WalkerEvans

My Dispatch Letter to the Editor: <a href="http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/editorials/stories/2009/12/08/Evans_SAT_ART_12-08-09_A14_LMFT6SC.html?sid=101">Hike in meter rates Downtown will hurt</a> Additional thoughts here: <a href="http://www.walkerevanseffect.com/blog/parking-meters-one-step-forward-two-steps-back/">Parking Meters: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back</a>

Our latest audio podcast is with The Alive's John Ross, who is an expert on the great outdoors in Central Ohio. He talks about a variety of cold-month activities in our metro parks and beyond. The mp3 is here: http://blip.tv/file/get/ColumbusUnderground-CUPodcast34WinterOutdoorsInCentralOhio598.mp3

Here's a few new construction photos from the site. It's going up fast! <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/gy-1.jpg"> <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/gy-2.jpg"> <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/gy-3.jpg">

Summaries of the openings and closings in the Columbus dining scene in 2009: <a href="http://www.columbusunderground.com/rip-columbus-restaurants-closed-in-2009">RIP: Columbus Restaurants Closed in 2009</a> <a href="http://www.columbusunderground.com/good-eats-columbus-restaurants-opened-in-2009">Good Eats: Columbus Restaurants Opened in 2009</a>

Photo of the covered bike/scooter/motorcycle parking in the RiverSouth Parking Garage at Front/Rich: <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/bike-park.jpg">

Pretty sure that older photo is of Bollinger under construction.

<b>Plantain Cafe Opens Today on Gay Street</b> By Walker | December 1, 2009 <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/plantain-cafe.jpg"> The Plantain Cafe is the latest business to set up shop along the blossoming stretch of Gay Street Downtown as they open their doors for lunch service today. The new restaurant is located at 77 East Gay Street, and will offer traditional Cuban fare in the form of sandwiches, entrees, and sides. READ MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/plantain-cafe-opens-today-on-gay-street

<b>Yellow Brick Pizza Opens in Olde Towne East</b> By Mae | November 29, 2009 <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/yellow-brick-pizza.jpg"> Yellow Brick Pizza is now open in Olde Towne East. The pizza shop at 892 Oak Street was briefly known as Fozzie’s Pizza while it was under construction, but has undergone a name change during the process. Their menu includes a variety of fun specialty pies such as the Rhode Island Red, the Cisco, the Boise Surprise, and The Green Monster. Has anyone been to try it out yet? READ MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/yellow-brick-pizza-opens-in-olde-towne-east

<b>Maca Cafe in Powell is Closing</b> By Walker | November 29, 2009 <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/maca-cafe1.jpg"> According to their monthly email newsletter, Maca Cafe in Powell will be closing on Saturday, Decemeber 19th at 9pm. This tapas cafe was opened in 2007 by Norman and Susan Carmichael, who cited economic hardships as their main reason for closing. Fans of Maca still have three weeks to stop in for a last meal. READ MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/maca-cafe-in-powell-is-closing

<b><a href="http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2009/11/17/rest_1117.ART_ART_11-17-09_A11_HRFMRR9.html?sid=101">No knead to fear: Couple to open new place</a></b> (Dispatch) Rick & Krista Lopez (from the recently closed Trattoria LaTavola) are headed Downtown for their next restaurant venture!

<b>bonoPIZZA Reopens in New Location</b> By Walker | November 9, 2009 <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/bono-new.jpg"> The much-anticipated reopening of bonoPIZZA is finally upon us. Bill Yerkes is opening the doors to the new restaurant at 1717 Northwest Boulevard (near the corner of Northwest and Chambers) starting tonight at 5pm. The new pizza shop is located inside of a carryout store on the corner, and only seats around a dozen people at a time. Fans of the old Short North location will appreciate the intimacy, but opening crowds should be prepared for a wait to grab a seat. READ MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/bonopizza-reopens-tonight-in-new-location

Impero Coffee (Opens Today in) The Short North By Walker | November 9, 2009 <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/impero-coffee-columbus.jpg"> A teaser sign for Impero Coffee recently appeared in the window of the former Cuppy’s Coffee shop located in the Dakota Building in the Short North. They’ve also got a teaser website that includes little information aside from a date of December 5th, 2009, which is to be assumed as their target opening date. READ MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/impero-coffee-coming-soon-to-short-north

<b>Smackies BBQ Opens Food Cart in Clintonville</b> By daniel | November 8, 2009 <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/smackies.jpg"> Got the following info via email from Smackies BBQ owner James Anderson the other day: I have opened three restaurants and I have closed them all. I couldn’t seem to get my blood pressure down and closing the restaurant I think has finally got me nice and calm and I think my blood pressure is right where it needs to be. The restaurant biz will make a old man out of a young man really fast. So I have went back to my roots. ONE MAN - ONE SMOKER. I have no restaurant and no staff to babysit. Just me and my Pit, back to the basics. READ MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/smackies-bbq-opens-food-cart-in-clintonville

<b>French Wine & Artisan Cheese Shop Opening Soon</b> By Walker | November 5, 2009 <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/yusef.jpg"> When the Ohio Art League moved out of their Short North gallery location in September, it didn’t take long for the windows to get papered up and a mysterious new “Coming Soon…” sign to appear. The new store may not have a name just yet, but entrepreneur Yusef Riazi is already working around the clock at filling his new venue with character. His focus for the shop is on French wines and artisan cheeses, but will also showcase a variety of fresh local breads, cured meats, soups, sandwiches, salads, and more. READ MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/french-wine-artisan-cheese-shop-opening-soon

<b>Hania’s Old World Cuisine (Now Open at) The North Market</b> <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/archives/nm2009.jpg"> Hania’s Old World Cuisine will be the newest addition at the North Market, opening on Friday, November 13th. The new merchant is taking over the old El Paraiso spot, and will serve as a Polish and Central European kitchen and deli. Their offerings will include specialty groceries as well as prepared dishes including pierogies, kielbasa and borscht. “Hania’s Olde World Cuisine will be a welcome addition to the other authentic ethnic eateries at the North Market,” said Executive Director, David Wible. “We field regular requests for authentic Polish pierogi’s and we are delighted to have a source in individuals who have “grown up” in the North Market family!” READ MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/hanias-old-world-cuisine-coming-to-north-market

No they can't. The location is written into the constitutional amendment.

I hit the first two stops on the crawl last night (Barrio & Short North Tavern). Good times! I heard that the crew went to Surly Girl and Bier Stube after that. Several COTA folks out and about. Didn't see Lhota, but had a great time anyway. :D

FWIW, a lot of these photos are concentrated around government/office buildings during a holiday weekend.

Not necessarily. The Convention Center includes a wide range of dining options in the form of their existing food court, restaurants, and bar. The new Hilton Hotel will also include multiple restaurants and bars. If you park your car in the garage, there's really no reason to go outside at all. Unless maybe you want to get your car out and check out the fabulous offerings of Polaris or Easton.

<b>Locals Interested in Stopping the Columbus Casino</b> By Walker | November 20, 2009 <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/jon-myers-chuck-hootman-columbus.jpg"> Issue 3 passed on November 3rd, awarding Penn National Gaming the ability to install casinos in four Ohio cities including Columbus. Voters in Franklin County opposed the casino proposal 58% to 42%, and so did every other Central Ohio county. A local movement is being started by Jon Myers and Chuck Hootman to remind Central Ohioans that just because Penn National is allowed to build a casino here, it doesn’t mean that they have to. MORE HERE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/locals-interested-in-stopping-the-columbus-casino

Big conversation going on about this on CU: http://www.columbusunderground.com/parking-meter-rate-increase-to-take-effect-nov-30th And I've posted my personal thoughts on this topic here: http://www.walkerevanseffect.com/blog/parking-meters-one-step-forward-two-steps-back/ As you can tell, I'm not a fan at all. ;)

Very large and boxy. In that that second rendering it actually looks a little bit like Ibiza when looking south with the glass stacked on top of brick like that. I’m also not a big fan of the skywalk. We want our visitors to experience the city, and that means walking around outside. Also, sidewalk foot traffic = safety. The more eyeballs you have out on the street, the less likely you are to have crime. I don’t think the skywalk is a complete buzzkill for the project though, as I’m sure the added foot traffic of the 500 new hotel rooms should be putting more people on the sidewalks than there were there before. A net gain overall. Otherwise, I’m a fan of the added density to the Downtown landscape. One less parking lot, and one more building. One more step in the right direction… and a fairly large and significant step at that. This project is going to have a very significant impact, not only on Downtown, but the entire region. Big kudos to everyone involved in making this happen.

Sandwiches from Tip Top are cheap. The whole menu at Dirty Frank's is cheap. Both spots have kitchens open until 1am daily.

A few photos that I took on Nov 8th: <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/cc-new-1.jpg"> <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/cc-new-2.jpg"> <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/cc-new-3.jpg"> <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/cc-new-5.jpg">

ChiCleveKid is correct... it used to be Thurn's Bakery. Rooster's is at the corner of City Park & Whittier.