November 20, 2019

San Francisco, California: things to do

THINGS TO DO IN SAN FRANCISCO


Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco
Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco 

For plenty of great suggestions about things to do in San Francisco and Northern California, please visit my blog that is devoted to that area, Weekend Adventures Update.  

The Weekend Adventures Update blog is a continuation of my out-of-print guidebook--WEEKEND ADVENTURES IN SAN FRANCISCO & NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.  It features travel destinations throughout Northern California and presents them in small, easy-to-digest chunks along with plenty of photos so you get the picture.   
 
Even more great weekend adventures--as well as information about destinations around the world--await you at my BERKELEY AND BEYOND website.



More things to do in San Francisco

Way more things to do in San Francisco.

More ideas for exploring the U.S.


image © Raul Flores

November 13, 2019

Guest Post: Tour the Statues at West Virginia's State Capitol

Guest Post:  Tour the Statues at West Virginia's State Capitol

by Renate Pore
images ©2019 Carole Terwilliger Meyers
updated 4-3-21


THE CAPITOL

The classical-style West Virginia State Capitol sits on a scenic site facing the Kanawha River.  The building was constructed in three stages between 1924 and 1932, and is one of the most beautiful and impressive buildings in West Virginia.  The architect behind it was Cass Gilbert, who also designed the U.S. Treasury Annex and the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington.  The top of the building is graced by a shining dome of 23.5 carat gold leaf.  At the time of my visit, the dome was wrapped in plastic for repairs.  If you visit, don’t expect to see the dome in all its shining glory until 2021.

Also located on the State Capitol grounds are the History Museum and Governor’s Mansion.  The Great Hall of the History Museum displays hand-made quilts in honor of the state’s tradition of quilting and other folk art.


THE STATUES

General Stonewall Jackson statue at the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston
General Stonewall Jackson statue
at the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston


#1 
A jaunty General Stonewall Jackson stands on the lawn of the West Virginia State Capitol.  Jackson was born in western Virginia and won fame fighting for the Confederacy even though his home would be one of 55 counties seceding from Virginia to join the Union Cause.  Commissioned in 1910 by the Daughters of the Confederacy, the statue was created during the Jim Crow Era when states and localities were passing laws to enforce segregation.  Because of its association with a shameful period in the nation’s history, there have been some calls to remove the statue from its place of honor and relegate it to the State Museum.  So far, however, Stonewall Jackson still stands.



“Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight” statue at the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston
“Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight” statue
at the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston

#2 
“Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight” is another statue commemorating West Virginia’s Civil War history.  It stands on the south side of the State Capitol and shows a grieving President Lincoln, sleepless because of the pressing burdens of the Civil War.  West Virginia became a state in 1863 because the people of western Virginia identified more with the North than with the slaveholding confederate states of the South.




#3
On the west end not far from Stonewall Jackson stands the statue commemorating 32,000 soldiers, sailors, and marines from West Virginia who fought for the Union cause in the Civil War.  Some years ago when the bronze statue was repaired, it was coated with a plastic substance which gives it its orange look. The strange hue was very upsetting to the locals who were used to the seeing their statues in greenish bronze.



coal miner statue at the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston
coal miner statue at the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston

#4
West Virginia is coal, and coal is West Virginia.  A burly coal miner in a hard hat graces the northwest side of the Capitol.  The base of the statue depicts scenes from the coal-mining era--from the days of pick and shovel to continuous miners.  Today, coal mining is a dying industry and coal miners are working-class heroes from another time.  About 13,000 people continue to be employed in underground or mountain-top-removal mining.



Veteran’s Memorial at the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston
Veteran’s Memorial at the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston

#5
The West Virginia Veteran’s Memorial is a two-story oval monument honoring more than 10,000 West Virginians who made the ultimate sacrifice in defending the nation in twentieth-century conflicts.  Composed of four limestone monoliths surrounded by a reflecting pool, the interior walls are faced in polished black granite etched with the names of these men and women.  The Memorial was designed by P. Joseph Mullins, who also sculpted the four figures representing the four major twentieth-century conflicts and the four major branches of military service.  The statue in the photo depicts a sailor from World War II.



“West Virginia’s Female Veteran” statue at the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston
“West Virginia’s Female Veteran” statue
at the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston

#6
The “West Virginia’s Female Veteran” statue is also part of the West Virginia Veteran’s Memorial described in #6.   The statue of the woman warrior was the last piece added to the memorial.  It became controversial when the sculptor decided to depict the woman in fatigues.  Female veterans wanted a statue showing a woman in dress uniform.  To accommodate everyone, engraved copper plates around the base of the statue depict women in more formal dress.



Booker T. Washington statue at the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston
Booker T. Washington statue at the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston

#7
This statue of Booker T. Washington stands on the north side of the State Capitol. Booker Taliaferro Washington lived about 10 miles southeast of Charleston in Malden, West Virginia.  He was an educator, author, orator, and advisor to United States presidents.  The last of the black American leaders born into slavery, he became a leading voice against the oppression of former slaves and their descendants during the Jim Crow Era.



Anna Jarvis bust at the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston
Anna Jarvis bust at the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston

#8
This bust of Anna Jarvis stands next to the information desk on the main floor of the West Virginia State Capitol.  Jarvis grew up in Grafton, West Virginia, and is credited as the founder of Mother’s Day in the United States.  After the death of her mother, she organized an aggressive campaign to establish a National Mother’s Day, and thanks to her efforts, by 1911 almost every state in the nation was celebrating Mother’s Day.




guest blogger Renate Pore
guest blogger Renate Pore

(Renate Pore migrated from California to West Virginia in the late 1960s.  Although there is no place like California, Renate got hooked on West Virginia--the semi-rural life style, the mountains, the breathtaking spring when all the trees suddenly burst out in bloom and the serene days of fall when the weather is just like California.  Renate felt West Virginia could use her skills and talents and has had a long and satisfying career as a health care activist badgering federal and state  policymakers to do the right thing on health care.  Renate is retired now but working on events to celebrate the Centennial of the 19th Amendment--women's right to vote--and its ratification in West Virginia.  She is a political junkie and looks to California to lead us to a new and better place.  Renate lives in Charleston with her sweet, shaggy, red-haired boy, Ollie.)



More things to do in Charleston, West Virginia.

More ideas for travel adventures in California and the U.S. and around the world.


October 7, 2019

Traveling Solo in Hong Kong

Though for the first-time visitor Hong Kong has an anticipatory aura of mystery, of being one big American Chinatown, it is in reality in league with the most sophisticated 20th-century cities. This tiny 29-mile-square island is a crossroads of people and cultures. It is the world’s third-largest port, tightly packed with skyscrapers and glitzy high-end shops, and many residents speak English. It also is reputed to be the most densely populated spot in the world--in the Shamshuipo section of Kowloon people are squeezed in at the rate of 165,000 per kilometer. 

bird shop in Hong Kong
bird shop in Hong Kong


Some travel articles to inspire and help you plan spectacular getaways.

article and image c2019 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

September 18, 2019

Lhasa, Tibet: Guest Post: Top 5 Things to Do in Lhasa, Tibet

Top 5 Things to Do in Lhasa, Tibet


guest post by Yolanda O’Bannon and Lobsang Wangdu
images ©2019 
Yolanda O’Bannon and Lobsang Wangdu

Lhasa, Tibet is like no other place on earth.  Incredibly, despite more than 60 years of sinicization and systematic repression, Tibet is still powerfully, beautifully Tibetan, and you can still have an unforgettable experience in the Tibetan capital.

But you’re probably wondering:  “How do I see the real Tibet, and not some Disney version of it?”  We’re going to make that easy for you.  If you want to maximize your time with Tibetan people, to rub shoulders with nomads and pilgrims and normal Tibetan folk, just follow our top 5 things to do in Lhasa.

Let’s dive right in . . .


#1 Visit the Jokhang Temple with Nomads 

If you visit only one site in Lhasa, it should be the Jokhang Temple.  Located in the center of the old town of Lhasa, the Jokhang is home to the most sacred statue in the Tibetan world.  The Jowo Rinpoche is an image of the Buddha Shakymanuni when he was 12 years old.

The Jokhang Temple is also at the center of a cluster of ancient temples in Lhasa, and in many ways it represents the spiritual center of Tibetan Buddhism.  Tibetans from all over Tibet make pilgrimages to the Jokhang and crowd its dark, narrow, wildly-colorful chapels and hallways.

Don’t miss the upper floors and the roof, from where you can sometimes see monk debates.  And be sure to walk the kora just outside the Jokhang, a passageway lined with prayer wheels where you can join local Tibetans in the soothing and companionable hum of prayers.  More on koras below . . .

Jokhang Roof in Lhasa, Tibet
Jokhang Roof in Lhasa, Tibet


Jowo Shakyamuni Statue at Jokhang in Lhasa, Tibet
Jowo Shakyamuni Statue at Jokhang in Lhasa, Tibet


#2 Rub Shoulders with Local Tibetans on the Koras

Tibetans habitually create prayer paths around holy spots (known as koras), and since Lhasa is chock full of holy sites, there are endless koras you can participate in.  Tibetans believe we develop spiritual merit by circumambulating a holy spot, particularly if you do so with a strong motivation of generating spiritual wisdom and compassion.  Here are some of the most popular ones;

The Barkhor

The Barkhor is the prayer path that circles the Jokhang Temple complex and is a hugely popular place in Lhasa for Tibetans to gather and do a lap or two at any time of the day.  There are endless market stalls bordering the Barkhor.  Though in recent years, the smaller, older carts and stalls have disappeared, you can still find many Tibetan vendors here, selling just about anything you could want--from prayer scarves to Tibetan clothing to statues to socks.  You can come back multiple times a day and never be bored on the Barkhor.

Bonus tip: The correct way to circle a kora is clockwise, unless you are a Bon practitioner, in which case you circle counter-clockwise.  You’ll note the great majority of Tibetans are Tibetan Buddhist and circle clockwise.

Barkhor Kora in Lhasa, Tibet
Barkhor Kora in Lhasa, Tibet


Potang Shakor

Another major kora site is around the Potala Palace.  Like the Barkhor, the Potang shakor (the kora around the Potala) is full at any time of day with local Tibetans doing their prayers, catching up with friends, or stopping by on their way to somewhere else.

When you circle the Potang shakor, you flow past the interesting back of the Potala palace, with stupha sites, a small lake and park, and the lovely little Lukhang Temple situated in the lake.

Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet
Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet


#3 Join Tibetan Pilgrims at the Drepung Monastery

Lhasa is home to many major monasteries, and you can spend days exploring any of them, but if we had to pick one not to miss, we’d go with Drepung.  It is the largest of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, and at one time held upward of 10,000 monks, though today it is a shadow of its former self, with less than 500 monks.

Don’t miss the holiest statue at Drepung, the 50-foot-tall image of the Maitreya Buddha.  Follow the Tibetans as they flow through the chapels, and you are welcome to join the line if you come across a monk offering holy water.

If you have time, walk the kora around the whole temple complex, more like a hike, with great views over the city and beautiful little colorful clusters of prayer flags and rocks engraved with prayers like “om mani padme” hung along the way.  After, you can take the approximately 15-minute walk down the hill to Nechung Monastery, home of the Nechung Oracle.  It is fascinating, if a bit on the creepy, dark side.


#4 View the Private Quarters of the Dalai Lama’s at the Potala Palace

The spectacularly beautiful Potala Palace sits high above the center of Lhasa.  Its massive, but elegant, lines will be etched in your mind forever after you leave Lhasa.  Formerly home to generations of Dalai Lamas and huge, vibrant communities of monks, it is now a sad, empty shell--a lifeless museum.

And yet, it is precious to Tibetans because it was, most recently, the home of the 14th Dalai Lama before he was forced to flee Tibet in 1959.  Along with streams of other tourists and local Tibetans and pilgrims, you can still see His Holiness’ private quarters at the top of the Palace.  Everyone huffs up the endless, steep stairs and ladders to reach those higher floors.

Tip:  Don’t do this on your first day--give yourself time to acclimatize to Lhasa’s altitude.


#5  Sip a Cuppa with Old Tibetan Ladies at Local Tea Shops

Lhasa folk love their tea--Tibetan butter tea (po cha) and sweet milk tea (cha ngarmo)—and they love to sit and have a cuppa in a tea shop.  If you wander the narrow streets around the Barkhor, you will come upon plenty of little tea and noodle shops.  To pop in and take a load off with some local old ladies and school kids is as real as it gets.


If you do just these five things while you’re in Lhasa, we promise it will be an experience you will never forget.

Are you ready to travel to Lhasa?


authors Yolanda O’Bannon and Lobsang Wangdu
authors Yolanda O’Bannon and Lobsang Wangdu

(Authors Yolanda O’Bannon and Lobsang Wangdu are Tibet travel experts that help make Tibet travel more simple, safe, and ethical via their website, YoWangdu Experience Tibet.  At the website, visit the informative page “How to Visit Tibet: An Insider’s Guide” for practical guidance for your own trip.)


More ideas for exploring Asia and the South Pacific.


September 10, 2019

Charleston, West Virginia: Ellen’s Homemade Ice Cream+Taylor Books; restaurant review+things to do

Ellen’s Homemade Ice Cream  

225 Capitol St., (304) 343-6488.  M-Thur 11am-8pm; F-Sat 11am-10pm; Sun 11am-5pm.

exterior of Ellen’s Homemade Ice Cream in Charleston, West Virginia
exterior of Ellen’s Homemade Ice Cream in Charleston, West Virginia


Counter-service in this crisp ice cream parlor-cafe keeps things moving quickly.  Ellen’s Homemade Ice Cream is a great stop for a salad or sandwich, but don’t miss the soup of the day with a side of local Charleston bread.  From an array of housemade ice cream flavors, I picked Butter Pecan and wasn’t sorry.  Flavors change regularly, but folks say it is worth the wait for Espresso Oreo and Guinness.  Gluten-free and dairy-free options are also available.  All this and really nice servers, too!

interior of Ellen’s Homemade Ice Cream in Charleston, West Virginia
interior of Ellen’s Homemade Ice Cream in Charleston, West Virginia


soup and bread at Ellen’s Homemade Ice Cream in Charleston, West Virginia
soup and bread at Ellen’s Homemade Ice Cream in Charleston, West Virginia




And just across the street is:
226 Capitol Street, (304) 342 1461.  M-Thur 7am-8pm, F 7am-10pm, Sat 9am-10pm, Sun 9am-5pm.

exterior of Taylor Books in Charleston, West Virginia
exterior of Taylor Books in Charleston, West Virginia


This Charleston institution opened in 1995.  More than just a bookstore, in addition to selling books Taylor Books schedules readings and live music.  Also, local artists are exhibited in a gallery space, and a small cafe serves coffee, pastries, and locally brewed beer.

interior of Taylor Books in Charleston, West Virginia
interior of Taylor Books in Charleston, West Virginia


art gallery at Taylor Books in Charleston, West Virginia
art gallery at Taylor Books in Charleston, West Virginia


cafe at Taylor Books in Charleston, West Virginia
cafe at Taylor Books in Charleston, West Virginia



More things to do in Charleston, West Virginia.

More ideas for exploring the U.S.


images ©2019 Carole Terwilliger Meyers


August 28, 2019

Charleston, West Virginia: Noah’s Restaurant & Lounge; restaurant review

Noah’s Restaurant & Lounge  

129 Summers St., (304) 343-6558.  D Tu-Sat.

entrance to Noah's Restaurant & Lounge in Charleston, West Virginia
entrance to Noah's Restaurant & Lounge in Charleston, West Virginia


Featuring a clean-lined contemporary decor, Noah's Restaurant features an accomplished and well-regarded chef, Noah Miller.  The limited menu changes regularly, and when my group of three dined here offered  only three main course choices.  We started by sharing two tasty appetizers:  Indian-style spiced ground lamb kofta balls and watermelon salad with arugula and Feta cheese in a balsamic vinaigrette dressing.  My main was a beautifully presented crab-crusted scallop tempura that was succulent and delicious.  I’d love to enjoy this dish again.  My companions both ordered pan-roasted halibut with baby potatoes and Brussels sprouts and were also pleased.  (The other main this night was a beef filet with potato, asparagus, and house-made Worcestershire.)  We were all pleased with a dessert peach poached in wine and served with three spoons, and
left satisfied and already talking about a return visit.


dining room at Noah's Restaurant & Lounge in Charleston, West Virginia
dining room at Noah's Restaurant & Lounge
in Charleston, West Virginia


Indian-style ground-lamb appetizer at Noah's Restaurant & Lounge in Charleston, West Virginia
Indian-style ground-lamb appetizer at Noah's Restaurant & Lounge
in Charleston, West Virginia


watermelon salad with arugula and Feta cheese at Noah's Restaurant & Lounge in Charleston, West Virginia
watermelon salad with arugula and Feta cheese
at Noah's Restaurant & Lounge in Charleston, West Virginia


crab-crusted scallop tempura at Noah's Restaurant & Lounge in Charleston, West Virginia
crab-crusted scallop tempura at Noah's Restaurant & Lounge
in Charleston, West Virginia


halibut plate at Noah's Restaurant & Lounge in Charleston, West Virginia
halibut plate at Noah's Restaurant & Lounge
in Charleston, West Virginia


poached peach at Noah's Restaurant & Lounge in Charleston, West Virginia
poached peach at Noah's Restaurant & Lounge
in Charleston, West Virginia




More things to do in Charleston, West Virginia.

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images ©2019 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

August 21, 2019

Charleston, West Virginia: Sunrise Carriage Trail; things to do

Sunrise Carriage Trail  

Parking available at top and bottom, (304) 348-6458.  Open dawn-dusk.  Free.  Dogs ok on a leash.  Brochure.

entrance to Sunrise Carriage Trail in Charleston, West Virginia
entrance to Sunrise Carriage Trail in Charleston, West Virginia


Once this delightful walking trail served as the carriage road up to Sunrise, the stately residence of the ninth governor of West Virginia, William Alexander MacCorkle.  Currently the 1905, 36-room, Georgian-style Sunrise Mansion is privately owned and inhabited by a law firm.

Sunrise mansion at top of Sunrise Carriage Trail in Charleston, West Virginia
Sunrise mansion at top of Sunrise Carriage Trail in Charleston, West Virginia


In the garden is a monument to astronaut Christa McAuliffe, who was the first American civilian to go into space and who died aboard the Challenger space shuttle when it exploded on January 28, 1986.

monument to astronaut Christa McAuliffe in garden at top of Sunrise Carriage Trail in Charleston, West Virginia
monument to astronaut Christa McAuliffe in garden at top of
Sunrise Carriage Trail in Charleston, West Virginia


view of city from garden at top of Sunrise Carriage Trail in Charleston, West Virginia
view of city from garden at top of Sunrise Carriage Trail i
n Charleston, West Virginia


The shady, wide trail leads from here for just over a half-mile down to an access road.  It took me a leisurely hour to walk down.

Sunrise Carriage Trail in Charleston, West Virginia
Sunrise Carriage Trail in Charleston, West Virginia


Near the top of the Sunrise Carriage Trail, the governor’s ashes are buried beneath a monument to Isabelle MacCorkle, his daughter, which was vandalized and then replaced with a newer version, which unfortunately has also been vandalized and is missing its hands.

monument to Isabelle MacCorkle near top of Sunrise Carriage Trail in Charleston, West Virginia
monument to Isabelle MacCorkle near top of Sunrise Carriage Trail
in Charleston, West Virginia


Along the way is a marker commemorating where the bodies of two women were found during construction of the trail in 1905.  It is said that they were executed here as spies, and their remains were reburied here under the marker.  Legend has it that their ghosts haunt the hollow.  Some of the unmortared short stone walls lining the trail have lovely tops engraved with leaves.

stone engraved with fern on Sunrise Carriage Trail in Charleston, West Virginia
stone engraved with fern on Sunrise Carriage Trail
in Charleston, West Virginia


At the base is a pleasant pocket park with a creek and a bench where you can rest and reflect.

pocket park at bottom of Sunrise Carriage Trail in Charleston, West Virginia
pocket park at bottom of Sunrise Carriage Trail in Charleston, West Virginia



Getting Here

bottom entrance:  Just over the South Side Bridge before Bridge Road.

top entrance:  On Myrtle Road just before the entrance to the MacCorkle Mansion, also known as Sunrise Mansion.



More things to do in Charleston, West Virginia.

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images ©2019 Carole Terwilliger Meyers


August 13, 2019

Columbus, Ohio: Veritas; restaurant review

Veritas  

11 W Gay St., Uptown District/Downtown, (614) 745-3864.  D M-Sat.

interior at Veritas in Columbus, Ohio
interior at Veritas in Columbus, Ohio


At Veritas, Chef Joshua Dalton presents the city’s original tasting menu dining experience.  Diners choose from several tasting menus that feature creative contemporary small plates.  Each menu is optionally paired with well-selected wines--a service I suggest you take advantage of.  The dining room is spare, and you can see into the kitchen from most seating, though some especially choice tables are set right next to the window into the kitchen.  My group sat in a comfortable booth, beneath a wall that was covered with an arty take on recycled belts--I could actually smell the leather.  Our sommelier was well informed and gave us informative introductions to each new food and wine item.  I found myself highly enjoying the mix of intriguing food items with the matching wine.  My dining companions and I had a lively conversation concerning the South African Chenin Blanc that I swear had notes of cannabis.

wine bucket at Veritas in Columbus, Ohio
wine bucket at Veritas in Columbus, Ohio

The punctuating surprise of new items kept my group of six pleasantly engaged in conversation throughout.  Here is a blow-by-blow of the menu that night:


Course 1.  snacks
NV Pierre Sparr Rose (Alsace, France)

snack course at Veritas in Columbus, Ohio
snack course at Veritas in Columbus, Ohio


NV Pierre Sparr Rose (Alsace, France) wine at Veritas in Columbus, Ohio
NV Pierre Sparr Rose (Alsace, France) wine at Veritas in Columbus, Ohio



Course 2.  beet + chevre + apple
2016 Brooks Dry Riesling (Willamette Valley, Oregon)

beet + chevre + apple at Veritas in Columbus, Ohio
beet + chevre + apple at Veritas in Columbus, Ohio


2016 Brooks Dry Riesling (Willamette Valley, Oregon) wine at Veritas in Columbus, Ohio
2016 Brooks Dry Riesling (Willamette Valley, Oregon) wine
at Veritas in Columbus, Ohio



Course 3.  celeriac + frisee + black garlic
2015 Bellingham Chenin Blanc (coastal region, South Africa)

celeriac + frisee + black garlic at Veritas in Columbus, Ohio
celeriac + frisee + black garlic at Veritas in Columbus, Ohio


2015 Bellingham Chenin Blanc (coastal region, South Africa) wine at Veritas in Columbus, Ohio
2015 Bellingham Chenin Blanc (coastal region, South Africa) wine
at Veritas in Columbus, Ohio



Course 4.  monkfish + prosciutto + hen of the woods
2016 Terrebrune Bandol Rose (Provence, France); but might have been 2017 DILA-O dry red

monkfish + prosciutto + hen of the woods at Veritas in Columbus, Ohio
monkfish + prosciutto + hen of the woods at Veritas in Columbus, Ohio


2016 Terrebrune Bandol Rose (Provence, France) wine; but it might have been this 2017 DILA-O dry red; at Veritas in Columbus, Ohio
2016 Terrebrune Bandol Rose (Provence, France) wine;
but it might have been this 2017 DILA-O dry red;
at Veritas in Columbus, Ohio



Course 5.  wagyu flank + sunflower + pomegranate
2017 Vecchio Marone “Privata” (Veneto, Italy)

Oh dear, no image of this.  I must have been enjoying this wine way too much!

2017 Vecchio Marone “Privata” (Veneto, Italy) wine at Veritas in Columbus, Ohio
2017 Vecchio Marone “Privata” (Veneto, Italy) wine
at Veritas in Columbus, Ohio



Course 6.  gjetost + lychee + sumac
2015 Fritz Haag Brauneberger Riesling Kabinett (Mosel, Germany); now a wine image is missing!

gjetost + lychee + sumac at Veritas in Columbus, Ohio
gjetost + lychee + sumac at Veritas in Columbus, Ohio



Course 7.  blueberry + yoghurt + lavendar
2014 Quady “Essencia” Muscat (California); oh dear, yet another missing image!  My, this meal was delicious and the wines stellar!

blueberry + yoghurt + lavendar at Veritas in Columbus, Ohio
blueberry + yoghurt + lavendar at Veritas in Columbus, Ohio




An upscale cocktail bar, The Citizens Trust, is located adjacent and upstairs.  It can also be entered through the restaurant.  This stunning bar is situated inside a former bank and features a high, high ceiling and many seating areas.  When you sit in the huge curved booth in the back, it makes you feel like the small version of Alice in Wonderland.  A popular drink is the Patty Hearst made with gin and sparkling rose, but being from Berkeley, California, I opted for the Luchador with Tequila.

happy group lifts their cocktails in a toast at The Citizens Trust in Columbus, Ohio
happy group lifts their cocktails in a toast
at The Citizens Trust in Columbus, Ohio


More things to do in Columbus, Ohio.

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images ©2019 Carole Terwilliger Meyers; except wine images ©2019 Terry Gardner; group image 
©2019 by waiter

August 7, 2019

Columbus, Ohio: Hilton Columbus Downtown; hotel review

Hilton Columbus Downtown  

Located downtown, near Short North Arts District.  Pool; fitness center. 

check-in desk at Hilton Columbus Downtown in Columbus, Ohio
check-in desk at Hilton Columbus Downtown in Columbus, Ohio


Opened in 2012, the city-built and award-winning Hilton Columbus Downtown hotel is set in the heart of the art-filled Short North Arts District.  The hotel itself displays a stellar collection of original art from more than 150 local Columbus artists living in and around Central Ohio.  More than 250 pieces are displayed in public spaces and meeting rooms, and in guest rooms--which each have a dramatic ceiling mural above the bed.  Don’t miss the piece titled “Unwritten Love Letters” positioned behind the check-in desk.  The central atrium brings in lovely natural light to the Gallerie Bar & Bistro.  An expansion is planned for 1,000 additional rooms to open across the street in 2022, which will make this the largest hotel in Ohio. 

view down to atrium lobby at Hilton Columbus Downtown in Columbus, Ohio
view down to atrium lobby at Hilton Columbus Downtown
in Columbus, Ohio


art in elevator waiting area at Hilton Columbus Downtown in Columbus, Ohio
art in elevator waiting area at Hilton Columbus Downtown
in Columbus, Ohio


art on ceiling above guest room bed at Hilton Columbus Downtown in Columbus, Ohio
art on ceiling above guest room bed at Hilton Columbus Downtown
in Columbus, Ohio



More things to do in Columbus, Ohio.

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images ©2019 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

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