Seeing The Columbus Sights And Lights

​LOOKING FOR HOLIDAY GIFTS THEY'LL ENJOY?

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​SEEING THE COLUMBUS SIGHTS AND LIGHTS

      Last Sunday, December 12, my sister Romaine flew into Columbus from Oregon for a six-day visit.

       Tommy and Emily came over Sunday night to help us welcome her  with a celebration dinner,  

...of rice and vegetable casserole, Parmesan baked squash, green beans almondine and hot rolls.   

     Romaine and I spent the next five days taking in some of the local sights and holiday lights. 
      On Monday we visited the Franklin Park Conservatory, 

...a vast greenhouse,

...where botanical environments from around the planet share space with special exhibits and the glass sculptures of artist Dale Chihuly.

      Among the holiday exhibits were a pointsettia  display, 

...a gingerbead house contest,

...and an outdoor display which is reputed to be quite beautiful at night when all the lights are lit,

...and where the idea of a Christmas arch just might have originated.

     The following day Romaine, my daughter Theresa and I went to the Columbus Immersive Van Gogh exhibit, my second time around (See post from 11/22/2021,  https://www.ailantha.com/blog/immersed-in-van-gogh).

       Romaine and Theresa were charmed and enchanted by the show, as was I, as much this time as my first time. 

   And, like the first time I saw this Van Gogh exhibit, it struck me once again that there is more than enough material in the ordinary  things and people to inspire any artist,

...or, for that matter, any writer.

      After the Van Gogh we had lunch at a cute little restaurant I happened to spot along Polaris Parkway called Mimi's Cafe.

...where Romaine and I had the delicious Chicken and Quinoa Mediterranean Salad,

...and Theresa had the Brown Rice, Quinoa and Farro, which she also liked.

     That night Romaine, Tom, and I went to Easton Town Center to walk around the outdoor light displays,

...and the indoor displays, too.

     On Wednesday night Romaine and I walked the mile-and-a-half from my house to Creekside Park to see the holiday lights there.

     Apparently Christmas arches are more of a thing than I had realized. 

     On Thursday night we went downtown for dinner at the Spaghetti Warehouse,

...followed by a riverfront walk along the Scioto Mile. 

      At one point it occurred to me that if Columbus, Ohio doesn't have a white Christmas,

...at least we'll have a bright one.