last year a friend and west-sider told me there was a carnival in the parking lot of the old Westland Mall (est. 1969). Indeed. After just missing operating hours at the W. Broad DMV one Saturday, I decided to drive a bit further thataway and have a looksie. I shit you not, I parked right next to this Westland carnival, walked into the mall…and there was an extended hours DMV (now relocated) right inside. Kismet! If you want a taste of the real-life zombie apocolypse, check it out. There are a few stores and meeting spaces still open, some walkers, security guards keeping things in check and If you need a blood sugar boost to fight off some zombies, there are vending machines at about every 50 feet. And we’re not talking your standard here…we’re talking ICE CREAM vending machines, pop vending machines, machines dedicated to chip bags only…claw machines filled with stuffed animals. The planters scattered throughout are surprisingly lush, while buckets sitting atop crumbling floor tiles, catching leaky ceiling water tell the other part of the story. This place is still breathing, but it isn’t quite alive.
I received the best gift this week! A friend brought me this too-cute-for-words stuffed sheep, made from recycled wool sweaters. I kinda want to have him by my side at all times. You can find Felted Woolies (materials thrifted and crafted right here in Columbus, O.) both at Eco Flora in Clintonville and on Etsy.
Do you Instagram? It’s so much fun! My latest guilty pleasure is following the hashtag #undercoversanta. You can find me at @modestpomp if you want to know what I think of the sculptures on the Broad St. Bridge. Pictured here (l-r): corner of Town and Gift St. in Franklinton, Pistachia Vera, White Haines Building on High St., Da Levee, O’Shaughnessy Funeral Home, Borchers in German Village, Pierce Cleaners Sign, Lustron Home near Morse Rd., Express Home Office, Bodega, Club Diversity, Vienna Ice Cafe. Whose IG feeds do you follow in town?
Durthaler Organs & Piano Sales, Est. 1922. 1967 Lockbourne Rd., Columbus, O.
Behind the bar at Three Deuces in Franklinton, Columbus, O. Bring cash, because it’s what they take. Also…you’ll want singles for the jukebox. Expect no frills, talk to a local, tip your sweet bartender and if you’re lucky, catch a glimpse of the long-time owner and his impressive full head of white hair.
132 S. 3rd Street, Columbus, O.
Hypebeast does a write-up on Jason Ross, founder of JackThreads. Photo by yours truly.
Thanks, FYO, for reblogging Ohio Photog Nick Fancher’s post on Jackthread’s CEO and how he launched a flash-sale menswear business out of his Columbus, Ohio bedroom. Swell read!
I think you’d be hard-pressed to find someone sitting around daydreaming about your fabulous life as a Designer working and living in OHIO. Yet here we are across the heart of it all (I’m pretty sure everyone has a relative or friend living in the big O), working either independently, for national or for international brands with little to no preceding cultural cred in the location department. That said, I’m excited to have The WMC Fest right in our backyard of Cleveland on June 8-10. 20+ industry professionals plus 30 bands will be speaking, exhibiting or performing over the course of those three days. Joseph Hughes of Northcoast Zeitgeist and Cleve-based ad agency Melamed Riley, has been actively promoting the event on Twitter in addition to being a great resource for career advice…I urge you to follow the good fellow!
To name a few locals, Interactive Designer Jen Myers of Girl Develop It Columbus will join the varied list of speakers like Austin Kleon, from across the United States. (we will also see work from Columbus’ These Are Things on display in the iLTHY workshop). $50 tickets are available via Kickstarter through tomorrow (5/4). Can’t go this year? Local Artist/Blogger, Allison Lehman, will be writing about the event. Check out the WMC blog periodically to read about it.
Outside Used Kids Records, 980 N High St # 3 Columbus, O.
This guy. I did a little “SQUEE!” on Twitter when I found out Michael McDonald would be playing a free show at Columbus Commons on May 24th (7pm). Conjuring replies such as “nerd”, “yah mo be there” and “he’s a polarizing artist”, you can’t deny two things: 1, the presence of a pop culture icon and 2, free show. The performance marks the grand opening of the Columbus Bicentennial Pavillion, which, in my mind joins the ranks of the “World’s Tiniest Suspension Bridge”* on Lane Avenue, as one of many local landmarks that seem to be the architectural equivalent of a fancy wool sweater run through a dryer on high. I kid, I kid…the stage is a fantastic addition to the Commons. See you there!
*I credit the farcical bridge moniker to an ex-boyfriend’s roommate.
