Happiness is...

...eating at Noodles & Company (Grandview location...although I'm sure others are just as yummy)!

I've mentioned it before, but let me say it again. The OC staff loves to eat almost as much as they love opera. Our lunch destination is usually decided no later than 10:30 a.m. every day. No wonder I love these people so much! One of our very favorite places to dine is Noodles & Company. They have the most delicious, fresh and yummy dishes. The staff top picks tend to be the Pesto Cavatappi and, my personal favorite, the Wisconsin Mac & Cheese. I've heard they are both good with the Parmesan crusted chicken (sorry, Carl). And in my humble (ha ha, humble) dessert-expert opinion they have the best rice krispie treats, EVER!

The Grandview Noodles & Company has something even better than food (crazy, I know): excellent customer service. Their employees greet our staff with a smile and have come to recognize us (kinda like Cheers where everyone knows your name without the booze and add noodles). One time when Lisa wasn't hungry (crazy, yet again) she didn't order anything but a Diet Coke (FYI - don't cross Lisa if she hasn't had at least one Diet Coke. This cow learned that the hard way) Ken, the general manager, delivered the food and asked what she had ordered. When she replied nothing Ken said that wasn't right and brought her out an order of Mac & Cheese.

So, to sum it up... if you're hungry go visit our friend Ken and the rest of the Grandview Noodles & Company staff. And stop and say hi to us because we're there like, um, twice a week (seriously).

Hanging with my buddy Ken. He rocks.

Loving my yummy dessert.

Kevin & I strike a pose and dream of the delicious dish we'll order today.

Happy Holidays from Opera Columbus

As you make your year end gifts, please remember Opera Columbus.
Click here or call 614.461.8101 x17 to donate.

Wait a Minute Mr. Postman

With eight human staff members, a blogging cow and a dog everyone has to pitch in and help out. As we often say, we are each others' support staff. Whether it's hanging up posters, picking up artists from airport or, as in Tuesday's case, completing a direct mail project everyone from the Executive Director on down rolls up their sleeves and gets to work.

I'm not gonna lie, working on big projects as a staff is a lot of fun. We laugh, talk opera, drink hot chocolate and make fun of Lisa's love for Josh Groban. And man, can we crank out a direct mail project! If the opera gig doesn't pan out we always have our mad direct mail skills on which to fall back.

Helping Lisa send things to the printer (and making
sure she doesn't blast Josh Groban's holiday album too loud)

Helping Susan fold letters. Don't forget the pledge form!
Also, are you totally loving my new sweater?
Susan made it for me. She's so talented!

Donna and I stuff envelopes. Donna also wants me to
remind you: As you make your year end gifts, please
consider Opera Columbus. Click here to donate online.

Kevin can label envelopes faster than
anyone I know. Maybe his super powers
come from his sweet handle bar mustache.

Let's Go Jackets!

Last night I joined OC Executive Director Press, Director of Production Kevin, Director of Education & Community Programming Eric and Director of Marketing & Public Relations Lisa for a Blue Jackets game at Nationwide Arena. Even though my beloved Jackets lost, we still had a lot of fun!

Not only do I love Opera, I'm pretty crazy about hockey, too. Plus, I love supporting any Columbus-based team. Come to think of it, I may be a little biased towards the Blue Jackets because I think their mascot, Stinger, is really cute. If anyone knows Stinger and can arrange a little meeting with the cutest cow in Columbus I'd be eternally grateful. Enjoy the picture highlights!

The gang before the game began.

Quick picture with Press & Lisa. Lisa needs to go
shopping for some Blue Jackets apparel, she's wearing an
Otterbein sweatshirt. The nerve! We're having
a talk about this on Monday.

I join Kevin and Eric cheering - GOAL!

Right after the first period. It was all tied up! Who
do I need to know to be one of the lucky folks that
get to ride and wave on the Zamboni?

FIGHT! Huge fight breaks out during the second
period. The Sabre's goalie & another player were
thumping on Rick Nash. Lots of players got involved.
Pretty sure we saw the ref pick up teeth.

*Sigh* Stinger, I heart you.

Oh Come Let's Sing Ohio's Praise

Yours truly enjoying some pre-game activities with
Director of Production, Kevin, Director of Marketing
and PR, Lisa, and OC Board Member, Bill.

O-H...I-O!

What a glorious Saturday! I can't imagine a more perfect day - good friends, beautiful weather and OSU football at The 'Shoe.

On Friday, Kevin scored some last minute OSU tickets to the Troy game. Being a fellow alum (and HUGE Buckeye fan), Kevin invited me to join him. After hearing I was going to the game, Lisa sat in her office making comments (loud enough for everyone to hear) about how she's "never been to a game before" and how she "wished she could go, too." So, being the generous folks we are, Kevin and I asked her to join us.

We started game day the way every good fan should start - tailgating. We met up with one of our fun and fabulous OC Board members, Bill, and some friends from German Village. And, can I just say, the food was AMAZING. After grazing for a while we headed over the stadium and found our seats so we could watch TBDBITL make its entrance.

This moment always gives me goosebumps.

What a game! I'll admit, I was a little nervous going into the fourth quarter up by only four points. My dearly beloved Buckeyes sometimes can crumble at this point. But, freshman, Terrelle Pryor quickly put my fears to rest throwing two more touchdown passes making the final score 28-10. I can't wait to watch him the rest of the season (I think I may have a new crush, sorry Carl).

We left the stadium a little sun burnt, a little hot but very happy! Go Bucks!

My Kind of Town

Moos Flash: I heart Columbus. A lot.

Before Wednesday I would have bet money you couldn't find anyone who loves Columbus more than this cute cow; however, that morning I learned there are 47 people that might just love Columbus a little more. Those 47 love our amazing city so much they spend a lot of their time promoting it! If you haven't guessed by now, I'm talking about the staff at Experience Columbus.

Wednesday, I helped Eric and Lisa take some OC season brochures down to the Experience Columbus Visitor Center. We'd never been before and it's a fantastic place! Our new friend Ben, showed us around the center and then arranged for us to get a tour of the rest of the office (which is beautiful and full of marvelous people).

Ben is udderly fabulous and we clicked right away.

Here we are having a chuckle over the joke
I just told him. (What kind of milk comes from a
forgetful cow? Milk of Amnesia!)

Need to know what's going on in Columbus? Want to buy some Columbus based/themed merchandise? Want to know about Columbus restaurants, sporting events or performing arts events? Well, you can do it all at the Visitor Center!

They have all kinds of helpful things to educate you about the city I love. In the middle of the center there are several computers where you can look up events and even purchase/print tickets (if tickets are sold on Ticketmaster.com - *ahem* like Opera Columbus tickets).

Looking up some fun stuff to do this weekend:


On one wall of the center they have two HUGE magnetic maps. If you're not sure where something is Ben can point out (at lightening speed). That Ben, he's a smart (and cute) guy. Here Eric points out a super fun place to be, Opera Columbus:


I showed Ben the best place to put our Season Guide. Now when you stop in the Visitor Center, besides seeing Ben's smiling face, you can pick up an OC brochure (yay!).


On a different note, I want to give a quick shout out to an amazing friend - Amy Constantine-Kline. Some of you know Amy as your go-to-gal at the CAPA ticket office. Amy is moving back to her hometown of Pittsburgh and working at MCG Jazz. We thank Amy for all her hard work and wish her, and her family, the best of luck.

I Gotta Moo!

I am still super pumped after a fantastic lunch yesterday with co-workers Eric (our Director of Education & Community Programming) and Lisa (our Director of Marketing & PR/resident celebrity gossip expert) and Cindy from WOSU's Artzine.

Before I get into the fabulous-ness that happened during lunch, I just have to say that we at Opera Columbus love the incredible relationships and partnerships we have with so many of the phenomenal arts and cultural organizations here in Columbus (*ahem* another point proving this isn't a cowtown). We love collaboration here at OC!

Back to lunch...the four of us gathered at Northstar Café (I had the veggie burger and it was AMAZING), a local Short North eatery, to chat about possible Opera Columbus stories for Artzine. Being the genius and natural people pleaser I am, I led our discussions and pitched some stupendous ideas.

(Here I am leading discussion. Cindy and I had
so many great ideas about features for the show
Lisa and Eric could hardly get a word in!)

So my friends, if you're in the area, tune into Artzine on WOSU. Over the next year, you're going to be learning a lot about Opera Columbus and what goes on behind the scenes. I also have a hunch I'll be making my TV début *wink*. Stay tuned!

(After the meeting we ran into some hip, sassy,
professional ladies, much like myself: Sherri
from Victoria's Secret, Tracy from ZenGenius and Jamie
from Experience Columbus. Now that's hot.)