Right Now Downtown

Y-B-YP

It’s impossible to avoid the YPs these days.  Senior citizens, adolescents: they can’t compete.  The YPs (that’s Young Professionals) are organized, coordinated, and they have plans for us, yes they do.

Sounds scary?  You bet it does.  But never fear, they like downtown and they like old people too.  In fact, lots of us are YPs, and don’t even know it.

The Columbus Chamber of Commerce defines YPs loosely as a “self-selected” group who feel like young professionals.  Based on its research, the Chamber says that they typical member is between the ages of 21 and 45.

Robbie Banks’ job at the Columbus Chamber of Commerce is to manage the young professionals group, and she’s got great aspirations for downtown’s YPs:

“I would like to see YPs exercise their Midwestern values by inviting their new-to-Columbus colleagues to lunch or coffee at one of their favorite local spots.  Shop and dine at the local businesses downtown, including the Pearl Market.  Take advantage of the activities such as the downtown kickball, bowling and corn hole leagues and the Downtown Live summer concert series.  Support the arts.  Visit the parks.  Bike, walk or ride COTA to and from work, or at a minimum, do not hop in your car to get places that you can easily bike, walk or ride COTA.”

Whew!… and that’s just part of Banks’ list.  She also encourages YPs to sign up to receive her newsletter, which highlights events happening around town that appeal to the YP crowd.

Not a YP?  Old Pro’s are on her radar too.  Banks prefers the term “seasoned professionals.”  She sees them as mentors for YPs – and lists Mayor Coleman and Cleve Ricksecker as some of her favorite “seasoned professionals.”

Seasoned Cleve?  We knew he was saucy; turns out he’s spicy too.

Got a better pun?  Your turn, post it here…

Nothing beats sitting in a baseball park on a warm day, particularly when the backdrop is the downtown skyline and the team is part of the Cleveland Indians.  Downtown gained another huge amenity on April 18, when Huntington Park opened.

Huntington Park’s downtown location has many advantages.  It is accessible by public transit, with nine local COTA bus lines within three blocks.  The new ball park has more than a dozen restaurants within walking distance that can capture business from the park.

Those neighboring restaurants have a good chance to capture baseball traffic because the limited parking at Huntington Park requires that most people walk several blocks past eating and watering holes.  Its proximity to Nationwide Arena further bolsters dining and retail development in the area, because baseball is counter-cyclical to hockey.

Huntington Park is a smart addition to a well designed neighborhood.  I cannot imagine how it could have been better designed or sited.

I just returned from a trip to Toronto.  Toronto offers a great public realm.  Public transit, parks, free-standing stores on public sidewalks, and other public amenities make this city civilized and livable.  Toronto prides itself on being the most ethnically mixed city in the world, yet I saw no racial tension.  Sharing communal space seems to improve its social health.

The trip made me think of a Columbus experience I had several years ago when I took my kids to the Ohio State Fair on COTA.  COTA’s #8 line had a reputation for being its “baddest” bus.  As I boarded with my three kids, one of whom was in a stroller, the two older kids ran to the back of the bus.  I followed.

On the back bench were five black teenage boys.  They wore baggy pants and slouched on their seats.  I immediately braced myself for profanity and trouble.

After the bus traveled a couple of blocks, I noticed my toddler making funny faces.  I followed her eyes to the back bench.  There, the boys were playing peek-a-boo.  I felt ashamed.  I’ll never forget that ride on COTA.

Downtown Columbus will look like a real city this weekend as 17,000 athletes descend on Columbus for the international Arnold Sports Festival.  Do not attempt to use your telephone to call for a taxi because cabs will be too busy cruising for fares.  Some streets in downtown may have as many buses as cars.  Restaurants and stores within a two-mile radius of Broad and High will be full of people from around the world, and visitors will be speaking many languages as they navigate this exotic city.

Be prepared to answer questions from pedestrians such as, “Excuse me, but where is the closest subway stop?”  (Answer: Philadelphia).  “Where do I catch the train to Chicago?  (Answer: Cleveland).  Or, “Is there a downtown Macy’s?”  (Answer: Yes, in Cincinnati).

You can honestly report that there is a good bus system in Columbus with frequent service on many routes.  Greyhound and Megabus offer ground transportation to Chicago.  And one can buy almost any article of clothing in the Short North, including Dirty F**ker underpants at Torso.  Torso has saved this city’s reputation on many occasions.