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Live Fun. Experienced Columbuses Live Ford Live podcast introduces you to a new frontier

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of undiscovered possibility. Columbus is a city with an energy of its own.

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Join Boxer, Kelsey and their guests for an insider's look at a destination that

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invites visitors and locals alike to share and explore. We'll go behind the scenes

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of popular attractions, uncover best kept secrets for things to see and do,

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and meet people who embody what it means to live forward. Welcome to the

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holiday season. I am Boxer along with Kelsey, your host for a special

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holiday episode of Live Forward Live. This is an Experienced Columbus podcast, and

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today we're excited to have with us Betsy Pandora. Betsy, wait, you

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hear about some of the special powers that she has, but I'll say I'll

0:59

save that first say, Betsy is well, I'm a gadget guy, and

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oh you can really do that amazing anyway. Betsy Pandora is the executive director

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of the Short North Alliance and of course our showcase is celebrating Columbus during the

1:11

wonderful magic time of the year between the activities, attractions, just all the

1:18

ways the Columbus community celebrates the holiday season. Betsy, First of all,

1:22

welcome, Thank you so much for having me today and for talking about my

1:25

favorite time of the year in Columbus. I'm so glad you said that.

1:30

So, you know, when you're over the Short North alliance, I would

1:33

think that there'd be a lot of stress there's especially getting ready for the holiday

1:38

season, but you seem ampt and excited and nothing gets to you. Sure,

1:51

Oh is this a podcast or therapy by surprise? So how this time

2:04

of the year though certainly magical for the Short North, right, I mean,

2:07

the Short North is is Columbus's neighborhood. It is the art and soul

2:10

of our city, like we like to say, it is you know,

2:15

where everybody I think comes to celebrate, and is the space in our community,

2:20

the true open and public community space that we have in Columbus. It

2:23

is in many ways is like our our small big town center, right or

2:28

our big small town center, however you would say it. But the Short Earth has such an incredible history within our city, and it is a place

2:36

in space where small businesses, some of the most iconic businesses in Columbus have

2:40

grown and incubated. It's a place where art and artists come to make their

2:46

work and celebrate their work. And it is just it's just the energy and

2:50

the pulse and and the true heartbeat of our city. So whether it's the

2:54

you know, the the dead heat of summer, or whether it's the holiday

3:00

season, excitement it bounds there and you're of course right to want to talk

3:05

about that excitement today, absolutely, Betsy, Before we go any further,

3:08

what what is the Short North Alliance. We're a nonprofit organization that provides support

3:13

and services to businesses and property owners in general constituents of the Short North Arts

3:16

District. There are over three hundred dynamic businesses on High Street in the Short

3:22

North. Some of them are are you know, what you would think of as traditional retailers or not so traditional retailers, incredible places to eat, amazing

3:31

independent art galleries that showcase literally thousands of artists. But it's more than that.

3:38

We have incredible service providers, we have performing arts groups, and we

3:44

have more than just the ground floor. There's, you know, believe it

3:47

or not, still a lot of people that have their offices on High Street

3:51

in this post pandemic world, and so we really are an incredible concentration of

3:57

the very best of Columbus, and we talk about the history of the Short

4:00

North. Tell me some facts, you know, the Short North. I

4:04

think it has been just a key piece of our community's identity. I mean,

4:11

I think when people think about just what's what's the to use a word,

4:15

the brand of Columbus, what's the what you know, how do you define Columbus, you sort of do that on High Street and the Short North.

4:21

You know, we have an incredible set of business based experiences there.

4:27

We have the amazing Convention Center right where people are constantly filtering in for great

4:31

and exciting things to do new or otherwise in Columbus. But we're perfectly situated

4:38

between OSU and downtown, and you know, are just an incredibly old part

4:43

of the city that has I think, such importance to people. And Columbus

4:46

is a I think a young city, right, relatively young city, and

4:51

we have a lot of people in Columbus that are from other places. And

4:55

I feel like, whether you are like me, born born in the Short

4:58

North, born and raised in column stayed in Columbus, or you are like

5:02

someone else who has just shown up here for their education, just shown up

5:05

here for their job just shown up here because we continue to grow and surpass

5:11

all of the stats. As to to what makes this place amazing? You

5:15

always touch the Short North. Yeah, it is. It is the street that everybody converges upon. So you know, there's there's so much uniqueness to

5:24

it and and it is a It certainly holds a special place in my heart.

5:28

Betsy Pandora's with the executive director of the Short North Alliance. You said

5:31

something that was just amazing that I was going to ask you anyway, but

5:34

now that we know you, so you you are over the Short North Alliance,

5:39

but you were born in the Short North. Was that's amazing? But

5:43

under an arch, in a back alley under an arch that was a good

5:48

one too. That's mean. So you know, I think about when I

5:54

landed in town here over twenty years ago, and I remember and we all

5:58

know the changes in the Short North. Yeah, how does that make?

6:00

What do you think about all the changes? I mean I would say that's

6:04

typical. Yeah, it's typical. I mean the Short North community has evolved

6:09

decade to decade as the entire city has evolved decade to decade. I mean,

6:14

I'm old enough to remember you know, going to the continent and north

6:17

Land Mall and you know, a different version of our city, right,

6:21

And I think what is the one constant in the Short North community is that

6:27

it will continue to evolve. And whatever is the spirit or the ethos of

6:31

our entire city at that time, we espouse. Your vocabulary is amazing.

6:38

Sorry, I don't feel worthy. I'm just gonna quit now. Radio people

6:44

don't know what this means. Betsy's she's a few levels above me. Well,

6:49

let's so you would ask a question about history, and then you had

6:53

asked a question about you know, the arches, and I think, you

6:56

know, there's there is a uniqueness to the way in which we celebrate Columns's

7:00

history in the Short North. So Columbus was known as the Arch City,

7:03

and you know, in traditional fashion, right, the city in eighteen eighty

7:08

eight wanted to do an amazing project that made it memorable, and so it

7:13

put wooden gas lit arches all over downtown Columbus, not in the area that

7:16

was the Short North, but all over downtown Columbus. And literally Columbus became

7:20

known as the Arch City because of this investment. And so when we were

7:25

designing a placemaking project. Now almost twenty five years ago, we decided to

7:30

replicate that and bring that back, and so that's why there are those arches

7:33

all over High Street in the Short North that have become really i think iconic

7:38

to us and are sort of defining as our community's identity, but they're really

7:44

about the entire city's identity. Agreed with that, you know, as we

7:46

dive into the holiday season, for those that haven't been down to the Short

7:51

North for this time of the year, what are some of the can't miss

7:55

experiences for the holidays for the Short North well all season long. We have

7:59

two really fun experiences that our business community is offering versus the Short North Arts

8:03

District Holiday Trail. So there are nearly one hundred businesses that are participating.

8:07

If you make a purchase at any one of those businesses, make up to

8:11

three purchases, you can get a free hot beverage from north Star or Roaming

8:15

Goat, whether it's a latte, a coffee, or a hot cider.

8:18

And so we have cards that are distributed throughout the community and you can fill

8:22

those cards with stickers for your purchases and then take those over to those two

8:26

businesses to get that special treat. We also have businesses that are trying to

8:31

make it fun for kids this holiday season, so we also have the short

8:35

North Arts District Elf Trail, so I like it. There's quite a few

8:39

businesses that are hiding elves on shelves and if you want to scour the shelves

8:46

for the elves kids are kids at heart. You can get the same offer

8:50

where if you collect a sticker for every elf that you find up to three

8:52

of them, you can take those over to North Star and Roaming Goat and

8:56

get a special treat from us. But truly then not to be missed is

9:00

Holiday Hop and Holiday Hop is really a legendary tradition. Gallery Hop is something

9:05

that has occurred in our community for almost forty years now wow. And it's

9:07

where the first Saturday of each month, our community comes together to celebrate art

9:11

and started mid eighties, is away for collective art openings to take place,

9:18

but it's really become an open house for the entire community. And Holiday Hop

9:22

is the biggest gallery Hop of the year. It's this Saturday, December second

9:28

this year, but we're going really big this year and this is the first

9:33

year where we will be shutting down High Street to vehicular traffic during Holiday Hop

9:39

and we are inviting the Columbus community to take over the street and we're transforming

9:43

it into a holiday wonderland. That's amazing. It's the rest of its kind,

9:46

Betsy, from where to where are you shutting down High Street? So,

9:48

folks that know the shorten Arch geography, the hard closures will be between

9:52

Russell and West Second Avenue. They'll be breaks in the street to allow vehicular

9:56

accessibility to our four lar public parking garages. So parking is awesome in the

10:03

Short North and there will be plenty of it, and certainly you will be

10:07

able to access garage parking or street parking too, but it will be really

10:11

really special, and we're doing some fun activities in the street. We're partnering

10:15

with an amazing creative organization called Matchmakers Matchmaker's Market who's going to be helping us

10:22

curate some fun holiday vendors to have on the street, so you can literally

10:26

shop a street fair market throughout a holiday Hop. And then our businesses are

10:30

taking over the sidewalks, so they'll be setting up in front of each of

10:33

their locations and whether you're searching for the perfect gift, or you're wanting to

10:39

do a special tasting, or you're wanting to make a wreath, or you're

10:43

wanting to have a photo with the man from up North, or you're wanting

10:48

to purchase a holiday tree, or you're wanting to just see incredible sights and

10:52

sounds and hear carols and other fun performances and experiences. We are transforming the

10:56

street for holiday hop and it really will be the place to be the day.

11:00

Wow, Betsy, you you let us in on something before we started

11:03

the interview that on your phone you control the lights on the arches. Me

11:09

and me alone. No, our team, we have the ability to program

11:13

the short urches. Yeah, and so yes, it is true. I

11:16

was not trying to impress you that I could. Oh I'm impressed. But

11:20

with the flick of a switch, we can. We can make them pink, we can make them blue, we can make them whatever color you desire.

11:26

But what is fun for our holiday season is all season long, there

11:30

are custom light shows that are playing on the arches, and it is it's

11:33

just a piece of magic. It's it's a little piece of magic that we have in Columbus that just makes it fun. To be in that environment and

11:39

to experience our community. So can I ask where your phone is? I

11:45

am it on silent right now? Get in so it's locked. No,

11:50

you can't change the lights. Betsy Fandoras with this, executive director of The

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Shortener of Alliance, this week's guest on Live Forward, Live and Experienced Columbus

11:58

Podcast, our Holiday edition. Betsy, you rattled off so many amazing things

12:05

your passion. I have to ask you, and I'm gonna ask you to

12:11

focus, like laser focus in on one thing. Do you have a favorite

12:15

thing with the holiday season with the Short North. You know, I'm not

12:18

allowed to pick favorites, okay, I you know, it's like trying to

12:22

choose, you know, in an unfair way, right, you know,

12:28

But what I would say is the communal experience being able to connect with your

12:33

neighbors and your friends new and old directly on High Street. You know,

12:37

the Short North is that place where the Columbus community just comes together and they

12:43

do it in fun and creative ways. And so I think that that is

12:46

that exponential aspect of our community is just unmatched, and that's probably my absolute

12:52

favorite thing. Would you say the charm and the short North. To add

12:56

what you just said, that's one of the appealing things about why I will

13:01

go down there for different events or the gallery hop, you know, for

13:05

most of the year. But it's it's the charm and you could feel the

13:07

energy too. I think it's a short and North. I think it's the

13:11

charm, and I think it's the connection. And I think post COVID,

13:13

now more than ever, our lives have been completely upended and transformed. I

13:16

mean, where people choose to work, for example, is vastly different than

13:20

it was prior to twenty twenty. Yeah, and what really matters to people

13:26

is being able to connect now. And I think that whether it's holiday season

13:31

and the Short North or where it's whether it's any day of the week and the Short North, we are a place where people have those connections and it

13:39

is the special aspect of what our community offers. Yeah, Betsy, outside

13:43

of the Short North, where do you enjoy going in Columbus? Well,

13:46

I am a mom of a three year old, so she's usually agenda setting

13:52

for us. We're big We're big fans of parks, We're big fans of

13:56

Kosai, We're big fans of Wsu has an incredible family experience. So you

14:03

know, those are things that we enjoy doing. But you know, the

14:07

Short North is a special place to me and I certainly spend an outside share

14:09

of my time there. Do you live there, I do not know. I do not. I think it's just gonna I think it's good to have

14:15

a little separation. I think it is, but you know it is.

14:18

It is such a special part of the community. And we are growing.

14:22

I mean in terms of our residential population, we are just growing. All

14:26

of Columbus is growing. Yeah, it's residential population, you know, outside

14:30

of the Short North. Because because I know you love the Short North,

14:33

you have a lot of history personally with the Short North. But are there other pockets, other areas around Columbus that are a go to for you and

14:39

the family when it comes to the holiday season? You know, I think

14:43

that German Village does some really special things for the holidays. I think downtown

14:46

Columbus does too. I think the whole urban core of Columbus is it is

14:52

just so unique, and I think that's what we really love. Any favorite

14:58

memories of past holiday seasons, Columbus Christmases, you know, I mean,

15:05

as a kid who grew up in Columbus. You can't not recall what City

15:07

Center Mall was like during the holiday season. I mean, like that's it's

15:11

such a it's a dated reference, but like it is, it is such

15:16

a moment in time in my past as a kid growing up here. But

15:22

really for me, like my family's memories, no hyperbole, like we would

15:26

always go to holiday hop like it was a special tradition for us and continues

15:31

to be a special tradition for us as a kid growing up and now with

15:35

my kid. You know, it's funny you say city Center because you go

15:39

down there now, which is now Columbus Commons, and it is it's special

15:43

with what they do for the holiday season down there and decorating, but to

15:48

know what it once was, but to make it into a green space,

15:52

and it's it's nice and peaceful. But I know what you're saying, but

15:54

it's it's pretty nice. It's a profound transformation, and it is such a

15:58

successful transformation. And certainly there's you know, exciting things that are taking place

16:03

throughout every corner of our city for the holidays, and I think that's what's

16:06

so special about Columbus. You know, Columbus is ranked very highly for events

16:11

and festivals. Yeah, one of the top places in the country where you

16:15

can go experience something. So it checks out that there's lots to do during

16:19

the holiday season. But we are, We're a pretty special place with a

16:23

lot of great experiences. Just like that. I have a great holiday season,

16:27

Betsy. Thanks, I can't wait to see you at Holiday hop.

16:32

Welcome back to a very special holiday podcast of Live Forward, Live and Experienced

16:37

Columbus podcast. I'm one of the hosts Boxer along with Kelsey. Welcome back

16:41

again Festive looking very festive on your plaid. No, but our guest today

16:45

they have on their velvet. I know they're ready satteen Emerald Green. They're

16:52

totally ready for the holidays. You know, when I think of all places

16:56

to celebrate Columbus, and especially for the holidays seasons, there's nothing like taking

17:00

a stroll at Easton Town Center. And this specific podcast again is celebrating Columbus,

17:07

showcasing the wonderful activities of course, attractions, unique markets, and all

17:11

the ways the Columbus community celebrates this wonderful holiday season. I want to bring

17:17

in and welcome Emily Garvey who is the Eastern Marketing Director and Meredith Leyton,

17:22

who's the Eastern town Center senior manager of brand Experience. So, Emily and

17:27

Meredith, welcome to the podcast. Thanks for having us and this in your

17:33

first timers too. But there's nothing to be nervous about. We're going to have so much fun. Can I just say that, you guys, considering

17:40

it's the holiday season, you look very fresh faced. Considering I can't mention

17:44

you've gotten a lot of sleep. Is there a lot of stress on you?

17:47

I mean, how you feeling right now? We're feeling really excited.

17:49

Actually, it's going to be a great week and the countdown is on to

17:53

this Friday. The countdown is certainly on the Grand Illumination in Santa right light

18:00

and'll arrive at the Grand Illumination. Yeah, yeah, all of our lights

18:03

will turn on and over two million. Is there one person who's responsible for

18:07

turning on the lights? Team effort? Yeah, plug is the plugs.

18:15

There's there's definitely a lot of elves working yea to organize all the lights turning

18:22

on collectively. A lot of elves with like walkie talkies or something or what.

18:26

Yeah, yeah, I figures. Yeah, So let's dive into this

18:30

a little bit. I know, Meredith said, two million lights. That's

18:34

a tremendous undertaking. When and we were talking before we started recording about I

18:40

mean there are some of your staff that are working twenty four to seven with

18:42

this, right the lights. Yes, yeah, so we have all shifts

18:47

for a second third shift working on tracery lights. They actually started in July,

18:51

so between building lights, tree lights, we take them off throughout the

18:53

spring to let them bud appropriately. Come July we start kicking off the holiday

18:59

season behind the scenes. Is it like it is when you take the lights

19:02

out of your box at home and a certain string isn't working, And does

19:06

the same thing happen at Easton with these people? Kind of? So they actually have to replace every individual ball that's out. So I don't think it

19:11

affects the whole strand, but you have to go up on a roof and

19:15

look at every single one. There's under love and care, there a lot

19:18

of it. Sure. Wow, I want to know, are both of

19:21

you bankrupt? Because see, if I was affiliated with Easton, I have

19:23

an issue. Yeah, there'd be like I need a one eight hundred number.

19:29

Yeah. No, there's definitely a lot of willpower every day when we're

19:33

out on property and all the great retailers we have. I bet there is.

19:36

We'll look before we get into a lot of what you have planned for

19:40

the holiday season at Easton. Emily, let's start with you. Ironically,

19:44

we met for the first time not too long ago. You're the Easton Town

19:48

Center marketing director. What's your background? You actually haven't been there very long?

19:52

No, I haven't. Actually my background is in real estate marketing and

19:56

have lived in Columbus for just about twenty five years and spent the majority of

20:00

it here actually in the Arena district working for a real estate developer, but

20:06

have been with Eastern town Center since April of this year and loving every minute.

20:11

Was that quite? Was that difficult going from what you were doing with real estate to Easton when you're talking about retail and shopping? No, actually,

20:18

actually know. There are a lot of similarities, a lot of synergies,

20:22

but definitely retail is more up my alley, So I feel at home

20:26

for sure. Yeah. So, Meredith Laton about you? You're the Easton

20:30

town Centers Senior manager of brand Experience and can I can I tell everyone a

20:33

fun fact that I learned. I don't know if you heard this or not.

20:37

Meredith used to intern with iHeartMedia. What department? Oh my gosh's two

20:45

appearances? No, no sign hanging you missed out? Well? Where are

20:55

you from? Meredith? Originally from Michigan, but I have to say that I'm an Ohio State fan. My mom went there so born or used a

21:00

Buckeye. But I ended up at Easton as an intern in twenty thirteen and

21:06

I've been there ever since. My background is Easton. Yeah, came on

21:08

full time in twenty fourteen. Did you know when you were an intern that

21:12

eventually would turn into what you're doing now? You clearly you must have fallen

21:17

in love with it at one point. Yeah, yes, and no.

21:22

I think I think my job has morphed throughout the years. It was heavy

21:25

in marketing and events at the beginning and kind of went more to events and brand experience, and now it's it's a full basket of all of those marketing,

21:32

brand experience events, really kind of every touch point at Easton when someone's

21:36

on property, what they're seeing, smelling, feeling, all of that jazz.

21:40

So I think it's it's morphed into something that I couldn't have imagined.

21:42

But I'm happy with where it's landed. Yeah, you've said something and not

21:47

to get into you know what, we talked about it earlier, but in

21:49

a meeting we recently have. One thing that I walked away with is something

21:53

that you guys said, is it's not about quantity, like if we do

21:57

an event, it's not about having the masses. It's about how we touched

22:03

each individual person. And I thought, wow, that's that's incredible to hear

22:07

because usually it's number count. We want numbers, we want to pack this

22:11

place. But you described it as more of an emotional thing to walk away

22:15

with. I thought that was interesting. Yeah, yeah, I mean we've

22:18

got really great leadership honestly, that's always encouraged that from Eastern opening in nineteen

22:22

ninety nine, and I think that's just kind of woven into what is East

22:25

and what the Eastern experience is. Certainly want you to come and shop and enjoy, but we also want you to come out and see the holiday lights

22:30

and all the trees we have on property and just experience that connection with your

22:33

family and loved ones. Speaking of tell us about all the events we can

22:38

expect in some of the new stuff too this year. Yeah, So we

22:41

have quite a few holiday happenings unfolding at Easton with grand Illumination, we will

22:48

have a variety of other elements from carriage rides, a Santa bar crawl.

22:53

Oh I like, and you know, even just the day to day festivities

22:59

that some of our retail will have in their shops. And I love that

23:02

Easton has become such a place where you bring your family and you can shop,

23:07

and then the night life has just exploded, you know, like there's

23:11

a speakeasy and there's the restoration hardware rooftop, and I mean you can totally

23:18

make a great night out and about at Easton Town Center. Yeah, especially

23:23

when you spoke to our yard area where yeah pins as well a sample of

23:27

bars and restaurants, then brewery, local brewery. So I really want to

23:33

live there, So I too. This year for my tenth anniversary present for

23:41

with my husband, my family got me a stay at the Hilton and a

23:45

gift certificate to Easton just for me but not my husband to myself. Very

23:51

nice, yes, and I already did it. So I went and I spent the night at Easton, and I got up in the morning and shopped

23:56

till I dropped and ate at North Star two times for lunch and dinner.

24:00

Wow. Yeah, so really like it's my fantasy to just stay at Easton

24:04

and not leave. Maybe I'll retire there. That's a great what a great

24:08

gift by Okay, that's why you're the right people too. Yeah, I

24:14

mean so it has everything you need where what a story. By the way,

24:18

I was not expecting that, Kelsey, I'm very self lovey. Thank

24:21

you. This is the special Columbus Celebration Celebrate Columbus podcast for the holidays.

24:27

We Live, Forward, Live and Experience Columbus podcast. Emily Garvey and Meredith

24:32

Leyton, both from Easton with us right now. We're talking about the holiday

24:36

season at Easton. Emily, maybe you first, because you're newer. What

24:40

are you most excited about looking forward to with some of the events with Easton.

24:45

Is there specifically one that you're excited about? I know you touched on

24:48

it earlier. No, I think really I'm most excited about just getting in

24:52

the holiday spirit and seeing everyone out on property. I'm having a good time.

24:57

As Meredith was saying, we have so much to do, from dining,

25:02

shopping, just strolling to see the lights. It's going to be a really great Yeah. Meredith, obviously you've been there a while now to experience

25:07

some of this. Is there one thing you get most excited about with the

25:11

holidays at Easton? I think being behind the scenes of it all. Sometimes

25:15

you kind of you get used to the day to day activities and you see

25:19

it at night and every year every year, like the lighting of the tree

25:22

and everything is just it's a different experience every time. I think it's so

25:26

cool to be a part of that joy that people see, or those memories

25:30

and traditions that people make, and just watching everyone the night of and throughout

25:33

the season, just enjoying themselves and coming to Easton, It doesn't really get

25:37

old. Just to be a part of the behind the scenes magic that's putting

25:40

that on is really a privilege. Yeah, you know, Kelsey, you

25:42

had touched on it a little bit earlier. With the families coming to Easton,

25:47

I can relate with that. But whether it's a family an individual who

25:49

really hasn't experienced Easton, let alone the holidays, any suggestions on what they

25:56

should check out? Meredith, what do you think first? There's a lot

26:00

to check out. I mean, certainly come shop. We have a variety

26:03

of different stores for everyone of all ages. A lot of family friendly activities

26:07

that you can do. We have our four trees on properties, so we

26:10

have two that are thirty feet, one that's twenty feet, and then our fifty foot one at the town Square and that one does shows every five minutes

26:17

every day from a while eleven. So it's an animated tree, It has

26:21

sounds, it has lights, almost thirty thousand bulbs on that so that's pretty

26:25

cool. What else to check out, I mean truly everything. We have

26:29

a couple of holiday tenants, the Emily. Yeah, we have two new

26:33

Papa holiday tenants this year. Santa's Ornaments will be returning to get your custom

26:37

ornaments that so many love to do. And then we also have Mellow,

26:41

which is a local women owned minority business that has very high end candies and

26:51

marshmallows, all things of that nature. So we're very excited to have Mellow.

26:53

Back to when both of you are not on the clock and not at

26:57

Easton, what do you enjoy to do around Columbus for the holidays and just

27:02

anytime. That's a great question, Kelsey. I would say I really love

27:07

just kind of exploring off the beaten path and discovering something New I have two

27:12

little kids, and when we're not busy, I like to just take them

27:18

out and about, whether that's to get coffee on the weekend or go to

27:22

the zoo. We love the zoo, and really just taking all the lights,

27:26

I will say, around the holidays, Columbus does it right. So

27:29

there's so much to see, Yeah, I think so. I have a

27:33

dog and I love to take him to local trails and parks, so thoroughly

27:37

enjoy that. But otherwise, I think a lot of the suburbs and in

27:40

the downtown area have grown so much in different ways, and there's so much to explore, so you can spend I think, various weekends at each area,

27:47

and they all have events going on now, whether it's a food truck festival or a tree lighting of some sort. So I think just really exploring

27:53

and continue continuing to explore Columbus is really great. You know, obviously this

27:57

podcast overall, every one we do, every episode is highlighting the charm and

28:03

an amazing city that Columbus has to offer and all the things that Columbus has

28:07

to offer. But you know, when you think about the holiday season and

28:11

Columbus, what do you think makes it so special. You both have been

28:15

here for long enough. Now, what do you think it is? I

28:18

think it's just the community. I think Columbus is truly such a dynamic city,

28:25

constantly growing and evolving, and it's just it's what's kept me here as

28:30

long as I've been and I think that that's just that we're the heart of

28:33

it. Yeah, Meredith, I would actually agree with that. I think

28:37

not growing up here and now being a member of the Columbus community, there's

28:41

so much to do and I think you realize that every time you go out

28:45

somewhere. So whether it's new or this or that, the Columbus Commons is

28:48

really beautiful. I love their lights, Yes, again, all the all

28:52

the intricacies that you see, the details that go into the holiday season, whether it's at Easton or elsewhere. Just looking at the lights and seeing what's

28:59

out there is really fun. And you can get to any of them so easily. You know, you can take it in and and not be stressed

29:04

out about it. You know, you know you're gonna go and have a

29:07

wonderful time. You know. It just popped into my head. Outside of

29:11

wild lights, what I wonder what the electricity bill is for East and town

29:15

Center round the holidays. Something we don't we don't like don't work an accounting

29:22

for a reason, but they are LED's so we can Okay, well,

29:26

there you go, Energy Savers. Sure, that's incredible. I know you

29:30

talked about some of the work Meredith that that starts in July. Is there

29:33

anything that is this stand age all year round with prepping for the holidays or

29:40

do you just get started in the summer. Is it you have it nailed down? I think idy eating really kind of happens all year long. I

29:45

mean, holiday is always a constant in the back of your head, and

29:48

so anytime you have an idea, you kind of just blob it out there

29:51

and see if it sticks. We really this year for the Santa Space,

29:56

our North Pole came together in September, so we didn't have a specific location

29:59

for that. That really kind of came together over the past two months,

30:02

very very quickly. And when you go and see that, there's there's a

30:04

lot of a lot of decore elements and where is it this? Yeah,

30:07

so it's the North Pole, which is located on the North District across from

30:11

Tiffany and Company, so near kender Scott. Oh. Yeah, right across

30:15

from the Central Park fountains. So okay, so I know in years past

30:19

when you think about the and forgive me if I get it wrong, the

30:22

main building, the main atrium, thank you say so is there anything in

30:27

there like in years past? So we have a lot of hanging to core

30:32

elements and there are a couple of points out A tree or Salvation Army tree

30:37

will also be there right well, and just outside of that will also be

30:41

partnering with Nash White Children's Hospital and Great Butterfly this week as well. Oh

30:47

that's wonderful because I know in years past that's where you used to be able

30:51

to see Santa, right, but you now Santa has moved, like you said, yeah, he's moved all around throughout the years, but we found

30:57

a really cozy spot from this year and our excited to show it off.

31:00

Yes, oh that's fantastic. You know. For those that want more info

31:03

before they venture out to Easton, where do you suggest they go? Your

31:08

your website app? What do you suggest? I would suggest they go to

31:12

Eastontowncenter dot com or visit us on our social channels Eastontown Center or Easton Town

31:18

CTR. Visit us on Instagram or Facebook as well well. I can't thank

31:23

you enough for being here, Emily Garvey and Meredith Leyton, wishing you both

31:27

a happy and safe holiday season and that you get through this in one piece.

31:32

I'm only kidding, no, I know you'll be busy, but what

31:37

a magical time of the year to be part of Easton. So thank you so much. Absolutely, thank you, Live On, thanks for listening to

31:51

Experience Columbuses Live for Live. For this podcast and others, go to experiencecolumbus

31:56

dot com.