Right Now Downtown

Scoring big points with the misses or mister will soon be as easy as rolling down your car window.

Flowers on Orchard Lane is preparing to open its new digs at 139 E. Main St. on Nov. 9.  Among the plans:  a drive-up window on Lazelle for call-ahead orders.

We’re making it so easy for people,” says owner Janet Reese.  “They don’t even have to get out of their car.”

After ten years in a small shop in Clintonville, Reese is moving her shop to a much larger space Downtown.

“Our whole family is urban-oriented,” she says.  “We really like Downtown.”

With more space will come more offerings.  Flowers on Orchard Lane will feature a full-blown flower boutique with a line of bridal accessories and chocolates from Pure Imagination, plus one-of-a-kind home accessories and gifts.  And you can watch the flower people work their flower magic thanks to an open workspace.

The name, however, will stay the same.  Reese says Knot magazine, the wedding industry bible, recently named Flowers on Orchard Lane one of the best in the Midwest, so a switch now would not be good.

“I’d love to be Flowers on Main,” she says.  “But we’ll stick with the name people know.”

Flowers on Orchard Lane – on Main – will host an open house Nov. 9 and 10.  Call 800-599-2994 for more info.

The damp chill in autumn’s air is a delicious reminder that there’s no place like home.  Home is warm and comforting and secure…unless you have no place to call home.

The problem of homelessness in Columbus is real.  In fact, it’s so real that from October 15 through April 15, community shelters abandon capacity limits and provide shelter to all who seek it.  Places like Faith Mission normally house 238 people; during January and February that figure nearly doubles.  Tom Albanese of the Community Shelter Board put it succinctly, “Numbers fluctuate by the season, but folks who are normally reluctant to seek help will come in when it’s cold.”

While it’s lots of fun giving toys to holiday charity drives, basic necessities like toothpaste and shower gel are in desperate need – it’s the teeny sample sizes that work best for group housing.  Area shelters also need toothbrushes, travel-sized soap and shampoo, razors, combs, new socks and underwear.

Starting this week, you can make a big difference by dropping off these items at boxes found in the lobbies of downtown’s major office towers.  The Capital Crossroads’ iCart will also be stationed at various high traffic areas in the core of Downtown during lunch time from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm, Tuesday – Friday through November 21, with staff available to accept donations. Call (614) 228-5718 for exact locations.

Monetary donations are also appreciated.  A buck (that’s maybe half-a-cup of decaf) buys a week’s worth of toothpaste and soap.  It’s time to put your change where you can really and truly make one.

Needed Toiletries

• Travel size soap and shower gel
• Travel size shampoo
• Travel size toothpaste
• Toothbrushes
• Travel size lotion
• Travel size shaving cream
• Disposable razors
• Feminine hygiene products
• Combs
• Socks
• Underwear
• Other toiletries

Drop-Off Locations

• 10 E. Broad St.
• 20 E. Broad St.
• 100 E. Broad St.
• 225 E. Broad St.
• 37 W. Broad St.
• 50 W. Broad St.
• 17 S. High St.
• 280 Plaza
• The Rhodes Tower
• The Riffe Center
• 140 E. Town St.
• 141 E. Town St

Want to know who has the biggest balls downtown?  Check out the Second Annual DRACie Awards October 25 at the Capital Club.  At the inaugural ceremony last year, that prestigious title went to Orange Barrel Media for the 25-foot soccer ball that appeared to be crashing into a building.  (Really it was just advertising the Crew.)

Hosted by the Downtown Residents’ Association of Columbus, the tongue-in-cheek DRACies poke good-natured but deliciously pointed fun at various and sundry people, places and things downtown.  And don’t worry about making fun of people behind their backs – most of the recipients last year were present to accept their awards and laugh at themselves.

The festivities October 25 start with cocktails and eats at 5:30 pm, followed by awarding at 7:00 pm.  Tickets for the October 25 festivities are $35 or $30 for DRAC members.

If you pick your kids up from school and are greeted with “Namaste” and a peck on the cheek, they probably go to Goddard.

Goddard Schools are part of Goddard Systems, Inc., a Pennsylvania company with more than 250 franchises in 32 states.  Its latest location: downtown at 101 E. Town St.  The new school officially opened for business on October 8.

Goddard emphasizes a nurturing, stimulating atmosphere and a small group setting for ages six weeks to six years.  Specialized lesson plans are tailored for each child based on age and personal needs and abilities.  Learning programs include language arts skills, music, nutrition, manners and yoga.  Om.

In addition to regular playground time, kids have opportunities to independently explore interests such as creative art, reading, math and computers.  They can also have special visits from polic officers, fire fighters, and people who work at museums and libraries.

Downtown’s new Goddard School will offer year-round programs weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and parents can choose half- or full-day care.  The building, which is also home to a company that houses sensitive computer equipment, has fingerprint security and its own parking lot.

Parents who enroll by the end of October receive 50 percent off their first month of tuition.  For more info, call 580-9442 or email thegoddardschooldc@verizon.net.

Some of the best eats on the downtown streets aren’t found on the streets at all – come to the alleys.  The Deli In The Alley has returned to 72 East Lynn, it’s now under new ownership with a spiffy new look and a new menu. 

Featuring heaping bowls of funky salads and caramel-crowned brownies, the display case is welcoming enough, but chances are good that host Brian Auden will offer warm greetings from behind the deli counter too. Auden explained that the eatery has an uncommon commitment to earth-friendly fare, “Our carryout containers are made of corn –they’re green n’ go.  And the chips; they come from Louisiana, where they’re really trying to rebuild the economy after Katrina.”  Sure enough, the potato chips on the rack come with distinctly delicious Cajun names like Gator Tators.

 Although the earth-friendly angle is nice enough, the deli will likely build its reputation on well-stacked (but economically priced) sandwiches.  Case in point: The  Cuban –it’s a flavorful combo of ham, pulled pork, swiss cheese, mustard and plenty o’ pickles. The combo is actually a classic down south, but seldom seen in Columbus.  Tamer palettes might take solace in the Egg Salad or Tuna Melt.  Auden says that those two options have been the most popular during opening week.  The aforementioned sandwiches are all priced below six dollars.

 The Deli In The Alley serves breakfast too, and it’s open until mid-afternoon on weekdays.  For carryout, call 222-0911.