A German and a Chicagoan Explore Columbus

About a month ago, Matthias (our exchange student from high school/brother-from-another-mother), received word he would be moving to Columbus to work for JP Morgan. Ever since he set up camp there, he has been egging me to come out. Over Memorial Day weekend, I finally did.

I have never been to Columbus, or Ohio for that matter, and didn’t really have that high of expectations. I figured it would feel like a Kansas City. I was wrong. All the different neighborhoods, places within walking distance, and all the different type of activities…made it a place I never wanted to leave.

We kicked the weekend off with a distillery tour at Middle West Spirits (OYO). Here we learned about vodka and whiskey and had a few samples. We also noticed this cool bar next store that served up mead. I don’t think I’ve ever had mead before, so Brothers Drake Meadery served as a great learning experience. We tried various flavors and cocktails while learning Matt opts for the fruity drinks and I like ’em on the rocks.

One of my top places we visited, and I made sure to put on the tour schedule, was The Book Loft. I had seen this a few times on various “Best Bookstores” lists and “must-see” lists in Columbus. The fact it was in German Village was just an added bonus. The place is absurd. Over 3o rooms that wind and dead end throughout the building beckon you to continually search, even when you don’t know what you’re looking for. The outdoor courtyard, garden and fountain just made this a place I never wanted to leave.

As fate would have it, the Cardinals were also in the state of Ohio. Matt and I headed down to Cincinnati and caught the Reds/Cards game (Cards came out on top). Real kicker: it was Matt’s first baseball game.

Another favorite on the weekend was heading to Buckeye Lake. We wandered around the community for a bit and then headed to a biker bar (by recommendation of a local) called Papa Boo’s. It was amazing sitting by the Lake, drinking a beer and sitting across from a kid who was just supposed to “pass by,” but instead became another person in the family.

Needless to say, I’m looking forward to another reason to say yes to C-Bus weekend.

*Also, if I haven’t said enough, thanks Mum for bringing this kid into our lives.*

First game for both of us at Great American Ball Park

 

Finishing a Distillery Tour and Enjoying Mead

We Have Survived

After getting out of work yesterday at 3, I began the adventure to get home. Waited on Columbus for a bit…no 134s…waited on Michigan for a bit…no 151s or 143s. So Lindsay and I made our way to the train, where we smashed in and fought not only for space on the pole to hang on to, but also just space to allow our lungs to breathe. When we finally arrived at Diversey (nearly 30 minutes later), we fell out of the train, on to the platform and looked that blizzard right in the eye as we walked down Diversey to home.

 

Had I hopped on a bus after work, would have had to abandon it on Lake Shore Drive

 

 

Seeing as it was a snow day, we decided to grab Maggie and head to the neighborhood watering hole as we anticipated being locked up for a while. Mags had grilled cheese awaiting us as we pulled our coats, boots, gloves, hats, scarves and socks off. Had we been 10 years younger, we would have been coming home from a sledding day instead of a work day.

 

We just walked through that tundra.

 

 

The storm wasn’t that bad when we walked into Duffy’s. But upon leaving, we walked into something none of us had ever imagined. You couldn’t see anything in front of you and the wind was just throwing us around as we climbed through snow banks to get home.

I should mention the distance from Duffy’s to our apartment building is literally 30 feet. Yet it took 20 minutes and some strategizing as we climbed/crawled across Sheridan.

We got a snow day today from work (woo!), yet this storm hadn’t appeared to lose any of its luster until about 10 minutes ago. I mean, the winds opened our windows twice last night. And our windows have those old school handles that you have to turn to “unlock”, then pull the window down.

Chicago, I love you, but man did you test that love.

 

An abandon bus this morning on Lake Shore

Navy Pier this morning. See that ferris wheel? Exactly.