Sports are the greatest relationship. Our chosen squads provide priceless memories, monumental moments, interludes of exuberance and ecstasy… However, as with any relationship, our chosen squads will also break our hearts…
As I walked the concrete under the glimmer of South Campus Gateway, I feared that with finals concluded and Spring Break beckoning, McFadden’s crowd would resemble pre-New Year’s Eve, when approximately twelve people inhabited the venue… Thankfully, my fears remained unrealized… Both bars were stacked with students, who despite the allure of warmer weather, had remained to cheer their Buckeyes into the second round (hopefully)…
Also remaining in the city (thankfully) was McFadden’s promotions superstar Amy, whose eighteen carat smile was the perfect commencement to the evening… We discussed where I’ve been (apparently, it had been awhile)… St. Patrick’s Day weekend, the crowds, and the 2009 Gossip Awards (she has agreed to be a presenter)… I know mentioned Amy previously… However, I have never done her exquisiteness justice… She is a platinum bunny…
After ten minutes of conversation with Amy, I walked the two flights of stairs into the somewhat relaxed atmosphere of the first half… As the Buckeyes and Siena swapped buckets, neither impressing upon me that either could dominate, the respective sets of eyes lining the bar darted from their conversations to the screen and back… Clearly, they were interested, but the Buckeyes 28-23 halftime edge did not enthrall them…The crowd was also unique in contrast to any previous McFadden’s cluster… As best surmised in the assertion of Lucky Charm Allie (another delicious addition to the Lucky Charms), the majority of the crowd didn’t know what happy hour was… Yes, there were bunnies, an impressive collection of which entered carrying their Coach purses, but there were also hoards you expect at other venues… Marlo Stanfield and a princess… A gaggle of heifers… It was a random evening…
Less random was Ohio State’s stellar commencement to the second half… The Buckeyes ripped off a 15-4 shred, which vaulted them into a 41-30 lead with under fourteen minutes remaining… The crowd’s conversations continued undistracted, only now, the conversations concerned a second round match-up with the Louisville Cardinals… Even when Sienna sliced the lead to 41-34, everyone continued discussing the Cardinals…
Presumption will thwart you every moment… Siena cut the advantage to 41-37, 41-39, and 45-43, but the Buckeyes continued dropping triples at a rate that retained our confidence… As a source informed me that Woody had been fired as McFadden’s lead security person (apparently, it has been awhile since I was there), Siena racked a 6-0 run to knot the contest at 49-49. Evan Turner scored again to reinstate Ohio State’s advantage at 55-51… However, Siena was restored… They dropped a triple to cut the lead to 56-55 and ultimately sent the contest into overtime at 56-56.
Siena continued to own the momentum, rushing to a 60-56 advantage at the outset of the extra session… Fortunately, Jon Diebler buried a triple, B.J. Mullins scored, and Turner dropped a pair of free throws to place Ohio State on the cusp… 60-59 with eight seconds remaining… At this moment, a drunken moron committed the unforgivable sin… “Watch, they’ll throw it in at the buzzer” were his exact words… (Guess what happened)…
After Siena and Turner traded three point trips at the second overtime’s commencement, Turner tallied a pair of free throws to move Ohio State ahead 72-71. Siena then netted a triple to assume a 74-72 lead with nine seconds remaining… The drunken moron could have said anything he wanted… The slipper had been fitted, boxed, and sold… Ohio State’s season was over…
As the inevitable screams came from the DJ of “O-H-I-O” and “F$%# Siena” and the music blared… It took me a moment to surmise the mood of McFadden’s… Then, as I watched the crowd listlessly dance without energy or passion, as I head them make nary a sound when the DJ implored them, I realized… Energy, passion, and sound are difficult to manufacture when your heart is broken…
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
INVITE: Ohio State Women’s Basketball Pep Rally
Commencement: 9:30 a.m.Venue: Frog Bear & Wild Boar (343 N Front Street)
Age Range: Anyone
Special Brunch Menu
Appearances
Brutus Buckeye
Cheerleaders
Pep Band
Special Guests
CPD: Help Us Help You
NBC 4: There have been 16 homicides in Columbus so far in 2009. So far, eight have been solved, but there are still eight more under investigation—and police need your help... “People should know it’s not a personnel issue. It’s not an issue other than time sensitivity and have a successful prosecution as well,“ said Columbus police Sgt. Rich Weiner.
Police also need help from the public to help solve crimes throughout the city. With a 50 percent arrest ratio in 2009, detectives still hope for any leads or evidence that will lead to an arrest for any unsolved homicides. On Jan. 19, a man walked into his home on Oak Street to find his roommate, Gary Lash, shot to death. Police do not have a suspect. The next day on Sofia Court, a woman was found murdered inside her west-side home.
Police have not released details on how it happened, nor have they made an arrest. On Feb. 7, a fight near the campus of The Ohio State University claimed the life of 28-year-old Christian Lodge, who was found with head trauma. Police have made no arrests. “If homicide detectives can’t solve the case, it will then go to our cold case unit and they will take a look at those,“ Weiner said.
Police also need help from the public to help solve crimes throughout the city. With a 50 percent arrest ratio in 2009, detectives still hope for any leads or evidence that will lead to an arrest for any unsolved homicides. On Jan. 19, a man walked into his home on Oak Street to find his roommate, Gary Lash, shot to death. Police do not have a suspect. The next day on Sofia Court, a woman was found murdered inside her west-side home.
Police have not released details on how it happened, nor have they made an arrest. On Feb. 7, a fight near the campus of The Ohio State University claimed the life of 28-year-old Christian Lodge, who was found with head trauma. Police have made no arrests. “If homicide detectives can’t solve the case, it will then go to our cold case unit and they will take a look at those,“ Weiner said.
Mask? Who Needs A Mask?
NBC 4: The 15th bank robbery in Columbus this year involved a man who shunned a mask and instead taped a big bandage across the bridge of his nose. FBI special agent Harry Trombitas said this is called a “distraction technique,” to get witnesses to focus on the bandage instead of facial features.
Just before 4 p.m. the man went into the Fifth Third Bank at 1340 Bethel Road and passed a note to a teller, asking to have a large envelope he passed her filled with money. She saw no weapon but complied with the request, putting in money and a dye-pack. The robber took the money and fled into a small, dark-colored car parked in the lot of the bank.
The robber was described as a black male, in his late 20’s to early 30’s, 5’11”, a large build with short hair, a round face and wearing a dark jacket over a light-colored shirt. He also had on red paints. Anyone with any information is requested to contact the Columbus Police Robbery Squad at 614-645-4665 or the FBI at 614-744-2168.
Just before 4 p.m. the man went into the Fifth Third Bank at 1340 Bethel Road and passed a note to a teller, asking to have a large envelope he passed her filled with money. She saw no weapon but complied with the request, putting in money and a dye-pack. The robber took the money and fled into a small, dark-colored car parked in the lot of the bank.
The robber was described as a black male, in his late 20’s to early 30’s, 5’11”, a large build with short hair, a round face and wearing a dark jacket over a light-colored shirt. He also had on red paints. Anyone with any information is requested to contact the Columbus Police Robbery Squad at 614-645-4665 or the FBI at 614-744-2168.
Taste From the Internet?
10 TV: A group of central Ohio social networkers is going into restaurants, sampling the food and spreading the word to others. Dan Harris is behind TasteCasters. He hopes to have groups across the U.S. by this time next year… "(We) go out and meet each other, and eat and drink," Harris said. "We're combining together to communicate what's available in Columbus."
The group is made of some of the biggest players when it comes to social networking in central Ohio... Through sites like Twitter, Facebook, Flikr, and blogs, Harris' group reaches more than 23,000 people. The first tasting took place earlier this week at the Suisse Shop Bakery.
These days, restaurants seem happy to try something new to get customers in the door… "The word of mouth is better than anything I can do," said Diane Warren of Katzinger's Deli, one of the stops on Harris' tour. "I think if they have a good time tonight, and they learn tonight, not only will they Twitter this, but they will tell their friends and they will bring their friends here. So it's very good for business."
The group is made of some of the biggest players when it comes to social networking in central Ohio... Through sites like Twitter, Facebook, Flikr, and blogs, Harris' group reaches more than 23,000 people. The first tasting took place earlier this week at the Suisse Shop Bakery.
These days, restaurants seem happy to try something new to get customers in the door… "The word of mouth is better than anything I can do," said Diane Warren of Katzinger's Deli, one of the stops on Harris' tour. "I think if they have a good time tonight, and they learn tonight, not only will they Twitter this, but they will tell their friends and they will bring their friends here. So it's very good for business."
INVITE: Sexy Saturdays
Commencement: 10:00Venue: Sugar Bar (525 Park Street)
Mezzanine Drinks (Available 10:30 – 11:30 p.m.)
$1 Top Shelf Drinks
INVITE: Huckleberry House Benefit
Commencement: 9:30
Venue: Ruby Tuesday (1978 Summit Street)
Live Music
Venue: Ruby Tuesday (1978 Summit Street)
Live Music
Quick Read
Amidst Friday’s expected leads, Mark Dann and the murder mistrial, Suzanne Hoholik types an interesting story on the medical student’s match program….
Shawn Mitchell’s profile on Crew Stadium (sports) is exquisite (which is ironic, because you’ve ever sat in Crew Stadium, you know the venue itself isn’t)… The Dispatch’s MLS Preview is outstanding… Unfortunately, Rob Oller’s column on the potential early exit of B.J. Mullins is insipid… The assertions were scattered and even Oller himself said an early exit is unlikely… If it’s unlikely, why write the column?
Shawn Mitchell’s profile on Crew Stadium (sports) is exquisite (which is ironic, because you’ve ever sat in Crew Stadium, you know the venue itself isn’t)… The Dispatch’s MLS Preview is outstanding… Unfortunately, Rob Oller’s column on the potential early exit of B.J. Mullins is insipid… The assertions were scattered and even Oller himself said an early exit is unlikely… If it’s unlikely, why write the column?
Thursday, March 19, 2009
March Madness
Ohio State’s first tournament game since 2007… Are you as ready as we are? Gossip CBUS will twitter live from campus, as the Buckeyes scorch Siena in the first round. We may even have some bonus coverage…
Get out tomorrow night, cheer, drink, and read our tweets… Until we advance, you know you love me…
Get out tomorrow night, cheer, drink, and read our tweets… Until we advance, you know you love me…
Elections Commission Disciplines Dann
NBC 4: Former Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann was ready to respond to allegations that he misused campaign contributions and filed false information. Dann was one of several Democrats swept into office in 2006 after a scandal over state investments sullied Republicans. He resigned last May over a sexual-harassment scandal involving a top aide in his office, Anthony Gutierrez.
Dann sat quietly Thursday as the Ohio Elections Commission listened to hours of testimony regarding the misuse of campaign funds during his time in office. After a four-month investigation, Inspector General Tom Charles said in December that Dann misused campaign funds to make lavish payments to friends and family. He also accused Dann of filing incomplete, inaccurate and false information about his expenditures.
Both Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner and the Inspector General’s office filed formal complaints with the commission late last year, saying Dann used campaign money to finance improvements to his home and personal cell phones among other things. Attorneys for the Secretary of State argued Dann spent more than $40,000 of campaign funds to pay for a state-of-the-art security system in his home, calling the use of funds neither ordinary or necessary for a state officeholder.
Attorneys for SOS also testified Dann used a cell phone for personal reasons without reimbursing the campaign committee. Dann denied all allegations and asked for the case be dismissed. Dann’s attorney Don McTigue said there was no wrongdoing. Dann paid for personal cell use, and campaign funds were used for campaign purposes, McTigue said.
Dann’s attorneys also said Dann thought it was better to pay for upgraded security through campaign funds instead of taxpayers’ monies after threats were made on his life. OEC commissioners found Dann to be in violation of state election law for both the security system and cell-phone use Thursday afternoon.
Commissioners decided Dann was to be penalized with a $1,000 fine and a public reprimand for the security system and a public reprimand only for the cell-phone allegations. These penalties were based only on Brunner’s complaint.
The commissioners will continue the hearing at 2:15 p.m. in regards to the Inspector General’s accusations. The commission declined to send either violation to the county prosecutor.
Dann sat quietly Thursday as the Ohio Elections Commission listened to hours of testimony regarding the misuse of campaign funds during his time in office. After a four-month investigation, Inspector General Tom Charles said in December that Dann misused campaign funds to make lavish payments to friends and family. He also accused Dann of filing incomplete, inaccurate and false information about his expenditures.
Both Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner and the Inspector General’s office filed formal complaints with the commission late last year, saying Dann used campaign money to finance improvements to his home and personal cell phones among other things. Attorneys for the Secretary of State argued Dann spent more than $40,000 of campaign funds to pay for a state-of-the-art security system in his home, calling the use of funds neither ordinary or necessary for a state officeholder.
Attorneys for SOS also testified Dann used a cell phone for personal reasons without reimbursing the campaign committee. Dann denied all allegations and asked for the case be dismissed. Dann’s attorney Don McTigue said there was no wrongdoing. Dann paid for personal cell use, and campaign funds were used for campaign purposes, McTigue said.
Dann’s attorneys also said Dann thought it was better to pay for upgraded security through campaign funds instead of taxpayers’ monies after threats were made on his life. OEC commissioners found Dann to be in violation of state election law for both the security system and cell-phone use Thursday afternoon.
Commissioners decided Dann was to be penalized with a $1,000 fine and a public reprimand for the security system and a public reprimand only for the cell-phone allegations. These penalties were based only on Brunner’s complaint.
The commissioners will continue the hearing at 2:15 p.m. in regards to the Inspector General’s accusations. The commission declined to send either violation to the county prosecutor.
INVITE: Third Friday Dance Party
Commencement: 9:00Venue: Skullys (1151 North High Street)
Age Range: 18 and over
Performances
Dave Espionage
DJ Giovanny
Sketchy Pete
Quick Read
Bill Bush leads Thursday with a story, which after a moment of thought makes perfect sense… Franklin County is expanding (Great neighborhoods, great shopping… Why wouldn’t people want to live here?)…
Mark Ferenchick’s article on parks turning to social networking as a means to campaign for their levy and Barbara Carmen’s piece on the first ball park tour would have been perfect front page Metro pieces… Unfortunately, they are buried on pages B3 and B5…
Bob Hunter (finally) types an entertaining piece (sports) on the NHL playoff chase… And the Dispatch’s NCAA Preview special section is outstanding… Particularly, Bob Baptist’s profile of Jon Diebler and his improvement and Tim May’s profile of Chris and Brett McKnight of Akron…
Mark Ferenchick’s article on parks turning to social networking as a means to campaign for their levy and Barbara Carmen’s piece on the first ball park tour would have been perfect front page Metro pieces… Unfortunately, they are buried on pages B3 and B5…
Bob Hunter (finally) types an entertaining piece (sports) on the NHL playoff chase… And the Dispatch’s NCAA Preview special section is outstanding… Particularly, Bob Baptist’s profile of Jon Diebler and his improvement and Tim May’s profile of Chris and Brett McKnight of Akron…
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
INVITE: End of Quarter Bash
Commencement: 10:00Venue: Sugar Bar (525 Park Street)
Age Range: Male (21 and over); Female (19 and over)
VIP Access: Text (406-3072)
Drinks (Available All Night)
$3 Martinis
$2 Bombs
$1 Wells
What Economic Crisis? The Parks Want Money
NBC 4: The Columbus Metro Parks are putting a levy on the May ballot. It’s a renewal and increase that would help fund new metro parks. Central Ohio has 24,000 acres in 15 metro parks. It’s one of the largest park systems in the state and claims six million visitors a year.
Without a levy, it runs out of money this year. Columbus’ mayor said the parks affect the quality of life and education in the area. “Urban kids don’t have to watch Discovery Channel to understand what nature is all about. They can come right here,” said Mayor Michael Coleman.
Metro Parks officials claim that the levy, even with the extra tenth of a mill, will cost only $23 per $100,000 of valuation. Officials said they plan to use the money for maintenance, to expand educational and senior programs, add more greenway trails, added protection for the Big Darby Watershed and to build three new parks at Little Walnut, along the Scioto River in Grove City and in Plain Township.
“Central Ohio is growing. The economy has obviously slowed down right now, but it’s going to pick back up and we’re going to be growing again and we need to be prepared for that growth,” said John O’Meara, metro parks executive director.
Without the levy, the parks said they will have to make cuts, but they haven’t figured out yet what those cuts will be. “I think the economy is the big issue. We recognize that it’s unfortunate timing, but out levy runs out this year, so we really don’t have any choice,” O’Meara said.
The levy is a ten-year initiative. Officials said that if it passes, you won’t see the metro parks on the ballot again for a decade. But if the levy fails, residents will see it on the ballot again in November.
Without a levy, it runs out of money this year. Columbus’ mayor said the parks affect the quality of life and education in the area. “Urban kids don’t have to watch Discovery Channel to understand what nature is all about. They can come right here,” said Mayor Michael Coleman.
Metro Parks officials claim that the levy, even with the extra tenth of a mill, will cost only $23 per $100,000 of valuation. Officials said they plan to use the money for maintenance, to expand educational and senior programs, add more greenway trails, added protection for the Big Darby Watershed and to build three new parks at Little Walnut, along the Scioto River in Grove City and in Plain Township.
“Central Ohio is growing. The economy has obviously slowed down right now, but it’s going to pick back up and we’re going to be growing again and we need to be prepared for that growth,” said John O’Meara, metro parks executive director.
Without the levy, the parks said they will have to make cuts, but they haven’t figured out yet what those cuts will be. “I think the economy is the big issue. We recognize that it’s unfortunate timing, but out levy runs out this year, so we really don’t have any choice,” O’Meara said.
The levy is a ten-year initiative. Officials said that if it passes, you won’t see the metro parks on the ballot again for a decade. But if the levy fails, residents will see it on the ballot again in November.
Quick Read
On Wednesday, the Dispatch showcases the importance of teamwork with a pair of outstanding front-page stories… Martin Rozenman and Robert Vitale’s collaboration on the squabble between Columbus and Grandview, over whether or not the city should receive tax money (yes, I said Grandview, whose limit lies one mile outside the Arena District)… And Jonathan Riskind and Steve Wartenberg’s partnership, discussing Chase and how it should ship jobs into Columbus, as opposed to India… (Yes, America’s economy is struggling… Chase, please ship your jobs overseas)…
Bill Rabinowitz’s (sports) types an excellent feature on Ohio’s having the most teams in the NCAA Tournament (five)… Unfortunately, Michael Arace negates his brilliance, with a meandering story on the Columbus Crew, which never really arrives at a point…
Bill Rabinowitz’s (sports) types an excellent feature on Ohio’s having the most teams in the NCAA Tournament (five)… Unfortunately, Michael Arace negates his brilliance, with a meandering story on the Columbus Crew, which never really arrives at a point…
Five, Fun, & Fantastic
St. Patrick’s Day is unique… Before you reactively agree with or roll your eyes at that statement, consider the obvious… On the Saturday proceeding New Year’s Eve, venues do not host events and label the activities “Pre-Ball Drop Day.”
Given the aforesaid, I moderated my expectations prior to Tuesday evening… Saturday was St. Practice Day… Monday was Pre-Patty Day and both evenings were very well attended… It’s Tuesday, we’re approaching the middle of the work week when our minds mush and our focus evaporates and a hangover is not the obvious injection… As I walked Park Street toward Callahan’s, I knew the Irish themed venue would host a crowd… However, my expectations for the evening were tempered…
Callahan’s quickly made me rethink my tempered expectations… As I said, I knew the venue would have a crowd (It’s name is Callahan’s and it’s St. Patrick’s Day)… With that said, the bar was crushed, the energy was intense, and the cluster of green clad bunnies was exquisite… Bunnies munching pizza and dancing… Bunnies who used their Coach purses to match their outfits… The clusters were scrumptious….
They paled in comparison (I can’t believe I am saying this) to the experience I would have minutes later, when I encountered DJ Legend… Now, I had met DJ Legend previously, and he is an outstanding individual… However, I had no clue that he would score me complete access to the venue (which I had never been in and I appreciated)…
We walked up the stairs and a moment later, I was in Callahan’s immaculate top floor club… I can just imagine what the venue resembles on a Friday night when Legend is at the top of his game… We walk through the club and outside onto a rooftop, which apparently, will be converted into a rooftop club… (How sick is that?)… As nearly thirty minutes passed, we stood atop that roof, discussing all manner of promotions… simply two power players looking out onto our city…
Following that conversation, I darted across the street to Park Street Patio, which finally resembled it’s name with a shrunken indoor crowd, a stellar outdoor crowd, and an outstanding DJ spinning in open air… The energy was slightly relaxed and the communal experience of Park Street Patio was slightly less enthralling than the crushed cluster experience of Callahan’s… Yet, the atmosphere would easily trump what I would view later in the evening…
Additionally, (and I love this about the venue), you cannot ignore the excellent intrapersonal skills of Park Street Patio’s management… From Co-Owner Brian Swanson and Promotions Superstars Randy and Tori, the attention, the collegial interaction, is a benefit you cannot encounter at every venue… Especially Tori, a personal favorite, whose five minute conversation, you wish you could turn into fifty…
From Callahan’s crush and Park Street Patio’s community, I walked Vine Street into Lodge Bar and a complete surprise… Now, you read about Lodge Mardi Gras and I will personally divulge that they owned St. Practice Day… But, their crowd on Tuesday, didn’t net them the top of the medal stand… In fact, it was in a fist fight for the lowest spot on the medal stand…
Lodge Bar was busy… The bunnies were copious… and the favorites (with the exception of the Crown Princess) were working, but the energy, the overall encompassing vibe which Lodge has previously produced was absent… It is as simple as this… Lodge Mardi Gras was equivalent to Usain Bolt’s one hundred meter final… Tuesday night resembled a qualifying heat…
I will compliment Lodge Bar on their excellent choice of music however… Featuring a diverse set list and impressive crowd interaction, the Bling Crosby’s were worth every moment spent at the venue… The two man venue is not unlike some acts that have been featured at Lodge… With that said, their individuality made them an act worth mentioning… (Their debut CD drops soon, I will let you know if I get a chance to react)…
A venue not worth attending, mentioning, and I assume, for them, not worth opening on this evening was the Frog Bear and Wild Boar, which conceded the lackluster evening prior to midnight… When I arrived at the fourth of five venues, the lights were on, the chairs were on the tables, and the evening was over… I don’t know why people didn’t come out to the Arena District on this evening…
People did more than come out to McFadden’s… They mashed the venue… As I walked South Campus toward the location, the upstairs and downstairs patios were crushed, making me elated that I selected McFadden’s as my final experience… The craziness I expected from their day’s worth of events and the updates I had been receiving throughout the evening did justice to the madness which was still rocking as I arrived…
The split level energy was unbelievable… Downstairs, the DJ and the dance floor displayed the energy you crave from campus… Upstairs, the band (whose name escapes me at the moment, thus, if they are reading this, I apologize), owned the conversation with an eclectic set list that included “Peaches” and “Under the Bridge.” While I have heard both college and rock sound in this city, I have not encountered the charismatic force which was displayed by this band… They were stellar…
Equally stellar was the complete chaos and the bunnies encircling it… From a drunken Lucky Charm Sytease to Allie, to the always delectable Emily Rose, to the scores of bunnies that were rocking the dance floor, McFadden’s concluded my evening as it had commenced, as it should always conclude and commence, with a bunny crawl…
Five venues, 2.20 miles traveled, a hundred hands shaken, two hundred friends or acquaintances encountered, five hundred or more bunnies, and a thousand random drunken details… Simply stated, the reality crushed the expectations…
Given the aforesaid, I moderated my expectations prior to Tuesday evening… Saturday was St. Practice Day… Monday was Pre-Patty Day and both evenings were very well attended… It’s Tuesday, we’re approaching the middle of the work week when our minds mush and our focus evaporates and a hangover is not the obvious injection… As I walked Park Street toward Callahan’s, I knew the Irish themed venue would host a crowd… However, my expectations for the evening were tempered…
Callahan’s quickly made me rethink my tempered expectations… As I said, I knew the venue would have a crowd (It’s name is Callahan’s and it’s St. Patrick’s Day)… With that said, the bar was crushed, the energy was intense, and the cluster of green clad bunnies was exquisite… Bunnies munching pizza and dancing… Bunnies who used their Coach purses to match their outfits… The clusters were scrumptious….
They paled in comparison (I can’t believe I am saying this) to the experience I would have minutes later, when I encountered DJ Legend… Now, I had met DJ Legend previously, and he is an outstanding individual… However, I had no clue that he would score me complete access to the venue (which I had never been in and I appreciated)…
We walked up the stairs and a moment later, I was in Callahan’s immaculate top floor club… I can just imagine what the venue resembles on a Friday night when Legend is at the top of his game… We walk through the club and outside onto a rooftop, which apparently, will be converted into a rooftop club… (How sick is that?)… As nearly thirty minutes passed, we stood atop that roof, discussing all manner of promotions… simply two power players looking out onto our city…
Following that conversation, I darted across the street to Park Street Patio, which finally resembled it’s name with a shrunken indoor crowd, a stellar outdoor crowd, and an outstanding DJ spinning in open air… The energy was slightly relaxed and the communal experience of Park Street Patio was slightly less enthralling than the crushed cluster experience of Callahan’s… Yet, the atmosphere would easily trump what I would view later in the evening…
Additionally, (and I love this about the venue), you cannot ignore the excellent intrapersonal skills of Park Street Patio’s management… From Co-Owner Brian Swanson and Promotions Superstars Randy and Tori, the attention, the collegial interaction, is a benefit you cannot encounter at every venue… Especially Tori, a personal favorite, whose five minute conversation, you wish you could turn into fifty…
From Callahan’s crush and Park Street Patio’s community, I walked Vine Street into Lodge Bar and a complete surprise… Now, you read about Lodge Mardi Gras and I will personally divulge that they owned St. Practice Day… But, their crowd on Tuesday, didn’t net them the top of the medal stand… In fact, it was in a fist fight for the lowest spot on the medal stand…
Lodge Bar was busy… The bunnies were copious… and the favorites (with the exception of the Crown Princess) were working, but the energy, the overall encompassing vibe which Lodge has previously produced was absent… It is as simple as this… Lodge Mardi Gras was equivalent to Usain Bolt’s one hundred meter final… Tuesday night resembled a qualifying heat…
I will compliment Lodge Bar on their excellent choice of music however… Featuring a diverse set list and impressive crowd interaction, the Bling Crosby’s were worth every moment spent at the venue… The two man venue is not unlike some acts that have been featured at Lodge… With that said, their individuality made them an act worth mentioning… (Their debut CD drops soon, I will let you know if I get a chance to react)…
A venue not worth attending, mentioning, and I assume, for them, not worth opening on this evening was the Frog Bear and Wild Boar, which conceded the lackluster evening prior to midnight… When I arrived at the fourth of five venues, the lights were on, the chairs were on the tables, and the evening was over… I don’t know why people didn’t come out to the Arena District on this evening…
People did more than come out to McFadden’s… They mashed the venue… As I walked South Campus toward the location, the upstairs and downstairs patios were crushed, making me elated that I selected McFadden’s as my final experience… The craziness I expected from their day’s worth of events and the updates I had been receiving throughout the evening did justice to the madness which was still rocking as I arrived…
The split level energy was unbelievable… Downstairs, the DJ and the dance floor displayed the energy you crave from campus… Upstairs, the band (whose name escapes me at the moment, thus, if they are reading this, I apologize), owned the conversation with an eclectic set list that included “Peaches” and “Under the Bridge.” While I have heard both college and rock sound in this city, I have not encountered the charismatic force which was displayed by this band… They were stellar…
Equally stellar was the complete chaos and the bunnies encircling it… From a drunken Lucky Charm Sytease to Allie, to the always delectable Emily Rose, to the scores of bunnies that were rocking the dance floor, McFadden’s concluded my evening as it had commenced, as it should always conclude and commence, with a bunny crawl…
Five venues, 2.20 miles traveled, a hundred hands shaken, two hundred friends or acquaintances encountered, five hundred or more bunnies, and a thousand random drunken details… Simply stated, the reality crushed the expectations…
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Vehicular Arson
10 TV: Arson investigators were searching Tuesday for the person who smashed a sport utility vehicle's window and tossed a Molotov cocktail inside. The fire occurred at about 6 a.m. in the 500 block of South Eureka Avenue, located on the city's west side… A woman who lives in the neighborhood said she looked outside after hearing a window smash and saw flames pouring out of a Chevrolet Suburban.
The owner said he purchased the vehicle just two weeks ago. According to investigators, Phil Lawson's vehicle was the second to be targeted on South Eureka Avenue in the past couple of months, but the two cases have not been connected…
The owner said he purchased the vehicle just two weeks ago. According to investigators, Phil Lawson's vehicle was the second to be targeted on South Eureka Avenue in the past couple of months, but the two cases have not been connected…
Quick Read
Tuesday’s edition leads appropriately, with the AIG fiasco… As staggeringly inappropriate as bonuses for bad investments, is the subject matter of Mark Ferenchik’s front page focus, the cash reserves of Columbus parks, which total more than $14 million and are apparently, annually, set aside to purchase more land for more parks… Mayor Coleman, you still looking for a solution to that pesky budget deficit?
Sports once again features excellent NCAA tournament coverage (both men’s and women’s)… Unfortunately, Rob Oller’s unnecessary column about an Oho State swimmer steals the front page (remind me, why should I care about swimming)… And Aaron Portzline’s profile of Blue Jackets General Manager Scott Howson is pedestrian… It’s essentially “he’s great, but we’re never going to give an explanation as to why that’s our opinion…”
Jeffrey Sheban’s column felt like I was reading a St. Patrick’s Day story, because it was St. Patrick’s Day… It was completely contrived… Conversely, most of the time, I think Joe Blundo is a blithering idiot… But, in his column about gambling, I agreed with every single argument…
Sports once again features excellent NCAA tournament coverage (both men’s and women’s)… Unfortunately, Rob Oller’s unnecessary column about an Oho State swimmer steals the front page (remind me, why should I care about swimming)… And Aaron Portzline’s profile of Blue Jackets General Manager Scott Howson is pedestrian… It’s essentially “he’s great, but we’re never going to give an explanation as to why that’s our opinion…”
Jeffrey Sheban’s column felt like I was reading a St. Patrick’s Day story, because it was St. Patrick’s Day… It was completely contrived… Conversely, most of the time, I think Joe Blundo is a blithering idiot… But, in his column about gambling, I agreed with every single argument…
Monday, March 16, 2009
INVITE: Park & Spark Singles Mixer
Calendar: March 18Commencement: 6:00
Venue: Confluence Park (679 West Spring Street)
Cost: $25
Reservations: Lahr-Griffeth Events
Free hors d’oeuvres & Cash Bar
Complimentary “Wink” Drink
Live Music
St. Patrick’s Day 2009: McFadden’s
“Contests & Craziness”Commencement: 8:00 a.m.
Venue: McFadden’s (South Campus)
Kegs n Eggs
Commences: 8:00 a.m.
Concludes: 11:00 a.m.
Cost: $5 per plate
Agenda
9 a.m.: Last Man Standing Contest (Las Vegas Trip prize)
11 a.m.: T-Bone performance
12-2 p.m.: Caricature Artist
1 p.m.: Jello Wrestling (McFadden’s Lucky Charms & Whisk-E Leprechaun)
5 p.m.: Bagpipers & Irish Dancers
6-10 p.m.: Face & Body painter
7 pm.: Lucky Charms Eating Contest
7 pm.: Electric Kool-Aid & Jumping Dead Batteries performance
9 p.m.: Teeny Weeny Greenie Bikini Contest ($500 prize)
Bacardi Chilled Shot Bar
Car Bomb Station
Drinks (Available All Night)
$6 Car Bombs
$5 Irish Viagras
$4 Bud Light Aluminums
Menu (Available All Night)
$5 Reuben & Chips
St. Patrick’s Day 2009: Lodge Bar
Commencement: 5:00Venue: Lodge Bar (Arena District)
Pot of Gold Toss (Guinness Hat & Pint Glass Prize)
Drinks (Available All Night)
$5 Car Bombs
$2 Green Drafts
Menu (Available 5 – 9 p.m.)
$3 Appetizers
½ Price Pizzas
Performances
The Bling Crosbys
St. Patrick’s Day 2009: Park Street Patio
Commencement: 4:00Venue: Park Street Patio (533 Park Street)
Drinks (Available All Night)
Green Beer Pitchers
Patty Bombs
Menu (Available All Night)
½ Price Pizzas
Performances
DJ R-Dog
DJ Samurai
MC Huggs
St. Patrick’s Day 2009: Frog Bear and Wild Boar
Commencement: 4:00Venue: Frog Bear & Wild Boar (343 N Front Street)
Drinks (Available All Night)
$1.50 Green Beer
Bud Light Buckets
Menu (Available All Night)
Corned Beef & Cabbage
Irish Stew
Performances
Sutton & Steve
St. Patrick’s Day 2009: Callahan’s
“Three DJ’s, Two Floors of Fun”Commencement: 11:30 a.m.
Venue: Callahan’s (520 Park Street)
Wearing O’ the Green Contest (Cash Prize)
Green Beer
Lunch Buffet
Corned Beef & Cabbage
Mini Reubens
Celebrities Ball
The line went around the parking lot and continued down the street, filled with people of all ages anticipating not the game but a chance at a glance at the celebrities. You would think, being at the St. John’s Arena right on OSU’s campus, there would be a lot of college students but that was not the case. The majority of the crowd were local elementary to high school children with their families. The theme continued with a high school marching band that played while the spectators waited for the doors to open at five O’clock. There was chaos once the doors opened. The long line split into two, one for those with tickets and one for those who needed to buy tickets at fifteen dollars apiece or forty for VIP and people sprinted into the doors.
The lines outside were filled with anticipation but the gym was abounding with music and celebration. The game was set to start at six but did not begin until thirty minutes later with the entrance of the four celebrity attractions: Columbus native, Bow Wow ( So So Def), who received the most applause; Nelly as the leader of Derrty Ent; Jermaine Dupri as the coach for So So Def; and Murphy Lee rounding up Derrty Ent. The majority of the teams were comprised of virtual unknowns that played more than the celebs but the audience didn’t care. Every time Bow Wow went to the net, people cheered and likewise for Nelly.
Story: Pembe Besingi
Buckeye Spring Kickoff Announced
Ohio State University football Coach Jim Tressel will preview 2009 Buckeye Football Season with his annual Buckeye Spring Kick-off luncheon presented by Hickory Chase and supported by NBC 4 and WTVN.
NBC 4 Sports Director Jerod Smalley will join Coach Tressel and his players to talk about the upcoming football season and to honor Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, Santonio Holmes - the only Buckeye to win an NFL Super Bowl MVP. Also in attendance will be Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau.
All proceeds from the event will benefit two wonderful charities. Coach Tressel has teamed with Coach Bruce to donate all proceeds to the Tressel Family Fund for Cancer Prevention and The Earle & Jean Bruce Alzheimer’s Research Fund at the Ohio State University Medical Center.
NBC 4 Sports Director Jerod Smalley will join Coach Tressel and his players to talk about the upcoming football season and to honor Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, Santonio Holmes - the only Buckeye to win an NFL Super Bowl MVP. Also in attendance will be Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau.
All proceeds from the event will benefit two wonderful charities. Coach Tressel has teamed with Coach Bruce to donate all proceeds to the Tressel Family Fund for Cancer Prevention and The Earle & Jean Bruce Alzheimer’s Research Fund at the Ohio State University Medical Center.
Quick Read
Debbie Gebolys’ feature on the Town Street Bridge should have led metro… The B3 piece was poignant… Sports featured excellent NCAA Tournament coverage,… Unfortunately, Michael Arace’s column was stupid… Michael, in the future, if the Blue Jackets get creamed (which they did on Sunday) and you don’t have anything to say… Don’t submit a story…
Mike Pramik’s (business) discussion of condos was solid, but relived heavily on stats… And Nancy Gibson’s story (Life and Arts) on children’s artwork, possessed a great premise, but was unavoidably bland…
Mike Pramik’s (business) discussion of condos was solid, but relived heavily on stats… And Nancy Gibson’s story (Life and Arts) on children’s artwork, possessed a great premise, but was unavoidably bland…
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Red Wings Own Lame, Bland Jackets
Walk Lane Avenue on any fall Saturday and the activity is amazing. Thousands of people patronize the businesses, occupy the sidewalks, and populate the parking lots. It doesn’t matter that the vast majority may not have tickets. This is their city, their event, and their team and in the thousand’s minds, the moment isn’t as sweet without them.
Sixty minutes prior to faceoff, the bricks were a sight to see… The importance of the contest, both for this season and the franchise overall, was reflected in the swarm which awaited their entrance into Nationwide Arena and inhabited every seat either obvious or invented. As I walked the bricks, interspersed with evenly split collage of Detroit Red Wings and Blue Jackets jerseys, the playoff atmosphere perfectly articulated the afternoon’s motivation… The Red Wings wanted revenge… The blue Jackets wanted validation…
The crush inside the Frog Bear and Wild Boar mirrored the mass assembled outside… The patio was crushed, the tables were occupied, and while a noticeable collection of eyes were affixed on the Ohio State-Purdue Big Ten Championship contest, the crowd’s energy was palpable.
Said energy expanded as I arrived at R Bar… From the patio to the popcorn pouch (which was refilled every five minutes during pre-game), the Blue Jackets jerseys and shirts were omnipresent and the crowd’s energy was stellar… The Frog Bear and Wild Boar’s population may have, in heart, been a split contingent… However, R Bar’s allegiance was unquestionable… With thirty minutes remaining until face-off, every R Bar television was affixed on the Blue Jackets pre-skate…
My eyes, meanwhile, were darting between the pre-skate and the random collection of fans which assumed residence within feet of R Bar’s door… The congregating ran the gambit from those sporting random attire to those sporting random Blue Jackets attire… However, the random who required the most attention, stood within five steps of the entrance… His ensemble included a mask and sign which read “Hey, Detroit, I’ve got my mask back… Jason lives at Mason-wide Arena.” Are Blue Jackets fans that uncreative that they have to parody horrid eighties movies for their goaltender’s nickname?
I cannot answer that question until all examples are exhausted… I can restate my answer as to why Ohio State afternoons supersede any Blue Jackets contest, not withstanding that contest’s historical significance… As I entered Gordon Biersch for my final moments prior to faceoff, the inside and outside crowd resembled what you would observe at this venue on a typical late spring afternoon…
This was not a typical late spring afternoon…. This was a chance to score a season series from a team that has owned you for seven seasons… The main dining area and the bar were busy, the patio was slightly less busy, and the Red Wings-Blue Jackets contest was relegated to a side monitor, barely visible around an Ohio State banner… The Ohio State-Purdue contest remained on four of the five bar screens (and in case you are wondering, the other screen featured golf)…
As reprehensible as you may feel that treatment of a potential playoff squad was, that insult pails in comparison to the cluster of Ohio State fans, who were four of only ten fans remaining in the venue when faceoff occurred… (we will return to the insult in a moment)… From the outset, you could sense the Red Wings attitude… While a goal was disallowed thirty seconds into the contest, the scored twice more to assume, what would ultimately conclude, as a 2-0 first period advantage…
With the Red Wings ahead 2-0 and the Big Ten title tilt concluded with Purdue as victors, the previously mentioned cluster of Buckeyes fans approached the exit… They were asked if they were leaving (reasonable question right?)… They informed their questioner that they possessed tickets to the contest and would be walking the bricks to the Arena… These four possessed tickets and they blew off the start to watch what amounted to a meaningless contest for both team’s tournament aspirations… I can’t imagine why I have stated my opposition to Columbus as a professional sports city…
That reinforcement of my opposition was not tempered during the second period, as the Frog Bear and Wild Boar sat equally vacant… One table occupied… Four bored bartenders starting toward the unwatched televisions as the brackets were revealed… It’s not as if the masses not inside Nationwide Arena were missing a grand exhibition… the Red Wings concluded the second with a 3-0 edge… Still, this was a historical opportunity (wasn’t it?)…
The energy was slightly elevated at R Bar, but it could not approach the spectacle of pregame. Moments after the Red Wings scored their final goal (4-0), I glanced toward the glass, which faces onto the bricks and the scene was mystifying… Streaming across the bridge, first in pairs, then in collections, and finally en masse, were Blue Jackets fans, wearing the green hats they were afforded as a St. Patrick’s Day promotion… I cannot state this with certainty… However, I believe every one of the 19,000 hats that were handed out walked the bridge as I watched…
As I transitioned from watching the bricks walked to walking them myself, first into our three postgame locations and eventually toward Front Street, I carried one obvious thought… The bricks and the venues they surround are the Blue Jackets Lane Avenue… Can anyone imagine a fall Saturday, in-game or post game with only twenty people on Lane Avenue?
Sixty minutes prior to faceoff, the bricks were a sight to see… The importance of the contest, both for this season and the franchise overall, was reflected in the swarm which awaited their entrance into Nationwide Arena and inhabited every seat either obvious or invented. As I walked the bricks, interspersed with evenly split collage of Detroit Red Wings and Blue Jackets jerseys, the playoff atmosphere perfectly articulated the afternoon’s motivation… The Red Wings wanted revenge… The blue Jackets wanted validation…
The crush inside the Frog Bear and Wild Boar mirrored the mass assembled outside… The patio was crushed, the tables were occupied, and while a noticeable collection of eyes were affixed on the Ohio State-Purdue Big Ten Championship contest, the crowd’s energy was palpable.
Said energy expanded as I arrived at R Bar… From the patio to the popcorn pouch (which was refilled every five minutes during pre-game), the Blue Jackets jerseys and shirts were omnipresent and the crowd’s energy was stellar… The Frog Bear and Wild Boar’s population may have, in heart, been a split contingent… However, R Bar’s allegiance was unquestionable… With thirty minutes remaining until face-off, every R Bar television was affixed on the Blue Jackets pre-skate…
My eyes, meanwhile, were darting between the pre-skate and the random collection of fans which assumed residence within feet of R Bar’s door… The congregating ran the gambit from those sporting random attire to those sporting random Blue Jackets attire… However, the random who required the most attention, stood within five steps of the entrance… His ensemble included a mask and sign which read “Hey, Detroit, I’ve got my mask back… Jason lives at Mason-wide Arena.” Are Blue Jackets fans that uncreative that they have to parody horrid eighties movies for their goaltender’s nickname?
I cannot answer that question until all examples are exhausted… I can restate my answer as to why Ohio State afternoons supersede any Blue Jackets contest, not withstanding that contest’s historical significance… As I entered Gordon Biersch for my final moments prior to faceoff, the inside and outside crowd resembled what you would observe at this venue on a typical late spring afternoon…
This was not a typical late spring afternoon…. This was a chance to score a season series from a team that has owned you for seven seasons… The main dining area and the bar were busy, the patio was slightly less busy, and the Red Wings-Blue Jackets contest was relegated to a side monitor, barely visible around an Ohio State banner… The Ohio State-Purdue contest remained on four of the five bar screens (and in case you are wondering, the other screen featured golf)…
As reprehensible as you may feel that treatment of a potential playoff squad was, that insult pails in comparison to the cluster of Ohio State fans, who were four of only ten fans remaining in the venue when faceoff occurred… (we will return to the insult in a moment)… From the outset, you could sense the Red Wings attitude… While a goal was disallowed thirty seconds into the contest, the scored twice more to assume, what would ultimately conclude, as a 2-0 first period advantage…
With the Red Wings ahead 2-0 and the Big Ten title tilt concluded with Purdue as victors, the previously mentioned cluster of Buckeyes fans approached the exit… They were asked if they were leaving (reasonable question right?)… They informed their questioner that they possessed tickets to the contest and would be walking the bricks to the Arena… These four possessed tickets and they blew off the start to watch what amounted to a meaningless contest for both team’s tournament aspirations… I can’t imagine why I have stated my opposition to Columbus as a professional sports city…
That reinforcement of my opposition was not tempered during the second period, as the Frog Bear and Wild Boar sat equally vacant… One table occupied… Four bored bartenders starting toward the unwatched televisions as the brackets were revealed… It’s not as if the masses not inside Nationwide Arena were missing a grand exhibition… the Red Wings concluded the second with a 3-0 edge… Still, this was a historical opportunity (wasn’t it?)…
The energy was slightly elevated at R Bar, but it could not approach the spectacle of pregame. Moments after the Red Wings scored their final goal (4-0), I glanced toward the glass, which faces onto the bricks and the scene was mystifying… Streaming across the bridge, first in pairs, then in collections, and finally en masse, were Blue Jackets fans, wearing the green hats they were afforded as a St. Patrick’s Day promotion… I cannot state this with certainty… However, I believe every one of the 19,000 hats that were handed out walked the bridge as I watched…
As I transitioned from watching the bricks walked to walking them myself, first into our three postgame locations and eventually toward Front Street, I carried one obvious thought… The bricks and the venues they surround are the Blue Jackets Lane Avenue… Can anyone imagine a fall Saturday, in-game or post game with only twenty people on Lane Avenue?
Buckeyes Drop Title Tilt, Bag Eighth Seed
10 TV: Ohio State's men's basketball team learned Sunday that it will take on No. 9 seed Siena in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Dayton on Friday. The Buckeyes (22-10) were named the No. 8 seed in the Midwest region. The game time is approximately 9:40 p.m.
Less than one hour before the pairings were announced, the Buckeyes were defeated by Purdue, 65-61, in the Big Ten Tournament's championship game. Siena (26-7) is considered a sleeper team by many college basketball experts. The Saints won the MAAC conference last week by defeating Niagara. Four of their losses came against Tennessee, Oklahoma State, Pittsburgh and Kansas.
If the Buckeyes win on Friday, they would likely collide with tournament No. 1 seed Louisville. The Cardinals will take on the winner of Tuesday's play-in game between Alabama State and Morehead State. No No. 1 seed has ever lost to a No. 16 seed in the tournament's history.
Less than one hour before the pairings were announced, the Buckeyes were defeated by Purdue, 65-61, in the Big Ten Tournament's championship game. Siena (26-7) is considered a sleeper team by many college basketball experts. The Saints won the MAAC conference last week by defeating Niagara. Four of their losses came against Tennessee, Oklahoma State, Pittsburgh and Kansas.
If the Buckeyes win on Friday, they would likely collide with tournament No. 1 seed Louisville. The Cardinals will take on the winner of Tuesday's play-in game between Alabama State and Morehead State. No No. 1 seed has ever lost to a No. 16 seed in the tournament's history.
Our Crime Count Reaches Fifty
NBC 4: Columbus police said officers had to kick in a door that a North Side residence Saturday night to gain access to a badly bleeding man and the woman they believe inflicted his wound. Columbus police were called to the scene at 10:59 p.m.
Tim Spurlock, the 42-year-old stabbing victim, died shortly afterward at Riverside Methodist Hospital. Lori Loughman, 38, was charged with Spurlock’s death. A police report regarding the incident said after officers forced their way into the apartment at 6025 Shadow Lake Circle, they found Spurlock with a stab wound to the chest.
The suspect was also there when the police made entry, according to the report. The report said the stabbing was preceded by a verbal argument. Spurlock’s death was the city’s 16th homicide for 2009. Anyone with information on the crime was encouraged to call CPD’s homicide squad at 614-645-4730.
Tim Spurlock, the 42-year-old stabbing victim, died shortly afterward at Riverside Methodist Hospital. Lori Loughman, 38, was charged with Spurlock’s death. A police report regarding the incident said after officers forced their way into the apartment at 6025 Shadow Lake Circle, they found Spurlock with a stab wound to the chest.
The suspect was also there when the police made entry, according to the report. The report said the stabbing was preceded by a verbal argument. Spurlock’s death was the city’s 16th homicide for 2009. Anyone with information on the crime was encouraged to call CPD’s homicide squad at 614-645-4730.
Quick Read
When I saw graphics and the glitzy headline on Sunday’s front page, I expected Mike Wagner’s piece about Chris Jent and Lebron’ James relationship would paint a sterling picture… Unfortunately, the piece resembles Jent’s career… A lot of sizzle, very little substance… Rita Price’s solid, slightly muddled piece on the choice between daycare and economic conditions was actually better…
Robert Vitale (metro) types an exemplary piece on a proposed city “crash tax.” Unfortunately, Ken Gordon, Rob Halter, and Shawn Mitchell waste sports with three boring pieces… Gordon’s on OSU’s inexperienced cornerback core (his lead was particularly nauseating)… Halter’s on OSU’s inside basketball presence… And Mitchell’s on MLS salaries…
Finally Steve Wartenberg’s feature on financial crisis buzz words is ridiculous… Is this what this crisis has come to? We are examining the language of the crisis, as opposed to the crisis itself?
Robert Vitale (metro) types an exemplary piece on a proposed city “crash tax.” Unfortunately, Ken Gordon, Rob Halter, and Shawn Mitchell waste sports with three boring pieces… Gordon’s on OSU’s inexperienced cornerback core (his lead was particularly nauseating)… Halter’s on OSU’s inside basketball presence… And Mitchell’s on MLS salaries…
Finally Steve Wartenberg’s feature on financial crisis buzz words is ridiculous… Is this what this crisis has come to? We are examining the language of the crisis, as opposed to the crisis itself?
Badge Benefit
As promised, a Park Street Patio major event announcement… (This will rerun twice, separately in the coming days… still, you may want to mark you calendar)…
Park Street Patio (April 2): Kirk Herbstreit, Rick Nash, and other stars will guest bartend. All proceeds benefit the Columbus Police Baseball and Get Behind the Badge.
Park Street Patio (April 2): Kirk Herbstreit, Rick Nash, and other stars will guest bartend. All proceeds benefit the Columbus Police Baseball and Get Behind the Badge.
Bold, Brash Johnson Brothers Score
Flamboyance is strikingly bold and showy…. Conspicuously dashing and colorful… Elaborately styled, florid, and ornate… Flamboyance can be apparel, cerebral, philosophical, or verbal… And depending on the attraction, remarkable or remarkably annoying…
Now, I’ve discussed several bands’ unique sound… Each of those bands pails greatly when contrasted with the Fabulous Johnson Brothers. Featuring an ensemble of seven, which includes a vocalist, two guitarists, a drummer, two saxophonists, and a trumpeter (yes, they have three horns in the band), the Fabulous Johnson Brothers possess the ability to attempt renditions and rhythms that other bands wouldn’t dare…
From “9 to 5” to “Umbrella,” the set list runs the gambit… Every song a new creative and vocal opportunity… On “9 to 5,” one of the saxophonists steps out front and rips the song with a singular, funky solo…. On their closing number, “Purple Rain,” the guitarist and the lead singer rift, the vocals making everyone recall when the anthem owned their stereos…
While the entire group was excellent, Aaron merits a solo paragraph for his stage presence, which, akin to his group’s sound, is unmatched… Preening and strutting, in a manner which would have made Freddie Mercury blush, Aaron made his persona memorable enough to own the conversation, but not so memorable that it overshadowed his band…
As I mentioned previously, I receive calls, e-mails, facebook messages, text messages, and twitter messages everyday. This band is amazing. That band is incredible. For the Fabulous Johnson Brothers, I can state with certainty that the recommendation I received was inadequate. Their reality exceeded the hype.
Now, I’ve discussed several bands’ unique sound… Each of those bands pails greatly when contrasted with the Fabulous Johnson Brothers. Featuring an ensemble of seven, which includes a vocalist, two guitarists, a drummer, two saxophonists, and a trumpeter (yes, they have three horns in the band), the Fabulous Johnson Brothers possess the ability to attempt renditions and rhythms that other bands wouldn’t dare…
From “9 to 5” to “Umbrella,” the set list runs the gambit… Every song a new creative and vocal opportunity… On “9 to 5,” one of the saxophonists steps out front and rips the song with a singular, funky solo…. On their closing number, “Purple Rain,” the guitarist and the lead singer rift, the vocals making everyone recall when the anthem owned their stereos…
While the entire group was excellent, Aaron merits a solo paragraph for his stage presence, which, akin to his group’s sound, is unmatched… Preening and strutting, in a manner which would have made Freddie Mercury blush, Aaron made his persona memorable enough to own the conversation, but not so memorable that it overshadowed his band…
As I mentioned previously, I receive calls, e-mails, facebook messages, text messages, and twitter messages everyday. This band is amazing. That band is incredible. For the Fabulous Johnson Brothers, I can state with certainty that the recommendation I received was inadequate. Their reality exceeded the hype.
Grand, Green, & Generous
On Saturday, I attended the St. Baldrick’s Charity Social. Hosted by the Columbus Young Professionals and Fado Irish Pub, the event fused philanthropic compassion with intoxicated spectacle. The alcohol was green, the attire was green, the headwear was bizarre, and according to sources, more than $3,000 was raised for cancer research.
The most unique aspect of the event was the venue’s split presentation. Inside, the people were packed, as if in the classic Irish pub. Outside, the people conversed and consumed alcohol, while standing upon a faux green carpet any sixteenth green would have applauded… Anyone reading this, holiday plans or not, should consider the addition of Fado to their crawl… One’s experience in the venue is likely unrepeatable…
The most unique aspect of the event was the venue’s split presentation. Inside, the people were packed, as if in the classic Irish pub. Outside, the people conversed and consumed alcohol, while standing upon a faux green carpet any sixteenth green would have applauded… Anyone reading this, holiday plans or not, should consider the addition of Fado to their crawl… One’s experience in the venue is likely unrepeatable…
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