Downtown Living Blog

Traffic Alerts

The Arnold Classic will be held Downtown from Feb. 29 - March 2. Be prepared for increased vehicle and pedestrian traffic around the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Nationwide Arena, Veterans Memorial, and throughout Downtown. The Arnold Classic website is recommending parking at City Center, COSI/Veterans Memorial and Nationwide Arena, in addition to the Convention Center, so those sites may fill up more quickly than usual.

Remember that March 4 is Election Day in Ohio. Watch for increased traffic congestion around polling locations on that day. Polls are open from 6:30 am until 7:30 pm.

Capital Crossroads SID Notes

Congratulations to our Valentines Day Giveaway winners: Lois Yoakam, grand prize winner, and Ted Stephani, Jennifer Eschbach, Alison Stuart, Sonya Summers and Chris Ferruso.

The Columbus Downtown Development Corporation has launched a website for The Scioto Mile riverfront park, which is scheduled for completion in time for the Columbus Bicentennial in 2012. Visit www.sciotomile.com for information regarding the project, as well as renderings of what it will look like.

Restaurant Reminders

San Francisco Oven
65 E. State St.
614-220-5600
To help celebrate the Arnold Classic weekend, San Francisco Oven will be open this Saturday and Sunday, March 1 - 2. Bring in an Arnold Classic ticket stub either day and receive a 15% discount on your bill. Discount not valid on tax or alcoholic beverages. Offer may not be combined with any other offer, discount or coupon.

Cafe Napolitana
40 N. High St.
614-224-3013
Cafe Napolitana has announced extended hours on Wednesday through Saturday beginning in March. They will be open from 10 am - 8 pm on Wednesday through Friday and from noon - 8 pm on Saturday.

Major Events

The Arnold Classic returns to Columbus for its 20th anniversary this weekend. The worlds largest multi-sport fitness weekend will take place at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Veterans Memorial and Nationwide Arena from Feb. 29 - March 2. Visitors can enjoy 37 events and 12 Olympic sports, plus the Arnold Fitness EXPO with 650 booths. Admission is 10.00, which provides admission to most events. For more information call 614-431-3600 or visit www.arnoldsportsfestival.com.

Arts Calendar

Center Stage Players: Footloose the Musical; Axis Nightclub & Theatre; Feb. 22 -March 2; shop.csp5.com

2008 USA Weightlifting National Championships; Greater Columbus Convention Center; Feb. 29 - March 2; columbusweightlifting.org

Arnold Sports Festival; Greater Columbus Convention Center, Nationwide Arena and Veterans Memorial; Feb. 29 - March 2; arnoldsportsfestival.com

Broadway Across America: Jesus Christ Superstar; Palace Theatre; Feb. 29 - March 2; broadwayacrossamerica.com

Drums Downtown V; Capitol Theater, Riffe Center; Feb. 29 - March 1; arts.osu.edu

Opera Columbus: Cinderella; Ohio Theatre; Feb. 29 - March 2; operacolumbus.org

Ujima Theatre: Ma Raineys Black Bottom; Capitol Theatre, Riffe Center; Feb. 29 - March 16; capa.com

CityMusic: Celtic Fiddle Festival; Columbus Performing Arts Center; March 1; citymusiccolumbus.org

Womens History Month; Ohio Statehouse; March 1 - 31; ohiostatehouse.org

Beatrix Potter Comes to Life; Kelton House Museum & Garden; March 2; keltonhouse.com

Columbus Leadership Prayer Breakfast; Greater Columbus Convention Center; March 5; 614-336-3905

MadLab: The Angels of Lemnos; MadLab, 105 N. Grant Ave.; March 6 - 29; madlab.net

BalletMet: Aladdin; Capitol Theatre, Riffe Center; March 7 - 16; balletmet.org

CAPA: Chris Thile and the Tensions Mountain Boys; Southern Theatre; March 7; capa.com

International Gem & Jewelry Show; Veterans Memorial; March 7 - 9; intergem.com

Pleasure Guild: Annie; Palace Theatre; March 7 - 9; ticketmaster.com

The Columbus Symphony Classical Series: Certock Plays Rhapsody in Blue; Ohio Theatre; March 7 - 9; columbussymphony.com

Chamber Music Columbus: Derek Han, piano; Southern Theater; March 8; columbuschambermusic.org

Columbus International Auto Show; Greater Columbus Convention Center; March 8 - 16; columbusautoshow.com

Exhibit: Zula Patrol: Mission Weather; COSI Columbus; March 8 - May 26; cosi.org

CityMusic: La Catrina String Quartet; BoMA: The Bar of Modern Art; March 9; citymusiccolumbus.org

Second Sundays at Kelton House: Trails of Hope; Kelton House Museum & Garden; March 9; keltonhouse.com

St. Joseph Cathedral Concert Series: Organist Stephen Tharp; St. Joseph Cathedral; March 9; saintjospehcatherdral.org