Monday, December 18 2017

Every 2017 Columbus holiday shopping guide 🛍🛒🎁

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I'm a believer in the power of curation, so instead of creating a local holiday gift guide, we've taken every Columbus holiday gift guide we could find and selected the best thing on each (plus we've linked to them all, so you can decide for yourself.)

My favorite? The cooking classes at Flower & Bread, recommended by Breakfast With Nick. Hardly anyone needs more clutter, but fun cooking classes? Just about everyone could benefit from those. Have a favorite locally made gift? Hit reply and let us know, and we just might feature your response on the site this week.

Monday Weather 🌡Some morning fog, then possible rain. Otherwise, cloudy. 44. 

Navigator Originals ✏️This Reindeer Farm Just North Of Columbus Is Totally Enchanting… And You Can Visit It For FreeThis reindeer farm is only going to be open one day, and these are some beautiful reindeer. Really! Check out the pictures. The reindeer are named Gumdrop, Tinsel, Candy Cane, and Velvet, which is probably the cutest thing you are going to hear today. The farm will open to the public December 23rd, so make your plans now. 🎄Guy Fieri Will Feature Three More Stops In Flavor Town AKA ColumbusThe Sweet Carrot episode aired Friday night, so you'll have to catch that in reruns, but the next edition airing this Friday will also be in Columbus and will see Fieri visiting Ena’s Caribbean Kitchen. Finally, Momo Ghar will be featured January 19th. 🔥Short North Wrap It Up Is The Answer To Your Shopping ProcrastinationAs mentioned above, it's crunch time. T-minus one week. This Saturday, you can visit the Short North for shopping, street performers, and the absolute best part: complimentary gift wrapping. 🎁

Around Town 🏘I've been keeping an eye on this story out of Cleveland: snowy owls have been sighted in Ohio in the past month. I was curious whether they would make it as far south as Franklin County, and the answer appears to be yes, with a sighting near the main post office on Twin Rivers Drive. To have a real chance of seeing one, your best bet would be traveling north to Lake Erie, but keep an eye out. [Dispatch/McCormac]Remember issue 2, which would have capped the price of drugs bought by the state? Drug manufacturers successfully spent a record $57 million to persuade people to vote no. The old record amount for spending on a ballot issue in Ohio was the casino gambling issue in 2009, when casino backers spent $47 million, in another successful effort. When money pours into Ohio over a political issue, it seems to be a good bet that the spenders will get what they want. [AP]The Gunning House has been on every Columbus endangered buildings list around for years. The residence is a prime example of mid 20th century Usonian architecture (think Frank Lloyd Wright, although this house was designed by noted architect Tony Smith.) The home looks to be safe now after a three year renovation, and Columbus Underground has pictures. Beautiful house on a beautiful piece of land. [Columbus Underground/Anne Evans]

Picture of the DayCould one of these be Gumdrop? MAYBE! (📷: Pine Acres Reindeer Farm & Event Center)

Longread 💪Recapping the best of what we read in 2017. I was as surprised as anyone that a profile of actor The Rock would be one of the most interesting and engaging articles of 2017. But it was.A profile of The Rock, the best friend you didn’t know you had.GQ: Dwayne Johnson for President!

Something to say? Hit reply - we read it all.- James