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!