Andy Warhol at the Wexner - Queer-O-Rama #1

Does it get any queerer than Andy Warhol? After seeing the exclusive retrospective on his career at the Wexner Center for the Arts on the campus of Ohio State University in Columbus, we'd have to say "no." It was so extensive and so ingenously put together that we felt like this show topped other displays of his work that we had seen at the Contemporary Museum of Art in Chicago, and even at Andy Warhol's own museum in Pittsburgh! The only thing missing was Warhols' famous disaster photos, an example of which is pictured here. This amazing body of work was somewhat overwhelming to experience all at once! If you haven't seen the show yet, you should head over there ASAP, as it runs only until February 15.

Beer #2 - Dortmunder Gold

On a freezing cold night last weekend, Kate, Susan, and Cricket decided to share a beer before heading off to sleep. We chose Dortmunder Gold, a beer made not in Columbus but in Cleveland, in the Great Lakes family of beers. This beer is very smooth, yet surprisingly tasty for a lager. If you're looking for something on the lighter side that still has a bit of a kick, this could be the beer for you!

Slumdog Millionaire - Movie #1

Kate and Susan saw Slumdog Millionaire recently at the Drexel Theatre in Bexley. This will be a mixed review, as Susan liked it better than Kate. Susan really liked the premise of slum life as a basis of knowledge, for which one might be rewarded (and punished) in "mainstream" life. Kate thought the romance and idealism was a bit over the top in this context and that the sub-plots were a bit derivative. Looks like it headed for greater glory at the Oscars next month!

Aladdin's - Restaurant #4

Just around the corner from our new place, Aladdin's Restaurant features reasonably priced, very tasty Middle Eastern food. Even though Aladdin's is a chain, the food there is made with fresh vegtables. The first time we visited, Susan had a giant salad with pita bread and Kate had a bowl of vegtable soup. Both were very good. Open for lunch until late night, Aladdin's offers a great place to run out to on nights we decide not to cook in, but also don't want to go out for a big expensive meal. Thumbs up! Or should we say forks up :)

Dosa Corner-- Restaurant #3

It doesn't look like much from the outside but oh! the delights that can be found inside. My friend Mary and I (Cricket) went on a snowy weekday evening to catch up after winter break. We were the only ones there because of the weather but she assured me it usually has a good crowd. She got a yummy masala dosa and I got a vegetarian thali. I'm definitely going to become a regular.

Surly Girl - Alcohol #1

What better place to start our alcohol escapades than a bar named Surly Girl? And what better beer to start out with than Stoudt's Gold Lager, brewed at a woman-owned brewery located in neighboring Pennsylvania. Surly Girl is a bustling High Street bar with an excellent city feel. Just the right place to kick back with our friends Julie and Vince who were visiting from Athens. Vince tried to cajole us into some late nite pool playing, but we had to beg off due to an early flight the next morning. Next time, for sure.

Scali's - Restaurant #2

We recently braved freezing rain to join our friends Julie and Vince at Scali's. This large Italian restaurant is in the belly of the suburban beast, located in an otherwise-unremarkable strip mall in Reynoldsburg. Happily, upon entering all thoughts of Bed, Bath and Beyond fled as we were ushered into the warm and bustling dining room (this would be a metaphorical warmth - we were seated quite close to the door and I kept my coat on throughout the meal). That said, our waitress was very friendly, the food was satisfying and plentiful and the recommended wine was fabulous. This a great place for a sociable night out with friends.