Discover Gahanna Ohio

Calling all pet paw-rents! Paws in the Plaza is back at Creekside Plaza (117 Mill St.) … starting at 4:30 pm THIS Thursday, April 5.

The popular pet friendly event series is held from 4:30-7 pm on the first Thursday of the months,  April through October. Now celebrating its 10th year of pet networking fun, Paws in the Plaza offers together-time for you and your fur baby to meet up with like-minded pet-loving  friends and their dogs at Creekside Gahanna.

This monthly, outdoor pups-and-parents networking event will feature pet-centered activities. Enjoy different vendors,  giveaways, walking paths, local snacks, and of course, the wonderful company of other pet paw-rents. Music from 103.9 Jack FM will fill the air.

This year, the events will feature several top-notch vendors and businesses in the local pet community including Pet People, K-9 Be Good, Animal Care Center at Cherry Way, Cause for Paws, and Animal Medical Center.

Up for an adventure and a FREE GIFT? Don’t forget to pick up a Waggin’ Trail form at the Paws in the Plaza booth. To play, just visit different vendors, post a picture on social media, and return the form to the Paws in the Plaza booth to receive your free gift!  This year’s gift is a travel mug.

This unique event embraces the fact that Gahanna is a very pet-friendly community. Yet attendees come from all over Central Ohio to enjoy the networking and the beautiful, walkable setting of Creekside Park--with its fountains, waterfalls and extensive walking paths. The warmer weather months (June-September) offer paddle boating options for visitors AND their dogs.

Pet-friendly Creekside shops include Shampooch Pet Salon, Bicycle One, Ohio Herb Education Center, Koko Tea Salon and Bakery and Gahanna Hardware.

To learn more about the events, find Paws in the Plaza on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PawsinthePlaza

Don’t forget to post pictures using the hashtag #UniquelyGahanna on social media for a chance to be featured on Visit Gahanna’s social media channels and website!

2018 Dates:  April 5, May 3, June 7, July 5, August 2, September 6, and October 4.

After a seemingly never-ending winter, spring is here, and Easter is around the corner! If you prefer to dine-out rather than cook on this holiday, we have you covered. Luckily, several of our favorite Gahanna area restaurants that understand that you’d rather not do the after-meal clean-up this Easter. 

Barrel & Boar

Located in the picturesque creekside district, Barrel & Boar knows how to do brunch. On Easter Sunday, (10 am-4 pm) this popular local BBQ Spot  is serving up a delicious brunch menu to take the stress out of cooking and cleaning your own meal. Enjoy the Smoked Ham carving station, classic Barrel & Boar brunch options, BYO Bloody Mary Bar and $5 Mimosas all day. Live blues music will be featured in the bar from 11 am-2 pm. Be sure to make reservations in advance! 614-471-8844.

The Barn at Rocky Fork Creek

Surrounded by beautiful landscape on the outside and a rustic-luxury feel on the inside, The Barn at Rocky Fork Creek is open on Easter Sunday for you to come in and bask in the culinary joy. Enjoy a spread of breakfast favorites like eggs benedict, bacon and sausage, plus a carving station, made-to-order omelets, chilled salads, house-made desserts and a Bloody Mary bar. Reservations for this brunch fill quickly, so visit thebarncolumbus.com to reserve your spot.

Cap City Fine Diner Gahanna

There’s a good reason Cap City Fine Diner won a ColumBEST Diner & Neighborhood Restaurants award! Their Sunday brunch menu is a local favorite and will not disappoint your taste buds. Luckily for you, they are open Easter Sunday. Brunch will be served from 10 am-3 pm, followed by dinner service. Cap City is a great option for families -- with a “City Kids” menu offering plenty of comfort food favs, made from scratch. 

Rusty  Bucket Gahanna

The Bucket is serving up a family friendly brunch and lunch on Easter. From Chicken and Waffles to mouth-watering burgers and salads with a fresh spin, the choices are plentiful--and so is the fun.

94th Aero Squadron

Join the 94th Aero Squadron on Easter Sunday as they celebrate with their Easter Grande Buffet. Choose from a wide variety of dishes and desserts. The buffet will be offered from 9:30 am - 5 pm and is reservation-only, so make sure to call ahead! 614-237-8887.

Cooper’s Hawk Easton

If you’re a wine-lover, visit Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant on Easter Sunday! The restaurant will be serving their full menu all day so you don’t have to worry about rolling up your sleeves to cook.

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We hope you have a wonderful Easter Sunday! Don’t forget to post pictures using the hashtag #UniquelyGahanna on social media for a chance to be featured on Visit Gahanna’s social media channels and website!

How does a local Gahanna girl go from horticulture school to producing floral designs for floats for the Rose Bowl Collegiate Teams and companies such as Disney, Vera Wang, George Lucas/Star Wars and The Olympics? We caught up with Jody Spivey, the owner of Expressions Floral Design in Gahanna, Ohio to learn more about her story --what inspired her to open up a floral design studio in Gahanna and how she has set business apart from the competition.  

What inspired you to open up a floral design studio?
First and most importantly - I LOVE FLOWERS! I always have and always will.

I grew up in Westerville. The story goes that I locked my mother in the basement as a young girl because she told me I couldn’t pick the Peonies.

After I graduated from high school, I attended an adult education horticulture program which further sparked my love of flowers. I became an accredited Certified Florist in 2005 and was inducted into the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) in 2008. I won Ohio Florists Association Designer of the year in 2006 and have participated in many Art in Bloom exhibits at the Columbus Museum of Art, as well as being the featured speaker in 2012. 

Expressions Floral Design Studio was a fresh start up business in 2003. It was my vision to be my own employer after giving it all and feeling unappreciated at a large corporate business, followed by working in two other floral shops where it became clear that I had all the knowledge and experience to do this on my own.  I later moved to the Gahanna Area so that I could be close to the business.

Why did you choose Gahanna to open your shop?
I love this area of town and it was the perfect mid-point between my home, my parents and inlaws homes.

What sets Expressions apart from the competition?
We have a beautiful store that is easy to shop for gifts and flowers for every occasion.  We are conveniently located in the Stoneridge Shopping Center near 101 Beer Kitchen. We properly process and store our flowers providing maximum enjoyment for our customers.  Whether it is a simple bud vase, centerpiece, bridal bouquet, or a stunning floral art piece, we create every design to order. I love to shop for new trendy and unique items and save money, then pass on the savings along to our customers.




When shopping for flowers, shop local! The internet and 800 companies have caused many issues within the floral industry. One big issue they have is that the photography is only two-dimensional. They photograph their designs with all of the flowers in the front of the vase to make it appear fuller and bigger than in reality. We design at the retail level so that arrangements can be viewed from all sides. There are often service charges and/or fees are that taken out of these orders prior to those companies sending them along to the local shops for filling, making it look like the local shop is not filling the order to the value spent. When you call a local flower shop, you are our customer, not the customer of a faceless company with call center employees (who may not comprehend your special requests or know what is in season), that then deducts fees and passes your order on to us to fill.

However, with my accreditation and professional accomplishments in the industry, I do partner with other flower shops across the United States, and we can assist you if you need to send somewhere other than here in Central Ohio.

We understand that you are very involved in the annual Rose Parade in Pasadena, CA?
When I was working for another shop, I received a call from an owner of a different shop (where I  previously had been employed), who asked if I knew anyone who would be interested in going out to Pasadena to work on the Rose Bowl Floats.  After making a phone call to my spouse, a lifetime dream-come-true was in my future. This year marked the 14th year that I have participated as a designer for the Rose Bowl Parade, producing floral designs for floats for the Rose Bowl Collegiate Teams and companies such as Disney, Vera Wang, George Lucas/Star Wars, China Airlines, LA Dodgers, The Olympics and many more.

Is there anything else you’d like people to know about Expressions?
My store manager, Jenny Maynard Asmo, (more like my right-hand and brain power some days), has been with me since we opened in 2003. She started at the age of 16.  Sometimes it is a small world! Her father had stopped into a car lot to buy Jenny a car from my husband. Her father mentioned that Jenny would need a job to help pay for the car. I worked for another company and Jenny’s mother had worked for me.  Jenny used to come in there, occasionally. We often get asked if she is my daughter! Unfortunately she is not, but she has great parents. I am proud to have watched Jenny grow up over the years and become a beautiful young lady, a fantastic employee (with the memory of an elephant), and an amazing mother of two adorable boys.

 

When is Expressions open?
We are officially open Monday - Friday 9 am - 5 pm and Saturday 10 am - 2 pm; however, if you have a need and are running late just call, if we can, we will stay to accommodate you. We also take wedding appointments after hours (if needed). If the lights are on, I am usually there and happy to say hi or help you with your floral purchase. Stop in to see me and Jasmine, my Black Brindle French bulldog!

What social media platforms can people find Expressions on?
We are on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.

I love to try new things - especially when those things are locally owned in my own community of Gahanna, Ohio! Ever since I moved here, I made it a personal goal to try something new each week, and my city has not disappointed. I recently tried Aerial Wine Boutique and I couldn’t have been more impressed with the entire experience.Aerial Wine Boutique offers a friendly, upscale environment where the staff makes every customer feel comfortable.

I had the pleasure of meeting Ayisha King, the owner of Aerial Wine Boutique to learn about her passion and her business!

When did you open Aerial and what inspired you to open up a wine boutique?

We opened October of 2016.  I’m an avid traveler, and I love wine. When I would travel to well-known cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Atlanta where I would go to tasting rooms, I noticed how popular they were. Eventually, I decided I wanted to do something similar in Columbus, and name it Aerial after an aerial view of the various wine vineyards.

What inspired the name of the boutique?

My inspiration stemmed from many of the vineyards that have acres and acres of vines. Our slogan is "Flights from the vineyards." We built on that and envisioned ourselves being at a 30,000 foot level, overlooking all our various partnered vineyards. That’s how we named our shop, "Aerial Wine Boutique.” 

What made you choose Gahanna to open your wine boutique?

Gahanna is centrally located to many areas in Columbus, such as Easton, Blacklick, New Albany and even Whitehall. And we felt Gahanna could benefit from the value we bring.

What can visitors expect when they walk in?

We have a retail area in the front of the boutique and a tasting room just beyond the retail walls. Our 30-seat tasting room is the prime location for a classy and elegant wine tasting experience. We typically have at least 15 different types of wines on the taste bar, ranging from dry to sweet and both red and white. All flights come with a mini-cheese platter and bottles prices start at just $11.

What sets you apart from similar wine boutiques?

What differentiates us is the fact that we have relationships with the actual vineyards.  When I was selecting vineyards to source wine from, I focused on the health benefits and the history of the vineyards. I partnered with Brotherhood, America’s oldest winery--established in 1839 in Washingtonville, NY. I also partnered with JW cellars located in Dayton, Ohio, Robert John Vineyards, located in New Albany, Ohio and Tennessee Valley Winery-an award-winning winery in Loudon, TN. Another important differentiator is that we incorporate the community. Thankfully, we discovered at an early stage the community is our heartbeat.  So, we really make sure the community is involved by having a monthly event with the community to help us select which wines to stock.

What kind of wines do you serve? Are there any food options?

We serve wines and Champagnes that are considered 90 points and above. Our wine portfolio consists of many regions throughout the world. We not only carry our partnered vineyards. But we do have a limited selection of imports for those that enjoy the great New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs or a nice sweet red from South Africa.  In addition to being able to enjoy a great quality wine, we have a full-service kitchen. We serve lite-bites, appetizers, dinners and desserts!

Is there anything else you’d like people to know about your business?

Our community vendor night is March 15. Our Sushi & Wine Pairing Night is March 22. We welcome everyone to come and hang out with us!

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Aerial Wine Boutique is open Sunday, Monday and Tuesday by appointment, Wednesday and Thursday from 4-9 pm, and Friday and Saturday from 4-10 pm. The Boutique is available for private bookings by calling 614/933-3383.

Blog written by Braeden Chicase, Visit Gahanna Ohio Social Media Assistant.

The Dispatch Home & Garden Show kicked off February 17 and runs through February 25 at the Ohio Expo Center. The show features craftsmen, experts and professionals who you can talk to about home improvement ideas, decor, design and projects for every area of your home! This year, three Gahanna experts are proudly representing the Herb Capital of Ohio at the show, and will be sharing home and garden tips.

Rosemarie Rossetti, Ph. D., a Gahanna resident and owner of the Universal Design Living Laboratory is a nationally known speaker, author and consultant on universal design, accessible design and green home building. She will present, Secrets to Creating Homes that Make Life Easier at 2pm on Friday, February 23 at the Home & Garden Show. Her presentation will focus on how to live better without giving up freedom, safety or peace of mind--especially for today’s boomers. She’ll discuss how to live more affordably and conveniently without sacrificing quality of life. She will share information about new and exciting options that can transform your home and garden, despite the challenges that come with a disability or aging.

Also speaking at the show are Brooke Sackenheim and Jennifer Schneller. Brooke Sackenheim, an instructor at the Ohio Herb Education Center, will present The Five Essential Herbs for the Garden. The talk will offer an in-depth look at the 5 must-have herbs you need in your home, how to grow and use them, simple cooking suggestions, and how to use these herbs beyond the kitchen. Brooke’s presentation will be offered at 3 pm Wednesday, February 21.

At 12 pm on Sunday, February 25, Jennifer Schneller, also an Ohio Herb Education Center instructor and “certified plant geek,” will present Starter Herbs to Enrich Your Garden. She will discuss the characteristics, growing tips and tricks for starter herbs.

Sound exciting? Lucky for you, we’re giving away a pair of tickets to the show! To enter to win the tickets, simply comment on our Visit Gahanna Facebook post and tag your best HGTV-loving, Pinterest obsessed, home renovation friend!

Blog written by Braeden Chicase, Visit Gahanna Ohio Social Media Assistant.