Columbus Monthly / July 2011 / July / Best of Columbus 2011

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Best of Columbus 2011

Tastiest food? Found it. The coolest shopping? It’s here. The most fascinating people? Got them, too. Plus, a Tyrannosaurus rex made out of balloons, a Twitter-enabled marriage proposal and a camp for pint-sized pâtissiers. Yep, even in this time of scandal, uncertainty and tarnished heroes, you can count on Columbus Monthly to deliver the very best Best of Columbus in town. And without breaking a single NCAA rule.

Coordinated by Dave Ghose, with John Champlin, Emma Frankart, John Marshall, Ray Paprocki, Nancy Richison, Taylor Swope and Ben Zenitsky

Yes, Best of Columbus is back. So get ready to learn about the coolest restaurants, the most intriguing athletes and the hottest shopping.

AROUND TOWN

RENDITION OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM

The one performed before the Thanksgiving Day football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the New Orleans Saints by up-and-coming band New Hollow, a trio of high schoolers from New Albany making big waves in the pop scene.

EXCUSE TO HANG OUT IN A PARKING LOT

The Parking Lot Blowout, sponsored by the Columbus Music Co-op, has joined ComFest as one of the best events of the year for Columbus music fans. Last year, two iconic local bands, the New Bomb Turks and the Gibson Bros., reunited for the show in the parking lot next to Surly Girl Saloon—a loud, raucous, good time that’s going to be hard for this year’s concert, scheduled for July 9, to top.

LITERARY QUEST

Earlier this year, Karen Yingling finished a nine-year mission to read every hardcover fiction title in the Blendon Middle School library. She covered more than 6,000 books, starting with Douglas Adams (The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) and ending with Jane Zirpoli (Roots in the Outfield). The librarian at the Westerville school launched the effort soon after she took the job to get to know the collection better. She ran across many books that hadn’t been checked out in years. “I discovered there were reasons why,” Yingling says with a laugh. “So those books moved on to happier homes.” But she also uncovered some forgotten gems, such as Parnassus on Wheels, which was written in 1917, but no one had read since 1974. “I was really charmed by the book,” she says. For her next literary feat, Yingling is considering reading every biography, around 700 to 800 books.

ANIMAL BALLOON ARTIST

Before COSI’s new dinosaur exhibit opened in June, the museum teased visitors with a Tyrannosaurus rex head made out of nearly 125 balloons. The creature was the work of Aaron “Dizzy Doc” Hay, COSI’s go-to guy for amazing balloon animals. Earlier this year, Hay also made a human-sized gecko costume for COSI to promote a lizard exhibit. And topping his dinosaur-head achievement, he built his most amazing creature to date at the Columbus Arts Festival: a 9-foot-tall T. rex.

REDISCOVERY

The critically acclaimed indie movie Blue Valentine gave a surprising lift to an obscure soul song from Columbus. Thanks to actor Ryan Gosling, “You and Me,” recorded years ago by an unknown doo-wop group called Penny & the Quarters, was featured prominently in the movie as the love song of Dean (played by Gosling) and Cindy (Michelle Williams, who was nominated for an Oscar for her performance). The high-profile role generated lots of buzz for the long-forgotten demo—and even helped the Chicago record label Numero Group end some of the mystery that surrounded the song. The archivists at Numero—who released the single after it was discovered on a reel-to-reel tape in a box of junk at a Columbus estate sale—finally identified the late Jay Robinson as the songwriter. Lead singer “Penny,” however, remains a mystery.

PROPOSAL

TV host Ellen DeGeneres helped give a couple of college students from Grove City an unforgettable Valentine’s Day. After months of planning, Sam Clark popped the question to his longtime girlfriend, Rachael Carl, with help from the comedian and Twitter. The proposal, which occurred at OSU’s Ohio Union, was filmed with a couple of Flip cameras and became a viral video after DeGeneres’s show posted it on its YouTube channel.

MEAD MOVERS

Over three days in February, the co-owners of the meadery Brothers Drake carefully lifted nearly a dozen 250-gallon vats into a truck via a series of cranks and pulleys and drove them from the far north side to their new site at 26 E. Fifth Ave. Fortunately for them, the move went smoothly. “Nobody was harmed in the making of this mead,” says co-owner Sarah Jones.

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT TO LIVE IN

That would be the 12th—if you believe the Well-Being Index based on a national Gallup-Healthways poll. The rankings were split into five categories of well-being. The district—which is represented by Republican Pat Tiberi and includes parts of Franklin and Licking counties and all of Delaware County—ranked in the second highest level. In contrast, the 15th District, which is represented by Republican Steve Stivers and includes part of Franklin County and all of Madison and Union counties, rated the second lowest—and most of Ohio was in the absolute bottom.

NEARLY FREE RIDE

The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission offers a potential solution to one of the biggest barriers preventing commuters from abandoning their cars for more eco-friendly transportation. If you travel to work via bus, carpool, bike or your own two feet, you can register with the agency’s Guaranteed Ride Home Program. The free perk assures alternative commuters they won’t be stuck with a big bill if they need to work late, pick up a sick child at school or some other unforeseen emergency. Up to four times a year, the agency will reimburse 90 percent of cab fare for anyone signed up with the program.

REASON NOT TO RUN FOR COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL

Having your financial problems prominently reported in the Dispatch, which is what happened in December when the paper discovered that six of the 18 applicants for two open council seats “had personal financial problems, including bankruptcy, foreclosure and judgments for unpaid bills.” All had pledged in their applications to be financially responsible.

GREEN COLLABORATION

Franklin Park Conservatory agreed to plant and care for 12 gardens at the recently opened Columbus Commons (the site of the former City Center mall). The gardens will feature more than 45,000 flowering trees, perennials, shrubs and annuals.

ONE PERSON'S OPINION

BILL WESTERMAN

founder of Central Ohio Plein Air

NATURE SCENE

Westerman has painted some of the most inspiring natural landmarks in the area, from Malabar Farm State Park to the Hocking Hills. But the retired Ohio State pharmacology professor from Worthington stays close to home when asked to name his favorite spot in Central Ohio to paint “en plein air” (a French expression meaning “in the open air”). His choice is Whetstone Park in Clintonville, which offers not only its renowned rose gardens, but also other flowers, trees, a duck pond and a river.

MULTI-TASKER

Earl Smith, the former Columbus police spokesman who’s the Republican candidate for Columbus mayor, is trying to pull off a remarkable twofer: unseat a popular incumbent while also planning his own wedding.

BLOOPER

When asked on the air if he had the guts to jump into the freezing-cold water of Ohio State’s Mirror Lake during the annual Michigan week plunge, WBNS sportscaster Dom Tiberi, surrounded by half-naked coeds, announced he was “trying to get it up.”

SPORTS

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS

Ohio State freshman basketball sensation Jared Sullinger. He not only excelled on the court (first-team All-American), but he also was a class act off it. And he endeared himself to OSU fans by choosing to stay in school instead of heading to the NBA Draft, in which he might have been the No. 1 pick.

END TO A STREAK

After winning the Division III men’s swimming and diving national title for 31 consecutive years, Kenyon College’s dominance has been expected, to say the least. That is, until the squad from Gambier was defeated in March by Denison University by one point. As a side note, Denison coach Gregg Parini swam for Kenyon in the early 1980s.

TAG TEAM

In October, cousins Lauren Thai and Ashley Thai, then sophomores at Hilliard Bradley High School, became the nascent school’s first state champions when they won the Ohio Division II doubles title in tennis. Also the youngest team in the tournament, the Thais dominated the squad from Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy 6-0, 6-2. The title is a big boost to the budding Jaguars as they make the move up to Division I this coming school year.

FUMBLE

During a long run in the first quarter of the Sugar Bowl, Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor fumbled, but an Arkansas player inadvertently knocked the football away from a teammate and into the end zone. As four Razorbacks converged on the ball, OSU receiver Dane Sanzenbacher dived over them to recover it for an improbable touchdown in OSU’s 31-26 win.

SPOILER OF JOE BAUSERMAN’S CHANCES

Just when Ohio State backup quarterback Joe Bauserman thought he might start after Terrelle Pryor left the program in disgrace, he has to compete with a slew of newcomers. Among them is standout freshman Braxton Miller, who, during the Spring Game, showed his accuracy and athleticism by completing seven of 12 passes for 73 yards (including one touchdown) while avoiding sacks.

INTERCEPTION

By Ohio State’s Cameron Heyward during the 36-24 win over the University of Miami in mid September. It was remarkable for two reasons. First, it’s unusual for a defensive lineman to pick off a pass (in a tricky move, he backed off the line of scrimmage). Second, it’s highly unusual to see a defensive lineman—listed at 6-foot-5 and 288 pounds—trying to run nearly the entire length of the field. After snagging the interception at OSU’s five-yard line, he began to rumble toward the Buckeye end zone, even making a nifty cutback to avoid a tackle. But he soon tired, staggering along until a Hurricane player caught him—80 yards after he started.

PASS

By Ohio State freshman point guard Aaron Craft during the NCAA tournament victory over George Mason, in which the freshman set a school record with 15 assists. The most spectacular one came when Craft was pinned in by two George Mason players near mid court. Somehow, he saw a teammate open under the basket and threaded a laser-beam of a pass through the rest of the defense that resulted in an easy score.

NICKNAME

“Threebler,” for Ohio State’s three-point specialist Jon Diebler, who set the Big Ten career record for made shots beyond the arc with 374. During one stretch over two games in early March against Penn State and Wisconsin, the senior was amazingly accurate, hitting 17 of 20 three-point shots.

HOBBY

Though he was traded to the San Jose Earthquakes in January, former Crew striker Steven Lenhart certainly made an impact both on the field and off. When he wasn’t scoring for the black and gold, he spent much of his time crocheting. No, that’s not soccer lingo for heading in corner kicks. We mean actual crocheting. Each week, Lenhart visited the Westminster-Thurber retirement community in Victorian Village where he and many of the gals crocheted hats for the needy through his charity, Homiez Hatz.

ONE PERSON'S OPINION

JEROD SMALLEY

Channel 4 sports anchor

WORKOUT

The former Marshall University track and field athlete loves to run at Highbanks, which has a hilly terrain reminiscent of his native West Virginia. “If you want to kick your own butt, that’s the place to go,” he says. He also likes the large leafy trees that provide good protection from the sun. “I’m a sunburn guy,” he says.

RÉSUMÉ

Jantel Lavender will be sorely missed at Ohio State. In April, she became only the second women’s basketball player at OSU to be named first-team All-American three times (Jessica Davenport was the first). Lavender also is OSU’s all-time leading scorer and owns the Big Ten record for career rebounds. She scored double-digits in every one of her 136 games and is the only basketball player in Big Ten history—of either gender—to be named conference player of the year all four years.

ACROBAT

In April, OSU gymnast Brandon Wynn continued to exert his dominance on the rings when he became the first Buckeye to win consecutive NCAA championships since his coach, Blaine Wilson (hometown hero and three-time Olympian). The victory also extended his winning streak to 21 straight events, dating to September 2009.

WAY TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY

In November, Columbus Blue Jackets brass introduced fans not only to the team’s new “third” jersey, but also to Boomer, their second mascot. Both additions received mixed reviews. Though some argued about the new sweater’s look, others surmised that a curse had befallen the team, as the Jackets would lose their first five games while donning them. Boomer, on the other hand, caused a different reaction. The mustachioed mascot, made to resemble a 19th-century cannon to fit with the squad’s Civil War theme, stood at full attention and boasted a pair of wheels flopping from its hips, evoking certain, shall we say, phallic imagery. Hockey message boards lit up, with Boomer the butt of countless jokes. It was revealed soon after that he would be slowly phased out.

DISTRACTION FROM THE FOOTBALL SCANDAL

In early May, the OSU men’s volleyball team defeated UC Santa Barbara to bring home the first national title for that sport in school history. Junior Shawn Sangrey had 30 kills, while fifth-year senior Steven Kehoe, who was named the NCAA Tournament’s Most Valuable Player, notched a season-high 65 assists during the Buckeyes’ five-set victory over the Gauchos.

ASSAULT ON NATIONWIDE ARENA

By fans of the Pittsburgh Penguins for a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Dec. 4. Thanks to a Columbus season ticket-holder providing a code for discounted tickets at an online Pens forum, Pittsburgh fans arrived in droves—and one of them even got selected to ride on the Zamboni during an intermission. Plus, the Jackets lost 7-2.

BRIMMING RIVALRY

Northland High School senior Trey Burke was named Ohio Mr. Basketball by the Associated Press in March, an honor previously bestowed upon the likes of Buckeyes Jon Diebler and Jared Sullinger and NBA superstar LeBron James. Burke, who has been best friends with Sullinger since grade school, signed a letter of intent to play for Michigan.

BAD RENDITION OF A MILEY CYRUS SONG

Uploaded in late January, the YouTube video of Buckeye basketball stars Aaron Craft, Jared Sullinger and Jon Diebler attempting to sing Miley Cyrus’s “Party in the USA” had gotten more than half a million hits by late spring. Among the comments: “I’m officially in love with all three of them :) (even if they sound like dying animals).”

GOODS & SERVICES

STORE MASCOT

For the past decade, Tucker the tortoise has roamed the aisles of Petland in Carriage Place shopping center. The 60-pound African spurred tortoise, bequeathed to the business by an elderly woman who struggled to take care of him, has free reign of the store; he frequently travels from

his own little house (“Tucker’s Place”) near the cash registers to the fish department in the back, where he enjoys sitting on a heater built for large tortoises.

WORKOUT FOR NATALIE PORTMAN WANNABES

If you want a dancer’s body, you’ve got to exercise like one. That’s the guiding philosophy behind Pure Barre, 960 W. Fifth Ave. near Grandview. Since opening earlier this year, the studio has introduced a new kind of exercise regimen to Columbus fitness fanatics that’s built around a barre, the handrail used by ballet dancers. “It’s an hour-long workout where we fatigue the muscle groups, then we stretch back out,” says studio owner Emily Johnson. A dancer and former Ohio State cheerleader, Johnson got hooked on the concept—a series of small muscle movements—when her brother took her to a class in Michigan. The cost is $23 per class, and Johnson says there are specials for new clients and brides-to-be, among others.

WEBSITE FOR BILL COSBY WANNABES

The search for cheesy Christmas clothing got a lot easier this past fall thanks to a couple of New Albany website developers. Nate Strine and Austin Sullivan launched uglysweatershoppe.com to capitalize on the growing popularity of ugly sweater parties—ironic celebrations of tacky holiday outfits, the kind of clothing your grandma might wear (or give as gifts). Strine and Sullivan’s sweaters are more expensive than the ones you might find at thrift or close-out stores, but the selection is hard to beat. During peak season, the pair boasts an inventory of up to 700 aesthetically challenged items. “If it’s got Santa, a Christmas tree or reindeer on it, those are flying off the shelf,” Sullivan says.

MODERN FURNISHINGS

Modern is a growing trend in interior decorating. We checked in with two designers to see where they shop for modern furnishings.

Sally McDonald of Interiorworks: “The places that come to mind are Crate & Barrel . . . and West Elm, all at Easton. While I do not use these places all the time, they are great to fill in or give a modern flavor to a room of higher-quality furnishings. I am not big on disposable furniture, but kids especially like to be cutting edge and this stuff fits the bill!”

Doug Myers of Doug Myers Interiors: “I have consistently found great upscale modern/ contemporary furnishings at Darrons [1325 W. Lane Ave.]. They have been in this business for 30 years and are competitive. Many stores have come and gone, but they remain strong in the marketplace.”

TIME MACHINE, VIDEO-GAME DIVISION

The golden age of video games will be celebrated this month at CORGS-CON, the annual convention of the Central Ohio Retro Gaming Society (CORGS). The event—slated for July 16 at the Great Southern Shopping Center, 3795 S. High St.—includes dozens of vendors from across the country hawking vintage electronics: old Atari games, Intellivision and ColecoVision systems, the Magnavox Odyssey (the first home video game console) and even Nintendo’s notorious Virtual Boy, a 3-D binocularlike device that gave users headaches and was quickly discontinued. CORGS also provides a retro experience every weekend at the SouthPointe Marketplace, 3459 S. High St. For just a quarter, anyone can play several of CORGS co-founder Gary Carnuche’s personal collection of vintage stand-up arcade games, including Frogger, Ms. Pac-Man and Satan’s Hollow.

TIME MACHINE, T-SHIRT DIVISION

After four years as an online retailer, Homage opened its first brick-and-mortar outlet, 17 E. Brickel St., in the Short North last year. The tiny store just off of High Street delivers an immersive, old-school experience that complements its vintage-inspired clothing celebrating the likes of Archie Griffin, Bernie Kosar and Mario Lemieux. Shoppers can play the video arcade game NBA Jam while listening to Curtis Mayfield on the stereo. Clothing is displayed in athletic lockers, and decorations include an old wooden tennis racket and a Columbus Chill board game (not for sale, sadly).

NONTRADITIONAL MAPS

Jen Adrion and Omar Noory are a couple and business partners, owning and operating These Are Things, a graphic design company that specializes in making unique maps of cities. Adrion says two years ago, they looked for a world map to chart their wish list of future travels. When they couldn’t find one they liked, they just made their own. They ran 50 prints and had one hanging in each of their apartments. They decided to try to sell the extra 48 by setting up a website. As it turned out, people bought them and a business was built. “We like to think of our maps as a celebration of where we’ve been, where we’re from, and where we dream of going,” says Adrion. You can find their designs at thesearethings.com.

CHARITY DONATION AS AN EXCUSE TO SHOP

With the tagline “A hip and unique rock and roll boutique,” What the Rock?!, 1194 N. High St., hardly seems like the first place you’d go for philanthropic reasons. The rock-inspired wares range from accessories, home décor and barware to apparel for adults, kids and even infants, and it includes a wide assortment of Columbus-made merchandise. But the store’s emphasis on shopping local extends beyond the goods on the shelves. Every month, What the Rock?! sponsors a different local charity, allowing shoppers to round up their purchase to the nearest dollar to donate the extra change to the store’s chosen group. Recent benefactors include Children’s Hunger Alliance, Pets Without Parents and the Columbus Music Co-op.

WAY TO AVOID OVERDUE FINES

No Kindle, no problem. The Columbus Metropolitan Library allows members to download digital e-books to their various computers and mobile devices. All you need is a library card. Then, you can access entire books through the library’s website and read them onscreen. And forget about overdue fees. The software automatically deactivates the file after two weeks of use.

NICHE BOUTIQUE

Hope’s Boutique, 1145 Olentangy River Rd., specializes in hard-to-find products for cancer patients and their families. Founder Wendy Avner knows what to keep in stock because she is a survivor of breast and ovarian cancers herself. The shop, which opened in Dublin in 1998 before moving to its current location, features books, caps and wigs, skin-care products, post-surgical aids, gift baskets, breast prosthetics and even personal image consultation. Profits benefit the Hope Fund, which gives access to cancer care for financially disadvantaged women.

BROOCH BOUQUETS

For a different take on a bouquet for your wedding, you may want to check out designer Jennifer Diehl’s designs at the Ritzy Rose (theritzyrose.com). She creates one-of-a-kind bouquets from antique brooches that she finds at shops and flea markets. Recently, she was contacted by superstar singer Miranda Lambert’s wedding event team, and they asked Diehl to make a bouquet for her May wedding to fellow country crooner Blake Shelton. The bouquet has been featured in US Weekly and on “E! News” and “Access Hollywood.”

HIGH-END JUNK STORE

Columbus Architectural Salvage, 1270-A Edgehill Rd., is committed to keeping reusable building materials out of landfills and selling old and vintage house parts and other architectural elements. Shoppers can find anything from fireplaces, doors and windows to furniture, garden accessories, plumbing hardware and more. Everyone, from homeowners to builders and designers, is welcome.

ONE PERSON'S OPINION

JAN GORNIAK

Franklin County coroner

CLOTHING STORE

Gorniak has been a regular at Soho Fashion & Furniture Exchange, 7424 Sawmill Rd., since buying a sweater there in December. She likes the friendly staff, great selection and, above all, the low prices. And her husband is a fan, too. “He likes the fact that I don’t spend a lot of money,” she says. “I spend 23 bucks and I have four shirts.”

KIDS' STUFF

GLOW-IN-THE-DARK GOLF COURSE

Offering a great alternative for rainy day weather, Glow Putt Mini Golf puts a spin on traditional miniature golf with black lights and glowing neon rails. The indoor facility in Gahanna (161 Granville St.) features 18 holes with a safari theme, including brightly colored animal scenes on the walls. Ace No. 18 and get a coupon for a free Rita’s Italian Ice, located a couple of doors down. Summer specials include such deals as Grandparents Day every Wednesday when seniors can play for $5 when accompanied by a grandchild. Employee Noelle Wellnitz says the facility serves all ages, with Saturday evenings giving way to date night. Party rooms are available for private functions and birthdays and can include a custom Glow Putt cake and glow necklaces.

CAMP FOR PINT-SIZED PÂTISSIERS

After a hard day’s work, wouldn’t it be nice to come home to a gourmet dessert on the table? Sign up your kids, ages 8 to 14, for the Future Pastry Chefs’ Club and that’s the dream you could be living. The club caters to junior cooks who would rather spend their summer in the kitchen instead of splashing at the pool. Future Pastry Chefs meets at Our CupCakery in Dublin (16 N. High St.) and runs each week from July 11 through Aug. 11. These pint-sized pâtissiers bake and decorate such treats as cinnamon yeast rolls, crème brûlée and cheesecake. Then it’s time to clean up before taking the day’s goodies home to their families. This is the seventh summer Our CupCakery has been offering the program. “We definitely have kids who come every year,” says Laura Kick, whose mother, Linda, owns the shop. For those not wanting a weeklong commitment, they can come to the shop year-round and decorate a personalized treat at the cupcake bar.

KID-FRIENDLY COFFEE HOUSE

Co-owner Karen Reider calls Firefly Play Cafe a “Starbucks with play equipment.” Since it opened last year in northern Clintonville, the business at 4822 N. High St. has offered a place for parents to enjoy gourmet coffee in a comfortable setting while their toddlers and preschoolers burn off excess energy (cost is $5 for children 2 and up, $3 for younger kids). Reider was inspired to start her business after visiting a play cafe near Los Angeles with her two kids. The concept is popular in other cities, but Reider says Firefly is the first of its kind in Central Ohio. Features include a bounce house, dress-up clothes, a play fort and a wooden jungle gym, as well as free music and art classes. For grown-ups, there are magazines to read, as well as boxed sandwiches and coffee from Café Brioso.

MINI COMIC-CON

The first Saturday of May brought more than 2,200 people to Packrat Comics (3864 Lattimer St., Hilliard) for the annual Free Comic Book Day. Celebrated across the country and by other local comic book stores, the event decrees that everyone who enters shall get a chance to choose from among an assortment of special comic books printed just for the day. This year’s titles included Spider-Man, Mickey Mouse and Star Wars. At Packrat, the day turned into a mini-festival with special guest appearances by celebrities such as Nick Jones, who stars as John Stewart in this summer’s Green Lantern, and Billy West of “Futurama” and “Ren & Stimpy” fame. There also were carnival games, a petting zoo, a costume contest and a bounce house, as well as an evening event called Nerd Night, featuring local bands and a charity poker game. Just in case you missed the spring gathering, Packrat offers another chance around Halloween with free comic books for those who bring in canned goods for the Mid-Ohio Foodbank.

MOVIE SERIES, TEENAGE DIVISION

Parents can share some of their own childhood movie favorites with their kids, and they don’t need a media room or a Blu-ray to do so. Retro Movies at Movie Tavern (3773 Ridge Mill Dr., Hilliard) features such classic 1980s hits as Poltergeist, Top Gun, The Goonies, The Princess Bride, E.T. and The Terminator on Tuesday and Thursday nights throughout the year. Manager Melanie Petersen says the lineup is chosen by votes on Facebook. “We usually don’t do an R-rated movie,” she says. “We want it to be a family thing where parents bring their kids to see them for the first time.” Tickets for Retro Movies are priced the same as first run, but extras include raffles of T-shirts and free movie passes. Nothing beats seeing classic movies on the big screen, though you might have to explain why E.T. can’t just send a text to the folks back home.

MOVIE SERIES, PRESCHOOL DIVISION

On the last Saturday of each month, the Gateway Film Center, 1550 N. High St., hosts Hoot, a preschool-friendly movie series that’s free with a suggested donation of a canned good to benefit the Mid-Ohio Foodbank. Most of the short films featured since the series launched early this year are new to Columbus, including Moongirl (from the director of Coraline) and Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (based on the popular picture book by Mo Willems). Kiddie rock band the Shazzbots plays between the shorts, and plenty of other activities keep kids busy, from cookie decorating to story readings.

READER'S CHOICE

MIDDLE EASTERN RESTAURANT:

LÁVASH CAFÉ in a huge upset of perennial winner Aladdin’s.

YOGA STUDIO:

YOGA ON HIGH.

BODY OF WATER:

HOOVER RESERVOIR

DINING

Romantic restaurant: Refectory.

Comfort-food restaurant: Cap City Diner over Bob Evans and Betty’s Fine Food & Spirits.

Late-night restaurant: White Castle.

Outdoor dining: Barcelona over Lindey’s.

Sliders: White Castle.

Farm-to-table restaurant: Bob Evans over Northstar Café and Black Creek Bistro.

Breakfast: Bob Evans in an upset over First Watch, which won the previous seven years.

Deli: Katzinger’s by a wide margin.

Fast casual: Chipotle over Northstar Café.

Cheap lunch: Chipotle is a few chips ahead of Wendy’s.

Bar-food menu: Bar Louie over Betty’s Fine Food & Spirits.

Bakery: Mozart’s is a cupcake or two more than Pistacia Vera and Resch’s.

Brunch: Northstar Café.

Steakhouse: Hyde Park.

Kids’ menu: Bob Evans (its third win in the Dining category).

Chinese: China Dynasty.

Sushi: Haiku.

Mexican: El Vaquero.

Seafood: Columbus Fish Market.

Vegetarian: Northstar Café.

Tapas: (tie) Barrio and Burgundy Room (which closed in late June).

French: Refectory.

Greek: Happy Greek.

Indian: Indian Oven followed closely by Aab India Restaurant.

Diner: Cap City Diner.

Pizza: Massey’s.

Hamburger: Thurman’s followed by Five Guys.

Wings: Roosters over BW3.

Ice cream: Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams thumps Graeter’s.

PEOPLE

City Council member: Andy Ginther. (Votes also were cast for the late Jerry Hammond, former Mayor Greg Lashutka and ex-council members John Kennedy and Maryellen O’Shaughnessy.)

Franklin County commissioner: Paula Brooks in a close vote over John O’Grady and Marilyn Brown.

Columbus school board member: W. Shawna Gibbs.

OSU male athlete: Jared Sullinger. (It’s the first time in recent memory an OSU football player has not won this award. Tattoo-gate, anyone?)

OSU female athlete: Jantel Lavender.

Former OSU athlete: Who else? Archie Griffin.

Blue Jackets player: Rick Nash.

Coach: Former OSU football coach Jim Tressel. Not even close despite the scandal.

Evening TV anchor (male): Channel 10’s Jerry Revish.

Evening TV anchor (female): Channel 10’s Andrea Cambern.

Morning TV anchor (male): Channel 4’s Mike Jackson.

Morning TV anchor (female): Channel 10’s Angela An.

Sportscaster: Channel 10’s Dom Tiberi.

Weatherperson: Channel 4’s Jym Ganahl.

Radio personality: WNCI’s Jimmy Jam.

Chef: Alana Shock of Alana’s Food & Wine.

SHOPPING/SERVICES

Bookstore: Barnes & Noble.

Spa: Charles Penzone.

Department store: Macy’s over Nordstrom.

Carpet store: Rite Rug.

Cable company: Time Warner Cable.

Garden center: Oakland Nurseries.

Store to buy a phone: Verizon.

Shopping complex: Easton Town Center in another landslide.

Jewelry store: Diamond Cellar.

Best place to buy OSU gear: Buckeye Corner.

Store to buy appliances: Best Buy.

Discount clothing store (women): T.J.Maxx.

Discount clothing store (men): T.J.Maxx.

Grocery store: Kroger over Giant Eagle and Whole Foods.

Consignment shop: One More Time.

Pet store: PetSmart.

Furniture store: Value City Furniture.

Bike shop: Roll: rolls again.

Auto dealer: Germain.

Clothing boutique: Rowe.

Store at Easton: Nordstrom.

Store at Polaris: Von Maur.

Store in the Short North: Grandview Mercantile.

MEDIA

Local news website: 10tv.com.

Morning TV newscast: NBC4.

Evening TV newscast: NBC4.

Talk radio station: WTVN.

Music radio station: CD101.

Public radio station: WCBE.

Morning radio show: WNCI’s Morning Zoo.

Afternoon radio show: WTVN’s John Corby over Common Man and the Torg on 97.1 FM.

ENTERTAINMENT

Movie theater: Arena Grand.

Place for a kid’s birthday party: Chuck E. Cheese’s. (Reader’s comment: “NOT at my place.”)

Happy hour: Bodega.

Performing arts organization: CAPA over BalletMet.

Wine bar: Burgundy Room (which closed in late June).

Brew pub: Barley’s Brewing Company.

Concert venue: Lifestyle Communities Pavilion.

Dive bar: Bob’s Bar.

Festival: ComFest.

Parade: Doo Dah over Columbus Pride.

Local band: Reaganomics.

Place to dance: Skully’s Music-Diner.

Jazz musician: Bobby Floyd.

Martini menu: Martini Modern Italian. (Reader’s comment: “No such thing. A martini is a martini: anything else is self-deception.”)

Museum: Columbus Museum of Art over COSI.

Bowling alley: Columbus Square Bowling Palace.

Coffee shop: Starbucks over Cup o’ Joe and Stauf’s.

Arena District bar: Bar Louie over Brother’s and R Bar.

Short North bar: Short North Tavern by a coaster over Bodega.

MISCELLANEOUS

Columbus neighborhood: Clintonville.

Suburb: Dublin over Worthington.

Corporation: Nationwide.

Nonprofit: Mid-Ohio Foodbank.

High school marching band: Grove City.

North Market vendor: Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams.

Place to take out-of-towners: Short North, followed closely by the North Market, Easton Town Center and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

Public place with Wi-Fi: Panera.

Metro park: Highbanks.

Gallery: Mac Worthington.

Public art: Dublin’s Field of Corn.

Building: LeVeque.

Charity event: Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

Historic attraction: Statehouse.

Holiday attraction: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s Wildlights.

Place for a picnic: Goodale Park.

Condo development: Neighborhood Launch.

Hospital: Riverside.

Downtown attraction: COSI.

WINNERS

All that hard work of filling out the Best of Columbus ballot paid off for three voters who we chose at random to win a $100 gift certificate from their choice of the Apple store, CAPA or Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams. The winners are Joel McNeal, Jennifer Kerns and Rob Pendleton.

FOOD & DINING

TASTE TEST

GLUTEN-FREE PEPPERONI PIZZA

When staffers gathered for this taste test, some looked concerned. It probably had to do with the assignment: Sample gluten-free pizza, which isn’t necessarily ranked high on the list of pleasing culinary treats. Some of the pizzas tasted exactly as expected. One tester even said, “Tastes like burnt chicken. Or wet dog. Or a wet dog that’s just eaten burnt chicken.” Ouch. There was a clear winner, though. Congratulations to the Cottage Inn (Polaris location) for its almost-as-good-as-the-real-stuff pizza. Testers agreed that the appetizing sauce and cheese made it taste like the real deal.

TASTE TEST

CUBAN SANDWICH

A Cuban sandwich has many variations, but there always should be plenty of pork, ham, cheese, pickles and mustard. After tasters sampled sandwiches from around town, one stood out from the rest: Knead Urban Diner’s Cuban-OH. Good Cuban sandwiches are hearty and satisfying, and at the end of the tasting, one participant said, “I feel like I want a mojito,” which was quickly followed by another remarking, “And I feel like I want a cigar.” Those comments apparently were their way of saying, “Compliments to the chef.”

SURPRISE AT A FOOD TRUCK

Would you order a sandwich that costs $100, especially at a food truck? Rick Harrison Wolfe, owner of the Cheesy Truck, is hoping your answer is yes. He offers the Jackie O on his grilled-cheese-only menu. It contains one ounce of Osetra caviar, crème fraiche, capers and sottocenere cheese (laced with black Piedmont truffles and rubbed with coarse vegetable ash). It’s served on brioche bread from Stan Evans Bakery. A mother of pearl spoon also comes with the sandwich. The inspiration is, of course, from Jackie Kennedy Onassis, who, Wolfe says, apparently loved baked potatoes topped with caviar. As of mid June, no one had purchased this pricey sandwich, but Wolfe is keeping the faith. “We’ll be out somewhere, and some guy will want to show off to his lady friend,” he says.

KIMCHI DISH

This staple of Korean cooking is featured in a notable appetizer at San Su Korean BBQ. It’s called scallion and kimchi pancake. Made with rice flour, it’s a whole lot of good.

BUZZ ABOUT A GROCERY STORE

The new Giant Eagle Market District not only is helping revive Upper Arlington’s Kingsdale Shopping Center, it’s also becoming a gathering place for foodies. Aside from the grocery store, there’s a huge cafe offering (take a deep breath) a sushi bar, pizza station, sandwich counter, crepe bar, Asian food cart, make-your-own-salad buffet lines, dessert area and much more. Plus, there’s a place just for rösti: crisp Swedish potato pancakes topped with such things as sausage or duck confit.

APPETIZER AT A NEW RESTAURANT

Don’t miss the short ribs and shrimp app at Hubbard Grille, which took over the old Rosendales space in the Short North this winter. The foundation is a creamy bed of delicious cheddar grits topped with tender pulled beef short ribs, three sautéed shrimp and a touch of tomato jus. Great stuff.

REVOLVING DOOR

In less than a year, three restaurants rotated through the cafe space at the Wexner Center for the Arts. In October, Taste of Belgium took over from Cam’s on Campus before departing this spring in favor of the current eatery, Abbondanza.

CONVERSION OF AN OLD FAST-FOOD SPACE

Pho Asian Noodle House and Grill occupies a building on West Lane Avenue that once housed a Taco Bell. Good thing for us. Where to begin with the menu of excellent Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese dishes? How about the crab Rangoon, the spicy wontons, the Szechwan green beans, the pad Thai, the pho noodle soups (especially the pho noodle soups) and a lot more.

UNEXPECTED USE OF SALMON

Salmon is not normally found in Indian cooking. But you’ll discover it in Fish Masala at Aab India Restaurant. The salmon is marinated in yogurt and fried, then served in a sauce of cream, curry and tomatoes. Tasty.

CABBAGE DEAL

Columbus isn’t exactly brimming with eastern European restaurants, so finding stuffed cabbage is a challenge. But now there’s Babushka’s Kitchen, which opened earlier this year. The Clintonville restaurant offers two stuffed cabbages plus a choice of two sides for only $10.49 ($8.49 for lunch).

DISH CONTAINING THE WORD “GOBHI”

Cumin’s gobhi Manchurian features batter-fried pieces of cauliflower sautéed with bell pepper and, adding a bit of mystery, the so-called chef’s special sauce. The whole dish is special, indeed.

PLACE TO CHILL

Hang out at the small but hip Mouton in the Short North and try its well-designed classic cocktails and tasty appetizers. Nothing like starting the evening with a gimlet on the rocks while sampling the oven-dried pomodoraccio tomatoes paired with breads from Eleni Christina Bakery.

SANDWICH NAME

Knead Urban Diner offers the Motherclucker. Besides being fun to say, it’s a tasty mix of pulled smoked chicken, pepper Gouda and bourbon maple red chili glaze.

ONE PERSON'S OPINION

ANGELA STOLL PETRO

founder and president of Two Caterers

FOOD CART

At a local Pecha Kucha event in May, Stoll Petro discovered Leslie’s Creperie, a food cart that frequently can be found at the Hills Market near Worthington, the Twisted Vine in Grandview and the Pearl Alley Market downtown. “Oh my goodness, it’s so authentic,” Stoll Petro says. Her favorite thing on the menu is the spinach and feta crepe. “It’s not crisp and it’s not gummy,” she says. “It’s this perfect light crepe around all of these fresh ingredients.”