vegan columbus: vegan living in central ohio

Current Area: German Village, Columbus, Ohio. It's a nice area, aside from being within rock-throwing distance from that mecca of vegan-ness, Schmidt's.

Hometown: Marysville. That's Ohio, too. Grew up and grew out just before the Honda dynasty moved in and tripled the population.

Occupation: Along with my life partner, Debra, I organize the Columbus Vegan Meetup group . In order to subsist financially, I also manage a portion of the tax function at JPMorgan Chase. Audits, research, planning... all that kind of silliness. My dream lies in an eventual departure from corporate America and, in some way, playing a part in the movement toward a more compassionate, sustainable homeland.

Other interests: I read voraciously, mostly modern street fiction mixed with classic literature. I have a passion for progressive art forms, leftist politics, and doing anything with my 13-year-old son. And I'm addicted to music. Indie rock, real jazz, blues, r&b, the Woodstock generation. A hippie at heart, I was likely born about 15 years too late... but, now that I think of it, in terms of my veganism, maybe 50 years too early.

What made you decide to go vegan? Let me see. I turned vegetarian in 1999... in the middle of an overall reevaluation of my life (also known as a midlife crisis) and in the midst of reading John Robbins' seminal work, May All Be Fed. At the time, I think, vegetarianism was a way for me to broadly encompass all of the seemingly disparate principles that had, up until that point, formed the fabric of my beliefs: For the animals (first and foremost), but also for earth sustainability, world hunger, and my own personal health. I knew about veganism and, deep inside, I knew that was ultimately the direction I wished to follow. However, it took almost 9 years - - and the warm, reassuring support of my life partner - - to make that step. It also happened to be the first day that I met her in person. October 26, 2007. With Debra and with veganism... I've never looked back.

What's one thing you'd like to say to anyone considering going to a vegan meetup? They're great fun! Everyone's friendly, supportive, and open to discussion about all facets of veganism, whether that be swapping recipes, the latest MFA investigation into the miseries of dairy farming, health concerns, or just where to find a decent cruelty-free tub-and-tile cleaner. And it can become like a family... a support system, really. We don't just dine out, although the meetups are the events around which the group revolves. Behind the scenes, you can choose to become a part of a growing and diverse vegan community here in Columbus - - a network upon which you can rely if you're going through a difficult time or if you want to vent your frustration about the latest McDonald's propaganda campaign... or if you simply don't know where to go to find a good vegan plum wine. A sort of replenishment of the soul provides a warm, carnelian backdrop for the yummy nourishment of our bodies! I hope that doesn't sound too sanguine, but you know what I mean.

What are your goals for the vegan meetup? When Debra and I saw an opening to organize this meetup group last winter, we viewed it as not only an opportunity for us to personally promote our deep beliefs in veganism, but also a potential conduit to give a level of support to the Columbus community that had not previously existed. With that in mind, augmented by Debra's many years of organizational experience with VeganChicago, we hope to grow the group substantially... we've already seen an almost tripling in size in one year... and become more intertwined with the many diverse vegan-centric and animal rights groups in this area. To be quite honest, I've dreamt of going regional with the meetup idea someday. Our main goal, I think, would be offering support and resources for anyone who is vegan or thinking of heading in that direction - - spreading the vegan word and sharing the vegan love! We also dig a good party.

What are your favorite vegan dishes at various Columbus restaurants? I simply adore the baked tofu wrap at the (hopefully soon to be reopened) Benevolence Cafe, but I am truly addicted to the Berkeley Vegan pizza at zpizza (with yummy plant-based Daiya cheese), but I personalize it by adding pine nuts, basil, arugula, and marinara. Heavenly! Runners-up include Pattycake Bakery's sticky buns, Rad Dog!/Hal & Al's sloppy joes, and the delectable sweet empanadas at On The Fly.

Top 3 favorite dishes to cook at home? Cook at home? Moi?! Hee hee... actually, before I went vegan, I rarely, if ever, cooked at home. We had some toast occasionally. However, over the last 2 years, I've enjoyed making a couple of simple dishes: a savory blend of sweet and russet mashed potatoes... and a really chipper mock tuna salad. I also do a decent spaghetti, some hearty cinnamon pancakes, and all kinds of lively green smoothies in my Vita-Mix!

Favorite ingredients? Basil, kale, nutmeg, garlic

What are your most commonly visited vegan places on the web? Other than meetup, of course, I keep up on things at VeganColumbus, ColumbusVegan, VeganChicago, HalandAls.com (to see what bands are playing), PattycakeVeganBakery.com (to check the weekly specials!), VeganEtsy.blogspot.com (for lots of cool arts and crafts goodies), and I recently discovered the wonderful, Ohio-based vegan store, DifferentDaisy.com. I often shop at VeganEssentials and CosmosVeganShoppe... and I'm awaiting the imminent return of EthicalPlanet! For forums and advice, I'd recommend VeganRepresent, while, for food-related convo, VegWeb is the place to be.

Favorite books pertaining to veganism? John Robbins' May All Be Fed, of course, along with Diet For a New America. Joanne Stepaniak's The Vegan Sourcebook is a great place to start!

Any vegan pet peeves? What bothers me a great deal are ordinarily intelligent, thoughtful vegans who, for some reason or other, cannot grasp that folks become vegan for many, many different reasons... and they're all valid. Like many of us, I would like to see an all-vegan world someday; what is the least likely scenario is one in which everyone is vegan for the same reasons. It is the broad worldview that calls people to action. Whether your personal compassion is for the animals, for the earth, or for your own body, there's a place in veganism for everyone. In this particular case, it's the end... and not the means... that I feel is important.

What advice would you give an aspiring vegan? Surround yourself with other aspiring vegans, as well as card-carrying stalwarts, for support and inspiration. We're all on our own path; the road to veganism is a continuum, paved with learning opportunities and... well... loads of fun, if you allow it to be!

Anything you'd like to add? Live a long, animal-friendly life and prosper!