the German Village entry
German Village is an amazing area of Columbus just south of downtown (less than a mile from the Capitol building!). It is both the largest historic distric in the U.S. as well as the largest privately-funded restoration in the U.S. As a recent addition to the neighborhood, I would like to show you around a bit! I must admit, I'm kind of excited about living here... could ya tell?
The 19th century architecture that makes German village so picturesque is overwhelmingly red brick, as you can see below...
Map of German Village
(click for full size)
Since there are too many great places in German Village, I'm highlighting one, with which some of you may be familiar. I went into such detail with this one that I didn't have time or space to highlight others. Oops!
The Book Loft
This is a favorite haunt of mine, located only a few blocks away! According to a walking tour guide pamphlet created by the German Village Society, the Book Loft is a "truly unique and intimate experience. One of America's largest independently owned book stores, it features over 32 rooms of books, magazines, and music. Each room has its own environment and background music, making getting lost in the store a series of delights. The long courtyard with fountains and benches is equally inviting." MSN.com also ranked it as one of the largest selections of books in the U.S., with over 500,000 volumes according to the Book Loft. To learn more, visit TheBookLoft.com. To take the extended online tour of the store (I got these pictures and text from page 3 and uploaded to imageshack) click here.
Located at 631 South Third Street in German Village, next to Cup O Joe, in Columbus, Ohio, The Book Loft resides in Pre-Civil War buildings, giving it the historical charm that brings people to the center of Columbus.
"The Loft" is open late ... and even later, 'til Midnight, on weekends!
Walking along the brick sidewalk, the store front gives a glimpse of the wonders inside.
The brick path off South Third Street, colorfully landscaped in the warm seasons, brings you closer to the world of books that The Book Loft is famous for.
From City Park, the walkway is no less a journey for the senses. Flowers in an array of colors mixed in between the trees with the brick buildings form a backdrop bring charm to this area of Columbus.
