Right Now Downtown

If you’ve been tempted by downtown living but afraid you’d miss having your own green space, check out the new project at 199 S. Fifth St. Some of its 23 units include private balconies big enough to put some backyards to shame. There’s even a place for gathering around a campfire. 

Besides “large; extra large; and extra, extra large” balconies and a fire pit on the rooftop terrace, 199 S. Fifth promises both “Luxury Loft Living” and low condo fees, a gym, two protected parking spaces per unit, and a seriously stunning look thanks to Meyers Welsh Architecture. 

Inside the units, the contemporary feel is helped along by cool, epoxy-coated concrete floors and 8-foot doors. Most have two bedrooms and as many baths, while a few have 100% open floor plans. Then there’s the two-story whopper, unit 603, which has three bedrooms and baths, glass walls on the rooftop second floor, and over 700 square feet of patio space. 

Alas, #603 is already reserved (for $675,000), but other units are available ranging from $265,000 to $642,900.

Revelers strapped on their dancing shoes for the Beatscape party al fresco this past summer.  Held in Pearl Alley between Broad and Gay Streets, the Beatscape free concert series featured influential talent from the national and international electronic dance music scene.  It was hosted by Blubuni, an event production company started by Danielle Brodowski and Eric Lyons.

“We are trying to invent something different for downtown Columbus to attract the hip, young, creative generation,” said Brodowski.

Beatscape launched in June with big names in “wonky”-style techno from London and Toronto.  In July, the heavy-hitter trend continued with Derrick May and his protege DJ Bone, both from Detroit.  Their style:  “hi-tek soul,” a new name that May, one of the three original creators of techno, invented to overcome the genre’s misleading bad-boy image.  The July show also reatured Columbus’ own Midislut.

 ”Around the world, people think ‘techno’ is drug-driven and all about staying up all night long,” Brodowski said.  “That’s why we wanted to take it out of the club.  It’s not about staying up all night; it’s about quality music, and these musicians play their heart out.”

In August, NYC-based former Columbusite Todd Sines and current Columbusite Doughboy performed, and the summer series concluded September 8 with a rare five-hour, all-vinyl original dub set by Detroit’s Stacey Pullen.  The September show ran in conjunction with a Streetspace event, where several urban artists contributed to the rotating mural at Pearl and Gay.

What happens when an enterprising bike messenger decides it might be fun to open a bike shop downtown? B1Bicycles, 124 E. Long Street.

Open since May 5, the shop offers full service and specializes in almost any non-mountain style of bike you can think of – namely, fixed-gear, track, commuter, road and city.  And unlike most fixit places, B1’s website lists a slew of services and their respective prices.

B1 also sells fames by four companies that are popular among bike geeks in the know: Surly, a fave among the cool kids; Masi, the legendary company that started in Italy and was formally introduced to the U.S. by the main character in the movie Breaking Away; Jamis; and KHS.

In addition to building a clientele among his fellow messengers, owner Casey Karnes hopes to encourage more downtown workers to commute on two wheels and to promote “bike culture” in Columbus.  “As the city offers more destinations, more people will ride downtown,” he said.

With no other places serving cyclists in the neighborhood, downtown is the perfect place to set up shop.

“I like the spot,” said Karnes.  “It’s cool.  It’s good.”

B1 Bicycles is open Monday, Tuesday, Saturday 10am – 5pm; Wednesday – Friday 10am – 9pm; and Sunday 12 – 5pm.  614-222-0017

Ordinarily grits aren’t something you want to kiss, but a new Arena District restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch has changed that.