Right Now Downtown

Location, location, location – a favorite saying among realtors, but for new downtown business Data Center 101, it’s especially true. Data Center 101, a data center locating at 101 E. Town St., will provide secure data and systems back up for companies with valuable data or with true online data collection, such as money generating order taking systems. As a level three classified data center – the highest commercial classification, Data Center 101’s systems simply can never go down. “Our facility is not cheap, but we’re for companies that cannot afford any down time at all. We guarantee up time or pay penalties,” said Bruce Macnichol, channel manager. To make such a promise, each system requires redundancy and the building as a whole requires extensive security. Hence the need for the perfect location. The two key components in locating a level three data center are access to power and “fiber” or cable for connectivity. To guarantee that the power never goes out, Data Center 101 needed to be on the emergency grid of not one but two power companies. And it needed lots of fiber. There are only about three places in Columbus where those criteria intersect, and one of them was the corner of Third and Town, where serendipitously a vacant building stood. “I thought, this is unbelievable, this building has been vacant for several years and all this stuff we need meets in the back parking lot!” added Macnichol. So, the building was acquired and renovations began. While the infrastructure needs were low thanks to its perfect location, the 1970’s era building, resplendent in earth tones and avocado green, required total gutting. Each floor has been completely renovated with an eye toward its use. The top three floors will be used by Data Center 101, while the bottom two will be used by The Goddard School, a daycare and preschool, which is happy to benefit from the building’s extreme security. Once classification testing is completed in June, Data Center 101 will hold the highest classification in the Midwest. Customers will begin moving in around June 15. After the data center is up and running, no one will be getting in who isn’t supposed to – there are three levels of security including a bioscan – but if you want to see the facility, they will be holding an open house around June 20.

Lunchtime gets oh-so-much cooler starting June 1, when the Lynn and Pearl Alley Markets open for summer business in the Lynn and Pearl Alleys between Broad, High, Gay and Third Streets. The markets offer flowers, fruits, veggies and other fare from area farmers, plus art, crafts, clothing and other goods. Business hours are Tuesdays and Fridays, 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Join Mayor Michael B. Coleman and others to celebrate the Markets’ opening on Friday, June 1 at 10 a.m. Fest season starts with an arty bang June 7-10 with the Columbus Arts Festival. The free event, which features ample amounts of live music, food and art from around the country, comes to life along Civic Center Drive between Broad and Mound streets and on Main Street from Front to the closed Main Street Bridge. Hours will be 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Cyclists take note: Pedal Instead, a city program to encourage bike-riding to events, will have a secure bike corral at City Hall on Saturday and Sunday. Party on State, a merry after-work scene with food, drink and live music hosted outdoors by Darbys and San Francisco Oven, kicks off June 12 along with the 2007 Capitol Square Kickball League. Due to popular demand, both Party on State and kickball games will be Tuesdays and Thursdays this year, with games starting at 5:30, 6:15, 7:00, and 7:45 p.m. on the west lawn of the Statehouse. Ogle other people’s homes without hearing you’re “nosey” at City Hop on June 16. The tour of downtown homes features 22 residential projects that include loft-style units, apartments and townhouses, and luxury condos. New this year is a free shuttle service that will ferry Hoppers between three stops where you can also buy tickets and start the tour: Arena Grand Theatre, 175 Nationwide Blvd.; The Hartman Lofts, 150 E. Main St.; and The Jeffrey, 224 E. First Ave. Tickets are $18 the day of the Hop, or $15 if you purchase online beforehand.

A new contender for favorite lunch ritual has entered the downtown scene: Gumbo Friday at Big Apple Deli, 26 N. High St. New owner Brian Nichols has two regular Friday specials: fresh fish and gumbo. He plays the fish specials by ear depending on market availability; past hits include a grilled salmon salad and blackened tilapia. The soup is a mainstay, however. “Gumbo is a Friday favorite around here,” he said. So much so, in fact, that he’s considering doing an all-out New Orleans theme at the end of every week. As for his more deli-ish offerings, Nichols calls them “classics with a creative twist.” By which he means “big,” among other things. “We have all the classic sandwiches, but ours are colossal,” he said. Some, like the chicken club, feature a special house sauce. “We always do something extra.” There are “huge spring salads,” too, and subs that are presumably to scale. The accommodating proprietor will even do Chinese food for anyone who hasn’t been in since Nichols took over the former Chinese restaurant and isn’t aware of the change. “We have a sweet and sour chicken,” he said, “but we do it as a wrap.” Big Apple Deli currently serves its creative twists weekdays from 7:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., but longer hours are in the works. For more info, call 224-4959.

Are you a young professional looking for somewhere cool to hang downtown? Join the club. Specifically, the Athletic Club of Columbus. The 91-year-old club at 136 E. Broad St. is offering special rates for new members under the age of 32. According to Membership Services Director Jennifer Warpool, the initiation fee for young professionals is $500 and monthly dues are $90, compared to the regular $1,250 initiation fee and $136 dues. There is even a special one-time rate for summer interns–$250 for three months with the sponsorship of an ACC member who works for the same company as the intern. “Hopefully that will entice them to return to or remain in Columbus when they graduate and join the club.” So, what do you get as an Athletic Club member? Just about everything. The stately seven-story building houses three restaurants, guest rooms and a six-lane bowling alley “with a disco light,” said Warpool. “It’s a lot of fun.” Workout facilities include a full gym; a pool, whirlpool and sauna; steam rooms; basketball, squash and handball courts; a jogging track; personal training; and clubs for various sports. Members can also avail themselves of tanning beds; massage services; daycare; and a regular slate of cultural, educational and social events. Warpool said around 200 people attended the club’s recent Spring Fling, which had a martini bar and live music. “The club is a great place to hang out and mingle,” she said. “We have a lot of fun things going on.” An Athletic Club membership, which requires sponsorship by a member and letters of reference, is good for the entire immediate family, including domestic partners. For more information call 545-1352.