Columbus, Ohio USA
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Dis 'n' Data
By Margaret Marten, Editor
email margaret@shortnorth.com
March 2012
The home of artist Charles Wince, included in the Short North Tour of Homes & Gardens last fall, was featured in Columbus Monthly’s January issue. Half a dozen photos offer a generous view of Wince’s extravagant art (as well as that of his friends) embellishing his home inside and out. Prior to purchasing the Harrison West property in 1988, he lived in an apartment above the Garden Burlesque where Short North Stage is currently housed. This is a matter of great interest to the Short North Stage theater company. They want to hear from folks like Wince who have a past connection with the place in order to compile a history. Contact Abby Vaile at 614-262-9145 or email abbynkids@sbcglobal.net if you have stories about the theater or think you can help. Wince moved to Columbus in 1983 from Newark. When I spoke with him recently – as he was headed out to Los Angeles where his art was showing at the Hive Gallery – he retrieved memories of the Garden Burlesque manager, Charlie Fox. “He was a colorful fellow, up in his 80s back then who had lots of tales to tell,” Wince said, “and he showed me scrapbooks full of various strippers he’d managed through the years.” The business downstairs was sparse during Wince’s five-year stay, so it didn’t surprise him when they closed down. Before moving to the Garden, he lived above a bible bookstore in Newark while working as a postman there. Speaking of mail carriers, we recently heard from our Short North resident mailman Rick Blackburn who graced the Gazette cover back in February 2007, providing an interesting story of his life as an artist and mailman in that issue. Last month, we learned that Blackburn retired from the postal service after 27 years last June – the past 11 years spent in the Short North, a familiar face to many. He said he’s happily painting most days and taking it a lot easier, and continuing work on his “Spiritual Warfare” series, a collection of paintings based on photographs of a variety of churches in town, ranging from cathedrals to storefronts. Along with retirement came a new family member, a kitten named Gary who strolled off the street and into his life, helping to fill the void left by the loss of his 17-year-old pup Rocky who was put away last September. Blackburn also let us know about a gallery that opened in the Westgate neighborhood where he lives. NRG Gallery at 3105 W. Broad St., owned by Nicholas Gonzalez and his daughter Scarlett, opened last fall and is currently the only art gallery in that area of Columbus. The long list of resident artists includes Bonie Bolen. The recent restoration work of the American Gothic mural in the Short North is evidence of her talent and contribution to this neighborhood.
The Huntington Bank hired a new manager for the Short North branch after Maria Welsh was promoted to district manager and transferred to the Findley-Lima area. Nicole Cecil, 32, a graduate of Capital University and the Ohio State University, was a personal banker at Huntington’s Westerville branch before starting her management position here on January 9. Although she majored in criminal psychology and sociology, Cecil said that when recruited by HSBC Bank after college, she discovered her love for finances, mortgages, and everything that comes along with what you deal with in a bank. “My area of specialty and expertise is mortgages,” she said. “That’s really what kind of kept me in finances. I just love the mortgage end of it.” Cecil also loves the Short North, having spent five years as a resident a few years back. She plans to return after her wedding next year.
Rarely do we hear about new shops opening in the heart of Italian Village, but Cookie Cravings Bakery is now doing business there at 227 E. Third Avenue on the corner of Fourth Street. A trio of family members, Matt and Lindsey Tewanger and Matt’s mother Joan, run the bakery which specializes in decorated cookies. They serve Stauf’s coffee and a variety of unusual and carefully crafted cookies – Honey Cardamon is an intriguing option. Seasonal cookies inspired by Ohio’s flowers and herbs are among the offerings. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10- 6. Visit www.cookiecravingsbakery.com
A consignment shop selling women’s clothing for full-figured gals, Go Figure, closed at 988 N. High St. Sherri Brunner opened the shop next to The Lamp Shade in May 2009 after running a personal chef business, Cooking Sherri. Recent health concerns made it too difficult for her to continue running the apparel store. Suffering from a rare bile duct cancer, Sherri is currently in a case study at the James Cancer Hospital and says she’s doing her best to “kick its butt!” We’re thinking she can.
Meanwhile David Snow, 42, has started up a new home décor and garden business in the former Go Figure space. Flora Home and Garden is open at 988 N. High, but the business will relocate to a larger space at 930 N. High in August when the Jazz Arts Group – temporarily housed next to Donatos Pizza – moves across the street. Snow worked for Oakland Nurseries as a manager and buyer for 11 years and has lived in the Short North with his partner for over a decade. He serves on the board of Friends of Goodale Park. Born and raised in Champaign, Ill., Snow said he has always loved working with plants and flowers, even as a youngster, earned a college degree in greenhouse management, and has been working in the horticultural field ever since. The idea to run his own business is nothing new, but the time to finally pursue it came up only recently. The shop will sell house plants, terrariums, garden accents, sculptures, pottery, higher-end birdfeeders, glass birdbaths, and an eclectic mix of home décor. “I’m shooting for a true urban garden store,” he said, “something you would find in a bigger city, kind of tucked away someplace, where you could purchase a few fresh flowers or a nice house plant or blooming plant or a few small containers for the yard.” Snow is particularly interested in container gardening and plans to offer seasonal combinations. Fresh flowers will be available daily with a cooler on site where customers can make selections. Snow’s familiarity with the neighborhood, the needs of its residents, along with an extensive retail background in horticulture seems to suggest that the odds are in his favor that Flora Home and Garden will be a blooming success. Call 614-294-1400 or visit www.FloraHG.com to learn more.
The Short North Home on High Directory at http://homeonhigh.co (created by Tim Friar, owner of Grid Furnishings) now features 19 home décor retailers in the Short North. These shops are open on Sunday with most overlapping the 1 to 4 p.m. timeframe. In addition to David Snow’s Flora Home and Garden, newcomers include Happy Go Lucky, LP Designs, and Tomorrow’s Antiques. Happy Go Lucky opened at 937 N. High St. in February selling custom furniture by LEE Industries, home decor and jewelry. LP Designs on Russell Street sells merchandise designed by artists across the United States. Tomorrow’s Antiques offers furniture and lighting made from antiques and salvaged material. The workshop/store is located at 15 East Second Ave. (See page 10 for the article.)
Victorian Village resident Stephen Weed has been named this year’s recipient of the St. Joseph Montessori School’s Ambassadors Award in recognition of an outstanding member of the St. Joseph community. Weed is an alumnus of the school and continues to provide expertise and support when he can. A gala to benefit the school and to present the award to Stephen Weed is scheduled Saturday, March 10 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Ohio State University Archie M. Griffin West Ballroom of the Ohio Union. Tickets are $80 and a registration form is online at sjms.net or by calling 614-291-8601.
The microdistillery Middle West Spirits at 1230 Courtland Ave. near Fifth and High is expanding its facility. Construction has already started on a 1000 square foot addition to the 3,200-square-foot building, which serves as an office and retail area as well as a processing plant. Owners Ryan Lang and Brady Konya attribute the expansion to the popularity of their artisan Oyo products.
Shahriar Kazemi will open a club in May at 165 Vine St. where the Lodge Bar and Big Woody’s used to operate. The plan includes a pub and grill in one room and entertainment area in the other, with the patio providing another stage and bar. Kazemi is behind the Arlington Entertainment Complex on West Henderson Road that has evolved over the past 20 years with similar establishments.
Voodoo Denim Lounge at 780 N. High closed in February after two years in business. Word has it that a restaurant and bar will open there next summer.margaret@shortnorth.com
Email the Editor margaret@shortnorth.com
©2012 Short North Gazette, Columbus, Ohio. All rights reserved.
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