German Village Guesthouse Blog

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009901110313

January 11, 2009

German Village, Columbus, Ohio

Where: South of Downtown Columbus.

How long, how far: 175 miles, 23/4 hours.

How to get there: From Indianapolis, take I-70 east to Exit 100 B. Then go east on Livingston Avenue and south on Third Street.

Info: www.germanvillage.com or (614) 221-8888.

Why: German Village is a 233-acre neighborhood originally settled by a large number of German immigrants in the 19th century. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is now one of the city’s most desirable locations to live. Tree-lined, brick-paved streets lead visitors among dozens of red-brick cottages with wrought-iron fences. Stop at the German Village Meeting Haus, 588 S. Third St., for information.

Most visitors to German Village explore Third Street, lined with locally owned restaurants, shops and galleries, including the famed Katzinger’s Deli and the block-long, 32-room Book Loft bookstore. Certified master chef Hartmut Handke serves global cuisine at Handke’s Cuisine, a AAA 4-diamond restaurant housed in a building that was part of the Schlee Bavarian Brewery. Longtime local favorite Lindey’s is a high-energy, white-tablecloth restaurant featuring American cuisine. The village is also home to the original Max and Erma’s.

Some of the more unusual shops include Caterina Ltd., for artisanal works from Europe; Franklin Art Glass, with 35,000 square feet dedicated to stained glass; and Vintage Vamp Jewelry, with Teresa Morbitzer’s one-of-a-kind pieces created from vintage beads, Swarovski crystal or other high-quality glass beads.

The award-winning German Village Guest House, 748 Jaeger St., is a boutique hotel/B&B within walking distance of dining, shopping and galleries. Rates start at $135. Info: (866) 587-2738,www.gvguesthouse.com, or e-mail info@gvguesthouse.com

While you’re there: “Rockwell’s America: Celebrating the Art of Norman Rockwell,” the largest Norman Rockwell exhibit in the world, is up through March 1 at the Ohio Historical Center, 1982 Velma Ave. The exhibit features Rockwell’s 322 Saturday Evening Post covers and lifesize, interactive sculptures of his most famous paintings, including a re-creation of the artist’s studio. Info: www.ohiohistory .org, (800) 686-6124 . . . The Andy Warhol exhibit, “Other Voices, Other Rooms,” is up through Feb. 13 at the Wexner Center, 1871 N. High St. The only U.S. presentation of the exhibit features videos, paintings, drawings, prints, installations, objects, seldom-heard audio recordings and rare archival material. Info: www.wexarts.org, (614) 292-1807.

— Zach Dunkin

On newsstands today!

Get Lost, Get Found
BY JENNY PAVLASEK

http://ohiomag.com/magazine/travel/article.asp?ID=454943AF84F04200AE985C8A8CA02769

Here’s what Jenny (my new favorite writer!) had to say about the Guest House:

“So you say you’re not the B&B type. We say talk to us after a night at the German Village Guest House. Tucked along the brick-paved streets of one of Ohio’s hippest historic neighborhoods, the posh digs here are a better fit for the latest Pottery Barn catalogue than a spread in Country Living.

Owner John Pribble and his wife, Darci Congrove, completely renovated the house in 2005, adding modern fixtures and furniture as well as a few glass showers the size of a small studio apartment, while preserving the home’s historic architectural details such as exposed brick walls, crown moldings and hardwood floors. Not surprisingly, word of the trendy accommodations — and John’s killer banana bread (so good it’s been a topic on local food blogs) — spread quickly, attracting travelers ready for the long-overdue alternative to the city’s downtown hotel chains.

Guests share the roomy kitchen, living room and dining room spaces, as well as the backyard formal boxwood hedge garden and its outdoor fireplace. The Pribbles keep a stack of kindling and s’more staples on hand for couples who want to cozy up in front of a crackling fire, although John admits the indoor gas fireplace in the living room gets more use this time of year.

Even the approach to hosting is modern here; the couple is always available by phone, text or e-mail, but since both maintain full-time jobs, unless you want to, you probably won’t see them during your stay. For that reason, breakfast is a serve-yourself spread of freshly baked breads, cereal, yogurt and fruit.

After breakfast, bundle up and explore the sights and shops of surrounding German Village — a walkable neighborhood just south of downtown Columbus. Wander the cobblestone avenues arm-in-arm and you’ll discover a collection of independently owned shops that add to the neighborhood’s charm. Browse the literary jackpot at the Book Loft (www.bookloft.com), then stop in at the incredible Pistacia Vera (www.pistachiosweets.com) and share a decadent sweet. For lunch, grab a table at the ultimate neighborhood joint, The Old Mohawk (www.theoldmohawk.com), which has been operating as a restaurant in German Village since 1933. For dinner, try Lindey’s (www.lindeys.com) for white tablecloths, candlelight and a center-cut filet, Barcelona (www.barcelonacolumbus.com) for a lively crowd and paella or G. Michael’s Bistro & Bar (www.gmichaelsbistro.com) for casual dining and crispy duck with foie gras butter.

If you’re looking for more privacy than the Guest House can offer, consider booking your stay at the Pribbles’ other German Village property, Whittier Suites. Just down the road from the Guest House, the home has been converted into two fully furnished 800-square-foot private apartments, where you’ll have all the same amenities plus a full kitchen, minus the company.”

Plus lots of photos! Thanks Jenny!

Hayato Tokudome and his impressive touring bicycle and gear were our guests this last week. Read about his amazing 14,000 mile, 8 month bicycle journey across the US in this article from the Erie PA newspaper – 

http://www.eriecitymission.org/newsroom/2008/11/a-journey-of-peace

Check out these web sites to learn more about Hayato.

http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081203/NEWS02/312039891

http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081119/NEWS02/311199889

Hayato’s web site is:  http://tokudome8810.petit.cc/

John Pribble never thought he’d end up in the hospitality business. But now that he is firmly entrenched as co-owner of the German Village Guest House, he believes in making his business the best he can.

“We never had any secret desire to end up in the bed and breakfast business — it just happened,” Pribble said.

Pribble, along with his wife Darci Congrove are the owners of the German Village Guest House, a bed and breakfast that in the past several years has received numerous accolades from a number of travel writers.

Some of the papers that have featured the Guest House include the St. Louis Post Dispatch, New York Post, St. Louis Suburban Journal and the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

“Nothing is more hip,” Laura Johnston, of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, wrote about the Guest House last year.

Pribble, however, hasn’t let his business’ budding success go to his head. He said the Guest House is based on what he would like to see in bed and breakfasts around the country.

“We both had traveled a bit and stayed at a lot of bed and breakfasts around the country so we both had an idea of what we thought worked and what didn’t work,” said Pribble, who also is an adjunct instructor at Franklin University.

What Pribble and Congrove wanted in their business was a feeling of autonomy.

“Some of the things that we found problematic was having to check in at a certain timeand be beholden to someone else’s schedule when we’re the ones on vacation,” he said.

“We didn’t want it to feel like somebody else’s home,” he continued. “Some of the places we’ve stayed felt like you’re staying in grandma’s attic or somebody’s spare room.”

The Guest House, located at 748 Jaeger St., has three rooms. In addition, there at the Whittier Suites, which are larger accommodations a few blocks away.

The inside of the Guest House has a modern design with many items and artwork purchased from local shops. Outside is a large, immaculate garden and year-round fireplace.

Pribble and his wife stumbled into the business by chance. The couple bought the house several years ago from their neighbor, who was having a difficult time selling the land.

After completely renovated the property, the couple was unsure about what to do and decided a bed and breakfast would be best.

“We thought the rental market was soft and we didn’t want to sell it because we didn’t want to lose the garden,” Pribble said. “Finally, my wife said, ‘Let’s try a bed and breakfast.’”

Pribble attributed his business’ success to the area.

“If our business was in any other part of town it would not be nearly as successful,” he said. “German Village is the reason.”

To this end, Pribble advocates guests experience the area.

“It’s about walking around the village, walking to restaurants, walking to Schiller (Park) and walking to shops,” he said. “The things that we take for granted living here are the things our guests find to be the most special.”

dcross@thisweeknews.com

Abby Monnis (left), house manager, and Laura Sisinger, guest service manager, prepare one of the beds at the German Village Guest House Friday, Dec. 19.

http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/germanvillage/stories/2008/12/23/1225geguesthouse_ln.html

Oktoberfest is a time-honored German festival featuring traditional German polka as well as various other styles of music, a variety of authentic German food and other festival favorites. Don’t miss Marketplatz filled with artisans and unique shops. Join us at Genoa Park for “one of the top 100 events in North America!” Be sure to check our website for updates, price breaks, entertainment, and special offers.

Location: At Genoa Park and Amphitheater, between the banks of Scioto River and COSI, downtown, Columbus, Ohio 43215 

Date: September 5-7, 2008

If you’re staying with us at the Guest House and wish to attend, you may catch the shuttle direct to Oktoberfest. See http://www.germanvillage.com/oktoberfest/home.html for details!