DiscoveringOhio

Columbus' Top 5 Food Trucks

Putting together this short list was no easy task. The food truck scene in Columbus has grown at an extraordinary rate ... and keeps getting bigger and better. There is very little nowadays that you can't find at a nearby truck: crepes, ribs, pizza, dumplings, cupcakes ... there's a truck for all of these, and more.

And there lies the problem in creating a Top Five list. Many deserving businesses missed out simply because I couldn't list them all. There are just too many great trucks to choose from! The five that made the list were chosen to highlight the diversity of the food truck scene in Ohio's capital. For more detailed information and a list of trucks, check out Street Eats Columbus or, better yet, take a Food Truck tour hosted by the author of the Street Eats blog. Also, set a reminder for the 3rd Annual Columbus Food Truck Festival August 16-17th at the Columbus Commons.

1. Ray Ray's Hog Pit

Parked around the back of the Ace of Cups bar in the Clintonville area, Ray Ray's serves up smoky barbecue eats such as ribs, brisket and pulled pork sandwiches -- and everything is made from scratch. They have recently added a Wing Shack to their operations; check out their Facebook page for current specials.

2619 N. High Street, Columbus, OH 43202

Open: Friday - Sunday, 12pm – 8pm

 

2. Tokyo GoGo

Tokyo GoGo is run by a husband-wife team, one half of which is from Japan and the other is the co-owner of Brothers Drake Meadery.  Their truck is parked outside the Brothers Drake bar in the Short North, Wednesdays through Saturdays, and offers small dishes that include gyoza, deep fried tofu in a mushroom broth and crispy chicken strips. The best part is that they will bring your order to your table and add it to your bar tab.

26 E. 5th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43201

Open: Wednesday - Thursday, 5pm - 12am; Friday - Saturday, 5pm - 2am

 

3. La Yerba Buena

La Yerba Buena food truck is an offshoot of El Arepazo Latin Grill on Pearl Alley in downtown Columbus, and its sister restaurant Arepazo Tapas in Gahanna. The truck sells items from its restaurant menu, including Venezuelan dishes such as arepas (corn patties) and patacones (fried plantains covered with meat, vegetables, cheese and salsa), fish tacos and fresh juices.

4490 Indianola Avenue, Columbus, OH 43214

Open: Wednesday - Saturday, 3:30pm - 8:30pm

twitter.com/yerbabuena2011

 

4. Ajumama

Photo via akasha111182 at Flickr

Ajumama (Korean for Ma'am) serves up Korean street food at various locations around Columbus. To make sure you don't miss them when they are nearby, stay connected via their Twitter and Facebook accounts. Ajumama's menu changes every day, but some of the best dishes I have tried here are their pajeon (savory pancakes) and the hodduk (hotcakes).

 

5. Blu Olive

Photo via Blu Olive's Facebook page

Again, you will have to check out their social media to keep track of this father-daughter team that specializes in Italian and Mediterranean dishes. Food truck locations for the upcoming week are posted to their Twitter and Facebook pages. The menu changes often at Blu Olive, but you will usually find a few pasta options, including my favorite beet and ricotta ravioli, meatballs and focaccia sandwiches. Make sure you leave room for their floats made with homemade ice cream.

 

What are your favorite food trucks around Ohio?

Celebrate Juneteenth in Ohio!

All around the country, African Americans will gather this weekend to celebrate June 19^th or Juneteenth, the day in which Texas slaves were informed they were free, two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.

For more than 140 years, our country has celebrated the freedom of the last slaves by having cookouts, concerts, festivals and more. For Ohioans, there are many activities recognizing the history and the significance of Juneteenth:

In Oberlin, gatherers celebrate all weekend at the Juneteenth Oberlin 2013 (June 13-15) with a picnic, memorial service and reenactment that leads up to the festival on Saturday, June 15^th at Tappan Square.

Columbus kicks off the weekend with the annual JuneteenthOhio Festival (June 14-16). This is Ohio’s longest-running and fastest growing event in Central Ohio. There is something for everyone to enjoy with weekend long events including an Underground Railroad Journey, soul food cook-off, talent and comedy shows, reggae and gospel concerts and a unity walk at Franklin Park.

Dayton’s Juneteenth Celebration (June 22) at W.S. McIntosh Memorial Park celebrates the 150th anniversary of the passage of the Emancipation Proclamation while honoring African American Union soldiers from the Dayton area.

Cincinnati recognizes the holiday with their annual Cincinnati Juneteenth Festival (June 15-16) at Daniel Drake Park. This year also includes a Father’s Day Concert featuring jazz, gospel and R&B acts.

Juneteenth is a wonderful way to discover the history of America and observe the freedom, resilience and achievement of African Americans. Ohio has a rich history with the anti-slavery movement and is home to many great Underground Railroad stops. When visiting one of the Juneteenth celebrations, make it a weekend trip and stop along the Underground Railroad. I’ll be in Columbus at the JuneteenthOhio Festival with TourismOhio’s multicultural team. Come say "hi" if you plan to attend!

How do you celebrate Juneteenth in Ohio?

Long's Retreat Family Resort: A Real Treat

Brya Long, daughter of Long's Retreat Family Resort founder Eric Long, laughingly told to me upon our arrival earlier this month that it feels like the retreat is in the middle of nowhere. And that may be true, haha - But there are so many family fun activities within the resort that you won't even miss your cell phone reception!

When we arrived at Long’s on a misty Friday evening, we were greeted at the camp’s main office (which also serves as a store and souvenir shop) by friendly staff.

We stayed in one of the deluxe cabins, which are climate-controlled and include a fully equipped kitchen (yes, even a coffee maker--I made sure to check before we left), living room area with a television and fireplace, two downstairs bedrooms with double beds and also a loft with two double beds. We were very impressed with our cabin, which was clean and in great shape.

In addition to the deluxe cabins, the facility also has camping cabins and campsites for tents and RVs--plus a three-bedroom condo. 

We immediately settled in and felt at home. In the morning, we made ourselves breakfast (you can bring your own food, unless you plan to buy it all at the camp store) we set out to explore the grounds. We immediately picked up on the friendly atmosphere--people waving as they went past on golf carts and families outside riding bikes and playing games.

During our exploration, we went past a neat old barn and moved on to the waterfront, where the colorful, kid-friendly Splash Pad and impressive water slides greeted us. Since it was early in the season, staff were still working to set up an intimidating but very neat-looking “Wave Rider,” whose picture can only do it justice (see below).

Across the street, we spent a good chunk of time on the carousel and kiddie go-carts, which were perfect activities for our three-year-old (even if she did need a bit of help steering). She later spent some quality time in the bounce house, though none of us were quite ambitious enough for the rock wall. We also stopped into The Oasis, a two-story arcade with rainy-day (or any day) entertainment for a wide range of ages, plus a bonus snack bar.

The afternoon turned out to be hot and muggy--a perfect day for a swim. Our 3-year-old enjoyed running through the splash park and taking a dip in the lake. Water recreation opportunities include water slides, a diving board, canoeing and paddle boating, among others.

That evening we enjoyed making pizza and eating it on the cabin's back porch. Had it not rained, we would have toasted marshmallows over the fire pit, which is just one more reason for us to come back!!

Long's Retreat Family Resort has something for every member of the family, even the ones too small to go down the water slides, and has a true family atmosphere. It was a perfect mini vacation--even if it was "in the middle of nowhere."

Rocking with the Rolling Stones at the Rock Hall

When the Rolling Stones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989, no one questioned it, because they deserved to be there. Their concerts were legendary, Mick Jagger commanded the stage and they changed the landscape of rock and roll. So when the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland opened their new exhibit, The Rolling Stones: 50 Years of Satisfaction last week, I made sure I was there to see it.

 

 

As I walked through the red lipped doorway, an image that is synonymous with the Rolling Stones, it was clear to see why they are considered “The World's Greatest Rock and Roll Band.” On display was a career that spans 50 years and they are still rocking!  With hits like “(I Can’t Get) No Satisfaction” and “Ruby Tuesday,” the Rolling Stones have become musical icons and this interactive exhibit takes you through how their music has stood the test of time over the decades.

 

 

 

The exhibit spans two and a half floors that are filled with Rolling Stones' history including photos, handwritten letters, set lists, instruments and clothing worn by the band in their concerts, like Mick Jagger’s hand-stitched British and American flag cape that he wore during their 1981-82 tour. There is also rare footage of the band including interviews and concerts where fans can get an intimate look at their 50 year career.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And while some people may want to have “moves like Jagger,” I found it interesting to learn who their early musical influences were. For example, the Rolling Stones were heavily inspired by legendary soul and blues musicians like Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters. It was their music that took members, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards out of the London pubs and spawned an international career.

 

 

 

One cool new feature allows fans to contribute to the exhibit by uploading their own original images to share on Twitter and Instagram. By using the hashtag, #rockhallsatisfaction, fans can tag their personal photos of Rolling Stones memorabilia, artwork or Rolling Stones concert pictures that will then be displayed in the Rock Hall’s multimedia display.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum also began allowing photos to be taken in the museum and there’s plenty to see so make sure you have enough space on your camera to capture all the great musical artifacts. The Rolling Stones: 50 Years of Satisfaction exhibit will be on display until March 2014, but if I were you, I wouldn’t wait to experience it. You will definitely be satisfied! 

Up, Up and Away at the Coshocton Hot Air Balloon Festival

Few sights are more spectacular than an army of hot air balloons gracefully floating across the evening sky lit only by the burners that propel them far into the distance.

For 32 years, the Coshocton Hot Air Balloon Festival has wowed crowds with incredible, colorful displays of magnificence. The upcoming festival runs June 7–9, 2013, at the Coshocton County Fairgrounds. The weekend features musical entertainment, karaoke, carnival rides, great food, arts and crafts booths, an antiques flea market and fireworks. Throughout the weekend there are several opportunities to see 25 impressive balloons take to the skies.

Balloon launches take place Friday and Saturday evenings around 6 p.m. On both Saturday and Sunday mornings (around 6 a.m.), early risers are treated to the arrival of balloons with fun names like Ugliest Duckling, Road Trip and Hot Flash. The highlight of the festival is the Saturday evening “night glow” as balloons fill the skies after dark (9:15 p.m.) and spectators are treated to a sea of burner glow.

There are so many photo opportunities at the festival. You can watch as workers spread out the balloons getting them ready to fill and enjoy your front row seat to the enormous effort it takes to get them off the ground. The vibrant colors of the balloons, the sight of their sheer size lifting into the air and the thunderous sound of propane burners—are all sensory wonders that will go home with you.         

The admission, parking and musical entertainment are FREE for the Coshocton Hot Air Balloon Festival. The annual event is presented by the Coshocton County Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Frontier Power. This festival is just one of many fun, affordable family events held in Coshocton throughout the year. Check out Visit Coshocton to plan future visits to the area.     

Whether this is your first year to see the hot air balloons, or it is a yearly tradition for your family, chances are you will come back again.

Plenty to See and Do at Lakeside

On June 22, the gates will open at Lakeside, the Chautauqua community on Lake Erie, as its summer season of events begin.

After that and until Labor Day, admission is charged to get into the community – originally founded by Methodists in 1873 as a camping site where tent revivals were held.

The Chautauqua movement - started in 1874 initially to train Sunday school teachers - has become a venue for adult education and growth. The calendar of events reflects this mission, offering fun activities designed to encourage spiritual, mental and physical growth. There are popular activities, like a parade, a fireworks show and a performance by the Central Ohio Brass Band on the Fourth of July.

There are tons of entertainment opportunities throughout the summer. The concert series this year will include performances by Amy Grant, the Grass Roots and a return engagement by the Spinners. The community also has its own movie theater, which shows movies all summer. There’s an arts festival and a wooden boat show in July, a gladiolus exhibit in August, and the season winds down with an antiques show spread out across the village.

There’s also a lecture series, featuring talks on a variety of topics from the 1960s to William Shakespeare to the U.S. criminal justice system to astronomy and space exploration. This year also marks the 140^th anniversary of the founding of Lakeside, and there’s an exhibit in Hoover Auditorium, the main venue for concerts and performances at Lakeside.

One of the buildings that date back almost to the founding of the community is the Hotel Lakeside. This complex was built in 1875 and has no electricity or running water. From there, additions were made as it became a center for out-of-town guests. The hotel appeared to be doomed in the 1970s, as it slipped into disrepair, and there was talk about tearing it down. But that didn’t come to pass and the hotel was restored to its previous grandeur.

There’s plenty to do at Lakeside during the season, but there are also reasons to stop there year-round as there are celebrations on Memorial Day and Christmas. Sloopy’s Sports Café is a homey café decorated with sports memorabilia from area high schools as well as Ohio State and Cleveland sports. It also happens to have an award-winning pizza sauce – Perfetto, which is Italian for perfect.

Also, just outside the gate to Lakeside, across from Danbury High School, is Netty’s. The regional chain (there are four other locations, all in the Toledo area) offers hot dogs, root beer and ice cream – the perfect summer fare.

Discover the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center & Cincinnati Museum Center

Discover Ohio To Go cups have been popping up all over Ohio, so I decided to redeem my large McDonald’s cup to see what the fun is all about. 

I took my cup to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati located on the Ohio River. I presented the cup at the front desk and like magic was discounted $2 off my admission ticket price. 

If that wasn’t amazing enough, the Freedom Center has many great exhibits and artifacts that represent the journey of slaves to freedom. What’s even more fantastic is they have a mobile app that gives a unique, interactive experience of the museum. You can hear the stories of people who were enslaved and from others who were part of their fight for freedom.  There are additional photographs and narrative stories on the app as well.

Their newest exhibit, Stephen Marc: Passage on the Underground Railroad, depicts photos of various Underground Railroad sites from more than 20 states as well as Canada.  The photographer, Stephen Marc toured these places and documented his travels through pictures.

The Freedom Center is not only educational, it’s inspiring!  To learn about the obstacles people had to overcome in their quest for freedom was truly unbelievable.  The Discover Ohio To Go discount at the Freedom Center is available until October 31st - but cups are only being sold at participating McDonald's through June 9. 

I felt so motivated by the experience at the Freedom Center, I took another large Discover Ohio To Go cup over to the Cincinnati Museum Center to see what power it yielded there.  $2 off again on my admission and a ticket to their Omnimax™ theater.  What a fantastic promotion!

I was enthralled by their exhibit Colorful Beijing: Modern Photographs of an Ancient City and found myself wishing I could use my Discover Ohio To Go cup to get a ticket to China. No luck there, but fortunately the exhibit did a great job capturing the images of modern Beijing.

I was even more captivated to see the latest attraction, Flight of the Butterflies in their Omnimax™ theater and hear the stories of one man’s quest to find the secret location of the Monarch Butterflies’ hideaway.

Matter of fact there were so many things that peaked my interest that I didn’t get a chance to see it all.  I will have to go back.  Luckily, I have until October 31st before these two offers end. Just be sure to purchase your cup at McDonald’s before June 10th.

For a complete list of all participating attractions visit ww.DiscoverOhioToGo.com. Now get your cup and save on your next getaway!

The Beautiful Fashion in Kent

It’s amazing to know that some of the world’s greatest fashion collections are just down the road from my house. Kent State University Museum is filled with some of the most grandiose garments ever made. It was easy for me to overlook this world-famous museum, which rivals Victoria & Albert Museum in London, tucked away in an Akron suburb so I decided to take a second look.

I’ve been to the Kent State University Museum once before. I was in middle school and my best friend’s dad, who is a fashion designer, took us to see one of his garments. I remember being filled with excitement and thinking, “I want to do that one day.” Even though my life has taken a different path, I still have a love and an appreciation for fashion design. Some people think that fashion design is just making clothes but it’s more of an art form. Fashion greats like Alexander McQueen have popularized the couture fashion as an art movement.

It is a mistake to think the fashion industry isn’t diverse. Although there could be more recognition for multicultural designers, there are some African-American designers making a name for themselves in the mainstream fashion industry, including Tracy Reese, Rachel Roy and Stephen Burrows.

So when I went to the museum for a second time many years later, I had a greater understanding of the passion and creativity it takes to make such fashions. Featuring five temporary exhibits and an expansive permanent collection from centuries past, this museum has just about everything. From gowns to corsets to glass sculptures and more, this museum has many pieces that tell the story of world history through art.

The museum features a donated collection of 4,000 costumes and accessories, nearly 1,000 pieces of decorative art and a 5,000 volume reference library from designers Jerry Silverman and Shannon Rodgers. The exhibit “RESIST: A World of Resist Dye Techniques” was a favorite of mine. This exhibit featured chemical, mechanical and ikat techniques of dying fabrics to create patterns. Although most of us are familiar with tie-dye from the 60s and 70s, these different dying techniques have been around for centuries. Nigeria, Japan, India and Indonesia are just some of the many countries with histories of resist dyeing. The “Fandemonium” exhibit was also a fun collection which featured an array of hand-painted fans from the eighteenth century and art deco pieces from the twentieth century.

Walking through the museum this time was a completely different experience. It was great to see how these designs and art pieces have influenced today’s African-American designers. KSU fashion and merchandising students take advantage of this museum and you can too. Definitely make this a stop on your next weekend getaway and while you're there check out other fun attractions around Kent.

Save and Discover at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium

The newest aquarium to hit the Ohio scene, the Greater Cleveland Aquarium, is an underground maze that houses underwater worlds. It’s hip and urban, while maintaining an educational and entertaining charm.

Sound intriguing? How do discounted admission tickets sound, too? Act now through June 9^th, and you can make that happen. DiscoverOhio just launched a promotion, aptly titled “Discover Ohio To Go”, with McDonald’s and Coca-Cola that offers discounts to some of Ohio's best attractions. What do you have to do? Buy a large drink at any of the 400 participating McDonald’s locations, gulp down the refreshing beverage, and use the cup as a coupon at one of the 13 destinations, including the year-old Greater Cleveland Aquarium - which was my destination of choice.  

Housed in the basement of the FirstEnergy Powerhouse Building in Cleveland’s nautical Flats district, the Greater Cleveland Aquarium has a rustic yet new urban presence that intrigued me immediately. My McDonald’s cup that housed a refreshing iced tea on the two-hour drive north got me $2 off admission into the Aquarium. (Just a heads up, Cleveland area McDonald’s were unable to participate in this promotion because of other campaigns the restaurants had scheduled.) So buy your cup ahead of time or check on the website for the closest participating location to you.  

Once inside this labyrinth of the seas, I was awed at how homey it felt. The tropical décor and music juxtaposed comfortably against the exposed brick walls of the historic building. The tanks are smaller and shorter, offering either an overhead view of the fish inside (close enough to touch) or a 360-degree look into the world they inhabit. I particularly enjoyed the jellyfish display, and in fact I almost walked right by it. They live in an overhead tank in one of the old smokestacks. 

The most striking display however, is the shark tank. Swimming among the remains of what looks like the sunken ship from “Finding Nemo” live four species of sharks that swim in front and above viewers.

Along with the unique forms of display, the staff members at the aquarium are both engaging and informative. A very gregarious staff member and I talked and stared into a coral reef display for nothing short of a half hour, playing “I Spy”and searching for the plethora of sea life among the coral.

This limited time "Discover Ohio To Go" promotion gave me that extra little bump to try something new in Ohio that had been on my wish list for quite sometime. It encourages both the importance of the road trip while maintaining that budget. With that cup, I felt I had the ticket that gave me permission to expand my horizons - while driving toward the horizon. Get your summer started right with a cool drink and hot deals on Ohio destinations. 

 

Join Me Under the Stars at Perkins Observatory

Perkins Observatory

My Friday evening begins with a wish for clear skies as I wonder what kinds of galactic gifts the night might bring. Telescopes of enormous sizes are sprinkled across the front lawn of the Perkins Observatory in Delaware, Ohio, as daylight gives way to dusk.

There is a feeling of excitement as families and star gazers arrive for the public program that takes place every Friday evening.

With too much cloud cover to do the program outdoors, Director Tom Burns takes the group inside for an alternative program. In the meantime, we literally wait for the skies to clear and hope for our chance to look through the powerful telescopes. 

Director, Tom Burns

Burns is a colorful character who welcomes the group by saying that we are now “sharing the wonder and majesty of the universe.”

Standing at the front of the room Burns provides an entertaining lesson in planets, stars and the universe. We learn terms like Jovian planet and celestial sphere. We find out how and why to use binoculars backwards to see planets a half billion miles away.

Burns’ passion, expertise and insight about our world make me feel like I am privy to special information. I am sure everyone in the room walked away with new knowledge.

Unfortunately, the clouds never cleared enough for us to use the outside telescopes, but that is the chance you take. Part of the fun in visiting Perkins Observatory is to see this incredible research facility in action.

Built in 1923, the working observatory is used by the Ohio Wesleyan University Physics and Astronomy Department. The dome of the observatory houses a 135,000 pound telescope, the fourth largest in Ohio. Visitors can get up close to examine the many mirrors inside. The observatory is run by Burns, Technical and Project Assistant Don Stevens and a dedicated and passionate cast of volunteers who are excited to share their knowledge.    

Telescope in the dome

Friday night public programs are just one of many programs and lectures offered by the observatory. In July, a series of programs will be offered called Celebration of the Sun. Programs will run during the late afternoon sessions and offer a rare glimpse of the sun through special telescopes.

Most programs require tickets and/or reservations, and all programs, of course, are weather permitting. Even though my visit to Perkins Observatory turned out cloudy, I still walked away with renewed excitement about my universe and look forward to another visit on a clear night.