I Love My: Gym

I Love My Gym!

There's a few reasons why I love Planet Fitness.

First, and most important -- the price! They really have a great leg-up on the competition (the Urban Actives and Lifestyle Fitnesses of the city) because they only charge $10 a month!!! That's it. And you get just as much from this gym, as you would at any other gym with the most basic plan. You can go for the $20 plan, and that adds on tanning to your membership, as well as use of the massage chairs in the relaxation room. Everyone gets a bumper sticker, pen and t-shirt upon signing a contract. However, if you sign up for the basic membership, you can only work out at the club you signed with. But having a "Black Card" membership (the $20 one) allows you to work out at the other locations.

But not only is the price right, their contracts are pretty much not-binding whatsoever. You can cancel whenever you want. You just have to either come in and do it, or submit something in writing. No penalties, fees, etc. No strings attached. There is an annual fee of, I believe, $29 bucks. But, because you are able to quit the membership at any time, you could very well avoid that annual cost all together by canceling your membership prior to having been a member there for a year.

I go to the Clintonville location, right off of Indianola nearest the North Broadway intersection. It's a tucked away, remote location...but for the price, who cares?! Dublin is where the other Planet Fitness is located.

The gym is always hoppin'. Peak hours are right after work, of course, so that's one thing to remember if you join. It's best to try and get there around the 7 pm hour, if you're a person like me who works out in the evenings. That way you're most likely to get use of the machine of your choice.

Second, I love the club's motto and how they draw in their core customers. They consider their gym a "no judgment zone." That's a very inclusive message, and good marketing to boot. There is a large mixture of types of people who use Planet Fitness. You have the former jocks and super buff guys who live in the gym and always seem to be training for something, but you also have the novices who've never used a stair-stepper before (I actually witnessed this). There's personal trainers, tatted-up rockers and indy/emo/hipsters all working out together as one big happy family. It's refreshing to see.

They have those awesome free floating elliptical-like machines (above). 
It's my favorite one to use.

Photos courtesy of planetfitness.com

Third, Planet Fitness has some non-traditional ways of catering to their members...this is through constant and never-ending offerings of candy. They carry Tootsie Rolls and the purple grape-flavored, fruity Tootsie Rolls, in little bowls, placed around the facility. (Purple is because that's the company's color, along with yellow). Candy, one might think, defeats the purpose of a "gym." They feed you sugar while you're on the stationary bike?! Well, if you are able to be self-disciplined and/or live in moderation, then you can eat a couple of the pieces of candy each time you come, and not feel bad about it. 

Also, at the Clintonville spot, on the first Monday night of each month, they host a Pizza Party with free pizza for gym-goers. Also seems contradictory, and it is, but I don't pass up free pizza. Ever. Even if I have to stay an extra 30 minutes more to work it off.

You can sign up online and pay your dues online, as well as transfer a membership to another location. Several states have PFs, as they are a franchise. It only costs a one-time fee of $10 to start your membership.

Note: The only things that I wish were different about PF is...there's not too many locations around Columbus. And they do not offer any kinds of classes, like kick-boxing, Zumba, spinning or otherwise. Maybe soon they'll adopt that idea.

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I Got Towed

WARNING:

Do not park in the parking lot of the campus McDonald's on High St. and 17th, unless you really are going to McDonald's.

This evening, I made the mistake of parking in that lot to run to Subway. Now, there is a HUGE sign that warns people will be towed if they leave their vehicle in that lot and are not patronizing McDonald's -- in plain English -- and it clearly says enforced 24 hours a day.

It was my own fault, of course I know this, because I chose to ignore the sign. I decided to go on past experience, which told me that I wouldn't get towed since it had never happened before. Wrong!

Weird thing is, my gut told me not to park there at that moment. For some reason, I just had a feeling I'd get towed. It might be because I saw there was a guy sitting in a parked suburban SUV in the corner of the lot. I thought that was a little odd, and had never seen anyone doing that before in that parking lot. But the dude was yakking on his cell, so I thought he was just waiting for someone to come out of the McDonald's. Strangely, I even had a thought for a split second, that he might be someone associated with the towing company, like a spy or something. That seemed a bit too paranoid, so I ignored that instinct.

Plus, I reasoned that it wouldn't take very long to get my subs...how would a tow truck find my car, hook it up and tow it all in that short of a time frame, I figrued? Right? No. In the time it takes to make a couple of subs at Subway, and run to the ATM two doors down, your car can get towed.

But the ironic thing about this was that when I came back to discover my car was gone, the guy sitting in the dark, parked car walked over and told me my car was towed, why it was towed, and that he worked for CamCar, the towing company. He even said he'd give me a ride to go get my car (creepy) if I needed it. He WAS a towing company spy! The sign wasn't lying when it said "enforced 24 hours a day." Take heed folks, unless you feel like throwing $140 down the drain just like that.

Photo courtesy of Eric Faller, ericfaller.com (and that is not my car or my neighborhood, btw), and sign photo is courtesy of signsaustin.com

One of our own featured on Apartment Therapy!

One of my favorite blogs in the world, Apartment Therapy, featured a couple who lives here in Columbus on their blog this past week, the week of August 23-27.

This is super exciting because it showcasing some of the amazing homes, interior design and decorating that we have to offer here in the Columbus metro area.

Apartment Therapy does a series called House Tours, where they go and tour people's homes (obviously). Thing is, the blog started off by mainly touring uber-cool apartments, lofts, studios, bunaglows, cottages, condos, and actual houses (yes, the name of the blog conjures thoughts of all things "apartment," but its about home-life in general whether you own or rent) in urban areas only found in or around large cities. Homes in LA, Boston and Washington DC, for example, were getting all the love.

Well, thankfully, Mary and Eric, a couple who reside in Harrison West got to show off their cozy, eclectic, masculine-vintage crib to the world. According to the article, Mary is an executive at North Market (so you already know her house is probably gonna be pretty frickin' awesome, right?), and Harrison West is this up-and-coming area of central Columbus, right near downtown, near The Short North and Victorian Village.

I, for one, am quite proud.

Here's a preview of the House Tour -- Mary & Eric's Harrison West Transformation. You gotta head on over to their blog to see the full posting.

Photos courtesy of apartmenttherapy.com

Goodbye Sugar, Hello Saloon

So back in July, Sugar Bar down on Park St. in Arena District closed down...temporarily. It was said that the owners The CGS Group (also owners of Park Street Patio, Cantina, The Social and the former Sugar Bar) shut the place down to revamp it.


But The CGS Group is ready to reveal their newest concept with the grand opening of Park Street Saloon. This new piano bar will open September 16, 2010! Oh, you know I'll be there, and I'll post again with a review.

It makes sense because these guys, Corso, Gallicchio and Swanson, are known to reinvent their night spots every so often. Cantina would be the most recent example of this (it just opened in May 2010 and was previously known as Spice).

Talent for the new bar has already been booked. And they are hiring, too. Bartenders, servers, barbacks, security, entertainers/musicians etc., are being recruited.

Photos courtesy of thecgsgroup.com. (Sorry for the photo quality, I don't have a hi-res version)

Nitelife Review: Suite 143

There's a new name to add to your short list of night spots here in The Bus.

Suite 143, a new, swanky bar and lounge downtown in the red-brick district, shows us a "suite" time.

The bar/lounge had it's grand opening in the beginning of this month. I had to the privilege of enjoying happy hour at the bar on their first Wednesday night in business, and definitely had a good time. (Loved their menu of specialty martinis and mixed drinks...particularly one called "The Chris Brown").

The curb appeal of this club can be deceiving at 303 S. 4th Street (near Main St.), in that the front door is tucked away, so you have to make sure you keep your eye out for the modern, rought-iron gate with the logo that, once you've entered it, leads you through a bricked hallway between two buildings.

As I was walking underneath iron fire escapes, I couldn't help but feel transported to a place like Chicago or New York -- the feeling was very urban. Once I was inside, I was greeted with a cool, blue atmosphere and a to-die-for chandelier. The interior design for the club was nicely done; there's a great use of color and lighting. The bar itself is front and center in the building, so it's a very cocktail-hour type place.

One thing I will say is that I was a little surprised by the size of the bar/lounge. It is a little on the small side. But that doesn't mean a thing, because if your M.O. is swaying to today's hottest lounge grooves, catching up with friends over signature mixed drinks or wine in an intimate space, then you will find yourself here often, I'm certain.

The size of the place could only become a problem in that it might inhibit large numbers of people from being able to hang out there, or have a party, for example. There isn't much of a dance floor either, so this wouldn't be the place to come if you're really trying to cut a rug.

Mayor Michael Coleman stepped out, gracing Suite 143 on its opening night, as well as local celebrity, Power 107.5FM radio DJ and co-host of Power Morning Crew, Misty Jordan (pictured below). President and CEO of the Columbus Urban League, Eddie Harrell and his wife were also there to be one of the first few to test out the new lounge (not pictured).

Since it's opening, the place grows in popularity with each passing week. If you ask me, I'd definitely recommend this place.

Photos courtesy of Kelsey Crenshaw of Chameleon Photo & Deisgn, and C. Wise Entertainment.

Best Kept Secrets of Columbus: Resch's Bakery

I had the privilege tasting something scrumptious the other day. And it was from one of Columbus' Best Kept Secrets...Resch's Bakery!

So someone brought a humongous box of their freshly baked donuts one morning and usually I try to be good, and not eat donuts of any kind -- particularly huge twisty ones -- oh, but something told me to sample this special treat. HEAVEN!!!!

Forget Krispy Kreme, honestly. Resch's donuts take the cake.

I didn't have just one...I had two! (There's been many trips to the running track since that morning, I assure you). But I do not regret it one bit. I'd have another, and another, and another...

Columbus really has something to be grateful for in Resch's Bakery. Think about it, when was the last time you went to a bakery, I mean an old-fashioned, free-standing, honest-to-goodness bakery? Resch's is one of the few true, tasty, reliable bakeries left in times like these when everyone runs straight to Krogers, Wal-Marts and Costcos. And there's nothing wrong with that, but real bakeries have since slowly been dropping off the map.

Speaking of maps, Resch's Bakery is on 4061 East Livingston Ave, 43227, and you can find more pertinent info about it at yelp.com, where dozens of people have given rave reviews of this place. I hear their rolls and cakes are amazing as well.

O H I O

Football Season, baby! Whoooo! O-H...

You know what comes next.

Students are starting to get their allotted tickets, I've heard. So, here it is, in case you haven't already been poring over it, the 2010 Ohio State Buckeyes Football Schedule.

9-2-2010   Home game against Marshall    kick-off @ 7:30 pm  --first game of the season is on a Thursday (showing on Big Ten Network)

9-11-2010    Home game against Univ. of Miami (yes, the Florida one)    kick off @ 3:40 pm   (showing on ESPN) -- this game is going to be awesome!

9-18-2010    Home game against Ohio Univ.    kick off @ 12:00 pm    (showing on Big Ten Network)

9-25-2010  Home game against Eastern Michigan   kick off@ 3:30 pm   (showing on ABC)

10-02-2010  Away game against Illinois   kick off @ 12:00 pm      (showing on Big Ten Network)

10-09-2010  Home game against Indiana   kick off @ 12:00 pm     (showing on ESPN)

10-16-2010  Away game against Wisconsin  kick off @ 7:15 pm   (showing on ESPN)

10-23-2010  Home game against Purdue   kick off @ 12:00 pm   (HOMECOMING GAME)

10-30-2010  Away game against Minnesota    kick off @ 8:00 pm   (showing on ABC and ESPN)

11-13-2010  Home game against Penn State    kick off TBA

11-20-2010  Away game against Iowa   kick off TBA

11-27-2010  Home game against (BOOOO) Michigan   kick off TBA -- hey, it's a home game! Madness shall ensue.

And you may not have known this, but this year OSU has lengthened their football schedule, so we'll get to enjoy the Buckeyes well into the month of November, just as many other universities do. Plus, I'll update this as more of the kick off times are released, so check back.

OSU 2010 Football Roster

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Countdown to Pelotonia 10

Pelotonia 10 begins in less than 24 hours!

This is a long-awaited cycling event in Columbus that lasts for two days (8/20 - 8/22) and 180 miles and is a fundraiser benefitting Ohio State's The James Cancer Hospital (one of the nation's top hospitals of its class).

Over 4,000 bicycle riders from all over Ohio and dozens of other states, even some other countries like Canada and China, participate by riding on various tours, or paths of their choice -- and you can go any speed you want (something I didn't know, because I would have signed up for Pelotonia then)! Or you even can do a virtual ride. The full length biking route goes from Columbus (OSU) all the way to Athens, OH on the campus of Ohio University. See the tour map below.

If you don't want to do either of those options, it's always fun to give to the cause for free by volunteering your time. Volunteer registration has already ended, but keep this in mind for 2011.

The Pelotonia kick-off party/ceremony will be held tonight, Aug. 20 from 3 pm to 9 pm on the Chemical Abstracts Services grounds , 2540 Olentangy River Rd., across from the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, which includes a complementary dinner buffet for participants. Counting Crows will be performing, as well as Augustana, and country music star Pat Green will be performing on August 21.

Last year, at our city's first-ever Pelotonia, none-other than Lance Armstrong was the honorary rider and master of ceremonies. This fundraising event was brought to Columbus in 2008 by Dr. Michael Caligiuri, director of The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute (he's kind of a big deal).

(A photo from last year's event)

Some key corporate sponsors this year include, Huntington Bank, Limited Brands and Bob Evans (love love love their yummy breakfasts). This year's fundraising goal is $40 million!

Here's the official Pelotonia blog.

Photo's courtesy of pelotonia.org, jamesline.com, columbuslocalnews.com

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President Obama Will Be in Columbus Today!

This morning, President Obama will be back in The Bus apparently to have a "backyard chat," as well as rally behind incumbent governor nominee Ted Strickland -- literally, it will be "in the backyard of an as-yet undisclosed family in Clintonville," according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

The Dispatch has the name and address of the family who'll be hosting: The Weithman family who live at 156 E. Kanawha Ave. It will be here that he discusses the state of our economy in the way of jobs or lack of them, and what's next in our plans for the nation and for the Central Ohio area to lower unemployment.

Here's a round-up of news sources with stories, and possibly, editorial comments included...

Obama Arrives in Columbus -- The Columbus Dispatch (he came in yesterday and there was a huge crowd at the airport waiting for him)

Obama to Drop By Clintonville -- The Columbus Dispatch

President Obama's Schedule Today -- CBS

Obama Takes Jobs Push to Ohio -- CNN

President Obama Official Schedule and Guidance -- Chicago Sun Times

Obama Engaging in Kitchen-Table Politics in Ohio -- AP

An article from The Cleveland Plain Dealer

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Five Guys Burgers and Fries is #1 in the Nation

So you probably already predicted this would happen, as I did. Five Guys Burgers and Fries jumped up and over In-N-Out Burger, becoming the nations #1 burger chain.


Coming from as close of an un-biased place as possible, Five Guys is super delicious, and not only that but deserves to be in the number one spot, but I also agree and decided long ago, when I first tasted this scrump-didlee-umptious freshly made burgers and fries (I'll have some malt vinegar with that too, please), that Five Guys IS BETTER than In-N-Out Burger. It would only be a matter of time before they surpassed the West Coast-centric franchise. Five Guys had the right idea by choosing to be a nation-wide company, rather than snubbing any locale that isn't on a certain side of the Mississippi River.

And I can say which is better, because I've had both types. I grew up on In-N-Out, and was a fan only because it's almost sacrilege to live in the western part of our country and not like their burgers. Honestly, though, they were always just "okay," I thought. Contrary to most, I hated their "secret sauce" and their french fries, while cut straight from the potato like Five Guys', they seemed too thin, almost like those shoe-string type fries. Five Guys' fries are so much more hearty.

So Columbus finally got its Five Guys. We now have 5 total, one is off of Polaris Parkway and Cleveland Ave, one on campus, on High Street and 11th, across from the Gateway. There's one in Dublin on Hospital Dr., and one on Stringtown Rd in Grove City, and lastly, on W. 5th Ave. in Grandview. And when the Guys finally brought the franchise to The Bus, the restaurants started to sprouted up everywhere like mushrooms in a damp, mossy forest. Plus, I think some locations of Five Guys delivers, and/or you can all ahead to place an order.

This picture looks gooood, huh? Go get one!

Giant World Cup Watch Parties at Crew Stadium

And the best part is...it's free!!!

I couldn't believe this guys. This entire time, so far, the Columbus Crew Stadium has been the host of huge, free watch parties for all 2010 FIFA World Cup games. They're showing the games on giant TV screens, that are HD, of course. Be sure to wear your favorite soccer (better known as futbol) team's jersey, scarves, cat-in-the-hat hats and get rowdy about it.






Here's the website with the schedule after the jump. This would be a great place to watch the USA vs. Ghana game at 2:30 pm tomorrow, on Saturday, June 26. Admission, is free and parking, too.


See, there's plenty of cheap fun to be had in our city.




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Why is Victorian Village Smelly?

This is a rant post. Sorry in advance.

I was running around Goodale Park the other day, with my dog. I usually park in somewhere in the Victorian Village like off of 2nd St. or Highland or Hunter, for example.

This day was especially muggy and hot, hot, hot; plus there was no breeze whatsoever. So, it's understandable that when you've got those conditions scents of all kind mingle, fester and remain static in the air.

But for some reason, in the Victorian Village, the sanitation system is not up to par. The entire surrounding blocks of where I was running smelled nauseating and like pure garbage. Vic Village is such a cute area of Columbus, it stinks...pun intended...that a person new to Columbus might just happen to walk around the area and be completely turned off of the Village, nevermind how charming the area is, simply due to the fact that the stench coming up from the sewers was overwhelming.

There's goign to be many more hot days in Ohio this summer no doubt. Is this something we can expect on the regular. Eeeewwwww. Does the city know how stinky it is over there? And with Com Fest here this weekend, and all kinds of people and the various smells that can bring along with food trucks and pets, like dogs, mixing the smells together with the trash cans...

I'm going to Com Fest, so hopefully it won't be so bad (and so humid). That'll will be a post of its own though. Stay tuned.

(pictures courtesy of SF Chronicle newspaper and justmy002worth.blogspot.com)

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The Party is Over for Martini Park

On the way to work early the week of May 31st, I faintly heard the guys on WNCI 97.9 mention something about Martini Park closing.

I disregarded it as bunk, because it didn't make sense that a place as hoppin' as Martini Park would slam-shut their doors, pack up and flee the Easton Towne Center scene just like that (finger-snap).



Oh, but they did. And yes, Jimmy and Dave were right, though Martini Park wasn't "closing," they had ALREADY closed. It literally seemed to happen over night.

And it's a shame because the place (which uses the slogan "a playground for grownups") attracted an extremely age-diverse crowd, but really hit a sweet spot in the market for the "grown folks" -- the 30+ with kids set. And that's because very, very few night spots venture into that niche, so it was ripe for the taking.

Think about it, 1) just because you are married with (or without) children doesn't mean you shouldn't get to enjoy some weekend nights here and there 2) if this cohort does decide to head out for a night on the town, they most likely want to be around other individuals in the same phase of life as them...no one wants to feel like a senior-citizen creeper who looks as though they're trying to relive their glory-days amongst people the same age as their kids. It's just as awkward for them as it is for the 20 somethings. And 3) if you are of the younger age group, you know you too will want to break out of the house every now and again, later on in life, and not have to feel like your social life is over just because you're 42. Plus, this bar/club was in the 'burbs...where most of that exact demographic lives.

Oddly, the Chicago location of this (I'm just now finding out--is a chain) bar has just as suddenly closed its doors. Martini Park had only been in Columbus since late 2008, and back when they came, the original location in Plano, TX disappeared?! My guess is, it has something to do with the chain (and its management) and nothing to do with Columbus, Easton or lack of business, because, as I said, from what I have heard, they always had people there for the food, drink specials, special events like costume parties and bachelorette shindigs, and most of all for the variety of live music and dancing.

Here's what ColumbusUnderground.com has on the story.

So now, one of the key hot spots for the 30+ niche is gone. So where will all the grown folks go? Hey--that's a business venture right there.

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Buzz Words to Live By

So the other day a friend of mine and I were talking about "buzz words," -- can't remember how we got on the subject exactly, but we agreed that there are certain words used, primarily in corporate business culture that, for whatever reason at any given time, they are the "it" words to say.

My friend hears these all the time, and he's not even at a Fortune 500 yet, he's at The Ohio State University Fisher School of Business, so we know there's plenty more coming his way, and pretty soon he'll be spewing corporate jargon like the rest of us yuppies.

I currently happen to work for a Fortune 500 company here in Columbus and decided to document the growing list of the currently hot business terms in circulation as of May 2010, after sitting through a presentation today it seemed that some of these words were used ad nauseum.

Toss any of these words around (extra points if you use these at least once an hour -- trust me, bosses love this stuff) and you will instantly seem more credible, smarter, one to be taken seriously, and you might even get a promotion or raise. (Note: Catch the Bus cannot be held responsible for any promotions, raises and/or other career advancements withheld despite use of said buzz words).

Scope
Robust
Value Proposition
Insights
Strategy
Pipeline
Efficacy
Analytic
Economies of scale
Methodology
Blue Chip
Leverage
Metrics
Innovation
Core
Market share
Bottom line
Align/Aligned
Unprecedented
Supply chain
Level-Set
Greens Fees
Stakeholders
Deeper dive
Bottleneck

And as always, GIVE US SOME MORE examples! I'm dying to hear what word your boss has been stuck on for the past three months. I'll add to this list as well, as I think of them.

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