Baby K somehow guessed where we were going on the way. I pled ignorance, so she was still a little…read moresurprised when we walked around the corner and saw it. She headed straight for the newest Paw Patrol character, and thankfully didn't want anything more (she said lots of things were neat, but didn't push.) The basic doll is a little expensive, but of course you have to get some clothes, etc., so it adds up. We ended up spending $75, but I was ready for about that amount. The filling process is quick, the heart insertion is super cute (get your video rolling,) and she loves it. Not something to do every day (it has been two years for us since the first one we got) but a nice occasional splurge. There are a ton of character options, and the smaller ones are reasonably priced, especially during a sale. You can go over the top with roller skates for a freaking stuffie, a chair for them, whatever, but you can get out for $25-$50 if you're firm.

So, I have walked by many of these spots but finally my daughter dragged me into here so we could…read moreget our bears-a-built.. Now, I am not a doll kind of person but I did like the setup. When you first walk in the least expensive bears are right in front so if your child is somewhat small you could sneak out of there for around $20 if your really wanted.. I was surprised to find a 'Hello Kitty' doll we could build and for my little one it was all over.. You pick out the doll, they stuff it for you according to how soft or firm your kiddo wants it and finally you can dress and name the animal. Overall the experience was pretty good and the staff was friendly but you sort of get nickeled and dimed (the dress and shoes for ours were sold separately) and you can easily get stuck in a long line if your there on a Saturday afternoon.

I love a holiday crafts festival and this is one of the great ones. It took us hours to walk…read morethrough and see all of the vendor booths. Parking was $6 and entrance fee was $7 per person. The crowds weren't too bad - definitely steady and busy but not overwhelming. They had everything from hand painted chocolates and local dairy cheese, to art pieces selling for thousands of dollars. Some of the art work on display was unbelievably beautiful. There are many things I would have liked to have taken home (with a much bigger budget.) Most of the artisans were really friendly and helpful with any questions. Many also said they sell on Etsy and will ship online orders. I look forward to making this an annual holiday outing.

This year I visited Winterfair for the first time. I didn't really know what to expect as far as…read morethe quality of craftsmanship or the scale of the event. I knew from a quick bit of research that it was a long-standing tradition and spanned a long weekend of Thursday through Sunday each December. I went on Sunday, the last day of the event. We paid (I think) $5 for parking. Admission was $7 on the first visit, free on each visit after that. I arrived as soon as doors opened at Noon and stayed until we were forced out at 5p. I walked nonstop the entire time and did not see nearly everything there was to see. There were hundreds of artisans. I saw mainly the same styles of crafts: wooden bowls, ceramics, jewelry, some watercolor, etc. The level of craftsmanship was pretty consistent throughout, which was a good and bad thing. The good thing was that there were no real schlubs. The bad thing was that I often felt like I was seeing more of the same. We bought a lot, mainly Christmas gifts. Winterfair merchants must make a killing off people looking for unique gifts. I got a beautiful pair of earrings from artist Charles Pinckney. Charles' booth stood out to me because it was understated. Whereas many merchants faux walls were crammed top to bottom and edge to edge with merchandise, Charles' spot featured one glass display case with maybe 25 pieces of jewelry. I stopped to talk with him. He had a voice like James Earl Jones and a very endearing personality. Charles told me that his inspiration comes from his childhood. Each of his abstract pieces has a story, and he shared several of them with me. I inquired about one specific pair of earrings and became more enthralled with them after hearing their tale. I just had to have them. I put them on immediately and took a picture with Charles to commemorate the occasion. I found another noteworthy crafter near the entrance, a husband and wife who make ceramic bird sculptures. It doesn't sound so interesting, but the sculptures are dead on! The eyes were phenomenally real. And you should see the feathers; they look pillowy and soft. I couldn't control myself and ended up touching three of the birds, only to be disappointed by their actual hard surfaces. They looked so lifelike. While scoping out one merchant's items, I got a whiff of something deliciously sweet. I soon pinned the smell: roasted nuts! I followed my nose to a stand with a variety of handmade chocolates and freshly roasted nuts. I split a bag of pecans, a bag of almonds, and a bag of cashews with my cohort. Absolutely wonderful! The Sunday show wasn't overly crowded, but I did have to deal with a lot of nudging. That's one thing I hate about craft shows. People elbow and crowd around you to see what you're looking at. And to get a good view of anything, you have to do some elbowing yourself. Another thing that makes me a bit uncomfortable about craft shows is that the person who made the piece is sitting right there. So, you have to pull back your reactions. If you hate something, it's best to wait to say so until you're away from the stand. On the other hand, I had some marvelous conversations with vendors who were eager to tell me how they make their crafts and why they make their crafts. They were thrilled that someone was interested in knowing the stories behind their works. When I entered the building, I took my time looking at every stall. But as the minute hand on the clock spun, I found myself merely glancing at the stalls towards the back of the annex. I wish I would've budgeted my time better. I feel like I missed some really good stuff. It wasn't until the doors were getting ready to close that I discovered the food section of Winterfair. Jams, dips, syrups, drinks, mixes, and baked goods are housed in the far front corner. Almost every stall offers free samples of everything they sell. It was a heyday! I had some great raspberry hot chocolate, a fluffy banana cream pie dip, several creamy salsas, amazing maple syrup, and more. The sample areas were very clean, and the merchants enforce the use of tongs and a strict no double-dipping rule. Much appreciated. If you're going, I suggest wearing a light jacket because the building gets hot. Carry a light purse as well because, no matter the actual weight, it will feel like a million pounds by the end of the day and you'll be adding the weight of your purchases to that. Bring plenty of cash as the goods are sometimes expensive (though less so than other venues I've been to), and many of the merchants don't have the capability to process credit cards. If you're buying something heavy, don't fret; most merchants will hold your purchase until you're ready to go. Do eat lunch in the building, and do sample as much of the food in the sales area as you can. And remember that you don't have to see it all in one day; if you plan to come back, get a ticket on the way out and bring it back with you for free re-entry.

This gallery in Downtown Columbus is a wonderful space to see new and current varieties of art…read more.. from beautiful ceramic pieces to wood, painings etc. A much needed addition to the Columbus art gallery portfolio. Limited hours so check before you arrive.

Very cool gallery!…read more It's unassuming and located in a very random area of town. I heard about this gallery through Instagram and started following them on Facebook. They have exhibitions all the time and all sorts of events. It's not a big space. It's really just one big room and it will take you maybe 30 minutes to look and analyze all the art. You can still socialize here though. The artist seems to bring people they know. I saw young adults and a few people who are middle age. Someone brought their dog. There was also wine and beer. They take donations to run the place. Wish I had had some cash with me! It's street parking, but it's not busy over here. Still, it's such a cool thing to do and not a popular place quite yet. It's for hipsters and I love it!

Cost $7.00 to get in which wasn't bad, the ride price is $9.00 to ride all day! That is awesome. A…read morecouple of the rides had to be fixed while was in line waiting. I went to 2 food truck that make lemon shake ups, both were horrible, I guess they use sugar water.... yuck! Just get soda or water. First one I thought it was because he was a young kid, nope the 2nd food truck not good either.. they also forgot to shake the cup (DUH) We did like the food truck grilling and chilling, had the brisket nachos, very good.

This is a great fair, with all the good things that aren't at the state fair any longer…read more Livestock, agriculture, 4H, independent vendors. Good small town feel on a wonderful grounds and lots of things going on. Price is 7 bucks to get in. Lots to see. If I had one complaint it would be the board needs to establish some guidelines for the food vendors. I was there at 11:00 to 12:00 and had three vendors tell me they didn't have any food ready yet. Maybe you should get there earlier if you are running a food business and be ready for what is the normal lunch time. I had a great time.

Very helpful staff ! I ended up buying a few outfits for my grandmas bear. The prices weren't bad…read more The place was clean and well organized.

We had gone to this location a few weeks ago when visiting Columbus. It was a Sunday and busy…read more The store was busy and there were only 2 people working. The lines were a bit crazy and congested. I have a child with special needs, who wasn't doing well as the lines continued to grow. We needed to step to the side to give him some room to breathe. I tried to explain to the girl at the stuffing stating why we were on the other side of the line but she didn't listen and refused to help us when next instead moving to others stating we weren't in line, when we had in fact been in line. We left without purchasing anything and I would never go back to this store. We have had build-a-bear experiences at other stores before with no issues, but this time was very different. Lack of awareness or inability to listen and understand children when you work in a store for children is not acceptable short staffed or not. I would not recommend this location after my experience.

My first real spot during the family trip to Columbus, OH was a gift shop. We had time to kill…read morebefore the first thing we had planned so we came to the nearby Shops at Worthington and stumbled upon Pizzaz. Operated by the Worthington Craft Guild, the store is owned by local artisans who sell their wares. All of their items are handmade and I can tell you they are beautiful quality items that are perfect for gifts or decorating your own home. There were so many items I wanted to buy but i got the following: 1) A Christmas Spider. I got a beautiful ornamental spider to hang up next Christmas on one of my trees. I certainly learned something new as a Christmas Spider is based of a Eastern European folktale which explains one possible origin of tinsel on Christmas trees. According to wikipedia, "A poor but hardworking widow once lived in a small hut with her children. One summer day, a pine cone fell on the earthen floor of the hut and took root. The widow's children cared for the tree, excited at the prospect of having a Christmas tree by winter. The tree grew, but when Christmas Eve arrived, they could not afford to decorate it. The children sadly went to bed and fell asleep. Early the next morning, they woke up and saw the tree covered with cobwebs. When they opened the windows, the first rays of sunlight touched the webs and turned them into gold and silver. The widow and her children were overjoyed. From then on, they never lived in poverty again." I think it will be a nice touch to my Christmas decor. 2) A small hanging cat ornament and a small hanging dog ornament. Bought one for my mom (cat) and one for bestie (dog). Its just a cute handmade decoration. 3) Dragonfly necklace. My bestie is amazing and she was especially amazing to me and my family last couple of years especially when my mom had cancer. Mom bought her a beautiful handmade dragonfly necklace to give to her as a gift. She loved it! This is a wonderful little place in Worthington, OH and i recommend anyone in the area to support these wonderful local artists! If you are looking for unique gifts or decor come here! This place has total pizazz!

I had the pleasure of visiting this place a few weeks ago during Franklinton Fridays for artist…read moreLynn Hetherington's Freakshow opening exhibition. The outside of the building is painted with gorgeous mural artwork that I wish I had snapped a photo of! It's worth going even to see the outside. The exhibition itself was incredible and the performances by local circus artists was a great touch. I was extremely impressed by the amount of carnival-style decor that the staff was able to fit into the one room gallery, which also featured a corner bar serving some of your favorite fair food snacks to match the theme. Though the space is super small, the staff and curator clearly go above and beyond to make it a memorable experience to visit. I look forward to coming back in the future for another exhibition and to see what the space looks like in a different theme.

This is a small space! It looks like it'd be a nice size for an apartment or something…read more I came to visit for Franklinton Friday and it wasn't packed so there was ample room to move around. My friend had come months ago here for a rave. I can't imagine how packed it would be for something like that. Anyway, I did like it as a gallery. It's kind of a cool event space that they use for all kinds of things.

Great little shop in Old Worthington! They have tons of original cards, unique art prints, and…read moreother pieces by local artists. It's a great place to find a gift or even just stop by to lift your mood a bit. Definitely recommend and will be back!

This is such a great little shop! They've rotated their selections for the new year, and there are…read moreso many great pieces to check out, including really cute jewelry and other great art by a variety of makers. The store is accessed by heading through Kittie's Worthington (well worth grabbing a treat or drink there too!). The staff are really nice and friendly. We were able to grab street parking across the street and walk over with its great location in Old Worthington.