Lots of us can do an Aussie accent; or perhaps whip out a leetle somezing zat’s French sounding.
But can you do Cajun? That one’s tough.
Today is Fat Tuesday. In this country, that celebration is headquartered deep in the heart of Cajun Country, New Orleans (oopf, N’awlins). It’s high time to put a little south in your mouth, and downtown’s Pearl Market is just lucky enough to have its very own in-house expert. Patrons can find real New Orleans Pralines made by a real New Orleans Native: Chandra Noble.
Actually, Noble was born in Ohio – but she spent the first thirty years of her life down in The Big Easy. While her voice is usually velvety smooth, she can whip out that distinctive dialect from her roots in a heartbeat.
There is a RIGHT was to talk about her New Orleans Pralines. While we say pray-lines, back south they say prah-lines… or worse. Noble says, “Sometimes it’s like the L and the R are switched.” Then she pronounces it in a silky southern style that sounds like a cross between prah-reeeeen and plah-reeeeen.
“Or,” she continues, “We just call it pecan candy.” Only she does it with an accent again. Suddenly pecan has three syllables: peh-cah-wnnn.
Regardless of your accent, you can celebrate in Fat Tuesday-style every Friday with New Orleans Pralines in the Pearl Market. No worries about pronouncing the sweet confections: we all sound the same with a mouth-full.
On January 25, T. Bears Florist and Chocolatier had some unexpected visitors. Given that it’s their busiest time of the year, we wanted to help them tell their unusual story and let people know, indeed, they have not closed or had any interruption in service. Listen here to John explain what happened!
February is Crafter’s Month at the Winter Pearl Market (20 E. Broad Street)! We are looking to close out our inaugural winter market with a bang. Because the MARKETPLACE (where local handmade arts, clothing, crafts and other gifts have been sold on consignment) has been so popular, we are expanding on that idea and making the whole month of February “Crafter’s Month.”
But we need crafters to participate, so if you are interested, please email Heather Brown at heather@downtowncolumbus.com for more information.
You know how suggestion boxes work? Fill out the form, put it in the box… and it goes away forever.
We’re not that way. At the end of last year, we asked for reader thoughts and suggestions, you followed through and offered all kinds of comments.
Now we’ll follow through too. Here’s the plan:
1. You want more places to have lunch, including fast food chains.
Although our focus has been on independent operations (here’s our online directory of almost one hundred eateries), we welcome all sorts of purveyors. Heck, if there’s room for Dunkin Donuts, we’ve got room for a McWendy’s King. But please be patient. The chains will be slow to return to downtown. In the meantime, check out the quick bite places in the directory… we promise good eats are ahead!
2. You want more retail stores downtown. We do too. Since the survey, Capital Crossroads SID has announced that it will create a retail recruitment program for downtown with Kacey Campbell taking the lead on revving up downtown retail. You can be proactive in this process too: shop at downtown’s Pearl Market, nurture those businesses and they’ll grow into a full-scale retail community. And support the downtown retails we have. You can find a list of retailers here.
3. You want to know about marches and rallies happening downtown. Duly noted.
4. Some readers wanted City Center open again as a mall; some wanted it to remain standing and repurposed.
City Center ran its course as a mall. It faced fierce competition from Tuttle, Easton and Polaris malls. Its closed-off-fortress design was no longer cool. So bye-bye mall; hello sweet opportunities!
As for redesign, the mall was build to be a mall. Did you know it doesn’t even have a heating system, because the lights and people generated enough heat? The best evidence indicates that the single most cost effective way of dealing with the structure was to disassemble it entirely. To do otherwise would be a statistically improbably gamble.
5. Readers want the magic of their childhood.
Can we pull a rabbit out of the hat and make our downtown dreams come true? If you care, and we know you do, then we can!
You may recall receiving an email survey through Right Now Downtown a few months ago. While numerical scores are interesting, many of you took the time to write in your own comments and ideas about downtown.
Want to know what you think? We can tell you now…
1. Not one single comment was abusive or ugly. That’s an anomaly on anonymous surveys. It says something about you as a group. We’re very proud to live and work among such unusually constructive souls.
2. You want more places to have lunch.
3. You want more places like McDonald’s and Wendy’s.
4. You want more retail stores downtown.
5. You want to know about marches and rallies happening downtown.
6. You want City Center open again as a mall.
7. You want City Center to remain standing and used for something else.
8. You want the magic of your childhood.
We’ve been brainstorming on how to best follow up on these ideas. While we finalize, we’re sending the intern out to chain himself to the wrecking ball at City Center.
Meanwhile, perhaps you have some follow-up solutions of your own? Stay tuned for next week…
A good guest never arrives at a party empty handed.
If ever there was a fundamental law from the etiquette police, it’d be that one. Even if your host is named “Mom”, it’s just gracious and grown-up to offer a small token of appreciation for the effort it takes to host a big turkey dinner.
And yes, the Winter Pearl Market has you covered. Come down to Broad Street (20 E. Broad Street) immediately (Tuesday, 10:30 am – 2 pm) to pick up a very cool, locally made gift of goodie for Thanksgiving.
Honestly, you won’t need a gift guide or advice. The moment you walk inside the winter market, you’re surrounded with darling things. It’s a giant maze of wonder.
You might pause for a moment at the collection of ceramics by local artist Nicki Strouss. Her coffee mugs require close inspection. No ordinary vessels, the grips on these cups are ergonomically angled to suit the way humans really hold mugs.
Or maybe a crazy bag made from recycled fabrics? Ethel Jayne Originals takes textiles like rugs and shower curtains and gives them a new life as very edgy satchels for gals AND guys.
Bottle stoppers made from old doorknobs and outdoor faucets can be found at IKC design.
A duct tape pen? Hand-painted slate? You really need to stop in to see this stuff. These goods can’t be found at Walmart.
Of course, edible gifts abound too: pumpkin pies, breads and muffins… and fresh fare from our farmers. Or perhaps an extra-special olive oil from The Olive Orchard for the gourmand in the kitchen?
We have a Winter Pearl Market, so not surprisingly, we have a Winter Pearl Market Moment. Check out this video to get a sneak peek at the new indoor market at 20 E. Broad Street and meet market vendor, Take Ten Body Therapy.
Fall is here in all its golden glory. With Halloween goblins and ghouls, pumpkins and gourds, football and more football. Surely Ohio farmers are putting their beds to bed for a long winters rest, and farmers markets are closing their shutters for the season. Nope, not in downtown Columbus.
Although the outdoor Pearl Market wraps up its season this Friday, the indoor Winter Pearl Market will come right in on its heels. Thanks to a grant from the US Department of Agriculture’s Farmer Market Promotional Program, Capital Crossroad SID has extended Pearl Market’s season through February. It’s an idea that came from vendors and shoppers alike, who told Pearl Market staff that they would like to continue selling and shopping. So more Market they shall have.
Starting next Tuesday, you can shop each Tuesday and Friday from 10:30 am – 2 pm on the first floor of 20 E. Broad Street. Approximately 34 vendors will be there with their wonderful good and local produce (yes, it’s all still local – mostly grown in greenhouses), baked goods, meats, cheeses, oils, syrup, jams, eggs, soaps, jewelry, sweaters, bags, dog-friendly items, and much more. There will also be an art gallery produced by the Create Columbus Commission and a Holiday Marketplace with gift items. Also new for the indoor Market, customers can shop with the Ohio Direction Card (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program/Food Stamps).
Business Firstreported a new, but small, trend in retailing on October 23: the pop-up store. These stores “pop up” in small spaces and operate for brief periods of time. According to the article, they typically lease space “as is” and highlight specific product lines.
Risk to the retailer is low. Because these stores operate for limited periods of time, they have an event quality to them that draws shoppers.
Retail-starved downtown could use some pop up stores. There is a large inventory of vacant storefronts. Property owners would certainly consider short-term leases. Could Toys R Us make some money in downtown during the holiday season? After all, many of the 100,000 time-pressed downtown employees have children.
Capital Crossroads opens its own pop up store on Tuesday, November 3. Pearl Market vendors are working with the SID to create a retail co-op at 20 East Broad Street that will be open on Tuesdays and Fridays from 10:30 to 2 pm through February. If this experiment is successful, the concept might be expanded next year. Who knows where this effort might lead?
Want to be top dog? King of the mountain? Here’s a little status question to consider:
Does the guy who shines YOUR shoes own a pair of Ferragamos?
No? It’s time you met Damon Ruff and his new venture: Shine Me Up (37 E. Gay Street). For the shamefully low price of $6.50, you can afford the luxury of having your shoes shined by someone who is not your mother. It only takes five minutes, and Ruff’s team will send you away looking and feeling like a millionaire.
Yes, Mr. Ruff owns a pair of Ferragamos. He knows shoes; he appreciates shoes. It comes from years in the shoe business – everywhere from Just For Feet to the upscale Nordstrom. Shining up those shoes takes a little know-how and the right equipment. Ruff explains, “It starts with saddle soap and horsehair brush, then the right color and more brush… it really takes polishing and moisture to bring out the gloss.”
And it takes a little magic: the proprietor is charismatic like that. Just talking to him puts a little spring in your step. Shine Me Up has products and does repairs too. It’s truly a great (and affordable) luxury for yourself or someone who deserves a little royal treatment.
PUT SOME SOUTH IN YOUR MOUTH
DOWNTOWN SPEAKS
ALL ABOUT YOU
THANKFUL MANNERS
T’IS THE SEASON
LITTLE LUXURIES