Columbus To-Do List

Columbus To-Do List: Part 1

I have chosen to explore German Village this semester. I am most looking forward to visiting the book loft because I want to experience a new way of shopping for and reading books. From this assignment, I hope to take away some knowledge of a culture that I have not experienced before. I want to learn about the businesses in the neighborhood and how they operate, the lifestyle that the residents carry, and the different ways that foods that I know are prepared and served. So far, my roommate, Taylor, and I have visited Thurman’s Cafe. When we walked in, we immediately noticed the unusual decorations in the dining area. The walls are covered will one dollar bills; it appears that it was a tradition that customers would draw a picture or leave a note on a dollar bill and give it to the owners to put on the wall. We spent time reading the notes and drawings and were pleasantly surprised to find intricate artwork, funny jokes, and pieces of advice on the bills. We also noticed that the ceiling was covered in old beer boxes, and the other decorations, like a deer head and a parking meter, were decorated in the same, cunning fashion as the walls and the ceiling. We concluded that this restaurant reminded us of a typical man-cave, and the food was no different. Thurman’s is known for its oversized, “manly,” burgers, so it was no surprise that are sandwiches and fries were just as huge. Nonetheless, our meals were well-portioned for the price, and the flavor was fantastic. We thoroughly enjoyed the fun, boyish atmosphere in this restaurant as well as the casual and efficient service. We learned that a restaurant can be more than just food- it can be the owner’s personality. We were truly entertained and delighted by this experience, and I would recommend it to all of the meat-lovers and well-humored people out there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Columbus To-Do List: Part 2

For the rest of German Village, we went to the park, the Sausage Haus, the Book Loft, and Pistacia.

At the park, Taylor and I took a walk, admired the plant life and dogs, and attempted to climb a tree. The weather was very nice and there was a good amount of open space to walk and enjoy the park. There were plenty of benches and places to sit by trees. Also, the park was very clean. From this experience, I learned about a new park to take the dog that I will have when I live off campus. I think this park will be a good one for my future dog because there were other, friendly dogs that could be potential friends and there was a great deal of pen space for running and playing. Overall I was impressed with this park and would recommend it to a friend.

At the Sausage Haus, we enjoyed some lovely cream puffs. The restaurant was rather crowded so we did not eat inside of it. We did see the authentic atmosphere on which the restaurant prides itself. The serving staff was dressed in traditional German clothing, music native to the country was playing, and the eating space was decorated and designed to look like a typical pub in a German village. One confusing thing that I noticed though was that in the restroom, there was not any music playing. Rather, the restaurant had famous quotes from American movies playing with their German translations. Though we ate outside, we definitely enjoyed the cream puff. It was pretty big, but it was much better than most cream puffs I have eaten. From this experience, I learned more about traditional German food and culture. I was given a visual of German design, fashion, and famous dishes. I would recommend this restaurant to a friend if he or she is looking to experience new food and atmosphere.

Next, we went to the Book Loft. This was by far my favorite place in German Village. This book store is designed like a cozy loft in a German village or town. It has many levels and rooms, making me feel like I was on an adventure to discover each portion of the store. Each room houses books of a specific genre. However, the shop takes each room one step further with music and decorations specific to each genre. I felt immersed in the nature section, as the room had plants and calming music to go along with the feeling one gets when in nature. Each room was also interesting because I found relevant books that I have not seen in traditional book stores. The Book Loft also had artwork, a large selection of calendars, and unique cards and other trinkets for sale. In addition, there was an adorable patio with benches and tables for reading outside of the store. It was very fun to explore what the Book Loft had to offer. The only aspect of the store that I did not like was that it was quite difficult to find a specific book that I was looking for. There was such a wide selection and the only labels were the ones that identified book genres; I found it hard to get a book I was looking for because I felt like I did not know where to look. I would recommend this store to a friend only if he or she is not claustrophobic and is not looking for anything in particular. I think this store is meant to be explored and enjoyed for what it is, rather than a place to run an errand.

Finally, Taylor and I went to the Pistacia cafe in German Village. This is a close second to the Book Loft. I love sweet foods, especially macaroons and coffee. I love artistic and aesthetically pleasing cafes even more. Pistacia catered to both of these preferences. Taylor and I walked in and were immediately impressed. The place was clean, the menu was easy to read, and all of the desserts and drinks were neatly placed and looked delicious. I also liked that there were food options for people with dietary restrictions, which were also clearly labeled. We got an assortment of macaroons and some iced coffee. The macaroons were excellently made, and there were so many different flavors to pick from. Although the place was packed, Taylor and I were still able to enjoy our experience. The glasses, plates, tables, food, and decorations all flowed to create a refreshing atmosphere. This was definitely a cafe that I will recommend to my friends and come back to. I also learned about a new place to show my family when they visit, as they like desserts and coffee as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In addition to exploring the culture of German Village for ourselves, Taylor and I watched an interesting documentary about the town to get more history about it. German Village was established when German immigrants built the town in hopes of earning money. Their motto was “neighbors helping neighbors,” and they were in an initially remote part of Columbus. Probably one of the most influential impacts German Village has had on Columbus and the country is the idea of kindergarten. Columbus residents were impressed by German school systems when they immigrated to the US. Americans soon adopted the kindergarten system, which is commonly known today. In addition to this, German immigrants established the brewery district in the city of Columbus, bringing new drafts of beer for the consumer and new jobs for the workforce. Even more, German Village introduced an array of Lutheran and Catholic churches to the area. In sports, famous left-handed pitcher, Eddie “Cannon Ball” Morris, played in German Village, and the area became famous for South Paw. More recently, German Village residents have impacted the Columbus community socially by shaping the gay community. The residents in the Oktoberfest celebration in the 1980s supported being openly gay, which made wave in the social view of the LGBT community in Columbus.