HELLO TINSELTOWN

It is official - I have relocated to Los Angeles and with that I no longer get to see first hand the comings and goings in Columbus. Until I figure out my next steps I am going to leave this blog active and then update you.

Thanks for reading Columbus Independent the past year and I hope you consider joining me in my next adventure.

NINTH ANNUAL CITY HOP - 6/14

Saturday June 14th - 10am to 6pm
Columbus Landmarks welcomes everyone to the 9th annual City Hop tour of 17 properties showcasing unique examples of downtown living spaces.

CITY HOP TICKET STOPS
JUNE 14th
Start tour at any of the 3 ticket stops:

1. Ibiza in the Short North Arts District,
830 N. High Street
2. Neighborhood Launch in the heart of downtown
Gay & Fourth Street
3. The Arena Grand Theatre in the Arena District,
175 W. Nationwide Boulevard
.....................
*KICK-OFF PARTY*
Fri, June 6th, 6pm - 9pm
TICKETS »
.....................
AFTER PARTY
June 14th, 4pm - 8pm
Harrison West Community Center
575 W. First Ave.
.....................
CITY HOP SPONSORS
ARMS Properties, Capitol South, Campus Apartments, Inc., Nationwide Realty Investors, Orange Barrel Media, The Edwards Cos., Wagenbrenner Development - Harrison Park
MEDIA SPONSOR Columbus Alive

17 TOUR STOPS:

Arena Crossing Apartments
The Buggyworks
Courthouse Condominiums
8 on the Square
Harrison Park
Hartman Lofts
Ibiza
The Jeffrey
Kramer Place
Lofts at Jeffrey Place
Neighborhood Launch
The Condominiums at
North Bank Park
Ohio Loft
199 S. Fifth
Rich Street Walk
The Seneca Luxury Apartments
Sixty Spring

CNN BUDGET TRAVEL PROFILE- COLUMBUS

Columbus, Ohio's happening sideStory Highlights
The opening of the pro hockey arena helped revive the once-gritty area

Today the Short North district is packed with galleries, restaurants and shops
A lof of the same stores and locations highlighted but the review is positive and once people get here they can discover new locations on their own.


The North Market, an indoor food emporium, has been around since 1876
Next Article in Travel »

By Jason Cohen

(Budget Travel) -- Tens of thousands of people head to Columbus every fall during Ohio State's football season. I'm as much a road-trip loving football fan as the next guy, but I actually never thought the Ohio capital was as charming as say Madison, Wisconsin, or Ann Arbor, Michigan. I obviously wasn't looking very hard. With a revamped downtown and a booming population (it surpassed Cleveland in size in the 1980s), the city has restyled itself from a college town into a fairly happening urban center.

For the full article...
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TRAVEL/getaways/05/30/columbus.ohio/index.html

QUICKIES

The former Coffee Table and 8 at Buttles and High is going to be called Black Olive. Signs in the windows say they are hiring all positions.

Best Apparel and Uniform sandwiched between the former Garden Church and Milk Bar is moving. This was the most random new business I noticed to locate in the SN last year. I hope a shortage of scrubs with kitty kats does not suddenly appear. I jest.

Industry Standard's building is for sale and most of the merchandise has been pulled from its shelves.

O Patio and Pub opened up on E 15th Ave in the former Four Kegs which adds to the number of campus neighborhood bars I will not frequent.

EAST FRANKLINTON REINVISIONED

On Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. OSU City and Regional Planning Master Candidate students will be presenting their vision for East Franklinton. The presentation is designed to spur conversation about how to redevelop Columbus' first neighborhood. The presentation represents a culmination of a ten week long intensive studio class. All are welcome and encouraged to attend this free event but since space is limited you must confirm your attendance.




General details are (click on invitation image for full information):

Columbus Firefighters Union Hall (Local 67)
Former Toledo and Ohio Central Railroad Station

397 West Broad Street
Columbus, OH

Wednesday, May 21, 2008
6:30 p.m.

R.s.v.p. by Tuesday, May 20
EastFranklinton@gmail.com

Complimentary parking available
in the adjacent Spaghetti Warehouse lot

POOCH OF THE WEEK - ABU

Abu
Life of the Party

* Ward: ISO / I-10
* Boxer
* 10-12 mos
* 50 lbs. / Male
* # 80427007

Abu reminds me of an old, fedora-wearing Italian who sits on the same park bench each morning in the park. Check out Abu at Franklin County Dog Shelter.

STAMP OUT HUNGER - MAY 10, 2008

This Saturday, May 10, 2008, the 16th Annual Stamp Out Hunger, the nation's largest one-day food collection event, is taking place. The food drive focuses on restocking community food banks, pantries and shelters across the United States. The drive is meant to coincide to when donations historically begin to drop off- after the holidays. The decline in donations is especially concerning because the hunger problem is its most critical during the summer when school provided breakfasts and lunches are no longer made available. The need is especially great this year as unemployment and gas prices rise and signs point to a recession.

So what do you have to do to participate- barely anything. Just place non-perishable food items in a bag by your mail box this Saturday morning and your letter carrier will collect it and drop it off at a local food bank. Since my mail box is directly on the street I am going to place my bag of goods by my front door and attach a note to my mail box. Just a thought. So clear out your pantry or make a special trip to the grocery store and help families stay healthy and fed this summer.

POOCH OF THE WEEK - SPANKY

Spanky
I'm sweet, loving, and laid back at times! 99% housebroken. Will make a very loyal friend for life! I know sit and will dance for a treat. I've neen recently groomed and had my teeth brushed. I need an owner who will keep up on my general health and grooming. Please see Cassie at the shelter with questions!! Spanky is in foster care, please email Erin to meet him!
Mixed
6-7 yrs.
14 lbs. / Male
# 80406009


Yes- I totally admit to picking Spanky because of his name and the promise of a dance.


Check out Spanky and his 364 friends available for adopation at http://www.franklincountydogs.com/adoption/adoptSrch.asp

GLOBAL GALLERY INTL. DINNER

Reward your taste buds with spectacular foods from around the world. On Thursday, May 8, 6-9 p.m., Global Gallery, 682 N. High Street, will be presenting global and local delicacies, music and fun. Global Gallery's annual International Dinner is a casual social event which brings the community together to celebrate World Fair Trade Day - a day to think about how Fair Trade improves the lives of many people.

Last year over 450 Columbus residents enjoyed the annual International Dinner. Coordinated by Global Gallery's group of community volunteers, this year's new features include a concert stage and educational games for children.

The ticket prices for this event are $10 in advance ($12 at the door) $18.00 per couple. For more information or to reserve tickets by phone, please call 614-444-5945,614-478-8007 or 614-621-1744.

682 North High St
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Thursday - May 8th, 2008
6:00pm-9:00pm

CROSS WALK SIGNS

I was intrigued by Sweden's recent decision to introduce a female alternative to the walking-man crosswalk signs. Each local authority can determine which sign design is used. Do I think they are necessary? No. Do I think they provide an interesting variation to the streetscape? Yes.

I know when I travel I of course remember the signature landmarks that define a city but I also love to find and tell others about the quirky things I stumble upon. Those stories get passed from one person and while I am not saying people will travel to a city for quirky cross walk signs it plants a seed in people's mind about the city. These little features also get picked up by mainstream media far and wide as human interest pieces. News outlets can't tell just report about the sixteen shootings that occurred that day- they have to end the report on a positive, upbeat note so you can go about your day.

Clearly gender balanced crosswalk signs will not solve a city's woes but it certainly is different and in a time where cities are increasingly looking very similar it is a creative way to distinguish itself and of course, say it is now safe to cross the street.

And just for fun, here is another street sign that is making its mark in England.