Don’t tell me this town ain’t got no heart
Posted April 22 2011 @ 10:41AM
Written by Cynthia Villalobos
In my teenage years I remember thinking “There is nothing to do in Columbus, this place is so boring, and I cannot wait to leave”. Recently my ways of thinking about Columbus have dramatically changed. I now think “There is so much to do! I now have a variety of options to pick from!” From delicious eateries, to seeing phenomenal bands, beautiful artistry and lively places to visit; our little town of Columbus, Indiana has grown quite a bit over the past few years. Even better for us is that the best is yet to come.
We all love to eat, and know that Columbus has some of the best, top notch eateries. My personal favorite is Columbus’s independently owned ZwanzigZ Pizzeria (and no, it is not because I worked there for almost 6 years and ate it like it was going out of style). The smell of the pizzeria and the great people who work there really make you feel at home. Columbus has always had a “cool town” vibe because of its downtown brewery. Powerhouse Brewery not only has succulent beers and wines but they also have extensive seasonal menus. One of our town’s newest additions is Sweet Rose Bakehouse, with its lovely décor, magnificent desserts and coffee you will never want to leave the bakehouse! With its free Wi-Fi and great atmosphere it really is easy to lose track of time while you are enjoying yourself.
Now that we have filled our bellies with some of Columbus’s yummiest chow, let’s fill our ears with some vivacious new bands. Recently, on a trip to Bloomington, I heard the Band Tilford Sellers for the first time. I was shocked to see that people from Columbus were playing gigs in Bloomington and that they were exceptionally talented! Some other bands, that I have not had the pleasure of hearing much of and originated in Columbus, are The Lagoon Brothers and Comfort. I really look forward to seeing some of Columbus’s brightest and flourishing musicians playing this summer at all of the local venues.
Speaking of great venues, DiHi Records (Columbus’s very own RECORD STORE!) had a wonderful turn out for Record Store Day. It was wonderful to see the brilliant musicians, fabulous old friends and a great variety of vinyl there. The Fork After Dark is another great spot to see local bands. In fact, had it not been for the recent show I went to I don’t think that I would have known that The Fork existed. Another terrific venue, that I know many people are excited about, is the Columbus Bike Co-Op benefit show. The Columbus Bike Co-Op has been around for three seasons now and I know that this is their year to really make a name for themselves and hopefully we can see them hosting more shows.
Hopefully this is not the first time that you have heard about the Columbus Bike Co-Op! I remember the first summer they were open Bailey, Loran and J-Boy helped me make my bike and I still cherish it to this day. Not only are the energetic folks down at the Co-Op helping individuals, they are truly helping our community in a way which I cannot begin to express. Go check them out at their new spot, hop on the People Trail (with your amazing new bike) and see if that doesn’t just instantly put a smile on your face. As you may have heard the city of Columbus is planning on working on the People Trails to make them more enjoyable, accessible and safe. Yet another reason why Columbus is so great!
If you are looking for an indoor activity to do on those hot summer days, check out the Bartholomew County Public Library. The public library has become an avenue where people can get free online language courses, check out new DVDs and CDs as well as download audio books and eBooks. For more information you can go to the libraries website at http://www.barth.lib.in.us/. The Summer Reading Club at the library is a great way to get your brain engaged and an awesome way to get cool prizes. To get your friends involved in this, I suggest starting a book club! You may be surprised how many of your friends would be into this idea (well at least if you friends are as nerdy as mine are!) The BCPL’s Distinguished Speakers Series, sponsored by The Library Associates, is a great way to hear and see new speakers. My all time favorite author, Tori Murden McClure, will be speaking in May. She is the first women to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean and ski to the South Pole (yeah, this lady is a phenom). In my opinion, one of the superlative things about the library is the book sale held twice a year. In the book sale they sell gently used books, older issues of magazines, CDs, VHSs and even old vinyl records!
Up-and-coming artists are, by far, my favorite part of Columbus. Whatever the media may be, artists are blooming in Columbus. Recently I had the chance to hear Matthew Jackson, local poet who is also a part of Reservoir Dogs. His poetry was very passionate and moving. Visual artist are popping up left and right around Columbus as well. From this very website ,by Jon Earley (and his 10,000 other artist abilities), to Levi Ely’s optically intriguing photography, Columbus has obviously become artists’ inspiration. The Simple Lady’s Art, a little business which I started in October, has been received by locals very well. I have found that the people of Columbus are very receptive to functional art. This is why I decided to make jewelry my avenue for artistry, well and it’s just tons of fun! As spring blows our way I am noticing more and more artists outside painting, taking photographs and playing their instruments. I suggest that you go out and join them!
Columbus, Indiana, is truly not the place it was when I was growing up. It has become a place where artists can gain inspiration by simply looking out their window, a place where local food is actually eaten by the locals and a place that I love and am proud to call home. From its prevailing artists, plethora of activities and amazing individuals; this little town of ours is growing in leaps and bounds. As the Grateful Dead would say, “Don’t tell me this town ain’t got no heart”. Open your eyes folks and see the possibilities that there are for you here in Columbus, Indiana.