Here is everything you need to know about Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce's annual event, A Taste of Worthington. Be sure to check out the participating restaurants and what they will be offering.

Great tastes and family fun await guests at A Taste of Worthington, the Chamber’s annual food sampling festival, on Friday, July 21, from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., in the parking areas near 450 W. Wilson Bridge Road, in the OfficeScape Corporate Center.

From 3,500 to nearly 5,000 people have attended recent "Taste" events to enjoy more than 50 dishes from 20 area restaurants. 

Admission is $3 per person (or $5 for two persons); children under 6 are admitted free. Parking is free in the convenient adjacent lots. Guests enjoy affordably priced ($1-$7) appetizers, entrées and desserts in a festive block party atmosphere. They vote on their favorite restaurant dishes in the "Peoples Choice Awards."  Soft drinks, bottled water, beer and wine are sold by the Chamber.

Family fun also is on the menu, including live music from four bands and performers, supervised children's games, a caricature artist, a "bounce house" and other activities. Sponsoring businesses have giveaways, product information and games.

Thanks to these sponsors and supporters:

Event (presenting) sponsors:
The Shops at Worthington Place
Wright-Patt Credit Union, Inc.

     

Corporate Sponsors:
AAA Ohio Auto Club  
Anthony Lordo, D.D.S. LLC
Bath Fitter
Chingle Investment Management Co.
First Commonwealth Mortgage
First Financial Bank
First Merchants Bank
Fresh Thyme Farmers Market
Gutter Helmet by Harry Helmet
Heiser Staffing Services
Infinity from Marvin
Keller Williams Capital Partners Realty, LaBuda Advantage Team
Kitchen Saver
LifeSpring Church
Mount Carmel St. Ann’s
PNC Bank – Worthington
Worthington Jewelers

Event Supporters and Partners:

Albright & Schnulo Family Eye Care
The Blue Jays
Blue Level Acoustic
City of Worthington
Coach Quarters and Evidia Ltd.
Cologix
First Merchants Bank
Goddard School of Worthington
Hypersounds Entertainment
The Mason Jars
Next Day Signs
Outreach Promotional Solutions
Paradigm Properties of Ohio
Quikrete Companies
Sam’s Club
Stylie Studios LLC and Matt Steidle
Sunpics Productions
ThisWeek Community News
Tilton’s Automotive Service
Undercover Tent Rentals
Wesley Glen Retirement Community
Worthington Schools

Participating Restaurants and Menus:

Aladdin's Eatery –Hummus, $3; Mujadara, $4; Hot Sauce, 50 cents; Baklava, $1
Borgata Pizza Café – Spicy Sausage Stuffed Peppers, $6; Cavatelli with Meatball, $6; Mini Chocolate Chip Cannolis, $2
Cameron's American Bistro – Heirloom Tomato Salad, $3; Braised Beef Short Ribs, $5; Red Velvet Cake, $2
Dairy Queen – Assorted Blizzards, $3
Graeter's Ice Cream – Big Scoops, $5; Chip Wheelies, $5
J. Gilbert's Wood-Fired Steaks & Seafood – Shrimp Durango, $6; Baby Back Ribs with Bleu Cheese Chips, $7
J. Liu Restaurant & Bar – Lettuce Wraps, $5; Jason's Spicy Chicken, $5
Jet's Pizza – Assorted Pizza Slices, $1
Kona Ice Little Buckeye – Shaved Ice, $3 - $5
Marcella's Italian Kitchen – Heirloom Caprese Salad, $2; Braised Veal Meatball, $2; Vanilla Panna Cotta, $2
Molly Woo's Asian Bistro – Chicken Lettuce Cups, $2; Firecracker Chicken, $2; Asian Donuts, $2
Sbarro - Pepperoni or Cheese Pizza, $3; Chocolate Chip Cookie, $1
Star Lanes Polaris – Ahi Tuna Poké, $1
Sunny Street Cafe – Pork Carnita Taco, $3; Mini Bananas Foster Pancake, $2
Tandoori Grill – Chicken Samosas, $2; Boneless Grilled Chicken with Rice, $4; Garbanzo Beans with Rice, $3; Gulab Jamun Dessert, $2
The Whitney House – Watermelon Soup, $4; Chicharrones (Seasoned Pork Rinds), $3; Porketta Sandwich, $6
The Worthington Inn – Summer Gazpacho, $4; Watermelon & Feta Salad, $4; Strawberry Shortcake, $5
Wesley Glen Retirement Community – Farmhouse BLT, $5; Southwestern Quinoa Salad, $5
Willow Brook Christian Home – Seared Beef Tenderloin with Mac ‘n’ Cheese & Salad, $4; Cashew Turtle Blondie, $2

More event info:

Admission fees are collected at the gate. The event is held rain or shine. For more information about the event, call the Chamber office at (614) 888-3040.

The July 4th holiday in Worthington offers a variety of activities.  Here is your guide for enjoying any or all of the day's activities.

WORTHINGTON FAMILY PICNIC & FIREWORKS

• Tuesday, July 4, 2017
• 4:00pm  11:00pm

• Thomas Worthington High School
• 300 West Dublin Granville Road
• Columbus, OH, 43085

•   

 

Worthington Family Picnic
Gather the family and come on down to the Worthington Family Picnic and Fireworks Celebration on the 4th of July! Bring your lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy a family picnic on the lawn of Thomas Worthington High School (TWHS) with food presented by a variety of popular food trucks, musical entertainment and costume characters by Mascot.org, Supergames bounce houses and much more! The festivities on the lawn begin at 4:00 p.m. and continue through the fireworks celebration at 10:00 p.m. Bring your own picnic or food is available to purchase. The Worthington Family Picnic is sponsored by the Dublin-Worthington Rotary.

McConnell Arts Center
Activities will also be in full swing at the MAC, where a Bier Garden will be open with musical entertainment throughout the day.

Worthington Pools Tailgate
Worthington Pools will be tailgating with hot dogs and refreshments for sale just outside the pool area. The pool will be open to the public until 7pm, and then closed for a members-only party. 

Fireworks
The fireworks celebration begins at 10:00 p.m. The display can be viewed either from the Family Picnic location on the front lawn of TWHS, or at the football stadium to the west of the high school. 

Weather Information
The Family Picnic and Fireworks takes place rain or shine. However, in the case of impending severe thunderstorms and lightening, City and Safety officials will evaluate the circumstances and may determine the display be set off early or postponed. In the event the fireworks are postponed, the rain date is set as the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, September 5th. If a severe storm hits before or during the display, Thomas Worthington High School will be open as an emergency shelter. Announcements will be made over the PA system both in the stadium and the family picnic areas. Updates will also be posted on the City's Facebook and Twitter pages.

Parking
Limited parking will be available at the TWHS parking lot to the west and north of the building. Because it always fills up early, people are encouraged to park outside of the high school neighborhood area, carpool, bike or walk. The municipal lots in the downtown area will be available for people to park and walk into the high school area. To maintain access for emergency vehicles and facilitate traffic movement it will be necessary to post certain streets “No Parking" on July 4th. Parking restrictions will be lifted following the event. The areas to be posted "No Parking" are: 

•  Medick Way – both sides
•  Tucker Dr. - north side only
•  Tucker N.W. - both sides
•  Farrington Dr. - north side only
•  Seabury Dr. - west side only
•  Sinsbury Dr. N. - north side only
•  Blanford Dr. - north side only
•  Sanbridge Circle - north side only
•  W. New England Ave. – north side only, west of Oxford
•  Evening St. – both sides from W. New England Ave. to Rt. 161
•  Granville Service Rds. – both sides
•  West Granville Rd. – both sides from Evening St. to the Olentangy River Rd. bridge
•  North Street – both sides

To facilitate the flow of traffic after the fireworks, North Street will become one way eastbound. The cooperation of area residents is appreciated.

By Nicholas Dekker

I have fond memories as a kid of neighborhood block parties, the ones where they would close down the whole street and someone would line up a dozen banquet tables in a row and everyone would bring a dish to share. There would be games and – if it was a holiday – the fire department would roll in a truck and the kids would climb all over it.

That was the same feeling I got at Picnic With the Partnership last year. It took a road we all know – High Street – and transformed it into this great community party. It was a chance for us to gather at the central hub of the neighborhood to, well, just be neighbors.

If you’ve never been, just imagine a big neighborhood picnic. Except instead of all bringing casseroles, we’re being fed by local restaurants. If you’re coming to the Picnic, make sure you order a ticket ahead of time. You can simply reserve a seat at the table and bring you own food, or pre-order a meal from Whitney House, Worthington Inn, Harold’s, or Taste of Vietnam. Kid’s meals are also available!

Last year we ordered dinner from The Whitney House, and it was top-notch.

The new item this year is the D.O.R.A. (Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area) that will be in effect by the time of the Picnic. D.O.R.A. allows guests to purchase adult beverages at establishments around Old Worthington and walk around the district. A little sip and stroll, if you will. Previously, guests had to stay within the confines of the event, but this year Picnic With the Partnership can flex a little bit to involve the whole neighborhood!

The added bonus of this is… dessert! Because guests can stroll the district, that means they visit the shops up and down High Street. If you purchase dessert taste tickets ahead of time, you can wander around to designated shops to sample different sweet treats.

Get your tickets for Picnic With the Partnership (sooner than later!) here. Learn more about this fundraiser that benefits The Old Worthington Partnership here.

See you at the picnic!

Spring has arrived and the weather is inviting us to participate in outdoor activities.   Visiting the outdoor Worthington Farmers Market on Saturdays or enjoying one of the outdoor cafes in Old Worthington is first on everyone's list this time of year, but there are even more activities to choose from when out and about.

Exhibits are available for viewing at three locations in Worthington.  The McConnell Arts Center and High Road Gallery offer interesting art exhibits and the Worthington Historical Society Doll Museum is offering a unique exhibit.

McConnell Arts Center
777 Evening Street
mcconnellarts.org
 
Printer’s Proofs: Artist John Lennon
May 9 – May 28, 2017
Schott Lobby
The McConnell Arts Center will be exhibiting printer’s proofs of John Lennon’s drawings, printed by master printmaker Namik Kulenovic of Novak Graphics in Toronto. The serigraphs were given to Jaredene Brown, by her partner Namik,  during the publication process of postcards from the This is my story, both humble and true collection in the late 1980s. Her brother, Greg Brown, inherited the collection of the 35 prints that show different colorizations and notes throughout the printing process.

Ed Phillips & Juliette Montague

Ed Phillips
May 25 - August 13, 2017
Main Gallery
Local artist Ed Philips creates unique and captivating textures in his abstract paintings through the use of sand, tissue and modeling paste. Rediscovering his artistic side after his retirement a few years ago, Ed started painting seascapes and landscapes, but found limited success. He then decided to venture into the world of contemporary art and stumbled upon an artist who used paper and other materials to create texture. Ed attempted to replicate this effect, but he formed his own distinct abstract style through the use of modeling paste. The black and white pieces on display at the MAC are some of his first creations where he discovered the “magic” in textured abstraction, and he’s never turned back.

Juliette Montague
May 25 - August 13, 2017
Corridor Galleries
A MAC faculty member specializing in bookmaking, encaustic collage and linocut printmaking, Juliette Montague showcases her own unique encaustic pieces in this exhibition. She incorporates everything from leather to wire, fabric, old tins, jewelry and images, creating a unique blend of textures, patterns and colors. Humor plays a large part in Juliette’s work, both through the imagery and the play on words she finds inspiration in. Her pieces evolved from an interest in exploring and interpreting the “metaphysical and the physical world, the secular, the spiritual, the sacred and the profane,” often capturing imagined moments in time. The collage of materials and images serve to create striking narratives on history, pop culture and the “beauty of the flotsam manufactured by our society.”

High Road Gallery & Studios
12 E. Stafford Avenue
highroadgallery.com

Drumming and Dancing in Watercolor
Until May 27
Thirty masterful watercolor paintings by Suzanne Accetta remain on view at High Road Gallery and Studios until May 27. Entitled INSPIRATIONS FROM THE STAGE the show features energetic paintings of local Columbus drummers and dancers. Suzanne’s award-winning works have been shown locally as well as worldwide.

Worthington Historical Society
50 W. New England Avenue
worthingtonhistory.org

Parade of Doll Homes at the Doll Museum
Until late June
A special exhibit featuring many of the Society's dollhouses is now on exhibit.  From a "Converse House" which is a 1920's house made of lithograph on wood to a Tootsietoy House, a Bliss House, a Rich Colonial, a Strombecker House, a Petite Princess and a Keystone Tudor, visitors will enjoy these miniature homes with all of their accompanying furnishings.  The homes on display are examples of dollhouses spanning the 20th century, fromthe lithograph and wood Bliss House made in the teens to the cardboard Petite Princess House from the mid 60s and 70s.

Get out in Worthington and enjoy some of these exhibits.  Please visit the indivudual venues' websites listed above for hours of operation.   

Dewey's Pizza

By Nicholas Dekker

Anywhere you look in Worthington you’ll find pizza shops slinging both classic and creative pies. Pizza is the perfect backdrop to enjoy some family time, sip on a pint of craft beer, catch some live music, or cheer on your favorite teams. Here are some Worthington pizza highlights just looking up and down High Street.

Pies & Pints
Pies & Pints offers the ideal pairing of pizza and craft beer. The specialty pies feature creative combinations like grape and gorgonzola, Sriracha shrimp, and steak and mushroom. They all pair nicely with a rotating selection of over 100 craft beers on draft and in bottles.

Villa Nova
You’ll know you’re close to Villa Nova when you can smell the warm pizza in the air. It’s a classic smell that has drawn multiple generations to dine on the menu of Italian favorites, including pizzas like the classic 7 Topping Deluxe or the taco pizza loaded with beef, refried beans, and taco sauce.

Villa Nova

Dewey's
It’s hard to tell who’s having more fun at Dewey’s: the adults enjoying the selection of beer and wine, or the kids watching the pizza-makers fling dough into the air. Dewey’s appeals to the whole family with pizzas like the Edgar Allan Poe (mozzarella, fontina, mushrooms, garlic, olives, and goat cheese), the Bronx Bomber (mozzarella, pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, and veggies), or the Ryan’s Inferno (buffalo chicken, gorgonzola, onion, celery, and ranch dressing).

Pizza Primo
Pizza Primo is a locally owned shop with two locations – one in Clintonville and one in Worthington – serving up classic pies. You can build your own pizzas, order combos like the Meat Lovers and the BBQ Chicken, or go for signatures like the Primo Classic or the Buffalo Chicken.

Jet's
Jet’s in Old Worthington is known for their square pies with deep dish crusts. Choose from classics with meats and veggies, to the creative Philly Cheese Steak, Hawaiian, and BLT. You can even order customized crusts with poppy seeds, sesame seeds, romano, or Cajun seasonings. Watch for their lunch specials for two slices and a drink for $5. (Hint: ask for the pizza “well done” and they’ll leave it in the oven longer to brown the cheese a little more.)

Blaze
*COMING SOON* (old Cosi location on Wilson Bridge Road) Blaze is one of many fast casual pizza concepts popping up around the city. Everyone prefers their pizza a little differently, right? Some like to pile on the veggies, some can’t get enough of the meats. Some love more cheese, some like to go heavy on the sauce. At Blaze, you line up and custom-make your own 11-inch pizza, which is quickly baked in quick 180 seconds.

Natalie's Coal Fired Pizza

Natalie's Coal Fired Pizza
Natalie’s is central Ohio’s only coal-fired pizza shop. They use clean-burning anthracite coal to heat the oven up to 1000 degrees, producing pizzas with a thin and crispy crust. The menu features a dozen pizzas plus a seasonal flavor, like the Venetian Jail with Italian sausage, mushrooms, ricotta, and goat cheese, or the Aurora Borealis with smoked bacon, asparagus, cheddar, and mozzarella. Natalie’s also hosts a stellar line-up of live music, so you can catch the latest jazz, blues, folk, rock, and Americana. They have a top notch selection of cocktails and beer, and just opened a not-so-secret speakeasy call The Light of 7 Matchsticks in the basement.

And those are just the highlights along High Street! Throughout the greater Worthington area and you’ll find hot spots like the old school Pizza House and new kids on the block Leone’s Pizza, to Amano’s Sports Bar (pizza buffet!), JT’s Pizza & Pub on West Dublin-Granville Road, Borgata Pizza Cafe coming soon to Linworth Crossing, and chains like Marco’s in Worthington Centre.

What's your favorite pizza in Worthington?

Nicholas Dekker is food/travel writer and culinary tour guide for Columbus Food Adventures. He writes about breakfast, beer, coffee, and more at breakfastwithnick.com.