I have really tired of doing events posts, upcoming events posts....

Of course this is the big first football game.  Buckeye's - Ohio State University Football vs. Youngstown State on Saturday at noon

The Long Street Tour  if you are really feeling athletic... like participating.

Ohio Cup Vintage Base Ball Festival at the Ohio Historical Center/Ohio Village, 1982 Velma Ave. in Columbus

"For two days over the Labor Day weekend, 24 gentlemen's and three ladies' vintage base ball teams will gather for a festival at Ohio Village. Teams from Ohio and other states will play matches using the rules of 1860 in the matches. The Ohio Cup represents the largest gathering of vintage base ball clubs in the country."

I believe Ohio Cup Vintage Base Ball  is Saturday and Sunday. 

The Crew and the Clippers have games too on Labor Day weekend according to Experience Columbus.

Of course this is Labor Day weekend, so the Greek Festival (click the link and music starts)  at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral.  Friday through Monday.  Admission is only $4.

This Saturday is also the Gallery Hop in the Short North and the arches are going to be doing something different.

News about the lights Experience Columbus says:

"Preview the most dynamic arts district in the Midwest, with new gallery exhibitions, street performers, food and music. Plus the Short North arches will shimmer for the first time in a brilliant array of colors."

The First Annual African American Family Reunion Mt. Vernon Ave. area, admission is Free

According to Experience Columbus:

"On Friday, the largest Electric Slide Line Dance (competing for the Guinness Book of Records) will be held on Mt. Vernon Ave. at 7:00 pm. Following the Electric Slide, participants will relocate to the Mayme Moore Park for a live AAFR Oldies But Goodies dance and other entertainment."

In Northwest Columbus the 2nd Annual Train Festival at the Depot will be at The Depot Conference Center, 919 Old Henderson Rd. Columbus according to Experience Columbus:

"The Midwest's largest all scale train festival showcases all types of trains, including free rides on a 1/3 scale live steam train, live musical entertainment, model train building clinics, railroad memorabilia, artists, food and beverage, and more in an outdoor atmosphere."

Italian Gathering - Sunday only at Wendy's International according to Experience Columbus:

"Wendy's has once again teamed up with Evans Automotive to host the Second Annual Italian Gathering. The benefit event welcomes Italian cars and motorcycles of all vintages to the Wendy's International Corporate Grounds in Dublin."

It's First Friday in the City of Delaware

Sunbury Antique & Flea Market and Ox Roast on the Sunbury Village Square on Monday

"Labor Day Flea Market & Ox Roast   on the Sunbury Square - 7 am - 5 pm. Sponsored by the Sunbury Lions Club"  According to the Sunbury Chamber of Commerce Calendar 

Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival in Northam Park on Monday.

Sunday is the Commit To Be Fit Walk at Inniswood Metro Gardens...    

For more about what's happening visit DownTownColumbus.com and ExperienceColumbus.com

 Copyright 2007 Discover Columbus and Maureen McCabe

Go Bucks!

Copyright 2007 Discover Columbus and Maureen McCabe

Coldwell Banker issued a report last week about the relative affordability of America's 'college towns.' 

Tulsa Oklahoma get's top billing:

TULSA, OKLA., TOPS COLDWELL BANKER® STUDY AS NATION'S MOST AFFORDABLE COLLEGE TOWN  but the Coldwell Banker news release mentions Columbus Ohio prominantly: 

"Columbus, Ohio, home to Bowl Series Championship leader Ohio State University, was number 62 on the affordability ranking at $251,364, approximately $108,000 less than the national average of $359,779 for the 119 studied college markets. "

I am not affiliated with Coldwell Banker, I just love their Home Price Comparison Index (HPCI.) I am with the number one real estate company in Columbus, Ohio HER Real Living, the graphic above is an HER Real Living image. 

Big Ten Conference Price Per the Coldwell Banker® College Home Price Comparison Index (HPCI):

"Perdue*" ... Isn't it Purdue?  Purdue in West Lafayette, IN 2006 Avg. Price  $202,000
 
Indiana -  Bloomington, IN 2006 - Avg. Price $203,963
 
Iowa -  Iowa City, IA 2006 - Avg. Price $208,691
 
Illinois -  Champaign, IL 2006 - Avg. Price $229,650
 
Michigan State -  East Lansing, MI 2006 - Avg. Price $246,375
 
Ohio State -  Columbus, OH  2006 - Avg. Price  $251,364
 
Wisconsin -  Madison, WI 2006 - Avg. Price $279,500
 
Penn State -  State College, PA 2006 - Avg. Price  $306,950
 
Michigan -  Ann Arbor, MI 2006 - Avg. Price  $324,500
 
Minnesota -  Minneapolis, MN 2006 - Avg. Price $421,433
 
Northwestern - Evanston, IL 2006 - Avg. Price $715,125
 
Conference Average Price  $318,755 

* They've corrected the spelling.  I saw something else this week about Purdue it spelled Perdue like the chickens...

"College towns have so much to offer residents, such as employment, continuing education, cultural opportunities and, of course, sports,” says Jim Gillespie, president and chief executive officer of Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation. “The social and economic draw of these communities is enticing. Many of these markets are very attractive to Baby Boomers who want to downsize or retire from urban areas, as well as first-time home buyers who are just entering the marketplace and realizing how far their money can go."

Ohio State is so much more to Columbus than just a football team, there's basketball and lots more sports. Ohio State University is a whole community within Columbus.

Around the US, the colleges in the least expensive college towns are Tulsa, Southern Miss, Ball State, TCU, Louisiana-Monroe, Houston, Rice, Texas Tech, Utah State, Arkansas State according to the Coldwell Banker® College Home Price Comparison Index (HPCI.) The highest 2006 average price among those college towns is $170,575 in Jonesboro Arkansas. 

It is no surprise that schools in larger urban areas have higher average sale priced homes... The colleges in the most expensive college towns are Stanford, UCLA, USC, San Jose State, California, Hawaii, Boston College, Northwestern, Florida International and Miami according to the Coldwell Banker® College Home Price Comparison Index (HPCI.) Miami home of both Florida International and Miami were 2006 average sale price $690,855, the most affordable of the 10 least affordable accoring to a list in the press release.  The highest priced college town is Palo Alto, California with a 2006 average sale price of $1,652,042.

Columbus Ohio, affordable for the 15th largest US city... and there's a great football team in town.

'Drunkest Cities' .... recent ranking "wouldn't pass a sobriety test"

September 7, 2006, Wall Street Journal Online about Forbes.com list of the 'Drunkest Cities'

THE NUMBERS GUY By CARL BIALIK

"We cannot vouch for the scientific accuracy of those surveys," CDC spokeswoman Karen Hunter told me. "The states have vastly different sample sizes. That's one of the reasons why it's really not a good way to rank [different cities.]" Ms. Hunter said the survey is designed to give states a broad overview of their public health problems, not serve as a measuring stick against others.

A Forbes.com spokeswoman put me in touch with Dave Ewalt, the Forbes.com staff writer who designed the rankings and wrote the accompanying article

He said the CDC directed him to the telephone survey of drinking habits. (When I told Mr. Ewalt a CDC spokeswoman said the numbers shouldn't be used for a ranking, he said, "I never got that impression.")

Columbus in the top five! 

Of course with the Sept 9, 2006 OSU win over the University of Texas and the aftermath of burning couches, cars and dumpsters it will be hard to shed the image....of Columbus being one of America's drunkest cities.

Before the game:

"Ohio State is once again asking fans to play nice. I have no idea if these public pleas work, but it seems to me that they bring negative publicity on the city and the university. Not as much negative publicity as couch burning and rioting, but it certainly draws attention to the issue unnecessarily.  It seems to me that adequate police presence and restrictions on public drinking are really the keys to curbing fan stupidity, not asking nicely. That might just be me though." said sports blog  Around the Oval

A Columbus Dispatch photo of antics near the OSU campus after the game Saturday.  The Columbus Dispatch said "Columbus firefighters responded to 45 trash-bin fires and four car fires from late Saturday until about 3:30 a.m. yesterday."  I saw no official  count of flaming couches.

I am removed from campus, I did not know about flaming couches, cars and dumpsters in Columbus until Sunday night when I watched the local news. I had not heard Ohio State University was again asking "fans to play nice" but I wouldn't worry to much about asking creating negative publicity... 

the public pleas don't seem to  work ...

The majority of the students will be back in two weeks?  I was looking for an Active Rain Blog (a network  of real estate blogs) from a woman blogger who was tsk tsking Monday about burning couches in Columbus (she was not Columbus... not Ohio... I don't think she was in Texas... I can't find her blog...) Instead I found moving advice from Lawrence Yerkes... in New Jersey. His advice is for New Jersey home buyers not OSU students.  Google found Yerkes' blog for me based on a search of  "burning couches."

"Remember that your friends should be strong enough to help with heavy loads like couches and beds,... To avoid "burning out" your helpers with multiple trips, rent a truck large enough to handle everything in one move."

Best OSU area moving advice .... Why move the couch to Columbus if you are just going to set it on fire?  

c. 2006 Columbus Best Blog and Maureen McCabe