Take a European vacation without leaving Ohio

London. Berlin. Lisbon. Versailles. Dublin. Oxford.

The names evoke images of Old World splendor and European sophistication. But such names do not belong only to Europe; they also identify Ohio cities and towns with a splendor and sophistication that is all their own. Each would make a fine day-trip or weekend from Cincinnati, and an ambitious driver could visit them all in a loop of just under two hundred miles, starting in Cincinnati.

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Maple Syrup, Bob Evans News...Kinda Go Together

I posted two new Examiner articles this morning, both kinda related to food. Go figure.

"Maple Syrup Festival at Hueston Woods is a sweet spot for cheap fun"

"Bob Evans Farm is cooking up some major improvements"

It would be a blessing and help to me if you would click on each article and (on the Examiner site) "Like" it, "share" it (see button at the bottom of the page), and even Follow or Subscribe to my Examiner posts (I post 2-3 times a week).

Thanks!

(Photo courtesy of Ohio Department of Natural Resources)

The Ultimate Dating Guide for Anyone in Love (and Cheap...or Poor)

My newest post on Examiner.com is entitled, "Twenty free dates in and around Cincinnati/" It's the ultimate for anyone who is both cheap (or poor) and in love!

And if you're REALLY my friend, you'll "Like" it, comment on it, and/or email it to someone.

The Ohio Theater

About a million years ago (okay, really only thirty-five, but that's ALMOST a million), I played the Ohio Theater, the National Historic Landmark built in 1928 and saved from demolition in 1969. It was built across State St. from the Ohio Statehouse on the former site of the Columbus City Hall. Today it's called the "Official Theater of the State of Ohio."

I took these photos on a recent afternoon in Columbus, after opening the Ohio House of Representatives' session in prayer.

Even the ticket office is elegant and distinctive. I tried to get inside, just for a few minutes, but the ladies washing the windows told me I looked too sketchy. Okay, actually, they apologized and said a rehearsal was in progress. But take my word for it, the interior is absolutely stunning.

The Ohio Theater is the home of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, BalletMet, the Broadway Series, Opera Columbus, and the CAPA Summer Movie Series. In just a week or two, Les Miserables (my favorite stage musical) will be showing there.

Oh, and if you want to know why and how I played the Ohio Theater...it wasn't just me, but in 1973 a hundred or so teens from Ohio and Kentucky in a Salvation Army production of the Gowans/Larrson musical, "Jesus Folk." I played one of the main roles: "Third Folk on the Stage Left Side." Or something like that.

Three years later, I returned to the Ohio Theater stage, triumphant, and this time in the company of Evie Tornquist (of "Clean Before My Lord" and "Praise the Lord, He Never Changes" fame). She sang. I wore a costume...and stole the show, I think. Felt bad for Evie. Hope she's gotten over it.

Rising gas prices don’t have to spoil 2011 travel plans

Read my Examiner.com article, "Rising gas prices don’t have to spoil 2011 travel plans." Please visit. You can also "like" the article, sponsor me, subscribe to my articles, and more! You want to. You know you do.

Ohio Statehouse celebrating 150 years in 2011

Read my Examiner.com article "Ohio Statehouse celebrating 150 years in 2011" here.

A Prayer in "The People's House"

I had the honor of praying at the Ohio General Assembly in the Statehouse in Columbus today. I said "hey" to President McKinley (one of eight presidents to hail from Ohio) on my way past to park in the garage under the statehouse.

Once there I was greeted by Nicole, an aide to my friend and state rep Tim Derickson. She guided me to the House Chamber...or I would never have found my way. Well, okay, maybe I would have. I was early, so only a few people were there. The room is absolutely gorgeous, and each representative's desk has a cute little PC laptop on it. They looked like toys.

These are the steps leading to the speaker's dais, where Abraham Lincoln once stood. In March 1861 (150 years ago this month), on his way to Washington to be inaugurated as the sixteenth president, the Great Emancipator stopped in Columbus and spoke to a joint session of the Ohio Legislature in the House Chamber. They told me, however, that the carpet has been changed since then.

The picture above was taken before the chamber started to fill with people, using the latest photo technology (I handed a kind gentleman my iPhone and he took the photo).

The session opened with Rep. Derickson introducing me. I prayed (the prayer will be posted on my prayer blog tomorrow), and then the pledge of allegiance followed. I was honored to shake Speaker Batchelder's hand as he thanked me warmly. Rep. Derickson then showed me the door (literally!) and while he went to the work of being an important state representative, I took a quick self-guided tour. I took the above pic from the balcony soon after the session began.

I made my way to the rotunda, where a large projection screen was set up with a live feed from the Senate chambers. An overflow crowd was there today because the Senate was debating the controversial bill to limit collective-bargaining rights for public employees (the bill narrowly passed the Senate later in the day and so will move to the house).

I took the above photo from outside the Senate chamber, which was packed...as was the vestibule outside the chamber, which had been furnished with chairs and video screens.

The Ohio Statehouse--often called "The People's House"--celebrates its sesquicentennial this year (the building began to be used in 1857, but the rotunda and Capitol Square were not completed until 1861).