Hiding In Columbus

Hey, everyone!  Sorry for such a long drought on the posts!  It's been a crazy few weeks for me, and the next couple are going to be even crazier.  I just accepted a position to teach a couple nights a week at Ivy Tech in Lafayette.  I am super excited, but at the same time, really nervous.  It is going to be an awesome opportunity.  I will try to get back out in the town soon and get some more information up about the wonderful places, people, and events here in Columbus.  As always, if you have any suggestions, pass them along.  I do have a few that I need to follow up with still, so I will be sure to get those on my to-do list.  I'll post as soon as I can!  Thanks for not giving up on me!

Columbus Bar / Powerhouse Brewing Co

You may think that the only way to see the history of Columbus is to tour the churches, houses, and other buildings that have made the city architecturally famous.  While I am not telling you not to do these things, I want to give you another, perhaps more relaxing, way to truly experience some of Columbus' best history.  The Columbus Bar was originally opened in the 1930's (and the building itself has a great story dating back to 1890), which has made it one of the oldest continually operating bars in the state. 

Throughout the years, CB has seen many different owners, a few changes of the interior, and a variety of menu options.  There were times when CB served good food and good brew in a lively bar setting, and times when, well, it didn't have it all together.  Today, thanks to owners Jon Myers and Doug Memering, you will find a tasty selection of food, a welcoming atmosphere, and the home of the Powerhouse Brewing Co.

While attending college at Ball State University, Jon worked at a restaurant and bar for someone that had a passion for beer.  It is then that he, too, became intrigued by the varieties and differences to each brew.  After moving back home to Columbus, he worked for another local bar, where he met Doug, a regular customer.  They discussed many times the lack of microbreweries in the Columbus area, and soon decided to start their own.  Shortly after, Powerhouse Brewing Co was developed.  Because they started at a home location, Jon and Doug looked for a location to better serve the public and become an official brewery.  When CB came up for sale in 2006, they knew it would be the perfect location and combination.  After all, it was the first bar that Jon visited after turning 21.  They took on the challenge and brought the slightly run down bar back to life, restoring it to it's glory days.

As the new owners, their goal was to make CB the "corner bar", or what Jon likes to call a "community for the community"; a place where you go hang out, see people you know, and just enjoy everything they have to offer.  What's great is that CB is (as of right now) the only casual family restaurant downtown.  Yes, you can bring your entire family, and even better, it's 100% smoke free.  I was able to sit and chat with customer Walter Palmer III and when I asked what he liked about CB, he responded by telling me how it is a great neighborhood spot with a nice atmosphere.  He likes that the people that work there are just good people and welcome everyone.

Walter Parmer III enjoys a White River Brown Ale
while visiting the Columbus Bar

Don't think that CB only provides a nice place to hang out.  It also has a great selection of menu items, and don't forget the beer.  Jon and Doug chose to use their own selection of recipes when taking over the business, and try to buy local ingredients as much as possible.  The best selling food item is the tenderloin sandwich, and the most popular beer is their own brew, Diesel Oil Stout.  If you ask my husband, the two items together is the ultimate meal selection.

Powerhouse brews are available to take
home in 1/2 gallon growlers

For those that aren't so adventurous when it comes to trying new beers, you can, of course, find a wide choice of beers from around the globe when visiting CB.  However, you are definitely missing out if you don't try one of the Powerhouse brews.  They try to keep six brews on tap; four that remain the same (Diesel Oil Stout, White River Brown Ale, Jack the Bum Pale Ale, and Two Dave's I.P.A), one seasonal, and one that pays homage to the traditional British beers.  (Jon tried to explain the process of making the British beer to me, and while I was paying attention, I think it would be best if you ask him yourself exactly how they do it.  In fact, if you have any interest in knowing about beer, Jon is the guy to talk to.  He loves educating people on beer and helping you determine exactly which beer you might enjoy the most.)

Currently, you will find the Powerhouse Brewing Co. inside the CB, and if you are like me, you will wonder how they do it all in such a little area.  This is what Jon wants his next project to be; moving the microbrewery off site to a larger location where they can have larger equipment.  But don't worry, you will still be able to get the same great selection at CB.  Actually, it is Jon's hope that they will be able to provide you with even more selections once the new location is up and running.

Jon and Doug could have opened their brewery anywhere, so why Columbus?  Besides being "home", Jon said it is because it is a small town with a lot of small business, yet it is still a progressive city.  He also likes the diversity here, which makes it feel less "backward" than some other small towns.

Jon had some failures with some of the beers they tried, but he didn't give up.  Beer is his passion, and he was going to keep trying until he found the right combination of ingredients to make the best brew he could for you.  Jon, Doug, and all of the Columbus Bar and the Powerhouse Brewing Co. employees are waiting for you to come experience the rich history and join the community you will find there.

For more information, including menu items and full history, visit the website http://www.powerhousebrewingco.com/

You can also find them on Facebook under Powerhouse Brewing Co

Location:  322 Fourth Street, Columbus, IN 47201

Phone: 812-375-8800

Hours:   Mon-Thur 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat 11am-1am, Sun 4pm-11pm

Cakes for All Occasions

Cake?  Did someone say "cake"?  If you don't know, I am a sucker for cake, so when I saw a sign saying "cake", you know I was going.  To be honest, I initially went in for a doughnut (which for me is almost as bad of a temptation as cake), but that was enough to spur my interest in the rest of the business. 

Cakes for All Occasions, owned by Lana Powell, is a custom order bakery located on Washington Street, downtown Columbus.  At this bakery you can certainly get more than just cake.  Lana also creates brownies, cheesecakes, cupcakes and cookies.  Doughnuts are brought in fresh daily from Madison.  Birthday and special event cakes are her most popular sellers, but she also does a large number of wedding cakes.  In fact, she is happy to work with you on almost any order or variety you can think of. 

Lana has been baking and decorating for 12 years, but started Cakes for All Occasions 3 years ago.  You could originally find her business on 16th Street, but moved to her current location June 2009.  She explained that the amount of time she needs for an order depends on the size and complexity of the order, as well as availability of ingredients.  There are times when you would be able to walk in the store, place your order, and have it the same day.  However, to assure you will get exactly what you want, it is best to place an order in advance.  Wedding cakes are currently booked out until January 2012, but she said that is no reason to not come in and see what she can do for you.

Lana loves being involved in the community and sharing her baking talents as much as possible.  She has been able to provide baked goods for many local companies and events, such as Cummins, QMIX radio, political parties, and many more.  The people and businesses are what make Columbus so special to her.  She told me that she doesn't have a lot of family in town, but has made a lot of friends.  These special people in the town are just as important and now considers them as her family.

To find more information about Lana and Cakes for All Occasions, you can visit her website or find her business page on Facebook.

Cakes for All Occasions, 901Washington Street, Columbus, IN 47201

Phone: 812-378-2113 / 812-371-7439

Web page: www.freewebs.com/cakesforalloccasion

Email: dreamweddingsbyLana@gmail.com

Update

Hello.  I just wanted to check in and let you know that I haven't stopped writing yet.  Believe it or not, I have been working on some new places to feature.  Hopefully, I will hear back from a few of them soon and I can really get rolling again!  Next week, I will be meeting with the owner of Columbus Bar, so that is something to look forward to reading.  I have received some great referrals of other organizations and businesses to talk to.  I should be contacting some of those people soon. 

As always, I want to hear from you, too!  If you own a business in Columbus, know someone who runs a business in Columbus, know someone that helps make Columbus great, or if there is someone/something you want to read about on my blog, please share your ideas!  Have a question about the area that I might be able to find for you?  Send your questions my way.

I can't wait to have more people and places to share with you!

Mill Race Park

I wanted to share just a few pictures I took yesterday on my extremely hot stroll around Mill Race Park.  Because the heat limited my time, I didn't get as many as I would have liked, so I will add more at a later date.  I will also be writing about some of the history of the park and different activities and attractions you will find there.  Until then, enjoy some of the sights of Mill Race!

Gramz Bakery & Cafe

Looking for a fresh cinnamon roll to start your day off right?  Or maybe a sweet treat to celebrate making it through a rough day at work?  One of the best places to cure your craving is none other than Gramz Bakery & Cafe on Washington Street, downtown Columbus.

I don't know about you, but when I see the word "bakery", it doesn't take me long to check it out.  There's just nothing like walking in to a great bakery, taking in the smells of freshly baked bread, mixed in with a hint of sweetness from a new batch of cookies, and then walking over to the counter to see what variety of pies and cupcakes await my tastebuds.  That could be one reason Gramz was one of the first places I went after moving to Columbus.  You will find all of these selections and more, begging even the smallest of sweet toothes to sample some of the delicious goodness hiding behind the glass counter tops.

Owned by life-long Columbus residents, Deb Steele and her daughters Suzie and Diana, the goal of Gramz bakery is to make each item special for you.  That is why they start from scratch each morning on everything they sell, assuring you that you are getting the best of what they have to offer every time you walk through the door.  Because of the wide selection offered on their menu, they don't make everything everyday; however, I am willing to bet you will still be able to find something satisfying.  I always end up with a little bit of everything.  My husband blames the little voice in my head that screams for sugar and carbs at all times of the day, but I simply blame it on the fact that everything is so good, I can't pick just one. 

Want to make sure you get what you want?  Simply place an order and it will be there waiting for you to pick up.  Don't see what you want on the menu?  Deb said they love to take requests from customers and try out new recipes and ideas.  For example, a customer was looking for pretzel rolls, which was not something they had done up to that point.  Deb and her girls were happy to go for it.  In fact, they become popular with other customers, as well, and are now located on the regular menu. 

Gramz bakery opened in October 2010, but if you have been around Columbus longer than a few months, you may know that Deb originally opened the store with her niece Lisa a few years back under the name "Cookies, Baskets, & More", where they focused on just that; gift baskets and cookies.  Setting up a nursery in the back of the store gave Lisa a chance to continue working while raising her quadruplets.  Once the children grew to an age where school and other activities were involved, Lisa stepped down, and the first of Deb's daughters joined the team.  Deb and Suzie bought and ran a bread shop across town, leaving each of them to run their own parts of the business.  As business grew, it became difficult to work in separate buildings, so they combined the two stores into the one location on Washington Street.  Soon, Diana joined the group, allowing them to really focus and being a full bakery, thus leading to Gramz Bakery & Cafe. 

If you haven't had a chance to visit or sample goodies from Gramz, let me give you some suggestions on where to start.  Deb said that their most popular items are the Triple Chocolate Brownies, Pecan Sticky Buns, and Iced Sugar Cookies (which can be decorated to match your event or holiday celebration).  I thoroughly enjoy white cupcakes with lemon filling and lemon icing (a specialty order), but my favorite is the Caramelitta.  Oh my goodness, they are SO good!  They are great just the way they are, but to take it a whole new level, heat it up slightly and add a scoop of ice cream.  You haven't had dessert until you try that out.

Need a quick lunch?  Gramz has partnered with Piepers Gourmet Deli and Catering and now offers a small selection of sandwiches and salads.

If you aren't drooling on your computer or haven't sprinted out the door to get your own fresh, sweet treats, what are you wanting for?  Deb, Suzie, and Diana are waiting for you with plenty of good things made especially for you!  They have "your tastebuds covered"!

For more information about Gramz Bakery and for a partial menu, visit the website http://www.gramzbakery.com/.  Look for the full menu, as well as online ordering in the future.


Location:  409 Washington Street, Columbus, IN 47203

Phone:  812-378-9728

Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-7pm, Sat 8am-2pm

Gramz Bakery can also be found on Facebook.

Baker's Fine Gifts & Accessories

If you are looking for an unique shopping experience in Columbus, look no further than Baker's Fine Gifts & Accessories.   Owned by Columbus native Jeff Baker, Baker's has been in business for nearly 28 years, and always in the same great location along Washington Street in the heart of downtown.  In fact, the building has been in the Baker family even longer, as Jeff's grandfather once ran his law office from the upstairs. 

Jeff's goal is to always have an unusual variety of items in his store.  There is such a wide collection that it is hard to know where to start.  Trust me when I say you won't be disappointed by anything he has to offer you.  While not all of the selections are created by area residents, Jeff does display and sell the art and jewelry of locals in his shop.  Currently, you can find jewelry by Deidre Nabors and beccaj, as well as some of the paintings of Mary Anne Kendall.  You can find different artists at different times throughout the year, which is one reason to visit often.  Along with the artists, items change with the seasons and holidays, assuring you there is always a perfect gift waiting.

The first time I visited Baker's I was shopping for Mother's Day gifts.  There were so many great items that it was hard for me to choose.  After looking at each piece, I ended up picking up blown glass vases that hang in the window, which are perfect for rooting plants or displaying single flower stems.  I liked them so much, that I had to pick one up for myself!  Since then, I have been back to visit a few times, each time just to browse at what fun things he has to offer that week. 

Besides the wonderful selection of gifts, it is worth your time just to go in and enjoy a conversation with Jeff.  He isn't shy to answer any questions you have about the city of Columbus, whether it be the good or the bad.  When I asked him what he felt was the best part of Columbus, with absolutely no hesitation, he replied, "The people.  Columbus is a unique civic experience."  He continued by talking about the pride felt throughout the city and how it has been around for generations.  "It has been constant throughout the years, which is what makes Columbus truly special."  Jeff can also give you a different perspective of the Miller house and family, as he was a close personal friend. 

I highly recommend you visit Jeff and his store, not only for great gifts, but to experience for yourself the sense of pride that Columbus has to offer.  You will be glad that you did.



Jeff Baker, owner; Cheryal Hinds, sales



Baker's Fine Gifts & Accessories, 433 Washington Street, Columbus, IN 47201

812-372-9635

Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-3pm

You can also follow Baker's on Facebook, where you can find information on new items or sales