For my second visit in German Village, some friends and I went for a little pre-dinner desert at Pistachio Vera. This little macaron shop had some of the most delectable deserts I’ve ever seen. They had a plethora of scrumptious deserts from cheesecake, to soufflés way out of my price range. I may have been a bit excessive with my sweets spending but it was definitely worth it. We stayed in the shop for a little bit, exploring the art and cozy atmosphere since beautiful buildings right in the middle of German Village surround the shop. The macarons were also amazing and I can’t wait to go back.
One of my favorite visits on this expedition was the Scioto Audubon. The obstacle course was stunning and provided a great afternoon of physical activity. We got pretty competitive on some of the courses, a much needed stress outlet. After competing, we found some time to goof around on the balance beams that I was practically too short and uncoordinated to even stand on (see my dumb upside down pose above, it was the best I could do). We spent some time climbing over monkey bars, running through some tires and ropes, and hopping over walls. Essentially, after all of the fun in the big field with a Columbus skyline view, which is just a beautiful type of place for a city to have, we were all pretty tired and deserving of some food.
We cooled off by going to Schmidt’s. Since both Kandace and I don’t eat meat, we figured it was fairer to stop by Schmidt’s fudge shop rather than the sausage haus. This place made me feel right at home. Not because I’m always eating sweets (well, that’s besides the point), but because we have a similar little candy shop right in my hometown. I again couldn’t control my wallet when surrounded by privately made chocolate so I had to grab a pack of fudge. I even found my mom’s favorite candy so I grabbed her a small(ish) bag of white chocolate covered pretzels. This was definitely one of my favorite places.
Schiller Park was a totally different kind of adventure. We walked the perimeter and were amazed by the community invested in this park. We passed a birthday party, family afternoon outings, and some family picnics. It was uplifting to see so many meaningful relationships enriched by such a beautiful outdoor area preserved by the community. It was a wonderful place to relax at the end of the afternoon with some friends by the little lake in the center of the park. We late the Schiller statue and had to take advantage of the photo opportunity.
After watching the German Village Documentary, I had an even greater appreciation for the area. I had never really given much thought to the rich history of the area, how prohibition would have affected the market since breweries were so important, and how World War II would have affected the local people. I would easily recommend the Book Loft to any newcomer in Columbus because it’s unforgettable. German Village is easily one of my favorite places in Columbus now. It’s history and charm, and most importantly to me, the fact that it has been preserved after all this time, makes it unlike any other neighborhood.