The University of Michigan

Home to over 50,000 students at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor is undoubtedly a college town. The school boasts the largest alumni network in the world, with famous graduates including President Gerald Ford, acclaimed author Arthur Miller, actress Lucy Liu, and even world famous singer Madonna. Students on campus are known for their school spirit, which is especially evident during the college football season. If you’re ever lucky enough to get a ticket to a home game, you will join about 106,200 other people in the “Big House” and cheer for the winningest team in all of college football. Football season culminates with a game against The Ohio State University, a rivalry that dates back to the late 1800s.

On a nice day in Ann Arbor, nothing beats a visit to some of the University’s outdoor locations. Start off walking through the crisscrossing paths of the Diag, which marks the center of campus and is always abuzz with student activity. Beware, though, tradition states that if you step on the brass “M” before taking your first University exam, you will fail. Across the street is the Michigan Union, on the steps of which John F. Kennedy founded the Peace Corps in 1960. Next, visit the Nichols Arboretum, a vast expanse of nature trails, river walks and picturesque scenery, the perfect setting for a picnic, game of Frisbee or a jog. On North Campus, location of much of the University’s engineering labs and performing arts buildings, visit the Wave Field. This landscape sculpture is made out of just grass and dirt and was created by Maya Lin, the designer of the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial in Washington D.C.

TECHNOLOGY
Ann Arbor has long established itself as a pioneer in the technology industry. Co-founder of Google Larry Page called Ann Arbor home during his undergraduate years. Bill Joy, co-founder of Sun Microsystems also spent time at the University honing his technological capacities in the College of Engineering.

Today Ann Arbor continues to encourage the cultivation of technological minds, especially via programs available through the University of Michigan. The Office of Technology Transfer at the University of Michigan has made their mission to transfer University technologies to the marketplace. It does this through patenting, legal support, licensing and start-up assistance. One of the University of Michigan’s and Ann Arbor’s newest initiatives is a student start-up incubator called the TechArb, which is currently funded by RPM Ventures. Located in the basement of the Ann Arbor Google offices, TechArb houses a variety of Web-based ventures. MyBandStock, a funding tool for artists that sell virtual stock to their fan base in exchange for access to their music, videos, blogs and other personal benefits to raise money for album production shares the space with. Mobil33t, a team of iPhone application developers who recently launched DoGood, and CrowdClarity, an innovative sales forecasting solution, among several other budding student start-ups.
Ann Arbor has a variety of organizations that promote entrepreneurship and technology, including TechBrewery and A2Geeks. At the University of Michigan, student groups like Maize Ventures and MPowered Entrepreneurship provide a foundation for creative student initiatives.

SHOPPING
Too much technology and want to take a break? You won’t be at a loss in Ann Arbor when it comes to shopping. Peruse the shops on Main Street and you’ll come across quirky bookstores, independent art galleries and unique boutiques. A local favorite is Crazy Wisdom Bookstore & Tea Room which specializes in holistic health books and fine teas. Also, don’t miss the Selo/Shevel Gallery, one of the top craft galleries in the country. There, you can find functional art pieces that will make a statement in any home. Down the street, check out the original Border’s bookstore which plays host to frequent readings, concerts and author visits. Across the street is Urban Outfitters, a popular apparel store specializing in the latest urban trends and located across campuses nationwide. For those on a student budget, South University Street is the ideal place to shop. There you will find the bohemian Middle Earth, a trinket shop selling funky gifts, quirky jewelry and witty stationary. If you really want to get in the Ann Arbor state of mind, visit Stairway to Heaven, a head shop with a great selection of smoking paraphernalia.

FOOD

You can get a true sense of Ann Arbor’s diverse culture through the wide assortment of cuisine that is available. If you’re in the mood for some Latin or Cuban treats, check out Café Habana. Add a little spice to your life by visiting Café Habana on Thursday nights where you will find couples indulging in a night of Salsa dancing. The Chop House, a cornerstone restaurant of Main Street Ventures, provides a slightly more local approach, offering some of the finest Midwestern grain-fed meats and exceptional premium wines. If seafood is what you’re craving, wander across the street to The Real Seafood Company, and enjoy a menu teeming of seafood–simply prepared and fresh. If you’re looking for some northern Italian cuisine, Ann Arbor’s Gratzi will titillate your taste buds. Everyone loves pizza, so how about visiting the original Cottage Inn established in 1948.

Feeling ethnic? The Blue Nile is an exciting Ethiopian restaurant famous for its variety of meat and vegetable dishes. Perhaps you’re interested in some Indian food. Then Shalimar is the place for you, offering a wide host of Indian dishes served with spices that are cooked to your preferences, whether it is medium, mild or hot. Wander around the corner and you’ll find Champion House, offering not only Chinese and Japanese food, but a home for student sake bomb celebrations. For some Middle Eastern cuisine, check out Jerusalem Garden where you’ll find hummus and pitas galore. In the mood to enjoy a simple, yet tasty sandwich? Ann Arbor’s very own Zingerman’s Delicatessen can satisfy any craving. But how about something fried and delicious? Nationally famous for its world famous burgers and welcoming atmosphere, Blimpy Burger a the place to experience truly distinguishable excellence of Ann Arbor cuisine.

A NIGHT OUT

What would a city be without a major nightlife circuit? From college dives to classy city bars, Ann Arbor has it all. If you’re walking down Main Street, a number of bars will catch your eye. Drink from a glass boot at the Heidelberg, have some martinis at Rush Street or enjoy a night of Irish car bombs at Connor O’Neils. Arbor Brewing Company may be the answer to your prayers if you’re looking for some authentic Ann Arbor beers that are homebrewed and bottled. Had enough of the local bars on Main Street? Wander a couple blocks towards campus and you can experience a night out for any U of M college student. South University Street has it all. In the mood to dance? Head to Rick’s American Café where you can enjoy their infamous fishbowls, filled with vodka, gin, rum, tequila and your bartender`s choice of juices and soda. Craving a fiesta, you may want to wander over to BTB Cantina to enjoy Coronas, margaritas and burritos. Perhaps you’re looking for the typical “place to be” on campus. Grab a seat at Good Time Charley’s, a local bar where faculty and students take a break from the stresses of college and enjoy some great food and drinks.

ENTERTAINMENT

Ann Arbor is also filled with a variety of events and entertainment that students, locals and tourists all enjoy. The city is well known for its lively music scene and timeless venues. Check out the Blind Pig, where famous artists like Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon and Nirvana once played. In this small, intimate setting, the experience of music is unlike any other. Another musical venue is The Ark, Ann Arbor’s nonprofit home for acoustic music. Considered one of the top music clubs in the world, The Ark is renowned for the quality and breadth of its programming and acoustics. If live jazz and blues is your thing, attend Ann Arbor’s Firefly Club or Goodnight Gracie’s, which both feature live music coupled with great martinis.

Beyond music, Ann Arbor also hosts a number of annual events. If you’re visiting Ann Arbor in the summer, be sure to experience the month-long festival called Top of the Park, which features musical acts and nightly movies. The event takes place right in front of the Rackham Graduate School in Ingalls Mall on the campus of U of M. Later in the summer, Ann Arbor becomes home to the annual Art Fair, featuring art from all over the nation and the world. The entire city is lined with booths filled with artistic pieces, ranging from abstract to surrealism. You can take part in Hash Bash, an annual event held in Ann Arbor on the first Saturday of April at “high noon” on the University of Michigan Diag. A collection of speeches, live music, street vending and some occasional civil disobedience are centered on the goal of reforming federal, state and local marijuana laws.

Ann Arbor is only about 5 hours from Chicago, 4 hours from Toronto, 3 hours from Columbus/Cleveland, and 30 min from Detroit. It’s one of the biggest small cities in the Midwest, so Geeks, be sure to add it to your list of “must see” cities in the United States.

Thanks to Mybandstock.com, an online funding tool for independent musicians based out of Ann Arbor, MI for putting this guide together.

More Geek Weekend…

We’ve been getting requests from various citizens to feature their respective cities in our new Geek Weekend feature here on CrunchGear, so when a request came in for the Twin Cities, John asked me to write it up and I thought, “Oh, great. More work.” “Perfect! I grew up there! I know where geeky stuff is located!”

Background Info: The Twin Cities denotes the capital city of St. Paul, MN and the larger, more cosmopolitan city of Minneapolis, MN. Together the two cities are home to roughly 2.5 million people.

There’s always been a friendly little rivalry going on between the two cities, with some people from Minneapolis viewing people from St. Paul as more blue-collar and rough-around-the-edges, while some from St. Paul think people from Minneapolis are yuppies. I’ve lived in both cities and they’re both nice places. Overall, the rivalry is pretty silly, but it’s there. Look hard enough in any city, though, and you’ll find both a-holes and nice people. No different in the Twin Cities. Everyone’s pretty nice, overall, though.

Minneapolis features a relatively large downtown commercial district. It’s home to the Target Corporation, the Target Center (home of the Timberwolves, concerts, etc.), the Metrodome (home of the Twins, the Vikings, and monster truck rallies) — soon to be replaced by the new outdoor Target Field, and First Avenue, a little music club that’s seen a fair amount of pretty big acts.

St. Paul has the Xcel Energy Center (home of the Wild, concerts, etc.), the St. Paul Saints minor league baseball team (owned by Bill Murray), the Science Museum, and the capital building.

The gigantic University of Minnesota (50,000+ students) sprawls across both Minneapolis and St. Paul. The two cities’ downtown areas are about ten miles apart.

Where to Buy Gadgets: When you realize that you’ve forgotten something important at home, I can recommend the following places based on firsthand experience.

Micro Center: Where I spent most of the past five years of my life before I moved to Boston. This place is located a few blocks from the home I used to own. It’s a great place for cheap cables and the staff is relatively helpful without being pushy. You can walk around in here for an hour or so before anybody bothers you. They have some name brands at decent prices and a fair amount of gray market-type stuff that you’d find on the internet.

General NanoSystems: Very knowledgeable and helpful staff, excellent prices, kind of like a mom and pop computer store that’s able to compete with other retailers. Similar to Micro Center but more local. Very cheap cables — probably the cheapest you’ll find.

FirstTech: All Apple, all the time. These guys are the kings and queens of Apple sales, training, and tech support in Minneapolis. Located right on Hennepin Avenue in the middle of trendy Uptown Minneapolis, it’s not a huge store by any means but they’ve got it all and they know their stuff.

Best Buy — Store #5: Of the trillions of Best Buy super stores, Store #5 is still standing. One of the original Best Buy stores (back when it was called Sound of Music), legend has it that Store #5 was a present from original Best Buy CEO and founder Dick Schulze to his wife. She’d forever get all the revenue generated by the little store that could.

It’s seriously a sight to behold, especially if you’ve only been in the gigantic Best Buy stores before. Store #5 can’t be more than a couple thousand square feet, everything’s packed to the rafters, and the aisles are uncomfortably tight.

Little known fact: Store #5 is where I worked in high school — it was my first job ever. I sold computers, earning $5.38 an hour. I spent my entire first paycheck on a Super Nintendo.

Where to Eat and Drink: First thing in the morning, you’ll want to pick up a coffee at local legend turned #2 coffee company behind Starbucks, Caribou Coffee. They’re everywhere, even moreso than Starbucks.

If #2 is still too big for you, try local legend turned… um, still local legend, Dunn Bros. They’ve got some strong coffee there and many locations have morning coffee on the honor system — pour your own and pay a buck. And don’t leave without trying the gigantic Rice Krispie square. It’s big as your head.

For breakfast, head over to Linden Hills and eat at Zumbro. Nothing geeky about this place, but it has the best, most consistently-delicious breakfast in the history of eating. Get the “Eggs Etc.” over hard with bacon and sourdough, plus a single pancake. You’ll never have a better breakfast. Tell them Doug from Boston sent you. I eat there every time I’m in town.

You can also try Cafe Twenty-Eight, which is right down the street and very delicious as well. Get the farmer’s breakfast. If it’s lunch or dinner time, get the bacon cheeseburger and a local beer — Surly Furious is my favorite. Surly is relatively popular in the Twin Cities and the guy who owns it also owns Cafe Twenty-Eight.

And any geek worth his or her salt will do a fair amount of eating and drinking at the Chatterbox (two locations in Minneapolis, one in St. Paul). Great food, excellent beer selection and — wait for it — old school video game consoles and vintage board games at every table. Snag the NES table and rent just about every Nintendo game all night for $1 apiece. There is NO better way to hang out for hours on end, as far as I’m concerned.

After you’ve had your fill of retro gaming and beer, head over to Northeast Minneapolis and go low-tech at Nye’s Polonaise Room. Home of the self-proclaimed “World’s Most Dangerous Polka Band” and live piano karaoke, Nye’s was voted the Best Bar in America by Esquire Magazine. The look and feel of the place hasn’t changed in… well, ever, and the drinks are cheap and strong.

Once you’ve stumbled back home, make sure to call in for late-night food from Galactic Pizza — which I could have sworn used to be open until 3AM, but it now seems that they’re only open until 1AM on the weekends. Oh well, do it anyway. Know why? Because they deliver in three-wheeled electric pods while dressed as superheros. It’s outstanding.

Daytime Activities: Aside from eating your way through the Twin Cities, there’s plenty of other fun stuff to do throughout the day.

Here’s a curveball to get things started; head over to the St. Paul Curling Club. Remember Curling? From the Olympics? Like bowling on ice, kinda? The St. Paul Curling Club is the largest curling club in the country and makes for a great way to kill a few hours on a hot day. Bring some friends and have a few beers afterwards. It’s fun, I promise.

While you’re over in St. Paul, check out the Science Museum of Minnesota — especially if you have kids with you. There’s a lot of fun stuff for them to do there and almost everything is interactive in some way. Let them run around and play while you relax and take in a show (or nap) in the Omnitheater.

Round out the afternoon with a visit to St. Paul’s Fort Snelling. You’ll see old-timey reenactors blasting cannons and muskets at each other. Sure, it’s a bunch of stuff from the early 1800′s, but there’s still some cool old war technology and weaponry there.

For some straightforward Chuck-E-Cheese-style gaming, but for adults, head to downtown Minneapolis’ Block E and visit Gameworks. There’s a pretty decent bowling alley inside, too. Try to go during the daytime, if possible. That whole area gets a little dicey at night (unless they’ve cleaned it up by now).

Just outside of the Twin Cities sits Valleyfair, Minnesota’s answer to Six Flags, Disneyland, and various kid-friendly waterparks. Admission costs almost $40 per person but you can get a four-pack of tickets for $25 apiece. Use the money you save to buy half of a small drink once you’re inside the park.

Also just outside of the city, Grand Slam is a pretty fun place for the kids. There are batting cages, an 18-hole miniature golf course (pirate themed!), laser tag, go karts, and video games.

And, of course, I have to mention the Mall of America. Don’t go to the Mall of America. Walk around your local mall 60 times in a row to get the same effect. If you’re dead set on going, there’s an amusement park in the middle of the mall with overpriced, non-thrilling rides for the kids and an underwater aquarium, which is actually kind of cool. Go in the middle of the week if you can. Weekends there are an absolute madhouse.

If you’re looking for some exercise, there are plenty of lakes with excellent walking, running, and bike paths. In the city, you can scoot around Lake Harriet, Lake Calhoun, and Lake of the Isles — they’re situated within blocks of each other. Lake Harriet is a nice walking lake with a big bandstand and ice cream for the kids, Lake Calhoun features some very beautiful Scandanavian eye candy (both men and women), and Lake of the Isles is a little quieter but has some pretty enormous houses for architecture buffs.

Finally, make sure to check out the Brave New Workshop on Hennepin Avenue in Uptown Minneapolis. Founded by Dudley Riggs in 1958, it’s the longest running satirical theatre in the country specializing in political and social satire. I spent the better part of my twenties there honing my improv skills and acting in various shows. Now I fumble my way through video reviews of gadgets. Same basic difference.

Other Good Geeky Shopping:

• Source Comics and Games
• Electric Fetus
• Cheapo Discs
• Big Brain Comics
• Robot Love
• Ragstock
• Hub Hobby

Other Geek-Friendly Bars and Restaurants:

• Psycho Suzi’s Motor Lounge
• Bryant-Lake Bowl
• Half Time Rec (indoor Bocce Ball pit)
• Town Talk Diner
• Pizza Luce
• Jimmy John’s
• Uptown Bar (get the skillet)
• Keys
• Highland Grill
• The Happy Gnome (huge beer selection)

Local Tech Businesses:

• Best Buy
• Geek Squad (now owned by Best Buy)
• Target
• 3M
• Medtronic
• Ecolab
• Seagate
• Cray
• Hormel Foods (they make SPAM!)
• Map of area tech startups (from CrunchBase)
• Minneapolis citywide Wi-Fi

Anything Else?

I’m bound to have forgotten more than a few great places. Drop your recommendations in the comments — there’s plenty to see and do in the Twin Cities.

Geek Weekend is a continuing travel series about geeky things to do in cities around the world. Want your city featured? Write us at tips@crunchgear.com.

The RNR region is frequently recognized as a great place to raise a family and for its outstanding quality of life. But more recently, it’s getting great marks for business and entrepreneurship, being recognized by Forbes as a Best Small Places for Business and Career, and by CNNMoney as a Tech Launching Pad and one of 100 best places to live and launch.

The region is home to a diverse and thriving technology and entrepreneurial community, with businesses specializing in the fields of biology, chemistry, nano-technology, materials science, autonomous navigation, software engineering, bio-informatics, fiber optics, water purification, aerospace, and information technology, among other disciplines.

The local Technology Council – The NCTC – is our champion and leader in the tech community. A 33-year old lad from Scranton, PA right out of “The Office” leads our efforts to promote technology start ups in the region. Visit us Sept 18 for Demo Day, the region’s most comprehensive science fair.

The NCTC executive leader is part of a robust, engaged and growing young professional population providing many access points to get plugged into the community (both offline and online). Visit the plethora of YP organizations.

These YPs are changing and innovating the city through Richard Florida’s Creative Community Leadership Project. These Creative Connectors are implementing Florida’s 4T’s of economic development – technology, talent, tolerance and territory assets.

Perhaps the most innovative, creative and talented group of people are the MyScoper girls who have created a community online calendar that brings functionality and consistency in compiling all of the ways to spend your time. Their wacky special events also get national coverage.

And for “Real Time Local News”, check out our Roanoke Fwix feed courtesy of Fwix creator Darian Sharazi. Thanks D.

The RNR is one of Virginia’s best-kept secrets, but those who love the natural beauty of the mountains love visiting and many relocate. With all of the parks, rivers, and trails, outdoor-types have lots of options such that the region has been compared to places like Boulder, Colorado. With just a short drive, you can enjoy the New River, Mountain Lake, Claytor Lake, or Smith Mountain Lake, the largest man-made lake in the state.

If an active lifestyle is your passion, follow the adventures of the CarLess Brit as he shows what it’s like to live in Roanoke without a car. In six months he has created a massive following and has his own museum chronicling his journey.

The RNR is also the backyard of Hokie Nation. Virginia Tech is the state’s largest educational institution with 35,000+ students and its size doubles on home football Saturdays in the fall. The team’s entrance to Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” is price of admission creating the greatest pre-game atmosphere in college football.

Also, at Virginia Tech you will see the Big Mac – one of the fastest computers in the world. The Big Mac and other emerging technologies and companies are housed in the CRC and at VT KnowledgeWorks, which provide assistance to entrepreneurs in a campus environment.

Yet another successful entrepreneur and young professional has infused the underground music scene through Kirk Avenue Music Hall. This intimate location boasts a diverse mix of genres on a regular basis at prices you cannot believe.

This same individual has also developed some of the best urban lofts you will ever see. Check out the reinvented Cotton Mill for your pad once you move here.

Across the street from the Cotton Mill is the Jefferson Center – a performing arts mecca and a short walk through the downtown district leads to the new $60 million Taubman Musuem of Art.

Nestled beside the Taubman is Roanoke’s heritage the Norfolk and Western railroad, which provides landmarks such as the historic Hotel Roanoke – voted two years in a row as the world’s top Doubletree Hotel property, the Virginia Transportation Museum, and the O.Winston Link Museum reminding Roanokers of its past and its creative future.

A timeless treasure a couple of blocks from the rail district is the oldest, continuous open-air Farmer’s Market in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers and an assortment of arts and crafts are sold daily by local farmers and artisans.

In addition to the Farmer’s Market, Roanoke offers many diverse restaurants, but probably none more famous than the Roanoke Millionaire’s Club – Texas Tavern – which was recently featured as one of the Top 100 places you must eat before you die – a true landmark especially at 3 a.m.

Now let Roanoke and the RNR soak in for a minute as you start to plan your visit.

Thanks to Anne and Handshake20.com for being the Tech Crunch of the RNR (Roanoke and New River Valleys) and using her site to launch this blog post.

It’s a common opinion — even amongst its residents — that Columbus, Ohio is “Cow Town, USA” with nothing to do. As a life-long resident, I disagree emphatically with that notion. Columbus is the 15th largest city in the United States, and the greater Columbus area has just under two million residents. Columbus is within a half-days drive of over half the U.S. population, making it easy to reach for many people, as well as making it a good layover for a long drive to another destination. Tourism related sales were $7.2 billion USD in 2007, and according to a Longwood’s International Study the central Ohio region had 55.6 million trips in 2007: 44.3 million day trips, and 11.3 million overnight trips (so the answer is “Yes, people do visit Ohio!”). The Ohio State University, which has anchored Columbus for more than 130 years with a rich history, has more than 50,000 students, which brings a wide variety of activities to town, including arts and cultural events, and concerts at the Newport Music Hall and the Schottenstein Stadium. If you can’t find something to do in Columbus, the shortcoming is your own, and not the city’s! Be that as it may, I’d like to share a short list of my own favorite features around Columbus.

Historical

The Ohio Historical Society has a number of permanent and rotating exhibits showcasing various aspects of Ohio history. The Ohio Historical Society also maintains the Newark Earthworks State Memorial, “the largest system of connected geometric earthworks built anywhere in the world”. Constructed 2000 years ago by the Hopewell culture, the Great Circle Earthworks is “nearly 1200 feet in diameter and was used as a vast ceremonial center by its builders.” The mounds are all very cool, and definitely worth a visit.

If you’re near the OSU campus, I strongly recommend a quick visit to the Orton Geological Museum, in Orton Hall. It’s a single room, and you can literally look at everything on display in about 30 minutes. I think it’s a neat snapshot of Ohio history, with fossils, gemstones, meteorite fragments, and more. And it’s free!

Several famous figures were born in or near Columbus. The Thurber House offers a terrific literary museum dedicated to the author James Thurber. Neil Armstrong, first man on the moon, is an Ohio native, and if you don’t mind a short drive, you can visit the Neil Armstrong Museum in Wapakoneta, northwest of Columbus. Warren Harding, 29th president of the United States, was born in Ohio, and you can visit the Harding Home to learn more about the man and his life.

On the Scioto River in downtown Columbus is an authentic replica of the Santa Maria, the ship Christopher Columbus used on his search for a trade route to the Indies.

The Chief Leatherlips Monument is a little different, and worth a look if you’re out by Dublin, northwest of Columbus. And the Olentangy Indian Caverns have been delighting kids for decades.

Museums

The Columbus Museum of Art is a nice, easy-to-visit museum in downtown Columbus. It’s certainly not the Louvre, but it has a decent selection of artwork in a variety of mediums, and a variety of works produced by Ohio artists. You can easily visit the museum and still have time to do something else in town. Admission is free on Sundays!

COSI, the Center of Science and Industry, is a favorite for kids of all ages. With its terrific mix of hands-on activities, there’s a lot to see, do, and learn at COSI. I can easily spend a couple hours here, even without attending any of the Extreme Screen theater presentations. Be sure to check the schedule for the various demonstration exhibitions — they’re a terrific and interactive experience.

The Wexner Center for the Arts, on the OSU campus, has an eclectic mix of exhibitions. Modern art, performance art, film and theater, even comics, have all been showcased at different times. There’s almost always something going on at the Wex, and it makes a great showcase event for any tour of the OSU campus.

Eating

Columbus has a number of world-famous dining establishments, as well as a lot of local favorites.

Schmidt’s Sausage Haus in historic German Village is a favorite spot for many tourists, as is The Spaghetti Warehouse. Both are a little more corporate than I usually prefer, but you’re sure to get a good meal and have a good time at each.

The Thurman Cafe is the place I keep meaning to take all of my out-of-town friends when they visit, and almost always fail to do so. The place sits about 40 people, and has a waiting room that holds at least that many. The waits usually aren’t too long, and they’re definitely worth it. The world-famous Thurman Burger absolutely has to be seen to be believed!

The Blue Danube, just north of the Ohio State University campus, is another hidden gem. It’s your typical greasy spoon, and has been a mainstay of campus life for several decades. Be sure to check out the ceiling while you’re there: the ceiling tiles may be purchased by patrons to decorate! There are some terrific pieces up there, and it adds a lot of character to an already interesting establishment.

And of course, Columbus is home to White Castle, where you can get their famous Sliders by the sack. White Castle hamburgers is one of those things that you either love, or hate: I’ve never heard anyone say “Yeah, they’re okay”. Personally, I love Sliders, and always have. I have fond memories of my dad and I holding competitions to see who could eat the most burgers.

Drinking

I’m not much for night life, usually, and Columbus certainly isn’t known for its club scene. That said, there are a number of watering holes I like to haunt with my friends. Bob’s Bar, the Cultural Hub of the Midwest, looks like any other neighborhood bar from the outside. Inside, it still looks like nearly any neighborhood bar, but it offers a tremendous selection of fantastic beers. It also has a terrific jukebox. Bob’s Bar has a special place in my heart because I used to go there over a decade ago, when it was a bland hole-in-the-wall. Roy, the bartender, would offer you a glass of their finest draft beer. It was Stroh’s, which was, in fact, their only draft beer. But at a dollar a glass, one could hardly complain. Back then, they had the world’s bumpiest pool table, but that didn’t matter because they also had the world’s most crooked pool cues. Today the pool tables and cues are in fine shape. Bob’s gets busy on the weekends, and the crowds have always been friendly.

MoJoe Lounge is a groovy venue, though I don’t go there too often. The one downtown is pretty comfortable, with a number of great beers on draft. MoJoe makes a good half-way meeting point for me and a couple of friends, and their free WiFi makes drinking-and-coding extremely easy (albeit somewhat dangerous for the projects on which I’m coding!).

O’Reilly’s has always been one of my favorite establishments. It’s your traditional Irish pub: unassuming with a simple menu and a reasonable selection of beers. It was convenient for me that it was literally a hundred feet away from my old house, so you can understand why it was my de facto choice. If you visit them more than two or three times, the bartenders should remember you, as well as your drinking preferences. That’s the kind of personal touch that really sets O’Reilly’s apart from many other places.

The Surly Girl Saloon is my favorite bar with a pirate-cowgirl theme. In fact, it’s the only pirate-cowgirl themed bar I know! The beer selection focuses on women-brewed beers, and is sure to please any palate. The kitchen also offers a great selection of food. They host a variety of interesting events, like an open mic comedy night, and Punk Rock Aerobics.

Shopping

Columbus has an Apple store at Easton Town Center, should you need to get your Steve-fix. We also have a Microcenter, if you’re of the PC persuasion.

The North Market, just north of downtown, is a wonderful place to get all manner of stuff. The market is comprised of a lot of independent shops, each selling different foodstuffs: coffees, popcorn, salsas, fish, beer, pastries, you name it! Plus, events are held there on a fairly regular basis. No trip to Columbus can be considered complete without a stop at the North Market.

Since this is a “geek weekend”, though, I should steer you away from health food, and toward The Soldiery, a gaming store at which you can purchase and play all manner of role playing games, miniature wargames, collectible card games, and more! I’ve made my fair share of purchases here, though I’ve never stuck around for an actual game. I should remedy that some time. Send me an email if you’re going to play there, and maybe I’ll stop by to join you! Be sure to check their calendar for upcoming game tournaments, if that’s your thing. And literally right around the corner is The Laughing Ogre comic book shop. Pick up all the comics and graphic novels you need!

Coworking

One of the biggest new trends in Columbus is the notion of “co-working”: “the social gathering of a group of people, who are still working independently, but who share values and who are interested in the synergy that can happen from working with talented people in the same space.” (via Wikipedia) A number of co-working joints have sprung up in the last year. If you’re in town for more than a couple days, it might be worth a visit to one of these places to network with local independents:

• Qwirk Columbus
• Sandbox Columbus
• Indie House Collective
• Corkboard Columbus

Events

The area between downtown Columbus and the OSU campus is known as the Short North. It’s filled with a wide variety of bars, art galleries, and shops. The first weekend of every month sees the Gallery Hop, in which all the galleries stay open late and pedestrians wander down High Street into and out of the various galleries. This is a favorite event for many folks in town, and a great way to see some cool stuff.

ComFest is probably one of the better showcase events for Columbus. A weekend of local music, art exhibitions, and community coming together. It’s been going strong for over 35 years, and really is worth attending if you can. Bring a blanket, hang out on the lawn, and listen to great local music. Or walk amongst the hundreds of booths showcasing local artisans and their crafts. Enjoy a variety of delicious food from local establishments. Or just walk around and marvel at the variety of people. Too bad you’ll have to wait until next year, though, since ComFest 2009 is over.

Every year, Columbus hosts the Origins Game Fair. If you’re into games, this is the place to be. You can play role playing games, card games, board games, LARPs, etc. If you can’t wait until June 2010 for the next Origins, check out the Columbus Boardgaming and Pan-Philosophical Debate Society.

Another excellent annual event is the Dublin Irish Festival, which takes place in just a couple weeks. Lots of great live music, traditional Irish dancing, plenty of food, and various crafts fill the weekend. There should be something for everyone here. Alas, Coors is the official beer sponsor, so the closest you’ll get to Irish beer is Killian’s Irish Red. Other than that, it’s a fun weekend!

Miscellaneous

Shadowbox Cabaret can’t be beat for live entertainment. It’s a blend of sketch comedy, rock and roll cover tunes, and live theater. I’ve always had a good time here, and thoroughly recommend it to visitors! Not too far from Shadowbox is the Columbus Funny Bone comedy club. I’ve had a couple good belly laughs here, too.

The Columbus Zoo is a fun way to spend a day. Many people are probably familiar with Jack Hannah, our zoo’s emeritus director, from his many appearances on Late Night with David Letterman. My personal favorite is the reptile room, but just about everything is worth seeing, as is the case at most zoos.

If sports is your thing, Columbus is home to the Blue Jackets NHL hockey team; the Columbus Crew MLS soccer team; and the Columbus Clippers Triple-A baseball team. Plus, the Ohio State Buckeyes athletics programs have a huge number of collegiate sporting events and competitions every year. I particularly like the women’s ice hockey.

One of the most joked about locations in the Columbus area is the Field of Corn in Dublin. It’s a weird thing to see, and doesn’t make much sense on its own. In fact, it’s an art installation celebrating the development of hybrid corn in the area. See it, take pictures of it, and impress all your friends.

Finally, for the tech-minded, be sure to check out the TechLife Columbus meetup calendar. With almost 1300 members, there’s always something going on! Networking, software development, project management, biosciences, the Central Ohio Linux User Group, and FreeGeek Columbus — the TechLife Columbus calendar is chock full of interesting things.

For more Columbus information, visit the Experience Columbus website!

In this new series we’ll be offering you a list of cool things to do in cities across America and around the globe. This Geek Weekend we present Philadelphia, the city of geek love, where you can check out ENIAC, a Star Trek exhibit, and buy a geeky faucet.

For questions about Philly, Tweet VisitPhilly.

Want your city featured? Drop us a line at tips @ crunchgear.com.

THINGS TO DO

· University Pinball: classic arcade in University City, 4006-08 Spruce Street, (215) 387-9523,

· The Hacktory: Josh Kopel is a techy of techies. A co-founder of Make Philly and an all around master of things made by hand to beep, blink, and transmit ones and zeros, Josh has started “The Hacktory.” The Hacktory promotes the use of technology in the arts and is incubated as a project within Nonprofit Technology Resources: providing classes for artists / craftspeople / makers, community events, shared facilities and equipment, artist-in-residents programs, art sales, and materials exchange. 1524 Brandywine Street

· Fat Jack’s Comic Crypt: Withstanding the test of time and technology, for 30 years Fat Jack’s Comic Crypt has been the place for old-school and fresh-off-the-press copies from all major and independent companies. There enough tees, action figures and old-school lunches for ever comic-lover. 2006 Sansom Street (Rittenhouse Square area)

· Brave New Worlds Comics: With action figures, designer vinyl toys, giant Silver Surfers, and of course, comics, this place has it all. (Check out Geekadelphia’s video). 45 N.2nd Street (Old City)

http://www.viddler.com/player/b570fc8d/

· The Mutter Museum of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia: The Museum’s display of 20,000 provocative items is designed to give a beneath-the-surface perspective of what physicians study — and it’s not always pretty. You’ll find a wide smattering of abnormal body parts preserved in fluid. You’ll encounter skeletal formations — like that of a 7’6” man — that don’t seem quite possible. Diseased and enlarged organs are tastefully displayed within glass-encased oak frames. Connections to the famous include Marie Curie’s electrometer, Dr. Benjamin Rush’s medicine chest and, most spectacularly, the death cast of Chang and Eng, the original “Siamese Twins,” whose autopsy was performed in the museum. The preserved body parts of the famous include John Marshall’s bladder stones, a piece of Grover Cleveland’s cancerous jawbone and a section of John Wilkes Booth’s neck. The non-squeamish will be fascinated by the collection of 139 skulls, the exhibit on conjoined twins and objects retrieved from people’s throats and lungs. 19 S. 22nd Street, (215) 563-3737,

· ENIAC (world’s first computer): ENAIC was built at the University of Pennsylvania and parts are still on view there. At 150-feet wide, with 20 banks of flashing lights, ENIAC fills a whole room. The School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, 220 South 33rd Street

· The Franklin Institute Science Museum: An innovator in designing hands-on exhibits before “interactive” became a buzzword, the Franklin Institute is as clever as its namesake. Its eminently touchable attractions explore science in disciplines ranging from sports to space. Highlights include The Sports Challenge, which uses virtual-reality technology to illustrate the physics of sports; The Train Factory’s climb-aboard steam engine; Space Command’s simulated earth-orbit research station; a fully equipped weather station; and exhibits on electricity. 222 N. 20th Street, (215) 448-1200,

· Simeone Foundation Museum: One of the world’s most remarkable collections of race cars is located just five minutes from Philadelphia International Airport — perfect for international visitors hoping to see the Simeone’s vast collection of European race cars. Within the walls of the newly opened Simeone Foundation Museum — the only museum of its kind in North America — you’ll find 60 of the world’s rarest and most famous race cars. And if luxury is your style, names like Alfa Romeo, Bentley, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar and Maserati are pretty tough to beat. As you walk through the museum, you’ll see how technology has evolved in just seven decades of racing.
6825-31 Norwitch Drive, (215) 365-7233,

· The underground SEPTA and PATCO tunnels – especially around City Hall – are one of the greatest engineering marvels of all time.

SHOPPING
· Omoi: Omoi boutique brings the trendy styles of Tokyo to Philadelphia. Filled with kitschy-chic clothing, jewelry and accessories, Omoi reflects the colorfully streamlined sensibilities of Asian fashion. And now Omoi has evolved to include other quirky and punk-inspired fashions from around the world. Keep an eye out for Japanese toys, tea ceremony sets and hand-printed stationary. And for those who speak the language, feel free to leaf through Japanese magazines to inspire your shopping. 1608 Pine Street, (215) 545-0963,

· Abakus Takeout: a new footwear spot in Philadelphia’s Chinatown with a Chinese takeout joint atmosphere. 227 N. 10th Street Philadelphia

· Ubiq: This hipper-than-thou Philly-owned sneaker gallery—built inside a Victorian-era townhouse—stocks couture-level Nikes and classic to cutting-edge Vans (renovated & reopened May 2007). They even have a blog. 1509 Walnut Street, (215) 988-0194

PLACES TO EAT

· Pod: Philadelphia’s renowned restaurateur Stephan Starr is behind University City’s pan-Asian Pod. The space is almost right out of a Sci-fi movie — stools that light up when you sit down; private egg-shaped dining spaces (or “pods”) that change neon colors as you eat; and a conveyor belt that moves colorful plates of edamame, maki and sashimi around an elongated sushi bar for you to pick up when one strikes your fancy. Pod now has a new, invisible component: free wireless internet access is available to diners throughout the restaurant. 3636 Sansom Street, (215) 387-1803.

· Yakitori Boy: Yakitori Boy, opened in December 2007 in Chinatown, serves “Japas” (Japanese tapas) alongside a sushi bar and a yakitori bar, where cooks grill skewered meats. Upstairs is the karaoke bar, with special sake and cocktails and private karaoke rooms. 213 N. 11th Street (Chinatown), 215-923-8088

· National Mechanics: A restaurant owned by a web company and operated by tech geeks? Kiiinda awesome. The menu is fun to peruse, full of nostalgic favorites and innovative mash-ups. Sample throwback items include corn dogs, grilled cheese and Campbell’s tomato soup, and the “Frito Taco Extravaganza” — a split-open bag of Frito’s topped with a heavenly medley of chili and cheddar cheese. The restaurant’s décor pays homage to all things mechanical. Metal devices adorned with Christmas lights illuminate the dining room, while the restaurant’s bathrooms are worth a trip for their artistically designed sinks and light fixtures. 22 S. 3rd Street, (215) 701-4883

UPCOMING / CURRENT EVENTS

Schuylkill Banks Movies: On Philadelphia’s other riverfront, film fans take a seat on the grass with their picnic food and blankets to take in the free movies along the Schuylkill River Trail by the Walnut Street bridge. The movies show every other Thursday, June 25-August 6, 2009. Schuylkill River Trail at Walnut Street, (215) 222-6030, ext. 103.

· Hollywood Classics Under The Stars: The outdoor concert venue The Mann Center has summer picnics. On July 21st, the Philadelphia Orchestra performs music from Star Wars.

· Star Trek: The Exhibition (Through September 20, 2009) This exhibition will highlight 200 authentic objects from this groundbreaking television and motion picture series. The Exhibition allows visitors to connect with iconic Star Trek moments and characters while celebrating the creative spirit of science fiction that gave rise to many of today’s modern marvels. The Franklin Institute Science Museum, 222 N. 20th Street, (215) 448-1200,

OUT IN BUCKS COUNTY, PA…
· NASTAR CENTER: At the National Aerospace Training and Research Center, pilots can fly a centrifuge-based flight simulator, to practice flying skill and discover the boundaries of the aircraft’s performance limits. NASTAR also readies private space travelers for their flights into space by conditioning them to the rigors of space flight, which gives them the confidence that they can handle the stresses of space launch. (Including Richard Branson!) NASTAR Center has a wide variety of “serious entertainment” experiences: puts you in a high-fidelity cockpit, and sends you skyward into engagements against skilled pilots. Your co-pilot is there to assist you during your engagement, and coach you through the high G turns and maneuvers. If you want to fly higher and faster than a jet pilot, our Space Launch experience will launch you into a suborbital flight, with all the G forces of an actual launch. There’s also a GYROLAB, a full-motion flight simulator, and an Altitude Chamber, is a hypobaric vessel which can simulate atmospheric conditions up to 100,000 feet. The Ejection Seat System and Night Vision Goggle Training. 125 James Way Southampton, PA