​Address:          400 W Whittier St, Columbus, OH 43215
Hours:             6:30am to 10pm April through September
                        6:30am to 8pm October through March

​Written and Photographed by Doreen Dawkins

​A friend suggested I check out the field day that their church singles group scheduled at Scioto Audubon Metro Park. I showed up prepared to take pictures of what I considered field day type activities (three-legged race, tug of war, sack races, etc.). Of all the activities, the obstacle course left a lasting memory. The course consists of nine obstacles: tire run and flip, tunnel crawl, cargo climb, balance beam, belly crawl, monkey bars, over under log jumps (the intent is to jump over one log that is a few feet tall then go under the next log and so on), wall climb, and log run. I observed many people taking advantage of the course: children, teens, those who appeared to be concentrating on strength training, mature people, families, etc. Some choose to concentrate on one obstacle, others attempt to complete the entire course. Since nobody is punching a clock and it is first come first serve, the amount of time an individual wants to spend at the obstacle course varies.

  1.  Tire Run and Flip

​Sidebar: I have gone to the park at least 5 times to take pictures of those using the obstacle course. This is the obstacle that most people attempt. This is also the obstacle that most men attempt to flex their muscles. There are a few concrete balls that are extremely heavy. I viewed several young men who could barely lift them. I also viewed two older men attempt to lift the concrete balls, who I was thankful when they stopped attempting to lift them. I was one minute from dialing 911 for them.

  2.  Tunnel Crawl

  3.  Cargo Climb

  4.  Balance Beam

​Sidebar:  Of the 15 people I saw attempt the balance beam, only 3 were successful. When I asked why most people are not successful, the reason given was the lack of tread on their shoes. A person who was able to run across the balance beam told me the trick is to lean forward and be deliberate on each step. Here’s my mature lady advice: skip this one; especially, if you don’t have good health insurance.

  5. Belly Crawl

​Sidebar:  I only saw two people and one young child (who appeared to be about 4) attempt the belly crawl. It looks like this obstacle would cause a person to use muscles they ordinarily wouldn’t use. My mature self would probably skip this one as I don’t like the feel of dirt or dust on my skin. The field group used it as a hop scotch obstacle instead of a belly crawl.

  6.  Monkey Bars

​  7.  Over Under

   8.  Wall climb

  9.  Log Run

Sidebar:  In my opinion, this is another obstacle to skip if you don’t have good health insurance, and you are competitive. It looks like this obstacle can go bad quick. One miss step and there goes an ankle or worse.

​My take:
It is wonderful that the obstacle course is free to all who want to use it. It makes me wish for younger days when I would have attempted most of the obstacles. My suggestion is to go see it for yourself and even try it. This is an activity for the young and the young at heart. 

Categories:   Place, and Thing.

Written and Photographed by Doreen Dawkins

Jeremy Hollon, Coordinator 
Tell me about the project and the organization.
I am the Coordinator at Community Refugee & Immigration Services (CRIS) for a program called Community Connectors, which is a mentoring program for new American middle and high-school students. CRIS is a local non-profit that serves our growing refugee and immigrant population and offers a wide range of services from legal, employment, ESL (English as a Second Language), health and wellness, to youth services. 

​The mural project is part of the Community Connectors’ social engagement. We have painted six murals so far and anticipate painting and beautifying another five over the course of this year. The murals are a way for different communities to come together, paint, and have a good time. We usually partner with a local volunteer organization or company and are always welcoming new faces to paint and be part of our family!

How can someone volunteer with painting murals and your organization in general?
Anyone interested can always email me (jhollon@cris-ohio.org), call  (614) 273-5618, or go to our website https://www.crisohio.org/ to see volunteer details or connect with our program. 

​Lauren Best, Artist
Jeremy contracted me to do the design, then help lead the implementation of the mural. We can do anything we want on this wall. The school said, “go for it.” I decided to do a space theme. The principal approved it once we submitted it, and here we are.
The mural process:
We have completed murals for Columbus City Schools, and mostly schools with a high refugee and immigrant population. With most of the murals, the kids have input on what goes up on the wall and they help us paint it. It is all paint by numbers. This is our first adult-only paint. This is only because it is summertime and the kids are on summer break. This is community-based. A lot of people can come out and paint. People who don’t know each other, people from all walks of life. When the kids are here, it is awesome. I think that’s what is great about these murals. It is just not one person putting it up, it’s a whole community coming together to do it.

​What if a person wants to volunteer but they are concerned about messing up?
I would go in afterwards to fix it up. People usually do a pretty good job. When there are elementary students, I may need to fix it up. The kids are so much fun, so it’s worth it.

Alfred Yates, Columbus Gives Back, www.columbusgivesback.org
We are a non-profit that helps to engage young professionals in the community and with each other. We have about 35 to 40 different volunteer projects a month and individuals can just sign up and show up. It is easy to do group social volunteering. A great way to meet people. A great way to get into a community or neighborhood that you have never been before, or you are not familiar with, and to learn about an organization you have never volunteered with before. One of our partners that we love is Community Refugee and Immigration Services. We started our first mural project MLK (Martin Luther King) weekend of this year. That was at Wedgwood Middle School. Since that time, we have done a couple different ones. That’s why we are here today.
You said young, so how old is young?
Aaahhhhh. That’s a great question. I would say that most of our volunteers are between 23 and 40. But, there is nothing excluding people older than that. We don’t go below 21. We want this to be an environment where you are there to connect with other adults and young professionals in the eye of the professional.
Anything else you want to add?
Check us out at columbusgivesback.org. You can look into a time that is convenient for you or a project that catches your eye. You are only committing a couple of hours at a time. We love to do things across the city and address all types of issues: hunger, homelessness, education, environmental, disabilities, etc. We have a project for everybody.

​Izzy Collins, Creative Babes
This organization is based on human connection. It is for women in the creative fields. We support the creative fields. We bring everyone together for events throughout the year. Our bread and butter are our quarterly gatherings. We have four events a year open to our members and the public. We like to describe them as a cross between a TED (Technology, Education, and Design) talk, a social hour, and performance. Live music, poetry, stuff like that.
Why do you volunteer?
I think it is a cool cause, to beautify the school. I work a 9 to 5 at a desk all day. It’s nice to get outside and be around cool people.

The process in practice:

​My take:
I love this concept! Multiple organizations coming together to serve the community. Even if painting isn’t your “thing,” paint by numbers takes away that excuse. A couple of hours really makes a difference. But if painting REALLY isn’t your thing, there are many other projects that would welcome you with open arms. Nothing to it but to do it!

Category:  Things

​                     Written and Photographed by Doreen Dawkins
                  Edited by Kyra Dawkins

​I arrived prior to the start of the shuttle service provided from Beechwood and Etna Rd.  Elementary schools. So, I took a chance and tried to find a close spot in the neighborhood. I was pleasantly surprised that there was ample free street parking within 3 blocks of the event. As a blogger, I wanted to interact with a few of the food truck owners to get insight on their claim to fame. As a foodie, I wanted to make sure that when I purchased my lunch I was getting the best of the best.

What is your claim to fame?
My jerk chicken. Anything really.  If you like jerk, you will like this.
Anything else you want me to include on the blog?
The name Twinado came from the fact that I have twin sons. And they are twin tornados.
So, you gonna tell me what’s in the special sauce?
No, no, no, no…
Sidebar: I had the jerk chicken, rice and peas, and coleslaw. I told Reana that I would just take the picture of the coleslaw because I rarely eat it. She insisted that I try it, and I’m glad she did. I ate every morsel. The meal was “da truth! ”

​What is your claim to fame?
I like to make good food for good people. If you look at my Facebook page,  I have won some competitions. I was proclaimed the Sugardale Grand Bacon Champion. I thought I needed to be out here making my food, giving it to the people. About a year ago, I started this food truck. This was the first festival I was at last year and now we are back full circle.
Hold up, you giving out free food. Do you want to clean that up?
Yeah let me clean that up. I have a menu here with many lovely things to eat. Nothing is free but everything is affordable.
If I buy one thing off your menu, what is it?
If you buy two things off the menu,  you buy the deep fried candy yam dumpling and the deep fried collard green egg rolls. If New York cheesecake and sweet potato pie had a baby and threw it in some grease it would be the deep fried candy yam dumpling. The collar green egg rolls are made from scratch using smoked turkey meat, collard greens, then wrapped in your classic egg roll wrapper.
Sidebar: I had both. Let me say that no words I use will be able to describe how wonderful both items tasted. In my mind I thought collard green egg roll would be good in concept but horrible in execution. Wrong.. “Da absolute truth.” The deep fried candy yam dumpling was like nothing I ever tasted before. If I didn’t think I would pass out from the combination of carrying my camera gear, the heat, and a sugar high, I would have purchased more.

​What is your claim to fame?
Jerk chicken, curry chicken, oxtail, goat, Jamaican beef patty, rice and beans, and cabbage.
Come on now, you done told me everything on the menu. I’m asking if I can purchase one thing. What should I purchase?
Jerk chicken.
Anything else you want me to include on the blog.
We have been here since 2003. The first one on the block.
I asked for a non-spicy version of jerk chicken. I love spicy but spicy doesn’t love me. I was served jerk chicken, rice and peas, and cabbage. The food was good.  I wasn’t able to finish it due to all the other food I already ate. I don’t believe in wasting good food so I viewed it as an opportunity to bless someone with a meal.

​Several hours later I had my first beef patty for dinner. It was pretty tasty. I ate the whole thing. I ate it even though I was still full. Pray the spirit of gluttony doesn’t overtake me…

​Yes, we have been doing this for two years. We offer Argentine flavors and Empanadas (chicken or beef). On our paella, we can do what the customer wants (chicken, chorizo,  veggies, vegetarian, gluten free). We have Churros with caramel and chocolate.
 
If I can only buy one thing off your truck, what should I buy?
The sampler because many people don’t know our food. For festivals it is one rib, 1 empanada, and a paella. And it comes with whatever you want on it (all protein, or exclude pork, or vegetarian, etc.)
Is this a family business?
Yes, my father started when he was 13 years old. He worked in a bakery for 15 years. After 15 years he started his own bakery where we served Empanadas and everything. At that time I was about 7 years old. I grew up in the business. We moved to the United States. For two or three years we had a home baking business. Then we started doing festivals. In 2016 we got a food truck. In one year we won the best food truck in Columbus, Westerville, Whitehall and third place in Springfield Food truck competition.
 
Anything else?
We do a lot of work to make this possible. We consider our clients our boss. So whatever they want, we are here to make them happy. We want to satisfy them with our flavors. This is our purpose.

​This is a business that the Lord gave me. I have been doing it for 20 years. Homemade Italian ice. I make it like they do on the East coast. It is called water ice there,  but Iccees or Italian ice here.
What is the best flavor?
There is no best flavor. It’s all good.
If I can buy one thing, what should I buy?
I tell people to get what they are in the mood for.
Sidebar: As a youth,  I would put fruit flavored drinks in the freezer,  go outside to play, then return to munch on our flavored treat. Eating this Italian ice brought back memories of that time. This new and improved version probably doesn’t have the high sugar content that our Hawaiian punch or Koolaid did.

​If I can only buy one thing off your truck, what should I buy?
Chicken wings.
Why a food truck?
It’s my passion. It’s what I wanted do my whole life. I want everyone in the public to know what I experience in my house.
Sabrina Wilford
I’m here for my husband to support him and everything he does. He cooks at work he cooks at home, and he cooks on the truck. We move the truck around. We have a Denny’s on wheels. This is basically a breakfast food truck, but we do have some lunch items.

​What is your claim to fame?
We specialize in Angus beef brisket. We have been around for 8 years. We are pioneers in the food truck industry. Look us up on Street Food Finder.
 
If I can only buy one thing off your truck what should I buy?
In my opinion, the Billy Club. It has applewood bacon, cheddar cheese, romaine tomatoes, organic greens, with our signature 5 0 sauce. It comes with kettle chips.
 
Anything else you want us to know?
Columbus food trucks are on the rise. You better jump on now or you gonna miss the ride.

​What is your claim to fame, if I have limited money what do I buy?
Everything we have is good, but you would have to get the bourbon chicken. But, I like the fish sandwich myself. It comes with lettuce, tomato, onions, and our special Cajun tartar sauce.
 
Anything else you want me to include on the blog.
We have been doing this business for about 13 years now. We do most of the events around Columbus. Up until this year, we were the only people selling fried fish, chicken, and shrimp at the Columbus Rib and Jazz Festival.

​What is your claim to fame?
Just serve out good food fast.
If I have limited money, what do I buy?
A hot dog or sliders. 2 sliders are $6.
I’m trying to figure out what your signature item is?
Some good home cut fries.

​What is your claim to fame?
Our fish boat that is what we are known for. It is a boneless fish on a whole wheat bun, our special tartar sauce, shredded cabbage, onions, and tomatoes. We also have daily specials like the fish and fries. We have tenders and fries, wings and fries, we have delicious creamy coleslaw, fried okra.

​A few pictures to show that more goes on than buying and eating food:

My take:
This festival is great! It packs a lot in a small space. They had two stages where bands performed, and lawn areas where people can sit, dance, play, etc. There appeared to be ample places to sit and eat. The food was excellent. I had a great time connecting with new people and reconnecting with those blasts-from-the-past folks. This blog is pretty long so I included the pictures on our 614whats2love youtube channel:https://youtu.be/KoIG_QdjNUs
​

Categories: Festivals, and Food

​The Cultural Wall Music Festival concentrates on the Harlem Renaissance and its influence in the King Lincoln District.   According to www.columbusmakesart.com all the proceeds of the festival will go Making A Difference Inc.  This non-profit organization gives away school supplies and concentrates on health issues in the King Lincoln district.

​This is our fifth  year. The first year of Praise and Worship/ Praise in the Park on Sunday. Usually we just did a one day event, but we wanted to add the gospel piece because that is where our roots come from. We have great bands. We had an outstanding show last night. We had Young Joshua perform the Star Spangled Banner for our veterans, Mojoflo, Jazz Patrol 2.0, and Urban Jazz Coalition. Tonight we have the Four Mints, the Vessels of Christ, Milton Ruffin and the Corral, and Quinn Howell closing it up. We just want people to come out and celebrate the heritage of the neighborhood. Come out and enjoy themselves. Yesterday it was really hot and people still came out. Today it is really cool, so now that people are getting out of church, we have a lot of good food vendors, we have a lot of good art vendors, we have judges, we have city attorneys, and we have the Health Department.  Everybody is coming out today. We are just blessed to be able to do this event right here on the east side, in this neighborhood. Everyone look forward to next year-- we gonna do it under the lights.

​Small world… Ron Henderson and I worked for the same employer until he retired. It was great watching Ron “do his thang.” 

​The Vessels of Christ are Victor O’haro, Roy Dennis, Charles Johnson, Richard Taylor, and Zozay Washington. The group has been together about 9 years. We all attend different churches. We are a gospel a cappella group. If anyone doesn’t know the Lord, that person  needs Jesus Christ. That’s what it is all about.

​For booking: Contact Zozay Washington 614-937-9750 or 614-707-6731.

​We like to perform,  especially at a cultural festival like this that is in our community. It’s a lot of fun and a lot of fellowship. It’s great to be out here performing and doing the things that we do. We praise God for the opportunity to play music and edify His name through music and we are grateful for the gift. Congratulations to Al Edmondson for putting on this great festival.

​Just because I love great keyboard, and I remember the good old days experiencing praise and worship at New Covenant Believers’ church. I just had to include at least one picture of Timothy Carpenter playing keyboard.

​To view the slideshow on the 614whats2love youtube channel please click the following link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2rSO2X3-BU

​My take on the festival:

​I enjoyed attending the festival. The artists and all the people involved in putting together the festival were friendly and accommodating. There is a free parking lot that is in close proximity to the festival. I mention that because many festivals have $10+ event parking or walk a mile free parking. There is limited seating so I would advise you to bring a lawn chair. If it is hot, the park does offer limited shade, so that is not a reason to skip the festival.  I think I saw one or two portable toilets. If  you are like me and stay at events until you need to use the restroom if indoor plumbing is not available, you may not want to guzzle down beverages if you have a small bladder.

Category:  Festivals