2000

January 1

As the new millennium (in popular opinion if not technically) begins, Columbus welcomes its first ever black mayor, Michael Coleman, the rare politician who seems to be mostly respected by both sides. His term officially begins today. Like billions of others, I remember quite well where I was as the clock hit midnight on 1/1/00…and was disappointed to learn, when someone pointed this out to me a couple hours prior, that nothing was going to “happen” with this Y2K computer glitch nonsense, because it had already turned midnight in other time zones. Talk about a major plot spoiler.

Holiday In Lights at Griggs Reservoir is open for the last time this season, at a reasonable $7 per car load.

I was attempting to combine the personal timeline on this page, alongside what was going on citywide. But that started to get a little too unwieldy. It’s also fair to question who might possibly be interested in that junk. Assuming that you are, you can always click on the handy little arrow icon, like this one at the bottom right, to jump over to what was happening with me and my outrageous friends on that specific day. The only exceptions are where individual dates have their own standalone pages, which I’ve left intact. Overall I think this will work better. Understandably it’s still a work in progress, but here’s the first such icon:

January 6

Fats Billiard Emporium has Season’s End performing

January 7 

Men Of Leisure are at Fats

January 9

The Sawmill Road franchise of Borders hosts its first session of what is billed as “Sorcerer’s School” at 3pm. This is a Harry Potter themed club, meeting monthly, and this time around attendees will be making magic wands, chowing down on snacks, and discussing the books themselves. An appearance by someone playing Professor Dumbledore is promised as well.

January 10

City council decides to rescind a contract it has signed with OPI (Ohio Prison Industries) to remove asbestos from Ohio School for the Blind. It seems that OPI, who provide cheap labor in the form of prison inmates, were in violation of a city ordinance requiring that prevailing wages are paid for a project such as this.

January 12

The Afro-Rican Ensemble play at Gibby’s Riverview Dublin from 7-11pm.

January 13

Del’s Bread owner Del Sroufe discusses “How We Are Building a Vegan Community,” at the Community Resource Center, at 14 West Lakeview. Meanwhile, Melissa Mumby of Salomon Smith Barney chats about Investing 101 at the Sawmill Road Borders.

Dan Swartwout’s Comedy All-Stars takes the stage at Fats Billiard Emporium

January 14 

the night we attempt super gluing a microwave to my neighbor’s front door – for details, click the date.

January 15

Bedlam reunite to play this AC/DC tribute show at the High 5 down on campus. For details about this and other happenings, click the date.

For a complete rundown of High 5’s events for the year, please visit that page (link directly above).

January 16

Columbus Symphony Orchestra musicians John & Mindy Ewing are playing for free at the North Market. This is part of the “Music + Market” series, currently held on the 3rd Sunday of every month. Columbus Children’s Theatre presents The Three Little Pigs. Some creature called Bunnicula foists itself on unsuspecting patrons, at the Sawmill Road Borders. Dr. Alexandra Shecket Korros visits the Agudas Achim Synagogue, delivering a history lesson on “The Pale,” a Jewish region under Tsarist Russia. Matt Avery is at White Horse Saloon. At the all new C Note Lounge, Lawrence Winfield is playing as part of the whole “jazz every Sunday” concept.

January 17

The King Arts Complex hosts an open house celebration for Martin Luther King, Jr., on this national holiday named in his honor. There are theatre performances, an exhibition of Elijah Pierce’s works in the gallery bearing his own name, and still another exhibition titled The Power Of One. Naturally, there are  numerous MLK photos on display, as well as a documentary playing throughout the day.

January 18 

Wild Oats Market on Lane Avenue welcomes very special guest Dr. Susan Richards, to discuss principles of a healthy holistic lifestyle. At Pearls Of Wisdom on North High Street, Jacquelin Smith explains “How Our Attitudes and Feelings Affect Animals.” Some sort of comedic one man show called The Male Intellect: An Oxymoron? hits the Southern Theatre, for a run that will continue through the 30th.

January 19

D. Patrick S. Osmer, Chair of OSU’s Astronomy Dept., explains what we know about the universe/origins of man. First Unitarian Universalist Church on Weshemier Road.

Graeme Boone discusses “Architecture & Counterpoint in the Fifteenth Century) at OSU’s Sullivant Hall, Music/Dance Library

January 20 

“Preparing for the 21st Century,” a lecture by Jerry Saunders and wife Gayle Saunders, is held at noon at the King Arts Complex.

January 21

Wexner Center’s two part German film series concludes with The Student of Prague and Waxworks.

January 23 

Dave Power & The Power House Trio are at C Note Lounge.

January 27

California Fitness Centers are hosting “pre-grand opening celebrations” at three locations around town. Visitors who take the tour are entered in a drawing for $500 cash.

January 28

As reported by The Other Paper, a brand new club on Chambers Road, Millennium, has to fork over $1500 because its “valet parking” crew is depositing clubgoers’ cars in the Lennox Town Center lot – which is then having them towed.

Higher Ground, which is some kind of head shop meets local art gallery, hosts a grand opening for this space they’re calling “Half Tone Gallery.” According to local free monthly Chickenhead, turnout is robust, with DJ Prism providing a live hip-hop soundtrack in the background.

January 29

Terry Davidson and the Gears are playing at Shorty’s. Damon and I catch some of the show in our travels.

Veranda, a store in Bexley selling imported goods such as furniture, antiques, and jewelry, hosts its grand opening party.

January 30 

Bobby Floyd plays at the C Note Lounge

January 31

Bill Moss from the Columbus Board of Education drops by North Linden Elementary to read I Know I Can to its second graders. This is part of a city-wide program encouraging these children to get pumped up about college.

At the City Council meeting, Mayor Michael Coleman addresses a bunch of under-utilized police substations, all around town, which he’d like to see put to better use.

February 1

Hard rock band Skillet is in town to (I’m guessing?) sign autographs at the Virgin Megastore over at Easton Town Center. Either that or just hang out. But they are definitely holding a contest to win a handcrafted guitar, autographed by the band! Or, you could go see Beck at Veterans Memorial. I feel like this is a fairly easy call.

February 3

Famed director Richard Linklater shows up at the Wexner Center, the first of two nights here. He answers questions and shows clips for a couple of hours, even chats with fans for an eternity in the lobby.

Hoo Doo Soul Band are playing at the Columbus Museum of Art, as part of the “1st Thursdays” series. The show runs from 5-9pm. As for the museum itself, among the features now are “Artificial Reality: Soviet Photography 1930-1987” and “Object Lessons: Selections from the Robert J. Shiffler Foundation.”

Over at Alrosa Villa, there’s a jam packed bill on tap: The Cro-Mags, All Out War, The Creeps, Final Summons, Shutdown.

Barrister Hall has the Afro-Rican Ensemble. Kim Pensyl Trio are at the Bexley Monk. Shuckin’ Bubba Deluxe play Braddock’s Grandview.

Dance Night at the Newport Music Hall. Rather than list every single event here, please visit that page for a rundown of their happenings.

2Co’s Cabaret, an offshoot of Shadowbox, opens its doors at 790 N. High Street. They will have food and drink service to the tables, while the focus at this location will be more dramatic than comedic. This satellite operation will share talent with Shadowbox, which moved to Easton in the summer of ‘99. They open without a stage and with the interior not quite complete. Upstairs is an art gallery – for the first month, photographer Eileen Wolford is featured. Opening night includes a one act play titled Neitzsche Ate Here along with poetry readings and live music. 

All of this, on a day where a major snowstorm hits, quite naturally.

February 4

Day two of the Linklater experience. Tonight they show his film Before Sunrise, after which, according to The Other Paper, he drifted down to the High 5 and watched Cobra Verde play. Thomas Jefferson Slave Apartments opened that show, which is semi-notorious in its own right, as it was during this set that singer Ron House announced that they were breaking up. This appears to have been a spontaneous decision stemming from an onstage altercation with his own guitarist, Bob Petric. I can’t help but wonder if Linklater had already arrived, and if he happened to catch any of this.

Dispute, 4 Stack, Ember 8, and In Black play the Alrosa Villa.

Orchestraville are in town from Athens, OH, playing at Oldfield’s on High. The band is reportedly so quiet that crowd conversation threatens to drown them out.

February 5 

Winter 2000 acting classes for adults begin at Catco, at a mere $125-$150 a pop. Fiddle maestro Regina Carter and her band tear up the Southern Theater stage.

February 6 

At Karl Road’s C Note Lounge, The Governor is playing.

February 8

Ohio State Board of Pharmacy commences day two of its three day conference, at the Vern Riffe Center on South High.

Cher is at the Schottenstein Center.

OSU student Chico Ballard is murdered in his own apartment, at 328 E. 17th Avenue. It occurred sometime after 3am, after some friends who’d been over to visit Ballard left for the night. Based upon the crime scene, police believe that the attacker was already waiting in the basement, biding time until those people left. Then flipped the circuit breaker to shut off power to the apartment. At which point Ballard grabbed his own handgun and possibly a flashlight, entered the basement to investigate, then was shot 3 times before he even had a chance to respond. His assailant attempted setting the body on fire before fleeing the scene.

This case remains unsolved, although the cops have always believed they know who killed Chico. Pretty much from the outset they’ve focused on a cashier at the nearby BP station, with whom Ballard had apparently exchanged words on more than one occasion. This is especially chilling to me because when I was living on campus from ’97-’98, we would always hit that gas station, particularly late at night, at the corner of Summit and 17th. The help there was a mixed bag, as you might expect from a neighborhood where you’re still technically considered in the campus area, but on the edge of some seedier regions. One such late night cashier I remember was a harmless goober, a pleasant college age kid who worked there for quite some time; but then at the opposite end of the spectrum, after he left, they had this other guy who would lock the door at seemingly strange times – it later turned out he was sneaking off to shoot up heroin on the job.

He didn’t last too long, so I doubt that’s the suspect in question. Regarding their presumed murderer, shortly after Ballard was killed, it turns out that a detective in robbery discovered someone was attempting to use a stolen bank card at an ATM, only an hour or so after the shooting: a card belonging to Chico’s girlfriend. They soon traced this effort back to the cashier at that BP, who claimed he had found the card on some steps in front of a bagel shop. And to date they have not been able to prove otherwise.

February 9 

Weird Al brings his singular brand of genius buffoonery to the Palace Theatre.

February 10

Contemporary Music Festival 2000 kicks off at Weigel Auditorium. Led by composers John Corigliano and Stephen Montague, this event claims to feature “the best in contemporary music,” although I’m not quite sure what this means. One of Montague’s own pieces, Wild Nights, makes its U.S. debut, though there is also something referred to as a “surrealistic bovine dreamscape.” Your guess is as good as mine. But anyway, there are three concerts at Wiegel (one each from the 10th-12th) and a final show at the Mershon, 8pm on the 12th.

OSUDance Winter Performance begins tonight at OSU’s Sullivant Theatre, continuing through the 12th.

On the professional front, King Thompson hosts its latest Career Night for aspiring real estate kingpins, at 2700 Airport Dr.

February 11

The Wexner screens a double feature of Prathibha Parmar documentaries. The Righteous Babes (female musicians of the 1990s) followed by Jodie: An Icon (singing the praises of Jodie Foster) begins at 7pm.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream (ballet) kicks off at the Riffe Center’s Capital Theatre, running through February 27th. I don’t exactly know much about ballet, but the Dispatch singles out Peter Chamberlain’s performance of Puck for praise.

John May is at the Polaris area Barnes & Noble store. Brass Band of Columbus and the Central Ohio Brass Band both play at St. John’s Church on East Mound Street.

Sebastian Bach is at Alrosa Villa, in a show the Dispatch will also profile at length. Local bands American Dog and Mr. Hyde open. Owner Rick Cautela’s 86 year old dad, Albert, apparently still tends bar here, and has the best quote in the entire article: “the rock n’ roll, I don’t like it,” he says.

Tom Russell and Andy Hardin are at Columbus Music Hall. At the Ohio Theatre, Columbus Symphony Orchestra presents “A Symphonic Valentine,” which features Wagner, Berlioz, Faure & Ravel pieces. This one runs through the 13th.

Thomas Jefferson Slave Apartments play what is billed as their last show, at Little Brother’s, opening for Scrawl. They had announced the breakup a week prior, but were already booked for this final gig. Please visit the Little Brother’s page for a complete recap of the year.

February 12

Though the site of former music venue Chelsie’s has sat empty since December, a one-off Valentine’s event is held here, an Erotic Art Show by some collective named Studio 243. There’s poetry, live music from Circadian, and so forth.

Author Delores Thornton is at the Martin Luther King Library (1pm) and Driving Park Library (3pm) to discuss her fiction writing career. Sandwiched in between these, at 2pm, local author and Alive columnist Pat Wynn Brown is performing a “literary stand-up piece” at the Kenny Road Borders.

One Cup At A Time on S. Yearling Road has it’s Valentine’s Day Bash, featuring musical guests Transcend.

Spoleto Festival USA is held a Capital University’s Mees Hall, a chamber music event featuring the works of Suk, Bartok, Schubert, Poulenc and Smetana.

The Big Creak are at Northberg Tavern.

Renowned poet Amiri Baraka brings Black History Music to the King Arts Complex. Among many other highlights from his illustrious career, Baraka (formerly known as LeRoi Jones) rubbed elbows with all the famous Beats back in the day and was part of that whole scene. You can find mentions of him in many of Kerouac’s works, for example, and he is one of the last living major figures from that era. Wow, and then The Stylistics, The Chi-Lites, and The Delphonics bring their package tour to the Palace Theatre. Both events are 8pm, so you’ve got to make some tough choices.

At the same time, Spoleto Festival USA Chamber Music Ensemble is ramping up at Capital University’s Mees Hall. A little earlier, at 5:30pm, ProMusica Chamber Orchestra of Columbus plays J.S. Bach by Request at St. Turibius Chapel, then takes their act down to Southern Theatre a little later in the evening. Whew.

February 13 

Jim Brickman, who is billed (by himself, anyway, or should I say his marketing team) as “America’s Romantic Piano Sensation,” plays Palace Theatre. From noon to 6pm, there’s a Borders Music Festival at the Sawmill Road location, featuring Clinton Rich, Bob Griffith and Michael Brown Jerome. At the Mees Auditorium, you can take in Capital University/Bexley Community Orchestra’s Winter Concert. Columbus Children’s Theatre, today and tomorrow, is holding open auditions for an upcoming musical production of Annie. IBADA plays the C Note Lounge.

February 14 

Columbus City Council gift wraps a very special valentine for the Campus Partners redevelopment squad. Though expressing some reservations, particularly council president Matt Habash, the CCC (an acronym I just made up) semi-reluctantly agree to authorize eminent domain for Campus Partners, in their quest to buy up block after block of south campus. A few pesky holdouts are holding up their plans of building a gigantic retail complex along High Street, but no longer. Councilwoman Charleta Tavares is the lone dissenter.

Over at Millennium, they host a somewhat strange release party dedicated to the newest album from The Cure, Bloodflowers, which goes on sale at midnight. It’s unclear whether there are any actual copies here for purchase, however.

February 15

Over The Rhine plays an hour long live set (2:30-3:30pm) at World Record. They also open up for the Cowboy Junkies at the Newport, later this same night.

February 16

Bela Fleck and the Flecktones are at Mershon Auditorium. Columbus Jazz Orchestra plays a tribute to trumpeter Sweets Edison at Southern Theatre, a show which will run through the 20th.

February 17 

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni speaks at the Thurber House as part of its Evenings With Authors series, 7:30pm, at Columbus School For Girls’ Shedd Theater.

Martina McBride and Mark Wills are at Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium.

Cannibal Corpse, Hate Eternal, God Dethroned bring the lite tunes n’ rays of sunshine to Alrosa Villa. Okay, they are actually referring to this package as “Death Metal Massacre 2000,” which is pretty freaking awesome – I’m surprised Rob Zombie hasn’t already used this in some capacity.

February 18 

Illusions Of Eden opens at Columbus Museum Of Art. This exhibit is focused upon the American Midwest and features the work of Hart Benton, Margaret Bourke-White, Malcolm Cochran, Maya Lin, Mary Lucier, Kerry James Marshall, Grant Wood and others.

The Stepford 5, Fabulous Johnson Brothers are at Oldfield’s (the one on High Street, I think)

Machinehead and Reveille are at Alrosa Villa

February 19

OSU basketball player Brent Darby only takes four shots all game, each of them from 3 point range, and sinks them all.

The Why Store are at Ludlow’s, with Blackwater opening.

February 21  

Arnett Howard is playing out on the floor and Chef Charles Langstaff is in the kitchen.

February 22 

Rent opens at the Palace Theatre and will run through the 27th.

February 24

Mayor Coleman delivers his first State of the City address.

The Bacon Brothers (famous actor Kevin and his bro Michael, who has won an Emmy as composer) perform at the Southern Theatre. Jeffrey Gaines opens.

February 25 

The Count Basie Orchestra plays its first of two nights at Ohio Theatre. Cringe, which I believe is actually a Mansfield based band, throw a CD release party at Alrosa Villa. Bad Boy Bill, a DJ from Chicago, performs at Red Zone.

February 26

Quite a day in the Cbus annals, yessiree…Queensryche are playing at Newport while Lynyrd Skynyrd (albeit with ZZ Top opening) bring endless guitar solos to the Schott. Does it seem like these two acts should be flip-flopped? I can’t be the only person entertaining this thought.

About halfway in between the two, presidential hopeful John McCain drops by the St. John Arena to give a speech. Attendance is pegged at about 2,000.

Club 504 has what they’re calling the “ultimate light show in Columbus,” with a special appearance by British DJ Jez Jonson. The ad also states that you can see the city skyline from their dance floor.

Weightless Recordings, an indie hip-hop label, has a CD release party behind Roots Records, in honor of both Greenhouse Effect’s Up To Speed and Illogic’s Unforeseen Shadows. But in addition to these two, there’s also a whole slew of performers, both local and from out of town: Aesop Rock, ATOMS Family, Bros. Grimm, Drastic, Lozone, MHz, Mista Rare Groove, Phaze, Prizm, and True Skillz complete, in alphabetical fashion, this insane lineup.

February 27 

Central Presbyterian Church at 132 South 3rd Street presents “The High-Street Four,” a recital featuring Charles Wetherbee and David Niwa on violin, Kenichiro Matsuda on viola, and Trevor Handy on cello, with special guest Caroline Hong joining them on piano. They will perform Six Bagatells for String Quartet Op. 9 (Webern), Quartet in D minor Op. 76 No. 2 Fifth (Haydn) and Piano Quintent in A Major Op. 81 (Dvorak). Show starts 3pm and tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for students.

Meanwhile, at Wild Oats, there’s a wine sampling event featuring 50 different reds, including Freestone Cab Sauv, golfer Greg Norman’s Cabernet Merlot, Allende, Duxoup ’97 Syrah and so on. There’s also live jazz music from Michael Arnold and “wild” appetizers. Tickets are $12 advance/$14 door.

February 28

The Handsome Family play at Bernie’s Distillery.

Rather than clutter this timeline with every show held there for the year, however, I’m listing them in an events calendar on the page itself. So please head over there if you’re curious what was happening at Bernie’s in the year 2000 and before/beyond.

March 1 

Though it’s possible the Dispatch Charities Home and Garden Show was here for more than one day, G.A. Benton attends this particular one and reviews it for Alive. Held at the Expo Center, among the attractions is Gourmet Galaxy 2000. Held in the Bricker Building, if I’m reading this correctly, it’s a series of cooking demonstrations presented by local chefs. Among these are Charles Langstaff of Fusion, and Travis Kawasaki of Strada’s World Cuisine, assisted by this house manager Cheryl Roderheffer.

March 2 

Libertys nightclub files for a Chapter 11 reorganization. This basically means that you are filing for bankruptcy, but are allowed to continue operating as a business anyway.

At the Riffe Center’s Capitol Theatre, OSUDance Downtown runs from today through March 4th. Billed as “dance at its best,” it also features the OSU Jazz Ensemble playing original pop songs.

March 3

Volodos, who is billed as a “Russian piano sensation” (and here you thought that was an extinct animal) will be massaging the ivories at Southern Theatre.

March 4

Melissa’s 21st birthday party, among other highlights. For details please click the date.

March 5

Buckeye Comic Con attacks a somewhat surprising location, the Holiday Inn on Roberts Road. Admission is only $2, with those 6 and under getting in free. There is also a free comic book handout to the first 25 people, and hourly drawings.

A screening of the Hitchcock classic Rear Window at Wexner Center for the Arts.

March 6

The irrepressible Arnett Howard plays a somewhat unusual gig, at Harold’s Cajun Glory Cafe on Bethel Road.

March 7

Fat Tuesday celebration at Harold’s Cajun Glory Cafe.

March 8

AM radio station 1460 (a.k.a. “The Fan”) has Blue Jackets general manager Doug MacLean on the air, alongside guest commentator Don Cherry, on its morning hockey show.

Afro-Rican Ensemble play at Gibby’s Riverside.

March 9 

Canzani Center Gallery at CCAD has an opening reception for their exhibits The Object Considered: Contemporary Still Life In Ohio, Illinois and Indiana and Charles A. Csuri’s In Search of Meaning, 1948-2000. These will both run from today through April 22nd.

The Other Paper’s weekly basketball column, “Hoop Scoop,” announces its first ever PPS Award (points per shot) which averages how many points each OSU Buckeye basketball made per shot. Surprisingly, Brian Brown is at the top of the list, whereas the much more famous (and soon to be drafted) Michael Redd and Scoonie Penn are resoundingly middle of the pack. The columnists stress, however, that this is only a ceremonial award, to keep the NCAA from freaking out and “executing him (Brown) at dawn.”

On the local music front, Johnny Rebel is at Anydman’s Treehouse. Afro-Rican Ensemble at Barrister Hall. Kim Pensyl Trio plays Bexley Monk. Conspiracy at Braddock’s Grandview. The delightfully named Hootie McBoob at Break-a-way. Jack Widner at Clarmont Steakhouse. DJ Frankie G at Club Bellagio. Tom Crumley at Club Diversity. Paradise Island at Counterfeit Heist. Terry Efaw at Crescendo Pastaria. The Elephant Bar has Milkbone Eddie. Cover band extraordinaire Shuckin’ Bubba Deluxe play Flannagan’s. DJ James Brown is at Garage. AJ Angelo at Gatsby’s. Kay & Molly at Grandview Cafe.  Bill Foley is at Hoggy’s Gahanna. Dave Powers with Aaron Scott & Dave Dewitt at Hyde Park Grille. Frank Ryslavy at K2U. Kelly Goodrich & the Rhythm Kings at Kristofer’s. Zedos are at Ludlow’s. Delyn Christian Trio at Rafter’s Beer Pub. Richard Lopez Trio at Rigsby’s. Matt Mahli at Shorty’s. Chris Logsdon (was this a trio? I feel like the name “Chris Logsdon Trio” rings a bell. Even so, he may have been solo anyway) is at Signature’s. Jeff Gurney at Tommy Keegan’s. L.G. Scott at Top Steakhouse. As Is at Victory’s, and Lloyd, One Man and His Music at VIP Lounge.

For national acts, we have The Chieftains at Palace Theatre.

March 10

Stepping Out Superstore has its grand opening, 10am at Bethel Center. It seems this is primarily a beach attire store, though also featuring “clubwear.”

Toast and Fred Haring play Andyman’s Treehouse. The highly accomplished trumpeter Pharez Whitted, who has recorded for Motown and played on a Mellencamp album, is at Barrister Hall. Bexley Monk has Dave Powers. Borders bookstore on Kenny Road, which somehow makes the “clubs” directory, has “booked” John Morgan, while the one on Sawmill has Kent Burnside playing. The Jack are at Break-a-way. Blues on the Rocks, ain’t no surprise, play Brian Boru’s. Chris Logsdon with or without trio endures the misery that is Buckeye Hall of Fame Cafe. Snatch Box Twinkie are at Cafe Bourbon Street. Jack Widner once again the Clarmont, DJ Frankie G Club Bellagio. Pete Tender is at Club Diversity. Matt Avery at Cosmo’s. Conspiracy are at Counterfeit Heist. James Elliot Project at Courthouse Pub & Grill. Dick’s Den hosts a Jack Kerouac Memorial Open Poetry Reading with the Joe Diamond Quartet. Delyn Christian Band are at Fat’s pool hall. Shuckin’ Bubba Deluxe enjoy a repeat engagement at Flannagan’s. The Crave and Eric Solomon are at Gatsby’s. Dave Bott at GC Grill. Shuckin’ Bubba (of the normal variety) are at Gibby’s in the Brewery District. Lloyd, One Man & His Music are at Hammond’s Bar & Brille. Donna Mogavero at Hearth & Eagle Tavern. Ma Rainy at High Beck. Kim Pensyl with Aaron Scott & Dave DeWitt at Hyde Park Grille. Frank Ryslavy, Kakis Family Green Band with Conchi are at K2U. The Tropics Island Band are at Kahiki. Big Daddy & Hot Damn at Key Club. From Ashes Rise, Flesh Eating Creeps, Crucible, Killed in Action are at The Lab. Chimney Fish at La Cantina. Jonzei at Ludlow’s. Mozart’s Easton has Tim O’Rourke playing and the one on High Street has Susan Walsh. Paradise Island are at Mulligan’s tonight. New Basics Brass Band and Freekbass at Northberg Tavern. Rich Meaty Taste at Plank’s Bier Garten. Biersdorf & Kolbe at Rafter’s Beer Pub. Pocket Fisherman at Short North Tavern. Soul Kitchen are at Signature’s. Snaps & Taps has live jazz and poetry.  Milkbone Eddie are at Tommy Keegan’s. Jerry Wolf at Top Steakhouse. Snow Shoe Crabs, a decent cover band, are at Victory’s. Hurricane Alley at the Whiskey Still. Joe Dunlap plays the Worthington Inn. DJ Russell Carey is at Zuey’s.

Bimbetta, a Baroque music five piece, are playing an intriguing show at Mees Auditorium – one which begins with a lecture, presumably by the band itself, half an hour before the performance. Columbus Symphony Orchestra is playing the “Czech nationalistic work” Smetna My Fatherland, and again on the 11th. Columbus Children’s Theatre stages a performance of Bridge to Terabithia. At Southern Theatre, Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus is performing something called The Women We Love. This will also repeat on the 11th.

March 11 

Something called “Hair Ball 2000” hits the Wexner Center. Described as “an outrageously wigged-out affair,” it’s also a fundraiser, for family and children’s programs. Tickets range from $25 to $35. There are hors d’oeuvres circulating about the room, alcoholic drinks served, music from first Tony Bananza Extravaganza, then DJ Glenn B. Prizes are at stake, too, for the most ridiculous hair.

March 12 

CATCO begins its run of A Raisin in the Sun at the Riffe Center. This one will continue through April 13th.

Henry Alford and Merrill Markoe are the latest featured speakers in Thurber House’s Evenings with Authors series. This one is held at CCAD’s Canzani Center.

March 13

Arnett Howard plays Harold’s Cajun Glory Cafe again. Maybe he has some connection to the place. This time around, he is joined by Chef Charles Langstaff.

March 16

Red Herring Theatre Company stages Oleanna by famous playwright/screenwriter David Mamet, from today through April 9th.

March 17

Union Station Video Cafe offers Irish stew, corned beef & cabbage, Rueben sandwiches, and Guinness Ice Cream Pie for St. Patrick’s Day. I’m not sure if this is out of the ordinary for them or not. Mary Black brings her blend of blues, rock, jazz and country to Southern Theatre.

March 19 

You have to hand it to the Sawmill Road Borders bookstore, they’re at least making a tremendous effort at keeping themselves relevant by booking a wide variety of events. On this day we have a twofer, both slated for 3pm. Ohio Historical Society presents a “prairie fun” event based on the Little House on the Prairie series of books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, featuring crafts, toys and costumes. At the same time, author Laurie Anthony will be elsewhere in the building, signing copies of her book Have A Great One! A Homeless Man’s Story. For this, Safe Mission is also dispensing info on how to help the homeless.

March 20

The awesomely titled Electronic Commerce Internet Training Series kicks off at Columbus State’s main campus. Running through the 24th, these courses are offered by visiting wizards from the Dayton Electronic Commerce Resource Center (or DECRC, if you’re interested in a little biz related lingo) and run the gamut from Getting Started With Electronic Commerce to Homepage Development and Homepage Development Lab.

March 22

The 2000 edition of Governor’s Awards for the Arts in Ohio is held at the Columbus Athenaeum. This luncheon and ceremony features keynote speaker Michael Eric Dyson.

The Columbus Jazz Orchestra brings a show titled Roaring Ragtime to the Southern Theatre. Starring Terry Waldo, Ruth Brisbane, Orange Kellin and Ty Stephens, this will run through the 26th.

Afro-Rican Ensemble are once again at Gibby’s Riverside.

March 23

The city is aswarm with hard hitting seminars. Fawcett Center on Olentangy River Road hosts “Leadership for Today’s Real Estate Managers,” while down at Columbus State Community College, it’s “WINGS 2000,” a forum for professional development. Meanwhile, a two day event at Capital University, held in what is apparently known as its Center For Dispute Resolutions, “Becoming A More Effective Mediator” negotiates its way into the room.

March 24 

Hoster’s holds a Columbus Crew Kick-Off Party, featuring the always in demand Afro-Rican Ensemble.

March 25

The Columbus Crew celebrate their home opener. The Other Paper’s “Crew Scoop” column ridicules the half-time show, during which they pretend to flatten Crew Cat (the mascot) and fire it from a cannon. Original Seattle punks Fastbacks play at The Lab. On the same night, Thirty Ear celebrates its 2nd anniversary with a Ronnie Spector show, former Ronnette/Mrs. Phil Spector.

Columbus Convention Center hosts this year’s edition of the Hip Hop Expo, featuring Greenhouse Effect and Illogic.

March 27 

Having given up on this notion of a Morse-Bethel connector, the Old Beechwood Association votes in favor of a new proposal. This one would cut through the Graceland shopping center, running between High Street and 315.

March 30

Merle Haggard performs at Club Dance. The ratio of drinking songs versus other types of songs seems to clock in at about 2:1.

As far as local musicians are concerned, Paul Brown’s Science Gravy Orchestra is at 501 Bar. Willie Phoenix plays Andyman’s Treehouse. Afro-Rican Ensemble is at Barrister Hall. Kim Pensyl Trio are at Bexley Monk. Hootie McBoob play the Break-a-Way. Jack Widner is at Clarmont. Marion Dees at Clique, DJ Frankie G at Club Bellagio. Tom Crumley plays Club Diversity. Conspiracy are at Counterfeit Heist. Terry Efaw at Crescendo Pastaria. Madrugada are at Dick’s Den. Milkbone Eddie is at Elephant Bar. The Whiskey Saints at Flannagan’s. DJ Jeff Pons at fm. DJ James Brown at the Garage. Eric Solomon at Gatsby’s. Grandview Cafe has Sirens with Kay & Molly. Hoggy’s Gahanna has Bill Foley. Dave Powers with Aaron Scott & Dave Dewitt are at Hyde Park Grille. KSU has Frank Ryslavy. Kelly Goodrich & the Rhythm Kings play Kristofer’s. The Muv-Ment are at Le Metropolitain. Shuckin’ Bubba Deluxe are at Ludlow’s. Moonshine play Northberg Tavern. Sugar Buzz are at Otani. Delyn Christian Duo play Rafter’s Beer Pub. Richard Lopez Trio are at Rigsby’s. Matt Mahli at Shorty’s. Chris Logsdon plays Signature’s. Fat Dog are at Slapsy Maxie’s. Jeff Gurney is at Tommy Keegan’s. L.G. Scott is at Top Steakhouse. Gene Walker plays Whitehouse Bistro. Joe Dunlap the Worthington Inn.

March 31

The Ohio College Republican Federation descends upon OSU. Running through April 2 and bouncing between venues as varied as Longaberger Alumni House and the Lane Avenue Holiday Inn, guest speakers include Governor Bob Taft and yet another presidential candidate, John “Just In” Kasich.

Valley Dale Ballroom opens up for a Toughman World Championship Series event. In essence, this is a competition aimed at crowning the best amateur back alley boxer. Over the course of this two day competition, Jason Smith (heavyweight) and Don Shruck (light heavyweight) take home the hardware, and are able to move on to the regionals.

Insane Foo Fighters and Chili Peppers twin bill at the Schottenstein Center/Value City Arena. Looking at something like this in retrospect makes me wonder what it god’s name else I could have possibly had going on this night, instead of being here. They even have Muse for an opening act. Yet, as it turns out, Dave Grohl is too ill to perform, so the Foo Fighters bow out anyway.

On the local music scene, The Grinders are at 501 Bar. Julie Ivory & Doug Slyman play the 94th Aero Squadron. Barefoot Jubilee are at Andyman’s Treehouse. Anna Sheer is at Barley’s Cafe. The Pharez Whitted Quintet plays Barrister Hall. Dave Powers the Bexley Monk. Blue Coyote are at Big Daddy’s. Doug Wood plays the Borders bookstore on Sawmill Road. Terry Davidson & The Gears are at Break-a-way. Chris Logsdon returns to the Buckeye Hall of Fame Cafe. Overdrive are at Cadillac Jack’s. Jack Widner plays the Clarmont. The Governor is at Clique. DJ Frankie G plays Club Bellagio.  Pete Tender Club Diversity. As Is attempt to pull off the Counterfeit Heist. James Elliot Project plays Courthouse Pub & Grill. The Tailgaters are at Dick’s Den. The Reaganomics are at Flannagan’s. DJ Mike Poe at fm. John Schwab Trio and AJ Angelo are at Gatsby’s. Dave Bott plays GC Grill. Shuckin’ Bubba play the Brewery District Gibby’s. Lloyd, One Man & His Music are at Hammond’s Bar & Grille. Donna Mogavero is at Hearth & Eagle Tavern. Kim Pensyl is at Hyde Park Grille, with Aaron Scott & Dave DeWitt. Paradise Island play Jillian’s. Frank Ryslavy, Kakis Family Greek Band with Conchi are at K2U. The Tropics Island Band play at Kahiki. Snow Shoe Crabs play Ludlow’s. Tim O’Rourke is at the Easton Mozart’s and Susan Walsh is at the High Street one. Don Haines & the Blue Heart Jewels play Mulligan’s. Conspiracy are at the Short North Tavern. Second Nature are at Signature’s. Snaps & Taps has live jazz & poetry. Jeff Gurney plays Spike’s Patio Bar. Moonshine are at Tommy Keegan’s. Jerry Wolf is at Top Steakhouse. Joe Dunlap is at Worthington Inn. DJ Russell Carey is at Zuey’s.

April 1

Billing itself as “Ohio’s only dedicated scooter shop,” Supersonic Scooters has its grand opening, at 1386 # B Fields Avenue. The Sugar Buzz Trio, a jazz band, plays at Otani. Fly Paper are at 501 Bar. Andyman’s Treehouse has Rymocerous for an early show, then a late show consisting of Quinn Fallon, Jason Clayton, Christian from Templeton and Keith from Stepford Five. Tony Monaco Trio are at Barrister Hall. Pete Tender the Bexley Monk. Steve Free at the Sawmill Road Borders.

April 4

Savion Glover, representing in part the advertised “four generations of tap genius,” is at the Wexner Center alongside James “Buster” Brown, Jimmy Slyde, Dianne Walker, and Cartier Williams, a “10-year-old-sensation.” They are here on the 5th as well, and student tickets are half price.

April 5 

Korn hit the Schottenstein Center.

A group of OSU’s organized workers (they belong to Communication Workers of America Local 4501, commonly abbreviated as CWA), who are planning on striking if demands are not met, stage a rally on the Oval, over by Bricker Hall.

April 6 

Another CWA rally, this time before the OSU Medical Center.

April 7

The local school board votes in favor of spending about $70K, for security assigned to superintendent Rosa Smith. Bill Moss is the lone dissenter.

Pinehurst Kids perform at Firexit. Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young bring their reunion tour to the Schottenstein Center.

April 8

Then you see something like this, that Creed are playing the Schott, and you think, hmm, okay, clearly they’ll book just about anyone here.

Troubadour Fest, whatever this is – whatever this is at all – is taking place at the Southern Theatre, and has to be a better use of your time/money.

April 13

A group called Vaud-Villities brings a singing and dancing version of the Michael J. Fox classic Bright Lights, Big City to Veterans Memorial. At least I think that’s what this is. A repeat performance follows on the 14th.

April 14 

It hits about 70 degrees today, a most welcome sunny one after these chilly weeks. We were teased with two 80 degree days in early March, and have been spoiled ever since.

Davis Discovery Center stages a recreation of the Marx Brothers’ Animal Crackers. There are 5 performances in all, running through the 22nd. Easton Town Center’s Easter Bunny Display begins, running through the 22nd.

April 15

Another 70-80 degree day, just awesome. In other developments about town, Nine Inch Nails are sent here to impale the Schott. Of particular interest to local music fans is that Jerome Dillon, formerly of Howlin’ Maggie, is now NIN’s drummer. A Perfect Circle opened, and yet even so, according to The Other Paper, this was a ho-hum, not exactly sell out crowd for the duration of the event.

April 16 

Neale Donald Walsch, in what the ads are billing as “a Rare COLUMBUS Appearance” will bring his Conversations With God roadshow to the Fawcett Center. Further described as “an uncommon dialogue on spirituality, social responsibility, and politics,” it also features special guest John Hagelin, Ph.D.

April 21

The Flaming Lips hit the Newport, with Looper as an opening act.

April 22

Anna’s Restaurant on Sawmill has DJ Zaza perform, as part of this whole “Aegean Nights” theme. The appearance of the “Easton” Bunny at Easter Town Center comes to an end, following one final Spring Fling today. Vendors are on hand selling plants and otherwise springtime related merchandise.

April 24

Oasis plays Palace Theatre. Stephen Slaybaugh gives the show a savage review in Columbus Alive, although he was impressed by opening act Travis.

In slightly less revolting news…10 cent Slyder night returns to Cooper Stadium! That’s right, for the 7:15 Clippers game vs. Indianapolis, White Castle Slyders are just 10 cents apiece. I know this is a popular promotion and all, but the ad refers to these as “delicious” – this is going a bit too far. I mean who are we kidding, here.

Summer classes begin at Franklin University.

Arnett Howard is at Harold’s Cajun Glory Cafe.

April 25

As far as elsewhere around town…the most notable event happening today is maybe highly overrated throwback artist D’Angelo, performing at Palace Theatre, with Mos Def as an opening act. I would rather see Mos Def.

April 26

There’s a rally outside the statehouse from 11am-1pm, sponsored in part by Crime Victim Services. The theme of this rally is “Tools for Tearing Down Sexual Assault: It Begins At Home.”

A bunch of protesting CWA union workers and the students who encourage them storm the administration building at OSU (Bricker Hall) and stage a chant-fueled sit-in.

April 27 

Balletmet stages a performance of Sleeping Beauty in conjunction with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. Held at Ohio Theatre, it runs through the 30th.

It’s another hot day, as they have all been since Monday.

April 29

Today approximately a thousand Commercial Workers of America members march, from their headquarters clear over to OSU president Brit Kirwan’s.

Mouse on Mars are at Firexit.

May 1

CWA Local 4501 goes on strike, which isn’t exactly a shocker. This high profile standoff has been playing out for weeks. As long as they’re out, OSU takes a hit on the maintenance/janitorial front.

May 4

The Wexner Center kicks off its Mental Hygiene film series focusing upon the (now) hilarious (assuming they weren’t back then, too) so-called educational “hygiene” flicks from the 1950s. On the 5th, author Ken Smith, who has written a book about said films, will be on hand to discuss them and sign autographs.

NYC jazz band Guaranteed Swahili take the stage at Dick’s Den.

As they have been every Thursday, Afro-Rican Ensemble play at Barrister Hall.

Fenster play at Oldfield’s on High.

May 5

The three day Columbus Academy Antiques Show kicks off on Cherry Bottom Road in Gahanna. Among the guests, on “Sensational Saturday” there’s Stephen Earle – sorry, not the Nashville legend, but rather style editor for Martha Stewart’s magazine.

Wyclef Jean plays an interesting and unusual venue: the OSU oval. Tickets are $20 for students but $25 for the rest of us common folk.

At the Wexner Center, Ken Smith signs copies of his book and introduces a couple more movies.

Soul Finger are at Oldfield’s. Stonebyrd are at Short North Tavern.

May 6

We’ve been blessed with excellent weather for about two solid weeks, and today was probably the best of all. Sunny and hot, hot, hot.

As far as what’s happening around town this fine day/evening…the Crew did play a home game against the MetroStars. There was a pre-game party kicking off at 6pm, featuring live music from The League Bowlers.

Elsewhere, Michael Hurley, Holy Modal Rounders, Tull Glazner and Jim Sperry played at the Central Ohio Folk Festival. This is billed as the 4th Annual iteration of the event, and is held at First Unitarian Church, 93 W. Weisheimer. Though the concert itself doesn’t kick off until 7pm, there are workshops of some sort as early as 9 in the morning.

Howlin’ Maggie are at Oldfield’s. Controversy are at Short North Tavern. This being the first Saturday of the month, it is a Gallery Hop night.

May 9 

Heritage Festival begins on OSU campus. The Sigma Gamma Rho Fashion Show, at 7pm in the Ohio Union East Ballroom, is when things formally begin. This festival, which runs through the 14th, is a major networking opportunity for black college students in the region. BET is even covering the occasion.

May 10

Afro-Rican Ensemble are at Gibby’s Riverview in Dublin, as they will be again on the 24th. Concert of Wills: Making The Getty Center plays at Wexner Center for the Arts.

May 12

The CWA picketing on campus turns ugly. There’s at least one fist fight, and someone else manages to get his/her foot run over by a truck.

Wynton Marsalis rustles up the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra for a performance at the Schottenstein Center. They are joined by a dance troupe and a vocalist, Milt Grayson, with a set list targeting distant classics from the like of Basie and the Duke. The Other Paper reviews this show and raves about LCJO drummer Herlin Riley. Apparently the event turned into a bit of a swing dance party, with standards such as The Second Line and King Porter Stomp among those performed.

The African-American Heritage Festival, held on the OSU campus, brings out a crowd in excess of 20,000, and again on the 13th as well. Among the highlights is a party at French Fieldhouse. Police spokesperson Sherri Jones is quoted in Columbus Alive as saying, “this is two days of people doing nothing but driving up and down High and Summit,” and traffic is indeed a bit gnarly in this region over the weekend. Still, there are an impressive zero arrests on campus related to this event.

Later, trumpeter Marlon Jordan plays with Pharez Whitted at Barristers Hall.

May 13

Around town, Kiss are playing Polaris – Damon and Melissa attempt attending the show, even leave a message for me which I am not home to receive.

May 14

Heritage Festival concludes with a noon Mother’s Day picnic on the Oval.

May 15

In other news…workers belonging to CWA Local 4501 get to speak before Columbus City Council. OSU was aware of the meeting but declined to send any representatives. Maryellen O’Shaughnessy, one such council member, is moved enough to begin drafting a letter to OSU president Brit Kirwan, on behalf of the union and its demands for a reasonable living wage.

Dr. Mark J. Plotkin delivers an admittedly cool sounding lecture at COSI. Beginning at 7:30pm in the Extreme Screen Theater, he discusses his transcontinental quest to find remedies derived from rainforest frogs, leeches, and snakes.

May 16

Riverdance, which toots its own horn as “the original international phenomenon,” returns to Columbus at the Ohio Theatre. Now through the 21st.

May 17 

Open Shelter proprietors Kent and Mary Beittel, who’ve been renting the space at 370 W. State Street since 1983, officially sign papers to buy the property outright.

May 18

Terry Waldo (piano) hits the Columbus Music Hall. Earth, a film by Deepa Mehta, is screening tonight and tomorrow at the Wexner Center.

May 19

Lynn Miles at Columbus Music Hall

May 20

I attend the Ohio Short Film + Video Showcase at the Wexner Center for the Arts.

Also tonight, elsewhere about town, jazz guitarist Bob Perrazza drives down from Cleveland, to jam with Bobby Floyd and Chris Howes. The Crew host the Dallas Burn over at Crew Stadium.

May 23

The sublime Lea Thompson kicks off a run at Palace Theatre, staring in a revival of Cabaret. A winner of 4 Tony Awards, this Broadway Series event will run through the 28th.

May 24

In somewhat of an atypical booking for Alrosa Villa, Magnetic Fields will play here instead of somewhere trendier.

Meanwhile, at Crew Stadium, Columbus’s professional soccer team hosts its first international match, ever, versus Hamburg, Germany’s squad. To commemorate the occasion, a May-Fest party kicks off at 6, featuring German music, foods, and of course a “bier garten.” The game itself begins at 7:30.

May 25

Easton Town Center’s first ever summer concert series begins today, with an Ann E. Dechant show. Special guests are Columbus-by-way-of-Maryland band O.A.R. (Of A Revolution). Free admission and parking.

May 26

Chris Thomas King performs at the Rhythm and Food Festival. As do Afro-Rican Ensemble, at the Bicentennial Stage.

May 27

Health Fair 2000 at the Borders bookstore on Kenny Road. A lecture titled “Eliminate Your Allergies” by Dr. Ralph Gustafson, a chance to meet authors William LePar, Barbara Braham, and David Riese, a discussion of Mary Baker Eddy’s Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, transcendental meditation with Cary Davis and Dr. Hari Sharma are but a handful of the event highlights.

Phoenix Golf Links opens atop a former landfill, on Jackson Pike. Aside from the novelty of the site’s history, it also features an oddity in the form of an actual 19th hole (as opposed to the clubhouse lounge, often nicknamed such) (or a streaker painting this on his body, with an arrow down to his butt – although this may in fact happen there, for all I know).

May 28

The 3rd Annual Alaxson/Brock Memorial Art Exhibition is held at the Goodale Park Annex Building. Sonia Dada performs at the Rhythm and Food Festival.

June 1

Blistening heat. Columbus Arts Festival begins downtown, along the river. Running four days, among the artists will be glass-blower Ellen Grevey (booth #231), an OSU grad. Wexner Center for the Arts has tent #801, along Washington Blvd. Other notable artists include Don Brown and his watercolors (booth #196), Kara Tennis (jewelry, #215), Barry Kite (photo collage, #207-209), Ray I. Doan (photography, #99), Maggie & Tracy Lake (botanical specimens, #24), Richard Reher (painting, #259), Cathra-Anne Barker (stoneware, #40), Garry Seidel (photography, #102), Mia Tyson (clay, #221) and Kimmy Cantrell (ceramics #192). As for the music, here’s a list of this day’s performers:

Additionally, during the “Thursday Night Champagne Stroll,” numerous other musicians are performing in semi-random places, interspersed with the artwork stands. These are grouped into two separate time brackets:

6-8pm: Pro Musica String Quartet, Drums of Steel, Kent Brunside, Strings-n-Things, Chamber Music Connection, Aisling, Jon Mosey, Steven Riggs, Steve Free, The Early Interval

8-10pm: St. James Inferno, Columbus Light Opera, Sassafras, Neil Jacobs, John Morgan, Wild Carrot, Ann & Phil Case, Bachianna, John Vincent

In other news around town, over at nearby Southern Theatre, also running from 1-4, there’s something called The Male Intellect: An Oxymoron? The JuJuBees play at Braddock’s Grandview. Nash Kato is at the Easton Town Center, with special guest Fetch.

June 2

Another very hot day. Columbus Arts Festival 2000 continues with the following performers:

Additionally, there are some poetry readings, right beside the Bicentennial Park Stage – Rikki Santer at 6pm and Annemarie Brethauer at 8pm.

In other news, Conspiracy are at Short North Tavern. At Gentle Wind on Morse Road, “Practical Energy Techniques For Self Healing” with instructor Carol Wolf are going down at 7pm. This is a free session.

June 3

Columbus Arts Festival 2000 continues with the following performers:

Once again, there are poetry readings near the Bicentennial Park stage: Caitlin Daily (1pm), Catherine Callaghan (2:45pm), Jessica Justice (4:30pm), Craig McVay (6:15pm), Elise Geither (7:45pm). Also, there are music, dance, and theater youth performances over in the Children’s Area, and a couple other general audience activities over on the Grass Patch Stage – Candace Mazur-Darman staging Alice In Wonderland at 11:30am, and something from the Columbus Children’s Theater at 4pm.

Elsewhere around town, Tina Turner is at the Schottenstein Center. Controversy play the Short North Tavern.

June 4

Columbus Arts Festival 2000 concludes with the following performers:

Once again, there are youth-based performances over at the Children’s area. Also, Candace Mazur-Darman reprises Alice In Wonderland on the Grass Patch Stage (11:30am). At 4pm the Grimaldi Circus Puppet Parade takes over there.

June 5 

After being closed for a while, Crabby Nina’s coffee shop on Parsons Avenue celebrates its re-opening.

Also, if I’m reading this old newspaper article correctly, did Montell Jordan seriously play Crazy Louie’s on this night? I would love to hear from anyone who attended this. According to the Dispatch, a boy band called 5 A.M. opened the show.

June 6

The Ladies of Desire at are Triple J. A repeat engagement follows on the 13th.

June 7 

These in-demand Ladies of Desire are now at Caddo’s.

June 8

Stefon Harris, who is billed as a jazz vibes sensation, brings his quartet and vibraphone to the Wexner Center.

Theatre company MadLab presents The Jungle, Suicide Notes, and Cheese and Pants Theatre (I believe these are 3 separate plays). All will enjoy another showing on the 16th as well.

Blessid Union of Souls plays Easton Town Center.

June 9

An Ohio wine festival kicks off at Coffman Park in Dublin. This three day event features, apart from the expected rivers of vino, gourmet food, live music, cooking demos, arts, crafts, even things for the kiddies to do. And perhaps most importantly of all: a designated driver program.

Also, Columbus Landmarks Foundation begins its Landmarks Tour, whereby patrons are able to visit downtown landmarks and have a few beers in the process.  Tonight’s version begins at Elevator Brewery and finishes over at the ballroom in Adam’s Mark Hotel. There’s also a correlated street party going on throughout, with Gay Street roped off for a couple of blocks in between High and 3rd. There is another tour on the 10th visiting different downtown landmarks.

MadLab presents The Secret Life of Mimes, The Faustian Physician, which will repeat on the 17th.

Afro-Rican Ensemble play the Parade Of Homes.

June 10

MadLab shows Breaking The Glass Slipper again.

June 15

MadLab presents I Get The Blues and Breaking The Glass Slipper. Looking at their June calendar, I see that The Ladies Of Desire are at Double Deuce. They will also be here on the 29th. Conspiracy play at Braddock’s Grandview. Kelsey Barber plays at Easton Town Center, as part of its summer concert series.

June 16

The Ladies of Desire are at Columbus’s American Legion West outpost.

June 18

Dublin Arts Council’s free concert series begins tonight, and will run through August 20th.

June 20 

As far as an events calendar, I see that the Ladies of Desire are at Monkey Joe’s. It’s a sunny day off and I’m in a great mood, knock out the oil change and tune up appointments with my car. Of far more importance, though, quite naturally, this is also the day of the big Dave Matthews concert.

June 21

Elsewhere around town, the Ladies of Desire venture to Escorpion tonight.

June 22

The JuJuBees are at Braddock’s Grandview. Joy Drop are at Easton Town Center, with special guest Red Wanting Blue.

June 23

Master lampworker Herald Eberhart is conducting workshops on his craft, for students of all ages, at Glass Axis. Classes will continue through the 25th. Tommy, Ryan, Maria, Jen F, Jacob and some others went to the Steve Miller concert.

June 24

Shift at work, followed by trip to Dave & Buster’s, etc.

June 28

Local basketball star Michael Redd is taken as the 43rd draft pick, by the Milwaukee Bucks. Then the Atlanta Hawks draft Scoonie Penn 57th.

Thurber House hosts its 10th Annual awards picnic. This is actually a dinner buffet, held at the Thurber House, serving wine, although they also permit you to bring your own cooler (of food, presumably). The Other Paper book critic Charlie Toft is among the award recipients, and school board member Stephanie Hightower kicked things off by reading some of James Thurber’s work.

June 29 

Cracker are the latest summer concert series band to play Easton Town Center. Virginia Coalition are the special guests.

June 30

The 29th edition of Community Festival begins at Goodale Park. Tony Monaco, whom I’ve seen before and is pretty damn amazing on the keys, is among those performing at the jazz tent.  His set is well received and will find enthusiasts spilling out onto the street to shake their behinds. New Basics Brass Band is over on the gazebo stage, while Watershed closes out the night on the main one. Jenny Mullin, in her piece for The Other Paper, complains that their set was so loud it was drowning out everybody else.

July 1

Comfest continues with, among many, many others, Barry Chern picking an acoustic on the Poplar Street stage. Jack Neat outfits his band in shirts that have “Jack” across the chest, except for lead singer Nikki Wonder, whose tighter shirt says “Neat.” The Johnson Brothers will grace the main stage later, and The Other Paper for one is not impressed. Cleopatra Grip play pop music on this same stage at some point. Howlin’ Maggie play at least Alcohol (one of maybe two songs I know of theirs) and then Fenster will close out the night there. Soul-Fu Villains are over on the jazz stage, quietly laying down the grooves amid this mayhem. A group of local police and firemen bring a bagpipe band to the Fine Arts Stage, and reportedly sound none too shabby.

Over at the jazz tent, Jessica Agler sings with the Columbus Youth Ensemble, and other acts include New Remnants, flutist Kris Keith and his outfit Minan-Dya, as well as Madrugada. Jim Maneri goes over particularly well, accompanied by Derek DiCenzo on theremin.

Slightly north of here, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Warren G and Eminem hit the Schottenstein Center all at once. This was a pretty big deal even then and it seems like some of my friends might have gone to it.

July 2 

Johnny Rebel (rockabilly) plays Comfest’s Poplar Street stage, relatively late. As do Sue Harshe and Marcy Mays. Over at the jazz tent, the Famous Jazz Orchestra breezes through the noon hour. Paul Brown and his Science Gravy Orchestra are followed by a Chris Howes set (he had actually just played with Science Gravy as well) where the power goes out. Rodney McCoy and Deep Pockets (from Pittsburgh – I guess I didn’t realize out-of-towners or especially out-of-staters were permitted here) raise the vinyl roof to close out the night, possibly the event as far as I know, into the a.m. hours. According to The Other Paper, Little Brother’s owner Dan Dougan was spotted in the crowd, dancing to their set.

July 3

Following a late shift at work, another relatively crazy night ensues. Which you can read about here.

July 6

Ricky Martin is performing at the Schott. 10,000 Maniacs with special guest Anne E. Dechant are out at Easton, the latest in their series of free outdoor concerts.

July 7

The Sawmill Road Borders has another Harry Potter themed weekend, beginning at 10pm tonight, as they gear up for the midnight release of The Goblet of Fire. Crafts and contests are but a smattering of the delights awaiting thee.

July 8

Borders continues its Harry Potter weekend by way of “Breakfast With Dumbledore,” a couple instances of Hogwart’s Express leaving the station (whatever that means) and a game of quidditch.

Fairmont Girls are at Oldfield’s on High. Westerville’s Music & Arts Festival (2 days) begins at Otterbein College, on the Campus Towers Hall Lawn.

July 12

Author James Kaserman is in town, dressed as a pirate, to promote his latest book and set the record straight about pirates, at the Upper Arlington Barnes & Noble. Elsewhere on the literary front, New York Times writer Andy Borowitz (who also apparently created the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air sitcom!) is the main attraction at the latest Thurber House Literary Picnic.

Director Richard Gordon, as part of the Wexner Center’s “Son of B-Movie Mania” series, is on hand to introduce screenings of his classics The Haunted Strangler and Fiend Without A Face. 

July 13 

Conspiracy play Braddock’s Grandview.

Matthew Sweet plays at Easton, as part of their free outdoor concert series.

July 15 

Elsewhere around town, there’s the 4th Annual Wing Zing, at the Easton Town Center. Wings, live music, and presumably beer, considering that Budweiser sponsors the thing. This is actually quite the lineup: McGuffey Lane, The Dan Orr Project, Molly Hatchet, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts. A number of different restaurants are competing for various event awards, all of them selling three wings for $1.

July 16

This is an interesting sounding show that I wish I would have caught. Billed as “new sounds from the digital realm,” the Wexner Center hosts either a group or series of individuals known as Fennesz/Pita/Schmickler. Whatever it is they’re doing, the pitch is that you will hear how “hotwired laptops and suspect devices shape electronic music’s future.”

July 18

This year’s edition of Ozzfest hits Polaris. Damon and Paul are among the known attendees.

July 20

Channel 10 uses their helicopter’s brand new “Sky Zoom” camera to film a good old fashioned police chase, when some out of control driver attempts outrunning cop cars on I-71.

July 27

Tonight’s musical offering at Braddock’s in Grandview is The JuJuBees Rhythm Revue, with Vocal Impact. Elsewhere, a three day event called Bluegrass Classic kicks off at Hoover Reservoir Park.

COSI is hosting a limited run of “Rockin’ Laser Shows” which admittedly sound cooler than anything else they’ve recently had. Though the curiously titled Pop Rox offering runs daily at 3:30 (featuring music by the likes of modern boy bands and Britney Spears) tonight’s lineup is a little better: Beatles at 6:15, Pop Rox at 7:30, but then Beastie Boys at 8:45 and the all but required Pink Floyd at 10pm. The same show repeats tomorrow as well.

Riffe Gallery has an opening reception from 5-7pm for Metaphor and Irony: Czech Scenic and Costume Design 1920-1999, which will run from today through October 15.

July 28 

The Short North’s Special Improvement District team meets with Department of Trade and Development Director Mark Barbash (awesome last name, incidentally) to iron out more details about these proposed arches over High Street. At issue is who’s picking up the tab on moving the power lines from above to underground.

Columbus Symphony Orchestra’s “Picnic with the Pops” series presents a Buckeye Band Bash featuring their outfit as well as the OSU marching band, as well as Civil War cannons courtesy of 1st Ohio Statehouse Light Artillery’s Battery A. A repeat performance is slated for the 29th, too, and lawn seats are just $13.

“Summer of Dance” begins at the Riffe Center’s Capitol Theatre. Tonight and the following night there’s “an invigorating mix of contemporary dance and enchanting classical ballet,” according to the ads.

July 29

Worthington Folklife Celebration begins at 10am. “Where New Dogs Learn Old Tricks,” is the tagline for this event, and it truly is a hodgepodge of, well, see for yourself:

10am-4pm – Make It & Take It interactive art

10:30am & 4:30pm – drum circles

11am & 1pm – Turkeys in the Straw (old time string band)

11am to 1pm – Native Games

Noon – old style hootenanny

1, 2 and 3pm – cake walks

1:30-3:30pm – block party games

1:30pm – John Ulrich & Friends (traditional jazz)

3pm – David Verny Band (traditional bluegrass)

There’s also “storytelling & folks songs” by Browne (2:15pm), Arbaugh (3pm), Browne and Arbaugh (noon). Plus art & craft exhibitors, demonstrations by skilled craftsmen, a pig roast, and an ongoing block party throughout.

Elsewhere about town…the Major League Soccer All-Star game is broadcast live from Crew Stadium, on ABC and ESPN both. Columbus has no starters on the squad, but Dante Washington (not sure who else) is on the bench. Then at 10pm, soccer star Alexi Lalas (who is either confident that the game will be long over by then, or plays on disappearing even if it’s not) is booked for a hilarious sounding head scratcher I almost wished I would have seen: an appearance at Rush Creek on Sunbury Road. It says here there is live music by Nectar Drop featuring Alexi Lalas. But then also Jon Chinn of Pretty Mighty Mighty.

Dragonfly, which bills itself as “high cuisine,” has some kind of lounge DJ event featuring Michael Guldan, Thomas James, Anthony Ramos, and others. 10pm-1am.

July 30

The Rick Brunetto Band plays in Goodale Park, as part of the Short North Sunday Jazz Series. These free events begin at noon, and attendees are encouraged to bring their own picnic supplies, to chill in the grass whilst absorbing these tasty grooves. Special guest Dwight Lenox is also performing. Another Buckeye Comic Con is held at the Holiday Inn on Roberts Road.

August 2

Musical sensations Celeste & Craig are at the Borders bookstore on Sawmill, imploring people to “get down to the salsa sound.”

August 4

Dublin Irish Festival begins. This three day event, held at Coffman Park, features musical acts The Prodigals, Seven Nations, The Fenians, and The Black Family, although I don’t know exactly who played when.

“Summer of Dance” continues on the 4th and 5th, this time with “a shockwave of funky, ultra-hip modern moves and sweeping romantic ballet.” Only to be found at Capitol Theatre, of course.

August 5

Jethro Tull hit Palace Theatre.

August 6

The Short North Sunday Jazz Series continues at Goodale Park. On tap today is the Hank Marr Sextet, with Tom Carroll and Jeanette Williams.

August 9

A new law goes into effect that if you’re buying more than four kegs of beer, you must sign a waiver permitting the police to come and search your property. While this is actually a statewide rule, it’s difficult to imagine any area that will be harder hit than, say, I don’t know, the OSU campus perchance.

What kind of effect will this have on us, though? Too soon to tell. As far as what else is happening around town today, a bad storm knocks out the power at the Henderson Road Kroger, along with traffic lights up and down that road. The Borders on Sawmill welcomes guest speaker Manon Van Schoyck, who is bringing some nocturnal animals and will talk about such during this interactive program.

August 10 

Imperial Teen play at Easton Town Center.

August 11

Now the “Summer of Dance” implores you to “indulge in an explosion of pulsating, passionate dance.” Another opportunity to do so awaits you on the 12th.

August 17 

Wang Chung play at Easton Town Center. It’s another free show and some of us are talking about hitting that, but it’s raining today and this doesn’t happen.

August 19

Grandview is really popping these days! Shoku, a highly regarded Pan-Asian Restaurant, celebrates with a 1st Anniversary party tonight.

August 20

Chad Rager’s Modern Big Band plays Braddock’s Grandview

August 21

Pearl Jam plays Polaris with Sonic Youth opening. This is from the first tour where they released every single show as a live disc and set a record in the process (most albums on the chart at once.) If you’re curious about my review of that CD/show, you can read it here.

August 24

Delyn Christian & D.C.B. (I think maybe this stands for Delyn Christian Band) play Braddock’s Grandview. Red Wanting Blue get to headline their own show at Easton Town Center.

August 31

Hot day. A return engagement at Braddock’s Grandview for The JuJuBees Rhythm Revue. The Outfield close out the summer concert series at Easton Town Center.

September 2

The OSU football team plays a home game against Fresno State. These Buckeyes administer a serious beat down to the tune of 43-10, with Fresno not even scoring until the 3rd quarter. David Mitchell manages to return a fumble and an interception both for TDs. Steve Bellisari also throws a 23 yard pass to the immortal Chad Cacchio, among other highlights.

September 12

Brian Wilson show.

September 16

Roy’s 30th birthday party

September 22

Mick Taylor plays at Thirsty Ear, tickets are $25 a pop. Damon and Paul attend. In their recap they tell me they can read his lips, early into his set when he turns to another musician in the band and says, “this sucks.” And has a similarly disinterested attitude for the entire performance. I’m sure it would indeed suck mightily to go from The Rolling Stones to playing a venue like this…but on the other hand, this attitude may explain in part why you’re no longer with The Rolling Stones.

September 23

a rave I attend at Valley Dale Ballroom.

November 4

Buckeye football team takes on Michigan State at home. Damon and Paul attend this game for some reason. It’s the fourth time this year the Bucks have posted exactly 27 points, winning this time around by a score of 27-13. This puts them at a 7-2 record on the season.

November 5

Type O Negative play Alrosa Villa. It’s nice to see that in Rob Harvilla’s reviewing for The Other Paper, he confirms my impression of these guys, i.e. that they’re basically clowning around up there. But are a pretty decent metal band anyway. After opening with a cover of N.I.B. by Black Sabbath, they then thank the audience and jokingly tell them goodnight. Then return and play an actual full set. Overall, he rates it as a weird yet captivating show, replete with long solos, unexpected mid-song shifts, and even more left field cover choices.

Simon Says and the hilariously named SpineShank open.

November 7

Jello Biafra makes some kind of weird spoken word/political manifesto appearance at Independence Hall. As reported by Sonya Huber for The Other Paper, his best quote is perhaps referring to Columbus as, “not the most picturesque city I’ve ever seen.” He also christens this town as “Hellburbia” at one point. A couple of attendees are heckling him, and perhaps rightly so, until security is called to deal with them. And this is before Jello attempts inciting the crowd into action, with a suggestion that they dig up Woody Hayes’s grave, right now, tonight. Thankfully (?) this does not come to pass.

The reason he’s here, presumably, has something to do with Election Day.

November 11

’80s Power Ballad Night at Andyman’s Treehouse. Billy Peake, Miranda Sound, Pfifer, Quinn Fallon (bartender/co-owner of this charming establishment), Rick Kinsinger, Rhonda Everitt, Stepford Five, The Vague, Wolfgang Parker and others take their shot at covering classics from the MTV era.

The photo at the very top of this post is a 45 (AKA “7 inch”) that references a “two year anniversary” for something, I’m not sure what, apparently called Malfunction. My guess is that it was given out at a rave, which was a regular or possibly just annual event. Here’s the flipside of that record:

If anybody knows the first thing about this project, I’d love to hear about it. Currently I have no turntable and to my knowledge never played this artifact. I was at one rave where Ben Kenobi was among the scheduled performers, though, which makes me think this was something similar. Am fairly certain I didn’t attend it, though I can’t quite recall where I acquired this item in the first place.

November 18

This fair city suffers one of its worst ever riots, though the who/what/where are quite familiar: drunken OSU students burning things on campus. The catalyst this time is, what else, a Buckeye loss to Michigan. My “favorite” incident is when some out of town kid from Illinois allegedly tosses a cop’s bike on the bonfire, while he’s busy arresting someone else. This three alarm rager lasts until nearly daylight, featuring police in riot gear as its piece de resistance, with a final tally of 34 revelers hauled in. Cops are quoted in The Other Paper saying that all the bars closing on south campus has had “unintended consequences,” i.e. exactly what many of us had predicted was obviously going to happen. The kids have nothing else to do so now they’re destroying shit.

Regarding the game, the once again much overhyped Buckeyes failed to deliver the goods. Losing 26-38 to the Wolverines, at home no less, puts them at a paltry 8-3 to close out the season, despite a not exactly powerhouse schedule.

November 19

Blue Jackets smoked at home by Vancouver, 6-1. As the record falls to 7-12-1-1 (whatever this means – maybe wins-losses-ties-forfeits?), their debut season does look kind of lost already. Indeed, a glance at the roster reveals just one guy I’ve even heard of, Geoff Sanderson. Well, yeah, and Ron Tugnutt. You don’t exactly forget a name like that.

November 23

A number of local organizations are kind enough to give out free Thanksgiving dinners. Among these are Better Way Ministries, CMACAO Northeast, Community Kitchen, Faith Mission (151 N. Sixth St.), Hilltop Church Council at St. Aloysius Family Center, Inner City Ministries, Salvation Army and Rock of Faith Baptist Church, and Volunteers of America (379 W. Broad St.)

December 3

Police chase deranged speeder on the interstate, a man driving the wrong way in excess of 90mph. After hitting a roadblock in the form of spikes, he flips his SUV multiple times and ejects from it. Incredibly enough, he is still alive after this crash.

December 7

Marilyn Manson besmirches Veterans Memorial with his presence. Godhead will introduce this sacrilege.

 December 31

OSU’s women’s basketball team loses a nail-biter to Penn State, 66-63. With the score tied at 63 in the closing seconds, the ball came loose and both squads attempted to corral it. A foul is called on Lauren Shenk during the ensuing melee, which proves the difference maker.