Right Now Downtown

MO’ THAN JOE

Of course the new Cup O’ Joe/MoJoe Lounge  at the corner of Town and High Street has great coffee­­ – the perfect jolt to get you through the longest of meetings or a pick-me-up before you put on your dancin’ shoes. 

Not only do they serve up a tasty Cup O’ Joe,  they dish up everything from rockin’ food to frou-frou cocktails. How about meeting up after work for Happy Hour, Tuesday through Friday, 4-8 p.m.? This Thursday may be the perfect time since the Reaganomics will be jammin’ in the Commons across the street during Downtown Live.

Make it a date and check out this video of how Cup O’ Joe/MoJoe Lounge transformed the corner of the old Lazarus building. You won’t believe your eyes.

BUCKS IN THE 43215

Columbus is a Buckeye town, no doubt.  But is it a Buckeye downtown?  Most things Ohio State are confined to the campus area and to our TVs when the Bucks don the scarlet and gray for some gridiron or cager glory.  But there is a little corner of Buckeye-dom right in the center of 43215.

Sure the OSU Urban Arts Space, which is housed in the beautifully renovated Lazarus Building, has some really cool exhibits and activities, but did you know the great minds and hard work behind the art come from Buckeyes through and through?

Leigh Lotocki, Communications Coordinator for the Urban Arts Space, explains that the mission of the OSU Urban Arts Space is to act as a bridge – between the OSU campus and the Columbus community and between the City of Columbus and the world art community.

“The Urban Arts Space is a completely student-operated gallery,” said Lotocki.  “All operations are run by OSU students, and we strive to have a wide range of artists –  international, regional and local.”

Between 15 and 20 paid students staff the gallery, along with interns and volunteers.  There are employees from a variety of disciplines at OSU, including event management, writing, communications, business, journalism and, of course, art and arts administration.  Because employees only work during their time as OSU students, there is a nice amount of turnover as students graduate.

“That is a unique thing about our space.  Lots of turnover means a lot of new energy and ideas,” added Lotocki.  “It can be challenging, but it also is part of what makes us great.”

Lotocki noted that many graduates with OSU Urban Arts Space work experience move on to careers in the field.  Her predecessor has moved on to another facility working in communications and another student assistant has moved to Chicago to work with art installation.  Students also can take advantage of networking with the artists whose work is displayed at the space.

“Working at the Urban Arts Space allows us to meet a lot of artists and make contact with people who work in the field,” added Lotocki.  “It’s a great networking tool and a stepping stone for us.”

They’re open Tuesday through Saturday and it won’t cost you a penny to check it out. So, go support the Bucks and get a creative fix as you appreciate this truly urban arts space.

CAPITAL CROSSROADS SID ANNUAL AWARDS

Each year at its Annual Meeting, Capital Crossroads SID recognizes individuals and organizations for their contributions to making downtown the cleanest, safest and most attractive commercial district in the city.  Outlined below are the nominees and winners in each category, including Ambassador of the Year, Outstanding Service, Aesthetic Contribution and Outstanding Achievement. 

Ambassador of the Year 

Each quarter, CCSID recognizes an employee for his or her outstanding work.  This year’s four award winners are Charla Gray, Clarence Anderson, Teri Tucker and Carlos Pilier, with the 2010 Ambassador of the Year award going to Teri Tucker.  Ms. Tucker has been with CCSID for eight years and is a thoroughly dependable, versatile and professional employee who excels at problem solving and handling challenges.  She has worked in several capacities including equipment operator, outreach, graffiti removal, dispatching, equipment maintenance and special projects.  Capital Crossroads congratulates Ms. Tucker and thanks her for her hard work and dedication. 

Outstanding Aesthetic Contribution 

This award recognizes projects completed in the past year, which add to the beauty, street life, energy, brightness, colorfulness and attractiveness of downtown.  A number of projects were considered for this award based on input from the downtown community, including: 

T. Bears Florist and Chocolatier, for demonstrating their commitment to downtown by remaining in their location even after a car drove through their display window just before Valentine’s Day. 

The Edwards Companies, for the continuation of their beautiful Neighborhood Launch project, another block of which was completed this year. 

The Columbus Downtown Development Corporation for three important downtown projects:  the well designed garage at Elm and Fourth streets; rebuilding of the High Street façade of the former Lazarus building and accompanying landscaping on High Street; and the nearly completed Columbus Commons park. 

The City of Columbus for the conversion of much of Front Street from one-way to two-way, the stunning new street features on Front Street, and the completion of the Main Street Bridge. 

The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board for its care of the Ohio Statehouse grounds. 

Bob Reynolds and Bob Talley for maintaining a beautiful patio and landscaping at EcleXions Lofts. 

Huntington Bank, Huntington Center and Bricker & Eckler for once again providing beautiful landscaping. 

Other mentions were for the façade work at Morningstar Mini Storage on Chestnut Street, for Spacejunk Media on Third Street and for the Trinity Episcopal Church bell tower, which turns 100 this year. 

The 2010 winner for Outstanding Aesthetic Contribution is Lifestyle Communities for The Annex at RiverSouth.  Lifestyle Communities took four dead blocks of surface parking lots south of the Lazarus Building and constructed 213 units of housing.  This elegant community takes its design cues from the East Coast and is connected to the streets in a way that encourages walking and interaction with the downtown area.  The Annex has already impacted downtown, with the building at 201 South High Street being leased to Massey’s Pizza.  Downtown is lucky to have Lifestyle Communities here. 

Outstanding Service 

The Outstanding Service Award recognizes a service in the public or private sector that makes a significant contribution to downtown.  A number of projects were considered for this award, including: 

The Hyatt on Capitol Square for developing a pilot food recycling program and sponsoring the Downtown LIVE concert series. 

Royal Paper, a recycling company, which has taken the lead in developing recycling programs at downtown office buildings. 

The Public Service Department, particularly Randy Bowman, for being responsive and flexible on issues such as on-street parking. 

The Central Ohio Transit Authority for moving its headquarters and 100 administrative employees to the downtown and for beginning to use hybrid buses. 

COTA and the Columbus City Schools for successfully addressing issues involving a small number of problem students who abused bus pass privileges and acted badly at downtown bus stops. 

MadLab Theatre for buying a building at Third Street and Chestnut and now producing shows in the SID. 

And the Community Shelter Board, Faith Mission and Mary and Kent Beittel of the Open Shelter for their hard work. 

The award for Outstanding Service was presented to CAPA for the critical role they have played and continue to play in keeping our downtown performing arts groups healthy.  CAPA owns and operates the Ohio, Palace and Southern Theatres and operates the Riffe Center Theatres.  It has stabilized the performing arts by assuming responsibility for back office services including accounting, ticketing, marketing and development for a wide range of arts organizations including the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Opera Columbus, the Jazz Arts Group and Franklin Park Conservatory.  Bill Connor, CAPA President & CEO, has personally donated his time to serve as the business manager of the CSO and the staff of CAPA has taken on additional work, allowing these groups to reduce their overhead and keep their artistic budgets stable. 

Without CAPA, it is hard to imagine where the performing arts downtown might be.  Maintaining the performances of these groups keeps our beautiful theatres lit, which in turn has helped develop clusters of restaurants and burgeoning retail in the area.  A rich environment with a healthy arts scene is vital to leasing commercial and residential space and they remain a strong selling point for downtown.  CCSID owes much to CAPA. 

Outstanding Achievement 

The Outstanding Achievement award recognizes an accomplishment that deserves special recognition.  At a time when downtown needs entrepreneurs to revitalize the area, one person has stepped up to the plate not once or twice, but three times. 

This restaurateur first opened a spot at a sleepy location on Gay Street called the Vine.  Next she had the guts to open a restaurant at the former Queen Bee on Fourth Street near the Greyhound Bus Station.  And she recently purchased The Jury Room on Mound Street. 

Tip Top Kitchen & Cocktails is now a staple on Gay Street.  If you pass Dirty Franks on Fourth Street, you are likely to see standing room only crowds.  And with The Jury Room due to reopen soon, we are all excited to see what the Betty’s Family of Restaurants does with that location. 

We are so happy to recognize Elizabeth Lessner for her outstanding contributions to downtown and congratulate her on her success.

CULTURE FOR CANINES

Do you ever feel a little guilty leaving Fido in his crate when you leave the house for a day of fun on the weekend?  Sure, The Dog Whisperer says our furry friends are cozy in their little metal dens, but come on… there are plenty of other places they’d rather sniff, right?

How about the OSU Urban Arts Space?  You heard us.  Give your dog a little culture during Pup-a-Palooza on Saturday, October 16 from 1 – 4 p.m.  OSU Urban Arts Space is opening its doors to canines and their masters.  It’s a great way to check out what’s been going on in the historic Lazarus Building at 50 W. Town Street, Suite 130.  We might just party like it’s 1999.

Your pet will have a tail-wagging good time while you both check out caricatures, photography booth portraits, local vendors and treats.  Wanna teach your old dog a new trick or maybe Fido has a feisty streak?  Training experts from Sit Means Sit will be on hand with tips and demos to help you take the upper hand with your drooling buddy.

What?  You don’t have a dog?  Well, you’re even in luck there because October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, and the Franklin County Dog Shelter will be there too with all kinds of information about the pets available for adoption.

So, grab the leash or your desire to meet a new furry friend and head to the OSU Urban Arts Space for a barkin’ good time, but drop them a line first to RSVP so they know how many dog biscuits to have on hand.

Columbus is home to many innovators.  Few have changed art and technology as much as Charles Csuri, a pioneer in computer animation.  Smithsonian Magazine recognizes him as the “father of digital art and animation.”

His work is being exhibited at the OSU Urban Arts Space in the former Lazarus Building through October 9.  The exhibition includes more than 85 computer works dating from 1963 to 2010.

One of my favorite pieces is “Scribbles and Smears in Space,” an animation projected in a “black box.”  The area, which has a seat in the middle, is cordoned off with blackout curtains.  Walking into the space will make you forget all your troubles and will measurably lower your blood pressure.

Charles Csuri became a well-known neighborhood name after I first moved to the Short North in 1980.  In 1981, he formed a company called Cranston/Csuri Productions at Neil and 8th Avenues to find commercial applications for computer-generated art.  The result of his work can be found in movie theatres each time a feature-length animation hits the big screen.