Discover Gahanna Ohio

To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival (CBJF) in Gahanna, Ohio (June 15-17), we’re sharing some of our favorite stories through a #MyCBJFStory series.

If you’re a fan of the hit T.V. show, The Voice, this musician’s name may sound familiar to you. You may recognize Josh Hoyer from his soul/funk/R&B band or you might recognize him from being a contestant on The Voice, as a part of Blake Shelton’s team. We had the pleasure of getting to know a little more about this rising star, recently. You can look for Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal to perform on the Mount Carmel Community Stage from 7-8:30 pm on Friday, June 15.

How did you get your start as a musician?
I first performed at 6 years old. I used to sing and dance in the house all the time. When I was 6, my parents entered me into a talent show at the high school where my father was a teacher. I sang "Hurts So Good" by John Cougar Mellencamp. I've been performing ever since!

When did you know you wanted to pursue a career in music?
I have always loved music and it has always been a huge part of my life. All through my public education, I took as many band and choir classes as possible. Often, that was 4 classes a day. After high school, I continued to play music, and played in many bands and jam sessions. When I returned home from New Orleans in 2003, I got my first touring gig as a saxophone player for EC Scott out of Oakland, CA. And,  even though I finished my college degree and have worked a couple other jobs since then (namely a stint as a homeless outreach worker), I believe that is when I first knew that I wanted to pursue a career as a musician. Fifteen years later, after much hard work, I now lead an internationally touring band that has released 3 studio albums and 2 live albums to critical acclaim!

Who inspires you?
I am inspired by many people, but first and foremost are my parents, my wife and my children. They are my rock and my reason for trying my best in life. I have been very blessed to have such wonderful people in my immediate family that are caring, thoughtful, hard-working and genuine people.

Do you have a favorite song that you perform?
I love all of the music that our band plays. If there was a song I really wasn't "feeling", it would no longer be in the set. For Soul music, in particular, I feel it is essential that the singer and band connects with each song. That it breathes within them. If you aren't being genuine in this style of music, it has very little value. People need to FEEL you. I would say, right now, my favorite is likely a song about my daughter, called "Clara Jayne." However, I pride myself on the fact that songs I wrote 5 years ago, feel as immediate and as honest as they did then. In my book, that is what makes a great song!

Describe one of your best experiences/memories relating to your fans?
Reaching the  listener is what playing music is all about! We've been very blessed to meet great people all over the world through our music. Those connections and that spiritual bond that happens in a live performance are what keep us going in this very difficult and turbulent business. In Germany last year, a gentlemen came to three separate performances; for two of them-- he drove more than 100 miles to attend. After the last of those shows he came up and introduced himself. He said he had been having a very hard time in life: an illness, a death in the family and a broken home. He said that even though he worked full-time as a roofer (in his late 50s), that our music was a huge inspiration to him. He loved how we played with full hearts, giving everything we had night after night. It reminded him that he wasn't alone and that he, too, wanted to keep giving it all he had. That, to me, is what this is all about!

We’re looking forward to your performance at the 20th anniversary celebration of the Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival!  What can fans expect from your performance?
You can expect to hear some of the finest players in the world. The fellas in the band are incredibly talented and full of heart! We will play you songs about love, family and loss; about positivity, fighting for justice and trying to do the right thing; about spirit, Soul and what we all have in common. Musically, we borrow from the greats in Blues, Soul, Funk and Jazz to create songs that stand on their own in modern times. We will sweat, smile, pulse, groove and soar with the power of music and try to connect each and every listener in the moment. In the end - we will have a HUGE amount of fun! Really looking forward to playing for you all!!!

_______

Got a #CBJF story? Email it to info@creeksidebluesandjazz.com  and you just might snag some complimentary event wristbands. Take advantage of early bird ticket discounts and buy your tickets online here!

To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival (CBJF) in Gahanna, Ohio (June 15-17), we’re sharing some of our favorite stories through a #MyCBJFStory series.

Andy Shaw and his brother, Chris–along with their dad, Jim–share a lifelong passion for music.  The Andy Shaw Band members are Gahanna locals and CBJF favorites, traditionally celebrating Father’s Day weekend with a Festival performance.  Look for The Andy Shaw Band to perform on the Mount Carmel Creekside Community Stage from 5:30-7 pm on Saturday, June 16.

How did you get your start as a musician?
I grew up playing trumpet, and I learned to write songs in college. In 2004, I moved back from Chicago (after attending Columbia College Chicago) to start performing music with my brother, Chris Shaw. We started as an acoustic duo, then added bass, and my dad Jim on keys.

When did you know you wanted to pursue a career in music?
Probably from the moment I started playing trumpet. I started to teach myself how to play when I was 9 or 10 years old, and by the time I started playing in the school band, I knew it was something I was more passionate about than anything else.

Who inspires you?
My dad has always been a huge inspiration for me. I’m also inspired by bands like Dispatch and State Radio, who have made grassroots philanthropy a large part of their musical career.

Do you have a favorite song that you perform?
This always changes, but right now, I love performing my song, Ohio. I feel that it expresses a big part of where I am in my life right now. It speaks to where I’m from, where I want to be, and the strains of growth on a personal and professional level. For me, it’s very cathartic.

Describe one of your best experiences/memories relating to your fans?
Well there are quite a few over the years that stand out. On our recent South East tour, we were in Ft. Lauderdale, FL and there was a couple from Columbus, OH. They knew of the band and we had a mutual friend back in Columbus. It was also her birthday, so I sang her Happy Birthday through a video they shot of us. This kind of thing happens all the time, and it makes you realize what a small world it is.

We’re looking forward to your performance at the 20th anniversary celebration of the Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival!  What can fans expect from your performance? You can expect music that will make you move, feel, and hopefully uplifts you. Our music is all about connecting through the expression of love, social consciousness and a sense of community.

How many times have you performed at CBJF in the past?
We’ve performed for many years. Maybe 8 or 9 times?

What do you like most about the Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival?
I love the Creekside Fest because my brother Chris (on the drums), my dad Jim (on the keys), and I are all from Gahanna. So this is always a really special festival for us.

_______

Got a #CBJF story? Email it to info@creeksidebluesandjazz.com  and you just might snag some complimentary event wristbands. Take advantage of early bird ticket discounts and buy your tickets online here!

An exciting new exhibit is opening at Griffin Gallery in Creekside Gahanna, featuring a collection of expressionist paintings by world renowned artist, Jan Dilenschneider. Public reception for the exhibition, titled “Eco Vision, is this Saturday, May 19 from 6-9 pm at 77 Mill St. in Gahanna. Light h'ordeuvres and wine will be served.

Jan Dilenschneider painted all her life but hadn’t exhibited or sold her work until 2013, when a friend insisted on buying two of her paintings. Soon after, she was offered a solo show at the prestigious Galerie Pierre-Alain Challier in Paris, which started a remarkable and inspiring chain of events that would allow her to show her art all over the world.

Jan has developed an unique style of expressionistic painting. Several art critics have compared her work to the Impressionists, though Jan describes herself as an Expressionist. Her inspiration comes from the ever-changing landscape around her Connecticut home. Living by the sea, she is inspired by shore grasses bending in the breeze, blue skies reflected in water and trees silhouetted against green lawns.



Jan has developed a unique type of diptych that she calls “pairs,” because they do not have to be hung or sold together. They are painted at the same time and with the same palette. Dilenschneider is also known for her unique color sense. She likes to see colors “vibrate” together by juxtapositioning strong, complimentary color schemes. Her most recent work combines landscapes and abstract images. Read more about  Jan here.

The show will run from May 19-June 19.  For more information about the exhibit or Griffin Gallery at Creekside, visit griffingalleryatcreekside.com or call 614/385-3600.

Not all heroes wear capes. After all your mother has done for you, maybe you owe it to her to take her out to Brunch this Mother’s Day. This special day requires a special meal, and fortunately, there are several Gahanna businesses serving up a Mother’s Day Brunch menu! Be sure to make reservations in advance.  



If you’re celebrating Mother’s Day early on Friday or Saturday, May 11 or 12, be sure to check out the unique Herb’n Restaurant Week features that 9 of our signature Gahanna restaurants are offering (May 6-12).

Barrel & Boar Gahanna | 121 Mill St. | 614-471-8844
This Mother's Day, Barrel & Boar is offering an extended Brunch menu from 10 am to 4pm. The menu includes a Bloody Mary bar where you can make your own breakfast cocktail. Aside from the Brunch menu, there’s also an adult buffet. For $17 you can choose from pancakes, french toast, BBQ frittata, scrambled eggs, cheddar biscuits and omlets made your way. There will also be a ham carving station for Mother's Day! Bring the kiddos with you too! Barrel & Boar offers a kid’s Brunch menu. For $7, kids can choose from red eye gravy, sausage, pecan smoked bacon, toast and fresh fruit.

The Barn at Rocky Fork Creek | 1370 E Johnstown Rd. ||614-855-9840
From 10 am to 2:30 pm, The Barn at Rocky Fork Creek is cookin’ up a Sunday Brunch Buffet that features  a display of traditional breakfast favorites including eggs benedict, bacon, sausage, a prime rib carving station and made to order omelets prepared by their chefs. Enjoy a variety of chilled salads and fruit, peel-n-eat shrimp, a selection of signature offerings from the menu and house-made desserts. And be sure to indulge in the amazing Bloody Mary bar. Visit the website for reservation information.  Adults: $31.99 | Ages 6-12: $14.95 | Ages 5 and under are free

Cap City Fine Diner & Bar | 1301 Stoneridge Dr | 614-478-9999
Voted the “Best Diner and Best Neighborhood Restaurant” by 614 Magazine’s 2017 ColumBEST polls, local favorite Cap CIty Fine Diner & Bar features a Brunch menu from 10 am to 3 pm. This retro, mid-century-themed diner specializes in American comfort food, so you know this place will not disappoint.  Visit the website for reservation information.



101 Beer Kitchen Gahanna | 397 Stoneridge Ln | 614-934-5501
From 11 am - 3 pm on Saturday and from 10 am - 3 pm on Sunday, 101 Beer Kitchen offers a special Brunch menu complete with seasonal appetizers, entrees and sides. Check out their full menu here. The menu is always fresh and seasonal, perfect for this beautiful weather! 

The 94th Aero Squadron Restaurant | 5030 Sawyer Rd. | 614-237-8887
On May 13, the 94th Aero Squadron will host a spectacular Mother’s Day Grande Buffet, from 10 am until 5 pm.  The buffet features breakfast items such as bacon, scrambled fluffy eggs, a waffle station with toppings and sausage. The carving station will have steamship roast beef and virginia ham including peel and eat shrimp with baked tilapia with a red pepper sauce. 

Main items include sirloin beef tips rosenthal, chicken marsala, vegetable alfredo, country green beans and white cheddar mashed potatoes. The bread station will include muffins, bagels with cream cheese, assorted breakfast breads and sweet rolls. To top off the meal, desserts include chocolate cakes, carrot cake, cheesecake, assorted cheesecakes, chocolate mousse, pecan pies and more! Call 614/237-8887 for reservations.

Team Visit Gahanna wishes all mothers out there a Happy Mother’s Day!

 
The second annual Herb’n Restaurant Week, presented by Visit Gahanna,  is upon us! From May 6-12 the entire city will celebrate Gahanna’s claim to fame as the “Herb Capital of Ohio” with a variety of fun, herb-themed activities … all culminating in the big “Herb Day” celebration on May 12. Herb’n Restaurant Week will showcase the culinary creativity of 9 Signature Gahanna restaurants--with herb-inspired menu items available ONLY during Herb Week.

Participating eateries will serve up mouth-watering and herb-inspired appetizers, main dishes, creative cocktails and decadent desserts. Herb enthusiasts can dine at a different Gahanna Herb’n Restaurant Week eatery every night that week, pairing each meal with a different selection from Visit Gahanna’s popular Herbal Cocktail Trail.
 

Finish out the week by attending the “Herbs in the Alley” VIP Herb Day preview event on May 11 AND the Herb Day celebration--featuring a huge plant sale with hundreds of plant varieties, plus vendors, education sessions, herb walks, and more.  

Participating Gahanna restaurants and their Herb’n Restaurant Week specials will include:

101 Beer Kitchen Gahanna
Savor a Pollo Asada entree with marinated  Roasted ½ Chicken & Spiced Cilantro Citrus Crema served over red rice with radish, carrot & cucumber salad tossed in Coriander Vinaigrette. Pair it with the Michelada Verde made with Espolón Tequila, fresh tomatillos, jalapeño, lime & cilantro topped with Lager Beer.
 

Arepazo Tapas and Wine
Camarones al Ajillo entree: Shrimp sautéed in olive oil, butter and garlic.

Barrel & Boar Gahanna  
Experience the Smoked shoulder bacon and rosemary deviled eggs appetizer, plus an entree of Tarragon & Sage Smoked Halibut entree over cheddar and sausage grits, topped with shaved garlic buttered brussels and a cajun tomato cream sauce.

Barry’s Pub & Grill
Savor a Chicken Tacos entree featuring pulled chicken seasoned with a house blend of thyme, rosemary, basil and coriander. Served in warm corn tortillas and topped with cheddar, lettuce, pico de gallo, and a side of spanish rice. Pairs perfectly with the House made Bloody Maria infused with cilantro just for the Gahanna Herb’n cocktail trail. Save $1 off when you order both the tacos and Herb’n Cocktail Trail Bloody Maria.

Cap City Fine Diner
Enjoy a Blueberry Gimlet cocktail and the Broiled Maryland Crab Cake appetizer: Freshly made lump crab cake is pan broiled, topped with basil aioli alongside an heirloom tomato basil salad, and finished with balsamic reduction.

Old Bag of Nails
Savor a Rosemary chicken entree with rosemary red skin mashed potatoes and broccoli, served with rosemary infused butter with a dinner roll.

Pam’s Popcorn
Experience Pam’s delicious Pepperoni Blanco popcorn featuring Fresh Basil, Oregano, fried onions and Pepperoni.
 

Pigskin Brewing Co.
Enjoy a Man’oushe Flatbread slathered with Za’atar- a thyme based mix of herbs.

Wyandotte Winery
You’ve never had cake like this before!  Sample the Blackberry Wine Cake, Dark Chocolate Port, and the Venetian wine cake, made with fresh rosemary. AND …  save 50% off the wine trio during Herb’n Restaurant Week.

Questions about Herb’n Restaurant Week? Call Visit Gahanna (the Gahanna Convention & Visitors Bureau) at 614/418-9114.