CM - Beating the Winter Blues - January 2018

photo: BRooke lAVAlley

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Does Central Ohio weather have your mood in the dumps? There’s a whole world to explore in Columbus, even when Mother Nature is less than accommodating.

By Brooke Preston

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Big Fun for Little Ones

The days are short, so how can bored, stircrazy kids cooped up inside make them feel so long? Get them out of the house to these family-friendly spots so they can release some energy and keep imaginations burning bright, even when the sun doesn’t. Good news: Even the grown-ups will enjoy these excursions.

For starters, don’t just take a winter walk— walk with the dinosaurs at the American Museum of Natural History’s Dinosaur Gallery at COSI. Access to this new, permanent installation is included with membership and general admission. The exhibit includes a full-size cast of T. rex, the chance to touch actual dinosaur fossils and expansive rooms

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Above, games of skill and chance at Rule 3 in Pickerington; right, a triceratops skull in COSI’s new dino exhibit

of interactive learning and prehistoric fun. If the winter weather agrees, make time to stop by the newly created outdoor playground and greenspace in the museum’s front yard.

Adrenaline junkies need not shift into idle for the winter. Instead, head to the West Side’s Buckeye Raceway, a quarter-mile, indoor, electric go-kart track … and possibly the only Ohio road where the slips and slides aren’t black ice-related. The high-performance European karts are capable of speeds of up to 45 mph; junior karts max out at 25 mph for safety reasons. Adult drivers must be at least 56 inches tall and at least 12 years old, while junior drivers must be at least 48 inches tall, at least 8 years old and a parent or guardian must sign a liability release prior to the drive.

A print-out shares exact course and split times for each rider, to ensure proper bragging rights can be claimed by the speediest racers.

Any outdoor games may be called off due to weather, but it’s game on for the whole family at Rule 3 in Pickerington. After dining in the on-site (and surprisingly gourmet, for a family fun center) restaurant, try your hand at bowling, mini-bowling or the ticket arcade.

Ball stands and bumpers are available for the little ones … or gutter ball-prone grown-ups.

It can be tough to catch a glimpse of some animals in the colder months, but not all wild

creatures hibernate. For instance, the friendly ambassador animals from the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium stay active all winter, thanks in part to their visits to the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens on the second Sunday of each month at 2 p.m. Hear a presentation from one of the zoo’s animal experts, ask questions and get up close with some new furry (or scaly, or shelled) friends.

Zoo animal visits are free with general admission or membership to the Conservatory.

Spark Your Creativity

The Ohio winter sky is a flat, gunmetal grey, so head indoors to seek out the vibrant textures, colors and stories of your favorite museums and galleries. Once you’ve been inspired, you can create your own masterpiece in a class or group activity.

The Columbus Museum of Art is a reliably exhilarating stop any time of year, but this season has some particularly exciting treasures in store. CMA hosts the only U.S. stop of the Beyond Impressionism exhibition’s tour (organized by the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain), on display through Jan. 21. Transport yourself to the transformative,

photos: left, DANIel sohNeR; RIght, JoshuA A. BIckel

T

he holidays whizzed past in a festive blur, and the forecast for the next three months is basically just a sadface emoji. The OSU spring game is still months away. What’s an adventureseeking Central Ohioan to do?

Don’t book that tropical winter getaway to Bali just yet (no seriously, don’t—there’s an active volcano there). Instead, we’ve collected and curated all the best ways to ward off the winter doldrums without ever leaving the Capital City. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re seeking big thrills, high culture or just an afternoon with the kids that mercifully doesn’t involve listening to the “Trolls” soundtrack again. And because crowds often are smaller in the off-season, winter is the perfect time to try out a new activity or discover your new favorite local haunt.

Join us on the 5th Annual Comfort Food Cruise through the Hocking Hills. Indulge in twelve different comfort foods served 27&28, 2018 up at twelve inviting local restaurants. Tickets are $18 and $5 of each ticket goes to our local food pantries. Tickets and details are available online at ExploreHockingHills.com or by calling 1-800-HOCKING.

Comfort Food Cruise Jan. 13&14, 20&21 and

And, while you’re here you will discover the magic of winter in the Hills, the spectacle of waterfalls suspended in frozen animation and kick-back cozy cabins.

You’ll find all this and more waiting for you in the Hocking Hills. Ohio’s Natural Crown Jewels.

Call or click for your free Visitor’s Guide | 1-800-Hocking | ExploreHockingHills.com

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“Paysage avec le cap Nègre” by Henri-Edmond Cross from CMA’s Beyond Impressionism exhibit

its own weekly events at its SoHud (yes, that’s a neighborhood now, and an increasingly cool one) location. Watercolor classes and Paint & Sip events are also held at Franklin Park Conservatory; check the Conservatory’s website for upcoming dates.

Curl Up With a Good Movie

Green and Kronos Quartet.” This Wex-commissioned collaboration tells the innovative modern/classical musical ensemble’s story with wit, inventiveness, insight—and in its own words (and sounds).

Grandview Heights’ Grandview Theater and Clintonville’s Studio 35 Cinema & Drafthouse regularly hold themed beer tastings and other film-centric events. For instance, Studio 35 is home to the annual Dude-A-Thon; the ninth iteration of the “Big Lebowski”-themed event will be held Jan. 12, featuring screenings and beer tastings (though the Dude himself would likely imbibe his signature White Russian).

What’s better on a chilly day than warming up with a good movie and some popcorn? There are plenty of shopping center movie houses where you can catch up on the latest Avengers caped caper, but you can find so much more at the area’s independent theaters.

The Gateway Film Center serves as a gateway to the best of live British theater this winter through its National Theatre Live screenings of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” and Your holiday guests have finally left, and the more. The campus multiplex also shows hectic pace of December has passed. It’s a good mix of blockbuster and indepenhigh time for some self-care and pampering to dent fare. Also in indie offerings, Bexley’s get back to feeling like yourself again. newly remodeled Drexel Theatre shows Float your cares away at Easton’s True acclaimed first-run independent films that Rest Float Spa, where sensory deprivation can be difficult to find elsewhere. The will help you uncouple from the weight of the Drexel also will offer America’s Greatest world in a skin-temperature, zero-gravity pool Film Series, a collection of beloved classic enriched with therapeutic Epsom salts. films, including “Singin’ in the Rain” on Jan. If the cold months leave your face dry 2, “The French Connection” on Feb. 6 and and chapped, give your skin a drink with a “Vertigo” on March 6. Best of all, screenings luxurious facial targeted to your specific skin for this series are free. type and needs at Skin Perfect Clinic in the For those who likeZoo a side of art with their Polaris area. at Franklin Park Conservapopcorn, the Wexnertory Center for the Arts Or maybe your extremities are looking a will screen the world premiere of “A Thoulittle ... extreme. Treat your cracks and calsand Thoughts: A Live Documentary by Sam luses to a hydrating manicure or pedicure and

Say, “Ahhh”

photo: couRtesy columBus museum of ARt

turbulent Parisian art scene of the late 19th century as you stroll past 100-plus paintings, drawings and other works.

“The addition of our 2-year-old Walter Wing allows CMA to bring world-class art like Beyond Impressionism to Columbus, which includes works of art that are rarely seen because they are all owned by a single, private, European collector,” explains Melissa Ferguson, director of marketing and communications for the museum. “The Claude Monet water lily that opens the show will captivate you, but the colorful and complex paintings

by Henri-Edmond Cross and Paul Signac may just become your new favorites.”

While you’re there, don’t miss Chagalls at CMA, a collection of three emotive paintings by Marc Chagall on view through March 11, graciously on loan from the collection of Columbusites Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein.

On a budget? Museum admission is always free on Sundays!

No artistic walkabout in Columbus is complete without a stop at the Wexner Center for the Arts. Located on Ohio State’s campus, the museum will house three winter/ spring exhibits, each on display from Feb. 3 to April 15. The biggest of the trio, All of Everything: Todd Oldham Fashion, is an extensive retrospective of the 1990s fashion work of Todd Oldham featuring more than 70 newly styled ensembles.

“Not only is Todd one of the most diverse designers in America—with work covering everything from furniture design and book publishing to DIY craft kits and video segments for the new show At Home with Amy Sedaris—his aesthetic is fabulously fun and playful,” says public relations manager Melissa Starker. “Expect to see lots of bright sequins, buttons, faux fur and stunning hand embroidery, plus archive video footage of some of his runway shows, along with stylistic influences ranging from thrift store finds to traditional Indian wedding saris.”

While the Arch City is rich in museums, don’t forget to stop in to its many smaller and independent galleries, such as Hawk Galleries, to see the exciting work of contemporary and emerging artists in their prime.

Now through Feb. 18, stop by to see NEW WORK, AGAIN by glass artist Dan Dailey, an exhibit featuring sandblasted and acidpolished blown glass pieces, as well as glass cane and anodized aluminum works.

Once you’ve gallery hopped ’til you drop, hit up World of Beer at Easton Town Center for Studio 614 Paint Nights on the first Tuesday of each month for some pints and palettes. Can’t make it? Studio 614 also has

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luxe massage at any of Charles Penzone’s area locations. Or combine retail therapy and nail care in W Nail Bar’s new outpost inside the Polaris DSW store.

Chilly mornings (or afternoons, or evenings) call for hot yoga. Treat your tired body to a class at Core Power Yoga’s Easton or Short North locations to stretch and sweat off all those holiday cookies.

Drexel Theatre

photo: tIm JohNsoN

Beyond Netflix and Takeout

You have approximately nine years until Game of Thrones returns (or at least it feels that way). Time to get off the couch with your special someone. Your trusty sweats will be waiting for you when you get back home.

If you have to be trapped inside during cold weather, at least have some fun with it.

Escape rooms, where teams work together to examine clues and solve puzzles that unlock the key to their “escape,” are all the rage in Columbus right now. (Claustrophobes, fear not: There is always an emergency escape available for safety.) The Chamber Escape Room on Morse Road is a popular option.

Its 45-minute experiences are slightly shorter than the standard 60-minute adventure—per-

Now Open at COSI

cosi.org/dinosaurs | 614.228.COSI | 333 West Broad St. Columbus, OH 43215

JANUARY 2018 Columbus monthly

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fect for those first dates when you’re not yet sure you want to be trapped with a person for a full hour.

If you like a side of competition with your romance, stop by Pins Mechanical. The Downtown site for duck pin bowling and pinball machines is joined this winter by a second location in Dublin. Like its Downtown counterpart, the bar’s games of friendly competition make Pins a great spot to go head-to-head, or have a heart-to-heart with a craft brew beside the outdoor fire pits.

“Our expansion to Dublin will provide the same great experience as Pins in Downtown Columbus, but with more duck pin lanes, indoor shuffleboard courts and the addition of bocce ball,” explains Troy Allen, chief entertainment officer for Rise Brands, which manages both Pins locations.

Keep things extra spicy by taking a cooking class together at Sur La Table at Easton. Their weekend “date night” classes are specifically geared toward couples, with romantic themes like Winter in Paris and A Taste of Tuscany. Franklin Park Conservatory also cooks up some great classes perfect for date night, with themes like Pastries (Feb. 3), Paella (Feb. 27), Mexican (March 9) and more.

Looking for something more interesting than roses and dinner out for Valentine’s

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Day? Shadowbox Live does the holiday in a majorly sexy and fun way. These shows are typically package-only, with upgrades available including dinner, champagne and other romantic touches.

CAPA also has a jam-packed winter lineup of live theater, music and more. From Broadway favorites “The Phantom of the Opera” (Jan. 3-14) and “Chicago” (Feb. 6-11) to a live recording of the My Favorite Murder podcast on Feb. 3, memorable date options abound. The Columbus Symphony

Orchestra’s lineup is just as promising, with such offerings as the Russian Winter Festival (January and February) and a Night of Symphonic Hip-Hop with Wyclef Jean (Feb. 17).

With so much to do in Columbus this winter, you may never get around to booking that tropical beach vacation. At the very least, you’ll keep your mind, body and spirit healthy, happy and engaged under all those layers.

Grab your favorite thermal mug and your puffiest coat and start your adventure.

photos: left, tom DoDge; top RIght, tIm JohNsoN; Bottom RIght, DANIel sohNeR

Clockwise from top left: floating in a sensory deprivation tank at True Rest Float Spa; duck pin bowling at Pins Mechanical; a cooking class at Sur La Table

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Directory Buckeye Raceway, 4050 W. Broad St., West Side, 614-272-7888, buckeyeraceway.com CAPA, 55 E. State St., Downtown, 614-4690939, capa.com The Chamber Escape Room, 1495 Morse Rd., Northeast Side, 614-636-6739, thechamberescaperoom.com Charles Penzone Salons, multiple locations, 614-418-5350, charlespenzone.com Columbus Museum of Art, 480 E. Broad St., Downtown, 614-221-6801, columbusmuseum.org Columbus Symphony Orchestra, 55 E. State St., Downtown, 614-469-0939, columbussymphony.com Core Power Yoga, 4181 Weaverton Ln., Easton, 614-705-0053; 14 W. Millay Alley, Short North, 614-705-0479; corepoweryoga.com COSI, 333 W. Broad St., Franklinton, 614-2282674, cosi.org Drexel Theatre, 2254 E. Main St., Bexley, 614231-1050, drexel.net Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, 1777 E. Broad St., Downtown, 614715-8000, fpconservatory.org Gateway Film Center, 1550 N. High St., University District, 614-247-4433, gatewayfilmcenter.org Grandview Theater & Drafthouse, 1247 Grandview Ave., Grandview Heights, 614-6704102, grandviewtheater.com Hawk Galleries, 153 E. Main St., #1, Downtown, 614-225-9595, hawkgalleries.com Pins Mechanical, 141 N. Fourth St., Downtown, 614-464-2255; 6558 Riverside Dr., Dublin, 614-761-3933; pinsbar.com Rule 3, 650 Windmiller Dr., Pickerington, 614864-7853, rule3.com Shadowbox Live, 503 S. Front St. #260, Brewery District, 614-416-7625, shadowboxlive.org Skin Perfect Clinic, 2117 Polaris Pkwy., Polaris, 614-846-8420, skinperfectclinic.com Studio 35 Cinema & Drafthouse, 3055 Indianola Ave., Clintonville, 614-262-7505, studio35.com Studio 614, 2487 Summit St., SoHud, 614600-1614, studio614.co Sur La Table, 3990 New Bond St., Easton, 614-473-1211, surlatable.com True Rest Float Spa, 4185 Weaverton Ln., Easton, 614-798-8783, truerest.com W Nail Bar, 1200 Polaris Pkwy. (inside DSW), Polaris, 614-299-9587 or 614-230-2194, thewnailbar.com Wexner Center for the Arts, 1871 N. High St., University District, 614-292-3535, wexarts.org World of Beer, 3934 Townsfair Way, Easton, 614-476-2962, worldofbeer.com JANUARY 2018 Columbus monthly

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