(614) Magazine: April 2019

COVER

614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

1

90

CONTENTS COV E R SE C T ION SUBURBAN SHE HULK 90

A DECADE IN REVIEW 32

44 78

A KALEIDOSCOPE OF FITNESS 44

ALQUERIA FARMHOUSE SETS UP SHOP 56

BRINGING THE ZOO TO YOU 78

THE SPORT OF SWORDPLAY 86

614HOME: IT’S EASY BEING GREEN 108

90 16

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

O N TH E COV E R :

Addie Woost, Photo by Brian Kaiser

O P E N I N G VO L L E Y

T

en years ago this month, a platform was devised to help people with ideas reach their audiences directly. It was civically and creatively-minded. It was optimistic and arts-supporting, creating value around people and their projects. It made things happen.

Happy 10th birthday Kickstarter. You gave us Pebble Time and Exploding Kittens. And a hella potato salad hangover. (Remember that little viral joke?)

At this same time a group of about 20+ ambitious Columbus writers, photographers, and designers put together an oversized glossy of all-original, local content—a tribute to the city of Columbus and the people who live in it.

The first Opening Volley on page 10 of this fine publication was an ode to optimism itself, possibly stoked by the fact that it was written late at night, after the writer had passed a small(ish) kidney stone.

Lookit our shiny new magazine! Hold it in your hand and feel it you lucky bastards! Fuck the Internet! (We still capitalized internet back then.) You deserve a shiny new free magazine Columbus!

It’s like no one had noticed that the US government had just bailed out Bank of America, the Dow had dropped over 50 percent, Chrysler had declared bankruptcy, and the unemployment rate was reaching something close to 10 percent.

Here’s a beautiful free magazine!

Was this our consolation prize?

Yes, it surely was. Even though our very first calendar event was a “Stimulus Celebration” to revel in the newlypassed economic stimulus plan with guests Halle Berry, Dennis Kucinich, and the Crash Test Dummies partying on the Statehouse lawn, we were at least trying to celebrate something and maybe score a free giveaway. It was more productive than staying home and surfing janky websites, trying to score a job.

I think the debut of (614) Magazine at a time when it was not needed in any practical sense could not have been better timing. I was one of those weary people seeking a new identity in an upside-down economy. It was easy to curl around myself, underneath my unlaundered bed linens, focusing on my inner world. But there was a city outside of my bedroom, it made loud noises, and it was just as hungry as I was. And here was this free magazine that was going to remind me periodically that we both had a lot going for us.

We needed to believe it was all going to be okay— that there was a future to believe in, even if it no longer included City Center Mall. (Sniff.) Flipping through the pages of (614) was a bit of monthly therapy, as if a wisebut-invisible cosmopolitan guru was whispering that even if I had no ideas about how to right my own ship, there were people in this city with lots of ideas, and maybe I should start talking to some of them.

It was something. That, and cheez puffs for breakfast, got me through 2009.

About five years later, I made my own crazy pitch to the writer of that first Opening Volley. And it was taken seriously and eventually became a cover story, one of several stories I would eventually write about immigration in Columbus. No, I had not started a craft brewery or a vegan pop-up or nonprofit to combat human trafficking.

18

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

PUBLISHER Wayne T. Lewis MANAGING EDITOR Laura Dachenbach ASSISTANT EDITOR Mitch Hooper PHOTO EDITOR Brian Kaiser COPY EDITOR Dan Sponseller CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Rebecca Tien, Julian Foglietti Jamie Benjamin 614NOW EDITOR Regina Fox STAFF WRITER Mike Thomas GUEST INFLUENCER Addie Woost SENIOR CONTRIBUTORS J.R. McMillan, Kevin J. Elliott, Jeni Ruisch

PHOTO BY BRIAN KAISER

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Linda Lee Baird Olivia Miltner, Jaelani Turner-Wiliams

But I had finally made my own Columbus thing happen in the place where I first saw it all happen. In (614) Magazine. And our creative team, though changed over the years, still breaks their brain cells on a monthly basis to give you “the publication you deserve.”

This month we’re looking at strength. You’ll meet Columbus newcomer Addie Woost who’s owning her body, and you’ll be awed by the story of the World’s Strongest Woman who lives right here in Westerville.

And you’ll hear from some of our (614) friends on what Columbus is and should be doing to thrive. Columbus is strong. We not only made it through the Great Recession, but we’ve seen a population increase of 11 percent over the last decade. You, readers, are living where people want to live, right now. You are a progressive, innovative, knowledge-driven, diverse city.

Columbus, you can turn a damn $10 bowl of potato salad joke into a $55,000 fundraiser to end hunger and homelessness in your community. No matter what happens in the next ten years, no matter what challenges we face, don’t ever forget that.

David Lewis, Nathan Cotton Macon Overcast, John McLaughlin

CREATIVE DESIGNERS Jess Wallace, Sarah Moore GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Hugo Albornoz, Kalyn Schroer ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Meggin Weimerskirch SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Derek Landers, Liza Worthington ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Becky Hart, Nikki Harris MANAGER OF AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT Stephanie McFarland VP OF SALES AND MARKETING Lindsay Press

Best,

Laura Dachenbach Managing Editor (614) Magazine

(614) MAGAZINE 458 E Main St., Columbus, OH 43215 Office: (614) 488-4400 Fax: (614) 488-4402 Email submissions to: editor@614columbus.com www.614columbus.com

WELCOME TO THE INSIDER!

There are so many amazing events happening in the 614 that we needed to give them a little more room to stretch out. Not only will you get more events each month coming from the magazine staff, but a few will be recommended by your fellow readers. Have an event you want to shoutout? Send an email to events@614columbus.com.

5

Big Book Sale (4.5-4.7) COLUMBUS METROPOLITAN MAIN LIBRARY

Skip that big chain bookstore this spring. You can support Friends of the Library and get great deals on thousands of books, DVDs, CDs, and audiobooks. Prices will start at $1 for children’s books, and $2 for adult fiction and nonfiction.

12

Opera Swings Jazz (Also on 4.14) THE SOUTHERN THEATRE

What happens when the Columbus Jazz Orchestra collides with Opera Columbus?

Something you can only hear in Columbus. Don’t miss this exciting mash-up that results in a brand-new interpretation of your fave jazz standards.

20

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

4

Pippin (4.1-4.14)

SHORT NORTH STAGE

There’s still Magic to Do! Continuing its run into April, Pippin by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell) stars Amber Knicole of MojoFlo. Look for illusions and magic tricks coming from this talented troupe. A coming-of-age story about the quest to be extraordinary, Pippin is a feast for both the eyes and ears.

13

UPCOMING SHOWS! APRIL 4

OSU Football Spring Game

THE OHIO STADIUM

It’s not exactly our first look at the Buckeyes with Ryan Day at the helm, but it is our first look at the 2019 Buckeyes with Ryan Day fully in control and that’s exciting.

His work with Dwayne Haskins is a sign of a bright future for Ohio State, and landing the major transfer of Justin Fields at quarterback only heightens the hype. Enjoy your college football now because it’s a long time between now and September.

KEITH BENDER

4.13 - Reflections: 15 Years THE LINCOLN THEATRE

It’s a homecoming event for Capital Pride Band, now 15 years old. Join past and current band members and directors as they share their favorite musical memories over the past decade and a half.

APRIL 5-7

LIL REL

SPECIAL

ENGAGEMENT

APRIL 9

STEVE

HOFSTETTER

SPECIAL

ENGAGEMENT

APRIL 11 & 14

BRENT TERHUNE

APRIL 12-13

NIKKI GLASER

SPECIAL

ENGAGEMENT

APRIL 16 STEVE BURTON & BRADFORD ANDERSON

SPECIAL

ENGAGEMENT

APRIL 18-20

D.L. HUGHLEY

SPECIAL

ENGAGEMENT

APRIL 26-27

TRACY MORGAN

SPECIAL

ENGAGEMENT

ALL ACTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

VISIT US ON THE WEB www.columbusfunnybone.com TEXT FUNNYBONE TO 31279 TO JOIN THE VIP FUNNY BONE TEXT PROGRAM (msg & data rates may apply)

VISIT US ON

145 Easton Town Center Columbus, OH 43219 RESERVATIONS ARE A MUST!

614-471-(JOKE) 5653

14

Donut and Beer Party LAND-GRANT BREWING COMPANY

Beer. Donuts. Need we say more?

The Drunken Donut messes with your favorite treat by adding local craft beer to the recipe (as well as cereal, marshmallows, and Girl Scout cookies) to create a winwin in every carb category you can think of.

4.14 Lincoln Theatre 10th Anniversary Community Open House THE LINCOLN THEATRE

Celebrating the 10-year anniversary of its renovation, the Lincoln Theatre is hosting an open house with live performances from resident arts groups, a visual arts exhibition, and children’s activities. If you haven’t stepped inside this jewel of a performance space, take advantage of the free admission to check it out.

22

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

15

FIT Week (4.15-4.20) FIT614.COM

Columbus, get your FIT on April 15th-20th, join (614) Magazine, BIBIBOP Asian Grill and Strongwater Events as we experience all the FITness trends, gyms & more our city has to offer from local businesses during the 6th FIT Week! With the purchase of your $12 FIT Week pass, you will get access to tons of free FITness classes during the week at select studios and gyms, discounts on healthy eats, fashion, beauty and more.

18

The Symphonic Body/Food Performance (4.18-4.21) MERSHON AUDITORIUM STAGE

This one-of-a-kind performance is “composed” entirely of gestures and conducted by Wexner Artist Residency Award recipient Ann Carlson. Individuals from the food system will participate in this project, lending insight into the complex network of how we work together to feed and nourish each other.

20

Columbus Crew v.

Portland Timbers MAPFRE STADIUM

A Portland team coming to Columbus on 4/20? It’s like the MLS is trying to play a joke on us. Come support the hometown soccer club as they battle their way through the beginning of the season and attempt to stay in the hunt for a playoff spot.

614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

23

22

(614) Pizza and Beer Week (4.22-4.27) EAT614.COM

We’ve been working for a while on this one! It’s two of your favorite things combined for one glorious week of gluttony. Enjoy Pizza and Brews for a fraction of the cost during (614) Pizza and Beer Week presented by (614) Magazine. Be ready to choose from the best pizza joints and restaurants along with great deals on local beers from Columbus Brewing Company and more.

26

Vintage Market Days of West Columbus FRANKLIN COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS

With a touch of elegance and nostalgia, the Vintage Market Days are a chance to browse upscale and original art, jewelry, and home decor as well as delicious snacks and food. This three-day event is perfect for any boujee flea market hopper looking for unique pieces and designs.

24

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

26

Chase Rice

EXPRESS LIVE

Ready, set, let’s roll to the Chase Rice concert. His edgy sound and energetic shows attracts lovers of all different music genres. His first album debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums, and his second album did not disappoint either. Moving his way up to one of the biggest names in country music, you’re Gonna Wanna (get your tickets) Tonight.

27

2019 Ohioana Book Festival

COLUMBUS METROPOLITAN MAIN LIBRARY

In their 13th year, the Ohioana Book Festival is welcoming in more than 150 authors making for their biggest event to date. Come through and meet your favorite authors, or bring your little one for a chance to introduce them to their next favorite author. There will be books for all ages, and food trucks for the hungry.

614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

25

28

Patton Oswalt at the Ohio Theater

THE OHIO THEATER

Award-winning comedian, actor, and writer Patton Oswalt of “Parks and Recreation” brings his nerd-culture humor to Columbus. His observational-style comedy allows the audience to truly understand how Oswalt feels about life’s obscurities. If you’re thinned skinned, be prepared to have your feathers ruffled.

27

Earth Day Celebration & Community Recycling Event HILLIARD COMMUNITY CENTER

Come make green and nature-based crafts at this event, where you can also joyfully release your clutter for recycling. Electronics, gently used furniture, and building materials are welcome. Styrofoam collection, paper collection, and shredding services are also available.

5.4

Columbus Beer Run Presented by Hofbräuhaus HOFBRÄUHAUS COLUMBUS

Walk, or run if you dare, through this 2.5 mile race where every half mile you can enjoy an ice-cold beer sample from Hofbräuhaus. If they have beer every half mile, who cares about personal records? You’re already winning! Following the race, you can cap the day with a 16 oz. beer of your choice.

5.4 Derek Hough: Live! The Tour THE PALACE THEATER

Best known for his appearance as an instructor on Dancing With the Stars (and as Julianne Hough’s equally talented older brother), Derek Hough is bringing his live show to Columbus. If you’re a fan of seeing him dance on television, now is your chance to see him do it live. With choreography created by the duo who has worked for Jennifer Lopez and Michael Jackson, the show is sure to be a hit.

26

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

M

er

uest Influe G t nc e e

Addie Woost P H OTO BY B R I A N KAI SER

A

n aspiring singer-songwriter, 23-yearold Addie Woost grad-uated from highschool in New London before attending Heidelberg University and graduating from Columbia College Chicago before joining the team at WNCI 97.9 as a social media and on-air talent.

Now working where she can surround herself with music every day, Addie has also thrown herself into the world of Columbus fitness as a secondary passion, recently competing at the Arnold Sports Fest and teaching a class at Anytime Fitness when she’s not working out herself. Welcome to Central Ohio Addie!

What’s your take on Columbus?

I absolutely love Columbus. My family used to come here for shows and just to try new restaurants and stuff all the time. And I always knew I wanted to live here eventually. So Columbus has always had a soft spot in my heart.

What does a positive body image mean to you?

To me it’s just being comfortable in your own skin.

For me, in high school I was constantly made fun of for being kind of “twiggish,” not really having many curves. So I wanted to build my curves and my confidence through training and basically just building my muscle.

If your body could talk, what would it say?

“Slow down and let me nap for a day!” But I’m totally ok with that because I’d rather have things constantly moving in life than for it to be dull and routine.

Fitness-wise, what do we need to give ourselves permission to do?

I think we need to tell ourselves that we’re stronger than we think we are because when I put myself out there I realized just how much I could do….

I think we need to stop telling ourselves that we can’t and start telling ourselves that we can.

28

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

Do you have any daily routines?

I go to the gym every single day. I’m usually there for an hour and a half to two hours. I have a whole training rotation that I do—starts with chest day, then back and thighs, and then leg day. And sometimes I’ll take a day for just abs and cardio. That’s kind of like my light day.

But I also take collagen and protein every day which really helps me with recovery.

How do you think that social media has changed the world of fitness?

Social media has made fitness explode. It’s kind of trending to take a video of yourself working out and post it. It has a negative effect [in which] somebody’s doing something with improper form and it might teach somebody the wrong way. But regardless, it’s giving more people the tools to they need to work out more effectively, and that’s I think why it’s really helped people and motivated people to see “Oh my gosh. Everyone’s doing this. I need to get to the gym.”

What should someone do with 15 minutes of self care?

I use 15 minutes at least every day to kind of positively meditate or pray…. I like to just clear my mind of negative thoughts or any anxieties.

I actually do have performance anxiety when I’m singing or when I’m competing. I do tend to freeze up sometimes because I’m not naturally super-outgoing even though I try to put myself in leadership positions. So I just clear my mind.

I feed myself positive thoughts and positive energy for the day.

Boom. You’re 50 now. What do you tell yourself?

Good job. You still have a six-pack. That’s what I hope anyway.

Follow Addie on Instagram at @addiewoost.

10

INSIDE the PARENTHESES

BY MI TC H H O O P E R

TO P :

1

MICROBREWING IN THE BUS

In 2009, we were excited about Yuengling Lager coming to the city. Now in 2019, we have more than 40 breweries such as Wolf’s Ridge Brewing Company, Seventh Son Brewing Company, and LandGrant Brewing Company. These breweries are just as much a spot to grab a drink as they are a way to support the community with their work with nonprofits and charities.

2

CMOA EXPANSION

The Columbus Museum of Art is an 88 year-old institution, and in 2015, it was given a large-scale addition to provide for more space. The 22,000 square-foot Walter Wing not only allows for bigger art installations, but ample space for anyone browsing their way through all the exhibits.

3

RETHINKING FAST FOOD

Columbus has always been a fast food creator. (we’re looking at you, Dave Thomas) Now the Cbus is defining fast casual food. We’ve seen Brassica, Sweet Carrot, Piada Italian Street Food, and Bibibop all open their doors right here in the heart of Ohio.

30

THE 10 MOST NOTEWORTHY EVENTS OF THE LAST DECADE In our 10 years of (614) existence, we’ve seen plenty of highlights, lowlights, and everything in between in the last decade of Columbus and we’re bringing you the top 10 trends and occurrences we’ve noticed. This isn’t the definitive list of Columbus trends—t’s us looking at the city through the lens of being the user’s guide to the city. But you’re important too.

If you think we’ve missed something major, drop us a line at 614now.com.

4

MORE WAYS TO MOVE

Cabs and busses aren’t the only way to get around the city now as ride sharing apps like Uber and Lyft have ushered in a new generation of transportation. They’ve changed getting to places, as well as getting food delivered to your door with services like UberEats and PostMates. And if you’re looking for short-distance transportation on the cheap, snag one of the seemingly million electric scooters from Bird and Lime on a sidewalk.

5

THE COLUMBUS QUEEN: NINA WEST!

Nina West was celebrated in a big way in our five-year anniversary issue, and of course she’s still accomplishing big things. She put Columbus drag on the map by winning the 2008 Entertainer Of The Year Award, and she’s now on VH1’s RuPaul Drag Race Season 11.

6

SOUPED UP SUBURBS

Suburbs like Dublin are providing downtown experiences with concepts like Bridge Park where options like Condado and PINS Mechanical are all accessible without having to travel downtown. Other spots like New Albany are following suit with their Village Center which will offer five different districts like the Market District as well as available housing options.

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

7

OSU FOOTBALL: CHAMPIONSHIPS AND CONTROVERSY

The last 10 years of Ohio State football brought Columbus four Big Ten Championship titles as well as the first ever Undisputed National Champions title in 2014. Through all the success, there was some controversy as the university and Urban Meyer found themselves amid complicated allegations of domestic abuse from Courtney Smith, ex-wife of former wide receiver coach, Zach Smith. The end of the 2018 campaign resulted in Urban Meyer stepping down due to medical issues and Ryan Day is now at the helm of it all for the Buckeyes.

8

THE SCIOTO MILE

The river went from being a rain drain to a research corridor for OSU, as well as the backdrop for many of our days and nights downtown for events like NightLight 614, or the Food Truck Festival. The expansions didn’t just stop with the river, either.

The Scioto Audubon transformed a former industrial area into a wetlands oasis and park, complete with bird habitats and a 120-foot rock wall for climbing.

The preservation and growth of this area has served to thrust Columbus into a greener future.

9

A FEMININE FUTURE

Jeni Britton Bauer took the country by storm with Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream; Jen Burton, co-owner of Seventh Son (see trend No. 1) and Antiques on High, has made a name for herself in the microbrewing industry; and Angela Petro, founder of Sweet Carrot (see trend No. 3), has found success with three restaurants opening in six years. We’ve also seen a rise of women in politics as the Matriots PAC set a goal of equal representation in Ohio’s elected offices. All of this being said, we’d need an entire magazine to mention all the wonderful women accomplishing and influencing this city.

10

THE COST OF LIVING

The doubleedged sword of real estate and the cost of living. On one hand, selling property in Columbus has never been better, but on the other, the high price of real estate and location has impacted families and business to move out of an area or close down shop.

If you stacked

THE LEVEQUE TOWER

13.5 X

it would equal the stack height of all of the magazines we’ve printed.

You could span our magazine

22,500 X across the

HORSESHOE FIELD. = 1,000

The weight of all our magzines through the last decade equals roughly

11,084 ARNOLD

SCHWARZENEGGERS. = 1,000

614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

31

A Decade In Review Columbus community members talk past, present, and future of the city

BY L AU R A DAC HEN BAC H A ND MI TC H H O O P E R | I L LU STR ATI O N S BY SA R A H M O O RE

S

ince we first printed our magazine in 2009, we’ve seen tastemakers, influencers, and entrepreneurs grow, cultivate, and impact the city in ways we never saw coming. To celebrate where we came from, where we are, and where we are going, (614) caught up with some of the friends we’ve made over the years to give us their take on life in the Cbus over the last decade.

Steven Anderson:

How would you describe the Columbus arts scene in 2009 compared to now?

What do you think is our city’s identity?

How do you see the arts speaking to that?

In 2009 the arts and culture sector was struggling in the aftermath of the recession.

This was about the time the Columbus Cultural Leadership Consortium formalized itself from a loosely-organized occasional social gathering called the Merlot Club to a collective of the largest arts organizations. Each company was attempting to reinvent itself to be relevant in the 21st century. The decade that followed was fraught with the loss of a disproportionate number of arts leaders. Bill Conner, Denny Griffith, John Kuhn, Stev Guyer, and Cheri Mitchell to name a few. Nonetheless, out of that adversity of financial and artistic resources, we have experienced a deep surge of creative pursuit that can be traced through world premiere opera and theatre productions, world-class art exhibitions, and exports of our vision in dance and movement.

I moved to Columbus in 1976. I had no intention of staying. What kept me here are the very qualities that are drawing large numbers of people of all ages to settle here. Innovation.

Access. Collaboration. Impact. Creativity.

Warmth. The Columbus arts scene both reflects those attributes and was an integral part of growing them.

PRODUCING DIRECTOR, CATCO

Biggest fashion trend in the last ten years?

I can’t quite narrow down what the biggest fashion trend was in the last 10 years, but I will say that in the last few years we saw all types of fashion come together on the runways without restriction.

Everything you can imagine was reflected on on the runways across the globe. This opened up so much more creative freedom for designers and design houses.

What didn’t we see coming over the last decade?

Men’s skinny jeans, (we went from bootcut to skinny jeans within one season!) and men’s crop tops, which really received a lot of spotlight from Buckeye Ezekiel Elliott, now a Dallas Cowboy. A local suit designer, Ethan Weisman, Pantheon Custom Clothiers, designed him a formal suit with a crop top button up.

What do you wish Columbus had?

The city would benefit from more comprehensive mass transit. If we want to reflect the attributes mentioned before we need to have a means of moving people from place to place with speed and ease. The CBus, which is a free bus that runs up High Street from German Village to the Short North, is a start.

The notion of supporting free buses that has been advocated by Bob Weiler would be a great way to grow our transit system. We have to get fewer cars on the streets and fewer parking lots downtown. It will come. Innovation is in Columbus’s DNA.

How would you describe our city’s identity? Why do we have trouble embracing it?

This has been an ongoing challenge for our amazing capital city. We’re so much of everything that it’s difficult to focus on exactly what makes Columbus unique. Columbus is definitely a city of opportunity, with national rankings of third in the nation for fashion designers, first for Tech StartUps, top 10 for entrepreneurs, top smartest US city, top 7 smartest cities in the world, top 20 fashion design school (CCAD), and so on. In my view, we have all the right ingredients to fully bring fashion to the forefront of Columbus’ identity. And there are people and organizations working to make that happen...the Columbus Fashion Council is one of them.

Tommy McClure:

FOUNDER/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT FASHION WEEK COLUMBUS

Catie Randazzo:

CHEF AND RESTAURATEUR, AMBROSE & EVE, PRESTON’S BURGER JOINT How would you describe the identity of our city? Why is it so hard for people to embrace it?

I don’t think it’s hard to embrace this city. I don’t know another city or state that people are so proud to be from. We generally embrace and love our city. I think what is hard for people to embrace is the change that is coming. Our city is growing like never before, and a lot of people don’t like change. We have a lot of transplants coming in from larger cities like LA, New York, and Chicago. A lot of those transplants come because of places like Battelle, CoverMyMeds, or Nationwide. But some come because there is a lot of room for entrepreneurship, and that can bring a lot to Columbus. We are in the midst of a cultural shift, and I couldn’t be more excited to see what this brings and how it all comes together. I think Columbus is on the verge of being recognized as a competitor with larger cities in the Midwest for food, music, fashion, technology and education. We just can’t accept “Oh it’s good for Columbus” anymore. We have to be good for anywhere. So what is the identity of our city? I don’t think we have one yet. It’s still brewing.

Where’s the Columbus conversation going?

The pulse of Columbus is with the fashion industry and community. The conversation will be how do we capitalize on this and build this into the city’s identity. We have all the right ingredients, and it will happen sooner than later. • 614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

33

Where is the conversation going for the next decade?

I see us discovering ingredients that are not very common, however very healthy for you.

Substitutes for sugar are going to be big— alternative proteins, more plant-based stuff and exotic spices. While discovering these things I think ethnic food is going to see a huge growth.

Sustainability is also going to get bigger. We are constantly challenging ourselves here on how to incorporate these things in to our operation.

What do we do better as a city than anyone else?

Dominique Larue: RAPPER/HIP HOP ARTIST

How would you describe the Columbus music scene in 2009 compared to now?

definitely a lot of new faces and people who were around then who aren’t around now. social media changed the dynamic of how we promote and there are a lot more platforms that are accepting of hip hop. the venue game is relatively the same, some places are still apprehensive with booking hip hop shows but the diy spaces and galleries have emerged that i love.

How would you describe our city’s identity?

still to be found in my opinion. it depends on what lens you’re looking at it through. columbus promotes diversity but only on paper honestly. it’s still a segregated city. there are a mixture of feels and you could find something to get into if you search hard enough but it’s still the forgotten city of ohio.

Why do we have trouble embracing it?

because we have our sights set on bigger things. columbus can be unfulfilling but again you have to search for it or be aware. get involved. there are a lot of opportunities here, even things that i was shocked by.

I am very impressed how Columbus is supporting the local things. OSU of course but seeing Starbucks not surviving in Short North while local coffee roasters flourish is pretty impressive; that says a lot.

How has social media impacted your industry?

I personally am a huge believer in social media and we take it very seriously here at AC Dublin and VASO.… Just like anything else, you have to put the work in to fully utilize the power of social media. I cannot emphasize enough how much money you can generate from social media if it’s used right! How it impacted my business? We booked over 500 Igloo [dining] reservations in one week with the push from social media. If this doesn’t convince you then please close your accounts...

locations. I think that’s really pushed the envelope of the quality of food that we’re seeing hit town.

What’s one thing that Columbus does better than any other city?

The thing I’m most excited about is it seems finally the dialogue is inclusive of a lot of groups of people in our community that have, at times, been more marginalized. Whether it’s men and women living in lower income communities experiencing volatility, or if it’s our reentry population that’s coming back to Columbus post-incarceration. It seems the dialogue is truly broad enough to raise our ships and invest in our components of our community.

Where is the conversation going for the next decade?

I think consumers are just excited to engage with brands and have experiences that are differentiated, especially if they are going out to eat rather than eating from the comfort of their living room.… You see a lot of large chain-oriented brands trying to do things more “entrepreneurial.” [They are trying to] activate social media in a different way, and it is trying to tap into consumer preferences right now...

And contrived authenticity doesn’t really work.

If brands aren’t creating these opportunities authentically, they are going to suffer.

Do you have a wishlist for the city?

A more diverse night scene is much needed in the city, I think that so many of us in my age group are looking for experience driven in places away from the college atmosphere. I think with what’s in the pipeline I can see it happening soon!

Cris Dehlavi:

HEAD BARTENDER, M RESTAURANT AND BAR

Joe DeLoss:

HOT CHICKEN TAKEOVER, FOUNDER Biggest food trend in the last ten years?

Orcun Turkay:

GENERAL MANAGER, AC HOTEL COLUMBUS DUBLIN

34

We’re a benefactor of this too, but I think entrepreneurial and chef doing pop ups with opportunities to get food in front of people without having to invest into brick-and-mortar

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

What didn’t we see coming over the last decade?

I actually always saw it coming [laughs]. I always knew we were capable. When I moved here 16 years ago, there were no craft cocktail bars at all—no craft cocktail scene whatsoever.

There were a few of us that started driving that with the United States Bartenders Guild. I was

with a very small group of people probably about 10 years ago and that was for the entire state. Now, we have three chapters and around 60 to 70 members per chapter.

Because of that, we are able to get big brands to come in and educate us.... When we first started this 10 years ago, we couldn’t get big brands to come here because only two or three people would show up to a seminar. Now, the big brands are coming and big-name people are coming because they know we want it, we use it, and we continue to educate, learn, and get better.

What is Columbus’s identity is when it comes to mixology?

We are always emerging. There are places in Columbus that you can go where you can get just as good of cocktail in Chicago, or New York, or elsewhere. I do a lot of traveling and I was just in Puerto Rico and I bartended at one of the top 50 bars in the world. We are doing stuff as cool as they are, and that’s awesome because we used to be behind. People thought of Columbus as a couple years behind and that’s not the case anymore.

When I go to these places and see what they are doing, I see we’re not behind at all—we’re driving it, too.

Do you mean coming up with new cocktails or honing in on quality?

Both. There’s always new techniques, and new ingredients and spirits, but it’s tough for us since we are a control state. We don’t have all the spirits like these other places have. We’ve had to learn to work with what we get, but like I said about these top 50 bars, I’ve been to about six of them in the last two years and we’re doing the same things they’re doing now.…

And for me, the wish is always hospitality and making sure that everybody in the bar industry (or restaurant) always remembers that [hospitality] is the most important part. I’ve been to bars all around the world where bartenders don’t talk to you or smile, and I think we do a really good job of that here. It’s that small-town feel in a big city. • Responses were shortened, but not altered, for spacing concerns.

614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

35

maker’s space

ONE SIX FIVE JEWELRY

BY JA EL A N I T UR N E R -W I L L I A M S | P H OTOS BY B R I A N KA I S E R

I

n Clintonville, there’s a tiny pink shop that boasts a minimal lashed-eye logo and quirky adornments for everyday wear.

The shop is One Six Five, owned by Kaleigh Shrigley and Claire Lowe, a budding pair who bonded after working at a boutique in the Short North during their time in college.

Blending their studies of jewelry and textiles, One Six Five was named after the home address of Kaleigh’s mother, not straying too far from her childhood origins.

Adding exclusivity to each piece, a one-of-a-kind emphasis on crafts that are rare to find, Shrigley and Lowe still have the ability to adjust jewelry for their uniquely-luxe clientele. On

36

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

their Instagram for fans of “offbeat classics” (or anyone who happens to stumble on their page), viewers can scroll through intricately clever posts, from the duo’s spur-of-the-moment travels, to promotional spots featuring their newest, charming statement pieces.

With a keen eye for shape, Shrigley and Lowe experiment with innovative jewelry that keeps their followers returning to refine their own personal collections. Now in their fifth year of creating tiny wonders, Shrigley and Lowe speak with (614) about their humble beginnings and how being a Columbusbased business has taken One Six Five far and wide. •

614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

37

38

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

(614): Is this your primary gig, side gig or hobby? How did it come to be?

CL: One Six Five is our primary hustle. When we started the business in 2014, we worked out of Kaleigh’s attic and we both had other part-time jobs. Over the past five years, we have opened a shop-slash-studio and work here full time.

What was the leap in your work from “this thing I do” versus “the thing to do”? How do you promote your work?

CL: Opening the shop on High Street definitely took us to the next level. Having a physical presence in Columbus allows the exposure of our jewelry to a wider audience. The outside of our shop is painted pink, which often brings people through the door wondering about our business. Instagram is also huge for us in promoting our jewelry to people around the world. The majority of our online sales come from Instagram. Participating in markets in Ohio and elsewhere helps expose our work to more people. We love being able to meet our customers in person. There are a lot of jewelry makers out there, so we really appreciate when someone loves our work!

What ingredients come together to make Columbus fertile ground for makers, designers, and creatives?

Columbus loves to support local. The creative community is also very supportive of each other. One of our favorite events is the Columbus Flea, which gives makers the chance to sell their products to a huge amount of shoppers. We love having the opportunity to sell our jewelry there, as well as being able to see the work of other designers. For now, Columbus also has reasonably priced retail spaces, which is not always the case in other cities.

What’s your six word creative story?

KS: Offbeat classic jewelry handmade in Columbus.

Your products exude a zaniness that crafters often shy away from. Do you have a certain audience that you want to appeal to?

KS: We always create jewelry that we personally would love to wear. I think the line is an extension of our personal styles. We love using jewelry as a form of creative expression and seem to have found a customer base of many like-minded gals. Our brand also offers plenty of more understated styles. We strive to create a complete jewelry collection filled with hard-working pieces that can be worn wherever life takes you.

How do you feel that the city’s atmosphere has transformed your work?

KS: The entrepreneurial spirit in Columbus definitely inspires us to take risks. We have had the opportunity to collaborate with several other makers and it’s always so much fun! •

Find your next treasure at onesixfivejewelry.com.

614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

39

Gallery Space

Albert Gray

BY J OHN M C L AU G H L I N | P H OTOS BY B R I A N KA I S E R

T

he first time I saw a painting by Albert Gray, I was mesmerized, and I didn’t know why.

Named Another Day in Paradise, the sparse piece depicts a suburban backyard at night with four chairs arranged in a loose circle. There are no people present, and nothing else in frame, except a rough sidewalk and wooden fence. But in spite of its sparseness, or more likely because of it, something about the painting seemed to whisper back. It seemed like a strange new world quietly opened before my eyes.

This scene is typical of the Columbus artist’s work, which depicts the still and often overlooked scenes we see daily and don’t consider worthwhile: oddly-angled suburban homes, softly distorted Midwestern landscapes, or a pair of porch-dwelling pumpkins cropped just a bit too closely.

And the country is taking note. Gray, a Connecticut native who received a bachelors in printmaking from Montserrat College in 2009 and relocated from New York City to Columbus in 2013, has been shown widely in the Columbus area, including a solo exhibition last year at No Place Gallery. Interest in the painter has also included recent shows throughout the US, from Massachusetts to Los Angeles.

(614) sat down with Gray to ask the up-and-coming artist about his work, process, and success.

40

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

(614): W hy does so much of your painting focus on these very small and ordinary scenes, like single houses, parked cars, or the contents of a bathroom countertop?

AG: I think for a while when I was coming out of school, I was still

working in this mode of high density. I was doing a lot of layering, and taking a lot of images and building up these sort of nebulous, cloudy compositions, and I didn’t really place much importance on how it made me feel. In relation to my studio practice, I had this concept I was going for and I needed to finish it each time. I did that for a few years, and it wasn’t until I moved to New York that I was suddenly much more densely-populated—so much movement and so many things happening at once, that I started to scale back a little bit to kind of give myself room to breathe. It was like an unconscious reaction to that. I was sourcing material from photographs I was taking and magazines I would find, but the work started to pare down a lot. It became just about a few things interacting on the canvas. I didn’t have a phone for years either, and around then I got my first official smartphone [laughs], and so I had a camera on me all the time. And I just started looking at these photos as something to include in a composition, but then I started to realize I liked what was happening with them by themselves. When I got here to Ohio and I had more space to work with, I was actually looking at the photos more. I would start to kind of crop things out in a certain way. It became more about what was there already, and me trying to listen to that a little more. •

Visit albertegray.com for more artwork or follow him on IG @albertegray 614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

41

“There’s something that’s a little bit offputting about them and you have to do a double-take. It reflects how I see these situations in the world, I often have to do a double-take. It’s the inbetween moments.”

You seem to gravitate toward small-town Americana. Is that intentional?

I am from a small town originally. Where I grew up, there were probably about like 3,000 to 5,000 people. And so when we moved to Ohio, with some of the photos I took, I think I was unconsciously doing something that was familiar. And there was also something that I appreciate about certain images that maintain something ubiquitous, they seem so commonplace and they seem like such a shared experience, and they’re also kind of vague. I think it’s actually kind of a way to hide my own personality or my experiences, because it’s a way to let anyone in.

What do you want or expect people to take from these paintings, if anything specific at all?

To an extent I like to leave things open so viewers can experience whatever they will, but when I’m making something I don’t like to put an unmovable idea first and then make a painting based off that. So much of my work comes in the process of making it. As far as the subject matter goes, what the paintings end up being, I think of it as a kind of odd but tranquil moment. The subject is always the jumping off point and I sometimes find a way to cycle back around to it.

There’s something that’s a little bit off-putting about them and you have to do a double-take. It reflects how I see these situations in the world, I often have to do a double-take. It’s the in-between moments. The way we live our lives, it’s like I have to go do this thing, or I have to go do this other thing. And what interests me is what happens in between.

Can you name a piece or series you’ve done recently that you think is particularly successful?

I have this group I’ve been working on, these dusky ones here that depict houses right before dark. I really like them; they’re playing with color and luminosity a bit more, and I just love what’s going on in the source photos. They’re not always full on just night scenes; it’s always late in the day. It’s winter, you go outside and there are these really quiet moments where everyone is in their houses and you see these glowing little units everywhere in this cold, muted, darker environment.They’re in this kind of in-between space where it’s dark but not fully night.

I think that’s pretty on point, it is kind of like the in-between or something.

I’m always looking for something vague, something in the middle. • 42

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

43

ARNOLD SPORTS FESTIVAL OFFERS EVERYTHING A FITNESS FAN COULD WANT, EXCEPT THE TIME TO SEE IT ALL

44

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

STO RY A N D P H OTOS

BY B R I A N KA I S E R

Few events in Columbus com-pare with the pure spectacle of the Arnold Sports Festival.

The annual kaleidoscope of fitness bursts forth from the convention center like a bulging bicep as thousands upon thousands of athletes, spectators, and enthusiasts make the pilgrimage to this Mecca of muscles. Over 22,000 athletes compete in 80 sports, from the mainstays such as bodybuilding and weightlifting, to the quirkier, such as pole dancing and body painting.

Presiding over it all like the Messiah of Might is The Arnold himself. •

614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

45

The Arnold experience is different for everyone, a kind of choose-your-own athletic adventure. You can push your way past the hordes of meaty men for a chance to see the strongman competition, or bypass the crowds for one of the lesser-known but no-less entertaining events. You can stock up on free nutrition samples at the expo or watch folks attempt to complete the ninja warrior course. Whatever flavor of fitness you choose, you’re sure to be entertained, and you’ll likely find yourself in awe.

46

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

For me, the most difficult part of the Arnold is choosing what events I will not be able to see because of unfortunately-overlapping schedule times. Whenever I find myself regretting that I missed something at The Arnold, it helps to recall the words of a wise cyborg from the not-so-distant future, because when it comes to The Arnold Sports Festival, I know for certain,“I’ll be back.” •

614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

47

PH OTOS PROVIDED BY C A PA

48

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

Make a Right

P HOTOS BY JEREM Y DA N I EL

Falling apart each night is a formula for success in The Play That Goes Wrong

BY L AUR A DAC HEN BAC H

Sadists, I think. We must be a bunch of sadists.

After watching a preview clip of The Play That Goes Wrong, a play-within-a play where the members of the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society desperately need to reach the finish line of their 1920’s British murder mystery The Murder at Haversham Manor, I have to wonder why we think watching characters haplessly break down (and even be knocked unconscious) on stage is funny.

I’m voting for schadenfreude. But Peyton Crim has different idea.

“I think the audience is able to empathize,” suggests Crim, who plays Robert Grove (who in turn plays Thomas Colleymoore). “We see ourselves up on the stage […] and most people think, ‘If I was in that situation that’s probably what would happen to me.’ And our characters are so hopelessly under water the whole show. It’s something that everyone in the audience can relate to.”

And perhaps that universality is exactly what The Play That Goes Wrong gets right—a show that is completely understandable and instantly accessible.

If you’ve ever thought of your life as an exercise in treading water or as an ever-unfolding example of Murphy’s Law, take a seat and watch. What you’ll see will be all too-familiar as the show begins and doors start sticking, lines are forgotten, fingers are stepped on, words are mispronounced, and objects fall from the walls.

And that’s just the beginning.

“As [the jokes] start revealing themselves, the audience gets more and more invested in seeing how [the characters] are going to make it work because by the end of the show it’s so incredibly dire,” Crim explains. “And for the characters onstage, it’s tragic—this thing that they care so much about is just not going to happen like they want it to.”• 614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

49

50

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

But dedication and the ability to persevere through adversity are also endearing qualities, so maybe we the audience do grow to admire these amateur actors who stoically muddle their way through a show that’s been equally described as smart and as a show where you don’ t have to think too hard.

“The jokes themselves are smart, but it’s all slapstick,” said Crim. “They’re just well-constructed and they’ve been workshopped within an inch of their life. [They’re] very ingenious and well done.”

“There have been several times where I thought, ‘I’m gonna die on stage and people are gonna think it’s part of the show.”

The Play That Goes Wrong opened in London’s West End in 2012 and won a Best New Comedy award at the 2015 Laurence Olivier Awards. It took late-night talk shows by storm as it moved to Broadway in 2017 with J.J. Abrams (the Star Wars director) making his debut as a Broadway show producer.

Nonmusical shows without big leading names are not expected to become commercial hits and are normally given a limited run. But the producers believed the show simply needed time to generate buzz and to build a critical mass of patrons and insisted on an open-ended run. They were right.

The Play That Goes Wrong continues to be an ongoing Broadway hit and has now rightly earned the title of the longest-running play currently on Broadway. Again defying the odds for a nonmusical, the play has gone on national tour, showcasing its cheeky, self-deprecating, British-lampooning, Fawlty Towers-esque style of humor that seems to have a broader reach than even theater data crunchers had anticipated.

“It’s just such a pure comedy that works for every demographic and audience member,” said Crim. “Even if English is not your first language, you can watch it and enjoy it. People are just loving it. It’s a slapstick comedy that’s able to sustain two hours of laughter in a 3,000-seat house, which I’ve never seen.”

The physical comedy is part of the show’s ability to transcend language barriers. (Who doesn’t laugh at a pratfall?)

But it’s also a source of ongoing stress for the performers as they dodge setpieces which begin to fall apart around them. (The set earned a Tony award for Best Scenic Design.)

“There have been several times where I thought, ‘I’m gonna die on stage and people are gonna think it’s part of the show,’ and that’s how I’m gonna go,” said Crim.

Admist the chaos, the performers remain (mostly) in control, despite the fact that their characters feel anything but.

“That is kind of the magic of our show—that we make it seem as spontaneous as possible, while it is also very, very, very choreographed,” said Crim.

Does anything ever go wrong that isn’t supposed to go wrong?

“Stuff goes wrong every single show,” says Crim. “But luckily we have that safety net that no one ever figures that out. They just assume it’s part of the show.”

The Play That Goes Wrong comes to the Palace Theater April 9th-14th. See capa.com/events for more information.

614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

51

Singing A Different Tune Jason Alexander brings Broadwayinspired show to Ohio Theater

BY MIKE THOMAS

I

f you’re expecting a stand-up comedy routine from a frumpily-dressed Jason Alexander, full of jokes about soup and shrinkage and Festivus, move on.

Alexander’s still getting laughs. But, they’re a different kind as he returns to his roots as a Broadway show performer, taking his singing, dancing, piano-playing, storytelling routine across the country with a pops-style show that will arrive in Columbus this month. Alexander will join the Columbus Symphony Orchestra to tell the story of his life on the screen and stage.

(614) recently had the delightful opportunity to speak with the Tony Award-winning actor about the show, his love of poker, and the influence of George Costanza on our culture in 2019.

the country. I know most people may not immediately think of me as a singer if they know me from my roles on television, but it is a more-or-less autobiographical journey through my love affair with music from the Broadway stage. Some of it is things that I’ve performed on Broadway, some of it is not. A lot of it is very funny. A lot of it is just great music. It’s a slightly different show in that, although there’s a symphony orchestra up there, it does feel like an intimate evening. There’s lots of storytelling, and at one point in the show I bring about seven people up on the stage—and they are truly not plants, I pick them at random—and they wind up performing a number with me.

(614): “An Evening With Jason Alexander” comes to the Ohio Theatre on April 27. What can our readers expect from the performance?

The preparation is all emotional. I went into performing because I was a really shy kid, so I was able to hide in plain sight. I could be with people, be out in front of people, and I was always more or less hiding behind some character. I’ve always said the five worst words for me in the English language are, “Ladies and gentlemen—Jason Alexander.”

That usually scares the hell out of me! That means I have to go out

JA: (Chuckling.) I’m only laughing because I’ve been doing this for about three years, and that’s always the first question! So “An Evening With” is a pop show that I’ve been doing for about three years all around

52

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

How does preparing for a role like this where you’re appearing as yourself differ from a performance where you’re appearing in character?

there and be myself.

The beautiful thing about this show is the preparation was all in creating the show. If you’re going to go in front of people and take their time and present yourself as an entertainer, what story or stories do you want to share, and how do you want to play with an audience so they have a very full and very rewarding time?

That was all the hard part. In the actually getting up and doing it, I’ve been pretty lucky that I’ve been playing with some of the best orchestras in the country, so when I’m up there I’m generally having a pretty good time. If I’m not, something’s gone terribly wrong.

You’ve made a name for yourself in the competitive poker world, even appearing in the main event at the World Series of Poker. How did your interest in poker begin?

Almost everybody in my business bumps into poker at some point, because if you do theater and movies, there’s a lot of down time.

More often than not, somebody will say, “Hey, let’s play some poker.” But it was around the time that the celebrity poker shows started in the early 2000’s that I remember being invited to be a player on a televised poker thing, and my publicist represented [professional Poker player] Phil Hellmuth at the time, and he said “Hey, I represent this professional poker player, would you like a lesson?” And I said, “What the hell. The guy calls himself a professional poker player.

Let me go see who he is.” After about ten minutes my head was spinning. I realized there was so much about this game I did not understand, never knew, would never understand. But I became fascinated with it.

It is such a rich game in that there are so many ways you can play it. You can play it as a mathematical player, you can play it as an instinctual player. It is an actor’s game because you are always making impressions about yourself at the table,

always trying to understand the impression other players are making. I’m so fascinated by the game, but my fascination does not, unfortunately, mean that I am good at it. I am entertaining at the table, I generally know right from wrong, but sometimes right doesn’t work, and even knowing wrong I have proceeded to do the wrong thing time and time again.

It’s kind of like life, you never stop being surprised and learning more about it.

I also meet amazing people at the poker table, fascinating people that I would never otherwise meet. I’ve lived in Los Angeles for 30 years and I work in the entertainment business, so I don’t often meet guys who are driving buses in Cleveland, Ohio, or work in accounting firms in Wyoming, but at the poker table you meet people from every walk of life.

For nine seasons in the 90s, you played the iconic role of George Costanza on the classic sitcom Seinfeld. What lessons can George teach us in 2019, or where in our modern culture do you see the character’s influence?

Well, if I am to believe social media, the president is making a lot of George-isms. The one that keeps being tweeted at me is, people believe the president may be subscribing to the Costanza philosophy of “it’s not a lie if you believe it.” I am afraid, unfortunately if you want to be serious, that the sort of selfishness and short-sightedness and narcissism that George Costanza was certainly guilty of may have infected a lot of our modern culture right now, and to nobody’s good, I’m afraid.

Jason Alexander will perform at the Ohio Theater on April 27th at 8 p.m. For tickets information, visit columbussymphony.com/events.

614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

53

Columbus bar trivia offers fulfillment for contestants and hosts alike

No Trivial Matter

BY M I K E T H O MAS | P H OTOS BY R E B E CC A TI E N

M

an, you guys suck!” The trivia host said as he came by our table table to retrieve his brightly colored buzzer.

He wasn’t wrong. My friend/trivia partner and I probably should have had less to drink. We probably should have been playing closer attention to the questions, or stopped secondguessing ourselves into wrong answers. Now, the contest was over, and our chances at a $10 bar tab were utterly dashed. Of the six or so teams competing, we came in dead last.

In recent years, bar trivia has emerged as a popular pastime for bar patrons to put their knowledge to the test in a quiz show format, complete with dynamic and entertaining hosts. In these contests, teams which typically consist of a handful of friends, vye against each other for meager prizes—usually a small amount knocked off of the winning team’s bar bill. As my luckless friend and I quickly learned, it’s a form of entertainment where only the fast and the nerdy survive.

Like karaoke, bar trivia offers participants a chance do something at their local watering hole besides pound drinks. Bars are eager for something to draw customers on the slower nights of the week, and contestants get the chance to put their pop culture knowledge to work. But what kind of person goes to a bar on a weeknight to mentally dominate drunk strangers?

“In my opinion, there’s trivia people, and then there’s not,” explains John Egbert, who hosts several trivia nights each week for the company Excess Trivia (it was Egbert who chided my friend and I that evening when we completely bombed). “I have a lot of people sign up just to try it, and quickly realize it’s not for them.”

“

54

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

By day, Egbert is a working artist—he recently designed beer labels for Columbus’ Elevator Brewing. By night, he leads bar patrons through rounds of buzzer-style (think Jeopardy) and multiple-choice rounds of trivia in his role as host.

“When I started this I wasn’t a trivia guy. I did not have fun playing Trivial Pursuit; I didn’t watch Jeopardy,” Egbert says of his beginnings in what has become a full-time pursuit. He only fell in love with trivia after tiring of his onetime role of karaoke host.

“I felt like with karaoke, one of the downsides was dealing with really busy nights and everybody wanting to sing—and not wanting to wait to sing,” Egbert explains. “With trivia, everybody gets to play at the same time. Everybody gets to be the star.”

If public recognition is a motivator for their audience, you have to wonder what would inspire Egbert and his fellow hosts to choose this unique vocation.

Jason “Squirrel” Davis runs his own trivia company, currently hosting three nights each week at local bars. He is perhaps best known for his first and longest running show at The Gateway Film Center. By day, he works in the accounts payable department at Capital University.

For Davis, it’s the chance to stretch his legs as an entertainer in a way not afforded to him in his day job that keeps him coming back. “As a host, it’s the performance aspect,” Davis explains. “I like to think I’m funny. My style is more of a fun game. For the teams, it’s more about fun than the challenge.”

To Mike Durst, who like Egbert is among the dozen or so hosts employed by Excess Trivia, it’s the social dimension that makes

the work appealing.

“It’s pretty much my entire social life. My social circle has basically turned into people I know through trivia,” says Durst.

“It’s nice, I get to go to work and know that I’ll see friends of mine and have a couple of beers and see what’s going on in their lives the past week.”

Davis’ sentiments are shared by Egbert, who also appreciates the opportunities for socialization that trivia affords to host and player “With trivia, alike. “I’m pretty selfish about it. everybody gets to I look at it like, it’s my night too, so I want to have a good time while play at the same I’m doing it,” he explains. “I always time. Everybody tell people, if you’re a real try-hard, overly-competitive type, my night gets to be the might not be for you. I run a fun star.” game, and it’s a reason for you and your friends to get together at a bar.”

With the prevalence of fan culture today, it’s likely that the brains of most people are overflowing with a wealth of trivial knowledge on at least one topic: sports stats, Breaking Bad, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter—whatever your bag may be— bar trivia offers a small form of redemption for countless of hours spent in idle media consumption.

The next time you’re hard up for something to do on a weeknight, spare the neighborhood bar your 10,000th karaoke rendition of Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone” and give trivia a try. You might even make some new friends along the way. •

614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

55

A New Direction Alqueria Farmhouse Kitchen opens doors, combines influences

BY MIKE THOMAS PHOTOS BY JUL I A N F OG L I ET T I

CASSOULET AT ALQUERIA FARMHOUSE KITCHEN

56

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

B

ringing a new restaurant to market is an undertaking notoriously fraught with peril—in most cases.

“We took the keys the last week of October, and we told everybody we wanted to be open by the middle of January,” chef Patrick Marker says of Alqueria Farmhouse Kitchen, which he co-owns with his business partner, chef Jacob Hough. “The way these things usually work out, there are tons of setbacks, and I think we were really lucky.”

There may be some luck involved in avoiding red tape and construction delays that accompany the typical opening, but the smooth sailing enjoyed by Marker and Hough is also the result of countless hours of hard work and preparation.

As the former home of The Angry Baker, the University District space Marker and Hough chose for their restaurant was already fairly well-suited to their needs. When it came to executing the renovations necessary to bring their concept to life, the duo did much of the heavy lifting themselves.

“It was a lot of long days of us and our bar manager Michael [Marsan], the three of us in here together, just kind of squirreled away,” explains chef Hough of the construction process. “We know everything about each other now,” he adds with a laugh. “There are no more secrets!”

After 10 years working together in the tight confines of a kitchen, it is hard to imagine that any secrets would remain between Marker and Hough. The two met at upscale German Village staple Barcelona, where they spent a decade working together as sous chefs.

Prior to their shared stint at Barcelona, the two chefs each forged their paths in the culinary arts in their own way. Hough’s is the classic story of learning from his mother and grandmother in the kitchen as a child, often using ingredients plucked fresh from his grandfather’s garden. He attended culinary school at the Pennsylvania Culinary Academy in Pittsburgh right out of high school and has never looked back.

In Marker’s suburban upbringing, food was viewed as a necessity more than a communal family experience by his busy, working parents.

He discovered his love for cooking through a high school job as a dishwasher in a nursing home, where he was sometimes called upon to lend a hand preparing meals. A culinary degree from Johnson and Wales in Provincetown, Rhode Island followed, and Marker spent his twenties in kitchens in tourist destinations of the American South, before finding his way to Columbus’ Barcelona. • 614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

57

PAN-ROASTED LAKE ERIE WALLEYE

It comes as no surprise that the marriage of two distinct food influences is the defining feature of Marker and Hough’s new menu.

At Alqueria, locally-sourced American comfort food classics are often presented with a Spanish twist, an homage to the duo’s shared history at Barcelona.

Pan-roasted Lake Erie walleye is paired with gnocchi in a Spanishinspired green sofrito broth. The menu’s charcuterie offerings bring Spain’s meats and cheeses to bear, while charred octopus—a holdover favorite from the Barcelona days—encourages patrons to push their boundaries outside of the familiar.

“It’s been freeing, because the constraint was trying to stay in the realm of Spanish cooking,” chef Marker explains of making the transition from Barcelona to his own restaurant. “There were some flavors that maybe we wanted to explore that we didn’t get the chance to. Here, we’re saying it’s American with some Spanish influence, but we feel like we can pull any ingredient in and make it successful.”

Twists on American classics help the fare at Alqueria stand out from its peers in the elevated comfort food scene. Nashville-style hot chicken, the ubiquitous menu item for any modern comfort food joint worth its salt, is here paired with a cheddar and pork-infused waffle. This lunch entree is served with a drizzle of buttermilk dill dressing and topped with horseradish pickle slices for a unique, deconstructed approach to the modern classic dish.

Marker and Hough take a farm-to-table approach to procuring their ingredients, which in their view means always sourcing local ingredients when they are available, allowing for some wiggle-room for creativity when necessary. (You won’t find too many Ohio-sourced octopi, after all). For the two chefs, the farm-to-table mentality extends to the design sense of the space, which is adorned with ample reclaimed barn wood and assorted antique knick-knacks.

Along with bar manager Marsan, who constructed the restaurant’s drink menu of locally-minded beer, wine, and signature cocktails, chefs Marker and Hough are excited to see what the next chapter of their culinary journey has in store. “If you’re seriously committed to a life in the culinary field, I think the idea is that you want to have your own place,” says Marker, with Hough adding of their experience so far with Alqueria, “It’s been a fun journey; we’re living a childhood dream.” •

Alqueria is located at 247 King Ave. Visit alqueriacolumbus.com for a menu and hours.

58

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

GREEN HUMMUS

THE OLD PAL

614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

59

Too Good To Share Side dishes that stand on their own

BY M I TC H H O O P E R P H OTO BY JA MI E B E N JAM I N

W

hether it’s sports, entertainment, or cooking, no all-star anything is complete without its sidekick. What’s Batman without Robin?

Who’s Michael Jordan without Scottie Pippen? And maybe the most important question, what’s a burger without fries?

I’m here to argue that a burger without fries is just a sad and lonely sandwich. The world is a better place with sides. Could you imagine Thanksgiving with no sides? It would be a nightmare. Thankfully, we don’t have to live in a world of chaos that doesn’t include sides, and there’s plenty of spots in Columbus that have recognized this need for them, and these are just a few of the can’t-miss menu options.

White Cheddar Grits

Hubbard Grille | 793 N High St. Just because Columbus isn’t in the South doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy southern favorites here like grits. At Hubbard Grille, this Southern treat is on the menu with a slight spin which comes in the form of white cheddar. Anyone who has experienced a bad bowl of grits knows how off-putting they can be—for lack of better words, they become… gritty. Luckily, the experience at Hubbard is nothing like that. The grits hold their texture without becoming too firm or too mushy, and white cheddar is a great cheese that won’t overpower the dish with too much cheese (if that’s even a thing?) while adding depth, richness, and creaminess.

Sesame Stir Fry Snap Peas

Mitchell’s Ocean Club | 4002 Easton Station A trip to Mitchell’s Ocean Club is typically on a special occasion— graduations, anniversaries, birthdays—and that usually means the focus is on a stellar seafood entrée, but making a meal out of a single item is no way to celebrate anything. Nearly every side dish is elevated at Cameron Mitchell locations, but the sesame stir fry snap peas are perfect with everything from steaks to salmon. The simple side features fresh snap peas sauteed in a savory sesame sauce and topped with sesame seeds for the visual pop and textural crunch.

The subtle sweetness of snap peas combined with the savory sauce creates for a perfect umami marriage.

60

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

•Caramelized Brussels Sprouts Philco Bar and Diner | 747 N High St.

If caramelized onions can make a $10 burger cost $15, it’s a damn steal that Philco’s side of caramelized brussels costs only $5. The dish truly lets the flavor of the vegetable do the heavy lifting as it’s minimally seasoned with salt and pepper, and tossed in olive oil.

But the caramelization process highlights the “meaty” flavor of the brussels while also providing for some crispy and crunchy leaves that fell off during the cooking process.

Cowboy Caviar

Two Dollar Radio Headquarters | 1124 Parsons Ave. Similarly to Katalina’s elote corn on the cob, you can snag the cowboy caviar from the regular menu, or as a side to your entrée.

The important thing is that you order it. The vegan dish (caviar can be vegan, too) has a relatively simple ingredients list, but these ingredients combined together pack a real punch when it comes to flavor. The bean salsa is zesty and hearty and served with avocado to add some “fat” to your protein-packed dip as well as tortilla chips from Koki’s Tortillas in the Hilltop. •

614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

61

B e n e r I We Trust

COLUMBUS BREWERS REFLECT ON THE STATE OF COLUMBUS BEER FOR NATIONAL BEER DAY

BY M I K E TH O M AS

W

ith the rise of craft beer, days celebrating America’s most popular alcoholic beverage are nearly as plentiful as the varieties of suds found on supermarket shelves. Whether it’s a day set aside in honor of a given style (IPA day is observed Aug. 2) or a pseudo-holiday cash grab from a major international brewery, (Arthur’s Day is not a thing, Guinness) beer fans have plenty of occasions throughout the year to toast their favorite drink.

The Cullen-Harrison act, signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on March 22, 1933, went into effect on April 7th of that year, and effectively ended the Prohibition Era in the United States. That glorious day has now become known as National Beer Day. Dating back to 2009, National Beer Day is the brainchild of Richmond, Virginia beer fan Justin Smith, who started a Facebook page promoting the idea of the celebration that took off on social media. National beer Day has since been recognized in different ways by government bodies from the Governor of Virginia to the US Congress.

To mark this momentous occasion, (614) spoke to Columbus brewers Colin Vent at Seventh Son Brewing, Dan Shaffer at Land-Grant, Craig O’Herron at Sideswipe Brewing, and Chris Davison, at Wolf ’s Ridge Brewing in order to explore the beginnings of brew in the capital city, where it stands today, and what the future might hold.

62

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

(614): When you think of Columbus beer history, what comes to mind?

Vent: The recent history is pretty young. We were 7th or 8th six years ago, and now there’s over 50. Barley’s, Smoke House, Elevator, Columbus Brewing Company—those were around for 10 or 15 years, then all of the sudden, Four String, us, North High, and soon thereafter Land Grant popped up, and from there it’s just been crazy. Obviously all of Columbus [beer] history goes back hundreds of years; there used to be major production.

Hoster was one of the largest breweries in the country.

Shaffer: I think of Barley’s, CBC, the people that were there at the beginning. We’re all standing on their shoulders. Obviously it’s all come a very long way. I’m trying to think of what the first craft beer I had in Columbus was. It was probably a CBC IPA. (614): What are some prevailing trends that you see happening with beer in Columbus today?

O’Herron: I feel like we’ve gotten over a lot of the recent trends. We saw a lot of the New England IPAs, and then Brut IPAs to a lesser extent. I don’t know if there’s a trend that’s happening right this moment, but I’m sure we’ll see something new and wacky come around.

Davison: The national trend has been IPA, IPA, IPA, and I think Columbus is a microcosm of that. Ohio is an IPA state, and Columbus is an IPA city even more so than some other cities in the state. We’ve got a lot of the top-tier IPA breweries right now, a lot of people making really good IPA. I think that’s going to continue to rise, and I think we’re going to continue to see more styles [of IPA].

(614): What does the future hold for Columbus Beer? Have we reached a saturation point on how many breweries the city can sustain?

Vent: I don’t know that Columbus could take another 10 or 20 Land Grants and Seventh Sons, but I think it could take another 10 or 20 [breweries] that just want to have an awesome neighborhood brewpub. As many breweries as an area can sustain, that’s what there will be.

Davison: I think it all comes down to what those breweries are trying to accomplish. Trying to be a production brewery that’s distributing cans across the entire state is going to get harder and harder, not that some won’t continue to grow and do that.

I think there’s a ton of room for local brewpubs that don’t even want to sell their beer outside of their own bar. Every bar in this city could theoretically brew its own beer, and there’s no reason the city can’t sustain 500 breweries that are tiny like that.

Shaffer: Obviously people are gravitating towards local. I think it’s really cool that every neighborhood, instead of a watering hole, can have a local brewery. I think we’ll probably see more sours, probably more specialization. IPA’s aren’t going anywhere—there will be more IPA variants. When there is this much competition, you can’t afford to be a generic beer brewery anymore. There has to be something you’re passionate about, whether it’s Belgian or English styles, or pilsners, highgravity stouts—whatever. There’s got to be something that you can say “this is what we’re all about.” • 614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

63

No Soliciting PASSWORD

PLEASE An exclusive, elusive look inside No Soliciting, Columbus’ new members-only bar

64

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

BY R EG I N A FOX | P H OTOS BY B R I A N KA I S E R

magine strolling down Chestnut Street between 3rd and 4th Streets in Downtown Columbus and you notice an old-timey pay phone behind a glass door.

Hm, that’s funny, you muse to yourself. I don’t recall ever seeing that before.

Curiously, you pick up the receiver and hear a muffled ring on the other side of the wall. A voice comes through your earpiece, inquiring about your name and member number. Then, one of two things will happen: you’ll quickly hang up or make up a response, or, you’ll rattle off your personal code and be granted access to one of Columbus’ best-kept secrets: No Soliciting.

If you aren’t among the roughly 320 individuals who possess one of those personal codes, it’s unlikely you’ve ever heard of this secret, members-only bar, let alone been inside. And this, dear readers, is precisely why the talented and trusted Brian Kaiser and I, armed with camera equipment, pen and paper, pretended to be No Soliciting members for an afternoon.

From the small foyer with the old payphone where members check in, what appeared to be a black panel wall slowly swung open (imagine Addams Familystyle, but cooler) and I stepped inside.

Oaky and sweet smells greeted me upon entry. This was no mistake. No Soliciting’s unofficial official drink is an old fashioned smoked with cedar and cinnamon. (As a person who can’t usually palate bourbon with ease, I put this handsome devil down effortlessly). Bartender Chris Yoha purposefully scorches a bowl of the wood chips and spices before the bar opens. Smart.

The front bar area was sharp and sophisticated. The leather booths adjacent to the bar were adorned with vintage headshots of America’s greatest entrepreneurial spirits—Walt Disney, King Camp Gillette, Alexander Graham Bell. I imagined all the important decisions No Soliciting members made in those booths, all while their heroes watched silently over them. You see, most of the club’s membership is comprised of business owners around the city.

About a year and a half ago, before No Soliciting was No Soliciting, the space was simply part of Rise Brand offices. But, it wasn’t long before CEO Troy Allen was persuaded by local business owners and close friends to

I

open the space to the public...curated public, that is.

It began with 15 people close to Allen who are now known as the Founding Members. Wanting to create a space of like-minded individuals, Allen and his team began accepting applications with a vested interest in Columbus business owners.

“It’s always nice to have that sounding board of other like-minded people when it comes to business owners to be able to talk to, share with, and understand perspective,” said Allen.

Allen does not consider No Soliciting an eletists’ bar, but stands by the vetting process to protect the unique exclusivity it offers.

The application contains all the normal fields— name, phone number, email—but further down, hopeful members are prompted to disclose more unique info, such as their expectations of being a member, what they would tell their 21-year-old selves, and who their reference(s) are.

While there is a “Who do you know here?” tone, Allen says it’s not imperative to have a referral to get in. Rather than a name in the reference field, Allen can respect a “I’m looking forward to meeting someone,” response. He also shot down the notion that No Soliciting is a “boys club.”

“The diversity that’s in here within the walls when we’re open is welcoming,” said Allen.

Between members and their guests, Allen estimates the ratio to be a 50/50 split when No Soliciting is open.

He guesses women make up a third of the membership, a number he’d like to see rise.

“The ladies who are members are kickass members, frankly,” Allen said.

Once members make a selection from the upscale cocktail menu, choose from one of No Soliciting’s 300+ bourbons, or order up a customized adult beverage from the skilled bartenders (all member purchases expensed to their house account), they can venture further into the venue where a stately lounge awaits.

Worn leather couches and armchairs are circled up and poised for conversation. Flags adorn the walls, concealing TV screens underneath. Animal hide rugs and foliage dangling from the skylight soften up what •

614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

65

might be a masculine feel. The place has a tasteful sophistication that mentally and emotionally matured me at least a decade. I should’ve wiped the mud from my boots before, I scolded myself.

Allen gleaned inspiration from his experience as a member of Soho House, a chain of private members’ clubs around the world.

He respects what the other clubs around town are doing—country clubs, the Athletic Club, the Columbus Club—and extended admiration towards local cocktail bars, as well. But, what he saw lacking in Columbus was a more elevated experience that combined the two.

“To me, there was a hole in this market. So, when we started to do No Soliciting, it was because of my experiences at Soho House…. I wanted people to get that same experience here on a smaller, more intimate level.”

Above all, Allen’s main m.o.—besides intimacy,

exclusivity, and quality—is comfortability. He wants his members to feel a sense of belonging and connectedness, all while enjoying the luxuries No Soliciting can afford upon every visit: excellent cocktails, exceptional service, compatible community, controlled capacity.

This is the culture Allen and Rise Brands hope to reciprocate in Dublin’s Bridge Park. Not only will there be a second No Soliciting, but the flagship location will also be undergoing some major changes soon as the Rise Brand headquarters relocate to Long Street and are replaced by a fullservice kitchen and event spaces for the members.

“Rules are made for people who aren’t willing to make their own,” reads writing on one of the main walls in the lounge. And with No Soliciting’s speakeasy-style access, hushed and humble existence, yet powerful presence in a select part of the community, No Soliciting is certainly willing to write its own. •

“The diversity that’s in here within the walls when we’re open is welcoming.”

No Soliciting memberships carry a $1,000 annual fee. While the club is currently not accepting new members, you can be added to the waitlist at nosolicitingbar.com.

66

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

67

ICY MI:

[ IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ] Important Local News

- FEB 21 -

1 popular restaurant, 1 secret bar planned for Bridge Park concept Two separate hospitality companies are to expand to Bridge Park; one you may recognize—Cameron Mitchell, one you may not—No Soliciting.

- MAR 8 - FEB 25 -

“F*ck you,” shakeups at central Ohio Sonic Drive-ins

One central Ohio Sonic Drive-in is permanently closed and staff at three other locations reportedly held walkouts amid an ownership changeover.

#1 Uber destination in Ohio may surprise you There are tons of noteworthy attractions here in the Buckeye State—Cedar Point, FirstEnergy Stadium (Cleveland Browns Stadium), Ohio Stadium, the Great American Ball Park (Cincinnati Reds field), Express LIVE!—but the single-most popular Uber destination is right here in Columbus. According to data from the ridesharing provider per USA Today, Standard Hall is the most sought out attraction for users.

- MAR 14 -

New York Times shows Cbus some love.

A few months ago, New York Times finally gave Columbus the love it deserves by granting it 47th place on its list of 52 Places to Go in 2019.

Now, the publication is putting its actions where its words are by paying Columbus a visit and highlighting all its best attractions on Instagram.

68

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

- MAR 18 -

Bloody Sunday: two stabbed at Short North bar

- MAR 18 -

Weekend brawl stops traffic in Short North Streets For most people, St. Paddy’s day is a joyful celebration of all things Irish. For others, the holiday is used as a pretense to unleash more base tendencies of human nature through binge drinking, violence, and general foolishness.

Capping off a weekend of violence in the Short North that included a massive brawl, two people were taken to the hospital with stab wounds suffered from an incident at a High Street bar Sunday night.

Records show that Columbus police responded to a call at Standard Hall around 9:00PM. They say a man stabbed two bouncers when they attempted to remove him from the bar.

- MAR 18 -

Search for missing man continues almost a month later Last seen near Easton Town Center on February 24, the search for Tyler Davis continues over a month later.

- MAR 25 -

Body recovered from Scioto River identified as missing activist Amber Evans The ongoing search for a missing community activist has reached a heartbreaking conclusion, as a body recovered from the Scioto River on Saturday by Columbus police detectives and dive team members was identified as Amber Evans.

Never miss a thing:

614NOW.COM 614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

69

ADVANCED WELLNESS

BARRE3

Advanced Wellness Center’s mission is to provide excellence in Chiropractics and a natural approach to health care. We are passionate about helping individuals to families, working men and women to college students, newborns to retirees, all whom are choosing to take control and responsibility to their own health and full expression of life.

Barre3 is a full-body workout designed with our signature approach of sustained holds, micro-movements, and cardio bursts that will leave you feeling balanced in body and empowered from within. We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to exercise. Instead, through a combination of strength conditioning, cardio, and mindfulness, we empower each individual to modify postures and develop body awareness for lasting results.

Our signature approach to teaching gives clients a rewarding endorphin high and a deep muscle burn without pain in areas of the body prone to injury.

B•U is an activewear company created to make every woman feel beautiful in her skin. This company was started with you in mind, with the idea that confidence comes from within. Our goal is to encourage everyone to live their best life by committing to a healthy and active lifestyle.

awcchiropractic.com

barre3.com

buactivewear.com

CHILL CRYO Chill Cryotherapy is a locally owned wellness spa specializing in athletic recovery, pain management, and fat loss. Our services include Cryoskin slimming and toning services, whole body and local Cryotherapy, and Normatec Compression Boots. Freeze you soon!”

chillcolumbus.com

Divine Impact Fitness is dedicated to providing fun and engaging dance fitness, strength training and conditioning casses aimed at promoting wellness, confidence and empowerment. DIF also promotes community and business partnerships through local business and non-profit organization collaborations. The brand is motivated too provide education that promotes holistic wellness; mind, body and spirit. Live the DIFference, and experience an energy like none other!

divineimpactfit.com

CLUB PILATES

CLEAN JUICE A family owned company founded with the purpose of giving your family access to clean, USDA certified organic products while on the go. We specialize in cold pressed juice, smoothies, protein smoothies, açaí bowls, cleanses, avocado toast and other healthy bites that are sure to satisfy the entire family.

Club Pilates Grandview Yard offers more than just low-impact, fullbody workouts. With a range of class offerings that challenge your mind as well as your body, Club Pilates provides a path to a richer, morefulfilling life. Take a free Intro class today and get started on a path to a better tomorrow.

cleanjuicedublin.com

clubpilates.com

DIVINE IMPACT

70 2

BU ACTIVEWEAR

HEALING HEARTS REIKI

FABYOULOUS Our mission is to help empower women to get moving and become consistent in their workouts so they can become stronger, more empowered individuals that prioritize self-care.

fabyoulousfitness.com

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL OCTOBER 20192017 614COLUMBUS.COM 614COLUMBUS.COM

Healing Hearts is a safe and professional community that focuses on restoring one’s individual wellbeing, promoting holistic pain relief, educating about alternatives to conventional health treatments, and promoting the Reiki healing modality.

Healing Hearts is also dedicated to serving the community by supporting those who may need assistance affording these services by offering donation based services. We strive to inspire deep transformation in each individual by guiding them to use their inherent abilities to heal themselves, live in balance with their environment, and serve the greater good of the community as a whole.

healheartsreiki.com

LOTTE NATURALS Lotte Naturals is a fresh-based skincare brand that was created in order to provide skin with the nutrients and vitamins it craves to be hydrated and healthy. We have removed all unnecessary chemicals, toxins, and preservatives that can cause damage to your skin. We are gluten free, with majority of our products vegan as well. We pride in providing the freshest skincare, delivered directly to your doorstep. Experience a new generation of skincare with all natural, REAL ingredients, that provide you with skin confidence and a lasting glow. www.lottenaturals.com

lottenaturals.com

MIKEY D APPAREL Quality t-shirts, tanks, sweatshirts, yoga pants, and other fitness gear.

Also, state themed apparel including: Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia.

A chef driven, Hawaiian-inspired poke restaurant, committed to excellent service. Our fresh, quality ingredients, and sauces made from scratch, create the perfect poke dish, accommodating every palate.

Imagination and creativity are the key elements to give our guests “a fresh way to create!” Vegan and gluten-free options to please any palate.

mikeydapparel.com

pokebap.com

SALTOPIA SALT SPA

PURE BARRE Pure Barre is the largest, most established barre franchise in the nation.

Pure Barre is a total body workout that uses the ballet barre to perform small, isometric movements, which burn fat, sculpt muscles and create long lean physiques. Pure Barre is more than just a workout; it’s a lifestyle.

purebarre.com

Saltopia provides antiviral, anti-bacterial, dry salt air which boosts the immune system and supports the healing of respiratory and skin conditions.

Get pampered by Melody, Master Stylist in the beauty industry over 43 years. Melody’s Salon uses only the newest technology and very best products in the industry.

Shred415 combines the infectious energy of group training with the flexibility and focus of a personalized program—in an incredibly supportive environment.

Here, you control how hard you work, matching your pace and weights to your level and goals. Our instructors are expert trainers, but more than that, they’re passionate about helping you find your success.

At the nationally accredited Stretch Zone, our industryleading practitioners offer assisted stretching! Get a competitive edge in sports, increase range of motion, reduce chronic soreness and improve flexibility. You lay on the table, we do all the work, and you get the benefit!

THE FACE BAR The Facebar offers a wide range of aesthetics solutions (including Juvederm Filler, Botox, and the Halo laser) administered by our certified nurse practitioners. Our goal is to make our clients feel refreshed, enhanced, and renewed when they leave our office.

theface.bar

SYSTEM OF STRENGTH System of Strength is a next level group fitness program created with the desire to deliver real results in the most efficient way. Our unique in-studio and online workout programs offer the well-rounded workouts your entire body craves, focusing on the four pillars of Strength, Cardio, Stretch, and Recovery.

systemofstrength.com

stretchzone.com/locations/powell/

shred415.com

A Community Center disguised as a fitness studio. Hot yoga, yoga, acro, pilates, barre, bootcamp, dance & more! Get a great workout. Get inspired.

STRETCH ZONE

SHRED415

Experience High Intensity Interval Training

SEVEN STUDIOS

7-studios.com

saltopia1.com

Four 15-Minute Intervals. That’s How We Shred.

POKEBAP

VITALITY BOWLS

URBAN FLOAT Urban Float is committed to providing a clean, calm, and welcoming environment so guests can get the most out of flotation therapy.

Whether guests seek pain management, sports recovery, stress relief, improved focus, or simply disconnect from a hyper-connected world, we create a sanctuary to help everyone, everywhere improve their quality of life.

Vitality Bowls was created out of a strong commitment to bring health and wellness to the community through fresh, high-quality superfoods. We specialize in making delicious açaí bowls, which are a thick blend of the açaí berry topped with organic granola and a selection of superfood ingredients. Additional antioxidantrich menu items include smoothies, fresh juices, soups, salads and paninis.

1510 Stonecreek Dr S, Pickerington, OH 43147 vitalitybowls.com/locations/pickerington/

urbanfloat.com

& MORE! 614COLUMBUS.COM

OCTOBER 2017 (614) MAGAZINE

3

0%

s ive c ch Ar Ma t SU Joe f os O Dr y of sy o ik s rte Er te of our Cou C e sy rte ge ag ou Ima , Im Y e C 6, ag 93 ERB 1 , Im S, R D E ES N M WE LL O JA N EO OR RO JESS HI O EB . L 3. 5.

01 | 0 | 0 G M UN DIU YO TA CY U S .

S 02 . O 04

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

72

CH E A A RE M T P I HE O N S W

0@

0!

0$

0#

The Ohio History Center’s new sports exhibit celebrates more than wins and losses

BY KEVIN J. ELLIOT T

E

stablished in 1974, the National Women’s Football League was a perfect reflection of the times, a groundbreaking movement that mirrored the social landscape. At the height of women’s liberation, the N.O.W., and Billie Jean King’s “Battle of the Sexes,” the full-contact contests held by the NWFL promoted that same statement of equality for women in sports—and in Ohio, the Toledo Troopers won seven consecutive championships in the league, which have to this day, made them the winningest franchise in all of professional football.

That the Troopers hold such a coveted record and tell a story of gender politics mostly unheard, is a common theme that runs through Ohio—Champion of Sports, the new exhibit at the Ohio History Center.

At first, the title of the exhibit is a seemingly audacious, and very Ohioan, statement to make. Champion of (all) sports? Though Ohio natives are as passionate about their teams as any other state in the country, the exhibit gives an almost inherent right to the claim. Our traditions run deep. Our superstars— from Bobby Rahal to Lebron James— have achieved the highest pinnacle of glory. But throughout the museum there are a multitude of stories, like that of the Troopers, that shape that narrative beyond championships.

“Telling the national story of sports can be tough without including Ohio in there,” says the Ohio History Center’s curator Eric Feingold. “Whether you’re talking about the birth of the National Football League or the All-American Soapbox Derby in Akron, to some of the more prominent stories, such as Ohio State football, Ohio has really contributed to this story in major ways.” •

614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

73

0!

0@

0$

0%

0# 0^

0*

0&

0( 01. STEPHANIE HIGHTOWER, 1983, Image Courtesy of OSU Archives | 02. RICKEY BRANCH, Image Courtesy of Ohio Wesleyan University | 03. RAY MANCINI | 04. TOLEDO TROOPERS, 1970’s 05. JOHN HEISMAN, Image Courtesy of Oberlin College | 06. ALTA WEISS, Image Courtesy of Ragersville Historical Society | 07. JACK NICKLAUS | 08. HERB SCORE | 09. CHUCK HARRIS

74

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

The fully-interactive exhibit is divided into six thematic zones—including Character, Adversity, Innovation, Identity, Tradition, and Victory—where each attribute is shown through the lens of Ohio sports.

The “Victory” wing, for example, is anchored by the triumph of local boxer Buster Douglas’ unlikely defeat of Mike Tyson, while “Innovation” highlights Ohio’s role in the evolution of the soapbox “gravity racers” used in derbys. “Identity,” by comparison, challenges the shameful use of the Cleveland Indians’ longtime mascot Chief Wahoo, while “Adversity” tells the tale of Youngstown pitcher Dave Dravecky’s World Series dream shattered by cancer.

Even the diehard Ohio sports fan will find something they may have never known. While it’s common knowledge that Ohio State and the University of Cincinnati dominated the NCAA men’s basketball tourneys of the early ‘60s, there are stories like that of the UC Bearcats being the first team to start four African-American players, illuminating how these teams and athletes were breaking barriers as well as records and stats. Or even the hidden minutiae of smalltown Hiram College becoming the first basketball team to bring home an Olympic gold for the United States.

“The exhibit is a new approach,” says Feingold of the non-traditional way in which Champion of Sports was designed. “Generally museums are object-driven, but in this case, we’ve worked with athletes, coaches, and fans to collect their oral histories. It’s this idea that you want to try to acquire objects as you’re going along and getting these stories from the people involved.”

Still, there are over 200 objects procured from the museum’s permanent collection, other museums, like the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, and from private collections, that bring to life these stories—spotlighted are Lebron James autographed rookie jersey and a fullscale Airstream, that “may or may not have” instigated the first examples of traditional “tailgating.”

As a intentional gesture, the exhibit is not just static with the objects; there are displays of videos that show those oral histories, and fun kiosks to record your own victory dances, but it’s those objects that look forward that have the most pull. Some of Feingold’s favorite pieces in the exhibit come from just a few years back and the creation of Ohio Roller Derby. In that, the museum aims to battle preconceived notions about the strategy of the sport, showing how it’s not a gimmick, but instead a compelling labor of love for the dedicated athletes who participate.

“This is an exhibit more about the human experience and the human condition,” says Feingold.

“These objects highlight the intersection of sports and larger issues. Sports is just the entryway into a lot of larger themes.”

Ohio—Champion of Sports is now open at the Ohio History Center. Visit ohiohistory.org for hours and more information.

614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

75

Where The Wilds’ Things Are From milkweed to oryxes, how Ohio (and you) make a difference in local and international biodiversity and conservation P H OTOS PR OV ID E D BY TH E W ILDS

BY MACON OVERCAST

I

step out of my truck into the parking lot and look to the hillside, scanning the slope where a herd of Przewalski’s Horses grazes.

Incredibly endangered, the horses have evolved through the harsh cold of Northern Asia and their apathy toward the chilly cold of a Central Ohio morning strikes me with a pang of envy. Tweedy grass paints the hillside, fibrous snacks for the meandering herd. I’m at the Wilds, a 14.3 square-mile habitat, wildlife conservation park and research institution in the middle of Muskingum County, only 80 miles west of Columbus.

Every April the gates open again to the public. Creatures the likes of giraffes, rhinos, oryxes, and gazelles will re-emerge from their winter housing and roam across the vast landscape. Nothing else of the Wilds’ size or caliber exists in North America. Dan Beetem, the Director of Animal Management, meets me outside.

I shiver hello before following Beetam into a small beige building whose nondescript appearance belies the world-class science churning inside. He introduces me to Dr. Steve Spear and Dr. Rebecca Swab. The trio has over 50 years of combined experience in wildlife, ecology, and related fields. And all this expertise is brought together in Cumberland, Ohio—a mining town, barely big enough to be a dot on the map. When the land was being razed in full swing decades ago, locals likely never would have guessed that their backyards would soon provide the stage for internationally-recognized conservation science, and an investment in the future of exotic animals from across the world.

“The land that now accommodates the Wilds was strip mined 76

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

for coal from the 40s through the 70s. It looked like the surface of the moon, “ Swab explains. “After reclamation, a lot of the grasses planted weren’t native, but they work really well for grazing, so it’s great for the endangered animals we keep here at the park.”

Many visitors come to watch exotic creatures wander through the grass, but Swab wants them to leave having heard one of the gospels of the Wilds–that conservation science is for Ohio, too. Handing me a Butterfly Habitat Trail Guide, she explains, “Over 15,000 tree seedlings have been planted here the near 8,000 acres of the Wilds’ property reserved for native restoration. One of my projects is called ‘Healthy Forest, Healthy Wildlife.’ Basically, it’s the idea that healthy plants and a diverse forest ecosystem will help wildlife flourish.”

Swab encourages guests to take home milkweed seed packets to plant in their own yards, a plant critical for the survival of monarch butterflies.

“It’s important to know that conservation work happens at a variety of levels and that you can help endangered species in your own backyard.”

Spear’s recent work deals with a critter that, not too long ago, you could dig up in a Columbus Metro Park—the American burying beetle, a critically-endangered ecological cornerstone. Spear unfolds his hands as he explains, “They are called decomposers because they help the environment by eating dead material. They need bigger meals than other burying beetles, and we think the decline of the passenger pigeon may have impacted their diet.”

Virtually extinct in its native North Africa, the scimitar-horned oryx finds one of its few sanctuaries at the Wilds. More muscular than

Get Your Adventure on at the Wilds The Wilds is not only an important animal sanctuary, but also a place for human fun. Here’s how to make the most of your trip to Cumberland with some add-on excitement. See thewilds.org for activity prices, times, and further information.

HORSEBACK SAFARI Explore the wildlife and butterfly habitats at the Wilds from horseback. 45 minutes to an hour long, the safari is suitable for riders of many levels. A two-hour sunset safari is also available.

FISHING Several ponds surrounding the Wilds have been stocked with largemouth bass, channel catfish, redear sunfish, brown bullhead and bluegill. Guests may fish from the banks or grab some friends for a four-hour long boat excursion. All fishing is catch and release.

ZIPLINING Channel your inner giraffe. A variety of daytime and nighttime ziplining tours are available at the Wilds.

Tours can consist of up to ten lines and overlook animal grazing and pasturing areas.

WILDECAMP A number of summer camping programs for kids are offered with activities ranging from survival skills to ziplining to archery.

In addition, kids learn about science and conservation biologyrelated careers.

its cousin the antelope, the oryx has dark eyes that are curious but intense. Often, they will cast their gaze back on park visitors, showing off athletic frames that sport a smooth pearl color and two ridged horns arching backwards over a tapered auburn neck.

It’s easy to understand why oryxes top Beetem’s list of favorite animals. His face lights up as he recounts his story of recent success with the oryx. “It turns out that the Environmental Agency of Abu Dhabi and The Sahara Conservation Fund were looking to do something conservation-minded with the scimitar-horned oryx in Chad. A number of animals from the Wilds went to the source herd in Abu Dhabi to contribute to the reintroductions. I got invited to Chad and spent a couple weeks on the project. I was there for their release into the wild, so I watched a group of animals that I have worked with for 30-some odd years go off to be wild animals again. It’s an amazing thing—a peak life moment—to know that a group of animals from Ohio, and their offspring, will re-establish the future wild population.”

International collaboration with roots in the Wilds. Mr. Beetem gestures in the direction of the hillside outside and pauses before lowering his hand and saying, “It’s important for everyone to hear, to recognize the impact that we’re making here at the Wilds. For so many species, there is no wild to go back to, and this is one of the few instances where all the pieces came together. It was this arc concept that always appealed to me–that we are carrying these species and one day something good will happen with them.”• 614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

77

78

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

living the dream: a day in the life of a Columbus Zoo Programs Team Member

STORY A N D P HOTOS BY BR I A N KA I S E R

ucked away behind tall fences and a series of security gates on the sprawling Columbus Zoo grounds are several nondescript beige buildings.

Within them are a team of animal ambassadors and their human handlers who, working together, help bring the Columbus Zoo out and into the community.

When I first heard whispers of the Animal Programs Department, I immediately thought that it sounded like a dream job. Hanging out with cheetah cubs and joeys (baby kangaroos) all day—where do I sign up!? Of course the reality of the job is that, it’s still, well, a job.

Now don’t get me wrong; these folks love their jobs.

They’re among the most passionate and enthusiastic employees you’ll find. And while they do get paid to chill with adorable sloths, they also have to clean up their poop, which—since sloths only defecate once a week or so—can be upwards of one third of their body weight. A little less adorable now, huh?

On the social side, the program staff spends lots of one-on-one time with animals so they can be attuned to their animals’ individual needs and personalities.

Outreach programs that connect zoo animals with community groups—from school-aged children to senior groups and everyone in between—serve a vital purpose, educate the community and make a connection between the animal kingdom and the ways humans are impacting it. But snuggling with servals and letting lemurs hang from your arm, it’s all in a day’s work.•

T

614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

79

80

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

81

82

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

83

The sneaker scene is alive and kickin’ thanks to Sole Classics.

BY DAV I D L EW I S

“Me and my Adidas do the illest things.”

Run-DMC’s “My Adidas,” an homage to their love for the sneaker brand, created an urban fashion craze in the mid-eighties and set the stage for the sneaker explosion. Each member of the hip-hop pioneers wore a threestriped Adidas tracksuit with gold “dookie rope” chains dangling from their necks and black fedoras on their heads. But what tipped the fashion scales were the unlaced white Adidas shell toe Superstars that would “Walk through concert doors […] and roam all over coliseum floors.”

It was no coincidence that the same year “My Adidas” was released, Dionte Johnson was born in Columbus, Ohio. He is the owner/operator of the only niche retail sneaker boutique in Columbus: Sole Classics. And he is at the forefront of the hot sneaker scene in Columbus.

“I walk down the street, and bop to the beat.”

Hipsters, students, and hip hop heads bob to the beat down High Street and walk into Sole Classics to check out the latest. Located in the Short North, Sole Classics has the Run-DMC-style Adidas track suits, Vans, Nikes, Adidas, hoodies, G-Shocks and other “fly wear.” Artistically curated, every inch of the two-room fashion gallery is meticulously crafted to reflect the Short North arts scene. (The newly-opened second store in Dublin pays tribute to the area’s Irish attitude with a pub vibe.)

“We want the stores to embody the neighborhood we are in—Short North more urban, Dublin more Irish,” Johnson says.

84

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

“I like to sport ‘em that’s why I bought ‘em.”

Johnson bought Sole Classics (originally opened in 2006) from the previous owners ten years ago and has been in its current location since 2014. As a former Ohio State fullback, Dionte had a cup of coffee in the NFL, but when that plan fell through, he put his Business Marketing degree to work. “I was looking for the next challenge [...] and heard about Sole Classics being available,” Johnson says, wearing his signature black hoodie and jeans. “Growing up in Columbus and going to high school [in the nineties] I worked in retail at Big Daddy’s, the first to carry urban street fashion stuff—and I was hooked.”

“And now I just standin’ here shooting the gift.”

What Big Daddy’s (now closed) taught Johnson was the importance of community—about creating a space where people come for the experience, to hang out, shoot the shit and share their love for sneakers.

It’s the barber shop minus all the hair on the ground. “You can go buy your shoes from anywhere, but with a store like ours, you get to sit down, spend two hours talking and maybe buy something, or maybe not,” Johnson says as he sits behind the self-designed wood cash wrap desk that is the centerpiece of his Dublin store. “The person who comes in and knows exactly what they want gets treated the same as the person who stops by to say, ‘What’s up?’ ”

“Now the Adidas I possess for one man is rare.

Myself homeboy got fifty pair.”

The Columbus sneaker scene has grown exponentially, with more options than ever. Sole Classics is a retail shop that is linked to the sneaker companies. But up High Street, less than a mile away is Premium Kicks, a consignment sneaker store. “There is plenty of room [in Columbus] for sneaker shops to coexist, “ Johnson says. “Yes, we’re in competition, but theirs is always a place for a consignment shop to do their thing. We are a little more beholden to the sneaker companies, whereas they have a little more freedom.”

What is also helping the sneaker scene thrive is the innovative chances sneaker companies are taking (see the re-release of the Air Jordan 4 and the new Nike line of kicks called Have a Nike Day), combined with online media. When new kicks get released it’s a feeding frenzy. “Once upon a time you had to go into a store to hear about the release date; to find out what was dropping that weekend, “Johnson says. “Now, with the internet, it doesn’t matter whether you’re in rural Ohio or in New York City, you’re going to know about the product at the same time. It has expanded the sneaker community exponentially. Tons of people now know about a sneaker they would normally not.”

Does he see the internet ruining the brick-and-mortar, mom and pop shops, more than it already has? “Retail will settle back down,” he says.

“Convenience is what people are into—paper towels delivered to your front door—but nothing can replace human contact. Life is about what you’re experiencing, and it’s not usually sitting behind a computer.”

“ YOU C A N G O BUY YOUR S HOE S FROM ANYWHERE, BUT WITH A STORE LIKE OURS, YOU G ET TO SI T D OWN, SPEND TWO HOU RS TALKI NG AND MAYBE BU Y SOME THING , OR MAYBE NOT.”

“We took the beat from the street and put it on TV.”

When I ask Dionte who his biggest influences were when he first started out in the sneaker/fashion world, he cites his favorite nineties’ shows and actors: Martin, Will Smith, and even Seinfeld (with those dope white running shoes and jeans—not!). “I was heavily influenced by what I saw on TV because they were setting the trend. It was how I saw what other people were experimenting with.”

“My Adidas only bring good news.”

Run-DMC is from Hollis, Queens, and Dionte from Columbus. Big difference. But nobody can deny they both have a love for the squeaks of their sneaks. Their collective “sole” has brought communities together and left an indelible footprint.• Sole Classics is located in the Short North at 846 N High St. and in Dublin at 6391 Sawmill Rd. Visit soleclassics.com for all the latest sneaker looks.

614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

85

g n i t t Cu es ed g J

Royal Arts Fencing Academy Combines Sport and Swordplay

BY J. R . M C MI L L A N • P H OTOS BY B R I A N KA I S E R

ulia Richey has a persuasive presence, even without a sword.

Since immigrating to the U.S. two decades ago, she’s managed to parlay her passion for fencing into an ever-widening community of athletes and enthusiasts well beyond Central Ohio. A member of the Russian National Team since her teens, Richey’s credibility may only be matched by her charm. Point of fact, her continued requests for more stage time at the Arnold Fitness Expo ultimately led to the construction of her own stage. (It probably didn’t hurt that Schwarzenegger himself is a huge fan of both fencing and its unapologetic ambassador.)

“My goal is to make fencing more popular in Columbus than football,” she quipped.

Then again, maybe she wasn’t kidding. Despite the long odds of success for anyone starting a small business from scratch, Royal Arts Fencing Academy has adapted and expanded to encompass a rich range of edged weapons and combat styles—most notably HEMA, the less cumbersome acronym for Historical European Martial Arts.

“The HEMA groups are like we were 20 years ago, practicing in yoga rooms and parks. Fencing clubs are a natural fit because we

have our own space,” revealed Tim Mills, fencing coach and Richey’s business and creative counterpart.

From Lord of the Rings to Game of Thrones, medieval fantasy meets real metal with HEMA. Despite the persistent stigma of “nerds with swords,” the mix of fight choreography and full-contact combat surely burns more calories than another boring trip to the gym.

“Someone who starts here with a longsword may also decide to pick up a rapier. There’s a lot of crossover and common skills— distance, timing, angle, and leverage,” explained Frank Zamary, head HEMA instructor. “If you have those basic components, you can fight with any sword.”

Not that there’s a shortage of “nerdoms,” Zamary coyly ” confessed. And Mills was quick to note the social overlap between evenings spent playing Dungeons & Dragons and wielding actual weapons was quite high at Royal Arts.

“It’s a very nerdy place,” Richey confirmed. “This is the only time you’ll hear parents tell their kids to put down that book and go work out.”

Competitive and recreational fencing haven’t been immune to

“My goal is to make fencing more popular in Columbus than football

86

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

the increasing fears of parents when it comes to sports, as seen by dramatic declines in youth football in particular. Add to that the common perception of swordplay, and you’d think fencing would be an even tougher sell.

Fortunately, Richey and Mills are adept at emphasizing the unique benefits of fencing while allaying such concerns. Much like other martial arts, the precision and discipline required often help students find the focus and attention to detail necessary for academic success as well.

“That’s the hardest part, overcoming the idea that fencing is more dangerous than other sports when it’s actually safer than most,” Mills noted. “We do a lot of public exhibitions, for parents as much as the kids. If I can put a sword in your hand, you’ll get hooked.”

But summer camps and workshops aren’t just for kids. The schedule offers adult classes ranging from lightsabers (yes, you read that correctly) to bartitsu—a combination of kickboxing, cane fighting, and improvised combat popularized by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle that’s seen a recent revival. Last June, Benedict Cumberbatch famously fought off four muggers single-handedly with skills he acquired during his stint as the BBC’s Sherlock Holmes.

“Someone gave me a Groupon as a gift for the lightsaber class, and I just kept coming,” admitted Shaun Reed, who now teaches the class.

“Tim asked me to help work on choreography for the Arnold a few years ago. I’ve been here ever since.”

There is definitely an action hero allure all around, and the Arnold Fitness Expo is inextricably at the center. Folks around Royal Arts actually measure their tenure by “how many Arnolds” they’ve done, going so far as declaring “Arnold Eve” and “Arnold New Year” unofficial holidays marking the culmination of one event and

“That’s the hardest part, overcoming the idea that fencing is more dangerous than other sports when it’s actually safer than most” immediately planning for the next.

“Last year we did rapier. We’ve done lightsaber and longsword; we used to just do sport fencing. This year, we’re doing shashka for the first time,” Mills explained. “There’s no guard, so it’s a lot like a lightsaber in the way that it moves.”

Even for those unfamiliar with the proper name of the Russian military saber, the fluid fighting style is surprisingly reminiscent of a galaxy far, far away. The lack of a guard, the typical separation between the blade and the handle, allows the saber to be spun with astounding speed.

“Shashka has been a traditional saber since the Czars. Cossacks used it as their primary weapon,” explained Richey. Both she and Mills will demonstrate the saber’s signature “flankirovka,” or spinning blades, in full Cossack attire. (Workshops are forthcoming.) “It’s a complete upper body workout, especially the arms and shoulders.”

The wider array of options at Royal Arts doesn’t diminish fencing as its most popular offering. Much like the Arnold Sports Festival, it’s a recognition of the cultural shift away from simply training for athletes to activities to improve fitness and focus for anyone.

“Olympic fencing has more personality than people think. You can’t be too aggressive or too shy,” Richey revealed. “Fencing is a sport that combines the mind and body. It teaches you not to think too far ahead and to recover quickly. It’s all about finding balance.”• For more details on upcoming classes and workshops, visit royalarts.org.

614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

87

A Quest For The Booty No shortcuts to a big butt

I

BY MI TC H HOOP ER P HOTO BY BR I A N KA I SER

n the age of Instagram, online personalities take a different approach to how they present themselves. A person’s IG tiles are typically flooded with beautiful photos of travel destinations, delectable meals, and booty pics? Wait, what? That can’t be right?

Or perhaps it is. In 2019, the de-sexualization of bodies and the focus on self-love and body positivity seems to have reached a cultural high point. No longer do we live in the days of shaming someone for posting a fitness pic that showcases their derrière.

Instead these photos are often met with “Yaaas queen!” and plenty of fire emojis. Whether it was the wave of Kardashians taking over the internet or cultural icons like Beyonce and Rihanna pushing modern-day boundaries and stereotypes, curves are being celebrated as well as sought after.

But how does someone begin this journey to find their booty? A quick search on YouTube might point you in the direction of 15-minute workouts that are “sure to improve your glutes by next month!” but don’t count on these clickbait vids to give you the look you want. Taylar Marshall, personal trainer and diet coach at Bair Aesthetics, explained that sculpting your ideal booty takes time, patience, and a lot of work. Bair Aesthetics is a science-based team of personal trainers who live by evidence and facts to back up their tactics in the gym. (614) recently picked Marshall’s brain about expectations and reality in the world of booty-building.

(614): What would you say is the secret to lifting your booty?

Marshall: The only way to “lift” is to grow your glutes! Growing your glutes takes years—eating in surplus, and lifting heavy.

(Compound movements.)

Your glutes are a huge muscle [group] so it takes time.

88

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

So people looking for a shortcut to a Kardashian butt might find this journey more challenging than anticipated?

Exactly. Most people carry most of their fat in their butt, so they’d have to lose most of it then eat and lift to grow the muscle to make it tighter.

BBL (Brazilian booty lifts) are HUGE right now and most influencers have had surgery [because] you can’t get a “Kardashian ass” without a BBL. It sounds like these things just take time and effort.

Exactly! Our whole team’s motto is “No bullshit, just science,” so I can’t make something up because it’s trending. That’s literally everything we’re against.

Does a lot of booty lifting begin with your diet to help shed the fat on your butt?

If someone is overweight, yes. However, lifting heavy with compound movements is essential as well. Most people think that lifting heavy will make them bulky or manly when that’s not the case at all. You can get GREAT feminine curves [by] lifting heavy and eating right. The “manly” women that people talk about are most likely enhanced or they have been lifting for years and have muscle maturity. You don’t just wake up one day really manly and bulky-looking.

Is booty lifting why kettlebells and resistance bands are becoming so popular now?

Yes. KBs and bands are great for certain exercises and there’s a time and place for them in exercise programs, but if anyone is trying to sell a “booty-building” program with a ton of KBs, body weight, and resistance-band training without compound movements, be prepared to waste money. (Some) influencers will do the heavy compound movements, but won’t promote or share them because that’s not what sells.

So what should a booty-building routine encapsulate?

So most of our athletes outside of lifestyle clients are bikini competitors. With bikini, the emphasis areas are round high glutes, hamstrings, and delts. Nothing striated, feminine, etc., and we have most girls hitting legs at least twice per week with maybe an additional third glute day added with upper body that would include band work. My suggestion would be to hit legs twice, a chest/tricep/ shoulder day, [and] back/biceps so you don’t create any imbalances.

A lot of women skip chest day and will in turn have back problems because of the imbalance. And stay off the cardio equipment, maybe two or three 15-20 minute sessions—but any more than that isn’t going to help you grow a booty at all. But, if their diet isn’t on point and if they’re under eating (because most women do) nothing is going to grow.

I know it takes time and it’s definitely subjective, but when do people start to see results?

I would say commit for at least three months and I would also tell people to take pictures every week or every other week to compare.

Any other final words of wisdom for people on their quest for a better booty?

To take everything you read in the media at surface level. Any plastic surgery used to be “hush-hush” and it’s becoming more mainstream and the “norm” to get botox, lip injections, fillers, breast augmentations etc. Now, BBL or butt implants are the hush-hush thing. So if you see a celebrity with a huge butt and small legs using body weight or light weight for glute exercises, know it’s because it’s most likely fake. In the next few years people will be like, “Yeah I get my butt done,” like they do with lip injections. And if someone is very unsure [about booty lifting fitness], reach out to a trainer with credentials.•

To get in contact with Taylar Marshall, shoot her an email at taylardfitness@gmail.com, or follow her on Instagram at @ tayfit_13. To get in touch with Bair Aesthetics, send an email to Dylan Bair at bairaesthetics@gmail.com.

614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

89

90

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

Suburban She Hulk “ World’s Strongest Woman” from Westerville breaks odds, records, and expectations

BY J. R . MC MI L L A N | P H OTOS BY B RI AN KAI SER

When Brooke Sousa stepped on stage at the Arnold Classic’s Strongwoman competition for the first time in 2016, she’d already beaten the odds. The mother of two from Westerville had dropped 115 pounds and completed her first marathon before pivoting to weightlifting. But she was still an unranked amateur with no expectation of even placing.

Sousa finished dead last in every event. It wasn’t the first time.

“Running was something I’d hated since elementary school. When we’d run the mile, I was always the last kid around the block,” she confessed. “At 10 years old, I was 180 pounds. I was the fat kid who hoped I might someday be famous for my artwork.”

She pursued that passion at the Columbus College of Art and Design, but it was her two young daughters who inspired her unlikely origin story—to get in shape and forge a new path. However, when Sousa joined a local gym, it was her raw strength, not her size, that stood out most among her fitness class.

“The lowest weight I could get down to was 215 pounds.

I weighed more than that as a teenager, trying to fit in with what America expects a woman to look like,” Sousa recalled.

“But I could lift a 15-pound barbell, so they called me She Hulk and the name stuck.”

That was six years ago. Last summer, she lifted a little more.

At a competition in Norway this past July, Sousa lifted 285 pounds simultaneously with each hand in the “Hercules Hold,” carried nearly 600 pounds in the “Timber Yoke,” and dragged 17 rolling tons in the “Truck Pull” to win the heavyweight division and the title “World’s Strongest Woman.” •

But that first Arnold measured a different kind of strength. Sousa’s sacroiliac joint, or SI, had locked up her lower back days before the competition. She knew it was still better for future qualification to compete than withdraw. But she also feared serious injury. It was ultimately the realization that she needed a new coach, and a new approach.

“I spent four months researching coaches to make sure I would be ready for Arnold 2017. I was undertrained and underprepared,” she lamented. “That’s how I met Matt Wenning. He competed for 25 years and set three world records without ever being injured.”

Wenning’s Westside gym in East Franklinton, Ludus Magnus, was the right fit all around. Bearing the same name as ancient Rome’s most prestigious school for gladiators, it offers a modest mix of old school black iron and custom equipment for serious competitors.

“Matt’s created a couple pieces of equipment, like the belt squat machine, that taught me how to use my hips correctly,” noted Sousa.

“When I first started here, I could only lift the frame, which is 45 pounds, without knocking my back out. Now I can load it up to almost 800 pounds.”

Bodybuilding and weightlifting are fundamentally different. The former is judged on appearance, the latter on performance. The two are practically as different mechanically as men and women: similar but not the same. And much like women’s hockey and soccer, there are undeniable advantages to a lower center of gravity, where a hip check or swift kick can beat their best male counterparts.

92

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

“At 10 years old, I was 180 pounds.

I was the fat kid who hoped I might someday be famous for my artwork.”

“I’d rather show judges what I can do instead of standing on stage looking pretty,” she laughed. “I actually gained 30 pounds training for my first marathon, and now I run with a 100-pound weighted vest to make myself heavier, to maintain my strength.”

But much like the men’s divisions, women’s weightlifting tends to come with injuries, often career ending. Since bouncing back from that first defeat and going pro in 2017, Sousa is now the only competitor of the original ten from that inaugural year still competing at the Arnold.

Though she didn’t rank first this time, she sees her weightlifting career as its own marathon.

“You can change the events and change the competitors and it’s anyone’s game. Our scores were all so close,” she explained. “I lifted a personal best in every event and I didn’t push myself into an injury. I’m still winning.”

That doesn’t mean Sousa isn’t pushing herself. In addition to training firefighters and other folk whose safety and ours rely on proper conditioning, she also makes time for an unexpected weightlifting clientele—children with autism. • 614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

93

“When I’m up on stage competing in front of fans and judges who’ve seen me before, it just pushes me harder.

They already know I’m strong. But now I’m stronger.”

94

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

“When I used to work out at a commercial gym, I noticed a therapist struggling to work with a young girl who had autism.

So, I offered to help,” Sousa recalled. “That’s what eventually led last year to The M Foundation.”

Named for two of her earliest and youngest clients, Maddy and Maggie, the nimble nonprofit couples Sousa’s experience and enthusiasm with a support staff trained in serving children with special needs into a novel approach to fitness and focus.

“When I started working with Maddy and Maggie, they didn’t have the balance to ride a bike, or squat without falling over because of weakness in their core,” she said. “I wanted to create a safe, fun environment for kids who often struggle to fit in, just like I did.”

Sousa’s work is more sophisticated than it outwardly appears.

Beyond basic fitness training, the resistance and feedback of lifting weights and exercise of specific muscle groups improves overall mobility and body awareness. The social component of group classes also helps students overcome an equally daunting limitation to acceptance.

“Maggie used to struggle to do a single push up, and now her favorite activity in the gym is the bench press,” Sousa explained.

“You have no idea how far she’s come to be able to rep out 85 pounds at 15 years old. She’s now to the point where she can help others use the equipment correctly, and has the social skills and self-confidence to do it.”

Sousa’s feats of strength are already becoming legendary.

But she knows The M Foundation is as much a part of her legacy, and the attention her physical achievements bring to her other ambition is a record that will last long after the awe and applause fade.

Though the She Hulk hook started as an aspirational nickname, it’s accidentally become a metaphor for metamorphosis—motivating others to look past appearance and ability to appreciate the true strength within.

“When I’m up on stage competing in front of fans and judges who’ve seen me before, it just pushes me harder,” Sousa said.

“They already know I’m strong. But now I’m stronger.” •

For more details on Ludus Magnus and The M Foundation, visit wenningstrength.com and themfoundationkids.org

614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

95

Fit4Mom exercise classes keep moms moving and kids entertained

stroller fabulous

BY L I N DA LEE B AI RD P H OTOS BY REB ECCA T I EN

I

was, shall we say, “resistant” when I read on the Fit4Mom website that I should bring a resistance band to class.

These are things that people own? I asked my husband, who assured me that they are not rare or dangerous objects used only by professional bodybuilders. As a mom who clearly doesn’t get enough exercise, I decided to go for it, and registered for a Stroller Strides class in the Worthington Mall. After lacing up my rarely-used running sneakers, I joined a group of about six moms with kids aged two months to five years–all chillin’ in their strollers–and got ready to work.

Instructor Shona Quiring started the class by modeling some low-impact but still heart-rate-raising moves we followed as we went around the circle, introducing ourselves and our children. We also responded to the question of the day: “Would you rather have a housekeeper, a cook, or childcare?” (Unscientific poll results: Columbus moms really want housekeepers.) These friendly icebreakers are one of the ways Fit4Mom builds community for members.

If I had to sum up the class in a single word, it would be “inclusive.” That not only describes the welcoming attitude of the instructor and other moms, but also the way that the workout builds in interactions with the kids—think jumping up and down while singing “Five Little Monkeys” to a little one in a stroller—and the accessibility of the exercises for all skill levels. By the time we broke out those resistance bands (one of which Quiring generously loaned to me), we were given choices about how to (614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

adapt the workout for our needs. I settled in at a pace that felt consistently challenging without being overly difficult—exactly the right level for a first class.

Fit4Mom Columbus North Owner and Instructor Terra Kubert told me later that this variety is by design. “Because it’s all levels, it doesn’t matter whether you’ve been running marathons, or you’ve been working out forever, or you’re just kind of getting back into it,” she said. “All levels” also means that the classes are prenatal and postpartum-friendly. The instructors are prepared to work with sleep-deprived moms and their infants as well as those with older children who might be ready for more vigorous exercise.

The ability to bring children to class addresses a huge barrier for moms who are trying to establish a fitness routine. “When my oldest was born, I didn’t want to put her in a gym daycare, and you can’t until they’re like six months old. And this gave me that outlet,” Kubert said.

The hour-long class included four rotations focused on cardio, strength training, and core work. We walked the length of the mall between each station—a nice stroll for moms and kids alike. (I chose not to bring my toddler or stroller, and it didn’t limit my participation, although I may have fudged some of the singing with no one to croon to.)

Stroller class in a mall worked surprisingly well. First, it turns out that about 50% of the people in the mall at 9:30 a.m. are there with strollers, as they are the ones both up and shopping at that hour. Second, the smell bacon and baked goods throughout class is motivation to work hard and have a reward afterwards.

“

Being a new mom, it’s been great to have that social aspect and connect with new moms and experienced moms.

“

98

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

In April, classes will move outside, so it will have to be BYOB(acon). Or not. With classes planned at Highbanks, Olentangy Park, and the Columbus Zoo, its possible to just get swept up in the scenery and forget about snacking. Kubert said that Fit4Mom is also planning weekly family classes that partners and other family members can attend, which will be followed by a family social event.

Whitney Tippett, who serves as Fit4Mom Columbus North’s Social Media Manager and Playgroup Captain, said that events are scheduled regularly and open to any mom who wants to join - even if she is not a Fit4Mom client. These include crafts and activities for kids offered once a week after class, as well as monthly “moms only” nights out. Tippett listed bowling, game nights, wine tastings, movies, and group manicures as some of their moms-night activities. In addition, Tippett organizes quarterly volunteer projects that moms can join to benefit the larger community.

Bethany Miller, who was in Stroller Strides class with her three-month-old son Oliver, said that she appreciated both the workout she got and the community she’d found at Fit4Mom. “Being a new mom, it’s been great to have that social aspect, and connect with new moms and experienced moms,” she said.

As for me, I’m feeling the workout two days later, but in a positive, “I did something good for myself” way. Resistance bands are just one more fear that motherhood has helped me conquer. •

Fit4Mom offers classes throughout Columbus. Visit fit4mom.com for classes and schedules.

614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

99

Plant and gardening advice from the experts at the Franklin Park Conservatory

BY OL I V I A M I LTN E R | P H OTOS BY B R I A N KA I S E R

T

he first few breezes of fresh spring air are reminders for how rejuvenating green is after a season full of snow, coats and blankets. Grand ambitions for gardens start to grow as well. But without a plan, many of the intentions for a yard full of blooms can fall into neglect.

To help any aspiring plant parent make the most of their budding green thumbs, Franklin Park Conservatory Supervisor Win Fox shares his wisdom for how to nurture plants both inside a living space and out in a garden.

THINK ABOUT SPACE AND LIFESTYLE When thinking about what kinds of plants are most suitable for a living space, the first consideration is the window location.

Plants need certain amounts of light, so northern or easternfacing windows are better suited for low-light plants, while southern or western windows can sustain plants that need a bit more sunshine.

Second, think about the actual amount of space available; the fiddle leaf fig—a crowd favorite, according to Fox—isn’t going to fit on a table, for example. “You’ve just got to make sure you have space for it because that’s a tree,” Fox said. “We have one at the conservatory that fills up our whole Palm House practically.

It’s 60 feet tall.”

Finally, Fox says thinking about how much care you are willing to dedicate to taking care of plants is important. There are plants, like the ZZ palm, that only require watering every now and then. But he says that once someone starts working with plants, they’ll only get more involved. “It’s one of those hobbies that, once you get the ball rolling, you can’t really stop.” •

100 (614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

BE AN ATTENTIVE, BUT NOT A HELICOPTER, PLANT PARENT Although some garden centers will advise plants be watered at specific intervals, say, once a month, Fox says knowing when to water is more based on what the soil looks like. Soil should never be bone dry, but if you stick a finger into it when the top layer is dry and feel some dampness underneath, you can probably wait a day or two to water.

Alternatively, the plant’s soil shouldn’t always be wet because then it could rot or even drown.

Fox recommends keeping plants on top of a saucer in a ceramic planter, which allows the plant to breathe, with a drainage hole on the bottom. A decent rule is that in the winter when plants aren’t growing as quickly, they need less water, whereas in the summer they might need more.

Additionally, first moving a plant from the store to a home can cause the plant stress.

Garden centers, for example, tend to be more humid and have more light, compared to the dryness and darkness of a house, particularly during the winter and early spring.

“Your plant might start to exhibit some signs of stress right away, and you think you’ve done something wrong,” Fox said. “Then you changed the environment again, and it’s still not doing better, and you kind of lose hope.”

When people ask him what’s wrong with

their plants, Fox says his frequent advice is to be patient. “[The plant] has just, you know, been through a lot right now.”

WANT TO START A GARDEN? MANY OF THE SAME RULES APPLY As in picking a house plant, deciding on a concept for a garden also means factoring in lighting. Summer annual vegetables have high light demands, so Fox says the garden needs southern exposure and at least six hours of direct sunlight per day.

Soil is the next consideration. Here in Ohio the soil has a lot of clay, which means people tend to amend theirs with compost or other organic material to ensure it has enough nutrients for the plants to thrive. With that in mind, Fox also said new gardens will tend to have enough nutrients in the existing soil to grow.

START SEEDS EARLY, AND KEEP THEM HYDRATED ONCE THEY’RE OUTSIDE Fox says plants available at garden centers starting in May are typically good options for a beginner garden. Tomatoes and summer squashes like zucchini are great for the warm season, but Fox even recommended

102 (614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

trying out fall squashes like pumpkins and butternuts. For those wanting to branch out a bit, Fox says at the conservatory they like to grow okra and beans, though those are prime target for bunnies and groundhogs.

If you want to start with your own seeds in the future, early spring is the best time to get those planted and growing in a sunny windowsill. Starting seeds early gives them time to germinate, sprout, and grow a few inches before it’s time to move them outside in May, once the chance of frost has passed.

In contrast, cool season vegetables like cabbages and broccolis can go in the ground in March.

Unlike house plants, the transition from inside to outside won’t cause as much stress to garden plants. They’re less finicky and tend to be happy in the ground, says Fox. The key to a successful planting, though, is to water immediately after the sprouts go in the ground and every day for a couple weeks until the roots expand into the surrounding soil, while monitoring for wilting, Fox said.

“You’ll be tending to them in their little pots, and they’ll have nice roots down in your potting soil, and they’ll be happy all the moisture’s going to be trapped in there.”

Fox said. “Once you get them in the ground, that will stress them a little bit…. Your soil is probably going to draw moisture away from the root zone.”

KEEP THE ANIMALS AWAY Gardeners have a wide range of innovative strategies to keep their plots animal- and bugfree. Fox says small fences work for rodents, groundhogs rabbits, and a bigger fence, if possible, will also keep away deer.

There’s also a strange variety of repellents.

Some use garlic and other spices and oils like cinnamon and clove. Some people use products that contain dried blood, which elicits a fear response in animals. Others hang aluminum pans that clang when the wind blows, or they’ll snag hair clippings from a local barber shop or salon, stuff those in pantyhose and make the garden area smell as if people are around.

Figuring out how to keep plants alive can seem like a daunting task, especially for those with a dismal history. But Fox says he and the horticulture team at the Franklin Park Conservatory are ready to give advice on keeping plants healthy and happy.

“If you’re looking for inspiration to anybody who’s looking to get into gardening, we’re a great place to stop by and our horticulture staff will be [...] happy to answer any questions that you may have.” •

The Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens offers gardening classes for kids and adults and several plant sales throughout the year.

Visit fpconservatory.org to more information.

614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE 103

Dream Tiny Tiny homes help owners live well, achieve freedom, and gain options

BY NATHA N COT TON PHOTOS P ROVID ED BY M OD ER N T I N Y L I V I N G

104 (614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

I

f you could trade in most of your possessions, along with the responsibilities that fall upon most homeowners, would you?

Could you live without a lawn, without most of your furniture, a driveway, and no space for guests?

Would you be comfortable in close quarters with an intimate partner? With children?

If these questions terrify you, run fast from Columbus tiny house pioneers Modern Tiny Living. But if you’re, at the least, intrigued—or outright excited—by the benefits of downsizing, this thriving company could hold the key to unprecedented freedom.

Founded in 2016 by a group of longtime friends, Modern Tiny Living is driven by “the opportunity to do something greater,” says co-founder Trent Maery.

“My friends and I have always sort of been unconventional thinkers, looking for ways just to—as much as it is financially but also through time—to have some sense of liberty. And we felt also that the tiny house movement is right in line with our values.”

The friends took stock of the existing tiny home industry and found room to innovate, working with an experienced architect already familiar with the unique specifications of tiny homes. They sought to shift the industry standard from small cabins to upscale, modern living spaces.

“The results and the feedback would suggest we were right: that people want to go tiny. However they might not necessarily want to

downgrade the quality of their interior. Hell, if anything, they want to upgrade because they say, ‘Alright, I’m not gonna go with the national average [mortgage].... Therefore I will spoil myself with a quartz countertop and tile backsplash, and this, that, or the other.”

MTL’s building process varies for each individual tiny house order, a flexibility due to its relationship with Amish carpenters in Northern Ohio, and a company insistence on excellent customer service.

Their three standard models—The Kokosing (24 ft. trailer, 256 sq. ft.), The Mohican (20 ft. trailer, 230 sq. ft.), and The Point (20 ft. trailer, 240 sq. ft.)—start between $59,000 and $69,000. Final price is dependent on financing, included appliances, and other customizations.

Each standard model has inspired dozens of custom variants, including a cowork space and coffee shop (“Upwork”), and a fully-solar, off-grid home with garage door and folding deck (“The Latibule”). Shells of their homes for the DIY-inclined are also available at roughly one-third of the price of a full tiny home.

“As builders out here, we bend over backwards to make our clients happy, and the degree of customization is incredible because that’s just where the industry is today,” says Maery. “Builders are willing to go above and beyond to just have one more happy client in that regard.”

That is, if buyers can overcome a couple of cumbersome barriers to entry, most notably financing and legality. The emerging industry, for all its marvel, is still hamstrung by lenders and local governments who are unprepared for the complexities of tiny living, unaccommodating to them, or both. • 614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE 105

Squeamish large banks are uncomfortable with the portable homes and the absence of corresponding property that a typical mortgage would include as collateral, leaving buyers to urge credit unions and small, community banks for RV loans.

“Still, most lenders are not interested in doing RV loans to tiny house manufacturers, usually because they’re afraid somebody’s gonna live in [the tiny house] full time,” explains Maery. “It’s obviously a depreciating asset so you can’t really compare it to dirt that you get with the house on a traditional home.”

But hope is on the horizon. Koala Financial Group, a specific tiny house lender, appears to have cracked the code, and could soon offer reliable financing to buyers at competitive rates with down payments of roughly 5%.

“What they’re promising sounds too good to be true, so I’ll be absolutely floored if they can deliver on it. But I pray that it works out because it’ll make getting a tiny home so much more feasible for hundreds of thousands of people,” says Maery.

If affordable financing can be achieved, buyers must then deal with the patchwork of municipal and county codes that prevent tiny houses from being parked legally in certain areas. The city of Columbus and adjacent suburbs maintain building codes and/or zoning regulations that exclude tiny houses from being considered legal living spaces.

Ways to go tiny, without the tiny home So you’re not ready to take the tiny home plunge yet. Happiness really can be about wanting less, rather than having more. Try some downsizing ideas now, and maybe a tiny home will be in your future.

106 (614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

Storage Think vertical. Think wallmounted storage. Think ottomans and benches that open up to create extra storage space. Clear, stacking containers are best for frequently-used items.

Maery contends that an imminent exodus from conventional housing structures and mortgages looms if these issues are sorted out.

While tiny houses might seem perfect for nomadic, excitable travelers, the industry’s clientele is much more typical than you might expect. And if minimalism is an attractive concept, it’s less likely than pure financial reality to compel the curious to go tiny.

“A lot of people think of the tiny house industry—our clientele—as a bunch of nomadic people who just don’t want to be tied down to one location. I don’t think that’s it […] I don’t think they’re looking to get a tiny house because they’re minimalists.”

Maery has multiple theories as to why the tiny life is appealing, but believes that most of them boil down to a greater sense of freedom and more options.

“I think that’s a major benefit that tiny homes offer people is the option to have a place to live that they like, they’re proud of, they own, and it doesn’t feel like the word ‘mortgage’ is based on the word ‘death.’ It doesn’t feel like this is gonna be a bill until you’re dead. And that’s a nice liberating feeling—that you can go out to eat, you can take a vacation, and you don’t need to charge it, and you don’t need to be rich. You just need to downsize.” • Curious about tiny living options? Schedule a tour and ask questions at moderntinyliving.com/schedule.

Purchasing habits Consider the life cycle of each item you purchase.

How long do you plan to keep the item? How often will you use it? Where will you store it? What will you do with it after it is no longer useful to you? Something you don’t bring into your home is something you don’t need to store or organize.

Declutter That project you started but didn’t finish? Will you ever get around to it? What about those things you intend to fix but haven’t? Do you need that collection of trophies, memorabilia, or whatever, or would a set of pictures do?

Like Marie Kondo says, only keep things that bring you joy!

614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

107

local gardening centers offer expert advice for gardeners new and experienced

EASY

green

BEING

BY OLIVIA MI LT N ER | P HOTOS BY R EB E CC A TI E N

Y

our space is your little part of the world. What can you do to make it a little more alive? Plants are an obvious step in this direction, but bad luck and bad experiences can intimidate the new gardener. Fortunately, plant stores and garden centers around Columbus help make greenery more accessible to everyone, ranging from absolute beginners to gardening experts. Here are a few local options to help bring springtime blooms into your living space and gardens.

108 (614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

Stump

S

tump is aesthetically designed around the plants it sells. No ceramic creatures sit on the shelves, no butterfly magnets stick to the wall, even the soil is tucked away. The store is just plants in pots, providing inspiration for how the pieces on display could fit within a home.

One of the distinguishing characteristics about Stump is that it focuses on providing one-on-one consultations. Co-owner Brian Kellett says Stump employees like to talk to customers about how much care people are willing to invest in their plants and what their living situation is like. Travel frequency, available space and light, and how many people live in the house can all shape the advice Kellett may give. Even owning pets can be an important piece of information, since no one wants their plant to kill their cat. (Or vice versa.)

“The biggest misconception is it’s not as difficult as you would think,” Kellett said. “There’s certain rules that you kind of play by, like don’t over water.”

Kellett and his wife, Emily, first opened Stump five years ago.

While Emily was studying industrial design at the Columbus College of Art and Design, she started doing research on the horticulture industry, and with Brian, was inspired to open a plant store targeting millennials. Brian also studied and later taught at CCAD, and together they applied their artistic background into the aesthetics of the store: a minimalist, greyscale design that showcases the vibrancy of the plants they sell.

Because Stump focuses on houseplants, most of the species it sells are desert and tropical plants. It’s a great starting point for beginning plant parents, says Brian, especially since Stump provides personal service, and the experience can help prepare someone to be more confident in going to a larger garden center.

“It actually works really well because people build up their confidence at Stump and then they’re like, ‘Oh, now I can go to Oakland or Straders and I know what I’m looking at. I know what section of the garden center to look at,’ ” Brian said.

Check out: stumpplants.com.

614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE 109

Strader’s Garden Centers

T

he Strader’s Garden Center on King Avenue is small. Of course, it has all sorts of plants perched from floor to ceiling, including currently the trendy air plants that can grow almost anywhere in a house. But it’s also a treasure trove for quirky yard and house decorations to accompany the greenery, while also providing the tools needed to tend to the plants and keep up with yard work.

Strader’s Garden Centers is one of the most iconic garden stores in Central Ohio. Jack and Ruth Strader opened the first Strader’s Garden Center more than 60 years ago on King Avenue. Now, it’s grown to eight total locations through Central Ohio, some of which look very different from Stader’s current shop in Grandview.

Along Riverside Drive, near Dublin, Strader’s has an expansive greenhouse with rows and rows of plants, along with a selection of outdoor decor, making it a one-stop shop for all landscaping and gardening needs. They offer fairy gardens and bird houses, along with seasonal plants and flowers to create a garden center with pretty much everything a gardener needs.

Check out: straders.net.

110

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

111

Oakland

Nurseries

T

aking gardening and landscaping even one step further is Oakland Nurseries, which has wrap-around services and products for everything gardening and landscaping-related. Back in 1940, Gustav and Bertha Reiner founded Oakland Nursery in Columbus, and 10 years later they moved the business to its current Oakland Park Avenue location. The Reiners spent 40 years in their home in the North Linden area, and since they died their house has been transformed into a meeting and education space for green organizations in the area.

With almost 80 years of experience bringing plants into houses, businesses and public spaces around Columbus, Oakland Nurseries has plants for every person and every occasion.

Inside their garden centers, like one would expect, are seemingly endless variations of flowers, shrubs and trees, including the charming pawpaw tree, which bears America’s largest native edible fruit. This year, Oakland has over 300 varieties and over 10,000 rose plants available, the largest plant selection in Central Ohio.

112

(614) MAGAZINE APRIL 2019 614COLUMBUS.COM

But the garden center team provides much more than plants.

They also do landscaping, irrigation systems, lighting, streetscapes and holiday decorating. To get people excited and educated about plants, Oakland hosts programs like herbal mixology cocktail classes and “paint and sip” classes where participants make art and drink mimosas.

So no excuses readers. Get digging. It’s time to plant some roots. •

Check out: oaklandnursery.com

get digging.

i t ’s t i m e t o p l a n t s o m e r o o t s .

614COLUMBUS.COM

APRIL 2019 (614) MAGAZINE

113