End of Summer Recap

Nobody on the road, nobody on the beach/I feel it in the air/the summer’s out of reach/Empty lake, empty streets/The sun goes down alone/I’m driving by your house/Though I know you’re not home.

{by: alicia} I’m not at all dramatic; Don Henley is. Ugh, I’m not ready for the summer to end. Didn’t it just begin? I haven’t even finished my Summer Checklist yet! As Alexis mentioned yesterday, how is it already September? Are we the only ones who are panicking here? Though I’m not ready for Old Man Winter to make his unwelcome return, I can at least take comfort in knowing it’s been a great three months. I spent most of it in Columbus:

But I did make some trips out of town (as you may recall here and here).

Don’t be deceived by the loveliness. We were in stopped traffic on the freeway FOREVER and I wanted to Hulk smash everything.

Since I previously talked about my summer vacation in great length, I’ll spare you the details and touch on the road trip in general. It was long. The longest I have ever been stuck in a car (11 hours–I know, some of you are scoffing). To make it easier on me, I required multiple pitstops. Exhibit A:

FORTY MILKSHAKE FLAVORS! YEAH YEAH YEAH!

We encountered Cookout in the Carolinas, and I was SOLD by the sheer amount of milkshake flavors. Also, chicken nuggets, wraps, and quesadillas were considered a side dish! #America! This was junk food at it’s finest (and my Oreo mint shake was ah-mazing).

There was also a major life shift this summer when I quit my job to work at a startup (so far, so good!). I coped with this transition by attending a lot of celebratory dinners.

Sister made me a Korean feast complete with soju.

I’ve eaten pretty well these past few months (must bulk up for hibernation, right? CRY). Behold, a photo essay:

Bibimbap from Mr. Sushi

Wine and chocolate with friends.

Bingsoo from the Tea Zone.

Lovely sushi from Rishi.

Coconut bubble tea from Tehku. SO GOOD.

I guess I did other things besides eat, work, and make the occasional trip out of town. I also went to a handful of concerts (see: Mr. Jones and Me). One night, Alexis and I gathered the troops and spent an evening with the Columbus Symphony and Ben Folds. It was excellent.

Hmm, I suppose I did make a sizable dent in my to-do list. I haven’t really thought ahead to autumn (denial and all), but I’m sure it will involve buying a lot of sweaters, candles, and consuming cider/pumpkin treats. Ugh, when I put it that way I’m almost looking forward to it.

Nine Innings with the Clippers at Huntington Park

{by alexis}–I can’t believe it’s September already. Sadly, that means summer is almost over. Alarming, but true. But it’s not too late to enjoy the weather, and do those most summer-y of activities! It was in this mindset that husband and I slipped on our sneakers, T-shirts, and ball caps and headed to Huntington Park to see the Columbus Clippers take on their latest opponent.

I love baseball games. There is something so simple and comforting about the dusty, leather gloves, the crack of the bat, and the over-priced plastic cups of beer, so full you can’t leave the counter before taking a healthy sip. Evening games are particularly lovely, thanks to the light from a summer sunset.

And these seats. You really can’t beat these seats.

Instagram is a great constant reminder of how beautiful our city is (you can follow me @alexishattie), but this vantage point was like living the dream.

We happened to go on wing night, and though I’d pretty much never order wings off the menu (please don’t revoke my membership card to the dive bar appreciation club!), the batch we had from Rooster’s was salty, the sauce tangy, and they had enough heat to give us an excuse to happily reach for our beers.

I guess it’s tradition that makes baseball games such fun. The seventh-inning stretch, the familiar songs, and the games between innings are all like catching up with an old friend. I find myself cheering way too loud for the relay races and the mascots alike

My baseball buddy was into this race as well, and while he was busy hooting and hollering, I took a moment to admire our footwear.

My shoes are cute, but they don’t hold a candle to his velcro-y Spiderman kicks. (I feel obligated to share with you that these are my favorite walking shoes of all time. This version of Clark’s women’s Wallabees are difficult to find, but they got me through Ireland and Italy last year, and they can’t be beat. In my opinion, they’re not hideous either.)

Meanwhile, the night just kept getting lovelier.

We watched the rest of the game cheering in all the right places and ducking from foul balls. We shared a giant bucket of popcorn and maybe even a few more beers before heading home into the dark. Yes, summer is sadly ending, but in a few months, it will roll around again. Of course, you’ll enjoy baseball through October, but even when that ends, I promise: it’s not long till opening day.

Hamlet in Schiller Park

{alexis}

I feel like this has been the most beautiful summer already. It must be the hideous winter we just escaped, but I swear, every sunny day makes me happier than the sunny day before. I take walks around my building at lunch, just to remind myself that, yes, Ohio can be lovely. We need to stockpile these days; who knows what we’re in store for come January.

With summer comes one of my favorite traditions: Shakespeare in Schiller Park by the Actors’ Theater. Every year, husband and I unearth the fold up chairs we bought for a performance years ago, chill a bottle of white wine (screw top if you don’t have a traveling bottle opener), and toss together a bag with Tervis tumblers, snacks, and a blanket for the second act. This year, we added a new parcel to the mix, and packed up this little guy.

Yes, you know Indy. He’s a great lover of the bard, and begged us not to leave him at home. Plus, he wanted to show off his new haircut! The thing about Indy, though, is that he’s not very good. Big crowds are tough for him: so many plants to sniff! So many people to growl at!

While husband focused on wrangling the beast, I focused on enjoying the evening. Schiller Park is a relaxing, bucolic setting for the play. It’s so nice to sit back in the grass, the very grass that six months ago was covered in FEET of snow, and take in a show.

Did I mention that this is free? Well, I should have! The Actors’ Theater is a troupe that performs a few shows throughout the summer in various outdoor venues. They do accept donations, and we also try to pitch in. You should, too! This year, they’re doing promotions with the local eateries. If you eat at the designated restaurant on the designated evening and mention that you’re headed to the show, the restaurant will donate a portion of your bill. Thursday, the night we were there, they were partnered with Schmidt’s Restaurant. (Which I have recommended before and will HEARTILY recommend again.)

And so Hamlet began. Though I’d read it in college (I swear!), I have never seen the show performed live (though, you should ask me about that time I saw The Tempest in Stratford-upon-Avon starring Patrick Stewart as Prospero — TRUE STORY). This version did something a little different, and cast a female actress in the titular role. I love it! The best actor for the job should absolutely be the one that’s cast, and, after all, Shakespeare did all his shows with male actors. Why not do a little gender swapping of our own?

Indy wasn’t quite as entranced, however, and seemed more interested with the other theater-goers and their snacks.

Husband had to abandon his seat in the interest of preventing a canine meltdown. Indy has this charming habit of crying often, for no clear reason. Just a pointed whine, here, there, and all over Hamlet’s monologue (though that’s no reflection on the actress!). Eventually, we decided to move our little party to the way, way back, where we wouldn’t disturb anyone else. Lucky for me, it was gorgeous there, too.

As the sun set, we found ourselves in the middle of a constellation of fireflies. Honestly, there must have been twenty of them, popping up all around us. Indy was thoroughly entertained, chasing after the lights before they blinked out. I took the opportunity to admire dusk in the park.

Before long, we were both tired of restraining the monster and decided to call it a night (plus the wine was gone). We didn’t get to see the ending, but I know what happens. Even with a bad dog, it was a lovely evening, and I’m grateful for a neighborhood that welcomes such an event, and for the actors and crews that put the show on. We’ll be back for The Barber of Seville! This time, though, we may leave poor Indy at home.

Summer Checklist

{alicia}

“Careless in our summer clothes, splashing around in the muck and the mire.”

Fun fact about me: I LOVE making lists. I maintain grocery lists, to-do lists, goals, future travels, it goes on and on. I even have a list about lists (perhaps I should be keeping that to myself), and if I lost any of them I would hurl myself into a well.

This time of year, I get excited at the prospect of sunshine and start my yearly summer checklist. I know spring has just begun, but June will be here before we know it. Here is a compilation of what I hope to get into in case you are also looking ahead:

• Take in a classic movie at Ohio Theatre (CAPA Summer Movie Series schedule here)
• Pretend I’m on safari and visit The Wilds
• Mr. Jones and Me (Counting Crows @ the LC on 7.15)
• Road trip to Nashville (Nashville post here)
• See a double feature at the Drive In (“TMNT” and “Guardians of the Galaxy”–the latter was awesome
• See the giraffes at the Columbus Zoo’s new exhibit
• Cubs game at Wrigley Field
• Ben Folds at Columbus Commons on 6.21
• London Strawberry Festival (6.19 – 6.21)
• Take a stroll in the Topiary Garden
• Columbus Pride Parade on 6.21 (Oh, hai George Takei!)
• Hike at Old Man’s Cave
• See all the movies in the comfort of AMC’s reclining chairs (Icees required)
• An evening with Beck Hansen (6.20 @ the LC)
• Festival Latino
• Road trip to Hilton Head/Savannah/Charleston/Smoky Mountains (Posts on Savannah and Hilton Head are up!)

List is subject to growth.