I absolutely love candles. I can never pass a display in a store without smelling two or three. When I found out there were businesses where you could design and pour your own candle, I had to investigate.
I found one not too far from home and looking to make an adventure our to it, I recruited Marina to join me. She loves candles, too, so it wasn’t a hard sell. Together we planned a full afternoon exploring Grandview, a charming little neighborhood just north of downtown Columbus.
Eating in Grandview: Agave & Rye
First things first, our tummies were growling. We had both heard good things about The Grandview Cafe, but I remembered that I’d had lunch there with my brother a few years prior (great, by the way). We wanted to try something new and Agave & Rye caught our eye.
I would describe the decor at Agave & Rye as eclectic. Black and white is the primary color scheme and the space is accented with whimsical art pieces and crystal chandeliers.
We started with the queso and chips, which was good but fairly ordinary, and the chunky salsa and chips. The salsa was very chunky and very fresh and it disappeared quickly.
We focused our orders on those tacos that were featured on the “taco Tuesday” special menu. Marina ordered the Plain Jane, which was a bigger version of a regular taco, and the Alderman. The Alderman had steak as its base and notably was topped with cheese and a corn salad.
I ordered the Alderman as well and found it delicious. To keep it interesting, I order the Beekeeper which had an herbed chicken as its base along with toppings that included strawberries and a green apple slaw.
If you like to keep things very interesting, you might consider the Big Thumper. The Thumper features peppercorn kangaroo as its base protein. Yes, I said kangaroo, as in, well, kangaroo.
A bonus of eating at Agave & Rye is the arcade section of the restaurant. Located toward the back, you’ll find arcade favorites from the 80’s such as Galaga, Donkey Kong, Centipede, Street Fighter, Mortal Combat and more. The bonus? Well, they’re all completely free!
Warming Up to Candle Crafting at Penn & Beech Candle Co.
Our next stop was Penn & Beech Candle Co., which was the reason for our Grandview visit. I’d heard from a friend that you could scent and pour your own candles. We love candles so this seemed like a great way to spend the afternoon.
Reservations are recommended, we made reservations but arrived about 20 minutes early and they were able to accommodate us. Upon arriving, we were seated and given a worksheet. Here, we began by writing our name and email so they could attach it to our creations.
Making Our Candle Selections
Next, we were directed to what I’ll call the “smelling wall.” On this wall were shelves of strongly scented candles and we were instructed to smell them all and record our favorites on our worksheet. There were the usual scents such as coffee and lavender, alongside unusual varieties like bacon, cannabis and kelp.
We made a list of our favorites and returned to our seats. There we were instructed to put stars next to three to five of our favorites. I like food scents, so I found myself starring scents such as coffee, caramel, maple syrup and honey crisp. Marina, on the other hand, is looking forward to her fellowship this summer on the coast and she selected sea foam as one of her choices.
Next, we moved on to choose a vessel. There were several to choose from in a variety of price ranges starting from about $25 and moving up from there. Swayed by the “buy 3, get 1 free” special, we each chose two glass jars.
After reviewing our selections and talking to us for a few minutes about what type of feeling we were trying to create (I mentioned that I wanted just a warm and welcoming feeling and Marina brought up her upcoming seaside experience) our candle professional started making suggestions.
Pour Your Own Candles
She brought over several bottles of oils and encouraged us to smell them separately and together so as to find the perfect combination. This took quite a bit of time to make sure we got our combinations just right. When we had selected the oils we wanted to use to create our candle, she gave us labels for the bottom. We were encouraged to write the name of the scents we’d chosen and/or the title of our candles.
I chose my first candle to include both honey crisp and maple syrup (I named it “Pancakes in the Orchard”). My second candle was a combination of almond and coffee (which I named “almond coffee” which was so very creative).
We combined our oils, adding just a little at a time. We stirred and smelled over and over again as we brought the oil up to the top, making certain we got the rations just right.
As we finished that step, our candle pro brought us hot beakers of wax. She instructed us to pour in the oil quickly, stir for one minute and then pour the mixture into our vessel. That was it, very easy. We just needed to entertain ourselves for two hours as our candles cured and were made ready for pickup. Exploring Grandview, we found, was a great way to kill a few hours.
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream
If you live in or have visited Central Ohio, you’ve either seen or visited a Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream. They offer locally famous gourmet ice creams and they’ve been featured in a number of publications, including being voted Columbus’ favorite ice cream on many occasions by Columbus Monthly magazine.
Thankfully there wasn’t much of a line. Marina scored a standard, which is two dips. I went for the signature, which is any three flavors. The dips aren’t huge but they’re very rich. If you haven’t been and are looking for a recommendation, my favorite is the Brambleberry Crisp. It’s just not a flavor you can get anywhere else.
Shopping Grandview
Grandview has a nice little shopping strip and we decided it was a nice place to get lost while we waited for our candles to cure. Our first visit was to Cub Shrub. I don’t have any small children to buy for at this time, but it was such a magical little store we just had to step in. If you do have little ones to buy for this is a must stop. The toys were adorable and they had the softest onesies you can imagine.
Our next stop was a bit more practical. State of Devotion sells Ohio themed merchandise. Right up my alley! They had all sorts of Ohio apparel, including some selections from colleges and professional teams. I’m not big on short-sleeved t-shirts, but found a long-sleeved Ohio State t-shirt I liked on the clearance rack and was sold. If you’re not into apparel, they also had keychains and jewelry, home decor and accessories from which to choose.
One More Time was our next stop. This is a thrift and consignment store that carries all name brand merchandise, some still new with the original tags. We did a bit of scouting around and Marina found a pair of shoes she liked.
Time Is Up
Checking our watches we found our two hours exploring Grandview had quickly disappeared and we headed back to Penn & Beech to collect the fruits of our labor. Our candles had been finished beautifully and were packed neatly in elegant black gift bags.
Our afternoon in Grandview had been just what we needed. We had a new experience, an excellent meal and a sweet treat and finished with a little shopping. It’s a beautiful little neighborhood just north of downtown Columbus and if you’re in the area, I encourage you to make a visit.
FindingOhio
Thanks for FindingOhio on our visit to Grandview today. We love exploring new towns and neighborhoods and having amazing Ohio experiences. Check back often, because we will be adding a new adventure at least once a week. If you’re looking for more towns to explore, consider a trip to Chillicothe or Portsmouth. Visit Logan and hike the Hocking Hills. Or consider a visit to the Over the Rhine neighborhood in Cincinnati.
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