CMH_Downtown

Due Amici might not be the best option, since it's rather expensive and the portions don't seem all that large, though honestly I've never been there before. Cameron Mitchell's Martini's might be a good option. It's across from the Convention Center in front of the North Market. Good dinner menu, not incredibly expensive, and you can get a nice big bowl of pasta with a creme sauce that's gotta be loaded with calories, not to mention bread and wine (though alcohol might not be the best idea the night before a marathon). If the draw of alcohol is not an issue, the Elevator Bar downtown or Barley's across from the Convention Center might be good choices. Get the nachos for an appetizer followed by a pasta dish or other carb-loaded entree, which, since it's a bar, they specialize at. If you go early enough, there's a Vietnamese kiosk in the Short North that has a killer pad thai, loaded with noodles and peanut sauce. I think it'll cost you $6.00. On the other side of downtown in the Brewery District, there are several restaurants that could fill your carb needs. I would strongly recommend Claddagh Irish Pub. Anything Irish-themed has got to have an overloaded carb menu. Or you could overload on German Potato Salad, Pretzel Nuggets, Cream Puffs and other carb-loaded foods at Schmidt's in German Village. Basically, there's a lot to choose from in and around downtown. If you get desparate, there's a Subway on Gay St., close to Due Amici... ;-)

ColDayMan doesn't work...

I'm still only showing 3 nonstop flights a day between Cleveland and Southeast Florida on Continental: Flights: Cleveland, Ohio, USA - Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA Friday, January 12, 2007 Continental Airlines CO 1685 Hopkins Int'l (CLE), Cleveland, Ohio, USA 09:10 Fll Int'l (FLL), Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US 12:08 Non-stop / 738 2h58min Flights: Cleveland, Ohio, USA - Miami, Florida, USA Friday, January 12, 2007 Continental Airlines CO 189 Hopkins Int'l (CLE), Cleveland, Ohio, USA 11:20 Miami Int'l (MIA), Miami, Florida, USA 14:26 Non-stop / 735 3h06min Flights: Cleveland, Ohio, USA - West Palm Beach, Florida, USA Friday, January 12, 2007 Continental Airlines CO 1893 Hopkins Int'l (CLE), Cleveland, Ohio, USA 08:50 Palm Beach Intl (PBI), West Palm Beach, Florida, USA 11:43 Non-stop / 733 2h53min If you're including connecting itineraries through EWR and IAH, then I could see where you got the 11-12 figure. Also, I was incorrect about American Eagle. After checking, it looks like they just have 1 flight a day to MIA from CLE, with an ERJ-140.

Well, yeah, it does cater primarily to the leisure crowd, it's Ft. Lauderdale. And 11-12 nonstop flights to MIA/FLL/PBI from CLE? Not even during the high season. American Eagle sends two RJs a day down to MIA, and Continental does MIA/FLL/PBI each 1x daily for the month of October. During the high season, frequencies change to match peaks during the week, with FLL bumped up to 3x daily, and MIA and PBI go from RJs to 737s, though PBI has 2 frequencies on Sundays with RJs. And the benefit is explained in the articles in previous posts. AirTran has built a solid niche at CAK by providing low fares and full service from a convenient airport (both in terms of location and ease of use). The FLL service is a natural progression towards the airline's continued expansion.

I thought you meant "what, downtown?'

RECCHIE DESIGN AWARD 2 familiar names land on urban finalist list Structures in Italian Village, Downtown vying for top prize Thursday, September 28, 2006 Debbie Gebolys THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/09/28/20060928-C6-01.html Two projects Downtown and two in Italian Village will compete for the city’s highest urban-design award. Each of the four finalists for Columbus Landmarks Foundation’s James B. Recchie Design Award already has been recognized for excellence either locally or nationally. Recchie award finalists announced yesterday at a Columbus Metropolitan Club forum are: • The Loann Crane Center for Design and quadrangle, 112 Cleveland Ave., at the Columbus College of Art & Design. Winner of a 2005 honor award from Columbus chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the 51,000-square-foot building houses classrooms and student studios, a student lounge, cafe and fitness center. The green space and walkways replace a parking lot. • Berry Brothers Bolt Works, 350 E. 1 st Ave., next to Jeffrey Place in Italian Village. It has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1988.

Concerns about gangs unite Northland area Thursday, September 28, 2006 Mark Ferenchik THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Residents were concerned enough about crime and gangs in the Northland area that they lined up out the door of a meeting room at a Morse Road church to learn more last night. And after the 125 or so jammed into the room at Ascension Lutheran Church, they heard this: "If you think you don’t have gangs up here, think again," Bill Walker, Columbus assistant public safety director, told them. Many residents talked before the meeting about growing concerns about crime. Around 20 Block Watches and community groups signed up for the meeting, said Dave Paul, president of the Northland Community Council. Full story at http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/09/28/20060928-C2-01.html

SHORT NORTH RESTAURANT Mitchell’s latest: a wine bar Marcella’s to be housed in Yukon Building Thursday, September 28, 2006 Barnet D . Wolf THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH http://www.dispatch.com/business-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/09/28/20060928-E1-03.html Cameron Mitchell plans to open a restaurant in the Short North that emulates a traditional Italian wine bar. Marcella’s is expected to open in the spring in the 130-year-old Yukon Building, 601 N. High St., north of the Union Station Cap.

Sounds great. The expanded walkway will also give the convention center a more congruent feel, especially from High St.

Please, Please, PLEASE do that! That exact concept is what I've been anticipating for that area of Dublin Rd. It would be an extremely large improvement to the overall area.

It’s a natural Downtown projects taking steps to be more environmentally friendly Monday, September 25, 2006 Debbie Gebolys THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH A rooftop garden will insulate the former Lazarus department store Downtown and collect rainwater to flush the building’s toilets when it is reborn as government offices in January. Such environmentally friendly building principles were little more than wishful thinking when the Columbus Green Building Forum organized its first seminar in 2004. Now, they’re the order of the day for some of the highest-profile projects in development. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/09/25/20060925-A1-00.html

Gladly. Here's the letter I sent to the mayor's office regarding my deep concerns over the proposed start-up of Skybus: Good day Mr. Coleman: I am writing this letter in regards to the proposed low fare carrier to be based out of Columbus, known as Skybus Airlines. To be frank, I must say this could be one of the most detrimental things to happen to Columbus aviation, and I am truly worried about its possible start and the effect it could have on the city. I understand the desire to connect our city to the global aviation network, which is a wonderful goal that should be immediately pursued. However, there are far better ways to go about this endeavor. Basically, all my concerns are covered in the following analysis from the Emerging Airlines Monitor: http://emergingairlines.blogspot.com/ In short the airline's ability to: 1. Make good on their business model (how can Skybus maintain high productivity by serving short stage lengths while serving routes like Columbus-Seattle/Kansas City/San Diego?). 2. Provide customer service representative of our city (it's somewhat difficult trying to rebook your flight due to a weather cancellation when you're face to face with a kiosk). 3. Serving preferred airports from Columbus (why fly to Trenton, NJ when I want to be in New York City? The cab fare alone would make flying directly into NYC far more worth while). 4. The effect on current competition (no airline in their right mind would try to match Skybus' insanely low fares, so increased competition would be null. In fact, I could very well see airlines that have invested in Columbus, such as Delta and Southwest, simply looking for "greener pastures" now that city support has been thrown behind this start-up carrier). 5. The null effect on the business community (a Ryanair type airline that does not offer a frequent flier program, interline agreements, service into primary airports, and a one-class ultra economy seating configuration won't pander to Columbus' most important travel group, the business traveler). As a student at The Ohio State University about to complete a major in aviation management, the success of Columbus' aviation community is of extreme importance to me. I honestly cannot see this as a viable project. There are so many other ways to get Columbus' commercial airline service level up to a standard that is more fitting to our fair city. Thank you for your time. I also participate in an aviation forum, where I responded to a thread concerning Skybus: I'm sorry, but this airline will burn through that $100 million in two quarters, and will be history in the third. The people behind this fiasco claim to have all their ducks in a row when it comes to repeating the success Ryanair has seen, but given some of the fundamentals of their plan, it cannot work. From the article: Customers should expect seven daily flights starting late this year or in early 2007. At that point, Skybus will have two 150-seat planes, a number that will increase to nine in another year. Two planes, eh? Part of Ryanair's business model is extreme utilization of their aircraft fleet. So when one of Skybus' planes eventually goes on mechanical, and there isn't a spare aircraft, and they can't reaccomodate passengers on another carrier, what are they going to do? I smell lawsuit. Skybus also promises the lowest fares in the industry thanks to a no-frills approach that includes no first-class seats and online bookings only. Ummm, didn't we learn anything from Independence Air? Having online bookings as your only means of purchase only works if you have already made a name for yourself. FLYi saw terrible bookings in its first few months, and afterwards corrected their initial mistake of not selling seats through other mediums by eventually selling seats on Travelocity and other companies. Also, my guess is that (like Southeast and Pan Am III) Skybus will really appeal to those that would not be traveling by air, or traveling at all to begin with. So when Mary Lou and Bobby Joe Sixpack from Appalachian Ohio go looking for cheap airfare to see Mickey in Florida, it's probably not going to be on a computer, and they probably will not be informed enough to know Skybus even exists. “In Columbus, where we are relatively underserved, as far as airlines go, this effort to launch Skybus could be one of the most important things ever to happen.” Columbus is not underserved. There are some markets that definitely warrant additional lift, and there are other markets that could easily handle nonstop service from Columbus, but saying Columbus is underserved is definitely stretching it. And if they're hoping Skybus will bring increased competition, they're living in a dream work. No airline in their right mind (I hope) would attempt to match Skybus' low fares...low fares which I don't think they will be able to sustain. Company officials also said they haven't decided which Columbus airport they will use. Diffenderffer said it is interested in secondary terminals, like Rickenbacker, in some cities, but also likes Port Columbus. This could very well be their downfall. If the airline decided to have it's headquarters in Columbus, but maintain its base in a large city with an open terciary airport (PIE for Tampa or Ellington for Houston, for example), I could possibly see this working. But the costs associated with running flights out of Port Columbus does NOT fit the Ryanair/Skybus model. Rickenbacker is far better suited for their kind of operation, but the small terminal there could in no way handle more than a dozen or so flights a day. Also, if they were to run 15-20 aircraft to 25 destinations from Rickenbacker, you run the risk of duplicating what's offered at Port Columbus, and thereby cannibalizing your own airport. Combine all this with the fact that they want to run routes to the West Coast(which decreases aircraft utilization, thereby increasing costs), fly to Canada (which requires jumping through government hoops, thereby increasing costs), and fly to the Caribbean (possibly needing to equip aircraft with overwater capabilities, thereby increasing costs), while at the same time offering fares comparable to Ryanair, and I think we have a recipe for disaster. Here's hoping for the best, but I honestly do not see a future for Skybus Airlines.

Forward Air Completes Major Expansion of Primary Hub in Columbus Thursday September 21, 9:00 am ET Company's Largest LTL Sort Center Doubled in Size and Engineered for Future Growth GREENEVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 21, 2006--Forward Air, Inc. expanded its main sorting center at Rickenbacker Airport in Groveport, Ohio this month, creating the largest ground transportation facility solely dedicated to moving expedited LTL cargo for freight forwarders and airlines in the United States. At 125,000 square feet with 168 trailer doors, this premier facility on the near south side of Columbus can unload, sort and load upwards of 3.7 million pounds in five hours. In addition to the expansion, Forward Air process-engineered the freight sorting in the building to improve handling efficiencies. The benefits will include reductions in the distance each shipment moves in the building to speed up the transfer process, less handling of freight to further improve service integrity and flexibility to operate multiple sorts at the same time. Forward Air employs over 350 personnel in the Columbus area at these facilities. Full story at http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/060921/20060921005098.html?.v=1

There's definitely a stronger affiliation towards the Indians here in Columbus than towards the Reds. All Indians games are not only aired on the radio, but televised as well on local channels; not cable. I'd say for every Reds fan in Columbus, there's at least 3 Indians fans. As far as a suitor for the Clippers come 2008/9, I'd actually prefer it staying the Nationals, or another team outside of Ohio. While I'm sure partnering with the Indians or Red would be a more lucrative option, I don't like the idea of Columbus once again playing second fiddle to something in Cleveland or Cincinnati. Being an affiliate of either team would take away from the feeling of it being Columbus baseball, and would reduce it to quasi-Indians/Red baseball.

That was quick... Clippers to become affiliate of Nationals By Craig Merz, The Columbus Dispatch Wednesday, September 20, 2006 - 1:23 PM The board of directors of the Columbus Clippers will meet this afternoon in the Captain's Club of Cooper Stadium to approve a working agreement with the Washington Nationals baseball team. Sources said the player development contract, as it is known, is for the next two seasons, per the wishes of the Clippers. The deal includes the Nationals playing a major-league preseason game in Columbus next year. Clippers general manager Ken Schnacke has said the team wants to have options when the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds affiliation agreements with teams in Buffalo, N.Y., and Louisville, Ky., respectively, expire after the 2008 season. The Nationals will become the Clippers' third affiliate since baseball returned to Columbus in 1977. The Pittsburgh Pirates had their farm team here for two sub-.500 seasons. The Yankees signed on to start a run of three straight IL titles beginning in 1979. The Clippers won seven championships in all, the most recent in 1996. MORE: http://www.dispatch.com

The aircraft will be a 757-200. The same aircraft that currently flies between CLE and LGW. Of course, between now and when the service starts, that could change.

quote]The first thing I do when I roll into town is find the local art museums. I'm the exact same way! It seems like a visit to an art museum is a great way to take in local culture through the building, the environment in which it exists, and of course, the wonderful pieces that the city has amassed over the years. Most recently I *finally* got to visit both Cincinnati's and Dayton's museums and I must say, we are definitely blessed to have such great institutions in Ohio. I'm eagerly anticipating visiting Akron's once their gorgeous expansion is complete. Actually, the Columbus Museum of Art does have a modest modernist collection, with several Picassos and Matisse. It's the old masters that is severely lacking, like Rembrandt and El Greco. Masterpieces of that calibar are impossible for the museum to acquire now.

AMS? Definitely the next logical step, as far as I'm concerned. A Continental employee on another forum mentioned that the airline actually preferred to start CLE-AMS instead of Paris, but chose the latter at the request of local government and corporate leaders. Unless Continental decides to expedite new aircraft orders, it would probably be at least until 2010 before AMS could come online, since the airline being strapped for aircraft is apparently the reason that CDG won't start until 2008. Of course, CLE officials could also try luring KLM proper to Hopkins as well.

LOL, I was half-wondering what the reaction would be if the subject heading was in "airline-ese"... :-) TRANSLATION CO = IATA (International Air Transport Assocation) code for Continental Airlines CLE = IATA code for Cleveland Hopkins International Airport CDG = IATA code for Paris Charles De Gaulle International Airport N/S = common airline designator for a nonstop flight OCT = most airline use the first 3 letters when referring to a calendar month 06 = the year in which said service operates/will operate

The official press release: http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060915/daf015.html?.v=101 Looks like Continental made the announcement early! This is certainly excellent news for Continental, Cleveland Hopkins, and all of Northeast Ohio to have a second nonstop link to Europe. I figured the route would be seasonal, just like the current LGW flight, but if it takes off, I could definitely see CO making it year-round. I find it extremely interesting that, in addition to the announced CLE-CDG service, that CO wants to tag their proposed EWR-PVG service on to CLE. It sounds like Continental is trying to garner the support of Ohio government leaders to aid in their quest to secure the China route authority, which is currently being fought over by Continental, Northwest, and United. The thing is, I can't really see this being an actual "thru" flight, where the same aircraft operates two separate routes under the same flight number. Many airlines still have thru flights, however there is still a change of aircraft at the hub airport, which is the more likely scenario in this case. EWR-PVG would have to be flown on one of Continental's 777 aircraft. Currently Continental does not fly widebody jets into CLE. It wouldn't make sense for CO to bring in pallet loaders, LD3 containers, and train staff for just one flight to EWR. My guess is that if Continental is granted the authority to fly to Shanghai, a current flight between CLE and EWR will take on the same flight number as the new EWR-PVG flight.

I think another "problem" nowadays is the acquasition costs of pieces of art, especially big-name old masters pieces. Many pieces in the museums in Cleveland, Toledo, and Cincinnati were donated by wealthy industrialists, which Columbus did not have. Even if more "new money" citizens were to give to the organization, it would be impossible for the museum to amass a collection similar to those found in other cities in the state. I think the Walters themselves pointed out another reason why the museum doesn't see much in the way of private gifts: the fact that it even exists is relatively unknown in Columbus. I would hope that their prominance would help encourage other wealthy Central Ohioan to take a look and support what little we actually do have, and contribute in helping to improve it.

Who are the Galbreath's? I wouldn't consider Dave Thomas (Wendy's "dad") old money at all, since he was an orphan. He built his Wendy's empire through the 60s and 70s, and most of the money he donated went to the Salesians Boys & Girls Club, a nationwide nonprofit youth organization. Nationwide isn't a person. There is some old money (Wexner, Schottenstein), but it pails in comparison to the wealth seen in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Toledo, Dayton, and Akron during the roaring 20s.

That's one thing I was hoping the article would highlight; that the Columbus Museum of Art really has very little to work with as far as monetary contributions to keep adding to the collection while at the same time maintaining daily operations compared to its peers in every other major metro in the state. Columbus was never blessed with industrial patrons to the arts like Libby in Toledo and Rockefeller in Cleveland that helped set the presidence for their respective museums, which automatically puts the museum at a disadvantage. Current display space is severely lacking, as evident in putting all the old masters painting in one room hung on top of one another. The museum does host a decent modernist collection, but again is not able to capitalize on that strength as much as it could without better funding. Here's hoping the Walters' generous gift helps prop up a Columbus institution that needs some time in the limelight.

How the new stadium project will be affected is definitely a concern. Even though Steinbrenner and the Yankees had never committed any funding to the project, the fact that the MLB affiliation no longer exists could be a huge deterrent to potential investors and box seat holders, which the county hoped would partially fund the construction. The Dispatch article mentions the Mets, Orioles, and Nationals as teams without Triple-A affiliation, so if the Clippers management does secure another MLB team, it'd likely be one of those. Personally, I'd love to see the Mets. I've always been partial to them over the Yankees, despite the Clippers' affiliation with them.

Clippers, Yankees part ways Major-league club ends 28-year affiliation with Columbus The Columbus Dispatch Thursday, September 14, 2006 - 4:43 PM The New York Yankees announced today that they will not renew their deal with the Columbus Clippers baseball team, which ended with the Clippers' regular season Sept. 4. Columbus Baseball Team Inc. is set to begin negotiations with available Major League Baseball teams Saturday and has until Sept. 30 to sign with another major-league club. Major league teams currently without triple-A affiliations include the New York Mets, Washington Nationals and the Baltimore Orioles. "I can guarantee there will be baseball in Columbus next season," Clippers president Ken Schnacke said. It is believed that Yankees general manager Brian Cashman wants his triple-A team closer to New York. Scranton, Pa., approximately 120 miles west of New York City, is available since the Philadelphia Phillies allowed their contract to lapse. MORE: http://www.dispatch.com