canal winchester is my new home, having moved here a little over 4 weeks ago. while i don't live in the actual little town itself, i am a mere 4-5 minutes from it, and when i am there (which is becoming increasingly more often), i wonder why anyone wouldn't choose to live like this.
in only 2 weeks time, i have discovered the following about canal winchester:
- it has an outstanding mom and pop computer repair shop, "elite networks," - http://columbusohiocomputer.com/ - that simply cannot be beat for quality, service, and old-fashioned (if it makes any sense to use "old-fashioned" and "computer" in the same sentence) "sit a spell" friendliness. yes. they actually offered me ice-cold lemonade while they ran some diagnostics. while i sat on the front porch of its late 19th century building.
- "paradise froyo" - a charming make-it-yourself frozen yogurt store in a charming refurbished victorian home. black wrought-iron cafe tables and chairs, as well as some very colorful adirondack ones, line the outdoor patio which faces the main drag. and of course, the main drag is tree-lined and american flag-flying. love!
- "the harvest moon cafe" - http://www.hm-cafe.com/ - have i said "charming" yet? well, here's another. the harvest moon cafe is on the corner of the main drag and the other main drag - in other words, right smack in the middle of "downtown" canal winchester (and a block from paradise froyo. which is 3 doors down from elite networks. see how that works? small town. small town). it is an upscale cafe on one side and health food store/winery on the other. the food is local, gluten-free, hormone-free, everything-except-the-price free. they emphasize whole foods, hand-crafted beers from ohio, intriguing cocktails (the "blue waltz lady fills her dance card"), and plenty of dishes featuring bison. they even have a goat burger which, i'm not too sure about that one. their wine selection is small, as is fitting for canal winchester, but impressive, with a strong ohio presence, a decent french one, and a very nice south american one. of which i am sure pope francis approves. :)
- across the corner from the harvest moon cafe is, quite aptly enough, "cornersmiths," a vintage/antique shop whose layout is genius. it is, like all of these wonderful gems, in a refurbished turn-of-the-century brick home, and the owners have presented their merchandise according to the room you're in. so, for example, in what used to be the front room of this home, you will now find old sofas, chairs, end tables, lamps, and decorative items. the kitchen is a special delight - with stuff from the 30s, 40s, and 50s. i especially loved the stuff from the 50s because i remember it. in the bathroom you will find handmade soaps and toiletries as well as crocheted hand towels and a claw-footed tub which yes, is for sale.
- "georgie emerson's vintage" - a half block down from cornersmiths. it's a teensy, tiny shop with every item in it being either white, cream, beige, or brown. it's like walking into a hot fudge sundae, minus the cherry. but, wait! there IS a cherry.........a wreath made of dried cherries and white hydrangeas hangs on the front door. :)
- "hidden lakes winery" - http://www.hiddenlakeswinery.com/ - this one is a bit on the outskirts of the actual downtown. it's so close, i can walk to it. it is right off a major thoroughfare which is right off st. rt. 33 and it is surrounded by the usual sites one comes to expect in america from busy intersections such as these - home depot, walmart, mcdonald's, taco bell, staples, kroger.......well, you get the drift. but, tucked just off the busy road (by a mere 300 feet) is hidden lakes winery and truly, it is one of those places that is so right under your nose you'd never know it was there. unless you got lucky and found out it was there. which i did. and when you ARE there, you are miles and miles away. it is a charming (sorry!) little place, situated on a lovely lake complete with dock, a white lattice-work gazebo, and plenty of trees and picnic grounds and outdoor dining encouraged. inside, the motif is exposed brick and a fireplace, so fall can't get here soon enough to suit me (which, regardless of hidden lakes winery, fall can't get here soon enough to suit me). plus, they have live music two nights per week, right by the lake, as the sun sets. i have to pinch myself.
i am looking forward to finding out what other well-kept secrets this little town has. already, i know of two in particular that i want to explore - "the wigwam," which i understand has been there for like forever and is your basic, small town diner. that will probably turn out to be the best place of all, and the site of the former canal (yes, there really used to be one) around which this town sprung up.
there may be no place on earth better than mayberry, but if there is, this is it.
and it's home.
:)
