Happy 614 Day to you all!

Easter really isn’t cancelled. However, due to time constraints, and this crazy little thing called life, April Fool’s is cancelled for us this year. We simply did not have the time to come up with clever ideas (yeah, those actually take time to come up with), because the host of this show has multiple jobs to support himself financially. So that frre time to be creative is gone again.

Here are some past April Fool’s posts to keep you tied over for the next year (maybe two, since April 1 is not just a Monday next year, but the day after Easter in 2024).

DJBC April Fool’s Archive

april fool's day april fool's the djbc happy hour

PCMA Convening Leaders 2023: A Look Back

The PCMA Convening Leaders conference has come and gone through this great city that we called home. And it was a great opportunity to volunteer with during the four days, as well.

Convening Leaders will be in sunny San Diego in 2024, and they have a tough task to top the welcome that Columbus brought to PCMA and Convening Leaders.

pcmacl pcma

An illustrated filter of Jeffrey Park in Bexley, Ohio.

The South Community Gardens next to Schneider Park in Bexley, Ohio.

National Take A Walk in the Park Day

The NEW Splashpad at Linden Park, next to the NEW Linden Community Center in Columbus, Ohio.

The Perennial Garden in the Park of Roses in Whetstone Park

The Concession Stand at Jackson's Field in Driving Park

The Waterfall Cascades of Franklin Park in Columbus, Ohio

A walk through community history at Livingston Park

Friendship Park in Gahanna, Ohio was once home to the Big Walnut Country Club, a pioneering club for African-Americans to congregate back in the 1920s.

The Log Cabin at Heritage Park in Groveport, Ohio

"The Chase" by Michael Tizzano at the Bike & Walk Soccer Fields in Westerville, Ohio

The Letters A, B, and C in Westgate Park in the Hilltop. Those letters were originally at Westland Mall, just a few miles up the road.

The Elephant Fountain in Goodale Park in the Short North of Columbus, Ohio

This sculpture of Bears was added to Northam Park in Upper Arlington, Ohio in 2018 for the city's Centennial Celebration.

A statue replicating Beulah Park in Grove City, Ohio

A community mural done by Elementary School students at Marion-Franklin Park in Columbus, Ohio

Scioto Southland (nee Indian Mound) Park in Columbus, Ohio

Leatherlips Statue at Scioto Park in Dublin, Ohio

A multi-panel mural of the history of Franklinton at Dodge Community Center in Columbus, Ohio.

The Kelley Green (at Norton Crossing) in Whitehall, Ohio; Whitehall's first new park since the 1970s, which opened in 2021

Historical Village at Orders Park in Grove City, Ohio

Sunday in the Park Topiary at Topiary Park in Downtown Columbus, Ohio

An illustration of the Woodward Nature Preserve at Woodward Park in the Northland neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio

Happy National Take A Walk In the Park Day! Here are some of our local Central Ohio faves!

🏕🎠🛝🎡⛲️🌲🪴💐🌹🪷🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌲🌲

bexley north linden clintonville driving park franklin park livingston avenue near east side near south side gahanna groveport reynoldsburg powell westerville westgate hilltop usa short north victorian village upper arlington grove city merion village the south side dublin ohio franklinton whitehall downtown columbus discovery district new albany northland

Read Across America Day 2023 - Columbus Library Turns 150

Today is “Read Across America” Day, in honor of the birth of the late, great Dr. Seuss. We are using this day to pay tribute to the Sesquicentennial of the birth of the best library system in America - the Columbus Metropolitan Library (National Library Week is still in April, but this weekend is huge for them).

Founded at Columbus City Hall on March 4, 1873 (where the Ohio Theatre currently is today), the Library moved to its current location in April 1907 after a massive funding campaign led by Scottish philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. The Main Library went massive renovations in 1990 and 2016. The latter saw the new entrance from the Topiary Park, and the dedication of Kaufman Plaza in 2022. Also last year, Fodor’s Travel named the system one of the “11 Most Beautiful Library Systems in America”.

There are currently 23 branches in the Columbus Library system, which serves Franklin County.

Barnett, Canal Winchester, Driving Park, Dublin, Franklinton, Gahanna, Hilliard, Hilltop, Karl Road, Linden, Marion-Franklin, Martin Luther King, New Albany, Northern Lights, Northside, Parsons, Reynoldsburg, Shepard, South High, Southeast, Whetstone, Whitehall, and of course, the Main Branch itself.

All but three (apologies to Hilliard, Canal Winchester, and New Albany) are accessible by the COTA Bus Lines.

Barnett (Lines 1 & 23), ~~Canal Winchester~~, Driving Park (Line 1), Dublin (Line 33 to Dublin Metro ONLY), Franklinton (Line 9), Gahanna (Lines 24 & 25), ~~Hilliard~~, Hilltop (Line 6), Karl Road (Line 8), Linden (Lines 11, 31 & CMAX), Marion-Franklin (Line 4), Martin Luther King (Lines 10 & 11), ~~New Albany~~, Northern Lights (CMAX), Northside (Lines 1 & 2), Parsons (Lines 8 Parsons & 4), Reynoldsburg (Line 2 to Reynoldsburg ONLY & 25), Shepard (Line 7), South High (Line 8), Southeast (Line 24 - Weekdays ONLY), Whetstone (Lines 2 & 102), Whitehall (Line 10), and of course, the Main Branch (Lines 2, 10 & 11) itself.

There are a lot of events this weekend at 22 of the 23 branches (Marion-Franklin is only open Monday through Friday) on Saturday, including the grand opening of the NEW Gahanna Branch (310 Granville Street) in Gahanna. The Main Library will have Bridgerton author Julia Quinn in a SOLD OUT discussion on Sunday as part of their Sesquicentennial Authors Series.

And coming this Summer (July 15 & 16) will be a NEW Book Festival - The Columbus Book Festival.

For more information on the Columbus Metropolitan Library, go to http://www.columbuslibrary.org.

You can find a good read, research history, look for a job, and so much more at your local library!

columbus metropolitan library cml150 cml at 150 read across america day djbcts23

Happy 211th Birthday, Columbus!

On this day in 1812, the City of Columbus, Ohio was founded. Columbus is now the 14th largest city in the United States.

Columbus has a lot of places to explore, and lots of activities to take part in. What do you love about Columbus? What do you think makes Columbus a city?

Happy 211th Birthday to our hometown of Columbus, Ohio!

columbus ohio djbch2o

The DJBC Happy Hour - Show 449 Playlist

Show 449 received its title from the 2020 Pedro Reyes Billboard We Will Kiss Again, as a theme of longing during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Here is the playlist from Show # 449.

**Still Under Construction**

“Kisses Sweeter Than Wine” - Jimmie Rodgers
“I Like The Way (The Kissing Game)” - Hi-Five
“Kiss” - Prince (and the Revolution)
“It’s In His Kiss” - Cher
“Kiss from a Rose” - Seal
“I Kissed A Girl” - Katy Perry
“Kiss An Angel Good Morning” - Charley Pride
“Fire” - The Pointer Sisters
“Kiss on My List” - Hall & Oates
“It’s Been A Long, Long Time”
“One Last Kiss” - Dick Gautier
“One More Kiss”
“Na Na Na Na (Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye)” - Steam
“Kiss and Say Goodbye” - The Manhattans
“We’ll Meet Again” - Vera Lynn (from Dr. Strangelove)

we will kiss again the djbc happy hour valentine's day

djbcadventures

Joseppi's Pizza - From their Food Truck; The West Columbus Pizzeria went on wheels to XhiX State Home Football Games this past season.

A slice of pizza from the Columbus Italian Festival, one you can only get one weekend out of the entire year, which happens to be in early October.

Today, February 9th is National Pizza Day. And yes, there is a book all about the unique history of Columbus Pizza. Jim Ellison, who is the Aficionadough on Columbus Underground wrote this book during the Pandemic, based on the research of Columbus Pizzerias. Everyone in Columbus has their favorite - whether it's Donato's, Rubino's, Massey's, Tommy's, Plank's, Bexley Pizza Plus, Joseppi's, Gatto's, Rotolo's, Iacono's, Vick's, Eagle's Villa, Yellow Brick, Late Night Slice, Adriatico's, Aracri (or Cafe Napolitana, its Downtown precursor), and the list goes on.

djbcadventures

Throwback Thursday - National Pizza Day

Here is a post we did last year. Tonight up in Worthington, the Aficionadough is teaming up with Dr. Breakfast (Breakfast with Nick) for a SOLD OUT event at the Old Worthington Library to celebrate National Pizza Day.

aficionadough national pizza day columbus pizza cbusfoodies expcols

Show # 441 & 442 Playlists - The DJBC Happy Hour

Show # 441:
(Not Including Segment Sound Bytes)
“Turkey Lurkey Time” - Promises, Promises Ensemble
“Temptation” - Bing Crosby
“The Hawaiian War Chant” - Tommy Dorsey Band
“Hang on Sloopy” - The McCoys
“Thanksgiving Theme” - Vince Guaraldi

Show 442:
(Not Including Segment Sound Bytes)
“Who’s Got It Better Than Us?” - Bailey
“In The Big House” - Pop
“Mr. Brightside” - The Killers
“Hail to the Victors” - University of Michigan Marching Band
“You Did It” - Rex Harrison
“Happy Days Are Here Again” - Barbra Streisand
“It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” - Andy Williams
“Two Can Have A Party” - Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
“I Feel Free” - Cream
“Fun, Fun, Fun” - The Beach Boys
“Another Day of Sun” - La La Land
“Rock This Town” - The Stray Cats (yay, Brian Setzer!)
“About Damn Time” - Lizzo (because it was about damn time the Wolverines won in Columbus)
“Rain on My Parade” - Bobby Darin
“Play That Funky Music” - White Cherry
“Rio” - Duran Duran
“I Must Follow Him” - Little Peggy March & Chariot
“The Man With The Bag” - Renee Fleming
“Baby, You Got What It Takes” - Brook Benton & Dinah Washington
“That Holiday Feeling” - Steve (Lawrence) & Eydie (Gorme)
“What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve” - Diana Krall & Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra
“Hail to the Victors” - The University of Michigan Marching Band

the djbc happy hour victory along the olentangy beat ohio go blue ohio state lost again thedjbch2o djbctf22 djbcht22 christmas in columbus the holidays in columbus

DJBC Holiday Tumblr 22 - The Holidays in Downtown Columbus

We did highlight the eastern part of Downtown - The Discovery District, earlier this weekend. Here were some of the highlights from the heart of Downtown Columbus, including the Scioto Mile, Columbus Commons, the Ohio Statehouse, and Santa’s arrival at the Veteran’s Day Parade.

downtown columbus djbcht22 high street broad street the holidays in columbus christmas hanukkah

DJBC Holiday Tumblr 22 - The Holidays in the Near East Side

One of our favorite places to admire and view the holiday lights happens to be the Near East Side, especially Olde Towne East, which had a string of wonderful holiday lights. Here were some of the best this year.

djbcht22 olde towne east franklin park woodland park near east side the holidays in columbus christmas in columbus broad street main street south of main bryden road

One of the best local holiday treasures is that of the dual Conservatory Aglow (Night) and Holiday Blooms (Day) at the Franklin Park Conservatory. The first Sunday of the month is Community Day, which is free admission for Franklin County residents from 10AM to 4PM.

But, the Holidays at the Conservatory are amazing. The Gingerbread Competition in December is also a must see, to showcase the creativity of locals.

djbcht22 franklin park conservatory the holidays in columbus

DJBC Holiday Tumblr 22 - The Holidays in the Discovery District

There were several stops along the way in the Discovery District, which is home to several Downtown Columbus Institutions, such as the Columbus Museum of Art, the Main Branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library, Columbus State Community College, the Columbus College of Art and Design, and the Topiary Park, to name a few. And Christmas Corner has been a tradition at State Auto for 92 years.

It was hard to pick just 30 highlights, but we mixed in some from the Discovery District Trolley Hop, the State Auto Christmas Corner, and the Huntington Holiday Train at the Main Library, as well as the “Think Outside the Brick” at the Columbus Museum and the Loving Holiday Castle.