Letter from the Editor, September 2017

I’m in school again, ya’ll, working on a master’s degree. A lot of people are back in school. Maybe you’re a teacher or a teacher’s spouse. Maybe you have school-aged children or adult children in college. If someone central to your life is in school, so are you. Even if you’re not in school, one way or the other, September always seems to bring with it an uptick in activity. Could be that the closing days of summer push us to do more than we did over those sweltering, humid months. Whatever our situations, when life gets hectic, we all search out ways to relax and unwind.

This September, the Columbus area will be abuzz with activity. For events throughout the month, we have a jam-packed calendar, with everything from rock concerts to knitting groups. I also want to direct you toward two special events in Uptown Columbus, both of which are sure to sate your cultural hunger and offer delicious ways to slake your thirst.

The first event is the Way Down Film Festival. Last year’s inaugural Festival was a major hit, and this year’s is bigger and better. The Springer Opera House will host two days of mingles and screening events, hosted by area favorite restaurants, and showing films from Columbus and around the globe.

At the end of the month, just as fall settles in, Uptown Columbus will host its 8th Annual Beer and Wine festival. The food will delight, and the variety of beers and wines will provide plentiful sampling opportunities, whatever your tastes.

What impresses me most about these events, after the joy of attending, as I step back and look at the larger community picture, is just how lucky we are to have them. The Film Festival, though still new, is becoming an important showcase in the budding Georgian film industry. The Beer and Wine Festival draws vintners and breweries from all over the country.

Supporting these events is more than just fun, though fun it is. By attending, we are building local businesses and showcasing Columbus as a destination. The positive impact of these events and our participation in them reverberates through the community, setting the foundation stones for future growth. Busy as I’ll be, between this magazine and school, I’ll be there. How about you?