Old Time Threshing - Slate Run Living Historical Farm

Written/Photo/Video by Andrew Livelsberger

Background:
The Slate Run Living Historical Farm is an actual working farm where people can learn how farm life in Ohio was conducted in the late 1800's.  The farm is part of the Columbus Metro Parks system.

Impression:
One of the great things about the living historical farm is the immersive experience. They use actual machinery and techniques of the era.

In this demonstration, called threshing, you get to see how early automation helped to separate the wheat from the straw.  It took 5 workers to run the entire process.  Someone needed to drive the horses, 2 people took the wheat from the trailer and staged it for the worker at the hopper and one person to monitor the barrel where the wheat is deposited.  Several times the barrel would need emptied and loaded into a large sack, which you can see in the image immediately above.

We have featured Slate Run many times before, but as you can see, there are a lot of reasons for us to return there!  We think you'll find a lot of reasons to visit this place often.

Please enjoy this video showing the threshing process in action.  The video is hosted on Youtube, so feel free to load it full screen in all its HD glory.

Wizard World 2017 is Coming!

Wizard World Columbus returns and so do we!   We plan some extended coverage of the convention floor, cosplayers and events.

Stay tuned for August 4, 5, 6, 2017!

The Columbus Clippers

Written/Photography by

Andrew Livelsberger

One of the Clippers mascots, Krash greets the fans just before the first pitch.

Background:The Columbus Clippers are a minor league baseball team that have their current affiliation with the Cleveland Indians.  Their name has changed a few times over the years, and their history goes back into the late 1800's.

Impression:
If you love baseball, the Columbus Clippers at the current Huntington Park is a must.  The park is laid out in such a way that there is really not a bad seat in the house.

Consistently at the top of the  minor league rankings, the Clippers play at a high level.  The night of this coverage, the Clippers defeated the Norfolk Tides 6-4.

Prior to the game starting, the grounds crew was preparing the field for play.  The weather was in our favor as well, 81F, low humidity.

Also, prior to the first pitch, there are some people who get to be honored with thowing from the mound or being recognized.

Then the game starts.  Here is the first pitch!

The Wilds - Wildside Tour

Written by Danielle and Andrew Livelsberger

Photography by Andrew Livelsberger

Background:
The Wilds is a non-profit conservation preserve that focus' on animals, trying to provide education to the masses as well as care for and reintroduce near extinct species back into the wild.   They have several tour options.  The most immersive is the "Wildside Tour", in which up to 8 people travel off road into the habitats and get to experience the animals that are there up close.   Kind of like an African or Asian safari in the midwest of the United States.   The Wilds is located about an hour east of Columbus Ohio in a town called Cumberland.   The facility is 10,000 acres and was re-purposed in the 1950's as a conservation area.  It was formerly a strip mining location.

Impression:
The wife and I decided to forgo the usual July 4th (american independence day) festivities and spend the day experiencing The Wilds once again.  We had been here before, but it was many years ago, and we had never taken this specific tour.

Here are a few images from that day.

Pere David's Deer - only survived because of European captive animals programs.  This male is looking down at the alpha and his herd

They attract females by covering themselves in dung and mud, then ripping clumps of grass and flowers from the ground and parading around with them in their rack. This was the current alpha male

Female zebras

Scimitar-Horned Oryx

Female white rhino

My wife getting a quick phone pick of the rhino herd

Male ostrich is very interested in us....and air biting.

We first met a female ostrich, but she was chased off quickly by this male...then he came back up to our truck and wanted to follow us around for quite a while.  He was very curious

Banteng calf hiding in the tall grasses with mom

The Sammy Davis Jr of  Fringe Eared Oryx's

African Painted Dog.  Was hyper active because the facility was currently mowing grass outside the habitat

Giraffe wants his romaine lettuce

18 inch tongue wraps around that yummy stuff

Close up

All Star Jammerz at Comfest

Written and Photography by

Andrew Livelsberger

Background:
The All Star Jammerz are a a Reggae/Soca group that got their start in 2011 in Columbus Ohio.  They have played at Comfest in downtown Columbus in the past and were back in 2017 to play again.

Impression:
While the mainstay of every Comfest is the music, it takes a special band to stand out.  The All Star Jammerz did that.  Playing a combination of original music and covers, they entertained the early crowds on Saturday.

Check out their site, linked above to find other places they may be playing near you!