The Short North is the cultural mecca of Columbus. With eclectic shops and eccentric sights, like a bicycle bar, this week I literally saw a bicycle bar. That’s right, people facing each other drinking on a center bar and peddling with one person in front and 1 in back guiding somehow. This is the Gallery Hop.  If you’re planning a trip to the strip here are a few tips.

1. Parking, because of the number of people this free event draws parking can be a bit of a pain. If you are willing to walk a bit it thins out just past Northstar restaurant. You can find spots on the side streets and start at Roy G Biv gallery and Flower Child.
2. If you are planning on getting Jeni’s ice cream (this week’s top spot on Yahoo’s Best Ice Cream in the Country) and you don’t like gigantic lines I highly suggest getting an early start to your evening as the lines build around the block in the after dinner hours.
3. Many of the galleries have openings on the nights of the art walk, lots of schmoozing, great for people watching.

Galleries

Many of the galleries are situated in the area of High adjacent to Goodale Park.

Kathy Ruttenberg "Role Reversal", at the Sherrie Gallery

The galleries’ artists range from local to national, with everything from sculpture, to glass, to jewelry, to realist painting, to contemporary abstractions.

Terra Gallery

Art Exchange Ltd.

Studios On High

Funky and Functional

Gallery V

Art Consulting & Gallery

Kathryn Gallery

PM Gallery

Sherrie Gallery

Shops

A few of the new hot spots in the Short North

Tigertree known for their great clothes and knickknacks and they’re expanding their store.

On Paper they are serious about paper, you can find very interesting stuff for homemade cards etc.

Posh Pets Boutique the name says it all, check it out if you have a pet you love.

Jinny designer women’s clothing

Roche Bobois amazing contemporary furniture

Collier West awesome boutique

Milk Bar Boutique very very cool clothing

Restaurants

In the Short North you can get anything from a coney dog at Phillips Coney Island to sushi at Haiku. Whatever your taste buds are calling for they are bound to be satisfied. Below is a link to a map of all of the restaurants in the Short North, take your pick!

Phillip's Coney Island puts on a show

View Larger Map

If you are looking to buy or sell a property in New Albany, Gahanna, Blacklick, Westerville, or another Central Ohio community, please contact The Raines Group. We offer professional real estate advice and are happy to help you achieve your real estate goals. Please contact us today via our online contact form or by calling The Raines Group at 614-418-7417.

In a little more than two weeks, Pelotonia, the annual Columbus cycling event will return bringing thousands biking to raise money to find a cure for cancer.

Pelotonia, going into its 11th year is a grassroots bike ride that raises money for cancer research at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solve Research Institute.

Last year, Pelotonia raised $7.8 million for research at the James Solve Cancer Center.  Some of that money raised is right now being used to prevent oral cancer.

This year Pelotonia is getting a boost from Victoria’s Secret. An event featuring the Supermodels of Victoria’s Secret in New York City raised $100,000.

Pelotonia 2010

Limited Brands, parent company of Victoria’s Secret, is a lead sponsor of Pelotonia. Every dollar raised at Supermodel Cycle will be matched by the Limited Brands Foundation which will bring the total donation to more than $200,000.

One hundred percent of the money raised for Pelotonia goes to The James, which is one of the nation’s leading cancer research facilities.
Pelotonia’s mission is to fund life-saving cancer research. Pelotonia is a three-day experience that includes a weekend of cycling, entertainment and volunteerism. Thanks to its generous sponsors, Huntington Bank, Limited Brands Foundation, Richard and Peggy Santulli, American Electric Power Foundation and Nationwide Insurance, Pelotonia is able to direct 100 percent of every dollar raised to cancer research at The James Solve Cancer Center.

If you are looking to buy or sell a property in New Albany, Gahanna, Blacklick, Westerville, or another Central Ohio community, please contact The Raines Group. We offer professional real estate advice and are happy to help you achieve your real estate goals. Please contact us today via our online contact form or by calling The Raines Group at 614-418-7417.

The Swings at The Ohio State Fair

The heart of Americana will be illuminating the Columbus area in the next few weeks. With the Franklin County Fair in full swing through Saturday, and The Ohio State Fair coming in just 5 days there is plenty for fair goers of all ages to see and do.

The Franklin County Fair features contests galore including a pie eating contest, bread juggling, and a duct tape contest (whatever that is?)  as well as a tractor pull, car derby, and bull riding this weekend.

With all of its authenticity the Franklin County Fair is a sight, yet it is just the opening act. The Ohio State Fair is the main event. If it happened in Ohio in the past year you can see it here.

To just give a taste of whats to see here is a mini list of some of the hits.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

• Budweiser Clydesdales, 10 am – 9 pm
• Fireworks presented by Team Realtree Outdoor Energy, the Sportsman’s Drink at the Fair,  9:45 pm
• Giant Slide, 10 am – 11 pm
• Live Shark Encounter presented by WWHO, 10 am – 9 pm with shows daily at 1 pm, 3 pm, 7 pm
• Petting Zoo, 10 am – 10 pm
• Sand Sculpture, 11 am – 6 pm
• Pig Races presented by Classic Hits 103.9, 12:30 pm, 2:30 pm, 4:30 pm, 6:30 pm
• Pony Rides, 10 am – 10 pm
• Daily Parade presented by WINK 107.1, 4 pm

Thursday, July 28

• Wood B Creations Chainsaw Carving, 1 pm, 3 pm, 5 pm, 7 pm
• Central Ohio Model Railroad Club Exhibit, 10 am – 9 pm
• Monster Mural, 11 am – 7 pm

Like I said, this is just for starters. To get the FULL LIST go here.

If you are looking to buy or sell a property in New Albany, Gahanna, Blacklick, Westerville, or another Central Ohio community, please contact The Raines Group. We offer professional real estate advice and are happy to help you achieve your real estate goals. Please contact us today via our online contact form or by calling The Raines Group at 614-418-7417.

The Sombrero Galaxy as seen through a 32" telescope similar to the Perkins Observatory's main telescope.

If you live in Central Ohio and you haven’t gotten enough of the sun lately you may be a crazy person. But, if you happen to be that crazy, the Perkins Observatory (20min north of Columbus) will be the perfect place for you this weekend.

They are having the last event of the “Celebration of the Sun!” series Saturday July 23rd at 4pm.

Weather permitting you will be able to view the sun directly through Perkins high powered telescopes and learn a little bit about what you are looking at too.

The first Celebration of the Sun! sessions held July 9 and 16th were well attended so come early.

Tickets cost $7 for adults and $5 for children if the tickets are pre-ordered by phone. Tickets at the door cost $2 more.

If you HAVE gotten enough of the sun lately nighttime programs resume July 29, including astronomy lectures and tours of the observatory. If weather conditions permit, participants will have the opportunity to look through the telescopes at celestial objects like the Sombrero Galaxy pictured above.

Perkins is one of 32 observatories in Ohio and is the only one in Central Ohio that allows members of the general public to look through its large telescope, according to the Cuyahoga Astronomical Association’s website.

Perkins once was home to a 69-inch Perkins telescope, which was the third-largest in the world in 1931. It since has moved to Arizona and a 32-inch telescope has taken its place.

The observatory serves more than 40,000 guests each year, including many local school groups and organizations.

Perkins is operated by Ohio Wesleyan University and is used by the physics and astronomy department for research purposes.

Perkins schedule for the rest of 2011

Starting at 9pm:

July 29

August 5, 12, 19, 26

Starting at 8pm:

September 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

October 7, 14, 21, 28

November 4, 11, 18

December 2, 9, 16

For more information visit Perkins Observatory.

If you are looking to buy or sell a property in New Albany, Gahanna, Blacklick, Westerville, or another Central Ohio community, please contact The Raines Group. We offer professional real estate advice and are happy to help you achieve your real estate goals. Please contact us today via our online contact form or by calling The Raines Group at 614-418-7417.

Hayden Falls Park, Dublin

Midsummer is a great time to get out of the city. Central Ohio has a lot of metro parks to help you with that. The bountiful trees all around filtering and cooling the air are reason enough to go, here are a few more if you need them.

Hayden Falls Park has a gorgeous waterfall and stream tucked into a cove that is easily accessible and open to anyone who is interested in getting wet as well. And its just up the road in Dublin.

Take a trip down the Scioto at the Scioto Canoe Livery, called Columbus’s best kept secret, where you can rent canoes, kayaks, and tubes.

Did you know that 12 Metro parks have trails where you can walk your dog? Prairie Oaks and Battelle Darby Creek even offer places where you can let your dog go for a swim and Scioto Audubon has dog parks with agility courses at their park.

Below is a list of links to local Metro Parks, you’re sure to find one that draws you in.

METRO PARKS

BATTELLE DARBY CREEK
1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH 43119

BLACKLICK WOODS & GOLF COURSES
6975 & 7309 E. Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068

BLENDON WOODS
4265 E. Dublin-Granville Rd, Westerville, OH 43081

CHESTNUT RIDGE
8445 Winchester Rd N.W. Carroll, OH 43112

CLEAR CREEK
185 Clear Creek Rd, Rockbridge, OH 43149

GLACIER RIDGE
9801 Hyland Croy Rd, Plain City, OH 43064

HAYDEN FALLS PARK 4335 Hayden Run Rd., Dublin

HERITAGE PARK and TRAIL
7262 Hayden Run Rd, Hilliard, OH 43026

HIGHBANKS
9466 U.S. 23 N., Lewis Center, OH 43035

INNISWOOD
940 S. Hempstead Rd, Westerville, OH 43081

PICKERINGTON PONDS
7680 Wright Rd, Canal Winchester, OH 43110

PRAIRIE OAKS
3225 Plain City-Georgesville Rd, West Jefferson, OH

SCIOTO AUDUBON
395 W. Whittier St, Columbus, OH 43215

SHARON WOODS
6911 Cleveland Ave, Westerville, OH 43081

SLATE RUN and LIVING HISTORICAL FARM
1375 S.R. 674 North, Canal Winchester, OH 43110

THREE CREEKS
3860 Bixby Rd, Groveport, OH 43125

WALNUT WOODS
6833 Richardson Rd, Groveport, OH  43125

If you are looking to buy or sell a property in New Albany, Gahanna, Blacklick, Westerville, or another Central Ohio community, please contact The Raines Group. We offer professional real estate advice and are happy to help you achieve your real estate goals. Please contact us today via our online contact form or by calling The Raines Group at 614-418-7417.

On September 22nd Ken Burns, director of documentaries on topics of Americana from Baseball, to Jazz, to The Civil War, will be in Westerville to give a talk before the debut of his documentary, “Prohibition”. The visit comes as a result of his research team’s extensive fact checking information for the documentary at the Westerville Public Library’s Local History Center. As Westerville city law director Bruce Bailey points out,   “This all began in our town 102 years ago,” “He wouldn’t have a show without us. We are the home of the Anti-Saloon League.”

While in central Ohio, Burns will attend a luncheon at the Westerville Public Library then teach a master class at Otterbein University before going to WOSU for an appearance on a local news show.

Local history coordinator Beth Weinhardt said the library will conduct a public lottery for tickets to the luncheon.

If you are looking to buy or sell a property in New Albany, Gahanna, Blacklick, Westerville, or another Central Ohio community, please contact The Raines Group. We offer professional real estate advice and are happy to help you achieve your real estate goals. Please contact us today via our online contact form or by calling The Raines Group at 614-418-7417.

Doo Dah Parade, Short North

Columbus is rich with festivals and cultural events; in the last month, Comfest, Pride, and the gallery hop attracted thousands of visitors. This weekend, July 4th celebrations are guaranteed to be star-spangled fun–but it might be worthwhile to travel for small-town festivals ripe with Americana.

Granville, an Ohio community thirty-five miles northeast of downtown Columbus, celebrates Independence Day with a four-day extravaganza, running July 1-4 (Friday-Monday). Live music, games, square dancing, fair food, and amusement park rides will entertain your whole family. A parade, 5k run, and talent show will also be featured. See the complete calendar here.

Granville is a quaint and historic town, home to the renowned liberal arts college, Denison University. Want to escape the July 4th madness? Visit the downtown strip for unique shopping and tasty meals–as well as to enjoy the classical architecture and gardens.

If you’d rather stay in Columbus, the annual Doo Dah Parade begins at 1pm on Buttles Avenue between High Street and Park Street. The parade, celebrating its 28th year, aims to exercise the first amendment right through humor, and has been branded as “the craziest parade in history.” All-day entertainment is provided in the Short North, including live music, games, beer, food, and prizes.

If you are looking to buy or sell a property in New Albany, Gahanna, Blacklick, Westerville, or another Central Ohio community, please contact The Raines Group. We offer professional real estate advice and are happy to help you achieve your real estate goals. Please contact us today via our online contact form or by calling The Raines Group at 614-418-7417.

This year’s Red, White and Boom! downtown will take place on Friday July 1st and is expected to be a big event. Workers have been preparing all week for the over 100,000 expected to flock downtown to see the fireworks. This year’s event will include Civic Center Drive peppered from Broad to Main St. with concession stands. Taste of BOOM!, in the Arena District – a street party that kicks off at 3pm and lasts until midnight. The party will feature food from Columbus’s top restaurants, music from local bands, and interactive games from the Columbus Crew.

Participating Restaurants

• Max & Erma’s
• W.g. Grinders
• bd’s Mongolian Barbeque
• Gordon Biersch
• Arena Grand Movie Theatre
• Boston’s Gourmet Pizza
• Sunny Street Cafe
• Hyatt Market Stand
• Big Bang Dueling Piano Bar

If you are looking to buy or sell a property in New Albany, Gahanna, Blacklick, Westerville, or another Central Ohio community, please contact The Raines Group. We offer professional real estate advice and are happy to help you achieve your real estate goals. Please contact us today via our online contact form or by calling The Raines Group at 614-418-7417.

Comfest (Goodale Park, Victorian Viliage)

ComFest
June 24-26; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Satruday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday
Goodale Park, Victorian Village
Annual all-volunteer celebration featuring food and craft vendors and many local bands performing of numerous stages.
comfest.com

Powell Festival
June 24-25; 5-11 p.m. Friday, 12-11 p.m. Saturday
Village Green Park, Powell
Two days of live music, food and family fun capped by fireworks display.
cityofpowell.us

North Market Food & Ohio Wine Festival
July 8-10; 7-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, 12-6 p.m. Sunday
North Market, Arena District
Ohio wineries and local cuisine vendors and live music.
northmarket.com

Westerville Music & Arts Festival
July 9-10; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday
Heritage Park, Westerville
Local artists and musicians in downtown Westerville.
westervillechamber.com

Bike Columbus Festival
July 15; begins at 6 p.m.
City Hall, Downtown
Two bikes tours, 12 and 25 miles, through Columbus ending at an after party on Gay St.
bikecolumbusfestival.com

Franklin County Fair
July 16-23; 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday-Saturday
4H displays, contests, live entertainment, games, fair concessions, rodeo, moto cross and tractor pulls.
fcfair.org

Shadwobox Live Sketch Comedy Festival
July 19-20; show times TBD
Shadowbox Live, Easton
Comedy troupes from around the country go head-to-head in a two-day competition.
shadowboxlive.org

Jazz & Rib Festival
July 22-24; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Sunday
McFerson Commons and North Bank Park, Arena District
Award-winning barbecue competition and live music by national and local acts throughout three days.
hotribscooljazz.org

Serbian Festival
12-10 p.m. Saturday, July 23
St. Stevan of Dechani Serbian Church, East Side
Annual summer picnic featuring live Serbian music, dancing, full bar, and a buffet of authentic cuisine.
ststevanofdechani.org

Ohio State Fair
July 27-Aug. 7; 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, July 27-Saturday Aug. 6, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6
Ohio State Fairgrounds
Rides, concessions, livestock displays and competitions and nightly concerts featuring Ke$ha, Journey, Brad Paisley and more.
ohiostatefair.com

If you are looking to buy or sell a property in New Albany, Gahanna, Blacklick, Westerville, or another Central Ohio community, please contact The Raines Group. We offer professional real estate advice and are happy to help you achieve your real estate goals. Please contact us today via our online contact form or by calling The Raines Group at 614-418-7417.