Columbus, Ohio USA
Return to Homepage www.shortnorth.com
Gazette Columnist Christine Hayes
email hayesmoon@core.com
Daughter of the late Ben Hayes – former columnist for the Columbus Citizen-Journal
Return to Features Index
Columbus, Ohio USA
Return to Homepage www.shortnorth.com
Gazette Columnist Christine Hayes
email hayesmoon@core.com
Daughter of the late Ben Hayes – former columnist for the Columbus Citizen-JournalReturn to Features Index
JULY 2004
Croquet, with dogsOn a hot spring day there was Urban Croquet. This event, a fund-raiser for the DooDah Parade, has a history. Friendly folks from Short North establishments have been holding it for years. Goodale Park, the southwest quadrant, was the site.
A beach-scene palm-tree umbrella presided over the croquet-watchers. Dogs lolled in the shade, panting. The downtown landscape with its black windows looked blindly on. Miranova loomed asymmetrically. An unfinished parking garage showed air through its sides. The immediate surroundings were more colorful and fluid. Mexican blankets reflected bold patterns in the sun.
I, the neophyte, pictured flamingos as mallets, hedgehogs as balls, and living playing cards as wickets, ala Alice. Instead, voluminous serious rules were explained. Serious croquet players sweated. The only humor was in the team names: Croq Au Vin, Mike's Bar, The Celts, Ball Busters. Here For Beer. Roberto, of vinyl-decorated DooDah truck fame, had a homemade custom mallet. Otherwise all equipment was standard.
I asked, "How many games do you play?" "It's a mathematical thing," was the answer. No secrets were to be divulged to a scribbling reporter. Tony LaRosa was on the defending championship team. The Grand Trophy had a little orange birdhouse supported by colored balls, supported by four shiny mallets, all based on a square of astroturf.
A courtly gentleman with a guitar played, "I'm Climbing the Stairway to Heaven."
DooDah Deb and checked-shirt-clad King Charlie arrived in the decorated golfcart, mini-poodles and Irish setter in tow.
Clipboards were consulted regularly as the games progressed (several games proceeded simultaneously). The grass was cut on Wednesday but the rains caused new growth by Saturday. I heard much complaining about the lush clover cloying the balls' trajectories.
"Where are the horse-doovers?" The cry went up as hot donuts in a plastic bag were the only foodstuffs. Fortunately, no one seemed to need me to play croquet. There was another outcry for time limits. Clipboard papers blew in the breeze. Jim kept track with a Sharpie pen, Deb took copious fotos, Bill Finzle wore a hat with antlers and carried two trash/recycle bins around.
Paris the poodle chewed on the back of Maggie the golden retriever. The big dog didn't mind. Paris ate grass. Deb: "My dog barks like a monkey squeak." Sunscreen was applied liberally to white skin. Helicopters buzzed over head for a true urban statement.
Rise Up / Dig in / Go local
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The fotos speak for themselves. The strong gaze, the mother's smile, the focus on the children. The Dragonfly rationale (see title) is educational, interactive, organic. And fierce. The perpetrators, Magdiale Wolmark and Cristin Austin, defend their vision and dedication whenever provoked. When being appreciated, they're pussycats.
The children, girls, played in the dirt filling the large white concrete pillars in front of the restaurant. We watched them, Scott Williams and I sipped the California no-sulfite Coturri merlot at the front table next to the alley. (Magdiale has a hope that this alley can become a pedestrian walkway.) Raen was wearing her dad's red hardhat and clear goggles. The dirt was moved by small hands in cups and glasses, elaborate castling configurations. The girls did not spill any. (I checked.) Further up the patio, guests who were wine-tasting did not see the intense goings-on.
The Earthday (April 24) festivities included bands, art cars, farmers' market, bakery, kids' activities (especially planting seeds, later to become the embryos for the chef's kitchen garden.) And that innovative food, of course: pawpaw cocktails, wild foraged black walnut caramel turtle tarts, for example. It's more than food, actually; after eating the creations of the day, you're energized. Like those food supplements for body builders, only MUCH more fun. For me and my friends, it is a dining destination, an event. The opposite of what Columbus has been known for: White Castle and Wendy's.
The All-Ohio Prototype Cuisine takes us back to Billy Ireland's vision of the Midwest Farmer, John Deere, Bromfield's Malabar Farm. What Ohio used to be known for, and by Dragonfly's vision, return.
This vision includes a garden in the back. What was once an oil-stained pavement holding a dumpster can be envisioned into a paradise. The beginning is a jackhammer. Magdiale Wolmark wielded it with aplomb. Go behind the restaurant now and witness the progress. Local youth, led by the Greater Columbus Foodshed Project, will be trained in the culinary and agricultural arts on the site. The goal is for 18 community gardens in the next two years.
We, motley car and bike artists, were fooling around there, Greg Phelps spray-painting vegetables upon the pavement. Before we knew it, Magdiale had carted a large table and chairs from the front. We were proud to be the first chef's table occupants. A seat that will become prized in the future, I'm sure.
The Tunnel (in the space next to the restaurant, formerly Byzantium) featured a subway motif; graffiti, but in place of seats a long section of grow-lights and the just-planted seeds. This space cries out for art and parties, ever-changing, high-spirit, and child-friendly. Raen and her friends ran around, Gabriel was held by a series of caregivers and always seemed jolly.
SEPTEMBER 2003
Transform your environment with Urban ReliefBrenda Direen is Urban Relief. If you want to change your life through your work/home/party environment, she's ready to help you. And, she can prepare your home for the real estate market.
She gets her points across with grand Italianesque gestures. With her close-cropped strawberry blonde hair and no-nonsense black clothes, she appears ready to spring into action. I spent some time with her at the German Village Art Crawl while she expertly orchestrated faux palm trees and twinkling lights. Urban Relief was one of the three sponsors of the arts festival/fundraiser benefiting the German Village Society. The Company donated time as Visual Coordinator for the decorating of the four-block-long festival.
Ms. Direen is skilled at preparing your home for the market. She will help you with a detailed plan for each room: decluttering, depersonalizing, with furni-ture arrangements that accent your home's best architectural features. A storage unit is a must, to hold your personal elements that would prevent prospective buyers from visualizing themselves in your home.
There's a checklist for your yard, porch, entry, living room, dining room, kitchen, bedrooms, basement, and attic. Urban Relief can add life to your rooms with decorative accents, color strategy, and lighting - again, to accent your best architectural features.
Her attractive brochure contains hints such as "leave 50% open space in kitchen cupboards to give the impression of plentiful storage." Such hints as these give your house a visual "pick-me-up" to sell the house quickly without price reduction.
Direen hails from Lorain, Ohio. (In fact, her mother went to high school with Toni Morrison.) She describes her life there as "the eccentric politically minded child needing to escape the 'I'm gonna get married and my husband will work in the factory' mentality." She visited her older sisters at OSU from 1979 on &endash; and formed an opinion of Columbus as "a place of art, politics, and intelligent people."
Brenda Direen of Urban Relief loves color, lighting, and the bold statement. One-day room makeovers, special events decorating, and real-estate staging are her specialties. Contact Brenda at 614-263-4178.
Her career choice was in hair and makeup at beauty salons. She managed a chain of beauty supply boutiques and started the second Aveda concept salon in Columbus, through the influence of Jo Johnson, then with Aveda, now with Posh Pets in the Short North. After five years, Direen sold the business and her house and bought a sailboat.
She spent nine months sailing around Chesapeake Bay, then headed south for the winter. After six weeks stranded on Cobb Island with a motor malfunction, Direen "jumped ship on the boat and the then-current relationship." She "tried hair again for a few months," then signed up for boat-building in Annapolis. One day, with knuckles bleeding, knees hurting, she burst into tears, went home, changed into a little black dress, walked into a salon, and announced, "I'm your new Aveda rep!" The proprietor was so stunned he hired her on the spot.
Direen is indeed convincing. She knows her design principles; at the tender age of ten her sister gave her a subscription to Architectural Digest. She believes in thorough consultations with the client to get all design principles clear. And she loves color, lighting, and the bold statement.
Direen considered attending Ohio State in theatrical lighting, interior design, industrial interiors - until the "one-day room makeover" phenomenon hit. She's found her niche: real estate staging, backyard parties (ask her about the Viva Las Vegas one), room transformations, alleys - you name it, she'll decorate it. She has done floral and food displays (ask about "honey-glazed carrots on big palm leaves") but finds that not her favorite.
She will give advice in a consultation with color/texture board, lists of places to purchase items, as well as placement of elements - rather than doing the placement herself (if you're a little shy with her hands on your environment).
You can also find a Decorating Tip Site urbanreliefdezn@groups.aol.com or call Brenda Direen at 614-263-4178.
JULY 2003
Admiring Hubbard SchoolWhat a landmark! I should like to be a child playing near its curved shape, and look up, and feel secure in its shadow.
The multi-hued concrete turtle contrasts sharply with the worn blackened stone.
I picture children clambering on its back, waiting to be picked-up from school. Today, all is eerily still; a pause before the rain. Mourning doves mull in the barked playground. I sit in forest-green benches with "Hubbard" incorporated in the design.
Whose decision to paint all the double doors and trim plum? I hope there was a contest to decide the color. The yellow-brick façade, with its arched black-framed windows above, looks smugly onto Hubbard Ave. Yet above the double front peaks lies that imposing octagonal dome. What a landmark! I should like to be a child playing near its curved shape, and look up, and feel secure in its shadow. A child of, say, 1900, for the Hubbard Avenue School was built in 1892.
The blacktop sports crisply painted games, hopscotch as well as the more complicated. The pastel map of the U.S. entices the young into geography and imagined journeys. A sturdy plastic rock-climbing unit is a note of modern play on this horizon of playground history.
How was Hubbard School named? There was a William B. Hubbard who was a President of the Exchange Bank of Columbus from 1845 to 1852. Other Hubbards, H.M. and George, were employees of the bank at that time. William was also the President of the Mechanics' Savings Institute (incorporated 1838) and on the Board of Trustees of Green Lawn Cemetery in 1848. We assume Hubbard Avenue and the School were named after him.
I talked to Theresa Sadek, principal of Hubbard School. She gave me some insight: the doors are of bright hues inside (as well as the plum outside). 190 students brighten the halls too, in grades pre-K to 5th. The building still has its original tin ceilings and hardwood floors. Ms. Sadek used to be principal of Medary School, another architectural highlight of Columbus.
She added two more notes of history. The records of Hubbard School are still intact, with students' names, grade reports, and even some exams they took, dating back to the origin of the school - an unburied time capsule. Also, she knows that there used to be an opening in the upstairs floor that enabled a teacher to look below into the downstairs hall. It has since been sealed due to safety issues.
The only change to the building has been the addition of a gym in the 1970s. Ms. Sadek said that the recent renovation of the playground was accomplished through the generosity and cooperation of local businesses. Way to go, Short North! Extra special thanks to the Victorian Village Society, Dooley & Company, and the Short North Neighborhood Foundation.
I stare into the large areas of frosted parquet glass. The entablature of the upper reaches, below the roof, has regular-spaced bumps hanging from the eaves. To count the bumps, lying on the back of the turtle, that would be my job as a Hubbard School child.
Hubbard Avenue Elementary School, located in the Short North Neighborhood at 104 West Hubbard Avenue, was built over a century ago in 1892.
JUNE 2003
Posh Pets' Jo JohnsonDon't hesitate to enter Posh Pets. It's not just for snooty patooties, it's not just for pet owners; it's for anyone who likes to look at creative stuff artfully displayed.
Jo Johnson, the whirlwind behind Posh Pets, has a blue Doberman named Cirrus. I didn't meet Cirrus upon my visit, but I did see his elephant bed. Yes, it is big and soft and gray and has elephantine appurtenances. The inventors of contemporary pet products have let their imaginations run wild. And, they have created healthier, safer alternatives to the usual fare in food and accessories.
Ms. Johnson has traveled to San Francisco, South Beach, Chicago and Dallas to observe other pet stores. She has some upscale items (as in the store "Fetch" in NYC) and, she says, "there is little comparison to pricing and product in Columbus," but we're fast on their heels. She searches the trade shows and catalogues for the coolest stuff.
It's a great space at 743 N. High, formerly the florist "Leaves of Grass." Ms. Johnson says the other store owners in the Short North have given her invaluable advice and support. The August Gallery Hop will have a pet theme; Jo is the liaison from the Short North to the No More Homeless Pets organization. Short North store and gallery owners will be asked to host a specific pet organization or breed. On August 2, strollers will accompany adult dogs who need loving homes. Cirrus, the above-mentioned Doberman, was adopted from Hand-Me-Down Dobes.
Ms. Johnson is on the steering committee for the Columbus Arts Festival. Her interest in art is evident in the displays around the store. David Lawrence Thomas, a CCAD student of Native American heritage, will be featuring his wood sculpture. Pet portraits in charcoal, oils, and pastels are coming in August. Cindy Sams creates personalized pet mats for Posh Pets. One of her large painted canvas floor coverings adorns the wall. Diane Deam does quirky cat and dog portraits. But not all the art is animal-related. Ms. Johnson is interested in featuring local artists, maybe new to the scene, showcasing their work.
And some (she says approximately 10%) of the pet products are homemade. From Columbus creators: ceramic bowls, hemp collars, cat toys. Other specialty collars and pillows come from individuals.
As we're talking the wagging-tail dog clock barks on cue. I ask her what she's learned in the six months the store's been open. "That I have no time!! I've found myself sleeping on these wonderful dog beds!" (In addition to elephant-themed, there's also orangutang, cheetah, and bear.) All fur is faux. The oversized Dalmatian-spotted stuffed bone and "buddy" dominate the room.
The window display changes monthly. At my visit, the pet headgear hangs from the high ceiling: crowns, tiaras, motorcycle hats, the grad's cap, the Mad Hatter birthday, wedding veil, the medieval-princess pointed look. Of course, there are pet costumes: bride and groom, the Hawaiian ensemble, Burberry coats, terry bathrobes, slickers. Halloween pet-costumers take note. Lines of pet clothing include: Animal Wrappers, Doggie Design, Max's Closet. Anything can be special-ordered from catalogues.
For humans, the purses: upon them depicted, in turn, a rhinestone-crowned Pomeranian, a pink poodle with tiara-d owner, Peggy Guggenheim with a Lhasa apso in Venice. The amazing stuffed pets (faux) are for display only. Rhinestone, studded, and spiked collars can be for pets and/or humans. Swanky Yankee collars feature Swarovski crystals. The Red Tango line includes black cat clocks, bags, T-shirts, shorts, and pillows (for humans).
Designer pet beds by Poochie of Beverly Hills are feathered, velvety, leopard spotted. (Jo can attest they're comfy.) How about mood collars (as in mood rings) - Barbara Walters's dog has one. (Does her dog bark "Baba Wawa?") Doggles, protective canine eyewear, are hot sellers. Fox and Hounds leashes, collars, carriers, and accessories are available, inspired by Reese Witherspoon's dog Bruiser in the Legally Blonde 2.
Catnip cigars have arrived! Also, the real fluff, buds yet, Enchantacat catnip. Yummie Chummies, Alaskan salmon cat treats, prove that what's good for human is good for cats. Ms. Johnson speaks: "There's not enough knowledge out there about what pets are eating." Quality human-grade treats and food are the rule. Also, Jo's supporting small independent vendors like Arfy's natural and hand-cut dog treats, and Teddy's dog treats, flower-shaped, artfully packaged, with a portion of the proceeds going to the American Cancer Society's Dog Walk (CEO: Teddy, a rescued dog in NYC).
More: Yip Yap breath fresheners. Roofles dog waffles. GRRRetzles. Frozen treats for summer months. The entrance to the back room says DINNER IS SERVED above the door. It's a cool food room with the big bags of the real stuff.
To hold the stuff: crown-like dishes - jester, king, queen; hand-painted ceramic dishes, and the ergonomically correct scoop/dish with non-skid bottom from WetnOz. Stainless steel with "haze, moss, or brio" rubber legs. Suitable for cereal, sushi, or dog food! Check it out!
Meanwhile, back to the cats. The World's Best Cat Litter is made from ground whole corn kernels. Sticky Paws invisible double-sided tape keeps cats away from house plants, furniture, and counter tops. The "cat wall" weighs 3 pounds and holds 50 pounds. The "kitty walk" with industrial-strength fishnet keeps an indoor cat safely contained outside. In the same line, there's also a "penthouse" and a "stroller."
There are bicycle baskets (like Toto's) and strapped-to-human pet carriers (like baby's). The pet car seats look safe and comfy, with stash areas for food, leashes, etc.
This is not to say everything is outlandish. The usual grooming items, toys, bath accessories, beds, collars, and leashes, can be found for daily use. There will always be a sale table. There will be pet treats given away every day, treats for humans at Gallery Hop.
Well, we've got carried away. The shop door opens, and it's a doggie client of Jo Johnson's from her pet-sitting service, All Taken Care Of, a project she started six years ago. Jo manages it now, delegating the dog-walking to others. "My reason to open the store was to get in from the weather, but I still want to be involved with pets daily."
Ms. Johnson is from Memphis, migrated to Louisville, then Columbus for the past 20 years. "I've got a mixed-up compass - I thought I was heading south!" After years with Aveda in sales, and then working with the construction business, Jo has mixed-up art, pets, and the Short North. Just a glance at her pet photo board shows some mighty happy customers (lick, lick). To call: (614) 299-pets. To click: poshpetsboutique.com.Jo Johnson, proprietor of Posh Pets, 743 N. High Street, beside her blue Doberman, Cirrus. Jo is also the owner and manager of a pet-sitting service, All Taken Care Of. Visit Posh Pets Tuesday thru Friday 11-6, Saturday Noon-7 or Sunday Noon- 4. Call 299-PETS for more information.Posh Pets is not just for pet owners. It's for anyone who likes to look at creative stuff artfully displayed: Paintings, sculpture, arts and crafts are included among the fascinating articles of pet merchandise. Ms. Johnson tracks down the coolest stuff from trade shows and catalogues, but maintains a commitment toward and interest in local homemade goods.
APRIL 2003
Healing Ways
Christine McDevitt steps beyond bounds of social work into bodyworkBy the time you read this, April Fools Day and beyond, perhaps the landscape won't be large compacted gray lumps (old snow). Maybe that weather has faded from memory. But if your physical self still feels like those lumps, there is help for you.
Perhaps this is the most relaxed column I've written. I've just had an experience where the part of my palm between my thumb and forefinger felt like a flaming flowering oriental fan. The trigger points under my brain opened up a world of lilies and stars. Relief from pain in my lower back made me a supple sapling, enabling me later to reach for the things on the floor and over to the side like a ballet dancer.
All this esoteric sounding prose came to me after a therapeutic massage from Healing Ways' Christine McDevitt.
Two months ago I interviewed John McCutcheon and wrote about his synthesis of art and counseling. Now I find another therapeutic merger of massage and social work in the person of Christine McDevitt.
She, a Columbus native and OSU graduate, veered off from getting a Masters in Social Work and went into massage therapy. An impressive grouping of diplomas on her wall represents her study in different fields of massage: Swedish, Hot Stone, Sports, Myofascial, Polarity, Reiki.
As she sat on the forest green slipcovered couch, with the late afternoon sun streaming through the windows facing Goodale Park, Ms. McDevitt explained how she had wanted to go beyond the parameters of social work. With her gentle demeanor, oval tortoise-shell glasses, short brown hair, lavender polo shirt, and off-white pants, she didn't look as though she'd spent years with referrals of crisis intervention, especially children with severe behavior problems. The standard rule was: "no touching." In more recent years there were "healthy touch" workshops, on handshakes and hugs, but Ms. McDevitt felt she wanted to deal with massage and counseling together. She wanted clients to see her because they wanted to, not because they were told to see her by a judge.
After receiving massage to recuperate from a car accident, Christine realized she wanted a more personal way of supporting people. She calls her oasis of relaxation in the heart of the Short North "social work without the cell phone." The treatment is tailored to the individual. You fill out a health history much like the doctors. You and the therapist reach consensus on the style of treatment.
There's no noticeable sign for Healing Ways. In fact, the comfortable yet professional space is a converted apartment in the Victorian Gate. What was once a large living and dining room is now walled off for a massage studio. The former bedroom is Christine's space; and one finds the lavender and white walls adorned with art: a tie-dye mandala by Athena of Bloomington, Indiana (a Comfest buy - later I would watch it ripple from the heat's rays); Meredith Martin's "Sun Bear"; flower photographs by Monica Brown of Grandview; Linda Apple's prints of her large paintings, ethereal figures; and "Lioness" by Hayes Norris, an Arts Festival purchase.
A cat Buddha beams from a high perch; Christine won it in a raffle. Elliot the small-scale skeleton is used to educate clients about injury and treatment. Posters of "trigger points" (especially sensitive parts of the body; the connections) loom near the massage table (heated, oh so comfortable). Plants, candles, music, incense - all are evoking harmony.
Some great uses of the apartment: a closet transformed into a desk behind a curtain. The health records are kept locked in the kitchen's pantry, under the watch of a sun mirror. The laundry room means immediate cleaning of all linens. A special wheel-chair ramp to the inner, courtyard door.
Healing Ways resided at 22 Buttles for five years (by the decorated pole, recently removed). It's been in the present location, 672 Park St., for one year. The new room is rented by the two practitioners, Eileen Lynch, who practices massage and cranial-sacral therapy, and Donna Adassa, who has practiced aura, chakra and crystal balancing, and energy work for 25 years. The room (Christine at this writing is actually looking for a 3rd practitioner to rent this space) of Eileen and Donna contains an Alex Grey print of a person in meditation, woven fabrics on the wall, a temple-like atmosphere.
I'm interested in the different schools of massage. Swedish, I know, is the hands-on-relax-yet-stimulate kneading of tired muscles and circulation. It's required in the State of Ohio for a massage license. But what about those hot stones?
Christine takes me to - this is a great touch (no pun intended) - a turkey roaster where 20 dark, smooth stones (basalt, collected in Maine and New Hampshire) reside in water, awaiting warmth. Some warmed stones are placed on the massage table, under back and shoulders, on top of the body above the chest and under the belly, while other stones are held in the practitioner's hand in order to massage. This therapy is useful for high-level muscle tension, but should not be used on persons with high-blood pressure or on a pregnant woman. It's four years recent, Christine's teacher was trained in Europe. She calls it a "winter thing", and says she constantly asks for client feedback during this technique. She says her clients love "the little stones between the toes" which really relax the foot and leg.
Sports massage is directed toward sports injury or strain. Ms. McDevitt says she has both body builders and marathon runners as clients. This, as you may imagine, is not total massage but a focus on scar tissue, exterior and interior. Pres-sure is actually applied against the grain of the muscle (cross fiber), using friction and stretching to alleviate micro-tears in the muscles and the toxins in these tears.
Reiki and Polarity are forms of working with energy systems. This is to relieve and inform the client of what they might be doing to stop energy from flowing freely through the body: clenching teeth or hands, bunching shoulders, upset stomach, for example.
Myo-fascial massage addresses the thin film of fascia (like saran wrap around the muscles). It gets bunched-up or pulled to one side. Poor circulation and restricted movement accompany this. The massage therapist applies sustained pressure (90 seconds) until the muscle "melts". It impacts the nerve that is giving the muscle the message to "tighten up". The energy "cysts" come out in this type of massage. The emotional component can be locked in these cysts, too.
On the dark green couch in the waiting room, I sit and look at joggers in the park. It's like being in the country in the city. Massage patients can walk in the park afterward, relax at North Market or a restaurant in the Short North. The oil painting of an adobe dwelling beneath a mountain (above the couch) brings thoughts of ascending to the heights. The painting changes with the light. It has no glass to eliminate glare. All details are thought-out at Healing Ways. As Christine and I sit there, we realize we're on the site of the former White Cross Hospital, where both of us were born. My brain waves curl in realization like the curly bamboo on the table next to me.
Eileen Lynch comes in and explains cranial-sacral massage. It's easy for people who are uncomfortable with massage, as the gentle touching is done without the client disrobing.
Dr. John Upleger developed this technique from the School of Osteopathic Medicine. This technique involves the pulse of the cerebral-spinal fluid. It is especially good for the victim of a car injury (such as whiplash), migraine headache sufferers, those with chronic fatigue syndrome or insomnia.
Special note to those of you intending to volunteer for work at the Channel 34 (WOSU-TV) auction: Christine McDevitt will be coordinating the free massage there for all volunteers (last week of April thur the first week of May). Here at 672 N. Park St. one can sit and think, despite all the world's troubles, there is a ray of hope and equilibrium in the midst of turmoil.
Editors Note: Healing Ways moved to 5900 N. High St., Suite 110, Worthington, Ohio 43085 (3 blocks south of State Rt 161) on July 1, 2006. Call 614-224-0084
MARCH 2003
New Ideas Appearing at Lemongrass: Vitt Family Looks to the FutureLemongrass Asian Bistro, 641 N. High Street, is changing. Stop by and see the new bar area in the front of the restaurant. The piano, always a welcome Lemongrass addition, is also up front. The dining balcony overlooking the street will remain.
The Gallery, known as Lanning at Lemongrass, remains at the back: quiet, serene, filled with diners and the aroma of fresh herbs. Just beyond the Gallery is the Atrium, available for parties and other private gatherings. The lulling sound of a fountain fills the large open space.
Pete Vitt, the owner of Lemongrass, is excited about all the changes. There's more: a sushi bar by the kitchen, scheduled for summer. And many new menu items. Roger Williams, who designed the spare-with-sumptuous-touches décor of Lemongrass, will continue to orchestrate the rearrangements. And the Vitt family will continue to invent the new recipes.
Mr. Vitt sits with me in the long corridor with tables, connecting the new bar area with the future sushi area and the Gallery. He is wearing a crisp white Ralph Lauren shirt, comfortable in his element. He is reluctant to talk about his past at first, wanting instead to talk about the future.
By the time you read this, some of his new menu items should be in place: salmon and crab cake, fried calamari with basil sauce, a lobster entrée, Burmese style beef salad, spicy teriyaki chicken, French bread club sandwich, corn shell wraps with satay sauce, spicy fishcakes. And a 4-7 Happy Hour with free hors d'oeuvres. There's also mention of sauerkraut balls, a special recipe of his godfather, who has German ancestry.
Lemongrass embraces the concept of "fusion" cuisine, taking elements from the French, Italian, Mediterranean, as well as Asian, and combining them into uniquely healthy, fresh American dishes. This trend started on the west coast, California and Seattle. In Seattle the bistros carry on from early breakfast to late night, says Mr. Vitt, but Lemongrass is open these hours: Lunch: Monday-Friday 11:30 am -2:30 pm. Dinner: Monday - Thursday 5 &endash; 10 pm, Friday 5 - 11 pm, Saturday 3 - 11 pm, and Sunday 3 - 10 pm.
Lemongrass is known for its creative use of herbs: lime leaf, basil, lemon grass, shallot, onion, dill, garlic, thyme, cilantro, parsley, peppercorn, and rosemary - many fresh from Florida, even fresher are the ones grown by the Vitt family. Each dish can be cooked to order, to the level of spice desired. Extra virgin olive oil is the only oil used.
Lemongrass has 15 employees. The prep kitchen is downstairs. Mr. Vitt and his wife, Chor, do a lot of the cooking themselves. Mr. Vitt laughs when I ask him how he got to Columbus from his home in Thailand. He explains he was a cultural exchange student, staying with local families, first at the University of Kentucky, and then at Ohio State. He came to the United States in 1969, majoring in business. By 1971 he was in Columbus. He transferred to Franklin University and graduated there. He never finished grad school because by that time the Vitts were married and had their first child. He worked at Rax Restaurant and felt he learned a lot there. By 1987, Mr. Vitt had become an American citizen and he and his wife had their own restaurant.
You may remember with fondness Thai Palace, on route 161 by the French Market. This they continued for 13 years, then developed Lemongrass. They ran the two restaurants for one year, then transferred all their efforts to their jewel-like space in the Short North.
In the meantime, two Vitt sons grew up. Jesse, 20, is the Vitts' older son. He challenges the cuisine with vegetarian preferences, says Mr. Vitt. He credits his son Jordan, 18, with inventing and developing the Lemongrass salad (the best-selling dish, consisting of greens and fruit topped with crispy noodles and signature lemongrass dressing). Jordan, a straight-A student who wants to be a marine biologist, helps out at the restaurant on Gallery Hop nights ("Crazy!" says Mr. Vitt) and also helps develop sushi and dessert recipes.
Mr. Vitt comes from a restaurant/hotel background from his family in Thailand, and still visits there frequently. He laughs once again when I ask what he'd be doing if he didn't have a restaurant. "Travel! My sister retired at 36 and has seen all Seven Wonders of the World!" He's looking forward to his trusty manager, Josh Brown, coming back, so he can get away at times. He also compliments his "great landlord," Sandy Wood. Mr. Wood will be installing a new air conditioning system in Lemongrass, which will hopefully solve any lingering questions about smoke traveling from the bar into the smoke-free Gallery.
Mr. Vitt wants to please his diverse clientele. To this end, he also mentions the "limited but with much variety" wine list, with "low-end wines comparable to high-end tastes."
The art, curated by Ursula Lanning, will change bi-monthly. The rest of the changes are happening as fast as the Vitts and their designer and manager can implement them. If you haven't been to Lemongrass lately, the time is now to see the future of fusion cuisine and understated elegance.
FEBRUARY 2003
Perspective 24 and Sean Christopher Gallery
Counseling, Coaching, and Creativity are the Gifts of John McCutcheonIn the left front flank of the Greystone building on High Street is a series of rooms, lined up like planets, leading to John McCutcheon's desk. The physical manifestations of his life-art- practice occur here: counseling, holistic coaching, his artwork - along with others'. Perspective 24 is the counseling end ("perspective" is always cropping up in his work - "24" for the hours in "one day at a time") and Sean Christopher is the gallery end (for John and Catherine's two sons, age 13 and 10 respectively).
Plants, a photo of the Dalai Lama, a fountain with peaceful sound, candles; white walls set off the many pieces of art. A fanciful bench features morning glories and butterflies. A Bach Flower Remedy chart hangs near the desk. John uses passages from the Bach Flower Remedy book Affirmations in his work.
John McCutcheon states that his artwork, sense of community, and counseling work are not separate entities. He invites like-minded groups (poets, healing facilitators) to rent the gallery space for meetings and workshops. In the gallery, the largest of the rooms, he holds a men's anger management group, matching advanced members/counselors to novices. He feels the art in the gallery affects the work and the way the men process with each other.
In addition to anger management, John also provides counseling for substance dependency, including 12-step and secular recovery alternatives; individual, family, and couples life-coaching services; bereave-ment and depression workshops as well as expressive arts workshops, enhancing creativity, "play therapy" for children, "inner child" work for adults. Less tradi-tional therapies include chakra balancing, aromatherapy, feng shui - or just getting artists out of creative block!
I looked at Randy Oldrieve's hand-torn paper collages. They made me feel calm with their color sense and spare composition. I looked at Tiger Spreng's acrylic/encaustic/glass/ink work. I felt inspired to do my own collage work. I looked at John McCutcheon's Plums/ Beachfront and thought of the Jersey shore. Some of the ingredients of the piece are confectioner's sugar, sprinkled brick color-dust, and an overlay of paint sprays over paint masks. I looked at his Mayflowers and June Bugs piece and looked forward to the springtime!
You might think that McCutcheon's counseling/art background is a little eclectic. You're right. He earned his counseling credential at Jersey City State College and Rutgers Summer Institute and came to Columbus for an MFA program in sculpture at The Ohio State University in 1986. He was going to teach art at the college level (and did while in the program) but soon began work with the North Central Mental Health Services where he spent nearly a decade, eventually becoming a leader for the Community Treatment Team for dual-diagnosed mental illness plus chemical dependency patients.
Monies were available then for non-traditional methods. The program won national awards (Best Adult Program by the National Case Management Association). But then times changed; monies dried up for creative non-traditional therapies.
All the while, McCutcheon was developing his art career, both in two-dimensional and installation. In the mid-'90s he became "AKA Johnny Aquarius." He used that name first at a performance piece in Hopkins Hall (OSU). He sprayed food coloring with mist bottles to an installation of coffee filters and coconut slivers attached to the wall, symbolizing the connection between air and sky. With a young boy (an impromptu accomplice) he unfolded "Santa's beard material" simultaneously as his spoken word story unfolded about Les Wexner's connection as an art-angel. Meanwhile, a large chunk of dried coconut slivers was passed through the audience "like a large cloud."
Moving on from there, one can see the evidence of McCutcheon's holistic/sensual/elemental side in the photos of Blankets and Pillows, a temporary outdoor installation weaving sky and earth together - actually beds on grass outdoors. (Coconut slices for aromatic effect as well.) Also on display are the painted-napkin pieces, memory images of the Jersey shore where John grew up.
More recently McCutcheon (who is in his fourth year on the Board of the Ohio Art League) did an installation for same called Cocktails on the Rocks &endash; stones with holes drilled holding cocktail umbrellas. It looked like a runner (rug) or "little islands"- we're talking 600 of these in juxtaposition at the gallery at Ft. Hayes!
Arts Impact Middle School (in the Short North) takes field trips to the Sean Christopher Gallery. They loved the November 2002 Sun You exhibit with jungle animals glued to the walls. In March and April (at the Gallery Hop), you'll encounter a show of works from the House of Hope residents (where John also counsels) featuring multi-media sound, line drawings of "heaven" and "recovery" interviews - "anonymous revelations." And in April a book-signing of Mommy Why Do You Drink Drug? from the Amethyst program of women's treatment.
Perspective 24 pulls the art out of the part of people that's walking around numb. Recently we saw a show of art using super-heroes and super-heroines! Look for a rumored exhibit of valentines. Look for Shawnda, the marvelous purveyor of Furniture ETC at the Greystone, pass on across the hall to the Sean Christopher, then further back to the serene office. Relax. Enjoy. Healing and viewing are all one.
John McCutcheon offers counseling and life coaching services at Perspective 24, 815 N. High Street in the Greystone Building. The Sean Christopher Fine Art Gallery at the same location is open during Gallery Hops or Wednesday through Friday from 3:30 to 5:30 pm or by appointment. Call 291-5890 for more information.
JANUARY 2003
"Happy New Year Columbus 2003" The Divine Bovine
On a cold winter Hop Night –
The Short North swathed in white
A vision benevolent and beatific too
Hove from the hole near K2U.
Out of 670's hole, guided by arches
Came a cool creature moon-white
and righteous.
Lovely horns and lovely skin
Her mooed message above the din:
"Beer-riots following victory
Show our hayseed roots you see
Billboards touting beer as fun
Dot the campus ad infinitum.
Students know not what to do
All their hangouts knocked down too
The herdheads challenge everyone
As they shout, "Mooove over Michigan!"
Let us leave the drink aside.
Concentrate on previous pride.
Health and faith, beauty and art,
Good food fixed with skill and heart.
This is Columbus here and now
I am the city's Sacred Cow.
You can call me Elsinore."
"Yell-some-more?" someone implored.
"Please no more yelling,"
(The beloved cow telling)
As the Hopping crowd listened,
Beatific cow eyes glistened.
"Five stars in your crown
For them you're renowned
Don't let your guard down:
I'm redeeming this town!
On a hunt we'll go scavenge
Five stars of sweet revenge
Taking back the reputation
Of this great city's infatuation
With the finer things of Life.
We can end this mindless strife."
With a snowy toss of head
The beauteous bovine stood and said.
"Out of the pit came you?" queried
Bonnie of Baskets.
"You must be a pitbull."
"No, pitcow."
(Her udders were masked.)
And on her head she sported a laurel
Fashioned especially by that Wild Plum Floral.
The wild and beguiling Elsinore
Wandered to Open Book's open door.
"We'll have to figure," said the Scavenger-elect,
"A way for my stars and the laurel to connect."
Out of Posh Pet's doorway there suddenly loomed
Two figures Doo Wac'd (impeccably groomed).
"We can help!" - said the pair - and in a flash
They drew a small bottle out of their stash.
No alcohol was this, but Elmer's Glue.
'Twere Columbus's own twin glue gurus.
Elmer and Elsie's nostrils flared.
The Gallery Hoppers stared and stared.
Betwixt the bovines a glance exchanged
The Hoppers knew they weren't de-ranged.
These were city cows, of course.
The cows knew The Garden, and JungHaus.
They knew Haiku, they knew L'Antibes.
They knew Antiques and Eccentricities.
The knew Anew and Again and Byzantium.
They knew Chittenden Veterinarian.
A car encrusted pulled up just then,
It shone with crystals and glued little men.
Elsie and Elmer shouldered into their limo,
The be-dazzled duo took off in a brisk blow.
Before the crowd could turn to go
The Sacred Cow blurred in the snow
She succumbed E?L (oh not very nice E?L)
Our Divine Bovine slipped on the ice!
The crowd parted, aghast, at such a spectre.
Quickly a blanket was brought to protect her.
Soon Healing Ways and Vic Village Health
Restored Elsinore to vigor and stealth.
A star of Health glued on her brow
She had the strength of ten snowplows.
Thus bedecked, no galleries were pissed at her,
From Lindsay to Greystone's Sean Christopher.
For Faith's star she went in a lurch
Off to seek the 4th Avenue Church.
Saints Mark, Francis, and Anthony
Held up the second star's prophecy.
That she'd shed a few more tears
For those not behaving due to beer.
The saints looked on while Elsinore, transfixed,
Had her second star affixed.
The third great star, at Insty-Prints?
Maybe Mary Catherine's?
Byfords, Riley, Urban Gardener?
Elevator? Yankee Trader?
Beauty can be everywhere E?L
Pisa Pete's garden or Dragonfly's lair.
It's in the eye of Eyeworks' beholder.
But never in a car that smolders.
Her Art star, retrieved at A Muse Gallery,
She set on to Cameo for more cowaraderie E?L
Artistically Bent, she mustered on to the fore
(Four Winds) with the coveted star number four.
The snow it swirled around Elsinore
Her face was hidden much like before.
When she reappeared her face was glowing,
Reflected in North Market's cornucopia flowing.
Then to Spinelli's, to Skully's, to Eleni Christina!
To Betty's, with no bedeviled demeanor!
To Braddock's, Blazer's, and B. Hampton's!
Leaving aside sophomoric tantrums!
The fifth and final star, Food, did fling
Its load on a city unsuspecting.
From the "split" downtown (70-71)
Came a cry heard at the Short North Tavern.
"Excelsior!" - Elsie and Elmer mooed in delight.
The sound waves smoldered throughout the night.
DECEMBER 2002
Burkhart Portrait of Thurber's Mother Mame Full of Mischief and Merriment
"I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms, and, if it proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it, and publish its meanness to the world; or if it were sublime, to know it by experience, and be able to give a true account of it" - Henry D. Thoreau, Walden
"Sunlight on the rusty iron in a junkyard is as beautiful as the crown jewels of England if you have the capacity to see it and appreciate it."- Emerson Burkhart, quoted in Columbus Citizen-Journal July 19, 1965
Emerson Burkhart, the Columbus artist, was a friend of my father's. He spent many of his birthdays with our family, because he was fond of my mother's meatloaf and pound cake, and good conversation. We also took trips with him to Bun's in Delaware (he was a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan). And, of course, we visited him in his large house on Woodland Avenue, both during his annual openings and other times.
Recently, I was fortunate to be able to visit Concord, Massachusetts, town of Henry David Thoreau, and walk meditatively around Walden Pond. I was surprised that Walden (a deep "kettle" lake formed by a glacier) is thought of as the local swimming lake by the Concord residents. It was a brilliant day and many were swimming, sunning, and walking. The air was crisp with the promise of autumn, but warm as summer.
It came to me since I've returned to Columbus that Emerson Burkhart is our own irascible Thoreau character. Thoreau wrote about nature and man's place in it. Burkhart painted it and made us see it in all its glory, but also its quirkiness and unevenness. Burkhart also made us see the city, the train and the automobile. Just like Thoreau, he froze his vision (Thoreau in writing, Burkhart in oils and watercolors) as a legacy to all who came after, to seek out the knowledge if they will.
Walden Pond and several replicas of Thoreau's cabin are still available to visit. And the Walden wayfarer puts a stone on the cairn that marks the original site of the cabin. In Columbus, we don't have such a strong sense of site preservation. But we do have Burkhart's paintings! And some pretty fine quotations from his erratic but articulate discourse.
"For a long time I've had a dream about the Scioto River. I'd like to see it become a great center for beauty. A place where there are statues children can look at and touch. Buddhas from India, maybe; every great country in the world could contribute something. We could call it the Columbus One-World River, and put boats and gondolas there E?L But you can't just buy it or legislate it ... You need a few geniuses in there working for it." - Burkhart quote from the same C-J article
Burkhart traveled and painted the world in his later years. Another thing he did his whole life was paint portraits, his own and others.
Emerson Burkhart was introduced to Mrs. Thurber when she lived at the Southern Hotel in 1951. The go-between was Paul North, an eccentric book and art dealer and collector. Burkhart sketched her at Room 510, then painted the oil at his home. He had just painted a portrait of Carl Sandburg who had been in Columbus doing readings. The two portraits would be paired later.
Apparently Burkhart had promised the Thurber family he would not sell the portrait of "Mame" to anyone else. The Thurbers did not want it; they thought it made her look "old." (She was in her eighties at the time.) This was the opinion of James Thurber's brothers; James was blind and could not see the portrait.
Paul North purchased the painting from Burkhart in the early '50s, soon after it was completed. He annoyed Robert Thurber with constant letters (the letters now in a private collection) harassing the Thurber family to buy it. Robert also advised the OSU Library not to buy it from North.
North tried to exchange the portrait for valuable Thurberana; again no dice from Robert. Robert advised North to "dispose of it to some out-of-state library or collector." (Letter to Paul North, dated Nov. 2, 1964.) Remember that Burkhart was still alive at this time; he died in 1969.
In a letter dated March 30, 1965, Robert Thurber is asking for a "cessation of correspondence" from North. Apparently North was also trying to sell a baseball book to Robert.
Cut to 1984, when Lewis Branscomb, a professor emeritus of the OSU Library, donated the painting to the Library. In his accompanying statement, he says he bought the portrait in 1971 from Paul North. Perhaps he saw it at the large retrospective of Burkhart's work at the Columbus Gallery of Fine Arts (as it was known then) - that show running Nov. 6, 1970 to Jan. 6, 1971. Mrs. Thurber's portrait was paired with the Sandburg painting then, and also previously at a show at the "Jewish Center on College Avenue" (I'm quoting Paul North's statement about the painting, dated Sept. 22, 1971) and the Franklin County Historical Society in 1961.
In all fairness, it is not Burkhart's best work. It appears to have been painted quickly. The background is stark, dark, almost foreboding. And yet, the mischief and merriment shine from Mrs. Thurber's eyes. The folds of the brown dress read well from a distance. The age-lines are handsome, not detracting. The photo of the portrait (not attributed to Burkhart) in The Thurber Album does not do the original justice.
Apparently the lack of acknowledgement of Burkhart (in the book) was intentional and a sore point between the Thurber family and Burkhart. Why use the painting at all in the book if the Thurber family did not like it?
To compare Burkhart's portrait work, see his Roman Johnson at the Columbus Museum of Art, and the portrait of Roman Johnson's mother, called The Matriarch. The Mame Thurber painting now resides at the Thurber House, 77 Jefferson Avenue, in Columbus. Mrs. Thurber is still smiling sweetly but has a demonic look in her eye. She is bathed in controversy, her favorite spot.
OCTOBER 2002
Maxine Meets Her Audience
Franny's Hallmark Shop and Gift Gallery goes way beyond cardsSometimes, you have to wander farther afield for the exotic. I ventured to the outer Sawmill at the behest of my friend Dianne Messick to witness an annual nocturnal ritual.
It was truly Christmas in July. I joined the members of the Capital City Collector's Club (10-12 members, an exclusive club) at Franny's Hallmark Shop & Gift Gallery, 6600 Sawmill Road. Before joining, you have to be a member in good standing in the Hallmark Collector's Club. Members gather once a year at 10 pm for the unveiling of the Hallmark ornaments.
The staff of Franny's Hallmark, including Dianne, wore costumes depicting characters among the ornaments for 2002, i.e., Harry Potter, Dorothy and Toto, Darth Vader, and the curmudgeonness of cards, Maxine. The members of the Club were dressed according to their concept of what "Santa's Night Out" would be (the slogan for 2002). They were mostly wearing bathrobes and p.j.'s and carrying stuffed animals. Flash pictures were ubiquitous. Fortunately it was a cool night so the costumed did not keel over of heatstroke, even in AC.
Food and Games
Refreshments were served: subs, cake, pop, coffee, dips with chips, breadsticks, luscious strawberries, but all on a Christmas table. Franny supplied the food. The expectant murmur of voices preceded the actual festivities, as everyone munched.Maxine, I learned, was not just on cards, but a doormat, desk accessories, kitchen accessories, a book, a figurine as well. Royal, his real name, just in from Boston, was the young preppy Hallmark "rep" in attendance. One wall of the store was covered with a red cloth (huge) that read "Do Not Open Until Ornament Premiere." Maxine, AKA Dianne, in Santa Hat and bunny slippers, introduced the staff fashion show.
Club members got to judge the costumes. They discussed the judging very seriously, coming up with categories such as Most Adorable, Darkest, Most Magical, and Best Rep of the Club. Maxine's blue hair jiggled with glee. Dianne's Yankee Trader wig was dyed with blue tempera powder, she said.
We played games: Santa Bingo, the letters of Santa in place of Bingo, names of ornaments in place of numbers, much work on this done by Club President Robin Bricker. We did storytelling by using pictures of ornaments as cues (involved 15 minutes for preparation).
Unveiling
Then the unveiling! All Franny's staff had to help in the lowering of the red curtain. Much ado was made over the castle ornament that converted into a jewelry box, which also plays music while a ballerina in castle interior dances. Here's the train and the airplane! Oh look at Scarlett! Maxine pointed out that the centerpiece of the ornament will convert into a Christmas tree come October (superceding Halloween).Dianne Messick as "Maxine"
The Maxine Ornament says many curmudgeonish things. There's a Yellow Submarine lunchbox ornament and a G.I. Joe lunchbox ornament, each complete with miniature thermos. There's a Death Star ornament (for a Goth tree?) and a Star Trek Delta Flyer that says "We're on a mission of peaceful exploration." The Luke Skywalker ornament is all in black with a green light sword. As I'm admiring the charming earth globe, I'm presented with a free ornament (penguins snow-discing).There's a tin-covered bridge, 1957 Ford Ranchero ornaments, and even more complex ones: a mailbox that looks like a quonset hut on a stick, with milk and cookies inside, a real rolled-up miniature newspaper in the tube; Tigger and Piglet skating on a lake while Pooh, Roo, and a snowman watch.
Leave-Taking
Club Members hauled their ornament "loot" out in groaning shopping bags. The foodstuffs were narrowed down to donuts and coffee as the others, non-Club members, waiting on the outside until midnight, were let in. They might have to order theirs, might not get them at all &endash; it was rumored. But there is some instant gratification for them &endash; they seemed to have full shopping bags too.I got back home around 1:30 am. Franny's stays open til 2 am on this night of nights, reopens at 8 am for more eager ornament shoppers.
"Thanks" to Dianne for letting me be a "fly on the wall" at this frenzy of delight. I also enjoyed a quick tour of the storeroom, with huge movable metal shelves, a marvel of efficiency. I felt like I'd gone backstage at a Broadway show!
Franny's Hallmark goes way beyond cards. It was like a flower that opens at night, and blooms once a year.
SEPTEMBER 2002
Look out Columbus!
Here comes Kimberly Ingram, florist extraordinaire!Kimberly Ingram of the Wild Plum Floral Company, 938 Dennison Avenue (at Price), wants you to come smell the flowers! She's been in the former Victorian Village Grocery since last September 4. As she nears her first anniversary of business, she waxes enthusiastic about the supportive neighborhood, her clientele, and the Short North. She's featuring weekly specials. She'll do your wedding, commitment ceremony, any kind of party. And she'll brighten your life; she makes people happy when she shows up on the doorstep.
"Wild Plum" in the symbolic language of flowers means "independence," and she is. She has only one employee and rises at 6 am to go choose the very finest flowers. They're coming to you from Holland, Ecuador, and California, among other worldwide locales. The Canadian ones get delivered once a week. The fine, fluffy, picture-of-health green plants come from Delaware, Ohio.
Ms. Ingram's constantly taking floral design classes to serve her high-style clientele. She's searching for that unique look for unique people. And her regulars keep coming back for more.
Come sit at her comfy old oak table and tell Kim your problems. "Getting men out of trouble is my business," she says. Her biggest seller is the "I'm Sorry" card. "I'm right in line behind the psychiatrist," she laughs.
She comes with great credentials. She's worked in the floral industry for ten years. And Dave Phillips's cat liked her. He's the landlord and former owner of the Victorian Village Grocery on the same site. Apparently his cat is very particular. He knew Ms. Ingram was the right tenant on that basis. (He still owns the insurance company next door.)
Let's talk about what you can get at Wild Plum. The former beer coolers - they look elegant holding flowers - display sunflowers, hydrangea, roses, snapdragons, freesia, gladiola, lilies E?L the list goes on and on and changes with the seasons. In plant life, false arealia, alocasia, Chinese evergreen, bromeliads, areca palm, peace lily, ficus, ferns, cactus, and carnivorous plants. In gift items, Colonial candles, silk flowers, Victorian porcelain, mini-books with golden-charmed bookmarks, and unique décor items such as wine glasses, diverse vases, and beaded vases by local artists.
Ms. Ingram will give you a free wedding guide and a copy of Columbus Bride. I liked the antiqued-wood "trog baskets" and the space-age wire-wrapped "16 test tube" holders for 16 individual flowers. "You can make daisies last for three weeks in those."
Ms. Ingram is lithe and natural in her beige overalls and crisp white shirt. She speaks of her "windfall" in starting up the business on three months notice. Under the fuchsia-colored tin roof, the place fairly crackles with order and beauty. She's caught up in "the Spirit of the Short North" with its "individualists." Find her there Monday thru Friday 10-6, Saturday 10-3. Deliveries in Franklin County are $6 each (Teleflora and FTD available). Call 298-0571. Wire flowers worldwide!
AUGUST 2002
A Short Tour of the Short North Bead TruckHow do you recognize the Short North Bead Truck? Well, for starters, it says "Short North" on the tailgate in mirrored tiles. It's crisply painted in bright colors. And there's an arch in the truckbed.
On a recent Doo Dah day, I doffed my chicken costume and sat with Joyce Griffiths in Goodale Park. The Doo Dah Parade had just ended. It was beastly hot, but Joyce's demeanor was cool. She was dressed in cool blue-and-white ethnic-print overalls, a red-and-blue bead necklace, and obviously relished talking about her truck!
It is her truck because she keeps it at her home. But it is a group effort. Her husband Jeff affixed the arch to it and installs the living plants in the truckbed. Mary Martineau, formerly of Transformations and now of the Short North Business Association, is the co-artist and perpetrator. The employees of Griffiths at Byzantium, 1088 N. High, have glued beads and furthered its evolving look.
Griffiths's husband gave his consent, for it was partly his truck. Griffiths and Martineau saved it from a junkyard fate by envisioning the paint/bead job. At this Doo Dah, they decided to glorify the "Short North Possum," as opposed to the Short North Posse (nefarious gang of old). Ms. Martineau was disguised as a possum (she walked) and the truck had a "Possum Crossing" sign (Ms. Griffiths drove).
The two started painting on "the windiest day of the year." This is why many maple seeds are paintedly affixed to the truck. The body of the truck has large blocks of color, like states on a map. The top has stripes like a sherbety spectrum.
On the upper realms of the right side, blue glass fish swim through a sparkly ocean under a night sky with glow-in-the-dark moons and stars. Up-and-coming is a day sky with birds and butterflies. Bead flowers, birds, and leaves already adorn the hood. The purple-and-black Mona Lisa resides thereupon, with earrings, eyelashes, and a heart necklace. Ms. Griffiths hastens to add that the eyelashes and the "Odd Lots" arch have been the only things purchased since the project began. She is "cleaning house" by using up beads and other items that she's stored for "just the right moment."
A "snow globe idea" adorns the back. These are clear plastic boxes with loose glitter and beads inside, meant to jiggle when the truck hits a bump. Jeweled hubcaps swirl in movement. An old African bell and some bird bells jingle from the arch.
The truck will change with the seasons. The jungly plants and the Riddle topiary will give way to, say, a Christmas tree in winter. A beaded curtain will appear at the back window.
The "mylar space blanket upholstery" will soon feature gold 50's naugahyde stripes. And for a crowning glory: papier-mâché Byzantine domes, as in Byzantium's logo. Ms. Griffiths learned in a Caribbean island workshop how to papier-mâché permanently - using Lysol in the mixture to thwart chomping bugs and critters, and overall sealing for that weatherproof finish.
The Mona Lisa is sideways, of course, in keeping with the Short North's logo. Ms. Griffiths points out that "you have to get high to see her properly," meaning one's best viewpoint is from above, on a stepstool or a 2nd story window. So look for this evolving and moving work of art to come your way. We in the Columbus Artcar Community welcome our new "Painted and Beaded Lady of the Short North."
JULY 2002
The Savage Sighs of SamA friend moved into the North Campus area lately, so we took a walk around the alleys. What we found: a 6-foot backyard alligator, a yard with the most lawn ornaments I've ever seen (the concrete geese covered with plastic bags in the winter, Christo-style), a car repair garage that looks like the Alamo, and Medary Elementary School.
Named for Sam Medary, an implacable newspaper editor and rabid Democrat, the publisher of three newspapers in Columbus: the Hemisphere, the Ohio Statesman, and (my favorite) the Columbus Crisis. All these before and during the Civil War.
Later I came to work at Medary School. I'll tell a tale both HAL-ish and hellish, of the immense chuffling and snorting furnace in the depths of Medary School.
I spent many hours in its adjacent "storeroom," gluing toys onto wagons.
I was upgrading the wagons for their future fate as raffle items at the Cultural Heritage Festival. As a guest artist, I'd sorted and glued the initial round of toys with the members of the Medary Boys and Girls Club, a lively bunch.
Medary School was built in 1892. Its peaked roof, red brick, and gray stone window ledges give off a friendly rather than formidable feeling. It dominates its neighborhood setting.
I assume the furnace has been upgraded since 1898. It has pipes turning back in and on itself like a drunken octopus made of gray rigatoni. I found myself making a mosaic design of convoluted swirls as a result of my proximity.
I later met Mr. Jones, the principal of Medary School. He wore pristine white sneakers, a crisp striped shirt, and a modest set of keys on his belt. He was everywhere at the Cultural Heritage Festival, taking digital photos and later cleaning up. He informed me that the school exterior would be saved, but that the interior "should be gutted and brought up to code." He also informed me the room I'd been working in was the "coal room" for the prior furnace. The room no longer has coal. What it does have is a story-high jumble of desks, chairs, and computers, a Jackson Pollock-like painting, a huge M&M candy character mounted on cardboard, and pottery from ancient art classes left forlornly for years to dry.
Fortunately, the room does not smell. But on a hot day when I'd exit the room, I'd smell that school hallway odor of stale vomit and sweat. I'd like the incense franchise in public schools.
The furnace I'll call SAM instead of HAL. It takes up a classroom-size room. It utters the ultimate sibilant every fifteen minutes, heat or cold be the weather, the savage wheeze from hell. At first I thought I would be killed from the compression and the claustrophobia. I would shift in my skewed chair, for, you see, the "floor" in the coal room was slanted like an Alpine runway, so the coal would roll toward SAM's ancestor. So many toys rolled by me and out of sight that when the school is gutted there will be treasure to burn.
And that reminds me of the story of Sam Medary. On March 5, 1863, a mob moved noiselessly through heavily falling snow toward the office of the Columbus Crisis. Medary, you see, was a protester of the Civil War, which didn't sit well with the citizenry of Columbus and the soldiers of Camp Chase. With bayonets poised, they kicked in the door at the corner of Gay and High. They sacked the place: books, furniture, fixtures destroyed, all doors and windows smashed. Copies of the Crisis were scattered by the thousands in the streets.
However, "Governor" Medary had gone to Cincinnati on the afternoon train. Buchanan had made him Governor of the Minnesota Territory and then the Kansas Territory. Medary's political career was over with his opposition to the Civil War and newspaper rantings about rebuking Lincoln.
Medary's name lives on with the school and the furnace. His opulent sighs of mercy for his CRISIS echo through my artwork. Mr. Jones says the wind blows parts of the school's roof off because of its rakish angle. It's Sam setting his cap for those who wronged him.
Mr. Jones, Principal of Medary Elementary School, located in Clintonville at 2500 Medary Avenue. The school, built in 1892 (photo left), was named for publisher Sam Medary, founder of pre-Civil War newspapers, the Hemisphere, the Ohio Statesman, and the Columbus Crisis.
JUNE 2002
Tour of Ohioddities: Roadside AttractionsHere's a little cruise I've worked out for you. At last test-drive (recently) there were no orange barrels on it. It takes half a day. Now that it's almost summer, there's no excuse for sitting around in the city when you could be out exploring the back roads. You'll feel refreshed when you return.
This is a motorist's tour away from blight. In recent years, we have seen Columbus malled and subdivided without mercy. You will see this at the beginning of the tour. Then, explore the best of small-town Ohio. This is not a tour with thrills and throbs. There will be curiosities and evidence of hidden blight in the heartland.
Speaking of Heartland, we'll be traveling to, at the center of our tour, Centerburg, which bills itself as "The Heart of Ohio," a heart-shaped state. So, relax, turn off your mind, and float down-stream. The flat landscape gives even the driver time to enjoy the passing scene. And, don't forget to sample some of Ohio's tasty treats along the way.
Here's a list of things to bring along: Yankee Trader plastic flies (12 for $1) and little caskets (4 for $2), the latter filled with jelly beans; meringue cookies, Scottish shortbread, Groucho glasses (I'll explain later.)
Head north on High Street past Worthington (Route 23). What you'll see is development, and then old farmhouses and fields ready to be destroyed for more development. Enjoy the farms and fields part.
Note the Kingman Drive-In sign on right. The Kingman got bulldozed last month. Site of a great flea market, car cruise-ins, and many a teenage tryst. Note the Perkins Observatory sign on right. It is named for Ohio Wesleyan professor of math and astronomy Hiram Mills Perkins (1833-1924) who gave OWU $200,000 to build it, and lifted the first shovelful of dirt in 1923.
Perkins is also the site of the Big Ear Radio Telescope, which received the "Wow" transmission on August 15, 1977, a message from space. The cause of the message was never determined. The radio signal never repeated. Big Ear was bulldozed in 1998 for a golf course and houses, but the Observatory remains (in the golf course).
Next you'll cross the Olentangy River and enter Delaware. Stay on 23 until you see the Williams Street/N. Sandusky Street exit. Take it. Turn left at the light. Cruise down Williams. A few blocks on the right, at the corner of Sandusky, is the Mean Bean Caffeine Lounge. Turn right and park along Sandusky. Delaware is known for Ohio Wesleyan and the Little Brown Jug Horse Race. As you stroll downtown, be sure and pick up on knick-knacks at Pilsner's Five and Dime. Nectar Candyland and the Saltbox Mercantile are across the street.
Side Trip: Backtrack a little - south on Sandusky, left on Olentangy, right on Stratford. At 1812 Stratford, visit Phil Kimball (740-363-5335) and his outdoor sculptures at Riverbend Studio.
Leaving Delaware: Back to the Mean Bean. North on Sandusky, left on Winter. Past poor burnt-out Bun's, the classic brick houses, the Arts Castle. (Site of the bicycle glue-in with Ramona Moon and artistic teens.) Turn right on Elizabeth at the Arts Castle. At the next block turn left on Central. Go a ways. Turn right on Troy Road. You're out in the country. Observe on your right the mysterious 5-pipe metal sculpture.
Turn right on Norton, left on Gillette. Stop at the "Waldo" sign. Here's a photo op. Large silos loom above (Ohiogro). Bring along your Where's Waldo book and wear a red-and-white striped shirt. (Amazing! Incredible!) Waldo was named for the son of Milo D. Pettibone, who laid out the town in 1831.
Turn right at the huge silos at the Co-op Sign. (This is Main Street, but not marked here.) This will take you to the home of the famous Bologna Sandwich at the G & R. Or, you can stop at the Village Tavern where the Walleye Basket, the Ostrich Burger, and the not-so-famous Bologna Sandwich are served. A Village Tavern habitué assured me that the bologna is just as good: "They like you to drink over there, too, but not as much." So it is your choice in downtown Waldo.
Now take 47 south to 229 east. Pretty soon you're in Ashley. Check out the pink house. Continue past Rusk Bros. Car Graveyard. Soon you're in Marengo. Take out those meringue cookies and eat them now. Soon you're in Sparta, home of Tim Belcher of the L.A. Dodgers. Eat the Scottish shortbread as you turn right onto 314 south at Highland High School, home of the Fighting Scots.
It is thought that Marengo's name commemorates Napoleon's defeat of the Austrians in 1800 at Marengo, Italy. Contemplate this as you pass the swamps and swimming holes between Sparta and Centerburg. Check out the "heart of Ohio"
sign as you turn right onto Main Street (Centerburg). Admire on your left the Red Pegasus on the perfectly preserved buff-brick gas station with arched windows and door. Pink house on right. Continue on Main, turn left into Kent's Kones at 3940 Columbus Road.
Kent's ("No tractor trailers beyond this point") has cool toy stuff in five different vending machines. On the menu you'll find: foot-long banana split, dirt sundae, trash can sundae, turtle parfait, sundae in a major league helmet, belly buster sundae, purple lady sundae, cookie monster sundae, green dragon milkshake, blue raspberry dip cone (among many other colors), and fish tails. And just about any other thing you'd want. Go ahead and indulge, Mayor Coleman can't see you.
Go back to the heart of the heart of town, turn right at Long Branch Pizza and the 1st Bank of Centerburg. This is Hartford Street, which turns into Croton farther out of town. Past the town of Hartford you'll find the blank buildings of the infamous Buckeye Egg farm. This is where you eat your caskets full of eggs. And your plastic flies E?L well, you can be creative. Fly swarms of "biblical proportions" have been unleashed from Buckeye Egg. Last September a Licking County jury ordered the company to pay $19.2 million to 21 neighbors. Let's hope they're not swarming as you pass by.
Continue on Croton to 37, turn left into Johnstown, named for Capt. James Johnston, an early landowner. Pink house on right. Jog up through Johnstown on 62 to Sportsman Club Road. Get out your Groucho glasses as we're headed to Fredonia. I could find no reference to the naming of Fredonia in Ohio reference books. So I must conclude it was named after the country of Freedonia in the Marx Bros. Movie Duck Soup. Groucho is Rufus T. Firefly, President of Freedonia.
Mrs. Teasdale (Margaret Dumont): As chairwoman of the reception committee of Freedonia, I welcome you with open arms. Groucho: Is that so? How late do you stay open? Mrs. T: I've sponsored your appointment because I feel you are the most able statesman in all Freedonia. Groucho: Well, that covers a lot of ground. Say, you cover a lot of ground yourself. You better beat it. I hear they're going to tear you down and put up an office building where you're standing. You can leave in a taxi. If you can't get a taxi you can leave in a huff. If that's too soon, you can leave in a minute and a huff.
Now where were we? Oh yes, Fredonia. Continue on Sportsman Club Road, which turns into Chestnut Hills Road to Vanatta (named for William Vanatta who came to the area in 1833.) Watch out for ground-hogs and the Avalanche Ranch. The road dead ends at 13, turn left. Go past the Moundbuilder Railroad Car. Now here comes a tricky part. Pay attention. It's worth it.
Turn right on Snyder. Nice iron bridge. Turn right on Donn Road. Turn left on Horns Hill Road; road takes a sharp right. By going straight you'll be on Newton
Road. This is a true country road. Just as you're thinking the road will get so small it runs up a tree, you turn right on Martinsburg Road. Watch for the duality of driveway ornaments. Two golden lions! Two giant baskets! (Foreshadowing) Two iron horses! Left on Swisher Road "Welcome to Poverty Knob." Swisher dead ends into 79. Turn right.
South on 79 past Eddyburg Road. Leave 79 and continue south on Dayton Road. You come over a ridge and see &endash; the Longaberger Basket Building! (Open in 1998 - hey that's the year Big Ear was torn down &endash; now we need the Big Basket to lure the space people to us.) You see, you took this roundabout route to experience the thrill of sneaking up on the Basket. (This is a good one for unsuspecting relatives.)
At the bottom of the hill, turn left on 16. Pass the Basket on the right, turn right on Marne Road. Go behind the Basket and then into the visitor parking lot. Go inside the Basket. Experience the 7-story atrium and the tasteful arrangement of baskets in home-like settings. (The grand piano was broken when I was there, but I hope they have it fixed for your visit.) Go to the bathroom. One of the women's bathrooms has ivy in urinals. Hey, just thank Longaberger (as you get your free post-card) for making the Columbus area a little closer to the kitsch capital of the world.
Now, you can either shoot straight back to Worthington on 16/161 or head for the Granville Inn for more goodies. I hope you had a good trip. It was fun scouting it out for you.
MAY 2002
Those Cars - Coming to Columbus!Decoration of vehicles: when and why? Gypsy wagons are an ancient display of ebullience and alternate values. Perhaps a transference from decorating one's livestock with bells and festoons. Why are these modern-day gypsies coming to Columbus to mingle with the obsessive car decorators who live here?
It's "Those Cars," a three-day tour-de-force that will pit art cars into the mix with hot rods, souped-up bicycles and motor-cycles, decorated wagons and pull-toys. As long as it moves, embellish it! It looks so good as it whizzes by.
On Friday, May 10, a "Downtown Drive-by," featuring local celebrities in art cars, will end up at Café Brioso, Gay and High, at 7 pm. Admission is $10 for a "patron party" with food and music and meet-the-artists. The expectation is high for these arrivees: Nancy Jacob aka Miss Liberty, Miss Liberty's Car, Hallowell, Maine; Dave Major, AeroCar 600, Benton, Kansas; Christa Ansbergs, Ecco, Vernon, Connecticut; Conrad Bladey, Handy, Linthicum, Maryland; Gary Coover, Yellow Submarine, Fayetteville, Arkansas; Bill Stevenson, Whimsy, Gumboro, Delaware; Joe Ficht, the Pollock-Mobile, Houston, Texas.
From now until June 1, you can see the art car exhibit on the walls, ceilings, and floors of Café Brioso. The infamous DooDah Dune Buggy (Dogmobile) is there; also photos of the Turkey Toyota and Emily Ramseyer's Bead Car: terrific glue art on car hoods and small cars by the talented students of Worthington Kil-bourne High School; and the Blue Bomber and the Pink Pacer, small-scale art cars. Greg Phelps's photos display close-ups of your favorite neighborhood art cars, and diverse moving art from other cultures.
There's the Tap-tap from Haiti, a bus of prismatic colors and designs. The becak (pronounced "bet-chek"), a decorated pedi-cab or rickshaw, is found throughout Indonesia (you can see one at Four Winds International Imports, 921 N. High Street). The Pakistani trucks and buses are a marvel to behold. Most notably, the designs on these painted vehicles depict movie stars, flora and fauna, religious icons, not advertising. Artists specialize in vehicle painting and carry out the whims of the owner/driver. Most car artists in this country "do it for themselves" as the ultimate self-expression to take directly to the public. No art gallery middlemen. No labels to read.
Other countries which feature decorated vehicles: Afghanistan, India, many Latin-American buses. The chivas of Columbia are geometric-patterned, wooden-bodied buses with set-in vignettes of landscapes, portraits, religious themes, humor, or fine art copies. The buses of Venezuela, Peru, and Panama are famous. A shrine to Mary is on nearly every bus; it is no laughing matter to take public transit in these countries. In addition to artwork, the Venezuelan buses also have their own patron saint: Jose Gregorio Hernandez, a mustachioed doctor who administered to the poor at the turn of the 20th century. Going back further, the national symbol of Costa Rica is the decorated ox-cart, with curvilinear and geometric motifs.
We here is Columbus have some diversely decorated COTA buses. I observe them mainly on High Street. On May 11, there will be an event on High Street called High N Seek, featuring 11 neighborhoods on eleven miles up and down High Street. As part of this event, you'll see the art cars again, cruising up and down, having their picture taken at the Doris Shlayn ART sculpture at CCAD, finally landing at Little Brothers, 1100 N. High. The cruisin' will be 11 am to 1 pm, the Little Brothers event will be 1 to 5 pm.
For the most hearty (or should we say fool-hearty), an addendum has been planned for Mother's Day, May 12. A cruise up High Street (Route 23) a little bit further to Delaware for a brunch at the Mean Bean Caffeine Lounge from 10 am to noon. Then, a Roadside Attractions Tour of Ohioddities, ending up at the Longaberger Basket Building. And, for those who can't get enough, the second leg of the tour includes a trip to P.R. Miller's visionary art studio in Canal Fulton. Questions? Call (614) 262-6462 or e-mail at: artcarscolumbus@aol.com
Columbus Artcar Resource Society is hosting the weekend, with the Short North Business Association and High N Seek. Seventh Sun Productions is the presenting sponsor. Other sponsors include the Worthington Arts Council, Max and Erma's, BP, and Café Brioso. Donations are being accepted, and above all, we're looking for more decorated cars! You can add magnets to your favorite stuff and make a "temporary" art car. (But you might get bitten by the bug.)
And, it's in the works: COSI will sponsor an art car workshop at the Columbus Arts Festival June 8 and 9; the Delaware Chamber of Commerce will sponsor the making of a Mother's Day art car. It's catching on. Hitch your wagon to a star. New friends at every stop.
APRIL 2002
Scully's Serves It Up!Music-diner is the subtitle of the new Skully's. Up front by the clear glass windows is the best table to watch the passing scene. The best view of the hot-rod sailfish too (must be seen to be believed). Food and style are served up here. Oh yes, and music.
Skully and Michele Webb, new owners and avid proprietors of the building, have more than just bar food at the north end of the Short North. A cozy café atmosphere prevails up front, with touches of red neon and the red glow of candles.
When asked to describe the food, Skully said "Eclectic gourmet American grill." The signature curly fries remain. He's tweaked the pizza to gourmet toppings. Healthy not greasy is a factor. Also many veggie items like the vegetarian BLT with grilled provolone instead of bacon. The extensive 4-page menu also features soups, salads, breakfast, appetizers, sandwiches, wraps, and varieties of chicken.
Chef Brian Hill features a daily dinner special from 5:30 to 10:30 pm. During my visit, it was lemon pepper grilled chicken, with roasted red pepper parmesan, whipped potatoes and jumbo stuffed mushrooms (spinach, garlic, white wine, mozzarella).
Michele emphasized the bottled waters and the high-end brand liquors. Skully emphasized the 16 draft beer taps. They both emphasized that they invite social events to take place there - meetings, fund raisers, etc. "Miss Kitty's Hot Box" was a special presentation that was sold out for three days near Valentine's Day. A Fashion show by Cricket West took place there recently, in conjunction with the Johnson Brothers Band.
Skully Webb was the manager of Mean Mr. Mustard's on campus for 13 years.Both Mustard's and the campus Skully's had to be abandoned to the Campus Partners renovation along High Street. Now with 20 employees, Skully and Michele embark on a venture unlike Mustard's or the former Skully's. They want to appeal to all ages and tastes, not just Ohio State University students.
To this end, here is the music lineup, managed by Mr. Angelo Palma: Monday, Gothic/Industrial Mix; Tuesday, Rocka-billy Rumble; Wednesday, British Psychedelic Rock; Thursday, Alternative Classics with Ladies Night (ladies free); Friday, live bands (all the others are DJ nights). The rock/dance mix on Fridays will start with local bands and move up to national acts. Saturday nights will feature a DJ with old school funk and soul.
One of the secrets to Skully's success is dad Tom Webb, a master craftsman. The polished look of the dance area, with its 19-foot ceilings, large mirrors, theatre-size screen, ample dance floor, and 12' x 27' stage (the band has room!) is largely his doing. The brand-new PA system is also a point of pride. A red curtain will be added to the stage. A back patio is also in the works. (Already there is patio seating in the front.)
The immediate future of the front of Skully's is a huge sign - destined to become a landmark - a flashing, chasing arrow in a 50's retro look. Combine this with the arches-to-come (one will be right in front of Skully's) and you'll be talking Illumination.
This is not a smoky dark club. There are even two theatrical lamps of flame, one demarcating the front bar from the back. The parquet glass on the facade has been de-painted to let light through. The front is the original from the Napa Auto Parts quonset hut, all torn down except the front wall.
Heading back toward the dance floor from the front (a red curtain is drawn across the back during the day to separate the areas), one finds another cozy bar space and another little side room of cushy blue couches.
By this time, you've noticed the theme of fabulous flames and faux fur (leopard). The Webbs own several hot rods. There will be a hot rod show out front on May 11. The bar fridge, a 1949 model, is painted in flames.
The loft above is suitable for viewing the band, the dance floor, and restaurant. Closed in prior clubs on the same site, now it is open to revelers, to watch the "60,000 square feet of fun."
The parking lot to the north of Skully's has lots of space. Skully's shares the lot with Magnolia Thunderpussy. Soon there will be a "pocket park" there too. Skully and Michele feel a strong sense of community with the Short North. They want neighbors to drop in for and to carry out the great food.
MARCH 2002
Bravos for Bravo - Class Act at Glass AxisGuess Who's Coming to Dinner?
On a recent evening at the always-elegant Columbus Music Hall, the restored fire station of fun, dark-clothed persons lurked in corners. Then they turned to the assembled guests with silver platters of salmon with capers, also crunchy hors d'oeuvres of olives, asparagus, spinach, or brie -and BRAVO's first annual "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" fundraiser was off to a brisk start.
BRAVO is an acronym for the Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization. The organization's stated purpose is to eliminate violence perpetrated on the basis of sexual orientation and/or gender identi-fication. BRAVO works within and on behalf of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities.
A serious purpose for a lighthearted evening. Endive with bleu cheese wafted by as I met Short North entrepreneurs Patrick McCarthy (Piercology, 872 N. High Street) and Chris Cozad (Alternative Auto Care, 585 W. 2nd Avenue). They and many others had worked hard to assemble the many parts of the festive evening.
A raffle ensued, also a silent auction, and a drawing of names to determine in which of six beautiful homes one would dine. The locations were all over the map - from Miranova to Worthington, German Village to Goodale Park. All dinners were of the most tasteful and exotic ingredients. Half were vegetarian, or could accommodate vegetarians.
The new bar alcove at the Columbus Music Hall twinkled with drink. The night was warm enough to allow gazebo and garden lounging, while watching a Jenny Holzer-like electronic sign on the city skyline. Guests mingled and speculated on the outcome of the drawing. Details of the varied gastronomy were in the program.
The progressiveness of the night's venues was matched by the progressiveness of the thinking. So many times in the last few months of anguish, I think of Rodney King's plaintive "Why can't we all just get along?" Picture a personal anguish when lifestyle choice and sexual preference are persecuted in our society.
The aptly named Willa Young spoke to the group about the way the names would be drawn. She had the audience hanging on her every word. She uses that charisma in her role as head of OSU's Gender and Sexuality Services, rape hotline, and GBLT communities liaison. Students work within the organization and with BRAVO. With practical experience behind them, they go on to grad school to work for change and freedom. A safer place for OSU students is a much-needed goal, rippling out to encompass all. It takes a lot of education and dedication.
Laramie Project
The good news is that next year's "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner" date is already set: February 22, 2003. BRAVO's showing of the "Laramie Project" is March 6, 2002, at the new Arena Grand Theater, 175 W. Nationwide Boulevard. The film explores the story of a community re-examining itself in the aftermath of the murder of 21-year-old Matthew Shepard. Tickets are free, but reservations are required. Call 888-845-3681. To call BRAVO, 268-9622. All other area codes, 866-86-BRAVO. The hours of operation: M-F, 10 am to 5 pm. Evening hours: Sunday, Monday, Thursday, 6-10 pm.
Oh, and those fabulous crunchy hors d'oeuvres were prepared by Phillip Pishitelli. The city lights sparkled from the Music Hall's gazebo. And that was just the beginning.
Glass Axis
Glass Axis has moved from Cozzins Street near the Nationwide Arena to Grandview, 1341-B Norton Avenue, between 3rd and 5th Avenues. The assembled glass artists throw two parties a year, one on Valentine's day and one on Halloween. A loud and danceable band is always on the premises, and all-you-can-eat fine food and keg beer. But the real kicker is the glass!
Bleachers are set up for artist-watching, of the manufacture of hearts, goblets, vases, and once in a while a loopy wild thing. The glass artists (there is a membership of over 220 amateur and professionals) put on a good show. As the music, food, and drink seep into your system, the ballet of glass to pole to oven to table to lips takes on a dream-like quality in rhythm to the beat.
But you don't have to wait for the parties, or even for your dreams. Glass Axis offers tours and demos all the time. Plus a plethora of classes are offered: glass-blowing to stained glass to bead and marble making (and more). Call 291-4250 for an appointment. And they have really cool stuff on sale!
P.R. Miller Update
Remember our recycle artist in Canal Fulton, P.R. Miller, who was being hassled for his unbounding and prolific productivity? Here are his current projects: He'll do a work for the Visionary Art Group in Baltimore; he's moving his gigantic scene to an 80,000 square foot Akron factory; he's undertaking another work for the Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center of a 110-mile sculpture garden - a 10-15 year project. He just installed a huge metallic flower arrangement in the Akron Art Museum. And in June, he's turning an old Ford ambulance into a frog, with children for the Massillon Museum. Whew!
FEBRUARY 2002
Zeno's: A Long Bar and Restaurant with a Long HistoryZeno's is the little bar that could. It stays open 7 days a week, 365 days a year. It fought, and won, in court and in an election, to be the neighborhood bar on their side of the street. It sports its own parking lot: you get a spiffy yellow tag from the barkeep to display on your dashboard.
Located at 384 West 3rd Avenue at Pennsylvania, Zeno's has the longest bar in Columbus. Room for lots of folks. The long room has two levels- the bar floor, and an upper floor with booths. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, starting at 9 pm, the upper floor has a DJ and dance floor, complete with disco ball and theatrical lights. The lights glint off the many mirrors. That's Dick Allen's collection of name-brand mirrors, and the knick-knack-strewn mirrors behind the bar.
Cylindrical lights with pert white bulbs shine over the booths, offset by the shamrock-green walls. Zeno's is an Irish-themed bar. St. Patrick's Day is the biggest day of the year. Corned beef and cabbage is served on March 17, amid the Irish step dancers.
What is served on the regular menu? "World Famous" chicken wings (Our own special recipe, big and juicy - Mr. Allen.) Nachos and deep fried veggies serve as the appetizers. Chicken, taco, chef's and garden are the names of the salads. There's a soup of the day; also, chili and onion soup daily. Clam chowder pops up on Fridays. Among the plethora of sandwiches, grilled salmon and the triple-decker club caught my eye. Cajun quesadillas spice it up among the regular quesadillas. Want pizza? Zeno's has it. Steak sandwich? Sure. The biggest sellers are the burgers and the subs.
Carrie Knight is the day cook. She also has a lunch special: ask for it. But how about those drinks? Happy hour occurs from opening to 7 pm daily. Hours are Monday thru Saturday 11 am - 2:30 am; Sunday 1 pm - 2:30 am.
As I walk into the linear spell of Zeno's hospitality, "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" wafts through the room. I take stock of the amenities: TVs at either end tuned to sports, tall bar stools, large American flag, two video games, large gumball machine, an old-fashioned stand-up scale, juke box, popcorn machine. An antique vending machine that used to spit out "Zeno's chewing gum" no longer works ("Won't work with modern gum" - Mr. Allen)
There's a pool room (with its own bar) and a party room downstairs. The large trophy collection is from an era when Zeno's sponsored touch football and softball teams. I admired the couches on the upper level. They're from Mr. Allen's now defunct "Chameleons" restaurant in the Convention Center. The "Terrible Towel" behind the bar is signed by several Pittsburgh Steeler players and fans. The large photos behind the bar are of Champ Henson and John Hicks, who played with OSU's Archie Griffin. They were regular customers, personal friends of Mr. Allen.
What we know about Zeno's is that it's always changing. The prominent I-beams are original to the building's construction: they held up the heavy machines used in the creation of baked goods for the N.E. Shop Bakery. Their claim to fame: they made the first buns for White Castle. At the end of Prohibition, the bakery became the J & J Grill, which held forth at the corner for 50 years. Amid neighborhood deterioration, Zeno's tackled the job of renovation starting August 10, 1984, through the spring of 1985. The bar never closed. Customers sat near the sawing and the tearing of things down. Meanwhile, the gas station across the street became a candle shop. The icehouse nearby no longer sold ice. Zeno's draws its name from one of its owners, Steve Zeno. Chris Miller is another partner; Dick Allen is the general managing partner. Mr. Allen grew up in Clintonville, graduated from Watterson. After some time in Delaware, he moved to Upper Arlington. He has three sons: one at OSU and two at Upper Arlington. He is proud of their state championship football achievements. They help him with remodeling, waiting tables, and cooking. His wife does the bookkeeping: truly a family business.
Three years ago a remodeling job went in: new pressed-tin ceilings over the bar, new bathrooms. But more renovations are on the horizon. The kitchen will get an overhaul, and a new menu before the fall.Mr. Allen talks about "the troubles" as though we were in Dublin. This was a few years ago, when Zeno's had to fight a certain member of the neighbor- hood in court, just for the right to remain open (there had been no complaints from others, either from parking problems or clientele behavior.) During the troubles, Zeno's could serve only wine. They lost patrons, employees numbered 10 instead of the former 30. But Zeno's won a local option election and got back the permit. They have the only permit in the precinct. And they acquired the "$100,000" parking lot to appease the adversary. And they're looking forward.
One customer they never lost was Jack Allman, who has been coming in every day no matter what. Mr. Allen reminisced about the days when legislators and lobbyists hung out- "Once the state budget was signed on that very round table." He's seen the neighborhood change, and he's weathered the storms of slum, boom time, gentrification, and renovation.
I'll drink to that! See you at Zeno's on St. Paddy's Day (or before).
JANUARY 2002
Portal To 2002
A New Year's FantasyA string of lights, like a string of pearls, arches overhead
Archie Griffin arches his eyebrows in wonderment unsaid.Susanne Jaffe and Sharon Weiss look around in glee
A string of establishments let's pay a visit, more than 2 or 3 -
Rigsby's, Zeno's, Blazer's Pub, Gibby's, Europia -
We'll pass out party hats from Yankee Tra