What a cute area in Ohio! I stumbled upon this area when searching for things to do on Yelp. When I…read morewas planning to visit, I did not have any particular place in mind to visit; I just planning to stroll and pop into places if they looked enticing. We had our dog with us so we did not do an abundance of walking around. From what I saw, there were no places that welcomed pets in the businesses. It makes sense and it was no biggie, I just did not spend as much time as I would have if pets were welcome. I stopped into what I thought was a deli but more like a restaurant with a counter, hoping to purchase goodies for home. There are several stores for shopping, which were fun to browse. I only purchased some chocolates in a candy store, which apparently were made in house. I definitely want to visit here again with more research.

This is a lovely historic neighborhood just a couple miles south of downtown Columbus. If you have…read morea free afternoon and the weather is nice, it's well worth a visit to Schiller Park (dog-friendly with benches) which has a garden and statue dedicated to the German poet Schiller. I took COTA Bus #5 from downtown Columbus (Ohio Statehouse) and explored the area just north of the park. The brick houses and cobblestone alleyways provide a glimpse of life in the 1880s and early 1900s when this area became a central hub for the German-American community. I don't think there are too many kid-friendly activities or museums nearby - but it makes a pleasant excursion if you're stuck at the Convention Center for a conference in downtown Columbus. Street parking looked a bit challenging. If Bus #5 is running slow on your return trip from the German Village back to the downtown area (it can be up to a 30 minute wait if you just missed the last bus), consider taking an Uber/Lyft taxi instead.

All People's Fresh Market is amazing. It truly lives up to its name, it is for ALL people. They…read moredo not turn anyone away. The first time you go you have to provide your drivers license. They basically set you up in their system, takes less than 5 minutes. They ask absolutely no questions and after checking you in the first time they provide you with a key tag that you simply show each time you go in the future. They have both a drive thru, and a walk up option to pick up fresh food. If you choose to do the walk up, they do have parking spots available. Everyone that is working / volunteering is kind and judgement free. What I have found is that many that are in need of food in Columbus do not have the proper transportation. I have stopped by All People's Fresh Market and picked up a box of food to drop off to those in need. The joy those families have when I arrive with a big box of food is totally worth it. If you are in need of fresh food, or you know someone that is, please pass this info on. All People's Fresh Market is a savior.

I recently came back to this store to see what they had.... and man have they increased their…read morestock. They have brand new things, to true antiques. And they have amazing prices compared to other thrift stores. I ended up purchasing 4 things - a dresser, two chairs, and a coat 'tree'. An employee walks with you, marks what you want to buy, then checks you out. They will then help you load big pieces. Shout out to Seth & Wayne for being an amazing help to us on a busy weekend.

Amazing deals and very clean and a variety of merchandise. Will be returning to check out more…read moredeals as I am looking to upgrade my home.

Since 1977, Columbus Landmarks Foundation has been rallying to preserve and protect Columbus's…read morearchitectural history, of which I am a huge advocate. It is a non-profit organization, so their funding comes by way of membership, tours and special events. The CLF offers some wonderful guided tours of various aspects of the city. The walking tours are fair-priced, ranging from $7 to $15 and focus on unique little corners of the city, such as "Iuka Ravine Historic District - Urban Nature at its Grandest," "Clintonville - A Tapestry of Amazing Streets" and "The Original Haunted Columbus Walking Tour." If you are new to Columbus, this is a nice way to learn about your new neighborhood. Check their website for a list of upcoming tours. They tend to offer one or two per week, particularly in the warmer months.

In a Halloween-y mood last fall, I signed up for Columbus Landmarks Foundation's Gables, Gargoyles…read moreand Ghosts bus tour. After two hours of cruising Columbus hearing about history, hauntings, and landmarks, I was hooked! I signed up for another tour the very next weekend. The Landmarks Foundation has a noble goal (historic preservation and rehabilitation), which it accomplishes through advocacy, events, and education. I am from Columbus, and had no idea of the rich history of our city until I started attending CLF's events. I highly recommend checking out one of their tours to find out more about Columbus neighborhoods and history.

Extraordinary week at Mezzacello Urban Farm for our grandson. Turned into such a special program…read moreand he gained so much confidence and self esteem from it. So much so, he will be continuing as one of their Mentor In Training MenTerns Program. At the end of the program he said " he was very very proud of what he had accomplished ." If there was a 10, I would have given this program a 10. A real inspiration.

Finding a summer camp that your kiddos love is a tough feat! Not only is Mezzacello an amazing part…read moreof the Near East Side but a welcoming and fun place for my kiddos to spend time learning. Jim is a true gem, he challenges the kiddos to be active participants in their learning. The most impressive part is that he treats each kiddo with the same respect he would treat an adult. Too often kiddos don't get this same level of respect and when you are able to find a human who truly appreciates and is interested in interacting with kiddos you have to celebrate them! Thank you for being a great teacher and learner Jim!

This crisp industrial building is a perfect backdrop for gatherings, events, and connecting with…read morethe community. The roominess of the accessible space is afforded by lofted ceilings in both of the large gathering areas. The front area offers a few tabletop and lounge seating arrangements flanked by gallery art and a generous open air kitchen with large Island. The back room has a high-top bar to the side and a generous floor space and stage for live music and readings. Columbus is lucky to have a space like this accessible to our community and vibrant arts scene.

We stopped into Wild Goose Creative during Franklinton Friday. We accidentally passed it the first…read moretime we walked by because we were so distracted by looking at the art on display in the tents and the performance art taking place. Happily, we noticed the space with its large door open on our next pass and we popped into view an interesting comics exhibit. They had a nice art activity set up on a stage in the corner, which a number of kids were enjoying. The space is nice - very high ceilings make it feel pretty roomy. The staff at the desk were very welcoming and helpful.

I recently went to a wedding reception at the Y, and I was totally taken by surprise at how lovely…read moreit was! Here's what I loved about it: * a large dance floor * great architectural details (floors, ceilings, etc.) * outside patio overlooking downtown * large performance stage The only thing odd about the Y was riding in the elevator with the temporary residents there. Other than that, it was lovely!

The Director of this location, Jen, bullies children. She's exceedingly harsh. When her electric…read morepencil sharpener failed, she brought all the children into the gym and yelled at them for it, then she started picking on the child she thought had broken her pencil sharpener, claiming she'll have to spend another hundred dollars on a new sharpener. She was truly scary with her yelling and rage. In my opinion, she's been doing this for too long and she's completely burned out. She is not a kind person and I would never allow someone like this to be watching my children.

The shop has moved to a beautiful new location and the quality of items in the shop - all handmade…read more- is great!

Walked in here during Village of Lights…read more Lots of people were browsing although I saw people here and there making a purchase. They've got rooms upstairs and downstairs of crafts made by seniors. Very cool! They had some really cute OSU stuff, Christmas things, handmade scarves, artwork, home decor, etc. Loved it! Not sure what their regular hours are but I enjoyed walking through here. The stuff is all reasonably priced, so I wouldn't mind coming back to buy something.