Decorators’ Showhouse

After months and months of preparation Decorators’ Showhouse 2011 will open Saturday April 30.  A beautiful Spanish revival home in Upper Arlington is the site of this year’s tour which benefits the Columbus Museum of Art.  The 1928 home, located at 4125 Oxford Drive, was built by Harry Westerman, a cartoonist for the Ohio State Journal.  The 4,500 square foot home has been transformed top to bottom by some of central Ohio’s top interior designers and landscapers.  Tours will run 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; from 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.  The house is closed on Mondays.  Last day of the show is May 22.  Decorators’ Showhouse 2011 is a project of the Columbus Museum of Art’s Women’s Board.  More information can be found at http://www.columbusdecoratorsshowhouse.com.

Unrivaled

In case you’ve been living under a rock, Ohio is celebrating the sesquicentennial – 150 years – of the opening of the Ohio Statehouse. The beautiful structure took 22 years to construct and was considered one of the most significant architectural achievements of its time.  To honor the building’s history and contributions to Ohio’s democracy the Ohio Statehouse Sesquicentennial organization has a year-long series of events planned.  On April 6th noted historian Doris Kearns Goodwin spoke about Ohio’s role – and the role of the statehouse itself – in the Civil War.  She shared knowledge she gained researching Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln.  Any American history geek worth his or her weight needs to read this book.  Ms. Kearns was introduced by Governor John Kasich and she was enthusiastically welcomed by the standing-room-only crowd.  Questions were submitted online by students throughout the state of Ohio, and Ms. Kearns answered them all with humor and grace.  Of special note was her personal observation that Lincoln was  “sexy.”  You  can check out the program in its entirety at http://www.ohiochannel.org/MediaLibrary/Media.aspx?fileId=129907