Mortgage interest rates have increased for the seventh consecutive week, according to Freddie Mac’s latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate reached 4.40 percent — the highest since April of 2014.
According to the survey:
The average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was 4.40 percent, up from 4.38 percent the previous week. A year ago at this time, this rate averaged 4.16 percent.
The average rate for a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage was 3.85 percent, up from 3.84 percent the week prior. This rate averaged 3.37 percent at the same time last year.
The average rate for a five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage was 3.65 percent, up from 3.63 percent. A year ago, this rate averaged 3.16 percent.
Freddie Mac deputy chief economist Len Kiefer says the steady increases in mortgage interest rates is expected to continue as the Federal Reserve increases short-term rates.
“Mortgage rates have followed U.S. Treasurys higher in anticipation of higher rates of inflation and further monetary tightening by the Federal Reserve,” Kiefer said in a press release. “Following the close of our survey, the release of the FOMC minutes for February 21, 2018 sent the 10-year Treasury above 2.9 percent.”
“If those increases stick, we will likely see mortgage rates continue to trend higher,” he added.
The Allied Works Architecture-designed National Veterans Memorial & Museum(NVMM) is rapidly rising on the shore of the Scioto River in downtown Columbus, Ohio, and is on track to open in July 2018.
Allied Works’s design for the two-story, 53,000-square-foot memorial museum, a circular building with a glass curtain wall ensconced in a spiraling concrete superstructure, is the result of a closed 2013 design competition that included David Chipperfield and Diller Scofidio + Renfro. The winning scheme includes a ramp that wraps around the edge of the building and up to a rooftop “sanctuary” plaza, while large concrete arches crisscrosses the museum’s exterior to symbolically elevate the sanctuary. The sanctuary will be exclusively for ceremonies, events, and reflection, and from renderings, it looks like the rooftop plaza will include amphitheater seating and look out into museum’s exhibition space.
Inside, the museum’s programming will similarly follow the building’s curves, with exhibition galleries arranged in a ring. A double-height great hall will greet visitors at the entrance, while two floors of permanent exhibition space will be arranged in a central ring and provide access to the sanctuary from inside. “Thematic alcoves” will be scattered throughout the museum, each meant to evoke a specific emotion and relay the challenges faced by veterans.
Landscape architect OLIN will be handling the surrounding greenery and have designed a memorial grove in the middle of a circular path near the museum. The grove will also contain a stone wall with a reflecting pool at the base.
The museum’s development, design, and construction were led by the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation (CDDC). The group is also managing the exhibition curation, as well as raising approximately $80 million for the project. The NVMM, which claims to be the first national veterans museum, has set its sights on being part museum and part memorial, with veteran narratives being placed front and center. With only 1 percent of the population currently serving in the military, the museum’s mission is to expose guests, who may not personally know a veteran, to the stories of servicemen and women, while also stimulating conversations around what it means to serve. While originally planned as the Ohio Veteran’s Museum, the scope was drastically expanded to include the stories of veterans from across the country, and from every branch and conflict. In November 2017, the House passed a bill officially designating the museum a national site, capping a years-long push by the NVMM for federal recognition.
In 2017, the top picks ranged from grand mountain chateaus to modest suburban homes – and even a spooky listing that went viral. Whether they earned 283 favorites in South Dakota or 7,290 favorites in California, these homes all have their selling points.
So what’s the most favorited home in your state? Scroll down to find out!
The people of Columbus are loving homey Filipino cooking (Bonifacio), traditional Tibetan momo (Momo Ghar), and refined Mexican cuisine (Cosecha Cocina). For drinks, they’re flocking to a Wes Anderson-inspired speakeasy, the first American outpost of a Scotland-based brewery (Brew Dog Dog Tap), and a bar that doubles as an “adult playground” (Pins Mechanical Company).
1 The Light of Seven Matchsticks
Discreetly tucked away in the basement of Worthington coal-fired pizza and live-music joint Natalie’s is boxcar-sized speakeasy the Light of Seven Matchsticks. It’s got all the whimsy of the Wes Anderson film from which it takes its name (the title of a fictional book in Moonrise Kingdom): dim lighting, green velvet booths, 1920s music, and secret cocktail menus hidden (always on page 166) in leather-bound library books. If seats are scarce, write your order on a book checkout card, slip your drink order into the mail slot next to the bar, knock twice, and wait for your drink to arrive.
Even though Momo Ghar recently hit the one-year mark, it would be wrong not to include it. This no-frills food stand inside Saraga International Grocery on the Northeast Side (where some of the city’s best Asian eateries can be found) remains one of the most talked-about restaurants in town — a destination for from-scratch Nepali and Tibetan homestyle food. Diners cram into its five counter seats with a view of the open kitchen for traditional Nepalese momos, like jhol, doughy steamed dumplings filled with ground chicken and cilantro in a gently spiced broth.
Hot Chicken Takeover came from humble beginnings. It started as a takeout window on the near East Side with a single picnic table and a convivial owner, Joe DeLoss, who wanted two things: to make great Nashville-style fried chicken and to create a social enterprise that would give workers seen as unemployable by others a second chance. Now a food truck and a food stand inside the North Market, Hot Chicken Takeover has its first standalone restaurant in Clintonville, where diners can enjoy all the free sweet tea they can drink alongside fiery Nashville-style fried chicken, mac and cheese, and banana pudding.
Popular Clintonville cooking school Seasoned Farmhouse now has its own restaurant with an educational bent. Picture-perfect pastries, freshly baked breads, and espresso attract a morning rush. A rotating selection of soups, sandwiches, and salads sate loyal regulars at lunchtime. And those who want to learn a few tricks of the trade can sign up for regular bread-baking and floral-arranging classes.
From local restaurant group A&R Creative comes a spinoff of their popular juice and acai bowl eatery, Alchemy. Inspired by an open-air courtyard, the 6,500-square-foot Trism is billed as a transformative space on High Street at the heart of Ohio State’s campus. By day, it’s a fast-casual eatery with healthy and hearty fare created by Alchemy’s nutritionist, Alexis Joseph, including bowls, superfood pop-tarts, and vegan doughnuts. At night, there’s a full bar with cold-pressed juice cocktails.
Longtime Columbus restaurant critic G.A. Benton touted Watershed Distillery’s Grandview restaurant as one of the best to open in the city in years. He’s not the only one enamored of the refined-rustic cooking of executive chef Jack Moore (formerly of the Greenhouse Tavern and Black Pig in Cleveland). Reservations are highly encouraged at this American eatery built off the front of the distillery in an industrial park. Ignore its humble surroundings. Inside, Watershed Kitchen & Bar is cavernously cool, with black walls, a copper-shelved bar, and the stainless steel stills of the distillery gleaming through a wall of windows.
Pinoy food has finally arrived in Columbus. Located in a former Tim Hortons in Grandview, Bonifacio offers the bright flavors of the Philippines with the soul of a home-cooked meal. The recipes come from restaurant owner Krizzia Yanga’s mom, a native of Mindanao, who spent years cooking in the northern and southern regions of the Philippines. Traditional communal-style dinners, known as kamayan, are a local favorite.
A former Short North dive bar is now a buzzy, brick-walled tavern that pleases all the hip crowds, including patiogoers who want to quaff a cold one on outdoor beer hall-style tables, the sports crowd looking to catch the MLS game, and brunchers who want to start their day with a 32-ounce mimosa. Standard Hall’s menu offers slightly innovative bar-food favorites, like tacos, poutine, and hot chicken.
Owned by Chris Crader, one of the city’s top restaurateurs (Harvest Pizzeria, the Sycamore), Cosecha Cocina looks to fill the refined Mexican void in Italian Village. From inside an airy, rehabbed brick barn, hearty stews like pozole made with heritage pork, fresh salsas served with Shagbark chips, and tacos on corn tortillas made from scratch in the kitchen star on the menu. A no-reservations policy can mean long wait times in the evenings. Bide your time with a mezcal cocktail (or two) at the bar.
Located off of Fourth Street in downtown Columbus, Pins Mechanical Company is corner bar meets adult playground. It’s got an industrial vibe with old-school locker room flair and packs in imbibers for cold craft beers, cocktail pitchers, rotating food trucks (typically one on each of its two patios), and entertainment, including ping-pong, duckpin bowling, pinball, and four-square tournaments.
Prohibition left the Brewery District neighborhood brewery-less until Rockmill Tavern, the sister restaurant to a Lancaster-based Belgian brewery with the same name, came along last year. Named best new restaurant in 2016 by Columbus Monthly magazine, Rockmill Tavern is sophisticated and rustic (three barns’ worth of wood covers nearly every inch of the two-story space). And its elevated American fare, painstakingly crafted by lauded chef Andrew Smith, is prepared with ingredients from nearby farms. Food and drink get equal billing on the modest menu — every item comes with an optional beer pairing.
It was big news when Scotland-based BrewDog chose Columbus suburb Canal Winchester as the home of its American brewery operations. The sprawling 100,000-square-foot brewery also houses a 300-seat bar and restaurant, DogTap, which draws beer lovers for its signature Punk IPAs, standard bar fare, and a dog-friendly atmosphere.
You can live in one side of a duplex and use the other side as a rental property, an office, or a guesthouse.
When most people think about buying their first home, three options typically come to mind: single-family home, townhouse, or condo. But there’s a fourth option to consider: a duplex home. Owning a duplex in Columbus, OH has certain perks, like getting you into homeownership with some mortgage and tax advantages. Plus, if you rent out one side, renters can help pay that mortgage. Here’s five reasons why duplexes may be the hot new home type.
1. You get tax benefits
You might already know that you get a tax write-off when you buy a home — you can deduct the mortgage interest you pay. If you buy a duplex and live in one side, you can write off only that side. But if you rent out the other side, there are additional write-offs. “You can write off all of the costs that take place on your Schedule E form,” says David Hryck, a New York, NY, tax lawyer and personal finance expert. “These could be fees accrued to rent the place out or even manage the property. All are completely tax-deductible.” But wait … there’s more. “The same would apply to any type of repair made to the rented half of the duplex as well as the unit’s utility bill,” Hryck says. “If you share expenses such as internet with your tenant, you can also write those off.”
2. There are mortgage advantages
Mortgage lenders typically classify properties into owner occupied and non-owner occupied, and they tend to give more favorable interest rates to people buying a property they will live in. With a duplex, “A mortgage company considers the two units as one property,” says Lucas Hall, head of industry relations for Cozy.co and founder of Landlordology. “And you can qualify for a lower interest rate if you occupy one of the units.” If you plan to rent out the other side, you might also qualify for a larger mortgage. “Many lenders will allow you to include part of the potential rent into your income when qualifying for a mortgage,” says Eric Bowlin, a Massachusetts real estate investor. “This may allow you to qualify for more than you otherwise may have received.”
3. You learn the landlord business
Being a landlord is a great side business and can provide a way to earn passive income. But there’s a lot to learn, such as how landlord-tenant laws work in your state, how to customize a lease, how to make sure you actually collect rent, and how to screen potential tenants. An excellent way to get started is by buying a duplex, living on one side, and renting out the other. Why? You live close to your rental property. “You will see the place every day and see any repairs that need to be made,” says Joe Polyak, a Northern California agent. “You can keep a close watch on your tenants to make sure they aren’t doing anything illegal or destroying your home — without invading their privacy. If anything goes wrong, you are just next door.”
Before you wade into the duplex and landlord business, however, there are some numbers to consider, such as researching what rents are going for in your area. Jimmy Moncrief, a real estate investor and founder of Real Estate Finance, gives this advice: “Make sure that when buying a duplex, if only one side is rented, the rent will be able to cover the principal and interest payments as well as the insurance and taxes.” And if it seems financially doable, there’s the undeniable advantage of OPM — other people’s money.
4. It has great potential as an Airbnb
You can potentially earn more money renting the other side of your duplex through Airbnb or other vacation rental sites than you could by renting it on a traditional one-year lease. Why? Vacation rentalsare for short-term stays, so you can charge more. Vacation renters will also pay more for a full apartment than they would when renting a single room in your home. And with a duplex, you can offer the best of both worlds for renters: They get a full apartment with you available when needed, just as you would be when renting out a room in your home. But you need to make sure you can use your prospective duplex. “Airbnb is case by case,” says Scott Trench, vice president of operations at BiggerPockets.com. “Some areas, like San Francisco, have a very strict set of rules, and some areas are more relaxed. You’ll need to get familiar with your local laws.”
5. A duplex gives you more options
If you don’t need to go into the office every day, a duplex could serve as the perfect work space … and you would beat all your friends when comparing commute times. You also could use the other side as a guesthouse when family or friends come to visit, which is a dream arrangement if you aren’t exactly the entertaining type. The other side of a duplex could also make a convenient place to house elderly parents who need someone checking on them daily — the parents get to remain independent, and everyone gets some privacy.
Not everyone wants to/needs to/can spend 2 days preparing a Thanksgiving Feast. If you’re looking to dine out (or carry out) your Thanksgiving meal, the following restaurants will be open on Thanksgiving Day around Columbus. There are also many options for catered or carry-out Thanksgiving dinners towards the bottom. Reservations are strongly recommended. Please let me know if you are aware of any others!
Restaurants open on Thanksgiving in Columbus
The Berwick 3250 Refugee Rd. 614-235-7100 – reservations recommended HOURS: 11 a.m. to 4:30p.m. MEAL: Buffet – See menu options here. COST: $27.50 for adults, $14 for ages 4 to 12, free for age 3 and younger) TO GO: Carry-Out Orders also available for Pick-Up on Thanksgiving Day, from full turkey dinner for 2-25 people, to sides, main dishes, and more in a variety of sizes
The Boat House Restaurant 679 W Spring St Columbus, OH 43215 (614) 469-0000 HOURS: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. MENU: Champagne Buffet with Breakfast Items, Roasted Turkey, Yankee Pot Roast, Sliced Ham and more all day! Plus, a Specialty Bloody Mary Bar. See menu. COST: Adult: $48.95/Child: $22.95 EXTRAS: Enjoy our Specialty Bloody Mary Bar all day, $4 Brunch Cocktails, and live entertainment.
Bob Evans various locations HOURS: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. for dine in and carry out MENU: Limited menu available after 11 a.m. TO GO: Farmhouse Feasts can be ordered online or by calling your local restaurant.
Boston Market various locations HOURS: varies, contact local store MENU: Regular menu, plus Dine in/out Thanksgiving meal $10.99 TO GO: Holiday Meals – A la Carte options, Heat and Serve ($6-$18/person). You can even have fully-cooked, full Thanksgiving dinner or main dishes shipped to you frozen to just heat and serve.
Buca di Beppo Reservations strongly recommended! HOURS: 11am – 8pm MEAL: Traditional Turkey Dinner – Sliced White Meat Turkey or Hickory-Smoked Ham • Homestyle Gravy • Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes • Spicy Italian Sausage Stuffing • Green Beans • Cranberry Sauce • Pumpkin Pie. Traditional Italian dishes are available as well. COST: Individual $20, Buca Small® $60, Buca Large® $120 Buca Small® feeds up to 3 • Buca Large® feeds up to 6 TO GO: Party Pans to Go, Thanksgiving to Go, and Catering are also available.
Champps Sports Bar 1827 Olentangy River Rd Columbus, OH 43212-1496 HOURS: 11 a.m. – 1 a.m. MENU: Standard menu COST: menu pricing
China Dynasty (At The Shops on Lane Avenue) 1689 West Lane Avenue Upper Arlington, OH 43221 Phone No: (614) 486-7126 HOURS: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. MENU: Thanksgiving Day Special Buffet – details not available for 2017. COST: Adult: $26.99/Child: $12.99 (6-12yrs old) and free (5 and under) (pricing is from 2016)
Claddagh Irish Pub 585 S. Front St. Columbus, OH 43215 Phone: (614) 224-1560 HOURS: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. MENU: Thanksgiving turkey & ham dinner special for $19.99, $3.99 for dessert COST: $19.99
Columbus Fish Market 1245 Olentangy River Road Columbus, Ohio 43212 HOURS: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. MENU: 3 Course Traditional Thanksgiving Meal; regular dinner menu available COST: $28 for adults, $9 for children, or menu pricing TO-GO: Full holiday meal available from $129-$249. Orders picked up on Nov 23 from 9-11 am.
Coopers Hawk Winery 4230 The Strand Columbus, OH 43219 614.428.6999 HOURS: Call for details MENU: Traditional Thanksgiving Meal (see meal), plus regular menu. COST: $27.99 for adults, $12.99 for children 12 and under
Cracker Barrel (All locations) HOURS: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. (regular breakfast menu available from 6 a.m.) MENU: Regular menu, plus Thanksgiving Platter COST: $11.99 Adult or $6.99 Child for platter (pricing from 2017) TO GO: Hams and pies available for pickup, plus heat-n-serve and hot and ready meals for pick up
de Novo 150 S High St Columbus, OH 43215 HOURS: 10 am – 3 pm for brunch, 5-9 pm for dinner MENU: Brunch buffet or dinner menu COST: $39 Adult or $19 Child 5-12 for buffet. Menu pricing for dinner
Golden Corral HOURS: Varies per store MENU: Endless Thanksgiving buffet. Carved turkey or ham, sliced turkey, fried chicken, roast beef, meatloaf, and even steak and shrimp are featured, as well as more than a dozen side dishes COST: varies per store
Granville Inn 314 E. Broadway Granville OH 43023 740-587-3333 for reservations HOURS: 11:30 am – 3 pm MENU: Buffet including chilled foods, hot foods, and dessert COST: $37.95 adults, $17.95 kids 5-12 (pricing from 2016, call for details)
Inn at Cedar Falls in Hocking Hills 21190 State Route 374 Logan, OH 43138 Ph. 800-653-2557 Email-info@innatcedarfalls.com HOURS: Call for hours/reservations MENU: 3 Course Thanksgiving Dinner – see menu COST: $42/adults, $23/kids 12 and under
J Gilbert’s 1 E. Campus View Blvd Columbus, Ohio 43235 Call 614.840.9090 for reservations HOURS: Open 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. MEAL: Regular menu and Thanksgiving Day Three Course Menu COST: $38 for adults, $19 for kids 12 and under
J. Liu Restaurant and Bar 6880 N. High St., Worthington (614-888-1818) 50 W. Bridge St., Dublin (614-718-1818) HOURS: Open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. MEAL: Thanksgiving Buffet COST: Adults- $29.99, Kids ages 5 to 11- $18.99, Kids under 5- $5.00
Lindey’s 169 East Beck Street Columbus, Ohio 43206 (614) 228-4343 HOURS: Open 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. MEAL: special Thanksgiving Menu (see menu) COST: varies per menu
Matt the Millers Dublin: 6725 Avery-Muirfield Dr., Dublin, Ohio 43016 614-799-9100 Grandview: 1400 Grandview Avenue, Columbus Ohio 43212 614-754-1026 Polaris: 1436 Gemini Place Columbus, Ohio 43240 (614) 841-4430 HOURS: Open 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. MEAL: Traditional Thanksgiving Buffet COST: $31.95 adults, $11.95 kids ages 5-10, free for 3 and under per one paying adult (pricing from 2016)
McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood 3965 New Bond Street Columbus, OH 43219 (614) 476-3663 HOURS: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. MENU: Roasted Turkey Dinner; dinner menu also available COST: Contact location for pricing
Mimi’s Cafe 1428 Polaris Parkway Columbus, OH 43240 (614) 433-0441 HOURS: 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. MENU: Standard menu, plus traditional Thanksgiving Dine-In Meal beginning at 11 am on Thanksgiving Day. The quintessential three-course dinner COST: Standard menu pricing; $18.99 for adults and $8.99 for kids for the Thanksgiving meal TO-GO: Take Home heat and serve Turkey Dinner serves 8-10 for $99
Mitchell’s Steakhouse (2 locations) 1408 Polaris Parkway Columbus, OH 43240 (614) 888-2467 45 North Third Street Columbus, OH 43215 (614) 621-2333 HOURS: Polaris, 12 – 8 p.m., Downtown, 2 – 8 p.m. MENU: 4 Course Thanksgiving Meal, 3 Course Meal for Kids, or regular menu COST: $42/adults, $20/kids
Nicola Restaurant and Bar 4740 Reed Rd. Columbus, OH 43220 (614) 459-7000 – reservations required HOURS: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. MENU: Special Thanksgiving menu COST: menu pricing
Paul’s Fifth Avenue 1565 West Fifth Ave Columbus Ohio 614.481.8848 DETAILS: A reader told me that they are open and also have carry-out meals, but I don’t have details at this time.
Smith & Wollensky 4145 The Strand West Columbus, OH 43219 614-416-2400 HOURS: 12 pm to 8 pm MENU: Traditional Thanksgiving Prix Fix Menu; regular menu available COST: $55/person, $25/children under 12. Regular menu will also be available.
Spagio 1295 Grandview Ave Columbus, OH 43212 (614) 486-1114 ext. 1 HOURS: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. MENU: Special Thanksgiving menu COST: varies per menu
Ted’s Montana Grill 6195 Sawmill Road Dublin, OH 43017 Phone: 614-760-7753 Easton Gateway 4169 Worth Avenue Columbus, OH 43219 Phone: 614-337-1457 HOURS: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. MENU: Regular Menu plus Turkey Feast. See Available Menu. COST: varies for menu, or $29 for Turkey Feast
Texas de Brazil 4040 Easton Station Suite E 105 Columbus, Ohio43219 HOURS: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. MENU: Regular Menu
The Guild House 624 North High Street Columbus, Ohio 43215 614.280.9780 HOURS: Open from 6:30 am through dinner MENU: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus a prix fixe holiday menu COST: Menu pricing; prix fixe menu $49 per person, $79 with wine pairings
Tucci’s 35 N. High Street Dublin, OH 43017 (614) 792-3466 HOURS: Open from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. MENU: 3-course prix fixe menu featuring traditional favorites and Chef’s selections to choose from. Also offering a kids’ menu. COST: $45 per person
Worthington Inn 649 High Street Worthington, OH 43085 Phone: 614-885-2600 reservations required HOURS: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. MENU: Thanksgiving Feast Buffet COST: $41.95 adults, $19.95 for kids 4-12, free for 3 and under
The Columbus College of Art & Design is giving a big boost to its animation program. Representatives from the college unveiled plans today to construct a new $1.5 million facility inside the Design Studios on Broad building on the Downtown campus. The facility will be formally known as the Cloyd Family Animation Center, and will house both analog and digital drawing studios, a virtual reality drawing lab, a stop-motion classroom, and additional gallery, classroom and flex space.
“Animation is a growing industry here in Columbus and around the world,” stated Charlotte Belland, Chair of CCAD’s Animation program. “At the end of the day, animation is all about storytelling. But animators also need to know the latest industry-standard software.”
CLICK HERE to learn more about the future of CCAD in our new interview with President Melanie Corn.
Construction is expected to begin in March 2018, with the new center ready to open in Fall 2018. The center is getting its name from CCAD Board of Trustees member Gil Cloyd, who has made already pledged $300,000 to the project. Cloyd is a former CTO of Procter & Gamble, as well as the founder and CEO of the Ohio Film Group.
Animation has been a major at CCAD since 2008, with classes that date back to 1988. Currently, it is the second most popular major at the school.
Rates for home loans slid as the promise of sweeping tax reform increasingly came into question.
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.90% during the November 9 week, down from 3.94%, mortgage financier Freddie Mac said Thursday. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.24%, down three basis points. The 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage averaged 3.22%, down from 3.23% during the week.
Mortgage rate trendsmarketwatch.com
Bond prices have rebounded, nudging yields down, as Republicans’ promises to enact comprehensive tax reforms has met with stiff pushback from special interests. Mortgage rates track the U.S. 10-year Treasury note.
Investors also worry that the kind of sweeping tax overhaul Republicans have envisioned would spur inflation, making bonds that have already been issued worth less. The plan proposed by the House of Representatives would widen the deficit by $1.7 trillion over a decade, the Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday.
The benchmark 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has averaged 4% so far throughout 2017, defying expectations for a breakout from long-time lows.
From Iceland’s volcanic heat harvesting to a Norwegian couple’s use of a giant glass dome for solar gain, colder climes seem to inspire new ways of warming up homes. And now, a pair of Russian entrepreneurs are experimenting with a futuristic way of not only heating homes, but making sweet cash in the process: bitcoin mining.
Bitcoin mining entails using a computer—or hundreds of computers—to validate transactions made with the cryptocurrency. All that computing generates a surprising amount of heat. While there’s been talk of harvesting the heat from large data centers, builders Ilya Frolov and Dmitry Tolmachyov wondered if they could use the same principle to heat private homes.
The pair built a simple 215-square-foot house in the Siberian town of Irkutsk and installed two bitcoin miners. The heat from these small computers warms up a liquid that’s then pumped through a sub-floor heating system. The cabin is essentially heated at a profit of $430 a month from processing transactions.
“People who mine cryptocurrencies use big miners. And they just heat the atmosphere,” said Dmitry Tolmachyov in a Quartz video, embedded below. “And we say, ‘No, the environment! We shouldn’t heat the atmosphere. We have a nine-month long heating season. We should heat our homes. The miners should not be concentrated in one place. They should be in various places, in private homes. The technology allows it nowadays.”
For anyone who missed their chance to experience magic that was the Ohio Chinese Lantern Festival last fall, good news! The festival will be returning to the Natural Resources Park at the Ohio Expo Center and Fairgrounds, beginning November 17th. The festival will be in town through January 7, 2018.
“We’re returning to Columbus because of the warm reception we received, as well as the city’s eagerness to experience other cultures,” says Allison Newell, Marketing Manager for Tianyu Arts & Culture, Inc. The festival has returned to other cities in the past, and the company was impressed by Columbus’ arts and culture scene.
Newell shared that there will be several new lanterns on display, and they plan to add more food options and performers. Favorite lanterns will make a reappearance.
The Ohio Chinese Lantern Festival saw attendance numbers of about 70,000. Tianyu Arts & Culture and Columbus Underground worked together last year to send all of the students of Hubbard Mastery School to the festival, providing an immersive cultural experience and add to the students’ Mandarin curriculum.
Take a look at what awaits and plan to go this fall!
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