Visiting Columbus for the Show was a great experience! There are so many similarities in the geography with Augusta with the river and the fact that Alabama is on the other side. I truly encourage our viewers to choose Columbus for a destination or at least an overnight stay if you are going to the Gulf Coast this summer.
To begin with, I am being true to my goal as I approach 70 next year and my “Identity at 70” theme. Strapping up to jump off the top of a tower and be whisked away on a zipline is truly introducing “adventurous” as one of my identity qualities. This, of course, is following my journey in a Hot Air Balloon for Episode 300 back in March. What’s next for Vera???
We had a great food tour in Columbus. The Chicken Coop at Plucked Up was amazing, and the place was packed! It’s actually in a part of downtown that the hometown folks would have shied away from even 10 years ago, but it is hopping now! Mark Jones certainly has the pulse on a lot of restaurant trends in the area and our local artist culture will love the decor in Plucked Up.
For lunch, Country’s on Broad is a must! This place is so cool, and honestly I can’t wait to take my grandchildren there and let them eat in the old Greyhound Bus that’s parked outside. The mural (again so much art culture in Columbus) is fascinating and the fact that the authenticity of the bus station is in tack truly takes you back to the 40s. I was stuffed when I left there after devouring the Conglomeration platter!
I headed back over to City Mills to relax a bit after shopping around and got a great history lesson from Cassie Myers related to the project and the 2nd and 3rd phases of this development. The view from my window was amazing and again, the Mill aspect of this town and the river certainly made me long to see continuation of our growth in Augusta along those same lines. My room was amazing and the fact that there is a REAL reason behind the hotel being Pet Friendly, speaks volumes to the insight and creativity of the development.
Finally, dinner at EPIC was EPIC! Yes, my friend and now third time Chef on the Show, Jamie Keating, was amazing as always. A friend of the camera and an artist at cooking tableside, just this restaurant is worth the trip to Columbus. He is also an art collector and the Teil paintings – Teil Duncan Henley (married to Russell Henley, UGA and PGA professional golfer), are displayed in many places throughout the restaurant. She is a Columbus native.
