Believe It Or Not: You Can Grocery Shop Downtown

"Excuse me?  But if you live downtown, where do you buy groceries?” I’ve been asked this question countless times.  But I take a step back and realize most people who come downtown, probably head to their destination and then leave without ever exploring what is here.

As a downtown resident, I have plenty of options to buy groceries and food, just as I did in the suburbs.  Yes, many times we still need to get into a car to buy the main staples if we want them at a lower price.  There is the Kroger in the Brewery District, which houses a state liquor store, as well as a Giant Eagle in German Village and Victorian Village.  The latter also has a state liquor store.  Both of these stores are about just over mile from my condo and are still in the 43215 zip code which is the downtown area. 

We also have more options that are closer and more unique.  The Hills Market Downtown carries many local and unique brands you won’t find at any other grocery stores.  It is conveniently located in the Neighborhood Launch development, putting it within walking distance. In addition to carrying items you need every day, the market also features casual dine-in options for breakfasts on the weekends, salad bar during lunchtime, a charity pizza night and other fun dining gatherings throughout the year.

Just a few blocks away is the North Market, Columbus’ last public market.  Merchants at the North market offer both fresh and prepared foods.  A farmer’s market takes place in the spring and summer. The North Market hosts a number of special events throughout the year including the Food and Ohio Wine Festival and Fiery Foods Festival.  Speaking of Farmer’s markets, the Pearl Alley Market take place may through October in Pearl Alley.  You will find a variety of merchants offering both locally grown produce as well as homemade products including balsamic vinegars, soaps, pies, bread and jewelry.  Something for everyone.

Pictured below are some local items offered at the Hills Market Downtown

Leave Your Car in the Garage!

That’s right.  If you are serious about living downtown at Neighborhood launch, you will leave your car in the garage as much as possible.

You can probably walk to work, which is why you decided to move downtown anyway. And if you want to really discover some of the great sights of downtown and beyond, the best way is by bicycle.

Bicycles are an effective mode of transportation and the major means of transportation in many parts of the world. Plus it’s a great way to get some exercise.  In fact, according to the federal government, riding your bike counts towards your 150 minutes a week of physical exercise and is one of the safest ways to get physical activity.

With all this in mind, my husband and I purchased bikes a year after moving into our condo at Neighborhood Launch.  I hadn’t ridden a bike in quite some time and was a bit apprehensive.  But with all of the changes the city has been making to create a more bike friendly city, the experience has been great. There are marked bike lanes on the road and signs to remind motorists to share the road.  In addition, many of the bike paths around the city have been improved.

We take ride our bikes up to the Short North for dinner and stop back by Gay Street for some frozen yogurt at 39 Below. Or we will ride down Bryden Road and view the majestic homes of yesteryear that are being restored with a stop at the Black Creek Bistro or the Franklin Park Conservatory.

 After a year, I traded in my three-speed for a bike with more speeds to go longer distances and enjoy riding on some of the bike paths.  We have gone as far as the Hills Market in Worthington on the Olentangy Trail.

There are several resources for those looking to bike in downtown or Columbus.  These sites include maps with bike paths and information on bike laws and bike shops:

• Get Active Columbus: http://getactivecolumbus.com/bikepaths.aspx
• MORPC Interactive Map: http://arcgiswebadp1.morpc.org/webmaps/bikeusermap/index.html
• Consider Biking: http://www.considerbiking.org/

So park your car, get off the couch and enjoy the great weather by taking a bike ride!

Entertainment Options Heat Up Downtown in the Summertime

What I love about summertime downtown are all of the entertainment options that are available so close to home.  Many of them are free or of little cost and offer you a chance to stay cool.

Since the opening of the Scioto Mile, the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department has done a great job of planning activities at Bicentennial Park. There are concerts, movies, festivals and other types of family shows.  In addition, the water fountains offer cool and refreshing respite when the temperatures start to spike. To keep informed of events at the Scioto Mile, go to SciotoMile.com, you can sign up for free updates.

Columbus Commons has also done a tremendous job of scheduling the green space. Thursdays are Food Truck Court during lunch time, in the evening is Pints & Pies. Picnic with the Pops offers a series of concerts through the summer and movies are also shown at the park periodically. To keep up with current activities, visit the Columbus Commons website at ColumbusCommons.org and signup for their e-newsletter.

CAPA offers their Summer Movie Series.  For as little as $4 you can see wonderful classic movies in the historical Ohio Theatre. Live organ music by Clark Wilson begins30 minutes prior to show time and during intermission.  What a great way to spend a hot evening!

Finally, the Columbus Museum of Art is only two blocks away from Neighborhood Launch.  The museum has outstanding collection of late nineteenth and early twentieth-century American and European modern art. The museum is recognized its public collection of woodcarvings by Columbus folk artist Elijah Pierce and the world’s largest repository of paintings and lithographs by Columbus native George Bellows. And admission to the Columbus Museum of Art of Sundays is free!

Enjoy!

Dining Alfresco Downtown Style

Dining Alfresco Downtown Style

Summer time is one of my favorite times to dine out – outside that is! Downtown has many venues with patios that make eating and drinking outside fun and enjoyable when the weather is nice.  Here are a few of my favorite patio picks:

• Due Amici: Located on Gay Street, this modern Italian restaurant is located in the middle of hustle and bustle of downtown. The menu includes small plates, salads and lots of seasonal specials make the experience worth the trip.  Tip: Mondays feature half price bottles of wine & champagne with live jazz music starting at 6 p.m. Due Amici is located at 67 E. Gay Street.
• Latitude 41:  Located within the Renaissance Hotel at the corner of Third and Gay streets, the outdoor patio here offers comfy couches in a great urban setting. Happy hour specials for the summer last until 7 p.m. and include $5 pizzas and wine specials.  The patio is a great hangout for after work and evening relaxation.
• J. Gumbos:  Voted Best Cajun by the readers of 614 Magazine, J. Gumbos offers great Cajun fare like Bourbon Street Chicken and Voo Doo Chicken. While sitting on the patio after hours, enjoy a Mike’s Hard Lemonade, margaritas, and several varieties of beer for only $3. Or get the mix-and-match bucket of 5 for $14. Happy Hour is Monday through Saturday 3 to 7:30 p.m.  J. Gumbos is located at 31 E. Gay Street.
• Manifesto Tuscan Grato & Scotch Bar: A relatively newcomer to downtown, Manifesto, located at 21 E. State Street in the Fifth Third Building, offers Italian fare that includes lots of wonderful small plates as well as Italian wines and premium cocktails. What’s not to like about having a cocktail on the patio before a show at the Ohio Theatre or afterwork?
• Hills Market Downtown: Most recently, I have enjoyed having Sunday brunch at the Hills Market patio where they prepare sweet and savory crepes from Crepes a La Carte. On Saturdays, Hills offers a $5 Pancake Breakfast that includes a stack of pancakes, sausage and Silver Bridge coffee. Of course they offer Ohio made maple syrup to put on top. Brunch is served from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.! Hills Market Downtown is located at 95 N. Grant Avenue.

Patios coming to downtown soon include:

• El Camino Inn located at 238 S. Fourth Street is a So Cal lounge offering cheap eats such as $2 tacos as well as margaritas and canned Mexican beers.
• Little Palace Bar + Kitchen located next to El Camino Inn at 240 S. Fourth Street is a historic downtown neighborhood diner. The menu includes pizzas, Stromboli, sub sandwiches, burgers and other favs such as gyros and hand cut fried.

But my favorite spot to dine outside is in the courtyard of Neighborhood Launch with our neighbors. Occasionally we gather around the fountain in the courtyard on nice evenings to enjoy food, beverage and good conversation.

What’s your favorite place to dine outside downtown?

Neighborhood Launch is Purrfectly Friendly for Felines

Part two of National Pet Month recognizes the cuddly kittens and finicky felines of Neighborhood Launch.

Prospective buyers that have cats might wonder how their pets will adjust to a new urban environment.  As the owner of three cats, I can attest that the transition went smoother than I thought. Sadie, Sammie and Pepper immediately took to their new downtown home. They love running up and down the stairs, which gives them some exercise, as well as sunning themselves in the sunlight streaming through the windows.

A nicer surprise is how social they have become with our neighbors, now that we live downtown and interact so much with other residents.  They don’t run and hide all the time as they did when we had in frequent guest at our suburban home.

They are even able to enjoy the outdoors as they did in the suburbs. Thanks to a nice courtyard in the front of our condo, the cats are able to enjoy supervised outdoor times.  Other neighborhood cats sometimes enjoy frolicking in the grass as well with their owners.

And since so many residents have cats, it is nice to be able to assist each other when travel plans take us away from home.  We can ask neighbors to look in on our cats and feed them and tend to their needs. It’s a good feeling to know you can leave your kids, I mean cats, in capable, friendly hands.

It's All About the Dogs or Hot Diggity Dog!

May is national pet month. In honor of this and as a pet honor, I wanted to share the downtown pet experience in a two part series this month as many Neighborhood Launch residents are pet owners with dogs or cats or sometimes both!

This month its all about the dogs!

Dogs, both large and small, are part of the Neighborhood Launch community.

Many prospective buyers wonder how their dog will survive the urban climate.  Unlike most suburban homes, you can't just open the back door and let your dog take care of business.  The answer is you need to walk your dog to an appropriate area.  There are a few parks in walking distance, Columbus Commons and the Topiary Park, that will provide good exercise for you and Fido.  Just don't forget to clean up.

But one good bit of news is that Neighborhood Launch is situated just one block away from the only downtown dog park.  In fact, the Columbus Downtown Dog Park, located at Fourth and Spring streets, is the only public off leash dog park in downtown Columbus.

The dog park is run by a nonprofit board that raises money to maintain the park.  This Friday, May 17, 2013, at 6 p.m. the board is hosting its annual Bark & Brew at 165 N. Fourth Street.  The event includes beer samples (must be 21 to attend), a tour of the Elevator Brewing Company and a beer glass.  Food and door prizes are also offered. A $20 donation to support the Columbus Downtown Dog Park is requested to attend. Please leave your pups at home so they don't end up indulging as well.

Next week: Felines!

Time is on your Side at Neighborhood Launch - Yes it is!

A recent Ohio State University study found that people spend time either cooking or exercising, but rarely both.  The culprit?  Time.

It seems people take time to prepare and cook a healthy meal or they take the time to work out, but usually these same people don’t have time to do both.  I can relate.

I remember when my husband and I lived in the suburbs, I would stop by the gym to work out and then call my husband to inquire about dinner on my commute home at 7 p.m.  Many nights he was working late and we ended up picking up food on the way home.

Now that we both live at Neighborhood Launch and work downtown, time is on our side. We are able to workout at lunch or after work, but without the long commute home. This enables us time to assemble a dinner in the time it would have taken us to drive home.

In fact, one evening after dinner, I took advantage of the nice evening and walked to the CVS downtown to pick up some items I needed.  Then I took an extra long walk back home along the Scioto Mile and back up Broad and Gay Streets to get home.  I even debated about stopping for frozen yogurt at 39 Below. When you have time, you have great choices awaiting you downtown!