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Columbus Attractions
An excellent vantage point from which to view the city is the 40th-floor observation deck of the Rhodes State Office Tower. The building, Columbus' tallest structure, also can be toured. Specific points of interest on the free tour include the observation deck and the Ohio Supreme Court Lobby. The Supreme Court is in session September through May and is open to the public. Phone (614) 466-7361 for more information.
Half-hour horse-drawn carriage rides of the Victorian Village and the riverfront are available Friday and Saturday evenings for $30 per couple; phone (614) 444-0608 for reservations.
Sports and Recreation
Columbus does not lack sports enthusiasts. Ohio State University football commands the attention of the city on autumn Saturdays; tailgate parties, Buckeye banners and 95,000 fervent fans color horseshoe-shaped Ohio Stadium scarlet and gray with excitement. Ohio State also fields competitive basketball and ice hockey teams. For information contact the OSU ticket office, in the Jerome Schottenstein Center at 555 Donald A. Borror Dr.; phone (614) 292-2624 or (800) 462-8257.
The Columbus Blue Jackets, (614) 246-7825, play major league hockey at the Nationwide Arena at 200 W. Nationwide Blvd. The Columbus Crew, (614) 447-2739, plays major league soccer at the Crew Stadium at the Ohio State Expo Center.
Baseball is also a popular spectator sport in Columbus. The Columbus Clippers, the New York Yankees' AAA minor league affiliate, has established a winning tradition since joining the International League in 1977. Cooper Stadium, (614) 462-5250, at 1155 W. Mound St., is the site of more than 70 home games March through September.
Horse racing fans have a variety of tracks and styles from which to choose. Quarter horse and Thoroughbred racing can be found September through May at Beulah Park, (614) 871-9600, 3811 Southwest Blvd. in Grove City. Harness racing is held May to mid-September at Scioto Downs, (614) 491-2515, 6000 S. High St. The biggest pacing event of the year, the Little Brown Jug, is held the third Thursday in September at the Delaware County Fairgrounds.
Note: Policies vary concerning admittance of children to pari-mutuel betting facilities. Phone for information.
For racing fans who demand more horsepower, stock car racing is held Saturday nights at 7 p.m. during the summer at the Columbus Motor Speedway, (614) 491-1047, at 1845 Williams Rd. Drag racing excitement revs engines May through October at National Trail Raceway, 2650 National Rd. S.W. in nearby Hebron; phone (740) 928-5706.
Columbus offers an abundance of public golf courses, including Blacklick Woods, (614) 861-3193, 7309 E. Livingston Ave.; Minerva Lake, (614) 882-9988, 2955 Minerva Lake Rd.; Raymond Memorial, (614) 645-3276, 3860 Trabue Rd.; and Thorn Apple, (614) 878-7703, 1051 Alton at Darby Creek Rd.
Columbus also is the home of the Memorial Tournament, a professional golf event. The 4-day competition is held at the end of May at Muirfield Village, a course in Dublin designed by Columbus native Jack Nicklaus; phone (614) 889-6740.
Tennis courts are abundant in Columbus, with more than 140 run by the city and numerous others at local colleges and high schools. Phone Experience Columbus at (614) 221-6623 for details.
Despite its moderate climate, Columbus is within about an hour's drive of several popular skiing areas. Clear Fork, (419) 883-2000, 55 miles northeast in Butler, offers an excellent beginner's slope and other more demanding runs. Snow Trails, (419) 774-9818, is 60 miles northeast near Mansfield and is considered to be Ohio's first ski area.
Mad River Mountain, (937) 599-1015, or (800) 231-7669 outside Ohio, about 40 miles northwest near Bellefontaine, is a large resort with night skiing.
For bicyclists and joggers, Columbus operates an extensive park system with miles of trails. One of the most scenic routes takes bicyclists 8 miles along the Olentangy River. Columbus plays host to the Columbus Marathon in October and other long-distance running events throughout the year.
Performing Arts
With "Sold Out" stamped on many dates of the performing arts calendar, it is evident that a cultural explosion has hit Columbus. When it comes to entertainment, residents like it big and brassy.
Jazz is prevalent in Columbus, with the Jazz Arts Group 's Columbus Jazz Orchestra playing the familiar Big Band sounds of Count Basie, Louis Armstrong and Woody Herman; phone (614) 294-5200. The 17-piece big band plays a subscription series at The Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main St.; phone (614) 469-0939 for tickets. Aspiring musicians compose the Ohio State University Jazz Ensemble, which performs on campus.
The Columbus Symphony Orchestra plays a regular 9-month concert season in the opulent Ohio Theatre, directly across from the Ohio Statehouse. The venue is decorated with plaster ceilings, brocaded paneling, gold leaf trim and a chandelier in the grand foyer; phone (614) 228-9600. The symphony also presents pops and chamber music concerts as well as youth concerts. Another ensemble, the Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra, offers concert series at the Southern Theatre at the corner of High and Main streets; phone (614) 464-0066.
Opera-Columbus performs several major opera productions throughout the year; phone (614) 461-8101 for information or (614) 469-0939 for tickets. Ballet Met, (614) 229-4848, produces classical and contemporary works. Zivili performs the dance and music of the former Yugoslavia; phone (740) 587-7715.
The Columbus Association for the Performing Arts, (614) 469-1045, brings to the area productions including well-known musical performers and plays. Professional theater and Broadway shows visit area stages on a regular basis; Broadway in Columbus performs at the Ohio and Palace theaters; phone (614) 224-7654 or (800) 294-1892.
Community groups also provide a full schedule. Gallery Players at the Jewish Community Center offers productions, including musicals; phone (614) 231-2731 , ext. 248, or (614) 559-6248 for tickets. Contemporary American Theater Company (CATCo) performs in the Riffe Center, 77 S. High St.; phone (614) 469-0939 for tickets. Grove City's Little Theatre Off Broadway performs comedies, dramas and musicals; phone (614) 875-3919.
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