See, Hear and Taste and the Greek Festival in Columbus

Labor day weekend is a celebration of the American worker.  However it’s also the time to enjoy Greek culture and food at the Greek Festival on North High Street.  Polaris Crossing apartments is 25 minutes drive north of the event which is taking place at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral.  Local residents can enjoy special dining experiences with Greek meals and pastries.  There will be Greek cooking demonstrations, lots of dancing, music and tours of the beautiful cathedral.

The event runs Friday – Monday, 11am until midnight during the weekend and until 7pm on Monday, September 6th.  Admission is $5. and good for the entire weekend.  Visitors will find abundant parking around the cathedral and the Columbus Convention Center.  Have fun this weekend and celebrate American and Greek cultures!  Here’s a video to get you in the mood for some dancing.

Grab Some Comfort Food in Westerville

Everyone enjoys a good, home style meatloaf with country mashed potatoes occasionally.  I know I do and when I don’t feel like cooking Chef Rick’s Westerville Grill is a perfect solution.  Chef Rick, a master chef for over 40 years, has an excellent menu with comfort foods we all remember from childhood.   His family style diner is located in downtown Westerville on ‘S’ Street.  It’s a convenient 10 minute drive from Polaris Crossing Apartments, which makes a trip after work for a home cooked meal easy any day of the week.  Just remember to save room for dessert because Chef Rick serves outstanding  lemon meringue pie and carrot cake.

And don’t forget, if you find you’re out early morning looking for a delicious breakfast, stop by for some pancakes and corned beef hash.  He’s known as preparing the best in the area!

A Little Bit of George, A Little Bit of Reba

George Strait and Reba McEntire have been entertaining country music fans for years now.  Both award winning artists invite you into their world with a soulful, singer songwriter style.   On Thursday, September 9th, 2010 both George and Reba will delight and entertain fans at the Nationwide Arena.  Residents of Polaris Crossing Apartments and the greater Columbus area can purchase tickets from Ticketmaster and great seats are still available.   For a hearty meal before the show, stop by The Spaghetti Warehouse on Broad Street.  Everything is conveniently located downtown on the 71, approximately 25 minutes south of the Polaris Fashion Shopping Center.  While you wait for the concert, enjoy this video of George Strait.

Who Will Take the Title This Year?

According to predictions, the Cincinnati Bengals should repeat as the AFC North Champions in 2010.  However, the Cleveland Browns are expected to look better this year, so who will actually take the title?  To play fair, since Westerville is centrally located between both teams, I decided I would remain neutral.

In the spirit of football season, here are the August schedules for BOTH teams.  If you have your own predictions I’d love to hear them!

CLEVELAND BROWNS:

8/14 AWAY @ Green Bay Packers

8/21 HOME with Saint Louis Rams

8/28 AWAY @ Detroit Lions

CINCINNATI BEGALS:

8/15 Denver Broncos

8/20 Philadelphia Eagles

8/28 AWAY @ Buffalo Bills

To read more in depth on 2010 NFL predictions visit ESPN.

Is the Coffee House Culture Being Killed by Technology

More and more coffee houses and restaurants are offering free wi-fi as a way to compete for customers.  They assume people will stay longer, drink/eat more if they can work on their laptops in the process.   But is this killing the coffee house culture?  Do you find tables are being overrun by people looking for ways to work outside the distractions of the office?  Do you feel your local cafe is pushing out those of us who want to meet up with friends and relax over a latte or iced coffee?

Westerville has several locally owned shops, including Java Central and Heavenly Cup Espresso.   Both are locally owned with a laid back feel.  However closer to Polaris Crossing Apartments are the big guys, Starbucks and Caribou Coffee.  These national companies offer wi-fi, speed and a variety of drinks.

I personally love how Starbucks brought the concept of a coffee house culture mainstream but I love how local shops, like Java Central, offer live music on the weekends!   But do you feel the convenience of having them within a 5-10 minute drive from the apartment and shopping malls outweighs the coffee house culture?

Benefits of Oxygen Bars

Have you been to the new O2 bar in town, O2 Heaven?  It’s receiving a lot of press lately and people are enjoying incredible benefits from the oxygen bar.  Many people report increased alertness and concentration.  However, did you know it also helps fight aging of the skin, strengthens your heart and improves digestion?

NBC Columbus did a story on the local Westerville bar that is the only one in the Columbus area.   The owner decided to open O2 Heaven after experiencing the benefits at an oxygen bar in Las Vegas.  His full service bar serves 90% oxygen mixed with various aroma therapies like peppermint, coconut and spiced apple.  He charges $1. per minute with a 10 minute minimum. The oxygen bar is located downtown on South State Street, approximately 10 minutes from Polaris Crossing Apartments.

You can learn more about the benefits and facts about O2 bars here.  Or watch this video regarding the benefits and aroma therapy.

Go Wild at Blendon Woods Park

Not far from Polaris Crossing Apartments is Blendon Woods Park.  It’s a 653 acre park with a large waterfowl refuge in the middle.  There are two elevated observation decks with scopes for viewing the more than 220 species of birds at the refuge.

If hiking is your thing, enjoy the eight trails, ranging from short paved to a 2 mile wooded trail that’s great for snowshoeing in the winter.  The park also offers a pet trail so bring your dog and get exercising together!   And if you can make it out on Wednesday evenings, enjoy a live reptile show with Jasper and Coyote.    They provide fun, adventure and education at 6pm Wednesdays throughout the month of August.

Discover Shark Week at the Aquarium

It’s shark week on Discovery Channel and everyone is tuning in with excitement, especially kids who are fascinated by these ancient creatures of the sea.   Along with their TV lineup, Discovery has several interactive things online, including a live cam of whale sharks.   Several times a day you can watch the feeding of the sharks, as well as learn interesting facts about them, watch videos and play shark games.

Fortunately though, learning about sharks doesn’t have to be all online or TV.   The Columbus Zoo & Aquarium has the Discovery Reef with Bonnethead Sharks and Cow Nose Stingrays.  The 110,000 gallon salt water tank depicts a coral reef of North and South America.  You can visit the Aquarium daily between 9am – 7pm. It’s a 25 minute drive from Polaris Crossing Apartments so plan your visit this week!  And don’t forget to stop by the Tide Pool Touch Tank for a one of a kind experience with sea stars and horseshoe crabs.

Celebrate at the Columbus Food and Wine Festival

This weekend, July 30th – 31st, Franklin Park Conservatory will host the Columbus Wine Festival rain or shine.   You’ll be able to enjoy the beauty of the park while tasting wine, food and enjoying cooking demonstrations from top Columbus area chefs.  More than 270 wines from around the world will be on hand for sampling, as well as three Belgian beers from the Stella Artois Belgian Beer Cafe.

Visiting the Columbus Wine Festival also gives you access to the beauty of Franklin Park Conservatory, where an exhibit of Chihuly glass is on display.  Tickets at the door are $35.00 and include ten tastings, a souvenir wine glass and purchase discounts.    Head out to Franklin Park Conservatory this weekend and discover a new food and wine pairing.

Bike Your Way to a Cleaner Columbus

A lot of people around the Columbus area are focused on doing their part to be eco-friendly.  They recycle and car pool when they can but many are re-discovering biking as an alternative to work transportation.  I think if you live close enough to work where you can ride through community streets, it’s an excellent idea.

In fact, several shops and co-ops around the Columbus area are promoting cycling as a great transportation source.   Third Hand Bicycle Co-op is doing their part by offering members community bike rides, a maintenance shop and workshops.  Paradise Garage on High Street sells bikes to suit all kinds of needs as well as accessories to make urban cycling easier.  B1 Bicycles on East Long Street  is another great shop, selling a variety of bikes and accessories.   Both the co-op and shops are within 30 minutes of Westerville.  Check them out and discover your alternative transportation today!

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