For the past five years, my holiday season has started with the release of Sophisticated Giving - one of my favorite projects each year. In each editor’s letter for the annual Charity Register, I’ve acknowledged how the generosity of others truly sustained my family through extreme poverty in rural West Virginia, and that it has inspired me to give as much as I can to those doing the same work in central Ohio. The health and human services organizations who provided food, clothing, medical and dental care, and finances for housing and utilities impacted my siblings and me in very tangible ways - (mostly) protecting us from hunger, homelessness and illness... continue reading
Amelia
Editor in Chief
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It's finally time for our favorite Columbus holiday tradition - Zoo Lights at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium!
5pm to 9pm
Until January 3rd
If you'd prefer to stay in your car with a hot chocolate and carols playing on the radio, drive down to Alum Creek State Park for the annual Fantasy of Lights.
5:30pm to 9:30pm (tickets on sale until 9pm)
Until January 3rd
We'd much rather be supporting the Harmony Project in person at a sold-out venue, but we'll settle for watching "Concert for Us" at home. You'll catch us sporting our new Harmony Project X Homage "I Still Have Joy" tee as we watch from our couch.
7:30pm
December 17th
We thought we'd have to pass on another of our favorite holiday traditions, The Nutcracker, this year, but BalletMet has come to the rescue with A Nutcracker Holiday. Enjoy an abbreviated virtual performance, and holiday activities for the whole family.
Through December 27th
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UNIQUE HOME DECOR
This gorgeous Hadleigh Sideboard is exactly what we need to make our living space feel like our own. We're excited to explore what else we can add to our collection from Studio J.
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VINTAGE CHANEL
Luckily for us (but maybe not for our wallets), Leál Boutique now carries vintage Chanel. You can bet we'll be adding several pieces to our lists for Santa this year.
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Drive De Cartier
The label-love is real at
Diamond Cellar this season.
From HERMÈS to Patek to Cartier,
it just doesn't get any more timeless.
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JOSH DALTON
A Gulf Coast boy turned Midwest entrepreneur, Chef Joshua Dalton has been on a 15-year culinary journey that could be likened to a rollercoaster ride. Dalton has been hired, fired, and rehired at some of Columbus’ best and worst restaurants, but over the past few years, the classically untrained Chef has made his mark on the central Ohio fine dining scene. Dalton is the mastermind behind some of Columbus' best - 1808 American Bistro and Veritas Tavern.
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DR. AMY ACTON
Former Director of the Department of Health Dr. Amy Acton is now spearheading Human:Kind, the Columbus Foundation’s overarching initiative encompassing both Kind Columbus and the Foundation’s “Flourishing” work that aims to improve community well-being through research and human-centered design projects for the social sector. Right now, donations to the Columbus Foundation’s Gifts of Kindness Fund are being matched - so, head on over to the Giving Store to make your mark on the Kind Columbus initiative.
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"We all need to be in a mindset of frontloading our giving.
It's either pay now to support our infrastructure [of nonprofits and small businesses] or pay later to rebuild from scratch."
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THE 2021 GIVING GUIDE
Our annual charity register is out! To read about this year's featured nonprofits click here. To see last year's register, click here.
SOCIAL CONTEST
Post a photo on Instagram or Facebook with your 2021 Charity Register by December 21 for a chance to win a
$500 donation to the nonprofit of your choice!**
**Entrants must follow Sophisticated Living Columbus on Facebook & Instagram to win. Donation will be made to the nonprofit of winner's choice from the nonprofits featured in the 2021 Sophisticated Giving Charity Register.
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WHITNEY HOUSE
Our friend, Ian Brown, celebrates 6 years since his opening in Old Worthington on December 9.
Check out our 2015 coverage of Ian and Whitney House here.
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Z. CUCINA AND PASTARIA
Rick Ziliak comes from a legendary family filled with masters of Italian cuisine. The Ziliak family’s lineup of Columbus eateries include some of our favorite places for the perfect pasta: Z. Cucina in Grandview & Dublin, Pastaria at the North Market, and Due Amici on Gay Street.
Find our 2015 article here.
Support the Ziliak family, their restaurants, and staff by ordering take out or gift cards.
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RAGGIN' ON
The Art of Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson's House and Journals
In late November, amidst a national landscape of uncertainty and division, the Columbus Museum of Art opened an exhibit that celebrates the life and legacy of the late Aminah Robinson, a beloved and accomplished Columbus artist who demonstrated intentional curiosity about and responsibility for preserving and consecrating the history and culture of Black people and their perseverance through centuries of injustice while confirming human commonalities.
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ARUBA
There are approximately 45,0000 tropical islands (12-acres or larger) in the world, but only one—Aruba—lays claim to being "One Happy Island." We're definitely in need of a happy and relaxing vacation after this year! Travelers will be pleased with Aruba's serious measures to keep COVID off of its shores.
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THE BMW 5 SERIES
First introduced in 1972, the 2021 version of BMW's 5 Series represents the 7th generation. This 5 Series Sedan heralds improvements in exterior and interior design, aerodynamics and technology, and a new 48-volt mild hybrid system.
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WAYS WE ARE PASSING THE TIME |
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If you're like us, you're thrilled to have made it out of the Tiger King phase of quarantine. We've rounded up our favorite new shows of 2020, like The Queen's Gambit pictured above.
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One of our local favorites, Chapman's Eat Market has shared their Grilled Pork Shoulder Lettuce Wraps recipe with us, and we're in love.
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