Journal #3

For my spring project, I would like to tackle something that will provide both academic enrichment and service engagement. Though I have a few ideas floating around in my head at the moment, the most interesting to me thus far would be to get involved with an organization that works to plant and maintain the greenery around the city of Columbus. Whether this is through the Chadwick Arboretum & Learning Gardens, Buck I SERV, or even on my own, I would like to find a way to learn more about different flower species, how to maintain a garden, and how creating beautiful spaces impacts a community. I believe that doing so will help me begin to develop my ability to use gardening as an art form, while also potentially cleaning up an area of the surrounding community lacking maintained green spaces.

I plan to begin this project after returning from winter break. I would like to take the cold months to do more thorough research about possible volunteering opportunities, common annuals and perennials, and how I can make more of an impact through this hobby. This research would be my first step, and my second step would be sending emails/making phone calls/ taking visits to these organizations to try and get a better feel for what their organization looks like. The final portion of that second step would be making a decision on what organization I plan to dedicate my time to. Since these steps would not take a particularly long time to complete, I do not think that it is unreasonable that they would be done by the end of January (Jan 31st).

I am looking forward to seeing how this project develops!

Columbus To-Do List Pt. 2

Hello!

As a brief reminder, I decided to explore what entertainment looks like in the city of Columbus. My search took me all around the city, from small art galleries tucked in the backstreets of the bustling Short North, to serene parks dotting the outskirts of the city. Along the way, I continued to add to my list of future plans and made some great memories with the people I traveled to these locations with. While all of these experiences are notable, I have decided to condense this list down into my 5 favorite experiences (the first of which was described in the previous post).

#1: Newport Music Hall

As I mentioned before, my first trip was to Newport Music Hall. If you’re looking for more information on this venue, I suggest checking out my previous post:

1/https://u.osu.edu/grimm256hseportfolio/2018/10/23/columbus-todo-list-pt-1/

#2: Eat Purr Love Cat Cafe

Eat Purr Love Cat Cafe was the second place that I visited. My boyfriend and I are both cat lovers, and being away from our furry friends at home has been difficult. After discovering Eat Purr Love online, we decided to give it a visit. A cat cafe is exactly what it sounds like– a cafe, but with cats! Customers pay a ten dollar per hour fee and are also able to purchase some hot drinks and sweet treats to eat while visiting. The cats are all adoptable rescues brought in from the Columbus Humane Society. There are all kinds of cats at Eat Purr Love: young, old, active, lazy, affectionate, curious, skittish, and so on. However, all of them are looking for a good home, and if you fall in love with one of the cats at the cafe, you can adopt them right there! The cafe serves as an alternative adoption center, where you can interact with the cats in a more homey environment before making the decision to bring them home with you. While my boyfriend and I are not looking for another cat, we thoroughly enjoyed our time at Eat Purr Love. I suggest any animal lovers check them out if you get the chance!

Petting Trey, the 16 yr old cat

#3: Drexel and Gateway Theaters (Independent Movie Theaters)

Whenever my friends and I are looking to see a movie, we always check the showings at Gateway and Drexel first. Not only are the atmospheres vibrant and inviting, but often times these two theatres are running special movie events. Whether it be 50’s horror flicks throughout the Halloween season, a 24 hr Groundhog Day event, or (my personal favorite) the comically terrible showing of “The Room” on the second Saturday of every month, these two theatres are always hosting unique and incredibly fun events. Most importantly of all, though, is the fact that these two theatres are huge hubs for indie movie producers. While my friends and I are by no means the biggest film fans around, we always try and support local independent theatres when we can. The wide variety of events and films makes the theatres appealing to people of all ages and backgrounds, and I highly recommend anyone in the Columbus area take a look at what events are coming up each month!

My friends and I at the midnight showing of The Room

#4: Columbus Sports

O-H! There’s not much more I need to say. Columbus sports are some offer up some of the most action-packed fun in the city, and it’s no secret why. From the scarlet and grey to the Blue Jackets, the Crew, and finally the Clippers, there’s no shortage of games to pick up tickets to. Whether you’re a sports fan or not, there’s nothing quite like spending an evening with a group of friends or family, indulging in some overpriced nachos, kicking back, and just enjoying the game. While I’ve been to many games throughout my lifetime, this fall I got my first chance to visit The ‘Shoe. I had a great time, and I’m looking forward to seeing the Buckeyes beat That Team Up North this weekend!

View from South Stands

#5: Short North

Okay, maybe this is cheating a little bit, but it’s nearly impossible to ignore the allure of the Short North. For food, I visited the North Market, Melt Bar and Grilled, Skully’s Music Diner, and Mikey’s Late Night Slice. As for the shops, I poked around Rocket Fizz, Global Gifts, Royal Factory, and Homage to name a few. Each had a unique atmosphere, but one that still melded well with the aura of the area. Whether you’re looking for a fun night on the town, or a relaxed evening with some friends, the Short North can satisfy both!

Lights at the Melt Bar and Grilled

 

My favorite experience from this project was definitely going and seeing The Room at Drexel theatre. While I have been to this event before, I have come across no other event that makes me laugh harder. Watching your friends lose their minds while yelling at the screen, throwing spoons across the theatre, and singing along with the entire crowd is an experience I think everyone should have.

What I have learned about Columbus is that there is a place for every type of person in this city. Whether you’re a sports fan, into the music scene, love animals, enjoy indulging in great food with friends, or just love to relax, Columbus has something to offer you. I am looking forward to exploring even more of the city, specifically educational and cultural hubs. The Columbus Art Museum, Franklin Park Conservatory, and COSI are next on my list.

 

 

FOTOshop Vignette Project

Attached below is a link to our group presentation for the Architecture Scholars FOTOshop project. The objective of this assignment was to imagine new possibilities an abandoned building located in the Columbus area, and to develop a plan for what our vision would look like. Our group picked a building located at 1101 N High Street in the Short North district of Columbus, and envisioned how the space could be transformed into a space that could both provide entertainment, and nourishment to the surrounding community.

 

https://spark.adobe.com/page/WSUTZrR5cViox/