Right Now Downtown

ALLEY STALKERS

Time to start stalking the alley again… or perhaps that’s stocking the alley.  June 3 is just around the corner and the alleyways between Broad and Gay Streets will be stocked with all kinds of delightful summer finds on Tuesdays and Fridays through October.  It’s time for the Pearl Market.

You never know what you might find in a downtown alley…

1.  A PLACE TO PARK
At least a place to park your body.  Coordinators are setting up a public eating area to kick back and have some lunch with live entertainment.

2.  THIRTY-THREE FLAVORS
Organizer Adam Schroeder lists not one, but a multitude of merchants stocking the alleys.  “We have 33 merchants signed up, everything from jewelry, to baked goods, to massages you pay for by the minute, to fresh baked bread, to gourmet jams, to gift baskets, to smoothies, to ‘funky’ egg rolls, to ethnic foods, to xango juice, to pies using grandma’s recipes, to fresh roasted whole bean and ground coffees, to homemade handbags, to fresh tropical juices, to artists, and many more exciting products.”

What is xango juice?

3.  PICKUP TRUCKS
In addition to the merchants, seventeen farmers are on board.  That means local produce is close by all summer long.

GOOGLE FOR EXERCISE

Google is an essential part of a healthy day.  It allows for endless hours of mental exercise engaged in VIA (Very Important Activities) such as viewing satellite photos of rooftops at Broad & High.

Google also promotes physical activity.  That map function does more than find the way to Grandma’s house: it can measure the miles for a walking path.  For that matter, Google measures cubits, football fields and light years.

Before the summer heat hits, take a hike downtown on one of these three paths, measurements courtesy of Google.

1.  POWER HOUR
C’mon.  There’s nothing like the power of a glistening gold bulldozer ripping up a raft of pavement.  Those big construction trucks are a total turn-on and can viewed up-close on this path:  Start at Broad & High.  Travel south to Rich, west to Front then back to home base on Broad Street again.  One lap around the construction zones is .87 miles (or 1.47992e light years).  That’s ten minutes in comfortable shoes at a brisk pace.

2.  EAT ON YOUR FEET
This one’s for the foodies.  From the same High & Broad starting point.  Travel north on High, east on Gay, south on Third and then back west on Broad.  In a mere half-mile, you’ll pass the Peanut Shoppe (appetizers), Cafe Brioso (coffee), Due Amici (pasta), Tip Top (pie), and Cafe Lola (sandwiches).  Eat like a linebacker:  the path is equal to over six football fields, almost half a mile.

3.  AN ARK OF ART
The downtown has an art scene too.  This hike seems lengthy, but it’s just a shade over two miles.  Starting at Broad & High again, take Broad Street east to N. Washington Avenue, passing by the Columbus Museum of Art.  Head north to Gay Street, then west past CCAD, and north on Cleveland Avenue down into Columbus State Community College, home of the world’s most aggressive giant angular statues.  Turn back west on Mt. Vernon, traveling past the architecturally odd building that houses Flat Iron, then come back on High to home base.  That’d be 6589 Persian cubits.

Or map your own downtown walking tour at http://maps.google.com/maps.

AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL

No one should admit to watching reality television programs, especially ones that involve gorgeous young women duking it out to become glorified clothes hangers.  No one would watch that – it’s too much like watching a car accident.

But on the teeny-tiny chance that you’ve heard of America’s Next Top Model, you might have noticed the eerie similarities between Go Modeling (that’s the open houses downtown) and the television series.

1.  The Banks Are Supportive
Yes, local banks love to help homeowners invest in downtown digs.  As for the television program, it’s Tyra Banks who’s providing the wanna-be’s with moral support.

2.  On View Sunday Afternoons
Reruns of America’s Next Top Model frequently air on Sunday afternoons.  Go Modeling’s homes are open to the public every Sunday afternoon through June 6.

3.  Both Revolve Around the Perfect 10
Yes, the battling babes are lovely, perfect 10’s.  There’s a perfect ten downtown locales to investigate too.  The list and map can be found at www.gomodelingdowntown.com.

There is one major difference between downtown real estate and the runway competitors.  In ten years, downtown property will still be a hot commodity.

BRING ON THE BANANA CREAM PIE

And the Bourbon Chocolate Bread Pudding, and some Oysters Rockefeller too.  It’s all made from scratch at the new High Street Grill at 310 S. High Street.

The Grill replaces the old Theater Cafe with a new chef (that’s Wilhelm Novak), new management (Rick Cadena), a new kitchen and a new menu (they say the salmon burgers are amazing).  Yeah, it’s all new – even the decor.

The new eatery makes a dramatic contrast with its old-school hosts, the Westin Great Southern Hotel and Southern Theatre.  The thoroughly modern dining experience is nested alongside a space with 100-foot ceilings from the last century.

Change is scary, and blending the old with anything new can be tricky.  Still, hotel manager Patrick Hansen is confident in the new dining project, “It’s always a risk to replace popular items, but we think this is worth the risk.”

With all the change comes some seriously modern sensibilities.  For example, the High Street Grill serves meat that is naturally raised, hormone and antibiotic-free.  There’s also a new coffee and wine bar that’s equipped with internet access for those who prefer the company of a keyboard companion.