Winter Fun in Columbus

Hi Everyone,

The heart of winter is upon us, and if you are anything like me, you may find yourself lacking the motivation to get out and explore Columbus when it is so cold out. However, the winter months don’t have to mean sitting at home watching Netflix—Columbus still has plenty of fun things to do! I have compiled a short list of activities to inspire you this winter!

  1. Visit The Book Loft. Located in German Village, this cozy book store has 32 different rooms of books at bargain prices. Pick up a new book (or five) with a few friends, grab a coffee or hot chocolate and enjoy a relaxing weekend morning!
  2. Speaking of coffee, the Columbus Coffee Trail is a great option to get out and explore! Columbus has one of the best coffee scenes in the Midwest and the Coffee Trail offers tons of great ideas for new places to try. Find it here http://www.cbuscoffee.com.
  3. During December, there are all sorts of fun lights and holiday festivals. Wildlights takes place at the Columbus Zoo, Franklin Park Conservatory is decked out in seasonal foliage and twinkling lights, and the Short North and German Village are decorated for the Holidays and often have holiday treats and specials.
  4. Attend a Blue Jackets game. The Columbus Blue Jackets are our professional hockey team in town, and attending games is always a great time (even if you aren’t a hockey fanatic)! Located in the Arena District there are also fun restaurants to check out before and after the game.
  5. While better known for our football team, Ohio State Men’s Basketball team is also premiere and attending games is a great way to spend an evening (or afternoon). The Nut House is the student section for basketball and does a great job of getting students excited for the game. You can also get discounted student tickets and great seats with friends!
  6. If sports aren’t your thing, check out a show in the Theater District—The Palace, The Southern, The Lincoln and The Ohio offer everything from ballet to plays to music and theater performances. If that’s not enough, the Wexner Center for the Arts also puts on frequent shows to enjoy.
  7. Get creative at the Candle Lab, Clay Cafe or Studio 614. There are plenty of paint classes, make your own candle studios and many more creative endeavors all around Columbus.

I hope this has given you some inspiration this winter! Get out an enjoy Columbus and all it has to offer with friends.

Cassie

New City?

Are you moving to a new city?

Are you moving to a large city for your next four years of school? If you lived in a small town for your undergraduate education like I did, moving to a large can be both intimidating and overwhelming. Let’s be real, moving into unfamiliar territory can be scary at first, regardless of the setting. I want to assure you that this feeling will pass! Below you will find some of the steps I took to get comfortable in a new setting and ultimately enjoy my time in a new city.

I knew moving into a more urban setting would be a transition for me, so I decided to move out to Columbus a couple weeks prior to school starting with hopes of becoming more comfortable with the area. My first task was to become more familiar with my neighborhood. I did so by walking around my neighborhood to find out which stores, restaurants, etc. were close to my apartment. As a side note, I live on a high traffic street, so I felt okay going out alone. If you don’t feel safe, don’t walk alone. I then drove around town and found where my favorite stores were located. I even did a little shopping! I also took a day to walk around campus to find out where my classes, coffee shops, and food were located (because snacks and coffee are important too)!

Once you have a good understanding of your surroundings and are comfortable in your area, you can begin to look for fun things to do in and around your city! The ultimate question is what to do. If you are like me, I am always bored, but I say there is nothing to do. I soon realized that is not true, but rather I just didn’t know where to look! Living in a big city will provide you with plenty of options. There is something for everyone, and here is how to find it:

First, consult your classmates. Many of them likely grew up in the area and have a good idea of what is fun and what is not. They are the best resource for navigating night life, campus dining, restaurants, and other low key fun things (that are not well advertised) to do in the city.

Next, go to the Google and literally search “things to do in (insert city here)” and see if anything catches your eye. I love to take on the “top 10 things to do or see” in your city, as it gives me something to do in my downtime that I may have not done before. If you need some ideas, always check the basics: the zoo, aquariums, museums, parks, conservatories, botanical gardens, and seasonal activities like fairs and festivals.

Last, flex your social media skills! There are likely a ton of people in the city who have Instagram or blogs dedicated to posting the highlights of the city (good for food blogs, food trucks, hidden treasures, etc.). I 10/10 recommend following at least a few. I currently follow one of my fellow classmates food blog, and it was a game changer! I now have a list of restaurants I am dying to try and a person to ask for additional ideas.

These are just some of the strategies I used to ease my transition from a small town (with nothing around) to living in a big city where something is happening 24/7. If you would like to talk more about transitioning into a new city, don’t hesitate to reach out to me!

Columbus in the Fall

Hi friends!

One of the things that I love most about about being at Ohio State is Buckeye football. There is nothing better than watching the Buckeyes play in The Horseshoe! The sound of the crowd is electrifying and captivating as the scarlet and grey barrel down the field. Friends and family come together to tailgate, eat and celebrate the Buckeyes along the Olentangy River. You can tell fall is in the air, and OSU football is in full swing!

Fall is my favorite season, and even if football isn’t your cup of tea, there is plenty to do in Columbus as the leaves become a vibrant sea of red and orange amidst the crisp air.

  • Wander down the rows of apple trees at Cherry Hawk Farm Apple Orchard – Marysville or Lynd Fruit Farm. Pick some apples to eat or to bake with!
  • Enjoy delicious coffee at Stauf’s Coffee Roasters in German Village, one of my guilty pleasures!
  • Read a book – I’m currently reading The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur, as well as The Black Book by James Patterson
  • Try out a new recipe – I love to make homemade soups and chili when the weather becomes chilly.
  • Carve a pumpkin with friends and watch scary movies!
  • Take a long bike ride through one of the many metro parks in Columbus

Whatever you decide – make sure to take time for yourself, Buckeyes!

-Ashley

Winter in Columbus

Picture this: a fresh, crisp blanket of snow covers the ground under your feet as you walk to class, and you hear your boots crunch over the snow as you take each subsequent step. Snow is sprinkling over you as you are sipping on some hot coffee to perk you up on this chilly morning. The campus is quiet and serene, as if it’s just waking up for the day. This may seem like an extreme cliche, but I absolutely love winter, and I especially love winter in Columbus.

Albeit, there can sometimes be a negative vibe associated with the winter season as finals and end-of-semester project deadlines seem to sneak up out of nowhere. However, amidst the hustle and bustle of studying for final exams, there are so many activities to take part in for those well deserved study breaks.

Every year in November, the College of Pharmacy hosts its Annual Chili Cook-Off, a charity event where proceeds benefit the Charitable Pharmacy of Central Ohio. (Plug: Charitable Pharmacy is a wonderful place to get your community service hours, and students will often complete rotations and residencies there!) Student organizations, alumni and faculty bring crockpots full of their best chili recipes to battle it out and see whose is best. There are also fantastic items available at the silent auction – this year one of the items were two tickets to a home OSU game with pretty phenomenal seats!

Being from Toledo, one of my favorite holiday traditions was going to the Toledo Zoo with my family to see the Lights Before Christmas. It is very similar to Wild Lights, the wonderful light display at the Columbus Zoo! Last year, after our first semester of classes, a few pharmacy friends and I bundled up and went to the Columbus Zoo to see the lights and celebrate the end of finals week. It was fun to walk around, hot coffee in hand, and look at the twinkling lights draped against the darkness of the night sky (and relax)!

One of my favorite hobbies is to curl up with a good book, and it  seems that winter is no better time to get lost in a novel. With hundreds of books scattered around my apartment, I still can’t help but to acquire more – most notably from The Book Loft, located in German Village. It is one of the most unique places I have ever been, where every nook and cranny of the building is hiding books of every genre and interest. (They have great sales and discounts, too, which is definitely a plus!) It’s a great place to spend an afternoon perusing the shelves and finding a text that captures your attention.

Columbus has so many terrific restaurants and different types of cuisine; there is no doubt that you can find warm, delicious comfort food! A few of my favorite places are Mozart’s Cafe, Katalina’s, Schmidt’s, Press Grill, Hyde Park, Forno, AAB and Sweet Carrot. No matter what you’re in the mood for, there are options for everyone!

As final exams draw near, stop to enjoy some of the wonderful things that Columbus has to offer! You won’t be disappointed!

Columbus in the Winter

Hello!

If you are coming to Ohio from another city or state, you might be wondering what you may be able to do in Columbus during the Winter! As much as I would love to cuddle up with my puppy, I love getting out of my apartment and taking a break from studying. Columbus does offer so many different activities, but let me highlight some that I have done!

Columbus Winter Hike

One thing I love to do is hike! Being from Arizona, hiking was a mainstay activity in the winter. You can hike basically any time in the winter, and you will never worry about being too cold.

Ohio does a (long) series of winter hikes. I was very hesitant about hiking in Columbus in the winter. I love hiking during the summer, fall, and spring here, but really? The winter? Well, my boyfriend and I packed up our puppy, and went on a winter adventure. First of all, it was freezing cold (not surprising). Don’t make the same mistake that I did and wear tennis shoes — please be sure to wear warm boots with warm socks! To my surprise, there were so many people participating! It was great bringing my puppy, Cooper, because it allowed us to get to talk to so many people. At the end of the hike, we joined the celebration and drank some delicious hot cocoa. 🙂 It was definitely such a fun experience, but I will be definitely waiting for the hikes on warmer days! I would highly recommend to get your body moving after a long studying session, and a winter hike may be the perfect remedy. The cold definitely encouraged me to move faster 🙂

COSHP Wine Tasting

Each year, COSHP (Central Ohio Society of Health-System Pharmacists) puts together a wine tasting/networking event. Why is this event my favorite winter activity? You learn so much about different wines – this year the focus was on South American wines. You get to network and speak with many different health-system pharmacists around the Columbus area. You get to eat some delicious food where each course is paired with wine.

The main purpose of the wine tasting is to raise funds for PharmD scholarships! There are always a variety of baskets to bid on (and I always get outbid).

Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture at the wine tasting this year, so I used the picture from last year!

COSHP Wine Tasting 2016

Yoga and Hockey

I recently attended a yoga class held at Nationwide Arena, and then the Columbus Blue Jackets game right after! Modo Yoga is a studio in Grandview area, and it is one of my favorite studios. It’s heated yoga, so going to a class in a cold environment was definitely something knew. So many people came out, and it was an amazing class. Unfortunately, the Blue Jackets lost that night, but the experience was awesome! I would highly recommend attending this event if happens again, and checking out Modo Yoga! Say hi to Chad and Elizabeth (owners of Modo Yoga) for me if you go. 🙂

By the cannon after yoga with Chad and Elizabeth

OHIO

I hope you find some fun things to do in Columbus in the winter!

Fall Fun in Columbus 2016!

There are tons of fun things to do in Columbus in the fall!  Here are just of few of the things going on in and around the city:

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  • Highball – Oct 21-22, 2016
    • “HighBall is the nation’s fiercest costume party. Staged in the fashion capital of Columbus, this yearly event for the Halloween season bridges runway style with the culture of the Short North Arts District. Be a part of the HighBall street spectacle and model yourself on High Street. At HighBall, you are what you wear.”

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  • Circleville Pumpkin Show – Oct 19-22, 2016
    • Circleville is just 30 minutes south of Columbus!  The famous Pumpkin Show offers “Amusement Rides, Games, Two Parades Daily (except Saturday), Exhibits, Arts & Crafts, Food, Food & More Food!”

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  • North Market Farmers’ Market Saturdays
    • “The North Market Farmers’ Market is one of the oldest and largest in Central Ohio, featuring more than 20 farmers offering an array of locally-grown fruits, vegetables, flowers, plants, honey and herbs. Every Saturday throughout the growing season, Ohio farmers bring their fresh-picked produce to North Market, where customers are able to purchase directly from the local farms selling the highest-quality products from their fields.”

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  • Leeds Farm – Sept. 17 through Oct. 30 – Saturdays: 10am – 5pm and Sundays: 10am – 5pm
    • “We feature fall family fun on the farm. Spend the day getting plenty of fresh air and having fun as a family in our many barnyard and outdoor activities for the young and young at heart. Select the perfect pumpkin from the thousands we grow right here on our farm. Marvel over blue pumpkins, fairytale pumpkins, exotic shapes of gourds and more.
    • Don’t miss feeding the goats and visiting the pigs. Listen for donkeys to bray or feed the fish from our pond dock. We’ve got enough farm and fun activities to keep your family moving all day, including our Back 40 barnyard activities, hayrides, farm animals, and farm pond.
    • Educational school tours and private parties are available. Leeds Farm is located in Ostrander, Ohio, between Marysville and Delaware on State Rt. 36.”

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  • Go apple picking and buy fresh fall produce at Lynd Fruit Farm, just 30 minutes away from The Ohio State University!

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  • Ohio Renaissance Festival – Sept 3 – Oct 23, 2016 – Saturdays, Sundays 10:30 AM – 6:00 PM
    • “Thrill…Feast…Watch…Shop…Explore…Enjoy!  Forget your cares and step back in time to this 30-acre re-created 16th Century English village and enjoy over 400 years of fun in a single day! The festival offers something for everyone featuring nearly 100 shows daily on 11 stages, over 135 unique arts and crafts shops, hearty food and drink, games of skill and human-powered rides to amuse all ages.”
  • Cedar Point Haunt
    • Fridays: 6pm – Midnight
    • Saturdays: 11am – Midnight
    • Sundays: 11am – 8pm
  • Columbus International Festival – Nov 12-13, 2016
    • “The 2015 Columbus International Festival will continue a 60 year tradition of bringing together the diverse cultural community in Central Ohio. We are proud to present many new and exciting features such as:
      • Live cultural entertainment and fashion show
      • Ethnic foods and cooking demonstrations
      • Free festival “Passport” and global activities for kids
      • Parade of Nations, Sat & Sun, 3 p.m.
      • Free flu shots, eye, dental and other medical screening free of cost
      • Children’s activities and arts & crafts, free of cost
      • Naturalized Citizenship Oath Ceremony by a federal judge at our CIF stage”
Joyce Zhang is currently a third-year PharmD student at The Ohio State University. She enjoys volunteering at local free clinics, providing healthcare to underserved populations on medical brigades to Nicaragua and Honduras, photography, running and hiking, and drinking tea. She is currently president of Buckeyes Without Borders, president of the PharmD Class of 2018, a Student Ambassador Coordinator, and a member of Phi Lambda Sigma (PLS) leadership society, PODEMOS, and Kappa Psi.

Joyce Zhang is currently a third-year PharmD student at The Ohio State University. She enjoys volunteering at local free clinics, providing healthcare to underserved populations on medical brigades to Nicaragua and Honduras, photography, running and hiking, and drinking tea. She is currently president of Buckeyes Without Borders, president of the PharmD Class of 2018, a Student Ambassador Coordinator, and a member of Phi Lambda Sigma (PLS) leadership society, PODEMOS, and Kappa Psi.

 

Top Summer Festivals in July, August, and September 2016

  1. Celebrate Independence Day at Red White & Boom or BoomFest on July 1, 2016!
  2. The Moonlight Market on Gay Street always has plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment on July 9, August 13, September 10, and Oct 8, 2016 from 6-11pm.  There is also the Sunlight Market on Gay Street every third Sunday from April through October from 10am – 3pm.
  3. Try some hot ribs and listen to some cool jazz at the Jazz and Rib Fest (free admission!) on July 22, 23, 24.
  4. The Ohio State Fair simply can’t be missed on July 27 – August 7, 2016!  There are concerts, rides and attractions, shopping, free live music, and all of your favorite fair foods.
  5. Try the best local craft beer at the Columbus Summer Beerfest on August 5-6.
  6. Join in on the best of Irish art and culture at the Dublin Irish Festival on August 5, 6, 7.
  7. Eat your heart out at the Columbus Food Truck Fest on August 12 – 13.
  8. Experience traditional and contemporary Latin American culture at the Festival Latino on  August 13 –  14.
  9. Enjoy amazing Greek food and culture at the Greek Festival on September 2 – 5.
  10. The Independents’ Day Festival is truly for the most hip and artsy!  This festival is located in the vibrant East Franklinton neighborhood on September 17 – 18.
  11. Oktoberfest is a Columbus tradition with food, dancing, and fall fun on September 23, 24, 25!

For an extended list of Columbus festivals this year, visit Columbus Underground!  See ya there! 🙂

Joyce Zhang is currently a third-year PharmD student at The Ohio State University. She enjoys volunteering at local free clinics, providing healthcare to underserved populations on medical brigades to Nicaragua and Honduras, photography, running and hiking, and drinking tea. She is currently president of Buckeyes Without Borders, president of the PharmD Class of 2018, a Student Ambassador Coordinator, and a member of Phi Lambda Sigma (PLS) leadership society, American Pharmacists Association (APhA), Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA), and Kappa Psi.

My Favorite Things in Columbus When It’s Cold Outside

  1. Head over to German Village, grab a cup of coffee at Stauf’s, and then head next door to get lost in one of The Book Loft‘s thirty-two rooms and curl up with a good book!
  2. Try something artsy with Studio 614!  They offer a variety of canvas and glassware painting classes.  Food and beverages are definitely a plus. 🙂
  3. Be productive at The Roosevelt Coffeehouse!  Their lattes and iced coffees are the bomb, and the best part is that they support organizations that fight for clean water and against hunger and human trafficking.
  4. Check out the art studios and events at 400 West Rich Street in Franklinton.  After wandering through the old warehouse, try the amazing lamb burger at Strongwater Food and Spirits or grab a drink at the Land-Grant Brewing Company next door.
  5. If you’re obsessed with greenery like me, check out the Franklin Park Conservatory.  Inside their huge greenhouses, plants are flourishing no matter the time of the year!
  6. Go ice-skating!  There are several skating rinks and one of the most popular is the OhioHealth Chiller Ice Rinks.
  7. Pour your own candle at The Candle Lab! You can create your own perfect scent.
  8. Take advantage of all the happy hour deals in Short North!  One of my favorite Columbus bloggers, Kasual Life, lists some of my go-to restaurants with the best happy hours!
  9. Go skiing, snowboarding, or tubing at Mad River Mountain! It’s only an hour away, and on Fridays, they have 3-hour Tubing Tickets for just $20 with a College ID!
  10. And last but not least, Gallery Hop of course!  Gallery Hop is the first Saturday of every month in the Short North from 4pm-10pm.  Check out all the galleries, shops, restaurants, and bars!

Remember to take some time for yourselves this winter to have fun!

Thanksgiving

Hey Out-of-State Students!

For those of you trying to gain residency for tuition purposes, going home for Thanksgiving break may not be a possibility. I did not go home over Thanksgiving break because I couldn’t rationalize spending so little time in my hometown. There are options!

  1. Invite a friend/significant other to come into town.
  2. Get pharmacy friends together and have a potluck.
  3. FaceTime/Skype/Google Hangout/video chat with family and friends.
  4. Cry. Just kidding. This is a terrible option.
  5. Spend it with a friend and their family.

I sort of did a combination of options 2 & 3. I was able to spend some time with my family (electronically) on a day that, for me, is very family oriented, but still be surrounded by good people, good laughs, and good food. My corn bread was a favorite. You can never go wrong with Jiffy!

Enjoy this break! You deserve it. And recharge those batteries in preparation for finals!

Contact us if you have any questions. 🙂

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Fall Fun in Columbus

There are lots of fun things to do in Columbus in the fall!  Here are just of few of the things going on in and around the city:

  • Highball – Oct 23-24, 2015
    • “HighBall is the nation’s fiercest costume party. Staged in the fashion capital of Columbus, this yearly event for the Halloween season bridges runway style with the culture of the Short North Arts District. Be a part of the HighBall street spectacle and model yourself on High Street. At HighBall, you are what you wear.”
  • Circleville Pumpkin Show – Oct 21-24, 2015
    • Circleville is just 30 minutes south of Columbus!  The famous Pumpkin Show offers “Amusement Rides, Games, Two Parades Daily (except Saturday), Exhibits, Arts & Crafts, Food, Food & More Food!”
  • North Market Flea Market Sundays – Last one Oct 25, 2015
    • “North Market and Columbus Flea present Market Flea on Sundays starting June 7th, running through October. Market Flea is located at North Market’s outdoor pavilion and will showcase the best-in-class artisans, vintage sellers, jewelry designers, crafters, artists and furniture makers.”
  • Leeds Farm – Sept 19 – Oct 31, 2015
    • “We feature fall family fun on the farm. Spend the day getting plenty of fresh air and having fun as a family in our many barnyard and outdoor activities for the young and young at heart. Select the perfect pumpkin from the thousands we grow right here on our farm. Marvel over blue pumpkins, fairytale pumpkins, exotic shapes of gourds and more.
    • Don’t miss feeding the goats and visiting the pigs. Listen for donkeys to bray or feed the fish from our pond dock. We’ve got enough farm and fun activities to keep your family moving all day, including our Back 40 barnyard activities, hayrides, farm animals, and farm pond.
    • Educational school tours and private parties are available. Leeds Farm is located in Ostrander, Ohio, between Marysville and Delaware on State Rt. 36.”
  • Pigeon Roost Farm
    • “This year we celebrate our 35th year of Farm Family Fun in Hebron, Ohio!  PumpkinFest is open every day, from September 12 through November 1, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.  Lots of great fun for the whole family, with giant slides, challenging mazes, a new fort, and some of the most fantastic displays of pumpkins you’ll ever see.”
  • Ohio Renaissance Festival – Sept 5 – Oct 25, 2015
    • “Thrill…Feast…Watch…Shop…Explore…Enjoy!  Forget your cares and step back in time to this 30-acre re-created 16th Century English village and enjoy over 400 years of fun in a single day! The festival offers something for everyone featuring nearly 100 shows daily on 11 stages, over 135 unique arts and crafts shops, hearty food and drink, games of skill and human-powered rides to amuse all ages.”
  • Cedar Point Haunt
    • Fridays: 6pm – Midnight
    • Saturdays: 11am – Midnight
    • Sundays: 11am – 8pm
    • Open 11am-10pm on October 11th
  • Columbus International Festival – Nov 7-8, 2015
    • “The 2015 Columbus International Festival will continue a 60 year tradition of bringing together the diverse cultural community in Central Ohio. We are proud to present many new and exciting features such as:
      • Live cultural entertainment and fashion show
      • Ethnic foods and cooking demonstrations
      • Free festival “Passport” and global activities for kids
      • Parade of Nations, Sat & Sun, 3 p.m.
      • Free flu shots, eye, dental and other medical screening free of cost
      • Children’s activities and arts & crafts, free of cost
      • Naturalized Citizenship Oath Ceremony by a federal judge at our CIF stage”

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