Right Now Downtown

NO BLUE SUEDE SHOES – ONLY GREAT MUSIC

Remember Graceland? No, Elvis is not in the building. We’re talking about the harmonizing, dynamic and energizing Ladysmith Black Mambazo who shared the stage with the likes of Paul Simon, Rod Stewart, Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker, Phil Collins and so many more. Ladysmith Black Mambazo is coming to town on February 8, and we have tickets to give away. 

For more than 40 years, Ladysmith Black Mambazo has touched a worldwide audience as they belted out intricate rhythms and harmonies of their native South African musical traditions. There’s no resting on their laurels though. This internationally acclaimed group has just released a new concert DVD and a children’s project so you are in for a treat when they arrive in Cbus. 

For one night only, CAPA, in association with the King Arts Complex, brings Ladysmith Black Mambazo to Southern Theatre at 8pm on Wednesday, February 8. Tickets are $28 and $33 at the Ohio Theatre Ticket Office (39 E. State St.), all Ticketmaster outlets, and ticketmaster.com. You can even purchase by phone at (614) 469-0939 or (800) 745-3000. 

If you’re feeling lucky, enter to win a pair of tickets. Just tell us what kind of articles you like to see in Right Now Downtown every week and you will be entered to win. Good Luck.

BIRTHDAY BASH

Capital Crossroads SID, WOSU and CAPA are sponsoring the noon-time premiere of WOSU Columbus Neighborhoods: Downtown/Franklinton at noon on February 14, Columbus’ actual 200th birthday. The documentary digs into the historical roots of Franklinton, Central Ohio’s first settlement, and Downtown so it’s fitting to premier the show at one of Columbus’ coolest historical treasures – The Ohio Theatre. 

If you purchase an advance ticket for $5, a lunchtime feast will be provided from Freshbox worth $10, and better yet, you will be entered to win tickets to Memphis, Simply Sinatra or Second City. 

Call CAPA at 469-0939 to purchase your tickets and reserve your lunch, but act quick, presale tickets close on Friday, February 10 at 5 p.m. 

If you don’t want lunch or a chance for the CAPA shows, you can still come to the show. Heck, come early at 11:30 a.m. to see the Mighty Morgan Organ and lightshow before the premiere. 

If you have any questions, contact Melissa Fast at Capital Crossroads, 614-645-5281 or visit DowntownColumbus.com .

FITNESS FUNDATION

GET SHREK-TASTIC!

As you and your friends belted out Auld Lang Syne a few nights ago, did you hear anyone lay to rest ogre-like traits promising a positive 2012?

We’ve got news for you, there’s only room for one ogre in town – Shrek, and he’s making a grand entrance on January 10 at the Ohio Theatre. We may not be able to keep Lord Farquaad from torturing the Gingerbread Man, but we do have tickets for someone to see it all live. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US!

CRUSH CABIN FEVER

Cold, wet, dark weather is here. Grrr. It can put you in a bad mood just thinking about it. Don’t despair; we have the perfect solution to crush cabin fever before it threatens you. Find out how to dodge, dip and dive into some downtown fun. Dodgeball. Grab a ball and get the scoop, and we’re even going to sweeten the pot with a little discount.

Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District and the Downtown YMCA sponsor Downtown Dodgeball, an eight-week league, which begins Thursday, January 19 and goes through March 8, but if you register now, we are taking off $25 of the registration fee.

Whether you have a team of underdogs or vie to call yourself The Champion of Champions, shoot into action with Downtown Dodgeball. It’s all good; it’s all fun.

Team registration is $250, including a championship, but if you write “Crush Cabin Fever” on your registration form and get it to us before December 30, we will give you the $25 discount. The league registration deadline is Friday, January 13. A team must have a minimum of six people, but bring a posse and dodge past the competition.

For more information or to download the registration, click here. 

WHO’S YOUR DADDY? 

GALLAGHER MEETS DRACULA

What is bloody and gruesome and hysterically funny? Go ahead; we dare you to see what CATCO has in store for you.

There’s blood, lots of blood, so don’t wear your Sunday’s best. The cast of Evil Dead The Musical is proud of the fact that the splatter zone reaches two thirds of the audience. The watermelon-smashing Gallagher would be impressed, and what’s a zombie scene without some blood?

For the faint of heart, seats are available in a splatter-free zone. The important thing to remember is you need to get your tickets now to see the hilarious battle between good and evil as five college kids on spring break at a remote cabin encounter zombies out for blood.

The show runs through October 31 at Studio Two Theatre at the Vern Riffe Center with a special Halloween show planned for closing night – CATCO wants the audience to come in costume for this performance. Dracula might even usher you to your seat.

“Evil Dead The Musical is Gallagher meets Dracula,” said Steven C. Anderson, Artistic Director of CATCO Phoenix. “It pushes theatre-goers over the brink of hysterical hysteria, and we are thrilled to bring this show back to central Ohio just in time for Halloween.”

Tell us your funniest Halloween memory, and you’ll be entered to win two free tickets to the show. And, CATACO is offering Right Now Downtown subscribers a special deal: $10 off the purchase price of tickets if you enter the word CABIN in the promotion field when you purchase your tickets online.

GRAB A BALL – HAVE A BALL

Summer is fading fast, but we have an idea how to keep the summer time fun going even as the nights grow longer and temperatures fall.

Dodge, dip, dive into Downtown Dodgeball. Yep, grab the balls before the guy across the center line does and pummel your way to fun. Did you know that the National Amateur Dodgeball Association has a swanky tournament and the grand prize is $10,000? Downtown Dodgeball might be the perfect training ground.

Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District and the Downtown YMCA sponsor Downtown Dodgeball, an eight-week league, which begins Thursday, November 3. Hurry and download the registration and send it in to save your spot.

Whether you have a team of underdogs or vie to call yourself The Champion of Champions, shoot into action with Downtown Dodgeball.

A team must have a minimum of six people, but bring a posse and dodge past the competition. Team Registration is $250, and there will be two eight-week sessions, each including a championship. Deadline to register for the first session is Friday, October 28. For more information or to download the registration form, waiver and rules, click here.

POINTLESS TO RACE TO THE FINISH?

Hurry, you’re running out of time to nab early registration for Pointless Pursuit (the price increases on September 1). Pointless what? 

Pointless Pursuit is an urban adventure scavenger hunt that propels contestants from the OSU campus on down through the Brewery District in a one-day, action-packed extravaganza offering a trifecta of fun, teamwork and problem-solving. This year racers will gather on Sunday, September 11. 

Two-person teams receive a passport of clues directing them to quirky challenges, which test their creativity, mental and physical adeptness, and, don’t forget, sense of humor. It’s all in the name of fun, but there are some cool prizes at the finish line for those folks coming out on top. If you don’t think you can walk off with first place, that’s ok, but arrive in your most creatively coiffed costume because they’re handing out prizes for that too. 

“I originally came up with the idea because I’m a huge fan of the TV show Amazing Race,” said event organizer Kristen Warren of The Warren Agency. “I learned about other urban adventure races and had a feeling the people of Columbus would embrace the concept.”

Boy, have they. Last year, the second year of the race, participation doubled, and this year the group has more than tripled the numbers they had at the same time last year. This year’s race benefits The Crawford Crew, an organization working to eliminate cervical cancer through research and education.  

To find more information about Pointless Pursuit, visit them on the web at www.pointlesspursuit.com.