Oscar season is here and I have a job to do. Last year I was one of the winners of the Columbus Dispatch's Columbus Academy of Motion Pictures Pickers (CAMPP) contest. As a winner, I promised to see all the movies nominated in the major categories. Some movies I rented; some I saw for a bargain, and the rest I saw at a matinee price. I just received an email to see if I am interested in being part of CAMPP this year. You bet! I am lining up my strategy to figure out where to see the movies I haven't seen yet in time for my deadline.

Considering one reason I was picked for this contest is that I'm a movie fiend, if it's one thing I know , it's Columbus's theaters. Here are my favorites, but not necessarily in this order. Depending on my mood, depends on where I'll head.

Studio 35 Cinema and Draft House. I recently saw "The Queen" and "The Departed" here. Great movie going because you can order beer, wine and stellar pizza from Clintonville Pizza next door. I also like this place because it's a local business and it has a certain personality that can't possibly be matched by a commercial venture.

Carriage Place Movies 12 and also, The Screens at the Continent. – What can I say? They're cheap and the quality is not any less because they are movies for a bargain. The last movie I saw at The Continent was "Flushed Away" (not an award nominee). The last movie at Carriage Place was "Pirates of the Caribbean- Dead Man's Chest."

The Drexel Grandview or Drexel East. Who cares? The movies at either are usually high caliber and interesting. The last movie at the Drexel East? "The Oh in Ohio." In Bexley? I can't remember.

The Arena Grande- A winner for its easy to get to location, great seats, easy and cheap parking and the fact it helps pull folks downtown. There is a sense of importance about the place. Last year I went to the Academy Awards night here. The Academy Awards are broadcast live on a big screen, plus there's food, raffles and a contest to see who names the most winners. Proceeds go to charity.

With so many great movies out there to see, don't stay home. Head to a silver screen. If you go to a Drexel Theatres Group theater, pick up a free Movie Lovers Pass to earn points for free goods.

My very dear friend decided to join the Brown Aveda Institute, and I was more than happy to be the beneficiary of it. I don't know if you've ever been to either of the two Brown Aveda Institutes in Ohio (Rocky River and Mentor), but if you haven't and you can, you should go! But let me give you some advice:

1) Don't forget that these are students! Now these students are brilliant (I've been twice now and I've never seen anyone walk away with a bad hair cut or style), but here's something about students - they're nervous. When people are nervous, they tend to work more slowly. I love my stylist friend, but it took her four hours to cut my hair and three hours to dye it. Bless her heart, it looks phenomenal, but these kids aren't fast. Don't forget that! But the time is worth it. Plus, they'll bring you water, tea, coffee, magazines, and all sorts of other goodies.

Among the silos of cornbelt area south of Grand Lake St. Marys in west central Ohio rises a 5-story-high octagonal dome with gold ball and cross that gives witness to the religious fervor that burned in the breasts of the farmers as they toiled.

St. Charles Seminary was built as a seminary for priests of The Society of the Precious Blood, who also started the nearby Maria Stein Center for the nuns of the order.

The many stunning churches in this area were built by the German settlers who brought their Catholicism with them as they settled Mercer County in the 1830's. Once they settled in Mercer County, they began to long for religious guidance and education from the mother church.

By divine coincidence, Father Brunner, of the Society of the Precious Blood in Italy, was eager to leave the bosom of the church and strike out in missionary work. When the request of the settlers reached his ears, he was on his way.

The Society of the Precious Blood was a new organization at that time, founded in 1815 around the principal of charity, and for the purpose of devotion to the precious blood of Christ. Mercer County was the perfect soil for it to take root in and grow. And grow it did, at one time housing six convents, two seminaries, and many churches.

This magnificent structure was originally built in in 1878 on the site of the former Wattles Manual Labor School for Negro Boys. The name Carthagena is in fact from Carthage, in Africa.

Until it ceased being a seminary in 1969, this complex provided a place for priests, brothers and students to study, removed from the life around them. They sustained themselves by practicing carpentry, butchering, and farming. It is now a home for retired priests.

Make sure, should you visit, to view the chapel inside (through the front door and straight back). Ask first, however, at the office inside the front door to the left. It has a stunning mosaic behind the alter. If no service is taking place, take the time to approach it closely and enjoy the workmanship.

As a native Clevelander, I really like how immediately recognizable our landmarks are. Just like Chicagoans have the weird Picasso statue that could be anything and San Franciscans have the Golden Gate bridge, Clevelanders have the giant FREE Stamp that's just down the street from City Hall and up the street from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the middle of downtown.

The FREE stamp was originally commissioned in 1982 by Standard Oil of Ohio (now part of BP America), who hired the artists Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen. Oldenburg and van Bruggen have made lots of other similar giant commonplace objects, and so for the piece in the middle of Cleveland's city center, they chose a self-inking stamp, as if from a post office. Van Bruggen suggested the word "free" to represent liberty and independence, and to have a giant positive statement in the middle of the city. The stamp, which was originally sited in Public Square, now lays on its side in Willard Park, and after quite a few city departmental squabbles, was dedicated in 1991. It is now a giant really cool piece of pop art, and clearly recognizable to any Clevelander.

photo credit: katherine galo

I am so sorry, Blogging Ohio, but I have been involved with just a whirlwind of activity lately! This is what happens when you're a demi-wedding planner-assistant.

This past weekend, I accompanied my aunt on yet another bridal journey, this time, to Pat Catan's. Or, should I say, to Catan Fashions, the bridal gown, prom dress, special occasion dress, and mother of the bride outfit store that used to be part of Pat Catan's! Since we live near the Strongsville location, that's the one we went to, and it is enormous. The store used to be the entire Pat Catan's craft store, and now it is nothing but dresses. It is a sight to be seen! And we saw it all.

And I'm sad to say, this is the first time that I will deliver a slightly-less-than-glowing review. I have to got to say, the organization at Catan Fashions is not all it could be. Now, it was a Saturday, so we expected some busyness, but this was crazy. My aunt, my mom and I waited for almost an hour before a very pleasant young lady managed to help us. But because my aunt, my mom and I are ingenious individuals, we went about this a different way. Instead of waiting for the little bridal dress person to help us - we helped ourselves. We grabbed whatever dresses looked good to us, and tried them on! Quite a few wedding gowns, as well as some white prom dresses. Now, I don't want to diss Catan's too much, because they were quite helpful, and they had a huge selection. But, I've got to say, we were less than thrilled with the wait, and also less than thrilled with finding out that for an April wedding, we could get almost no dresses! Did you know that? Most wedding dresses take well over three months to be ordered. Terrible. But we muddled through, and Catan Fashions was a help.

Two favorite Ohio pastimes are off-road 4-wheeling and barbecuing. This dude manages to combine both. At least he doesn't lose his sense of humor.

Travel writing is one of my niches, and when I'm writing about something not exactly travel oriented, my tendency is to look for a travel angle. Currently, I'm working on a story on rare and native plants in Ohio which has led me on a little journey to southern Ohio. Here are some facts I've learned about, again, through the Ohio Division of Natural Resources (ODNR). (If you don't know this already, this is a stellar group of people passionate about Ohio's natural glory-and there's a lot in Ohio to be passionate about).

The facts:

Adams County is the one with the biggest diversity of natural plant life in the entire state. Lucas County is a close second. In Adams County, between the two state parks, Shawnee and Adams Lake, plus five state preserves: Adams Lake Prairie, Chaparral Prairie, Davis Memorial State Nature Preserve, Johnson Ridge State Nature Preserve and Whipple (Robert A.) State Nature Preserve, PLUS the two state forests, Shawnee and Brush Creek, there are plenty of places to go wandering to see what plants you can find. I've been to Shawnee State Park and stayed at the group campground. Excellent. The nature center there has award winning naturalist , Jenny Richards who is delighted to tell folks about the area and organizes events through the center.

While I was talking with the folks at ODNR I also found out that besides overseeing our state's land, the division also partners with private preserves. Here's one that popped out as a don't miss. The Highlands Nature Sanctuary is located in what is called the Arc of Appalachia that includes a five county range in the Appalachians of Ohio. You do need a permit before you go hiking, and the permit needs to be applied for at least a week ahead of when you are planning to go. The sanctuary won't make exceptions so don't think you can show up and beg. You can get the permit from the website.

If you really want to apply ahead, think about going to the Highlands Nature Sanctuary-boasting 88 gorgeous acres with at least 43 rare plants- for the 2nd Annual Wildflower Pilgrimage, April 20-22. There's information about this event plus others on the sanctuary's website as well. The above photo is from the sanctuary, and they kindly agreed to let me use it. One more thing. On the Highlands website, you can sign up for their free e-magazine. This place is an Ohio gem.

This is one of those posts that can go either way. It could be about The Arts Castle in Delaware, or it could be about Suanne M. Goings, the artist whose work I went to see. If it's about Suanne, I would say Suanne is one of those artists whose work exudes soul, and at the same time incorporates fun--even when there is great loss in the background story. Suanne's beloved daughter, Brandi died in a car crash four years ago, almost to this day. At first, with grief overwhelming her, Suanne couldn't so much as read a book. Art came to the rescue.

The wonderful thing about Suanne and her work is that it celebrates the tenacity of the human spirit through whimsical altars festooned with objects of significance, such as the alter where she included things that Brandi and she had given each other. The result evoked a feeling of peace through the use of shades of blue. Then there was the word search made out of wooden blocks--the kind with alphabet letters on some of the sides and pictures on the other. The wooden blocks spelled out words like "alchemy ." A handout was available so you could take the word search home. That's just like Suanne Goings. Her artistic expression is about using art to give inspiration to others. When she's not making her own art, she facilitates the artwork of others through the classes and workshops she teaches through organizations like Art for a Child's Safe America Foundation (ArtSafe), the Columbus Museum of Art, and other community programs. One of her specialties is mural projects where she helps enable other people's ideas to take shape based on interpersonal concepts she envisions. But then she lets go as others step in. Here is an artist statement of sorts.

Now, if I was to write about The Arts Castle, I would say that its purpose is to nurture the arts in Delaware County through exhibits, workshops and classes. The gift shop alone is worth a trip--also the building. Once an elegant private residence, it is a lovely tribute to the concept of transforming one family's home into a home for artists and their work.

I just had no idea! I was literally just at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, and I even visited the polar bears (what, it was really cold out, and I especially like to visit the polar bears on those kind of days, because then it's like I'm seeing them in their natural habitat).

Little One, the only male polar bear in residence in Cleveland, is being loaned to the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden for at least two years. And why? Breeding! Yes! We are desperate for more young polar bears in Cleveland, apparently, and we certainly couldn't mate Little One to his sisters here in Cleveland. It's actually even bigger than that, because polar bears are being considered for the threatened species list. I shouldn't mock too much - I would be really saddened to see the polar bears go. But I am seriously surprised - I feel like I should run back over to the zoo and figure out if there's anything else there that I missed. Are they shipping out the tigers? The rhino? Anything?

And when you think about it, isn't that one of the biggest ones? We don't have a lot of mountains, we have no enormous canyons, we have no volcanoes - I'm thinking that we do however have quite a few really amazing bodies of water, like Lake Erie!

According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (and frankly, they're great for giving good information), Lake Erie is a fairly recent phenomenon, less than 4,000 years old. It was formed by glacial deposits (which is one of the reasons it's one of the smallest Great Lakes; by the time the glaciers got this far south, they were pretty thin and didn't have a lot of gouging power). Various natural and geological aspects of northern Ohio caused by Lake Erie include the Black Swamp region (up by Toledo), beach ridges (the dunes!), a score of other lakes and rivers, and a lot of the soil makeup of northern Ohio. It's also part of the Great Lakes, and a part of the Erie Canal and larger waterways that allowed trading to go from the Midwest to the East and Canada! You might also want to check the Lake Erie Coastal Ohio organization, which gives a lot of good information about the lake.

Although there's lots of man-made efforts currently going to keep Lake Erie contained, it was one of the first natural-made wonders of Ohio, and was the cause of a lot of others!

photo credit: katherine galo

There is a group of people in Central Ohio who recently have made other people's day in a fairly low-keyed way. Starting the middle of December they have: bought bicycles for people who need bicycles to go to work, given funds to a training program for young women in Guinea; funds to an AIDS organization in Ohio; bought chairs for an orphanage in India; gave money to Grandma's Attic, a charity organization that serves Appalachia, bought art supplies and more for an orphanage in Ghana, gave money to an orphanage in Bolivia, adopted an animal at the Columbus Zoo plus gave to a few more projects that I can't quite remember. These people have provided funds because they are Ohioans (or Ohio transplants) who have first-hand experience with seeing how a bit of money can make a huge difference.

The Central Ohioan Returned Peace Corps Volunteers Association (CORVA) members have seen all parts of the world among them. We're not talking the Club Med parts of the world, but the parts where the day to day things we take for granted like clean drinking water that comes from a pipe that goes all the way into our houses is unheard of. (Not every volunteer lives in a small village, but they've been there.) Because they lived in countries on grass-roots levels, these Ohioans know a thing or two about giving help when it's needed.

And where did the money they gave away come from? A lot of it came from watermelon. If you were one of the people who bought watermelon from the CORVA booth during ComFest, Thanks! If you missed the booth, look for it this coming June. Your watermelon purchase may help a person get a most needed bicycle. Check out Pedals for Progress.

Oh, and by the way. If you are interested in the Peace Corps, there is a Peace Corps recruiter at Ohio State University. The office serves the region, not just Ohio State students. The last week of March there is a recruiting event on the OSU campus.

Has anyone else read this story? I'm frankly pretty appalled. According to a few different newspapers now, Tashina Byrd (of Springfield, OH) and her boyfriend Brian O'Neill (of Columbus, OH) went to a Wal-Mart with a pharmacy in Columbus and asked at the pharmacy for the Plan B pill. According to Byrd, the attendant said that the store did stock the pill, but nobody would give it to them. Byrd has written Governor Ted Strickland, NARAL Pro-Choice America, and Wal-Mart Watch. The pharmacist claims that he was right in refusing to fill the prescription. As of right now, Wal-Mart is investigating the incident, as are the other operations.

Without opening the door to a lot of arguing about birth control and abortions, etc., let's just acknowledge this fact. If the morning after pill (or Plan B pill) is now legally available, which it has been decreed as by the Food and Drug Administration, then it must be legally available. That is the only part of the story that I'm horrified about.

With the holidays, traveling and one thing leading to another there are still three things I want to see in Columbus before it's too late.

Degas Landscapes at the Columbus Museum of Art. This exhibit features more than 20 works that Degas painted of the seaside resort of Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme on the northern French coast. I have until January 21 for this one. Since Impressionism is my favorite style of painting, I'd hate to miss this just because I haven't taken the time.

Picturing What Matters: An Offering of Photographs from the George Eastman House Collection and The Armory Wall: A Tribute to September 11 Photographs by John Taylor and Dianne Dubler at The Ohio Historical Center. This is a collection of 123 photographs that represent aspects of American life. I'm always interested to see what images others chose as tributes to how we live and what's important. This one is open until January 28.

Ride Around the World: The Amazing Global Journey of the Cowboy at COSI. This is the IMAX movie about cowboy life around the world over the last 1,000 years. This film takes viewers to various countries from Spain to Canada to Argentina and Morocco. I have some time for this one, since it will be around until March 11, but still with the way time flies. . .

Ever fantasize about what you would do with a lottery fortune? Me too. Even though I don't buy lottery tickets.

I would sign up with Netjets, a cool Columbus-based company offering fractional jet ownership. Now Netjets is even more appealing, having just doubled their order of new jets from Raytheon Aircraft.

Netjets fractional jet ownership is similar in some respect with the more familiar time-share condo concept. Lottery winners and businesses buy into the program, sharing ownership of a huge fleet of jets. They can then arrange private jet transportation for their travel, leaving and arriving at the time of their choosing from and to where they choose.

Along the way, the level of service is similarly better. The jet is stocked with the owner's favorite newspapers, foods, including gourmet meals should they so choose. Ground transportation and other concierge services are also provided.

Netjets claims its fleet of 650 private jets is the largest in the world. This allows owners to arrange flights as little as four hours beforehand.

Of course, I could always choose to save my money and continue to fly commercial, enjoying a few nights sleep on the floor of the Denver airport and cavity searches at the security gate. Not.

Yes, if I were rich, Netjets would be my first call. Maybe they even have internet, allowing me to blog from the air!

For as much time as I end up spending in coffee shops, I really feel that I ought to drink coffee. But that's ok, since the hot chocolate and on-the-spot-made bakery at Gypsy Beans & Baking Company more than compensates for my not knowing how their coffee tastes (according to Sidekick Girl, it's awesome).

Today the coffee shop, restaurant and bakery will have been opened for exactly two weeks, and it's been a packed two weeks! As owner Niki Gillota says, "I didn't expect the place to be packed every day!" And it has been - I've been in twice during these two weeks, and there have always been people in there. And they are wildly flattering. In a quick survey of the larger room this past Saturday, I received these quotes about Gypsy Beans:

• "I was here the other day and the whole neighborhood came through here!"
• "I love it here."
• "This is the second time this week that I've been here."
• "Better than the commercialized coffee shop - it's your own little place."
• "Loving it - I'll never go to Starbucks again."
• "The neighborhood needs something like this - there's no other little cafe here."
• "Yeah, I'm pretty much just going to live here."