2011-04-01 outlook: columbus by Outlook Media, Inc

60-01_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/28/11 10:01 AM Page 2

apr 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ vol 15 issue 11

inside: Zachary Klein Coly Cummiskey Walker Evans Elizabeth Lessner Brady Konya Jeff Edwards Debra moddelmog Kevin Miles Hugh Dorrian dwayne steward & local Celeb Mac

02-59_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/26/11 11:53 PM Page 1

apr 2011

For Chad and Mack’s amusement, this issue’s tags are brought to you by Charlie Sheen.

outlookcolumbus.com

you are here

snapshot

6 hey!

OWNERS AND PUBLISHERS Michael Daniels & Christopher Hayes HEADQUARTERS Outlook Media, Inc. 815 N High St, Bsmt Ste ii Columbus, OH 43215 614.268.8525 phone 614.261.8200 fax www.outlookmedia.com

community resource

SUBSCRIPTIONS & DISTRIBUTION Call 614.268.8525

qmunity: local

BUSINESS DIRECTOR Michael Daniels: mdaniels@outlookmedia.com

qmunity: national

ADVERTISING ACCOUNT REPS Chad Frye cfrye@outlookmedia.com

open kimono

Mary Malone mmalone@outlookmedia.com

NATIONAL ADVERTISING Rivendell Media - 212.242.6863

polisigh

18 insightout

♥ing cbus people is political At last, it’s spring. Hooray for thunderstorms instead of falling ice, boo for pollen and overused neti pots. Hooray for shirtless boys at OSU, boo for shirtless old guys on their 5th Avenue porches. But most of all, hooray for Columbus. We all know we live in one of the best cities in America, and certainly one of the best cities for GLBT and allied folks. And in this issue, we prove it by highlighting just a few of the people who make this City great and contribute to why we live here, are deeply rooted here, committed to the community, and love our home town. Our interviews and profiles run the gamut – from an iPhone app that actually allows you to find, hunt, bag, and bed bears, to the latest trends in food and street meat. (No, street meat is not found on Growlr, though you can take the bear you find on Growlr out for street meat … it gets confusing, we know. Take notes.) We learn about developments like Neighborhood Launch, bringing walkup condo living from the East Village to 4th and Gay, and Wonderland, bringing artists, artisans, and distillers together to produce amazing works and collaborations. We discuss vodka and whisky and courses about gay culture. We learn how OSU is launching the premier queer studies program in America, and how we have one of the most active, progressive, and inclusive Crime Stoppers organizations anywhere in the country. We sit down with the Dean of Columbus, Hugh Dorrian, to learn how he has helped this City steer its way for more than three decades of tough economies, balanced budgets, and highest possible accolades and bond ratings. We

outlookcolumbus.com

learn what’s above ground, what comes from the ground, and what’s Underground. Our commentators, as always, give us their unashamed insights into what it means to be a Columbusite (er, Columbian, er, Columbusian … just what are we, anyhow? We need a name. Like Liverpudlians or Glaswegians).

complete the circuit

super mario world

25 31

feature: we ♥cbus people calendar

about town

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Regina Sewell, Romeo San Vicente, Jack Fertig, Simon Sheppard, Dan Savage, Mickey Weems, Michael Daniels, Chris Hayes, Jon Dunn, Chad Paul Frye, Mackenzie Worral, Phillecia Cochran, Ryan Harris, Gregg Shapiro, Mario Pinardi

feature : continued

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Rpbert Trautman (cover), Chris Hayes, Jim Maytas, Heather Wack, Chris Walker Photography

deep inside hollywood

CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER Robert Trautman

creative class

INTERNS Mackenzie Worrall, Sam Malone

And speaking of gay and straight, we have a retraction to print. In last month’s column, we outed Franklin County Democratic Party Chairman Greg Schultz as a gay man. Both Greg and his fiancée contacted us to assure us that, while Greg is a snappy dresser, a true progressive committed to GLBT equality, handsome, and a fan of show tunes, he’s quite happily heterosexual and engaged to a lovely lady. Greg, we must have been wishfully thinking – and we’re glad you’re a member of our community as an active ally and friend, you snazzy metrosexual, you.

interview: vidal sassoon

bookmark

fashion forward

52 food drama! 55

tripping out

savage love

local celeb

astro forecast

NEXT MONTH:

Your hometown publishers, Chris and Michael

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & ART DIRECTOR Christopher Hayes hayes@outlookmedia.com

What makes this City great aren’t the mountains or the beaches or the high-rises or the big skies. What makes Columbus the best place in America are its people – young and old, black, brown and white, male, female, and transgendered, gay and straight – working together in a community of inclusivity, caring, and dedication.

Sit back, grab a coffee or an OYO cocktail, kick your carpetbags aside, and take your time reading these pages written about Columbus residents, for Columbus residents, and by Columbus residents. There’s no place like home, and we’re glad that this is ours.

ADVERTISING DEADLINES Reservations by the 15th of each month. Art in by the 20th.

The Food Issue

…because sometimes we do these for you guys, and sometimes, we do it for us. This is for us. Enjoy!

MANAGING EDITOR Jon Dunn jdunn@outlookmedia.com EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Phillecia Cochran pcochran@outlookmdia.com

CYBERSPACE http://www.outlookcolumbus.com http://www.outlookmedia.com http://www.networkcolumbus.com http://twitter.com/outlookcolumbus facebook @ outlook: columbus outlook columbus is published and distributed by Outlook Media, Inc. the first day of each month throughout Ohio. outlook columbus is a free publication provided solely for the use of our readers. Any person who willfully or knowingly obtains or exerts unauthorized control over more than 5 copies of any issue outlook columbus with the intent to prevent other individuals from reading it shall be considered guilty of the crime of theft. Violators will be prosecuted. The views expressed in outlook columbus are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or personal, business, or professional practices of Outlook Media, Inc. or its staff, ownership, or management. outlook columbus does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness or reliability of any interpretation, advice, opinion, or view presented. Outlook Media, Inc. does not investigate or accept responsibility for claims made in any advertisement. Outlook Media, Inc. assumes no responsibility for claims arising in connection with products and services advertised herein, nor for the content of, or reply to, any advertisement. All material is copyrighted ©2010 by Outlook Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

apr 2011

04-57_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/26/11 11:55 PM Page 1

Noka Cbus Gurls February 20, 2011

Network Cbus @ KDB March 9, 2011

monkey love Takes on a whole new meaning.

iT never Takes noka long To Throw her legs in The air

we Came for The publiC beaTing buT sTayed for The neTworking

no more wire hangers!

Network Cbus @ KDB March 9, 2011

Lady Gaga @ Schott March 10, 2011

Pride Night @ Blue Jackets March 11, 2011

for my nexT number, a liTTle TraCy Chapman

ed’s heighT always made iT easy To spoT him in a Crowd.

don’T make fun of her hair, she was born ThaT way

hoT daddies ♥ hoCkey

Pride Night @ Blue Jackets March 11, 2011

Michael’s Bday @ Outlook March 16, 2011

he’s 5’5” wiTh The hair

is There a Term for when your purse sTrap makes your boob sTiCk ouT?

a family affair

so-Co and lime! huray!

St. Patty’s w/ Irish Pirates March 17, 2011

True piraTes sTarT aT 6:45a @ Cavans

apr 2011

you Can Tell a piraTe from his brand

irish piraTe Julie and her Cabin boy

Any quotes unsourced originate from Charlie Sheen. Thanks, Charlie, you nutty ego-maniac!

don’T make fun of his head, he was born ThaT way.

outlookcolumbus.com

56-05_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/26/11 11:58 PM Page 2

outlookcolumbus.com

A camel’s hump is used to store fat, not water. A camel’s bloodstream can hold 20 gallons of H20. Same with Chad Frye, except instead of water, it’s vodka.

apr 2011

06-55_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 12:54 PM Page 1

hey we ♥ letters Lame Doug Priesse Interview What a lame article. How appropriate Doug had a csar salad and the writer liver. Doug controlled the article and the writer was afraid to tackle some tough questions... like rumors about Kasich’s sexuality. If that was too tough, why not ask Doug what gay organizations he supports? (Opera does not count) Doug is only out for Doug! He is not a friend of gay rights as his philosophy is money buys me my rights and freedom! Sham on you for such poor news reporting. Ron Yurko submitted via outlookcolumbus.com

Should the GLBT Weep Over the GOP Sweep? The obvious answer to that question is yes. No elected American politician or political party should take the position that it is acceptable to treat any group of Americans as second-class citizens. Kasich does not support that belief according to the information in the “Outlook” interview with, Franklin County Republican Party Chairman and Kasich political operative, Doug Preisse. Preisse stated “The Governor is committed to combating discrimination and he issued an Executive Order that he was comfortable with and that very closely followed previous Executive Orders.” Well if Kasich is really committed to combating discrimination then he should stop talking about it and do it. All Kasich needed to do was to sign the same anti-discrimination Executive Order signed by former Governor Strickland. Kasich did not. Kasich choose to sign an Executive Order that excluded gender identity. Preisse further stated: “If not having a GLBT-inclusive employment non-discrimination law is keeping businesses from coming here, or making it harder for existing businesses to attract talent, then it should certainly be part of the debated.” So therefore, business should not be held accountable for their acts of discrimination; as long as management does not believe it is “good for business.” It would be fair to say that there is zero chance that the Ohio Chamber Of Commerce will volunteer to support legislation that would hold business accountable for acts of discrimination. Therefore, without business support and as long as Kasich and the GOP are in charge, discrimination will continue to be legal in Ohio.

apr 2011

Kasich and the GOP should be swept to the curb. Kasich won the election by only two percent and received less than 50% of the vote. We can have a better government and make Ohio a better place to live, if every voter voted for candidates who really believe discrimination should end. Tim Bibler Columbus, Ohio 43206

Stop Senate Bill 5 Senator Bacon: I am writing you as a constituent of your district and as a unionized State employee. In comparison with many of my fellow employees in the public sector, I anticipate the effect the passage of Senate Bill 5, which the committee you share is about to vote to send to the floor, will be comparatively minimal to me personally. However, the individuals who are receiving blind carbon copies of this letter will not be happy with what I am about to say, and I hope many of them will take a moment to join me in opposition to this bill and make their voices known accordingly. I have been employed by the Ohio Department of Public Safety for more than 14 years of my 16 in State service. This was after working for four years with Wal-Mart in its Sam’s Club division, where my commendations for member service were so many that management ended up giving me a merit raise. In my most recent employee review in my current position, Customer Service Assistant 2, I was ranked as “exceeds” in six of the seven categories. The number of categories in which I scored as “exceeds” has increased from year to year over the last four years. In my prior position, I received a letter of commendation from then-Director Kenneth Morckel for my assistance with the Homeland Security division. I am also one of the key people behind alleviating the backlog in mail registrations one year ago, the backlog which resulted in much media attention. I even came in on straight time to help with the backlog, straight time because I also took Cost Saving Days in the same week. In 2010, I ended up personally mailing out more than 31,000 letters to customers whose mail-in registration renewals could not be processed. The bill’s establishment of merit pay is, obviously, not a concern. And the maintaining of collective bargaining for wages and the amendment to keep the pay schedule (as I hear from reports on the amendments to the bill issued today) are a starting ground. However, one issue (among many) I have with this bill is the State doing away with collective bargaining for

health care. It leaves unclear whether the plan that was agreed to by the Joint Health Care Committee for implementation July 1 will remain intact, much less how much this will cost.

$1,200 I currently contribute ($100 a month) is enough to subsidize the weekly spaghetti dinner for Ohio State students following the 6p Sunday mass.

Contrary to what your supporters would like the rest of Ohio’s taxpayers to believe, I do not live an extravagant lifestyle. I still rent the same studio apartment I have lived in since I moved here in 1992 - $330 a month, with the same furnished items from day one except for a day bed in my living area that I got in 1995 when my Murphy bed broke. Needless to say, I don’t do much entertaining. To give you some idea of how small the apartment is, I am writing this on my laptop five steps away from my bathroom.

Here are the organizations, members of Central Ohio Community Shares, which would no longer receive contributions of $130 ($5 per pay) from me through the Combined Charitable Campaign: Stonewall Columbus, Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization, Columbus Institute for Contemporary Journalism (The Free Press), and Neighborhood Services, Inc.

I have no debt to my name, and all my bills are paid electronically directly from my checking account with the exception of my rent and renter’s insurance. I put $100 a week into retirement savings, and I am currently saving $100 a week toward the purchase of a new car. My current car was purchased new in 2002 and paid off within one year. This would still leave some discretionary spending. However, after being promoted twice in less than one year to my current position, I was reminded of a passage from Luke 12:48, “To whoever much is given, of him will much be required,” which was paraphrased by President John F. Kennedy: “To those whom much is given, much is expected.” Therefore, I doubled my contributions to both my church and the State of Ohio Combined Charitable Campaign, of which I have been a Leadership Giver from the first year I could sign up and helped ODPS maintain its longstanding reputation of leading in CCC support. I have maintained my higher giving levels even with the ten days of unpaid leave the last two years (a loss of more than $1,100 in take-home pay each year that I agreed to). I have no problem in doing this again if it helps the State balance this budget. And paying an additional $12-$13 per pay, the amount to bring my health care contribution to 20 percent, is not going to affect me. However, when push comes to shove, the people who will be affected if there are substantial increases in health care and pension contributions, not to mention pay cuts, will not strictly be limited to State employees and their families. If I have to cut my contributions back to prior to my previous promotions—50 percent of where they are now, the only contribution that will remain unscathed will be United Way of Central Ohio ($540, or $20 per pay).

Neighborhood Services also receives between $150 and $200 from me every year in goods it requests from members of the Newman Center. Last year, those items included canned vegetables, school supplies, yams and toys. Finally, I would no longer be able to participate as a VIP ($100 donation) to the “Miracles and Magic” fundraiser for A Kid Again. When I see my friend Jon Petz, the man behind the event next weekend, I do not relish the thought of having to tell him this may be the last time I will be able to support this agency which provides fun activities for children battling life-threatening illnesses. I realize my comments would be in violation of Matthew 6:3 (“When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing”), but it is also said that desperate times call for desperate measures. And I know God and the organizations I just mentioned will forgive me as I do my part to avoid desperate times. Be aware, Senator, that should Senate Bill 5 pass, I will be among those circulating petitions to put this before the voters. Further, there is an effort on Facebook to start an initiative to add an amendment to the Ohio Constitution enabling recall elections against State officials. I will also be in contact with Stonewall Columbus to purchase booth space, likely my last donation to Stonewall, to provide a place to collect petition signatures at this year’s Pride event. In closing, also be aware that should I lose my job in my effort to protect the rights of me and my fellow public service workers, finding a new job should not be difficult with respect to my work history. However, it also means that I would be free of the “Little Hatch Act,” thus enabling me to run against you in 2014. Respectfully submitted, Sean M. Gilbow Gahanna, OH

My church, the Saint Thomas More Newman Center, would see its contribution cut to $600. The

“Down to Gehenna, or up to the throne, he travels fastest who travels alone.” – Rudyard Kipling

outlookcolumbus.com

54-07_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/26/11 11:59 PM Page 2

outlookcolumbus.com

“I’m different. I have a different constitution, I have a different brain, I have a different heart. I got tiger blood, man.”

apr 2011

08-53_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 12:00 AM Page 1

hey HRC Supports Collective Bargaining To the Editor: HRC has spoken out recently in support of workers, whose ability to bargain for workplace protections has been under attack. We’ve signed on to a LGBT labor solidarity statement sponsored by the organization Pride at Work and have released the following organizational position: In the absence of federal and state legislation protecting LGBT employees from discrimination and ensuring equal access to benefits for domestic partners, HRC opposes legislation which would end the ability of state employees to engage in collective bargaining – a key tool in our ability to attain equal rights. Some of the earliest LGBT workplace protections were included in collective bargaining agreements negotiated by labor unions. For example, labor unions pioneered the provision of domestic partner benefits at the Village Voice in the 1980s and helped it become a mainstream practice when, through the collective bargaining process, the Big 3 automakers launched the benefits simultaneously in 2000. HRC affirms our belief that citizens should have the right to have a say in their future. The ability for workers to come together and negotiate with employers for the best possible future for themselves and their families is and should remain a fundamental tenet of the workplace. Michael Cole-Schwartz

Using Buckwheat is Unacceptable To the editor, I am writing this letter as a concerned citizen. I am extremely disappointed to have read the comment made by Rep. Robert Hagan , which I read in the Youngstown Vindicator on Sunday February 20, 2011. This behavior must STOP. Mr. Hagan seems to have a history of behavior not becoming to a gentleman and should truly be ashamed of himself. If Mr. Hagan cannot see how his comment BUCKWHEAT is offensive to Black Americans then he needs educated on Black history and since he has been in the hot seat more than once for what seems to me to be convulsive behavior then maybe some behavioral therapy is in order. I truly feel that most of the community no matter what color are offended by Mr. Hagan’s past behavior. If he is not a racist he is sounding like one and should consider

apr 2011

the refection on our local representatives and our community before he opens his month. Mr. Hagan says he has a history of supporting equals rights and civil rights, however it is evident that he is ignorant to the history and culture of the minority community.

Parks are where Ohio families go to hike, boat, and vacation. They are places where the next generation of Ohioans can experience the Buckeye State just the way their parents did. However, that could all come to an end if the Ohio General Assembly passes House Bill 133 or Senate Bill 108.

tained in a bid submitted to the board under House Bill 133 will be kept confidential and will not be open for public review. The decision to structure the board and bid process in this way also calls into questions the transparency of drilling operations.

Mr. Hagan might want to consider this unfailing rule, if you cannot say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.

House Bill 133, Senate Bill 108 and provisions in the Governor’s proposed budget would permit drilling for oil and gas on Ohio’s public lands defined as any land under the control of an Ohio state agency, including state parks. Both pieces of legislation have had their first and second committee hearings.

There are currently 44.4 million acres of public lands leased to the oil and gas industry in our country, with a 260% increase in drilling on public lands occurring just since 1999. The presence of drill rigs, compressor stations, pipelines and roads now are beginning to threaten the long-term sustainability of our fish, wildlife, and water resources.

Brenda Mack Canfield, Ohio

Controversy Is Meant to Spur Discussions, Not Cause Controversy Dear Editor, As a history museum and center for history in Ohio, it’s not our role to edit or control the dialog about Ohio’s history. April 1, we open an exhibit, Controversy: Objects You Normally Don’t See. The exhibit includes the electric chair, Ku Klux Klan robe and hood, sheepskin condom, thumb mitt and an adult crib-bed. We recognize that these objects may stir strong reactions in your communities. Our intent is not to cause distress but to allow historical objects to speak for themselves, and spur meaningful discussions. This exchange of ideas is vital to a free and democratic society. Discussion groups at the Ohio Historical Society will be a part of the community-based elements of this exhibit. The exhibit will be in a separate gallery and open to adults 18+ or those accompanied by an adult. There is a Special Exhibit Admission of $5 plus the General Admission fee. This allows us to assure that those entering the exhibit have made a conscious decision to do so. We hope people throughout the country visit the exhibit and then share thoughts with us. History is not just a part of the past, but it is alive and it influences us every day. Burt Logan Executive Director, Ohio Historical Society

Oppose Drilling On Ohio State Lands To the Editor: Ohio is full of natural wonders, and there are few places that highlight these treasures as dramatically as our state parks.

Certainly Ohio’s budget crisis calls for creative solutions to bring dollars to the state. However, with no consistent estimates of lease revenue that would result from drilling, and with less than 1% of Ohio’s land area dedicated to state parks, it is difficult to endorse putting them at risk in the long-term for what could prove to be a short-term revenue bump. In fact, our travel and tourism industry are enhanced by our ability to maintain a clean and safe environment in Ohio’s natural areas. For example, in 2007, visitors to the Hocking Hills parks spent $180 million in Hocking County alone, critical income for a region struggling with economic growth. Statewide, overnight stays in lodges, campgrounds, and cabins contribute $1.1 billion to state and local economies annually. A report produced by Longwoods International shows that each tax dollar spent on encouraging Ohio tourism produces $12 in state and local tax revenues. This revenue would be put at risk if park visitors experience (or even perceive) an interruption of the natural experience that they have come to expect at Ohio’s state parks. These visitors are very clear in their preferences. A poll conducted by the Columbus Dispatch newspaper showed that more than 70 percent of the readers participating in the survey oppose the idea of drilling for oil and gas at Ohio’s state parks. Ohioans believe these lands have been set aside as sanctuaries where families can go to enjoy our state’s natural treasures. This lack of support led to a defeat of similar legislation in 2008. Under the proposed legislation, decisions on leasing state lands for oil and gas drilling would be made by a newly formed Oil and Gas Leasing Board. Membership of this board will include two representatives of the oil and gas industry to be appointed by the Governor. Further, information that is con-

“The constitution doesn’t grant rights, it recognizes them.” – Jason Laumark

There is no longer a question that drilling poses potential dangers to our health and safety. The notable shortcomings with the much discussed hydraulic fracturing (fracking) technology used to stimulate natural gas extraction could put our state water tables at risk. For example, the wells used in the fracking process can produce millions of gallons of briny wastewater, often laced with industrial chemicals that drillers mix in the fluids they use to fracture the rock. Such concerns over groundwater contamination spurred a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency investigation into the process. As a result, New York and Pittsburgh officials have suspended their proposals for shale-drilling projects. But threats to groundwater are not the only environment impacts that result from fracking. Massive equipment and unintentional gas leaks are sources of negative air emissions during the fracking process. Large areas of cleared land and many miles of roadways can scar the landscape and result in habitat disturbance. Drilling operations also require round the clock lighting and produce noise pollution beginning with the initial month of drilling the well to the continuous noise generated by the operation of compressor stations. The state park system began during the Great Depression, and the State of Ohio has a solemn duty to honor its promise to perpetually care for—and not develop—its public lands, to forever protect the vestiges of our natural heritage for generations to come. Given the potential negative impacts to our natural habitats, public health, and personal enjoyment, we ask that you strongly consider opposing drilling in Ohio’s state parks. Jen Miller Sierra Club Ohio Chapter outlookcolumbus.com

52-09_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 12:11 AM Page 2

COMMUNITY RESOURCES SPONSORED BY MALCOLM RIGGLE & CMR INC.

outlookcolumbus.com

- “The run I was on made Sinatra, Flynn, Jagger, Richards, all of them look like droopy-eyed, armless children.”

apr 2011

10-51_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 12:04 AM Page 1

apr 2011

“I’m going to hang out with these two smoooooking hotties, and fly around the world!”

outlookcolumbus.com

50-11_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 12:51 PM Page 2

Thomas J. Grote to Pen Forward for the Inaugural Edition of Who’s Who in GLBT Columbus Who’s Who Publishing Company, one of the nation’s largest directory publishers to celebrate diversity nationwide, in partnership with Outlook Media, Inc., one of the nation’s premier urban and GLBT media companies, is proud to announce Thomas J. Grote, chief financial officer for ButylFuel LLC, as the foreword writer for the inaugural edition of Who’s Who In GLBT Columbus. Grote has an impressive background in finance and investments. Previous chief financial officer for Donatos Pizza, he was instrumental in expanding the company into a regional chain in 1999 when the company was purchased by McDonalds Corporation and assisted with its buyback in 2003. Now the chief financial officer for ButylFuel LLC, a Gahanna-based biofuel technology company dedicated to making better fuel as an alternative to petroleum, he continues his work with monetary management as an investor with the Ohio Tech Angel Fund, which provides capital to early stage technology companies based in Ohio. He also serves on the board of directors for the Grote Company, which designs, produces and exports specialized equipment to food processing companies worldwide. In addition to his notable career experience, Grote encourages the Columbus GLBT community as the founding board chair of the Equality Ohio Education Fund, an organization dedicated to advancing equality for GLBT Ohioans. He also serves on the board of trustees for Miami University and the Central Ohio United Way. Grote earned a finance degree from Miami University of Ohio and a MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He resides in Columbus, Ohio, with his partner, Rick Neal, and his daughter, Amoret. Michael Daniels, associate co-publisher for the Columbus GLBT market and co-publisher of Outlook Media, says, “Columbus is an amazing place of diversity and inclusion making us proud to partner with Who’s Who Publishing on this groundbreaking book. Having the support of Tom Grote makes this process even more speoutlookcolumbus.com

cial. He has been on the front lines of GLBT equality and inclusion. We are honored to have him pen the foreword to this inaugural edition.” Grote added, “The Columbus GLBT community is strong, vibrant and full of leaders in business, government, nonprofits, the arts and in our neighborhoods. Who’s Who is yet another way to share our stories and highlight the significant role our community plays in shaping a more prosperous, thriving and energetic Columbus.” A subsidiary of Real Times Media, Who’s Who Publishing Company (www.whoswhopublishing.com) was founded in 1989 and highlights diversity and inclusion nationwide, while providing a valuable resource and networking guide for the entire community. Outlook Media is a multimedia and publishing company that produces products that create relationships and dialogue that promotes, encourages and educates society about acceptance and equality. The partnership between these two organizations is directly in line with both companies’ missions of documenting the positive impact of minority communities and professionals in Columbus and nationwide.

Census Reports Columbus Grew by 10 Percent Since 2000 Bucking a trend that has afflicted Ohio’s other major cities, Columbus grew by 10 percent over the past decade, according to US Census Bureau data. Columbus’ population stands at 787,033, the largest total in the Capital City’s 199-year history. Census data for Ohio show that the five most populous incorporated places and their 2010 Census counts are Columbus, Cleveland at 396,815, Cincinnati at 296,943, Toledo at 287,208 and Akron at 199,110. “This new data is a testament to our great people and our high quality of life,” Mayor Michael B. Coleman said. “Columbus has established itself as one of the most vibrant and economically competitive cities in the country, and that’s why we continue to attract residents even as other cities in the Midwest are shrinking.” According to the Census data, Columbus grew by 10.6 percent since the 2000 Census. Cleveland decreased by 17.1 percent, Cincinnati decreased by 10.4 percent, Toledo decreased by 8.4 percent, and Akron decreased by 8.3 percent.

Fully Committed: A Gay Wedding Affair Comes to Athletic Club April 17 Interested in brunch, mimosas, fashion, getting hitched and prizes? Then join outlook and other members of the LGBT and allied community for Fully Committed: A Gay Wedding Affair. The event will be hosted at The Athletic Club of Columbus from 10a until 2p, and will feature Columbus’ best gay and allied wedding vendors. There will be champagne cocktails, appetizers, a mix and mingle fashion show, and giveaways! Tickets are only $20 in advance ($30 at the door) and proceeds go to Equality Ohio Education Fund. Find out more information at http://fullycommittedcolumbus.com/home/

Equality Ohio Protests at the Ohio Office of Speaker of the House John Boehner Equality Ohio staff members and volunteers joined GetEqual Ohio and Impact Cincinnati to protest US House Speaker John Boehner’s decision to defend the discriminatory and unconstitutional “Defense of Marriage Act.” Protesters at Speaker Boehner’s Ohio office urged him to focus on creating jobs, not wasting taxpayer dollars defending an unconstitutional law. In late February, President Obama’s Justice Department sent a letter to Speaker Boehner advising him that the Justice Department determined that Section 3 of DOMA (which prevents the federal government from recognizing same sex marriages performed under state law) is unconstitutional and violates the equal protection component of the Fifth Amendment. Accordingly, the Justice Department informed Speaker Boehner that it will no longer defend the constitutionality of Section 3 of DOMA. Yesterday, led by Speaker Boehner, the Bipartisan House Legal Advisory Group voted 3-2 to defend the constitutionality of DOMA. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Representative Steny Hoyer opposed the motion to defend DOMA. Equality Ohio applauds the decision of the Obama administration and Attorney General Eric Holder to cease defending DOMA, and we

“Cocaine is God’s way of saying you’re making too much money.” – Robin Williams

commend Minority Leader Pelosi and Minority Whip Hoyer for standing behind the Obama administration’s decision. This is an important step on the road to marriage equality in the United States. Equality Ohio denounces Speaker Boehner’s vote to defend the constitutionality of DOMA. To call attention to Speaker Boehner’s anti-equality vote to spend taxpayer dollars defending an unconstitutional law and his failure to focus on job creation rather than divisive social issues, Equality Ohio joined in solidarity with marriage equality supporters throughout Ohio, including residents of Speaker Boehner’s district, to protest his vote. “Speaker Boehner’s vote to defend the constitutionality of DOMA is appalling. The Justice Department concluded that the right of equal protection prohibits the federal government from refusing to recognize same sex marriages performed in states where they are legal. Speaker Boehner’s vote will result only in unnecessary, costly and time-consuming litigation,” said Ed Mullen, Executive Director of Equality Ohio. Five peaceful protesters were arrested while trying to talk with Speaker Boehner and deliver more than 30,000 petition signatures opposing Speaker Boehner’s vote to defend DOMA. Equality Ohio is outraged that Speaker Boehner refused to allow the protesters their right to petition their government. The arrest of these peaceful protesters runs contrary to our democratic values. Indeed, they were released soon after being arrested, demonstrating that their arrest was merely a way to silence them. “The protesters who were arrested were peaceful, non-violent and simply trying to exercise their rights as citizens of this state and country to have their voices heard by their government. The arrests were simply uncalled for,” said Kim Welter, Director of Programs at Equality Ohio, who joined the protesters at Speaker Boehner’s office. “GetEqual did an excellent job orchestrating this event in a respectful yet assertive manner.” Equality Ohio advocates and educates to achieve fair treatment and equal opportunity for all Ohioans regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. Equality Ohio envisions an Ohio where everyone feels at home.

apr 2011

12-49_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 12:05 AM Page 1

A happy home is one filled with love and more than 2 DVR slots. AT&T U-verse® TV

a month for 6 months

Record up to 4 shows at once on AT&T U-verse® TV. 800-PICK-ATT | VISIT A STORE | ATT.COM/TV Geographic and service restrictions apply to AT&T U-verse services. Call or go to att.com/tv to see if you qualify. Offers end 3/19/11. $29 TV offer is for new residential U-verse customers ordering U-family TV. After 6 months, standard rates apply for U-verse service(s). A one-time TV Service Activation Fee of $29 applies. DVR Package Offer is for U-family. DVR not included with U100 or U-basic packages. Total Home DVR functionality is available on up to eight TVs and requires a receiver for each additional TV at $7/mo. each. FOR DETAILS, GO TO att.com/tvdetails OR CALL 1-866-270-0399. ©2011 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T and the AT&T logo are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

apr 2011

“I probably took more than anybody could survive. I was banging seven-gram rocks. Because that’s how I roll. I have one speed. I have one gear: Go.”

outlookcolumbus.com

48-13_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 1:01 PM Page 2

Rosie Perez, Charlaine Harris And Hudson Taylor Honored at PFLAG National’s Third Annual Straight For Equality Awards PFLAG National held its third annual Straight for Equality Awards Gala on Monday, March 14, at the Marriott Marquis Times Square. Straight for Equality - a nationwide outreach and education project created by PFLAG National - educates and empowers straight allies to advocate for and support gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people. Honored this year were Academy Award nominated actress Rosie Perez (Do The Right Thing, Fearless), who received the Straight For Equality in Entertainment award, champion college wrestler-turnedcoach Hudson Taylor, who received the Straight for Equality in Sports award, and best-selling author Charlaine Harris (The Sookie Stackhouse series, basis for the HBO series True Blood), who received the firstever Straight for Equality in Literature award. Financial services leader MetLife received the Straight for Equality in Business award. Comedian and comedy writer Carol Leifer (Modern Family, Seinfeld), hosted the evening and multi-platinum-selling, fivetime Grammy-nominated artist Michael Feinstein kept the nearly 500 attendees entertained. Also appearing were The Broadway Boys, actor/activist Wilson Cruz (My So-Called Life, Rent) and Clare Buffie, reigning Miss New York, top 12 runner-up in the Miss America pageant, and the first to run on a GLBT equality platform. “This was our most exciting Straight for Equality gala to date,” said PFLAG National Executive Director Jody M. Huckaby. “It was a stirring celebration of straight allies from different backgrounds, and with different experiences in moving the cause of GLBT equality forward. We had young athlete Hudson Taylor speaking out for inclusiveness in sports – having just started his own non-profit organization, Athlete Ally – standing alongside business giant MetLife, whose work for full inclusiveness and equality in the workplace has been a model for other corporations. And Charlaine Harris took on the cause for GLBT equality in her books years outlookcolumbus.com

ago, long before the subject was headline news, while Rosie Perez is making news with her outspoken stance on marriage equality, and the support of the Latino community for GLBT rights. This is truly unique – there’s no other event that celebrates such a diverse array of straight allies. They are remarkable women and allies.” “I am deeply humbled to receive this Straight for Equality in Sports award,” stated honoree Hudson Taylor. “When I began wrestling nineteen years ago, I could never have imagined that my involvement in athletics would bring me to this incredible moment.” First to win the award for Literature, novelist Charlaine Harris echoed the sentiment, “To find that other people have been listening to the subtext of my books, and have been taking it seriously, is an unexpected delight. I’m grateful for this recognition of my small attempt to correct a great wrong, and to be the recipient of this very meaningful award.”

Kerry Co-Sponsors Legislation to Repeal the Defense of Marriage Act Senator John Kerry has co-sponsored legislation to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and restore the rights of all lawfully married couples, including same-sex couples, to receive the benefits of marriage under federal law. This law will benefit same-sex couples in Massachusetts who are legally married but are currently denied more than 1,100 federal benefits and protections, including Social Security, which married couples are entitled to. In 1996, John Kerry was the only United States Senator running for re-election to vote against DOMA. “DOMA was wrong and unconstitutional when I voted against it fifteen years ago, in 1996, and it’s equally wrong and unconstitutional today. This discriminatory law treats loving, committed same-sex couples like second-class citizens by denying them thousands of federal benefits. It’s overdue for Congress to ease the pain that Congress caused in the first place,” Sen. Kerry said. “America has undergone a transformation on these issues since 1996, and the law should reflect the reality of where we are now as a country. We need to put an end to

this discrimination by putting an end to the Defense of Marriage Act.” The Defense of Marriage Act singles out same-sex couples for unequal treatment under federal law. It excludes all same-sex couples, regardless of their marital status, from all federal statutes, regulations, and rulings applicable to all other married people. The Respect for Marriage Act (RMA) will end the exclusion of married, same-sex couples from the federal benefits and protections that all other couples receive, including Social Security survivors’ and spousal benefits, the right to care for a spouse under the Family and Medical Leave Act, filing joint tax returns, full family benefits for federal civilian employees, and more. Married couples will retain these rights even if they move or travel to another state. However, the bill does not require states that have not yet enacted legal protections for samesex couples to recognize a marriage.

Extensive New Report “Follows the Money” of LGBT Organizations The Movement Advancement Project (MAP) is releasing what it calls “a comprehensive look at the finances of 39 leading national LGBT organizations.” The participant organizations had revenues of more than $161.3 million in 2009 and represent nearly 70 percent of funding for all LGBT social justice advocacy organizations. The $161 million, however, is a decrease of 20 percent from 2008, a fact that MAP attributes, at least in part, to the economic crisis nationwide and the fact that 2009 was an off-election year. The 39 organizations include advocacy organizations like the Human Rights Campaign and Log Cabin Republicans, issue organizations like Freedom to Marry and The Trevor Project, legal organizations like Lambda Legal and Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders and research and public education groups like The Palm Center. Among the most striking findings is that more than 96 percent of LGBT adults contributed less than $35 to any of those 39

“I am a bird now. “ – Whitney Houston

LGBT organizations in 2009. According to MAP, “only 3.4% of LGB adults have donated to a participant” organization. Less than 15,000 people gave $1,000-plus donations in 2009. Moreover, the 3.4 percent number is likely a dramatic overstatement. As the report notes, “Given that the combined donor figure almost certainly includes a significant number of heterosexual allies and individuals who contributed to multiple organizations, the actual portion of LGBT adults who have donated is likely much lower than 3.4%.” Another interesting finding related to staffing, which MAP found “is roughly racially/ethnically representative of the broader U.S. population.” Of the 808 staff members combined among the 39 organizations, 32 percent were non-white – with 12 percent each identified as African-American/Black and Hispanic/Latino(a), another 7 percent identified as Asian/Pacific Islander and the remaining 1 percent identified as Native American/Other. Board make-up, meanwhile, was more white, with a full three-quarters of the 689 board members identified as white. Gender make-up was nearly balanced, with 46 percent of staff and 40 percent of boards identifying as women and 3 percent and 2 percent, respectively, identifying as genderqueer or other. Both staff and board make-up included 6 percent who identified as transgender. Among the funding findings included a remarkable statistic that “[t]he average organization receives almost half (48%) of its revenue from its 10 largest contributors.” Additionally, although many often raise concerns about the efficiency of organizations’ spending, MAP found, “Of total organizational expenses, 79% are spent on programs and services, 9% are spent on management and general expenses and only 12% are spent on fundraising. These numbers more than meet the efficiency benchmarks set by the American Institute of Philanthropy and the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance.” Read the report: www.lgbtmap.org apr 2011

14-47_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 1:30 PM Page 1

by Michael Daniels Technology-driven companies are certainly the key factor to creating and retaining high wage jobs and attracting and keeping young professionals in our City. To find out how Columbus is doing just that, we caught up with Tim Haynes, VP Member Services & Marketing at TechColumbus for some insider perspective. Michael Daniels: What is TechColumbus’s mission? Tim Haynes: TechColumbus is the catalyst for technology-driven economic growth in Central Ohio. We work to create new companies, strengthen existing businesses, open doors to technology resources, help promote and attract the next generation of high-wage/high-growth industry sectors, support the attraction and retention of talented people, and promote opportunities for all citizens. MD: How do you define a tech company? TH: I often ask, “What companies are not technology companies?” Whether a tech product – such as a medical device or an advanced polymer – or a company enabled through information technology such as the Internet, technology touches businesses at all levels. The startup companies we fund often utilize technology in an inventive way and hold promise for fast growth and job creation. Many protect their innovations with patents. TechColumbus encourages companies across all industries and sizes to “get connected to the tech community” because of the many ways that technology brings benefits and value to our businesses and to our lives. MD: What makes Columbus a good home city for tech companies?

apr 2011

TH: The most compelling is the people. Columbus is home to a wealth of technology talent. From healthcare researchers and professionals at 4 major healthcare systems (OSU Medical Center, OhioHealth, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Mount Carmel Health) to IT professionals at Fortune 500 companies (Nationwide, JPMorgan Chase, Limited Brands, AEP, Cardinal Health) to a wide range of technology professionals at organizations like Battelle, CAS, OCLC and The Ohio State University, Columbus is home to businesses and institutions where technology defines who they are. In addition to people, Columbus is a unique and growing environment for entrepreneurs. The startup community has really emerged and people with ideas are sharing them freely across the region, at events hosted by TechColumbus, and with venture capitalists and other investors in the community. The growth of the annual TechColumbus Innovation Awards to 1100 people in 2010 (from only 100 people thirteen years ago) is another reflection of the emerging eco-system. MD: How do the City of Columbus and Franklin County support your efforts? TH: Both the City of Columbus and Franklin County have been tremendous partners of TechColumbus and supporters of tech-based economic development. They have provided vital financial support as matching funds for the Ohio Third Frontier that allows TechColumbus to advise and fund promising startups in the city and across the county. MD: Is it harder for entrepreneurs to start a tech business than a non-tech one? TH: Not necessarily. Many of the best ideas and fastest growing businesses are made possible by an innovative technology. But generally speaking, building a new business is by “I’m going to kill one bird with two stones” – Sandy Frye

definition a lot of hard work – whether a tech or non-tech one. Customers have ever-increasing expectations and competitors move faster and faster to provide the most compelling offering. Markets are dynamic and starting a business requires good ideas, planning, a lot of hard work and some good fortune. MD: How do you find entrepreneurs? How do they find you? TH: We do a lot of outreach and marketing. We hold over 200 events annually across the 15 counties of Central Ohio. We promote businesses in the region and often talk about the resources we offer to help companies in their journey. We push people to our website, and we use a lot of social media. There’s no single way that people learn out about us. Many, in fact, hear through word of mouth. MD: How will the current TechColumbus participants change the Columbus economic landscape? TH: Our vision is that within a decade, Columbus and Central Ohio will be widely recognized as one of the premier technology-enriched communities in the world and a leader in techrelated business formation, expansion, and attraction. MD: Now for the fun, outlookian question: complete the following list with three more items: 8 tracks, Beta tapes, busy signals, laser discs, 35mm film, floppy disks, cassette tapes, VHS, _____, _____, and _____. TH: Telephone cords, typewriters, and jukeboxes. Learn more about TechColumbus at www.techcolumbus.com.

outlookcolumbus.com

46-15_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 12:14 AM Page 2

outlookcolumbus.com

“I’m not bi-polar, I’m bi-winning. I win here and I win there.”

apr 2011

16-45_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 2:43 PM Page 1

We ♥ Zach Klein - Columbus City Councilman

“Columbus is on the Verge of Greatness” by Zachary M. Klein On the night I was appointed to the Columbus City Council, I told a newspaper reporter “I truly believe Columbus is on the verge of greatness.” I was afforded plenty of time to think about the many things this community has to offer our residents, businesses and visitors during my weekly commute between Washington, DC and Columbus when I worked for Vice President Biden at the White House. As I left the beltway for the sanctity of Columbus on Friday afternoons, I thought about my weekend plans with family and friends. The nationally recognized food scene, the boutique shops, the unparalleled arts and athletic events are all present in a community that values and respects the diversity of our residents. Living in Washington confirmed my belief that Columbus can compete with the United States’ major metropolitan areas and win. We have a vibrant nightlife, a diverse community, an education base, a science center, a fashion scene, and a deserving respect for cultural activities. We have all the events and opportunities that a large city provides, but at the same time, also have a sense of community that is often only found in a small town. In essence, Columbus has big city experiences with a small town feel. There is still opportunity to build on our success, however, and to do so, Columbus’ focus must be

apr 2011

in these areas: economic development and job ment and marketing efforts on behalf of the City creation, public safety, and efficient and effective by our Development Department. Organizations government. like Columbus 2020!, Experience Columbus and the Columbus Chamber are doing their part to In the current economic times, Columbus must sell the city to the world. Columbus has a lot to continue to play a more active role in partnering offer, and we should capitalize on every opportuwith the business community to support businity to sell it. ness retention and attraction. Columbus has to continue to foster and leverage relationships with A safe community is the cornerstone to a city’s the Economic and Community Development Insti- success. That is why Council passed a budget tute, TechColumbus, Battelle, The Ohio State Uni- that has 70% of the funds allocated to the Public versity and other businesses to encourage Safety Department. Any emphasis on business entrepreneurship, innovation and commercializa- development is for naught if our neighborhoods tion. We must continue to aggressively recruit and communities are unsafe. Two additional ponew business to the city, on one hand, and prolice and fire classes are proposed for 2011. Convide an optimal and efficient business environ- tinued and committed reduced spending through ment, on the other. department reform efforts, as well as the city’s income tax increase, has allowed for safety to reThere is something special going on in Colummain our number one priority. bus. Columbus is an incredible place to live. The recent census numbers show, while people are All city departments, including our public safety fleeing other Ohio and Midwestern urban areas, forces, should reflect the diversity of our city. EfColumbus continues to grow, adding 10% to our fective leadership, creative thinking, and compopulation base since 2000. munity involvement have made the call for diversified safety forces. Our Public Safety DePursuing opportunities for job growth and invest- partment is using best practices to recruit miment through improved marketing efforts will be norities that represent the fabric of our city by one of the key roles in branding Columbus to con- holding various recruitment opportunities tinue that momentum, giving our community an throughout the community, including a recent poimage that will not only be nationally recognized, lice recruitment event at Stonewall Columbus. but globally as well. City Council recognizes this fact and has included additional money in the During the most difficult economic times of the last two budgets to bolster economic developlast few generations, Columbus residents trusted “Second place is first loser” – Will Ferrell

the City Council, Mayor Coleman, and other elected officials, such as Auditor Hugh Dorrian, when it voted for an income tax increase even when others called such a move reckless and irresponsible. The tax increase has allowed the city to restore services such as yard waste collection and open recreation centers, all while maintaining its AAA bond rating. Because we, as caring Columbus residents, worked together and made the tough decisions, Columbus is able to weather an economic storm that consumed other communities. That is why I believe that it is incumbent upon the city to continue to examine the areas where it can be more efficient in saving resources and effective in delivering services to our residents and businesses. Under the guidance and leadership of City Auditor Hugh Dorrian, City Councilmembers and Mayor Michael Coleman, Columbus has emerged as one the premier cities, not only in the Midwest, but also in America. Columbus is headed in the right direction, and as we look to define where we want to go and outline our path to get there, I am eager to do my part as a proud resident and council member of the city. The verge of greatness? I think we’re already there. Zachary M. Klein is a Columbus City Councilmember and Chair of Development and Recreation and Parks.

outlookcolumbus.com

44-17_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 12:15 AM Page 2

LOW (od

outlookcolumbus.com

“The only thing I’m addicted to right now is winning.”

apr 2011

18-43_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/28/11 2:22 AM Page 1

THE HALLWAY by Regina Sewell One door opens, another shuts behind One sun sets and another sun she rises Richard Thompson Ever feel like you’re living your life like a scratched up album on an old school turntable, getting stuck in the same painful groove over and over? Maybe you stay in a frustrating relationship, work situation, or financial pattern even though it doesn’t work for you. Maybe you get out of one painful relationship, work situation, or financial disaster only to find yourself in a similar situation. Most people are aware of the notion that as one door closes, another opens. People who don’t trust that another door will open often refuse to leave the door that is closing. People who take this saying at face value often get stuck in the flip side of the pattern. They dash from door to door, racing to keep one from hitting them on the ass on the way out and slipping through another before it has a chance to slam in front of them. They leave at the first sign of discomfort, assuming that if they could only find the right partner, the right job, or the right deal, their lives would be fine. What most people don’t know is that the saying has a tag line: “One door closes, another opens, but the hallway is a bitch.” Insanity can be defined as doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results. If you want to escape from insanity, you’ve got to spend some time in the hallway, exploring the roots of your patterns. It’s not enough to focus on the hand of cards you’ve been dealt. You can’t change this. What you can change are the beliefs and stories you’ve been telling yourself for years. If one of the stories you picked up along the way tells you, “No matter how hard you try, you’re bound to fail,” if you happen to get

apr 2011

laid off, you’ll likely fall prey to hopelessness and/or victimhood. You’ll filter this current experience of being laid off through old doubts, insecurities, and negative experiences around working and finding work. If one of the stories you picked up tells you that you are not worth loving, you won’t believe your partner when he or she says, “I love you.” Instead, you’ll spend your time trying to poke holes through those words, pushing them away to test their love or simply waiting for them to dump you. Your stories keep you from evaluating each experience on its own terms and block you from living and responding to the present moment. If you want to get off the turntable, you’ve got to explore the stories you tell yourself. For example, is it really true that you’ve failed at everything? If you managed get your left shoe on your left foot when you got dressed today, you haven’t failed at everything. You probably even managed to drink water without drowning. And if you looked at your life through the eyes of a supportive friend (or in absence of those, of a supportive therapist), you’d probably be able find at least a hundred more things that you’ve done successfully. The same is true of love. Even Adolf Hitler was loved. Are you really less lovable than Adolf Hitler? More likely, you’re focusing on a few painful experiences and generalizing them to everything else. But what if you isolated the painful experiences from the rest of your experiences? Just because you didn’t make it onto American Idol or your first book never got published doesn’t mean that you’ve failed at everything you tried. Similarly, just because your ex dumped you for another man or woman doesn’t mean you are unlovable. We learn most of the stories we tell ourselves either directly or indirectly from our parents. You might have had a parent for whom

nothing you did seemed to be good enough or who kept pushing you to try harder or do better. You might have had a parent who dismissed the ‘A’ you got on your report card in math and focused instead on the fact that you made a ‘C’ in History or that you left your pajamas on the floor. Maybe one of your parents actually told you that they hated you, or maybe you just got the message that your mother or father could never really love you. If this is the case, take a step back. Remember that even though they seemed like gods when you were small, your parents themselves were simply damaged human beings trying to function in a world they couldn’t control. They weren’t able to meet your very human needs for approval, acceptance, appreciation, or unconditional love, at least not 24/7. Would any child be able to live up to their unrealistic standards? Would they be able to love any child unconditionally? The point is, the negative messages they gave you are beyond “iffy” in the “truth” department. While we’re on the subject of your parents, now is as good a time as any to take back your power. That was then. This is now. Unless you are under 18, you are no longer a child; they no longer have authority over you. You can discard the negative messages and dysfunctional rules they gave you. Feel free to hold onto the positive ones. As hurtful as our negative stories may be, we rely on them to keep ourselves from feeling the fear of uncertainty. So as you wander around in the hallway, ask yourself, “What’s the worst thing that can happen…” Are you afraid that if you stopped beating yourself up for being a failure that you’d quit trying? Are you afraid that if you accepted your partner’s vows of love that he or she would catch a glimpse of the real you and realize that you weren’t lovable after all? Are you afraid of feeling the agony as-

“Just because you have the monkey off your back, doesn’t mean the circus has left town!” – George Carlin

sociated with painful memories? Many people avoid the difficult feelings associated with the painful experiences they’ve had in the past. Instead they repress, deny and avoid them. Unfortunately, painful feelings don’t just go away. The only way to free yourself from painful memories is to process them and release them into the past. That means you have to acknowledge the feelings associated with painful memories, feel the pain you’ve been avoiding, and let the emotions go. Most people find this easier to do with the help of a therapist or in the safety of a supportive group. Finally, some people sabotage their efforts to change because deep down inside, they believe the story that they can’t change. If you find yourself lost in this particular story, imagine yourself 10 years in the future, after you have successfully changed this pattern. Give yourself time to feel into the future successful you. What does it feel like to be 10 years older and wiser? What sort of clothes are you wearing? What kind of shoes are you wearing? Now, let the you that is 10 years older and wiser tell your struggling self what you did to overcome this problem. Be specific. Tell your struggling self three things you did to change. By spending time in the hallway you can challenge or rewrite the negative stories that keep you sliding back into the same painful groove. When you get off the turntable your stories have kept you spinning on you can make the most of the opportunities you find behind the door that opens to your future. To ask Regina a question, propose a column topic, read about her approach to counseling, or check out her books and other writing, go to: www.ReginaSewell.com. You can read her blogs at www.ReginaSewell.Wordpress.com. Her most recent publication, “Sliding Away” can be found in Knowing Pains: Women on Love, Sex and Work in Our 40s, edited by Molly Rosen.

outlookcolumbus.com

42-19_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 12:15 AM Page 2

outlookcolumbus.com

“People can’t figure me out, they can’t process me, I don’t expect them to. You can’t process me with the normal brain.”

apr 2011

EVEN

20-41_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/28/11 2:31 AM Page 1

Watching Columbus Mature by Mickey Weems

New World.

I’ve been teaching students at Columbus State Community College for about ten years now, and the newest bunch is different from the ones with which I started. The people of our city are changing, and for the better.

We also know that he and his crew brutalized the locals they met. There was no crime too heinous for Columbus, including kidnapping, maiming, rape and murder. The reason? Natives were not as well armed, and they were nonChristian.

I teach Western Civilization, which covers the rise and fall of Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Hebrew, Greek, Hellenistic, Roman, and Medieval (Byzantine, Islamic and Latin Western) civilizations. The majority of my students are not in the class by choice - they are there to cover a prerequisite to graduate. It is necessary, therefore, for me to entice my students into learning. The best way to do so is to court controversy. The Mass Murderer Who Is Our Namesake When I teach on the main campus downtown, I begin the class with a short walk to the giant statue of Christopher Columbus that is right smack dab in the middle of everything. He is completely white, in what the artist who made him imagined to be a ship captain’s clothing of the late 1400s Spain. He stands at the front of his vessel, map in one hand, pointing west (the statue does actually point west), wind blowing his long hair back, face clean-shaven. Columbus has just discovered land, presumably America. This statue represents Western Civilization as it spread its blessings to the New World. This image is, of course, a total fiction. We do not know what Columbus wore when he first sighted land, and he was not the first person on board to see land. We also know that he thought he had discovered India and/or China, not a

apr 2011

After quoting from Columbus’ own journal in which he damns himself as a consummate thug, we go back into the classroom. Many students are shocked by what they hear. After all, they just discovered the city they live in (and in which most grew up) is named after a man who was not only a sociopath but also really, really bad at math and science. He thought he was in China-India because he had grossly mis-measured the circumference of the globe.

more of them call themselves atheists, and a significant number are raised that way.

One Constant: Blood Is Thicker Than Water

But being atheist does not always mean they do not believe in a Supreme Being, as contradictory as this may appear. They adopt “atheist” as a default position, meaning “nonreligious” in general and “non-Christian” specifically. More than a few atheists in my classroom, in fact, say they are spiritual.

What has not changed is the strong sense of family values that people from Central Ohio possess. When we discuss the rule of law (encapsulated in the principle that nobody is above the law), I pose the following question: If your brother called you, told you he had committed murder, and needed to hide out in your house, would you let him in?

The numbers of students who identify as Muslim, Jewish and Hindu has remained low since I Consistently, over half the class would take started. There has been an increase, however, in their brother in. The number increases to an Buddhists and Wiccans. overwhelming majority when I add that he is at their door, cell phone in hand. Most students This shift away from a Christian majority has in would try to convince him to turn himself in some ways been good for the classroom and the once he arrived, but there are always a few who ultimate goal of educating my students. I spend would simply take him in, no questions asked. less time explaining that Genesis consists of That whole flat-Earth story and Columbus refut- two contradictory stories, that Torah is not iden- It is this sense of loyalty that makes Columbus ing it? A fabrication. tical to the New Testament, Jesus’ Virgin Birth is students a joy to teach. If I do my job right, the not historical fact, and the earliest Bibles were loyalty they feel for family members gets transMany students continue to be shocked, even in not in English. For their part, my Christian stu- ferred to their classmates and their teacher. 2011. But every year, there are more who aldents welcome the fact that I take the Christian They invest time in the class and I invest time in ready know the real story. We have yet to reach Bible seriously and find value in it, as do my them. Contrary to popular bias against the the tipping point where more know than don’t. Muslim students when we look at verses from youth, I find my students to be increasingly the Qur’an. courteous, intelligent, considerate and fun. Fewer Christian Students In addition to a classroom of students that are Keep in mind that I teach at a community colA different tipping point was reached last year shifting from identifying as religious to being lege. It is an institution for the working poor, in 2010. There are now about as many non-be- just spiritual, there has been a marked reduc- people with kids, folks who hold more than one lievers as there are believers in my classroom. tion in sexism and homophobia. My Christians job, and the student body is the furthest thing do not necessarily feel that their faith means from elitist. If this is the intellectual level where The most serious shift in my students has been they must disrespect Gay people. The women my students at Columbus State are in 2011, in the way they are raised. Fewer of them are assume complete equality with the men as a Columbus is holding its own as a place where Christian, and I cannot take it for granted that matter of course. Fewer married women take on the best of America is all around us. they know anything at all about the Bible. Ten both the first and last names of their husbands, years ago, the majority would have been raised a phenomenon that was dying out when I Regardless of the murderous fool for which our in Christian households and would have identi- started teaching 10 years ago and has now ba- city is named. fied themselves as Christian. Today, more and sically disappeared.

“A fools brain digests philosophy into folly, science into superstition, and art into pedantry. Hence University Education.” – George Bernard Shaw

outlookcolumbus.com

40-21_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 1:40 PM Page 2

outlookcolumbus.com

“I’m tired of pretending I’m not special. I’m tired of pretending I’m not a total bitchin’ rock star from Mars.”

apr 2011

22-39_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 12:05 AM Page 1

Why I ♥ Cbus by Mario Pinardi I officially rode the shortbus to C-Bus in 1997, clueless and bitter coming to a new and smaller habitat. My friends warned me that “they will hate you,” “it is full of corn-fed narrow-minded suburbanites,” and “the only sporting event there is tractor pulls.” Some of this proved to be true, in certain instances, but overall, it is not true. Columbus had to grow on me, like my gut and my ass did over the years. Yes, I do experience a narrowminded suburbanite or a tractor pull zealot sometimes, but that is part of the charm about Columbus. For a mid-size city, Columbus has an amazingly eclectic community, and a very gay-friendly community – this is the main reason I have chosen to stay here. When I first moved here, I lived in German Village; it reminded me of Greenwich Village. I fell in love with the brick houses, and walking distance to and from everything. I used to be a coffee house ho, and spend many nights reading in Cup O Joe. I even got some booty there, too, along with my latte and torte. I met so many people from different cultures and in different professions in German Village – many of my preconceived notions were starting to break. Then, I relocated to Victorian Village – this community should

apr 2011

have been called Pink Palisades. There is so much homo energy that I often felt inadequate that I was not “homo enough” for this area. It was challenging because I was not an “A-Lister” nor was I a highly engaged homo either. I was (and still am) an average homo honey. However, I met a couple of my dearest friends because of this move, and for that I am grateful. Plus, if you live in Victorian (Vicky) Village, this makes you more marketable online – some of my best “rendezvous” occurred in Vicky Village (and my neighbors were tolerant). Another reason to truly love Columbus! And, don’t you deny this, my Internet ho friends. While living in Vicky Village, a friend of mine took me out to a place called Somewhere Else. We went there for “dancers and drag.” I was actually bored out of my mind, and my friend was working the room harder than Tyra Banks would have. My friend “twirled” on me and left me there for a piece of “Manhattan sausage”, and I ended up hitching a ride with the man I was chatting with at the bar. He lived near by and offered me a ride home. When he dropped me off, he asked me for my number, so I obliged, thinking “really, I am too tired to be skanky or even date.” Later that week, he asked me out, and we never stopped dating. He is now my Hubby – this is the main reason I love Columbus.

Hubby and I found my place in Vicky Village too small (Hubby came with pets), so we embarked on a journey for a place of our own, and we ended up Downtown. At first, it was challenging because there was nowhere to walk to. Destinations Downtown were far and few, unless I wanted to walk to the CVS everyday to buy pain killers & ginger snaps, but this is currently improving. And, moving to a small place forced us to purge the old, and bring in the new. The Downtown community is really diverse, in that most of my building is empty-nesters or single family couples, with a dash of homo honey - each Downtown building has a unique personality. Plus, we have some of the most delicious dining Downtown – there is always a new dish to dig into. These are the reasons why I love living in Downtown Columbus. What ever reason you love your city and/or community – embrace it. And, also realize that there are other frontiers out there in your same city to explore. Be brave and leave your cul de sac, your super gay boulevard, or your trendy brownstone. You might find something just as lovely. I love Columbus for giving me so many different communities to live in and to explore and I love Columbus for giving me the gift of my Hubby. And, thank God, I met him because being an Internet skank was exhausting me and my lube budget.

“I wouldn’t recommend sex, drugs, and insanity for everyone, but they’ve worked for me!” –Hunter S. Thompson

outlookcolumbus.com

38-23_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 12:18 AM Page 2

outlookcolumbus.com

–“I’ve spent the last decade effortlessly and magically converting your tin cans into pure gold.”

apr 2011

24-37_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 12:03 AM Page 1

apr 2011

“I’ve got a 10,000 year old brain and the boogers of a 7 year old.”

outlookcolumbus.com

36-25_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 6:48 PM Page 2

WE ♥ CBUS PEOPLE!

The people behind the things that make our City great by Jon Dunn

Columbus as having the “Best Breath” and “most-kissable” community (!)

Let’s look at the word resident. The dictionary defines it as a noun: inhabitant, local, citizen, native; townsfolk, townspeople; householder, homeowner, occupier, tenant; formal denizen. Now under a subheading of Columbus, add these further distinctions: progressive, diverse, trendsetting, healthy, affordable, accessible, arty, cultural, rocking, academic, viable, sporty, edible, communal, friendly and growing, to name just a few things. Lists of words and awards are a way of celebrating Columbus on paper, but the real celebration is the people and efforts that define Columbus that actually make those lists come alive. Consider these statistics as quantifiable result of the people’s commitment to Columbus. • In May of 2010, Columbus was declared the city with the nation’s 8th best volunteer rate among America’s largest cities, according to the 2010 Volunteering in America report released by the Corporation for National and Community Service. • RelocateAmerica listed Columbus in a top 10 ranking of the nation’s biggest cities, which also included metro juggernauts such as Chicago, Dallas and Boston.

• Next Generation Consulting lists Columbus 10th among large cities in its latest “Next Cities” rankings as one of the best cities to lives and work as young professionals. The consulting firm analyzed 45 measures for all cities with more than 100,000 in population and scored each city on earning, learning, vitality, around town, after hours, cost of lifestyle and social capital. • For the fourth consecutive year, readers of the nationally respected AmericanStyle magazine have chosen Columbus as one of the top 25 big cities for the arts. • March 5, 2009, Columbus ranked #7 Manliest City in America by Sperlings. • The Daily Beast named Columbus the 16th gayest city in America. Developed by Gary Gates, a demographer at UCLA’s Williams Institute, the Gay/Lesbian Index value tells you how the proportion of same-sex couples among all households of a given metro area compares to the average for the entire U.S.

• Columbus is the number one sports town in the U.S., according to a recent analysis by sports fan research firm Scarborough Sports Marketing. • U.S. News & World Report named Columbus Ranked best because we have the most “avid one of the best places to find a job in August, fans,” especially for the OSU Buckeye Football 2009, attributing the city’s “resilience” to its “di- team. verse economy.” “Healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, and even the tech industry contribute • The Columbus Metropolitan Library was rated the best library system in the nation according to plenty of jobs. Hennen’s American Public Library Rating. It also • CBS Morning News’ medical report ranked was No. 1 in 1999 and 2005 and has been in the outlookcolumbus.com

top four every year since 1999.

And an entrepreneurial spirit? C’mon, Columbus is the home of serial entrepreneurists! Long-time • Brookings Institute shows that Columbus is residents who build entire new neighborhoods, breaking national trends by stabilizing Urban public officials whose stewardship make the City Neighborhoods and drastically reducing the con- a AAA investment opportunity, gifted newcomers centration of poverty. In 1990, there were 24 with a sense of style and a knack for making a Columbus neighborhoods listed in the Census as local distilled spirit a national marvel, while High Poverty Tracks, and in 2000 that was down using their abilities to help others begin their own to 13 areas. journey to success. People who innovate new ap• Columbus continues to have a lower unemploy- plications for current technology, turning a phone ment rate (Region 5.1%, Columbus 5.7%, Ohio into a business-savvy social phenomenon with a 5.9% in Feb ’04) and a lower cost of living than sense of humor, and education leaders who break the boundaries for their students and community, most any major city. making a Columbus a safe haven of academia for an often marginalized community. Some proLooking beyond the statistics are the people, vide a virtual incubator for new businesses, or an places and attitudes that truly define the 15th largest city in the USA. No longer the “The Great urban collective that seeks the transcendence of art as a label to make the creative spirit a comAverage” that the rest of country perceives, but one of the fastest growing, educationally superior, mercially viable reality. community minded and wide open frontier for opportunity, for everyone who lives here or who de- Some take to the podium in public forums, others work behind the scenes, making their words a cides to make it their new home. collective voice of the community online and othDefying national trends of urban flight and falter- ers shake up the local media with a classy, innoing employment, Columbus can boast a booming vative, informative magazine that boasts plenty market in service, technology, development, med- of attitude with a sense of humor that reads well icine and small business. We are a city where pri- beyond their target market. All of theses people are not afraid to make their voices heard in a vavate citizens and businesses lead the way for economic growth in a diverse variety of avenues, riety of delivery styles, but they sing together the whether massive residential projects, a roster of praises of the City we call home. The reason we love these Columbus people is because of the highly-rated and beloved restaurants, single way they themselves love Columbus. Turn these shops anchoring small neighborhoods or small food carts that provide innovation and inspiration pages to read about them, then find your own to others with a vision of their own entrepreneur- voice and make it heard, because Columbus is the place to do it! ial journey.

"I have a rock in my nose." - 2 year old son, greeting his mother after preschool, a full hour after recess was over.

apr 2011

26-35_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 12:02 AM Page 1

apr 2011

“Clearly I have defeated this earthworm with my words — imagine what I would have done with my fire breathing fists.”

outlookcolumbus.com

34-27_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/28/11 2:33 AM Page 2

We ♥ GROWLr - More Bears in More Places by Jon Dunn If Coly Cummiskey has his way, bears will no longer be an endangered species. The Columbus-based programmer/entrepreneur has discovered a new habitat for gay bears of all types to network socially, provided the bear has an iPhone and can type with those big bear claws. “I’ve always been an avid iPhone user, and started developing my own apps as soon as I got one,” explains Coly, the creator and founder of GROWLr, a free iPhone app that provides access to the most complete social network for gay bears. GROWLr lets member bears view the profiles of other bears who roam from Columbus to all the way around the world, sending messages, pictures or voice memos to other bears with their noses in the wind. It also features a comprehensive and frequently-updated bear-run and bear bars updates. The app is sleek and easy to use, as the users and their online reviews can attest. As a self-described “very out” bear, Coly initially found that the iPhone app communities lacked a suitable ursine social application, a social network devoted to them. “A lot of the apps I found seemed more twink-based, there were none aimed solely at the Bear community,” he explains. “I think a lot of the bigger guys didn’t feel comfortable developing an app for this specific market.”

outlookcolumbus.com

But being the veteran programmer he is, Coly exploited the opportunity and created the GROWLr application. His experience in developing and using other iPhone apps gave him a focused perspective on the market, and he specifically made the app fun, friendly, easy and useful. An ex-New York transplant, Coly lives in Columbus and works for the Grange Insurance Company, having stayed with company for over 16 years. “I’m a second-generation Granger because my father worked there, too,” he offers with pride. He and his boyfriend enjoy the lifestyle that a large city like Columbus can provide and you can often find them in local bear dens, such as Exile. Initially, Coly took care of all the business related to GROWLr, but the app’s rapid growth is bringing the stature of the task to light. “GROWLr is a full time job in itself,” Coly exclaims, “I’m trying to expand the business by bringing in more salespeople, in fact I’m interviewing people right now!” His next big development is to provide the GROWLr app on the Android network, which he says will happen very soon. Coly is just as excited about the city of Columbus as he is about GROWLr. “I love Columbus,” he says, “it’s the 15th largest city in the US, but not so large that it’s intimidating. And for its size, Columbus has a phenomenal community for gay men. Everyone is so friendly and down to earth.” Columbus also

provides Coly with a tech-savvy and receptive local community that serves as a perfect test bed for the app, because Coly can essentially monitor the results in real time. “Columbus people are great for the feedback, and I always listen,” he explains. “It’s great to be approached about GROWLr, because it lets me hear what we’re doing right and what we need to update in future versions.” After launching GROWLr at the end of 2010, Coly’s been watching the iPhone community suddenly become a bear market. And showing no signs of heading for hibernation, the app currently boasts over 50,000 growling members and has been ranking high on “What’s Hot” lists in 19 countries, GROWLr is one of the most downloaded apps currently available. It’s been featured in Bear Magazine, bear podcasts and now bears everywhere from New Jersey to the Arctic ice flows are growling at each other all the time. If you’re wondering how such a slick app is offered for free, Coly soon found that marketing the free app was not as difficult as you might think. “The app is supported by banner ads, and once people understand the specific target market, it’s not hard to secure advertisers,” he explains. There’s lots of marketing for the app; bear runs, bear parties, GROWLr parties... and not just in the USA, either. I recently signed with a promoter in Italy to do some bear parties there!”

“The spice must flow” - Dune

The international market provides some interesting statistics about the appeal of the app. “It’s wonderful to see it all happen so quickly,” says Coly, who laughs as he explains “GROWLr is especially popular in Asian markets, which is sort of curious for bears, don’t you think?” Perhaps pandas are not the only bears in the East anymore! The GROWLr app is updated regularly, with the latest version including the ability to save frequently-used phrases, update-able Custom Growls (pickup lines), and those little green indicator dots to let you know when your favorite bears are on the prowl. All of these features make it easy for the tech-savvy bear to keep up with their friends and prey alike. Speaking of friends and prey, Coly is headed to the TBRU, or Texas Bear Round Up, for a little R n’ R in the Longhorn State. A little bit of marketing? Well, sure, but it’s mainly a time for this busy bear to enjoy some time to relax. “It really is a labor of love, trying to balance all of the things, but I love it,” says Coly of his life in Columbus and GROWLr. “I’m committed to the bear community, and it’s really satisfying to provide a service that’s fun and useful for them.” Anyone (if you’re at least 17, because the content can be mature) can download GROWLr at the Apple APP Store online at www.applestore.com. You can also visit www.growlrapp.com for more information about this amazing app, too.

apr 2011

28-33_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 4:52 PM Page 1

We ♥ Walker Evans Connecting the Underground and the City That Lives Above by Jon Dunn It’s rare to have a website that combines a social convenience with a social conscience. Not just a resource to check bar listings or where to spend your weekend, ColumbusUnderground.com provides a vital dialogue within the community that impacts the way people think about Columbus. Walker Evans co founded ColumbusUnderground (CU) website with his wife, Anne, in 2001. “We are in fact celebrating our 10th anniversary right now,” he says. “In 2001 you had very little social media online,” he explains. “We kept finding that the local information available online was actually lacking in local content. There was a need in the community for something hyper local that had reliable, updated content.” He explains the website’s humble beginnings as a “hobby that morphed into a full time business,” to a point where they concentrated on the website exclusively starting in 2007. It’s one of the most popular things online in Columbus, boasting over 2 million visitors each year and more than 8 million page hits in those same 365 days. Humble it is no more. A crisp, thoughtfully designed website, CU offers an array of different news perspectives with an urban community focus, diverse message boards and event listings. Focuses include dining, nightlife, civics, sports, urban living and much more, providing a comprehensive vessel for the latest news, entertainment and lifestyle updates and public forum for discussions ranging from light-heated chatter (a recent post titled “Hulk Doll Comes With Green Penis, for example) to serious conversations about city development and politics, to name just a couple of topics available for your perusal. To kick off the conversations, some of threads are started by Walker, the CU staff or regular posters. But the visitors submit much of the content and then unravel the threads in many directions. Looking at the number of threads combined with the amount of views and replies posted daily, the website has taken on a voice of its own as a public forum. The CU website info page offers a reassuring pledge that “You can be sure that you

apr 2011

are being heard on ColumbusUnderground,” and the statistics listed above underline that promise.

tablishments, like retail or restaurants,” he says.

“We’re pretty well known in this community, so we serve as a bit of a connector, as well,” says Walker, adding “I hope that we’re able to take the community voice of CU to the right people, because there’s only so much online talk. I’m hopeful our role is being felt by the community.”

Metropreneur may be the sister website to CU, but it’s taking a much steadier and faster ramp up to its level of popularity. “The readership on Metropreneur is where we want it to be,” says Walker. “It’s growing much faster compared to the relatively slow growth of Columbus Underground, we’ve built the audience much faster. And there’s been a sense of excitement about it in the city.”

Initially conceived for the greater Columbus area, Walker’s seen CU’s focus grow tighter on the Downtown area. “It’s definitely pro-urban, but not anti-suburban, either,” he notes with a laugh. “I hope it brings to the forefront the really unique aspects of Columbus to people.” Watching CU grow to become a major voice in the community is very satisfying, but Walker isn’t one who’s content to sit on his laurels and admire his own handiwork. His allegiance to other small businesses and entrepreneurs in Central Ohio has manifested itself in a companion website. In August of last year, they launched the Metropreneur, a new online resource that concentrates on connecting these small business owners and entrepreneurs with a modern approach to networking. “We cover what’s going in local business, with an inspirational aspect,” he offers, “But it’s really a hybrid between editorial resource and ‘virtual incubator’.” Part of the incubation is a Local Resource Database that links visitors to hundreds of resources for financing, marketing and media consulting. It echoes CU by having members dictate much of the focus and contribute much of the content through forums and feature articles. Walker offers that it’s providing a resource for many businesses that may be difficult for them to obtain otherwise. “There are definitely some good resources that exist in Columbus, mainly thought non-profits and other organizations. But the city itself could do more to support business, and their support seems to depend on the size and nature of the business, things like technology, not so much small brick-and-mortar es-

Walker’s commitment to Columbus shows not just in his business efforts, as his continuing civic activities include serving on the boards of the North Market Development Authority, Columbus 2020! Create Committee, Dine Originals Columbus and the Columbus Metropolitan Club. All of these involvements underline his untiring passion for the city and it’s sense of entrepreneurial spirit. “We have an investment in Columbus,” he says, “our headquarters on Gay Street is committed to the downtown, and my and I family live in the King-Lincoln district. We are committed to this community.” As a major player on the Columbus scene, Walker spends a lot of time considering what the future will bring for his favorite city. “It’s easy to take for granted what happens around you,” he explains. “And you might miss some of the exciting things going on in Columbus right now. I think Downtown Columbus will be drastically different in 10 years,” Walker predicts, offering a different perspective on how the current pace of development will dictate the future for development in Columbus. “Think of five things that you love about Columbus right now, and I’ll bet that many of these things didn’t even exist 10 years ago,” he offers. “So you can imagine what the next 10 years will bring.” Visit the ColumbusUnderground website at www.columbusunderground.com and the Metropreneur at www.themetropreneur.com/columbus. You can also read Walker’s blog at www.walkerevanseffect.com/blog.

“Now you must melt the butter, and be careful not to let anything explode!” – Julia Child

outlookcolumbus.com

32-29_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 12:10 AM Page 2

outlookcolumbus.com

“Your face will melt off and your children will weep over your exploded body.”

apr 2011

24 11:00 AM Broadway Brunch @ Level 11:00 AM Brunch & Showtunes @ U 7:00 PM Karaoke 8:00 PM Sunday Night Players @ Wall St 8:00 PM Holy $#!T @ Wall Street 10:00 PM Strippers @ Exile 10:30 PM Strippers @ Havana

Easter

10:00 AM Fully Committed @ Athletic Club of Columbus 11:00 AM Brunch & Showtunes @ U 11:00 AM Broadway Brunch @ Level 7:00 PM Karaoke 8:00 PM Latin Dance Night @ Wall St 10:00 PM Strippers @ Exile 10:30 PM Strippers @ Havana

11:00 AM Brunch & Showtunes @ U 11:00 AM Broadway Brunch @ Level 7:00 PM Karaoke 7:00 PM Rent @ Shadowbox Live 8:00 PM Latin Dance Night @ Wall St 10:00 PM Strippers @ Exile 10:30 PM Strippers @ Havana

11:00 AM Brunch & Showtunes @ U 11:00 AM Broadway Brunch @ Level 3:00 PM Softball Registration @ Exile 7:00 PM Karaoke 8:00 PM Latin Dance Night @ Wall St 10:00 PM Strippers @ Exile 10:30 PM Strippers @ Havana

27 11:00 AM Brunch & Showtunes @ U 11:00 AM Broadway Brunch @ Level 7:00 PM Rent @ Shadowbox 7:00 PM Karaoke 8:00 PM Sunday Night Players @ Wall St 10:00 PM Strippers @ Exile 10:30 PM Strippers @ Havana

Sunday

Bars-Clubs

Networking

Special Events

US Holidays

Monday 28

… Karaoke 12:00 PM Dollar Days @ Flex 1:00 PM Happy Hour @ Tremont 4:00 PM Bitchy Mondays @ Club D 5:00 PM Happy Hour @ Blazers 8:00 PM Martini Monday @ Havana 8:00 PM Karaoke Monday @ U 9:00 PM Stonewall Uprising @ Your TV 9:00 PM Service Industry Night @ Level 10:00 PM Karaoke @ AWOL

… Karaoke 12:00 PM Dollar Days @ Flex 1:00 PM Happy Hour @ Tremont 4:00 PM Bitchy Mondays @ Club D 5:00 PM Happy Hour @ Blazers 8:00 PM Martini Monday @ Havana 8:00 PM Karaoke Monday @ U 9:00 PM Service Industry Night @ Level 10:00 PM Karaoke @ AWOL

All-Day Happy Hour

… Karaoke 12:00 PM Dollar Days @ Flex 12:00 PM HIV Testing @ Stonewall 1:00 PM Happy Hour @ Tremont 4:00 PM Bitchy Mondays @ Club D 5:00 PM Happy Hour @ Blazers 8:00 PM Martini Monday @ Havana 8:00 PM Karaoke Monday @ U 9:00 PM Service Industry Night @ Level 10:00 PM Karaoke @ AWOL

… Karaoke 12:00 PM Dollar Days @ Flex 1:00 PM Happy Hour @ Tremont 4:00 PM Bitchy Mondays @ Club D 5:00 PM Happy Hour @ Blazers 7:30 PM Anna Quindlen @ King Arts Complex 8:00 PM Martini Monday @ Havana 8:00 PM Karaoke Monday @ U 9:00 PM Service Industry Night @ Level 10:00 PM Karaoke @ AWOL

9:00 AM 30yr Ride: Honda's OhioMade Motorcycles … Karaoke 12:00 PM Dollar Days @ Flex 1:00 PM Happy Hour @ Tremont 4:00 PM Bitchy Mondays @ Club D 5:00 PM Happy Hour @ Blazers 8:00 PM Martini Monday @ Havana 8:00 PM Karaoke Monday @ U 9:00 PM Service Industry Night @ Level 10:00 PM Karaoke @ AWOL

April 2011

30-31 calendar inside_Calendar 3/27/11 6:54 PM Page 1

9:00 AM SRJNG Tuesday Tune Up @ Espresso Yourself Cafe 4:00 PM Karaoke @ Q 4:00 PM Technicolor Movie Night @ Club D 5:00 PM Top Shelf Tuesday @ Havana 8:00 PM Team Trivia Tuesdays @ Level 8:00 PM Cheap Date Night @ Slam! mers 8:00 PM Jay Bird @ Southbend 10:00 PM Strippers @ Exile

9:00 AM SRJNG Tuesday Tune Up @ Espresso Yourself Cafe 1:00 PM Face 2 Face @ Columbus Cul! tural Arts Center 4:00 PM Karaoke @ Q 4:00 PM Technicolor Movie Night @ Club D 5:00 PM Top Shelf Tuesday @ Havana 8:00 PM Cheap Date Night @ Slam! mers 8:00 PM Team Trivia Tuesdays @ Level 10:00 PM Strippers @ Exile

9:00 AM SRJNG Tuesday Tune Up @ Espresso Yourself Cafe 4:00 PM Technicolor Movie Night @ Club D 4:00 PM Karaoke @ Q 5:00 PM Top Shelf Tuesday @ Havana 7:00 PM Discussion to Uncover Hidden Meanings @ Beehive Books 8:00 PM Cheap Date Night @ Slam! mers 8:00 PM Team Trivia Tuesdays @ Level 10:00 PM Strippers @ Exile

9:00 AM SRJNG Tuesday Tune Up @ Espresso Yourself Cafe 2:00 PM Controversy @ Ohio Historical Society 4:00 PM Technicolor Movie Night @ Club D 4:00 PM Karaoke @ Q 5:00 PM Top Shelf Tuesday @ Havana 8:00 PM Cheap Date Night @ Slam! mers 8:00 PM Team Trivia Tuesdays @ Level 10:00 PM Strippers @ Exile

9:00 AM SRJNG Tuesday Tune Up @ Espresso Yourself Cafe 4:00 PM Technicolor Movie Night @ Club D 4:00 PM Karaoke @ Q 5:00 PM Top Shelf Tuesday @ Havana 5:30 PM Experience Columbus Open House @ Lindey's 8:00 PM Team Trivia Tuesdays @ Level 8:00 PM Cheap Date Night @ Slam! mers 10:00 PM Strippers @ Exile

Tuesday

12:00 PM CMC Lunch Forums @ Ath! letic Club of Columbus 4:00 PM LevelTini Night @ Level 5:00 PM Prime Timers "Boys Night Out" @ Club D 7:00 PM Fiesta Night @ U 7:30 PM Mary Poppins @ Ohio Theater 9:30 PM Karaoke Bingo @ Exile 10:00 PM Boy Night @ Wall St

12:00 PM CMC Lunch Forums @ Ath! letic Club of Columbus 12:00 PM CMC Forum @ Atheletic Club of Columbus 4:00 PM LevelTini Night @ Level 5:00 PM Prime Timers "Boys Night Out" @ Club D 5:30 PM Wine Around the World @ Confluence Park Restaurant 7:00 PM Fiesta Night @ U 9:30 PM Karaoke Bingo @ Exile 10:00 PM Boy Night @ Wall St

12:00 PM CMC Lunch Forums @ Ath! letic Club of Columbus 4:00 PM LevelTini Night @ Level 5:00 PM Prime Timers "Boys Night Out" @ Club D 6:00 PM Network Columbus @ ECDI 7:00 PM Fiesta Night @ U 9:30 PM Karaoke Bingo @ Exile 10:00 PM Boy Night @ Wall St

12:00 PM CMC Lunch Forums @ Ath! letic Club of Columbus 4:00 PM LevelTini Night @ Level 5:00 PM Prime Timers "Boys Night Out" @ Club D 7:00 PM Fiesta Night @ U 9:30 PM Karaoke Bingo @ Exile 10:00 PM Boy Night @ Wall St

12:00 PM CMC Lunch Forums @ Ath! letic Club of Columbus 4:00 PM LevelTini Night @ Level 5:00 PM Prime Timers "Boys Night Out" @ Club D 7:00 PM What the Butler Saw @ Verne Ri"e Center's Studio One Theatre 7:00 PM Fiesta Night @ U 9:30 PM Karaoke Bingo @ Exile 10:00 PM Boy Night @ Wall St

Wednesday

4:00 PM Leather & Fetish @ Flex 4:00 PM $3 3 Olives Night @ Level 4:00 PM 3 Wise Men @ Exile 8:00 PM CW & HipHop @ Wall St 8:00 PM Disco Night @ Martini Park 8:00 PM Long Island @ U 9:00 PM Tom Crumley at the Piano @ Club D 10:00 PM Trafik Jam @ Trafik

CLAW 10 @ Hilton Garden Inn (Cleveland)

4:00 PM $3 3 Olives Night @ Level 4:00 PM 3 Wise Men @ Exile 4:00 PM Leather & Fetish @ Flex 8:00 PM Disco Night @ Martini Park 8:00 PM Long Island @ U 8:00 PM CW & HipHop @ Wall St 9:00 PM Tom Crumley at the Piano @ Club D 10:00 PM Trafik Jam @ Trafik 10:00 PM Sweatin' @ Axis

4:00 PM 3 Wise Men @ Exile 4:00 PM Leather & Fetish @ Flex 4:00 PM $3 3 Olives Night @ Level 7:00 PM Skyscrapers of the Midwest @ Studio Two 8:00 PM Long Island @ U 8:00 PM CW & HipHop @ Wall St 8:00 PM Disco Night @ Martini Park 9:00 PM Tom Crumley at the Piano @ Club D 10:00 PM Trafik Jam @ Trafik 10:00 PM Drag Special @ Level

4:00 PM Leather & Fetish @ Flex 4:00 PM $3 3 Olives Night @ Level 4:00 PM 3 Wise Men @ Exile 8:00 PM Marathon @ Gateway Film Center 8:00 PM CW & HipHop @ Wall St 8:00 PM Disco Night @ Martini Park 8:00 PM What The Butler Saw @ Ri"e Studio One 8:00 PM Long Island @ U 9:00 PM Tom Crumley at the Piano @ Club D 10:00 PM Trafik Jam @ Trafik

31 4:00 PM Leather & Fetish @ Flex 4:00 PM $3 3 Olives Night @ Level 4:00 PM 3 Wise Men @ Exile 8:00 PM CW & HipHop @ Wall St 8:00 PM Disco Night @ Martini Park 8:00 PM Long Island @ U 9:00 PM Tom Crumley at the Piano @ Club D 10:00 PM Trafik Jam @ Trafik

Double Sexus @ Wexner Center

Thursday

T W

F 6

S 7 9 10 11 12 13 14

4:00 PM Get Your Mojo @ Level 7:30 PM Jon Stewart @ Palace Theatre 8:00 PM Flirtinis @ U 8:00 PM 7 Deadly Sins @ Capitol The! atre 9:00 PM Live Bands @ Havana 9:30 PM Live Music @ Club D 10:00 PM Traxx: Columbus @ Out! lands 10:00 PM College Nite @ Wall St

Arbor Day

4:00 PM Get Your Mojo @ Level 8:00 PM Flirtinis @ U 9:00 PM Live Bands @ Havana 9:30 PM Live Music @ Club D 10:00 PM Traxx: Columbus @ Out! lands 10:00 PM College Nite @ Wall St

Earth Day

Earth Day @ Everywhere

15 9:00 AM Alleviating Poverty Through Entrepreneurship @ Wexner Center 4:00 PM Get Your Mojo @ Level 8:00 PM Flirtinis @ U 9:00 PM Live Bands @ Havana 9:30 PM Live Music @ Club D 10:00 PM Traxx: Columbus @ Out! lands 10:00 PM College Nite @ Wall St

Tax Day

9:00 AM BNI Group One-to-Ones @ Panera Bread (Bethel) 4:00 PM Get Your Mojo @ Level 8:00 PM Flirtinis @ U 9:00 PM Live Bands @ Havana 9:30 PM Live Music @ Club D 10:00 PM College Nite @ Wall St 10:00 PM Traxx: Columbus @ Out! lands

4:00 PM Get Your Mojo @ Level 7:00 PM First Friday @ Wall St 7:00 PM Cause Conference @ Center for Workforce Development 8:00 PM Flirtinis @ U 9:00 PM Live Bands @ Havana 9:30 PM Live Music @ Club D 10:00 PM DJ Fierce Tease @ Axis 10:00 PM Traxx: Columbus @ Out! lands 10:00 PM College Nite @ Wall St

April Fool's Day

Friday

Page 1/1

8:00 PM Margaritas @ U 9:00 PM O" the Grid @ Wexner Center 9:30 PM Live Music @ Club D 10:00 PM DJ Jeremy James @ Level 10:00 PM Dance Your Ass O" @ Axis 10:00 PM Lesbian Dance Night @ Wall St

8:00 PM Margaritas @ U 9:00 PM Camp Nowhere @ Wall Street 9:30 PM Live Music @ Club D 10:00 PM DJ Jeremy James @ Level 10:00 PM Dance Your Ass O" @ Axis 10:00 PM Lesbian Dance Night @ Wall St

9:00 AM CCAD Art Sale @ Crane Cen! ter 8:00 PM Margaritas @ U 9:30 PM Live Music @ Club D 10:00 PM Dance Your Ass O" @ Axis 10:00 PM Lesbian Dance Night @ Wall St 10:00 PM DJ Jeremy James @ Level

Wonderland Science Fair @ COSI

5:00 PM CD101 Day @ LC Pavilion 7:00 PM Words of Womyn @ Kobo 8:00 PM Margaritas @ U 9:30 PM Live Music @ Club D 10:00 PM Lesbian Dance Night @ Wall St 10:00 PM DJ Jeremy James @ Level 10:00 PM Dance Your Ass O" @ Axis

5:00 PM Ohio Roller Girls @ Ohio Ex! poe Center - Lausche Building 8:00 PM Margaritas @ U 8:30 PM Best Ass Contest @ Exile 9:30 PM Live Music @ Club D 10:00 PM DJ Jeremy James @ Level 10:00 PM Dance Your Ass O" @ Axis 10:00 PM Lesbian Dance Night @ Wall St

Saturday

29 30 31

May 2011

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

S M

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

27 28 29 30 31

T W

April 2011

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

9 10 11 12

S M

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

T W

March 2011 S M

Easter

Sunday

Bars-Clubs

Networking

Special Events

US Holidays

Monday 28

… Karaoke 12:00 PM Dollar Days @ Flex 1:00 PM Happy Hour @ Tremont 4:00 PM Bitchy Mondays @ Club D 5:00 PM Happy Hour @ Blazers 8:00 PM Martini Monday @ Havana 8:00 PM Karaoke Monday @ U 9:00 PM Service Industry Night @ Level 10:00 PM Karaoke @ AWOL

All-Day Happy Hour

April 2011

30-31 calendar inside_Calendar 3/27/11 6:54 PM Page 1

Tuesday

Wednesday

CLAW 10 @ Hilton Garden Inn (Cleveland)

Double Sexus @ Wexner Center

Thursday

T W

F 6

S 7 9 10 11 12 13 14

Arbor Day

4:00 PM Get Your Mojo @ Level 8:00 PM Flirtinis @ U 9:00 PM Live Bands @ Havana 9:30 PM Live Music @ Club D 10:00 PM Traxx: Columbus @ Out! lands 10:00 PM College Nite @ Wall St

Earth Day

Earth Day @ Everywhere

Tax Day

April Fool's Day

Friday

Page 1/1

8:00 PM Margaritas @ U 9:00 PM O" the Grid @ Wexner Center 9:30 PM Live Music @ Club D 10:00 PM DJ Jeremy James @ Level 10:00 PM Dance Your Ass O" @ Axis 10:00 PM Lesbian Dance Night @ Wall St

8:00 PM Margaritas @ U 9:00 PM Camp Nowhere @ Wall Street 9:30 PM Live Music @ Club D 10:00 PM DJ Jeremy James @ Level 10:00 PM Dance Your Ass O" @ Axis 10:00 PM Lesbian Dance Night @ Wall St

9:00 AM CCAD Art Sale @ Crane Cen! ter 8:00 PM Margaritas @ U 9:30 PM Live Music @ Club D 10:00 PM Dance Your Ass O" @ Axis 10:00 PM Lesbian Dance Night @ Wall St 10:00 PM DJ Jeremy James @ Level

Wonderland Science Fair @ COSI

Saturday

29 30 31

May 2011

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

S M

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

27 28 29 30 31

T W

April 2011

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

9 10 11 12

S M

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

T W

March 2011 S M

32-29_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 12:10 AM Page 1

FRIDAY, APRIL 1 I WAS ONCE OFFERED A JOB ON APRIL 1 April Fool’s Day @ everywhere: The best prank of all time? Put a rubberband around your sink sprayer thing. Works every time. COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY STUDENTS 4 EQUALITY Cause Conference Kick Off @ The Center for Workforce Development, Ballroom (WD 435), 315 Cleveland Ave, www.equalityohio.org: A summit for LGBT and allied leaders in the college and university community working toward equality. This summit sets out to inspire, empower and support students and young leaders between 18 and 24 working hard for equality in their communities. Workshops include: The Art of Drag, LGBT dating violence, LGBTQ Activism 101, Transgender Legal Protections Against Employment Discrimination and many more. 7p 10p. Check site for registration info. SATURDAY, APRIL 2 IF ONLY ROLLER BOYS DIDN’T GO OUT WITH THE 90S... Ohio Roller Girls v. Hard Knox Roller Girls @ Ohio Expo Center Lausche Building, 717 E 17th Avenue, www.ohiorollergirls.com: Intense. Girl on Girl. Action. So wear your gang green (or nothing at all) and cheer on the home team. 5p; $17. SUNDAY, APRIL 3 BALLS TO THE WALL, OR OTHER PLACES Softball Registration @ Exile, 893 N 4th St, 614.299.0069, www.exilebar.com: Come out to meet new and returning players and coaches! All skill levels welcome. You may have just watched the World Series last year, but now it’s time to get involved. 3-6p; free. MONDAY, APRIL 4 THE ‘ONE TRUE THING’ ISN’T BLOWJOBS, GIRLS Anna Quindlen @ The King Arts Complex Theatre, 867 Mount Vernon Ave, 614.645.KING (5464), www.thekingartscomplex.com: Pulitzer Prize winner Anna Quindlen dishes up the literary gossip with friend and another Pulitzer Prize winner, Connie Schultz. Let the papers fly and check the weaves for inkwell pens. Reception at 6p, Talk at 7:30p; $40, $25 (talk only). TUESDAY, APRIL 5 EVEN PEOPLE IN THE 1860S KNEW TO BE SAFE Controversy @ The Ohio Historical Center, 1982 Velma Ave, 614.297.2300, www.ohiohistory.org: Five objects, only controversial because of the viewer’s conceptions. The objects haven’t done anything to hurt you. Just the people who have used them. Runs through November 20, but what else are you going to do on a Tuesday? All day; Gen. admission plus $5.

IT’S CALLED DRAG - IT SUPPORTS THE ECONOMY AND MACY’S CMC Forum - Sustainable Arts and Economic Development @ Athletic Club of Columbus, 136 E Broad St, www.columbusmetroclub.org: With Bruce Harkey, Executive Director, Franklin Park Conservatory; Alex Fischer, President and CEO, The Columbus Partnership; Doug Kridler, President and CEO, The Columbus Foundation; Paul B. Redman, Executive Director, Longwood Gardens Inc. 12p; $40, $20 (members).

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20 WINE, NOT ‘WHINE’ AROUND THE WORLD JUST SHUT UP AND GO Wine Around the World @ Confluence Park Restaurant, 679 W Spring St, www.waw2011.kintera.com: This event features 22 wines from around the world, live music, great food, silent auction and much more. All of the proceeds benefit the Home Care Support Program of the Columbus Cancer Clinic. 5:30p - 8p; $45.

Face 2 Face, 25 Years of Art and Community @ The Columbus Cultural Arts Center, 139 W Main St, www.studiosonhigh.com: A show about the longevity and importance of the Studios on High. Runs Apr 15 - May 11. All day; free.

FACE 2 FACE IS MY LEAST FAVORITE POSITION

TUESDAY, APRIL 19

MONDAY, APRIL 18 HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY All-Day Happy Hour @ Level Dining Lounge, 700 N High St, 614.754.1342, www.levelcolumbus.com: My favorite happy hours are the ones that don’t end... until you find someone to take home. All day; The Price of Booze.

SUNDAY, APRIL 17 COMMITTED IN A GOOD WAY Fully Committed: A Gay Wedding Affair @ Athletic Club of Columbus, 136 E Broad St, www.fullycommittedcolumbus.com: A chic brunchstyle wedding event featuring LGBT owned and allied vendors. Mimosas, appetizers, mix & mingle fashion show. What more could you ask for?! And ticket sales benefit Equality Ohio. $20 (adv), $30 (door), 10a 2p.

SATURDAY, APRIL 16 Young And, Um... Talented? CCAD Art Sale @ CCAD Crane Center, 60 Cleveland Ave, www.ccad.edu: Modern art escapes me. But maybe that’s the point? Anyway, CCAD is full of all sorts of burgeoning artists. There’s something for everyone (and cheap!). 9a ($50), 10:30a ($5) until 2p.

something to do each day this month WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6 MONDAY, APRIL 11 YOU TOO, CAN BE A GODDESS THE ONLY TEST YOU WANT TO TAKE Charlie Sheen Live: My Violent Tor- HIV Testing @ Stonewall Columbus pedo of Truth @ Palace Theatre, 34 Community Center, 1160 N High St, West Broad Street, 614.469.9850, 614.299.7764 www.stonewallwww.capa.com: We’re not sure what columbus.org: Every Monday. It’s a torpedo of truth is either. But it’s free. It helps you stay that way, too. gotta be good, right? 8p; $57.45 Free condoms, ‘nuff said. 1p; free. $575. TUESDAY, APRIL 12 THURSDAY, APRIL 7 I SPEND MY DAYS UNCOVERED HINT: SCANDAL Discussion to Uncover Hidden What The Butler Saw @ Verne Riffe Meanings @ Beehive Books, 25 N Center’s Studio One Theatre, 77 S Sandusky St (Delaware), High St, 614.469.1045, www.dgsca.org: The presenter, Linda www.capa.com: Farce or tragedy? Mercadante, Ph.D., has conducted Sounds like Lindsay Lohan might be more than 85 in-depth interviews involved. All the makings of a good with people across the country about comedy, and then someone set it in their spiritual beliefs and has ena psychiatric ward. Runs through gaged in hundreds of informal conApr 17. 11a (Wed), 8p (Thu-Sat), 2p versations for an upcoming book on (Sun); $11 (Wed), $24.50 – $39.50. the topic. Mercadante will include info she gleaned from interviews Gayducation with gays and lesbian, who often Marathon @ Gateway Film Center, feel shunned from their home 1550 N High St, 614.545.2255, churches after coming out. 7p; free. www.gatewayfilmcenter.com: This month’s OUTTakes film explores the WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13 relationship between Richard RUB THAT SAUCE ALL OVER YOUR BODY Network Columbus @ Economic Harteis and William Meredith, former US Poet Laureate and winner of and Community Development Instievery major American award for po- tute, 1655 Old Leonard Avenue, etry including the Pulitzer Prize. 8p; www.networkcolumbus.com: Join the members of Network Columbus $5 - $8. for an event and speakers concerning the Economic & Community DeFRIDAY, APRIL 8 velopment Institute, and their WEAR YOUR SUPERMAN GEAR Jerry Seinfeld @ Ohio Theatre, 39 programs for small business loans, East State St, 614.469.0939, training, grants, home ownership, www.capa.com: People go to comand educational scholarship. edy shows. What’s up with that? 7p; Michael Hermick of Zampico Foods $56.45 - $92.20. will present the first 40 networkers with a free jar of Zampico pasta SATURDAY, APRIL 9 sauce. 6p; free. USE YOUR WORDS, LADIES Words of Womyn @ Kobo, 2590 N THURSDAY, APRIL 14 High St, www.kobolive.com: A fiery IS BLAKE RILEY’S PENIS ONE OF THEM? night of Columbus’ fiercest womyn. Skyscrapers of the Midwest @ And this night doesn’t require you to Verne Riffe Center’s Studio Two Thesee a doctor in the morning about atre, 77 S High St, 614.469. 1045, that burning sensation; it’s poetry. www.capa.com: Available Light The7p; $5 donation. atre presents something you never thought you’d see: comic books and MY FAVORITE NUMBER THAT GREW BY 1.5 live theater teaming up. In this CD101 Day @ The Lifestyle Comadaptation of the critically-acmunities Pavilion, 405 Neil Ave, claimed graphic novel, we experi614.461.LIVE (5483), www.promow- ence the joy and pain of two siblings estlive.com: CD101 at 102.5 FM (So in the 1980s. No, it’s not a John they’re showers, not growers) pres- Hughes movie. Through Apr 23. 8p; ents CD101 Day. With Fitz & the pay what you want. Tantrums, Young the Giant, Ra Ra Riot, Deluka, Civil Twilight, and TBA! FRIDAY, APRIL 15 My favorite local CBus band of all THE DAY THAT SHALL NOT BE NAMED - SO time. 5p; $5. LET’S TALK ABOUT A DIFFERENT EVENT Alleviating Poverty Through EntreSUNDAY, APRIL 10 preneurship @ Mershon AuditoIS THAT IT HERE? WINE AND BEER! rium, Wexner Center for the Arts, Rent @ Shadowbox Live, Easton 1871 N High St, www.fisher.osu.ed/APTE: Towne Center, 614.416.7625, A dynamic conference that engages www.shadowboxlive.org: It’s like a the public to explore entrepreneurial gay-Mecca, but without leaving your solutions to local and global poverty. city. Runs on Sundays, through Apr APTE attendees will also have the 17. 2p & 7p; $30 (adults), $20 (se- chance to get plugged into internnior/students). ship, research, volunteer, and study abroad opportunities to channel their interest and enthusiasm into projects that help communities down the street and around the globe. 9a - 5p; free.

THURSDAY, APRIL 21 216.658.6400, www.clawinfo.org: GET ALL MOIST It’s CLAW 10. Imagine... 10 whole Sweatin’ @ Axis, 775 N High St, years of leather-goodness. The 614.291.4008, www.sweatinprethought just makes you want to go sents.com: Dance the night away. to a public park at midnight and Leave your fluids on the floor. Good stand near some bushes! All weektimes. Doors at 10p; cover. end; $5 (day pass), $90/$165 (basic/premium weekend passes). FRIDAY, APRIL 22 IT’S EARTH DAY, BITCHES FRIDAY, APRIL 29 Earth Day @ The Earth: Don’t throw SOME OF THOSE TREES WERE MY FRIENDS! that cigarette butt out your car win- Arbor Day @ Everywhere: Plant a dow! Recycle that shit. And instead new best friend. Love it. Climb it. of spray-product, use some gelTalk to it. Trees Rock! product. Mother Effing Earth needs your help. All day; free. DEADLY? WHAT ABOUT THOSE OF US WHO LIVE IN SIN? SATURDAY, APRIL 23 7 Deadly Sins @ Verne Riffe CenWHERE NO ONE CAN HEAR YOU MOAN! ter’s Capitol Theatre, 77 S High St, Camp Nowhere @ Wall Street, 144 614.469.1045, www.capa.com: BalN Wall St, 614.464.2800, www.wall- letMet and Shadowbox Live join streetnightclub.com: A touring per- forces for this rock ballet! (cue lightformance of drag kings and gender ning) It’s ALIIIIIIIIVE! Through May 7. benders featuring Gavin Danger, 8p; $21 - $49. benefitting Camp Sunrise. What’s not to love? Come early, come often. NAMBLA MEETING 9p; $7. Jon Stewart @ The Palace Theatre, 34 W Broad St, 614.469.9850, SUNDAY, APRIL 24 www.capa.com: The man who has I’M A TWICE-A-YEAR DRAGGER single-handedly changed history. Holy $#¡T @ Wall Street, 144 N Wall For the funnier. Or at least for the St, 614.464.2800, www.wallstreet- less-apathetic. 7:30p; $47 - $57. nightclub.com: Noka Davers’ delectably sinful show. It’s finger (and SATURDAY, APRIL 30 other body parts) lickin’ good! Fea- HOPEFULLY A TRON REFERENCE turing Sherri Dribblelipz, Viva Valezz, Off the Grid @ Wexner Center for the Rocco Giovanni, DJ Lydia Beatz, and Arts, 1871 N. High St, more Queens and Kings. Doors at 614.292.3535, www.wexarts.org: 8p, show at 9p; $7 or a table of four Like the good ol’ fashioned gay for $35. clubs there will be electronic music, delectably queer youth, and so much OH, PS IT’S EASTER fog you can’t see the person on their Easter @ Everywhere Jesus is: It knees in front of you. DJs Patrick (Ojust pales in comparison to the Gee) and Shuttle (Nate of Passion monthly coming of Noka Davers. Pit) will lay down some beats. BYOFunk. 9p; $40 (adv), $50 (day of), MONDAY, APRIL 25 $100 (all access). Revolution! Without Leaving Your Home SHE BLINDED ME WITH SCIENCE Stonewall Uprising @ Your TV: Wonderland Science Fair @ COSI, WOSU is airing Stonewall Uprising 333 W Broad St, 614.228.COSI, as part of the American Experience www.cosi.org: A panel of expert film series. Too bad they’re going up judges will award prizes for “Most against the season finale of RuCreative” and “Most Science-y,” as Paul’s Drag Race. 9p; free. well as a “Teen Prodigy” award for contestants under 18. A “People’s TUESDAY, APRIL 26 Choice” award will also be given, ...AND HIS GOOD FRIEND ROCKIN’ ROBIN based on the results of visitor balJay Bird @ Southbend Tavern, 126 E lots. Prizes will be provided by WonMoler St, 614.444.3386: Fantastic derland and sponsoring local bartender, servin’ up some sweet, businesses. All day; $20 (entry fee). sweet booze. Or possibly dry, dry booze. Or even, if it’s your palette, SUNDAY, MAY 1 hoppy, hoppy booze. All night; free. A GAY-LA FOR THE AGES Short North Gala @ Greek Orthodox WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27 Cathedral, 555 N High St, UNDER MY UMBRELLA ELLA ELLA 614.299.8050, www.shortnorthMary Poppins @ The Ohio Theater, gala.com: Cocktails in the courtyard, 39 E State St, 614.469.0939, followed by dancing and a taste of www.capa.com: The world’s most the Short North in the ballroom. We famous nanny is coming to you! Get know it sounds classy, but that’s the a spoonful through May 8. 7:30p; Short for ya; classy on the surface $22.50 - $132.50. and a hot mess underneath. But the most loveable hot mess we ever THURSDAY, APRIL 28 knew. 6p; $65, $850 (table of 10). Remember the Smell of Your Dad’s Favorite Jacket? CLAW 10 @ Hilton Garden Inn (Cleveland), 1100 Carnegie Ave,

• • • • • • • • • • • about town • • • • • • • • • • •

outl

28-33_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 12:01 AM Page 2

We ♥ Elizabeth Lessner - Columbus’ Renaissance Restaurateur by Jon Dunn Elizabeth Lessner may be one of the most famous people in Columbus that you might not have heard of, but you almost definitely know her work. Some of the top restaurants in the city don’t bear her name, but they absolutely bear her stamp. With an eclectic and deadly accurate flair for delivering just what Columbus wants in a cool place to hang out, her roster of establishments range from rock n’ roll hot dogs with a local attitude to a historic Columbus favorite restored for the 21st century. You know the places: Dirty Frank’s, Betty’s, The Surly Girl Saloon, the Tip Top and her latest addition, the Jury Room. With this impressive ability to dial directly into what makes a great restaurant, you might wonder why the founder of Betty’s Family of Restaurants doesn’t take the magic to another city. Yet, behind the scenes, her business is firmly rooted in Columbus and the people that make her magic happen everyday. Why does she think Columbus rocks so much? “I think it’s because there is so much opportunity here, it’s such a vibrant, inspiring place to be,” she explains, “being in Columbus makes you want to create a better place. Like they taught us in the Girl Scouts; leave every place better than when you found it!” Aside from creating great restaurants, Elizabeth likes to find solutions to problems, seeking out ways to create business opportunities that actually solve problems. One of her latest “pet projects” is Eartha Limited, which seeks to increase the awareness of energy and waste reduction by educating the industry and seeking partnerships to achieve food service sustainability and a ‘zero waste’ objective. “Being as green as possible is one of our main initiatives,” she says, adding, “Our employees definitely encouraged us to pursue this route.” She now wears another hat. “As a restaurateur, I didn’t expect to be in the trash business,“ Elizabeth says, laughing out loud. “But here I am!” Eartha Limited focuses on the recycling and composting of waste products from restaurants. “I couldn’t find anyone who would accept the amount of waste we wanted to have composted, rather than just toss it all in a landfill,” she exoutlookcolumbus.com

plains. “So we purchased our own facility and now we recycle it ourselves. We compost all the food waste and scraps, collect all the recyclables and then donate the leftover edible food to the Mid Ohio Food Bank.” Another of her pet projects is the Godman Guild, a local non-profit garden market that helps to supply her restaurants with fresh produce. “It’s a group of kids eight to fifteen years old in Weinland Park that have a community garden. There’s so little green space around there, that they created this garden. They operate it like a business and they get paid minimum wage. They sell the vegetables to local restaurants. They’ll plant in the summer, do the harvest, and the kids are the salespeople, so they earn some money and learn about business; it’s all about creating a healthier lifestyle for them.” Though she’s had plenty of success in Columbus, it was not always an easy road in dealing with the politics of opening a new restaurant. Elizabeth feels that the City could do more to help small business owners open and then thrive. “The City can be difficult, they’re not really that helpful in helping a brick and mortar business, there are way too many codes to be figured out, especially for restaurants. Another problem is that there isn’t consistency among all of the different inspectors, which makes it harder to figure out what’s being done right or incorrectly.” These kinds of frustrations can hamper the process of opening a new establishment to an extreme degree. “Because of all the codes and delays, it took nine months to open Dirty Frank’s!” she says. “It shouldn’t have taken anywhere near that long for us to open.” Another frustrating aspect of the downtown business is the lack of parking, which can make or break a restaurant. “Parking downtown is poorly designed, which puts people off,” she explains. “There isn’t a great mode of public transit in play that could help alleviate that, like in other cities where you can ride in and out of town easily. No one wants to search for parking for dinner, and then find a ticket on the windshield when they come back to the car. This really affects a leisurely dinner in a sit-down restaurant.” While parking and transportation are major concerns when looking for locations, Elizabeth says that these issues are “not deal

breakers, but they can be tough to deal with!” Though the environment in Columbus can be challenging, Elizabeth feels there’s opportunities to be had. She has great praise for the Angry Baker in Olde Towne East, which is thriving in a community that still has many challenges. “It’s a young woman that opened this bakery and it’s really taken off. They have vegan and regular baked goods and usually the line is out the door!” By taking a chance on the neighborhood, the Angry Baker has found its niche in the market. Looking for new opportunities in uncommon places is a key to finding success. What’s the next big thing in Columbus? “Food trucks,” she offers. “They’re exciting and inspiring and I think they‘re pointing the way to other food opportunities here, because there’s such an audience here for it in Columbus,” she says. “Columbus loves cool things! It’s so receptive here, anything you want to try, and you’ll have people that are excited about it.” For her next restaurant, Elizabeth is planning a new spin on a familiar theme to long-time Columbus residents; a Tiki bar. “Of course when you say Tiki bar, everyone says ‘Kahiki!” she says with a laugh. Part of the new spin will be an updated menu, “and seriously, the drinks and the atmosphere were the best thing about Kahiki, but I want to invoke that kind of vibe.” She also enjoys seeing the reactions of people who visit Columbus for the first time, or transplants from other states that are continually discovering the diverse palate of this city. She feels that Columbus people are actually really well traveled people, so there is a constant demand for a wide range of food experiences. When it comes to opening a new restaurant, Elizabeth says that “it’s about filling niches in the Downtown; as long as there’s a need, a niche, we try to fill it.” As her commitment to Columbus is in no jeopardy, Elizabeth still has ideas about bringing her brands to a larger market. “Definitely not a huge chain thing, but we’re looking to branch out into areas with similar neighborhoods with unique concepts for a destination dining experience.” With the ever-expanding range of eateries here, what would Elizabeth herself like to see next? “A crepe shoppe!” she says, without any hesitation.

And now, back to your regularly scheduled program…

As creative as her restaurants offerings are, so are her business practices. The employee’s involvement and well-being, as well as the community at large, are first in mind when it comes to her businesses. “I want everyone to be involved in the community, so all of our managers must serve on at least one local board or nonprofit. There are tons of partnerships that we love to be involved in; we’re always looking for new ways to be proactive.” Her company has helped sponsor numerous local causes, including Out Loud at Stonewall Columbus, which gives young people who are coming out a nonbar environment to hang out, and the Mid Ohio Food Bank, among others. Her business is built on the talented staff she’s assembled. “Employees drive what we do,” she explains, “we try to engage them. Our staffs help to evolve all of our concepts and we utilize their unique skill sets to cover a lot more ground in our service to the community.” She finds that the restaurant industry attracts a lot of creative, young people because of the flexibility in hours and because its work that “lets you leave the work at work; you don’t have to take it home.” Her organization likes to promote from within and she points to Amy Brennick, the COO of Betty’s Family of Restaurants, who started as a cook in Betty’s restaurant, as an example of her employee’s success. She adds that many have gone on to start their own business, and that she’s always available for advice and support, a trait she says she learned from her colleagues. Elizabeth says that the peer network in Columbus can be invaluable resource for those looking to create a new business. “People that are successful business owners in Columbus are so accessible,” she says. “You could call any one of the top restaurateurs here and meet them for lunch. I reached out to so many people and everyone was very generous in offering advice, so I pay that forward. I constantly get emails from people and answer their questions all the time. I think that it’s really important to be accessible.” How can you not ♥ this woman? For more information about Elizabeth and her restaurants, visit http://bettyscolumbus.com/restaurants.html. Go to http://www.earthalimited.com/ for more details about Eartha Limited and their innovative recycling efforts.

apr 2011

34-27_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/28/11 2:35 AM Page 1

We ♥ Brady Konya - The Serial Entrepreneur by Jon Dunn Brady Konya is starting to get used to the Columbus limelight. During his short residence here in Columbus, the seemingly tireless, self-described ‘Serial Entrepreneur’ transplant from Seattle continues to make an impact through a variety of forms and settings. From the innovative concept of Middle West Spirits, to the urban artists’ collective of Wonderland, to the virtual incubator for small business known as Workshop Company, his influence and drive define the character of a man who is committed to the community on many levels. He’s perhaps most recognized as one of the partners in Middle West Spirits, Columbus’ first distillery. Known for its distinctive flavor and packaging, their flagship spirit OYO vodka, has garnered international acclaim in less than a year from its debut in July 2010. Not just a Columbus-produced item, the entire supply chain for the spirits is sourced from locally based vendors in Ohio. From the beginning, the vision for Middle West was a company with strong roots in Columbus and a dedication to supporting the community where it resides. “Middle West would not be here if the fabric strength of this community hadn’t supported us,” he explains. “I’m really proud that we were able to start a local distillery at a time when everyone was saying ‘No’ to small businesses. We tried banks and other conventional methods for startup, but we were mainly self-funded. Yet, we had the local business community rallying around us, too,” he says. “The Middle West story is a story with a strong emotional connection, it’s more than a product, it represents a commitment to an ideal; that it’s only authentic when you live it.” Middle West is on target to where they want it to be and the appeal of the spirit has even drawn it past the borders of Ohio, now. “It’s basically statewide now and we’re starting to distribute it in places like Kentucky and Georgia,” he says proudly. Another high visibility project close to Brady’s is Wonderland Columbus, is an urban artist’s collective designed to be a haven for the creative spirit. Housed in the old Wonder Bread factory on Fourth, the space will include a recording studio, rehearsal spaces, artist’s studios, workshops, performance venues and galleries for local artists to work in a space dedicated solely to them. It can provide access to tools and expertise that may not be accessible on their own. “Wonderland is sort of a concierge for the creative community, providing the space, talent and resources to help the creative community reach a level,” Brady offers. “It’s breaking the model of a non-profit as just a handout. Wonderland’s there to foster the creative spirit in an environment that’s designed to help generate revenue for the people that work there.” Though not yet fully operational, the project has taken on a life of its own and it continues to garner support from both the community and the city. They recently received $50,000 in non-discretionary funding from the Columbus Foundation, Wonderland’s first major cash donation, and a major affirmation of support from the community. His latest venture, Workshop Co., is in the same spirit of fostering development, but geared towards small business and entrepreneurs. Housed in the former Sandbox location just off High Street in the Short North, Workshop Co. “is a mini version of Wonderland,” he explains. “It’s a way to build the connective tissue between the entrepreneur and the creative community.” By offering communal workspace on an as-

apr 2011

needed basis, the Workshop allows small business or solo ventures the opportunity to have a Downtown space without a fulltime commitment to office space that may not always be required. The communal aspect also lets different businesses a chance to consult with other creative minds residing there. He feels that Columbus may be suffering from a bit of an identity crisis to the rest of the country. “I think the rest of the world sees Columbus as the “Great Average,” because for many years, Columbus was the great average city to the US,” Brady offers. The city had become a reference point for others to use as an example of an average Midwestern city, whether in testing new ventures or in movies or print. Many TV shows or movies use this perceived ‘average-ness’ as plot point for characters looking to rise above an implied mediocrity. Attitudes like this and a general misconception about the Midwest and its residents has led to a vibrant, contemporary community being sold short in the minds of the rest of the country. “But that’s just not true,” Brady says. “Maybe Columbus used to be the great average, but the truth is that we’re a very successful city despite connotation of that ‘average’ terminology. There’s a creative class that is very authentic here,” he says, adding, “I think there’s a notable culture here in Columbus where the notion of creativity transcends the label of ‘art’ and it can be a profitable enterprise with artistic integrity.” Even considering how much Columbus does have to offer, coming from a different city gives Brady a different view on what Columbus could do to help itself. “The absence of infrastructure, such as parking and public transit, is one thing, but the lack of strategic guidance from the public sector on how to grow a business can be very frustrating.” He remarks that trying to navigate the maze of zoning, requirements and permits that often have little consistency, can instantly discourage potential entrepreneurs. “Do you know that you need to get a permit to have no-permit required work done?” he says with exasperation. “Isn’t that crazy? Since the Department of Development was cut from the city’s budget, they support themselves through the permits, fees and fine revenue. I mean, we’re not afraid to pay dues, but it’s ridiculous if all of this is just to support the department without putting the revenue back into the community. Having a small business that never gets off the ground because of that alone is plenty disincentive enough to never try it here again.” Brady also feels an adequate public transportation system that helps break down the car culture of Columbus would go a long way towards solving parking issues and how non-car visitors would feel about traveling here. “You can’t keep trying to attract visitors and then ask them to ride a bus from the airport to downtown. The government keeps adding lanes instead of rails.” Despite the challenges, Brady insists that Columbus is a city “on the precipice of a renaissance. I think we’re about to build a new house, instead of just renovating an old one. It’s a spirit that’s not administered by the Chamber of Commerce or some other formal structure: it’s about others who share the same belief systems,” Brady contends. “It’s more about the willingness of the private sector to not wait on the public sector to affect change.” For more information on Brady and these institutions, visit www.wonderlandcolumbus.com and www.middlewestspirits.com.

I accept my responsibility to change the things I can change and accept the things that I cannot, and I beg for the wisdom to know the difference." – Martin Sheen, when asked about his son.

outlookcolumbus.com

26-35_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 12:02 AM Page 2

outlookcolumbus.com

“Dying is for fools, amateurs.”

apr 2011

36-25_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 6:48 PM Page 1

We ♥ Jeff Edwards & Edwards Communities It’s Another Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood - Neighborhood Launch by Jon Dunn Each workday, the Downtown is brimming with traffic, noise and people making their way through their day. Looking in on Downtown at lunchtime during those hours, one might get the impression that this is a vibrant, productive Downtown community. During the day? For sure. But at night, it’s a different story. The buildings, traffic lights and streets remain in place, but for the most part, they’re all empty. Everything you saw at noon is still there, except for the people. The suburbs soak in all of the workers, drawing the Downtown residential population down to numbers of a small town beyond the Outerbelt would easily muster. Despite the brawn and bustle during daylight, it seems Columbus is a Downtown neighborhood only during business hours. But certainly, the fight to reclaim the Downtown for residents is far from over. Columbus’ cityscape is changing; small neighborhoods are taking root in various locations, offering the magic combination of residences and convenient amenities, such as restaurants and light retail. A ‘build it and they will come’ attitude is leading these efforts to revive the Downtown community among both the public and private sectors. On the public side, while the City of Columbus seeks to undo the wrongs of past urban planning and missed opportunities for development, a combination of private projects and initiatives look to reclaim the citizens of Downtown, for a neighborhood is only a neighborhood when people actually live there. So imagine a residential community that encompasses nine city blocks, has seven public parks and is trimmed with miles of

apr 2011

wrought iron fences and benches for a relaxing place to enjoy the day. Wouldn’t that bring you Downtown?

strip) by providing some of the necessary amenities, like sidewalks, the park and making Gay Street a two-way street again,” says Jeff Edwards, president of Edwards Companies. “This Neighborhood Launch is a multi-unit urban living made the area much more attractive to develop oasis set in a real community within the city’s for a potential residential community.” Special Improvement District. The vision of Jeff Edwards, president of Edwards Communities, Jeff’s vision is creating a real neighborhood Neighborhood Launch offers floor plan options within the central business district of Downtown. ranging from traditional townhomes to more “I really did feel there was a need for it but it modern designs. An alternative to a high-rise liv- needed to have scale, so we could create a line of ing in the Downtown, it provides individual resi- business for our builders, Duffy Homes, he exdences that are part of a community, rather than plains. “It’s an opportunity to bring what we know a large building where people can simply come about building homes in the suburbs to an urban and go without really developing a sense of com- setting and make it work.” munity with their neighbors. Some of the units have been sold and a neighbor“From a planning perspective, Neighborhood hood is starting to take shape, so an excited buzz Launch began back in 2005. I travel a lot and is building about the Neighborhood Launch comafter seeing town home communities in other munity. The City already recognizes it to be one of urban centers, like Chicago, I thought we could the most significant development efforts in recent bring this concept back to fill a need in Columhistory and an essential catalyst in the commerbus,” says Jeff. As the project took shape, his cial and economical rebirth of Downtown. The original concept kept expanding to about 300 Downtown area is blessed with an abundance of units. “At that point it became less of a project real estate meant for dwellings, but ironically, and more of a neighborhood. Early on in the proj- much of it was torn down years ago and still reect, as a developer, I didn’t want to just plunk mains undeveloped residential territory. down a product in Downtown; we were looking to work within the fabric of Downtown. It needed a “What’s funny is that years ago, the same kind of cohesiveness to be successful.” residential product was here, town homes and other dwellings in neighborhoods that are now As the idea developed for the project, unbejust parking lots,” explains Jeff. “These places knownst to Jeff was that the City had already laid need to be developed and I hope that this project the foundation for the neighborhood by making inspires others to do the same thing. We could some essential additions to the area. “It was use up 30-40 of these lots, just soak them up and pretty fortuitous that as I was doing this project, burn through them, and it would have a snowball and had looked at a couple of sites in the general effect on the area.” area, the City made improvements to the Gay Street corridor (by making Gay St. a two-way At the corner of Gay Street and Fourth, you can street again, along with a developed median see the beautiful brick town homes already inte“He was a great patriot, humanitarian, a loyal friend – provided he is actually dead.” - Voltaire

grating themselves into the neighborhood. Wearing some of the traditional style and appointments, they bring a modern flair and a beautifully sublime marketing effort to their location. As the amenities and conveniences of the neighborhood continue to develop, more residents will find their way into them and the area, creating a positive snowball effect, counteracting decades of urban flight. “We’re about one-quarter of the way done,” Jeff explains, “In fact, in the past 30 days we’ve put five more units in contract or reservation, which is picking up from where we had been,” referring to the lapse in home sales over the past two years. “In 2007, there was no problem in selling homes, but that changed by 2008-2009. But, we sold through it and it’s a good pace to be back on.” Why Columbus? “Clearly, being part of a family business, and a third-generation builder of that tradition. I was born and raised here, and I’ve always had an appreciation for Columbus,” he offers. “We also have the scale in the business and we are uniquely positioned to fill a need for this community.” What does Jeff see for the five to ten years in Columbus? “In five years, hopefully, we should be done!” he says with a laugh. “We’ll see the original concept come to fruition.” He also feels Columbus will continue to weather the economic environment. “It’s been a long, deep recession, but we are coming back, slowly but healthfully. We’ll continue to work through and it will be an interesting time to live here. Within 10 years, I think that Downtown will be almost unrecognizable, but in a great way.” For more information on Neighborhood Launch, visit www.neighborhoodlaunch.com.

outlookcolumbus.com

24-37_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 12:03 AM Page 2

outlookcolumbus.com

“If you’re a part of my family, I will love you violently.”

apr 2011

38-23_OLW_24in_ODD_ 4/19/11 12:15 PM Page 1

We ♥ Debra Moddelmog Building a Culture of Intellect at OSU by Jon Dunn Debra Moddelmog, Professor of English at OSU and the co-coordinator of the Sexuality Studies Program was raised in Kansas and Atlanta, but has been teaching at the university since she was brought on staff in the English Department in 1986. In those 25 years, Debra has helped change the entire course of GLBT studies at OSU, including some exciting developments that make OSU one of the top schools in the country for this discipline of study. As lead on building the Sexuality Studies Program and Major, Debra and her co-coordinator for the Sexuality Studies program, Mollie Blackburn, have changed the face of the discipline at Ohio State. The OSU Sexuality Studies program has grown from a modest offering of GLBT-based classes to a vibrant, cutting edge program offering a diverse range of study “Currently, there are 5 colleges involved that span 15 departments, from which can borrow courses from one another to build a program of study,” explains Debra. “The departments cover such a wide range of disciplines that you can even attend a Sexuality Studies class as part of your curriculum in the School of Architecture!” she says with a happy hint of amazement. “It’s called ‘Sex and the City’ and it focuses on the politics of basing a sexual themed business within city limits. It covers zoning issues, codes and public policy dealing with sexed businesses. I find that kind of diversity fascinating!” As clichéd’ as it sounds, things have come a long way since the early 80s when Debra began her career at OSU. “I taught one of the first GLBT literature classes back in 1994. But I waited until I had tenure, so that I knew I would keep my position,” she cautions. “But I felt there was a true need

apr 2011

for that kind of study and acceptance, and the students loved it.” Now celebrating a major milestone in the progress of GLBT studies, Debra’s proud to say that OSU now offers a groundbreaking Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Sexuality Studies where students can pursue a focus on GLBT studies within that BA. “It’s a first in the US, a stand-alone BA where you can now focus on GLBT studies without having to be attached to another discipline,” Debra beams proudly. “Since 2002, you could get an interdisciplinary minor, but now it’s full BA at one of the most highly-ranked Sexuality Studies program in the US!” Not only does the University contain a large GLBT student population, but Debra also feels the GLBT community in Columbus is a major factor in the school’s popularity with GLBT students. “OSU and Columbus is more attractive to GLBT students because there is so much support and acceptance in the local community,” she offers, adding, “The enrollment continues to rise, we have about 100 students enrolled this year alone,” she says. “It’s getting so popular that it’s getting harder to meet and get to know each one of them personally, but I give as much support as I can.” Along with new enrollments, Debra is welcoming a new addition to the staff. “We recently hired a Scholar in Queer Studies, Jian Chen, PhD, who is transgender and has been at a New York University fellowship. He’ll be teaching classes at three different levels: English 282 – Introduction to Queer Studies, English 580 – Special Topics in Gay Literature and a graduate level course – Queers of Color Critique,” she explains. “It’s a completely new way of looking at the literature of gay authors of color, who are often overlooked in conventional studies. It’s extremely exciting to keep developing

these types of courses!” Another of Debra’s contributions is the formation of DISCO, the Diversity and Identity Studies Collective at OSU, (very clever, yes?). Though there’s no mirror balls or leisure suits, the unique inter-disciplinary and university-wide collective seeks to coordinate and foster collaboration between departments and academic programs, such as American Indian, Asian American, African American & African, Disability, Comparative Ethnic, Latino/Latina Sexuality and Women’s studies. “It brings together programs dealing with different cultures and all of the intersections between them,” Debra explains. “We come together as a resource collective, it’s a collaborative effort to coordinate classes and build relationships between the studies.” Here in Columbus, the size and acceptance of the GLBT community has grown immensely in the intervening years since she arrived at OSU and Debra can see the parallels of her own life and the GLBT community. “I came out in 1982 and things were pretty different back then,” she says. “There were no real support systems in place for people who were coming out, compared to now. My parents had a hard time, but they dealt with it,” she says. It’s changed so much. There are so many more methods of support, now, from the community and the university.” She points to groups like Stonewall Columbus, BRAVO, Equality Ohio and Planned Parenthood as excellent examples of these support mechanisms.

cized as they might be on the Coasts. People need to become more involved in the issues we deal with as a community because these problems parallel other ones in society, like bullying and immigration. Being in Ohio, we might look at Arizona’s immigration laws and think ‘why should we care? We should because it can have the same effect here in Ohio among other groups: it’s another kind of bullying.” “The city has grown so much since then,” she says. “Look at Gay Pride weekend, it used to be pretty rinky-dink, some people even wore bags on their heads because they didn’t want to be outed, but they still wanted to participate. Now its grown so much, look at Gay Pride this year, it was huge!” (Editors Note: Gay Pride 2010 had nearly 200,000 participants! And no need for bags on anyone’s head anymore!). With her progressive efforts at the University and an undying participation in the understanding, acceptance and social evolvement of the GLBT community, Debra is clearly committed to making her life and works a testament to life here in Columbus. “It’s more attractive to the GLBT community here, it’s easier to find good support systems, and both the University and the city create an open, welcoming environment for us here compared to other cities,” she concludes with a sense of pride, adding with a laugh. “It is a cool place, isn’t it?” For more information about the Sexuality Studies program at OSU, visit http://sexualitystudies.osu.edu. And you can learn more about DISCO at www.disco.osu.edu.

“I feel like it keeps getting better and better here,” Debra offers. “I’m very glad about Equality Ohio, because the problem in the Midwest is that the issues are not as politi-

“Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.” – Mao Tse-Tung

outlookcolumbus.com

22-39_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 12:05 AM Page 2

outlookcolumbus.com

â&#x20AC;&#x153;My success rate is one-hundred percent. Do the math.â&#x20AC;?

apr 2011

40-21_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/28/11 2:44 AM Page 1

We ♥ Kevin Miles - Stopping Crime by Jon Dunn

promoting Student Crime Stoppers programs in area high schools and college campuses, and the Anyone who watches the local TV news in Colum- creation of other programs to help local law enbus has certainly encountered the Central Ohio forcement. They consistently distribute out over Crime Stoppers spots during the broadcast. One $35,000 in rewards to anonymous tipsters every of the more high profile non-profits in Columbus, year. Their staggering apprehension rate for Central Ohio Crime Stoppers was founded in wanted fugitive felons averages 85%. And the 1977, a spin off of the original Crime Stoppers Central Ohio Crime Stoppers Board of Trustees started by a reporter in New Mexico. Currently, has a roster of almost 100 members, 50% of there are over 3,000 Crime Stoppers organizations those being active on a regular basis. around the world, including 17 in Ohio. “It’s all about the cooperation of the police, the Their mission is “to develop as an effective crime- City and the media,” Kevin explains. “And all of solving organization throughout the world, with the media outlets have been extremely helpful the primary objective of this tri-partite organiza- and cooperative: even in such a competitive martion, Community, Media, and Law Enforcement, ketplace as Columbus. But channels 4, 6 & 10, Working Together to Solve Crime.” they’re not being possessive and they should be applauded for that.” He explains that it’s the coThe website and the media exposure has led to operation between the media, the City and County thousands of arrests, including the high-profile I- and the police that makes Crime Stoppers such 270 Sniper case several years ago. By helping to an effective tool in fight against crime in Columraise the reward money, they received hundreds of bus. tips that ultimately led to the sniper’s arrest in Las Vegas. All of this good work is done with a Another of the crime Stoppers benefactors is the partnership between Crime Stoppers, local law County Commissioners of Franklin County. “The enforcement and the media. Central Ohio Crime county commissioners are very generous to Crime Stopper’s President Kevin Miles coordinates this Stoppers, and we’re also able to get some money spirit of cooperation, a Columbus resident who is from the City, as well.” Kevin notes. Through varia true advocate of making this city a better place ous commissions charged for court costs and the to live. recovery of property, Crime Stoppers gets some regular income from these proceeds. “They ‘re Kevin’s held the volunteer position for over 17 both responsible for that and it makes them a years. “I was asked to come in back then and to great part of our team.” help raise money for them because they were totally broke, they had no money, and the way we “The City is also very good to us and despite all of survive is by donations,” he explains. “The money their cuts, we are still given one detective to help comes from the City, the County Commissioners, us fulltime,” says Kevin. “They sponsor the detecprivate donations; everyone in the community tive and his office space, and having this detectries to help, because it’s a community problem. tive on staff makes it much easier for us to gain And the community extends beyond Columbus, cooperation with the city police and other police because we serve Franklin and the surrounding departments.” counties, as well.” “The media, the government, everyone works with Some of the Central Ohio Crime Stoppers prous,” says Kevin. “It’s a totally non-partisan effort, grams include an anonymous tipster hotline, a it’s not about the R’s or the D’s, and it’s about “Most Wanted” program in finding fugitive felons, how we can help the city of Columbus.”

apr 2011

Kevin was not born and raised in Columbus, but he loves to call it home. “I was raised in the DC area and moved to Columbus in ’76,” he explains. “I’ve raised two boys here (in Grandview) as a single father and it’s a great place to raise kids. I love the friendliness of this town.” Columbus also provides Kevin with one of his favorite pastimes: riding on the numerous bike paths that wind through and around Columbus. “The big thing for me here is all the bike paths,” he says. “I ride every day, now.” Bike riding came after he saw a TV news report about the first Pelotonia challenge held here. The exercise was the second phase of a life-changing process Kevin had been begun several months earlier.

“It’s not a limo company, it’s more discreet than that,” he says. “We use town cars and SUVs for people who want to travel in luxury without a limo.” He’s watched the economy take its toll on the business. “When I first started out, we were busier than we could handle, but then the economy began to tank and we’ve taken a bit of a hit,” he sighs, but adds with a laugh that “Now I truly know what it’s like to work for two non-profits!”

Having the business does let him spend “about 50-60 hours a week” working with Crime Stoppers, “producing videos, meeting with families, working with the police. But all of this does have an emotional toll, as he has to deal with victims in their darkest hours. “I see some very ugly stuff,’ he cautions. “I don’t know how people deal with it “I’ve lost over 250 pounds since I started in Janu- on a daily basis, but you have to work through it.” ary of last year,” he explains. “I just got sick of being so heavy and I decided to make some Even with all of the successful work that Crime changes.” His approach was to simply limit his Stoppers has done during his tenure, Kevin has calorie intake to a mere 1200 calories a day. “It his sights focused on the future of Crime Stopwas hard, but not as hard as you think. With that per’s involvement in the community. “We’ve pro1200, I could have one good meal a day or split duced a film called True Consequences, which is the calories among smaller meals,” he explains. about young people killing other young people, “My focus is on the calories and at first, I did ab- and it’s effect on the families and the communisolutely no exercise, none at all for six months!” ties.” The film has two versions; a 10-minute The pounds began to melt away as his caloric in- short feature and a 60-minute full length cut. take dropped, but Kevin found this much easier Through heart-rending interviews with families of than trying another in a long line of diets. victims and perpetrators and scenes depicting the impact of the senselessness crimes, the film “The thing was that diets were so hard to manstrikes a chord with the young people it’s shown age, so just having to manage the calories made to. it much simpler,” he offers. “I could have what I wanted, up to a point, I just couldn’t go for more “I think that kids are desensitized about violence than 1200 calories.” He hadn’t ridden a bike “in these days,” Kevin explains. “By playing video decades,” but was inspired to buy a new one and games, they’re practicing being in bad situations. then sought some local paths to ride along. The It’s the same as a training simulator for violence. riding combined with the calorie management But in the games, there are no consequences. I has helped him lose over 250 pounds so far and think that the film is a good way to have this conit’s still dropping. “Another big secret I have is versation with them.” absolutely no scales! I don’t look at them or even For more information about the Crime Stoppers program, you own one!” Kevin is also a small business owner, running an executive car service for corporate transportation.

“The lottery is a tax on people who flunked math” – Monique Lloyd

can visit http://stopcrime.org/ or call them at: 614.461.8477 & 877 645.8477. Email: info@stopcrime.org. You can also text “CMH PLUS YOUR TIP” to CRIMES 274637. You will always remain anonymous.

outlookcolumbus.com

20-41_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 12:06 AM Page 2

outlookcolumbus.com

“Get over here and enjoy the ride, bro. We’re starting to win.”

apr 2011

42-19_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 7:27 PM Page 1

apr 2011

“(CBS) picked a fight with a warlock.”

outlookcolumbus.com

18-43_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/28/11 2:22 AM Page 2

We ♥ Hugh Dorrian - Our AAA City Auditor by Jon Dunn

1.5 billion (for the budget), because we then promise not to raise their property taxes.”

modest pay raises and there is a modest, but continual increase in those jobs.”

keeps me very busy, but I really enjoy all of it because it keeps me in touch with the community.”

City Auditor Hugh Dorrian has been a fixture in the Columbus political scene for over 45 years. But his long, storied career almost didn’t happen. “I ran for the office the first time in ‘65 and got my ears pinned back good!” he exclaims, “I threw my hat in the ring and the people threw it back! But I was appointed to the office of City Treasurer in 1966.” Hugh held that office until he was later appointed City Auditor in 1969, “and I’ve been here ever since.”

Since 1956, the City has not raised the property taxes in Columbus. How is that possible? “The City has asked voters 86 times for the permission to borrow, and the voters have ‘Yes’ 82 times,” he exclaims. “It’s that level of trust between us and the voters. Break that promise one time and see what you get!”

To Hugh, this indicates a slow, but inevitable recovery from the recession-plagued decade.

With his seriously busy schedule, he also manages to find the time to spend with his family that includes 10 grandchildren, most of whom all happen to live close to Columbus. As he is long past the retirement age of 65, Hugh still finds the energy to maintain the hectic schedule of family, work and his community efforts.

Hugh jokes that he “has to still use his fingers” to count the number of terms he’s served, but he actually doesn’t have enough fingers. He’s been elected to the office 11 times. He doesn’t know if this is a record but he is quick to point out that “bringing in good people around me, that’s the secret of my success.” How does he keep finding the enthusiasm he has for the job? “It’s not the same job because Columbus is such a dynamic community – it’s a different job everyday,” he offers. “The challenges are always changing, but I love the job because I believe that public service is a noble service.” His noble service includes handling the City’s financial aspects, primarily the budget. “It’s the city auditor’s responsibility to make an intelligent guess of how much money the city needs to run on for the fiscal year,” Hugh explains. “I report the ‘guess’ to the Mayor and City Council and they are bound to that guess. But the auditor does not have any say in how it’s spent. That’s the check and balance of the budget.” The relationship between the government and the constituents is based on a level of trust. That trust level is important to keep with the voters because “that trust is what allows us to borrow outlookcolumbus.com

His office has received Certificate of Financial Integrity from Government Finances Officers Association of USA and Canada, for properly disclosing the city’s finances for the past 31 years running. The framed certificates make a ring around the walls of his office. “We like to set ourselves to that standard,” he says with a modest level of pride. Because of the careful management of its finances, Columbus can borrow the money for the budget at particularly low rates because of the AAA bond rating. “We track the 25 largest cities in the US and of the 25, only Columbus has that AAA bond rating. We first got that rating back in 1995. We ought to feel good that lenders who loan money to Columbus can’t find a better bond rating than Columbus; this is how can keep that level of trust between us, the lenders and the public.” During his tenure, he’s watched the City’s tax revenue move from an industrial tax base to a white-collar base that primarily lives outside of the City limits. “In 1966, about 28% of the tax base came from manufacturing: today it’s only eight percent. Can those jobs be replaced? No, they are gone,” he explains. “Most of the money now comes from the service industry. About 53% of our tax revenue now comes from non-residents (of the City). I am convinced that the white-collar workforce is also beginning to get

“What’s the most important thing in government? I don’t believe that money is the primary issue. Keeping an open dialogue with the constituents is the most important thing, he says. “Once you close the door, suspicion sets in and the community starts to fall apart.” Hugh feels that it’s government’s job to always maintain that dialogue with the community. “We (as government) have an obligation to listen to the community. We won’t always be in agreement, but at the very least, we have to have that respect for the other side of the argument. The essence of the job is respect.” City Auditor Hugh Dorrian is a dyed-in-the-wool fan of Columbus because of his roots here. “I grew up in Franklinton, they called it the Bottoms back then. Not because of the residents but because the actual topography of the area is lower than anywhere else in Columbus.” He attended school here and after serving in the Army for a couple of years, he got his degree at OSU via the GI Bill. After that, he worked for a large financial firm (later known as consulting giant KPMG, but he kept feeling the call of public service. “I’d always thought about public service. But the first time I threw my hat in the ring, the public threw it back,” he says with a hearty laugh. But after his appointment to the office, Hugh has never looked back. “I’m my own worst enemy!,” he says.” I volunteer on committees and this job comes with a lot of evening activities, functions and speeches. It

“Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood.” – Daniel Burnham

How long does he think he can continue? “Mother nature will decide that for me,” he says. “As long as I have my health, (Hugh is a cancer survivor who is now cancer-free), I’m going to keep at it.” And his prognosis for Columbus? “I think our recovery will continue. Recessions are an anomaly and budgets will continue to present challenges, but we’re most ready. We can meet these challenges by finding the talent and the acceptable solutions, and I think Columbus is able to meet those challenges better than any other city.” Where doe he see his city in ten years? “I think we are in a modest recovery that will continue. Look at all the institutions here; in medicine, the University and all of the new enterprises that spring up here. By their very nature, it’s almost a built in growth guarantee,” Hugh predicts. “And Columbus will always be the state capitol,” he says with a wry smile. “We’ll continue to have our ups and downs, but Central Ohio will continue to grow. We have a marvelous pool of talent here,” Hugh says. “And that’s the key to our success.” It’s now lunchtime and Hugh is ready to head for one of his favorite spots: Tommy’s Diner in Franklinton. Does he have any more advice for Columbus? “Yes,” he advises. “Try the soups!” apr 2011

44-17_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 12:15 AM Page 1

apr 2011

- “[A.A.] was written for normal people, people that aren’t special. People that don’t have tiger blood, you know, Adonis DNA.”

outlookcolumbus.com

16-45_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/28/11 9:32 AM Page 2

HANKS ADDS JULIA ROBERTS AND GEORGE TAKEI TO HIS CROWNE

THIS WEEK IN AMBER HEARD NEWS

Arguably the coolest and among the most beloved of all former original Star Trek cast members, George Takei can add Tom Hanks to his list of admirers. The 73-year-old actor will appear next in Hanks’ latest directorial effort, Larry Crowne. (Talk about taking your time, it’s only Hanks’ second directing job after 1996’s That Thing You Do.) Reports are that the movie is about a man reaching middle age and realizing that he has to go to college and start over. In other words, it’s about practically everybody these days. Nia Vardalos cowrote the script with Hanks, and Julia Roberts will co-star. Takei will join a roster of featured players including Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson, Bryan Cranston, Pam Grier, Wilmer Valderrama, Cedric The Entertainer and Vardalos. And here’s welcome news – it’s planned as a summer release, a welcome grown-up alternative for the July 4th weekend.

What was that you heard about coming out harming an actor’s career? Sure, every performer deals with different circumstances, but take the case of up-and-comer Amber Heard, who recently butt-kicked her way across the screen with Nicolas Cage in the goofy, underappreciated Drive Angry. After coming out with the equivalent of a shrugged, “Oh, hey, yeah, I’m a lesbian and who cares,” the Maxim magazine model-like Zombieland actor has only seen her star rise. She’s just completed The Rum Diary, based on a novel by Hunter S. Thompson and starring Johnny Depp, Aaron Eckhart, Giovanni Ribisi, Richard Jenkins. And she’s about to star in the certain-to-be-trashy thriller The Applicant, about a prep school senior obsessed with getting into Yale who seduces and ruins the lives of an admissions director and professor. Moral: in fiction and in Hollywood, talent is great (and Heard has it) but hotness doesn’t hurt.

MATT BOMER’S WHITE COLLAR MOONLIGHTING

CONNIE BRITTON, UNLIKE THE FOO FIGHTERS, SAYS YES TO RYAN MURPHY

The Internet makes gay actors’ personal lives much more complicated. Old ideas about “the closet” almost make no sense anymore when a gay actor doesn’t necessarily hide his sexual orientation but also doesn’t speak to the press about it. Is he out? Not out? Does it matter? Whatever your opinion on the subject, here’s what maybe-gay-maybe-not-gay-because-he-won’t-say White Collar star Matt Bomer is doing next: a futuristic sci-fi thriller called Now. And the ensemble cast is nothing to sneeze at either – a gang of young ones that includes Olivia Wilde, Alex Pettyfer, Amanda Seyfried, Justin Timberlake, Cillian Murphy, Johnny Galecki, Vincent Kartheiser and former America’s Next Top Model contestant (and The Kids Are All Right co-star) Yaya DaCosta. Why so youth-obsessed? Well, the plot is a riff on Logan’s Run, set in a future where the aging gene has been shut off by science and only money buys you extra life. Sounds like the daydreams of a lot of gay guys, actually. Still in production, expect this one for Halloween.

So maybe Slash and Kings of Leon and Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters aren’t interested in licensing their hit songs to Ryan Murphy for Kurt or Finn to sing on Glee. (Murphy is notoriously and publicly peeved when he can’t get his way with music for the show, going so far as to insult the artists who won’t play along, prompting Grohl to announce: “F___ that guy.”) But Murphy’s other new project, the FX drama pilot An American Horror Story has tapped Friday Night Lights star Connie Britton to lead its cast. According to FX boss John Landgraf, the show will be a “complicated, interesting psychological horror show… incredibly ambitious.” Given Murphy’s rep for creative genre-bending and boundary pushing, the final product should be fascinating to look at. And maybe Dave Grohl will like Horror more than the 10 minutes of Glee he reportedly watched and consent to write a really kick-ass theme song? The possibility of a kiss-and-make-up scenario should never be discounted.

Romeo San Vicente believes in aging attractively. He can be reached care of this publication or at DeepInsideHollywood@qsyndicate.com.

CATCO Presents Classic British Farce Favorite Sans Bludgeoning A psychiatric clinic becomes a comic carnival of chaos as mistaken identities, attempted seductions, red herrings, lost relatives, and political intrigues unfold in this classic farce by British playwright Joe Orton. Each outlandish plot twist leads to a more improbable labyrinth of intrigue and misunderstanding, painting a hilarious picture of a world spiraling out of control. It is at once a farcical tragedy, an impenetrable mystery, and a comedic tour de force that will leave you breathless with laughter. “Orton is one of the most distinct voices to emerge from the ‘Golden Age’ of new British drama in the 1950s through the 1970s, and one of the funniest,” said CATCO Artistic Director Emeritus Geoff Nelsont. “The closest comparison I could make is to Oscar Wilde – many of the lines in Butler sound a lot like lines from The Importance of Being Earnest.” Orton was one of the first playwrights to write openly about gay characters and themes and receive acceptance in the mainstream theatre. Much of that success, however, came after his longtime partner, Kenneth Halliwell, bludgeoned him to death in 1967. Orton was only 34 years old. His three major works – What The Butler Saw, Loot and Entertaining Mr. Sloane – continue to be regularly produced outlookcolumbus.com

more than 40 years after they premiered, Nelson said. Nelson called What The Butler Saw “a British black comedy – hilarious, yet at times disturbing,” similar to that of Harold Pinter. “If there’s a theme to the play, I would say it is ‘question authority.’ The setting is a private mental clinic, where it is those in authority who are most in need of mental treatment. As the play makes clear, people are so ready to yield to someone who seems to be ‘in authority’ that a descent into madness is almost inevitable,” he said. In addition to Nelson, who performed the role of Dr. Prentice in the past, the cast will include longtime CATCO favorites Jonathan Putnam (Dr. Prentice) and Jon Farris (Dr. Rance). “The play is a real challenge for actors and directors and designers, because it combines the elements of a traditional physical farce – lots of running in and out of doors, mistaken identities, etc. – with a very verbal comedy of wit. You might compare it to ‘The Marx Brothers meet Noel Coward,’ ” Nelson said. CATCO’s production of What The Butler Saw is sponsored in tribute to Fred and Howard. Tickets for What The Butler Saw are $40. Tickets for two additional $11@11 matinees Apr 6 & 31 are $11.50. All remaining tickets are $40. Tickets can be purchased at the Ohio Theatre Ticket Office (39 E State St.), all Ticketmaster outlets, and www.catcoistheatre.org. To purchase tickets by telephone, please call 614.469.0939 or 800.745.3000.

In the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding on the back of the tiger ended up inside.” - JFK

apr 2011

46-15_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 12:14 AM Page 1

We ♥ Good Hair: an Interview with Vidal Sassoon by Gregg Shapiro Aptly titled, Vidal Sassoon: The Movie (Phase 4) is a cinematic celebration of the legendary 83-year-old self-described “crimper” who forever changed the world of hair with his architecturally-inspired cuts. Directed by Craig Teper, Vidal Sassoon: The Movie tells the mane maven’s captivating life story, from his roots in Britain to his ascendance as the undisputed international king of hairstyling and hair care. I spoke with Sassoon, still sharp as a pair of shears and a snappy dresser to boot, shortly before the opening of the film. Gregg Shapiro: How did you respond when you were initially approached about being the subject of a documentary feature? Did you need to have your arm twisted? Vidal Sassoon: It was the reverse. No, no. My friend Michael Gordon, who made the movie, I’ve known him for 15 years or so. He built Bumble and Bumble, which is a great product, and then sold the whole thing to Estee Lauder. He wanted something to do, I guess [laughs]. He said, “I would like to give you an 80th birthday present,” this was four years ago. I said, “I don’t need anything.” He said, “We’ll make a movie.” I said, “Do you realize how much that will cost?” He said, “I want to do it, I really want to do.” So four years ago, we started and now we have a movie directed by Craig Teper. He did a superb job. You can’t talk about yourself and your part in it, but all over, he did a marvelous job of editing. GS: I’m glad that you mentioned talking about yourself, because there are a lot of people interviewed in the movie, from former business associates to Mary Quant and Grace Coddington to your exwife Beverly and your current wife Ronnie. What was it like to know that these people would be talking about you? VS: I’ve been doing Mary Quant’s hair since 1957. First time I cut her hair, I cut her ear. Never done that before. There was blood all over the place. And her husband was with her, and he said, “I say, do you charge extra for that?” On occasion they bring up the fact that I’ve been married four times [laughs]. (Shrugs) I just do that (shrugs again). GS: So it didn’t bother you that people were going to be talking about you. VS: They had a reason to talk. I neglected marriages because hair was my focus. (We did) shows all over the world – in Japan, Seoul, Korea, in Shanghai, Beijing and all over Eastern Europe, Warsaw, Berlin. Taking an international show team around the world. That’s exactly what my life was. GS: Were you happy when you saw the final product on film and heard what people had to say about you? VS: I love it! I loved the guy who said, “I

apr 2011

“I’m not a heavy drinker – I can sometimes go for hours without drinking a drop!” – Noel Coward

couldn’t work with him, he’s crazy!” [Laughs] I loved that, because to have sycophants around is no good. People who tell the truth is kind of nice. GS: In addition to transforming the art of hair styling, you also had a revolutionary effect on the physical appearance of salons. Would you say that is a direct reflection of your interest in architecture? VS: Very, very much. I studied Bauhaus. Funny enough, on our 50th anniversary, the Walter Gropius in Dessau was given to us for the day. It was a marvelous day. It was like saying to us, “Hey, you’re part of Bauhaus.” GS: What an honor. There’s a great scene in the movie where they talk about how most of the male hairdressers during the 1960s were straight and a problem arose because they were having affairs with the female clients. As someone in the business, were you aware of the presence of gay men in the industry or were they off to the side? VS: No, not to the side. Gay people, if they were excellent, they got the positions. For instance, apart from myself, we had four international artistic directors that go around the world to make sure that the standards are kept up, which is so important. Tim, who was fabulous, was the artistic director for 15 years. He was gay. It didn’t matter. They were chosen for their talent. What their private lives were had nothing to do with me, only their talent. That gave me my sense of responsibility, who we should promote. GS: Over the years, you’ve cut your share of celebrities’ hair, is there one celebrity whose hair you never got to cut that you wished you had? VS: Yeah, The Donald (Trump) [laughs]. GS: What would you do with The Donald? VS: I’d get rid of his Ann Sheridan coif [laughs]. I met him in the `60s. He’s a character. A great, great character. GS: What do you think about the hairthemed reality shows, such as Shear Genius and Tabitha’s Salon Takeover? VS: Well, if they do some good, in the sense of standards, then they make sense. But if it’s just pure nonsense, they don’t make sense. I did their last show (as guest judge) and had to choose the winner from the student, with other people, of course. It was hysterical. One girl was shaking, literally shaking. GS: Because you were there or because she was nervous in general? VS: No, because she wanted to hold my hand [laughs]. GS: Did she get to do that? VS: Of course! Then I went over and gave her a cuddle and said, (whispers) “I’m just another crimper.”

outlookcolumbus.com

14-47_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 1:30 PM Page 2

outlookcolumbus.com

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I finally extracted myself from their troll hole.â&#x20AC;?

apr 2011

48-13_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 1:00 PM Page 1

We ♥ Dwayne Steward:

Something We All Learn Along The Way by Mackenzie Worrall “When I first came out, my mother didn’t want to hear anything about my love life. Now she actually wants to meet my boyfriends. And my father has even started inviting my boyfriends to family functions. So it gets better.” (It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life Worth Living Ed. by Dan Savage and Terry Miller, selection by Dwayne Steward, Dutton Adult, 352 pages, $21.95 hardback) Many times, while reading a book for the first time, I find myself using “it gets better” as a mantra – but not in a good way. This anthology instead has me chanting “It Gets Better!” as a reaffirmation of something that, I think, every LGBT person learns at some point. Maybe that’s how we got biblical with the word ‘gay’; after so much hurt in our youth, it’s hard not to be an optimistic adult. After all, everything’s worked out so far. Dan Savage and Terry Miller have collected some of the best, most uplifting, and most eye-opening essays in their new collection, It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life Worth Living. Inspired by (and transcribed from) the viral videos of gay adults talking about their tumultuous childhoods, these videos bring a little more finesse to their stories. After all, you can’t rely on how good of a performer you are in writing – just your words. And for the most part, the stories still find their footing and create that gloopy, warm feeling inside of you known only as ‘gay pride’. It’s especially fun if, like me, you hadn’t watched all of the videos (there are hundreds!). Some of the people who made one will surprise you. Obama, Hilary Clinton, and Prime Minister David Cameron headline the political celebrities. Authors David Sedaris, Alison Bechdel, and Suze Orman are always welcome, in any published form. Of course, you will be delighted to find many other stories collected, as well. Some are even a little heartbreaking in how unlike the person they are. Brian Gallivan (aka Sassy Gay Friend) came across particularly honest and somber. Each essay comes with a gravity that reflects how serious bullying is as an issue, and how each author wishes they wouldn’t have been treated that way when they were young. Among everyone collected, is man-about-town and Central Ohio native, Dwayne Steward. In true CBus form, we had never heard of each other before, but quickly discovered a handful of mutual friends and shared summer camps. After quite a bit of that, we got to work and talked about the book. Mackenzie Worrall: How does it feel to be in the same anthology as President Obama, Ellen DeGeneres, and Sassy Gay Friend? Dwayne Steward: [laughs] I didn’t believe it was really happening until they sent me the book! I kept thinking this was all a good dream or they [Dan and Terry] would get back to me, saying “Sorry - we have too many celebrities and can’t fit you in.” It’s a little unreal to see my name on the back, right next to Obama’s. I am surprised as most people I talk to about this. It was not expected at all. MW: What’s your involvement like with this project? What’s it like working on It Gets Better? DS: Well the videos started popping up on YouTube, and I no-

apr 2011

ticed two very significant things about the people broadcasting: there were very few people of color and almost no one from a small town. I thought I had a different perspective that needed to be shared, and so I made my own video. They saw it and they liked it! In December, I got an email about using my video for the book anthology. Then we began the process of transcribing and editing it all into an essay. Because sometimes you don’t speak for prose - so it’s hard. I mostly worked with an editor at Penguin. Terry and them did most of the transcribing work. MW: What else do you have your hands in around Central Ohio? DS: All of my family is here. And they’re all in Columbus. I have a huge family. In college, at OU, I started SHADES, a group for LGBT people of color. Now there’s a chapter at OSU also. I do lots of volunteering. Right now, I am at Kaleidoscope pretty often. It’s a good safe space for gay teens age 12 to 21. I love being there and meeting the kids. And while doing all this, they were really excited I did the book. I am also a testing counselor for CATF, and I’m involved with Act Out - another safe space, but for all LGBT people in Delaware. We are trying to create a kind of community that doesn’t usually exist in small towns. There’s even pro-gay clergy for occasional church services. Delaware has changed a lot since I was in high school. MW: What are some the absolute worst things that were done to or said about you? DS: A lot of people were just ignorant about gay issues, HIV/AIDS issues... so they equated them. They are not the same. I went through typical bullying. But the things that were said at church hurt the most. That was the community I’d been most invested in, and so the rejection there really hit me hard. I left the faith for a little while and I’m just starting to get back to it. Thanks in part to the Delaware Gay Straight Christian Alliance. MW: What about reaching out? Did anyone ever do anything that took you by surprise? DS: Actually, my brother, who is eight years older than me, he surprised me. By my senior year in college, I was pretty out. But it was Coming Out Day, and I thought “who haven’t I come out to yet?” So I called him up and told him. He was surprised, and he broke down crying over the phone. He said that he was so sorry for everything he said, for picking on me. He had no idea and he was sorry if he had hurt me. MW: Plugs, Book recommendations, fashion advice? DS: [laughs] I don’t give fashion advice. It’s not my forte. Buy the book. Visit ItGetsBetter.org and put up your own video online. They started a campaign to put a copy of It Gets Better in every school or public library in the country. You can do that. You can purchase a copy on that page and have it sent wherever. Dwayne Steward is the former Entertainment Coordinator for The Newark Advocate and Associate Producer for Metromix Columbus. You can read more by him at www.dwaynesteward.com, and get involved with the It Gets Better project at www.itgetsbetter.org.

“You’ve got to pay the troll toll if you want to get into this boysol, you’ve got to pay the troll toll to get in!” – Danny DeVito, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

outlookcolumbus.com

12-49_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 1:49 PM Page 2

outlookcolumbus.com

“I think I’m worth over a 100 BILLION dollars, but that’s just on a cellular level.”

apr 2011

50-11_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 12:51 PM Page 1

♥ + Fashion = Columbus by Ryan Harris

is a city that craves a good fashion show!

When I decided to make Columbus my permanent home, I knew I was making the right decision. Not just because it is the Capital, or a fun city with tons to do, but because Columbus loves fashion. This city embraces the arts and allows everyone living or visiting to surround themselves with fashion forward ease. Many of my friends that live outside of the city will often say to me “Oh I love this outfit, but I can’t wear it here. It’s more of a Columbus outfit.” That pretty much says it all.

And speaking of good fashion shows, Columbus also has its very own Fashion Week! Fashion Week Columbus, know as FWC, premiered last year and was absolutely incredible. There wasn’t a single day without a fashion show, industry mixer, or high-end networking event to attend. The week wrapped up with the finale runway show at the Columbus Athletic Club, and trust me, the building was bursting at the seams with fashionistas!

I’m not sure if fashion chose Columbus, or the other way around, but the two go hand in hand. If the Limited Brands are still headquartered here, I think it’s safe to say it isn’t because of the great Ohio weather. Columbus feeds us fashion like a school lunch line. We not only have some of the best boutiques in the country, but also shopping malls galore! I could (and do) spend most of my days shopping for either myself or clients and the hard part is not finding somewhere good to shop, but choosing where to go. From the eclectic boutique and vintage offerings of the Short North District to the grand mall selections on each of the four corners of town - the options are limitless!

FWC returns again this year, with the not-to-be-missed launch event taking place on April 20, at Saks Fifth Avenue at Polaris. Featuring a catered spread by Brio, a live DJ, cocktails, a runway presentation of spring/summer trends, and much more! It is shaping up to be the event of the fashion season in Columbus. Check out www.fashionweekcolumbus.com for more details and ticketing information.

It’s not just shopping that is offered on the Columbus Fashion Menu. We also have one of the best fashion design schools located right in the heart of the city. The Columbus College of Art and Design produces some amazing designers, and puts on one hell of a fashion show each year showcasing its newest offspring. Last year it drew in something like 700 spectators... now that

apr 2011

Another thing that I love about Columbus is the huge pageant circuit. Now, there is no question that fashion and pageants are independent of one another (in the same universe but totally on different planets), but there is one pageant that brings them together beautifully. The Ohio’s Perfect Pageant system is a fashionbased pageant that can barely be called a pageant. Yes, at the end someone takes home a crown, but the entire weekend is based on fashion. Taking place in May, the first night is the annual “Battle of the Salons Columbus” hair show that also features some pretty stellar makeup designs, and is produced by Studio RM LLC.

This showcase features some of the best salons in Columbus spotlighting their amazing, very couture, hair and makeup techniques on some fabulous models. And, just when you think you have been left wanting more, you are treated to a high energy, very elaborate fashion show that features the pageant contestants modeling looks inspired by the spring/summer trends. Even though you might not be into pageants, you don’t want to miss it because this is one pageant that bleeds fashion. Fashion makes it mark in Columbus in print as well. Not only is Columbus home to some great magazines and fashion articles in almost every local publication, but Columbus was featured in the February issue of Lucky Magazine, showcasing the city’s fashion forward attitude, mainly focusing on the Short North District. This didn’t come as a surprise to me as Columbus was named the fourth best shopping destination in America by Forbes.com. Yep, that’s right, fourth! With 5,712 retail locations, 32 shopping centers, and 6.75% sales tax, I couldn’t agree with them more! Are you going to argue with Forbes? Didn’t think so! Our city is full of everything a fashion loving fella could ask for. After all, who needs a wing man in this town when you have a great pair of wing tips...? Seriously, I love this city! Make Everyday a Runway!Ryan Harris is a fashion consultant\stylist for Wardrobe Therapy LLC, and the owner of RH Model Mentor. Contact him at rhmodelmentor@yahoo.com, or for more style info visit www.wardrobetherapyllc.com.

“A million dollars isn’t cool. Do you know what’s cool? A billion dollars.” – Justin Timberlake, The Social Network

outlookcolumbus.com

10-51_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 12:04 AM Page 2

outlookcolumbus.com

- “I am on a drug – it’s called Charlie Sheen. It’s not available because if you try it, you will die.”

apr 2011

52-09_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 12:49 PM Page 1

Food is dramatic - Life is delicious. Episode 16 : We ♥ Whiskey a Go Go, aka Time Travel by Channing Epitaphs The warming winds seemed to whisper the tale; spring was nigh, the wood Lord was once again in his stump, and the faeries of spring would soon be let loose to work their magic, turning monster to man, and spreading seedling and sapling here and afar. The city was awakening from its winter slumber, and slowly but surely, the gays who had taken refuge from the cold winds that cracked face and dried hands, would begin to emerge. “Did someone say crack?” asked Jeanette Gherison, sipping a Glenfiddich in the intimate and attractive confines of Barrel 44 Whiskey Bar. “Less talk, and more drinking, tranny” said Trashley No’Shame, Columbus’ leading Gilda Radner-impersonating-Wonder Woman, impersonator. “Huh?” asked Jeanette, as she raised her food to her mouth, and began biting her toenails. “Keep drinking. We’re doing this shit for you. Two more Singapore slings, and time travel is in our grasp!” said Trashley, as she threw back her fourth Singapore Sling of the night. A gravely voice coming from the end of the bar interrupted Trashley’ and Jeanette’s Tete-atete. “Fuck you both. How did I get thrown into this mess? Dowton Abbey is on in twenty minutes, Maggie Smith gives me a chubby, and the only channel I give two fucks about is PBS. If we aren’t drunk and time traveling in the next ten minutes, I’m outta here.” Juanita Buggie may have been a little surly, but no one knew how to surf the multiverse like her. They would need her, if they were going to achieve their goal. And what was their goal? What was this little Mensa meeting all about? In a word: pubes. Many years ago, during an especially rough and vigorous Pride season, Jeanette had engaged in lewd and mildly illegal sexual acts that had left her business far from…covered. At first, her perceived-to-be shaved parts had been a sexual boon, allowing her to conquer

apr 2011

men far above her pay grade, and well outside of the bounds of good taste. But as the many, many, many years dragged on, Jeanette’s what’s-gone-sour became cold, and barren – like Mongolia. Desperate, she had turned to conventional methods. After botched Bosley hair restoration, she had begun to research ancient methods of pube restoration, and had come upon a fascinating story about Barrel 44. The century old building was once the home of a speakeasy and brothel frequented by Wild Bill Hickock and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. After the great Chicago Fire it was rebuilt into a high-end merkin (pubic wig) factory. Business was booming until the invention of penicillin, when the need for merkins dwindled. After the advent of commercially available shampoos and potable water the factory was retooled to produce realistic toupees and wigs purchased by well known screen and stage performers the likes of Larry Fine, Art Garfunkle and Hanna Barberra Studio’s very own Hair Bear. As merkins were no longer in production in the United States, Jeanette believed that if she could get back to 1981, she might be able to obtain a pubic wig, and get her life back. For help, she turned to her friend, Trashley. Trashley was an amateur time-travel enthusiast, transsexual, crab-cake aficionado, and bon vivant. Many years before, Trashley had gleaned from an especially drunk half-breed Ginger/homosexual Publisher, that if you drank enough, time travel was a possibility. Entire days could be lost or gained by boozing well beyond the point of good taste. Trashley had tested this theory several times. In port-ojohns, and bath houses, bars, and government buildings. Trashley had, in truth, used booze to miss entire days. She was no amateur. And yet, what Jeanette proposed was potentially very dangerous. The two would need a level-headed anchor, well versed in the ways of the past. For this, they turned to Juanita Buggie. “Are you still telling the fucking backstory?” said Juanita to no one in particular. “This is worse than that God-damned Food Drama about Bears and Queens fighting in Buca. Get me the fuck out of this story!”

“Not yet, June –er, I mean Juanita. We’re so close. I can feel it. Or rather, I can’t feel my feet. That’s usually the start of it!” said Trashley, as she slammed another Singapore Sling. “Fuck this, I’m eating. If I have to sit here with tweedle dumb and tweedle bald-pussy, I need to stuff my face.” “No, Juanita, you can’t eat! You’ll kill your buzz, and then Jeanette will NEVER get the pubic hair she deserves!” said Trashley, trying to wrestle the menu out of Juanita’s hand. “I’m kinda hungry too, gurrl” said Jeanette, scratching her “business” vigorously. Looking dejected, Trashley shook her head “Fine, we can eat, but only if we’re pounding shots in-between each meal. Deal?” Jeanette nodded vigorously, and Juanita give them both the finger –which was Juanita for “yes.” The group started with savory and slightly sweet Palm Beach Crab Cakes. These lovely lumps of jumbo crab meat were breaded with Japanese breadcrumbs and deep-fried golden brown then served with roasted red pepper aioli and black bean jicama salsa. “This Jicama is the ticket,” said Juanita as she loudly stuffed her face with handfuls of black beans and Jicama, residue falling all over her scrimple-scrample beard. Next to arrive was the crostini with beef and blue cheese. These thinly sliced pieces of flatiron steak cooked medium rare were placed on Cuban bread slices then toasted with Maytag blue cheese. Juanita ate them feverishly, pounding small glasses of Glenmorangie between each bite. An observer could see her eyes turning brown from all of the booze in her belly, but Juanita didn’t mind – now that she had sustenance, nothing would stop her from getting Janet –er, I mean Jeanette, the pubes she deserved. Trashley was deeply involved with the duck flatbread. Duck confit was layered over goat cheese, caramelized onions, and drizzled with

“If God dropped acid, would he see people?” – Steven Wright

a port wine berry reduction, then toasted liberally. When she had tired of this culinary masterpiece, she had turned her heavily eye-lined eyes to the Barrel Blackenend Catfish. Catfish topped with sautéed scallops and shrimp in a garlic cream sauce, served with grilled asparagus and smashed redskin potatoes. The three of them dove into the Whiskey Penne and Pomodoro Burger with reckless abandon, a hurly-burly of forks and spoons scrapping violently against the bowl containing the penne. The penne was made with tender jumbo shrimp (or chicken) in a bourbon tomato sauce, while the Pomodoro Burger was juicy angus beef topped with basil, tomatoes, melted mozzarella, and served on a toasted Kaiser roll. As the three compatriots finished the last of their impromptu feast, and downed yet another shot of Makers Mark, the air began to shimmer. “Gurrrrl, something be happenin!” said Jeanette, as she cleaned her forehead with a napkin. “This is it, bitches,” said Juanita, grabbing each Tranny’s hand. “When it starts to look like a swimming pool, we need to jump in, and fast” Suddenly, the lights in the bar began to dim, and the tables began to shake. On a wall by the door, what looked like a bath-house whirlpool appeared, starting very small, and growing until any trace of the wall had disappeared. “For life, liberty, and the pursuit of hairy junk!” screamed Trashley, as she jumped forward, taking all three girls with her. As they touched the surface of the pool, it began to ripple, and a sound like someone pulling Pretty Punasti off the floor after she gets stuck doing the splits filled the air. Within seconds the girls, and the portal were gone. And so was the bar’s whiskey… TBC…

outlookcolumbus.com

08-53_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 12:00 AM Page 2

outlookcolumbus.com

â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you can bring me a souvenir from the moment your father locked you in the closet, then bring it to me!â&#x20AC;?

apr 2011

54-07_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/26/11 11:59 PM Page 1

apr 2011

“I’m different. I have a different constitution, I have a different brain, I have a different heart. I got tiger blood, man.”

outlookcolumbus.com

06-55_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 12:54 PM Page 2

tripping out

Welcome,Y’All – You Boys Make Yourselves Right To Home We ♥ Lexington, KY: History, Horses, and Hospitality by Michael Daniels I grew up in a family of horsemen, and spent many an hour of my youth in the barns and farms of Kentucky racetracks, but that was decades ago – something like three decades, to be exact. So when Robbie and I had a chance to take a long weekend to Lexington, Kentucky, to check out the sights and attractions, we didn’t know what to expect. Whatever it was, Lexington exceeded it. Trust me, this is a trip you’ll want to take just to get away, relax, and experience real hospitality. We called the Lexington Convention and Vistor’s Bureau (www.visitlex.com) and our new besties, Niki and MQ, hooked us up! The 3.5-hour drive down was uneventful except for the hellish freeway-for-all that is Cincinnati. Our first stop was our home for the weekend, the luxurious Gratz Park Inn (www.gratzparkinn.com). Located in the historic Gratz Park neighborhood and walking distance from nearly everything in downtown Lexington, the Inn is a mix of historic nostalgia and finery with modern amenities. The lobby and library are perfect for relaxing with a coffee and the morning Lexington Herald-Leader (www.kentucky.com – smart, eh?), and the restaurant and pub are simply amazing. Owned and operated by chef Jonathan Lundy, the menu at Jonathan at Gratz Park (www.jagp.info) redefines Kentucky cuisine. We tried as much as we could – the sea scallop hot browns, the burgoo, the bourbon barrel ale braised short ribs, the rock salt roasted chicken, the bourbon beer cheese, the shrimp and grits, and the cornmeal waffles – and barely dented the menu. Everything is elegantly simple, yet reoutlookcolumbus.com

fined and luxurious, with an extensive list of both wines and bourbons to complement each course. The restaurant is a true gem, and it would have been worth the drive just to eat there and come home. We dined the first night with our CVB hosts Niki and MQ, and Lexington’s mayor Jim Gray (www.facebook.com/MayorJimGray). Jim’s story is an interesting one, having run once for mayor while not out (he lost) and then again as an openly gay man (he won, big). He’s a fascinating leader, and is facing the same challenges in Lexington that most cities are facing – downtown and neighborhoods revitalization, job creation, budget balancing – and he’s using Columbus as one of his models. We’re looking forward to seeing Mayor Gray again on our next visit, and to hooking him up with our own Mayor Michael Coleman to swap ideas and strategies. We kept our attractions list to a minimum so we could enjoy the slower pace of southern living. Yes, Lexington is in Kentucky, but it’s not like Louisville. It feels somehow more southern, more welcoming, a little slower, and a lot friendlier. Neither Rob nor I is particularly good at just sitting and “doing nothing” but in Lexington, it felt right to just sip wine – or bourbon whisky – and put your feet up, so we did a lot of that. We did tour two historic homes – the first being the Mary Todd Lincoln house (www.mtlhouse.org). This site is the first museum in America dedicated to a first lady, and contains many Todd family artifacts and history.

More fascinating than the house or its furnishings, however, is the story of Mary Todd Lincoln as described on the tour. We had no idea she was so well educated, or so progressive for her time. We came away with an all-new appreciation for Mrs. Lincoln as both a study in strength and a survivor of unspeakable tragedy. The second historic site was the Henry Clay estate of Ashland (www.henryclay.org), home to Kentucky’s premier statesman and one of America’s most respected and prolific Senators. A striking collection of artifacts and reproductions graces, the 18-room Italianate mansion, and the 20-acre grounds, host a stunning formal garden and carriage house. No visit to Lexington even approximates being complete without a visit to the Kentucky Horse Park (www.kyhorsepark.com) which houses museums, recreation centers, barns, show rings, exhibitions, and anything else you can relate to horses and man’s relationship with them. It was pouring down rain the day we visited, so we spent our time almost exclusively in the International Museum of the Horse, a Smithsonian affiliate. Just walking through the exhibits and galleries causes visual overload – over 100 breeds are represented in the museum, along with trophies, artwork, taxidermied and skeletonized horses, carriages, memorabilia, and video footage. Interactive areas are available for children (or the young at heart) so you’re never bored. In good weather, exhibitions of breeds of all kinds take place throughout the day. This is a horse-lovers paradise and a can’t miss on your first Lexington visit.

“It destroys ones nerves to be amiable all day to the same person” – Benjamin Disraeli.

I know this will be shocking to many of you, but Robbie and I also decided to visit a distillery, and which other than Woodford Reserve (www.woodfordreserve.com) would be on our list? The tour takes you through every phase of bourbon making, from cooking the mash to triple distilling the product, to barreling and aging, to bottling. There’s something indescribable, however, about being in the place where the barrels are aging, smelling the aroma of escaping bourbon molecules, and then realizing that you’re standing in the middle of 4,000 barrels of bourbon worth $8,000 per barrel – or $32 million dollars of bourbon. It’s humbling and more than a little tantalizing. Of course, there’s a tasting at the end of the tour, and a gift shop that sells Woodford Reserve at rock-bottom Kentucky minimum prices. We came home with a liter and a couple of highball glasses for under $34. Yes, we’ve broken the seal already, so don’t ask. Whether you’re looking for food, history, hospitality, horses, or just a great weekend getaway to somewhere you haven’t been but should, Lexington fits the bill. We’ll be going back, for certain. There’s more on Jonathan’s menu we haven’t tried, and I’ve got to convince Mayor Gray to let me sit in his big chair. And I’m sure we’ll run out of Woodford at some point, which gives us the excuse we need to head on back down. For more info on Lexington visit www.visitlex.com.

apr 2011

56-05_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/26/11 11:58 PM Page 1

apr 2011

Little known Outlook fact: Interns double as mercenaries.

outlookcolumbus.com

04-57_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/26/11 11:57 PM Page 2

by Dan Savage DEAR READERS: Folks who have the Savage Love app get the Savage Love Letter of the Day (SLLOTD) delivered to their iPhones or Androids. This week, I’m running three recent SLLOTDs to give my print-only readers a taste of what they’re missing. I’m also giving myself a bit of a break: I’m currently dashing around the country on a book tour for It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life Worth Living. (Order yourself a copy - or donate one to your old middle or high school - at www.itgetsbetter.org.) But before we get to the letters…

and screams obscenities. What makes him upset? Losing his keys, being overcharged at the supermarket, missing the subway. These moments are humiliating for me. On top of that, I had an abusive father who hit me and, though my fiancé would never in a million years hit or abuse me, his tantrums remind me of those childhood experiences. I have tentatively broached the subject of therapy, but he is not interested. I don’t know what to do.

My husband and I created the project in response to the suicides of several LGBT youth. The idea was to give bullied and despairing LGBT youth hope for their futures by encouraging LGBT adults to reach out to them via YouTube. (For the record: Not all LGBT youth are bullied or despairing.) The It Gets Better Project was first announced in this space. Savage Love readers jumped in to help spread the word about the project on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter, and Savage Love readers created the very first wave of IGBP videos. Savage Love readers are responsible for making the It Gets Better Project the international phenomenon it is today and, more importantly, for helping to save the lives of countless LGBT kids. Whether it’s taking on a bigot like Rick Santorum, coming to the defense of Constance McMillen, or jumping in to help bullied LGBT teenagers, my readers and listeners are a force to be reckoned with. Thanks for all you do. My fiancé is awesome. I’m very happy we are getting married. We are in our early 30s. But… he has tantrums. When he gets upset, he literally throws things, punches things (never me), outlookcolumbus.com

Yesterday, he woke up and said, “It’s over. She’s coming home today.” I was crying and crying while he kept coming up with these unbelievable lines: we had a good thing, he’d miss my love, I should try to remember the magic. Then he told me to look away so he wouldn’t have to watch me crying! I know I was a fool, Dan, but who was the bigger jerk?

Wallflower At The Orgy Sad Eyes How about the truth?

Frustrated Fiancée He hasn’t hit you… yet.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Savage Love readers for launching the It Gets Better Project.

people do a bar crawl, but this friend is hosting a straight-up orgy. I don’t want to be a no-show - it’s her birthday! - but sitting around fully dressed, trying to make small talk with someone while a fisting scene is taking place two feet away? AWKWARD. I thought about going for the first half, while people are drinking, and leaving before it turns into an orgy. But what excuse could I give to bail?

I’m not saying he’ll definitely get around to hitting you, FF, but a man who goes apeshit when he misses the subway is likely to go apeshit on his wife sooner or later. Marriages are more stressful than commutes. And I’m sorry, but it’s a disturbing sign that you’re already tiptoeing around this guy (“I have tentatively broached the subject”) and making excuses for him (“My fiancé would never in a million years hit or abuse me”). Emergency rooms, divorce courts, and graveyards are filled with women who once said, “My fiancé would never in a million years hit me.” The time for tentative broaching has passed, FF, and the time for confrontational confronting and ultimatums has arrived: He gets his ass into therapy and gets a grip on his anger issues, or the wedding is off. And this can’t be about seeing a therapist once or twice to mollify you. He has to solve this problem before you pick out cake toppers. And if he won’t get help, or if he can’t solve this problem even with help, do not marry him. I’m female, bi, mid-20s, into kink - bedroomonly BDSM stuff - and involved in the local kink scene in NYC. I’m not into public sex or group sex; that’s just not appealing to me. One of my closest friends is having a birthday party. Most

If you’re mature enough to be a part of NYC’s kink scene, you’re mature enough to say this to your friend: “I love you, but orgies just aren’t my thing. I’ll be at your party - I wouldn’t miss it! - but I’m going to quietly slip out before the first fist disappears into the first orifice.” If anyone should be able to hear that without taking offense, WATO, it’s a member of an organized kink scene. All organized kinksters ask of each other is an open mind about kinks generally, thoughtfulness about consent and safety specifically, and clarity about boundaries absolutely. No one in a kink scene expects that all kinks - and group play is a kink - appeal to all kinksters equally. So go to the party, wish your friend a happy birthday, then head for the door when you hear the snap of the first latex glove. I am a 28-year-old woman, living in a town with a big military base. About a year ago, I noticed this really torn-up-looking guy sitting by himself in a bar. It turned out his wife had just been deployed and was going to be gone for nine months. He said he didn’t think he’d make it. We wound up having sex. I moved in a few days after that. The whole thing revolved around nobody asking questions. Over time, I fell in love with him, and I thought he fell in love with me. If I thought about the future, I told myself he’d leave his wife for me.

“Sleeping is no mean art; for it’s sake one must stay awake all day.” - Nietzche

Seeing as you spent the last nine months attempting to be the author of someone else’s misery - his wife’s misery - only to wind up being the author of your own, SE, it’s kind of hard to feel sorry for you. I suppose you deserve some credit for acknowledging that you’re a jerk - you did, after all, ask me to determine which one of you is the bigger jerk - but I gotta say that your jerkiness is the kind that makes me want to break out my brand-new-asshole-carving knife. But he’s the bigger jerk. My reasoning: He took up with another woman during his wife’s absence, and he allowed this other woman to move into the home he shared with his wife. The other woman avoided conversations about the future because she was afraid of finding out that she didn’t have one; he avoided conversations about the future because he was afraid the other woman would pack up her pussy and leave if he told her she didn’t have one. And then he tossed the other woman out on her ass the very day his wife returned to the States, giving her very little time to make other living arrangements. That makes him the bigger jerk, IMO. You both deserve new assholes - but he deserves a slightly bigger one. Find the Savage Lovecast (my weekly podcast) every Tuesday at thestranger.com/savage.mail@savagelove.net

apr 2011

58-03_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/28/11 9:23 AM Page 1

by Jack Fertig

C A M

One step at a time, Scorpio!

by Chris Hayes No ‘I ♥ Cbus’ issue would be complete without introducing you to someone we love very much - our intern Mac. You’ve probably seen this ginger around. Westerville born Mackenzie Worrall, grew up in our beloved town where he attended Thomas Worthington High School before venturing to the far off land of Gambier, OH where he attended the fine academic institution known as Kenyon College, circumventing his church’s best attempt to turn him into a pastor (not to be confused with sending him out to pasture - but is it really that different?). At Kenyon, Mack majored in the art of the English language with a second major in Drama. And we’d say that education paid off, because though he is very well spoken today and very theatrical, he is so not a drama queen. Thanks Kenyon! After college, Mac returned home where he put his degree immediately to use landing jobs at both Old Navy and Teavana, working both jobs simultaneously, while also fishing for internships. That’s when we lured him to the dark side with promises of free tickets, portfolio enhancements and fame (What a sucker!)0 Now, with almost a year of hanging out in our basement under his belt, we can tell he might be starting to see the truth. Luckily, he’s been so busy with his promotion to Assistant General Manager at the Tuttle Teavana location, that he hasn’t put the puzzle completely together. Phew! But if manning the table at Network, or distributing the paper isn’t where you place our celeb, it might be from his work in the local theater world, either acting or directing. “In college all I wanted to do was act,” he tells me, “but no one would cast me so I directed. Now all I want to do is direct and write plays, and everyone wants me to act.” Irony is a cruel beast, isn’t she? You may have paid to see Worrall playing the husband in a short as part of Raconteur’s 3rd Annual Flex Series or the

apr 2011

son in Closure put on by The Curtain Players. You might also have paid to see his direction in either Tracks in the Snow presented by Raconteur or Curious Savage put on by WTC (Worthington Community Theater). I hope you took him flowers. These days he’s taking a hiatus from the dramatics to work on finishing a play about John Wilkes Boothe and his brother, Edwin (the most famous actor in the world till John shot Lincoln). Siblings, can’t live with ‘em, and then they kill a president. Ken’s other professional highlights include being a member of the Young Vic’s Genesis Directors Project (is that real?), a Cycle 4 Pride Leadership Inductee (copy cat, I was cycle 1) and an outlook cover model (ginger on ginger is hot). When asked which Cbus person he ♥’s the most, Mac quickly replies Matt Slaybaugh, the Artistic Director for Available Light Theatre. Why? “They have some of the most fascinating and innovative theater in town,” he quips, “and not enough people appreciate that.” When not getting our coffee, applying for other jobs, or blocking stage right, Ginger #2 likes to canoodle with his beau John. They spend much of their time making pizzas and then making love. Ahhhh. Only together 3.5 months, these two are taking a page right out of Lesbian Dating 101, and already have plans to share a plot of land this summer at a Franklinton Community Garden, where they will raise the ingredients to make pizzas all winter long. If you see our hardworking slave out and about, please buy this deserving slag a Sidecar, or some other top shelf whiskey drink, then stand back and watch the PDA fly. He loves getting tanked and then ‘Mac’-ing on his man. And that’s exactly why we hired him - he’s just awesome. We ♥ him.

on safety, but also on your life’s priorities. Cultivate a After three weeks retrograde, Puritan work ethic without Mercury is turning direct getting hung up on their prudwhile conjunct Mars. New ery; a simple matter of “first ideas to fix recent problems things first!” are coming too fast and furious. Think carefully to pick LIBRA (September 23 – Octothe truly effective ones. Both ber 22): Trying to hold down planets are opposing Saturn, your partnership could be a so be careful not to blame but big mistake. It needs room to to work on better cooperabreathe and grow. That can tion. mean allowing room to let your love do things you don’t ARIES (March 20 – April 19): like. Mutually agreeable limits Faith in yourself may come a may require compromise. little too easy. Find someone you trust for confirmation and SCORPIO (October 23 – Noconstructive criticism. No, vember 21): You’ll reach your dear. You need that from goals one step at a time. An them! Solving the challenges obsessive rush to push ahead in a relationship is the test of can make you miss important true commitment. details, cause foolish mistakes and make simple things TAURUS (April 20 – May 20): more long and complicated. Knowing that you worry too Breathe, focus and relax! much about your health doesn’t mean there aren’t probSAGITTARIUS (November 22 – lems. Focus on real pains and December 20): Those powerrisks and get them checked ful creative impulses are sure out. Find the sensible middle to hit a wall, but so what? ground between worry and Take the challenge to improve neglect. upon your original idea, to make it more practical and GEMINI (May 21- June 20): effective. If it was that good Dreams for the future may be an idea to start with, it’s vastly excessive of the talents worth the effort. and materials you actually have to invest for them now. CAPRICORN (December 21 – Ideals should be beyond January 19): Domestic drama reach; goals just within. Don’t seems a distraction from build castles in the air, but on work you need to be doing. strong, solid foundations. Find a way to harness that energy and get the folks at CANCER (June 21- July 22): home to support you. That Your brilliant ideas at work won’t be easy, but the effort may feel unappreciated at can pay off big time! home. Perhaps the lack of enthusiasm is because your tal- AQUARIUS (January 20 – Febents are no surprise and they ruary 18): Examine new subexpect great things of you. jects from the ground up and Their support matters, but you review the basics on familiar may have to explain specifics topics. If you want higher purto get it. pose and inspiration find a Leo to help you develop your LEO (July 23 – August 22): basic ideas into a grand viYour brain’s afire with grand sion. ideas, but they need grounding in practical principles and PISCES (February 19 – March experience. Find an Aquarius 19): A sexual dry spell can be who knows the field. If he or a gift encouraging you to she says, “That won’t work,” focus on practical matters. ask how to make it work! Keeping your priorities clear is challenging, not impossible. VIRGO (August 23 – Septem- Money can come and go very ber 22): Sex without guilt is easily now. Work hard to keep fine, but sex without responsi- it coming and not going! bility is dangerous. Be clear Jack Fertig, a professional astrologer since 1977 teaches at the International Academy of Astrology www.astrocollege.com. He can be reached for personal or business consultations at www.starjack.com,

“Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say goodnight ‘til it be morrow!” – William Shakespeare

outlookcolumbus.com

02-59_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/28/11 2:45 AM Page 2

outlookcolumbus.com

“Resentments are the rocket fuel that lives in the tip of my saber.”

apr 2011

60-01_OLW_24in_ODD_ 3/27/11 12:33 AM Page 1