WalkerEvans

From here: http://www.columbusunderground.com/rolls-cafe-relocating-to-new-downtown-location <b>Rolls Cafe Relocating to New Downtown Location</b> By Walker | October 20, 2009 <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/rolls-cafe.jpg"> Rolls Cafe just opened in the Atlas Building near the corner of High & Long Streets a little less than a year ago, but they’re already upgrading to a new Downtown location. A sign on their door indicates that they’re moving two blocks west into a retail space near the corner of Front and Elm Streets, but no target reopening date has been set just yet. The owners stated that they expected the build out of the new space to take a few months. More information can be found at www.RollsCafe.com .

From here: http://www.columbusunderground.com/rosendales-has-closed <b>Rosendale’s Closes All Three Short North Restaurants</b> By Walker | October 18, 2009 9:45pm <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/rosendales_logo.jpg"> Effective immediately, Rosendale’s has closed up all three of their Short North restaurants at 793 North High Street: Rosendales Modern Bistro, Upstairs at Rosendales and Details. A press release issued tonight cited “a significant decline in weekly sales since Chef Rosendale’s departure” as their main reason for closing the businesses. “We want to thank all of Columbus and the many patrons from across central Ohio for the last several years, and to the outstanding staff for all their hard work and dedication,” said Chef Richard Rosendale.

Actually, Bill Lhota has done a pretty bang up job of stabilizing the bus system in the last few years. I don't know if I'd say we have a "great" bus system, but it's vastly improved over what it was just five or six years ago. New routes have been added. Ridership is constantly climbing. Budget is in the black. Lhota has made a lot of small fine-tuning changes that have conservatively improved COTA as a whole.

<b>ECDI Launches Kitchen Incubator Program</b> By Walker | October 8, 2009 12:00pm <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/ecdi-kitchen.jpg"> The Economic and Community Development Institute has been helping entrepreneurs in Columbus to start up and grow their businesses for the past five years. ECDI is now currently rolling out a new program to provide a wider range of development assistance. Their new Growing Entrepreneurs Initiative is launching with a focus on food-related industries and provides assistance to folks looking to take their kitchen ideas and turn them into a full time business. We sat down with Bob Leighty and Amy Szabo recently to talk about this new “Kitchen Incubator” program and what it can mean both for entrepreneurs as well as the community as a whole. READ MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/ecdi-launches-kitchen-incubator-program

FROM HERE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/wind-power-could-be-coming-soon-to-central-ohio <b>Wind Power Could be Coming Soon to Central Ohio</b> By Walker | October 11, 2009 3:00pm <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/wind-power-in-transit.jpg"> An article in today’s Dispatch showcases a proposal called The Buckeye Wind Project that would install 70 wind turbines on 9,000 acres located 50 miles west of Columbus in Champaign County. The Ohio Power Siting Board will hold a public meeting on the project on October 28th at Triad High School in North Lewisburg to weigh the pros and cons of the proposed development. According to their website, Buckeye Wind states that each turbine could provide enough power for 600-750 homes in Ohio, while also providing new construction, operational, and maintenance jobs. Concerns raised about the project include potential environmental impacts, proximity to the Urbana municipal airport, and the visible aesthetic impact it could have on the skyline for nearby residents. Each turbine would measure 492 feet tall. The full Dispatch article can be found here: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/10/11/WINDY.ART_ART_10-11-09_B1_O3FB13E.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=101&title=Wind-turbine+project+not+exactly+a+breeze Buckeye Wind Project: http://www.buckeyewindproject.com Ohio Power Siting Board: http://www.opsb.ohio.gov

More on the Hilton from their official press release: http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=88577&p=irol-newsArticleOther&ID=1341420&highlight=

<b>Grandview Station plans finally rolling</b> By DONAVON CAMPBELL Published: Monday, October 12, 2009 After a wait of more than 10 months, developer Metropolitan Partners is ready to get to work on Grandview Station, a new development that could house up to five restaurant and retail tenants. Director of Building and Zoning John Kuss announced at the Oct. 5 meeting of Grandview Heights City Council that the development company had filed a demolition permit to tear down the former restaurant at the northeast corner of Dublin Road and Grandview Avenue. READ MORE: http://www.snponline.com/articles/2009/10/14/tri-village_news/news/tvgrandvie_20091012_0458pm_15.txt

FROM HERE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/roy-g-biv-celebrates-20-years-in-short-north <b>ROY G BIV Celebrates 20 Years in Short North</b> By Walker | October 16, 2009 1:00pm <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/roygbiv-columbus.jpg"> This month, the ROY G BIV Gallery in the Short North celebrates their 20th anniversary. The local nonprofit gallery was founded in 1989 with a mission to showcase emerging artists and increase the cultural vibrancy of the city of Columbus. The gallery will be holding a special 20th Anniversary Fundraiser event on Saturday, October 24th from 7pm to 10pm in the Smith & High Building. For more information on the event, the gallery, and the anniversary, visit roygbivgallery.com.

<b>Dreamsters Union Show Opens New OAL Gallery</b> By Walker | October 6, 2009 9:00am <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/see_you.jpg"> Last month, the Ohio Art League announced that they were packing up their Short North gallery and moving northward to a new location at the South Campus Gateway. The OAL will be hosting their opening exhibition in the new space this Thursday as local Columbus artist Joey Monsoon takes center stage with his solo “Dreamsters Union” show. Joey is no stranger to Columbus Underground, as he was recognized as 2008’s artist of the year. We caught up with Joey recently to find out what to expect of his new work in this new venue. READ MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/dreamsters-union-show-opens-new-oal-gallery

<b>Sugardaddy’s Coming to Gay & High in January</b> By Walker | October 15, 2009 10:30am <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/sugardaddies.gif"> Gay Street continues to lead the charge in the revival of Downtown retail as Sugardaddy’s announces their plans to open a new location in The Cube building at the corner of Gay and High. Sugardaddy’s Sumptuous Sweeties was founded in Columbus in 2005 and currently operates from a single retail location and kitchen facility located near the Polaris Mall. “We are all about brownies and blondies and all things brownie-related,” said Mark Ballard, Co-Founder & Co-CEO at Sugardaddy’s. “We offer 17 different flavors, and everything is made from fresh, premium ingredients.” READ MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/sugardaddys-coming-to-gay-high-in-january

From here: http://www.columbusunderground.com/mazzah-mediterranean-cafe-opening-in-grandview <b>Mazzah Mediterranean Cafe Opening in Grandview</b> By placebohigh | October 16, 2009 8:00am <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/mazzah.jpg"> Walked down Grandview Ave today and noticed a new restaurant that looked almost ready to open right next to Great Clips and across the street from Thom’s of Grandview. They had tables set up and a menu board and looked like they were putting the finishing touches on things. The sign on the window said “Mazzah Mediterranean Cafe Coming Soon”. It looks like a very small cafe/carryout type of place. I’m not sure if this is the same concept but there’s a restaurant in Boise, Idaho with almost the same name that also looks really affordable. Here’s the link to that restaurant’s Yelp. Anyone know anything else about this new place?

From here: http://www.columbusunderground.com/local-entrepreneurs-resume-chipotle-delivery <b>Local Entrepreneurs Resume Chipotle Delivery</b> By Walker | October 12, 2009 4:00pm <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/deliver-my-burrito.jpg"> Back in May, we announced the launch of a local business that would deliver piping-hot Chipotle burritos throughout Columbus. The business was shut down three days later after Chipotle asked them to cease and desist. But it looks as if a mutual agreement as been reached between the two companies, and business at DeliverMyBurrito.com is resuming effective immediately. Delivery charges range from $5 to $20 depending on your order size, and delivery time is said to be within 30 minutes. Delivery locations include Downtown, German Village, OSU Campus Area, Reynoldsburg, Dublin, Gahanna, Westerville, Worthington, and Polaris.

From here: http://www.columbusunderground.com/skillet-opens-today-in-old-banana-bean-location <b>“Skillet” Opens Today in old Banana Bean Location</b> By Walker | October 7, 2009 2:00pm <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/skillet.jpg"> The original Banana Bean location on Whittier Avenue has had their windows papered up and business closed recently, with a bit of a secretive air as to what was going on inside. Today, Angie Caskey, one of the owners of the Banana Bean Cafe, along with her son and husband are relaunching the space with the soft opening of Skillet, a new restaurant concept they’re describing as “Rustic Urban Food”. Their full menu isn’t available online yet, but they have mentioned that their soft opening includes offerings such as a Grilled Jerk Pork Burger (topped with Honeycrisp Apple Slaw and Double Smoked Cherrywood Bacon, served on a Grilled Brioche Roll) and a Black Bean Ravioli (served with Duck Confit with Roasted Corn, Poblanos, Spanish Manchego, and Smoked Paprika Cream). The location will only be open for lunch from 11am to 3pm Tue-Sun during the first two weeks before expanding for dinner and brunch starting October 20th. We’ll post up a link to the menu once it is made available.

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There has been a lot of work that has gone into the Streetcar plan, but it's been pushed to the backburner for awhile due to funding concerns, elections, city budget problems, and other political conflicts. I don't think the lack of planning or support is the problem. City leadership just need to take the next few bold steps to get things moving along. That's really all there is to it. Mass Transit is a tough issue to be a fan of. As an individual, there's not a whole lot you can do other than write about it or talk about it to show your support.

I've been inside Southwood since it reopened. Very pretty building. Looking forward to the student-run cafe in the new Downtown High School, whenever that opens. ;)

<b>Better Know A Candidate 2009: Priscilla Tyson</b> By Walker | October 9, 2009 <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/tyson-2009.jpg"> Our final interview is with Democrat Candidate Priscilla Tyson. Priscilla is currently serving on City Council and chairs the Recreation and Parks Committee and the Zoning Committee, and is running for re-election. READ MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/better-know-a-candidate-2009-priscilla-tyson

The Streetcar project was rolled into the old North Corridor Light Rail plan in January this year, and COTA was planning on applying for federal stimulus funds. The updates on the project have been pretty thin since then, so it seems to pretty officially "on the backburner" at this time. I imagine City Hall has kept silent on it all year to get the income tax increase to pass... and while Bill Lhota at COTA has been great at stabilizing the bus system, he doesn't seem like the kind of guy to be too gung ho about any major new expensive projects, bus or rail based. So while the project isn't dead, it's certainly not progressing at the moment. If I had to make an educated guess, I think we may hear more about it once funding hopefully clears for the 3C and as we start to come out of the recession and our city budget re-stabilizes. Which could mean anywhere from 6 months out to 3 years out before we hear more on local rail development.

Nice photos!

<b>Better Know A Candidate 2009: Roseann Hicks</b> By Walker | October 7, 2009 <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/hicks-2009.jpg"> Our next interview is with Republican Candidate Roseann Hicks. Roseann currently manages Yogi’s Hoagies in Westerville, serves on multiple Northside commissions and associations, and is a first time candidate running for City Council. READ MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/better-know-a-candidate-2009-roseann-hicks

<b>Better Know A Candidate 2009: Eileen Paley</b> By Walker | October 5, 2009 <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/paley-2009.jpg"> Our next interview is with Democrat Candidate Eileen Paley. Eileen currently operates her own legal practice, and is running for re-election following her City Council appointment in January. READ MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/better-know-a-candidate-2009-eileen-paley

<b>Better Know A Candidate 2009: Matt Ferris</b> By Walker | October 2, 2009 <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/matt-ferris.jpg"> Our next interview is with Republican Candidate Matt Ferris. Matt operates his own financial advisory firm in the Brewery District, lives in German Village, and is a first time candidate running for City Council. READ MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/better-know-a-candidate-2009-matt-ferris

No prob. I wasn't exactly sure where to put it. ;)

Cool, thanks! I searched for it too, but didn't see it. I usually post these on CU, but they typically only get a round of BOOS directed at Mr. Christensen for his omissions (namely, Alana's). :lol:

<b>Columbus Sprawl Slows Down and Gets Smarter</b> By Walker | September 25, 2009 8:15am <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/columbusgrowthmapseries2.jpg"> Two weeks ago, The Dispatch ran a story about the annexation and growth of the City of Columbus. The article was fairly straightforward with it’s message of advocating smart growth policies within our existing city boundaries, and abandoning the aggressive outward annexation that was pursued during the latter half of the 20th century. What the article failed to really highlight is the current policies in place that are already being used to move the city in this direction, as annexation has already greatly slowed over the past decade. We recently sat down with Greg Davies, the Deputy Chief of Staff for the City of Columbus to discuss the current growth policies and strategies. READ MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/columbus-sprawl-slows-down-and-gets-smarter