Franklin Park Conservatory, the Zoo, Alum Creek, Creekside Park.
• Shadowbox presents Holiday Hoopla! - has anyone else seen the billboard at 3rd & (Chestnut?) which says "it's like SNL, only funny?"  I love that sign, because I get so irritated watching SNL and how NOT FUNNY it is.  Shadowbox, however, = funny.  You should go.  
• The Arena Grand continues its Holiday movie series this week with the Polar Express.

Things to do in Columbus::December 3rd Edition

Well, it's winter here in Central Ohio, and being the first week of December, that means there are lots of things to do this weekend, mostly involving spending your money on cool gifts.

There are so many things to list; if you emailed me an event and I forget, please let me know.  Also, if you have an event to add, please don't hesitate to leave a comment or send me an email.

Of course, those special folks who follow me on Twitter are going to be visiting me at my new job tomorrow night!

• First up, there are two great events this week at the North Market.  The first is tomorrow night, the "Ladies of the North Market Cookie Exchange."  The fabulous ladies of the North Market will be baking up their best cookies for you to enjoy (and take with you). At the event, you can enjoy coffee or wine, along with lots of finger foods and stories of the market.  Robin Davis, food editor for the Columbus Dispatch, hosts.  Saturday at the Market is the Holiday Open House & Craft Extravaganza.  Lots of local artisans will be featuring their crafts and artsy goods.  If you are committed to buying things which are locally produced as gifts this holiday season, this is a great place to find cool things.

• This Sunday is the Home for the Holidays tour of homes in Olde Towne East.  OTE is home to some of the most beautiful houses in Columbus, so this will certainly be a great tour.  While you are in that part of town, you can take in the topiary garden or just stroll around.  It's pretty.

• Of course, this Saturday is the Holiday Hop in the Short North.  The Holiday Hop is the largest Gallery Hop of the year, and it's very festive (if you aren't working).  It's another great chance to do some holiday shopping, especially if you are interested in unique and artistic gifts.
• This weekend is the Winterfair at the Ohio Expo Center.  Yet another opp to buy crafty things.  
• This weekend, the Columbus Gay Men's Chorus will perform their annual Christmas program, JOY!, at the King Avenue Methodist Church.  There's even a matinee on Saturday!  
• This Saturday is the Holiday Student Art Sale at CCAD.  If you've never been and you are looking to get more art into your life, you really have to go.  Whether you want to spend $5 on a screen printed card or $1000 on a wall-sized painting for your great room, it's a fantastic event.  
• CATCO has great things going on this weekend and beyond.  First of all, every year I say I am going to go see Santaland Diaries and yet I haven't made it yet.  This year, I'm doing it.  So, there's David Sedaris' Santaland Diaries, and also a duo of Truman Capote's stories, A Christmas Memory and the Thanksgiving Visitor.
• This weekend begins the Holiday Movie series at the Arena Grand Theatre in the Arena District.  This week's movie is White Christmas!  
• Mad Lab presents 3 in 30 this month - 3 holiday-thremed, original plays will show at 10:30pm on Saturday.  The best part? The shows are short (30 minutes) and are only $5.  It's a great place for a date, boys.
• This Saturday is the Craft Fair at Sprout Soup, a natural Mom & Baby store in Clintonville.    
• This week is membership appreciation week at the Wexner Center; you will recieve 20% off the fabulous stuff at the Wexner gift shop, a free beverage at Cam's, and a behind-the-scenes tour of Other Voices, Other Rooms on Saturday!