My friend in Chicago, Salem, sent an email asking Sam and Dan S. Wang, and me to give reports about what's going on in Columbus. It was vague, and perhaps she wanted to know what WE were doing here. I'm not entirely sure what she wanted. If you wanted to know what we are doing Salem, uh, I'll tell you more about it later, hopefully we can afford to go drink a tasty beer at Skylark or something next week. But if you are interested in simpatico cultural activities around Columbus, here is a little blog post with some links to people and places that us-type folks might be able to connect with and do shit with in the future. There's clearly a lot going here, some of it good, some of it run-of-the-mill, some of it boring and stupid. In short, I have not been disappointed. The spectrum is in full-bloom, I can tell, only having scratched the surface. I am off to the airport, back the Chicago after I post this, but please check this small sampling. Thank you for all your hospitality Arawak City!!
Third Hand Bicycle Coop
Fix your bike, volunteer to earn a bike, borrow a bike, build a bike, etc...
Free Geek Columbus
Non-profit that rebuilds and gives away surplus computers.
Spore Print Infoshop
Collectively run printshop and infoshop under construction. To open within the month. Former Chicago folks (from Buddy!) are involved here.
Couchfire Collective
A group of artists, largely working as individuals. They have recently garnered local government's attention for calling Columbus the "indie arts capital of the world." To the apparent annoyance of many locals. I have to say I sympathize with that annoyance. It reminds me of those folks obsessed, for some reason, with how the rest of the world sees Chicago. Seriously, who the hell cares? Just make interesting work and let the city make it's own meaningless PR campaigns. That being said, the folks I met from this group were great folks.
Victorian's Midnight Cafe
This seems to be the hippy cafe. It's been around for about ten years. Has a reputation for over-buttered sandwiches, which held true in my experience. It's a place where you can pick-up locally published lefty publications, drink a tasty micro-brew, or eves-drop on chess-nerds' conversations. Peace signs abound.
The IMA Gallery
Dina Sherman is sometimes a gallery. She is also good company at the Franklin's VDC Copy Center.
Third Hand Bicycle Coop
Fix your bike, volunteer to earn a bike, borrow a bike, build a bike, etc...
Free Geek Columbus
Non-profit that rebuilds and gives away surplus computers.
Spore Print Infoshop
Collectively run printshop and infoshop under construction. To open within the month. Former Chicago folks (from Buddy!) are involved here.
Couchfire Collective
A group of artists, largely working as individuals. They have recently garnered local government's attention for calling Columbus the "indie arts capital of the world." To the apparent annoyance of many locals. I have to say I sympathize with that annoyance. It reminds me of those folks obsessed, for some reason, with how the rest of the world sees Chicago. Seriously, who the hell cares? Just make interesting work and let the city make it's own meaningless PR campaigns. That being said, the folks I met from this group were great folks.
Victorian's Midnight Cafe
This seems to be the hippy cafe. It's been around for about ten years. Has a reputation for over-buttered sandwiches, which held true in my experience. It's a place where you can pick-up locally published lefty publications, drink a tasty micro-brew, or eves-drop on chess-nerds' conversations. Peace signs abound.
The IMA Gallery
Dina Sherman is sometimes a gallery. She is also good company at the Franklin's VDC Copy Center.
