January 24, 2009

January Nightlife in Suburban Columbus, Ohio

Not much going on in a small city near Ohio’s capital city when the temperature is sub teens and the snow is ankle deep? Wrong! Espresso Yourself Music Café (EYMC) is where it was “happening” last Friday night with three different musical groups. EYMC is owned and operated by folk music aficionado Eric Ahlteen and family Chelsea and Eric (www.espressoyourselfmusiccafe.com). The location is 50 West Olentangy Street in downtown Powell. Carol and I arrived about 8:30 PM in the middle of the performance by the Fo Mo Jo jazz band which was loud and wonderful.

We had been invited by a friend and fellow member at the Worthington Presbyterian Church, Parker MacDonell, to see his band, Pep Boys, play at the 9:00 PM slot. Jim Cunningham on bass and vocal and percussionist Rob Mottice added to Parker’s personal performance. They were fantastic and perfect for the acoustics of the building which was a church many years ago. You can catch Parker’s recordings at www.parkermacdonell.com, He is pretty good for a graying bank president.

I am told that the Pep Boys will be performing at Shanghai Lilly for a Valentine treat. Is just a bit further west close to Muirfield Village in Dublin, actually Shawnee Hills, Ohio. Sounds like a good date and with the reputation of the restaurant’s good food it will probably be our Valentine treat.

I asked Carol, my wife, who has an amazing ability to create on the spot poetry to share her view of the evening. I include it here as I feel she captured the venue and entertainment better than I did.

"In a little old church, Now a coffee house
In Powell in the center of town
We were all entertained
By a group of three guys
All from different backgrounds

Three men came together
To sing and to play
The words were straight from their hearts
We suggest that you visit some nite you are free
And enjoy music, coffee or tea"

She does poems like this for all occasions. Usually takes her 5 minutes. Amazing talent!! I am trying to get her to create a web site and start a home business. Contact me and I will make an attempt to work on one for you.

By the way the real estate business was “busy” this week here in the North Arc of Columbus. Powell and Dublin are small cities to the north and northwest of Columbus and offer an excellent quality of life as well as a full bundle of great housing alternatives.

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