Discover Gahanna Ohio

Barb Drobnick is a longtime Gahanna resident, a local ambassador and has built her home-based business on passion, research and great products. Her handcrafted, natural body and bath products are not only available through her website--but also at Whole Foods Stores, Celebrate Local (Easton) and The Ohio Herb Center Gift Shop. 

What is your full name and occupation?  Barbara Foley Drobnick, owner of Honey Grove Botanicals

Why did you select Gahanna to open your business?   
I moved to Gahanna in 1994. We felt Gahanna would be a great place to raise our young family. Gahanna, the Herb Capital of Ohio, was very receptive to our business ideas, and less than a year after moving here, our little cottage business was off to a great start. 

What are some of the ways in which you identify with the Gahanna community?
I am proud to share with the world that Gahanna, my hometown, is reputed as the Herb Capital of Ohio. Gahanna has really grown since I moved here, but maintains plenty of green spaces, and the hometown feel. There is a strong sense of pride and community, and many like me chose Gahanna for the great schools and friendly, helpful people here. We’ve grown enough that it’s great to be able to do and find much of what we need here or very nearby. 

What would people be surprised to know about you?
People would be surprised to know that we raised 7 children, one of which was home-schooled from k-12, were very active in school and community activities, all while running multiple small and medium sized businesses right here in Gahanna. 

In your opinion, what is the best kept secret within the Gahanna community?
The best kept secret to me is that there are several successful small businesses, many run from home. There’s a lot of entrepreneurial talent here. 

What is one thing about Gahanna that other residents inside (and outside) of Columbus do not realize? That Gahanna was named “the Herb Capital of Ohio,” and achieving that title was spearheaded decades ago by one Bunnie Geroux. 

Describe your very first experience in Gahanna…
My very first experience in Gahanna was actually in the late 70’s when a co-worker invited me to meet her for pizza at Massey’s. I came into Gahanna via Hamilton Road, which at the time was one lane in and one lane out, and there were cattails along the sides of the road. Wow! Have we grown. 

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Do you have a unique Gahanna story to share? Email it to us at: info (a) VisitGahanna.com (Subject: My Unique Gahanna Story) 

Learn more about why Gahanna is the Herb Capital of Ohio when you discover the world of herbs and their many uses! The Ohio Herb Center (110 Mill St.) is celebrating warmer weather with several herbal-themed classes and workshops. The Herb Center offers a variety of hands-on classes and workshops covering culinary, health and wellness, personal and home care, cleaning and gardening picks.

“Spring is a time of growth--and this is a perfect time to explore herbs and the many uses of them,” said Amanda Ferguson, instructor and herb expert at the Ohio Herb Center. “Our classes provide the perfect opportunity to experience herbs, learn techniques for use them, and immerse yourself into herbal knowledge. Most of our classes provide a hands-on takeaway that you can make in class, in addition to handouts with recipes so you can use at home.”
 
Download the Summer Herb Center Class Schedule: HerbCenterSummerSchedule

Wild Herb Walk
When: 2 pm Saturday, May 25, 2019
Beneficial herbs and plants are all around us, and often overlooked as weeds. Join in for a walk around the Parks of Gahanna, and wear comfortable shoes! Registration includes a 1-hour guided hike with Herb Center staff, a handout and the ability to identify at least 4-6 herbs on the trail. The price is $7 per person. Call to register: 614/642-HERB
 
 

Ohio Herb Center Plant Swap
When: 2 pm Saturday, April 27, 2019
Join in for our beginning-of-season, clear-out-space-in-your-garden-beds plant swap! Categories will include bulbs, hostas, peonies, dahlias, daylilies, succulents, and anything else that is taking over your garden space. Drop-off and setup will start at 2 pm, with the swap starting at 2:30 pm. This event is free, but please RSVP to participate. (614/342-4380)  

How to Start an Herb Garden at Home
When: 1 pm Saturday, April 27, 2019
Come learn about 5 easy-to-grow herbs, perfect for the beginning gardener. The workshop will cover  simple garden planning, herb growth habits and care, and how to create the best growing conditions for your herbs. Cost: $25 per person. Register NOW.

Registration is required and limited so book your class(es) today! To learn more, call the Ohio Herb Center (614/342-4380) or go to VisitGahanna.com.  For more information about upcoming Ohio Herb Center classes, visit the Calendar of Eventssection of this website. Or visit OhioHerbCenter.org 

Locally and family owned, 101 Beer Kitchen in Gahanna, Ohio has been specializing in seasonal and handcrafted food with a carefully curated drink selection since 2012. We had the opportunity to talk to Jessica Kittrell, Co-Founder/Director Non-Ops of 101 Beer Kitchen to find out more about the core mission of 101BK and what upcoming events they are hosting.

101BK is certainly on the top of the list for Central Ohio’s hottest eateries. How many locations do you have now?
We have three locations here in central Ohio – Dublin, Polaris/Westerville and Gahanna.

Any plans for growth?  
Yes! Fishers, Indiana is currently in the design phase and scheduled to open this year.  We hope to open one-to-two more in the Indianapolis area over the next few years.

What is the philosophy/mission of 101BK?
Now, that is an easy one since it has been part of every store’s training--and hung on the wall from day one. It means a lot to us.  101BK exists to provide seasonal, hand-crafted products alongside friendly service with an uncomplicated, comfortable style.  We are focused on caring and providing for our community while educating them in the joys of food & beer.

Tell us about your popular Beer Dinners?  
Our beer dinners are at the core of who we are and what we do.  Pairing food and beer is our passion and we love creating and sharing these inspired experiences with our guests. Our chefs taste the beverage options and create a five-course meal they feel will best bring out the nuances of both the food and beverage. Events can be with one brewery, or use a curated approach with an importer or other theme … sometimes even throwing in a cocktail or two as a pairing. These events really give each store’s chef an opportunity to shine and show their abilities and style.

How did these events originate?
Beer dinners came about because of our brand’s mission and passion for pairing food and beer.  Thad Kittrell, Co-Owner and Chef, held our first ever dinner hosting Stone Brewing in January 2013, just two months after our grand opening.  It was a hit and we have been doing them consistently ever since.

You have one coming up—what will it feature?   
The next dinner for our Gahanna location will feature Fat Head’s Brewery from North Olmsted, OH. It will highlight their seasonal Hop Juju, a deliciously juicy imperial IPA that comes out just once per year. Our upcoming dinners for all locations are always listed on our website with the ticket link as well!

For more news and events happening at 101 Beer Kitchen, check out their information page here. And for more to see and do in Gahanna, go to VisitGahanna.com or follow us on Facebook!

Every January, Memphis hosts the International Blues Challenge (IBC) where select blues bands from around the country come together for some great music and friendly competition. The IBC represents the worldwide search for those Blues Bands and Solo/Duo Blues Acts ready to perform on the international stage, yet just needing that extra big break. This year, Deuce n’ a Quarter and The Drew Allan Duo were chosen to represent the Columbus area at the IBC this month after winning the Columbus Blues Alliance challenge, per the Blues Foundation Guidelines.

Recently, we had the opportunity to talk with Brian Peters of Deuce n’ a Quarter. Brian is the front man, singer, songwriter, harmonicist and manager for the band. He is also a longtime fan of Visit Gahanna’s annual Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival (CBJF), as well as a returning performer at the festival.

Have you attended/competed at the IBC before?
Yes, this is my second time competing with Deuce n’ a Quarter and third time being there personally. I was there the first time with the Shaun Booker Band in 2012 where we won the King of Beale Street! That’s a separate competition for those bands who didn’t make it to the finals at the IBC in order to see what bands they want playing in their bars. Beale Street is famous in Memphis for its history, as well as the history of blues.

After the 2012 competition, I decided I wanted to put together a band of my own. I achieved that goal in 2014 with Deuce n’ a Quarter, and in 2015 we won the Columbus Blues Challenge, which gave us eligibility to compete at the IBC in January of 2016.

For those who have never attended the event, can you briefly describe it?
It’s an absolute amazing time. The history of Memphis and Beale Street is something special. There are approximately 120-130 bands that show up to compete at the IBC to represent their blues societies. Each blues society has their own competition and the winners of those competition to go the IBC. When you’re down in Memphis for the event, it’s really like a huge party with great energy that feels like a high school reunion. You get to see old friends and make new ones.

As for the competition part -- music is so subjective, you never know who is going to win! Before the competition, you don’t know the venue you’re playing in or what time you’ll be on stage. After the competition each night, most of the venues have blues jam where some of the best blues musicians from all around hop up on stage. It’s just a good time!

What are you most looking forward to at IBC?
This time around, I’m hoping to get the to finals, and I look forward to networking. I don’t look at music as a competition, I’m just a fan. Other than that, I just want to keep the band moving and book more gigs! Since this is my third time competing this year, I plan to go down next year as a spectator. When you’re competing, you don’t get a lot of time to soak it all in. It would be nice to be there and see other bands. Memphis is also rich with history, so I want to go down early this year to do some tours and enjoy the city.

What will you be performing?
We will be performing our original songs. The first round of the competition is a 25-minute set and the second round is 30-minutes. If you get to the finals, it’s another 20 minute set. I’m not sure what all we’re going to cut, but it will be 100% our original music.

The judges score you based on a points system. They will give you the most points if your music is all blues music and the second biggest thing is playing original music. You can do covers but you’re better off playing original music.

You are a perennial fan favorite at the Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival. What do you enjoy most about that event?
It has come full circle for me. When I first attended CBJF, I didn’t play music, sing or anything. It was a tradition - my son and I would go to CBJF for Father’s Day. After a few years of going with my son, I met a few people, picked up a harmonica one day and landed in the Shaun Booker Band. I have four kids and only one is left in the house. I have a 16 year old who still wants to go to CBJF with me and hang out, which means a lot to me.

My story starts at CBJF. To have the opportunity to play on the stage where I used to be spectator is amazing for me. I also love the festival’s variety. They have everything, not just blues music. I love to check out different genres and artists. The food and shops are really good too!

It’s also great when we have support when the band is in town. We’re on the road a lot, but my goal is to play here 3-4 times a year while also building a following in other cities. It’s always nice to get support from our roots in Columbus.

Want to learn more about the Creekside Blues & Jazz Festivals? Check out our event page here or like CBJF on Facebook.

The start of the new year is refreshing, exciting and full of possibilities. If your new year resolution is to work on your fitness and overall wellness, we’re here to help you keep true to your goals with a little help from our local businesses. After all, the year has just begun and the new you is right around the corner. You got this!

Gahanna Parks & Recreation  
With 52 parks (totaling more than 750+ acres), 17 miles of trails and a plethora of activities and features--there’s no reason NOT to get out and enjoy Mother Nature!  Explore Gahanna Woods-- with 99+ acres of nature trails and open meadows. It is part State Nature Preserve with a swamp forest, woodland pools and breathtaking spring wildflowers. Follow the link above to discover much more!

 Thrive Massage & Wellness | 4955 N Hamilton Rd.
Practice self love by treating yourself to a trip to Thrive Massage & Wellness. Whether you need a relaxing therapeutic massage, infrared light therapy or other wellness extras, this is your one stop shop. Thrive is unique for Central Ohio’s first spa with health-empowering, full spectrum infrared spas for weight loss, detox, pain relief, heart health, skin purification, and relaxation. 

Oak Studio | 1370 Cherry Bottom Rd.
Gahanna’s newest fit neighbor boasts several types of fitness classes. Their classes include bootcamp, sculpt flow, vinyasa flow, slow flow and power yoga. Whether you’re looking for high intensity workouts, low intensity or somewhere in the middle, Oak Studio has you covered. New students can start two weeks of unlimited classes for just $22!

Namaste in Love | 101 Mill St Suite 106
You may fall in love with this yoga studio located in the heart of Creekside, Gahanna! Namaste is committed to inner peace, self care and gratitude. Their classes include power flow, express flow, beginner classes, stretch + restore, Ashtanga and more! Their new student special is currently 32 days for just $32!

YMCA Gahanna I 555 YMCA Place  
Buy a day pass and explore all the healthy possibilities at Gahanna’s beautiful YMCA. From swimming, running and group fitness classes--to personal trainers, disease prevention & management workshops and corporate wellness programs, there are plenty of ways to get fit and healthy in 2019. 

Renew Wellness I ​287 W. Johnstown Rd.
Offering a variety of yoga classes and counseling, Renew Wellness strives to help guide individuals in discovering their best self through emotional and physical healing.

Healthy Day Nutrition | 1022 N Hamilton Rd.
Nutrition in the form of a yummy smoothie? Sign me up! Healthy Day Nutrition offers meal replacement smoothies that come in more than 60 flavors. The staff are warm and welcoming and are happy to help you with any questions or smoothie selections. Healthy Day is an easy choice for those looking to get in shape and eat healthier. 

Happy 2019 everyone! We hope this your best year yet. 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!

~Post by Braeden Chicase, Visit Gahanna Social Media Assistant