OK, let me get this straight, I get delicious sandwiches delivered to my door for extremely reasonable prices AND I’m contributing to a good cause? Where the hell do I sign up?!

Freshbox Catering dropped me a message the other day asking if I was interested in tasting a Freshbox sandwich for some feedback and to help spread the word. (This is my “they gave me free food” disclosure, but it’s totally unnecessary, because I will be PAYING them for food soon, I promise.) I never turn down sammiches, so of course I gave them the green light. Customer manager Kelly dropped off four boxed lunches a few hours ago. My belly is so happy.

Each box comes with a sandwich (I had shaved roast beef with roasted red peppers, provolone, red onions and horseradish aioli), an apple, a bag of chips, a pickle and a chocolate covered Oreo. OMFG these oreos. ::drool:: Anyway. It was an awesome lunch. The other 3 people I shared boxes with (you didn’t think I ate all 4, did you?) were pleased, too.

All that schtuff is only $9 a box? And they BRING IT TO YOU? Win. Win win win.

Here’s the greatest thing about Freshbox, though – aside from good food, they’re doing good deeds. Their employees come from Faith Mission Shelters, so they’re providing income and job experience to folks who would otherwise be stuck on the street. Cool, eh?

Their tag line says it all “Feed your appetite. Nourish your community.”

BONUS: Online ordering coming soon

Thinking of starting a new business? Own a local business and looking for resources and new ideas? Looking for a directory of solopreneurs and small businesses in Columbus? Just plain interested in local news and growth in your community? Look no further than Metropreneur.

Launched Tuesday, August 3rd, TheMetropreneur.com seeks to be the go-to Columbus news source and directory for small businesses and entrepreneurs, in addition to offering social networking functionality to connect its user community.

I chatted with founder Walker Evans (of ColumbusUnderground.com fame) about the project.

What made you decide to start Metropreneur? Who else is involved in the site?

Around six months ago, my wife Anne and I were wrapping up the process of bringing her into a full-time position with our company, Evans Creative Group, and we had just started to brainstorm about what our next goals or projects would be. We’re continuing to grow ColumbusUnderground.com, but we were also toying with the idea of creating some sort of “spin off” type project that would focus on topics that we only occasionally cover on CU. The topic that quickly rose to the top of our list was “Small Business Development and Entrepreneurship”. We did quite a bit of local and national research, started reaching out into the community to assess our ideas for the project, and after a few months of development, TheMetropreneur.com was launched on August 3rd. Anne and I are handling most of the operations side of the new business while our launch team is rounded out by Melanie McIntyre, our Editorial Director and Jared Thompson, our Advertising Director. Both are seasoned media professionals and are great assets on this new venture.

What kind of information do you plan to share on this site?

The Metropreneur is a local/regional resource that will cover small business news throughout Central Ohio. We have small business profiles and success stories, topical and trend-based articles, Q&As and interviews, community spotlights, guest editorials and more. We feel that The Metropreneur will be a unique resource as the only dedicated media outlet in town that focuses exclusively on small businesses and startups. We’ve also put together a “Local Resource Database” that contains over 100 individual organizations and companies that provide different types of assistance to local entrepreneurs. That includes financial assistance, marketing firms, social media consultants, local government programs, retail opportunities and more. That database will continue to grow as we regularly add new resources to those lists. I should also mention that all of this content is provided for free.

What audience do you think will benefit the most from Metropreneur?

Our primary target audience is the small business owner or aspiring entrepreneur. We want The Metropreneur to play a proactive role in local economic development by helping new businesses get started and existing small businesses thrive. Additionally, we’re already seeing that some of our audience on the site falls into the category of “B2B” Service Providers… business owners or outreach coordinators who are looking to connect with small business to network or to provide services or products. And last but not least, we’re anticipating that the general public will become more and more interested in what we have to offer as well. The locavore and “buy local” movements are rapidly growing as more and more customers are preferring to support their local economy and get to know more about their local businesses and business owners. Even if those customers aren’t interested in starting their own business, they may find a lot of our content interesting as it allows them to see a little bit more of what is happening within the local small business community and build their own personal awareness.

If someone is interested in contributing articles, what should they do?

If anyone is interested in contributing a guest/community editorial, send a quick idea or pitch to Melanie McIntyre: mmcintyre@themetropreneur.com. We’re looking for rich content that is topical, timely, thought-provoking and informational. Also, if there is a topic that anyone would like to see covered more in-depth, or an idea for a small business that deserves some media attention, send those ideas to Melanie as well.

Let’s get together for a night of wine, appetizers, prizes and fun – all while supporting the Mid Ohio Foodbank. Have some wine to help others dine.

On Tuesday, August 10, I will be guest bartending at Camelot Cellars Boutique Winery in the Short North from 6-9pm. Camelot will be discounting $1 off all bar sales… vino on the cheap FTW. But Camelot will also be donating 10% of all bar sales and $1 from every bottle sold to the Mid Ohio Foodbank… good cause FTW. The food bank is able to distribute $8 worth of groceries for every $1 donation they receive.

There will be ample snacks – cheeses, meats and perhaps some of manager Rick Mitchell’s own delicious mini meatballs. Nom nom nom.

Not enough reason to stop out? Everyone who attends will get a $25 gift certificate for future use! (And a corkscrew – you can never have too many of those.)

Camelot Cellars is located at 958 North High Street. I hope you can make it out, let me pour you a drink, and help feed families in Central Ohio in the process. Twitter users can RSVP here (though you don’t have to be on Twitter to attend!)

Camelot is a full service Boutique Winery passionate about producing small-lot hand-crafted wines. Camelot works with wine grape & juice brokers that source only the highest quality grapes from the best wine regions of the world. Unlike large wineries, Camelot pays great attention to detail of their wines from the juice to the barrique to the bottle to the glass, making every effort to fashion vineyard and wine region-designated wines that are a natural expression of the place they are grown. Their goal is to craft bigger, bolder, fruitier, food friendly styled wines. Camelot Cellars offers an extensive selection of red, white, and specialty wines. After you have selected and crafted your own wine, Camelot closely monitors the fermentation process as your wine matures. Within six to eight weeks, your very own personal vintage is ready to be bottled, labeled and enjoyed.

Did I mention I’ve never poured a glass of anything for anyone but myself before?

Just one more week ’til I get to enter into a wonderful, wine-induced coma.

That’s right – it’s almost time for the second Columbus Wine Fest, taking place July 30-31 at Franklin Park Conservatory. The festival provides an opportunity to sample and learn about more than 200 wines from around the world and around the corner. Mix that in with some of Columbus’ finest foods, like Barrio Tapas, Due Amici, Trattoria Roma, and BRAVO! Cucina Italiana, and you’ve got a can’t-miss Columbus event. There will also be a Belgian Beer Café to educate guests on proper beer pouring techniques, the importance of using the right glassware and food pairing ideas.

Proceeds from the festival benefit Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus’ premier horticultural and educational institution and a staple in the community. So feel good about that next glass of vino!

I had a BLAST at Columbus Wine Fest last year. You know when you’re six years old and your parents take you to Toys R Us and everything is so magical and perfect? That’s kinda like the Columbus Wine Festival, for grown-ups! I can’t wait to go back this Friday and look forward to recording an episode of TappedIn.tv there!

Pricing:
* Adult Wine Tasting Ticket – $25 in advance (by Thursday) or $35 at the gate. Ticket includes a souvenir wine glass, 10 tastings and a Festival Program
* Groups – $22.50 in advance for groups of 15 or more. The Group Ticket Package includes all of the same amenities of the Adult Ticket, yet saves your party $2.50 off the advance price and $7.50 off the door price.
* Designated Driver Ticket – $10 in advance or at the door. This ticket includes two non-alcoholic drinks, Festival Program and souvenir wine glass.
* Under 21 admitted free when accompanied by paid adult.
* Additional tasting coupons may be purchased at the festival for $5 for 10

To purchase tickets or for more event details, visit www.columbuswinefestival.com or call 877-772-5425.

See you there, winos!

Have you ever sat down and watched a movie and said….”I can do that!”?

Well, that’s exactly what hundreds of Columbus-area residents do each year during the annual 48 Hour Film Project. Filmmaking teams gather all around the city and in a mere 48 hours, they do just that.

Each year the 48 Hour Film Project, the world’s largest film-making competition, visits nearly 90 cities challenging teams to complete an entire film from writing, casting, filming, editing and submitting in a mere 48 hours. The challenge will be hitting Columbus, Ohio from August 13 to August 15th, 2010.

This year, Columbus will be one of a record 87 cities worldwide competing in the 48 Hour Film Project. Here is the Columbus 48HFP Page.

Filmmaking teams of all levels begin at 7PM on a Friday and deliver a finished 4 to 7 minute film by 7:30PM Sunday. Each team is assigned a genre, character, prop, and line of dialogue that they must work into their film. They are responsible for putting together a cast and crew and getting equipment and anything else necessary to make a film/video in just a weekend. Any team, regardless of skill level, is eligible to participate in this competition.

“We challenge the filmmakers not only with the tight deadline, but with the last minute assignment of a film genre and required elements such as a prop and a line of dialogue,” said Mark Ruppert, co-executive producer of the 48 Hour Film Project. “We’re always eager to see the creative work that the project inspires.”

The 48 Hour Film Project is the oldest and largest timed film competition in the world.  The Project’s mission is to advance filmmaking and promote filmmakers. The tight 48-hour deadline puts the focus squarely on the filmmaking, emphasizing creativity and teamwork and “doing” instead of “talking.” The emphasis is also on building communities of local creative people – - facilitating making new connections, showcasing skills and celebrating what creativity and teamwork can accomplish in just one weekend.

Think you might be interested in joining the filmmaking fun? Check out the details below and visit the Columbus 48HFP page for more info.

Interested in becoming the next Spielberg or Streep but don’t have a team? The Columbus site (Columbus 48HFP Page) has info on a fun meetup on Wednesday, July 28th from 7 to 10 pm at the Park Street Patio for people looking for teams and teams looking for help. Can’t make that meet-up? There is also a link to list yourself for teams that are looking for members and help. Don’t be left out….check it out!

Here is how it all works:

Sign-Up
Teams sign-up at the 48HFP website and pay a $155 registration fee (early bird special of $135 until midnight July 19th).

KickOff
THE COMPETITION STARTS HERE:
8/13/2010 6:00pm (Teams Leave at 7pm)
Movie Big Shots Studio, 753 Harmon Avenue, Columbus
Teams meet here and they will be given a genre, a character, a prop and a line of dialogue that they must work into their film.

48 Hours of Film Making Bliss
Teams meet and plan the events of the next 48 hours to produce their film. Write, cast, film, edit, compose and put in a format to turn in.

The Turn-In
THE COMPETITION ENDS HERE (TEAMS SUBMIT THE FILM THEY’VE CREATED):
8/15/2010 7:30
Gateway Film Center, 1550 N. High Street, Columbus
*Films submitted even one minute late will be disqualified.

Public Screenings
All submitted films will be screened for the public at The Gateway Film Center at 1550 N. High Street on August 18 and 19 at 6:30pm and 8:30pm.

Judging
A panel of experts will judge the films and the top films will screen again at a later date. The winning film from Columbus will be in the running for top honors at an International Film Event called Filmapalooza, the 48 Hour Film Project’s annual awards. The top 12 international 48HFP films will screen at the Cannes Short Film Corner in 2011.

And the Winners Are
The Columbus Best Film is awarded a trophy, is screened at the 48HFP Filmapalooza, and receives a $1,000 camera and gear rental from OhioHDVideo to use in their next production. The Filmapalooza Grand Prize winner receives $3000 cash, filmmaking equipment, and the Grand Prize Trophy.

Last year Columbus had 36 films submitted. The overall total films submitted in all cities was an impressive 3,000 films in 76 cities.

So, what are you waiting for?  If you’ve ever sat in a theater and thought: “I could make a better movie!“ — NOW is the time to go for it!

Who knows? Your next stop just may be the red carpet.

For More Information Please Contact:

Columbus 48HFP City Producer
KC ALLEN :: columbus@48hourfilm.com
419-434-0916 or 419-722-0824

Columbus 48HFP Associate City Producer
AMBER MIKESELL :: ammikesell@yahoo.com

www.48hourfilm.com

A friend of mine contacted me a few hours ago to inform me that Andyman from CD101FM had passed, because she knew that I knew him.

I didn’t believe her.

Andyman was such a staple in the Columbus community. I met him shortly after moving to Columbus when I had my first internship at CD101, and it was impossible for me to avoid him ever after, because his presence is so visible in this city that we were bound to run in to each other at least once a week.

But it was confirmed this evening that Andyman drowned while on vacation with his family in Michigan. Right now, I’m listening to the station’s tribute to him, and Jeff Buckley’s Hallelujah is bringing me to tears.

The last time I saw Andy was a few weeks ago, when James and I interviewed him for the launch of Tappedin.tv. Andy, at a beer fest, commanding a room in his element…

RIP Andyman. One look at Twitter or Facebook right now shows how much you meant to Columbus.

I don’t really have words right now to articulate what Columbus lost. But I have no doubt that his legacy will live on.

More on his passing on CD101.com

What will you always remember about Andyman?

The 13th annual Goodguys PPG Nationals is the big one featuring more than 7,000 rods, customs, classics, muscle cars, street machines and trucks through 1972. There are also vendor and manufacturer displays as well as a huge swap meet. Take part in the Poker Run, view the Model & Pedal car show, listen in on a hot rod seminar or just kick back and have fun at a nostalgia stage show or nightly party.

Looking for a fun, affordable weekend trip this summer? Check out Yellow Springs! This cute, hippy town is about an hour drive from Columbus and is filled with things to do. Here are my tips for making the most of your trip.

Where to Stay:

• There is a cute bed and breakfast called The Arthur Morgan House that is the perfect place to stay for a weekend with friends, a romantic getaway, or for business travel. The Arthur Morgan house is on an older property, but the owners have done a great job maintain the historic feel while incorporating great modern updates. The rooms and bathrooms are cute, spacious, and comfortable. There is a lovely garden surrounding the property and a nice porch and living room area to relax in. Best of all, it’s located right near downtown Yellow Springs.

Things to do in Yellow Springs:

• Shopping – If you love to shop take the time to walk around town to visit the unique shops. Many items are handmade and reasonably priced. It’s a great place to get gifts for the people in your life who seem to have everything.
• Dining – There are several dining options and most are casual fair. Peach’s Grill and Ha Ha Pizza are great places to check out. Peach’s often has live music and great drink specials. Try the hummus appetizer; it’s awesome! Ha Ha Pizza hand makes their wheat crust for each order so the wait can be long, but it’s worth it.
• Hiking – This area is surrounded by great parks and hiking trails. Check out John Bryan State Park and the Glen Helen Nature Preserve. If you live in the Cincinnati or Dayton area you can take advantage of the Little Miami Scenic Bike Trail, which passes through Yellow Springs on the way from Cincinnati to Urbana.
• Activities for Kids – If you are traveling from Columbus with the kids make sure you plan some time to visit Young’s Dairy Farm. There are many great activities for families and the ice cream is awesome.

If you are still unsure of what during your stay Yellow Springs has a nice Chamber of Commerce that has public restrooms, area maps, and usually a staff member available to answer any visitor questions. There are lots of summer events in Yellow Springs so be sure to do some research before you go. I hope you get a chance to check out this unique town; happy travels!

The Fourth of July holiday falls on a Sunday so the celebrations and fireworks can be found throughout the weekend. Here is a list by date of the firework displays throughout Central Ohio.

July 2nd

• Buckeye Lake: dusk
• Red, White & Boom: Columbus: 10p downtown
• Granville: dusk downtown
• Heath: 10p Geller Park

July 3rd

• Dublin: 9:50 at Dublin Coffman High School Stadium
• Gahanna: 10p at Gahanna Municipal Golf Course
• Grove City: 10p at Beulah Park
• Groveport: dusk downtown
• Lancaster: 10:30p at Fairfield County Fairgrounds
• London: 9:45p at London High School
• New Albany: 9:45p at New Albany High School
• Newark: 10p at Ohio State University Newark
• Reynoldsburg: 9:45p at Civic Park
• Upper Arlington: dusk Northam Park
• Westerville: 10p at Alum Creek Park South

July 4th

• Clintonville: 10p at Whetsone Park
• Delaware: 10p at Ohio Wesleyan University
• Hilliard: 9:45p at Municipal Park
• Marysville: dusk Union County Fairgrounds
• Pickerington: 10p at Victory Park
• Plain City: 9:30p at Pastime Park
• Whitehall: 10p at John Bishop Park
• Worthington: 10p at Thomas Worthington High School Stadium

July 5th

• Bexley: 9:45 p.m.: Fireworks at Capital soccer field
• Sunbury: 10p at Big Walnut High School Stadium

That is exactly what Tony Castricone is about to do.

On the way to work this morning I caught Tony’s story on the radio about how he was a successful sportscaster here in the Greatest City and suddenly found himself out of a job and in a spot with so many others these days. A spot where you ask yourself. . . What’s next? For Tony Castricone, he decided to follow a dream as a musician, grab his guitar and hit the road. Sounds crazy right? Well . . yeah . . . maybe a little, but you know what they say. Nothing risked, nothing gained. And seriously, you got to admire the guy for putting it out there, going on a journey of uncertainty and doing something out of his comfort zone.

So tomorrow night (June 9th, 2010) at Callahans is the send off and CD release. From there Tony will head off on his 40 day tour where he will play at open mic every night through July 20.

For a full list of the dates and to follow along with his journey check out the 40 day tour blog. You can also help Tony by making a donation or better yet, buying some of his songs on iTunes or Amazon.

Good luck Tony.