Alexandra477

Millersport Sweet Corn Festival: Ohio Summer’s Last Hurrah

Nothing on this earth rivals Ohio sweet corn. If you’re lucky enough to find your hands on a cob in late August, you devour. You devour and give thanks. The 67^th annual Millersport Sweet Corn Festival, which kicked off last night, is really the best way to enjoy this final symphony of summer. Presented by the Millersport Lions Club, the four-day fest offers amusement rides, gaming booths, concessions (like Taco in a  Bag and Chicken on a Stick), pageants, tractor pulls, corn eating contests, country crafts, bingo, and an outhouse race. 

The main event, of course, is corn on the cob. Thousands of crisp and savory cobs adorned with sinful amounts of butter and salt. To enjoy them, you don’t sit down. You stand at one of the long communal tables munching and dribbling to your heart’s content. Where’s your bucket list?

All proceeds from the festival benefit more than 80 nonprofit organizations in eight Ohio counties. Click here for photos of last night’s parade. 

 

Independents’ Day Expands to 3 Days September 20-22

The sixth annual Independents’ Day takes place on September 20-22 at Gay Street and Pearl Alley in downtown Columbus. The free all-ages festival features local bands, artists, crafters, filmmakers, comedy acts, fashion designers, food trucks, emerging chefs, brewers, and distillers.

More than 40 local bands will perform on four stages, including Lydia Loveless, Fields and Planes, Connections, The Whiles, The Regrettes, Cadaver Dogs, Way Yes, Nick Tolford & Company, Karate Coyote, Cliffs, Bummers, Sleep Fleet, Indigo Wild, The Girls!, Washington Beach Bums, and an appearance by New Bomb Turks.

Friday, September 20: 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. in Pearl Alley
Nina West will emcee the kickoff celebration, which includes live music by Forest & the Evergreens and Tin Armor, food trucks, and craft vendors. 

Saturday, September 21: 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Gay Street and in Pearl Alley
Crafts: Local crafters, including Columbus Crafty Cotillion, will showcase wares. Columbus Craftacular will host a Make N’ Take booth.

Food Trucks/Carts: Mikey’s Late Night Slice and Pattycake Bakery will be on hand, as well as newcomers The Coop, Ajumama, Explorers Club, Mashita Noodles, Tatoheads, Paddy Wagon, Freedom a la Cart, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, and J-Pops. 

Up-and-Coming Eats: Emerging chefs, aspiring entrepreneurs, and ambitious home cooks will share free samples.

Beverages: Local brewers and distillers will pour spirits, beer, and mead.

Film: Selections from the Film Festival of Columbus (FFOCOL) will be screened. The Residence Inn will host entries from the Wexner Center for the Arts Ohio Shorts competition, as well as a series of short films by Central Ohio filmmakers.

Comedy: Due Amici will host local comedy acts including Justin Golak and State of Play, and a live recording of the Comedy Sitdown podcast.

Fashion: Local fashion designers will host a collaborative fashion show and T-shirt Remodel workshops. 

Records and Comic Books: An array of vinyl from local record stores and works from local comic book writers and artists will be available.

Chalk Art: As a preview to Chalk the Block at Easton, local artists will create chalk art alongside the festivities.

Sunday, September 22: 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Pearl Alley

The Hills Market and Due Amici will host Brunch and Bloody Marys, followed by urban bobsled cart racing and live acoustic music.

“Expanding this festival to three days is beyond thrilling,” said Independents’ Day captain Alexis Perrone. “Each day was thoughtfully crafted so that people can experience the best of what independent outlets in Columbus have to offer.” 

Design
Local designer and pop art aficionado John Buckley created this year’s troubadour-themed festival artwork, signage, posters, and T-shirts.

Beneficiaries
The Dick and Jane Project, Momentum, and Project Zero Ohio.

Volunteering
Sign up for volunteer shifts here.

Goodale Park Music Series 2013 Lineup

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 5th annual Goodale Park Music Series kicks off in July with these Columbus performing acts:

July 14: Forest & the Evergreens
July 28: Angela Perley & the Howlin’ Moons
August 4: The Spikedrivers
August 11: Way Yes
August 18: The DewDroppers
August 25: Eric Nassau and Friends
Rain date: September 1

All shows take place at the Goodale Park gazebo from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. The series is made possible with generous support from theShort North Foundation, Short North Civic Association, Columbus Recreation & Parks, ComFest,Friends of Goodale Park, and Italian Village Society. Click here for photos of past concerts.

Live Art: A rotating group of artists will create live art throughout the series, including Adam Brouillette, Andrew Lundberg, Fresh A.I.R. Gallery, Michael Quinn, Sara Adrian, TRANSIT Arts, and Urban Scrawl.

Food Carts: A variety of food carts will sell refreshments, including Crepes A La Carte, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, Kenny’s Meat Wagon, Lac Viet, Pattycake Bakery, and Short North Bagel Deli.

Kids Activities: Columbus Artmobile will host free kids art activities on August 4, 11, and 18, andopenheartcreatures will perform in body puppets on August 4 and 25.

Vendors: Participating vendors include 2-Headed Monster Comics, Accessorize Your Accessories,alison rose, Badala, Candle with a Cause, HOMAGE, Sweet Simpliciteas, Todd Beistel (The Horror Show), and What The Rock?

Emcees: Ed Francis and Kyle Hofmeister from CD102.5FM, and Maggie Brennan and Jim Coe fromWCBE 90.5FM.

Sound Engineering: Above Sound

Check-In Partner: Yelp Columbus

Angela Perley & the Howlin' Moons

The Spikedrivers

The DewDroppers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eric Nassau 

 

 

 

 

 

Forest & the Evergreens

Way Yes

Craftin' Outlaws.

The eighth annual Craftin’ Outlaws alternative craft fair takes place on Saturday, November 17 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Gateway Film Center. Admission is free and all ages are welcome. Modern handmade goods from more than 50 Midwest vendors will be for sale, including clothing, jewelry, paintings, posters, ceramics, knitted accessories, stuffed animals, soap, stationery, skateboards, and home décor. Early Bird Passes (for shopping access from 10:00 to 11:00) can be purchased online or at the show for $5. Early Bird shoppers will be invited to participate in an Early Bird Raffle, the proceeds of which benefit Project: Zero Ohio.

“At Craftin’ Outlaws, you’ll find gifts that you can’t just get at a mall,” said Megan Green, Craftin’ Outlaws lead organizer and Owner of Stinkybomb Soap. “Each one tells a handmade story.”

Related posts: Craftin' Outlaws 2011 and Craftin' Outlaws 2010.

 

Courtesy of Jessica Miller Photography.

5th Annual Independents' Day.

The 5^th annual Independents’ Day takes place on Saturday, September 15 from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. at Gay Street and Pearl Alley in downtown Columbus. Presented by Gateway Film Center, this all ages festival celebrates indie culture, commerce, and creativity by offering live music on four stages, artists, crafters, dancers, street performers, restaurants, food trucks/carts, beer tents, and a kids area.

Independents’ Day represents a collaboration of organizations including Capitol Square Rotary, CLOUDHAUS, Columbus Crafty Cotillion, Columbus Young Professionals, The Couchfire Collective, DRAC (Downtown Residents’ Association of Columbus), Etsy Team Columbus, Experience Columbus, Franklinton Arts District, Kobo Live, Locality 2012, Music Loves Ohio, Ohio Historical Society, The SBB (Small Business Beanstalk), and Wonderland Columbus. This year’s Independents’ Day beneficiaries are Columbus Youth Guild and TRANSIT Arts. Sponsors include Gateway Film Center, Alexandra477, Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District, Columbus Alive, ColumbusLocalMusic.com, Due Amici, Eartha Limited, Greater Columbus Arts Council, Little Industries, The Other Paper, and WCBE 90.5 FM.

New This Year
A free Independents’ Day mobile phone app will launch in August. Other new elements include a dance stage, an Ohio-grown short film festival, a local author fair, a Fashion Collection area with apparel and accessories from local fashion designers, a craft vending machine, a social media corral, and a comedy show.

Vendor Applications
The application deadline for musicians and vendors is August 1. Dancer applications are due on September 1. Click here to apply.

Volunteer Opportunities
People who are interested in volunteering at Independents’ Day can sign up for a shift here. 

       

Columbus Pride 2012.

 

At last weekend’s 31^st annual Columbus Pride celebration, the air literally swirled with love. Signs read “God Loves Us All,” “I Support Love,” “Love Makes a Family,” and “Love Never Fails.” Around 230,000 people visited the Short North in honor of diversity and equality. The needle is moving in the right direction, but there’s still work to be done. During Saturday’s parade, I overheard a college student say that his father tried to discourage him from moving to Columbus because it was “too gay,” a woman who said that her parents would never march in a parade to support her being a lesbian, and a man who said that he suffered with severe depression as a teenager. When all of us have true universal acceptance to love whomever we choose, the comfort to live without fear, and equal legal rights — humanity will have taken one of its biggest strides. Click here for more photos.

   

ZombieWalk Columbus.

Oh, zombies of Central Ohio. I adore you. Congratulations on an amazing turnout at Saturday’s 6^th annual ZombieWalk Columbus. More than 2,000 of you trudged through the Short North, and you raised a staggering 4,264 pounds of food for the Mid-Ohio Foodbank. There were bride zombies, marching band zombies, surgeon zombies, hula girl zombies, scarecrow zombies, hippie zombies, baby zombies, dog zombies, a parrot zombie, and (of course) sexy zombies. And yet it was the zombie clowns that made me want to climb the arches and cry. Regular clowns scare me, let alone corpse ones. So thanks for the creepy clown memories, and see you next year. Click here for more photos.

   

 

SPACE (Small Press & Alternative Comics Expo).

It started somewhere between Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and Battlestar Galactica. It was intensified by The Hunger Games, Green Hornet, Super, Iron Man, The Oatmeal, and the Columbus Indie Comix Fair. Yep, my fate has been uncloaked: I have an Inner Nerdesse. Maybe she was always there, lying dormant until the Cylons activated her while being transported via hovercraft to the arena, but I can’t be sure. In my head, Admiral Adama was telling me it was time to join the fleet. And so yesterday I attended the 13^th annual SPACE convention. With more than 180 vendors from around the country, it’s the biggest creator-owned comic show in the Midwest. The two-day event is organized by Bob Corby of Back Porch Comics and features thousands of self-published comic books. In addition to hosting workshops and panels, it awards juried prizes to creators in various categories. There are so many talented indie writers, illustrators, graphic artists, and cartoonists with brain-bendingly kinetic material. It’s gratifying to support them directly, since the comic industry has been infiltrated by pop culture behemoths like movies and video games. This is evidenced in the Morgan Spurlock film Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope, which was released two weeks ago.

Some personal SPACE highlights included getting my pony portrait, learning that the first edition of Grammar Man had typos, discussing how cats are plotting to overtake humans by communicating through Netflix envelopes, hearing the phrase “well-meaning homeless alligator,” and listening to my husband roar “Boba Fett!” when finding his favorite Star Wars character in a stack of drawings. I may have blurted “Battlestar Galactica is the best show ever” a little louder than I intended, but no one frakking cared. Click here for more photos.

 

Ohio Hip Hop Expo.

There’s no crying in Hip Hop. I know this. But at yesterday’s 18^th annual Ohio Hip Hop Expo, I just couldn’t help myself. The minute I stepped into the day-long affair at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, this is what I saw: Talent. Pride. Community. Friendship. Joy. Positivity. And some ridiculously vicious dance moves. Presented by BHB (Brothers Helpin Bruthas), the Expo celebrates Hip Hop culture and its positive impact on Ohio’s urban communities. In addition to Krump and MC Battles, there were live performances by groups including A Breath of Fresh Heir, Columbus Dance Troop, The Deepest Entertainment, Goody The Great, I Am D.A.N.C.E., and TRANSIT Arts Dance Crew. Through this event and his multiple city-wide workshops, BHB is one charismatic and constructive force. Click here for more photos.

   

Columbus Indie Comix Fair.

The first Columbus Indie Comix Fair was held today at Ace of Cups. Presented by SPACE (Small Press & Alternative Comic Expo) and Nix Comics, it featured comic books and artwork by 2Headed Monster, Aliastrations, Back Porch Comics, Blink Comics, Ferret Press, Monkey’s Retreat, Neno World, Nix Comics, Pander Bear, Symphony of the Universe, and Yuri the Comic. Click here for more photos.

Circleville Pumpkin Show.

I don’t remember exactly when it happened. I guess it was somewhere around the age of 10 that I became a pumpkophile. So as you can imagine, the Circleville Pumpkin Show is an orange-kissed paradise for a gourd gal such as myself. We’re talking pumpkin pie, deep fried pumpkin pie, pumpkin butter, pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin waffles, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cupcakes, pumpkin seeds, pumpkin cream puffs, pumpkin chili, pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin fudge, pumpkin taffy, pumpkin brownies, pumpkin cookies, and pumpkin burgers. Not to mention pumpkin hats, sweatshirts, and Christmas ornaments. Yes, I planned my week around making the scenic drive down Route 23 yesterday to catch the 105-year-old festival’s Pet Parade. I can think of no better way to Salute the Squash. Click here for more photos.

           

Craftin' Outlaws.

Certain seasonal rituals should never be disrupted. Every October, I fire up the pumpkin candles, bake obscene amounts of acorn squash, and start my holiday shopping at Craftin’ Outlaws Alternative Craft Fair. This helps achieve balance in the world, or at least in my head. Yesterday was the seventh annual Craftin’ Outlaws at the Gateway Film Center. It featured more than 50 local craft vendors selling handmade items including screen printed shirts, knitted scarves, plush creatures, letterpress prints, journals, aprons, corsets, soaps, hand stitched bags, and rock ‘n’ roll jewelry. A portion of the event’s proceeds benefits Rwanda Knits, which provides knitting machines and business training to low-income Rwandan women.

“It’s exciting that after seven years, we still have so much buzz,” said Craftin’ Outlaws organizer Megan Green. “We’re really grateful for the continued outpouring of love and support from the Columbus community.”

Click here for more photos.

 

Hot Times Festival.

The 35^th annual Hot Times Community Arts & Music Festival graced the corner of Parsons Avenue and Main Street in Olde Towne East this past weekend. Like ComFest, Hot Times is a magnificent celebration of community spirit and culture that’s organized completely by volunteers. This year’s festival offered three stages with 60 bands and performing art groups, children’s activities, poetry slams, drum circles, art cars, food vendors, a marketplace, visual artists, and eco-friendly demonstrations. My favorite part of this pre-autumn fete is its diversity. Genres of music ranged from reggae and jazz to folk and rock. Food items varied from smoked ribs and Jamaican jerk chicken to vegetarian burritos and vegan pizza. Attendees represented an array of ethnicities and walks of life. And yet one thing was beautifully clear: a sense of harmony through passion and unity. Click here for more photos.

              

Columbus Greek Festival.

The 39^th annual Greek Festival takes place this weekend at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in the Short North. An ebullient four-day affair, it offers patrons a taste of Hellenic life through music, singers, dancers, artwork, clothing, jewelry, cooking demonstrations, cultural workshops, cathedral tours, and food. Mountains of Greek food served by proud, smiling folks who are enthusiastic about making and serving it. Elderly parishioners, in fact, stand at the entrance of the indoor food plaza to greet and shake hands with every person in line. It doesn’t get much cuter than that. So whether you like Moussaka, Dolmades, Keftedes, Souvlaki, or Spanakopita; have a hankering for Baklava, Amigdalota, Kataifi, Melomacarona, or Koulourakia; or just want to swig Ouzo, Metaxa, or Mythos; this celebration is for you. Opa. Click here for more photos.

                          

4th Annual Independents' Day.

The fourth annual Independents’ Day takes place on Saturday, September 17 from noon to midnight at Gay Street and Pearl Alley. This free all-ages celebration features an explosive array of local artists, bands, food vendors, crafters, dancers, street performers, and small businesses. Four live music stages, presented by GCAC, Capital Crossroads, Woodlands Tavern, and Athens Business Remixed, will feature dozens of bands, including roeVy, The Receiver, JBRW (members of New Bomb Turks), 21 pilots, Colin Gawel and the Lonely Bones, Necropolis, Clay (reunion), and Ex-Whites. Columbus Crafty Cotillion will organize a handcrafted goods area with several local crafters and designers. Clowns, fortune tellers, and magicians will set up throughout the festival. Dance in Columbus will offer improvisational, contemporary, jazz, and guerrilla performances, as well as creative movement experiences for children. Urban Scrawl will host live mural painting, CLOUDHAUS will create an art dance floor, Café Brioso will host a poetry slam, and a special youth area will provide art activities, a fashion show, face painting, and a parade. Skillet Rustic Urban Food, Spinelli’s Deli, and Tip Top Kitchen & Cocktails are among the participating restaurants, and food carts/trucks include Earth’s Crust Pizza, The Cheesy Truck, Leslie’s Creperie, and Mojo TaGo. Three beer tents will be available, offering Harpoon IPA, Magic Hat #9, and Pabst Blue Ribbon.

Stand Up For Ohio Festival.

We swung by the Stand up for Ohio Festival yesterday afternoon at the Ohio State Fairgrounds. It was presented by Stand up for Ohio, a coalition of community, labor, civil rights, and environmental groups who “stand up for good jobs and strong communities.” The free daylong event hosted speakers that addressed repealing Senate Bill Five, growing the middle class, revitalizing our manufacturing base, caring for the environment, and protecting our right to vote. Musical acts included Grand Funk Railroad, The Ohio Players, Over the Rhine, Happy Chichester, Two Cow Garage, Renee Dion, Nick Tolford and Company, and Ghost Shirt. Click here for more photos.

      

Festival Latino.

This past weekend marked the 16^th annual Festival Latino. Held in Genoa Park along the downtown riverfront, it’s a deeply passionate and colorful celebration of Latin American music, dance, food, and art. Musical acts Déjà vu Latin Fusion featuring Enrique Infante, 24 Horas, Ruben Ramos and the Mexican Revolution, and Tito Rojas with the Sammy DeLeón Orchestra seized the stage with fervor, as did dancers from Centro Esperanza, El Corazón de Mexico, and the Salsamante Dance Academy. Artwork by Ecuadorian painters Jose Bastidas and Wladimir Muñoz, Columbian painter Nohra Bermeo, and Puerto Rican photographer Melissa Peña was on display, while the marketplace brimmed with jewelry, clothing, and crafts. Dozens of food vendors offered zesty plates of Caribbean, Columbian, Cuban, Mexican, Nicaraguan, Puerto Rican, and Venezuelan cuisine. A children’s area offered interactive bilingual storytelling, sing-alongs, and drum circles.

According to a recent article, Latinos are the fastest growing ethnic group in Central Ohio, with a population nearing 70,000 (from 15 countries). As someone who has devoted much of her life to studying the Spanish language and appreciating Hispanic culture, this brings me such joy. Columbus is also home to thousands of people from China, Ethiopia, India, Japan, Russia, Somalia, Vietnam, and numerous other countries throughout Africa, Asia, and Europe. I’m proud to be an Ohioan, but I’m even more proud to live somewhere that heralds the preservation of cultural traditions from around the world. Click here for more photos.

                  

Ohio State Fair.

Do you like your Oreos deep fried? Does the concept of a Donut Burger get you going? Is your world incomplete without chocolate covered bacon? Well, my friend, I have the place for you: the 158^th annual Ohio State Fair. Once again, the Ohio Expo Center has metamorphosed into an agronomical universe of midway rides, carnival games, marching bands, parades, fireworks, butter cows, butterflies, petting zoos, pig races, sheep shows, sand sculptures, concerts, floral design contests, homebrewing competitions, art exhibits, Civil War encampments, youth choirs, handcrafted marketplaces, jugglers, lumberjacks, cooking demonstrations, one spunky strong woman, and so much more. If you’re feeling particularly rambunctious, I recommended splurging on three tickets to ride the Crazy Mouse. This purely Ohio tradition with gargantuan history runs through August 7. Click here for information about daily discounts, and here for more photos.

        

Jazz & Rib Fest.

The 32^nd annual Jazz & Rib Fest took place this past weekend in the Arena District. Presented by Columbus Recreation & Parks, it featured 44 bands on three stages and 23 rib burners from across the country. There were grilling demonstrations, product samplings, and heaps of killer jazz from local and national acts. There was even a cornhole tournament sanctioned by the American Cornhole Organization, if you’re into that sort of thing¹. One of my favorite parts of this event is watching people kayak in the Scioto River, which breathes an entirely new energy into our skyline. I’d like to try it someday, if I can convince myself that I won’t wind up flailing in the water (or that it won’t matter when I wind up flailing in the water). The Jazz & Rib Fest is known for serving menu items that, how should I put this, aren’t conceived of anything related to bodily health. I’ve attended this festival for more than 20 years without consuming nary one rib, but I have devoured the daylights out of the music.

1: I am not. But that’s okay.

       

Doo Dah Parade 2011.

Participants of the 28^th annual Doo Dah Parade marched for Freedom of Speech Through Humor yesterday afternoon in the Short North. What better way to celebrate our nation’s birthday than unfettered ingenuity, political satire, and flashes of nudity? We all have differing opinions about what is and what should be, but as Americans, we have the right to share them publicly. Citizens of many other countries do not yet have these rights¹. Regardless of our race, religion, political orientation, socioeconomic background, education, and occupation, we U-S-of-A-ers are lucky. Our undeniable liberation of spirit was evidenced yesterday by the Marching Fidels, Tea Party haters, Wal-Mart mockers, war protesters, energy savers, hippies, humanitarians, wholesome swing dancers, defiant zombies, vegan activists, a proud cannibal², and the ballsiest University of Michigan fan alive. And then there was the Angry Baby Mask Wearer, who gets his own sentence because that was just plain creepy. Go freedom.

1 Chinese individuals don’t have the same rights as we do, but they can manufacture our flags.
2 It’s hard not to laugh at an “Eat Locals” T-shirt.

          

 

ComFest 2011.

This past weekend, the 39^th annual ComFest took place at Goodale Park. As usual, it offered three bohemian-kissed days of bands, beer, and boobs. But every ComFest has a unique personality, and this year’s was (at least for me) one of the mellowest on record. Some of my favorite moments included performances by fo/mo/deep, Enrique Infante, BHB (Brothers Helping Brothers), Transit Arts, and Tony Monaco; the high hula-hoop-to-human ratio; Homage’s new “Columbus 'Til I Die” T-shirt; and the friends I made during my volunteer shift. I’m always impressed with the hardworking team of organizers who spend all year planning this event and taking active measures to support our community. Little known fact: In the past decade, ComFest has donated more than $250,000 to organizations throughout Central Ohio. Party with a purpose, indeed. 

          

ZombieWalk Columbus 2011.

Yesterday was the fifth annual ZombieWalk Columbus. For two fake-blood-filled hours, a couple hundred zombie men, women, children, dolls, and pets limped two miles around the Short North entertaining the daylights out of every passerby. Except for one. “Oh my God, I am like so stressed out right now,” said a (seemingly suburban and seemingly bleached) blonde gal standing behind me. “This is the most disgusting thing I have ever seen in my entire life.”

To me, snap judgements, issues of Us Weekly, and reality TV shows are way scarier and more disturbing than a pack of hyper-creative, philanthropic zombies. ZombieWalk participants collect canned goods for the Mid-Ohio Foodbank, embrace freedom of expression, abide all traffic laws, and never infringe upon anyone’s personal space. Click here for more photos.

     

 

Columbus Arts Festival Celebrates 50 Years.

The 50th anniversary of the Columbus Arts Festival takes place June 3-5 in the Discovery District. More than 230 artists from around the country were chosen out of 1,000 applicants to participate in the three-day event. The Greater Columbus Arts Council, which organizes the Arts Fest, made extra efforts to include more local artists and restaurants this year. New elements include an Emerging Artists program promoting a dozen Central Ohio artists; a mobile app enabling visitors to locate artists and food vendors; an adult’s-only area with hands-on art activities; exhibitions of local student artwork; and an art-making demonstration tent. Poets, spoken word artists, and nearly 20 bands representing a variety of musical genres will perform throughout the festival. In partnership with Dine Originals Columbus, special menus will be offered by local restaurants including Barcelona, Barrio Tapas Lounge, Black Creek Bistro, DeepWood, Due Amici, Elevator Brewery & Draught Haus, G. Michael’s Bistro, Katalina’s Café Corner, Mozart’s Bakery, The Refectory, Rigsby’s Kitchen, TASI café, and The Top Steak House. The signature cocktail will be a vodka libation called “Liquid Art.”

“Fifty years is a long time for a festival to be around,” said Jami Goldstein, Vice President of Marketing, Communications & Events for GCAC. “We’ve built a solid reputation in the artist community as a well-run festival with friendly volunteers, great artist amenities and a community that appreciates and buys art.”

The festival will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on June 3 and 4, and from 11:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on June 5. Festival organizers plan to move the event back to the Columbus Riverfront in 2012.

 

 

Photos by Greg Bartram.

OSU Contemporary Music Festival.

The 2011 Contemporary Music Festival takes place on April 28 and 29 at Weigel Auditorium. Presented by The Ohio State University School of Music, it includes four world premieres, live dance, and a documentary debut. This year’s festival pays tribute to Donald Harris, who recently retired his professorship at OSU after 22 years of service, and who has made a passionate, prolific 44-year contribution to classical music.

“Music is my life,” said Harris, who turned 80 years old earlier this month. “To serve as Composer-In-Residence for a festival that I founded [in 2000], and to offer a retrospective of my work as performed and conducted by colleagues, former students, and friends, is a deeply humbling experience.”

The April 28 performance features world premieres of souvenirs/résolutions by Thomas Wells; Moriarty’s Necktie by Matthew Saunders; and Souvenir from Poland by Jan Radzynski . It also includes Fantasy in Two Movements by Ross Lee Finney with Kia-Hui Tan, and Darius Milhaud’s La Création du Monde conducted by Russel Mikkelson with BalletMet Columbus dancers and original choreography by Jimmy Orrante. The April 29 performance highlights six pieces of music written by Harris: Lyric Fanfare with the OSU Symphony Orchestra and conductor Marshall Haddock; First String Quartet featuring The High Street Four; Of Hartford in a Purple Light with Christine Shumway Mortine and Maria Staeblein; Pierrot Lieder with Lucy Shelton; Five Tempi as conducted by Mikkelson; and the world premiere of A Letter From Home with Shelton, Shumway Mortine, and Cosmos. A documentary entitled Sonata 1957, about a piece that Harris composed in Paris as a young man, will be screened an hour before each concert. It explores his development in mid 20th-century Paris, when pre-war musical thought bridged with post-war experimentation. Tickets to the festival cost $12 for the general public and $6 for students and seniors.

 

 

 

 

 

Viewfinder At Junctionview Studios.

The first annual Viewfinder takes place at Junctionview Studios today and tomorrow from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Presented by Junctionview, Columbus Crafty Cotillion, and the Couchfire Collective, this new event offers a stunning concoction of paintings, posters, photographs, sculptures, jewelry, clothing, accessories, and paper goods. Several of Junctionview’s 44 artist studios will be open for the occasion. This is a perfect way to buy one-of-a-kind holiday gifts and support local artists. The cost of admission, along with inherent feelings of local pride, is free.

                     

Craftin' Outlaws.

The sixth annual Craftin’ Outlaws alternative craft fair takes place today at the Gateway Film Center until 5:00 p.m. With 50 regional crafters selling everything from handmade necklaces and screen printed T-shirts to beer soap and bacon candles, this daylong affair is equal parts community supporter, DIY-inspirer, and camaraderie propeller. Christmas is 10 weeks from today, and nothing bolsters a local seasonal economy more than buying handcrafted gifts created by individuals who are reinventing the American Dream one factory-free item at a time.  

           

CupcakeCamp Columbus IV.

The fourth CupcakeCamp Columbus was held at the North Market this afternoon. A mouthwatering competition with 50 cupcake flavors, six categories, and a passionate bunch of local amateur bakers, it was sponsored by Bulleit Bourbon, Crimson Cup Coffee, Godiva Liqueur, the North Market, Snowville Creamery, and Surly Girl Saloon. Proceeds from the sold-out sugarlicious event benefit the Mid-Ohio Foodbank. The winning cupcakes were “Ghostly White” in the Halloween Themed category; “Mocha Delights” in the Use of Bulleit Bourbon or Godiva Liqueur category; “Pumpkin Brunch” in the Bacon! category; “Pumpkin Bliss” in the Vegan category; “Berry Stoutstanding” in the North Market Inspired category; and “Frito Pie” in the Surly Girl Saloon Inspired category. The “Cupcakes for Breakfast” confection took home the People’s Choice Award. Runner’s Up awards were given to “Witch Way Did She Go?” in the Halloween-Themed category; “Dark Chocolate with Caramel” in the Use of Bulleit Bourbon or Godiva Liqueur category; “Maple Pecan & Bacon Brittle” in the Bacon! category; “Beeting Heart” in the Vegan category; “Thai Chili Coconut” in the North Market Inspired category; and “Spicy Peanut Butter Banana with Toasted Marshmallow” in the Surly Girl Saloon Inspired category. The Runner’s Up People’s Choice award was given to the “Bulleit Bourbon Brown-Sugar with Bulleit Bourbon Lemon Frosting” cupcake. Judges and prize sponsors included 3 Babes and a Baker, Bakery Gingham, CMH Gourmand, Columbus Food Adventures, Columbus Foodie, The Greener Grocer, The Hills Market, Little Alouette, Made by AmyD, Market Blooms, Mozart’s Bakery, Our Cupcakery, Pattycake Bakery, Sassafras Bakery, Spinelli’s Deli, Studio 35, Sugar Inc., Wholly Craft, and Wild Goose Creative.

            

Igloo Letterpress Anniversary Bazaar.

Few things are as magically effusive as letterpress. To run your fingers across grainy embossed paper is to be hit by a strong and sentimental narcotic. Yesterday I fed my letterpress addiction at the first annual Igloo Letterpress Anniversary Bazaar. Proprietor Allison Chapman threw a marketplace party celebrating one year of business in Columbus and invited a bevy of talented local artisans like Alison Rose Tees, Anne Holman Jewelry Design, Bethany Lesko, Flamestitch, Just A Jar Design Press, Kenyon Review, Little Alouette, Periodisa, Poshta Design, Made by AmyD, SKBG Photography, Suzy Ultman, and Wild Goose Creative. Refreshments were provided by Glad Annie’s Old World Baklava, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, Lucky Ladle, and Pattycake Bakery. The event coincided with Old Worthington Market Day, so the whole area was pretty much a handmade explosion. And staying true to her quest of spreading the joy of paper crafts to the world, Allison offered free printing and bookbinding demonstrations throughout the day. Because that’s how she rolls presses.

          

Columbus Independents’ Day 2010.

Yesterday was the third annual Independents’ Day at Gay Street and Pearl Alley. An urban cornucopia of living art, kinetic dance, spry music, thoughtful cuisine, and inspired crafts, this prOhio festival brandished more spark than 614 tons of dynamite. Click here to read my Columbus Underground preview of the event.

   

3rd Annual Independents' Day September 18

The third annual Independents’ Day, a festival that celebrates all things independent and distinctly Columbus, will take place on Saturday, September 18 from noon to midnight at Gay Street and Pearl Alley. This free event features 200 vendors, two main stages with more than 20 local bands, artists, dancers, street performers, and public art projects. This year, Independent’s Day will collaborate with such area organizations as ARTillery Ohio, Capitol Square Rotary, Central City Recording, Columbus Music Co-Op, Couchfire Collective, Columbus Crafty Cotillion, Dine Originals Columbus, Downtown Resident Area Commission, Etsy Team Columbus, Local Matters, and Small Business Beanstalk. These alliances help fuel the mantra for the 2010 festival: “Independent we stand, united for all.” People who are interested in volunteering at Independents’ Day should visit thisisindependent.com to sign up for a shift.

 

Columbus Doo Dah Parade 2010.

Think of the Columbus Doo Dah Parade as the Joan Rivers of promenades: kooky, raucous, and sometimes garish, but always entertaining. Yesterday marked the 27th anniversary of this Fourth of July procession. In every sense, this display of political satire, ribald pageantry, and pseudo-awkward exhibitionism is un-copy-able. Only a neighborhood filled with impassioned liberals and flagrant individualism would host such an event as this. Yes, that would be my neighborhood.

Similar to last year, the 2010 parade featured the Marching Fidels, Captain Ohio, Jim Maneri’s marching band, art cars, Rocky Horror Fishnet Mafia, and That Guy Who Looks Like James Brown. But this year we had some new additions: Ghostbusters, The Underground Orange Underwear Order, the Mad Hatter, a mini art car, viking-banning Arizonians, Columbus Sasquatch Control, and the Pedicab Smurfs. And lots of floats about that tiny oil leak in the Gulf. It was the perfect way to celebrate our nation’s independence — and exercise our own. Click here for more pictures.

        

ComFest 2010.

ComFest is usually lots of things, but not mellow. After 38 years, however, the festival created to uphold community spirit and neighborly kindness rekindled its mission. The three-day Goodale Park extravaganza that attracts more than 70,000 people grew so frenzied in recent years that organizers scaled back band lineups and hours of operation in 2010 to help increase the peace. And it worked.

This year’s ComFest was devoid of stomped toes, claustrophobic crowds, and angry energy. As such, there were probably less awkward run-ins and fiery rants. And drunken texts, but that’s another story. It was simply (and beautifully) about music, food, crafts, and workshops. There were endless rays of sunshine, light breezes, smiles, hugs, environmental awareness, and overall appreciation. This is how it should be. Out of the five years that I volunteered at the Off Ramp beer tent, this was the calmest. We caught an array of sets performed by talented local bands, including Shin Tower Music, The Max Power Trio, Organic Roots, Blastronauts, The Spikedrivers, Bicentennial Bear, Mooncussers, and Stucco Jones. Foley covered Soul II Soul, Kansas, and Fleetwood Mac, and Paper Airplane covered “You’re the Best” from Karate Kid. We ate hummus wraps and peanut noodles and broccoli burgers. It was all lovely and uneventful, which made it one of the best ComFests yet.

Zombie Walk Columbus.

Theatrical blood. Aimless staggering. Empty stares. Earlier today, more than 300 members of the undead infiltrated the Short North for the fourth annual Zombie Walk Columbus. This awesomely macabre event collects nonperishable food items for the Mid-Ohio Foodbank and was founded by Columbus resident Kurt Chaney.

Throughout the zombies’ two-mile traipse along High Street they had to “defend” themselves against the uniformed containment squad of S.T.A.R.S. Columbus*. But I must say, zombies are more polite than you could possibly expect. Several of them stopped to pose for my camera and one even complimented me on my dress. Plus they favor chilled Pellegrino and gourmet chocolate cones from Jeni’s. “Hey, this zombie stuff’s hard work and it’s hot out” one of them explained. Their cute little outstretched arms became quite endearing. Alas, in what has become the Zombie Walk Columbus grand finale, the troopers “shot down” the corpses upon their final trudge to Goodale Park. I guess when it brains, it gores.

Click here for more photos.

* Inspired by the video game Resident Evil

  

Etsy Team Columbus Hosts Craftacular In Clintonville.

Clintonville is one of my favorite neighborhoods in Columbus. Bohemian, family-friendly, and socially aware, it’s the perfect setting for this weekend’s Eco-Chic Craftacular. Presented by Etsy Team Columbus and held at the Whetstone Community Center, the second annual Craftacular showcases more than 60 local crafters of handmade clothing, jewelry, accessories, journals, artwork, toys, body care, and more. It also features local food vendors, musicians, and kids activities.

Some of the highlights of this two-day craftavaganza include the traveling art adventures of Columbus Artmobile, sassily modified threads of Label Yourself, guitar pic jewelry from What The Rock?, hand-poured soy candles from The Candle Lab, and vintage repurposed jewelry by Once Lost. The free indoor/outdoor event runs until 5:00 p.m. today.

    

Earth Day Columbus 2010.

This afternoon, for one glorious hour, I set aside my laptop and agenda to visit the Earth Day festivities at Franklin Park Conservatory. Organized by Green Columbus, the event was impressively and lovingly orchestrated. It featured local food vendors, musicians, and environmentalists who believe in celebrating our beautiful Mother Earth, promoting peaceful unity, and spreading gobs of good vibes. Plus, the entire festival was waste-free...meaning that everything was recycled or composted. It was just one more instance in which I felt proud to be a resident of Columbus, Ohio. Click here for more pictures.