This semester I plan to explore all the facets of Columbus. I’ve traveled all over the country and even abroad, but I am constantly surprised by all the unique things that are found right here in this city! I hope to experience something new with each place I go whether it’s food, music or culture. I look forward to making memories and gaining stories to share with my family when I visit home. I might even discover places to take my family when they come to visit me! If nothing else, I hope that I at least gain the courage to get out there and explore just a little bit more than I would otherwise push myself to.
Eden Burger:
To kick things off, Avery and I made our way to Eden Burger! This restaurant has an eating area the size of the bedroom in a Drackett Dorm, no lie. Nonetheless, it has such an awesome vibe! From the palette tables, to rustic decor and brick walls, this burger joint does not disappoint! The menu is all organic and vegan. I went with the signature Eden Burger and a chocolate shake. Honestly, when is dessert not the best part of the meal? Even this hole-in-the-wall joint is no exception. The chocolate shake had a hint of banana, so that little bit of fruit was enough to not make me feel guilty (smile). I would definitely go back, and bring more friends! The portion sizes were perfect and all the workers were incredibly friendly! On to the next one!
Nationwide Arena (Ed Sheeran):
For my second Experience, I was able to attend the second night of the Ed Sheeran concert at Nationwide Arena. Ed Sheeran is one of my all-time favorite artists and was on my bucket list of people to see live. I was fortunate enough to go even though it was a sold-out concert! One of my favorite things was how friendly all the staff was. I can get intimidated by huge crowds at places I’ve never been before, but the crowd control was well handled and traffic flowed really well. We had floor seats, which was another bonus, because we were able to be right there in the action! One of the most memorable moments from the concert was after he had left the stage, he came back for his encore in an OSU jersey! He enjoyed being in Columbus, and spent half the show yelling “O-H” to the crowd. My older sister came up to go with me which helped to top off the whole experience. I would recommend going to a concert at Nationwide to ANYONE. There was nothing about the experience that I found disagreeable, which is really saying something since I have been to a number of concerts across the country.
Easton (Chiller):
My final visit was to Easton, where I went ice skating at this place called the “Chiller.” I love ice skating so much and the night I went with friends was blacklight skate night. The skates were well taken care of, and the blades were well sharpened so I was able to skate fairly easily. They had upbeat music going to keep the energy going as well. My only complaint was that certain parts of the rink smelled a little funny, which is understandable when you have a building full of smelly skaters and hockey players. After skating the night away we enjoyed hot cocoa and good company. I was able to drag my sister out to explore with me, yet again, so it was a pleasure to have an excuse to see her. I would recommend people to go here, but I think the Ice Rink on campus is cheaper and more easily accessible to friends here at Ohio State.
Reflection:
The experience from this semester that most clearly resonates with me was the concert at Nationwide. I enjoy playing a variety of instruments (more than ten!) so I have a deep appreciation for talented musicians, and Ed Sheeran is a prime example of that, and the venue was wonderful, and easy to get to.
This assignment as a whole has definitely inspired me to explore more of Columbus. I have lived in many big cities before, but none like Columbus. I decided to come to Ohio State for the academics, but the city itself was a huge selling point in my eyes, leaving no shortage of adventures.
To anyone contemplating doing the same, I would recommend jumping from list to list. I enjoyed seeing all the different things Columbus had to offer- from food, to music, to recreation.